By Taiye Olayemi

The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has urged Nigerians to embrace peace and jettison all tribal, religious and political sentiments.

Its Director-General, Ms Oluwabunmi Amao, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos, said it was important to embrace peace at this stage of national development.

Amao said as Nigerians continued to mark the 62nd independence anniversary, everyone must reassess themselves on their contributions to national peace and harmony.

She advised Nigerians to make national peace their hallmark and always champion this cause at all times.

It is the 62nd independence anniversary of our great nation, Nigerians are advised to ignore all forms of religious, political and tribal sentiments which has pulled us apart over the years.

We should see one another as brothers and sisters, our peace should be paramount to us as a nation, she said.

Amao noted that without conscious efforts to imbibe peaceful co-existence and brotherly love, the nation would continue to suffer underdevelopment.

She said individuals regardless of their tribe should engage in cultural integration and diplomacy which would accelerate the development process of the nation.

An Igbo man should consciously take cuisines from the Hausa and Yoruba ethnic group and vice versa; same is applicable to languages, we all should aspire to be multi-lingua, this has lots of benefits for individuals and the nation in general.

Christians should see the Muslims as good neighbours and brothers, we should not give room for religious, political and tribal discord among us, she said.

According to Amao, CBAAC has been working tirelessly in ensuring that the nation remains united with different programmes designed for such purpose.

She said one of the programmes was the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of FESTAC77, slated to hold from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, in Abuja.

She explained that the festival would attract different nations across the globe exhibiting their cultures.

She said this would create more understanding among citizens across nations, thereby fostering peace and harmony. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

By Patience Omoha

(Edited by Msrk Longyen/Emmanuel Yashim)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ijuo

A socio-cultural group, Iko Udama,
has appealed to the Federal Government for more intervention as flood submerges Ibaji, Idah and several other local governments of Kogi State.

The Chairman of the group, Mr Amodu Achema, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Iko Udama is a socio-cultural group that provides social net for the needy as well as life insurance for members.

Achema said there was an urgent need to relocate more people from affected communities as well as provide relief materials, adding that the situation had become a national disaster.

The flooding in Kogi State this year is the worst we have witnessed since 2012.

As we speak, several local governments have already been affected and from reports from our members on ground from on-the-spot assessment, the situation is unabating.

What is happening is beyond Kogi State government, it is a national disaster that needs to be given the needed attention.

We commend the Federal Government for its intervention so far.

We, however, plead that more be done to save the lives of hundreds of people rendered homeless in the state.

On our part as a group, we are already on ground in the affected areas offering assistance as much as we can, he said.

Speaking on a permanent solution, Achema said dredging of the River Niger was long overdue.

He said it was worrisome that in spite of promises made by previous administrations, no tangible result had been achieved in that regard.

If the dredging had been done, today we will not be talking about flooding in the area.

It is a recurrent issue that demands concerted effort by government and well meaning individuals for a lasting solution, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Kogi State Governor Alh. Yahaya Bello had appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state in view of the magnitude of the disaster.

Kogi State is located in the North Central of Nigeria and was formed in 1991.

The state, which is popularly called Confluence State, has an area of 11,519 square meters with a population of about three million.

Economically, Kogi State generates revenue largely from agriculture and fishing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Belief in the efficacy of a locally-prepared charm that could stave off gunshots has led to the death of a 12-year-old child in Kaiama in Kwara.

His elder brother shot him dead while testing the efficacy of the charm with which the two of them had just fortified themselves.

Police spokesman in Kwara, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, stated in Ilorin on Monday that upon their return home after procuring the charm, the elder took their fathers hunting Dane gun and shot the deceased to test its efficacy.

The 12-year-old died on the spot from the shot, he stated.

The two of them are sons of one Abubakar Abubakar, a hunter in Dutse Gogo town in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara.

The culprit escaped into the bushes immediately after the act.

Investigation into the matter has started.

Parents and guardians are advised to monitor activities of their children and avoid doing certain things in their presence to prevent incidents of this nature, Okasanmi stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Abigael Joshua.

Dr Alim Abubakre, a Nigerian British don at Sheffield Hallam University, has prescribed some strategies to make Nigeria retain its economic leadership in Africas era of global uncertainties.

Abubakre, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, said his prescriptions are seven quick wins for national prosperity and superlative comparative advantage post 62nd Independence Anniversary.

He listed the strategies as Harnessing Diasporas and Increasing Exodus of Talent, Vertical Integration of Agriculture and Petroleum, and Building a National Brand.

Others are Harnessing Nigerias Youthful Population, Developing a Sustainable Energy Ecosystem, Taking Advantage of Africas Free Trade Agreement, and Harnessing Diversity as a strength.

Abubakre, who has engaged with over 4,000 executives globally and helped hundreds of organisations win, suggested that the seven areas could fast-track Nigerias sustainable development goal.

The founder of the British firm, TEXEM UK, said being a country endowed with huge potential, Nigeria could achieve prosperity by harnessing diasporans and attracting more investments from compatriots outside the countrys shores.

Specifically, diasporans could be a source of talent and technology transfer.

Technology advancement could be achieved if the country develops special schemes that encourage more Nigerians to return home, at least during their leave.

This suggestion is practicable as some doctors overseas are already doing this for Nigeria, and South Korean and Chinese Engineers do it for their nations, Abubakre said.

He said that actualising the suggestion would make their emigration from Nigeria not a brain drain but a brain gain, just like the Jewish diasporans.

Also, since diasporans are plenipotentiaries overseas, they could also be a source of global soft power.

They could help obtain the outcomes that Nigerians want in world politics if they are actively courted more and treated as strategic assets.

With better connections with their home country and incentives for investment, it becomes easier to foster development and nation-building, the don said.

Speaking on vertical integration, Abubakre said it should entail the Nigerian government and business leaders building more refineries to leverage petrochemicals developmental benefits, especially for the country.

He said that according to the International Energy Agency, petrochemicals are the largest source of demand for crude oil and will account for 50 per cent of crude oil demand by 2050.

Abubakre said petrochemicals are so vital that they could be a source of developing the renewable energy value chain.

For example, petrochemicals could be used to manufacture components of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, thermal insulation and electric vehicles, which is greener, sustainable and will create jobs.

The symbiosis between the petrochemical and agricultural value chain will drive energy and food security in Nigeria.

It could spur the development of the agro-allied industries that could ensure an integrated manufacturing ecosystem, he asserted.

Abubakre said that, arguably, Nigeria could create a meaningful economic impact and promote sustainable growth over the coming years if it builds a vibrant and trusted national brand globally.

He, however, said that first, the country must set its standards high and strive to build trust in Nigerian products and services, especially in agricultural products, fashion, arts and entertainment.

Nigeria can borrow a leaf from Japan, whose Made in Japan goods and services are considered among the top 5 trusted brands globally, Abubakre said.

Also, the don noted, like the Japanese, the Nigerian government should invest in sensitisation programmes that encourage manufacturers to enshrine transparency, authenticity, continuous improvement, innovation and flexibility while producing and exporting their goods and services.

Then, with an excellent national brand, the government and other business leaders can market their products and improve Nigerias balance of payment.

He also said that with one of the largest youthful populations in the world, Nigeria has a tremendous economic asset that, if utilised well, could contribute to its economic growth.

Abubakre said that approximately 70 per cent of the countrys population is young, most of whom are under 30.

Such a high percentage of youthfulness can be harnessed for nation-building, especially in the areas relating to art, entertainment, fashion and technology development, among others.

From Facebook to WordPress, Subway to Dell, Microsoft to Yankee candles, these companies all have a common denominator; young people founded them.

While Europe is ageing and arguably in decline, Nigeria could leverage its young demographys drive, energy and technological capacity in unleashing innovation and optimising its global impact, he said.

Abubakre advocated competitive grants to be offered to the youths while mentoring programmes should be extended to young entrepreneurs.

He said if all stakeholders consciously try to create a favourable environment for youths to thrive and blossom, they will channel their passion, talent and energy into building Nigeria, a superpower globally.

Abubakre urged the country to diversify its energy sources to more sustainable and abundant sources.

This will spur industrial transformation that will reduce transactional costs and positively impact the productivity of Nigerias formal and informal sectors, he said.

Dr Alim Abubakre is on the advisory board of the London Business School Africa Club and is the non-executive chair of These Executive Minds (TEXEM, www.texem.co.uk)-An organisation which he founded and has trained over 4,000 executives across multiple continents.

He is a Senior Lecturer in International Business at Sheffield Business School (An AACSB accredited Business School) at Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield Hallam was named the University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Sen. Umaru Al-Makura (APC-Nasarawa South), said on Monday that the APC- led Federal Government recorded tremendous achievements in infrastructure and human capital development in the past seven years.

Al-Makura told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the achievements of APC in the last seven years were empirical and obvious for any one to see.

The lawmaker also said the the party had demonstrated commitment to promoting national cohesion, concern for the downtown and the vulnerable in terms of creating platforms for the change of their conditions.

We have achieved major infrastructure development that had been attempted in the past and failed but with the coming of the APC administration, we have been able to do that.

Few examples can suffice; look at the second Niger Bridge, look at how the airports are taking a new look and become more sophisticated.

Look at the number of airports that President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government is taking ownership from the Governments of Yobe, Nasarawa and recently Gombe.

These are all value addition to the system. While we were growing the most important mode of transportation that was safe, cost effective was railway but before our eyes it collapsed completely.

And it took a vision of APC administration to resuscitate and reconnect those moribund railway lines.

The former two-term governor of Nasarawa State, also said that Nigerias representation in the International Community under APC administration had enhanced tremendously.

We have the Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a Nigerian, Prof. Tijjani Mohammed-Bande.

During APC administration, we have Dr Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of World Trade Organisation and Amina Mohammed as Deputy Secretary General of the UN.

These are just the few that come to mind but a lot of them in human capital development in the expansion and promotion of Nigerias identity.

I think the APC administration has paid its dues, yes we have our challenges like any other government in the world, even the United States of America, Germany and France that have excelled and are in the first world, have their own challenges.

So when we are assessing the country, lets put everything together not to just isolate those challenges facing the administration. I think APC can be given a very robust pass mark for the efforts it has done.

On the nine years of APC formation, Al-Makura said it was a moment of celebration for all the founding fathers and members of the party.

Its time we beat the drums, blow the trumpets and shout on rooftop that we have made it. Something that was like an experiment has endured for nine years.

When we were consummating the merger of legacies parties, the doubting Thomases of this country never believed it was going to work but at last in 2013 in spite of everything, APC is the party to beat.

I nearly lost my office as the governor of Nasarawa State then, because of the merger, nor sooner had we started the process of the merger than the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to which I had only four members from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) out of 24, initiated the process of impeachment.

They took it the whole hug but as God will have it, the allegations were false and the panel dismissed the case. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

A London conference on Monday told the Nigerian government to upscale its investment in education to pull the West African country out of endemic poverty.

Speaking at a colloquium, marking Nigerias 62nd Independence, the keynote speaker, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, said that Nigeria could only turn the corner if adequate investment was made in education.

Adeagbo is a Chartered Accountant and Chief Executive Officer of the UK charity, IA-Foundation, which is active in Nigeria.

According to her, Nigeria has not been able to fund education adequately over the years, in spite of its position as Africas top economy and crude oil exporter.

She said that in spite of the rich natural endowments of the country, which is also Africas most populous nation, the country had continue to wallow in poverty and underdevelopment after 62 years of independence.

Citing the worrisome statistics released recently by UNESCO that 20.2 million children in Nigeria were currently out of school, Adeagbo said that no magic would make economic development to foster in the country.

We have 20.2 million children who are not in school in Nigeria, ranking among India and Pakistan how can our economy grow? Education and economic development go hand-in-hand.

The huge number of out-of-school children in Nigeria is negatively impacting the nations economy and the standard of living of the people, she added.

The childs rights advocate argued that the high rate of children who cannot access quality education is also responsible for the festering insecurity in the country.

According to her, insecurity in the country has been hampering economic development and pushing many people in the vast nation into desperate want and poverty.

She charged the Federal Government to rise to the challenge of getting its citizens to embrace quality education because the more educated people are the better their chances of building the economy.

Adeagbo decried what she described as the prevailing poor state of Nigerias education system, saying that it was characterized by distorted learning, poor infrastructure, unqualified teachers and incessant strikes.

The IA-Foundation founder argued that the way out was for Nigeria to increase its budgetary allocation to education year-on-year and also introduce policies that would make education attractive to citizens.

Parents, who fail to send their children to school should be punished to make everyone to benefit from the education opportunities offered by the government, she stated.

According to her, Nigeria needs to invest in human capital development through formal and informal education and ensure that education takes its pride of place.

Adeagbo said that IA-Foundation, had been doing its utmost to be part of the solution of the crisis in the education sector in Nigeria through street campaigns to bring children back to classrooms.

We currently have many children that we have taken off the streets in Lagos, Abuja, Kwara, Delta, Oyo State and Ogun.

We have been to IDP camps and schools of the blind and disabled to distribute learning materials and we are doing our best to ensure that we remove the barriers to accessing quality education, she said.

Other dignitaries at the event include Amb. Sarafa Ishola, Nigerias High Commissioner to the UK and Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

Others are Hon. Abike Dabiri, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission and Mr Olusegun Awolowo, a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government has urged all relevant stakeholders to intensify effort on improving access to Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), as it will bring open defecation in the country to an end.

The Minister of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, made the call on Sunday when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

Adamu said that efforts by states, local governments and other stakeholders would arrest the development of open defecation practice.

He said that the Federal Government would promote a sustainable access to good WASH at all levels of government.

Adamu said that his ministry had trained about 100 volunteers from the 36 states on advocacy to improve sanitation in various communities.

The ministry sent the volunteers out to various communities to engage in awareness on how the communities can improve on WASH and they have done relatively good work.

At least you can see even the reduced incidences of COVID-19 pandemic will probably be supported and there is a lot of awareness going on, on how to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

But for us, what is most important is that these 100 volunteers per local government are vanguards for the continued advocacy to improve WASH in our communities, he said.

The minister expressed hope that some states that had taken the initiative would build on the legacy, though some had not commenced.

As you know, we dont all progress at the same speed, however, the Federal Government has made available, resources for advocacy.

It is a volunteer service. The only thing is that we gave them a stipend of N20,000 each every month for transportation and I have advised the state commissioners to harness Federal Government effort, he said.

Adamu said that he had a meeting with all the state commissioners, adding that the effort was to ensure that open defecation practice was eradicated, through a strong campaign on access to WASH.

He said that the campaign could not just end in the FCT alone, adding that it must be something all Nigerians should be engaged in.

Adamu said that the ministry had set up a National WASH Committee on Response to COVID-19, during the pandemic with all the state commissioners, adding that the essence was to improve on access to WASH.

According to him, the campaign is something that is top-down, down-up and horizontal adding that everybody should be involved.

So, we should not be looking at it as, where is the Federal Minister of Water Resources?

No, I think by now the question we should start asking state chief executives is, what are the states and local governments doing, to ensure that the campaign on open defecation practice is effective.

Every year we have the WASH national outline routine mapping that we do. It is a survey that we do, Adamu said.

He said that in doing the survey, the ministry gave every state data on the progress they had made on sanitation, hygiene and water supply and they could see these in relation to what other states were doing.

This is evidence, because if you have the evidence, then it should be able to help you to redirect your policies to see where you need to change your source.

So, at the federal level we have done everything we need to do to support the states and it is up to the local governments and the individuals to adequately make their contributions.

These are part of the effort that we are making to ensure that open defecation practice ends in the country, Adamu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

At least 15 million Nigerians are benefitting from water supply projects in different parts of the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Malam Suleiman Adamu, made this known on Sunday while answering questions on Sunday, as a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.

Adamu said that the present administration inherited many uncompleted projects when it came into power in 2015.

According to him, the Federal Government alone provides water for more than 15 million people in the last few years.

So, let me say this based on the rational report that weve done on Federal Governments intervention alone.

Because we inherited a lot of uncompleted projects like water supply, Zungeru-Wushishi water supply, Zobe water supply. Zobe project for instance, started in 1992.

It was never finished then. But we finished it under this administration.

We are almost likely to finish also Otta, which the project started in either 2003 or 2004. Were working on it too.

There are many others like Takum, Mangu, and a host of other projects. So weve been working with all those projects to ensure they are completed, Adamu said.

The minister said that in the rational report, the present administration found out that 30 per cent of the population were enjoying pipe borne water.

Adamu alleged that the previous administration the government took over from left the country in a bad situation, adding that the present administration was making every effort to ensure that Nigeria recorded progress.

Where the world is going forward, we should also be making progress, we actually met the situation retrogressing.

As soon as we came on board, in 2015, we changed the theme of our National Council on Water Resources to address the issues of urban water.

Then the President declared a state of emergency in November 2018 on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and we launched a new National WASH Action Plan, he said.

Adamu said in the action plan, responsibilities were shared among federal, states and local government levels.

Now, this is what the federal should do. This is what the states should do, and this is what the local governments should do, he said.

Adamu said that the ministry also launched the Clean Nigeria Campaign, followed by an executive order, thereby, giving strength to the campaign.

He said that the ministry introduced the concept of a WASH fund in the Natural Water Resources Bill.

Adamu added that the fund was not for the federal, but for the states and local levels, to enable them improve on water projects.

The minister said that there were other interventions by the ministry, such as Small Towns Water Supply Programme, National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme, among others.

He said that the World Bank supported the ministry in the implementation of the programmes.

Adamu said that the World Bank also provided 700 million dollars to the Federal Government to support urban, natural water supply and sanitation in the country.

Seven states will be enjoying million. This is going to our campaign to improve sanitation and hygiene in the country.

So, everything that we need to do at the federal level to support improvement of sanitation, hygiene and water supply in this country, we have done that, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

Big Brother Naija Season 7 came to an end on Sunday and saw fan favourite, Josephina Otabor, known as Phyna, emerge winner of the show.

This years season tagged Level Up saw 28 housemates compete for the grand prize worth N100 million.

Phyna edged out the five other finalists Bryann, Bella, Adekunle, Chichi and Daniella to clinch the coveted status of winner.

As winner, the 25-year-old Phyna gets N50 million cash prize, a new SUV from Innosons Motors, a Dubai trip for two, a year supply of Pepsi, new techno phone-Camon 19, supply of Unik soap and supply of home appliances from Nexus among other mouth-watering prizes.

The Edo born actress who was elated screamed upon announcement of her victory by the host of the show, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Before the announcement, Phyna said the journey had been an amazing and splendid one as she waits to embrace everything great.

The show which began July 23 and July 24 had 28 housemates who were evicted at different points of the show while six housemates made it to the grand finale.

Each of the housemates won prizes from different sponsors in the course of the show.

After spending 72 days in the Big Brother House, Bryann emerged the first runner-up while Bella was declared the second runner-up.

Adekunle emerged the third runner-up with Chichi and Daniella as fourth and fifth respectively.

The fans of the show were thrilled at the grand finale with performances from Nigerian artistes MI, Falz and Pheelz. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, have called on Nigerians to continuously work and pray for peace.

They made the call in Lagos on Sunday at the RCCG October thanksgiving service and special prayer for all state governors and deputy governors tagged Perfect Peace in the Land.

Sanwo-Olu, while addressing the congregation, urged the people to continue to pray for the leaders and for peace to reign in Nigeria.

He said that with peace in the land, it was believed that greater things were ahead.

Sanwo-Olu said the Greater Lagos agenda of his administration which had brought development of infrastructure across the state was on course and more of it would be delivered.

According to him, the thanksgiving service taking place on Sunday after the Independence Day anniversary is very important.

I think Pastor Adeboye has said it all. We need perfect peace in our country but for us to have that perfect peace, we also need to have peace from individuals.

It is the citizens that make the country. It is not just about a metaphorical country; it is the people on the ground that truly make a country.

We need to have that perfect peace on how we live our lives, mentally, physically, financially, morally and all of it, and it is only when that happens that it can affect the country.

Pastor Adeboye has also encouraged all of us that we need to continually pray for our leaders. People are made up of the kind of leaders they have. So, it is really a partnership to ensure that the citizens play their roles and leaders also play their roles, he said.

The governor said it was another clarion call for him that it might not be perfect, adding that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

And for us in Lagos, we are grateful because this is the most peaceful part of the country, he said.

Sanwo-Olu said that the peace existing in Lagos would not be taken for granted, hence, the reason for coming to the Church to thank God, to also appeal and pray to Him for that peace to continue to reign.

He assured the people of the state that his administration would continue to do its best in delivering dividends of democracy and infrastructural development for Lagos to remain home to all.

Lots of things are happening in our state; not just peace, there is infrastructural renewal every day.

Even while disruption is going on, let us be patient with the government because the commitment to make Lagos a lot bigger for each and everyone of us is on course and we all can see it.

For us in Lagos state is to continue to see the Greater Lagos in our lives. It is for us to pray that the peace and the infrastructural development that is taking place in our state will continue.

I know around you, you can see that there are some bits of disruption. If you get to Apapa Road Junction, Yaba and Ikeja, there are bits of disruption there because of the train we are doing and the bridges we are constructing, he said.

The governor further said that in Ikorodu, Epe and other places, there are some disruptions which was because the state government wanted some positive things to happen.

The Greater Lagos is on course. The Greater Lagos will not be retarded; it will not be stopped. Dont give up.

I want to assure you that greater things and bigger things are ahead of us. My prayer and my wish are that as I stand here as your governor today, Oct. 2, 2022, I will also stand here as your governor in October 2023, Sanwo-Olu said.

In his sermon, Adeboye took a Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 7:13 to14 and prayed for perfect peace in Nigeria as well as for every home.

The general overseer, who prayed that God would heal the land and intervene in various issues affecting the country negatively, urged the people to prepare to join him very soon for fasting and prayer for the nation

He called on Nigerians to pray for their rulers and stop criticism so that God would continue to guide them aright, if they wanted peace and to be able to overcome the storm.

He also prayed that all the enemies of Nigeria would be defeated so that the people would have peace and God that controls the storms would speak peace to the nation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Sarafina Christopher

The National Association of Charcoal Producers Dealers Exporters Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) has called on charcoal producers to engage in afforestation to curb deforestation in the country.

The call was made on Saturday in Minna during a Sensitisation between NACPDEAN and key stakeholders in Niger for collaboration and inauguration of its new executives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was in collaboration with the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Environment and Forestry.

Mr Tunde Edu, President NACPDEAN, said that one of the reasons why the association exists is to regulate charcoal production and its core aim is to go into aggressive afforestation.

He said that although charcoal has come to stay as source of cooking energy, the government cannot allow falling of trees and destroying the environment as it will lead to deforestation and cause climate change.

The producers of charcoal engage in the falling down of trees and a lot of them are uneducated to know the consequences of what they are doing,

So the organization will fill in the gaps to ensure that we educate our producers on ways to fall trees especially those who fall economical trees, he said.

Edu added that the event aimed to create awareness and sensitise producers of charcoal concerning felling of economical trees.

I am aware that some people use the economical trees like Shea butter, mango, cashew and orange among others for charcoal production because they dont have awareness.

There is no education for this people to let them know that all these economical trees are there for the benefit of the community, state and nation at large.

So we will be giving out a lot of educational tips and awareness in all local languages to let people know that even if you want to go into charcoal production, there are some tress that cant be used.

Also in our afforestation programme, we have a design to be planting more of the indigenous trees of that state to ensure that what is fallen is replaced, he said.

He also added that the association would embark on botanical charcoal production that will not come from wood but from chaff, waste etc.

We are looking at diversifying going into industrial charcoal which is briquettes and we can use several materials for it.

We will also be engaging with Niger Government to ensure that ban on charcoal is lifted and regulated to put an end to illegal charcoal production and exportation.

We will also ensure that everyone engaged in charcoal production is licensed yearly in order to have traceability and know how it is produced, Edu said.

Mr Daniel Galadima, Commissioner of Environment and Forestry, represented by Mr Musa Sharif, Director, Forestry Service, expressed willingness to support the association with the necessary things for afforestation.

With the alarming rate of deforestation across the state, we are saddled with the responsibility of regulating it.

By the coming of this association, we are ready to give charcoal producers an enabling environment with the consciousness of commitment.

We are all talking of planting which requires commitment so we are ready to partner with NACPDEAN to see how we can operate under sustainability.

So we are ready to cooperate as long as the organisation is committed to afforestation and reforestation project as they indicated in their mandate, Sharif said.

Furthermore, Hon. Yusuf Mohammad, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, represented by Alh. Adamu Garba, Director Agric Service, while congratulating the new executive said that it was important to always reforestate for food safety.

I want to congratulate the association for the inauguration of new executives.

We at the ministry are usually not happy when trees are cut because it creates room for desertification with leads to calamity in the sense that there will be wind erosion, water erosion and no production of crops,

When there is no production of crops, there will be no food and when there is no food there is no nation.

We have decided to develop eight hundred thousand hectares of land for the planting of different trees especially economic trees with low hanging fruits for the benefit of our farmers, he said.

He also expressed his excitement about the charcoal production, saying it will boost economic growth and development on the basis that they will keep replacing all the trees they cut.

Also, Mr Kingsley Amadi. Secretary-General of the association appealed to the incoming executives to ensure that they carry out the mandate of the association without failure.

We need to venture into Afforestation which is simply planting of trees if we dont plant trees today, we will not be able to have trees for charcoal production in the future.

The Federal Government placed a ban on charcoal because of deforestation and the only way we can tackle this is by engaging in massive reforestation to ensure we replace the trees we cut.

I appeal to the incoming executives of the association that have been inaugurated today to execute its mandate to achieve the vision and mission of adequately contributing to the well-being of our national forest and environment,he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

SAF/JTJ

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Moses Omorogieva

The Police in Lagos State have begun investigation into the death of a 36-year-old man allegedly mauled by two German dogs in Lagos.

The Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) of Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

Hundeyin said that the younger brother of the victim reported the incident to the police at Abule-Egba area of Lagos.

The complainant alleged that on Tuesday at about 11.30 p.m., his elder brother was coming home and two German dogs came out from a church premises and bounced on him.

The man said the dogs gave his elder brother several bites all over his body. The police immediately visited the scene of incident by detectives led by the Divisional Crime Officer.

On arrival, the dogs were not seen. The victim was said to be rushed to Orile Agege General Hospital for treatment by the family.

On getting to the hospital, it was discovered that the victim has given up the ghost. Family forcefully removed the corpse for burial according to Muslim rite, he said.

The PPRO, therefore, advised members of the public to always cage and vaccinate their dogs.

You are liable for any damage caused by your pets, he warned. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Tosin Kolade.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu has announced the introduction of river training to control recurrent flooding of rivers Niger and Benue towards, reducing disasters and humanitarian crises.

Adamu made the call when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the ministry through its Annual Flood Outlook 2022 had revealed severe flooding in many parts of the country, hence the need for Nigerians to take precautionary measures.

He said the river training would include; dredging, putting some structural elements like doing some dykes, embankments, reclaiming certain floodplains, among others.

We want to do a study on Rivers Niger and Benue, we want to do a master plan that will address some of these issues.

*One of the reasons is that there is huge sediment in the river, River Niger traverses the Sahara Desert.

It starts from the Futa-Jalon, runs through Mali in the Sahara Desert, so it brings a lot of sediments every year, and so its filling the river.

And so when an extraordinary high intensity flow comes in, you know if the capacity of the river bed cannot take it, it will spill over the banks and thats whats been happening.

So one of the things we were trying to do is the engineering solution to do that.

We have what we call river training, it involves dredging, it involves putting some structural elements, what we call groins and so on into the river.

It requires doing some dykes, embankments, requires reclaiming certain floodplains, even straightening some of the sharp bends on the rivers and so on and so forth, it is a huge, huge endeavor, he said.

He said the cost for the proposed river training was about 14 billion dollars saying it was beyond several administrations, and having a masterplan was a first step.

Adamu, while citing instances of efforts of developed countries like Hungary, at taming their rivers, said that Nigeria would pick experiences from them and adopt it effectively.

Even at that, you can reduce the effect but you cannot effectively say that you can eliminate flood and its effects, because nature behaves in a mysterious way, he said.

Speaking on Nigerias hosting of the World Toilet Summit in November, the minister said it was an opportunity to showcase the countrys efforts at scaling up sanitation and hygiene.

He said access to toilet was the cheapest medicine, saying it was an investment capable of reducing over 60 per cent of all health problems in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola/Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Tosin Kolade

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu has pledged his commitment towards full passage of the National Water Resources bill into law.

Adamu, who made this call when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview forum in Abuja reiterated that the bill was for the overall benefit of all Nigerians.

He said it was saddening that antagonists of the bill went hysterical, giving it different colourations, saying that outright call for the bill to be thrown out was against water resources development.

Adamu said his ministry had debunked all arguments against the bill through routine continuous media rounds, saying the next step was to await another public hearing, if need be.

Some of the people that are vehemently opposing this bill are the ones that stand to benefit and the ones that are mostly protected.

For instance, in the riverine areas, if you dont have a law that protects the interstate waters, because 80 per cent of the fresh water of this country, they flow from north to south into the Atlantic.

If you dont have this kind of protection for the downstream end, what will happen?, he wondered.

Adamu said if states like Kebbi where River Niger comes in or Adamawa where River Benue flows in decided they wanted to control the water at their end, it would affect the downstream communities.

That is why since independence, our constitution has made it that the water that flows across inter-state or inter-regional boundaries as it were at that time, the responsibility for that should be vested by the Federal Government.

So there is nothing unusual about it, and this is what is obtained everywhere in the world, he said.

Adamu said Nigeria entered into a treaty with eight other countries in the early sixties to form the Niger Basin Authority, saying such partnership had seen the survival of Kainji and Jebba dams.

He urged all those with conflicting opinions to present them at the proposed public hearing, alleging that they were only determined to rubbish the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.

You know, this bill went through so many things, including a review by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is one of the leading legal experts, experts on environmental law and their opinion is that there is nothing wrong with this bill.

So, why tie it to politics when it should be tied to development. I think we should we should opt out of that cocoon for those that are opposed to the bill and please have an open mind about it and look at it, Adamu said.

We will continue to pursue this bill because its our responsibility as government and as the ministry and many experts were involved in this in the formulation of this bill for the past, close to 20 years, he said.

The minister said he would not allow the actions of critics to mock efforts to reposition the water resources sector, saying the bill was the major instrument to make it happen.

So, to the last day that I am Minister in this ministry, I will continue to pursue this bill to its logical conclusion, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani/Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, a faith-based organisation, has urged Muslims women to participate in manufacturing and technological advancement to contribute their quota to national development.

Mrs Moriam Ejibunu, Abuja Branch Women Committee Chairperson, made the call on Saturday at its 25th Anniversary and Award Ceremony with the theme, Importance of Education and Self Development for Muslim Women.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 23 persons received various awards in recognition of their contributions to the development of the society and propagation of Islam.

The anniversary also featured the empowerment of 15 needy members of the women council.

Ejibunu urged women to champion the cause of societal advancement in all facets of human endeavour in line with the philosophy of the society.

She said that the Abuja branch had been in the vanguard of the promotion of Islam, moral and social advancement of its members and all Muslims since it was inaugurated in 1996.

The well-being of women is the well-being of the children, family, the country and the world at large.

In a bid to achieve effective and efficient operations and wider reach to our female members, the women council has tripartite groups under its umbrella.

These groups work assiduously with exemplary energy in rendering various services including cleaning the mosque, teaching of Quran and Hadiths, moral and financial support to members, Ejibunu said.

The guest lecturer, Dr Abdulfattah Adeyemi, Chief Executive Officer, Baynakum Centre, urged women to go beyond buying and selling to manufacturing and exportation, to boost the lots on women in the country.

Adeyemi urged Ansar-ud-deen and financial institutions to find ways of financing women to be producers of goods and services to guarantee food and financial security.

On his part, the Deputy National Chairman of the society, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim, said, the society had evolved since its formation in Jan. 1923.

The founding fathers of Ansar-ud-deen knew the importance of women and they put measures in place to make them productive for themselves, the family and the nation.

If the women are not good, they would not be able to produce good fruits, Ibrahim said.

Also, the Chairman of the occasion, Otunba Ewenla, urged the members of the society and Muslims across the country to sustain measures to better the lot of women.

Similarly, the Chairman, Abuja branch of the society, Alhaji Mohammed Olayiwola, said the society would not relent in doing the needful as stipulated by the Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Angela Okisor/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Nana Musa

Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has advised the Federal Government to hasten up full deregulation of the petroleum sector to further open up the market.

Suleiman gave the advice in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday, as the country marked the independence.

Suleiman said having full deregulation would help in making the sector more stable.

He commended the Federal Government, especially the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) limited and the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) management and other stakeholders, for their constant support.

Suleiman assured Nigerians of IPMANs commitment to continuous adequate supply of petroleum products across the country.

Similarly, a Financial Consultant, Mr Henry Ewa, advised the Federal Government to ensure full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which was signed into law in 2021.

Ewa said that the key objective of the PIB was to overhaul and transform the Nigerian oil and gas industry because of its significant impact on Nigerias economy.

The PIB is to provide legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry and development of host communities, he said.

Ewa also reiterated the need for Nigeria to urgently diversify its economy from making fuel the major source of income.

The economy needs other sources of income. We need to look inwards.

The government should promote our agricultural sector, review our current policies, reduce the high tax rate, help in packing and exportation.

Make the environment favorable for foreign investors, tackle the insecurity in the country, I believe this will help, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Chimezie Anaso

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the death of one Ginikanwa Izuoba in the Enugu-Otu, Aguleri flood.

The Acting State Coordinator of the agency in Anambra, Mr Thickman Tanimu, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Saturday.

Tanimu said that Izuoba died, when his house collapsed due to the impact of the flood.

He also said that at least 651,053 persons in six local government areas of the state had so far been displaced by flooding.

Tanimu said that the agency had undertaken an assessment of flooding in different parts of the state.

He said that Ogbaru had the highest number of victims with 286,000 persons.

He said that Anambra West and East Local Government Areas (LGAs) followed with 237,000 and 103,000 victims, respectively.

He said that Awka North LGA had 10,345 victims, while Ayamelum had 9,240 flood cases with 5,468 displaced persons.

Tanimu said that NEMA, accompanied by officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had visited Umueze-Anam, Mkpunando, Umunteze, Igbedo, Inoma Ifite-Ogwari in Anambra East and Anyamelum LGAs.

The assessment team observed that the flood has submerged houses, farmlands, schools, health centres, Police Stations and Churches and other critical infrastructure.

We did the assessment tour with a boat because the access roads to the communities have been submerged by flood water, he said.

Tanimu commended Anambra SEMA for taking some proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

Some of the measures, he said, included the identification of 13 IDPs camps, recruitment of camp managers and support staff and activation ofhealth workers to work with people in the camps.

He listed the camps so far activated to include the Ifite-Ogwari and Igbakwu Health Centres.

Tanimu said: The assessment tour is the first step the Federal Government has to take.

We have reported our findings to the management of the agency and based on that, they can now deploy relief materials as appropriate.

He listed clothing, diapers, bedding, sanitary materials and food items, amongst others as part of the relief materials.

We once again advise villagers to move to the holding camps to avert further loss of lives, Tanimu said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

Source: NAN News

By Afusat Agunbiade

The Kwara Fire Service says it has recovered two corpses after a vehicle plunged into a river at Akerebiata area in Ilorin.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the service, Mr Hassan Adekunle, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin.

He said that the two human bodies and a Toyota Yaris car with registration number: APP544E, was recovered from a river opposite Olusola Saraki Abattoir in Ilorin.

Rumour had it that the incident occurred during the Friday night downpour when the casualties were struggling to drive through the bridge and suddenly got stuck by the flood which pushed them into the river.

In truth, the rescued work was like a joint operation. Because all the people in the neighbourhood gave their full support to the firemen throughout the operation, Adekunle said.

He, therefore, advised the general public to always avoid driving whenever there is a heavy downpour.

He added that the identities of the victims were yet to be known at the time of filling this report.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the heavy rain, which lasted for several hours, wrecked havoc in several parts of llorin metropolis. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Anambra Command, said it rescued a 16-year old girl, suspected to be a victim of human trafficking at Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area.

Mr Anthony Okafor, Public Relations Officer of NAPTIP in Anambra, said this to newsmen on Friday in Awka.

Okafor said that the agency achieved the feat in a joint operation carried out on Thursday with the state Ministry Of Women And Social Welfare and the Anambra Vigilante Group.

The victim identified as Chioma Obi, gave birth three days ago before her rescue in an uncompleted building at Mgbakwu, where she was harboured by a trafficking syndicate.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the syndicate was already hatching plans to sell the new born baby as they did with the two other children of the victim.

The girl, who said she hailed from Enugwu-Ukwu, appears to be mentally unstable and had over the years, been used by the gang operating from an uncompleted building at Mgbakwu.

She gives birth to babies which the gang sell on delivery, he said.

According to Okafor, the command is on the trail to apprehend the syndicate and rescue the already sold children of the victim.

He said the victim and her child were currently in protective custody, undergoing counselling and rehabilitation at a shelter provided by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News