By Lizzy Okoji

The ECOWAS Parliament will in Monrovia meet for the first time in 2021 to discuss ways of fostering women empowerment in the West-African sub-region.

The meeting which will hold from April 13 to 17 has the theme, Empowerment of Women in the ECOWAS Region.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mohamed Tunis will chair the meeting which will see joint committees on Social Affairs, Gender and Womens Empowerment/ Education Science and Culture and/ Health go into special sessions.

The meeting sessions will be taking place from April 13 to 17 in Monrovia and will see representatives from the ECOWAS Parliament and other important ECOWAS bodies come together to map out strategies on empowering women in the sub-region.

Meanwhile, womens empowerment and gender equality concepts are important in fostering health and human development.

This is achieved when both men and women enjoy the same socio-economic rights and opportunities and have equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making, the communications department of the parliament said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that studies have shown limited commitment by state actors toward achieving womens empowerment in the sub-region.

This is even when Article 63 of the ECOWAS Treaty urges state actors to formulate policies and develop programmes that will enhance womens economic, social, and cultural conditions.

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebeli

A fertility expert, Dr Uchenna Ayogu, has urged couples who find it difficult in making their own babies to try In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

Ayogu, Chief Medical Director, St. Stephen Specialist Hospital, Achara Layout, Enugu, made the call on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

According to him, couples with primary and secondary infertility can now make use of the advanced technology with the help of experts to have their own children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IVF involves sperm and ovary extraction, fertilisation and implantation inside a womans womb under experts monitoring.

Ayogu noted that with the culture in many societies, child-bearing became very important and the trauma being faced when couples are childless requires urgent solutions.

He regretted that much awareness had not been given to IVF in the country as health education was not publicised and most couples dwell in self-help.

A lot of factors lead to this; like pressures from in-laws, family members and friends.

The herbal and prayer houses are not always the solution, but I want to assure couples that scientifically IVF has saved a lot of families, Ayogu said.

The doctor explained that it is viable for women under the age of 35, but fails mostly for women above the age of 55.

He also said that the money involved had made it inaccessible for couples in Nigeria.

The procedure requires money, which only family who are financially buoyant can afford. It takes up to N1.5 million to 1.6 million to carry out.

The process sometimes fail because of inadequacy of the pelvic and resistance of the uterine walls.

We make sure those indications that would make zygote survive are detected before implanting.

There is period one is supposed to do that and once it passed, it will not work because once fertilization occur, development begins, he said.

Ayogu added that at 18, one could donate his or her sperm/egg to help couples finding it difficult to conceive, but frowned at people who do it for commercial purposes.

He explained further that it takes 34-36 weeks for IVF baby to mature for delivery.

Once baby develop lungs and can survive out of the womb, we bring the baby out, he said.

He, however, added that after undergoing IVF some lucky women could conceive naturally following the flushing of the fallopian tube.

NAN reports that the first IVF success was recorded on Nov.10, 1977, while the worlds first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abdullahi Mohammed

The Federal Government, on Friday, unveiled its new Solar Power for five million households in off-grid rural communities in Jigawa.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, while unveiling the Solar Power Naija Programme, aimed at Jangefe community in Roni local government area of Jigawa, said the project was expected to create 250,000 jobs, through its value chain.

The project launch is the first phase of the deployment of one 100,000 Solar Home System (SHS), under the Solar Power Naija Programme of the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), by the Federal Government with the objectives to;

Expand energy access to 25 million individuals, representing five million new connections, through the provision of solar home systems or connection to a mini grid.

Increase local content in the off-grid solar value chain and facilitate the growth of the local manufacturing and assembly industry;

Incentivize the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector, Osinbajo said.

The vice president also announced that the federal government was working to ensure universal access to electrification in Nigeria, through the decentralization of grid power solutions.

He disclosed that the federal government had committed more than N140 billion to the project, with the Central Bank of Nigeria providing soft loan worth about 200 million dollars.

The Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, said that when the project was fully implemented, it could generate over N7 billion in annual revenues for the federal government.

Similarly, Mr Abubakar Twumasi, the Managing Director, ASOLAR, the project handlers, thanked the federal government for giving them the opportunity to actualise the innovative vision.

Earlier, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for supporting the state through its various interventions.

Badaru, however, expressed the hope that Jigawa would get the minimum of 150,000 units of the new five million homes expected to be powered, noting that each state was expected to get about 150,000 units, if the five million units were shared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo had earlier witnessed the installation ceremony of the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Hussaini Adamu, by the Emir of Kazaure, Dr Najib Hussaini Adamu, as the new District Head of Roni and the Galadiman Kazaure. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Gabriel Agbeae

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted sunshine and haziness from Saturday to Sunday across the country.

NiMets weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted sunny and hazy skies over the Northern region with chances of thunderstorms over Taraba during the afternoon and evening hours on Saturday.

According to it, the North Central cities should be in partly cloudy skies during the morning hours.

The agency forecast chances of isolated thunderstorms over Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Southern Benue and Southern Nasarawa in the afternoon and evening hours.

It envisaged partly cloudy to cloudy skies over the Inland and Coastal cities of the South during the morning hours.

NiMet anticipated isolated thunderstorms over Imo, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Abia, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Cross River states in the afternoon and evening hours.

For Sunday, Sunny and hazy skies should prevail over the Northern part of the country with prospects of dust haze over Borno, Yobe and Jigawa within the forecast period.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies are expected over the North Central cities during the morning hours with chances of a few thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Nasarawa and Federal capital Territory during the afternoon and evening period.

It should be mostly cloudy skies over the Inland and Coastal cities of the South with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states during the morning hours, it said.

According to it, isolated thunderstorms are expected over Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and the entire Coastal cities of the South.

NiMet predicted sunny and hazy skies over the Northern region with prospects of dust haze over Borno, Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Gombe and Jigawa during the forecast period.

It envisaged partly cloudy to sunny skies over the North Central cities with chances of isolated thunderstorms over Kwara and Kogi during the afternoon and evening hours.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies should prevail over the Inland and Coastal cities of the South in the morning hours.

Also, with prospects of a few thunderstorms over Enugu, Imo, Abia, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers , Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta states during the afternoon and evening hours, NiMet predicted. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Sixteen National and Festival records have so far been set in the swimming event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF), Edo 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while two of the records are set in National Records (NR), 14 records have been broken in Festival Records (FR).

NAN reports that Team Edo set a new NR in 4200m freestyle women relay in swimming in a time of 10:00.53 to erase the old record of 10:10.89 set in 2006.

In the 800m freestyle men, Opute Clinton of Delta set a new NR of 9:34.53 to cancel out the old record of 9:40.20 established in 2006.

Swimming sensation Ifiezegbe Gagbe from Bayelsa, has been the cynosure of all eyes, with her new FR records in six events at the festival so far.

She has created new records in 100m Freestyle, 400m individual medley, 1500m freestyle, 200m freestyle and the 400m freestyle respectively.

The Bayelsa swimmer returned in a time of 1:01.54 in the 100m freestyle for women, against the former FR of 1:02.66 set in 2012.

Gagbe also set new FR of 5:46.95in the 400m individual medley toerase the 2006 FR of 5:47.95.

The queen of the pool also set new FR of 21:04.92 in the1500m freestyle women to cancel out 21:05.10 set in 2018.

The athlete further created new FR of 2:17.05 in 200m as against 2018 FR of 2:20.28 and 5:04.30 in 400m to erase the old 2012 FR of 5:09.71.

Another athlete, Timipamere Akiayefa of Delta, created two new records in 50m Backstroke for women and in the 50m Butterfly.

She returned in a time of 31:73 in the 50m Backstroke to cancel out the previous record of 32:10 set in 2006 while she set new FR 50m Butterfly record of 29: 34 to erase the 2018 record of 29:87.

Akiayefa, along with her colleagues, similarly created a new FR record in the 4100m freestyle when they finished the race in a time of 4:20.98 to erase the 2018 record of 4:22.56.

NAN reports that other records created are in the 100m Breaststroke for men and women, 4200m freestyle women, 50m Butterfly men, 100m Butterfly men and the 800m freestyle men.

The swimming event is ongoing at the NSF, tagged Edo 2020. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Ifiezibe Gagbe, Bayelsa swimmer has won six gold medals in swimming and is aiming for four more at the National Sports Festival in Benin.

Gagbe won the 800m freestyle women event on Friday, with a time of 10:41.01 seconds.

At the end of the race, a very excited Gagbesaid she was hopeful of four more gold medals.

I feel so excited. I have more four events to participate in and I hope that they will all be gold.

The last festival in Abuja 2018, I won 14 silver medals, no gold.

This was because I was not fit enough having delivered my baby. Now I am going to make a statement, she said.

The athlete appealed for Bayelsa Governments support for athletes, saying I want the Bayelsa Government to encourage the athletes.

Government should encourage them with financial remuneration because sometimes we feel that after these competitions, nothing is offered the athletes thereafter, Gagbe said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, says the Federal Government is working towards opening micro gas distribution channels across all local governments areas in the country.

Sylva, disclosed this at the inauguration of the Nigerian Women for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) project, organised by the National Centre for Womens Development (NCWD), Zigma Gas Limited and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources on Friday in Abuja.

The minister, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on LPG, Brenda Ataga, emphasised on healthy alternative to firewood as fuel for cooking because it is a clean source of energy.

Theministry is targeting to ameliorate the energy challenge in Nigeria and clean cooking gas is key in this regard because 70 per cent greenhouse emissions are caused by deforestation.

ThisLPG project will enable us to empower rural women to use a more cleaner energy source for cooking, he said.

The Director-General, NCWD, Mrs Mary Ekpere-Eta, revealed that 99 million women across households in all the LGAs would benefit from the project within the next three years.

This partnership will be of benefit to Nigerian women and youths as it will support the efforts of the Federal Government in achieving its 2023 sustainable energy targets.

The project is targeted at reaching 99 million women and households within three years cutting across the 120,000 polling units and all wards in the 774 LGAs in the federation, she said.

She said that the centre would carry out massive door-to-door campaign on the project .

Ekpere-Eta explained that the centre would create kiosk in all LGAs to serve as micro distribution centres for safe-to-use LPG cans.

The first phase of this project will be targeting 11 states Katsina, Sokoto, FCT, Ebonyi, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo and Ogun, She added.

Also speaking, United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, said that the LPG project was a window of opportunity for Nigerian women to impact in the oil and gas industry.

Kallon, therefore, called on the government and relevant stakeholders to drive non-discriminatory employment practices, increase access to capacity building and engage women in community consultation and decisions for their active participation in the sector.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zigma Gas limited, Dr. Funmi Ogbue, said that the distribution channnels would open up more than 700, 000 jobs for Nigerians.

Represented by the companys Project Engineer, Mr Adeshina Olaitan, Ogbue stressed the need for women and youths to venture into oil and gas business to improve their incomes and national economy. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

The Federal Government says it has registered no fewer than 5.7 million farmers nationwide in an effort to bring them closer to the government.

Alhaji Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this on Friday during a General Assembly of Farmers organised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Mr Hassan Musa-Fagge.

According to the minister, the effort was to ensure that genuine farmers were brought closer to the government so that they can enjoy government support directly.

He further commended AFAN for organising the General Assembly of Farmers, urging the national leadership of the association to carry all their members along.

Nanono also called on the farmers to be more organised so that they can work together towards the development of the agricultural sector in the country.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje charged members of the association to redouble their efforts towards boosting economic development for national progress.

Ganduje, who wasrepresented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, called on the farmers to ensure that their voice is heard all over the country particularly through programmes aimed at improving agricultural activities.

The General Assembly of Farmers should be seen as an avenue for contributing to nation building and should be commensurate with the size of the membership strength of AFAN.

As the farmers in this country constitute at least 70 per cent of the population, Ganduje said.

He promised that the state government would continue to partner with farmers in the promotion of agricultural activities especially irrigation farming.

Ganduje added that his administration had introduced new technologies and ideas to prevent losses in the farming sector.

The Caretaker President of AFAN, Alhaji Faruk Rabiu-Mudi, said the association has been re-organised from the grassroots to the national level.

According to Rabiu-Mudi, the association has also embarked on the integration of the Commodity Associations into its structure.

He added that his leadership has distributed farm inputs worth over N100 million to farmers through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

We have also acquired office accommodation at the Central Business District of Abuja, and we have also entered into partnership with a Chinese firm to invest in rice, soya beans and maize production, he said.

Highlights of the occasion include presentation of awards to President Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State Governor and his Deputy, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Of AFAN. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will set up a registration appeal committee to consider complaints from members on the conduct of its ongoing membership registration, revalidation and update exercise.

Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), said this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the committees ninth meeting, held at the partys national secretariat.

Akpanudoedehe said that the meeting discussed the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections and reviewed the committees activities in the last quarter.

He added that the meeting also evaluated the partys ongoing membership registration, revalidation and update exercise across the federation and discussed its affairs.

He further added that the meeting reviewed the Federal Governments interventions insecurity challenges in some parts of the country and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts at addressing the situation.

He particularly lauded the president for the counter- actions taken against the spate of insecurity across the country.

Akpanudoedehe said that the meeting passed a vote of confidence onBuhari and urged leaders at all levels to show restraint in comments thatwould not unite the country in the face of insecurity.

The meeting also commended the chairman of CECPC, Gov. Mai Mala Buni, for his peaceful mien and dexterity, which have endeared high profile defections to APC, he said.

Akpanudoedehe said that the resolutions reached at the meeting were in line with the CECPCs commitment to implementing all decisions of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC), particularly the task of ensuring internal democracy, repositioning and rebuilding the party. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Tin-Can Island Port command has generated N112,696,693,158 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

The Customs Area Controller, Mr Mba Musa, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Friday.

According to Musa, the revenue earnings for the for the first quarter, which stood at N112,695,693,158.66, shows an improvement of about N21.05billion (23 per cent) when compared with revenue earnings of N91billion in the first quarter of 2020.

The comparative analysis of quarter one revenue collection from 2018 to 2021 are as follows: in 2018, N76,789,721,107.42; in 2019, N78,857,106,168.27; and in 2020, N91,635,998,490.73.

This improvement, despite the twin threat to lives and livelihood posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the command have inspired their officers to continue to work hard while observing all the safety measures to achieve the best of performance.

We kept our lines of communication open and concerted effort was made to ensure that the supply chain is not disrupted, he said.

Musa said that during the period under review, anti-smuggling activities yielded result with a spectacular seizure 43.110kg of cocaine concealed in Raw Bulk Sugar.

20 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure and detaining of the vessel MV SPAR SCORPIO, he said.

He said that the command had handed over the case file, suspects and the vessel to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

Musa said that the command had put measures in place to facilitate legitimate trade.

He said that Dispute Resolution Committee and the Help Desk have been re-jigged with a mandate to attend expeditiously to all trade-related disputes.

We have also reinvigorated the use of inter-modal transport system (Use of Barges for Cargo movement) in line with Global Best Practices, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

World Bank President, Mr David Malpass, says it is time to move toward solutions that achieve sustainable, broad-based economic growth without harming climate, degrading the environment, or putting many families in poverty.

He said this on Friday while addressing the Development Committee at the ongoingIMF/World Bank Spring meetings in Washington D.C. which began on Monday.

The committee is a ministerial-level forum of the WBG and the IMF for intergovernmental consensus-building on development issues.

Malpass saidthe world was developing a better line of sight forward, and its collective efforts to poverty, climate change and inequality would be the defining choices of the present age.

He said that 2020 had made even clearer the challenges and staggering needs.

One major challenge is that the current international financial architecture is heavily skewed in favor of the rich and creditor countries.

It is ever important that all voices are heard. I urge all of us to consider how we can restore growth in developing countries and help reverse the growing inequality, in terms of access to vaccinations, unsustainable debt and adverse climate impacts.

He said the goal of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group was to act quickly and to help as many countries as possible to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said its actions include new COVID-related emergency health programmes in 112 countries, vaccination operations that was expected to reach four billion dollars of commitments available in 50 countries by middle of 2021.

It was also working on a quick doubling of its trade and working capital finance to help fill the banking vacuum that hit private sectors.

In 2020, the World Bank achieved a record 65 per cent growth in commitments, group-wide commitments topped 100 billion dollars for the first time, and we expect this elevated level of delivery to continue in 2021.

He said the IFC was making investments to help manufacturers expand vaccine production, increase the availability of medical equipment and critical supplies.

He added that the bank was working closely with the international community, including World Health Organisation, Gavi and UNICEF and had conducted over 140 vaccine readiness assessments.

Malpass said that the bank remained focused on the goal of vaccinating as broad a group of countries as possible, adding that transparency was key.

To accelerate progress, the world needs much more information sharing regarding export and supply commitments and requirements.

Finally, to recover from COVID-19, we will need integrated, long-run strategies that emphasise green, resilient and inclusive development (GRID).

This must be aligned with the need for policies that help countries increase literacy, reduce stunting and malnutrition, ensure clean water and energy access and provide better healthcare.

He, however, saidthatcountries must be helped to improve their readiness for future pandemics.

He also said that they needed to be helped to accelerate the development and adoption of digital technologies and work to improve and expand local supply chains and strengthen biodiversity and ecosystems.

In our efforts to rebuild, we can generate a recovery that ensures a broad and lasting rise in prosperity, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, he said.

On debt, he welcomed the G20s decision to extend the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) to the end of the year and was working closely with the IMF to support the implementation of the G20 Common Framework.

The IFC, a member of the WBG is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory and asset-management services to encourage private sector development in less developed countries. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested three criminal suspects allegedly involved in attempted murder, armed robbery and receiving of stolen property in the state.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Friday in Enugu that the suspects were arrested within the beginning of the month of April

He said that the command also recovered one TV set, one Nexus air-conditioner, one woofer speaker, two wristwatches, used clothing and some quantities of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

According to Ndukwe, acting on credible information, police operatives attached to Awkunanaw Police Division on April 2 at about 3 p.m. raided a black spot at Garki Market and arrested one Bassey Emmanuel, 24.

Emmanuel is alleged to deal in hard drugs and a receiver of criminal proceeds. His arrest led to the recovery of other household stolen items, he said.

He said that operatives further arrested his accomplice, one Joseph Okeke, 34, and recovered a travelling bag containing clothing, which he confessed to having stolen at a motor-park in Port-Harcourt and had brought same to Emmanuel to buy.

In another development, Ndukwe said that police operatives attached to New Haven Police Division in synergy with a law-abiding citizen, on April 1 at about 10 a.m.rescued and arrested Friday Abuh, 23.

Abuh was being lynched by an angry mob on the allegation that he used a broken bottle to stab his armed robbery victim on the back, in an attempt to snatch her mobile phone at New Artisan Market, Enugu.

The victim, a female, was rushed to the hospital, where she is responding to treatment, he said.

The police spokesman said that the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of their investigation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, has urged the police operatives to sustain the tempo and remain committed to the commands quest of rooting out unrepentant criminal elements and their activities.

Aliyu called on law-abiding residents of the state to remain vigilant and continue to assist the police in tackling acts of crime and criminality in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yinusa Ishola

The Police command in Ekiti has arrested two persons for being in possession of 10 goats suspected to have been stolen in Igbemo-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Sunday Abutu, the commands Public Relations Officer, in a statement on Friday in Ado-Ekiti said that it acted on a tip-off to apprehend the suspects.

Abutu said that a group of hunters had sent a distress call to Divisional Police Headquarters, Iworoko, after intercepting the suspects with the stolen goats in Igbemo-Ekiti.
According to him, the command received call from a group of hunters at Igbemo-Ekiti that it intercepted a Salon Primera Car with two occupants carrying 10 goats suspected to have been stolen.

He said that the command upon receiving the distress call led a team of detectives and patrol to the scene where the suspects were arrested and brought to the station with the goats.

The suspects, during interrogation, confessed to have stolen all the goats from Ise-Ekiti and were bringing them to Ado-Ekiti where they reside before selling them.

Five out of the 10 goats kept inside the boot of the car died in the process, Abutu said.

The Police spokesperson commended the hunters for their efforts that led to the prompt arrest of the suspects.

He promised that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded on the case.

He urged the residents to always and quickly draw the attention of the nearest police station to any suspicious incident or happening observed in their locality or call 08062335577. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the report of alleged massacre by the military in Konshisha area of Benue, following the killing of 11 troops by bandits in the area.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, described the report as spurious and misleading.

Nwachukwu explained that there had been incessant cases of communal clashes in recent times among the people of Konshisha and Oju on boundary demarcation.

He said that as part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Benue government held meetings with stakeholders in local governments with a view to providing solution to the problem.

According to him, appreciable progress has been made and a final date fixed for all stakeholders to meet in the disputed areas to demarcate the boundary.

Trouble started on the eve of the final meeting during Easter holiday with reports that fresh fighting has broken out in the area.

All along, 72 Special Forces Battalion has troops deployed on the Oju side of the boundary and troops of the battalion were on their way to replenish their colleagues on April 5, when they were attacked by bandits attend Bonta in Konshisha.

The troops who were under command of a captain were seized at a checkpoint mounted by the so called Bonta Boys and taken into Konshisha forest where they were all brutally murdered.

Not satisfied with killing the soldiers, the bandits proceeded to burn all the eleven soldiers and their officer beyond recognition while their weapons and ammunition were carted away, he said.

The defence spokesperson disclosed that military reinforcements that were dispatched to Bonta the following morning also came under attack from close to 500 armed youths who had fully occupied Bonta at the time.

He said that the number of youths involved in the attacks suggested that the bandits could not be from Bonta alone, but were joined by bandits from other parts of Konshisha.

He said that the troops repelled the attack after more than four hours of intense fighting during which military helicopter provided close air support to ground troops.

According to him, 10 bandits are killed during the fight with the rifle of one of the Killed in action soldiers recovered from the bandits who fell casualty during the exchange of fire.

He said that there were no other civilian casualties in any part of Konshisha till date, apart from the initial 10 bandits eliminated by the troops.

Nwachukwu however, challenged anybody from Konshisha to present to the public the bodies of innocent persons, male, female or children allegedly killed by troops in the area.

According to him, there was never a massacre as being touted by some mischief makers.

Nwachukwu also stated that bandits that escaped from Bonta withdrew into neighbouring villages where they kept on attacking troops as they continued with the search operation through Bonta into other parts of Konshisha.

According to him, knowing the implications of killing troops in cold blood, most of the villagers have fled their homes which are occupied by armed bandits who are firing at troops from the settlements as they advanced into Konshisha.

He said that troops repelled the attacks and destroyed the houses and other buildings which the criminals used as hideouts for the attacks.

The use of abandoned settlements by armed bandits to attack troops is popular with insurgents.

The aim is to draw military fire into the dwellings and then turn round to blame soldiers for the destruction.

This is common guerilla tactics armed bandit designed to whip up public sentiment against security forces and this is what played out in Konshisha.

This accounts for some of the burnt houses being reported in the press, he said.

Nwachukwu further noted that some of the phones of the dead soldiers were also tracked to some of the settlements, saying that bandits should be blamed for the destruction since they used these settlements as hideout for attacks.

He said it would be wrong to blame soldiers who were in Konshisha on legitimate duties when some of them were killed.

He added that some of the buildings being paraded were actually burnt during earlier communal clashes between Konshisha and Oju.

The spokesperson said that the soldiers deployed to Konshisha displayed commendable restraints by adhering to the rules of engagement in the face of unprovoked attacks.

He said that military would ensure that the local leaders of Konshisha must bring the main actors responsible for the mayhem to security forces to face justice in addition to the return of all carted away weapons and all other weapons in their possession.

The military will not tolerate the jungle justice attitude and dastardly acts leading to the gruesome murder of patriotic soldiers on legitimate duty to keep the peace.

We look forward to working with the Benue government in its promise to support security forces in fishing out those fomenting trouble in Konshisha.

Once again, there is no massacre in Konshisha and the stories making the rounds are fabricated by bandits and their sponsors to smear the military after killing troops, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Kaduna State Government says another five kidnapped students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, have regained freedom on Thursday night.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, announced this in a news conference on Friday in Kaduna.

We are happy to inform you that the Kaduna State Police Command recovered five more students and immediately informed the Kaduna State Government.

Aruwan recalled that five students of the students kidnapped at Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in March were recovered earlier in the week.

According to him, the students have been handed over to their parents after thorough medical checkup and psychological evaluation.

He said that Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of the state was elated at this development.

Aruwan added that the governor charged the students to be strong and firm in their pursuit of excellence in life.

He also said that the state government assured the public not to relent in its commitment towards recovering the remaining students held in hostage.

The Governor commends CP Muri and his team. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Kaigama

A riot that broke out at the National Correctional Center, Bauchi, has left five inmates and two officers injured, according to the centres spokesman, Mr Abubakar Adamu.

Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday, in Bauchi, that the incident occurred as a result of trafficking of items to inmates by a prison official.

There was a riot that broke out as a result of a prison officer trafficking handsets, drugs and other related items, to inmates inside the centre.

Unfortunately for the officer, intelligence caught him and in the process of investigation, the inmates got wind of the incident and broke into the store and catered away shovels, daggers and diggers.

The inmates, who were chanting songs and slogans, broke some items inside the prison which forced the prison officials to start shooting in the air to scare them. In the melee, five inmates and two officials were injured, he said.

Adamu said that the situation had been put under control, while the inmates had returned to their rooms, adding that the general public should go about their normal business as calm had returned to the centre.

NAN reports that security had been beefed up, with vehicular and traffic movement around the area restricted and the roads leading to the correctional centre barricaded. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The thoughts of Canadians are with Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family as they mourn the passing of Prince Philip on Friday, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

A man of great purpose and conviction, who was motivated by a sense of duty to others, Prince Philip contributed so much to the social fabric of our country and the world, Trudeau tweeted Friday.

Prince Philip maintained a special relationship with Canada and particularly with Canadian Armed Forces, Trudeau said in a statement.

In 2011, he was named honorary general of the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as honorary admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy.

He was also the patron of more than 40 organisations in Canada, including the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute and the Outward Bound Trust, Trudeau added.

During his last visit to Canada in April 2013, Prince Philip was named the first-ever Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada by the Governor-General of Canada, Trudeau said.

A family has lost a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

The thoughts of Canadians are with Queen Elizabeth II and the members of the Royal Family as they mourn such a significant loss, Trudeau said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joy Akinsanya

The Ogun State Pilgrims Welfare Board says receiving of COVID-19 vaccination will begin on Saturday, April 10 for intending pilgrims of 2021 Hajj.

The Executive Secretary of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Babatunde Salau, made this known to newsmen on Friday in Abeokuta.

According to Salau, the COVID-19 vaccination for intending pilgrims is in accordance with the directives of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Salau, noted that the vaccination was scheduled for Saturday, April 10 and Sunday April 11, from 9.00am, saying it was compulsory for all intending pilgrims.

He urged all intending pilgrims to visit the boards secretariat complex, Block B, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta with their payment receipts for the purpose of identification and clearance for the vaccine.

The executive secretary said that those who had been vaccinated at their Local Government Areas, had no need to repeat the first dose, but should bring their vaccination card for necessary documentation.

He urged them to obey COVID-19 safety protocols by using their facemasks. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Enugu State Government says it will partner with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC) in ways to achieve poverty alleviation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the state.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said this during the inauguration of UNESC South-East and awards presentation in Enugu on Friday.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Dr Kingsley Ude, said it had taken bold steps to implement programmes that had direct impact on the people since he assumed office.

These programmes in various sectors, including education, economic empowerment, agriculture, healthcare and rural development, are meant to rejuvenate our peoples economic and financial resources.

Our government is SDG compliant and we have created a special office to see that the 17 targets of the SDGs are met and our people benefit immensely from it.

As a government, we welcome UNESC to Enugu state and having your regional South-East office in Enugu.

We are assuring you of close partnership. Enugu state will be working in synergy with UNESC to ensure it achieves its SDGs target in record time for the benefit of our people, Ugwuanyi said.

In a goodwill message, Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs Gloria Diri, said that UNESC is a call to serve Nigerians and make their lives better by pulling millions out of poverty and lack.

Diri, however, encouraged the UNESC members to remain focused and partner with government at all levels, especially at the grassroots, to ensure the SDGs are achieved.

This is to ensure there is prosperity for Nigerians, notwithstanding their remote locations, she said.

The Full Chairman of UNESC Africa, Prof. Nathan Tor-Luga, thanked the state government for receiving the council with open arms and ensuring that all its state functionaries work to achieve United Nations goals in the state.

Enugu state and entire Southeast will benefit a lot from programmes of UNESC in agriculture and innovative/digital economy, Tor-Luga said.

Speaking, Full Chairman of UNESC Nigeria, Dr Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, said UNESC is one of the six principle organs of the UN, responsible for coordinating socio-economic, humanitarian and cultural activities carried out by UNs largest and most complex subsidiary body.

Our focus is to have a world united for common good by spreading peace and unity through different activities that will promote the SDGs, making peoples lives be in prosperity globally.

We are also in the forefront of eradicating poverty, malnutrition, maltreatment and other negativity in the lives of the people of the world.

Above all, an organisation that will be the partner of the UN in all its undertakings, Gozi-Anyaokei said.

The South-East Coordinator of UNESC, Mrs Uche Elue, said her office would focus more on empowerment for women and youths in rural areas.

Elue, who was inaugurated at the event, said: We will be leveraging agriculture, extractive industry, local arts and tourism to create jobs and wealth for our people in the rural areas.

Today, I have met with various government functionaries in Enugu and planning to meet others in other South-East states.

We will draw out a workable roadmap to marshal out programmes that will assist us achieve the SDGs.

A major highlight of the event was an award presentation to Mr Richard Egwuma, the Treasurer of Igboeze South Local Government Area, for his empowerment initiative in the area over the years. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

World leaders includingU.S. President Joe Biden, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, have expressed their condolences at the death of Prince Philip.

On behalf of all the people of the United States, we send our deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the entire Royal Family, and all the people of the United Kingdom on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Bidens said in a statement.

Over the course of his 99-year life, he saw our world change dramatically and repeatedly, the statement said.

Prince Philip gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family, the Bidens said, adding that he would be remembered especially for the impact of his decades of devoted public service.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi also expressed condolences on behalf of the U.S. Congress in a tweet, while former president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton said: We enjoyed every opportunity we had to visit with him through the years, and will always be deeply grateful for the kindness he showed us.

French President Emmanuel Macron also joined in paying tribute to Prince Philip for the exemplary life he lived.

His life was defined by bravery, a sense of duty and commitment to the youth and the environment, Macron wrote in English on Twitter on Friday.

He expressed his sincere condolences to Queen Elizabeth II, the British royal family, and the British people.

It was the same for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who tweeted, The death of Prince Philip fills me with great sadness.

His friendship towards Germany, his straightforwardness, and his sense of duty will remain unforgotten. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News