By Obinna Unaeze

Mr Chris Isiguzo, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Saturday urged media practitioners to speak against insecurity facing the country to enable the Federal Government to tackle it decisively.

Isiguzo made the call in Minna, Niger, during the 2021 press week/award ceremony organised by the state council of the union.

There is the need for us as journalists to speak against all forms of insecurity and criminality we are facing in Nigeria today.

This will prompt the federal government to tackle the menace decisively, he said.

Isiguzo advised journalists in the country to communicate in such a way that the security challenges would be surmounted by government instead of worsening the situation.

We must protect Nigeria because we dont have any other place to call home.

You can never be comfortable in a foreign land the way you will be in your own land, he said.

The NUJ national president assured the people of the country that the media practitioners would continue to work with government for the protection and development of the nation.

I want to assure you all that we will continue to be the voice of the voiceless and the conscience of the nation, he said.

He decried the worsening security situation in the country and said that it was threatening national unity.

The worsening insecurity we are facing is threatening our national life, he said.

Isiguzo urged the government to do more in protecting the lives and property of the citizens in order to ensure unity and development of the country.

The primary purpose of any government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, he said.

Similarly, Niger state Gov. Abubakar Bello said that the state government was doing everything possible to equip its media organisations to ensure maximum output from journalists operating in the state.

Bello, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, enjoined newsmen to always follow the ethics of the profession in carrying out their jobs toward unity and progress of the country.

Earlier, Mr Abdull Idris, the state Chairman of NUJ, appealed to the state government to fulfill its promise of delivering the vehicle it approved for the council.

We appeal to his Excellency, the executive governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, to fulfill the promise of delivering the bus he approved for us.

Sir, we need the bus to carry out our daily operations, especially now that we are planning to establish a school for the NUJ in Niger state, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Opeyemi Aremu-Gbemiro

Ekiti State government has given farmers and herders another two-week window to register with the state government or be ready to leave the state.

The two-week grace begins on Sunday, March 22. In February, the state conducted a two-week registration of farmers and herders, but not all those involved seized the opportunity.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday that the exercise was expedient to ensure that all farmers and herders could be accounted for.

He added that the registration was also aimed at ensuring peace between the two groups and bringing incessant clashes between them to an end.

He noted that the exercise was in consonance with the National Livestock Transformation Programme of the Federal Government.

Dr Adetoyi observed that clashes between farmers and herders posed dangers to human and food security, hence the need to take proactive measures to curb the menace.

Special Adviser to Gov. Kayode Fayemi on security matters and chairman, herders-farmers peace committee, retired Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, warned in the statement that whoever failed to register would be treated as a criminal.

Such persons, he said, would be compelled to leave the state.

Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that identity cards would be issued to registered farmers and herders free of charge. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Six lions were found dead in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, a national conservation agency said on Saturday.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said the lions are likely to have died of poisoning.

The carcasses of the lions were found last evening at Ishasha sector with most of their body parts missing, UWA said in a statement.

The agency added that eight dead vultures were found at the scene, which points to possible poisoning of the lions by unknown people.

UWA strongly condemns the illegal killing of wildlife because it does not only impact negatively on our tourism as a country, but also revenue generation which supports conservation and community work in our protected areas, the conservation body added.

This is not the first time lions are being killed by poisoning in Uganda.

In 2018, about 11 lions were poisoned to death in the same national park by surrounding communities over accusations that the beasts were killing their cattle.

Officials said before the death of the 11 lions in 2018, Uganda had an estimated 400 lions, with 100 of them residing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Lions are a key tourism attraction in Ugandas national parks.

Tourism is Ugandas top foreign exchange earner contributing almost 10 per cent of the countrys GDP.

Uganda earns N1.6 billion from nature tourism annually.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Uganda was receiving about 1.5 million tourists per year. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) on Saturday decried the trend of attacking and gunning down of security personnel in various locations in Anambra within the week.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attacks happened in Awkuzu, Neni and Ekwulobia axis while the officers were carrying out their legitimate duties.

There were recent attacks and gunning down of security personnel on March 17 involving three policemen and two naval ratings.

Similarly, two offficers of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) conveying inmates to court from Awka to Ekwulobia were involved on March 19.

The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, told NAN in Enugu that the actions were condemnable and highly terrifying.

It is most despicable and detestable to mindlessly kill security men who have patriotically dedicated and devoted their lives, time and talents towards protection of lives and properties of citizens.

When gold rust, what will happen to the iron. If those constitutionally empowered to protect us are recklessly murdered the future will not only be bleak but no one will be save.

CLO calls for an end to the dastardly act and discreet investigation in order to bring the perpetrators to face the full wrath of law.

We appeal to citizens to respect one of the commandments of God Thou shall not kill.

Remember anyone who kill innocent person will lose not only his life but every things he is and he has, he said.

The CLO boss expressed condolences and sympathy to the bereaved, Nigeria Police, the NCoS Anambra Command and all those affected by the death of the gallant officers.

Ezekwueme said: God Almighty in His mercies should give them fortitude to bear and endure the irreparable and irreplaceable lost. May God forgive their shortcomings and accept them into paradise.

CLO equally calls for establishment of special fund to carter for families of military and para-military personnel who lost their lives; because when one suffers directly, everyone suffers indirectly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Isaiah Eka

The Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, has urged residents, especially those living in river bank communities to ensure the safety of their houses and property against flooding and windstorm disasters as rains set in.

Ekpo said this at the close of a week-long distribution of relief materials to victims of flood and fire disasters in the state in Uyo on Friday.

He said that the advice has become imperative as the 2021 early rains were marked by thunder storms with a great potential for heavy flooding and destruction, especially in vulnerable areas.

Ekpo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in his office, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, said the distribution of the relief materials should not be seen as compensation for the destruction of the victims property, but as a means of ameliorating the pains of the victims by the government.

He noted that one of the cardinal principles of the Udom Emmanuel administration was to identify and show empathy to the people of the state, especially in times of such disasters.

Ekpo said that the state government was currently embarking on gigantic flood control projects spanning about four local government areas in the state through the collaboration of World Bank and NEWMAP.

The deputy governor said that when these projects were completed, most parts of the state would be spared the ravaging effects of flooding, and therefore urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the relief items.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Luke Peter Udom, and Mrs Helen Nta, thanked the state government for identifying with their plight over the destruction of their property by fire and windstorm as well as the floods of 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed to the beneficiaries were roofing sheets, nails, mattresses, plastic buckets, mosquito nets, towels and detergents among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Temitope Ponle

Amb. Mohammed Arrouchi, Moroccos Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has lauded the commission for its continued support to member states.

Arrouchi, in a virtual meeting, gave the commendation at the 39th Committee of Experts meeting held on the sidelines of the commissions 53rd Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa on Friday.

Arrouchi, who is the outgoing chair of the Bureau of Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, lauded the commission for turning ideas into action through strengthening the capacities of member states.

He said that since elected over two years ago, he had seen the ECAs commitment and success in providing expertise for states to implement agreed resolutions, to advance Africas development agenda.

Even in the context of COVID-19, we have been able to turn challenges into opportunities, as the secretariat undertook studies toward estimating the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in Africa, notably on the basis of fiscal space, debt profile and external debt. he said.

Amb. Tesfaye Yilma, Ethiopias Permanent Representative to the AU Commission and ECA, said the conference was timely and critical for understanding the complex socio-economic consequences of COVID-19.

Yilma said that Africa had made robust efforts to grapple with the pandemic and to reduce its socio-economic impact.

The current access to vaccines can be considered a good start, but by no means sufficient to make a meaningful impact.

Africa will have to continue to work together in the spirit of Pan-African solidarity and in collaboration with global partners to improve access to vaccines and make a difference in the fights against COVID-19, he said.

A new bureau has since been elected by the conference.

Equatorial Guinea is the new Chair of the Bureau, while Madagascar is the First Vice Presidency.

Zambia is the Second Vice Presidency and Sierra Leone took the Third Vice Presidency.

The Kingdom of Morocco was selected as Rapporteur. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The House of Representatives has pledged support for the armed forces via approval of additional resources, toward achieving success in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other related security challenges.

Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Mr Babajimi Benson, gave the assurance when he led members of the committee on oversight visit to the ministry on Friday.

The Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr Charles Nwodo, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Benson noted that Nigerians were expectant of better outcomes from the armed forces, adding that the house of representatives saw the need to support the military through the Ministry of Defence.

According to him, those who have chosen to protect our lives and property as well as the territorial integrity of Nigeria, deserve to be adequately motivated because a well motivated soldier is a function of adequate welfare among others.

He gave assurance that the committee would ensure that soldiers personal and entitlements were prioritised as a motivating factor.

Benson, however, urged the minister to develop a robust information sharing platform to ensure that the public were better informed on the activities of the ministry.

The 9th House of Representatives has resolved to continue supporting the armed forces of Nigeria in ensuring security, peace and prosperity, he said.

Responding, the Minister of Defence Maj-.Gen. Bashir Magashi, commended the lawmakers for their patriotic resolve to complement efforts of the ministry to win the fight against insurgency.

Magashi said the government had to grapple with some challenges in terms of coordination, logistics and pressure on resources in carrying out its mandate.

He said that effective synergy with the National Assembly would spur actions on the efforts of the ministry to achieve its statutory obligations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Kaigama

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has urged the Bauchi state government to establish a Rapid Response offices in Alkaleri and Toro Local Government areas, to track illegal immigration into the state.

Dr Lawal Abubakar, Assistant Controller General (ACG), NIS Zone C, Bauchi, made the call during his presentation to the Finance committee of the state Assembly, on a bill for a law to establish the Security Trust Fund, on Thursday, in Bauchi.

He said establishing the office would help to check the influx of herders from the Sahel region and minimize the activities of illegal miners.

The ACG pointed out that the offices would also facilitate the establishment of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) between Alkaleri and Yankari game reserve, to allow for surveillance of grazing routes and mining areas.

He said the Immigration service would also provide intelligence gathering and reporting to end users, as well as improve security consciousness among the people.

Abubakar also stressed the need to include the Immigration service on the Board of Trustees of the fund, to enhance the provision of maximum input and intelligence analysis for the state.

According to him, although Nigeria is a signatory of the African Charter on Transhumance Movement, there were a lot of illegalities committed that posed a security threat to the nation.

The Sahelian route, which covers over 494 km starting from Yobe state through Zaki, Gamawa, Itas/Gadau, Ningi, to Ganjuwa, and connects with Kirfi and Alkaleri local government areas of Bauchi state, was a viable corridor for banditry and the movement of light arms, he said.

Abubakar added that there was a strong correlation between banditry and mining activities, as well as the NIS and the state security trust fund.

Earlier, The Chairman, House committee on finance, Alhaji Danumma Bello, had commended the efforts of the NIS for providing its services in the state.

Bello pointed out that the House appreciated the interest and performance of the NIS towards ensuring the successful promulgation of the Bill. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare says the 20th National Sports Festival in Edo will go ahead as planned from April 2 to April 14 under strict COVID-19 protocols.

Dare also said that the reduced 8,000 athletes and officials for the Games would go through all the necessary COVID-19 protocols.

The ministers Special Adviser (Media), John Joshua-Akanji, quoted him as giving the assurance on Friday in Benin after a facility tour of the venue and meeting with Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

Dare said the camp for the festival would open on April 2 while the official opening of the Games would be done by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 6.

He said that said that the ministry was working with relevant health stakeholders to ensure that the COVID-19 safety protocols were observed.

We are working closely with the PTF, NCDC and others to ensure that the necessary support we need in terms of vaccination of athletes, test kits will be available.

We are also toning down the number of athletes that would be participating from 14,000 to 8,000.

I must thank the governor and his deputy for taking the lead on this, he said.

On accommodation of athletes, he said the University of Benin had been secured to host the athletes.

We have been able to get the University of Benin to host our athletes.

There are still some work to be done here which may not be in the radar, but everything is on track I can tell you with certainty that the Edo National Sports Festival will hold, he assured.

Dare said that he had a fruitful discussion with Gov. Obaseki and his deputy on hosting a befitting NSF despite the challenges.

After meeting with the governor and his deputy, we are reassured that we are on track to host a successful National Sports Festival.

All obstacles have been cleared, we are ready for a great festival. The event is coming at the most auspicious time when we are preparing for the Olympics.

This is our local Olympics and we shall make the most of it, the President has given his nod for the Festival to take place, theres no going back, he added.

The Festival had suffered numerous postponement since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and paucity of funds from the Edo state government.

The minister said that a special presentation had to be made to President Buhari for funds to support Edo after the governor declared that the state lacked the resources to host the Festival. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Insp Aminu Salihu, police outrider to Kogis Gov. Yahaya Bello lost his life in the line of duty on March 15 and on Saturday, his family got some largesse from the governor.

Gov. Bello who paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Saturday in Kubwa, Abuja, offered scholarships to Salihus five children, donated cash and promised the family two houses.

The two houses, to be sited in Kubwa, are for Salihus two widows, his five children and mother.

Gov. Bello said the scholarships would ensure that the five children Salihu left behind were able to continue with their education.

Insp Salihus death came when the nation needed him most; he was a gentleman, diligent and highly professional.

He brought finesse and dexterity to policing. This is a personal huge loss to me and to the country at large, he said.

Responding on behalf of the family, Salihus senior widow, Martha, thanked the governor for identifying and standing by the family at their grieving moment.

She said Salihu had always told his family that the governor was his source of light, noting that the governor just vindicated the deceased by his gesture.

Thank you, your Excellency. Our late husband has told us several times that you are the source of his light and that you have been his hope and that we should continue to pray for you.

Your Excellency, you have demonstrated what my late husband told us about you this morning. Thank you for lighting up our grieving moods.

I pray that whatever you are looking for in this life, God will grant you. No obstacle will stand in your way to deprive you of your hearts desires.

We are very grateful to your Excellency and God Almighty will reward you, Martha prayed in an emotion-laden voice.

Until his death, Insp Salihu was the nations best and most cbrated outrider for many years.

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

A technology called COVID-19 Contact Tracer, a mobile application that could trace Coronavirus victims, was one of the indigenous technologies displayed at the concluded 2021 technology and innovation expo.

Dr Henry Ossamulu, Director of Research and Training, Core Fundamental Inventors, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) about the technology on Friday in Abuja.

Ossamulu said that the COVID-19 Contact Tracer is able to trace patients infected with the disease with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS).

He explained that with the contact tracer, one could easily know locations where there were already COVID-19 victims and avoid such places.

The app helps you to protect yourself by avoiding such places and it is an indigenous technology developed by a Nigerian inventor and displayed at the expo, he said.

Apart from the COVID-19 Contact Tracer, Ossamulu also spoke on other useful indigenous technologies.

He said that another available technology, known as Chitosen Starch Protein Composite Film, was a thin coating film invented to prolong the shelf life of tomatoes and eggplant fruit.

He said that the Chitosen is able to extend the shelf life of the fruits for six months without getting spoilt.

He also talked about an invention that could help in the problem of insurgency in the country.

He said that the technology, known as Al Spy Camera, is a wireless miniature portable spy camera with Wi-Fi and internet connection.

He hinted that the spy camera could be accessed remotely by connected devises.

The spy camera can either be attached on your shirt, trouser, cap, or anywhere.

There will be a surveillance somewhere that is holding either a phone or system connected to our IP address to immediately know where you are.

It will capture the faces right there and give us all the information we want with the capacity to recognise objects.

It is an artificial intelligence and can be trained on what to do and can do it based on the modules, he said.

Ossamulu also spoke about iHealth, another local technology that could connect the entire health system in Nigeria.

He said one of the major advantages of the technology was that it could handle emergency health cases within Nigeria.

He said one of the challenges of health systems in the country was lack of connectivity, but with iHealth, this could be possible.

He also talked about the Halal Business District, which he said, was an e-commerce store among others.

Accordingly, he explained that the technology provides wider avenue for both existing and startup businesses in Nigeria to reach out to a larger audience nationwide and beyond.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Carol V. Utulu

The Federal Government says it will appeal, rather than force anyone to take the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccines for COVID -19, according to Dr Olorunnibe Mamora, the Minister of State for health

Mamora made the disclosure, on Friday, in Asaba, while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after he inaugurated some projects at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba.

His comment followed a reporters question on why Kogiwas yet to take delivery of the vaccine. while most states in the federation hadreceived the vaccine.

However, Mamora was quick to point out that Kogi was not ready to take delivery of the vaccine, whilethe Federal Government would not compel any state to do so.

Kogi lacked storage facilities for cold chain, security, logistics and personnel to administer the vaccines.

Also, let me state clearly here that from the onset, the Federal Government made it clear that it willnot force anyone to take the vaccine, but ratherwill continue to appeal to people in their own interests.

Aside that, in Kogi, that you mentioned specifically, one of the reasons the vaccine hasnot been sent there is because during the #EndSARS crisis, some of their facilities were violently destroyed.

So, as we speak, Kogi does not even have the facilities for storage to maintain the cold chain. So, that is the reason the state has not been supplied, he said.

The minister stated that the Federal Government had given conditions to the states, toensure readiness in terms of cold chain facility, logistics, security and personnel to administer the vaccine, before they could be supplied.

On the suspension of the vaccine in some European countries, Mamora said it might be political, insisting that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and efficient.

He said: One thing I will say as a personal opinion which I am not afraid to express is I wont be surprised if politics is involved because of Brexit and what have you.

But that is not the most important thing, the most important thing is that even the European Medicine Agency has come out to say the vaccine is safe and efficient. That is the most important thing.

If you have given close to 20 million vaccinations and you have maybe less than 20,000, what percentage of the over 20 million is the 20,000? That is infinitesimal, the minister said.

Mamora further noted that every drug was a potential poison, saying that when you give a drug or a vaccine, it is because you have weighed the therapeutic advantages against the side effects.

If the balance tilts in favour of the advantage, you willgo for it as a clinician or medical doctor, adding that its the situation with the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mamora said

The minister reiterated the governments position not to allow the private sector, get involved in the distribution and administration of the vaccine, because it wanted to take absolute responsibility.

It is genuine. We can verify the source and dont forget, the Federal Government signed an indemnity clause, that says we will take responsibility, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the projects inaugurated by Mamora at the FMC, Asaba, included,a Molecular Biology Laboratory, 15-Room Intensive Care Unit, 40-Room House Officers Quarter/Seminar Room and 17-Room Guest House. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

No fewer than 22 FIFA badged Nigerian referees on Friday underwent the FIFA physical fitness training test at the Moshood Abiola National stadium, Abuja.

FIFA/CAF National Fitness Instructor, Emmanuel Imiere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the quarterly exercise was in line with FIFA s international best practices.

This physical fitness test is one of the prescribed test that FIFA badged referees must undergo every year, it is a quarterly exercise and this is for the first quarter, he said.

Imiere said 29 referees were supposed to take part in the exercise but some could not make it due to engagement in national assignments with CAF.

He said four male referees, three female referees, eight assistant referees ( male and female), four FUTSAL referees and three beach soccer referees took part in the test.

He said the exercise was meant to ensure the fitness level of the referees because they could be called for international assignments at any time.

The instructor urged the referees to ensure they are also technically sound and officiate matches with professionalism, so that more Nigerian referees can be invited for matches by CAF and FIFA.

Earlier, the Secretary, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Sani Zubairu charged the referees to improve on their officiating.

Zubairu, who is also the Head of NFF Referee Unit, said the NFF was committed to the training and exposure of Nigerian referees. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ajogun

The Federal Government has expressed readiness to support the Edo Government in hosting the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF).

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, stated this during a courtesy visit on Gov. Godwin Obaseki, on Friday in Benin.

Dare said the Federal Government was ready and willing to provide financial support to the Edo Government.

In spite of the hiccups being experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government is ready and willing to provide financial support to the Edo Government in hosting the festivalbetween April 2 and April 14.

The process is ongoing and sometimes it takes time and it is our hope and desire to monitor, follow through and hasten the process.

We are sure of the process and we have decided to work with the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu who heads the Local Organising Committee (LOC), to convey to all the 36 state governors and all their sports bodies that by April 2 camp for the festival will open, he said.

Dare assured that the official opening of the festival would be on April 6, and commended the state governments commitment in ensuring that the festival was hosted.

President Muhammadu Buhari will officially declare the festival open on April 6, he said.

The minister disclosed that there were however going to be some changes to what were earlier planned.

Before the postponment of the festival last year, 13,000 athletes were expected to participate in the events, but that number has been reviewed and reduced to 8,000 athletes.

He expressed happiness that Edo was ready and adequately prepared with facilities in place to host the games.

There is no better place to host Nigerian athletes for the Tokyo Olympicsthan Edo State. The state already has the facilities and the national camp will be set up in Edo state, the sports minister said.

He further disclosed that details of vaccination of athletes and officials would be made available soon.

Dare added that the ministry was working with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID 19 and other stakeholders for the necessary support in terms of vaccination.

In his remarks, Gov. Obaseki appreciated President Buharis financial commitment to the state governments quest to hosting the best festival ever.

Obaseki said the postponments of the NSF had been challenging for the state following the preparation and resources committed to hosting it.

Hosting the festival is the right thing to do in spite of the challenges from COVID-19.

Now our spirit is lifted. The world is going to the Olympics in Tokyo and its important we participate in the Olympics.

We cant be defeated by the pandemic. Data shows that we are winning the war against COVID-19.

We will work with you to ensure that the festival holds. We will open up the camp for the festival. But, however, the financial position of the state is difficult.

We will be hosting up to 10,000 athletes and officials within 10 days of the festival, and its going to be expensive.

While we strain ourselves to provide the support, we dont have all the resources to host these athletes while they are here.

Its important that the federal government comes through with its commitment before the festival begins, he said.

Obaseki thanked the authorities of University of Benin and other critical partners for their support so far ahead of the festival.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 cost Africa about 65 billion dollars a month, according to findings put before the experts meeting in Addis Ababa on Africas industrialisation.

A one-month complete lockdown across Africa would cost the continent about 2.5 per cent of its annual GDP, or about 65.7 billion dollars per month, read the document based on an estimate by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected Africa. The pandemic has had different effects on countries depending on their strengths and vulnerabilities.

In November 2020, two million people were already infected and 48,400 deaths declared around Africa.

Presently, more than 50 African countries are in the process of breaking free from the strictest containment measures in the world that they adopted, leading to a serious deterioration in their economic activities and their socioeconomic situation.

The experts meeting, which started Wednesday in Addis Ababa and online, was due to close on Friday.

It was held ahead of the 53rd Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the theme, Africas Sustainable Industrialization and Diversification in the Digital Era in the Context of COVID-19.

(PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A large group of former prominent anti-Apartheid activists and leaders from religious, civil society, business and labour organisations have launched a campaign to defend South Africas Constitution and democracy and prevent the country from becoming a failed state.

They include Reverend Frank Chikane, a top aide to former President Thabo Mbeki, former Minister Sipho Pityana, and Cheryl Carolus. They have strongly condemned former President Jacob Zumas defiance of the Constitutional Court.

Zuma publicly defied the order to appear before a graft commission chaired by deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, citing personal relations with him.

Zondo rejected this claim, saying they barely knew each other, and called on the highest court in the land to impose a two-year jail term on the former president to send a strong message and ensure no-one copied his antics.

The activists have called for protests on 25 March when the Constitutional Court will hear an application from the Zondo Commission to have Zuma declared in contempt of the Commission.

Former ambassador Sheila Sisulu said Zumas astonishing defiance not only violates the law but assails the Constitution itself.

She said disparate parties directly implicated in the state capture project have been enlisted to amplify Zumas unlawful defiance of the Constitutional Court. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The nations bourse closed trading on Friday in red with key market indices dropping by 1.37 per cent, amid losses by blue chips.

Specifically, the market capitalisation lost N279 billion within six trading hours to close at N20.081 trillion from N20.360 trillion recorded on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index dipped 532.45 points or 1.37 per cent to close at 38,382.39 from 38.914.84 achieved on Thursday.

Lasaco Insurance topped the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping by 6.92 per cent to close at N1.21 per share.

BUA Cement trailed with 6.42 per cent to close at N69.95, while Neimeth International Pharmaceutical shed 6.32 per cent to close at N1.78 per share.

Courteville dipped by 4.76 per cent to close at 20k, while Oando declined by 4.39 per cent to close at N3.05 per share.

On the other hand, Ikeja Hotel led the gainers chart in percentage terms, growing by 10 per cent to close at N1.10 per share.

Eterna followed with a gain of 9.84 per cent to close at N5.58, while United Capital garnered 7.37 per cent to close at N5.10 per share.

Union Bank Nigeria added 4.95 per cent to close at N5.30, while Africa Prudential Registrars was up by 4.90 per cent to close at N5.35 per share.

Also, the volume of shares traded closed lower with 290.62 million shares valued at N4.02 billion in 4,311 deals.

This was against a total of 1.47 billion shares worth N5.85 billion exchanged in 4,040 deals on Thursday.

The banking stocks dominated the activity chart with Zenith Bank emerging the most active stock, exchanging 66.09 million shares valued at N1.48 billion.

Unity Bank followed with an account of 51.81 million shares worth N37.31 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank traded 39.39 million valued at N1.23 billion.

AIICO Insurance sold 26.84 million shares worth N33.22 million, while Access Bank accounted for 12.69 million shares valued at N101.08 million. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says nearly seven million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Africa.

WHO Regional Office for Africa disclosed this in a statement issued from its headquarters in Brazzaville, Congo, on Thursday.

It stated that the vaccines had been administered after months of waiting on the side-lines for vaccines and many of the first wave of countries had started vaccinating high-risk groups.

The statement stated that Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, spoke at a virtual press conference on COVID-19 in the regional office headquarters.

The UN health agency said countries had accessed vaccines through the COVAX Facility, bilateral deals and donations.

Altogether, 38 African countries have received more than 25 million COVID-19 vaccines and 30 have started vaccination campaigns.

Through the COVAX initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and WHO in partnership with UNICEF more than 16 million vaccine doses have so far been shipped to 27 countries.

The statement quoted Moeti as saying, Although Africa received vaccines late and in limited quantities, a lot of ground has been covered in a short space of time.

This is due to the continents vast experience in mass vaccination campaigns and the determination of its leaders and people to effectively curb COVID-19.

Compared with countries in other regions that accessed vaccines much earlier, the initial rollout phase in some African countries has reached a far higher number of people.

According to the statement, just two weeks after receiving COVAX-funded AstraZeneca vaccines, Ghana has administered more than 420,000 doses.

It stated that the country had covered over 60 per cent of the targeted population in the first phase in the Greater Accra region the hardest hit by the pandemic.

In the first nine days, it is estimated the country delivered doses to around 90 per cent of health workers.

In Morocco, more than 5.6 million vaccinations have taken place in the past seven weeks, while in Angola, vaccines have reached over 49,000 people, including more than 28,000 health workers in the past week.

To ensure the most impact, the global health agency stated that initial vaccine doses were being limited to priority population groups including health workers.

It stated that they were being limited to population groups including older people and people with health conditions placing them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

While the rollout is going well, there is an urgent need for more doses as Ghana, Rwanda and other countries are on the brink of running dry.

The statement further quoted Moeti as saying Countries are clocking an impressive vaccination pace, but we must ensure this speed doesnt slow down to a crawl.

Additional supplies are urgently required to narrow the gap between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, a few countries in Africa have halted or postponed their use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, following the suspension of the vaccine by some countries in Europe.

This precautionary measure is based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in people who had received the vaccine.

The suspension is regarding one specific batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has not been distributed to Africa. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

Some of the officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oko-Afo outpost of Lagos State Sector Command, rendered an assistance to a woman in labour while in transit on Thursday.

The Sector Commander of the Corps, Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, in a statement by the FRSC Public Education Officer in Lagos, said that the assistance became imperative to save the pregnant woman and her baby.

At about 0832hrs on Thursday night while on patrol at Area K Police Station in Morogbo, a Mazda bus transporting passengers stopped in front of the team and lodged a complaint.

The complaint was that a pregnant woman was in labour.

We quickly used the patrol vehicle to convene her to the nearest hospital, and to the glory of God she was safely delivered of a baby boy, he said.

Ogungbemide said that the command would not relent on its determination to do anything that would safeguard the lives and property of the residents of Lagos on the road.

He urged all motorists to desist from breaking traffic rules and regulations to reduce traffic congestions and feel free to seek help whenever needed from their operatives on the road.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Funmilola Gboteku

An African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) team will visit Lagos on Monday to sensitise stakeholders in Fintech and other professional associations on the initiative.

Francis Anatogu, Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, made this known in a statement on Friday.

The AfCFTA official said that the team would also visit Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and stakeholders in manufacturing, media, trade and financial services sector.

Anatogu said : We believe that for AfCFTA to be successful, Lagos State as Africas commercial hub of Nigeria and a mega city needs to key into this transformational programme.

Anatogu said the mandate of the committee was to coordinate the activities of private and public sectors, regarding AfCFTA implementation at federal and sub-national levels.

He noted that Lagos State was a critical stakeholder in advancing the mission toward taking advantage of the single market opportunity for Nigeria.

We will work with Lagos State and other states based on areas of their competitive advantages and priorities to build up our national export market, Anatogu said.

Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Chairman, National Action Committee on AfCFTA had said that AfCFTA would help deepen economic integration for Africa.

It promotes a single market for goods, services, and free movement of persons within the African continent.

With over 1.27 billion consumers and an aggregate GDP of 3.4 trillion dollars which AfCFTA is expected to help deliver, we are convinced that this will be a game changer for the African business community, which Lagos state and Nigeria currently plays a leading role.

We therefore encourage Nigerians to take advantage of this initiative, Adebayo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News