By Monday Ijeh
The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Nigeria, an health-based NGO, has called on Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to explore other sources of funding to sustain their activities outside donors support or grants.

Dr Victor Igharo, the Director of TCI stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Igharo spoke at the end of a 5-Day training workshop on Resource Mobilisation and Proposal Writing organised for CBOs, under the Family Planning (FP) and Adolescents and Youths (AY) programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the TCI is a three- year urban reproductive health programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Participants at the workshop were drawn from Kano, Bauchi, Ogun, Niger, Edo, and Delta states.

The participants were representatives of Faith Based Organisation (FBO), Advocacy Core Group (ACG), Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) and the Media Forum for FP and AY programmes.

The TCI boss, said the training would be taken in phases due to the COVID-19 protocols, adding that with the conclusion of the first phase, the second phase would come up in two weeks.

He noted that the training remained an invaluable resource that any organisation would need to remain afloat.

Igharo urged the participants to make effective use of the training, by thinking outside the box to mobilise additional funds to sustain their various activities and programme in the country.

He said the training was to enable the CBOs build the skills to attract additional resources, either through proposal writing to new donors or employ other ways of increasing their financial flow without solely depending on supports or grants.

In Nigeria, for about five years, we have implemented and supported states to build platforms, structures and even worked with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and independent platforms and pressure groups.

One of the challenges that we have in the platform, is that facilitators are not able to sustain the activities without the support of the originators of the programme.

So, we felt that to equip members of these platforms with skills that will help them thrive or survive with or without our funding, they need resource mobilisation skills.

That is the reason we have put this training together, Igharo said.

He said that every project has a life cycle, adding that the idea behind the training was to erase the challenge of sustainability of programmes in the country.

According to Igharo, TCI is a platform with several projects on it.

We do not know what the future looks like, but we are optimistic that even newer projects and interventions will spring up.

Every project has a time frame, and we are currently implementing FP and AY projects and by the original design, the first phase of these projects are supposed to round up in September this year.

But we are already making plans for the second phase of the projects and we have confidence that some states we have partnership with, will follow us through to the second phase.

The kind of mechanism we run is that there is a certain period of exposure that our partner states should have with TCI and then, they should be able to run the things they have learnt during the period of exposure.

So, we are currently in the stage of graduating our first states, graduate our older states, and bring new ones on board.

We are currently operating in 13 states in Nigeria for our combine projects and we have two states lined up to also join us, she said.

Igharo urged the participants not to allow the training to waste, adding that we have equipped you with tools and information that can actually help you way beyond just project engagement.

Also in an interview, Mr Nasiru Gwarzo, representing SBCC in Kano, and Mr Yakubu Abubakar, of Interfaith, from Bauchi, lauded the TCI for the training.

They said that the skills acquired would support their understanding and enable them approach family planning issues for increased impact.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo, on Wednesday in Benin said the present state government is on a mission to revolutionise sports in its domain.

Shaibu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) policies were in place to maintain the gymnasium hall which has just been equipped with new facilities.

Edo is back to its number one position, and Edo is the traditional home of sports in Nigeria.

Edo has been on recess for a long time and the governor of Edo has reawakened that consciousness in our people by putting in place this infrastructure.

Also, by bringing out policies that will not only work now but which are also sustainable policies even after this government.

So, when I say there is a sports revolution taking place in Edo, I am not refering to only gymnastics or football but the entiresports.

We have had 38 sports during this Edo 2020 and there was no clash of any of the activities and everything was evenly spread.

This is to tell you that our facility development programme is not fixed but spread to all sports, he said.

Shaibu, whose state recorded the highest number of medals in gymnastics - 27 in total - at the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), lauded his team for their performance.

He added that the facilities at the gymnasium venue would aid the preparation of the Nigerian team to the Olympics.

It makes me feel so great. In the last sports festival in Abuja, their performance was the same.

It shows that gymnastics has come to stay in Edo and we are the best in the country presently. You can see it from the facilities we have here.

These are world-class facilities, the latest of all equipment as far as gymnastics is concerned in the world.

These facilities are the same facilities our Olympic team will be using at the Olympics in Tokyo in July.

So, for us, it is a huge investment and I am excited that at this NSF the athletes were able to show that that Edo is the home of gymnastics, he added.

Source: NAN News

Some residents of North-East have attributed the rise in price of Cement to the widening gap between the demand and supply of the product.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey in Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa as well as Jigawa, indicated an average of 40 per cent increase in price.

Respondents to the survey said several challenges affected production in factories, one of which is the outbreak of COVID-19, thus reducing supply, while demand kept increasing.

Some of the respondents also condemned the activities of middlemen, saying such people capitalised on the development to further worsen the situation.

They called on government to intervene by checking the unwholesome activities of some dealers and middlemen.

Others however blamed the hike on high cost of transportation and other sundry activities associated with the business of procurement and sales of Cement in the country.

Malam Ibrahim Sanusi, a Cement Dealer at the Gombe main market described the hike as outrageous when compared with the price of same commodity the previous year.

Sanusi said in December last year, he bought a bag of Dangote brand for N2,400 and sold it for N2, 500, same with Ashaka brand.

Now, we buy Dangote Cement for N4, 000 from their depot in Gombe and sell for N4, 200, while the company price of Ashaka Cement is N3,900, and the retail price is N4, 000, he said.

On his part, Chairman of Gombe state chapter of Blocks Molders Association, Alhaji Bello Bose, said the hike in price may be deliberate.

Since October 2020, there had been scarcity of Cement in Gombe state, and now, the price has been hiked. This, to me, is deliberate, he insisted.

He added that many of his members would have left the trade if they had alternatives, and therefore called on government to intervene.

Efforts to secure comment from management of Ashaka Cement Company in Gombe state on the cause of the price hike, did not produce results.

When contacted, Head of Corporate Communications of the company, Mr Sarki Isa, promised to get back to NAN after consultations with concerned departmental heads, but as at the time of filing the report, there was still no response.

In Bauchi, Malam Bako Mohammed, Chairman, Railway Cement Depot, said that low production by manufacturers was responsible for the current high price.

Mohammed told NAN that a bag that was sold for N2,500 last year, is now N3,800.

He said that the low production had led to non-supply of the product to some retailers who had paid for it months ago.

According to him, the situation has also forced retailers who have little of it from the old stock, to determine the price.

When we try to ask questions, the manufacturers would say that the Value Added Tax (VAT) being deducted by the government on the products is too high and that is why they are not producing much.

Before, we used to go to Ashaka cement in Gombe state to procure Cement, but now, even Ashaka is not producing.

Now, because of the lack of supply, we do go as far as Obajana in Kogi, or Benue state, to buy the product.

The situation is worrisome; I had paid for my consignment since November last year but up till now, I am yet to receive my Cement, he lamented.

The chairman also said other circumstances that contributed to the hike in price included cost of transportation, loading and off-loading.

Mohammed suggested that government should discuss with manufacturers on how to address the problem.

In the past, government had done it and the price reduced drastically; the present administration can equally do same, he said.

Alhaji Abubakar Lawal, a customer, who recalled buying a bag of Cement at the rate of N2,500 last year, said same now costs N3,700.

Speaking about cause of the hike in the price, he said he had been told producers were servicing their machines, as such had stopped production.

For that reason, production decreased while demand is still the way it used to be, or even higher, resulting in price hike, he said.

Alhaji Samaila Muhammed, a Cement Dealer in Damaturu, also attributed the price hike to the drastic reduction in supply.

One of the reasons for the hike is that demand for the product is much higher than the supply of the commodity, he said.

He called for intervention of government to close the current gap between demand and supply, just as he argued that increase in ongoing capital projects nationwide, is another factor.

In his contribution, Alhaji Usman Kasim, a Cement Dealer in Yola, observed that increase in price had to do with activities of middlemen, major Suppliers/Dealers, and some top management staff of Cement companies.

I think one of the factors responsible for the increase in price, is the activities of middlemen.

These middlemen are powerful; some of them have connection with top Management officers of Cement Industries.

The only thing that will stabilise the price is for the Cement industry owners to check the activities of some of their top management staff, he advised.

Mr Sunday Haruna, member, Adamawa Builders Association, observed that due to hike in price of Cement , building activities had reduced drastically.

Many people visit our Headquarters on daily basis to hire our members.

Now, we have observed people are no longer coming to patronage our services, as usual, and we believe there is a link with the present high cost of Cement, Haruna said.

Also, a Maiduguri-based Builder, Ibrahim Khalifa, who called for intervention of government, urged the state government to resuscitate the moribund Borno Burnt Bricks factory.

Many estates in Maiduguri were constructed with bricks some years back.

Construction with bricks does not require much cement and its structures last longer, Khalifa said.

In Jigawa, Malam Usman Muhammed, a Cement Dealer for more than two decades, said no one could precisely say what was responsible for the price hike.

He said a bag now costs between N3,650 and N3,700, depending on the brand, as against last year, when the price was N2,700, adding that the development had affected patronage.

Some times ago, we were selling about 4000 bags weekly, but today, we hardly sell 1500 bags per week, Muhammed said.

He also blamed some dealers for manipulating the price in the market.

Another dealer, Musa Musa, told NAN that his sales had dropped by about 50 per cent.

Some customers, mostly private resident developers and operators of block industries in Jigawa, lamented that the price hike had affected their businesses.

Shuaibu Kabiru, a block molder, said he had been forced by circumstances to increase the price of his blocks by 15 per cent.

Alhaji Sani Ibrahim, a private resident developer, said he had been delaying his construction project for a very long time, believing the cement price would drop.

On his part, a Builder, Mr Garba Auwwal, attributed the hike in price of building materials, including Cement, to the outbreak of COVID-19.

According to him, COVID-19 pandemic has made many industries to trim down workforce, thereby reducing quantity of goods being produced, with a corresponding hike in price.

Auwwal also said the restrictions of movement of goods and services due to the pandemic, affected commodity price.

He suggested the establishment of a body that would regulate prices of building materials, including cement.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Lawal

A group under the auspices of Initiative for Conciliation and Right Protection has advocated for palliative for victims of terrorism and banditry to cushion the effect of the ugly trend.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Mable Bremah, Godwin Ekoja and Halima Bukar, Assstant Secretary, PRO and Deputy Organising Secretary respectively in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

It observed that victims of terrorism, banditry and oppressed deserved better treatment to enable such victims resettle and gradually recover from their trauma.

The statement urged Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation to collectively join hands toward ending the insecurity bedevelling the country to pave way for a better Nigeria.

It observed that Nigerians were living in an unprecedented era, an era where humans were fast reverting to their primitive barbaric natures.

The statement added that the country was being subjugated to the days of corruption, terrorism and oppression, adding that matters were getting worse by the day.

Lives are being lost in great numbers, dreams shattered and hopes lost. This has in turn led to great suffering, dejection, and even more terror.

Earlier, it was a group of people termed Boko-Haram, who were said to detest contemporary education.

But then, contrary to the portrayed image of this seemingly phantom terrorist group, their attacks spread to worship centers, markets and innocent gatherings, evoking suspicions from critical thinkers.

These attacks have greatly affected the Nigerian populace, both directly and indirectly. The worst hit region can be said to be North-Eastern Nigeria but the attacks have, over the years, affected many groups of different ethnicities and religions, it said.

It advised that every one has a duty to discharge for the betterment of Nigeria in his/her own little way.

It insisted that victims of oppression and terrorism were presently in difficult situation in Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna states as well as the victims of the #End SARS protest. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Nigerian Navy (NN), says its newest offshore survey vessel, NNS LANA, has began her homeward journey to the country.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun.

He, however, said the ship will visit ports in Lisbon, Las Palmas, Banjul and Tema-Ghana, before heading to Nigeria on May 17.

According to Dahun, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, had addressed the ships company.

The CNS noted that the foremost desire of every littoral state is to have a fleet with the right mix of platforms to meet its operational objectives.

Gambo acknowledged that the homebound voyage of NNS LANA was another milestone in the NNs fleet recapitalisation efforts.

He added that the induction of NNS LANA would enhance the Navys capacity to provide survey services and charting, which were crucial to safe navigation and maritime security.

Gambo also said that the ship would add to the Navys power of providing security to the nations maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.

The CNS appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his untiring effort and ensuring that the NN have the requisite capability to meet its constitutional mandate.

Gambo commended the entire NNS LANA ship company for their good conduct since their arrival in France, and for cooperating with Messrs OCEA, the French company that constructed the ship.

The CNS urged them to maintain the good conduct as they begin their homebound voyage.

Gambo charged them to adhere to COVID-19 protocols and extant port administrative procedures and guidelines, as well as avoid any act capable of tarnishing the image of the service and the country.

He explained that the NNS LANA was designed with some shipborne training activities intended to broaden the companys knowledge and sharpen their skills in handling the ship and its systems.

He, therefore, enjoined the ship company to take the training seriously and absorb as much as possible, as they have become potential reference point to subsequent ships company.

The CNS urged the personnel to bring to bear, the NN core values of professionalism, integrity and teamwork, so that Nigeria will maximise the value of the new ship in the protection of its maritime environment.

In her remarks, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr Modupe Irele, commended Messrs OCEA for their impressive craftsmanship in the construction of the hydrographic survey vessel, and sustaining the cordial relations between the two countries.

Irele noted that the growing collaboration between Nigerian Navy and Messrs OCEA, indicated the increased engagements between the two countries in economic, defence and security cooperation.

She commended the NN and Messrs OCEA for overcoming the difficulties, disruptions and delays caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic to complete the construction of NNS LANA.

Irele acknowledged that the desire shown by the two countries to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and increase foreign investments, was mutually shared by President Muhammadu and President Emmanuel Macron.

According to her, the shared objective has resulted in an increasing level of exchange of visits by both leaders as well as frequent bilateral visits by high level government officials of both countries.

Irele also praised the efforts of the NN under the leadership of Gambo towards ensuring the maintenance of maritime security.

I hoped that the deployment of NNS LANA will increase the capacity of the service in promoting foreign trade and commercial activities among other things.

I equally wished NNS LANA and its crew a safe and healthy passage back home in international waters. she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Role of state govt. in preventing, countering violence extremism

A News Analysis by Kayode Adebiyi of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In 2017, the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), launched the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE).

President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 24, 2017 gave a directive on the implementation of the framework and national action plan for the P/CVE stating roles and regulations as well as urging state and local governments to get involved.

We are resolved to create safe spaces for our people to engage and contribute to the prevention of violent extremism. Whereas security measures remain necessary in addressing the threat of violent extremism, a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach is urgently required if we must address the drivers of violent extremism in our society.

This Policy Framework addresses all aspects dealing with our short, medium and long term goals. The Policy Framework will mainstream peace building into our efforts in dealing with the economic and social consequences of violent extremism in rebuilding and stabilizing the North East and other parts of Nigeria recently affected by violent conflicts.

In developing this Policy Framework, we ensured the participation of multiple Agencies of Government and the Civil Society, including women, youths, unions, faith based organisations, the media and academia, and benefited from the inputs of the international community.

This effort has resulted in this Policy Framework which shall be implemented by all relevant Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies as part of their annual activities. States and Local Governments are equally encouraged to mirror and develop Action Plans that are relevant and specific to their communities in addressing the threat of violent extremism, the president said.

National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, whose office coordinates governments Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) efforts, said the policy framework was a complementary, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach for addressing threats posed by violent extremist groups.

Through existing and new platforms, the framework seeks to build capacity, improve coordination, strengthen the justice system and by integrating strategic communication, provide alternative narratives to violent extremism, he said.

The presentation of the policy framework was an acknowledgment by the government that there had to be a broad structure capable of underlying the various interventions launched to tackle the menace of violent extremism in the country.

The policy framework has four core objectives, which are: to institutionalise, mainstream and coordinate P/CVE programmes at national, state and local government levels; and to strengthen accessible justice system and respect for human rights and rule of law.

Others are: to enhance capacity of individuals and communities to prevent and counter violent extremism and recover from violent occurrences; and to institutionalise, mainstream and integrate strategic communication in P/CVE programmes at all levels.

Nigerias Counter Terrorism Centre (CTC), established in 2012 and domiciled in ONSA, is responsible for driving governments efforts in the area of P/CVE.

Since becoming the NSA, Monguno has strengthened the CTC to spearhead the implementation of the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.

Through collaboration with bilateral and multilateral organisations, as well as partner-countries, the Office has embarked on significant efforts leading to appreciable achievements of the goals of Nigerias P/CVE programme.

For instance, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Office has developed the Demobilisation, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) Action Plan for the country.

An Operational Project Team (OPT) was also constituted to monitor the implementation of the DDRR.

The Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), together with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), recently launched the STRIVE Juvenile project in Nigeria aimed to prevent and respond to violence against children by terrorist and violent extremist groups.

Through this new STRIVE action would be taken to develop coherent strategies that better serve and protect children by enhancing safe and resilient communities, in which human rights and the rule of law guide the approach to combating violent extremism.

At the launch, Monguno, represented by Rear Admiral YEM Musa, Head of CTC, stated that the launch of the STRIVE Juvenile project provides an opportunity to demonstrate the firm commitment of the Nigerian Government to counter terrorism and highlights our efforts when it comes to preventing and countering violent extremism affecting children.

Also, in partnership with UNDP, it is embarking on a series of sensitisation workshops on P/CVE targeting the National Youth Service Corps, which could lead to effectively grassroots network of P/CVE community outreach.

However, in spite of President Buhari persuading states and local governments to replicate the action plan to suit specific needs, involvement in P/CVE programmes by states has been minimal.

In actualising the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for P/CVE, it is important for government at all levels to domesticate and mainstream P/CVE efforts of the Federal Government.

Some states have shown noteworthy interest; for instance, Nigeria is a Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund beneficiary country and Kaduna and Kano states are members of the Strong Cities Network.

However, much more still needs to be done by states and local governments, whose communities are directly at risk of violent extremism and radicalisation.

ONSA has been making efforts to get states more actively involved in its P/CVE programmes in line with the first core objective of the policy document.

In 2017, as part of implementation of the policy framework, the Office partnered UNDP to organise PCVE Sensitisation and Community Advocacy Workshops in five Northern states (Kogi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory).

The workshop was to create awareness among communities and stakeholders on how to integrate efforts in preventing and responding to violent extremism.

ONSA has been sending a team of facilitators to visit states to conduct stakeholders workshops with the aim of delivering the benefits of the strategy to them.

It has also been providing capacity to MDAs at state level to domesticate implementation of the Federal Governments P/CVE programmes in the fight against terrorism.

It is not hard to see why collaboration is crucial to any modern-day effort to fight violent extremism and terrorism.

At government level, whenever there is a terror attack, federal, state and local governments bear both the burden and the loss.

In the past, the argument had always been that intervention efforts at the national level were lacking in adequate coordination and harmonisation.

However, the current ONSA has since made coordination, inter-agency collaboration and strategic communication crucial creeds which drive governments P/CVE programmes, because it understands that the multiplicity of uncoordinated efforts can be counter-productive.

Under the current policy framework, states are encouraged to appoint State P/CVE Coordinators to deliver P/CVE State Action Plans.

It is expected that the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism will be reviewed every three years.

Therefore, key aspects of its next review should include a very specific definition and clarification of the appropriate roles and responsibilities of states and local governments as it clearly has for MDAs.

Also, ONSA should continue to provide expertise, research and support to states to enable them increase their level of participation in the Federal Governments P/CVE programemes. (NANFeatures)
****If used please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prices of cement has increased by 67 per cent in the South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A market survey conducted by NAN at various wholesale and retail shops in the zone shows that the price of the product has increased almost by double when compared to the price in 2020.

A cement dealer at Kenyetta Market in Enugu State capital, Mr Ifeanyi Amadi said the increase in the products price started last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in dollar exchange.

He noted that a trailer load of Dangote cement with 600 bags initially sold at N1.5 million in 2020 but is now N2.3 million in the first quarter of 2021.

The prices change on daily basis, so as we are talking now, I cannot guarantee the prices it will be sold tomorrow, he said.

Another retailer at Uwani, Samuel Uwakwe, said he was surprised at the rate prices of the product in the country.

According to him, a bag of Dangote Cement is sold at N3,900, Unicem for N3,700; Bua Cement for N3,700 and Kogi Super Cement is sold at N3,600.

Uwakwe lamented that few individuals were given opportunity to supply the product and pleaded with suppliers to reduce the prices and make it available for the citizens.

He maintained that the prices would likely crash during raining season.

A Block Industry Owner, Mr Albert Okechukwu noted that increase in the price of the product affected his business as he still sold six-inch and nine-inch block at N170 and N180 respectively.

This is the same price we sold last year and it is same till date because we cannot change price in order to retain our customers but most block industries have reduced quality of their blocks, he said.

A site Engineer, Mr Emma Ugwuoke said he wanted to start a building in the village when the price was N2,800 last year but was waiting to see if it would come down.

When I went back next time, I was told it was N3, 000 and to my greatest surprise, they sell N3,900 and N4,000 now in my village.

There is nothing one can do than to buy it like that. I want government to do something urgently about it because it is frustrating buying cement at that price, Ugwuoke said.

In Abia, a cross-section of residents of Umuahia, the state capital, also decried the high price of cement, which ranges from N4,000 to N4,100 per 50kg bag.

Those who spoke to NAN said the price hike had further dashed the hope of many Nigerians, wishing to own their personal homes.

A businessman, Mr Victor Ugwu, said he had to suspend his building project because of the unfortunate development.

Ugwu said: I have stopped my project for now. I cannot afford to continue with the current price of the commodity.

The economy is very bad so I hope to wait until there is a drop in the price.

I think the hike can be attributed to the monopoly being enjoyed by the cement producers in the country. Unfortunately, there may not be any respite until that monopoly is broken.

However, a cement dealer, Mr James Ogbonna, said the problem had nothing to do with the manufacturers of the commodity.

Rather, Ogbonna blamed the price hike on the activities of shylock distributors of cement.

He said that the hike had affected his business adversely, adding that cement patronage had been at the lowest ebb, since the price hike.

He said: In the first and second week of March, we sold a bag for N3,200, but within the third week we started selling at N3,500.

By the end of March, the price moved up to N4,000 and now, we sell between N4,000 and N4100, depending on the brand.

Another dealer, Mr Godwin Okafor, said that his sales had dropped drastically as a result of the hike.

We have a lot of challenges in this cement business now. When we make deposit and order for the goods, it takes about one month before we get delivery, he said.

It is a similar situation in Awka in Anambra as stakeholders decry the situation.

Mr Kenechukwu Okoye, a cement dealer along Zik Avenue, Awka said before the #EndSARS protest in 2020, a 50kg bag of cement was sold at N2,500.

Shortly after the #EndSARS, the price rose to N3,000 and from there to the present price of N4,000 and N4,100, we are selling today, he said.

Okoye said though the distributors initially blamed the problem on difficulties encountered by the hauling firm transporting the product, the situation had come to stay.

In Owerri, Imo capital, price of cement is between N3,850 and N4300, depending on the brand.

At the Building Materials Market in Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area, Dangote and BUA cement are sold at N4,000 per bag while BUA and UNICEM are sold for N3,900.

Mr Okechukwu Okonya, a seller, said the cost could be attributed to high cost of transportation as a result of fuel price.

Okonya also said major dealers sometimes hoard the product in their warehouses to create artificial scarcity.

Another trader, Mr Marcel Iwu, agreed that although there had been hoarding by major dealers, manufacturers had also complained of increased cost of raw materials.

Iwu added that the prices could go higher or reduce at any given time, noting that even if prices fall, traders would want to sell off their old stock at higher rates.

NAN reports that in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, prices of almost all building materials have gone up.

The prices of cement, rods of various sizes, corrugated roofing sheets and other building materials and accessories according to NAN findings have been on the increase since January.

The price of Dangote and Bua which sold at N2,500 earlier in November and December 2020 now sold between N4000 and N4500.

Similarly, Unicem cement which also sold at N2,300 within the same period had also gone up to N4,000 and N4,300.

Mr John Okoh, a cement dealer at Kpiri-Kpiri market in an interview with NAN attributed the development to lack of price control mechanism and high rate of exchange rate of the Naira against the dollar.

The development is indeed affecting sales and business because many builders have put a stop to their building and other construction projects because they cannot cope with the present high cost of the product.

Another resident, Mr Clement Igbo, who owns a block moulding industry, said that the high cost of cement was hampering production, saying that he no longer produced maximally due to lack of buyers.

A bag of Dangote cement which is one of the best products for our business is selling for N4500 and it is difficult to buy at this prevailing price and make enough production.

We sell six inch and nine-inch block before this price increase at N150 and N200 but now 6 inch-block is sold at N220 while the 9-inch sells for between N250 and N300 respectively.

Many block industries in the town have closed down production while some have compromised standard which pose great dangers to the building industry, Igbo said.

He expressed fears that the high cost of cement which had led to improper mixture of concretes for building purpose might affect quality and standard of buildings.

Mr Jerry Onwe, an economic activist urged the Federal and state governments to revive moribund cement factories across the states to meet the increasing demands of cement consumption in Nigeria.

He noted that the quest for mass housing for poor Nigerians would remain elusive if urgent steps were not taken to address the high cost of building materials in Nigeria.

In a nation where an average worker earns N30,000 monthly as take-home wage, how can such a person afford a house of his own in view of the prevailing price of building materials?

We have reached a cross road as far as the issue of building materials is concerned and this is a time for government to intervene and bring the situation under control.

The Nkalagu Cement Factory in Ebonyi is capable of supply the cement needs of the entire South-East if properly revived, Onwe said.

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Obojeghren

Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba has lauded his Delta counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, for his outstanding accomplishments in infrastructure development in spite of the high cost.

Ishaku stated this on Friday in Asaba while inaugurating road projects in the capital city and Okpanam, near Asaba.

The projects included Jesus Saves Road, Agric Road and the dualised Okpanam Road.

He said state governments in Niger Delta deserved accolades for infrastructure development as projects, especially roads cost more in the region than in the North due to unfavourable terrain.

He said that as a one Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, he was familiar with issues, including the terrain and cost of developing infrastructure in the region, and said that he was impressed with the quality of work being done by

Okowa in the state.

I am happy to be here in Delta for this momentous and historical occasion.

Okowas performance is a testament of the quality of leaders the PDP is putting up for governance in the states where they are leading.

I must commend him for his competence, integrity, commitment and indeed his wonderful contributions to the growth and development of Delta and Nigeria.

I am aware of his outstanding accomplishments in education, road construction, water supply as well as the empowerment of women and youths in the state, he said.

Ishaku added: I have been opportuned to be Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and I know how difficult and how expensive it is to build roads in the Niger Delta because it costs up to four to five times of what we spend in the North.

Not many people know what goes on underground in the roads and our people need to be told what Niger Delta states pass through in constructing roads.

In most cases people dont understand that the underground drainages cost even more than asphalting of the road itself.

It is imperative that we continue to sustain our support to governors like Okowa, who has been doing extremely well for his people and for the PDP.

Ishakua added that PDP governors were working hard by providing the people with live-changing projects, and said as we approach 2023, I urge Nigerians to support the party in our quest to take back power at the centre.

Happily today the residents of these roads have joined the community of beneficiaries of the Okowa-led administration.

Without mincing words we are proud of you, Governor Okowa, because you have done us proud in PDP and you have made your people happy as well.

The governor thanked resients of the state for the support and cooperation to Okowa and PDP, and urged them to remain committed in sustaining their support.

On his part, Okowa welcomed Ishaku to state, saying we are happy as a people and happy as a state and on behalf of the government and people of Delta we welcome you to our state.

As has been said, this area we are inaugurating this road today used to be a very difficult terrain and I must publicly appreciate the contractor, CCECC, for a great job done especially for achieving the ground sewer to the Amilimocha River.

Today the sewer is under the ground and with the reconstruction of the roads and the drains, everything looks so good and we are happy that you are here to inaugurate these important roads.

On the Okpanam road project, he said that the road was very key because it connected the twin towns of Asaba and Okpanam.

According to him, the road connects two Local Government Areas (LGAs) and we have completed it by ensuring that the storm water which used to be very problematic is now a thing of the past.

We have completed six out of the eight storm drainages and still have two more to ensure the completion of the entire storm drainages in Okpanam and Asaba and thereafter we can sleep with our two eyes closed, Okowa added.

Okowa thanked the people of Asaba and Okpanam for their cooperation and support in enabling the growth of the states capital territory.

Earlier in their welcome remarks, Chairman Oshimili South LGA, Mr Kelvin Ezenyili and his Oshimili North counterpart, Mr Innocent Esewezie, said that the area was host to the state capital but had never had it as good in infrastructure development as the present administration in the state had done.

Specifically, Esewezie said that the importance of roads to the growth and development of any society could not be over-emphasised.

Source: NAN News

By Priscilla Osaje

Alhaji Saleh Rabo, President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria(FTAN) is dead.

FTAN Public Relations Officer (North), Mr Joseph Karim, in a statement in Abuja, said that Rabos immediate family confirmed his passing on Friday.

He said that Rabo died on Friday in his residence, Abuja after a protracted illness and had been buried according to Islamic rites.

According to him, FTAN condoled with the family of the late President and the entire tourism trade community in Nigeria.

Rabo will be remembered for his loving personality, tolerance of detractors, genteelness in leadership, camaraderie and go-getting spirit.

He was a consummate travel and tourism professional and investor.

Rabo died being the Managing-Director of All States Travels with office in Transcorp Hilton Abuja, he said.

He said that Rabo first became the President of FTAN in June 2017, after winning a landslide victory at the general elections of the federation, and was subsequently re-elected in 2019 for his second and final term.

His tenure was due to elapse in July 2021 before his death.

The late FTAN president was previously the Vice-President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) Abuja zone.

During his time as FTAN President, Saleh accomplished a number of tourism industry developmental milestones, he said.

Karim gave some of them as a befitting secretariat for FTAN in Abuja within weeks of his election, entrenchment of professional development programmes for practitioners in the tourism and hospitality sector and advocacy for Nigerian government prioritisation of tourism industrys development.

He said that the late Rabo also re-established FTAN operational presence in each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday commenced training of its heads of Electoral Operations across the 36 states and the FCT on modalities for the expansion of Polling Units (PUs).

INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu said the two -day workshop in Abuja was to build the capacity of officers on the proposed conversion of voting points to PUs across the country.

Ibeanu, who is the Chairman, INEC Committee on Electoral Operations and Logistics, said the workshop was critical in the implementation of the process aimed at deepening voters participation in future electoral processes.

He said the training was an important activity towards realisation of the objectives of a journey which started few months ago.

He disclosed that there were 10,092 requests before the commission for polling units creation across the country.

The availability of polling units to voters has been dwindling and efforts to expand it has been unsuccessful because the commission has not been tactical in its approach.

Hence, the renewed effort to start consultations and engagements with stakeholders across the country to seek a buy in to solve the problem that has affected the electoral system in the past 25 years, he said.

Ibeanu said that in the process, a guideline was produced but there was need for implementation of the guidelines to achieve the aims.

To get the guidelines strictly followed, there must be adequate training of field operation officers who are heads of electoral operation in all the states who will be the anchor of the implementation.

The workshop is to ensure they are equipped with the methodology needed in carrying out the exercise, he said.

Ibeanu added that the heads of operations were expected to replicate the training in their respective states to officers at the local government areas.

He said the training needed to be concluded before the commencement of the Continuous Voters Registration exercise on June 28.

Ibeanu said that INEC was working to address challenges hindering eligible voters from participating in the electoral process before the general elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and information Committee, Chief Festus Okoye, maintained that relocation of PUs would provide ample opportunities for new registrants to easily have access to polling units.

Okoye assured Nigerians that INEC would continue to engage the National Assembly to expedite action on amending the Electoral Act.

This, according to Okoye, is to accommodate new initiatives that will enhance more participation of eligible voters in the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ishaq Zaki
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has denied media reports connecting medical doctors with banditry in Zamfara State.

This is contained in a statement signed in Gusau on Friday by the associations state Chairman and Secretary, Dr Mannir Bature and Dr Remigius Nwachukwu.

The attention of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Zamfara State Chapter, has been drawn to a publication from various media organisations with a caption, Police in Zamfara arrest medical doctor, 7 others in connection with banditry.

However, we will like to make it clear to the general public that the above caption, which emanated from a joint press statement between the state Ministries of Information and that of Security and Home Affairs is incorrect.

Our investigation revealed that the said person is not a medical doctor, but a Medical Laboratory Technician, who is parading himself as a medical doctor to defraud unsuspecting individuals.

The person is neither a resident nor does he work in Zamfara state.

This clarification becomes necessary owing to the fact that only holder of MBBS, MBChB and BDS are entitled to be called medical doctor, they said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called on the Federal Government to set up a presidential commission on cryptocurrency in view of surging intrusion of the bitcoin into global and local financial systems.

ACCI President, Dr Almujtaba Abubakar who made this known on Friday in Abuja in a statement listed some terms of reference to follow to include reviewing cryptocurrency policy frameworks worldwide.

He noted that the commission should assess successful, failing and failed frameworks globally, integrate and domesticate successful models for draft policy framework for Nigeria.

The commission shouldpropose plan of action for phased usage of the technological currency within the Nigerian financial system.

We suggest that members of the commission should be drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Stock Exchange, banking /financial Institutions, bitcoin community, digital currency experts and relevant MDAs and organised private sector.

It is our considered view that such a commission will have all facts on the table and will be able to chart a sustainable path forward for Nigeria, he said

The ACCI president noted that it was aware of the recent controversy on the subject, which led to CBNs directives to banks and financial institutions.

He further said that it was also not oblivious of the policy gap that currently exists on the subject.

As noted by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, cryptocurrency is a global phenomenon which nations must address rather than run away from it.

The policy lacuna impresses on the administration to consider possible options to prepare the nation to cope with the positive and negative fallouts of this new financial technology, he added.

He said that global trends on the subject also made its imperative for Nigeria, the biggest economy in Africa to act swiftly on the policy plane.

According to him, just this week, the biggest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange announced its listing on the Nasdaq, marking a milestone in the economic journey of virtual currencies.

He noted that its Policy Advocacy Centre has conducted extensive review of the subject under a new policy brief and arrived at a number of policy proposals for the presidency and all stakeholders. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ebere Agozie

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the disqualification of Sir Frank Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Dec. 5, 2020 Imo North Senatorial election.

Justice Emmanuel Agim delivering a unanimous judgment held that the suit which led to Ibezims disqualification for allegedly supplying false information to secure nomination was statute barred at the time it was instituted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was filed by Asomugha Elebeke, one of the aspirants, who had expressed interest to contest the partys primary for the bye-election.

The apex court therefore, voided, nullified and set aside the concurrent judgments of the Abuja Federal High Court and Court of Appeal that nullified the candidacy of Ibezim on the grounds of perjury.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had on March 18, ordered INEC to issue Ararume with the certificate of return.

The suit before the Supreme Court sought to upturn the judgment of Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, and that of the Court of Appeal which both nullified Ibezims candidacy on the grounds that he made false declarations in the documents he submitted to INEC.

The two lower courts specifically held that Ibezim bears two different and irreconcilable names and presented three falsified West African Examination Council results for the same election.

One of the certificates bears ChukwuemekaFrank Ibezim and another Francis Ibezim Chukwuemeka among other differences, it was held. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said 30,452 Nigerian residents have received shots of COVID-19 vaccine on Friday bringing the number of jabs so far to 1.08 million.

The NPHCDA disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday.

The agency said that 30,452 people have taken the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

As of today, April 16, some 1,081,548 representing 53.8 per cent of the eligible persons targeted with the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered their first dose in this vaccination phase.

The 1,081,548, were eligible Nigerians who have been vaccinated in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it said.

The agency said that the figure was more than half of the percentage of target reached with first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

The immunisation agency disclosed that out ofthe 1,081,548 people given the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the country , 8,439 people have suffered mild Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI).

It added that 52 people had moderate to severe adverse effects on receiving the shots.

It explained that the mild reactions include body pains and swelling, the moderate to severe adverse effects presented were fever, vomiting, diarrhoea headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.

The immunisation agency disclosed that there was no death from the administration of the vaccine and no case of blood clots related to the administration of the vaccines have been diagnosed in the country.

Itsaid thatfive states have the highest records of the AEFI namely: Kaduna (970); Cross River (859); Yobe (541); Kebbi (511); and Lagos (448).

The NPHCDA said that the cases were being investigated to ensure they were caused by vaccination.

According to it, states with coverage above 100 per cent have vaccinated more than the 50 per cent of eligible population required for the first dose.

The NPHCDA said that Lagos state topped the total clients vaccinated in the countryby administering 200,602 and Kano with 57, 900.

It said that they were followed by kaduna, 56,238; while Ogunwith 52,906 and the FCT with 46,049 had all received their first dose of Oxford AstraZeneca.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that for the country to achieve high immunity against COVID-19, it has set an ambitious goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of its over 200 million population before the end of 2021.

The country also hopes to attain 70 per cent by the end of 2022.

The country began vaccination since March 5, 2021 with healthcare workers who are mostly at risk to the infections being the first responders.

It noted that the vaccine roll-out would be in four phases, starting with health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, laboratory network, policemen, petrol station workers and strategic leaders.

Phase 2 Older adults aged 50 years and above. Those with co-morbidities aged 18 49 years of age

Phase 3 Those in states/LGAs with high disease burden and who missed phases 1 and 2.

Phase 4 Other eligible population as vaccines become available, its said.

The immunization agency said that as of April 15, 2021, just 1,051.096 shots had been administered in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It noted that the proportion of eligible people vaccinated in the country was 52. 2 per cent as of April ,15.

NAN recalls that the country took delivery of 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines through COVAX, an UN-backed effort that promises access to free vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries population.

The delivery is part of an overall 16 million doses planned to be delivered to Nigeria in batches over the next months.

Besides, on March 21, 2021 the country received another 300,000 doses of same vaccines from telecom giant, MTN.

On April 6, the government of India also delivered 100,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria.

The COVISHIELD, a brand of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine also manufactured is used in over 71 countries including the UK, Canada, India and Brazil.

With only about 4.4million doses of COVID-19 vaccines available in the country, Nigeria is still far from reaching its set target, according to health experts.

Due to limited doses of vaccine availability, the Federal government directed the states to halt vaccination once it used half of the doses allocated to them.

The Government said that the directive became necessary since the country was not sure when next batch of AstraZeneca vaccines would arrive the country.

We believe that in a situation where, we still cannot specifically determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive, then I think wisdom only dictates that it is better for us to vaccinate people fully.

It is so that we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated since this vaccination comes in two doses, it explained. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of House of Representatives, says the film industry contributes 2.3 per cent to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with over 2,500 movies produced annually.

Gbajabiamila said this at a Two-Day Leadership Master class Training for Nollywood Actors organised by House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu on Friday in Abuja.

He said it was expedient to acknowledge and celebrate Nollywood Actors and Actresses as well as others who made up the Nollywood entertainment industry.

He added that with talent, fortitude, and extraordinary resilience, they had built a globally competitive entertainment industry in spite of the challenges and constraints in the nations environment.

With adequate investment, a supportive regulatory environment, better training and capacity development, Nollywood will grow beyond our present dream and surpass our highest ambitions.

It falls on all of us in government, the private sector and across the society to identify ways we can help the industry reach the heights and we all know is possible, he said.

He said that beyond the questions of economics and profit, there was the issue of the critical role of Nollywood in influencing culture, defining national character, and promoting national identity.

As actors and entertainers, you directly exert tremendous influence on the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians, they are impacted by the roles you play, the stories you tell and the realities you explore in your movies, he said.

Gbajabiamila said that this come with a responsibility to tell stories that inspire goodness, motivate thoughtful acts, encourage fraternity, and uplift the human condition.

You also have a responsibility to tell the best stories of our beloved country. I do not propose to turn you into cheerleaders for a Nigeria that does not exist.

But the stories of men and women thriving through adversity and innovating for prosperity needs to be told, and it falls to you to tell those stories,he said.

Elumelu, in his remark said the training, was a much needed strategic multisectoral effort to guarantee the desired rebound and repositioning of the movie industry in Nigeria.

He said that the training would retool the drivers of movie industry in the countrty to efficiently play their roles of effectual propagation and promotion of our rich national heritage, ideologies and values.

He added that this would help to revamp the sector as an economic hub in our nation and the West African Sub region.

Nigerians are passionate about the movies you produce as it sees their personal and shared challenges, struggles, anxieties, aspirations and achievements in the lives of the characters you aptly portray, he said.

Mr Emeka Rollas, National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, (AGN) said that knowledge was essential to leadership development and sustainable society.

He said that Actors must work together to pursue a sustainable society and a sustainable path to economic growth and better the industry through qualitative leadership.

We need leadership sustainability in the industry through training and retraining to enable us grows the business to keep meeting global demand.

The training will enhance our management skill, strategic plan, thought process, new adaptations, risk management among others, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has charged the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja to complete work by June.

The minister gave the charge on Friday in Abuja after an inspection tour of on-going work at the facility.

Dare, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the stadium, however, stressed the need to fast track the pace of work.

I am satisfied with the progress so far, the delivery date is now June.

There are technologies attached to football pitches like this, when you see standard pitches, it is not just about the sand and grasses, but there are underbellies of technologies like the water sprinklers, among others.

We are trying to get things right so that with proper maintenance, we wont be drawn back to it for another 10 years, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Adeniji Adesoji, Executive Director, ARON Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the project, had on Monday pledged to conclude the project by May after some delay.

The rehabilitation of the stadium is being handled by Alhaji Aliko Dangote through the Federal Governments Adopt a Pitch initiative.

The minister also used the inspection to give an update on Team Nigerias preparation towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

We are done with the National Sports Festival, now as a country and a Ministry, our eyes are on the Olympics for which we have started a 100 days countdown.

In another seven to 10 days the camps will be opened in Lagos, Port Harcourt , probably Delta and Florida where we have most of our relay team athletes.

From there other members of the team will be joining them and possibly we will have another camp in Europe, he said.

Dare maintained that preparations for the Olympics never stopped even with the effect of COVID-19 and preparations for the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF).

We will try to maintain a 60 to 70 days camping by doubling the 25-30 days camping we used to have in the past, the minister added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Shedrack Frank

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Friday commended the states contingent to the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF), Edo 2020, as they received a rousing welcome in Yenagoa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state placed third at the end of the festival with 56 gold, 55 silver and 58 bronze medals, a feat it achieved for the first time in its history at the festival.

Receiving the contingent at the entrance of the Government House, Diri congratulated them for making the state proud by their spectacular performance.

Diri said it was heartwarming that they surpassed the previous fourth position record set in 2006 at the NSF in Abeokuta, Ogun when he was the Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

He urged the athletes to begin preparation for the next festival slated for Delta in 2022 and promised to give them the necessary support toward a better outing.

Diri described as inconsequential, unverified claims about the state being denied some medals over the state of origin and nationality of some its athletes.

He said its indigenes represented the state at the festival and there was no iota of truth in such claims.

Let me on behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa congratulate you. You have made not only yourselves proud, but you have also made the people of Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw race proud.

This is just the beginning. By coming third, you were presented a trophy of an eaglet. What that tells you is that you have to go for the eagle next time.

So, preparation for the next festival resumes from tomorrow. That is the only way you will break your record again by next year when you go for the NSF in Delta.

When you were about leaving, I gave you a charge. While I was commissioner for youth and sports between 2006 and 2007, we had a record. For the first time, Bayelsa clinched the fourth position at the NSF in Abeokuta.

My charge to you was to break that record. Today you have made me proud by breaking that record. In the history of Bayelsa, you have come home with a trophy from the NSF.

We shall announce a date when your government will formally receive you. For now, welcome back and congratulations to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, the Director of Sports, other officials, coaches and our great athletes, he said.

Presenting the 300 athletes as well as the officials, Igali, said the state won gold in virtually every event it participated in.

According to Igali, Team Bayelsa surpassed the expectation of everyone, including his, that of the directors and management of the sports ministry.

He said that one of the female athletes, Ifiezibe Gagbe, singlehandedly won 8 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze, totaling 15 medals in swimming.

The commissioner, who presented the trophy won by the contingent to the governor, said that the state was ready to surpass the feat in the next festival.

He thanked the governor for the massive support and motivation to the team before and during the games in Edo. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Some athletes that represented Enugu State at the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF) in Edo have called on the state government to improve the welfare of its athletes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Enugu State placed 22 on the final table with seven medals including three gold, one silver and three bronze.

Meanwhile, the athletes, who spoke to NAN on Friday in Enugu,

blamed their poor showing at the event on inadequate commitment by government.

One of the athletes, Silver Ezeikpe noted that the state government needed to do all it could to retain its best athletes.

Ezeikpe, who is the head coach of Para Athletic but competed and won gold medal at the festival, said that the states contingent did not have good preparation for the event.

He however, said that the athletes did well considering their level of preparation and the inability of the government to take good care of them before and during the festival.

According to him, the athletes did well considering that they won seven medals during the NSF.

He said that the 2021 edition of the NSF was the first time athletes from the state were winning up to seven medals.

Ezeikpe said that the state competed in five sports, adding that para athletes won two medals.

Also, a Super Heavy Weight Boxer, Kelly Obayemi appealed to the state government to take good care of its athletes for better performances ahead.

Obayemi, who won silver medal in super heavy weight boxing, said he felt sad losing the final bout.

Obayemi said that some of the athletes would have done better if some officials of the State Ministry of Sports had accompanied them to the event.

When contacted, a Director in the ministry, Boniface Onovo, said that the state government was able to meet 80 per cent needs of the athletes before their departure for the NSF.

Onovo said that the state was represented by 50 delegates made up of 38 athletes and 12 officials.

Our performance this year is far better than the previous ones whenwe only won one medal in each outing. Our athletes surprised us because we have not had it so good for many years, Onovo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Former Super Falcons coach Godwin Izilein says the signing of Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa by Kano Pillars FC is a big boost for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Izilein told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Friday that Musa should be commended for taking such a decision.

He said the player took the best decision which would keep him in good shape, urging other players like him to take a cue from him and not remain idle.

Musa took the right decision, instead of remaining idle without a club. This decision will not relegate him or make him less of a good footballer, but put him in good shape.

I want others like him (Musa) to put pride aside and emulate him.

My conclusion is that this is a big motivation for the Nigerian league. Several people and indeed the whole world now have something positive to talk about our league.

NAN reports that Musa had on Wednesday put pen to paper to play for the Kano Pillars FC in the NPFL.

Musa had been out of contract since October when his last contract with a Saudi Arabian side expired.

Musa had earlier played in the UK and Russia. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Opeyemi Aremu-Gbemiro

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, says the state government is concluding plans to institutionalise rice pyramid programme in the state.

Adetoyi said the plan would make Ekiti the largest rice producer in the South-West and one of the largest in the country.

He said this on Friday, when he visited rice farmers in Ijero, Ikoro, Igbemo and Aisegba Ekiti to interact with them on how the programme would be achieved.

He said that Gov. Kayode Fayemi had invested heavily to open up about 1,500 hectres of land for lowland and upland rice farming, which is expected to engage 12,000 people.

According to him, the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and private investors, will provide the farmers with improved paddy rice, fertilizer, tools, chemicals and other incentives that will guarantee bountiful harvest.

The commissioner charged the farmers to embrace the governments support in order to ensure food security, employment and wealth creation for improved living condition.

The Chairman of Agbegbemi Farmers Association, Rev. Micheal Oyewumi, appealed to the governor to prevail on the Ministry of Environment to allow the association access to more land in the area to grow rice.

At Igbemo Ekiti, the commissioner urged the people to cooperate with the governments contractor handling the clearing of land in the area.

He said that the project was designed to open up the area for farming and that government had no intention to take over their land.

Also at Aisegba Ekiti, he pleaded with the Elerebi of Aafin, Aisegba Ekiti, who are the custodians of the land to allow the contractor to pull down the palm trees.

He said that if not removed, the palm trees would impede the use of tractors and combine harvesters and also harbour birds on the rice field.

Adetoyi said the national leadership of the Rice Farmers Association would be in the state to see how it could assist the government to achieve its rice pyramid programme. (NAN)

Source: NAN News