By Stephen Adeleye

A team from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) on Thursday visited the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, on facility inspection and preparation toward conversion of the hospital to Federal University Lokoja Teaching Hospital.

In her remarks, the leader of the team, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, Director Hospital Services, FMoH, Abuja, said that the team was in Lokoja on behalf of the Minister of state for Health, Sen. Olorunibe Mamora, to inspect the hospital facilities.

According to her, the objective of our visit is to come and see what you have on ground that will match the proposal for the transition from the Federal Medical Centre to a teaching hospital.

She explained that there were criteria for approval and final recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari would come from the office of the Minister of state for Health, who is the supervising minister.

She noted that in the team are the technical officers, the foot soldiers in the ministry, who would ensure that due diligence is carried out.

I am glad to be part of history that FMC Lokoja is being transformed to a federal teaching hospital.

I am quite impressed with the profile of the hospital but there are still lots of work to do.

So, please dont rest on your oars because we want to go back to Abuja to beat our chest that yes, FMC Lokoja deserves to be called a Teaching Hospital.

She congratulated the FMC management for being able to overcome the challenges encountered when the hospital was locked down for more than six months.

Earlier, the Medical Director, FMC Lokoja, Dr Olatunde Alabi, made a presentation on the history, structure, outlook and the current state of the hospital in terms of infrastructure, management, staff strength, successes and challenges.

In his presentation, he said that the FMC Lokoja was established in 1999 and it had been serving as the major tertiary federal health institution in Kogi and its neighbouring states.

He disclosed that inadequate manpower remained one of the main challenges facing the hospital due to brain drain anf retirement, among others.

The medical director conducted the team round the hospital facilities, assuring them that the board of management and the entire staff of the hospital were fully prepared.

He explained that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had also come for inspection, stressing that the board of management and the entire staff of the hospital were fully ready.

We are fully ready, the training of medical personnel is not new to FMC Lokoja and we have also been training resident doctors for years, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Thursday on condolence visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Buhari will meet with the new President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to convey his condolences on the passing of the former president and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Presidents spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the presidential aide, the Nigerian leader will also extend his congratulations to the new President, renewing bonds of the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and the UAE.

The president, in an earlier congratulatory message to the new UAE leader, had reaffirmed Nigerias cordial relationship with the country.

He noted that the cooperation between both governments have helped Nigeria in tracking down illegal assets and tracing terrorist funds.

According to Buhari, under the new leadership, he looks forward to a bigger and stronger partnership for peace, stability and prosperity of both countries.

The president will be accompanied by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello,and the Minister of Aviation,Sen. Hadi Sirika.

Other members of his delegation are the National Security Adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai.

The President is expected back in the country on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Khalifa died on May 13 at the age of 73

He was president of the UAE since 2004.

Abu Dhabi, which holds most of the Gulf states oil wealth, has held the presidency since the founding of the UAE federation by Sheikh Khalifas father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in 1971. (

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

The Federal Government through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) has called for solution-based research proposals that address socio-economic problems of the country.

Dr Muhammed Dahiru, Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday.

The event was tagged: Launch of Call for Research and Development Proposals for Delta-2 Programme.

He said the launch was simultaneously hosted by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) with at least eight other participating countries.

Dahiru said it was the first part of the project procedure scheduled on TA CR Delta 2 Programme for bilateral cooperation in applied research and technology transfer for agriculture, mining and general manufacturing.

Research and development (R

By Olatunde Ajayi

Mastercard and OPay have announced an interconnected global payment ecosystem partnership to boost digital commerce to people across Middle East and Africa (MEA).

In a statement on Thursday in Lagos, Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Mastercard, MEA, said the aim was to grow a wider financial inclusions.

Ajmal said the collaboration would enable OPay consumers and merchants in Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Pakistan, Algeria and UAE engage in businesses anywhere in the world.

Ajmal said that the partnership was the latest milestone in Mastercards emerging market strategy.

At Mastercard, our innovation strategy is rooted in partnerships to support inclusion at scale.

Our partnership with OPay demonstrates our commitment to supporting payments providers across the world and to create an interconnectivity that benefits an array of consumers with unique needs.

In the initial phase of the partnership, OPay customers will benefit from the Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to their OPay wallets, to shop at well-known global brands for leisure, travel, accommodation and more.

The service is available regardless of whether or not the customer has a bank account.

It also allows small business owners to purchase from suppliers abroad and pay with the secure virtual payment solution, she said.

Yahui Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of OPay, said the firm, a leading fintech in the Middle East and Africa, OPay, was delighted to partner with Mastercard to promote financial inclusion.

Zhou said the collaboration would help in the opening up the global economy to more consumers and businesses across Middle East, and Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OPays active users have grown to 15 million in dozens of markets in which it operates since its operations started in 2018.

Edited by Joe Idika

Source: NAN News

Guidelines

By Ibrahim Kado

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has charged political parties to strictly abide by the guidelines of 2022 Electoral Act for successful conduct of their primary elections.

Mr Kassim Gaidam, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa, made the call at the stakeholders meeting on ongoing voter registration exercise and other activities on Thursday in Yola.

He said that the commission would not tolerate acts by political parties that fail to comply with the provision of electoral act in the conduct of their primaries.

We remind political parties that by the provision of section 84 (13) of Electoral Act 2022.

Any political party that fails to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of its primaries shall not have a candidate for the office in respect to which there was non-compliance with the Act in the conduct of its primaries.

This reminder is necessary to avoid unhappy consequences of any breach of the commissions Timetable or the Electoral Act, he said.

Gaidam appealed to all voters who registered between June and December 2021 to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

According to him, the commission printed and delivered to the state 39,770 PVCs of genuine new registration and have been distributed to LGAs since April 19.

He added that so far, only 3,641 cards had been collected by their owners.

In his remarks, Bello Magaji, Chairman Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), expressed the readiness of political parties to abide by rules.

He assured that all political parties would do their best to create awareness on the need for registered voters collect their cards.

The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Sikiru Akande, commended all political parties in the state for conducting themselves peacefully and urged them to maintain as primaries and electioneering campaigns approach.

According to him, all security agencies are united and they would provide security for successful political activities in the state (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government has directed security operatives to enforce ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, as it imposes fresh ban to curtail the unruly activities of motorcyclists in the state.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the directive on Wednesday, during a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State House, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu said that the total ban on Okada riders was on all highways across the six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.

He said that with effective from June 1, security operatives should enforce the proscription order across the listed councils.

The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, and the total ban order extends to all LCDAs under the listed councils.

According to him, the fresh Okada ban followed the Feb. 2020 restriction placed on the activities of the commercial motorcycles.

Sanwo-Olu said that the government took the decision in line with the States Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, to immediately address the chaos and menace created by operations of commercial motorcyclists in the listed areas.

He urged the Police to enforce the order without compromise, warning that the state government would not condone any security formation that relax the new ban in its jurisdiction.

After critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six Local Government Areas, where we restricted them on Feb. 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated.

We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six Local Government and their Local Council Development Areas, effective from June 1, 2022.

This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period, and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do.

We have given the notice now and we expect all commercial motorcycles plying the routes in the listed councils and areas to vacate the highways before enforcement begins. The enforcement will be total, the governor said.

He urged residents patronising Okada riders on highways to embrace the alternative transport schemes already provided by the government to plan their journey.

Sanwo-Olu said that the government had provided Last Mile Buses, medium-capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for the convenience of commuters.

He said that Okada riding on the highways remained unsafe and would no longer be tolerated.

The governor said that the state government had been ramping up construction work on its two rail line projects to further increase the choices of commuting for residents.

We have provided Last Mile buses in the affected areas; they are working and effective. We also have medium-capacity buses and high-capacity buses working in these areas.

Before the end of the year, we are also bringing the rail along these corridors with their terminals. We have provided jetties as well to provide alternatives.

We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos.

Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws.

The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement, he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, directed his men to ensure complete enforcement of the Governors order in the listed councils and areas. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

Anambra Queens Volleyball Club have recorded their first victory in three games at the ongoing National Division One Volleyball League

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the game played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw Anambra Queens beating Bayonet Spikers of Kaduna 25-20 in the first set.

They then won 25-22 in the second set and the final beat, thus going on to two points difference in the third at 25-23.

Speaking after the match, Uche Okafor who is the head coach of Anambra Queens said they played to instructions and would continue to have favourable results.

This is our first appearance in the Division One League. This is the first time they are playing indoor games.

Its the will of God, I am happy. Its not that we are fully prepared but we are determined.

We are happy for this victory because we lost our previous matches.

Speaking on the teams players, he said: Some of them are still in secondary schools and some are in higher institutions.

I decided to select them to come and expose them for this type of tournament.

This is the first time of playing indoor games and some have been traveling to the FCT before.

I just decided to choose the set of players that are still young and full of discipline and ready to play according to the instructions given to them.

Now we have learnt from our mistakes and we will win all our subsequent matches, he said.

NAN reports that Anambra Queens lost 0-3 to Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers in their first match, and then lost 1-3 to Life Camp Volleyball Club of Abuja.

Bayonet Spikers also lost their two previous games, losing 0-3 to CNS Spikers in their first match, and 0-3 to Life Camp Volleyball Club of Abuja.

NAN reports that 12 teams are participating in the first phase of the championship.

The male teams are Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), UCEM Spikers, Wikki Spikers of Bauchi, Spartan Spikers of Yola, ABM of Katsina and Caliphate Spikers of Sokoto

The female teams on the other hand are: CNS Spikers, Bayonet Spikers of Kaduna, Life Camp VC of Abuja, Yelwa Spikers of Bauchi, Olalomi Royal Spikers of Ilorin and Anambra Queens.

NAN reports that the 2022 National Division One Volleyball League which started on Friday is expected to end on Sunday.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Male Volleyball Club on Wednesday recorded its fourth victory in the ongoing 2022 National Division One Volleyball League in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match, played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saw NIS narrowly defeating their counterparts JVC of Bauchi 3-2.

They won the first set 26-24, lost the second set by 19-25 and fought hard to win the third set 31-29, but lost the fourth set by 14-25 and finally won the last set with a two-point difference of 16-14.

After the match, Kayode Ajilore, the coach of Nigeria Immigration Service, commended his boys for their winning spirit.

He said their target was to go to the premier league.

I feel great to win the fourth match, we worked hard to record this success. We will work on our lapses before the next game in Yola on Thursday.

We are determined to go the premier league, the secret of this victory is due to dedication, motivation and hard work, he said.

NAN reports that in the other match played: the Caliphate Spikers of Sokoto defeated UCEM of Enugu 2-1

In the female category, Life Camp VC of Abuja defeated Olalomi Royal Spikers of Offa 3-0 while Anambra Queens beat Yelwa Spikers of Bauchi 3-0.

NAN reports that 12 teams are participating in the first phase of the championship.

The male teams are Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), UCEM Spikers, Wikki Spikers of Bauchi, Spartan Spikers of Yola, ABM of Katsina and Caliphate Spikers of Sokoto.

The female teams are Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Bayonet Spikers of Kaduna, Life Camp VC of FCT, Yelwa Spikers of Bauchi, Olalomi Royal Spikers of Kwara and Anambra Queens.

The competition, which started on May 13 and was supposed to end on Saturday, has been shifted to Thursday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

====================
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its governorship and House of Representatives primary elections to Thursday May 26.

Mr Felix Morka, the partys National Publicity Secretary announced this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the end of the partys National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC governorship primaries was earlier scheduled for May 20.

The APC scribe said the partys Senate and House of Assembly primaries had also been rescheduled to hold on Friday May 27.

The NWC of the APC has made an approval for a revised timetable schedule of activities for house of assembly, national assembly, governorship primaries and appeals that may arise.

Our governorship and house of representatives primary election will now take place on Thursday, May 26, while the senate and house of assembly primaries will take place on Friday May 27.

The election appeals for governorship and house of representatives will take place on Friday May 27, he said, adding that appeals for senate and house of assembly primaries will hold on Saturday May 28.

Morka said following the partys approved revised timetable schedule of activities, its special convention and presidential primaries earlier slated for May 30 and June 1, would now take place between May 29 and 30.

He added that the mode of primary election would be contained in the guidelines that would be issued later.

On reports making that the party had zoned its presidential ticket to the North-East, Morka said: there is no such decision made by the NWC.

NAN further reports that the APC various screening committees would screen no fewer than 25 presidential aspirants,145 governorship aspirants, 351 senatorial aspirants and 1,197 house of representatives aspirants ahead of its primaries.

The cleared aspirants would contest for the partys ticket for the 2023 general elections. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The University of Abuja Alumni Association, USA Inc., has partnered a U.S.-based independent organisation, King Baudouin Foundation, to mobilise support for its Alma Mater.

The North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some executives of the association met with the officials of the foundation in New York to discuss areas of support.

The Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, also attended the meeting.

The President and Founder of the association, Mrs Ekeleoma Chuku, said the motive of establishing the organisation in the U.S. was to galvanise support and to give back to its Alma Mater.

Chuku said the alumni had discussed ways of providing infrastructure and to support the learning environment of the university.

We are happy to partner with the King Baudouin Foundation to proffer solutions to all these needs and to bridge the gap, so we want the foundation to support our Alma Mater and the good policies of the Vice Chancellor, Prof NaAllah she said.

In his remarks, NaAllah thanked the association and its partner for their willingness to support the university.

We are working to upgrade the ranking of the University of Abuja to a world class university, this cannot be done without strengthen the academic, the infrastructure and strengthen the lives of the students.

As a public university, the Federal Government cannot fund it alone. We need to mobilise funds and there are no better people to come to than the alumni, he said.

The vice chancellor told the alumni and its partner to consider supporting students activities centre, provide books to the library and give scholarships to some students.

According to him, the university is upgrading itself in so many areas as it has developed virtual class system in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Centre for Distance Learning is among the best in Nigeria. Also, we have launched drug free clubs and the counselling services working around the clock to help and rehabilitate the affected students.

The University of Abuja is a tertiary institution in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, established in January 1988, as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Funmilola Gboteku

The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), SLOT Foundation and Botosoft Technologies say they have agreed to jointly train Nigerian youths on mobile phone repair and electronic gadget maintenance.

The Technical Advisor of GIZ, Mr Oluwatosin Ilawole, during a facility tour on Tuesday of Botosoft Technologies Ltd., Ikeja, said the project was aimed at engaging the teeming youths in economic activities that would lead to sustainable income for them.

He said that the market for the repairs of mobile gadgets was very huge, with the potential for engaging a large number of Nigerian youths.

Ilawole said, When we saw the potential in the mobile tech market for youths, we went into partnership with both SLOT Foundation and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

The partnership is aimed at looking at how to pilot an innovative model like the version of the German dual vocation system, where they have classroom training, practical and the third component which is compulsory internship.

The programme started last year for a period of nine months and the classroom training was held at LASTVEB for three months. Then, SLOT Foundation taught the trainees the practical aspect of mobile phone repairs and computer software among others for six-months, Ilawole said.

He said that after training the beneficiaries, the agreement was to get them into organisations that were willing to give voluntary internship.

Ilawole said that one of the places they got voluntary internship for the trainees was at Botosoft Technologies Ltd.

He said that apart from the internship which allowed them to gain more experience in fixing gadgets, they also gained permanent employment at Botosoft.

Also speaking, Dr Babatope Agbeyo, the Chairman of Botosoft Technologies Ltd., said that the project was aimed at taking unemployed youths off the streets and making them useful to the society and also for such youths to have sustainable income.

Agbeyo said that the purpose of bringing the beneficiaries to their company was for them to put what they had learnt practically into real life use.

He said that it was also to encourage them and let them realise that it was possible to get employed if they learn well.

He said that Botosoft would be willing to retain 90 per cent of the trainees as well as enrol those who would be considered outstanding in universities in order to acquire advanced knowledge in the skill.

He noted that the companys vision was to empower as many youths as possible, particularly, the ones that would be willing to learn.

Agbeyo stressed the need for more intiatives that would help reduce the number of unemployed youths in the country.

If every company in Nigeria decides to employ five youths per year, the number of unemployed people in the country will reduce.

On our own part, every year we employ about 100 youths for three months to work with us, Agbeyo said.

He lauded the German dual vocation system noting that such model was worth emulating .

The head of training at SLOT Foundation, Mr Collins Uwadia, said SLOT partnered GIZ, a body of German Government doing a lot of projects in Nigeria, to build youth capacity, and also to give back to the society.

He said that the programme was an all-round training comprising: theory, practical and internship.

Uwadia said that the training which includes: how to repair phones, laptops and electronics would give them an opportunity to garner hands on skills and be useful to the society.

NAN reports that GIZ is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal Government operating in many fields in no less than 130 countries.

SLOT Foundation is primarily built to help budding entrepreneurs and promote made-in-Nigeria products that would create jobs and promote local content.

Botosoft Technologies specialises in identity management, brand protection and document security services.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

FOG/PAD

Edited by Peter Dada

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

Prof. Muhammed Isah, Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), says compliance with assets declaration and code of conduct for public officers is compulsory not optional.

He said this at a two-day workshop organised for staff of the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is on strict compliance with assets declaration and code of conduct for public officers.

Isah, who was represented by Mr Zephaniah Bulus, Director, Education and Advocacy Services at the Bureau, said it was important for public officers to abide with a high standard of morality as they carry out their responsibilities.

The essence of this workshop is to keep public officers abreast of their responsibilities and to show them practical guide on how to fill their assets declaration forms.

We are taking them on ethics and prosecution and it is important for public officers to conform to the ethics and laws of the land.

The codes, which are set of moral principles helps to regulate the conducts of public officers, from the President to the lowest officer in the public service.

There are so many things public officers take for granted without them knowing that they are breaking the law.

So we are using this avenue to educate them on what is expected of them, he said.

On his part, Mr Umar Magashi, Executive Director, NIWRMC, urged the participants to abide by the code of conducts for public officers in order not to face the consequences of breaching the law.

According to him, it has been observed that many public officers do not comply with the provisions of the law.

He, however, urged them to ensure they declare their assets when due.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Director-General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Care Agency, has confirmed the death of seven children from cholera in the state.

Ekpenyong, who confirmed the deaths in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Calabar, said the agency recorded more than 600 suspected cases in the state between March and April.

Over 600 suspected cases were detected and we had a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) conducted on them. We also did a microscopic test and culture to have a true confirmation of the cases.

We confirmed that most of the cases were not cholera related, though we had three active cases of the disease in Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA).

Whenever we go for medical outreach and detect suspected cases of cholera with symptoms such as diarrhoea, we take samples immediately.

Thereafter, the rapid diagnostic test is carried out and treatment initiated immediately.

Over the past two months, we have actually had seven deaths occurring as a result of cholera, she said.

Ekpenyong said that treatment was initiated after samples were collected for microscopic test, but sadly however, some of the children died before the results were out.

According to the DG, the children are the most vulnerable to diarrhoea, because they play mostly with dirt and still use their hands to eat without washing them.

On sensitisation, Ekpenyong told NAN that her goal was working with the National Orientation Agency and other partners to sensitise mothers on the importance of maintaining hygienic habits and drinking clean water.

She noted that most of the cases were as a result of drinking unclean water that had been contaminated by faeces from open defacation, especially in rural areas without toilets.

She said that since most rural dwellers depended on water from the streams, it was important for people from such communities to boil such water before drinking.

The DG also told NAN that the agency was partnering with relevant agencies for the sinking of boreholes in some communities, with a view to providing portable drinking water for them. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidi Opara/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Fusion 774, a political support and socio-economic advocacy group, has declared support for the aspiration of the former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to become the president of Nigeria in 2023.

Amaechi is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Sadiq Jikta, said this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

The group has recently called on the former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Amb. Tukur Buratai, to run for the office of the president in 2023.

Jikta said that Buratai declined their call and urged them to support any candidate that shared their vision.

He said the choice of Amaechi was borne out of their conviction that his vision for Nigeria aligned with that of the group, couple with his experience in governance and passion for Nigeria.

Jikta said the concern of the group was to choose leaders with the requisite experience and track records, which according to him endeared Amaechi to the group as the right person to support.

He said the decision was in response to the resolve of Nigerians to advocate for leadership that would be responsive, trusted and deliberate in meeting the peoples yearning and aspiration.

We are using this opportunity to announce our support to the candidacy of Rotimi Amaechi, as we believe he has the capacity to salvage the country, both in security and economy as a whole.

We urge members of fusion 774 all over the country to lay their support to him.

At this stage, all members who are APC delegates to the presidential primaries to give him the full support and cooperation he may desire.

We at Fusion 774 will use all available resources within our means to ensure he comes out successful in the coming APC primary elections, he said.

The National Patron of the group, Dr Abubakar Sani, said the group looked out for aspirants from all political parties and evaluated their capacity and acceptability before declaring support for Amaechi.

Sani said the group would not only support anyone to become president but would set up machinery to hold him accountable to the people.

He said that Fusion 774 would form opposition against anyone that failed to align their vision, saying the group would not accept funding from any politician.

According to him, the group consulted with some eminent personalities in the country, like traditional rulers to be able to narrow their choice down to Amaechi as an alternative since Buratai rejected the call.

He said it was time for citizens to be actively involved in choosing a better president in 2023. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd.) will be unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 18, 2022.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Malam Mele Kyari said this on Tuesday while receiving the CEO of the Year 2021 Award of the Leadership Newspapers Group in Abuja.

The Leadership Annual Conference and Awards also saw Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala receive the Leadership Person of the Year Awards.

Speaking virtually from Luanda, Angola where he is attending the meeting of African Petroleum Conference (CAPDE VIII), Kyari expressed profound appreciation toward the award.

He thanked the Leadership Newspapers Group for recognising the efforts of the NNPC.

He said such recognition was a challenge to do more.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, restructured and empowered the NNPC as a new entity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The United States of America says it will impose visa restrictions on anyone who promotes violence as Nigeria holds its general elections in 2023.

Americas Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mr Michael Gonzales, handed out the warning at an international conference with the theme: United States Policy and Nigerias National Decisions in the 2023 Elections, held at Johns Hopkins University, United States.

The conference, which held at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC , virtually, brought together Nigerian and American policy communities to discuss issues around the 2023 general elections.

It was organised by policy research center Nextier Nigeria, in partnership with SAIS at Johns Hopkins University; the School of International Service at the American University: and the Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development at the University of Massachusetts.

Gonzales said the United States government will continue to use our messaging, as well as other diplomatic channels at our disposal, including visa restrictions, where warranted, to dissuade those who may be tempted to use violence to undermine Nigerias democratic process.

According to him, the U.S. government remains committed to working with Nigeria to uphold its conventions toward ensuring a peaceful power transition in 2023.

The conference, moderated by Dr Ndubuisi Nwokolo, a Partner at Nextier and Honorary Research Fellow, School of Government and Society, University of Birmingham, U.K.), among other global scholars, therefore, stated that Nigeria should maintain existing political conventions that guaranteed peace.

Other event moderators at the conference were Dr Carl LeVan, (Professor, School of International Service, American University and Chair, Comparative and Regional Studies), and Dr. Darren Kew (Professor of Conflict Resolution, University of Massachusetts, Boston and Executive Director of Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development).

Patrick Okigbo, Nextiers Founding Partner, clarified that the reason for hosting the conference in the United States was to elevate the election issues and conversations to the international stage.

He reiterated the need for Nigerias international partners to assist in upholding her democratic process, even as he pointed out that democracy is not an end state but a project that requires continuous nurturing.

Okigbo said: Insecurity in Nigeria and recent occurrences in West Africa and Sahel regions should cause Nigerias elite to use the 2023 elections to douse the tensions and set the country on a growth path.

He further cautioned that the failure to address the issues raised at the conference could have devastating consequences, whilst attention to the recommendations could yield a bountiful harvest.

Other panelists highlighted the insecurity risks and the need to manage the 2023 elections properly, in addition to other points raised at the conference.

Among these points were the issue of faltering political developments as they concerned elitism and Nigerias progress, as it was observed that since 1999, the Nigerian elite had found a way to maintain a modicum of stability for elections and eventually share the dividends of the election outcomes.

In his contribution, retired Brig.-Gen. Saleh Bala, observed that security challenges in Nigeria are true, present and tangible but what is consistent is the lurking shadow of elite interests and how they serve their interests.

On insecurity threats to Nigerias democracy, the conference found that poor management of the elections especially the rotational presidency convention could threaten Nigerias democracy against the backdrop of pervasive insecurity.

The conference also found that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, rise of self-help groups, and increased secessionist agitations in southern Nigeria were other factors that posed security threats to the countrys democracy.

Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Ms Idayat Hassan, noted that political parties during the Anambra governorship election cycle could not campaign due to insecurity, and that worse scenarios could happen in 2023.

Hassan asserted that the zoning of the presidency to the south, particularly the Southeast, will give the region a sense of belonging in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Tuesday partnered with the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN) to launch Diaspora housing scheme.

This was made known during a courtesy visit paid by the Chairman of NiDCOM Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to FMBNs Managing Director, Mr Madu Hamman in his office in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa announced that NiDCOM had reached its final preparatory stage of the housing scheme programme for the Nigerians in the Diaspora to benefit from.

She added that the partnership with the FMBN would help in cutting off any middleman that would pose any challenge to Nigerians Diaspora that wish to own a home in Nigeria.

Also, she said that the housing scheme would be beneficiary for Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

She pointed out that the Nigerians Diaspora were rated the highest in remittances to their home country, adding that no country could stand alone without its Diaspora.

We have created the housing scheme platform where we now have about 1,700 interested diaspora wanting to enroll .

So, where we are now is to commence the launch which was delay by the handing over of the new Management team of the FMBN in March .

She also warned Nigerians In the Diaspora not to fall victim of fraudsters, urging them to always go through the official platform and address of the scheme: https://nidcom.gov.ng/diaspora-housing-platform/.

Speaking also, the MD of FMBN Mr Hamman, apologised for the delay of the launch, saying that it was due to the change in leadership at the bank.

Hamman gave assurance that a date would be fixed for the launch before the end of May, noting that the process was already at its final stage.

He added that the Diaspora were an integral component for any countrys development because of their skills, expertise and resources to invest in their homeland.

This platform will be of immense value to Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora. Before the end of May we will have a date for the launch.

The committees set for the arrangement will begin work to expedite the lunch and then the venue and other logistics with the approval will be communicated at the end of the month, he said.(NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has dismissed the report that some aggrieved personnel wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the top army officers of corruption and extortion.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

An online report had emerged on Monday that some aggrieved personnel had in an impersonal letter to President Muhammadu Buhari accused top army officers of corruption.

Nwachukwu said more worrisome was the insinuation that soldiers had threatened to embark on strike, saying such an action was tantamount to mutiny in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He said the Nigerian army subscribed to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as directed by the Federal Government, since 2018.

He added that the system had facilitated the flawless payment of salaries and allowances of personnel.

Nwachukwu said subscribing to IPPIS was part of the effort to guard against fraudulent practices and entrench accountability and transparency in the system.

According to him, the IPPIS does not permit any personnel access to payment processes.

These processes, undoubtedly, provide zero opportunity for anyone or group of persons to manipulate personnel entitlements.

It is also important to state that the army and sister services, jointly operate a Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS), which is applicable to the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.

Therefore, what is applicable to personnel of other services (Nigerian Navy and Air Force), invariably applies to personnel of the Nigerian army.

Suffice to state that personnel salaries and allowances are promptly and appropriately paid, without any form of shortchanging, he said.

He said the vague allegation of corruption and extortion clearly depicts a shallow understanding of the processes of payments of personnel salaries and allowances.

As it stands presently, all monthly entitlements of personnel have been disbursed.

The allegations contained in the anonymous letter are, therefore, a ridiculous attempt at disparaging the Nigerian army and causing disaffection among personnel, he said.

Nwachukwu said it was weird that the personnel whose morale was considerably high under the command of the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, would make such allegations and threats.

He said the current administration had accorded priority and prompt attention to soldiers welfare, including timely payment of their salaries and allowances.

According to him, the Nigerian army, as a professional institution, will, however, investigate the claims made in the report to establish its veracity and take appropriate action, where necessary.

The Nigerian Army wishes to state that it will not be deterred by any unpatriotic attempt, aimed at dwindling the morale of her personal.

Personnel of the NA are rest assured that the Chief of Army Staffs innovative welfare programmes currently being implemented for Regimental Sergeant Majors down and their families, will be unmatched for posterity, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Bukola Adewumi

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Tuesday launched a project on reducing post harvest losses across vitamin A cassava (VAC) and vitamin A maize (VAM) value chains.

Prof. Lateef Sanni, the Head of Station IITA Abuja and Project Manager, Building Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed System (BASICS-II), said post harvest food losses endangered valuable incomes and profitability.

Sanni said that IITA, in

Its also caused by delays in harvesting, poor processing techniques, inadequate method of storage and distribution as well as at the consumer end, he said

The project manager noted that post harvest in Cassava and Maiza deprived farmers of full benefits of their labour.

He said that the aim of the project was to improve the adoption of post harvest losses and reducte practices across the VAC and VAM value chains in Nigeria.

He also said that the project, supported by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and implemented by IITA, in collaboration with Harvest Plus, was aimed to boost biofortified maize and cassava production, job creation for youths and women as well as improve adoption of post harvest losses.

The Country Director, GAIN, Mr Michael Ojo, said the programme was designed to scale up commercial activities for nutrients enriched food products.

Ojo also said that the project was aimed at improving nutritional status and livelihoods, especially in rural communities and settlements with less diverse diets through VAC and VAM which were staples for over 100 million Nigerians.

Achieving this aim comes with its challenges which includes post-harvest losses in crops and aflatoxins build up in maize.

GAIN and Harvest plus are working towards addressing post-harvest loss.

Aflatoxin build up along Provitamin A Cassava and Provitamin A maize value chains are key inputs in unlocking commercial values for these food commodities, he said.

The director further said that post-harvest losses decreased profit margin of actors across the value chain and food availability for consumers, while aflatoxin contamination made the food unsafe for consumers.

He said that in 2021, GAIN and Harvest plus carried out an assessment of market opportunities for Aflatoxin Safe Maize commodities and Aflatoxin safe Biofortified Maize amongst small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

In his contribution, Dr Oyeleke Rasaq, Head, Nutrition Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the ministry was ready to work with IITA and other relevant agencies to resolve the problem of post harvest loss.

He, however, said

Rasaq said that the system should be restructured and that relevant instructions collaborate to ensure food safety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project would be implemented in Anambra, Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Osun, to improve livelihood, less food losses and waste.(NAN )

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday cautioned political parties against non-transparent primaries in order to sustain Nigerias democracy.

Alhaji Yahaya Bello , FCT INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) made the call at the Stakeholders Interactive Session in Respect of the Forthcoming Political Party Congresses and Primaries in Abuja.

According to Bello, the call became imperative because a good and credible election begins with a transparent and credible part primaries crowned with internal democracy.

He recalled that during the just concluded FCT Area Council Election, the results of some primaries conducted were very seriously contested and challenged in litigations that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

This put the commission under a lot of strain and stress and the political parties as well.

We wish to therefore passionately remind all political parties that they are supposed to be very critical stakeholders and partners of INEC and should join in our zeal to entrench and sustain democracy in the nation.

Political Parties are, therefore, urged to play their expected part by ensuring that party internal democracy is very well orchestrated by making your congresses and primaries more transparent, fair and acceptable by your members.

Bello said that the party congresses and primaries were billed to start on April 4, 2022 to June 3, 2022 to enable all parties to practicalise their internal democracy as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

He said that there was also need to bring some burning issues to the attention of political parties .

He said that the stack of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) in INECs custody dating as far back as 2019 registration exercise was worrisome.

The REC said that apart from the space being consumed in storing the PVCs, there was also need to consider the huge amount of funds expended in their production.

Bello said that there was also the issue of then congested Polling Units (Pus) with number of voters ranging from 100 to 300 that prompted INEC to expand the voter access polling units by creating other Pus at close range.

He said that unfortunately, this had largely resulted in the problem of zero Pus ,a situation where the Pus existed bit without any registered voter .

We would crave your indulgence to assist in educating the masses on the need to opt to be moved to the new Pus.

This is to decongest the existing crowded ones and make voting faster and less cumbersome during elections.

Bello said that it was disheartening to note the near absence of tangible number of registered voters at polling stations on Election Day.

He therefore called on political parties to assist INEC in sensitizing the electorates to ensure that all these challenges identified were curbed ahead of the 2023 elections.

Representing the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Operations, Bernard Igwe, advised political parties to play by the rules during party primaries.

Bernard said that the Police Force and other security agencies would still remain friends of electoral stakeholders in the forthcoming elections.

We did it all during the Area council election, I think it is one of the fairest and one of the best Area Council elections conducted in FCT.

You saw our deployments, last week, the national chairman of INEC was pleased because of the conduct of the area council election in the FCT.

It goes to all of us, you saw like deployments, once you play by the rules, we dont have problem with you.

Play the game by the rules, the security agencies have no problem with you, we are going to support democracy.

We have agreed to make sure that democracy succeeds in Nigeria and we are going to assist and do whatever we can to ensure security before ,during and after every elections in Nigeria.

Igwe said that the police had already mapped out its plans to ensure security and property in the FCT during the 2023 elections and advised political parties to be clear on their representatives.

A representative of the National Orientation Agency ,FCT Directorate (NOA), Mr Nnamdi Ekeoba, said that NOA had been partnering with INEC throughout all the electoral processes and activities .

Ekeoba said that with NOAs presence in all the six area councils had made it possible to reach the masses across FCT.

We have been doing our best to sensitise the voters especially in this ongoing continues voters registration exercise.

We have been sensitising the voters to come out to register and we promise INEC that as soon as the continuous voters registration ends,

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News