Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

By Friday Idachaba

Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), has scheduled Dec. 12, for conduct of elections into the 21 Local Government Areas in the state and presented a timetable and schedule of activities for the polls.

Mamman Nda-Eri, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting for the official declaration of Notice of Conduct of the elections on Wednesday in Lokoja.

Nda-Eri said that the commission which was inaugurated on March 11, had the core mandate to conduct free, fair and credible local government polls in the nearest time possible but was constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I urge all of us to ensure the conduct of elections devoid of rancour and acrimony in our various domains. We will not only be unbiased but seen to be unbiased.

On our own path, we pledge our unalloyed loyalty to the people of Kogi to conduct free, fair and credible elections in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

According to the time table and Schedule of Activities for the council polls presented by Nda-Eri, the activities started Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the stakeholders meeting.

He said that collection of nomination forms from political parties will start on Sept. 24, and end on Oct. 2, while Oct. 6, until Oct. 13, is scheduled for conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes arising from such primaries.

This, according to him is to enable political parties to democratically nominate candidates for the elections as required by law adding that all issues relating to the primaries must be concluded on or before Oct. 13.

The commission chairman added that among other activities the last day for submission of names of polling agents by political parties would be Nov. 25, while Dec. 10, is the last day for political party campaigns.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ede Ayuba, assured that security agencies in the state would collectively provide the needed security and provide level playing ground for all candidates and parties.

We will be fair to everybody and to all and play the game by the rules and, except you contravene the provisions of the Electoral Act, will be friendly he said.

Chairman of the state Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Iliyasu Badanga urge the commission to maintain the highest level of probity and accountability to produce free, fair, credible and believable elections come Dec. 12.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olujumu of Ijumu, Oba Williams Ayeni; the Chairman of Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI), Alhaji Isa Adeboye; and representative of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Idris Miliki; all called for conduct of free, fair and credible council elections. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rev. Samson Ayokunle CAN president

By Imelda Osayande

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo chapter, in conjunction with the Light of Peace for Africa Foundation on Wednesday said it has slated Sept. 16, for fasting and prayers for the conduct of peaceful state elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the state governorship election is slated for Sept. 19.

The Chairman of the Association, Bishop Oyonnude Kure, who tagged the event, The Unbeatable God, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Benin ahead of the event.

Kure said there was the need for the heads of blocs and God fearing people in the state to come together in one voice to seek the face of God to avoid bloodshed and violence.

According to him, seeking Gods grace before, during and after the election cannot be overemphasised because a peaceful election is critical to the destiny of the citizens of the state.

CAN hereby calls on all churches, all pastors, all Christians, all God fearing and all good people of Edo for a one-day prayer and fasting for peaceful elections in Edo.

The prayer service is very crucial and critical to the destiny of the state.

We all in humility and reverence stand in prayers to call on God Almighty for divine intervention in His mercy and Almightiness for peace like a river in the state before, during and after elections, Kure said.

The leader of CAN described the Sept. 19, governorship elections as a very crucial moment in determining the destiny of the state bearing in mind the future of the state, and the future of its children.

He noted that integrity, faith and the sustainability of the developmental strides that had since placed the state in an enviable position in the comity of states of the Nigerian federation must be considered while casting the votes.

Bishop Kure urged the Christians and non Christians in the state to foster, promote and maintain peace in the land.

He also tasked them to vote wisely and conscientiously on the day of the election without any fear. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

FBN holdings

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FBNQuest Funds, the merchant banking and asset management arm of FBN Holdings Plc, on Wednesday said that it had invested over N20 billion in private equity since 2003.

The companys Vice President, Alternative Investments, Mr Christian Ekpo, disclosed this at a virtual FBNQuest engagement session organised to provide some industry insights into its business.

Incorporated in 2003, FBNQuest Funds is an alternative investments platform of FBNQuest.

The company is one of the oldest private equity firms in Nigeria originally created to manage a pool of funds set aside by FirstBank for SME investment.

Ekpo said that the private equity firm had invested over N20 billion in roughly 70 companies and assets across portfolios since inception in 2003.

Since our inception in 2003, we have deployed in excess of N20 billion in over 70 companies and assets across various portfolios.

We partner with our portfolio companies in delivering growth, capital and providing value creation support through revenue enhancement, margin improvements and capital efficiency.

Our asset mix is comprised of investments in real estate, direct private equity investments, venture capital funds and third party managed equity.

The asset mix gives us exposure to high growth sectors like real estate, hospitality, leasing, technology and consumer business, Ekpo added.

On the outlook of the equities market for H2 2020, Mr Tunde Abidoye, FBNQuest Head Equity Research, said the fragility still exists.

Abidoye observed that companies and entities were still vulnerable to any macro shock in the environment.

Banks have structured about 40 per cent of loan books but the possibility of these loans still existing is there despite forbearance packages, he said.

He urged investors to stake their funds in blue chip companies that would withstand macro economic shocks.

Abidoye said the most pressing challenges for banks were asset quality and rise in cost risk.

According to him, banks have to contend with downward pressure, following the subdued interest rate environment and regulatory fee cuts on e-banking transactions.

Banks have to contend with downward pressure on non interest margin following the subdued interest rate environment and regulatory induced fee cuts on e-banking transactions, he said.

Speaking on an overview of the Nigerian economy, Ms Chinwe Egwim, Senior Economist FBNQuest, said COVID-19 had presented the Federal Government with the opportunity to deliver in part on its mandate on fuel price deregulation and completion of core infrastructure projects.

Egwim said: Nigeria will have a recession in 2020 and a weak recovery next year. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Stock Exchange Market building Lagos

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) extended losing streak on Wednesday for the third consecutive days with the market capitalisation declining further by N38 billion.

The market capitalisation dipped N38 billion to close lower at N13.263 trillion compared with N13.301 trillion on Tuesday.

Also, NSE All-Share Index shed 72.41 points or 0.28 per cent to close at 25,424.91 points.

Similarly, the overall market capitalisation size shed N38 billion to close at N13.264 trillion.

The downturn was impacted by loses recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Okomu Oil, Unilever, Zenith Bank, C

Serena Williams

Serena Williams was forced to dig deep to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-2 U.S. Open quarter-final victory over unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday.

The victory kept alive her latest bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title.

Williams, a six-times champion in New York, struggled with Pironkovas slice forehand early and was at risk of her earliest U.S. Open exit in 14 years.

But that was until she used her experience to find a way back against a resurgent Pironkova.

Im happy to be standing here because at one point I was pretty close to not being here, Williams said during the on-court winners interview.

I keep fighting and thats one thing that I am super excited about. I never give up.

For Pironkova, who dropped to 0-5 in career head-to-head meetings with Williams, the loss marked the end of a surprise New York run.

This is in view of the fact that this was her first professional tournament since Wimbledon in 2017.

Pironkova was back after an absence of more than three years, during which she had a baby in early 2018.

She made a nice start as she consolidated a break to go ahead 4-2 in the first set.

After Williams saved two set-points on serve to pull within 4-5, the Bulgarian held her nerve and secured the opener with a backhand cross-court winner.

In the second, Williams won a 24-point rally.

It helped to break and open up a 5-3 lead and then, after falling behind 15-30 on her serve, fired three consecutive aces to force a decider.

Williams broke to start the third set in a game during which she even hit a left-handed shot, and never looked back as Pironkova suddenly started to run out of gas.

Definitely (I) was feeling it in my legs, Williams said of her flat start.

In the beginning I was a little bit fatigued for whatever reason. So, obviously I cant do that if I want to keep winning. So, I am going to try to figure that out.

Williams has been stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles, one shy of Margaret Courts record, since winning the 2017 Australian Open.

Up next for the 38-year-old Williams, who has been pushed to three sets in her last three victories, will be either Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens or former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in Thursdays semi-final. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has charged the Nigerian Army to sustain the current peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

Okowa gave the charge when Maj.-Gen. Olubunmi Irefin, the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port-Harcourt visited him in Asaba on Wednesday.

The governor pledged his governments continued partnership with the military and other security agencies to ensure peace and order in the state.

He said that the state government had enjoyed a robust relationship with security agencies.

According to him, the partnership between Delta and security agencies has helped to ensure peace and security of lives and property, adding that it has also made Delta an investors destination.

We are happy that sea piracy has reduced in Delta and we pledge the support of the South-South states to ensure protection of oil installations in the region.

I assure you of our cooperation at all times because we have had very warm working relations with the division since inception.

The military and other security agencies have worked quite a lot with us to ensure peace within the state.

There is still a lot to be done but we have done quite a lot, the governor said.

The governor commended the army formations for cooperating with other security agencies to ensure peace in the Niger Delta.

I appreciate your division, the brigade and other military formations for all your efforts in ensuring peace and security in the entire Niger Delta.

Sea piracy is still there, but it has largely reduced in Delta and we will continue to work hard and provide the needed support because when there is a perfect working relationship, the support becomes easier.

Information sharing is necessary to secure our state, and here in Delta, community conflicts are stepped into as quickly as possible because of various peace mechanisms we have put in place.

We have had a very good working relationship and we hope to continue in that direction, he said.

Earlier, the GOC said that he was in Delta to familiarise himself with the government and people of the state.

Irefin commended the governor for the tremendous support he had given to 63 Brigade as well as the level of peace and security in the state.

He said that the governors development and youth empowerment programmes had helped to reduce crime and criminality in the state.

He further lauded Okowa for the infrastructure development across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The GOC pledged his commitment to partner other security agencies to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the states within the division.

Source: NAN News

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the virtual training of the teachers, tagged Eko Educators Webinar Performance Series 3.3 on Wednesday.

By Florence Onuegbu

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged to give 20 cars to deserving teachers across the six education districts in the state.

Sanwo-Olu made the promise on Wednesday during the virtual training of the teachers tagged Eko Educators Webinar Performance Series 3.3.

He said that his administration was committed to rewarding excellent service delivery in Lagos State Post-Primary Teaching Service.

According to him, teachers are key change agents who will be remembered for shaping future generations of leaders.

He urged them to embrace technology in improving the quality of teaching to enhance their productivity.

This is the era of technology and it is working well for us. Technology has become a very strong tool that we cannot do away with in our everyday lives. With technology, we can think locally and act globally, Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor said that great teachers were always remembered for the lives they shaped, just as they derived satisfaction in seeing their students become role models and future leaders.

On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, said that any school system thrived on the quality of teaching and learning which was exhibited through the quality of teachers with a multiplier effect on the students.

Adefisayo commended Lagos State teachers for indulging in self-development to complement the government organised training.

Adefisayo also commended the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) board for the idea of the virtual training, which was vital to the progress of the education sector in the state.

She said that as the present administrations battle against the COVID-19 continued, teachers were expected to put in their best in guiding the children aright, especially those who might had gone through different forms of abuse and trauma during the lockdown period.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman of TESCOM, Mrs Elizabeth Ariyo, said that the webinar was a conscious effort of the commission to improve teaching styles, optimise the teaching profession and enhance the lives of the children, and ultimately, their future.

Ariyo said that the webinar was organised for Post-Primary School Teachers in Lagos State as a way of elevating their level of preparedness and pro-activeness in teaching and learning in order to meet the challenges of the new normal.

The platform intends to address teachers wellness and well-being, as well as update them on new trends to improve their teaching skills, she said.

Ariyo appreciated the generosity of Gov. Sanwo-Olu for the approval of the Teachers Exit Replacement programme with over 1,000 new appointees and the Retrospective Course approval for over 700 Teachers which had lingered since 2013.

She also commended the governor for the approval of digital training of all Post-Primary Schools Teachers on Microsoft Teams platform; and Capacity Enhancement of Teachers in Lagos State among other initiatives, which had boosted proper integration of TESCOM in the new normal.

The Permanent Secretary, TESCOM, Mrs Toyin Awoseyi, said that the presence of the governor at the webinar, affirmed his commitment to education.

Awoseyi urged the participants to put in their best for the development and progress of the sector in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

EPL logo

Premier Leagues hopes of bringing fans back into stadiums in early October could be hampered after the UK government said it would review the plans and limit test events for sports.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street news conference that pilot events for sports in September would be restricted to a maximum of 1,000 fans per event.

We must revise plans to pilot larger audiences in venues later this month and review our intention to return audiences to stadiums from Oct. 1.

But that doesnt mean we are going to scrap the programme entirely. We are just going to have to review it and abridge it, he said.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Twitter that changes to the plans would be announced shortly, following an increased number of COVID-19 cases in the UK.

Work continues round the clock with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas, Dowden said.

The new Premier League season starts Saturday and, as with the games played since the resumption of last season in June following the coronavirus lockdown, they would be closed to fans.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said the league remained ready to carry out test events with the goal of getting some fans back in grounds by Oct. 1.

We are always subject to a government decision and they havent made that decision yet.

All I can say is that the Premier League and the Premier League clubs stand ready, willing and able to continue with our test events and test proposals and open our turnstiles from Oct. 1 if we are given permission to do so, Masters told reporters.

If Project Restart taught us anything it is that we have to be flexible and be willing to meet the bumps in the road, he said.

Masters said the absence of fans had an economic impact beyond the affected clubs.

There are implications. With every match round that goes by without fans, there are significant financial implications for every club in the football pyramid. So, it does have an impact.

Its not just the loss of matchday revenue.

Every Premier League match on average generates about 20 million pounds for the economy both local and national. So, we want to play our part in helping the economy to recover as well, he said. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege

By Kingsley Okoye

Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has urged Nigerians agitating for state creation to reach out to elected representatives and groups from other geopolitical zones in the country.

This, he said, was to get support of legislators, groups, as they were key in determining if such demands could scale through in the ongoing constitution amendment exercise.

Yomi Odunuga, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement indicated that Omo-Agege made the call when he played host to members of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), in Abuja on Wednesday.

Omo-Agege, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review said:

Let me also make this clear that the constitutional review exercise is not a tea party by any means.

It is a very tedious exercise. If you check Section 9 of the Constitution, it lays out a very difficult procedure that you must go through before you can achieve success with respect to the amendment.

I dont know what is in your submission but what I hear from the grapevine is that there is likelihood that UPU is asking for a state.

If that is right, I am sure you also know the provisions of Section 8 of the Constitution.

That is even more tedious than every other procedure because unlike other sections of the constitution that recognises a constitution amendment bill to pass with two-third majority of both chambers here it adds two-thirds majority of state assembly, for state creation, which is under Section 8.

It requires four-fifth of majority. Even more majority than the regular two-third.

But that is not to say it is impossible, If the demand is genuine and legitimate, there is no reason it should not succeed.

But you have to do the needful,you have to reach out to others,you have to lobby as to why this should be the case.

As the chairman of this committee, I am not supposed to take a position,you have to reach out to people, different geopolitical zones and make your case.

If they see the merit in your argument, then they can, acting through their members in the house of representatives and senate, go with you and vote in support.

You have to go out and lobby. You dont stay at home and they reward you with a free state.

It is only in the military that states are created by Fiat. But under democratic setup in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the procedures are well laid out under Section 9 of the constitution.

So I like to believe that before making this submission, I assume you have your Legal Adviser in the UPU, who may have taken you through some of the processes that you have to go through.

But as for us in the national assembly, you can always count on our support because you sent us here, he said.

He assured the UPU representatives that federal lawmakers from the area would not support anti-Urhobo legislations in the national assembly.

He said: As the representative of the people, we recognise and acknowledge that sovereign power resides with the people at home. They are the ones who sent us here.

Without them, there will be no deputy president of the senate, there will be no member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, neither will there be a member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency.

So, power resides with our people.

The consequence of that is, we will do what our people want. We will do what is expected of us. We will be guided by the content of your submission, he said.

Members of the House of Representatives from Delta Central including Rep. Francis Ejiroghene Waive (Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency) and Rep. Efe Afe (Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency) joined Omo-Agege in receiving the guests.

Earlier, Leader of the group and Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, Dr Matthew Ediri, said they decided to pay a courtesy visit to the deputy president of the senate after submitting their memorandum to the Secretariat of the Constitution Review Committee.

He urged the lawmaker to always protect the interests of Urhobo, using his position as the nations number six citizen. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Scene of suicide bomb attack in Somalia

At least three persons were killed and seven others injured in a suicide car bombing in Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, a government official confirmed.

Ismael Mukhtar Omar, government spokesman, said a suicide bomber, who blew himself up, targeted Blue Sky restaurant in central Mogadishu.

Three people were killed and seven others injured in suicide bombing outside Blue Sky restaurant, Omar said in a brief statement.

Witnesses said the suicide bomber blew up himself outside the restaurant near the heavily fortified presidential palace in Mogadishu.

The latest explosion came after a security warning of an imminent terror attack in the restive capital. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Tijani Muhammad Bande with UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres

By Harrison Arubu

Top officials of the United Nations have decried rising armed attacks on education, with a call for immediate and strong preventative actions.

UN Secretary-General AntnioGuterres and the President of the General Assembly, Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande made the call on Wednesday.

They spoke at a virtual event commemorating the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

In his speech, Guterres emphasised that education, besides being a fundamental human right, is fundamental to peace and development.

He said in spite of this, armed attackstargeting teachers, students and education facilitieswere on the rise.

According to him, no fewer than 11,000incidentswere reported between 2015 and 2019.

In addition to depriving millions of vulnerable learners from accessing education, this violence has serious adverse effects.

They include increased drop-out rates, prolonged educational disruption, child recruitment into armed groups, early pregnancy and sexual violence.

These attacks simply must not continue, he said.

The UN Chief urged all Member States to honour their commitments under existing international agreements and initiatives aimed at protecting education from attacks.

One of such initiatives is the Safe Schools Declaration, which also seeks to prevent schools and universities from being used for military purposes.

While noting that 104 countries have endorsed the declaration to date, he called for more endorsements.

In his remarks, Muhammad-Bande said violent conflict had resulted in the displacement of no fewer than 30 million children.

The threat of disruption of education, according to him, has in turn triggered displacement.

We are witnessing the military occupation of schools, which causes the campus to lose civilian status, thus facing threats of attack as a lawful military target.

Furthermore, proximity to weapon-bearers places students at risk of forced recruitment, sexual violence, and abduction.

It is most disturbing that 70 years after the Geneva Convention came into being, we must continue to remind the world that students, teachers, and schools are protected as civilians and civilian objects under international humanitarian law.

We must take urgent action to protect and uphold the rights of children in all circumstances.

No one is above the law, and all perpetrators of attacks on education should be held accountable, Muhammad-Bande said.

He also urged countries that have yet to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration to do so, while also soliciting support for UNICEFs Change Agenda.

The International Day to Protect Education from Attack was established by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 74/275 on May 28, 2020.

In the resolution, member states reaffirmed the right to education for all and the importance of ensuring safe and enabling learning environments in humanitarian emergencies. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Primary school pupils

By Aderogba George

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Pyrates Confraternity has urged governments to review Nigerias education system before the end of 2030.

The NAS Capoon, Mr Abiola Owoaje who made the call in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said that governments should prioritise welfare and training of teachers and allied staff.

Owoaje said that there was the need to review every element of the education system including assessment and standard.

He called for deployment of appropriate resources and strategies including the use of technology, for greater efficiency.

According to him, governments must ensure that quality education would not be a privilege for only few people.

He added that students should have access to books and literacy programmes printed or digital by 2030.

He also urged governments to ensure students access to online delivery platforms.

Owoaje said that libraries must be made available, urging that governments should support, defend and promote intellectual freedom as provided for by the UN Declaration on Human Rights and its convention on the rights of a child.

NAS strongly believes that education is the right of the child.

It is the responsibility of governments, the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and citizens to ensure that every child receives the education he deserves.

It is necessary that our students have access to well-rounded education that must include exposure to a variety of classes from humanities, computer skills and reading to science and mathematics.

We urge the federal, state and local governments, private sector, international agencies, NGOs and all citizens to work it out, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Makinde promises to complete 351 primary healthcare centres before 2023

By David Adeoye

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has promised to complete no fewer than 351 model primary health centres across the state before the end of his administration in 2023.

Makinde, who made the promise on Wednesday in Saki town during the inauguration of the Saki Specialist Hospital, said that one primary healthcare centre would be built in every ward.

He reiterated his administrations commitment to improve healthcare facilities in the state, saying. quality healthcare delivery is a cardinal objective of this administration

According to him, the Saki Specialist Hospital is to be an observatory, isolation and treatment centre in support of efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

We also had the long-term goal of ensuring that the centre fits into our overall plan to improve the healthcare system in the state.

As a government, we leveraged on the outbreak of Coronavirus to rebuild and upgrade dilapidated healthcare infrastructures in the state, he said.

The governor stated that the hospital had a ten-bed Intensive Care Unit, two state-of-the-Art mechanical ventilators with humidifiers and patient monitors.

It also has a 12-bed High Dependency Unit with piped oxygen, 12-bed female general ward, 12-bed male general ward, an operating theatre and a recovery room.

We also have some high-end laboratory equipment capable of aiding research into infectious diseases. We have a parameter haematology analyser, clotting profile analyser, autoclave and biosafety cabinet, he said.

Makinde said the hospital had been equipped with two diesel generators to ensure constant electricity supply.

He said that the infectious disease centres built by the state government were the direct results of his administrations resolve to improve the healthcare sector.

The research that will be done at these centres will benefit our people, the centres will help to reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as Lassa fever, yellow fever, tuberculosis and others, he said.

The governor pledged his governments resolve to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities and the employment of qualified health personnel for effective service delivery.

Source: NAN News

Okowa with the Countrys Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Mr Vladimir Kreck, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Suleiman

Okowa with the Countrys Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Mr Vladimir Kreck, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar SuleimanGov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Wednesday blamed the high rate of poverty and geometric rise in population for the security challenges.

He said these were inhibiting the socio-economic development of the nation.

The governor stated this when the Countrys Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Mr Vladimir Kreck, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

Okowa said that there was the need to look at the totality of the governance approach to security reforms and not just about security agencies.

Many a times, we blame the security agencies, rather than addressing the root causes of the challenges.

The nation must address the critical issues concerning poverty and unemployment as well as the growing family size as a way of tackling insecurity in the country, Okowa said.

The governor thanked the Countrys Representative of KAS for his promise to give support in the area of security sector reforms.

He said that the nation needed reforms in the security sector to mitigate its security challenges.

The security situation in the country is as a result of the multiplicity of challenges that we have.

The unemployment situation is high, there is no doubt; the level of education is low.

So, when there is a lot of ignorance, the poverty rate is high and when you have a combination of all these, and more importantly is the fact that the population size is high.

He said that when poverty is combined with high population, it would lead to a very big problem, because one would be giving room to families that would continue to breed more and more poverty.

It creates a situation that the country would find very difficult to manage and that is exactly where we are heading to.

So, it is important that we look into the entire foundation to ascertain where we had gone wrong.

As we address the reforms in terms of approach, information gathering and even going into modern architecture, we must address the issues concerning poverty and unemployment and the growing family size, he said.

He said that until Nigerians were able to address the root cause of security challenges which borders on poverty, unemployment and the growing family size,they might not be able to tackle security issues frontally.

As populated as Nigeria is, the more secure that we are as a country, the better for the world because if we are not able to secure ourselves, we will create problems not only for ourselves, we create problems for the world.

So, I pray that your assistance will help in one way or the other to help lighten the security burden that we have at the moment.

With the cooperation of both national and sub-national governments, I am sure that we will definitely be in a position to begin to carry out reforms that will gradually change the scenario as we see it as today, because it is not the best, he said.

Okowa applauded the NILDS and KAS for their unwavering commitment toward building a strong legislative capacity in the country.

I want to appreciate you, people, for offering the services that you offer. I must also appreciate the NILDS because you have upped your games in trying to reach out to improve legislative capacity across the nation, he said.

Earlier, Mr Vladimir Kreck said that the mandate of the German Foundation was to support democracy and good governance, adding that they were in the state to promote the capacity of the legislature through training workshops.

He, therefore, commended Okowa for sustained support to the state legislature, in order to build capacity through training.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government has approved additional N8.9 billion to pay up the large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all Medical Health Workers in the country.

Sen Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment disclosed this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the end of the meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wenesday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that NARD had embarked on a total and an indefinite strike in all Federal and State hospitals in the country to press for its demands.

NARD demands include payment of the Medical Residency Training funding to all members as approved in the revised 2020 Budget, provision of genuine Group Life Insurance and Death in Service Benefits for all health workers.

Others are payment of outstanding April/May and June COVID-19 inducement allowance, determination of revised hazard allowance for all health workers as agreed in previous meetings with relevant stakeholders, immediate payment of salary shortfall of 2014, 2015 and 2016, among others.

Ngige said that implementation of the payment of the Special Hazard and Inducement Allowance has been concluded.

According him, the meeting was satisfied that the N20 billion already appropriated in 2020 COVID-19 budget has been exhausted.

He said the meeting, therefore, commended the Federal Government and Mr President for approving additional N8.9bn to pay up the large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all Medical Health Workers.

He added that this has been cash backed and the mandate sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments to start with effect from Sept. 9.

According to him, this will bring the total disbursement to about N288 billion.

Ngige noted that discussion for review of a Permanent Hazard Allowance for Health Workers would commence as soon as possible after consultation by the Minister of Labour and Employment with all stakeholders in the health sector.

He noted that based on the principles of ability to pay, this would cover all health workers in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and that the meeting would be convened as soon as possible in that regards.

The minister also said that on the Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), NARD had agreed that the Hospitals and Isolation Centres, have sufficient PPE.

He also said that on the provision of Group Life Insurance for Doctors and other Health Care Workers and payment of death-in-service benefit to next of kin/beneficiaries, that the government had paid the total sum of N9.3 billion (Nine billion, Three Hundred Million Naira) to Insurance Companies for Life Group Insurance and payment of death benefits for Health Workers.

Ngige also said that the enrollment for the Group Life Insurance would be by the submission of nominal rolls by the various Health Institutions, which NARD had been mandated at previous meeting to accomplish.

He said meeting also decided that NARD should submit copies of claims already made to the Insurance Companies through the hospitals to the Ministry of Health for onward transmission to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation that would ensure that the Insurance Companies pay the claims.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment should also be copied in that regards.

Ngige, however, said that on the issue of the Universal implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all Federal and State Hospitals, that the 2020 Appropriation Act was revised due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that the N4 billion appropriated for Residency Training under a wrong heading for Medical Residency Training was to be vired before expenditure.

He added that the process of amendment is therefore ongoing and is expected that this process and cash backing would be through in two weeks.

According to Ngige, on the payment of outstanding 2014, 2015, and 2016 arrears, the meeting recalled that it had been agreed that the issue will be further discussed post COVID-19 and therefore, no agreement was breached.

He also noted that on the issue of Consequential Adjustment of the National Minimum Wage that government would pay all owed arrears to members of the association and would also implement such in States Tertiary Health Institutions.

It was noted that those affected were the Youth Corps Members and House Officers, who are regarded as ad hoc staff and for State Hospitals, the Federal Government can only be persuasive.

It was recalled that NARD had been assigned the responsibility to submit a list from the defaulting hospitals to the Federal Ministry of Health for onward transmission to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, he said.

The minister further said that on the issue of domestication of the Residency Training Act by State Government, it agrees to recognise the autonomy of states within the Federation.

He added that the meeting agreed that the issue would be tabled at the National Economic Council and National Council of Health to persuade the states to domesticate the Act.

He also noted that on the issue Health Workers in the Medical Centres attached to Universities that the meeting agreed that workers had been tied with the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and negotiations concerning them would be on a different platform involving Federal Ministry of Education.

In view of these Understandings, NARD will consult with her Executive Council within the next 24hours with a view to calling off the strike by September 10, 2020.

Nobody will be victimized for any activity connected with or for participating in the industrial action, Ngige said.

Dr Sokomba Aliyu, NARD National President said that the meeting was successful as a lot of pledges and agreements were reached with timeline.

Following the outcome of this meeting, we are hoping that all of that will address the concerns of our members, so we shall be convoking a meeting immediate with our members on the way forward, he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that government agencies present at the meeting were representatives from Ministry of Health, Finance, Budget and National Planning and National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

Source: NAN News

By Olanrewaju Akojede

A two-day non contact Invitational Open tagged Sports is back with eight games will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), in a statement by its Director of Public Relations, Titi Oshod-Eko on Wednesday, said that the invitational tournament was to demonstrate the rebirth of Sports in Lagos.

This is coming after the lock-down to curtail the spread of novel Coronavirus and recent gradual reopening of sporting activities by the Lagos State Government.

The event will be held under a controlled Crowd/ Spectator management with Officials to enforce social distancing.

The sporting events to be competed for are: Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Dart, Abula , Ayo, Chess and Monopoly, she said.

The Chairman, LSSC, Sola Aiyepeku said everybody, not only in Lagos or Nigeria, but all over the world, needed sports to survive.

We are going to observe all the protocols for COVID-19 as approved by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 during this two-day event.

We will also demonstrate how to manage Sports, post COVID-19 to other States of the Federation.

We want to show that Lagos is always ready when talking about Sports.

Lagos State is the sporting hub in Nigeria and we must continue to demonstrate that, he said.

Aiyepeku disclosed that the two-day competition was meant for Athletes in Lagos State.

I want to assure that the championship will be a very exciting one, he said.

Source: NAN News

NCDC DG, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

By Abujah Racheal

Plateau state topped the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 296 new infections in the country.

Other states were Ogun, 16, Oyo, 7, Ekiti, 6, Kwara and Ondo, 5 each, Anambra, Imo and Nasarawa, 3 each, Rivers, Gombe and Edo, 2 each and Akwa Ibom, 1.

(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Samuel Ortom offers education support to Chibok, Dapchi girls

Gov. Samuel Ortom on Tuesday in Makurdi confirmed the arrest of Benues most wanted criminal, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, by soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke on the outskirts of Gboko.

Ortom disclosed the arrest to newsmen at a news briefing at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

He said Gana, who had surrendered to the Amnesty programme of his administration, was being escorted to Makurdi on Tuesday when troops of the operation whirl stroke arrested him at a security check point on the outskirts of Gboko.

He said Gana was on his way to the state capital in company of the Chairman of Katsina -Ala Local Government Council together with some of his gang members.

Ortom also disclosed that he had received 42 ex criminals from Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala who had denounced criminality and surrendered their arms in Makurdi.

He said that the Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Maj. Gen.Adeyemi Yekini, had confirmed to him earlier that they were carrying out an operation and were in possession of the wanted militia leader.

News Agency of Nigeira (NAN) reports that OPWS is the Federal Governments joint military operation mandated to flush out all criminal elements in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States.

NAN reports that the Benue Government had in 2015 granted amnesty to over 500 persons including Gana, but most of them had relapsed into criminality, including Gana.

The governor said that following the interception of the military, Gana and several others were whisked away together with the arms, adding that only 42 arrived Makurdi.

Gen. Yekini has confirmed to me that they are carrying out an operation and that he will brief me when they are done and that they are with Gana. So,I am waiting to hear from him, he said.

He said the State Government would exercise patience until the military briefed him on the matter.

Ortom said a total of 172 people left the three local government areas of Katsins-Ala, Ukum and Logo for the amnesty programme in Makurdi, but that only 42 arrived there.

He said Gana was driving in a Hilux van belonging to the Katsina-Ala local government chairman, Mr Afred Atera, his security officer, at the time he was arrested by the soldiers and taken away.

He explained that the officers also took several of the repentant criminals and the surrendered arms.

According to him, the decision to grant another round of amnesty for the people of Sankera was that of the traditional rulers, stakeholders from the area, including Sen. Gabriel Suswam.

The governor assured the repentant criminals that government would support them where necessary and that no condition was attached to the amnesty programme.

He urged them to remain committed to the amnesty programme and denounce criminal acts.

I welcome you all and thank you for denouncing criminality. This is the last time we are granting amnesty to you.

There is no condition attached to this amnesty like the 2015 one. Government will support you where necessary but it is not a condition,he said.

Ortom said that this was the last round of amnesty programme that would be granted to criminals in the State. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Military

By Sunday John

The Nigeria Army has confirmed the killing of Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, the most wanted criminal in Benue state.

The Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa state, Maj. -Gen. Moundhey Ali, told newsmen on Tuesday.

He said that Gana was killed at a roadblock mounted by the Army along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road following exchange of gunfire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Benue state government had in 2015 granted amnesty to over 500 persons including Gana, who were terrorising parts of Benue and Taraba states, but most of them relapsed into criminality.

Gana was later in 2017, declared wanted by the Police while the Benue state government placed a N10 million bounty on him.

According to Ali, the army has recorded another breakthrough in their efforts to rid the country of the activities of bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said: At about 12:00 hours today (Tuesday), we received strategic information on the movement of the dreaded bandit Terwase Akwaza Agbadu AKA Gana along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road.

Troops of Operation Ayem Akpatuma III moved swiftly and mounted snap roadblocks along the routes.

At about 13:00 hours, there was a meeting engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot out ensued and the bandit was killed.

The Commander also said that 40 armed members of Ganas gang were captured during the operation.

He said the captured gang members were in Army custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

Ali also disclosed that several rifles, pump action guns, ammunition, charms and explosives among other items were recovered from the gang.

He said Ganas corpse had been deposited in an undisclosed hospital mortuary. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Cross River Government says it has diversified its revenue generation from crude oil to cocoa.

Dr Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser to Gov. on Cocoa Development and Control, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ofuka said the state governments decision followed the dwindling earnings from crude oil.

He said that the state government had made huge investments in cocoa, adding that thousands of jobs had also been created in the process.

Our governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, was quick to realise that cocoa is the gold of Cross River.

This gold was relegated in the past when crude oil was discovered, but now we plan to ensure that the state takes the lead in cocoa production.

We have acquired 3,800 hectares of land for that purpose, and our youths have been sensitised and are ready to key into the cocoa initiative, he said.

The special adviser assured that Cross River had one of the best species of cocoa, which is easy to cultivate.

The brand of cocoa we cultivate is organic. It takes 18 months to germinate.

Between 2015 and now, the cocoa sector has employed more than 5000 youths in the state.

With the ceding of 776 oil wells to Akwa Ibom state, and Bakassi to Cameroon, the cocoa sector is now the major funder of infrastructural development in the state.

I am urging all Nigerians to go back to agriculture; Nigerians should think cocoa and dream cocoa because it comes with huge economic benefits, he advised.

He said that the government of Cross River had distributed improved variety of cocoa seedlings to farmers in the state as incentives.

We have raised 10 million improved varieties of cocoa seedlings for the rehabilitation of encroached areas and regeneration of moribund cocoa trees in government owned cocoa estates.

We have also expanded the Small Holders Scheme with more private sector participation in cocoa farming, which has led to the opening of mass cocoa farmlands across the state, he said.

He added that an ultra modern cocoa processing factory had been established in the state to further boost revenue from the sector.

Source: NAN News