By Bashir Rabe Mani

Alhaji Jelani Aliyu, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), says it has trained 300 unemployed youths across Nigeria in mechatronics and repair of heavy duty vehicles.

Jelani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the gesture was aimed at further reducing the high unemployment rate in the country.

According to the DG, the youth are trained to understand brand new vehicles and know how to fix them.

So, they now have new jobs, so they are sustainable and more will be trained across the country.

Every day, we hear about unemployment. Every year, tens of thousands of youths graduate from universities and polytechnics.

They roam the streets, with no jobs and it is very easy for them to get into these vices that are harmful to the society.

Aliyu said that the only solution was to create jobs and curb the menace of unemployment and poverty.

He said:The only solution we believe and I believe everyone should have that commitment to create jobs and skills.

Gone are the days when paper qualification is useful and skills are needed.

We need young Nigerians to practically add value, practically understand problems and come up with solutions.

Meanwhile, the council has also established six zonal automotive training centres in Abakaliki, Gusau, Bauchi, Osogbo, Lokoja and Benin.

Now, we are also building such centres across Nigeria, Aliyu disclosed.

He said that hitherto, the council was hiring workshops for the training of the youth across the country.

The DG further said that the council had secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council to import equipment from Germany, adding that they had started arriving in the country.

They will go into these centres and we will train more of these youths as our major contribution towards taking Nigerians off the streets and giving them jobs, Aliyu added.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahma

Source: NAN News

By Bashir Rabe Mani

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it will partner a UAE-based firm to produce solar-powered tractors.

The Director-General (DG) of the council, Mr Jelani Aliyu, disclosed this shortly after participating as a panelist at the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit (EVIS), in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which was held from May 23 to May 25.

The summit brought together researchers, engineers, government officials, and electric vehicle companies and institutions from around the world.

They explored and discussed the technical, policy and market achievements and potentials in e-mobility.

The DG spoke on the current Nigerian achievements in e-mobility, and elaborated on the strong potentials in the sector in Nigeria and Africa.

Aliyu also had a talk with a number of executives, including the delegation of a firm that produces solar-powered agricultural tractors.

The discussion was with a view to collaborating with the company in the local production of tractors and make them available to Nigerian farmers.

This engagement was also in order to cost-effectively promote food production and sufficiency in the nation.

Aliyu later paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Dansatta.

The Ambassador thanked him for the visit and acknowledged the good work of Aliyu in developing the automotive industry in Nigeria, while urging him to continue with his efforts. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Yunus Yusuf

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has refuted claim of diversion of international flights to neighbouring Ghana and Benin Republic due to on-going repairs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Runway in Ikeja, Lagos.

Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Hope-Ivbaze refuted publications trending on the social media platforms alleging that there were diversions of international flights to other countries.

The FAAN spokesperson however said that there was a planned rehabilitation of Runways 18R/36L (international runway) slated from June 4 to June 5, between 0600hrs-1300hrs UTC daily.

She explained that during the period, Runway 18L/36R (the domestic runway) would still be in use for all inbound and outbound flight operations as scheduled, while maintenance would be going on Runway 18R/36L.

She said FAAN management also reiterated to travelling passengers and the general public that inbound and outbound flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport would be operating unhindered. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

The National Industrial Court, Abuja has ordered the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reinstate its member of staff, Uzoma Ononogbo, who was involuntarily retired in March 2021.

Justice Ibrahim Galadima delivered the judgment on Thursday and also nullified the purported retirement for being unlawful and unconstitutional.

Galadima in addition declared Ononogbos retirement without first giving him the opportunity to be heard, as a violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.

However, the court order for the claimants reinstatement did not direct for the payment of his salary for the period of the litigation, having not merited it.

The court went further to strictly caution the claimant to adhere to his duties as a public servant and henceforth, become a shining example for other staff members to emulate.

The claimant had submitted that he was never queried for any misconduct, except for when he was absent from work due to his wifes protracted ailment.

He said that he was suspended without pay for the three months he was absent to take care of his sick wife.

Ononogbo further averred that he was abruptly retired involuntarily on March 11, 2021 via a letter, without given the opportunity to know the allegations levelled against him to enable him to defend himself.

The NYSC had argued that the claimant had no regard for his duties and had breached several terms and conditions of his employment, especially with his frequent absenteeism from office.

It also submitted that when he was transferred to the garment factory, he only went to work three times in two years.

It argued that the claimant was always feigning one excuse or the other to be absent.

It further submitted that the claimant admitted that he was always absent from work without lawful permission and that he was once issued a query, which he refused to respond to date.

The defendant equally stated that the claimant was duly involuntarily retired on the strength of Public Service Rules, instead of an outright dismissal.

Responding in a closing argument, the claimant said that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself before the investigative or disciplinary committee that considered the allegations against him.

He further said that he was also not notified about the outcome of the investigation by the committee for his possible reaction.

He, therefore, urged the court to grant the reliefs he sought.

After evaluating the submissions by both parties, the court held that Ononogbo was not afforded the opportunity to defend himself over the allegations levelled against him before the decision to retire him involuntarily was taken by the defendant. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sam Oditah

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has commenced a mobile metering exercise for its customers in Festac Town, Satellite Town, Agboju and other areas under its Festac District in Lagos.

The electricity distribution company said it aimed to use the two-week on-the-spot application to speed up the metering of its customers in those areas.

Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, on Thursday said the exercise would be done under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.

He said the initiative was to support the existing online process of acquiring prepaid meters by customers under the MAP scheme.

Idemudia said, We have started in Festac and we will get to our other business districts in due course.

He urged EKEDC customers in Festac and its environs to visit the companys district office at 23 Road, S Close in Festac Town to take advantage of this opportunity.

Our customer service team and authorised MAP vendors MOJEC International Ltd., are on ground to attend to customers in their meter applications, he said.

Also, Dr Tinuade Sanda, Managing Director, EKEDC, described metering as a major concern to the DisCo because there was need to accurately measure the energy consumed by customers to reduce its losses.

As much as we have made our estimated billing process to be as accurate as possible, it pales when compared to owning a prepaid meter.

Hence, we are here with the MOJEC International Ltd. team who will be stationed here in Festac for two weeks and assist our dear customers in getting their meters installed within 72 hours of confirmation of payment.

This is against the usual 10 working days under the MAP scheme, Sanda said.

She also advised customers against patronising unauthorised entities for meters as Eko Disco had 10 MAP vendors approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), including MOJEC.

On her part, Ms Chantelle Abdul, Group Managing Director, MOJEC International Holdings, commended Eko Disco for a great partnership in metering electricity consumers.

She promised that her team would ensure the fulfilment of the EKEDC Mobile MAP objectives, especially the metering of customers within 72 hours after payment.

Abdul also emphasised to customers that MOJEC is against extortion by some meter installers, and encouraged them to report any installer that demands money for the installation of prepaid meters.

She advised customers against meter bypass which does not only affect the effort of EKEDC but also the entire electricity industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NERC has approved N63,061.32 as the cost of a Single Phase Meter while a Three Phase Meter costs N117,910.69, including Value Added Tax under the MAP scheme.

Implemented in 2018 by NERC, the scheme brought about the supply and installation of prepaid meters by other parties authorised by the regulatory body.

In addition to the expected aim of closing the metering gap, the scheme is to ensure the development of independent and competitive meter service in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

It was, however, suspended following the introduction of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) by the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria in October 2020.

The scheme was recently revived by NERC after the completion of the Phase Zero of the NMMP that saw Eko Disco metering over 70,000 customers in its network. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

A former Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has call for urgent cleanup of weapons and drug among the Fulani youth as part of practical solutions to the ugly trend of kidnapping in the country.

Dambazau made the call in his paper, titled Dilemma of the Fulbe pastoralist, presented at the Pastoralists and Fulbe Security Conference, in Abuja.

The conference is with the theme: Exploring the contemporary challenges facing pastoralism and Fulbe with a view of proffering workable solution in curbing insecurity across the nation.

It was jointly organised by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Northern Consensus Movement (NCM).

The former minister stressed the need for urgent practical solutions to kidnapping by the Fulbe youth that leads to daily loss of lives and destruction of properties.

According to him, one of the steps should be blocking of access to weapons and clean up all the weapons already in circulation within Fulbe pastoralist youth environment.

We must also clean up the stable, and by this, I mean, with the help of the NDLEA, the society must work on the drug abuse among the Fulbe pastoralist youth, he said.

He noted with concern that drug traffickers had targeted the Fulbe youth and there was high rate of drug abuse among them, which must be decisively dealt with.

According to him, in order to deter the criminals among the Fulbe pastoralist communities, it is important that the criminal justice system comes strong against all those arrested for such violent crimes.

He said that they should be prosecuted and if found guilty, be subjected to maximum punishment.

We must ensure justice and pursue human capital development that would improve the education and health of the Fulbe pastoralist to open more opportunities for him for self-development in the society.

To do this, access to quality education and healthcare facilities should be provided for the Fulbe pastoralists, in addition to skills acquisition, he said

Danbazau, who said the Fulbe pastoralist community had been isolated for long said that their integration into mainstream of society should be given priority.

He also called for the implementation of governments National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) approved in 2019, an attempt to modernize livestock rearing, would provide the foundation upon which the integration would be mounted.

Beyond the idea of the UN Great Green Wall in the Sahel to checkmate the southwards movement of the desert, states and Federal Governments, and the private sector, should raise special funds for establishing ranching communities.

Particularly in the vast lands in the northwest and north east, with all necessary facilities to enable the pastoralists settle down permanently.

After all, government has been subsidizing agriculture, especially for farmers, and the production of livestock should be part of the government efforts to increase revenue, he said.

Speaking on the dilemma of Fulbe pastoralist, the former minister believed that the conference was an attempt to interrogate the predicaments of the Fulbe pastoralists in relation to the insecurity in Nigeria.

It should be noted that contemporary challenges facing Fulbe pastoralists are multifaceted and complex.

According to him, the Fulbe ethnic group is known to pursue pastoralism not only as means of livelihood but also as a way of life, mostly as nomadic and semi-settled in the various forests spanning the country.

He said that the Fulbe pastoralist was in dilemma because his wealth of cattle had disappeared due to cattle rustling, conflicts, or the consequences of climate change that brought about desertification and drought.

He said that another dilemma was that the group remained in the forest hiding because of the new criminal trade of banditry and kidnapping for ransom, which many of its youth are involved.

While in the past he was easily identified by his stick with which he controlled the movement of his cattle, today he is identified with the AK47 and other light weapons he uses to attack rural communities and also ambush to kidnap passengers and motorists traveling on the highways.

The Fulbe pastoralist was known to be humble, kind, gentle, disciplined, honest, and selfless, but today he is perceived as a bandit, murderer, rapist, cattle rustler, and kidnapper, he said.

He, therefore, called for concerted effort to address the prevailing challenges facing the Fulbe pastoralist in the country.

He said that this was the only to ensure peace in the country and the entire region.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammad Abubakar, said that President Muhammadu Buhari was very much concern about the challenges of livestock development in the country.

Abubakar said that the Federal Government was also much aware of the security and other challenges in the subsector and was willing to do everything to address them.

The minister said that Federal Government had approved a huge sum of money for the retracing and reclaiming of grazing reserve in the country.

He said that government was willing to checkmate the spate of insecurity in livestock sector.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

OYS/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Patricia Amogu

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) and other stakeholders in the Energy sector have called for synergy and private sector collaborations to address bottlenecks around finance models for the sector.

The call was made by various stakeholders at the Stakeholders Engagement on Finance for Rural Electrification and the Renewable Energy Sector in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting exploring sources of funding for rural electrification aimed at evaluating the issues and obstacles that have weighed on the growth of rural electrification and the decentralised renewable energy sector.

The President, REAN, Mr Segun Adaju, said that the convergence of stakeholders was to leverage on finance models that had been piloted and how the private sector could take over from there when subsidy was gone.

We are looking at how the private sector can commercialise the models that have been developed to provide electricity for rural dwellers.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has introduced a funding model that can be commercialised in providing electricity to rural dwellers and we are looking to discuss issues around financing and funding of more projects, he said.

Dr Sanusi Ohiare, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund ,in his remarks identified funding and data as key issues around the sector stating that the sector was looking to collaborate with development financial institutions that are interested in data gathering.

Ohiare stated that REAN was partnering with private investors to bring in funding and also solve issues of financing for the private and give them comfort while projects are implemented.

Owing to the nature of rural Electrification, we partner with private investors to encourage projects .

We encourage private investors to bring in funding, thereby solving the financing bottle necks for the developers and also attract funds from the bank.

Banks can now co-fund for projects and reduce the risk involved in financing, we have done a lot of projects in the last five to six years and this has been very successful.

We are currently working on 51 projects including mini-grids, solar and hybrids, we have done a couple of solar home systems, we have done 12 projects under the first call and a lot is still ongoing with the model put in place, he added.

Also speaking, Mr Tinyan Ogiehor, Off-Grid team lead, Nigeria power sector Programme, USAID, stressed that sustainable business models had been put in place to provide financial and technical experts for private project developers .

We seek out various project developers and look for ways to provide varied levels of targeted support to these companies to support them in attracting foreign and private investors and also funding.

We give detailed technical capacity experts to give experts to enable them win funds, one of the things we do, which we recently did is to put together sustainable business models that can show how existing solar panels that show how these systems can stand the test of time before replacement, he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government has repatriated another 166 stranded Nigerans from Libya who were victims of human trafficking.

Mr Kabiru Musa, Charge d Affairs of the Nigerian Mission in Libya said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Musa said that the 166 evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli and were expected to arrive in Nigeria via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said that the voluntary evacuation was carried out by the Federal Government in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration and the support of the Libyan authorities.

Today again, we have successfully evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya, who will be reuniting with their families any moment from now by Gods grace.

The 166 Nigerian returnees departed Mitiga International Airport aboard a chattered BURAQ Air Flight UZ189MJI and expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

This continuous evacuation is in line with the commitments of the Nigerian government of not allowing any of its citizen remain stranded abroad.

Libya is a transit country for those trying to cross over to other parts of the world through irregular routes, that is why we have so many stranded Nigerians here, he said.

Musa said that the Federal Government, through the Mission, was ready and committed to return any of its citizens who wanted to voluntarily return home.

He added that as usual, arrangements had been made to receive the people on arrival in Nigeria, and help them reintegrate into the society, (NAN) ()

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Olukayode Babalola

Hon. Ahmed Wadada, a former House of Representatives member, has said he withdrew from the All Progressive Congress (APC) Nasarawa West Senatorial District primary election because of the alleged illegal process adopted to conduct the primaries in the state.

Wadada, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Keffi Emirate, made this known at a news conference held in Keffi Local Government area of the state on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that until his sudden withdrawal, Wadada was a frontrunner for the APC ticket for Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone.

The primary election is still yet to hold due to controversy over alleged alterations of the original delegates list meant to be used to elect party candidates for various elective posts in 2023.

NAN also reports that even after his withdrawal, the party could still not hold the primary election for the two remaining aspirants: Labaran Magaji and Shehu Tukur on Saturday, May 28th.

Angry youths violently disrupted the electoral process over alleged alterations to the delegates list leading to suspension of the election.

Wadada said he thought it wise to intimate the media and by extension the public, especially his teeming supporters on reasons for his decision to withdraw.

He said his withdrawal was influenced by his belief in due process, fairness and strictly adherence to how party primaries should be conducted.

Wadada said these tenets are in line with the electoral act and guidelines of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC accepted the original list because INEC monitored the exercise that brought about the emergence of the original list. We were to hold primaries based on the basis of that original list.

The state chapter of the party preparatory to the commencement of the primaries called the chairmen of various local government areas of the state and handed over that monitored, authenticated, legal and legitimate list.

We woke up the next morning, that was the day the primaries for the Governorship and state assembly were to commence, that another list was sent from the headquarters of the party.

That list sent by the headquarters was neither monitored by INEC nor were stakeholders or caucus of the state APC consulted.

That list came up because some people somewhere were scared and intimidated to the level of taking laws into their hands, thereby creating illegality, he said.

Wadada added that he was encouraged by some people to still participate in the primary electoral process but reject the view because the process was allegedly illegal.

I said how can I go for illegality. I am not a lawyer but I know what the electoral act says. Any list of delegates used in conducting any primary election and that list was not monitored by INEC, and not authenticated by INEC.

The electoral law says that exercise will be null and void. How then do I go into what I know will end in futility.

My desperation in life has never taken to any illegality. So I wrote to the party and withdrew my participation in the contest because I cannot be part of any illegality.

Despite my withdrawal from the contest, has the election taken place? No! That is because the doctored list we complained about, that informed my withdrawal from the contest was also re-doctored.

As progressive minded politicians, we shouldnt be seen involving in illegality, he said.

The former lawmaker, however, said that though he was still in the party, he would make a decision on his membership of the party within 48 hours.

Between now and the time, anything can still happen but the damage has already been done. How to undamage the damage, only God knows, he said.

NAN reports that Magaji and Tukur are the two other aspirants left to contest for the APC Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone ticket at the general election in 2023. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

ByLucy Ogalue

The Ministry of Transportation has activated a biometrical system that will help boost the productivity of staff of the ministry.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, who inaugurated the system on Wednesday, urged the staff to ensure their best to render efficient service to the country.

According to Ajani,as from June 1, every staff is expected to clock in and out of the office using the system.

What we have just done is to commission adigital clocking system. We are just leveraging on technology.

For us, it is not about looking at the punitive measures but more to look at the positive contributions to productivity at work that this system is going to bring to bear for every one of us.

On a normal day, in the civil service we have what they call the time register where you have to sign in and sign out, but we are now using the digital register to take note of when we come into office.

This is important in measuring our productivity at the Ministry of Transportation and it will help us solve a lot of problems, particularly for the Human Resource Department.

You dont need to ask questions as to how many staff were present in the office in any department.

At the click of the mouse, the DHRM can see exactly what is going on, see the number of people who are even on sit in terms of when they came in and when they leave the office, Ajani said.

According to the permanent secretary, the system will also help in boosting security at the ministry.

She said beyond productivity, it is also useful when you look at the security aspect.You will know who was where, at what point in time and all.

This is in addition to other security devices and apparatus we have in the Ministry. But talking in house, who isinside the building, we can actually look at that from the system.

Although, you need it to check truancy, but more importantly we need it to look at the productivity of our staff.(NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State says it has arrested 26 suspects involved in offences of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and cult activities within two days in the state.

The states Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Wednesday said the command recovered one English-made Berretta pistol with one live round of .9mm calibre ammunition, four locally-made pistols with live cartridges and others.

Ndukwe said that on May 29 at about 11p.m., a combined team of police operatives from Operation Restore Peace and Enugu Metro Area Command, while on routine stop and search duty along Abakaliki Road, Enugu; intercepted a commercial bus.

The interception of the commercial bus led to the arrested of Obinna Owoh, 22; while two of his cohorts escaped. Search conducted on him led to the recovery of two locally-made pistols with three live cartridges, he said.

The police spokesman noted that similarly on May 28 at about 5:30p.m., police operatives serving in the Nsukka Sector of the Commands Crack Squad arrested one Benedict Nwodo, 29, of Ugwuechara in Nsukka.

His arrest followed a distress call alleging that he was sighted with a gun along CSO Site in Nsukka. One English-made Berretta pistol with one live round of .9mm calibre of ammunition was recovered from him, he said.

Ndukwe said that on the same May 28 at about 4:30a.m., police operatives serving in Anti-Cultism Squad, acting on credible information busted a secret cult initiation meeting in a forest at Eke in Udi council area and arrested 24 suspects.

The command recovered two locally made pistols, seven black berets and a white-coloured, ten litres can, containing liquid substance suspected to be a mixture of palm wine and Indian hemp used for the initiation.

Ongoing investigation revealed that the suspects are made up of 14 newly initiated and 10 old members of Apache Tigers, popularly known as Black Beret Confraternity. They all confessed to being members of the secret cult group, he said.

The police spokesman said that all the suspects would be arraigned in court once ongoing investigations are concluded.

He said the states Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawal Abubakar, had charged police operatives to remain at the top of their games, in view of actualising the commands quest to purge the state of unrepentant criminal elements.

Ndukwe said, Members of the public should remain law-abiding, vigilant and continue to assist the Police with credible and timely information/intelligence it requires to clampdown on unrepentant criminal elements in the state.

This they can do by reporting at the nearest police station or by calling the Commands emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883 or 08086671202.

Or alternatively send e-mails [email protected] use the NPF Rescue App to make such reports, and rest assured that their identities and the reports shall be accorded utmost confidentiality and necessary action. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed concern over the halt of grain exports from Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

The pope, at the general audience in Romes St Peters Square, said the blockade of grain exports from Ukraine, which millions of people depend on, especially in the poorest countries, is causing grave concern.

He said that everything must be done to solve the problem and guarantee peoples basic right to nourishment.

Please, one does not use grain, a basic food, as a weapon in war! the 85-year-old said.

The war in Ukraine, now in its fourth month, has caused a shortage and a steep rise in the price of food in many countries.

Ukraine, a major exporter of grains, has been practically unable to export anything due to the Russian invasion.

The UN has warned that the war will worsen hunger around the world. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng )

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

Humanitarian organisation, Care on Wednesday reported that the number of malnourished children in the East-African nation of Somalia was higher than ever before.

According to the organisation, amid the worst droughts in the Horn of Africa in 40 years, thousands of people in Somalia are on the verge of famine, while many children are suffering from malnourishment.

The UN figures also showed that the problem was not limited to Somalia as more than 15 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are struggling with food shortages.

The region was also suffering from violent conflicts, floods, the COVID-19 pandemic and a locust plague, adding that Somalia imports more than 90 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine.

Due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chains have been disrupted, causing a steep rise in food prices in Somalia.

The Care organisation said that more than 3,500 malnourished children have been taken in by hospitals supported by the organisation between January and the end of April, a rise of 60 per cent compared to the same period the year before.

West Africa was also on the verge of the worst food crisis in a decade.

Humanitarian organisations warn that June could see 43 million people in the region suffer from lack of food, an increase of one third from the year before. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng )

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

Malaysias ban on chicken exports has taken effect as of Wednesday, aimed at stabilising domestic supplies and alleviating shortages, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

The prime minister earlier announced the ban on May 23 over ballooning prices of chicken and chicken products in the market and a supply shortage to local consumers.

The export ban will remain in place until the situation stabilises, allowing the Southeast Asian country to create a stock buffer.

The measures, along with abolishing approved permits for imports as well as facilitating the claim process for subsidies to farmers, are aimed at shoring up the countrys food security.

Transactions in markets around the capital Kuala Lumpur showed sufficient chicken stocks available for sale at the set prices, which have been capped since February at 8.90 ringgit (2.03 U.S. dollars) per bird.

The shortage of chicken and chicken products has been blamed on extreme weathers, pandemic-related supply disruptions and shortages in feed and other items caused in part by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Malaysia exported more than 49 million live chickens in 2020, according to data from the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ummul Idris/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Ismail AbdulAziz

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Wednesday said cooperation between the agencies involved in Hajj 2022 operation would engender smooth, safe, and efficient transportation of pilgrims to the Saudi Kingdom.

NAHCONs Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan said this when he paid a working visit to the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu to avail him of measures that needed to be taken during the operations.

Hassans visit was in continuation of interaction with various stakeholders involved in the Hajj 2022 operation.

He also met Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Prof. Mansur Matazu, Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET); Dr Geoffrey Okatubo, Director Port Health Division, Federal Ministry of Health; and other relevant sister agencies.

The Chairman of NAHCON added that stakeholders involved in the Hajj 2022 operation would leave no stone unturned to ensure pilgrims comfort.

We are going all out to make the 2022 Hajj operations from Nigeria significantly difference. Various activities had been conducted internally and we want to meet others stakeholders to have a synergy for a successful Hajj after the two years hiatus, Hassan said.

He urged the stakeholders to ensure all airports, aircraft, and airspaces were ready before the inaugural flight.

Hassan also called on the stakeholders to ensure they provided the basic health requirements for the Nigerian pilgrims, including the conduct of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, yellow card issuance, and Coronavirus immunisation before departure to avoid delays.

He praised the staff and management of the NCAA and other organisations that are part of the airline screening for doing a commendable job.

Speaking, the director-general assured pilgrims that all aircraft involved in the Hajj operation would be inspected to ascertain their airworthiness.

While speaking also, the managing director of NAMA said the airspace management agency was getting ready to enforce Hajj regulations, provide the list of flights to be used, and the immigration process.

Similarly, the NIMET managing director said that pre-Hajj inspection would be carried out, just as close monitoring and observation of the weather would be sustained before the take-off of each flight. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz/Emmanuel Yashim

Source: NAN News

Indonesia has increased the number of aircraft and vessels to search and rescue the victims of a capsized ship in the central parts of the country, a rescuer said.

Another helicopter was deployed to the scene in the Makassar Strait on Tuesday, bringing the total to two in the operation, and another ship would also help the mission on Wednesday, Isran A, a rescuer at the information center of the search and rescue office in South Sulawesi province, said.

The search focuses on the northeast of the spot where the ship capsized with more helicopters and personnel.

And, according to a plan, another ship will also help the mission on June, he told Xinhua via phone.

Isran said the number of missing victims rose to 19 on Tuesday from 11 a day earlier, as the head of the village has reported some missing villagers to the provincial search and rescue office after the incident.

As many as 31 people had been rescued safely from the boat incident, according to him.

Rescuers have extended the search area to 40 nautical miles to the northeast of the location where the ship capsized, Mukti Ali, a rescuer at the search and rescue office, told Xinhua.

The ship sank after being hit by huge waves in the Makassar Strait on Thursday, but rescuers got the information about the incident on Saturday, according to Wahid D.J., a senior official at the search and rescue office.

The ship suffered from an engine failure when it was hit by the huge waves, he told Xinhua. (Xinhua/NAN) ()

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Edited by Halima Sheji/Isaac Aregbesoa

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Mr Umar Yakubu, the Executive Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has advocated an open governance system where corruption fight will be preventive rather than reactive.

Yakubu made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when the Board of the CeFTIW visited the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) to seek its collaboration in achieving its aim.

He said that their visit was predicated on two major issues which bothered on preventive ways of fighting corruption and the policy of retirees exiting without transferring knowledge to those in service.

We have created a platform like Facebook where retired public servants can go and document their successes so that the serving ones can go and access. It is called a public service diary. Failures can also be documented there.

When the government is open, there is physical transparency around budget, procurement, and there are citizens engagements, then you discover that there are less corruption in society, he said.

Yakubu said that research had shown that it was always better to adopt preventive measures in fighting corruption rather than adopting a reactive approach.

BPSR is the organisation that has done so much work around this area and we want to scale up these things.

That is why we came here to see how we can cascade all our initiatives in improving governance in Nigeria.

BPSR has done a lot and made the job easier for us because most of the information of the MDAs and the work they do are not on their websites.

So, from the side of the BPSR, they have done a lot, what we need is implementation and we will partner them to see that most of the reforms that they have initiated will be implemented through the civil society platform, Yakubu said.

According to him, the aim of the Centre is to change the way corruption is being fought in the country.

There are a lot of reaction after corruption has been carried out.

You see law enforcement agents running around trying to prosecute a suspect and this is very expensive and time consuming, especially when it involves a criminal act, he added.

A member of the CeFTIW board, and a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Muazu Zubairu, noted that security was one of the major concerns in the country today.

Zubairu, therefore, urged the BPSR to initiate a reform of the Nigeria Police Force to grow the trust Nigerians have for it.

Earlier, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr Dasuki Arabi, said that the Bureau had already forwarded a working document to the appropriate authority for the reform of the Nigerian Police Force.

Arabi said that the report on the police reform from the Bureau centred on preventive measure rather than reactive.

With the recent inauguration of another committee to look at the police reform and dust up other reports, we are confident that government is going to work on our police reform report for the country to have a better police force that is more equipped, well trained and ready to provide 21st century policing to citizens.

BPSR was established based on the need to have an engine room that is enabled with the required capability and resources to leverage on local and international knowledge networks.

The Bureau was also created to support policy, institutional and governance reform processes with required expertise and good practices on an ongoing basis.

Its statutory responsibility is to initiate action on reforms at the public service level, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of reforms in the MDAs, Arabi added.

He assured CeFTIW board that his office would collaborate with them to achieve their goals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Governors of the All Progressives Congress to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesman, in a statement on Tuesday, said the president gave the charge at a meeting with 22 Governors elected on the platform of the APC and the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, at the State House, Abuja.

He said: The processes for the 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.

Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.

As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.

Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united.

It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, hold the great majorityin various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states.

In a few days, the party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections.

This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.

The president appealed to all the governors to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizensand the global community.

Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.

Buhari assured that the consultation process would continue, to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.

According to him, this will also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control, and that the party (APC) emerges stronger.

Speaking on behalf of the States helmsmen, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum said the party must build on successes of its recent elective convention, and the primaries conducted so far.

Hsaid the party must come up with a candidate who would walk in the footsteps of patriotism and love for the country, which the President had shown.

We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention, he pledged. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Pope

Pope Francis is planning to travel to the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan in September for an inter-religious world congress, according to a statement published by the Vatican on Tuesday.

At the beginning of January, there was violent riots in Kazakhstan in which more than 200 people lost their lives and the government called in soldiers from neighbouring Russia for support.

The unrest was initially triggered by higher fuel prices, which later turned into anti-government riots.

There was already talk of a trip by the head of the Catholic Church to the Central Asian country in April.

At that time, Francis spoke with Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a video link.

However, the Holy See did not confirm afterwards that the pontiff intended to travel for the meeting of representatives of various world religions.

The congress is scheduled for Sept. 14 and Sept. 15.

The Holy See and Kazakhstan will look back on 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2022, according to their own statements.(dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Editing by Halima Sheji/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been successfully screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Screening Panel.

Osinbajo spoke with newsmen shortly after emerging from the screening held on Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The vice president said the exercise was fruitful and expressed optimism on the partys chances ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

We were able to discuss several issues; issues of national and party concerns; and it went very well indeed; we had a very good chat.

Of course, we are ahead of any party; way ahead, APC is ahead, he said

The Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led panel, which commenced work on Monday, will drill no fewer than 25 APC presidential aspirants who are filing for the party ticket.(NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News