By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has summoned Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, over vandalisation of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, by hoodlums on March 29, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The upper chamber equally invited the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and other agencies involved in the maintenance of the stadium.

The resolutions were sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Michael Nnachi (PDP-Ebonyi) during Wednesdays plenary.

The senate also mandated its Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the failure of the national team to qualify for the World Cup in spite of the numerous government support.

Violent reaction by irate fans reportedly took place in the aftermath of the Nigeria vs Ghana qualifier leading to vandalisation of facilities at the stadium and the unfortunate death of Zambian CAF official, Joseph Kabungo.

The national stadium was packed with highly expectant Nigerian fans throughout the controversial match and the alleged violent reaction of those fans to the outcome of this match has become a subject of local and international media criticism.

A lot of valuable facilities at the stadium were destroyed but the extent of destruction is yet to be determined by the relevant government authority.

There is no gainsaying that the destruction will cause the government of Nigeria several millions of naira to either replace or effect repairs.

Apart from several unidentified football fans who were injured as a result of this incident, the death of Dr Joseph is a huge loss to the global football community, he said.

Supporting the motion, Sen. Abba Moro (PDP-Benue) said it was a very sad day for Nigeria.

It is sad that Nigerians vented their anger and frustration on the physical stadium.

There is an urgent need for this senate, if possible, to intervene to see that our stadia across Nigeria are properly structured and made in such a way that future occurrences or fans invading the pitch or destroying the stadium will be prevented, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

No fewer than 60 athletes from Oyo State are expected to participate in the maiden National Para-sports games, scheduled for Abuja between April 9 and April 18.

Chairman of Oyo State Sports Council, Gbenga Adewusi, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Adewusi stated that the event, organised by Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, would give Para athletes the opportunity to exhibit their talents in various sports.

According to him, the event will also serve as an avenue for scouts to shop for talents that could be groomed for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Adewusl also said that the countrys Para-sports had produced the highest number of medals for the country since Nigeria started participating in the games.

He added that Para-sports had contributed immensely to reduction of young people with special needs roaming the streets.

The sports council chairman listed para-table tennis, para-swimming, wheel chair basketball, powerlifting, deaf sports, para-athletics and para-canoe as the events in which the team would participate at the games. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister implored the supporters who allegedly defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to have a rethink and return to their natural habitat.

He said notwithstanding the fact that the supporters were genuinely aggrieved because of the way and manner they had been treated in the state, leaving the party was not the solution.

Mohammed said that the supporters were badly treated in spite of their immeasurable contributions to the massive victory of the party in the state in 2019, which led to the emergence of the governor.

We have taken the grievances of our supporters to the highest level of our party, and we have cause to believe that everything will be done toaddress the grievances and unite the party ahead of the 2023 elections, he said.

Mohammed said for his partas a founding member of the APC, someone who had toiledendlessly to build the party and worked withstakeholders to deliver Kwara State to the APC, leaving the party isnot an option.

I am a bonafide member of the APC and I have no intention of leaving the party.

All through my political career, I have always remained loyal to anyparty in which I have found myself.

That is not about to change now. I want to use this opportunity to once again call on the leadership ofour party to urgently and decisively address the issues that have forced some members of our party in Kwara to contemplate leaving theparty, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, says that journalists and the Armed Forces of Nigeria are partners in progress in ensuring enduring peace and tranquility in the country.

Irabor said this at the opening of a 3-Day Conference on Enhancing Journalists-Military Cooperation to Checking Insecurity in Nigeria organised by Zacklair Investment Limited on Tuesday in Abuja.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, the COAS said that journalists had steadfastly executed the duties of informing, educating and enlightening the public.

Irabor said that the journalists update the public daily on occurrences and activities happening around them and beyond.

He added that Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended, entrusted the military with the responsibility of defending the country from external aggression.

According to him, the military are also empowered constitutionally to maintain its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air.

It can be deduced that journalists work on the minds and soul of the populace using their medium and platforms to condition the minds of people and set agenda to enable people make informed decisions on day-to-day issues.

Irabor said the military on the other hand, had the responsibility of ensuring that the physical space was not threatened or violated by any injurious force or actions.

These actions, he said are perpetuated by enemies of the state that could lead to disruption of peace and orderliness in the society.

He said that journalists and members of the armed forces remained partners in progress that needed each other to actualise the mandates of their professional callings.

For instance, notwithstanding military monopoly in the use of the weapons of violence, it cannot win the war in the hearts and minds of the people by kinetic means.

On the other hand, in spite of journalists ability to use the power of the pen and media to articulate and disseminate opinions and issues, they need a safe space and conducive environment.

This is facilitated by the military and other security agencies for human activities to thrive.

This marriage of necessity between the military and journalists has come to stay because there cannot be any form of development in the absence of enduring peace and transquility.

That said, the marriage is not altogether without conflict, he said.

The defence chief said the conference was timely in view of the myriads of contemporary security challenges bedeviling the country vis a vis the various military operations being conducted to stem the tide of criminalities in various parts of the country.

He said that patriotism would help both military and journalists to set aside professional differences and peculiarities to project the country favourably in the eyes of both national and global communities.

Being patriotic entails that we will not remain unconcerned in contributing our quota towards addressing and proffering solutions to security problems in the country.

Patriotism is also key in advancing the whole-of- the-society approach, which harps on the need for all hands to be on deck to defeat the enemies of the state.

As we all know, security is everyones business, he said.

The former Defence Spokesman, retired Maj.-Gen. Christopher Olukolade, said that collaboration between the Nigerian military and the media was a major pillar in the civil military relations as well as the security of the nation.

Olukolade said the need for better relationship between the media and the military were significantly indispensable as they tried to seek solution to security issues in the country.

The former Defence spokesman said the forum would provide opportunity to promote understanding between the critical stakeholders in sharing ideas and bridge whatever communication gap that had existed between them.

Also, the former Director, Army Public Relations, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, called for enhanced cooperation between the military and the media with a view to promote national security.

Usman, who delivered a paper titled, Enhancing Military-Journalist Cooperation to Checking Insecurity, said the existing mistrust between the two should not hamper the needed cooperation between them.

He also identified conflict of interest as a major obstacle to achieving the needed collaboration between the military and journalists, saying that journalists must not compromise military operations while doing their job.

The President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isiguzo, said there was need for military and the media to work together to mitigate situations that would threaten peace and stability in the society.

Isiguzo said the media had the responsibility of setting an agenda in managing conflict like the strategies for reducing conflict, adding that every situation of conflict had typical cycle or pre-conflict stage, the conflict stage and post conflict stage.

He said the interventions at each stage of the cycle might not be the same or could be a mixture, saying the intention should be to forestall conflicts or alleviate consequences.

According to him, the media, no doubt, still remain one of the most reliable institutions, especially in the context of conflict resolution and development.

He however, urged journalists to be conflict managers, long before conflicts and their attendant consequences manifests. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olawunmi Ashafa

Similarly, the market capitalisation grew by 0.19 per cent to close at N25.218 trillion as against N25.17 trillion recorded the previous day.

Meyer recorded the highest price gain of 8.86 per cent to close at 86k per share, while Regal Insurance followed with a gain of 7.14 per cent to close at 30k per share.

FTN Cocoa rose by 6.45 per cent to close at 33k, per share, while Caverton appreciated by 5.56 per cent to close at N1.33, per share.

On the other hand, NPF Microfinance Bank led the losers chart with 9.64 per cent to close at N2.25, per share.

Learn Africa followed with a decline of 9.14 per cent to close at N1.69 per share, while Multiverse lost 8.70 per cent to close at 21k per share.

RTBriscoe declined by 6.67 per cent to close at 56k per share, while NASCO shed 5.43 per cent to close at N12.20 per share.

Source: NAN News

Philomina Attah

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says its has received and investigating almost 100 petitions on recruitment scam from victim institutions and complicit individuals.

The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, revealed this at the policy dialogue on Entrenching Transparency in Public Service Recruitment Process in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the policy dialogue was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the research and training arm of ICPC.

The dialogue is aimed at producing a policy brief to guide the national response to the issue of curbing corruption and reducing the high level of irregularities in public service recruitment in Nigeria.

It is also meant assist government to get the right number and quality of public service workforce.

Owasanoye said that indiscriminate recruitment had continued to have negative impact on personnel budget leading to rise in personnel wage geometrically and almost doubling.

He said the personal wage bill had risen from N1.832 trillion

in 2015 to N3.494 trillion in 2022.

In actual fact, many Nigerians in both official and non-official quarters have expressed serious concerns over the growing patronage system in the public sector.

The timing of this policy dialogue can not have come at a better time than now.

This is because there is near consensus across our country and across all political divides that there is a lack of transparency in public service recruitment process across all tiers of government in our country.

This is regardless of which political party holds the reign of power in these three tiers of government (federal, state and local).

To underscore the corruption prevalent in the process, ICPC has received and is investigating almost 100 petitions on recruitment scam from innocent victims.

The situation festers due to lack of transparency, he said.

ICPC boss said the policy dialogues generally were meant to deliberate on issues that focus on more systemic and institutional improvements.

This, according to him, will be sustainable regardless of changes in political administration.

He added that the concomitant policy brief was meant to offer solutions that were practicable and directly relevant to the improvement of the subject matter of the policy.

Owasanoye said that the Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno had recently raised a serious concern that the recruitment into the security agencies (Nigerian Police and others) had been politicised.

He quoted Zulum as saying, governors, ministers and other top government functionaries have recruitment slots who are not interviewed, whether they are qualified for the job or not.

These people do not appear to us that the meritocratic tradition in the public service which to some degree, up to the SOS in our counting, is gradually disappearing and very few islands of recruitment integrity only remaining.

This is a matter of grave concern that needs to be critically, objectively and robustly discussed in this particular dialogue session, he said.

ICPC boss expressed hope that the policy dialogue made up of experienced, knowledgeable and diverse stakeholder groups across official and non-official divide, would take a more dispassionate look into the problem which was almost becoming endemic. (NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Dogo

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has called on the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) to ensure data protection, privacy and confidentiality in the country.

Pantami made the call at the official launch of NDPB Logo, Website and Core values, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that data protection should not only be centred within the public sectors, but also across the private sector.

He said that data protection, privacy and confidentiality, were already mentioned in existing laws in various agencies of the county.

According to him, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2007, under Section 26, there is a form of data protection in which nobody is allowed to get access to NIMCs database without the approval of the commission.

In National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, Section 6 under article J and K, there is a form of data protection under article A to come up with the legislation in the first place.

It is now in the process of being integrated into a full fledged legislation by the National Assembly.

Under the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003, there was no mention of data protection clearly.

The commission came up with two subsidiary legislations, in which operators are not allowed to get access or release certain informations without the consent of data subject.

National Health Act of 2014, there is a form of data protection and many more, he said.

Earlier, the National Commissioner, NDPB, Dr Vincent Olatunji, revealed that the mandate of data protection had a strategic roadmap that would provide the turning point in the countrys data privacy.

Olatunji urged stakeholders to give the bureau the needed support to achieve its mandate.

The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Mr Adeleke Adewolu, in his goodwill message, congratulated NDPB and pledged support of the commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that data protection is a constitutional right founded in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

NAN also reports that NDPB is a new parastatal under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, established in line with global best practices.

Source: NAN News

By Douglas Okoro

Stakeholders in Izzi clan of Ebonyi have faulted the endorsement of Mr Francis Nwifiru, the Speaker, Ebonyi House of Assembly by traditional rulers in the area for the 2023 governorship position.

The position of the stakeholders is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abakaliki and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The statement was signed by 16 persons drawn from different segments of Izzi clan.

They are: Michael Udenwe, Godwin Nwode, Nick Ochigbo, Uchenna Nshii and Benjamin Nwoba.

The signatories also include: Joseph Nwovu, Abraham Chima, Henry Onyebuchi, Alex Oshim, Jerome Onyeka, Michael Egbedike and Reuben Nwankwo among others.

According to the statement, the alleged endorsement of the speaker by the traditional rulers is clear violation of the directive issued by critical stakeholders and leaders from Izzi clan urging them to stay away from partisan politics.

Gov. Dave Umahi had recently at a meeting with key stakeholders from Izzi clan requested them to nominate two aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC), to be chosen as standard bearer for the party in 2023 governorship election.

The stakeholders noted that at a meeting of Izzi stakeholders held at the house of Sen. Chris Nwankwo, on Sunday, April 3, that a decision was reached that traditional rulers from Izzi should stay out of politics and shun any call or plans to drag them into partisan politics.

The statement said that the decision was taken in order to absolve the royal fathers from needless distractions and to enhance their political neutrality as the politics of 2023 drew closer.

It further noted that involvement of the traditional rulers in active politics, in any form whatsoever, including endorsing aspirants for the forthcoming elections would distract them from their role as fathers and leaders of the various communities in Izzi.

The statement reads in part: The attention of stakeholders from Izzi clan of Ebonyi has been drawn to a purported statement issued by some traditional rulers of Izzi at a courtesy visit to the Director General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), Chief Timothy Nwachi.

The royal fathers had on Monday, April 4 during the visit endorsed the embattled Speaker of Ebonyi House of Assembly, Mr Francis Nwifuru for the position of governor.

The action of the selected traditional rulers was against the advice of these critical stakeholders not to involve themselves in partisan politics.

By endorsing one aspirant in a contest where many prominent Izzi sons in the platform of the APC are also vying for the same position goes against the ethics of their traditional functions, equity and fair play.

That the traditional rulers by their purported endorsement have created a situation capable of causing a breach of the peace in Izzi and Ebonyi in general, especially at this time of heightened security tension in the country.

That since Izzi stakeholders are still deliberating on the issue to make recommendations to the governor, it is not only wrong but calamitous for the traditional rulers to endorse an aspirant.

That we wish to remind the traditional rulers that their primary duties are to be the custodian of the culture and traditions of the people; carter for the welfare and progress of their people, adjudicate on disputes in their communities and to work to secure them.

That we call on the traditional rulers to recant and retract their statement and tender apology to the Izzi people publicly through the media.

That we call on right thinking and well-meaning Ebonyi indigenes to disregard the statement as it is only God and the generality of Ebonyi voters that can determine who becomes the next governor of Ebonyi in 2023.

The group urged the state government to call the traditional rulers to order and direct them not to be involved in politics.

They said that further interference might result to breach of peace among the Izzi people and Ebonyi in general.

NAN reports that Izzi is a clan in Ebonyi North zone, expected to produce the governor in 2023.

The clan has prominent men who have interest in the position, including Chief Elias Mbam, the current Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

In the PDP are: Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, one time Minister of State for Health and Chief Sylvester Ogbaga, serving House of Representatives member and many others who have made known their intention to run for the seat.

Izzi clan comprises Abakaliki, Izzi and Ebonyi local government areas. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, has given assurance of Federal Governments determination to tackle challenges facing the cotton industry.

The minister, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ifedayo Sayo, said this was with a view to create jobs for unemployed youths.

Addressing a delegation of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) who visited him in Abuja, Adebayo said that the cotton industry had the capacity to transform Nigerias rural economy.

He added that it could revive the textile and garment industries by creating over two million jobs and improving internal revenue across the three tiers of government.

The minister said that it could reduce 4.0 billion dollars import bill incurred annually on textile and apparel, earn foreign exchange, and make Nigeria a global player in textile and apparel.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Nigeria was home to Africas largest textile industry with over 180 textile mills which employed close to over 450,000 people, Adebayo said.

He said that the industry contributed over 25 per cent of the workforce in the manufacturing sector.

Today, most of those factories have all stopped operations; textile factories are operating at below 20 per cent capacity with a workforce of less than 20,000 people.

I am happy to announce to you that Mr President is determined to change the narrative and rewrite the history of Nigerias struggling Cotton, Textile and Garment sector.

In 2019, the government flagged off the wet season cotton input distribution to 150,000 farmers in Katsina under the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

They are cultivating over 180,000 hectares of cotton that will feed our ginneries. Production is also ongoing across many states with more to come onboard in the next planting season, he said.

Earlier, President of NACOTAN, Mr Anibe Achimugu, appealed to the Federal Government to revamp the cotton industry to provide jobs for the Nigerian youth.

Achimugu said that if the sector was revived, it would not only help to take youths off the streets but also help to address restiveness, banditry, drug abuse and emigration issues.

He said that the industry is the second largest employer of labour in the country and deserves the attention of the Federal Government.

This will enable the industry to contribute its quota to the economic development of the country, Achimugu said.

He said that the prevailing global economic development called for a wider and more sustained approach to dealing with the challenges in the industry.

Achimugu urged the minister to prevail on the Bank of Industry/Leasing Company of Nigeria for special intervention for the cotton industry.

He also sought support of the minister for the payment of Nigerias assessment to the International Cotton Advisory Committee for the periods, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, which he said is 58,500 dollars. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja advocated greater devolution of authority to local councils to enable them to perform optimally.

The minister made the call while addressing participants of Senior Executive Course 44, 2022 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, who visited him on a study tour.

Participants on the study tour are researching into Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities, a topic assigned to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister observed that local governments are critical to entrenching democracy and bringing about rapid development at the grassroots.

He expressed regrets that the third tier of government had remained inefficient and ineffective because of challenges, particularlythat of the lack of full autonomy.

There are issues and challenges that have over the years limited the capacity of local governments to execute their constitutionally assigned roles and responsibilities as a unit of administration with defined powers and authorities.

State governments have covertly abused the provision of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which empowers them to make legislation for the functioning of local governments, he said.

The minister added that there is ambiguity in the powers conferred on the states by the 1999 Constitution to legislate on the organisation and structure of local governments.

Speaking on financial autonomy for local councils, the minister, a lawyer, noted that the 1999 Constitution provided for allocation of funds to local governments from the federation account, thus giving them financial autonomy.

He said in contrast, the same Constitution made provision for the establishment of theStates Joint Local Government Account through which local governments would receive their allocations.

He noted that many state governments took advantage of the joint account to deprive local governments of vital funds, and thus incapacitating them.

The minister also faulted the inconsistency in the tenure of elected local government council officials compared to what obtains at the state and federal levels.

In many cases, elections are not conducted and caretaker committees are allowed to function for periods even longer than the tenure of elected councils.

This is a setback and has created political instability for the councils to focus on the real task of governance, the minister said.

He added that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged and supported policy initiatives and legislative interventions aimed at strengthening local government system.

He said Executive Order 10 signed by the president was intended to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, the legislature and local governments.

Mohammed said though the Executive Order was voided by the Supreme Court it had not diminished the commitment of the president to ensure a better structure for the third tier of government.

Responding, leader of the delegation, Dr Ibrahim Choji, thanked the minister for the presentation stating that it was one of the best outings of the team.

He said the ministers presentation would assist the team in writing its reports and recommendations to the president.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of awards and plagues to some members of the group and to the minister. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation on Tuesday said that it would offer 100 civil servants free training across Africa .

The Executive Vice-Chair of the foundation, Ofovwe AIG-Imoukhuede, made this known in a statement made known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to AIG-Imoukhuede, the applicants should be citizens on an African country working in the public sector with a minimum of seven years of active service and occupy a directorate level position.

We are pleased to announce the commencement of the selection process for the second class of the AIG Public Leaders Programme.

The application window opened on Jan. 27 and will close on April 7.

This year, we will be offering 100 civil servants across Africa a unique opportunity to undertake an executive training offered by the foundation in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, England.

The programme will be at no cost to all successful applicants as scholarships worth over 5,000 will be provided by the foundation, the statement said.

AIG-Imoukhuede said that the programme would be administered by a distinguished faculty of experts and teachers with classes hosted for five weeks and two weeks of in-person sessions in Abuja.

Details of the programme are contained in the public leaders programme brochure attached and applicants can visit http://aigimoukhuedefoundation.org/aigplp/ for more information.

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has inaugurated its Bakery, Water and Garment Factories and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) for North-Central.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects were inaugurated on Monday by the Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, at the Magaji Dan Yamusa NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Sule commended the NYSC for the laudable achievement, adding that the ventures underscored the importance of not only acquiring a degree but also a skill.

So, I want to thank you for your vision, for redefining and reinvigorating the NYSC and for bringing back the life of this vision.

I want to assure you that by the grace of God we will not only patronise the products you are having here as a state, we will find ways to work together as a team because this is coming right on time.

I strongly believe that by the grace of God Nigeria will overcome, our leaders will continue to be blessed with the wisdom to overcome all the challenges that we have.

The Director-General of NYSC, Maj.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, at the inauguration said that the execution of the projects was to reinvigorate the NYSC Ventures and SAED programme in line with the NYSC Act for greater impact.

According to him, both ventures are very important in light of the present prevailing economic realities.

SAED is geared towards empowering youth corps members for self-employment and wealth creation.

The NYSC ventures, comprising agro-based and other businesses are meant to play multiple purpose of providing part of our kit items and other essentials for the conduct of orientation course.

This is in addition to serving as sources of revenue and training grounds for youth corps members.

Our priority attention to the development of the ventures is particularly in line with the Federal Governments policies on food security and diversification of the economy through optimisation of the nations potentials in non-oll sectors.

While reeling out some of the organisations achievements through the NYSC ventures in other locations across the country, Ibrahim said that over N1 billion had been generated through these sources and was paid into the Federal Government coffers between 2020 and 2021.

He said that while the new bakery, garment and water factories were indicative of the organisations commitment to expanding its revenue generation platforms, they would also serve as additional training avenues for corps members to enroll for relevant vocational skills under the SAED programme.

He added that the complex was unique because it had the highest number of NYSC factories located in the same place.

The NYSC boss said that like similar ones established for the North East, North West and South West, it would provide youth corps members with access to effective post-camp training in different vocational skill areas.

We are already in talks with the Nasarawa State University on a proposed partnership whereby the Entrepreneurship Unit of the institution will use this facility to impart entrepreneurial skills on both the corps members and interested youths of Keffi community.

He urged the managers of the facilities to safeguard the equipment by ensuring high standard of maintenance at all times, adding that the NYSC management would provide all the necessary support for effective running and sustainability of the ventures.

Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, former governor of the state and the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the acquisition of skill was very critical.

This, he said, was because the government was not in a position to give employment to every corps member after graduation.

So, this type of initiative is most commendable and over and above the training skills we have to also train this young people on the know how, the approach of being self sufficient, he said.

The Director, Ventures Management of the NYSC, Mr Momoh Mohammed said that the garment factory was equipped with 100 industrial sewing machines and other machines needed for the production of high-quality kit items to be supplied for use by youth corps members.

He also said that the water factory had three water packaging lines for the production of sachet water as well as pet and dispenser bottle water.

In the bakery, we have installed modern oven and other equipment required for the production of health enriching bread.

It is instructive to note that products of our bakery and water factory will be supplied to orientation camps in line with our mandate and also sold to the general public. (NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Diana Omueza

Action Alliance (AA) party has announced a 50 per cent discount for nomination forms for women, youth and People with Disabilities (PWDs) interested in contesting the 2023 general elections.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kenneth Udeze, the National Chairman, to publicise the sale of Intent and Nomination forms to aspirants in the party.

Mr James Vernimbe, the partys National Secretary, made the statement available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

According to Udeze, the party is giving 50 per cent discount on the form for youths and women between 25 years and 35 years of age with verifiable birth certificates or evidence of age declaration.

Also PWD aspirants would only pay for the cost of intent form, while the nomination form would be obtained for free.

The intent form for Presidential aspirants is N5,000,000, while the nomination form is N10,000,000.

The form is sold for N2,000,000 and N4,000,000 for the partys Governorship aspirants; and for Senatorial aspirants, it is N1,000,000 and N2,000,000 respectively.

The House of Representatives go for N500,000 and N1,000,000, while State Houses of Assembly form is N100,000 and N400,000 respectively.

All payments are to be made at the partys national headquarters in Abuja and no refunds of money after payments.

Last day for the sales of both intents and nomination forms is May 15, while the last day for the submission of all completed forms is May 16, he said.

He said that the mode for the conduct of the partys primaries would be made known in due course.

He, however, said a special national convention would be held on June 3, for the presidential primaries when all qualified candidates would be issued certificates of return.

He said that the criterion for accreditation of delegates for all the party primaries and the national convention was via presentation of a valid party membership card.

The screening of state Houses of Assembly aspirants would be on May 17, and appeals made same day at the partys national headquarters.

Screening for National Assembly aspirants to hold May 18, and appeal to hold same day, while screening for all governorship and presidential aspirants would hold on May 19 at the partys headquarters.

The list of all successfully screened and qualified candidates with other accompanying documents would be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 30, as required, he said.

Udeze said that state Houses of Assembly primaries would hold across the country at the states constituencies headquarters on May 28.

He said primaries for the National Assembly would hold May 29, and May 30, at the house of representative federal constituencies and senatorial district headquarters.

He added that the governorship primaries would be held nationwide on May 31, at the states capitals.

He said that the partys National Think Tank Committee (NTTC) would converge to confirm the lists of all party candidates and make final submission to INEC on June 2.

According to him, only the partys presidential primaries will hold on June 3, at the national convention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

DOM/KOLE/DCU

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday joined Muslim faithful at the State House Mosque to mark the commencement of the Ramadan Tafsir, the interpretation and explanation of the Quran.

The exercise is in line with Islams guiding principles and the intense devotional activities marking the 30-day Ramadan period.

The president joined the Muslim Ummah to pray for justice, peace, prosperity and enhanced welfare of the whole humanity, stressing the need for deepening of forgiveness, mercy and kindness to the poor.

The Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwahab Sulaiman, who presided over the Tafsir, condemned terrorists who had taken the religion of Islam as a cover to kill and loot the property of fellow citizens.

He prayed to Allah to avert the activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers as well as the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unforeseen hardships it brought to the country and global community. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), an NGO, has urged Nigerians, particularly students, to use TIMBY App to report cases of sexual exploitation known as sextortion.

TIMBY App is a platform for reporting cases of sexual abuse where victims can seek psychological support and redress.

Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa, a CISLAC board member, gave the advice at a sensitisation programme for tertiary institutions in Lagos on Monday.

Kangiwa said that the programme was part of activities achieved by the NGO with the support of German Agency for International Cooperation to address sextortion experienced by students in higher Institutions.

The programme is organised to educate students of tertiary institutions in Lagos State on sexual exploitation, particularly from the anti-corruption perspective.

The idea is for you to speak out, seek redress and psychological support as we are approaching it from anti-corruption perspective.

Some boys also experience abuses and harassment, hence, the stereotype by the society that females are the only victims of sextortion should be reconsidered, she said.

The CISLAC official advised participants to take advantage of TIMBY APP to get justice, noting that some people are abused but are ignorant of means to get help or apprehend perpetrators.

She added that it was in the quest to finding solution to reports of sexual abuse that CISLAC created electronic channel known as TIMBY App, a physical complaint and reporting channels.

Meanwhile, one of the participants, Mr Oluwaseun Waheed, a Lagos State University (LASU) student, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the programme was wonderful initiative.

Waheed said the programme on sextortion has exposed him on approach to assist colleagues that are affected.

I have learnt about TIMBY App courtesy of CISLAC. The take home which I will use my position as student union leader is to ensure that other students benefit.

We are going to infuse five minutes pep talk in our orientation programme and student union activity week, to further create awareness on sextortion and how to access the App, he said.

The LASU student said there was need to extend the awareness to primary and secondary schools to instill the knowledge in children early enough.

Also, Miss Ijeoma Edozie, Student, Harvard College Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, said that sextortion had been a major challenge faced by students, particularly females in the course of academic pursuit.

Edozie said that TIMBY App would curb activities of perpetrators since they would be apprehended and made to face the law if caught.

She said that the speakers had opened the understanding of participants for them to know when their rights are being violated.

With TIMBY App, such cases will be tackled and the quest to eradicate sextortion in higher institutions will be achieved. There are legal bodies partnering the NGO involved in this race, she added.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bathsheba Tagwai, CISLAC Legal Officer, said the programme was aimed at informing participants that sextortion was wrong and a corruption practice which involved both gender.

The stereotype by society that females are the only victims of sextortion should be reconsidered, there are cases where males fall victims even though not so prevalent, she said.

Tagwai said that the NGO had taken the sensitisation to Abuja, (North Central); Akwa-Ibom, (South South) and Lagos, (South West) while plans are in progress to take the campaign to other states.

NAN reports that no fewer than 100 students from LASU, Federal College of Education, Akoka, YABATECH, Adeniran Ogunsaya, Michael Otedola College of Education, UNILAG and Harvard College Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, participated in the one-day programme. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has described as despicable the attack on the Chairman of the Human Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Mr Lanre Suraju, and his family.

Mr Suraju is a well-known Civil Society Advocate in the extractive industry.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya-Orji, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, expressed shock at the unfortunate development where the lives of Suraju and his family were seriously at risk.

I received the news of the attack on Mr Suraju and his family at their home with the utmost sadness and disappointment and wish to condemn the attack in very strong terms, he said.

The NEITI boss emphasised that attack on Mr Suraju was an attack on all civil society organisations working to enthrone transparency and accountability in the extractive industries.

According to him, the attack is also an affront to civil society protocols under the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) of which Nigeria is a key signatory.

NEITI views this attack on Mr Suraju with pain and will like to appeal to security agencies to carry out full scale investigation to apprehend the culprits.

For us in NEITI, the Civil Society Organisations are our very strong allies. We work with the civil society, government and the companies to enthrone transparency and accountability in the management of oil, gas and mining revenues.

It is NEITIs belief that the interest of leading Civil Society activists like Mr Suraju is simply to help ensure that revenues earned from the extractive sector benefit all Nigerians and not just a few, he said.

He added that there was an urgent need to guarantee the security of all groups, individuals and persons working in the extractive sector to enable them carry out their legitimate assignments without intimidation.

We think it is important for aggrieved persons, individuals or groups to take legitimate steps to seek redress through the law courts instead of resulting to self-help, he said.

Orji reassured the civil society working in the resources of government of NEITIs commitment to continue to work with them and other stakeholders as contained in the NEITI mandate to protect and push the boundaries of civic space beyond limits.

He said it would ensure that the oil, gas and mining sectors in Nigeria were repositioned to provide revenues that will support the nations development and reduce poverty.

In a similar development, the NEITI Executive Secretary has expressed sadness on the recent attack on the rail sector that led to the loss of human lives.

The NEITI boss particularly condoled with the families and members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the leadership of the civil society and all other Nigerian professionals and citizens that were involved in the tragic rail attack.

He said NEITI viewed the attack as an unfortunate incident and capable of derailing the ongoing government efforts and huge investments to revive the Nigerian railway system.

Orji said NEITIs legitmate interest in the railway rehabilitation project was the strategic importance of the key infrastructure to the distribution of petroleum products and allied goods and services.

The NEITI executive scribe noted that it was aware that one of the major problems in the Midstream and Downstream sectors of the petroleum sector currently, was the distribution of the products to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria to ensure products availability at all times.

The railway has since been identified by government and NEITI view this as a very important infrastructure that will enhance the reforms in the sector.

The current attack on the rail sector is designed to derail these reforms and instil fear in the minds of Nigerians travelling by rail.

NEITI is saddened by this development and wishes to appeal to the government and Nigerian Railway Corporation in particular to consider as priority in their ongoing revamping of the railways, adequate security measures for rail travellers, he said.

Orji urged the government not to relent in its ongoing revamping of the rail sector because of its linkage to the extractive sector development.

The NEITI executive secretary explained that what the countrys security agencies required most was citizens support and solidarity, adding that security was every ones business.

He commended the armed forces and all other security agencies for their hard work and sacrifices so far and called on all Nigerians especially leaders to embrace non-partisan, zero ethnic and neutral religious approaches.

This, he said, would promote unity of purpose to help security agencies rescue the country from insurgency, banditry and terrorism. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Patricia Kambarami, an official of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has scored Nigeria high in the organisation of the just-concluded maiden Nigeria Womens T20i Cricket Invitational in Lagos.

Kambarami, an ICC Regional Development Manager who was present at the week-long invitationalin Lagos, lauded the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) for the quality of planning and execution.

She also appreciated the performance of the five teams which participated - Ghana, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and hosts Nigeria.

The participating teams put up a good performance.

I must also say that the organisation of this tournament and the quality is top notch. I could see that a lot went into making this tournament what it was and it is great to see the success that was achieved.

Kambarami further said it was great to see how much countries like Ghana and The Gambia put in with their response at the tournament held at the Tafawa Balewa Square cricket oval in Lagos.

It only shows that they will keep improving with more competitions, like the Kwibuka tournamentin Rwanda which is coming up soon.

But, more important for me was watching the excitement on the faces of the spectators.

One could see the interest, participation and enthusiasm from the kids around and it tells you so much of how cricket has grown in this country.

Also, I see this tournament improving with more competitors in subsequent events, Kambarami said.

The ICC official also said she was impressed with the quality of the Nigerian women team which participated in the invitational.

The Nigerian women team has improved tremendously.

I watched them in Zimbabwe in 2019, but what I am seeing now is impressive and I really must congratulate the NCF for what they have done with the team. Its such a brilliant job, she said.

Kambarami also said there is in the young players she has seen in the Nigerian team a testament to the progress of the federations grassroot development programme.

Its great to see the improvement from the Nigerian side and I am so impressed by this, she added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), on Monday announced its collaboration with Legislators, designed to attain universal health coverage in Nigeria.

LISDEL unveiled the partnership at a two-day capacity building programme, with the theme Enhancing Salience and Capacity of Health Committee of National Assembly to Catalyse Progress towards UHC.

The programme is organised by LISDEL, an indigenous not-for-profit organization, and partners.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that as part of its mission to support the strengthening of health systems efforts in Nigeria, with support from partners, LISDEL is collaborating with the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNUHC) to enhance UHC in Nigeria.

This intervention is part of the objectives of the Strengthening Government Partnerships and Advocacy for PHC (SPAG) Project being implemented by LISDEL at the national and state levels.

The event is targeted at key stakeholders in the legislature to enhance the application of their roles and functions to ensure the expansion of health financial risk protection mechanisms to vulnerable populations in the country.

It includes the following objectives: Review of progress of the legislative health agenda/work plan and priorities resolved to be achieved at the inception of the current Assembly; identify approaches to mitigate challenges; and to set new priorities based on the outcomes of the tracking process.

Enhance the knowledge of clerks and health committee secretaries around broad health financing and UHC concepts, linked to existing reforms in Nigeria, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and how their roles can strengthen their implementations.

In an address of welcome, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Convener of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU), Sen. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, said that the legislators have gathered to apply their statutory functions of legislation, appropriation, oversight accountability and representation to raise health high on the agenda of government.

Oloriegbe noted that the two-day capacity building programme would provide critical interventions for legislative action that would support attainment of UHC in the country.

Dr Francis Ukwuije, Health Economist, World Health Organization (WHO), said that UHC means that all people must have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.

Ukwuije said this includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

The goals of UHC are to ensure that all people can access quality health services, to safeguard all people from public health risks, and to protect all people from impoverishment due to illness, whether from out-of-pocket payments for health care or loss of income when a household member falls sick.

Low levels of entitlements, large healthcare inequality, limited financial protection and poor portability are deemed as major challenges in the progress of UHC, he explained.

Dr David Olayemi, Consultant Specialist on PHC, said that the principles of any PHC are accessibility, public participation, health promotion, appropriate technology and intersectoral cooperation.

Olayemi said that accessibility means that the five types of health care are universally available to all Nigerians regardless of their geographical location.

He stated that community participation means that Nigerians are encouraged to participate in making decisions about their own health, in identifying the health needs of their community, and in considering the merits of alternative approaches to addressing those needs.

He stressed that health promotion involves health education, nutrition, sanitation, maternal and child health care, immunization, prevention and control of disease.

The goal of health promotion is to reduce the demands for curative and rehabilitative care.

Appropriate technology means that modes of care are appropriately adapted to the communitys social, economic and cultural development.

Intersectoral cooperation recognizes that health and well-being are linked to both economic and social policy as Intersectoral cooperation is needed to establish national and local health goals, healthy public policy, and the planning and evaluation of health services, he added.

In her welcome address, Mrs Juliana Abude-Aribo, Executive Director, LISDEL, said that the objective of the capacity building programme is to deepen understanding of the legislators on health financing, UHC,and PHC objectives and policies.

Abude-Aribo said this is also to enhance the understanding of legislative functions and enhance the application of these functions to ensure the expansion of health financial risk protection mechanisms to target population.

She added that the capacity building would also gather knowledge and use of information to develop implementable processes, tools, framework, strategic legislative health agenda and work plans in the application of legislative functions towards health care strengthening.

The Executive Director stated that this would track progress in past commitments made by legislators to promote UHC and articulate plans to implement pending commitments.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

An Oil and gas expert, Mr Olabode Sowunmi has called for a reorientation of the people on the economic and intergenerational implications of oil theft and vandalism to the countrys economy.

Sowunmi made the call while speaking virtually at the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watchs (CeFTIW) weekly engagement which sought to interrogate oil theft and sundry challenges in the nations oil and gas sector.

He was responding to a recent report by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) which disclosed that the nation lost 3.27 billion dollars worth of oil to vandalism and oil theft in the past 14 months.

He said that the nations oil sector was in a transitory stage which required the cooperation of all stakeholders to maximise the industrys value chain.

The industry belongs to all of us as Nigerians, and it is important we contribute to ensure that the economy stays alive and that the nation can compete economically among comity of nations.

The subject of oil theft touches not just the soul of the economy, but the life of everyone, he said.

Sowunmi, who noted that oil and gas accounts for close to 90 per cent of the nations forex earnings, described oil theft as economic sabotage and a treasonable offencegiving its long term implication.

He said that oil theft, like illegal drugs and diamonds, were global issues, but called on authorities to expedite actions so it did not get to a stage where the soul of the nations economy would be deeply affected.

Sowunmi, who is a consultant to the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, identified economic, political and host community struggles as factors responsible for oil theft.

He enjoined the government to explore technology options so as to safeguard the nations oil infrastructures.

He added that the option of marking the nations crude oil to the extent that illegal crude sales could be identified and culprit apprehended, was one of the options that had been discussed in the past.

The recipients and buyers of such illegal crude should be engaged and punished, especially in line with the basic principles of criminal laws which prohibit buying of stolen products, Sowunmi added.

He called on host communities to support law enforcement agencies on efforts towards ridding the sector of criminal elements who were known community members.

The expert said that failure of such efforts would amount to the country playing cat and mouse game.

On low investors confidence, Sowunmi said that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act would restore their confidence.

According to him, it is not the systems that matters, it is human beings that operate the systems that make systems work.

The Amnesty programme was a strategic attempt to give people who were militants skills that will make them economically productive.

However, no matter the skill a man has, if he does not have a mindset of work, he may not use that skill for work.

What has happened is that the theft and other sundry challenges are rooted as cultural problems; in other words, there are people who see sabotaging the system as normal and the right thing to do.

It is that culture that needs to be engaged and discussed, and until that changes, the system would remain as it is.

There is also the need to crush the entitlement mentality of the people who believe that they can just have everything on a platter of gold because they are hosting IOCs, he submitted.

At the engagement series, CeFTIW called for immediate strengthening of security around oil infrastructures to deter vandals, while those paraded to have been responsible for oil theft and vandalism by the Navy should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent.

The center also advised that the government should deploy technology to monitor oil infrastructures as a long term measure to save the soul of the nations oil and gas industry. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebeli

The Centre for Memories (CFM), Enugu, in collaboration with the [Re:]Entanglements project of School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London on Saturday held an exhibition on Igbo Spirituality and Cosmology.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Center for Memories is a repository of the history and culture of Ndigbo Igbo people, informing and empowering leaders to serve with excellence and integrity.

The [Re:]Entanglements project is to promote the Igbo culture.

It has been re-engaging with a remarkable ethnographic archive including objects, photographs, sound recordings, botanical specimens, published work and fieldnotes assembled by the colonial anthropologist,, Northcote W. Thomas, in Southern Nigeria and Sierra Leone between 1909 and 1915.

As well as better understanding the historical context in which these materials were gathered, the project seeks to examine their significance in the present

The Executive Director of CFM, Mr Iheanyi Igboko, said the exhibition was aimed at creating a platform where true and valid Igbo conversation from the past to present could be discussed and documented.

The event was based on photography and arts exhibition on the nature of Igbo cosmology.

Igboko said: It became necessary so people could understand what our forefathers did and for us to continue in their tradition, to practice it so that next generation can learn from it.

The centre is working to bridge the gap between the Igbos undocumented history, tradition and culture being handed over to them from one generation to another.

The centre is taking it upon itself to do some documentation of them in terms of preservation and promotion of Igbo identity in areas of their spirituality and cosmology, Igboko added.

In his remarks, the Provost of Atcoi College of Education, Enugu, Mr Zulu Ofoelue, said there was no evil in Igbo culture as people labelled it.

Ofoelue said the people of the region used culture for restoration and survival.

According to him, anything anyone does that brings evil is not Igbo culture and is regarded as Nso ala (abomination); they include killing, human sacrifices and stealing, among others.

If a person commits an offence, he will be banished and not killed.

Igbos have authentic existence but they fell into problem because they received white men who deceived them to believe that their culture was not good.

Even the lands they built their churches was given to them free-of-charge but what did they use to pay us back?, telling us that our culture is evil, Ofoelue said.

He said it was actually lack of understanding that made people to condemn Igbo tradition and heritage.

Earlier, the representative of the [Re:]Entanglements Project, Dr George Agbo, said the traditional world of every Igbo person comprised of certain beliefs, ideas and thoughts that guide them through life.

He noted that the world held sway over the minds of Igbos which was manifested in their customs, habits, laws, lifestyle and belief.

Agbo said that between 1909 and 1913, an anthropologist, Northcote Thomas, toured Edo and other Igbo speaking areas of Nigeria extensively, recording Igbo spirituality and cosmology.

He added that Thomas and his assistants took thousands of photographs and articles on Igbo cosmology which had been in existence up to this very day. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News