By Taiye Agbaje

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) and Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN) on Wednesday stressed the need for the youth to have sense of direction to drive transformational impact and positive change in Nigeria.

The Chairman, Publicity of NIDOA/NDN Planning Committee, Dr Barth Shepkong, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

Shepkong said that to this end, the groups have agreed to organise a virtual youth summit titled: Youth and National Development in Nigeria scheduled to take place on April 9.

In 2022, NIDOA and NDN are embarking on a collaborative partnership to host a Diaspora Nigerian Youth Summit.

The goal of the youth summit is to bring all Nigerian Youths together, motivate them, get them involved and give them a sense of direction to drive transformational impact and positive change in Nigeria.

Both organisations see the Nigerian youths as a catalyst for change and formidable force to make impact in their communities and our country Nigeria.

A core objective of this collaboration is to establish a foundation and a movement to inspire the young people to serve their communities and raise the bar on what we can achieve together, he said.

Shepkong said that the groups were neither a political movement nor planning to create political parties.

This is not a political movement, and we are not here to create political parties or endorse a political candidate.

Rather, we are here to drive transformational change in our young people and our country, Nigeria, he said.

He said the groups understood that government alone could not solve the myriads of issues facing the country, hence, the need to impact in the youths the knowledge and experience that would help shape them for better Nigeria.

Some of the guest speakers at the summit include Prof. Usman Yusuf, former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); and Petra Akinti Onyegbule, chief responsibility officer of LibraPrime Communications Ltd.

Others are Dr Tunji Abayomi, civil right leader and ambassador; Toye Sobande, leadership expert, lawyer and certified management consultant and Destiny Asen, chief executive officer, Perfect Asen Entertainment Ltd.

While NIDOAs mission is to
promote the spirit of patriotism, networking, and cooperation among Nigerians in the Diaspora, for their individual and collective success in the countries they reside, NDN is an organisation for volunteer professionals of like mind working with accomplished patriotic Nigerian professionals striving for the development of the country.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will provide grant to 12,283 farmers under the FCT Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) Programme.

Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCTA said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ibrahim spoke at the opening of a capacity building programme for FCT Fadama CARES Project facilitators and desk officers.

The FCTA has allocated .5 million to the FCT Fadama CARES Project for the implementation of three Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) with targets, to provide grant support to 12,283 and rehabilitate 17 water markets.

The figure which accounts for 30 per cent of the total allocation to FCT Cares Programme by the World Bank, underlines the significance FCTA accords to agriculture in the territory.

We are very conscious of this gesture and wish to assure that we will continue to put in our best to justify the confidence on us from the FCTA, he said.

He said the FCT CARES Programme is a World Bank budget support to the FCTA for non-discretionary expenditure, targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households.

Ibrahim said the Programme would be implemented using the World Bank Programme for Result (P for R) financing model.

According to him, this model requires the beneficiary of the credit, the FCTA to invest its own resources first, while the World Bank thereafter reimburses after verification of achieved result by Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).

He said the reimbursement would be done in line with agreed prices and targets earlier set for all Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs).

The Secretary pledged that the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat would provide the FCT Fadama CARES with the necessary support to ensure that vital projects were delivered.

In his remark, Mr Usman Adangara, the FCT Fadama CARES Project Coordinator said the facilitators and desk officers, being trained were the frontline project staff in the implementation of FCT Fadama CARES Project.

He said the training was to ensure that the capacities of officers were further built to fully equip them with necessary tools for the successful discharge of their duties.

Adangara said the implementation of FCT Fadama CARES Project had commenced with the declaration by World Bank that FCT was eligible to participate in the NG CARES having met all programme effectiveness criteria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line.

He also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay while the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution should also be extended to Lagos to Ibadan railway line.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Spokesman in a statement, said that Buhari gave these directives after receiving briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Irabor was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba

Also in his company were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, in the State House.

The president also charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped.

He also directed that each of the callous terrorists be hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts as no one or group should be allowed to make the country prostrate.

He reiterated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists.

He urged them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.

No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom, he added.

Buhari strongly condemned the bombing of the passenger train, describing it as a matter of grave concern.

Like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet to be determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries.

The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured, he said.

The president commended the Law Enforcement agencies for their prompt response and emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen, Irabor, who spoke with State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president, explained the purpose of their visit to the president.

We have come to brief the President regarding the unfortunate incident of yesterday, where some criminals, bandits had gone to lay improvised explosive devices on the rail tracks.

And, a passenger train was demobilised and seven Nigerianswere killed, 29 others wounded and some were kidnapped and we are yet to establish the exact number.

So, we went to the scene this morning, inspected the entire area and gave out instructions on what is to be done and we have come to brief the President on this development, he said.

According to Irabor, security agencies will build on the lessons they have learnt from the latest incident.

He, therefore, assured Nigerians that the military and other security agencies would not rest on their oars until normalcy is restored.

The challenge of insecurity is a constant one and so the defence and security agencies need to be on their toes 24/7.

This is unfortunate and we believe that the lessons out of this are what we need to build upon going forward.

I can perhaps use this opportunity and reassure the nation that based on the presidents directive, we will take every necessary action, not just to apprehend those behind this dastardly act are not just apprehended but for them to also face justice.

Going forward, certainly there will be greater security for the nation and I will like to urge everybody to go about their normal duties, he said. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Isaac Albert, a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, says the current security challenges confronting Nigeria can only be addressed only if the root causes were identified.

Albert said this at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre 1st Annual Members Summit with the theme,Nigerias Security in the 21st Century: Issues, Challenges and Panacea on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the world was currently faced with issues of international terrorism, environmental degradation, natural disasters, drugs, organised crime, inter-state war, refugee problems, and failed state system.

The professor said that Nigeria was being confronted from two axes of evil referring to the Gulf of Guinea and the Sahel, which he said were two specific environments that threw up security problems in Nigeria.

He said that while the country contended with the problem of oil theft around the Gulf of Guinea, the Sahel harboured troublemakers, terrorists, drug cartels, human traffickers and arms proliferation.

According to him, there is no part of Nigeria that is not having its own specific security problems, and with our military overwhelmed at this moment.

Everywhere you go across the nation, you see high caliber weapons that civilians who have no reason to even know about that even have them all over the place.

Now what makes the military tick is the training as well as the weapons in the hands of the state officers.

Now you have similar weapons in the hands of civilians who have no professional training on weapon handling, who have not been introduced to laws of ongoing conflict.

Our communities are getting totally detached from our security system. There are communities that pretend and no longer speak out.

So the question is, how do you protect that type of community? How do you protect a community that is paying tax to criminals? How do you protect a community that is protecting criminals?

Now, to deal with all these problems, my own recommendation is that we need to start with the root causes of the problems.

Unfortunately, the way we manage our security in Nigeria does not take into consideration the root causes; and so long as you are not dealing with the root causes, you will continue to have the problems because what the military does is to deal with two branches of the tree.

You deal with the top of the tree, but the root causes are political, he said.

Albert urged governments at all levels to work together towards addressing the challenges by adopting all-of-government, all-of-society and all-of-nations approach.

He also advocated that youths be empowered with the requisite training to be able to take up leadership roles, saying there could not be a peaceful state where people have no hope of tomorrow.

The Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said the summit was organised to discuss, understand and diagnose the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.

Wahab said the issues of insecurity required that all hands must be on deck to find lasting solution, adding that the military and the security agencies alone could not address the myriad of security challenges confronting the country.

He urged participants to brainstorm and make useful recommendations that could stand the test of time, adding that the country had enormous human and material resources needed to confront the issues. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
.

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has earmarked 9,5 million dollars to tackle malnutrition in Bauchi ,Kebbi and Sokoto states for two years.

Mr Paul McDermott, USAID/Nigeria, Director, Health Population and Nutrition Office made this known at the USAID Advancing Nutrition Project Launch in Abuja.

McDermott said the challenge of malnutrition in Nigeria was evident, and that a multi-sectoral approach was needed to change the situation, especially in children, adolescents and women.

So what we basically worked on, in addition to coming up with this great new project that we are here to launch, is all part of a larger puzzle.

We specifically tried to limit it to the states that we are already working with our integrated health programme.

We also have some significant investments, I think in education and WASH , and of course, in agriculture in these same states that will be synergistic.

The activity will provide technical support, share information and knowledge, conduct research, to improve nutritional outcomes in Bauchi , Kebbi and Sokoto, as well as at the national level.

We are looking at over the past 60 years that USAID programmes have saved lives and improved health outcomes across the globe.

McDermott said that addressing the multifaceted challenges of malnutrition remained one of the agencys greatest areas of focus and that it would continue to collaborate with the government of Nigeria .

This ,he said was to provide support for women children, and adolescents at risk of malnutrition.

He added that USAID had a multi-sectoral institution nutrition strategy for 2020 to 2025, which aligned with its broader USAID strategy across all the development sectors it was working .

It covers almost everything that we have been talking about today.

The access to the food, the service delivery capacity, the community leadership and the role of womens health and then of course, water and sanitation.

McDermott said that USAID was also looking at the 1000 day window between the start of a womans pregnancy and the childs second birthday.

The project, he said, had an overall approach and established priorities for investments in policies and programmes to reduce the many burdens of malnutrition.

He added that it would seek to improve coordination, both at the Federal and the sub national level and increased collaboration.

So we are very pleased to unveil this strategy today, we are already doing some of this work in integrating the nutrition that is happening across the 33 states,he said

Mr Clement Agba, Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, said that the negative consequences of malnutrition on public health expenditure and economic productivity required a multiple pronged approach by all stakeholders to address it.

Represented by Dr Sanjo Faniran ,Director ,Social Development , Ministry of finance ,budget and national planning, the minister commended USAID for its effort in tackling malnutrition, adding that the government was committed to addressing the incidence of malnutrition by implementing strategies.

Agba said the ministry coordinated the development of the National Multi-Sectoral Plan for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) 2021 2025 which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in September, 2021.

He said the plan would be implemented by the Federal, states and local government, Organised Private Sector, Development Partners and Donors including USAID and allied partners.

He said the ministry coordinated an exploratory dialogue that covered the entire country in 2020/2021.

He added that about 40 dialogues were held which produced a Transformation Pathway for Food Systems in Nigeria.

Agba said the consolidated report was synthesised into short-, medium and long-term plans that stated the priorities of Nigeria on food systems transformation.

It is from these priorities that three programmes were selected as priority programmes to run from January December, 2022.

One, the Federal Government through the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMeT) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) regularly collect and disseminate (through Radio and other platforms) weather patterns and soil properties,

Two, there have been establishment of Farm Settlements/Estates made up of groups of small Producers, including women and youths, to increase input supply, machinery hiring, extension and other services, and market access.

Three ,the Federal Government through the local government areas is promoting Operation Feed Yourself by helping households to access information and inputs that will encourage them to produce food around their houses to feed their families.

Agba said the ministry also took steps to develop an implementation plan for the three priority programme for 2022 with all relevant stakeholders including Development Partners.

Ms Tina Lloren, Director of Country Initiatives ,USAID Advancing Nutrition said that the launch of the project implementation was aimed at improving nutrition for healthy, productive and resilient population.

Lloren commended other stakeholders that provided invaluable input to the development of the project, adding that their effort helped to ensure that the work aligned with governments priorities in obtaining optimal nutrition for all citizens.

She said that USAID envisioned a world where countries communities and families would be well nourished, resilient, and able to thrive.

Malnutrition, she said, was an underlying cause of nearly half of the deaths in young children around the world.

We are very proud of the contributions we have made toward strengthening policies and programmes to improve nutrition globally.

We are very excited to embark on this challenge in support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I am happy to share that we already have a web page dedicated to Nigeria to highlight the learning from our programming here.

We look forward to populating that web page with the learning from the project in a bid to strengthen efforts in multi sectoral coordination around the world, she said, adding that USAID was led by a consortium ,the JSI Research and Training Institute and its partner organisations, including Helen Keller International, which remained the lead implementing partner for operations in Nigeria.

The Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto governments thanked USAID for the project and committed to supporting it in order to tackle malnutrition in their states.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism, Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVEIT), a pressure and anti-terrorism group, has expressed confidence in the military and other security agencies efforts at ending insecurity.

The National Coordinator of BRAVEIT, Dr Muhammad Abubakar, stated this in a statement titled: Nigerian Militarys Strides Against Terrorists, Other Criminal Elements: Indeed, an End to Insecurity is Nigh on Tuesday in Abuja.

Abubakar said the group had continued to condemn attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, pirates, ritualists, oil vandals, and militia groups, among other criminal elements.

He said the gruesome attacks, alongside vicious acts of criminalities stage-managed by criminal-minded persons, had led to loss of lives, emotional and psychological trauma, physical injuries, and loss of valuable properties.

According to him, it is as a result of the unending wave of these security challenges that the country has been under the yoke of pervasive insecurity, in the last few years.

Nevertheless, our BRAVEIT, as a pressure group, is tremendously proud of the efforts of the countrys security agencies, towards tackling insecurity in the land permanently.

Devoid of sentiment, our BRAVEIT, wish to applaud, immensely, the remarkable strides of the Nigerian Army troops, in particular.

Ordinarily, it is not part of their statutory and constitutional mandates. However, the Nigerian Army, first under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Nigerias Ambassador to the Republic of Benin; and now, under the stewardship of Lt.-Gen. Faruq Yahaya, has greatly helped other sister security agencies stem the tide of internal unrests.

Under the present Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Gen. Yahaya, no fewer than 36,000 ISWAP-Boko Haram insurgents and their families, between last year July and March this year, renounced terrorism.

Similarly, troops of the Nigerian Army, indeed deserve our plaudits for the brutal war they have continued to wage against ISWAP and Boko Haram, in recent times.

In the last three months, troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) neutralised 126 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the North-East.

It Is an open secret that not only the fighters, but top Commanders/Leaders of both ISWAP and Boko Haram, such as Sani Shuwaram and Al-Barnawi, were recently eliminated in deadly military operations conducted by troops in the North East, he said.

Abubakar said the troops had depleted the ranks of bandit groups in Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kaduna States where wanted bandit leaders had met their waterloo during combat operations.

He also said that the recent ranking of Nigeria in the 2022 global terrorism index (GTI) from fourth to sixth position was a clear indication of the dogged achievements of the Nigerian army.

Taking into cognisance the aforementioned landmark efforts of the Nigerian army, we at BRAVEIT, summarily conclude that the days of the monstrous insecurity are numbered, while its end is nigh.

However, we are calling on the Nigerian Army leadership and its troops not to rest on their oars.

They must not let their guards down as they continue to pummel ISWAP-Boko Haram fighters, and rampaging armed bandits, most especially.

They must, as a matter of fact, continue to devise innovative and potent combat strategies that will permanently defeat all criminal elements holding the country to ransom, in no distant future, he said.

BRAVEIT coordinator cautioned politicians and detractors against politicising security issues.

He also called on all patriotic citizens to continue to lend their support to the Nigerian army and its troops in the ongoing operations across the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

A Nigerian author, Jack Oswald, has advised the Federal Ministry of Education to explore music from renowned musicians such as Davido and Wizkid to reinforce knowledge in the new generation children.

Oswald who doubles as a visual artist, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, in Lagos.

He said considering the rate at which times had changed in the way children learn, a new educational system should be developed to aid their assimilation and comprehension.

According to him, this could also be adopted to spur reading culture in children.

If we want our young people to read and remember in a different way, we must present the content of educational material to them differently.

Imagine five minutes of Mathematics in a Davido song, or Wizkid or Burna Boys music, none of these kids will forget those formulas ever.

We live in interesting times where children learn to swipe through their parents phones to get to their favourite apps at the speed of light.

These kids and the ones coming after them are not changing anytime soon, so the reading culture has to change for them, to accommodate them.

It calls for the exploration of the opportunities in audio books and multi-dimensional educational aids, it calls for the redefinition of child education curriculum, its content, modes and channels of delivery, he said.

Oswald said the era of acknowledging and rewarding academic excellence should be embraced to encourage children to thirst for more knowledge and read extensively.

He said government might need to look at the production for online television as a strategic thrust for the development of a homegrown curriculum.

Oswald noted that a post-millennial reading culture could be birthed when government harnessed all its investment in educational psychologists and private sector-driven technology.

According to him, investments in television, radio networks and broadcasting assets are equally important.

A history of rewarding excellence from bookish knowledge is not exactly commonplace.

Online, you will find ridiculous prizes presented to first-class graduates by their schools such as N1,000, N10,000, when N30 million is up for grabs for reality shows that expose nudity and all.

These are not exactly the type of inspiration to read.

Analogue book reading culture may never go away, but getting kids to look away from colourful videos and application with multi-dimensional content to look at boring black and white will remain an uphill task, he said.

Oswald the author of Man Who Knew Too Much said his next book entitled The Wrath of the Madam would be launched soon.

He said the story borders on data management, elections and the conflict that sucks in a nurse, single mother to battle the deep state with a needle.

The ladies will absolutely love this, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Tuesday visited the scene of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack and ordered troops to intensify search and rescue operations as well as hunt down the terrorists.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the COAS had assessed the security situation around the general area of the attack and inspected the attacked train, as well as the rail track to evaluate the degree of damage.

He said Yahaya was accompanied by some principal staff officers of the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division.

He ordered the troops of the Nigerian army and other security agencies to intensify their search and rescue operations to ensure that the kidnapped victims were rescued unconditionally.

The COAS has also assured Nigerians that the troops would be undeterred and vehement in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality.

He urged members of the surrounding communities and all Nigerians to continue to avail troops with credible information to enhance their operations across the country.

Yahaya observed that the attack reverberates the need for critical stakeholders to review the security of railways across the country in order to achieve the desired security architecture for railway transportation, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, would chair the public launch of IPTV Technology in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the the Chief Executive Officer, LGC Media Nigeria Ltd., Mr Kola Esomojumi, on Monday in Lagos.

Esomojumi said that the public presentation slated for March 31 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja would be chaired by Adebayo.

IPTV Technology is a creation and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Leadership and Governance Canada Inc. (LGC) in partnership with FNIK Media Inc. and Nigerian investors.

This is in response to the clarion call by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigerians in the Diaspora to support the economic initiative of the Federal Government by mobilising FDI to the country, he said.

Esomojumi said that three IPTV products are to be unveiled: Home Device package for home and office use; LGCMoba the App device for mobile users; and hotel package for hotels and institutions with multiple outlets.

According to him, the packages come with top channels in news, entertainment, sports, music, lifestyle, kids, movies, religion/faith, and many more.

The number of channels range from 50 to 5,000 and are designed with the audience in mind in terms of variety of content, pricing, entertainment, installation and flexibility with subscription. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Tuesday blamed private depot owners for the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in some parts of Nigeria.

IPMANs National President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some of the private depot owners had not reduced their ex-depot price for PMS, also known as petrol.

NAN reports that some independent marketers are still selling PMS from between N180 to N200 per litre in their stations, especially in the interior areas of Lagos and Ogun States.

Some of our members are still buying products at higher ex-depot prices, hence you see that some of them are selling more than the approved pump price of N165.

IPMAN is appealing to the government and relevant authorities to engage these depot owners to revert to the old price regime so that there will be some kind of uniformity in the price of petrol, he said.

Okoronkwo said the scarcity of PMS experienced across the country in the past few weeks was almost coming to an end.

He advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., to increase the volume of products being supplied to Port Harcourt, Calabar and other coastal areas to ensure a smooth distribution.

On the compensation of motorists affected by the imported off-spec petrol, he said IPMAN members were still compiling the list which would be subjected to scrutiny.

Okoronkwo said: We are compiling the list and very soon marketers will present it to the relevant government agencies.

We want to make sure that some unscrupulous persons dont take advantage of the situation to exploit the government.

We believe that those affected will be compensated at the end of the day and are advising them to be patient and law abiding. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Julius Toba-Jegede

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ife Federal Constituency on Monday adopted the candidature of Prince (Dr) Ayoade Adewopo, for the House of Representatives in 2023 General Elections.

Adewopos adoption followed a meeting held in Ile-Ife on Monday afternoon where leadership of the party in a unanimous decision agreed to support him as the sole candidate to represent them in the 10th National Assembly.

The resolution of the leaders signed by Mr Wale Ojo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reiterated Adewopos commitment to the party and the constituency, including his unalloyed loyalty and support for the party at all times.

The resolution urged members of PDP across the constituency to give their maximum support and cooperation to the aspirant in his bid to fly the flag of the party in the coming general elections.

It further indicated that a motion for the adoption which was moved at the end of their meeting was supported and approved by the leaders in a unanimous voice vote.

When contacted by NAN to react to the development, Adewopo said it was not a surprise that his people want him to represent them through such a unanimous decision.

He attributed their decision to the love the people of Ife Federal Constituency have for him and his record of communal support for the people in the past.

He thanked the leaders for what he described as their bold step, with a promise that he would not disappoint them if eventually voted into office.

NAN reports that Adewopo was one of the PDP governorship aspirants in 2018, who was reportedly asked by the leadership of the party to step down since the deputy governorship slot was zoned to the same constituency he hails from.

Source: NAN News

By Okon Okon

The Federal Government has directed all offices to close by 1p.m. on Tuesday, so as to mobilise support for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary (Service Welfare Office), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), made this known in a circular she issued on Monday, in Abuja.

As you are aware, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be meeting the Black Stars of Ghana in continuation of the 2022 FIFA World-Cup Qualifier, Playoff, (Return Leg).

There is a need to mobilise support for the Nigerian team.

Consequently, I am directed to inform you that all offices will be closed at 1.00pm on Tuesday, March 29, she said.

According to her, Permanent Secretaries are requested to give this circular wide publicity to achieve the desired result.

NAN reports that Tuesdays Nigeria and Ghana clash will be played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, by 6 p. m.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said that the establishment of civil military cooperation by the Armed Forces of Nigeria was meant to engender trust with the civil populace and enhance military operations.

Irabor said this at the inauguration of a three-day Civil-Military Conference organised by the Conference of Civil Society of Nigeria, on Monday in Abuja.

He was represented at the conference with the theme, Maximum Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) for Maximum Security in Nigeria by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo.

Irabor restated the committment of the military towards building confidence of the citizenry on the armed forces, as well as to take ownership for the military, describing it as core elements or concepts of civil-military relations in democracy.

According to him, the military in a democracy is the protector of people, and their communities, contrary to the era when it was seen as an instrument for the pontification of the ruler.

He said the conference would provide the platform for all stakeholders, civil and military to build respective capacities to apply our effort to find solution to the myriad of security challenges facing our dear country.

Nigeria is faced with such security issues such as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other contemporary security challenges which the military with other security agencies has been applying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to overcome.

The conduct of these security operations by the military cannot be successful without civilian support and collaboration.

The expected support is from the various tiers of the government, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, international Non-Governmental Organisations, the general public and military.

Civil military cooperation is of utmost importance, hence the federal government of Nigeria provided a legal framework to institutionalise the Nigerian National Defence Policy.

Kinetic operations by the military has sometimes created a gap between the military and the civil populace.

Note that the military is part of the society and it is subordinate to civil authority at all times. So, an advocacy for civilian support for the military to endear the military to the general public is a necessity.

Instances abound where the civil population had had sympathy and provide support for adversary which hampered military operations against such adversary.

Also, the populace exhibit little or no security consciousness or awareness. This could be observed when the civilian populace display apathy and reluctant attitude in giving actionable information to the military to make its operation proactive rather than reactive, he said.

The CDS said the Defence Headquarters and the various services had continued to carry out civil military activities in form of quick impact projects in communities within operational areas.

He said that such projects have had positive impact on the communities and the military operations.

He urged the participants to come up with workable solutions that would enhance cordial relationship between the military and the civil populace.

Also, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, said the Nigerian Army recognised the importance of the civil populace in carrying out its operations, saying that security was everyones business.

Yahaya was represented by the Director, Psychological Operations, Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Army, Brig.-Gen. Ojogbane Adegbe.

He said that the army had continued to engage stakeholders including the civil society to galvanise support for its operations across the country.

The COAS said that the army had established its human rights and legal desks across the country to address cases of abuses and other complaints by the public.

He pledged to continue to collaborate with CSOs to boost the confidence of the public in the military and ensure successful operations.

For his part, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, said the service had in line with the national defence policy established and maintained a viable civil military cooperation department.

Represented by the Director of Civil Military Cooperation, Nigerian Air Force, Air Cmdr. Anthony Nweke, Amoa said that NAF had recorded successes in the provision of social welfare programmes, like free medicare services, educational or training facilities as well as empowerment programmes.

He said the service used civil military cooperation as a strategy for improved operational efficiency, adding that it had constructed a number of medical centres and classrooms as part of its civil military cooperation activities.

Amao commended the civil society group for convening the conference towards addressing the security challenges bedeviling the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by representatives of the CDS, Service Chiefs and Inspector-General of Police as well as members of intelligence community. (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were important in the attainment of robust economic cooperation among governments across the globe.

Osinbajo pointed this out in Abuja at the opening of a capacity workshop on Africas Voluntary National Reviews for the 2022 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and Domestication of the Agenda 2063.

The Vice President, represented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the strategic partnership embedded in the SDGs had availed Nigeria a huge implementation context.

He said Nigeria had established six SDGs innovation hubs, one in each geo-political zone to achieve the SDGs and their effective implementation.

Osinbajo said the idea was to provide an opportunity for states to leverage and dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to accelerate innovative solutions.

He said the idea was also aimed at prioritising social protection as a tool to overcome the bottlenecks and expanding financing options to accelerate the achievement of SDGs in Nigeria.

According to him, since the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Agenda 2030, Nigeria has embarked upon a process of domesticating the agendas at the national and sub-national levels.

Osinbajo said the new National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025 had strategies aimed at achieving the targets set under each of the goals in both agendas.

He said the capacities of policymakers were being strengthened to ensure their implementation in an integrated and coherent manner to facilitate an inclusive implementation process across all relevant sectors.

The vice president said Nigeria had been proactive in addressing the effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and had attained a landmark; even in the midst of the slowdown of economic activities arising from the pandemic.

In addressing the gaps created by the pandemic, the National Economic Recovery and Sustainability Plan of Government was introduced to cushion some of the hard effects of the global meltdown.

Other strides achieved in the country included the efforts at improving food security and nutrition through a Multi-Sectoral Plan for food and nutrition.

The Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021-2025 has been launched and is in the public domain while the Long-Term National Development Plan, tagged Nigeria Agenda 2050, is in the process of completion, he said.

He said the Federal Government had also developed national pathways for food system transformation, an outcome of an exploratory dialogue conducted in Nigeria.

Osinbajo said the dialogue was as recommended by the Secretary-General of the UN that countries should dialogue to identify the challenges facing food from the farm to the dining table.

He said the objective was to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs, since 2021-2030 was recognised as decade of action for accelerating the achievement of SDGs.

In her remark, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, said the HLPF was part of follow-up and review mechanisms for the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

She said the HLPF was to encourage member-states to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels.

It is gladdening to state that Nigeria presented its First Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the HLPF in July 2017.

Nigerias first VNR outlined the institutional dimensions for creating an enabling policy environment for the implementation of the SDGs through the Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) (2017-2020).

Similarly, in July 2020, Nigeria presented its Second VNR with a specific focus on critical issues of poverty and inclusive economy.

Health and well-being, education, gender equality, an enabling environment of peace and security as well as partnership and means of implementation.

This focus was based on Nigerias current development priorities as well as the cardinal objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, she said.

Princess Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africas Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Nigeria, said the workshop was to support the national capacities of African Union Member States.

She said the area of support was to generate outcomes on the implementation of SDGs and Agenda 2063 to be presented at the upcoming High-Level Political Forum.

Akobundu said the forum was scheduled to hold in July under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government says while oil prices are on the rise, Nigeria is not reaping the full benefits of the current windfall because of years of neglect of the oil industry.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the explanation at a media briefing on Monday in Abuja

He said while oil producing countries are today smiling to the bank as oil prices are on the rise Nigeria is not, because the previous administration failed to stimulate growth in the oil sector for many years.

The minister specifically fingered the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he said failed to put in place the Petroleum Industry Law.

Better late than never, they say. President Muhammadu Buhari last year signed into law the Petroleum Industry Bill, now the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The PIA is envisaged to foster investment in the industry and delineate responsibilities to the various institutions.

This is a monumental achievement in the critical oil and gas sector, he said

The minister said with the PIA in place, new businesses were already springing up in the sector.

He also commended the Buhari administration for providing conducive environment for businesses to thrive in all sectors.

Under this administration, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has implemented over 150 reforms, moving Nigeria up 39 places on the World Bank Doing Business index since 2016.

Mr President also signed the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) Nigerias most significant business legislation in three decades.

The result of this favourable business environment is the birth of new businesses such as the 2.5 billion U.S dollars Dangote Fertiliser Plant that will produce 3 million metric tonnes of Urea every year.

We also have the 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery due to open later this year and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, one of the most modern sea ports in West Africa, he said.

Mohammed added that the conducive business environment created was responsible for the BUAs 3 million metric tonnes cement plant; and the 5,000 barrels per day Modular Refinery in Ibigwe, in Imo.

He disclosed that three more modular refineries would be commissioned before May 2023 in Edo and Bayelsa.

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday said no government had invested in driving an agricultural revolution like that of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Minister made the assertion at a media briefing in Abuja.

He said while the previous administration of the Peoples Democraic Party (PDP) frittered away the nations resources importing rice and other staples, the Buhari administration had been working progressively to ensure food security.

Today, rice production in Nigeria has increased to over 7.5 million metric tonnes annually, thanks to the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

Before the programme, the average production in Nigeria between 1999 to 2015 was less than four metric tonnes annually.

Before this administration launched the ABP, there were only 15 standard rice mills in Nigeria, but as of today, we have over 50 Standard and integrated rice mills creating jobs and reducing unemployment, he said.

The minister said no fewer than 4.8 million smallholder farmers had so far been supported by the Anchor Borrowers Programme, across the country.

He said the support had resulted in increase in the production of 23 agricultural commodities, including maize, rice, oil palm, cocoa, cotton, cassava, tomato and livestock.

Asked why in spite of all the achievements recorded, Nigerians are still hungry and the price of the staples had remained high, the minister responded:

The impact of our agriculture revolution will soon be felt on dining tables across the country.

In this regard, we want to appeal to our farmers to be more patriotic by not allowing foreigners to buy their commodities at farm gates.

They should reciprocate the support being given to them by the Federal Government by slowing down on exports in order to increase the supply of local staples and also reduce prices.

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government has said that the increase in prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel and other items is a global trend and not peculiar to any country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who stated this at media briefing on Monday in Abuja, added that presenting the situation as a Nigerian problem was mischievous, disingenuous and a clear act of misinformation.

He said that the figures being bandied around by the opposition and a section of the press, comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, pre-2015 and presently, was a mischief.

This misuse of statistics is clear mischief. Those who bandy around these figures without putting them in context are being clever by half.

Lets take the price of foodstuffs and petrol. Google the price of foodstuffs in other countries, especially the UK and the US, and you will discover a steep rise. Ditto for the price of gas or petrol, he said.

The minister added that the crippling fuel shortage experienced across the country in recent times had started easing, as the measures put in place by the government are taking effect.

He reiterated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari recorded massive achievements in all sectors, in spite of the challenges it faced.

Mohammed therefore admonished Nigerians to be wary of the lies and misinformation by the opposition.

Nigerians remain traumatised by their 16-year misrule, and will not return to Egypt by allowing the demolition gang back to office, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has lamented the high number of unclaimed dividends in the capital market.

A statement by the Commission in Abuja on Sunday, said Mr Lamido Yuguda, the Director-General of SEC, expressed the regret when Prof. Kabiru Bala,Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, visited him.

Yuguda appealed toinvestors to mandate their accounts for electronic payment to reduce the number of unclaimed dividends.

He noted thatmany investors had shares in the market which they had abandoned.

People have not come forward to claim their dividends and this has led to huge unclaimed dividends.

The Commission has been educating and enlightening the public on how they can get their dividends. People do not need to wait for the broker to send the dividend warrants through the registrars.

The dividends can be paid directly into their bank accounts through e-dividend payments, he said.

Yuguda said that SEC was currently carrying out some initiatives that would appeal to younger generations and attract them to the capital market.

Earlier, Bala described the visit as part of efforts by the university to connect with its alumni as done in most global universities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Managing Director of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Mr Abubakar Kure, on Sunday, said the bank would continue to support businesses to fast track growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Kure said this in Abuja on the sideline of a novelty football match to mark the third year anniversary of the strategic bank.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bank will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to fast track the growth of SMEs across the country.

Kure said the novelty match was organised by the bank as part of activities to mark its third year anniversary and also to informally interact with members of staff.

This event is for us to informally meet, know ourselves better, network and also exercise with this novelty match, with the ultimate aim of improving our productivity, he said.

According to him, the bank will also continue to encourage physical exercise and sports for all staff members to boost their mental alertness.

Earlier, Mr Darlington Lawson, Executive Director of the bank said the event had helped strengthened the camaraderie among its personnel.

He described physical exercise as good for better health and productivity at work.

Mrs Joy Nkwor, Director, Human Resources of the Bank said the event was an opportunity for the women to show their physical fitness on the field of play.

NAN reports that Nkwor had captained the female team to beat the male team 3-2 in an interesting novelty football match.

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL MFB) was established in 2019 to stimulate the flow of affordable finance and investment in the agricultural value chain. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Abdullahi Adamu-led 79-member National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that emerged at Saturdays national convention of the party.

The presidents congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the president, the unity of members at the convention puts the party on a firmer footing for victory at the 2023 general elections.

The president returned to the convention ground at the Eagle Square on Sunday morning, along with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate President to witness and celebrate the inauguration of the elected party executives.

He remarked that the smooth conduct of the election raised the prospect of a mouth-watering APC victory in 2023.

The APC convention hosted last weekend sets the scene for an APC victory in the presidential and general elections in 2023.

It was a victory over naysayers who believed the party was divided but were disappointed.

We believe that it was equally a victory for the president who ensured unity across all party positions.

It was victory for voters in Nigeria who can now be assured of a smooth succession to new leadership in 2023, Shehu stated.

He added that the president frowned at the peddling and promotion of fake news about divisions in the party in some sections of the media.

What the convention made clear was how the media has been peddling fake news of division when the hard reality of unity, cohesion, and indeed personal warmth between members of the partys leaders incoming and outgoing was evident for all to see.

Of course, the blame for this mind set ought to go to the opposition which in all these years had worked to divide the country, leading to all manner of separatist agitations.

But this is not the wish nor is it in the character of the citizens as was clear for everyone to see at the Eagle Square.

When their fake news of disunity was undone by the facts, some in the opposition could not help themselves but to take to newspapers and the airwaves to find another way to shore up their reputations.

That some of the APCs new leadership were once in the opposition was the new line to take to the media, somehow suggesting that those who have left one party should not hold positions in another.

Yet, do the scriptures not teach us of the virtue of sinners who repent and change their ways,? he stated.

Shehu stated also that the president said the stage was set for the APC primary elections later this year when the partys new flag bearers would emerge.

No doubt some will attempt to argue the impossible that an APC primary election is a source of division while an opposition primary election is a source of consensus.

But voters can see through such acrobatics and they know that when the contests for 2023 come, APC offers a track record of successes and leadership, while the opposition has only decades of failure and complicity, he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News