Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation

By Abujah Racheal

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika says four airports are ready for inspection and possible re-opening if they meet the required COVID-19 protocols.

Sirika, at the Daily Briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, on Thursday in Abuja, said the airports at Calabar, Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi were all ready for inspection on Friday, July 17, 2020.

The minister also stated that on July 20 other airports would be accessed as the need arises and also, based on their preparedness.

Speaking on the pressure to open airports, the aviation minister said that the ministry of aviation, as the regulatory body, reserves the right to withdraw or reopen the operations at any airport, depending on the level of required protocols met.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that airports at Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Maiduguri, Lagos and Abuja had been reopened for flight operations.

He, however, decried the level of violation of the COVID-19 protocols at the airports by some people.

According to him, the ministry is presently investigating about three cases at the Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja airports and will penalise any one found wanting.

Also, the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha frowned at the violation of COVID-19 protocols at the airports by some VIPs and warned against such actions.

The chairman said: You will all recall that the aviation sector reopened for domestic operations on July 8, 2020.

Dry runs were carried out and guidelines meant to protect all travellers were issued.

You also recall that we identified and pleaded even before now, with certain classes of persons, particularly VIPs, to desist from flouting such guidelines.

Unfortunately, we have received reports about violations by some dignitaries who failed to follow the protocols at our airports.

We believe leaders must lead by example. In truth, as leaders and followers, we must change our behavior if we must overcome the pandemic.

This virus does not discriminate against status, age, tribe, creed or color. All we require is diligent compliance and vigilance, Boss warned.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

By Victor Adeoti

Osun has recorded fresh 17 coronavirus cases, barely 24 hours after 37 cases were recorded.

Dr Rafiu Isamotu, the States Commissioner For Health, in a statement in Osogbo on Thursday, said the fresh cases were contacts of previous confirmed cases in the state.

Isamotu also said that seven patients were discharged from the states treatment and isolation centre.

The Commissioner said with the new cases, the number of confirmed cases in the state had risen to 335 with 182 active cases.

Isamotu said the state had successfully treated and discharged 145 patients, while eight deaths had been recorded.

He appealed to citizens of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the state against the spread of the virus.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Borno Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim with Borno State Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, signing agreement by transporters in the state to comply with preventive guidelines on Covid-19 in their operations.

By Yakubu Uba

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Brono State Command, and transport unions in the state on Thursday signed an agreement on enforcement of COVID-19 protocols on roads within the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was the highlight of a meeting convened by Borno Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim, attended by officials of major transport unions in the state.

In his remarks, the Borno Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim urged stakeholders to support governments effort in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that passengers would be enlightened to report any transporter who failed to comply with the guidelines to FRSC command nearest to them.

Ibrahim said that the FRSC would also sustain its monitoring of motor parks to ensure compliance.

Speaking on behalf of the transporters, Secretary of NURTW in the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, assured that members of the unions would comply with the guidelines.

The unions at the meeting were National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Borno Express Corporation, among other stakeholders.

The agreement included regular sanitation exercise at all parks/terminals and provision of hand washing buckets with water for usage by passengers before and after disembarking from vehicles.

They further agreed to place notices on conducts of passengers to guide the public and other park users on all safety protocols on COVID-19.

They also agreed that thermometers be provided for checking of temperature of all persons entering motor parks, just as the use of face masks by such persons would be enforced.

They further agreed that all interstate and intercity travels should be initiated from registered or organised motor parks/terminals to ensure effective passenger screening, while passengers should maintain reasonable physical distancing both in the park and inside vehicles.

The agreement also included the non-usage of air condition in vehicles, and that only windows be opened for proper ventilation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Boss Mustapha SGF

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task force (PTF), on COVID-19 has revealed that 63 per cent of hand sanitiser sold in Abuja, have no NAFDAC registration.

The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Boss Mustapha, stated this while Speaking at the daily briefing of the PTF COVID-19, in Abuja,

Mustapha said As part of the non-pharmaceutical measures, we recommended in line with global practice, the use of hand sanitiser. Ordinarily, that ought to stimulate local production because of increased demand.

We regret to inform you that a survey conducted by the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), to check the influx of substandard goods into the market, revealed that 63 per cent of alcohol-based sanitiser in Abuja do not have NAFDAC registration numbers.

There could also be similar situations around the country. The Hon. Minister of Health has consequently issued an advisory to the general public to procure their sanitiser and other pharmaceutical products from credible sources, he said.

Mustapha equally appealed to the patriotic spirit of Nigerians and request that they should desist from manufacturing sub-standard goods, which could further endanger other unsuspecting Nigerians who innocently purchase them.

Now is the time to turn adversity into victory by growing our entrepreneurial skills and industrial base.

Let us find growth at the end of the pandemic. Today, we have been compelled to add the fight against fake products to our national response. he said.

The SGF also frowned at violation of COVID-19 protocol at the airports by some VIPs and warned against such actions.

The chairman said You will all recall that the Aviation sector reopened for domestic operations on 8th July, 2020. Dry runs were carried out and guidelines meant to protect all travelers were issued.

You also recall that we identified and pleaded even before now, with certain classes of persons, particularly VIPs, to desist from flouting such guidelines.

Unfortunately, we have received reports about violations by some dignitaries who failed to follow the protocols at our airports.

We believe leaders must lead by example. In truth, as leaders and followers, we must change our behavior if we must overcome the pandemic.

This virus does not discriminate by status, age, tribe, creed or colour. All we require is diligent compliance and vigilance. the chairman added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile,

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The Senate Chief Whip, Dr Orji Kalu, has described the death of Nigerias first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, as a national loss.

A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the office of the Senate Chief Whip quoted Kalu as saying that the late pilot died in her prime while serving the country.

Kalu, therefore, commiserated with the family of the deceased, the Nigerian Airforce, the womenfolk and Nigerians at large over the loss.

He said: the demise of flying officer, Tolulope Arotile, Nigerias first female combat helicopter pilot, is a huge loss to Nigeria.

The late pilot was a dedicated Nigerian, who will be remembered for her professional skills and contributions to the Nigerian Airforce.

It is painful that she died in her prime.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Arotile family and the Nigerian Airforce.

The former governor prayed God to grant the late pilot eternal rest.

According to the Nigerian Airforce (NAF), the young flying officer died from head injury sustained from a road accident which occurred at its base in Kaduna.

The 23-year-old flying officer died on July 14, 2020.

Commissioned into the Nigerian Airforce in September 2017 as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, Arotile was the first female combat helicopter pilot in the service. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

According to the centre, till date, 34,259 cases have been confirmed, 13,999 cases discharged, while 760 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

ederal, State, Private, and GeneXpert laboratories, it announced.

According to the agency, COVID-19 spreads mainly among people, who are in close contact with one another less than six feet.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

By Martha Agas

The Commisioner for Health in Plateau, Dr Nimkong Lar, said 57 health workers were infected with COVID-19 in the course of their duties in health centres in the state.

Lar stated this at a press briefing after an executive council meeting on Wednesday in Jos.

He said that they were workers managing COVID-19 patients in primary health centres, hospitals and private clinics across the state.

According to him, the state has a total of 571 confirmed cases with a record of 28 case on Tuesday, which is the highest recorded so far.

We have conducted 9,039 test, we have 7,324 results and 1,715 pending while 571 are confirmed cases.

132 are on admission in four treatment centres, 260 discharged and we have recorded 16 deaths, the commissioner said.

He noted that the state was organising community testing in the 17 Local Government Areas which was voluntary, adding that it had scheduled conducting test for government and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Also speaking, the Commisioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang said that government would take disciplinary action against civil servants who refused to submit themselves for COVID-19 test.

Manjang said that the exercise which was supposed to be voluntary has been made compulsory for them.

He said that refusal to comply was a sign of insubordination which the Head of Service of the state have been mandated to handle appropriately .

He urged the public not to stigmatise people submitting themselves for the test, saying it was not a death sentence as many patients had recovered from the disease.

Manjang further said that the executive meeting reviewed the 2020 budget downward, following the current pandemic and that the federal allocation and the internal generated revenue had been affected.

The budget was formerly N177.3 billion but scaled down to N99,907 billion to make it realistic, he said.

Also, Commisioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Sylvester Wallangko, explained that the revised budget was in compliance with the directive to ensure that a minimum of 10 per cent budget expenditure was COVID-19 related.

We have earmarked 11.29 per cent of our expenditure spread between the recurrent and capital expenditure on COVID-19 related issues which is N11.25 billion, Wallangko said.

Source: NAN News

Green House Emission

A group of the worlds top oil companies including Saudi Aramco, Chinas CNPC and Exxon Mobil have, for the first time, set targets to cut their combined greenhouse gas emissions as a proportion of production, as pressure on the sectors climate stance grows.

However, the target set by the 12 members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is eclipsed by more ambitious plans set individually by the consortiums European members, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total.

The OGCI members agreed to reduce the average carbon intensity of their aggregated upstream oil and gas operations to between 20 kg and 21 kg of CO2 equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (CO2e/boe) by 2025, from a collective baseline of 23 kg CO2e/boe in 2017, the OGCI said in a statement.

Intensity targets mean absolute emissions can rise with increasing production.

The OGCI includes BP, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, Exxon, Occidental Petroleum, Petrobras, Repsol, Saudi Aramco, Shell and Total, which together account for over 30 per cent of the worlds oil and gas production.

It is a significant milestone, it is not the end of the work, it is a near term target and well keep calibrating as we go forward, OGCI Chairman and former BP CEO, Bob Dudley, told Reuters.

Members agreed on a common methodology to calculate carbon intensity and the targets could be extended to other sectors such as liquefied natural gas and refining in the future, Dudley added.

The announcement marks an important change for Exxon, the largest U.S. oil company, which has resisted investor pressure to improve the disclosure of its impact on the environment.

It did not report its carbon emissions in 2019.

Exxon supports the OGCI targets to decrease the carbon intensity of energy production and is part of the industrys efforts to take practical, meaningful steps to reduce emissions, a spokesman said.

The targets set by different companies can vary widely in scope and definition, making it difficult to compare.

However, some members of the OGCI already exceed or plan to overshoot the joint target.

For example, Saudi Aramco, the worlds top oil exporter, had an upstream carbon intensity of 10.1kg CO2e/boe in 2019, according to its annual report.

Norways Equinor aims to reduce its CO2 intensity below 8kg/boe by 2025.

It said the current global industry average is 18 kg CO2e/boe.

OGCI said the groups collective carbon intensity would be reported annually, with data reviewed by EY, as an independent third party.

The target includes reductions in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, which the group had previously committed to cut. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Roberto Azevedo, WTO Director-General,

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has stressed the need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to elect a credible candidate based on merit for the position of Director-General.

Okonjo-Iweala who is among the eight candidates vying for the position, stated this on Wednesday in Geneva while answering questions from newsmen at a press conference held shortly after her presentation to the WTO General Council.

Choosing a Director-General for WTO should be on merit. The best person should be chosen to lead an institution thats having challenges.

If it happens to be a woman, great. If it happens to be an African its also great. It should be based on merit, she said while extolling the qualities which makes her well suited for the job.

The WTO needs leadership and Im someone with a strong managerial capability with the ability to forge consensus and reforms.

These bundles of qualities in addition to my leadership quality is what Im bringing to the WTO, she added.

Okonjo-Iweala also spoke on various issues ranging from trade implication of COVID-19, challenges to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMSE) as well as e-commerce.

According to her, e-commerce and the digital economy are vital forms of trade, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, she said, there was a need to address the challenge of the digital divide in developing and least-developed nations where infrastructure remained a major impediment to such form of trade.

Similarly, she emphasized the need to strengthen MSMSE a vital part of the global economy which was adversely affected by the pandemic.

In the same vein, the former finance minister, also said that in tackling COVID-19, if elected as director-general, she would ensure that vaccines are accessible to poorer countries.

When vaccines become available, there will be allocation criteria that will ensure that its accessible to all, she said while noting that she will bring her experience as Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance board to bear.

Other issues addressed by Okonjo-Iweala include fostering relations among member countries to rebuild trust in restoring consensus decision making- in other to strengthen the WTO.

Alongside Okonjo-Iweala are candidates from Mexico, Egypt, Moldova, Republic of Korea, Kenya, UK and Saudi Arabia vying for the WTO Director-General position.

Source: NAN News

USAID

By Lizzy Okoji

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission has launched 19.2 million dollars Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award Region 4 (ICHSSAA 4) to support 76,000 HIV Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC).

USAID made this known in a statement by the Public Affairs Department of U.S Embassy in Abuja.

According to the agency, the new activity is kick-starting in Bauchi and Adamawa States.

It said that the USAIDs Country Director, Stephen Haykin, joined Bauchi State Commissioner for Womens Affairs and Child Development, Hajara Jibrin, at the virtual launch of the new activity.

The new activity was designed to protect about 76,000 vulnerable children and their households, made vulnerable or orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bauchi and Adamawa states.

It said the .2 million ICHSSAA 4 activity was among four new USAID OVC programmes that was targeting about 450,000 people in six states.

It said that the Thevitys integrated approach aimed to protect young people from the stigma of association with HIV and eliminate the perception of people living with HIV as anything less than fully productive community members.

It added that this USAID assistance would help Nigeria achieve a healthier, more resilient and educated population through support to children and their families made vulnerable to HIV.

It quoted Haykin as saying at the virtual launch, we hope its successful practices and procedures can be duplicated and scaled up by state and local governments both in Bauchi and Adamawa.

Over the next five years, ProHealth International, will implement ICHSSA 4 in concert with other indigenous non-governmental organisations in Adamawa and Bauchi states.

To provide much needed HIV prevention, treatment, protection, and care and Support services to over 76,000 vulnerable children and their households.

Working with indigenous community-based organisations, ICHSSA 4 will respond to specific needs of children living with HIV and their families, survivors of sexual violence, and children and adolescents at high risk of HIV.

The activity will focus on strengthening families, communities, government systems, and civic institutions that care for HIV infected, affected, and at risk OVC and adolescents, and help teens stay healthy, stay in school, and lead safe and stable lives.

The five-year ICHSSA 4 will build on the successes of other past and present USAID investments in partnership with local Nigerian organisations and state governments.

To continue support OVCs, including the launches of the COVID-19 Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in nine states and will help further solidify USAIDs relationship with state counterparts, he said.

The Bauchi State First lady, Dr Aisha Bala Muhammad, while speaking at the launch, said the project would ensure provision of quality services for orphans and vulnerable children in a sustainable manner.

Working with the existing mechanisms and structures, we can better the living conditions of the OVCS in Bauchi state, she said.

USAID revealed that from July 2014 to December 2019, it had funded three similar OVC activities in six states that helped mitigate the impact of HlV and Tuberculosis among over 600,000 OVCs and their families.

It noted that the activities had helped improve health systems at the state and local levels while boosting capacity of local partner organisations.

It also disclosed that other states to be included in the ICHSAA4 intervention for the next five years included Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Kano. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

OPEC

Oil prices eased on Thursday after OPEC and allies, such as Russia, agreed to taper record supply curbs from August, though the drop was cushioned by hopes for a swift U.S. demand pick-up after a big drawdown from the countrys crude stocks.

Brent crude fell 27 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to .52 a barrel by 0439 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 32 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to .88 a barrel.

They rose two per cent the previous day, helped by the U.S. crude inventories drop.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC , agreed on Wednesday to scale back oil production cuts from August as the global economy slowly recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

OPEC has been cutting output since May by 9.7 million barrels per day, or 10 per cent of global supply, but from August, cuts will officially taper to 7.7 million bpd until December.

Some investors took profits after the OPEC decision, but a big draw in U.S. crude provided some support, Kazuhiko Saito, Chief Analyst at Fujitomi Co said.

Data from the Energy Information Administration showed U.S. crude inventories fell 7.5 million barrels last week, shrinking much more than the 2.1 million-barrel drop expected by analysts in a Reuters poll.

Despite the official OPEC accord, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said production cuts in August and September would end up amounting to about 8.3 million bpd, more than the headline number.

Thats because countries in the grouping which over-produced earlier this year would compensate by making extra August-September cuts, the minister said.

Oil prices are expected to remain boxed in as more supply from OPEC countries will likely be absorbed by recovering demand, said Tsutomu Kosuge, president of the commodity research firm, Marketedge Co.

I expect Brent will stick to the tight range between .50 and .50 for the next month or so, he said, adding rising tensions between China and the U.S. may weigh on market sentiment.

U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, took fresh aim at China on Wednesday, saying the U.S. would impose visa restrictions on Chinese firms like Huawei Technologies that he accused of facilitating human-rights violations.

Rystad Energy also predicted that oil prices will stay where they are for the rest of 2020 as any uptick will hurt already struggling refining margins and negatively impact the most-needed recovery in refinery runs, it said in a note.

Elsewhere, International Energy Agency Executive Director, Fatih Birol, said on Wednesday that global oil markets are slowly rebalancing after the shocks seen during the coronavirus lockdown, with prices expected at about /barrel in the coming months. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

7 killed in reconnaissance plane crash in eastern Turkey

Seven security personnel were killed after a reconnaissance plane crashed in Turkeys eastern Van Province, the state-run Anadolu agency reported on Thursday, quoting Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu.

Soylu, who has arrived at the accident site, told reporters that the plane crashed on Mount Artos at an altitude of about 2,200 meters on late Wednesday and two pilots were among the dead.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

The province is located between Lake Van and the Iranian border.

In early February, two consecutive avalanches in the provinces mountainous Bahcesaray area killed at least 41 people.

Source: NAN News

The Defence Headquarters says the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a Boko Haram camp in Borno, killing several terrorists in a massive air strikes on July 15.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Thursday, said the air raid took place at Ngwuri Gana along the Gulumba Gana-Kumshe axis of the state.

Enenche said the air operation was in continuation of the sustained offensive against terrorists elements in the North-East.

He said the operation was carried out on the heels of intelligence reports indicating that the settlement was one of the locations from where the terrorists launch attacks against own troops positions and villages around the area.

According to him, aerial surveillance missions also confirmed the heavy presence of a large number of terrorists in the settlement, some of whom were seen slinging their rifles.

The Air Task Force therefore, launched coordinated attacks on the various targets within the settlement, employing an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships.

The attack aircraft took turns in engaging the designated locations within the settlement, scoring devastating hits which led to the destruction of several structures, including the communication centres, as well as the neutralisation of several terrorists.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the Air Task Force for its dedication, dexterity and professionalism.

The Defence Headquarters equally urges it to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country, he said.

Source: NAN News

OPEC Sec-Gen, Muhammad barkindo

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies called OPEC has requested the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to closely monitor the implementation of the required compensation of oil production cut by the underperforming participating countries.

OPEC disclosed this at the end of its 20virtual meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) under the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), in Vienna.

A statement by the committee on its website also requested the OPEC secretariat to join in monitoring the performance and report to the JMMC.

The committee urged underperforming participating countries to submit their plan for implementation of the required compensation for June to the OPEC secretariat by the end of July 2020.

The body welcomed the participation of Angola, Gabon, South Sudan and Congo and noted that they had pledged their commitment to the DoC production adjustments and compensation plans.

It noted that conformity to the production cut deal by participating countries stood at 107 per in June and commended Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait for their additional voluntary contributions made in June.

The committee noted that removing the credit for over conformity resulted in a conformity level of 95 per cent in June, the highest since the inception of the DoC in January 2017.

It highlighted the importance of the DoC in supporting oil market stability and reiterated the historic decision taken by all participating countries in the DoC.

The committee reviewed and reaffirmed the commitment of all participating countries to achieve full conformity and make up for any shortfall under compensation plans, presented to it.

The body stated that achieving 100 per cent conformity from all participating countries was not only fair, but vital for the ongoing rebalancing efforts and to help deliver long term oil market stability.

The OPEC committee observed that there were encouraging signs of improvement as economies around the world opened up.

While there could be localised or partial lockdowns re-imposed in some places, the recovery signs were clear, both in physical and futures markets.

Moving to the next phase of the agreement, the extra supply resulting from the scheduled easing of the production adjustment would be consumed as demand recovers, it noted.

The committee said that the seasonality was more pronounced this year, due to the pandemic, noting that for many DoC participants, there would be an increase in demand for utilities, as well as changes in travel patterns.

This, it said, would boost domestic demand for gasoline and diesel and as a result the impact on DoC participating countries exports that would be limited.

The committee maintained that the compensation schedule that had been agreed by participating countries would mean that the effective level of adjustments would be deeper.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Chinese movie theatres in low-risk areas have been allowed to resume operation starting from July 20 following an improvement in the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the China Film Administration announced Thursday.

These movie theatres should reopen on the premise that proper prevention and control measures have been put in place, the administration said in a circular.

Attendance per show must not exceed 30 per cent, according to a guideline on the sectors work resumption issued by the Chinese Film Circulation and Projection Association on Thursday.

Cinemas are required to sell non-adjacent tickets in every other row, and moviegoers who are strangers to each other should keep a distance of at least one metre.

All moviegoers must make real-name reservations and purchase tickets online.

Those who do not wear masks or with a body temperature above 37.3 degrees Celsius will not be admitted into the theatres, the guideline read. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ag. MD of NAN, Alhaji Biola Lawal

By Ismail Abdulaziz
Alhaji Biola Lawal, the acting Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has congratulated Rev. Yakubu Pam over his appointment as the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

The felicitation message is in a statement signed by Lawal on behalf of management and staff of NAN on Wednesday in Abuja.

He stated that Pam has shown great capacity in the past to steer the ship of the faith-based agency of government.

In the past, you held sensitive and strategic appointments which puts you on a pedestal to move the commission to greater heights.

As a leader in the vineyard of God, we urge you to use your position to promote national unity and make NCPC a rallying point for all Christians in Nigeria.

We particularly urge you to use your religious background to assist Federal Government to fight Coronavirus by using NCPC platform to further sensitise Nigerians on the persisting dangers of the virus and the need to keep safe by continuously following safety guidelines of the Presidential Task Force.

Lawal also assured the third NCPC executive secretary that NAN would continue to offer its services and support to make pilgrims and pilgrimage pleasurable and participants well informed about processes and rules.

As partners in progress in the task of nation building, we assure you of the support of News Agency of Nigeria.

We will help to promote activities and programmes of NCPC, using our multimedia projection and publicity platforms. We look forward to a robust partnership between NAN and NCPC.

Congratulations once again for your well deserved appointment. We pray that God Almighty will grant you the wisdom and knowledge to move NCPC to the next level, Lawal said.

Until his appointment, Pam was the Chairman of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

Born on Feb. 20, 1960 in Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, Pam holds a first degree in Christian Education.

As an ordained Minister, he brings to the position more than 30 years of leadership experience in the Christian community, coupled with a deep understanding of promoting inter-religious harmony and conflict resolution in the northern part of the country.

The new NCPC boss held many leadership positions in the Church, including Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Northern from 2016 till date; and Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, 2013 till date.

Source: NAN News

Dangote Cement

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Dangote Cement Plc. on Wednesday launched the Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies Season 2, targeted at making 1,000 Nigerians millionaires to cushion the economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

At the unveiling of the promo in Lagos, the companys Group Managing Director,
Mr Michel Puchercos, said the promo was instituted to reward its loyal customers.

Puchercos gave the assurance that the company, through the promo, would change the standard of living of its consumers and end users during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that 1,000 lucky Nigerians would win a star prize of one million naira each, over a period of 16 weeks of the promo.

Puchercos, who observed that many families lost their sources of livelihood as a result of the pandemic, said that the company launched the promo to alleviate the pains.

He said that the company opted for cash prize to enable the beneficiaries to set up small businesses in the face of COVID-19.

Puchercos said that the Season 2 Promo, launched following a huge success recorded in the 2019 promotion, would run from July 15 to Nov. 15.

He said that the company was determined to reward the consumers and add value to their economic well being, with the promo.

According to him, other prizes to be won apart from one million naira cash, include tricycles, refrigerators, television sets, generators, goodies packs, smaller monetary prizes and airtime.

Mrs Funmi Sanni, Dangote Cement, Marketing Director, said at the event that the promo was launched to delight the companys old and new consumers.

Sanni said that the companys consumers, who participated in the 2019 edition, requested for a repeat.

Our consumers are the major reason we are still existing and they have been with us in thick and thin.

Consumers are important and a fundamental factor of production without which production process is incomplete and our ability to remain in business becomes impossible, she said.

Sanni said that the company understood the importance of value chain and would continue to create value to its stakeholders in terms of quality product and services.

Sanni said: The management of Dangote Cement recognises the importance of every member of its value chain
distributors, wholesalers and retailers and have invested in growing their businesses through various empowerment schemes.

We are very obsessed to empower our partners, distributors and retailers; as we are growing, they are growing too.

Sanni said that, to participate in the promo, consumers would be expected to buy any bag of any Dangote Cement.

Every promo bag of cement contains a scratch card carrying winning items carefully inserted in each bag, when you scratch, whatever is revealed is what you win.

You should not throw away the card as a consumer; at the back of the card, there is an alphabet, and once you get a card that spells Dangote, its automatic N1 million, Sanni said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the promo was also validated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Lagos State Lottery Board, as well as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, Lagos Office.

Mrs Nkiru Onuzulu, Deputy Director/Coordinator, NLRC, Lagos Zonal Office, described the promo as a big one.

Onuzulu, who expressed confidence that the promo would be a huge success, assured that stakeholders interests would be well protected by the regulators.

Dangote Cement is a big brand and it is expected that the right thing should be done, she said.

Mrs Susie Onwuka, Head, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, Lagos Office, commended the company for putting up the promo at the period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Onwuka gave the assurance that regulators would ensure due process throughout and monitor the exercise to ensure redemption of prizes won. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The red Chamber

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has passed a bill seeking to establish the City University of Technology, Auchi, Edo and two other tertiary institutions in the country.

The two other bills were the Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, Delta and the Federal College of Education, Giwa, Kaduna bill.

The bills were passed by the upper chamber following a clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund as presented by the Chairman, Sen. Babba Kaita during Wednesdays plenary.

The bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Maritime University was sponsored by Sen. James Manager (PDP-Delta).

The other two bills which were for the University of Technology, Auchi and Federal College of Education, Giwa, were separately sponsored by Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo) and Sen. Uba Sani (APC- Kaduna).

While presenting the report, Kaita said that the Federal Polytechnic Auchi was currently running degree programmes in affiliation with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra with enrollment of over 50, 000 students in full and part time.

He said that upgrading the institution to a federal university would provide training for high skills in the areas of technical and vocational education.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Franca Ofili

The Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas ( NAPPSA) has donated diagnostics and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Anthony Ikeme, the President of the association made the donation on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ikeme, represented by Dr Ali Onoja, a member of the association said that members intended to encourage the centre in the important role of coordinating the overall COVID-19 response in Nigeria.

He said that the association was an umbrella organisation of Nigerian Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas.

The items donated are 10,000 pieces of nitrile examination gloves; 2,000 bottles of hand sanitiser gel; 2, 000 pieces of regular face mask; 1,000 pieces of KN95 valved face mask with respirator; 1,000 pieces of face shield (anti-fog, anti-splash) and 100 pieces of finger pulse oximeter with lanyard.

He said that the association had been involved in capacity building and exchange of knowledge with professional colleagues and healthcare institutions in the country.

According to him, the association key message is that Nigeria should not let the pandemic go without lessons that should inform the countrys decision going into future.

The NAPPSA president said that the pandemic reminded the country of the huge opportunity to play actively in the global health and pharmaceutical enterprise.

He called for an urgent need to invest in the creation of robust protocol for the preparedness, prevention and containment of pandemic with their related economic and social impacts.

He said the need to build strong health infrastructure and invest in human capital for the health sector could not be over-emphasised.

Financing must be put in place to ensure that the country has a robust primary care infrastructure, Ikeme said.

He called on the centre to facilitate the creation of a national strategy for medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of NCDC thanked the association for its gesture to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ihekweazu said that the only way the country could fight the pandemic was to have all hands on desk.

He noted that Nigerians in the Diaspora had been assisting in the fight against the virus.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said that the commission was working with Nigerians in the Diaspora to return home to do more in the health sector.

Dabiri-Erewa said that such step was important because after COVID-19, other health issues must be addressed. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Tijani Muhammad-Bande UNGA President

By Harrison Arubu

The President of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande, has called for investment in young peoples response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Muhammad-Bande made the call in his remarks at a virtual event to mark the 2020 World Youth Skills Day on Wednesday.

The theme of this years commemoration is Skills for a Resilient Youth in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.

He said that although young people were particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of the pandemic, they were not passive victims.

They are also active responders and agents of change, reacting to these difficult times with activism, volunteerism and innovation.

These actions need to be invested in, recognised and amplified. They are resilient.

It is our responsibility as decision makers to work with youths to ensure that they have access to the necessary opportunities to pursue their education, employment and aspirations for the future, he said.

Muhammad-Bande, who is Nigerias Permanent Representative to the UN, urged collaboration by all stakeholders in this regard.

Citing statistics, the Nigerian envoy said that COVID-19 had disrupted education for 1.6 billion children and young people, representing no fewer than 90 per cent of all enrolled learners.

Prior to the onset of COVID-19, young people were already three times more likely to be unemployed, compared to their adult counterparts.

According to him, building back together is only possible with investment in the young generation.

He noted that recovery from the pandemic would be difficult exceptthe youths were empowered to actively participate in society and given increased access to education, training and jobs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News