By Ismaila Chafe

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja decorated Mr Usman Baba as the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police was on Tuesday appointed as acting Inspector General of Police by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Babas appointment was announced by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, when he addressed State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

He said that the appointment was with immediate effect.

The Acting I-G replaced Mr Mohammed Adamu whose tenure ended on Feb, but Buhari extended his tenure for three months.

The event was witnessed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, the immediate past I-G, Adamu and the Minister of Police Affairs, Dingyadi.

Others were the Permanent Secretaries, State House, Tijjani Umar and Ministry of Police Affairs, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. (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 Muhammad Nasir

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Sokoto State on Tuesday engaged students of tertiary institutions on value reorientation.

The agency conducted the exercise under its attitudinal reorientation programme, tagged Campus Focus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Director of NOA, Alhaji Abubakar Danchadi, said this at the National Youth Summit 2021, organised by the agency in the state.

According to Danchadi, the summit which has as its theme: Youth Participation in National Development, considered the challenges concerning youths in the country.

He said it was important to note that the growing youth bulge in Nigeria was of serious concern to the government.

These facts clearly indicate that the government can no longer ignore the demands of young people and therefore raises the need for a different approach for productivity and national development.

The peaceful protest by Nigerian youths against the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) has raised a number of issues worthy of consideration.

That is why the government must now engage and hold dialogues with youths on a sustainable basis and ensure that it is proactive in dealing with the challenges confronting them, he said.

The director further explained that the objective of the summit was to engage Nigerian youths on government policies, programmes and activities in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

This is in order to inform and educate youths on various social investment programmes designed for their empowerment and how to key into these programmes.

It is also to analyse issues raised by Nigerian youths, provide credible feedback and build confidence in them on ability and commitment of government to addressing their challenges.

The programme will as well reawaken the consciousness of youths on the need to embrace the national core values and ethics as well as seek for resolutions of their grievances through dialogue, he added.

The state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Bashir Garba, appreciated the Federal Government for coming up with programmes that had direct impact on youth development.

Garba, represented by the Director, Quality Assurance in the ministry, Mr Muhammad Bawa, urged Nigerian youths to desist from social vices to ensure the best future for them.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Social Investment, Alhaji Hayatu Tafida, expressed confidence that the social investment programme of the government would continue to yield positive results on Nigerian youths.

NAN reports that two papers were presented at the event on: The impact of Youth participation and Involvement in Policy Making and Governance by Malam Nura Attajiri, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Greenlight Center for Youth and Social Services.

The second paper entitled: Insecurity and the Nigerian Youth: The Way Forward, was presented by CSP Mainasara Maru from the Police Command in Sokoto. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, in collaboration with Women and National Development (WAND), an NGO, will on Thursday, April 8, in Abuja stage a public presentation of a book entitled Aisha Buhari Being Different.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the book was written by Dr Hajo Sani in honor of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the event would be chaired by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu while Mrs Folorunso Alakija will be the Special Guest.

The book will be reviewed and presented to the public by Prof. Fatai Aremu of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

The event will also feature a summit on First Ladyship with the theme: .

The summit is targeted at state First Ladies and gender-focused institutions, with Mrs Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti Governor as the Keynote Speaker and the wife of Edo Governor, Dr. Besty Obaseki,as session Chair (NAN).

Source: NAN News

By Thompson Yamput

Former Senator Sati Gogwim of Plateau died on Tuesday after a protracted illness, a family source has said.

Mr Williams Gogwim, a younger brother of the deceased disclosed this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pankshin on Wednesday.

My brother has been sick since last year and in December he left the country for treatment abroad and only returned on Sunday, April 4.

He came back a little bit stronger, until this morning when he had health crisis, which compelled us to rush him to Rayfield Medical Centre.

Unfortunately on getting there he was confirmed dead, he said.

Williams said the family had taken his death in good faith, adding that as true Christians, they believed God called him home.

We are going to miss him, his love and warm as a brother, father, uncle and supporter, he said.

Williams said that the family was shocked over his demise and would discuss the funeral soon.

Gogwim was elected as senator representing Plateau Central in 2007 and spent four years at the National Assembly before loosing to Sen. Joshua Dariye in 2011.

Gogwim hailed from Dawaki village in Kanke Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau.

He retired as a Major in the Nigerian Army before joiningpolitics and became a senator in 2007. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Germany is facing an increasing shortage of skilled workers in the coming decades, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) published on Wednesday.

If the retirement age stays the same and there is no increase in targeted immigration, German businesses could lose one in eight skilled employees without counting the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the IW.

The study looked at what will happen to the German labour market once the baby boomer generation retires.

If retirement rules dont change and immigration is low the worst-case scenario 4.2 million skilled workers, or 12 per cent, will exit the workforce by 2040, the IW found.

According to the more likely middle scenario, the number of skilled workers will decline by 3.1 million, or 8.8 per cent, it found.

However, if immigration rules are adjusted and the retirement age pushed back, the number of skilled workers between ages 20 and 69 could be kept almost stable in the coming years, the study said.

Nonetheless, the German economy should prepare for structural change as more and more people chose an academic education over professional training.

This will result in a different composition of the skilled workforce in the future, the IW researchers said.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Nigeria Press Council has condemned certain media publications on the recent attacks and killings in some states in the South-East region .

The Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Francis Nwosu said the publications are unprofessional, sensational and capable of escalating the attacks and igniting reprisal killings.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Nwosu admonished media houses and practitioners to abide by the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.

He urged journalists to eschew reports that can infringe on the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary specifically deplored the front page report in the Daily Trust Newspaper publication of April 5 , stressing that the headline and the story are sensational, inciting and unprofessional.

The attention of the Nigeria Press Council has been drawn to the front page publication of the Daily Trust Newspaper on Monday April 5, 2021.

The story and its headline is not only inciting but also sensational.

This kind of report will not only lead to escalating attacks but also ignite reprisal killings in parts of the country, he said.

Nwosu said the story negates the provision of Section 11 of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists as approved by the Nigerian Press Organisation which states: A journalist should strive to enhance national unity and public good

He said the publication is also in violation of section 12 of the code which is on social responsibility of the journalists to their community.

It is on the basis of these two provisions of the Code that the Nigeria Press Council holds as a mandate to address this fundamental problem that is emerging in our society.

As journalists, we must uphold national unity first and any report that infringes on the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria, we must avoid it even it means that we have to play down on the stories.

Whether in the print and electronic media, private or government media the ethics of the profession must be adhered to regarding the unity, and indivisibility of Nigeria

Any report that gives the impression that one ethnic group is being profiled is absolutely unacceptable and that is where we stand, he said.

Nwosu said it was unfortunate that the council had received several reports on ethnic profiling which were not in the interest of the country

He, therefore, enjoined media practitioners to respect the unity and diversity of the country while appealing to their sensibilities not to draw one ethnic group against the other. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya
Gov. Abubakar Bello has announced the appointment of Alhaji Ahmad Gunna, the Acting Chairman of the Niger State Revenue Board, as the new Emir of Kagara.

The appointment is announced in a statement by Bellos Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, in Minna on Wednesday.

Bello congratulated Gunna, who is also the Dan Majen Kagara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the appointment of the new Emir followed the death of the former Emir, Alhaji Salihu Kagara, on March 1, after a protracted illness in Minna, the state capital after 39 years on the throne.

Bello described the appointment as well-deserved, adding that his nomination by the kingmakers stands him out as the one with the royal pedigree to stir the emirate to greatness.

He expressed the believe that, as a reputable professional and public servant, the new emir has the capacity to build on the legacies of his predecessors by upholding the sanctity of the traditional institution.

Bello told the new emir that he was ascending the throne at a critical period of insecurity in his domain and urged him to use his wealth of experience by collaborating with relevant stakeholders to bring enduring peace to the area.

He called on the people of Kagara emirate to support the new emir to bring harmony and peaceful coexistence towards the socioeconomic development of the area in particular and the state in general.

Gunna scored the highest number of votes in the recently concluded election by the electoral college of the Kagara emirate and subsequently declared winner.

Source: NAN News

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will present its conclusions on a potential link between blood clots and AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine later on Wednesday.

The agency started investigating a potential link after reports of blood clots emerged in several countries, with some researchers having found young women to be at particular risk of thrombosis, a potentially dangerous condition in which blood clots can obstruct blood flow after receiving the jab.

Several countries across the bloc suspended the use of AstraZeneca in mid-March, but took it up again after the EMA indicated the vaccine was still safe for use after an initial review of the relevant data.

However, Germany then once shelved AstraZeneca in late March, restricting the use to people older than 60 years amid persistent safety concerns.

Frances highest health authority also recommends the vaccination with AstraZeneca only for people over 55 years.

Marco Cavaleri, the head of the EMAs vaccination department, told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero in an interview published on Tuesday that, according to his own assessment, there was a connection between incidents of blood clots in the brain and the AstraZeneca vaccinations that had not yet been determined more precisely.

The EU health ministers will convene in a videoconference to discuss the EMAs findings in the evening. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

Mr Abdullahi Candido, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Wednesday inaugurated the rehabilitated 750-meter Asphalt access roads in Pyakasa, a community in Kabusa ward of the area council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other projects inaugurated include a primary health care centre in Gbessa and Kaba communities both in Gui and Gwagwa ward respectively.

Other projects inaugurated are a 480-meter road with drainages at Toge community and renovated Jiwa Chief palace, among other projects.

Candido, while inaugurating the projects explained that the projects were part of his promises of fulfilling his democratic mandates to residents of the area council.

He said that the rehabilitated roads would ease interconnectivity with other villages and boost business activities in the area council.

The chairman, however, charged the residents of the communities to protect the infrastructures and ensure that the essence of bringing such infrastructures to their communities was not defeated.

Mr Gaza Andrew, the Director of Works, AMAC, said that the inaugurated roads had several culverts at every junction to make the roads durable and stand the test of time.

The Chief of Pyakasa community, Mr Bako Josiah, appreciated the chairman of the area council for the developmental projects.

He however assured of his communitys readiness to maintain the projects for the benefits of its residents. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government has explained why it asked all states administering the COVID-19 vaccine to stop the exercise the moment they used half of the doses allocated to them.

Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, gave the explanation at Tuesdays media briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, in Abuja,.

Mamora explained that the directive became necessary since the country was not sure when next the second batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine would arrive the country.

He said that it was also to enable those who had received their first jab to be able to complete their vaccination.

According to him, it is true, the directive to states to vaccinate half of the doses deployed.

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

And so, we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated, since this vaccination comes in two doses.

So thats what gave rise to that directive, rather than just going ahead with just single dose when the full dose should be two doses of the same.

So we felt that it was proper for us in the circumstance to ensure that those who have been vaccinated have been fully vaccinated, he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, assured that the agency was investigating the reported blood clotting in some individuals that had taken the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Ihekweazu said: Theres been ongoing investigations that we have all been following on the suspected link that the AstraZeneca vaccines to certain rear experience of blood clotting in individuals in Europe.

Those investigations are still ongoing. Not all European countries are adopting the vaccines for their populations.

In Nigeria, with every vaccine, we have a parallel system to measure and to monitor any side effects.

That is ongoing and is being managed by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

We will continue to monitor patients in Nigeria. You know, every demographic is different, the demographic in taking vaccines in every country is different, the interaction between different drugs people are taking.

So there are many circumstances that need to be fully evaluated, we will look at the data ourselves here in Nigeria and I will take action as needed.

So I think for now, we can be sure that we have an effective vaccination programme going on. And were very responsive to the concerns of Nigerians, I will respond to them as appropriate.

Also, the NPHCDA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, clarified that the AstraZeneca vaccines and Johnson and Johnson vaccine could not be taken by the same individual.

Shuaib was responding to a question on if Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be taken in a case where the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine was not available.

He said: I mean, that is not right. You cannot take the AstraZeneca on your left and Johnson and Johnson on the right. So it has to be both doses of AstraZeneca and a single shot of the Johnson and Johnson.

On the reported side effects of the AstraZeneca, he said: I think we have said on multiple occasions here, that there are side effects of these vaccines, side effects of vaccines are not unique to the COVID-19 vaccine.

So one thing that we continue to tell vaccinators is that even before people take the vaccines, they should be educated on the potential side effects.

Meanwhile, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below would continue to work from home.

He said it was because there were certain red flags that needed to be interrogated further.

The SGF said the PTF would inform the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, as to when it would be appropriate for them to return.

(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwaseun Nubi

Olabanji Oladapo, Secretary-General of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), says women have not been given their deserved dues in spite of their contributions to the countrys sports development.

Oladapo spoke on Tuesday in Lagos at an event to mark the United International Sports Days Sports Development for Peace, organised by the NOC.

He said both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United Nations (UN) had decided to use Tuesday to celebrate all sports women and men across the world .

IOC and UN have long been committed in using sports as a tool to promote peace and eradicate cultural barriers.

If you look at women contributing to sports, I will say women have not really been given their dues.

This event was possible today because the women had dillgently worked to make it possible.

This development today symbolises a way of promoting and encouraging peace in the sports world in our society, the NOC Secretary-General said.

He then contended that women at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Edo would earn more medals than the men.

Women participation in sports activities over the years really speaks volume.

I am convinced that at Edo 2020, I believe we will have women winning more medals than the men.

In the past five years, women participation in sports has grown tremendously, Oladapo said.

He said the NOC would soon make some of the women part of its committee in due time.

Speaking also, Tayo Popoola, the Convener of Women Support for International Day for Sports for Development for Peace, said women needed to be empowered and encouraged more in sports activities.

However, women are doing more in sports events than the men.

She added that women all across the country should be given more opportunities like the men.

As a woman, I feel we are trying and Nigeria as a country is also trying. But I feel we can do better .

If it comes to sports, the people that are making the country proud are actually women.

If you count the number of gold medals Nigeria have won, majority of the medals are from women.

The country can do better by encouraging women. It can also empower women by engaging them in more sports activities.

This will help reduce the number of crime in the society. I believe if we do this there will be peace, Popoola said.

Chioma Ajunwa, an Olympic gold medalist, added that government needs to do more to promote sports in the country.

Sports in Nigeria, however, lacks the peace it needs to grow.

Ajunwa added that politics needed to be taken away from the sports federations to pave way for peace in different federations.

The essence of this is to advocate for peace in all federations.

Sports brings so much value to the athletes by giving them hope of getting to limelight.

We have allowed politics to take away the peace of the sports world, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Few hours to the opening ceremony of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin, Edo-based journalists were yet to be accredited, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that the journalists had since a fortnight ago filled the accreditation forms as part of the processes for accreditation.

However, while journalists from outside the state who went through the same process were duly accredited on Monday evening, those practising in the state were not accredited.

NAN reports that several Benin-based journalists waited endlessly into the night on Monday with the hope of getting their accreditation tags, but were unable to.

Already, the festivals organisers have insisted that nobody, including journalists, would be allowed into the Stadium and other games venues without accreditation.

Musa Ebomhiana, a Project Manager in the Media and Communication Sub-Committee for the festivals Local Organising Committee (LOC), has however assured that journalists in Edo would be accredited.

No journalist will be denied accreditation or entrance into the venue, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The opening ceremony of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) on Tuesday evening in Benin was a spectacle to behold, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

It was a display of the rich culture and traditions of Edo, adorned with the colour and glamour Edo has always been known for.

The ceremony which took place at the remodelled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was witnessed by several personalities.

These included Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, as well as the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.

The guests list also included the Senators representing the states three senatorial districts.

They were entertained by cultural troupes from Benin and musical stars such as Timi Dakolo and Fireboy.

NAN reports that a display of fireworks, which lasted for
close to five minutes, heralded the official opening of the festival whose activities had actually commenced since Sunday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the states Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, had welcomed athletes and their officials to the home of culture and the traditional ground for sports in the country.

Shaibu who is the Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman for the festival had said the festival was an indication that sports was back home.

Edo is home of culture. There are only two kingdoms in the world, United Kingdom and Benin Kingdom.

Please enjoy the hospitality of the people and have a joyous stay in Edo.

President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.

While speaking, Dare said sports has become business with the benefits of job-creation and Nigerian youths needed to take full advantage of this.

The festivals oath by athletes and participating officials was taken by Henry Aghomoh of the Karate Federation of Nigeria and Mohammed Bashir of Cycling Federation respectively.

The 20th NSF, which had suffered several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be officially closed on April 14. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olajide Idowu

The management of Osun United Football Club of Osogbo on Tuesday suspended the teams Head Coach, Bright Omokaro, and two of his assistants, Bayo Adesina and Wole Animasahun.

Theclubs Media Officer, Tajudeen Amodu, disclosed that the decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the clubs management in Osogbo.

Amodu said the meeting was held following the clubs poor performances in the ongoing 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) where the team have lost four matches in a row.

He said the teams assistant coach, Waheed Olapade, and goalkeepers trainer Moruf Olasupo were to take charge of the team in an interim capacity with immediate effect.

Similarly, the Media Officer said a player, Olusola Akilapa, has also been suspended due to gross indiscipline.

This decision by the club management takes immediate effect, until a general review of performances during the mid-season break, Amodu said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) says it has commenced a-three-year identification of balanced fertiliser blends in Nigeria to augment for nutrients deficiency in the soil.

Prof. Victor Chude, AGRA Fertiliser Systems Project Coordinator, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

AGRA is a farmer-centered, African-led and partnerships-driven institution that is transforming Africas smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to businesses that thrive.

It deals with improving agricultural products and supporting local farm owners and labour.

Chude added that the intervention will remedy the current practice of using generic fertiliser blends and blankets application rates across the country.

He said the project, which is being piloted in two states of Niger and Kaduna, is aimed at strengthening fertiliser systems partnership for the production of balanced fertiliser blends in the country.

He emphasised that the use of balanced fertiliser blend is required to augment for nutrient deficiencies in soils, adding that facilitating the sustainable maximisation of the genetic potentials of crops has been proven by a good number of studies.

The coordinator explained that the primary objective of the intervention is to catalyse the production and use of appropriate crop and soil specific fertiliser blends to enhance maize, rice and soybean production in the pilot states.

Based on success recorded in the two piloted states, extend to other states across the country.

One of the common agricultural practices in Nigeria is the use of generic fertiliser blends to address issues of soil fertility.

This practice across various regions is often without investigations to determine unique challenges common to that region ultimately negates the specificity of soil nutrient requirements.

It also undermines the benefits of secondary and micro-nutrients required for crop growth and the production of highly nutritious food.

To say the least, inappropriate formulation and often-misguided use of organic/mineral fertilisers is a setback to the achievement of food and nutrition security in Nigeria and many other African countries.

Although East African countries like Kenya (with support from AGRA) and Zambia are fast promoting the adoption of balanced fertilisers, he said.

Chude explained that the methodology involves soil testing, on-field evaluation trials, use of visual ranking and technical yield evaluations to assess the performance of the fertiliser blends on maize, rice and soybean commodity value-chains at designated locations.

The coordinator, who described the benefits as numerous, says they include an increase in productivity which is expected to drive demand for these blends.

According to him, blanket fertilisation of soils should be passionately discouraged at all levels nationwide.

The results of initial field trials show that crop/site specific fertiliser blends can improve productivity of crops by at least 25 to 40 per cent while improving their nutrient content.

This translates to economically efficient parameters with a multiplier effect, as it would increase income for affected stakeholders including fertiliser blending plants, agro-input distributors and farmers.

It will as well as possibly encourage more investors into the agricultural sector thereby stimulating economic growth. This is a great stride towards improving the business of agriculture in Nigeria, he stressed.

The coordinator further stated that for the trials, three crops and soil specific formulations were adopted for the focus commodity value-chains.

These formulations, according to him, are a blend of NPK with appropriate mixes of secondary and micronutrients such as Sulphur, Boron, Zinc and Calcium as required.

Since 2019, approximately 1,500 demonstration plots have been established for trials, while an approximately 2,500 farmers and 40 fertiliser producing companies have been actively engaged in realising the goal of the project.

One of the next steps will be to acquire optimal land area required to optimize the yield effects on individual crop enterprises and aggregate them into nutrient requirements for statewide application in standard formulations.

This is targeted at the policy instruments of relevant government agencies to promote the use of appropriate fertiliser blends for production of different crops.

In addition, fertiliser blenders would be encouraged to invest in and produce more of balanced fertiliser blends, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

An Elder Statesman and former Leader of a socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has expressed support for the presidential ambition of the APC National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

Fasoranti stated this while receiving members of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (SWAGA 23), who paid him a courtesy visit in his country home in Akure.

Tinubu has all it takes to rule Nigeria. Considering his activities and track record, he deserves to be President, come 2023.

May his prayers be answered. When he gets there, he will do all we want, he said.

According to the Afenifere leader, with Tinubu as president, all the prayers of Afenifere for Nigeria will be answered, particularly on the issue of restructuring and federalism.

Earlier, Prince Dayo Adeyeye the Chairman and Coordinator of SWAGA, said Yoruba must unite and speak with one voice, ahead of 2023 presidential race.

He urged the Yoruba not to divide its house ahead of the presidential election.

The former minister for works said that more than 50 traditional rulers across the six states of the South-West geopolitical zone had been visited for their royal blessings.

He added that presidency would be zoned to the South in 2023, which could be any zone, hence the need to quickly start the movement for Yoruba to unite.

Tinubu has all it takes to rule the country, being a detribalised Nigerian who loves the masses and is blessed with enormous wisdom, he said.

Adeyeye however, stated that the team was not sent by Tinubu, but that it decided to take up the role, having found the former Lagos governor worthy because of his leadership quality. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismail Abdulaziz
As part of its measures to curb Road Traffic Crashes, the Dangote Cement Plc has inaugurated a Drivers Training Centre at the Dangote Cement Plant (DCP), Obajana, Kogi State.

The new Centre is charged with the responsibility of attending to all training needs of the Dangote Cement drivers.

The new centre has convocated its first graduates of 50 Trainee Drivers.

At the event, Mr Harisson Pepple, Head of the Dangote Drivers Training Centre, said that the training was in line with the companys Zero Tolerance Policy for auto crashes.

Pepple said that the Trainee Drivers were drawn from the existing Motor Boys, adding that the training period was six months.

He expressed optimism that the days of crashes involving Dangote trucks are numbered.

The Trainee Drivers Programme is all encompassing. The first twelve weeks is theoretical. Then there is three months attachment, he said.

He said that the idea for the new cntre was conceived in June 2020 with the aim of training, retraining and constantly engaging the companys drivers.

He said that the company was engaging another set of qualified drivers with Class G licenses, stressing that the centre was collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps in these activities.

He added that the Trainee Drivers were also taught Defensive Driving Techniques, which involved driving to save lives, time and property.

The Dangote Group has been taking stringent measures to minimise auto crashes, and the new training centre is a continuation of this innovative efforts.

Some of the efforts by the company to curb crashes include: The recertification of drivers, pre-trip and post-trip inspections, drug test, Onboard Camera and tracking of vehicles.

Others efforts are Root Cause Analysis, engaging behavioural psychologists and clerics, convoy movement as well as checkpoint policy and sanctions.(NAN)
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Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigerian stock market resumed after the Easter public holidays on Tuesday with a loss of 0.39 per cent due to persistent bearish trend.

Specifically, the All-Share Index lost 150.13 points or 0.39 per cent to close 38,766.61 compared with 38,916.74 achieved on Thursday.

Also, the market capitalisation lost N78 billion to close at N20.283 trillion from N20.361 trillion achieved on Thursday.

The market loss was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are Guinness Nigeria, MRS Oil Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, BUA Cement and Aluminium Extrusion Industries.

Market sentiment turned negative with 21 laggards, relative to 14 gainers.

MRS Oil led the losers chart in percentage terms by 9.92 per cent to close at N10.90 per share.

Aluminium Extrusion Industries followed with a decline of 9.88 per cent to close at N7.30, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance shed 9.38 per cent to close at 29k per share.

Sterling Bank shed 8.65 per cent to close at N1.69, while Guinness Nigeria depreciated by 8.08 per cent to close at N33 per share.

Conversely, Eterna dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 9.91 per cent to close at N5.99 per share.

Linkage Assurance followed with 9.72 per cent to close at 79k and Royal Exchange rose by 9.09 per cent to close at 36k per share.

Japaul Gold and Ventures appreciated by 8.89 per cent to close at 49k, while FCMB Group gained 4.59 per cent to close at N2.96 per share.

Also, the total volume of trades declined by 6.19 per cent with an exchange of 224.59 million valued at N2.14 billion in 4,675 deals.

This was against 239.42 million shares worth N2.32 billion exchanged in 4,445 deals on Thursday.

Transactions in the shares of UACN topped the activity chart with 34.05 million shares valued at N337.61 million.

Access Bank followed with 26.35 million shares worth N214.93 million, while FBN Holdings traded 18.93 million shares valued at N137.44 million.

Zenith Bank traded 16.59 million shares worth N364.34 million, while Fidelity Bank transacted 15.31 million shares valued at N39.15 million. (NAN)

Source: NAN News