COVID-19 Vaccine Research

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has appointed a National Task Team on COVID-19 vaccine, tasked with the responsibility to acquire and deploy vaccines in the country.

The information is in a statement signed byDr Adebimpe Adebiyi,the Director of Hospital Services in the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.

She noted thatmembers of health is the Chairman of the Task Team, while the minister of State for Health, Olorunimbe Mamora, will serve as Alternate Chairman.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency will serve as Secretary and the permanent secretary in the ministry will serve as a member.

The ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Science and Technology will also serve as members.

Director Generals of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control will be members.

Also, development partners such as World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) will be members, among others.

The minister said that COVID-19 was real and enjoined the public to observe all protocols as prescribed by the government.

Ehanire had earlier at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, spoke on the need for a task force on vaccines to come on board.

He said now that vaccines are known to be close at hand, the ministry is taking measures toward vaccine security, for which an 18-man National COVID-19 Vaccine Task Team with seven Terms of Reference (ToR) will be inaugurated.

The ToR will include generating strategies for acquisition, deployment and options for licenced production by Biovaccine Nigeria Ltd.

Our options with WHO/GAVI led Covax facility remains our first line of engagement, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Babatunde Irukera, DG FCCPC

By Kola Adeyemi
The Kogi State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has congratulated Mr Babatunde Irukera on his re-appoinment as the Director-General of the
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The council in a statement in Lokoja on Tuesday described the re-appoinment of Irukera as well deserved and a confirmation of his sterling performance in his first term in office.

The state NUJ Council Chairman and Secretary, Mr Adeiza Jimoh and Mr Adamu Seidu signed the statement.

Your re-appointment, no doubt is a reward for diligence, hardwork, patriotism and above all commitment to protecting the rights of the consumers in the country.

It is also a demonstration of the fact that we still have people who are genuinely interested in building a country that will be a pride to generations yet unborn, the statement said.

The NUJ said it was proud to be associated with Irukera and his track records of achievements in FCCPC, urging him to keep the flag flying.

We pray God to continue to give you the wisdom and good health to discharge the responsibilities of your present office, the statement added.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the Natural Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and Auto-gas initiative with a call on Nigerians to embrace the use of gas as an alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Speaking at a virtually held event at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday to unveil National Gas Expansion Programme and National Auto-gas Roll-out Initiative, Buhari said the call had become imperative in view of the nations huge gas reserve.

It is no longer news that the vast natural gas resources, which Nigeria is endowed with has hitherto been used sub-optimally as a result of a dearth of gas processing facilities and infrastructural connectivity for effective and optimal domestic utilisation.

As I mentioned above with a proven reserve of about 203 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and additional upside of 600 TCF ranking Nigeria as the 9in the world currently, the need for domestic gas expansion and utilisation is apparent.

The president said that the deregulation of the downstream sector had exposed many to price volatilities in the global market, urgingattention to more affordable alternative for energy, especially with Nigerias heavy reserve.

Therefore, the roll-out of the National Gas Expansion Programme, Auto-gas initiative is coming at the right time, especially in light of global crude oil market fluctuations coupled with the full deregulation of the local PMS market.

These developments have made it imperative to focus on gas as an alternative fuel to move Nigeria from the conventional dependence on white products for autos and prime-movers of industrial applications to cleaner, more available, accessible and affordable energy source.

The outcome will not only cushion the effect of the downstream deregulation that this government has to painfully implement but also create new markets and enormous job opportunities for our people, he said.

Buhari expressed optimism that the auto-gas initiative would lead to increased domestic gas utilisation and enrich the trajectory of national economic growth and development.

I therefore encourage everyone to embrace gas in form of LPG, CNG and LNG as an alternative fuel for autos and other prime-movers, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president used the opportunity to appreciate Nigerians and organised labour for restraint, understanding and patience as the country tackles myriad economic challenges.

He assured that the Federal Government was working hard to ameliorate the situation and directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to commence the process of hand over of mass transit buses to organised labour as part of governments pledge to cushion the negative effects of deregulation of the oil sector.

Let me now express my deep appreciation to Nigerians for their patience and organised labour for its maturity and patriotism as we collectively navigate these global economic and other challenges.

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources is hereby directed to commence the process of hand over of mass transit buses to Organized Labour as part of our governments pledge to continue providing support that will ease the transportation challenges Nigerians are facing at this time, he added.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva said the ministry was focusing on development of skills, technology and manpower as well as growth in the utilisation of LPG, CNG and LNG.

He said that the NGEP, which was initiated this year to boost the utilisation of gas in the short and medium term is expected to create two million jobs per annum, promote skills acquisition and enhance technology transfer in addition to growing the nations GDP.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari revealed that from 2016 to 2019, the Federal Governmenthad spentover N3 trillion subsidising the pump price of petroleum products particularly PMS.

The NNPC boss insisted that the subsidy regime did not benefit the masses that the president was passionate about, adding that the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had made it impossible to continue with the onerous subsidy regime. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Policeman arresting an okada rider

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Special Ministerial Task Force on Transportation and other Public Nuisances says it will start prosecuting commercial motorcycle operators known as Okada and their patronisers in two days from now.

Field Coordinator of the task force, Mr Peter Olumuji, made the disclosure during an inspection exercise on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the task force is headed by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Mr Bala Ciroma.

Olumuji said anyone who patronises the Okada riders would be seen to be aiding and abetting illegality.

He stated that both operators and patronisers assumed to be guilty and liable to prosecution accordingly.

Olumuji explained that residents of Kubwa had been complaining seriously about the recklessness of the riders in the area.

He alleged that most of the Okada riders always go about with knives and at any little provocation, they stab the other person involved, apart from committing other crimes.

We are here to ensure that they are removed from Kubwa as it were, before the EndSARS protest.

They have designated places far away from the city centre where they are allowed to operate, Keke Napep was brought in from town and they have been operating without hitch or constituting nuisances to the community, he said.

Olumuji said that the FCT administration had decided to start the show of force on the first day of December to sensitise the Okada riders and their patronisers on the need to stay off Kubwa.

The Area Commandant, Nigeria Police, Kubwa, ACP Sani Omilori, said before the EndSARS protest, Okada riders had left Kubwa as directed by the FCTA, but after the protest, they came back in full force.

This was why we came out on this show of force for two days to inform them to stay off Kubwa roads as the ban on Okada is still on and by Thursday we start full enforcement.

An alternative means of transportation has been provided for the residents (Keke Napep). We are sensitising the operators as well the patronisers before the enforcement, he said.

Mrs Osho Deborah, Zonal Commandant Zone 1, Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), said after the two days they would embark on full enforcement and anyone caught would be prosecuted. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has refuted social media reports that he said Nigeria is at the mercy of Boko Haram.

At a meeting with online publishers on Tuesday in Lagos, the minister described the reports as social media abuse, sheer fabrication and abuse of platform.

While in Makurdi, Benue State, on an official visit, I was asked by journalists to comment on the killing of farmers in Borno State over the weekend.

I said terrorism is a global problem that requires the collaborative efforts among nations to combat.

I said Nigeria needs the support of global partners, especially in the area of acquisition of effective platforms to deal with the terrorists.

I recalled that some of the platforms ordered and paid for by Nigeria have yet to be supplied till date, thus weakening the war on terror.

How these statements translate to Nigeria being at the mercy of Boko Haram is baffling, and could only have come from warped minds who are more interested in attracting traffic to their websites than upholding the truth, he said.

The minister reiterated his position that something urgent needed to be done to rein in the abuse of social media.

Call it regulation or whatever, we have to do something most urgently, he said.

Mohammed said social media was used to guide arsonists and looters to certain properties, both public and private, during the #EndSARS violence.

He explained that pictures of celebrities and even non-Nigerians who were supposedly killed at Lekki Toll Gate quickly made the rounds on social media only for those celebrities to say they are alive.

Mohammed reiterated the governments concerns about the abuse of social media, adding that the administration would continue to look for ways to ensure a responsible use of the platform.

He solicited the support of the online publishers who rely heavily on the new media in the governments effort to fight the menace.

As online publishers, who rely heavily on the new media, you will also be doing yourselves a great favour by helping to weed out those who are abusing it.

If things get to a level where people can no longer trust anything published online, no one stands to lose more than media practitioners.

Thats why we continue to seek your support on this issue, he said.

The minister, however, reiterated that checking the abuse of social media was not synonymous with stifling press freedom or free speech.

Fake news and disinformation are not the same as free speech.

For the umpteenth time, I want to say that this government has no plan to stifle free speech, neither do we have any intention of shutting down the internet as some have claimed, he said.

The minister said the social media had come to stay and those who use it responsibly had nothing to fear.

Source: NAN News

NAPTIP headquarters Abuja

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the new Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

A holder of BSc (Sociology), Masters of Arts (Management) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim, hails from Nasarawa State.

Until her new appointment, she was a member of the Nasarawa State Economic Advisory Council as well as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication to the Minister of State for Education.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Okeoghene Akubuike

Some stakeholders in the environment sector, on Tuesday, called for more engagements in mitigating the effects of climate change on Nigeria.

The stakeholders spoke at the Post-COP25 National Consultative Workshop, organised by Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) in Abuja.

The CSDevNet Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr Ibrahim Choji, said that the event was aimed at reviewing the outcome and challenges of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25), held in Madrid, Spain.

Represented by the organisations National Network Coordinator, Atayi Babs, Choji said that it was imperative for Nigeria to commence the process of identifying the solutions before the next COP26.

According to him, the next COP26 is scheduled for November 2021 at Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The network has forged collaborations with like-minded governmental and non-governmental partners, including research institutions, to establish initiatives that will advance their shared vision in regional development discourses.

These collaboration will help, particularly in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the UN Agenda 2030, he said.

Choji expressed optimism that the state actors would provide a clear blueprint for engaging the civil society for the country to achieve its Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs) and SDGs.

Hajiya Halima Bawa-Bwari, the acting Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, said that the ministry was preparing for COP26.

She also disclosed that the ministry was already engaging various stakeholders, including MDAs, state and non-state actors as well as development partners.

Represented by Hajiya Aamau Jubril, Bawa-Bwari added that the ministry had also established climate change desks in all the states and the FCT, in partnership with development partners.

We need to know what the people at the local levels are doing to ensure climate resilience. So we have given the desk officers a template to feed in mitigation actions happening in all the states.

The department also engages through regular sensitisation programmes, which include trainings and workshops in the six geo-political zones as well as engaging with the private and public sectors to raise awareness on climate change and the NDCs, she said.

Bawa-Bwari said that the national policy on climate change and NDCs were currently being reviewed, adding that a sectoral plan for its implementation had been developed.

Sean Melbourne, Head of Climate Change and Energy (West Africa) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office at the British High Commission, Abuja, said that the UK government would engage with stakeholders.

Make no mistake; Africa will help shape the COPs success or failure, and Nigeria, given the size of its economy and growing population and with its regional and international influence and reach, is clearly recognised as a key country on the continent to engage, he said.

Represented by Adesuwa Obasuyi, the Manager of Climate Change Policy in the commission, Sean said that climate action was the concern of everybody, adding that it was, therefore, imperative for all stakeholders to play their parts.

We are engaging through the COP26 campaigns that are relevant to Nigeria and they focus on adaptation and resilience, nature, clean energy transition and finance, he said.

Sean added that his home government was working closely with Nigeria in reviewing the NDCs to strengthen the countrys climate action commitments.

He also disclosed that his home government was supporting the innovative solutions and policy frameworks that would deliver low-carbon and climate-resilient growth through several programmes in Nigeria.

NAN reports that the workshop was organised by CSDevNet in collaboration with ECOWAS, Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Civil Society Framework on Paris Agreement and SDGs (NCSFPAS) and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

By Nicholas Obisike

Enugu State Government has announced the commencement of the second phase of verification forpensioners whose pension accounts are domiciled in the Office of the Accountant-General of the state.

A statement signed and issued in Enugu on Tuesday by the Enugu State Head of Service, Ken Chukwuegbo, said that the exercise wouldcommence in the pensioners respective banks from Jan. 4, 2021 and end on March 4.

Chukwuegbo advised pensioners to physically present their pension verification numbers to their bank for verification through the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform.

He said that the bank would thereafter forward the print-outs containing the BVN and Bio- data of the pensioners to the Office of the Head of Service for further action.

The Head of Service disclosed that the pensioners living outside Enugu State and in the Diaspora are to be verified in their paying banks.

He directed them to thereafter forward the signed and stamped documents by their banks to the Office of the Head of Service through this email:(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of state for Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says that conversion of petrol cars to use Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) will be free for motorists in the country.

Sylva made the disclosure while answering questions from newsmen at the rollout of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) in Abuja on Tuesday.

CNG is a fuel that can be used in place of gasoline, diesel fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the other fuels.

Conversion is going to begin now and it will be forever and ever. Anybody that owns a car and wants to convert to dual fuel can go to conversion centre and convert his or her car.

It is going to be an ongoing thing and it will be for free at all times, he said.

Commenting on buses that would be handed over to oragnised Labour, the minister said that over a thousand buses would be delivered and that 100 buses would be handed over to the the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) by first quarter of 2021.

We will start in the first quarter in 2021 with over a hundred buses and we will continue to incrementally add buses until we get to that number.

Sylva noted that a million conversion kits would be available for motorists at various conversion centres nationwide, adding that motorists wanting to convert their cars would drive into the centresand get it converted.

On the price of the gas products, he noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that they should work out the price of the product, assuring that the directive would be complied with.

The price has to be cheaper than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol.

He noted that the inauguration of the NGEP had signaled the beginning of a new era in the industry and the country at large.

This area will create linkages to the economy we need and create jobs we need in the economy but unfortunately, we have not focused in this area the development of natural gas to develop the economy better.

Speaking on the availability of the products across the country, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr Sarki Auwalu, disclosed that 9,000 filling stations had been initially selected across the country to dispense auto gas.

The auto gases are Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), CNG and LPG.

He said that out of about 31,000 filling stations across the country, 9,000 were identified as having the capacity to install gas facilities as add-on in their premises.

He noted that going forward, in addition to the 9,000 identified filling stations, it would be made compulsory for other filling stations having capacity to install auto gas facilities in their premises to do so.

This, he said, would be a crucial part of their licensing requirements.

Auwalu added that the DPR was playing a crucial role in the NGEP, especially in the auto gas scheme to ensure safety in the deployment of facilities and utilisation of the commodity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yakubu Gowon

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government has berated a UK parliamentarian, Tom Tugendhat, for accusing a former Nigerian leader, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, of stealing during a debate on the #EndSARS protest in the House of Commons.

The government also rebuked the UK parliament for acting in an uninformed manner in recommending sanctions for Nigeria over the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate during the protest.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a meeting with online publishers in Lagos on Tuesday said the knee jerk reaction of the House of Commons was informed by fake news and disinformation.

He chastised Tugendhat, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons for being ignorant and flippant in his accusation against Gowon.

It is most disheartening that parliamentarians in a country with a history of upholding the finest ideals of democracy will act in such an uninformed manner on an issue such as EndSARS.

The quality of the debate at the British Parliament on EndSARS was under par.

Fake accusations based on fake news and disinformation were levelled against the Federal Government by poorly-informed participants at the debate.

One MP even accused former Nigerian leader, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), who served this country to the best of his ability, of stealing half of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Sheer Ignorance! The flippant MP, who unfortunately chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons, did a great disservice to himself, the committee he chairs and the entire parliament by allowing himself to be misled by fake news exponents.

Fittingly, the British Government has distanced itself from him, he said.

Tugendhat, a Conservative Parliamentarian for Tombridge, Edenbridge and Malling had during the debate which led to the recommendation of sanctions against Nigeria, accused Gowon of stealing and money laundering.

Now some people will remember when Gen. Gowon left Nigeria with half of the Central Bank, so it was said, and moved to London, the MP had said.

Mohammed stressed that the twin evils of fake news and disinformation aggravated the recent #EndSARS protest and the aftermath.

He said the reactions of some countries were informed by fake news and disinformation, and varying figures of those purportedly killed in the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate.

For example, parliamentarians in Britain put the figure of those killed at 10, CNN first reported 38 and then lowered the number to 1.

And DJ Switchs numbers cascaded from 78 dead to 15 to 7!

Even an international broadcaster like CNN was misled by fake news and disinformation.

But CNN has itself to blame for relying on unauthenticated videos which it took from social media

Now, CNN is seeking to save face by trying to clarify its report, which was not only inaccurate but failed the simple test of balance and fairness, he said.

The minister recalled that the government had petitioned CNN, asking it to use its own internal mechanism to probe its so-called investigative report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigeria stock market on Tuesday sustained bullish sentiment to open the month of December with N55 billion growth due to buying interests in Tier 1 banks.

Consequently, the market capitalisation rose by N55 billion or 0.30 per cent to close at N18.364 trillion compared with N18.309 trillion posted on Monday.

Also, the All-Share Index grew by 105.48 points or 0.30 per cent to close at 35,147.62 from 35,042.14 recorded on Monday.

Accordingly, month-to-date and year-to-date return increased to 15.1 per cent and 30.9 per cent, respectively.

The uptrend was also driven by price appreciation in medium and large capitalised stocks amongst which are; Guaranty Trust Bank, Seplat, Zenith Bank, Caverton and Cutix.

Market analysts at APT Securities and Funds Ltd., anticipated more bullish run amidst short term profit taking as the trading week unfold.

Caverton dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, growing by 9.88 per cent to close at N1.89 per share.

Cutix followed with 9.80 per cent to close at N1.68, while AIICO Insurance rose by 9.78 per cent to close at N1.01 per share.

Chams went up by 8.70 per cent to close at 25k, while McNichols appreciated by 8.51 per cent to close at 51k per share.

Conversely, Cornerstone Insurance led the laggards chart in percentage terms, losing by 10 per cent to close at 54k per share.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance dipped 9.68 per cent to close at 28k, while Prestige Assurance declined by 9.09 per cent to close at 50k per share.

Lasaco Assurance declined by 8.82 per cent to close at 31k, while Mutual Benefits Assurance shed 8.70 per cent to close at 21k per share.

Transactions in the shares of Access Bank topped the activity chart with 43.37 million shares valued N376.48 million.

FBN Holdings followed with 31.94 million shares worth N229.79 million, while Mutual Benefits Assurance sold 24.44 million shares valued N5.16 million.

United Bank for Africa accounted for 24.09 million shares worth N200.21 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 24.06 million shares valued N859.15 million.

In all, the total volume of shares traded closed with an exchange of 308.18 million shares valued N3.40 billion in 4,515 deals, a decrease of 25.8 per cent.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 415.53 million shares worth N4.89 billion achieved in 5,264 deals on Monday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Guyanese President, Dr Irfaan Ali

By Ismail Abdulaziz
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has reaffirmed his Governments commitment to ensure that local businesses are optimally involved in the oil and gas sector.

He stated this on Tuesday at the Virtual Guyana Oil and Gas Summit.

The two day event will allow for online networking with Guyanas key stakeholders in the Energy Sector.

Ali noted that the emergence of the oil and gas sector would result in an explosion of opportunities for the people.

He said that it would also require investment, technical skills and capacity on an unprecedented scale.

We are developing a Local Content Policy and Law which will promote local participation in the sector. The policy is being developed through a consultative process, including through the examination of best practices around the world.

The President said that while Foreign Direct Investment was essential for capitalising on the opportunities within the sector, it was also vital in building the capacity of the local sector.

Guyana therefore welcomes foreign investment to help us acquire the capital, the skills and the technology to convert economic transformation into economic opportunities.

The President said that oil and gas would move Guyanas development trajectory to a higher level, which represents a paradigm shift in our countrys development.

He added that local companies must, therefore, embrace new ways of doing business.

The old culture of buying and selling must give way to one which emphasises production of goods and services and partnering with others to maximise local traction in the sector.

Local firms must become bold and ambitious they must think big and think international. They must embrace innovation and inventiveness if they are to compete effectively in the global economy.

The Oil and Gas Summit, he added, provides an opportunity to begin preparations for the new economy by highlighting the investment opportunities in Guyana.

It also offers local investors the opportunity to establish synergies, build capacities and forge strategic partnerships.

I assure all that my Government is supportive of investment foreign and local. We are working to ensure a more enabling environment to boost business in Guyana.

The President commended Global Future Energy Limited and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for their partnership in organising the summit, which he acknowledged as an expression of confidence in Guyanas future.

All speakers and participants at the summit will be remotely connected through an online platform and have access to a unique programme and high-level networking.

The delegates will actively participate in the event through engaging functions, including polling, Q

Nura Sani Kangiwa

By Emmanuel Yashim
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) says it has trained 50 women and youths in catering to enable them become owners of small restaurants and food vendors.

The institute said that it carried out the training in Imo, in association with the office of Mr Henry Nwawuba, the member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency of the state, in the House of Representatives.

Director-General of the institute Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that at the end of the training, both the youth and women will have grasped the necessary skills and change in attitude for good toward preparing them for occupational trades in catering.

This phenomenon will definitely yield value chain along the system and will no doubt create direct and indirect employment among our people.

According to him, the three-day training provides the beneficiaries with occupational skills to set up fast food businesses, bakeries, and confectionaries as well as promote entrepreneurship.

Kangiwa said that the training was a deliberate effort to uplift the living standard of women and youth in the state, who are considered less privileged out of poverty.

In this respect, let me commend the Federal Government in its current efforts toward launching social empowerment programmes aimed at lifting our one million youth and women out of poverty.

The director general expressed gratitude to Nwawuba for the giant strides, and the passion he has for lifting youth and women within his constituency out of poverty through the training and empowerment programme.

I appreciate the state government for its support and for creating an atmosphere conducive for the success of the training.

To the trainees, I would like to encourage them to take advantage of the rare opportunity of the training, so that at the end of the day, the skills they acquired and the empowerment kits given to them will be transformed into a successful business venture.

Kangiwa said that the number of trainees was limited to 50 in recognition of the need to observe the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocol put in place by the Federal Government to curb the spread of the disease.

NIHOTOUR was established to exploit the emergence of tourism as a viable path toward socio-economic development of the country.

It was set up to become a centre of excellence and manpower development that will address the skills gap in the hospitality and tourism industry through qualitative training and standardised professional regulatory framework.

Source: NAN News

Eagles Supporters Club to organise football competitions for grassroots development official

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club says it is making plans to organise football competitions in various states of the country to aid grassroots development.

The Chairman of the clubs Board of Trustees, Mr Sunny Gullong, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Gullong was speaking following the recent inauguration of 30 state and FCT chapters of the club.

He said that the club used to have 12 chapters but now has 31 chapters, which would help enhance the effectiveness of the clubs activities.

Each chapter is in charge of its own activity which entails organising competitions and charity plans for their state.

About competitions, we felt that we need to contribute to the development of football at the grassroots by keeping the youths busy.

He said that the competitions would help keep sporting facilities in various states busy as well.

We have sporting facilities in various states that are not in use, so these competitions would help keep those facilities in proper use.

Before now, we usually organise Unity Cup tournaments in some states but now we are looking at inter-local government and inter-secondary schools competitions.

The idea is to get and groom young talents who could feature in future national and international events, Gullong said.

Aside the organisation of football tournaments, Gullong also added that the club usually engages in charity works.

During the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, we distributed face masks and sanitizers to various states in the country. This was done in partnership with the National Lottery Trust Fund, he said.

The football stakeholder said that 2021 would be a busy year for the club following various sporting events like the Olympics and other continental qualifiers, where they are expected to cheer Team Nigeria to victory.

Source: NAN News

NCDC boss Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

eports that Nigerias COVID-19 recoveries increased last week compared to the previous week.

Source: NAN News

The 36 states governors are to hold teleconference on Wednesday to evolve a new national security order that will ensure safety of lives and property in the country.

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The 36 states governors are to hold teleconference on Wednesday to evolve a new national security order that will ensure safety of lives and property in the country.

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) disclosed this in a statement by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, on Monday in Abuja.

Bello-Barkindo said that the forum at its 22nd meeting would also be receiving zonal updates on the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and internal security.

He added that the governors would also revisit the issue of the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) palliatives with updates on its current status in all the states.

He added that three groups would be making presentations at the meeting, scheduled to start by 2 p.m.

These, according to him, include a joint effort between the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, discussing how to access Pension Funds for infrastructure development in the country.

Others include resolutions and matters arising from the just concluded 26th Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

Also slated for presentation is the medium and long term national development agenda by the Core Working Group (CWG) of the Human Capital Development program of Nigeria.

Bello-Barkindo added that issue of stamp duty collection and a response to the water resources minister on the Water Resources Bill would form part of the agenda.

He said that updates would also be given on State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS ), as well as on a meeting with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and Conference of Legislators of Nigeria (COSLAN).

Source: NAN News

WHO

By Cecilia Ologunagba
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, says the rights of women and girls, and gender equality, must be the focus to stop new HIV infections.

Moeti said this in her message to mark the 2020 World AIDS Day, globally celebrated on Dec. 1 to raise awareness of the pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

According to her, children living with HIV are not being adequately identified for treatment.

Moeti said girls and women aged 15 years and 24 years accounted for 37 per cent of all new HIV infections, and stigma and discrimination especially against key populations continue to create barriers to service access.

Despite these challenges, significant progress is happening in African countries. 2020 is a milestone year towards ending AIDS epidemics and 81 per cent of people living with HIV know their status.

Among them, 70 per cent of adults and 53 per cent of children are receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Eighty-five per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV are on ART, which protects their health and prevents HIV transmission to their newborn infants.

Globally, Moeti said there are 38 million people living with HIV and 67 per cent of them are living in the WHO African Region.

In 2019, more than one million people in the region were newly infected with HIV, accounting for 60 per cent of the global total, and sadly, 440,000 people in the region died from HIV-related causes.

She, however, urged communities, especially people living with HIV, to be proactive in their self-care and in understanding how to prevent the spread of the infections.

This World AIDS Day let us all demand global solidarity and shared responsibility to maintain HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as we strive to achieve the 2030 targets.

The theme of World AIDS Day this year is global solidarity and shared responsibility because in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic we are seeing how important it is for the world to come together.

We have seen how important for world to come together with determined leadership from governments and communities to sustain and expand access to essential services, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.

The pandemic is making it even more challenging for countries to provide these services, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, disasters, outbreaks and rapid population growth.

This is on top of the fact that in the African Region new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are not reducing fast enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS epidemics by 2030, the regional director said.

She commended the governments, partners and communities who had contributed to the progress on HIV in the Region, and come up with innovative ways to keep services going during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, young people living with HIV in Zambia are advocating for the elimination of stigma, adherence to HIV treatment, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and mental health support.

They are also contributing to the national COVID-19 response by creating and disseminating health messages, busting myths, and raising awareness.

In Cote dIvoire, Nigeria and Senegal, women living with HIV are serving as community pharmacists, visiting hard to reach semi-urban and rural areas to facilitate the home delivery of HIV treatment and medicines for other diseases.

They are helping to ensure that no one is left behind during the COVID-19 crisis, she said.

To sustain and accelerate the gains made, Moeti urged governments and partners to come together, with the same level of urgency and leadership demonstrated in response to COVID-19, to increase domestic funding and strengthen health systems.

There must be global solidarity and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to ensure integrated, people-centred, quality care and an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities for HIV services, she said

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dec. 1 every year, the global community comes together to mark World AIDS Day to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS.

Source: NAN News

Divorce Decree

By Olawale Akinremi

A businesswoman, Iyabo Donald, on Tuesday petitioned a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her six year-old marriage to estranged husband, Richard because he often treated her like a common criminal.

In her statement before Chief Ademola Odunade, the courts President, Iyabo said she had lived in great fear and panic for the past six years of marriage.

My lord, it is usually one day, one trouble, with me in Richards home because he tortures me like a common criminal if I go out or do anything he is not happy with.

In fact, he tracks me around the house with his gun and even locks me out at the midnight with our two children.

Besides, Richard monitors my movements in town. Worst still, he is such an irresponsible man because he neither caters for the children nor I, Iyabo said.

Iyabos mother corroborated her daughters statement, saying that Richard could kill her daughter if the court failed to act now.

I cant count how many times I have settled quarrels between them and on each occasion, Richard went back home to unleash mayhem on her, Iyabos mom said, in her testimony to the court.

However, Richard, a mobile police officer, objected to the suit and prayed the court to help keep his marriage because he still needed her.He admitted guilt but promised to make amends.

In his judgment, Odunade, however, pronounced the marriage dissolved in the interest of peace.

He awarded custody of the two children from the union, to the petitioner, and directed the respondent to pay N10,000 as their monthly feeding allowance, including being responsible for their education and welfare. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

IDPs in Nigeria

By Hassana Yakubu

Ahead of Christmas celebration Kaduna-based cleric, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has called on wealthy Christian leaders and aid organisations to support victims of ethno-religious crisis and those affected by activities of banditry in Southern Kaduna.

Buru is the General overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna state.

He said the organisations should support such victims with food and cloths to enable them celebrate the yuletide in peace, joy and happiness like every other Christian across the world.

Buru made the call when he visited some internally displaced persons(IDPs) residing at Kujama, while praying to God to strengthen them in view of the critical situation they found themselves.

According to him, it is necessary to make the call in view of the hardship most internally displaced person face in the new communities they are amid the outbreak of harmattan and Coronavirus pandemic.

The Pastor said there were many IDPs at Kujama that were living in rented houses andmost of them found it extremely difficult to afford foods while their children lack cloths to put on.

He stated that there was need for Christians around the world to immensely support them as most of their houses were completely burned down by gunmen.

The cleric also appealed to the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency and all humanitarian NGOs, civil society organisations and Human right groups to also give a helping hand.

Please visit Kujama and see the daily challenged these victims faces in the new environment they are living, he pleaded.

He expressed concern that some of the IDPs could not even send their children to schools due to lack of finances.

According to him, as harmattan season approaches, there is the need for Nigerians to also donate cold-protective clothing to the privileged children.

He said that such measure would protect them from diseases and respiratory infections such as conjunctivitis, asthma, cough, catarrh, and tonsillitis.

This Harmattan season comes with its own challenges to health and environment, to skin and also to hair and the body in general.

He further enjoined both Muslims and Christians to keep praying for peace and stability in the country while appealing for special prayers for Nigerian military for victory and commitment to defend the country.

The cleric further applauded the effort of an NGO, Zaman-tare, on its peace move in the area. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
Prof. Florence Banku-Obi has been sworn in as the 11th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar and the first female to head the institution 45 years after its establishment.

Banku-Obi was sworn in on Tuesday in Calabar by Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of University of Calabar Governing Council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Banku-Obi, who is a Professor of Special Needs Education in the University, was appointed VC of the institution on Sept. 10.

She took over from Prof. Zana Akpagu, whose tenure expired on Nov. 30 after a period of five years.

The new Vice Chancellor expressed her unflinching commitment to a culture of academic excellence through quality research output, teaching and learning, scholarly publications and visibility and integrity of examination result.

She pointed out other areas of her commitment would include result processing and handling and the reinforcement of quality assurance mechanism at all spheres, including the departmental level.

She said that during her tenure as VC of the institution, accountability, transparency, truth and courage would be her watchwords.

She gave assurance that her tenure would also witness staff motivation for optimum productivity.

As a psychologist, I shall deploy the concept of effective motivation, which connects the personal goals, and needs of the worker to our goals as a University.

I expect attitudinal change from all categories of staff in terms of commitment to their schedule of duty in appreciation of the new administration disposition to welfare.

Let it be clear to all, that, this administration will effectively use the the carrot and stick approach to increase productivity and I will maintain a cordial working relationship with the various unions on campus.

Therefore, I implore the leadership of the various university-based labour unions, while constructively engaging management on genuine issues bothering on their members welfare to also make time to counsel their members to desist from unwholesome practices that will pinch administration against staff, she said.

She promised to institute a VCs Honours List to encourage students who are doing very well in their programme of study to continue to aim at the attainment of the highest level of performance at the end of their study.

Towards this end, an undergraduate student whose performance at the end of a session, on the basis of his/her Cumulative Grade Point Average place him/her in the First Class Honours grade of at least 4.5 grade is to be recognised through placement in the VCs Honours List and will also reflect in the transcript, she said.

Earlier in her speech, Nwaogu said that her robust engagements with Banku-Obi after the selection exercise in September further deepen her confidence in the power of her vision, resourcefulness, competence and passion to provide the leadership that will produce concrete result.

She charged her to develop the institution by providing the needed critical infrastructure for scholarship, repositioning of the institution with excellence and also cater for the welfare of its teeming staff and students.

I am very optimistic that she will succeed, and to succeed, your support is pivotal, without which moving the University will only remain a mirage.

I am conscious of the weighty responsibility that history has placed on her shoulder as the first female VC of Unical affer 45 years of its existence.

Prof. Obi is ready to bring all that God endowed her in scholarship, mortherliness, entrepreneurial, advocacy and pragmatic leadership for the growth of the University.

To be on the right side of history, we must rise to the duty of committing ourselves to the task of building the University by playing whatever role is expected of us with seriousness and honesty, she said.

She charged members of the University community to encourage and support the new VC and her administration to provide the leadership that would deal with the problems at hand.

Dignitaries at the occasion include Deputy Governor of Cross, Prof. Ivara Esu, former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Eteng Jonah-Williams, VCs from various institutions among others.

Source: NAN News