Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, as he turns 68 on Aug. 8.

Buhari made his feelings known in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday.

The statement said the president joined the medical community, labour fraternity, the legislature where the celebrator served as Senator, and people of Anambra whom he served as governor, to salute Ngige for his meritorious stewardship to the community, state, country and humanity.

He wished him improved health, strength and sound mind.

President Buhari wished the minister well in all his endeavours as he continued to serve as conciliator-general between government and organised labour.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Okon Okon

Ministry of Communications has won the first, second and third prizes for the Public Service Innovation Challenge Award Competition, designed to improve service delivery.

The winners were grouped as; Sogunro Onyindamola, Iliya Abdulrahman for the first prize; Winsala Oluwaseun, Ebire Francis for the second prize and Zainab Saka, Tolulope Ibitoye for the third prize.

The winners, who are from the same ministry were awarded N3 million, N1.7 million and N1 million respectively while consolation prizes were given to other participants.

Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), who spoke at the occasion in Abuja said that organising such competition was in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategic and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP).

Yemi-Esan said that the initiative was part of the Federal Governments future service delivery, while appreciating participants for the exhibition of their skills during the competition,

The Federal Civil Service Innovation Challenge can be considered as a watershed event heralding a major milestone in our collective movement toward a more innovative public service that provides quality services.

I wish to also state that with the quality of presentations and interactions witnessed in the competition, I am in no doubt that the public sector as the largest service provider is not deficient of the capacity to deliver on its mandates, Yemi-Esan said.

She said the countries of the world, including Africa have realised the leverage on innovation for the provision of customerss public services.

The HOS said that the competition has equipped the participants with knowledge and presentation skills through innovative interactive tools, such as zoom, slack and Google slide,

She said the tools were deployed globally to address workflow challenges brought by COVID-19.

She, however, expressed optimism that Nigerian public servants would be productively utilizing the skills acquired during the exercise for self development and also able to surmount work challenges.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing expressed delight over the initiative, saying it would go a long way to provide solutions to some key challenges in the sector.

Fashola, said that civil service was an ancient institution that decided what happens in any government in the world.

He, therefore, challenged the civil servants across board to ensure improving themselves to meet with the global knowledge to improve the public services.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Dr Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategic Office, office of the HOCSF, described the initiative as means to gain new ideas to improve upon service delivery.

Ajani said that innovation was at the heart of the economic growth of any nation.

She added that the initiative informed the selection of innovation as one of the high impact of the eight priority areas of the 2017 to 2020 (FCSSIP), developed to improve better performance among public servants.

Ms Sogunro Onyindamola, one of the winners who spoke on behalf of other participants expressed gratitude to the federal government for the gesture, saying it would motivate civil servants more in their service delivery.

Source: NAN News

Fumigation

By Olajide Idowu

Osun Government has warned individuals and institutions against indiscriminate decontamination and fumigation of public places in the state.

Mr Sola Oladepo, Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, who gave the warning in a statement in Osogbo, said some are doing it in a bid to sanitise the environment against COVID-19 pandemic.

He directed owners and managements of private schools, tertiary institutions, hospitals, churches, mosques, police, banks, courts, and small and medium enterprises to contact Ministry of Environment for the decontamination of their premises in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Oladepo also directed individuals to equally contact the ministry for the decontamination of their premises in line with WHO approved standard.

He explained that it was only the ministry of environment that was authorised to decontaminate in accordance with the WHO regulations,

The Commissioner said that all fumigated spaces would be given a certificate by the ministry.

He said that the decontamination exercise/service from the ministry would be at no cost to individuals and institutions requiring the service.

Source: NAN News

By Augusta Uchedinor

Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has launched a tele-medical line to support the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its drive to reach those with COVID-19 but unable to access designated isolation centres across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mrs Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

She stated that the project, named the MMF MedAssist Covid Partner Line, is part of efforts to provide relevant and necessary medical advice, as well as mental health support to those who may have been exposed to the virus across the 36 states of the federation.

Muhammed-Oyebode noted that the initiative would enhance healthcare delivery toward fighting the virus.

She added that COVID-19 unfortunately has redefined for us a new normal and as the rest of the world is entering the second wave of the virus, this initiative will offer virtual healthcare delivery in collaboration with public and private healthcare providers.

This is a response to the state and Federal Governments call for additional call centre support during the COVID-19 pandemic to support end-users and prevent health crisis.

The helpline, for which initial consultation and treatment will cost only N500, will allow callers to consult with medical professionals virtually, who will be able to prescribe necessary medication to forestall any escalation of symptoms.

She explained that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, recently disclosed that many patients who tested positive with the coronavirus had refused to go to isolation centres and preferred self-medication, with some remaining untraceable, having left incorrect contact information.

About 75 per cent of those infected refused to present themselves for admission at isolation centres in Lagos State alone, making it imperative for MMF to come up with this support.

She announced a dedicated MedAssist Telemedicine Hotline 08180640000 poised to launch first in English and three main Nigerian languages of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba and in the 36 states of the country.

She said additional local languages would be added as the service expands.

The CEO said the foundation was committed to improving the quality of life of Africans, adding that the reason informed the establishment of the response plan to COVID-19 pandemic.

The Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) is a non-profit organisation, founded on the ideals of the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, former Head of State of Nigeria (1975-76).

The foundation specifically focuses on engendering self-reliance, advocacy on issues that impact on ethics, equity, good governance and economic empowerment, encouraging business development, education and providing medium term disaster relief.

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is room for innovative technology that will be suitable for use in the courtroom.

Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the vice president spoke at the virtual Townhall Meeting of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN).

The theme of the meeting is How to build the right mindset for a better Nigeria, post COVID-19.

The vice president said COVID-19 challenges could be a turning point for innovative thinking especially towards resolving the numerous challenges faced by humanity.

He said that of importance to lawyers or lawyers in the making were what the challenges meant for lawyers and where the opportunities lied.

And I think we have to think through this especially like yourselves who in the next couple of years will be out there in practice; a few examples will tell you that you are living in the most interesting period in the history of our profession.

So, the Supreme Court has recently endorsed virtual court proceedings; this means that there will be plenty of opportunities for new technologies adapted to the dynamics of the courtroom.

You can share documents on Zoom but for courtrooms and for practice; you need more nimble technology to tender documents or cross-examine a witness from a remote location on a bundle of documents.

So, Zoom will not be the best technology for court proceedings although it is being used now but it is not the best technology because sometimes you have a bundle of documents to tender and that may be difficult.

So, there is room there for innovative technology that will be suitable for use in the courtroom and I know that there are so many ideas that people are coming up with but there is plenty of room for thinking that through.

According to him, there is the need to think about what the new rules for protocols will be.

Osinbajo said that virtual court proceedings were not the same as in-person or live court proceedings.

When you are sitting in your office, conducting a case, the record-keeping will be totally a different issue; what will the protocols be for cross-examination, for making submissions?

How does the judge look at the question of demeanour? It is a bit more difficult to look at peoples demeanour when you are using virtual processes such as we are using today. So, we need to be able to define what the rules will be, he said.

He said there was a two-fold global crisis health crisis and economic crisis and the combined effects had resulted in possibly the greatest socio-economic crisis in recent history.

Osinbajo said that the Federal Government, faced with the prospect of unprecedented unemployment figures and business closures, had to get creative about solutions.

To build resilience into our economic growth structure and to take bigger and bolder steps in our approach to creating wealth and opportunity.

So, for about two months, at the direction of President Muhammadu Buhari, I led an inter-ministerial team mandated to look specifically at how to resolve some of the issues around the pandemic, its impact and draw up a response plan.

That response plan is what we call the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) and we have a committee called the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) which is to implement ESP and I also have the privilege of chairing this committee.

What we tried to do in the ESP was to design strategies that will save jobs and create new opportunities; and we looked at certain broad areas; we looked at mass housing and mass agriculture where we are focused on using local resources and innovation, he said.

The vice president tasked Law students to prepare themselves for the new world, aside their regular Law curriculum.

He urged them to educate themselves in new ideas, read widely, and take up the enormous resources available online on practically any field of human endeavour.

Osinbajo said that they must be intentional about understanding technology, information systems and artificial intelligence.

This sort of radical versatility is the new normal; you cannot be a lawyer such as we were.

You are in a completely new world, he said(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court Symbol

Speaking earlier, Ccounsel to the artiste, Mohammed Yunusa said that his client was made to believe that the organisers of the concert had procured all the approval from the Federal Government.

The Chief State Counsel, Udeme Umana, said : the court also mandated him to publish an public apology to the Federal Government in a national daily of choice.

This will serve as a detterent to other Nigerians.

The Mafo crooner had on June 13, left Lagos for the Federal Capital Territory to perform at a concert held at the Jabi Lake Mall.

The concert was organized by Play Network Africa, Traffic Bar, and ElCarnival, and was sponsored by Glenfiddich.

Following public outrage, the FCT Minister shut down the mall and the Federal Government of Nigeria stopped the operation of the airline whose plane he chartered.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said 66,431 COVID-19 sample tests had been carried out since the inception of the pandemic.

Abayomi made the disclosure on his Twitter account while giving update on the COVID-19 for Aug.5.

He noted that 137 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed in the state out of a total of 930 COVID-19 tests conducted on the reported date.

The new cases bring the total number of confirmed #COVID19 infection in Lagos to 15,580, he said.

According to him, 2,238 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from the states COVID-19 care centres following full recovery.

Abayomi added that 11,381 of the confirmed cases monitored in communities by the states COVID-19 response team have either fully recovered or positively responding to treatments.

83 of the cases are currently under isolation in public and private care centres.

1,683 active cases in communities are yet to turn up for admission in #COVID19Lagos care centres, he said.

He, however, noted that one COVID-19 related death was recorded on the reported day, increasing the states COVID-19 related mortality to 195. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rotimi Amaechi

X-raying benefits of China transport infrastructure development loan to Nigeria

News analysis by Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Nigerian transportation industry which comprises aviation, land (road and rail) and maritime subsectors has faced challenges of infrastructure deficit since independence and successive administrations have taken steps to address these challenges. Since assuming office on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has taken giant strides to address these challenges across the transport sectors ranging from airport to rail.

The desire to address such challenges and boost economic activities in the country led to the negotiations between the government of China and Nigeria on getting funds to address the immediate transport challenges as well as to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The first step taken by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was to complete the abandoned 276 km Itakpe-Warri rail line linking Warri in Delta State to Ajaokuta, in Kogi State for transporting steel products and raw materials from the Delta Steel Company, Aladja which is now completed after it was abandoned for 35 years. So far 13 coaches and four locomotives have been deployed to the route for commencement of commercial activities.

The other project completed was the Abuja-Kaduna Modernisation rail line which was funded with the m China loan collected by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2010 for infrastructural development in the country.

However, with the coming on board of Amaechi, the 187 km Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line was completed on July 26, 2016 with four coaches, while 10 new coaches and two locomotives were added on Dec. 10, 2017. As at July, 2020 a total of 27 coaches, 7 locomotives have been deployed to the route to give the over 15,000 passengers the maximum comfort and safety needed; this has generated over 10,000 employment to youths through direct and indirect jobs.

So far, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, Nigeria Railway Corporation Managing Director said that the Abuja- Kaduna railway generated over 130 Million monthly revenue; with N90 million spent on running cost and payment of staff. As at 2019, train operations nationwide generated about N3.09 billion and we are targeting about N6 billion when the Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri comes on board, he said.

Another China loan collected by the Ministry of Transportation was the 156 km Standard Gauge line for Lagos-Ibadan section with the train maximum speed of 150 km/h, which was agreed on Aug. 18, 2017 at .26bn because of the peculiar transport deficit in Lagos and the economic activities, high population and activities of the Apapa port.

Negotiating the loan was important to resolve some of the challenges faced by residents of Lagos. Having a rail line from Lagos to Ibadan passing through the Apapa port was to open up the economic viability of the place and reduce the high traffic and gridlock at the Apapa axis.

Owning to the countless deaths recorded at the Apapa axis due to accidents caused by heavy duty trucks, the Minister of Transportation engaged the train service to evacuate cargoes from the port and ease business for shippers. This laudable initiative cannot be achieved without the loan. So far, about four trains of 20 wagons move cargoes out of the port weekly, which would be increased when the Lagos-Ibadan is fully completed.

According to Amaechi, rail infrastructure is capital intensive and cannot be funded by any private company either in Nigeria or in any other part of the world, noting that China gives the lowest interest rate compared to other countries.

He also saw a need for Nigeria not to continue to be a dumping ground of technology, but to be able to maintain, repair and construct rolling stocks. In this regard, in 2019, the Kajola factory in Ogun State where locomotives, wagons and coaches would be constructed was established by the Chinese firms at no cost to Nigeria.

Also the Minister negotiated the establishment of the first Transport University in Africa by CCECC which would pave the way for domestication of railway engineering and general transportation sciences in Nigeria and thereby bridging the technology and skill gap in the railway. This was geared towards promoting development of indigenous capacity through technology acquisition and knowledge transfer for effective maintenance and operation of numerous railway infrastructure which is the first in Africa.

So far, 30 major and minor stations have been constructed under this administration which has created more jobs; Abuja-Kaduna has nine rail stations, Lagos-Ibadan with 10 stations while Itakpe-Warri has 11 rail stations.

The total loan stock is .121bn which constitutes 3.94% of .3billion total public debt and was meant for infrastructure development in various sector of the economy made up of the National Public Security communication system project for .5million which is 100 per cent disbursed, Nigerian Railway Modification Project (Idu-Kaduna section) at million is 100 per cent disbursed and commercial operations has commenced.

Abuja Light Rail for million which is 100 per cent completed yet to commence commercial operations, ICT Infrastructure Backbone Project for million which is 100 per cent disbursed, Terminal Expansion Project for Abuja, Kano, Lagos and PortHarcourt Airports for million is 91 per cent disbursed while Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project for million is 52 per cent disbursed.

However, Parboiled Rice Processing Plants Project for .6million nothing disbursed yet, Railway Modernisation Project for Lagos-Ibadan section for .26bn is 59 per cent disbursed while Nigeria Rehabilitation and upgrading of Abuja- Keffi Makurdi Road for .82m is 17 per cent disbursed. There is zero disbursement for the supply of rolling stocks and depot equipment of Abuja light rail project for million and Greater Abuja Water Supply for m.

Amaechi said that the rail project pending was the Ibadan to Kano, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, then Lagos to Calabar which will ease business activities, decongest the road and open up more communities to infrastructure development with countless benefits.

All these projects when completed would turn around the Nigeria economy because even developed nations still seek financial assistance to achieve their development goals. With the right system and government in place, Amaechi said that 20 years was an ample time to repay every loan collected from the Chinese government.

Source: NAN News

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport

By Lucy Ogalue

Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on Friday said it generated N3.09 billion in 2019 from train service operations nationwide.

Mr Fidet Okhiria, NRCs Managing Director in a statement signed by Mrs Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, Media Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, said N1.5 billion of the sum came from the Abuja to Kaduna rail operations.

Okhiria said that the Abuja to Kaduna rail line generated about N130 million monthly in 2019 as against the N80 million generated in the previous year.

He further said that the money generated from the Abuja-Kaduna rail operations was used to service other stations in the Northern region, like the Maiduguri stations.

The Abuja- Kaduna railway generated over N130 million monthly revenue, with N90 million spent on running cost and payment of staff at the Maiduguri stations which could not operate for now due to insecurity in the State.

As at 2019, train operations nationwide generated about N3.09 billion and we are targeting about N6 billion when Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri come on board, he said.

The NRC boss, however, noted that the onset of coronavirus pandemic in the country would affect the projected revenue for 2020.

With the reduction of passengers from 80 passengers to 40 passengers per coach, the revenue that would be generated for 2020 would definitely be affected. Except if the hourly train is properly implemented, he added.

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal
The Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 has approved gradual reopening of international flights and train services across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that this was part of the decisions reached at the end of the second extension of the second phase of eased lockdown.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this while speaking at the daily briefing of the PTF on Thursday in Abuja.

He said, Its important to ensure that restrictions are not completely relaxed in order to control transmission.

It is also important that at this Community Transmission Phase of the pandemic sub-national governments step up to take more responsibilities by owning the response.

To sustain gains already made, therefore, the PTF recommended to the President the retention of the current phase of the response with minor changes to address economic, socio-political and health concerns.

It is, however, important to inform you that the major changes being proposed are aimed at achieving the following:

Gradual re-opening of international air flights within established parameters;

Re-opening of rail transportation within established parameters.

Mustapha also granted permission to exit classes to resume ahead of examinations and allowing civil servants from Grade Level 12 to resume work, and also the opening of recreational parks for supervised exercises.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, said the PTF had communicated to the aviation ministry to begin processes of reopening international flights.

Aliyu also noted that one of the new requirements would be to ensure that international passengers arrived three hours before departure to ensure proper checks before takeoff.

He further stated that if all requirements from the aviation sector were made the resumption of international flights would be a matter of weeks and not months.

Answering a question from the media, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, explained that the aviation sector was ready to open any moment.

Sirika also explained that international flights would open as soon as it was safe to operate as all efforts were being put in place to ensure the reopening in weeks and not in months.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal
The Federal Government has extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by four weeks to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is coming after the extension of the second phase by one week to accommodate the Sallah celebration.

Speaking at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha said:

I am pleased to inform you that the PTF team met with the President on Wednesday 5th August, 2020 to apprise him of the situation on COVID-19 and the next steps.

Suffice it to state that the recommendations made to the President have been borne out of diligent evaluation of the situation in Nigeria as well as regional and global experiences.

The virulence and novelty of the virus has made it compelling for humanity to work together to put in place strategies to contain its spread and ensure that the delicate balance between dealing with the pandemic as a public health concern and guaranteeing livelihood is maintained.

After due consideration of the recommendations, Mr. President approved the following:

Maintaining the current phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for another four weeks in line with the modifications reflected in the Report;

Partnering with States and Local Governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to the COVID-19 response;

Mandating State authorities and the FCT, to enforce non-pharmaceutical guidelines, primarily the use of face masks in public appearance and places;

Encouraging State Governments to collaborate with Local Government Authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots mobilisation and risk communication; and

Strengthening of collaboration with other mandate groups at Federal/State levels to harmonise the countrys COVID-19 response, on the short, medium and long-term basis.

Mustapha also explained that our assessment has also revealed that the foregoing accomplishments and plans notwithstanding, the following challenges continue to pose considerable concern:

Increased non-compliance with non-pharmaceutical prevention measures;

Lack of enforcement of necessary guidelines issued to preserve lives; Insufficient engagement by some states with the national response; and a lingering concern about the gap between identified cases and the actual burden of disease.

Apathy, fatigue and disbelief combining to challenge public enlightenment, compliance and behaviour change.

The SGF said that to address these challenges, the PTF decided that it was important to ensure that restrictions were not completely relaxed in order to control transmission.

He noted that it was also important that at this Community Transmission Phase of the pandemic, sub-national governments should step up to take more responsibilities by owning the response.

To sustain gains already made, therefore, the PTF recommended to the President, the retention of the current phase of the response with minor changes to address economic, socio-political and health concerns.

Source: NAN News

Religious, traditional leaders pledge support to fight rape, violence against women

By Franca Ofili

Traditional and religious leaders across the country have pledged their support to fight against rape and violence against women.

They made the pledge on Thursday at a Virtual Roundtable Conference on Eliminating Gender Based Violence and Harmful Traditional Practices against Women and Girls.

They confirmed the rising cases of rape in the country, adding that both religion and culture regard the act as evil and unacceptable.

The Most Rev. Fubara Manuel, President, Christian Council of Nigeria, said that all the traditional churches were aware of the dangers associated with rape and violence against women.

According to him, the council has started a programme tagged Black Initiative to create awareness on the ills of rape and other vices.

He said that the need to continue to condemn the act and create awareness about it cannot be overemphasised.

He added that we must speak effectively on these issues to help create change, anything that hinders dignity of human must be condemned because human dignity is very important.

A traditional ruler, Bashorun Ojorma, said that creating awareness among rural communities should be paramount.

He said that with great awareness, victims could speak out and appropriate punishment would be given to offenders.

He assured that when schools reopen, the community will take awareness to schools to educate the younger ones on the dangers of rape and violence against women.

Representative of the Ubong of Calabar, Mr Frank Edet, said there must be synergy between government and traditional rulers in fighting gender based violence.

He said that the idea of carrying both the religious and traditional leaders along in the fight was a step in the right direction.

We need to be proactive in this to help bring an end to the situation. Parents also need to speak out when their children are molested.

We must ensure that the Child Right Act is domesticated in all states of the federation.

Bishop Theophilus Ajose, representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said that the National Assembly must make a law that would help to end the menace.

He also called for national prayers as many who had been caught in the act of rape always confessed to be influenced by devil.

We will support all efforts to end rape and all forms of violence against women because it is evil, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pauline Tallen, Women Affairs Minister

By Franca Ofili

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting efforts in ensuring that rape and other forms of violence against women are eliminated in the country.

Tallen gave the commendation during a Virtual Roundtable Conference with traditional and religious leaders on Eliminating Gender Based Violence and Harmful Traditional Practices Against Women and Girls on Thursday.

The conference was jointly organised by UN Spotlight Agencies under theEU-UN Spotlight Initiative, an ambitious multi-year partnership to eliminate all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in September 2017.

The EU offered initial seed funding of 500 million Euros, inviting donors and partners to join the Initiative to broaden its reach and scope.

Public participation, ambitious political action that are built on evidence-based policies, as well as increased resources and knowledge generation are all vital to the Initiative.

The minister of women affairs, therefore, said that rape and other forms of violence against women were unacceptable crimes that must be condemned by all.

She added that the high rate of rape cases in the country made her to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council on June 10, noting that the move had received the full support of the president.

She said the President has directed the minister of justice to put in place an inter-ministerial gender group made up of Cos and other stakeholders.

The President also directed the inspector general of police to ensure zero tolerance to rape in the country.

The minister noted that the support was a great boost to the fight against the menace, saying that the ministry was engaging the police to ensure a stop to the situation.

She commended the Nigerian Governors Forum and the governors wives for their support and the declaration of state of emergency on rape.

She stressed that the National Assembly (NASS) hit a milestone with the passage of the bill to prohibite sexual harassment on students.

This will bring sanity in our higher institutions of learning and deter lecturers from such evil act.

Tallen called for the support of religious and tradition leaders as the ministry prepare for an advocacy campaign on Gender Based Violence.

She said I want to state that we cannot achieve our aim without the full support of the traditional and religious leaders.

They play critical roles in achieving government policies at the grassroots. We will not pretend; we need you to break this rape and gender violence issues.

She further called on other leaders and stakeholders to join in the fight against rape and harmful practices against women.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said that issues of rape and gender violence must be treated seriously because it affects the society.

He said it is unfortunate that only about 10 states in the country have legal framework that protects the interest of girls and women.

Represented by Mrs Yomi Onanuga, the speaker said that the alarming rise of rape cases in the past few months called for urgent action.

He said that his office was engaging with state and non-state actors in domesticating the Child Rights Act and follow up action and prosecution as response to gender violence.

He explained that as government, we need to create awareness among men and boys on injustice to women.

Our office is developing gender budgeting framework through the annual budget to address gaps to support programmes across various government activities to ensure gender mainstreaming.

He commended the support of the European Union and the UN mission in Nigeria toward ending violence against women and girls through the Spotlight Initiative.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, said that the act of rape was uncivil and must be condemned.

He added that Islam as a religion condemned the act and condemned anyone that maltreats his wife or women.

Represented by the Emir of Arugungu, Sumaila Muhammad, he said that violence against women was shameful and unacceptable.

He assured his support in the fight against rape and all forms of violence against women in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Boss Mustapha. PTF Chairman,

By Abujah Racheal

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enforce the use of face masks in public places across the country.

The Chairman, Presidential Task force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, made this known at the daily briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Mustapha, while reviewing the activities of the committee, said the president also approved that the current phase of the National Response to COVID-19 should be maintained for another four weeks, but with some modifications.

President Buhari also asked the PTF to partner with states and local governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to step up response to the COVID-19 response.

He also encouraged state governments to collaborate with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots mobilisation and risk communication.

He also ordered that collaboration with other mandate groups at federal/state levels to harmonise the countrys COVID-19 response be strenghtened on the short, medium and long-term basis, he said.

Mustapha warned against stigmatisation and skepticism among Nigerians in the fight against COVID-19.

I wish to remind all Nigerians that this fight is for every one; everyone must take responsibility.

Disbelief and skepticism will further complicate our situation; we should not stigmatise anyone infected. Our communities should own the response and educate our citizens, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Nigeria has been on the edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with the constitutional leadership.

We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity.

What is happening in Edo is a threat to constitutional order nationwide.

I strongly urge belligerent forces to reign in their proxies, and abide by the rule of law.

As I have previously said, without the rule of law, there will be no rule at all.

The current goings-on portend grave danger, not only to law and order in that state, but to the coming Edo elections.

The people of Edo should be allowed to choose who they wish to govern them, and that choice is to be made on Sept. 19.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chris Ngige

By Joan Nwagwu

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said they would proceed on strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government immediately the universities reopen.

Mr Samson Ugwoke, the Chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions said this while addressing newsmen on the resolutions reached by the unions on Thursday in Abuja.

The resolutions were signed by the SSANU National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, and the General Secretary of NASU, Mr Peters Adeyemi.

The unions grievances included the lingering Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) debacle, non payment of arrears of earned allowance and minimum wage.

Others are the alleged lack of seriousness by the Babalakin Committee renegotiating the 2009 FG/NASU, SSANU agreements, neglect and poor funding of state universities, absence of visitation panels, among others.

According to Ugwoke, long after many other sectors had been paid the arrears of the national minimum wage and consequential adjustment, university workers are yet to be paid.

We find this development totally unwholesome and very unhealthy.

Given the time lag of over a year since it was implemented in other sectors, members of the public would agree that we have been patient enough in the university system, he said.

He pointed out that in spite of the series of letters by the unions to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) Office since February, their members were still confronted with many challenges, including salary payment.

Ugwuoke also said that their members, whose monthly salaries were being paid in the second week of the following month in the past seven months, were suffering as a result of the difficulties posed by IPPIS.

He argued that as responsible unions, they had avoided the planned action, adding that the unhealthy situation had made it inevitable.

Ugwoke said: We have again cried out to the general public with a view to inviting stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to correct the anomaly of IPPIS.

Pay us the arrears of both earned allowances and minimum wage, among others.

He warned that the unions would have no option than to embark on strike effective from when universities would reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown.

If by the time schools are asked to reopen and the needful is not done, it means hope is lost and the avoidable industrial conflict becomes inevitable.

This is what we seek to avert, hence this outcry and call for governments positive and timely response, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

By Lizzy Okoji

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied suggestions that it was frustrating the evacuation process of Nigerian students in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the ministry, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that claims to that effect were totally false.

Recalling that students had accused the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consul General of Nigeria in Jedda of refusing to facilitate their evacuation, Nwonye described the allegations as unpatriotic.

He said that the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia had been engaging relevant host authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Nigerians from the Kingdom.

The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a misleading video in circulation, fabricated by some misguided, unpatriotic and ungrateful Nigerian students in Saudi Arabia.

There are also attendant media reports alleging that the Government of Nigeria, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda, have deliberately refused to facilitate their evacuation to Nigeria for holiday, since May 15, 2020.

The group further alleged that the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda refused to issue permits to students to travel home.

It further alleged that government failed to secure flight clearance and landing permit for the Saudi Arabian Airlines to airlift Nigerians from the Kingdom.

The ministry wishes to state that the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia, in line with guidelines for the evacuation of Nigerian Nationals stranded in different parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been engaging relevant host authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Nigerians from the Kingdom.

Nwonye said that though the Saudi Airlines fixed July 8 and Aug. 1 respectively, the Airline never informed the Embassy of the dates or sought for approval of the proposed dates from Nigeria.

Neither the Embassy of Nigeria in Riyadh nor the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jedda was informed, which is against the spirit of established diplomatic protocols, hence the inability to operate the said flights, Nwonye said.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted the record strengthened that the Embassy officials did not demand for any commission or graft from the Airlines as insinuated by the misinformed students.

He added that their allegations had since been condemned and refuted by the leadership of Nigerian students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The spokesperson recalled that the Embassy of Nigeria in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia successfully facilitated the evacuation of 117 Nigerians from the Kingdom.

Nwonye specifically recalled that the Nigerians were evacuated via Azman Air Services Limited, Flight No: ZQ381, on July 19.

He said the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia was committed to ensuring that the right processes and established guidelines were adhered to, in the evacuation of Nigerian Nationals.

The unfortunate allegation by the misinformed students is absolutely false and should be disregarded, Nwonye declared. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) says it will collaborate with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to propel innovative driven economy and technology advancement in the country.

The President of the NSE, Babagana Mohammed, said this during an officialvisit to DICON headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He said that the NSE would stand firmly behind DICON in achieving its set goals and objectives.

The NSE president said it was important for the Society to work with organisations like DICON that has excelled in the areas of reaserch and development.

Mohammed called for more support for DICON so as to grow and develop technological capacity in Nigeria.

DICON has been doing Nigeria good and proud since its establishment in 1964 by promoting national defence and enterprise.

I commend the successive leadership and management of the corporation since its inception for the commitment to the mandate for which the corporation was set up.

The President affirmed that the NSE values the cordial relationship between it and DICON, and commended the Director General, Maj.-Gen Victor Ezugwu for his regular support to the NSE branch in Kaduna.

Also many of your staff here are our members and we receive reports of your generous sponsorhip of their training and conferences.

Which speaks volume about the premium this organisation put on capacity building, which is also a cardinal tenent in the vision and mission of the NSE.

DICON is an engineering entity, we acknowledge that you have done much for our nation.

But we also know that there is still a lot more grounds to covere in terms of innovation and enterprise management.

As a professional body and stakeholders in Nigerias growth and development projects, we owe our fatherland a duty to continually drive debates and discourse on issue of national development.

He appealed to DICON to consider proper placement of engineers in its fold based on the recently approved enhanced entry point Salary Grade 9 for graduate engineers into public service and subsequent advancement to Grade Level 10 after two years pupilage.

Responding, theDirector -General of DICON, said that the organisation would continue to meet its mandate as the countrys foremost engineering outfit particularly in military engineering.

Ezugwu welcomed the visit by the NSE and offer of collaboration in the area of civil engineering and promoting national economic development.

He assured that DICON and NSEwould work together toward enhancing local content especially in the area of military hardware that will help in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.

We are hopeful that the collaboration will be mutually beneficial to all parties, Ezeugwu said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 457 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 44,890.

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

According to the health agency, 17 more people had died from the disease.

The NCDC said that the 457 new infections were recorded in Lagos, FCT and 19 other states of the federation.

It stated that Lagos topped the list with 137 cases while FCT came second with 76 fresh infections.

Five other states with high cases include Plateau 40, Rivers 35, Enugu 34, Oyo 25 and Abia 23.

Others are Delta 12, Edo and Ebonyi 11, Cross River and Kwara 10, Kaduna 9, Anambra 7, Ogun 5, Imo and Bauchi 3, Osun and Nasarawa 2, Kano and Ekiti 1, it said.

The health agency further said that 314 people had been discharged in the last 24 hours after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of discharged cases to 32,165.

It said that till date, 44,890 cases had been confirmed, 32,165 cases discharged and 927 deaths recorded in 36 states and the FCT.

The NCDC noted that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, would continue to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

The health agency further said that home care for COVID-19 patients who were asymptomatic or have mild symptoms must be based on the recommendation of a clinician and not on self-assessment.

It is recommended that clinicians recommend the use of designated treatment areas, according to severity and acute care needs, to care for confirmed COVID -19 patients.

Home care should only be recommended in patients after an appropriate risk assessment has been done and following appropriate counselling and patient information, it stated.

The NCDC said that patients could be recommended for home care if hospitalisation was not feasible.

It noted that clinicians should consider home care for such patients with no symptoms, mild symptoms or for those without concern for rapid deterioration as determined by a managing physician.

Home care may also be considered when in-patient care is unavailable or unsafe (e.g. capacity is limited, and resources are unable to meet the demand for health care services).

Contacts should be advised to monitor their health for 14 days from the last possible day of contact.

Health care personnel should review the health of contacts by phone, and in person if feasible. Provide instructions to contacts on what to do if they become ill.

If home care is provided, ensure follow-up and care by a family member; If and where feasible, a communication link between the patient and health care provider and/or public health personnel should be established, it said.

The NCDC also said that clinical judgment should be used and informed by an assessment of the patients home and environment by a trained health care worker, if and where feasible.

Educate patients and household members about personal hygiene, infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and how to care for the patient, it said.

The health agency added that patients in home care should remain isolated and in limited contact with people, including household members, until all symptoms had been resolved while patients had repeated negative test and/or a healthcare worker had cleared the patient.

Stay in a well-ventilated single room; limit movement in the house or minimise shared space.

Ensure shared spaces are well ventilated; follow cleaning and disinfecting guidance at home and limit the number of caregivers.

Seek care urgently if there is a change in your condition, NCDC said.

Source: NAN News

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) says it is committed to boosting agriculture in Abia.

Mr Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary of NALDA, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Tope Ojeme, the agencys Director of Communications.

Ikonne gave the assurance when he led a delegation to the Government House in Umuahia.

He expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the state government to resuscitate the Ogwe Golden Chicken farm.

Ikonne said that the mandate of the agency was to ensure availability of food, adding that it had rolled out the Back to Farm and National Young Farmers Schemes.

Ikonne stressed that Abia had been selected as one of the pilot states for the schemes in the country.

He gave an assurance that NALDA would provide technical support, training and inputs to encourage farmers to produce enough food for the country.

The executive secretary, however, urged communities to make land available for farming,

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, on his part, said that the state was willing to partner with NALDA to revive the Ogwe Golden Chicken farm.

Ikpeazu noted that his administration was building cottage industries in the 17 local government areas of the state.

He also said that his administration was working toward making the state a major food processing hub.

The governor added that he was already mainstreaming agriculture for job creation and provision of raw materials.

He pledged to work with NALDA in critical areas that would ensure value addition.

Ikpeazu, however, called for urgent intervention to tackle the gully erosion increasingly ravaging arable lands in the state.

Source: NAN News