By Abbas Bamalli
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed concern over a bill at the House of Representatives, seeking abolition of local government councils in Nigeria.

Mr Hakeem Ambali, National President, NULGE, said this when he spoke with newsmen in Kano.

Ambali, represented by Mr Aliyu Haruna, NULGE National Treasurer, said abolishing local councils will worsen the security situation in the country.

A lawmaker from Rivers has sponsored a bill at the House of Representatives seeking to abolish local government councils in Nigeria.

In spite of the fact that governors have refused to implement the local government autonomy, what we are witnessing now is an attempt to abolish the local government councils in the country. This is a gang up against the masses.

This is an attempt to bring the country backward. Therefore, we are calling on the National Assembly to look into the issue, which is an attempt to take away what remain for the people at the grassroots.

I assured you that if the local government autonomy is implemented by the governors, the issue of insecurity would have been a thing of the past, because some security issues can be handled locally, he said.

Ambali added that once the local government councils were granted full autonomy, socio-economic activities will spring up at the grassroots level.

He said that NULGE had made contact with the leadership of the National Assembly on the issue, adding that if such did not yield good result, it will embark on strike.

Ambali also expressed concern over sack of about 2,000 workers by the Kaduna State government as well as the slashing of workers salary by the Kano State government.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its earlier plans for a three-day warning strike over alleged plans by the Kano State government to revert to N18,000 minimum wage.

The strike was scheduled to begin on Thursday.

The suspension was announced by the National Deputy President of the Union, Mr Najeem Yasin while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Kano.

The labour union recalled that the State government had deducted the workers March salary.

According to him, the decision to suspend the strike and peaceful protest followed the agreement reached between the Kano State Government and the organised labour on Wednesday.

The meeting was convened at the instance of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje with the representatives of the National President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba and other labour officials.

The state government revealed that it has no intention to go back to payment of the old N18,000 minimum wage as speculated, and reiterated its position to respect the agreement of N30,600 signed between the two parties in December 2019.

We also agreed that the March deductions in workers salaries at state and Local Government levels should be refunded to workers along with the April or May salaries, depending on increase of FAAC allocation for the period.

A committee was set up between the organised labour and the government to look into all contentious issues as presented by the labour union.

We also resolved that all machinery for the implementation of the new minimum wage of N39,600 should be put in place for the Kano State University of Science (KUST) Wudil and Yusuf Maitama Sule Universities

The meeting also agreed that payment of monthly pension and all the entitlements of retirees should be vested under the resolution and approval of the board of trustees of Kano State Pension Fund Trustee as provided by the 2006 pension law.

Also, among the resolutions is that no worker or any leader should be punished/treated in a prejudicial/malicious manner as a result of partaking in the planned industrial action by the Kano State Government.

Therefore, with the above resolutions, the three days industrial action scheduled to begin April 8, and peaceful protest on April 12, are hereby suspended by the organised labour, he announced. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Patricia Amogu

Country Director, Water Aid, Evelyn Mere, has urged leaders around the globe to invest 1.2 billion dollars on water, sanitation and hygiene for healthcare centres during the pandemic.

Mere made this call in a statement through her Communications and Media Manager, Mr Oluseyi AbdulMalik, in Abuja.

She said that the call was necessary as G20 Finance Ministers meet this week in Rome to discuss how they would build back from the pandemic.

According to her, world leaders are being advised to heed this call to save countries from the disturbing effects of the pandemic.

She stated that the said sum equated to just thirty minutes worth of what most countries had already spent on COVID-19 response packages in the last one year.

Spending at least 1.2 billion dollars on water, sanitation and hygiene for healthcare centres is a no-brainer investment, both saving lives now and also protecting against future pandemics and the devastation they cause.

Yet it could change everything for the millions who have no option but to seek care from the 50 per cent of health care facilities in the poorest countries which dont have clean water.

We must find the money needed as a matter of urgency, to make sure all healthcare facilities in the poorest countries have clean water and soap before another pandemic hits, she added.

Mere emphasised that if frontline health workers cant wash their hands, keep patients clean or have somewhere decent to go to the toilet, a hospital is not a hospital at all and it would be a breeding ground for disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria,(NAN)reports that since the onset of COVID-19, rich countries have spent significant sums, an average of nearly 10 per cent of their GDP, and a total of 20.6 trillion dollars, on stimulus packages to help bolster their economies and to recover from the pandemic.

In Nigeria, millions of people are at free risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases as 96 per cent of all healthcare centres in Nigeria lack access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services putting the lives of doctors, nurses, midwives and patients at risk.

Providing doctors, nurses and patients with somewhere to clean their hands is one of the most effective ways to halt the spread of disease.

An essential injection of finance by the G20 would prevent millions of avoidable deaths through infections and diseases.

Not only has research shown that washing hands with soap helps reduce the spread of coronavirus by one third but it would also help curb the growth of antimicrobial resistance.

Antibiotics are too used in unclean health facilities as a quick fix in place of proper hygiene Which is contributing to an increasingly alarming situation as antibiotics lose their power to fight infections.

According to the World Health Organisation, investment of this nature would take just one year to pay for itself and produce savings for every dollar invested thereafter but an ever-growing debt crisis is preventing poorer countries from being able to invest into basic water. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Philip Yatai

The Follow Taxes, an NGO says it will reward citizens who consistently report irregularities in procurement processes in Kaduna State.

The Co-Founder of the NGO, Dr Saied Tafida, made this known on the sidelines of two days training for State and Local Government procurement officers to improve Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS).

Tafida told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Thursday that the organisation would also recognise outstanding Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) who adhered to the OCDS.

He said that the recognition would serve as an incentive to promote citizens participation and governments response to complaints around procurement processes in the state.

According to him, the goal is to entrench citizens participation and ownership in the procurement processes to improve the quality of service delivery in the state.

We have already trained the citizens as Community Development Champions in the three Senatorial Zones, one each from the 255 political wards in the state on how to engage the process.

After a while, we will go to the database to harvest how many reports were received and from which part of the state and on which procurement areas.

Citizens with the highest number of complaints from communities and local government areas will be recognised and rewarded.

He said that the capacity of the citizens would be further built to engage the process more and make neighbouring communities want to emulate the process.

He said that for the MDAs, the NGO would be rewarding agencies based on how much data they uploaded on the OCDS platform and how much of the citizens complaints and requests they responded to.

We will rank the MDAs based on performance and reward those that are doing very well.

The MDAs with the highest data upload and responses will be rewarded and recommended for governors recognition to encourage them to do more.

We are hoping that this idea will be adopted by the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA) for sustainability to ensure robust citizens engagement of the procurement process, Tafida said.

NAN reports that the training was organised by the Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women and Follow Taxes with support of MacArthur Foundation, to improve the OCDS implementation in Kaduna State.

Tafida explained that the OCDS enabled the disclosure of data and documents at all stages of the contracting process by defining a common data model.

According to him, the OCDS is created to increase contracting transparency and allow deeper analysis of contracting data by a wide range of users.

He said this would strengthen accountability and transparency in the procurement processes in the state.

Mr Mohammed Suleiman, the Director Compliance and Capacity Building, KADPPA commended Follow Taxes for the initiative, describing it as crucial to robust citizens participation.

Suleiman said that all procurement officers would be trained on how to use the e-procurement and the OCDS portals, adding that the portals would be made user friendly and adaptable to mobile phones. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Antswen

Gov. Samuel Ortom has congratulated former President of the Senate, David Mark on his 73rd birthday.

This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase in Makurdi on Thursday.

Ortom described Mark as a statesman, seasoned administrator and a bastion of democracy, who stood for the rule of law, equity and justice over the years.

Sen. David Mark is a true patriot and leader who has over the years, made selfless contributions to the peace, unity and development of the country.

As he celebrates his 73rd birthday, I extend very warm felicitations on behalf of my family, the government and people of Benue.

It is my prayer that Almighty God keeps and bless him with good health as he continues to play a fatherly role for the benefit of the state and country at large, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba/Rukayat Adeyemi

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, on Thursday advised Town Planners to eliminate quacks from the sector to ensure a well built environment.

Salako made the call during the investiture of Mr Ayo Adejumo as the 17th Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) on Thursday in Lagos.

According to Salako, there is the need as professionals to look into policy standards and become more professional.

He charged the new leadership to be resilient in upholding ethical standards and demonstrate leadership to build on the success recorded by his predecessor.

Salako, who is also a town Planner, said the government would collaborate with with NITP to regulate the building environment.

Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, National President Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) charged the new executive of the NITP Lagos Chapter to set new standards of excellence to ensure a livable environment for citizens.

He called for responsible and responsive leadership that would challenge corrupt practices to ensure sanity in the profession.

Ayinde said the new chairman must brace-up for the task ahead, stressing that NITP Lagos has come a long way and is at the centre in the affairs of the institute.

This significant role places the chapter as a pacesetter in the affiars of the institute as well as in the practice of the profession.

The new leadership is at the least expected to maintain this standard, but it truly has to do more than that because maintaining the status quo is synonymous with making no impact.

According to him, the demands of the present time suggest that a focused and energetic team was needed to make the chapter better than it used to be.

He charged town planners to have a grip of their profession, demonstrate competence and show mastery of their calling to create livable communities.

Ayinde lauded the immediate past chairman of NITP Lagos, Mr Adebisi Adedire and his team, saying that their administration was trailblazing in conducting a virtual election in the history of the institute.

In his inaugural speech, Adejumo said the new executive would start work immediately so that it could deliver on its campaign promises.

Adejumo listed the five-point agenda of the executive to be: the construction of the main NTIP secretariat building, develop NITP recreation park, create special welfare programme for all categories of members.

Others are, to enhance mentorship and growth of young planners and make the chapter and planning profession more visible.

He commended all the contestants at the elections for showing interest to serve and maturity displayed during the campaign.

The chairman invited all stakeholders to join the present leadership in running NTIP, we will also be relying on your wisdom, ideas and suggestions to take the chapter to greater heights.

I promise you on behalf of the executive to deliver on our mandate and ensure that our chapter reaches for much greater heights, he said. (NAN)

RUKY/GA/EOB/SA

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Wednesday inaugurated Project Management Committee members for the three newly established universities in the state.

Okowa, who performed the function in Government House, Asaba, said that the creation of three new universities in the state was to broaden the citizens access to university education.

The Committee has Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, as Chairman, with Ambassador Godson Echegile, Prof. Emmanuel Nwanze, and Prof. John Enaohwo as members.

Others include Prof. Abednego Ekoko, Prof. Sam Ukala, Mr Ejiro Udjo, while Mrs Bridget Odobor will serve as Secretary.

He said that members of the committee were carefully chosen based on their track records in the academia, public administration and the private sector.

The governor added that they were men of deep intellect and managerial acumen.

I have absolute confidence in their ability to get the job done, he said.

Okowa said that those criticising the establishment of four universities in the state had no knowledge of the critical data available to the government.

On Friday, March 26, 2021, the National Universities Commission granted the state government operating licence for the three newly-created universities in Asaba, Agbor and Ozoro.

With that approval, we have scaled the major hurdle for their establishment.

What remains now is for us as an administration to set in motion the appropriate structures and operational modalities for their successful take-off in the 2021/2022 academic session.

In line with the process-driven character of this administration, it behooves us to have a Project Management Committee to midwife the successful transition and take-off of these universities.

The three newly established universities in the state are Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba; University of Delta, Agbor; and Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

I am aware there are some who question the rationale for having four universities in the state.

It is because they are not privy to the data available to government, therefore, understandably not conversant with the harsh reality confronting multiplied thousands of qualified secondary school graduates in their quest for university education.

As a government, we are daily confronted with the sense of gloom and doom experienced by these young men and women who cannot gain admission into existing universities due to inadequate space.

I will cite some statistics, in the JAMB report of 2018, no fewer than 80,131 Deltans representing 4.85 per cent of total applicants sat for the boards university entrance examination.

However, only a fraction of those who passed could be admitted. Also, for the 2019/2020 academic session, 25,896 candidates from the State chose Delta State University as first choice.

Out of this number, 22,358 qualified but only 4,854 candidates could be admitted.

As you can see, even the State-owned DELSU has reached its full-carrying capacity, Okowa said.

He lamented that majority of people of Deltacould not afford the fees charged by private universities.

According to him, some of the youth resort to anti-social vices, due to frustration.

As many join the migrant train in search of greener pastures in Europe using unorthodox methods with all dangers associated with such.

It is, therefore, incumbent on us as an administration to broaden access to university education for our bright students, especially in the fields of medicine, engineering, law, ICT, and architecture.

Our administration has worked very hard to curb youth restiveness in the State through various entrepreneurship development programmes.

Our efforts in this regard stand the risk of coming to naught if every year, more secondary school graduates are left stranded.

Not because they are not qualified but simply because there is not enough space in the existing public universities to accommodate them.

The state government is fully aware of the financial implications of establishing new universities.

We have not taken this decision lightly nor have we acted hastily.

The decision to establish new universities was one of the outcomes from the first-ever Delta State Education Summit in February 2016.

It is our considered view that the benefits of having these universities far outweigh the cost.

In fact, it makes more economic sense for the state government to upgrade the institutions as we have done because not only will these universities inherit infrastructure and personnel of the previous institutions.

It will also guarantee good return on investment.

We are confident that these new universities will go a long way to satisfy our peoples aspirations and yearnings for good quality education as the State Government is ensuring to gets full value for its money.

The committee, which has eight weeks to complete the assignment, has the following terms of reference:

To take stock of personnel, moveable assets as well as liabilities of the transitory institutions namely: College of Education, Agbor; Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and Delta State University, Anwai Campus.

To work out strategies for the smooth transition of the institutions to the new universities, including the winding down of all ongoing certificate and diploma programmes hitherto mounted therein.

To advise the State Government on the prioritisation of programmes and projects of the new institutions and determine the take-off programmes.

To work out strategies for sustainable sourcing of funds for the new institutions.

To make such other recommendations that would facilitate the effective take-off of the institutions in a manner that meets the short and long-term aspirations of Deltans.

The Chairman of the Committee, Muoboghare, thanked the governor for the choice of members of the committee.

He assured that his committee would work hard to submit its report within the stipulated period. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

By Ebere Agozie

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said he did not institute any legal action on the citizenship of the former Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Malami said this in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, in Abuja on Wednesday.

I never filed any case before any court in the country challenging the citizenship of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he said.

He said the matter in contention was part of the 2019 pre-election matters instituted by a Civil Society Organisation the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019.

He said that it was in respect of it that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation were made co-defendants.

He noted that the issue had already been widely reported by the media since April, 2019.

It is unfortunate that stale news stories capable of causing confusion are repackaged and presented to the general public as current news, the minister said. (NAN

Source: NAN News

Team Edo on Wednesday won their third gold medal out of the available six in the cricket event of the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Edo female team won the T20 event of the cricket competition at the festival.

Edo had on Monday won two gold medals in the male and female six-a-side event of the festival.

The Edo male team won by defeating Kwara while the female side won against Lagos.

NAN reports that Edo the T20 female event by defeating Ebonyi by eight wickets to make it their third gold medal so far in the cricket competition.

The T20 male event will take place on Thursday while the One Day International (ODI) has been scheduled for Friday.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Defending champions Delta maintained their lead on the medals table of the ongoing 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin on Wednesday, with hosts Edo slipping to third.

According to the medals table released by the Games Services Unit of the festivals Main Organising Committee (MOC), Delta are with 15 gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.

The table, which was released at 7:07 p.m. and was the days second and final one, has Bayelsa in second place with 12 gold, six silver and four bronze medals.

Hosts Edo are in third place with three gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals, while Kwara are in fourth place with one gold and one bronze medals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four states are the only ones with gold medals after four days of competition.

Nine other states - Kano, Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, Cross River, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and Gombe - are with either silver and bronze medals or just bronze medal(s).

Twenty-three other states and the FCT are yet to win any shade of medal at the festival which began on Friday and will end on April 14.

In total, 99 medals have been won by the participating teams, with 31 of them gold, 31 silver and 37 bronze.

Below is a view of the full table:

Serial No. State Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. Delta 15 7 4 26
2. Bayelsa 12 6 4 22
3. Edo 3 11 11 25
4. Kwara 1 0 1 2
5. Kano 0 4 1 5
6. Cross River 0 1 3 4
7. Rivers 0 1 2 3
8. Lagos 0 1 1 2
9. Gombe 0 0 3 3
10. Oyo 0 0 3 3
11. Ogun 0 0 2 2
12. Akwa Ibom 0 0 1 1
13. Borno 0 0 1 1

• Team FCT and 23 others are yet to win any medal.
  (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The Edo Government, hosts of the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin, will shut down the 13-day event by 12 noon Thursday, an official said late Wednesday.

Musa Ebomhiana, Project Manager with the Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the festivals Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the decision was necessitated by Federal Governments refusal to fulfill a promise.

He said the Federal Government failed to support the state with funds as promised, and the state government had no choice other than shutting down the festival.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the festivals Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

You can quote me, that we just finished from an emergency meeting of the LOC, and as I speak with you we have decided to shut down the festival by 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday).

The decision was arrived at because the Federal Government has reneged on its promise to assist the state with funds.

Because of that, we are closing the festival, Ebomhiana stated.

He however did not disclosed how the LOC was going to shut down the festival.

NAN could not get the reaction of the festival organisers, the Main Organising Committee (MOC), to this development as at the time of this report.

It could not also get the reaction of the festivals owners, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

John Joshua-Akanji, an aide of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, however responded immediately he was contacted.

The Special Assistant on Media to the minister urged NAN to get across to the MOCs Secretary, Peter Nelson, who could however not be reached.

NAN reports that Edo had solicited financial support from the Federal Government for it to play host to the other states of the federation and the FCT.

It had hinged its demand upon the inconveniences brought about by the several postponements of the festival which was earlier billed for March 2020.

The postponements were as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rescheduled festival had commenced on April 2 to last till April 14, and if it was shut down on Thursday it would just be in its seventh day.(NAN

Source: NAN News

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Sabo Nanono says Nigeria generated 150 million dollars from the export of coconut oil and its derivatives in 2020.

Nanono said this on Wednesday during the training of coconut farmers organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FEMARD) in collaboration with Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) in Benin.

The minister, represented by Mr Bernard Ukattah, Deputy Director, FEMARD, said that coconut was a major non-oil export foreign exchange earner for Nigeria.

He explained that coconut provided livelihood for more than 500,000 families, mostly women and youths in the country.

Nanono noted that coconut accounted for 10 per cent of the nations agricultural exports, adding that it was expected to generate more than 250 million dollars by 2021.

As a result of the awareness of its value and degree of uses, Nigeria has in recent times, increased the volume of production of coconut to average of 250,000 metric tonnes per annum.

In 2016, Nigeria produced 283,774 metric tonnes and the demands for the crop have been on the increase, growing upwards to more than 500 per cent in the last decade.

Available data show that coconut is grown in 22 states of the country with Lagos being the largest producer.

Other major producing states include Ogun, Ondo State, Edo, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Imo and Benue among others, he said

According to Nanono, President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to revamping the agricultural sector by supporting farmers and empowering women and youths through capacity building.

Also speaking, the Acting Executive Director of NIFOR, Dr Celestin Ikuenobe, said coconut was an exotic crop not being developed in the state like Oil palm.

Ikuenobe said: I am happy that the ministry is trying to develop coconut because it is a very important tree crop in Nigeria.

Our work here is to research into crops and come out with the best varieties for maximum yield.

Oil palm is our major crop, coconut, date palm, Raphia and shell all came later in 1964.

According to him, NIFOR carries out research on very important crops in Nigeria to create wealth for the country and create opportunities for people to invest in those crops to earn a living.

Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, the head of Edo Investment Promotion Office, said coconut had shown potential benefits in the value chain.

Coconut production is a new area that has shown significant benefits for farmers that want to go into it.

It is a new area which we are quite interested in because it has shown potential in tree crop value chain .

For us, coconut has shown innovation because it can put food on the table and expand the economy.

We are here because we want to work with different stakeholders to look at the opportunities in coconut.

As you are already aware, commercially, we are already promoting oil palm and rubber in the state, so coconut is also something we are interested in, Uwaibi said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FEMARD) has organised a 2-day training for 50 coconut farmers to improve the value chain.

Speaking while declaring open the training in Benin, the Minister, Mr Sabo Nanono, said that the training was to improve the livelihood of coconut farmers.

Nanono said that the training was done through the integrated coconut based agro-forestry system and plantation establishment organised under coconut value chain of the ministry.

Represented by Mr Bernard Ukattah, Deputy Director, FEMARD, Nanono stated that the training was done in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).

This workshop is coming at a very crucial moment of the country s recovery from a difficult spell of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

It is out of the need to attain food security, self-sufficiency and improve the livelihood of coconut farmers that government decided to create awareness and build the capacity of the farmers.

He added thst it was to improve the technical know-how of coconut farmers to increase productivity and ensure quality of products for local and international markets.

National President of the National Coconut Producers, Processors And Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) Nma Okoroji said that the association planned to reposition coconut value chain in Nigeria.

Okoroji said that NACOPPMANs mission was to actualise its road map of midwifing the establishment of 10,000 hectares and plant two million coconut trees in each viable state.

Statistics show that despite arable lands for coconut production, Nigeria still lags behind global coconut producing countries of Indonesia and Philippines.

Nigeria produces a negligible quantity of only 364,000 metric tons annually. Lagos state dominates the local production with its output of 257,000 metric tons annually.

NACOPPMAN is working to achieve 10,000 hectares of coconut plantation in each state in the first phase.

One hectare of coconut plantation will create employment for women and the youth.

Every 10,000 hectares will be generating 10,000 jobs, creating meaningful employment opportunities to 340,000 Nigerians in over 34 coconut viable states.

With processing hub, over 340 million employment opportunities will be created, she said.

According to her, I want to thank the ministry and NIFOR for the workshop.

We promise that through this workshop and subsequent provision of seedlings and inputs to the association, we will transform Nigeria through coconut value chain, she added.

The Acting Executive Director of NIFOR, Dr Celestine Ikuenobe, urged the farmers to take advantage of the training to improve the production of coconut to create wealth for themselves and the nation.

Ikuenobe advised the farmers to buy seedlings from NIFOR which, he said, were the best in the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stellamaris Ashinze
Nigerians have expressed divergent views on the extension of the deadline on National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) linkage by the Federal Government.

Some subscribers and vendors reacted in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that April 6, was supposed to be the deadline for Nigerians to link their NINs to their SIM cards but the exercise was extended again by one month until May 6.

Mr Thomas Adegoke, a self employed, expressed excitement at the extension saying that it had been difficult to get registered due to the crowds at the enrollment centres.

Adegoke said that it was his desire to get the NIN because apart from linking it to his SIM, it could be used for other forms of identification.

The extension is a blessing for those of us who are yet to be registered and link our SIMS.

Mrs Vivian Ilechukwu, another respondent, said that the extension was appreciated because it would enable her to register her child for NIN to be eligible for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

Ilechukwu said that efforts had been made severally to get the child registered but due to school activities it has been difficult but with the extension it would be possible.

A SIM vendor, Miss Blessing Okon, expressed disappointment that the extension was putting a hold on the source of her livelihood because nothing would be done except the registration was completed.

Okon said that since the exercise began business had dropped and people were eager to get started again after the registration.

She, however, advised people to take advantage of the extension to get registered so that business would start booming.

Okon also pleaded that more enrolment centres be opened so as to get more people registered in the shortest time possible.

NAN reports that the move by the Federal Government to get citizens to secure the NIN and link them with their SIM cards was first announced in December 2020.

A two-week period was prescribed for the exercise, but after it was clear that the time window was insufficient the government extended it to February and then April 6. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan/Salisu Sani-Idris
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) says the proposed Jabi Lake Tourism and Recreation Development project will generate N123 billion over a 30-year period.

Mr Micheal Ohiani, ICRC Acting Director-General, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, while presenting the Outline Business Certificates (OBC) to Mrs Ramatu Aliyu, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ohiani said the project would also generate net present value of N1.5 billion, internal rate of return of 17.75 per cent and payback period of 17 years.

It will also generate direct revenue (concession income) for the government through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in excess of three billion Naira over the same period.

The DG said the project which would cost 21 million dollars was in two phases.

He said that the first phase would cost 10 million dollars with the second phase costing 11 million dollars.

Ohiani said that the ICRC believes that the Jabi Lake project was transformational with invaluable multiplier economic effects in the travel and hospitality sector.

He said that it has the potential to create jobs, uplift millions out of poverty, revive the Bottom of Pyramid (BoP) economy and reflate the tourism ecosystem.

We also envisage that the actualisation of the Jabi Lake project will not only conserve our foreign exchange on international tourism, but become a source of foreign exchange earnings and position Abuja as a destination for tourism.

This indeed is a transformational project and we therefore call on the FCT minister to support the project to secure Transaction Adviser to advise the FCT and guide the procurement stage up until commercial and financial close.

While receiving the certificate, Aliyu said all measures would be taken to ensure the project was a reality in a short while.

I count on the support of all of us, all of you and sundry to ensure the project takes off before the end of the year, precisely Oct. 1.

That was the dream for Mr President, to cruise on Jabi Lake, to appreciate the essence of aesthetic beauty, both of the lake, the scenic beauty, the new look of Abuja, and the new centre of attraction.

She said that the Project Delivery Team would proceed with the implementation of subsequent steps until the conclusion of the full business case to be submitted to the ICRC as the first certificate of compliance.

Jabi Lake Tourism and Recreation Development project is an unsolicited proposal prepared by Jabi Lake Leisure and Cruise Limited.

It is expected to be a tourism destination, providing boat cruises, water sports and hospitality for tourists and residents of the FCT. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has challenged the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to restore confidence and the dignity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Osinbajo gave the task when he decorated the acting Inspector-General of Police with his new rank at the conference room of the Vice Presidents office, State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Vice-President performed the decoration on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently on medical check-up in the United Kingdom.

Osinbajo urged the new Police boss to ensure that the NPF lives up to expectations and comply with the rule of law.

He said:The organisation you are leading is one that is itself facing several challenges, your officers work in extremely difficult conditions and some face the threat of super power by terrorists and hostile non-state actors while in the line of duty.

There is no question at all that there is a lot to be done.

Under your leadership, the Police must now rebuild some bridges of trust and regain the confidence of the citizens.

This is an on-going challenge and task that the Police Force and all the senior members of the Police must take on as a responsibility.

They must continue to rebuild their trust with the Nigerian public.

Osinbajo also charged the acting I-G to implement the Community Policing Policy which had already taken off as well as restore the dignity of the Nigeria Police.

One of the ways you can restore confidence and build trust is by implementing the Community Policing Policy which has already taken off and reconceptualising policing as a task carried out in partnership with local communities and officers who are members of these communities.

Under your leadership, the force must live up to all the high standards of professional conduct and compliance with the Rule of Law.

It must significantly improve the welfare and working conditions of its officers while rapidly scaling up its forensic, logistical and operational capacities to meet todays challenges.

You must stamp out the excesses and abuses and the culture of impunity demonstrated by some elements of the force which provoked public outrage against the institution.

In short, your mission is nothing less than the restoration of dignity and high repute of the policing profession and the continuous oiling of that machinery, that enables it to be one that is respected by the public and the international community,he further advised.

He, however, charged Baba to build on the successes of his predecessor, adding that he should rejig the operational strategies of the Police.

Baba, who fielded questions from State House correspondents after his decoration, said he would build on the successes of his predecessor.

According to him, he will rejig the operational strategies of the Police.

You will see improvement on where my predecessor has left.

I came in at a very challenging time. I know it. I recognise it and I will work on how to improve from where my predecessor has left.

I have been a member of the management team. We have tried to do our best, but its not enough.

There is room for improvement. Definitely, we are going to rejig our operational strategies,he said.

The acting I-G stated that with the support of Buhari, the police would acquire new gadgets that would enhance their efficiency.

He also stressed the need for support and cooperation from the public, to enable the Police achieve its mandate of ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.

Baba said: We have the blessing of Mr President and we are hoping to get more of what we have requested through the Police Trust Fund very quickly.

Nigerians should expect improvement on the security situation. And Nigerians should also collaborate and cooperate with us. With all the inadequacies we have, we still require everybody to be part of policing in this country.

And that is why the emphasis on community policing will continue and the emphasis of collaborating with all other sister agencies will continue and we hope to have a better situation very soon. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Acting Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has promised to provide professional and responsible leadership in the affairs of the Nigeria Police.

Baba said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a ceremony marking the formal handover by the immediate past I-G, Mr Mohammed Adamu.

The acting I-G said he was mindful of the yearnings of Nigerians for a policing system that would not only assure them of their safety, but also police them with civility.

He said his administration would provide the highest level of professional and responsible leadership in the Nigeria Police to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

Baba, therefore, urged citizens to change their mindset and be prepared to work with the force in the interest of community safety and national security.

He said his appointment as the acting I-G was a call to national duty, particularly, at a critical time that Nigeria was experiencing increasing complex and pervasive security threats.

The acting I-G said the threats were occasioned by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping secessionist agitation andother highly organised crimes.

According to him, much as the challenge to provide leadership in the force to address these threats may appear daunting, I am inspired by the courageous and patriotic officers in the force.

He said he had no doubt that the officers would assist to advance the internal security programme of the Federal Government to restore security and return the country to the path of unity and development.

I am inspired by the fact that, from my extensive years in service, I can confidently say that Nigeria police is endowed with some of the finest, courageous and patriotic officers.

I am also encouraged by the fact that the outgoing I-G laid a solid foundation and entrenched a culture of professionalism and efficiency in the force.

This will stimulate me in my capacity as the I-G to strengthen our strategies and provide requisite leadership that will change the narrative in relation to our operational approach to the current security threats.

As Adamu exits the force, I call on you all to join me in celebrating one of the greatest policing icons of our time.

I want you to put on record our immense appreciation of his laudable contributions to the Nigeria Police Force, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olajide Idowu

The Police Command in Osun says kidnappers oftwo Chinese miners at a gold minein Ifewara, Osun on Monday are demanding forN10 million as ransom.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, said this on Wednesday while giving update on the kidnapping incident to newsmen in Osogbo.

Opalola explained thatthe command was intensifying efforts towards ensuring that theChinese nationals were rescued unharmed.

She said the commandwas working alongside other security operatives to ensure that the victims were released.

She, however, urged residents of the state to equally help with credible information on the activities of criminals in the state.

The Chinese nationals Zhao Jian, 33 and Wen, 50 were abducted on Monday at a mining site in Okepa/Itikan Village, Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local Government Area of Osun.

Their abductors were reported to have also shot two private guards of the miners who were taken to the hospital for treatment.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

The Police Command in Delta says it has apprehended a middle-aged man over alleged murder of a member of a vigilante group in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Edafe Bright, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Warri.

Bright said that the suspect, a 25-year-old man, had admitted to the crime.

The police spokesman identified the murder victim as Onajite Okolejo, a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Zone 12, Hausa Quarters, Warri.
Bright said that Okolejo was attacked on April 4.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) A Division Warri, CSP Tanko Mammud received a distress call and mobilised patrol team immediately to the scene and rescued the victim to the hospital.

The victim made a dying declaration at the hospital that one of the suspects that attacked him was one Sahlisu whose surname was unknown.

Through intelligence gathering and discreet investigation, Mohammed was arrested and has confessed to being among the gang that attacked the victim.

Effort is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects, he said.

Bright urged the public to provide useful information that could facilitate the arrest of the remaining suspects. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, has condemned the mass sack of workers in the state public service.

The state NLC Chairnan, Mr Ayuba Suleiman, made the condemnation at a press conference on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC was reacting to the sack of local councils workers who are above 50 years, and pegging of total number of staff in each local council at 50 workers.

The government has also ordered the conversion of all categories of officers on GL 01-06 as casual workers, among others.

The government had since commenced issuance of sack letters to the affected workers.

Suleiman said any sack of workers whose appointments are statutorily protected must be based on strict compliance with the disciplinary procedure provided in the public service rules.

According to him, the state government must take into cognisance, the cost implication of the mass sack on the society and families, as well as the security situation in the state.

He noted that the state government had not paid the entitlements of workers it sacked since 2016, and wondered how the government would pay the terminal benefits of those being sacked now.

Kaduna state is already faced with issues of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling business prospects, therefore, any additional pain on citizens will reasonably be repulsive to conscience, he added.

We call on the state government to reverse this unpopular decision on the mass sack of workers, and seek alternative means of running government without inflicting additional pains on the public.

Suleiman said the NLC would remain organized, peaceful and rational in engaging the government and other stakeholders towards ensuring amicable resolution of all issues affecting workers in the state.

It is our prayers that prominent citizens and other people of goodwill such as senior citizens, the political class, the clergy, traditional rulers would partner with organized labour with a view to save the state from needless skirmishes.

This is necessary in order to prevent the labour movement from being compelled to take some drastic measures. Suleiman said.

The NLC chairman noted that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has bastardised the civil service and demoralised workers since his assumption of office.

Kaduna State has woken to a new style of governance where there is no security of tenure in the public service of Kaduna state, as civil servants are daily threatened by the rumour of sack or actually stunned by mass sack of workers without recourse to the Extant Civil Service Rules, he added.

He noted that the N5 billion monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which the government is celebrating, is being generated through the hard work of workers in public service, whose only reward regrettably, seems to be mass sack.

He also said workers have been subjected to arbitrary and inconsistencies in payment of salaries, which most often fluctuates from month to month, thereby making it difficult for workers to plan in the face of spiraling inflation.

Again, it is worrisome that the current state leadership sees development squarely from the capitalist point against crucial indices such as human capital development, human right and the rule of law.

For development to be meaningful, it must be balanced and wholesome, both human capital development and infrastructures growth must deliberately and as of necessity, occupy a pride of place, Suleiman said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News