By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria remains grateful to the United Nations and some world leaders on their steadfast partnership in fighting terrorism.

The Nigerian leader said that the spotlight on Russia and Ukraine could have easily distracted the world from other pertinent global challenges.

The presidents spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president gave the commendation when he received the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Buhari noted that the country and the African continent were already concerned that the attention on Russia and Ukraine would crowd out other issues, but the ongoing visit of the UN scribe clearly showed that the world has not forgotten us.

According to the president, terrorism remains a threat to global peace, security and progress, with many already killed, while millions have been displaced by the insurgents over many years.

When we assumed office, the North-East was the major security problem we inherited in 2015, but we have been able to make people understand that you cannot kill people and shout Allahu Akbar (God is great!).

It is either you dont know what you are saying or you are simply stupid. God is a God of justice, so you cannot kill people and say God is great. Luckily the people understood our message and it has made great impact, he said.

President Buhari told the UN scribe that the government had started a gradual, but steady process of resettlement and reintegration where citizens get encouraged to return to their farms, businesses and other pursuits in life.

He thanked the Secretary-General for the maiden visit to Nigeria.

In his remarks, the UN scribe, who had been in Borno on Tuesday, said what he saw was a departure from the pictures of hopelessness and despair painted, adding that people exuded hope.

Yesterday, I visited Maiduguri where the United Nations is supporting the internally displaced. I was deeply moved by their stories and struggles.

These include the struggles with hunger, with the World Food Programme projecting 4.1 million people in the North East of Nigeria to be food insecure in the upcoming lean season, he said.

Guterres said the United Nations had called for an additional 351 million dollars as part of the overall 1.1 billion dollars for the humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.

But despite all they have seen and endured, the people I met remain hopeful and committed to returning to their communities and resuming their lives.

To that end, I welcome the establishment of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North East.

This spirit of hope amidst hardship and solidarity in struggle was also at the centre of my discussions with the Presidency today, he added.

The UN scribe said discussions with President Buhari also touched on laying groundwork to ensure peaceful and democratic elections in 2023 and the full participation of Nigerias women and young people.

At the media stakeout, the UN Secretary General told newsmen that measures to address security challenges in the country, Lake Chad and Sahel were discussed, which included the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

Guterres thanked President Buhari for his unwavering support of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He assured of more commitment from the UN on COVID-19 vaccinations, vulnerability of countries to global warming, global food crises response and reform of UN Security Council.

He said the war in Ukraine would make things worse on global food, energy and financial systems.

Gutteres said, Thats why, in the earliest days of this war, I established the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, involving all UN agencies and international financial institutions.

The Steering Committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday reaffirmed the organisations commitment to supporting Nigeria for the good of the citizenry.

Guterres said this at the wreath-laying ceremony in Abuja on the sideline of his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

The visit is in commemoration of the 11 anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2011 terrorist attack on the UN House Abuja.

He decried the attack as tragic and resulted in killing 23, injured 60 UN employees and partners, saying the event burnt in collective memory of UN family.

He decried the tragic loss of UN staff and Nigerian civilians, saying staff who lost their lives were heroes, who served Nigerians throughout the organisations operations.

Guterres said, Clerks, receptionists, drivers and national professional officers, associate experts, monitoring and evaluation specialists and shipping assistants all worked for our organisation and supported Nigerians, UNDP, UNICEF, UNAIDS and UNODC.

They were also mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and cherished friends, all but one were Nigerian nationals; today we mark their tragic death.

We celebrate the love and joy they brought to their colleagues and loved ones and inspiration they provided, while we continued to carry out our vital roles over 10 years.

Today we stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, as well as women and men who work at the UN House every day, to support and serve Nigerians.

We stand in solidarity with all Nigerians; in our victim support approach, every perpetrator must be held accountable; we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting a peaceful Nigeria for all Nigerians.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, later told newsmen that the outcome of closed-door women group meeting with Guterres was reassured of UNs support for Nigerian women.

She said that discussion with the UN boss centred on womens participation in politics, gender-based violence, inclusion of women in decision making and need for global treaty to end violence against women.

Tallen commended Guterres support for women and children, adding that he was a man with a large heart, committed to promote the wellbeing of Nigerian women and children.

Guterres visit to Nigeria gives us hope, we know that he will lend his voice to all issues affecting women, gender-based violence, early marriage and lack of implementation of some of our laws.

The VAPP Act, the Childs Right Act and the justice system by the grace of God, Nigeria will key in like other African countries that have prioritised women and children issues, Tallen said.

Also, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, said the meeting with Guterres on religious leadership in Nigeria hinged on chatting way forward for the country.

He reported Guterres to have expressed shock at the large number of talented Nigerians across the world, but that such should be replicated in the development of the country.

Religious leaders have a duty to have good examination of conscience; what are we doing, we should do better, what can we do to make our followers better? These are issues we discussed.

We referred to Easter and end of Ramadan, whereby religious festivities merged by providence, Christians and Muslims were kept in mood of religious reflection about ways to live better lives, Onaiyekan said.

Meanwhile, Dr Betty Edu, National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that they they attended the meeting to advocate rights of Nigerian women participation in politics.

She said APC would mainstream women, in spite of high charges for purchase of election form for candidates, saying women in APC and the disabled would receive their forms free of charge.

Beyond this, we are working to see that we ensure women scale through the primaries into the main election and come out as elected winners at different levels.

Today the message was clear that for Nigeria to achieve SDGs, it is important for political parties to support the country achieve SDG and its policies.

They must ensure women are mainstreamed and prioritised as we go into the 2023 elections.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The Founder, Zanang, an NGO, Mrs Maryann Shekari, on Wednesday called on parents to teach children to become role models by showing them good examples.

Shekari made the appeal at a one-day fashion exhibition, titled: Option one-concept True Stars, in Abuja.

The Option one-concept seeks to encourage young people to believe and imbibe the attitude of role models who will do all they can to achieve desired goals in life.

According to her, the idea of bringing up children to become role models will promote the culture of excellence among young people in society.

So, children can express themselves for who they are; there is so much potential imbedded in children, therefore the need to encourage them develop such skills.

We want children to be encouraged to imbibe the culture of excellence in whatever they are good at, which they want to become in life.

Zanang means talent; there is so much talent deposited in children, which is thenreason we want this platform to encourage talent development among children at their early stages of life.

It pays when parents teach their children to become role models to their peers, rather than make them always dependent, she said.

Also speaking, the Co-Founder of Zanang, Mr Rijo Shekari, said that the move to bring up children to be role models had become imperative to help reduce youth indulgence in crime.

He said children could become models for good morals irrespective of their body size, weight or colours, adding that as role models they can hold good behavioural patterns early in life.

We live in a society where most people are often after Instagram likes and comments and, other negative comments that even affect teenage mental health negatively.

Modeling is a good tool that can be used to encourage children to express themselves, be confident and not subject to body shaming, whether they are tall, short, big or small.

We live in a world that is not just about what you know, but talent, how you can communicate, therefore the need to bring up children to become models in their act of expression and dress sense, he said.

Shekari therefore appealed to the Federal Government to overhaul the nations education sector through review of the school curriculum, to enable children compete favourably with their peers globally.

In a separate interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a parent, Mrs Bose Olarenwaju, said that the first step to teaching children to be role models was by dressing.

According to her, parents need to dress properly as first models before their children, because their appearance reflect what children think about them at the home front.

Teach children to be confident by putting on their dress to look decent, because it is through what they put on that will make people to know how to address them.

The problem in our society today is equally from parents who have gone wrong teaching children to put on skimpy clothes.

When you teach your child to imbibe good morals by showing them good examples, particularly in the ways you appear and do them, they will follow such good steps to become models.

The highpoint of the event was fashion exhibition by young people through display of variety of decent articles of clothing that are suitable for children as role models. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed door with former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the Presidents Personal Photographers, Mr Sunday Aghaeze, confirmed this in pictorial reports on Tuesday night in Abuja.

NAN reports that the agenda of the meeting between the president and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

NAN reports that Tinubu had on Friday picked the ruling APC presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at the its national secretariat in Abuja.

James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, picked the forms for APC national leader, who had since informed the president of his presidential ambition in 2023.

Folake was accompanied by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and hundreds of members of the Tinubu Support Groups (TSG) to the partys secretariat.

NAN reports that Tinubu had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser hajj alongside some of his political associates and family members. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has urged the international community to support humanitarian action in Borno, currently recovering from insurgency.

Gutteres made the call on Tuesday in Maiduguri while rounding off his visit to the state where he interacted with displaced persons, repentant Boko-Haram members and government officials led by Gov. Babagana Zulum.

I want to congratulate the Governor for what I see today.

I want to strongly appeal to the international community to understand Borno as a state of hope, to support humanitarian action in Borno, to recognise the enormous challenges that Borno faces with climate change and Boko Haram activities, and to invest in Borno of hope.

The community should provide support to the project of the Governor of Borno and civil society of Borno in order to create condition for real development.

So, I want to be your (Zulum) advocate within the international community to support and to invest in Borno of hope, Gutteres said.

While noting that terrorism cant be totally defeated with military force, Gutteres lauded the policy of reconciliation and reintegration adopted by the state, saying that it would facilitate the process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the visit, Gov. Zulum briefed the Secretary General of challenges facing the state.

The state has already commenced reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons.

Source: NAN News

By Idowu Gabriel

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, says that more than 5,000 members of his senatorial district have benefitted in his empowerment programmes in the last three years.

Bamidele made the disclosure during his 2021 mega empowerment programme, held at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

He said that his empowerment programme had never been on the basis of membership of All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that it was aimed at bringing dividends of democracy toall his constituents.

For record purpose, todaysoccasion marks the third edition of my annual empowerment programme, which is aimed at saying thank you to all my constituents for their support.

To the glory of God and by dint of my constituents continued support and prayers, my election into the Ninth Senate has brought about a remarkable harvest of dividends ofdemocracy.

No fewer than 5,000 beneficiaries have been empowered in the last three years.

The empowerment that we having today (Tuesday) is not only for APC members, but one that will bring dividends of democracy to all my constituents, he said.

Bamidele described the 2021 mega empowerment programme as special, stressing he had decided to equip Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital with medical equipment like ambulances and ventilators to ensure access to health care services by his constituents.

He listed the equipment to include: tractor and farm inputs to All Framers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ekiti chapter, motorcycles, mini buses, hair dressing materials, vulcanising tools, tailoring machines and patrol vehicle for the police.

The senator appealed to those who might not benefit directly now to be patient, assuring that the 2022 edition of the empowerment programme would capture more people.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Niyi Adebayo, lauded Bamidele for not betraying the confidence reposed in him by people of his senatorial district.

Adebayo, who is the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, called on people of the state to vote en masse for the APC governorship candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, and ensure his victory in the June 18 governorship election.

Speaking on behalf of AFAN, the state Chairman, Mr AdebolaAlagbada, thanked Bamidele for the farm inputs given to his members, pledging that they would make judicious use of them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries at the occasion included: Oluyin of Iyin, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, an APC chieftain, Mr Tade Aluko, and the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Constituency I, Mr Adesola Fatoba, among others. (NAN) (nnews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Ebonyi Government on Tuesday, rewarded Mr Abraham Owutoshi, an ex-corps member with N300,000 for distinguishing himself during his service year in the state.

The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr Charles Akpuenika, while making the presentation on behalf of Gov. David Umahi, said the Nasarawa-born Owutoshi impacted positively on the community where he served.

Akpuenika represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Ben Okike, said that Owutoshi would also receive a state award for distinguishing himself during the service year.

I congratulate the awardee on behalf of the state government for an outstanding performancewhich should be emulated by other corps members.

The awardee conductedMathematics quiz competitions in the state and awarded 10 winners free Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination registration forms.

He also offered free WAEC registration forms to the 10 last-placed contestants, he said.

The Ebonyi Government under the leadership of Gov. David Umahi believes in the mantra of reward for hard work and will continue to motivate individuals who contribute to the well-being of its people, he said.

The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Mercy Bamai, applauded the ex-corps member for heeding to the call of community development service of the scheme.

Impacting the tenets of the community service started from the orientation camp and we are always happy to see its fruits.

We are glad that you made the NYSC proud and urge you to continue being its good ambassador, she said.

She noted that Owutoshi installed seven solar-powered street lights at Udemezue St., Okpaugwu, Abakalikiand converted an abandoned mono-water borehole to an electric-induced facility.

He also installed two-water overhead tanks for the people of the area among other initiatives, Bamai said.

Owutoshi in his remark, thanked the Ebonyi Government for the award and the NYSC for offering the springboard to contribute his quota to the good of the society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Owutoshi who served under the NYSC 2020 Batch B Stream 1, is a graduate of Mathematics from the University of Abuja.

Source: NAN News

Israel has lambasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for claiming Adolf Hitler had Jewish origins, saying it was an unforgivable falsehood that debased the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

Leaders from several Western nations denounced the foreign ministers comments and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of having forgotten the lessons of World War II.

In a sign of sharply deteriorating relations with Moscow, the Israeli foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded an apology.

Such lies are intended to accuse the Jews themselves of the most horrific crimes in history that were committed against them, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

The use of the Holocaust of the Jewish people for political purposes must stop immediately, he added.

Lavrov made the assertion on Italian television on Sunday when he was asked why Russia said it needed to denazify Ukraine if the countrys own president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, was himself Jewish.

When they say What sort of nazification is this if we are Jews, well I think that Hitler also had Jewish origins, so it means nothing, Lavrov told Rete 4 channel, speaking through an Italian interpreter.

For a long time now weve been hearing the wise Jewish people say that the biggest anti-Semites are the Jews themselves, he added.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video message, noted Moscow has been silent since Lavrovs comments.

This means that the Russian leadership has forgotten all the lessons of World War II he said. Or perhaps they have never learned those lessons.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken weighed in later on the comments by his Russian counterpart saying it was incumbent on the world to speak out against such vile, dangerous rhetoric.

The German governments anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, said Lavrovs remarks mocked the victims of Nazism and shamelessly confront not only Jews but the entire international public with open anti-Semitism.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called the top Russian diplomats comments obscene, while Canadas Justin Trudeau expressed disbelief.

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israels memorial to the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, said the Russian minister was spreading an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory with no basis in fact.

The identity of one of Hitlers grandfathers is not known but there has been some speculation, never backed up by any evidence, that he might have been a Jew.

There was no immediate response to requests for comment from the Russian embassy to Israel or from Lavrov in Moscow.

Israeli Foreign Ministry Yair Lapid, whose grandfather died in the Holocaust, said accusing Jews of being anti-Semites was the basest level of racism. He dismissed Lavrovs assertion that pro-Nazi elements held sway over the Ukrainian government and military.

The Ukrainians arent Nazis. Only the Nazis were Nazis and only they dealt with the systematic destruction of the Jewish people, Lapid told the YNet news website.

Israel has expressed support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February. But wary of straining relations with Russia, a powerbroker in neighbouring Syria, it initially avoided direct criticism of Moscow and has not enforced formal sanctions on Russian oligarchs.

However, relations have grown more strained, with Lapid last month accusing Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president has also run into flak in Israel by looking to draw analogies between the conflict in his country and World War II.

In an address to the Israeli parliament in March, Zelenskiy compared the Russian offensive in Ukraine to Nazi Germanys plan to murder all Jews within its reach during World War II. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Anti-abortion activists and pro-abortion rights supporters took to the streets of Washington on Tuesday after news that the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling which legalized abortion nationwide.

A leaked initial draft majority opinion suggests the court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, Politico reported on Monday.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the authenticity of the draft opinion.

The Supreme Court and the White House declined to comment.

Within hours of the news, anti-abortion activists chanting hey, hey, ho, ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go and abortion rights supporters shouting abortion is healthcare were facing off outside the court.

Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in U.S. politics and has been for nearly a half century.

A 2021 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 59 per cent of U.S. adults believed it should be legal in all or most cases, while 39 per cent thought it should be illegal in most or all cases.

Roe was egregiously wrong from the start, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the draft opinion which is dated Feb. 10, according to Politico, which posted a copy online.

Based on Alitos opinion, the court would find that the Roe v. Wade decision that allowed abortions performed before a fetus would be viable outside the womb between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy was wrongly decided because the U.S. Constitution makes no specific mention of abortion rights.

Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each state from regulating or prohibiting abortion, Alito said, according to the leaked document.

The unprecedented leak sent shock waves through the U.S., not least because the court prides itself on keeping its internal deliberations secret and leaks are extremely uncommon.

The news stunned abortion providers.

On Monday night, Andrea Gallegos, executive administrator at Tulsa Womens Clinic in Oklahoma, had just finished calling some 25 patients scheduled for abortions on Tuesday to tell them that their appointments would need to be canceled because of a soon to be enacted Oklahoma law modeled on a highly restrictive Texas abortion ban.

I cant say that Im surprised.

Now all these other conservative states like Oklahoma are passing the exact same legislation that Texas did.

I have to say I became less optimistic and way more scared for what the future of Roe looks like, she said.

The ruling would be the courts most sweeping since former President Donald Trump succeeded in naming three justices to the court, cementing a 6-3 conservative majority.

The Republican-appointed Justices reported votes to overturn Roe v. Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history, said U.S. House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer both Democrats.

The news broke a little more than six months before the midterm elections that will determine if Democrats hold their razor-thin majorities in the U.S. Congress for the next two years of President Joe Bidens term in office.

The decision appeared based on an oral argument in December on Mississippis bid to revive its ban on abortion starting at 15 weeks of pregnancy, a law blocked by lower courts.

The report said a court majority was inclined to uphold Mississippis abortion ban and that there could be five votes to overturn Roe.

An official ruling is expected sometime before the end of June.

Four of the other Republican-appointed justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett voted with Alito in the conference held among the justices, the report added.

After an initial vote among the justices following an oral argument, one is assigned the majority opinion and writes a draft. It is then circulated among the justices.

At times, in between the initial vote and the ruling being released, the vote alignment can change.

A ruling is only final when it is published by the court.

The Roe v. Wade decision recognised that the right to personal privacy under the U.S. Constitution protects a womans ability to terminate her pregnancy.

Christian conservatives and many Republican officeholders have long sought to overturn it.

If Roe is overturned, abortion is likely to remain legal in liberal states.

More than a dozen states currently have laws protecting abortion rights.

Numerous Republican-led states have passed various abortion restrictions in defiance of the Roe precedent in recent years.

Republicans could try to enact a nationwide abortion ban, while Democrats could also seek to protect abortion rights at the national level.

Democrats said the draft opinion underscores the importance of this years elections, in which they are seeking to maintain control of the House and Senate.

Republican lawmakers criticised the leak, suggesting it was an attempt to inappropriately pressure the court into changing course.

The anti-abortion group the Susan B. Anthony List welcomed the news.

If Roe is indeed overturned, our job will be to build consensus for the strongest protections possible for unborn children and women in every legislature, said its president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, in a statement. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Olukayode Babalola

Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) has advised Nigerians to be security conscious.

He gave the advice shortly after a courtesy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa at his palace in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Monday.

We have the responsibility as government to take care of the citizenrys security but security is everybodys business.

If anyone is doing anything wrong, you have the responsibility to report to the nearest authority.

If you keep quiet, you are endangering the peace and tranquility of the country and your family.

You allow one little thing to happen and you dont know how it will go. So everyone should see himself or herself as agent of security in this country, he said.

He also appealed to Nigerians to shelve their differences, be law abiding and love themselves, irrespective of their religious or tribal differences.

I enjoin Nigerians to love their neighbours as they love themselves as ordained by the holy books.

If we abide those simple divine instruction, we will have tranquility and we will have stability and we will witness rapid development in the country, he said.

The APC Chairman expressed gratitude to God for the state of Nigerians who were able to carry out the 30 days Holy Ramadan fasting, and celebrate the Eid-El-Fitr in good health.

The Emir, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa, lauded the people of Keffi Emirate and muslims across the country for the successful completion of the holy ramadan fasting.

He also called for Nigerians to be proactive with regards to security and their active participation in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The traditional ruler also stressed the need for farmers in the emirate to go to their farms since the rainy season had commenced. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Youth Mandate Group (NYMG) in collaboration with North Central Youth Council of Nigeria (NCYCN) have advised all political parties to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the North Central.

The National Coordinator and Convener of the groups, Mr Abba Abba, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Abba said that zoning the presidential ticket to North Central would balance political equation in the country.

The youth leader insisted that the North Central had been sidelined in the scheme of things for long, as per the issue of presidency was concerned.

North central is the region hosting the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the administrative headquarters of Nigeria, and at no time any political party thought it wise that North Central should produce the President of Nigeria.

What is our offence that we are not always considered? We shall mobilise, canvass support and engage stakeholders to understand the reasons why north central should be given the presidential ticket, he said.

Similarly, Abba called on the National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) not only to zone their presidential ticket to North Central, but also to give the partys ticket to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

Gov. Yahaya Bello represents the youth mandate in Nigeria and we are ready to mobilise support for his election as President of Nigeria.

He has done well as governor of Kogi and gather much desired experience to lead our great nation.

We will continue to campaign for Gov. Bello in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, trusting God, that Bello will emerge the next President of Nigeria, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Leonard Okachie

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Abia, Chief Onyekachi Onyekwere, a.k.a Gaddafi, has lauded the partys decision to adopt direct primary to elect candidates for 2023 elections in Abia.

Onyekwere said this on Monday, when a governorship aspirant on the APC platform, Chief Daniel Eke, visited him in his Eziala Nsulu country home in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the national leadership of the party approved direct primary for Abia and other states, where the party is having problems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia APC became poliarised into two factions in the aftermath of the ward, local government and state congresses in 2021.

The parallel congresses produced two leaderships with Acho Obioma from the Donatus Nwankpa-led group and Kingsley Ononogbu, who emerged from Ikechi Emenike-led faction.

Although, the national leadership of the party recognised and inaugurated the Ononogbu-led executive, the two factions have continued to operate under separate leaderships and secretariats in Umuahia.

Speaking on the direct primary, Onyekwere expressed happiness that the method would help to ensure that only a popular governorship aspirant emerged.

He also said that with direct primaries, those who allegedly hijacked the party would give way for genuine leaders.

Let us be calm and focused now that the party has directed that direct primaries will be used in Abia.

What we need to do is to get to the people at the grassroot.

Those who are fighting us, God will fight them, Onyekwere said.

He further said that he encouraged the aspirant, who hails from Abia North, to run for the governorship, considering his sterling qualities.

He described Eke as a man of wisdom, intelligence and with the requisite capacity to change Abia.

Yes, I have endorsed him for the governorship. He is my candidate.

I trust him and I believe he is the man we need to change the state, he said.

NAN reports that Onyekwere, who is well-respected for his political sagacity in Isialangwa, is also known as a political kingmaker in the state.

The meeting was attended by the Council Chairman and Woman Leader of the party, Mr Endy Ogalabu and Mrs Rose Onyendilefu, respectively.

Ogalabu assured the aspirant of the support of the party members in the area and advised him to ensure that the needful is done in his pursuit for the partys ticket.

He further said: On the day of the primaries, we shall stand behind our choice.

Those who thought they hijacked the party would know they have nobody with them and they will quietly fizzle out.

Thereafter, the candidate that will emerge automatically becomes the leader of APC in the state.

In a brief remark, the woman leader told Eke that for coming here to consult us, your victory is assured.

I am confident that you will change Abia, if given the mandate, she said.

The aspirant thanked the party leaders for their belief in him and promised not to disappoint them, if elected.

Eke assured them that he would work to achieve the cardinal objective of his manifesto, which includes to reclaim, restore and modernise the state.

He promised to promote quality and functional education, tackle youth unemployment through training in technological skills, converting waste to wealth, among other development programmes.

Other party leaders at the meeting included the LG Secretary, Mr Azubuike Nwachukwu, Youth Leader, James Uchenna, and Alfred Chubuike, Chief Aniforo Ole and Dr Samuel Ekpo.

The aspirant was accompanied on the visit by members of his political structure, called Reality Organisation, including its Secretary, Uzoma Emezue, Mr Jimmy Uche and former Speaker of Aba North Legislative Council, Jonah Onwuchekwa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says the country needs to expand the frontiers of its revenue generation to mitigate the funding challenges inhibiting educational development.

Okowa said this after inspecting facilities at the Faculties of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Owa-Alero Campus, University of Delta, Agbor, on Monday.

He said the nation needed to invest more funds in the infrastructure, human resource and equipment of the education sector to ensure the availability of full internet services in every university.

According to him, it is important to fund the educational system but unfortunately the nations economy is challenged.

If you look at the national budget and most of the state budgets, you will find out that the Federal and State Governments are actually struggling.

When you have so many competing forces to deal with in an annual budget, you try to put little funds across.

Because, in the first instance, you have to ensure that you pay salaries and if at the end you have little left, then it is a major problem.

Whenever I study the Federal Government budget, l feel very worried about the huge challenge we have as a nation.

This is because you find out that every single kobo that is going into infrastructure development or capital development is actually borrowed, he said.

The governor said there was huge problem when all resource that was available outside borrowing went into recurrent expenditure.

And that is why if you study the budget in full at the federal level in the individual sector such as education and health; there are very huge funds available for recurrent expenditure because of payment of salaries.

At the end, you only have between 10 to 15 or maximum 20 per cent for capital development; this in itself is a very huge problem, Okowa explained.

He further said there was the need for the nation to find a way to prioritise by looking at the sectors that should be given greater attention.

I think it requires a lot of work and a lot of prioritisation to deal with the sectors that are most important.

All sectors are important but some sectors are definitely more important than others.

So, it requires a genuine analysis of what we are doing at the moment and then have a rethink to be able to take us to where we ought to be, he said.

The governor said that work at the faculties had progressed, adding that it should progress a little faster.

He added that the faculties had been accredited by the National University Commission and that lectures had since started in the campus. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Ugwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi chapter has urged citizens across the country to elect credible and good leaders in the 2023 elections.

Mr Ikechukwu Nwafor, the State Chairman of the NLC, made the call at a news conference in Abakaliki on Monday.

Nwafor said that the briefing was part of the activities marking the 2022 Workers Day celebration in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria ((NAN) reports that the NLC in the state shifted the celebration to May 2, instead of May1, as approved by the UN.

The 2023 elections are around the corner and we must not allow ourselves to be used by politicians. We must be careful on whom to support.

Our interest should be more on credible and good leaders that can have workers interest at heart, he said.

The chairman expressed worry over the wellbeing of workers in Ebonyi and the entire country.

According to him, electing good leaders irrespective of tribe and political party would guarantee good welfare for workers.

On good governance, Nwafor decried the way workers had been denied of their welfare and urged the government to focus more on project that could impact positively on citizenry.

I urge the Ebonyi government to reduce focus on non-profitable projects. They should invest more on projects that can promote social services.

We do not want government that will be stealing from the civil servants. We support good governance and that will continue to be our campaign come 2023, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Adeniran, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Make-up, the art of applying cosmetics to the face to look good, has been part of womenfolk from time.

It is generally believed that every woman had, at one time or the other, used one cosmetic or the other with powder, lipstick and eye pencil usually the most common.

Women have different reasons for applying make-up, but it is generally assumed that most do it to attract or impress the opposite sex.

Some women have often said that make-up gives them confidence and enhances their beauty, while others argue that cosmetics keep them looking much younger than their real ages.

Incidentally, men are sharply divided over the practice with some appreciating it while many find it disdainful.

Mr Odunlade Adebayo, an architect and quantity surveyor, for instance, believes that womens make-up deceives men.

Adebayo, while narrating his experience, said he met a lady online and took a deep interest in her because she was looking so beautiful with her make-up.

But, the day I met her physically and saw her natural face, I was disappointed because she looked different from the pictures posted on social media.

According to him, women are wonderfully made and should be proud of who they are and not hide their facial flaws.

A civil servant, Mr Leke Ashafa, said, I always feel bad for women that are so scared to have men see them without their face made up. Theyre prisoners to the mask.

I like it when a girl doesnt wear any make-up at all. I know it sounds clich, but it lets me know that she takes care of her skin and that shes confident in herself because she doesnt need to cover up her natural complexion.

When a woman wears light sparkly shadow around her eyes that makes them glow and minimal lip colour, I think thats the perfect make-up look. If her lipstick is too bright, Im afraid to get in there and really kiss her if the opportunity arises.

Mr Ekene Nworie, an engineer, narrated his experience of falling in love with a woman he met at a party because of her looks but saw a different face on his first night with her.

During my first night with her, I couldnt believe it when the woman I had been dating came out of the bathroom with a different face. She had always worn her make-up each time we saw
before we eventually decided to spend a night together.

It was a heartbreaking experience for me and right there I made up my mind to end the relationship with her. I will advise all men to try to know the women they are dating. Make-up hides the real face of a woman, Nworie said.

Mr Okoro Stanley, a carpenter, said he wants his woman to be naturally beautiful and free of blemishes.

I had a girlfriend who always used make-up and she always looked beautiful. One day, we slept together on same bed and I saw her real face filled with irritating pimples and dark spots.

After that experience, I promised myself not to marry someone that uses make-up, he said.

Mr Bolanle Aderopo, a pharmacist, complained that his wife always stains the bed sheet and pillows with her make-up.

I love it when my wife puts make-up on; it makes her beautiful. However, I dont like it when she doesnt clean her make-up properly at night before going to sleep.

She messes up the bed and pillow case. It really causes a big quarrel between us always, he said.

Mr Azubuogu Clement, a public transport driver, complained that when make-up is not well applied, it makes some women look like owls.

My problem with make-up is that it gives women false hopes that they are beautiful after their makeovers. Most times when not applied properly, I tell them the truth that the make-up doesnt fit them and insist that it be readjusted.

A teacher in one of the Lagos State Government schools, Mr Lanre Okeowo, said there were two primary reasons why women wear make-up.

According to him, it is either for camouflage or seduction.

For camouflage, women, who are anxious and insecure, tend to use make-up to appear less noticeable.

Seduction, on the other hand, involves women who want to be noticeably more attractive. They tend to use make-up to be more confident, sociable, and assertive.

Mr Lifted Nwanuihe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ace Clothing and styles, has a sharply different view of womens make-up.

I see it as a form of expression and love it when my girlfriend wears it.

I believe everyone should be free to express herself or himself in whatever way without restrictions. My girlfriend doesnt need to be natural always.

Mr Effiong Abasi, an accountant, also said that he loves it when a woman wears make-up.

Make-up brings respect to a woman. It displays sign of maturity on the part of the woman and attracts men, Abasi said.

Mr Olayinka Peters, a lawyer, said that make-up turns him on, whether applied well or not.

Make-up is a turn on for me. It gives me the hint that this woman is conscious of being attractive, he said.

A consultant at Grass to Grace Project, an empowerment firm, Mr Johnson Agbaje, said that he loves his wife wearing make-up when going out.

I love it when my wife uses make-up only when going out. I dont see her make-up as a waste of time and effort, he said.

Some men are, however, indifferent to make-ups as long as the woman wearing it is comfortable with it.

Mr Idris Akanbi, a technician, said he doesnt have a problem with make-up, but is usually uncomfortable with excessive application.

The strength of a house lies with the foundation, so is it with the make-up of a woman. It starts from the foundation before the painting of whatever.

Even if one doesnt know make-up at all, one should know if something is pleasing to the eye, he said.

For Mr Ikechukwu Offor, a spare parts trader in Mushin area of Lagos, noting is as galling as when his wife puts on make-up.

My wife is fair and naturally beautiful. So, when she applies her make-up, I dont really like it. The colours on her face put me off, he fumed.

Offor, however, accepts that it is her choice to apply make-up or leave her face to glow naturally.

Some make-up artists also spoke on the practice and how to apply it to get the right result.

According to the CEO of Zekes Touch, Mr Ezekiel Matthew, the reason most ladies get their make-up wrong is because they lack the essential tips about how it is applied.

Most ladies that havent undergone any form of training or even watched YouTube videos eventually get it wrong because they lack the essential tips to achieve an excellent face glamour.

Ladies have to know their skin tone and apply the exact colour of foundation and powder that matches their skin.

The best way to determine the foundation that suits your skin colour is to first try it on your neck or your ear.

That will give you a vivid result whether it is too dark or bright for your skin colour as the case may be, he said.

He advised ladies not to apply excessive foundation on their face and to get quality products to achieve the best result.

The CEO of Eeshars Glamdrop, Miss Akinboye Omobolanle, also spoke on the application of make-up.

Some ladies do not have the skills or knowledge while some have but do not know how to apply it correctly.

Before applying foundation, ladies have to moisturise their face and apply primer, put enough foundation to go round and blend with a beauty blender, she explained.

Omobolanle said that ladies should blend the foundation well into their skin to avoid breaking and smearing.

For the CEO of Pees Glam, Miss Precious Bolorundoro, some ladies do not have the patience to learn how to do it right.

Some ladies rush to do their make-up and it might come out wrong especially when youre not a professional at it, she said.

Bolorundoro also said that ladies should get the right product for their skin type.

The CEO of Budosky Signature, Miss Victoria Nwabudo, explained that make-up is all about passion and ladies should not expect to be good in something if they did not have passion for it.

Most ladies get their make-up wrong because they dont have passion for it. Those that do, get it wrong because they havent relaxed to learn the proper way to apply make-up products, she said.

Nwabudo advised ladies to clean their face with a face wipe to get a clean base for work and use concealers for highlights and contours.

Ladies should apply primer to help the make-up last longer, apply foundation of their shade and use a spoolie brush to keep their eyebrows in shape, she said.

As the debate over the practice rages, analysts believe that make-up should be applied in moderation to avoid situations where it often boomerang, leading to unpleasant consequences. (NANFeatures).

**If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr Chidia Maduekwe, has urged filmmakers to sustain the Nigerias second position globally in quantity films production, by improving quality of their films.

Maduekwe made the plea at the opening of a seven-day Zuma Film Festival in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the festival is entitled: Show the Money which underscores the immense commercial benefits that could come from investing in the sector.

Maduekwe, who urged Nigerians to invest in films production, said that the sector could not only provide entertainment, but would provide money for stakeholders in the industry.

According to him, abundant opportunities inherent in this sector in terms of content creation, employment generation and wealth creation, as well as the cross border impact.

He said that the 2022 Zuma Film Festival was organised to provide a platform for film networking between Nigerian filmmakers and their counterparts from other film countries.

It is also aimed at exploring and expanding film co-production opportunities beneficial to Nigerian filmmakers, as well as recognise and reward cinematic excellence and entrench professionalism.

The festive will boost export potential of Nigerian films and herald NIgeria as Africas tourism and film destination hub, NFC chief said.

He commended the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration for partnering with the corporation to host the 12 edition of the festival in Abuja.

The Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammed Musa, said that the FCT Administration agreed to host the festival, not only because Abuja City is a beautiful location for film production, but to encourage youths to see opportunities in films production.

Musa, represented by Mr Samuel Attang, the Director, Operations and Strategy, expressed optimism that the sector would enhance youths empowerment and poverty reduction.

Also, Mr Folorusho Coker, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said that the United Nations World Trade Organisation had granted Nigeria the right of global conference co-operative tourism.

Coker, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr Odeh Anuba, said that this would give filmmakers the opportunities to market their films for tourism development. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has emphasised the need for all Nigerians to continue to pray for sustained peace, progress and development in Nigeria.

Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, gave the advice after observing the two rakaat prayer in company of the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Yamusa, at Keffi Eid ground, on Monday.

The APC national chairman, who said that prayer remained the most effective weapons against all societal challenges, urged Nigerians to continue to support the APC-led administration to move the country to greater heights.

On this auspicious occasion, let us share a message of love, unity and universal brotherhood.

We should not forget to pray for our people who are daily experiencing security challenges in their respective areas as well as our gallant security personnel who are tirelessly fighting for the country.

We must strive to bring smiles on their faces by raising our voices and expressing our love and solidarity, he said.

Adamu urged Nigerians to work together to make Nigeria greater and show the world that we are one and will continue to be united, irrespective of our ethnic and religious affiliations.

We must try to resist forces of evil and disaffection and allow peace and unity to reign among us in the spirit of Ramadan, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Chidi Opara

Some Nigerians have decried the current level of poor performance of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) which they attributed to dearth of senior officers to man sensitive positions in the organisation.

They made the criticism while recounting their experiences to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

One of them was a Diasporan,who returned from Europe to renew his international passport, which had some two months to expire.

The respondent, who simply called his name Ibrahim, expressed sadness with the frustration he experienced in the service Headquarters to renew his passport yet could not be attended to.

He said after struggling to obtain his National Identification Number (NIN), a precondition for the passport renewal, the service said he could only apply for the document and return in two weeks for image capturing.

The Diaspora Nigerian told NAN that he felt embarrassed that an office which was dealing with citizens with international exposure could be talking about staggered processes in the issuance of passports.

This office is toying with the future of its citizens if it fails to issue travelling documents promptly on request; is it that it does not have the manpower to carry out its primary responsibility.

Nigerians abroad chose to return home to update their documents as most of the times the passport booklets are not available in their countries of residence.

NIS prefers to issue temporary travel permits for a foreign-based applicant to come home even after the person had paid a fee that is higher than the main passport booklet.

This is unacceptable.

Visits to some passport processing offices of the service showed that a lot of applicants turned up and would spend the whole day without success.

NAN reliably gathered from some Nigerians during interview that apart from the passport booklets supplied not being enough to meet demand, some officers who could be reported to did not exist.

Some Immigration officers reported that the top level management of the Service was depleted due to the steady retirement of personnel and withholding of recent promotion interview conducted to fill the gaps.

NAN learnt that the promotion examination carried out since 2021 was hanging in the Service boards office.

NAN gathered that of the eight Deputy Comptrollers-General heading eight directorates of the service, only two remained in service while six had retired since 2021.

The sources alleged that there was no sign that the Board of Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services, saddled with the responsibility to fill the gaps, was in a hurry to do so.

As it is, apart from Account/Finance and Visa/Residency Directorates, the rest directorates are headed by Assistant Comptrollers-General against the provisions of the Nigeria Immigration Act.

Most of the seven zonal offices have virtually shut down owing to the unavailability of Assistant Comptrollers-General to man them.

At the moment only Zone A Lagos, Zone B Kaduna, Zone E Owerri, and Zone G Benin are functional. Zones C Bauchi, Zone H Markurdi, and Minna are comatose, they alleged.

NAN also gathered that there were also no comptrollers at most of the zones whereas each of the zones is expected to have a minimum of three comptrollers, one of which should take charge in the absence of the Assistant Comptrollers General.

As it is, most of the officers invited for an interview last year to fill the existing vacancies in the ranks of Deputy Comptrollers General and Assistant Comptrollers General have almost retired.

The remaining ones are retiring very soon after waiting in vain for the release of the promotion, a source said.

Our source also blamed the board for allegedly politicising the promotion process.

Other respondents blamed two Commissioners of the Board, Alhaji Ado Jafaru, a former Assistant Comptroller-General, and a certain retired Major-General Bassey for allegedly being interested in new recruitments.

They alleged that both commissioners were interested in upgrading their cronies instead of caring for existing officers.

NAN gathered that there was also the problem of a leadership tussle in the immigration service where some officers blamed the board for preferring overaged officers to lead the service.

According to them, instead of appointing younger persons as Comptroller-General of the service the board rather preferred to extend the tenure of retired Comptrollers-General for alleged personal gains.

The authorities were also accused of deliberately frustrating qualified officers while waiting for their cronies to attain promotion age.

This has resulted in frustration and low morale among the officers of the service.

The service is also now polarised along ethno-religious lines. This determines both recruitments into the service and postings especially to foreign missions and Passport Control offices.

During the last recruitments exercise such consideration became the criteria for appointments leading to denial of chances to applicants from some states.

For instance, an investigation showed that while certain states from privileged geopolitical zones had over 500 per state, others were merely given 60 slots or thereabout.

Most sections in the headquarters are presently being headed by Deputy Comptrollers instead of Assistant Comptrollers General.

Units that ordinarily should be headed by Comptrollers are now headed by Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers.

Human Resources Directorate that should have six Assistant Comptrollers-General now have only one, ACG (APD), while a very important section like Training and Staff Development has a Deputy Comptroller in charge, the sources said.

Some staff members claimed that there were speculations that some top ministry officials and the Board were contemplating transfer of service to fill existing vacancies instead of promoting qualified officers.

They want to bring in their cronies and relations from outside the service to fill up the existing vacancies.

The immigration Command and Staff College, Sokoto has no substantive Commandant because there is Assistant Comptroller General to be so appointed, they said.

When contacted, Service Public Relations Officer Amos Okpu, ACI, Headquarters, told NAN that the issue of promotion was the Boards responsibility as the service had little or nothing to do to that effect.

The Secretary/Director of the Board, Aisha Rufai, in a telephone interview told NAN that she was indisposed to comment on the issues raised by the sources.

One of the Commissioners on the Board ACG Ado Jafaru told NAN on telephone that the board was handling more than 30,000 candidates involved in the promotion interview.

He, however, said the issues raised were not ones to be resolved in the media and advised those aggrieved to do a formal report through the proper channel to the board. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Dr Mohammed Tumala, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for Borno South Senatorial District, Borno, has pledged to prioritise tackling insecurity and investment in youths, if elected in 2023.

Tumala, the Director of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after collecting the APC nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja.

He said that his returning to politics was informed by the need for professionals to get involved in reversing the increasingly worrisome socio-economic hardships of the people in communities in the state.

Tumala, who is also a former lecturer at University of Maiduguri, promised to do that by motivating the appropriate levels of ambition in the youth and women, and build egos to help them find their purpose in life.

The aspirant, who commended the efforts of the state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for investing in critical infrastructure and capacity building of the youths in recent years in spite of the insecurity challenge in the state, said much still needed to be done.

Tumala said there was still much work to be done to really help the traumatised population by building a community of youths that could create a future for themselves and take full responsibility for their own fate, not only to survive the challenges of today, but to prevail, succeed, and thrive.

We want our youths to be prepared to identify opportunities and productively utilize luck.

The former House of Representatives member between 1992 and 1994 before the then regime was truncated by the military, said that he returned to politics to demonstrate that politics was meant to serve the interests of the people.

As we say, leadership is about service to the led. So, my interest to go back to politics after my career in the CBN is to demonstrate to the electorate in my senatorial communities that after darkness, there will be light.

I have been there before to help them in terms of leading by example politically and I am now better prepared.

I am more determined to prove that politics is about serving the interests of the people by using the opportunity availed by political authority to transform lives of the ordinary people, especially the poor and socio-economically excluded in our communities.

Lending credence to the aspirants promises, a supporter who identified himself as Mallam Mustapha, told newsmen that they were supporting Tumala because he is a man of his word, who had demonstrate his leadership capacity at different level.

He said that the people of the Borno South Senatorial District were strongly in support of Tumala ambition to serve them in the Senate by 2023.

This is not the first time that our leader, Hon. Mohammed Tumala, is indicating his interest to serve us politically.

He was elected before into the House of Representatives and he served us to be best of his ability. Our people are still talking about what he did then till today.

So, our joining him to collect his nomination form is to show we are strongly behind him and will cast our votes for him come 2023, insha Allah, Mustapha assured.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has congratulated the FCT residents, especially the Muslims community on the successful completion of Ramadan fast.

Bello in his eid-el-fitr message to the residents on Sunday in Abuja, prayed that the supplications made to Almighty Allah during the month of Ramadan would be answered.

The minister assured that security agencies had put measures in place to ensure the peaceful celebration of Sallah.

Bello, however, called on residents of the FCT to be security conscious and follow all guidelines issued by the relevant security authorities regarding the Eid-el-fitr celebrations.

On behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, I bring warm felicitations to all residents of the FCT, especially the Muslim Ummah as we join the rest of the Muslim world in the celebration of Eid-El- Fitr signaling the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Over the last 30 days, our Muslim brothers and sisters had in keeping with the Islamic injunctions, engaged not only in fasting and prayers, but also in various acts of charity and caring for one another.

I hereby congratulate all on the successful completion of this religious obligation and pray that the supplications made to Almighty Allah would be answered.

It was heartwarming to note that residents seized the opportunity provided by the Holy month to show compassion and care for each other, especially the less privileged, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

The minister, therefore, urged residents not to limit the acts of charity, love and tolerance to only the holy month of Ramadan but should inculcate the culture into their everyday lives.

Bello, who said that the end of Ramadan should also not signal an end to prayers. enjoined all residents of the FCT to continue to offer supplications to the Almighty for the country and her leaders.

For divine wisdom and guidance, especially as they fight our security challenges and political activities take center stage.

Let us, once more be reminded that as residents of the Federal Capital Territory, which was founded on the ideals of unity and peace, we are obliged to live up to the dreams of our founding fathers.

We should therefore resist the machinations of those who seek to destroy these ideals and in our actions and utterances, seek always to sow the seeds of unity, peace and tolerance in our communities.

Abuja, our beautiful national capital city is the pride of every Nigerian. As residents, we should please commit ourselves to ensuring that she does not lose her allure due to our actions.

The minister said that as the rainy season commences, please let us maintain our drainages and make sure they are clean and free of debris and avoid construction on flood plains and river courses to avoid unfortunate incidences of flooding.

He assured that the FCT Administration remained committed to the implementation of projects that would have the greatest impact on the majority of residents.

Especially in the provision of social service infrastructure, just as we will continue to work hard to ensure the security of lives and property across the territory.

It is important to remind all that COVID -19 has not been eradicated. Enjoy the Eid-El-Fitr festivities in conformity with all COVID-19 protocols. (NAN)

Source: NAN News