By Lucy Ogalue

Workers of Sheraton Hotel Abuja, on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest within the hotel premises over nonpayment of severance package.

The aggrieved workers, under the auspices of the National Union of Hotels, Personal Services Workers (NUHPSA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it would be unfair for the management to ask them to quit their jobs without paying them off.

Mr Leke Success, the General-Secretary of the Union said, the protest is to ensure Marriott International pay the money that we jointly agreed to be paid as severance package in view of the new owner shutting down this place today.

We just heard about a week ago that the new owner, NIPCO, who just acquired this place, decided that they will short it down and commence renovations.

We tried to persuade them from shutting down based on the short notice, but that could not fly.

So we sat down as a responsible union to negotiate severance pay for our members and the agreement stipulated that before the close of business on Oct.17, the money will be paid.

But up until now, the management is still dilly-dallying and very soon they will lower the banner and shut this place.

So we cannot risk that happening. It is because the money was not paid that we are here to protest peacefully that this money should be paid or we will not leave this place.

Agreement is agreement, if the money is not paid, we will not leave. Each day that passes we will change our demands, after today we will demand for damages because they have breached the agreement.

Our mission is to be paid our money, we have end of year bonus and hampers which members enjoy and the general manager just said they will not pay.

The action is for both Marriott and the new owner who are here to wind up this place, to come out and tell us why our members should not be paid.

The unionists also demanded that some workers termed casual staff who were excluded by the management from the payment be treated equally as other staff.

Whoever works here deserves to be paid because they are workers. No condition of employment will make them (casual workers) not to get their pay, Success said.

Meanwhile, some of the casual workers while expressing their grievances told NAN that the news came as a shock and if they dont get paid, their families would suffer.

Mrs Blessing Moses, who said she is a mother of four children said, they did not have prior notice of the new development until two days ago.

According to her, they call us casual, yet they dont want to give us our money. They chased us out since yesterday but we are still working, you can see I am still in my apron.

By casuals, does that mean we are not human beings? we have families, we have children to take care of. So they should pay us, so that as we are going, we will go with joy and look for work in another place.

We cannot go and sit for six months without doing anything, what are we going to use in taking care of our children.

Similarly, Mr Vincent Ajiji, a university graduate who also works as a casual staff at the kitchen department, reiterated the importance for casual staff to equally be paid as regular staff.

Graduates in this country that are casual staff are being used as tools, we are being maltreated here, and that is why we are asking that they pay us our money.

When it comes to work we are all staff but when it comes to payment, we are called casual staff.

I want my money, I want my entitlements, they should take good care of me before I go home. I have been here since 2021 and still referred to as casual, it is paining me, Ajiji said.

Meanwhile, a Senior Staff of Sheraton who spoke under condition of anonymity said the Corporate Affairs Unit of the hotel would soon release the respond of the management in due course.

NAN recalls that Capital Hotel Plc bought majority shares in Sheraton from the Federal Government over 30 years ago and engaged the services of Marriot International in the management of Sheraton.

Its new owners, NIPCO, which bought 51 per cent majority shares in Sheraton, had planned to shut down the hotel in order to carry out a holistic renovation and repositioning of the hotel.

As at the time of filing this report, the leaders of the union and the management of Marriot International were holding a closed door meeting. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation leading the advocacy for fiscal transparency and accountability in Nigeria, said Rivers State maintained its overall fiscal performance position, ranking first, just as in 2020 and 2021.

Mr Iniobong Usen, BudgITs Research and Policy Advisory lead, said this at the presentation of the State of States report for 2022, with the theme, Sustainable Governance Reforms for a New Era, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report assesses and ranks the fiscal performance of all 36 states, from the most sustainable to the least sustainable.

Usen said for the 2022 edition, all 36 states were ranked using five metrics.

Index A examines states ability to meet Operating Expenses (Recurrent Expenditure) with only their Internally Generated Revenue; Index A1 looks at the percentage year-on-year growth of each states Internally Generated Revenue.

Index B reviews states ability to cover all operating expenses and loan repayment obligations with their Total Revenue (Internally Generated Revenue Statutory Transfers Aids and Grants) without resorting to borrowing.

Index C estimates the debt sustainability of the states using four major Indicators: A. Debt as a per cent of GDP, B. Debt as a per cent of Revenue, C. Debt service as a per cent of Revenue and D. Personnel Cost as a per cent of Revenue.

Index D evaluates the degree to which each State is prioritising capital expenditure concerning their operating expenses (recurrent expenditure), he explained.

He said Rivers maintained its overall fiscal performance position, ranking first, just like it did in 2020 and 2021.

According to him, two states, Kaduna and Cross River, made it to the top five on the overall fiscal performance ranking; Yobe dropped to the bottom five having fallen 13 places from 21st in 2021 to 34th position in 2022.

Usen said on Index A, two states (Lagos and Rivers) generated enough revenues internally to take care of their operating expenses.

Comparatively, the operating expenses of Yobe and Bayelsa (the least ranked states on index A) were more than seven times the revenues generated by both states internally, reinforcing the heavy reliance on federal transfers and budget support to fund their budgets.

On index A1, save for three states, which ranked the least Anambra, Kogi and Kebbi 33 states experienced an increase in their IGR from the previous year, with 13 states growing their IGR by more than 50 per cent.

Jigawa, Delta, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa ranked first to fifth respectively on Index C, which assessed the debt sustainability of the 36 states, he explained.

Furthermore, Usen said Cross River, Ogun, Imo, Osun, and Plateau were the bottom five states on Index C.

Lagos State, with a capital importation of 31.78 billion dollars between 2019 and 2021, received 99.19 per cent of the cumulative capital importation for 36 states of the federation.

Interestingly, 11 states received no capital importation between 2019 and 2021, he said.

Speaking on debt sustainability, Usen said the cumulative debt stock of the 36 states grew by 8.68 per cent from N5.86 trillion in 2020 to N6.37 trillion in 2021.

A more disaggregated view of the subnational debt shows that 11 states reduced their total debt liability, with Delta having the most impressive decline of 33.84 per cent.

Four states Oyo, Yobe, Ogun and Sokoto grew their total debt stock by more than 40 per cent from 2020, he said.

He added that the five most indebted states: Lagos, Kaduna, Rivers, Ogun, and Cross River were responsible for 37.09 per cent of total subnational debt.

Kogi, with a foreign debt year-on-year growth of 85.65 per cent ranked first among the 17 States that grew foreign debt in 2021.

The four states with the highest dollar-denominated debt (250 million dollars and above) Lagos, Kaduna, Cross River and Edo are the most susceptible to exchange rate volatility, he explained.

He said the cumulative expenditure of the 36 states increased by 27 per cent from N5.23 trillion in 2020 to N6.64 trillion in 2021.

Notwithstanding, while 31 states increased their total expenditure from the previous year, five states reduced their expenditure with Zamfara having the highest decline of 15.59 per cent.

However, the cumulative personnel cost of the 36 states grew by 5.38 per cent from N1.46 trillion in 2020 to N1.54 trillion in 2021.

Interestingly, nine states reduced their overhead cost from the previous year, signalling a reduction in the cost of governance.

Conversely, 11 states increased their overhead cost from the previous year by more than 40 per cent with Akwa Ibom having the highest growth, he said.

He said commendably, cumulative spending on capital expenditure by the 36 states grew by 52.52 per cent from N1.77 trillion in 2020 to N2.70 trillion in 2021.

Eight states increased their capital expenditure year-on-year by more than 100 per cent.

However, just five states including Anambra, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kaduna, Rivers prioritised capital expenditure over operation expenses, signalling the prioritisation of investments in infrastructure, job creation and human capital development.

On fiscal transparency, the 36 states of the federation currently publish promptly their proposed budgets, approved budgets, budget implementation reports, and audited financial statements for both the States and the Local Governments.

In the same vein, many states have enacted an Audit Law that grants operational and financial autonomy to the Offices of Auditors-General of the State and Local Governments, thereby empowering their supreme audit institutions to effectively hold governments accountable, he said.

He stated that 35 states, excluding Taraba, had captured the biometric and BVN data of at least 70 per cent of the civil servants and pensioners on their payroll, and linked the captured data to their payroll management system.

Cumulatively, 35 states (excluding Taraba), have a total of 848,483 civil servants and 498,097 pensioners on their payroll. As a result, at least 15,397 ghost workers have been identified and eliminated in 13 states across the federation.

On the flip side, only a few states have been able to establish and operationalise a state-level functional Treasury Single Account (TSA) to ensure that it covers at least 70 per cent of all its finance, he said.

Similarly, he stated that some states were yet to ensure that all the schedules of contracts awarded for the year were published online as required under the Open Contracting Data Standards and in line with the procurement laws/guidelines. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

An integrated agro-business company, First Aquagrico Farms Nigeria Ltd., is perfecting arrangements to establish Africas largest farmers market in the country.

The company said this in statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The statement quoted the companys Managing Director, Mr Kolapo Talabi, as saying that the market when established would among other things solve the problem of transportation techniques in agric business.

Talabi said the firm had approached the Bank of Agriculture for support to boost the establishment of the market which would also be a solution to the problem of modern preservation aimed at eliminating post-harvest losses.

The primary objective of setting in motion Africas largest farmers market in Nigeria is to create an all-in-one agricultural market-hub which encompasses gathering, re-distributing, storing, processing and exporting of agro-products.

The concept is to enhance the promotion of large scale commercial agriculture in Africa through a process that maximises profit while sustainably satisfying the needs of consumers.

In addition, the concept will assuredly make a great impact in the countrys agricultural sector by boosting food supply, creating jobs, raising incomes, reducing malnutrition and contributing to the progress of the continents agro-economy.

First Aquagrico Farms which focuses on galvanising agriculture for national economic development through the creation of markets for farmers both locally and internationally, believes in large scale agriculture produce merchandise, Talabi said.

According to him, study and survey show that one of the major causes leading to the decrease in growth of the agricultural sector is poor merchandise of the agricultural produce.

He regretted that agricultural sector performed badly especially in the second quarter of 2022 with a growth of 1.20 per cent as against 3.16 per cent in the previous quarter.

Talabi noted that flood had of late ravaged parts of the country such as Kogi, Niger, Anambra, Benue, Sokoto, Adamawa, Delta, amongst places known for large production of agriculture produce with hectares of farmlands washed away.

It is reckoned that the situation will worsen with the hazardous climatic changes and flooding which have major impact on the distribution and marketability of agricultural produce.

He was optimistic that the farmers market would help the country achieve industrialisation and restore the agricultural value chain in the nearest future as major bridges were cut off by flood, submerging trucks and trailers carrying food stuffs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government has urged traditional rulers to use their influence and closeness to the people in their communities to curb sexual, gender and domestic violence.

Mrs Titilola Viviour-Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) gave the advice on Thursday, in Lagos.

She spoke during a One-Day Roundtable With Traditional Rulers On The Prevalence Of Sexual And Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Viviour-Adeniyi urged the traditional rulers to use the proactive measures and practices adopted by the state government to ensure that SGBV, if not completely eradicated, was brought to the barest minimum in the state.

She said that the engagement was deliberate due to the prevalence of SGBV in the society, which required a timely intervention.

In the context of preventing and ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, traditional rulers are one of the strategic groups that must be considered, because our Royal Majesties, the custodians of our culture, have access to different segments of the population, including those who are marginalised and harder to reach.

In many regions of the world, traditional rulers, by virtue of their long-standing presence and service in diverse communities, have come to command the trust and respect of local population.

We understand that in certain instances, traditional rulers sometimes serve as the first port of call immediately after a case of domestic or sexual violence occurs.

Certain times, such cases end up being resolved at the palaces, without adhering to the state governments referral pathway, she said.

According to her, this non adherence to government referral pathway, therefore, promotes the culture of impunity as perpetrators are not held legally accountable for their actions, even as survivors are not able to access holistic support.

It is, therefore, of utmost importance that traditional rulers are promptly and regularly engaged on these issues, their role in preventing and responding to incidents reported and most importantly, the need to have interface with government, she said.

Vivour-Adeniyi said that in the past one year, the agency recorded a total of 4,860 cases via the Virtual Referral and Response Service (VRRS), and physical report.

She said that those cases include domestic violence, rape, lack of parental care, threat to life, sexual assault by penetration, emotional abuse, child neglect/abandonment, among others.

The executive secretary said that breakdown of cases showed that there were 2,710 adult and 2,150 children, showing that within emergency settings, SGBV on women and young girls was critically heightened.

In her presentation, Mrs Omolola Rotimi, the Administrator-General, Public Trustee, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said that in order to protect people from people, on the issue of SGBV, the law had to be in place.

Rotimi said that people must learn to speak out against SGBV, as it would help to reduce the occurrence of the cases.

Mr Emmanuel Oladele, President, Institute of Marriage Administrators and Counsellors of Nigeria, said that all hands must be on deck, both the rulers and the ruled, at mitigating the incessant occurrence of SGBV in the communities.

Oladele called on traditional rulers not to hesitate to apply the full weight of the customs and traditions against the perpetrators of SGBV, as long as such was not repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

Oba Asumo Abdul-Ganiyu Aderibigbe, paramount ruler of Odo-Ayandelu Kingdom, Ikosi-Ejinrin, Epe, commended the state government for its efforts at curving SGBV.

Aderibigbe urged the police to always respond appropriately, whenever issues of SGBV were reported.

We are glad to have this kind of training today, it imparts more knowledge on us, so that we can go back to our various communities and educate the people the more.

There are some cases we can treat in the palace and there are some that are criminal. We dont have to harbour or indulge people that involve in violence or criminal activities. We have to expose them, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

Stakeholders on Thursday collaborated to examine economic and social opportunities that would be beneficial from Energy Transition Plan.

Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) called on Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to intensify effort in tackling environmental issues in the country.

GIFSEP, in collaboration with Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), also called on other stakeholders to support Federal Government for effective implementation of of the ETP.

The stakeholders made the call at a one-day workshop in Abuja, organised by the organisations on Examining the Economic and Social Opportunities from Energy Transition Plan (ETP), programme.

The Programme Manager of the GIFSEP, Mr Joseph Ibrahim, said that the essence of the workshop was to assess the transition plan and determine the economic and social prospects and the opportunities.

Ibrahim said that recently the Federal Government inaugurated the ETP, adding that the objective of the programme was to achieve universal energy access by 2030.

He said that the aim was also to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2060.

The programme manager called on government to involve NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for effective implementation of other environmental programmes and policy.

According to him, more importantly, we need a system of accountability to encourage people who are willing to support and strengthen the system in the implementation of the programmes.

He advised that government should take environmental issues serious, adding that unhealthy and unsafe environment could lead to poverty and increase spread of diseases.

Mr Pius Oko, Executive Secretary of LHF, said that the workshop brought together Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to examine the economic and social opportunities and benefit drive from the ETP in the country.

Oko said that the inauguration of the ETP was a pathway to Nigerian contribution to address emission from fossil fuel and other non-renewable resources.

Oko said that it was time for Nigeria to take ownership of transition pathways and design climate-sensitive strategies that would tackle peculiar growth objectives.

He said that President Muhammad Buhari had made a commitment that Nigeria would achieve zero-net by year 2060 and ensuring that energy, poverty and climate change crisis was tackled.

He said that the effort would help to deliver Sustainable Development Goal seven (SDG7) by 2030 and net zero by 2060.

According to him, the plan will, among other things, lift people out of poverty, reduce Nigerias carbon footprint, drive economic growth and create jobs.

The Director, Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Abuja, Prof. Shuaibu Hassan, said that the evidence-based net-zero compliant energy transition pathway in Nigeria, offered investment opportunities across the value chain.

Hassan said that the value chain was in multiple sectors, regions, and industries in the country.

He said that the Federal Government was committed to a robust and timely inclusive energy transition.

The director said that the transition focused on job creation, growth, and sustainability which seeks to
support its net-zero by 2060 ambition. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

Prof. Victor Chude, Registrar, Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), has emerged the President-elect of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) from 2023 to 2026.

Chude is the first President of the union from an African country elected into the coveted position in the IUSS since its establishment 98 years ago.

IUSS is the global union of soil scientists that promotes all branches of soil science and supports all soil scientists across the world in the pursuit of their activities.

The union said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Chude, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, he was elected by the governing council of IUSS at the World Soil Science Congress in Glasgow, United Kingdom held in August.

The president, according to the statement, provides leadership, focus and direction both within and outside of the IUSS.

Within the union, the president, working together with the other Presidential Committees and in consultation with the Executive Committee and Council, is expected to develop and implement strategic directions and actions to take IUSS forward.

It is to ensure that IUSS is recognised as the pre-eminent international body in the field of soil science.

Externally, the president represents the union in international fora, such as the International Science Council.

He acts as its spokesperson when dealing with the media, national members of the IUSS, sister organisations, UN entities and government departments as required,

Chude, who hails from Onitsha, in Anambra, holds a Doctoral and Master of Science degrees in Soil Science from the University of Ibadan, and a B. Science in Plant/Soil Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He is a scholar of repute with profound leadership experiences that traverse the academia, politics, and professional consulting at national and international levels.

Chudes professional interests are Soil fertility and Plant nutrition with a strong affinity for Integrated Soil Fertility Management of tropical soils.

He had represented the Soil Science Society of Nigeria in the unions council for 15 years.

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) won the 2021 King Bhumibol Word Soil Day Award (WSDA) under the stewardship of Chude.

Chude had served as a Senior Research Fellow in Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and was a Professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, says countering terrorism and violent extremism is everybodys responsibility.

Wahab said this at the closing of the Second Strategic Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency (CTCOIN) Seminar organised by NARC in collaboration with Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on Wednesday in Abuja.

The two-day seminar has the theme, Conducting counterterrorism/counterinsurgency: Utilising a Whole of Society Approach.

He said the seminar brought together relevant stakeholders from the military, security and intelligence agencies as well as the civil society.

Garba added that it was to elicit discussions and recommendations that would shape counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the country.

According to him, the aim is to build the security architecture that will serve the interest of Nigeria.

It is going to take a long time before we see the effect of this module and we are going to ensure that the report of this seminar is well circulated.

And I will follow up, ask questions from those who received the report; we are going to do that and we will get people to start working on those things, he said.

Wahab commended the participants for their commitment throughout the duration of the seminar as well as their contributions and recommendations.

Prof. Christopher Ogbogbo, Director of Research, NARC, who presented the recommendations, said the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach was required in taming insecurity.

Ogbogbo said the seminar assessed and then emphasised the place of the whole of society approach in combating terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.

Clearly, we have been able to brainstorm on that and we have concluded and resolved that there is need to intensify and deepen that whole of society approach as conceptualised in the course of the seminar.

All hands need to be on deck, it is not just that of security agencies only, but also civil society groups and all relevant stakeholders must come together to be able to combat and resolve this insecurity that threatened the country, he said.

Ogbogbo said the civil society and other stakeholders should play active role in the activities of Operation Safe Corridor.

According to him, the military will be taking repentant insurgents who are surrendering and still be taking care of them and deradicalising them.

The civil society should come in and play its own role, and that type of role should be mainly by the civil society, not the military, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Joshua Oladipo

Vice-Chancellor, Redeemers University (RUN), Ede, Osun, Prof. Anthony Akinlo, has said that the institution would continue to invest more in world-class infrastructure and human development.

Akinlo, who said this on the sidelines of the universitys 16 convocation ceremony in Ede, said that this would make the institution to stand tall in its ranking by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He attributed the ranking of the university by the NUC as the second best in Nigeria to hardwork and commitment of staff and management of the instruction.

We are the best private university and the second overall best in Nigeria due to our hard work, according to the 2022 National Universities Commissions latest ranking, he said.

He said the award and recognition had been dedicated to those considered to have performed their responsibilities creditably within the past one year.

Also, some deserving non-members of staff of the university will be honoured for their unprecedented contributions to the progress and development of the institution.

He added that no amount of gift or encomium offered would compensate for what many of the staffers had given to the university.

According to him, the university will continue to strive higher in a competitive academic environment, especially in research breakthroughs and infrastructural development.

Akinlo congratulated the recipients of various awards and also implored them to continue to improve in what might have been considered for nominating them for future awards.

Speaking with newsmen, Mr Dele Alabi, Chief Executive Officer , Ecobank Pan African Center and Chairman, Redeemers University Convocation Diamond Set 2002, said that the university had continued to demonstrate excellent track record in terms of performance.

Alabi said that the culture of recognising best students and lecturers was in line with global best practices.

He said that the awardees must maintain high degree of commitment in raising the bar higher in their various places of work, without any complacency.

Alabi explained that integrity, commitment and dedication were key ingredients of greater achievements, which the university had displayed.

According to him, the reward for hard work is more work, adding those who were not given awards should persevere to strive and compete with their equals in a competitive academic environment.

Alabi appreciated the university for recognising the awardees, saying that this was in line with global best practices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while 48 students bagged First Class honours, representing 7.6 per cent of the graduands, 223 had Second Class Upper Division, representing 35.1 per cent.

Also, 251 students made Second Class Lower Division, representing 39.5 per cent, while 66 fell under 10.4 per cent.

NAN also reports that Miss Esther Yemisi emerged the best graduating student for the 2022 diamond set, having scored a cumulative CGPA of 5.0. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Twenty Bucks Creative and an NGO, Jalo Okwor Foundation, have launched a campaign to discourage youth from indulging in electoral violence through sports development.

The founder of the group, Mr Charbel Jarrouge made the disclosure during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the foundation, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the goal was to host a football tournament in Dec. where the youth directorate of all the political parties would take part to promote peace in the country.

While describing sports especially football as a unifying factor, Jarrouge said it would go a long way to deepen love and peace within the youths that were mostly used as tools to perpetuate violence during elections.

I would like to start my speech by reminding us all about World War 1 event. During 1914 Christmas Day, when both parties decided to cease fire and played football peacefully. Unfortunately, due to political reasons they went back to war.

,Our focus is to campaign against violent elections in Nigeria come 2023 and our goal is to host a football tournament in Dec. and the teams include all political parties in Nigeria,he said.

On his part, the National Coordinator of Sports for Peace Initiative, Mr Stephen Okwor, said that the initiative would also support youth to overcome the temptation of being used as thugs and tools of electoral violence by some political office holders and seekers.

He said that the NGO was determined to help youth to develop their cognitive, physical tools and skills through advocacy, sensitization and education.

We have identified sports as a vehicle which accommodates everyone regardless of your age, tribe, ethnic, religious, economic and social status.

In view of this, we are using sports and football in particular to identify and redirect youth who could otherwise have followed false paths.

The aim is to leave youth with the concrete possibility of a social and economic life, devoid of violence and rancour, thereby promoting peace for themselves, their families and dependants.

The trickle down effect is felt also by the wider society and by Nigeria in particular, Okwor said.

He said that the signing of the MoU marked the beginning of a new phase in the quest for finding lasting peace in Nigeria.

Okwor said: We celebrate the birth of a partnership we have entered into this partnership with Twenty Bucks Creative, which is an advertising and marketing agency.

We believe that they operate using very high standards and have a reach that we desire, in order to create the level of impact that will be most effective in educating and sensitizing youths to promote peace and shun violence.

We are optimistic that this partnership will result in better exposure to the message we are bringing, which is the message of zero violence before, during and after elections.

He called on all Nigerians, especially the youth groups of the various political parties, candidates and their supporters, security agencies, the media and CSOs to be deliberate about preaching the message of peaceful elections.

Okwor commended the efforts of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, led by Prof. Bakut Tewah, as well as all other civil society organisations promoting peace in Nigeria.

We remain resolute in encouraging all youth to shun violence and be peaceful during the forthcoming elections and try to avoid violence as much as possible,he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said it has become necessary to use advanced technological tools in crop production to generate yields.

Mustapha said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said using advanced technological tools like genetic engineering in crop production would increase yields at economically viable scales for Nigerian farmers and resuscitate ailing industries as well.

The NABDA D-G explained that the last three to four decades had seen biotechnology worldwide shifting from being a strategic emerging industry to one of the mainstays of most advanced nations strategic industries.

According to him, this is a confirmation that biotechnology is one of the key pillars of development of any nation.

Using cotton as a crop in point, he said that Nigeria commercialised its first genetically modified crop, Bt cotton in 2018, with the aim of revitalising the comatose textile industry and boost economic development.

Recall that the textile industry in Nigeria was a major employer of labour and revenue-earner in the 70s.

Statistics indicate that at its peak, between 1970 and 1990, it comprised about 130 modern factories and supported numerous other ancillary firms.

The industry provided about 350,000 direct jobs and 1.2 million indirect jobs among farmers, suppliers, transporters dealers, traders and exporters.

Today, however, only about 33 factories remain standing and the local cotton industry is comatose, primarily due to lack of good seeds, low yields and high production costs associated with insect damage, Mustapha said.

He said that these pests reduce yields by up to 60 percent which has implications on farmers profits and have also been found to be detrimental to the environment.

The D-G said such development motivated NABDAs collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaria, Bayer and Mahyco Agricultural Nigeria Ltd, for development, commercialisation and deployment of new varieties of transgenic hybrid cotton.

Accordingly, the cotton was then genetically modified to include a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis; a soil bacterium used extensively for insect pest control in organic agriculture to provide pest resistance within the plant itself.

The NABDA Boss said that Bt Cotton plays a critical role in reviving the nations economy.

It can produce 4.1 to 4.4 tonnes per hectare, compared to the local variety which yields just 600 to 900 kilograms per hectare.

Since Bt cotton can resist the devastating bollworm and tolerate sucking insects, it will help farmers reduce their use of pesticides, thus minimising environmental impacts and lowering production costs, he said.

According to him, these varieties of Bt cotton are suitable for cultivation in all of Nigerias cotton growing zones, and they also offer early maturity, fiber length of 30.0 to 30.5 millimeters among others.

He said Bt Cotton varieties would save farmers the trouble of contending with the local conventional variety, which was no longer acceptable at the international markets.

Mustapha added that recent initiatives to improve the contribution of the agricultural sector to economic growth in Nigeria have emphasised the importance of cotton production in stimulating the economy.

He said that Bt cotton offered the hope that the textile industry in Nigeria could be revived as the commercialisation had started a revolution that would help Nigeria in its cotton shortage.

Mustapha said, the stage has been set for self-sufficiency in the production of cotton as industrial raw material with the subsequent transformation of the textile industry.

The productivity data of the improved varieties of cotton obtained from farmers fields has raised the hope that the moribund textile industry in Nigeria would soon come alive.

Nigerian farmers who would be involved in the Bt cotton business would be empowered to enjoy increased productivity.

Similarly, he said the value chain of cotton from the farmers to processors, cottage industry workers, to the spinning and textile industry would also create job openings that the government was clamouring for.

The D-G assured that jobs would be created, wealth generated, the ginneries reactivated, and Nigeria would be able to export cotton to other countries of the world as well as become a global trade player. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Mr Ado Jibrin, President, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria has called on the Senate to amend the act establishing the institute.

Jibrin made the call when he led a delegation of the institute on a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the members of the institute were on the visit to discuss areas that we feel is important for the national assembly to come together so that we rescue the problems of purchasing in the country.

Jibrin said that the institute sought an amendment to the 2007 Act to change the name of the institute from Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria to Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

We are pleading with them that we will forward a private bill to ensure we have our name changed, Jibrin said.

Also speaking, former President of the Institute, Alh. Mohammed Aliyu lamented that people who were not knowledgeable about the functions of the institute were now saddled to do the job.

That is why we are facing procurement issues in the country.

We came here to let the distinguished senators know that things are not done right in the sector.

One of the issues is that the members of the Public Procurement Council are supposed to be inaugurated but this has not been done till today.

On his part, a fellow of the institute, Abdul Mamman, said that procurement plays an important position in the life of a nation.

This institute has been established since 2007 through an act of parliament and there are respective mandates granted it by the law and that particular law has to do with purchasing and supply chain management.

Unfortunately, the way and manner in which it is done today leaves much to be desired.

The law establishing the institute has been mutilated because the bureau is taking over the job of the professional body and they are not established to train and certify people for procurement because they are not a training institution.

They are a clearing house representing government to ensure that the right thing are done with regards to procurement process and procedure.

This is why we are calling for an amendment to the act,Mamman said.

Responding, chairman of the committee said it would look into their proposal.

The institute is proposing an amendment to the act. We will look into it when they bring the necessary documents.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) N607.9 billion 2022 statutory budget on Wednesday scaled second reading at the Senate.

This followed the presentation of the lead debate by Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir at plenary.

Gobir said that the 2022 FCT budget sought to authorise the issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Account, the total sum of N607 billion.

He said that N76 billion out of the amount was for personnel cost, while N138 billion was for overhead cost.

While the balance of N393 billion is for capital project for the service of the FCT, Abuja, for the financial year commencing from Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2022.

The senate leader said that the fundamental thrust of the FCT 2022 budget was to ensure an effective and enduring service oriented administration for the completion of ongoing projects and the provision of effective services to the residents of the FCT.

He said that an appraisal of the 2021 FCT statutory budget indicated that in the 2021, the FCT Administration received an appropriation of N329 billion.

During the year 2021, a total sum of N74 billion was spent on personnel cost, representing 100 per cent.

The sum of N52, 737, 251, 744. 00 was expended on overhead cost, representing 79 per cent, while the sum of N72, 730, 869, 849.00 was expended on capital projects, representing 39 per cent.

Gobir said that the FCT was created in 1976 as one of the major achievements of the Military Government.

Worthy of note is that the FCT was originally planned for about 3.1 million people.

The rapid urban growth coupled with the slow pace of development of infrastructure for the teeming population has led to scarcity of infrastructures.

He said that Abuja was too far behind in terms of achieving the developmental target envisaged.

Only 20 per cent of the target has been achieved due to scarce resources often made available to the administration over the years.

He said that the FCT required a minimum of N1 trillion to resuscitate and complete abandoned and on-going projects within the districts that had so far been developed or partially developed.

Contributing, The Chairman, Senate Committee on the FCT Sen. Smart Adeyemi acknowledged that the budget was far too low.

This is a budget that is coming some months far behind time. But notwithstanding, effort is made to ensure that those areas that require attention of government which will help to improve the security of life and property of Abuja residents is executed within the available time.

We will ensure the 2023 budget is ready before the end of this month, he said.

Sen. James Manager (PDP-Delta) expressed displeasure over the lateness in presentation of the budget.

How long will they execute these projects and when will they stop. This is October, he said.

Also, Minority Leader, Philip Aduda said that it was unfortunate that the budget was coming late.

President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan said that it was unfortunate and unacceptable.

We have worked so hard to change the budget cycle of the Federal Government. And here we have a state we are receiving the budget of the FCT for 2022 in October.

This is unacceptable. We are only considering this because innocent FCT residents will suffer. Otherwise we shouldnt pass this.

If they dont bring it next week, they should keep it themselves, he said.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has reiterated Nigerias readiness to use gas to help fast track the countrys industrialisation agenda.

Speaking at a dinner with the diplomatic community in Abuja, Sylva said that gas was the only single energy source that could help Nigeria diversify the economy.

Sylva, in a statement on Wednesday by his Senior Adviser, Media and Communication, Horatius Egua also said that gas was the sure way for Nigeria to bridge its energy gap.

He said Nigeria had a proven gas reserve of 206 TCF with a potential upside of up to 600 TCF.

The answer is not far-fetched: Energy is the basic resource for national socio-economic development and it must be secured at all times.

As a result of its rising impact on national security and economy, the need to safeguard energy and ensure availability, reliability and affordability has made energy diplomacy an essential part of every countrys foreign cooperation.

It is important to stress that Nigerias vehicle of choice on the energy transition journey is natural gas.

Much has been done towards harnessing this huge potential to provide the energy needed for our growing population in terms of power generation, transport, feedstock for industries and clean cooking solutions.

It is disheartening that Nigeria is still energy-poor despite our enormous energy resources, which include over 200 TCF of proven natural gas reserve with a potential upside of up to 600 TCF, he said.

He decried the fact that majority of people still lacked access to reliable electricity and clean cooking fuels, adding that the pursuit was to significantly reduce this menace, with the hope of ending energy poverty in Nigeria soonest.

Sylva said in order to reap the benefit of its gas resources, authorities had deepened on natural gas utilisation under the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

We have rolled out the Autogas scheme with the aim of displacing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

This will reduce PMS use and minimise CO2 emissions, he added.

The minister lauded the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, saying it is a game changer for the oil and gas sector.

He said the industry had undergone positive reforms with the PIAs passage which paved way for new investment, jobs, economic and energy diversification and placed Nigeria in a position of being able to support worlds rising energy demands.

He therefore, called on the international community to support Nigerias effort at maximising its resources in the face of global energy transition plans.

He said Nigeria will continue to use the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) to accelerate global energy transition agenda as it continues to promote energy efficiency and renewable technologies.

It is also fast becoming a platform for showcasing engineering and technological breakthroughs in the energy sector, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ijuo

Empowering Girls Initiative Committee in collaboration with Rotary Clubs in Abuja and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Wednesday sponsored 40 out-of-school children back to school.

The NGOs are Development Initiative for Youth Excellence, Progress and Stability and LexF H Humanity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clubs and NGOs also donated items to the students.

One hundred and twenty girls were given four pads each, 180 boys were given socks and beverages.

The students were also taught how to make beverages, lip gloss, cake and soap among other items.

Dr Goddy Nnadi, the Governor of Rotary District 9125, who led the clubs and NGOs on a visit to the Abuja School for the Deaf in Kuje, said it was part of activities to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child.

He said the sum of N200, 000 was also donated to the school to enable students, who were sent from school over non-payment of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) levy of N5,000 each to return to school.

Nnadi, who declared the event open, said the effort was informed by the need to ensure that no child, particularly those with special needs stayed away from school.

Nnadi said besides sponsorship, the club in collaboration with other stakeholders would be organising a medical outreach in the school.

According to him, the outreach will help ascertain the impairment level of the children and what can be done to restore the hearing ability of those with less serious cases.
He appealed to well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the school.
He said, rotarians are people of impact and we show it by what we do.
This initiative started in 2021 and this year we decided to create awareness for the girl-child.
The International Day for the Girl is marked every year to identify issues around the girl-child, what we owe them and the challenges they face.
The day is also marked to identify some challenges that the girl-child tries to hide or pretend about and what we are doing here today will help bring some of those issues to the fore.
The governor said there was the need for constant awareness creation on education and empowerment of the girl-child, saying they were critical component of the society.
He also said that the girl-child often fell victim of drug abuse, trafficking and other vices and should be properly educated.

The Rotary International District 9125 Chairperson of the Empowering Girls Initiative, Mrs Lovina Okorn-Ntui, said the rotary clubs decided to visit the school of the deaf to enable the students have a feel of the day.
She said We decided to come to the school for the deaf because we thought of diversity, equity and inclusion.
We have been impacting on the lives of girls without special needs, so this time, we decided to celebrate with girls with hearing impairment and other special needs.
These children need all the support because their case is pathetic.
The chairperson further said, as I speak with you, we have children who were dumped here by their parents because of their condition.
In fact, there is a little girl that we empowered today whose mother has stroke and they live in an uncompleted building.
We learnt that the father dumped her here and went away.
Ntui called on government and well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of children with disabilities around the country.
She said there was the need for all hands to be deck to assist the children, adding government alone cannot do it.
She further called on individuals and organisations to visit the school often to reassure them that Nigerians love them in spite of their condition.
Mr Abdulrazaq Surajo, the Principal, Abuja School for the Deaf, Kuje, expressed appreciation for the support the school received from the rotary clubs and NGOs.
We are grateful because of the visit.
These children need all the support so as not to feel like second class citizens.
These are healthy children with virtually all the abilities that can enable them contribute their quota to the growth of the nation if properly catered for, he said.
Surah called for support, particularly in the area of ICT, infrastructure and other needs of the students.
NAN reports that highpoint of the event was donation of school bags, uniforms, and books among other items to the students.
The event was also marked with lectures on self-esteem, drug abuse and menstrual health and hygiene.
The lectures also focused on sex education, and Information Communication Technology (ICT) among others.
The Abuja School for the Deaf has a population of not less than 600 students and it operates as a day and boarding school.
Meanwhile, the International Day for the Girl is marked every Oct. 11 to draw worlds attention to concerns of the girl-child and the 2022 theme is Our time is nowour rights, our future.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Federal Government on Tuesday called for more synergy among the stakeholders to tackle headlong the perennial problems of regional piracy activities in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) nations.

The Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, made the call at the opening of a 3-Week Counter-Piracy Course on the Core Principles and Practice of Combating Piracy, in Abuja.

The course was conducted by Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan.

The minister who was represented by the Deputy Director, UN Development System Division of the ministry, Mrs Victoria Oluyole, said this would help to consolidate the success being recorded in the fight against maritime crime.

Agba commended the UNDP and the Government of Japan with the Nigerian Navy and other concerned nations for strategizing and planning on the ways and means of combating the menace on the national and regional waters

He said this had also helped in making it safe and correcting the damages already done to the sector as well as restoring normalcy to the seafarers.

While commending the Government of Japan, the UNDP and the Nigerian Navy for facilitating the programme, which he described as remarkable, Agba expressed the hope that it would help address the challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

This event is remarkable as we have the assurance that the perennial problems of regional piracy activities in the Gulf of Guinea nations are being confronted headlong in a new tactical dimension through training of professionals who would be able to handle state-of-the-art equipment and development of other capacities.

We are confident that this capacity building exercise will provide the needed concept, facilitate the state of the art simulation gadgets, tactical, technological know-how to counter emerging threats as well as establish professional relationship among member States, he said.

The minister, therefore, urged participants to get the best of the training in order to deploy it afterwards towards national objectives to salvage the region and the international communities.

The UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mr Matthew Alao, said that the 3-week course would help reinforce synergies and partnership amongst stakeholders.

Alao said the course was part of a Japanese-funded project that intends to complement global, regional and national authorities visions and efforts at combating the menace of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea region.

He said the was aimed at building the skills, expertise and knowledge of the participants on the core principles and practice of combating piracy.

The course consolidates on the achievement of the 2021 maiden edition of the anti-piracy project successfully implemented by MLAILPKC in collaboration with partners from Go Countries including Nigeria.

The Counter Piracy project, which is being implemented by the Centre, will assist the Gulf of Guinea Countries to further strengthen their institutional effectiveness, inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and responsiveness.

As well as reinforce synergies and partnerships amongst them to combat maritime crimes; promote international trades, and ensure the economic stability of the member states and of the local communities in the region.

The project will contribute towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 which aims to promote peace and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective and accountable institutions at all levels. It will help to reduce the prevalence of extremisms, violent crimes and exclusion, he said.

The Commandant Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre Maj.-Gen. Awaul Fagge, represented by Deputy Commandant, Brig.-Gen. Sunday Makolo, expressed concern over the increased rise in the different acts of piracy threatens the maritime domain.

According to him, this accounts for a great percentage of global merchandise distribution and exchanges.

Fagge said incessant pirate attacks had resulted in increased maritime insurance costs, increased prices of goods merchandise, oil and gas resource and the growth of regional black markets in clandestine goods and services apart from endangering lives and properties.

He said the costs associated with piracy and other TOCs were passed on and borne by the final consumers in the GoG littoral states.

It is against this backdrop that the Government of Japan through the UNDP, sponsored the Centre to conduct a research project on Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: Root Causes, Effects and Priority Intervention Measures.

Thereafter, a curriculum for an anti-piracy course was developed, which led to the conduct of the Anti-Piracy Course in the Centre, he said.

The commandant said that during the period of training, participants would be required to bring their various experiences, competencies and expertise to bear.

Mr Shinozawa Takayuki, Charge d Affairs ad Interim of Japan to Nigeria, said that his country was committed to contributing to the security of West Africa and protect peoples lives through a variety of measures including capacity building for personnel in charge of maritime safety.

Japan and Nigeria are far apart, but we are connected by sea. Therefore, as a true friend of Nigeria, it can be said that Nigerias matter is Japans matter.

I wish to reassure everyone that the Government of Japan, in cooperation with other countries, continues to contribute to the peace and stability of the Gulf of Guinea, for the livelihood of the Nigerian people and for regional economic stability, he added.

While describing the GoG as the worlds piracy hotspot in 2021, the envoy commended the Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian military, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and other relevant organizations for their continuous and tremendous efforts in fighting piracy through various initiatives.

He said that countries such as UK and US were also working together with the Nigerian government on security in the Gulf of Guinea. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has urged government and stakeholders on implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools to ensure the rights and future of the girl-child is protected.

Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme Director, AHF Nigeria, made the call in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 International Day of the Girl-Child (IDGC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IDGC is commemorated annually on Oct. 11, to celebrate the importance, power and potentials of adolescent girls around the world, as set aside by United Nations.

The event which was hosted by AHF has its theme: Our Rights, Our Future, which intends to educate and empower girls to succeed by taking control of their health, promoting girls rights and bringing awareness to the challenges they face.

Ijezie said access to age appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education would promote positive attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health among children.

The reality is that girls from the ages of eight, nine, through 10, 14 to 15, may engage in risky behaviour.

AHF and our strategic partners, the agencies and ministries and schools must help educate everyone including girls on the need for a safe space to understand CSE, their rights and future.

The need to avoid risky behaviour among girls which can lead to unwanted pregnancies, HIV infection is key, that is why access to appropriate CSE is very important

Hence the information you give to an eight-year-old is important, but different from the information given to 14 years to 18 years to make sure they protect their rights and future.

He listed some of the topics of CSE, also known as Family Life and HIV/AIDS education in Nigeria, to include setting boundaries, self-esteem, decision making and consequences, menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, puberty, among others.

The country programme director however urged government and all stakeholders on concerted efforts in educating the public and ensuring the girl-child make right choices, become assertive and able to report issues.

Mr Nsu Rabo, the Deputy Director, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), said the IDGC was a significant day for every girl-child, stating that teachers play significant role in nurturing and wellbeing of a child.

Teachers are supposed to be mothers in the children upbringing, so my advice to teachers is to see the students as brothers, sisters and children, because they are representing their parents.

Speaking on appropriate measures mated on teachers who display unruly behaviour towards students, Rabo said the teaching profession was guided by code of ethics.

According to him, once there is a report of misbehaviour against any teacher, the school authority must report to ensure appropriate disciplinary measures are taken.

This starts with investigation and if established a query is given and could also lead to suspension or outright dismissal, he said.

Mrs Francisca Osibe of Federal Ministry of Health, appreciated the foundation for organising the event and its partnership with the ministry in ensuring that the girl-child is knowledgeable about their sexuality and personal health.

The Ministry hopes to sensitise the girls, provide free medical test and sanitary pads and educate them on reproductive health, how to take care for themselves and to avoid harmful practices.

Speaking, Mrs Bose Enuiyin, the Counselor, Abuja School for the Deaf, also appreciated the organisers for organising the event for girls and all stakeholders including parents of children with hearing impairment.

This will help some of the parents with children that dont have the knowledge of children and sexuality education especially for the deaf kids, many parents do not know how to go about it.

The counselor further appealed to the foundation and other stakeholders to visit schools especially during the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) programme to educate parents on sex education.

Ms Rapture Yakubu, a 15-year-old student of Light Way Academy, Abuja, expressed her appreciation on the event, adding that she learnt a lot about her rights and CSE.

I learnt all I need to know about how to take care of myself especially when am menstruating, how to talk to people, speak out and be confident, she said.

Yakubu appealed to parents to create time for the children and be interested in their wellbeing, adding that such act will encourage the children to always be open with their parents.

NAN reports that representatives from Ministries of Education, Health and Women Affairs, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), School Based Management Committees (SBMCs), female students, among others, were present at the occasion.

The highlight of the event included distribution of free sanitary pads, dance presentations from various government and private school students within the FCT and its environs. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Thursday urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to amicably resolve the dispute between Dangote Cement Plc Plant, Obajana and the Kogi Government over land ownership.

Mr Mansur Ahmed, the MAN President, made the plea while briefing newsmen in Lagos, on the associations 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the theme: An Agenda for Nigerias Industrialisation for the Next Decade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dangote Cement Factory, Obajana, was on Wednesday sealed by some indigenes over alleged questionable circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the company.

The Kogi State House of Assembly had ordered the closure of the company after its investigation into the cement factorys operation allegedly revealed that no valid acquisition took place for the company.

The management of Dangote Cement had claimed that no fewer than seven of its staff members were shot and several others injured by the over 500 armed members of the states security outfit, the vigilance group, that stormed the cement factory.

Ahmed described the development as worrisome and unnecessary use of strong-arm tactics.

According to him, the action taken by the state government was illegitimate and could have been appropriately addressed, using legal means.

The development is very worrisome that a government should take measures like that to shutdown a plant that provides jobs and economic activities of large numbers of people in the state.

The appropriate thing to do is to take the company to court, because this action is illegal and wont happen in any normally managed economic situation.

We hope the federal government will intervene so that such an issue is not repeated, he said.

Ahmed also urged the government to reconsider its position on increasing excise duty on nonalcoholic and other beverages.

He said that the situation was detrimental to manufacturing competitiveness in the face of inflation.

Increasing excise duty would compound the inflation situation as you do not increase tax when the economy is contracting.

In raising new revenue, you need to be sure that you dont undermine the revenue process itself by putting so much pressure on those paying taxes.

Excise duty will increase cost significantly and given the current inflation situation, its not worth it, he said.

On the associations theme at the 50th AGM, the MAN president said it was borne out of the need to take stock of the nations journey to industrialisation.

Ahmed said the event would also ascertain the pains and pain-points; to highlight the performance limiters; recognise the gains and growth milestones and to identify the learning curves and hurdles ahead.

He said that all these would craft a robust agenda for resetting industrialisation, albeit manufacturing in Nigeria.

The significance of an electioneering year further propels us to bring to the consciousness of aspiring leaders of the nation the importance of a virile manufacturing sector.

In the midst of the challenges, we are resilient and soldier on with our advocacy for a conducive atmosphere for the operation of manufacturing business in Nigeria.

We continue to work toward ensuring that Nigeria becomes an environment that promotes competitiveness, he said.

Ahmed said that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group, would be the Guest Speaker at the event.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, would be the Special Guest and Guest of honour respectively.

The programme will, as usual, run for three days from Oct. 17 to Oct. 19 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

The background of the current manufacturing situation informed our choice of our distinguished Guest Speaker, who in his own right, has seen it all in manufacturing and can better point the way forward for the countrys leadership.

He is also able to lead other members in charting a new course for the manufacturing sector.

The speaker is an experienced industrialists, who speaks the language of Nigerian manufacturers and have had his own share of immense successes in Nigeria and Africa, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Tosin Kolade

Mrs Mary Afan, National President, Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), has called for inclusion of its members in budgeting processes and implementation towards contributing to food production.

They made the call at the Public Dialogue on Gender- Responsive Agriculture Policy, an event organised in partnership with the International Budget Partnership in Abuja on Thursday.

According to her, 75 per cent of farmers in Nigeria are women, with most of them still using obsolete equipment and their needs not included in the national agriculture budget.

Afan said the number of those who depended on Nigerian farmers for food had increased, saying the need to mechanise the farms had become imperative.

She explained that the socio-economic effects of insecurity and flooding across the country had led to a reduction in crop yield and income for women farmers.

Nigeria is signatory to the Maputo Declaration, and the Maputo Declaration says 10 per cent of every countrys budget should go the agriculture sector, to achieve a six per cent annual growth.

Over the years, the budget allocation is so slow, today; we are interacting with critical stakeholders to increase and support smallholder women farmers who do almost about 80 per cent of the workforce in the farm.

We are also calling on stakeholders, policymakers, and the Nigerian government to come up with a national agenda on agriculture so that all our challenges will be met.

Mr Austin Ndiokwelu, Country Manager, International Budget Partnership (IBP), said agriculture was responsible for roughly a quarter of the gross domestic product, the second-highest contributor in the country.

He said although Nigerian government had reaffirmed its commitment to allocate 10 per cent of its annual budget to agriculture, it had not allocated more than 2.2 per cent in recent years.

Women smallholder farmers especially are overlooked by officials overseeing agricultural policy and decision-making.

This is surprising when they make up 70 per cent of the workforce and produce 60 per cent of the food Nigerians consume.

In just two and a half years SWOFON, with the support of IBP, secured three critical budgetary changes to strengthen their livelihoods and contributions to the countrys agricultural sector.

Ndiokwelu said as a result of data-driven advocacy, Nigeria increased its spending on agriculture by 18.5 per cent and made new federal budget allocations towards the sector.

He added that through the partnership with SWOFON, issues of underdevelopment in agriculture, equitable access to farm inputs were resolved and had encouraged rural economic development and increased food production.

Mr Eze Onyekpere, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, said small-scale women farmers constituted 60 per cent of the farming population and produce 70 per cent of food consumed nationally.

He said there was need for an improved budgetary investment for smallholder women farmers, saying this would aid agriculture value chain.

All plans and policies are based on budget and there are several plans and policies which have shown the need for investment for small-scale medium farmers.

He said it was critical that funds appropriated for smallholder women farmers got to them directly and not diverted into wrong hands. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

Coalition of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Support Groups for Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party, urged Nigerian teachers to be agents of social change while performing their duties.

Dr Moses Paul, Coordinator of the Coalition, made the call at the Partys Teachers Conference organised to commemorate this years World Teachers Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event has the theme Get involved for Good Governance and Accountability in Nigeria: The Role of Teachers.

Paul said that teachers were critical in the democratic process in the country, as their role in electoral processes could not be over-emphasised.

Education plays a fundamental role in development of the society, when the polity is properly educated, a new future is born.

Teachers are educators who shape future society by their work. They are social agents of change, as no revolution in the society can be complete without involving the teachers, he said.

Paul added that teachers should get involved in good governance by rejecting vote selling and buying in the upcoming elections.

Vote-buying has become a disturbing feature in Nigerias democratic process, as buying and selling of votes has heightened the monetisation of the electoral process whereby the highest bidder gets the highest votes.

When you buy votes, you corrupt the electoral process and the wrong candidates become the winner.

As an electorate, do not expect democratic dividends from leaders who emerge through corrupt practices, he said.

On his part, Dr Peter Piper, the keynote speaker at the event, called for an overhaul in the education system in the country.

Mrs Ifeoma Okechukwu, Coordinator, Teachers for Obi/Datti, said the teachers would continue to engage in voter education, grassroots mobilisation and sensitisation.

She added that teachers would continue play major role in the education sector and for a better Nigeria.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, withdrew an attempted murder suit filed against his estranged wife, Ms Precious Chikwendu.

Prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja shortly after the matter was called for the defendants to take a plea.

The matter was slated for re-arraignment of the defendants today.

However, we want to plead to your lordship for the withdrawal of the case, he said.

Ijagbemi informed that the FCT Commissioner of Police was in receipt of a letter from the nominal complainant (Fani-Kayode) about his intention to withdraw the case.

He said the withdrawal of the charge was provided for in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

The lawyer to Ms Chikwendu and others, Peter Abang, did not oppose the request, Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the amended 14-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/01/2022 dated and filed on April 28, Chikwendu was the 2nd defendant in the matter.

Other defendants in the trial include Emmanuel Anakan, Prisca Chikwendu and Osakwe Azubuike as 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, while others are said to be at large.

Speaking with newsmen after the sitting, Abang described the withdrawal of the suit as a welcomed development.

On his part, Ijagbemi said the complainant, via the prosecution, had the unfettered power to withdraw a charge before the court.

He said with the provision of ACJA, 2015, a charge could be withdrawn even until judgment against any of the defendants or accused persons standing trial before the court.

The lawyer said the ex-minister, in his withdrawal of case letter, informed that the whole family members had sat and amicably resolved the matter without any rancour or recourse to previous occurrences and they are happily standing and living together in love and in harmony.

And we, being an institution of government saddled with the responsibility of protection of lives and property, seeking peace and order in the society including individual family, we are glad to apply for the withdrawal of this case against the defendants.

You all know that it is the family that is really involved and we are interested in the peace and tranquility of the family and that is why we have withdrawn it and it is our pleasure.

NAN reports that the ex-minister and Chikwendu were in court for the proceeding.

The duo, who came into the court elated, sat side-by-side in the courtroom. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News