Nasarawa State chapter Chairman of APC, Mr Philip Shekwo

By Mohammed Baba Busu

The slain Mr Philip Shekwo, the Nasarawa State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, was buried on Friday in his home town, Yelwa, Toto Local Government Area amid tears by family and sympathisers.

Shekwo was buried at about 2:20 p.m. at his residence in accordance with Christian rites.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Shekwo was abducted on Nov. 21 from his residence in Lafia, the state capital,and found dead on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule while speaking at the funeral service at Ebenezer Baptist Chruch, Yelwa, assured of the state governments commitment to fish out perpetratorsof the crime to serve as deterrent to others.

Sule, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe,also assured the family of the deceased APC chairman of prayers and support.

Philip is a gentle man to the core. His death is not only a loss to Yelwa community, Toto LGA,the state alone but Nigeria as a whole because he was a detribalised Nigerian.

By Gods grace, the perpetrators will surely be brought to book as it is unfair, evil and anungodly act.

Government will do everything within itspowers to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, Sule said.

Also speaking, Sen. Umar Al-Makura (APC- Nasarawa South), described the late APC chairman as a man of peace, progress and development.

Shekwo is a friend, brother and someone that I have cherished, he said.

The former governor urged the state government to conduct vigorous investigationto fish out perpetrators of the act.

Also speaking,wife of the deceased, Larai, said that her husband was a peaceful man.

My husband was a man of prayers, man that does not want to cheat, he was a caring father and hero, she said.

She urged the people to pray for the family and for the repose of her husbands soul.

In his sermon, Dr Bulus Ali,President ofBenue/ Nasarawa Baptist Conference,said death was is an inevitable end of all human and living beings.

There is no end to death as there is life after death and there is going to be judgment after death, he said.

The man of God urged the state government to do more in the area of security in order to protect lives and property.

Government should improve on the security apparatus so that we can live in peace. If not, no one is safe in the state, he said.

He admonished Nigerians to live a life worth of emulation in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

The clergy prayed for the repose of the soul of Shekwo as he equally prayed for protection of the family of the late APC Chairman.

NAN reports that other dignitaries in attendance at the burial included,the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, Hajiya Silifat Sule, the Nasarawa State First Lady and Sen. Godiya Akwashiki(APC- Nasarawa North).

Others are Rep Jonathan Gaza (PDP), Rep Abdulmumin Ari (APC) andformer deputy governor of the state, Hon Silas Agara.

Source: NAN News

Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has assured Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of their peaceful existence in the state with no one harassing or disrupting their legitimate activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that political tension has heightened in Ebonyi since Umahis defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with resentment and bickering pervading the atmosphere.

Umahi gave the assurance on Friday in Abakaliki in a broadcast to the people after a security meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

According to the governor, PDP will exist peacefully in the state provided its faithful desist from acts that jeopardise the prevailing peace and harmonious existence in the state.

I have reported allegation of some Ebonyi people engaging cultists and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) members to start killings and crisis in the state.

This is in the name of fighting the governor and the state government, he said.

He alleged that some top former and serving officials of government were fomenting the trouble.

I decide to share this information with security agencies because every governor in the state has been fought by these same people.

Umahi said that the situation made him to reach out to security agencies to assure the concerned individuals and the PDP that no one would harass them in the state.

A stitch in time saves nine; we are bringing this information to the public so that if it is true and starts happening, it will be known that I shared it with security agencies and the public.

I also tasked security agencies to implement policies on vehicle-tinted glasses, use of siren and police escorts.

Many people who use escorts are not entitled to them and these sets of people show power when they get to the communities with their security escorts shooting into the air.

We do not want this to continue and the security agencies should dispossess them of such security details used to harass innocent citizens, he said.

Source: NAN News

AfDB approves US million loan to build Malagarasi hydropower project in Tanzania

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US million loan to fund the construction of a 50 MW hydropower plant in western Tanzania.

When operational, the plant will provide reliable renewable energy to households, schools, clinics and small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Kigoma Region.

The Malagarasi Hydropower project has several components: a run-of-the-river hydropower plant facility; a 54- km, 132 kV transmission line that will connect to Tanzanias national grid; a distribution network expansion operation that includes rural electrification and last-mile connections; project management and contract administration support; and compensation and resettlement of affected persons.

Bank President Adesina Akinwumi noted that the approval of the project is a reflection of the Banks commitment to assist the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to accelerate its transition to more inclusive and sustainable growth through the production of clean, reliable and affordable electricity.

The projects overall cost is estimated at US.14 million. The bulk of the funding (US million) will be sourced from the Bank Groups sovereign window, with an additional US million contributed by the Africa Growing Together Fund a co-financing fund with resources from the government of China that is administered by the Bank. The Government of Tanzania will provide the remaining US.14 million.

The hydropower plants expected average annual output of 181 GWh will meet the electricity needs of as many as 133,649 Kigoma households, bringing the regions electrification rate more closely in line with the rest of the country.

The project is expected to create about 700 jobs during construction, cut the regions electricity generation costs to approximately USsh.04/kWh from the current USsh.33/kWh, and also reduce reliance on greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. The cost of doing business will also fall because industry will no longer need to maintain costly back-up generators.

The project aligns with Tanzanias national Development Vision 2025 and its Second Five-Year Development Plan (2016/17 2020/21) and complements other regional initiatives, including the North West Grid 400 kV Nyakanazi-Kigoma transmission line project, which the Bank is financing in parallel with the South Korea Economic Development Co-operation Fund.

The Malagarasi Project will also directly contribute to the Banks Light Up

Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur

By Yakubu Uba

Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, has solicited the support of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to curb illegal migration and other cross-border crimes in the state.

Kadafur made the call on Friday in Maiduguri while receiving the Assistant Controller General in charge of Zone C, Mr Abubakar kankara, who paid him a courtesy visit.

Kadafur said that the Immigration as a critical stakeholder in the security apparatus, has a vital role to play in the implementation of the states 25-Year Development plan.

The Deputy Governor assured NIS of governments sustained support for its operations in the state.

Earlier, Kankara said that his team was in Borno on tour of the formations in the zone.

He said that the tour would afford the team the opportunity to discuss intelligence gathering and information sharing on how to secure the borders against the influx of illegal migrants into the country.

Kankara pledged the readiness of the service to support the government in the implementation of its 25 years State Development Plan, particularly in the areas of documentation for those coming from outside the country to invest in the state.

He also appealed to the Bornu government to support the Zone with logistics for effective coverage of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hope Uzodimma, Imo state Governor

By Ismaila Chafe

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo says the state needs N75billion to remedy 360 identified erosion sites in the state.

Uzodinma stated this to State House Correspondents, after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

The governor, who revealed that he updated the president on the erosion menace in Imo, stressed the need for support from both the federal government and development partners.

He said: Its just a normal courtesy call on the President and then to make some requests, prominent among the requests I made today is that of erosion menace that has bedevilled the State to the extent that the only road that you go through to the Federal University of Technology and Federal College of Technology in Owerri, the State capital is almost cut into two.

It is so critical that the schools are about to resume and if nothing is done urgently, they may not be able to have access to their various schools and the President in his wisdom has promised to immediately get in touch with the ecological office to remedy the situation.

We have over 360 erosion sites in Imo State, and as at the last count, we have done a study of 57 sites, which we consider very critical and immediate.

Based on our assessment, a lot of money would be required to address the problem, over N75 billion and you will agree with me that the state government cannot handle that alone, he said.

According to him, the State can only address the problem through constructive partnership with the federal government, through the Ecological Fund office, and development partners.

Asked about the recent defection of Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uzodinma said he used to be like an orphan because he was the only APC Governor in that zone but now he has a brother.

He urged the Southeast governors elected under the platform of PDP and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to embrace the APC, so as to yield more dividends of democracy for the people of the zone.

The governor, who also spoke on the recently inaugurated modular refinery in the State by President Buhari, expressed the hope that the refinery would help boost economic activities in the country.

He stressed the need for more of such refineries in the country to address the problem of importation and shortage of petroleum products. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Air Force Council (AFC) has approved the promotion of 107 senior officers to the next higher ranks in the Nigerian Force (NAF).

A statement by Wing Cdr. Bassey Okon, Acting Deputy Director for Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF headquarters, said on Friday in Abuja.

According to Okon, the affected senior officers comprise 16 Air Commodores (Air Cdres) who were promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM), 31 Group Captains who were promoted to the rank of Air Commodores.

Also, 27 Wing Commanders were promoted to the rank of Group Captain and 33 Squadron Leaders were promoted to the rank of Wing Commanders.

Those promoted to the rank of AVM include: Air Commodore Abraham Adole, Tajudeen Yusuf, Ibikunle Daramola, Uchechi Nwagwu, Sani Rabe, Kurotimi Obidake, Nanjul Kumzhi, Kabiru Aliyu, Akanbi Salami and Kabir Umar.

Others are: Barisi Keenam, Sunday Ogba, Abiola Amodu, Pam Chollom, Mfon Ekpoh and Garba Abubakar.

Among those promoted from the rank of Group Capt. to Air Commodore are: Garba Jibia, Adebayo Bamidele, Christopher Akpa, Ekele Odekina, Emmanuel Iduh, Sylvester Eyoma, Sampson Eyekosi, Osichinaka Ubadike, Patrick Edem, Garuba Bello, Mukhtar Umar, Olujames Salami, Nosiru Folaji, and Emmanuel Ukpong.

Those promoted to the rank of Air Commodore include: David Dickson, Celestine Akubue, Tiyanu Kamla, Yayirus Lapips, Zakari Dangaji, Musa Abdullahi, Francis Ankeli, Abdullahi Madaki, Ugochukwu Ariahu, Mada Yushau, Ekongubong Akpabio, Isaiah Taiwo, Ali Tanko,Babatunde Bolarinwa, Ayodele Famuyiwa, Gbolahan Oremosu and Ikechukwu Ogbodo.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of NAF, heartily congratulates them, stressing, however, that they should see their elevation as motivation to re-dedicate themselves toward more effective and efficient service delivery.

The newly promoted senior officers are expected to be decorated with their new ranks at a date to be announced. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced distribution of foodstuff and non-food items to 144 widows of teachers killed by insurgents in Borno.

Presenting the materials in Maiduguri on Friday, the Borno Coordinator of NEDC, Hajiya Amina Maibe, said the gesture was part of the commissions mandate to support vulnerable people in insurgency affected areas.

Maibe said the plight of the widows and orphans was brought to NEDCs attention by the state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno (NECSOB).

The coordinator said 546 widows were listed to benefit from the gesture.

We are giving 144 widows today while the remaining will get theirs on Thursday, Maibe said.

She also announced plans to empower the widows with skills acquisition training, while the orphans would be supported with scholarships.

The state Chairman of NUT, Mr Jibrin Mohammed, thanked NEDC for the intervention and the role played by NECSOB in linking them with the commission, while urging other organisations to emulate NEDC in reaching out to the widows and orphans.

Two of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Inuwa and Yagana Babagana, who spoke at the occasion, lauded the gesture which they said was the second since they lost their husbands.

My husband was a teacher at Government Day Secondary School in Mafoni ward when he was killed in 2012.

We are grateful to all those involved in this gesture and will be greatly relieved if scholarship is provided for our children, Inuwa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each widow was given a bag of rice, maize, sugar, carton of spaghetti, macaroni, mosquito net, mattress and a blanket. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The National Sports Festival (NSF) earlier slated for Benin from Dec. 3 to Dec.13, has been rescheduled to hold at the same venue from Jan.3 to Jan.17, 2021, an official has said.

The festival tagged Edo 2020, was initially slated for March, but had to be postponed to December due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser on Media to Minister of Youth and Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the decision was taken after a stakeholders meeting.

The decision was arrived at after a virtual meeting between the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, he said.

Joshua-Akanji, however, said that it was also agreed at the meeting that all COVID-19 protocols would be observed during the festival.

NAN reports that Dare had earlier maintained that the festival was not postponed indefinitely.

The NSF has not been postponed indefinitely. We are just trying to decide a date that would be convenient for athletes and for the conditions put in place to be met, he said.

The minister said that he would make a final push to get the final and definite date for the festival.

NAN reports that some states, including the FCT have been in closed camping in preparation for the festival. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 169 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

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

The agency said that the latest infections brought the total number of cases in the country to 66,974.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Nigeria had tested 756,237 persons since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27.

The public health agency said thatthe death toll still stood at 1,169, as there were no confirmed death within the last 24 hours while 92 patients had recovered and had been discharged.

The NCDC said that the new infections were spread across 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It stated that Kaduna State accounted for the highest number of infections with 74 cases, while 42 of the new infections were recorded in FCT, 17 in Lagos, and eight in Kano State.

Others were Ogun, Oyo and Rivers, six each, Ekiti and Bauchi three each, Katsina, two while Delta and Ondo had one each.

The NCDC also said that till date, a total of 62,585 cases had been discharged in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre had been activated at Level Three and had continued to coordinate the national response activities.

Source: NAN News

Trading

By EricJames Ochigbo

A trade expert, Prof. Ken Ife, has decried the high volume of trade malpractices across land borders in the country.

Speaking at a webinar on Thursday, Ife said that there had been substantial violation of trade rules across land borders, adding that these necessitated the closure.

He told traders to respect quality assurance systems that are necessary to protect the integrity of what you are importing and stop dumping goods that are injurious to our country.

Ife also warned against ferrying of drugs and arms in containers, adding that trade is needed to improve competitiveness.

There is no gain in protracted closure of borders, he said.

Ife said that to tackle the high rate of inflation in the country, borders must be opened to allow free flow of trade items.

Other stakeholders at the webinar called for the immediate opening of land borders to boost economic activities in the country.

The stakeholders said that the closure had negative effect on revenue generation and the ease of doing business policy.

The President, National Association of Nigerian Traders, Dr Ben Ukaoha, said that the negative effect of the border closure had been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We appeal to government to reopen the land borders to every actor for genuine operations that would boost wealth creation and reduce poverty, especially in view of the fact that COVID-19 has drastically depleted revenue needed for sustainable development projects.

This is one certain way of reducing the potency of smugglers and criminals, and their capacity to become more deadly and ingenious.

Such reopening would also increase the nations purse at such a precarious situation, reduce our prevailing dominant borrowing of resources and assist in lifting the nation from economic recession, he said.

Ukaoha also said government should lead efforts in concluding the tripartite arrangement with Benin Republic and Niger Republic by implementing the envisaged road map.

This, he said, included the non-negotiability of destruction of warehouses on borders/corridor buffer zones.

The acting Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Chuma Oruche, said that closure of borders
had hindered legitimate businesses from either bringing in raw materials for production or exporting finished products.

Oruche, who called for opening of the borders, however, said measures should be put in place to curtail trade malpractices.

Ms Mercy Ogwu, Assistant Director, Consumer Education, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), urged traders to ensure that their goods are traceable to the producer.

She also advised them to remove toxic goods from the market, saying protection of consumers was more paramount than profit.

The Director, Department of Trade, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr Alliyu Abubakar, commended the organisers of the webinar for the initiative.

The director hinged the border closer on insecurity and trade malpractices by actors in the industry.

Abubakar said it was time for government to look into the concerns raised noting that this would have positive impact on local businesses and ECOWAS trade agreements.

He said that the recommendations of the stakeholders would be presented to the government for necessary action. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Yakubu Uba

The police command in Borno has announced restriction on vehicular movement from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. to ensure peaceful conduct of Saturdays local council election in the state.

Mr Bello Makwashi, the state Commissioner of Police said this in a statement on Friday in Maiduguri.

He said that the restriction would also cover tricycles and bicycles users as well as people on animals, except those on essential duties.

Makwashi assured that security agencies in the state were ready to ensure peaceful and hitch free conduct of the poll.

The command is calling on all eligible voters with valid Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to go out and exercise their franchise without fear or apprehension.

They are equally advised to conduct themselves in an orderly manner throughout the period of the exercise.

All contestants are further advised to rein in their supporters/followers to avoid thuggery and other acts of violence capable of hindering the smooth conduct of the election, he said.

The commissioner warned trouble makers to stay away from Polling Units, Collation Centres, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices and other places of public interest.

He said that the police and other security agencies will decisively deal with persons caught fomenting trouble or breaking the electoral and other laws of the land.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Yemi Kale, NBS Boss

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government generated N416.01 billion as Company Income Tax (CIT), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says.

The bureau said this in its Company Income Tax by Sectors 2015 Quarter Three (Q3 2020) obtained from its website on Thursday in Abuja.

It said that the amount was against N402.03 billion generated in Quarter Two 2020 and N520.89 billion generated in Q3 2019,representing a 3.48 per cent increase Quarter-on-Quarter and -20.13 per cent decrease Year-on-Year.

The bureau said that professional servicesincluding telecoms generated the highest amount of CIT with N55.52 billion generated and closely followed by other manufacturing which generated N42.03 billion.

This was followed by banks and financial institutions which generated N24.05 billion, while mining generated the least with N120.93 million and closely followed by textile and garment industry with N167.51 million and Local Government Councils with N321.72 million.

The NBS said that out of the total amount generated in Q3 2020, N244.70 billion was generated as CIT locally while N70.34 billion was generated as foreign CIT payment.

The balance of N100.97 billion was generated as CIT from other payments, the report said.

It added that thedata was provided by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and verified and validated by the NBS. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

CAC

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Alhaji Garba Abubakar, Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says the commission is putting machinery in place to begin full implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 by Jan 1, 2021.

Abubakar made this known at the Institute of Directors (IoD) National Stakeholders Forum on the CAMA 2020.

He said that the commission was working on an existing software, expected to be ready by middle of December, to accommodate all the changes available in the new Act.

The registrar-general said the software was upgraded to be end to end, with all modules incorporated with interface for document uploads, user names, passwords, among other secure electronic measures.

He, however, said April 1 was take off date for companies that fell under Limited Partnership and Limited Liability Partnership categories.

Abubakar said that the measures were to ensure that the infrastructure required to achieve the objectives of the Act to enhance operational and regulatory functions of business were enhanced.

The Act has introduced measures to make Nigerian company law better fitted to todays realities, improve the business environment and performance across the economy as well as reduce direct compliance costs for businesses.

We recognise that the Act is not a perfect piece of legislation, and this is to be expected for a 606-page, 870-section legislation which is arguably the largest single legislation to come out of the annals of the Nigerian legislative chamber.

Generally, however, the Act has been acclaimed a major reform landmark in the promotion of enterprise in Nigeria and the reform of her business environment, he said.

Abubakar said that the CAC had put together the Draft Companies Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) to complement the substantive provisions of the Act.

He said that the regulations were to also possibly address some gaps therein, which are within the competence of regulations to address.

The CAC chief said the regulations were published on the Commissions website on Nov. 2, 2020 while inviting submissions from the general public.

Submissions have been received from some groups and individuals

The Commission is presently reviewing the submissions for further action(s) as may be necessary for effective regulation.

We hope that at this point, operators would have conducted (or be conducting) gap-analyses to determine what actions are necessary on their parts to align their operations with the requirements of the Act, he said.

Prof Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN, Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, said the Act would in a huge way positively influence business operations due to its provision of consideration of the right of stakeholders.

He lauded the introduction of more orderly and effective procedures for business rescue and resolution of insolvency.

CAMA used to focus largely on the shareholders but it has now taken in those also important to the survival of a business environment such as directors, employees, customers and others.

The provisions on insolvency are far reaching, deeper, and international, as it introduces the concept of administration on insolvency that helps work a company back to liquidity.

The Act would also give the court a better grasp when dealing with issues that have to do with business.

CAMA has been structured to make financing by companies cheaper and easier, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations

The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operations Whirl Stroke and Accord have arrested eight bandits and eliminated three in different operations in Benue, Nasarawa, and Zamfara.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke eliminated three bandits in an encounter around Asogo village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.

He said the operation was conducted following credible intelligence on the hideout of some notorious elements who were alleged to be terrorising the area.

He disclosed that one locally made pistol and 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered during the encounter.

Enenche also said that troops of Sector 111 arrested two suspects who were believed to be behind recent clashes between herders and farmers in Atiyagiso community in Doma LGA of Nasarawa State.

He said the suspects -Mr Abdulkareem and Mohammed Sani, confessed to their involvement in the crime, adding that they had been handed over to the police for further action.

The Coordinator also disclosed that the troops of Operation Accord arrested six youths at Zurmi LGA of Zamfara following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected bandits in the area.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that two of the suspects were confirmed to be bandits, while two others were suspected to be new recruits into the camp of a notorious bandit known as Turji.

According to him, further search on their phones showed pictures of suspects practicing weapon handling.

The suspects confessed to be bandits as alleged and are currently are in custody for further action.

Troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action.

The general public is thus encouraged to continue to provide credible information to the troops operating within their localities.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

The death toll from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Africa has peaked at 50,000 people since the first outbreak on the continent was declared, head of the African Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), John Nkengasong, announced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday.

African countries recorded at least 94,000 new cases of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 4,000 new deaths in the past week alone, highlighting the deadly manner the disease has continued to spread rapidly during its second wave across Africa, the Africa CDC director told reporters.

Across Africa, there was a 7.5 per cent increase in the number of newly confirmed cases while deaths from existing infections also showed an increasing trend.

Africa CDC Deputy Director, Ahmed Ogwel, said the rising level of new deaths from the pandemic was a result of the gaps within the national health facilities in Africa, caused mainly by the lack of a proper treatment regime for the pandemic.

We are keen to avoid the experiences like what we had with the wild polio outbreak which affected millions of people out of remote regions in Africa, Nkengasong said, emphasing the need for governments across Africa to push further with the implementation of public health measures to combat the spread of the virus to remote rural areas from urban centres.

South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Tunisia remain with the highest number of cases. Ethiopia has recorded a 7 per cent decrease in the number of new cases while Kenya recorded an 11 per cent rise in new cases, Nkengasong told reporters.

The AU CDC is currently preparing to begin the large-scale distribution of 2.7 million antigen testing kits, which produces better results much quickly and is equally much cheaper as part of a strategy to rapidly improve testing, contact tracing and the treatment of patients catching the virus.

The antigen test is a game-changer because it catches the virus quickest, Nkengasong said. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad (Sabon Gari Federal Constituency),

ABU, Zaria: Curbing the trend of attacks on tertiary institutions

News Analysis by Ismail Abdulaziz of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Security situation in Northern Nigeria has assumed a worrisome situation. Bandits go around in the villages, households and markets with their AK 47 and nobody is challenging them. Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar.

The security situation was aptly described by the venerable Sultan at an event on Thursday in Abuja. From the North East to teh North West and North Central, security has nosedived and things are no longer at ease. Kidnapping along the Abuja-Kaduna road has forced many to turn to the train for transportation. Schools have been targets in the North East with the popular Chibok school attack making headlines across the world.

Recent attacks by bandits in two tertiary institutions in Zaria, Kaduna State is worrisome. In Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic two children and a lecturer were abducted while in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) a lecturers was abducted while his family narrowly escaped.

Auwalu Umar, the ABU spokesman said in a statement: Kidnappers invaded the house of a staff member of the university. As the police went after them up to Kasuwar Daa village bothering the university, the kidnappers then released the wife and daughter and went away with the husband.

A House of Representative member from Kaduna State, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad (Sabon Gari Federal Constituency), raised a motion of urgent national importance during the week to address the insecurity on the campus.

In a motion co-sponsored by Hon. Shehu Balarabe, Hon. Muktar Shehu Ladan and Hon. Ibrahim Hamza, the lawmakers sought the quick intervention of relevant stakeholders in the ugly trend.

He recalled that the state of insecurity in Nigeria has been a matter of grave concern to all well-meaning patriots for several years now and that the state of insecurity in Kaduna State and Northwest has degenerated to an alarming level in spite of efforts to put an end to it, banditry and kidnappings have continued unabated.

The lawmaker decried the activities of the bandits, who have now extended their spate of kidnappings and abductions to citadel of learning particularly the Ahmadu Bello University.

He observed that the bandits have been aided by the absence of a wall or fence around the Samaru Campus of the University, which share borders with Southern Katsina, as well as the Kuyello area of Birnin Gwari.

He disclosed that the consequence of the attack on ABU is that the University now stands the serious risk of being unable to guarantee a serene and conducive atmosphere that is a sine qua non for its purpose as an institution of higher learning.

Our basic, supreme law, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in its section 14(2)(b) proclaims the security and welfare of the people to be the primary purpose of government.

Security is one of the cardinal policies of the current administration for which it has left no stone unturned towards neutralizing and degrading the terrorist scourge in the North East.

If this trend of attacking University campuses is not halted, chaos and anarchy will reign in our ivory towers where serenity is an inevitable precondition to achieving academic excellence, Muhammad, who is an APC member, said.

He, therefore, suggested a number of steps to be taken to safeguard the lives and property of Nigeria and particularly the ABU communities.

1. The Federal Government to urgently and without further delay erect a secure wall round the campuses of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as has been done for the University of Maiduguri in Maiduguri and the Gwagwalada campuses of the University of Abuja in order to forestall incursions from the bandits and other miscreants;

2. The Inspector General of Police to urgently and without further delay, establish units of its mobile police troops at the institution particularly at the Phase 2 segment of its Samaru campus to ensure security of lives and property at all times;

3. The Chief of Army Staff to urgently and without further delay, establish a battalion of the Nigerian Army at the southern border of the University to help forestall incursions into the campus from that end.

4. He, similarly mandated the House Committees on Tertiary Education and National Security and Intelligence to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police and other relevant agencies of Government to implement the above resolutions and report to the House within three weeks.

The event in the last few weeks in Zaria tertiary institutions needed to be tackled urgently in order to maintain the peace, security and conducive environment for learning and teaching.

The ABU is a community that harbour over 60,000 staff and students population with origins spread across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. It is a microcosm of Nigeria and needed to be given a sustained atmosphere of security and serenity worth of its status.

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed holding the repatriated Ife Terracotta Artefact and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Kingdom of Netherlands on Thursday officially presented a smuggled Ife Terracotta antiquity dated to be at least 600 years old to Nigeria.

The repatriated antiquity was presented to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a ceremony held in Abuja.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Van Dijk, Nigeria Charge de Affairs to Netherlands, Kabiru Musa and the Director-General National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) were present at the event.

Receiving the repatriated object, the minister said it was smuggled through the airport in Ghana before getting to Europe in 2019.

The smuggler had obtained forged documents purported to be from a former Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

The smuggler ultimately passed through the airport in Ghana before getting to Europe in 2019.

The Dutch Customs at Schiphol Airport suspected that the object might be illicitly imported and alerted the antiquity protection office known as the Inspectie, which is the Information and Heritage Inspectorate of the Netherlands, to give an opinion.

The Inspectie invited Nigeria to prove her case against the suspected smuggler, he said.

In proving the case, Mohammed said the NCMM acted swiftly by dispatching its lawyer, Mr Babatunde Adebiyi, to present evidence and argue for the return of the object.

He said Nigeria was successful in the case and the claim was determined in its favour.

Mohammed said after all internal procedures, including the right of appeal, were exhausted, the Government of the Netherlands handed over the object to the Nigerian Embassy in Hague on Nov. 2.

He noted that with the repatriation of the priceless and timeless artefact the federal government efforts at pursuing the return of Nigerian antiquities had started yielding fruits.

The minister underscored the need for Nigeria to tap into tourism and other fields, where Nigeria has comparative advantages, in order to generate income for the nation and secure jobs for the youth.

One way of generating income for the country is if our cultural properties are exhibited around the world to a fee-paying audience, on the basis of proper agreement that acknowledges us as owners and confers the right benefits on us.

But this is not possible for as long as most of them adorn the museums and private collections of others, who describe them as their properties, he said.

The minister reiterated Nigeria commitment to joint international efforts to put a stop to illicit export and import of cultural goods.

He said Netherland and Nigeria will make a joint presentation on the repatriation to the UNESCO Secretariat in Paris, so that other nations might take a cue from it in finding rapprochement and common ground concerning the issue of return of antiquities.

On his part, Onyema said it is a happy day for Nigeria because there are many Nigerian cultural assets around the world which have become difficult to track.

He said some of the assets were taken out of the country for over 100 years back and some more recently.

The minister said there is underground illegal market for cultural asset which has made them difficult to identify, retrieve and repatriate.

Onyema said the government is committed to the restitution of all the nations cultural assets illegally taken and litter across the globe

Musa said the repatriation was made possible in compliance with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Prevention of Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Heritage which Nigeria and Netherlands are signatories.

He said that the return of the smuggled artefact was significant considering the fact that it coincided with 50 years-celebration of the UNESCO Convention.

Source: NAN News

Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore, re-elected

Burkina Fasos incumbent President Roch Kabore has won the election with 57.87 per cent of votes, according to the election body Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday.

Having won more than 50 per cent of the total ballots cast, Kabore has secured enough votes to avoid a second round.

Some analysts had expected a closer contest on Sunday between Kabore, who was elected president of Burkina Faso in 2015, and his main rivals, who argued he had failed to contain jihadist and ethnic violence that forced one million people to flee their homes during his first term.

Sundays presidential and parliamentary elections were held in the shadow of violence, with a surge in attacks,

Once perceived as a stable West African nation, Burkina Fasos fate is now closely tied with that of the wider Sahel region, where 5,000 French troops are deployed under Operation Barkhane, cooperating with a fledgling European Operation Takuba force.

The presidential election results read out by the election commission on Thursday showed Kabor taking 57.87 per cent of the vote while his two closest rivals, Zephirin Diabreand Eddie Komboigo, got 12.46 per cent and 15.48 per cent, respectively.

Kabors opponents have raised concerns about the validity of the vote count.

But the electoral commission has dismissed those and an international observer mission gave the election a mostly clean bill of health. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday sustained positive momentum with a growth of 0.10 per cent.

Specifically, the All Share Index inched higher by 34.00 points or 0.10 per cent to close at 34,803.00 from 34,769.00 posted on Wednesday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation which opened at N18.166 trillion rose by N18 billion or 0.10 per cent to close at N18.184 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Mobil, Guinness, Guaranty Trust Bank, Cadbury and International Breweries.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said: Following three consecutive days of positive performance, we envisage investors will take profit in the next trading session.

However, we expect the equities market to close in the green for the week.

NCR and UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust led the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent each to close at N1.98 and N5.50 per share, respectively.

Mobil followed with 9.89 per cent to close at N208.80 per share.

Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals improved by 9.79 per cent to close at N2.58, while International Breweries chalked up 9.62 per cent to close at N7.18 per share.

Conversely, Royal Exchange dominated the losers chart in percentage terms losing 7.69 per cent to close at 24k per share.

Union Diagnostic

Old women

By Ikenna Osuoha

Sen. Eze Ajoku, the President, Coalition Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN), has described violence against women especially older women as severe human rights abuse.

Ajoku said this in commemoration of International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He noted that violence against older women in particular was driven by ageism and sexism as well as other factors as marital status or disability.

The coalition president who called for stronger synergy to end the crime, said collective responsibilities as individuals was paramount in achieving the desired goal.

Ajoku canvassed for commitment among stakeholders towards improving the funding, data collection aimed at eradicating all forms of violence against women as well as providing rehabilitation to survivors.

This years theme which is entitled Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect, together with global community, we are amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps.

Ensure essential services for survivors of violence during COVID-19 crisis, focus on prevention and collection of data that can improve lifesaving services for women and girls, he said.

The coalition leader explained that violence against women and older women in particular was deeply rooted to prejudices, dehumanising stereotypes.

He however condemned some social norms and cultural beliefs that tolerated or condoned awful acts of violence and called for change.

According to him, violence against older women comes in different shades in form of physical abuse or verbal in the home.

Ajoku said: An older woman might be accused of witchcraft and attacked or even murdered by members of her community.

He explained that violence against women might be in form of denial of rights and access to her privileges especially older women who were denied of rights of acquisition or inheritance.

Ajoku regretted the unavailability of data on the traumatic experience of women especially older women.

It is disheartening to note that according to World Health Organisation, just 59 per cent countries have laws to prevent older abuse and only 30 per cent of these are enforced.

Meanwhile, domestic violence legislation does not specifically include older women, so let us all rise to fund, respond, protect and correct the ills in our society.

NAN reports that according to the UN Population Fund, one in every three women and girls suffers violence daily globally. (NAN)

Source: NAN News