Buhari and Xi Jinping

The Peoples Republic of China has pledged support to Africas economic reopening post COVID-19 under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.

Mr Wang Yi, Chinas Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the pledge in Beijing at a reception held by the Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to commemorate FOCACs 20th anniversary.

The Embassy of China in Nigeria disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Wang said that in the past decade, FOCAC had established itself as a pacesetter for cooperation with Africa and had come a long way in strengthening China-Africa solidarity and friendship.

He said that COVID-19 was accelerating the evolution of a new international order whose challenge calls for new responsibility and actions.

He said that the new international circumstances of COVID-19 called for important strategic decisions, which have become more relevant than ever.

The Chinese Foreign Minister said countries must remain guided by the principle of sincerity, good faith and pursuing the greater good and shared interests.

First, we need to strengthen solidarity and build a stronger community with a shared future. At the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, leaders of China and Africa agreed to build a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

We need to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and dignity, by independently pursuing a development path suited to national realities, he said.

Wang noted that in protecting legitimate rights to development and achieve national rejuvenation together through joint efforts.

We need to tide over the current challenge together and build a China-Africa community of health for all. China will continue to work with Africa to fully deliver on the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

Wang recalled that the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, pledged greater focus on public health, economic reopening and improvement of livelihoods.

I would like to reaffirm Chinas firm commitment to making its vaccines a global public good.

When the development of the vaccines is completed and they are available for use, China will actively consider providing them to African countries in need to help secure an early victory against the virus, he said.

He proposed that China and Africa need to pursue win-win cooperation to build a China-Africa community of development for all.

He stressed that China will continue to support Africa in enhancing its infrastructure, advancing industrialisation and building up capacity for independent development.

China welcomes the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and will provide cash assistance and capacity-building training to its Secretariat.

China and Africa need to deepen free trade cooperation and better connect industrial and supply chains so that Africa can better access the vast China market and join the international economic circulation, Wang said.

He pledged that China was also ready to work with Africa on a framework of strategic cooperation to jointly tackle the challenge posed by climate change, while calling for joint action in addressing other global challenges and participating in global governance.

We need to embrace our responsibilities and work toward a community with a shared future for mankind. China and Africa are staunch supporters of multilateralism and important forces for world peace and development.

We need to take on our historic duty to firmly safeguard the UNs central role in international and multilateral affairs, defend basic norms governing international relations, and uphold multilateralism, fairness and justice.

By doing so, we will bring about a more equitable and reasonable international order and an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister emphasised that FOCAC remained a valuable asset that needed to keep pace with the times, to ensure that the Forum remains a shining example of China-Africa relations.

He announced that China was ready to work with Africa to make good preparations on the arrangements and deliverables of the next FOCAC meeting scheduled to hold in Senegal in 2021.

Wang expressed the hope that the meeting will create greater synergy between Chinas second centenary goal and the AUs Agenda 2063, form new consensus on China-Africa solidarity, explore new cooperation areas, and bring new benefits to the Chinese and African peoples.

NAN recalled that in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari attended the FOCAC summit in Beijing, during which he held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The ceremony also included the signing of some agreements between Nigeria and China in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the economy.

Source: NAN News

Guyanese President, Dr Irfaan Ali

By Ismail Abdulaziz
Dr Irfaan Ali of Guyana has said that international cooperation, through multilateralism, was pivotal in responding to existing global challenges.

The Guyanese president stated this during the 44th Annual Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group 77 and China, in Georgetown.

The efficacy of this mechanism cannot be underemphasised at this time.

He pointed to the importance of working together to rebuild economies, strengthen public health systems and develop and distribute the COVID-19 vaccines.

Ali called for enhanced international support for institutions, such as the World Health Organisation, which are best equipped to foster a collective response in this regard.

The President said that in an effort to rebound stronger and more resilient from the COVID-19, it is necessary to internalise the lessons of the pandemic to chart a more inclusive and sustainable development path.

This he emphasised required addressing issues such as development gaps, high indebtedness and advocating for greater access to development financing.

This group continues to call upon all states to prioritise the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We must not waver in our commitment to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

Ali said that Guyana has made climate action a national priority and remained committed to working with others to overcome the world climate crisis.

He spoke on the virtual meeting held on Oct. 29, under the theme: Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the era of COVID-19 which brought together more than 170 participants.

As a group we must also strive to uphold the Paris Agreement and work with all stakeholders, including bilateral partners, to take urgent action to realise the agreements ambitions.

Ali also pointed to Guyanas action as Chair of the Group to develop a legally binding instrument on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

He said this issue was also of extreme importance as a result of the threat it poses to the economies of many developing countries.

The President also spoke on the issue underpinning the Groups ability to confront the many challenges in the preservation of democracy.

Democracy is essential within states and in relations between states. Democracy, therefore, must become more embedded in multilateral institutions.

The President assured members of the group that Guyana will conclude the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China with more commitment to the common interest of the developing world.

He called on the Group to reflect and assess the ways in which they have fallen short of the ideals set out in the Charter of the United Nations.

Only then would we be able to forge a path forward that will eventuate with the necessary reforms needed to advance the goals of a more just, peaceful and equitable world.

Source: NAN News

FG worried over new cases of Lassa fever

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the number of new confirmed cases of Lassa fever in some states.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, expressed the concern in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

He said that there had been reported cases of Lassa fever in some states, especially as the dry season is setting in.

The minister said that there were 180 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and two deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.

According to him, this brings to 64,516 the total number of confirmed cases so far recorded in Nigeria from the 697,544 persons tested for COVID-19.

A total of 60,737 cases have been treated and discharged while there are currently 2617 active cases currently receiving care at home or in a facility.

We have sadly recorded 1,162 deaths with a case fatality rate of 1.8 per cent.

We are cautiously impressed that the number of active cases is reducing as more persons are being discharged and the recovery rate is increasing, Mamora said.

Government, he said, remains committed to sustaining the gains by ensuring quality care for all those who test positive.

He said officers of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with some partners were on supportive supervision visits to state treatment facilities.

Acccording to the minister, while government strives to contain the spread of the disease, it is monitoring other diseases threatening the health of Nigerians.

One of such diseases is Lassa fever which is a viral haemorrhagic disease characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: malaise, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, chest pain and hearing loss.

So far this year, we have recorded 1131 confirmed cases in 27 states. However, the number of new confirmed cases of Lassa has increased from three in the last weeks to 11 cases this week.

Although nearly three-quarters of the confirmed cases are in Ondo state, Lassa fever can affect anyone anywhere.

We therefore advise all to be vigilant especially as we approach the season when we usually record increased incidences, he said.

The minister said that fatality is lower if patients report early for treatment.

The minister also said government is investigating the unexplained deaths in Delta and Enugu States.

According to him, experts have been dispatched to the states to support the investigation.

In Delta State, 23 cases have been reported with 17 deaths while in Enugu State, 51 deaths have been reported. In both states, most of the affected cases are males, aged between one and 55 years.

Most reported cases presented with fever, headache, fatigue and weakness, jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting (with or without blood), nose bleeding, blood in stools/urine, convulsions and unconsciousness.

As at the 6th of November, three samples from Delta and one sample from Enugu have been confirmed positive for yellow fever.

We shall provide further updates at subsequent briefing, he said.

Source: NAN News

WHO lauds Nigeria for D-8 programme office donation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded the Federal Government for donating an office to the Health and Social Protection (HSP) programme of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (Developing-8), to boost healthcare systems.

WHO Country Representative, Dr Kazadi Molombo Walter, made the commendation in his remark at the official inauguration of the HSP office on Thursday in Abuja.

Molombo, represented by Mr Hamzat Tayo, WHO Professional Officer, said that the donation of the office would fast track implementation of health programme initiatives amongthe D-8 member countries.

We identify with this noble initiative, we commend the D-8 programme office in Nigeria and to affirm our identification with the programme office.

We believe that this office will give you the latitude to be able to implement the health objectives and activities that had been set.

The WHO representative recalled that his organization was at the meeting held in 2019, on improve health indices and besides the fact that countries could learn from each other the concept of the health and social protection was relevant for all the D-8 countries.

We believe that with supports from development partners and member countries putting in their own contribution, this laudable objective will be achieved.

Source: NAN News

Gabriel Chukwuma

By Chimezie Anaso

Gabriel Chukwuma, owner of the defunct Gabros International Football Club of Nnewi, says Nigerian football has not attained its potential height in spite of the foundation laid for the game.

Bad politics and selfishness have taken over in the mind of those administering the game as against altruism, and this is why Nigerian players are no longer in the top flight as it was in the past, he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

He said there was the need for the type of spirit which made him found and run a football club successfully for 22 years without support from anybody or government.

Politics is what destroyed our football, and I can say the game has literarily died in Nigeria.

Unlike during our time when we were interested in how we can grow the game, how we can entertain the world, help the youth to make money, now what they are interested in is how much they can make from it.

These days, we dont have players who stay in the top flight for a long time in Europe.

Have we wondered why our players are no longer popular as they used to? It is because we dont have the right foundation again, he said.

Chukwuma called for a football structure which would accommodate players of all ages and allow for sustainable development.

He said such a structure should allow Nigerian players to enjoy a period of playing for long, as obtained in Europe and South America.

The former board member of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said he set up Nnewi United FC later on against his initial plans to acquire a club in Switzerland.

He said this was to give more youths the opportunity to climb to stardom.

I managed a club for 22 years and we were in the premier league for seven years without support from government or any individual.

It was all from my personal money and the little I made from the club that we did all that. That is the type of spirit we need.

I did not make money in football, not because I didnt know how to go about it. But I wanted to help the young ones.

My joy is that many young men got a life from the platform Gabros International provided.

Nnewi United was another platform I later provided again for youths, to support the efforts of government.

Now, we are in the national league and we are not looking for promotion. Where we are is okay for us.

My happiness in those days then was in the fact that there was a day six Gabros International FC players were in the national team against another country.

But my regret is that the foundation we built then for a successful take-off of our football has now collapsed, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 180 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

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

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nation had since April seen 64,516 cases of coronavirus, with recoveries and discharges put at 60,737 cases.

The public health agency said that two coronavirus-complicated deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll in the country to 1,162.

The NCDC said that 404 COVID-19 patients were discharged across the country in the past 24 hour, raising the total number of successfully treated cases to 60,737.

It noted that the 180 new infections were reported in nine states in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 64,516.

According to the centre, the states with new infections are Lagos,74; Oyo, 41; FCT, 19; Kaduna, 19; Bauchi, 12; Ogun, seven; Rivers, four; Cross River and Edo had two each.

The NCDC said that it had activated a multi-sectoral National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Level III to coordinate the national response activities in the country.

Meanwhile, the public health agency said it has supported all states to scale up capacity and access to COVID-19 testing.

Our responsibility is to support statesand provide public health guidance. Nigerians have to adhere to recommended measures to prevent a possible second wave, the NCDC said.

Source: NAN News

Nyarugenge Prison Kigali

Rwanda on Thursday reported 27 new COVID-19 cases in Kigalis Nyarugenge Prison, taking the daily count to 50, the highest in the past two months.

The other cases were found in Kirehe and Rwamagana districts in the Eastern Province and Rubavu district in the Western Province, according to the daily update of the Health Ministry.

The new cases brought the national tally to 5,312 as total recoveries and deaths rose to 4,974 and 41 respectively, with seven new recoveries and one more death reported in the past 24 hours.

The outbreak in Kigalis prison came after Health Minister Daniel Ngamije revealed 13 cases on Monday, in Rwamaganas prison.

He said the government would tighten measures in places with high concentration of people, such as markets, parks and prisons, until vaccine was found. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sam Dede

By Joshua Olomu

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has appointed veteran Nollywood actor, Sam Dede, as Chairman of its Disciplinary Committee.

Monalisa Chinda-Coker, the guilds Director of Communications, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to her, the disciplinary committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order in the body, and to ensure that actors uphold ethical standards.

Chinda-Coker listed other members of the committee as: Lilian Amah-Aluko, Secretary, Tricia Esigbe, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Adigizi Bala, Clarion Chukwura and Funsho Adeolu.

She said the National President of the guild, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, had inaugurated two other committees to help to re-organise the organisation.

This is in a bid to position the guild to meet the aspirations of members in line with international best practice,and to improve the standard of the acting profession.

Chinda-Coker named the committees as Committee on Establishment of the Women Crisis Institute.

She explained that the harmonisation committee is chaired by ace Comedian Okey Bakasi, adding that it was constituted to harmonise recommendations ofpast committees with the ultimate aim of producing a hand book for members.

According to her, other members of the harmonisation committee are: Joke Silva, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Bimbo Manuel, Ijeoma Imoh and Marcus Maina with Don Pedro Aganbi as the secretary.

She said that the committee on establishment of women crisis Institute was saddled with the responsibility of helping the National Council of Nigerian Women Societies in raising funds to start the institute.

This committee is chaired by Ronnie Dikko and Chidi Okafor as the Secretary, is designed to take care of women who are victims of rape, sexual molestations and gender based violence.

Other members are Kate Henshaw, Keppy Ekpeyong -Bassey, AJility Onwurah, Kareem Mohammed and Hajia Salma, Desmond Elliot and Femi Branch, among others.

Chinda-Coker added that the committee on the establishment of the women crisis institute also has Shan George, Chris Oge Kalu, Rita Daniels, Blossom Chukwujekwu andOby Okafor as members.

Chinda-Coker quoted the guilds president as urging members to join hands with him to build a virile Guild for all. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Residents trapped on rooftop of a building in Philippines

Officials on Thursday said hundreds of residents were trapped overnight on the roofs of their houses in the Philippines, amid widespread floods triggered by Typhoon Vamco.

The Office of Civil Defence said Vamco slammed into the eastern portion of the countrys main island of Luzon on Wednesday night, leaving at least one dead and three others missing.

It announced that a 68-year-old man was found dead on the roof of his house in Daet town in Camarines Norte province, while three people were reported missing in the nearby town of Vinzons.

Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said rescue teams are overwhelmed with the appeals for rescue in Marikina City, a suburb in the capital region of metro Manila.

Teodoro said: About half of all the houses in Marikina are now either totally submerged or partially submerged in floods.

The current is very strong so we cant use floating devices or manual boats.

Our problem is really overwhelming. We can no longer handle the rescue. We need help.

The Mayor likened the deluge to the disaster brought by tropical storm Ketsana, which brought a months worth of rain in a day in the capital in September 2009, killing over 740 people.

The weather bureau added that Vamco has weakened as it traversed the mainland of Luzon, the most populous island in the Philippines.

The typhoon, locally called Ulysses, was packing maximum winds of 130 kilometres per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 215 km/h as it moved west-northwest at 30 km/h, it added.

It caused floods and landslides in the affected eastern provinces. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court symbol

By Patience Yakubu

A trader, Hamisu Auwal, on Thursday appeared in a Chief Magistrates Court, Kaduna, for allegedly defrauding his friend of N3.4million.

The police charged Auwal, 42, who lives at no. 8 Kinkino GRA, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, with breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Alhaji Aliyu Mamman, lodged a complaint with the Police Command in Kaduna.

Leo alleged that in September 2017, the defendant introduced the complainant into the business of selling second-hand clothes and materials.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant then deceived the complainant into investing N6.6million in the business.

He further alleged that when the complainant gave the defendant the money, he bought goods of N3.2million and diverted the sum of N3.4million to his personal use.

The prosecutor said all efforts to recover the money failed.

Leo said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 296, 306 and 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017..

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Magistrate Benjamin Hassan admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Hassan ordered that the surety must be a civil servant not below GL09.

He adjourned the case until Nov. 25 for hearing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NLNG Logo

By Solomon Asowata

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited says it will increase its allocation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the domestic market from 350, 000MT to 450, 000MT by 2021.

The NLNG said the move was aimed at supporting the Federal Governments plan to deepen LPG (cooking gas) penetration in Nigeria.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director, NLNG, made the announcement on Thursday during a webinar organised by the Oil and Gas Group of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), with the theme: Oil and Gas Downstream and Midstream Sectors: The Way Forward.

Attah said with Nigeria being a gas country with a proven reserve of 203TCF, it was time to use the product to drive the nations human capacity development and economic growth.

He said the declaration of the year 2020 as the Year of Gas by the Federal Government was not sufficient, stressing that a decade should be dedicated to utilisation of gas to transform the country.

According to him, the desire of the NLNG to deepen LPG penetration in Nigeria is aimed at creating a healthy life for Nigerians by giving them access to clean source of energy for cooking.

In 2007, total consumption of LPG in Nigeria was about 50, 000MT. Today, it is about one million metric tonnes and NLNGs contribution is 350, 000MT.

We have approached our board to get a mandate to increase NLNGs contribution to 450, 000MT from next year. That is a very positive contribution from NLNG, Attah said.

He noted that apart from the domestic usage, about 60 per cent of gas was being supplied to power generation plants across the country for electricity purposes.

Attah said this would help create jobs for Nigerians and help to reposition the nations economy following the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the world was moving toward cleaner energy sources, adding that gas would afford Nigeria the opportunity to become a key player in the energy transition mix. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dana Air Plane

By Yunus Yusuf

The management of Dana Air says it will commence daily flights from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja from Nov. 17, with additional flights between Abuja and Owerri.

The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.

Mbanuzuo said that Dana Air would operate daily flights from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja, while additional flights had been introduced between Abuja and Owerri.

The re-introduction of Enugu is part of our gradual and strategic route expansion drive and the frequent requests by our guests for us to return to Enugu and increase frequency between Abuja and Owerri, to serve our teeming guests.

The hospitable people of Enugu require an airline that can take them from point A to B conveniently, on schedule, with seamless value added services at very pocket-friendly fares.

These are some of the options we are bringing to the good people of Enugu.

Our guests are advised to visit our website www.flydanaair.com, download our mobile app on Google play store or Applestore or better still chat with us on WhatsApp or safe and ease of reservation or booking, he said.

Mbanuzuo said Dana Air was one of Nigerias leading airlines with a mix fleet of nine aircraft and over 27 daily flights to Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Enugu.

The airline is reputed for its innovative online products and services, unrivalled on-time departures and arrival and world-class in-flight service. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mutual Benefits

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc on Wednesday said it was planning to increase its authorised share capital to N10.05 billion by the creation of 100 million additional ordinary shares of 50k each.

Mr Jide Ibitayo, Company Secretary of the firm, made this known in a notice of Extra-Ordinary General Meeting scheduled for Dec. 3 which was posted on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The notice added that shareholders would be required at the meeting to authorise the directors to raise additional capital via the issue of debt or equity or a combination of both, including redeemable convertible bonds, loan stock, bonds with options, whether by way of private placement.

The company, according to the notice, was also seeking to raise additional capital of 4.80 billion by way of private placement.

Subject to obtaining the regulatory approvals, the private placement shall be by way of sale of 8,888,888,889 ordinary shares of 50k each of the company at the rate of 54k per share, it said.

The company disclosed that the private placement would be sold to Charles Enterprises LLC and Arubiewe Farms Ltd.

It said that a total of 5,331,044,445 units at 2,878,764,000.24 would be sold to Charles Enterprises LLC, while 3,557,844,444 units at 1,921,235.999.76 would be sold to Arubiewe Farms Ltd.

The company said that the additional capital would enable it to meet the new minimum share capital prescribed by the regulator.

Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world economies and the negative investors sentiments in the stock market, the company has decided to raise the additional capital required by way of Private Placement of its shares to some existing substantial investors.

The investors are those who have indicated their readiness to commit further investment into the company to meet the new minimum regulatory capital, it said.

The National Insurance Commission had on May 20, 2019 raised the minimum Paid-Up Share Capital of insurance companies providing general insurance to N10 billion.

The company seeks to raise additional capital to meet the new minimum share capital prescribed by the regulator. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

SEC may withdraw registration certificate of 157 capital market operators

By Ginika Okoye

The Securities and Exchange Commission may soon withdraw the registration certificates of about 157 inactive Capital Market Operators (CMOs).

The Commission issued a pre-notice for the cancellation or withdrawal of the certificates and posted same on itswebsite.

It said the decision followed the failure of the operators to render their statutory returns to the Commission and added that they either had their capital eroded or were affected by policy changes.

The notice requested affected CMOs to make presentations to the Commission on or before Nov. 13, giving reasons why their registration should not be cancelled.

It urged the CMOs to forward hard copies of their presentations to its head office while electronic copies should be sent to: also to:

Prominent among CMOs listed are NICON Trustee Ltd., Leadway Assurance Co. Ltd., LASACO Assurance Plc. and Platinum Capital Ltd.

Others are Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., UAC Registrars Ltd., Unic Insurance Plc., Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc. and Wema Assets Management Plc. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kaduna inland Port

By Moses Kolo

The Kaduna Inland Dry Port says it is strategisingahead of 2021 to render better services to its clientsand to woo more partners in delivering improved services.

The Port Manager, Mr Rotimi Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday that we want to put the setbacks caused by COVID-19 pandemic behind us and strategise to ensure economic activities pick up beginning from next year.

We want to create the necessary awareness and publicity on our services so that people can use this place as their final port for exports from the northern part of the country

In the northern part of the country, there are so many exporting activities like the export of ginger, tiger nuts, sesame seeds, many other cash crops and solid minerals, he said.

The port has 4,000 square meters capacity warehouse for storage of imported or ready-to-be-exported goods.

Hassan said it was a thing of joy that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, already directed the expansion of the narrow rail gauge at the port to a standard gauge as this would enable it to receive and dispatch more containers.

The essence of establishing the dry port is to decongest the major ports and to bring shipping services closer to regional areas of the country.

The port manager also urged the Federal Government to intensify the rehabilitation of existing rail lines across the country and expand them so as to reduce the pressure on road transportation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

People running to safety following communal clash in South Sudan

Bona Panek Biar, governor of Warrap on Wednesday said 16 civilians were killed and scores wounded in South Sudans northern Warrap region following clashes over cattle.

Biar disclosed that the civilians were killed during clashes over cattle that erupted from Sunday until Tuesday between the Jalwau and Luanyjang clans of the Dinka community in Tonj East area.

According to Biar, criminals from Jalwau clan first raided cattle from Luanyjang clan which caused Luanyjang to retaliate by also raiding cattle from Jalwau.

He said that was what led to clashes between the two communities, leaving 16 people killed on both sides and 47 others wounded.

Biar said that the fighting has ended following intervention by government troops and the two communities are seeking dialogue to settle the conflict.

I am not quite sure about the number of cattle stolen but authorities are working now to collect the raided cattle from both sides.

In August alone, 148 people were killed in Tonj East in clashes between government forces and armed civilians during a disarmament exercise which the civilians resisted.

In addition, similar clashes over cattle and grazing pasture occurred in July this year pitting Dinka, Neur communities from Jonglei region against Murle community in the neighboring Pibor administrative area bordering Ethiopia.

Biar said violence prevents development in the (Warrap) area and causes insecurity among the communities, you cannot get roads, health care, network, and education when there is fighting.

You get those things only when there is peace. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19: Corps members observe NCDC protocols

By Franca Ofili

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in the FCT, has put in place all necessary measures to observe the COVID 19 protocols following the camping of 2020 Batch B Corps members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government has mobilised 66,000 eligible graduates for the 2020 Batch B service year, out of which about 800 have been deployed to the territory.

A correspondent of NAN who visited the camp in Kubwa on Wednesday reports that wash hand basins, bottles of sanitizer and soaps were placed in strategic points in the camp.

The corps members were seen observing the protocols of hand washing, social distancing, sanitising their hands, use of nose masks, covering of mouth when coughing and sneezing, among others.

At the hostel, the beds had been spaced to take only ten persons, unlike before the COVID-19 pandemic, when it used to be 40 corps members in a hostel.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had said that all corps members must be tested for COVID-19, adding that it was free.

At the NCDC point at the camp, corps members were seen carrying out COVID -19 tests.

Mrs Lona Williams, FCT surveillance Support Officer, said that 200 corps members would be tested daily.

As at yesterday, we tested 180 corps members and 150 camp officials. We were meant to test 2,000 corps members but a lot of them came very late so we decided to continue today.

Today, the process is still ongoing, so far we have tested more than 100 corps members and we still have over two hundred to go, Williams said
She said that the test results would take 15 minutes to be ready. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

UN rights chief, Bachelet, condemns Tanzania election violence

The people of Tanzania should be allowed to express grievances without fear of reprisals after nationwide elections, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that she had been disturbed by reports of continued intimidation and harassment against leaders and members of the opposition.

She also called for the immediate release of those detained for exercising their human rights, a UN statement said.

The tense situation in the country will not be defused by silencing those who challenge the outcome of the elections, but rather through a participatory dialogue, Ms. Bachelet said, before urging the Tanzanian authorities to respect and facilitate exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

Ms. Bachelet highlighted reports that following vote-casting in the east African nation last month, at least 150 opposition leaders and members had been arrested in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

While most have been subsequently released, at least 18 reportedly remain in custody, the UN rights chief said.

Her comments come after the countrys main opposition parties called for peaceful demonstrations and fresh elections, after President John Magufuli was returned to office last month with more than 80 per cent of ballots cast.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the authorities said that those arrested had been planning violent protests.

Ms. Bachelet also noted that ahead of the arrests, police officials announced that they would not allow protests to go ahead. They cited allegation of plans to cause chaos, the High Commissioner said, adding that they threatened to use force and detain anyone taking part in demonstrations.

Under international law, there is a presumption in favour of considering assemblies to be peaceful, the High Commissioner stressed.

She called on the Government of Tanzania to ensure that security forces and law enforcement officials act according to the rule of law and human rights norms and standards.

The developments follow reported pre-election intimidation and harassment of civil society organisations and journalists, as well as allegations of police brutality against opposition members and their supporters on the day of the election.

Ms. Bachelet also called for prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of human rights violations before, during and after the polls.

In particular, she urged action to investigate the killing of at least 10 people and the injuries sustained by more than 50 others in Zanzibar on 26 October two days before the vote.

The High Commissioner also expressed concern at internet restrictions including the blocking of social media and messaging platforms and the censoring of election-related content.

Free flow of information is critical to any democratic society, and especially so in an electoral context, the High Commissioner said, adding that any restrictions on information and communication technology must be in line with international human rights laws and standards.

Source: NAN News

Husband and wife Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci are the couple behind the Covid-19 vaccine that could change the world

Physicians Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci, who bonded over their love of medical research, are the married couple behind the Covid-19 vaccine that could change the world.

Mr Sahin came from humble roots to build two billion-dollar companies but still rides to work on his mountain bike.

Now the modest 55-year-old physician turned chief executive of a German biotech firm and his wife Oezlem Tuereci, 53, a fellow board member of BioNTech, are being hailed as the dream team behind the worlds hopes for a Covid vaccine.

Pfizer, the US pharmaceutical giant behind Viagra, published preliminary data showing the vaccine was 90 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19 infection.

The breakthrough was the first real ray of hope in the pandemic and could spell an end to the perpetual locking down and opening up cycle that Britain has been trapped in since March.

Born in Turkey, Sahin was raised in Germany, where his parents worked in a Ford factory.

Trained as a doctor, Mr Sahin became a professor and researcher focused on immunotherapy.

He worked at teaching hospitals in Cologne and the south western city of Homburg, where he met immunologist Miss Tuereci during his early academic career.

Medical research and oncology became a shared passion among them.

Tuereci, the daughter of a Turkish physician who had migrated to Germany, once said in an interview that even on the day of their wedding, both made time for lab work.

Together they honed in on the immune system as a potential ally in the fight against cancer and tried to address the unique genetic makeup of each tumour.

Life as entrepreneurs started in 2001 when they set up Ganymed Pharmaceuticals to develop cancer-fighting antibodies.

Sahin by then a professor at Mainz university never gave up academic research and teaching. Ganynmed was sold to Japans Astellas in 2016 for 1.4 billion dollars.

Sahin and Tuereci co-founded BioNTech in 2008, with the aim of pursuing a much broader range of cancer immunotherapy tools.

The Bill

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

By Abbas Bamalli

Alhaji Abubakar Zakari, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Scholarship Board, has said that 60,000 student would benefit from the 2020 scholarship in the state.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano that over 50,000 students have applied so far.

According to him, the board had initially provided over 40,000 forms for the students to apply online which commenced on Sept. 1, adding that it was then increased to 60,000.

He added that the State Government also increased the allowance for the students studying at various Nigerian higher institutions.

Zakari said that the State government had earmarked over N1.8 billion for the payment of the students studying in various public higher institutions in the country.

He explained that another N700 million was proposed for the payment of Scholarship in various private institutions across the country.

Zakari revealed that over N247 million was set aside for the payment of Scholarship for Kano indigent studying at School of laws in Nigeria.

In 2021, we also proposed N1.7 billion for the payment of Scholarship for our students studying outside Nigeria., he said.

Source: NAN News