By Chukwueneka Opara

Divers have rescued five persons from the Akaeze-ukwu River in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi as a 608-model bus plunged into it on Friday evening.

The bus was said to have 38 passengers on board.

Mrs Stella Uchegbu, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Commander in Ebonyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in a telephone interview that the incident involved the bus and an articulated vehicle.

Uchegbu said that reports reaching her desk indicated that the rescued victims were unconscious and were taken to the hospital.

We can, therefore, not confirm if any person is dead or not and the FRSC team (Ishiagu unit) is still at the scene for rescue efforts.

The Afikpo unit team is, however, on standby in case any major thing breaks this night to give back-up to the staff at the scene, she said.

The sector commander further revealed that the victims are members of a particular church who attended the burial of their pastor in Afikpo and were returning to Enugu.

There are however two versions of the incident as one held that the articulated vehicle tried to overtake the bus which made it (the bus) to lose control and another held that it was the bus which actually tried to overtake.

There was no report of collision by both vehicles but the bus just lost control at the bridge and plunged into the river.

We have not ascertained whether the bus was fully loaded or if the passengers observed COVID-19 social distancing but divers from the area managed to rescue five persons, she said.

She further revealed that someone called to inform that his brother and wife were still trapped inside the river but the divers said they couldnt continue because it was dark.

God is alive and he can still preserve the victims, she said.

Mr Chidi Ogbuatu, Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, also told NAN on telephone that efforts were on to rescue the trapped passengers.

The incident is horrible as the bus tried to overtake the articulated vehicle at the bridge with 38 passengers on board.

We can confirm that five persons have been rescued as one of them, a woman had died at the time they were rescued, he said.

Ogbuatu said that the Chairman of the council and the Commissioner for Works provided cranes to retrieve the trapped vehicle and the process is still ongoing.

The bus is yet to be traced inside the river but the divers managed to retrieve the five victims.

I have notified the state governor of the incident and we are hoping for the best, he said.

Source: NAN News

Voters in Edo election

By Reporters

The governorship election in Edo begins peacefully with impressive voters turnout in most wards across the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Although the situation does not suggest the likelihood of violence, there is massive security presence in cities, town and villages.

With total compliance with restriction movement across the state, the processes of making the election peaceful and credible is uninterrupted.

Major streets, especially in Benin, dont witness the usual traffic as the residents move to their respective polling stations for accreditation.

Also reports from other areas of Edo, such as Uzzebba, Igueben, Auchi, Ososo, Ekpoma, Jattu and Ughoton, among other towns and villages, say there is impressive turnout and orderly situation. Edo has 193 wards with 18 local government areas.

In most polling units, security operatives arrived in their duty points to enforce restriction on movement of people and vehicles during election.

NAN correspondents that went round observed that security operatives were present as early as 6a.m. instrategic locations in the city centres of the three senatorial districts of Edo South, Central and North.

Bondaries, including Edo South Idogbo, Etete/Adesuwa, Oluku, Upper Siluko, Ologbo and Eyean are supervised by security personnel that ask motorists without movement permit to park and check for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to pass.

The situation is similar in Ekpoma, Iruepken in Edo Central, Okepella, Jattu junction and Agbede in Edo North.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Main gate of The Polytechnic Ibadan

By Ibukun Emiola

The management of The Polytechnic Ibadan (TPI) has terminated the appointment of its lecturer, Kelani Omotosho, over alleged sexual misconduct with a former student.

This is contained in a statement signed by the institutions Registrar, Mrs Modupe Fawale in Ibadan on Saturday.

The management saidthe lecturer, from the department of Urban and Regional Planning, was sacked for allegedly embarrassing and tarnishing the image of the institution.

In the termination letter dated Sept 15, 2020 and signed by the registrar, it read: you will recall that you were engaged in an inappropriate behaviour and poorly managed relationship with your former student.

This act embarrassed and tarnished the image of your employer, The Polytechnic Ibadan.

You will also recall your responses and appearance before the Investigative Panel and Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that looked into the above matter.

After a careful consideration of the above issue, the Governing Council found you guilty as your actions and activities amount to misconduct.

The Governing Council therefore approved the immediate termination of your appointment with effect from Friday, Sept. 11, 2020.

You are to hand over all property of the institution in your possession to your head of department. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NNPC Vandalised pipeline

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says 78 companies will bid for the rehabilitation of oil pipelines and depot infrastructure across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recallsthat over 300 companies applied through the official portal published in the national dailies on Aug. 7 and only 78 companies met the expiration time of noon on Sept. 18.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC,Malam Mele Kyari,at the virtual public bid opening for the rehabilitation of the NNPC group downstream critical pipelines and associated depots/terminal infrastructureon Friday in Abuja, said the corporation was committed to transparency.

Kyari said that the process of selection of companies would be transparent and those who would win the bid would undergo a process of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) system.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the corporation to ensure transparency and accountability in all its operations.

He said that this would help the NNPC to deliver its services to all stakeholders efficiently, especially to the ordinary Nigerians,adding that the management of the corporation had aligned to the order.

The GMD said that it was unfortunate that the oil pipelinesdeteriorated over the years with activities of hoodlums and vandals,forcing its to be underutilised. .

He assured that the technology that would not be compromised by vandals would be deployed by the selected companies for the rehabilitation.

You know that this project requires huge finances that is why we are adopting BOT, pipelines globally are managed by theprivate sector. What we are doing today is in line with global best practices.

The NNPC is challenged because of resources constraints; today, we do not have all the resources required to reform this asset which has become so vulnerable and have lost their values and integrity over thetime.

Some of them are as old as 40 years, they are due for replacement and when you want to do replacement of this scale, we do need a lot of resources, which we dont have.

We have decided that we will bring in private partners who will rehabilitate the pipelines, they will fund it, they will operate it with us and ultimately, they will recover their investment from tariff on the pipelines.

As soon as they recover their costs, earn their margins, they will hand over to the country, that is what we want to do, he said.

Kyari said that the selected companieswould have maximum of two years to deliver on the project,adding that by first quarter of 2021, the names of selected companies would be announced.

In his remarks, Mr Musa Lawal, the representative of the NNPC downstream, said that the corporation operated about 5,120km pipelines across the country.

He said that most of the companies had been inactive due to vandalism and activities of hoodlums on the lines, adding that it had also led to crude oil and revenue loss to the country.

He assured that the process of selection would be transparent as stakeholders were invited as observers to monitor the process.

NNPC as an IETI company will continue to ensure accountability and transparency in line with this; we have virtually invited other partners as observers.

We have Infrastructure Concession Regulations Commission (ICRC), Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives (NEITI), Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), among others as our observers, he said.

The Director-General of ICRC, Mr Chidi Izuwah commended the corporation for its efforts to adopting proper Public Private Partnership (PPP) ininfrastructure rehabilitation in the country.

This means that things can be done better in the country, we are happy with the show of interest in PPP, ICRC that will ensure that this project is carried out in a credible manner for Nigeria to see its benefits, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye

By Emmanuel Afonne

Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director-General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says the country is working toward producing 60 per cent of its pharmaceutical products locally to reduce the over-dependence on international companies.

Adeyeye said this at a virtual conference with the theme Seizing the Moment: Providing Faster Access to Quality Medical Products during COVID-19 and Beyond, organised by the Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in partnership with Deloitte, a multinational professional services network.

The conference which had participants from some African countries was specifically on novel approaches emerging from COVID-19 response that can be effectively leveraged to respond to the pandemic, especially in Africa.

Adeyeye said the coronavirus pandemic was an eye opener to the world and as such efforts should be made to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.

Right now, we manufacture only 30 per cent of our products locally, and import 70 per cent; the goal is to change it to around 60 per cent locally and 40 per cent import.

That is going to really contribute positively to reducing falsified substandard medicines and improve the health of the population, she said.

According to Adeyeye, pharmaceutical manufacturing industries cannot survive without good regulatory system and as such stringent measures are to be adopted for a healthy system.

She explained that in spite the challenges, NAFDAC as a regulatory body in Nigeria had constantly used the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNIDO indices to monitor the manufacturing industries.

We have also faced challenge of herbal medicine unspecified claims (unproved claim) for cure of COVID-19, so we have to also contend with that.

Dr John Nkengaso, Head of Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in his view noted that Africa was able to overcome the over 2 million COVID-19 death projection due to partnership and collaboration of its leaders.

Nkengaso said that accurate diagnosis and power of partnership where public and private sector came together to solve a common problem, were other factors that assisted Africa in navigating the pandemic.

We were told by the Taskforce in Geneva that after a period of two months the continent will witness over 2million deaths, so we decided as a continent to regroup and figure out ways to diagnose ourselves, Nkengaso said.

Mr Kofi Nyame, one of the MSH supply chain experts, said the role of pharmaceutical system in this pandemic era should be to get the people ready for other pandemics.

COVID-19 has served as a magnifying lens for us; it has exposed the inherent weaknesses.

We know that substandard products are all over in Africa and a greater percentage of our medicines are substandard but the only way out is to strengthen the pharmaceutical systems to ensure that the service delivery is properly monitored.

We need to ensure that there is a system to regulate, select and distribute medicine. This is how to ensure quality and efficacy, Nyame said.

He advocated for good supply chain management, strong regulator and use of modern tools to mitigate crisis as solutions to providing faster access to quality medical products during and post COVID-19 era. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Edo Election: Yiaga Africa to adopt PVT methodology to check credibility of election results

By Angela Atabo

Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation says it plans to deploy its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology to assess the credibility of the Sept. 19, Edo Governorship poll.

Mr Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the group through its Watching The Vote citizens movement, would also deploy 500 observers to monitor the election.

According to Itodo, the PVT is an advanced election observation methodology that employs well-established statistical principles and sophisticated information technology in providing timely and accurate information on conduct of elections.

He added that the process will monitor accreditation, voting, and counting, and it will independently verify the official governorship results as announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PVTs are not opinion polls; Yiaga Africa citizen observers do not ask voters for whom they cast their ballot; PVT relies solely on official results from polling units.

This tested and proven election observation methodology has been deployed in over 50 countries worldwide, including Nigeria.

Yiaga Africa deployed the PVT in the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa governorship election where it detected fraud and manipulation of results collation and declined to verify the official results declared by INEC.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chair of Yiaga Africa election observation mission for Edo, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Nigerias and Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo, the organisation said it would deploy 500 stationary observers.

Itodo said that the observers would monitor the conduct of the process and provide systematic, accurate and timely information on the Election Day process.

He said specifically that Yiaga Africa would provide accurate information on the quality of the Election Day process and ascertain if the official results announced by INEC reflected the total votes cast.

Itodo explained that since the PVT was based on official results from a representative random sample of polling units, Yiaga Africa would estimate the state-wide results for the governorship election within a narrow range based on well-established statistical principles.

He said that if INECs official results fall within Yiaga Africas estimated range, then the public, political parties and candidates would have confidence that the official results reflected the ballots cast at polling units.

Itodo, however, said that if the announced results have been manipulated and do not match the polling units results, Yiaga Africa would oppose it.

He said that the PVT was a component of Yiaga Africas comprehensive election observation methodology spanning the electoral cycle.

Therefore, in assessing whether the 2020 Edo governorship satisfies the electoral integrity test, Yiaga Africa will consider a range of issues such as shortcomings in the pre-election period.

The quality of election day processes and the scale and scope of critical incidents.

Itodo said that on Election Day, Yiaga Africa would receive 4,500 text messages containing approximately 56,000 individual pieces of information about the election.

He added that the messages would be reviewed and analysed to ensure that the information was complete, authentic and accurate before dissemination.

Itodo said that after poll, Yiaga Africa would issue its estimated projections based on its preliminary data.

He added that on Sunday, Sept. 20, the group would share its preliminary Watching The Vote findings on the conduct of setup, accreditation, voting and counting.

Itodo said that immediately INEC announce the official results for the election, Yiaga Africa would hold its news conference and issue its statement on the election result.

Yiaga Africa Watching the Vote is Driven by Data for All Nigerians Beholden to None!(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lafarge

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lafarge Africa Plc on has expressed optimism of the countrys cement market in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Khaled El Dokani, the companys Chief Executive Officer, said this at Lafarge Africa virtual Facts behind the figures, at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

He said that Nigerias cement market was promising considering its teeming population of 200 million people.

El Dokani added that the countrys enhanced emphasis on infrastructure development would increase activities in the industry.

He said that the company would remain committed to the attainment of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

El Dokani noted that Lafarge Africas initiatives were designed to contribute to the attainment of the SDGs.

According to him, majority of its plants were Environmental Management System (EMS) and certified to ISO 14001:2015.

The company is committed to best practices such as minimising the use of water and replacing sources of water in communities, adopting non-polluting forms of renewable energy and recycling materials, he said.

He, however, assured all stakeholders of enhanced value creation in the years ahead.

Earlier, Mr Oscar Onyema, NSE Chief Executive Officer, commended the companys efforts in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Onyema also appreciated the company for its recent interventions and donations to support national efforts toward cushioning the effect of the pandemic on the Nigerian populace.

He said that NSE would continue to provide a platform to support listed companies in meeting their strategic business objectives.

We will continue to position ourselves as the African Exchange of choice for issuers and investors by implementing policies aimed at strengthening the corporate governance of our listed companies, he said.

He noted that NSE in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic transitioned to complete digital trading through its electronic platforms.

We also launched a revamped version of our X-Issuer platform to enhance the continuous flow of relevant and
reliable market information, and to enable stakeholders make informed investment decisions.

To cushion the impact of the pandemic and restrictions on business activities, we made provisions for palliatives to market stakeholders.

This includes granting a sixty-day extension to listed companies on the filing of audited and quarterly financial statements, Onyema said.

He said that NSE collaborated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to also extend the submission of audited financial statements for all dealing member firms. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

ensure physical distancing can be maintained with clearly marked floors to enforce spacing on queues.

Source: NAN News

OPEC

Oil prices rose for a fourth day in a row on Friday, putting crude on track for a weekly gain of about 10 per cent, after Saudi Arabia pressed allies to stick to production quotas and banks, including Goldman Sachs, predicted a supply deficit.

Brent crude was up 18 cents at .48 a barrel by 0756 GMT while U.S. oil futures rose 17 cents to .14.

Both contracts are set for their strongest weekly gains since early June after Hurricane Sally cut U.S. production while OPEC and its allies laid out steps to address market weakness.

Goldman Sachs predicted the market would be in a deficit of three million barrels per day (bpd) by the fourth quarter and reiterated its target for Brent to reach by the end of the year and by the third quarter of 2021.

Swiss bank UBS also pointed to the possibility of undersupply in the oil market, forecasting Brent would rise to a barrel in the fourth quarter and by mid-2021.

Meanwhile, a tropical depression in the western part of the Gulf of Mexico could become a hurricane in the next few days, potentially threatening more U.S. oil facilities.

The Saudi Arabian energy minister said those who gamble on oil prices would be hurt like hell.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers in OPEC are cutting 7.7 million bpd of output and the group stressed at a meeting on Thursday that it would take action against members not complying with the deal.

We think OPEC will put on hold plans to taper the cut down to 5.8 million bpd when the entire group convenes again in December, RBC analysts said.

In the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. offshore drillers and exporters began a clear-up on Thursday after Hurricane Sally weakened to a depression and started rebooting idle rigs following their closure for five days. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Troop

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, has eliminated 16 Boko Haram/Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist and arrested 11 in the North East in the last one week.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John John Enenche, disclosed this while giving weekly update on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche said the troops had recorded appreciable successes within the week, adding that some the terrorists arrested also included their family members with caches of arms and ammunition.

He explained that the troops had on Sept. 10 in conjunction with Civilian JTF engaged the terrorists at Kassa Kura in Maiduguri Town killng two terrorists during the encouter.

He added that troops also successfully repelled two different terrorists attacks at Ngala and Baga towns killing two terrorists and recovered various categories of arms and ammunition same day.

According to him, troops conducted ambush operations and eliminated three BHT/ISWAP elements recovering of large cache of arms and ammunition at Ngurosoye village of Bama Local Government Area and Dalori Gari in Maiduguri.

The coordinator also disclosed that the troops had on Sept. 11, killed five terrorists due to superior firepower while others fled with various degrees of gunshot wounds.

He further disclosed that troops in conjunction with local vigilantes had on Sept. 14, killed four BHT/ISWAP fighters and arrested seven at Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe.

This, according to him is in addition to three others arrested on Sept. 13 at the College of Agriculture in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe.

It is also worthy to mention that the wife and son of one of BHTs high profile member, Abdulrahman Abdullahi had been earlier arrested by troops in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Sept 7.

Gleaning from the records of these operations, there is no gaining saying that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security operatives are resolute in their determination to end the insurgency and achieve sustainable peace in the North East zone of the Country, he said.

In the North Central, Enenche assured that the military would end the activities of DarulSalam terrorists, adding that the recent arrest of its members and release of hostages in Kogi and Nasarawa states was a major breakthrough.

He said that the various military operations in Babies, Taraba and Nasarawa states had continued to record successes, adding that some members of the late Gana militia groups were recently arrested from their camp.

According to him, troops of operation Safe Haven had between Sept. 13 and Sept. 15 raided hideouts of suspected criminals within Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A total of 25 suspects were apprehended while one locally fabricated pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition was recovered during the course of the operation, he said.

In North West, Enenche said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity had continued to dominate the zone leading to killing of several bandits and arrest of some and their collaborators in Katsina, Sokota and Zamfara states within the period.

He added that the air component had also launched several airstrikes on some identified bandits camps in forest killing many bandits and destroyed their hideouts.

The Military High Command commends all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their commitment, determination and dedication.

They are equally encouraged to remain firm and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

Members of the general public are hereby assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria working with other security agencies will continue to tackle the security challenges and will ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the Country.

However their support is highly solicited in the area of providing credible information to assist our operations, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court Symbol

An Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved a 17-year-old marriage between a businesswoman, Dasola Fogabi and her estranged husband, Saheed over threat to life.

Delivering judgment, Chief Henry Agbaje, president of the court dissolved the union in the interest of peace.

He awarded custody of the three children to Fogabi and ordered the respondent to pay N15,000 as the childrens monthly feeding allowance.

The arbitrator also ordered him to be responsible for their education.

Earlier, Fogabi said: the man I married 17 years ago is threatening to end my life here on earth. I lost all my money because of his fraudulent lifestyle.

My lord, Saheed, collected money from his customers fraudulently and promised to supply them plywood without doing so.

To avoid arrest and litigation, I paid back the people he collected money from. I no longer have the economic power to do business because I am in a huge debt mess because of him.

Lately, Saheed is threatening to kill me if I dont continue to give him money, she alleged.

Saheed, was not in court.

The court bailiff said that Saheed was duly served hearing notices. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

U.S. President, Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has abandoned his plans to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in person, the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, said.

Meadows added that Trump would address participants of the 75th Session of the UNGA in a televised format.

The current session of the UNGA started on Tuesday and will last until Sept. 30.

The week of the high-level General Debate will be held from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29.

As many as 119 heads of state and 54 heads of government will address the session.

In mid-August, Trump told reporters that he was thinking about going directly to the UN to do the speech.

Theis one of the six principal organs of the UN, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Housing project

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

Some Nigerians have commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s new initiative to build affordable homes and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the apex bank recently unveiled a framework for the implementation of Family Homes Financing Initiative to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homes across the country.

The financing initiative will support the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability programme to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homes in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Mr Abbas Ibrahim, a Pharmacist said that the initiative, if effectively implemented would go a long way to bridge housing deficit, especially in urban areas.

He urged the CBN to ensure that the initiative was not hijacked by a section of the elites, who might not allow the masses benefit from it

I am particularly happy about this initiative.

The way I understand it is making decent home ownership affordable to ordinary Nigerians as well as create jobs in the housing sector.

I urge the CBN to ensure the laudable initiative is implemented without compromise, he said.

Mr Raji Adebayo, an economist and a civil servant, commended the initiative as a sure path to poverty reduction and employment generation.

I saw the report about CBNs framework for family home financing initiative and I was particularly impressed.

Apart from generating affordable homes and thousands of employment, it will equally support local content development in the housing sector.

The fact that 90 per cent of the materials for the construction component of the initiative will be sourced locally is cheering, he said.

Mrs Mojisola Olaniyi, a business woman also commended the idea of home ownership financing by the Federal Government.

She, however, urged the CBN to ensure that its collaboration with a private developer did not make the houses unaffordable to the masses.

I learnt that the initiative is to support the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability programme to fast track the deployment of 300,000 homesacross the country.

It is a good initiative but the CBN and other government agencies involved should drive the process to the end and not allow the private developer set prohibitive cost to the homes when completed.

NAN reports that the CBN in its website:, said that the initiative would generate about 1.5 million jobs in the process.

It said the introduction of mass housing was key economic activities with potential to create significant number of jobs rapidly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

An ilegal refinery

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says military has intensified its aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, economic saboteurs and other criminal activities in the country.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said this while giving weekly update on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche said that between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17 , the military arrested seven suspected oil thieves, discovered barrels of stolen crude oil and destroyed numbers of illegal refineries in the South- South and South West zones.

According to him, within the period under review, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team in the South South located and immobilised an illegal refining site at Mudukiri Creek, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

The site had a metal reservoir laden with an estimated 150,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

In the same vein, Forward Operating Base BONNY patrol team discovered and dismantled an illegal refining site in Ataba, Andoni LGA of Rivers.

The team discovered eight metal storage tanks and four dugout pits laden with about 1,289.45 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil,he said.

He said that Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE clearance operation team acting on credible intelligence on a suspected pirates and sea robbers camp at Otoyo, Akwa-Ibom, raided the camp.

He said that the patrol team with superior power dislodged and deactivated the camp in the area.

The team recovered one AK 47 rifle with two magazines, two Pump Action Rifles, 20 rounds of 7.62 and 39mm ammunition, one Fishing Gun, one Tecno phone, a bag of hard drugs, one diving face mask and one hand held metal detector.

Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team around Utan Inyata Creek arrested two suspects and two small-sized wooden boats laden with 165 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon,he said.

According to him, the items and suspects are currently in custody of the Base and will be handed over to Nigeria Customs Service Component of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE for further action.

Also, within the period under review, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team arrested five suspects with 45 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The suspects and items are currently in custody and will be handed over to NSCDC Uyo Command for further necessary action, he said.

He explained that Troops of Operation AWATSE in the South West zone, also intensified the fight against pipeline vandals, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the area.

According to him, on Sept 11, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT handed over MT SEA SUPPLY and her crew to NIMASA after proper documentation in line with the existing Standard Operating Procedure.

He recalled that the vessel and her crew members were arrested on July 31 for sailing without obtaining requisite documents.

On Sept. 12, the patrol team of Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA immobilized three illegal refineries containing 30,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Agbelemsema Zion 2.

The location is a border community between Ese Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo and Warri North LGA in Delta.

Troops have continued to dominate the general area with clearance and aggressive patrols while maintaining surveillance to rid the area of pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs, he said.

He expressed the Military High Command commendation to all the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their commitment, determination and dedication.

He encouraged the troops to remain firm and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.

Members of the general public are hereby assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria working with other security agencies will continue to tackle the security challenges and will ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geo-political zones of the Country.

He, therefore, solicited for the support of the public in providing credible information to assist the militarys operations, (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Angry JOHESU members

By Maureen Ojinaka

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) strike has paralysed health services at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH Ituku- Ozalla near Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that some wards in the hospital were without patients as many of them were alleged to have been moved to private hospitals for medical attention.

The Head Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNTH, Mr Cyril Keleze,told NAN that the health workers strike had crippled activities in the hospital except for essential services.

Kekeze said that the doctors were in the hospital to attend to patients since the nurses were on strike.

He said that the JOHESU strike was a warning strike, which would end on Sunday mid-night as all health workers were expected to resume work on Sept. 21.

Some of the patients, who were still on admission,said they came from other states and could not easily vacate the hospital to private hospitals due to financial difficulties.

Mrs Chidimma Okpara, whose mother had been on admission, said it was difficult for her to raise the money she spent in bringing her mother to UNTH as she could not take her to any other hospital rather would remain in UNTH till the strike was over.

We came from Imo, it was not easy for me financially to bring my mother here, so talking about going to another hospital is out of my plan, Okpara lamented.

Mr Kalu Ukoha, a patient said he believed that the strike would soon be over soon, adding that going to a private hospital would be a waste of money.

A staff of the Accounts Department in the hospital, Mrs Nneka Dim said the strike had affected health services, research and training in UNTH, adding that onlydoctors were on duty. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

DPR Officials

By Victor Adeoti

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) in Osun against exploiting motorists in the sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Mr Olusegun Daboh, the DPR Operations Controller in the state, gave the warning on Friday in Osogbo when he received the newly elected IPMAN Executives.

Daboh said the department would continue to monitor all filling stations in the state to ensure that they dispense accurately.

The controller said any marketer caught under-dispensing product would have their filling stations sealed, and pay N100, 000 as fine on each pump discovered to be under-dispensing product.

He described as disheartening the way some independent marketers engage in sharp practices, adding that the DPR would not relent in its surveillance operations in the state.

Daboh, however, assured them of necessary support to succeed and advised them to always abide by all precautionary regulations.

Also speaking, Mr Femi Ogunmuyiwa, DPR Heads of Operations, appealed to the marketers to always train their attendants on safety practices.

Ogunmuyiwa noted that some of the attendants lack requisite knowledge on safety procedure involved in the sales of oil and gas.

Earlier, Alhaji Bukola Mati, the IPMAN Chairman, solicited for the support of DPR for the new executives and the association at large.

Mati said support of the DPR was necessary for their business to thrive. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

China is conducting clinical trials of 11 vaccines against the coronavirus disease, four of which are in phase 3, the countrys Science and Technology Minister Wang Zhigang said on Friday.

At the moment, 11 vaccines have entered the phase of clinical trials, four of them are already in phase 3, Wang said while speaking at the Zhongguancun forum in Beijing.

According to the minister, Chinese researchers focused on the development of five types of COVID-19 vaccine at once.

The vaccines are a recombinant protein subunit vaccine, an inactivated vaccine, an adenoviral vector-based vaccine, a nucleic acid-based vaccine, and a live attenuated influenza vaccine.

The COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread around the world, it has not yet been taken under full control, and with the arrival of the autumn-winter season, there is still a possibility of a return to what it was initially.

The situation in the prevention and control of the epidemic remains serious.

The virus knows no boundaries, we need to join forces, provide each other with assistance and support in order to overcome difficulties together, Wang said.

One of the Chinese vaccines is being developed by China National Biotec Group, which said earlier in September that around 50,000 people from several countries were participating in Phase 3 clinical trials.

Another vaccine, which is also in Phase 3 of the trials, was created by Sinovac, which is testing the vaccine in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Indonesia.

Similarly, China is leading in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 and thus Beijing does not need to steal vaccine-related data from other countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday,

Wang said this while commenting on media reports claiming that Chinese hackers had allegedly stolen data on coronavirus vaccine development from Spain.

Earlier in the day, El Pais newspaper reported, citing sources informed about cyberattacks, that hackers from China had allegedly stolen information from Spanish centres working on coronavirus vaccine.

According to the publication, cyberattacks targeting research centres were carried out from several countries, mostly from Russia and China, and in the case of Spain, it is known that the hackers had acted precisely from China.

China strongly opposes and fights against all forms of cyberattacks and cybercrime, and this position is clear and unchanging.

I would also like to add that China is one of the world leaders in [anti-coronavirus] vaccine research and development.

We do not see any need for any illegal means to obtain a vaccine, Wang said.

According to the spokesman, cyberattacks are the common enemy of all countries, and China hopes that other countries will not draw so many reckless and irresponsible conclusions if they do not have any evidence.

At the same time, Spanish scientists are now working on dozens of vaccines against COVID-19, with none of them having entered the clinical trial stage yet. (Sputnik/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Peter Abah and Denis Idara Mr/Miss Nigeria International 2019/2020 edition

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

The Bredance and Crusader Limited (BCL), Organiser of Mr and Miss Nigeria International (MMNI), on Thursday announced that 32 contestants made the list in the just concluded online voting for the 2020/2021 pageant.

Mr Bredan Isikak, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCL, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the 32 shortlisted recorded high votes out of 50 registered contestants.

NAN reports that the pageant tagged The Rebirth Edition 2020 would feature contestants for the MMNI and Mr and Miss International Africa (MMIA).

Mr Isikak said that the shortlisted contestants had been briefed of the development, to enable them begin preparation for the contest scheduled for last quarter of the year.

The selection process for this years MMNI was done online and by voting due to the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown and restriction orders which qualified 32 out of 50 contestants.

They have all been anxious to know their scores which we just released to them, so this information will help them to start necessary preparations for the contest.

Although, no date has been fixed for the event but we are proposing between October and November because the reign is 2020/2021, while other arrangements are in progress, Bredan added.

Meanwhile, he said that South Africa, Ghana and Gambia had shown interest to participate in the event, adding that they were optimistic that international flights would fully resume operations.

According to him, no fewer than 10 African countries registered for the event prior to the COVID-19 lock down but only three have communicated their interest to participate to the organisers.

As we speak, we have four countries showing interest, though we are expecting others to confirm their participation because they registered earlier, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sunday Dare

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare says contact sports will soon resume in the country under strict protocols as recommended by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The minister disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja after the unveiling of the National Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Hub (BredHub).

He said the ministry was working closely with the PTF to ensure contact sports resumes in the country under strict COVID-19 protocols.

As we see gradual opening up of different sector of the economy, we have prepared a post COVID-19 protocols.

We hope in the next two weeks, contact sports will return subject to the strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, he said.

Dare stressed that the ministry will be properly guided as various sporting events gradually returns to the country following the ban as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are going to be properly guided on the National Sports Festival as we are working with the PTF, Health ministry, NCDC.

We have sent a team to the National Sports Council.

We hope that before the end of this year, we can have the national sports festival, of course with some modifications, it can be staggered, he said.

On the resumption of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), he maintained that club sides who have not met with the regulations set will not partake in the coming season.

He said any club that does not have N200m in its account wont be allowed to play in the NPFL alongside other conditions.

Very clearly we have decided that since the Federal Executive Council have classified sports as a business, there are certain steps that must be taken to make sure the entire co-system keys into that business model.

One of the first steps is the fact that our domestic league must run as a business and to do that you must have regulations, financial control.

There is a new enforcement regime for our domestic league as they must have a minimum of N200m in their account to show they can take care of their players, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

SGF and COVID-19 PTF Chairman Mr Boss Mustapha

Nigerias COVID-19 curve is flattening, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha has said.

Mustapha made this on Thursday in Abuja at the 66th joint national briefing of the task force.

was established by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 9, 2020, to coordinate and oversee Nigerias multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Lookingback at our National Response, using science, data and experience from other countries, we cannot but say that tremendous progress has been made and that we are beginning to notice that the curve is flattening.

Source: NAN News