By Ismail Abdulaziz

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

With what the military, Nigeria Navy in particular, has achieved in the Gulf of Guinea, the next step will be to convince the major insurance companies in the world to start doing business with Nigeria.

Ships will be freely plying the route to the advantage of boosting Nigerias blue economy, he said.

Speaking with NAN after the meeting, the minister said it wasa huge compliment coming from Chattam House.

Chatam House is one of the most respected Think Tanks around the world , it was an honour and privilege for meto meet with the Director and some of the Principal member of staff.

We exchanged view on the happenings in Nigeria.

We went further to discuss security, economy and I was amazed about how well informed they were about Nigeria.

I am also impressed about how sympathetic and appreciative of the efforts of this administration in the areas of economy, security and providing infrastructure.

It was a very healthy exchange for both parties, he said

The minister underscored the need for the Nigerian media to report the achievements of the administration rather than playing up the sensational negative news.

He assured that the administrationwouldremain focused to sustain its reputation locally and internationally.

NAN reports that in his continuing engagements with the international media in London, the minister met with The TelegraphBBC Radio, Television Pidgin and Yoruba service.

He said the interactions covered a range of issues security, economy, infrastructure, fighting and corruption.

It accounts for about 4.5 million barrels of oil produced daily in Africa while Nigerias maritime environment constituted about 12 per cent of the Gulf of Guinea thus accounting for over 85 per cent of the total seaward trade with the rest of the world.

The Navy had been given a pat on the back, for significant decline in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Swift responses of the Nigerian Navy to illegal activities at the sea was said to have reduced the rate of successful attacks of pirates in Nigerias maritime domain. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=======

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this years Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday in Abuja.

Belgore said the Minister of Interior, RaufAregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.

I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

We should also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment, Aregbesola said.

The minister assured Nigerians of President Muhammadu Buharis was commitment to the security of lives and properties of all.

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies.

This, he said, can be done using the N-Alerts application.

The minister said the N-Alert application was designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies.

As soon as you see something do N-Alerts most especially, during this festival.

He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities.

We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this years festival.

Aregbesola craved the indulgence of every Nigerians to come together, put their heads, hearts and all they have together to achieve relative peace for harmonious co-existence and put an end to insecurities in Nigeria.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

========

Edited by Benson Iziama/Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has explained why his administration is enforcing the policy on parks operation in the nations capital.

He said that his administration decided to revert to the policy in order to ensure the attainment of 40 per cent threshold of green areas in the city.

Bello gave the insight when the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) led by its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday in Abuja.

The whole concept of the park policy is to make sure that these green areas within Abuja as a city and to some extent parts of the territory are left green to be able to meet the 40 per cent threshold of green areas.

Abuja was way ahead of many cities in terms of climate consideration and the whole idea was that you develop these green areas to make them truly green with vegetation, with green land, flowers and trees.

That was achieved to a large extent some years back but with population growth of the city and demand for housing and land, if we are not conscious about it then we may derail ourselves and just make it a concrete city, he said.

Bello said that the abuse on green areas had affected the ecosystem, adding that government realised sometimes in the mid 2000 that it was simply impossible to maintain all the green areas.

This, he said, informed the concessioning of green areas to private operators to develop as parks

A park in the real sense of a park like we see in other countries is neat, clean with sidewalks, with areas for playground for children, playground for family members and areas of relaxation.

And everywhere in the world, these parks have opening time and closing time and normally they are done in the day time may be from 8a.m. or in some cases 7a.m. and then by night they close, he said.

The minister stated that almost 95 per cent of those who took parks under concession converted them into structures thereby abusing them and the environment.

Instead of temporary structures using environmental friendly materials they started constructing solid concrete structures.

And instead of making green areas they started creating concrete basement and that totally jettisoned the idea and as time went by, these concrete and permanent structures started to be converted into areas where a lot of things were done wrongly

Parks that were meant to be areas where there will be aesthetics like you see in New York, London and so many other cities in the world gradually were converted into places where criminals stayed there.

Because it is an open public space they will stay there in the night until midnight and after midnight you know what they do in the city.

They create havoc in many of the parks and because the parks owners have not been able over time to invest to maintain it green it became easier for them to stay, the minister said.

According to Bello, Abuja is a city where most people are workers and creating parks in neighbourhoods is to enable families within each neighbourhood to have a place to relax.

But because it became something else,you go there and your handbag is snatched if you are a lady and your phone is not protected because people are under the influence of drugs.

Families cannot even venture into parks even in the afternoon because many people have made it their own abode.

Some of them will go under valleys and erect shanties.

All the laws were there when the whole idea of park policy was initiated in the mid 2000 but as time went by institutions saddled with the responsibility of enforcement and monitoring didnt do their work and that is the crisis we are now facing in the city

Unfortunately as you can see the social media is awash with all kinds negative narrations but I thought I should clarify to NAN as manager of public thought.

You can really understand what the issues are and provide information to our people to understand the message, he said.

The minister revealed that the administration was getting positive feedback from residents, adding that they were appreciative for the enforcement of the policy.

But you know as a country we dont push for our rights.

All the neighbors have been crying in silence, accusing government and complaining in silence but nobody was willing to confront these people in the parks

And now that we are doing our work quietly they will commend us but nobody is coming out publicly to support us, the minister said.

Earlier, Ponle had expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the FCT administration on advocacy to educate residents to be conscious about their surroundings.

Ponle said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect what the government had put in place.

Abuja is beautiful and people make it beautiful. The hands construct and can destroy. You use your hands here to construct and reconstruct.

And it is in our own little way to protect what you have built and even without telling us we have been doing that and we will continue to do that, he said.

Ponle also commended the minister for his achievements in the area of infrastructure development and provision of other basic social amenities.

Abuja has changed tremendously to my pleasant surprise and I salute your efforts in that regards. You have done so well that even the blind can see

We think about you everyday in a positive manner because of what we see, what we witness and what we enjoy in the capital city through you, he said. (NAN)
Edited by Mufutau Ojo

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has doled out N7.25 million to support the transportation of 725 youth corps members
of the 2021 Batch B Stream I, who completed their service in the state on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also gave automatic employment to two members; Jemilu Akpah from Kogi, a physically challenged,
and Mary Aimuan from Edo, who won the prestigious NYSC State Merit Award.

Bello, who spoke at the passing out ceremony of the batch at the Muhammadu Buhari Square, Lokoja, promised to give N10,000 to each of the 725 outgoing NYSC members to support their transportation back to their various destinations.

The governor said that the automatic employment for Jemilu Akpah being a physically challenged; and Mary Aimuan, was for their contributions to the improvement of their host communities.

He thanked the outgoing NYSC members for the sacrifices made toward uplifting the standard of peoples lives.

Your specific contributions in Primary Health Care delivery services, provision of quality education and rural infrastructure and advocacy in Sustainable Development Goals were critical in fostering and promoting governments transformation agenda.

Your deployment to various communities must have endeared you to their custom and tradition and consequently
broadened your perception and understanding of the imperatives of a united Nigeria.

Your post service aspirations should be toward making Nigeria a better place through selfless service, dedication to duty, honesty,
integrity and accountability.

You should be good ambassadors of the scheme and spread the gospel of its good virtues, Bello said.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Idris Musa, commennded the governor for creating enabling environment which ensured the safety and wellbeing of the youth corps members in the state.

Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Mofoluwaso Williams, had commended the NYSC members for their contributions to national development through personal and group Community Service Development (CDS) projects.

She noted that the service year had exposed them to the core values of the NYSC scheme, anchored on patriotism, integrity, efficiency, commitment and teamwork.

She said as you bow out from service today, it is important to reiterate the fact that the era of seeking only white collar jobs is over.

I, therefore, admonish you to put to good use, the various skills that you have been impacted with through the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship
Development programme.

In their separate comments, Akpah and Aimuan, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the state, describing it as a rare privilege.

Akpah, who is a writer, specifically commended the governor for his love and passion for persons living with disabilities in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has honoured seven
youth corps members posted to FCT in 2021 Batch B Stream One service for outstanding performance.

The Coordinator of the scheme in the territory, Alhaji Suleiman Abdul, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the
Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony for the batch.

He said I am happy to inform you that a total of 4,472 youth corps members are exiting the service today.

Out of this number, two are to receive FCT State Honours Award and five will get letters of commendation
for outstanding performance during the service year.

A total of 74 members who failed to conform to the dictates of the NYSC have been sanctioned in line with the
NYSC by-laws.

Abdul, however, said that the sanction was an extension of service for those affected, pointing out that
the POP signals another page in the story of the success of the NYSC in grooming virile, intelligent and diligent
young graduates in the society as powerful development influencers.

He added that the strategies of the scheme had proven to be highly effective, considering the contributions of the youth
corps members in Agriculture, Economy, Health, Rural Infrastructure, among other sectors.

He said while these activities have drawn positive commendations to the scheme, the NYSC is pressing forward in the humanitarian and social responsibility front.

This is by harnessing the human resource, expertise and malleability of members to move our great country forward.

Furthermore, with the passage of the NYSC Trust Fund by the Senate, we are confident of better days for the scheme.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, said that the FCT would remain grateful to the NYSC for the various
contributions the scheme had brought to education, health, agriculture, economic and infrastructure sectors within of the territory.

Represented by the Mandate Secretary, Social Development Secretariat,FCTA Hajiya Hadiza Kabir, where she urged the management of the scheme to continue
the laudable contributions with successive batches of members.

Aliyu, however, charged the youth corps members to take the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training they had during the service year seriously.

She added that you are all aware that the era of white collar jobs is fast fading out and the option left for every serious-minded person is acquisition of skills and entrepreneurship development.

Do the nation and indeed yourself a favour by continuously improving on the skills you have acquired, set up a business and aspire to become employers of labour in the future, she said.

One of the award recipient, Ms Ruth Dasukuk, with state code number FC/21B/0955, donated 12 chairs to the Command Day Secondary School in Lungi Barracks, FCT,
and sensitised women and girls on breast, cervical cancer and rape.

Dasukuk said she was moved to contribute her quota to the society through the sensitisation because she lost her mother and sister to breast cancer.

She said she would move on from the NYSC and face her hairdressing business.

Another recipient, Mr Godwin Alomaja, with state code number FC/21B/1120, donated an Automatic Transfer Switch, incorporated with remote/smart control to the NYSC FCT Secretariat for effective management of the power plant in the secretariat.

He said he was so elated to have bagged the state award and appreciated the NYSC for giving him the opportunity and announcing him to the world. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Joy Odigie

Guinness Nigeria Plc says plans are ongoing to expand its site in Benin with a view to deepening investment and boost job creation.

Mr Baker Magunda, the Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, said this during a courtesy visit to the acting Governor of Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu, in Benin on Tuesday.

Magunda said it would also invest in clean water projects for both the companys utilisation and communities in the state.

We are interested in the opportunities we see in Edo, Guinness success is beyond dividends for shareholders but impact on job creation as well as development of host communities.

Water is important in what we do and we have invested in water recycling to save water and to enable host communities access potable water, he said.

Magunda also intimated the acting governor of what the company was doing to promote equal job opportunities, reduce climate change as well as protection of the environment.

We are involved in clean energy projects in West Africa and our goal is to take the project to sustainable level.

He added that the visit was to appreciate the state government for its long standing support to the brewerys investment in Edo.

Also speaking, Mr Rotimi Odusola, the Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the companys water recovery plant in the state would be inaugurated in a months time.

Odusola said the plant had a capacity to treat 800,000 cubic meters of water per day.

He noted that the brewery was also involved in empowerment of women in the state as well as enrollment of students in host communities in scholarship scheme.

Earlier, Shaibu, while commending the social coporate responsibility components of the company, sought for the companys sponsorship for sporting activities in the state.

Shaibu said: We will like you to sponsor our programmes, especially sporting activities; the easiest way to reduce youth restiveness is engaging them in sports.

We have identified 15 sporting events that we want to revamp in the state starting from January 2023.

We want to take back our place in sports, we now have a standard lawn tennis court and we want Guinness to take advantage of branding the court with its different brands.

He also assured of the governments support in the brewerys site expansion project in the state noting that the state promotes a private sector driven economy.

When we have companies like you, issues of energy, clean water can be addressed by both government and private sector for the betterment of the people, he said.

The high points of the event was the unveiling of Captain Morgan, a Guinness new product, brewed in Edo to the acting Governor. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=============
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

Organisers of the 2022 Nigeria Oil

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources says it is setting up an Oil and Gas Investment centre which will act as a one-stop Oil and Gas Investment centre to spur Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

It said the centre would be reciprocated along all the MDAs to create an enabling business environment for would-be investors to attract all the available FDIs into the sector.

Mr Kamoru Busari, Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference.

Busari spoke at the industry regulators session of the 2022 NOG conference which had its theme as Funding the Nigerian Energy Mix for Sustainable Economic Growth.

He said the development was in fulfilment of its mandate as enshrined in Section three (e) of the PIA to: Promote an enabling environment for Investment in Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

He said it became necessary because of the need to begin to create business models that would reduce the export of crude oil while increasing export of value-added petroleum products.

He said deliberate regulations and policies that would encourage investments and enhance private businesses in these streams needed to be formulated.

The task before every one of us now is to breathe life to the flesh already built by the act to play our roles as regulator and opportunity enablers.

This will be through direct collaboration with all relevant stakeholders in the operationalisation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to prevent impediments in operations and processes.

He said 2022 NOG was unique, being the first after the Nation succeeded to pass the age-long PIA which had been in contention for over two decades.

He urged all NOG participants to make contributions in line with the theme, to effectively transform the likely challenges or impediments from the new law to opportunities to grow Nigerias Oil and Gas sector. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News