UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

By Harrison Arubu

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Saturdays deadly attack by gunmen that claimed 27 lives in the Republic of Niger.

The Boko Haram terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which left several others wounded and about 800 houses razed in the countrys Diffa Region.

Reports say the incident occurred hours before polls opened for municipal and regional elections across Niger on Sunday.

In a UN statement, Guterres expressed regret that the attack disrupted the elections in the Diffa region.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attackperpetrated by unidentified gunmen in Diffa Region, in Niger, on Dec. 12 in which at least 27 people were reportedly killed and some 800 houses burnt.

He expresses his deepest condolences to the bereaved familiesand the people and government of Niger, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.

The Secretary-General regrets that this barbaric attack disrupted the peaceful holding of municipal and regional elections in the Diffa region.

He reiterates the commitment of the UN to support national efforts to consolidate democratic governance, promote social cohesion and achieve sustainable development, it added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Fish Farm

By Okeoghene Akubuike

Fifty-three people have been trained in snail and fish farming to tackle unemployment and food shortage in Nigeria.

Mrs Grace Taiwo, Director of Communications, Xploits Consulting Ltd., an environmental and sustainability company, said the training was done by the company in partnership with Access Bank.

Taiwo said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that37of the beneficiaries were from Ado in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa, while 16 others were from Lokoja in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.

She said that a multilateral approach was needed to address the dual challenges of unemployment and food insecurity in the country.

Taiwo said that agriculture would provide employment and income for the unemployed youths.

This will in turn provide food we need through increased production and ensure that agriculture is passed from one generation to the next.

Against the backdrop, Xploits Consulting Ltd., with the support from Access Bank Plc, initiated this agribusiness skills programme to provide technical knowledge for the community to improve their livelihoods.

The need for this programme is even greater, as the country is now in its second economic recession in four years, a situation linked to COVID-19, Taiwo said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Enock Jiggah, commended the bank and the company for bringing the training to their doorstep.

Also, Mr Eneh Afamefuna, the Manager, Access Bank branch, Lokoja, urged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunities offered during the training.

Knowledge is power and information is essential, food will always sell, that is why we are supporting Xploits Consulting to train you in this area of fish and snail farming, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to Joe Biden after the U.S. Electoral College confirmed the latter as winner of the U.S. presidential election, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

The Russian leader noted that U.S.-Russian bilateral cooperation would serve the interests of the whole world.

Russian Federation President Putin sent a congratulatory message to Joseph Biden on the occasion of his victory in the U.S. presidential election.

The Russian president noted that the Russian-U.S. cooperation, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, would serve the interests of the two countries people and the international community, the Kremlin said in a statement.

According to the Kremlin, Putin wished Biden success and expressed confidence that Russia and the U.S., bearing a special responsibility for global security, can contribute to solving many problems and challenges that the world is facing.

I am ready for cooperation and contacts with you, Putin said. (ANI/Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Yemi Kale NBS Boss

By Folasade Akpan

The total value of capital importation into Nigeria stood at 1.46 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says.

The bureau said this in its Nigerian Capital Importation, Quarter Three (Q3), 2020 report released on its website on Tuesday in Abuja.

The figure represents an increase of 12.86 per cent compared to Quarter Two (Q2) 2020 and -74.03 per cent decrease compared to the third quarter of 2019.

The largest amount of capital importation by type was received through other investment, which accounted for 43.75 per cent (639.44 million dollars) of total capital importation.

This was followed by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which accounted for 28.38 per cent (414.79 million dollars) of total capital imported and Portfolio Investment which accounted for 27.87 per cent (407.25 million dollars) of total capital imported.

Giving details by sector, the report said that capital importation by production dominated in Q3 2020 reaching 400.09 million dollars of the total capital importation.

The United Kingdom emerged as the top source of capital investment in Nigeria in Q3 2020 with 594.65 million dollars. This accounted for 40.69 per cent of the total capital inflow.

By destination of investment, Lagos state emerged as the top destination of capital investment in Nigeria in Q3 2020 with 1.208 million dollars. This accounted for 82.71 per cent of the total capital inflow.

By bank, it said that Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited emerged at the top of capital investment in Nigeria with 438.98 million dollars, adding that this accounted for 30.04 per cent of the total capital inflow.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that data for the report was supplied by the Central Bank of Nigeria, verified and validated by the NBS. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NGA

By Nathan Nwakamma

Mr Ed Ubong, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas has emerged as President-elect of Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), leading the eight member executive to pilot the associations affairs for the next two years.

Mr Nathaniel Oyatogun, Chairman NGA Electoral Committee 2020 disclosed this in a statement in Bayelsa, on Tuesday.

He said the new executives emerged after an election into the NGA Executive Council 2020 2022 which held on Dec. 9.

He said the election, conducted via the virtual platform was part of the Annual General Meeting of the Association which held in Lagos,.

He added that the meeting saw the emergence of the eight members into the NGA Executive Secretary-Gen Council 2020 2022.

The eight memebers are Mr Ed Ubong of Shell Nigeria Gas, President, Mr Akachukwu Nwokedi,NLNG Ltd 1st Vice President, Mrs Yetunde Taiwo, Anoh Gas Processing Company, 2nd Vice President, Engr Chichi Emenike and Neconde Energy Ltd, Secretary-General.

Others are , Mr Emeka Iheme, Aiteo, Deputy Secretary-General. Mr Dikko Atanu, Neoleum Energy, Financial Secretary , Mr Odianosen Masade, Eroton, Publicity Secretary and Mrs Dolapo Kukoyi, Detail Commercial Solutions, Legal Adviser.

Oyatogun in the statement said the newly elected Executive Council will formally assume office during the Associations Biennial International Conference which will hold in February 2021. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A girl being defiled

By Ikenna Osuoha

Sexual Offenses and Assault Response Initiative (SOAR) says gender, socio-cultural norms and practices that entrench patriarchy fuel Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.

Mrs Chinyere Eyoh, Founder and Executive Director of the Initiative, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Eyoh said that a system where domination of women was culturally normal was one of the greatest factors that trigger sexual and gender-based violence

A system where men dominate women and are seen to own and rule over women and girls who are perceived to be created to serve men.

Violence against women and girls by men and boys in such cultures as this which is also prevalent in Nigeria to many is normal, she said.

The SOAR boss who decried the manner rape and other forms of violence against women was trivialised culturally, said it had objectified women and girls as sex toys.

According to her, unfortunately, boys or males are brought up with this patriarchal mentality of entitlement over women which leads to continued violence against women and girls.

Eyoh said the culture of patriarchy had promoted not just sexual abuse but subjected women and girls to economic disadvantage, denying them positions of authority seen as exclusive reserve for men.

She said: This power differential is another reason that leads to victimisation as sometimes this is used to blackmail, harass and violate.

This includes when the person is in position where the victim has to depend on them where the abuser is physically, mentally or financially superior or a notable person in the society.

The executive director explained that abuse could also occur when the abuser perceive the victim as vulnerable.

For example, if the abuser understands that the victim is from a broken home or lacks self esteem, especially children living with disability. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kano state House of Assembly, Speakers Wing

By Abbas Bamalli

Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa, the Kano State House of Assembly Speaker and the Majority Leader of the assembly, Kabiru Dashi have resigned.

The Speaker announced his resignation in a letter titled Notification of Resignation dated Dec. 14 and addressed to the Clerk and Permanent Secretary.

The resignation was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano, by the Press Secretary to the speaker, Nura Ajingi.

Garba-Garfasa in his resignation letter said his decision was based on personal reasons, adding that he appreciated the support of all the members.

The majority leader, in a one-paragraph letter addressed to the Clerk did not state the reason for his resignation.

Also in an interview with NAN, the Clerk of the Assembly, Abdullahi Alfa, confirmed the receipt of the resignation letters of the two lawmakers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

OPEC Headquarters

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is projecting a 6.56 per cent growth in global crude oil demand to 95.89 million barrels per day in 2021, compared to 89.99 million barrels per day in 2020.

The organisation disclosed this in its Monthly Oil Market Report for December, released on its website.

It observed that the 2021 world oil demand would be 0.38 per cent lower than the 96.26 million barrels per day earlier projected for 2021.

For 2021, world oil demand growth is revised lower by 0.35 million barrels per day (mb/d) to growth of 5.90 mb/d.

This is due to the uncertainty surrounding the impact of COVID-19 and the labour market on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development( OECD) transportation fuel outlook for the first half of 2021.

Petrochemical feedstock and industrial fuels are forecast to gain momentum on the back of improving economic activities, with total oil demand projected to reach 96.89 mb/d in 2021, it said.

OPEC also revised downward, global crude oil demand for 2020, by 9.77 million barrels per day, blaming the decline on low demand for transportation fuels.

World oil demand for 2020 is expected to decline by 9.77 mb/d, marginally lower than in last months assessment.

Weaker-than-expected data in the OECD in third quarter 2020, mainly due to lower transportation fuel demand in the U.S. and OECD countries, led to a downward revision of around 0.18 mb/d for the OECD group.

However, this is mostly offset by an upward revision for the non-OECD, by 0.16 mb/d.

Better-than-expected oil demand in China, amid a steady recovery across various economic sectors, and improving oil demand from India, supports this upward revision. Total oil demand is estimated to reach 89.99 mb/d in 2020, OPEC added.

The report further noted that the OPEC also revised its global economic growth projections, stating that the global economy would contract by 4.2 per cent year-on-year, (Y-O-Y) compared to its earlier projection of a 4.3 per cent contraction y-o-y.

It said: Global economic growth is revised up slightly for 2020, after a better-than expected performance in third quarter 2020, now showing a contraction of 4.2 per cent, y-o-y, compared to the previous months forecast of -4.3 per cent.

While the 2021 forecast remains at 4.4 per cent, recent positive news about faster-than anticipated vaccination programmes in major economies provides potential upside for next years growth forecast.

US economic growth remains unchanged at -3.6 per cent for 2020 and at 3.4 per cent for 2021.

The Euro-zone forecast is revised down to -7.3 per cent, while the 2021 growth forecast remains at 3.7 per cent. Japans economic forecast is revised up to -5.2 per cent for 2020, but remains at 2.8 per cent for 2021,(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Ministry of Health says it is working towards showcasing benefits of traditional medicine in Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire said this at a one-day Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on Health in Abuja, on Monday.

The public hearing was on two bills: a bill for an Act for establishment of Federal College of Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria and a bill for an Act to provide for prevention, control and management of sickle sell anaemia in Nigeria.

According to Ehanire, the ministry is working on recreating more attention to traditional medicine to boost the nations health system.

We inaugurated a committee headed by the permanent secretary consisting of 18 people where the university of Benin had been engaged to partner with the department of traditional, complimentary and alternative medicine to develop and find out all the uses extracted from traditional medicine.

This institute is to take the tools of science to examine traditional medicine, complimentary medicine and alternative medicine, he said.

The minister said that the sickle cell had been a subject of research lately, adding that the ministry had designed a desk officer on sickle cell due to the socio-economic importance of the disorder.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe said that the purpose of the Bill on sickle cell anemia was to stop carriers from massive suffering and death.

This, he said was by placing the statutory duty on the Federal Government through the ministry of health to engage in and encourage the prevention, control and management of the disorder in Nigeria.

Oloriegbe said that the proposed bills were appropriate and timely to address the gaps in healthcare service delivery to the ever growing population of Nigeria.

He said that the prevalence of sickle anaemia in Nigeria had risen to an alarming rate with little attention being given for its prevention.

Sickle cell anemia is definitely preventable with minimal effort and national consciousness, he said.

Declaring the event open, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that though alternative medicine had endured as a subject, orthodox medicine had dominated the health care management in the country.

Lawan was represented by Deputy Whip of the Senate, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi at the event.

The recent occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded of us of the primary and primacy of health delivery and its ability to determine our social, economic and political wellbeing, he said.

In his submission, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said that the establishment of the college and provision of legal backing would enhance and facilitate integration of orthodox and traditional medicine toward ensuring good health and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Ogunwusi was represented by Prof. Esimai Olapeju of the Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife at the event.

Also, Chairman, Nigeria-China Economic Relations, Mr Ishola Olatunbosun, expressed optimism that the passage of the bills would boost direct foreign investment into the countrys herbal medicine industry. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Access to SRHR services crucial to reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence, says CSOs

By Justina Auta

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in the country has called for more access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services for adolescents in order to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence.

The group made the call while presenting Nigerias HIV prevention shadow report for 2020 on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Anthony Nkwocha, Country Focal Person, Partnership to Inspire, Transform and Connect with HIV Response (PITCH), said the report shows over 82,000 new HIV infections in 2020, as against the 23,500 projection.

Nkwocha identified legal and policy reforms, religion, customs, norms and values as some of the factors militating against accurate HIV prevention strategies in the country.

He said that if adolescents, sex workers, drug users and homosexuals have access to SRHR services without any age restrictions or stigmatisation, it would reduce prevalence and transmission of HIV/AIDS.

He listed legal and policy reforms, capacity development and technical assistance plan and needs assessment, amongst others as key areas that should be worked on to fast-track HIV prevention and response.

The PITCH representative also underscored the need to improve data on programme quality and coverage for adolescents and key populations affected by HIV prevention response.

Also, Mr Aniedi Akpan, Chairperson, Drug Harm Reducation Advocacy Network, called for the reform of certain laws that would enable adolescents to access HIV prevention services.

What we are doing is to make sure that the laws inhibiting these people from accessing HIV prevention services are removed.

We are still looking at the fact that a child must be 18 years before being able to access HIV services.

But we have younger persons, who have sex less than 18years, which leaves them vulnerable. These are the main things that do not allow us achieve the targets.

Government should sit with the CSOs and understand issues and work towards changing those key barriers that affect access to services and increases transmission of HIV, Akpan said.

Similarly, Ms Daharatu Yahaya of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, described the 2020 report as an eye opener for the nation to work towards getting data for accurate planning and progress made on HIV/AIDS.

Yahaya also called for a review of the legal consent age from 18 years to 14 years to enable more adolescents and young persons to access sexual reproductive health services to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission.

We need to reduce the age of consent to 14 years. In that way, services will be accessible to adolescents and sex workers, who are not also in the HIV/AIDS policy in Nigeria.

So, we should look at how these people should be considered and also catered for, Yahaya said.

Dr Micheal Ali, Desk Officer, Federal Ministry of Health, said the meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to bring vibrant national responses on HIV programmes in the country.

Ali also said the country had achieved so much in HIV/AIDS response and prevention.

According to him, the prevalence rate had reduced from 5.4 million in 2000 to 1.4 million.

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Navy

By Modupe Oremule

Twelve Nigerian Navy Ships, two helicopters and elements of Special Boat Service (SBS) are to participate in this year Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) annual sea inspection, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The ships include NNS OKPBANA, NNS PROSPERITY, NNS NGURU, NNS EKULU, NNS KARADUWA, NNS ANDONI, NNS DORINA, NNS OSUN, NNS BOMADI, NNS OSE, TUG DOLPHIN RIMA, TUG DOLPHIN MIRA.

This years edition codenamed Exercise STILL WATERS is scheduled for Dec. 14 to Dec. 18.

Vice Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas, the CNS, who was represented by Rear Adm. Kamalrudeen Lawal, Chief of Naval Safety and Standard, flagged off the ceremony onboard NNS OKPBANA at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island.

The CNS said that the exercise was to enhance the security of the nations maritime domain and sustain the desired level of competency of the Nigerian Navy (NN).

It is aimed at assessing the operational state and readiness of the NN fleets with focus on anti-piracy, anti-crude oil theft and anti-smuggling operations among others, he said.

The fleet will conduct Anti-piracy operation, Protection of oil and gas facilities, Fleet manoeuvres, Communication, Vessel, Board Search and Seizure, Search and Rescue among others.

Ibas said that there had been remarkable progress in the fight against all forms of criminalities, saying that the sustenance of the gains were critical to national security due to the dynamic threats.

This exercise is conceived to enhance the proficiency of NN personnel in the discharge of their constitutional roles.

This is in line with the CNS mission to develop a naval force that is well trained, organised and highly motivated to discharge its constitutional roles professionally and efficiently for the defence of Nigeria in ensuring her economic prosperity, he said.

The CNS, however, thanked the President for providing the necessary support and reassured members of the public that the NN remained committed in providing a conducive maritime environment.

Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command in his welcome address, said that the Command was delighted to be selected to host this years edition.

He said he was optimistic that the exercise would give additional impetus to the NN maritime combat experiences to ensure its relevance in the defence of the country.

Daji said that the WNC was grateful to the CNS for his leadership, logistics and support given in the execution of the exercise.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dont underpay workers at construction sites, developer urges colleagues

Workers

By Grace Alegba

The Founder/CEO of Destiny Crest Building Engineering Ltd, Mr Kehinde Hammed, has urged developers not to underpay workers at construction sites to avoid exposing them to temptation.

Hammed, a developer and Realtor, made the call on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of an award presentation to him by a group.

NAN reports that the 28-year-old CEO was presented the Gold role model award by the Nigeria Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative (NYAGGI).

He decried poor staff welfare and attributed it to corruption which he said contributed to use of substandard materials and building collapse in the country.

I will advise developers to encourage their staff who supervise work on site by paying them the right salary.

If the welfare of workers on site is guaranteed, they would not compromise standards, but if you underpay, they know how to survive on site, he said.

Hammed narrated his experience where his site engineers reported vendors who tried to cut corners to compromise quality, noting that his staff reported because they earned the right wages.

The CEO, who also owns Mustard Fortune Global Investment Ltd, a real estate and investment company, also advised developers to shun clients who encourage shoddy jobs in order to pay less for construction services.

Speaking on the recent hike on cement prices, the young CEO appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to inflation and exchange rates.

He said that a sound economic policy was important to address challenges confronting Nigeria, which is blessed with enormous natural resources and human capital.

Hammed appealed to the Federal Government to support local manufacturing of construction materials and make policies to make Nigerians patronise the products.

Earlier, while receiving the award, Hammed commended NYAGGI for identifying and promoting talent to encourage hard work among youths.

He advised youths to stay focused on their goals to succeed.

Narrating his personal experience, Hammed said he worked briefly in a bank before taking to his private business and had two firms.

He said he was about to float another and had almost 200 staff.

The Coordinator of NYAGGI, Mr Akeem Abiodun, while presenting the award, described Hammed as an icon making the nations youth proud.

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have closed a 520 million dollars facility to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

They announced this in a joint statement issued by both organisations in Cairo, Egypt on Monday, adding that it was the first to be covered by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI).

According to it, NEXIs proactive support for the facility was agreed on the basis of Afreximbank being a strategic partner, participation from Japanese investors and the deal contributing to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It added that MUFG was the sole mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, agent and NEXI coordinator on the transaction.

It also said that the facility fully aligned with Afreximbanks strategic priorities in the area of intra and extra African trade and investment, export manufacturing and industrialisation.

These objectives find common ground with NEXIs objectives of supporting sustainable African growth and development in line with the Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD) objectives.

Afreximbank will use the proceeds toward its Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA) which was launched in March 2020 to help African sovereigns, commercial banks and corporates to weather the impact of the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement added that the facility would support the banks interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It would also be used to finance trade and trade related investments which contributes to the sustainable development of the socioeconomic, health, manufacturing, environmental, agriculture and agri-related sectors across the 51 African member states of Afreximbank.

Working together with NEXI and Afreximbank, MUFG was able to access under-utilised Japanese liquidity, resulting in an extremely successful outcome of distribution to Japanese investors, many of which were new investors for Afreximbank.

This follows in the footsteps of two Samurai loans for Afreximbank in 2017 and 2019, including the largest ever Samurai loan for an African issuer.

Christopher Marks, Head of Emerging Markets, MUFG, said that the facility marked a watershed moment for African institutions looking to tap the Japanese investor pool.

It goes without saying that we are delighted to have once again,partnered with Afreximbank, who are not only leading the way in terms of bringing in new investment and growth opportunities to Africa, but also providing vital support to the region in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Amr Kamel, Afreximbanks Executive Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Banking,said that the successful implementation of the facility was a testimony to the great collaboration and innovative approach adopted by MUFG, NEXI and Afreximbank.

He said it also demonstrated the power of using public resources to leverage private financing for development.

We expect strong and sustainable development outcomes by effective implementation of this facility, including employment creation, increased economic activities and increase in tax revenues for fiscally strained governments, amongst other outcomes, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Exxon Mobil says will lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2025

Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp said on Monday it planned to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions over the next five years, an official said.

Pete Trelenberg, the ExxonMobil Director of Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change, said this during a news conference on Monday.

The company added that as investors and climate change campaigners ratchet up the pressure for action to limit global warming.

The move comes after the Church Commissioners for England on Thursday joined growing investor campaigns to demand changes at Exxon, and backed calls for a board refresh and the development of a strategy for the U.S. oil companys transition to cleaner fuels.

Exxon on Monday said it would reduce the intensity of operated upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025, compared to 2016 levels.

The reduction would be supported by a 40 per cent to 50 per cent decrease in methane intensity and a 35 per cent to 45 per cent decrease in flaring intensity across Exxons global operations.

And also with routine natural gas flaring eliminated in a decade, the company said.

Since the 2015 Paris climate accord set a goal of keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, pressure from investors has increased and some of Exxons peers have agreed more ambitious targets.

We certainly recognise the direction of travel that Paris sets out and the ambitions for society to get to net zero as early as possible before the end of the century, said Trelenberg.

What we have tried to do is to develop specific actionable plans that we can hold our organisation accountable to drive continuous improvement in emissions.

Further goals would be set as the 2025 targets are met, Trelenberg said.

Some of Exxons rivals this year have set longer term climate goals, including targets by Royal Dutch Shell and BP Plc to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

U.S. producer Occidental Petroleum Corp in November set a 2040 target.

Last week, Engine No. 1, a 250 million dollars California-based firm, called for expanded spending and pay cuts at Exxon, a board shake-up and shift to cleaner fuels.

Its views were supported at least in part by California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) and hedge fund D.E. Shaw, which has 50 billion dollars under management.

Source: NAN News

Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Monday said he did not give N3 million to placate notorious cult groups allegedly terrorising residents of the state.

Umahi said this when the 13 Local Government Area Chairmen, Coordinators of Development Centres, with their Management Committee members, among other political appointees, paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Abakiliki.

He dismissed the report in the social media that he gave the money to the groups through his security aide.

He said that contrary to the report, he had ordered a manhunt for members of the groups.

How can a warrior such as me bribe cultists, to do what with the money?

The duty of political leaders and the citizens is to give me the names of the cultists because I will give them a bad Christmas celebration.

I am searching for them whether they are in government or not because the matter is that of terrorism and would be handled at Abuja, the governor said.

He urged the political leaders to discontinue with their plan to recall some members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly, who stayed back in Peoples Democratic Party after his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We would allow the people who did not defect to the APC with us to exist in peace and you should not victimise them.

You should not close the door behind them because they will come back but ensure that you enjoy your palliative in their presence to make them salivate, Umahi said.

He thanked them for their solidarity and sharing his political ideology, saying that the dividends of the defection had yet to be felt.

When we started this struggle in 2014, we were not up to five per cent of the mammoth crowd we are witnessing presently.

You then imagine what will happen presently that we have the grassroots, structures at the state and national levels.

Several personalities higher than myself have defected without noise, so one wonders why this particular defection is generating so much noise, Umahi said.

He directed that each civil servant and political office holder in the state be given two bags of five-kilogramme of rice and N10,000 for the Christmas celebration.

He ordered the council chairmen to source funds to carry out the directive.

Source: NAN News

NGO calls for integration of mental health into primary healthcare services

By Angela Atabo

The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to facilitate more access to mental health care for Nigerians at the primary healthcare level.

Mr Ameh Zion, Founder of the NGO and Convener, Africa Mental Health Reforms Network, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Zion said that this had become imperative, as studies had shown the existence of a huge treatment gap for severe mental disorders in the country.

According to him, more attention is being given to the physical health sector than the mental health, not only by the government but also, by international organisations.

It will be better if Nigerians can access mental health care, even down to the primary health centres, which are operating at the grassroots.

We also want international organisations in Nigeria to add mental health to their activities, given its critical nature in the optimal functioning of an individual, not notwithstanding his/her field of endeavour.

As an individual, one needs to be mentally healthy to function optimally at any given time.

We hope to see some notable changes, especially as it relates to care and service delivery, to persons with mental illness in Nigeria and other developing countries, he said.

Although Zion said that depression was a significant public health problem, he, however, added that the statistics of mental health across Nigeria was not attainable due to low funding.

He said that many people were going through depression as a mental illness, adding that this could be traced to so many challenges.

Zion said that people with terminal illness were also susceptible to depression and mental illness.

He added that the COVID-19 pandemic had also impacted negatively on the mental health of the people through the fear of contacting the virus, losing family members or losing ones job as a result of the pandemic.

The NGO founder said that depression in Nigeria was more common than people had thought, stressing that the burden was more on women than their male counterparts.

He noted that according to the World Health Orgainsation (WHO), the burden of depression was 50 percent higher on females than males.

In Africa, about 5.9 percent of females suffer depression compared with 4.9 percent among males.

Studies in Nigeria have it that females are at significant risk of depression due to factors like low socio-economic status and violence from intimate partner, among others, he said.

Source: NAN News

AfDB President, 3 others win academy fellowship award

By Temitope Ponle

The Academy of Public Health has awarded the President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and three other persons as winners of its 2020 Distinguished Fellowship Award.

In a statement from AfDB in Abuja on Monday, the other recipients were World Health Organisation (WHO)s Tedros Ghebreyesus, Leith Greenslade of JustActions, and Winnie Byanyima of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

The academy, a principal body of the West African Institute of Public Health, stated that the recipients were nominated by young public health professionals across Africa.

They were nominated for their demonstrated leadership in working to ensure equity, better health and wellbeing for all.

A statement from the academy said the four have been recognised for their style of transformative leadership which inspires emerging young leaders in public health to strive to make a difference in their work.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank was particularly recognised for his action leadership in quickly moving the AfDB to provide the financial bulwark to the African Union as well as some of its member states to help curb Africas COVID-19 pandemic.

He was also noted for engendering thought leadership through the AfDB to shape actions in the COVID and post COVID era for Africas economies and health systems, the academy stated.

I am greatly honoured to be selected to receive the Distinguished Fellowship of the West African Academy of Public Health together with Dr Tedros, Winnie Byanyima and Leith Greenslade!

Africa and the rest of the world will overcome this pandemic against all odds,Adesina said.

Ghebreyesus won for leading the WHO to provide an equity-focused COVID-19 response that leaves no one behind.

This included his approaches towards eliminating vaccine nationalism in the wake of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Greenslade was recognised for leading a global awareness on childhood pneumonia, leveraging on public-private and philanthropic partnerships.

Also, Byanyima was chosen for her unwavering work to ensure that HIV/AIDS key populations impacted by COVID-19 are not forgotten.

The academy stated that a ceremony to honour the recipients would be held in 2021, adding that the recipients were being notified of their recognition and date for a virtual investiture.

The Distinguished Fellowship Award is the highest fellowship rank in the Roll of Fellows of the academy, leading the Roll of Fellows for their exceptional leadership and service to humanity, according to the institution.

The fellows are awarded for making a difference in the lives of people and inspiring young leaders to also excel in their public health work, the academy stated.

Source: NAN News

NBS produces over 120 reports in spite of COVID-19 disruptions

By Folasade Akpan

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has produced over 120 different statistical reports with over 1000 indicators in 2020 in spite of COVID-19 disruptions.

Mr Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation, disclosed this on Monday in Akwanga, Nasarawa state at the annual meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS).

Kale added that the organisation logged over 800,000 visits to its website and recorded over 170,000 downloads for the published reports.

According to him, it was a testament that there was increasing demand and appetite for data and the NBS was capable of meeting the demands in spite of the prevailing circumstances.

He also said that the bureau initiated and deployed the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) device which was adopted to conduct important surveys.

The device was used to conduct the Labour Force Survey (LFS) under COVID-19 for the second quarter of 2020 and the various Nigeria Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS).

Kale, however, said that the statisticial system was compounded by restricted vehicular movements and limited face to face communication.

It also calls on us to be more adaptable, innovative and enterprising and more willing to explore beyond our comfort zones.

More specifically, tackling these challenges require a better understanding of the emerging data ecosystem, the role of the statistical system in this changing data ecosystem as well as the need to have a robust and responsive system.

This brings us to the need for continued investment in data and statistical production by the relevant stakeholders to ensure that our statistical institutions remain relevant, responsive and effective.

According to Kale, in cases of public emergencies, the temptation to implement large scale interventions in a hurry, with little attention to data and statistics is always present.

Mr Kabiru Nakaura, Chairman, NBS Board, said it was important for states to fund their statistics offices and motivate the workers appropriately.

This, he said, was the only way states could have the right data needed for growth.

Mr Babale Amani, Director-General, Kano state Bureau of Statistics, said capacity building was important for the states to produce data needed for growth.

He, however, appealed to the NBS to help build capacity in data production at the state level in areas such as Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

This, he said, would enable states come up with the relevant data needed for their economic growth.

The NCCS is an important component of the coordination mechanisms stipulated in the Statistics Act, 2007, with the mandate to review the statistical programmes that have been carried out throughout the year.

It will also receive updates from members of the National Statistical System (NSS) and harmonise the statistical programmes of the NSS.

Source: NAN News

U.S. Attorney General William Barr resigns

U.S. Attorney General William Barr is resigning from the top cabinet position with effect from Dec. 23, confirming the resignation rumours.

Barr did not give reasons for the decision in his two-page resignation letter posted by President Donald Trump on Twitter on Monday evening.

Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job!

As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family, Trump said in the tweet.

The president named Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, whom he described as an outstanding person, as Barrs successor in acting capacity.

Barrs resignation came as the Electoral College formally confirmed Joe Bidens presidential election victory.

Trump had yet to concede defeat and is challenging the election results for alleged widespread voter fraud, but his efforts to overturn the outcome had been unsuccessful in court.

In the letter, the outgoing attorney general thanked the president for the opportunity to serve in his administration and the American people.

He said he was proud to have contributed to the many successes and unprecedented achievements delivered by Trump for the American people.

Your record is all the more historic becauseyou accomplished it in the face of relentless, implacable resistance.

Few could have weathered these attacks, much less forge ahead with a positive programme for the country, he wrote.

Barr went ahead to outline the presidents achievements in areas such as economy, immigration, border security, Middle East and protection of competition in the tech sector, among others.

As discussed, I will spend the next week wrapping up a few remaining matters important to the Administration and Depart on Dec. 23, he said.

Trump recently began to criticise the Department of Justice for missing in action on the voter fraud probe launched by Barr in November.

On Dec. 1, Barr told the Associated Press that the investigation had found no evidence of widespread fraud in the Nov. 3 elections as alleged by the president.

To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election, he said in the interview.

The declaration did not go down well with Trump who accused Barr of having done nothing because he had not looked hard enough.

He declined to say whether or not he still had confidence in the attorney general, and simply said: Ask me in a couple of weeks from now.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has registered 201 new infections of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The NCDC made this known via its verified website on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has conducted about 848,194 tests since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced.

The public health agency said that no death linked to the viruscaused by the novel coronavirus was recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.

It noted that the new infections brought the countrys totals to 73,374 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the virus and 1,197 deaths.

The NCDC said 224 COVID-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from isolation centers across the country in the last 24 hours, raising the number of successfully recovered patients to 66,314.

Our discharges today include 123 community recoveries in Lagos State, managed in line with the guidelines, it said.

It stated that the newly registered COVID-19 cases were reported across 11 states.

Kaduna State reported the highest number of cases with 74, while Lagos State confirmed 53 cases and Kastina State had 40 cases as Rivers reported 11 cases.

Amongother states with new infections were Plateau 9, Kwara 6, Bauchi 2, Ogun 2, Taraba 2, Edo -1 and Sokoto 1.

It said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated at Level 3 had continued to coordinate the national response activities.

Meanwhile, the agency has warned against a possible community transmission of the virus with the expected mass return of Nigerians from across the globe to celebrate the festive season at home.

COVID-19 confirmed cases continue to increase in what appears to be a second wave of the pandemic, which led to a lockdown earlier in the year, it said.

The health agency lamented the non-compliance to all the COVID -19 protocols.

It advised that this was not the time for Nigerians to relax their guard, noting that the erroneous belief that COVID-19 had been conquered and was no more in Nigeria should be discarded.

The NCDC said the fact that people did not feel at risk anymore and did not comply with COVID-19 procedures was worrisome.

The public health agency noted that physical distancing, hand hygiene and wearing of face masks still remained the best preventive tools against contracting the pandemic.

It said: The publicity on COVID-19 has been declining, but we need the media to continue to report the pandemic so that Nigerians will know it is still with us.

People do not feel at risk and do not comply with COVID-19 protocols anymore and it is worrisome.

Despite the ongoing efforts to produce vaccines, mask wearing, hand washing and physical distancing still remain the three best tools to fight COVID-19 and it is very important to go for testing to prevent the spread.

At individual level, we must protect ourselves, support one another and follow advice provided by NCDC, Ministry of Health and WHO.

It is not the time to relax and we must stay at home, if there is no need to travel.

We are encouraging all sectors to take leadership and design their own guidelines to stem the spread of COVID-19, it explained.

NAN recalls that from Dec. 6 to Dec. 12, the countrys COVID-19 infections witnessed another significant increase with registered 3,817 new cases, the highest the country had recorded in an over four months.

Source: NAN News