Aero

By Yunus Yusuf

Airline operator, the Aero Contractors, is set to begin shuttle services from Kaduna to Abuja from Tuesday, Sept. 1, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

Sanusi said the operation was in response to the yearnings of airline customers.

He said the airline realised that the train service cannot accommodate many people that would want to travel, due to high demand.

So, it has decided to introduce this shuttle service.

The airline chief said Aero would deploy its Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft and would fly from Kaduna to Abuja twice daily in the morning and in the evening.

He said: A flight with our Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft will take about 30 minutes to get to Abuja, which is against two hours by rail.

In order to serve our customers better, we decided to respond to the call to deploy aircraft between these two major cities.

We are starting with two flights daily and will review as demand increases.

We know that economic activities are picking up, especially in Kaduna after the COVID-19 lockdown.

This is our contribution to the speedy economic recovery of the state and Nigeria.

The airline chief noted that travellers from some northern states had shunned travelling by road due to security threats.

After shunning travelling by road, Nigerians from Kaduna resorted to travelling to Abuja by rail but the rail system can no more meet the high demand of commuters, thereby making air shuttle necessary.

The airlines decision to shuttle between the two cities has become a huge relief to business people, administrators and many others, he stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19: Delta Govt. acquires ventilators, says wont be overwhelmed by covid-19

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has inaugurated the States Economic Council, with a charge to members to institute a strong, credible and enduring platform for diversification of the economy.

The governor, at the ceremony, in Asaba on Friday, urged the council to proffer viable alternatives, to build strong public and private partnerships.

They were also to formulate policies and practices that promote institutional transparency and accountability, including systematic disclosure of accurate and reliable financial information.

The council, headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, with the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Barry Pere-Gbe as Secretary, were also expected to enhance business competitiveness.

Okowa charged the body to ensure policies that would create confidence in the investing public and provide innovative strategies for expanding the tax base and improving tax efficiency of the administration.

The governor said the council would initiate reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management systems, including budget management, mid-year budget reviews designed to align annual budgets to emerging scenarios and trends.

He said the inauguration was in line with the State Economic Planning Council Law Cap D14, Laws of Delta State 2008.

According to him, constituting the council is one of the many steps his administration is taking to build a stronger Delta.

The governor said the council had power to formulate and prepare long, medium and short term development plans for the state and local governments.

He said they could do so within the framework of the national objectives and priorities, and transmit same to the National Planning Commission.

As with other sub-national governments and the national government, our economic situation is regrettably still fragile, depending largely on oil earnings and, therefore, vulnerable to price volatility and commodity booms and busts.

Let me stress that we must continue to improve our credibility rating on issues concerning transparency and accountability, not only among our people, but also in the eyes of the business and investment community.

If we are to mobilize the level of support and partnership required to actualise our stronger Delta vision, we must continue to rationalise expenditures, maximise value for money and ensure good project selection to enhance judicious allocation of resources, Okowa said.

He recalled that the average annual growth rate of the state from 2013 to 2015 was 8.9 per cent, but that it had accelerated to an annual average of 13.2 per cent from 2015 to 2017.

Delta did not only surpass the national average on both indices of economic development, but climbed up the rung in the rank of states, especially in the poverty-to-population ratio.

Lagos led the chart (4.5 per cent) of prosperous states on poverty-to-population ratio followed closely by Delta (6.0 per cent).

Delta took a leap forward both in terms of the number of people who migrated from poverty to prosperity, and those rescued from the unemployment market.

More importantly, the economy is now well positioned to engender inclusivity and sustainable development.

We are committed to sustaining this momentum in the Delta State Medium-Term Development Plan (2020-2023) which has been finalized and would soon be unveiled to the public.

This second plan encapsulates the strategic imperatives of our stronger Delta mantra.

Our goal remains to grow the economy in a manner that is rapid, inclusive, sustained and susstainable, he said.

Responding on behalf of members of the Council, Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, commended the governor for his proactive steps at ensuring security of lives and property in the state.

He expressed confidence that the council would take the right steps to ensure that economic processes and procedures are not just established, but seen to be operational and contribute to the development of Delta.

Other members of the council are Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief Chika Ossai; Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah; Commissioner for Justice, Mr Peter Mrakpor; Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oviemuno Oghoore.

The representative of the Delta State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA) and Representative of Delta State Economic Recovery Advisory Council (DERAC) and others made the council list.

Source: NAN News

FRSC to sell impounded vehicles in Niger

By Obinna Unaeze

Minna, Aug. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps in Niger has said that it would auction impounded vehicles that have overstayed in its formations across the state.

This was contained in a statement on Friday in Minna by Corps Commander Joel Dagwa, Sector Commander and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to the statement, in view of the above, members of the public whose vehicles are in the custody of the FRSC are hereby advised to come with evidence of ownership and evidence of payment of fines and demurrage.

The statement urged the affected persons to fulfill the conditions within two weeks of the notice to avoid their vehicles being auctioned in accordance with the provisions of the FRSC establishment Act.

Source: NAN News

Investigation into Lagos helicopter crash begins - AIB

By Yunus Yusuf

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria, says it has commenced investigation into an accident involving a Helicopter Bell 206B3 operated by Quorum Aviation coming from Port Harcourt to Lagos, which occurred on Friday morning.

Mr Tunji Oketunbi, General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB Nigeria, confirmed the development in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

We have began investigation into the accident involving a Helicopter Bell 206B3 with the Nationality registration Marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation coming from Port Harcourt to Lagos.

The accident which occurred on the Aug. 28 at the Opebi Area of Ikeja, Lagos, with three passengers onboard, recorded two fatalities.

As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip.

We will also need other relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation, he said.

Oketumbi urged the public to contact the bureau on its official communication channels:Mobile App: AIB-NWebsite: www.aib.gov.ngTwitter: @aibnigeriaInstagram @AIB_Nigeria

He said others were on Facebook: AIB NigeriaEmail:/WhatsApp: 234807 709 0900, 0807 709 0928

Oketumbi said the bureau would appreciate the general public and media to respect the privacy of the people involved and not to assume the cause of the accident until formal report was released.

Source: NAN News

Pharmacy council advises youth against indiscriminate use of drugs

By Felicia Imohimi

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), has urged the youth to desist from drug abuse in order to fulfill their potential and ensure national development.

Dr Elijah Mohammed, Registrar of the council, made the call on Friday at the advocacy workshop on Say no to illicit drugs among the youth in Bayelsa.

The workshop was organised by the council in collaboration with Sen. Diri Duoye, the Governor of Bayelsa.

Mohammed noted that every nations workforce consisted predominantly of both the young people in their prime and the middle aged.

According to him, the contributions of these groups to national development cannot be over-emphasised in view of the various inputs that the category of people adds to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is, also a known fact that controlled medicines such as narcotic drugs have two different potential:

The potential to be used for medical and scientific purposes and also to be diverted to illicit channels for trafficking and abuse, which in effect could jeopardise the wellbeing of the populace.

Curiosity and peer pressure are major reasons people, especially school children and young adults, embark on non-medical drug use.

Mohammed noted that the platform would serve as a vehicle to further achieve the key objectives of providing a platform of interaction to increase awareness on the subject matter.

He added that it would discourage indiscriminate use of medicines and other substances of abuse among the populace especially the youth.

The registrar said that the goal of the workshop was to explore and promote economic development potential among the Nigerian youth.

According to him, it will help the target audience understand and appreciate the fact that it is profitable to live a healthy lifestyle without necessarily engaging in the indiscriminate use of illicit substances.

The registrar noted that based on the 2019 World Drug Report (WDR), in 2017 an estimated 271 million people, or 5.5 per cent of the global population aged 15 to 64 had used drugs in the previous year.

He, however, identified that the Drug Use in Nigeria Survey report released in January 2019 as the first ever comprehensive, nation-wide, survey examined the extent and patterns of drug use in the country.

According to him, based on the report the drug use prevalence in Nigeria is 14.4 per cent or 14.3 million people between the ages of 15 to 64 years.

This is comparatively higher when compared to global prevalence rate of 5.5 per cent as per World Drug Report 2019.

The highest used drug in Nigeria is cannabis (10.6 million) followed by opioids (4.6 million), while non-medical use of prescription opioids and cough syrups is (2.4 million).

He noted that prior to the Drug Use Survey by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Nigeria, PCN proposed to the ministry of health to constitute a Multi-ministerial, Multi-agency and Multi-sectoral Committee on drug use.

The proposal is to be tagged Codeine Control and Other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG) to extensively x-ray the issues of drug use in Nigeria and come up with appropriate recommendations to address the problems.

The Memorandum received approval of the Minister and CCRWG was inaugurated on January 23, 2018, he noted.

The registrar emphasised that the Federal Government was committed to the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).

He noted that the objective of the NDDG was to streamline and sanitise drug distribution channels with a view to reducing non-medical access to medicines of abuse.

According to him, the process will involve closure of all open drug markets and relocation of operators of the markets to the already approved Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs). (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AFDB President

By Dorcas Elusogbon

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has congratulated Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, over his re-election as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Ooni expressed his heartfelt joy through a statement signed by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Moses Olafare, obtained by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Ile-Ife.

He explained that Dr. Akinwunmis re-election is a product of his good character and hard work.

Omoluabi is the name we descendants of Oduduwa call good character and it is the same way we address people like our very unique Dr. Akinwumi Adesina with such unique human quality.

Aside from being an Omoluabi with enviable human qualities, records of the re-elected AfDB president show hard work, love for ones country and uprightness.

The entire Oduduwa race is indeed proud to have this gem among us; from his humble beginning as a farmers child to his days as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Adesina has been known as a man of due process and this dissolved the negative charges against him during his re-election bid.

Rather than the probe work they were hired to do, both internal and external auditors at the AfDB ended up appraising the genuine son of Oduduwa for his blemish-free administration.

On behalf of the entire race of Oduduwa globally, I am delighted to congratulate our good son, while I wish him a successful tenure. Ooni Ogunwusi said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Adeniyi Adebayo, minister of trade and Investment,

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government says the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) reforms are geared towards enhancing Nigerias high ranking in World Bank Ease of Doing Business (EODB) index.

Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said this on Friday in Keffi, at a workshop on Improvement of Business Enabling Environment and Industrial Policy Growth.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) recalls that PEBEC was established in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove constraints and bureaucratic bottlenecks to doing business in Nigeria and make the country progressively easier to start and grow business.

Nigeria presently ranks 131 out of 190 countries on the World Bank EODB index moving up 15 places from 146th position.

Sani-Gwarzo, while declaring the two-day workshop opened, said that PEBEC organisation had put together reforms geared toward making it more convenient for business owners including local businesses to thrive.

World Bank rank economies according to so many criteria but today the most important set of criteria is the EODB, while high EODB ranking indicates a regulatory climates that is conducive for local businesses.

PEBEC organisation put together reforms geared toward making it more convenient for business owners to thrive by removing the constraints and bureaucratic bottlenecks to doing business in Nigeria.

This allows pioneer businesses to enter specific areas with inclusive growth potential, especially in agriculture, health, electricity among others, the permanent secretary said.

In addition, he said the President on August 21 also assented to the Companies Allied Matters Bill, 2020 recently passed by the national assembly.

According to him, this important piece of legislation therefore, repealed and replaced the extant Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990 with several corporate legal innovations geared toward enhancing Ease of Doing Business rankings.

This Ministry is the focal implementing Agency of government saddled with responsibility of promoting EODB and promotion of Industrial policy growth hence it puts together the sensitisation workshop in the North Central Geo-Political Zone to be replicated in other zones.

Soon Nigeria will have regulations for businesses and stronger protection of property rights, especially in enforcing contracts, starting a business, registering property, paying taxes with borders taking cue from the World Bank reform activites under EODB, he said.

In a remark, Mr Alabi Samuel, Director, Human Resources Management of the ministry, said the theme of the workshop was appropriate in view of present reality confronting Nigeria as a nation emphasising the need to diversify sources of revenue in order to survive.

He said the nation must concentrate more on comparative advantaged sectors rather than depending solely on oil.

According to him, the mandate of the ministry is to formulate policies, that will help create wealth and employment, reduce poverty and ensure enhanced service delivery in a manner that will stimulate domestic economy through industrialisation, trade and investment.

Alabi explained that the ministry has been the implementing agency charged with onerous responsibility of stimulating growth, expanding industrial base of the nation and ensure implementation of policies.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is organised to build the capacity of the staff and critical stakeholders as players and active participants to be equipped as ambassadors of EODB to promote business sensitisation in the grassroots.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 296 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

The NCDC, which made this known on its official twitter handle on Thursday, added that onlyone death was recorded in the country.

It said till date, 53,317 cases had been confirmed, 40,726 cases discharged while 1,011 deaths had been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The health agency disclosed that the 296 new cases were reported from 17 states.

The NCDC said that Plateau recorded 85 of the 296 cases, followed by Enugu with 46, Oyo with 31 and Lagos 21.

Others states included Rivers-20, FCT-15, Kaduna-13, Bauchi-12, Delta-11, Ekiti-11, Akwa Ibom-7, Ebonyi-6, Kwara-5, Ogun-4, Osun-4, Gombe-3, and Niger-2.

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

Meanwhile, the agency said that it was not oblivious that the COVID-19 was a battle that would be fought for sometime.

According to the agency, the country is currently in the community transmission phase that requires the collective efforts of every Nigerian to win the fight against the virus.

The agency, however, said that it remained committed to providing support and strengthening the COVID-19 response across the states of the federation.

NCDC reminded Nigerians that clothes and masks provide protection against the spread of the virus when properly worn and cared for.

Wear mask covering your nose and mouth. Handle mask with clean hands and wash cloth face masks after each use, it said.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

By Abujah Racheal

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says the Federal Government will support the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), to meet international standards in researches into the development of a vaccine for the Coronavirus.

Ehanire said this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 joint briefing in Abuja.

He said the government would support NAFDAC to reach international maturity level and encourage researchers to work towards the development of vaccines for the virus.

Ehanire said Nigeria participated in a World Health Organisation (WHO), African Regional Conference, held virtually and chaired by the Minister of Health of the Congo.

He said the conference was centered on COVID-19, addingthat conversation were on vaccines and implementing the African Region sickle cell strategy.

We shall sustain our interest in developments around COVID-19 and seek opportunities to exchange ideas with countries and organisations investing in new knowledge.

NAFDAC is also trying to reach the maturity level to assure that the product and processes that come out of research work in Nigeria towards the development of vaccine candidates are realizable and that they meet the required standard

The onus lies not only with the Ministry of Health, but is a shared responsibility with the populace.

Our safest, easiest and cheapest option of achieving a balance between saving livelihood and saving lives remains adherence to non-pharmaceutical measures, as we have preached so many times. With these measures, we can balance and uphold our indices, even as we reopen our economy.

The minister, however, urged Nigerians not to relax in observing the COVID-19 preventive measures, saying that the virus would still remain for the foreseeable future, till there was a vaccine available for it.

With the imperative to reopen the economy, relax local and international air travel to support restoration of livelihoods, the minister noted that the experience in other countries was that COVID-19 infection rates have gone up and in some cases, dramatically.

Ehanire, therefore, said Nigerians must strive not to lose its attention to preserve lives or lose the gains it has made over the months.

He also said that training and retraining on infection prevention and control was ongoing in all health facilities as well as ensuring availability of PPE as an investment, to continue the reduction in health worker infections.

Ehanire called on health workers to ensure judicious and prudent use of PPE materials, while observing full Information Prevention Control (IPC), measures.

The minister recalled that Nigeria, was on Aug. 25, declared poliovirus free, he therefore, said all material and human resource assets from polio eradication would be deployed to surveillance and fighting other disease outbreaks, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hamza Suleiman

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has inaugurated the Tukur Buratai Institute for War and Peace built as part of the concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of insurgency in the Northeast.

Speaking at the event, Zulum lauded the foresight of the Nigerian Army in building the institute, located in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of the state.

Zulum regretted that the insurgency had inflicted debilitating impact on the state and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

He said: Our dear state is the worst affected with many citizens still in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

Im not unaware of where we were before the inception of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration and the successes recorded by the military in the war against terrorism.

With the level of destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people from their communities, we have the task of rehabilitating them.

The task before us now is to return the people to their communities and restart their means of livelihoods.

The governor said that it was for such reason that the state government was devoting its limited resources to empower and encourage the people to return to their communities.

The army is a reliable partner in this endeavour, he said, adding that the state government shall work with the institute to design a template and programmes for peace building, reconstruction and development of the communities.

He appreciated the sacrifices of gallant troops, saying, We shall continue to support the Armed Forces.

When we occasionally criticise them, we do so with a view to improving on our successes and not out of lack of appreciation.

In a remark, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, regretted that one of the greatest challenges facing the world today is terrorism with its huge toll on human lives.

Buratai said that Nigeria has had its fair share of terrorism in the form of Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast part of country.

He said that the military had been working substantially with the support of government and other security agencies to rout terrorism and return peace to the affected areas.

He said that the success of the troops would enable the IDPs to go back to their communities and resume their normal productive activities.

This is the surest way to put in a nail on the coffins of insurgency, he said.

He commended the troops for their sacrifices in defending their country, saying the Nigerian Army would continue to treat their welfare and families with topmost priority.

He commended the people of northeast for their continued support, pointing out that without their support and understanding, the successes achieved would not have been possible.

Continue to support our security agencies with timely intelligence as the war on terror is a collective responsibility of all, he said.

He said that the institute waspart of Nigerian Armys aim of understanding all forms of warfare, particularly new forms of asymmetric conflict, including terrorism and insurgency.

The Tukur Buratai Institute aims at training and capacity building for military personnel as well as civilians in counter-terrorism and insurgency, humanitarian responses, peace building and construction.

The COAS said the institute had six centres, including research, documentation, counter-terrorism and insurgency, cyber security, strategic communication and centre for museum and archives.

In a speech, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, said the conversion of the museum to an Institute of War and Peace was part of armys efforts of defeating the Boko Haram insurgency not only by kinetic force.

Mohammed said that in 2014, Buratai town was severally attacked by insurgents.

He opined that the institute would intellectually provide education, which the insurgents detested in their campaigns of war.

Academicians intend to look for and proffer solutions to end the ongoing war with Boko Haram and abet future occurrences.

The institutes building was donated by Buratai in 2015 as a museum, where relics of war and insurgency were displayed.

In 2019, the Nigerian Army decided to upgrade the museum to become a centre for counter-terrorism and insurgency, Mohammed said.

According to him, this year, the University Council in its wisdom thought it necessary to upgrade the centre to an institute.

It will deal with post-conflict peace building and reconstruction, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.

The centre will also study other forms of conflict around the country and beyond.

We aspire to be the centre of excellence in post-conflict peace building and proffering solutions to violent conflict, the VC said.

He said the insitute would be devoted to the study of all aspects of war and peace.

NAN report that the more than a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has claimed at least 36,000 lives with the destruction ofover billion (N3.42 trillion) worth of property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Source: NAN News

PENGASSAN Logo

By Joan Nwagwu

Mr Osifo Festus of Total Nigeria Plc has emerged as the new President of thePetroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASAN).

Festus emerged as the 16th President of the association at the end the 6th Triennial National Delegates Conference with the theme as,The Future of Work Post Pandemic and Energy Transitions, on Friday in Abuja.

He defeated his sole challenger, Mr Roland Frederick of Shell Petroleum by 200 to 183 votes.

Others elected are, Mr Duru Mathew as the Deputy President and Mr Victor Ononokpono as the National Treasurer of the association.

A total of 384 delegates drawn from the associations branches nation wide participated in the 6th Triennial National Delegates Conference.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the new president of the association Mr Osifo Festus will pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.

Festus took over from Mr Ndukaku Ohaeri who served for only a year after the unfortunate death of the association president, late Mr Francis-Olabode Johnson, who died on May 31, 2019. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mrs Julie Okah-Donli NAPTIP D-G

By Ramatu Garba

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested a 35-year-old teacher, Ibrahim Mohammed, of Unguwar Kadawa Quarters Kano for allegedly sodomising two under-aged boys.

Mr Shehu Umar, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in charge of Kano confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Friday in Kano.

He noted that the command on Aug.25, received information that Mohammed sodomised his two under-aged student at Unguwar Kadawa, Kwanar Dillalai Quarters Kano.

On receiving information, we swung into action and arrested the suspect and rescued the two victims.

He alleged that the suspect was married and has been an Islamic teacher for the past seven years.

The offence is punishable under NAPTIP Act. Investigation is ongoing and when completed, the suspect would be charged to court, he said,adding that the victims will also be united with their parents.

Meanwhile, the command confirmed that it rescued six victims and arrested one suspected for human trafficking in Kano.

Umar explained that the NAPTIP Joint Board Task Force(JBTF) received intelligence information on the movement of the victims and suspect.

On receiving information, the command carried out an operation on Aug.23 , raided New Paradise Hotel in Sabon Gari Kano, which led to the arrest of the suspect, one at large and rescued the victims

The victims were camped at the said hotel for onward movement out of Kano to Libya.

The victims are from Ogun, Oyo, Imo and Abia. The offence, external trafficking, is contrary to section 15(b) of NAPTIP Act

Umar called on the general public especially parents to ensure they know the whereabouts of their wards and to always check on them periodically at the various Almajiri schools. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has again joined other Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in an emergency virtual extraordinary summit over the ongoing political crisis in Mali.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS leaders had earlier met, via video conferencing on Aug. 20, to deliberate on same matter where they called for immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, and a return to Constitutional order in the country.

NAN observed that the ousted Malian president, Keita, was released from detention by the military junta on Aug. 27 in line with the request of the ECOWAS leaders.

NAN gathered that the ongoing summit of the ECOWAS leaders would review the socio-political situation in Mali, following the insistence of the Malian military junta to stay in power for three years before returning the country to constitutional order.

The summit, chaired by current ECOWAS Chairman and President of NigerRepublic, Mahmadou Issoufu, is also expected to consider the report of ECOWAS Envoy to Mali, former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, who recently returned from Mali, where he interacted with leadership of the military junta.

Those with the president at the Council Chamber for the meeting include Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

Others are National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Director General National Intelligence Agency, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court Symbol

By Olawale Akinremi

A businesswoman, Morufat Giwa, on Friday prayed a Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, to grant her request for divorce and save her from husband, Kamardeen and his children.

Giwa said:I filed the suit for divorce to have a breathing space from my husband who is cruel to me.

Kamardeen and his children from his first wife have terrorsied me enough. My husband ran down my business.

He has stolen from me and his children sold my car without my permission and knowledge.

He has abandoned the two children I had for him. He is stingy. He only gives them N20 a day as their daily upkeep.

I moved out of his move house because he has a wicked heart.

She alleged that he traced her new location and set all her belongings ablaze in protest.

Kamardeen, a retired teacher, consented to the suit, but denied some of the allegations leveled against him, describing his wife as a devil in reincarnate.

The two children she brought from her former marriage are the major problem in their matrimonial home. They steal. They are my headache.

It is true that my children beat her up and it is because Morufat stripped me naked during an argument and she nearly killed me that day.

My son and I never sold her car. The truth of the matter is that Morufat joined our daily contributory group and we gave her the contribution due to her at the end, he said.

Delivering judgment, Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of the court dissolved the 12- year-old marriage.

Odunade held that he dissolve the union in order to forestall any action that might result in blood shed.

He therefore awarded custody of the two children to the plaintiff and ordered the defendant to pay N10,000 as the childrens monthly feeding allowance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

The number of daily new coronavirus infections in Israel has breached 2,000 for the first time in a month, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

On Thursday, 2,068 new coronavirus cases were recorded, the Health Ministry said.

The last time numbers breached the 2,000-mark was on July 28, when 2,129 new cases were recorded.

Numbers in Israel were relatively low at the beginning of the pandemic due to a strict government stance, but an early easing of restriction in May caused the caseload to spike, with numbers recently stabilising around 1,650 new daily infections on weekdays.

Case numbers, however, started climbing again in recent days.

Schools in Israel are due to open on Tuesday with some coronavirus restrictions in place, although the governments goal had initially been to get daily numbers below 400 before the end of the summer holidays.

Health officials are also concerned about contagion during upcoming Jewish festivities in September.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein recently urged people to refrain from family gatherings during the feasts.

This year we need to be careful, he said.

In total, Israel has recorded 111,493 coronavirus cases and 891 fatalities related to the virus.

Source: NAN News

Lightning

Ten children have been killed in a lightning strike while sheltering from a storm during a football game in northern Uganda, police said on Friday.

The boys, aged 11 to 16, had been sheltering from a storm in a makeshift structure in Arua city, northwest of the capital Kampala on Thursday, police spokeswoman Josephine Angucia told dpa.

These are young boys who had been playing football when rain began to fall and lightning struck them, Angucia said.

The children, were sheltering from the rain in a grass-thatched house when the lightning struck Thursday evening.

Police said they had been playing soccer in a nearby field. Four other children were injured.

Relatives have been picking up the bodies from the mortuary since yesterday and the burials are taking place from today, she added.

Angucia said Deadly lightning is commonly reported in the East African country during the wet seasons,urging children to avoid playing in the rain.

The football pitches are usually within or near schools.

Its advisable for schools to fix lightning arrestors so that we offer protection to our children, she said.

Uganda National Meteorological Authority recently warned of enhanced rainfall.

Coupled with floods, thunderstorms and lightning over several parts of the country that could lead to a loss of lives and property.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hajia Aisha Ahman-Patigi

By Usman Aliyu

Hajiya Aisha Ahman-Patigi, Commissioner for Special Duties in Kwara on Friday announced her resignation from the cabinet of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Ahman-Patigi announced the resignation in a statement she personally signed, a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

She noted in the statement that life is in phases and having enjoyed the political terrain with the governor, it was now time for her to leave and focus on new ideals.

I, Aisha Ahman-Pategi, the outgoing Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties, effective from today, Friday 28, Aug. 2020, humbly wish to formally announce my resignation from the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

I wish to thank God Almighty for giving me the grace and opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Local Government and now exiting as Commissioner for Special Duties, serving my fellow Kwarans and representing Pategi Local Government in our drive to better the lot of Kwarans.

Life is in phases and Im bold to say that having journeyed the political terrain with His Excellency, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, now is the time for me to leave and focus on new ideals.

Going forward, my interest in Community Service and Grassroots Development will continue.

Once again, I would like to thank Almighty Allah, the People of Patigi, Kwarans, our dear party APC and most of all, His Excellency for bringing me into politics.

May Allah reward him and continue to be his guide as he pilots the affairs of our dear State.

God bless Pategi, Kwara and Nigeria, the statement read.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Scene of the helicopter crash

By Yunus Yusuf

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed on Friday that two persons died in a helicopter that crashed at Opebi in Ikeja, Lagos.

The Acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the crash occurred at No. 16, Salvation Road in Opebi, north of Lagos.

One person was rescued alive and two persons died, including the pilot Farinloye said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace have bolstered their attacking options ahead of the new English Premier League (EPL) season with the signing of Eberechi Eze from Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

Eze, who earned rave reviews last season and scored a majestic goal in his final appearance for QPR against West Bromwich Albion last month, is joining on a five-year deal

Eberechi is a player whose development we have followed closely, Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish said of the England Under-21 international.

We are delighted he has chosen to sign for us over the other clubs that were interested and we feel that this is the right club for him to continue his development.

The attacker, who was a target for West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, could potentially forge an exciting partnership with Wilfried Zaha.

Zaha could however become a transfer target for several clubs during the transfer window.

As a club, I feel like there are great players here and its a brilliant opportunity for me to come and be with these players, to link up with them and to really push on, Eze said.

Crystal Palace finished in 14th place last season but scored only 31 goals in the league campaign.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal

As economy activities resume gradually, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has called on Nigerian business owners to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines to curb the spread of infection in the country.

Mrs Elsie Ilori, Head of Department, Surveillance and Epidemiology Department of NCDC, made the call at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Thursday in Abuja.

Ilori said the guidelines, recommendations and practices were aimed at giving workers the confidence of safety at their work places.

Some of the guidelines include: mandatory use of face masks, use of temperature checks at entry point of business environment, availability of hand sanitisers, development of physical distancing within the business or office environment.

To develop an infectious disease preparedness action plan to reduce the risk of exposure in the work place, she said.

Iloriadvised that staff members should be enlightened on COVID-19 symptoms and how to manage suspected cases.

She urged that businesses, associations and bodies of different sectors to join hands and help the nations economy to regain the lost to the pandemic.

Source: NAN News