Prince Philips coffin has been interred in the royal vault of St Georges Chapel.

It was placed on a catafalque on a marble slab andlowered into the vault by an electric motor.

The vault was created between 1804 and 1810 for George III, who died in 1820 and is one of three kings buried there. The other two are George IV and William IV.

Horns were played as his coffin was lowered down.

A blessing was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury before the choir sang the national anthem, God Save the Queen.

The members of the royal family looked up as the choir sangwhile the queen bowed her head.

The 94-year-old monarch was then led out of the church by thearchbishop and followed by her family members.

Prince William, her grandson, was seen glancing back at the vault as he left his pew.h

In the funeral procession which departed Windsor Castle to the chapel was Queen Elizabeth II, who was driven in a car. It was her first appearance in public since the death of her husband.

Philips coffin had been draped with his personal standard and was driven in a green military Land Rover Defender.

The children of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward walked behind the Land Rover.

Also in the procession were the Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Prince William, Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence, and the Earl of Snowdon.

Queen Elizabeth II followed behind in a car.

For the eight-minute procession, a gun was fired by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kenya will rely on charter flights to boost tourism numbers during the challenging Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) period, a government official said Saturday.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the charter flights Kenya is receiving signals the growing confidence in the countrys tourism products and preparedness against COVID-19.

I thank the marketers and travel agents who are working tirelessly to bring visitors to Kenya. I assure you of the governments support, we need to all work together to revive the sector fully, Balala said in a statement issued in Mombasa after receiving the first-ever flight from Ukraine to Kenya.

The flight operated by Bees Airline, a Ukrainian Charter operator and marketed by Travel Professional Group (TPG), landed in Kenya carrying 189 visitors from Ukraine.

Of the 189 passengers in the flight, 21 were travel agents traveling for product knowledge and to sample Kenyan tourism products and offering in order to sell the destination to consumers in their country.

Balala said that the flight was testament to the advancements Kenya is making in markets which are not deemed traditional source markets for Kenyas tourism.

He noted that the destinations tourism products resonate well with the needs of consumers from the Eastern European region.

I am glad to note the progress that we are making as a destination in attracting tourists from different markets, Balala said.

Kenya last month received the first-ever Romanian charter in Kenya carrying 200 visitors, said the official, noting that the flight has had five rotations into the country with another one expected later this month.

We must ensure that we explore all the available markets and tap into them. This is especially now more important with there being less travel across the globe, Balala said.

He welcomed the visitors, noting that the flight had come at an important time and provided hope for the recovery of the Kenyas tourism which had been severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Balala said the Ukrainian market presents an opportunity to push beach and wildlife products that resonate well with the consumers from the country.

The arrival numbers from Ukraine have been incremental over the last few years with Kenya receiving 1,523 visitors in 2017 and 1,892 visitors in 2019.

Currently, there is great opportunity to grow the numbers through charters especially due to the challenging environment brought about by the pandemic, Balala said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yemens Houthi militia said they fired an explosive-laden drone on Saturday toward King Khalid Air Base in the Saudi southwestern city of Khamis Mushait.

The hit was accurate, Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement reported by the rebel groups al-Masirah TV.

Saudi Arabia has made no comment on the alleged attack.

Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib in central Yemen.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadis government. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Uganda will import five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines next month after the discovery of new COVID-19 variants in the country, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

In a televised address to the nation late Friday, Museveni said the vaccines will be used to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of the 5.5 million elderly.

People below 50 years, with underlying medical conditions that are at high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, will also be vaccinated.

Uganda targets to vaccinate more than 21.9 million people who face the highest risk of the infection, including the health workers, teachers, social workers and security personnel, elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.

The government is working hard to ensure we bring another five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of May to complete the threshold vaccination and ensure that those vaccinated before getting the second booster dose, said Museveni.

Vaccines are the most effective intervention we have against COVID-19.

The government and partners are working hard to bring vaccines to most adult Ugandans to protect them and to support us to reopen the economy and get back all our children to school.

Henry Mwebesa, Director-General of Health Services, last week said Uganda is scheduled to receive some two million more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in May through the COVAX facility.

Uganda has so far received 964,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX vaccine sharing programme and the Indian government.

As of April 16, a total of 220,893 people had been inoculated with the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health statistics.

The country has reported the emergence of the highly transmissible COVID-19 variants which were first reported in Britain, South Africa and Nigeria.

The ministrys data showed that as of April 16, Uganda had registered a cumulative total of 41,340 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 40,898 recoveries and 338 deaths. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

Saturdays Rivers local government councils poll, recorded low voters turnout, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units across the state.

Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt blamed the situation on mass boycott by the electorate, because there were no opposition parties in the state.

Mrs Beatrice Chuku, a resident of Obio/Akpor area said that she needed not to worry herself going to the poll because the ruling party in the state would always win the election at all cost.

Chuku stated that the current political situation in the state had made it possible for candidates of the ruling party to emerge winners without stress.

Mr Princewill Chinedu, another resident, corroborated the claim, saying that the system of voting without other parties made him to lose interest in the exercise.

I have gone to my ward and its only PDP and APGA agents present and these agents I know them as PDP members, so casting my vote looks like am stabbing myself because I know that this is not proper election.

You can see people walking around, see boys playing football on the street, this should tell you that people no longer want to fool themselves in the name of voting.

Government should do the right thing regarding our current system of election, they should start voting through electronic system so that anybody that win election will work for the masses that elected him or her into that position, he said.

But, Mr Sunday Uche, another resident said Nigerians have duties to elect their representatives at all levels.

I have voted and am happy that I voted because it is my constitutional right to vote and elect those who will lead the local councils in the state.

Many people have decided to boycott the election for some reasons, but the same people will start complaining about bad governance after failing to play their roles in ensuring that good candidates were voted to power.

I think theres need for us to change our attitudes of boycotting elections and complaining of bad governance later, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

Saturdays Rivers local government councils poll, recorded low voters turnout, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units across the state.

Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt blamed the situation on mass boycott by the electorate, because there were no opposition parties in the state.

Mrs Beatrice Chuku, a resident of Obio/Akpor area said that she needed not to worry herself going to the poll because the ruling party in the state would always win the election at all cost.

Chuku stated that the current political situation in the state had made it possible for candidates of the ruling party to emerge winners without stress.

Mr Princewill Chinedu, another resident, corroborated the claim, saying that the system of voting without other parties made him to lose interest in the exercise.

I have gone to my ward and its only PDP and APGA agents present and these agents I know them as PDP members, so casting my vote looks like am stabbing myself because I know that this is not proper election.

You can see people walking around, see boys playing football on the street, this should tell you that people no longer want to fool themselves in the name of voting.

Government should do the right thing regarding our current system of election, they should start voting through electronic system so that anybody that win election will work for the masses that elected him or her into that position, he said.

But, Mr Sunday Uche, another resident said Nigerians have duties to elect their representatives at all levels.

I have voted and am happy that I voted because it is my constitutional right to vote and elect those who will lead the local councils in the state.

Many people have decided to boycott the election for some reasons, but the same people will start complaining about bad governance after failing to play their roles in ensuring that good candidates were voted to power.

I think theres need for us to change our attitudes of boycotting elections and complaining of bad governance later, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says a super Nigeria is possible if the countrys youths wake up to leadership challenges with renewed national consciousness.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, made the remark at a forum organised by the Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Institution on Saturday in Lagos.

Nwosu, who was represented by Peter Ede, ADC National Vice President (North Central), said that an awesome and excellent Nigeria was possible with the reawakening of national consciousness and inclusiveness.

Our mentality needs a to change, our orientation needs to change. We must build the peoples minds. A super Nigeria is very possible because we are unique people.

It is now left for Nigeria to have national consciousness. To make Nigeria super, Nigerian youths now need to look deeply into themselves and take possession the country and create a better tomorrow.

A super Nigeria is possible. ADC is out to run an inclusive government and that is what Nigeria needs now, he said.

Nwosu said that the ADC was a youth compliant organisation, saying that the party was proud to be associated with the youth group.

According to him, the ADC remains a credible third force political party, having won some seats in the 2019 general elections.

He said that party was dominated by great people of integrity, discipline, honour and intellect that would take over the leadership of the country come 2023.

He urged the youths to learn to cut cost of governance and manage diversity, saying that the nations strength was in its diversity and not in secession.

Speaking, Chief Vincent Ubani, Head, Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Panel Committee and Initiator Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Institution (NYHDECI), urged youths to resist whatever could destabilise the nation.

Ubani, a 2019 governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Abia, said: It is time for the youth to take over leadership but to do so, we must come together to get involved in politics.

He said that the group had adopted ADC as credible alternative for youths to run for elections in Nigeria to ensure brighter future for the nation.

Ubani presented to the party the Certificate of Return as the winner of the 2021 Youth Takeover Leadership Electoral College Committee on behalf of the Coalition.

He said that the coalition would also call for a national youth summit and young party candidates national convention before the 2023 general elections.

In his remarks, Maurice Ebam, ADC National Youth Leader, urged Nigerian youths to unite in their strength as ADC remained a credible alternative to create a progressive Nigeria of the Youths dream. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Moses Omorogieva

Police have arrested four teenagers, including three secondary school students, in Lagos for allegedly attempting to attack a rival group in a secondary school.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday.

Adejobi stated that the police operatives, attached to Alakuko Division in Lagos Command, arrested the suspects on Friday.

He said that the suspected cultists came from Ogun for reprisal attacks on other rival cult members at the Junior Secondary School, Akinyele, Alakuko in Lagos.

According to him, the suspects are between the ages of 14 and 18.

He said that two of the suspects were from Odewale Community High School, Ijoko Ogun, one from Tunik International School, Dalemo Alakuko, Lagos and one tailoring apprentice at Dalemo Alakuko.

The police operatives had got winds of the planned reprisal attacks on their rivals in the school and raced to the scene immediately the suspects arrived to cause pandemonium and attack their targets.

Items like cutlasses, weeds suspected to be cannabis and assorted charms were recovered from them, he stated.

In another development, the operatives of the D9 (Anti Robbery) Section of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, on Saturday arrested three 19-year-old suspected armed robbers/cultists.

The police spokesman said that acting upon information from members of the public, police operatives arrested the suspect at Marble Guest House, No 33, Ajibike Street, Ogudu, Ojota, at about 3.25 a.m.

Adejobi stated that one Beretta pistol, weeds suspected to be cannabis and assorted charms were also recovered from them.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that the suspected cultists be moved to the Commands Special Squad, Ikeja, for proper investigation.

Odumosu also directed that the suspected armed robbers be properly investigated and profiled by the Anti Robbery Section of the State CID. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderemi Bamgbose

The police in Ondo State has commended Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo for commencing work on the rebuilding of the Okitipupa Police Station, burnt during the nationwide #EndSARS protests.

The commands Spokesman, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, made the commendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Okitipupa.

Leo-Ikoro commended Tofowomo, who represents Ondo South Senatorial District, for his interest in promoting security.

The senator promised to rebuild the station after it was burnt by protesters, this promise got the approval of the Inspector-General of police.

As we can see, bulldozers are already evacuating the debris of the burnt structure in readiness for reconstruction work to begin, he said.

The police spokesman urged well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to toe the path of the senator by supporting security agencies.

Security is the business of everybody, the society will be better secured if we truly make it our business, he said.

Leo-Ikoro urged members of the public to always support the police with reliable information to enable it to fight crime effectively.

NAN recalls that several structures housing government establishments were attacked during the Oct. 22, nationwide protest against police brutality. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Martins Abochol

A police orderly attached to Mr Shoban Tikari, Chairman of Takum local government council of Taraba, was on Saturday killed by suspected bandits who opened fire on the chairmans vehicle in Dogo-Gawa village in Takum LGA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased policeman was of the 67 Mobile Police Squadron, located in the area.

Tikari, who confirmed the attack, said the militia, in their numbers, launched an attack on his motorcade while on his way to Takum, claiming the life of the deceased in the process.

The chairman, who declined giving the name of the deceased, called on the Federal government to deploy more security personnel to the area.

Takum and Wukari councils, in southern Taraba have in recent times witnessed a surge of bandit attacks leading to death of civilians and security personnel. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has assured that the House would give Dangote Sugar Refinery in the state all the necessary legislative backing and support to succeed.

This, the speaker said, was to enhance the economic and security status of the state considering the benefit of the refinery in the overall development of the state and the country at large.

Abdullahi gave the assurance on Saturday when he led other Principal Officers of the House on an on-the- spot assessment to Dangote Sugar Refinery, Tunga, Awe Local Government Area of the State.

The speaker said that the visit was to see things for themselves and appreciated Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group for establishing the refinery in the state.

We appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for this project in our state as this project is a pride to Tunga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria and indeed Africa as a whole.

The project will tackle unemployment thereby putting our unemployed youths and other people off the street.

As it will also improve on the standard of living of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

Apart from the economic benefits, the project will also boost the security of the state as before now this place is a thick forest and hidden place where criminals will go out and perpetrate their criminal act, comes back and hide, he said.

Abdullahi commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for ensuring that the project was established in the state when he was the Managing Director of the Sugar refinery of Dangote Group.

I also want to commend the host community, Tunga, Awe Local government for supporting the establishment of the refinery in their communities and I call for their continued support to enable the project succeed.

Responding, Alhaji Bello Dan-Musa, the General Manager, Government and Strategic Relations, Dangote Industries Ltd, who briefed the speaker on the companys journey so far in the state appreciated the speaker and his entourage for the visit.

Danmusa said that the visit would further boost the relationship between the House and Dangote refinery.

The general manager expressed the determination of Dangote to continue to invest in Nigeria in order to tackle unemployment and uplift the standard of living of Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the speaker and his entourage inspected equipment, centre pivot machine, pump station among other facilities at the site. ( NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Federal Government on Saturday assured Lagos residents that section one of the ongoing reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonsoki Expressway project would be completed within three weeks.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, who gave the assurance during a joint inspection with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said section one of the road would be opened afterwards.

Popoola said that the rehabilitation works, which had been divided into four sections, were to ease port congestion and gridlock at the Apapa axis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section one spans from Liverpool Round through Creek Road to Beachland near Sunrise and is about 10 kms, while section two is 8.4 km and spans from Beachland to Cele Bus Stop.

NAN reports further that the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2018 to resolve Apapa traffic gridlock.

The contract was awarded to AGDangote Construction Company Ltd at the cost of N73bn under the Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal Government.

The NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, led a delegation which joined the Ministry of Works team on an on-the-spot assessment of construction works.

After a brief meeting under the Liver Pool Round Bridge to assess ongoing rehabilitation works on the Bridge Ramp, the inspection continued through Tin-Can Island second gate to Beach Land/Sunrise area.

Conclusions were reached after extensive deliberation between the two teams and Hitech Construction Company, the sub-contractor handling the project on behalf of the Dangote Group.

Briefing newsmen, Popoola said that grey areas as regards accessibility due to trucks infringing on construction zone and disagreements on the pace of construction had been resolved.

He said that the inspection allowed the NPA delegation to see for themselves that the contractor had been working progressively.

And this section that we are is the end of section one which we have completed. We will complete the remaining portion within the next three weeks, especially the asphalt work.

So within that three weeks, the outstanding works will be completed fully and then the section one will be made available to the motorists.

We (FMW) also complained about the trucks that are infiltrating the road while we are working. We have told them (NPA) that we cannot allow trucks to flock onto the section where we are working because they will disturb the contractor.

So the trucks will now be monitored and controlled fully.

Both the NPA security, the Nigerian Police, LASTMA and then the contractors representative will form a synergy to work out how they will be controlling the trucks that enter into the port road henceforth, Popoola said.

The controller added that agreement had also been reached for the contractor to move to site to begin construction works on section two of the project which had just been awarded.

He said that work on section three and four had progressed, adding that it had achieved more than 70 per cent completion cumulatively.

Popoola said that the entire project would be completed and handed over within the next nine to 10 months, including section two which had just been awarded.

The NPA Managing Director said that agreements were reached on timelines for construction works in order not to disrupt port operations.

Usman also said resolutions were reached to ensure that the contractor worked during the weekends and on public holidays to ease congestion.

She said it was resolved that a corridor would be opened for trucks movement in addition to palliative works on some roads and another inspection in three weeks on section one.

She promised that truck movement would be sequenced, adding that, a synergy meeting would hold to map out how the trucks movement in batches would work.

Usman added that discussions were on with the Lagos State Government on how to ensure enforcement against extortion of truck drivers as well as cleaning up shanties and social miscreants.

And I think sanitising the area is what will enable us have that sanity and concluding the construction works.

Removing all those shanties and illegal structures around the port corridors is what will enable us remove the presence of miscreants that harass the truck drivers, she said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Eletuo

Mr Ifeoluwa Adefile, Youth President of St. Berths Anglican Church, on Saturday, admonished Nigerian youths to be resourceful and contribute to the nation-building for posterity.

Adefile gave the admonition during the 2021 St. Berths Anglican Church Youth conference in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day conference, which attracted youths from other denominations; focused on youths contributions to a better society.

He said that since the history of human society, youths have been known to always come to the rescue of societies in trying times.

The president, who frequently referenced the Holy Scripture, asked youths to emulate Prophet Nehemiah, who at his time, mobilised his people to rebuild the wall of Jericho after its dilapidation to bring relief to the people.

The state of the nation has gotten to the point where resourceful youths like ours should no longer stand aloof by not allowing things to degenerate to the crisis.

As insightful leaders, we should chart the way forward, get involved in leadership choice processes to institute an egalitarian society where equity.

We should also be obedient to the rule of law and social-economic development.

As a subunit of the church, we should bring our ingenuity to bear on all facets of the Nigerian society to halt the mirage of the human and environmental crisis confronting the nation, NAN quotes Adefile as saying.

He, however, decried youths involvement in vices, organised crimes and other deviant behaviours.

He charged them to rather live exemplary lives that would spur others around them to be good citizens.

It is only when youths conducts conform to acceptable norms that the society will allow them to hold leadership positions in the polity.

Ms Chidinma Ezeudo, who was the facilitator of the conference, said that youths should not stand aloof in nation-building.

She added that youths should tailor their resourcefulness to grow the nations social-political-economy for sustainability.

According to her, the church has a tradition of grooming youths through various programmes to become outstanding in every endeavour.

Ezeudo said that the conference was one of such efforts. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Clara Egbogota

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Delta, Uchechukwu Wihioka, has advised the newly elected state executive officers of Special Marshals to carry out their duties with diligence and professionalism.

Wihioka gave the advice on Saturday at the election of the state executives of the Special Marshals held at the FRSC Sector Command in Asaba.

He urged them to discharge their duties responsibly and work selflessly for the good and development of the state.

As the word connotes, you are special people, highly respected Nigerians with integrity. Special Marshals are volunteers, and are out to save lives, and complement the FRSCs roles.

You should improve on your activities of saving lives on Nigerian roads, especially in Delta State, and as well, look at what can be done to improve on everything relating to your activities in this command.

You should improve on rescue, enforcement and public education of motorists within and around your various unit commands, he said.

Also, Chief Kennedy Idolor, the newly elected State Coordinator of Special Marshals, urged them to reawaken their consciences on the daily activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 31 special marshal executives (units/states) were elected. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ishaq Zaki

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Zamfara State have advised governments at all levels, to adopt the policy of always involving communities in the selection of projects, to forestall misplacement of priorities.

Executive Director, Zamfara-based CSO, Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), Mr. Musa Aboki, gave the advice in Gusau, on Saturday, at a session on Project Monitoring, Information sharing with stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session was jointly organized by the Join Future Hope Foundation, Voluntary Aid Initiative, Life Helpers Initiative and Millennium Development Center in partnership with Women Environmental Program Abuja.

Aboki said many projects were abandoned in Zamfara, while others had been appearing repeatedly in annual budgets of both the federal and state governments.

According to him, the CSOs had selected and monitored Federal and state governments projects that have direct impact on women and girls, to ensure their implementation based on the budgets.

Mr. Aboki, who lamented over some abundant projects and repetition of same projects in annual budgets, said this called for communities to be fully informed about any projects meant for them and full public disclosure about the projects for transparency and accountability.

On his part, the Zamfara state Commissioner for information, Mr. Ibrahim Dosara, who chaired the session, called on the CSOs to always work with the supervising MDAs for proper guidance and accurate information about the projects, while commending them for organising the session to balance their reports.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Habib Yelwa explained that, some of the projects in question had been completed, but in different locations for some obvious reasons, and called on the CSOs to pay visits to the sites.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Lawal, revealed that the state government was working to ensure compatibility of the projects with women and childrens needs, with a special consideration for people living with disabilities.

Many stakeholders who graced the occasion commended the CSOs for engaging governments to stand up to their responsibilities for a better Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the Digital Switch Over (DSO) will help to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of States through its value added services.

The Minister said this on Saturday when he led members of the Ministerial Task Force on a visit to the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed is chairman of the task force saddled with the responsibility of driving the successful execution of DSO, the process of transiting from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

The minister specifically said the value added services to be provided by DSO and FreeTv would support Local Government Areas in the 36 states in the collection of television and radio license from residents.

He said with the successful completion of DSO project, FreeTV would be available nationwide on both Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct To Home (DTH) transmission.

Mohammed said in addition to broadcast services, FreeTV would also provide value added services like, Push Video on Demand, Information Services and Audience Measurement.

The DSO is not just about high fidelity sound and picture, it is about creating jobs, especially for our teeming youths, stimulating local content and empowering channel owners.

In the next three years, the DSO is capable of creating one million jobs, in the manufacturing of Set Top Box or Decoder manufacturing; TV Production, Film Production, Distribution as well as TV and Online Advertising.

He said people could also cash in on the Push Video-on-Demand capability of the FreeTV platform to access premium blockbuster Nollywood movies from the comfort of their homes.

Mohammed said the FreeTV platform could also be used to broadcast information on activities, policies and progrannmes of respective states to viewers.

A major advantage of the DSO is that viewers will not pay subscription fees.

Once they have acquired the Set Top Box and pay the once-a-year access fee, which is a token, its free viewing all the way.

Millions of Nigerians who cannot afford to pay the rising subscription fees being charged by the Pay TV platforms can now enjoy the benefit of digital television.

This is the meaning of bridging the digital divide, he said.

Mohammed recalled that the government inaugurated the DSO rollout in Jos April 30, 2016.

He said after the inaugural launch, they had rolled out in four more states Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu and Osun and the Federal Capital Territory.

The minister said they would begin the second phase of the DSO rollout in Lagos state on April 29, which would be followed by Kano state on June 3, Rivers on July 8, Yobe on July 15 and Gombe on August 12.

He said more states would be slated thereafter, until the entire country was covered.

Mohammed said the courtesy visit was to brief the governor on the roll out in Lagos and to seek the support and cooperation of the government and the people of the state.

In his response, the governor said the state would give its support to ensure the successful execution of the DSO project in the state.

Sanwo-Olu derscored the importance of the DSO in job creation, revenue generation and dissemination of information and bringing government closer to the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Federal Government announced, on Saturday, that it will rollout the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) in Lagos, on April 29, as the country transitions from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he led the Ministerial Taskforce of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Digital Switch Over (DSO) on a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina.

Mohammed said that the decision to transit to digital television followed a treaty agreement signed at the Regional Radio Communication Conference (RRC-06) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 16, 2006, to usher in all-digital terrestrial broadcast services for sound and television by a target date of June 17, 2015.

He said that this would create a more equitable, just and people-centered information society, which would connect underserved populations and remote communities, thereby bridging the digital divide.

According to him, the proposed rollout in Lagos will be a critical milestone for the DSO and the creative industry, as over one million jobs would be provided nationwide.

We launched the DSO rollout in Jos, Plateau State, on April 30, 2016. Since then we have rolled out in four more states, Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, and Osun, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory, bringing the total to five states and the FCT.

We are now moving rapidly to cover the remaining 31 states. We are kick-starting the new rollout here in Lagos State on April 29, 2021.

Kano State follows on June 3, 2021, Rivers State on July 8, 2021, Yobe State on July 15, 2021 and Gombe State on August 12, 2021, with more states slated thereafter.

The rollout in Lagos reflects our decision to take the DSO to commercial centres across the country.

With a population of over 20 million, and projected TV households of over five million, the launch of FreeTV in Lagos State will be a critical milestone for the DSO and for Nigerias broadcast and creative industry, he said.

The minister added that with the FreeTV of the DSO, Nigerians would have opportunities to watch over 60 channels with great content, at a cheaper rate, and without subscription to payTV.

Presenting. Sanwo-Olu with the Set-Top-Box for the DSO, he said that it would also enable government to get the data of every household with television.

Mohammed said that this would make the collection of television and radio licenses easier, adding that the Nigerian Broadcasting Code (NBC) had been amended to make provisions for the switch over from analog to digital.

The minister disclosed that six months after the rollout of the DSO in Lagos, the NBC would ask television stations to shut down their analog broadcast equipment, thereby making more spectrum available for data and other telecommunication services.

He stressed that the DSO was relevant to the Lagos Smart City Project and the Lagos Broadband initiative.

Mohammed, therefore, urged Sanwo-Olu to direct the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) to provide out-of-home boards, lamp post and other publicity support for the DSO launch for at least three months.

Lagos State, which is the hub of the Creative Industry, will take a large share of the one million jobs to be created.

Since FreeTV helps to provide Value Added Services, the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State will be supported in the collection of Television and Radio Licenses from residents.

With FreeTVs push system for information services, the FreeTV platform can be used to broadcast information on Lagos State activities to all viewers.

A major advantage of the DSO is that viewers will not pay subscription fees. Once they have acquired the Set-Top-Box and pay the once-a-year access fee, which is a token, it is free viewing all the way.

Millions of Nigerians, who cannot afford to pay the rising subscription fees being charged by the PayTV platforms, can now enjoy the benefit of digital television. This is the meaning of bridging the digital divide, he said.

In his response, Sanwo-Olu said that his administration would support the switch-over, as it would enhance job creation and content development.

He said that the DSO would also provide opportunity for government to use the content coming out of it to inform and engage with the citizens, as well as bringing governance closer to the people.

The governor advised the Ministerial Taskforce to make the FreeTV box and after sale support easily accessible.

The movement from analogue set up that we currently have to digital is apt and it speaks to the reality of what we have today.

Everywhere in the world, technology is now a fundamental and critical deliverable of government. It presents an opportunity for citizens to have access to local, national and international space.

As a forward looking state, we are in partnership and we see it as bringing the future to our citizens, so we do not have a problem with it at all.

Even for us as a state, we have been developing what we call a metropolitan fiber optics to provide fiber connectivity as one of the solutions for our citizens to have access to cheaper data.

We will support the DSO. We will help. We want Lagos to continue to set the space for the nation. We will help our people to be exposed to modern and international best practices. We will be willing to work with you and ensure that we deliver jointly on April 29, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abdulfatai Beki

The management of the llorin International Airport says it has put in place measures to nip any security threat in the bud.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had on April 9 issued an alert of security threat of attacks on some airports in the country.

The circular addressed to Airport Chiefs of Security in the country and signed by S.M. Mamman, Deputy General Manager, Administration and Logistics, listed the targeted airports to include Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja and Lagos.

It directed all the airport security chiefs to convene emergency meetings of their security committees to review the security status of the airports and fashion out measures to tackle any threats.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Adeyemi Oluwakayode, the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairsof the Ilorin International Airport, said that security had been beefed up at the airport following the alert.

He said that military, para-military and police personnel had been deployed to provide maximum security at all times to combat any form of threat.

There is no problem at the llorin international Airport as all the security outfits are on the alert at the Airport at all times, Oluwakayode said.

The Deputy General Manager said that the management will continue to collaborate with security agencies to ensure security at the airport.

He assured travelers using the airport of adequate protection of livesand property. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Sumaila
Federal Government says it will develop a national implementation guideline on the Accelerated Basic Education Curriculum (ABEC) programme to address issue of out of school children.

Prof Ismail Junaidu, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), disclosed this at a workshop in Abuja on Saturday.

The Workshop on Training of Master Trainers on ABEC was organised by Plan International Nigeria for selected teachers in crisis ridden states in the North-East.

Junaidu explained that the guidelines would be all inclusive where states and stakeholders including non-governmental organisations as well as development partners expected to key into the programme.

The train-the-trainers strategy will give us the opportunity of training a larger number of teachers as we plan for a national rollout of the programme.

Currently, we are at the verge of completing the piloting of the programme in Borno State and environs.

It is important that I inform you that the result from the pilot-testing exercise gives further impetus to stay on course in our intention to use the programme as to bring down the number of out-of-school youths and children in Nigeria.

Let me also inform you that while some teacher support materials have been completely developed others are in the completion stages, he said.

The executive secretary said one of the critical requirements for the successful implementation of the ABEC is the availability of teachers who were adequately prepared to effectively teach the contents of the curriculum.

According to him, ABEC is a specialised curriculum with unique implementation strategy which makes it very essential that teachers are given special training on the use of the curriculum.

One way of getting teachers trained on the implementation of the curriculum is to train a select number of teachers who will in turn train other teachers.

Principally, the training is intended to provide adequate guidance to the teachers towards ensuring that the learners derive maximum benefits from the well-designed curriculum.

It will also give the teachers the opportunity to interact deeply with the curriculum and the programme structure, he added.

Junaidu, however, commended Plan International led consortium for its commitment to the ABEC Programme in the country.

He added that since the beginning of the organisations partnership with the federal government on this project, it had continued to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the successful implementation of ABEC.

In her remarks, Mrs Jummai Musa, Director, Programme Quality and Innovation of Plan International Nigeria, decried the rate of out of school children in the country.

Musa said in the past 11 years of insurgency in the country, there were children that were born that period that had no access to education due to collapse education system in some communities.

She explained that a curriculum had been designed for abridged programme for such children in order to be placed in their appropriate classes with a view to have them in schools.

According to her, the number of out of school children is alarming, hence the need for well meaning organisations to work with the government to address it.

She added that Plan International was committed and ready to support the government to drive the implementation of ABEC initiative. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra branch, says the prolonged nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is affecting the justice system.

Mr Kingsley Awuka, Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of the eight branches of NBA in Anambra, made the assertion in a statement in Awka on Saturday.

The statement said that the decision of the Governors Forum to suspend discussion and engagement of JUSUN was uncharitable, unpatriotic and totally unacceptable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN began a nationwide indefinite strike on April 6 over the non-implementation of judicial financial autonomy as enshrined in the Constitution.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed an Executive Order granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and State House of Assembly in May 2020, after several agitations.

However, the gazetting of the order was suspended after Buhari met with governors, who later expressed concern over its constitutionality.

It said: The justice sector of our country is progressively sliding into the destructive dungeon with no hope in sight of its recovery.

All the courts have been under lock and key with many pending cases. Time and space will not permit us to enumerate the inexhaustible evil consequences of this ugly situation,

The committee urged the 36 states governors to commence the implementation of judicial financial autonomy in the country.

We particularly urge Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra to ignore the decision of the Governors Forum and commence the implementation of judicial financial autonomy in the state.

The statement said that the committee fully lends its support to the demands of JUSUN and shall sustain the support until the demands were met. (NAN)

Source: NAN News