By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has again challenged the new service chiefs and the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to work diligently towards meeting the expectations of Nigerians

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president gave the charge while assessing the performances of the new service chiefs as well as the tasks before them and that of the acting I-G.

The president, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on his arrival from London after successful medical check-up, said:

Oh yes, they (service chiefs) have been in the system all the way, they know what is wrong, they know what is right and I think they are doing their best.

I hope their best will be good enough for Nigeria.

President Buhari, who announced the appointment of the acting I-G, Usman Baba, while in London, via the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, said due process was strictly followed in the selection of the new I-G.

He said: Well, we went through the system, there was a committee by the Minister of Police Affairs, they gave me some names and he happened to be the one chosen.

He knows his job, he has been in it for a long time, he went through all the trainings, he has the necessary experience.

So, we have a high expectation from him.

NAN reports that the presidential aircraft conveying the president and some presidential aides landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 4.45 p.m, on Thursday.

Those at the airport to welcome the president included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammed Bello, and the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno.

Others were the service chiefs, acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and other presidential aides.

NAN reports that the president, after a brief welcoming ceremony at the airport, boarded a presidential helicopter that conveyed him to the Presidential Villa.

President Buhari had on March 30 departed Abuja for London, United Kingdom, for routine medical check-up. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government on Thursday commenced the compensation of identified 263 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line.

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line is 37-km rail project, which will traverse from Agbado to Marina, expected to move more than one million commuters daily, when completed in the last quarter of 2022.

During the ground-breaking ceremony of Red Line project in Ikeja, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented cheques of varying amounts as compensation to 25 residents whose properties, businesses and accommodation had been affected by the project.

Sanwo-Olu said that the presentation of cheques to the other PAPs would continue subsequently, so as to reduce their pains.

He said that the beneficiaries were those who had been verified to be bonafide property owners, business owners and tenants of the affected buildings.

For the first time in the history of paying compensation, we are not just paying compensation to landlords, we are also paying compensation to tenants and business owners who are tenants to these property.

We are doing that to ensure that no one is left behind, we do not want to displace anyone of their economic activity right now, we want to reposition them and make sure that Lagos can provide the opportunity for them on an ongoing basis, he said.

He appealed to all residents on the need to bear with patience the temporary pains and the inconveniences that would be experienced in the course of the project.

I implore you to cooperate with the contractors as we implement this life-changing and impacting project for the seamless mobility of all Lagosians, Sanwo-Olu said.

Those compensated are the event include the Ikeja Club with the sum of N78,659,000, and Blessing Okhawere (tenant) with the sum of N140,000.

Also, another beneficiary, Alimi Daudu, was compensated with the sum of N12,213,180, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has denied making payments to CARTIL Construction Company as reimbursement for reconstruction of Ife-Ifewara Road, Osun, which was done by Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said this on Thursday in Abuja, when he appeared before Senate Committee of Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

An official of the Church, Pastor Niyi Adebanjo, had in a petition to the Senate alleged that the ministry in 2016 and 2019 paid N151 million to the company as part payment for the road reconstruction.

Adebanjo had submitted the petition on behalf of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the document to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The Church in the petition, alleged that the construction firm claimed the sum of N151 million as reimbursement for the reconstruction of the road, which the church constructed.

The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in the sum of N188,440,342, hence the claim by CARTIl Construction Nigeria Limited was illegal and unjust, he said.

Fashola said the contractor CARTIL did not claim any money between 2016 and 2019 contrarily to the claim in the petition.

He said payment were made in 2011,based on the guarantee submitted and the interim statement generated by the company.

The ministry of works also did not make any payments to CARTIL construction between 2016 and 2019 and we did not certify any work on that road done by CARTIL between the period, he said.

Fashola said that the road was not a federal road but a 15 kilometers trunk B road in Osun.

He said the road was one of the constituency projects initiated by a then senator representing the zone in 2010.

He said the contract was awarded on Dec 21, 2010 at a cost of N662 million with an order to commence work on March7, 2011 and to be complete on Nov. 7, 2011.

He said the ministry paid 15 per cent mobilisation fee of the contract sum of N99.414 million in line with the procurement act in 2011.

He said the ministry also made another payment of N52 million on Dec 29,2011 based on an interim statement submitted by the contractor,having mobilised to site.

Fashola said the two payments were made in 2011, contrarily to the claim that they were made in 2016 and 2019.

This adminstration did not make this payment, I did not make this payment contrarily to the alligations made by the petitioner, he said.

He said the ministry became unsatisfied with the contractor and issued a warning letter to him in 2014 and 2015 to terminate the contract.

The payments made to the contractor were made in 2011 in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act on mobilisation fee not exceeding 15 per cent of the contract sum, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Okon Okon

The Federal Government on Thursday attributed failure in Civil Service delivery to lack of skilled manpower, poor communication at planning and implementation stages, among others.

Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), made this disclosure in a statement the Director, Press and Public Relations, by MrAbdulGaniyu Aminu, in Abuja.

Yemi-Esan said this while delivering a virtual lecture on Public Service Reform Programme Implementation in Nigeria.

The lecture was for the participants ofSenior Executive Course No. 43 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru in Jos.

To improve upon the civil service, Yemi-Esan stressed the needto put a strict system in place to attract and bring the best personnel into the service through Public Service Reforms, to revive the situation.

According to her, the practice in the past whereby the civil service was seen as a welfare institution to recruit all manner of people to mitigate unemployment crisis, is unwholesome.

She explained that the objective of public service reform, was to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the service, to promote economic and social development.

According to her, Nigeria has been carrying out various reform since independence in 1960, to achieve national development.

She opined that any reform worth implementing should first, be subjected to purpose wide-consultation, commitment, and sustainability.

In spite of various reform programmes initiated in the past, implementation has always been the bane, she noted.

The Head of Service listed factors responsible for such failures of past reforms to include, poor funding and inadequate provision in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to fund implementation of reforms.

Others, she listed were lack of skilled manpower, poor communication at planning and implementation stages, poor or total lack of ownership of reforms by state and poor subnational coordination of reforms.

According to her, poor involvement of citizens, lack of synergy between public and private sector organisations, lack of synergy amongst implementing MDAs policy, rivalry, and conflict of interest amongst institutions; are also major factors.

Lack of political will to implement of reforms, resistance to change, poor ICT infrastructure and political interference among others, have also been seen as factors responsible for the failures.

Yemi-Esan assured that the new reform programme in the service, Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2017 to 2020, derived from the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, would serve as Game Changer in the service.

In addition, the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) vision, would also address economic, social, and environmental sustainability issues in the service reform. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bosede Olufunmi

The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested eight persons at Tudun Murtala in Nassarawa Local Government Area and Hudebiyya in Sharada, Kano, overtheir alleged refusal to fast duringRamadan.

The Executive Director of the board, Dr Aliyu Kibiya confirmed the arrest in a statement signed by Malam Lawal Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer of the board in Kano on Thursday.

Kibiya said the arrests were madefollowing reports from residents of the areas.

The statement said The culprits were five females and three males,eating in the afternoon in the month of Ramadan.

It further explained that the board would continue to conduct raids in all parts of the state to curb the development. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has clarified the issue of payment to Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited, on the rehabilitation of Ife-Ifewara road in Osun.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had alleged that payment was made to the contractor by the ministry for rehabilitation of the road which was done by the Church between 2016 and 2019.

The Director of Press and Publicity, FMWH, MrsBoade Akinola, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Akinola explained that Fashola was speaking at the Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Fashola debunked the allegation by RCCG that monies were paid to the contactor.

The minister clarified that no payment was made by the current administration with respect to the rehabilitation of the road.

Fashola stated that the contract was awarded to Messrs Cartill Construction Nigeria Limited five years before the Buhari Administration and six years before he was appointed as a Minister of Works and Housing.

He said that the then Minister of Works only approved the mandatory 15 per cent mobilisation fee on March 31, 2011 and another payment was made after the work had reached about 26.21 per cent on Dec. 29, 2011.

These payments were all made four years before the Buharis administration, he explained.

He stated that the ministry did not make any payment to the contractor as a refund or certify any work done between 2016 and 2019.

Fashola added that the road in question was not a federal road but the contract was initiated as Parliamentary Constituency Project which was domiciled in the budget of the ministry.

Hence the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

While he thanked the chairman and other distinguished members of the committee for its impartial and dispassionate consideration of the petition, Fashola said that there was no basis for the petition by way of facts or evidence.

While commending the leadership of RCCG for intervening in the rehabilitation of the road, Fashola explained that there were procedures to be followed in intervening on federal and state roads.

Responding on behalf of RCCG, the Petitioner, Pastor Niyi Adebanjo apologised to the minister saying that the petition was not targeted at him, but was meant to expose some perceived sharp practices.

Adebanjo said that they thought that the Federal Government was to approve another payment for the road which was rehabilitated free by Pastor Encoh Adeboye as part of the churchs Social Corporate Responsibility.

The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, hence any further claim by any company should be seen as illegal and unjust.

Ministry of Works and Housing deserves an apology from us and because the whole world is listening to us, I tender that apology Unreservedly, he said.

Speaking, the Committee Chairman, Sen. Patrick Akinyelure, commended the minister for his presentation and for correcting the impression that some monies were paid during the Buhari led administration.

He said that the purpose of the public hearing was to clear all grey areas regarding payments that were alleged to be paid by the ministry and not to witch-hunt anybody.

He commended the RCCG for the intervention and for crying out for the perceived wrong doing, but charged them to follow due procedure and guideline in future intervention to avoid a repeat of such occurrence. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

Average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased to N2, 057.71 in March from N2, 018.91 in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The figure is contained in the NBS Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch for March 2021 obtained from its website by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

It said the price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for cooking gas increased by 1.92 per cent month-on-month and by 3.87 per cent year-on-year in the period under review.

According to it, states with the highest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas are Bauchi, N2,487.46, Borno N2,397.56 and Adamawa N2,397.37.

It, however, said that states with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Jigawa N1,717, Abuja N1,800.98 and Kaduna N1,825.86.

Similarly, average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for cooking gas decreased by -0.10 per cent month-on-month and increased by 4.26 per cent year-on-year to N4, 359.23 in March from N4, 363.51 in February.

States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder cooking gas were Cross River N4, 762.65, Sokoto N4, 750 and Edo N4, 728.57.

States with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Zamfara N3, 749.06, Kaduna N3, 751.27 and Katsina N3, 845.04.

The NBS said the various prices were collected across all the 774 Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from more than 10,000 respondents and locations.

It said its audit team conducted randomly selected verification of prices recorded. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Phil Foden got the winner again as Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

It was a feat being achieved for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola.

Foden was on target in the 75th minute after Riyad Mahrez penalty kick had cancelled out Borussia Dortmunds first-half lead through Jude Bellingham.

Manchester City advanced 4-2 on aggregate, having also topped the first quarter-final 2-1 last week from Fodens late strike.

They now face last years finalists Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the last four which they only reached once previously in 2016.

They have gone out in the last 16 and three quarter-finals under the reign of Guardiola who lifted the trophy with FC Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappes PSG, who ousted holders Bayern Munich the previous day, and Manchester City badly want to win the elite event a first time.

Now, one of them is assured of a place in the May 29 final in Istanbul.

This club and this team deserve it. We are grateful for being in a great competition and reaching the semi-finals for the first time with this team.

Obviously we are very happy about it, Manchester Citys German midfielder Ilkay Guendogan said.

Record 13-time winners Real Madrid are also in the semi-finals as a 0-0 draw at Anfield on the day completed a 3-1 aggregate win over 2019 champions Liverpool.

Their opponents in the last four scheduled for April 27/28 and May 5/6 are Chelsea who eliminated FC Porto on Tuesday.

England teenager Bellingham scored his first Bundesliga goal on the weekend, and followed up against Manchester City when he fired into the top right corner for a Borussia Dortmund dream start.

Manchester City stepped up the pace and went in search of a goal needed to avoid elimination, with Kevin de Bruyne denied by the crossbar and Mahrez shot blocked by Bellingham.

They were level in the 54th minute from Mahrez penalty kick into the right corner.

It was awarded and then confirmed by the video assistant referee after Germany defender Emre Can headed a cross onto his own outstretched arm.

Borussia Dortmunds fate was sealed in the 75th minute when Foden surprised goalkeeper Marwin Hitz with a shot into the near right corner off a corner-kick.

After conceding the first goal, we were able to get hold of possession and create chances.

Our target was to score the first goal of the second half and get the game back into our hands. Thats exactly what we did, Guendogan said.

At Anfield, Liverpool had to apologise for a window of Real Madrids team bus being smashed by fans on their arrival before starting strongly into their comeback attempt.

Mohamed Salah aimed right at goalkeeper Thibault Courtois from 10 metres two minutes into the game, and the Belgian made another big save against James Milners curling effort.

Real Madrid almost wrapped up the tie when Karim Benzemas effort was deflected against the goalpost.

Georginio Wijnaldum aimed high for the Reds who eventually failed to create a similar comeback as two years ago when they ousted FC Barcelona 4-0 after losing 3-0 in Spain.

Like Borussia Dortmund, they are now in danger of missing out on UEFA Champions League football next season owing to their league placing.

The performance, intensity and desire were good, but we could not take the chances we had and that was the difference, Milner said.

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Paul Edeh, Chairman, Naija Ratels FC said on Thursday that the clubs presence at the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin was to support female football and grassroots sports development.

Naija Ratel FC is a Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship club-side.

Edeh, who was represented by Bankole Oloowokere, coach of the Abuja-based female football team told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were also in Benin on training tour and to impact the life of the girl-child.

The Naija Ratels FC chairman had earlier presented customised match balls to Edo and Lagos state female teams for emerging as the winners and runners-up in the just concluded festivals football event.

The reason why we are in Benin is simply to show our support for grassroots development especially for female football.

I am amazed at the number of footballing talents we have seen in this festival and I know stakeholders are amazed at the level of female football development in the country.

We decided to also show our support by presenting customised Naija Ratels match balls to the finalists of the female event.

It was just to encourage them to continue to do sports especially football, Edeh said.

NAN reports that Edo state emerged champions of the female football event in the finals played at the University of Benin on Monday, while Team Lagos finished as runners-up.

The NSF which began on April 2 came to an end on Wednesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Obojeghren

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has congratulated the states contingent to the just-concluded 20th National Sports Festival (NSF)in Edo, for emerging overall winners at the games.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Thursday in Asaba, the governor commended the contingent for its outstanding performance and for sustaining the states winning streak at the sports fiesta.

According to him, Team Delta has again brought honour to the state by winning the competition for the sixth consecutive time.

On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate members of the victorious Team Delta for, once again, bringing honour to our great state with their sixth consecutive win at the NSF.

Just like I said before your departure to Benin for the games, you all went through trying times preparing for the 20th edition of the festival.

I am glad that by the grace of God, with discipline, perseverance and motivation, you have once again brought the trophy home.

Although we had a stiff contest from the host, we were able to maintain our unassailable lead, and we give God all the glory.

Let me assure you that because you have kept your own side of the bargain by winning the competition again, the state government remains irrevocably committed to rewarding medalists at the competition, Okowa said.

He commendedthe states Sports Commission and coaches of Team Delta for leading the contingent to victory.

The governor also lauded Edo government for not only hosting the festival after several postponements, but doing so successfully.

Team Delta, the defending champions of the competition, topped the table with 158 gold, 126 silver and 110 bronze medals, hauling a total of 394 medals.

The host, Edo, came second with 129 gold, 104 silver and 108 bronze medals, while Bayelsa won 56 gold, 55 silver and 58 bronze medals to place third. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon said the UN COVID-19 Basket Fund financed 40 per cent of medical supplies to the country.

Kallon disclosed this on the sideline of the launch of a 2.3 million dollar oxygen plant and vaccine storage in Borno state, which he said was part of the Nigerian COVID-19 multi-sectorial response plan.

He said that the fund had also contributed in no small measure to building the capacity of states, health care workers, and health facilities across the nation to better respond to the pandemic.

He hinted that the fund had raised more than 70 million dollars from which UN agencies were implementing their interventions.

Some initiatives by the UN include the establishment of the COVID-19 basket fund together with the government which has so far raised .3 million.

The basket fund is serving as COVID-19 financing and investment platform for diverse stakeholders to channel their financial support to ensure an efficient, effective, and impactful response to the pandemic.

The fund has been operational with UN agencies applying for funds in support of national response with interventions covering community engagement, strengthening state-level operational capacity and surveillance.

It also covers infection prevention and control, building the capacity of healthcare workers in case management and strengthening hospitals capacity to respond and engage with Civil Society Organisations to reverse the negative effect of COVID-19.

I am really happy to report today that 40 per cent of the COVID-19 medical supplies in Nigeria were sourced from the Basket Fund.

This one UN response has also been described by stakeholders as one of the global best practices of multilateralism at the country level, he said.

Source: NAN News

Greece plans to lift its one-week quarantine requirement for tourists from European Union countries from Monday.

The governments plan still requires approval by epidemiological experts on Friday, the daily newspaper Kathimerini reported on Thursday.

The prerequisite would be that the tourists were either fully vaccinated or have a current, negative PCR test.

Some of those arriving would also be subjected to random testing.

In the country itself, tourists have to adhere to Coronavirus rules including a general mask requirement.

Athens had originally planned to announce the beginning of the tourism season on May 14, and to lift the quarantine requirement then.

In addition to visitors from the EU, the quarantine requirement would also be dropped for travellers from Israel, the United States, Britain, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Based on the viral load in waste-water samples, Greek virologists expected that the number of new Coronavirus infections in the country would continue to fall in the coming weeks.

On Thursday, the Greek health authority reported 3,089 new infections within 24 hours, almost 1,000 fewer than the day before. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

The government of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision on troops withdrawal from the militancy-plagued country, spokesman for the Afghan presidential palace Dawa khan Minapal said on Thursday.

According to Minapal, the presidents of Afghanistan and the U.S. had a phone conversation on Wednesday night, discussing the U.S. decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11.

Last night, I had a call with President (Joe) Biden in which we discussed the U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by early September.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition, Menapal quoted Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as saying.

The upcoming Sept. 11, would be the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the U.S. into war in Afghanistan.

The latest U.S. decision extends the deadline negotiated between the previous U.S. administration and the Afghan Taliban last year to pull U.S. troops out of the country on May 1.

The Pentagon said that there are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but U.S. media recently said the number did not include 1,000 more U.S. special forces in the Asian country.

Besides, about 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on U.S. logistics and security support. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Russia and Ukraine held simultaneous military drills on Wednesday as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) foreign and defence ministers began emergency discussions on the growing number of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Washington and NATO have been alarmed by the large build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine and in Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and two U.S. warships are due to arrive in the Black Sea this week.

Russia said the U.S. naval move was an unfriendly provocation and warned Washington to stay far away from Crimea and its Black Sea coast.

It said the build-up was a three-week snap military drill to test combat readiness in response to what it called threatening behaviour from NATO.

It said the exercise would wrap up within two weeks.

Ahead of the arrival of the U.S. warships, the Russian navy on Wednesday began a drill in the Black Sea that rehearsed firing at surface and air targets.

The drill came a day after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Moscow to end its troop build-up.

In Ukraine, armed forces rehearsed repelling a tank and infantry attack near the border of Russian-annexed Crimea while its defence minister, Andrii Taran, told European parliamentarians in Brussels that Russia was preparing to potentially store nuclear weapons in Crimea.

Taran provided no evidence for his assertion but said Russia was massing 110,000 troops on Ukraines border in 56 battalion-sized tactical groups, citing Kyivs latest intelligence.

Fighting has increased in recent weeks in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russian-backed separatists in a seven-year conflict that Kyiv said had killed 14,000 people.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who held talks in Brussels with Stoltenberg ahead of a video conference of all 30 NATO allies, said the alliance would address Russias aggressive actions in and around Ukraine, without elaborating.

Russias relations with the U.S. slumped to a new post-Cold War low last month after U.S. President Joe Biden said he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer.

In a phone call with Putin on Tuesday, Biden proposed holding a summit between the estranged leaders to tackle a raft of issues, including reducing tensions over Ukraine.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said it was too early to talk about such a summit in tangible terms and that holding such a meeting was contingent on Washingtons future behaviour, in what looked like a thinly veiled reference to potential U.S. sanctions.

Russia has regularly accused NATO of destabilising Europe by bolstering its troops in the Baltic countries and Poland all members of the Atlantic alliance in the wake of Moscows annexation of Crimea.

NATO has denied a claim by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that the alliance was deploying 40,000 troops and 15,000 pieces of military equipment near Russias borders, mainly in the Black Sea and the Baltic regions. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A controversial rent cap to control soaring rents in the German capital Berlin has been scrapped by the countrys Constitutional Court.

The legislation had been welcomed by tenants, but panned by developers and landlords since it came into force in February 2020.

Since then, the rents of around 1.5 million flats in Berlin had theoretically been frozen at June 2019 rates.

The court ruled on Thursday that the Berlin government had overstepped its powers in introducing the law, as the federal law governing rents were already in place.

Previous federal laws had attempted to ensure a fair balance between the interests of tenants and lessors, interests that are protected by fundamental rights.

This means that the German states are precluded from passing rent legislation in this regard, an English statement from the court said.

The Berlin rent cap was, therefore, void in its entirety.

The court decision means that rents that had been reduced in line with the law can now go back up.

Many thousands of tenants may also be required to back-pay their rent from the months since the Berlin legislation came into force.

The rent cap was unique to the German capital, where a left-wing coalition has been in power under Mayor Michael Mueller.

Mueller had, this year, described the law as a necessary breather for tenants struggling to deal with the soaring cost of renting a property in the city.

The challenge in the Constitutional Court was originally brought by centre-right CDU and CSU parties and the liberal FDPparty, who argued that the city government had exceeded its powers.

The FDP welcomed the ruling on Thursday as good news.

FDP lawmaker and housing expert Daniel Foest said the Berlin Senate had exploited renters in Berlin for an ideological experiment and it had failed.

Shares in major property firm Deutsche Wohnen rose sharply after the decision. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun sensitisitition of farmers in the territory to the adaption and building of Resilient Agricultural and Food Security Systems.

Mr Ibe Chukwuemeka, the Acting Secretary, FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, stated this when he inaugurated an awareness campaign on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign was inaugurated at the Palace of the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi.

Chukwuemeka said resilient agricultural and food security systems would mitigate effects of climate change and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural activities

He noted that the issue of climate change had become a global phenomenon which was exacerbated by poor agricultural practices burning of fossil fuels and cutting down forests among others.

Chukwuemeka added that those practices add enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

He explained that the concept of the climate smart agriculture which the FCT administration was promoting was aimed at enhancing the integration of agricultural development and climate responsiveness toward increasing food production.

He said, It is on this regard that the FCT administration directed that this sensitisation and awareness campaign be taken to all the 17 Chiefdoms of the FCT.

This will enable the administration to educate the farmers and the general public on the adaptation and building of Resilient Agricultural and Food Security Systems, as well as the reduction of GHG emissions from Agricultural activities.

He said that the Department of Forestry had produced a multilingual handbook on Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation Measures in Agriculture.

Earlier, the Director, Forestry, Mrs Caroline Opara, said that it was imperative that farmers in the territory be equipped and updated with modern farming methods aimed at environmental sustainability in order to increase output.

Opara said that in 2020, five persons were arrested and prosecuted for forestry encroachment in some areas councils in the FCT, while two others were arrested in 2021.

Speaking, the Sapeyi of Garki advised the department of forestry to be proactive in addressing forestry encroachment.

Ngakupi also stressed the need for the FCT agriculture secretariat to establish Forestry Guard to curtail encroachment in the territory.

The traditional ruler cautioned his subject against practices that could impact negatively on the environment and farming.

Source: NAN News

By Maharazu Ahmed
Some residents of Kano and Katsina States have blamed cement manufacturers over the prevailing scarcity and high cost of cement nationwide.

Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the situation had affected building projects and left bricklayers redundant.

Alhaji Kabiru Idi, a building contractor, said he had delayed some of his projects due to high cost of building materials.

I want to continue but I had to stop because of the high cost of building materials, including cement, he explained.

According to him, a bag of cement which cost between N2,650 and N2,750 in 2020 is now sold for N3,650 and N3, 750.

Idi added that the situation had forced many people to change their construction plans or suspend the project.

Another contractor, Suraj Najeem, said that he had to review a contract he had with a company because of the high cost of materials, particularly cement.

Najeem explained that some block industries had since reduced the quality of their blocks in an attempt to make profit.

Ado Bala, who is building his personal house at Medile area of Kano, said he had taken a break due to high cost of cement and other building materials.

The government needs to find a way to help us, so that the poor can own their houses, he said.

Bala said a six-inch block, which was sold between N110 and N120 is now sold for N130 and N140 while a nine-inch block is sold at N180 and N190, as against N160.

Musa Saleh, a cement dealer, attributed the rise in the price of cement to scarcity of the product.

Some shops were without a single bag of cement due to the fluctuation in price and scarcity of the product, he said

Sale also accused some of the cement companies of creating artificial scarcity, alleging that the products are being diverted to neighboring countries.

In Katsina, retailers selling a bag of cement at N2,600 before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, now sell it at between N3,500 and N3,700.

The retailers blamed the situation to the scarcity of the product, alleging that major cement manufacturers had reduced their production.

According to them, major manufacturers involved are Dangote, BUA and Sokoto cement.

Alhaji Abubakar Aminu, a cement dealer in Katsina, claimed that the companies had cut down their production during the COVID-19 lockdown and since then, the supply and price have remained unstable.

Aminu said that some of the companies had adopted new policies that made access to the product difficult for most cement dealers.

According to him, Dangote, which is the major cement producer in Nigeria, now sell cement only to major dealers, unlike before when the company deal with both major and small dealers.

In the past, what you need to do is to open an account with the company and deposit money for few trucks of cement depending on your capacity.

Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price was stable and the product was available almost everywhere in the country.

As a result of that policy, small dealers no longer have access to buying cement directly from the manufacturer.

If you want to remain in business, you have to buy from major dealers who determine the market price.

The major dealers sell it to small dealers above the original company price, while the small dealers sell it to consumers at a price higher than what was obtainable before, he said.

He said that the manufacturers have not increased the price of the products in reality, but their new policies led to the present increase in the price of cement nationwide.

Aminu said that unless the companies reverse the policy, Nigerians would continue to buy cement at a high price.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has waded into the dispute between Dangote and BUA companies owned by two business moguls from the state.

This is in order to resolve the lingering conflict among the two Kano State prominent indigenes Aliko Dangote and Abdussamad Isyaka-Rabiu over the establishment of a Sugar plant by BUA.

A statement by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor on Thursday in Kano, said the reconciliation meeting took place on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Kano Emirate and the Kano State Council of Imams joined the governor in the reconciliation meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that recently there were reports that Dangote complaints about the establishment of a sugar plant by BUA International Limited in the Port Harcourt free trade zone, saying it was out of tune with export laws.

Anwar said that after the meeting, Chairmen of both Dangote and BUA agreed to work together to supply enough sugar to satisfy the demand of the country.

According to him, the meeting put a stop to all rumours that the duo was in dispute over sugar business control in the country.

They all dismissed allegations that Dangote was planning to see the increase of sugar price, thereby pressurising BUA to succumb to the increment. They described the allegation as baseless and lacking any iota of truth.

The meeting was seen as the zenith of other similar efforts to reconcile the two giants by the governor. Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata played the role of a father during the meeting, Anwar said.

Present at the meeting were the Minister for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mr Niyi Adebayo and representative of the Kano Emirate, Alhaji Aminu Dan-Agundi.

Others are Chairman of the Council of Kano Imams, Sheikh Muhammad Nasir-Adam, the Chief Imam of Sheikh Ahmadu Tijjani Friday Mosque, Kofar Mata, Kano and the Chairman of NEPZA, Adamu Panda.

All the two business moguls agreed to work together in unity for the growth and development of the nation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh
The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate disbandment of the I-G Monitoring Units in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Baba gave the order on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a conference of Police Strategic Commanders, consisting of officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) and above.

The I-G has also ordered the streamlining of the personnel profile of the I-G Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters to not more than 50 operatives.

The police boss announced the banning of the unit from undertaking criminal investigations, including taking over of cases from Police Commands in States.

According to him, under the current dispensation, the unit will only operate within their original mandate, to investigate complaints of professional infractions against serving officers.

Baba said the directives were in furtherance to the reorganisation plans of the force and its commitment to return to the basics in policing.

He said the repositioning initiatives were being worked out in relation to other ad hoc investigative units in the Force.

The Police boss said the idea was to restore professionalism, address citizens concerns on rights abuses resulting from the existence and operations of the ad hoc investigation units.

Baba said it was also to discourage duplication of police functions that encourages indiscipline and abuse of police process.

He said the conference was convened to interact with the officers and define his Mission Statement and organisational vision.

The police boss said it was also to assess the current internal security situation across the country, review strategies and put in place sets of strategic actions to restore order and public confidence.

I must reemphasise that the major task ahead of us is to address the treats of secessionism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and sundry violent crimes in the shortest possible time.

I appreciate the sacrifices that most of you have been making and the successes you have recorded in the war against criminality and secessionist agenda.

I also acknowledge the challenges associated with your duties but the reality is that more grounds need to be covered if we are to restore public confidence, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Desmond Ejibas
The Police Command in Rivers has deployed no fewer than 17,500 personnel for Saturdays Local Government elections in the state.

The commands Spokesman, SP Nnamdi Omoni, made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Omoni said the deployment of the personnel and hardware was aimed to forestall possible violence and ensure free, fair and transparent exercise.

He said: The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that adequate security has been emplaced to ensure a peaceful exercise.

To realise the full objective of the council elections and engender a seamless exercise, the command has deployed 17,500 personnel.

The deployment will be complemented by deployments from other sister security agencies to maintain law and order before, during and after the elections.

Omoni said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Eboka Friday, had directed total restriction of movement of persons, vehicles and boats on land and waterways before and during the exercise.

He said the restriction would begin from midnight on Friday to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

According to him, the CP who is Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, also barred VIPs and politicians from going to voting centres with their security details.

Movement of VIPs and politicians is only allowed from their houses to the voting centres and back, as provided by the Electoral Act.

In addition, all entry and exit points to the state will be completely blocked until the elections are over. No commercial activities will be allowed close to the polling units, Omoni stated.(NAN)

Source: NAN News