By Wandoo Sombo

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the alleged pension fraud trial involving former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye until Oct. 5.

At the resumed hearing in the case on Thursday, Oronsaye was cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe.

The former Head of Service reiterated that he was bothPrincipal Secretaryand Permanent Secretary, State House and that he was appointed head of service in 2009.

When asked why heremained a signatory to an account he handledeven while he longer worked at the state house, Oronsaye told the court that the then president asked him to continue managing the account.

The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter until Oct. 5, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 and ordered parties to obtain records of the proceedings in the case so far.

Oronsaye and his co-defendants are standing trial on charges of money laundering involving N2 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hadalleged in the charges that the defendants siphoned the money through a biometric enrolment contract purportedly for the reform of the civil service pension system.

The former head of service is standing trialalong with Osarenkhoe Afe, the Managing Director, Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

The anti-graft agency closed its case with the testimony of its 21st prosecution witness, Mr Umar Tilde having tendered numerous documents to support its allegations against the defendants.

One of such documents tendered was a judgment that convicted and jailed Abdulrasheed Maina, a former chairperson of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

Tilde, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank Plc, however, told the court that Oronsaye was at no time a signatory to the federal pension accounts.

He could also not ascertain whether Oronsaye ever made an endorsement for withdrawal from the pension accounts.

The witness said it was Shuiab Sani Teidi, Eunice Chide, Mohammed Kaltung Ahmed, Hassan Mohammed and Attah Danladi that weresignatories to the pension accounts.

The prosecution closed its case after Tildes testimony and Oronsaye was called to open his case.

Oronsaye, on opening his defense, accused the anti-graft agency of deliberately witch-hunting him following a presentation he made before the National Assembly while he was still in office.

He told the court that he ran into trouble after he defended an Executive Bill on the EFCC at a point when the commission itself mounted strong opposition against the said bill.

According to him, shortly after he returned to his office at the end of his presentation at the national assembly, the anti-graft agency, summoned him to its office.

He told the court that the EFCC alleged that he was being investigated following a petition against him but that the commission had yet to show him a copy of the petition. (NAN) (www nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa /Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

SunPawa Energy Ltd, an indigenous energy firm, says it will provide 30,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Mr Odera Ozoka, Chief Executive Officer of the firm told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday that the aim was to bring relief to the people living especially in the rural communities.

Ozoka listed Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi and Delta as the pilot states where the products would be rolled out, while other states would be visited two years from now.

SunPawa is looking at bringing solutions in the renewable energy space and this will go a long way in bringing relief to a lot of people living in darkness, especially in the rural communities.

At the moment, just under half of the population in Nigeria is living without any electricity and of those, 75 per cent are mostly found in the rural communities.

As entrepreneurs, we look for creative ways to ensure that people have access to reliable electricity thereby increasing Nigerians economic growth exponentially, he said.

He reiterated his readiness towards ensuring that more people have access to electricity in the country, adding that though it might not be easy; given the structural problems in the power sector.

SunPawa Energy was recently shortlisted by Rural Electrification Agency for the Solar Home System Output Based Funds component under the Nigerian Electrification Project to provide nationwide energy access to rural communities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, met with his supporters in Lagos State, assuring them that he will emerge victorious at the APC presidential primaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC presidential primaries is scheduled for Sunday in Abuja

Addressing the supporters made up of various grassroot groups from across Lagos state, Osinbajo said: I have come home to Lagos to thank God for all He has done and all He is yet to do.

I am not here for a campaign or for consultation, I just want to celebrate with my brothers and sisters in Lagos state.

God will help us on Sunday and we will win. There is no doubt at all, we will win by the grace of God.

And we will go on to win the general election for our party, the APC.

I know that we will have massive support from all of our delegates, Osinbajo said.

Osinbajo said that haven served for seven years as the vice president of Nigeria, his experiences would enable him provide quality leadership for the nation.

According to him, in those seven years, President Muhammadu Buhari in many ways, ensured that I was exposed to everything about governing a complex and diverse country such as Nigeria.

I have also acted as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at various times.

He said God had allowed him to serve and gave him those experiences for a purpose, which definitely was to serve the nation further.

Osinbajo added: The truth of the matter is that God does not make a mistake. That is the reason why God gave me all the experiences and that time has come.

I am sure that everyone knows that if you have seven years experience on anything, you will be better than those who do not have any experience at all.

He said a greater Nigeria was achievable, noting that all the countrys challenges were surmountable.

The vice president commended the Lagos state Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and all the delegates and representatives of different ethnic groups present at the event.

In his remarks, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdulateef, an APC chieftain, described the meeting as the beginning of the journey to a new Nigeria.

Abdulateef, an Imam, said that Osinbajos meeting with the stakeholders in Lagos state completed his visits to all the 36 states of the federation.

Lagos is extremely proud to celebrate Osinbajo, he said.

He said that Osinbajo had done a lot for Lagos state and had helped the poor to have access to justice.

NAN reports that dignitories at the event include the Deputy Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Mr Adeola Ipaye, and the Special Adviser to Buhari on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Hawa Lawal/Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

Adeyemi Adeleye

The Lead Visioner, Lagos4Lagos Movement, Dr Olajide Adediran (Jandor) on Wednesday clinched the PDP ticket for the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State.

Declaring the result in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Lagos PDP Electoral Committee/Returning Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, said that Adediran scored 679 votes to defeat his contender, Mr David Vaughan who polled 20 votes.

Ogidi, who noted that there were 775 ad hoc delegates for the primaries, said that 709 were accredited for the election.

According to him, 10 votes were voided in the election.

Ogidi said: The total number of accredited voters is 709, and Olajide Adediran got 679 votes, DAKOVA (David Kolawole Vaughan had 20 and we had 10 voided votes.

Haven satisfied all the requirements in our guidelines, I want to announce Dr Olajide Adediran as our candidate after scoring the highest votes of 679. He is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.

Meanwhile, Ogidi, before announcing the result, said that delegates from Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government failed to see reasons with the committee over alleged discrepancies on delegate list.

He, however, commended the aspirants and delegates for their peaceful conduct and sportsmanship throughout the process.

I want to thank all of you for your patience and I want to congratulate the two contestants for your spirit of sportsmanship, especially DAKOVA. He is a true sportsman, Ogidi said.

In his victory speech, Adediran, who acknowledged the aspirants that stepped down for him and his contender, said he was ready to face the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He pledged to sit with all aspirants and leaders of the party to tap from their wealth of knowledge and experience in a bid to win Lagos state for PDP.

Adediran, who applauded all the delegates for their trust in giving him the partys ticket, promised to bring governance to the grassroots.

Also, Vaughan, who accepted defeat, said he vied for the ticket with a well mapped out strategy to transform Lagos state.

He promised to support and back Adedirans ambition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four contestants including Otunba Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, Mr Adedeji Doherty, Mr Ade Dosunmu and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour stepped down from the race. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Georgina Adegbie

Musa Nimrod, President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), on Wednesday assured that the federation was working to ensure that the Nigerian league was of international standard.

Nimrod told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the federation would continue to work hard to ensure the leagues standard was at par with that of advanced countries.

The recent visit by delegates from the Fdration International de Volleyball (FIVB) during the just-concluded Division One League had a great impact on the entire federation, he said.

Nimrod said the delegates had meetings with board members, coaches, referees and players, advising on how to raise the standard of the sport from the grassroots to the elite league.

Everyone involved has determined to work hard to improve on their performances, he said.

Nimrod said he was confident that volleyball in Nigeria would be on the same level with the game in other countries in no distant time.

We will continue to work hard to be among the best in the continent and the world at large, he said.

NAN reports that the just-concluded National Division One Volleyball League was won by Spartan Spikers of Yola after gathering 15 points in the mens category.

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were second with 11 points, UCEM Spikers placed third with nine points and JVC of Bauchi were fourth with seven points.

In the womens category, Chief of Army Staff Spikers led the league with 15 points, while Life Camp of Abuja placed second with 12 points.

Anambra Queens placed third with nine points, Olalomi Royals of Kwara fourth with five points, and Bayonet Spikers of Kaduna were fifth with three points.

NAN reports that the federation was yet to announce dates for the second phase of the league, which would determine clubs to be promoted to the premier league.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye has said that there was need to deploy more technology that would help to reduce opportunity for crime.

Owasanoye said this at the 2-day joint operations of ICPC and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on effective and result oriented joint operations on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that there was need for collaboration by law enforcement agencies for effective law enforcement, saying that most crimes cross boundaries.

According to him, somebody who is committing a road offence and has bribed an officer of the Road Safety and such officer had collected, that singular act falls under ICPC act.

It also contravenes the criminal code and violates the road safety commission act as well .

To be effective, law enforcement agencies must collaborate. Much more importantly, we need to deploy more technology that helps to reduce opportunity for crime.

One good examples is the use of body cameras which we find usage in developed countries.

Law Enforcement officers wear body camera and the public knows that transactions are been recorded and can be used and it helps to diminish corruption, he said.

The ICPC chairman emphasised that retail corruption affected the daily livelihood of citizens.

Owasanoye said that if it could be controlled or significantly diminished, it would improve not just the experience of citizens with governance but also make governance for the leaders easier.

This is because, then, people know that they are not under pressure for economic crimes and other issues and this is why collaboration is important to us, he said.

Earlier, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi said that the Corps remained resolute in its commitment to live up to expectations of the statutory mandate.

Oyeyemi said that the Corps would also continually improve on the process and sustained stakeholder collaborations in an effort to create safer motoring environment for all Nigerian road users.

He said that the joint operations and collaboration with ICPC and DSS had led to the arrest of some of FRSC personnel due to the initiative of the corps.

He also said that it had been able to stem the sharp corrupt practices not only on the highways but even at the various drivers license areas.

Organisations need strong collaboration like this to be able to achieve the mandate set and the policy direction of the government.

But without this, we will not be able to do this. We cannot do it alone. We need support from other agencies. When it comes to security and Intelligence, you must be ahead of the bad eggs so that you can catch them.

And with the deployment of technology now, I think we will sustain this very well and this will bring down the cost of operations, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training workshop was designed to equip participants with desired skills and interact on ways to achieve effective and result oriented Joint Operations.

The training with the theme, Effective and Result Oriented Joint Operations was for the purpose of addressing the issues tarnishing the corporate image of both organisations. (NAN).

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Adedeji Egbebi

Pensioners in Otun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti appealed to Gov. Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday to pay their outstanding entitlements before the end of his tenure on Oct. 16.

Pensioners who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) lamented that some of their colleagues who retired between 2014 and 2019 had died without collecting their entitlements.

One of the pensioners, Mr Taiwo Ajayi, a retired principal, appealed to Fayemi to consider the plight of the ageing retirees who needed to take care of their health and also take care of their children.

Ajayi has five children, all unemployed graduates.

He lamented that he retired in 2016but the state government had not paid him any entitlement.

Another retired civil servant, Mrs Bukola Owolabi, said it was unfortunate that many of her colleagues who retired in 2015 had died from illnesses.

Owolabi expressed regret that the departed died without enjoying the fruits of their labour because of the unending delay in the payment of the pensioners gratuities by the state government.

She appealed to Fayemi to offset the outstanding gratuities and pensions before the end of his tenure.

It always saddens me whenever I remember that some of my colleagues with whom I retired in the same year have died.

None of them was able to eat the fruit of their labour after serving the state government for 35 years in office.

They died untimely deaths with little or no financial assistance from anybody as some of them had stroke, hypertension, diabetes, ulcer, typhoid among ailments before they finally died.

I appeal to our governor, Dr Fayemi, to have mercy on some of us that are still alive and give us our gratuity, she said.

Mr Olusegun Agunbiade, a retired local government employee, urged the state government to consider the fact that the retirees spent 35 years of their lives contributing to the development of the state and pay all outstanding gratuities.

Agunbiade said that he retired in April 2017 but had friends who retired since 2015, but had died without getting their entitlements.

He also appealed to Fayemi to save the lives of pensioners still alive but needing money for medicals and other upkeep.

It is no longer news that ageing pensioners are dying without collecting their gratuities.

I appeal to our governor to pay arrears of gratuities and put smiles on our faces, he said.

Another pensioner, Mrs Felicia Ojo, a retired teacher said she retired in 2016 and she has not been paid her gratuity.

Ojo also appealed to the state government to consider the sufferings of pensioners and pay the backlog of their entitlements. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The Spanish Embassy in Nigeria says it has donated 4.4 million doses of Johnson

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Wednesday inaugurated its Dockyard Training School in Apapa, Lagos as part of institutes continuous learning culture for its employees.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility was inaugurated by r Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, NPA.

He noted that learning constitutes a critical success factor in actualising the NPAs strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa

According to Bello-Koko, inaugurating a modern technical training facility of this nature is germane to the authority and a testament of its resolve to institute continuous learning as a culture.

As most of us are aware, having in place a robust talent pool is a necessary precondition for operating efficiently in the fiercely competitive terrain that port business is.

Consistently upskilling and reskilling our employees on whom we place a very high premium is our overriding objective as a management team.

Also, our readiness to position them to be best in class, is at the core of what this training school sets to achieve, he said.

The NPA boss said that the complex had the capacity of training 380 persons per time as it consists of a lecture theatre with seating capacity of 73, a large hall with seating capacity of 112, a mini hall with seating capacity of 50 and another with 27.

He said that the facility also contains six simulation class rooms that seats 16 persons each, a fully automated library, a computer training hall, a canteen seating capacity for 120 persons and a hostel with 30-bed capacity.

Bello-Koko said that the decision to invest so much in the facility took cognisance of its former employees, some of whom although retired are actually not tired.

He said that they intend to tap into their wealth of experience and institutional knowledge by inviting them as resource persons to train upcoming employees.

Processes are also in the works to partner with the World Maritime University, Nigerian Navy Hydrography Department, Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography Research, University of Lagos and other research and learning institutions in the area of curriculum development and capacity building.

It will be pertinent to mention that work is at advanced stages to transform our Riggers Workshop to a Marine and Seamanship Workshop.

This will be deployed for training in the area of Seamanship Practical, Radio/Signal, Marine Engine/Auxiliaries, Buoyage Practical, Mooring and other Marine related competencies which are increasingly in demand not just in-house but indeed in our Industry.

These trainings will significantly help to insulate us and our stakeholders from the grave risk of talent deficit, he said.

He recommended the facility for patronage by sister agencies in the maritime sector and other industry players who were desirous of a best-in-class training platform for their employees.

He said that the activation of the training facility was timely, coming at a time when series of efforts geared towards making our ports more competitive and attractive of greater vessel traffic were beginning to crystalise.

This inauguration is also a reminder that our drive towards attaining the compliance status for Quality Management System (ISO 9001), Environment Management System (ISO 14001) as well as Occupational Health

By Sumaila Ogbaje

National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has called for closer collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to mop-up illegal arms in Nigeria.

National Coordinator of NCCSALW, Retired Maj.-Gen. Abba Dikko, made the call during a courtesy call on the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dikko said that NCCSALW had been working assiduously to deliver on its mandate.

He said the centre was willing and ready to work with NSCDC and other security agencies to ensure that the illegal arms in possession of unauthorised people were recovered in order to restore law and order in the country.

The coordinator commended the NSCDC boss for his leadership, innovation and direction, particularly in the area of protection of critical infrastructure and national assets.

He called for partnership with NSCDC in the areas of intelligence sharing, data collection and mainstreaming control of arms in the NSCDCs hierarchy and work environment.

According to him, leveraging the existing capacities of NSCDC and other security agencies will go a long way in strengthening coordination and building the capacity of relevant stakeholders on their responsibilities under the small arms and light weapons management paradigm.

Responding, the NSCDC boss lauded the establishment of the centre, saying that it was in the interest of peace and security as well as crime prevention and control.

He thanked the coordinator and his team for their efforts toward achieving the centres mandate.

Audi expressed delight with the opportunity to support NCCSALW in the discharge of its duties of mopping of illicit arms in the country.

The commandant-general expressed NSCDCs readiness to give full support to the centre, saying that the fight against illicit arms in the polity was a must and could only be won through collaboration with relevant stakeholders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Nigerias Temile Development Company has awarded contracts to Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) and NLNG Shipping Management Limited (NSML) for construction and supervision of a 23,000 cubic meters Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Carrier Vessel.

Temile Development Company signed the contracts with HMD and NSML at the World Gas Conference on Wednesday in Daegu, South Korea.

The Chief Executive Officer, Temile Development Company, Mr Alfred Temile, said in a statement that the HMDs highly efficient eco-design/cleaner fuel vessel would be constructed in line with international best practices and industrial regulations.

Temile also disclosed that NSML as an indigenous company would supervise the construction of the vessel expected to be delivered on July 26, 2023.

Today, May 25, 2022, at the WGC2022 in Daegu, Korea, Temile Development Company celebrated a dual contract signing agreements for the construction of a new 23,000 cubic meters Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carrier Vessel.

With Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) and with NSML for the construction supervision of the 23,000 cubic LPG/NH3/VCM Carrier at HMD.

We are delighted to execute the construction of our new LPG carrier with HMD and bringing onboard NSML to supervise the construction as an indigenous company, he said.

According to him, this demonstrates our commitment and support to the Nigeria Local Content Act and as well establishes our confidence in local capacity to deliver international acceptable standards.

Working with HMD again makes us feel in very safe hands as we are confident that this eco-design/cleaner fuel vessel shall be constructed in line with International best practices and industrial regulations.

Thereby creating a space for the vessel in the international gas supply value chain.

Having taken delivery of our first LPG carrier vessel which is currently chartered to Nigeria LNG Limited for domestic LPG supply.

We look forward to taking delivery of this new carrier in July 2023 to make an addition to the global gas supply industry, Temile stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

LIZ/COF/IAA

Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Nasir Isa-Kwarra, on Tuesday solicited the support of the Nigerian Army to conduct the pre-census exercise and the main census in 2023.

Isa-Kwarra made the call when he led the management team of the commission on courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He said that NPC required the collaboration of the Nigerian army to carry out its assignment considering the security challenges bedeviling the nation.

NPC boss said the Nigerian army had continued to play important role in providing security for its officers on the field bearing in mind the volatile nature of some parts of the country.

We are here to solicit your continued support as we continue to carry out other sensors exercises that will lead to the national census in April 2023.

We want to also engage with you to make sure that we deliver to Nigerians an accurate and generally acceptable census come 2023.

Our job entails a lot of fieldwork and because of the current security challenge, we cannot go anywhere without the support of your men, he said.

Isa-Kwarra said the delineation exercise had been completed in 774 local government areas remaining Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State and Abadem in Borno because of security challenge.

He also called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruka Yahaya to direct commanders of the various formations to grant access to census officials to count army structures during census.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Yahaya, pledged to ensure adequate support for the commission in carrying out its assignments, adding that army had always supported all government agencies towards national objectives.

He said that both army and NPC were partners in progress in pursuing national agenda especially the responsibilities for the population census.

Yahaya said that population census remained an important ingredient in national development, saying the data generated from the census would also be useful in the efforts to ensure national security.

Be rest assured that the Nigerian army will continue to support you any time because this is a national call. So, anytime you come calling we are ready willing to provide security and support for your job, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, says Nigerian women will only support twinning candidates contesting for elective positions in 2023 general elections.

Tallen said this at a news briefing on Tuesday to address reports of intimidation of female aspirants in their drive to secure political positions in the forthcoming election.

The minister explained that twinning, in this context, is the pairing of a male and female as the candidate and deputy at all levels of governance.

She said adoption of the twinning policy by political parties, would ensure equal representation of men and women, which would be in the best interest of all segments in the country.

She said the candidates would be made to sign a pact and negotiate better with all political parties, ahead of the general elections.

I want to again make it clear that Nigerian Women can only support twinning at this time at all levels.They will sign a pact and negotiate better with all political parties ahead of time. For those who want to support the womens cause, the time is now.

We make up almost 50 per cent of the voting population, we constitute over 70 per cent of the voters who queue up in the rain, under the sun to support the candidates.Yet when they win, we are soon forgotten. Enough is enough, she said.

According to her, the way forward is for a meaningful engagement, inclusion and participation of women at all levels.

She, therefore, encouraged women to support female candidature, adding that modalities for launching the Women Reconnect for a New Nigeria Initiative was on ground.

We will be relying on the Media to help us spotlight this initiative as a wide advocacy platform for Nigeria Women.

At this time, Gender Inclusion is our Agenda and on it we stand, she said.

She, called on the media and other stakeholders to be steadfast in promoting the inclusion of the rights of women and children in the political agenda of candidates and their political parties.

She also stressed the need to stand against political violence and exploitation of women and the youth.

At this moment, no women, no nation. The political party primaries are heating up at this time. Women are continuously being excluded and we are sad,she said.

On her part, Ms Erika Godson, Deputy Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), encouraged women to support women to ensure gender equality in all areas.

Similarly, Hajiya Lami Lau, National President, National council for Womens Societies (NCWS), reiterated the commitment of women groups nationwide to support women contesting for any political position. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has underscored the need to go beyond global standard prescription to address peculiar gender and environmental issues within Nigerias extractive industry.

Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Chairman, National Stakeholders Working Group (NEITI Board) made this known at its validation workshop on Development of Frameworks for Gender and Environmental Impacts Reporting in Extractive Industry on Tuesday in Abuja.

In a keynote address, Adekunle said that the frameworks were being developed to reflect the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) standard.

The chairman recalled that in 2020, Nigeria EITI published the first data on gender participation and environmental practices in the industry.

He said beyond the audits, it had also carried out exploratory studies to understand the specific gender and environmental issues in the sector, and to generate insights about the scope of the impacts.

Armed with the initial outputs of these studies and engagements, he said it was close to defining the parameters for disclosure on gender and the environmental impacts.

According to the chairman, the framework will aggregate the knowledge that it has generated in the last two years.

We are here as stakeholders, to review the work that has been done so far and to make valuable inputs towards finalising the reporting frameworks for gender and environmental impacts.

However, we should go beyond what the global standard currently prescribes, to address the peculiar gender and environmental issues that we may be dealing within our nations extractive industry, he said.

He recalled that the EITI was founded 20 years ago on the noble principles of equity and sustainable development, adding that these principles remained relevant today if not more than they were in 2002.

While the EITI was established with the objective of disclosing payments and revenues from extractive resources, the global institution has made significant progress in facilitating openness through the entire processes in the resource extraction value chain.

In 2019, resource extracting countries committed to disclose data and information on gender and the environment.

This decision is a recognition of the growing impact that the activities in the extractive industry continue to have on human communities and the natural environment.

The decision also signposts the urgent need for global and country level action to facilitate gender inclusion and environmental accountability in the extractive sector, he said.

He emphasised the need for data that would help government to design policies to improve the conditions of our target communities and the environment.

Earlier, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary, NEITI while highlighting the background of the project, said his immediate task on appointment, was to assess the status of Nigerias commitments under the new EITI Standard.

The assessment left me with no doubt that we must deepen the foundation that was already being laid for the implementation of the evolving issues in EITI implementation.

Two of these policy areas are social and environmental impacts of extractive industry operations, the executive secretary said.

We believed that this framework will enable us not only meet specific EITI requirements, but will help us to define the scope to reflect all issues of gender and environmental impacts within our local (national) context, he said.

Orji noted his second consideration as the need to mainstream gender and environmental impact reporting within existing government systems and institutions equipped with the mandate and capacity to do so.

While NEITI is mandated to implement EITI in Nigeria, we do not generate industry data. This is the responsibility of covered entities and relevant institutions. NEITI subsequently collects this data to publish in the annual audit reports.

While NEITI is reporting industry data through the tradition process of data collection and reconciliation, the long-term goal is to mainstream disclosure practices, he said.

He expressed optimism that the contributions of stakeholders would substantially enrich the framework and lay a solid foundation for effective future reporting of gender and environmental impact of extractive industry activities.

The workshop has in attendance NEITI civil society partners, members of the academic community, researchers and experts. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director-General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called for capacity building and collaboration among stakeholders to curb the menace of irregular migration and trafficking.

Waziri-Azi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the inaugural committee meeting of stakeholders on border management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was hosted by Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), supported by International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

FIIAPP is the provider of a project tagged: Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (A-TIPSOM), funded by European Union.

NAN reports that the stakeholders at the programme included: NIS, NAPTIP, Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), among others.

Waziri-Azi stressed the need for capacity building among stakeholders and robust collaboration in order to win the war against irregular migration and human trafficking.

According to her, NAPTIP alone cannot tackle irregular migration and human trafficking alone, adding: that this is why the platform for collaboration is important, as both concepts involve movement of people.

We need to keep building on our capacity to tackle this menace; there is rapid shift from offline recruitment to online recruitment.

We in NAPTIP cannot do this alone; we rely on our sister agencies to do the work effectively.

Collaboration is crucial, and this platform will solidify our relationship. We must keep on encouraging ourselves and working together, she said.

The acting Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Alhaji Idris Jere, urged the committee to work in line with the demands of their job and the acts regulating their various agencies.

Jere, who was represented by a Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, Mr Ishaka Haliru, urged the committee to see themselves as stakeholders in the protection of Nigeria.

He said it was worrisome to see many Nigerians showing disrespect for uniformed personnel, saying that ironically, the same Nigerians showed their different sides to uniformed personnelanytime they travelled outside the country.

Jere, however, called on the stakeholders to also up their games through improved attitudinal change in their interactions and dealings with members of the public.

According to him, it is only when there is confidence building that credible sharing of information among stakeholders can be achieved.

He also stressed the importance of border community relationship in tackling the menace of irregular migration and human trafficking.

Jere also underscored the benefits that members would get from the training at the inaugural meeting, which, he said, would go a long way in achieving effective border management.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the A-TIPSOM Team Leader, Mr Rafael-Rios Molina, called for mutual understanding among the stakeholders, saying that this had become necessary in order to conquer the issue of irregular migration.

According to him, FIIAPP, as the foundation providing the A-TIPSOM project to Nigeria, is determined to supporting the country in tackling irregular migration and human trafficking-related issues.

He said that A-TIPSOM project was working in different areas, covering national, international and regional levels, while thanking all the stakeholders for their determination to work their talk.

Chairman of the committee, ACG Aminu Mohammed and Co-Chairman, Mr Daniel Atokolo of NAPTIP, expressed readiness to do their best to ensure proper management of the nations borders. (NAN)()

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Joanna Tarnawska, says her country is ready to partner with the Federal Government on efforts at curbing environmental challenges in Nigeria.

Tarnawska made this known when she paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Tarnawska said that the purpose of the visit was to partner strongly with Nigeria to have better discussions on best possible ways in addressing biodiversity and other environmental challenges for a cleaner environment.

The Poland government is trying to take care of biodiversity in a way that Nigeria environment will be protected,; and with this meeting, we can establish serious cooperation between the ministry and Poland.

What Poland is out for is just a sustainable transaction for a healthy environment, our aim is to achieve a supportable goal toward addressing environmental challenges.

The collaboration will as well address issues at the National Park Service as some animals need to be protected.

The ambassador said one of the possible ways to safeguard the animals was to embark on effective awareness campaign to educate people on the dangers of killing or capturing such wildlife.

She, however, congratulated Abdullahi on his appointment as minister of environment, following his assumption of office in April.

On his part, the minister assured the ambassador of his ministrys collaboration with the Polish government, adding that it would be a great opportunity to work with such experienced and developed country.

He said that the collaboration would help to address not only the biodiversity and afforestation but would tackle other relevant environmental issues in the country.

It is a great opportunity to collaborate with the country like Poland, to relate with the areas where we have interest, particularly the area of biodiversity and afforestation.

President, Muhammaddu Buhari in 2021 already mentioned the areas to focus on such as afforestation, tree planting and involving avenues and policies that will support and strengthen the ecosystem.

The collaboration will give room for us to look into how we can exchange ideas and experience to tackle such challenges, he said.

Abdullahi assured that the ministry would work strongly with the Polish government to curb various environmental issues and its challenges effectively.

Also, Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor said that the collaboration was a welcome development, adding that the effort would address climate change and other environmental issues.

We are delighted to see you in the ministry today, one area that Nigeria needs to focus more is the area of biodiversity.

We know that with the issue of climate change, we will not be able to tackle the problem of biodiversity effectively, so it is important as your focus is on the biodiversity issue.

So, we are looking forward to having a stronger collaboration with your government. We are ready to support and strengthen the partnership she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Yauri

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Hawa Lawal/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News