President Muhammadu Buhari

Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has said that President Muhammadu Buharis administration places high priority in agriculture.

This is why its plan to diversify the economy through agriculture is stronger than ever, Nanono said in his keynote address during a webinar on Tuesday.

The event was jointly organised by National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, and FMARD.

The minister said that Buharis administration, in the wake of the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, was providing rural infrastructure, improved seeds, farm inputs, market access and produce to small holder farmers.

Speaking on the topic, CoVID-19, securing Nigerias food system through technology, he pointed out that technology, especially biotechnology, had a crucial role to play in boosting food security in the country.

Nanono stressed that in the face of the challenging pandemic which was threathening all aspects of modern life, especially the agricultural food chain, modern biotechnology was a critical tool in improving food supply.

He said with biotechnology, the shelf life of vegetables would help resuscitate the food sector.

The minister also spoke about his ministrys collaboration with NABDA and other agencies toward the production of the recent Nigerian invented RNA Swift extraction kit for COVID-19 diagnosis.

He said because of this, COVID-19 test is available locally, re-iterating that the FMARD would continue to support science and technology in order to enhance food production and avoid post-harvest losses.

The COVID-19 may probably open opportunity for our country to look inward in what we produce and what we eat.

The country has enormous potential to feed its people, Nanono said.

Prof. Alex Akpa, co-host of the virtual conference on mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on Nigeria food security system, said the webinar was to fashion out ways to address the pandemic with biotechnology.

He said biotechnology was a very powerful tool that had the potential of helping the country to address many situations including disease outbreaks, hunger, malnutrition, insects and pests infection among others.

The professor noted that the agricultural sector was one of most affected by the pandemic restrictions.

People cant gather closely to undertake farming activities because of social distance rules.

Our smallholder farmers carry out farming through communal participation.

As unplanned as Covid-19, so also other vulnerabilities that agriculture face in this country.

Climate change which has brought flooding and desert encroachment on us did not warn us ahead.

All this has shown that as a country we cannot underrate the contributions of science and technology, Akpa said.

He assured that with technology in agriculture, Nigeria would leapfrog production, have better quality produce and high yields, reduce drudgery, improve resistance to pest and diseases.

He hinted that NABDA had also been been able to unfold a programme capable of producing about five million yam seedlings using the aeroponics technology for farmers across Nigeria in this Covid-19 lockdown era.

Akpa disclosed that the agency had also grown more than 31 bio-resources development centres all around the country, charged with responsibilities of harnessing and developing the bio-resources.

He said this had gone a long way in impacting the immediate communities, impacting the lives of the people by providing food on their table, creating jobs and empowering women and the youth.

Earlier, Dr Rose Gidado, Natiional Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, had given a background and tone for the conference.

Gidado said COVID-19 was one of the worlds most significant pandemics leading to decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She said this had led to social disruptions and loss of millions of jobs, adding that as a result of this, small holder farmers were at the receiving end.

How do we actualise the sustainable agricultural ecosystem of our dreams?

Biotechnology is therefore the kinpin in tackling and overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic to food security, she said.

Dr Philip Ojo, Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), said the council was ready to work hard, through the use of its various innovations, to improve the seed sector amidst the pandemic.

Seed is among the essential services and must continue to thrive in order to ensure food security, he said.

He added that farmers must continue to have access to improved seeds.

Dr Yemi Akinbamijo of Forum for Agricultural Research In Africa (FARA), said all must contribute to keep Nigeria food secure in the challenging pandemic.

He said in this period, Nigeria would be the litmus test of the success or failure of the present situation.

He added that Nigerias biotechnology needed to be strengthened as an emerging leader in biotechnology to curb the pandemic and keep the nation food secured.

Dr Martin Fregene, Director, Agriculture and Agro Industry, African Development bank, also made his presentation alongside Prof. M. Ishyaku, of Institute for Agricultrural Research, Sumaru, Zaria.

Ishyaku said the COVID-19 would be around for a long time and ways must be created for it to work for Nigerians as the new normal.

The conference featured many high profile academics and agricultural biotechnologists, including Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim and Mr Anibe Achimugu, President, National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), among others.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Kingsley okoye

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday submitted the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate.

The submission was conveyed in letter personally signed by Buhari, addressed to President of Senate Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary on Tuesday.

Buhari in the letter said:It is with pleasure that I forward the 2021 to 2023 MTEF/FSP for the kind consideration and approval of this distinguish senate.

Let me cease this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for the cooperation and support of the distinguished members of the senate in our collective efforts to sustain the restoration of the January to December financial year.

In line with our commitment, we have worked very hard to archive an earlier submissions of the MTEF/FSP .

This is to allow the National Assembly to have time to perform its important constitutional duty of reviewing the frame work.

I herewith forward the 2021-2023 MTEL/FSP as the 2021 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the approved 2021-2023 MTEL/FSP.

I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for expeditious Legislative action on the submission.

In a separate letter, Buhari also sought the approval of Senate for confirmation of Dr Chukwemeke Chukwu as Resident Electoral Commissioner, representing Abia State, in the Independent National Electoral Commission.(INEC)

Senate also at plenary passsed for first reading five bills.

The bills are theCompulsory Free Universal Education Act Amendment Bill 2020 by Sen. Rochas Okorocha (APC Imo) ,Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 1988 Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020 by Sen. Oloriegbe Ibrahim(APC Kwara),National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneur Management by Sen. Odebiyi Akinremi (APC Ogun).

Others are Nigeria Deposite Insurance Corporation Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2020 by Sen. Apiafi Betty (Rivers PDP),Nigeria French Language Village Badagry Establishment Bill, 2020 by Sen. Adeola Solomon (APC Lagos) .

It also received the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on urgent need to revive the palm oil industry.

Others are National Rice Development Council Bill, 2020,Food Security Bill and Oil Palm industrial park.

The Senate also received the report of the Committee on Land Transport on the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020.among others committees reports .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President Ahmed Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

Mr Ibrahim El-Ladan on Tuesday assumed duty as acting Clerk of the Senate.

His assumptio of duty was announced by the President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan during plenary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Ladan replaced Mr Nelson Ayewoh who retired from service recently.

While announcing the appointment, Lawan said that El-Ladan was appointed as the acting clerk of the senate by the National Assembly Service Commission on Friday.

He welcomed the clerk and wished him a very successful and peaceful tenure.

NAN reports that other appointments by the commission included Clerk Mr Ojo Olatunde, and Bala Mohamed, Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly both in acting capacity.

While Patrick Giwa remained Clerk of the House of Representatives, pending his retirement in November and Yusuf Danbatta an acting Secretary to the National Assembly. (NAN)

Mr Ibrahim El-Ladan on Tuesday assumed duty as acting Clerk of the Senate.

His assumptio of duty was announced by the President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan during plenary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Ladan replaced Mr Nelson Ayewoh who retired from service recently.

While announcing the appointment, Lawan said that El-Ladan was appointed as the acting clerk of the senate by the National Assembly Service Commission on Friday.

He welcomed the clerk and wished him a very successful and peaceful tenure.

NAN reports that other appointments by the commission included Clerk Mr Ojo Olatunde, and Bala Mohamed, Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly both in acting capacity.

While Patrick Giwa remained Clerk of the House of Representatives, pending his retirement in November and Yusuf Danbatta an acting Secretary to the National Assembly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has reached 37, 225 with 562 new infections, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to the latest data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on its official twitter handle 562 new cases were recorded on Monday.

The NCDC also confirmed that a total of 15,333 patients had been treated and discharged.

The health agency said that in the last 24 hours, Nigeria had recorded 12 new COVID-19 fatalities, taking the countrys death toll to 801.

According to the NCDC, the new COVID-19 cases were recorded in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The FCT had the highest COVID-19 cases in Nigeria on Monday with 102.

The health agency said 100 fresh infections were reported in Nigerias COVID-19 epicentre, Lagos, while Plateau had 52 cases.

Among other states with new cases were Kwara 50, Abia 47, Kaduna 35, Benue 34, Oyo 26, Ebonyi 24, Kano 16, Niger 15, Anambra 14 and Gombe 12.

Others, it said, were Edo 11, Rivers 6, Nasarawa 5, Delta 5, Borno 3, Enugu 2, Bauchi 2 and Kebbi 1.

According to NCDC, Lagos has the highest COVID-19 cases in Nigeria with 13,538 and followed by the FCT with 3, 129 infections as of Monday.

Meanwhile, NCDC has said bringing down face mask to the chin could result in contamination.

Always use your masks properly or remove completely when necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it said.

The health agency also said that inspite of the ease of interstate travel restrictions, it was critical for Nigerians to adhere to preventive measures .

It urged Nigerians to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as protect the vulnerable and older population.

COVID-19 spreads easily even by those showing no symptoms.

If you are showing symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, self-isolate and call your state hotline to get tested.

Take responsibility to prevent the spread, protect your loved ones and those around you, it said.

Source: NAN News

CAPPA

By Deji Abdulwahab

Two trans-fat free groups say they have unveiled a series of Public Service Announcement (PSAs) for public health groups to address health dangers posed to human existence by trans-fat in the country.

The groups are Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)

The CAPPA Executive Director, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, said in a statement in Abuja, that PSAs would also assist in regulating trans-fat consumption in the country.

Oluwafemi described trans-fat as a food component that has been linked to more than half a million deaths per year.

According to him, research findings revealed that sustained high trans-fat in the body, leads to increased bad cholesterol, lowered good cholesterol, coronary heart disease, dementia, Alzheimers disease and other cognitive diseases.

Oluwafemi added thataccording to the latest available data,trans-fat consumption also increased the risk of heart attack and death with an estimated 540,000 fatalities globally in 2010.

Of this number, 1,261 were recorded in Nigeria, he said.

Also, NHED Project Technical Adviser on Trans-fat Elimination, Dr Jerome Mafeni, urged NAFDAC and other relevant stakeholders to take action against trans-fat in the country.

Industrially produced trans-fatty acids are silent killers, which very few people know about, yet they are present in many of the foods we all love to eat.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made global trans-fat elimination a priority (World Health Organisation, 13th General Programme of Work, WHO/PRP/18.1 (2019)).

And has called on governments to enact mandatory measures to protect the public health from trans-fat consumption (World Health Organisation, REPLACE, Module 4: Legislate or regulate, WHO/NMH/NHD/19.14 (2019)).

The WHO considers a mandatory limit of 2g of trans-fat per 100g of total fat in all fats, oils, and foods to be a best-practice measure.

At least, 29 countries have taken steps to limit trans-fat in their food supplies, including South Africa, India, Brazil, UK, U.S, Canada, Turkey and Thailand.

There has been a consistent call from health experts and advocates for Nigeria to follow suit, Mafeni said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

PMS Pump

By Martins Abachol

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Waba, has called for the downward review of the curent price of petroleum products in Nigeria.

Waba made the call on Tuesday while responding to questions from newsmen in Jalingo, capital of Taraba.

He described the recent increment in pump price of petrol as a means to exploit Nigerians to enrich few oil marketers.

The labour leader added that with the increase,the Federal Government was aiding the oil marketers to enrich themselves at the detriment of the entire Nigerian population.

He stressed that the new pump price was not necessary as the price of crude oil in the international markets had not increased in the recent times which was one of the reasons given by the oil marketers.

Essentially, it is about the exploitation of Nigerians as the Federal Government seems to be protecting the oil marketers rather than defending the citizens.

He said that the government should not leave the control of this very important commodity to oil marketers because they said that the exchange rate had gone up.

He said that rather the government should regulate the prices of petroleum products so as to fulfil one of its electioneering to Nigerians.

And if you say it is because of oil price which has also not gone up in the international markets then this is double tragedy,he said.

The NLC President also called for good governance and urged all people in power to ensure good governance so as to address the inequality and poverty rate in the country.

We need good governance in Nigeria; that is why all of us need to come together to reject some of these obnoxious polices that are meant to exploit Nigerians.

We will continue to engage the government and very soon, we will roll out plans and actions that we will do to ensure that the right things are done, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wabba was in Jalingo to commiserate with the workers and the family of the Chairman of NLC in Taraba ,Mr Peter Gambo,who died recently .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Justice

An Abeokuta High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 35 year-old man Adekunle Olalere to life imprisonment for defiling a two-year-old girl.

Olalere, who resides at no 18, Bashorun Street off Unity Road Olowotedo in Mowe, Ogun State,was convicted on one- count of defilement.

Delivering judgment, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi held that the evidence presented before the court by the prosecution was tenable and found the convict guilty as charged.

Based on the evidence, I find and hold that the defendant, had sexual intercourse with the child and guilty as charged he said.

Akinyemi sentenced Olalere to life Imprisonment.

The prosecution counsel, Mrs Oluyemisi Aruleba, the Assistant Chief State Counsel, had told the court during trial that the convict committed the offence on March 22, 2017 at No 18, Bashorun Street off Unity Road, Olowotedo area in Mowe area of Ogun.

Aruleba, said the victims mother was a neighbour to the convict.

The prosecution said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 32 of the Child Right Laws of Ogun 2006.

Source: NAN News

Most economists think British government borrowing this year will be its largest since World War Two relative to the size of the economy.

Record UK public borrowing less than forecast, watchdog says

Borrowing in June, excluding state-owned banks, was 35.5 billion pounds, the government statistics office said.

That was five times more than a year earlier though below economists average forecast of 41.5 billion pounds in a Reuters poll, following a big downward revision for May.

April, May and June made up the three highest months of borrowing in Britains history, even though spending on job support was lower than first estimated, and tax revenues higher, the Office for National Statistics said.

Borrowing is still rising at an exceptional rate and we suspect that a slowdown in the recovery and further rise in unemployment later this year will prompt the government to announce additional fiscal spending at the next Budget, said Thomas Pugh, UK economist at Capital Economics.

Last week finance minister Rishi Sunak set out up to 30 billion pounds of new measures, partly to encourage businesses to take workers back when he ends a furlough scheme supporting more than 9 million jobs in October.

Public sector debt, excluding state-owned banks, stayed a fraction below the milestone of 100 per cent of gross domestic product it appeared to pass in May, after an upward revision to GDP, and now stands at 1.984 trillion pounds or 99.6 per cent of GDP.

This is still the highest debt burden since the 1960s, the statistics office said.

Over the medium-term, we must, and we will, put our public finances back on a sustainable footing, Sunak said on Tuesday.

Bond markets have been happy to finance this borrowing, however.

Last week Britain sold a three-year bond with a record-low negative yield meaning investors will receive back less than they lent and longer-term borrowing costs are also near a record low.

Britains government has announced extra spending and tax cuts worth around 192 billion pounds for this financial year, and last week its Office for Budget Responsibility estimated borrowing would hit 322 billion pounds or just over 16 per cent of GDP.

This figure is based on a scenario where the economy shrinks by 12.4 per cent over 2020, and the unemployment rate rises to its highest since 1984 at 11.9per cent by the end of this year. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution for the present crop of service chiefs to step aside for new ideas to come in the fight against insecurity so as not to jeopardise the security system in the country.

The resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) during plenary on The Rising Casualties among the Nigerian Army and other Security Agencies.

Other resolutions by the upper chamber was for the Federal Government to urgently provide modern equipment to enhance the operational capabilities of the armed forces.

The Senate also mandated its committees on Defence, Army, Air force, Navy, Interior, National Security and Nigeria Police to receive briefings on the state of affairs of the services.

Rising under orders 42 and 52, Ndume raised concerns over the various reports on the number of casualties among the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Just recently 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Damboa-Maiduguri road in Borno; 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.

The senate is disturbed that in Katsina again about 20 soldiers were also ambushed and killed why several others were wounded.

The number of civilian casualty is not known.

The senate appreciates the sacrifices of our armed forces in the fight against insurgency, banditry and protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and several other security assignments given to them.

The lawmaker further said that if the trend continued it would have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country.

Contributing, Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP-Plateau) said that the motion was very disturbing as it brought out the very unsavoury and gory details on disturbing developments from the front lines by soldiers fighting insurgency and banditry across states of the nation particularly in the north.

The reports of repeated loss of life of soldiers and desertions is the order of the day.

And the latest development that is novel and unprecedented is the resignation of over 200 soldiers.This shows the level of disaffection and disenchantment.

This calls for an urgent scrutiny by the Senate of the strategic, the tactical and operational details of operation by the armed forces.

Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi said that the senate would not keep quite to the importance of the issue.

And whenever challenges of the nature that have occurred as narrated by Sen. Ali Ndume, we should come out very clearly to show our disgust and at the same time commend those operating as security forces who lay their lives so that we can survive to be free.

We all know that this Senate has done on so many occasions brought this issue of security of lives and property in this country on the floor of this Senate at various interactions that we have arranged with security forces and security institutions.

And at every point when any amount of engagement is done between the leadership of the national assembly and particularly the leadership of this Senate with the President of the Federal Republic.

We have gone ahead over the years to establish so many committees whose reports we have endorsed in this chamber and submitted to the Executive for action.

Im quite aware over the years a lot of these reports have been there and they have been lying, and sometimes unimplemented and this has been the bane of a lot of the work that had been done in the security sector.

The issue that now faces us is that the readiness of our armed forces to really confront these challenges is now under a lot of pressure and this pressure is reflected in the amount and number of soldiers we are losing due to ambush by terrorists and bandits.

This particular issue needs to be tackled. It means our security forces will have to reorganise their deployment, they have to employ new tactics in this fight, Abdullahi said.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that The spirit of this motion is that our armed forces are trying very hard.

Just like the President said the good is still not enough but we need to continue to encourage them, we need to continue to provide for them.

They lay their lives on behalf of all of us and of course, it is very sad that some of them are deserting; are alleged to have deserted the war front. We need to get to the bottom of this, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Rabiu Sani

Kano State has recorded 238 COVID-19 active cases sequel to the confirmation of 16 new infections, the state Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

The ministry, via its official Twitter handle @KNSMOH, also said that the state had tested 22,694 samples for COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state recorded decline in COVID-19 infection in the past two weeks from over 1,000 to less than 200.

The ministry said that the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 238 following confirmation of 16 out of 619 samples tested on Monday.

Sixteen new infections were recorded out of the 619 results received from the laboratories. There is zero discharge as at Monday, July 20.

A total of 22,694 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Kano State, it said.

It added that the state had so far recorded 1,416 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, out of which 238 were active cases, 1,125 discharged and 53 dead.

The ministry urged the state residents to observe personal hygiene, use face masks, wash their hands and observe social distancing to curb the spread of the pandemic.

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

NAN reports that the state government on July 2 announced total lifting of lockdown of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

African Union

The African Union (AU) is yet to agree on a consensus candidate for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General position.

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) on Tuesday in Bern, the AU said: as at present there is no African- Union endorsed candidate for this post.

It said that the AU Commission under the guidance of its ministerial committee had made concerted efforts towards the endorsement of a single candidate for the WTO Director-General post.

However, due to circumstances beyond its control, the committee couldnt meet on three scheduled dates thats way its yet to decide on a consensus candidate.

The statement, therefore has contradicted claims by the Egypt candidateMr Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh who at a news conference in Geneva said he had been endorsed by the Union.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva has also reacted to Mamdouhs claims.

In a letter to the WTO, the Mission said that the process of deciding and endorsing a single candidate for the Director General post was still ongoing.

This has put to rest claims that the a particular candidate has been endorsed by the AU , therefore rendering other African candidates illegitimate

Nigerias former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, alongside Mrs Amina Mohamed of Kenya and Egypts Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh are the three candidate vying for the WTO top job from Africa.

Other candidates are from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Moldova and Mexico.

The candidates had made individual presentations to the WTO Council which held from July 15th to 17th at the kickoff of the selection process.

The second phase of the selection process, in which candidates would make themselves known to members will end on Sept. 7, Similarly, the third phase which is the consultation process would commence same day.

At the forthcoming consultation, Chairman of the General Council alongside Chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body would consult with all the WTO members to determine which candidate is best placed to attract a consensus support

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will consult with key leaders of ECOWAS countries in order to find a solution to the crisis rocking Republic of Mali.

Mr Femi Adesina, the presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said Buhari made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving reports from ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former President was at State House, Abuja, in company of President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward, Buhari said.

He thanked Jonathan for his comprehensive brief on the situation in Mali, which you had been abreast with since when you were the sitting Nigerian President.

The former President had updated the president on his activities as Special Envoy to restore amity to Mali, rocked by protests against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Keita has so far spent two out of the five years second term in office.

A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign, before peace can return to the country.

Crisis had erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.

Riots on July 10 had led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.

Jonathan, however, said: ECOWAS cant preside over the removal of an elected President. Not even the African Union (AU), or the United Nations (UN) can do it.

Leaders must be elected and leave under constitutional processes, otherwise we would have Banana republics all over the place.

The former president thanked Buhari for providing a Presidential jet for the mission, thus making our trips convenient and comfortable,.

He equally expressed appreciation for the Itakpe-Warri railway complex named after him last weekend.

It was a big present for me. Thank you very much, he said.

Source: NAN News

According to officials at Bihar disaster management department, 16 people lost their lives in the recent lightning strikes in 10 districts of the state.

Over the past two weeks, more than 150 people were killed in similar strikes in the state, with 350,387 people having been affected by the floods.

Disaster management officials said the victims were either working on their fields or had taken shelter under trees at the time of lightning.

The floods have inundated Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and East Champaran.

Authorities have set up relief camps in Supaul and Gopalganj for the people and reports said people in other affected districts have taken shelter with their friends and relatives.

Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, on Monday, directed disaster management department to remain fully prepared in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas of neighbouring Nepal and Gandak River.

The minister instructed disaster management department officials and the district magistrates concerned to ensure the evacuation of people living in low lying areas of Gandak river discharge to higher and safer places.

Officials said water in Ganga, Baghmati, Kamlabalan and Mahananda rivers was flowing above the danger level at several places.

Floods have also ravaged northeastern state of Assam where 24 districts are inundated. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Poultry farm

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has said that the university, with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is embarking on a poultry project worth N600 million.

Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, the Vice Chancellor of the University, made this disclosure on Tuesday while inaugurating the Mycroplasma Diagnostic and Research Laboratory of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the university.

The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Mikhail Buhari, noted that the CBN came up with the idea following the ban on importation of poultry products into the country.

Abdulkareem said that the CBN invited selected universities to Abuja for presentation and the University of Ilorin was among the selected universities and the first to submit its report which the CBN said would be used as benchmark for others.

He said that the CBN representative recently visited the University of Ilorin at Ganmo Amoyo, and noted that the location was an ideal place to bring together all aspects of universitys agro-business.

Abdulkareem said there would be strong collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine when the place was fully developed, as there was no way one could talk of agro-business without talking about veterinary medicine.

In his response, Dr Isaac Olorunshola of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, lauded the Vice-Chancellor for his active participation in making the project a success.

Olorunshola noted that the laboratory was put in place in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

He said that the purpose of the laboratory was for research, training of students and for collaborative work within and outside the faculty.

Olorunshola said it was especially for colleagues in Medicine to investigate Atypical Pneumonia (non conventional Pneumonia) in children under the age of five years.

He added that mycroplasma organism cut across human and animal growth which needed to be studied.

Olorunshola explained that mycroplasma organism caused Atypical Pneumonia in children and could cause neonatal death and also infertility in women and men of reproductive stage.

He said that the organism could cause chronic respiratory diseases that could lead to mortality of 50 to 60 per cent in an animal like chicken.

Source: NAN News

FIDELITY

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Fidelity Bank Plc has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the general public of the appointment of Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, as the incoming Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

The bank made the announcement on Monday in a notice on the NSE website, signed by Ezinwa Unuigboje, its Company Secretary.

The notice said the appointment followed the impending retirement of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, from the Board of Directors of the bank, with effect from Dec. 31, 2020, upon completion of his contract tenure.

In compliance with the succession policy of the bank, the board has approved the appointment of Onyeali-Ikpe, the current Executive Director, Lagos and South West Directorate as the MD/CEO designate of the bank, to assume office with effect from Jan. 1, 2021.

The approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been obtained for the appointment, said the statement.

It said the board had also approved the appointment of Mr Kevin Ugwuoke, the current Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, as Executive Director, Chief Risk Officer, subject to the approval of the CBN.

The statement said that Okonkwo was appointed to the Board of the bank in April 2012 as an Executive Director and was subsequently appointed the MD/CEO on Jan.1, 2014.

It said that Okonkwo implemented a digital-led strategy which led to significant growth across key performance metrics and increased market share, with the bank currently ranked sixth amongst Nigerian banks on most performance indices.

According to the statement, the bank under his leadership successfully accessed the local and international markets through the issuance of N30 billion Corporate Bonds in 2015 and million Eurobonds in 2017.

The board seizes this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to Okonkwo for his significant contributions to the growth and development of the Bank during his tenure of the board, the statement added.

It said Onyeali-Ikpe was appointed to the Board of Fidelity Bank in 2015 as an Executive Director and currently oversees the Lagos and Southwest Directorate.

It stated that she led the transformation of the directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth across key performance metrics.

The bank said that Onyeali-Ikpe had been an integral part of the current management team responsible for the remarkable increase in the banks performance in the last five years.

It stated that the area under her direct responsibility, in the period, contributed over 28 per cent of the banks profit before tax, deposits and loans.

Onyeali-Ikpe has over 30 years of experience across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking

She has been involved in the structuring of complex transactions in various sectors including oil

Police IG Mohammed Adamu

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu has said that a total of 41,863 police personnel had been promoted in the last 19 months.

Adamu disclosed this on Monday during the decoration of10 newly promoted Senior Officers in Abuja.

Since the inception of my administration as the I-G in January, 2019, a total of 41,863officers and men of the Force across different ranks had been promoted to their next ranks, he said.

He said that the promotion exercises were strategic management approach directed at motivating the workforce in addressing current and emerging internal security threats.

Adamu said that the process had been guided by the principles of seniority, merit as well as reflective of records of discipline and invaluable experience.

The I-G said the decoration followed the recent promotion of 6,601 personnel of the force by the Police Service Commission.

He said one DIG, four AIG, three Commissioners, three Deputy Commissioners, eight Chief Superintendents, 607 Superintendents, 206 Deputy Superintendents and 5,769 ASP were promoted.

Adamu, who congratulated the newly decorated officers, urged them to deploy their intellect and demonstrate sound professional judgement in all their decisions at all times.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decoration ceremony was attended by Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The SGF congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to see the promotion as a call for improved services to the nation.

Mustapha pledged the Federal Governments commitment to the ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police Force by the I-G.

Source: NAN News

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

By Mustapha Sumaila

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has retained Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 12.5 per cent and held all other policy parameters constant.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele disclosed this while reading the communique after the MPC meeting in Abuja on Monday.

Emefiele explained that the committee retained the asymmetric corridor of 200/-500 basis points around the MPR.

He said the MPC also retained the Cash Reserves Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per cent as well as Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.

As a result, the Committee noted that the earlier downward adjustment of the MPR by 100 basis points to 12.5 per cent to signal the loosening monetary policy stance is yielding positive impact as credit growth increased significantly in the economy.

The Committee also noted the positive impact of the various fiscal and monetary interventions on households, SMEs and manufacturing sectors.

The MPC also noted that increasing MPR at this stage will thus be counter-intuitive and will result in upward pressure on market rates and cost of production, he said.

He disclosed that the committee decided by a vote of eight members to hold and two members voted to reduce MPR while all members voted to retain all other policy parameters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in May, MPC reviewed downwards Monetary Policy Rates from 13.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Folasade YemiEsan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF)

The Federal Government says it has not approved extension of service for any officer in the public service due for retirement in 2020.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Mrs Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, Director, Information, in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), quoted the Head of Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan as saying no such circular emanated from her office.

Yemi-Esan said that her office had never issued any circular on the subject matter.

According to her, this information became necessary in view of a fake circular purported to have emanated from the office of the HOCSF.

Members of the public are to note that the content of the circular is fake, incorrect and did not originate from the Office of the HOCSF.

The letter head used for the circular roll-over service for those due to retire within the COVID-19 era in 2020, and dated July 13, 2020 is not the letter- head of the HOCSF.

The outline of the entire circular, from the distribution list to arrangement of the sections, including the grammar is completely out of sync with the way and manner circulars are issued in the office, Yemi-Esan said.

She said the director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, Career Management, Office of the HOCSF had never issued or signed any such letter to that effect.

YemiEsan, therefore, implored public servants and the public to always visit the Office website: www.ohcsf.gov.ng regularly to cross check circulars and other information emanating from the office for authenticity.

The information on the website include circulars issued by the office, reports on events and upcoming events, among others

Members of the public, especially those in the health agencies are therefore called upon to note and disregard the content of the circular in order not to fall victims of its perpetrators, it said.
M

Source: NAN News

CBN

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele disclosed this during the inauguration of the Body of Experts (BoE) for Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that CBN had introduced a N100 billion credit support intervention for companies in the Health and Pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Emefiele explained that some of the firms that had been able to obtain funding included hospitals, research centres and pharmaceutical industries.

He said that the primary challenges in Nigerias healthcare sector were inadequate funding, poor medical infrastructure and supplies, and inequitable distribution of health workers.

According to him, these problems contributed to the rise in medical tourism.

He said the programme was CBNs proactive measures to cushion the impact of COVID -19 on the economy and to support the growth of the healthcare sector.

The CBN governor noted that the intervention fund would help improve healthcare delivery capacity, while supporting improved production of health related products and services.

Emefiele said to address the health challenges, the apex bank had also initiated the Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) to develop vaccines and drugs for infectious diseases.

NAN reports that Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was appointed to head the body of experts which comprised academics and health experts.

Source: NAN News

Mr Babatunde Fashola Minister of Works

Zainab Ahmed.

She said one of the key pillars of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan was the development of critical infrastructure projects with a view to removing the impediments to growth and development in the economy.

As a result, Mr President has priotised capital expenditure on the development of roads, rails, power and agriculture projects.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has raised the sum of N162.557 billion from investors in June 2020. This is strictly dedicated to the financing of road projects in the Revised 2020 Appropriation Act.

It also means that with the release of N162.557 billion to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the amount appropriated for Road Projects in 2020 Budget has been fully released.

She said with the deployment of sukuk funds coupled with other capital releases and various interventions by government, the economy would soon be on the path to economic development.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, in his presentation, said the people who put money in the sukuk were fund managers and the owners of the funds, adding that it was a matter of trust which they had for the administration that made them release their hard earned money.

I assure you that we value that trust from the evidence of what has happened in sukuk one, and sukuk two, your trust is not misplaced and it will not be misplaced in the 44 road projects that will benefit from this sukuk.

For the benefit of the members of the public, the 44 roads that will benefit from this sukuk has every geo-political zone taken care of.

For the North-Central eight roads, North-East eight roads, North-West seven roads, South-East five roads, South-South 10 roads, and South-West six roads, Fashola said.

According to Mrs Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), this is the third sukuk issued by the office on behalf of the Federal Government in June 2020.

The first sovereign sukuk for N100bn was issued in September 2017 and was followed by another in December 2018, also for N100bn.

With the issuance of the third sukuk the federal government has raised a total of N362, 577,000,000bn all of which are for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of road projects across the six geo-polical zones of Nigeria.

Therefore, the DMO plans to continue to use sukuk and Green Bonds to support the development of infrastructure and other capital products depending on how much is allocated to projects in the annual budgets.

Mr Adamu Aliero, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, said road construction was synonimous to economic development, adding that it also enhances security and generate a lot of economic activities in the country.

Aliero said the National Assembly was willing to collaborate with ministry and stakeholders in the building of infrastructure.

On his part, the Deputy-Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mr Chris Emeka Azubogu, while commending the government for using the sukuk fund to accomplish the construction and rehabilitation of roads, urged for a better means of funding.

Speaking on behalf of contractors, Mr Nabeel Esawi, Managing Director, RCC, commended the government for releasing the funds and assured that all roads under the contracts would be completed in good time.

P

Source: NAN News