Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), and Mr Ibrahim Nakande, Chairman, Board of NBMA, with staff members at the Review Meeting on the National Biosafety Guidelines for the Regulation of Gene Editing and Biosecurity in Abuja on Wednesday.

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has urged Nigerians to embrace the emerging aspects of modern biotechnology with potential to boost the nations economy.

Its Director-General, Dr Rufus Ebegba, made the call on the sidelines of a Review Meeting on the Guidelines for the Regulation of Gene Editing and Biosecurity in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ebegba said that gene edited products that were confirmed safe, has a lot of economic benefits.

He said the agency was concerned with the safety aspect of gene editing and other emerging biotechnology, as well as ensuring that it added economic value to the farmers and the economy.

According to him, you can gene edit tomato to delay excessive ripening in order to prevent early deterioration, especially if you want to move it from one part of the country to another.

You can gene edit a particular product to increase the productivity or reduce the gestation period so you can have early harvest to meet up with the production of that particular crop.

The economic benefits are enormous if confirmed safe; farmers will have higher yield, that means they will have more products to sell and we can produce for export, he said.

Ebegba had earlier said that the purpose of the meeting was to get stakeholders buy in and to guide the agency to ensure Nigeria has a strong biosafety regulation in the area of gene editing and biosecurity.

He said: The issue of Coronavirus is a biosecurity issue and government is trying to be proactive to have a law on biosecurity.

It will also come up with a policy, which will serve as a blueprint on the issues of biosecurity in the country, once adopted by the Federal Executive Council.

We owe this county to come up with documents that can guide our operations, and also ensure confidence in governance, while we ensure they are protected from harmful biotechnological agents.

He gave assurance that the guidelines, being presented had undergone due diligence and after input from other stakeholders, the country would have a national document that can be used by everyone.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Nakande, Chairman, Board of NBMA, allaying the fears of Nigerians, encouraged citizens to consume any Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) approved by the agency, because they were considered safe.

With the setting up of the NBMA and the National Biotechnology Development Agency, the Federal Government has already put in place the necessary measures for us to regulate and ensure that any harm that can be caused as a result of GMO would be checked in good time.

We have presence in all parts of the country, which helps the agency to check any product we think fall within the mandate of the agency in good time.

This has been made possible, because of the collaboration we have with other agencies like Ministry of Agriculture, Customs, National Agricultural Seeds Council and many others.

This will help us to check any harmful products related with GMOs in the country,Nakande said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NBMA Act was amended in 2019, and its scope expanded to include emerging aspects of modern biotechnology which include gene editing and bio-security. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger State Governor

By Rita Iliya

The Niger state government has banned all forms of processions and protests across the state.

Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), announced this in a statement in Minna on Wednesday.

He said that the measure is with immediate effect.

Matane disclosed that banned processions and protests include Eid-el-Maulud processions, rallies and gatherings on the streets that will lead to the blocking of roads.

He enjoined the Muslim clerics to ensure that the Eid-el-Maulud activities are celebrated within their places of worship.

The SSG noted that the decision to ban protests and processions follows the security situation in the country following the EndSARS protest.

He said although government will continue to respect the right of the people of the state to go about with their legitimate activities, it will however not allow any group to abuse the right of the citizens by breaking the law and infringing on other peoples rights in the community and public roads. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sterling bank

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Sterling Bank Plc has launched a free money transfer service for Nigerians in diaspora, called Switch, to promote financial inclusion, international banking and allied services for such Nigerians.

Mr Shina Atilola, Sterling Banks Divisional Head, Retail and Consumer Banking, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Atilola said that Switch is a zero per cent transaction charge offer, which further demonstrates the banks commitment to make cross-country banking accessible to all Nigerians abroad.

According to Atilola: Switch users will be able to fund their account for free when using their Naira Debit Card and they will enjoy free service charge when they fund their Switch account using foreign bank cards for six months at the first instance.

Switch enables the processing of everyday banking and financial services such as the payment of bills, funds transfer, payment requests, investments, asset financing and insurance services, among others, in their preferred currencies.

Over the years, Nigerians in the diaspora have often had difficulties funding their Nigerian bank accounts using international bank cards due to high charges, and inability to perform seamless online transactions without recourse to the bank or its agents for money exchange, among others.

Switch will benefit the customers desire for a convenient banking that gives more value, adding that some of the benefits include currency swap, access to asset financing diversified investment offerings and protection from mishaps with various insurance packages.

Switch provides customers with the added value of asset financing, investment and insurance opportunities at better rates, he said.

Atilola explained that the new product is a mobile app and is available on Android and IOS stores.

Switch, a multi-service platform, has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and funds domiciled in the Bank via the App are insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

He noted that though Switch is designed for Nigerians in the diaspora, and can be operated from any part of the world, it is, however, only accessible to users in the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US) and Canada at the moment.

The plan is to expand to other countries of the world where Nigerians reside, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of this years Eid-el-Maulud to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet by demonstrating love and understanding for fellow citizens.

The president gave the charge in a Maulud message released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muslims all over the world celebrate the day to mark the birth of Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

He enjoined the Muslim Ummah and other citizens to always exhibit the virtues of patience, honesty, sincerity, kindness and generosity in all their undertakings.

The president urged all citizens, and the youth in particular, to shun all negative tendencies as manifested in the recent hijacking of peaceful protests to loot and destroy public and private property.

He also reiterated his earlier promise to bring Police officers responsible for misconduct, as well as looters of the nations treasury, to justice.

On the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari said that the country had so far managed the problem successfully by keeping the numbers as low as possible.

He, however, cautioned that Nigerians must not stretch their luck too far.

Looking at the trends in the other countries, we must do all we can to avert the second wave of the pandemic. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again.

Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown.

The president, therefore, advised Nigerians to continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols of social distancing, wearing of face masks and washing of hands.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor

By Ikuru Lizzy

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has announced N20 million compensation each to families of soldiers and policemen allegedly killed by members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) in Oyigbo during the EndSARS protest.

Wike made the declaration on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mukan, and families of the slain policemen at the Rivers State Police Command.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Kelvin Ebiri, the governor also promised to rebuild all burnt police stations in Oyigbo and vowed to ensure that the IPOB ceases to exist in the state.

Wike was accompanied by Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor.

The governor described the gruesome murder of the policemen and soldiers as unacceptable and unfortunate.

He said that the state government will support the Police to make sure that all IPOB members who masterminded the killing of the policemen and soldiers, as well as the wanton destruction of Police stations in Oyigbo are apprehended.

IPOB masterminded the killing of our gallant officers of the Nigerian Police and Army. We want to state clearly that Rivers State Government will support you to make sure that any of the perpetrators of this hideous crime does not go free.

Enough is enough. You cannot continue to kill our policemen that have not done anything, who have not committed any crime, Wike said in the statement.

According to the governor, the killing of policemen is one crime that the state government will never condone.

Responding to the gesture, the Commissioner of Police said the governor has demonstrated that he is a compassionate father of the state by his decision to commiserate with the Command and the deceased families.

He explained that the Police and the Army have taken over all IPOB strongholds in Oyigbo and will ensure that the group cease to exist anywhere within the state.

Source: NAN News

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewaure II

By Imelda Osayande

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has urged Muslims to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad by embracing peace and harmonious co-existence, as they celebrate Eid el-maulud.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Mr Victor Ogiemwanre, on Wednesday in Benin.

Eid el-maulud is the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, marked every 12th of Rabiul Awwal of the Islamic calendar, which this year corresponds with Thursday, Oct. 29.

The Federal Government has also declared Thursday as public holiday to mark the occasion.

Oba Ewuare, therefore, reminded Muslims that every religion condemns violence in its entirety and hatred for one another.

He added that religion should build bridges across social, cultural and ethnic divide.

Oba Ewuare called for prayers for Nigerian leaders so that they can administer the country on the path of true development, peace, security, unity and progress.

He wished the entire Muslims a happy and successful Eld-El-Maulud celebration.

Source: NAN News

Hoodlums invading Kubwa NYSC Orientation Camp

By Taiye Agbaje

The Kubwa Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abdullahi Bello, on Tuesday, said the hoodlums who looted the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa almost stabbed him while trying to safeguard the facility.

Bello, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said he and his men had to retreat to avoid the hoodlums from attacking them.

He said all efforts to talk to them that there was no palliative stored in the camp warehouse fell on deaf hear.

When they flooded the orientation camp on Saturday, we talked to them and even opened the warehouse for them to see that there was no palliative materials in the store.

Today, we did the same talking to them but they did not listen. They started throwing stones while some were pulled out knives and whatever.

They advanced towards the warehouse where items and food stuff meant for the incoming youth corps members were kept. They looted and made away with items, food stuff, equipment and even old mattresses in the camp.

I was almost stabbed by them, he said.

The DPO said 20 officers were deployed initially to safeguard the camp but more officers were later reinforced when things were getting out of hand.

We deployed additional 20 officers, making 40 personnel, he said.

Bello, who said that his men decided to exercise great caution despite the provisions of the law that allowed police officers to use minimum force in such situation, said it took military intervention to put everything under control.

Bello, who could not confirm that two people were shot dead during the incident, said at least 38 persons were arrested in connection with the looting. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Amotekun personnel

By David Adeoye

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, says he has signed a document for the immediate recruitment of 1,500 personnel to kick start the Southwest Security Network, codenamed, Amotekun, in Oyo state.

Makinde made the disclosure on Tuesday, in Ibadan, during the post-protest meeting held with representatives of Youths, Artisans, commercial motorcycle operators and Taxi drivers.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the post-protest meeting was held within the State House of Assembly complex, Agodi, Ibadan.

Makinde said the new intakes of the Amotekun outfit will undergo two weeks training, between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15.

He also disclosed that the State Panel of Enquiry on Police brutality will be inaugurated on Nov. 2, assuring that various pressure groups in the state will be represented as members of the panel.

In her remarks, the Youths leader in Oyo state, Mrs Bobola Agbeja, said that her group will continue agitating for what is right, stressing that the youths will not be discouraged in engaging in peaceful protests to express their grievances.

Agbeja, however, declared that none of the EndSARS protesters was involved in the violence and looting witnessed recently in the state.

She implored the Makinde-led administration to do more in looking at ways it could engage the youths meaningfully.

NAN reports that top state government functionaries, including, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Debo Ogundoyin, Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, and Head of Service, Ololade Agboola, attended the meeting. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has informed residents of the state that there were no more unshared COVID-19 palliatives in the state as all items meant for them have been distributed.

Umahi made the clarification on Tuesday in a broadcast to the people over the recent disturbances in the state by hoodlums.

The governor said that the government, in collaboration with Local Government Areas in the state, was working towards providing another set of palliatives to be shared to the people in December.

You are aware that we spent billions of naira to purchase palliatives which were shared through the various polling units in the state, irrespective of political alliances.

We reached over 600, 000 Ebonyi people, including those in Lagos and Abuja ,and the remaining presently is for students of the state university who were not in session, he said.

He said that with the resumption of schools, the students were presently taking delivery of the items which include: 50 bags of 10kg rice, 200 bags of 20kg rice, 1, 500 cartons of tin tomatoes, 2000 gallons of oil among others.

We are working towards assisting parents to send students back to school by reducing school fees but be aware that there is opportunity cost; when one thing is done, another may not be done.

I call on all youths to dialogue with my government and make inputs in governance, he added.

Umahi announced that his administration had earmarked N2.6billion Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) fund for organised youth cooperatives in all LGAs of the state to empower them.

He called for suggestions on how to share the funds.

This is aside the 100 state Executive Council members, over 1,110 Technical Assistants and other political appointments in the state of which 90 per cent of the occupiers are youths.

I again plead with our young one, please no more attacks, destruction of assets, killings of both of you and security agencies, he said.

The governor said that he would compensate families whose loved ones were either killed or injured during the disturbances, whether they were security agencies, civilians or even hoodlums.

I plead with these young hoodlums killing us in the name of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to withdraw peacefully to their houses.

Security agencies must give them peace and free access to return to their communities, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

By Yahaya Isah
The Federal Government has declared Thursday as public holiday to mark Eid-el-Maulud Celebration in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this is in a statement by the ministrys Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated the Muslim faithful both at home and abroad for witnessing the occasion.

He enjoined the Muslims to imbibe the spirit of love, patience and perseverance which were the virtues of the Prophet Muhammad, adding that doing so would guarantee peace and security in the country.

The minister admonished Muslims to follow the teachings of the Holy Quran in Chapter 4 Verse 59 which says: O you who believe, Obey God and His Messenger, and those from among you vested with authority.

And if you are to dispute among yourselves about anything, refer it to God and the Messenger, if indeed you believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best (for you), and fairest in the end.

Aregbesola also urged Nigerians to abhor violence, lawlessness and daylight robbery as witnessed across the country in recent time.

He, however, stressed that Nigeria was the pride of the black race and should provide responsible leadership for the greatness and development of the African continent and all black race.

The minister called for a stop to all divisive tendencies across the country.

He also urged Nigerians and the youth to embrace peace and cooperate with the Federal Government in its efforts to build a virile nation, which all citizens could be proud of.

Aregbesola, who described the youth as the hope and future of the nation, advised them to deepen democracy tenets.

With democracy in place. We can overcome our challenges. The challenges of nationhood that we face are surmountable if we work through the democratic process.

Im wishing all the Muslims a happy Eid-el-Maulud celebration and all Nigerians a happy holiday.

Source: NAN News

President Donald Trump listens to Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden clash in first presidential debate

By Harrison Arubu
Early votes in the 2020 U.S. presidential election hit 69.6 million on Tuesday, according to the United States Election Project, representing more than half of the total 137 million ballots cast in the 2016 election.

The data came in the 2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics published on the website of the body, which serves as an information source for the countrys electoral system.

Many early voters interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday said the coronavirus pandemic informed their decision to vote ahead.

Others cited the chaos and long wait on queues on Election Day as the reasons for their decision.

A breakdown of the early vote figure shows that 46.5 million ballots were cast through mail and 23.1 million through in-person voting.

The Director of U.S. Elections Project, Prof. Michael McDonald, described the development as good, citing initial doubt about election officials ability to conduct the election during the pandemic.

There were many concerns about election officials ability to conduct an election during a pandemic.

Not only are people voting, but they are voting over a longer period of time, thereby spreading out the workload of election officials, McDonald said in a statement.

According to the statistics, Democrats were leading Republicans in mail-in voting for states that report party data, while Republicans were leading in voting in person.

Of the 26 million mail-in ballots recorded by the U.S. Elections Project, 51.3 per cent came from Democrats, and 25.5 per cent from Republicans.

On the other hand, Republicans led with 41.7 per cent of the 7.4 million in-person votes tracked by the project as against 36.9 per cent by Democrats.

Election Project said no fewer than 30 million requested mail ballots had not been returned, with deadlines for absentee ballots near.

It stated that the pending ballots include over 11 million from registered Democrats.

However, it was quick to note that the data was inconclusive as some states do not differentiate between mail ballots and in-person votes.

Reports say Republicans are hoping to bridge the gap with a strong turnout in person.

Source: NAN News

Mamman Sale

By Constance Imasuen

The Ministry of Power is to collaborate with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to improve power generation, transmission and distribution in the country.

Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, made this known when he received the National Executive Members of the NSE in his office.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Aaron Artimas, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister,

Mamman called on Nigerian engineers to make innovations or designs for various engineering activities as a way of establishing their own standard.

Nigeria cannot continue to rely on foreign designs because the countrys engineers have not established their own, he said.

The minister lamed efficient transmission and distribution of electricity in the country on obsolete equipment.

Earlier, the President of the NSE, Mr Babagana Mohammed said that in view of the lingering epileptic power supply in the country, the society has constituted an Ad Hoc committee.

Mohammed said that the committee would carry outa holistic study and assessment of the problems associated with generation, transmission and distribution of power in Nigeria.

He saidthat the initiative was meant to compliment the efforts of government to truthfully revitalize the energy sector.

Mohammed said that the NSE and the ministry of power have a collective duty and responsibility to provide lasting solutions to power supply problem in Nigeria.

He said that the society has offered five years scholarships to some secondary school students.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that t. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

A city in western China finished testing 4.7 million people for coronavirus in four days after workers at a factory tested positive, state media reported on Wednesday.

Kashgar, in the far-western Xinjiang region, had tested its entire population by Tuesday after a coronavirus cluster emerged last week, according to the Peoples Daily.

A total of 183 people in Shufu County, part of Kashgar, tested positive, while the other tests came back negative, local authorities said.

Of those who tested positive, 161 patients were asymptomatic, and 22 had developed symptoms.

The coronavirus cluster was connected to the citysSancun Factory, the deputy director of the regional health commission said.

Most flights atKashgars airport were cancelled over the weekend, according to Chinese news portal Headline Daily.

Chinas National Health Commission had dispatched a working group to the region to lead the response, state media Xinhua reported.

Earlier this month, the entire population of the eastern city of Qingdao was tested for coronavirus after a dozen cases emerged at a hospital.

Similarly, the central city of Wuhan, the original epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, tested its entire population in May.

China reported 42 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including the 22 in Kashgar and 20 imported from abroad.

The country has largely contained the virus outbreak through population tracking, widespread testing and entry bans.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

India Flag

Indias first major elections during the coronavirus pandemic began on Wednesday in the eastern state of Bihar, with social distancing and temperature checks outside election booths.

Voters will elect the 243-member Bihar legislative assembly in three phases, with results to be declared on Nov.10.

Holding safe elections has been a challenge for Indias Election Commission as the virus continues to spread.

The country had recorded nearly 8 million Covid-19 cases and more than 120,000 deaths.

Most voters were seen wearing masks and officials provided gloves as they cast their ballot.

Bihar has an electoral roll of more than 72 million voters, which is more than the population of France or Britain, and the last elections in 2015 saw a turnout of around 58 per cent.

More than 60 countries around the world have been postponing local and national elections, according to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

The Election Commission has limited groups campaigning door to door to three people and asked district administrations to ensure social distancing and limit crowds at campaign rallies.

But days into the staggered elections, most rules were flouted with candidates competing to pull the biggest crowd and raising fears of a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Three times chief minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) is seeking re-election at the head of an alliance that includes Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party.

Its main rival is another alliance of the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian National Congress and two left parties.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protesters

By Patricia Amogu

Leading Right Group (LRG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has joined well meaning Nigerians and friends of the nation calling for peace amongst youths while urging them to embrace truce.

The organisation also told them to suspend the #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY# protests and reach a point of understanding with the government.

The President of the NGO, Mr Uyeh Akadakhaene, made this call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

It was issued by his Secretary, Dr Iyore Idemudia, on Tuesday in Abuja urging the Nigerian youth to do so for the sake of prosterity and overall well-being of the nation.

While LRG recognises the right of the Nigerian youth as it is inherent in a democracy such as ours, to peaceful protest, it believes firmly that the voice of the youth has been heard loud and clear.

The ball is now undoubtedly in the court of the authorities at both Federal and states levels to address the legitimate concerns raised by Nigerians.

In the same vein, LRG is deeply saddened by the tragic turn of events which saw otherwise peaceful protests degenerate into a scuffle that resulted in avoidable loss of lives, livelihoods and property.

LRG mourns the dead and is in shared grief with the bereaved; May the Almighty God comfort them and heal our land. he said.

Akadakhaene commended the setting up of the various Judicial Panels of Inquiry by state governments for this purpose and called for quick dispensation of justice.

LRG is persuaded sufficiently to believe that the spontaneous and simultaneous protests that swept across the length and breadth of the country and beyond were, for all intents and purposes, a convenient outlet for expression of accumulated frustration and anger by the young people of Nigeria.

They rightly feel that, over the years, their fatherland has neither treated them justly nor fairly.

For the avoidance of doubt, LRG condemns in the strongest terms possible the killings, by security operatives, of innocent youths whose only offense was that they asked for Police reform and, by implication, a better society.

He said that LRG was strongly advocating the implementation of the recommendations to be submitted by the various Judicial Panels across the nation.

He stated that this was in order to bury the culture of slow or non implementation of recommendations of Panels and Committees over the years and with a view to kick starting a new approach to governance and policy implementation.

According to the organisation, this will boost the confidence of the youth in the sincerity of government.

LRG wishes to recommend family dialogue between the authorities and the youth to satisfactorily resolve all issues pertaining to the protests and their tragic aftermath.

The Group is willing and ready to play a facilitator and partner role in the search for a lasting solution, he said.

He appealed to the authorities to collaborate with the youth and do all within their means to earn the trust of Nigerians.

NAN reports that the LRG is a group of patriotic young professionals at the vanguard of resetting leadership standards for Nigeria.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

The President of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Wednesday announced he was self-isolating after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Ghalibaf hoped he could nevertheless continue working in quarantine, the 58-year-old politician wrote onTwitter.

Ghalibaf, who has been leading Irans parliament since May, had been travelling a lot in recent weeks despite experts advice not to do so.

President HassanRowhani, on the other hand, has been adhering to the strict coronavirus regulations and did not attend most meetings in person, a decision that was criticised by Ghalibafs supporters.

Iran has introduced renewed lockdowns in several large cities due to spiking infection numbers. Half of civil servants inTehran have been ordered to work from home.

More than 580,000 people have contracted the coronavirus inIran, with 33,000 fatalities related to the infection, according to the Health Ministry.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Long queues resurface at petrol stations in parts of Abuja

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Roadside sellers ( Black marketers) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol are making brisk business as queues persist in few filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Abuja.

A visit round the city by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday revealed that most filling stations did not open for business.

NAN observed that long queues were witnessed in most NNPC stations that were dispensing.

Along the Kubwa express way, a litre of petrol officially sold between N158 and N162 was sold by the road side sellers for N250 to N300.

One of the sellers who identified himself as Musa, told NAN, I bought this fuel yesterday from the filling station; I have sold 10 litres for N3,000.

Madam, if you want to buy I can sell N2,500, last price, he said.

However, Conoil, MRS, Rainoil, Mobil, Dan oil, AA Rano and Shema petrol stations along Kubwa express way did not open for business.

Recall that the NNPC had cautioned motorists against panic buying of the commodity, assuring of normalcy in the supply of petroleum products.

Dr Kennie Obateru, NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division said that the long queues currently being experienced was due to the curfew imposed in some states over the #EndSARS protests.

He said that the curfew affected the free movement of vehicles for the supply of products, but assured of normalcy in a couple of days.

The disruptions and curtailment of free flow of vehicular movement occasioned by the #EndSARS protests, the attendant curfews, restrictions and vandalism affect the supply.

Normalcy is expected to return to petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days.

There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NAN Logo

By Nicholas Dechi/Emmanuel Antswen

The Benue State Government on Wednesday described the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as one of the most reliable news organisations in the world.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Gov. Samuel Ortom, Mr Terver Akase, stated this during an interview with NAN on Wednesday in Makurdi.

Akase, therefore, urged the agency to work hard to sustain its quality and credibility.

He said that the agency had over the decades, proven to be one of the most reliable news organisations not only in Nigeria and Africa but in the entire world.

Let me start by commending NAN for the wonderful job that the agency has been doing over the decades.

NAN has proven to be one of the reliable news organisations, not just in Nigeria, Africa, but across the world. You will find NAN correspondents in other African countries and the news come in real time.

NAN is known for very deep investigative reports. It is known for making reports that keep both the government or private sector on their toes, that is development journalism and NAN has done this over the years and has done so reliably, so, this must be commended,he said

The chief press secretary further said that the agency was one of the few standouts in the country in terms of wide reach and its rich in contents.

Your organisation is one of the few standouts in terms of wide reach and rich contents. If you take ten newspapers in Nigeria you will find NAN stories in at least five and that is a big plus for you.

So, you have to sustain this, when a product goes up to the zenith what is required by owners of that product is to sustain it there. So, NAN cannot afford to drop its quality and credibility. Keep doing what you are doing and the Benue State Government appreciates you, he said.

Commenting on child molestation in the state, especially in rural areas, the CPS said the trend was not peculiar to the state alone but a national concern.

This is one challenge that is staring everyone in the face, be it federal, state or local government area,.

Issues of molestation, kidnapping and banditry in general are everyones concern and must be taken seriously.

Molestation is a monster that should bother all of us and not just government, he said.

He said that the Ortom led administration had enacted a law against kidnapping and cultism and said itwas part of the solution to the problem.

This is an ongoing discussion because it is happening across the country not only in Benue. It is not a peculiar problem to Benue.

I suspect that COVID-19 did not do us well. People stayed at home for long periods. This is my personal observation.

People staying at home for long periods can cause a lot of problem because when people are idle they do all manner of things.

They say an idle mind is the devils workshop. So, children too were staying at home and the increasing cases could be as a result of that.

But government is not resting on its oars. It is engaging stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to go on intensive awareness creation.

The State Ministry of Information is taking the lead to enlighten our people on the need to speak out when they are molested.

Parents too need to talk to their children on how they can suspect when an uncle or guardian tries or attempts to molest them.

Also, they should not keep quiet when they are molested. When grown-ups make advances to them, they should not keep quiet, they should speak out as well as tell their parents.

That way it will help in reducing the number of cases of child molestation and even kidnapping, he said.

Akase also advised parents to watch over their children to know their whereabouts at any point in time and enjoined them to always talk to their children to be aware of their environment.

If you are sending your child to go and buy something be sure of his or her safety. This way we will be helping to reduce incidences of child molestation.

Security agencies are not enough, therefore, they cannot be everywhere, so, we must be our own security. Everyone is involved in this enterprise, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Priscilla Osaje

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the digitisation of the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), library for sustainable preservation of Nigerias audiovisual heritage.

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of NFVCBmade this known on Tuesday in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2020 World Audiovisual Heritage Day(WAHD).

The theme of this years celebration is Your Window to the World.

He said that the president gave the approval through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The world day is an opportunity to redouble our efforts in the preservation of our common audiovisual wealth,which forms an essential part of our shared history.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) raised concerns over lossof documents and the need to preserve our value and culture, documentation of sound and new development in the history of Africa.

This year, as we mark the World audiovisual Day, fortunately for Nigeria and the present administration, efforts are being made for all the ministries, agencies to digitalise their materials and documents.

The NFVCB hasover 30,000 videos and other documents to be digitalised.

We will take advantage of this opportunity to preserveour good culture, moral, understanding and create memories for our young people.

They need to understand past events, in order to shape their present and forge ahead with the future. he added.

Thomas reiterated the agencys capacity to ensure that all materials, videos are digitalised in the first quarter of 2021.

We have identified 60 Icons who have contributed in shaping Nigerias film industry.

We also have approval to document Nigerias60th anniversary in honour of these legends and Icons in the forthcoming first NFVCB award in 2021, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is celebrated every year on Oct. 27.

NAN also reports that the commemorative day was chosen by UNESCO in 2005 to raise awareness of the significance and preservation risks of recorded recorded sound and audiovisual documents (films, sound and video recordings, radio and television programmes).

Source: NAN News

NURTW

By Lucy Ogalue
The Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to EndSARS protesters to discontinue the protests in view of the destruction to life and properties trailing them.

Prof. Tajudeen Baruwa, its National President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the protests, which commenced peacefully, had been hijacked by hoodlums, causing harm to citizens.

The nationwide EndSARS protests have taken a very dangerous dimension.

The protests, which were intended to be peaceful, have been hijacked by hoodlums resulting in the killing of innocent citizens, looting and wanton destruction of properties and national assets.

I appeal to the protesters to kindly discontinue the protests as the situation has now turned into a looting spree.

The NURTW has already directed state chairmen and members across the country to work with relevant stakeholders to prevail on the protesters to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

The youths should not allow themselves to be used for violence; they should equally desist from burning Police Stations and killing security personnel.

We commiserate with families of those who lost loved ones to the protest and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear their losses.

Baruwa appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to address the demands of the youth, and equally urged the youths to take the president by his word and end all forms of violence in the name of EndSARS protests.

We must all be conscious of the fact that the national assets being destroyed are our collective property and it will take enormous resources to replace them, he said.

The NURTW boss lauded the ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force, saying that the measure would keep the security personnel in tune with democratic tenets and current realities.

Source: NAN News