By Olayinka Owolewa

Malam Farouk Salim, the Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has urged the Federal Government to allow the agency to return to the nations ports to enable the organisation to check the influx of sub-standard products into the country.

Salim made the remarks during the inspection tour of KAM Holdings, a steel manufacturing company, on Monday in Ilorin.

He noted that chasing substandard products all over the country, rather than waiting for them at the ports had been a major challenge to the agency.

It is important to note that the non-involvement of SON at seaports in the country has continued to pose various challenges, particularly to the agencys compliance and monitoring units.

It is only in Nigeria that the nations standard organisations directorate is not at the ports to authenticate goods brought into the country. This is counter-productive to the economy of the nation.

It is easier to fight the influx of substandard products at the points of entry than chasing them around all the markets and warehouses in the country, Salim said.

The NSO Director-General also said that more than 85 per cent of the products imported into the country on a daily, monthly or yearly basis came through the seaports and waterways.

Salim said it would therefore be difficult to ignore the agency in the quest for zero imports of substandard and unwholesome products as well as the Federal Governments policy on ease of doing business in the country.

In his response, Dr Kamaldeen Yusuf, the chairman of KAM Holdings, called for the reintroduction of pre-shipment inspection of goods at the nations ports to check the proliferation of arms, substandard products and loss of revenue in the country.

Yusuf said Nigeria could adopt what is obtainable abroad, where government regulatory agencies inspect goods from the originating factories before being allowed to get to the markets.

He asked SON to invest more in technologies that would help rid the country of substandard steel. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Monday urged the Federal Government to allowed states to develop and operate their respective minerals and pay royalty to the central government.

Wike made the call when Mr Uchechukwu Ogah, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

He said the call became pertinent because the federal government which unilaterally controls the countrys rich mineral endowment has failed to translate the mineral wealth into overall economic development.

The Governor maintained that in order for the country to benefit from its vast mineral endowment, the federal government should concentrate on the formulation of policies that will facilitate an improvement in the governance of the mining sector to improve social welfare of the citizens.

The federal government is carrying so much load that they are not supposed to carry, allow states to develop these minerals and pay royalty to the federal government, that is the way its supposed to be, Wike said.

He urged the Minister to push for reforms that will enable States and Local governments take charge of the mining of solid minerals in their domains and then pay tax to the federal government.

It is very important for people to know that part of the problem in this country is that everybody is depending on oil, when we are also supposed to look at other minerals.

Minerals play a great role in terms of raising revenue for any country, so our overemphasis on oil has reduced our impact on other minerals.

Wike noted if the country fully harness the gold deposit in Zamfara as well as other minerals in other states of the federation, the country will make a lot of revenue from these minerals that can accelerate development.

Wike lamented that despite the possibility of the Ajaokuta Steel Company project generating huge revenues for the country and creating not less than 3,000 jobs, the federal government, for political reasons, have failed to actualise the countrys aspiration to become a major player in the global steel industry.

He declared that the Rivers State government is prepared to collaborate with the federal government to develop the mineral sector of the country.

Wike advised the federal government to shun playing politics with issues of economic development and strive to entrench the ideals of good governance in the country.

Responding, the Minister told the Governor that he is in the State to share with him the vision and policy focus of the Federal Government for the development of the nations solid mineral resources.

Ogah stated that his visit is to solicit for the support and partnership of the state government in ensuring the orderly and efficient exploitation of huge deposits of silica sand, glass sand and clay which are in the state for construction purposes and glass manufacture.

In addition, permit me to also remind you of the abundant sea salt yet to be exploited in Rivers as a state bordering the Atlantic Ocean, which might also be an interesting area for collaborative development, Ogah said.

He commended the governor for the peerless successes his administration has recorded in matching actions with mission statements of actualizing the aspirations of the good people of Rivers State for a balanced development and enhanced quality of life for the present and future generations through responsive governance guided by the fear of God.

Your administration has accomplished its mission as seen in the massive infrastructures, cultural integration, provision of essential social amenities and many other legacy projects for the prosperity of Rivers State people and Nigerians living and doing businesses in the State, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, has charged soldiers to be combat ready and maintain physical fitness.

Lagbaja gave the charge on Monday during the opening ceremony of Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition, 2021, being held At Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu.

The GOC said the objectives of the competition were to develop the physical fitness, combat proficiency and further foster spirit-de-corps among the ranks of corporals and below within the Division.

He said the Nigeria Army and, indeed, the Division would continue to make training and re-training its key driver in order to get all officers and soldiers ready for combat deployment.

As the Nigerian Army continues to professionalise, training has continued to assume greater emphasis.

Fortunately, at this point in time, we have a Chief of Army Staff who has made training a key objective in his command philosophy, he said.

Lagbaja noted that the competition would include: weapon handling, obstacle crossing, cross country relay race, map reading, drill, shooting and combat swimming.

He said soldiers remained the bedrock of all sub-unit and units; and it is a well-known fact that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

We expect a fair competition. We have unbiased umpires to do justice to the competition and they will conduct it with known laid down rules and regulation, he said.

The four formations under the Division are taking part in the five-day competition.

The formations include: 13 Brigade, Calabar; 14 Brigade, Ohafia; 82 Division Garrison and 44 Engineers/54 Signals Brigade, Enugu. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed door with acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the acting I-G was officially presented to President Buhari by the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi.

The president had announced the appointment of Baba, while in London, via Dingyadi.

NAN observed that the new I-G was among the dignitaries at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Thursday to welcome the president, who returned home after 16 days medical check-up in London.

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the president, the new acting I-G said he was in the villa for formal introduction to the president.

My Minister brought me to the president for an introduction and he has introduced me to him.

I also thanked the president for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria in acting capacity as Inspector General of Police. I have also promised to do my best to change the narrative as far as internal security is concerned in the country.

Im coming back for a full brief, he said.

On his part, Dingyadi gave assurance that measures had been put in place to provide adequate equipment and trainings aimed at boosting the morale of the Police personnel in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The COVID-19 pandemic, undoubtedly, affected Nigerias socioeconomic wellbeing and also exposed the inadequacy and vulnerability of the countrys healthcare system just as itcreated medical and economic emergencies across the world.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a way of cushioning the effects of the pandemic on Nigerians established a fund to assist households, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Itset aside N50billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and also spenthuge amounts to support farmers to boost food production.

The CBNs direct intervention in the Nigerian health sector, to boost capacity, improve infrastructure, support Research and Development, and to enhance preparedness against future pandemics has been most germane.

Sometimes in March, the CBN awarded the sum of N253.54 million grants to five researchers under its Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS).

The HSRDIS is part of the apex banks effort to help strengthen the public healthcare system with innovative financing of Research and Development in new and improved drugs, vaccines and diagnosis of infectious diseases.

The scheme, which was initiated in July, 2020, was alo part of CBNs policy response to COVID-19.

It was designed to trigger intense national Research and Development activities to develop a Nigerian vaccine, drugs and herbal medicines against the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable or non-communicable diseases.

The focus was to provide grants to biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies.

The Scheme was intended to boost domestic manufacturing of critical drugs and vaccines to ensure their sustainable domestic supply and reduce the bulk manufacturing costs of the drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines in Nigeria.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, commended CBN for providing support to the health sector, especially with the outbreak of COVID-19.

COVID-19 came with adverse and negative effects, but it has also provided an opportunity for us to transform our healthcare delivery system.

This HSRDIS by the CBN will translate to establishing formidable institutions so that when we are confronted with another pandemic, future generations will benefit from those institutions, he said.

According to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, COVID-19 exposed the fragilities of Nigerias healthcare delivery system.

Emefiele said that a healthy and safe workplace was necessary for continuous economic growth as well as stability of the financial system.

He described healthcare as the bedrock of the development of any nation, which deserved adequate funding for its research and development.

CBN, working with the Federal Government, has decided that we must begin to look inwards and provide for ourselves.

That was the main reason why CBN set up the Body of Experts to steer the HSRDIS.

Emphasis on Research and Development in developed countries has helped in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, he said.

Emefiele said that over 200 proposals were received out of which 68 had been graded and the best five picked.

He said that the scheme would provide grants to enable Research and Development activities into vaccines, drugs and herbal medicines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

He called on other corporate institutions to collaborate with the CBN to fund Research and Development for the good of all Nigerians, while urging the recipients to make judicious use of the grants.

The Director General of the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe, said that the institute had the capacity to develop world class Phyto-medicinal products to fight infectious diseases if properly funded.

Adigwe emphasised the need for Nigerians to appreciate the importance of pharmaceutical Research and Development for the country to achieve medicine security.

He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as creating opportunities for improved funding of research into tropical and other diseases, adding that NIPRD had already developed protocols for testing of locally made ventilators, and disinfectants delivery devices.

Funding is integral to achieving medicine security. Scientists in NIPRD are world class, and we intend to make Nigeria the hub of pharmaceutical research and development in Africa.

Some funding has come in from the Central Bank of Nigeria in recent times, to support Research and Development of Phyto-Medicines, but it should not be left for government alone, Adigwe said.

Also in response to the pandemic, the CBN took measures to extend credit facilities of up to N100 billion to support intervention efforts geared towards the healthcare sector

The aim of the intervention, according to CBN, was to stimulate economic activities locally within the healthcare sector.

It assured that the move would make products and services in the sector readily available to service Nigerians, thereby building, diversifying and expanding the capacity of the Nigerian healthcare sector.

The intervention was aimed at reducing medical tourism; providing steady financing for infrastructure development and providing affordable credit to support local production by pharmaceutical companies.

It would also reduce dependency on foreign healthcare and conserving foreign exchange for healthcare, the apex bank stated.

In March, the apex bank announced that it had disbursed over N85 billion to no fewer than 80 projects, under the scheme.

The banks Director of Development Finance, Mr Yila Yusuf said that the projects cut across medical, pharmaceutical, herbal and other related products, and even a funeral home.

In the healthcare credit support scheme, we have disbursed over N85 billion to more than 80 projects, mainly to reposition and enhance capacity of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. We even financed a funeral home, he said.

The CBN is mainly mandated to ensure monetary and price stability; issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency.

It also has the mandate to promote a sound financial system; and act as banker, while providing economic and financial advice to the Federal Government.

However, over the years, the apex bank has performed other major developmental functions, focussed on all the key sectors of the Nigerian economy, like the agricultural, industrial and health sectors.

Nigerians remain hopeful that its recent intervention through funding of healthcare Research and Development, as well as its Healthcare Credit Support Scheme would effectively stem the tide of medical tourism. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Funmilayo Okunade

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Monday, called for dialogue among stakeholders to resolve issues that led to the ongoing industrial action by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Fayemi made the call while receiving executive members of three branches of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who paid him a courtesy visit in Ado-Ekiti.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officials were from NBA branches in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, described the strike by JUSUN as not too good for the system.

According to him, dialogue, involving all stakeholders, remains the best option to resolve all the issues on ground for the judiciary to move forward.

The governor also assured NBA of his administrations commitment to fulfilling its goal of defending peoples rights and promoting the rule of law in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the three branches, the NBA Chairperson, Ikere branch, Mrs Kikelomo Owolabi, said that the sanctity of the judiciary had been weakened by lack of financial autonomy and independence.

She urged the governor to use his position as Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to intervene in the industrial action by judiciary workers.

Owolabi also urged the governor to rally his colleagues in the NGF to promote the independence and financial autonomy for the judiciary and respect for the constitutional principle of separation of powers

The NBA chief expressed the regret that judicial activities in the country had been grounded owing to the nationwide strike by the court workers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Onyegbula

The Catholic Church on Monday urged youths to use the social media for positive development of the country so as to ensure the unity and peaceful coexistence of her citizens.

Rev. Fr Mike Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the CathoIic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), said this in a presentation in Abuja, during a 3-day workshop on Improving Communication Strategies in the Catholic Media in Nigeria.

Umoh spoke on the sub- theme: Overcoming the challenges of Social Media use in the mission of the Church in Nigeria.

The cleric cautioned youths against the circulation of destructive audio and video messageswhich he said could further create tension and violence in the country.

He urged religious leaders to take advantage of the social media to evangelise and share useful contents to educate social media users.

Social media is where the people are and for leaders to reach out to youths of today, they must go through the social media.

The social media can be used for greater good if we create a positive alternative to it, he said.

Also, Dr Cletus Akwaya, the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Asset Newspaper, charged Catholic newspapers, to brace up to the challenges facing the industry.

He said if not, they would be inadvertently towing the path of obliteration in his paper with the title: Problems and prospects of successful Church newspaper in Nigeria.

Akwaya said that the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria should coordinate the setting up of a Foundation for the Catholic Media services in Nigeria.

The Foundation should serve as a funding platform for the Catholic Television, irs numerous diocesan newspapers, radio stations and the New Media.

Apart from mobilising funds from both local and foreign sources, the foundation will be expected to coordinate training of journalists and media workers and help in coordinating research activities, he said.

Mr Patrick Osu, the National President, Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN),in his address of welcome, defined communication as a very vital instrument of life that promotes peace, love and reconciliation.

Osu said that media practitioners should always report the truth always.

For us as a professional body, we will not rest on our oars by promoting professionalism among our members and put into practice the teachings and doctrines of the church that will bring about sanity and compassion for human dignity.

We must be prepared and willing to make sacrifices to achieve our aims and objectives of uniting the body of Christ through our professional callings as social communicators.

Osu said that the media has the power to make this nation great through the various networks of the practitiobers.

We must use our positions well within the context of professional ethics to avert dangerous trends by exposing evil and always reporting the truth.

I believe this is the time to come together and let the society feel our impact, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

Governors Forum, Conference of Speakers of State Legislature and other stakeholders on Monday in Abuja reached an agreement on the implementation of the financial autonomy for State legislature and Judiciary.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti made this known to State House Correspondents, at the end of a meeting presided over by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

According to Fayemi, the agreement is being fine-tuned and its implementation will commence in May.

He said: We are here for legislative and judicial autonomy and Governors; Speakers of State Assemblies and the Judges of the States are on the same page as far as this issue is concerned.

We just emerged from a meeting with the Solicitor General of the Federation, the representatives of the judiciary and those of the Conference of Speakers and we are in all force; an agreement has been reached.

The issue is about implementation. There has been no objection from governors on judicial and legislative autonomy.

As a matter of fact, it would not have passed if governors were not in support in the first instance. So, that issue has been fully and holistically addressed,he said.

Fayemi maintained that modalities were being fine-tuned and the implementation of the agreement would begin in May.

He said:We dont just want to agree to something on paper without working out the modalities for implementation.

Thankfully, the meeting we just emerged from with the Chief of Staff to the President chairing, has worked out the modalities, to the satisfaction of all the parties.

As soon as the final document that is being cleaned up emerges, it will be implemented as soon as possible and that will be definitely not later than the end of May.

He, therefore, called on striking judiciary workers to call off and resume work in the interest of the nation.

In the interest of the nation, we believe that the striking workers should return to their offices because as far as this has gone, we have met with all the parties concerned and the President, through his Chief of Staff, has been monitoring what has been happening.

And I think we are reasonably at a position where whether you speak to the Conference of Speakers Chairperson, or you speak to me, or you speak to the representative of the judiciary or the Solicitor General of the Federation, you will hear that we are speaking with one voice on the implementation.

And no later than May, you will start seeing the implementation of the agreement that we have reached,he said.

Those who attended the meeting included Governors Bagudu Atiku of Kebbi, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Simon Lalong of Plateau,

Others were the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, as well as the leadership of the Conference of Speakers of States Legislature and that of States Judiciary.

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

Lagos State Government is set to establish an Anti-Corruption Commission, with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday signing the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2021 into law.

Sanwo-olu said during the signing ceremony at Lagos House, Ikeja, that the move was to deepen the culture of accountability and transparency in the expenditure of appropriated public funds.

He said that with the legislation put in place, the anti-corruption commission, which would be formally set up in the coming days, had been backed by the instrument of law.

According to him, the commission is to investigate and prosecute officials of the state government and deregistered contractors indicted for economic crimes and financial misappropriation.

Sanwo-Olu said that the action was a testimony to the state governments effort towards entrenching accountability in governance and checking malfeasance among officers entrusted with public resources.

The bill establishing Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is an important legislation critical to the delivery of quality services to the citizens.

When we came in, we had said we would be accountable and responsible in the appropriation of the states resources.

We want to stand in front of the citizens to give account on how public funds are being spent.

To give credence to this promise, the executive arm initiated the bill and sent to the Assembly for approval.

We believe that this law would ensure accountability of public funds, responsibility of public office, it will also promote dialogue among public officers to keep the trust of the people in the discharge of their duties in line with transparency.

The anti-corruption commission will ensure that all approved activities are implemented in accordance with budgetary allocation, he said.

Sanwo-Olu said that the anti-corruption commission would be independent in its operations and functions.

He said that the agency would complement efforts of similar agencies in the police and federal establishment.

Also, the governor assented to the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill 2021, initiated by the executive arm to coordinate activities of lottery agencies operating within the state.

He said that the Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill 2021 was to simplify and incorporate technological innovations in the gaming sector.

Sanwo-Olu said that the law sought to harmonise five gaming and lottery formats, such as casino, jackpot, pool, lotto and sports betting, thereby regulating the sector and checking fraudulent activities of unregistered game centres within the state.

He said that the former lottery law of the state did not meet the contemporary needs in the industry.

This, according to him, was why the executive initiated the bill to accommodate technology in regulating the business.

As a forward-looking government, we are doing the needful to ensure fair play, regulation and monitoring is brought back into the gaming industry.

The law is not in any form to stifle investment, but to offer better platform for lottery companies to enhance equity, transparency and make their investment more rewarding, the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated that his governments actions would continue to boost confidence of the public and promote accountability in governance.

He thanked the Speaker and members of the Assembly for cooperating with the executive arm and consistently prioritisng executive bills aimed at delivering good governance.

The Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said that the two bills signed by the governor brought to 10 legislation sponsored by the executive and passed by the House of Assembly to strengthen good governance.

Onigbanjo said that 26 executive bills had been initiated since inception of the current administration.

The anti-corruption agency to be established is akin to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute misappropriation of public funds in the state.

The chairman of the agency will be appointed by the governor, subject to the ratification of the House of Assembly.

If the investigation leads to prima facie case, the offender will be prosecuted in the court, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to President Idriss Deby of Chad in the wake of the ethnic clashes in the South Eastern Region of Salamat that claimed several lives.

The president made his feelings known in a condolence message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday.

I am shocked and saddened by the incident that shattered decades of relative peace and stability in Chad.

Ethnic and tribal clashes is a threat to African unity and stability and Nigeria joins the rest of Africa to deplore the latest eruption of violence in Chad, he said.

While underscoring the need for African leaders and people to manage their diversity with tolerance and understanding, Buhari noted that a threat to stability in one part of Africa is a threat to the rest of us.

Given Africas economic and social challenges, we cannot afford mutual destruction that makes our challenges more complicated.

Meanwhile, the president also commiserated with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the government and people of Egypt over the train accident in Northern Cairo that killed dozens of people and injured 98 others.

Egyptian Health Ministry said a passenger train had on Sunday derailed north of Cairo, killing at least 11 passengers and injuring at least 98, with most of them suffering from broken bones, cuts and bruises.

Source: NAN News

By Douglas Okoro

At least 100 youths in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi, were on Monday trained in agribusiness and mentorship by Uburu Amaka Humanitarian Organisation.

The Executive Administrator of the organisation, Mr Nicholas Onu, said the programme was designed to transfer modern agricultural skills to youths of the area.

Onu said the training was organised in collaboration with Globetrot Farmsponsor Nigeria Limited.

He said that the overall aim was to empower and make the youths of the area self-reliant.

He appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to contribute their quota toward job creation, saying that government could not do it alone.

Onu said the programme was an offshoot of a youth summit, which took place in the area in January 2021.

He further appealed to the state government and other stakeholders to assist the organisation to raise the resources needed to execute some of their programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer, Globtrot Farmsponsor Nigeria Ltd., Mr BillKeneth Akpa, said the training was part of the corporate social responsibility of the organisation.

Akpa said that their aim was to ensure that young people in the area were directed to the best way possible to make a good living.

Youths shy away from farming because they feel that agriculture is dirty and tedious.

However, technology has made farming much easier for one to get up to 300 per cent return on investment, he said.

In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Business Development, Dr Steven Odo, appealed to the participants to focus on the different stages of agribusiness value chain.

Odo said the state had comparative advantage in agriculture due to its abundant human and natural resources.

He said government had a deliberate policy to promote agriculture and youth empowerment in the state.

That is what we call One man, one hectare land policy.

As a government appointee, you have to show that you are promoting governments policy on agriculture, Odo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Twelve top European football clubs have agreed to found a Super League as soon as possible, the clubs announced in a joint statement late on Sunday

The founding clubs of the mid-week league were listed to include English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.

The others are Italys Juventus and Milan clubs AC and Inter, and the Spanish trio of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable, the 12 clubs said in a joint statement.

Reported to be financially very lucrative, the project does not have the support of footballs governing bodies.

Ahead of the announcement, UEFA and football leagues and federations from England, Italy and Spain spoke of a cynical project.

They described it as a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.

Fifteen of the 20 participating clubs are to be permanent members, and the remaining five will qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season, the statement said.

According to the New York Times the new league would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the participating teams.

The clubs are already the richest clubs in the sport.

2019/2020 UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich and finalists Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are said not to be among the clubs who have signed up or expressed interest.

In a statement released before the announcement, UEFA and football leagues and federations from England, Italy and Spain spoke.

As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level.

Their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.

We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this.

Before the announcement the Premier League in England said it condemns any proposal that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit.

These are at the heart of the domestic and European football pyramid.

The Football Association (FA) in England also condemned the plans and German Football League chief Christian Seifert spoke of his bodys opposition.

We reject any kind of European Super League concept which would irreparably damage the national leagues as the basis of European professional football.

The latest development comes on the eve of a UEFA executive committee meeting.

The meeting, apart from finalising the host cities for the summers Euro tournament, is also to approve a Champions League reform from 2024 onwards.

The powerful European Club Association (ECA) and UEFAs club competitions committee were reportedly in agreement Friday about the reform.

Under this, the elite event is to be increased from 32 to 36 teams and each team plays 10 instead of six group games in what is known as the Swiss model.

Two of the additional four clubs are to controversially come via historic results not through qualification via domestic action.

The large number of additional matches is a threat to domestic competitions.

Fan groups have also voiced their dissent, with an even bigger outcry expected if a Super League becomes reality.

The reports said that European officials were discussing counter measures which could include banning Super League clubs from next seasons Champions League.

We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this from happening.

Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way, the UEFA statement said.

We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced.

This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.

Source: NAN News

Leicester City are through to their first FA Cup final match appearance in England since 1969 after Kelechi Iheanacho edged Brendan Rodgers side past Southampton.

It all happened on a night when thousands of spectators returned to Wembley.

After Chelsea overcame Manchester City in front of empty stands on Saturday, the following evening saw 4,000 local residents, including key workers, make up Englands biggest crowd for 13 months.

A number of Leicester City and Southampton fans were among those at Sundays semi-final, with in-form Iheanacho settling the tie.

The Nigerian slotted home early in the second half to seal a 1-0 victory under the arch.

There was expected to be 21,000 in attendance including far more supporters when the Foxes return to Wembley on May 15 to take on Chelsea.

Then, they will be looking to win their first-ever FA Cup.

Hopefully the showpiece will be more exciting than the drab semi-final.

At least Sundays match was memorable for the return of spectators, with Leicester City edging a cagey first half.

They then landed a 55th-minute gut punch just as Saints looked to be waking up.

Jamie Vardy, who wasted the best chance of the opening period, got free down the left and crossed for in-form Iheanacho.

His poor first effort kindly deflected back to him and he slotted home.

Saints launched a meek response for a leveller as they quickly ran out of ideas and energy.

But their dreams of replicating their 1976 triumph ended as Leicester Citys bid to make history continues.

There were cheers and applause at the end of a match that doubled up as one of the governments pilot events.

All those in attendance had to prove they had tested negative for coronavirus before the game.

Come on Leicester and Oh, when the Saints echoed around Wembley in the opening minutes of a match that Ralph Hasenhuttls men started particularly nervily.

Ibrahima Diallo sloppily lost possession four minutes into proceedings and clumsily attempted to win the ball off Vardy.

But the Foxes broke and Ayoze Perez back in the side after his party antics bent off target.

Referee Chris Kavanagh went back to book the midfielder and Vardy was able to continue after treatment as the teams played out a cagey, and largely lifeless, start.

Southampton failed to muster a single first-half shot in spite of periods in the ascendancy, while Leicester City were failing to punish their oppositions tendency to turn over possession.

Diallo was again guilty of losing the ball in the 33rd minute and was fortunate not to be punished as Youri Tielemans threaded a lovely ball through to Vardy.

But he sent an effort just wide of the near post.

Leicester City again went close as set-pieces unsteadied Saints before the break.

Wilfred Ndidi was all too easily allowed to meet a corner-kick on the edge of the six-yard box and glance a header just over.

Soon after, the Leicester City midfielder flicked another corner-kick to the far post.

This time Jonny Evans headed it back across goal and Vardy was just closed out by some desperate defending as the ball went over Fraser Forsters goal.

Caglar Soyuncu back in the Leicester City defence after his positive COVID-19 test - was booked for clattering Kyle Walker-Peters just minutes into the second half.

Jannik Vestergaard headed over the resulting free-kick.

Saints were starting to look more positive, only to fall behind in the 55th minute.

Vardys movement on the flank left Jan Bednarek trailing in his wake and the veteran crossed for Iheanacho to get away a poor shot.

The ball luckily bounced back off Vestergaard as the striker fired home the loose ball.

Hasenhuttl brought Che Adams on in a bid to change the game, with the Leicester-born striker soon seeing a shot blocked before Diallo lifted over from distance.

Danny Ings was put through moments later but could not quite get a shot away, with Diallo flashing a side volley against the stanchion behind the goal.

Leicester City settled after that spell and managed the game.

James Maddison flashed over when well placed in the 77th minute, with the substitute - another to be dropped last week trying another shot from range two minutes later.

Saints created precious little in spite of the chance of reaching a first FA Cup final since 1976 and it was Leicester City celebrating at the final whistle.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the death of three of its staff in a road accident in Borno.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, made the confirmation in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

Okoye said that the commission on Sunday received a sad report from Mohammed Ibrahim, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the State, of a fatal road accident involving a number of its members of staff serving in the State.

He said that Ibrahim informed the commission that an Electoral Officer (EO) and some Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) travelling from some Local Government Areas to Maiduguri for a special training ahead of the conversion of Voting Points into Polling Units were involved in the accident.

According to him, the three members of staff that lost their lives are: Adamu Mohammed (EO, Biu LGA), Abubakar Joda and Suleiman Umar (AEOs, Damboa LGA), while five others sustained injuries.

The deceased staff, who were indigenes of Adamawa State, will be buried today, Monday, April 19 in Yola.

The Supervising National Commissioner for Borno, Adamawa and Taraba States, AVM Ahmed Tijjani-Muazu (rtd), will represent the Commission at their funeral, while the injured staffs are receiving treatment in a Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

He noted that the three staff died in the course of national assignment.

While praying for the repose of their souls, the Commission extends its condolence to their families and wishes the injured staff speedy recovery.

Okoye recalled that last week, INEC commenced nationwide train-the-trainer workshop in Abuja involving heads of operations drawn from all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The training is to be cascaded to State level nationwide ahead of the fieldwork for the physical conversion of the voting points to polling units.

The aim is to conclude the exercise ahead of the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on June 28. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has announced a profit after tax of N6.93 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2020.

The company in a statement said the profit after tax was 41.43 per cent higher when compared with N4.90 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2019.

Also, profit before tax rose by 22.35 per cent to N7.39 billion from N6.04 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2019.

Its total income stood at N12.09 billion from N9.21 billion in 2019, indicating an increase of 31.3 per cent.

The group total income grew by 31.27 per cent to N12.09 billion against N9.21 billion recorded in the comparative period of 2019.

The companys investment income increased by 61.39 per cent to N7.44 billion in contrast with N4.61 billion in 2019 financial year.

The companys operating expenses inched higher by 46.13 per cent to N4.72 billion from N3.23 billion in 2019, partly reflecting investments in technology and human capital.

The board also recommended a dividend of N5.85 billion, translating to N1.17, representing a growth of 36 per cent against 86k dividend per share paid in 2019.

Commenting on the groups performance, Mr Oscar Onyema, the Chairman, Board of Directors of CSCS, said that the company defied the unprecedented challenges that characterised 2020 financial year.

It is exciting to report these stellar results. Defying the unprecedented challenges that characterised 2020 financial year.

CSCS emerged stronger, delivering outstanding growth in top and bottom-lines, and executing far-reaching initiatives that would sustainably strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the business, Onyema said.

He said that the board of directors and management were upbeat about the value accretive prospects of CSCS with a profit growth of over 41 per cent.

We are enthusiastic that the progress made thus far in repositioning the business to efficiently play a more active and leading role in deepening the Nigerian capital market will be sustained.

With continuous investments in new technologies, talent, and work environment, we are optimistic on the productivity of CSCS going forward,he said.

Also, commenting on performance, Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, CSCS Chief Executive Officer, said that the result reinforced its commitment to delivering superior value to our shareholders, irrespective of the odds.

These impressive results reflect our enhanced collaboration with different stakeholders and their unflinching support and loyalty to CSCS, as the core infrastructure for the Nigerian capital market.

Hence, my colleagues and I are excited to dedicate this performance to our esteemed participants, regulator and the board of directors, whose support kept us stronger through the pandemic.

We would continue to invest in our collective objective of deepening the capital market and broader financial system, even as we seek new and efficient ways of enhancing our partnerships for mutual prosperity.

Having laid a solid foundation over the past three years, we are more than ever optimistic on the prospect of our business, especially as we diversify the business for enhanced resilience against macro and market volatilities.

We will sustain our disciplined cost efficiency culture, in our commitment to delivering sustainable value to shareholders over the long term.

We are excited at the 39 per cent cost-to-income ratio, despite the impact of exchange rate volatilities and rising headline inflation on our cost base, Jalo-Waziri said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged its personnel to sustain the interface with states and local governments to ensure regular and timely upload of vehicle information for enhanced national security.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, made the call at the 2021 National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) training for desk officers, on Monday in Abuja.

Oyeyemi said that the national average upload had been remained steady, hence the need to strive to continually improve on the efforts, in line with the increase in vehicular registration.

He said that a consistent and sustained data upload would also provide more support and guidance on the mode of patrol operations to be adopted by field commands at different times.

Oyeyemi also said that the theme of the workshop, Effective NVIS Data Capturing and Vehicle Security, was targeted at building the corps capacity for improved data management.

This, he said, was in line with Goal 2 of 2021 corps corporate strategic goals, which focused on improving personnel capacity and competencies in road safety management.

According to him, the workshop is designed to highlight the need for precaution and due diligence in processing and handling of data, in order to achieve the required accuracy.

NVIS is a component of National Uniform Licensing Scheme (NULS), which is a unified system and mainly designed to automate the processes involved in the production of plate numbers, vehicle registration and verification.

It was launched in the country on Jan. 16, 1993 with the introduction of the retro-reflective number plates and the adoption of alpha-numeric system.

The scheme is meant to correct the haphazard motor vehicle registration process that existed before the establishment of FRSC.

However, states and the FCT adopted different modes of licensing drivers and registration of vehicles, with glaring disparities that negated efficiency.

So far, the data generated is being relied on as support for investigative activities of the National Bureau of Statistics and other governmental and non-governmental institutions, he said.

According to him, since inception, more than 500 stolen vehicles have been recovered by security agencies through the support of the platform which provides real time information and access to vehicle details required by security agencies.

Oyeyemi said that management would continue to initiate policies that would guide the corps operations and help resolve emerging challenges.

He said that management had also put modalities in place to procure and deploy mobile capturing equipment to ensure effective capturing of tricycles and motorcycles nationwide, in the NVIS.

The FRSC boss assured the personnel that management would continue to provide all the support required to make the corps tasks easy and engender positive results. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

No fewer than eight repentant Niger Delta militants and kidnappers undergoing rehabilitation in the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) rehabilitation centre, are now pastors in the church, General Overseer, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has said.

Chinyere, who is the founder of the church disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

The General Overseer said that the repentant militants/kidnappers turned over a new leaf after a divine encounter through evangelism organised for some of them in their various camps.

I preached to them and many of them hearkened to salvation call and gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

Before I embarked on this move, I bought some estates to relocate them.

Initially when I preached to them, because I could not relocate them out of their place, it was easy for them to go back to their old ways.

So, I decided that the best way to approach them is to change their environment and that became the first step of their healing process, he said.

He said that he took them to the estate, got them baptized and began to teach them the words of God form complete liberation from crime.

These kidnappers have wives and children, so what we did was to put their children in the free school operated by the church and at the same time established businesses for their wives.

We started teaching them different skills and by the grace of God, after they acquired the skills, some said they wanted to be pastors.

And, currently we have eight of them that are full time pastors in OPM branches.

Others are into different skills like carpentry, pipeline wielding, scaffolding, mechanic and so on, Chinyere said.

According to him, about 10,000 youths have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society under the OPM rehabilitation programme for youths especially for repentant militants and commercial sex workers.

The OPM General Overseer said that some of the repentant militants had been gainfully employed in different oil companies in the country, while some got jobs abroad.

The Nigerian Police have been cooperating with us; some of these youths have been in crime for many years and they were not caught, but they came with their arms to surrender.

The police decided not to go after them since they surrendered willingly as long as they dont go back to crime again; there is somebody that submitted three AK-47 riffles.

We took them to police headquarters in Rivers, located at Moscow Road and they took their biometrics, pictures and fingerprints as well as record of guns submitted and the crimes they committed.

With this, the police have their full data in case they go back to crime. However, I know they wont go back to crime, he added.

The cleric also said that the programme had recorded 95 per cent success as the repentant militants and kidnappers had not returned to crime since they surrendered.

Chinyere further said that efforts were on to ensure that children of the less privileged, who were not in school, get the desired education through the churchs 15 free schools located in Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states.

My target is to have this rehabilitation centres in every state of the federation to help people who roam about, because the school is free, he said.

Mr Justine Obodo, one of the repented militants from Emohua Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of others told NAN that they had been in the rehabilitation camp since 2019.

I am from Egbeda in Emohua Local Government Area. We have been in OPM rehabilitation centre since 2019, and as sons of Ikwere, we have changed from our bad lives.

We never knew we will be alive to see today and we are not greater than those that have died in battle with army, police and navy.

Today we are living by the grace of God because the bible said that whoever the son of God has set free, he is free indeed.

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins for us to have repentance. The day we denounced, we came with our irons (guns) and submitted them.

Go to Ikwere land now, there is peace because we were the ones causing problem there before, but today, we have changed.

We plead with our communities to give us a second chance. We need freedom and we will champion peace in our communities, Obodo said.

He gave assurance that the rehabilitated militants would work with other stakeholders to persuade other militants and youths not to take to crime again in their communities.

We have been eating three times a day and our wives now have businesses and our children have been enrolled in the OPM free schools, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Europes football ruling body UEFA is set to approve sweeping Champions League reforms on Monday and has issued a stern warning to clubs .

Sources told dpa that clubs from England, Italy and Spain were part of the latest plan, and news reports spoke of a league comprising 20 teams which could start in 2022.

Reports named Premier League clubs Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea as part of it.

Others include Italys Juventus and Milan clubs AC and Inter, and the Spanish trio of FC Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid.

Fifteen or 16 of the 20 clubs in all are to be permanent members, while the remaining four or five are to qualify for the event.

According to the New York Times, the League would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the participating teams, which are already the richest clubs in the sport.

2019/2020 Champions League title-holders Bayern Munich and runners-up Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are said not to be among the clubs who have not signed up or expressed interest.

In a statement, UEFA and football leagues and federations from England, Italy and Spain spoke of a cynical project.

It is a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.

As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level.

Their players could also be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.

We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this.

The Premier League said it condemns any proposal that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart of the domestic and European football pyramid.

The FA also condemned the plans and German Football League chief Christian Seifert said his body rejects any kind of European Super League concept.

It was said it would irreparably damage the national leagues as the basis of European professional football.

The latest development comes on the eve of a UEFA executive committee meeting.

The meeting, apart from finalising the host cities for the summers Euro tournament, is also to approve a Champions League reform from 2024 onwards.

The powerful European Club Association (ECA) and UEFAs club competitions committee were reportedly in agreement Friday about the reform.

Under this, the elite event is to be increased from 32 to 36 teams and each team plays 10 instead of six group games in what is known as the Swiss model.

Two of the additional four clubs are to be controversially picked via historic results not through qualification via domestic action.

The large number of additional matches is a threat to domestic competitions and fan groups have also voiced their dissent.

An even bigger outcry is expected if a Super League becomes reality.

The reports said European officials were discussing counter-measures which could include banning Super League clubs from next seasons Champions League.

We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening.

Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way, the UEFA statement said.

We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced.

This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.

Source: NAN News

By Ariwodola Idowu

The Police have confirmed the arrest of 10 suspects over alleged complicity in a rival cult clash in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti.

ASP Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, said the clash occurred on Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday.

I can confirm to you that 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the bloody cult clash. The clash was caused by rivalry and show of strength, he said.

The police spokesperson also confirmed that six persons lost their lives in the clash, adding that their corpses have been deposited in the morgue.

We have begun serious operations there by combined forces of the men of the Nigeria Police Force, NigerianArmy, Amotekun Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Those arrested are in our custody and by the time we conclude our investigations, they will be charged to court accordingly.

NAN reports that the police have deployed more officers and had also increased surveillance on the town by conducting stop and search on vehicles and individuals coming in and out of the town. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismail Abdulaziz
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has declared its commitment to the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) of the Federal Government to reverse the trend and make Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production.

Mr John Beverley, General Manager of the Dangote Sugar BIP, disclosed this when members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly visited its site in Tunga, Awe Local Government Area.

The Dangote Group is the biggest private sector investor in the BIP of the Federal Government, which is aimed at gradually halting the importation of sugar into the country.

It would be recalled that in 2017 the Dangote Industries Limited signed a landmark 700 million dollars Memorandum of Understanding with the Nasarawa State Government.

Beverly said that the factory would have the capacity to crush 12,000 tons cane per day (tcd) with a 90MW power generated for both the company and host communities use.

He disclosed also that 500km of roads would be constructed to ease transportation within the vicinity.

He solicited the support of the lawmakers in controlling the menace of land encroachment by settlers and itinerant farmers.

Beverley said the company has been carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in the communities.

He pointed out that so far the company has constructed boreholes, schools, Clinic and awarded scholarships.

He added that the companys investments in sugar would revolutionalise the economy of the state and uplift the standard of living of its people.

He assured the lawmakers that by the time the company fully completes the in Nasarawa and Adamawa under the BIP, the nation would be saved of more than half of the forex expended on sugar imports annually.

The state lawmakers, who were obviously excited at the sugar projects, commended the Dangote Group for the choice of the state for the project.

They also applauded it for the accelerated pace of execution of the project in spite of occasional delays arising from communal disagreements.

Mr Ibrahim Abdullah, Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, said that the 500 million dollars so far expended on the project in the state is not only a blessing to Nigeria but the pride of Africa.

The Speaker and his team, who were conducted round the companys 78,000 hectares, commended the Chairman of the Company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for the project.

The Speaker said he was taken aback by the huge nature of the investment, noting that it would not only open up opportunities in the state but in Africa as a whole.

The Speaker said the lawmakers were ready to support the company towards the realisation of the sugar project through relevant legislations.

According to him, the news that the project will create about 150,000 jobs is a welcome one, more so that the project site is once a forest harbouring criminal.

Also, the General Manager, Government and Stakeholders Relations, Mr Bello Dan-Musa, said the President of Dangote Group is passionate about lifting Nigerias economy through strategic investment and job creation.

He added that the huge project does not only fit into the BIP and National Sugar Master Plan, but also the diversification agenda of the government.

The integrated sugar complex to be located in Tunga comprises of an initial 60,000ha sugar plantation and two sugar factories with capacity to produce 430,000tpa of refined white sugar representing about 30 per cent of the countrys consumption.(NAN)

Source: NAN News