By Salisu Sani-Idris
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Thursday directed the reopening of all schools in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday, Oct. 11 for the 2020/2021 Academic Session.

Bello, who made the disclosure at a news conference in Abuja, explained that boarding school are to resume on Sunday, while Day schools would resume on Monday Oct. 12.

He said the decision to reopen schools had been probably one of the most painstaking decision that the FCT administration had to take as a team.

In opening of schools we have to be very careful and conscious of the need to ensure that all the efforts of all of us during the last few months are not in vain.

Based on the reality on ground as well as the inputs and advice of medical personnel and the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and releases from the Federal Ministry of Education.

We have come to the conclusion that it is relatively safe for us to open up schools in the FCT base on certain guidelines and conditions which will be release shortly, he said.

He noted that the gathering of young people and children within enclosed environment posed very peculiar challenges that requires handling with utmost care, particularly by the schools and education administrators.

Bello enjoined parents, guardians and stakeholders to complement the efforts of the FCT administration by further sensitising their people and wards on the need to adhere strictly to health guidelines.

He warned that the virus had not been eliminated and it was still a deadly disease, saying now is therefore not the time for us to be complaisant.

The Chairman FCT Schools Resumption Committee, Dr Fatima Abdulrahman, who read the guidelines for the post COVID-19 school resumption, disclosed that there would not be third term.

Abdulrahman directed schools to conduct revision and examination to tidy up and end second term within two weeks.

She warned private schools against demanding for third term fees, adding that maximum class size should be 25 students per class.

She said that the FCT administration has suspended all activities that encourages crowding and clustering in schools.

Abdulrahman said that every school should have a sick bay where students with high temperature would be kept under the supervision of health personnel until their parents come for them.

She warned that any school that does not comply with the guidelines and an outbreak occurs in the school due to negligence, risk closure.

Source: NAN News

By Lucy ogalue
The Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) has called for collaboration of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) to drive investment in the countrys economy through realisation of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port.

Mr Hassan Bello, NSCs Executive Secretary, made the call when he led a team to visit the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Yewande Sadiku, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Bello said that transport drives the economy and modern/efficient Infrastructure In the transport sector would result to corresponding growth, Inclusiveness, and development in the economy.

In this modern era, diversification of sources of revenue have been forced on us and there is no better place to express this diversification than in the transport sector.

For long we have been import dependent economy, we import almost everything and that is not healthy. So we need investment in infrastructure, we need to look at how do we coordinate, how do we attract investors to us.

We have gone through public private partnership, we have to leverage on the private sector because the government has complete faith in it, we are mindful of the ease of doing business and the cost of doing business.

So at present we have the Ibadan inland dry port for example which is 80,000 TEU port, meant to decongest the Lagos sea port and bring the shipping economy to the door steps of shippers.

As a nation, we need to export and so the dry port will serve that. It is a 100 million dollar medium contribute investment, the CIRC of China is already the preferred bidder.

We have gone one or two round of negotiations and we invite NIPC, to join our team of negotiators so that things will be made easy, the contract is very important, many people will be employed otherwise and also some consequential industry or business activities will of course be there.

So, we know that it requires a lot of approvals, permits, waivers, incentives, pioneering status and other things which your organisation will certainly grant or make possible for it to be, Bello said.

The NSC boss listed some of the items to include waivers of custom duties, approvals in the aspect of environmental and social impact assessment, approvals relating to immigration matters including our expatriate quota, timely approval of offshore insurance, NOTAP and Federal Support Agreement among others.

He said: We have come here to ask for your cooperation, not only for this dry port but for other dry ports so that we establish a kind of rapport or we cement it.

He enjoined the NIPC to support shippers councils effort in achieving its mandate and growing the Nigerian economy.

The NIPC boss in her remarks pledged the Councils support in the realisation of the projects by the shippers council based on the provisions in NIPCs mandate.

In relation to your request, we will be very happy to support you and you can take NIPCs support for granted in the context of development of Ibadan Inland Dry port.

So, the number of things that you mentioned that you wanted approval for, you referred to waivers for custom duties, approvals relating to immigration and expatriate quota, Federal Government support and the like.

The approvals and waivers that come from third party agencies, we can provide guidance on how to peach the request so that it is favourably considered by the relevant authorities.

But NIPC does not give any waivers or incentives generally but we often advise ministries on incentives that need to be created to enable investments to happen and we will be happy to work with you to do that, Sadiku said.

According to Sadiku, the NIPC has a one-stop investment centre that houses a lot of agencies including the NSC, adding that if approvals are required from government agencies the council will be happy to assist.

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has began probing crude oil, gas, and non-oil export proceeds unrepatriated since the inspection of the Export Act from 1996 to 2019.

The upper chamber also mandated its committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to ascertain why relevant government agencies kept on having conflicting data of same product value published in Nigeria on one hand while those published by OPEC were different.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion on Need to investigate pre-shipment inspection of export activities in Nigeria with respect to non-repatriation of crude oil export proceeds in line with pre-shipment inspection of export Act CAP-P26 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, vis--vis challenges posed by global COVID-19 pandemic.

The motion was sponsored by Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) during Wednesdays plenary.

Moving the motion, the senator said that the pre-shipment inspection of export was the inspection of goods (oil and non-oil) in Nigeria prior to the shipment of those goods outside Nigeria as provided under the pre-shipment inspection of export Act CAP-P26 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The period prior to the pre-shipment inspection of export enactment, export of crude oil and gas was characterised by under valuation and delays in issuance of invoices and payments for goods, sometimes up to 120 days.

The resolutions of the upper chamber were unanimously adopted by the senators after voice votes by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

Meanwhile, the Senate President Ahmad Lawan said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would be considered for second reading in two weeks.

We have asked for copies to be made and I want to believe that almost everyone has a copy.

So we study this bill, its so critical, its so important and then we take the second reading in two weeks so that we have sufficient time to go through the bill.

Its a big bill and it is a crucial bill, Lawan said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Senate passed for second reading the PIB.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Buki Ponle, MD NAN

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, says the agency is exploring avenues to partner with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on effective information gathering and sharing.

Ponle said this when he led the agencys management team on a courtesy visit to the NISs Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede on Wednesday in Abuja.

He expressed the commitment of the agency to providing effective, quality and quantity-filled information.

Ponle, who assumed duty as the Managing Director of NAN on Sept. 1, 2020, noted that the agency had partnered with various organisations on information sharing for efficient service delivery to its numerous clientele.

With the NIS focusing on addressing human trafficking and child trafficking, we seek to partner with you to ensure all your programmes are well circulated .

We have various means of disseminating information. We have the multimedia section which is all about visuals, with the videos uploaded on YouTube.

We have NAN mobile. This is a situation whereby you get breaking news from NAN through SMS alert . You get information first before everyone gets it. It is called NAN SMS alert.

We have the Forum section which gives any CEO, DG or MD of any organisation opportunity to visit the agency and talk about the achievements and challenges of their organisations.

We hope you will partner with us to ensure effective dissemination of your activities, he said.

Ponle commended the effort of the CG on the development and improvement of the service, adding that the NIS had become a service to reckon with.

He lauded the agency on its effort at ensuring issuance of visa to visitors on arrival, noting that Nigeria was the greater beneficiary in terms of services rendered.

Immigration is outstanding. The effort on Visa on Arrival is a laudable achievement. I choose to wear this colour of cloth just to identify with you since I do not have the immigration service uniform.

The agency is a success. This shows that the CG knows the job, carry people along and from what I saw, the staff morale is high.

More power to your elbow and May your shadow never run down, he added.

Ponle assured the immigration service of the Agencys continued effective service delivery such that would promote unity and development in the country.

Responding, Babandede congratulated NAN MD on his appointment.

Babandede commended the effort of NAN on reportage and coverage of the services activities adding that NAN was an agency to rely on.

He noted that NAN had been on the forefront of disseminating news on Immigration service, adding that the service was looking forward to partnering with it.

I want to congratulate you on your appointment. I want to assure you that we will attend to you anytime. We appreciate your presence here and we are ready to partner with the agency.

Infact, I am ashamed of myself that you are the one looking for us. We are the one who should be looking for NAN.

I look forward to this great opportunity to partner with you on all your platforms. As a service, we are proud of what we have achieved so far and we are ready to do more by telling the world what we are doing and what we are yet to do.

If we have NAN here with us, we have the whole World already because when we talk to NAN, we talk to everybody.

I use to receive alert from NAN before, but we will see how we can continue.

However, we are working on having handsets that will be a public line for all the deputy Comptroller Generals and by so doing, we all can be receiving information from NAN always.

We will assist NAN to grow because if we assist NAN to grow, then global issues would be addressed at the grassroots. I look forward to working with you, he said.

NAN reports that the highlight of the event was presentation of plaque, NIS magazines, annual reports and group photographs.

Source: NAN News

Muhammad Babandede, CG Nigeria Immigration Service

By Bukky Adetoye

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has promoted 8,899 personnel working in its Lagos state zone A offices.

Speaking at the graduation and decoration ceremony of the personnel on Wednesday in Lagos, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Muhammed Babandede, said the service will not relent in producing competent personnel to boost the countrys migration sector performance..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIS Lagos Zone A, comprising of many commands, includes Lagos Command, Airport command, Ikeja passport office, Ogun state command, among others.

Babandede, represented by NIS Zone A boss, Asst. Comptroller-General (ACG) of Immigration , Mrs Doris Braimah, congratulated the newly-promoted officers and urged them to discharge their duties effectively.

ACG Braimah assumed office on September 11 following the departure of Mohamed Alfa.

Babandede said that the officers should adhere and run with the mission and vision of the immigration service.

He said that NIS mission is to strengthen the security and prosperity of Nigeria through proactive, effective and efficient modern security and migration management.

Also, NIS vision is to be a modern effective and efficient immigration service manned by well trained and motivated workforce, he said.

The CGI pleaded with the newly promoted officers not to disappoint the NIS that stood as a guarantor for everyone of them to be promoted.

This is the first time we are having a huge number of people promoted at a time. I implore you to do your best in you new designation, he said.

Promotion is an elevation to a new level of responsibility and you have been entrusted with new set of responsibilities to take the service to the next level.

You may have been assigned to certain level of responsibility prior to this promotion. However, now, you have been entrusted with a higher level of responsibility, he said.

A newly promoted personnel, Deputy Comptroller (DC), Mr Yaya Momodu, said he was happy and grateful to God for the promotion.

I promise to work hard and be dedicated to the new task at hand, Momodu said.

Mrs Adebunmi Balogun, also a newly-promoted DC, said she is elated to have been promoted amongst her peers.

I urge my colleagues who were not promoted to take heart and put in their best for the next promotion exercise, she said.

Also speaking, Funsho Alao, Asst Controller, said he will put up his best in his new rank and ensure that he keeps the immigration flag flying high.

Source: NAN News

Policemen brutalising a man

By Monday Ijeh

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued communication platforms for Nigerians to send complaints of misconduct against police officers in the course of their duties.

Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of the commission, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ani called on Nigerians to take advantage of the communication platforms to report any police officer found to be compromising the rules of engagement of the force.

The commission wishes to invite Nigerians to take advantage of the Commissions communication platforms to send complaints on any Police officer found to be compromising on their rule of engagement.

These platforms are 07034072677, 07034072676, text messages only, Email,, twitter handle, @PoliceserviceC2 and Website, www.psc.gov.ng, he said.

Ani said the commission had followed the recent public outcry on the brazen abuse of office by personnel of both the Federal and State Armed Robbery Squads and other special Units.

He said the commission had also noted that the abuses were because of absence of supervision by relevant supervisory authorities.

Ani said the commission was aware of recent efforts by the Inspector General of Police (I-G) and other Government Agencies to stem this ugly trend.

He said the commission would henceforth sanction any officer, whether of the Federal, State or Unit of the IGP including other departments who operates outside approved laws and regulations of their engagements.

According to him, the commission will henceforth closely monitor the activities of these Officers and will not hesitate to punish deviants who may want to continue in their old habits.

He said that the commission had the Constitutional mandate to discipline, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over officers in the Nigeria Police Force except the IGP.

Ani said the mandate would be discharged without fear or favour, adding that the vision of the commission was to build a highly motivated, professional, disciplined and accountable force. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Lucy Ogalue
President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the tenure of the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation((NRC), Mr Freeborn Okhiria.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ajani said the renewal was made via a letter, Ref: No SH/COS/17/A/1698 and dated Oct. 5, 2020.

President Buhari has approved the renewal of appointment of Engr. Freeborn Edetanlaen Okhiria, as the Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

This is in accordance with the relevant section of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act. Cap 129, LFN, 2004.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okhiria was first appointed as managing director of the corporation on Oct. 24, 2016.

The renewal of the second and final four year tenure takes effect from Oct. 20.

Source: NAN News

APC Logo

By Chukwuemeka Opara

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Chaka Nweze, has advised the Igbo to pursue Nigerias presidency bid under a united country instead of supporting individuals calling for secession.

Nweze, the pioneer APC Secretary in Ebonyi, gave the advice on Wednesday in Abakliki in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ebonyi said that an Igbo presidency will provide the locus to correct some complaints from the race under the existing Nigerian nation.

The complaints of marginalisation, ranging from political leadership, civil service, regional infrastructural development up to the entire security architecture of the country can be corrected with an Igbo Presidency under a united Nigeria.

Several Igbo citizens are living outside the South East geopolitical zone with investments scattered across the country; so, any existence outside the Nigerian entity will be a very huge burden to manage.

The former Caretaker and Executive Chairman of Ohaozara LGA said that the Igbo should, therefore, demand for the countrys presidency for proper national cohesion and integration in its schemes.

We should, however, realise that the presidency is not given to anyone or zone as those seeking the position need to play the necessary politics to achieve their aims.

We, therefore, need to dialogue, negotiate, build bridges of confidence across the other geopolitical zones and above all, belong to the right national political platform, he said.

He said that the APC offers the hope of integrating the Igbo properly into national politics and they should not continue foot-dragging in any other party but fully embrace the ideals of the APC.

The Igbo should, therefore, commence the search for a candidate that will turn their aspirations into reality and make other segments of the country, regret not giving the chance of presidency to them all along.

The governors of the South East zone should commence structural building and dialogue among relevant political, social and economic stakeholders across the zone to nominate a candidate that will lead the line in achieving these goals.

Nweze said that Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi had wittingly built confidence with the centre (Federal Government) and had been in the forefront of integrating the Igbo in the main stream of national politics.

He should, therefore, answer the clarion call of well meaning Igbo to join APC so that God forbid, if president eludes us in 2023, we can be sure of it in eight years after and Nigeria will be better for it.

His numerous infrastructural and economic strides in the state place him in a vantage position of replicating such feats if given the chance at the national level, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission.

NAN reports that the two-day workshop was tagged Methodology for Agricultural Value Chain Development and Market Linkages at the Grassroots.

The directors in a communique signed by Adeola Oduola, the commissions Director of Education and Social Services, said such action would guarantee food security in the state as well as Nigeria.

The participants pleaded with government to make quality food storage facilities available at all levels to prevent unnecessary wastage during harvest seasons.

The directors appreciated the Gov. Seyi Makinde led administration for lifting the ban on training and retraining of personnel in the service to facilitate more effective service delivery.

The conference equally advocated the resuscitation of farmers cooperative society to improve access to farm inputs and implements.

Earlier, Mr Aderemi Ayodele, the chairman of the commission, reiterated the commissions commitment to training of agricultural officers towards boosting the economy through modern farming system.

Ayodele, who was represented by a member of the Board, Mr. John Adisa-Oke, said that the workshop was impactful and would reflect on the grassroots.

The commissions chairman assured the participants of more local and international trainings, saying such was a priority of the governor for the generality of workers.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

Kano State Government says it has concluded plans to establish five mega unity schools to improve the quality of education in the state.

Muhammad Sanusi-Kiru, the states Commissioner for Education, stated this in a statement by Aliyu Yusuf, Public Relations Officer of the ministry in Kano on Wednesday.

The statement quoted the commissioner as saying that the projects were approved at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on Tuesday.

Sanusi-Kiru disclosed that the schools would be established at Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye Emirate Councils.

He said that each of the school was designed with 360 students population for JSS 1,2 and 3 as well as SS1, adding that the schools would commenced academic activities in the 2020/2021 session.

He said: With the approval, the number of unity colleges in the state will increase to seven including that of Karaye and Kachako respectively.

The unity schools are also open for admission to students from other states of the northern region.

The schools are to be headed by Director/ Principals and Deputy Directors on Grade Level 15 as Vice Principal (Academic and Administration) for prudent and effective management.

The statement further said that the SEC commiserated with the management of the Government Girls Technical College, Gwarzo, over the recent fire outbreak in the school.

The council approved N37 million for the immediate rehabilitation of the affected hostels and other facilities razed by fire in the college. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Wednesday at plenary directed its Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to investigate complaints of Nigerians on illicit and excessive bank charges by commercial banks on customers accounts.

It also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to look into the complaints of Nigerians and review the charges on their bank accounts.

The resolutions of Senate, were sequel to a motion by Sen. Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South) on urgent need to investigate and review illicit and excessive charges by Nigerian banks on customers accounts.

Moro, while presenting the motion, said there have been several complaints from Nigerians over illicit and excessive charges by commercial banks on their accounts.

He said that such charges and deductions ranged from bank Short Message Service (SMS) charges, intra-bank transfers charges in the sum of N52.50, Automated Teller Machines (ATM), card renewal charges, account maintenance charges in the sum of N93.13, among other charges.

He said that the charges had caused uproar within the public, as Nigerians felt the charges were fraudulent and targeted at further impoverishing them.

Moro said that Nigerians were worried as to what the money being deducted for the charges was for, as countries in overseas do not charge their customers in like manner.

He said that Nigerian banks in a bid to extort customers had set most of their ATM machines to dispense cash below the maximum of N40,000 that ATMs were programme to dispense per transaction.

Thus, customers using ATMs do not have a choice than to withdraw much lagger amounts per transaction, thereby incurring additional cost of N65 per transaction after using ATM beyond three times.

He also said that rather than banks giving out ATM cards stuck in their machines back to card holder, such cards were shredded into pieces and the card holder had to apply for another ATM card which attracted N1,000.

We can imagine the number of Nigerians who have experienced their cards being stuck in the machine and having to pay N1,000 over again for re-issuance, Abba said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Clean-up of Ogoniland

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), on Wednesday decried the slow pace of work in the clean-up of Ogoniland by Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Godwin Ojo, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN told newsmen in Benin that the pollution of the entire Niger Delta was causing serious environmental degradation in Nigeria.

The group in its general assembly held in Benin equally removed as trustee and chairman of the Board, Nnimmo Bassey, over his alleged unacceptable leadership style.

The general assembly took cognisance of the lingering crisis among the trustees and management team of ERA/FoEN prior to 2013.

The conflict of interest has caused rivalry and entrenched conflict that is inimical to the smooth running of ERA/FoEN.

The main cause of the crisis is Nnimmo Basseys leadership style, He has remained in control and directly involved in the day-to-day management of the organisation which is primarily the role of the executive council headed by the current executive director.

Nnimmo Bassey occupied the dual position as ERA/FoEN Executive Director and Chairman of the Board since inception in 1993 to 2013 and remained as chairman of the Board for over 27 years.

He combined these as the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an organisation which he established for the purpose of sabotaging the progress of ERA/FoEN.

Since I started in 2013 I have not seen a proposal or workplans. ERA has an account which I am not a signatory to up till now.

I have high regards for Nnimmo Bassey, but he betrayed and violated me, human rights were thrown to abyss under his leadership, Ojo said.

Reacting to his removal, the Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, insisted that he remained Chairman, Board of Trustees of ERA/FoEN.

Bassey told newsmen that the general assembly called by Godwin Ojo where he was purported to have been removed as Chairman of the Board was illegal.

He added that all decisions reached amounted to nullity.

Bassey, however, noted that Godwin Ojo was removed as Executive Director of the organisation at an emergency Board meeting on Oct. 3, 2020 based on a report of an independent evaluation of ERA/FoEN.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Police logo

By Aminu Garko

The police command in Niger has arrested four persons with human head in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adamu Usman, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, on Wednesday.

Usman said that police operatives attached to Ibbi Police Division arrested the suspects in possession of human head at Sabon Pegi village on Oct. 3 at about 5:30 p.m.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspects exhumed and severed the human head from Kanti village grave yard, he said.

He said that in the course of interrogation, the suspects said they were contracted to carry out the act by two persons identified as Nasiru and Mohammadu, now at large.

Thesuspects told us that Nasiru lives in Koko town in Kebbi State, while Mohammadu lives in Sabon Pegi in Niger State, he said.

The commissioner said that the case was still under investigation, and that the police had commenced manhunt for other fleeing suspects.( NAN)

Source: NAN News

RUGA settlement

By Rabiu Sani

The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), says it will collaborate with the Borno government towards actualising the Borno RUGA project.

KSADPs Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, made this known in a statement by Ameen Yassar, the Project Communication Specialist, on Wednesday in Kano.

The statement said that the Coordinator stated this during a courtesy visit by Mrs Juliana Bitrus, the Borno Commissioner for Animal Resources and Fisheries Development.

We are determined to transform agriculture in Kano from a largely socio-cultural practice to a socio-economic endeavor. We will support the Borno government to also achieve in that regard.

The interventions at Dansoshiya are just one of the several parts of multi-component project.

We will also run a cattle fattening scheme, provide support to the beneficiaries and link them up with off-takers, Muhammad was quoted as saying in the statement.

According to him, KSADP is working with the private sector to transform meat processing and discourage transportation of live animals considered unsafe and unprofitable.

Muhammad added that KSADP would invest in rural infrastructure development, crops development, training of extension workers and establishment of milk collection centres, while the Dawanau grain market would be upgraded.

The statement also quoted Bitrus as saying that the delegation was mandated by Gov. Babagana Zulum to examine the implementation of the RUGA project so as to replicate same in Borno.

Bitrus said that the team had visited the model Danshoshia grazing reserve developed under the KSADP programme where she was impressed with the Kano model for the RUGA project.

You have done a lot of work and involved many experts, Bitrus was quoted as telling the Kano government, while declaring that Borno would gain from the project. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 155 new Coronavirus (COVID-19), infections in the country.

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

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports thatthe COVID-19 national death toll in the country remains 1,113 persons after four days without recording any death across the country.

The agency said that eight states had reported 155 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 59,738.

The NCDC also announced that 95 patients recovered from the infection and were discharged after testing negative to the virus.

It said that Lagos State recorded the highest new infections with84 confirmed cases followed by Rivers and Kaduna with 31 and 12 new cases respectively.

Ten cases were found in Osun, seven in FCT, Oyo, six, while Ogun and Kwara had three and two confirmed cases respectively.

The public health agency said that 59,738 cases had been confirmed nationwide, with 51,403 patients discharged, while 1,113 deaths had been recorded.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

The health agency said that the country had done fairly well in preventing an explosion in COVID-19 cases, but warned there were opportunities for upsurge as the economy reopens further.

The country must strive to mitigate this risk.Our country is densely populated inthe tropics; theres no better place for viruses to thrive. Its hard to say but this may not be our last big outbreak.

Were working to build a culture of awareness and responsiveness so were better prepared to respond, it said.

Meanwhile, the agency now has molecular diagnostic capacity in every state in the country.

We celebrate today, tomorrow we continue pushing.

We are pleased to announce the inclusion of the Niger Public Health Laboratory, Minna to the NCDC Molecular Laboratory Network.

In eight months, we have activated at least one laboratory for COVID-19 testing in all 36 states, the NCDC said.

Source: NAN News

Okowa signing bills into law

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Wednesday signed the bill to eliminate violence in private and public life 2020, into law.

The governor, who assented to the bill at the Government House, Asaba, also signed into law the Delta State Local Content Agency Bill 2020.

He said that both laws would create the atmosphere for peaceful co-existence in the state.

He lauded the House of Assembly for being resourceful and enterprising, saying it had continued to discharge its functions, in spite of the tough times occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Okowa said that the law to eliminate violence in private and public life would provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment against offenders.

He said that the law was very important to government and families because it would ensure the protection of women, the girl-child, children and men.

We realise that to have a decent society such laws must be in place and I believe that this will ensure greater peace and harmony in the home and public place.

Beyond this, it will enable us to live in peace and live like human beings we were created to be, because many times the instincts in man tend to go against the laws of peace.

By the grace of God, this law will provide enough punishment for all offenders.

I read through it and I am quite pleased with the punishments that have been spelt out for people who will be offenders.

I urge all Delta people to find time to go through it so that they will be guided accordingly.

The punishments are real and severe and I hope and pray that all Delta residents will conduct themselves in such a manner that will not go on the wrong side of the law, Okowa said.

He further said that the local content law would provide opportunities for transfer of skills and technology to the people.
He, therefore, warned host communities against taking the law into their hands.

We believe that there is a need to begin to think about our people and how to strengthen them.

In strengthening them, beyond creating employment for them, the issues of transfer of knowledge and skills to them in places of work, and the need for respect for the communities and our people that they work with, is very important.

This is not just about the oil industry, it includes all industries and business enterprises in the state employing people within the limit of the law.

I believe that this local content law being domesticated in our state is for the good of our state and for our federation, because once Delta is peaceful, it will contribute her quota to national development.

Once the community is peaceful, the state is peaceful, we are contributing our quota towards the development of the country.

It is important that there should be a collaboration between the companies that operate in the state and the people in whatever form the company is operating.

This does not mean that the people should take the law into their hands and start to create bottlenecks for companies. That is not the wish or intent of the law.

I do hope that our people will be cautious and bring whatever complaints they have against the companies to government, he said.

Okowa disclosed that he would present the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly in the next couple of days.

According to him, the budget would record a contraction, in line with current economic realities.

He said that the state government would continue to work hard to continue the execution of projects, in spite of the economic effects of the pandemic.

Presenting the bills to the governor, the Speaker, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, said that the scope of the bills bothered on violence against persons and the development of local skills, manpower development and transfer of technology by company operators in Delta.

Oborevwori said that the law on persons would effectively regulate the rampant violence against the girl-child and women in society.

It also seeks to provide necessary measures to stop persons from committing crimes related to domestic violence and makes provision for law enforcement officers to effectively carry out their duties in relation to domestic violence by letting victims know their rights, he said.

He said other benefits of the bill, include the prohibition of traditional harmful practices, widowhood maltreatment, female circumcision and genital mutilation.

He said the local content law, which would facilitate the transfer of technology and skills to indigenes by the companies operating in the state, would help to create employment opportunities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Super Eagles full squad in training camp

By Emmanuel Afonne

Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa and Genk FC forward Paul Onuachu have arrived the Super Eagles camp in Austria, to beat the Tuesdays deadline for arrival of players ahead of international friendly with Algeria.

Super Eagles Media Officer Toyin Ibitoye disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

He said both players were the last to arrive the teams camp as handler Gernot Rohr who now has a full complement of his players, prepares them for the Friday, Oct.9 encounter against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

Onuachu was invited lately after Napoli striker Victor Osimhen pleaded to be excused from the two friendly matches due to COVID-19 protocols.

Musa and Onuachu were the last to arrive in the camp, but they participated in Tuesdays evening training, Ibitoye said.

According to him, the team will train twice every day before the match.

Ibitoye also said that all the players and officials in camp passed through the COVID-19 checks to ensure that they were free from the virus.

The Super Eagles are expected to battle the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on Oct. 13, in their second friendly encounter in Austria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

Kwara has recorded four new cases of COVID-19, while six patients who tested negative twice have been discharged.

Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and spokesman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.

According to him, this brings to 1,049 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 941 patients discharged and 26 deaths.

The total number of tests done so far is 5,906, while we are still expecting 44 pending tests, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Some of the soldiers fighting terrorists in the north-east

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The military says its troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have continued to record tangible achievements in their quest to rid the Northwest of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Onyeuko said the troops had on Sept. 25, smashed a criminal syndicate and recovered 43 cows, six goats and eight sheep in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said that two dane guns were recovered from the fleeing rustlers during the encounter, adding that the recovered animals had been handed over to their rightful owners.

Onyeuko also disclosed that the troops, deployed at Kauran Namoda in Zamfara, successfully intercepted a herd of suspected rustled cattle while the suspected rustlers fled into the bush abandoning the animals.

He added that troops continued with aggressive patrols of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

Onyeuko said the troops deployed at Nahuta in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina on Sept. 26, arrested one Umar Bello for being in possession of two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during a stop and search operation.

He added one Ahmadu Rufai, suspected to be a bandits logistics supplier, was arrested on Sept. 27 with one dagger, charms, one bag of groundnut mixed with okro and four bags of millet. He is believed to be taking the products to a bandits hideout.

Onyeuko further disclosed that troops on Sept. 28, rescued two kidnapped victims in different locations, adding that they had been reunited with their families.

According to him, troops on patrol on Sept. 30, arrested a suspected drug peddler, one Yusufa Mai Unguwar Ahaska from Dorayi in Unguwar Doka village in Faskari Local Government Area.

Items recovered from the suspect include substances suspected to be hard drugs. During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to selling hard drugs to bandit leaders such as Leko and others.

Earlier on Sept. 29, in reaction to intelligent report on movement of stolen animals on trailers to unknown destination, troops swiftly established a snap check point and intercepted two trucks loaded with 55 cows and 10 sheep.

The arrested drivers and recovered animals have been handed over to appropriate security agencies for further actions, he said.

Similarly, on Oct. 1, troops on routine patrol along Faskari-Yankara road, arrested a suspected bandit informant named Idris Yahaya while spying on troops activities.

Also on the same day, troops deployed at Maigora, arrested one suspected bandit collaborator called Buhari Adamu at Machika in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to have once taken ransom fee to bandits in Madachi Forest.

The Suspects are in custody undergoing further interrogation, he said.

Onyeuko said the troops also rescued four kidnapped victims from Giruwa village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina state following artillery bombardments on suspected bandits location at Unguwan-Doka village on Oct. 2.

He disclosed that four of the bandits were killed while others escaped into the forest.

According to him, the vigilant troops, while conducting a stop and search operation, arrested three suspected kidnappers in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Items recovered from the suspects include one locally-made gun, three mobile phones and one motorcycle.

To this end, the gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY are commended for the successes so far achieved and their commitment, he said.

Source: NAN News

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal, Sadique Abubakar

By Yahaya Isah

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has tasked operation Kashe Mugu 2, air component of operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), to intensify air strikes against bandits and other criminal elements in Kaduna and neigbouring states.

Abubaka disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in Abuja.

CAS stated this in Kaduna while assessing the progress of the newly inaugurated operation KASHE MUGU 2, a subsidiary of air interdiction operation aimed at neutralising identified armed bandits in the forests.

He said that it would ensure return of normalcy to the troubled parts of the North-West and North-Central Zones of the Country.

Abubakar, who witnessed the conduct of one of the waves of the attack missions, commended the pilots and support personnel for their efforts and the commendable results so far recorded.

He, however, urged them to sustain the momentum of operations to ensure that there was no hiding place for bandits.

You must continue to work assiduously in synergy with sister services and other security agencies to smoke the criminals out of their enclaves.

And ensure that they are no longer able to stop law-abiding citizens from pursuing their legitimate aspirations, he said.

Abubakar added that the air component would continue to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to identify all other camps which would be similarly taken out.

He said that the overall objective was to ensure that Nigeria was secured and that no individual or group, whether terrorists or otherwise, undermines Nigerias sovereignty.

He, however, commended the efforts of the young pilots who conducted the missions.

CAS also noted that due to the ongoing aggressive capacity building efforts in the service, NAF now had a good number of competent young pilots across all its aircraft types.

With officers in their twenties and early thirties being captains on the C-130H aircraft fleet and on aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet, which was a marked departure from what obtained in the recent past.

Where Air Commodores and AVMs were the only captains on such fleets. Its all about capacity building. Once the capacity is there; the opportunity is given for young people to train and acquire the necessary skills.

Then the sky is the limit and that is what we have seen these young pilots do over the past few years.

Abubakar also inspected facilities at the 061 NAF Aeromedical Hospital as well as infrastructure at the Regiment Training Centre Kaduna. (NAN)

Source: NAN News