Petrol tankers waiting to be loaded

By Esenvosa Izah

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its seven-day strike ultimatum given to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and its contractors to recall and reinstate 175 workers they sacked.

NUPENGs National President, Mr Williams Akporeha and General-Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

The statement announced that the union ordered the suspension following ongoing discussions to quickly resolve other outstanding labour issues.

However, NUPENG reiterates that the suspension of the strike ultimatum is not a total call off, but a respect to ongoing discussions the union is having with Chevron and it contractors.

The discussions include all the issues at stake, believing that management will act in good faith and decently in line with principles of social dialogue.

The leadership of the union appreciates all relevant government agencies for their quick interventions on the matters in dispute, it stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUPENG on Aug. 20 issued the seven-day ultimatum to CNL and its contractors over the sacked workers through WhatsApp messages. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NEMA

By Ibrahim Bello

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to 638 victims of rainstorm in Kebbi.

The Head, NEMA, Sokoto Operations Office, Dr Kofoworola Soleye, represented by Head of Account Unit of the office, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, distributed the materials to the victims in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the windstorm, on June 19, destroyed no fewer than 300 houses at Badariya, Mobile Police Barrack, Bayan-Kara and some parts of Gesse III in Birnin Kebbi.

It also destroyed houses in Kwasara, Kaoje and Tuga in Bagudu Local Government Area.

Other areas include Saminaji in Koko/Besse Local Government Area, as well as some communities in Bunza Local Government Area.

Soleye said that the agency earlier sent an advanced team on assessment visit to ascertain the level of damage caused by the rainstorm.

We are here to show concern and give some relief materials to them to cushion the effects of the disaster.

The relief materials include 114 bags of rice, beans and millet, 12 kegs of vegetable oil, 10 cartons of tin tomatoes, 19 cartons of seasoning cubes, 228 pieces of mattresses, 342 pieces each of mats, blankets and mosquito nets.

Others are 980 bags of cement, 980 bundles of roofing sheets, 216 packets of nails, 109 bags of three-inch nails and 980 pieces of ceiling boards, Soleye said.

The coordinator sympathised with the victims for the loss of property.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, said the victims were carefully selected by district and village heads in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area to ensure proper identification.

Dododo noted that the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) indicated that some parts of the state and the country might experience heavy rainfall in 2020.

The situation may be worse than what was predicted, as we have so far witnessed an extension of flood to other four local government areas that are not among the 11 earlier predicted to witness flood, by NIMET.

The agency will not relent in its efforts to ensure protection of lives and property.

We are going to collaborate with all stakeholders in the state to sensitise the public to take precautionary measures against disasters, especially flood and windstorm, he said.

The Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council, Alhaji Aminu Magatakarda, commended NEMA for the gesture, and urged the victims to ensure judicious use of the items.

One of the victims, Mr Muhammad Shehu, lauded the agency for providing the relief materials. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

NECO

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The National Examination Council (NECO), has assured the public of its commitment to ensure effective and efficient conduct of all its examinations.

This is following complaints by some schools whose candidates are unable to sit for the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) that commenced on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.

In a statement by Mr Azeez Sani, Head of Information and Public Relations (NECO) to news men in Abuja on Wednesday said that adequate opportunity was provided well in advance for all schools to register their candidates.

This was given that some schools and/or candidates may have faced difficulties in the course of the registrations.

Due largely to this and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council extended the duration for registration to 12 midnight of Friday, Aug. 21. 2020.

The extension was widely publicised through various platforms. The aim was largely to accommodate late registration.

It is regrettable that in spite of these measures, some schools failed to complete the registration or enrollment processes.

It is therefore instructive to restate that the closure of the Portal on the said date was not punitive or designed to undermine registrants and schools.

It was, however, to allow the Council produce and distribute materials to Examination Centres for seamless conduct of the exercise, he said.

He, therefore, promised that NECO would continue to engage all stakeholders as may be appropriate, within its statutory mandates. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Sandra Umeh

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, underscored the importance of an enhanced Justice delivery system, in a bid to keep the Nigerian legal system in tune with global best practices.

The President made the call at the opening ceremony of the 60th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

The 2020 NBA AGC tagged Step Forward is holding both virtually and physically from Aug. 26 to Aug. 29 in Lagos and Abuja.

Buhari, in his opening remarks, felicitated with the leadership of the NBA on her 60th AGC and urged that the Bar takes congnisance of its role in the Administration of Justice.

The president who was represented virtually by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, noted that Law and Order is crucial to the sustenance of the countrys Democracy adding that the legal profession must ensure it plays its role.

The theme you have selected Step Forward is so apt and this means, taking responsibility, and it may also mean making progress.

There are areas where I believe we need to step forward and resolve some of the problems of our system, he said

He outlined some of the areas as:

The slow pace of trials in our Courts, multiple and conflicting orders of court, seeming bias towards technicalities, appointment of judges, security, law and order, as well as Rape and Sexual offences.

Harping on the issue of slow pace of trials the President said:

I was before the court for two and half years from 2003 to 2005 and it took me two and a half years to fight for a four-year -Presidential mandate .

In 2007, I was again in court for 20 months, almost two years, as petitioner, and later as appellant in the case of Buhari Vs INEC and in 2011 again as petitioner in the case of CPC Vs INEC and at the end I lost all three cases; Then, I wondered why we had to take so long.

If I had I won the case then some one who did not legitimately win the election would have occupied office all the while.

I was in court again in 2019; I was no longer a petitioner but a respondent in the case of Atiku Vs Buhari and the whole process took barely six months; Now what was the difference?

.The law had changed since my ordeal in 2003, 2007 and 2011; You had now introduced time limits for election petitions.

Why cant we then put a rule that will say that a criminal trial up to the supreme court must not exceed 12 months in duration.?

I think that for me, will be. stepping forward he said

According to the president, the speed of our legal institutions and processes, must match with the global base

Meanwhile in his remark, The Attorney General of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, also commended the NBA on its 60th AGC and urged its leadership to keep in tune with the evolving ICT.

Malami who was also represented virtually by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Mr Adedayo Akpata (SAN), said that at the onset of the pandemic the office of the A-G took it upon itself to adopt the use of ICT.

He said ICT saw the introduction of virtual court proceedings which helped to keep the courts open and also set the pace for a post COVID-19 Justice system.

My office will continue to drive the much needed legal reforms in promoting the rule of law, and publishing full financial autonomy for the state legislator and state judiciary and re-invigorating the office of the A-G as the Chief Law officer, he said

According to him, the foregoing will continue to serve as a catalysts to the things being recovered by his office which includes about 201 million dollars loot, which he said is being plunged into some critical infrastructure.

He said that measures are also being put in place to prevent mismanagement and reoccurrence.

Malami stressed the need for the NBA to rise above circumstances and Step forward to positively enhance the law making process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBA 2020 AGC has over 22,000 registered delegates

Physical attendance at the Conference is holding at both the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, as well as the NBA Headquarters in Abuja, with not more than 30 persons allowed at the venue.

The conference is to showcase over 28 law sessions to be anchored by renowned Nigerian legal practitioners (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Gbemisola Saraki

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has approved N10 billion to cushion the sufferings encountered by road transport workers and operators as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja afterthe President, Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA), Isaac Uhunwagho, led the associations National Executive Committee and Trustees to visit her in Abuja.

She informed the delegation that the fund was domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment adding that the Ministry of Transportation was currently working on the modalities for its disbursement.

While appreciating the fact that 90 per cent of Nigerians travelled by road, Saraki stated that the Federal government would soon initiate a master plan that would reform the sector.

She therefore solicited the buy-in of all stakeholders in that regard.

On challenges operators faced from State governments and other stakeholders, the Minister gave the assurance that she would discuss the issues through the National Transport Commissioners Forum.

Saraki said she was also working with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the concessionning of some routes which according to her was the best way to go to increase government revenue.

She further, enjoined the group to avoid duplicity and formalise their structures in an organised manner for better engagements, with the ministry and other relevant agencies.

The National President of PTONA, Uhunwagho, stated that their visit was in respect to the challenges being faced by the body.

He appreciate the efforts of the Minister towards ameliorating the challenges PTONA has been facing since the pandemic in February, 2020.

He also commended the cooperation and protection which the Ministry was providing for public transportation in the country.

Uhunwagho said that with this, our future in the one chance business is now encouraging.

The PTONA president appealed for COVID-19 financial palliatives for her members to prevent their businesses from folding up.

He said:PTONA members felt the impact of the lockdown the most as their branded buses could not operate due to the ban on interstate travel.

According to Uhunwagho, the general motor parks did not comply with the ban as their parks became a safe haven for flouting the ban and they enjoyed black market transportation boom.

He lamented that in spite the fact that PTONA members were major investors in the transportation sector, their companies were the prime target for state and local government authorities who imposed taxes, levies and other ridiculous conditions.

Uhunwagho said these challenges among others necessitated the visit on the Minister and expressed hope that their pleas would be looked into. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

From left, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, receives vehicle documents from the LSSC DG, Oluwatoyin Gafar, during the official presentation of a new 18-seater executive bus to the chapter by the state government.

By Olanrewaju Akojede

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has presented a brand new 18-seater executive bus to the states chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in fulfillment of his campaign promises.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanwo-Olu had during his governorship campaign in 2019 promised Lagos SWAN a brand new 18-seater capacity bus.

The Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Oluwatoyin Gafar, made the formal presentation on behalf of the governor to the Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The gift is in fulfillment of the campaign promises in the area of sports development in Lagos state and Gov. Sanwo-Olu has delivered. He has said that every promise made will be fulfilled.

The bus is a reward for hardwork by the Lagos SWAN members. They truly worked to earn it and this is the recognition of their work.

The state government is desirous of human and capital development of sports which has formed one of the cardinal blueprints of the present government, he said.

In his remarks during the presentation, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun, commended the state government for fulfilling its promise, adding that the bus would be put to optimal use.

During the campaign tour by the governor, he asked for our needs and we requested for some things, especially a befitting bus, and he has now delivered on his promises.

We should have even received the bus before now, about six months ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic denied us of having it as at when due.

I can only thank the Lagos State Governor for keeping to his promises. It shows that he is a man of his words.

We have good relationships with the state government and we promise to continue to do so by contributing positively to the development of sports in the state, he said.

It is important that we place it on record that the LagosState Government and the State Sports Commission have always been there for us all the time we need them.

During the very intense period of the COVID-19 pandemic, we got some of the best materials as palliatives in the country.

As for the bus, we will make judicious use of it, and it will not be converted to any personal use but collective use.

We will deploy the bus as part of the image of the association for competitions, such as league matches, marathon races and other competitions, Oshundun said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Policemen

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Mr Dibal Yakadi, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, has assured of peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Edo, scheduled to take place on Sept. 19.

The AIG who spoke during a meeting with stakeholders in Benin on Wednesday, said everybody must work towards ensuring that this happened.

While warning that stiffer penalties awaited offenders during the Edo poll, the AIG appealed to the stakeholders to warn their supporters, wards or group against any act of violence before, during and after the poll.

Yakadi listed unemployment, poverty, lack of sportsmanship by political actors, desperation by politicians, proliferation of small arms and access to illicit drugs as being responsible for election violence.

He also warned political parties to stop hate speech and circulation of fake and unconfirmed stories.

He said the media, Independent National Electoral Commission, religious leaders, political parties and security agencies were critical stakeholders who must play their roles to ensure free, fair and credible poll.

The stakeholders must work as a team to deliver free, fair and credible election.

The media must develop high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, while religious leaders must also continue to preach peace.

NYSC must work to ensure that only corps members willing to dutifully carry out election assignments are recruited; security agencies should be neutral and not be partisan during elections, he stated.

He urged INEC to ensure that all logistics for elections were put in place before the elections.

To stop election violence, Yakadi said employment should be created while voters education should be carried on a regular basis.

He assured that the police will ensure regular engagement of stakeholders before the Sept. 19 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that all security agencies were present at the meeting as well as traditional rulers, religious and youth leaders, political parties and civil society organisations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has called on stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to work together to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Mr Nicholas Odinuwe, President of the association made the call at the ongoing Virtual Nigeria Energy Industry Transformation Summit (NEITS),on Wednesday.

The summit with the theme Changing global energy landscape: Strategies for Industry sustainability was organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Odinuwe said that for the industry to reposition for sustainability, stakeholder must ensure full implementation of the legal framework for the sector.

I commend the organisers of this programme; the choice of the topic is apt but for the sector to reposition for sustainability, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders. We must ensure that the legal framework for the industry is passed now and not in the next twenty years.

We must put pressure to ensure the passage of the PIB for our industry to reposition for greater development because non passage of the bill over the years has hindered required development in the industry, he said.

He further said that the industry was recently faced with various challenges occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, adding that adequate commitment was required to move it forward.

COVID-19 has negatively impacted the country and the sector at large, closure of activities and low energy demand have necessitated that we put all hands on deck to be able to come out positively.

It is time for all of us to be pragmatic and ensure cost reduction through aggressive use of local contractors, he said.

According to him, local contractors have contributed to the growth of the sector.

He noted that SPE and PETAN must advocate for the use of local contractors for the growth of the sector.

He called for promotion of local production of petroleum products, adding that it was not good for Nigeria as the sixth largest oil producing country in the world to depend on importation of the products.

In his remarks, the SPE Chairman, Mr Joe Nwakwe, said that choice of the topic was to discuss the issues that would help drive the growth of the sector.

Nwakwe expressed the hope that the panelists would proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing the sector.

Also, Mr Alex Tarka, National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) President, noted that the topic of the summit was significant to the growth of the sector and called on stakeholders to support SPE to move the sector forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday sustained upward posture, in spite of a negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

Speficially, the market capitalisation increased further by N33 billion or 0.25 per cent to N13.194 trillion against N13.161 trillion posted on Monday.

In the same vein, the All-Share Index rose by 62.61 points or 0.25 per cent to 25,291.73 compared to the 25,229.12 points recorded on Monday.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said the market defied the negative Q2 GDP of 6.1 per cent due to improved half year corporate earnings.

Omordion stated that the half year corporate earnings performance were above the market expectations, with emerging sectors outperforming the traditional sectors in the new normal.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; BUA Cement, Julius Berger, Flour Mills, Lafarge Africa and NEM Insurance.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said Given the gaining streak, we expect investors to take profit in subsequent trading days.

NEM Insurance dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 9.63 per cent to close at N2.05 per share.

Wapic Insurance trailed with 6.25 per cent to close at 34k, while Japaul Oil appreciated by 4.76 per cent to close at 22k per share.

Jaiz Bank garnered 3.51 per cent to close at 59k, while Julius Berger grew by 3.03 per cent to close at N17 per share.

Conversely, Beta Glass led the losers chart in percentage terms, losing 9.99 per cent to close at N55.40 per share.

May and Baker followed with a loss of 9.90 per cent to close at N2.73, while Arbico dipped 9.52 per cent to close at N1.14 per share.

C

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that African countries can defeat the coronavirus pandemic, in the same manner, it eradicated the Wild Polio Virus on the continent.

The president spoke at the formal certification of the Wild Polio Virus eradication in the African region during the virtual session of the 70th World Health Organisation (WHO) regional committee for Africa, at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

I recall that shortly after assuming office in May 2015, I made a pledge to Nigerians that I would not bequeath a polio-endemic country to my successor.

This certification is, therefore, a personal fulfillment of that pledge to not only Nigerians, but to all Africans.

At a time when the global community is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, this achievement strengthens my conviction that with the requisite political will, investments and strategies, as well as citizens commitment, we will flatten the epidemic curve.

I can affirm the commitment of all African leaders to this course of action, the president said in his remarks while celebrating the historic feat.

He assured the global community that Nigeria would sustain the momentum and leverage on the lessons learnt from polio eradication to strengthen her health system, especially primary health care, and prioritise health security.

He added that Nigeria used data systems, community engagement and innovative technology to monitor and predict the occurrence of polio outbreaks.

According to him, the same skills and tools are being used to fight COVID-19 and the multi-country outbreaks of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Viruses.

Buhari, who described the achievement as a truly historic moment, commended President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union, under whose leadership, Africa crossed the finishing line.

He recounted that the journey to eradicate the virus dated back to 1996, when Nelson Mandela of blessed memory launched the Kick Polio out of Africa campaign.

The Nigerian leader also used the occasion to congratulate Dr Matshidiso Moeti and the WHO Regional Committee for Africa on their untiring efforts, contributions and leadership towards polio eradication in Africa.

We must guard this achievement of the eradication of Wild Polio Virus in Africa jealously and ensure that we take all necessary steps to prevent a resurgence of this dreaded disease.

This will require maintaining the highest quality of surveillance and sustaining population immunity through increasing routine immunization coverage and supplemental immunization activities.

It is heartwarming to note how the strong partnership between the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and Governments of African countries worked tirelessly and collaboratively to deliver this success, he said.

The president further commended the decades of hard work and resilience of health workers and volunteers across the region, Ministers of Health and other stakeholders such as political, traditional, religious and community leaders who provided the required support and leadership.

I would also like to appreciate the invaluable support of our donors, development and local partners such as WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation.

Also, United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, GAVI, USAID, European Union, Emeka Offor Foundation, the Japanese and German Governments, numerous NGOs and faith-based organisations.

These are truly the heroes and heroines of many battles that have made us triumphant in the war against polio, he said.

While stressing the need to sustain vaccination of children in Africa, the president urged African governments to continue investments in the health sector because healthy populations create wealthy nations.

We must continue to build trust between Government institutions, leaders and citizens, so that we can unite as a people and confront the health and socio-economic challenges we face together.

In his remarks, Chairman, Aliko Dangote Foundation and Africas foremost philanthropist, Aliko Dangote urged governments across Africa to increase their budget allocations to the healthcare sector, to help ensure improved basic healthcare for the people.

He expressed deep satisfaction at the final eradication of wild polio in Nigeria, and by extension Africa after years of hard work and collaboration among stakeholders.

Dangote, who played a major role through his Foundation in the eradication of Polio in Nigeria, said:

I want to commend our African leaders, especially my own President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for his leadership.

All levels of government have successfully come together to make this day possible.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) have congratulated Nigeria on being declared free of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV).

WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, disclosed this in a statement posted on its website.

The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication on Tuesday, officially declared WHO African Region is free of wild poliovirus.

The statement stated that while the UN agencies congratulated Nigeria on the status, they emphasised that achieving the milestone was not the end of the job all children under five years must continue to be vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.

This is critical to significantly reduce avoidable mortality in Nigerian children under five years old, keep polio permanently out of Nigeria and ensure better health and well being for future generations.

The UN agencies also congratulated fellow Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners in Nigeria who helped reach this achievement: Rotary International; the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

They also congratulated Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) as well as Nigerian traditional and religious leaders and volunteer community mobilisers as the foot soldiers who fought to free Nigerian children from the wild poliovirus.

The statement quoted Dr Walter Mulumbo, WHO Nigeria Country Representative, as saying: WHO rejoices with the people and government of Nigeria and acknowledges that wild polio-free certification is undoubtedly the greatest public health.

It acknowledges that the certification is the greatest triumph in the annals of Nigeria and indeed Africa that will bequeath to posterity lessons learnt and best practices for addressing future public health interventions.

Both UN agencies expressed strong appreciation for the role played by all stakeholders, especially the commitment and support of the Nigerian government at all levels, development partners, donors, traditional and community leaders, health workers and caregivers.

This milestone is a clarion call to urgently rededicate resources to stopping the transmission of all types of poliovirus, strengthening routine immunisation to sustain the gains achieved especially in high risk areas and traditional polio sanctuaries and maintaining high quality surveillance.

Similarly, the statement quoted UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, as saying: It is a momentous achievement that calls for celebration.

This historic achievement not only signifies the end of the wild poliovirus across the entire African continent, but is also a significant springboard towards attaining global polio eradication.

UNICEF joins Nigeria in celebrating this milestone and congratulating Nigerias children, especially but we must remember that the job is not over, said Hawkins.

All caregivers must continue to vaccinate their children against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases, including polio.

Religious and community leaders, as champions of wild poliovirus eradication, should continue to mobilise caregivers to vaccinate their children for all preventable diseases. Children need their help now more than ever, Hawkins added.

Hawkins further said not only was polio vaccination still crucial, all routine vaccinations were critical to childrens survival.

We must all work together to strengthen routine immunisation services and ensure that all children under five receive all vaccines, including the polio vaccine.

This is not the time for Nigeria to take its foot off the accelerator. This is the time for Nigeria to strengthen its primary health care system, and give routine immunisation a vital boost.

UNICEF and WHO pledge to continue to support Nigeria to strengthen its primary healthcare system under the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUR) policy initiated by the Federal Government, including the goal to have at least one functional primary healthcare centre (PHC) in every ward in Nigeria.

Nigeria attained wild polio-free status after meeting all the criteria for certification, which include three years of non-detection of any wild poliovirus case in the country.

Before the certification, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan were the only wild polio endemic countries globally.

Source: NAN News

WHO DG, Tedros-Adhanom-Ghebreyesus

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication on Tuesday officially declared that World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region is free of wild poliovirus.

WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, disclosed this in a statement posted on its website.

According to the statement, this marks the eradication of the second virus from the face of the continent since smallpox 40 years ago.

The statement quoted Prof. Rose Fomban Leke, ARCC Chairperson, as saying Today is a historic day for Africa.

ARCC is pleased to announce that the Region has successfully met the certification criteria for wild polio eradication, with no cases of the wild poliovirus reported in the Region for four years.

The ARCCs decision comes after an exhaustive, decades-long process of documentation and analysis of polio surveillance, immunization and laboratory capacity of the regions 47 member states, which included conducting field verification visits to each country.

In 1996, African Heads of State committed to eradicate polio during the Thirty-Second Ordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity in Yaound, Cameroon.

At the time, polio was paralysing an estimated 75,000 children, annually, on the African continent.

In the same year, Nelson Mandela with the support of Rotary International jumpstarted Africas commitment to polio eradication with the launch of the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign.

Mandelas call mobilised African nations and leaders across the continent to step up their efforts to reach every child with polio vaccine.

The last case of wild poliovirus in the region was detected in 2016 in Nigeria.

Since 1996, polio eradication efforts have prevented up to 1.8 million children from crippling life-long paralysis and saved approximately 180,000 lives.

This is a momentous milestone for Africa. Now future generations of African children can live free of wild polio, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

This historic achievement was only possible thanks to the leadership and commitment of governments, communities, global polio eradication partners and philanthropists.

I pay special tribute to the frontline health workers and vaccinators, some of whom lost their lives, for this noble cause.

However, we must stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus and address the continued threat of the vaccine-derived polio, said Moeti.

While the eradication of wild poliovirus from the WHO African Region is a major achievement, 16 countries in the region are currently experiencing cVDPV2 outbreaks, which can occur in under-immunised communities.

The statement also quoted Dr Pascal Mkanda, Coordinator of WHO Polio Eradication Programme in the African Region, as saying:

Africa has demonstrated that in spite of weak health systems, significant logistical and operational challenges across the continent, African countries have collaborated very effectively in eradicating wild poliovirus

With the innovations and expertise that the polio programme has established, I am confident that we can sustain the gains, post-certification, and eliminate cVDPV2, , added Mkanda.

In addition, the statement quoted Moeti, as saying: The expertise gained from polio eradication will continue to assist the African region in tackling COVID-19 and other health problems that have plagued the continent for so many years and ultimately move the continent toward universal health coverage.

This will be the true legacy of polio eradication in Africa.

Thanks to the dedication of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases have reduced by 99.9 per cent since 1988, bringing the world closer than ever before to ending polio.

The initiative is a public-private global partnership comprising national governments; WHO; Rotary International; the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; UNICEF; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and a broad range of long-term supporters. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Constance Imasuen

Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman says the 6.15 billion dollars (about N2.373 trillion) recently secured by the Federal Government for the power sector will improve electricity supply in the country.

Mamman said this in a statement issued by Mr Aaron Artimas, his Special Adviser on Media and Communications in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister who assumed office on Aug. 21, 2019 was speaking on the occasion to mark his one year in office.

Mamman said that he was grateful to the President who had continued to discover and inject new talents into the countrys leadership.

According to him,to date, 6.150 billion dollars have been secured for infrastructural development and earmarked for critical projects.

Giving a breakdown of the fund, the minister said
3.2 billion dollars was secured from Siemens, and 1.6 billion dollars from donor agencies for the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP).

The minister said 1.7 billion dollars was secured from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Giving further breakdown of the fund, he said that 550 million dollars was earmarked for the Nigerian Electricity Project (NEP), a rural electrification project being funded by the World Bank and AfDB.

Mamman said with the fund, the ministry has begun implementing critical infrastructure to transform generation, transmission, and distribution of 25,000 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity by 2025.

The Siemens project will raise power to 7, 000MW in the first phase which just began, focusing on quick wins for both Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN ) and the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).

The expected projects under the Siemens deal include 105 substations rehabilitation, 70 new substations, manufacturing and installation of 35 power transformers and installation of 3,765 distribution transformers.

There will also be over 5,000 kilometres of transmission lines to be constructed.

According to Mamman, under his supervision, TCN is also implementing the 1.6 billion dollars Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) with funding from development partners like World Bank, AfDB,and JICA.

He listed the key projects impacted by the fund to include Alaoji-Onitsha and Kaduna-Kano power line among others.

According to him, work is ongoing to complete the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant worth 1.2 billion dollars aimed at generating 700MW.

Mamman said that the Zungeru project had attained 73 per cent completion presently.

The 3050MW Mambilla hydropower project is expected to increase the national grid by 30 per cent. It is worth 5.7 billion dollars with 85 per cent funding. With 4.85 billion dollars from China while the Federal Government is providing 850 million dollars funding.

The main construction works include four large dams: Nya, Sumsum, Nghu, and API Weir in Taraba state.

Mamman said that the government had also finished the 40MW Kashimbilla hydropower plant in Taraba.

We are currently working on the development and expansion of transmission lines to evacuate power from the project site to areas of distribution.

There is also the 40MW Dadin Kowa hydropower plant in Gombe State, while overhauling the 240MW Afam Power Plant.

According to the minister,the Federal Government isworking to increase energy access for an estimated 80 million Nigerians that are without electricity access through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA),

He said that the ministry was also mapping out unserved clusters to provide a digital database of the distribution grid system.

We have secured 550 million dollars from the World Bank and AfDB for off-grid electrification being used to power universities and rural areas.

With the mini grid regulation, access to electricity is improving through REA. As at 2019, we had four millionoff-grid connections.

We aim to add another five million in the next 18 to 24 months under the recently approved Economic Sustainability Programme, he said.

The mnister noted that efforts were ongoing to close the gap between generation capacity and distribution as a means of reducing losses with individual capacity.

He said that the sector was already contending with a huge loss of more than N254 billion from unutilised power.

Just on August 18, TCN achieved an unprecedented peak distribution of 5,420MW of power to the DisCos, being the third of such milestones.

This is coming even as the ministry has attained a 24 hour transmission period as against the previous eight to 10 hours per day. he said.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai

We are particularly grateful to His Highness, the Agwatyap for his leadership in bringing together the diverse communities in his chiefdom to begin the process of rebuilding trust and restoring peace.

We thank the community leaders and civic-minded individuals that have helped kickstart this dialogue process.

All who seek to replace violent strife with harmony can be assured of the unstinting support of the state government for the peace and concord in all our communities.

The governor reiterated that the ultimate guarantee of peace is the willingness of communities to live in peace and harmony, and their resolve to settle all differences by strictly lawful means.

He stressed that community support was as important as the deployment of security to the area.

What the communities and leadership of Atyap Chiefdom have started is the type of grassroots ownership of the responsibility for peace and harmony in communities that the government has advocated as a critical factor beyond the deployment of police and military forces.

This strong community rapprochement will help to complement security efforts to restore law and order and advance towards sustainable peace.

We welcome the unequivocal repudiation of the violence and killings that have occurred in the Atyap Chiefdom, and the call on all residents of the area to report to the security agencies the criminals that have perpetrated the lawless acts in the area.

This call for accountability is significant, and it represents a positive effort to contain impunity and deter crime, he stressed.

El-Rufai assured the delegation that government would enhance security deployments in the area as the peace process advances.

The Kaduna State Peace Commission will also strongly support this effort at building peace at the grassroots.

He appealed to all the communities to abide by the resolutions with vigilance and commitment, and work towards making it a sustainable accord.

The work of peace is often hard, but it is a human obligation to work always to preserve human life, liberty and livelihoods, he noted.

I call on every person of goodwill to support the Atyap Chiefdoms strong efforts to bring its communities together and stop the bloodshed and destruction of property.

Everyone should reject the temptation to take laws into their hands and instead submit all grievances to the lawful authorities, the governor said.

Source: NAN News

CBN

By Mustapha Sumaila

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers Committee have unanimously agreed to extend special facilities to Nigerian-registered airlines and the media industry in the country to enable them adequately address the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CBN Director Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Okorafor said the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, announced this while addressing the Bank Chief Executives at the bi-monthly virtual meeting of the Bankers Committee on Tuesday.

Emefiele urged the banks to do all within their powers to support airlines in the country, noting that such support was critical to helping the industry recover from the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, the apex banks governor also advised the banks to support the efforts of the media industry in Nigeria to cope with the lingering pandemic in order to avoid massive job losses in the industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that CBN, in the advent of the coronavirus in Nigeria, announced a N1.2 trillion intervention funds to support critical sectors of the economy, one trillion naira of which was to support local manufacturing sector and to boost import substitution.

The remaining N100 billion of the intervention fund was to support the health sector in equipping laboratories and enhancing research to produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria.

The Bank, also in March 2020, unveiled guidelines for the implementation of a N100 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) as a stimulus package to support households and micro, small and medium enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has lauded the pace of infrastructure development at the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) in Borno.

Buratai gave the commendation during inauguration of several projects at the university on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects inaugurated include 8.5 kilometers perimeter fence, 10 units of 4 bedrooms terrace duplexes senior staff quarters, faculty of Arts complex and faculty of Social sciences complex.

Others includeICT centre and the Maternal and Child Referral Centre and lecture theatre.

Buratai, who acknowledge the contributions of various governmental and non-governmental organisations in fast-tracking the development of the institution, said the university had witnessed tremendous development within its two years of existence.

He commended the intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) in providing two faculties complexes for the institution to boost its academic strength.

The COAS also lauded the efforts and support of Zenith Bank towards the construction and equipping of the universitys ICT centre as well as the Total Nigeria Ltd for establishing the health centre.

Buratai assured that the Nigerian Army would continue to invest in the university, adding that it was also designated as one of the barracks and cantonment of the Nigeria Army.

The Army Chief who earlier led members of the university governing council and top army officers on courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu, commended the emirate for their support.

He also expressed appreciation to the Emir for the cordial relationship between the university community and the people of the emirate council.

The university has progressed so well so far and I am sure that it will serve the people of Biu emirate and the country as a whole.

There are projects sponsored by the Tetfund and the university itself that are completed and would be commissioned and lay foundation for the worship centre, he said.

The Vice Chancellor of NAUB, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, said the two faculties of Arts and Social Sciences complexes projects were funded by Tetfund from start to finish.

He added that other projects were funded by the federal government special grant and interventions from some private organisations.

He thanked the Executive Secretary of Tetfund, Prof. Suleiman Boforo, for his special interest in the university.

The projects were later inaugurated by the Tetfund boss and Buratai.

Source: NAN News

Lionel Messi

Team captain Lionel Messi has told FC Barcelona he wishes to leave the club immediately, a source confirmed on Tuesday.

The development has however deepened the turmoil within the Catalan side, less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich.

The source said the club received a burofax from Messis lawyers declaring that the player, who has spent his entire career at Barca, wished to leave.

A burofax is a service used in Spain to urgently dispatch a document through a certified email, which issues a digital certificate with legal validity.

The club subsequently sent Messi a burofax, stating they wanted him to stay and finish his career at Barca, added the source.

A second source added that the burofax Messis lawyers sent referred to a clause in the last contract the 33-year-old Argentine signed with the club in 2017.

The clause allowed him to leave for free, a clause that expired on June 10 this year.

Under the terms of the contract which expires in 2021, the only way Messi can leave without the clubs consent is if a rival side pays his release clause of 700 million euros (629.7 million pounds).

The club considers that the contract is fully binding until 30 June 2021, added the second source.

The Argentines request to leave Barca comes a day after Spanish media reported that new coach Ronald Koeman had spoken with Messis close friend and strike partner, Luis Suarez.

It was reported that Koeman does not wish the Uruguayan to stay at the club.

Other reports said Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic and French defender Samuel Umtiti have also been told they are no longer wanted.

Barca are in the midst of overhauling their squad following the 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals earlier this month.

It was a defeat which condemned the club to a trophyless season for the first time in 12 years.

Messi, who has been named world player of the year a record six times, has grown increasingly unhappy in the last 12 months.

He was unhappy with how the club is being run under president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

In February, he lashed out at then sporting director Eric Abidal on social media.

A couple of months later turned his anger on the club hierarchy for the way in which players were forced to take a pay cut to cope with the financial hit of the coronanvirus pandemic.

After Barca surrendered the La Liga title to Real Madrid in July, Messi slammed the team as being weak and vulnerable during an uncharacteristically fiery post-match interview.

Former Barca captain Carles Puyol backed Messis wish to leave the club by writing on Twitter: Respect and admiration, Leo. You have all my support, friend.

Ex-Barca president Joan Laporta blamed Bartomeu for the stance taken by Messi.

Bartomeu and his board should quit immediately. They have undermined Messi to save them from the sporting and financial mess they have created.

If they quit, there might be some hope that Messi stays at Barca, he tweeted.

Catalonias regional leader Quim Torra appeared to accept that Barcas best ever player, who in 2019 was given the Creu de Sant Jordi award for services to the region, was about to leave.

He tweeted: Catalonia will always be your home. Many thanks for all the happy moments and for your extraordinary football.

We have been so lucky to share so many years of our lives with the best player in the world and a noble sportsman.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate says it is probing the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and StarTimes Joint Venture Agreement over the non-profitability of the venture which had been since 2008.

Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during an interactive session with some revenue generating agencies of government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the upper chamber had, on Monday, queried the management of NTA, over 12 years of non-profitable venture with StarTimes.

The Senate asked that the management should appear before the committee along with the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, Mr Maxwell Loko.

The joint venture agreement was that whatever accrued at the end of every financial year, 70 per cent, goes to StarTimes and 30 per cent to Nigeria.

Adeola queried why some of the accounts of StarTimes were in dollars and naira.

If this business is truly owned and it is owned in Nigeria as you profess, this account should only be in naira value.

Why you have structured it to be in dollars and naira, is for easy movement of dollars outside the country.

In 2019, the total revenue for subscription is 36.1 million dollars and in naira terms, it is over N11 billion.

On this note, we are going to set up a special investigative panel to look into this record before us, audited account from the few lines l am able to open and look into, there is a lot of issues, he said

The chairman further called for the stepping aside of the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, chief executive officer of StarTimes and the director of tax, for an independent investigation.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi, called for a forensic audit of the process.

He said an independent forensic audit of this exercise is needed so that we can open up where the issues are, if NTA needs to renegotiate its agreement, so be it.

Adetumbi said that the situation and transaction were highly complex and beyond the public hearing to unravel, given the time and the nature of transactions.

I will like to suggest to this committee and NTA that it is in order to open these books to ensure that Nigeria is having a fair deal from this relationship.

We want to be sure that NTA is not taken for a ride and definitely the investment of Federal Government in NTA is also not being abused.

Between 2008 and now, nothing in terms of return except that NTA was borrowing from StarTimes, its partners.

No wonder and we are not surprised that you have not been able to declare anything, he said.

A member of the committee, Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) said: Whatever way we look at it, this thing is actually a messy situation.

NTA signed agreement with this people, which is a venture to form Star TV and then to be overlooked by TV enterprises.

However, if you look at the shareholding, the 30 per cent is not TV enterprises.

NTA has 30 per cent and not TV enterprises. Whatever way you look at it, this thing is muddled up.

That is why this venture could not generate income for the country.

All what you are doing is that you are working for StarTimes, pure and simple.

All of you are working for StarTimes. It is very clear why no kobo has come to Nigeria.

I am sorry to say this and my language may be harsh, I dont see patriotism in you working for the Nigerian people.

Responding, Loko, the managing director, NTA TV Enterprises said I dont work for them, I dont manage the company.

We have a chief executive officer, I do not manage StarTimes, that is the truth. I do not manage StarTimes, I do not work for them.

It will interest the committee to know that, it was indeed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that introduced StarTimes communication of China to NTA.

Loko explained that NBC granted the company licence from August 2011 to 2016 in the first instance.

We were expected to have paid N500 million as licence fee, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Bandits in North West

Abdullahi Shugaba

The Nigerian Army says troops of the Operation Sahel Sanity arrested 158 suspected bandits in the ongoing clearance operations in Katsina and Zamfara States.

Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, Acting Director Media Operations, Operation Sahel Sanity, disclosed this during a news conference at the Special Army Super Camp in Faskari on Tuesday.

Onyeuko disclosed that the troops acting on intelligence information raided an illegal mining site in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State where they arrested 150 bandits and recovered 120 Dane guns.

He said that the troops also raided another bandits camp in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara where a bandit was neutralised and two others arrested while two AK 47 , two magazines and motorcycles were recovered.

At Daki Takwas village in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops intercepted a Toyota Corolla saloon car with 11 locally made rifles hidden at different parts of the vehicle.

We have also succeeded in intercepting another dangerous lorry heading towards Kofar Dinya in Bukkuyum Local Government Area where we made two arrests.

Also; at Dogon Karfe Village of Bakura Local Government Area, troops destroyed another camp and arrested a wanted notorious bandit, Yusuf Ibrahim, aka Bula.

Troops also intercepted seven trucks loaded with rustled cattle on Gurbi-Jibia Road in Zamfara State while two bandits, Masudu Abubakar and Tukur Halliru were apprehended at Daudawa village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Onyeuko said.

He noted that the suspected bandits had been handed over to the Police Command in Zamfara State for further interrogations.

The spokesman commended the communities for providing information to the troops leading to the arrest of the suspects. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Andy Murray

Andy Murray claimed the biggest win of his comeback and a place in the last 16 of the Western and Southern Open on Monday, taking out self-destructing fifth seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 3-6 7-5.

Working his way back to match fitness after undergoing a second round of hip surgery in January, Murray offered hope that he was on the right track with a tidy first-round win over Frances Tiafoe on Saturday.

But it is Mondays win over the big-hitting German on a steamy, hot New York afternoon that will provide a huge confidence boost in the run-up to the U.S. Open that starts next week.

Neither player will include the contest in their career highlight reels, particularly a scrappy third set that was riddled with unforced errors and momentum swings.

Murray would be the first to take control in the third, racing ahead 4-1, but was left mumbling and scolding himself as Zverev broke the Briton twice on his way to sweeping the next four games and taking a 5-4 lead.

But serving for the match Zverev double-faulted three times to gift Murray a break and extend the match.

Murray then held serve and finished off the crumbling German, with the help of two more double faults, with a final break to register his first win over at top-10 ranked opponent since 2017.

It was a big one to get through, said Murray. Im satisfied to get through it against a top player having not played for such a long time and I get another opportunity to compete again tomorrow.

This will give me an idea of where my body is at, said Murray, a past winner of the Western and Southern, which is normally held in Cincinnati but was moved this year in order to move players inside a protective bubble ahead of the U.S. Open.

Next up for Murray is another big hitter, Canadian Milos Raonic, who advanced to the last with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Briton Daniel Evans. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News