By Akeem Abas

The Federal Government has begun efforts aimed at lifting 40 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next two years through the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).

The National Coordinator, NG-CARES Programme, Mr Abdulkarim Obaje, made the disclosureat the closing of a week-long workshop in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advance training workshop, held in Ibadan, had 440 participants from across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in attendance.

Among the participants are: Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Heads of Delivery in states and State Care Coordinating Units across the country.

NAN reports that the NG-CARES programme seeks to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crises on the livelihood of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, communities as well as owners of micro and small enterprises.

Obaje said that the NG-CARES was the initiative of the federal government, with the support of World Bank and active participation of the 36 state governors.

He expressed confidence that the programme would impact on the poverty situation in the country, lifting no fewer than 40 million Nigerians directly and indirectly.

This modest support should have direct impact on about eight to 10 million Nigerians and indirectly impact on 20 to 30 million people.

We are very confident that this will impact on the poverty situation in Nigeria after two years, he said.

Obaje said that the programme would be implemented along 11 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), starting from social transfer to the aged, the poor and the vulnerable.

He said that it would also involve labour-intensive work fare to livelihood grant, basic services and food security to micro and small-scale enterprises spread across 11 DLIs.

According to him, the result from the workshop reveals that states are now fully prepared to receive Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).

Also, the Chairman, Federal Cares Technical Committee of NG-CARES Programme, Mr Aso Vakporaye, said that the exercise was not a new package, adding that it was part of governments sustainable development agenda.

So, it was when COVID-19 came that everybody realised that if we dont act now, it isnt going to be good enough.

All the major stakeholders then came together to fashion out this agenda, with the directive from the presidency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibrahim Kado

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa has won all the 21 local government council election held on Saturday.

Alhaji Isa Shettima, the Chairman, Adamawa Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), declared the result on Sunday in Yola.

Shettima said that two parties, PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC), contested in the local council chairmanship election.

He said: Having satisfied with the requirements of the law and highest votes score, the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the all 21 local government councils election.

Shettima expressed the commissions appreciation to the electorate, security operatives and other stakeholders for peaceful and successful conduct of the election. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Concerned by the plight of children in the North-East, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in 2016, gestated the North-East Childrens Trust (NECT) Learning Centre in Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

NECT, which became operational in 2018, was established with a view to providing educational and extensive-care support to no fewer than 10,000 children, orphaned or displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

By most accounts, the charity centre is creditably acquitting itself; thanks to the unwavering commitment of the initiator, students, teachers and board of the institution.

Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, recently graced the fifth anniversary celebration of the NECT in Abuja.

The vice president, just before cutting the anniversary cake, went down the memory lane and paid tributes to former governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima, for the role he played in setting up NECT.

I want to start by saying that when in 2016, I visited Borno, it was in 2016 not 2018; 2018 was when the school was opened.

It took about a year to build, but our first encounter was in 2016; and we started raising the funds in 2016 and March 2017, and spent almost a year getting the school built. 2018 was when the first children were taken into the school.

But, I want to say that the then governor of Borno, Shettima and I visited a number of IDP camps when I visited Borno, and, both of us came to a conclusion that something has to be done.

Of course, the Borno Government was already doing a lot of work; trying to accommodate the students; trying to build schools and all that.

Osinbajo said that the choice land where the school was built was allocated by Shettima.

According to him, Borno has been possibly one of the luckiest states in this country; just going by the leadership that the state has been having.

Immediately after Shettima, comes Zulum; no state can be better after Zulum taking over from a dynamic predecessor, Shettima.

I have been told that about 173 of the children are now in secondary school; even the school, the buildings of the school, I was in Borno about three weeks ago or so and we went round and saw the school; we met these young men and women who are now in secondary school.

I think ultimately, service to the people is what our being in government is about; if we are not able to serve the people with everything we have; with all our hearts, then, our role is really quite irrelevant; perhaps, unjustified.

So, I want to really commend Zulum and of course, his predecessor for the great work they have done, he said.

Osinbajo hailed the board and teachers of the centre for the excellent work they were doing in running the institution; directing policy; directing the plans and purposeful teaching.

These teachers are a special bunch of people, very special, and I explained to them what we are trying to achieve.

This is not an ordinary school; we are trying to achieve and develop a school that would be a world-class learning centre.

I said to them, that what we want from you (teachers) is a generous spirit; we want you to love and care for these children; and the teachers have been incredible and absolutely wonderful; they have done such a great job with everything you see today.

These ladies and gentlemen are the real heroes of the story of the learning centre; and in the past five years, they have contributed in every way by just being there night and day, ensuring that they love and care for the children.

We now have a situation where the learning centre has become a model, a centre where young boys and girls, who have been traumatised in one way or the other, are now accommodated in a loving and caring environment.

They are given the very best facilities in terms of education and care; and of course, vocational education and digital literacy, he said.

Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, who spoke, applauded Osinbajo for his commitment to education of the vulnerable children in the North-East.

Abubakar, who described NECT as an excellent initiative, lauded the vice president and every other person involved in the scheme.

I will like to thank you, the vice president for your commitment andconcern; pursuing such projects not only to start, but being maintained and even marking the fifth anniversary having taken off in April, 2018.

I will like to thank the governor of Borno for your total commitment and selfless service to humanity.

In the last three years, we have been seeing what you are doing; definitely, with your support, this project, NECT is gaining strength and strength; becauseit is very important for us as religious leaders, you know the importance of taking care of the orphans and the less privileged.

We want to thank the initiators of this project; and all those who have had a hand, one way or the other to see this fifth anniversary of NECT becomes a success.

It is an excellent initiative, he said.

Sharing similar sentiments with the traditional ruler,Zulum commended the vision of the vice president in establishing NECT in Borno.

According to him, Borno has about 39, 311 orphans; and a total of about 50, 000 widows.

These are official figures; the unofficial figures are more than this; and therefore, establishing this learning centre, particularly in Maiduguri, will go a long way in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Borno.

One very important aspect of this learning centre is that it is critical to development.

In addition to providing intensive literacy and numeracy to the children, this school also offers strong technical and vocational education to the pupils; it offers strong digital literacy to the students.

And I think, this is the type of education that we are looking for; because it will make the students to become self-reliant, he said.

More so, Jim Ovia, the NECT Board Chairman, also commended the vice president for the initiative, saying that he felthonoured to join in ensuring that the project was successful.

Deserving no less attention, Dr Mariam Masha, the Executive Secretary of NECT, said that the commitment to deliver on the mandate remained very strong.

The event attracted the presence of governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

It also featured cultural dance and showcase of talents in robotics, coding, computer programming, word puzzle, among others by students of the centre.

The vice president and his wife also joined the students on stage to solve word puzzle among others.

Perceptive observers say this laudable gesture is not only succeeding in assuaging the anguish of orphaned and displaced children in the North-East but in irradiating their future. (NANFeatures)

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The Nigeria Basketball Federations (NBBF) says the federations has concluded plans to organise the national basketball leagues for male and female.

The President of NBBF, Musa Kida, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos on Sunday, following a board meeting where members were able to come together and strategies their plans for a viable basketball season.

Kida said that the dates for the leagues would be made public soon.

He said that there would be a stakeholders meeting where all modalities would be put into proper perspective.

The federations president also said that the board was set to meet with sponsors of the leagues to present their plans for the next basketball season.

He said that he was proud and confident of the developments, adding that arrangements were underway to make the leagues better than before.

It feels good to be back and as a new board, we are determined more than ever to make basketball a huge success in Nigeria, Kida said.

He said that the league had faced unnecessary hitches in the past such as legal litigations that did not allow them to achieve as much as they desired.

He added that he was looking ahead with a lot of confidence that such challenges that impeded the development of the sport would not arise again.

We are working harder like never before especially reshaping the six geographical zones and making them stronger.

The national teams are also of great importance and we have to move quick to get them ready for the world cup windows which comes up in June, he said.

On the relationship with the Ministry of Sport, Kida said the relationship was a respectable one and that the board was also scheduled to meet with the Secretary General to discuss strategies.

He said he was optimistic that the meeting would yield good results for the progress of the sport. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has dismissed an online media report purporting that the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Simon Harry, is dead.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Ichedi Joel, Director, Communication and Public Relations Department, NBS, said the report was false.

The Bureau wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in what was published by an online medium and considers the publication as the height of irresponsible journalism and a figment of the imagination of the publisher.

The fact of the matter is that the Statistician-General was slightly indisposed on Saturday and following medication is now recuperating.

We are well certain that he would, in a matter of a few days, be back to his desk and continue his work in repositioning the NBS as the foremost national statistics agency in Africa and among the best globally.

The statement urged the public to completely discountenance the purported death of the Statistician- General. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A Charity Organisation, Janeolive Foundation, on Saturday donated food items to 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The Co-founder of the organisation, Mrs Emilia Nwokoro, while presenting the food items to leaders of the IDPs said this was part of the organisations objectives by putting smiles on the faces of those displaced by the crisis in some parts of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by the organisation include, 300 tubers of yam, 64 cartons of noodles, and four bags of 50kg rice.

Nwokoro said that the objectives were also to provide free education to the less privileged by sharing relief materials with the needy.

She said her family started the foundation out of love for charity, adding that so far, a lot of the less privileged children have benefited from this gesture.

A lot of people are hungry. People are unable to go to school; there are widows that nobody takes care of. They dont even have three square meals.

I am a widow too. I lost my husband 20 years ago. So, based on what I passed through, when I was in need then, very few people assisted me.

So I kept telling God that if you bless me, I will bless others. And that is the essence of setting up a charity organisation. If you are blessed, you should reciprocate, she said.

She said that the organisation was involved in women empowerment, and scholarships to the less privileged students in primary and secondary schools, just to put smiles on their faces.

Nwokoro expressed the hope that the project titled; feeding the displaced provide succor to over 3,000 persons made up of 250 households in the camp, especially during this fasting period would meet its set goals.

Nwokoro added that insecurity has also contributed to the problem of hunger and poverty facing the country, urging the government to enhance measures at addressing it.

I am appealing to the governments at all levels to beef up security. It is a problem for the country and to all of us.

You know the cause of hunger; farmers are unable to go to farm because they are not safe. And once we dont go to the farm, there is bound to be a food shortage. That is why we are having this problem.

If farmers are going to farm, there will be food, even if we are crying of other issues.

Insecurity is a very big issue. Look at these people in this IDP; it is insecurity that brought them to the camp. This can happen to any of us. It is not their fault.

So, we are begging the government to look into this, go back to the drawing board, look at where we got it wrong, try to amend it, and restore safety to the country, she said.

Nwokoro also urged all those perpetrating attacks on citizens and the country to have a repenting heart to allow peace to reign in Nigeria.

Receiving the food items, the Chairman of the Camp, Mr Ibrahim Ahmadu, appreciated the foundation for its gesture, adding that this was the first donation since the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

Ahmadu promised that the items would be distributed to all households in the camp.

The Camp Women Leader, Liasu Ayuba, also appreciating the gesture, said it had not been easy surviving in the camp, but to the glory of God and help from different groups and individuals.

Similarly, another group who visited the camp to celebrate Good Deeds Day commended the good gesture shown by the Janeolive Foundation, and urged more groups to emulate the good gesture.

According to the leader of the team and Executive Director, Kleo Foundation for Children, Mr Obi Emmanuel, said Good Deeds Day is being celebrated on April 9.

He said the day was an initiative of an Israeli woman, to celebrate the act of doing good to others.

Emmanuel said that the day has been celebrated by different organisations, cooperate, and individuals to encourage people to do good to others from the little that they have.

The Abuja coordinator of the team, Mr Chidiebere Obiagwu , said that the group was at the camp to donate items, medical outreach, and sensitisation program to the IDPs on their health and personal hygiene.

NAN reports that the group also presented Nwokoro the team-branded T-shirt in appreciation of her good deeds to Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

A group, Emefiele Mobilization Team (EMT), says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele, represents a unique opportunity to achieve peace, unity and development in the country if he runs for president.

The EMT is a group under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Team Leader and National Coordinator of EMT, Dr Jacob Attah, spoke at a news conference on Saturday in Lokoja on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the group.

According to him, the EMT is made up of patriots who have come together to showcase the leadership qualities of the CBN governor.

For a man who was born in the South-West, schooled in the South-East and from the South-South, Dr. Emefiele represents a unique opportunity for peace, unity and development not just in Southern Nigeria but across Nigeria.

We call on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all important task of who becomes the next president of Nigeria and support the call for Dr. Godwin Ifeanyinchukwu Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

At a time when Nigeria is passing through a lot of economic and security challenges, we must bring in experience, dynamism, energy, equity and fairness in the choice of who becomes the next President of Nigeria.

Over the past eight years at the helm of the affairs of the Nigeran apex bank, Emefiele has shown capacity, focus, courage and worked tirelessly with the economic team of President Mohammadu Buhari to keep the economy of our great country afloat above recession and outright collapse.

His policies in the area of education, health, agriculture, industry and social credits have brought about positive transformation in these sectors and strengthened the Nigerian economy, he said.

The coordinator stressed that Dr. Emefiele had done well as CBN governor, saying his policies have reflected in the growth of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created lots of employment in all states of the federation.

The Anchor Borrowers Scheme as one of Dr. Emefieles many achievements that benefitted over 4.8 million Nigerians spread across the country.

Under the scheme, the CBN launched the brown revolution, an intervention aimed at boosting wheat value chain.

Wheat is the most widely consumed commodity, after rice, and only one per cent of it is produced in Nigeria with about billion spent annually on its importation.

With this brown revolution, the CBN cut about 60 per cent of this importation cost and brought about 22.35 per cent and 23.78 per cent growth in GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 alone, Attah said.

He added that 150,000 farmers were beneficiaries cultivating 100,000 hectares, saying this had improved local production of wheat in line with the mandate of the government to produce what we eat and eat what we produce.

He explained that production of onions was another area where the people have benefitted immensely from the CBNs policies under Emefiele.

According to him, Nigeria needs 2.5 million tonnes of onions yearly to meet national demand, but only 1.4 million tonnes are produced.

Attah said that the provision of loans under the scheme had assisted onion farmers in the North-central to make up for the 1.1million tonnes shortage.

Cotton is the third commodity to join the Anchor Borrowers Scheme after rice and maize, with 15,000 cotton farmers securing loans to mention a few.

This has significantly improved cotton production in the Nigeria.

Rice farming has been supported and boosted by the ABP as well; over 1.8 million farmers in Nigeria received seedling, fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides, water pumps and more with beneficiaries from across the country.

For now, Emefiele is focused on his assignment as the governor of the CBN.

We use this opportunity to caution those who may wish to carry out actions or make statements capable of distracting him from delivering on his national assignment as the head of Nigerias apex bank.

He called on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all-important task of who becomes the next President of Nigeria and support the call for Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

The national coordinator said that the youth population would be adequately carried along in all the process. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Mr Shina Peller (APC), Oyo State, a member of the House of Representatives, wants the reinvigoration of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to raise the moral tone of the society.

Peller, member representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Federal Constituency of Oyo State, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated that the reinvigoration of NOA would enable the agency sensitise and re-orientate the people on their obligations as responsible citizens of the country.

The lawmaker therefore advised the Federal Government to pay more attention and improve the budgetary allocation of NOA to consistently raise citizens awareness.

This, according to him, will enable the agency to accurately and adequately inform; and mobilise citizens to act in ways that promote peace, harmony; and national development.

At the level of the National Assembly, I will speak on this, As one of the members of the 9th Assembly, I personally moved a motion on the need to reinvigorate the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

We also have a bill that has passed the second reading to reinvigorate the NOA, because out of all the government parastatals, it is one of the agencies that has the spread across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

And the first obligation of NOA is to pay attention to the welfare of people, which definitely has to do with the culture and morals of the society.

So, I am sure if the government begins to give attention and allocate more funds to the NOA, it will enable the agency sensitise the people, re-orientate them on what is required of them as patriotic citizens, he said.

According to the lawmaker, all Nigerians should realise that the change they desire begins from everyone, adding that everybody must see themselves as problem solvers.

Leadership exist in every sphere of life; at home and within your family, try to be a leader by not just saying things, but by doing those things.

If everybody takes leadership responsibilities seriously at every level, then we will be able to build a safe and progressive country.

The country is suffering from system failure which did not just start today, people have been clamouring for change for over four decades now, he said.

He also said that in his constituency, he always organised town hall meetings, where role models at every level were identified to encourage people to do the right thing.

I have a network called Shina Peller Network, and people at the network are people that show the kind of leadership that Shina Peller stands for.

The network preaches that we are Nigerians first before we start to think about politics, religion and ethnicity.

And as a people, we must understand that there is a an undisputable relationship between Islam and Christianity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his 65th birthday.

In a congratulatory message issued by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, Buhari joined family members, friends and associates to celebrate the milestone with the business magnate.

The president shared the memorable occasion with the Dangote Group, including management and members of staff, and the many visionary leaders that daily redefine the livelihood of Nigerians for the better.

He commended the Dangote Group for driving competitiveness in the economy with clear ranking of excellence in provision of goods and services.

Buhari affirmed the footprints of the consummate businessman in key sectors of the economy, and the remarkable results achieved in production and supply of food items, making him a household name.

He particularly saluted Dangotes dynamism in buoying the nations economy through heavy investments in building Africas largest refinery, fertiliser manufacturing company and cement factories.

The president also appreciated the patriotism, simplicity and wisdom that Dangote has consistently displayed, making Nigeria and Nigerians his first priority.

He also lauded Dangote for setting example for many that charity truly begins from home.

Buhari wished Dangote greater service to God, country and humanity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government, in collaboration with World Bank, has launched the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, to address environmental challenges in Nigerias North.

Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of Environment, at the Pre-launch Mission of the World Bank on Sunday in Abuja, said that the project would last for five to six years.

Abdullahi assured Nigerians that the project would be effectively implemented, adding that all documentations on the project would get to the World Bank as soon as possible.

He said that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources and also the World Bank support, the objective of the project must be achieved.

According to him, the project is very important, as it will also address water stress system and restore the loss lands, thereby, making the lands reproductive for agriculture.

The project will as well tackle environmental challenges such as climate change, erosion system, biodiversity, among others.

We thank the world bank for initiating this project, and I am assuring you that from the Ministry of Environment, we will do all the best we can to implement the project.

We will ensure that the political will to drive this project, in accordance with the mandates and its objectives, are achieved.

We are going to make sure that various governors at the state levels deliver on the objectives of the project.

I have instructed the national project coordinator to ensure that all the documentations that are needed by the world bank to declare the effectiveness of the project, reach the world bank latest by April 15.

The minister said that the ministry had also established a project tracker system in the office, adding that the system would enhance the achievement of the project

He, however, urged all the governors, commissioners and other relevant stakeholders, to support in the implementation of the project through strong cooperation and commitment.

Chief Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment said that collective action in the implementation of the project, would bring positive result.

Ikeazor said if the project was implemented effectively, about 70 per cent of environmental issues would be solved in the states.

We are ready to implement the project, with the two ministers we are working with, I think it will enhance execution of the project.

This project is a big one and it is a project that Nigeria is privileged to have, I want to thank the world bank team and the three ministries, for their strong support and commitment to the implementation of the project, she said.

The World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, said that the bank would continue to support Nigeria to ensure that the objective of the project was achieved.

The world bank team remained committed in this project, but I want to appeal to governments at all levels to ensure that the team and other people in the field are protected.

The government should ensure that all kinds of insecurity is tackled in the areas to enable people concentrate and do the job effectively.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who spoke on behalf of other governors said that the project would benefit all the people in the states.

We are happy and grateful to have this laudable project that will curb poverty and address environmental challenges in our state.

We as governors, will ensure that we support the world bank team and the Federal Government in ensuring that insecurity is tackled efficiently in the states, Sule said.

Also speaking, Dr Mamood Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the project was initiated by the world bank when he was the minister of the environment.

I have great passion about this project because I know that it will change lives of many people and the various communities in the states for good.

This project will improve livelihoods of the people; therefore it requires careful planning, good management and commitment from everyone, Abubakar said.

Dr Suleman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources, urged all the states, local governments, and other beneficiaries of the project to claim ownership of the project for sustainability.

The state governors and the people of all the states should ensure that the efforts of the world bank and the Federal Government will not be a waste.

There is a need to secure the project and ensure that its benefits are realised, Adamu said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Raji Rasak

The Sme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 39,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol along the Badagry and Seme border creeks.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Jibo, said this in a statement issued by Mr Hussein Abdulahi, the spokesman for the Command, on Saturday in Seme, Lagos.

Jibo said the petrol was concealed in 30 litres jerrycans.

He said that the seized petroleum products has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.54 million only.

Jibo noted that the continuous offensive patrol against the smuggling of petroleum product along the creeks within the Seme and Badagry axis by officers and men of the command had recorded yet another massive seizure of the product.

The arrest was made on April 6, the petrol was packaged in sacks.

The findings revealed that 1,300 jerry cans of petroleum products in 30 litres each, equivalent to 39,000 litres were discovered.

This arrest is coming at a time when government is spending huge resources to subside the products to ameliorate the plight of its citizens.

These unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.

It is on this premise that the officers and men of the command, redoubled their efforts with renewed vigour in the fight against smuggling of the petroleum product, he said.

Jibo attributed the successes recorded to consistency on the part of the management of the NCS in providing the needed logistics, adequate working tools, support and ensuring hard working officers were recognised and rewarded through promotions.

He said that the continuous monitoring and surveillance of the border axis had contributed in suppressing such illegal activities, sending right signal to people involved in such unfortunate act of smuggling to desist and face lawful business.

Jibo said the command remained committed to ensuring such illegal and unlawful business were suppressed and discouraged at Seme borders.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited his Security Aide, Inspector Gambo Joseph, who was injured in the Wednesdays road crash at the vicinity of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Jonathan expressed joy that the injured officer, Joseph was responding to treatment and recovering fast.

He also stated that the second officer, Inspector Michael Ebute, who sustained injury during the accident was discharged on Friday.

Thank God Gambo is recovering so fast. I am pleased to inform you that the second officer, Michael has been discharged and returned to his family, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two police officers were reported dead during the accident which involved a car conveying them from the airport. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Mr Bashir Ahmed, has described as fake the social media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on 20-day vacation to London on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some online media outfits, including Sahara Reporters and summitpostnews, reported that the president departed Abuja on April 9, for another three weeks vacation in London.

NAN observed that the summitpostnews quoted a statement issued by one of the presidents spokesmen allegedly saying that the Nigerian leader would be back in Abuja on May 10.

However, Ahmed on his verified twitter account on Saturday dismissed the reports, saying:The news going round that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a 20-day vacation trip to London is fake.

The president is in Abuja and he is not planning to embark on any trip to London.

NAN also reports that there is no statement from the presidency, as at the time of filing this report, confirming the presidents trip to London as being speculated by the online media. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Saturday elected Dr Kenneth Opara as the 22nd President/Chairman of Council of the institute.

Opara, who was elected alongside seven other members during the institutes 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, would run the affairs of the institute for the next two years.

He will be succeeding Dr Bayo Olugbemi, whose two-year tenure will end on May 21.

The other elected officers are: Prof. Pius Oladeji Olanrewaju, FCIB, 1st Vice President; Mr Oladele Alabi, FCIB, 2nd Vice President and Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, FCIB, National Treasurer.

Other elected positions in the Governing Council are: Dr Victor Aguwah, FCIB; Mr Olayinka Odutola, FCIB; Mrs Mary Aina, ACIB and Mr Segun Oshadare, FCIB.

In his acceptance speech, Opara said, I wholeheartedly accept the mandate to serve as the 22nd President and Chairman of Council of CIBN.

I am mindful of the fact that you have high expectations for me and my colleagues. Let me assure you that we shall collectively do our best to deliver on your mandate as an obligatory, innovator and implementer.

We will leverage what the past president has done and also look on how to build capacity, collaborate with the stakeholders, and work with other regulators and the banks to ensure that we make a perfect and meaningful competition.

I thank the electoral officer and I congratulate all the candidates. I want to say that we are all winners, no victor no vanquish, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Institute also reviewed the 2021 financial and operational reports.

The CIBN National Treasurer, Mr Oladele Alabi, while giving the financial highlights, said the Institute recorded an improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.77 billion in 202.

Alabi said that the IGR represented an increase of 20.3 per cent when compared with N1.47 billion recorded in 2020.

He said the growth was an indication that the CIBN was strategically moving toward its aspiration of becoming financially independent.

Alabi added the institute closed the year with a net operating surplus of N800.14 million from N570.26 million recorded in 2020, an increase of 40.31 per cent.

The Chairman of the CIBN Audit Committee, Mr Babatunde Oduwaye, affirmed that the accounting and reporting policies of the institute were in accordance with legal requirements and ethical practices.

Speaking on the 2021 operations, the outgoing President of CIBN, Olugbemi, said that the institute stood tall as a vanguard for the promotion of banking education and professionalism in Nigeria and the world at large.

Olugbemi said that the number of individual members grew from 144,922 as of April 30, 2021 to 149,967 as of March 24, 2022, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent over the previous year.

Mr Seye Awojobi, CIBN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, said that a total of 291 graduates were conferred with MCIB, 380 candidates with the ACIB and 320 candidates via the regular ACIB Examination route.

Awojobi also said that 41 candidates were conferred via the Chartered Banker MBA route and 19 candidates via the MSc/ACIB Linkage Programme route.

Members in their remarks commended Olugbemi for his two-year leadership and suggested that there was the need to improve on its membership drive.

Source: NAN News

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) on Friday announced the suspension of the state local government election earlier scheduled for April 19, over a court judgement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the crisis in the party dragged the commission to a Federal High Court in Abuja for not giving the mandatory 90 days notice of election.

The decision to suspend the election is contained in a statement signed by Emmanuel Abebe on behalf of the chairman of the commission, retired Justice James Oyomire, and made available to newsmen in Benin.

The statement reads; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that due to the content of the publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of 7th April 2022.

By which the Federal High Court Abuja restrained the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the Local Government Elections in the State scheduled for 19th April 2022,

All processes leading to the conduct of the said elections are hereby suspended, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Patience Omoha

A Non-Governmental Organisation, One Nigeria Group (ONG), has called on Nigerians to eschew ethnic and religious sentiments and vote for a patriotic Nigerian for president during the 2023 general elections.

The President of the group, Alhaji Muhammad Saleh-Hassan, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Saleh-Hassan urged Nigerians to vote for a president, who should be a pan-Nigerian president, irrespective of which part of the country he or she comes from.

He urged patriotic Nigerians to get their permanent voters cards ready, ahead of the 2023 General Elections, so as to vote for a patriotic, pan-Nigerian president from any zone of the country.

I, therefore, call on all Nigerians, as the 2023 Elections is around the corner, as patriotic Nigerians, go, get your PVCs and vote for a pan-Nigerian president from any zone in the country.

It is important to note that ethnic and religious sentiments are faster killers of our country than corruption.

Today, ethnic sentiments have given birth to IPOB, Boko Haram, bandits and other criminal elements across the country.

In the South-South in particular, these elements engage in economic sabotage, thereby, stealing millions of barrels of crude oil, he said.

The groups president, called on all patriotic Nigerians to join forces with the organisation and rise above hate, ethnic and religious sentiments, adding that Nigerias strength is in its diversity.

Lets all rise in unity against the criminal elements and enemies of Nigeria, who are trying to cripple our economy, divide us and set our country ablaze.

Elections will come in peace without pre or post-election violence and the enemies of our country will bury their heads in shame.

We should learn from the Ukrainian crisis and begin to love our country, defend our country with all our might as we have always pledged, he said.

Saleh-Hassan noted that, over the years, ethnic and religious sentiments and attendant criminality had only culminated in pain and misery upon the country and its citizens.

These have brought nothing to this country but pains and all manner of evil that has produced widows, orphans and out-of-school children.

We have no other country than Nigeria, we must also remember that no country in the entire world will be able to contain 200 million refugees who may seek shelter if the unexpected happens, he warned.

The group also condemned all banditry attacks in the country, and called on security agencies to continue to do their best to bring all criminals and separatists to book.

The statement also quoted Sunday Attah, the groups projectcoordinator as calling on Nigerian artists and musicians to condemn the activities of kidnapping, Boko Haram through their music and work.

They must rise and speak against every activity that would give the country a bad name, the statement added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Augustine Eguavoen, former Super Eagles Technical Adviser/Interim Coach, on Friday in Abuja called for a long-term contract for whoever will be the teams new chief coach.

Eguavoen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) needs to do this to ensure the new coach gets the Super Eagles to fly high again.

I will just say anybody coming in should be given a long-term contract, just like a long-time project, he said on the sidelines of the presentation of Certificates of Occupancy of houses to members of the victorious Super Eagles team which won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.

Eguavoen said it was going to be difficult to lead the team to success without having a long time to prepare it.

But he noted that the new coach would still have to rely on the present crop of players.

You cant just raise a new team. Its always going to be difficult. Any coach that is coming in now will still work with 90 per cent of these players we have now, the former Super Eagles full-back said.

Eguavoen who apologised for his inability to lead the Super Eagles to qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup said the team he handled was still a good side.

First of all I will like to apologise for our inability to qualify for the World Cup. Its very painful that we didnt qualify and I know how much we love football in this country.

But we didnt lose the game. We only lost the ticket, and the fact that its a World Cup ticket makes it more painful.

He said the fact that lack of time did not allow him to impose his football philosophy on the team was partly responsible for the failure to pick the World Cup ticket.

I think we didnt have enough time. If we had enough time to bring in new players and see them in friendly games and the coach is able to establish his DNA, I think it would have been better. But we need to move on, the coach added.

Eguavoen, who is still the NFF Technical Director said all attention should now be on getting a new coach who would ensure qualification for the 2023 AFCON in Cote dIvoire.

Already, 46 countries including Nigeria have lined up to compete in the group stage of the 2023 AFCON qualifying competition which begins in June.

NAN reports that the NFF Executive Committee had on Tuesday mandated the federations Technical and Development Sub-Committee to within the next five days recommend a new coaching crew for the Super Eagles. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has started the training for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) managers and officers to enhance their capacity.

Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop in Abuja, Team Lead of the programme, Aishatu Digil said that the purpose of the training was to ensure effective service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the training were programme managers and officers of school feeding programme across the states.

The school feeding programme is an initiative of the Federal Government to provide one free nutritious meal to pupils from primary one to three in public schools.

Digil further encouraged the participants to participate actively to enable them gain the actual knowledge that was expected of them for better service delivery.

She said that the participants would be looking at the critical aspect of the school feeding programme that they needed to learn more to ensure they further improved their skills.

According to her, the overall programme will be strengthened.

The school feeding programme is such a unique intervention among all government interventions.

It is collaboration the Federal Government provides the funding, set the template and the guideline on how the programme should be implemented and the state government is responsible for the actual implementation.

We want to use this opportunity to get back at the same page with the implementers because it is important as the programme is implemented, it is done according the necessary rules and regulations, she said.

One of the participants, Mr Ifeanyi Onah, School Feeding Programme Manager, Enugu State, while commending the ministry for the initiative said that the capacity building workshop was apt.

Onah said that some materials and equipment were given to the programme managers and officers to aid their coordination in the states.

He said that the tools would help them to do an on the spot reporting of what is happening at the state level.

According to him, this will help the ministry to get feedback on the programme timely and do the necessary coordination for proper decision and further planning.

Another participant, Mr Gidado Abubakar, Team Lead, NHGSFP, Bauchi State, said that the training would enable the stakeholders brainstorm on critical areas of the programme for further improvement.

We are here to look at the challenges, level of implementation and a way forward for a viable programme, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigerias Super Falcons lost 0-2 to their Canadian counterparts on Friday in the first of a two-game encounter between both sides.

The friendly game at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver saw Nigerias goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and later Tochukwu Oluehi, making good saves to limit the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champions.

Falcons did their best to keep the hosts at bay in the first half but, five minutes into the second half,Jessie Fleming broke the deadlock for the Canadians.

In the 72nd minute, Vanessa Gilles doubled the hosts lead with another goal to finish the game with a 20 victory against the nine-time African champions.

Both teams will meet again on Monday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Moses Omorogieva

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has urged the governors, as the Chief Security Officers, to take charge of their states, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be in every state to ensure security of lives and property.

Bello, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, who said that he did not expect the President to secure his state as a governor, added that he had put so much in place to bring crime to almost zero in Kogi.

The Kogi governor, stated this on Friday in Abuja at his Second Annual GYB Seminar for Nigerias Political and Crime Editors and Correspondents, said that the bulk of securing the states was on them as chief executives.

The presidential hopeful said he would not tolerate buck- passing concerning insecurity in Nigeria, when he becomes the President of the nation in 2023.

He promised to ensure that all governors in Nigeria take responsibility for security in their states, stressing that he would hold them responsible for breaches when elected as president of Nigeria in 2023.

Bello, however, assured that states would be empowered to rise to the security challenges.

As a president, I will supervise and ensure that all security agencies carry out their duties as expected. I will punish those not doing well.

The whole world will bow for Nigeria after 365 days as president as security issue will be fixed. However, I am not a governor that will expect the President to secure my state, he said.

Bello insisted that he would not play politics with the security challenges in the country because it was as a result of the failure of various administrations in the past.

He said, I refused to politicise insecurity. Buhari is a man who loves truth and reality. I will let you know that the President loves this country.

This insecurity is not a thing of the President though we shouldnt pass buck because that is why we came on board. It is a successive failure of various administrations.

Let me remind us once again that certain military and police hardware were nonexistent or was last purchased in the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

Bello pointed out that after the bomb blast incident in Ikeja cantonment in Lagos State in 2001, Nigerians never asked whether the arms and ammunition that detonated and killed some people were ever replaced since then.

After the various decays, the foundation was shaky and the President spent a lot of money to buy equipment. The President will not sit in the Villa and hold AK-47 to come and secure my schools and roads.

Some of these crimes that we see today is more than what we see on the surface. I will never come out here and point out the flaws. Whatever I observe, in terms of loopholes and lapses, it is between myself and the President to let him know.

I will never be that governor who will come out and tell that the President did not secure my schools and roads. That is why as the Chief Security Officer of Kogi, I I brought the rate of crime from the zenith down to the floor and the President is assisting me to succeed in that area, he said.

The governor said that he was sincere about fighting crimes and criminality, stressing that If all states governors would do what they were supposed to do, the Presidents job would have been made easy.

But if I become the President, I will ensure that every chief executive of the various federating units sit up and do their jobs. I will not tolerate any lackadaisical attitude or passing of buck to the center. I will ensure that various federating units are strengthened.

Majority of some of these crimes are politically motivated, especially the recent ones we are witnessing. However, the issue of security can never be brought out to the public so you will not expose your country to danger, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News