By Muhammad Nasir

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has declared Tuesday, April 13, as the first day of Ramadan 1442 AH in Nigeria.

Abubakar announced the sighting of the new moon in a radio and television broadcast in Sokoto on Monday.

He said the new moon was sighted in different parts of Nigeria and that report of the crescent sighting were received from Muslim leaders and organisations across the country.

After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and state committees confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, I hereby announce the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan which signifies the end of Shaaban 1442 AH.

Consequently, in accordance with Islamic law, Muslim Ummah is directed to commence fasting on Tuesday accordingly, he said.

The Sultan enjoined Muslim faithful to devote themselves to the worship of Allah throughout the Holy month, urging them to use the period to pray for the progress, peace and prosperity of the nation.

We further call on Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and tribal difference, he said.

He urged Muslim faithful to use the period to pray for leaders on their commitment towards addressing all health related issues and security challenges in the country.

The Sultan also urged wealthy individuals to assist the poor, while stressing the need for increased religious tolerance and brotherhood in Nigeria.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection and assisting the needy.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a compulsory religious obligation on all adult Muslims.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the beginning of Muslims holy month of Ramadan with a call on Nigerians to remember the poor and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muslims fast throughout the 30 days of the holy month.

Buhari, in a message to mark the commencement of the month, prayed to Allah to accept our sacrifices and increase the unity, solidarity, peace and prosperity of the nation.

The message signed by Malam Garba Shehu, Special Assitant on Media and Publicity, was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

It quoted Buhari as urging Muslims in the country to exercise patience and tolerance, and reject voices that seek to divide the nation.

The president also urged citizens to show compassion to the poor and remember those that had been displaced by conflicts, in their charity and prayers throughput the fasting period. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

TAJBank has deployed NQR Payment solution, an indigenous Quick Response Code by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) as the newest addition to its e-business channels.

The Founder/Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Mr Hamid Joda, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Joda said that the ingenious solution would further drive TAJBanks culture of innovation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NQR Payment solution is a secure QR-code-based payment and collections platform developed for merchants and customers to receive and make payments in an easy and secure manner.

Joda said that the NQR would also create a seamless payment experience for the banks rapidly growing individual and corporate customers in their banking transactions.

We are excited to have this payment channel introduced into the nations financial system as an addition to other innovative solutions we have deployed over the past few months.

This is a proof that, as we have said in our communications signature line, TAJBanks interest is always in our customers, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of the bank, Mr Sherif Idi, said that the deployment of the NQR payment solution would revolutionise the e-payment experience.

Idi added that it would open new frontiers for small, medium and large scale businesses which were major stakeholders of the bank.

He assured of the banks track record of growth and innovation, and rendering quality services to customers.

He said that NQR solution was open to all customers of the bank, both merchants and individuals, across all its branches and digital channels globally.

TAJBank is Nigerias second licensed non-interest financial institution offering innovative and customer-oriented products and services that span private banking, retail banking, business banking, development finance and the public sector. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Team Rivers say they will protest what they have seen as poor officiating in their 65kg bout in Dambe at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the quarter-final fight between Michael Olayemi of Rivers and Hassan Yusuf of Bauchi state on Sunday ended in favour of Yusuf.

It was declared a knock-out in the second round by the umpire.

Dissatisfied with the official result, Emmanuel Ogolo, Secretary of Rivers State Sports Council, said his team would protest the decision.

Dambe is a martial art in which competitors in a typical match aim to subdue each other into total submission mostly within three rounds.

It often results in serious bodily injuries for the challengers such as broken jaws and ribs.

I rate the officiating as being unfair. Almost all the spectators here and even some of the officials saw what happened, but its like what they are doing here is favouritism, which is not right.

A fighter cannot be fighting with his hand and somebody is using his leg to cross over and make him fall. It is wrong.

I have not experienced that before and that is why we are making a protest in this game. It is either the game is canceled or declared a rematch, he said.

Reminded of the protest fee of N20,000, Ogolo said his team resolved to protest the referees decision and were ready for the consequences.

We are ready for that, anything that will make us succeed in this particular game, we will do it. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Ondo State-born Olympics-bound wrestler, Odunayo Adekuoroye, has won a gold medal in the 57kg category of the wrestling event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF).

In her fight, Adekuoroye stamped her authority on the game as world number two by defeating Jumoke Adesoye from Kano State 10-0.

Also joining Adekuoroye on the medals table was Princess Bankole who won a bronze medal for Ondo State in the 50kg category of the wrestling event.

Isaac John of Ondo State defeated his opponent in the 74kg of the mens event to win a silver medal

Also in other sports, Joy Usenbor recorded 54.00 seconds in the 400m women final of the athletics event to secure a bronze medal for Ondo State.

In the male event of table tennis, the Ondo State team defeated their counterparts from Lagos 3-0 to qualify for the final of the event.

Also, Kemi Aliu qualified for the final in the heavyweight division in the female boxing event. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria has hailed Edo state government for providing standard gymnastics facilities at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Benin.

Abba Mohammed-Inuwa, vice president of the Federation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium that the federation was considering the state as host for future championships.

I will like to express our appreciation to the government and people of Edo state for providing this state-of-the-art equipment.

These equipment are very sophisticated and I am very sure that it is the first of its kind in West Africa as a whole.

Yesterday (Sunday), we were here with the Deputy Governor (Philp Shaibu) for more than an hour and we informed him of our plans to make use of these facilities as a national camp, where we will be camping our athletes.

And we are even soliciting for the cooperation and support of Edo state government so that we can host championships, nationally and internationally in Edo state.

This is the only way we can have athletes that are fit and trained in Nigeria that can represent this country in future events.

He has given us his words that Edo state is going to collaborate with the federation to ensure that these facilities are being put to use, he said.

NAN reports that the gymnastics event which is still ongoing at the festival is expected to end on Tuesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations (UN) have expressed deep concern over the situation in Somalia.

According to a joint statement on Sunday, in their latest virtual meeting the AU, EU, IGAD, and UN noted the gravity of the ongoing political stalemate in Somalia over the holding of delayed elections, and the continuing impasse in dialogue between the Federal Government and some Federal Member State leaders.

They expressed serious concern that the political stalemate was impacting negatively on peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Somalia and beyond.

They, therefore, called on Somali political leaders to continue the progress made in state-building and inclusive politics, especially elections and peaceful transition of power.

The organisations appealed to the countrys leaders to deliver today on the vital interests of the Somali people for peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections.

The meeting urged all Somali leaders to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions.

They reiterated their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia.

They also called upon Somali leaders to prioritise the national interest of Somalia and immediately return to dialogue to seek compromise on the outstanding issues.

The international organisations urged the Somali leaders to ensure that no actions were capable of undermining the stability of Somalia were taken, which is critical to the maintenance of international peace and security.

While stating that the Sept. 17 Agreement remained the most viable path towards the holding of elections in the shortest delay possible, they urged the Federal Government and the Federal Member State leaders to review and validate the Feb. 16, 2021 Baidoa Technical Committee recommendations and seek agreement through compromise on any outstanding issues necessary for rapid electoral implementation.

Commending the international partners for facilitating communication between Somali leaders, they called on the partners to strengthen engagements and identify, if needed, new ways of supporting a return to dialogue among the political stakeholders in the country

They also reaffirmed the decision not to support any parallel process, partial elections, or new initiatives leading to any extension of prior mandates. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Guillermo Lasso has won Ecuadors presidential run-off vote.

The 65-year-old got to 52.52 per cent of the vote with almost all votes counted, while left-wing candidate Andres Arauz received 47.48 per cent of the vote, the electoral office announced late Sunday.

The two candidates were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Arauz was seen as the protege of former president Rafael Correa and a win would have likely see him continue Correas policy of 21st century socialism, increased subsidies and oppose the austerity programme demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Lasso meanwhile campaigned on a liberal economic platform and wanted to create jobs and attract foreign investors.

He is a member of the ultra-conservative Opus Dei association and is strictly against same-sex marriage and abortion.

The vote marked Lassos third presidential candidacy.

For years Ihave dreamt of being allowed to serve Ecuadorians so that the country can advance and we can all have a better life.

Today you have made that possible. It is the start of a new era of coming together, he told his supporters in the city of Guayaquil.

Arauz conceded defeat and said he would phone his rival to congratulate him.

This is an electoral failure, but not a political or moral defeat, he told supporters outside his home late Sunday.

The South American country was in a deep economic crisis due to the drop in oil prices and the Coronavirus pandemic.

The previous president, Lenin Moreno, had recently seen his popularity plummet and did not stand for re-election. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chinas top disease control official said his comments on the effectiveness of his countrys vaccines over the weekend were misinterpreted.

The director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said it was a complete misunderstanding that he had said Chinese vaccines offer a low level of protection, in comments to state newspaper the Global Times on Monday.

He had been presenting a scientific vision that adapting vaccine sequences or administering different jabs on after the other could also be options for increasing protection, he said.

The protection rates of all vaccines in the world are sometimes high, and sometimes low. How to improve their efficacy is a question that needs to be considered by scientists around the world, Gao said.

Gao Fu was talking at a conference in Chengdu on Saturday on the topic of how to solve the insufficient protection of current vaccines, Chinese news outlet Pengpai Xinwen (The Paper) reported.

It is also necessary to consider ways to address the low protection rate of existing vaccines, he was cited as saying.

His comments prompted a reaction because there is far less data available on Chinese vaccines than those being produced in many other countries.

Critics have complained of a lack of transparency when it comes to Chinese jabs, which have not been authorised in many European nations.

Data from the third phase of clinical studies was particularly sought after.

Because China has the Coronavirus pandemic largely under control and was reporting hardly any local infections, studies so far have only been published from other countries where vaccines were being used.

Source: NAN News

Archaeologists have found a total of 165 millennia-old tombs at a single relic site in east Chinas Shandong Province.

The tombs, unearthed in the city of Heze, include 156 that date back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) and nine from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-221 B.C.), according to Shandongs institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

All of the tombs belong to the 1.3-hectare Sundayuan Site, the recent excavation of which also revealed five pits from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.) and 27 from the Neolithic Longshan Culture, said Sun Qirui, an archaeologist with the institute.

Sun said that among the Han Dynasty tombs were earthen tombs with brick coffins and pottery figurines, and brick tombs complete with passage structures.

While few items were found in the Shang Dynasty pits, the Longshan Culture pits boast abundant artifacts, including pottery pieces carrying different patterns, he said.

The long time span of the Sundayuan site has offered precious insight into cultural evolution and integration in the area, researchers have said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Monday congratulated Nigerian-Born Canadian Foluke Oyedeji-Laosebikan, for receiving an honour for her designation as the Queens Counsel in Canada.

NiDCOM in a congratulatory message via its Twitter account @nidcom_gov, said Oyedeji-Laosebikans designation as Queens Counsel was equivalent to the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) usually conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than 10 years standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession.

NAN reports that Oyedeji-Laosebikan is the proprietor of FLK Law Firm in Melfort, and presently the President of Law Society of Saskatchewan, Canada.

NiDCOM quoted the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Saskatchewan, Gordon Wyant as saying during the designation ceremony on March 15: I am pleased to recognise Dr Laosebikan for her commitment to the legal community and her dedication as the President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

She is well-deserving of the Queens Counsel designation.

Individuals must live in Saskatchewan, Canada, and must have practiced law for at least 10 years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland to earn the honour of Queens Counsel.

Queens Counsel appointments are based on recommendations from a committee consisting of Saskatchewans Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queens Bench, and the past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Oyedeji-Laosebikan started practicing in Canada in 2011.

She finished her secondary school at Moremi High School, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria.

She obtained LLB, LLM, and Ph.D. degrees in Nigerian and South African universities.

She was also a professor for a period of time in South Africa prior to moving to Melfort in 2004. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is optimistic of winning the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election and revamp the state.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement by Assistant Director (Head of Unit), Publicity Department, PDP, Richard Ihediwa.

Ologbondiyan, playing host to a coalition of Anambra youths under the aegis of Anambra Youth Initiative For Good Governance, in Abuja, saidthe PDP presents the hope for the state to rebuild and realise its full potentials.

He said that the victory of the PDP in the recent Abia National Assembly by-election was a signal that the South East was for PDP.

According to him, the assemblage of leading aspirants and the surge of the people to the PDP, clearly indicate their resolve to elect the next governor of the state on the platform of the PDP.

The reality of the direction the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra will take is already manifest.

Ndi Anambra are very industrious, resourceful and inventive people and they have collectively realized that they can only achieve their full potentials on the platform of the PDP.

This is particularly given our robust manifesto and wealth creation principles of inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, massive infrastructural development and empowerment of the people.

Across our nation today, it is only PDP governors that are commissioning legacy projects, he said.

According to him, projects upon projects are being commissioned by the party on daily basis in line with its manifesto in different states of the federation.

He said that the states included Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Abia, Adamawa, Edo, Oyo, Cross River, Zamfara, Enugu, Taraba and Delta.

Ologbondiyan added that PDP states were opening new development and investment frontiers in critical sectors, including agriculture, aviation, energy, power, healthcare, education, real estate manufacturing and massive industrialisation.

This is why Ndi Anambra have firmly resolved to rally on our platform to revamp and move their state towards realizing its full potentials in all spheres of life, Ologbondiyan stated.

Speaking during the visit, the National Convener of the Coalition, Mr Okechukwu Umeh, restated the confidence of the people of Anambra in the PDP.

Umeh added that all hands were already on deck to ensure the victory of the PDP in the November election.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

A conservative former banker, Guillermo Lasso has won Ecuadors presidential run-off vote.

The 65-year-old got to 52.52 per cent of the vote with almost all votes counted, while left-wing candidate Andres Arauz received 47.48 per cent of the vote, the electoral office announced late Sunday.

The two candidates were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Arauz was seen as the protege of former president Rafael Correa and a win would have likely see him continue Correas policy of 21st century socialism, increased subsidies and oppose the austerity programme demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Lasso meanwhile campaigned on a liberal economic platform and wanted to create jobs and attract foreign investors.

He is a member of the ultra-conservative Opus Dei association and is strictly against same-sex marriage and abortion.

The vote marked Lassos third presidential candidacy.

For years I have dreamt of being allowed to serve Ecuadorians so that the country can advance and we can all have a better life.

Today you have made that possible. It is the start of a new era of coming together, he told his supporters in the city of Guayaquil.

Arauz conceded defeat and said he would phone his rival to congratulate him.

This is an electoral failure, but not a political or moral defeat, he told supporters outside his home late Sunday.

The South American country was in a deep economic crisis due to the drop in oil prices and the Coronavirus pandemic.

The previous president, Lenin Moreno, had recently seen his popularity plummet and did not stand for re-election.

Source: NAN News

By Usman Aliyu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted claims by Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, that Nigerian economy was in critical situation due to huge debt burden.

Retired Col. David Imuse, chairman of the state APC caretaker committee, said this in a statement by Mr Ofure Osheobo, the assistant secretary of the committee on Monday in Benin.

Imuse described Obasekis criticism of the Federal Government on handling of the economy as a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

The true position is that under Obasekis watch, the economy of Edo is in dire straits with the governor bereft of ideas on how to get it out.

The state is engulfed in a foreign debt of 300 million dollars and a domestic debt including loans from commercial banks, the capital market, and other doubtful sources, approaching N120billion as at March, for non-existent projects.

In the past seven months, Obaseki has plunged Edo into higher debts by taking more loans which has seen a 67 per cent increase in its debt profile.

Edo under him has overtaken Rivers as the state with the highest foreign and domestic debt in the South South and it is on a steady course to displace Lagos as Nigerias most indebted state, he said.

Imuse said that while Kogi had successfully reduced its domestic debt from N132.5 billion to N73 billion, Edo had spent more money servicing debts than financing education, healthcare and infrastructure even without a state cabinet.

He described as spurious, alarmist, untrue and wicked, claim by Obaseki that Nigeria was on its way to becoming another Argentina in terms of low currency value.

He advised the governor to use his membership of the National Economic Council, Nigerian Governors Forum and Nigerian Economic Summit to offer useful suggestion on how to move the economy forward.

This, he said was better than singling himself out for pediatric applause, because the management of Nigerian economy was not just the responsibility of one person, but that of the government, of which he was a part.

Everybody today knows that since 2015 when APC came on the scene, Nigeria has been on the path of progress and things are definitely much better than how PDP left it, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says, its troops supported by Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) have thwarted Boko Haram terrorists incursion into Damasak, Headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno, killing scores.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in as statement on Monday, said the success was recorded on April 10.

Yerima said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior fire power both from the air and on the ground which compelled them to withdraw in disarray with several men and equipment casualty.

He disclosed that two gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while one officer and two other soldiers were injured in the encounter, adding that the injured were currently recuperating at a military hospital in Maiduguri.

Yerima also disclosed that troops of Sector I, OPLD on picketing duty along Ngwom-Mafa-Maiduguri road had on Sunday, neutralised seven members of Boko Haram terrorist group and recovered four AK-47 rifles .

He said the terrorists were supposedly lying in wait to attack troops and innocent citizens plying the busy road.

According to him, troops who have continued to dominate the areas with massive clearance patrols and ambushes sprang the surprise attack on the terrorists that have been menacing the peace and livelihood of the people in the area.

They however ran out of luck as they were instead trapped and neutralised in their own web.

After the duel and successful neutralization of the terrorists, the troops continued their clearance patrol up to Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, troops of OPLD will continue to maintain aggressive posture to ensure the entire area is cleared of terrorists elements and their activities while maintaining high moral and fighting efficiency.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has congratulated the gallant troops and urged them to maintain their high and satisfactory morale and fighting efficiency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Edo Government has warned land speculators to desist from encroaching into Godwin Omonuwa Estate in Upper Adesuwa College Road area of the Government Reservation Area(GRA) within Benin metropolis.

The state government in a statement on Sunday by MrTom Obaseki,Project Coordinator, Edo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, said the estate was earmarked for the Benin water storm project.

It stated that the whole area of land had been designated to be used in the Implementation of the on-going stormwater alleviation works at the GRA area of Benin

It noted of a subsisting law suit at the Federal High Court (Suit No: FHC/B/CS/111/2020) amongst several stakeholders, including members of the Godwin Omonuwa family that restrains any form of transaction or sale activities on the said Land.

This Public notice became necessary as the government has recently observed some form of illegal construction and transaction activities on the above-mentioned landed area by unknown persons.

The state government hereby alerts the general public not to be deceived into buying any plot of land at the area known as Godwin Omonuwa Estate, Upper Adesuwa road, GRA as doing so is at the buyers risk, it stated.

It stated that government was resolved to use the said land in solving the perennial flooding that had made life unbearable for residents of Gapiona-Ugiokuen-Abuja Quarters and the larger part of the GRA over these years.

The government charges buyers to desist from having any transaction on the said land or carrying any form of development on the same Godwin Omonuwa Estate, situated at Upper Adesuwa road, GRA.

Request for clarification/further information can be routed through the email:or Telephone numbers; 08099732111 or 07053066000, it noted.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has concluded plans to inaugurate the Advisory Council and Body of Neutrals of the oil and gas industrys Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) in Lagos.

Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.

Osu said that the centre would be inaugurated on April 15.

He said that the ADRC was one of the centres in the DPR National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.

According to him, the centre will offer arbitration, mediation and conciliation services for the industry.

The centre will leverage industry technical experts, Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners and resources of the National Data Repository to provide fair and balanced resolutions of industry-related disputes from an informed position.

The ADRC is structured to adequately resolve disputes in a manner consistent with regulatory and commercial interests of the industry.

This will address suboptimal development of oil and gas assets associated with lingering disputes, he said.

Osu added that this would eliminate the attendant consequences of value erosion in terms of national resource growth, global competitiveness, investment attractiveness and investors profitability. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Bayelsa Government on Monday said that it would ensure that its ongoing infrastructure projects across the state meet world class standards as well as provide value for money.

Mr. Ebiye Tarabina, the Chairman of the Directorate for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, said this while inspecting ongoing projects in the state.

He said that the projects were designed to comply with the highest standards specified in their contracts.

Tarabina advised contractors handling the state governments projects to execute their contracts according to standards and specifications as the directorate would not hesitate to wield the big stick against any erring contractor.

The chairman warned that the era of contractors cutting corners only to deliver substandard jobs was over.

He said that the directorate would spare no effort in ensuring that contractors keep to their contractual agreements.

The chairman, who noted that Gov. Douye Diri remained committed to the completion of all ongoing projects on schedule, charged contractors handling the various projects to expedite action on them.

He said that the projects embarked upon were aimed at upgrading social facilities in Bayelsa to align the state with the league of cities with world class infrastructure , thus making Bayelsa comparable with other developed states.

Tarabina also noted that the gains of the investments being made by the present administration in the provisions of critical infrastructure would soon be positively felt on a large scale in all sectors.

The chairman lauded the firm handling the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road project for the speed of work, noting that the project is strategic and upon completion, would lead to the accelerated development of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road will link Yenagoa to Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the largest of the eight LGAs which can only be accessed through the waterways by boats.

Responding at the project site, an indigene of Oporoma community, Mr. Daniel Brazil, stated that the project would impact positively on the socio-economic status of the Oporoma community and Southern Ijaw LGA at large.

He commended the efforts of Gov. Diri for funding the project and expressed his appreciation to the chairman of the directorate for the inspection tour of the project to ensure compliance by contractors.

NAN reports that projects inspected include: the Nembe unity bridge; the Bayelsa Media complex, Ekeki; the Igbogene-Tombia Road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road.

The chairman was accompanied on the inspection tour by engineers from the directorate, heads of departments, newsmen and support staff of the directorate. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ezra Musa

An NGO, Bridge that Gap Initiative on Monday commissioned a skill acquisition centre for Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) in Rimau, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Commissioning the centre, Gloria Bulus, Executive Director of the NGO, said the hub was established to empower IDPs.

The centre is expected to provide women in the community with sewing, climate smart agriculture techniques, soap and pomade-making among others.

200 households are expected to benefit indirectly from the centre as soon we unveil the project.

These IDPs have lost their sources of livelihood as a result of the conflicts which have adversely affected their daily economic activities, so a large percentage of women are idle, losing valuable and productive time.

These events have also made the women over-dependent on the male head of the family, while households headed by widowed women due to the unrest become over-burdened.

She said the project will create a skills workspace for women in the community considering the economic vulnerability which has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic breaking the economic chain of most women in the informal sector.

The hub would provide an alternative source of livelihood since the primary source has been altered due to the conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bulus said the project will be handed over to the community to help sustain it, this according to her, would give the women the opportunity to transfer the knowledge to their children and relatives as a way of giving back to the community.

Our aim is to ensure that 30 women, who are starting the project become professionals to train others while the NGO just provides technical support.

With this project, we aim to boost livelihoods to cushion the impact that has heavily dealt with not just the IDPs who have found Rimau as a haven, but the entire community as well.

She said that the project was supported by the World Connect, based in the U.S.

We accelerate the fight against poverty through integrated interventions that ensure equitable access to opportunities, and minimizing losses of livelihoods to the most vulnerable in the society.

On behalf of our donors, partners, and my entire team I wish to express my appreciation to the family of the Late Agwom Adara,for providing this space for the hub, and the good people of Rimau community for embracing this project. She added.

In her remarks, Victoria Galadima, wife of late Agwom, expressed her gratitude to the NGO for the opportunity given to the community to improve their livlihood.

Thank you so much for opening the way for our people, we expect our people to work towards achieving the goals of this project.

Earlier in his remark, District Head of Kufana, Chief Titus Dauda, commended the NGO for their support.

We will continue to support and ensure that this project is secured to achieve all its goals he pledged.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Aliyu Garba, confirmed on Monday that gunmen attacked another community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Sunday.

Garba told newsmen that the gunmen attacked Ebele village, Umuogodo Akpu, Mgbo in the LGA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen attacked five communities in the state Egedege, Obegu, Amazu, Nkalagu and Umuhuali on March 29.

A number of persons were reported killed in that attack.

Garba said: on the effects of Sunday attack, it is yet to be ascertained. We are yet to get any report from there and I have not been around. I am waiting for the report.

Mr Stanley Okoro-Emegha, Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, also said he was yet to get details of the attack.

They said it was communal crisis, while others said it was herdsmen who carried out the attack, but we do not know the people behind the attack yet.

We cannot say exactly what happened although we heard about the attack this morning (Monday).

Nobody has called to say somebody died or property destroyed, but we shall find out.

Right now, we do not know who is responsible, Emegha said.

Governors in the southeast rose from a meeting in Owerri on Sunday where they deliberated on rising wave of insecurity in the region.

At the end of the meeting, they jointly endorsed the formation of a region-wide security organisation tagged Ebube Agu (fear of a lion).

The governors and heads of security agencies in the region signed a communiqu to maintain the joint security outfit.

The communique read in part: after discussions on the current security challenges in the southeast and with valuable contributions from participants at the security summit in Owerri, it was resolved as follows:

To strongly and unequivocally condemn terrorism and banditry in any part of Nigeria, particularly in the Southeast.

The meeting strongly condemned the burning of police stations, violent attacks on custodial centres with the unlawful release of inmates, and the killings including security personnel, natives/farmers and herdsmen.

That the political leadership in the southeast has resolved to bring together all the arsenals at their command, as one united zone, to fight and flush out criminals and terrorist from the zone.

That the heads of all the security agencies in the southeast have resolved to exchange intelligence in a seamless, effective new order that will help to checkmate crime in the zone.

That to fast track crime-busting in the southeast, the heads of security agencies have been mandated to draw up a comprehensive list of their logistics and material needs for sustainable success in the fight against criminality, for the immediate provision by the leadership of the southeast.

That a committee made up of security personnel, government officials and relevant stakeholders be set up to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the southeast joint security platform.

The meeting resolved to maintain a joint security vigilante for the southeast, otherwise known as Ebube Agu.

In attendance were governors of Abia, Okezuo Ikpeazu; Anambra, Willie Obiano; Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; and the host governor, Hope Uzodimma.

Also in attendance at the security summit was the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor as well as top security chiefs in the zone. (NAN)

Source: NAN News