Housing project

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Housing Authority and Family Homes Funds have come together in a partnership to deliver 1,000 affordable housing units to low income Nigerians.

This was disclosed on Monday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the two organisations in Abuja.

Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, the Managing Director, FHA, while signing on behalf of his organisation, said the memorandum is towards the construction and delivery of 1,000 housing units at Bwari, Abuja, which will commence in Nov. 2020.

Ashafa said FHA remains committed to deploying robust partnership and collaboration with other focused public and private institutions to drive change and growth in the sector.

For us at FHA, the overall objective of the partnership is to commence the first phase of delivery of 300,000 housing units, which President Muhammadu Buhari promised Nigerians.

The FHA is proud to be the first public agency to key into this social housing vision of Mr President to deliver the first 1,000 housing units of the mass housing project, he said.

Ashafa added that the partnership will also generate thousands of jobs for professionals, labourers, artisans, suppliers, food vendors, transporters and several others in the value chain.

On his part, Mr Femi Adewole, Managing Director, Family Homes Funds said the partnership came about because FHA has more land than any other institution for housing in the country.

Adewole said Family Homes Funds has a target of 300,000 homes for Nigerians with low income, for which the Central Bank of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Finance, has made available an initial capital of N200 billion towards the execution.

I want to say that those homes are such that people can buy for N2 million for the 1 bedroom, about N2.5 to 2.75 million for the 2 bedroom and N3.5 to N3.25 million for the 3- bedroom, he said.

Speaking on what the fund is doing to ensure that the process is not hijacked by unscrupulous people, Adewole said his organisation decided to deal with the issue by executing the programme on the back of partnerships with an outfit like FHA.

We also deal with cooperatives. So, rather than individuals, people are being encouraged to form or join housing cooperatives where they know themselves.

Since they are through cooperatives, it makes it very difficult for somebody who is not a member of the cooperative to come and basically usurp the system.

Hence, we have built control measures in place, to ensure that we have cooperatives of commercial tricycle operators, cooperatives of mechanics, cooperatives of butchers and of market women, who know themselves, organise themselves.

It is through these cooperatives that the houses will be distributed, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerian journalists

By Rabiu Sani

The Vision Centre for Communication and Development Advocacy (VCCDA), has embarked on awareness creation to mobilise support for the revival of improved welfare package and insurance scheme for journalists in the country.

The Acting Chairman of the centre, Mr Gbenga Onayiga, said this at a one-day workshop in Kano on Monday.

Onayiga said the revival of the insurance scheme and improved welfare were part of viable programmes outlined by the centre to address challenges and build a vibrant media for an informed society.

He said that the centre accorded priority to capacity building to enable journalists meet the technological advancement to effectively discharge their constitutional mandate.

The centre also focused on encouraging communication research and adherence to ethical standards to promote professionalism in the media industry.

We will not ignore the suffering of our colleagues and the family members of deceased journalists, hence the need for improved welfare and insurance scheme.

The workshop is to develop a two-year working plan to fast track implementation of our programmes, he said.

According to him, the centre will conduct sensitisation activities in other parts of the country to fast track adoption of sound policies and programmes aimed at transforming media operations in the country.

Onayiga said that the centre would utilise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to achieve its objectives.

Malam Muhammad Garba, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, said the state government had provided an enabling environment for journalists and media organisations to operate without hindrance.

Garba, who inaugurated the workshop, said the state government had maintained harmonious working relationship with the media to fast track good governance.

The commissioner, who was also a former President,Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), decried the lack of salaries and poor working conditions of journalists.

He said that the trend must change to achieve sustainable development in the sector.

He advocated the reconstitution of the NUJs Ethics Committee to check quackery and promote professionalism.

While lauding the initiative, Garba urged the centre to engage veteran journalists holding political posts and other privileged positions to enable it achieve its objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by the NUJ National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman; General Manager, Vision FM Kano, Adamu Ladan; General Manager, Bronze Federal FM, Benin, Bimbo Oyetunde; and the Legal Officer of the centre, Sadiya Aliyu, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Real Estate

By Rukayat Moisemhe

A real estate outfit, G-Text Homes, has unveiled plans to build 25,000 green and smart homes over the next 15 years to bridge Nigerias housing deficit.

Dr Steven Akintayo, the companys Managing Director, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the 25,000 eco-friendly homes would be built in 200 estates across the country.

When we decided to go into building houses, we said we cannot go the way others have gone.

We have a vision of having 200 estates between now and 2035 and building 25,000 green and smart homes.

The world is going green while everybody is talking about climate change and we want to make a statement in Nigeria.

We are not just talking about building green homes, we have started smart homes, Akintayo said.

He added that the green and smart homes would be highly energy efficient, eco-friendly, and a futuristic ideal home.

It is an energy efficient home, eco-friendly, a home for the future and I do not see any better opportunity in terms of investment than this.

We are currently the first 100 per cent virtual property purchase company in Nigeria as you can buy property from us online, without third party and your documents will be sent to you wherever you are in the world,he said.

Akintayo urged real estate practitioners to imbibe the ethics of transparency, adequate information and relationship building to earn consumers trust to demystify all mysteries in real estate.

One of the challenges of our industry is trust, like an average person you tell about property youre selling today can not trust you.

If you are going to go far, you need your foundation to be strong; so we spent the last five years educating people on what property is, what document is, and what the things you need to do are.

We have spent the last five years in creating transparency, relationship and we also do something every month with the media involved and we are engaging people.

More than 90 per cent of our customers have never seen any of our estates before; thats the level of trust.

A lot of our customers trust us because we are open and transparent, he said.

Akintayo said that the company was committed to addressing the effect of climate change on environment.

According to him, the company had in 2019 kicked off a N10billion low cost housing project to assist low income earners owning their dream homes.

He added that GText homes was partnering with a New York based company on waste recycling for electricity generation to be used in the estates. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent has reached 1,636,748 as of Sunday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC, a specialised healthcare agency of African Union Commission, said in a statement that the number of deaths due to illnesses related to the pandemic reached 39,559 as of Sunday afternoon.

According to the Africa CDC, the number of people that have recovered from the infectious virus across the continent has reached 1,347,199.

The most COVID-19 affected African countries in terms of the number of positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

The Southern Africa region is the most affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths.

According to the Africa CDC, the Northern Africa region is the second most affected African region.

Source: NAN News

National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has again urged Nigerians to discard information in some quarters that the institution is recruiting people as members of its staff.

A statement issued by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, describing reports that NOUN was recruiting as fake news

The story, mischievously captioned National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Recruitment 2020 and How to Apply, is being pushed out to the public principally by two notorious online platforms, Opera News (operanewsapp.com) and Financial Watch (financialwatchngr.com).

The University hereby informs the general public that this story is fake and therefore should be dismissed for what it is.

The public should beware of the kind of stuff those purveyors of falsehood dish out to gullible readers with the apparent reason of attracting hits to their websites.

The public should also understand that after fully complying with the Federal Governments directive to join the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, NOUN cannot employ anyone without government approval, Sheme stated.

This is the second time within four months that NOUN management would be dismissing reports on staff recruitment.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NOUN had in on June 20 distanced itself from a similar publication on recruitment sponsored by an obscure website .com with a phone number of 0805 860 6531.

The NOUN management had then threatened legal action against the owner of the website to protect the name and integrity of the university.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Personnel of disbanded FSARS

By Cecilia Ijuo

The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has urged the federal government to prosecute the bad eggs in the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

Mr Lawrence Wilbert, President General of USOSA, an umbrella body of alumni associations of all 104 federal unity schools across the country, made the commendation in a statement in Abuja.

He urged government to take immediate and concrete steps to demonstrate its long-term commitment to addressing the issue of police brutality in Nigeria.

According to him, disbanding SARS is only a step in restoring public trust in the nations security architecture.

We encourage the government to be transparent, accountable and sincere with these reforms and fast track delivery of the request of the protesters.

We urge government to commence prosecution of all police officers indicted for violence against Nigerian citizens and protesters.

Government should also take steps to re-engineer the working and living conditions of the Nigerian Police Force to ensure greater motivation and professionalism, towards building a more secure Nigeria.

Also, immediate steps should be taken to ensure a review of the Nigerian Constitution in order to address the issues of true federalism, resource control and electoral reforms.

Immediate action should also be taken to ensure constitutional changes that will engender a unicameral legislature and a cut down the number and remuneration of government officials and agencies.

Government should also strengthen National Orientation Agency (NOA) to deploy programmes for better citizenship participation and nation building.

Wilbert noted that USOSA was in solidarity with all Nigerians across the country who had made their voices heard since the protest started.

He condemned the use of force to silence peaceful protest, saying, the bedrock of any modern and progressive democracy are institutions that protect the rights of individuals to life and liberty.

One of the most important of these institutions is the Police, and it is obvious that a huge section of the public has lost trust in the police to protect these rights.

On school resumption, the president general called for sustained measures across board to ensure the safety of students, saying the COVID-19 pandemic was still prevalent.

He urged government and relevant stakeholders to continue to work to ensure reorientation of the citizens psyche through sincere, consistent investment in the educational sector.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the recently passed National Teachers Policy, stressing that it was long overdue.

He urged the federal Ministry to Education to immediately absorb all part-time teachers currently on the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) payroll.

We believe that the safety of children in schools is top priority for governments at all levels. This is a solemn duty of care, which we cannot afford to get wrong.

As the largest coalition of Alumni Associations in Africa, we are happy to work with the Federal Government to leverage our network across the country.

This is to ensure that the country delivers on this duty of care and safety for children currently in our schools.

USOSA will continue to support the federal government and the Nigerian people as we all collaborate towards attainment of the Nigeria of our dream. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police in France

Following the brutal murder at the end of last week of a teacher in France, numerous police operations against Islamists was ongoing on Monday.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that they were targeting dozens of people with links to radical Islam.

The police operations would continue for the coming days, he added.

In the French Defence Council, chaired by President Emmanuel Macron, it was decided on Sunday evening to take stronger action against radicalisation and also to focus more on hate speech on the internet.

The minister said that around 80 complaints against the spread of hatred on the internet had been filed since the teachers murder relating to news that glorified the beheading of the teacher.

The main suspect, who is 18 years old, had boasted about the killing on the internet and wrote that the educator had disparaged the prophet Mohammed.

Darmanin also announced that the operations would be focusing on a number of associations this week.

Darmanin said that a father of a pupil at the school who had mobilised a campaign against the teacher on the internet had, together with others, issued a fatwa against the teacher. There is no other word, Darmanin said.

In Islam, a fatwa is ruling by a recognised authority to clarify a point of religious law, but the term took on negative connotations when Irans Ayatollah Khomeini issued a death warrant on the British writer Salman Rushdie for blasphemy in 1989.

The teacher was murdered on Friday morning in a suburb of Paris. The perpetrator, who had Russian-Chechen roots, was shot dead by police.

History teacher Samuel Paty, 47, had shown controversial caricatures of Mohammed in a class on the subject of freedom of expression. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Scene of Vietnam landslide

Authorities on Monday announced that rescuers in Vietnam found the bodies of 22 soldiers buried by landslides.

The landslides began in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri at around 1.00 a.m. on Sunday (1800GMT Saturday).

Vietnams Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said the trapped 22 soldiers are stationed in the area under mud and stone.

The soldiers had been evaluating landslide risks in the area.

Central parts of the country have been overwhelmed by heavy rains for two weeks as three storms battered the central coast.

According to a report from the steering committee, at least 90 people have lost their lives due to the storms while 34 more are still missing across the countrys central provinces.

The report said Torrential downpours have also flooded nearly 200,000 houses, 300 schools and 176kilometres of roads in the region.

Earlier, 13 rescue workers were buried in a landslide while trying to access 30 people stuck after another landslide at a hydropower plant. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

PRP

By Hassana Yakubu

The Peoples Redemption party (PRP) Board of Trustees (BOT) has endorsed the programmes of action approved and rolled out by both the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The PRP programme of action covers the period August 2020 untill August 2021, which will culminate with the holding of the Partys National Convention.

The endorsement is contained in a communique issued by the board on Sunday and signed by six of its members including Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Mr Chris Anyedizeolu and Dr Segun Falope.

It said the meeting resolved to convey the PRP BOTs absolute confidence in, and satisfaction with, the leadership of the Partys NEC under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Falalu Bello.

It hailed NECs strenuous and focused efforts at repositioning the PRP for greater relevance and impact in the Nigerian political space.

The communique condemned attempts by a few misguided and errant elements within the Party to create dissent, misunderstandings and factions within the PRP.

It noted in particular that this is contrary to the letters and spirit of the Party extant constitutional provisions.

According to the statement the Code of Conduct for members explicitly frowns at all anti-Party activities and conducts likely to embarrass the Party or bring the Party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute.

It approved the request of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the current BOT Chairman, to be replaced by the party.

Musa had formally requested the Partys NWC to initiate processes for his substitution with someone else as a replacement in an acting capacity pending the appointment of another substantive BOT Chair.

The communique paid tribute to his unparalleled contributions to the survival and growth of the PRP, and noted the heavy burden which the office of BOT Chair carried and the toll it was having on its leader.

It recalled that Alhaji Musa had during the partys National Delegates Conference on Sept. 1, 2018 delivered his valedictory speech in which he asserted that he was leaving the stage.

Musa had refered to the scheduled forthcoming National Convention of the Party and his failing health as reasons for him to be replaced. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

#ENDSARS protesters

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday met behind closed door with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Senate President Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila represented the leadership of NASS at the meeting which was presided over the president.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the Senate President said the meeting specifically deliberated on how best to address the ongoing ENDSARS demonstrations being witnessed in some parts of the country.

According to him, the national assembly has a crucial role to play in ensuring that the demands of the protesters are properly addressed and implemented to restore sanity in the society.

Lawan lauded the president for the way and manner he had been handling the issues raised by the aggrieved youths in the country.

This is certainly a very trial moment and as a national assembly we believe that we have a very critical and crucial role to play in ensuring that the current situation of protest across the country is bought to an end.

I want to thank Mr President for exhibiting a very deep democratic credentials the protests have gone on for over ten days, across many States of the country and I think the protesters have expressed their legitimate right, the government has listened.

The essence of coming to meet Mr President is to review the situation and see the roles the two arms of government should play in ensuring that the five-point demands of the protesters are properly addressed.

Where legislative intervention will be required, we are ready to move in and deal with such expeditiously, to ensure that we dont waste any time, so that we address the concerns of our youths.

Where the executive role is expected we are sure that the executive will expedient action and we will be watching to ensure that such demands are properly met, he said.

Lawan, therefore, appealed to the aggrieved youths to suspend their protests as government had commenced implementation of their five-point demands, saying government needed sufficient and conducive environment to implement the demands.

He said the appeal had become imperative to avert possible break down of law and order in the country.

He said: It is also very critical at this point to mention this, since the protest had taken place and the demands had been accepted.

Time has come for the protest to stop because government needs to have sufficient time and conducive environment to implement the demands of the protesters, we also need to have our economy to continue to grow.

When we try to stop everybody from engaging in their local businesses, closing roads to markets and other economic place we disrupt the economy of the country and that is not the best way to go.

If the issues had not been accepted then there would have been genuine reasons to continue with the demonstrations and protests. But since the issues had been accepted we should give government time to implement the issue.

Therefore, Im taking this opportunity to appeal to our youths who are protesting that the protests have already yielded the desire results.

According to him, other Nigerians have the legitimate right to go on their lawful businesses without hindrance.

Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila, reiterated the readiness of the NASS to partner with other arms of government particularly the executive, in meeting the genuine demands Nigerians.

He, however, condemned the attack on Gov. Gboyega Oyetola during the ENDSARS protest in Osogbo on Saturday.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ebere Agozie

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Mrs Ebere Agozie, a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has emerged the winner of Merck Foundation Stay at Home Awards to raise awareness on COVID-19.

Agozie became the winner of the online category in Nigeria with Ishioma Mary of Ventures while Odimegwu Onwumere of the Voice of Nigeria care second in that category.

In the Television category, Aneta Felix became winner; Ekene Odigwe of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria was the winner for Radio category while Ojoma Akor of Daily Trust became winner in the print category.

Agozie who is the Head, Fact Check Desk at NAN, thanked the Merck Foundation for the award, saying I am truly grateful for this award.

It is encouraging to know that ones efforts are recognised. This can only spur me on to work harder towards the upliftment of my society and humanity in general, she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in a statement said the foundation celebrated winners of the awards from Nigeria and Ghana.

The CEO said the award was done in partnership with First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

According to Kalej, the theme of the awards was Raising Awareness on how to Stay Safe and Keep Physically and Mentally Healthy during Coronavirus Lockdown with the aim to separate facts from myths and misconceptions.

I am very proud of our winners from Ghana and Nigeria who helped to educate the communities about COVID-19 through their exceptional work by frequently covering this topic in their respective countries.

I have always believed that the Media can play a very important role in sensitising people about sensitive issues such as Coronavirus global pandemic. Big congratulations to all the winners.

She said that the quality of work received was impressive, therefore, the Merck Foundation Media Awards Committee had introduced a second and a third position.

The committee had introduced a second and third position and selected more than one winner, on some occasions, for each of the Four Categories from all the regions.

The valuable contribution from the winners in sensitising their respective communities about COVID -19 has encouraged us to additionally reward them all.

We have rewarded them to become Merck Foundation Alumni and provide them with one-year access to online educational training programme called MasterClass.

The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course in English that can be accessed anywhere with the Internet.

This is to motivate passionate journalists to continue writing and advocating for social, economic and health issues across their countries, Kelej added.

The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Stella Odua

By Naomi Sharang and Kingsley Okoye

Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra), has appealed to the Federal Government to provide substantial funding to mitigate the perennial floods ravaging parts of Anambra North Senatorial District.

Oduah, who represents the district, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

She said some of the communities affected by floods with buildings submerged include Ogbaru, Anyamelum East, Anambra East and West and Oyi local government areas of the state.

She said that provision of substantial fund to the affected communities would assist in the provision of the needed infrastructure to mitigate the perennial flood in the district.

My honest prayer is that government will come to our rescue; that government will at least give us substantial amount of money to be able to put in the dams; to be able to put on the fortified walls; to be able to rescue our communities, our farms.

In case some people dont know, Anambra North is the food basket of the East, and so, when you cut it off, the farmer loses his crops, loses the incentive to farm.

And so you end up having horrible situation where you can not find food after the flood.

Oduah also a former Minister of Aviation said that her concern since childhood had always been how the recurring flood could be mitigated.

As I speak to you I can not go to my house except if I paddle a canoe, that is really unfair.

But it is no bodys fault, it is our lives, it is how the topography of the land is.

Even the Bible says Man should conquer its environment and I believe we can conquer our environment, if we put in these infrastructure.

The dams, the retaining walls and all that the Engineers are recommending we should put in place.

She said some countries in other climes with similar topography were able to conquer their environment because the right infrastructure were provided.

If you visit places like Netherlands and other countries around the globe that have similar topography, you will see that they have been able to conquer their environment.

And in conquering their environment, they were able to put several things in place.

With that, minimising the damage of flood becomes something that is a welcome development.

And so for us in Anambra North and indeed all the communities that experience the havoc of flood, it is for me, something that we should all work together to make sure that we put it in place.

And some of them are simple by having the drains in place where it ought to be, putting fortified walls that will deter the water from the force it uses in coming in and to have dams and the dams will take on the water.

According to her, she has written to the Ecological Fund office, Ministry of Environment, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the flood situation in the zone.

She said that the authorities responded and had also sent their engineers to come and investigate the flood situation in the areas.

But prior to that, 2012, when we had one of the worst flood, there was United Nations study on how to mitigate the havoc of flood.

That study was done, but nothing was done with the outcome of the study.

And so I presented it back to Ministry of Environment and so when they sent their engineers, and their engineers revisited all the issues and then this recommendation and again we are back to the implementation stage.

And often you know what happens, it is a question of funding. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NECO

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The National Examination Council (NECO) has rescheduled its Oct. 19, Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) following #Endsars protest.

Mr Azeez Sani, Head, Information and Public Relations Division, NECO said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

This is to inform the general public and especially candidates that the NECO has been constrained to reschedule the Paper one Computer Studies Practicals earlier scheduled to take place on Oct. 19, to Nov. 16.

This unforeseen incident has been caused by the #EndSARS protest that blocked the free movement of transport at the City entrance gate Benin.

The NECO delivery truck had left its take off point well in advance on Friday, Oct. 16, earlier to deliver examination materials to some states and has been held up in the blockage since then.

The Council wishes to assure all stakeholders and the general public that the affected examination materials have been retrieved and are intact.

The council, however, regretted any inconveniences the reschedule may cause stakeholders, adding that the council had taken the decision in order to maintain the integrity and security of its examinations procedures. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

FRSC personnel at an scene of an accident

By Aminu Garko

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger has confirmed the death of three persons in an accident that occurred on Mokwa-Jebba road on Sunday.

Mr Joel Dagwa, the states FRSC Commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday that 19 other persons got various degrees of injuries.

He said that the accident, which occurred at about 3.00 pm at Tsafa village, involved a Mazda bus and an articulated vehicle.

The sector commander advised motorists to exercise caution and adhere strictly to speed limits to avoid crashes.

He blamed the accident on speed violation and loss of control.

The sector commander said that the Corps would continue to monitor road users to guard against dangerous driving.

We will continue to sustain our aggressive patrols across all major highways to ensure that road users adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accidents, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Be bold, courageous, Buratai tasks personnel

By Sumaila Ogbaje/Ahmed Kaigama

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has tasked officers and men of Nigerian Army Armoured Corps to be bold and courageous in tackling insurgency when deployed to the theater of operation.

Buratai gave the charge during the live firing demonstration of the newly-purchased VT4 MBT and ST1 light tank at the Victor Kure Armour Range, Bauchi, on Sunday.

He said the training of the personnel of the corps had prepared them to take decisive action in the ongoing fight against terrorist in the North East.

I was with you in June, I spoke to you on the need to be bold and courageous.

This you must carry along as you are deployed after this course to any theatre of operation or any hotspot across the country.

I expect you as you go to the field, you must be decisive and deal with them with this because when you combine the fire power mobility and shock action, the adversary will have no option than to behold and be dealt with cogently.

You must beat them shock and all.

I am just coming from Maiduguri and Damaturu and I have seen the tremendous effort made by the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and we expect you very soon to mobilise with these vehicles to go and round up, he said.

Buratai also urged the personnel to deploy the practical experience they had gained from the training in manning and maintenance of the new platforms.

He also emphasised the need for continuous training of officers and soldiers of the corps to be able to carry out second, third and forth line maintenance of the platforms.

The COAS commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the needed equipment for the troops to carry out their operations.

He also commended the Corp commander and the Commandant of the school for putting up very robust training package for the platforms for the army.

Buratai also assured the personnel of President Buharis commitment to improve their welfare and provide proper equipment for their operations.

Earlier, the Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Magaji, said the training on the new platforms which culminated with the live firing of the VT4 and ST1 was conducted during the week.

Magaji said the personnel had demonstrated high level of competence as a result of the training they had acquired in handling the new equipment.

He said that NAAC would liaise with NASVP for painting of the platforms before eventually deploying them to the theatre.

The commander thanked the COAS for facilitating the provision of the VT4 Main Battle Tank and the ST1 Light Tank, adding that the gesture demonstrated Buratais confidence and belief in the corps to deliver when it mattered most.

I can assure the COAS that with this addition to the NAAC AFVs inventory, the Corps will make the COAS proud in the ongoing fight against insurgency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Insane woman restored through prayers in Madalla, Niger

A popular mad woman has been allegedly cured from her insanity through prayers by members of a religious sect in Madalla community, in Niger.

Simply identified as Mrs Veronica David, the woman is known in the community for roaming the streets and carrying heavy loads on her head.

But fate smiled on her during an encounter with the evangelism team of the Living Faith Church, Madalla. The miracle took place on the street beside St. Theresas Catholic Church, Madalla, said Mrs Patience, who lives in the same community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the woman who now appears normal was seen siting in the auditorium of the church among worshipers, during Worship Service on Sunday.

NAN further learnt that after her restoration to normalcy, she gave the team that prayed for her some details about her family.

She said: My name is Veronica David. My husbands name is David Edafe, a native of Oviore in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

She said she gave birth to seven children and things were normal with her until a strange ailment struck her.

I left home in the year 2018 when an evil spirit came upon me as I was selling cooked rice, she said, revealing that she was unable to recollect how to re-unite with her husband and children.

The Living Faith Church, Madalla, is therefore seeking useful information from anyone who knows how to contact her family. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has said the newly-launched Exercise Crocodile Smile VI has nothing to do with the ongoing ENDSARS protests across the country.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, indicated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Musa emphasised that the exercise is a yearly event set out to train officers and men in its efforts to ensure safety and security of Nigeria and its citizens.

It is a yearly exercise in the Army Calendar/Forecast of Events which traditionally holds from October to December of each year.

According to Musa, this years exercise is scheduled to commence from Oct. 20 to Dec. 31, and it has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise whatsoever.

He warned to now insinuate that it is an exercise meant to stifle the ongoing ENDSARS protest is sheer misinformation.

So far, the army has acted professionally since the civil protest started over two weeks ago.

The army hereby enjoins all law-abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Victor Osimhen

Nigerias Victor Osimhen scored his first goal for his new club as Napoli blasted four goals in a devastating 20-minute, first-half spell, thumping Atalanta 4-1 in a Serie A match on Saturday.

The hosts are said to have handed the visitors a taste of their own medicine. Free-scoring Atalanta, last seasons top-scorers with 98 goals, had netted 13 goals in winning their first three games but had no answer to Napolis attacks in an extraordinary first half.

Mexican forward Hirving Lozano, out of favour with coach Gennaro Gattuso last season, set Napoli on their way with two goals in four minutes.

The player, known as Chucky, tapped in from Giovanni Di Lorenzos cross in the 23rd minute and curled in the second goal after Dries Mertens pounced on a mix-up in the Atalanta midfield.

Matteo Politano fired the third goal on the half hour and Nigerias forward Osimhen took advantage of more poor defending to score the fourth before the interval.

Napoli goalkeeper, David Ospinas kick upfield was misjudged by Cristian Romero, which presented the Super Eagles striker with a chance at goal.

Osimhen, who signed from Lille in the summer, chested the ball down and scored with a shot on the turn to net his first goal for his new club.

Romero partially made amends by setting up Atalantas consolation for substitute Sam Lammers in the 69th minute.

The Argentine won possession, charged upfield and released Lammers who clipped his shot past Ospina.

Atalanta remained on nine points from four games, one ahead of Napoli.

Napoli have won all three of their games on the pitch, scoring 12 goals and conceding one.

However, Serie As disciplinary committee handed them a 3-0 defeat for failing to play a match against Juventus amid confusion over the COVID-19 rules and they also had a point deducted. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lewandowski celebrates as Bayern crush Arminia 4-1 in Bundesliga encounter

Bayern Munichs Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller scored two goals each as the German champions crushed hosts Arminia Bielefeld 4-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to move within a point of top spot.

Mueller scored either side of Lewandowskis double, with the Polish striker taking his seasons tally to seven league goals from four games.

The win meant Bayern moved to nine points, level with third-placed Borussia Dortmund and one behind leaders RB Leipzig, who won 2-0 at Augsburg.

Mueller grabbed an eighth minute lead with a bit of luck after his first effort was saved but the ball bounced back into his path.

Also, Lewandowski was left with far too much space to score with a well-placed shot in the 26th minute.

Arminia goalkeeper Stefan Ortega kept the scoreline respectable in the first half with several spectacular stops, including a sensational one-handed save from Lewandowskis close-range header.

But the home keeper was beaten again with the last kick of the first half, a deflected shot from Lewandowski after good work from Mueller.

Bayern, who had to use changing rooms in a nearby school ahead of the game due to strict COVID-19 regulations, scored again six minutes after the restart.

This was when Lewandowski crossed and Mueller volleyed in from close range.

Arminias Japan international Ritsu Doan was rewarded for a fine performance with a goal in the 58th minute before Bayern were left with 10 men following the dismissal of Corentin Tolisso for a last-man foul.

Bayern, who also twice hit the woodwork, next host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Smuggled rice

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Silent Heat III, have impounded 1,637 bags of smuggled foreign rice in a large wooden boat along Utan Iyata Creek.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Saturday, said that the impounded rice were snuggled from Cameroon.

He disclosed that two suspects were arrested during the aggressive clearance operation against economic sabotage and other sundry crimes in the South-South zone of the country.

According to him, gunboats of Forward Operating Base IBAKA, while on routine patrol along Utan Iyata Creek intercepted and arrested a large wooden boat containing 50kg parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled in from the Republic of Cameroon.

A total of 1,637 bags of 50kg parboiled rice was recovered and 2 suspects were arrested.

Currently the suspects are being profiled and would subsequently be handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service component of Operation SWFT RESPONSE South-South border drill along with the bags of rice for further action.

The Military High Command commends the gallant troops for their dexterity and encourages them to remain resolute in the fight against economic sabotage in the country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News