APC Chieftain, Mr Osita Okechukwu

By Naomi Sharang

An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Mr Osita Okechukwu, has hailed the defection of Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party, describing it as a welcome development.

Okechukwu, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the governor had made a bold move by joining the ruling APC.

Okechukwu, who is also the Director- General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), said that he (Umahi) had activated the Zikist Eagle Alliance in the South-East geopolitical zone.

I congratulate His Excellency, David Umahi, for flying the pragmatic Zikist Eagle Alliance, which governed the First and Second Republics in Nigeria.

It is a welcome development, especially given the fact that he is leading the squad of his colleagues and other prominent Igbo leaders to reinforce the revived Zikist North and East Alliance, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umahi had announced his defection to APC, alleging that PDP was unfair to NdIgbo in spite of their years of loyalty and investment of their electoral advantage on the party.

Okechukwu said: I agree with the governor entirely, because if you remember that His Excellency, Dr Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory, who was the founder of PDP, was treated shabbily.

Apart from individual appointments, what did the South-East get in return?

Personal important appointments in the face of regrettable dilapidated physical infrastructure have contributed nothing to the zone.

But, the current APC-led Federal Government is carrying the cross of infrastructural development to the joy of our people.

Okechukwu said that Umahis move would guarantee the popular agitation for Nigerias president of Igbo extraction, come 2023.

It will be more than any alchemy; it will facilitate it, more so when he (the governor) is the pilot of gale of defections we are expecting from the zone to APC.

As the chairman of South-East Governors Forum, Umahi is opening the gate for his other brother-governors, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja-based lawyers, Messrs Pelumi Olajengbesi and Henry Kelechukwu, have appealed to the National Assembly (NASS) to ensure that the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), 2020 was tailored to strengthen the policy arm of the petroleum industry and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The lawyers made the appeal in a memorandum on the PIB they jointly signed and addressed to the Senate Committee on Gas Resources, and seen by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Olajengbesi and Kelechukwu, both Senior partners at the Law Corridor, an Abuja-based law firm, stated that the bill should be properly structured to harness the proficiency of the non-pool professionals engaged in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

We strongly recommend that the bill should create and establish the National Petroleum Directorate, as a professional arm of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. This is to immediately absorb all the non pool staffs/professionals already engaged in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to address issues like the lack of proper delineation, composition and operation of the policy arm of the Oil and Gas sector.

Specifically, the bill should be structuring the Ministry of Petroleum Resources into two departments, the Administrative Department and the National Petroleum Directorate.

The Administrative Department of the Ministry should be composed of the Civil Servants as is the case presently, and to be tasked with the day to day running and general functionality of the Ministrys administration to ensure a seamless implementation of its policies and directives.

The National Petroleum Directorate, on the other hand, will be tasked with the development of policies and instruments for the effective coordination and operation of the Oil and Gas industry, Olajengbesi and Kelechukwu explained in the memorandum.

They also called for a review of the situation where external consultants were procured to carry out roles that can be handled by professionals in the ministry.

Such external consultants discharge their brief only to exit upon the appointment of a new Minister, resulting in a break in the chain of policy development, continuity and sustainability of the Ministrys policy directions.

The redundancy of these professionals in the ministry has resulted in a colossal waste of human and intellectual resources garnered over the years, which was purposively directed at the service of the ministry but left unharnessed till date, they said.

They also called for the renaming of the Office of the Minister in the Proposed Petroleum Industry Bill 2020, because the Minister derived his functionality and structure from the Ministry.

It is imperative to state that all Ministries of the Federal Government statutorily have the Office of the Minister as a component part of its entity and administration. Hence, the office of the Minister cannot be recognized in isolation of the Ministry as the Minister derives his functionality and structure from the Ministry.

The Ministry is, in fact, the foundation and bedrock from which the Minister derives purpose and intent to perform optimally by maximising the Ministrys structural and professional existence for the growth and development of the petroleum sector.

The resultant and implicit effect of the use of the Office of the Minister, rather than reference of same as the Head of the Ministry, could invariably necessitate the usurpation of the role and functionality of the entire Ministrys stake in the sector. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

APC logo

By Victor Nwachukwu

All Progressives Congress (APC), Imo chapter, has congratulated Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi on his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The party congratulated the governor in a statement by its publicity Secretary, Mr Cajetan Duke, in Owerri on Wednesday.

Duke described Umahis defection as forthright, timely, calculated political move, and a true reflection of selflessness.

He said that the defection would serve the collective interest of the people of Ebonyi, the southeast, and Nigeria at large.

The publicity secretary called on other political leaders in the PDP to toe Umahis path to make Nigeria a progressive country.

Gov. Umahi has demonstrated rare strength of character and political dexterity as an uncommon leader with clarity of vision and tenacity of purpose.

He commended Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo for hisleadership capacity and disposition which has continued to attract goodwill for the party in the state and the southeast zone.

Duke expressed optimism that more southeast governors would soon join the party. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says that in its Quarter Three 2020 (Q3-2020) reading of the Afreximbank African Commodity Index (AACI), its composite index fell marginally by one per cent quarter-on-quarter.

It made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt after the release of the AACI for Q3-2020.

The AACI is a trade-weighted index designed to track the price performance of 13 different commodities of interest to Africa and the bank on a quarterly basis.

The bank said the decline was mainly on account of a pull-back in the energy sub-index.

In comparison, the agricultural commodities sub-index rose to become the top performer in the quarter, outstripping gains in base and precious metals.

The bank said that the recurrence of adverse commodity terms of trade shocks had been the bane of African economies.

It added that in tracking the movements in commodity prices, the AACI highlights areas requiring pre-emptive measures by the bank, its key stakeholders and policymakers in its member countries and global institutions interested in the African market.

This was to effectively mitigate risks associated with commodity price volatility, it said.

Giving an overview of the AACI for Q3-2020, it said there were indications that on a quarterly basis, the energy sub-index fell by eight per cent largely due to a sharp drop in oil prices as Chinese demand waned and Saudi Arabia cut its pricing.

Also, that the agricultural commodities sub-index rose 13 per cent due in part to sub-optimal weather conditions in major producing countries.

It, however, said that within that index, sugar prices gained on expectations of firm import demand from China and fears that Thailands crop could shrink in 2021 following a drought.

According to the bank, cocoa futures enjoyed a pre-election premium in Ghana and Cte dIvoire in spite of the looming risk of bumper harvests in the 2020/21 season and the decline in the price of cocoa butter.

It said cotton rose to its highest level since February due to the threat of storm Sally on the United States of Americas cotton harvest, coupled with poor field conditions in the U.S.

It added that within that index also, coffee rose 10 per cent as La Nina weather conditions in Vietnam, the worlds largest producer of Robusta coffee raised the possibility of a shortage in exports.

Other indications are that base metals sub-index rose nine per cent due to several factors including ongoing supply concerns for copper in Chile and Peru and strong demand in China, especially as the State Grid boosted spending to improve the power network.

For precious metals sub-index, the best performer year-to-date rose seven per cent in the quarter as the demand for haven bullion continued in the face of persistent economic challenges triggered by COVID-19 and heightening geopolitical tensions.

In addition, Gold enjoyed record inflows into gold-backed exchange traded funds (ETFs) which offset major weaknesses in jewellery demand, Afreximbank said.

Regarding the outlook for commodity prices, the AACI highlights the generally conservative market sentiment with consensus forecasts predicting prices to stay within a tight range in the near term with the exception of crude oil, coffee, crude palm oil, cobalt and sugar.

Dr Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist at Afreximbank, said commodity prices in Q3-2020 had largely been impacted by COVID-19.

He said that the pandemic had exposed global demand shifts that had seen the oil industry incur backlogs and agricultural commodity prices dwindle in the first half of the year.

The outlook for 2021 is positive, however, conservative the markets still are. We hope to see an increase in global demand within Q1 and Q2 2021 buoyed by the relaxation of most COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Afreximbank is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution with the mandate of financing and promoting intra-and extra-African trade. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says films from unregistered, illegal producers and directors will no longer be registered from Jan. 1, 2021.

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director, NFVCB said this on Wednesday during a meeting with the creative industrys stakeholders on Enabling Laws and Strengthening of Professional Guilds and Associations.

Thomas said that such producers and directors who were not registered with recognised guilds or associations and the board were considered illegal and would be given a window period of one month to do so before January 2021.

He said every association or guild must also register with NFVCB as legal bodies, saying that this would be beneficial to them in terms of accessing some benefits in the long run.

According to him, the major problem facing the industry is that of unprofessional practitioners and quacks and this action is meant to strengthen associations and encourage professionalism.

No film will be censored from producers or directors who are not members of a recognised and professional association or guild.

We observed that most practitioners are not professional in their practices. This is our own way of sanitising the industry.

This morning we have 15 registered associations in attendance but in our database, we have over 2,000 associations.

I want you all to know that we are not compromising with our laws. For us to recognise you, you must register with us with an evidence of your Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, Thomas said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NFVCB enabling law booklet were distributed to the stakeholders for proper evaluation and adherence to the law.

Some of the associations present for the meeting were: Actors Guild of Nigeria, Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria, Association of Movie Marketers and Producers, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Directors Guild of Nigeria and more.

The stakeholders agreed with the management of NFVCB that all Guilds and Associations must have 50 persons membership strength, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

It was also agreed that associations must pay registration fees to NFVCB and more.

Thomas told the stakeholders that the NFVCB laws had not been reviewed in recent times which would be done soon, urging them to look into areas that could be reviewed for the advancement of the industry. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

DPR Officials

By Solomon Asowata

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it shut down 85 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants in Lagos from January to October, for operating illegally.

Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Lagos, made this known while speaking with newsmen during a public sensitisation exercise on safe usage of LPG.

It was organised by the agency in some parts of Lagos Mainland on Wednesday.

Cardoso said the LPG (cooking gas) plants were shut down for not complying with international safety standards and operating without approval or licence from the DPR.

According to him, the move is to curb the occurrenceof gas explosion and fire incidents in the state.

He said the agency would continue to clamp down on such illegal plants while at the same time sensitising the public on the need for safe usage and distribution of gas.

Cardoso said: We are doing this sensitisation to tell the public that it is safe to use gas. It is an efficient and clean source of energy if used appropriately.

We want to bring gas sector to the citizens and deepen utilisation of LPG for job creation and national development which is the aspiration of the Federal Government.

We will be doing this exercise continuously in various parts of the state.

He said the government through the National Gas Expansion Programme was committed to making gas accessible and affordable for Nigerians.

We have a lot of people coming into the sector to invest and DPR is on ground to ensure that they follow the regulatory requirements.

We recently brought outnew guidelines to encourage investors and anybody that wants to operate in the sector should follow the guidelines, Cardoso said.

He said that the DPR was also collaborating with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders to improve safety in gas storage, sales and distribution. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Federal Government says it plans to adopt geospatial technology towards boostingInternally Generated Revenue (IGR), in the country as parts of its efforts to diversify the economy.

Mr Samuel Adeniran, Surveyor General of the Federation, said this at the 2020 Geospatial Information System (GIS) Day celebration organised by the Geospatial Society of Nigeria (GEOSON) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The theme of the celebration was Driving Internally Generated Revenue with Geospatial Technology.

Human beings can only manage effectively their present and future when they can predict phenomena with substantial data of happenings in their environment.

Since money is an important factor for formulation, planning and execution of nearly all human endeavours, the issue of IGR has become fundamental in the modern world.

With the rising cost of governance and demands of various sectors of the economy on the government, there is need to continue to explore every means of enhancing our financial base.

Although, surveying and mapping, GIS and remote sensing are not end themselves, the nation cannot continue to subsist in self deception of making meaningful progress without geospatial knowledge and application, he said.

Adeniran added: The government is now focusing on the diversification of the economy to lessen dependence on the downstream sector and the use of geospatial technology to harness resources in mining, tourism, agriculture, transportation, land and housing among other engagements.

He called on stakeholders to provide the government with requisite geospatial data to ensure good decision making, planning and implementation of policies and programmes to improve the lives of Nigerians.

GEOSON President, Dr Matthew Adepoju said geospatial technology has been deployed in many climes by the media to handle COVID-19 pandemic and recently the U.S presidential election.

The 2023 is around the corner, we need to work together with the News Agency of Nigeria and other media organisations to have our reportage online with geoinformation technology around the world, he said.

He emphasised that geospatial technology was among the top 10 fields projected to become centre of emerging technologies development and among the 20 highest paid professions globally, hence the need for practitioners to upgrade themselves.

Most of traditional professions will be taken over by Artificial Intelligence and robotics in the next few decades.

This is a clarion call for all of us to acquire more skills and read extensively to be well positioned for the rapid development in the field of geospatial science and engineering, Adepoju said.

Prof Joseph Akinyede, Chairman, GEOSON Board of Trustee, said that the realisation of a countrys sustainable socio-economic development depended on availability of geospatial information.

Geospatial technology must be part of a nations infrastructure such as in transportation, healthcare, telecommunications and accorded same level of support and priority because it provides geographic information of the country in terms of asset and potential.

Increase in sharing quality data will lead to efficient management of the nations natural resources and environment resulting in quality life of the people, Akinyede said.

According to him, geospatial technology experts complement other professionals, so there is need to work in synergy to develop the country.

Dr Francis Chizea, Acting-Director of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), said geospatial technology will be useless without strong reliable dataset.

Chizea, represented by Dr Godstime James, said the agency is championing the GRID3 programme to provide demographic, geographic and settlement data of the country.

The agency is pushing for the revatilisation of National Geospatial Data Infrastructure to have uniform fundamental dataset which we can build geospatial data required for IGR.

Geospatial Technology is an emerging field of study that includes GIS, Remote Sensing (RS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), that enables institutions to acquire data referenced to the earth and used such for analysis, modeling, simulations and visualisation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Okorocha

By Peter Amine

Sen. Rochas Okorocha, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, will chair the 2020 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) holding in Jos, Plateau, from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.

Mr Dan Manjang , Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee for the festival, disclosed this on Tuesday when he led members of the body on an advocacy visit to the leadership of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Manjang, who is also the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, also said that Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe would be the Special Guest of Honour at the event.

He also said that Gov. Simon Lalong who would be the Chief Host, would declare the event open.

He gave the Theme of the festival as Post COVID-19 and Cultural Dynamism.

The commissioner said that the State would use the festival to change the negative narrative about Plateau.

If all the 36 states are coming here, we will let them understand that the state is conducive for them to live in despite the negative publicity we have had in recent times.

This is particularly in terms of security challenges we have experienced from time to time, which is a global phenomenon.

We are here to let journalists know formally that an event of this nature is coming up in the state and to seek NUJs collaboration because governance in itself is media.

All that you do if it is not put in the public domain through the media will be like you have not done nothing, and that is why we are here to seek collaboration for the coverage of the event, he said.

According to him, the event will start on Nov. 22with cultural shows at Langfield Leisure Park, while the opening ceremony will hold on Nov. 23 at Rwang Pam Stadium.

Manjang added that the event would be rounded off with a golf tournament, saying that all the golfers would appear in cultural costumes.

Mr Paul Jatau, Chairman of the Council, assured the committee that journalists would do their best to promote the festival.

Jatau added that journalists were ready and willing to change the negative narrative about the state for the benefit of all. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

National Sports Festival, EDO 2020 logo

By Obinna Unaeze

Baba Sheshi, Director of Sports in the Niger Ministry of Youths and Sports, on Tuesday said the state would feature in 23 events at next months National Sports Festival (NSF).

Sheshi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the state contingent would have 132 members, made up of 98 athletes and 34 officials.

We will compete in 23 events, namely athletics (eight events), badminton, beach volleyball, chess, scrabble, golf, hockey, handball, squash, taekwondo, wheelchair tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, kick-boxing, deaf athletics and para-athletics.

NAN reports that the state had finished 21st at the last edition of the NSF held in December 2018 in Abuja, after winning four gold and six silver medals.

The 20th NSF tagged Edo 2020 will hold in Benin from Dec. 3 to Dec. 18. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Buhari and service chiefs

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari says that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that there is no repeat of EndSARS protests in Nigeria again.

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, quoted the president to have said this during the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the president reassured that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with relevant stakeholders in ensuring peaceful and harmonious socio-economic environment across the country.

What we are saying is that government will continue to dialogue, it will continue to listen and will continue to carry all stakeholders along in ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened that destroyed a lot of property, public and private, individuals in this country, the minister quoted the president to have said.

Dingyadi further stated that the NSC meeting was convened to brief the president about security situation in the country.

He said the meeting stressed the need to pay greater attention to the police in the discharge of their functions to maintain peace in the country, in the areas of equipment and modern technology.

According to the minister, the president thanked members of the Council for their efforts in maintaining peace and assured them that he will do whatever it takes to support security agencies in providing peace in the country.

He added: The meeting noted with concern the increasing cases of armed banditry particularly in the North-West and North Eastern parts of the country.

The meeting agreed to be more proactive in dealing with the situation in a more decisive manner.

The meeting thanked the president for the concern which he has shown in repositioning the police to perform more effectively.

President reassured that all stakeholders will be involved in the process of maintaining peace in the country, particularly the youth, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, public servants, religious leaders etc.

The minister said the federal government would continue to maintain its bureaucratic, humane and just postures in handling security matters in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those in attendance at the meeting included the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Others in attendance were; Ministers of Defence, retired Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Mahashi; Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama and Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi.

Service chiefs in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar.

Other members of the security community who attended the meeting were; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai and the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kaduna State Acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe

By Hussaina Yakubu

The Kaduna State Government says it is open to new ideas on ways to address the lingering security challenges across the state.

The state Acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe made this known on Tuesday in Kaduna when she received participants of Advance Defence Intelligence Course 13, of the Defence Intelligence College, Abuja, who were on study tour of Kaduna State.

She said that the government had taken steps toward combating crime and insecurity in urban and rural areas of the state, including deploying technology to meet the dynamic scope of the challenges.

Balarabe urged the participants to provide novel ideas to curb insecurity that has bedeviled the state and Nigeria as a whole.

The quest for security is something that is dear to our heart, we are willing to work with everyone that can give us ideas on how to go about the situation on ground, by getting completely new ideas to do better, she said.

The acting governor said that peace is important to the growth and development of any nation.

When we ensure security, we are providing that environment that guarantees purposeful development while also enhancing economic growth, wealth creation and social integration, she added.

Earlier, Commandant of the College, Cdr. Mike Oamen, said that the advance defence intelligence course was to prepare senior intelligence officers from the military and paramilitary for leadership positions as they grow in the service.

Oamen explained that the study tour has as its theme, Consolidating the gains of intelligence in curbing banditary for enhancing national security of Nigeria.

According to him, it was part of the course requirements for the participants to undertake research on very topical and contemporary security issues in the country.

Kaduna State was carefully selected considering the critical and prime position the state occupies in the security architecture of Nigeria.

For the next three days, they will be looking at the efforts of the government, which has been commendable, in containing the issue of banditry as it affects the security of Kaduna State, Oamen said.

He added that the students will use the opportunity to consolidate on the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom as they interact with key players on the field.

The Commandant said that at the end of the tour, the officers will make recommendations based on their research, which will be submitted to the state government. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Main gate YABATECH

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, is set to unveil its maiden museum to be known as Yaba Art Museum to the public.

This was contained in a press statement issued by Ndubueze Ejiofor, the Head of Public Affairs of the polytechnic on Tuesday in Lagos.

The statement reads that the ceremony is slated to hold on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Yusuf Grillo Auditorium by 10 a.m. and expected to have eminent personalities gracing the occasion.

It says special guests of honour include Mrs Uzamat Akinbile Yusuf, Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture and Mr Innocent Chukwuma, Regional Director, Ford Foundation, West Africa.

The museum, a project supported by Ford Foundation is housed inside the basement of Yabatech School of Art, Design and Printing, reputed to be the oldest Art School in Nigeria.

The statement indicates that the school over the years has served as socio-cultural hub for students and teachers of art alike.

Aside from the unveiling of the museum, other key features at the ceremony include the presentation and launch of a YCT Policy on Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence.

Another showcase Exhibition titled: All in the Eye will also feature as part of the ceremony, it says. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Operators of orphanages in some states of the North East say support from individuals and organisations is inadequate, just as the geo-political zone battles with security challenges.

Respondents to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey in Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and neighbouring Jigawa states, say although the state governments have been doing their best, the enormity of the challenge calls for the contributions of all and sundry.

The survey also indicated that the Child Rights Act is yet to be domesticated in almost all the states in the zone due largely to cultural and religious factors.

The Act was officially passed into law in 2003 by former President Olusegun Obansanjo as the Childrens Rights Act largely due to media pressure that national stakeholders and international organisations put on the National Assembly.

The biggest problem is that the Convention on the Rights of the Child incorporated through the Child Rights Act does not apply across the country, as only 25 states have adopted the Act, the reason being that Nigeria is a federation comprising 36 legally equal states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Some of the rights of the child as contained in the Act are that every child has the right to be born well, every child has the right to a wholesome family life, every child has the right to be raised well and become contributing member of society, every child has the right to basic needs, every child has the right to access what they need to have a good life, among others.

But then, who is a child in the Nigerian context?.

The National Child Welfare Policy of 1989 defines a child as anybody who is 12 years or below. However, a draft decree put into law has now set the age of the child in Nigeria as 18 years or below.

Stakeholders and government officials have, therefore, continued to assure that they have intensified enlightenment toward changing the thinking of members of various communities, especially religious and community leaders.

In Borno, the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Askira, told NAN that the Bill is awaiting final consideration, just as he expressed commitment toward the domestication of the Child Rights Act.

The Bill has passed first and second reading; the next thing is for the House to consider it during next sitting, Askira assured.

On her part, Mrs Bawa Gana, the Director, Child Welfare, Borno Ministry of Women Affairs, says government is exploring all avenues to improve the aptitude of children across the state.

Gana said that the ministry had conducted some advocacy, sensitisation and awareness campaigns to promote domestication of the Child Rights Act.

She explained that the campaign was funded by the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and executed in partnership with religious bodies, community-based groups, traditional rulers, as well as some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

This form of approach will address child protection more holistically, bring greater focus on prevention, and strengthen the critical roles of the key actors, she said.

She explained that the major challenges affecting the domestication of the Act in most states in the North are cultures and religious beliefs, but added that with more engagements, people were beginning to accept it.

We have inaugurated the state chapter of the Nigerian Childrens Parliament as part of efforts to provide veritable platforms for children to harness their abilities to attain leadership role, she said.

She stated that the state government had established Orphanage Homes where less fortunate children were provided education, healthcare and protection.

We have about 140 orphans, aged from three to 27 in three Orphanages in Maiduguri.

We also have about 200 orphans from the state who are on full study scholarship by the Kano State Government as part of the gesture of the state to victims of insurgency, said Gana.

On adoption of orphans in the state, Gana, who did not give an exact figure, said only few orphans had been adopted so far.

She said modalities for adoption include the demonstration of love and care shown to the child.

The process included meeting with a committee of the ministry, obtaining a security clearance, then passing through series of interviews.

Once you meet the requirements and we are satisfied with the outcome of investigations and interviews, a letter of authorisation to adopt will be given to you.

We also carry out medical test for all children, visit the homes of adopters to ensure that the child will be taken to conducive and safe environment.

Part of the agreement is to also receive regular reports on children adopted, Gana said.

In Adamawa, Mr Hassan Muhammed, the state Director, Child Development and Protection programme, State Ministry of Women Affairs, Youths and Social Empowerment, said there are five registered Orphanage Homes.

Muhammed said one of the homes belonged to the state government, while the others are managed by private individuals and associations, adding that the ministry is still updating the list of inmates.

On the child adoption policy, he said that there was no such policy in the state.

We have no child adoption policy in the state, but in place of that, we encourage foster child policy. The ministry has a Child Rights Protection Department handling matters pertaining child fostering.

He said couples desirous of fostering a child must apply and also appear physically for interview.

On the issue of domesticating the Child Rights Act, Mrs Felicia John of the UNWomen, Adamawa branch, said that the Bill had passed second reading at the state House of Assembly.

Similarly, Malam Gambo Muhammad, Coordinator, Yetim Care Orphanage Home, Damaturu, a privately-owned orphanage in Yobe, said the home is sponsoring the primary, secondary and tertiary education of all 159 inmates.

He said that the home, which is the only of its type in Damaturu, relied on contributions and donations from government, philanthropists, organisations and individuals for the running of its affairs.

The coordinator said that the age bracket of the orphans ranged from seven to 23,
and that the process of enrollment was partly vested on the states Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The ministry is responsible for going round local government areas in the state to source for orphans for enrollment; we had to involve them because initially, people were skeptical of releasing orphans to attend boarding schools for security reasons, he said.

Muhammad added that the orphanage only enrolled children who lost either of their parents, and must also be less-privileged, who do not have anyone within the family to sponsor their education and provide their needs.

He said that the states Ministry of Health had provided a dispensary with qualified medical personnel for the home.

According to him, the management of the home does not allow adoption of inmates, but their guardians can retrieve them any time they want.

Meanwhile, an official of Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development said child adoption would only be allowed in the state when the Child Rights Act is domesticated to guarantee protection of children.

Mr Joseph Markus, the Director of Child Development in the ministry, told NAN that the state government was keen on ensuring the welfare and rights of children in the state.

He said we believe that children, whether orphans or not, are the future of the state and the country, and so, they deserve care and love. In Gombe State, we do not have any case of adoption.

What we have is Child Fostering, where we provide a stable family life for children or orphans, and we strictly monitor to ensure that the children get family care and love.

For now, we do not have any case of adoption because the Childs Rights Act has not been domesticated, even though we have gone far in the process to get it done.

When the Act is domesticated and we are sure that there is the law to guarantee the protection of children wherever they are in the state, we will give room for adoption.

He stated that orphans must be given the right atmosphere to develop like every other child, irrespective of their status, as such government was very strict in registering Orphanage Homes in the state.

So far, we have only eight registered orphanages in the state because we consider many things before registration from infrastructure to environment, and the kind of schools the children are to attend, he stressed.

The director said that although there were requests for registration of new orphanages, the ministry would not compromise on the requirements.

In Jigawa, there is only one orphanage, operated by the state government under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, according to Mr AbdulRashid Inuwa, the Officer in charge of the home.

Inuwa said the facility, located in Dutse, was established in 2017 to carter for abandoned children and orphans.
The official added that there are presently eight children in the facility, all of them below the age of six.
He said there are 20 other children being fostered by women in some parts of the state, but they were children given out even before the establishment of the orphanage.
Meanwhile, Mrs Hassana Arkilla, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA), said there are a total of 18 inmates at the state-owned orphanage located in Bauchi.
Arkilla said most of the orphans had been under the care of foster parents, adding that BASOVCA provided the education and health needs of those in government orphanage.
According to her, there has never been a reported case of maltreatment of orphans in the state.
Meanwhile, NAN checks revealed that the Bauchi State House of Assembly is yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act due to some bureaucratic impediments and cultural perceptions of the law.
Attempt to secure comment of officials of the state Ministry of Women Affairs on the domestication of the Act proved futile, but Mrs Comfort Attah, the Director of a Bauchi-based organisation known as Attah Sisters Helping Hand (ASHH) attributed the non-domestication of the Act to cultural and
religious factors.
The story is same in Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano and Zamfara states as officials there too said they were still making efforts to domesticate the Child Rights Act.
In spite of the non-domestication of the Act, government officials in the four states said the rights of children were being protected under existing laws.

They particularly said that orphanages were being monitored to ensure that inmates were not molested in anyway, while setting stringent conditions for adoption.

In Katsina State, Hajiya Amina Dauda, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Girl-Education and Child Development, said that a meeting with stakeholders on domestication of the Child Rights Act was stalled over some fundamental disagreements.
She, however, said that the government was looking for ways to address the differences.
On adoption and operations of children homes, the special adviser said that the state government has a home that takes care of abandoned children, orphans and the mentally unstable.

Vulnerable children that needed care and attention are also kept in the home, as it serves as transit camp for those category of children, pending their reunification with their parents, she said.

Dauda added that the government provided funds for the running of the home, and had spent more than N73.5 million to support 400 orphans and vulnerable children from 2015 till date.

The Executive Secretary of the State Sharia Commission, Magaji Liman, explained that the disagreement was because the provisions in the Act were in conflict with Islamic law and culture of the people, as such would be difficult to enforce.

In Kano, the state government said the Bill for domestication of the Act was at its final stage, and would be forwarded to the state Assembly soon.

Hajiya Hauwa Suleiman, the Deputy Director, Child Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, told NAN that the domestication of the Act was to protect the rights of children and their development.

Suleiman said that the Bill, when passed, would also strengthen government social protection policy, the state compulsory education policy, and childrens health and well-being.

On orphanages, the deputy director said that the state government runs two orphanages in Nasarawa and Gaya local government areas.

She explained that children in such homes were given out to foster parents because adoption is unIslamic and against the culture of the people.

There is a standard fostering committee set up by the government with different stakeholders such as Ministry of Justice, Human Right, Local Government, Civil Society among others, who handle the issue of fostering a child from the orphanage.

When a child is given out, the fostering committe pays unscheduled visits to check how the child is faring to ensure the child is safe.

There was no report of maltreatment of any child in 2020, but the ministry received four such reports in 2019, where it revoked the fostering right immediately and took over the four children.

In Kebbi, the Speaker of the state Assembly, Alhaji Abdulmumeen Kamba, said that the legislators were ready to pass the Bill once it was presented to them.

He said that the Act needed inputs and consensus of stakeholders for it to make the desired impact.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Birnin Kebbi is also pushing for the domestication of the Child Rights Act in the state.

Mr Rotimi Olawale, the Executive Director and co-Founder of YouthHub Africa, said as concerned civil society organisations and citizens, the growing risks faced by children due to the delayed passage and implementation of the Child Rights Bill in Kebbi State cannot be overemphasised.

The rights of children must be given urgent attention.

Statistics by the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) shows that approximately six out of every 10 Nigerian children under the age of 18 years experience some form of physical, sexual and emotional violence.

Olawale added that the implementation of the Act would uphold the duties and obligations of government, parents, organisations and bodies toward children.

On adoption, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Services, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, explained that prospective child adopters must first write an application to court.

Where the applicant is a married couple, the marriage certificate or sworn declaration of the marriage must be accompanied with the application.

The birth certificate or sworn declaration of age of each applicant, two passport size photographs of each applicant must be attached.

Medical certificate of fitness of the applicant from hospital and such other documents as requirements and information as the court may require for purpose of the adoption must also be made available, she said.

Muhammad added that it is the court that decides on applications based on its findings and recommendations of child welfare officers in the ministry.

Hajiya Aisha Dantsoho, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said that the domestication of the Child Rights Act has reached
advanced stage.
Dantsoho said that public hearings were conducted, including sensitisation visits to lawmakers, judiciary, traditional and religious institutions.

She added that the draft bill is before the Attorney General of the state, who will table it before the State Executive Council before it is sent to the state Assembly.

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Ministry of Social Development, confirmed that the state has two orphanage homes.

Mrs Ummu Usman, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, told NAN that foster parents apply through the Ministry which scrutinised the request before forwarding it to a court for endorsement.

Usman said an average of 20 children were being taken into foster care annually from the two operating orphanage homes.

According to her, a philanthropist, Alhaji Ummarun Kwabo, has established special orphanage home housing children mostly affected by insurgency from North East.

The situation is the same in Zamfara, where the governors wife, Hajiya Aisha Matawalle, is spearheading agitations to get the Child Rights Act domesticated.

One of her aides, Hajiya Fatima Musa, said that the only orphanage home in the state is owned by government.

You are aware, immediately Gov. Bello Matawalle assumed office, few months after his inauguration, he visited orphanage home in Gusau, where he adopted all the orphans in the state as his children.

Since then, the activities of orphanage homes in the state have been revived, the lives of orphans have been improved in terms of their education, health and social development.

We all know about the Child Rights Act, we know its advantages in terms of child development and survival.

This government since our emergence in May 2019, my office has been making efforts to ensure the domestication of the Act and its proper implementation in the state.

We held several meetings with the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Development on this issue, we are still working on it.

We are committed toward any policy that will improve the lives of our people, not only orphans.

Also, the state Commissioner of Women, Children and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Lawal, assured that the government was working toward domesticating the Act.

However, the Act had been domesticated by the Kaduna State Government under the state Child Welfare and Protection Law, which came into effect in 2019.

Kaduna State, which adopted the Child Rights Act, made elaborate arrangements to protect children in orphanages and monitor their movement.

Hajiya Hafsat Baba, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said the government encouraged owners of orphanages to form an association for easy interface with government.

She said that the government would constitute a board of trustees to run its orphanages in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan, so that the homes would be run independently.

We have over 40 orphanages in the state and they have all been captured in the Kaduna State Geographic Information System. We have all their addresses, where they are and we can easily locate them.

They also have an association, so it is easier for us to get them and we are working hand in hand with them to ensure they also checkmate each other, because they wouldnt want any of them to violate the laws of the state and also to ensure the safety and the protection of the children.

Baba added that the government was currently working on a comprehensive register of all inmates of various orphanages in the state.

She said no orphanage is allowed to keep a child till adulthood; we encourage them to actually give them out for adoption from five months to three years.

We have also established adoption committee under the ministry that is responsible for screening, so if you are interested in adopting a child, you come to the ministry and obtain a form at N10,000, which goes into the orphanages account to help us support the children.

The family will go through screening by the adoption committee, which recommends to the commissioner for approval or otherwise.

We then keep constant track of the children to ensure they are doing well.

Source: NAN News

NEITI Logo

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed N2.054 trillion to the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients in the third quarter of 2020.

NEITI disclosed this in the latest edition of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency (NEITI)s Quarterly Review released in Abuja on Tuesday.

It said the disbursements were made in spite of COVID-19 pandemic and its attendants socio-economic consequences.

A breakdown in the review showed that the Federal Government received N812.22 billion; state governments received N676.5 billion, while local government areas got N429.16 billion.

This, it said, was the first time that total disbursement had exceeded N2 trillion for a quarter in 2020.

It said that the review analysed FAAC disbursements in the third quarter of 2020, using data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Total disbursements of N2.054 trillion in 2020 Q3 were 6.2 per cent higher than total disbursements of N1.934 trillion in 2020 Q2, and 5.6per cent higher than total disbursements of N1.945 trillion in 2020 Q1.

The disbursements in 2020 Q3 were lower than those of the corresponding quarters in 2019 and 2018 as a whole, it said.

NEITI added that 2020 Q3 disbursements were 9.6per cent lower than the N2.273 trillion disbursed in the Q3 of 2019 and 9.8per cent lower than the N2.278 trillion disbursed in the third quarter of 2018.

The review further noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) received N812.22 billion in the third quarter of 2020.

According to the review, this is 11.7per cent lower than the N920.2 billion and 10.2per cent lower than the N904.8 billion the Federal Government received in the third quarters of 2019 and 2018 respectively.

The states on the other hand received a total of N676.5 billion in the third quarter of 2020, showing a decrease of 6.6 per cent when compared to the N724.16 billion they got in the third quarter of 2019, and 5.9 per cent lower than the N718.5 billion they received in the third quarter of 2018.

The local governments got a total of N429.16 billion in 2020 Q3, it said.

This, it said, was 9.6per cent lower than the N441.19 billion they got in 2019 Q3 and 9.8per cent lower than the N432.1 billion received in 2018 Q3.

The dip in disbursements between 2020 Q3 and corresponding quarters in 2019 and 2018 was largely on account of the impact of COVID-19 and its associated effects on demand for oil, oil prices, economic activities and other sources of revenues, it noted.

Further analysis in the review revealed that disbursements to the three tiers of government fell between the first and second quarters, and then increased between the second and third quarters of 2020.

The total disbursements to the FGN were N791.44 billion, N739.2 billion and N812.22 billion for the first, second and third quarters of 2020, respectively.

This means that disbursements in the third quarter were 9.9per cent higher than disbursements in the second quarter, and 2.6per cent higher than disbursements in the first quarter.

For states, total disbursements were N669.02 billion in the first quarter, N629.26 billion in the second quarter, and N676.5 billion in the third quarter.

Thus, disbursements to states in 2020 Q3 were 7.5per cent higher than disbursements in 2020 Q2, and 1.1 per cent higher than disbursements in 2020 Q1, the review revealed.

It further noted that local governments received total of N395.95 billion in 2020 Q1, N375.39 billion in 2020 Q2, and N429.16 billion in 2020 Q3.

The disbursements to local governments in 2020 Q3, it said, were 14.3per cent higher than the amount disbursed in 2020 Q2, and 8.4per cent higher than the disbursements in 2020 Q1.

Total FAAC disbursements in 2020 Q3 were higher than disbursements in either the first or second quarters of 2020, continuing a trend that stretches back to 2015,it added.

The review noted that higher disbursements in the third quarters of the years were generally on account of increased demand for oil during the summer season, and the attendant surge in oil prices.

It also attributed rise in third quarter disbursements for 2020 to two primary factors of increased demand for oil following the easing of the global economic shut-downs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secondly, the official exchange rate (earlier adjusted in March 2020 from N305/ to N360/) was adjusted from N360/ to N380/, and this will necessarily lead to higher disbursements from FAAC as revenues are shared in Naira, the review stated.

On disbursements to states in 2020 Q3, NEITI review noted that there was wide disparity in the total net disbursements.

It noted that it ranged between the lowest of N9.39 billion net disbursements to Osun State and the highest of N43.08 billion net disbursements to Delta State, indicating a variance of 358 per cent.

According to the review, apart from the sharing formula, the amount of deductions carried out also plays a role in determining how much net disbursements are received by states.

Yobe State had the lowest deduction of N81.98 million, while Lagos State had the highest deduction of N17.35 billion, which was 10per cent higher than the combined total deductions of 20 states (N15.72 billion).

The review further revealed that the combined disbursements of the four states with the highest disbursements (Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Akwa Ibom states) amounted to N144.48billion.

This, it said, was higher than the combined total of N135.36 billion received by the 12 states with the lowest disbursements.

It named the states to include Osun, Cross River, Plateau, Ogun, Ekiti, Gombe, Zamfara, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Taraba

Proposed 4th Mainland Bridge

By Grace Alegba

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it was committed to road construction in Ikorodu to sustain current development in the area and other parts of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said this at a stakeholders meeting on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the proposed Lagos 4th Mainland Bridge Project on communities..

The communities include Bayeku Ayetoro, Agunfoye, Igbogbo, Egbe, Elepe and Erunwen, where the construction of the proposed 38 kilometres 4th Mainland Bridge will pass through.

We know the kind of governor we have and his commitment toward infrastructure development across Lagos State.

Right now as we speak, from what you can see, Ikorodu now is more like a construction site.

That is how much government is committed to the development of Ikorodu.

Our governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has also embarked on a number of projects across the state.

He is so committed to the 4th Mainland Bridge that he wants to make sure he starts before the end of this tenure, he said.

At the meeting, held at the Palace of the traditional ruler of Igbogbo, Adeyoye was represented by Mr Raheem Owokoniran, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure.

She listed several ongoing projects in Ikorodu Division and appealed for support of stakeholders in the area, toward successful take-off and completion of the project.

She said that the environmental impact assessment was imperative, and the feedback from stakeholders was important to help government make the right decision.

A Director in the Ministry, Mr Tokunbo Ajanaku, said government in its master plan had Ikorodu as a Central Business District (CBD) for economic revolution of the axis.

He said the CBD was an intentional plan of government to make the whole of Ikorodu a place worthy of celebration.

Ajanaku said that some of the CBDs created in the nation in the colonial days had become the most sucessful economic hubs across the nation.

He said that the state government was building on the CBD master plan for Ikorodu for rapid economic transformation in the axis, because of its concerns for welfare of the residents.

The director said that the government would collaborate with residents and the concessionaires on how best to recoup the investments on the proposed construction.

We will toll, but we will toll in a manner that is internationally acceptable, he said.

Ajanaku said that there was currently no need to demolish any property in the axis, but pleaded with residents not to begin to sell land already earmarked for the bridge.

We bring to you a sincere promise that this project planned on PPP will not delay, it will be delivered on schedule, he said.

The director said that there would be nine major roads to link the planned nine interchanges.

He said that how the roads link up would depend on the stakeholders, who would choose their preferred alignments for the project.

Ajanaku said that since 1999, the state government had gathered data to ensure indigenes of communities were employed in projects in their domains, promising that Ikorodu would not be different.

As we bring the 4th Mainland Bridge here, it will open up this division, he said.

He said that the current plan for construction of the bridge was three years but it would begin after all stakeholders and government agree.

Mr Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), reminded the residents of the efforts of the government to reduce demolition of houses on the Right of Way of the project.

He appealed to residents to show appreciation and not begin to sell land on the project alignment currently used as makeshift stalls for some traders.

Daini said Igbogbo Bayekun Road is a major complementing road to several facilities in the area, pleading that it should be included among roads linking any of the nine interchanges to the proposed bridge.

Also, the traditional ruler of Igbogbo, Oba Orimadegun Kasali, appealed to land grabbers in the council to obey instructions not to sell land on the Right of Way (RoW) of the project.

Let us be ready to support and accommodate this project which will benefit all of us, he said.

Kasali urged residents to continue to pray for leadership in the state while thanking the government for the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge.

He said it would bring benefits to unborn generations in Ikorodu.

Earlier, an environmentalist in the area explained to the residents in both Yoruba and English languages how the 23 kilometres of the entire construction would be in Ikorodu, its benefits and the need to support the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government team held another interactive stakeholders meeting with other communities.

The meeting, for Itamaga, Sawmill (Sagamu Road), Eyita/Ojokoro, Agric-Owutu, Ishawo and Tapa communities, was held on Ikorodu-Sagamu Road.

Making graphical presentations of interconnectivity of the project to Ikorodu, Mr Iwayemi Olalekan, Technical Consultant with Advanved Engineering Consultants said the project was in the second phase.

He enumerated green areas and other facilities in the EIA stage, and said that six preffered consultants had been choosen out of 52 bidders.

The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) raised alarm over some of its important road setbacks which would be consumed by the project while raising concerns on how a proposed rail project would fit in.

LASPOTECH, represented by an architect, Mr Ajibade Adeyemi, said some proposals had been submitted to the state government, while calling for another meeting with the institution. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Okada riders and Lagos Taskforce clash in Lagos

By Oladapo Udom

There was tension on Tuesday at the Second Rainbow Bus Stop, along Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, following a clash between commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada and officials of the Lagos State Taskforce.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trouble started after officials of the Taskforce stormed the area in the morning and seized some motorcycles.

Mr Joshua Emmanuel, Chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Second Rainbow Branch, Festac said that over 200 motorcycles were seized during the raid.

Emmanuel said that most of the riders in their axis were from Adamawa State who had come to Lagos to earn a living legitimately for their families up north.

We did not join the #EndSars protest during the height of the crisis because we decided that it is not what we came to Lagos State to do.

Some of us are not the owners of the motorcycles because most of the motorcycles bought, are on hire purchase and many of us are still owing.

The Taskforce came with hoodlums in their vans brandishing cutlasses, and they have killed three of our people just because we are legitimately making a living in the city, he said.

Emmanuel told NAN that if they were regarded as fellow Nigerians, then why would the Lagos State Government be interested in making life unbearable for its citizens who are legitimately pursuing their means of livelihood?

This is not fair, we are all Nigerians. Some of us have families in our villages that we travel home to every December to give something to.

Why are they making life difficult for us by collecting our bikes. What do they expect us to do now that they have seized our bikes again.

Please we just want them to return our bikes to us because they have been cheating us for a very long time now, the chairman said.

In the same vein, Aliyu Muritala Treasurer of the association said that he noticed that the taskforce majorly aimed at impounding brand new motorcycles and left the old and shabby ones alone.

This is very unfair. Do they not want us to eat? You will not provide jobs for us, palliatives that they said you should distribute, you hoard for yourselves.

Now that we are trying to make a honest living, you people are making life miserable for us.

Please, we urge you to return our bikes to us because we can not turn to armed robbery, Muritala said.

Also, John Gabriel said that he recently bought his motorcycle for N185,000, and now that his bike had been taken away, he had been rendered useless.

If I am approached to join armed robbery to rob people during yuletide how will I resist, when the government that is supposed to be protecting its people is making life difficult for them, Gabriel said.

John Tumba, a graduate from the Adamawa State University said that he was highly disappointed with the way they were being treated just because they were trying to make a honest living.

Tumba said that nothing had been done to Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, armed robbers and kidnappers who were operating with impunity in the northern part of the country.

It is innocent citizens trying to make a honest livelihood that they would be oppressing and this is unfair.

Lagos Taskforce have seized three of my bikes this year alone. Am I working for them to be seizing my bikes and auctioning it at meagre amounts whenever they feel like?

After graduating with no work, and trying to get work for ourselves, we are still being oppressed by the government. This is a crime against humanity, he said.

Tumba told NAN that he was able to complete his higher education through the money he made riding okada in Lagos State.

A lot of my people provide for their families through the money made from okada riding.

It is like the government is encouraging us to go back home to join terrorist groups and aid them in unleashing mayhem across the country, he said.

Lawal Gida, one of the riders said that three of his motorcycles had been seized in the past and whenever he went to claim them at the agencys office, he would not meet them there again.

I have been to the Taskforce office on many occasion to claim my seized bikes, but anytime I get there, I will not find my bike there again.

It is like a fraudulent system whereby the Taskforce seizes bikes from innocent citizens to sell at a cheaper price somewhere else, he said.

Gida said that the government should provide jobs for the seemingly poor populace if they do not want them riding okadas in the city again.

NAN reports that the spillover effect of the clash between the commercial motorcycle riders and personnel of the task force resulted into heavy traffic jam in the immediate vicinity of Second Rainbow and beyond.

Meanwhile, Mr Adebayo Taofik,Head Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Taskforce, told NAN that the agency carried out the operation based on series of complaints from the public.

Adebayo said that people complained about activities of these Okada riders using their bikes to rob them of their valuables and plying restricted routes as well.

After impounding about 74 Okadas caught plying one-way and those operating on highway, Okada riders mobilised themselves and attacked officers of the Agency.

They damaged beyond repair two of our vehicles with one of our truck.

A Paramilitary officer attached to the Agency (Ganiyu Mustspha) was wounded with broken bottles and cutlass because he mistakenly ran into the mob, he said.

Adebayo said that since the #EndSARS protest, every motorists including Okada riders operated with impunity thereby causing serious traffic gridlock across the State.

We had a stakeholders meeting with their leaders and they made us to understand that those flagrantly disobeying the laws were not responsible to any associations in Lagos.

We must all join hands together to salvage the state from the hands of these notorious criminals who use okada to perpetrate evil on the public, Adebayo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

CAF Logo

Ethiopia revived their hopes of qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with an assured 3-0 victory over Niger Republic at the Addis Ababa National Stadium on Tuesday.

Amanuel Gebremichael and Mesud Mohammed gave the home side a 2-0 lead at half-time before the ever-reliable Getaneh Kebede sealed the victory for Ethiopia in the second half.

The result sees Ethiopia move to six points and onto third spot in the group.

Cte dIvoire and Madagascar retained first and second place after playing to a 1-1 draw in Antananarivo.

Ethiopia took the lead in the 13th minute, when Gebremichael got the opener with a fantastic shot from inside the penalty box after some quick interchange of passes with Shemeles Bekele.

Mohamed made it 2-0 for the hosts two minutes before the break.

This was when a quickly-taken corner-kick saw Bekele provide his second assist of the evening, teeing up his teammate who struck a brilliant curling effort beyond the goalkeeper.

The Ethiopians kept the hunt in the second half.

They were rewarded for their hard work with 20 minutes left, partly thanks to some shambolic defending by Niger.

Trying to play out from the back, Yusif Douda attempted a short pass back to his goalkeeper and Kebede pounced inside the penalty box before unleashing a ferocious shot past the goalkeeper.

In Antananarivo, Madagascar found themselves trailing in the fourth minute when Franck Kessie converted from the penalty kick spot after Jeremy Morel handled as he tried to clear away a cross.

In spite of trailing 0-1, Madagascar however proved a match for the Ivorians, even as they could not create many chances to trouble the visitors backline.

Cte dIvoire had a chance in the 42nd minute when Kessie released Nicolas Pepe through into the area but his shot was blocked.

A minute before the break, Pepe curled in a beautiful cross into the penalty box, but Ibrahim Sangare miscued the shot a few yards from goal.

The intensity went up in the second half and, within five minutes of the restart, Madagascar were back on level terms.

It was from a peach of a goal from skipper Ibrahim Amada who was brought in to start after coming off the bench in the first leg.

The midfielder struck a beautiful shot into the far left after being teed up by Morel, who made amends for the earlier penalty kick.

The match blew into a full contest, each trying to get into the final third for a goal.

Kessie had a brilliant chance in the 63rd minute, but his shot after a beautiful half-turn inside the penalty box went inches high.

With a quarter of an hour left, Kessie had another go at goal, this time his rasping shot from range finger-tipped onto the bar by the Madagascar goalkeeper.

None of the two sides could get a goal as they settled for a point each, with the final round of matches next year set to hold all the drama.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Super Eagles versus Leone Stars in Benin

By Victor Okoye

The Super Eagles and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone on Tuesday played out a goalless draw in the return fixture of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Freetown.

The result meant the Super Eagles have delayed picking their 2021 AFCON qualifying ticket.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles were held to a disappointing 4-4 draw by the Leone Stars in the first leg fixture at the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Spurred on by a special incentive of a blank cheque made by President Julius Maada Bio should they defeat the Super Eagles, the Leone Stars approached the return leg with some gusto, and sought to wear down the Eagles with their team work, cohesion and fast breaks.

However, it was the Super Eagles that created the early chances, with Captain Ahmed Musa shooting wide and goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara saving from Kelechi Iheanacho within the first three minutes.

In the 11thminute, Mohamed Turay, who pestered the Eagles defence relentlessly, headed over the bar from a cross by Kei Kamara.

Maduka Okoye saved from Kwame Quee in the 22nd minute and on the half hour, Iheanacho wasted a great chance to put Nigeria ahead by shooting wild just outside the box.

Two minutes later, Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, needing just to place the ball beyond the goalkeeper in the box, fluffed his lines.

Iheanacho wasted another opportunity in the 37thminute, before the Leone Stars came agonisingly close on two occasions as referee Tawel Camara Younoussa blew for half time.

The ding-dong affair continued in the second half and in the 52ndminute, after great work by Samuel Chukwueze, Iheanacho was gifted the ball to simply place beyond the reach of goalkeeper Kamara, but again lifted the ball too high.

Alex Iwobi and Iheanacho also missed chances as the game wore on, but the Leone Stars also had their own chances, with Turay, Kei Kamara and Mustapha Bundu raiding the Nigeria goal area several times.

The draw keeps Nigeria at the top of Group L with eight points, one more than secondplaced Benin Republic, who also ended their encounter with Lesotho in Maseru scoreless.

Sierra Leone stay third with three points, and Lesotho bottom of the table with two.

The Super Eagles next take on Benin Republic on Match Day 5 in Cotonou in March, 2021. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Logo of UN World Food Programme

The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday released US million of emergency funding to stave off the risk of famine in seven countries most at risk from a hunger epidemic, fuelled by conflict, economic decline, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Lowcock, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said US million would be split between Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen, which would get the biggest tranche of US million.

A further US million had been set aside for Ethiopia, where droughts could worsen an already fragile situation.

The prospect of a return to a world in which famines are commonplace would be heart wrenching and obscene in a world where there is more than enough food for everyone, Mr. Lowcock said in a statement.

Famines result in agonizing and humiliating deaths. They fuel conflict and war. They trigger mass displacement. Their impact on a country is devastating and long lasting. No one should view a slide into famine as an inevitable side effect of this pandemic. If it happens it is because the world has allowed it to happen.

Releasing money from the UNs Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was the quickest and most efficient way to support famine-prevention, with a real risk of famine in parts of Burkina Faso, North-east Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen, the OCHA statement said. Famine was last declared in 2017 in parts of South Sudan.

The Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley, said the world is going through turbulent times.

Thats why we need to sharpen our focus and ramp up our efforts to avoid the icebergs icebergs such as famine, starvation, destabilization and migration, Mr. Beasley wrote in a tweet.

In an op-ed published online by the London-based Times newspaper on Tuesday, Mr. Lowcock and Mr. Beasley wrote that humankinds greatest success had been to consign famine to history.

But the impacts of the pandemic and associated lockdowns falling incomes, rising food prices were a match on tinder. Leave this fire to take hold and millions of children will die, they wrote.

When the Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to WFP, they said they wanted to turn the eyes of the world towards the millions of people who suffer from hunger or face the threat of it.

We couldnt agree more. When more than a quarter of a billion people teeter on a cliff edge, its no time to look away, much less walk away. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

OPEC Scribe Mohammed Barkindo

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has revised down its 2021 global economic growth projections to 4.4 from 4.5 per cent forecast in October 2020, OPECs Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo has said.

He citing fears of new lockdowns, second and third waves of COVID-19 and high levels of unemployment, as raising new global anxieties.

For 2021, we have slightly revised down growth to 4.4 per cent from the 4.5 per cent we envisaged last month.

It remains a mixed economic picture. China is a bright spot, with positive growth of 2% in 2020 and other countries in Asia are also exhibiting some positive sign, Barkindotold the 24th Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC ) via videoconference on Tuesday.

He noted that the large fiscal stimulus packages remained supportive, and vaccines offer hope, but the benefits of the latter will take time to trickle through to the real economy, and trigger growth in oil demand.

The 2020 outlook for oil demand has been revised lower this month to a negative -9.8 million barrels a day (mb/d), a drop of 0.3 mb/d from our October meeting, he emphasized, saying, This stands against growth of 1.2 mb/d that was expected in January 2020, a drop of a staggering 11 mb/d.

Similarly, Barkindo said: Additionally, this month we have revised down expected growth for 2021 to 6.2 mb/d, compared to 6.5 mb/d previously, while attributing the recent revisions to the slow pace of the economic recovery and recent COVID-19 containment measures, which are assumed to impact transportation and industrial fuel demand well into 2021.

The OPEC scribe said that for the oil market, the past month had offered both positives and negatives, given the impending 180th Meeting of the OPEC Conference on Nov. 30 and the 12th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on Dec. 1

Therefore, it is vital that we appraise all the data and analysis, look at how details and numbers have changed since the start of the year and review what has been achieved by the DoC to date. he added

He said that the global economic growth forecast remained at a negative -4.3 per cent in 2020, which stands in stark contrast to the positive 3.1 per cent envisaged at the start of the year.This, he noted, was a staggering drop of 7.4 per cent..

On the supply side, he said that non-OPEC liquids production was forecast to contract by 2.4 mb/d in 2020, compared to expected growth of 2.4 mb/d that was forecast at the start of the year, though for 2021, non-OPEC liquids is anticipated to expand by 0.93 mb/d.

It has also been interesting to note that the US oil rig count has climbed significantly over the past month or so, rising from 189 in the week of October 2, to 236 in the week of Nov. 13.

Crude futures in all major benchmarks remain in contango, and in terms of inventories, it is clear that destocking has continued over the past month following the trend in the third quarter of this year which saw global inventories decline across all components by around 250 million barrels (mb), he added

The OPEC scribe said that it was estimated that Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) commercial inventories fell by 44 mb over this period, non-OECD inventories declined by around 55 mb, and oil at sea, including floating storage, dropped by about 150 mb.(NAN)

Source: NAN News