By Martha Agas

The Northern Governors Forum on Sunday condemned Saturdays attack on Benues Gov. Samuel Ortom motorcade by bandits as disturbing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that bandits attacked Gov. Ortoms motorcade on Saturday at Tyo-Mu community near Makurdi.

Chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said the incident must be investigated thoroughly.

Lalong said in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham in Jos that the attack was another attempt by criminals to cause mayhem in Benue and in the nation as a whole.

He tasked all relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to fish out those behind the attack and their sponsors

He commended security details attached to the governor for repelling the attack and securing Ortom and members of his entourage.

The chairman of the forum said that all hands must be on deck to address the lingering degeneration of security in the country as it threatened its corporate existence.

Lalong said governors in the northern part of Nigeria were in solidarity with their colleague and the entire people of Benue State.

He assured that they would continue to engage and support security agencies in their duty of securing the region and nation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

Chief Dan Orbih, zonal leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says that the choice of the partys candidacy in the 2023 Presidential election will be determined by the political terrain prior to the general polls.

He said that the clamour by its members for a South South presidential endorsement showed their maturity as stakeholders but would be decided upon after members fully examined the countrys political terrain for a balance.

Orbih gave the indication in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin while reacting to the increasing agitation by party loyalists from the zone for the party to zone the 2023 presidency to South south.

He, however, noted that the clamour was an indication that the party was a very organised one.

NAN reports that Orbih emerged the National Deputy Vice Chairman, South South of the party at the partys zonal congress held in Port Harcourt a forth night ago.

He was returned unopposed at the congress held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre with 960 votes out of the 964 votes cast by delegates from the six states in the zone.

According to him, before the party goes into any presidential contest, it will sit and look at what is on ground politically.

Based on that the party then takes a position on the zone where the candidate will come from.

No doubt there are lot of persons who feel strongly that there is need for the party to formally zone the presidency.

First, it will reduce rancour among members. Secondly, it will give direction on what the party is looking at.

Another thing is that as a matter of strategy, if the party settles for a zone, it means we will take advantage of the place the party has zoned it to.

He, however, disclosed that as at present, the party had yet to zone the presidency in the forth coming 2023 general elections.

He also explained that those agitating for the presidency to be zoned to South South were of the strong opinion that the zone should return and complete its denied second tenure.

They also argued that considering the votes normally garnered by the party from the zone, the party should not overlook the South South in considering where the 2023 candidate should come from.

They are just going by the saying that to whom much is given, much is expected.

The zone has given so much to the party in terms of votes, party loyalty, commitment, and what have you.

So they feel that the party should not overlook them when it comes to the issue of the presidency.

They believe that the votes they normally poll from the zone can even be doubled if a candidate from the South South is considered, the PDP leader said.

On the issue of internal party discipline, Orbih said that people must be able to exercise their rights.

According to him, that is why it democracy is all about.

Chief Orbih said that his emergence as the Zonal leader of the party was a recognition of his good job to the party.

He noted that party members recognised his achievements especially during his tenure as state party chairman in Edo.

He also said that his emergence was a challenge, in the sense that as at today, the zone is the only zone where all the states are under the control of the PDP.

My immediate task is to sustain the partys hold on the zone and reconsolidate on our position and see how we can even increase the number of votes in the zone for the party to get back to power all over, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, his Deputy Alhaji Munir Daniya and some other government officials were on Saturday administered doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Addressing newsmen shortly after taking the vaccine, Tambuwal urged people in the state to make themselves available for the vaccination.

Today I have taken my jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, I enjoined the good people of Sokoto state to come forward and obtain the vaccine against COVID-19 pandemic.

As we are all aware prevention is better than cure, therefore, instead of running halter skelter in need of support it is better to take preventive measure against the pandemic by ensuring that everyone is vaccinated.

Moreover, the vaccine worldwide has so far recorded more success than side effects, as such we should all ensure that we are vaccinated in order to prevent ourselves from the deadly disease, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced112 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 161,651.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the countrys daily new cases continue to follow a downward trajectory.

From an all-time high of 2,314 on Jan. 22, 2021, the countrys daily new positive cases have come down to 112as of March 20.

It stated that the112 new infection were registered from 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to it, Lagos State recorded 35 infections, the highest number of confirmed cases for the day, the FCT had 22, Ondo recorded 17 and Kaduna and Ebonyi confirmed nine infections each.

Six cases of the virus were found in Bauchi, Kebbi 4, while Delta, Osun and Jigawa reported two cases each. Borno, Edo, Kano and Nasarawa also recorded one case each.

The health agency noted that with the new addition, the countrys COVID-19 recovery had increased by 194 on Saturday, including 70 community recoveries in Lagos state managed in line with its guidelines.

It noted that the countrys number of recovery stood at 147,775.

The Nigerias public health institute sadly recorded three additional deaths; thus the countrys COVID-19 death toll rose to 2,030 on Saturday.

The NCDC noted that the countrys active casesstood at 11,846 in the last 24 hours.

The public health agency said a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC) activated at Level 3 had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.

NAN also reports that the country had tested1,684,305people since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced on Feb. 27, 2020. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kemi Akintokun

President of Nigeria Pro-Wrestling Federation (NPRF), John Uche, has reiterated the commitment of the organisation to revive the sporting activity in the country.

Uche disclosed this on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the Mock Wrestling Championship organised by the federation in Lagos.

He attributed the challenges facing pro-wrestling to lack of support by government and corporate organisations which had made competitions few and far between.

He said that the foregoing had stunted the progress of the once famous sporting activity in the country.

Our mission and aspiration as a federation is geared toward reviving professional wrestling. This is why we have come up with this competition to engage wrestlers after so many years of inactivity.

We will be needing the support of corporate bodies and the government in our quest to restore the lost glory of pro-wrestling in Nigeria, he said.

Uche said that the federation wanted to use pro-wrestling to engage restive youths in order to discover some talents.

The president said that the event was organised as a pre-tournament for the federations forthcoming championship scheduled for May 2021 and tagged BATTLEGROUND 2021.

This mock championship was put together as a pre-tournament to prepare our wrestlers ahead of our national championship that will be staged in six states in the country.

What our wrestlers have showcased today is a tip of the iceberg when compared to what spectators will witness at the forthcoming championship, he said.

Meanwhile in some of the bouts, Mighty Man defeated Young OKoko in a fight that lasted for five minutes, while Champan dislodged his opponent Lion Zion.

In the only female bout, Alexandra the Queen defeated Iron Lady Becky .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Supporters of Bendel Insurance FC of Benin, have called for the sack of coach Bernard Ogbe over the poor performance of the team in the ongoing 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supporters openly called for the coachs sack during the week 8 round of matches of the NNL where the Benin team struggled to beat their visitors, FC One Rocket, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

They blamed the lacklustre display of the team on the caochs tactics and noted that if allowed to continue, the Benin-based club will not secure promotion to the elite division of the Nigeria league.

In the match against FC One Rocket which Insurance trailed from a goal down to beat their opponent, the supporters particularly faulted the coachs decision to field two defensive midfielders in a home game they needed to win.

NAN reports that Insurance went a goal down in the 30th minute of the match but were lucky to have equalised through a penalty that was converted by Daniel Johnson in the 34th minute.

On resumption of play in the second half, Tolulope Ojo who came in as a second-half substitute, scored the second goal for Insurance who were looking more anxious and fighting hard to increase the scoreline.

The hosts made it three in the 33rd minute through the effort of Sarki Ismael to win 3 1.

NANreports that with the win, Insurance now have 13 points from seven matches in the ongoing 2020/2021 NNL season. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Tayyip Erdogan pulled Turkey out of an international accord designed to protect women, the government said on Saturday.

This prompted protests and criticism from those who said it was necessary to tackle rising domestic violence.

The Council of Europe accord, called the Istanbul Convention, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality.

Turkey signed it in 2011 but femicide has surged in the country in recent years.

Femicide is the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender.

No reason was provided for the withdrawal in the Official Gazette, where it was announced in the early hours on Saturday.

But top government officials said domestic law rather than outside fixes would protect womens rights.

The convention, forged in Turkeys biggest city, had split Erdogans ruling AK Party (AKP) and even his family.

Last year, officials said the government was mulling pulling out amid a row over how to curb growing violence against women.

Every day we wake up to the news of femicide, said Hatice Yolcu, a student in Istanbul, where hundreds of women carrying purple flags marched in protest at the withdrawal.

The death never ends. Women die. Nothing happens to men, Yolcu said.

Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary-General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, called Turkeys decision devastating.

This move is a huge setback and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond, Buric said.

Many conservatives in Turkey and in Erdogans AKP say the pact undermines family structures, encouraging violence.

Some are also hostile to the Conventions principle of gender equality and see it as promoting homosexuality, given the pacts non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Preserving our traditional social fabric will protect the dignity of Turkish women, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter.

For this sublime purpose, there is no need to seek the remedy outside or to imitate others.

Family, Labour and Social Policies Minister, Zehra Zumrut, said the constitution and current laws guarantee womens rights.

Critics of the withdrawal have said it would put Turkey further out of step with the European Union, which it remains a candidate to join.

They argue the convention, and related legislation, need to be implemented more stringently.

Germany said Turkeys decision sent the wrong signal.

Neither cultural, religious nor other national traditions can serve as an excuse for ignoring violence against women, the Foreign Ministry said.

Turkey does not keep official statistics on femicide.

But the rate roughly tripled in the last 10 years, according to a group that monitors femicide.

So far this year, 78 women have been murdered or died under suspicious circumstances, it said.

World Health Organisation data shows 38 per cent of women in Turkey are subject to violence from a partner in their lifetime, compared to 25 per cent in Europe.

Shame on this bigotry, patriarchy, heartlessness that protects, bullies and murderers instead of women, Turkish author Elif Safak said on Twitter of the withdrawal.

Istanbuls Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition party, said ditching the pact was painful and disregarded womens struggle over years.

Turkey is not the first country to move towards pulling out of the accord.

Polands highest court scrutinised the pact after a cabinet member said Warsaw should quit a treaty that the nationalist government considers too liberal.

While critics say his government has not done enough, Erdogan has condemned violence against women and said this month it would work to eradicate it.

Ankara has tagged violent men and launched a smartphone app for women to alert the Police.

Erdogans decision comes after he unveiled judicial reforms this month that he said would improve rights and freedoms, and help meet EU standards.

Talks over Turkeys membership in the bloc have been halted for years over policy differences and Ankaras record on human rights. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ebere Agozie

Experts say the harmonisation of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) standards of organic agriculture in West Africa will guarantee quality of produce and enhance trade in the region.

They gave the assurance at the virtual four-day workshop on harmonisation of organic PGS Standards across West Africa and Regional Organic Trade Fair in West Africa (BioWest Fair).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the harmonisation committee comprises six members from Benin Republic, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali and Togo.

Mr Ernest Aubee, Head of Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, and Chairman of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Regional Steering Committee, said in his opening remarks that the workshop was to address two major challenges faced in the region.

There is the need for harmonisation of organic agriculture standards PGS in the region to facilitate regional trade of certified organic produce and products within the regions.

There is also the need for an annual regional trade fair in the region to improve marketing of organic produce and products in the region.

Aubee, who said the workshop was open to stakeholders from all countries in the region, however, noted that the pace of organic agriculture development in the region is still slow.

Organic Agriculture is developing fast at the global level, however, the pace is still slow in West Africa compared to Eastern Africa, Europe and Australia.

Ms Delphine Bodjrenou from Benin Republic, Chairperson, West Africa organic PGS harmonization committee, said organic agriculture stakeholders need a regional trade platform for standard organic trade in the region.

Trade is a very important component of agriculture and certified organic farming without viable trade is not sustainable.

Harmonised PGS standards will improve development of organic agriculture in West Africa through demand driven trade that encourages export business within the region.

It will, among other things, be beneficial to stakeholders in the region in terms of diversity of produce, simplicity of the process, empowerment of farmers, and easy access to standardised produce and products in the region.

It will also promote and increase supply of organic produce and products in the region and stimulate the growth of the organic sector of the region.

Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, Secretary, Ecological Organic Agricuture, West Cluster and West Africa Organic Network (WAfrOnet), said the workshop and Trade Fair will also improve better understanding of certification in organic agriculture within the region.

He also stressed the need for capacity building of practitioners in the organic agriculture sector in the region to contribute to food security, income generation, employment and systems resilience, among other benefits.

AdeOluwa, while speaking on the BioWest Africa Fair, said it will be one of the ways of improving development of organic agriculture in the region.

The objectives of the fair are to create job opportunities and improve the livelihood of stakeholders, and ensure a wider spread of benefits of organic agriculture to all stakeholders in the region.

It will provide a regional platform for producers and business people in the value chain of organic agriculture, he said.

NAN also reports that the BioWestAfrica Fair will include exhibitions of organic agriculture produce, products and services, business fora and networks.

Plenary presentations were on cross-cutting issues of organic agriculture production, policy dialogues for sustainable organic agriculture business, and award presentations.

The virtual workshop recorded participants from Senegal, Guinea, Mali, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

Validated working document will be presented to the ECOWAS Commission in preparation for the second level of public validation workshop to bring other experiences: East Africa, India, IFOAM Organics International and other relevant authorities in the field of organic agriculture. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ariwodola Idowu

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Saturday night condemned in strong terms, the violence that marred the bye-election to fill the vacant seat for Ekiti East Constituency 1, in the State House of Assembly.

A statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti by Mr Yinka Oyebode, his Chief Press Secretary, quoted Fayemi as saying that no one involved in the dastardly act would go unpunished.

The governor had therefore directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Babatunde Mobayo, to ensure that everybody involved in the violent act were apprehended and brought to book, regardless of their party affiliation.

Gov. Fayemi commiserated with the families of those reported to have been killed in the mayhem as well as those who sustained injuries.

This violence is most unwarranted, and deeply disturbing. I have instructed the police authorities to fish out the perpetrators and ensure they face the music.

Our condolences to the families that lost loved ones and those who were injured.

Government would not relent in efforts to always ensure safety of lives and properties. We shall ensure all purveyors of violence are brought to book., the governor added.

NAN further reports that the governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to upholding the sacredness of life and sanctity of the electoral process.

It would be recalled that no fewer than three persons were on Saturday shot dead in Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East LGA during the bye election.

Eyewitnesses said that hardly had the election started when persons suspected to be hired thugs invaded some polling centres, shooting people and attempted to carry away ballot boxes.

Also, a former governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Saturday night, condemned the shooting of voters and officials conducting the election.

The former governor said killing of innocent people just because of five wards in the House of Assembly bye-election was barbaric and shameful.

He said: I thought we have gone past this barbarism in Ekiti State especially when we are confronted with national insecurity to which the government has no solution.

What was witnessed today in Omuo Ekiti is nothing but terrorism against the people of Ekiti, knowing that time has caught up with them and they are no longer popular.

This will remain a guilt in the conscience of the perpetrators and their sponsors perpetually for killing their own people just because of a mere House of Assembly bye-election.

Most importantly, everything that goes round in life comes round. The perpetrators of this despicable act should therefore remember that there will be consequences for all actions because the blood of the dead will surely speak and fight back.

To the police in Ekiti, they know what to do and the people behind all these, if only they chose not to look away. Ekiti shall be free again if we collectively confront and win this battle against fake apostles of democracy. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Temitope Ponle

Mr David Luke, Coordinator, African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has charged member countries on the significance of the free movement protocol.

Luke gave the charge to an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) side event on the sidelines of the commissions ongoing 53rd session of its Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

He said that the protocol would be critical to securing gains from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event was tagged Digitalising Migration Response to harness Africas Economic Development and Demographic Dividend in the COVID-19 Era.

The ECA representative said the four basic freedoms which made up the African continental and regional integration agenda were in the movement of people, capital, goods and services.

He recalled that the Abuja Treaty establishing the African economic community, adopted by the defunct Organisation for African Unity in 1991, envisioned the free movement of people and the rights of residence and establishment.

This represents the fifth phase of the Abuja Treaty which is expected to be realised by 2023.

The Protocol to the Treaty on the Establishment of the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment was adopted in January 2018 together with a comprehensive implementation roadmap.

Yet there has been a slow pace of signature and ratification of the protocol, he said.

According to the ECA, the protocol must be ratified by 15 member states to enter into force and 32 have signed but only Rwanda, has ratified it.

Luke said the concept of free movement of persons was often poorly understood.

We must do better than this. Freer movement cannot depend only on the AfCFTA Protocol on Services that allows for movement in relation to investment and service delivery.

True freedom of movement in Africa would instead allow African citizens to move to, live in, work, or provide a service or a business in another country on the continent, under the same or similar conditions as a citizen of that country.

He added that there might be a need to redesign the freedom of movement protocol to respond to concerns raised by policy makers.

He noted that this was to ensure that Africans could benefit fully from the liberalised market being created by the AfCFTA.

Regional Economic Communities (RECs), which have faced their own challenges with ratification and implementation of Free Movement Protocols, have a role to play in promoting increased understanding of the free movement concept.

It is the free movement of people which will boost intra-African trade under the AfCFTA, and enable African countries to proactively and swiftly respond to the twin green and digital transitions we are faced with in the 2020s, Luke said.

He stressed that Africa could not afford to not build seamless borders for tomorrows Africa, and further proposed that the ATPC and IOM organise a series of awareness raising events.

He said the events would be organised with the Rwandan Government as a principal partner.

For his part, Mr Jean-Denis Gabikini, Acting Director, Directorate of Economic Development Integration and Trade, African Union Commission, said various challenges in the continent has resulted into increased migration by youths.

At least 60 per cent of Africas population is aged below 24 years and its active contribution to economic growth, which is reflected by increased incomes and development, is not there.

Instead of making the most of this dividend we are unable to offer jobs to our youth, forcing them to seek livelihoods elsewhere, Gabikini said.

The 53rd session of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is tagged Africas Sustainable Industrialisation and Diversification in the Digital Era in the Context of COVID-19.

It is held onsite and online and would end on March 23. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom

The Nigerian Navy on Saturday said that it had deployed six ships, two tugboats, two helicopters and a Nigerian Airforce ATR42 aircraft toward addressing maritime challenges in the Gulf of Guniea.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said this during the inauguration of the 11th Exercise Obangame Express 2021.

He said that the multinational maritime exercise was birthed for regional maritime safety and security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inaugurated Exercise Obangame Express 2021 was held on board the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), THUNDER, at the Naval Dockyard Ltd. , on Victoria Island, Lagos.

Gambo said that the exercise was an annual multinational maritime exercise borne out of the need for Gulf of Guniea Navies to work together for regional maritime safety and security.

This is as a result of the huge resources and vast potential being continuously undermined by multifaceted domestic and cross border threats.

This challenges the dwindling prosperity of member states, he said.

The CNS said that the exercise would present an ample opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to work together with other national and regional navies in the spirit of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.

This code is designed to improve operational readiness, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and tactical interdiction expertise.

This will enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guniea and West African nations to counter sea based illicit activities.

It will also enhance the operational capability of the Nigeria Navy in its fight against various forms of maritime crime through information and intelligence sharing, he said.

Gambo said that the sustainance of this exercise was critical to Nigerias national interest, given the huge contributions of the nations strategic maritime resources to national prosperity and development.

The exercise aims at contributing to the freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Guniea by strengthening coordination in the fight against insecurity for socioeconomic activities among member states to thrive.

This is in line with the Nigerian Navy mandate and other treaties which Nigeria is a signatory too, he said.

The CNS appreciated the Government of the United States through the U.S. African Command and other international partners for facilitating and sustaining Exercise Obangame Express over the years.

Gambo also thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his untiring support to the development of the Nigerian Navy.

Also, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, said that the exercise was focusing on maritime crime hotspots to improve maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guniea.

The exercise is an avenue for participating nations within the Gulf of Gunea and its international partners to collaborate toward addressing maritime security concerns toward the gulf.

The exercise comes against the backdrop of piracy cases, illegal fishing, illegal exploration of mineral resources, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and other local and international threats within the gulf.

Therefore, maintaining Nigerias strategic deterrence posture and influence in the maritime environment is critical to our economic prosperity and regional stability, he said.

Gbassa said that the fleet which include: NNS THUNDER, PROSPERITY, KARADUWA, NGURU, EKULU, ESE, and Tugboat Dolphin Rima and Tugboat Mira would conduct several antipiracy operation exercises.

The fleet will conduct several exercises which will also include: protection of oil and gas facilities, fleet manueovers, communication, vessel board search and rescue among others.

This exercise will be conducted alongside French Navy Ship, Dixmude, in conjunction with other navies that will be participating.

The exercise will give additional impetus to our overall operational combatant experiences to ensure that our nations territorial integrity is maintained in line with the Nigerian Navy constitutional mandate, he said.

The FOC urged the public, as partners in progress, to be free to divulge credible information to the units in their localities to get rid of all forms of criminality within our space.

Also, Ms Claire Pierangelo, the U.S. Consular General, said that a secured maritime environment is integral to other dimensions of security.

Pierangelo said that maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea had continued to evolve and were increasingly becoming difficult to address.

Maritime security is, infact, the backbone of healthy commerce; it promotes economic development and it supports the sustainable management of all resources on which this entire region depends.

The exercise is designed to enhance collective capabilities of all participating nations to counter piracy, illegal fishing and other sea based illicit activities.

The exercise expresses one of the many ways that the United States and like minded partners ally with Nigeria and the Atlantic Africa to address maritime security, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderemi Bamgbose

An 18 year-old-girl, Idowu Biletiri, on Saturday allegedly stabbed her elder brother, Kehinde Biletiri, to death at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that trouble started when the suspect returned home after leaving the house for some days without any trace of her whereabouts.

Her deceased brother queried her on her returned, seeking to know where she had been since she left home.

It seemed she was angered by the question and then went straight for a kitchen knife which she stabbed her brother with to death.

Only the two of them were at home when the incident occurred, this have thrown the whole community into confusion and mourning, the source said.

The state Police Commands spokesman, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, said the incident had not been reported officially to the command.

Leo-Ikoro said the case was rather reported to the Ondo State Security Network code-named Amotekun Corps.

I can confirm that the incident occurred but it was reported to Amotekun Corps and they are in charge of the case now and until it is reported to the police, we cannot carry out any investigation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report by an online medium that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru threatened to blacklist a Chinese firm over alleged supply of inferior armoured vehicles.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Saturday, said that the online report claimed that the firm supplied inferior armoured vehicles to Nigerian army

Yerima said that the entirety of the said story was a figment of the authors imagination.

He said that Attahiru did not at any time or in any event made any comment nor had any interview on the subject either with the author or anybody for that matter.

According to him, the story is false, misleading and a deliberate fabrication ostensibly published to serve a yet to be determined motive.

Whatever the motive is, we consider this publication as not only unprofessional but very unfair to the Chief of Army staff.

We demand from the publishers of African Military Blog.com, immediate retraction of the concocted story as it runs against the grain of professional journalism to willfully and wrongfully attribute a story to an unsuspecting party.

The Nigerian Army recognises and appreciates the indispensable partnership with the media in the quest for a secured, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.

It is therefore, advisable that professionalism must guide the conduct of media practice, he said.

Meanwhile, the affected medium, military Africa had since through its tweeter handle @militaryafrica on Saturday, tendered apologies to the Nigerian Army and retracted the said story.

Our attention has been drawn to a particular article written by Ekene Lionel, and Titled: Norinco under fire for supplying inferior armoured vehicles to Nigeria.

Well like to tender a sincere apologies those likely to be affected by the article, particularly the gallant troops of the Nigeria Army @HQNigerianArmy.

After further investigation, we now understand that the article is truly false and inaccurate. With that, the article has been removed.

Military Africa has always stood on the side of truth, factual, accurate and impartial defense news coverage, it said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the Military cannot stoop so low to such extent to spy on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged by the acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, stated this in a statement in response to reports that military personnel who were spying on the residence of Igboho were apprehended.

Onyeuko said that it was alleged in a viral video that soldiers were seen being accused of having been sent by the Government to do a survey of Sunday Igbohos Soka residence in Ibadan.

According to him, the self acclaimed Yoruba activist also alleged that the action of the so-called soldiers was orchestrated by the Federal Government as a result of comments he made alleging that Yorubas are no longer a part of Nigeria.

While the Defence Headquarters has no interest dragging or joining issues with Sunday Adeyemo or his associates, it is pertinent to clear the air and address these allegations squarely.

For the records, it should be noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, are highly professional in the discharge of their duties, with well-defined roles, responsibilities and duties in its mandate of securing the territorial integrity of the Nigerian Nation.

As such, the Military cannot stoop so low to such extent to spy on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged.

Secondly, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a highly disciplined and professional organisation with extant laws and regulations which guide the actions of its personnel in the conduct of their duties.

As such, it is practically impossible for military personnel on official duty to conduct themselves in such manner as alleged by Adeyemo and his cohorts, he said.

Onyeuko said that preliminary investigation had so far revealed that one of the alleged soldiers was a serial impersonator.

He added that credible eye witnesses and sources had also revealed that some associates of Igboho went in pursuit of some individuals when the motorbike conveying the impersonator and one Nigerian Air Force personnel ran into them.

According to him, the duo were immediately apprehended and taken to the said IGBOHO House at Soka before Ibadan toll gate where they were branded as spies.

Furthermore, investigations are currently underway by Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army to unravel the actual circumstances which played out on the day.

The Defence Headquarters hereby warns individuals and groups to desist from disparaging the enviable reputation of the Nigerian Military by draDonald gging it into its petty issues to gain political mileage.

Such actions will not be condoned in the future, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Police Command in Kano State says it has trained 100 personnel and other stakeholders on Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV) as part of efforts to curb the menace.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, stated this in a statement in Kano on Saturday.

Haruna said that the personnel were exposed to sexual and gender base issues during the consultative meeting designed to develop the Police SGBV Training Manual held on March 18 and 19, in Kano.

He said that the participants comprised of 80 police officers and 20 persons selected from various organisations.

The Nigeria Police Force in partnership with the United Nations Women organised a consultative meeting and training exercise for major stakeholders and police officers handling SGBV cases involving children in Kano, he said.

Haruna said that the team was led by DCP Margaret Ochalla, Force Gender Coordinator/Adviser to the Inspector General of Police and UN Women Consultant, Mujuliat Fajebi .

He said that the team also paid courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Samaila Shuaibu-Dikko, during the exercise.

Haruna said that the exercise was attended by police officers, representatives of the National Council for Child Right Advocate of Nigeria, International Federation of Women Lawyers, thePrisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Actionamong others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Kaigama

The Bauchi state government, on Saturday, presented an award of excellence to Chief of UNICEF D field office Bauchi, Mr Bhanu Pathak, for improving the states health outcomes.

The New Agency of Nigeria reports that Pathak, who came to Nigeria in 2018, has just been transferred to the Ghana UNICEF office.

Alhaji Baba Tela, the state Deputy Governor, made the presentation at the send forth and award ceremony for Pathak in Bauchi. citing the awardas a recognition of his role in improving health care outcomes and care for children in the state.

Tela, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care, said the state government appreciated Pathak for contributing immensely to strengthening the states health sector.

We commend you for using your wealth of experience in the states health sector and laying a solid foundation for others to follow.

You are part of those that encouraged, supported and gave the state a sense of belonging in strengthening health care services and securing the childrens future in the state.

Mr Pathak you have done well in the state, the state will continue to consult you through the commissioner of health and the executive chairman of the Primary Health Care Agency for advice, He said

Earlier, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, the state health commissioner, said the state health sector learnt a lot from Pathak from his wealth of experience,describing the outgoing UNICEF D chief as dedicated and focused, with good human relations.

He said the government appreciated the partnership with UNICEF, under Pathaks leadership and would continue to remember his efforts in improving the health indices of the state.

Also speaking , the Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, commended Pathak for improving the states primary health care services.

He recalled that the EU- UNICEF partnership under Pathak, constructed and renovated over 170 primary health care facilities that were currently functional across the state.

This was in addition to providing health facilities, food and control of severe acute malnutrition in the state, as well as strengthened health services , Mohammed said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Astronomy Without Borders (AWB), an NGO on Saturday donated some kits to facilitate the learning of astronomy by children in the Games Village Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, FCT.

The IDP children astronomy outreach project is second in the series by AWB and targeted at ensuring that displaced children are not left out in learning about astronomy.

AWB is an astronomy group with the aim of spreading astronomy and its benefits in Nigeria.

Mrs Olayinka Fagbemiro, the National Coordinator, AWB said the project was also to raise awareness on the need to catch the children young and encourage them to embrace careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of the items donated included a solar powered learning hub for teaching STEM, Computer Systems and android tablets, internet facilities, wash hand stations, and face masks, among others.

This project is very strategic for AWB Nigeria, because this is in her quest to popularise astronomy.

We are also using it as a tool to create awareness on STEM among school kids who have been affected by insurgency in the North Eastern region of the country, she said.

Fagbemiro added that the availability of the learning kits would enable the children perform hands-on practical on their own, know about the dynamics of STEM which astronomy was part of.

She, however, encouraged children generally to embrace STEM which could create a launch path for them to other careers.

According to her, STEM careers are interesting and will open your mind to lots of discoveries.

Careers in STEM can bring a whole lot of development and sometimes children, especially the girl-child is not encouraged because they feel it is difficult.

STEM is not difficult, which is why we are playing our part by exposing these children to the knowledge of astronomy early and it will guide their career path, she said.

NAN also reports that the first IDP children astronomy outreach held in Durumi, another community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the FCT. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kamal Tayo Oropo

A new report launched by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce in the continent, shows that the pandemic, bad as it is, has opened up new opportunities for the continents digital economy.

The report was launched on Saturday at a side event at the ECA annual Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, holding in Ethiopia.

A statement by the communication session of ECA quoted the authors of the report as saying that the growth of the sector was made possible by improved Internet penetration rates, reduced Internet costs and growth of mobile telephony.

One of the authors, Guy Futi, said in a presentation that by 2019, Africa had registered unprecedented growth in digitalisation with some 290 million people connected to the Internet, an investment of US.4 billion in venture capital.

According to Futi, more than 30 per cent of adults in Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya reported owning mobile phones.

While the report pointed out that Africas regulatory regime was yet to catch up with the speed with which the digital sector was growing, in general, it remained patchy and characterised by poor enforceability.

The growth of mobile technology, among the other factors, built a fertile foundation that could be buttressed by developments in venture capital and funding, online payments, and logistics.

We arrived at the conclusion that the digital economy can be a powerful catalyst for Africas economy with the potential to alleviate many of the economic burdens of COVID-19.

But more importantly, e-commerce and digital trade can serve as a powerful engine for the economic recovery now required, the authors of the report said.

The authors said that with 50 per cent of Africas citizens under the age of 35 and with 500 million mobile money accounts, there could be US billion worth of digital commerce by 2030.

Jamie McLeod, one of the authors, said the report was based on interviews with tech companies in Africa.

Some of the highlights of the report covered the range from the growth of venture capital funding in Africa to advances made in mobile and Internet penetration.

This part of the report demonstrated a rapidly changing digital environment that still has much to accomplish.

The report noted that cheaper mobile handsets had played a significant role in the regions Internet penetration.

Transsion and Samsung, who control the bulk of the market share on smartphones sold in Africa, have produced handhelds specifically targeted for the limited spending power of Africans.

More than 83 per cent of smartphones sold in Africa during the last quarter of 2019 had a price tag of US or less, the report said.

The report also noted that the largest mobile operators on the continent had continued to experience sustained revenue growth.

Safaricom, one of East and Central Africas largest operators, grew its revenues from US.63 billion in 2016 to US.20 billion in 2019.

The MTN Group in 2019 generated US.75 billion of revenue from its Nigerian subsidiary, and US.67 billion from its South African subsidiary.

Airtel Africa, with a presence in more than 14 countries on the continent, recorded US.01 billion in revenue in 2019.

Maroc Telecom, operating out of North Africa, grew its revenues from US.77 billion in 2016 to US.99 billion in 2019. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Esenvosa Izah

A Civil Society Organisation, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), has enjoined Nigerians to shun all vices, including drug addiction that destroy humanity.

CACOBAs Chairman, Mr Toyin Raheem, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

The statement was issued in commemoration of 2021 International Day of Happiness Day, marked annually on March 20.

The theme of the Day is Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind.

Raheem said that drug abuse was a contributory factor to sadness and that it has to be eradicated.

Every crime in Nigeria can be traced to drug abuse and the effects of the hard drug are sadness, pains and pangs.

Corruption, murder, banditry, armed robbery and even money laundering can all be linked to the hard drug in one way or the other besides bringing sadness to the people.

How many corrupt elements are truly happy in the real sense of happiness?

How many drug addicts are happy?

No happiness can be derived if lives of others are jeopardised, Raheem said.

He commended the efforts of the Executive Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, to rid the country of illicit substances.

CACOBAs chairman said that the importance of happiness in lives could not be overemphasised.

Marwa wants Nigeria to be a country in which all citizens are truly happy.

Hence, his determination to eradicate the use, selling and peddling of hard drugs.

A country in which drug abuse and the hard drug has no place, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

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