Chief Harry Akande

By David Adeoye

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described as a huge loss, the death of business mogul and former presidential aspirant, Chief Harry Akande.

Makinde expressed the regret in a condolence message to the deceaseds family, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, on Saturday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akande died on Saturday morning during a brief illness.

He was aged 77.

Makinde said: The news of the death of the Agba Oye of Ibadanland and internationally-renowned businessman, Chief Harry Akande, came to me as a shock.

His death meant another great loss to Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria.

Akandes fame as a businessman and his decision to join Nigerian politics to make a difference were classic.

His conduct gave courage to the younger generation of businessmen, most of whom have gone ahead to emulate Akande and are making good their dreams.

The governor said that Akande was one of the pathfinders for businessmen in politics.

He added that Akandes efforts in deepening democracy through participation in politics would go into the annals of history, especially his role in building formidable opposition.

This is one death too many; we can only pray to God to halt these deaths and allow our elders to make more impacts on humanity.

We cannot question God but we can pray, and that is what we will continue to do.

I pray that God will grant repose to Chief Akandes soul and sustain his immediate and extended families, Makinde said.

NAN reports that the late Akande was a one-time presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party. (ANPP)

Source: NAN News

Troops foil bandits attack on Kaduna communities

By Sani Idris

A combined team of the military and police on Friday night, foiled an attack by armed bandits in Kasuwan Magani community, Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement in Kaduna on Saturday.

According to Aruwan, the armed bandits attempted to assassinate some Fulani community leaders by shooting sporadically, but eventually escaped when the security team turned up, in response to distress calls.

While fleeing the area, the armed bandits shot one Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman, a Fulani leader, but he survived with bullet wounds and was rushed to a hospital in Kaduna, he said.

Aruwan said the situation caused pandemonium in the community as fake stories were peddled across Social Media of the outbreak of ethno-religious crisis in the area.

In response, he added that the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, in a swift reaction, hosted a confidence building meeting, on behalf of the state government, that involved critical stakeholders, including religious, traditional and community leaders.

Present at the meeting were the Garrison Commander One Division, Brig-Gen. Olusegun Abai, Commanding Officer, 312 Artillery Regiment, Lt. Col. AK Muhammad, Flt. Lt. Ephraim Yakubu of the Nigerian Air Force and Supt. Bala Kassim, the Officer in charge of Operation Yaki.

Others are Moses Sarwuan of Department of State Services and the Divisional Police Officer of Kasuwan Magani, Mukaila Adamu, the commissioner said.

Aruwan explained that at the meeting, the government and security agencies praised the community for their unified and decisive action against the bandits, without any religious or ethnic considerations.

The community was further tasked to double collaboration with government and security agencies, as senior military and police officers toured routes exploited by the armed bandits, he said.

Meanwhile, Aruwan has disclosed that the government had been informed by security agencies about the death of one Sani Khalil, a kidnapped citizen, who had been held by bandits for almost two weeks.

Khalil was kidnapped in November 2020 on the Rigasa-Link Road, in Igabi Local Government Area of the state, and government has since sent condolences to the family, Aruwan said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Policemen on duty

By Olawale Jokotoye

The Police command in Ogun says it has rescued three out of four of its men abducted by hoodlums at Aba Tuntun community in Ijebu Igbo in the Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Oyeyemi said that a Constable, Mr Emmanuel Gene, was still being held captive by the hoodlums.

The spokesman said that the police had deployed operatives to the area to rescue the missing policeman.

He said that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction and that they were helping the police in investigations.

According to Oyeyemi, the village head has sent a petition to the police that some hoodlums are in possession of dangerous weapons in the village.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ijebu Igbo, led his team to the place on Thursday with vigilantes and recovered six single barrel guns, 16 Dane guns, 16 cartridges and arrested the suspects.

While taking the suspects and the weapons to the station,some hoodlums ambushed them and abducted four of the policemen.

They shot the DPO in the arm and freed the suspects.

We have rescued three of the policemen abducted. We dont know the whereabouts of the constable among them.

We have arrested three suspects and they are helping us in the investigation, Oyeyemi stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Tony Nezianya

By Chimezie Anaso

Former Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) image maker, Mr Tony Nezianya, on Saturday urged sports journalists to understand general and specific rules of various sporting events to remain experts in their chosen specializations.

Nezianya, a seasoned sports journalist and former director with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gave the advise in a lecture on Journalism and Sports Development in Contemporary Society, he delivered at the 2020 Anambra SWAN WEEK Award and Recognition Night, in Awka.

He said that journalism had created convergence for all stakeholders, including athletes/players, administrators, financiers, marketers and spectators, and a sports journalist needed to be knowledgeable about sports to make sense of it all.

Nezianya, who is currently a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Willie Obiano on media, said sports journalists must also endeavour to provide technical, factual and timely information in their reportage.

In all the groupings, it is the activity of journalists with bias for sports reporting, commentating and analyzing, that provide coordination for these healthy interactions.

Now that sporting activities have been professionalized, it is only fitting that the sports journalist must also professionalize his services to benefit the growth and development of humanity.

As professionals in the field, you must be knowledgeable in the rules and regulations involved in the practice of sports and must be in a position to provide authentic information, because there are General rules and regulations and there are also specific rules guiding every game and competition, he said.

Nezianya said that practitioners should ensure they were technologically savvy and aspire to report sports at the highest level, as well as belong to relevant affiliate bodies, including the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS).

There is need for sports journalists to raise their levels too, ICT has come with many tools for the practice of excellence in sports journalism. If you are a practicing journalist and not ICT-compliant, please look for another job.

I recommend that all practicing sports journalists must aspire to cover the World Cup and The Olympic Games, at least once in their lifetime while on the job, to date, I have covered five Olympic Games.

You must also strive to register as an AIPS member, however, to get there you must be a member of SWAN, sports writing is no longer the job for the never-do-wells from other departments to be dumped on the sports desks, he said.

Nezianya said that sports had been adjudged by the UN as an index of development and a right of every citizen in any country, explaining that this accounted for why nations always strive to provide the best sporting facilities.

Among the awardees were John Abang, Commissioner of Police, Anambra, Emeka Okeke, Founder, Aspire FC, Adazi-Ani and Pius Okoye, representing Awka South 2 Constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, who all got rewarded for their various contributions to sports development in Anambra.

Okechukwu Onuegbu of Blueprint Newspapers was also adjudged the best Sports Journalist in the state.

NAN reports that the SWAN WEEK, which began on Dec. 1, featured tour of sports facilities in Anambra, lecture and awards to deserving people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, representing President Bihari at the 13th Extra-Ordinary session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held virtually on Saturday

By Lizzy Okoji

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the commitments of member states of the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement begins on Jan. 1.

Buhari made the call at the 13th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held virtually on Saturday.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said that the successful commencement of the trade in January 2021 was indeed a fulfillment of the collective dreams of Africas founding fathers.

He said that the AfCFTA sought to achieve better, united, peaceful and prosperous Africa, adding that any abuse of the rule could affect trade relations, cause disorder, regional and geopolitical tensions and reduced economic growth.

Buhari pledged Nigerias commitments in taking all the necessary steps towards the effective commencement of the trading on Jan. 1, 2021.

In view of Nigerias strategic role in our collective efforts to build the Africa we want, the Nigerian government has taken bold steps to ratify the AfCFTA.

It is, however, pertinent to remind us of the need to preserve the agreed rule we are putting in place, to ensure that there is no breakdown or abuse of the rules based continental free trade framework.

We must, therefore, work assiduously to encourage probity, transparency, and promote a shared and inclusive prosperity for all Africans, he said.

According to him, Nigeria is keenly aware of her role in deepening intra-Africa trade and making it a success. We remain open to transparently work with our brothers and sisters across Africa in the spirit of cooperation.

To deepen Continental Integration through the free movement of goods, natural and legal persons across the continent we must remain strident and committed in our support for the instrument while timeously addressing actions that could lead to breakdown of rules-based African Continental Free Trade Area.

The successful commencement of trade in January 2021 is indeed the fulfillment of the collective dreams of our founding fathers, for a better, united, peaceful and prosperous Africa.

Let us, therefore, keep in mind that any form of abuse of the rules that undermine our borders and affect our markets could be a recipe for strained trade relations, disorder regional and geopolitical tensions and reduces economic growth, Buhari said.

Buhari also said that trade rules requires trust and constant updates. We must continue to work to address and close noticeable gaps, in particular, the challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and other critical issues affecting the continent.

According to him, AfCFTA is a rules-based system that provides governance structure for intra-Africa trade, including for settlement of trade disputes and smooth operationalisation of the agreement.

In this regard, we are further assured that the mechanism will provide the essential balance previously lacking in our trade relations

Importantly, this agreement is strategic and relevant to the establishment of an economic and legal framework for intra-Africa trade relations and further serves as a platform for deepening Africas integration into the global economy, he said.

Buhari expressed optimism that the opportunities abound within the AfCFTA framework for the engagement of businesses that would foster trade as well as investments flows.

He added that the agreement would also foster growth of regional and global value chains.

Buhari noted that it is important that the launch of the trade in 2021 produces a win-win situation and shared prosperity for all member states. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC boss Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

By Abujah Racheal
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 324 new infections of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

The NCDC, on its verified website on Friday,stated that the new infection were reported from 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It said that Fridays infections bring the total number of cases in the country to 68,627 with 1,179 death and 64,467 discharged patients.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria has so far tested 791,539 persons since the first confirmed case of the pandemic in the country was announced on Feb. 27.

According to it, 176 COVID-19 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours.

The NCDC stated that Lagos state reported 115 new infections bringing the total number of its infections to 23,660.

FCT-110; Kaduna-57; Taraba-9; Akwa Ibom-8; Plateau-6; Bauchi-4; Ekiti-4; Kano-4; Katsina-4 and Rivers-3.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

Source: NAN News

IBy Lizzy Okoji

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Canadian government has provided 56 Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) to the Nigerian government to strengthen border security and management.

The IOM and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja handed over the MIDAS equipment to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a ceremony at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja on Friday.

The 56 MIDAS which would be installed at the two major Nigerian International airports, in 28 in Abuja and 28 to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos would also be linked to Interpol.

Mr Franz Celestine, IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria alleged that Nigeria was asource, transit and destination country for migrant smuggling and human trafficking .

Celestine who was represented by Ms Prestage Murima, Programme Development Coordinator, IOM said that to this end, it would important to ensure the operational and investigative capacities of the national law enforcement agencies.

He said that strengthening the countrys air, land and sea borders would help address these and other related challenges.

Giving a brief of the project, Ms Yuki Daizumoto, Programme Coordinator Immigration and Border Management, IOM said the project applies to a comprehensive approach with three expected outcomes including increased capacity of local migration and border management authorities based on national needs and priorities.

MIDAS Installation and operationalization at Nigerias air borders lead to further availability of biographic and biometric data of travelers entering and exiting the country.

This system is not stand alone. Data collected by MIDAS is synchronied between 2 airports and the NIS HQ so that NIS can compile all the data and use it for further analysis.

All travel documents enrolled in MIDAS will be automatically checked against INTERPOL databases and relevant national and international watchlists.

MIDAS is connected to INTERPOL databases and national and international watchlists to flag suspects of domestic and transnational crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and drug related crimes etc.

Knowledge and skills of the NIS personnel on MIDAS installation and use and on interview techniques, profiling and identification of migrant smuggling and human trafficking cases are strengthened in line with international standards and good practices.

Mr Ryan Ward, Canadas Deputy High Commissioner for Nigeria said Canada values its relationship with Nigeria as a trusted strategic partner and top source country of migration to Canada from Africa, and Nigerians are contributing Canadas economy and our society.

Ward said that to this effect, Canada is committed to working with Nigeria to strengthen its border management and enforcement capabilities.

He said the support of the Canadian government to the project is an outcome of meeting of employees at Global Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Canada Border Services Agency in July and November 2019.

During these meetings, there were initial discussions about Canadian cooperation on supporting Nigeria to continue the roll-out of the IOM Migration Information and Data Analysis System, known as MIDAS, at key international border points.

Nearly a year and a half later, I am incredibly proud to witness the tangible outcome of these talks through the handover of 56 IOM MIDAS units to Nigeria supported by the Government of Canada, Ward said.

Mr Muhammed Babandede, Comptroller- General of the Immigration Service, assured the Canadian government that the equipment would be used judiciously because a safe border in Nigeria is a safe border for Canada and every other country.

Babandede said that prior to now, the Nigerian government has also taken border security and management as priority and training of NIS personnel also.

He said that on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved in Council the completion and equipping of the technology building which was built at the cost of 7.2 billion and furnished and equipped at the cost of 2.4 billion.

Babande said that the commitment from the government of Nigeria indicates that MIDAS will be the key equipment in the technology building.

Mr Mahmud Sani. Regional General Manager at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport said that the installation of the MIDAS in the airport would further enhance the capacity of the airport authority and NIS.

He appreciated the IOM and the Canadian government for their support. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The 36 state governors are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, as soon as possible, to address security challenges across the country, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) said.

The forum disclosed this in a communiqu signed by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, after its 22nd teleconference meeting in Abuja on Friday.

According to the communique, Buhari will particularly speak in the light of attack on farmers in Borno State.

The communiqu said the governors deliberated on issues affecting the country, particularly on national security and the killings of some 43 rice farmers in Garin Kwashebe in Jere Local Government Area, Borno.

The communique said that the governors also endorsed two proposals on infrastructure development funds loans.

The proposal were from Gov. Nasir El- Rufai-led National Economic Council (NEC) ad hoc Committee on Leveraging Portion of Accumulated Pension Funds for Investment in the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the Governor of Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, it said..

The communique noted that the El Rufai committee briefed the forum on a proposed National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) under the auspices of the NSIA such that N2 trillion at nine per cent interest could be accessed through the authority.

The NGF chairman said that the CBN governor has a similar proposal to access N15 trillion naira for national infrastructure funding through INFRACREDIT at a lower interest rate of five per cent, it said.

The communique further said that both proposals were not mutually exclusive and could be adopted simultaneously with one streaming into the other.

The communique also said the NGF maintained its stance that stamp duties belong primarily to states and the various collection platforms are channels of payment to the states, while aligning with the guidance provided by its lawyers and experts.

The forum agreed to: direct State Attorneys-General to review the Water Resources Bill and send their input to the NGF secretariat as quickly as possible;

Agreed to keep active and operational the State COVID -19 Task Force Teams and Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs).

This is in addition to ensuring the prompt release of funds as outlined in the State Incidence Action Plans (IAP), keeping temporary treatment centres open, ramping up COVID-19 testing across the country.

Also to support the planned COVID-19 Testing Week to be launched by the Presidential TaskForce.

Commit to achieving the second Eligibility Criteria (EC) requirement of publishing online their approved financial year (FY21) Annual State Budget, prepared under the National Chart of Accounts, by Jan. 31, 2021.

Governors also restated their commitment to implement reforms associated with the programme including the deployment of a Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to support effective land administration and an efficient property tax system, it said.

On strike, the governors encouraged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to hasten implementation of the truce elements in their resolutions to allow schools reopen immediately.

It added that the forum was currently intervening in resolving the lingering ASUU strike and had secured certain concessions from the federal government with the hope that the strike would be called off shortly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

By Lizzy Okoji
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to support the federal governments fight against insecurity in order to collectively tackle the menace.

Jonathan made the call on Friday in Abuja during the exclusive command performance by the Commonwealth Community Choir.

The choir, also known as the Port-Harcourt Male Ensemble International, was tagged Peace for All Nations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

The former president said insecurity was a global phenomenon that was not peculiar to Nigeria due to the excesses of terrorists across the world.

I was there before and of course, you know there is a lot of insecurity. All what we can do is to collectively support the government, encourage the soldiers and other security operatives to do more for our safety, Jonathan said.

The former president said unity and peace must be collectively upheld by all especially the youth, adding that as a former President he knew the meaning of peace.

He stated that Nigerian youths sometimes engaged in all kinds of confrontation, recalling his conversation with one of his friends.

I was discussing with one of my friends and I said look, in Nigeria, they appear not to even have a national youth body. Because in most cases, the regional youth bodies are stronger than the national youth body.

Ordinarily, the national youth body is supposed to be stronger than the regional youth body, Jonathan said.

The former president lauded the programmes organisers for their efforts; When you see young people come together to perform with the theme: Peace for All Nations, I am quite impressed.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said nothing could be more important than peace.

Osinbajo, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Religious Matters, Pastor Seyi Malomo, said peace in the society was one of the invincible cement that made everything to work.

If you remove that peace, everything will somehow collapse. So, peace cannot be coming at a more appropriate time when we are in celebration season of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who the Bible says is the Prince of Peace, Osinbajo said.

Earlier, Onyeama said the event marked the commencement of the execution of the mandate that has been entrusted through the choir by the Commonwealth.

He said as part of its mandates, the choir was expected to undertake a global tour of the Commonwealth nations to promote peace and development through music.

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

The Delta government in collaboration with the Nigerian Naval Engineering College (NNEC), Sapele, on Friday flagged-off a yellow fever vaccination campaign in Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the opening ceremony , Commodore Nanmanle Damtung, NNEC Commandant, said that no fewer than 5,000 people are targeted to benefit from the five-day exercise.

According to Damtung, those targeted to benefit from the exercise include staff and students of the naval college, people of Ogorode which is the host community and members of staff of about three companies located in the area.

He noted that the college would provide the logistics while the state government would provide the vaccines.

Delta government initiated the exercise and we keyed into it. We are collaborating to assist and facilitate in providing some of the logistics.

Our staff will assist in carrying out the vaccination, not only in our environment (barracks), but in the community, generally.

In this exercise, the Sapele Naval Engineering College community alone will be running into about 1, 200 or so.

Then, the larger community of Ogorode area that includes the Flour Mills and the Sapele Power area will add up to another 3,000 to 4,000 persons. That will make up an excess of 5,000 people, Damtung said.

Dr Mordi Ononye, Commissioner for Health, Delta, represented by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Sapele area, Dr Abeke Kingsley, said that the exercise was timely.

Ononye commended the Nigerian Navy for their resilient on health issues.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police swoops are a common occurrence in major cities in the name of vagrancy and those arrested are questioned in an effort to induce them to self-incriminate.

In an advisory opinion issued following a request from the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), the African Court considered the compatibility of vagrancy laws with the African Charter on Women and Childrens Rights and ruled that the vagrancy laws are against the Charter.

In its request for an advisory opinion, the lawyers informed the Arusha-based Court that most African Union countries retained laws which criminalise the status of individuals as being poor and homeless as opposed to specific reprehensible acts, generally referred to as vagrancy laws.

According to PALU, most African countries abuse vagrancy laws to arrest and detain people even when there is no proof of criminal conduct.

PALU said the vagrancy laws were overly broad and left wide discretion on the police and other law enforcement officers as to how to enforce the law.

The Court ruled that the vagrancy laws, in their formulation as well as in their application, had criminalized poverty and poor people and promoted the discriminatory treatment of the underprivileged and marginalized people in society, which also deprived individuals of their equality before the law.

The Court also found that arrests for vagrancy-related offences, where they occurred without a warrant, were not only a disproportionate response to socio-economic challenges but also discriminatory since they targeted individuals because of their economic status.

The application of vagrancy laws often deprives the underprivileged and marginalized of their dignity by unlawfully interfering with their efforts to maintain or build a decent life or to enjoy a lifestyle of choice.

Consequently, the Court found that vagrancy laws were incompatible with the notion of human dignity as protected under the Charter.

The Court also noted that arrests and detentions under vagrancy laws were incompatible with the arrestees right to liberty and the security of their person as guaranteed under the Charter.

The Court ruled that arresting individuals under vagrancy laws and soliciting statements from them about their possible criminal culpability was against the principle of presumption of innocence.

The enforcement of vagrancy laws, generally, is incompatible with the right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under the Charter.

The Court found that forced relocation, which was permitted by vagrancy laws in some African countries, is also incompatible with the Charter.

It said the arrest and detentions based on vagrancy laws are incompatible with the Charter.

The Court also held that the forcible relocation of vagrants is incompatible with the preservation of the sanctity of the family as a basic unit of society as guaranteed under the Charter.

The lawyers Union had moved to the Arusha-based court to seek an advisory opinion on the violation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child also known as the Childrens Rights Charter.

The lawyers sought to know whether vagrancy laws are friendly to various sections of the Protocol, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women (the Womens Rights Protocol) and whether States Parties to the Charter had positive obligations to repeal or amend their vagrancy laws to conform with the Charter, the Childrens Rights Charter and the Womens Rights Protocol. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A girl being defiled

By Justina Auta

Experts have sensitised youths on ways to avoid rape and other forms of violence gainst women and children, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The seminar for teenagers was organised in Abuja by an NGO, Supporting Hands Initiative (SHI) and WAVE Foundation as part of 16 days activism to end Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The Founder, SHI, Mrs Bassey Ita-Ikpang said the advocacy would educate young pupils on human rights, good attitudes with a view to eliminate all forms of violence and improve hygiene.

Ita-Ikpang decried the increasing cases of violence against women and girls, adding that boys were also victims of such abuse, hence parents and the society needed to also pay attention to them.

These boys grow and become the future men, so we need to begin talking to them now, inculcating in them from early age on how they should relate with girls.

We are marking the 16 days of activism to see what we can do differently so we brought in both boys and girls to talk to them, catch them young and for them to grow with the idea that these things are wrong, she said.

She also advised parents to listen, pay attention and monitor their children to enable them detect early any form of abuse or violence they might be experiencing.

On her part, President, WAVE Foundation, Mrs Lola Ibrahim, stressed the need to stop all forms of harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on girls.

Ibrahim, who is also a survivor of FGM, decried the physical, psychological and emotional trauma the practice had on the victims.

Female genital mutilation should be stopped. Girls should be allowed to live a life free from torture, degrading human acts.

Parents instead of cutting the girls genitalia all in the name of you want to keep her intact or away from sex, should educate the child on morals and virtue.

Let her know the difference between bad and good. Once you educate her, you have empowered her to be able to decide what is right and wrong, she said.

Also, the President Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Ladi Bala, said the seminar would further raise awareness on GBV especially among young girls and boys.

Bala noted that physical, mental, verbal, psychological, economic or emotionally violence leaves a mark on the affected persons.

She, therefore, advised teenagers to report any form of violence with a view to eliminating the practice and ensuring offenders were prosecuted.

An Obstetric and Gynaecology doctor, Amina Ismail-Are, advised teenagers to ensure cleanliness and proper menstrual hygiene to reduce risk of contacting any infection.

Also, Dr Abiola Abiodun, a family Health Physician also sensitised the students on physical hygiene, types of sanitary pad and proper care of the body.

NAN reports that the organisation disbursed menstrual hygiene kits, face masks, writing materials and other items to the students. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AfCFTA

The African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchanga, said in Addis Ababa on Friday that instruments signifying Nigerias entry into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be received at the commissions headquarters shortly ahead of next years kick-off of trading.

Speaking during the AfCFTA Business Forum 2020 to discuss the status of preparations to launch the continental trading, Muchanga said the launch of trading will facilitate the growth of African enterprise and enhance the capacity of industries producing goods to a wider population.

Nigeria, which signed the AfCFTA agreement in 2019, officially ratified the agreement on 12 November. The instruments of ratification are expected to be received at the AU on Sagurday, 5 December, the deadline for the ratification.

AfCFTA Business Forum 2020, whose main theme was to discuss the AfCFTAs role in post coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery, Resilience and Structural Transformation, involved various panel discussions on what is required to ensure trading kicks off in January 2021.

The Business Forum was attended by senior business leaders, including African heads of state and leaders of multinational firms operating across various borders.

According to the AU Commission, 1 January 2021 will mark the start of a landmark period during which African countries will start to really trade with themselves.

It is a historic moment for our continent as the worlds largest free trade area opens its doors to traders both large and small, said the AU in a statement circulated before the meeting on Friday.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the start of the continental trading should particularly involve the private sector.

The Rwandan president said constant communication should be intensified during the period in order to highlight the benefits of the new trading arrangement.

We must be able to communicate the benefits of free trade, President Kagame said.

The AfCFTA Business Forum is the African Unions premier multi-stakeholder platform for heads of state and government, private sector leaders, SMEs, civil society and other stakeholders to explore how intra-Africa trade and the African Continental Free Trade Area can develop the continent, the AU Commission said.

This years session focused on what the start of trading could mean for Africas recovery from the impact of Covid-19; and what businesses needed to do to successfully position themselves in this vast, new market.

Currently, the percentage of trade that African countries do with each other is a mere 16 per cent. The bulk of the continents trade is with the rest of the world, and most African exports are in raw materials including extractive commodities like oil, gas and minerals which are vulnerable to market volatility.

The AfCFTA is set to transform the way business is conducted across Africa. Trade barriers will be drastically reduced and traders of all sizes will have access to a much bigger market than before.

The bigger market will spur producers to upscale and so support increased industrialization and value addition on the continent, the AU said.

The AfCFTA will be the platform for boosting manufacturing and mechanised farming. More employment opportunities will thus be generated for Africas burgeoning young population, according to the AU.

We are stimulating the emergence of value addition in Africa, Muchanga said during a panel debate. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maternal death

By Justina Auta

An NGO, Marie Stopes International Nigeria (MSION), has urged Federal Government to scale-up Family Planning (FP) policies and services to reduce maternal mortality rate.

The Country Director of MSION, Mr Effiom Nyong-Effiom, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Nyong-Effiom said improving access to family planning services would reduce incidences of unsafe abortion and enable families to space and plan for the children they could cater for.

He said that the organisations target was that by 2030, every woman should have access to family planning services and there wouldnt be any record of death from unsafe abortion.

Our target in Marie Stopes International Nigeria is that by the year 2030, no woman should have a need for family planning and not access it, and no woman should die from unsafe abortion.

This is our 2030 dream, and that means we need to begin to meet people where they have the need even in hard-to-reach areas. No woman should be left behind.

Government needs to think around that if we really want to eliminate or reduce maternal deaths, which is 507 for every 100,000 live births.

According to him, MSION, in collaboration with other organisations, trained 7,500 government providers and currently supporting 2,500 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to deliver voluntary
and quality family planning services across the country.

Nyong-Effiom explained that the group had developed a franchise model to support 400 private business operators to also give quality family services and post-abortion care services for people
who patronise the private sector.

The country director said 23 functional outreach services largely supported by DFID, was also established to enable women to access family planning services easily.

Each of the 23 outreach services reach about 1,500 women monthly, and it is exciting for us because some of these places have no form of healthcare and we know that is where
reproductive needs are highest.

In 2019, we reached out to 2.4 million women with quality family planning services; this has averted close to 36,000 maternal deaths.

We all know that FP is one of the cheapest way to reduce maternal deaths, he said.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyong-Effiom said the organisation had set up an internal response team to ensure that access to family planning services was not
disrupted by the lockdown that followed the outbreak of the virus.

He explained that within the first three months of the COVID-19 outbreak, we saw 774,000 women in our outreach services, which is more than 38 per cent more than we
normally see.

For our clinics, we started offering more services, for instance if you call our contact centre that you want service but that you cannot come, we will send a vehicle
to you or send a service provider to attend to you, he said.

The country director, therefore, stressed the need for stakeholders to carry out more family planning enlightenment events in schools and among youths.

He also emphasised scaling up of services and adoption of family planning methods to reduce maternal mortality and unsafe abortion. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

By Patricia Amogu

Mrs Getrude Madina, Head public Relations, the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), says the Federal Government has granted six water use licences to the Kano State Water Board.

Marina said in a statement in Abuja said the Licences was issued through the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).

The statement quoting Mr Magashi Bashir, Executive director, NIWRMC, as saying that the licenses were to enable the State access, officially extract water, and to aid them expand water wells, and improve water supply to the Nigeria Bottling Company from the Challawa Plant.

By law, the Commission had been mandated to issue licenses for water use, as well as regulate water resources in Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The licensing of various water users is necessary and important to the nation at a time like this when the Government is up- scaling revenue generation and job creation, among others, the statement stated.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Kano State Water Board, Dr Wambai was elated and appreciated the Federal Government and the NIWRMC for the great honour done to the entire Kano State, by providing them official permit to use water for their operations.

We will adhere strictly to the terms and Conditions attached to the Licenses which are derived from the Water Resources Act CAP W2, LFN 2004. he said(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed,

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Federal Government says being a member of #EndSARS protest is not an immunity from being investigated or charged for any offence or breach of the laws.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with Title Editors of Nigeria Newspapers.

The minister, who was responding to a question on alleged arrest of some #EndSARS protesters and sponsors, said nobody is above investigation or prosecution.

Being a member of #EndSARS protest does not grant you immunity if you have committed any crime against the land. The key thing is that you must be treated according to the laws.

Even those whose accounts were frozen, the Central Bank of Nigeria went to court to seek permission to freeze the accounts. I am also aware that some of them whose international passports were seized had been returned.

None can stop the government from investigating anybody, including #EndSARS protesters. Whoever you are and whatever you are doing, you must not take the laws into your hands.

You must follow the due process because where your rights end is where someone elses rights start, he said.

Mohammed said there was no clampdown on the protesters and their supporters, adding that government is following the due process in the investigations being carried out.

Source: NAN News

WHO

Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa says Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA) will fight COVID-19 misinformation in the continent.

WHO inaugurated AIRA on Thursday to coordinate actions and pool resources in combating misinformation around COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies in Africa.

Moeti, in a statement posted on the WHO Regional Office for Africas website, said misinformation could kill and ensure diseases continue to spread in health emergencies.

People need proven, science-based facts to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing, and a glut of information an infodemic with misinformation in the mix makes it hard to know what is right and real.

This crucial new alliance brings unique reach, knowledge and skills to help stop the impact of dangerous misinformation.

According to the statement, digital platforms have been inundated with COVID-19-related information since the pandemic began in late 2019.

Information about the virus has been shared and viewed over 270 billion times online and mentioned almost 40 million times on Twitter and web-based news sites in the 47 countries.

It has been shared in 47 countries of the WHO African Region between February and November 2020, according to UN Global Pulse, the United Nations Secretary-Generals initiative on big data and artificial intelligence.

A large proportion of this information is inaccurate and misleading and continues to be shared by social media users intentionally or unknowingly every day.

The COVID-19 infodemic is amplified online through social media but health misinformation is also circulating offline.

In measuring precisely how much of what is circulating is misinformation is difficult, but fact-checking organisations in Africa say they have debunked more than 1000 of such misleading reports since the onset of the pandemic.

Some of the widely shared misinformation includes conspiracies around unproven treatments, false cures and anti-vaccine messages.

In addition, WHO stated that among others, the AIRA would work collaboratively to counter false information around COVID-19 vaccines.

It will also complement on the ground public health awareness raising and community engagement efforts by creating demand for vaccines in the region.

The network is the first initiative of its kind and it brings together 13 international and regional organisations and fact-checking groups.

The network comprise experts in data and behavioural science, epidemiology, research, digital health, and communications to detect, disrupt and counter damaging misinformation on public health issues in Africa.

The Alliance will encourage proactive disclosure by data holders and support journalists and media outlets to effectively share lifesaving information based on scientific evidence and debunk disinformation on health issues.

It also aims to support individual African countries in developing tailored infodemic management strategies, including analysing trends and behaviours, recruiting specialists and refining systematic engagement strategies rooted in research and analytics.

This initiative puts into practice key recommendations on infodemic management that were developed by over 1300 experts from across disciplines in early 2020 under the auspices of WHOs global Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN).

The Alliance members are Africa CDC, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Verified initiative and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

Others are the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Global Pulse.

Participating and supporting bodies include Nigerias Dubawa, Africa Check, Agence France-Presse Fact Check, PesaCheck and Meedan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Human Trafficking

Tanzanian immigration authorities said on Friday they had arrested 45 citizens within the past 11 months in connection with running illegal human trafficking business

Anna Makakala, the Commissioner General of the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, said this at a news conference in the capital Dodoma.

Makakala said the 45 suspects have been arrested in different parts of the nation from January to November this year.

Section 54 of the Immigration Services Act of 2015 provides for an imprisonment of 20 years or fines to the tune of 20 million Tanzanian shillings (about 8,625 dollars) or both to a person convicted on human trafficking, she said.

She added that the 45 suspects were facing trial in courts, adding that during the past 11 months a total of 15,266 illegal immigrants were arrested in the country.

The commissioner said most of the more than 15,000 illegal immigrants were facilitated by the 45 Tanzanians to gain entry into the country without valid travel documents.

She warned people against involvement in human trafficking, saying those found dealing with the inhumane business will face the full force of law. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

VC NOUN, Olufemi Peters

By Emmanuel Afonne

Prof. Olufemi Peters has emerged as the new Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

A statement issued on Friday by the Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, Mr Ibrahim Sheme stated that Peters, a Professor of Chemistry, and of Ogun state origin, emerged after defeating six other candidates in a keenly contested election.

Peters, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, is expected to take over the reins from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, whose five-year single tenure would elapse on Feb. 10, 2021.

Sheme stated: Professor Peters, boasts an impressive track record of academic excellence spanning three decades, including many competencies in the area of ODL.

He has over 60 published works, 44 of which are Journal articles, and the remaining are peer reviewed published proceedings and technical reports in the fields of chemistry, polymer science and technology, as well as agriculture.

He has also published works in ODL in peer reviewed international and local journals; He holds a PhD (Degradation and Stabilisation in Polymers) from Victoria University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (1988), United Kingdom.

Peters holds a Bachelors degree (Second Class Upper) in Chemistry from University of Ibadan (1979), and a Masters degree in Polymer Science and Technology from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, (1982).

The newly elected VC is the owner of a Google scholar index of 8, and has supervised a total of 16 postgraduate students, seven of whom were doctoral candidates (four of whom are now professors).

Aside from having been a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (2007), he is also a member of other professional bodies, the statement quoted Sheme as saying.

According to Sheme, Prof. Peters belongs to the Polymer Institute of Nigeria (PIN); the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE); the Materials Science

From Left-Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC Supervisory National Commissioner and Mr James Popoola, INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos at a news conference ahead of Saturdays Lagos East by-elections

By Yemi Adeleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday cautioned politicians against vote buying, food sharing and other activities capable of buying the conscience of voters at polling units duing Saturdays Lagos East by-elections.

Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC Supervisory National Commissioner in charge of the by-elections, told newsmen in Lagos that the commission would not tolerate any act that would discredit the polls.

Answering questions on how the commission intended to tackle vote buying, Ogunmola said that though INEC was not a security agency, it had done quite a lot in ensuring that the menace was reduced.

We are in collaboration with EFCC and ICPC and some other security agencies in ensuring that people that perpetrate such acts were brought to book.

The issue of making use of food at the polling units will be prevented. It was observed in Edo election and we tried to prevented it in Ondo.

The same thing we are going to do here in Lagos because that is one way of ensuing that people pay for their pay masters, Ogunmola said.

According to him, the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States were huge success and the commission is prepared to raise the bar in Lagos by-elections and others.

He said that though INEC was making efforts to stop vote buying at the polling units, it could not stop the vote buying before the elections.

The INEC commissioner added: It is something that appears to be difficult to curb. We can only do our best to prevent it on election day.

A bar has been set and it is the intention of INEC not to go below that bar and that is why we are engaging with all the stakeholders to ensure that these elections will be recorded as the best so far in the history of elections in Nigeria.

We will put all hands on deck to ensure credible and transparent elections in Lagos, he said.

Ogunmola said that INEC always factored imperfections of previous elections to perfect subsequent ones, hence so much had been done to ensure Lagos by-elections were credible and acceptable polls.

According to him, the non-observance of physical distancing and face masks have done away with through proper enlightenment and engagement of voters at the grassroots.

We also want to discourage the use of marked face masks in which a group of people using the same type of face masks. This is suggestive of the intention to perpetrate some irregularities and we frown at this.

We are also engaging with security agencies to ensure that we are able to conduct free, fair and credible elections by tomorrow, Ogunmola added.

He said that the security agencies had also assured the commission of raising the bar.

Ogunmola said: We have all agreed that the only thing that can happen to the electoral processes is for it to be improved upon so that this will rub off on the entire society.

INEC together with the security agencies will be able to encourage Nigerians to do the right things at all times.

If we are able to get the election right, then a lot of things will change for the better. I want to assure you that INEC is fully prepared for tomorrows and we do hope we will be able to record huge success.

On voter apathy, INEC commissioner said that the electoral body had been trying its best to encourage people to come out en mass to exercise their franchise.

Ogunmola, who urged people to make informed decision during the polls, said their safety would be guaranteed by the security agencies. (NAN)

Source: NAN News