Personnel of NSCDC

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested three persons for alleged impersonation and fake job offer.

The State Commandant of the corps, Lucy Samu, made the disclosure in a statement issued by the commands Public Relations Officer, Paul Odimba, in Abakiliki on Sunday.

Samu said that the suspects were arrested, following a tip-off, for allegedly deceiving unsuspecting members of the public with fake employment opportunities.

According to the statement, the suspects (all adults) impersonated and deceived the public with fake job opportunities into the Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Company.

We want to assure the government and people of a thorough investigation into the matter while our legal team will offer advice on the way forward, she said.

The General Manager of the company, Mrs Emerald Ude-Akaji, said her office received several reports of alleged ongoing employment in the company by a syndicate through a widely circulated notice.

Ude-Akaji, who is also the Special Assistant to the Governor on Fertilizer Development, said she commenced investigation into the matter and decided to play along with the syndicate in order to bust it.

My personal assistant called them to indicate his interest and they gave him an appointment which he honoured with a team of NSCDC personnel attached to us.

We saw lots of unsuspecting applicants, who turned up for the job offer and the NSCDC personnel subsequently arrested members of the syndicate.

It is left for those arrested to explain whether they are leaders of the syndicate or people hired to work for it, Ude-Akaji said.

One of the suspects told NAN that they were not members of a syndicate but staff of Golden Neolife Diamite International (GNLD) Company, which deals in agro-based products and food supplements, amongst others.

Our company offers employment to people through the purchase and marketing of its products because we also deal in organic fertilizers (liquid).

The notice of employment, which we placed indicated a fertilizer company and not Ebonyi Fertilizer Company, the suspect said on the condition of anonymity.

The suspects said that they had contacted their management, saying that the company does not deceice people with offer of fake employment. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Young becomes sixth Inter player to test positive for COVID-19

Inter Milans Ashley Young has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serie A club said on Sunday, becoming the sixth member of their squad to be infected in the last week.

Inter said in a statement that the Englishman, who plays as a full back cum winger, was in quarantine at home.

Midfielders Roberto Gagliardini and Radja Nainggolan also returned positive results from tests carried out at Inters training ground this week.

Defenders Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar tested positive while with Italy under-21 and Slovakia senior squads, respectively.

Under Serie A rules, players who test positive have to quarantine for 14 days, which could leave Inter seriously depleted for their derby against AC Milan on Oct. 17.

Source: NAN News

Funding 2021 budget with oil revenue will be difficult -Expert

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Prof. Wumi Iledare, Professor of Petroleum Economics says it will be difficult to fund 2021 budget with oil revenue going by the development in the global oil market.

Iledare made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Oct. 8 presented N13.08 trillion 2021 appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly for passage.

The N13.08 trillion bill is predicated on crude oil benchmark price of 40 dollars per barrel at 1.86 million daily oil output.

Dont expect the budget to be funded by revenue from oil or hydrocarbons extraction.

That is impossible under the current global economic projections. Moreover, a great proportion of oil production is not accessible to the government for its budget funding, he said.

Iledare said that there were possibilities that budget might be increased from N13.08 trillion to about N15 trillion.

He said that non-oil sector might be the target if some stimulus packages were part of the budget.

He said that government should look into domestic funding and advised against foreign loan to fund wages and salaries.

One can also hope that a bulk of the funding will be dedicated to capital projects, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Diana Omueza

Youngstars Development Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), says more than 8,000 females across 35 African countries have signed up on its First Female and More Mobile Application created by the group.

Bangwell said that the platform was designed to become a storytelling platform for building self esteem of young women so they could have better belief in themselves.

He added that it would also enable them to raise their voices, engage social spaces and be inspired to pursue their greatest potential in life.

He noted that the number of entries received for the programme far outweighed the entries received during its introductory edition.

According to him, during the introductory edition of the programme which recently ended, only 200 participants were recorded.

This platform is majorly offering self esteem building for young and old African women across different sectors who have defied limited socio-cultural and inhibitive narratives to dream big, pursue and achieve greatness.

Overwhelmingly, since we opened the platform in August, no fewer than 8,000 females across 35 African countries have signed up.

The kind of response we have got to this project has confirmed our proposition that it is time to rethink how we engage women and galvanise them on development issues.

We are beginning to ask the question of where these ladies have been all these years when we organise physical meetings on women empowerment programmes.

We have come to realise that what makes this whole experience unique is that the application is a seamless process that happens at the touch of a button on your smart phone or computer.

And the entire process takes less than seven minutes to register, read the days story and answer questions, he said.

He said that the platform gave room for self esteem building and also conversion of reading of stories and referrals of the platform to other women into rewards and certifications.

He noted that anyone who joined the 30 days module could read a story per day, answer questions and earn points that cumulate into rewards.

Bangwell also said that participants would also enjoy personal development coaching on any area they felt passionate about.

He gave such areas as boosting low self worth, knowing and identifying you, overcoming negative past and trauma.

He noted that the coaching content and segments were by female coaches who were passionate about the subject matter they were providing coaching on.

He said that participants who would successfully complete the course would not only get certificates but also proceed to implementing a social impact project on any issue, including those of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said that successful execution of the projects would give room for continuous personal development on personal leadership skills, provide access to social spaces and create avenue to contribute to nation building.

Bangwell said that the programme was created from the organisations research that showed the extent to which self esteem had become a global problem for women.

According to him, 85 per cent of women and 79 per cent of girls say they will opt out of important life activities where and when they do not feel good about their physical looks.

Studies revealed that self esteem is a definer and a shaper of the quality of lives a woman can possibly have and live.

Seven in 10 girls with low self-esteem believe they wont be assertive in their opinion or stick to their decision if they are not happy with the way they looked.

More than 96.5 per cent recommended the need for a self-esteem boosting programme, he said.

Bangwell said the findings gave rise to the programme to help women build the right self esteem so they could improve their self value, think big, raise their voice and contribute to nation building.

He said there was no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.

He said that contribution to empowering the woman was also commitment to building the nation.

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

The Desert Foxes of Algeria on Friday pipped Nigerias Super Eagles 1-0 in an international friendly in Austria as the African champions extended their unbeaten run to 19 consecutive wins.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match, played at the Wrthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, saw Borussia Mnchengladbach star Ramy Bensebaini scoring the matchs only goal.

The Algerians piled up pressure on the Nigerians, scoring after just six minutes when full-back Bensebaini followed up a rebound from a header off a corner-kick with the Eagles defence in disarray.

Algeria continued to press forward as Nigeria struggled to settle into the match.

The Super Eagles first real chance at goal, however, came in the 22nd minute when Alex Iwobi fired a shot at the Algerian goal, but his effort screamed wide off target.

Nigeria finished the stronger of the two teams after debutant Zaidu Sanusis cross in the 39th minute located Paul Onuachu leading to a corner-kick.

Three minutes later, the FC Porto defender powered forward again and forced a save from Alexandre Oukidja, before Samuel Kalu shot directly at the goalkeeper soon afterwards.

Nigeria started the brighter of the two sides in the second half but they continued to give away possession and relied on counter-attacks to really get going.

Against the run of play, the impressive Tyronne Ebuehi drove from defence to shoot at goal on the hour, but again his effort failed to hit the mark.

Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma, who was recently cleared by FIFA to change international allegiance from Germany, made his Eagles debut when he replaced Ebuehi in the 67th minute.

However, it was the North Africans who pressed forward in an attempt to double their lead, while the few times Nigeria surged upfront they could not go past a very organised Algerian defence.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye tipped away a goal-bound effort by substitute Yacine Brahimi in the 84th minute.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, who replaced Onuachu, came close to grabbing the much-needed equaliser with a last gasp effort in added time but his shot went off target.

This is a very good test for us. There are positives to pick from a tough game like this, Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr was quoted as saying on the teams official Twitter account

He said: Now we have to recover well and start to plan for the next game on Tuesday against another tough team, Tunisia.

The Super Eagles head to the Jacques Lemmans Arena on Tuesday to face the continents second-ranked team, Tunisia, who defeated Sudan 3-0 earlier on Friday.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus update

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 151 new Coronavirus (COVID-19), infections in the country.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Friday.

The centre said that the 151 new cases brought the nations confirmed COVID-19 infection to 59,992.

It stated that the cases were reported in nine states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, but no death was recorded.

Consequently, the number of COVID-19 fatalities stood at 1,113.

The NCDC said that Lagos state recorded the highest daily infection with 71 new cases followed by Ogun and Kaduna with 26 and 17 respectively.

Other states were Osun (10), Oyo (8), FCT (6), Rivers (6), Plateau (5), Akwa Ibom (1), and Ekiti (1).

The public health agency said till date, 59,992 cases have been confirmed, 51,614 cases have been discharged and 1,113 deaths have been recorded in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.

The centre said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, has continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

Meanwhile, the NCDC said that Wearing a mask is the first step to protecting yourself and others from COVID-19 under the new normal.

A face mask must be worn when you are in public or when you are around people who dont live with you, it advised.

Source: NAN News

Hameed Ali, NCS Boss

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, on Friday gave commendation certificates to 11 officers who facilitated the seizure of 10,000kg of cannabis sativa on April 21.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Olugbenga Peters, made the presentation of the certificates to the officers in Lagos.

The Western Marine Command is an enforcement unit and its main function is to protect the waterways, fight insecurity and combat smuggling.

Peters said that the commendation certificates would serve as a morale booster to the officers and encourage officers of the Western Marine Command.

He noted that the officers on April 21, seized over 10 tonnes of cannabis saliva valued at N1.02 billion, the biggest single catch in the history of the customs on high sea.

The officers act has demonstrated zero tolerance to corruption and other vices in line with the policy thrust of the present administration, Peters said.

He listed the eleven officers as: T.H. Baba, N.E.Tangwa, T.D. Ogundipe, I. Sulaiman, S. Dauda, N. N.Udo, M.E. Okauru, S. Dimka, Y.K. Mohammed, R. Lawal and M. Akanni.

Peters said that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had recognised the activities of the Western Marine Command in combating smuggling.

He also said that UNODC was perfecting plans to install a video teleconferencing equipment that would enhance the operations of the maritime industry.

Peters said that the equipment when installed would strengthen inter agency cooperation between the NCS and other maritime law enforcement agencies in the fight against piracy and other maritime crimes.

According to him, the platform will provide for remote witness testimony in the prosecution of maritime cases.

In a related development, Peters said that the command made a Duty Paid Value of N18.9 million from contrabands seized at various outstations from July to September.

He listed the items as: 1,033 bags of 50kg of rice, 24 kegs of 25 litres of vegetable oil, 26 cartons of footwears, 331 kegs of 25 litres of Petrol, 100 pairs of worn shoes, 52 kegs of five litres each of organic fertiliser and beauty products.

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with the Inspector-General of Police(I-G), Mohammed Adamu, Director-General, and heads of other security agencies over Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

In attendance were the Director-General, Department of State Services(DSS), Yusuf Bichi and Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Tony Ojukwu.

Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement in Abuja said that the meeting was held on Friday, to determine the next steps toward addressing concerns of Nigerians on the excesses of SARS.

The Vice President and I-G later briefed President Muhammadu Buhari who gave further directives to the I-G on the matter, he said.

Meanwhile, Buhari has directed the I-G to ensure that personnel of the force remained fully accountable to the people.

The Presidents directive was made public in series of tweets on Friday night.

Buhari also affirmed the peoples right to public protest and appealed for calm.

Osinbajo had on Oct. 4, met with the I-G at his residence over the activities of SARS and other police tactical units.

The Vice President had told State House correspondents that he was angry that young people were harassed; sometimes maimed and killed by policemen.

He said such actions perpetrated by those saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the citizens were unacceptable.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday night met behind closed doors with the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, over ongoing efforts to reform the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The president confirmed this development in a series of tweets on his tweeter platform late Friday night.

The Nigerian president added that he was being briefed regularly on the reform efforts aimed at ending police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.

He, however, urged all citizens to show more understanding and patience as government would continue to do its best in protecting lives and property of Nigerians.

He said: I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt.

I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.

The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses,

Military

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji has neutralised scores of bandits in air strikes at Wagini West in Katsina State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this in Abuja on Saturday.

Enenche said the air interdiction mission was conducted on Oct. 8 after credible intelligence reports and confirmatory surveillance missions revealed significant presence of the bandits with hundreds of rustled cattle in their camp.

He said the air component subsequently deployed a force package of fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the location.

He added that the attack aircraft subsequently engaged the location in successive runs, destroying portions of the camp and neutralising many of the bandits.

The armed forces of Nigeria, in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the northwest zone of the country, will sustain the offensive against all enemies of our nation, he assured. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NEPZA MD Prof. Adesoji Adesugba

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), says it is working assiduously to resolve critical challenges in Free Trade Zones (FTZs) scheme to spur investments and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, NEPZAs Managing Director, made this known on Friday at the Nigeria and West Africa GDP Global Webinar 2 on FDI, State Economic Prospects and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion.

Adesugba, while speaking on Nigeria Special Economic Zones Prospects listed some critical challenges facing FTZs scheme, which could act as a deterrent to investments and GDP growth in the country.

The NEPZA Chief identified one of the most critical challenge as lack of understanding of the concept of the FTZs by relevant government agencies and other stakeholders.

He equally decried lack of adequate fund and infrastructure, obsolete law and inconsistency in government policies, urging critical stakeholders on FTZs to synergise to work on a law to improve operations of FTZs.

Adesugba, while calling for adequate infrastructure said for Nigeria to have an international standard FTZs there must be infrastructure like power, road, water and adequate services.

The NEPZA boss recalled that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) was set out to increase manufacturing contribution from four per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to over 10 per cent in next five years.

According to him, it is projected that the increase in GDP will translate to about five trillion naira annually.

He recalled that in April 2017 President Muhammadu Buhari also launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a road map agregrating the sectorial plans to agriculture, transportation, industrialisation and social investments.

Under the ERGP, he said the SEZs model was being used to accelerate the implementation of NIRP, a 4-year roadmap on industrialisation to create jobs and promote export which in turn will facilitate economic growth.

He noted that these projections were made but the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global economic projections and Nigeria was not left out.

However, he said that the development of SEZs in Nigeria still remained a presidential priority and one strategy to get Nigeria out of economic downturn.

He said the government identified the SEZs scheme as a key policy instruments for realisation of its industrialisation agenda following the Presidents visit to China in 2016.

It is very important for us to note that if we are trying to replicate what China did we must ensure that all the parameters are met, especially on infrastructural development and regulatory framework, he added.

He said in support to the Presidents agenda, NEPZA recently revised its strategic plan to include an increase in the number of functional and optimal SEZs as one of its key goals.

He explained that there were several planned and ongoing strategies targeted at achieving these goals including the creation of SEZs border, establishing technical zones and enabling environment in formatic areas like medical tourism, mining, technology and agriculture.

He added that FTZs in Lekki in Lagos, Ilorin, Funtua in Kastina and Gombe would be developed to modern zones with hope to set up SEZs for functional medical tourism in Lekki in collaboration with World Bank and state government.

He said NEPZA act of 1992 mandated the authority to provide a conducive investments climate with competitive incentives regime, streamlines administrative procedures and infrastructural development.

NEPZA currently operates various types of FTZs, which include the export processing zones, free trade zones, border free zones, science and industrial technology parks and logistics zones.

We have about 42 licensed free trade zones and currently we have 22 operational zones, 400 free zones enterprises in different sectors and have managed to attract over 16 billion dollars while local investments have been put at N270 billion.

We have generated over 15,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs, generated government revenues of N30 billion, carried out pilot projects like construction of Dangote Refinery at Lekki FTZ , the largest refinery due for completion by first quarter of 2021, he said.

We are in the process of upgrading, retraining zones managers. The current NEPZA management has a renewed focus to resolve these challenges to improve efficiency in trade zone operations, he noted.

Earlier in a remark, Charles Ughele, Chief Representative and Advisor West Africa, GDP Global Development, stressed the need to focus on how to get Nigeria out of COVID-19 economic downturn through pragmatic solutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GDP Global Development is a leading and specialized economic promotion and business development consultancy, which provides pragmatic solutions to economic policies, encourage international best practices and trade facilitation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Food vendors making brisk business at a checking point

By Aderemi Bamgbose

Food and other consumable vendors made brisk businesses at polling units in Okitipupa during Saturdays Ondo State governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the electorate who trooped out to cast their votes were seen buying foods, minerals, bottle water, chinchin, puff-puff (Deep fried dough), biscuits and other items.

Some of the vendors who spoke with NAN said that they made good money from voters at the units.

They also said they needed to bring out their wares since the election had grounded movement.

A food vendor, Mrs Modeola Ajayi, I made some money today as many people bought from me today and am happy,

Mr Emmanuel Badmus, a mineral and bottle water seller, also said that he made money as many people bought from him.

Miss Shade Akanji, a small chops seller, also informed NAN that so many people patronised her which made her happy.

I am happy as many people patronised me today, she said.

Kazeem Aminu, a cigarette, kolanut, bittercola vendor, also expressed satisfaction on the sales he made at polling units, saying the large crowd was a blessing to him.

NAN also reports that the election grounded commercial and business activities as all shops were closed while vehicular movements were also restricted. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Onigbinde

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former Super Eagles handler Adegboye Onigbinde has questioned the basis for the selection of players for the friendly double-header against Algeria and Tunisia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Friday night pipped the Super Eagles by a lone goal to extend their unbeaten run in all matches to 19.

Onigbinde told NAN that only Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles Technical Adviser can give an account of the players and their style of play during the friendlies.

There is one thing we must accept, and that is that I am not close to the team.

I dont know on what basis Rohr made his selections. He is the only person that knows why he chose those in the team.

For now, I am a stranger to Nigerian football and I wish the managers best of luck, he said.

Meanwhile, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu , had commended the handlers of the team for inviting new players and also convincing some to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

I am happy that the boys are expressing high level of patriotism; that is how it should be.

Anybody who is a Nigerian must be encouraged to work for the country.

Nobody will come and do it for us except those of us that are Nigerians, so if one is in Diaspora, he or she should be thinking how best do I work for Nigeria.

So, I am happy that the boys are encouraged to do what they are doing; its a positive sign for a greater tomorrow for the country, Lulu said.

The Super Eagles will meet Tunisia on Tuesday in another friendly encounter in Austria, while Algeria play Mexico. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) says normal academic activities will resume on Oct. 12 (Monday) after six months of break following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which affected the economies and social life all over the world.

A statement issued on Saturday by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, said the decision to resume normal academic activities followed the recent decision of the Federal Government on re-opening of all academic institutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NOUN suspended all academic activities on March 20, 2020 following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

The university Management has directed all members of staff to resume duty on Monday, the statement quoted Sheme as saying.

According to Sheme, the university Registrar, Mr Felix Edoka, has advised the staffers to strictly abide by all the known COVID-19 safety protocols while at work.

Sheme quoted Edoka as saying that breach of COVID-19 protocols would not be tolerated by the institution.

He added that the Registrar had informed all deans, directors and heads of unit to ensure compliance with both the resumption and the safety measures.

It is noteworthy that NOUN students were able to continue with their studies from home during the six-month lockdown.

The university, being an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution, requires no classroom attendance, Sheme added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Voters at polling unit

By Muftau Ogunyemi

The Ondo State governorship election was peaceful in Akoko North East and Akoko North West Local Government Areas of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reporter, who visited the two local government areas, reports that people trooped out in their numbers to exercise their civic duty in spite of the rain that had earlier threatened to distrupt voting process.

Speaking with NAN in Ikare, Taofeeq Abdulsalam, a former Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, said that the election was peaceful without any rancour.

However, Abdulsalam, also a former Commissioner for Works, decried the level of vote buying across the local government as pathetic.

So far so good, the election has been peaceful except that people are buying votes which is not the best, and it doesnt show that democracy is Improving.

You see where people pay as much as N5,000 to N10,000 for a vote and our people are collecting it because of circumstances in which they found themselves.

There is poverty all over the places and people dont think they are selling the next four years of their lives.

But apart from the vote buying all over Akoko North East Local Government, election is peaceful.

According to him, he has called the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS and Police to inform them of the vote buying.

Abdulsalam, who commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the roles it played, said security agencies needed to find a way to reduce vote buying in the country.

INEC has been trying its best, but it is going to be difficult for it to do something in that regard.

The people that can do it better are security agencies because INECs presiding officers can not be moving around.

At least we have about four security agents in each polling booth, he said.

But Fatai Adams, the state chairman of PDP, who cast his vote at Unit 5, ward 7, Oyi in Irun Akoko, told NAN that he had not received any official report on vote buying.

I have not received official report about other wards across the state but in my unit there is no vote buying or inducement. People are voting with their conscience.

And my expectation is that people of Ondo State should be able to vote right and get it right, he said (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

BY Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday said that there was no loss of life or election materials from the boat mishap that happened within Ilaje Local Government Area on Friday night.

Mr Rufus Akeju, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State, disclosed this to newsmen in Akure on Saturday.

INEC can confirm that there was an accident last night during the movement of personnel and materials to the Registration Areas of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State for todays governorship election.

Fortunately, all personnel and election materials were rescued when the boat capsized.

This was made possible by the officers and personnel of the Nigerian Navy who escorted the boats.

The movement was eventually concluded and voting commenced as planned in all the polling units today.

Akeju commended the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Navy as well as other personnel involved in the exercise.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mental health

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said only 350 psychiatrists who specialise in mental health are currently serving 200 million people in Nigeria.

Prof Baba Issa, the Chairman of Kwara branch of NMA, said this to mark the 2020 World Mental Health Day.

Issa in a statement said that this years theme titled: Mental Health for all: Greater investment, greater access, is to call on government, non governmental organisations and individuals to pay more attention to mental health, invest more in it to make mental healthcare accessible to all.

Issa said, There are fewer specialists in mental health care, less support for mental health and the stigma against mental health is the highest amongst all health conditions.

In Kwara State, there are about 12 psychiatrists with all of them practising in the state capital, Ilorin, he said.

According to him, Mental health is a leading cause of disabilities and deaths due to suicide globally, Nigeria inclusive.

He described health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not the absence of disease or infirmity.

He pointed out that there is no family without someone who has or has had a mental health condition, adding that health is not complete without mental health

The NMA Chairman who is also an expert in Psychiatry stated that anxiety, depression, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders are very common in our society.

The incidences of substance; drug use disorders such as cannabis, alcohol, sedatives, opioids, hallucinogens, among others went up tremendously globally and in Nigeria to an alarming rate to get everybody talking, yet special attention has not been paid to mental health, he said.

He, however, observed that at the state level, the Kwara government is working hard to upgrade its health facilities, recruit more health workers and enhance the health system.

We are grateful to the government but we will want the government to focus more on mental health as it is doing to physical health.

The entire Kwara North currently does not have a single mental health care doctor, whether in private or public.

As a psychiatrist, myself; there are some other things that we (NMA) will like to discuss with the government as soon as we are able to do so that will help in strengthening mental health in Kwara State, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Betty Akeredolu

By Oluwafemi Ojo

The wife of the Ondo State Governor,Mrs Betty Akeredolu, on Saturday dispelled a viral video making the rounds in some quarters that she was injured in Owo at her polling unit.

She gave the hint while fielding questions from newsmen during an interview in Akure.

Mrs Akeredolu said that such a desperation from her detractors would not bring about any spirited efforts that can soil her reputations.

According to her, I am happy you asked this question for the world to see what detractors are trying to do; to damage the exercise.

She said that within few minutes of the video going viral, she had been receiving calls and text messages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purported video had gone viral in the early hours of Saturday on the social media.

The video was titled: Akeredolus wife injured, three killed as Governors details invade polling unit.

The governors wife described the video as doctored by those who hated her and who were bent on misinforming the public, especially, during this electioneering.

She said the victory of her husband at the polls was non-negotiable, calling on the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be vigilant and be proactive as soon as the results start trickling in.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi

By Joan Nwagwu

Striking university teachers say they are not affected by President Muhammadu Buharis directive that only federal workers on Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) would be paid salaries.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), made the claim in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja.

Buhari, while presenting the 2021 Budget at a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, said that only federal workers captured by the IPPIS would continue to receive salaries.

He ordered all federal workers to enroll into the IPPIS platform, declaring that the platform was meant to check fraud, including the payment of salaries to non-existent personnel.

He said that the platform would also check the payment of unauthorised allowances.

But Ogunyemi, while reacting to the Presidents directive, said that the workers referred to were civil servants.

The directive was meant for civil servants; university academics are not civil servants.

We have an understanding with government to develop an alternative platform which would be sensitive to the operations of the university and accommodate its peculiarities.

The platform we are developing will also respect the autonomy of our universities as obtained globally.

The idea of seeking clearance from the Head of Service or the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is alien to university operations because it will halt its flexibility.

The University Miscellaneous (Provisions) (Amendment)Act (2003), which government gazetted as University Autonomy Act (2007), has vested the powers of personnel and payroll system issues in the hands of each universitys governing council, he claimed.

He added that ASUU, on 9 January, 2019 reached an understanding with Mr President to develop its proposed University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), for testing and adoption for managing personnel information and payroll system in the universities.

We have since done that and presented to the Federal Ministry of Education. What is left is to present to other major stakeholders, particularly in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The development of UTAS was done at no cost to government. We used contributions from the check-off deductions of ASUU members to finance the project and this cost us millions of naira, he said.

NAN reports that the university teachers have been on strike since February to register their disapproval of governments insistence that they must be captured on the IPPIS platform if they were to receive salaries.

They have also cited other issues bordering on welfare and more funding for the universities as some of their reasons for abandoning the classrooms. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has advised staff members of the commission participating in the Saturday Ondo Governorship election to consolidate on the INECs recent achievement by accounting for every single vote cast in the election.

Yakubu, gave the advice in his message on the election, issued on Monday in Abuja.

The INEC boss recalled that on the eve of the Edo State Governorship election, he appealed to the hardworking staff members of the Commission to rise to the occasion and deliver a free, fair and credible process in accordance with INEC established policy.

Indeed, our staff members, assisted by the security agencies and other critical stakeholders, did not spare any effort in ensuring the successful conduct of the election.

Clearly, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are pleased with the outcome and we are encouraged by their commendations.

However, we cannot afford to rest on our oars.

Another end-of-tenure Governorship election is upon us. There is now an even higher expectation on Ondo State.

We must consolidate on our recent achievement and account for every single vote cast on Oct. 10, in a transparent manner which will ensure that only the choice of the electorate prevails.

Yakubu urged all staff members to resist any temptation and be committed to the vision and mission of INEC in carrying out their duties during the election.

I implore all of you to resist any form of temptation and let your individual actions be guided by the extant laws and good conscience.

Always remember that any unethical action by one INEC official is capable of rubbing off on all of us.

Remain vigilant, principled and committed to the mission and vision of the Commission, Yakubu said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News