An NGO, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of tobacco industry in the countrys virtual space.

Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call in Abuja on Monday at the unveiling of a report, titled Tobacco Industry Capture of the Virtual Space in Nigeria.

Oluwafemi said that this had become necessary, as there were no elaborate safeguards in the National Tobacco Act, 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations, 2019, in relation to tobacco industrys activities in the virtual space.

The tobacco industry in Nigeria continues to skillfully exploit and circumvent the gaps in the law to operate almost without supervision in the virtual space.

Tobacco industries and their charity arms are now using the provision corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote their activities in the social media without mentioning anything about the harms of their products.

It is thus important for tobacco control advocates, policymakers and state authorities in Nigeria to note these emerging challenges and realities in order to counter and expose the tobacco industrys dominance of the virtual space, he said.

The CAPPA chief said that the report examined Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and a host of other social networking platforms used by over 100 million Nigerians between 2016 and 2021.

He added that it found that the tobacco industry and its charity arms operated unchecked in the virtual space and used it to gain favourable public rating, while mentioning nothing about the harms of their products.

CAPPA found that tobacco vendors and distributors, such as Smokehubng and Dasmokehub use their social media platforms to aggressively promote sales of tobacco products.

They also use a smoking culture which relies largely on promoting content showing Nigerian music icons smoking profusely.

We, therefore, recommend that Nigerian government should protect public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, Oluwafemi said.

According to him, this should be done in line with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in providing effective protection from public and workplace exposure for tobacco smoking.

Government should enforce penalties for Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorships (TAPS) and tobacco control violations, in compliance and accordance with the national tobacco control and policy.

It should also revoke all ministries, departments and agencies collaboration with the tobacco industry and its front groups, he said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Remi Koleoso
A Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), the Stop-Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to criminalise vote trading.

The Executive Director of Stop-VAWIP, Tumininu Adedeji, made the call at the post-election joint media briefing with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Ekiti Command, on Monday in Ado-Ekiti.

The two organisations reviewed Saturdays governorship election and how women were treated before, during and after the election.

Adedeji called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to punish anyone involved in vote trading.

She maintained that the amendment would sanitise the nations electoral system and make more electorate to have confidence in the system.

Adedeji decried the alleged harassment and intimidation of some women by agents of some political parties to buy their votes during the election, saying such act could discourage many women from participating in future election.

Priority voting was not given to pregnant women and nursing mothers in all polling units.

The Electoral Act 2022 does not empower the security agencies to expressly arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.

Women were coerced by both agents of vote-buying and selling with few cases tracked and reported, hence there is need to step up the orientation and sensitisation programme to discourage electorate from vote trading.

There is a need to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) to fully criminalise vote trading (vote selling and buying), she said.

She urged government agencies to intensify efforts at promoting inter-agency synergy to curb vote trading, including a service directory for election administrators and security agencies.

Women should be encouraged and supported by government and political parties to increase their involvement in politics.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should continue its engagement in elections in Nigeria and prosecute those arrested for vote trading to the fullest to serve as deterrent to others.

The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly should pass legislation that can further strengthen womens participation in politics.

The civil societies should also increase their collaboration with NSCDC for the purpose of creating an enabling environment for women to participate in the political process without discrimination and/or fear of intimidation, she said.

Adedeji commended women for coming out in their numbers to exercise their franchise on Saturday.

She also commended all stakeholders in the election, including INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, media organisations, mobilisers and coordinators, traditional leaders, political parties and the electorate for the landmark electoral success recorded in Ekiti.

Mr Tolu Afolabi, Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Ekiti Command, said the N-alert application, the alert system devised to facilitate response to incidents of violence, was used in the state during Saturdays governorship election.

He assured that the device would also be deployed in the Osun State governorship election scheduled for July 16.

Afolabi urged the next administration in Ekiti to sustain and consolidate on the efforts of the Ekiti Women Policy and Ekiti Youth Agenda.

He stressed the need to step up orientation and sensitisation programmes to discourage vote trading, assuring that NSCDC would continue to conduct more public enlightenment on the availability and use of the N-alert application. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Nigeria Customs have emerged winners of the 2022 Mark D Ball Mens Basketball Championship in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory for Customs in the final day of the championship on Sunday meant that they ended Mo Heats fairytale run in the tourney.

Mo Heat, an Abuja-based club side, prior to the final, were yet to lose a single game in the championship having gone a total of 20 games unbeaten since the start of the tournament in February.

The game between Mo Heat and Customs was quite an intense and nervy encounter as expected, as the former Nigeria Premier League champions looked to impose their dominance early in the game.

But Mo Heat, who had earlier beaten their opponents in the final match of the Elite eight, proved a hard nut to crack in the first quarter as scores was leveled at 15-15.

The second quarter saw a more dominant Customs side try to enforce themselves in the game as they took a six-point lead in the first five minutes.

However, it was Mo Heat who finished strong with a late three-pointer for a 31-26 scoreline at the end of the quarter.

It was a family affair in the third quarter as Customs staged a late comeback to level scores at 47-47 and further stretched their lead to six points at the end of the fourth quarter.

Mo Heat had a lot of opportunities from the free throw line but squandered 12 chances out of 21 and this affected the teams performance to a large extent as Customs held on for a hard-fought 61-55 victory.

The winner pocketed a whopping sum of 2 million, while the runners up smiled home with 1.5 million.

The third place team, Gombe Bulls, who had earlier beaten Kano Pillars 67-62, settled for 1 million.

Michael Daramola was the stand-out performer for Customs, scoring 19 points, including four rebounds and one assist.

He combined well with Captain Ibe Agu who scored 17 points, including eight turnovers, four steals and one assist.

Mo Heats Bright Akhuetie was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match, with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Customs Daramola took home the award for the overall MVP, while Christopher Ewaoche of Mo Heat was given the award for the highest block shot.

The highest rebounder award went to Solomon Ezra of Nigeria Customs, while the highest assist was given to Johnson Anaiye of Mo Heat.

The top five players of the tournament were Ewaoche of Mo Heat, Dele Ademola of Kano Pillars, Agu of Nigeria Customs, Kanyinsola Odufuwa of Gombe Bulls and Michael Okiki of Mo Heat.

The mens championship, which began on Feb. 6 with a total of 24 teams, ended on Sunday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, on Monday in Abuja called for an improvement in Nigerias capacity to protect its interests during economic negotiations with other countries.

Owasanoye made call at the opening of a two-day workshop on mitigating illicit financial flows.

He said those representing Nigeria at international negotiation tables needed to hone their skills to get good deals for the country, especially in sectors and areas with positive multipliers.

He said this would impact on the economy and the well-being of Nigerians.

He stressed the need to focus on capacity building to improve negotiation skills especially in the trade and investment sector.

Nigeria requires trade and investment to grow the economy. To attain this objective, Nigeria must have the potential to harness capital and technology in a manner that is not inimical to development, he said.

He told participants that once agreement was reached on any issue, the agreement must be binding and must be respected no matter how inequitable it might be to any of the parties.

According to him, the workshop is to build the capability of those who negotiate different kinds of contracts through which corruption takes hold.

He added that there were examples where negotiators signed clauses that were not implementable and .the country was penalised for breaching agreements.

He noted that such agreements ended up in arbitration and disputes whereas those responsible had had their palms greased by the other parties.

The workshop is designed to help middle level and senior officers who negotiate agreements in specific areas such as in oil and gas, trade, investment, environment and taxation.

This is to prepare them to know what to look for to protect national interests and also to help the country to avoid deleterious clauses that lead to capital flight, Owasanoye said.

He noted that international trade agreement structures erected years ago were skewed to the advantage of colonialists.

The chairman stated that Nigeria must align with one of the ideals expressed recently by South Africas former President Thabo Mbeki championing the need to build capacity to combat illicit financial flows.

He acknowledged the support of Ford Foundation in organising the workshop.

The Foundation continues to demonstrate unquestionable commitment to the development of Nigeria through support for the civil society and selected government institutions, he noted.

In his remarks, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, said it was necessary for Nigeria to develop a crop of officials skilled in international negotiations in general as well as in key thematic sectors.

Dipeolu is Chairman, Inter-Agency Committee on Stopping Illicit Financial Flows.

He is also the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Office of the Vice-President.

The consequences of poor negotiations can range from paying twice as much as your neighbour for the same item to costing your country a billion dollars in a mining concession, he said.

He stressed that the real intention of the workshop was to imbue the young negotiators with skills and the ability to negotiate agreements that would not put the country at a disadvantage.

Some of the areas we observed that we need a lot of attention are double taxation agreements, investment promotion agreements, trade agreements, oil and gas and natural resources agreement.

The idea is to train a set of people who have skills and capabilities to get outcomes that favour our country in negotiation both at home and abroad, he said.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from middle level officers in public sector agencies who negotiate trade and economic agreements on behalf of Nigeria.

The workshop has: Capacity Building for Nigerias Negotiators for Improved Terms of Engagement with the Rest of the World as its theme. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says investigations into two oil leaks at AGIPs oilfields in Bayelsa were caused by vandalism.

The two incidents occurred at Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Yenagoa that the agency concluded Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs) to the leak sites lastweek.

He said a leakage at the 6-inch Azuzuama-Tebidaba flow line at Ikebiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was traced to third party interference.

He added that the incident suspected to be the handiwork of oil thieves occurred on June 13, while the JIV was conducted on June 14.

He said also that an estimated eight barrels of crude oil was discharged into the environment as a result of the interference.

Area of impact was inside and outside the companys right-of-way where the vegetation was impacted and repairs effected, he said.

Musa said the second incident occurred at AGIPs 6-inch Tuom-Ogboinbiri pipeline at Ayamasa in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Hacksaw cuts were seen at three different points on the pipeline just as wraps of different materials were used around the different cuts by unknown persons.

The second point was about 35 meters apart from the first point, while the third point was across a major River, he told NAN. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in the Niger Delta says it has sent additional 450 ex-agitators to train in oil spill response, clean-up and remediation.

Its Interim Administrator, retired Col. Milland Dikio, said in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Sunday that the training is in line with PAPs Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) template.

He said some of them would train in solar engineering, plumbing, electrical installations, marine, metal and wood works.

PAP had earlier sent 400 ex-agitators to various farms in the Niger Delta to learn agricultural skills, bringing the number of beneficiaries in recent times to 850.

Addressing the ex-agitators after a second batch of basic orientation course organised for them in Port Harcourt, Dikio stressed the importance of wealth creation and employment generation in the region.

He urged the beneficiaries to take their training seriously so as to become employable and also become employers.

Dikio maintained that the era of crying over lack of opportunities was over and appealed to them to take advantage of the training to secure their future.

He said that PAP was in a hurry to make new millionaires and billionaires in the Niger Delta.

The statement quoted an ex-agitator, Pastor Nature Dumale Kieghe who shared his experience with the beneficiaries as saying he became successful after shunning his old ways.

I was rejected by even my own family members because of my lifestyle. I was a lost child.

No one could ever believe that I could be saved, but here I am today with so much to show for turning around from my evil ways.

I have travelled round the world, speaking to people about the dangers of engaging in destructive acts. You too can be like me if not better, he said.

The statement was issued by Mr Neotabase Egbe, Special Adviser to Dikio.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By David Adeoye

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday charged traditional rulers to join hands with the state and federal governments to ensure adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians.

Osinbajo gave the charge in Ibadan at a programme organised by a socio- cultural group, Yoruba World Centre, to celebrate Olubadn of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Baloguns first 100 days on the stool.

The vice-president, who was represented by a legal luminary, Niyi Akintola, said the charge became necessary for peace and tranquillity to reign across the country.

He said traditional rulers should also prioritise promotion of culture and tradition, saying this would enhance peaceful coexistence and encourage brotherhood.

Osinbajo charged Yoruba people, whom he described aspeople of honour and integrity, notto give room to those who try to destabilise our brotherliness through the display of abnormal acts; that is not who we are.Omoluabis (well-bred); we have respect for culture and tradition; we respect our elders; we cherish and encourage mutual progress for peace and tranquillity in our communities and in the nation.

He eulogised Oba Balogun, saying for many decades, the Olubadn had shown to be a leader who deeply cared for the common man, for progress and for the development of the nation.

He charged Oba Balogun, as custodian of the ancient culture and traditions of Ibadan, to continue to embody the best valuethat the people of Ibadan hold.

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadn of Ibadan, commended organisers of the event for promoting Yoruba culture.

Ladoja, who was represented by Chief Sarafadeen Ali, congratulatedOba Balogun on his 100 days as Olubadn of Ibadan.

He said the event further demonstrated that there is harmony and unity among the Yoruba.

He prayed that Kabiyesi would live long on the throne to witness reigning years.

Earlier, one of the organisers, Mr Adebayo Alao, publisher of Alaroye Newspaper, said the event was put together to showcase the rich culture of Yoruba people and also to celebrate Oba Balogun on his 100 days on the stool.

Alao said the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition was capable of creating job opportunities for Yoruba sons and daughters.

Oba Balogun, in his remarks, appreciated the Yoruba World Centre and well-wishers that attended the programme in his honour.

He pledged to support all activities towards the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the occasion were different cultural performancessuch as Bata sequences, Esa Eegun and Oriki.

Among dignitaries in attendance wereOba Adedokun Bolarinwa, Orangun of Oke-Ila and representativeof Oba Adeyeye Eniitan, the Ooni of Ife. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Mmaduakolam Gregg

The General Secretary, Gods Kingdom Society (GKS), Minister Benedict Hart, on Sunday in Abuja, called on the Christians and Muslims to take adequate precautionary measures to protect their places of worship.

Hart made the call on Sunday in Gwagwalada, at the church annual Listeners Forum, a programme designed to have a one-on-one interaction with the people.

According to Hart, the programme started in 1978 with one television station but has now spread to many radio and television station across the country.

He said that the programme was a continuous event and having held the June edition in Gwagwalada, the next edition would be held at another location.

He urged Christians and Muslims to take security steps to protect their worship places to guard against attacks by insurgents and bandits.

He said that churches and mosques should always have security men around their premises, whenever they had service or other activities to protect them in addition to calling on God for ultimate protection.

He said that every member of the congregation should always be security conscious and vigilant to identify strange faces entering their premises to perpetrate evil.

Christians and Muslims should always give themselves to prayers to God because He always protects His people, he said.

According to him, the faithful need to be more prayer now than ever before as the insecurity being witnessed around the world points to end time signs the Bible talks about.

Luke Chapter 21 verses 25 to 26 says: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.

Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

He advised Churches and Mosques to install modern technological gadgets like Close Circuit Cameras (CCTVs) in their premises as part to measures to enhance the security of their members and property.

Earlier, Minister Orighoye Obelikpeyah, who is in charge of North Central Zone, of GSK, also advised Nigerians to vote in leaders that had the fear of God in the coming 2023 general elections.

According to him, Nigerians should vote the leaders who would use the commonwealth of the people for the generality of the people saying this is the only panacea for the challenges the country is facing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Yunusa Ishola/Idowu Gabriel

Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner of the Saturdays Ekiti Governorship election.

Declaring the winner, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, said Oyebanji polled a total of 187, 057 to win the election.

He said that Oyebanji had certified the law and was, therefore, declared the winner.

That I, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer of the Ekiti 2022 Governorship Election held on June 18.

That Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of APC, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned, Adebowale declared.

The INEC Returning Officer, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, while given the break down of the total votes scored by the participated political parties, said that Mr Segun Oni, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, scored 82, 211, to come second.

According to him, others were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Bisi Kolawole, who polled 67,457; Accord (A) scored 166; African Action Congress (AAC) 409; All Progressives Grand Alliance,(APGA) 17 while Action Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 141 votes.

Also, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) scored 5,597; Allied Peoples Movement (APM) -290; Labour Party (LP) polled 195 votes; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) scored 529 and National Rescue Movement (NRM) 347.

The rest were, Young Progressives Party (YPP)-618; All Peoples Party (APP) polled 1,980 and Zenith Labour Party,(ZLP) polled 282; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) polled 856.

According to the INEC Returning Officer, the total numbers of registered voters were 989,224, accredited voters, 363,438, valid votes were, 351865 and voided votes were 8888.

However, the Ekiti South West Local Government area Collation Officer, Prof. Gbolagade Jonathan, said there were issues of ballot snatching at Ward 6 , Units 5 and 7.

Jonathan, while given his reports, said they were about sorting the results when gunmen stormed the affected units and started shooting sporadically making the people to run for safety, while they carted away the ballot boxes in the process.

He explained that the two affected units had a total numbers of accredited voters of 266 and 128 respectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Tanzania beat defending champions Kenya by 44 runs to win the 8th KwibukaT20 Cricket Tournament in Kigali on Saturday.

The game at the Gahanga cricket oval in the Rwandan capital city saw Tanzania winning the toss and opting to bat first.

They went on to score 114 runs, all out in 20 overs.

Kenya came in to bat in the second innings, scoring 70 runs all out in 20 overs for Tanzania to win by 44 runs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tanzania went unbeaten in the tournament, winning eight matches in all.

At the end of the game, Queentor Abel, captain of the Kenyan team, promised that they hope to be back stronger.

I am proud of the team. We will come back stronger, Abel said.

On her part, Fatuma Omary Kibasu, captain of Tanzania, appreciated the team for the victory adding the next edition will see us better.

Meanwhile, Uganda emerged third while hosts Rwanda came fourth.

Nigeria finished fifth, Brazil sixth and Germany seventh, while Botswana ended bottom of the standings.

The tournament, which is in memory of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, began on June 9 and ended on Saturday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News