Minister of Youth and Sports development, Mr Sunday Dare

By Franca Ofili

Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development has commended members of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), focal group for the dedication in carrying out their job.

Dare made the commendations in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mrs Lere-Adams Adjobome, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said this when he paid host to the group who presented its preliminary report to him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on July 22, approved the establishment of NYIF to the tune of N75 billion for three years.

The minister said the members were selected based on their skills, competence and areas of expertise.

We will take time to study this interim that has been submitted by the group.

It will also be harmonised with the interim report that the technical committee has submitted and the outcome will be presented to the steering committee.

It is important to state that I am impressed and I commend the quality of work you have put in because membership of the group is not a paid assignment.

This is rendering service to the country and to the youth, he said.

The team leader, Mr Oladipupo Adebiyi, who presented the report, said that the NYIF initiative enjoyed public support especially from young Nigerians.

Nigerians believe the Fund will address unemployment and reduce poverty amongst young people.

The Fund will not only cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic condition of young people; it will also foster the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Most young Nigerians strongly posit that the success of the Fund will be contingent on its inclusiveness, monitoring and evaluation mechanism and sustainability framework, Adeniyi said.

He said that the groups terms of reference required that it provided advisory, insights and suggestions on the successful implementation of the NYIF.

He said that others would propose ideas and initiatives that would promote the NYIF and support its impact on youth entrepreneurship across the country.

It will also provide feedback on the expectations of the youths with regard to the implementation of the NYIF, he said.

Adebiyi added that members of the group would serve as the NYIF ambassadors in their various communities, spheres of influence and coordinate the engagement of the Fund with youth groups and other stakeholders.(NAN).

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has restated its determination to improving Hajj operations in line with global best practices.

Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, gave the assurance when he paid an unscheduled visit to the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board office, in Abuja.

Hassan said the commission was taking necessary measures and would leave no stone unturned in improving Hajj management for the benefit of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.

He also pledged that the commission would involve all relevant stakeholders to provide first hand services to intending pilgrims.

According to the NAHCON chairman, the commission would continue to support all states pilgrims welfare Boards, agencies and commissions, to ensure that they provided excellent services to the pilgrims.

Receiving the delegation, the Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims welfare Board, Malam Muhammad Danmallam, expressed delight over the visit.

He said the visit was an encouragement to the board in its efforts at improving services to the guests of Allah.

Danmallam reassured the delegation of the FCT Administrations resolve to ensure that the board recorded the best Hajj operations.

According to him, the Administration, through the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, is committed to supporting the board in the provision of seamless operations in the forthcoming Hajj.

It is that commitment that inspired the FCT minister of state to mobilise the contractor handling the construction of the boards permanent office complex to return to site, after being abandoned for many months due to lack of funding, he said.

The director therefore, called on NAHCON to continue to support the board in its efforts at giving pilgrims the best service.

Source: NAN News

Expert advocates gender balance in oil, gas industry

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Mr Iyke Nnoaham, Portfolio Business Manager, Shell companies in Nigeria, has advocated gender balance in the management of the oil and gas industry in the country.

Nnoaham spoke at the Nigeria Energy Industry Transformation Summit (NEITS), which held virtually and ended on Thursday.

He said that gender diversity had remained a major challenge in the industry, necessitating a balance for the sector to attain a greater height.

The manager said that only about 22 per cent of women were working in the industry, and few seen at the management cadre.

The sector has gender diversity challenge, only about 22per cent of women are working in the industry.

There is need for gender balance to achieve active business in the industry, he said.

Nnoaham said that though many women were seen to be among best graduating students in higher institutions, they were hardly absorbed in the system to work.

He advised women to ensure that they prepare for challenges and not wait to be pushed to participate.

Do not wait to be pushed, push yourself and help to correct the imbalance in the industry, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, had the topic Challenging Global Energy Landscape: Strategies for Industry Sustainability.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the military in its operations in the South-South zone of the country has rescued 13 foreigners who were kidnapped in Lome waters.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said this at the updates briefing on military operations in August across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

Enenche explained that Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH in one of its operations in August intercepted a speed boat with 13 foreigners made up of seven Russians and six Ukrainians alleged to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome waters.

He said that four Nigerians were also on board of the speed boat.

According to him, the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have sustained the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the zone with tremendous successes.

Subsidiary Operation SILENT HEAT was launched by Operation DELTA SAFE on Aug. 1 for 90 days.

The objective of the operation was to protect critical installations, key points and vital points as well as combat all forms of illegalities and crimes in the area.

The operation is conducted to maintain conducive environment for oil and gas industries as well as other economic activities to thrive, he said.

He said that since the activation of Operation SILENT HEAT, several arrests and deactivation of various militant camps had been made.

It was during the course of the operation that on Aug. 19, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH intercepted a speed boat with 13 foreigners made of seven Russians and six Ukrainians alleged to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome waters.

The 13 kidnapped foreigners as well as four Nigerians on the speed boat have been handed over to Defence Intelligence Agency for further necessary action, he said.

He said that in the course of other subsidiary Operations CALM WATERS II and Operation SWIFT RESPONSE on Aug.16, Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY patrol team intercepted and arrested seven men suspected to be smugglers at Agbana-West by the Nigerian-Cameroun maritime border.

The suspects were arrested with a medium size wooden boat laden with 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 62 empty drums suspected to have been used to smuggle Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant products to Cameroun.

Accordingly, the suspects, bags of smuggled parboiled rice and the medium-sized wooden boat were handed over to Operation BORDER DRILL for further investigation and prosecution in line with extant regulation, he said.

He said that within the month of August, several arrests were made by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE; large quantities of stolen crude oil as well as other petroleum products were impounded.

Cumulatively, a total of 1,309,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 1,824.04 barrels of stolen crude oil and 302,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were recovered in the month of August 2020 in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Rivers.

Additionally, a total of 344 bags of smuggled parboiled rice were impounded in the zone.

From these successes, it is clear that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE and other security agencies working together remain resolute and dedicated in their endeavor to end the fight against economic sabotage, he said.

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has congratulated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina on his re-election for a second term in office.

Lawan, in statement on Thursday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, said Adesinas victory unequivocally affirmed the confidence, trust of the shareholders, management and staff of the bank due to his leadership.

He said the renewal of his mandate was an attestation to Adesinas excellent performance as president, evident in the banks numerous developmental initiatives on the African continent.

I am elated to convey the joy and pride of the entire National Assembly over the electoral acclamation for integrity, grace, substance and hard work.

Your re-election should be an impetus for taking the continental financial institution to a greater height realising that the reward for hard work is more work, Lawan said.

Lawan urged Adesina to consider the storm that preceded his re-election as the fire test for gold and, having come out of the test glittering, to remain focused and resolute on his mission.

Source: NAN News

Douye Diri Bayelsa State Governor

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Bayelsa Government on Thursday urged community leaders to foster peacein the state, saying that it remained committed to ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for oil and gas exploration and other activities.

Dr Ibere Jones, the state Commissioner for Mineral Resources, made the call at the inauguration of a 25-member Dodo River Community Rural Development Association leadership, in Yenagoa.

The Dodo River Communities Rural Development Association in Ekeremor LGA is host to Chevron Nigeria Ltd. which funds development projects in the area under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).

The communities in the association are Amatu 1, Amatu 2, Bilabiri 1, Bilabiri 2 and Bisangbene.

Jones said that the Douye Diri-led administration placed premium on peace to enable it to fully implement its prosperity agenda.

The administration of Gov. Douye Diri is very keen on maintaining peace for economic activities to thrive, and it is a prerequisite for the realisation of its prosperity agenda.

Without peace, there cannot be progress and prosperity.

The government sees peace as a basis for everything we do, and the governor is very careful and passionate in providing a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive to attract more investment to the state, Jones said.

The commissioner inaugurated the leaders of the association at the Dodo River Communities Secretariat located at Kpansia in Yenagoa.

He advised the leaders to justify the confidence reposed on them by their communities by running a transparent and accountable administration and ensuring judicious application of development funds at its disposal.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Francis Amamogiran, the Chairman of Dodo River Communities Rural Development Association, noted that the GMoU model adopted by Chevron helped the communities to develop.

So far, the GMoU has provided an answer to development, transparency, accountability and lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

I commend Chevron for the history it has made in the Niger Delta with the introduction of the noble idea of the GMoU.

What is more remarkable is the commitment of officials of Chevron to the implementation of the terms of the GMoU to the letter.

To my peace-loving communities, I promise to work with this team to attract all forms of development to our communities.

Your support to me and the GMoU process is my source of strength, Amamogiran said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has delisted over 22 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for allegedly defrauding 11,823 of its candidates to the tune of N59 million.

The Registrar of the Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede made this known during a virtual meeting with representatives of the affected centres on Thursday.

Oloyede said the centres carried out the fraud by charging candidates more than stipulated amount for effecting correction on profile and by-passing One-Time Password (OTP) required of candidates to initiate such changes.

He said the affected centres from nine states were indicted for the infractions, adding that any centre that shared the same ownership with the affected ones also stood being suspended from all JAMB activities.

The purpose of calling this meeting is to interact with 22 institutions that have grossly violated the prescription of the Board, particularly during COVID-19, and those who had done things not expected to do thereby endangering the lives of candidates they were supposed to protect.

We have discovered that the 22 centres also defrauded candidates by collecting from them more than you are expected to collect and doing certain things that will bypass the normal process and procedure.

We have invited you to this meeting to hear you out and also let the public know how some of you are engaging in criminal activities in the process of registering candidates.

There are some of you who can even be classified as certified fraudsters.

The registrar also noted that the affected CBT centres owners would also beprosecuted as the board had reversed the changes done illegally by affected candidates.

He advised such candidates to change their passwords to avoid further damage following exposure of the secret code to operators of the now blacklisted CBT centres.

Oloyede lamented that such behaviour of fleecing both innocent and not innocent candidates of several amounts of money under the guise of effecting changes in registration details portends danger for the country.

Some of you were collecting N3,000 and N5,000 from candidates for an amount that is supposed to be N200 as service charge for the centre.

What you have collected is over N59 Million. JAMB has concrete proof of the infractionsbecause we under covered payments to the centres in order to actually detect the fraud that was being perpetrated by them.

Meanwhile, a representative of Duntro CBT centre, Mr David Ugochukwu blamed the illegal act on his technical staff, saying that they have been sacked from the organisation.

Ugochukwu claimedhe had earlier written to JAMB to inform it of the identified breaches in the registration application that might allow the bypass of OTP in the correction of candidates data in their absence with the submission of their passwords.

Other CBT representatives who spoke at the meeting, apologised and admitted to the illegal activities but blamed the problem on technical staff.

The affected CBT centres are Bright Stars, Aba, Abia State, 68 candidates; Flourish Computer Centre, Akwa Ibom State-105; Ibom-E-Library, Akwa Ibom-12; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University, Igbariam 661. Anambra State; Deacons Digital Solutions Ltd. -96; Federal Poly, Oko 314, Mega Dataview, Onitsha-733.

Others include Bayelsa State; Linnet Paul Innovative Institute, Yenagoa- 3435; Niger Delta University 1,200; Edo State: Diict, Benin-81; Gateway Edutech, Benin-10; Gifted Hands Science and Technology, Benin-223; NABTEB ICT Training Centre, Benin-291; Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa-670 and Supreme ICT Foundation, Benin-22.

Others are Enugu State: Elco ICT, Nsukka-538; Peaceland and Stalwart Solutions, Enugu-554; Union ICT-773; Kaduna State: Time online ICT, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna 67: Lagos State: Duntro High School, Surulere 21; Elite BusinessConsult, Ikorodu 218 and Rivers State: Ave Maria international academy, Rumuodara, Port Harcourt 1,731.

Source: NAN News

Some of the soldiers fighting terrorists in the north-east

By Taiye Agbaje

The Peace, Reconciliation and Rehabilitation Initiative (PRRI), on Thursday, commended the Nigerian Army for recording massive successes in its operations across the northwestern part of the country.

The PRRI, in a statement through its Director, Mary Odoma, said the establishment of the Army Super Camp IV as well as the launch of Operation Sahel Sanity in Faskari, Katsina State last month, marked the dawn of a new era.

According to the group, the troops have been ruthless in its operations in Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara, quelling the activities of bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.

The establishment of the Army Super Camp IV in Faskari, Kastina State on the 6th of July 2020, marked a new dawn in the fight against banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other similar criminal activities in the North West region of the country, Odoma said.

When Operation Sahel Sanity was launched, the residents of these areas welcomed the operation with open hands and minds.

By the first month of operation, Sahel Sanity was already yielding desired results.

The gallant troops of operation Sahel Sanity had conducted several operations, including aggressive clearance operation and ambush operation in Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States.

These operations according to information from the defence Headquarters website, indicated that within the first month of the operation, about 80 armed bandits were neutralised and another 33 suspected bandits arrested.

Also several arms and ammunition were recovered from the bandits.

During the many operations, the notorious Dangote triangle and their logistic bases, plus many other bandit camps were equally destroyed.

This has denied the criminals the much needed cover for regrouping. Several other hideouts of these criminals have been cleared and the criminals either neutralised or dislodged, the group said.

The PRRI said it was time for social works to begin in the region to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons.

The group, however, called on governments at state and local levels, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), traditional and religious leaders to unite to fashion out the way forward.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mamman sale, Minister of Power

Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman has inaugurated a nine-man committee to restructure the ministry of power and the oversight function of its agencies for effective service delivery.

Inaugurating the committee, Mamman said that the committee was borne out of the need to create bonding and teamwork among relevant Departments, Units and strengthen oversight of the agencies.

He said that the restructuring of the ministry and agencies was a critical factor for achieving the ministrys goals, objectives, and overall mandate.

The minister said I believe that working as a team, we would excel and fulfil the mandate of the ministry.

Mamman said that the power sector was in the process of undergoing long term structural market reform and has gone through the first phase of privatisation with hope of unlocking investments and improving service delivery in the sector.

It must be said that the exercise has not delivered the benefits envisaged as the sector is struggling with a number of critical challenges.

This led the ministry to articulate a Policy Intervention Roadmap that specified five key areas to focus on in order to take corrective steps to reposition that sector on to a path of sustained growth as envisaged by the sector reforms.

In view of the foregoing, there is need to strengthen and harmonise all departments, units and agencies in a manner that will yield positive outcomes and overcome the institutional challenges that pose significant risk to the governments overall strategy, he said.

According to the minister, the committee is tasked with establishing the modalities that will inform implementation of the restructuring within the ministrys relevant departments, units and oversight of its agencies.

The committee is to examine the existing functions of the departments in the ministry and streamline them to align with departmental mandates.

Examine and streamline oversight functions of the agencies by the departments ensuring that the departments to oversee the agencies have the requisite level of administrative and technical knowledge and specialisation.

Design a template for uniform oversight of the agencies; and make any other recommendations that would enhance the effective and efficient administration of the ministry and the agencies.

On his part, the Minister of State Power, Mr Goddy JedyAgba, said that the restructuring was aimed at achieving sustainable, reliable, stable and affordable power supply in line with the mandate of the ministry.

It is pertinent to note that it is our collective responsibility to improve service delivery of electricity services for the well being of every Nigerian, hence the need to work together in order to provide uninterrupted electricity, he said.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power,Mrs Didi Walson-Jack said that the decision on the restructuring was taken out of the need to reposition the ministry.

She said that the restructuring would also align functions, programmes and projects of the various units for effective service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee has Walson-Jack as Chairman while Mrs Dafe Adesida, Director Human Resources will serve as Secretary.

Source: NAN News

Osinbajo at NBA virtual conference

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that those responsible for killings in Southern Kaduna will be prosecuted in order to curtail impunity and support those who have lost their bread winners.

Osinbajo communicated this on Thursday during a Special Conversation featuring him and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, at the ongoing Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Virtual 2020 Annual General Conference.

The vice president said that to effectively deal with the Southern Kaduna crisis, the Federal Government would not sweep the major issues underlying the conflict under the carpet.

According to Osinbajo, ensuring justice, fixing economic marginalisation and the prosecution of persons responsible for the murders will ensure that the impunity doesnt worsen.

I have been involved since 2001 through the work of the Macedonian initiative, an NGO that focused on providing relief materials to displaced persons in Southern Kaduna and several other places especially in North Central part of Nigeria.

There have been judicial commissions and all sorts, but the problem remains; so, there is the need to address the underlying issues. You cant sweep under the carpet, justice and the cries of economic marginalisation.

The fact is that we must prosecute persons responsible for these murders or otherwise impunity will worsen. And also support those who have lost their bread winners.

The mindless callous killings in Southern Kaduna are heartbreaking; and again, we must condole with those who have lost loved ones and those injured or who have suffered loss of property; these tragedies are unacceptable and they are avoidable.

Osinbajo said that there was an improvement of security in Southern Kaduna as a military base was set up there for the first time.

He said there was also a lot of air surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force.

We have about 500 conventional and mobile policemen in Zangon Kataf and Kaura Local Government Areas and then the combined military team of the army and the navy who are also on ground 24 hours.

This is basically to just take care of the volatile situation there.

Osinbajo said that President Muhammadu Buhari had also had several Security Council meetings all of which he attended; where the issues were discussed and the possibilities of engagement had been discussed.

He said that on a personal note, he had also engaged with community leaders in Southern Kaduna and also engaged with the governor to look at peacemaking efforts where possible.

The vice president said he was upbeat that the issues would be resolved, adding that some of the peacemaking efforts had been fairly successful.

Recent peace efforts between the Zangon Kataf and the Fulani communities would yield positive results.

But there is also a lot of work going on to ensure that some of these fundamental issues are being addressed and its an evolving situation, but its something we cant afford to ignore and its gone on for far too long and its redressable and possible for us to resolve, he said.

The vice president also urged those who had concerns about the recently signed Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 legislation to approach the National Assembly for possible amendments as Nigeria was in a democracy.

We have a process by which this can be redressed.

Whatever the proposal for amendment may be, whatever the view of the leadership of the church may be regarding the question of how the trustees, whether they are interim trustees or not, can be put into a proposal that will be brought to the National Assembly for consideration for amendment to the law.

That is the process which is entirely opened and ought to be pursued.

We are in a democracy and there is a process by which things can be done and that process is the one where you bring forward amendments to the National Assembly and they will do whatever is considered useful in the circumstance.

Speaking on the Federal Governments stance on the contraction of the economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues, Osinbajo said the Federal Governments response was robust and focused on local production using home-grown resources.

He said that efforts were being made towards wealth and job creation using local resources.

The vice president said under the agriculture component of the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP-AGRO), five million farmers whose produce would be off-taken by government had been registered.

On his part, Gbajabiamila, spoke on the collaboration between the executive and the legislature under the present administration in addressing some of the critical issues facing the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hiromu Inada, the worlds oldest Ironman

Hiromu Inada, the worlds oldest Ironman says he hopes to keep competing into his 90s.

The 87-year-old Inada already has a certificate on his wall that confirms his status as the worlds oldest Ironman, but the Japanese man is still pounding away on his training bike.

In 2018 at the age of 85 years and 328 days, Inada went to Kailua-Kona in Hawaii and set a new mark for the oldest person to complete the world championship Ironman.

It was a feat beyond most people decades younger than him.

The cancellation of this Octobers Ironman because of the coronavirus pandemic has not dulled his ambition, and Inada is maintaining his gruelling training schedule for a return to Hawaii next year.

My goal is next years world championship in Hawaii, he told Reuters at his training facility in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

I will absolutely participate in it, and I absolutely want to break the world record of completing the race at the oldest age again. This is my current and biggest goal.

An Ironman race is widely considered one of the toughest endurance events in sports, requiring athletes to swim 3.86 km, bike 180.25 km and run a full 42.19 km marathon.

Slender and tanned from hours training outside, Inada looks like a man who has been competing in endurance tests all his life, but he only took up the sport in retirement.

After working for public broadcaster NHK, Inada began swimming and running, and bought a bike age 69.

He competed in his first triathlon a year later.

After the death of his wife soon afterwards, Ironman competitions became an obsession for Inada.

In 2015, at age 82, he took part in the Hawaii Ironman, bidding to become the oldest finisher on record.

But he fell just short: his time was five seconds too slow to be officially registered.

Inspired by support from the Hawaiian public, Inada returned the next year and completed the race in a qualifying time, earning his Guinness World Records certificate.

Until then, I had thought I would give up if I felt I had enough of it, Inada said.

But since then, I have in my mind that I absolutely cannot give up, and I absolutely must complete (Ironman races). Otherwise, I feel sorry for those who support me.

Inada trains every day, waking up at 4:30 a.m. and hitting the swimming pool by 6 a.m.

Inada sees the extended lead-in to his next trip to Hawaii as on opportunity to rest a sore knee and tweak his preparation technique.

I hope I can try new things to build my fitness, he said.

I hope I can adjust my physical peak to the postponed race. So, I will rather think it was good that it was delayed.(Reuters/NAN

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal

States with double figures were Plateau,60, FCT, 33, Kaduna, 26, Rivers, 18 and Lagos, 17. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta inaugurated a newborn screening equipment for the treatment of sickle cell in the state.

The equipment was donated to the Sickle Cell Referral Centre, Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba, by 05 Initiative of the Wife of the Governor, Edith Okowa.

The governor, while inaugurating the equipment, said Delta had become the first state in Nigeria to have a newborn and adult screening machine in one system under High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

He thanked his wife for the vision to assist people with sickle cell disorder.

He also thanked 05 Initiative for the gesture, saying that the initiative was sustained by donations from individuals and agencies.

He called for appropriate legislation for compulsory sickle cell test for every newborn across the country, adding that the government would do everything to support the screening of children across the state.

He said let me congratulate 05 Initiative for impacting on the lives of our people in several ways. I have witnessed them do a whole lot of things for children, women and the less privileged.

They have gone further to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the prisons and I believe that beyond what they give, the fact that they carry out evangelism to the prisons will help to make those people better citizens when they come out.

When the issue of establishing sickle cell clinics across the state came up, I was wondering how they were going to achieve the feat.

I am glad that they have succeeded in establishing these clinics in 13 hospitals across the state with donations made by our brothers and sisters across the state without the state government contributing a dime into the project.

We must continue to recognise all those that donated.

A lot of people now have hope that they can be attended to, because if you see the children that suffer from this disorder, they are usually in severe pains and their parents do not have the money to treat them.

Earlier, the governors wife had said that the inauguration of the newborn screening machine was a dream come true.

She thanked God for the testimonies from patients at the various sickle cell centres across the state and commended the health professionals at the centres for being compassionate caregivers.

She commended the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and the member representing Ika Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Victor Nwokolo, for donating the money used for the purchase of the equipment.

She said that the newborn screening machine will help to determine the genotype of babies at birth and this is indeed a dream come true for the 05 Initiative family.

Beyond visiting the sick which is part of the mission of the 05 Initiative, we are convinced that people living with sickle cell disorder can live a normal life once they access the healthcare provided by professionals and compassionate caregivers.

I am confident that the use of these facilities will reduce the stress of mothers and to a large extent bring joy to families who are facing this challenge.

It is important that we take this advocacy seriously so that people will know their genotype before they marry, she said.

On his part, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, said that the sickle cell disorder was a public health problem among blacks.

According to him, one in every four Nigerians has sickle cell trait.

The inauguration witnessed health talks from Dr Chijioke Onyia of PineCrest Health Care Limited and the Medical Director of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr Peace Ighosewe.

Source: NAN News

India, among countries worst hit by coronavirus

Indias COVID-19 infections on Thursday surged by a record 75,760 over 24 hours, taking the total to past 3.3 million, Health Ministry data showed.

India still trails the U.S. and Brazil in the total number of cases but has reported more infections daily than either of these countries for most of August.

The death toll now stands at 60,472, with 1,023 fatalities since Tuesday, but the ministry says the mortality rate remains lower than many countries at 1.8 per cent and the recovery rate had reached over 76 per cent.

The Western state of Maharashtra, and its capital Mumbai, is the worst-hit by the disease followed by three Southern states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

India has been reporting 60,000 to 70,000 cases every day since early August and the latest surge is attributed to a spike in several states including Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

Indias population of 1.3 billion is much larger than the U.S. or Brazil and experts said it would not be surprising if the 70,000-plus mark of infections continues for a while and rises further.

The ministry said that the number of recoveries in India today exceeds the active cases by 3.5 times.

It said the coordinated efforts of the Federal and State Governments for early detection through aggressive testing and efficient clinical management of hospitalised cases had shown results with a continuously regressing case fatality rate.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has called for synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government to reduce the recruitment of citizens in the north-eastern part of the country into illegal armed groups.

He made the call when the Senate Committee on Special Duties led by its chairman, Sen. Yusuf Yusuf, paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

The governor said that the synergy would also help to reduce the number unemployed youths in the state.

While calling for support to relocate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state to their communities, Zulum said that there were increased number of prostitution, drug abuse and criminality in the camps.

We want you to partner with us to see how we can relocate these IDPs to their original homes or to a location that is safe where they could engage in farming activities.

By doing so, we can reduce recruitment into the non-state armed groups.

Right now a lot of our youths are joining the insurgents because they are looking for means of livelihood.

There is a need for you to interface with the military to foster greater civil-military relationship to reduce the gap between the civilians and the military, he said.

He said that without creating access to agricultural lands for cultivation by the locals, insurgency would never end.

Zulum further said that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) had provided 100 vehicles for Nigerian police and the Nigeria Airforce, among others, as intervention in the fight against insurgency.

The little resources that we have now cannot cater for our need coupled with the increasing humanitarian needs.

We have right now thousands of employed youths on our payroll trying to provide security to our dear state.

What we are paying is so cumbersome and there is a need for us to critically examine with a view to addressing some of our challenges, the governor said.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Yusuf, said that the committee was in the state to oversee the NEDC which was one year in existence.

He said that the commission had performed tremendously, especially with regards to the humanitarian efforts in the north-east.

Yusuf assured the governor of improved budgetary allocation to the commission to douse the crises in the northeast.

He also said that the Senate would liaise with all the governors in northeast towards identifying projects that were important to the zone.

We will work with the government to restore peace in the region. Security in the region is fundamental; we must find the best way to tackle insecurity, Yusuf said.

Source: NAN News

INEC

Checking violence and hate speech in Edo 2020 political campaigns

By Julius Enehikhuere, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The ongoing campaigns for the Sept. 19 Edo governorship election are characterised by violence and hate speech. No one is claiming responsibility. However, political observers say that almost all the political gladiators are guilty.

Barely a month to the election, the fear of possible violence is palpable. Political pundits are predicting all manners of outcomes, before and after the election.

The signs of violence were first noticed at the launch of the PDP mega rally in Benin City, a few weeks ago, that had in attendance many of the PDP governors, led by Gov. Nysome Wike of Rivers. The team had paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in his palace.

Before you could say Jack Robinson, political thugs had gathered at the entrance of Oba Palace, chanting all kinds of hate speech, name calling and booed Gov. Godwin Obaseki and his entourage.

Few of the thugs were arrested by security operatives. Nothing has been heard since then. The blame game continued as both the PDP and APC claimed ignorance and disowned the thugs. But people are still asking, who are the sponsors?

Some few suspects were said to have been arrested by the police, but their identities were not disclosed nor have they been prosecuted.

Obaseki has constantly preached peace, he had appealed to voters and his supporters to avoid violence or any action likely to breach public peace. He also called on the security operatives to do the needful.

In the same vein, the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, also stressed the need for peace, when he visited Abuja to address the media on the political developments in Edo.

He suggested that security operatives should unmask the sponsors of violence and promoters of hate speech during campaigns and that it should be the best approach to address this ugly development.

Our security operatives should be more proactive and adopt the SIMPLE Agenda like mine.

Not until we unmask faces behind violence, we will only be scratching the surface, he said.

He appealed to fellow contestants to reduce issues that promote violence and thuggery at rallies and discuss issue-based matters and development of the state.

Also, the incumbent Gov. Obasekis thoughts are not different. He regularly condemned violence at the beginning, except recently that he started saying fire for fire.

Echoes from the ongoing campaigns from both the PDP and APC across the 18 local government areas are not sweet to the ears.

INEC, the political umpire, last week, alluded to this, when it said that the state governor has powers to declare a State of Emergency in the state if the situation persists.

Critics say violence and hate speech are twin brothers dominating the current campaigns in Edo, one providing the fuel for the other to execute.

Dr Kingsley Oboh, a social critic and a political scientist says Nigerias brand of politics is embedded with hate speech, a case of trying to make an omelette without breaking eggs.

According to him, lets call a spade a spade, the blame squarely rests on the political umpire, security operatives and the political gladiators.

What the contestants say at rallies speak volumes, loaded with hate speech and slander.

Most of them do not address issues of development.

Until politicians are redirected to issue-based campaigns, hate speech and political violence will continue to rule Nigerian politics.

Oboh says there are reports of incidences of shooting and discovery of cache of arms in some parts of the state, adding that arms and ammunition are needed in Sambisa forest to fight Boko Haram insurgency not in Edo politics.

What the politicians need to do is to appeal to the conscience of the electorate, beg for their votes and present to them your agenda and tell them what you can do differently.

You dont need to shoot at them as in the case of the Igueben community incident, or intimidate people by any form of violence.

The leadership of the security operatives should do the needful and take charge and be fair to all the political parties.

The Oba of Benin has also cautioned the major political parties to restrain their supporters from causing trouble in the state, adding that the Palace should not be dragged into politics, as he remains father to all.

He warned politicians to play by the rules, and not to turn any part of the state to a theatre of war for selfish interests.

Commenting on the happenings in Edo politics, Oboh says both the politicians, political umpires like INEC and security operatives, have learnt nothing and forgotten all, the people remain the oppressed mentally and emotionally.

The peace and the tranquillity of the environment are again being troubled by people with selfish political ambition.

As suggested by stakeholders, all hands must be on deck before and after the Sept. 19 governorship election, to check any infraction that may cause upheaval in Edo. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Akinwumi Adesina

By Mustapha Sumaila

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President of African Development Bank (AfDB) has been re-elected to serve for a second of five years.

The election which was monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) took place electronically on Thursday during closing ceremony of the virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank on Thursday.

A source told NAN that all the delegates unanimously voted for Adesina but details had not been made known officially.

Adesinas reappointment at the helm of the 56-year-old bank was formalised during the AGM because he was the sole candidate.

The AfDB boss faced with corruption allegations and subsequently cleared by ethics committee of the bank, bureau of board of directors while the Independent Review Panel also exonerated him.

The Independent Review Panel was constituted by the Bureau of Governors of the Bank, following a complaint by the United States, to review the process by which two previous organs of the Bank the Ethics Committee of the Board, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors had previously cleared Adesina.

The three-member Independent Review Panel was headed by Mary Robinson, who is a former President of the Republic of Ireland, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Meanwhile at the opening ceremony of the AGM on Wednesday, Adesina presented himself officially to Governors and other stakeholders for relection.

At this Annual Meetings, I offer myself to you, our Governors, for your consideration for election for a second term, as President.

I do so, with humility, with a strong sense of duty and commitment and a call to serve Africa and our Bank, selflessly, to the very best of my God-given abilities he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

South Korea on Thursday said it was considering a renewed tightening of coronavirus restrictions after Health authorities reported more than 400 new coronavirus cases in one day for the first time since March.

Yoon Ho, the Senior official at Seouls Health Ministry, said that the government recognised the severity of the situation and considering all options.

This include strengthening social distancing rules and banning gatherings of more than 10 people, with schools and most public institutions closed.

According to data from the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on Thursday 441 new cases were reported, bringing the countrys total to 18,706.

The country has seen a sharp jump in infections in the previous weeks, recording more than 3,800 new cases.

Thursdays daily tally is the first time cases have topped 400 since March 7, when 483 cases were recorded.

According to KCDC, out of the new cases, 434 were local transmissions.

In Seoul, 154 new cases were reported, the highest daily total yet, while a further 100 were announced in the surrounding Gyeonggi province.

Meanwhile, hundreds of cases in Seoul had been linked to an outbreak at Sarang Jeil church.

The nations parliament had to be closed after a photojournalist, who had attended a session of the governing party on Tuesday, tested positive for the virus.

The country has recorded 313 overall COVID-19 deaths so far.

South Korea has seen sporadic clusters of infection since it relaxed stricter social distancing on May 6. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lion grabs man alive

A South African man has been mauled to death by two white lions while his wife watched on helplessly, police in northern Limpopo province said on Thursday.

West Mathewson, 69, was killed by two of his lions during a walk on Wednesday morning around the game lodge that he ran, South African police said.

When police and emergency services arrived Mathewson was dead with multiple injuries.

The deceased used to walk about with these lions on the game farm, Brigadier Motlafela said.

It looks like the lions were used to him, but as the police we often warn people to always be wary of wild animals regardless of the circumstances under which they are kept, he added.

Photos on the website of the Lion Tree Game Lodge showed visitors photographed posing with the lions.

One customer review on the by two guests calling themselves Gogo and Mandisa noted that during their stay the highlight was the walks with the 2 white lioness cubs.

West [leaves] nothing to chance. He has a few guides/security that walk with the guests ensuring that the cubs do not get rough. It is VERY safe, the review added.

Since the mauling the lions have been relocated to another game lodge, police said.

Source: NAN News

Mrs Julie Okah-Donli NAPTIP D-G

By Isaiah Eka

TheNational Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued132 victims of human trafficking in Akwa Ibom since the beginning of 2020.

The Director-General of the agency, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed this during an interactive with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.

She said 40 of the victims were rescued from sex exploitation, 28 from baby sellers, 23 from labour exploitation, while others were for other sundry exploitation issues.

Okah-Donli said that the ages of the rescued victims ranged from five months to 34 years.

She said 40 per cent of them were from the Oron axis of the state because of its strategic trade location as a gateway to the Atlantic

Okah-Donli said that the establishment of the State Task Forces on Human Trafficking was a component part of the agencys strategic thrust aimed at expanding its frontiers.

She explained that the task force was to enhance state and non-state multi-sectoral response toward combating human trafficking in Nigeria.

The director-general also said it was aimed at enhancing comprehensive prevention and coordinated legal and other services for trafficked victims through capacity building, technical assistance and institutional development.

The overall objective of the task force is the coordination and reactivation of technical inter-agency cooperation meetings with key stakeholders.

They include donors, development partners, law enforcement agencies, MDAs and NGOs to enhance the capacities of state and non-state actors as well as multi-sectoral response towards improving partnerships.

These partnerships are aimed at the prevention of human trafficking, protection of victims of human trafficking, offer access to justice for victims of trafficking, prosecution of traffickers.

The partnership is also aimed at enhancing the process of successful restoration of victims of trafficking to the state of physical, psychological, social, vocational and economic well being, she said.

Okah-Donli commended the Nigerian Navy and other sister security agencies in the state for their continued assistance to the agency in combating human trafficking.

She solicited for continued support, adding that more would be achieved with increased support from the media, religious and traditional institutions.

In his remark, the Project Officer, Counter Trafficking and Mixed Migration in the International Organisation for Migration, Mrs Betham Ngurum, said the agency had rescued over 17, 000 Nigerians involved in illegal migration in Libya, Mali and other parts of the world since 2017.

Ngurum said that over 6, 771 of them had so far been rehabilitated with 45 of them from Akwa Ibom. (NAN)

Source: NAN News