By Patricia Amogu

The Federal Government has urged more private sectors, corporate organisations and government outfits to embrace green bond projects that will develop the economy and reduce global warming.

Hajia Halima Bawa-Bwari, Director, Department of Climate Change, made the call during a one day
stakeholders engagement on the green bond implementation program organised by the Ministry of Environment in Abuja.

Bawa-Bwari, represented by Mr Jonah Barde stated that the meeting was initiated as a sort of sensitization to everyone including federal outfits to understand better how they could embrace green bond projects.

We also want to access the progress made so far on green bonds. The Federal Government so far has issued two sovereign green bonds to the private sector between 2017 to 2018.

The Federal Government Green Bond Policy is in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement,
Nationally Determined Contributions,
as well as Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, she said.

Bawa-Bwari said that the green bond was in line with the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Its goal is to reduce the emission of the green house gas that causes global change, to reduce global warming.

MDAs should come up with activities that are sustainably viable, she said.

Daminabo Emmanuel,
Team Consultant, said the stakeholders engagement was with the objective of bringing together the sovereign and the private sector segments of the market to discuss.

The Federal Government so far has issued two green bonds. Implementing the projects requires creation of jobs for schools. Post implementation also helps to create jobs.

The project so far has helped to create jobs and there are taxes which are indirect returns for the government.

The green bond project is an open market, if the Federal Government borrows, it borrows to fund their projects, the projects create a lot of jobs and also grows the economy, Emmanuel said.

Mrs Bernadette Ejiofor, the Desk Officer, Climate Finance unit presented a paper titled Retrospective- Green bond issuance in Nigeria.

Ejiofor said that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) needed to make green their budgets and make them more viable for green bond issuances.

Nigerian Government taps into the growing markets for green bonds as part of funding its national development, the economic recovery and growth plan, and the targets in its nationally determined contribution.

We should take into cognisance the environmental criteria that would promote access to green bonds.

We are trying to create awareness, especially amongst the private sector to go ahead and explore the green bonds, she said.

Ejiofor added that if more MDAs would come up with environment friendly projects they could access more green bond issuances.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has reiterated its belief in the safety of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

This is contained in a communiqu signed by NGF Chairman and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the end of 28th meeting of the forum held physically and virtually on Wednesday in Abuja.

The communiqu said that the governors deliberated on issues affecting the country, particularly on the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines and the attendant issues.

It said that Fayemi congratulated his colleagues for accepting to be vaccinated, declaring that so far the vaccines had not shown any signs of side-effects as widely speculated.

The communiqu added that the NGF COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group (CTAG) led by Prof. Oyewale Tomori briefed the governors on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out across the states.

The CTAG notes the increasing concerns of the public on the safety of Astra Zeneca vaccines.

CTAG recommended that Nigeria should continue to vaccinate all eligible persons with the AstraZeneca vaccine in line with the latest WHO recommendations.

The group said that available evidence, including findings from research in which some CTAG members are involved show that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is safe.

Governors reiterated their belief in the safety of the Astra Zeneca vaccines and commit to continuously encourage uptake of the vaccines by all eligible persons in their states.

The governors also encourage the public to report any adverse effect noticed following COVID-19 vaccination, it added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says there was an increase in active internet subscribers from 151.5 million in the third quarter to 154.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

It said this on Thursday in Abuja in its just published Telecoms Data: Active Voice and Internet per State, Porting and Tariff Information (Q4 2020).

According to the report, this represents a 1.84 per cent growth in internet subscriptions Quarter-on-Quarter.

The report also said there was a -0.32 per cent decrease in active voice subscribers in the Q4 from 205.2 million in Q3 to 204.6 million.

The NBS said Lagos State with 24.8 million had the highest number of subscribers in terms of active voice per state in the period under review, closely followed by Kano which had 12.6 million and Ogun 12 million.

However, Bayelsa with 1.45 million subscribers and Ebonyi with 1.81 million had the least number of subscribers.

Similarly, Lagos emerged the state with the highest number of subscribers in terms of active internet per state in Q4 with 18.9 million subscribers.

This was closely followed by Kano with 9.5 million and Ogun 9.08 million, while Bayelsa with 1.09 million and Ebonyi with 1.28 million had the least number of subscribers.

The bureau added that MTN with 146.11 million subscribers had the highest share of subscriptions for both active voice and internet.

This was closely followed by AIRTEL with 96.92 million subscribers, GLO 94.94 million and 9Mobile 20.04 subscribers, while Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS) recorded 800,044 subscribers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police killed two suspected bandits on Wednesday in Saminaka town, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State and recovered five AK-47 rifles from them.

Police spokesperson in Kaduna State, ASP Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident in a statement he issued on Thursday in Kaduna.

Jalige said a combined team of security operatives, acting on a tip-off traced the suspected bandits to their location where they were planning to launch an attack on law-abiding citizens.

He said that upon sighting the security operatives, the suspects began to shoot sporadically at different directions.

Thisresulted in a fierce exchange of fire between the suspects and the security operatives, he said.

Jalige added that the suspects were overpowered; two were killed while several others escaped into the forest abandoning their weapons.

Five AK-47 rifles, one G-3 rifle,17 AK-47 rifle magazines, 1,658 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm AK-47 live ammunitions and one Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle were recovered during the operation, he stated.

There was no casualty on the side of the security operatives, he said, adding that the corpses of those killed had been deposited in a mortuary.

Investigation has since been initiated while concerted efforts are being intensified with the view to getting the injured and other fleeing bandits to face the full wrath of the law. Jalige added.

He urged residents of the area to be vigilant and to report any suspicious persons with injuries to the nearest police formation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mmaduakolam Gregory, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Since the Nigeria Airways ceased operation in 2003, the country has not floated another national carrier. Nigerias international air transportation is therefore dominated by foreign airlines, while private airlines hold sway on the local routes.

An attempt was made in 2018 to float a national carrier. The Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika unveiled Nigeria Air, at Famborough Air Show, London.

Sirika who spoke at the occasion, lamented the absence of national carrier, stressing that government was determined to provide efficient air transportation in Nigeria.

However, till date, Nigeria is yet to float a national carrier.

For the domestic routes, Nigerians are equal to the task, as they dominate the local scene.

The airlines operating domestic routes are: Dana Air, Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Overland, Azman Air, Max Air, Medview, Ibom Air, Imo Air (managed by Dana), Arik, United Nigeria, among others.

Mr Allen Onyema, the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace said that the airline was floated in 2013 in order to boost air transportation in Nigeria.

Air Peace has 26 aircraft in its fleet with head office in Lagos.

Onyema explains that the airline operates domestic flights within Nigeria, as well as international flights within West Africa.

He said that Air Peace launched new routes in February 2021, namely: Enugu to Kano, Enugu to Asaba, Enugu to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Kaduna, Ilorin to Lagos, Ilorin to Abuja and Ibadan to Abuja.

The airline recently launched the Lagos-Abuja-Makurdi route, which Onyema described as historic.

He said that before now, no airline operates commercial flights from Lagos or Abuja to Makurdi.

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue who commented on the development, said that it would lessen the sufferings people and inventors are going through particularly those of them that want to invest in the state.

He commended Air Peace management for choosing Benue for its flight operation, adding that it would be of great benefit to the people of the state.

Sen. George Akume, a former governor of Benue, said that the activities of the airline would boost economic development in the state.

Dr Obiora Okonkwo, in February floated the United Nigeria Airlines, which he said would operate in six cities: Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Asaba and Owerri.

Okonkwo said that investment in the aviation sector was to assist unite Nigerians, noting that the choice of Enugu as the operational base of the airlines was strategic.

Our short term goal is to consolidate. You can see we have a base in Enugu and we have to consolidate, establish all our routes and then work on expansion. We want to expand beyond Nigeria, starting from the West Coast, just for a start. We have a big plan.

The market is huge; there is need for a lot of aircraft. We have full load in all the routes we have operated.

I guess those who are in the business should be competing with us first. We should be the people they should be worried about, because we are new.

We think that within the next three months, we shall be able to expand our routes, he said.

Cecilia Oguama, Airport Manager at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, noted that Enugu was the right route to launch into the market, given the traffic.

She said the airport was crucial to the economy of the South-East states, adding that the airport which was the only international airport in the geo-political zone had increased import and export opportunities for business owners.

According to her, the traffic in and out of the airport has increased tremendously.

We are now having between 6,000 and 7,000 passengers weekly.

Before COVID-19, we had less than 1,000 passengers traffic, because we had only one airline then. In 2019, we only had Air Peace operating, but now, we have four others operating regularly, including United Airline.

We have close to eight flights daily and United Airline has made Enugu their base, so they would enjoy tremendous support from the airport, she state.

Mr Victor Michael, an aviation regular passenger, said that participation of private airlines in the nations aviation sector was a good development.

He called on the Federal Government to continue to provide enabling environment in order to attract more investors.

An aviation expert, retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, described as good development the participation of private individuals in the aviation sector, adding that they have big roles to play.

He identified lack of corporate governance in the operations and management of Nigerias domestic airlines as some of the reasons for the short lifespan of the airlines.

Ojikutu also said that poor business plans was another reason why private airlines do not last long in the sector.

According to the aviation expert, the sector requires a lot of financial investment in equipment and training, both in the public and private sectors, because of demands for investment on safety and security needed for the industry.

He disclosed that profit for the private operators is not always promising.

This is a sector where you invest dollars and you make cent profit, unlike the Nigerian businessmen who want to make dollars for investing in dollars.

Ojikutu said that for the sector to function effectively, the Federal Government must enact enabling laws that will make it mandatory for the operators to meet global standards. (NANFeatures)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with Government and people of Republic of Tanzania in mourning the passing of President John Pombe Magufuli, aged 61.

In a condolence message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday, Buhari believed that Magufulis legacy of patriotism and dedication to the African course would continue to resonate across the continent.

The president said the late Tanzanian Presidents courage and love for his country inspired various reforms that generations would continue to celebrate.

He said such reforms included the challenging decision to reduce size and cost of governance, insistence on a people focused budget, with clear priorities on education and health, and consistently fighting profligacy and frivolities in public expenditures.

Buhari affirmed that the former Tanzanian leader spent most of his life serving the country and humanity, with a rich pedigree of working as a school teacher, and rising steadily in public service as Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Works and Minister of Works.

Late Magufuli was also Minister of Lands and Human Settlement and Minister of Livestock and Fisheries.

The president extended condolences to the family of the late visionary leader of Tanzania, his friends and associates, and all citizens of the country, trusting God to comfort them.

He prayed for repose of the soul of the deceased.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions on Thursday urged the Federal Government to increase funding for the National Hospital Abuja (NHA) to improve service delivery.

The committees Chairman, Dr Paschal Obi, made the appeal when he led other members to the hospital on an oversight function to monitor progress made in some of its projects.

Obi said that more funding was required to improve the healthcare services and enable it live up to its status as a quaternary health facility, which provided an extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine.

According to him, although the capital allocation to the hospital in 2021 is reasonable, there is need to increase it in the 2022 budget.

The Federal Government has been doing well, it has responded to recommendations we made after 2020 oversight activities.

This led to the significant increase in the capital allocation or capital appropriation to this institution.

We are also calling on the government to continue in that regard especially this institution, being a quaternary one, should have adequate funding.

It has capacity to generate manpower that will even service other institutions both tertiary and even the secondary and because of that adequate funding is needed in National Hospital Abuja, he said.

He also noted that members were not only responsible for making and passing bills or moving and adopting motions, but were also expected to ensure funds appropriated were judiciously utilised.

That is why we are here to look into the 2020 appropriation, especially the capital vote to this institution and how it has been able to manage it because we are sure that 100 per cent release was made, he said.

The Chief Medical Director, NHA, Dr Jaf Momoh, said the organisation needed more intervention in payment of outsourced services such as electricity, security and cleaners services, as well as indigent patients bills.

Momoh revealed that the hospital was classified as a quaternary health institution with the best trauma centre in the whole of West Africa.

So what that means is that this centre is serving to train all post graduate doctors for the whole of West Africa sub-region. That is what it means to be quaternary, it means for you to be better than tertiary.

So in trauma, we are better in terms of services and the facilities we have for training of manpower on ground, he said.

The CMD said that the hospital was working toward improving its 450-bed capacity to 700 beds and currently building the third ultramodern intensive care unit for infectious disease patients. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Omoike

Safety Professionals have called for more awareness and advocacy in promoting public safety in the country.

The experts under the aegis of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Nigeria Chapter, made the call during the plenary session of its ongoing conference at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday in Lagos.

Deliberating on the conference theme Public Safety Awareness, Making the Difference Through Awareness, Intervention and Compliance they harped on the need to educate Nigerians on the efficacy of public safety practices.

According to Mr Ejike Okoli, Head, PD HSE, Nigeria LNG limited harped on the need to go back to the fundamentals of public safety.

To be honest we are at the infant stage in public safety practices in Nigeria. Looking at the safety culture ladder, it is clear that Nigeria is at the pathology and reactive stage of public safety.

We need to start thinking in the direction of how aware are Nigerians about public safety. A lot has to be done to create awareness on public safety starting from our primary schools.

We must put in our school curriculum behavioural-based safety approach. We must take individual responsibility to ensure public safety, it is all about behavioural change, Okoli said.

On his part, Mr Abiodun Kamil, a safety consultant, noted that Nigeria as a country has the instruments to drive public safety owing to the government agencies already put in place.

We must consider public safety culturally, we must domesticate the term as it refers to us. Public safety is the responsibility of all of us, we should change the paradigm,Kamil noted.

Also, Mr Amos Gwamma, Representative of the Magaji-Zango Karaf/Java Federal Constituency, called on Nigerians to be proactive in public safety practices.

We consider the area of awareness creation as regards public safety. When you see something, say something and do something. We should have the culture of reporting safety breaches.

Our system needs to be overhauled completely to achieve public safety.

A new legislation needs to be looked into as regards public safety. We also need enforcement of public safety laws, Gwamma said.

According to Mrs Monica Nwosu-Uzoma, one of the participants at the plenary session, said that enlightenment on public safety should begin from our homes and communities.

The truth is that we are at the crawling stage as regards public safety. People do not even comply with simple non-pharmaceutical protocols to prevent COVID-19 spread.

For example the average market woman does not believe that there is need for public safety. As professionals, we need to create awareness and enlightenment on public safety.

Public safety is real and we need to take responsibility, Nwosu-Uzoma said.

Mr Dapo Omolade, the Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Group, called for compliance and awareness creation of public safety laws.

The Lagos Safety Commission has been existing for about 10 years but most Lagos residents are unaware of it. If compliance instrument are not in place, we cannot achieve public safety.

The government must put in place structures to ensure compliance on public safety. We need to do a lot of advocacy on public safety in Nigeria because our people are ignorant of it, Omolade said.

NAN reports that the ASSP Professionals would publish a communique on public safety at the end of the Two-day conference.

Source: NAN News

By Okon Okon

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr Adedeji Zacch as the Executive Secretary of National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) for an initial term of four years.

Buhari made the announcement in a statement on Thursday by Mr Willie Bassey, Director of Information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The statement said that Zacchs appointment was in accordance with the provision of Section 5 (1) of the National Sugar Development Council (Establishment Act, 1993).

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Zacch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Accounting and Masters degree in Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun.

He also holds Executive Certificate in Economic Development from Harvard, Kennedy School of Government, Boston, U.S. with fifteen years experience as Chartered Accountant.

Until his appointment, Zacch had served as Corporate Affairs Manager (West Africa), Procter and Gamble Company, Lagos, and Commissioner for Finance, Oyo State, from 2011 to 2015.

Mr President enjoins Zacch to serve the nation with all sense of responsibility, honesty, diligence and promote good governance in the discharge of his duties, it said.

According to the statement, the appointment is with effect from March 10. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Omoike

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the Nigerian Chapter, have called for the promotion and improvement of public safety in the country.

The group made the during its 8th Professional Development Conference (PDC) at the Sheraton hotel Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday.

The conference with the theme Public Safety: Making a Difference Through Awareness, Intervention and Compliance addressed the need to tackle public safety issues in the workplace and at home.

Presenting the keynote address at the conference, The Group Managing Director Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, represented by the GM Group Health, Safety Environment and Quality, Hussain Ali, commended the groups consistent efforts to promote public safety in the country.

It is my honour to be part of this milestone event of the ASSP Nigeria Chapter. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to focus on public safety than now.

ASSP has a key role to play in ensuring public safety through adopting safety measures and thoughtful practices that help in safeguarding best safety practices in the industries and society at large.

The current global health emergency of COVID-19 pandemic requires continuous awareness creation and compliance to non-pharmaceutical protocols such as wearing a facemask, frequent hand washing etc. among the preventive measures against the virus, Kyari said.

According to the NNPC GMD, Public health and safety play a vital and diverse role in our economy, well-being and social lives.

NNPC has over the years recognised the importance of promoting best safety practices across all its business operations.

I would like to commend the efforts of the ASSP leadership for organising this conference which will provide new safety improved measures for public and workplace safety.

On his part, the Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr Tony Attah, represented by NLNG GM External Relations, Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams also harped on the need for public safety at all times.

The century has witnessed great innovations and technological advancement and needs to be deliberate about public safety.

Against this background it behooves on people who are drivers of technological innovations to develop and sustain safety cultures that shields people, assets, and the Environment from danger.

We all have the responsibility to ensure our safety and the safety of others around us, the safety of the assets we use and the safety of our environment.

We must all step up to take accountability for safety and to show care to each other by ensuring we do the right thing all times. We can all be safety champions who will not risk anyones life or cause harm.

We are expected to evaluate the safety challenges that confront us daily, Attah noted.

In her welcome address, The ASSP Nigeria Chapter President, Mrs Mercy Omoifo-Irefo, noted that the promotion of public safety will in turn yield development in the country.

It is emphatic to state that safety has to be established before rapid development, hence we need to drastically move from being informed and progressive in our various organizations following safety laws and regulations.

Safety awareness is still very low and needs to be addressed. Our existing laws and regulations need to be implemented, existing enforcement needs to be addressed and other possible measures we may come up with at this gathering.

It is our collective responsibility as professionals to brainstorm on possible ways to make a difference through awareness programme like publication, media, training etc.,Omoifo-Irefo said.

In an online address, Deborah Roy, the ASSP President lauded the Nigerian chapter on its excellence in promoting public safety in comparison to other chapters across the world.

The Nigerian Chapter of ASSP, is one of our societys most active and engaged chapter of all our chapters all over the world.

Public safety is very important following the event of the Covid-19 pandemic, Roy said.

NAN reports that present at the conference were safety professionals from both the private and public sector. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) says it has concluded plan to organise a training to build and enhance the capacity of border operatives so as to protect migrants rights.

The Executive Director, AYGF, Dr Arome Salifu, disclosed this at a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
Salifu said that the training became necessary considering the abuse of right of migrants at the borders by some operatives.

He noted that the aims of project are to:
Enhance knowledge and understanding of border operatives on issues of migrants rights.

Raise consciousness of border operatives on the need to operate within the existing national, regional and international protocol on protection of migrants.

Facilitate operational efficiency and inter-agency cooperation at the borders, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of compliance by border operatives.

Improve migrants protection and human right conditions in Seme, Jibiya and Mfum borders.

He noted that drivers of the migrants right abuses at the borders were ignorance of migrants rights and dignity, poor technical and operational capacity, corruption, inter-agency rivalries and red-tapism.

Others he mentioned were poor technological application, working conditions and incentives, poor oversight and ethical operational deficiencies.

Salifu further said that without adequately addressing the drivers of migrants right abuses at the borders, efforts to engender international best practices in defending, protecting and projecting the rights, would be wasted.

He said that the security and safety of migrants would be relatively or totally futile both on the immediate and long run.

While it is a truism that this project might not solve all the problems highlighted it will, however, surely address some of the drivers of the problems, he said.

According to him, the capacity building project is to build and enhance the capacity of border operatives on identifying, protecting and respecting the rights, privileges and dignity of migrants crossing Nigerian borders.

He said that the Foundation would start with three major borders as pilot projects and the selected borders were Seme (Lagos), Jibiya (Katsina) and Mfum (Cross-River).

It is also targeting enhancing inter-agency cooperation for operational efficiency, zero corruption and right abuses at the borders.

The workshop which starts on March 21 to April 15 will be under strict COVID-19 preventive protocol.

It will involve 50 border operatives and border community stakeholders in each of the borders to be facilitated by experienced and capable border management.

Similarly, Jennifer Aga, Assistant Director, Legal, Vulnerable Department, National Human Right Commission (NHRC), said there was need to ensure that the rights of migrants were protected.

Aga said that was why the Commission was partnering AYGF to enhance the protection of migrants at the borders,so there is need to educate the border personnel on the rights of migrants and how they can be protected.

Mr Chukwuemeka Anene from IOM, however, advised that the intending participants of the training should be committed and ensure better management of the borders through the opportunity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is being supported by the European Union (EU) through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the EU-IOM Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Nigeria.

The Foundation, which was founded in 2003, is deeply into communities, youth, social, economic and political development within the country and around the sub region. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Holders Bayern Munich cruised into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.

This was after beating Lazio 2-1 at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday to secure a 6-2 aggregate victory.

Leading 4-1 from the first leg in Rome, Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Bayern Munich from the penalty kick spot in the 33rd minute.

It was his 39th goal of the season in all competitions.

The German champions took their foot off the gas before substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, having replaced Lewandowski, added the second goal in the 73rd minute.

Marco Parolo headed a late consolation for Lazio.

Bayern Munich joined fellow German side Borussia Dortmund in the last eight.

Lazios exit means no Italian team will compete in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Juventus and Atalanta having also exited at the last-16 stage.

Alexander Nuebel replaced the ill Manuel Neuer in goal for Bayern Munich.

But, with Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi surprisingly leaving the clubs top goalscorer Ciro Immobile out, the stand-in goalkeeper was rarely tested.

Although Lazio were facing a near-impossible task, Bayern Munich still named a strong starting side.

No side in European Cup history has progressed from a knockout tie after losing the first leg by three or more goals at home.

A clumsy challenge from Vedat Muriqi on Leon Goretzka gifted Bayern Munich the penalty kick which Lewandowski converted, his fifth Champions League goal of the season.

The rest of the match was then a cruise for the Bundesliga leaders.

Lewandowski went within inches of his 40th of the season in the second half before being withdrawn.

Choupo-Moting found the net two minutes after coming on, ensuring Bayern Munich made it 19 games unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League.

Parolo did give Lazio something to take back to Italy in the 82nd minute when he headed home from Andreas Pereiras free kick.

But Bayern Munich never looked in any danger of making a surprise exit.

Source: NAN News

Chelsea beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2014.

Hakim Ziyech and Emerson Palmieri were on target to give coach Thomas Tuchels rejuvenated team a 3-0 aggregate win.

Substitute Emerson made sure of victory by scoring in the fourth minute of added time for Chelseas second goal.

Atletico Madrid were left to rue referee Daniele Orsatos decision not to give a penalty kick when scores were 0-0.

This was when Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta underhit a back pass and put his arm around Yannick Carrasco who went down in the penalty box.

Ziyech squeezed the ball under Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the 34th minute of the last-16 second leg.

This was after he connected with a cross from Timo Werner who had raced down the left after being fed by fellow German Kai Havertz.

The visitors finished the game with 10 men after Stefan Savic was shown a red card in the 82nd minute for elbowing Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger in the chest during a corner-kick.

Source: NAN News

An Afghan military helicopter crashed in the countrys central Wardak province, killing all nine people on board, officials said on Thursday.

According to a statement of the Afghan Ministry of Defence, the Mi-17 helicopter crash landed in Hesa-e Awal Behsud district, leaving four crew members and five members of the security forces dead.

An investigation was underway, the statement said.

According to local officials, the helicopter was en-route to evacuate a wounded soldier from the highly-contested province when the incident took place.

Meanwhile, four people were killed and nine others wounded in the capital Kabul in an explosion that targeted a minibus, according to Kabul police.

The vehicle belonged to the Ministry of Telecommunication and was carrying employees of other government departments as well, Kabul police chief spokesman, Ferdous Faramarz, said.

The incident has not been claimed by any group so far.

The incidents took place as a high-profile summit with the aim of finding a peaceful solution to the long-running conflict in Afghanistan was set to take place in Moscow on Thursday.

An official delegation from Kabul and the militant Taliban group was also expected to attend the conference in the Russian capital.

Peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government representatives that started in September in Qatar have stalled in recent months, with no tangible progress. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A strong rebound this year would still leave the world down with an estimated 10 trillion dollars due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Although the global economy could expand by 4.7 per cent in 2021, it would nonetheless wind up short of 10 trillion dollars, about twice Japans gross domestic product (GDP), compared to if the pandemic had never happened.

Last year, the global economy posted its sharpest annual drop in output since statistics on aggregate economic activity were introduced in the early 1940s, UNCTAD said on Thursday.

While wealthy economies have proposed huge damage-limitation fiscal spending, such as the U.S. 1.9-trillion-dollar stimulus package, and while China returned to growth in late 2020, people in smaller and poorer countries are struggling, UNCTAD warned.

Developing countries are bearing the brunt of the downturn due to limited fiscal space, tightening balance of payments constraints and inadequate international support, leading to some of the largest personal income drops relative to GDP.

Even a small downturn in economic activity can be devastating, UNCTAD said, describing fallout from pandemic restrictions as predictably severe in developing economies such as the Philippines and Malaysia.

On Thursday, UNCTAD also upped its earlier prediction of 4.3-per-cent global growth in 2021, citing a possible stronger recovery in the United States.

In January, the World Bank said the global economy could grow by 4 per cent in 2021, while the International Monetary Fund opted for a rosier 5.5 per cent. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Myanmar on Thursday faced growing isolation with increasingly limited internet services and its last private newspaper ceasing publication as the military built its case against ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi was overthrown and detained in a Feb. 1 military coup, triggering mass protests across the country that security forces have struggled to suppress with increasingly violent methods.

The total documented number of people killed in the unrest stood at 217 but the actual toll was probably much higher, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group said.

Western countries have condemned the coup and called for an end to the violence and for the release of Suu Kyi and others. Asian neighbours have offered to help find a solution, but the military has a long record of shunning outside pressure.

Large parts of an economy already reeling from the novel Coronavirus have been paralysed by the protests and a parallel civil disobedience campaign of strikes against military rule, while many foreign investors are reassessing plans.

The UN food agency warned this week that rising prices of food and fuel could undermine the ability of poor families to feed themselves.

Whatever happens in Myanmar over coming months, the economy will collapse, leaving tens of millions in dire straits and needing urgent protection, historian and author Thant Myint-U said on Twitter.

While the security forces have focused on stamping out dissent in Yangon and other cities, small demonstrations have erupted elsewhere day after day.

Several thousand people marched in the small town of Natmauk on Thursday, the Democratic Voice of Burma reported.

The central town is the birthplace of Aung San, the leader of Myanmars drive for independence from colonial power Britain, and Suu Kyis father.

About 1,000 protesters on motorbikes drove around the central town of Taungoo and hundreds marched in the northern jade-mining town of Hpakant, the Irrawaddy news service reported.

There were no reports of violence.

A 24-year-old campaigner against military rule died on Wednesday, three days after he was detained and beaten in the central town of Monywa, the Irrawaddy and Myanmar Now news portal reported.

The UN human rights office in Geneva said this week deeply distressing reports of torture in custody had emerged in Myanmar.

A junta spokesman did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

Authorities have restricted the internet services protesters use to organise, with access to Wi-Fi in public areas largely shut off by Thursday.

Residents of some towns, including Dawei in the south, reported no internet at all.

The private Tachilek News Agency in the northeast published photographs of workers cutting cables it said were the fibre links with neighbouring Thailand.Reuters could not verify the report.

Information within Myanmar was becoming increasingly difficult to verify. Some 37 journalists have been arrested, including 19 who remain in detention, the UN human rights office said.

While authorities have ordered some newspapers shut, others have apparently been forced to close for reasons of logistics.

State-run media have not been affected.

State television said on Wednesday that Suu Kyi was being investigated for bribery in connection with accepting four payments worth550,000 dollars from a prominent businessman.

Property developer Maung Weik, in comments broadcast in a state television news bulletin, said he had given Suu Kyi four payments, ranging from 50,000 dollars to 250,000 dollars from 2018 to 2020, when she headed the first civilian-led government in decades.

According to the testimony of U Maung Weik, Aung San Suu Kyi is guilty of bribery and the anti-corruption commission is investigating to take action under anti-corruption laws. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with the government and people of Tanzania over the death of their President, John Magufuli.

Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on media, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja on Thursday described late Magufuli as a true patriot who did his best to advance his country.

He said Today, a bright star has been plucked from the African continent. President Magufuli of Tanzania was a man I knew quite well, due to my frequent visits to Tanzania for the advancement of democracy in Africa.

I found in him a true patriot who loved his country and did his best to steer the ship of state away from the brink and to the bank of the river of peace, progress and prosperity.

Jonathan noted that Tanzania had been blessed in the area of leadership and had enjoyed consistent stability because of men like Julius Nyerere and his worthy successors.

He expressed hope and prayed that the beautiful and determined nation would continue with the tradition.

He condoled with the family of the diseased, especially First Lady Janeth Magufuli, their children, as well as the government and people of Tanzania.

He prayed God to grant late Magufulis soul eternal rest and comfort the grieving nation.

My thoughts go out also to his party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

May God grant his soul repose, and may He comfort the grieving nation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maureen Ojinaka.

The prices of palm oil have gone down in major markets across Enugu metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A market survey conducted by NAN on Thursday shows that the reduction in price is considerable when compared to the situation two months ago.

NAN reports that at Ogbete Main Market, Garki and Mayor markets, a 5-litre keg is now N3,600 against N5,000 two months ago.

A 70 cl bottle is now N500 down from N700 two months ago.

The survey also showed that a 20-litre jerry can of palm oil is sold between N13,500 and N14,500 against the old prices of N21,500 and N23,000 depending on its processing pattern and grade.

Palm oil dealers, who spoke with NAN at the various major markets, attributed the price reduction of the produce to the gradual commencement of the palm fruits season.

This has led to gradual production of the oil thereby, causing reduction in price of the commodity.

Mrs Ekwutosi Oko, a palm oil seller at Garki Market said that as at January, price was between N650 and N700 per 70cl bottle while 25-litre was sold between N26,000 and N28,000.

According to Maria Nwakwo, another seller at Ogbete Main Market, a 25-litre jerry can in major markets in the metropolis is sold between N15, 500 and N17, 000.

Nwakwo added that the price of the produce in the villages where most of the oil was produced stood at N13,500.

Mrs Ify Ochulugha, another palm oil seller at Top Land Market, expressed the hope that the price of the commodity would be further reduced as its abundant harvest season got closer.

I am hopeful that the price of palm oil will go down further, because during its mass harvesting season, many producers will be committed to its production this year, Ochulugha said.

A buyer at Mayor Market, Miss Esther Chibueze, said that the price was becoming affordable when compared to what it was two months ago.

Buying 70cl bottle of palm oil for N500 now, shows that many families can afford it, she added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

Stakeholders in the veterinary profession have called on the Federal Government to review legislation of veterinary practice to ensure effective animal healthcare delivery in the country.

The stakeholders, who made the call at the on-going Annual Leaders Summit of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) on Thursday in Abuja, also urged the federal government to curtail rate of quackery.

The summit is themed: The future of the Veterinary Practice in Nigeria.

The stakeholders included the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), NVMA, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) and Common Wealth Veterinary Medical Association.

The Director General of NAQS, Dr Vincent Isegbe, Chairman of the summit, who said that the profession was under serious attacks from quacks, suggested that some of its laws needed to be fine tune.

He added that fine tuning the laws was necessary in view of the current realities of veterinary profession.

Isegbe further encouraged veterinary professionals to look inward and acquire added value to meet up with current trend of veterinary practices.

I encourage us to look inward and begin to add values to ourselves.

The profession is under serious attacks from quacks, some of the legislation needs to be fine tuned in view of the current realities of veterinary profession.

So that the younger ones coming will find it comfortable to continue with the profession, he noted.

Dr Ibrahim Shehu, the Acting President of NVMA, who identified quackery as the major challenge in the countrys veterinary practice, described menace as posing great dangers in delivering quality animal healthcare services in the country.

Shehu specifically identified them as contributing to insurgence of antimicrobial resistance in the country thereby endangering the life of human.

According to him, they give wrong prescription of drugs thereby contributing to the current rate of antimicrobial resistance in the country.

A licensed veterinarian knows all the rules of prescription of antibiotics when is healthy for an animal to consume such drugs, which quacks are ignorant of, they do things unprofessionally.

He, however, attributed the rate of quacks in the profession to lack of amendment of veterinary laws to meet current realities in the practice.

Shehu listed some of the laws currently at the National Assembly that needed to be upgraded as the Veterinary Surgeons Act and Veterinary Hospitals, among others.

We have veterinary laws which some of them areoutdated but we have been pushing in NASS to get the new laws updated with the current realities in the veterinary practice.

We have the veterinary surgeons Act that has been in the Senate for concurrence, the veterinary hospitals and other different veterinary laws in NASS that needed to be amended to represent current realities in the practice.

If those laws are passed by the government it will further equip us as veterinarians to deliver quality veterinary care that we are all equip to deliver, he said.

On the theme, he said it was selected to educate them on the jobs they can get, where to get those jobs, where they can fit in different cadres of jobs in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr Ojo Olatunde, has assured members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) of making their condition of service a priority.

Olatunde gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Committee on the Implementation of the Condition of Service in the National Assembly.

Olatunde said that the management would do all within its power to ensure that members of staff of the national assembly get what is due to them.

He said You will agree with me that this historic meeting is actually called to demonstrate our passionate desire to make your Condition of Service (CoS) a continuous priority.

I want to make it clear and loud that we shall never rest in our desire to make all staff of the National Assembly a very important commodity always, because of the high value management p|aces on you.

This proactive dimension we have tailored out informed the Inauguration of the Committee on the Implementation on the Condition of Service which shall continuously be used within the National Assembly under our watch.

The CNA therefore tasked the committee to be committed to its terms of reference which include working out modalities towards further sustainable implementation of the condition of service and other related welfare matters

It also include to cost each of the allowances and present a feasible timetable for a staggered implementation.

Olatunde also advised the committee not to be used to foment unnecessary trouble, saying it will not augur well for the health of the National Assembly.

Chairman PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Mr Sunday Sabiyi, said that the pending welfare issues of the association included non-payment of 22 months minimum wage arrears.

He called on the management for immediate implementation and payment of the arrears in order to address the plight of his members.

Sabiyi also called for the implementation of rent subsidy at 40% of Consolidated Annual Salary, hazard allowance at 5% of consolidated monthly salary, gratuity for every retiring staff and all pending promotion arrears. (NAN)

Source: NAN News