By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Debt Management Office (DMO), says it is more profitable for Nigerians to invest their monies in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) savings bonds than saving in banks.

Patience Oniha, the Director-General of DMO said this on Tuesday in Ibadan at the FGN Securities Issuance awareness programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awareness programme was jointly organised by DMO and the stockbroking firm of the FG, CSL Stockbrokers Limited.

Oniha, represented by Mr Monday Usiade, the Director, Market Development Department of the DMO, urged Nigerians to embrace investment in the various FGN Securities to enhance their earnings.

Saving is a culture we must all imbibe, and the FGN savings bond has come to help Nigerians save.

The driving force is to encourage us to save in a secure environment. The Federal Government cannot default on a loan in its own currency, she said.

The director-general said that the various FGN securities, like the Treasury Bills, FGN Bond, FGN Savings Bond, Euro Bond, Green Bond and Sovereign Sukuk, were already competing with the banks.

There is the need to challenge the banks to improve on their service delivery, she said.

According to her, the FGN savings bond is specifically designed for retail investors, and to encourage financial inclusion.

She said that government borrowing was not necessarily a problem, provided the borrowings were invested on infrastructure development and investment in the productive sector of the economy.

Earlier, Mr Fortune Ibe from CSL Stockbrokers Limited, said that the investment in FGN Securities was an additional way for Nigerians to make money.

Ibe said that the objective of the programme was to create awareness among retail investors.

The Federal Government is telling Nigerians that they can borrow their money for infrastructure and they will get interest rate on it.

The interest rates on FGN securities is higher than what the banks will give you.

With as little as N5,000, Nigerians can now invest in FGN savings bond. It is an avenue through which the government raises funds to develop infrastructure.

It also contributes to the development of the financial market, attracts foreign investors into the financial market and enhances savings and investment opportunities of the populace, he said.

NAN reports that some respondents at the programme expressed satisfaction at the various incentives and investment opportunities provided by the FGN Securities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Sunday John

Sen. Umaru Al-Makura (APC- Nasarawa ) says the choice of Sen. Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the best for Nigeria at this time given his pedigree.

Al-Makura who is a member of the Think-Tank of Tinubu for President, stated this at a meeting with various support groups from Nasarawa State for the candidate on Tuesday in Lafia.

According to the former governor, Tinubu is a soldier of democracy who alongside other patriots fought for democracy at a most risky period.

He added that the APC presidential candidate had transformed Lagos State as its governor from 1999 to 2007 to what it is now.

Tinubu will perform the magic he did to ensure law and order which transformed Lagos State if elected in 2023.

He has paid his dues to ensure democratic government in the country and it is the right to elect such a person as the president.

Tinubu is a man of ideas and will roll out ideas and assemble a strong team that would tackle the insecurity and economic problems facing the country if elected in 2023 Al-Makura added.

The former governor also lauded the delegates from the state who voted for Tinubu during the recent convention of the party in Abuja.

Al-Makura said that the campaign organisation of Tinubu is ready to partner every group to ensure a land slide victory for their candidate in the state.

Also speaking, Silas Agara, a member of the campaign organisation said delegates from Nasarawa State had made them proud at the convention.

The former Deputy governor of Nasarawa State, assured that the state would work to ensure victory for Tinubu and all APC candidates in the upcoming general elections.

Agara appealed to supporters of all other presidential aspirants to join hands and support Tinubu as the convention had come and gone.

Yusuf Omaki, Nasarawa State Coordinator, Tinubu Support Groups, lauded all the delegates as well as individuals and groups from the state for their support so far.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,000 bags of 10kg rice were distributed to different groups to celebrate the victory of their candidate at the convention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Joseph Edeh/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson

Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former APC Governorship Candidate in Edo, as a formidable leader as he clocks 60.

Tinubu in a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Tunde Rahman, on Tuesday in Lagos, also described Ize-Iyamu as a true progressive and grassroots politician.

The APC presidential candidate said, Today, I join the family, friends and associates to congratulate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as he attains 60.

He has made important contributions to Edo State and Nigeria as he has done to our party, the All Progressives Congress.

One of the founders of APC, Pastor Ize-Iyamu was Vice-Chairman of that important Constitution Drafting Committee that worked on the ground norm of APC at inception, he said.

Tinubu said that Ize-Iyamu remains active, steadfast and continues to contribute meaningfully to the party, even after losing as the APC governorship candidate in the 2020 Edo election.

He added that Ize-Iyamu had helped to organise a free, fair, transparent and credible presidential primaries as Co-Chairman of the Election Management Committee of the National Convention.

Tinubu, therefore, congratulated Ize-Iyamu on his accomplishments at 60 while wishing him many more years of robust health.

I wish Pastor Ize-Iyamu increased wisdom and Gods grace as he continues to impact lives in Edo and Nigeria, Tinubu said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Modupe Adeloyel/Olawunmi Ashafa/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The President of the Council of the European Union (EU) in Nigeria, Mrs Emmanuelle Blatmann, says the EU Presidency is committed to promoting multilateralism and renewed relations with Nigeria and other EUs partners.

Blatmann, who is also the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, said this at the handing-over ceremony of the Councils Presidency to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency which is currently, as of January held by France, will end on June 30.

Three successive presidencies of the Council are known as presidency trios. The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months.

The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period.

The current trio (20222023) is made up of France (January June 2022), Czech Republic (July December 2022) and Sweden (JanuaryJuly 2023).

According to Blatmann, the countries form atrio of presidencies with shared priorities which are protecting citizens and freedoms, especially the respect and protection of European values.

To strengthening the Schengen area and our common asylum and migration policy; promoting a European growth and investment model based on green and sustainable growth.

The strengthening of European industrial and digital sovereignty; to promoting multilateralism and renewed relations with Europespartners, she said.

The ambassador said that regarding the French Presidency, Id like to recall our three priorities: a more powerful union, provided with a defence policy and capable of guaranteeing stability and prosperity in its neighborhood.

A new European growth model aimed at innovation, ecological and digital transitions; and a rrtore nutria Il Union, promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, youth and, above all, democracy and the rule of law.

In this regard, a key moment of our presidency was the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe, with proposals on how the EU should change based on citizens ideas and recommendations.

Many young citizens took part in this consultation this year, which is the European Year of Youth, she said.

Responding, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, Mr Zdenk Kreji, said that the Unions unity was not one of an authoritarian unanimity, but a unity in diversity of a multi-voice debate.

The envoy said that in 1996, the then President of Czech, Vclav Havel, considered their continent as Charlemagne Prize ceremonial, that he stressed the tasks ahead of Europe deserve careful and thorough reflection.

According to him, in the then international context, particularly favourable to Western democracies, Havel called on Europeans to rediscover their conscience and to take responsibility for global environmental, social and economic challenges.

He did not want Europe to reclaim the position of a Global Head of Orchestra and to impose its cultural values on the rest of the world. What he had in mind was rather inspiring and leading by example.

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has completely overhauled the geopolitical situation on our continent, while demonstrating that the European Union is able to respond decisively.

The events of the last weeks and months have shown, perhaps to the surprise of many external observers, that Europeans in a crisis triggered by an external threat are able to act very quickly, effectively and in a united way.

Our culture of political dialogue and consensus-building that we have been forging for decades proves to be strength rather than a weakness of the European project.

At the same time, European unity is not one of an authoritarian unanimity, but a unity in diversity of a multi-voice debate, which, however, is driven, by our common values, towards consensus, he said. (NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

An NGO, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of tobacco industry in the countrys virtual space.

Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call in Abuja on Monday at the unveiling of a report, titled Tobacco Industry Capture of the Virtual Space in Nigeria.

Oluwafemi said that this had become necessary, as there were no elaborate safeguards in the National Tobacco Act, 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations, 2019, in relation to tobacco industrys activities in the virtual space.

The tobacco industry in Nigeria continues to skillfully exploit and circumvent the gaps in the law to operate almost without supervision in the virtual space.

Tobacco industries and their charity arms are now using the provision corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote their activities in the social media without mentioning anything about the harms of their products.

It is thus important for tobacco control advocates, policymakers and state authorities in Nigeria to note these emerging challenges and realities in order to counter and expose the tobacco industrys dominance of the virtual space, he said.

The CAPPA chief said that the report examined Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and a host of other social networking platforms used by over 100 million Nigerians between 2016 and 2021.

He added that it found that the tobacco industry and its charity arms operated unchecked in the virtual space and used it to gain favourable public rating, while mentioning nothing about the harms of their products.

CAPPA found that tobacco vendors and distributors, such as Smokehubng and Dasmokehub use their social media platforms to aggressively promote sales of tobacco products.

They also use a smoking culture which relies largely on promoting content showing Nigerian music icons smoking profusely.

We, therefore, recommend that Nigerian government should protect public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, Oluwafemi said.

According to him, this should be done in line with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in providing effective protection from public and workplace exposure for tobacco smoking.

Government should enforce penalties for Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorships (TAPS) and tobacco control violations, in compliance and accordance with the national tobacco control and policy.

It should also revoke all ministries, departments and agencies collaboration with the tobacco industry and its front groups, he said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Remi Koleoso
A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), the Stop-Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to criminalise vote trading.

The Executive Director of Stop-VAWIP, Tumininu Adedeji, made the call at the post-election joint media briefing with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Ekiti Command, on Monday in Ado-Ekiti.

The two organisations reviewed Saturdays governorship election and how women were treated before, during and after the election.

Adedeji called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to punish anyone involved in vote trading.

She maintained that the amendment would sanitise the nations electoral system and make more electorate to have confidence in the system.

Adedeji decried the alleged harassment and intimidation of some women by agents of some political parties to buy their votes during the election, saying such act could discourage many women from participating in future election.

Priority voting was not given to pregnant women and nursing mothers in all polling units.

The Electoral Act 2022 does not empower the security agencies to expressly arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.

Women were coerced by both agents of vote-buying and selling with few cases tracked and reported, hence there is need to step up the orientation and sensitisation programme to discourage electorate from vote trading.

There is a need to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) to fully criminalise vote trading (vote selling and buying), she said.

She urged government agencies to intensify efforts at promoting inter-agency synergy to curb vote trading, including a service directory for election administrators and security agencies.

Women should be encouraged and supported by government and political parties to increase their involvement in politics.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should continue its engagement in elections in Nigeria and prosecute those arrested for vote trading to the fullest to serve as deterrent to others.

The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly should pass legislation that can further strengthen womens participation in politics.

The civil societies should also increase their collaboration with NSCDC for the purpose of creating an enabling environment for women to participate in the political process without discrimination and/or fear of intimidation, she said.

Adedeji commended women for coming out in their numbers to exercise their franchise on Saturday.

She also commended all stakeholders in the election, including INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, media organisations, mobilisers and coordinators, traditional leaders, political parties and the electorate for the landmark electoral success recorded in Ekiti.

Mr Tolu Afolabi, Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Ekiti Command, said the N-alert application, the alert system devised to facilitate response to incidents of violence, was used in the state during Saturdays governorship election.

He assured that the device would also be deployed in the Osun State governorship election scheduled for July 16.

Afolabi urged the next administration in Ekiti to sustain and consolidate on the efforts of the Ekiti Women Policy and Ekiti Youth Agenda.

He stressed the need to step up orientation and sensitisation programmes to discourage vote trading, assuring that NSCDC would continue to conduct more public enlightenment on the availability and use of the N-alert application. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Nigeria Customs have emerged winners of the 2022 Mark D Ball Mens Basketball Championship in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory for Customs in the final day of the championship on Sunday meant that they ended Mo Heats fairytale run in the tourney.

Mo Heat, an Abuja-based club side, prior to the final, were yet to lose a single game in the championship having gone a total of 20 games unbeaten since the start of the tournament in February.

The game between Mo Heat and Customs was quite an intense and nervy encounter as expected, as the former Nigeria Premier League champions looked to impose their dominance early in the game.

But Mo Heat, who had earlier beaten their opponents in the final match of the Elite eight, proved a hard nut to crack in the first quarter as scores was leveled at 15-15.

The second quarter saw a more dominant Customs side try to enforce themselves in the game as they took a six-point lead in the first five minutes.

However, it was Mo Heat who finished strong with a late three-pointer for a 31-26 scoreline at the end of the quarter.

It was a family affair in the third quarter as Customs staged a late comeback to level scores at 47-47 and further stretched their lead to six points at the end of the fourth quarter.

Mo Heat had a lot of opportunities from the free throw line but squandered 12 chances out of 21 and this affected the teams performance to a large extent as Customs held on for a hard-fought 61-55 victory.

The winner pocketed a whopping sum of 2 million, while the runners up smiled home with 1.5 million.

The third place team, Gombe Bulls, who had earlier beaten Kano Pillars 67-62, settled for 1 million.

Michael Daramola was the stand-out performer for Customs, scoring 19 points, including four rebounds and one assist.

He combined well with Captain Ibe Agu who scored 17 points, including eight turnovers, four steals and one assist.

Mo Heats Bright Akhuetie was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match, with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Customs Daramola took home the award for the overall MVP, while Christopher Ewaoche of Mo Heat was given the award for the highest block shot.

The highest rebounder award went to Solomon Ezra of Nigeria Customs, while the highest assist was given to Johnson Anaiye of Mo Heat.

The top five players of the tournament were Ewaoche of Mo Heat, Dele Ademola of Kano Pillars, Agu of Nigeria Customs, Kanyinsola Odufuwa of Gombe Bulls and Michael Okiki of Mo Heat.

The mens championship, which began on Feb. 6 with a total of 24 teams, ended on Sunday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, on Monday in Abuja called for an improvement in Nigerias capacity to protect its interests during economic negotiations with other countries.

Owasanoye made call at the opening of a two-day workshop on mitigating illicit financial flows.

He said those representing Nigeria at international negotiation tables needed to hone their skills to get good deals for the country, especially in sectors and areas with positive multipliers.

He said this would impact on the economy and the well-being of Nigerians.

He stressed the need to focus on capacity building to improve negotiation skills especially in the trade and investment sector.

Nigeria requires trade and investment to grow the economy. To attain this objective, Nigeria must have the potential to harness capital and technology in a manner that is not inimical to development, he said.

He told participants that once agreement was reached on any issue, the agreement must be binding and must be respected no matter how inequitable it might be to any of the parties.

According to him, the workshop is to build the capability of those who negotiate different kinds of contracts through which corruption takes hold.

He added that there were examples where negotiators signed clauses that were not implementable and .the country was penalised for breaching agreements.

He noted that such agreements ended up in arbitration and disputes whereas those responsible had had their palms greased by the other parties.

The workshop is designed to help middle level and senior officers who negotiate agreements in specific areas such as in oil and gas, trade, investment, environment and taxation.

This is to prepare them to know what to look for to protect national interests and also to help the country to avoid deleterious clauses that lead to capital flight, Owasanoye said.

He noted that international trade agreement structures erected years ago were skewed to the advantage of colonialists.

The chairman stated that Nigeria must align with one of the ideals expressed recently by South Africas former President Thabo Mbeki championing the need to build capacity to combat illicit financial flows.

He acknowledged the support of Ford Foundation in organising the workshop.

The Foundation continues to demonstrate unquestionable commitment to the development of Nigeria through support for the civil society and selected government institutions, he noted.

In his remarks, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, said it was necessary for Nigeria to develop a crop of officials skilled in international negotiations in general as well as in key thematic sectors.

Dipeolu is Chairman, Inter-Agency Committee on Stopping Illicit Financial Flows.

He is also the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Office of the Vice-President.

The consequences of poor negotiations can range from paying twice as much as your neighbour for the same item to costing your country a billion dollars in a mining concession, he said.

He stressed that the real intention of the workshop was to imbue the young negotiators with skills and the ability to negotiate agreements that would not put the country at a disadvantage.

Some of the areas we observed that we need a lot of attention are double taxation agreements, investment promotion agreements, trade agreements, oil and gas and natural resources agreement.

The idea is to train a set of people who have skills and capabilities to get outcomes that favour our country in negotiation both at home and abroad, he said.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from middle level officers in public sector agencies who negotiate trade and economic agreements on behalf of Nigeria.

The workshop has: Capacity Building for Nigerias Negotiators for Improved Terms of Engagement with the Rest of the World as its theme. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says investigations into two oil leaks at AGIPs oilfields in Bayelsa were caused by vandalism.

The two incidents occurred at Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Yenagoa that the agency concluded Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs) to the leak sites lastweek.

He said a leakage at the 6-inch Azuzuama-Tebidaba flow line at Ikebiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was traced to third party interference.

He added that the incident suspected to be the handiwork of oil thieves occurred on June 13, while the JIV was conducted on June 14.

He said also that an estimated eight barrels of crude oil was discharged into the environment as a result of the interference.

Area of impact was inside and outside the companys right-of-way where the vegetation was impacted and repairs effected, he said.

Musa said the second incident occurred at AGIPs 6-inch Tuom-Ogboinbiri pipeline at Ayamasa in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Hacksaw cuts were seen at three different points on the pipeline just as wraps of different materials were used around the different cuts by unknown persons.

The second point was about 35 meters apart from the first point, while the third point was across a major River, he told NAN. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in the Niger Delta says it has sent additional 450 ex-agitators to train in oil spill response, clean-up and remediation.

Its Interim Administrator, retired Col. Milland Dikio, said in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Sunday that the training is in line with PAPs Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) template.

He said some of them would train in solar engineering, plumbing, electrical installations, marine, metal and wood works.

PAP had earlier sent 400 ex-agitators to various farms in the Niger Delta to learn agricultural skills, bringing the number of beneficiaries in recent times to 850.

Addressing the ex-agitators after a second batch of basic orientation course organised for them in Port Harcourt, Dikio stressed the importance of wealth creation and employment generation in the region.

He urged the beneficiaries to take their training seriously so as to become employable and also become employers.

Dikio maintained that the era of crying over lack of opportunities was over and appealed to them to take advantage of the training to secure their future.

He said that PAP was in a hurry to make new millionaires and billionaires in the Niger Delta.

The statement quoted an ex-agitator, Pastor Nature Dumale Kieghe who shared his experience with the beneficiaries as saying he became successful after shunning his old ways.

I was rejected by even my own family members because of my lifestyle. I was a lost child.

No one could ever believe that I could be saved, but here I am today with so much to show for turning around from my evil ways.

I have travelled round the world, speaking to people about the dangers of engaging in destructive acts. You too can be like me if not better, he said.

The statement was issued by Mr Neotabase Egbe, Special Adviser to Dikio.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By David Adeoye

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday charged traditional rulers to join hands with the state and federal governments to ensure adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians.

Osinbajo gave the charge in Ibadan at a programme organised by a socio- cultural group, Yoruba World Centre, to celebrate Olubadn of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Baloguns first 100 days on the stool.

The vice-president, who was represented by a legal luminary, Niyi Akintola, said the charge became necessary for peace and tranquillity to reign across the country.

He said traditional rulers should also prioritise promotion of culture and tradition, saying this would enhance peaceful coexistence and encourage brotherhood.

Osinbajo charged Yoruba people, whom he described aspeople of honour and integrity, notto give room to those who try to destabilise our brotherliness through the display of abnormal acts; that is not who we are.Omoluabis (well-bred); we have respect for culture and tradition; we respect our elders; we cherish and encourage mutual progress for peace and tranquillity in our communities and in the nation.

He eulogised Oba Balogun, saying for many decades, the Olubadn had shown to be a leader who deeply cared for the common man, for progress and for the development of the nation.

He charged Oba Balogun, as custodian of the ancient culture and traditions of Ibadan, to continue to embody the best valuethat the people of Ibadan hold.

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadn of Ibadan, commended organisers of the event for promoting Yoruba culture.

Ladoja, who was represented by Chief Sarafadeen Ali, congratulatedOba Balogun on his 100 days as Olubadn of Ibadan.

He said the event further demonstrated that there is harmony and unity among the Yoruba.

He prayed that Kabiyesi would live long on the throne to witness reigning years.

Earlier, one of the organisers, Mr Adebayo Alao, publisher of Alaroye Newspaper, said the event was put together to showcase the rich culture of Yoruba people and also to celebrate Oba Balogun on his 100 days on the stool.

Alao said the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition was capable of creating job opportunities for Yoruba sons and daughters.

Oba Balogun, in his remarks, appreciated the Yoruba World Centre and well-wishers that attended the programme in his honour.

He pledged to support all activities towards the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the occasion were different cultural performancessuch as Bata sequences, Esa Eegun and Oriki.

Among dignitaries in attendance wereOba Adedokun Bolarinwa, Orangun of Oke-Ila and representativeof Oba Adeyeye Eniitan, the Ooni of Ife. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Mmaduakolam Gregg

The General Secretary, Gods Kingdom Society (GKS), Minister Benedict Hart, on Sunday in Abuja, called on the Christians and Muslims to take adequate precautionary measures to protect their places of worship.

Hart made the call on Sunday in Gwagwalada, at the church annual Listeners Forum, a programme designed to have a one-on-one interaction with the people.

According to Hart, the programme started in 1978 with one television station but has now spread to many radio and television station across the country.

He said that the programme was a continuous event and having held the June edition in Gwagwalada, the next edition would be held at another location.

He urged Christians and Muslims to take security steps to protect their worship places to guard against attacks by insurgents and bandits.

He said that churches and mosques should always have security men around their premises, whenever they had service or other activities to protect them in addition to calling on God for ultimate protection.

He said that every member of the congregation should always be security conscious and vigilant to identify strange faces entering their premises to perpetrate evil.

Christians and Muslims should always give themselves to prayers to God because He always protects His people, he said.

According to him, the faithful need to be more prayer now than ever before as the insecurity being witnessed around the world points to end time signs the Bible talks about.

Luke Chapter 21 verses 25 to 26 says: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.

Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

He advised Churches and Mosques to install modern technological gadgets like Close Circuit Cameras (CCTVs) in their premises as part to measures to enhance the security of their members and property.

Earlier, Minister Orighoye Obelikpeyah, who is in charge of North Central Zone, of GSK, also advised Nigerians to vote in leaders that had the fear of God in the coming 2023 general elections.

According to him, Nigerians should vote the leaders who would use the commonwealth of the people for the generality of the people saying this is the only panacea for the challenges the country is facing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Yunusa Ishola/Idowu Gabriel

Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner of the Saturdays Ekiti Governorship election.

Declaring the winner, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, said Oyebanji polled a total of 187, 057 to win the election.

He said that Oyebanji had certified the law and was, therefore, declared the winner.

That I, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer of the Ekiti 2022 Governorship Election held on June 18.

That Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of APC, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned, Adebowale declared.

The INEC Returning Officer, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, while given the break down of the total votes scored by the participated political parties, said that Mr Segun Oni, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, scored 82, 211, to come second.

According to him, others were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Bisi Kolawole, who polled 67,457; Accord (A) scored 166; African Action Congress (AAC) 409; All Progressives Grand Alliance,(APGA) 17 while Action Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 141 votes.

Also, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) scored 5,597; Allied Peoples Movement (APM) -290; Labour Party (LP) polled 195 votes; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) scored 529 and National Rescue Movement (NRM) 347.

The rest were, Young Progressives Party (YPP)-618; All Peoples Party (APP) polled 1,980 and Zenith Labour Party,(ZLP) polled 282; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) polled 856.

According to the INEC Returning Officer, the total numbers of registered voters were 989,224, accredited voters, 363,438, valid votes were, 351865 and voided votes were 8888.

However, the Ekiti South West Local Government area Collation Officer, Prof. Gbolagade Jonathan, said there were issues of ballot snatching at Ward 6 , Units 5 and 7.

Jonathan, while given his reports, said they were about sorting the results when gunmen stormed the affected units and started shooting sporadically making the people to run for safety, while they carted away the ballot boxes in the process.

He explained that the two affected units had a total numbers of accredited voters of 266 and 128 respectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Tanzania beat defending champions Kenya by 44 runs to win the 8th KwibukaT20 Cricket Tournament in Kigali on Saturday.

The game at the Gahanga cricket oval in the Rwandan capital city saw Tanzania winning the toss and opting to bat first.

They went on to score 114 runs, all out in 20 overs.

Kenya came in to bat in the second innings, scoring 70 runs all out in 20 overs for Tanzania to win by 44 runs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tanzania went unbeaten in the tournament, winning eight matches in all.

At the end of the game, Queentor Abel, captain of the Kenyan team, promised that they hope to be back stronger.

I am proud of the team. We will come back stronger, Abel said.

On her part, Fatuma Omary Kibasu, captain of Tanzania, appreciated the team for the victory adding the next edition will see us better.

Meanwhile, Uganda emerged third while hosts Rwanda came fourth.

Nigeria finished fifth, Brazil sixth and Germany seventh, while Botswana ended bottom of the standings.

The tournament, which is in memory of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, began on June 9 and ended on Saturday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in partnership with International Labour Organisation (ILO) offered free medical services to residents of Ndakwo community, beside Sunny Vale, FCT, Abuja on Saturday.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, told newsmen that the essence of the outreach was to give back to the society and carry out part of the congresss social responsibility.

Represented by Deborah Yusuf, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, FCT Chapter, Wabba said the outreach was the fifth in FCT.

He said NLC is standing in for Nigerian workers, and then in collaboration with ILO, this is a special outreach; this is the fifth time we are organising community outreach, it is all about giving back to the society.

It is part of our Corporate Social Responsibilities. We have workers everywhere, we are trying to give back to them, including their relations.

This outreach is very important and it is coming at this particular period not because of anything but we learnt that the people really need medical assistance.

Wabba said that they had various stations for registration and screening for HIV/AIDS, adding that it was important that people knew their HIV status.

He added that the group also educate people about knowing their HIV status, negative or positive, and to know that being positive is not a death sentence.

According to him, if anyone turns out positive, NLC will take the person to referral centre and follow-up so that the person will be placed on drugs and necessary investigations.

Wabba stated that the medical team would also do a confirmatory test if anyone was found to be HIV positive during the screening, adding that there was a team of experts handling that.

The NLC president also disclosed that part of the medical team on ground were those administering COVID-19 vaccine.

He said there were various brands of the vaccine such as Pifzer, Astrazeneca and Johnson and Johnson.

According to him, COVID-19 is a world health emergency that has affected everybody, and that the congress is using the outreach to also create awareness about the pandemic.

Expressing happiness with the turnout of people for the outreach, Wabba said that the congress was equally using the medium to educate people on the need to stay safe.

He said that part of the services the congress was offering were blood pressure and sugar checks, adding that people needed to check their status to avoid emergency.

Wabba said many people were down as a result of diabetes, and people had also collapsed as a result of BP, adding that all these diseases necessitated the need to screen people.

He said there was also consultation station, adding that people would be given drugs within the reach of the congress.

He explained that if there was any need for referral, such a person would be referred to any medical facility, and that there were laboratory scientists and nurses responsible for various tasks. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited bty Chidinma Agu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

Mr Joseph Edgar, Executive Chairman, Duke of Shomolu Productions, has decried the sharp disconnect between Nigerias youths and countrys past.

Edgar, whose firm specialises in producing and staging historically-backed plays, particularly lamented that most youths had no idea of what happened even few years ago.

We have interacted with youths and found their knowledge of the past either totally non-existent, or abysmally low. This is scary and just unacceptable, he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Lagos.

We have to know where we are coming from so as to have a small chance of getting it right as a nation.

There is paucity of history. There is a detour. The youths are too busy with the Internet and have no idea where we are coming from. If we dont know where we are coming from, we cant know where we are going because we have no history or precedence to learn from.

He regretted that most youths in Lagos, for instance, do not know anything about Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the state governor between 1979 and 1983.

Some of these youths live in Lateef Jakande Estate. Some live on Lateef Jakande Road and even attend schools named after the governor, but you ask them who he is and why schools, Estates and edifices are named after him, they dont know, he fumed.

Edgar said that such ignorance of history was the reason why his outfit was focusing on staging plays on historical events that seek to recreate and refresh Nigerias past so as to connect same with the present to help the youths to couch out a future.

He said that the outfit had staged plays on Obafemi Awolowo (Awo), Olusegun Obasanjo (Aremu), Emotan, among others, while a Play on Emir Sanusi I and 11 would be staged in Lagos and Abuja in August, to be followed by one on Ladi Kwali.

Shedding more light on the Emir Sanusi Play titled: Emir Sanusi Truth in Clay, he said it focuses on the unseen hands in the tide of humans.

It is a scary story about fate. When he was being installed, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 11 declared that his wish was to die on the throne. That suggests an element of destiny that he may not see it to the end.

It is very intriguing. The grandchildren of those that played a role in the dethronement of his grandfather (Emir Sanusi I), were those that dethroned the grandson (Emir Sanusi II).

The two traditional rulers were both misunderstood and their dethronements created a lot of misunderstanding inside and outside Kano. Naturally, a lot happened that people dont know.

The dethronements and the circumstances around them had far-reaching consequences in and around that powerful Fulani family with a huge effect on the relationship between the family and the Fulani race on one hand, and between the Fulani and other groups in northern Nigeria.

The Play is really interesting and everyone is anxious to watch it on stage. Everyone is curious.

He explained that the Play would depict the lives, drama and intrigues surrounding the dethronement, leaning heavily on the eye witness account of the Dogarai (place guards), who served both Emirs.

The Play will excitedly work very assiduously through the very colorful traditions and culture of the Fulani and other people of Northern Nigeria, in its bid to foster an equivocal retelling of a very compelling story.

Through some of the most enigmatic storytelling, the Play will explosively carry audiences through a voyage of rediscovery, taking them through the sacrifices made by both subjects as they waltzed through a market of misunderstanding leading up to what seemed like a predestined and epocal climax, he said.

He said that the National Troupe of Nigeria had already endorsed the production and would be partnering in its execution.

According to Edgar, Emir Sanusi 11 has confirmed his readiness to attend the play performances that would be directed by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, generally regarded as an institutional pillar of Nigerian theatre.

He said that the Play had more than 26 sponsors including First Bank, UBA, Sterling Bank and Purple, a major estate conglomerate.

NAN quotes Mrs Mofoluwake Edgar, Managing Director of the firm, as stating recently in Lagos that the outfit had emerged the biggest purveyors of historically-backed stage productions in Nigeria.

With over 12 productions, including Ufok Ibaan, Isale Eko and Emotan, to mention a few, our firm continues to push its vision of retelling our national historical stories to a new generation in a firm bid to foster national reawakening using the arts as a strong vehicle of delivery.

As part of the vision, the firm has pulled in respected directors like Makinde Adeniran, William Benson and Segun Adefila as it pursues its vision of excellence, she added.

She was further quoted as saying that more than 100,000 Nigerians had physically seen the productions that had thrown up one of the largest collections of theatrical images on the continent. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The President, Sickle Cell Aid Foundation, Ms Elmer Aluge, says early diagnosis of the Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) disease is key to ensuring that patients live normal lives.
Aluge said this on Saturday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Red Umbrella Walk to commemorate the 2022 World Sickle Cell Day.
World Sickle Cell Day is commemorated on June 19 every year to raise awareness about the disorder and bring to the fore, measures that could be taken to avoid or manage it.
The theme for the 2022 celebration is Sickle Cell Disorder: Importance of Self Care.
Aluge, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs in Nigeria, said early detection would help patients to begin to receive treatment early enough and avoid complications later in life.
She said we are advocating for early diagnosis in babies in Nigeria because with this, we will know whether the genotype is SC or SS or if they have the sickle cell trait at all.
Once that is identified early, patients can start receiving treatment and treatment prevents prolonged issues or complications in the future.
Also, people with the disorder can live as long as they need to in Nigeria if they have access to quality healthcare from an early age.
She, therefore, called for affordable medicare for people living with the condition, noting that a Sickle Cell Bill, which passed third reading at the National Assembly had been in the works since 2015.
She added that sickle cell patients cannot access health insurance on low premiums because they are seen as high risk so we need their premiums to be reduced so that they can access it and maintain their health on a regular level.
Our educational system should accommodate patients that have to be in hospital for extended periods of time to be able to take their examinations outside the classroom.
We want offices to understand that not everyone can sit in air cconditioned environment from morning till night, so providing more enabling environment or even office blankets for people that have this ddisorderwill greatly assist.
Aluge said that living with the disorder was not a death sentence, adding that Non-Governmental Organisations were trying to champion the narrative that patients could live and thrive with it, if they were aware of their symptoms and found avenues to support themselves.
She also said that the coalition was looking forward to seeing government, health agencies, financial institutions help in eradicating the stigma around sickle cell and also provide financial opportunities to patients to be able to get jobs and access to health insurance.
Josephine Olunaike, Founder, Beulah Sickle Cell Foundation, said that the Red umbrella walk was to create awareness about the disorder.
According to her, there is high rate of newborns with the disorder in Nigeria, indicating that awareness about the disorder is low.
On stigmatisation, the 50-yyea-old sickle cell warrior, said it was still much in existence.
She added that a lot of people still think that it is a spiritual problem or a curse for the parents as punishment for something they have done, they are still making incisions on children, teachers too stigmatise them in school.
So, it is still there, though it is better than what it used to be when we were growing up when they would bring some pastors to come and flog it out of us. It is better now but still existing.
For 11-year-old Nafisat Oladele, living with the disease is not a big deal as far as she knows her limits and is ready to abide by them.
She said that she only confirmed two years ago that she had the disorder when she had a major crisis.
At first, I did not know I had the disorder but when I finally did, I already knew what to take and my mum usually makes sure I complete my dose of medicines. It has not really been terrible but it could be better.
I found out when I was 16. I am not sickly though and do not usually have crisis but my parents knew but did not tell me and in my mind I did not see myself as one with the disorder so when I had the crisis I requested for a test and that was when I confirmed it.
She, however, advised those living with it to accept it because it is not the end of the world.
She added that they should ensure they took their medications when due and not succumb to peer pressure.
Do not say this is what my friends are doing so I want to do it knowing fully well that you do not have the capacity to do it because of the stress.
Just know yourself and keep to your limits. It is not really a big deal, Oladele said.
NAN reports that Sickle Cell Disorder is a genetic disease that affects red blood cells and changes them into stiff, sticky, sickle cells that blocks blood flow and can cause pain and tissue damage.
June 19th was officially designated by the United Nations in 2008 as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day to recognise the disease as a public health problem and to promote education about its genetic condition. (NAN(www.nannews.ng)
FOF/JOY/HA
Edited by Joy Mbachi/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

, though it is better than what it used to be when we were growing up when they would bring some pastors to come and flog it out of us. It is better now but still existing.
For 18 year old Nafisat Oladele, living with the disease is not a big deal as far as she knows her limits and is ready to abide by them.
She said that she only confirmed two years ago that she had the disorder when she had a major crisis.
At first I did not know I had the disorder but when I finally did due to an experience I already knew what to take, water, medications and my mum usually makes sure I complete my dose of medicines. It has not really been terrible but it could be better.
I found out when I was 16. I am not sickly though and do not usually have crisis but my parents knew but did not tell me and in my mind I did not see myself as one with the disorder so when i had the crisis I requested for a test and that was when I confirmed it.
She, however, advised those living with it to accept it because it is not the end of the world.
She added that they should ensure they took their medications when due and not succumb to peer pressure.
Do not say this is what my friends are doing so I want to do it knowing fully well that you do not have the capacity to do it because of the stress.
Just know yourself and keep to your limits. It is not really a big deal, Oladele said.
NAN reports that Sickle Cell Disease, is a genetic disease that affects Red Blood Cells and changes them into stiff, sticky, sickle cells that blocks blood flow and can cause pain and tissue damage
June 19th was officially designated by the United Nations in 2008 as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, to recognise the disease as a public health problem and to promote education about its genetic condition. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Gender and Election Watch (GEW), an initiative of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), says it has deployed personnel to observe womens participation in Saturdays Ekiti gubernatorial election.

This is contained in a statement by Mufuliat Fijabi, Chief Executive Officer, GEW, on Friday in Abuja.

Fijabi said that the intention was to appraise the participation of women during the election.

The GEW, an initiative of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and a member of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation room is in Ekiti to observe the governorship election scheduled for Saturday from a gender angle.

This strategic initiative has been put in place to gather information and carryout analysis about womens participation in the Ekiti election in comparison to men.

To this end NWTF GEW has deployed accredited and citizens observers across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti for the election.

They are to observe and assess how all elements of the election process can affect women in general, she said.

According to her, the group will also focus on the preparedness of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the level of readiness of women to participate in the election.

She said that there would also be a close assessment against the background of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

The NWTF GEW Room will also be observing the conduct of all relevant stakeholders from a gender aspect, she said.

She said that of the 16 governorship candidates in the state, only two are women, while seven female are deputy governorship candidates.

This is a pointer to the extent of inclusion of women in Ekiti governorship election, she said.

She added that the situation in the state was calm with reports of high enthusiasm by the electorate.

INEC s distribution of sensitive materials is steady and under controlshe said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

By Angela Atabo

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said its data from election observation from Ekiti indicated that 86 per cent of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrived at their polling units by 8:30am.

Prof. Adele Jinadu, Chair, Centre for Democracy and Development , Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), made this known in the centres preliminary statement on the conduct of the ongoing Ekiti Governorship Election.

Jinadu said that the centre had been closely observing the election after CDD-EAC deployed 205 trained and accredited observers to the field for data collection.

According to him, the CDD-EAC observation of the election has the objective of ascertaining if the election is free, fair, credible and reflects the supremacy of the vote of the Ekiti electorate.

He added that the CDD-EAC also set up a fake news hub aimed at tracking and fact-checking misinformation and disinformation capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

He said that, Reports from CDD field observers indicate that the general atmosphere in which the election is being conducted has been peaceful.

Voting has largely proceeded smoothly without any reported incidents of violence or disruption of the process.

The Electronic Observer Platform further showed that 74 per cent of INEC poll officials addressed voters before the 8:30am official time of poll opening.

CDD-EAC observers also reported a significant increase in the number of female INEC officials, with the data showing that eight polling units had poll officials who were exclusively female.

Jinadu said that the CDD-EAC data further showed that while four polling units had no female at all; all the others had both male and female INEC officials present.

He said that CDD-EAC data indicated that in at least 83 per cent of polling units; critical election materials like ballot papers, BVAS devices, results sheets, ballot boxes and the voter register were available.

He said that in most of the polling units, CDD-EAC observers did not see or report any form of campaigning; however, in 11.3 per cent of polling units campaigns and display of campaign materials was reported.

He said that the data showed that all polling units reported the presence of at least one party agent. However in Polling Unit 003, Ward 06 in Ekiti West LGA, only one party had an agent.

Jinadu said that CDD-EAC data showed that in all 168 Polling Units, BVAS was available; however in polling unit 010 Ward 10, in Irepodun Ifelodun LGA, there was no BVAS at the time when poll was expected to commence.

He added that the CDD-EAC Fake News Hub tracked and fact-checked a number of fake news and misinformation trending on election day. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Bolanle Lawal

Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ekiti, on Saturday expressed optimism that he would win the election.

Oyebanji made the assertions on Saturday after casting his vote, along with his wife, Olayemi, at the Ward 6, Unit 3, Okelele in Ikogosi-Ekiti.

He also commended the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) on the newly introduced machine for improving on the electoral process through the Bimodal Voter Authentication System technology innovation (BIVA).

He said that introduction of the system had made the election process to be faster and credible.

The APC candidate also commended the large turn out of voters and the peaceful conduct of the election in his town.

Oyebanji expressed confidence that he would win the keenly contested election.

Oyebanji hailed the voters for enthusiastically trooping out en masse to cast their votes, saying there wasnt any case of apathy with the reports he had been getting across the 177 wards

This is an improvement and my expectation is that I will win. I am happy that there was no case of apathy.

The security build up has also been impressive, so the process has been good and fine.

I am coming with a change agenda and my manifesto is clear about the changes I am bringing, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News