By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says the board remitted N27.2 billion from 2017 to date to the Federal Governments coffers.

Oloyede disclosed this known in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening session of a three-day workshop forPublic Relations staffof the board.

The workshop, organised in collaboration with Premium Times Academy, has the theme: Media, Publicity and Public Relations in the Modern Age.

Giving a breakdown of remittances, he said that a total of N9.7 billion was used for capital projects in the same period.

He said that N7.8 billion, N5.2 billion, N3.76 billion, N4 billion, N3.5 billion and N3 billion were remitted in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

He said the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had approved the establishment of Advanced Level (A Level) certificates data bank in the country.

Oloyede, who was represented by JAMBs Director, Legal Services, Dr AbdulWahab Oyedokun, said the board had taken several measures to ensure total sanity in its examination processes.

He listed some of the measures as thedeployment of sophisticated biometric technology to curb multiple registration in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

He said that the board had taken another major step to put an end to use of fake A Level certificates to secure admission.

In the last one year and in the second coming of Prof. Oloyede as registrar of JAMB, one of the major assignments we did here was to focus on some of the things that are happening in these JUPEB and IJMB.

And during the last exam, we called a stakeholders meeting and invited managers of these organs and we asked some questions.

We also collaborated with other security services to spread our net across the country to see what is happening and lo and behold more than 47 proprietors, lecturers and teachers and people conniving with them in perpetrating malpractices are arrested all over the country.

Arising from that, the Minister of Educationhas graciously approved the establishment of A Level data bank. So for example, in a particular university, 90 per cent of those who presented their A level results for admission were found to be fake, he said.

Oloyede said that the date bank would ensure all A Level results were registered under one platform to bring about standardisation and integrity of the certificates.

Earlier, JAMBs Head of Media and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, who commended Oloyede for his massive support for the workshop,called on the boards public relations staff to leverage on the training to do more in the discharge of their duties amid surge in citizen journalism.

Todays media has changed the dynamics of influence and put power in the hand of the ordinary people.

PROs must now engage in the conversation through various new channels and tools. Hence the need for this workshop which is aimed at building and maintaining the positive image of JAMB in the face of smear campaigns and misrepresentation of the activities of the board.

PR officers are often the first contact for individuals or organisations seeking to reach out in an informed way.

They address inquiries from the media and other parties as well as track media coverage and promote industry trends, he said.

Benjamin, however, urged participants to change along with the rising changes in the media space.

The workshop was attended by JAMBs public relations staff from across the country and several resource persons. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

Some benefitting farmers of the 35 million dollars Savannah Investment Programme (SIP) and the Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) have commended the projects.

The farmers who spoke during the inspection of the projects by the bank in Tamale, Northern Ghana, on Sunday, said the intervention had transformed them from being smallholder farmers to commercial ones.

They, however, appealed to the bank to replicate same programmes in other African countries, to help in addressing some agriculture related challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiatives are part of the banks Feed Africa Strategy, which included the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in the Savannahs.

Mr Osman Abdulai, the Farm Manager of the Cudjoe Abimash Farms, in Tamale, said the farm was into rice, maize, soybean farming and processing, poultry and animal rearing.

Abdulai said the farm was formally cultivating less than 31 hectares for beans and soybean, but when the farm joined the project in 2019, it started cultivating no fewer than 253 hectares for maize and soybean.

He said the farm moved from the cultivation of 253 hectares in 2020, to 450 hectares, while in 2021, the farm grew to about 963 hectares of cultivation for the maize and soya.

The manager said the target for the farm this year was to cultivate no fewer than 1,500 hectares of land for soya and maize.

On poultry, he said the farm had about 5,000 birds, which had made them successfully supply eggs to the Northern Ghana region.

Abdulai said the target of the farm was to supply the country with eggs and other agricultural produce, to reduce imports.

We were simultaneously increasing our productivity from less than two tonnes of maize to an average yield of five tonnes of maize, per hectare and two tonnes for the soybean, he said.

Another beneficiary of SIP, Mr Mohammed Shaibu, the Chief Executive Officer of Ms Wunzooya Farms in Tamale, said the SIP had assisted them to expand the farm through the provision of poultry feeds and birds.

Shaibu said the project provided day-old chicks and feeds at subsidised prices.

Currently, we were rearing around 3,000 birds but with the intervention of SIP, we started rearing about 5,000 birds of different species.

With the SIP, we were able to expand because of the intervention they brought to us, he said.

Mr George Dassah, Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF), Northern region, called on the bank to sustain the SIP project and also extend the gesture to other African countries for food availability.

Ms Clare Waliza, a student and poultry farmer and a beneficiary of the SIP project, commended the AfDB for the initiative.

Waliza said the intervention had made her become an employer of labour and a contributor to the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Chairman of the Network for Commercial Agriculture Production in Ghana, said the projects had enabled many farmers in the country improve their standard of living.

Mr Philip Boahen, the AfDBs Chief Agriculture Policy Economist and Coordinator of Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, said the project was aimed at reducing importation of animal protein and enhance the competitiveness of the poultry industry.

Boahen said the project was also to increase national food and nutrition security, as well as income.

According to him, this will enhance and build capacities in entrepreneurship, through small scale commercial poultry, with deliberate efforts to include more women and youth.

He said the implementation of the SIP would be in nine districts in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) for over five years.

NAN reports that SAPIP intervention under TAAT-S covered maize, soybean and rice and this laid the foundation for the launch of SIP in 2019, to create space for further support to the poultry and livestock sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Yauri

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kaduna State obtained the commitment of Zazzau Emirate Council to tame malnutrition in the state.

The NOA Director in Kaduna State, Alhaji Zubair Soba, made this known on Tuesday after the advocacy
campaign to Malam Ahmed Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau in Zaria.

Soba said the advocacy visit was to seek for the support of the council to work toward curtailing malnutrition and strengthen infant and maternal health in the state.

He said the advocacy became imperartive, because the infant and maternal indices in Kaduna State
is alarming, in spite of investments by the state government and development partners to tame the challenge.

The advocacy team intends to obtain suggestions from the council on better ways of encouraging men to
key into the fight against malnutrition and other good reproductive health practices.

He, therefore, commended the emir for the warm reception given to the nutrition committee, which included officials from Kaduna State Government and relevant stakeholders.

Ms Chinwe Ezeife, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, said the advocacy was to promote consumption of nutritious foods that would enhance the health of women and children.

She said the advocacy had achieved remarkable successes in many areas, saying that the royal fathers pledge to influence behavioral change was a huge leap to healthy living.

Ezeife said the team was pleased that it had a dialogue with the emir and the entire district heads in the Zazzau emirate.

The district heads will in turn go to their districts, communities and catchment areas to mobilise other influencers to promote key messages with a view to taming malnutrition.

The advocacy was to create awareness on nutrition and utilisation of good natural foods and encourage breastfeeding in the first one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

Meanwhile, Malam Sani Hassan, the Technical Adviser, Kaduna State Nutrition Action Plan, said, about 99 per cent of women in Kaduna State are aware of the benefits of early initiation to breast feeding and dangers of early weaning to brain development of infants.

But only 27 per cent of women practice exclusive breastfeeding in the state, while less than 50 per cent initiate breastfeeding within the first one hour after birth of a child.

Your highness, there is a huge gap between knowledge and practice, hence the need for your intervention to encourage and enlighten husbands to key into this initiative.

In his remarks, Bamalli, said the council has a good health structure and would deploy similar strategy as used in polio to tame malnutrition and improve maternal mortality indices in the state.

We will always support these kind initiatives, aimed at improving the health and welfare of our people, especially women and children.

The entire district heads of Zazzau emirate are around; we need more literature on this topic and soft copies of your presentations so that we will have more follow-up questions, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hawa Lawal/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

For the first time in over two years, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 13 per cent.

Mr Godwin Emefiele,Governor of the CBN,said this while reading the 285th communiqu issued at the end of the apex banks Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Tuesday.

Emefiele said that the committee also decided to retain all other parameters.

Thus, the asymmetric corridor was retained at 100/-700 Basic Points around the MPR, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) retained at 27.50 per cent and the Liquidity Ratio retained at 30.00 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MPC had retained the former MPR of 11.5 per cent for over two years.

Emefiele said the committee was faced with various options,but guided by the need to slow down inflationary pressure while engendering economic growth.

He said that,though the 11 MPC members unanimously voted to raise the MPR, they provided divergent opinions on the level of increase.

Six members voted to raise the MPR by 150 basis points, four members by100basis points and one member, by 50 basis points.

Members expressed deep concern about the continued uptrend of inflationary pressure in spite the gradual improvement in output growth.

Committee notes that the current rise in inflation is inimical to growth and the full recovery of the Nigerian economy, he said.

He said that several optionswere considered before the decision to increase the MPR.

After carefully reviewing developments in the two months,and outlookof growth in the domestic and global economy as well as downsides of each policy.

It is clear and compelling that tackling inflation is more urgent in sequence of policy objectives.

MPC urged the CBN to double its effort at supporting the priority growth-enhancing sectors of the economy.

It urged the Federal Government to do more to provide a safe and secure environment for economic activities to stimulate growth, he said. (NAN)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it is ready to help Nigeria return to the electronic wallet system of input distribution to farmers to boost agricultural production.

The President of AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this on Monday, at a meeting with newsmen ahead of the Banks 2022 Annual Meetings in Accra, Ghana.

The e-wallet system was introduced by Adesina, while he was the Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria.

The system allowed the government to register about 14.5 million farmers and reached them directly with inputs, notably seeds and fertilisers, via electronic coupons on their mobile phones.

He said the Bank would support Nigeria with about 30 million dollars reallocated fund to be used for an emergency food plan to produce in the dry season.

Nigeria needs to go back and use the electronic wallet system that I developed when I was a minister to get fertilisers straight to farmers and cut out all the middle men.

We are going to help the government to do that because when farmers have quality seeds and fertilisers, they can rapidly triple food production, he said.

According to him, Nigeria will also benefit significantly from the African Emergency Food Production Plan.

In Nigeria, we have provided 540 million dollars for special agro-industrial processing zones in seven states including the Federal Capital Territory.

That will allow Nigeria to have special zones where you can have agro processing value addition and increased competitiveness of agriculture.

We are not alone, we put in 170 million dollars and others put in money such as the Islamic Development Bank and other partners, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meetings is Fostering Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition for Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Edith Nwapi

Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT High Court on Monday convicted a former lawmaker Chuma Nzeribe of forgery.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)arraigned Nzeribe on four counts of false pretence, impersonation, forgery and cheating.

The EFCCalleged that the lawmaker forged the documents of plot 1306, Cadestral zone, Maitama District belonging toIshaya Baba.

Delivering judgment, Halilu held that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

I hereby convict the said Chuma Nzeribe having found him guilty as charged.

From the abundant evidence before me, it has been established that the defendant forged the title document to the said land 1306 Maitama which rightfully now belongs to Ishaya Baba.

By the powers confined in me therefore, pursuant to section 11 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Act, 78 of penal code, 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which dwelt on the issue of restitution.

I hereby so restitute to the said land owner to take his land forthwith without any delay since is the rightful owner.

With respect to the issue of sentencing, I shall defer the sentence of the said convict to a date in this life when I am sure the long arms of the law will catch up with him.

Then, the EFCC, IGP will arrest him and bring him before me for me to be able to do the needful by sentencing him accordingly.

In the main time, sentencing in this situation is thereby deferred he held.

EFCC had alleged that the defendant was in possession of statutory right of occupancy bearing the name of Ramatu Alhassan with reference Number MFCT/LA/FCT 1302 dated 18/06/03.

The anti graft agency said this is contrary to Section 6, 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

EFCC alleged also that being a false document is contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act.

EFCC also alleged that the defendant cheated by impersonation, representing himself to Alhassan.

This, EFCC said was contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 324 of the same Act.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

The National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) said on Monday in Abuja that it has the capacity and partnership to address stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV.

Dr Yinka Falola-Anoemuah, a Deputy Director in NACA, said this during a meeting organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in collaboration with NACA themed: Nigeria HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination law, the journey so far, at the twitter space.

She said NACA would partner with institutions including National Human Rights Commission, law enforcement agencies, ministries of ministry of education and women affairs to advance the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Falola-Anoemuah who is the Deputy Director, Lead Gender, Human Right and Care Services, NACA, said the institutions were properly equipped to partner NACA in dealing with issues around stigma and discrimination.

NACA also has a multi-institutional platform for work place policies around HIV, which also addresses stigma and discrimination within the work place, she said.

The deputy director blamed persistence of discrimination on ignorance about HIV/AIDS.

Falola-Anoemuah, therefore, called for closer collaboration among all relevant stakeholders to enforce the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Ms Kemi Gbadamosi, Director, Advocacy, Policy and Marketing, AHF-Africa, urged the Federal Government to enforce the HIV anti-discrimination law to uphold the dignity and rights of persons living with HIV.

In 2014 Nigeria enacted the Anti-discrimination law to end stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV and AIDS.

Gbadamosi said it was unfortunate that with the discovery of antiretroviral drugs, a segment of the society no longer consider HIV as a life-threatening health challenge.

However, new cases of infection are still recorded especially among the younger generation who are still faced with stigma and discrimination both at school and in their communities, she said.

The director said there was the need to increase awareness on the rights of persons living with HIV through the media as well as engaging the grassroots.

Mr Michael Okoh, Programme Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN) said the Network in 2021 conducted HIV stigma and discrimination survey with over 1,240 respondents.

Okoh said the survey was conducted in 16 states of the federation, including the FCT where about 1 in 4 respondents saying their status was disclosed without their consent.

This, the respondents, said made them to encounter different levels of stigma and discrimination at their work places and homes.

Mr Rommy Mom, President Lawyers Alert, said that not much has been achieved in regards to the implementation and enforcement of HIV anti-discrimination law in the country.

Mom said the office of the Attorney General of the Federation could do more to in ensuring that the law is enforced.

Lack of enforcement of the law has been a motivation for people and institutions to stigmatise persons living with HIV.

Both the public and private institutions are violating the laws because consequences are not meted out on violators.

Laws are therefore not the issue, but the enforcement, issues exist and that is why the laws are passed, he said.

Mr Steve Aborisade, Manager, Advocacy and Marketing, AHF, called for increased advocacy on stigma and discrimination among the public and institutions through the media.

He said AHF would continue to partner with other stakeholders to advance the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS in the country.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Uche Anunne

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

Disturbed by the activities of terrorists and bandits in some parts of the country, the Nigeria Police Force has resolved to deploy modern and best technology to put an end to the menace of the criminals.

It has also resolved to use high tech to win the war on insurgency and terrorism in the country.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, stated this when he tackled issues on Nigerias security challenges.

He said this during the presidential briefing organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja.

According to Dingyadi, policing is no longer about the use of sophisticated weapons like AK 47 and other security gadgets but deployment of high technology and techniques to achieve the desired goal of safeguarding lives and property of citizens.

He said: I like the fact that you have drawn attention to the fact that policing strategy now is no longer about having motorcades, AK 47 and other security gadgets. And that what is required now is high tech to win the war on insurgency or whatever youre fighting.

That is the way to go. And we are moving in that direction. But, you know, the police is a civil institution and were not even emphasizing these arms and ammunition.

What we are emphasizing is to ensure that, as civilians, as we are, we try to ensure that issues are resolved without having to use firearms or anything.

And with the support of the community, with the support of Nigerians, the police dont need to use firearms but well have them and were having them in case there is a need to use them.

What is most important is the technology like you said and we are paying special attention to this. And we know the whole world is going in that direction and this administration is not unmindful of that direction and were trying to pursue to ensure that policing is technology-driven.

We will make sure that the police in this country have the best technology to fight these criminalities. So please support us in whatever we do, we are out there for you, and the police are always ready and willing to support whoever needs our support. In the same vein, we also need your support.

Dingyadi, accompanied by top government officials from his ministry, also gave insight on key updates from the Presidential Roadmap on Police Reform, innovative strides currently being executed in the Nigeria Police.

He equally stressed the impact the implementation of police reforms would have on internal security in Nigeria while enumerating the efforts being made toward the welfare of police officers.

You will recall that the Ministry of Police Affairs was established on the 21st of August 2019 by Mr President to, among other things, give attention to re-equipping and re-tooling the police, remodel policing infrastructure via the government community policing initiative and promote commitment to duty through the improvement of welfare for our policemen and women in this country.

The minister, who spoke extensively on police welfare and barracks renovation, maintained that they could not work effectively in an unhealthy environment.

According to him, the Police Trust Fund and the Police Force Headquarters are now paying special attention to the renovation and construction of new barracks for the police.

Yes, the police cannot work effectively in that environment. We are paying special attention to the renovation of these barracks and police formations.

You have to have a very serene environment for the police to perform.

So, we are aware of this and we are giving it the needed attention that it deserves. I believe were already aware. We have never had it as good as were having it today.

I want to assure you that the Police Trust Fund and the Police Force Headquarters are now paying special attention to the renovation and construction of new barracks for the police.

Right now, I am driving a memo in the council which came out last week. And were trying to sort out a few issues with the Abuja Development Control towards ensuring that we provide befitting accommodation for our police officers.

So, we are on this and I want to assure you that we will give it the due attention that it deserves so that we will have the support and understanding of our police who are using these dilapidated structures all over the country.

On the State of Nigerian Internal Security, the minister stated that the Boko Haram insurgents, who launched brutal campaign against innocent and harmless citizens in the Northeast zone since 2009 had been dislodged.

He, however, admitted that the terror group, out of frustration, had been engaging in hit and run guerrilla tactics.

It has been established that certain security threats are associated with some geopolitical corridors. The Northeast, for instance, has a history of Boko Haram campaigns against harmless citizens since 2009.

These terrorists subsequently formed alliances with the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) which unleashed destructive terrorist activities on the zone.

However, a fierce military might with the police support has degraded the terrorist capability and dislodged them from their hitherto strong base in the Northeast.

They are now going back into the cocoons, engaging in hit and run guerrilla tactics, he added.

According to Dingyadi, some affiliated groups of the Boko Haram and ISWAP now synergises with bandits operating in the northwest and the parts of North Central.

He said: In the Northwest, the onslaught on Boko Haram and its affiliated group in the northeast, despite desperate survival attempts, now synergises with bandits operating in the northwest and the parts of North Central, particularly the middle region.

This ugly trend is currently receiving commensurate attention with the deployment of operational assets to neutralize the menace.

The minister noted that in the South-East, security came under severe threat following violent attacks on security formations and civilians by militant Biafrans separatist groups.

According to him, sustained security operations in this region, have in recent times localised their operations to Imo and Anambra, while the government continues to employ strategies to engender peace and security in the entire Southeast.

The minister noted that, unlike the southeast, the South-South zone was relatively free from violent criminalities.

However, the isolated cases of kidnap for ransom and armed robbery have been dealt with by the police and other security agencies.

A special task force against oil theft set up by the Inspector General of Police is operating in the zone to check illegal bunkering and other related economic sabotage.

Security in the Southwest is similar to that of the south-south.

He observed that the incidents of oil theft in the zone had also been reduced to the barest minimum.

On the Police Trust Fund bill signed into law by the President on June 21, 2019, Dingyadi stated that the fund has successfully delivered on its 2020 and 2021 budgets, purchasing operational vehicles, arms and ammunition, bulletproof vests and helmets for police operations.

The minister revealed that the fund also purchased medical items to meet the health needs of policemen nationwide, while in addition, accommodation for the police has also received a facelift.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sept. 16, 2020 signed the Nigerian police Bill 2020, which repealed the obsolete police laws of the Federation 2004.

The Federal government also approved the setting up of a police reform technical team in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to coordinate efforts geared towards achieving this lofty aim.

The minister also noted that a lot has been achieved by the four police premier training colleges in Maiduguri, Kaduna, Lagos, and Enugu.

According to him, an upward review of recruitment procedures and training curricula in these institutions is also under consideration, saying that development of promotion and leadership courses at all levels of these institutions are also being reviewed by the technical committee.

Overall, the presidential police reform team will in due course harmonize submissions so that we have a similar committee at the most senior level to involve 21st century and nimble-footed in the policing architecture in Nigeria, he said.

Also speaking on the newly approved enhanced emolument for the police personnel, Dingyadi maintained that this gesture had further underscored the governments commitment to entrenching welfare being a key component of police reforms under the Buhari administration.

According to him, all the necessary computations to guide the payment of the new salary package have been completed and forwarded to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning for implementation, which is expected to commence very soon.

He also announced that his ministry had obtained approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the concession of the moribund National Public Security Communication System.

The system was installed in all states of the Federation, except Borno by the previous administration, due to security challenges at that time.

This initiative is aimed at reviving this project, due to its critical importance in the security architecture of the country. When fully operational, happenings in all parts of the country will be monitored in real-time on the command and control centre for proactive policing and prompt response to situations.

Efforts are currently ongoing by the concessionaire, that is NPS technology to revive this project.

The concessionaire has taken over the facilities and is currently pursuing the issuance of universal access service license from the National Communications Commission to commence full-scale operation.

He added that the ministry also secured the federal executive councils approval for the police specialised automation project meant to block financial leakages, deepen accountability and mitigate funding gaps for policing in Nigeria.

It is envisaged that in the medium and long term period, the project will deliver economic benefits and improved efficiencies for the police, he said.

The minister stated that his ministry was collaborating with some foreign countries to acquire surveillance equipment to address security challenges in trouble spots across the country.

Yes, were not doing it alone. Particularly, we are relating a lot to China. As youre aware, the CCTV cameras are financed through loans from Nexim Bank of China.

Presently, we are procuring so much equipment from China and many other countries.

We are relating to ensure that we have the best equipment from these countries that we think we can relate with.

So, we are relating with several countries and organizations some of them come to us directly to extend their support to us.

The police are for everybody. And I think we are aware of this and that is why we are extending our hands of fellowship to China and other countries so that together we build the police of pride for Nigerians.

On community policing, the minister disclosed that 25,000 constabularies have so far been trained for the programme across the 36 states of the federation.

The programme is on course and is in all the 36 states of the Federation, and these constabularies have been posted to their various communities. And like I said, in my presentation, to do a lot of policing activities in those areas, and to add to the visibility of police in those communities.

The responsibility of the communities in which these constabularies are being posted is to cooperate with these constabularies to ensure that they assist them in sharing intelligence, in reporting cases that need to be reported, and to assist them in resolving issues that can be easily or locally resolved.

So the community policing programme is there for the communities to ensure that they collaborate with these constabularies to provide peace in their communities.

The minister also revealed that 20,000 Constables out of the 40,000 approved by President Buhari, had so far been recruited into the Nigeria Police Force.

You will recall that Mr President had directed us to recruit 40,000 Constables within his second tenure.

So far we have recruited 20,000, and we are on the third trench of this recruitment. And I think in the next one month or two, we will be concluding the third trench and we will be having about 30,000 constables on our payroll.

On the call forpsychiatric evaluation for the police personnel, Dingyadi said:

Talking about the psychological test and other tests that you are talking about, I want to assure you that we are busy taking every possible measure to ensure that we conduct thorough examinations, and very extensive screening, including medical tests to ensure that those we are recruiting are not coming just into any job.

We are recruiting the best of hands to ensure that we support the principle of good policing in the country, he said.

The minister also disclosed that the police were doing their best to safeguard and protect school children across the country.

He said: The government has delegated this responsibility to the state governments to select schools that they think require security and I think many states endeavoured to do that.

Wherever there is a need for your security in schools, the police are there, assisting other security agencies to ensure the security of our children and for the staff of these institutions.

We are there and I believe if you dont see us in schools, it means the government does not want police in those schools. Because we can only operate in places where there is a need for our service. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.11 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.

This is according to the NBS Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report Q1 2022 released in Abuja on Monday.

According to the report, Nigerias GDP grew by 3.11 per cent year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2022.

It said this showed a sustained positive growth for six consecutive quarters since the recession witnessed in 2020 when negative growth rates were recorded in quarter two and three of 2020.

The NBS said the first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance.

The observed trend since Q4 of 2020 is an indication of a gradual economic stability.

The Q1 of 2022 growth rate was higher than the 0.51 per cent growth rate recorded in Q1 of 2021 by 2.60 per cent points and lower than 3.98 per cent recorded in Q4 of 2021 by 0.88 per cent points.

Nevertheless, quarter-on-quarter, real GDP grew at -14.66 per cent in Q1 of 2022, compared to Q4 of 2021, reflecting a lower economic activity than the preceding quarter.

The report said in the period under review, aggregate GDP stood at about N45.317 million in nominal terms.

This performance is higher when compared to the first quarter of 2021 which recorded aggregate GDP of about N40.014 million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 13.25 per cent.

It said the nominal GDP growth rate in Q1 2022 was higher relative to the 12.25 per cent growth recorded in Q1 2021, and higher compared to the 13.11 per cent growth recorded in the preceding quarter. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), says more than 8,000 candidates have been shortlisted for interview for its Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for Masters and PhD award.

Alhaji Bello Mustapha, Head, Overseas Scholarship Scheme Division, PTDF made this known on Monday in Abuja at the opening of selection interview for shortlisted candidates for the 2022/2023 academic session.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PTDF under its strategic direction provides scholarships to Masters and PhD degree applicants in partnership with universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and Malaysia.

PTDF sponsors students/awardees in all major disciplines related to oil and gas and energy industries, including engineering, geosciences, environmental studies, computing and management.

Mustapha said the selection interview was a continuation process which began in Dec. 20, 2021, through publications in some national newspapers inviting qualified Nigerians nationwide to apply.

Mustapha said under the 2022/2023 academic session, it advertised the scholarship and called for application and more than 26,000 people applied, while over 8,000 were selected for interview.

He said the PTDF OSS was an annual programme which began in 2000, aimed at providing Nigerian students with the intellectual foundation and skills needed to participate actively in Nigerias oil and gas industry.

We conduct the interviews in the six geopolitical zones of the country but presently we are doing in five geo- geopolitical zones of the country this year because of the issues of insecurity in the southeast.

So, we are using Ibadan, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kaduna while South East candidates are asked to choose any convenient centre from other zones.

It will run for three weeks in Abuja, then two weeks in the other centres apart from Bauchi. Bauchi will run for one week because we do not have many candidates in Bauchi centre, he said.

He said the final selection would depend on its budgetary allocation.

According to Mustapha, the scholarship is running based on the availability of funds which determines the final selection.

Mustapha, while describing the interview as one of the criteria for the scholarship, said that at the end, the best performing candidates would be chosen as concession would be given to candidates from oil producing states.

He said the fund had sponsored many Nigerians over the years and some of them had returned to the country and were contributing to the economy.

Some of them are working in Shell, NNPC Ltd., we have a lot of scholars and panelists that have proven themselves, some are even in the universities and academic environment contributing optimally from what they have studied abroad.

We have 18 universities that we have strategic partnerships with in UK, and we have in Germany, Malaysia, France and China.

We are not using China this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic issues.

They are beginning with the September session, he said.

Few of the candidates who spoke to NAN expressed joy for being shortlisted in the scholarship scheme, while expressing optimism for the final selection.

Nafisat Adamu said she graduated with B.Sc. Economics and Developmental Studies, but expressed the hope to read Energy, Oil Gas Economics in her masters degree if selected.

Another candidate who chose to remain anonymous expressed delight and promised to put whatever experience garnered outside into practice in Nigeria.

PTDF is saddled with the responsibility of building capacities, technological manpower in the oil and gas industry in line with the requirements of the mandate of the establishment.

The overseas scholarship scheme is one of the flagship programme of the organisation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Adenike Ayodele

An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Monday sentenced a dismisses policeman, Mohammed Alidu, to life imprisonment for defiling a nine-year-old school girl in a barrack

Justice Abiola Soladoye,in her judgment, held that Alidu was a disgrace to the police because he failed to uphold law and order and went about frolicking with an underage girl.

Soladoye held that the prosecution had convincingly proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond any reasonable doubt.

She said the survivors evidence was fully corroborated by the medical evidence.

The evidence of the survivor is the most credible evidence in identifying the perpetrator.

The vivid and oral testimony of the survivor satisfies the court that prosecution has proved every inch of the ingredients.

He is a disgrace to the entire Police because he failed to uphold law and order as hewent on a frolic of his own by engaging in a bizarre and irresponsible behaviour turning the barracks into a sex den.

It is most chilling. The defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without the option of fine.

He should have his name entered in the Sex Offenders Register of the Lagos State Government, the judge held.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four witnesses testified against Alidu in the trial.

According to the prosecutionteam, Mr Olusola Soneye, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke and Ms Abimbola Abolade,Alidu committed the offence on June 29, 2018 on Makinde Police Barracks Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi.

The prosecution said that Alidu grabbed the survivor into a wooden house on her way to school and defiled her.

They submitted that the defendant was apprehended after the survivor reported the case at the police station.

The prosecutors said the defendant confessed to defiling the survivor, blaming it on the devil but later denied it as an after thought.

NAN reports that the prosecutors said the offence contravened Sections 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (NAN) www.nannews.ng

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has announced the death of MrDonald Awunah, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and former Force Public Relations Officer.

A statement by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer on Monday in Abuja said the late AIG died in the early hours of Monday.

He said lateAwunah, until his death at Garki Hospital after a brief illness was the AIGin charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa in Bayelsa.

Adejobi described the late AIG as an eminent communicator, ardent officer and member of the National Institute.

He said the deceased whohailed from Benue wasa dedicated officer with great passion for training and development.

Adejobi said late Awunah, also a former Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos, was enlisted into the force on March 15, 1988.

He said the I-G had condoled with the family, relatives, course mates and friends of the deceased who passed away in active service. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, on Monday urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to work toward the improvement of domestic leagues in the country.

Dare made the call when he hosted the U-20 mens national team, the Flying Eagles in Abuja, following their victory at the WAFU B zone championship in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The minister said the performance showed the commitment of the board of the NFF toward improving the game of football in the country.

Dare said: I want you to maintain the same level of discipline on all sides.

The future of football is in the hands of these young ones and we must do all to ensure it remains the same.

One way is to ensure that is the rebirth of our leagues and give it the quality it desires.

This is the only way we can have players who will go on to play for Super Eagles as well as top clubs in Europe.

We will continue to work and support you where necessary and I must say that I am proud of what you have done, the minister said.

Mr Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of NFF, lauded the minister for his commitment to the growth of the game.

In a meeting the minister once had with the NFF board, he challenged us to ensure that we focus on other teams as well alongside the Super Eagles.

That challenge has been in our minds and that is what we have seen today in the Flying Eagles team.

The team left days earlier to Niger Republic ahead of the event and participated in friendly matches, which helped them acclimatise and better prepared for the tournament.

This team has worked hard and I am happy to present them to you and Nigerians, Sanusi added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria emerged champions of the seven-team tournament and have qualified for the 2023 U-20 African Championship in Egypt. (NAN)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Kaigama

Thousands of youths in Bauchi, under the umbrella of Rescue Nigeria Mission (RENMISS), have declared their support for Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, as the countrys next president in 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths marched from Gida Dubu area to Maiduguri Bye- Pass, carrying inscriptions indicating their support for Bello.

Mr Aliyu Baital, leader of one of the groups, told the supporters at the rally on Saturday that Bello was a very courageous, young, vibrant leader that could rule Nigeria.

It is time to forget old ways of playing politics and show that a youthful president can create a Nigeria of everyones dream.

We have worked with many leaders and assessed many across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Bello stands out, Baital said.

He said the rally was a way to express their confidence in his leadership qualities ahead of the presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress slated for later this month.

Mrs Lydia Yusuf, a Bello supporter , said the rally was to appeal to APC delegates to vote for Bello during the partys primary election.

She said the youths, comprising male and female, wanted to urge APC delegates to choose Yahaya Bello as the country\s next president.

He has done so much in Kogi as the governor and we want him to become the President of Nigeria in 2023 so that he will use his experience to tackle the numerous problems confronting the nation.

We are appealing to the delegates to vote for him in the forthcoming APC primary election, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Alhamdu Solomon, said that Bello as a youth was aware of the problems confronting Nigeria and had the solutions.

I am urging all citizens of the country to join us in supporting Bellos 2023 presidential ambition, Solomon said.

He urged the youth to rally round Bello for purposeful leadership come 2023. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The Embassy of Turkey in a bid to strengthen ties with Nigeria has organised a week-long event, where both countries can learn more about each others culture through food.

Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, speaking at the inaugural dinner of the event on Saturday in Abuja, said that the event was organised at the instance of the Turkish President.

Bayraktar in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the event, which would become an annual one, aimed at showcasing Turkey to the World, especially through its food and culture.

He explained that just like other countries have clichd restaurants like the Chinese, French and Italian Restaurants, Turkey also aimed at pushing to the world its Turkish restaurant.

Bayraktar also noted that Nigeria and Turkey would build stronger ties if similar event was held by the Nigerian government in Turkey, to create an opportunity for the Turks to know Nigeria better,

Today, we started the Turkish cuisine week in Abuja, this is the gala dinner and it is under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Turkey.

And, the cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey, from now, every year, it will be an annual event, in our whole Embassies.

We are trying to introduce the Turkish Cuisine to the world. We are culturally very rich, with rich history.

According to him, all the culture and food we have today are a combination of our richness in culture.

It is also an opportunity for the Nigerians to taste the food and know about the richness of the Turkish foods.

This is one of the first nights of the week-long activities in Abuja. All through this week Frazer suites will have Turkish cuisines on their menu, he said.

According to him, as you know, food is always one of the show of culture. When we eat food, we do not just eat Turkish or Nigerian foods.

For example, we go to Chine restaurants, we go to French restaurants. It is a platform to share each others food.

Through your ministry of culture and tourism, It will be good to do what we are doing here in Turkey.

It will be an opportunity for them to also get the Turkish people to know about Nigerian cuisines also as food is always the common language, Bayraktar said.

Also speaking with NAN, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed noted that gastronomy was a more effective way of strengthening bilateral relations aside hard core diplomacy.

Mohammed said that Nigeria and Turkey had built and enjoyed strong relations in the past years and such an event would continue to sustain the relations.

What we have witnessed tonight is the growing power of what I call self-power. Self-power in the area of tourism and how countries today is using tourism to bind countries together.

How they are using tourism to reach out to people, an how tourism, especially gastronomy, music, film, fashion are not just tools of trade but also tools of diplomacy.

What we have witnessed tonight is the beginning of a one-week gastronomy. It is quite significant in the sense that many countries are known for the kind of gastronomy they provide.

And, they have influenced the world, and sometimes conquered the world through food.

You can imagine Kellogs cornflakes, you can imagine what our kids, and grandchildren today will do if you do not give them Kellogs, look at Mr Biggs, McDonnalds.

This is the effect of gastronomy, where through food you begin to get closer, begin to understand another country much better.

It brings countries and people together more effectively than the hard-core diplomacy, Mohammed said.

NAN reports that the event had in attendance members of the diplomatic community, representatives from some Nigerian Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA).

The Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, was among the dignitaries that graced the occasion. (NAN) (

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

Activities for the week at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), started with a cheering news that President Muhammadu Buhari will unveil the new NNPC on July 18.

This was disclosed within the week by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, at the opening ceremony of the 8th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII) which held in Luanda, Angola.

Kyari said the unveiling was in furtherance of the implementation of Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act which provides for the establishment of a new corporate entity known as NNPC Ltd.

Delivering a goodwill message at the conference, the GMD highlighted the revolution currently taking place in the Nigerian oil and gas industry through the implementation of the PIA.

He called on the industry leaders and other participants at the conference to join him and the NNPC family for the unveiling of the new NNPC.

He said the CAPE VIII was coming at a time when the world stood between the challenge of energy security and the necessity for energy transition in the context of energy justice.

Kyari stressed that there was need for all stakeholders to find amicable solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

He also called for collaboration between African oil producers, national oil companies and the multinationals to seek ways to sustainably finance the growth of the oil and gas industry; thereby ensuring the economic progress of African countries.

The African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE) is a triennial initiative of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), an intergovernmental organisation established in 1987 to serve as a platform for African petroleum producing countries to cooperate, collaborate, and share knowledge and competences.

The aim was to maximise the developmental and welfare benefits accruable from petroleum exploitation activities in its 15 member countries.

The 8th edition of the conference was organised by APPO in conjunction with the Government of the Republic of Angola, and AMETrade.

Also on a cheerful note, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) commended the NNPC Ltd. for being the highest tax paying company in the country in the 2021 fiscal year.

The FIRS gave the commendation in a statement issued by its Executive Chairman, Mr Muhammad Nami, to celebrate its landmark achievement of generating over 6 trillion Naira in tax revenue for the first time in its history.

According to the FIRS, the feat defies the harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment and compliance.

The FIRS is pleased to celebrate the top-performing taxpayers who contributed to her success in 2021. The Service surpassed its tax collection target in 2021, and in doing so, crossed the N6trn threshold for the first time.

The feat recorded by the Service was also made possible by the uncommon leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was also made possible by the active support of our supervisory Ministry, the backing of the National Assembly and its leadership, as well as the cooperation of all other stakeholders in the tax area.

To everyone who contributed to FIRS success in 2021, we say thank you.

Of particular importance was the contribution of our much-esteemed taxpayers, they defied the harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment, compliance and support.

The combined efforts of all taxpayers made it possible for the Service to achieve the tax revenue collection of 2021 which provided revenue to our government, the FIRS stated.

NNPC Ltd. had last year presented a symbolic cheque of N621 billion under the tax credit scheme to the ministry of works and housing for the construction of 21 selected roads across the country.

The Company had also in October last year expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of selected federal roads in order to sustain a smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

The road construction initiative executed under the tax credit scheme is being funded through the FIRS in accordance with President Muhammadu Buharis Executive Order 7.

Under the programme, the NNPC would construct a total of 1,804.6 kilometres of roads at a total cost of over 621billion naira.

The FIRS also recognised the Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Company Ltd. as the Most Supportive Taxpayer.

It listed Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and Chevron Nigeria Ltd. and a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) among the Top-Performing Taxpayers for the year.

Still in the week under review, the GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari was honoured with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Year Award for 2021 by the Leadership Newspaper.

Also honoured by the Leadership Newspaper at its Annual Conference and Awards which held in Abuja, were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who were conferred with the 2021 Leadership Persons of the Year Award.

According to the newspapers Editorial Board, Kyari merited the award because of the high degree of transparency and accountability he brought to bear on the management of the NNPC, adding that under his watch, NNPC became an incorporated entity in line with the PIA.

Kyari played a major role in turning NNPC into a profit-making national oil company and is instrumental in driving the present administrations gas revolution, among other innovations, the Leadership Board stated.

In his acceptance speech delivered virtually from Luanda, Angola, where he was attending the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII), Kyari expressed profound appreciation to the Leadership Newspaper Group for recognising the efforts of the NNPC, adding that such an honour was a call to do more.

The award was received on his behalf by the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs Aisha Katagum.

On his part, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, noted that integrity was part of the core values that the late publisher of the Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, stood for.

Osinbajo added that he was satisfied that his legacies were being maintained by the organisation.

Other dignitaries honoured at the event were, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel; Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya and the Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Muhammed.

Also in the week, the Federal Government and the Nigerian NNPC Ltd. commended Seplat Energy Plc for taking practical steps to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide in line with the agenda to achieve net zero by 2060.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, gave the commendation at the launch of the Tree for Life initiative by Seplat Energy Plc in Abuja.

Speaking at the event designed by the company to plant trees and keep the environment healthy as part of its carbon count, Sylva applauded Seplat for coming up with a practical way to reduce carbon dioxide from the environment.

He said that the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari committing Nigeria to 2060 as the date for Nigeria to achieve net-zero carbon emission was a goal every Nigerian should work towards achieving.

Sylva noted that Seplat was already working towards that through the launch of the Tree for Life initiative.

He challenged other oil and gas companies in the country to take advantage of the various projects and corridors opened up by the Federal Government in the gas sector to reduce the nations carbon footprint, stressing that Nigeria had adopted gas as its the transition fuel to net-zero situation.

Speaking in similar vein, the GMD/CEO of NNPC, Kyari who spoke virtually from Luanda, Angola, where he was attending the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VIII), said that NNPC was completely in support of Seplat in the Tree for Life initiative.

Kyari urged other operators in the oil and gas industry to toe similar path in tackling compliant issues.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NNPC Ltd., Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, said it was a great development for energy companies to be at the forefront of solving the global energy conundrum of heavily depending on fossil fuels for economic development yet wanting to get rid of it fast.

Speaking earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of Seplat, Dr ABC Orjiako, said the Tree for Life project was a promise kept as it was a follow up on the promise made last year at the companys Energy Summit to always conduct a carbon count in its operations.

The tree planting launch was performed by Sylva alongside Seplats Chief Executive Officer, Mr Roger Brown, Sen. Margrey Okadigbo, the NNPC Board Chairman and Dr ABC Orjiako, Chairman, Seplat, among others.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Hilary Akalugwu

The ambition of Dr Pat Asadu representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal constituency to return to the House of Representative in 2023 for the fifth time suffered a setback on Sunday.

He was beaten to the third place at the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) primary election held at Nsukka.

Chief Vita Abba emerged as the winner having polled 91 votes out of the 111 votes casted at the election.

The runner up Mr Clinton Isiwu scored 11 votes while Asadu got two votes. Messrs Chidi Obetta, Aniegbulam Ezeugwu and Chukuemeka Asogwa got one vote each.

Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Mr Chinedu Onu, thanked delegates for conducting themselves in orderly manner at the primary election.

Onu said all the 111 delegates accredited for the primary election, voted, but four of the votes were invalidated.

In his acceptance remark, Abba expressed appreciation to the delegates for voting for him and promisedthat he would not disappoint the party if elected at the 2023 general elections.

This victory is victory for PDP; victory for justice and victory for democracy in our constituency.

I thank all delegates and the party for finding me worthy to fly the partys flag in 2023, Abba said.

Mr Bradan Uzoagba, who led Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) team to monitor the primary election, described the exercise as free and fair.

Isiwu who placed second said he accepted the result in good faith as the election was free and fair. (NAN) (www.nanewsng.com)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Manchester City won their fourth English Premier League (EPL) trophy in five years on Sunday but nearly let it slip from their hands.

They had to come from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2, and edge closest rivals Liverpool with just a point.

Manchester City scored their three goals inside an electrifying five minutes late in the second half.

After an afternoon of high nerves, laced with the fear of Liverpool pipping them to the title at the post, relieved and jubilant Manchester City fans poured onto the field at the final whistle.

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City took the vital three points, making Liverpools 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers irrelevant.

The moment we found a goal it changed everything. We were not playing in normal circumstances but you have to handle it, said Guardiola.

Gundogan is the best inside runner we have. We were arriving down the sides and we needed a player with the sense of tempo in the box and he is the best.

We are legends. When you win the Premier League four times in five seasons it is because these guys are so, so special. We will be remembered, he said.

The day was set up for a party and there was a relaxed mood around the ground before kick-off.

But that was soon to change as Aston Villa, managed by former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, provided a twist in the storyline.

Matty Cash put the visitors in front in the 37th minute with a fine header from a Lucas Digne cross from the left flank, and the mood in the stadium instantly changed.

Manchester City were far from their fluent best, lacking finesse as they piled on the pressure in search of a leveller but rarely troubling Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

The edgy mood among the home fans turned to desperation after Philippe Coutinho then doubled the lead for Aston Villa with a goal of pure simplicity.

Ollie Watkins headed on from a long Olsen goal-kick, and the former Liverpool midfielder Coutinho produced a brilliant first touch to cut inside and then drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

Liverpool were level with Wolves at the time of Coutinhos strike, but Manchester City knew that a goal for Juergen Klopps side could now take the title away from them.

But then came the Manchester City comeback that sealed the title, regardless of events at Anfield.

Two substitutes combined for the first, with Gundogan heading in a Raheem Sterling cross at the back post in the 76th minute.

Half-time substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko, on the left flank, then showed composure to pull the ball back to Rodri.

The Spaniard delivered a pinpoint finish side-footing into the bottom corner from 20 metres.

The title-winning goal came in the 81st minute when Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a low cross to Gundogan, who tapped in from close range, sending the crowd into rapturous delight.

The magnitude of your achievement is defined by the magnitude of your rival, reflected Guardiola.

Ive never seen a team like Liverpool. I know its tough but a huge congratulations to them. They help us to be a better team, he added. (Reuters/dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne and Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

The immediate past Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, Prince Dele Ogunbameru, says that he resigned his position to foster unity in the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunbameru, at the party congress held on Monday, May 16, at Royal Bird Hotels, Ijapo, Akure announced his resignation as chairman.

Ogunbameru, in an interview with NAN in Akure on Sunday, said the unity in the party was more important than any individual interest.

We have witnessed a lot of bickering in the party, our primary goal should be how to reconcile warring groups; the party must move forward.

We had a peaceful congress, where factions in SDP in Ondo State were reconciled after a long period of time.

The congress was in line with the Independent National Electoral Commissions directive, and I, as the state chairman of the recognised SDP, voluntarily resigned my position.

A new chairman, Mr Dele Thomas and new executives have emerged, so there is no more faction in Ondo State SDP.

l thank a former chairman of the party in the state, Chief Korede Duyile and other stakeholders for their faith in the party and their determination to work for the success of the party in the upcoming general elections, he said.

Ogunbameru charged the new executives to reconcile aggrieved members and ensure the partys victory in the 2023 general elections in the state.

NAN reports that Mr Dele Thomas was elected as the state Chairman at the congress; while Tope Bambo and Dr Sola Agboola, emerged as Deputy Chairman and State Secretary, respectively.

Mrs Rachael Ajayi emerged as the State Treasurer, while a veteran journalist, Mr Remi Olayiwola, was elected as the Publicity Secretary.

Thomas while addressing the congress, had promised a level-playing ground for all aspirants and assured members that they would be carried along in the running of the party.

He appreciated elders of the party for always cooperating and ensuring that the factional crisis was resolved.

Also, a former Chairman of the Party in the state, Chief Korede Duyile, said as a leader, his goal was for the party to move forward.

Duyile, who noted that SDP started from Ondo State, expressed happiness that the problem in the party had been resolved.

He appealed to all members present at the congress to work for the unity of the party. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Tayo Ikujuni

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

Some financial experts have called on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to adopt a more realistic approach to its policy decisions.

This advice is coming as the MPC is scheduled to holds its bi-monthly meeting on Monday.

The experts, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, urged the committee to take practical policy decisions to effectively tackle the countrys monetary and economic challenges.

A past President of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, urged the committee to carry out extensive research on the economy before coming out with its parameters.

Unegbu said that the idea of retaining the same parameters for several months without any positive economic impact gave the impression that the MPC meetings were merely routine.

He urged the MPC to look inward and formulate home-grown policies that will slow down inflationary trend and engender real economic growth.

NAN reports that the MPC had retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 11.5 per cent and held all other parameters constant at its last nine meetings.

Thus, the asymmetric corridor has remained at 100/-700 Basic Points around the MPR, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) remained at 27.50 per cent and the Liquidity Ratio remained at 30.00 per cent.

According to Unegbu, the MPC should observe and compare economic conditions preceding its last few meetings and the impact of its policy decisions afterwards.

Retaining the same parameters for such a long time without visible improvements indicates that the committee, and the apex bank are not doing enough.

Look at the inflation rate, look at the exchange rate, there has not been any appreciable improvement.

They need to carry out a research and compare two or three past meetings to know the impact of their policy decisions, he said.

Unegbu also advised the apex bank to cut down on its intervention in different economic sectors so as not to cause dislocation in the monetary system.

CBNs interventions have not changed anything; the interventions are not working.

Look at the CBN appealing to farmers to pay back their loans. Does the apex bank have capacity to recover those loans?

The beneficiaries do not see them as loans, but as their own share of the national cake, he said.

According to an economist, Prof. Lanre Olaniyan, retaining the same parameters for the upteenth time, in the midst of rising inflation and other economic challenges, means something is not right.

Olaniyan, a professor of economics from the University of Ibadan, urged the MPC to take cognizance of the impact of its prevailing parameters to be properly guided.

However, another economist, Dr Tope Fasua, urged the MPC to be circumspect in its policy decisions so as not to worsen the situation.

Except we want the CBN to be adventurous, if they increase the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), its a cue for the Deposit Money Banks to increase lending rates.

And, usually, lending rates will be increased a lot more than deposit rates.

The manufacturers and other stakeholders will blame the apex bank for making their lives more difficult. But if they do that, the aim could also be to slow down inflation.

The second point is that, if they reduce, inflation might continue to grow. If we want to be experimental we could push for a reduction in rates, he suggested.

Fasua called for improved productivity in the country, adding that a reduction in the rates would boost productivity by encouraging people to borrow more from the banks, while depositing less.

Our banks are fairly comfortable but we could do with a lot more productivity in the country, at the risk of a little more inflation, he said.

NAN reports that at the last MPC meeting in March, the 10 members present were divided on the policy decisions and parameters to adopt.

Three members had voted to raise MPR by 25 basis points, one member voted to raise MPR by 50 basis points while six other members voted to hold all parameters constant.

According to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the committee was of the view that increasing the rates during inflation could adversely impact on economic recovery and stifle expected investment expansion.

Emefiele also said that tightening would reverse the steady improvement recorded in credit expansion, and it will not necessarily tame inflation.

He added that the committee decided to adopt a precautionary policy stance that is consistent with the prevailing economic conditions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News