COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 329 fresh cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak in the country.

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

The NCDCalso announced seven additional deaths to take the countrys toll from the virus to 973.

It stated that 21 states recorded the 329 infections bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 48,445.

The health agency said that 35,998 persons have been treated and have recovered from the infection across the country.

In what is now the second highest number of COVID-19 patients to be discharged in one day in Nigeria, at least 1,689 persons recovered from theinfection on Friday. This brings the total number of successfully treated cases to 35,998, it stated.

According to it, the discharged case as of Friday includes 1,325 community recoveries over the last two weeks reported from Lagos.

It stated that Lagos reported the highest number of new cases among the states with 113 fresh infections; Kaduna with49 and the FCT 33 new cases.

Otherstates with new cases include: Plateau-24, Kano-16, Edo-15, Ogun-14, Delta-13, Osun-10, Oyo-8, Ekiti-6, Bayelsa-6, Akwa Ibom-5, Borno-4, Enugu-4, Ebonyi-3, Rivers-2, Bauchi-1, Nasarawa-1, Gombe-1, and Niger-1.

The health agency said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, have continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed are on inspection tour of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tracks for the 156km modern rail project has been completed.

Before departing for Ibadan in a modern train on the rail line, the ministers inspected the Ebute Metta station buildings and yards under construction.

The team also inspected the new Apapa dockyard station and bulk terminal at the Apapa port in Lagos.

NAN reports that the Government is linking the Apapa and Tincan ports with the rail project in order to solve the challenge of gridlock caused by the parking of articulated vehicles on the roads and bridges in Apapa.

The Lagos-Ibadan rail project is the first double-track standard gauge modern railway in West Africa.

The project, the second leg of the Lagos-Kano Railway Modernisation Project is being constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) an affiliate of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).

Source: NAN News

Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab

By Lizzy Okoji

Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Houssam Diab has said that contrary to the assumption, most Nigerians, especially ladies in Lebanon were not trafficked but entered into the country legally.

Diab made this known when he visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama on Friday in Abuja.

According to Diab, the Nigerian ladies who recently called for help in viral videos were stranded in Lebanon because they could no longer be paid by their employees as a result of the recent economic downturn in the country.

Diab said the temporal ban on the issuance of visas to domestic workers since May had also helped in mitigating the level of ladies stranded in Lebanon.

As of May 1, the Lebanese government have stopped issuing visas for domestic workers coming from Nigeria.

This will definitely stop any new cases from arising; they will not be able to get into Lebanon, the specificity for the issue at Lebanon is that all these girls are entering into Lebanon legally.

There is no human trafficking illegally into Lebanon.

About 90 per cent of the agencies involved in it are Nigerian agencies and they apply through Lebanese agencies in Lebanon through the security general to acquire work visas and work permits for the ladies.

This is how it is; so by stopping the issuing of the visas, we would have stopped new cases from arising, Diab said.

He noted that out of the estimated 5,000 Nigerians living in Lebanon, majority of them were gainfully employed.

Diab said the Lebanese government and the Nigerian government had successfully evacuated 500 Nigerian ladies from Lebanon with 200 more to be evacuated soonest.

He noted that the evacuation further showed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, in spite of the recent explosion in Lebanon.

Onyeama appreciated the Lebanese government and the Lebanese community in Nigeria for their efforts in facilitating the return of the stranded Nigerian girls.

According to the minister, the temporary ban on visa issuance will give Nigeria time to review the whole situation and to ensure that we get our labour laws in place.

As we battle with the strong involvement of the Embassy in Beirut, the immediate challenge was to repatriate these girls and we would like to offer our profound gratitude to the Lebanese community for their efforts to make available resources to bring these girls back and bring them back fairly quickly.

We appreciate that enormously because it was a challenge to bring them back.

The resources were not there and you very kindly have stepped in and that shows we have a long history between Nigeria and Lebanese communities, Onyeama said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

ICRC Boss, Chidi Izuwah

By Temitope Ponle

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have evolved modalities for the establishment of safe driving academies in the country.

The modalities for the academies were discussed while the Director-General of ICRC, Mr Chidi Izuwah paid a visit to the Corps Marshall of FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, on Friday in Abuja.

Izuwah encouraged the management of the FRSC to collaborate with the private sector to set up safe driving academies across the country.

He said the FRSC 2019 statistics reveals that the nation recorded 9,698 road crashes, resulting in 4,737 deaths.

The FRSC aspires to reduce these crashes and fatalities by 20 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

These aspirations will be attained when the requisite driving knowledge and skills are imparted to all categories of drivers and riders plying the Nigerian road network, as majority of the crashes are assumed to be due to human error.

We strongly encourage the FRSC to partner with private sector entities for the establishment of driving safety academies for cars, trucks, tricycles and bikes nationwide.

We are optimistic that when these projects areimplemented, it will greatly assist in improving driving habits and create overall economic benefits to Nigerians. The Singapore Safety Driving Academy is an excellent example.

The director-general restated ICRCs commitment toward enabling legislation to facilitate the Public Private Partnership procurement processes to attract investments for the establishment of the proposed driving academies.

In his response, Oyeyemi lauded the initiative of the ICRC.

The corps marshall said that 1,600 driving schools were certified in the country but none was an articulated driving school.

He said that Aliko Dangote was the only one who established a driving school for drivers of articulated vehicles in Lagos and was also planning to set up two others in Obajana, Kogi.

He said he had appealed to Dangote in 2019 to share his model for the public to benefit.

He said Dangote has a training school in Lagos for articulated driving and I want to send some of my drivers there for training because these are not vehicles you just give to anyone.

He is also about establishing two more articulated driving schools at Obajana. Where I am heading for is this: we have a coordinated driving school but till date, apart from him (Dangote), there is no other public-private driven driving school for articulated driving.

Several times I have passed a vote of no confidence on the existing driving schools because they are compromised, he added.

Oyeyemi said that technology was required to run driving schools in the country, where a drivers licence could be automatically updated in the commissions system.

He added that we just introduced Computer-Based Test and we will be restructuring and upgrading the processes.

By the end of this meeting, we will get a team from both organisations and we will look at what is on ground to design a way forward and look at how we can improve on this initiative.

He said he had written to all the states of the federation in 2019 on the need to have model driving schools that could incorporate the needs of acquiring drivers licence.

He, however, said that Lagos was the only state that responded. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with journalist, lawyer, civil rights activist, politician and administrator, Abdul Shaibu Oroh, as he turns 60 Aug. 15, 2020.

The presidents congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday.

President Buhari rejoiced with the former member of the House of Representatives (2003-2007), his family and friends, joining them to thank God for good health, sound mind, and continued service to God and humanity.

He enjoined the former Edo State commissioner to further deploy his multi-skills to touch lives and emancipate society, noting that such public spiritedness would never go unrewarded.

The president urged Oroh to sustain his passion for the country, as Nigeria is destined to take her place in the comity of nations.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

SEC Nigeria

Ikuru Lizzy

The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has donated a brand new Toyota Hiace Ambulance vehicle and 1,400 cartoons of bottled water to Rivers government.

Mr Obi Adindu, Head of Port Harcourt zonal office of SEC presented the items on Friday in Port Harcourt.

While handing over the items to Prof. Princewill Chike, state Commissioner for Health, Adindu commended governments efforts toward curtailment of COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

The Nigerian Capital Market upon outbreak of the pandemic set up the COVID-19 support committee which has a mandate to raise a billion Naira with which to support the country at national and sub national levels of governments.

The SEC boss said the committee had since been very busy garnering funds from the capital market community.

The donation we are witnessing today is actually the fourth in the series of our assets and material donations.

The first donation happened in Abuja, the second took place in Lagos and the third in Kano.

Today we are here in Port Harcourt, so you can see that there is national spread in the support that we are giving to the various state governments, he said.

Adindu also said that though the capital market was currently in a low tempo season, its emphasis had apparently been channeled to safety.

He said that as soon as the curve was flattened, the sector would bounce back.

Even if the countrys economy experiences a depression as a result of the pandemic, certainly, we will definitely exit it once were able to professionally manage the pandemic, Adindu said.

Receiving the items, the Health Commissioner, Prof Chinke thanked SEC for the donation, adding that the items would strengthen the fight against COVID-19 in the state.

He said that the state had since onset of the pandemic taken delivery of several donations from corporate organisations, saying that a total of six ambulances as well as other medical deliverables had been received.

Rivers state recorded her index case on March 27, 2020 and since then over 10, 000 samples have been tested with about 1, 800 positive samples recorded.

Out of these 1, 800 positive cases, the state have discharged from its various treatment centres over 1, 700 patients while few fatalities were also recorded, the commissioner said.

He also said the containment efforts on COVID-19 had so far been effectively coordinated by the state government. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Big Brother Naija becomes most-watched entertainment live stream on Showmax

By Taiye Olayemi

Showmax, an internet television serviceonFriday said the ongoing Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) show had become the most popular entertainment live stream on that platform

This was contained in a statement given to newsmen in Lagos, by the organisation which added that the development had proved that local content definitely had cross-border appeal.

The television service drew audiences in Nigeria and other countries across the continent.

The Big Brother Naija Lockdown which started July 19, 2020 had already broken a Showmax live-streaming record and become the most-watched live entertainment content ever on the streaming service.

If watched back to back, the collective number of hours of the show streamed this season already add up to almost 30 years worth of viewing.
Interestingly, a significant portion of the viewing is happening outside of Nigeria, it said.

According to the statement, Showmax which was launched in Nigeria in July 2019, with Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem as the key launch drawcard had all eviction episodes live-streamed and recordings of the nomination shows posted on Tuesdays.

It said Comedians Bright Okpocha popularly known as Basketmouth and Kris Ugboma, known as Bovi also took turns hosting the Big Brother Naija Hot Room show.

This year Showmax has gone a different route and is live-streaming the full show 24 hours and judging by the viewing statistics, BBNaija fans have enthusiastically taken to watching it online.

The evictions are the most popular part of the show, with viewing peaking at 7pm on Sundays.

Interestingly, while Nigeria accounts for almost 50% of the viewing hours, South Africans are also big fans, with 30% of the viewing happening in SA, and another 15% happening in Kenya.

Ghana, Botswana, Namibia and Uganda also see notable viewing traffic for BBNaija, it said.

The statement said capitalising on the success of BBNaija and the massive interest in the evictions, in a new development, Showmax had added the Big Brother Naija Nomination Show.

It said during the live eviction show, the contestants were called in by Big Brother to vote out two housemates and these Diary Room voting sessions, which are not seen in the course of the live stream show, were now available every Monday evening to watch on Showmax.

With six weeks to go until the Big Brother Naija Season 5 finale on 27 September, which is also being live-streamed on Showmax, more viewing records are expected to fall, it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Showmax is an internet television service with combination of hot African content, exclusive International series, kids shows and live sport from SuperSport.

Showmax was established in 2015 with services available throughout the sub-Saharan Africa. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Train on Abuja-Kaduna route

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on Friday said it was collaborating with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to train its personnel on passenger screening at train stations.

NRCs Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said this at the closing ceremony and graduation of the corporations screeners, after a training programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day Screeners Training Course, held at the FAAN Training School, Ikeja, was aimed at improving security onboard trains and at rail stations.

The managing director said that the corporation was passionate about the security of its staff and passengers at railways stations.

We are modernising, and those facilities we dont normally have in our stations, we are now bringing them in.

We are talking of walkthrough scanners and luggage scanners. We are now installing them.

We have to train the people to know how to use them, not only on the maintenance and operations, but also the spirit behind it.

To do that, we have to get people that are already used to doing it.

We approached FAAN and they are willing to train our people, and what we have done here is training the trainers.

We started with 10 people because as at the time we started the process for this training, we had only five stations along Abuja- Kaduna rail line, he said.

According to him, the corporation picked two staff members from each of the five stations, who will go back and train their colleagues.

Okhiria noted that people who patronised the rail transport had to be protected.

He said that the corporation was working hard to build confidence on the rail transport system.

Now that we are introducing the Itakpe-Warri and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines, we will also arrange for more people to be trained.

I want to appreciate FAAN for this training, in the interest of the nation.

We are one, whether it is air, land, or rail transport and this collaboration will continue.

We are doing all these to make NRC conform to what is done all over the world in terms of security, he said.

Okhiria assured the commuters that the corporation would do its best to make them comfortable, safe and secure.

He urged Nigerians, especially the commuters, to ensure the protection of all facilities put in place, to enhance their safety and security.

Okhiria said that the corporation had been consistent with its operations in the last four to five years along Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.

He said that it would continue to improve on the services.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, commended Okhirias passion and collaborative efforts on the safety and security training.

He said that the success of NRC is our success.

Yadudu, who was represented by retired Capt. Sadiq Usman, noted that the collaboration had become imperative in the interest of all.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Dr Anne Egbadon, General Manager, Training and Human Resources Development, FAAN, described the training as comprehensive, having covered various areas of security at the rail stations.

Egbadon said that the training covered attacks and counter measures, security awareness, access control mechanism, and screening processes for persons and luggage.

Others areas include components of explosive devices, image interpretation and cargo consignment on railways.

One of the participants and class governor, Mrs Elizabeth Uguru, expressed satisfaction with the training.

She said that the skills acquired would make them more productive at work.

Source: NAN News

Funmi Ogbue WIEN President

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Indigenous oil and gas service companies under the umbrella body of Project 100 (P100) have described the inauguration of the 17 storey Nigerian Content Tower as an enormous step towards expanding local content development in the country.

The companies disclosed this in a statement signed by the Chairperson of the Project 100 Executive Committee, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, in Abuja on Friday.

Project 100, which was conceived in 2017, is an initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NCDMB to identify 100 Nigerian oil and gas service providers.

The concept was also to support them through special interventions to facilitate their incubation, maturation and growth into world class service companies.

Sixty oil service companies currently make up the scheme with capacity in six core service areas and more than 200 technical service offerings.

She said that the NCDMB tower was a feat capable of attracting more investors into Nigerias oil and gas sector.

Ogbue added that the P100 beneficiary companies, in a congratulatory message to the President, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Executive Secretary the NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote, applauded them for demonstrating a strong political will in continuing the project and completing it in record time.

According to her, the completion and commissioning of the tower will further create the enabling environment for oil companies to interface better with the NCDMB and also for companies willing to relocate their offices to the region.

She added that the 10-Megawatt gas-fired power plant and 1,000-seat conference hall as well as other infrastructure within the tower could serve as incentive for oil companies to open new operational offices.

Ogbue, who is also the Managing Director of Zigma Ltd (a Project 100 company), expressed the delight of the Project 100 companies over the new building.

She added that the project was delivered by local contractors and supported by other local engineering and project consultants.

Ogbue added that the companies share the belief of President Buhari that local production and patronage of Nigerian goods and services was one of the surest ways to empower citizens and give them viable opportunities to excel.

P100 companies align with the presidents speech that completion of the project reflects the drive of the present administration to provide infrastructure across the country to serve as a monument for investment and enabler for job creation.

We salute President Buharis commitment for continuity, and a demonstration that skyscrapers and other laudable structures can be built in the Niger Delta.

On our part as Project 100 Companies, we wish to reiterate our commitment to supporting the present administration to invest more in infrastructure development and initiatives that would open up the Niger Delta region.

We assure the president, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, of our resolve to critically pursue good governance, quality assurance, adaptability and growth, resilience in the conduct of our operations.

This will create businesses that will expand to and within the Niger Delta region, she added.

She noted that the increased involvement of P100 companies in supply chain of projects such as the Nigerian Content Tower will be a major boost in the quest to collectively support local companies to become large enterprises and deepen local content practice in the oil and gas industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Aug. 13 inaugurated the 17 storey headquarters of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The NCDMB building comes with its own 10-Megawatt gas-fired power plant and a 1,000-seater conference hall. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos govt charges Lagosians to plant coconuts trees

By Florence Onuegbu

The Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mrs Folashade Jaji, has urged residents to cultivativate coconut trees to benefit from its economic and nutritional values.

Jaji, in a statement on Friday, described coconut as a tree of life and a common crop in Lagos State with enormous commercial values.

She said that a coconut tree could yield as much as 200 folds within a year, as long it was well nurtured from the point of planting.

According to her, the coconut palm comes in two varieties of either tall or dwarf with bountiful harvests.

Lagos State Government is promoting the planting of coconut trees through Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA) due to its importance as a money spinner for small and medium entrepreneurs, she said.

Jaji said that Lagos State was optimistic at commencing on the export of coconut soon.

The SSG said that in addition to its high economic values, the crop was also a local diet of Lagosians, especially the people of Isale-Eko.

I was raised at the Brazilian Quarters, known as Popo Aguda. Coconut is full of fibre and it is used for making varieties of nutritious and healthy foods such as Frejon made from coconut milk, Kanjika, Tapioca and Meigau, she said.

jaji said that she ventured into farming after retirement as the Head of Civil Service in Lagos and her knowledge about the health, nutritional and economic values of coconut inspired her to produce items like crisps and gurudi without any additives.

She listed other coconut products as flour, bread, cake, chips and candy known as Baba Dudu, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

He pledged to continue to work with all sides to open further possibilities for dialogue, peace andstability.

Source: NAN News

Serena Williams

Serena Williams survived another scare to beat older sister Venus 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Thursday in the latest instalment of their reluctant on-court sibling rivalry.

The win helped her to reach the quarter-finals of the inaugural Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky.

Serena, who in her first-round match of the spectator-free tournament was five points from defeat against world number 60 Bernarda Pera, however had much work to do to survive.

She had to rally back from a set down and 4-2 final set deficit to prevail in a thrilling battle.

With the win, Serena improved to 19-12 in career head-to-head meetings with Venus.

It was a very high quality match, said Serena.

There was a lot of long points, running me around and then at one point it was just big serves and so I thought that was really interesting as we both started serving really well and returning well.

Top-seeded Serena was locked in early in the final set as she earned a quick break to go ahead 2-1.

Thereafter, Venus grabbed momentum by taking the next three games and moved closer to her first victory over her sister since 2018 at Indian Wells.

But Serena found her way back and eventually used a fierce backhand winner to get to 5-4 before going on to serve out the match on her first match point.

Serena made a fast start to the match and had break point chances for a 3-0 double break lead.

But Venus stormed back with a five-game win streak and then closed out the opening set with a powerful serve.

In the second set, Serena broke Venus with an inside-out backhand winner to pull ahead 4-2 and then closed out the frame with ease to force the decider.

Serena will face either Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez or American wildcard Shelby Rogers in the next round.

The suspension of tennis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic meant that, until this week, Serena had not competed on the tour since February.

As a result, the American said rather than focussing on winning the Top Seed Open, she wants to make sure she gets into top form for the Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 U.S. Open.

Im just here to play another match just to get match tough for New York, said Serena, who has failed to add to her haul of 23 Grand Slam titles since January 2017.

Ive done absolutely nothing but train and practise and so I am really low on the matches and so this is really helping.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Bianca Andreescu said on Thursday she would not defend her title at the U.S. Open in New York.

The Canadian said this was because the COVID-19 pandemic has compromised her ability to reach her highest level of form.

The 20-year-old joins a growing list of high-profile players to pull out of the Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 event.

She has not competed since she suffered a knee injury last October at the WTA finals in Shenzhen, China.

After many discussions with those closest to me, I have made the difficult decision not to return to New York this year, said Andreescu, who beat Serena Williams last year to become Canadas first tennis Grand Slam singles champion.

I have taken this step in order to focus on my match fitness and ensure that I return ready to play at my highest level.

World number six Andreescu is the latest top 10 player on the womens side to skip the U.S. Open.

She is joining Australian Ash Barty (one), Ukraines Elina Svitolina (five) and Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens (seven) on the sidelines.

Her decision also means the Grand Slam will be missing both reigning singles champions, as mens world number two Rafael Nadal previously said he would skip the event.

The U.S. Open victory last year has been the high point of my career this far and I will miss not being there, said Andreescu.

However, I realise that the unforeseen challenges, including the COVID pandemic, have compromised my ability to prepare and compete to the degree necessary to play at my highest level.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) decided to go ahead with the Grand Slam without spectators while players will be asked to follow strict measures, including regular testing.

This is all in a bid to avoid a spread of the virus.

I want to express my appreciation to the USTA and the WTA for all of their efforts in making the event happen, said Andreescu. I look forward to joining my competitors back on court soon.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Harrison Arubu

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says some hand sanitisers have been found to contain 1-propanol, a toxin that can harm the central nervous system.

FDA said in a statement that the affected products included those manufactured by Harmonic Nature, S de RL de MI, in Mexico.

It said the adulterated sanitisers were labeled to contain ethanol or isopropyl alcohol but have tested positive for 1-propanol contamination.

1-propanol, not to be confused with 2-propanol/isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol, is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitiser products marketed in the U.S. and can be toxic and life-threatening when ingested, it said.

Mostly at risk are children who accidentally ingest the products, and adolescents and adults who drink them as substitutes for alcohol, the agency noted.

It highlighted common symptoms of 1-propanol exposure to include confusion, decreased consciousness as well as slowed pulse and breathing.

According to the FDA, animal studies indicate that the central nervous system depressant effects of 1-propanol are 2 to 4 times as potent as alcohol (ethanol).

Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitiser containing 1-propanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate care for treatment of toxic effects of 1-propanol poisoning.

Skin or eye exposure to 1-propanol can result in irritation, and rare cases of allergic skin reactions have been reported, it said.

Hand sanitiser containing not less than 60 per cent alcohol is one of the essential items recommended by health authorities for people to carry around.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FDAs warning reinforces a similar alert issued by the UN on July 8.

In a research brief, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned that illegal trade in fake COVID-19-related products was booming amid a surge in demand.

Health and lives are at risk with criminals exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to cash in on public anxiety and increased demand for PPE and medications.

We need to help countries increase cooperation to close gaps, build law enforcement and criminal justice capacity, and drive public awareness to keep people safe, UNODC said.

Source: NAN News

crude oil

This is in spite of the coronavirus pandemic that has slammed economies worldwide.

Brent crude was up 14 cents, or 0.3 per cent at .10 by 0043 GMT, heading for a gain of about 1.6 per cent this week.

West Texas Intermediate had gained 12 cents or 0.3 per cent to .36.

The U.S. benchmark is heading for a gain of nearly three per cent this week.

The situation has improved some, but the market dynamics are still less than stellar, said Robert Yawger, Director of Energy Futures at Mizuho Securities, adding the market is oversupplied.

Prices have been bolstered this week by U.S. government data showing crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories all fell last week as refiners ramped up production and demand for oil products improved.

Still, the International Energy Agency has reduced its oil demand forecast for this year.

And the agency said lower air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic would cut global oil consumption this year by 8.1 million barrels per day (bpd).

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said earlier this week that world oil demand is likely to drop by 9.06 million bpd this year.

This indicated a bigger decline than the 8.95 million bpd decline expected a month ago.

OPEC and allies including Russia, collectively called OPEC , cut output since May by around 10 per cent of typical global demand to tackle the fallout from the global health crisis.

Meanwhile, Russian Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, said he does not expect quick decisions on output cuts when an OPEC group monitoring committee meets next week, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa

The Committee on Citizens Data Management and Harmonisation has concluded its assignment and substantially addressed the concerns of the United States on citizen data.

U.S. concerns on citizens led to its imposition of visa ban on Nigerians.

The Committee, in its report, also urged the Federal Government to establish a National DNA data bank, testing laboratories and Data collection structures and formations across the federation.

It said this was to support the national security architecture with the view to finding lasting solutions to the security challenges bedevilling the country.

Mr Mohammed Manga, the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Interior, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Manga said the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, when he presented the report of the Committee to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The statement quoted the minister as saying that out of the six areas raised by the United States, two have been fully met, two substantially met while work is ongoing on the remaining two.

According to Aregbesola, Nigeria has substantially provided information on travellers identity except data on Emergency Travel Certificates for Nigerians being repatriated.

He added that information on 145,695 Lost and Stolen Passports had been transmitted to the INTERPOL Database as at 31st May, 2020, following the intervention of the Committee.

In addition, the Nigeria Immigration Service has now acquired the capability to directly transmit information on Lost and Stolen Passports to the INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon which was one of the key demands of the United States, he said.

Aregbesola further said that the committee recommended the setting up of a Criminal Information Management System to include the establishment of a Data Fusion Centre fashioned after the INTERPOL model for pooling of crime data.

It also called for a National Criminal DNA Laboratory with the Nigerian Police Force as the co-ordinating agency.

This, according to him, is to be complemented by an industrialised standard procedure for the collection of DNA samples of all suspected criminals in government crime control and custodial facilities to aid criminal investigation and administration of criminal justice in the country.

The minister said the committee recommended that Federal Government should issue an Executive Order that would provide for the exclusive collection of biometric data by NIMC and its Licensees.

It also recommended exclusive storage of Biometric data in the National identity Database and the discontinuance of biometric data storage of new registration by all agencies and institutions in Nigeria.

It also suggested mandatory use of the NIN by all Mobile Network Operations (MNOs) for issuance of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) with effect from June 30, 2021, subject to the issuance of NIN by NIMC to at least 80 per cent of the population, with NIN as a unique identifier for all public servants.

The minister added that the committee recommended the need for the National Population Commission to commence the digital birth, death and other vital registrations (marriage, divorce, adoption, etc), at all hospitals and designated NPC offices in all federal wards.

It also recommended integration of the National Identity Database (NIDB) with all agencies capturing identity data directed to commence full enforcement of NIN as a requirement for accessing their services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the temporary visa restrictions placed on Nigerian citizens on January 31, 2020 by the United States Government, President Muhammadu Buhari constituted an 18-member Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonisation on Feb. 3, 2020.

Source: NAN News

Department of State Security Service (DSS)

By Monday Ijeh
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday cautioned against the use of inciting and unguarded statements capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, gave the warning in a statement in Abuja.

He said the service, had on June 27, alerted the nation about desperate efforts by some notable personalities to use their exalted positions to achieve their selfish goal.

Afunanya said the DSS had revealed that part of the orchestrations was to engage in divisive acts as well as use inciting statements to pit one group against another in the country.

According to him, with the latest occurrences in the country, Nigerians may have no reason to doubt the Services earlier pronouncement.

Dr. Obadiah Mailafiyas recent outburst aimed at playing to the gallery and creating unnecessary tension is a confirmation of his groups desperation to breach the peace.

Mailafiya, as a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and currently, a Directing Staff at Nigerias foremost Policy Research Institute, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, has unhindered access to government platforms.

It is expected that he should be conversant with official information management protocols.

But regrettably, he chose to cross the lines of decorum and conduct expected of a personality of his status, he said.

Afunanya said that it was disappointing that he never took advantage of these to reach any of the security or related agencies to share the so called information at his disposal.

He said comments by Mailafiya clearly suggested his mischief and determination to use the fake news he spewed to incite the people under his control.

It is even more condemnable that Mailafiya, who had profusely apologized during his visit to the Services Plateau Command for his ignoble statement, would, afterwards, announce to the world that he stood by his misguided eruption.

The Service also wishes to warn others, who in the guise of political mobilisation and supposed pursuit of group interests, engage in hostile and subversive activities, to desist forthwith from advancing their inimical and parochial causes.

The Service will not stand idly and watch disgruntled and aggrieved elements take laws into their hands and cause mayhem in the polity, he added.

Source: NAN News

Youth Day: NYC appoints global youth ambassadors

By Franca Ofili

The Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), a coordinating youth body, has passed a vote of confidence in Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare and kicked any call for his removal.

Mr Blessing Akinlosotu, the President of the Congress, gave the indication in a statement in Abuja.

Akinlosotu said that the minister had been very open to the youth and had always engaged leaders at all levels to stabilise the ministry and introduce a new phase for the youth in Nigeria.

He stated that the call for the ministers removal was coming from a faceless group under the name of Coalition of Youth Organisations.

Akinlosotu described the call for Dares removal as daydreaming because the ministers actions and ideas had made him look like a father figure to the nations youth.

The minister has, in a recent statement, noted that the Federal Government through the instrumentality of the ministry, has tried to resolve the NYCN leadership crisis.

Clearly, those fuelling the crisis have no interest of the Nigerian youth at heart; the ministry has been left with one choice: partner youth organisations on merit.

Akinlosotu said that one could not stabilise a system by being dictatorial, noting that the person could only make corrections by valid judgment and interactions, which the minsiter had postulated.

He described Dare as very open to the youth and had always engaged leaders at all levels, to stabilise the ministry and ensure a new phase for the youth in Nigeria.

Akinlosotu said that the council had called on the coalition to stop the blackmail forthwith, describing as fallacy any plan to link the minister with any form of illegality.

We pass a vote of confidence in him because of his many accomplishments in promoting a new course for the nations youth via the congress and we can effectively say that he is doing well.

Dr Yakubu Shendam, Chairman, Board of the Congress, while reacting to the call for the ministers removal, described such clamour as a waste of time.

Shendam lauded the minister for repositioning the ministry to meet its objectives, by establishing the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).

He said that the council believed that the fund would curtail the menace of unemployment of the youth in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Zulum releases N148.8m to offsets corp members allowance

By Hamza Suleiman

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the payment of N148.8 million to offset the backlogs of arrears and monthly allowances of various batches of serving and past corps members in the state.

The Desk Officer of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state, Mr Christopher Godwin-Akaba, made this known in an a statement in Maiduguri on Thursday

Godwin-Akaba said that the breakdown of the allowance include; six months outstanding arrears for 2019 Batch A Corps members totalling N38.8 million, nine months outstanding arrears of 2019 Batch B Stream I Corps members totalling N41 million.

He said that part of the money would be used to offsets June and July 2020 allowances of 2019 Batch B Stream II Corps members.

He explained that a total of N24.3 million was also approved for the payment of serving Corps members for 2019 Batch C Stream I and II up to July, 2020, he said.

He recalled that with this latest approval, the total payments so far made by the state government to serving Corps members in the state stood at N351.5 million.

He said: At the moment, no Corps member both outgone and serving is being owned any state allowances, which has now been fully cleared up to the month of July, 2020.

Also effective from August 1st 2020, Gov. Zulum has approved the downward review of non-medical Corps members allowances serving with MDAs in the state to N5,000 monthly, he said.

According to him, the decision is necessitated by the current financial situation coupled with the competing demands on the states resources.

He noted that the downward review did not affect medical corps doctors and paramedics.

He, therefore, urged the benefitting category of Corps members to be patient as they will soon start receiving their payment.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported zero death and 453 new cases from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak in the country.

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

The health agency said that the new cases pushed the nations infection total to 47,743 in the country.

According to it, till date 47,743 cases have been confirmed, 33,943 cases discharged and 956 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It stated that the 453 new cases were reported from 16 states- Lagos (113), FCT (72), Plateau (59), Enugu (55), Kaduna (38), Ondo (32), Osun (26), Ebonyi (20), Ogun (9), Delta (8), Borno (7), Akwa Ibom (6), Oyo (5), Bauchi (1), Kano (1) and Ekiti (1).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that from the NCDC statistics, eight states including Lagos, FCT, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kano, Rivers and Ogun are responsible for over 70 per cent of the cases recorded.

Nigerians are advised not to be tired in complying with the COVID-19 preventive guidelines from the NCDC.

Wearing face masks could prevent nearly 75,000 COVID-19 deaths in Africa. Over 600 coronavirus deaths could be prevented in Nigeria if people adhere to non-pharmaceutical preventive measures, it stated.

Source: NAN News