By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has elected Mr Collins Achakpekri as its Director for International Relations to coordinate affairs of all youths of the region in abroad to ameliorate the several challenges facing them.

The National Coordinator of NDYC, Mr Jator Abido, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the election of a director for International Relations became pertinent following barrage of complaints of poor funding and welfare by youths.

These youths are undergoing scholarship programmes sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme and other beneficiary from other multi-national oil companies.

Achakpekri has been charged with the responsibility of managing the interest of all the youths from all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, and to also liaise with the various High Commissions overseas without undermining the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari

The International Desk of NDYC is, therefore, set up to address the many complaints and protests from the youths of Niger Delta in Diaspora. Achakpekriwill operate from the international desks of the Council in the UK.

It is our firm belief that the newly elected director will give his best to the elevation of the Niger Delta youths abroad as good Ambassadors and also to attract development programmes to the nation, Abido said.

Abido also noted that the choice of Achakpekri was a consensus vote via zoom by all executive members of the NYDC.

Source: NAN News

By Hussaina Yakubu

Gov. Nasir El Rufai on Wednesday received the Kaduna State 2020 Annual Security Report, in which 937 people were said to have been killed by bandits and 1,972 kidnapped within the period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, presented the report at a ceremony in Kaduna.

According to Aruwan, victims of the kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities cut across all ethnic and religious groups in the state, contrary to skewed narratives from some quarters.

Victims of criminal acts like banditry and kidnapping are to be found across ethnic, religious or political leanings and persuasions, he pointed out.

The commissioner said the total number of deaths linked to banditry and other forms of violence in 2020 in the state was 937.

Of this number, Igabi LG has the highest figure of 152, followed by Kajuru with a figure of 144.

He added that Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local governments in KadunaCentralSenatorial District accounted for 468 of the deaths out of the 937 people that died in 2020, representing over 50% of the fatalities recorded in the state.

The southern senatorial district accounts for 286 deaths, which is about one third of the total, due in large part to sporadic clashes, alongside banditry which triggered attacks and counter-attacks, especially between June and November 2020, he added.

Aruwan further said, out of 1,972 people kidnapped in the period under review, Kaduna central senatorial district accounts for 1,561, and out of the total, 1,461 were kidnapped within Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local government areas.

In his speech after receiving the report, El-Rufai said that state has been using itslimited tools to address the security challenges.

The governor paid tribute to the victims of insecurity and reiterated his administrations resolve to protect the people and stop all criminals.

El Rufai said the government has invested in technology to help secure the state, adding that a CCTV network is being deployed in Kaduna metropolis while options for consistent operations of its drones are being explored.

The governor added that the state had been collaborating with neighboring states to tackle the wave of insecurity.

Together with Niger State and our neighbours in the North-west, we put together resources to fund military operations against bandits in the Kamuku-Kuyambana forest range that straddles the region.

El Rufai however regretted that this collaboration which was done in 2015, was not sustained or expanded into a campaign of continuous, simultaneous operations against the bandits across our vast region.

Failure to contain and defeat them in one place has emboldened them to develop a national footprint and endanger national cohesion, he noted.

The governor also said thatthe state has been supporting federal security agencies with vehicles and other logistics since 2015, but added that the military and police still need modern technology and equipment and more boots on the ground.

The security of our communities depend on the robust projection of state power, and that can only be done with sufficient security numbers to overawe and deter criminals, he maintained.

The governor called for the decentralisation of policing, arguing that there are simply not enough police officers in Nigeria and the idea of policing such a vast, federal republic in a unitary manner is not pragmatic.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved 526 million dollars for power projects in Abia, Imo and Benue.

The Federal Executive Council at its weekly meeting also approved N190.5 million for the purchase of a microscope by the University of Ibadan.

Minister of Power, Sale Mamman and Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, made these known to newsmen at the end of Wednesdays meeting of the Council.

Mamman said that 506 million dollars was approved for the extension of transmission lines in Umuahia, Abia and Mbano in Imo.

He said additional local content of N34million was approved for the transmission line projects.

The cost for the extension of transmission lines in Abia and Imo States is 506,324.40 million dollars plus N34,034,000 local content cost, he said.

The minister stated that the Council also approved 8.6million dollars for the construction of three sub-stations at Zaki-Biam, Benue and Bichi and Kanyi in Kano State.

On the amount for the construction of three sub-stations in Zaki-Biam, Benue State and Bichi and Kanyi, Kano State the one in Zaki-Biam is 8.6 million dollars offshore and N2.08 billion onshore.

The second one in Bichi is 9.6 million dollars plus N1.7 billion local content cost, while the one in Kanyi, Kano State, is 9.5 million dollars plus N1.7 billion, he said.

On his part, Nwajiuba said the Council approval for the purchase of the microscope was part of Federal Governments efforts to revitalise and reposition the nations education sector.

In continuation of efforts by the Federal Government to revitalise and reposition the education sector, Council passed a resolution granting the request of the University of Ibadan to acquire a new microscope.

This is a microscope which is totally directed at enhancing whatever material, looking at nuclear composition of its molecular nature.

This is in our premier university. The Department of Anatomy at the university has been at the forefront of this coordinate research in Nigeria for many years since its inception in 1948.

The first of such equipment was given to us in 1967 by the Japanese government, but it has become obsolete.

The Federal Government has had the opportunity to review many of the requests from the university authorities, including those of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, he said.

The minister explained that before now, PhD students of the varsity had to travel abroad to conduct research involving a microscope and it has now become very expensive to do so.

The request by the University of Ibadan has been approved so that we can stop spending the kind of money we spend sending PhD and further research students abroad on the basis of lack of this particular equipment.

If University of Ibadan is empowered to do this, and acquires this equipment, it will become the fulcrum for many other research faculties around the country.

Everybody, including researchers from neighbouring West African countries will be able to access it.

Our experience at the Tertiary Education Fund showed that many of the research requests had to do with non-availability of particular equipment in the country.

The Federal Government, in its holistic attempt to address both its economic and social values as well as upgrade our educational targets, approved this to be able to address then challenge,Nwajiuba said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hussaina Yakubu

Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has restated his administrations commitment to supporting vulnerable people in the state to realise their full potentials in life.

El-Rufai made the commitment on Wednesday in Kaduna when he received UNFPA Country Representative, Ulla Mueller, who was at the Government House for a joint programme to mark the International Womens Day.

He explained that his administration believes that disabilities and other circumstances should not be a hurdle to such persons in reaching their full potentials.

We believe in giving equal opportunities to all and to do that, government needs to identify with those that are not able to assist themselves.

The main purpose of government is to ensure that those who cannot help themselves are helped by to achieve their full potentials, he stressed.

El-Rufai disclosed that 63 per cent of the state budget
in the first four years of his administration was invested in education, healthcare and assisting the poorest and vulnerable persons.

We have invested in primary health care, we have introduced contributory health Insurance to give a pathway to universal health coverage and also the social protection policy, he said.

He told the UNFPA officials that the government was in the process of establishing a social protection agency, to target the poorest and ensure that they did not go uncared.

He also expressed the belief that women deserve every support and encouragement for any society to grow.

According to him, women as the foundation of humanity, should be promoted in every way possible.

He thanked the UNFPA for its unique approach of reaching out to women and other works that touched the lives of the people.

Earlier, Mueller said they chose to celebrate the day in Kaduna, because the state has 43 percent women in leadership positions.

The 43 per cent I notice is more than what is obtained in most developed countries.

My country has 29 per cent of female in cabinets despite the fact that we have female prime minister and 14 per cent women in leadership position.

She congratulated the governor for the feat, saying
when you focus on equality and when you are mindful, deliberate about the decisions you make, you steadily prosper.

The UNFPA country representative pledged to work with Kaduna state government and find ways to support its efforts to drive sustainable development.

While we are developing our 2021 programme we will be seeking advice from Kaduna state on how to best proceed, she added.

We all have an obligation to continue to commit to sustainable development, because it enshrines gender equality as one of its goals.

We will not be able to reach sustainable development without equality and the ability for women and girls to have their basic human rights, including their right to sexual productive health as a prerogative to achieve sustainable development goals.

In 2021, no woman should die for a reason we can prevent, Mueller stressed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNFPA presented awards to Hajiya Saudatu Sani, Emmanuel Bonet and Maimuna Auwal-Safiyanu in recognition of their work on enhancing gender equality and equity.

Gov. El-Rufai was also presented with an award in recognition of his sustained efforts to ensure gender equality and equity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) on Wednesday stressed the need for early mentorship of budding professionals in the industry to eliminate quackery from its ranks.

The NOIB members led by its Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr Sunday Wusu made the remarks during the associations visit to Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Junior High School, Maryland, Lagos for career talk tagged Catch Them Young Programme.

Wusu said that the programme was part of the institutes weeklong activities to commemorate the 2021 Builders Day conference on March 13.

He said the event was organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to encourage young students to pursue career paths in building and to expose them to the rudiments of ethical codes of practice and building regulations.

He said March 13 was chosen for the builders conference in commemoration of the collapse of a five-storied residential building at 63, Massey Street, Ita-Faaji, Lagos Island in 2019, killing over 20 pupils.

Wusu explained to the students the benefits of building the right way, and the subjects required for those aspiring to become professional builders.

You are our future leaders, our future generation and we need to let you know,he said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that early mentorship to change their orientation towards upholding good building ethics was vital to the enthronement of excellence in the profession.

Also, Mr Emmanuel Aladeloba, Head of Department, Building, Yaba College of Technology (Yaba Tech), said that the housing deficit currently stands at 17 million which needed professionals to fill the vacuum to bridge the shelter gap.

Aladeloba while delivering his lecture, told the students the subjects that they would need, in order to deepen their knowledge and to take advantage of the vast opportunities available for talented builders.

He explained the important roles of builders who coordinated their projects with materials in right quantities, as well as human resources on site to ensure durable construction with good structural integrity.

Aladeloba said that an engineer designs buildings, but the builder is a realist to actualise the real construction by properly cordinating and managing all the other resources.

It is the work of a builder to ensure a design comes to reality and we can occupy it, take example from this hall we are in right now.

It is a builder that knows the science and technology of construction, all the resources in the built environment are put together by the builder because the builder is taught how to make the other five resources work. The Labour, materials, machines, methods and all the others he said.

In his remarks, Mr Bayo Adefuye Permanent Board Member, Special Projects, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), who represented the LASUBEB Chairman, Mr Wahab Alawiye-King, urged students to follow their passion in choosing career paths that would be beneficial to them.

He encouraged the students to strive to be good ambassadors to make their parents and nation proud.

Building is a good career. We will always need builders because we will always need buildings.

Whatever profession you choose make sure it is the one your heart is set on. Choose what you like doing so that your work would look like play. Choose a career you are comfortable with in line with your passion,he said.

Earlier, Mrs Adelotun Ogunbiyi, Principal, Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Junior High School, Maryland, advised students on the need to take the career talk serious in order to make the right future choices.

Other speakers took turns to educate the children on the advantages of choosing career paths in building to correct the perceived ills in the industry.

However, the students had mixed reactions of either wanting to become builders, or advocated for quality construction while choosing other professions.

Miss Aishat Abdulrashed, a JSS3 student told NAN she had learnt new things that changed her perception, adding that, I want to be a good builder that would build right in future.

On the other hand, Mr Ndishika Praise another JSS3 student said he learnt what it meant to be a good builder, but would not want to be a builder.

I want to be an artist but I will advise builders in future to be good,he added.

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

By Harrison Arubu

Secretary-General, NIDOA-Atlanta. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland struck once in each half as they drew 2-2 with Sevilla in their Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday and advanced to the quarter-finals with a 5-4 aggregate win.

The Norwegian notched his 20th Champions League goal in 14 games and 10th in the competition this season with a controversial 54th-minute penalty.

This was after having tapped in a Marco Reus cutback against the run of play to give Dortmund the lead in the first half.

Sevilla, who made the quarter-finals in 2018 and enjoyed a strong first half, hit back with two goals from Youssef En-Nesyri, the first a 66th-minute penalty followed by a stoppage-time header to make it t 2-2.

The 20-year-old Haaland has now become the all-time top Norwegian scorer in the competition, with one more goal than current Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as Dortmund reached the last eight for the first time since 2017.

Haalands penalty, awarded following a lengthy VAR review for an earlier challenge after he had put the ball in the net, was initially saved before he retook it and scored. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ten-man Porto upset Juventus to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw in spite of losing 3-2 to the Italian side on Tuesday.

Sergio Oliveiras extra-time free-kick for Portos second goal proved decisive for the visitors.

Porto dominated the first half and took the lead in the 19th minute with Oliveiras penalty taking them into the break in front as they looked comfortable at the Juventus Stadium.

But with the first attack of the second half Juves Federico Chiesa, who scored their goal in the 2-1 last-16, first-leg defeat in Portugal, arrowed a strike into the top corner to give his side hope four minutes after the re-start.

The game turned further in Juves favour as Mehdi Taremi needlessly got sent off for picking up a second yellow card in the 54th minute for kicking the ball away, with Chiesa levelling the scoreline on aggregate with his head in the 63rd minute.

The hosts had chances to win the tie but the game went to extra time and the drama was far from over as Porto won a free-kick which Oliveira drilled home to spark wild scenes of celebration amongst the players and coaching staff.

Adrien Rabiots header three minutes from time for Juve ensured a grandstand finish in an enthralling encounter, but Porto held on for a famous victory.

Source: NAN News

The UNICEF on Wednesday urged countries to contribute more money to help poor countries to access Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, saying around billion was needed.

UNICEF, the worlds single largest vaccine buyer, is part of the World Health Organisation-backed COVAX programme to supply COVID-19 shots to emerging economies.

We have been asking the world for more funding for UNICEF and our distribution to countries we still need about 1 billion dollars , UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said at Dubais World Government Summit.

That funding could be used to strengthen health systems in poorer nations and support the distribution of vaccines there, she said.

The COVAX initiative aims to deliver at least 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses this year, including 1.3 billion doses to lower-income countries.

Fore urged vaccine makers to sign licensing agreements so vaccines could be made locally, singling out Africa as one market that needed it.

She also said it was unlikely that the COVAX scheme would be able to cover the world in 2021.

There is still more to do and we could do with more help and assistance, Fore said. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said on Tuesday that the South South zone would continue to remain strong and united in the quest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reclaim power in 2023.

Okowa, who is the Chairman PDP Governors Forum, South South, said this in his opening remarks at the partys South South Zonal Congress in Port Harcourt.

He said that the zonal leadership would be positioned to help the party to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.

According to Okowa, when the PDP South South speaks, we speak with one voice.

That has been the strength of our party, and we will continue to thank God and continue to build on the gains of the past.

We will continue to be a voice in the zone in national politics and continue to work in unity.

He pledged that the governors in the zone would continue to work in close relationship with the South South zonal leadership as well as the state chapters.

He added that the strength in the unity of the party would take the party to a higher level.

We are hopeful because our nation was better under PDP and the party would reposition the country if it comes back to power, he said.

Similarly, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said that the party in the South South raised the hope of the party to return to the centre come 2023.

He noted that this had been the case since 1999, and called for the orderly conduct of the exercise to show that the party was more committed and waiting to take over power in 2023.

He assured delegates that measures were put in place to forestall any hitch or rancour during the exercise.

In his address of welcome, the Caretaker Committee National Vice Chairman South South, Chief Dan Orbih, said his committee was abreast of the challenges the zone was faced with.

Orbih, the partys unopposed candidate for the position of National Vice Chairman, South South, added that if given the opportunity to steer the affairs of the party in the zone, the incoming leadership was more than ready to surmount the challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 positions were being contested for including the National Vice Chairman (Zonal Chairman), Zonal Secretary, and Zonal Financial Secretary.

Other positions were Zonal Treasurer, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Publicity Secretary, Zonal Legal Adviser, Zonal Auditor, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal ex officio as well as National ex officio.

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

A Youths Group, under the auspices of Nigerian Youths Movement for Tinubu (NYMT), on Tuesday urged the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bola Tinubu to join the 2023 presidential race.

Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, Director General, NYMT, while addressing the media in Abuja said the legacies and ideologies of Tinubu clearly portrayed him as a National Leader, who was a rallying point for progressives in the country.

Mukhtar, represented by the groups North West coordinator, Malam Mustapha Abdrahman,, called on the two-time governor of Lagos state to use his experience in fostering unity, peace and progress in the country and contest for the position of president in 2023 general election.

Over the years, Tinubu has been a vanguard of true federalism and national integration even as he pays attention to the development of our dear nation.

He is a pacesetter, a mentor, nation builder, a unifier and de-tribalised politician, he said.

According to him, if Tinubu join the presidential race it will enable him consolidate what President Muhammadu Buhari has done and is still doing in the country.

Asiwaju possess undeniable passion for Nigeria. He is consummate democrat and a progressive to a core.

A political phenomenon, an astute administrator and successful businessman who has within his political sojourn become the political colossal in Nigeria.

It is in our quest for the progress of Nigeria as a nation that we have called on an outstanding personality in person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to vie for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he said.

Also, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, who represented Katsina South in the 8th National Assembly extolled the qualities of Tinubu and his contributions towards the growth of APC.

Ibrahim, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed-Ibrahim said Nigerian youths will support the National Leader of the APC if he decide to contest for presidency in the next general election.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Nigerians to unite and support credible representatives to lead the country.

Also, General Secretary, NYMT, Mr Olugbenga Pius, said that the group was made up of various representatives of youths associations who were after the peace and progress of the country, hence will mobilise Nigerians to support Tinubu, if he decide to join the race.

We the leaders of various youth groups and volunteers pledge to ramp up efforts to fully implement strategies and Platforms for Actions, should Tinubu decide to run for presidency in 2023 general elections, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has been given the final approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for its demutualisation exercise.

The NSE said in a statement on Wednesday obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) In Lagos that the demutualisation process had been completed with these final approvals.

NAN reports that under thedemutualisation plan, a new non-operating holding company, the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has been created.

The Group will have three operating subsidiaries: Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX Limited), the operating exchange; NGX Regulation Limited (NGX REGCO), the independent regulation company and NGX Real Estate Limited (NGX RELCO).

The statement said all the entities had been duly registered at the CAC.

Commenting on the development, the NSE Council President, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, commended SEC for approving the demutualisatiom plan.

Ogunbanjo said:Successful demutualisation was one of my fundamental objectives when I assumed the presidency of the Exchange.

The SECs decision today to approve the NSEs demutualisation plans brings this aspiration to a successful conclusion in a process that included the passage of the Demutualisation Act through the National Assembly.

We are elated that this milestone has been achieved as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the commencement of trading at the Exchange and now look forward to the future public listing of its shares on NGX Limited.

On behalf of the NSE, I would like to warmly thank all those that have worked assiduously to achieve this watershed event on our journey to make the NSE a multifaceted exchange that extends across various markets and geographical regions.

Also speaking, Mr Oscar Onyema,the new Group Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group Plc, said: The Nigerian capital markets should play a role commensurate with Nigerias status as Africas largest economy.

Onyema said the new group would become the premier exchange hub for Nigerian businesses and for Africa.

At the Nigerian Stock Exchange, we have a vision that the new group will become the premier exchange hub for Nigerian businesses and for the African economy.

We are implementing a series of measures toward this goal, demutualisation being a critical milestone. The completion of demutualisation is a truly significant moment, and we welcome the new possibilities that have opened up for us today, he added.

NAN reports that the approvals by the SEC and CAC signify that the NSE can now activate its transition plan to a new operational structure and holding company.

The extensive Transition Plan, taking the Group and its subsidiaries through to full Operational Launch, covers legal and practical changes to enable the functioning of the new corporate structure, with no loss of service and a seamless transition for market participants.

The Transition Plan will also see the inauguration of boards for each of the new entities and relocation of staff to their respective functions within the operating subsidiaries.

It would also see to the operationalisation of business plans and budgets, technology systems transfer and the requisite agreements between the entities.

The approvals will also enable the shares of NGX Group Plc, which have been registered with the SEC, to be allotted to the membership pursuant to the court approved Scheme of Arrangement.

Ahead of its listing on NGX Ltd., the shares of NGX Group Plc will be available for bilateral trades to be executed in line with extant rules and regulations of the Nigerian capital market.

Otunba Ogunbanjo will serve as the inaugural Chairman of NGX Group Plcs Board of Directors. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The CBN says it has disbursed over N85 billion to no fewer than 80 projects, under its Healthcare Credit Support scheme, the banks Director of Development Finance, Mr Yila Yusuf, has announced

In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Abuja,Yusuf said that the projects cut across medical, pharmaceutical, herbal and other related products, and a funeral home.

He spoke against the backdrop of the apex banks award of N253.54 million Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) grants to five researchers on Tuesday.

In the healthcare credit support scheme, we have disbursed over N85 billion to more than 80 projects, mainly to reposition and enhance capacity of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. We even financed a funeral home, he said.

He said under the HSRDIS, an empanelled body of experts, chaired by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), received over 200 research entries, evaluated 68 and picked the best five entries for the grants.

He added that more grants would be awarded, as entries continued to be evaluated, while the grants were being disbursed on a milestone basis, rather than as a bullet payment.

Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, has restated the apex banks commitment to support the growth of Nigerias health sector, while assuring that more grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the Body of Experts, Yusuf said.

He urged corporate organisations to support researchand development for the overall good of Nigeria.

NAN reports that the CBN approved N100 billion credit support scheme for the healthcare sector in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chinese President, Xi Jinping has called for the countrys military to be constantly ready in the face of instabilities and uncertainties, state media reported on Wednesday.

The entire armed forces must always be ready to respond to all kinds of complex and difficult situations, Xi was cited as saying at a Tuesday meeting with the military delegation to the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas annual parliamentary session.

The development of the military must focus on combat readiness, Xi said, as reported by state news agency Xinhua.

Xi said that the new five-year plan from 2021 to 2025 provides a good starting point for strengthening national defence and the military.

At the end of its one-week meeting on Thursday, the NPC will approve a draft laying out the course being set as well as a hefty 6.8 per-cent increase in military spending for this year.

Xi said the plan was to step up building high-calibre strategic deterrence and that the Peoples Liberation Army must resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The Chinese leader, who is also the chief of the Communist Party and chairman of the military commission, said military developments must be driven by innovation and there must be further efforts to make science and technology independent.

He also said defence-related innovation needs a significant boost.

The modernisation and expansion of the Chinese military comes against the backdrop of growing tensions with the United States and Taiwan, incidents on its border with India and disputes over islands in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar in Kano.

The governor spoke when he led a delegation of legislators, business, traditional and civic leaders to pay a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, in Abuja.

He lamented that the continued closure of the airport was causing hardship to international travelers from the Northern part of the country , as the action was severely impacting on ease of doing business in Kano.

The closure of MAKIA has impacted negatively on the business environment in Kano, which is the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria and even some West African Countries.

We appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the International wing of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport because it will further facilitate commercial activities, and we fervently appeal for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport, he explained.

The governor expressed concern over the effect of the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport by passengers and service providers.

According to him, the Kano State government has put in place all that was necessary to make the state healthy for flights, including mobilisation of the populace for the COVID-19 vaccinations.

On his part, the minister assured that his ministry was favorably disposed to re-opening the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for international flight operations, lamenting that the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport was causing the ministry and its agencies huge revenue loss.

It does not make economic sense for the government to spend so much money, as it has done in the airport, and just decide to leave it dormant, with the attendant degeneration on infrastructure, staff redundancy, revenue losses and hardship to travellers, amongst others, he said.

He, however, told the delegation that the decision to suspend international flights to and from the airport, like the ones in Enugu and Port Harcourt, was for health and security reasons.

The Minister acknowledged the hardship faced by passengers and service providers patronizing the airport, promising that everything that was necessary for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport would be fast-tracked to ensure that it resumes soon.

He, however, challenged Kano indigenes to create activities that would make the airport more viable through increased passenger traffic.

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

A civil society organisation, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), has called for the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, to make for the eradication of all of barriers against women in the country.

CTA Executive Director Faith Nwadishi stated this at an event on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said that the passage of the bill into law by the National Assembly was important to give women equal opportunities to actively participate in politics.

We strongly call on the National Assembly to expeditiously pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill into law.

This is long overdue. In passing this law, the National Assembly should not see it as a token to women and girls but should ensure that the basic rights of women and girls are protected, she said.

Nwadishi called for the full implementation of the Nigerian gender policy and the 35 per cent affirmation.

Again, this is not a favour to women but a right that is sacrosanct and the right thing to do.

The lopsided policies trample upon the opportunities to rise to the apex of their professions.

No woman has ever been appointed a Service Chief or the Inspector-General of Police, or to head the DSS and other paramilitary agencies.

The extractive industry is another sector where women are so marginalised and, therefore, make less impact as they are systematically shut out of the extractive resources, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abdullahi Shugaba

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Command in Katsina, says it intercepted smuggled goods worth N79million between February and March 2021.

Mr Adewale Aremu, the state Area Controller of Customs (ACC), disclosed this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Wednesday.

Aremu said the seized goods included 470 bags of 50kg rice concealed in different compartments of a fuel tanker.

Others include 367 bales of second hand cloths worth over N30million; used Honda Accord salon car worth over N8million as well as 166 jerry cans of vegetable oil valued at N1.8 million.

Also confiscated are 321 cartons of foreign spaghetti; 97 cartons of couscous; 110 cartons of macaroni; 65 cartons of milky creamer; 14 cartons of clinical plaster and 187 bags of sugar, he said.

Aremu said the tanker with registration number KWL 427 TH has a duty value of N13.5million.

The trailer used for conveying the second hand cloths is valued at N12.1million, he said.

Aremu reiterated that the NCS will not relent in its efforts to track down smugglers in the country, pointing out that the practice was detrimental to the economy of Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

![Rise above limitations C

By Olayinka Owolewa

Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin will on Thursday sign a three-year deal with sportswear manufacturers Umbro.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin, the Chairman of a 14-man Launching Committee, Lanre Alege, said the deal was worth about N22 million.

He said Umbro would provide 1,000 replica jerseys as part of the deal, while the company would also provide kits for the teams players and officials.

Umbro will provide both home and away jersies and other kits for the duration of the deal, Alege said.

He explained that the deal which would be signedat the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin wassubject to a yearly renewal.

Earlier, the Consultant to the Committee and CEO of Kazolink Sports International, Tunde Kazeem, had applauded the impressive run of Kwara United in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).(NAN)

Source: NAN News