Gov. David Umahi

By Chukwuemka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has lifted restrictions placed on public burials, wake-keeps, weddings, conferences, meetings, festivals, religious services, among others in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that restrictions were placed on such activities in the state since March, due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic across the country and the globe.

The lifting of the restrictions was contained in a statement signed by Mr Uchenna Orji, State Commissioner for Information and Orientation and made available to NAN on Sunday.

Orji said that the measure was in furtherance to the states post COVID-19 economic recovery plans.

Its also in the exercise of the powers conferred on the governor by the states Coronavirus and other Dangerous Disease and Related Matters Law 005 of 2020 and other relevant laws.

It is also subject to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) COVID-19 protocols and other directives of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, he said.

The commissioner said that closure of public places such as event centres, bars worship centres, educational institutions, public parks, night clubs, cinemas among others had been lifted.

All restrictions on conduct of business and commercial activities are hereby rescinded.

Regulations on wearing of facemasks, hand washing, use of hand sanitisers, observance of social distancing among others, are still in force in public places, events and gatherings, he said.

He further disclosed that the governor charged security agencies and public office holders especially Chairmen of Local Government Areas and Coordinators of Development Centres, to enforce subsisting regulations.

These are regulations contained in the proclamation hereof, in the interest of the safety and health of our people, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Edo poll: Gov. Obaseki salutes Buharis neutral stance

By Monday Ajogun

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring fairness in the just-concluded Edo governorship election.

Obaseki stated this on Sunday while addressing journalist in Benin.

The great people of Edo have spoken. They have spoken loud and clear. We thank God Almighty and give him all the glory for this victory.

We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for defending our democracy and allowing INEC and all the security agencies to perform their constitutional function with any interferance.

INEC and the security agencies have shown Nigerians and the world indeed that they are capable of conducting a free and credible elections.

The collective will of Edo people made it possible to triumph over godfatherism. We thank you all. I am eternally grateful to my party, the PDP, and other governors, not only for giving us the umbrella, but for the hard work that ensured victory.

Our success has reinforced the fact that there is nothing we cannot achieve as a people, if we put forces together and collectively call on God for support.

I reiterate my declaration to you today that working with my deputy, Philip Shaibu, we are committed to making Edo great again, He said.

Earlier, the governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, had thanked INEC and all the security agencies for making Edo election free and fair.

Let me first of all thank the entire people of Edo for all the support given to us since the campaign and after the election till today.

We also want to thank all the members of the PDP campaign council for their collective efforts in achieving this great success, Wike, who chaired the PDP campaign council, said.

Source: NAN News

Edo 2020: Gov. Okowa congratulates Obaseki on re-election

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has joined other governors in congratulating his Edo counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, on their re-election.

Obaseki, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was announced the winner of Saturdays governorship election in Edo by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 307,955 votes to defeat his main challenger, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 223,619 votes.

Okowa gave the congratulatory message in a statement by Mr Olisa lfeajika, his Chief Press Secretary on Sunday.

He described the re-election of Obaseki as the confirmation of the will of the people, while calling on Nigerians to always stand for good leaders as Edo people just did for Obaseki.

Okowa said that the people of Edo, across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, spoke loudly and clearly in their reaffirmation of the choice of Obaseki as their governor.

Okowa, who is the Chairman of South-South Governors Forum, said that with the re-election of Obaseki, the entire region was now being ruled by the PDP.

Let me congratulate my brother Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, on their victory in the Sept. 19 Governorship Election in Edo.

It is heart-warming to see you re-emerge as Governor of Edo against all odds and I am grateful to the people of Edo for shunning the entreaties of retrogressive forces who were deviously-bent on subverting the wishes of the people.

Let me also thank INEC for being truly independent as required by the laws of our land.

The most significant aspect of this victory is the peaceful outcome of the election as Edo people proved pundits wrong by ensuring that the elections were devoid of violence, he said.

Felicitating with the PDP on the victory, Okowa said, Let me also congratulate our great party, the PDP and the Chairman of the PDP, the National Campaign Council and Governor of Rivers, Mr Nyesom Wike.

He also congratulated other members of the PDP campaign council for their efforts which led to the victory of the party in Edo.

The brotherhood displayed by the governors of the PDP and other party members towards the re-election of Obaseki is what the country needs to take the nation to greater heights in 2023.

Going forward as a nation, we can only develop further if the people are allowed to choose their leaders at all levels without any hindrance.

It is therefore a clarion call on INEC to continue to do the right thing as an unbiased umpire.

On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you my brother Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and your Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, on your resounding re-election by the resilient people of Edo who displayed honour, dignity and courage.

It is my prayer that God will grant you wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to your campaign promises to the people, he said.

Source: NAN News

Edo Election: Residents congratulate Obaseki

By Ruona Isikeh

Edo residents on Technical College Road in Benin, have congratulated Gov. Godwin Obaseki over victory as Governor of the state.

They also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for conducting a free and fair election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, won the Edo 2020 Governorship Elections.

Miss Gina Osewenkae, a teacher, commended the electoral process in the state.

This is the most free and fair election in the whole of Nigeria. I am happy that it was free and fair.

I thank the people of this great state that came out in their large numbers to vote.

I congratulate the Governor of the state. We expect more from him for the next four years, she said.

Similarly, Me Ehisunwen Osayande, a trader, thanked residents of Edo for voting in the elections.

This election has taught the people of Edo to be sincere with their votes.

Majority of people voted their conscience. We commend the media and INEC for monitoring votes strictly, he said.

Mr Lucky Osagie, said the Edo election had taught Nigerians to defend and wait for their votes to be counted after elections.

Nigeria can have a free and fair election if godfatherism is put aside.

INEC did a very good job by monitoring votes strictly, he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Gov. Godwin Obaseki of the PDP winner of the Edo gubernatorial election.

Obaseki had, in a keenly contested election polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closet contender Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 223,619 votes, and 12 other candidates.

Source: NAN News

Voters in Edo election

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Sorting and counting of votes in the Edo governorship election have begun in parts of Edo Central Senatorial District.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that some other parts in the state have concluded voting.

At Central Primary School, Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Ward 6, units 1 to 5, counting had been concluded in some units and results have been declared.

At Central Primary school, Emu, Esan South East Local Government Area, Ward 5, sorting and counting were ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

Similar situation was observed at Ward 2 Unit 8, Ikeken in Esan South East Local Governement Area of Edo.

NAN further reports that the process was generally peaceful in all the wards visited.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Adeleye Oyebade in charge of Edo Governoship Evening Security Monitoring Team, has warned that nobody who violated electoral laws would go unpunished.

Oyebade said this on Saturday in Benin, after inspecting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office where the final collation of the Edo governorship election results would take place.

He said that while election was still ongoing, the security agencies appealed to the electorate and major actors not to cross the line, but do the needful.

He explained that the inspection was to further strengthen what was on ground, adding that minor issues that had been brought before the security agencies were being handled.

He noted that every security agency in the state under the banner of Inter Agencies Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), were all involved in the election security to ensure free, fair and acceptable results at the end of the poll.

He said that security agencies were committed to ensure that the election was conducted peacefully, adding that nothing was too much to sacrifice for the success of the election.

He, however, appealed to those who had yet to vote to go and do so, and also called for patience from the electorate as the process continues.

Speaking on the allleged shooting of an electorate at Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state and the alleged shooting at Oza, in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Oyebade said that there was nothing of such.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (Left) Lagos Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (Right); Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat behind the Governor and others during the Governors tours of Igbosere High Courts in Lagos Island on Saturday (19/9/20)

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government on Saturday promised to transform the infrastructure of the judiciary sector of the state.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made the promise during an inspection of Lagos High Court, Ikeja and Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

Sanwo-Olu said that the state government was committed to reforming the judicial sector and would change the face of court rooms across the state.

He said that adjudication would no longer take place in an unconducive environment.

The governor said that there would be total transformation of court rooms, buildings and other facilities for speedy dispensation of justice.

He said that the judicial officials, such as judges, lawyers and other workers in the court should operate in an ambiance environment for smooth justice delivery.

Sanwo-Olu said that his administration would continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State, adding that the judiciary arm would not be left out.

He said the Lagos State Government would set up a joint committee between the judiciary and executive to work toward putting in place a rebranded and renewed physical infrastructure in the judiciary in the week, month and years ahead.

The whole objective of the exercise (inspection to the courts) is for all us to continue our collaboration between executive and judiciary, understanding fully-well that we are all set up to serve our citizens.

And the only way we can serve is to ensure that all of us have the right ambience and have the right environment for that service to continue to happen.

Lagos State judiciary is prized as the foremost judiciary service in the country, not only with the number of judges that we have but the number of caliber of our judges.

Beyond that, is also to look at both the physical infrastructure and welfare of our judges, the governor said.

He said that as the infrastructure reformation begin, there would be a bit of displacement and inconveniences.

Sanwo-Olu pleaded with plaintiffs and complainants that come around the court premises, to understand and bear with the inconveniences of scaling up the physical infrastructure of the courts.

The press should help push out the communication effectively so that the public will know that it is for a better service.

At the end of the day, the people who come to use our court rooms must also have a feel of the new and refreshing atmosphere.

We will also be seeing a rebranded, renewed physical infrastructure in the judiciary in the week, month and years ahead, he said.

The governor was accompanied on the visit by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; the Secretary to the Government of Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Jaji; and the Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

La Liga

Unai Emery earned his first win as Villarreal coach after his side came from behind to beat Eibar 2-1 at home on Saturday in La Liga.

After being held to a disappointing draw by newly-promoted Huesca last week, Villarreal again fell behind at home to humble opposition.

Kike Garcia put Eibar ahead five minutes into the second half to again scare Emerys side.

But the former Arsenal manager sprung a double substitution shortly afterwards and the changes paid dividends.

Gerard Moreno levelled in the 63rd minute and then played in Paco Alcacer, who rounded the goalkeeper to tap into the net from a tight angle in the 71st minute.

Pervis Estupinan should have grabbed a third goal in added time when he somehow fired over the bar on the rebound with the goal gaping.

Villarreal had to defend deep in the final minutes to see out the victory.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pic.9. APC gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu casting his vote, during the 2020 Edo Gubernatorial elections at, Iguadodo Community in Orhionmwon L.G.A of Edo on Saturday (19/9/20).
05203/19/9/2020/Jimah Suleiman/TA/NAN

Some of the electorate who spoke with NAN in separate interviews commended INEC for adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols during the electoral process.

Mr Benson Ibizugbe said that he was impressed that the process was going on peacefully and violence-free.

Ibizugbe said INEC did a good job by conducting a peaceful election here.

There has not been issues of faulty equipment and they provided face masks for voters who dont have to make them eligible to vote.

An INEC observer, Ada Opkara, from Smile Africa, said that the voting process was seamless and commended the people of Ugboko ward for their peaceful conduct.

I resumed here at 7: 18 a.m. before the INEC staff resumed activities, from that time till now, about three hours later, everywhere is calm.

The electorate are cooperative and they are obeying the rules of COVID-19 and INEC officials, he said.

She expressed optimism that the peaceful atmosphere at the polling unit would continue throughout the voting process going by the presence of security personnel.

Another electorate, Mr Monday Erhabor, said that he was happy that there was no violence at the voting centre.

Everywhere is calm and peaceful, there is no violence, the security is tight and we are sure of a free and fair process, he said..

He stated this, shortly after he cast his vote at 11:48a.m, having joined the queue for hand washing at 10:24a.m.

According to him, to wait for one and half hours on the queue before exercising his franchise is a bit disappointing.

Given that this is a sole day election,I expected a bit more planning and preparation, and resources should have been put into this election.

During the last presidential election in my polling unit, there were two polling points which helped thep voters. You all are witnesses of how long this has taken.

The card reader is working very slowly, and this is the situation in all the major voting centres in Oredo Local Government area of the state as I speak.

In Garrick Memorial Secondary School, I understand that more than 500 voters are already stranded because they cant vote because of the slow processing of the card readers.

One would have expected that INEC will have deployed more card readers and more voting points in highly numbered polling centres, he said.

On the issue of vote buying at polling units, the governor said that the security agencies were not doing what they assured Edo people and Nigerians of, before the election.

The security agencies assured us that they wont allow anybody who dont have business of voting in a particular place to be there, but they are working on the contrary to what they promised us.

You can see cars parked with a lot of cash being disbursed to people and it seems to be normal practice, but we are not perturbed. People know what to do; cash cant buy their future, he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adeleye Oyebade, in charge of Edo governoship election, has said nobody who violated electoral laws would be above the law.

Oyebade spoke after inspecting INECs office where the final collation and results of the Edo governorship election would be announced.

He said that the security agencies had appealed to the electorate and major actors not to cross the line, but do the needful.

He explained that the inspection was to further strengthen what was on ground, adding that minor issues that had been brought before the security agencies were being handled.

He noted that every security agency in the state under the banner of Inter Agencies Consultative Committee on Election Security were all involved in the election security to ensure free, fair and acceptable results at the end of the poll.

He said that security agencies were committed to ensuring that the election was conducted peacefully, adding that nothing was too much to sacrifice for the success of the election.

On the allleged shooting of an electorate at Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government area and the alleged shooting at Oza, in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Oyebade said that there was nothing of such.

Source: NAN News

Edo Election: European Centre decries non-compliance to COVID-19 protocols

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), on Saturday said voters in Ologbosere primary school, ward 4 with 40 units and other polling units they visited were not observing the COVID-19 guidelines as stipulated in the INEC policy.

Mr Wilson Manji, the deputy project coordinator, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that although the voters were all wearing face masks but they did not maintain social distancing.

So far the election is going smoothly and calm. We are at Ologbosere primary in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state.

So far everything is peaceful and calm here. Just that the INEC staff just arrived at about 10a.m. and accreditation and voting started at about 10.30a.m. instead of 8.30a.m, he said.

According to him, the polling officers came with hand sanitisers and thermometers to check the temperature of every voter.

On his part, the Head, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, told newsmen at INEC office in Benin that most of the polling units and voting points started voting at 8.30a.m.

But we are aware that there are some few isolated cases that started 9.a.m. or after 9.a.m. because of some issues they needed to sort out.

From the reports we are getting, almost all the polling units have started voting, he said.

Wariowei, however, said he observed that the voters were all wearing face masks but did not maintain social distancing.

According to Wariowei, before I left the polling units I visited, I educated the people on the need to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 regulations by maintaining social distancing for the safety of all.

Source: NAN News

Gov. of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, on his statemanly call and immediate directive to agencies of government to ensure and guarantee free and fair election in Edo state.

Tambuwal, in a statement in Sokoto on Saturday, said that the President deserved commendation for his appeal to all stakeholders, including politicians involved in the election to ensure violence free election.

He said, let me begin by commending the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for his statesmanly call and appeal.

This, given an immediate directive to agencies of government including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and all other stakeholders involved in the Edo election.

That to ensure and guarantee free and fair; and, violence free election in Edo state; that is very commendable of Mr President.

On that premise I, therefore, want to lend my voice to that of Mr President and other well meaning Nigerians; and members of the international community.

This is to further appeal and call on the electoral body and the security agencies; and the good people of Edo and all stakeholders involved in this very important election to continue to observe rules and regulations, he said.

Tambuwal added that Nigerians were closely monitoring the ongoing exercise in Edo State.

As such, I want to appeal that nobody, individual or agency of government should tamper with the outcome and results of the election being conducted.

This is very important so that we can have a very convincing outcome that the people of Edo have exercised their franchise without any hindrance and in a very peaceful manner, Tambuwal added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

FRSC

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the retrieval of 14 corpses from the Akeze-Ukwu river after a Mercedes Benz 608 model bus plunged into it on Friday evening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bus was conveying members of a particular church who attended their pastors burial and were returning to Enugu when the incident occurred.

The bus driver was said to have lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake an articulated vehicle on the bridge but five victims were rescued unconscious on Friday.

Mrs Stella Uchegbu, FRSC Sector Commander in Ebonyi, told NAN on telephone on Saturday that the bus had been retrieved with 14 persons aboard.

Seven males and seven females, all adults were inside the vehicle all and they were all dead.

Their corpses have been deposited at the Mater Misericordae Hospital, Afikpo, but both professional divers from Port Harcourt and the local ones are still searching for more victims, she said.

Uchegbu said that with five persons rescued on Friday and 14 corpses retrieved on Saturday, it was clear that there more victims still missing.

This sums to 19 recovered persons as against the expected 32 passengers on board the bus.

The FRSC personnel are still on ground, maintaining free flow of traffic with the road cordoned to motorists since Friday, she said.

Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, disclosed that the state government hired divers from Rivers and Cross River to assist in the rescue efforts.

The divers located the bus inside the river, pushed it to enable the crane pull it from the river, he said.

Sources close to NAN revealed that the driver was one of the persons rescued on Friday and he disclosed when he regained consciousness that 32 persons were inside the bus.

The driver said he managed to dive from the bus as it plunged into the river, the source claimed. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vulture

By Fabian Ekeruche

As the world marks the International Vulture Awareness Day, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) on Saturday underscored the importance of Vultures in the maintenance of balance in the ecosystem.

The NCF in a communique released after its five days webinar forum on Vultures and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, noted that vultures were sanitary officers with a clean-up service on the environment.

Dr Joseph Onoja, Director of Technical Programmes, NCF, in his presentation, revealed that nature had bestowed on humanity vultures with the role of environmental sanitary officers with a clean-up service worth 11,000 dollars a year.

Onoja said: Without vultures, humans are vulnerable to the spread of infectious diseases, because in the absence of vultures, dogs and rats become the clean-up crew.

The danger in this is that these animals are not equipped for such and are close to human population, exposing us to diseases.

In his presentation, Mr Aniekan-Abasi Emmah Uwatt, a conservation biologist and ornithologist, observed that human activities were the major drivers to the vultures threatened status.

He added that the world could suffer from negligence if something drastic was not done to preserve the remaining vulture species in Nigeria.

Imagine a world without vultures, it will lead to disease outbreaks such as anthrax; rabies and botulism.

We would also have dirty environment with dead carcasses and foul smells, he said.

Another facilitator, Mr Apeverga Paul Tersoo, Lecturer, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State , said that Vultures might not be very appealing by their looks, but these birds, also known as scavengers do the dirty jobs of cleaning our environment.

Tersoo said they do this by taking care of carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases, which in turn keeps the ecosystem healthy.

The importance of these natural environmental cleaners cannot be over emphasised because the benefits we derive from them for free will cost us so much that it can only be imagined.

A case study is seen in India where a crash in the vulture population was observed after the birds fed on carcasses of livestock that were treated with Diclofenac.

The Indian white-rumped vulture was the most hit, with a decline rate of 99.9 per cent.

What followed was a surge in population of feral dogs that were infected with rabies from litters of carcasses as a result of the absence of our natural cleaners (the vultures).

Consequently, an increase in human deaths from rabies nearly caused a public health catastrophe that saw the government of India spending about billion to fight the spread of the disease, he said.

Malam Samaila Mohammed Alkali, Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Coordinator, Kano Airport, said that aviation was a major threat to the survival of vultures.

This is due to bird strike. Bird strikes occur when bird physically collide with aircraft, Alkali said

According to him, approximately 10,692 vultures were killed by aircraft between 2008 and 2015, these may represent 1,500 Vultures killed every year for the period of seven years.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, Mr Adewale Awoyemi, Head of Forest Centre, Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan observed that the vanishing vultures had critical implications on human health and existence.

Awoyemi said that the destruction of their habitats by deforestation was a threat to vulture conservation.

International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) is celebrated on the first Saturday of September every year to reflect on the importance of vultures and the essential role they play in a healthy ecosystem.

It also aims at spreading awareness about range of threat facing vultures and urge the people to take action and prevent extinction of the ecological bird specie. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abdullah Shugaba

The Federal Government will support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with N75 billion survival fund to cushion the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses.

Alhaji Dikko Radda, Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), dislosed this during the closing of National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) in Katsina on Friday.

The SMEDAN boss said that the N75billion survival loan would support 500,000 MSMEs and 333,000 artisans across the country.

He pointed out that the implementation of the N75 billion MSMEs Survival Fund nationwide would help to cushion the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses.

He explained that NBSDI was designed to provide entrepreneurship skill and empowerment material (equipment) to bridge the capacity gap of the youth.

According to him, the programme is also aimed at enhancing youth engagement in productive ventures, thereby ensuring that they become independent.

The initiative is designed to ensure that more professional services will be provided by local and well trained young artisans leading to reduction in job losses to immigrants from neighbouring countries.

It further seeks to pursue a drastic reduction in poverty as most of the our of youths who still rely on stipends from parents are empowered to become self reliant, Radda said.

The DG announced that the National Business Development Initiative was being implemented in seven states of the federation.

There are Katsina, Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Niger, Lagos, Kwara, Bauchi , Zamfara and Ekiti where a total of 1,397 entrepreneurs will benefit from the programme.

Source: NAN News

Kemi Akintokun

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has unveiled the first SARS-CoV-2 Isothemal Molecular Assay (SIMA) kit in the country to boost COVID-19 testing capacity.

Speaking at the unveiling, Prof. Babatunde Salako, Director General of NIMR, said the testing kit was developed to ease the challenges posed by the current method which required heavy laboratory and expensive equipment to function.

Salako said that SIMA testing kit is a fast and sensitive point of carebtest for COVID-19 infection using molecular technique that is reliable.

As a foremost research institute in Nigeria with a mandate to conduct research into diseases of public health importance like COVID-19 pandemic which at present a difficult management challenge for scientists.

While no effective vaccine has been develop till date, case detection remains the surest way of controlling the pandemic.

Seeing that molecular laboratories remain limited in number and remote areas are at disadvantaged in getting tested and limited testing centres.

Our researchers once again swung into action to develop a point of care molecular test for COVID-19 to ease the challenges of getting a molecular laboratory which requires huge fund.

The Isothemal used for our point of care testing cost 9500 dollars which is cheaper than the regular real time PCR equipment which cost about 100,000 dollars.

This test reagent can be produced in country with 80 per cent to 90 per cent locally sourced material, he said.

According to him, a NIMR research team, led by Dr Chika Onwuamah, a Senior Research Scientist, developed a molecular test for coronavirus that gives test result in less than 40 minutes.

He thanked Fate Foundation, for supporting the research with N20million through its Fate Philanthropy Coalition for COVID-19 Support.

We are very grateful for the support given to the institute to develop the assay which is not only first of its kind in the country but also in Africa.

The objective of the grant was to develop a fast multiplex isothermal assay for SARS-CoV-2 while we also designed and evaluated primers and probes for multiplex.

Work is currently ongoing on a simple release reagent to simplify the RNA extraction step and the assay development procedure involve both bioinformatic analysis designing the primers and probes.

To date we have a working assay guaranted to test 100 copies/ml of SARs-CoV-2 RNA, as we continue to improve on the detection limit, he said.

Dr Onwuamah, who led the research work, said SIMA was far cheaper and faster compared to PCR which required a lot of power and goes through different temperature.

The difference between the PCR used in Molecular lab and this is that PCR goes through different circle of temperature which requires more a lot of power for heating and cooling.

SIMA works at one temperature and that is why it is called isothermal which makes it far cheaper and faster, he said.

On the duration of the research, the Senior Researcher said the project started around May, noting that there was a bit delay due to COVID-19 induced lockdown.

Onwuamah, however, called for more support to aid scientists in the country to carryout research work on public health emergency such as COVID-19.

Support for scientists in Nigeria need to be strong because we have a lot to give but the enabling environment is not visible.

This research work cost close to N10million before we arrive here and it is a continuous thing because we have to keep improving on what we have developed, he said.

Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director of Fate Foundation, said the foundation established the support fund to assist the ongoing national and local efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure.

Adeyemi said the focus was to key into government effort to properly equip and support public health facilities and frontline health workers.

This foundation was founded 20 years ago by Fola Ade with a goal to enable aspiring and emerging Nigerians to excel in their prospective fields.

The foundation have supported in the fight against the ravishing pandemic through our various programmes and with the support of 61 individual donors and institute.

We are happy to be part of this huge research development that will go a long way to ease some of the present challenges in the fight against the virus, she said

Source: NAN News

By Joshua Olomu

The Federal Governments says it will provide financial support for 1.7 million business entities and individuals across the country in the next three months.

Amb. Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, made this known at the virtual commissioning of the Fashion Cluster Shared Facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) tagged:Eko Fashion Hub in Lagos.

According to her, the initiative is borne out of the Federal Governments continued commitment to help cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy by saving existing jobs and creating new job opportunities.

She said that the President Muhammadu Buharis administration, through the Economic Sustainability Committee, had announced specific programmes aimed at cushioning the impact of COVID-19 on MSME businesses.

The Federal Government is fully committed to empowering Nigerians; more so in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In this regard, the government, through the Economic Sustainability Committee had announced specific programmes aimed at cushioning the impact of COVID-19 on MSME businesses.

These programmes include among others, theN75 billion MSME Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-take Schemes of which I have the honour to chair the Steering Committee for the effective implementation of the projects.

The project, which will run for an initial period of three months, is targeting 1.7million entities and individuals and has provisions for 45 per cent female-owned businesses and five per cent for those with special needs.

The registration portal for the schemes is set to open on Monday 21September, 2020 and I urge you all to take full advantage of the schemes, she said.

She said that both schemes were at the core of the N2.3 trillion stimulus package also known as the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) being implemented by the Federal Government.

The minister said that the commissioning of shared facilities was also expected to provide succour and relief for the teeming micro businesses in need of space and infrastructural support.

Katagum expressed appreciation to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for providing a pragmatic and purposeful leadership in establishing a conducive environment that would seamlessly allow MSMEs to grow and prosper.

She congratulated MSMEs across the country and urged the ones in Lagos State to take full advantage of the shared facility as well as the MSME Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-take Schemes to improve their businesses.

This event is a testimony to the continued commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide a conducive environment for operators in the MSME space.

The establishment of Shared Common Facilities, is one of the key take-away from the organisation of MSME Clinics across the country.

It is also imperative to state that the provision of Shared Facilities in support of MSMEs, is being complemented by activities in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

It has been established, and rightly so, that Shared Facilities have been found to be effective tools to minimise the infrastructural challenges that have inhibited MSMEs overtime.

It is my belief that this initiative has come at the right time for MSMEs in Lagos State in particular, and Nigeria in general, she said.

Source: NAN News

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen has urged the Ebonyi Government to check incidences that resulted to early girl-child marriage in the state.

Tallen spoke on Friday in Abakliki during a visit to Gov. David Umahi as part of her visit to the state to flag-off national cooking gas and tree planting exercise.

The minister said that incidences of early girl-child marriage was high in several states of the country, saying that education was one of the ways to check the anomaly.

We appeal to Ebonyi Government to ensure that girls not only go to school but are retained to complete it, at least attain secondary school level.

I am not saying that after secondary school they should go into marriage but they should be given opportunity to attend university and even up to masters degree level.

Educating a man is just for himself but educating a woman is inevitable because she is a mother, teacher and community leader.

Every family can testify to the fact that the girls never abandoned parents even at old age and so, to enjoy old age, the girlchild should be educated, she said.

She commended the government for its efforts in checking Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), noting that the establishment of National Obstetrics and Fistula Centre in the state had been of assistance.

We want to commend you for domesticating the Childs Right Act but it should be implemented to ensure that no child will be on the streets, at home and no incidence of VVF.

We also commend the state government for the appointment and election of women into governmental and political positions of which the state is vastly developing due to this development, he said.

Tallen said that the national cooking gas and tree planting exercise would enhance the well being of families and also aesthetics of Ebonyi and beyond.

Gov. David Umahi welcomed the minister to the state and lauded her for being the pivot for implementing programmes which touched the lives of people at the grassroots.

Umahi represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, said that Tallen propagated the message of Global System for Mobile- Communication as Minister of Science and Technology during former President Obasanjos administration.

You should not worry over the distribution of the cooking gas as we will adopt the same policy used during the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.

We brought all the political parties together under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to decide ways of sharing the palliatives and equitably distributed among all the political parties in the state, he said.

He said that the state had attained over 50 per cent affirmation for women by ensuring that they occupied the vice-chairmanship and secretary positions of the local government areas, commissioners and governmental aides.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Sani Bello of Niger has directed the reopening of the Minna-Bida Road to articulated vehicles, to ease transportation of goods and services.

Bello gave the directives at a news conference, after a meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of Department of State Service, the Group Managing Director of NNPC and the Minister of Works.

Bello explained that the meeting was to discuss issues arising from the closure of the Minna-Bida Road and the state-owned roads.

He said he made a presentation on the deplorable state of the roads in the state, which was unanimously acknowledged to be due to articulated vehicles carrying excessive loads of liquid and dry cargoes.

Bello noted that such action had led to the destruction of the roads and caused hardship on other roads users.

The governor disclosed that as a way forward, the following agreements had been reached:

That no articulated vehicle carrying petroleum products of more than 45,000 litres or 35 tons of dry cargo will be allowed to ply the roads.

That there was need for special intervention for remedial works to be executed on Federal roads to serve as alternative routes, for trucks to move their products.

That the State Government would require support from the Federal Government to carry out remedial work on Farin-Doki-Minna-Bida Road, for easy movement.

The Ministry of Works said there were ongoing road repairs by the Federal Government and reiterated its commitment to completing the projects, he said.

The governor, however, said that he had directed the relevant agencies to temporarily open the closed state roads to ease the hardship of motorists and other road users.

He appealed to the people of the state to be patient with the decision of reopening the roads, adding that the Federal Governments intervention would be effected soon.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

A former Technical Director of then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Kashimawo Laloko, has called for 25 per cent inclusion of local league players in the various national teams if the country must go beyond its current FIFA rankings.

Laloko made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in reaction to Nigerias latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.

Nigeria is placed on the 29th spot in the world and third in Africa, behind Senegal and Tunisia, in current FIFA ranking.

Laloko said it was wrong for the current team handler Gernot Rohr to constantly feature foreign-based players while home-based players were left to their fate.

According to him, such situation has negatively affected Nigerias previous rankings.

It is not proper for us to go and select players from Europe and play all of them when we have players at home.

We need a policy that will allow 25 per cent of the players in the national teams to come from our local leagues.

Do Rohr and his assistants watch the leagues? They dont; they do what they like at the expense of the country, and the way the coach is assembling only foreign players, I can only wish him well.

Nobody is playing football now, otherwise how can we be 29th. Our friendly matches and preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will determine the actual position where we are.

I will suggest that we wait until we play friendly matches and proceed to the AFCON; for me, our current ranking is fake, so let us play first because no country is playing now.

AFCON and UEFA Champions League have not started, the league is just starting in England and Nigeria does not know where it wants to be in terms of the league.

So how did we arrive at 29th? Time will tell, Laloko said.

He urged the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to regularly monitor the activities of the coach, noting that gone were the days when coaches folded their hands and watched players train.

He explained that football had gone scientific and not the usual running round the field with players.

How long are we going to do that? There are new ways of coaching and I have never seen that during Super Eagles training, he said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 221 new infectionsof Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

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

According to it, the new cases are confirmed from 18 states in the country.

The new infections brought the total number of confirmed cases to 56,956 in Nigeria.

The public health agency said that Lagos had 59, the highest number of cases, followed by Abia with 46 cases and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 22.

Among others were; Rivers, 11, Bauchi, 7, Benue, Ekiti and Imo, 6 each, Kaduna, Kwara and Ondo, 4 each, Ogun and Osun, 3 each, Bayelsa, Edo and Kano, 1 each.

The NCDC said that 213COVID-19 patients were successfully treated and had been discharged across the country, bringing the number of treated cases to 48,305.

According to it, those discharged on Friday include 100 community recoveries managed in Oyo State in line with new case management guidelines.

The health agency sadly recorded one more death, which brought the national death toll to 1,094.

It noted 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 NCDC urged Nigerians not to ignore any symptoms, adding that a sudden loss of taste/smell, cough or fever might be COVID-19 .

Please dial 258258# for the COVID-19 self-assessment tool if you suspect that you or a loved one may have been exposed to COVID-19, it said.

It cautioned that the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 was higher when people did not wear face mask in public places.

Wear your face mask properly at all times. Adhere to all non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of COVID-19, it urged Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as the people of Edo State prepared to vote their preferred candidates at the governorship election on Saturday, Sept. 19, NCDC urged allto observe the COVID-19 guidelines recently released.

It noted that relevant stakeholders must take actions that would reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 during the election.

Ensure there is hand hygiene and temperature checks at the campaign ground, polling stations; providing additional polling stations or booths to ensure physical distancing,with clearly marked floors to enforce spacing on queues.

Mandating the use of face mask for everyone, regular cleaning of polling stations, tables and other surfaces highly essential because those are the areas that are easy to contract the virus.

Multiply hand-washing points or alcohol-based hand sanitiser, while staff at the polling units should practice hand hygiene frequently,(NAN)

Source: NAN News