APC Logo

The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of all the 18 chairmanship seats in Saturdays local government election in the state

Announcing the election result on Sunday evening, the commissions Chairman, Prof. Yomi Dinakin, said that the party also won 194 councilorship seats out of 198, while the results in the four remaining wards were declared inconclusive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only seven of 14 registered political parties participated in the exercise.

NAN also reports that there was no contest in five local governments.

Dinakin, who declared the APC candidates winner of the election in the five local government areas, said it was in line with the Electoral Act.

Source: NAN News

APC Logo

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC), UK chapter, says it has launched a website to celebrate President Muhammadu Buharis achievements in the last five years.

Ms Edith Nwachukwu, the Chairperson, Membership Committee of the chapter, said this in a statement issued by Mr Jacob Ogunseye, the APC UK Publicity Secretary on Monday in Abuja.

Nwanchukwu said Nigerians could access the website via https://presidentbuhariachievements.com, to keep abreast with the administrations completed and ongoing projects across the country.

She expressed gratitude to Nigerians for being patient and keeping faith with the Buhari-led administration in the last five years in spite of challenges.

Nwachukwu said that the APC was not unmindful of the patience of Nigerians and assured that the party would not let them down.

Thank you for your patience thus far; we are not where we should be, but we have made considerable progress under the APC-led administration, together we can make Nigeria great again, Nwachukwu said.

She, however, noted that in spite of the developmental strides of the president, the social media had been awash with fake news.

According to her, the administrations Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) has made available more than N200 billion in funding to more than 1.5 million smallholder farmers of 16 different commodities.

She said they include rice, wheat, maize, cotton, cassava, poultry, beans and groundnut.

Nwachukwu said the programme had substantially raised local production of rice, doubling the production of paddy as well as milled rice between 2015 and 2019.

She said that between 2016 and 2019, more than 10 new rice mills came on stream in the country, while many of the existing mills had expanded their capacity with several new ones under construction.

Nwachukwu said the administration had launched a series of funding and capacity development initiatives designed to support small and medium scale businesses in the country.

She said while the administration had done a lot for businesses to succeed such as fighting corruption and curbing insecurity, it had also created enabling environment to attract foreign investors into the country.

According to her, President Buharis achievements since elected are visible in most parts of the federation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 322 new COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total number of infections to 52,227.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Sunday.

The health agency indicated that 1,002 people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the country.

According to it, five more people infected with the virus died in the last 24 hours.

The health agency said that till date, 52,227 cases had been confirmed, with 38,945 discharged and 1,002 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The NCDC stated that the 322 new cases were reported from 18 states.

It noted that Lagos, the epicentre, recorded 130 cases, followed by Bauchi with 36 cases.

Others were FCT(25), Edo(17), Bayelsa(14), Ogun(14), Oyo(14), Anambra(13), Kaduna(12), Ondo(11), Abia(10), Osun(6), Plateau(5), Kwara(5), Kano(4), Ebonyi(3), Sokoto(2) and Borno(1).

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

Meanwhile, the agency said that frequent hand washing with soap under running water was one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19 that were transmitted via person-to-person contact or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Take responsibility to keep yourself and loved ones safe and healthy. Our IVR Self-Assessment Tool is active!

Dial 01-700-6232 for an automated call-back if you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, it said.

The NCDC also emphasised the need for business owners to have a plan to reduce risk of COVID-19 spread in the workplace.

Our guide for business reopening is available on covid-19.ncdc.gov.ng for workplace safety in context of COVID-19, it said.

Source: NAN News

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State commissioner of Health.

By Oluwafunke Ishola / Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for COVID-19.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, made this known in a statement he signed on Monday in Lagos.

Subsequent to close contact with persons feeling unwell and testing positive for the COVID-19 infection, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for the virus.

Prof. Abayomi became aware of his status following the required testing protocol of contact tracing procedures.

However, he is doing well with no symptoms.

Adhering to the protocol of the home-based strategy in Lagos State, the Commissioner will be isolated in his home for the next 14 days, Omotoso said.

He added that Abayomi would continue to discharge his duties both as the Deputy Incident Commander of the Incident Command System for COVID-19 and most especially, as the State Commissioner for Health.

Our prayers are with him and his family during his period of isolation, Omotoso said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State commissioner of Health.

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says hes responding positively to treatment after testing positive to COVID-19 pandemic, and I remains committed to discharging my duties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, had in a statement on Monday disclosed Abayomis COVID-19 status.

Abayomi, in a message posted on his Twitter account @ProfAkinAbayomi, said that he remains committed to discharging his duties to the state.

With utmost sense of responsibility, I am obliged to make it known to the general public that I have tested positive to #COVID-19.

Consequently, I have proceeded on 14 days self-isolation and treatment at home.

Nevertheless, I remain committed to continuing to discharge my duties as the Commissioner for Health and Deputy Incident Commander for #COVID-19 responses in Lagos State.

I am extremely enthusiastic and hopeful of overcoming this phase of our collective fight against #COVID-19, he said.

Abayomi said he has the full support of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the entire Cabinet of the Government of Lagos State, as well as his team at the state Ministry of Health, to put the incident behind as soon as possible.

I wish to, however, assure you all that my family members and I are fine and are responding positively to treatment, he said.

The commissioner urged Lagos citizens to continue to wear face masks, maintain physical distancing, as well as other established protocols for COVID-19 prevention.

Also, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), through his Twitter handle wished Abayomi speedy recovery.

I wish my dear brother and colleague @ProfAkinAbayomi, a speedy recovery.

Very grateful for your strong leadership of the #COVID-19 response in Lagos State.

We will #keeppushing, and urge Nigerians to adhere to all public health and safety measures, so we can control this outbreak, Ihekweazu twitted. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NYSC

By Emmanuel Acha

Mr Ahmed Ikaka, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Southeast Area Director, says the scheme is renewed and better positioned to support the technological and economic development of the country.

Ikaka said this in Enugu on Monday during a courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Adegboye.

He said that the reforms in the scheme had led to the creation of six area offices in the country with the South East area office located in Enugu State.

On the recent expansion of the NYSC directorate, Ikaka said that the move was a deliberate attempt to decentralise administration with a view to making monitoring and evaluation more effective.

This will enable us to run the affairs of the scheme easily. The NYSC is now better positioned and more ready than before to support the growth of the nation, he said.

Ikaka called for greater collaboration between the NYSC and the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.

The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic justified the introduction of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development (SAED) programme of the NYSC.

The pandemic challenged the creativity of corps members across the country.

The response of the corps members in the production of protective equipment including automated sanitisers is an indication that the SAED programme has come to stay.

Currently, the SAED which was introduced to make corps members self reliant has been expanded to cover 12 different trades.

Responding, Adegboye congratulated the management of the NYSC for the decentralisation of its directorate, adding that such was long overdue.

The GOC said that the move would afford the NYSC the opportunity to provide better services to Nigerians and be more responsive to its mandate.

He, however, appealed to the management of the scheme to strive to restrict the movement of corps members.

Adegboye said that the call was necessary in order to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities involving corps members across the country.

He said that corps members should be made to face and concentrate on their national assignments.

Adegboye said that the division would continue to support the NYSC programmes in the various states under its command.

The state directors should always liaise with us when there are issues and we hope that the cooperation between us and the scheme will continue, Adegboye said.

Source: NAN News

NEMA

By Ruth Oketunde

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has set a maximum 20 minutes target, within which to respond to emergencies and disasters across the country.

AVM Muhammadu Muhammed (Rtd), Director-General of NEMA, announced the target at a one-day retreat for Heads of Territorial, Zonal and Operations Offices of the agency on Monday in Abuja.

The theme for the retreat is: Effective and Efficient Service Delivery at Operational Level.

Mohammed said that the essence of the retreat was to rub minds with the field officers so as to improve service delivery at the operational level.

He added that as disaster managers, they must fashion out measures for intervention and initiate disaster risk reduction strategies suitable for their respective community.

Delivering effective and efficient service calls for serious commitment on our part.

We are, therefore, setting targets for ourselves, he said.

According to him, there would be an awareness campaign on reducing the risk of flooding and other disasters and the development of resilience among communities through the implementation of the Sendai Framework of Action.

Other targets are responding to all catastrophic disasters in the country, shortening the response time to emergencies and disasters to 20 minutes.

The agency would also ensure availability and workability of all rescue equipment for the country; implementation of the Humanitarian Development Nexus; supporting the provision of basic needs for IDPs in catastrophic disasters and supporting the coordination of safe and dignified return of IDPs in the country in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Muhammed said that a collective effort from all staff of the agency was needed to succeed in the set targets.

Hajiya Saadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development declared the retreat open.

Farouq charged retreat participants to represent the government well as they carry out their duties.

She said their roles as field officers, therefore, is not to wait for disasters to happen, but to go for assessment or make a report to the headquarters.

You must cascade the policies of the government into the local levels and improve the knowledge of the people in disaster risk reduction.

Disaster prevention education provides people with the knowledge and skills needed to systematically recognise hazards and vulnerabilities.

This is to reduce the physical risks in their environment, make use of capacities and resources, and protect themselves and others from hazard impacts, she said.

Similarly, Prof. Sam Tende, Guest Speaker at the event, said there must be a change in attitude in other to render effective service to humanity.

He charged the field officers to develop their abilities and become professionals by taking ownership of each task given to them.

Tende said that for an operational manager to be effective and efficient, he or she must demonstrate trust, share information, provide opportunities for everyone to win, provide feedback and admit mistakes. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yemi Kale NBS Boss

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by -6.10 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2020.

This is according to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report (Q2 2020) published on the NBS website on Monday.

The report said that the decrease in GDP ended the three-year trend of low but positive real growth rates recorded since the 2016 and 2017 recession.

The decline was largely attributed to significantlylower levels of both domestic and international economic activities during the quarter, whichresulted from nationwide shutdown efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The domestic efforts ranged from initial restrictions of human and vehicular movement implemented in only a few states to a nationwide curfew, bans on domestic and international travel, closure of schools and markets, among others.

These efforts, according to NBS, affected both local and international trade.

The efforts, led by both the Federal and State governments, evolved over the course of the quarter and persisted throughout.

When compared with the second quarter of 2019, which recorded a growth of 2.12 per cent, the second quarter of 2020 growth rate indicated a drop of 8.22 per cent points.

The rate also showed a fall of 7.97 per cent points compared to the first quarter of 2020 (1.87 per cent).

Consequently, for the first half of 2020, real GDP declined by 2.18 per cent year on year, compared with 2.11 per cent recorded in the firsthalf of 2019.

Quarteronquarter, real GDP decreased by 5.04 per cent.

Furthermore, only 13 activities recorded positive real growth compared to 30 in the preceding quarter.

In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N34,023 million in nominal terms, or -2.8 per cent lower than the second quarter of 2019 which recorded an aggregate of N35,001,877.95 million.

Overall, the nominal growth rate was 16.81 per cent points lower than recorded in the second quarter of 2019, and 14.81 per cent points lower than recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

According to the report, the Nigerian economy has been classified broadly into the oil and non-oil sectors.

An average daily oil production of 1.81 million barrels per day (mbpd) was recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

This was -0.21mbpd lower than the daily average production of 2.02mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2019, and 0.26mbpd lower than thefirst quarter of 2020 production volume of 2.07mbpd.

Real growth of the oil sector was 6.63 per cent (year-on-year) in the second quarter of 2020 indicating a decrease of 13.80 per cent points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2019.

Growth decreased by 11.69 per cent points when compared to the first quarter of 2020 which recorded 5.06 per cent.

Quarter-on-Quarter, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of 10.82 per cent in the second quarter of 2020.

The oil sector contributed 8.93 per cent to total real GDP in the second quarter of 2020, down from figures recorded in the corresponding period of 2019 and the preceding quarter, whereit contributed 8.98 per cent and 9.50 per cent respectively.

Furthermore, the non-oil sector declined by 6.05 per cent in real terms in the second quarter of 2020 which was the first decline in real non-oil GDP growth rate since the third quarter of 2017.

The recorded growth rate was 7.70 per cent points lower compared to the rate recorded during the same quarter of 2019, and 7.60 per cent points compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Nevertheless, non-oil sector output was driven by financial and insurance (financial institutions), information and communication (telecommunications), agriculture (cropproduction), and public administration which moderated the economy-wide decline.

On the other hand, sectors which experienced the highest negative growth included transport and storage, accommodation and food services, construction, education, real estate and trade, among others.

In real terms, the non-oil sector accounted for 91.07 per cent of aggregate GDP in the second quarter of 2020.

The figure is slightly higher than the share recorded in the second quarter of 2019 which was 91.02 per cent and also the first quarter of 2020 which was 90.50 per cent.

Source: NAN News

By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Shareholders on Monday called for collaboration of capital market operators involved in the e-dividend value chain to tackle the high rate of unclaimed dividends in the market.

The shareholders in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, urged all players in the value chain to play their part in driving the initiative effectively.

NAN reports that e-Dividend is the payment of dividend due to a shareholder through a direct credit into his or her nominated bank account rather than issuance of cheques or warrant.

They lamented that some investors still find their names under the unclaimed dividends list even after enrolling for the e-dividend initiative meant to improve capital market activities.

The shareholders stressed the need for regular update of unclaimed dividends data by registrars and quoted companies to avoid misinformation.

Chief Timothy Adesiyan, a former President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association urged registrars to cross check unclaimed dividend lists to remove names of those already captured under the e-dividend.

Adesiyan said that shareholders were happy with the e-dividend initiative but there was still a lot to be done by the regulators in the space.

He also complained about the list of unclaimed dividends published in some national dailies which he considered illegible.

The enrollment for the e-dividend is not giving us any headache but rather it is a relief because once you are enrolled into the scheme, dividends will be credited directly into your account.

Another challenge is that when these companies publish the list of shareholders in the media, you find it difficult to read them.

They are not legible, you cannot see the names, so the purpose of which they are publishing the names is defeated, he said.

According to Adesiyan, it is a good initiative, we are enjoying it and we are cooperating with the initiative.

What the registrars should do is, when they are sending unclaimed dividend list, they should cross check some of those names that have been captured into the e-dividend format, if that is done, they will be helping us a lot.

Mr Moses Igbrude, the immediate past Publicity Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria told NAN that it was evident that there was a disconnect between the regulators, stockbrokers and others in the value chain.

According to Igbrude, shareholders in the hinterlands are facing challenges with the e-dividend scheme and wondered why newly listed companies in the stock market still have unclaimed dividends.

A lot of shareholders are having challenges with the e-dividends scheme, especially those in the hinterland, apart from the percentage of those who have keyed into it.

Those who have mandated their accounts still have unclaimed dividends in buying new shares on the floor of the exchange, it is a major problem to the whole process.

All the stakeholders in the value chain should take it seriously by fulfilling their own part of the chain, starting from the stockbrokers that collects the signature and transmits same to the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) and registrars.

The registrars will not know if an investor has bought shares after his account has been mandated, if the investor did not inform them, the system should be automated to capture this type of investments, the shareholder need not to go to and fro after an account has been mandated, he added.

Igbrude highlighted some of the steps to be taken by the regulators to ensure a smooth and hitch free enrollment in the initiative.

Each stakeholder in the value chain must and should genuinely carry out their individual roles effectively and efficiently. That is, the stockbrokers, the CSCS, registrars, the banks and regulators.

The registrars should develop and deploy modern technology in their system that can recognise and synchronise similar features as it concerns human identification.

Individual companies should engage SEC and develop ways to identify and trace their shareholders or their families who may have changed location because of exigencies of life.

After all, there is a regulation that state that all unclaimed dividends should be in a dedicated account and managed outside of the company.

The interest yield on these funds should be used in tracking and tracing the shareholders instead of the company just claiming the interest.

The most puzzling or surprising thing in this whole unclaimed dividends is that newly listed companies like MTN, Airtel and others still have unclaimed dividends, he said.

Igbrude appealed to the regulators and companies to work out ways around the e-dividend concept because modern technologies had made it easy to trace and locate people.

Alhaji Olatokunbo Gbadebo, a shareholders activist, lauded the e-dividend initiative and commended registrars for promptness in making sure shareholders were captured.

Gbadebo told NAN that shareholders must appropriately fill their e-dividend enrollment forms and submit with their passport photographs, including other details such as BVN for proper capturing.

Honestly, the e-dividend is commendable and shareholders are happy with the initiative.

Shareholders are, however, advised to ensure proper registration with the registrars. They will give you a form to fill and submit to them, now if you do not fill that form properly your enrollment is incomplete.

There is also the need to provide your other bank information during the registration process, shareholders who fail to do so, have not completed the enrollment for the e-dividend.

Gbadebo called on registrars to ensure that those already captured and enrolled under the e-dividend mandate, do not appear on the list of unclaimed dividends.

Source: NAN News

By Patience Longyen

The Kingdom of Norway has urged the Federal Government to make the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an independent body to build a strong hold for anti-corruption fight.

Mr Jens-Petter Kjemprud, outgoing Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, gave the advice during a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Kjemprud said it was necessary for the commission to have independence, its members nominated on professional basis and be protected from political leadership.

He said the anti-corruption fight anywhere was usually a long one and should not be done in a hurry because it took a longer process.

Anti-corruption fight is a long fight that is not done in a hurry, it takes a long process and it returns to the political process.

If you have different political ideology, you have contradictions and no control mechanism.

As it is today in Nigeria, you have set of political class ruling another political party.

The EFCC should be independent, he said.

He also called for the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

According to him, there have been deficiencies in Nigerias democracy and election is not necessarily democracy itself, but a technical process.

A milestone of democracy in Nigeria was achieved when former President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the election result in 2015 and it should be built upon.

Unfortunately most election observers find some deficiency with the 2015 election but more with the 2019 elections.

Election process should have a strong commission as the EFCC, so electoral commission should be independent to ensure free and fair election, he said.

On security, the ambassador said that the escalation of conflicts in parts of the country had stretched the army and others security outfits and this was a challenge to the nation.

He called for continued reconciliations, negotiations and peace talks to help reduce conflicts.

In the current economic problems, it is difficult to lessen the real reasons for insecurity, as social and educational services take a long time.

Insecurity is not too surprising when many people are living below the poverty line and over 25 per cent are out of jobs, he added.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Sunday Bassey

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Monday said that a student writing the ongoing West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examination in the state had tested positive for COVID-19.

Emmanuel who made the disclosure in a media chat in Uyo, did not mentioned the name of the student and the school involved.

The governor said the student had asymptomatic situation, adding that he took normal precautions to avoid spread.

He however said the state government had begun random testing of students for the virus in secondary schools across the state.

We have tested over 100 students and it is only one young man that tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, the governor said.

We did what we ought to do medically; I want to believe that by now, the young man should be okay, he said.

The governor said that he had put in place, modalities to ensure that the student did not miss out anything from the class.

He added that a government team was moving round schools to make sure that the students were safe and writing the examination while adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

All of them are in excellent health condition because we have put everything in place to ensure that the students are quite safe, he said.

The governor said that he had directed all his Special Assistants to go to schools across the state and monitor the level of compliance to COVID-19 safety measures.

I have directed all my Special Assistants to go to all the schools and monitor the level of compliance to the COVID-19 safety protocols and give us first hand reports incase of any emergency.

Students observed all COVID-19 protocols before starting their examination. We want to make sure our students are safe even while writing examination, governor said.

Emmanuel said that he had provided over 100,000 face masks, sanitisers and all the COVID-19 support to the schools writing the examination across the state.

Based on the report I have, I think the students are doing well; it is left for them to reciprocate by giving us excellent WAEC results, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yemi Kale NBS Boss

By Jessica Dogo

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Monday released Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP), report for in the second quarter of 2020 (Q2 2020), showing 17.83 per cent contribution by the Information, Communication and Technology sector.

A statement signed by Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant, Information Technology, said the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, expressed delight to hear of the growth of Information Communications Technologys (ICT) contribution to Nigerias GDP.

According to the NBS, Nigerias GDP decreased by minus six to10 per cent, year-on-year, in real terms in the second quarter of 2020.

The decrease was largely attributable to significantly lower levels of both domestic and international economic activity during the quarter, which resulted from nationwide shutdown efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The non-oil sector contributed 91.07 per cent to the nations GDP in Q2 2020 as opposed to the 8.93 per cent contributed to total real GDP by the oil sector.

It is worthy to note that the ICT sector contributed 17.83 per cent to the total real GDP in Q2 2020, 20.54 per cent higher than its contribution a year earlier and in the preceding quarter, in which it accounted for 14.07 per cent. This contribution is unprecedented.

In the statement, the Minister noted that the growing contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP was a direct result of the focused and committed effort of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the strategic policy directions of the Federal Government included the inclusion of Digital Economy in the mandate of the Ministry, the unveiling and implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and the National Broadband Plan, among others.

As at July 2020, the broadband penetration in the country was 42.02 per cent, translating to a percentage increase of almost double digits in less than one year. This is another remarkable achievement.

The unprecedented contribution of ICT to Nigerias GDP can also be attributed to dynamic and results-oriented leadership which has been acknowledged and appreciated by a wide spectrum of the stakeholders in the sector.

The support of President Buhari has contributed immensely to the impressive developments in the sector.

Mr President is excited about the growth of the sector and commended the Minister when he heard of these achievements.

The GDP Report has shown how critical the ICT sector is to the growth of our countrys digital economy and, by extension, the general economy, the statement said.

It said that the Minister called on all sectors to take advantage of the governments new focus on the digital economy to enable and improve their processes through the use of ICTs, which would enhance the output of all the sectors of the economy and boost Nigerias GDP. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Folasade Ogunshola,

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

The Senate of the University of Lagos (Unilag) has elected Prof. Folasade Ogunshola, the Acting Vice Chancellor, pending the recommendations of a visitation panel to the university engulfed in crisis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunshola polled a total of 135 votes to defeat Prof. Ben Oghojafor, who had 31 votes.

Prof. Chioma Agomo, Chairman of the Emergency Senate Committee, declared Ogunshola the winner of the election.

She described the election as transparent.

Agomo, a former Dean, Faculty of Law, said that due process was observed in the election.

The Unilag Senate followed due process all through the election, and Prof. Ogunshola emerged the winner.

We will soon forward our recommendations to council, Agomo said.

NAN reports that Ogunshola is Unilags Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development Services, while Oghojafor is Unilags Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services.

A total of 167 members of the Senate participated in the election.

One vote was void.

NAN reports that the crisis in Unilag following the removal of its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, deepened on Friday with the Federal Government directing him and the Chairman of the universitys Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), to step aside.

The government said they should step aside pending the recommendations of a special visitation panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on the crisis.

The government also directed the senate of the university to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members for confirmation by the governing council. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Farmers

By Leonard Okachie

Mr Chijioke Chukwu, member representing Bende North in Abia House of Assembly says he will empower 400 rice farmers in his constituency in the next two years.

Chukwu made this known he donated equipment and cash grants to 60 farmers in his constituency in Ugwueke community in Bende Local Government Area on Sunday.

He said that the 60 farmers were part of the 400 rice farmers his foundationhoped to empower in his Bende North Agricultural Revolution Initiative.

The Deputy Minority Leader, who is in his first tenure in thehouse said that one of his cardinal objectives was to focus on agriculture.

He said that Bende had a comparative advantage over other local government areas in the state in terms of rice production.

The lawmaker, who promised to assist farmers in his constituents to maximise their potential, said about 95 per cent of our land is arable land.

The most viable sector of the Nigerian economy is agriculture. Farmers are in for a very good time, but they are constrained financially.

Chukwu, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, said he used the occasion of his birthday to give back to his constituents.

He appealed to those who could not get anything to exercise patient till December when he would do empowerment.

Mrs Selana Elyon, a beneficiary, who went home with a sewing machine expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for his kind gesture.

Elyon, a fashion designer, promised to use the machine optimally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the items distributed to the farmers included grinding machines, motorcycles, sprayers, sewing machines andgenerating sets. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

IGP

By Douglas Okoro

The Police Command in Ebonyi will on Monday begin the screening of candidates who applied for the position of police constable in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mrs Loveth Odah, who disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abakaliki.

She said the exercise would end on Sept. 5.

According to her, the exercise is open to all candidates who successfully completed their online recruitment registration forms and were shortlisted for the screening.

Ebonyi Police Command wishes to inform the residents of the state that all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration exercise are to proceed for physical and credential screening.

The exercise is scheduled to hold between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, Ebonyi.

Applicants are advised to come along with all the necessary credentials (original and duplicate copies), including National Identity Number (NIN).

They are also to bring along certificate of origin, birth certificate/age declaration, their printout of application submission confirmation page and duly signed guarantors form with two passport photographs.

The above mentioned documents are mandatory basic requirements for the exercise and any candidate who fails to present them, will not be considered for the screening.

In compliance with COVID-19 pandemic preventive protocols, candidates are expected to wear their facemasks, maintain social distancing and observe all other protocol during the exercise.

Candidates are to appear at the screening venue in their clean white T-shirt/shorts and canvas on the screening dates as indicated against their Local Government Areas (LGAs), she said.

According to the time-table released, candidates from Abakaliki and Afikpo North LGAs will be screened on Monday, while Afikpo South and Ezza South will have their sreening on Tuesday.

She said that candidates from Ezza North and Ebonyi would be screened on Wednesday, and Ikwo and Ishielu LGAs would take their turn on Thursday, while Izzi and Ivo candidates would be screened on Friday.

Odah added that applicants from Ohaukwu and Ohaozara LGAs would go through the screening on Aug. 29 while candidates from Onitcha LGA would be screened on Aug. 31.

Only candidate scheduled for screening on a particular date specified above are expected to be present at the venue to avoid crowd.

Candidates who missed their screening date with genuine and verifiable reason(s) will be re-considered for the screening from Tuesday, Sept. 1 to Saturday, Sept. 5.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Philip Maku, has assured members of the public that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge without any pecuniary obligation.

He further gave the assurance that the entire exercise would be conducted in line with the professional guidelines of the force.

The CP, while wishing applicants the very best of the exercise, warned candidates not to come to the screening venue with forged document(s) but to maintain high level of discipline, Odah said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Managing Director, NEPZA

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has urged investors in Halal industry globally to patronise Nigerias Free Trade Zones ahead of the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

NEPZA Managing Director, Prof Adesoji Adesugba made the call while speaking on the topic entitled: The Role of Free Trade Zones in Booming Halal Global Business to investors via webinar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Halal investment is a term used to describe investment that is Shariah compliant.

In a statement issued by Mr Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA on Sunday, Adesugba said FTZs offered juicy incentives to halal investors who could use Nigeria as a location for production of variety of business value chains.

Adesugba, who reeled out pertinent statistics that confirmed Nigeria as a huge market compared to other countries in the West African sub-region, said Nigerias business environment held a lot of promises as it was fully linked and intertwined.

Investors should not just consider Nigerian population but strategically review the entire West African market extending to the entire sub-saharan Africa as markets of opportunities which can be serviced through Nigerian production point.

Investors should see beyond Nigerian huge population. Nigeria is almost a representative of African market. So investing in Nigeria is a bold entrance into African market.

Halal investors should count on robust investment infrastructure provided by the more than 40 free trades zones dotted across the country.

You are offered opportunities that guarantee ease of take-off and flourishing operations. We offer tax free regime and free import duties on imported raw materials. You will be able to access generous incentives, he said.

Elaborating further at the webinar attended by stakeholders from all over the world, the NEPZA boss said that the free zones authority under his leadership was opened to local and foreign investors in the halal industry.

He also said that it was heartwarming to see that the sector was growing exponentially worldwide.

I agree, we need to address the issue of standardisation and regulations. But we want to assure investors that Nigeria through NEPZA is open for business.

You are free to enter an existing zone or you can even apply for a private zone. All opportunities are at your doorstep, Adesuga said.

The webinar was organised by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

It was attended by the Grand Mufti of Nigeria, Sheikh Sahrif Saleh; Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture President, Hajia Saratu Aliyu, ACCI President, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode and other stakeholders. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Aeroplanes

By Yunus Yusuf
As part of plans to resume international flight operations in the country, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has created ninenew Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Area Navigation 10 (RNAV10) regional routes across the nations airspace.

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu,theManaging Director of NAMA, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.

Akinkuotu listed the newly created PBN routes to include:

1. UQ300- connecting Lagos to the Central African Republic;

2. UY604-linking Abuja, Port Harcourt to Southern Africa;

3. UQ181- connecting East and Central Africa to Europe through Nigerian airspace

4. UQ400-connecting southern Africa to North Africa through Nigeria to Europe.

5. UQ324-from Adis Ababa to Niamey through Nigeria;

6. UY333-from Tunisia/Algeria to Lagos;

7. UY87-from East and Central Africa through Nigeria to Accra and Abidjan;

8. UY57-from East and Central Africa through Nigeria coastal airspace to Cotonou, Lome and Abidjan as well as

9. UQ200-connecting Yaonde to Lagos.

The NAMA helmsman disclosed that NAMA has also created six new flight-plannable direct routes, which include:

1. OK DCT POLTO;

2. ARDEX DCT EDUKO;

3. LAG DCT XIRON DCT JOS;

4. KORUT DCT KDA;

5. POLTO DCT APRUN DCT DETAR/ KORUT and

6. KELAK DCT POSIB DCT GURAP DCT IBA DCT POLTO.

The NAMA boss said the flight-plannable direct routes are to be used by compliant airlines flight management systems.

It will avail them the opportunity of flight- planning and routing within the Nigerian airspace from an entry point direct to an exit point without recourse to existing Air Traffic service (ATS) route network.

Akinkuotu said the agency embarked on the initiatives to enhance regional connectivity, reduce flight time as well as fuel consumption for airlines, reduce C02 emission into the environment and reduce operators cost.

He said the move would also reduce pilot workload and enhance airspace capacity.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

Kano State Government says it has recorded 12 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, according to the states Ministry of Health.

The ministry via its official Twitter handle @KNSMOH, on Saturday disclosed that 40,280 Coronavirus sample tests were conducted since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state has recorded drastic decline in the number of virus infections from over 1, 000 to less than 250 in the past two months.

The ministry, however, disclosed that the cases climbed to 232, sequel to the confirmation of 12 fresh infections out of the 180 samples tested on Aug. 22.

Kano State has Today (Saturday) confirmed 12 new cases from 180 results received from the laboratories.

Total samples tested stand at 40,280, it said.

It added that the state had so far recorded a total of 1,704 confirmed Coronavirus cases, out of which 232 were active cases, 1,418 discharged and 54 deaths.

The ministry urged residents of the state to observe safety protocols, personal hygiene, and use of face mask, hand washing as well as social distancing to stem further spread of the pandemic.

It also provided toll free numbers: 0909 399 5333; 0909 399 5444, 0800 268 4356.

Source: NAN News

The Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria (PAN) has urged ECOWAS and the Federal Government to wade-in on the imposition of million trade-levy on Nigerian Traders in Ghana, by Ghanaian authorities.

This is contained in a statement issued by Emmanuel Ohiomokhare, PANs National Director of Media, on Sunday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PAN is a non-governmental organisation of Nigerian traders in Ghana seeking to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerian citizens across the country and in the diaspora.

Ohiomokhare described the imposition of the levy on Nigerian traders there as, not only harassment on them but also a contravention of the ECOWAS protocol.

He expressed displeasure over the statement by the Ghana Minister of Foreign Affairs saying that Ghana implemented the law because Nigeria also violated ECOWAS protocol by closing her border.

According to him, the quest is that since 2007 when Ghana started closing Nigerian traders shops, till date, such actions were not occasioned by recent border closure.

Did Nigeria violate ECOWAS protocol by taking steps to contain the cross-border insurgency, check to smuggle and address deliberate abuse of the provisions of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) among others?

Mindful of deep and conscious engagements with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PAN calls for decisive and urgent actions by the federal government to find a permanent solution to this recurring decimal, Ohiomokhare said.

He also appealed to the government to consider evacuating Nigerians who continued to face harassments and xenophobic attacks in Ghana, to avoid loss of lives and the attendant surprises.

There is so much tension in Ghana now; many Nigerians living there no longer feel safe and several of those affected by recent closures are financially and economically stranded.

ECOWAS must awake to its responsibilities when the opportunities are not exhausted.

The continuous violation of ECOWAS protocol by Member State without corresponding sanctions, therefore, becomes clearer that Nigerias continued membership of ECOWAS is a total waste of time, energy and resources.

ELTS is a trading instrument by the Regional Economic Community administered by ECOWAS Commission through the Member States to encourage duty-free trade between ECOWAS countries.

The media director stated that it was inconsistency for the Ghanaian authorities to have constituted a task force to impose million levy on lawful Nigerian Traders under the Ghana Investment Promotion Act (GIPA) 2013.

He further cited paragraphs in GIPA (865) reviewed and passed into law on Aug. 26, 2013, which limit foreigners from carrying out free trade in line with ECOWAS protocols.

Under paragraph 28(2), a person who is not a citizen may engage in trading-enterprise, purchasing and selling of imported goods and services, not less than million in cash or goods and services relevant to investments.

Also, such a trader must employ, at least, 20 skilled Ghanaians, he said.

According to him, although PAN does not have problems with the sovereign law of Ghana regarding foreigners, classifying Nigerians as foreigners in ECOWAS Member State was a clear violation of ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.

He stated that such undermined ECOWAS regional integration objectives.

Nigerian Traders, in past 20 years, have been selected victims and political scapegoats at election cycles in Ghana in implementation of this Act.

In keeping with the provision of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol, Nigerian government allowed Ghanaian citizens in Nigeria unfettered access into the local markets without any form of harassments, intimidation, limitations or discrimination.

They are engaging freely, both in terms of retail trade and services, and all manner of menial, non-salaried activities in Nigeria.

They enjoy government protection and live among the Nigerian citizenry across the country, but in Ghana, the reverse is the case, he added.

Source: NAN News

The management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) says it has engaged the leaders of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over the 175 workers laid off by one of its contract companies.

Mr Esimaje Brikinn, the companys General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Brikinn said that the laid-off workers were not employees of Chevron but workers of an independent contractor providing services to Chevron.

He said the contract company laid off its workers following the suspension of the service contract agreement between it and Chevron.

CNL is a responsible and law-abiding company.

In keeping with our commitment to resolving issues through meaningful dialogue and respect for the rule of law, we are engaging the leaders of NUPENG and the contractor company to fully understand and seek an amicable resolution of the issues.

The companys highest priority remains the welfare and safety of its employees, contractors and the security of its assets; we will, therefore, do our best to safeguard these interests, Brikinn said.

Source: NAN News