By Ahmed Abba

Yobe State has won the 2021 Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) award among states in Zone B as best performing revenue remitter.

Mr Mohammed Mayanda, FIRS Coordinator of the zone made the disclosure in Damaturu on Friday when he presented the award to Gov. Mai Mala Buni.

States in the zone are Yobe, Borno and Bauchi.

Mayanda said Yobe performed exceptionally in revenue remittance and had become the role model for other states in the zone to emulate in collation and remittance of revenue.

Responding, Gov. Buni, assured that Yobe would continue to live up to expectation and enjoined federal agencies in the state to maintain the synergy between them and the state government. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

Popular Nigerian Saxophonist, Orlando Julius has died at the age of 79.

His wife, Latoya Ekemode, confirmed his death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

She said that Orlando Julius passed out in his sleep on Thursday night.

Yes, my husband passed on late last night, there was no indication that death was coming, he was not ill, he only slept and died in his sleep, she said.

NAN reports that Orlando Julius, was a saxophonist, singer, band leader, and songwriter closely associated with afrobeat music.

Some of his musical albums were: Disco Hi-Life, Ololufe, Love, Peace and Happiness; Dance Afrobeat and more. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

Pastor Glorious Abu, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christ the Wonderful Parish, Lugbe, has enjoined Nigerians to eschew evil and embrace peace in the spirit of Easter.

Abu, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in commemoration of the Good Friday,
said Jesus triumphed over his traducers because he committed everything into Gods hands.

The cleric advised Nigerians to emulate Christ and submit all their supplications to him.

He urged Nigerians to talk to God and commit everything into His hands for the country to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

According to him, Nigerians would triumph because Jesus will take control of the affairs of the country.

Abu, who described Good Friday as the trial of Jesus, said the cross is the revelation of the truth, justice and mercy.

Similarly, Rev. William Okoye, General Overseer, All Christians Mission Fellowship, reaffirmed that Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind.

Okoye said that God created man in His own image, with the hope of serving Him, but it is a pity that men fell short of the Glory of God, by transgressing against Him.

According to the cleric, God cursed both Adam and Eve, including Satan and the curse persists on humans and animals till date.

In the book of Eziekiel, The Lord says The soul that sinneth shall surely die.

And the Bible tells us in the book of Romans that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.

But Glory be to God that has shown mercy unto the whole world, by giving us His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, they have become new, he said.

Rev Okoye also charged Christians to move closer to Christ and turn a leaf in Him, by genuinely repenting of their sins, so that the death and resurrection of Christ on the cross, would not be in futility.

He urged Nigerians to utilise this period to pray for national security, embrace peaceful coexistence across the country and eschew evil.

NAN reports that Christians celebrate Good Friday to commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

United Kingdom group, IA-Foundation has again expressed its concern over the continued holding of more than 100 Chibok school girls, eight years after about 270 of the girls were abducted.

The girls were abducted on April 14, 2014 at Chibok community in northeast Nigeria, in a depressing incident that elicited spontaneous condemnation by the international community.

Speaking to newsmen at a forum to mark eight years of the abduction on Friday in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, said that nothing had changed on the fate of the girls still in the custody of the abductors.

She expressed her disappointment that the girls were still being held by their abductors almost a decade after they were seized by terrorists.

The Chibok school girls abduction remains an open wound begging for closure in the conscience of our nation, Adeagbo stated.

Nigeria has been contending with the activists of terrorists, including the dreaded Boko Haram group, which has been locked in a bloody conflict with the Federal Government since 2009.

Boko Haram has killed more than 3,000 people in Africas most populous nation and displaced over three million people since it launched its deadly campaign 13 years ago.

The group has repeatedly abducted school children, especially girls in a bid to stop the girls from going to school to acquire western education.

Adeagbo described the development as worrisome, pleading with the Federal Government to take measures to stop the activities of bandits and end abductions of citizens.

She re-stated that the abduction of school children posed an unimaginable threat to the future of the country, pleading that Nigeria should seek external help to end the problem.

Adeagbo, whose group has shown unrelenting commitment to changing the human condition of less-privileged children in Nigeria said that government must act fast to save the future of education in the country.

Records show that up to 1,436 school children and 17 teachers have been abducted in Nigeria since December 2020 with about 16 of the children losing their lives.

The Federal Government has however, risen to the challenge, clamping down on the terrorists and killing thousands of them over the years.

The terrorists are also active in other African countries, including Mali, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Cote dIvoire, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has greeted Christian faithful on the occasion of Easter celebration as he urged Nigerians to emulate Christs sacrificial life.

The felicitation is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, on Friday in Abuja.

Bello, who also congratulated the Christian faithful on the successful completion of the Lenten season, urged them to use the season to pray for the peace of the country and wisdom for leaders.

The governor stated that, just as the death, burial and resurrection of Christ signify hope for mankind, there must be a rekindling of hope for our nation in this season of great challenges.

I therefore urge Christians to reflect on critical issues affecting the nation and to continue seeking the face of God for the nation.

So that security, unity and peace will prevail in the overall national interest,Bello stated.

He assured Christian faithful of government commitment to a joyous celebration free of all hitches.

He added that security operatives and other collaborating agencies are working round-the-clock to checkmate crime and secure the lives and properties of the residents.

Bello also noted that the 2023 General elections in which he is a frontline Presidential aspirant represents a watershed for Nigeria.

The governor insisted that it is critical that all citizens participate effectively in the process of electing leaders into the various offices. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has distributed assorted fishery inputs such as fish fingerlings and fish feed to 60 farmers to start fish production in various communities in the territory.

Mandate Secretary for the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, said this at the inauguration of Sensitisation Workshop on Diversification of Aquaculture Production and Employment of Fish Farmers in FCT.

The event held at the FCTA Exhibition Hall, on Thursday in Abuja.

Ibrahim said the workshop was to sensitise fish farmers on the need to diversify fish production and embrace new fish varieties other than the popular catfish species.

He said that available records showed that Catfish production accounted for about 80 per cent of all farmed fish in Nigeria, making the country largest producer of Catfish in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ibrahim, however, said with rapid growth and development of fisheries and aquaculture industry, there had been a sharp rise in the consumption of edible fish.

He said this could be attributed to urbanisation, change in lifestyle of families and medical benefits associated with its consumption.

Ibrahim said fish farmers in Nigeria were hard working and resilience and had placed the country amongst the leading fish producing countries of the world.

He said it was imperative that they began to expand their activities to accommodate other fish varieties which would grant them greater patronage and more income.

It is against this background that the Secretariat through the Department of Fisheries is inaugurating this sensitisation workshop.

The aim of the workshop is not only exposing Fisher folks to other fish varieties such as (Tilapia niloticus and Hoterotis Niloticus) but train them on effective production techniques for house-hold consumption and commercial purposes, he said.

Ibrahim said that the secretariat would ensure that Department of Fisheries deployed its technical expertise to follow-up the progress of the participants to achieve the objective of the initiative.

I want to assure you that the secretariat will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring the success of the Grass root Developmental Initiatives of the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, he said.

Ibrahim said that the minister established the FCT Aquaculture and Allied Trades Centre for Women and Youth in Kwali in 2019.

He said the centre had since establishment, boosted catfish production in the FCT and had already started training farmers on the production of assorted fish varieties.

Earlier, the FCT Director, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs Ifeoma Okeke, said the fisheries sub-sector contributed to both FCT and National economy through employment and income generation.

She said the subsector also reduced poverty, improved foreign exchange earnings and provided raw materials for the animal feed industry.

Okeke said that over 10 million Nigerians were actively engaged in primary and secondary fisheries operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 60 beneficiaries drawn from the Six Area Councils of FCT are given starter packs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Mr Kola Abiola, eldest son of the late MKO Abiola, presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, has joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Abiola was formally accepted into the party on Thursday at its National Secretariat, Abuja by Mr Falalu Bello, the National Chairman of the party.

Bello said: I formally welcome you into our fold. Your antecedents speak volumes.

Earlier, Abiola said: Today makes my formal inroad after, 27 years, back into politics.

I particularly picked to come back into politics through the PRP for some good reasons.

I have gone back to the history of Nigeria to look at the party that truly represents Nigeria.

I have gone back and I have found out that the oldest living party is the PRP; it still holds those ideals of what Nigeria and democratic practice should be like.

According to him, it is a party that was started by the people and truly for the people. It is a party that has showed first, as its priority, internal democracy.

I have come back to PRP to show Nigerians that not too long ago, we did things in the right way and the new entities that have come together nowadays forget that there was Nigeria that did things right.

I am one that believes in an equal opportunity be it employment, be it business, equally in politics and I believe this party represents all of these.

Everybody should have equal opportunity, irrespective of age, religion and ethnicity and that is represented here, Abiola said.

While raising concern over the low participation of youths in politics, he said: We have a youth population that has been caught out of the system, the political process.

The first thing I want to do is to disrupt the political process, to disabuse the minds of the youth on godfatherism.

The way to do this is to give the true owners of Nigeria, that is, the 18 to 36 years age group that makes up over 75 per cent of the population, an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their numbers to count.

He said PRP is the only party that could give youths such opportunity to make their numbers count.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The newly constituted Board of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Americas (NIDO), U.S. Chapter, has urged compatriots to always dedicate themselves to goals that would promote growth of Nigeria.

Dr Eromonsele Idahosa, the new Chairman of the board, gave the task in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of the board.

Idahosa charged the board members to be dedicated to the course of building a strong NIDO-Americas, U.S. chapter, that would be a force to be reckoned with.

Nigeria is confronted with existential crisis; we have a lot of work to do.

We invite other partners and stakeholders in the Nigerian project to join in carrying out this enormous task; this is not the time for cynicism and negativity, Idahosa urged.

According to Idahosa, an Indianna-based medical practitioner, the boards executive is constituted based on an election monitored by Nigeria Embassy in Washington DC.

He said that the inauguration of the board was conducted five months after a landmark agreement between NIDO-Americas, U.S. Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of NIDO-Americas.

The chairman further said that the aim was to work together in unity to foster progress of the organisation.

NAN reports that the newly constituted board included chapters from Dallas, Minnesota, Indianna, Northeast Ohio, Florida, Atlanta, Maryland, Houston, Los Angeles, South Carolina and Northwest Ohio.

Other executive members of the board included Madam Jane Ekwonye, Vice-Chairman; Mr Christopher Amukwu, Co-Vice Chairman; Dr Moses Timta, Secretary-General; Dr Yinka Tella, Public Relations Officer; and Rita Poroma, Community Affairs Director.

Mr Emmanuel Nsonwu emerged as Treasurer; Dr Raymond Sowemimo, Assistant Secretary-General; Alade Salvador, Financial Secretary; and Mr Jeffrey Derebidoh, Assistant Financial Secretary.

President of 12 NIDO chapters alongside one elected board member from each chapter took their oaths of office at the inaugural ceremony conducted virtually by a U.S. Federal Judge of Nigerian origin.

The newly elected officers of the unified board of NIDO-Americas, U.S.A., had formerly assumed office, following the dissolution of the previous board. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), on Thursday, sought out-of-court settlement in a suit filed against it by Musa Abdullahi, a legal practitioner, over allegations bordering on epileptic power supply.

An AEDCs legal officer, Morayo Yedoni, told Justice Mariya Ismail of a High Court of Niger State sitting in Suleja, shortly after the case with suit number: NSHC/SD/27/2022 was mentioned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on March 8, reported that Abdullahi, in an originating summon dated and filed on March 4, had dragged AEDC to court, demanding a N200 million compensation over alleged poor services.

He also prayed the court to give an order, in the alternative, directing a six-month bill-free period for the plaintiff as compensation for all the period of unjustified power interruption.

NAN reports that Abdullahi had sued AEDC (defendant) on behalf of electricity consumers in Dawaki, Mata Akawu, Suleja Club, Maje, Kwamba, Bakasi, Gangare Kwata, Chaza, Emir Palace, Hassan Dallatu, Church Road, Rafin Sanyi, Paolosa and Kwankwashe; all of Suleja Local Government.

When the matter was called, although no lawyer was in court for AEDC (defendant), Yedoni, however, said she was representing the company.

She acknowledged the receipt of all the processes served on them by the plaintiff but pleaded that they would like to settle the matter out of court.

Abdullahi urged the court to look at the faces of the people who came to court for the proceedings to understand how the people of Suleja felt about AEDCs activities.

Justice Ismail, who adjourned the matter at the instance of the AEDC, fixed May 30 as return date.

NAN reports that Abdullahi had urged the court to determine that whether having regards to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)s guidelines and the Provision of Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, the plaintiffs, being customers of the defendant, are entitled to electricity service and supply in a safe and reliable manner.

Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to enjoy stable electricity supply same in the way the residence of APC quarters and other places that enjoy 24 hours electricity supply within Suleja.

Whether the plaintiffs are duty bound or under any obligation to contribute money for the repair and maintenance of transformers being the property of AEDC PLC, among others.

Abdullahi, however, sought nine reliefs should the above questions were resolved in favour of the residents of the areas.

A declaration that the defendant, having failed in their basic duty of provision of power supply in a safe and reliable manner, without any tangible justification, the plaintiff(s) are entitled to damages and compensation considering the fact that charges/rates under the guise of bills are imposed by the defendant on the plaintiff which the plaintiff do pay.

An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to change and replace the transformers in the areas that require new ones and ensure supply of constant electricity on the inhabitants of the areas in accordance with NERCs guidelines and the provisions of Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005.

An order of this honourable court compelling the defendant to provide a minimum of 18 hours power supply as agreed by the defendant with the executive governor of Niger State.

An order directing the defendant to pay to the plaintiff general damages in the sum of two hundred million Naira only (N200,000,000.00k) for the wrongful, unjustifiable and unwarranted power interruption or refusal of the defendant to supply adequate electricity to the plaintiff which act of the defendants has caused untold hardship on the plaintiff.

Or in the alternative, an order directing six months bill-free period for the plaintiff as compensation for all the period of unjustified power interruption.

A declaration that the power shedding formula is discriminatory against the people of Dawaki, Mata Akawu, Suleja Club, Maje, Kwamba, Bakasi, Gangare Kwata, Chaza, Gwazunu, Emir Palace, Hassan Dallatu, Church Road, Rafin Sanyi, Paolosa, Kwankwashe; all of Suleja Local Government, among others.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Marwa presenting the appointment letter to the FCT Minister as he emerge the Grand Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)

By Ibironke Ariyo
The FCT Minster, Mr Mohammed Bello has pledged to continue to support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its ongoing war against abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs.

Bello declared his support during a visit to the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa at the agencys National Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

The Minister also seek a formidable partnership that would secure the FCT against the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

He commended NDLEA team for the good work and tremendous result achieved since Marwa assumed office adding that it was worthy of emulation.

According to him, the Nation is very proud of you especially upscaling the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.

You did not stop at the grassroots, streets or even cities but by going to the roots of the big time players. We are very delighted.

We will support the FCT command with logistics. We are in the process of procuring some mobility for members of the security committee and NDLEA has been pen down as one of those to benefit.

You can be rest assured that we will support you on building the proposed barracks and also get a rehabilitation centre that will serve as an encouragement for other states. We will also partner with you to achieve all these, he said.

Earlier, the NDLEA Chairman said that drug use prevalence in Nigeria had reached situation in which the youths, communities and families were daily impacted.

Marwa assured that NDLEA for this reason, had tried to remain upstanding in its commitment to the reduction of both drug abuse and trafficking.

He said that drug use prevalence was 10 per cent between the ages of 15 and 64 years in FCT adding that the agency had arrested 142 suspects so far this year.

He also said that 760 kilogrammes of illicit drug and substances were seized with 53 persons convicted.

He added that 66 persons had been counseled so far in the rehabilitation facility that the agency have.

Marwa commended the Minister for his good work and integrity seeking for logistics support and more rehabilitation centre to be built.

Drug Abuse is a disease that the people needs helps for. We will also like to request that the Minister establish a committee, FCT drug control committee because of the intensity issues of drugs before us, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NDLEA had established War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) which was inaugurated by President MuhammaduBuhari in June 26, 2021 during the International Day against Drug Abuse and trafficking.

The WADA is majorly to mobilise Nigerians to fight drug abuse because it is a collective thing, hence, all should be concerned.

Highlights of the visit was the appointment of FCT Minister as the Grand Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) by the NDLEA Chairman.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Cross River has deployed 1,550 personnel across the state to beef up security for the Easter celebration.

Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Fadeyi said that the personnel were already positioned at their different areas of posting with a view to ensure a peaceful Easter celebration.

We have put the necessary things in place to ensure that security is provided during this Easter.

Accordingly, we have deployed 1,550 personnel across the state to beef up security during the period.

Currently, we are doing a clearance operation in synergy with other security agencies in the state to ensure that no miscreant is allowed to cause trouble anywhere.

Also, we are at the height of political activities, so we are doing a lot in ensuring that we keep miscreants far away, he said.

He advised Christians in the state to use the Easter period for sober reflections and to reflect on the teachings of Christ, his death and resurrection. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Professional

By George Odok

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River has advised the 185 newly recruited personnel of the corps to remain professional, humble and focus during the period of their training.

Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, gave the advice while addressing the new intake at state command headquarters on Thursday in Calabar.

Fadeyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the new intake were all from Cross River, hence they ought to undergo their first orientation training within the command.

According to him, as part of their internship, the trainees would be attached to senior officers during the period of Easter for purpose of surveillance and patrol to enhance their intelligence gathering.

The structure is for them to be around the command for three months, after which they will proceed to NSCDC training institution to join their mates in a comprehensive training.

They are expected to have their six months basic training, half of it within their command of origin and the other half at the NSCDC training institution.

Within this period of their stay in the command, we are to take them on drills, orientation and internship. We also have the assurances of our sister agencies to come in and give them orientation.

We are training them in regards to our mandate. We expect them to stay safe during this period.

We need to also bring in other sister agencies to train them so that they can see what differentiates them from the military and the area of collaboration, he said.

He commended the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, for equipping men of the command with the necessary tools and logistics for optimal operations and service delivery to the nation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

The National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., has declared a profit before tax of N4.31 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Adeyemi Adetunji, Chairman, Board of Directors, NETCO, made the disclosure on Thursday at the companys 32nd Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

Adetunji said that NETCO scaled the significant hurdles faced by the oil and gas industry as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and global energy shift which curtailed investment in the sector.

He said: NETCO has delivered a strong result as it posted a total profit before tax of N4.31 billion which represents an increase of 36 per cent from N3.17 billion in 2020.

The company recorded a total revenue of N18.49 billion in the year under review, which represents a marginal increase of three per cent from N18.03 billion in 2020.

This is as a result of wounding up of old projects and revenue from new projects yet to come in.

NETCOs operating profit stood at N1.40 billion, an increase of 178 per cent, on the operating loss of N1.76 billion in the prior year.

It is worthy of note that NETCOs gross profit increased from N5.74 billion in the previous year to N9.24 billion in the year under review, representing a 61 per cent increase.

The total comprehensive income stood at N4.45 billion when compared with N0.841 billion recorded in year 2020, representing an increase of 430 per cent.

According to him, it is remarkable that the companys participation in the NNPC Refinery Rehabilitation project has established NETCO as a responsible service provider in refinery rehabilitation.

He said in response to the challenges in the industry and opportunities created by the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NETCO had embarked on aggressive marketing of its services.

Adetunji said it had also adopted cost optimisation strategies to reposition NETCO for growth and profitability in PIA times.

He commended the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, the NETCO management and staff as well as other stakeholders for their efforts toward achieving the companys mandate.

Also, Mr Kanayochukwu Odoe, acting Managing Director, NETCO, said the management had intensified efforts to launch NETCO into a full Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) company with aggressive bidding for major EPC projects.

Odoe said NETCO further diversified its business portfolio to include cost benchmarking, value-for-money-audits and cost estimating services.

He said in 2021, NETCO completed four projects and was currently executing 16 key contracts in the industry and had continued to contribute to the development of in-country Engineering and Technical capacity.

Odoe added that NETCO facilitated a training programme for 13 youths from Iruland who were provided with entrepreneurial skills in fish farming, computer application/web design, catering, leather works, beads making and events management.

He said the management had set a revenue target of N36.58 billion 2022.

Odoe noted that the companys board had approved a gross dividend of N500 million, which translated to 50k per share for its shareholders.

Odoe said NETCO would continue to improve on Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) initiatives being championed by the NNPC GMD in order to remain commercially viable. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Inspector-General of Police (I-GP), Mr Usman Baba, has approved the promotion of 21,039 junior police officers, who were last promoted on or before 2017.

The Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja.

He said the junior officers promoted were 20,572 Sergeants to the next rank of Inspector, 324 Corporals to Sergeants, and 143 Constables to the rank of Corporal.

Adejobi said the promotion was part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare, conditions of service, as well as boosting the morale of personnel, to enhance efficiency.

He also said that it was part of the I-GPs manpower development drive to ensure that deserving officers were promoted accordingly.

The police spokesman said the idea was to encourage hard work and further promote the culture of merit, excellence, and dedication to duties.

Adejobi said the Forces high command was liaising with the Police Service Commission on the release of the promotions of senior police officers.

He said the I-GP had given the assurance that the promotion would be approved and released soon.

According to Adejobi, the I-GP had commended the newly promoted officers for their resilience and invaluable commitment to duties, while urging them to see their promotions as a call for renewed zeal, vigour, patriotism to duty, and rededication to professional policing standards. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Government is targeting April 2023 for the conduct of National Population Census.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa-Kwarra, made this known at the end of the virtual meeting of the Council of State, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thelast population and housing census in Nigeria took place in 2006.

The total population in Nigeria was estimated at 206.14 million people in 2020, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics.

According to the NPC boss, the national census will be held after the general election, slated for February and March 2023.

He disclosed that the commission would deploy high technology in the conduct of the national census.

Kwarra said: The National Population Commission is to conduct a Pilot Census in June this year, after the political parties primary elections.

It is very crucial to hold a census because it is a very important exercise for the nation.

This is because through census we generate the data that we use for policy making, for planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.

If you are a private sector, youre producing something; certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.

So, census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data weve been using are just projections, estimation. And are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.

Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, who also briefed correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of State, disclosed that President Buhari would meet security chiefs on Tuesday next week, over the current security situation in the country.

He said the meeting followed recommendations and comments by the Council of State.

He said the necessary measures would be taken to ensure that farmers across the country, to carry out their activities without any hindrance to boost food production across the country.

NAN reports that the 2006census placed Lagos State in the South as the second most populous state with 9.0 million people.

Overall, the 2006 census stated that the North had a higher population than the South.

NAN reports that according to the census results, the northern states account for 75 million people, while the southern states have 65 million population. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD) in Nigeria has advised the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that 2023 general election was peaceful and inclusive.

Mr Serge Kubwimana, UN Team Leader and Senior Political Affairs Officer, said this when he led a delegation of UNEAD on a visit to the APC national secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja.

Kubwinmana said the visit was to seek for collaboration with the APC toward a peaceful and inclusive electoral process.

He said that Nigeria had strong institutions and the ability to run its elections.

We are the UNEAD which is in Nigeria as a result of a request for electoral support for the UN to assess the overall context which the election will take place.

We are to see in what form we could potentially bring our small contribution to the 2023 elections.

We have conferred with the APC national secretary on behalf of the national chairman and we have done the same with other stakeholders such as INEC, government and civil society organisations, Kubwimana said.

He said the group had also met with other political parties, faith based organisations as well as the Inter-party Advisory Council toward ensuring a peaceful poll.

The APC National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore who received the delegation on behalf of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, said the partys national chairman expressed appreciation for the visit. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olawale Alabi

Igoche Mark, the President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has promised para-basketball players that the federation would by next year put in place a para-basketball league in the country.

Mark, after watching a para-basketball game at the ongoing National Para Games in Abuja on Wednesday, said the NBBF board has a target of developing the basketball sport from the grass roots.

This is a promise, with an all-inclusive package that will include all players, irrespective of their physical challenge or situation.

We have promised basketball stakeholders, including players, officials and administrators, that the main goal of our board is grass roots development.

It is a development that will be all-inclusive, irrespective of the physical challenge anyone might be going through, he said.

The NBBF president said the federation would in due course make further pronouncements on the para-basketball league.

He then praised the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for organising and hosting the National Para Games, saying it is a good omen for the overall development of sports.

I pray this will continue, Mark said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP) has trained 75 law enforcement personnel on countering human trafficking and smuggling migrants in North East.

The participants were drawn from National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba States.

Project Team Lead, Rafael Molina, said this at the end of the three-day training exercise on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

He said the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of personnel in identifying migrant smuggling and human trafficking for successful investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.

Represented by Sani Dantuni, Technical Advisor, Criminal Investigation of the project, Molina said the exercise was part of the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM) bieng implemented by FIIAPP with support of the European Union.

A-TIPSOM project is part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) signed between the European Union and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The overall objective of this project is contributing to the series of initiatives of the government of Nigeria towards decreasing the ratio of trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) at national and regional level, and between Nigeria and the EU, with specific emphasis on women and children.

This is done through direct support to NPF, NIS, NAPTIP and the civil society organisations represented by the Network against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), he said.

Also speaking, Orakwue Arinze, NAPTIPs Director of Training and Manpower Development, said human trafficking portends economic and security implications in Nigeria if not contain effectively.

He said the training would not only reposition the officers but also ensure synergy among the various law enforcement agencies in the fight against human trafficking. (NAN)(www.nanneww.ng)

Source: NAN News

By stephen.adeleyep

The Unified Northern Nigeria Youths Forum in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged youths in Kogi to intensify the call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Gov. Godwin Emefiele, to contest for presidency in 2023 general elections.

The convener of the group, Mr Mohammed Danlami, spoke at a news conference on Wednesday in Lokoja.

He said that the northern youth group was on a clarion call because they realised that the unity of the country is non negotiable.

He decried the divisive ambition of some selfish northern politicians to disrupt the existing presidential zoning arrangement between the north and south.

Danlami noted that the country had passed through many challenges, saying what has been keeping us together as a country is the brotherhood we shared.

We have supported regular politicians long enough without tangible results, let us try something different to support a technocrat.

He, therefore, enjoined all youths in Kogi and all other stakeholders to join them in the call for Emefiele to contest.

Also speaking, Mr Aliyu Sani, the spokesperson of the group, said: The consensus card seems to be playing out well and now that the 2023 general elections approach us, the techniques and magic of the consensus card must employed once more for APC to retain power.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Mr Peter Obi, said on Wednesday that poor leadership was responsible for the plethora of problems plaguing Nigeria.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit on chieftains of the PDP in Benin on Wednesday, Obi lamented what he described as an apparent floundering of the ship of state, blaming the problem on poor leadership.

He said that Nigeria needed a president with visible capacity to pilot the ship of state, noting that only men of integrity should be given a chance to serve Nigeria at the highest level in the new political dispensation expected in 2023.

The former governor of Anambra also lamented what he characterized as the huge number of people living in poverty in the country, describing the situation as worrisome.

We have high unemployment today and the worst problem a country can have is to have young people in their productive age doing nothing, saying that there is collapse in our health, education and security sectors.

2023 election will be a game-changer, so we need to elect people with capacity and competence to drive our country and I know I have the capacity and competence to drive the country.

Obi also criticized the debt profile of the country, saying that Nigeria as a country was borrowing for consumption, which should not be.

He argued that that the 2023 elections should not be about an aspirant coming from any particular geo-graphical zone in the country but someone with capacity.

Dont vote in people who will keep sharing the future of our children because the nation is now sharing the future of our children and eventually there will be nothing left to share.

We cant bequeath anarchy on our children but a future. We must build a better place. We must make it work, if not we will end up being refugees.

The presidential aspirant urged the delegates to change the crisis situation in the country by voting in competent candidate with proven track-record to drive the country.

We must pull our children out of poverty. Do not look at what you will get today, look at the future of our children as you vote.

Let us go out and build a better Nigerian nation.

On whether he would step down for another candidate, Obi said that such issue was not yet decided but that PDP aspirants would always work together as one family.

We are not going to quarrel over it but pray that in the end the best person to do the work will emerge.

Explaining how he would achieve success using social and economic reforms, said that he does not believe in 100 days celebrations, saying that nations were never built within 100 days.

I can assure you that we will put in place policies that will strictly be implemented and start pulling people out of poverty from year one.

We will not borrow money for consumption but for production.

On the contentious issue of zoning, Obi said that he would stand by whatever arrangement put in place by the PDP so long as it is fair and equitable and shows love and inclusiveness for every geo-political zone. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News