Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Acting Director-General of NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba at the unveiling of new amendment to the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code in Lagos on Tuesday.

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled the new amendment to the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code, stressing that it will not yield to blackmail by a segment of the stakeholders opposed to the new code.

Performing the ceremony in Lagos, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the amended code was in the national interest and government would kickstart its implementation.

As it currently stands, the 6th edition and the amendments, which we are unveiling today, remain the regulations for broadcasting in Nigeria.

What I have observed in the reactions to the amendment are interests who believe that their singular business interest is superior to the national interest.

Therefore, they have resorted to all kinds of blackmail, using hack writers.
Ladies and gentlemen, we remain unperturbed, because we are acting in the national interest, he said.

The minister reiterated that the intentions of government in effecting the amendment was to catalyze the growth of the local industry and create jobs for the teeming creative youths.

The opportunities must be created and we believe that effective regulatory interventions are a sure way of attaining this. That is why we will not waver he said.

Mohammed noted that the broadcasting code is not a static document, therefore those who have misgivings about the amended code should meet with the regulator and present their views for considerations in subsequent amendment.

As I said, there are opportunities for constant review of the Code, but please note that this latest amendment is signed, sealed and delivered, and we are committed to making it work for the good of the country, he said.

The minister recalled that the amendments were necessitated by a Presidential directive, for inquiry into the unwholesome conduct of some broadcast stations in the wake of the 2019 general elections.

He said that government equally saw the need to strengthen the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to effectively perform its regulatory roles.

Mohammed said the amendments are mostly in the areas of political broadcasting, local content, coverage of emergencies, advertising and anti-competitive behaviour.

He explained that provisions relating to exclusivity and monopoly in the code would boost local content and local industry as well as encourage open access to premium contents.

Sub-licensing and Rights sharing create opportunities for local operators to also gain traction and raise revenue for their services.

The law prohibiting backlog of advertising debts will definitely promote sustainability for the station owners and producers of content.

The law on registration of Web Broadcasting grants the country the opportunity to regulate negative foreign broadcasts that can harm us as a nation.

Such harms could be in the area of security, protection for minors, protection of human dignity, economic fraud, privacy, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Acting Director-General of NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba appreciated the government for implementing measures for effective functioning of the broadcast industry in the country.

He commended the minister for implementing reforms in the sector, laudable intervention to assist practitioners as well as refocussing and repositioning the Digital Switch Over programme.

Source: NAN News

APC Logo

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC), UK chapter, says it has received favourable response from the British Government to prosecute former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke and other Nigerians suspected of fraud, bribery and corruption offences, living in the United Kingdom.

According to a statement signed by Mr Jacob Ogunseye, the APC UK Publicity Secretary, issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the assurance was given by British Minister of State for Security, James Brokenshire.

In the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the British government also promised to help Nigeria fight corruption to a standstill.

It said Brokenshires promise followed a petition initiated by the APC UK legal department to the British government on the need to prosecute the former petroleum minister and other Nigerians suspected of fraud, bribery and corruption.

The statement said the petition was sequel to a plea by Ibrahim Magu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a virtual meeting before his suspension.

It said that Magu had appealed to Nigerians in Diaspora to assist the commission in putting pressure on the British government to repatriate the former minister to Nigeria to answer charges against her.

It said the APC UK legal department took up Magus challenge by initiating a legal process reminding the British government of Alison-Maduekes arrest on October 2, 2015 by its National Crime Agency (NCA) in London.

It recalled that Alison-Madueke was arrested along side four other persons on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences, but was released on bail.

It added that the APC UK legal team went further to request for reasons for the loss of traction by the United Kingdom NCA in prosecuting the former minister since her bail in 2015.

The statement said the department also demanded for a speedy trial of the former petroleum minister in the UK or in the alternative, facilitate her immediate repatriation to Nigeria to face graft charges.

The statement quoted Mr Ade Omole, leader of the chapter, as saying that a fair trial as enshrined in Article 6 of the Human Rights Act would be followed if Madueke was repatriated to Nigeria to face trial.

APC UK supported the legal process with petitions through Members of Parliament and Peers in the House of Lords, the British Government was left with no choice but respond promptly to the issues raised.

The British government responding through its Minister of State for Security, Rt. Hon. James Brokenshire, promised to work with the Federal Republic of Nigeria in ensuring that corruption is fought to a standstill and persons involved in criminal acts are duly prosecuted, Omole said.

He added that the response from the British government was a strong indication of good things to come regarding suspects hibernating in the UK.

He stressed that the APC in UK had a good strategy and dedicated legal team that would ensure that looters did not commit crime in Nigeria and run to the United Kingdom to hide.

He said Nigerians should expect some traction on the near comatose criminal case involving the former petroleum minister going forward.

Though COVID-19 lockdown down is not helping matters, we hope the pandemic will soon be over so we can double our efforts from this end, Omole said.

The statement quoted Brokenshire, as saying that: The UK is continuing to lead international efforts to combat corruption, as evidenced by the commitments in the UKs Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Economic Crime plan.

He said the UK was determined to ensure that its society and economy remained hostile to illicit financial flows.

As you will know, in 2018 the Financial Action Task Force assessed the UK as having the strongest controls of any country assessed to date.

I am acutely aware of the negative impacts of grand corruption, including on developing countries.

The International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre, hosted by the NCA, is working to recover stolen assets, share intelligence across jurisdictions, and build capacity to support grand corruption cases in developing countries, he said.

He added that the centre had supported a number of high profile arrests involving politicians and public officials across the world.

We are working closely with the government of Nigeria to prevent corruption, including providing support in-country.

The NCA runs a number of multi-agency projects in Nigeria which target corruption as one of the threats to the UK, Brokenshire said.

According to him, these projects provided specialist training, equipment, buildings and infrastructure.

He said it also provided UK-based mentors and intelligence to fight corruption at all levels, adding that the Department for International Development funds programmes to tackle corruption in the Nigerian public sector and oil industry.

Brokenshire assured the APC UK of UKs commitment to combating corruption in Nigeria and other African countries.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator- General, National Park Service.

By Okeoghene Akubuike

No fewer than 137 park Rangers lost their lives to wildlife attacks among several unfortunate homicide related cases, across seven regions of the world in the last 12 months, the International Federation (IRF), said on Tuesday.

Its President,Chris Galliers,made the disclosure at the 2020 World Ranger Day, celebrated annually on July 31.

Galliers speech was read by Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General, National Park Service, during a Zoom meeting in Abuja to commemorate the World Rangers Day in Abuja.

He said that the figures accounted for the highest number of Rangers deaths since the inception of the Roll of Honour in 2011.

Galliers said of the seven IRF regions, Asia had the greatest number of rangers killed at 66 deaths, representing 48 per cent of all ranger deaths.

According to him, Africa has the second highest number of Rangers deaths of 40, making up 30 per cent.

We know that this number could be considerably higher, as not all ranger deaths are reported or publicised.

The number is still unacceptably high, with 1,013 recorded ranger deaths over the past decade.

This is of major concern. We, as the ranger family, share in the loss of our colleagues and their families, and look to honour them on the World Ranger Day for all that they had contributed to the profession and conservation.

He said the main cause of deaths on duty for rangers was homicide, which accounted for 43 deaths, adding that these deaths mostly occurred in Africa and Asia.

In addition, the environment in which rangers work can be hostile and dangerous, threatened by the very animals that they serve to protect.

Wildlife attack accounted for the second highest cause of rangers fatalities, with 24 deaths.

Other causes include accidents- 33 deaths; drownings- 14 deaths and illness/natural causes- 23 deaths.

The IRF president said the the federation, at the World Ranger Congress, at Nepal in November, 2019, set some ambitious actions to professionalise the sector and support those working on the frontline.

He said for the rangers around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic had created new challenges and threats.

Galliers said that for the most part, rangers had been classified as essential services, allowing them to continue their invaluable works.

According to him, rangers need the support of the world, and to achieve this, regardless of COVID-19, or not, there is a need for empowered and well supported rangers, operating in a more secured work place, who will become ambassadors for the profession to inspire the next generation.

We hope that the world takes a greater appreciation of the value of protected and conserved areas and the people who protect them, and realise having a minimum of 30 per cent of the earth protected by 2030 is a real necessity.

On behalf of IRF and the Board, we thank all those that are taking the time to voice their support for rangers. Thanks too must go to all that are running programmes to keep rangers operational and effective through this difficult time.

Finally, a thank you to the ranger families for their support and the sacrifices that they live with continuously.

In his remarks, Mr Andrew Dunn, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Nigeria Project, said the current COVID-19 pandemic had added to some of the challenges being faced by rangers.

Dunn, however, said it was commendable to note that ranger patrols by the Nigerian National Park Service had not once faltered during this turbulent period.

According to him, with the support from WCS, Rangers are a force for good in Nigeria.

Dunn:Ranger teams in Yankari Game Reserve have not lost a single elephant to poaching since 2015.

Dedicated ranger units in Cross River National Park have drastically reduced poaching of Cross River Gorillas, and there has been no record of Gorillas killed in Okwangwo since 2008.

Only constant patrols by courageous rangers in Gashaka Gumti National Park has kept Nigerias largest wilderness area safe and secure, free from the scourge of Boko Haram.

He, however, noted that Nigerian rangers needed automatic weapons, better training, improved remuneration and better working conditions.

Dunn added that the rangers also needed joint patrols with the army and improved recognition of the work they do to improve security for all Nigerians, not just for wildlife.

Also, confidence that the poachers they risk their lives to arrest will be prosecuted according to the full force of the law, and would not be released to reoffend; zero tolerance for violence or threats of violence against rangers, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some rangers from the various national parks across the country shared their experiences, and called for provision of more sophisticated equipment and support for effective service delivery. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai

By Hussaina Yakubu

Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, says the state government spent about N16 billion on security in the past five years.

El-Rufai, who made the disclosure at a meeting with the Council of Emirs and Chiefs, on Tuesday in Kaduna, explained that the money was used to support security agencies and acquire technology and infrastructure to fight insecurity in the state.

He noted that the money would have gone into developmental projects if the people had chosen to live in peace.

The governor, therefore, called on all the traditional rulers to help persuade people to choose to live peacefully, and address misleading narratives on current communal conflicts in part of the state.

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) extended positive trend on Tuesday with key market indices appreciating further by 0.31 per cent.

Specifically, the All Share Index (ASI) rose by 75.82 points or 0.31 per cent to close at 24,841.94 compared with 24,766.12 recorded on Monday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N12.919 trillion, appreciated by N40 billion to close at N12.959 trillion.

The performance was driven by buying sentiments across Nigerian Breweries, Seplat and some Tier 1 bank stocks.

Consequently, the Month-to-Date gain increased to 0.6 per cent, while Year-to-Date loss moderated to -7.5 per cent.

Market watchers stated that the current undervalue state of the market offered opportunities to position for the short, medium and long-term.

They urged investors to target fundamentally sound, and dividend-paying stocks for possible capital appreciation going forward.

Market sentiment closed positive with 23 gainers and 10 losers.

A breakdown of the price movement table showed that AXA Mansard Insurance led the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 9.72 per cent to close at N1.58 per share.

It was trailed by UACN with a gain of 8.73 per cent to close at N6.85, while Jaiz Bank increased by 7.27 per cent to close at 59k per share.

NPF Microfinance Bank garnered 5.88 per cent to close at N1.26, while Mutual Benefits rose by 4.76 per cent, to close at 22k per share.

On the other hand, Chemical and Allied Products dominated the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping 9.94 per cent to close at N15.40 per share.

Total came second with a loss of 9.91 per cent to close at N79.10, while Ardova dipped 9.67 per cent to close at N12.15 per share.

Unilever shed 8.57 per cent to close at N11.20, while GlaxoSmithKline lost 8.49 per cent to close at N4.85 per share.

Transactions in the shares Transcorp topped the activity chart, accounting for 13.54million shares valued at N8.08 million.

FBN Holdings followed with a turnover of 11.72 million shares worth N59.18 million, while Lafarge Africa traded 8.96 million shares valued at N105.26 million.

The Nigerian Breweries sold 8.87 million shares worth N283.32 million, while Custodian Investment transacted 8.64 million shares worth N43.35 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded dropped by 17.17 per cent with an exchange of 154.47 million shares worth N1.46 billion in 4, 222 deals.

This was in contrast with a total of 186.48 million shares valued at N1.31 billion achieved in 4,718 deals on Monday.

Source: NAN News

By Joan Nwagwu

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says all its 187 member States, have ratified the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182).

Mr Guy Ryder, the ILO Director-General said this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ryder noted that this was the first time in the ILOs history, an International Labour Convention has been ratified by all member States.

He said that the universal ratification of the Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour was achieved following ratification by the Kingdom of Tonga.

According to Ryder, the Convention is the most rapidly ratified Convention in the history of the organisation, since its adoption 21 years ago by the International Labour Conference.

Universal ratification of Convention 182 is an historic first that means that all children now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour.

It reflects a global commitment that the worst forms of child labour, such as slavery, sexual exploitation, the use of children in armed conflict or other illicit or hazardous work that compromises childrens health, morals or psychological wellbeing, have no place in our society, he said.

Mrs Sharan Burrow, Secretary General, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), also welcomed the universal ratification.

According to Burrow, the universal ratification of Convention 182 is a potent and timely reminder of the importance of ILO standards and the need for multilateral solutions to global problems.

Child labour is a grievous violation of fundamental rights, and it is incumbent on the ILOs constituents and the international community to ensure that this Convention is fully implemented, including through due diligence in global supply chains, she said.

Mr Roberto Santos, Secretary General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) described the universal ratification of the Convention as a historic moment.

Throughout the years, the IOE and its member organisations have supported the implementation of this Convention. Today, the business community is both aware of and acting on the need to do business with respect for childrens rights.

This is even more urgent in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot allow the fight against the worst form of child labour to backslide. Together we can work towards the end of child labour in all its forms, he said.

It would be recalled that the ILO have estimated that there are 152 million children in child labour , 73 million of whom are in hazardous work.

The ILO also noted that 70 per cent of all child labour takes place in agriculture and are mostly related to poverty and parents difficulties finding decent work.

The Convention calls for the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, forced labour and trafficking.

It prohibits the use of children in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and illicit activities such as drug trafficking, and in hazardous work.

It is one of the ILOs eight Fundamental Conventions.

These cover the abolition of child labour, the elimination of forced labour, the abolition of work-related discrimination and the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

These principles are also covered by the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998).

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom/Modupe Oremule

Nigeria Air Force (NAF) is partnering with over 30 Nigerian universities for research purposes and some Nigerian companies as a way of engaging local content in its operations.

AVM Abdulganiyu Olabisi, the NAF Commandant, Institute of Technology said during a courtesy visit and inspection of TRANOS facility in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TRANOS is an engineering and manufacturing company; adding value to lives through innovative solutions.

Olabisi said that the NAF was working with companies like Innoson and Ibeto Group in its aircraft equipment and maintenance requirements.

The Nigeria Air Force is a highly technical service operating a variety of sophisticated aircrafts and equipment.Therefore, Innoson helps to assemble some of the equipment for our aircraft while Ibeto produces batteries for our aircrafts.

We are glad to know that TRANOS is an engineering company that has factored safety and quality production as the watch word of the industry.

Before now, almost all the input of our operations as well as trainings came from abroad because of the sophistication of the equipment that we operate.

However, partnering with local companies will help to improve our service to the country at cost effective prices, Olabisi said.

Also, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, HQ NAF, said the visit was to focus on local contents in procurement and development of science, technology and innovation.

We are seeking to collaborate with this company as we have done with other companies like Ibeto and Innoson.

TRANOS is another logical step in that direction in developing indigenous solutions to our technological challenges. The NAF is a highly technological driven service that require such inputs where some of the issues involved are the production of spare parts for our aircraft, he said.

Daramola said that the Covid-19 pandemic led to a number of restrictions placed on air travel which had affected the logistics supply chain interms of spares.

This has driven us to look inwards interms of looking for solutions to this issues.

For the NAF to make sure it is self sufficient, we need to look inwards to look for solutions. That is why partnership with local companies is important to us. So, we will continue to collaborate with them to come out with these specific areas of need for the NAF to get the solutions that we require, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Jude Abalaka, Managing Director, TRANOS expressed his appreciation to NAF for the partnership, promising that they would get value for their money.

Abalaka said that partnership was important for growth and expansion which would enable both parties to grow and positively impact on each other and the society.

We will focus on the challenges that the NAF might be facing in other to help interms of their aircraft; whether it be mechanical or electrical.

There is also a drive for made in Nigeria goods right now and we are a company that has focused on investment, in equipment, in personnel and in training to be able to do a lot of things locally, Abalaka said.

Source: NAN News

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Schools recorded high turnout of students in Abuja following the Federal Governments directive that schools should reopen for students in exit classes.

Some students were seen as their schools resumed on Tuesday observing the COVID-19 safety protocols stipulated by the Federal Government.

Social distancing was observed in class rooms, hand wash points set at different locations in the schools and students were mandated to wear their face masks.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba, who monitored the resumption in Abuja expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

We are happy with the level of compliance by the students. It shows that they are aware of the current pandemic and taking measures to avoid the spread of the virus.

I was at Federal Government College, Apo and can tell you that the students are fully aware of what they need to do to keep safe. They are fully prepared and are conscious of the safety, he said.

Nwajuiba stressed that actions would be taken to address infrastructure decay in the schools.

Also, Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said the ministry was working on modalities to maintain facilities in schools through the employment of skilled specialists such as plumbers, electricians and the rest.

Echono commended the students in taking precautionary measures to combat the spread of the virus.

Students also expressed happiness for returning to school while praying that the pandemic would end soon to allow other classes to resume.

One of the students, Amanda Onoja, a Senior Secondary School 3 student of Federal Government College, Bwari pledged to ensure that proper safety measures were observed during and after the WAEC examination.

Also, Miss Chichi Ilochi, another student, said she was excited that the school had finally reopen, stressing that she was fully prepared to take the upcoming examination.

I feel much exited that we are back to school. I have been preparing for this examinations and I think the decision to open school is right.

My dream of leaving secondary school this year has come to reality. At first, when the pandemic started, I have lost hope of graduating from secondary school this year but now I think I am happy, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the schools visited include Federal Government College, Apo, Federal Government College, Kwali and Federal Government College, Bwari.

However, Federal Government College, Kwali seemed not prepared for resumption as the school environments still look unkempt even when students were all ready for resumption.

Source: NAN News

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Source: NAN News

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), says a number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials to prevent COVID-19 pandemic.

Ghebreyesus made this known at a virtual news conference on Monday at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

The director-general said: We all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection.

However, theres no silver bullet at the moment and there might never be; for now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control.

Testing, isolating and treating patients, tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all.

Inform, empower and listen to communities. Do it all.

For individuals, its about keeping physical distance, wearing a mask, cleaning hands regularly and coughing safely away from others. Do it all.

Ghebreyesus said the message to people and governments was clear: Do it all, and when its under control, keep going! Keep strengthening the health system.

Keep improving surveillance, contact tracing and ensure disrupted healthcare services are restarted as quickly as possible.

Keep safeguards and monitoring in place, because lifting restrictions too quickly can lead to resurgence.

Keep investing in the workforce and communicating and engaging communities.

We have seen around the world, that its never too late to turn this pandemic around, he said.

According to him, if we act together today, we can save lives, we can save livelihoods, if we do it all together.

He told journalists that the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met on Friday and reviewed the current pandemic.

It was a sobering moment coming six months on from when the committee advised.

And, I agreed that the outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

At the time, Jan. 30, there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths outside of China.

When the Committee met three months ago, three million cases of COVID-19 had been reported to WHO, and more than 200,000 deaths.

Since then, the number of cases has increased more than five-fold to 17.5 million, and the number of deaths has more than tripled to 680,000, the director-general said.

In addition to the direct toll COVID-19 is having, Ghebreyesus said the committee noted the health impact that disrupted services were having on a range of other diseases.

That compounds what we already know about reduced immunisation coverage, cancer screening and care, and mental health services.

A survey of responses from 103 countries between mid-May and early July, found that 67 per cent of countries report disruption in family planning and contraception services.

More than half of countries reported disruption in antenatal care services and more than a third of countries reported disruption in child birth services.

On top of the health impact, we have seen the damage COVID-19 has caused socially, economically and politically.

The committee put forward a number of recommendations for countries to continue to implement to bring the virus under control.

These range from sharing best practice, to enhancing political commitment and leadership for national strategies and localised response activities driven by science, data and experience.

He said from serology studies that most people remained susceptible to this virus, even in areas that have experienced severe outbreaks.

Over the past week weve seen several countries that appeared as though they were past the worst now, contending with fresh spikes in cases.

However, weve also seen how some countries, regions or localities that had a high number of cases are now bringing the outbreak under control.

Its not easy, of course. Strict measures may cause their own problems for delivery of essential health services, the economy and societies overall.

The committee acknowledged that Member States have tough choices to make to turn the epidemic around.

But, they were also clear that when leaders step up and work intensely with their populations, this disease can be brought under control.

He further said we learnt everyday about this virus.

Im pleased that the world has made progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most serious forms of COVID-19 recover.

The committee recommended that countries engage in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, participate in relevant clinical trials, and prepare for safe and effective therapeutics and vaccine introduction, Ghebreyesus said.

Source: NAN News

Frankfurt Airport

Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, announced plans on Tuesday to cut between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs as the crisis inflicted on the air travel industry by the coronavirus drags on.

Chief executive Stefan Schulte said in an interim report for the first half of the year that passenger numbers are still expected to languish at 15-20 per cent of 2019 levels in 2022 and 2023.

He said that this means that there will be less work for employees in the longer term.

Fraport has a current workforce of around 22,000.

The company, whose largest shareholders are the German state of Hesse and the Frankfurt city authority, is currently relying heavily on a state furlough scheme to avoid mass lay-offs.

In the second quarter, some 16,000 employees in Frankfurt were having their wages covered by the government aid programme, which was launched in response to the coronavirus crisis in March.

Working hours for the entire workforce have been reduced by 60 per cent, while operating expenses have been reduced by 30 per cent, partially thanks to terminal closures, and by as much as 40 per cent across the Fraport group as a whole.

Nonetheless, Fraport plunged deep into the red in the second quarter, posting a loss attributable to shareholders of around 182 million euros, after a 127-million-euro profit in the same period last year.

Revenue collapsed by around three quarters to 250 million euros, after air travel was brought to a near standstill earlier this year and has only slowly begun recovering. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Stricter COVID-19 lockdown in Manila

More than 27 million people in the Philippines went back under stricter lockdown measures on Tuesday after the number of coronavirus infections surged since last month.

The surge has prompted health workers to warn that the country was losing its battle against COVID-19.

Public transport, private and government offices and other commercial services were again suspended in the capital of Metro Manila and the four surrounding provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

The five areas were put under what is locally called modified enhanced community quarantine for the next 15 days.

Under the protocol, people are prohibited from going out of their homes unless for essential trips, gatherings are limited to five people and dine-in services in restaurants are not allowed.

Catholic churches were again closed to the public, as were salons, gyms and other establishments offering aesthetic services.

Some cities in Metro Manila again imposed a liquor ban.

The Philippines total caseload was at 106,330 as of Monday, with 2,104 deaths, according to the Department of Health.

The cases have been increasing since the government began to ease restrictions in June in a bid to revive the economy.

The spike prompted doctors, nurses and other health care workers to call on the government to recalibrate the response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

One of the doctors who joined the call warned that if the infections are not halted, we will be the next New York City, where people die on stretchers, in the emergency rooms or at home because the hospitals are full. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africas anti-corruption watchdog said it was investigating irregularities in coronavirus-related tenders, the latest in a series of scandals that trade unions said showed the governments failure to tackle graft.

The probes by the Public Protector come soon after investigators launched separate inquiries into the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Gauteng province, the countrys economic heartland.

President Cyril Ramaphosa staked his reputation on tackling graft when he replaced Jacob Zuma as head of state more than two years ago, but he is on the back foot after news reports alleging that politically connected individuals have milked the state for millions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramaphosa used a weekly newsletter to the nation to promise that his government would finally deal with the entrenched patronage networks that enable government employees to bid for state contracts through their friends and relatives.

We will not allow public funds hard-earned by loyal taxpayers or donations by patriotic companies and individuals and the international community to vanish down a black hole of corruption.
COSATU, the countrys largest trade federation and a key ally of the governing African National Congress (ANC), said in a statement that Ramaphosas administration had acted feebly in the face of the recent corruption allegations.

It called corruption the biggest threat to the economy.

The Public Protector said it was investigating tender irregularities at least in three provinces, including over a quarantine site that is believed to be owned by a government official and PPE procurement in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

South Africa has recorded more than a half a million cases of COVID-19, the most in Africa, with the number of infections continuing to rise rapidly.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, over the weekend called for a snap parliamentary debate on what it described as a feeding frenzy by ANC-connected individuals after normal procurement rules were suspended because of the coronavirus.

An ANC spokesman did not answer his phone when Reuters sought comment on Monday.

Ramaphosas spokeswoman, Khusela Diko, and a top Gauteng health official have taken leaves of absence after a media report said that Dikos husband won PPE contracts with the Gauteng government.

Diko and her husband have denied wrongdoing and the health official has said he was not involved in provincial procurement processes. (Reuter/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dollar slips after political wrangling slows rally

A dollar rebound faltered on Tuesday as political wrangling over a U.S. relief plan and the gloomy outlook weighed on the currency.

After its worst month in a decade in July, the greenback started August on a firm note as some investors trimmed their short positions.

That only carried it so far, and the dollar edged down 0.2 per cent on Tuesday against a basket of currencies.

The euro which gained five per cent at the dollars expense in July inched up on the day, last up 0.2 per cent at .17875.

I think the eurozone recovery will be a lot faster than the U.S. recovery and that growth differential will continue to drive EUR/USD higher, Marshall Gittler, FX analyst at BDSwiss, said in a note.

The Aussie dollar edged ahead nearly 0.3 per cent after the central bank delivered no surprises by holding policy steady.

Australias central bank predicted the economic recovery will be uneven as the countrys second biggest state Victoria locks down to fight a resurgence of the virus.

Despite a slowdown in new U.S. virus cases and encouraging factory data, investors are reserving judgment on whether a U.S. economy with 30 million people out of work can really lead the worlds recovery.

Talks on a potential further economic relief package are ongoing, though top Democrats in the U.S. Congress and White House negotiators on Monday said they had made progress.

Were still in a situation where the market wants to believe the recovery is on track but is still worried about the COVID situation, said Bank of Singapore FX analyst, Moh Siong Sim.

The fiscal wrangling in the U.S. is the next key test for risk sentiment and if they manage to get a deal which seems likely that could be supportive of risk sentiment. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police oficers on Duty

By Abdullahi Mohammed

The Police Command in Jigawa on Tuesday attributed the successes recorded in the low crime rate in six months to crime preventive strategies adopted and efficient service delivery.

SP Abdul Jinjiri, the Commands Spokesman, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

Jinjiri noted that rape which recorded 35 reported cases between January and June had the highest figure in the commands crime statistics.

The spokesman said that armed robbery had the second highest crime recorded with 21 suspected armed robbers arrested within the period under review.

Jinjiri said that homicide recorded 18 reported cases within the period while 13 unnatural offences and five kidnappings were also recorded.

He was optimistic that with the combined support from members of the public and the commands commitment toward curtailing crime and criminality, the state would be more peaceful for the remaining year.

NAN reports that the command had in 2019 recorded 61 reported cases of rape and indecent assaults, 32 armed robbery cases, 52 homicide cases, 13 unnatural offences and four kidnappings.

NAN reports that the command had in its 2019 projection and plan for 2020, promised to adopt community policing as one of the most effective way of crime control.

According to the plan, part of the strategies was to embark on robust enlightenment by engaging the communities in dialogue to resolve their problems, using policing process toward achieving crime control. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Former NNPC GMD,Dr Joseph Thlama Dawha,

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the death ofDr Joseph Thlama Dawha, who was its 16th Group Managing Director (GMD).

The corporation disclosed in a statement issued by its Spokesman, Dr kennie Obateru, in Abuja, on Monday, thatDawha died after a brief illness.

The GMD, Malam Mele Kyari, expressed shock over the sudden death of Dawha.

Kyari said that the NNPC family gravely mourned Dawhas death as he provided astute leadership and made immense contributions to the progress of corporation.

He described his death as a great loss to not only NNPC but also Nigeria as a whole.

Dawha was GMD of NNPC between August 2014 and August 2015.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

PCN

By Felicia Imohimi

Dr Elijah Mohammed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says the council has sealed 808 illegal pharmaceutical premises during the month of July.

Mohammed made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, while giving an update of the councils activities in July.

He said that out of the 1,179 pharmaceutical premises inspected by the councils enforcement team, 740 illegal medicines shops and 68 illegal pharmacies were sealed.

In the month of July, the enforcement team of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria visited Kwara and Ogun states in line with its mandate to sanitise the healthcare environment of our dear country.

A total of 1,179 pharmaceutical premises were inspected during the visits and at the end of the visit, 808 premises were sealed including 740 illegal medicines shops and 68 illegal pharmacies, Mohammed said.

The registrar expressed dismay over the uncontrolled proliferation of online pharmacies in the country.

He, however, cautioned people who engaged in the sales and promotion of medicines online to visit their PCN state offices to register the online pharmacies latest Aug. 31.

According to him, the minimum requirement for an online pharmacy is its direct affiliation to a registered physical brick and mortar pharmacy.

Failure to do so will lead to the pulling down of such portals and subsequent prosecution.

These include full-fledged online pharmacy websites, stores hosted on all purpose e-commerce sites and also those practiced on social media handles.

Colleagues are encouraged to report erring online pharmacies to this email address, he said.

Mohammed promised that the council was poised to deliver its full mandate especially as it concerned investigation and discipline of professional misconduct among players in the pharmaceutical.

The registrar also encouraged all frontline pharmacists to adhere to the strictest guideline for self-protection in a bid to eradicate COVID-19 virus in the shortest possible time.

He urged pharmacists not to let down their guards, noting that the virus infection rate was still on the increase.

As lockdowns and restrictions are gradually relaxed across the country, I implore all colleagues not to let down their guards as we know that the virus infection rate is not slowing down.

We commiserate with the families of colleagues who have died in the line of duty while we pray for the quick recovery of colleagues who are currently undergoing treatment, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Danny Rose

Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose has said he is tired of racial discrimination after being regularly stopped by police and asked if his car is stolen.

The 30-year-old England international said he has had similar experiences for the last 15 years.

The last time, last week, when Id just been at my mums house, I had pulled up in a car park. So, the engine was off, he said.

The police pulled in and they brought a riot van, three police cars and questioned me. They said theyd had a report that a car had not been driving correctly.

Im like: So why does that make it my car? I got my ID out and they breathalysed me. Its just one of those things to me now.

Each time its: Is this car stolen? Where did you get it from? Can you prove that you bought this car.

Rose said such incidents had made him sceptical about the prospects of lasting change.

I just give up with hoping that things will change because thats some peoples mentality towards racism.

Rose said last year that he could not wait to leave football because he had had enough of the racism in the game.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday presided over Security Council meeting at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those in attendance include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

Others are the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ekwe Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as well as the National Security Adviser to the President, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Director General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, the Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, and the Directorate of Military Intelligence also attended the meeting.

Some cabinet Ministers in attendance of the meeting include the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Rauf Aregbesola (Interior); Bashir Magashi (Defence); Muhammad Dingyadi (Police Affairs) and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada.

Source: NAN News

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it is working hard to ensure that Nigerians have access to the coronavirus vaccines when available.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, gave the assurance during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

Ihekweazu said that the centre was working with the global community to ensure this access.

He informed that data on research and development of a vaccine against COVID-19by the global scientific community showed that results on a possible vaccine were expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The DG, while noting that a vaccine was the best weapon in taming the virus, however, stressed that equitable access was key.

He added that the health agency was working together with other colleagues around the continent, through the Africa CDC, to start advocating for some of the trials to be done with African institutions in the short term.

To do this, we have to build capacity, gather sufficient data and include African institutions in these efforts.

We have to start preparing Nigerian population for vaccine delivery when it becomes available.

Access is a very key issue when it comes to vaccines; that a vaccine is developed donot necessarily translate tobeingavailable to those that need it the most.

So, through theAccess to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with GAVI to ensure that vaccines are available to countries regardless of their ability to pay.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GAVI is an international organisation a global Vaccine Alliance, bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the worlds poorest countries.

Its a work in progress and we are all working with Africa CDC and GAVI to ensure that when a vaccine becomes available, Nigerias can have access to it, NCDC boss said.

He also said that it was important to involve the private sector and academia in vaccination manufacturing.

Ihekweazu hinted that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) would lead the distribution and planning.

The DG pointed out that campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the benefit of the vaccine was important.

This, according to him, is because a small part ofthe population resisted vaccines for different reasons.

So, the time to start the risk communication about the benefits of the vaccine is now.

As soon as a vaccine becomes available, its our collective responsibility to prepare Nigerians for the implementation of the vaccination campaign for whatever form they take.

So, its important that we start thinking about this, the DG said.

Ihekweazu stressed that a vaccine was the biggest weapon to get the virus under control and by far the most important medical tool known in history.

Vaccine development normally takes 10-20 years, but weve made incredible development in the last six months, he said.

Source: NAN News