By Jessica Dogo

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to join in the revolution against cybercrime by supporting local technology innovations.

The government also called on citizens to fight against security threats ravaging particularly financial institutions in the country.

The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB), Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, made the appeal in a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the briefing was organised by UNICCON Group of Companies on Cybersecurity.

Abubakar, who was represented by the Head Of Human Resources, GBB, Mr Gbenga Omoniyi, lauded the company, on its role in tackling cybersecurity in the country.

I commend the company for taking this great step in tackling cybersecurity in the country.

This initiative is apt and can also assist in proffering solution to the current fight on multiple financial crimes in the country, he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director, ICT, Mr Adebayo Adeyemi, who represented the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, endorsed the initiative.

Adeyemi said that the government was scouting for people with patriotic abilities to promote sanity and upscale employment rate in the country.

Over the years, the contribution of ICT to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased and this is one of it.

Businesses today are faced with several threats and this is one of the bespoke solutions that has capacity to adress such.

We are a government company that understands exactly this kind of Innovation, he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of UNICCON, Mr Chucks Ekwueme, saidd that the effort put in was to complement governments efforts at combating cyberattacks responsible for setbacks in the Nigerian economic sector.

Ekwueme said the incessant cyberattacks in Nigeria and globally had prompted the organisation effor to conduct a rigorous research, which had so far yielded positive results.

He said that it had provided a risk-based approach in monitoring transactions for risk assessment and handling financial related crimes mitigation needs.

With the recent launch of its community platform to summit bugs, vulnerabilities and find solution, Ekwueme called on corporate entities and government agencies to leverage on the opportunity to partner the organisation for lasting solution.

NAN also reports that UNICCON group of companies recently launched an integrated financial product called SMARTSEE for profiling, credit scoring and fraud detection. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The Africa Centre for Disease and Prevention Control (Africa CDC), on Wednesday called on member states to learn from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and invest in public health emergencies.

Dr Mohammed Abudulaziz, Head, Disease Control and Prevention at Africa CDC, made this call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on the sidelines of a three-day workshop of Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Networks (RISLNET) implementation for the West African Region.

RISLNET is a network of networks that harness existing public health assets in five African Union members.

It is to strengthen national and regional laboratory and Surveillance systems, improve quality standards and promote networks for integration whilst leveraging the existing assets within the various sub-regions.

The workshop was organis by African Union/Africa CDC and West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO).

Abdulaziz said that when the continent was confronted with COVID-19 pandemic, the Africa CDC rose to the occasion in strengthening regional public health agencies that took the center stage.

He said preparedness for any outbreak would be binding to secure member states collaboration upon declaration of public health emergency of regional concern, irrespective of leadership or politics at the time.

African leaders must honour their commitments to allocate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to the health sector, as they agreed in the Abuja declaration in 2001.

Today, spending on health across the continent ranges from 0.1 per cent to 2 per cent of a nations Gross Domestic Product, he said.

Abdulaziz said renewing this commitment is especially urgent as the goals articulated in the Agenda 2063 began to be realised.

For instance, the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement creates a trade area, including 1.3 billion people across 55 countries.

Likewise, the African Unions Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa will enable people to move around the continent without visas.

Both of these steps are crucial to economic development. They also come with major public health implications, he said.

Abdulaziz disclosed that African heads of state supported efforts to strengthen and expand the structures within the continent to manage health emergencies.

He said it included giving authority and autonomy to the Africa CDC and Prevention and creating a pandemic preparedness and response authority, an epidemic fund, and a health workforce task team.

Abdulaziz said that building a regional control and capability could not be over emphasised.

This means strengthening national public-health institutions, such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Zambia National Public Health Institute in Lusaka.

It also means strengthening and empowering Africa CDC and its five Regional Collaborating Centres.

These are the Africa-owned institutions that are crucial to prevent, detect and respond to public-health threats.

Ultimately, both national public-health institutions and regional centres must be the command centres for the control of disease outbreaks, he said.

Africa CDC established RISLNET for all the African Regions in an effort to address critical need for comprehensive and quality laboratory and surveillance systems and networks within the continent.

NAN recalls that the organisers says RISLNET will be officially launched at the workshop with Western African Regional Member States for the region.

It reports that the focus of the workshop will include a framework for the governance of the RISLNET in the West Africa region.

It will agree on RISLNET structure for the West Africa Regional Collaborating Centre (RCC) and define its functions and operation.

It will also Introduce Global Health Systems Solutions and Institut Pasteur Dakar as the partners who will work closely with Africa CDC, WAHO, and the regional member states for RISLNET implementation in the region.

It says the workshop will also discuss and agree on the development of draft policy and framework document for RISLNET. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Bridget Ikyado/Jessica Dogo

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Arabi, says proper application of emerging technologies will help to increase operational efficiency and reduce cost of governance.

Arabi made the observation in a paper he presented at a workshop on block chain technology ecosystem, on Thursday in Abuja.

The paper is titled: Public sector requirement for efficiency in service delivery with respect to emerging technology (block chain).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the BPSR in collaboration with Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and Nigeria Communications Commission.

He said that block chain technology is already
having positive impact around the world and its proper application in Nigeria will fast track ongoing reform of the public service.

Arabi described emerging technologies as science-based innovations with potential to create a new industry or transform existing ones.

According to him, its significance in the public
sector will only increase in the coming years in the areas of quality service delivery in the public service.

The director-general said that the application of technology will strengthen public institutions, as they incorporate new thinking about how government delivers services to citizens.

With new strategy, better outcomes and efficiency will be delivered through innovation and excellence in ICT, he said.

He listed the advantages of block chain technology to include effective record keeping, financial transparency and securing data access.

Block chain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it different or impossible to change, hack or cheat the system, Arabi said.

Arabi also said it ensure data security, reduce cost and waiting time, enhance accountability and trust, and promote public private partnership.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Manchester United have confirmed that Erik ten Hag would take over as manager at the end of the season.

Without a permanent manager since Ole Gunnar Solskjaers exit in November, the Old Trafford giants initially worked under caretaker Michael Carrick.

Ralf Rangnick later took over on an interim basis for the rest of the campaign.

Manchester United have been interviewing with a view to appointing their new permanent manager before the summer to aid their much-needed rebuild.

Ten Hag has now been chosen as the man to lead the club forward.

The Ajax manager is looking to wrap up a third Eredivisie title before moving to Old Trafford on a three-year deal, which includes the option of a further year.

Ten Hag said: It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.

I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.

It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.

Ten Hag met with Manchester United management in March as the Premier League club officials spoke with candidates about the Old Trafford vacancy.

Long-admired Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager Mauricio Pochettino was initially considered favourite to succeed Solskjaer.

But the Dutchman has now got the nod, having impressed the powers that be.

Football director John Murtough said: During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe.

He is renowned for his teams attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.

In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that.

We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.

Ten Hag has been with Ajax since January 2018 and will leave at the end of the season.

Edwin van der Sar, the former Manchester United goalkeeper who is now Ajaxs chief executive, said: Four-and-a-half years is a good amount of time, but we would have liked to have kept Erik at Ajax for longer.

He is going to make the step to one of the biggest clubs in the world, in a fantastic league.

We owe Erik a lot of thanks for what he has achieved with Ajax so far, but we are not done yet. At the end of the season, I will look back more extensively on his departure.

For now, what matters is the final games of the season in which we all want to bring home the league title. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ngozi Njoku

An Ikeja Magistrates Court in Lagos State on Thursday ordered that a 50-year-old man, Chidi Eze, be remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly raping his friends sister.

The police charged Eze, who resides in Iyanapaja area of Lagos, with rape.

Magistrate Ejiro Kubeinje, gave the order following a motion moved by the Prosecution Counsel, DSP Kehinde Ajayi that the matter be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of Eze, directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and send to the DPP for advice.

The magistrate adjourned the case until May 5, for further mention.

The prosecutor had earlier told the court that Eze committed the offence on March 13 at Rabiu Ajose Street, Isheri Osun, Lagos.

Ajayi said Eze, who is a friend to the victims brother raped her.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the section prescribes life imprisonment for rape. (NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

Source: NAN News

By Isaiah Eka

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it apprehended 69 suspected oil thieves in Akwa Ibom between January and March.

The NSCDC Commandant in Akwa Ibom, Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi, said this in an interactive session with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.

Majekodunmi said the corps had the mandate to protect government critical infrastructure and ensure that economic saboteurs were brought to justice.

He said that the suspects had been charged to court for prosecution and those found guilty would face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, in the first quarter of the year, the agency placed significant emphasis on the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

Here in Akwa Ibom, we do know that the network of pipelines are much and definitely, we have criminals and non-state actors tampering with the pipelines for economic profiteering and sabotage.

What we have done is to ensure that we deploy intelligence, capitals and assets to ensure that we do activities that serve as deterrent to these non-state actors that are always eager to steal petroleum products.

When we get quality intelligence, we plan and execute operations to arrest. Currently, we have about seven boats. In that particular case, we have 69 suspects and illegal dealers in petroleum products.

They have been charged to court and of course, we have done investigations and profiling of the cases for the court to do the appropriate adjudication, he said.

The NSCDC state commandant said that the command was proactive in intelligence gathering across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state, to check criminality.

Majekodunmi said that NSCDC over the years had deployed technology to reach all criminal hideouts as part of its crime fighting efforts in the state.

He called on communities to protect government infrastructure in their domain against vandalism and to see the facilities as their own.

The commandant said that the corps would continue to promote crisis management and be proactive in dealing with conflicts in the state through peace and conflict resolution.

He warned oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals to relocate from the state as the command would deal decisively with all economic saboteurs.

He called on the media to ensure objectivity in their reportage to guarantee peace and security across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, to submit a progress report by the end of May 2022 on the indigenous production of vaccines in the country.

The president gave the order on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Integrated Biopharmaceuticals Industries Consortium (NIBI), led by Mr Vilarugel Cuyas, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Fredlab.

Buhari commended the NIBI consortium made up of European biotechnology companies Merck, Unizima, Rommelag and Fredlab, who are collaborating with the Nigerian start-up PIA BioPharma to establish a world-class Bio-Pharma Industrial Complex for the manufacture of vaccines and essential therapeutics in Nigeria.

According to him, his administration considers food and medicine sufficiency as national security issues.

The president asked the health minister and his team to work closely with the consortium on the Federal Government support required for the actualisation of the NIBI project within the next few months.

While the Ministry of Health continues to drive collaboration with investors for vaccines, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, in a move towards self-sufficiency, I welcome the NIBI consortiums desire to partner with the Federal Government in support of our agenda and look forward to the implementation of the NIBI project as it takes shape, the president said.

Recounting the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerias economy and health systems and how some nations with comparative advantages in being centres of bio-pharmaceutical productions adopted a me-first attitude towards securing their citizens, Buhari said:

I want Nigeria to make a bold statement in this field not just for reasons mentioned earlier, but because of its knock-on effects on our economy at large.

According to the president, Nigeria has learnt key lessons from the pandemic, including that countries must look inward for sustenance in food and medical supplies.

He said: Having witnessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health system, our communal life and national economy, from which we are yet to fully recover, we are reminded that the wealth of a nation is dependent on the health and wellbeing of its citizens.

At the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria was quick to respond to what seemed an existential threat, by strengthening the health systems capacity to handle the pandemic an initiative that continues till today in collaboration with the state governments, private sector and international partners.

Key lessons of the pandemic are that nations can be brought to their knees by disease outbreaks that cripple national and international trade, and that countries must be able to look inwards for sustenance in food and medical supplies.

The benefit of this Administrations early investment in agriculture came to light during this global turbulence.

However, we cannot say the same for essential medicines, health supplies and most importantly vaccines to protect our citizens. Increasing the capacity for in-country production of vaccines and medical supplies has therefore become a matter of not just urgency, but of national security.

As we saw, many nations who had developed comparative advantages in being centres of bio-pharmaceutical productions adopted a me-first attitude towards securing their citizens.

These actions placed developing nations, particularly those in Africa at severe disadvantage.

The president noted that as part of the fallout and lessons learned from the crises, under his directive, the minister of health had been conducting local and international high-level consultations to seek access to the know-how and finance to revive domestic manufacturing of vaccines.

He added that the consultations had become more important as Nigeria prepares to fully transition from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) support for the supply of vaccines by 2028.

Since we consider food and medicine sufficiency as national security issues, technical and financial investments and partnerships are priorities in our policy planning, with the assurance that Nigeria has the market and a pool of expert scientists to draw upon, from within and outside the country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it will within the next five years double the climate change finance of Africa to 25 billion dollars.

Dr Kevin Kariuki, AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, said this at a virtual news conference on Wednesday in preparation for the banks 2022 annual meetings to be held in Accra, Ghana.

Kariuki said the bank would invest the finance to support African countries to become resilient both in adaptation and mitigation between 2020 and 2025.

He disclosed that the AfDB had in the last five years spent 13 billion dollars in the same effort toward adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the continent.

Kariuki also said the bank with the Global Centre on Adaptation had committed to mobilise a further 25 billion dollars to address adaptation in Africa.

Cognisance of the fact that Africas greatest interest is on adaptation, we dedicate at least 50 per cent of our climate finance budget to adaptation and last year we dedicated 67 per cent.

This means that we are in total resonance of what people of Africa are complaining about.

The key thing is to help these countries adapt to the impact of climate change so I think the commitment for us to double our climate change finance to 25 billion dollars is important, he said.

On supporting energy transition in Nigeria, Kariuki said the bank was committed to supporting the country in its energy transition efforts.

According to him, Nigeria is one of the few countries that has evolved its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) into a long-term vision, which is a foundational document for developing a long term strategy.

The long-term strategy is what is translated to the transition plan and we are keen to supporting all African countries in developing their transition plan by translating those plans into viable pipeline of projects.

We cant be able to quantify the amount because we do not have a clear view of the projects that will emanate from the strategy, he said.

Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, the Secretary-General of the AfDB Group, said the theme of the meeting Achieving Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition for Africa, was highlighting critical areas of importance to any countrys development.

Nmehielle said the meeting would avail the opportunity for stakeholders to know what the Bank was doing and what governments of countries had done in various areas of intervention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual meeting is the AfDB Groups most important event, attracting no fewer than 3,000 delegates and attendees yearly.

NAN also reports that the meetings scheduled to take place between May 23 and 27 in Accra, Ghana, would help the bank to take stock of progress with its shareholders.

It will also provide a unique forum for representatives of governments, business, civil society, think tanks, academia, and the media, to discuss key issues concerning Africas ongoing development. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Mr Connor Hanan, Software Groups Chief Executive Officer, Africa and Middle East, says agent banking can bridge the gender and rural-urban gaps to ensure financial inclusion for more unbanked Nigerians.

Hanan said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Lagos.

Agent banking is the conduct of banking business on behalf of a financial institution, through an agent, using various service delivery channels.

Service delivery channels utilised includes the use of mobile phones, POS (point-ofsale) terminals, card readers and other technology for processing real time transactions.

Hanan said that Nigerias huge population presented an opportunity for expansion of financial services to over 38 million unbanked Nigerian adults.

Increasing shared prosperity, eradicating inequality and extreme poverty would be attainable with the financial inclusion of more unbanked individuals, especially women, he said.

According to him, agency banking transactions increased from three per cent of the countrys transactions to 19 per cent in a single year, even thoughthe growth was below the 70 per cent National Financial Inclusion Strategy targetexpected in 2020.

He said that to enhance growth, financial institutions were deploying innovative technology through agency banking to deliver their services to more individuals in hard-to-reach communities.

There are more opportunities in the agency banking space that the country can leverage beyond the current cash in cash-out service, he said,emphasising that it should be extended to facilitate lending, health insurance, payment and registration for different services, among others.

Hanan added that the platform had created employment opportunities for many small-scale businesses and aided their contributions to the gross domestic product (GDP).

He noted that Software Group recently launched a fast-track agency banking software to assist banks expand their reach, speed and competitive cost, saying thatthe software solution would deepen agency banking growth and accelerate the countrys financial inclusion targets. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bashir Rabe Mani

The Nigerian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Amb. Ibrahim Alhussaini, has marked one year as Nigerias Ambassador to the country on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) also reports that the envoy used the occasion to host some members of the Nigerian community,including students, and members of the diplomatic corps to breaking of fast at his residence in Rabat.

This is contained in a statement from the Chancery, Embassy of Nigeria , Rabat, Morocco, issued to NAN on Wednesday, in Abuja.

The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of President Muhammadu Buhari and urged Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, to continue to pray for peace and stability in the country, as well as the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Alhussaini informed the gathering that this years month of Ramadan coincided with one year of his assumption of duties as Nigerias envoy to Morocco.

He thanked the Almighty Allah,SWT, and President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, of the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as expressing gratitude to all the Embassy staff for their maximum cooperation in the discharge of his duties.

The Envoy also thanked the people of Morocco for their hospitality and friendliness.

This, he said, reflected not only in the excellent relationship between the President and the King, but between the nationals of both countries.

The local staff of the Mission presented the Ambassador with presents, thanking him for his good Leadership.

In his one year as Nigerias Envoy to Morocco, Alhussaini received several awards in recognition of his service, including Life Time Achievement Award by the Nigerian students in Morocco ( NISAM), Sardauna Students Association in Morocco, as well as Best Performing African Ambassador of the year 2021, by King Mohammed VI.

Others were the Award of Excellence by AlQurawiyyan University in the City of Fez, while the Ambassador was also among the six Ambassadors awarded with a Medal of the American Legation in Tangier by the United States ( US), in the Kingdom of Morocco.( NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

A civil society organisation, Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) has called on the government to fully implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act to protect affected persons from further pain.

YAF Executive Director, Udy Akpan, made the call in a statement signed by Chamberlain Etukudoh, Head, Communication Unit of the Foundation on Wednesday in Abuja.

Akpan, while reacting to the death of popular gospel singer, Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu, who allegedly died as a result of spousal abuse, said it was time to put an end to the culture of silence.

She said while the VAPP Act was indeed passed in 2015, it was still at varying stages of adoption at the state levels, making it difficult to reap its benefits.

Akpan, while calling on women and girls to leave any abusive relationship that threaten their wellbeing, also advised Nigerians to desist from stigmatising victims of such relationships.

Youth Alive Foundation has raised concerns over the culture of silence by women and girls in abusive relationships.

The society has made girls and women believe it is her responsibility to keep the marriage or relationship together at all cost.

Even if the cost it requires her life, it seems somehow more acceptable than to be unmarried or divorced.

Due to the culture of silence, violence and other harmful practices have become deep-rooted and difficult to battle.

Many have died and others maimed in a bid to not disrupt the almost sacred silence.

We are working with other civil society organisations on the Safeguarding Against Violence and Exploitation (SAVE) project in various states to advocate for the adoption and implementation of the VAPP Act, she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will ensure thorough investigation into the cause of its Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash that occurred on Tuesday at NAF Base, Kaduna.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwwt, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said this when he visited the families, friends and colleagues of the two pilots who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

They are: Flt.- Lt. Abubakar Alkali and Flt.-Lt. Elijah Karatu.

Amao, however, constituted an Accident Investigation Board upon receiving the sad news of the crash to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.

The CAS assured the officers, airmen and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School (FTS ), Kaduna, that all measures would be emplaced to avert similar occurrence in the future.

He also reminded them on the need to remain steadfast and focused on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before NAF and other security agencies.

This, he said, was to enable them to continue to rid the North-West and indeed the entire nation of all criminal elements.

The unfortunate incident of trainer aircraft crash is yet again a tragic reminder of the perilous nature of the military flying profession as well as the risks NAF pilots continually take daily t

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The first lady, Aisha Buhari, has called on Muslims faithful to use the Ramadan period to intensify prayers for lasting peace and security in Nigeria.

Buhari made the call on Tuesday night when she hosted wives of service chiefs and other top government functionaries to a Ramadan breakfast at the State House, Abuja.

She said the Almighty God has provided Nigerians with another opportunity to dedicate themselves in fasting and prayers to ensure peace and development of the country.

The first lady also urged Nigerians to extend good virtues of sharing, love, support, forgiveness and sacrifice for the betterment of mankind and Nigeria.

Buhari, while expressing her gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to witness the 2022 Ramadan, expressed optimism that the period would provide the country with abundance peace and tranquility.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam which provides an opportunity for Muslim ummah to intensify prayers in humility and the fear of God.

The fasting period is also to extend good virtues of sharing, forgiveness, love, peace and sacrifices for the betterment of mankind and the society.

The dignitaries who attended the event include wives of ministers and other Nigerian women who unanimously expressed their appreciation to the first lady for her commitment to peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya

The Secretary to Niger Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, says the government has invested more than N3 billion in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for the provision of transformers, service lines and other services for communities.

Matane announced this during a news conference in Minna on Wednesday.

The AEDC on April 15 issued a notice to disconnected all government facilities from power supply over N1.9 billion debt the state government was owning the company.

The company went ahead to disconnect all government facilities such as the state house of assembly complex, state secretariat, office of the Secretary to the Niger government, water board and all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Matane said that the state government was only owing the company only N1 billion of which about 50 per cent of the debt was inherited from the previous administration.

He refuted the claims by AEDC that the state government was owing the company N1.9 billion, explaining that the state government instead invested more than N3 billion into the company to purchase of transformers and other light services.

Matane said that the state government had been paying N46 million to the company monthly, adding that government had engaged a private consultant to verify the validity of the claims made by AEDC.

He noted that the present administration was a responsible government that had always created an enabling environment for investors and private organisations to thrive.

He assured the public that efforts were ongoing to ensure water supply to residents as soon as possible.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has underscored the need for effective regulations in harnessing the gains of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for global relevance.

Sylva said for Nigeria to continue to be relevant at the global stage it must design regulations that could balance the energy base load for Nigeria.

Sylva said this while declaring open a stakeholders consultation forum on draft regulations under the PIA on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the draft regulations were prepared by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in conjunction with the Presidential Steering Committee on the PIA.

The premier consultative forum was aimed at ensuring inputs and considerations of oil and gas stakeholders on the draft regulations for smooth implementation of the PIA.

The regulations include: Host communities development: Petroleum royalty: Upstream fess and rent: Domestic gas delivery obligations: Nigeria conversation; and Licencing regulations.

Sylva said effective regulations would ensure that Nigeria was not left behind in the energy transition train while still harnessing our rich natural hydrocarbon reserves.

The minister expressed hope that the input from various stakeholders would further clarify the draft regulations and eventual firming up of the final regulations for use.

According to the minister, government has a mandate of ensuring sound management of the oil and gas sector considering the key role the sector plays in revenue generation for the country.

He said it was on this background that the Presidential Steering Committee on PIA, which he chaired, played the pivotal role in collaborating with NUPRC in drafting the first set of regulations for review.

He commended the effort of the commission in the preparation of those draft regulations to beat the deadline set by the law for the commencement of the implementation of the PIA.

I am hopeful that the regulationswhen fully implemented will help in no small measure in the smooth take-off of the day-to-day operations of the NUPRC, he added.

Recall that on Aug. 16, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the PIA after the National Assembly passed the bill.

Sylva said that the eventual assent signaled a new era and opportunities in the oil and gas sector of the economy after almost two decades of unsuccessful efforts to have the law passed in Nigeria.

Sylva, while decrying challenges posed by huge divestments in the hydrocarbon explorations by oil majors in the past due to global energy transition called for more innovative ways in fossil fuel exploitation and exploration in Nigeria.

In a remark, Mr Gbenga Komolafe,Commission Chief Executive,NUPRC said the forum was expected to discuss and finalise the draft Regulations in line with Section 216 of the PIA 2021.

Komolafe said besides the statutory imperative on the part of the commission to have the regulations finalised on time, there was also the compelling need for the nation to conclude the regulations-making process for PIA implementation.

This, he said, would enable Nigeria to hedge against the impact of energy transition and take advantage of the oil and gas supply gap resulting from the current developments in Russia and Ukraine.

We are conscious of prioritising regulations to meet the timelines in the PIA. As such, this first phase of the stakeholders engagement will capture burning issues on the implementation in line with Section 235 of the PIA.

And also finalising the 2020 bid round through issuance of Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) in line with Section 94 (2) of the PIA and a host of others, the CCE said.

The CCE was optimistic that all grey areas would receive adequate clarification with a view to giving meaning to the intent of the PIA for user-friendly implementation and attractive investments.

Source: NAN News

By Ugonne Uzoma

No fewer than 150 underprivileged women were empowered to start up drink distribution business on Wednesday in Owerri by the Guinness Empowerment programme.

The women were trained on business management strategies for profitability and assigned supervising sales officers to guide them in the businesses.

Speaking at the programme, the Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Rotimi Odushola, said the programme was conceived as a way of giving back to key stakeholders.

Odushola said the targeted beneficiaries were underprivileged women with entrepreneurial instincts who would hopefully start up their businesses with the materials provided at the programme.

He added the company believes in diversity, women inclusion and other economically disadvantaged members of society.

Odushola said they would continue to monitor the beneficiaries and provide them with connections to sustain their businesses as a way of helping them to stand on their feet economically.

Also speaking at the programme, a Manager at Guinness, Mrs Olanike Onakoya, said the exercise was a reflection of the companys policy on gender inclusion and women empowerment.

Onakoya while highlighting the need for gender parity expressed hope that it would be achieved through women empowerment.

She, however, urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity.

Onakoya said that the programme would not only teach the women how to maximise profits but also provide economic uplift and improve self-esteem.

Earlier, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Imo Government, Prof. Kenneth Amaechi, commended the company for its efforts at improving the lives of women.

Amaechi added that the programme would have massive impact on the economy of the state and urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mavis Okoro, while appreciating the facilitators commended the women for recognising the benefits for participating in the programme.

Okoro also encouraged them to put in their best and diligently follow the guidance of their assigned supervisors to ensure they succeed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women were given free drinks for sale, coolers and umbrellas to start up their businesses. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Electoral Hub, an advocacy group, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) anti-graft and financial institutions to monitor the 2023 campaign spendings.

The Electoral Hub, is an organ of the Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD).

Ms Princess Hamman-Obels, Director of IRIAD, Electoral Hub in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that the call was to ensure compliance to the law and ensure a fair playing ground for all.

Hamman-Obels said the cooperation of the anti-graft agency will ensure that election results are not determined by the amount of money a political party or a candidate spends during campaigns.

Although money is germane in the conduct of campaigns, this does not warrant the excessive deployment and vile use of money in the electoral process thus, contravening acceptable ethical standards.

In the 2022 Electoral Act, expenditure ceilings, a presidential candidate is now at liberty to spend up to five billion naira while governorship candidates can spend up to one billion naira.

For the Senate and House of Representatives candidates, they can spend up to a maximum of one hundred million naira and seventy million naira respectively.

Compliance with these regulations as well as the monitoring of all sources of funds accruing to political parties is placed on the shoulders of INEC by the constitution.

This campaign ceiling for candidates is actually a lot for vulnerable groups like women ,youths and persons with disabilities because traditionally or socially , they do not have access to resources yet some candidates overshoot it.

Hamman -Obels said that for a long time because of the patriarchal nature of the society ,men have been controlling resources and their old boys network make them access resources easily.

She said that men easily get bankrolled for electoral positionsand they also easily get God fathers to sponsore their electoral positions but women,youths and PWDs do not easily have these opportunities.

She said that the gender bill rejected by the National Assembly would have helped in addressing the issue marginalised groups.

The National Assembly, she said, should reconsider those bills to encourage the participation of women and people with disabilities.

She said that in terms of campaign finances, a lot needed to be done to ensure compliance because presently INEC seemed to need the support of multisectoral stakeholders to adress the ussue .

Hamman-Obels said that there was need to start pushing for a more holistic electoral expenses agenda where stahekgiers would take responsibility for reporting campaign funding.

She said that there was no need overburdening INEC unnecessarily adding that some of these responsibility should be thrown back to political parties and candidates.

She said that it was high time citizens and candidates alike woke up to their responsibilities with the collective interest of the nation at heart to report irregularities around campaign ceiling .

She added that nobody should actually be chased to do the right thing.
Hamman-Obels called for a holistic framework for electoral expenses and have a joint stakeholders committee juts like INEC had the Interagency Consultative Meeting on Election Security.

She said that there should also be something similar to that in terms of monitoring campaign finance In the country .

She said that the different agencies responsible for monitoring finances could come together to monitor campaign finance to a broader framework so that all the burden would not be on INEC alone.

She said that was the way to start looking at it to make it more effective and make it more possible for vulnerable groups to participate in elections where use of excessive money would not oush them out of participation.

I think we need to start thinking along that line.

So where you have institutions like CBN ,Bankers community ,EFCC ,NDIC among others coming together with INECn to fashion out a framework about how to monitor campaign finance it would create a level playing field for all.

We can always learn from best practices like in Poland where bank accounts of candidates are monitored she said.NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

A female senatorial aspirant in Kogi West, Mrs Adedoyin Eshanumi, has solicited the support of the executive members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi to sail through 2023 elections to the National Assembly.

Speaking with stakeholders at the APC Secretariats in Yagba East and Mopamuro local government areas on Tuesday, Eshanumi said her visit was to interface with them and formally declare her intention to represent Kogi West at the National Assembly.

She enjoined the delegates to support and encourage womens participation in politics, noting that APC is bringing up a policy to fielding women candidates in various elective positions in the 2023 general elections.

She appealed to the people, especially women to support themselves and rally round women candidates.

I am here to appeal to you to give me your total support, and I will ensure I do the needful for me to emerge as the senator representing Kogi West, she said.

Eshanumi noted that she contested for the same position in 2019, saying she would not disappoint the people if given the opportunity to represent them.

Responding, the APC Chairman Yagba East, Mr. Kehinde Atteh, commended the aspirant for her courage to step out to contest in the 2019 and for her resilience to come out again.

Atteh stressed that Yagba people have been lagging behind, saying, this is the time to re-orientate ourselves and give women a chance.

He assured Eshanumi of the full support of the delegates, while urging the people to summon courage and do the needful.

The senate position in Kogi West is Yagbas turn, and we need to encourage ourselves; we will never accept imposition of any candidate, Atteh said.

On his part, Mr Charles Omoyele, the Mopamuro APC Chairman, also commended Eshanumi for her courage, while advising her not to lose focus or give up.

We are lucky in Yagba to have a woman that is contesting for Kogi West senatorial seat; God will lead you by His grace. If it is Gods will you will get there, he said.

Omoyele promised to reinforce the support given to her in 2019, urging her to do it differently as they would be given women a chance this time around, and prayed for Gods approval.

Also speaking, APC Mopamuro Women Leader, Mrs Fehintola Zaccheous; and the partys Assistant Legal Adviser, Mr Sunday Elefiku, assured the female aspirant of their total support.

Zaccheous commended Eshanumi for her efforts in 2019 and for the courage to come out again in in spite of the stress.

We assure you that all Yagba women are solidly behind you to support you, because we know you are more than capable and you will make women proud, Zaccheous said.

On his part, Elefiku encouraged Eshanumi to remain focused and not give up on her ambition, saying the men would be ready to do everything to support her.

Eshanumi made some cash and foodstuff donations to the stakeholders at APC secretariat.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli has successfully repatriated another batch of 158 stranded Nigerians in Libya.

Mr Kabiru Musa, Charge d Affairs of the Nigerian Mission in Libya disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Musa, the 158 repatriated Nigerians who left the Tripoli International in Libya are expected to arrive Nigeria on Tuesday via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said that among the returnees were men, women and children who were either stranded or rescued victims of human trafficking.

The continuous evacuation is in-line with the commitments of the Nigerian government in ensuring that stranded Nigerians in Libya who are willing to return home are assisted to safe return.

The Nigerian Mission in Libya under the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the assistance of the IOM have continued to carry out the voluntary repatriation of stranded Nigerians in Libya.

Libya being a transit country, route to Europe plays host to thousands of irregular migrants who get stuck on their journey.

The Nigerian government has pledged to ensure they are repatriated safely and reintegrated into the society upon return and this exercise today is in fulfilment of our governments promise.

The Nigerian Mission in Tripoli with the support of IOM will continue to render necessary consular assistance to Nigerians facing difficulties in Libya and will ensure their safe return home, Musa said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government says the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, which is under renovation, will be known as Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center, upon completion.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,disclosed this on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain while signing an agreement on Nigerias hosting of first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports the bilateral agreement was signed between Nigeria and United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at the organisations headquarters.

Mohammed disclosed that the global conference ,which would hold from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17,would be the first event to be staged at the newly refursbished edifice.

Nigeria will be hosting the event at the National Theatre in Lagos, which is currently being renovated at a cost of 100 million dollars under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.

It is the first of such renovation of the iconic edifice in over four decades.

In addition to the renovation, new hubs are being constructed, within the premises of the National theatre, for fashion, Information, technology, film and music.

With that, the National Theatre is now known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre.

In addition, the Lagos surface rail system ,to serve the National Theatre ,will be commissioned ahead of the Global Conference,he said

Mohammed said the signing of the bilateral agreement signified Nigerias commitment to host the event.

He ,therefore, directed that the contractors handling the reconstruction project must ensure its prompt delivery for the global event.

The minister added that in an effort to ensure that the complex is ready for the hosting in November, he recently undertook an inspection tour of ongoing work there with stakeholders.

The stakeholders on the inspection tour, according to the minister, were Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu; the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare.

According to the minister, there was every indication that the venue would be ready early enough to host the global conference.

The Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Mr Ademola Seriki, who said he is a member of Board of Directors of the company handling the reconstruction project, said the edifice would be completed before the global event.

Seriki, who accompanied the minister to the bilateral agreement signing ceremony, thanked the UNWTO for giving Nigeria the right to host the maiden global conference.

He said the conference would bring a huge reputation to the country and assert Nigerias lead in music, theatre and other areas of entertainment in Africa.

NAN reports that Mr Folorunsho Coker, ,Director -General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, was on the entourage of the minister.

The National Theatre, an iconic centre for performing arts, was established to preserve, present and promote arts and culture in Nigeria.

The construction of the monument was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in 1977. (NAN)

Source: NAN News