By Ibukun Emiola

Students in graduating classes in Oyo State on Monday turned up for revision classes ahead of their final examinations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many of the students in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were sighted wearing face masks and adhering to safety protocols as directed by the Federal and State Governments.

NAN also reports that in all the schools visited in Ibadan, students were seen observing the hand washing protocol at the entrance of their respective institutions as early as 7:20 a.m.

Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, said they were excited at the resumption of academic activities.

Miss Hamidat Oladapo, a Senior Secondary School student at Ansar Ud Deen High School, Ibadan, said the resumption signified that they would soon have the opportunity to write their final examinations.

I am very excited to resume school today because it has been long since we have been to school.

We ought to have started the examinations but I am sure it wont be long before we do so, she said.

Another student, Master James Abidogun of Islamic High School, Ibadan, said he used the period of school closure to work on past questions provided by the state government as well as participate in the online learning initiative of his school.

Resuming school means so much to me because I will be able to further my studies, he said.

Miss Faulat Adekemi, another SS3 student, said though she participated in the government learning programme organised on television and radio, resuming school was far better for her.

Resumption is a great idea because it is not easy solving some challenges on some subjects while schools are closed.

The television and online platforms were not sufficient in addressing the core areas I have difficulty with, Adekemi said.

The students, however, said that they would be able to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols and endure wearing face masks for long hours.

NAN reports that some schools had to provide facilities needed to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols with little or no support from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and School Governing Board (SGB).

Commenting on the graduating classes resumption , Mr Akinkunmi Ogunsola, the Principal of St Patricks Secondary School, Ibadan, said that students were punctual to school and wearing their face masks.

Government on its part provided all the necessary materials like the posters to educate students on compliance with safety protocols on COVID-19.

The teachers are also ready to teach the students. About 70 per cent of the students are in school already. They came excitedly and enmasse.

They were distributed into 15 students per class with zigzag sitting arrangements, Ogunsola said.

Also speaking, Mr Fasasu Abdullahi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, said a reasonable number of students resumed and all the safety measures were on the ground.

They came with their face masks, washed their hands at the washing hand basins provided at the entrance while temperature was checked.

We have no complaints from any parent. The PTA has assisted us by providing hand washing basins, sanitisers and detergents for the use of students and staff.

They also helped to repair chairs so that there can be enough to ensure social distancing, Abudullahi said.

Mr Adedoja Adetunji, a teacher at Ansar Ud Deen High School, Ibadan, said the school had ensured a clean environment and enforced safety protocols.

We have 36 students in SS3 divided into three classes; Science, Arts and Commercial.

We spaced them according to the required guideline.

Our JSS 3 students are about 140 in all. We divided them into six classes; A, B, C, D and E with 27 students in each class and we provided them adequate spacing.

We have bought hand sanitisers for staff and we have more than six buckets with tap and soap, Adetunji said.

Ms Christianah Akande, a teacher at Peoples Primary School, Ring Road, Ibadan, urged parents to release their children to attend classes.

NAN reports that at St. Leos Primary School, Ibadan, a handful of teachers reported for duty wearing facemasks.

A NAN correspondent, who also visited some private schools in Ibadan metropolis, reports that most of them were open with students observing COVID-19 safety protocols.

Some private schools were, however, yet to reopen.

Mr Aremu Akanfe, the Proprietor of God is Able Group of Schools, said his institution was following the guidelines provided by the government on school reopening.

About 80 per cent of students in graduating classes resumed on Monday as early as 7am, Akanfe said.

Meanwhile, some observers have argued that the automated soap dispensers and hand washing basins were needed in schools as against the manual ones in use.

Some parents also have refused to allow their wards back to school until they were sure all safety protocols could be adhered to. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The future of the Open Skies treaty after the expected withdrawal of the U.S. was discussed by the 34 treaty members at a video conference.

The vedio conference coordinated from the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna on Monday.

Report says Washington accuses Moscow of infringement of the arms-control treaty, which Russia denies.

The U.S. has announced its intention to withdraw from the treaty on Nov. 22.

That would mean that, even should a new president be elected this year, he would take office in January, rendering him unable to reverse the decision.

Russia had previously not indicated how it would react to U.S. withdrawal.

The arms-control agreement, negotiated in 1992, allows participating nations, including the U.S. and Russia, to conduct unarmed observation flights over one anothers territory.

Moscow has shown itself more interested in aerial surveillance of European states than of the U.S., meaning that U.S. withdrawal would not instantly render the treaty worthless.

One sticking point for the U.S. has been the introduction by Russia of a 500-kilometre-long flight restriction over its highly armed exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic coast.

The U.S. withdrawal and its consequences are once again expected to play a central role at a five-yearly review of the treaty in October in Vienna. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Students in graduating classes in Oyo State on Monday turned up for revision classes ahead of their final examinations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many of the students in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were sighted wearing face masks and adhering to safety protocols as directed by the Federal and State Governments.

NAN also reports that in all the schools visited in Ibadan, students were seen observing the hand washing protocol at the entrance of their respective institutions as early as 7:20 a.m.

Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, said they were excited at the resumption of academic activities.

Miss Hamidat Oladapo, a Senior Secondary School student at Ansar Ud Deen High School, Ibadan, said the resumption signified that they would soon have the opportunity to write their final examinations.

I am very excited to resume school today because it has been long since we have been to school.

We ought to have started the examinations but I am sure it wont be long before we do so, she said.

Another student, Master James Abidogun of Islamic High School, Ibadan, said he used the period of school closure to work on past questions provided by the state government as well as participate in the online learning initiative of his school.

Resuming school means so much to me because I will be able to further my studies, he said.

Miss Faulat Adekemi, another SS3 student, said though she participated in the government learning programme organised on television and radio, resuming school was far better for her.

Resumption is a great idea because it is not easy solving some challenges on some subjects while schools are closed.

The television and online platforms were not sufficient in addressing the core areas I have difficulty with, Adekemi said.

The students, however, said that they would be able to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols and endure wearing face masks for long hours.

NAN reports that some schools had to provide facilities needed to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols with little or no support from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and School Governing Board (SGB).

Commenting on the graduating classes resumption , Mr Akinkunmi Ogunsola, the Principal of St Patricks Secondary School, Ibadan, said that students were punctual to school and wearing their face masks.

Government on its part provided all the necessary materials like the posters to educate students on compliance with safety protocols on COVID-19.

The teachers are also ready to teach the students. About 70 per cent of the students are in school already. They came excitedly and enmasse.

They were distributed into 15 students per class with zigzag sitting arrangements, Ogunsola said.

Also speaking, Mr Fasasu Abdullahi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, said a reasonable number of students resumed and all the safety measures were on the ground.

They came with their face masks, washed their hands at the washing hand basins provided at the entrance while temperature was checked.

We have no complaints from any parent. The PTA has assisted us by providing hand washing basins, sanitisers and detergents for the use of students and staff.

They also helped to repair chairs so that there can be enough to ensure social distancing, Abudullahi said.

Mr Adedoja Adetunji, a teacher at Ansar Ud Deen High School, Ibadan, said the school had ensured a clean environment and enforced safety protocols.

We have 36 students in SS3 divided into three classes; Science, Arts and Commercial.

We spaced them according to the required guideline.

Our JSS 3 students are about 140 in all. We divided them into six classes; A, B, C, D and E with 27 students in each class and we provided them adequate spacing.

We have bought hand sanitisers for staff and we have more than six buckets with tap and soap, Adetunji said.

Ms Christianah Akande, a teacher at Peoples Primary School, Ring Road, Ibadan, urged parents to release their children to attend classes.

NAN reports that at St. Leos Primary School, Ibadan, a handful of teachers reported for duty wearing facemasks.

A NAN correspondent, who also visited some private schools in Ibadan metropolis, reports that most of them were open with students observing COVID-19 safety protocols.

Some private schools were, however, yet to reopen.

Mr Aremu Akanfe, the Proprietor of God is Able Group of Schools, said his institution was following the guidelines provided by the government on school reopening.

About 80 per cent of students in graduating classes resumed on Monday as early as 7am, Akanfe said.

Meanwhile, some observers have argued that the automated soap dispensers and hand washing basins were needed in schools as against the manual ones in use.

Some parents also have refused to allow their wards back to school until they were sure all safety protocols could be adhered to.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed,

The Federal Government has approved 60 per cent debt forgiveness for all debtor broadcast stations in the country to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on the industry.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing on the governments efforts to institute financial sustainability among broadcast stations in the country.

Mohammed noted that the broadcast industry had been particularly hard-hit due to falling revenues occasioned by the dwindling adverts and sponsored programmes in the wake of the pandemic.

He disclosed that many Nigerian radio and television stations remained indebted to the government to the tune of N7. 8 billion while many of them were faced with the reality that their licenses would not be renewed in view of their indebtedness.

Against this background, the management of the NBC has recommended, and the Federal Government has accepted 60 per cent debt forgiveness for all debtor broadcast stations in the country, he said.

Mohammed, however, said the criterion for enjoying the debt forgiveness was for debtor stations to pay 40 per cent of their existing debt within the next three months

According to him, any station that is unable to pay the balance of 40 percent indebtedness within the three months window shall forfeit the opportunity to enjoy the stated debt forgiveness.

The minister said the government also approved that the existing license fee of the broadcast stations be further discounted by 30 per cent for all Open Terrestrial Radio and Television services effective July 10.

He said the debt forgiveness would apply to functional licensed Terrestrial Radio and Television stations only

The debt forgiveness and discount shall not apply to pay TV service operators in Nigeria.

The effective date of the debt forgiveness shall be July 10 to October 6th, 2020, he said.

Mohammed said the measures were in addition to the two-month licence-fee waiver granted to terrestrial broadcast stations in the country by the NBC, as part of efforts to ease the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He gave an assurance that the measures taken by the government would give lifeline and revamp the industry as well as help reposition it for the challenges of business in the post-COVID-19 era.

The Federal Government has made these interventions with a view to re-positioning the broadcast industry to play its critical role of promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

It is our expectation that the sector will cash in on this unique opportunity to make itself an effective catalyst for national development, he said.

Speaking on efforts to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the creative sector in general, the minister recalled that government set up the Post-COVID-19 Initiatives Committee for the creative industry.

He said the committee had submitted its report, which contained recommendations that would benefit all component parts of the larger creative industry.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the minister said similar measures would be extended to the print industry by the government.

The Acting Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, said the commission is carrying out holistic review of the broadcast sector as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Idachaba, who was also at the briefing, said the government would enforce the Pay as You Go directive to the Pay-Tv because it was in the interest of all.

Source: NAN News

Mr Olamilekan Adegbite,

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, says Federal Government has proposed N2.3 trillion to boost the mining and other sectors of the economy in post COVID-19 rescue operations.

Adegbite said this in an interactive session with newsmen on Federal Governments post COVID-19 plans for the solid mineral sector, on Monday in Abuja.

He said the ministry would get six billion naira from the total sum at the end of the day.

According to him, the ministry has lofty plans before the COVID-19 pandemic, which he has adversely affected the solid mineral sector considering its operations.

Adegbite said the development was not peculiar to the solid mineral sector as other sectors of the economy were equally affected by the pandemic.

The pandemic for instance, has limited our ability to go forward on the Ajaokuta Steel project, we are four to five months behind schedule according to governments plans to resuscitate the complex before the pandemic, he said.

This, he said, was specifically so because Russian experts who supposed to come for the technical audit of the complex could not come because of the pandemic and the ban on flight operations.

He added that the idea was for the experts to come into the country and be hosted for 12 weeks within which they were expected to do a proper audit of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

He said this had been put on hold until the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ban on air travel was lifted.

When this is lifted and we think it is safe enough, these experts will come into the country and we will continue where we stopped.

He added that the Ajaokuta Project Presidential Implementation Team (APPIT) was, however, still working but that the audit was very important to it.

According to him, the technical audit report is necessary to enable the APPIT know the cost implication.

He added that because of the complexity of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, online audit was not possible as people had to be physically present.

The minister added that government was, however, making efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector.

Now, government needs to come up with a response because the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected our sector, as a lot of miners could not go to work for obvious reasons.

The consequence of this is that the output is zero and a lot of miners had been impoverished, this, however, is not peculiar to the sector, because it goes all round.

What the President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration has decided to do is to face this head-on, and that is why we have come up with post COVID-19 rescue operations.

In this, the government proposes to spend N2.3 trillion, this is what the government intends to inject into the economy to counter the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The minister said that the money had been allotted to different sectors of the economy, including the solid mineral sector.

A large chunk of the money had been allotted to the sector to help counter the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We intend to spend this fund and some other funds that are available to us to improve artisanal mining in the country and deepen our explorative projects, Adegbite said.

He further said that the ministry was determined to take its road shows round the world to attract foreign investors into the country post COVD-19.

He gave assurance that government was working and putting measures in place to ensure that the country come up ahead of the COVID-19 curve to ensure that its effects are minimal.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir,

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in grief over the passing of former member of the National Working Committee, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, who served as Vice Chairman, North West.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, condoled with family members, friends and political associates of the party stalwart, who served the country as Minister of Sports and Youth Development.

Late Abdulkadir also played a prominent role in the creation and sustenance of the party.

According to the president, Abdulkadirs humility, maturity and penchant for facilitating reconciliation among members will be sorely missed at a time the APC is rebuilding and repositioning to deliver on its promises.

He urged members to always remember and project same legacies of putting the country first.

Buhari prayed that the almighty God would receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has launched an online course on infection prevention and control (ICP) for health workers, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection transmission in healthcare setting.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Sunday in Abuja, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the online course would be available to the general public, particularly the healthcare workers.

According to him, the programme is aimed at reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases while administering health care in the country.

As at July 4, a total of 28,167 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 634 deaths have been recorded by NCDC.

Additionally, as at June 2, about 812 healthcare workers have been infected in the country, with over 230,000 infected globally, he noted.

Ihekweazu said that the national strategy in term of response to COVID-19 had been multifaceted.

He added that in the absence of a vaccine or cure, compliance with IPC measures remained one of the most effective interventions to control the outbreak.

The director-general said that the NCDC had made efforts to rapidly strengthen the capacity of frontline healthcare workers in infection prevention and control, wherever health care was provided.

Since the first case in Nigeria was confirmed in February, NCDC has supported the training of about 17,436 health workers in IPC.

It has been working in collaboration with the Departments of Hospital Services and Food and Drugs of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) to ensure that health workers are provided with the required personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of infection among them.

To ensure that IPC training, knowledge and information are easily accessible to those who need it, the Infection Prevention and Control Unit of the NCDC, with technical assistance from eHealth Africa, has developed a COVID-19 IPC online course.

The course features modules on standard and transmission-based precautions, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential aspects of infection control in healthcare.

A certificate of participation will also be awarded at the end of the course by NCDC, he stated.

The director-general said that the online course was also designed to document vital information to monitor the IPC compliance across health facilities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels in public, private and faith-based facilities in the country.

He stated that infection prevention and control measures cut across all other components of the COVID-19 response in Nigeria and that it was critical for strengthening national health security.

Registration for the free online course on infection prevention and control can be done using the link: https://elearning.ncdc.gov.ng/courses/infection-prevention-and- control-for-covid-19/.

The NCDC, under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health and her other agencies, remains strongly committed to protecting the health of Nigerians.

We urge the public to remain aware of the risks of COVID-19 and to adhere to the preventive measures advised by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Visit covid19.ncdc.gov.ng for real-time updates and guidelines on the COVID-19 outbreak, he advised. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says plans to harmonise the organisations training procedures with those of the Nigerian Navy are at an advanced stage.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of the agencydisclosed this when he hosted the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Fredrick Ogu, at the agencys headquarters.

A statement signed by Mr Phillip Kyanet, the Head, Corporate Communications, NIMASA, made available to newsmen, disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos.

Jamoh said that the harmonisation of training procedure was for improved safety and security of the countrys maritime space

The director general said that a large chunk of the agencys budget went into the training of its workforce, from which other stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, also benefited.

He said NIMASA would look in the direction of naval facilities and how to harmonise the training guidelines to meet the standards required by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for certification.

NIMASA invests so much in the training of her workforce, and aside that, we have what we call non-staff educational assistance, which is also geared towards building capacity for the maritime sector, apart from our workforce.

This, we have also done by including navy personnel whenever the opportunity and the need arise.

In this wise, we are open to approval of training facilities across the country as long as they meet IMOs training standards, he said.

Jamoh said that NIMASA was not an armed organisation and could not achieve its mandate without the Nigerian Navy.

He noted that the Navy/NIMASA relationship had come a long way, and predated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that birthed the Maritime Guard Command, manned by naval officers and domiciled in the agency.

The director-general said the Deep Blue Project, also known as the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, aimed at comprehensively tackling insecurity on Nigerias territorial waters.

He said that it would also tackle insecurity at the Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea.

Most of our Deep Blue Project assets are already in the country and most of these assets, like the Special Mission Vessels and aircraft, would be manned and commanded by the officers of the Nigerian Navy.

What is causing a little delay in the deployment is the training component because some of these trainings will be done outside the shores of the country, and because of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a little delay in the training programme, he said.

Earlier in his comments, Ogu, who was appointed FOC, Naval Training Command in June, reiterated the need for NIMASA and the Navy to work together closely, in training and on other fronts.

He emphasised NIMASAs role in the certification of most maritime-related training programmes.

I know we have an existing MoU with NIMASA, which makes it easier for us to relate on many fronts, and the importance of NIMASA to our trainings cannot be overstated.

They are the ones who issue certificates for our basic mandatory and survival at sea trainings. So there is need for us to harmonise our training methods to further enhance our capacity, he said.

The FOC also disclosed that the Navy had training facilities that were available to both civilians and military personnel.

He urged Nigerians willing to take up a career in the maritime sector to take advantage of the naval facilities across the country.

Source: NAN News

BUA Group

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

BUA Cement has announced plans to establish a three million metric tonnes cement plant and 50 megawatts power plant in Guyuk and Lamurde, Adamawa State.

The Chairman of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Rabiu led the companys management team on a courtesy call to the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri after preliminary findings revealed that Guyuk and Lamurde areas had quality limestone.

Preliminary findings show that the two local governments of Guyuk and Lamurde are reputed to have good quality limestone deposits and BUA Cement is ready to begin the investment in the state.

BUA will use new technologies to supply power to the proposed cement plant and communities of Guyuk and Lamurde in addition to providing three thousand direct and five thousand indirect jobs.

Guyuk Cement Plant will be a major investment in the North-East by BUA, while we solicit the support of Gov. Umaru Fintiri to set up the factory in Guyuk, he said.

Rabiu said that the company had made a decision to source its raw materials locally, adding that it had invested billions of dollars in various sectors across Nigeria.

He urged the state government to support BUA to actualise the Guyuk Cement project.

He also hailed the governors commitment in developing the state within one year in office, despite the economic challenges in Adamawa.

Responding, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri said his administrations effort in exploring local contents had started yielding results and thanked BUA for showing interest in establishing the cement plant in Guyuk.

He assured the management team of BUA that government would make available whatever was needed and provide the necessary support to make the project a reality.

The government is ready to protect the investment once it is established and this administration will maintain the good relationship with the company for the benefit of the state.

According to the statement, BUA is Nigerias second largest cement producer by volume with cement plants in Sokoto and Edo States.

The companys newest plant in Sokoto is expected to be operational in 2021.

When completed, the Guyuk Cement Plant will bring BUAs total capacity to 14 million metric tonnes per annum.

Source: NAN News

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva

By Solomon Asowata

The Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund from 200 million dollars to 350 million dollars.

Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum andChairman of theNCDMB Governing Council, announced this in a statement posted on the NCDMBs website on Sunday.

Sylva said the enlargement of the fund by 150 million dollars was part of the decisions taken at the meeting of the council which held virtually on June 16.

He said: The council approved thatmillion from the additional funds would be deployed to boost the five existing loan products of the NCI Fund.

This include manufacturing, asset acquisition, contract financing, loan refinancing and community contractor financing. Similarly, the council also approved thatmillion andmillion respectively should be deployed to two newly developed loan product types.

These are the Intervention Fund for Women in Oil and Gas and Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) products, which include working capital loans and capacity building loans for PETAN member companies.

According to him, the NCI fund was instituted in 2017 as a200million dollars Fund managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI), engaged to facilitate on-lending to qualified stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry on five loan product types.

He said the NCI fund was a portion of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), aggregated from the one per cent deduction from the value of contracts executed in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Sylva said, About 94 per cent of the NCI Funds has been disbursed to 27 beneficiaries as at May 2020. NCDMB has received new applications from 100 companies for nearly triple the size of the original fund.

Guidelines for the NCI Fund provide that beneficiaries of the manufacturing loan and asset acquisition loan can access a maximum ofmillion respectively.

Also, beneficiaries of contract finance loan can accessmillion while beneficiaries of the loan re-financing package can accessmillion, with beneficiaries of the community contractor finance scheme limited to N20 million.

The minister said that the maximum tenure for all loan types was five years and applicants cannot have two different loans running simultaneously.

He said that at the onset of the fund, the applicable interest rate for the various loan types was pegged at 8 per cent, except the community contractor finance scheme, which was fiveper cent.

Sylva said, however, in April 2020,as part of NCDMBs response to mitigate economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the governing council approved reduction of the interest rate from eightto six per cent per annum for all four of the loan products.

He added that the board also extended the moratorium for all loan products.

Source: NAN News

![Council approves m for Nigerian Content R

File Photo: Police

Sudans police chief and his deputy were fired on Sunday, the transitional government said, days after large protests demanding more measures against officials linked to ousted President Omar al-Bashir.

Adel Mohamed Bashaer, Director-General of Sudans Police Force was relieved of his duties and replaced with Ezz Eldin Sheikh Ali, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Twitter without elaborating.

Later, the cabinet said in a statement that Othman Mohamed Younes, Bashaers deputy, was also dismissed. No further details were given.

One person was killed and several others injured during largely peaceful demonstrations across Sudan on Tuesday, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets demanding faster reform and a greater role for civilians in the countrys transition towards democracy.

Protesters and pro-democracy groups link the two fired police officials with the administration of Bashir, who was removed from power in April 2019 after months of protests.

The two men could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

The remains were flown to Algeria on Friday from France and were buried at the Martyrs Square of El-Alia cemetery in the capital Algiers.

They had been held in a Paris museum.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune attended the funeral, along with senior state and army officials, and members of the government, the official APS news agency reported.

A final tribute was paid to the fighters at the Palace of Culture by Tebboune shortly before the burial.

On Saturday, many citizens also paid their respects.

Algeria formally declared independence from France on July 5, 1962 after a seven-year war, which ended more than a century of a colonial rule. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Late Ex-Governor of Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi

By Akeem Abas

The family of the late Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi, said on Sunday that it had no intention to bar the Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan, from the eight-day fidau prayer organised for the deceased.

Ajimobis former media aide, Bolaji Tunji, said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on behalf of the family.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the family on Sunday held the eight-day prayer for the late two-time governor who died on June 25.

The familys reaction followed reports that a delegation of the state government led by the deputy governor was barred from entering the venue of the event.

But Tunji, in the statement, said the family had no such plan to bar the government delegation.

He said the family was not aware that the deputy governor would attend the event, adding that neither the advance team nor the protocol unit informed the family.

The event, he added, was held in compliance with COVID-19 protocols established by NCDC, noting that not more than 30 people were allowed at the venue.

Tunji added that the seats were arranged according to the number after which the gate to the premises was shut.

He said when the family got the information that the deputy governor had arrived, aides rushed to the gate to usher him into the sitting room only to learn he had gone.

The statement said in part: There is the need to clarify the believed presence of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, at the 8th day prayer of HE Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of Oyo State

The Deputy Governor arrived after the prayer had started.The event was strictly a family affair.

There was a need to comply with the Covid-19 protocol as established by NCDC- Social distancing, not more than 30 people in a place and seats arranged, accordingly after which the gate was shut.

No one was aware that the Deputy Governor was coming as neither the advance team nor the protocol informed us.

By the time we got to the gate to usher him into the sitting room, he had left. Everything happened within a spate of 10 minutes.

Tunji said efforts were made through a serving senator and a former attorney general to get in touch with the deputy governor.

He maintained that the incident was not meant as a slight to the deputy governor as he could sit in a private sitting room provided by the family.

Tunji, who described the incident as unfortunate, however, apologised to the deputy governor. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court Symbol

Ramatu Garba

Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Nura Sagir, has directed Magistrate Courts to reopen for normal activities on Monday July 6.

The Public Relations Officer of the states Judiciary, Mr Baba Ibrahim, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Kano.

Sagir said that the directives followed easing of the COVID-19 lockdown by the state government.

All Magistrates in the state should resume court sitting immediately, Sagir was quoted as saying in the statement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sagir had on March 25, directed for the suspension of court sitting, in compliance with the COVID-19 lockdown imposed to stem further spread of the pandemic in the state.

NAN reports also that Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday announced total eased of restrictions in view of the successes recorded in the campaign against the pandemic. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has inaugurated several projects across the eight divisions of Nigerian Army nationwide.

Buratai inaugurated the projects in commemoration of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2020.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Musa said the projects were in line with the desire of the Chief of Army Staff to uplift the living standards of army personnel and ensure excellent civil-military relations.

He said that some of the projects inaugurated were in the areas of troops living accommodation, office accommodation, Clinics/hospitals, schools, roads construction, corporate social responsibility and intervention activities in many communities in Nigeria.

According to him, a total of 138 flats of accommodation for personnel have been commissioned in Dalet Barracks and Ribadu Cantonment in 1 Division Kaduna.

Similarly, in 2 Division Area of Responsibility, the newly built Headquarters 32 Artillery Brigade Complex, Corporal and Below Quarters, Brigades Medical Centre and a Guard House were inaugurated.

Additionally, the foundation laying of Barracks Investment Initiative Programme and Commissioning of Community Civic Centre at Uhonmora-Ora Community in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State were also done during this period.

While in 3 Armoured Division Jos, a huge Multi Purpose Cooperative Society, Rhino Officers Mess Chalets, Rhino Officers Mess Sit-Out Garden and NAOWA Administration Office were inaugurated, he said.

Musa said that TY Buratai Subaltern Lodge, Transit Accommodation for Soldiers, Physical Cloak Room, 6 Division Garrison Kitchen and an Office complex were successfully completed and inaugurated in 6 Division PortHarcourt.

He added that Brigade Medical Centre, kitchen, a mosque and a chapel as well as K9 Kennel have been equally commissioned.

The spokesperson said that some troops of 7 Division Maiduguri conducted cleaning up of streets and clearing of gutters along Baga road market, Maiduguri town, Borno as part of the activities marking the NADCEL 2020.

He said that a newly built Camp Delta Force Quick Reaction Base has been commissioned to facilitate reaction time in the efforts to end terrorism in the area.

According to him, 585 Signal Regiment Office accommodation, Dental Clinic and Maternity Wards of 8 Division Hospital, were completed and commissioned during the period.

Also completed were 26 Battalion Parade Ground, the Battalions Arms Store, Operations Room and Hall of Fame and Solar Energy Power Project.

He said that free medical assistance and Sanitation exercise were also carried out in some areas in 8 Division Area of Responsibility.

In 81 Division Lagos, a newly reconstructed Nigerian Army Barracks Epe was commissioned.

In Ikeja Military Cantonment, the newly built Nigerian Army Aviation Pilots accommodation, newly renovated Corporal and Below Quarters, remodeled 9 Brigade Officers Mess and a disinfecting tunnel donated by hypo company were also inaugurated.

Accordingly, in 82 Division Area of Responsibility, there was routine provision of free medical services to hundreds of people in many communities.

Also, the six newly constructed blocks of classrooms at community and local education authority schools at Umakohia Ubi Community in Owerri West local Government Area of Imo State have been commissioned among other projects, he said.

Musa urged all the beneficiaries in the various barracks, cantonments and the lucky communities across the country to take care of the projects for the benefits of their respective communities.

He enjoined the communities to continue to cooperate and support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the efforts to end terrorism and other insecurities in Nigeria.

Musa said all the projects were inaugurated on behalf of the COAS, adding that the Army appreciate Nigerians for their patience and understanding.

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

Sterling Bank Plc on Saturday offered to partner with Nigerian tourism practitioners for proper marketing of Nigerias tourism sites locally and internationally.

The banks Group Head, Propositions and Partnership, Mr Wasiu Popoola, made this known during an online meeting organised by the Nigeria Travel Week and Travelscope Magazine.

The theme of the meeting was: A Fresh Start for Tourism in Nigeria: Transportation Sector.

Popoola said that the partnership was spurred due to the observation that the tourism industry was an economic activity which had not been fully developed in Nigeria.

He said that the value chain existing in the tourism industry was completely broken, hence the collaboration would bridge the existing gaps.

Nigeria has rich lifestyle, cultural and historical destinations; resorts in Lagos are under patronised. So Sterling Bank is looking at wading into every problem hindering the growth of the industry.

We want to fix the broken parts of the value chain existing in the industry and encourage collaborations between government and the private sector to boost internal and external tourism.

We will create a digital platform to aggregate all services that every operator in the tourism value chain are involved in, promote their services and help them get access to market.

We will put every operator on the platform to promote collaboration. This way, the broken part in the value chain would be identified and fixed, he said.

Popoola also noted that where financing was required for facility upgrade for tourists sites, equipment and all, the bank would render some financial assistance.

When training is required, we have partners who are experts who can also train, he said.

Source: NAN News

who

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are currently over 444,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Africa.

The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO.

There are over 444,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent with more than 214,000 recoveries and 10,800 deaths, it said.

The regional office stated that South Africa has 177,124 cases and 2,952 deaths, followed by Nigeria with 27,564 confirmed cases and 628 deaths, while Ghana has 18,892 confirmed cases and 117 deaths.

It added that Gambia, Lesotho and Seychelles were countries currently with the lowest confirmed cases in the region as Gambia had 55 confirmed cases with two deaths.

Lesotho had 63 reported cases and zero death, while Seychelles had 81 reported cases with no death, the office said.

Meanwhile, WHO in a statement posted on its website, urged African countries to take strong safety measures against COVID-19 as they resumed air travel.

As African countries begin to reopen borders and air spaces, it is crucial that governments take effective measures to mitigate the risk of a surge in infections due to the resumption of commercial flights and airport operations.

Many African governments acted swiftly, implementing confinement and travel restrictions in the early days of the pandemic.

In the WHO African Region, 36 countries closed their borders to international travel, eight suspended flights from countries with high COVID-19 transmission and others had partial or no restrictions.

So far Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Zambia have resumed commercial flights. The 15-member Economic Community of West African States is expected to open their airspace on July 21.

While open borders are vital for the free flow of goods and people, initial analysis by WHO found that lockdowns along with public health measures reduced the spread of COVID-19.

The UN health agency said even with border restrictions, imported cases had sometimes brought back COVID-19 to countries which had not reported cases for a length of time.

For example, Seychelles had not had a locally transmitted case since April 6, 2020, but in the last week 66 new cases all crew members of an international fishing vessel have been recorded, it said.

The statement quoted Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, as saying: Air travel is vital to the economic health of countries.

But as we take to the skies again, we cannot let our guard down. Our new normal still requires stringent measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

To resume international air travel, WHO recommended that countries assess the epidemiological situation to determine whether maintaining restrictions outweighs the economic costs of reopening borders if, for instance, there is widespread transmission of the virus.

It is also crucial to determine whether the health system can cope with a spike in imported cases and whether the surveillance and contact tracing system can reliably detect and monitor cases.

According to the statement, it is important that countries have systems in place at points of entry including airports.

Comprehensive entry and exit screening should be considered based on risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis, and as part of the overall national response strategy.

Such screening may target, as a priority, direct flights from areas with community transmission. In addition, observance of preventive measures such as personal hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing remains crucial.

Passengers should be registered and followed up, and if they develop symptoms be advised to inform health authorities.

The statement further quoted Moeti, as saying: The resumption of commercial flights in Africa will facilitate the delivery of crucial supplies such as testing kits.

It will also facilitate delivery of supplies such as personal protective equipment and other essential health commodities to areas which need them most.

It will also ensure that experts, who can support the response can finally get on the ground and work. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State

By Idowu Gabriel

All Progressives Congress(APC) stakeholders in Ekiti state have passed a Vote of Confidence on Gov. Kayode Fayemi and the state executives of the party.

This was contained in a communique at the end of their meeting signed by the state Public Relations Officer( PRO) of the party Mr Ade Ajayi in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.

Ajayi said that the gathering which was regarded as a family affair was the highest caucus meeting of the party.

A vote of confidence was passed on Gov. Kayode Fayemi after a review of the projects carried out by his administration.

The projects include roads , water, renovation of primary and secondary schools, sinking of boreholes across the schools and infrastructural development.

Others are airport project and other life-touching activities, which includes his giant stride in agriculture, health, social investment as well as attraction of investments, both foreign and national.

The rest are making Ekiti proud as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF), as well as playing a leadership role at the national level, he said.

Ajayi added:A vote of confidence was also passed on the party executives from the state to ward level for winning all elections conducted so far, including the presidential, national and states assembly, as well as local government elections.

The National and State Assembly members equally expressed their support for the Governor and the party executives from state to the ward level.

In line with President Mohamamdu Buharis directive, stakeholders resolved that all matters in court against the party at all levels should be withdrawn with immediate effect.

That the Code of Conduct for all political appointees and elected officials should be strictly adhered to.

That forthwith, no negative story should be sponsored against the party in the media. Such action by any member shall be viewed as anti-party.

He said that the meeting agreed that an ad-hoc committee constituted to address all grievances in the party and make recommendations towards solving them.

The meeting agreed that the stakeholders meeting shall hold every quarter, as well as the State Executive Committee meeting, Ajayi said.

He said that the stakeholders caucus comprised of the Governor, Deputy Governor, all the party Execos, former governors, National and State Assembly members (both serving and former) and cabinet members.

He added that others were elected party chairmen, party elders forum and 10 representatives from each local government councils of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Law School

By Veronica Dariya

The Council of Legal Education has said that 1, 864 students of the Nigerian Law School passed the Bar Final Examinations conducted in January.

The council made this known in a statement signed by the Director-General of the School, Prof. Isa Chiroma on Sunday in Abuja.

The council, while releasing the results said that a total of 2, 515 students participated in the examinations.

Chiroma, who described the performance as outstanding, said that among the 1, 864 students who were successful, only 5 made First Class while 632 others failed the examinations.

Candidates graded in First Class are 5, Second Class Upper 77, Second Class Lower are 633, those who got pass marks are 1,067 and those with Conditional Pass are 82.

632 candidates failed the examination, 17 were absent and 2 results are withheld.

Chiroma further explained that only 0.2 per cent made First Class, 3.06 per cent made Second Class Upper, 25.17 per cent made Second Class Lower and 42.42 per cent passed.

He said other performances include a 3.26 per cent for those with conditional pass, 25.12 per cent failed the examinations, 0.7 per cent were absent and 0.8 per cent results are being withheld.

He also said that screening and Call to Bar ceremony dates for the successful candidates would be communicated in due course. (NAN)

Source: NAN News