DiSco Launches call centre in Port Harcourt.

By Desmond Ejibas

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) says it has inaugurated a state-of-the-art 24-hours call centre to reduce exposure of staff and customers to COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The PHED Managing Director, Dr Henry Ajagbawa said this on Monday while inaugurating the call centre at the companys headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Represented by Mrs Ochuko Amah, PHEDs General Manager of Services, Ajagbawa said the centre would handle complaints of customers in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states.

So, with opening of the 24-hours seven-days call centre, we are telling our customers not to come to us physically, especially during this pandemic to get their issues resolved.

The centre will resolve all issues ranging from payment transaction to complaints of whatever magnitude from customers.

PHED is bent on achieving the feat of becoming the number one electricity distribution company in Nigeria, he said.

Ajagbawa said that part of the companys strategy to achieving its target of becoming the best distribution company was to provide quality services to customers.

He explained that the centre would run on Interactive Voice Response (IVR) backed technology which would allow customers interact with a computer operated phone system.

The IVR will enhance customer satisfaction as well as increase efficiency in self service enquiry, complaints resolution via call agents and work from home option.

So, customers will have their issues sorted from the comfort of their homes by connecting our call centre on: 070022557433, he added.

The Commissioner of Power in Rivers, Mr Damiete Miller, who spoke through Mr Francis Odili, an official of the ministry, thanked PHED for its commitment to improve electricity in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nura Sani Kangiwa

By Priscilla Osaje
The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Alhaji Nura Kangiwa as the Director- General of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

The National President of FTAN, Alhaji Saleh Rabo, made the commendation in a statement signed by the associations Public Relation Officer (PRO) Mr Joesef Karim on Monday in Abuja.

He described the appointment of Kangiwa as a strategic game changer for the tourism industry in Nigeria.

Kangiwa is one of the most patriotic Pan-Nigerians I know, he is a thoroughly detribalised gentleman, and a stickler for improved standardisation of Nigerian hospitality sector, even to the extent of being globally competitive.

I trust in his intellectual capacity to transform NIHOTOUR, Nigerias flagship hospitality training institute into a world class knowledge destination for tourism business management, he said.

Similarly, Chief Abiodun Odunsawo, the President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals in Nigeria (ITPN) expressed satisfaction with Kangiwa appointment as the DG of NIHOTOUR.

According to him, Kangiwa is an outstanding fellow of the ITPN, the premier professionals body for our industry.

He added that Kangiwa being a tourism professional to the core, would add more advantage of diverse experience in Nigerias public and private sectors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement on Tuesday, said the President had approved the appointment of Kangiwa as the Director- General of NIHOTOUR.

According to the statement, the appointment takes effort from Sept. 1, 2020.

Meanwhile, Kangiwa has expressed gratitude to the president and Minister of Information and Culture for reposing confidence on him.

The appointee, who reflected on the appointment, said that it was an opportunity to serve Nigeria and his beloved tourism industry.

The aim is to rebuild NIHOTOUR to become an African Centre of Excellence for sustainable Tourism and Hospitality personnel training.

I will ensure we deploy the latest internet technology to fast-track tourism manpower development, especially post COVID-19.

I will focus on bridging the knowledge gaps in Nigerias Hospitality and Tourism Industry, including working with all national and international tourism institutions and stakeholders.

I will commit that NIHOTOUR mainstreams online training of Nigerian youths and women on international best practices in hospitality services.

I believe that in a post COVID-19 world, implementing qualitative internet training, and also establishing enduring national structure for tourists services standardization are the bedrock of building competitive tourist destinations in Nigeria.

Moreover, as a matter of industry emergency, I will rally stakeholders to implement a professional regulatory framework for Nigerian tourism business operations, he said.

Kangiwa, who hail from Kebbi State, is a tourism technocrat and promoter.

He has worked as Senior Special Assistant on tourism matter to the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Mr Abubakar Bagudu, with a clear mandate to restructure and rebrand the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival into a world-class cultural event.

He has a Post Graduate Diploma on tourism policy and strategy, also Bachelor in Political Science.

Until his appointment as the director- general of NIHOTOUR, Kangiwa was Vice-President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), North West Zone.

He also remains the Director-General of Argungu International Fishing

Airport

By David Adeoye

Ibadan Airport workers on Monday held a peaceful march round the major streets of the city to protest against Federal Governments plan to concession four international airports in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protest was organised under the umbrella of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE).

The two bodies and representatives of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners carried placards bearing different inscriptions.

Some of the inscriptions read: Airport concession lacks transparency, Nigerians rise against siege on our common patrimony, Job loss looms in the aviation industry and FAAN pay our pension liabilities.

Other inscriptions are: Our airports are undervalued, Federal Government, please resolve MM2 concession, Airport concessioning, a threat to aviation industry, Chinese loan repayment threatened by concession and selective concessioning, ploy to destroy FAAN.

The Chairman of ATSSSAN, Mr Oyewole Olayade, who spoke on behalf of the unions, said the protest was to air their views on the governments proposed concessioning of the airports.

Olayade listed the affected airports to include the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Aminu Kano Airport, Kano, Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja and Port Harcourt Airport.

Federal Government claimed that the airports are underdeveloped and cannot continue to fund them again.

Government now believes that it should invite private investors to come forward to invest so that there will be fund to develop the facilities.

Our stand has always been transparency. As critical stakeholders, we are supposed to be carried along in whatever government wants to do concerning concession.

These four major airports generate the bulk of our revenues, Olayade said.

He said that workers were convinced that the federal government was not transparent with the process of the concession.

He further said that the committee set up to examine the modalities on how the airports would be concessioned had yet to brief the national executive of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) unions.

Olayade said: The committee met with our national leadership, where our executive asked questions on the area to be concessioned but government could not come up with genuine answer.

At the meeting, they promised to get back to us on the modalities and procedure they want to use but to our surprise, they didnt come back.

All we hear, especially the last time the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, appeared before the National Assembly, is that federal government has commenced with the policy.

He made it clear that it was a government policy to concession the four airports and that there was no going back.

We know it is government property but the critical stakeholders should be carried along, Olayade said.

Also, the Chairman of NUATE, Gbenga Kayode, urged the federal government to carry the executives of the unions along in major policies that affect FAAN workers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Idonije Obakhedo

Mr Gbenga Adefaye, the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, has been appointed as Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja.

A statement signed in Lagos on Monday by former Ogun governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Chairman, Governing Council of the NIJ, said Adefaye would serve as Provost of the institution with effect from Sept. 1, 2020 pending the appointment of a new Provost.

He succeeds the former Provost, Mr Gbemiga Oluleye, who has served out his term meritoriously.

Adefaye was a former two-term president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

Theis a Nigerian monotechnic institute located at Ogba in Ikeja, Lagos State.

It is a diploma-awarding monotechnic established in 1963 by the International Press Institute. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Youths

By Abiodun Esan

Kwara Government says it will train 10,000 youths in virtual digital as part of its ongoing efforts to drive innovation and give young people the skills of the future.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye on Monday in Ilorin, said the three-month training would commence with the sales of form from Sept. 1 to Sept. 14.

Ajakaye quoted Muhammed Brimah, anchor of the Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP), as saying:

The virtual training, which is the second phase of a programme billed to benefit 30, 000 young people across the state in three years, targets 10, 000 applicants over the next two months in batches.

The government had earlier trained over 3, 000 in April during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The training becomes more imperative owing to the rise in the unemployment rate and a dearth of required skills to survive in the 21st-century.

Nigerias unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2020 stood at 27.1 per cent.

It means over 27 million are unemployed. The labour force has also rapidly changed.

Computer literacy and digital knowledge are increasingly vital to get employed in the emerging economy.

Although, Kwara fares better in the recent rating, we are taking further steps to upscale the competencies of our youths with relevant digital skills and certifications to position them better for opportunities.

KWASSIP is organising the free training in partnership with Grow with Google and Wootlab Innovation.

Registration is open to all interested youth through, the statement added.

The statement said the government was encouraged by the success of the last group as some of the graduates have started using the acquired skills judiciously.

We had a great first edition. We have taken lessons from it, which are being taken into this session.

It is fulfilling to see applicants in the last cohort doing well with graphic designs and digital marketing. That is the desired impact.

We are currently in talks with a global tech giant to ensure that our best graduates have access to more advanced courses. Youths are therefore urged to seize the opportunity, it added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje
Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have continued onslaught against banditry in the North West by killing and arresting more bandits in their latest operations across the zone, Defence Headquarters says.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, in a statement on Monday, said that more kidnapped victims were also been rescued.

Onyeuko said the troops arrested a suspected bandit named Lawali Dairu at Yauni village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State on Aug. 24, following a distress call from locals.

He explained that the suspect and one Ila Musa invaded the village to kidnap a woman but met strong resistance from local vigilante group in the area, adding that his accomplice escaped before troops arrived the village.

According to him, the suspect confessed during investigation that he is an associate of a bandit leader, Malam Yau hibernating in Tsafe forest, adding that concerted effort was being made to arrest his cohorts.

Onyeuko also disclosed that the troops had on Aug. 25 responded to a distress call at Daudawa village in Faskari about bandits attack leading to rescue of two kidnapped victims, arrest of one bandit while others escaped.

He further said that troops on fighting patrol on Aug. 26 encountered and rescued six persons wandering around Tungar Kaduku Forest who were discovered to be kidnapped victims from Damari village of Zamfara.

According to him, they also revealed that their escape was possible due to intense pressure by troops presence and operational activities in the area.

The rescued victims were immediately reunited with their families.

Similarly, on same day troops deployed at FOB Bena arrested a suspected bandit informant one Bello Abdulrahman around Mashaya Anguwan Abuja area of Bena town.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was responsible for giving out information to bandits on troops movement and identifying persons to be kidnapped for ransom in Bena general area.

Further investigation reveals that the suspect has strong connections with Rosha, Sadi Kaboru, Musa Dan Umoru and Dogo Gide who are notorious bandits in the area.

The suspect is in custody undergoing further interrogation, he said.

The operations spokesperson further disclosed that troops of FOB Danjibga arrested a suspected bandit named Zayyanu Kaura at Danjibga market on Aug. 27.

He said that the suspect confessed to be working for one Yakubu, a bandit leader who lives in Dutsen Kura forest, adding that the suspect was in custody for further action while efforts are ongoing to apprehend his group leader.

According to him, troops deployed at Mara laid ambush on suspected bandits who attempted to invade Gobirawa village on Aug. 28 with the support of the local vigilante.

During the ambush troops made contact with the armed bandits and engaged them with heavy volume of fire neutralising two of the bandits while others escaped with gunshot wounds as traces of blood were seen on their withdraw route.

During exploitation, troops also recovered one AK-47 Rifle and one Motorcycle from the fleeing bandits.

On the same day troops on fighting patrol around Tungar Makeri Village of Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, rescued two kidnapped victims who escaped from Gobirawa forest due to the activities of troops in the general area.

The victims were immediately reunited with their families in Dahuwa and Sabon Birni villages, he added.

Onyeuko also said the troops conducted a raid operation at some identified bandits hideouts at Gamji village on Aug. 28 leading to arrest of six suspects and recovery of one dane gun, one motorcycle and two cutlasses.

He added that troops deployed at Zakka also arrested three suspected bandits namely, Sagar Garba, Hafisu Mato and Suleiman Sada, acting on credible intelligence.

According to him, suspects were identified by locals to be members of a syndicate terrorizing the general area.

During preliminary investigation the suspects confessed their involvements in recent cattle rustling activities at Kwaya, Sabon Birni and Baure villages.

All arrested suspects are undergoing investigation while effort is ongoing to apprehend other criminals in the general area.

To this end, the gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY are commended for the successes achieved and their commitment to duty.

They are further urged not to rest on their oars until Northwest is rid of all forms of criminalities, while the good people of the Northwest are once more assured of troops commitment to safety of lives and property within the zone.

They are also encouraged to continue to avail the troops with timely and credible information that will assist them in the operation, he said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Another spat about coronavirus curbs on Monday erupted in Ireland, days after Phil Hogan was forced to resign as the EUs trade chief for flouting rules while visiting his homeland.

Weekend footage of revelers drinking on the streets of Killarney, a tourist-draw town in Irelands South-West, was branded disgraceful by Mayor Brendan Cronin.

Health official Paul Reid said the scenes were unfortunate, while Simon Harris, a former Health Minister, said there would always be people who do stupid things.

Michael Healy-Rae, an independent parliamentarian from the area, said the weekend hedonism in Killarney could have been avoided, if Irelands coronavirus curbs were relaxed to allow pubs re-open.

If our public houses are open, people will get alcohol in a measured and sensible way, Healy-Rae said.
Some pubs re-opened on June 29, on condition they serve a substantial meal to drinkers.

Re-opening for all pubs has been postponed three times; with the latest hold-up flagged.The uncertainty has angered owners who say the delays are disproportionate to the impact of the virus.

While Irelands number of new daily coronavirus cases increased in August, only 35 people are in hospital after testing positive for the virus.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Monday said that the number of positive COVID-19 cases across the African continent has risen to 1,245,230.

The centre noted that only five African countries account for about 70 per cent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, stressing that the death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic rose to 29,589 on Monday.

Some 975, 643 people who were infected with COVID-19 had recovered across the continent so far, it said.

Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the continent, South Africa alone accounts for about 50 per cent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, followed by Egypt which has eight per cent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, the Africa CDC said.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said that South Africa had so far reported 625, 056 cases and 14,028 deaths as at Monday.

Egypt is the second most COVID-19 affected country with 98,727 positive cases and 5,399 COVID-19 related deaths, it was noted.

Morocco, which has so far reported 61, 399 positive cases and 1,111 deaths, comes third with about five per cent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, while Nigeria and Ethiopia round the top five list.

According to the Africa CDC, the southern Africa region is the most affected area in terms of confirmed cases, followed by northern Africa and western Africa regions. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Olumide Adeosun, CEO of Ardova PLC

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Chief Executive Officer, Ardova Plc (AP), Mr Olumide Adeosun, has assured shareholders of improved profitability and value in the current financial year ending Dec. 31, 2020.

In a statement on Sunday in Lagos, Adeosun said the company would remain committed to delivering improved profitability and value for shareholders.

He said that improved profitability and value remained core component of the companys transformation agenda.

Adeosun added that AP would leverage new opportunities, innovation and partnerships that would further its goal to emerge as Nigerias energy provider of choice.

Commenting on the 2019 financial performance, he said the new management had the vision to create an energy firm that would become the brand of choice.

Following the entry of the new management in 2019, our vision is to create an energy firm that will become the brand of choice for consumers.

Our strategy to deliver on this goal is to be laser-focused in increasing operational efficiency and leveraging our core assets to maximise growth.

On this premise, we divested from our non-core subsidiaries, a strategic move that quickly resulted in a cleaner balance sheet and a healthy platform from which our resulting growth stems.

It is against this backdrop that we delivered a 31 per cent year-on-year growth in revenue and a 520 per cent year-on-year growth in profitability, he said.

Adeosun said that 2019 financial results marked the start of the companys repositioning plan.

The statement also quoted AP Chairman, Mr AbdulWasiu Sowami, as saying: The change in strategy introduced by our new management has begun to yield returns.

The evolution of our business model to one focused on improving operational efficiencies, leveraging existing core assets and positioning the company to be at the forefront of renewable energy distribution in Nigeria, has led to significant improvement in our top and bottom line.

We will continue to focus on delivering value to our shareholders as we continue
to drive the growth and profitability of our business, Sowami said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) teports that AP is a leading Nigerian integrated energy company with a network of over 450 retail outlets in Nigeria and significant storage facilities in Apapa, Lagos and Onne in Rivers.

Its primary service is to procure and distribute petrol, diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A cross section of final students of St Louis College, Jos.

By Oluwakemi Oladipo

Some education stakeholders in Lagos have lauded the state government on planned reopening of schools in an effort to gradually ease the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stakeholders made the commendation in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

The state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Saturday announced that tertiary institutions in the state would reopen from Sept. 14, while primary and secondary schools might resume from Sept. 21.

Mr Olawale Amusa, President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State Chapter, said that the decision was cheering.

He said that private school owners were set for resumption.

Since final year students of secondary schools resumed to prepare for WASSCE, inspectors from the state ministry of education have been going round schools, and none of our members was found wanting.

Reopening schools is long-awaited. Schools were closed for the past five months, and many of our members were unable to pay salary.

Those that were able paid their staff between 25 per cent and 50 per cent on monthly basis, he said.

Amusa said the resumption would make private school owners and teachers to start work.

Private schools associations in Lagos State and the ministry of education have been working together to ensure safety of children because they are the future of tomorrow.

For our association, we inaugurated NAPPS Quality Assurance Committee to go round and inspect our members schools; the committee submitted its report two weeks ago.

Those found below average were cautioned and necessary checklist given to them, he said.

Amusa said that requirements for schools ahead of the resumption, such as infrared thermometer, sanitiser and
wash-hand basins, were given to the members at a low cost.

Mr Adedoyin Adesina, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT), Lagos State Wing, said that NUT was delighted at the announcement.

According to him, teachers and students are tired of staying at home.

Adesina, however, said that some students engaged in meaningful activities such as learning entrepreneurial skills.

With the latest development, hopefully tertiary institutions can finish first semester in December 2020 so that they can start a new semester next year.

I am disturbed concerning primary and secondary schools because most of them did not finish or write second term examination.

I do not know how they will conclude second and third terms this year without it affecting the scheme of work, he said.

Adesina said that governments would need to restructure and refurbish public schools in order to comply with the World Health Organisations guidelines on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the federal and state governments need to start showing more concern on public schools because a lot of them lack tables, chairs, classrooms and so on, he said.

Mr Simeon Fowowe, National President, Association of Nursery and Primary Education Instructors in Nigeria (ANPEIN), said that reopening of schools in Lagos was a welcome development.

Fowowe said that education stakeholders such as parents , teachers caregivers, associations and heads of institutions were ready for the resumption.

By the records available, the number of COVID-19 infections has decreased, which means all hands must be on deck to prevent its further spread.

We must stick to the prescribed precautionary measures in all schools.

For our association, we have sufficiently equipped our members for the task ahead, he said.

Fowowe said that the association trained its members on how to cope with emergencies and on precautionary measures before, during and after teaching.

We appreciate Lagos State Government and its ministry of education for blazing the trail in this regard.

The ministry under Mrs Folashade Adefisayo as the Commissioner deserves a great deal of commendation for its initiative and promptness to tackle challenges facing schools in the Badagry Division, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhamadu Buhari has promised to deliver world class airport infrastructure to Lagos, Abuja and Kano International Airports to fast track social and economic development in the country.

Buhari made the pledge during the official reopening of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in Enugu Stateon Sunday.

The president, represented by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said he would not renege on his efforts to upgrade Enugu Airport to international world class standard.

He said the airport, which was closed down a year ago due to poor flight operations, was now ready for international flight operations.

The president said he was also ready to upgrade infrastructure facilities in other international airports in the country to a world class standard.

He said: We are proud to say that the completion we are witnessing today is indeed one of my testimonies to ensure that all our international airports are upgraded to world class infrastructure.

You may recall that the Enugu Airport runway, which is vital to the development of South-East economic, was closed a year ago, because it was in a bad condition which raised serious safety concern.

It was on this basis that I made it mandatory that N10 billion should be released for the rehabilitation of the Enugu Airport.

The N10 billion was expended on the taxiway, perimeter fencing, pilot lounge, car park, the terminal entrance, the link way, the radio equipment for the night operation at the airport and many more.

Buhari said that his administration would soon deliver the completion of the cargo and international terminals at the airport.

He said that the Ministry of Aviation had just released additional one billion naira for the completion of the terminal building at the airport.

The president said the challenge to the completion of the terminal include the availability of bitumen, the rainy season and the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Buhari then thanked all the South-East governors led by Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, asChairman of the region,for their supports in delivering the project at the stipulated time.

He also commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other agencies for their supports in spite of the lockdown.

In his remarks, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, commended Mr President for reopening of the airport at the stipulated time after closure of the airport a year ago.

Ugwuanyi described the airport as the best in the country, because of upgrade of the runway to a Performance Based Navigational equipment.

He noted that the equipment, being first of its kind, has the capacity to ensure flight landing in the night with lower visibility levels at the airport.

In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, thanked Mr President and the minister for completing most of the projects started by the former administrations.

Gbajabiamila, represented by Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejocha, a member of House of Representatives, pledged that the lawmakers would support the minister in his plan to improve the aviation infrastructure in the country.

The speaker said the House of Representatives would not hesitate to approve aviation fund brought before it with the speed of light.

Also, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, said: By the time I arrived at the airport this morning, I was short of words with the state of the art equipment that was used at the airport.

This is why I want to express my joy with the renovation that had been done to facilitate the socioeconomic activities in the state.

I wondered how the aviation minister was able to achieve this feat in spite of the downfall in the crude oil price in the world.

I am very delighted to be part of this historic occasion, because aviation is the backbone to economic development in the country, and every part of this country deserves attention.

Also, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Rep. Nnolim Nnaji, said that Enugu represents the East, just like Kaduna represent the Northern part.

Nnaji appealed to the aviation minister to build a new international terminal and cargo terminal for the airport.

He promised to give the minister all the legislative supports that would ensure that all airports in the country were upgraded to world class.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, said that reopening of the airport to domestic and international operations was a landmark achievement of this administration.

NAN reports that other notable dignitaries at the occasion included the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu; the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu; Chief Arthur Eze, among others.

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Alaba-Olusola Oke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it will not participate in the rerun of the local council poll scheduled to hold in weeks time in Ondo State.

The State Leader of the party, Mr Bode Iwaloye, made the declaration at a press briefing on Sunday in Akure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) had on Aug. 23 announced the cancellation of the council poll held on Aug. 22.

The commission had cited anti-election activities in four wards in the state as the reason for cancelling the poll.

ODIEC had also declared APC winners in all 199 wards in all the 18 local government areas in the state.

The affected wards are Akoko South West Local Government Area Ward 13 andWard 9, Igbara-Oke Ward 1 in Ifedore Local Government Area and Ward 6 in Akure North Local Government Area.

Iwaloye, who cited numerous irregularities and electoral frauds, said that the party took the decision because the local council poll was a sham and below expectations of the people of the state.

According to him, ADC will challenge the results of the election as being released by ODIEC.

He alleged that the election massively rigged in favour of the ruling party in the state, adding thatADC performed credibly in the poll but wasnot declared winner.

We wont go on any rerun.

The whole local government election, held on Aug. 22 was programmed to fail and when it was held, there was wide condemnation across the state

But we will take refuge in the ambit of the law.

We dont have any gun nor any weapon; this is not violence for violence but we will approach court since that is the only means we have, Iwaloye said.

He, therefore, called on international community, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and election observers to direct their search light on Ondo state, so that the reflection of the local poll would not repeat itself in the Oct. 10 gubernatorial poll.

He said that the party had also passed vote of no confidence on the person of Prof. Yomi Dinakin, the Chairman of ODIEC.

Also speaking, Mr Opeyemi Adefisan, the ADC Vice-Chairmanship candidate in the poll in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state, said that votes did not take place in thearea due non availability of electoral materials.

No ballot boxes were brought until 1.00 p.m. when they brought eight boxes and they took them back.

So, nobody voted in the local council area, Adefisan said.

He said that it was a surprise when APC candidate was announced as winners of the election in the area.

Also, Mr Alaba Ojo, the ADC chairmanship candidate, in Akoko South West,said that the party prepared well for the election but the outcome was like a war.

We have vehemently rejected the results of the poll and we will approach court at the appropriate time.

It was a DSS operative that rescued me that day.

The security agencies that were supposed to protect the election were seen, aiding the electoral frauds, he stated.

Dr Bakitta Bello, the ADC stalwart and former Speaker the state House of Assembly, said that the local council poll did not depict the pride of the state.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Federal Government on Sunday reopened Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, runway to flight operations.

The Minister of Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika, during the official opening ceremony in Enugu, said that domestic flight would start immediately while the international flight would begin on Sept. 5.

Sirika said that the project had cost Federal Government N10 billion.

It is a great pleasure for me to be in Enugu for this August occasion in the mount of August for the reopening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu for flight operations.

The local flight can come to start from today and the international flight on Sept. 5, once the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force has opened the gate to come in.

We are proud to say that this project is indeed a testimony to Mr Presidents commitment to infrastructure development in the country.

You may recall that the runway of this essential airport, which is vital to economic development of the region and the whole country at large, was in a very dilapidated stage and worse condition.

This raised serious safety concern. It was on this basis that I approached President Muhammadu Buhari on the urgent need to reconstruct the runway and other associated works, he said.

Sirika commended the Presidents instant approval of N10 billion to undertake the rehabilitation of the runway and some associated works.

According to him, the project consist of taxiway, linkway, emergency operation centre, car park, entrance of the gate, perimeter fence, perimeter road, terminal building rehabilitation, pilot lounge, instrument landing system that will allow landing duriing bad weather.

Others, he said, are communication device, new DHF radio and rescue equipment among others.

The minister said the focus would now be on delivering the Cargo terminal, the international terminal building and many more in the airport soonest.

He said he had approved N1 billion to continue the terminal building expansion being done by the Chinese.

Some of the challenges encountered include, lack of bitumen, COVID-19 lockdown, and even change of hands of company handling the project, removing of abattoir and radio masks among others, he said.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, commended Buhari for carrying out infrastructural developmental projects all over the nation.

According to him such move by the president will greatly improve socio-economic status of the country.

Adeyemi said the feat achieved in rehabilitating the runway in Enugu Airport would improve safety in the airport.

He urged all stakeholders in the region to further work together with the federal government to achieve more developmental goals.

Kudos to Mr President for doing this great work from limited resources available to him in order to ensure sense of belonging in the country.

I believe we will soon come back again to commission another important project, he added.

In his remark, the Director-General, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said it was a tough decision to close the runway on Aug. 24, 2019, as the airport was crucial part of FAAN operation for revenue generation.

But it was a decision we had to take in the interest of safety, security and economic interest of our people, our stockholders and all Nigerians at large.

Today, we assemble here to confidently reopen the runway to flight operations. I say confidently because we work with confidence in the business.

This confidence is a necessary ingredient and component of aviation. It runs far and wide in each and every aspect of aviation. Without confidence there will be no aviation, he said.

The director-general said FAAN acted fast when it realised that the confidence started going down regarding the Enugu runway.

Everything about aviation has to be of high integrity. That is why we worked to restore our integrity here in Akanu Ibiam International Airport runway as it stands today.

This is a land mark achievement, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Presidential Amnesty Programme office

By Emmanuel Afonne

A coalition of ex-agitators has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Col. Milland Dikio (rtd) as Interim Administrator of Amnesty Programme.

A statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Kingsley Muturu, Chairman, Amnesty Phase II, Delta Chapter, described Col. Dikios appointment as a right step in moving the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme forward.

Muturu said that the appointment was a bold statement and a sign of great confidence the president reposed in the capabilities of Col. Dikio to move the programme forward.

He advised the new coordinator to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors so as to distinguish himself in the discharge of his duties.

We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Col. Milland Dikio as the coordinator of the Amnesty Programme. In our opinion, Col. Dikio fits the bill; he is a round peg in a round hole.

The new coordinator should bring his wealth of experience garnered during his meritorious service in the Nigerian military to bear on his new assignment.

Col. Dikio should see this as a call to serve and avoid the obvious mistakes of his predecessors. His predecessors shipwreck should be his ship mark, he said.

According to him, he should avoid the pitfalls, distractions and the lucre of office and concentrate on delivering on the mandate of the Programme for the benefit of those it is intended for.

We are ready to work with the new coordinator to achieve the desired result.

We know he is capable and can deliver the goods, but our advice to him is to focus and avoid sycophants who dont want anything good for the region.

His immediate focus should be on key areas capable of restoring the peoples confidence that the program is meant for them, Muturu said.

According to him, such key areas like the scholarship scheme should be given priority attention.

In the last six months, students, both on local and foreign scholarships have not been paid; we plead with him that as a matter of urgency, this should be tackled.

The new coordinator should know that the amnesty programme is critical in maintaining peace in the region and therefore must see this opportunity as a call to contribute his quota in achieving such peace, he added.

The appointment of Col. Dikio followed the suspension of Prof. Charles Dokubo as a result of numerous allegations of fraud and financial infidelity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Emergency services carry a body at the dock of Le Castella after a migrant boat caught fire during rescue operations off the coast of Crotone, with some people still missing according to Italian media, Italy Aug. 30, 2020. (Reuters photo)

At least three migrants, two men and a woman, died when a fire broke out on a boat carrying around 20 of them close to the southern coast of Italy on Sunday, police and health officials said.

Another five migrants were injured and taken to hospitals, health authorities in the Italian port city of Crotone said, adding that two of them were in a serious condition.

Two finance police officers were hurt as they tried to steer the migrant ship to safety, commander Emilio Fiora was reported as saying by AdnKronos news agency.

He said the ships engine caught fire and there was an explosion.

Fiora added that searches were going on to make sure that everyone had been rescued.

Italy used to be a major route into Europe for hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and other migrants, but numbers fell sharply after a crackdown in Libya on smugglers.

However, there has been a pick-up in 2020 although Rome has closed its ports to migrant boats, saying it is impossible to help migrants due to the coronavirus crisis.

Some 18,000 migrants have reached Italys shores so far in 2020, Interior Ministry official data showed, compared to around 4,900 in the same period in 2019. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NLNG Logo

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), has donated medical equipment to Edo and Adamawa States, as part of its contribution to the N11.4 billion Oil and Gas Industry Collaborative Initiative.

The company disclosed this in a statement by Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development on Sunday in Abuja.

She said that the N11.4 billion donation was spearheaded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to fight the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Edo and Adamawa States are the fourth and fifth respectively, to benefit from the companys COVID-19 donations, under the initiative, worth N476 million.

Other states that have benefited include Lagos, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, she said.

She noted that the donations were made by NLNGs Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tony Attah, who was represented by Fatayi-Williams.

She added that the donations, worth over N234 million, would go to support COVID-19 response by the state governments as well as support the Stella Obasanjo Memorial Hospital, Benin, and the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

The equipment donated in Edo State include electric 4-section profiling hospital beds, alpha active mattresses, portable patient monitors with digital technology, dual-channel IBP, EtCO2 (sidestream) PHASEIN, thermal array recorders, wall mount for truscope series and volumetric infusion pumps.

Others include boxes of infusomat space line standard, infusion syringe pumps, boxes of perfusor line, perfusor syringes (20ml and 50ml) and docking stations for pumps.

Also donated by the Company were Fred PA- I, suctioning machine, bedside cabinets, overbed table examination lights, bedhead service system, cubicle curtain, crash cart, patient trolley-LG20, drug trolley, clinical waste bin, sharps bins, drip stands, units of DVT prevention system, DVI garments (calf), and chart board trolleys, she said.

Fatayi-Williams said that in Adamawa State, NLNG donated ventilators, syringe pumps, suction machines, defibrillators, ICU bed, bedside cabinets, mattresses, pillows and hospital cart (resuscitation carts).

The state also received I -Stat reagent/blood gas/electrolytes analyser, I-Stat cartridge and analyser, infusion pumps, haematology auto-analysers, chemistry analyser and blood/fluid warmer.

Other items include electronic patient monitors, coagulometer, CRRT machine, blood bank cold centrifuge 8 buckets, dental chair, Apheresis machine, Dicom printer (OKI) ES8431 DME

President Buhari

By Lydia Ngwakwe

President Muhammadu Buhari, among over 2,500 participants across the globe, are expected to participate in a virtual Banking and Finance Conference being organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, Chairman, Consultative Committee of 13h Annual Banking and Finance Conference and MD/CEO, Ecobank Nigeria, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Akinwuntan said that the conference with the theme: Facilitating a Sustainable Future: The Role of Banking and Finance will hold on Sept.15 and Sept. 16.

According to him, the Chief Host of the conference would be Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Mr Bayo Olugbemi, CIBN President would be the host.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, this years edition of the conference will be executed using the hybrid of virtual and physical platforms, with strict adherence to the preventive protocols against the spread of the pandemic.

While over 2,500 participants across the globe are expected to participate virtually, there will be two physical locations for the conference, Akinwuntan stated.

He said that the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and the Ijewere Hall of the Bankers House, Victoria Island, Lagos would be locations for the conference.

According to him, the conference will feature five Business and two Break-out sessions.

It will provide participants a platform to connect with other professionals and industry stakeholders across the world.

The conference chairman further said that the conference would brainstorm on strategic issues that are critical to building a sound and sustainable financial ecosystem and economy.

Akinwuntan said the resolutions at the event would be made available to relevant stakeholders and policy makers to enable them reappraise and align their operations and strategies in line with global best practices.

Dignitaries expected at the event are President Muhammadu Buhari, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana and Nigerias Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Mr Mohammed Musa, FCT Minister, are also expected among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lyon FC ladies celebrating their fifth womens champions league title

Striker Eugenie Le Sommer scored one goal and made another as Olympique Lyonnais beat VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 to win the UEFA Womens Champions League for an unprecedented fifth time in a row.

Called up to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Nikita Parris, Le Sommer collected the rebound from her own shot and swept the ball home.

The 25th minute goal put the French side ahead in the match played at San Sebastin in Spain.

With Wolfsburg struggling to hold on to the ball, Saki Kumagai struck a hammer blow for Lyon two minutes before half-time.

She scored with a superb left-foot strike from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.

Alexandra Popp threw the German side a lifeline 10 minutes into the second half, reacting quickest to head Ewa Pajors cross into an empty net and spark the game into life again.

Wolfsburg looked much more threatening in the second half as Danish striker Pernille Harder, who is reported to be joining English Womens Super League side Chelsea this week, caused havoc.

She had dropped deeper to get on the ball.

But, in spite of a much-improved performance in the second half, Icelandic midfielder Sara Bjoerk Gunnarsdottir put the game beyond doubt late in the day.

She steered home Le Sommers shot in the 88th minute to secure Lyons fifth successive Champions League title.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Newly elected National President of AMP, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (3R) delivering acceptance speech; clad by other elected Executive members of the association

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker and entertainment executive, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe has emerged the new National President of the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) at an election held in Asaba, Delta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election which ended late on Saturday saw members of AMP from various states voted for their new leaders who would paddle the affairs of the association for the next two years.

Anyiam-Osigwe at the end of the election polled 167 votes to defeat her opponent, Mr Michael Parish who polled 3 votes, while the Vice President, Queen Blessing Ebigieson polled 165 votes to beat Miss Rose Okwoli who polled only four votes.

Anyiam-Osigwe, succeeded the immediate past president, Mr Ralph Nwadike, who had completed his two term of two years each.

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, who declared the occasion opened, lauded the association for painstakingly weathering the storm of sustaining the movie and entertainment industry with little or no support from the government.

The governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Lawrence Ejiofor, said the association had attained a great success despite the economic and environmental challenges.

You have achieved great feat on your own in the movie and entertainment industry; As a state, we have decided to support you by making you landlords in Delta.

We have heard your challenges and I can assure you that they will be things of the past, because here in Delta, you will operate freely as landlords.

We are building a film village for you to keep you permanently here and this project, hopefully will be ready in 2021; so, your challenge after now is to beat Hollywood, the Governor said.

The immediate past president of the association, Nwadike, called for support from all members to enable the newly elected executive deliver on promises.

He noted that despite the challenges, the industry had achieved a lot without much of governments support, adding that there was the need to consolidate on the achievements.

I want you to give support to the new executive whose mandate is to deepen the associations achievements over the years.

Nigeria is one, we have one Nollywood and we have one AMP, we are film makers and we are businessmen, we must stop in-fighting and support the new executive to enable the association get value for its money, he said.

Nwadike thanked Okowa for his administrations commitment to build a film village as an incentive to producers to thrive and make Delta a Nollywood base and home.

On his part, Zeb Ejiro, a veteran in the industry, said the election was a turning point for the movie industry while thanking them for chosen Asaba for the national election.

In her, response, Anyiam-Osigwe, appreciated the association for electing her as the president and pledged to deepen the achievements of the association by opening other channels to enable members get value for their money.

She promised that the irony of the country being the second largest producer of movies in the world, but ranked poorest would be reversed

The new president assured that piracy would be checked to protect intellectual property and pledged to open operational database for producers in order to create contacts for members

While calling for a review of the associations constitution to form a working document, she promised to explore opportunities in community cinemas, terrestrial television and the cable networks to ensure producers get value for their money.

Distribution will not be a challenge as we shall explore the African market and if we can get only one per cent of the market, it will be a great gain.

We shall build the value chain by engaging and integrating almost 70 per cent of movie producers in Nigeria, she said.

The new president thanked the members and all who made the process of the elections possible and promised to carry everyone along in the delivery of her electoral promises.

Other elected executive members are, General Secretary, Mr Baba Agba; Financial Secretary, Mr Anthony Chukwuma; Publicity Secretary, Mr Nzeh Frankwyte; and the Provost, Mr Vitus Nnebu.

NAN reports that veterans in the industry who graced the event include, Fred Amata, Emma Ogugua, Tony Ani, Lancelot Imasuen, Franca Brown, Imagbon Abia, Sunny Macdon and Paul Obazele, a two term president of AMP.

Earlier, Macdon, the Chairman of the Election Committee, said 18 states participated in the election which was conclusive, free and fair.

Speaking with NAN, Mr Adamu Sokonko, Gombe AMP State Chairman, said the national conference had helped in fosterIng unity.

He underscored the need for production of movies that would explore culture to promote understanding and unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the country.

On his part, Imasuen, called on the government to create the needed enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

We need serious regulations to check piracy and the law enforcement agencies need to be educated on areas that concerns the infringement on property intellectual rights, he said.

Imasuen also enjoined the government to give tax incentives and provide vital equipment that would help their members to produce films that could compete globally. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi did not attend a pre-season medical with FC Barcelona on Sunday, a Barca club source has confirmed.

This is the last latest development, following his shock announcement on Tuesday that he wants to leave the club.

Reuters footage showed players arriving for coronavirus tests on Sunday morning and Messi did not appear.

He had been due at FC Barcelonas training ground at 10:15 a.m. local time.

Players had been given staggered appointments throughout the morning until midday.

Media reports on Saturday said Argentine Messi would not undergo a pre-season medical or attend training on Monday.

The 33-year-old six-times world player of the year informed his lifelong club on Tuesday he wished to leave immediately.

His request plunged Barca into new turmoil less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 UEFA Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich.

Messis lawyers plan to invoke a clause in his four-year contract, signed in 2017.

The clause in the contract which expires in 2021 would have allowed the forward to leave the club for free if he had requested it by June 10.

They will argue that that date - nominally the end of the season - is now irrelevant after the coronavirus delays which led to the seasons extension and the team playing deep into August.

Under the terms of the contract, the only way Messi can leave without the clubs consent is if another club pays his release clause of 700 million euros (833 million dollars).(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News