Neymar injured

Paris St-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar has been ruled out of Brazils 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uruguay next week in Montevideo.

The forward had arrived in Brazil with a leg injury, even though he was certain to miss Fridays game against Venezuela in Sao Paulo.

But the national teams doctors had hoped he would recover in time for the second match in the double-header next Tuesday.

We were hopeful that he could play, thats why we brought him to Brazil, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said late Thursday.

He improved but not enough to be ready for the game on Tuesday against Uruguay. The backroom staff decided to release Neymar Junior.

It was not clear whether he would remain with the Brazil squad or return to Paris.

Brazil won both their opening qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last month.

They are the only side in the 10-team South American section with a 100 per cent record so far.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

FBF chief Marco Rodriguez arrested by police

The interim head of Bolivias football federation (FBF) Marco Rodriguez has been arrested by police over allegations of corruption.

Rodriguez was arrested and detained during Thursdays 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match with Ecuador, an associate said.

Plainclothes police surprised Rodriguez while he was sitting in the stands with players not involved in the game at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz.

Some clubs and the professional football players union in Bolivia had accused Rodriguez of corruption and illegal profiteering.

He has also failed to comply with a court ruling that forces him to leave the presidency of the FBF.

Various factions are vying for control of the body.

Votes are scheduled for Friday and Saturday for the 2020-2022 presidency of the FBF.

We believe that there has been bad faith here. We believe that the ultimate goal is not to have an election, said Gaston Uribe, the executive director of the FBF and a close associate of Rodriguez.

Police came on a special commission to apprehend Marco Rodrguez, he said.

Uribe said Rodriguez had suffered sudden health problems when the police tried to transfer him from La Paz to the city of Santa Cruz to continue the judicial process.

He added that he was consequently admitted to hospital.

Ecuador won the game 3-2 thanks to a late penalty kick. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has expressed concern over the mental state of survivors of COVID-19 in the country.

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the taskforce, expressed the concern in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the taskforce.

The PTF is still very much concerned about the mental health of survivors of the COVID-19 virus.

In this regard, the PTF is following reports from researches around the world regarding the state of psychiatric health of survivors and has intensified plans for in-country response under the treatment and post-treatment regimes, Mustapha said.

Mustapha said monitoring the global situation would particularly help in the planning of trips.

He noted that the global cases crossed the 52 million mark with USA, India and Brazil accounting for 48 per cent of all global cumulative burden.

The USA has been recording over 100,000 cases daily in recent times and the rate of fatalities is increasing in the UK and other European countries.

Five countries (USA, Brazil, India, Mexico and UK) account for 53 percent (685,176) of global deaths. On the African continent, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia reported the highest cases in the last 24 hours.

The number of cases has been fluctuating lately and that is an indication that we are not out of the woods yet.

The cases in Lagos where multiple infections were recorded in two schools are typical examples of the danger of reopening institutions without the required measures.

We must all rally round each other to stop this pandemic from destroying our lives and economy.

The PTF believes strongly that now is the time to raise the tempo of not just our national response but also our preparedness for a new wave of the pandemic or any other epidemic for that matter.

For example, it has been strongly observed that places of worship, gatherings and other events have dumped the use of face masks and adherence to other NPIs, he said.

He urged all Nigerians to come out for regular testing.

Mauritius has the highest tests per million (218,535) while Nigeria stands at 3,605 per million. This is grossly too low to be at a comfortable stage of defeating the pandemic considering the size of our population, he said.

The SGF also commiserated with the president as well as the government and people of Ghana over the death of a former president of that country, Jerry Rawlings.

He further expressed condolences on the death of Saeb Erakat, the Palestine Liberation Organisation Chief Negotiator.

We also commiserate with the Palestinian authority on this great loss.

This will no doubt have a tremendous impact on the peace process in the Middle-East, Mustapha said.

Source: NAN News

New Police Vans donated by Gov. Obi

By Chimezie Anaso

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has donated 13 operational vehicles to the State Police Command.

The governor who made the donation on Thursday also gave cash gifts to the families of police officers killed during the violent attacks that followed the EndSARS protests in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the next-of-kin of the four slain cops got N2 million each, the injured got N250,000 each to help them meet some of their needs.

He promised to underwrite the hospital bills of the injured.

Obiano also announced cash donations of N1 million each to the 11 Divisional Police Officers and their men, N1 million to the Special Anti-Cult Unit (SPACS) and N2 million each to Police Mobile bases in Awka and Onitsha.

The Onitsha Area Command got N500,000 while the Command Situation Office got N1 million.

The governor said the gesture was to show appreciation to the police command in Anambra for its role in protecting public property and to commiserate with the families of those police officers who were killed during the protests.

Obiano, who unveiled the Rapid Response Squad, said the 13 vehicles donated were to be used in boosting the logistics of the police and to enable it flush out people living in uncompleted buildings.

These are the major hideouts of the hoodlums from where they unleash their evil machinations; the vehicles should not be converted for social use such as weddings or escorting VIPs, he said.

In his remark, Police Commissioner John Abang thanked the governor and appealed for assistance in the rebuilding and renovation of police stations and barracks in the state.

He expressed the readiness of the command to reclaim the security space in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of China

By Harrison Arubu

China has broken its silence on the U.S. elections by congratulating the President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, according to media reports.

Bloomberg and Reuters attributed the reaction to Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, on Friday.

We respect the choice of the American people. We extend congratulations to Biden and Harris.

We understand the results of the U.S. election will be determined according to U.S. laws and procedures, Reuters quoted Wenbin as saying.

Until now, China was among a few notable countries who were yet to congratulate Biden since he was projected to have won the election on Nov. 7.

Russia, Brazil and Mexico have not commented on the outcome of the election, which President Donald Trump has refused to concede over alleged fraud.

Chinas acknowledgement came after several television networks on Thursday evening projected Biden would defeat Trump in the battleground state of Arizona.

Before the election, there were several alerts by the U.S. intelligence community over alleged attempts by Russia and China to interfere in the polls.

While China was alleged to be meddling in favour of Biden, Russia was accused of working in the interest of Trump. Both countries denied the allegations.

Under the Trump administration, relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated over alleged unfair trade practices and cyber espionage by Beijing.

Both countries have also been clashing over the COVID-19 pandemic and Chinas human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Trump on Nov. 9, a day after the election, Reuters reported. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Tony Oli, Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC)

By Chimezie Anaso

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has earmarked N995 million for capital projects and recurrent expenditure in the sports sector during the 2021 fiscal year as against the 2020 which was N1.165 billion but was later reviewed to N485 million.

A breakdown of the budget shows that Awka Township Stadium will gulp N400 million, while the construction of zonal sports stadia at Otuocha, Ekwulobia and Ogidi takes N100 million.

The breakdown also showed that it will cost N150 million to form the state-owned male and female football clubs from outlay, while the development of community playgrounds and school sports would get N100 million and N60 million respectively.

Other projects and their estimated values are sports equipment, N30 million, National Sports Festival N35 million and Walk for Life N30 million.

It also indicated that N20 million will be spent on capacity building for sports activities, while N20 million goes to grants to sports bodies and associations.

The rest are sports competitions for local governments, schools and town unions N20 million, furniture and equipment N10 million, sports subvention across the state N15 million and Planning Research Statistics N5 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obiano proposed N143. 65 billion as the states budget for the 2021 fiscal year in Anambra.

Speaking on the budget, Tony Oli, Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC), said one of the projects, Awka Township Stadium, would be delivered before the end of December.

Oli said the pitch, grandstand, tartan tracks and every necessary facilities would be put in place, while next year, expansion works would continue on facilities for others games, including indoor sports.

He said the target was to build zonal games centres in Otuocha, Ekwulobia and Ogidi to take care of the sports facility needs of the people in the areas.

Awka Township Stadium is in the budget last year and it is there again this year, the appearance this year is for the completion of the project. Work is going on steadily and I am always there to inspect the progress of the project.

His Excellency has mandated during one of his visits that the project be delivered this year, we are working toward that and I want to assure the people that an inaugural football match will be played there on Dec. 28.

Ekwulobia has been awarded and Otuocha has taken off. We are trying to stop the encroachment going on at the proposed land for Ogidi Stadium project so that work can effectively take off, he said.

Oli said the state male and females football teams would no longer be for competitions but for national leagues with independent management team and official grants.

The commissions chairman scored Anambra high in sports activities but rued the impact of COVID-19 which affected the sports calendar negatively. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Bah Moussa, military leader of al-Qaidas North Africa wing killed by French forces

French forces have killed Bah Moussa, a military leader of al-Qaidas North Africa wing in Mali, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Friday.

This is a major success in the fight against terrorism that France is leading with its partners in the Sahel, said Parly.

A historic figure of the jihadist movement in the Sahel, Bah ag Moussa is considered responsible for several attacks against Malian and international forces, she added in a statement.

Moussa, a military leader of the Rally for the Victory of Islam and Muslims, an al-Qaida wing operating in the Sahel region, was killed on Tuesday during an operation involving significant intelligence resources, ground troops and helicopters, according to the defence ministry.

France has led a special military operation to curb the insurgency in the Sahel region since 2014. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

UNICEF

By Cecilia Ijuo

The United Nations International Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF), has enrolled over 1,135, 465 out of school girls back to school across six states in Nigeria through its education support programme.

Mrs Azuka Menkiti, an education specialist with UNICEF Abuja office, made this known in an interview in Abuja at the end of a two-day educational steering committee meeting.

She said the committee was setup to oversee the implementation of 33 projects across across six states to enable UNICEF to work with both states and the Federal Government.

According to her, the essence is to bring additional one million girls to school with series of interventions.

Menkiti, said a sub technical committee meeting has been comprising of technical staff across the six states, directors of planning and directors of mobilisation and Federal Ministry of Education.

She said the sub committee would access the progress achieved over a period of eight years to reflect on the key challenges.

She said we have been able to reach our target and we are sure that a lot more girls have to come back to school because of this intervention.

Our record shows that we have over one million girls who have gone back to school.

The guide has been on a combination of series of intervention result that runs on three output areas under which we have been able to come up with different initiatives.

These initiatives are mostly dressing norms and cash transfer programme, where we are able to ensure that it is used to address the constraint that keeps them out of school.

She further said, we also ensure enrolment drive to address behaviours and socio-cultural norms that also affect a girls enrolment in school.

Others are, girls-for-girls already in school. While enrolment drive brings those out of school back to school, the girls-for-girls supports girls with life skills.

It also supports them in skills that will enhance self consciousness and help them appreciate the need to stay in school and build them as peer mobilisers who reach out to others.

Menkiti noted that the technical team had come up with clear intervention and processes that had worked for them and how they think it can sustain bringing those out of school back to school.

She added that the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba the Chairman of the National Steering Committee had adopted all recommendations made.

She stressed that Nwajiuba charged all stakeholders involved in the process not to allow plans made by the steering committee be in vain.

Menkiti, added that Nwajiuba callied on government at all levels to ensure the success of the intervention was scaled up and mainstreamed into a different state and national educational plans.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, expressed optimism in Abuja on Thursday that Nigerias economy was being steered on the path of growth in spite of prevailing challenges.

Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser on Media said in a statement that Lawan made the pronouncement at the Nigeria and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article lV consultation held virtually.

Lawan catalogued efforts being made by the Nigerian government at promoting economic growth and reducing poverty.

He told the participants at the virtual interaction that Nigeria had to confront the challenge of limited resources, not just because of unpredictable revenue from oil, but also because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The problems have made us improve our efforts in the prudent management of resources, and in transparency and accountability.

Our focus has been on sustaining investments in infrastructure and utilities, trusting in their capacities to stimulate economic activities, enhancing growth, and thereafter improving the peoples standard of living.

Government has continued with its anti-corruption crusade, aside a pledge to ensure discipline in public expenditure process.

Our recent experiences call for further caution in the management of resources, just as it has been another reminder of the need to increase the drive for diversification.

Beyond oil, greater regard is now being paid to the steel, mining and the agriculture sectors.

The potentials in these sectors are significant for revenue generation and for job creation. They are additionally valuable in the bid to engage critical sections of the population, especially the youth, Lawan was quoted as saying.

The Senate President said the youth question had lately been at the centre of national conversation, flowing from the #EndSARS protests.

We believe that the recent crisis we had in the form of youth protest has also given us an additional idea of how much we need to pay attention to the needs of the youths.

Government has ended SARS, and is now taking steps towards improving social and economic needs of the youth.

One of such is the re-launch of the National Young Farmers Scheme (NYFS), by the President on Nov. 9, 2020.

Our youths have become much more involved, and require greater recognition in terms of social and economic engagement.

The government has been additionally charged to continue with policies that seek to integrate them into the scheme of things.

In addition to NYFS is the National Youth Innovation Programme, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which has capacity to generate N25 billion annually over the next three years, among others.

We prioritise implementation to show a sustained commitment to policies and programmes, Lawan added.

The Senate President said the National Assembly had been as responsive as possible in the provision of legislative support to people-oriented proposals.

This is in line with our resolve to safeguard social, economic and political stability, through value-adding actions.

We have similarly been focused on timing of processes like the annual budget, to make it more predictable, and organised.

Presently, we are in the middle of resolving the long-standing Petroleum Industry Bill, consistent with our determination to pass Bills with caution and precision.

We are sustaining this path of timeliness to eliminate avoidable delays in the legislative and governance processes.

Added to this is our commitment to our oversight functions to ensure that implementation is in tandem with our economic vision.

The goal of the administration is, therefore, hinged around a productive economy; a sustainable growth, and the reduction of poverty.

We prepare our budgets towards executing the national plan for economic progress for the good of the people. We are dedicated to this and we welcome support meant for their successes, Lawan said.

He said the 2021 budget currently being processed by the National Assembly was aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges including unemployment.

I believe we are on the right path. The budget estimates presented to us at the National Assembly have been designed in such a way that job opportunities will be created for more Nigerians to be engaged in productive activities, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

House of Reps at plenary

By Kingsley Okoye

Rep. Samuel Onuigbo (PDP Abia), has commended the Federal Government and Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, over moves to begin construction of a Federal Secretariat Complex in Abia.

Onuigbo also commended Fashola, for publicly acknowledging provision of the land by Abia State Government for the construction of the secretariat.

The lawmaker, who represents Ikwuano, Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia in the 9th House of Representatives, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday.

He told NAN that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, had approved the provision of the seven-hectare land to the Federal Ministry of Works, for building of the federal secretariat in the state.

Meanwhile Fashola, at a budget defence session on Nov. 12, at the Senate and House of Representatives joint Committee on Housing, acknowledged publicly that the Abia government had provided land for that purpose.

It has come to our attention that two states, Abia and Ebonyi, do not have federal secretariats, and I think that Abia has formally made a request to us, and they have also provided land as one of the requirements to build a secretariat, the minister said at the defence.

Onuigbo, said given the provision of land, the construction of the secretariat would be a win-win situation for Abia and Federal Government.

I just want to thank the Honourable Minister, for acknowledging the efforts made by Abia government in providing land for building of a federal secretariat, and to use this opportunity to commend him.

Because we had this conversation on Oct. 23, 2019, and between then and now, in spite of the COVID pandemic, we have been able to work in a cordial, harmonious and productive way which has led to the provision of the land.

Since the land has been made available, we can start from fencing the place to make sure that we have a federal secretariat in Abia, and reduce the associated cost by the government agencies in the state that are paying rent, he said.

Onuigbo said he had asked the minister during a budget defence session on Oct. 23, 2019, why Abia did not have a federal secretariat, like other states many years after it was created, and Fashola had advised him to liaise with Ikpeazu to provide land.

I wrote a letter on Oct. 23, 2019, and met with my governor, he has provided the land.

That gives me, and indeed other Abians, hope that the project will be carried out as soon as the Federal Ministry of Housing sets aside resources for that purpose, and I commend him, because this is swift action.

On addressing housing deficit in Nigeria, the lawmaker said government had to develop a clear policy designed at creating an enabling environment for private sector to drive development of the sector.

On the call for an Igbo presidency, Onuigbo said it was very important for other regions to support a president of Igbo extraction come 2023.

It is true that the Igbos are naturally and justifiably clamouring to be supported to produce the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their clamour is justified.

Because they have made more contributions to the development of Nigeria than any other tribe, because there is no part of this country that you go and you wont find an Igbo man.

On lessons from the EndSARS protest, he said there was an urgent need to empower the youths to be engaged and be fully productive.

Policies should be formulated and implemented to create employment and social amenities.

Have the children go school and be able to project when they are graduating, Onuigbo added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria gets Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Centre

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, on Friday in Abuja, inaugurated the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

The centre seeks to position the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution that dwells on emerging technologies.

The minister said at the inauguration that the establishment of the centre was in line with the eight pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the Federal Government.

He explained that the centre related to the seventh pillar of NDEPS, which is on Digital Society and Emerging Technologies.

Pantami said also that emerging technologies included Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, Cyber security, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, Block chain, Big Data Analytics and Cloud Computing, among others.

Artificial Intelligence is the refinery of the digital economy and Robotics is very useful in supporting companies as they carry out repetitive tasks.

These are two very important emerging technologies that will shape the face of future technologies and we have decided to be proactive to enable us to play a key role in how these technologies evolve.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, fuelled by Big Data, propelled by robust computing capacity, advanced software and Artificial Intelligence is ushering new ways of living, well-being, learning, travelling and working.

Its innovative use-cases are quickly changing lives for the better and creating new types of jobs, Pantami said.

Other pillars that reflected the vision of the centre, he said, were the third, fifth and eighth which focused on solid infrastructure, digital services development and promotion, indigenous content development and adoption respectively.

Pantami said, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Artificial Intelligence would have huge impact on healthcare, automotive, financial services, retail and consumer, technology, communications and entertainment, manufacturing, energy, transport and logistics.

According to him,all these translate into a significant global economic impact as cited by several sources and Nigeria must not be left out, hence, the call for immediate action.

It is predicted that by 2025, Artificial Intelligence will be a 190-billion-dollars business as 83 per cent of companies are also reported to state that it is their strategic priority for the future.

Artificial Intelligence has a significant impact in all sectors and has played a very important role in the fight against COVID-19.

There are 12 million robotic units worldwide in 2020 and this is expected to increase by 12 per cent by 2022, he said.

He, however, disagreed that the use of robotics could lead to loss of jobs and said that reports showed that deploying robotics led to the employment of about 150,000 people globally in engineering and assembly jobs.

He also said there were already existing regulations such asthe Nigerian Data Protection Regulation, the National Broadband Plan, the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy, among others to drive the activities of the centre.

Pantami said the centre would serve as a leading hub of innovation, research and development, knowledge transfer, and training in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and other emerging technologies.

This centre will also serve the purpose of creating a vision for Artificial Intelligence in the country, identifying Artificial Intelligence-driven use-cases; support data stewardship anddevelop an Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, among others.

He said it was equipped with a digital innovation laboratory, Maker Space and Fabrication laboratory, Printed Circuit Board Facilities, 3-D Printer, Co-working space for ICT start-ups and training facilities.

He added that the centre would house the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (MIT-REAP) office set to translate research insights into practical frameworks.

The U.S.A.-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a cutting edge institute globally renowned for science and technology feats.

Pantami also expressed the hope that the centre would engage Nigerian youths, support economic diversification, create jobs and inspire digital entrepreneurship.

He directed the National Information Development Agency (NITDA to file a monthly report on the activities of the centre till Dec. 2021 when it could be certified to perform independently.

He called on the Ministry of Science and Technology for synergy in ensuring that the centre could be fully utilised to achieve the digital economy agenda of theNigerian government.

I hereby challenge our innovators to utilise the centre and come up with revolutionary solutions to our local and global challenges.

We must move away from being consumers to producers because we have the potential and government is fully committed to supporting you, he said.

At the inauguration, the Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa, explained Artificial Intelligence as the ability of machines to mimic human thinking and behaviour, which could be applied to the project of developing systems with human characteristics.

He also said that robotics was the engineering discipline that dealt with the design, construction, and operation of robots, which complements human labour.

This project is one among many of our developmental programmes in accordance with NITDAs core mandate of facilitating the growth of Information Communication Technology development in Nigeria.

We are focused on providing support for viable innovations with socio-economic impact as well as a level playing field for all Nigerians to thrive in.

As we enter the age of advanced technological breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria cannot be left out in harnessing the advantages of AI, robotics and other emerging technologies, he said.

He recalled the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report which said that AI had the potential to add to economic growth but the impact may be gradual and take sometimes to manifest.

U.S.-based MGI helps leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors to develop deeper understanding of the evolution of the global economy and to provide a fact base that contributes to decision making on critical management and policy issues.

Inuwa said the report projected that while developed countries could add 20 per cent to 25 per cent net income to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), using AI, developing countries such asNigeria could add 5 per cent to 15 per cent by deploying same.

He said thatthe countrys GDPnow stood at around 400 billion dollars, while AI technology could increase it by between20 billion dollars and60 billion dollars in 10 years.

According to him, the centre inaugurated on Friday aims at achieving such unprecedented boost to the nationseconomy.

He also said that the technology as predicted by World Economic Forum could create nearly 60 million jobs.

He observed that AI and robotics were used across the globe in the care of COVID-19 patients and would be more relevant in ensuring that the spread of the virus was curtailed.

Be abreast with technological advancement or be left behind, Inuwa quipped.

He urged stakeholders to put the facility to optimum use to project the gains of AI and robotics in the Nigerian technological space.

Mr Musa Bello, Minister of FCT, commended the transformation of the ICT sectorby Pantami, adding that he was laying the foundation for digital growth of the country.

According to Bello, this is the first centre of this nature owned by government and it opens up a space for the wider development of other sectors of the society.

Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister for State, Science and Technology, congratulated the agency and pledged to support it for the growth of governance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

IPMAN President Chinedu Okoronkwo

By Solomon Asowata

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Friday said that filling stations in Lagos were not selling fuel because of uncertainty of the new pump price.

IPMANs President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that thePetroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had adjusted the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from N147. 67 to N155.17 effective Nov. 13.

A NAN correspondent who monitored the situation at Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja and Abule-Egba areas of Lagos State observed that only a few filling stations were still selling petrol at the old pump price of N159 per litre.

Others, especially those owned by independent marketers,were not opened for business thereby creating fear of fuel scarcity among motorists and residents of the areas.

However, Okoronkwo told NAN that there was no need for panic buying because the move was based on the price notation to marketers by the PPMC.

He said: We buy from them and we heard that there is anew ex-depot price.

Now people will like to know whether that is true from the source so that they will not sell at a loss.

So the marketers are waiting for clarification from PPMC because a lot of people were not privy to have seen the memo.

Hopefully, it will be resolved soon and everybody will start selling.

Okoronkwo insisted that the Federal Government was right to remove subsidy on PMS in spite of the hike in the pump price of petrol which may hit N170 soon.

He said: We know this was bound to happen as the price is now determined by market forces but it will be beneficial to the country in the long run.

More investors are coming into the sector and once we are able to refine our products locally, the pump prices will reduce.

Walter Smith Refinery in Imo is already up and running and people have started loading products from there. Dangote Refinery in Lagos will soon start operation too.

We have others in Bayelsa and Rivers and by 2021 we will be expecting the prices to stabilise. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the conduct of 15 pending by-elections for Dec. 5.

Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, in a statement issued in Abuja said that the decision was taken at the commissions meeting held on Friday.

He said that INEC among other things reviewed the outcome of its quarterly consultations with stakeholders in the electoral process.

He said that the commission further reviewed the security situation and other challenges regarding the by-elections holding in 11 states.

The commission on Oct. 22, postponed the by-elections earlier scheduled for Oct. 31, on account of the security situation and other environmental challenges in the country.

Okoye recalled that the commission met again on Nov. 5, and reviewed the situation.

He said that the commission at the meeting noted among other things the vandalism of INEC local government offices and facilities which affected some areas where the by-elections were scheduled to hold.

Consequently, the commission decided to consult critical stakeholders in the electoral process before deciding on a definite date for the conduct of the by-elections.

The commission consulted with political parties and civil society organisations on Nov. 10, as well as with the media and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on Nov. 11.

Finally, it met with all Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Based on these consultations, the Commission believes that security in the affected States has improved while the environmental challenges have reasonably abated.

Consequently, the Commission has decided to hold all the pending by-elections on Saturday, Dec. 5.

The national commissioner said that INEC acknowledged the support, understanding and cooperation of stakeholders and the general public as it considered the scheduling of the by-elections.

These, according to him, were done in the overall efforts to reposition the electoral process as well as to give meaning and value to the votes of the people.

Okoye also appealed to voters and stakeholders in the states with pending by-elections to continue to cooperate with INEC in its efforts to deliver credible elections under a safe environment. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Obaseki takes oath of office for 2nd term

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Gov. Godwin Obaseki says he will use his second term in office to bring about technology-driven state which level of growth and development will help reduce the level of poverty and want among Edo people

Obaseki said this as he took oath of office for his second term as governor of Edo on Thursday, the highpoint of high-stakes election he won in September.

The Chief Judge of Edo, Mrs Esther Edigin, administered the oath on the governor and the Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu.

The governor said that he used his first term to seek partnership that would drive the economy of the state through numerous memoranda of agreements.

He said that his second term would be used to consolidate and bring about a better Edo for the benefit of the people.

We have used the last four years to change how government works with the introduction of memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement with organisations and communities, which assist government in allocating responsibilities and relating with the people and other partners in development.

Our government is committed to working for every Edo State citizen and lifting their wellbeing by ensuring that Edo State grows into a globally competitive economy enabled by technology for the benefit of all her citizens.

Before 2025, Edo State will develop and grow its digital economy and operate a digital government.

The digital government we are building will plug into the new digital age and would ensure we deliver better and efficient services to all our citizens, he said.

The governor assured that he would focus on improving the healthcare system and other priorities areas in realising their vision as reflected in the MEGA manifesto.

We will grow our Social Sector by constantly improving our Education, Healthcare System, provision of social security and safety nets, caring for the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in our state.

Rapidly develop our critical energy, housing, digital and road Infrastructure, which provides a framework to drive inclusive growth.

Build the Economy and drive Industrialization, Trade and Investment to solidify our states status as the choice investment destination in the country.

Preserve the Environment and Public Utilities, to make our state more functional and adapt to the challenges of climate change and rural-urban migration.

Our major drive will be the clean and green Edo initiative and sustaining our campaign to plant trees and restore the forest.

Among the sectors he also planned to invest in include:

Exploiting agriculture and natural resources, by tapping our God-given resources to provide food security, create wealth and improve the livelihoods of our people.

Strengthen Public Service, Public Finance and Public Revenue, by recalibrating our workforce for the future world of work.

Sustain Law, Judiciary and Legal Reforms, to ensure justice, equity and fairness in private and public dealings.

Promote Arts and Culture, to preserve the past, document the present, envision the future, and use our arts and culture as a springboard to develop tourism.

Revamp the Transport sector, by developing transport infrastructure to a more modern and affordable system.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Governor of Rivers, Mr Nyesom Wike, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Gov.Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

Mr Dan Orbih, the Vice-Chairman of the PDP, South South and a former Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, were also in attendance.

Others are: PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Mike Ogiadome, the Senator representing Edo Central District, Mr Cliford Ordia, Sen. Matthew Urhohide and a PDP Chieftain, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

WHO DG, Tedros-Adhanom-Ghebreyesus

The WHO says 28.5 billion dollars is urgently needed to finance the access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator to ensure equitable and worldwide access to vaccines and other equipment to combat the pandemic, an official said.

The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing the opening ceremony of the Paris peace forum.

We have two urgent requests for the international community: first, the aid accelerator will be no more than a noble gesture unless it is fully funded.

The current financing gap for the aid accelerator is 28.5 billion dollars, and 4.5 billion dollars is needed urgently to maintain momentum, Tedros said.

The second request, according to the WHO head, is to ensure fair allocation of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics as public goods, not private commodities.

To achieve that we must commit to the following five principles of the aid accelerator charter: share data and knowledge; ensure health system capacity, fair and transparent pricing, leveraging publicly funded research and global coordinator for equitable allocation, Tedros added.

The ACT-Accelerator was launched by the WHO, European Commission, France and the Bill

Customs officers mounting road block

By Hussaina Yakubu

A team of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kaduna, operating along Kamba/Bunza road, has been attacked by some youths.

A statement issued on Thursday by the units Public Relations Officer, ASCI Ma Magaji, said the attack occurred after the team intercepted a vehicle laden with bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to have been smuggled into the country.

The officers came under attack by some youths from adjoining communities, carrying dangerous weapons; and a melee ensued as they tried to disarm one of the officers.

As a result, a shot was fired, which unfortunately hit one of the youth on his left shoulder.

The injured youth was immediately rushed to the general hospital in Kamba, while some of the officers sustained various degree of injuries. The injured youth, however, later died in the hospital, he said.

The angry youths, who later attempted to burn down the Custom barracks in Kamba, were repelled by a combined team of security operatives, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller, Sarkin Kebbi, while sympathizing with the victims family, regretted the incident and needless loss of life.

He however, cautioned the youths to resist the urge for needless confrontation with officers on lawful duty. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

File photo: IDP

By Femi Ogunshola

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a data base for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.

Mr. Muhammad Jega, the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on IDPs and Refugees disclosed this at the budget defence of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs on Thursday in Abuja.

Jega said that President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this on Oct 11 while expressing the federal governments desire to have comprehensive records of all IDPs, wherever they are located, adding that it would help to keep their records so as to properly cater for them.

According to him, the data base will also help to provide a good basis for protection, care and maintenance of IDPs across the country.

Sen. Basheer Mohammed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, said that paucity of funds had hindered the commission from performing optimally.

He, however, sought the support of the committee to intervene by ensuring that more funds were made available to the commission in order to adequately take care of the needs of IDPs in the country.

Mohammed disclosed that the commission received N500 million as allocation, to service the 36 states of the federation, pointing out that at the moment there were 2.5 million displaced Nigerians in over 200 camps across the country.

I am saying this so that you can appreciate the challenges we are facing, so that something reasonable will be done to ensure that IDPs are well catered for, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Jerry Rawlings, Former president of Ghana

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu has commiserated with the government and people of Ghana over the death of former President Jerry Rawlings on Thursday.

Kalu, while applauding the qualities of the former Ghanaian leader noted that the deceased played key roles in the promotion of democratic virtues in Ghana and Africa.

In his tribute, Kalu said, the demise of former President Jerry Johnson Rawlings of Ghana, is a big blow not only to Ghana but Africa in general.

The former Ghanaian leader played vital roles in the sustenance of democracy in Africa.

He was a bold, courageous and pragmatic leader, who served Ghana meritoriously in the military and civilian regimes.

The late former president, will be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the social, economic and political development of the African continent.

The former governor of Abia conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Mrs Nana Rawlings and other members of the Rawlings family and prayed God to repose the soul of the former president. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi

By Douglas Okoro

Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has lauded laboratory scientists in the country for their immense contributions to the development of the health sector.

Umahi made the commendation at the 56th Annual Scientific Conference and Workshop, organised by the Association of Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria on Thursday in Abakaliki.

The governor described the contributions of the group in the provision of quality medical and health care delivery as enormous and commendable.

He said that the state government would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders in the health sector to ensure improved service delivery.

We have done so much to enhance our health sector development, including building and equipping our general hospitals and Virology Centre, to meet the health needs of our people, he said.

Umahi, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, thanked the association for choosing Ebonyi for the conference.

He was conferred with the associations Most Outstanding Governors Award for infrastructure development

Earlier, the National President of the association, Dr Bassey Enya, commended the Ebonyi government for its commitment in improving the health sector and physical infrastructures.

Enya called on government at all levels to invest more funds in the sector for quality and efficient service delivery.

He blamed misdiagnosis in the countrys health system on governments inability to provide the enabling environment for laboratory science practice to thrive.

He said: Government at all levels have been unable to provide the requisite and well trained man-power that would adequately carry out correct diagnosis in the hospitals.

We still have the environment that is not ripe for laboratory to thrive, lack of well trained personnel.

Reagents are brought into the country without adequate supervision and re-evaluation to ensure they are up to the best acceptable standards.

Some state governments do not have up to 10 medical laboratory scientists in their employ. This is unacceptable.

Enya said that the theme of the conference, Misdiagnosis and patient safety in Nigeria Health system: The medical laboratory priority, was carefully chosen because of the challenges posed by misdiagnosis and the need to stem them.

In this 21st century, patient safety is a key consideration in healthcare management, hence the focus on it.

Incidences of professionals churning out incorrect and discordant results are becoming noticeable and are clearly unacceptable because they lead to wrong medications.

They also lead to delayed patient management, wastage of scarce funds, long hospital stay and even death, he said.

He called on the federal government, relevant authorities and corporate bodies to channel more efforts and resources in providing infrastructure for better medical laboratory investigations.

In doing this, medical scientists with requisite knowledge and expertise must be involved.

The obvious testing lacuna observed in the management of COVID-19 outbreak readily comes to mind.

The country needs to be proactive and not wait to be overwhelmed by such cases before embarking on emergency interventions that are usually not far-reaching enough, Enya said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day conference will culminate in the election of a new national leadership of the association. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi

China and African countries need to strengthen solidarity and build a stronger community with a shared future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang made the remarks at the reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.

Twenty years ago, Chinese and African leaders gathered in Beijing to inaugurate FOCAC.

A new era was, thus, opened for China-Africa relations.

Over the two decades, by acting along the prevailing trend of peace, development and cooperation, FOCAC has established itself as a pacesetter for cooperation with Africa, a champion of multilateralism, and a fine example of mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang noted.

Wang put forward four propositions on how to ensure China-Africa relations will seize the trend of the times and scale new heights, how to build on achievement and further upgrade.

It also put forward ideas to enhance China-Africa cooperation, and how to enable FOCAC to meet the challenges and achieve progress in creative ways.

Wang called on China and African countries to strengthen solidarity to defeat the current challenge together and build a China-Africa community of health for all.

Noting FOCAC is a valuable asset for China and Africa, Wang said the two sides must keep pace with the times to ensure that the Forum remains a shining example of China-Africa relations.

China is ready to work with Africa to make good preparations on the arrangements and deliverables of the next FOCAC meeting scheduled to be held next year, Wang said.

He added that China hopes the meeting will take the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to a new height.

Source: NAN News