By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned political thugs and vote buyers against acts that could destabilise Saturdays Osun gubernatorial election.

Deputy Commandant General (DCG) in charge of Operations, Mr Dauda Mungadi, gave the warning while addressing officers and men of the corps in Osogbo on Friday.

Mungadi said that the warning cut across hoodlums, ballot box snatchers and those with intentions to distablise the security plans of agencies.

Preventing vote buying is a collective responsibility as we are to ensure enforcement with our strategies on how to address those caught vote buying.

Those with such intentions to destabilise the peaceful process of the election should relocate out of Osun or face the wrath of the law.

The corps will not condone any breech of peace during the election, he said.

The DCG urged operatives deployed to the state to remain disciplined, apolitical and good ambassadors of the corps.

According to him, anyone found perpetrating unethical conduct will face sanctions.

He noted that the corps had established an anti-vote buying squad to work in synergy with other anti-fraud agencies.

He further said that the corps was partnering sister agencies to ensure a hitch-free poll and to guarantee crime free environment.

The head of operations called on citizens to contact the corps through its toll-free numbers: 08060003181,08032898909 and N-alert number: 080046837467.

Download the N-alert, click on it, select a preferred language which will enable the situation room contact the right operatives, he said.

Mungadi said that the situation room was a proactive measure to swiftly respond to emergencies and rescue probable victims of electoral violence.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Staff, Liberian Armed Forces, Maj.-Gen. Charles Johnson, has called for more supports in the area of training and cooperation from the Nigerian Army.

Johnson made the call when he visited the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya on Friday in Abuja.

He said that Liberia had enjoyed great support from Nigerian military given its history in contending with conflicts in the 1990s.

Liberian military chief said that since the formation of the nations military after years of protracted conflict in 2005, a large number its officers had continue received trainings in Nigeria.

He said the visit was to seek for more support and cooperation from Nigerian army to enable the Liberian military develop its capacity.

He thanked the Nigerian army for the role it played in bring about peace and stability to Liberia as well as developing its military.

According to him, the 17 years of relative peace in Liberia today is because of the sacrifices from the men and women of the Nigerian military.

Our visit her is to see how we can cement that relationship, how we can tap from your experience and request for more training of our officers looking at the contemporary threats we have in our region.

Responding, the COAS Yahaya commended the Liberian military chief for the visit and pledged to continue to uphold the ties that had existed between the two armies.

Yahaya said the Nigerian army would provide support where needed considering the current security threats confronting the West African subregion.

He said pledged to provide more training opportunities for the Liberian military in its training institutions like the Army War College, School of Infantry and Artillery School.

He said that all the serving principal staff officers of Nigerian army had served in peacekeeping mission in Liberia, adding that doors were open for more collaboration and support.

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation also paid similar visit to the Defence and other services headquarters as well as some military institutions. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Ogalue

The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu, has expressed optimism that the recently concessioned Onitsha River Port will impact positively on the nations economy.

Moghalu made the expression, while formally handing over the port to Dr George Nwangwu, the Managing Director, Universal Elysium Consortium and concessionaire of the port in Abuja on Friday.

We are here to formalise the handover of the Onitsha port that has been formally concessioned because the agreement for the concession has been signed.

And what we are doing now is to give the concessionaire the instrument of authority to enable him move into the port and put it to active use.

The port we believe is a very strong Federal Government asset.

On our own part, we are very excited because I believe this is the very first successful PPP arrangement in the maritime sector. I am not sure if anyone has happened.

Ones again I congratulate you and formally sign the papers.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Met Office of the United Kingdom (UK), the countrys national weather service, on Friday issued a red warning for extreme heat, the highest-level alert.

The alert, issued for the first time ever, is an upgrade from an amber warning that has been put in place until the end of Tuesday.

Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking, temperatures are likely on Monday, then again on Tuesday, it said.

The highest temperature recorded in the UK so far was 38.7 degrees Celsius at Cambridge Botanic Garden in July 2019.

The Met office said it expects population-wide adverse health effects, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life. (Xinhua/NAN)()

Edited by Ummul Idris/Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Saudi Arabia on Friday announced a decision to open its air space to all air carriers.

The countrys General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the decision meets Saudi Arabias dedication to fulfilling its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944.

The Convention stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircrafts used in international air navigation.

The decision consolidates the Kingdoms position as a global hub connecting three continents and enhancing international air connectivity.

Earlier, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid applauded the Saudi Arabian decision on its decision to open the airspace.

This is the first step. We will continue to work with due caution, for the Israeli economy, its security and for the citizens of Israel, Lapid said in a statement released by his office.

Israeli airlines previously could not travel over Saudi airspace due to a ban, making flights to regions like Asia costlier and longer.

The announcement comes on the same day Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday.

Bidens visit is his first to the Kingdom and the Middle East since becoming president.

He will meet Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the countrys Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. (Xinhua/NAN)()

Edited by Ummul Idris/Uche Anunne

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the Federal Government to set up a special task force to tackle insecurity as part of the plans to address food shortages.

Mr Kabir Ibrahim, National President of AFAN, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday.

He said there was a nexus between insecurity in many parts of the country and food security.

He said addressing the nations security challenges would go a long way in checking the skyrocketing prices of food items.

Ibrahim advised that the special task force should be made up of various security agencies and organisations in the country.

He said membership of the task force should include National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Heads of the army, Air force and Navy.

The membership should also include Civil Defence Corps, the DSS, police, Miyetti Allah, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, AFAN, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

Also, to be included in the team should be The National Assembly, Judiciary, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Sultan of Sokoto; and youth and women leaders.

The President should inaugurate this task force and charge it to come up with tangible results within a timeline of 12 weeks from the date of inauguration, Ibrahim said.

The AFAN president advised that the task force should be under the direct control of the Food Security Council.

According to him, if this is done, insecurity will no longer hinder farmers from seamlessly accessing their farms.

The issue of banditry and kidnapping should be addressed through non-kinetic means because it is obvious that the kinetic approach is not yielding very good results, he said.

Ibrahim said the last seven years had witnessed the evolution of Agriculture Promotion Policy, the CBNs Anchor Borrower Programme, the National Agricultural Land Development Agency(Integrated farms), and several windows of Credit.

He also said that Social Safety Nets, Medium Term Development Plan 2021-2015, signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) also came on board.

Interventions by the African Development Bank, Development Partners among others were also witnessed.

Unfortunately, the food sufficiency and the much desired food security is still a mirage, he said.

Ibrahim said the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of synergy between stakeholders in the agriculture sector, among other challenges contributed to the current weak food system in Nigeria, adding that they could be addressed through the task. (NAN)()

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Uche Anunne

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

Ms May Ikokwu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Save Our Heritage Initiative, an NGO, on Friday called for empowerment of youths through skills acquisition to create wealth and end insecurity.

Ikokwu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day, in Abuja.

She expressed concern over the spate of insecurity, drug abuse and other vices among youths, noting that empowering them with adequate skills was imperative for growth and development of the country.

According to her, many young persons are wasting away as a result of joblessness, a factor that has been largely responsible for the increase in crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.

She called on government to devise means of taking the youths out of the streets through productive engagement.

Many of the youths roaming the streets are endowed with different talents waiting to be harnessed to national advantage, she said.

Ikokwu urged federal and state governments to act fast, not just to save the youths from redundancy, but create wealth through skills acquisition.

The youths of today are our future and heritage. It is our duty to ensure that their potentials are fully captured, she said.

NAN reports that the World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on July 15, of every year, after the United Nations announcement of its existence in 2014.

The objective of the World Youth Skills Day is to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Source: NAN News

he National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS) says N400 billion has been approved for various poverty reduction schemes in 2022.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Steering Committee of NPRGS on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had in 2021, inaugurated NPRGS to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Sule said the meeting was to review the implementation of what was approved in the budget.

It is a meeting of the steering committee of the Presidential Poverty and Growth Strategy.

The last meeting we had, the fourth meeting, we were able to set up various working groups that we are going to prepare total budget that was required.

So, they were able to do that and then we were able to obtain also the presidents approval.

Based on the presidents approval and availability in the budget, so this meeting that we had was actually just to go through the implementation of whatever has been approved, both in the budget and by the president.

He said the first highlight of the meeting was to commend the technical groups that had been able to put up together their budget request.

The governor listed some of the programmes through which the Federal Government was implementing theNPRGS.

Looking at what is available in the budget this year, which is roughly N400 billion, the Humanitarian Ministry is going to take N350 billionfor the expansion of the various programmes likeGovernment Enterprise and Empowerment Programme(GEEP), Conditional Cash Transfer, Farmer Money, Market Money and the rest of that.

There is also another N50 billion that is going to be reserved for the various other programmes like in the Ministry of Agriculture for rural roads, electricity in terms of solar.

Those are the various areas that we discussed, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports thatPresident Muhammadu Buhari on June 22, 2021 inaugurated the committee tasked with driving the target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has promised that two special mission aircraft in the Deep Blue Project fleet will be deployed to fight oil theft.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director~General of NIMASA, who made this known in a statement in Lagos on Thursday, added that the move would protect the nations economy.

He made this known at the recently-held 16th edition of the Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council.

According to Jamoh, oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining are unlawful activities threatening the economic and environmental well-being of the country.

He said the aircraft from the mobile assets of the Deep Blue Project would support existing platforms being deployed by other security agencies, which NIMASA had memorandum of understanding with.

Jamoh said that the aircraft would assist in patrolling oil facilities, installations and other assets to observe suspicious human and vessel movements.

Jamoh, while restating the agencys commitment to a crime-free and secure maritime domain, reminded participants at the seminar of President Muhammadu Buharis interest in rebuilding stakeholders and investors confidence in the countrys maritime sector.

Approval of the president for procurement of the assets, his coming to commission them in Lagos, and their deployment for security duties have contributed immensely to the fight against maritime crimes.

We shall be deploying our two special mission aircraft for aerial surveillance to prevent and fight oil theft in the country.

With this, we aim at using the aircraft to patrol sensitive areas, record suspicious human and vessel movements to process intelligence for timely action by our security agencies.

The oil industry is critical to our national economy and no space of the sector should be left for criminals to occupy or operate in, he said.

The director-general said that NIMASA had recorded gains in maritime security efforts but noted that more would need to be done to sustain and consolidate on the gains.

I am happy to state that our synergies have been beneficial to the country in many ways, Jamoh said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CAN/OIF/IGO

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ijeoma Popoola

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has described as false, the news going round in some media outlets, that Nigeria failed the World Bank Disclosure Rule.

According to a statement by the DMO on Thursday to clarify the situation, there has been no publication by the World Bank accusing Nigeria of failing its disclosure rule.

The statement was a response to recent media reports which indicated that the World Bank accused Nigeria of failure to publish its Annual Borrowing Plans (ABP).

The office said that Nigeria is one country that had imbibed the principle of transparency in public debt.

The website of the focal agency for this purpose, the DMO, is frequented by diverse individuals and institutions within and outside Nigeria, searching for information on Nigerias public debt.

The DMOs website is filled with detailed information on public debt, including debt by source, instrument, maturity, amongst others.

The website also includes debt management strategy and debt sustainability analysis, it said.

Faulting some specific claims in the report, the DMO said that the countrys annual borrowing plans were usually contained in the annual budgets.

The total borrowings are listed in three categories new domestic borrowings; new external borrowings and draw down bilateral and multilateral loans.

The public debt stock is published quarterly on the DMOs website. This is supported by periodic physical and virtual media briefing sessions, it said.

It added that guaranteed debt (contigent liabilities) were listed by name and amount in its website.

It said that information on recently contracted loans were as at Dec. 31, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2020.

Instrument coverage is comprehensive as borrowing instruments for external and internal debts are disclosed in the quarterly debt reports and annual reports, both of which are published in the DMOs website, it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in Dec. 31, 2021, the DMO announced at a press briefing in Abuja, that the countrys total debt stock was N39.6 trillion.

The office also recently announced in its website that the total debt stock had increased to N41.6trillion by March 31, 2022. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has disbursed starter packs to no fewer than 42 unemployed graduates in Ebonyi.

The beneficiaries participated in the NDEs Community Based Training Scheme, (CBTS) and School on Wheel (SOW) programme.

Alhaji Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, Director-General of NDE, made the disbursement at a resettlement ceremony on Thursday in Abakaliki.

Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by the NDE Coordinator in Ebonyi, Mr Don Anaba, said that 20 graduands of CBTS and 22 SOW participant benefited from the disbursement.

He explained that the beneficiaries had undergone and completed training on different skills, which include fashion designing, catering, make-up, hair dressing, electrical installation, barbing among others.

The graduands have all undergone in-depth training in various skills. Today, we are giving them tools and equipment, relating to their skills as loan packages.

The objective of this project is to establish competent artisans in both rural and semi-urban areas who would, in turn become self-employed and further create wealth and reduce poverty.

I urge the unemployed youths in Ebonyi to continue to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by NDE to acquire skills and exit joblessness, he said.

Mr Isa Abdul, NDEs Director of Vocational Skill Development (VSD), charged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment and become self-reliance.

Abdul, represented by Mr Obioha Ananaba, Head of the Department, VSD, Ebonyi, stressed the importance of skill acquisition to nation building.

I commend you, the beneficiaries on your commitment during the training . I urge you to make good use of what you have learnt and support the Federal Governments efforts on job creation.

As you have received the starter packs; they are not for sell. Invest with it and become self-reliance and employer of labour, Abdul advised.

The Ebonyi Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Mrs Ann Aligwe, represented by her Special Assistant, Mr Innocent Ekechi, commended the Federal Governments efforts on job creations through NDE.

Aligwe said that the state government would continue to partner NDE in the fight against unemployment.

A beneficiary, Mrs Rose Okafor, who was trained on hair-dressing thanked the Federal Government for initiating the scheme and pledged to make good use of the equipment. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

By Aderemi Bamgbose

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ondo State, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, has defended the partys presidential standard bearer, Bola Tinubus choice of Sen. Kashim Shetima as his running mate, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu had, on July 10, unveiled Shettima, a former two-term governor of Borno, as his vice-presidential candidate, with the decision generating mixed reactions from Nigerians.

Kalejaiye, in a telephone interview with NAN on Thursday in Okitipupa, Ondo State, said that by picking Shettima, Tinubu had only explored the available option, based on his political calculation on wining the presidential election.

Kalejaiye, who is also the APC Spokesman in the state, said that Tinubu must have gone through serious consultations with an array of Christian political friends, ardent supporters and allies before settling for the former Borno governor.

He noted that a few months ago, the initial clamour was for power to shift to the South, which, he said, APC had acceded to.

It behooves the candidate to look at the array of eminently qualified party stalwarts from the North and pick the one he believes can assist him in winning the presidential election.

Many people have curiously refused to demonstrate understanding over the matter. And it is simple; a politician will always explore avenues open to him in his political calculations, all aimed at winning election.

This is exactly what happened in 1993 when the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola opted for Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe as his running mate and this was without any objection from any quarters on the choice of Muslim-Muslim for the election.

Before him, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, contested on a Christian-Christian ticket with Chief Philip Umeadi and nobody raised any eyebrow, he said.

According to him, even though some people had expressed displeasure with the option, the party will continue to educate its members, supporters and Nigerians in general on the why it is the choice, given the present circumstance in the country.

Kalejaiye described APC as a disciplined party that would not take Nigerians for granted, urging people to look beyond the Muslim-Muslim ticket but focus on the quality of the running mate and his readiness to team up with him to provide good governance.

The APC chieftain expressed optimism on the partys chances at the poll, owing to its formidable structure and intimidating membership, with high degree of stability in terms of internal rancour.

It is my candid opinion that we should give it to Tinubu that he must have taken that decision in the overriding interest of Nigeria.

We all agree that he has the vision, capacity, exposure and the requisite experience to lead the country, Kalejaiye said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

A political support group, Project 37 for Tinubu-Shettima, says it has activated campaigns in the 774 local government areas in the country.

Project 37 says the move will ensure the emergence of Sen. Bola Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima as president and vice president, come 2023.

Project 37 is one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political support groups, campaigning for the election of Tinubu and Shettima in next years general election.

Mr Mark Nsimbehe, the National Coordinator of the group, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, also noted that Project 37 had also activated its political support base in all the 36 states and the FCT.

As a group of like minds ready to return Nigeria to her place of pride, we have activated our political support base in all the 36 states and the FCT.

We have also taken our campaigns to the 774 local government areas to ensure our ambition is achieved.

Nsimbehe who congratulated Shettima from the North East, for been chosen by Tinubu as his running mate, said that the selection of the former banker was an added advantage to the campaign.

He said that the choice of Shettima from a zone ravaged by Boko Haram terrorists was an indication of the Tinubu-Shettima candidacy to end insurgency in the country.

He also noted that the achievements of Shettima as Borno governor were there for all to see in spite of devastating effect of Boko Haram insurgents.

Shettima was able to rebuild many schools and homes that were destroyed and he ensured that internally displace persons returned to their homes.

Indeed the choice of our great party APC is commendable and has been welcomed by many Nigerians.

Project 37 is a National political support group with a mandate to support and work for the actualisation of Tinubu- Shettima presidency in the forthcoming general election.

According to him, Tinubus knowledge of the economy and Shettimas banking knowledge will go a long way in propelling the country to economic prosperity.

He added that Tinubus achievements as governor of Lagos State made the state financially stable and viable with an unprecedented Internally Generated Revenue.

Nsimbehe frowned at the unjustified criticism of the partys Muslim-Muslim ticket, adding that Nigerian should only concern themselves with competence, and ignore religious sentiments in order for the country to move forward. (NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

By Isaiah Eka

Akwa Ibom Deputy Gov. Moses Ekpo has expressed concern about the decline in the use of vernacular among the younger generation and called for its inclusion in schools curriculum to forestall extinction.

Ekpo made the call on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Abia, who came to present published texts for the teaching of Annang language at the Government House, Uyo.

He said the state government was willing to improve and contribute to the development of the various languages in the state to ensure the preservation of the cultural values of the people.

He said that language was very important in education and commended the institute for taking up the challenge.

Ekpo also commended the institute for the development of the Annang language through the published texts.

He said it proved that other languages could also be developed to improve the education system across the state and country at large.

It is good that Annang language has reached this stage; I commend both the Ati and Afe Annang, and the institution for driving the idea, he said.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, said that the state government was aware of the published Annang texts.

She said that the government had placed them under review for inclusion in the next batch of text books for use in Akwa Ibom.

Etiebet, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Rose Bassey, expressed hope that more investments would be made by individuals and institutions to develop other languages for use in schools.

She expressed displeasure that a lot of Akwa Ibom children were unable to speak their mother tongue, especially with the mindset that it was native and inferior.

Earlier, Prof. Obiajulu Emejulu, the leader of the delegation and Executive Director, National Institute for Nigerian Languages, said the published texts were to explore the possibility of teaching the language at the Universal Basic Education level.

He said the books were an inspiration received from the deputy governor during his visit to the institution at the 2017 International Mother Tongue Day celebration.

He said that this was where he stressed the need to develop the language and produce materials for use in schools.

Emejulu said that the 12 books comprising nine primers, covering Primary 1 to Junior Secondary 3 reference texts on rules for Annang spelling and dictionary, would help people explore the terminologies of the language.

He said that research indicated that children taught in their mother tongues did better in learning.

The executive director expressed optimism that once the Federal Government approved the language policy documents, the institute would receive support to develop 520 Nigerian languages for use as languages of education.

Emejulu called for support to train more students in Annang to become competent teachers of the language adding that 24 persons so far were trained by the institution.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidi Opara/Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Cross River North Seat at the National Assembly for 2023 polls.

Ayade, who emerged unopposed, was elected at a fresh primary election at the Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Thursday.

The election followed the voluntary withdrawal of Mr Martins Orim, who won the ticket at the May 28, primaries.

Mrs Sameera Tabo, Chairperson of the APC Primary Election Committee for Cross River North declared the governor winner with 252 votes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the total votes cast was 255, while three votes were invalidated.

According to Tabo, following Orims withdrawal, the fresh primary election was to ensure that the party fielded a candidate for Cross River North under the provisions of the Electoral Act.

In his acceptance speech, Ayade expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him.

He said that after running for the office of the president of Nigeria, he returned home and then came under pressure from his people to contest for senate.

They said I did very well when I was a Senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted I go back; today I have answered their call.

Of course, they recognised that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience.

I am very experienced, I know the challenges of our people and possess the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislation that will change the narrative of our people, he said.

The governor said he was well equipped for the senate and would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the upper legislative chamber if elected. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The maiden edition of the Ludo National Championships is set to hold in Lagos from July 18 to July 23.

The Organisers, Mrs Olaide Graham, the Chief Executive Officer, Gbolad Continental Venture, said this during a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to her, the event, set to hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, will have two different categories of participants.

She said that the participants were expected to compete at the terrtiary institutions in Lagos and in other parts of the South West region of the country.

The other category would have people come by from all spheres of life, which cut across genders and ages 16-90, provided they have hands and can see.

We are delighted to organise this historic event which is first of its kind in Lagos and is expected to grow nationwide.

The game of Ludo is not new, but it is yet to be transformed to be an event that would bring together for the purpose of recreation and national cohesion.

Our ultimate purpose is to bring the game to limelight, reduce stress, tension, improve reasoning, increase creativity, focus and strategy.

We also intend to reward players accordingly as we project a wide acceptance of the game, she said.

The Ludo National Championship is being supported by the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Redeemers University, Ede. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Okuanwan Offiong

Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), Lagos State Chapter, says it will collaborate with the National Productivity Centre (NPC) to ensure full utilisation of the states raw materials to create wealth and boost employment.

The Lagos State Chairman of NATE, Mr Kayode ibidapo said this when he visited NPC on Wednesday in Lagos.

Ibidapo said the collaboration would also promote the quality of Made in Nigeria goods for export.

He said the collaboration would include acceleration of local capacity in fabrication of agricultural equipment to promote value addition on farm produce.

To achieve the objective, the association has contacted several stakeholders in the fabrication of equipment for agriculture and other sectors.

In the synergy with NPC, NATE will be looking at the possibility of training large numbers of youths on design, fabrication, and maintenance of agro equipment to boost food production, he said.

Ibidapo commended local manufacturers and urge them to ensure their product finishing was near perfection.

The Deputy Director, NPC, Mrs Joyce Binitie lauded NATE, Lagos State Chapter, for the visit.

Binitie said the collaboration would reposition the nations workforce for increased productivity.

Binitie, who decried the low productivity of an average Nigerian worker, called on the need to build the capacity of workers to enhance their efficiency.

Benitie said that the centre was set up in 1987 to create productivity consciousness in the mind of Nigerians.

She, however, said the centre had not been able to do much due to several challenges such as paucity of funds. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joe Idika

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has partnered 82 Division Nigerian Army on emergency and disaster response and management issues in the South-East zone.

Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Thickman Tanimu, said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, in Enugu on Wednesday.

He said that the visit was at the behest of the NEMA Director-General, Mr Mustapha Habib-Ahmed who, he stated, was desirous of keeping the agencys age-long relationship with the army.

He noted that the visit, which also served as his familiarisation visit to the division, was meant to reawaken the long time relationship between the army and NEMA in the zone.

Tanimu requested for a focal officer from the division whom the agency could be relating with on any emergency response or disaster management situation in the zone.

The NEMA coordinator also requested for an update on NEMAs excavator in the care of the army as well as access to water during emergencies.

This important visit, directed by our director-general, is to reawaken the age-long synergy in emergency coordination and collaboration with the Nigerian Army, especially the 82 Division, Enugu.

NEMA is here to also strengthen military disaster response units (DRUs) in the South-East zone as well as the security and intelligence gathering and sharing on emergency and disaster issues in the zone, he said.

Responding, the GOC thanked the NEMA director-general, zonal coordinator and his team for the visit.

He said that the army was always eager and ready to work with NEMA during disaster and emergency situations.

I am assigning Brig.-Gen. Olugbemi Obasanjo to act as the focal person to NEMA in the zone.

Obasanjo will also help NEMA with DRU equipment, if required, and for the security of the warehouse, he said.

The GOC said that the NEMA excavator kept in the care of the army was still in the military barracks, even as he requested that the zonal office designate an official to always inspect it.

I have also approved that NEMA watertanker be allowed express access to water from the barracks so long as there is water in the reservoir, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the event were presentation of a plaque to the zonal coordinator by the GOC and a group photograph between the principal officers of the division and the NEMA team. (NAN) ()

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged officials of National Population Commission (NPC) to justify governments confidence in them by returning accurate, verifiable and dependable data.

The Presidents Media Aide, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that the president made the call during a trial census exercise in Daura, Katsina State, on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first phase of Census 2023 the trial house listing and house numbering took off officially in selected local government areas of the country on Wednesday.

To mark the commencementof the exercise, the commission accredited the president in his country home in Daura, Katsina State.

I am happy you have started the process, and I say congratulations. I know this will require lots of time, skill and stamina, Buhari told the NPC team, led by the Chairman, Nasir Kwarra.

After the digital capturing, the NPC chairman explained the modalities and technicalities of the population and housing census to the president.

Kwarra said that Buhari had been designated number one on the list from Daura, Katsina, while his house was also made the first.

He said the trial census commenced with the president, following the conclusion of the training of field functionaries for the exercise.

According to him, the officials will hold the fieldwork of the trial census from July 13 to July 30 in the selected enumeration areas and local government areas (LGAs) in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said the trial census, also known as census dress rehearsal, was one of the pre-census activities to evaluate all aspects of the census operation on a limited scale before the main census.

It is the process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner to assess the level of preparedness of the commission to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

The trial census shall cover a total of 7,681 enumeration areas (EAs) in the 36 states and the FCT.

Six LGAs have been selected from the six selected states in the six geo-political zones of the country for full population enumeration, while 45 EAs in nine LGAs, cutting across three senatorial districts, were selected from each of the 36 states and the FCT for enumeration, he added.

The trial census fieldwork includes: building numbering and household listing from July 13 to July 15; validation of EA frame from July 16 to July 18; persons enumeration from July 19 to July 25 and enumeration mop up from July 26 to July 30, Kwarra said.

NAN reports that as part of the exercise, enumerators are expected to visit all residential and non-residential buildings within the selected enumeration areas and number the buildings and enumerate members of households in the buildings.

NAN also reports that at the end of the trial census exercise, NPC is expected to take away lessons on its chosen methodology, work load, challenges of data collection in peculiar areas and the education as well as the adequacy of the preparation of its enumerators.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

The Debt Management Office (DMO), says Nigeria does not face the risk of experiencing debt distress due to its 15.9 billion dollars Eurobonds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 15.9 billion dollars Eurobond is the foreign component of the debt Nigeria owes.

The DMO said this in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.

The statement was in reaction to an alarm raised by a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Robert Asogwa.

Asogwa had expressed worry over the countrys rising debt, particularly the increasing accumulation of Eurobonds in the external debt component.

The unexplained government preference of Eurobonds at high interest costs, with the associated exchange rate, risk may likely hurt Nigeria sooner than anticipated.

The escalating fiscal sector deficits with the attendant rising debt ratios are part of the weak links in the domestic economic environment.

The poor revenue growth in a period of expanding government expenditures has continued to soar the budget deficit levels in the first quarter of 2022, similar to the trend witnessed in 2021, he said.

According to the DMO, Asogwas statements might have been made without consideration for the countrys borrowing needs as captured in the Annual Budgets, Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Debt Management Strategy.

It said that successive Debt Management Strategies had always indicated that the Federal Governments preferred source of borrowing was concessional sources rather than commercial sources like Eurobonds.

For instance, one of the objectives of the Debt Management Strategy 2020-2023 is maximising funds available to Nigeria from multilateral and bilateral sources in order to access cheaper and long tenored funds, it said.

It said that it was an indication that the authorities took cognisance of the limited funding envelopes available to the country due to its classification as Lower-Middle-Income country.

Given the size of new borrowings in the annual budgets over the years, it will not have been proper for the Federal Government to raise all the funds from the domestic market.

That will result to government crowding the private sector and raising borrowing rates. Consequently, some part of the required funding has to be raised externally, it said.

The DMO said that concessional loans, though relatively cheaper, were limited in amount and were not available for financing infrastructure and other capital projects.

Thus, Nigeria accesses concessional and semi-concessional loans as may be available, while issuing Eurobonds to part-fiance the annual budgets and the infrastructure projects contained therein, it said.

On the fear of the country slipping into debt-distress, the DMO emphasised the need to generate more revenues, significantly beyond the current levels. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News