By Emmanuella Anokam

The new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd.) will be unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 18, 2022.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Malam Mele Kyari said this on Tuesday while receiving the CEO of the Year 2021 Award of the Leadership Newspapers Group in Abuja.

The Leadership Annual Conference and Awards also saw Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala receive the Leadership Person of the Year Awards.

Speaking virtually from Luanda, Angola where he is attending the meeting of African Petroleum Conference (CAPDE VIII), Kyari expressed profound appreciation toward the award.

He thanked the Leadership Newspapers Group for recognising the efforts of the NNPC.

He said such recognition was a challenge to do more.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, restructured and empowered the NNPC as a new entity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The United States of America says it will impose visa restrictions on anyone who promotes violence as Nigeria holds its general elections in 2023.

Americas Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mr Michael Gonzales, handed out the warning at an international conference with the theme: United States Policy and Nigerias National Decisions in the 2023 Elections, held at Johns Hopkins University, United States.

The conference, which held at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC , virtually, brought together Nigerian and American policy communities to discuss issues around the 2023 general elections.

It was organised by policy research center Nextier Nigeria, in partnership with SAIS at Johns Hopkins University; the School of International Service at the American University: and the Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development at the University of Massachusetts.

Gonzales said the United States government will continue to use our messaging, as well as other diplomatic channels at our disposal, including visa restrictions, where warranted, to dissuade those who may be tempted to use violence to undermine Nigerias democratic process.

According to him, the U.S. government remains committed to working with Nigeria to uphold its conventions toward ensuring a peaceful power transition in 2023.

The conference, moderated by Dr Ndubuisi Nwokolo, a Partner at Nextier and Honorary Research Fellow, School of Government and Society, University of Birmingham, U.K.), among other global scholars, therefore, stated that Nigeria should maintain existing political conventions that guaranteed peace.

Other event moderators at the conference were Dr Carl LeVan, (Professor, School of International Service, American University and Chair, Comparative and Regional Studies), and Dr. Darren Kew (Professor of Conflict Resolution, University of Massachusetts, Boston and Executive Director of Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development).

Patrick Okigbo, Nextiers Founding Partner, clarified that the reason for hosting the conference in the United States was to elevate the election issues and conversations to the international stage.

He reiterated the need for Nigerias international partners to assist in upholding her democratic process, even as he pointed out that democracy is not an end state but a project that requires continuous nurturing.

Okigbo said: Insecurity in Nigeria and recent occurrences in West Africa and Sahel regions should cause Nigerias elite to use the 2023 elections to douse the tensions and set the country on a growth path.

He further cautioned that the failure to address the issues raised at the conference could have devastating consequences, whilst attention to the recommendations could yield a bountiful harvest.

Other panelists highlighted the insecurity risks and the need to manage the 2023 elections properly, in addition to other points raised at the conference.

Among these points were the issue of faltering political developments as they concerned elitism and Nigerias progress, as it was observed that since 1999, the Nigerian elite had found a way to maintain a modicum of stability for elections and eventually share the dividends of the election outcomes.

In his contribution, retired Brig.-Gen. Saleh Bala, observed that security challenges in Nigeria are true, present and tangible but what is consistent is the lurking shadow of elite interests and how they serve their interests.

On insecurity threats to Nigerias democracy, the conference found that poor management of the elections especially the rotational presidency convention could threaten Nigerias democracy against the backdrop of pervasive insecurity.

The conference also found that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, rise of self-help groups, and increased secessionist agitations in southern Nigeria were other factors that posed security threats to the countrys democracy.

Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Ms Idayat Hassan, noted that political parties during the Anambra governorship election cycle could not campaign due to insecurity, and that worse scenarios could happen in 2023.

Hassan asserted that the zoning of the presidency to the south, particularly the Southeast, will give the region a sense of belonging in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon

The Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Tuesday partnered with the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN) to launch Diaspora housing scheme.

This was made known during a courtesy visit paid by the Chairman of NiDCOM Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to FMBNs Managing Director, Mr Madu Hamman in his office in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa announced that NiDCOM had reached its final preparatory stage of the housing scheme programme for the Nigerians in the Diaspora to benefit from.

She added that the partnership with the FMBN would help in cutting off any middleman that would pose any challenge to Nigerians Diaspora that wish to own a home in Nigeria.

Also, she said that the housing scheme would be beneficiary for Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

She pointed out that the Nigerians Diaspora were rated the highest in remittances to their home country, adding that no country could stand alone without its Diaspora.

We have created the housing scheme platform where we now have about 1,700 interested diaspora wanting to enroll .

So, where we are now is to commence the launch which was delay by the handing over of the new Management team of the FMBN in March .

She also warned Nigerians In the Diaspora not to fall victim of fraudsters, urging them to always go through the official platform and address of the scheme: https://nidcom.gov.ng/diaspora-housing-platform/.

Speaking also, the MD of FMBN Mr Hamman, apologised for the delay of the launch, saying that it was due to the change in leadership at the bank.

Hamman gave assurance that a date would be fixed for the launch before the end of May, noting that the process was already at its final stage.

He added that the Diaspora were an integral component for any countrys development because of their skills, expertise and resources to invest in their homeland.

This platform will be of immense value to Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora. Before the end of May we will have a date for the launch.

The committees set for the arrangement will begin work to expedite the lunch and then the venue and other logistics with the approval will be communicated at the end of the month, he said.(NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army has dismissed the report that some aggrieved personnel wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the top army officers of corruption and extortion.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

An online report had emerged on Monday that some aggrieved personnel had in an impersonal letter to President Muhammadu Buhari accused top army officers of corruption.

Nwachukwu said more worrisome was the insinuation that soldiers had threatened to embark on strike, saying such an action was tantamount to mutiny in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He said the Nigerian army subscribed to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as directed by the Federal Government, since 2018.

He added that the system had facilitated the flawless payment of salaries and allowances of personnel.

Nwachukwu said subscribing to IPPIS was part of the effort to guard against fraudulent practices and entrench accountability and transparency in the system.

According to him, the IPPIS does not permit any personnel access to payment processes.

These processes, undoubtedly, provide zero opportunity for anyone or group of persons to manipulate personnel entitlements.

It is also important to state that the army and sister services, jointly operate a Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS), which is applicable to the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.

Therefore, what is applicable to personnel of other services (Nigerian Navy and Air Force), invariably applies to personnel of the Nigerian army.

Suffice to state that personnel salaries and allowances are promptly and appropriately paid, without any form of shortchanging, he said.

He said the vague allegation of corruption and extortion clearly depicts a shallow understanding of the processes of payments of personnel salaries and allowances.

As it stands presently, all monthly entitlements of personnel have been disbursed.

The allegations contained in the anonymous letter are, therefore, a ridiculous attempt at disparaging the Nigerian army and causing disaffection among personnel, he said.

Nwachukwu said it was weird that the personnel whose morale was considerably high under the command of the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, would make such allegations and threats.

He said the current administration had accorded priority and prompt attention to soldiers welfare, including timely payment of their salaries and allowances.

According to him, the Nigerian army, as a professional institution, will, however, investigate the claims made in the report to establish its veracity and take appropriate action, where necessary.

The Nigerian Army wishes to state that it will not be deterred by any unpatriotic attempt, aimed at dwindling the morale of her personal.

Personnel of the NA are rest assured that the Chief of Army Staffs innovative welfare programmes currently being implemented for Regimental Sergeant Majors down and their families, will be unmatched for posterity, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Bukola Adewumi

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Tuesday launched a project on reducing post harvest losses across vitamin A cassava (VAC) and vitamin A maize (VAM) value chains.

Prof. Lateef Sanni, the Head of Station IITA Abuja and Project Manager, Building Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed System (BASICS-II), said post harvest food losses endangered valuable incomes and profitability.

Sanni said that IITA, in

Its also caused by delays in harvesting, poor processing techniques, inadequate method of storage and distribution as well as at the consumer end, he said

The project manager noted that post harvest in Cassava and Maiza deprived farmers of full benefits of their labour.

He said that the aim of the project was to improve the adoption of post harvest losses and reducte practices across the VAC and VAM value chains in Nigeria.

He also said that the project, supported by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and implemented by IITA, in collaboration with Harvest Plus, was aimed to boost biofortified maize and cassava production, job creation for youths and women as well as improve adoption of post harvest losses.

The Country Director, GAIN, Mr Michael Ojo, said the programme was designed to scale up commercial activities for nutrients enriched food products.

Ojo also said that the project was aimed at improving nutritional status and livelihoods, especially in rural communities and settlements with less diverse diets through VAC and VAM which were staples for over 100 million Nigerians.

Achieving this aim comes with its challenges which includes post-harvest losses in crops and aflatoxins build up in maize.

GAIN and Harvest plus are working towards addressing post-harvest loss.

Aflatoxin build up along Provitamin A Cassava and Provitamin A maize value chains are key inputs in unlocking commercial values for these food commodities, he said.

The director further said that post-harvest losses decreased profit margin of actors across the value chain and food availability for consumers, while aflatoxin contamination made the food unsafe for consumers.

He said that in 2021, GAIN and Harvest plus carried out an assessment of market opportunities for Aflatoxin Safe Maize commodities and Aflatoxin safe Biofortified Maize amongst small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

In his contribution, Dr Oyeleke Rasaq, Head, Nutrition Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the ministry was ready to work with IITA and other relevant agencies to resolve the problem of post harvest loss.

He, however, said

Rasaq said that the system should be restructured and that relevant instructions collaborate to ensure food safety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project would be implemented in Anambra, Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Osun, to improve livelihood, less food losses and waste.(NAN )

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday cautioned political parties against non-transparent primaries in order to sustain Nigerias democracy.

Alhaji Yahaya Bello , FCT INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) made the call at the Stakeholders Interactive Session in Respect of the Forthcoming Political Party Congresses and Primaries in Abuja.

According to Bello, the call became imperative because a good and credible election begins with a transparent and credible part primaries crowned with internal democracy.

He recalled that during the just concluded FCT Area Council Election, the results of some primaries conducted were very seriously contested and challenged in litigations that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

This put the commission under a lot of strain and stress and the political parties as well.

We wish to therefore passionately remind all political parties that they are supposed to be very critical stakeholders and partners of INEC and should join in our zeal to entrench and sustain democracy in the nation.

Political Parties are, therefore, urged to play their expected part by ensuring that party internal democracy is very well orchestrated by making your congresses and primaries more transparent, fair and acceptable by your members.

Bello said that the party congresses and primaries were billed to start on April 4, 2022 to June 3, 2022 to enable all parties to practicalise their internal democracy as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

He said that there was also need to bring some burning issues to the attention of political parties .

He said that the stack of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) in INECs custody dating as far back as 2019 registration exercise was worrisome.

The REC said that apart from the space being consumed in storing the PVCs, there was also need to consider the huge amount of funds expended in their production.

Bello said that there was also the issue of then congested Polling Units (Pus) with number of voters ranging from 100 to 300 that prompted INEC to expand the voter access polling units by creating other Pus at close range.

He said that unfortunately, this had largely resulted in the problem of zero Pus ,a situation where the Pus existed bit without any registered voter .

We would crave your indulgence to assist in educating the masses on the need to opt to be moved to the new Pus.

This is to decongest the existing crowded ones and make voting faster and less cumbersome during elections.

Bello said that it was disheartening to note the near absence of tangible number of registered voters at polling stations on Election Day.

He therefore called on political parties to assist INEC in sensitizing the electorates to ensure that all these challenges identified were curbed ahead of the 2023 elections.

Representing the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Operations, Bernard Igwe, advised political parties to play by the rules during party primaries.

Bernard said that the Police Force and other security agencies would still remain friends of electoral stakeholders in the forthcoming elections.

We did it all during the Area council election, I think it is one of the fairest and one of the best Area Council elections conducted in FCT.

You saw our deployments, last week, the national chairman of INEC was pleased because of the conduct of the area council election in the FCT.

It goes to all of us, you saw like deployments, once you play by the rules, we dont have problem with you.

Play the game by the rules, the security agencies have no problem with you, we are going to support democracy.

We have agreed to make sure that democracy succeeds in Nigeria and we are going to assist and do whatever we can to ensure security before ,during and after every elections in Nigeria.

Igwe said that the police had already mapped out its plans to ensure security and property in the FCT during the 2023 elections and advised political parties to be clear on their representatives.

A representative of the National Orientation Agency ,FCT Directorate (NOA), Mr Nnamdi Ekeoba, said that NOA had been partnering with INEC throughout all the electoral processes and activities .

Ekeoba said that with NOAs presence in all the six area councils had made it possible to reach the masses across FCT.

We have been doing our best to sensitise the voters especially in this ongoing continues voters registration exercise.

We have been sensitising the voters to come out to register and we promise INEC that as soon as the continuous voters registration ends,

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, on Tuesday, called for team work and commitment
by stakeholders to end HIV epidemics.

She made the call while declaring open the 6th National Council on AIDS in Abuja, with the theme: Innovative Approaches Toward HIV Epidemic Control and Programme Sustainability at State Level.

She said women and girls were at the centre of HIV response with the rise in rape and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

According to her, cases of rape and other forms of GBV during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the health of women and girls.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, restated the determination of the ministry to continue to support the fight against HIV.

Ehanire, who was represented by Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, expressed optimism that conversations around HIV at the 6th National Council would be fruitful.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, pledged the support of the legislature to ending HIV.

Represented by Ms Hafsat Abdulraheem, Senior Legislative Assistant, the chairman said that the legislature would make appropriate legislation to support the effort.

Dr Murphy Akpu of the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), reiterated determination of the group to continue to partner with National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in the National HIV Response.

According to him, as collaborators of Nigerias National HIV Response, PEPFAR is proud to be part of the conversation.

Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), acknowledged the efforts of development partners in the fight against HIV.

Aliyu commended the stakeholders and development partners for a united front against the scourge. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Constance Athekame

The National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) has been presented with the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015 Certificate by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The Director-General of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Nagode,while receiving the Certificate on Tuesday in Abuja, said the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015 is a process development that strengthens business performance.

Nagode said that ISO 9001:2015 certification would create efficiency in work, guarantee world-class corporate governance and build enduring customer satisfaction.

According to him, this is the ultimate goal of any product development organization, this development will enhance NAPTIN brand, and product offerings will guarantee quality assurance and meet standards of regulatory requirements.

This laudable feat, though long overdue couldnt have come at a better time when NAPTIN is the cynosure of all eyes by its status of being a Centre of Excellence in power training.

Its training also covers West Africa Sub-Region under West African Power Pool and also the Association of Power Utilities of Africa under the African Network Centres of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE) project.

This has made NAPTIN a global player in providing an efficient and effective workforce beyond the shores of Nigeria. Through this development, NAPTIN is living its dream as espoused in its corporate vision statement of being a Centre of Excellence, he said.

Nagode said that the recognition and the award came after two years of long and arduous journey of hard work, tenacity, resilience and utmost commitment by all staff of NAPTIN.

According to him, as NAPTIN basks in the glory of the ISO certification, the institute should come to terms with the reality that the work is not finished.

Our efforts at upholding and sustaining the status will be the real legacy we can all bequeath to future generations to come, he said.

The Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, while commending NAPTIN for the feat, said that the certification was in line with the general reforms that were being carried out by the Federal Government.

Aliyu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr Nebolisa Anako, said that every step was being taken toward performance management and digitisation of administrative content and standard operating procedure in service.

Excellence is something I ask other agencies of government to strive towards.

NAPTIN as an institution in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is key because it is where we train the talents to bring the system to standard.

As we need competently trained personnel in all aspects to move the power industry forward and the ministry of power is happy with NAPTIN for achieving this.

The Director-General of SON, MalamFarouk Salim said that ISO 9001:2015 quality management system approach now provides NAPTIN with a robust, globally recognised and acceptable solution to address challenges with managing quality.

Salim, represented by Mr Felix Nyado, the Director, Management SystemsCertification, SON said that the certification would also provide the institute solution to deliver an excellent customer experience.

According to him, implementing the ISO 9001: 2015 standard in your organisation is a demonstration of your top managements acceptance of international best practice of doing business and getting it right the first time and always.

Our advice to you today is to keep the system healthy and up to date to reap the benefits of ISO approach to management.

The system having been certified has been placed under annual surveillance audits to ensure continuing suitability and effectiveness in the course of the audit exercises,

Where non-conformance is observed and is effectively corrected within the specified time frame, the system will retain their certificate.

However, the certificate will be withdrawn if the structure in place for certification breaks down and corrective action is not taken on observed non-conformance, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Sonia Amure/Funmilayo Adeyemi

The National Universities Commission (NUC) in partnership with the British Council has concluded arrangements to deepen relationship on exchange programme that would boost transnational education.

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the commission and the British Council in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a High Powered U.K Government Delegation on Higher Education visited the country, British Council Nigeria and the NUC to sign MoU to deepen relationship on digital education.

Rasheed said that the gesture would open up academic spaces for Nigerians.

He said that the country would open up discussion on proper training in developing online digital education component that would boost the nations educational sector.

The National Universities Commission is committed to enhancing access to university education via the Open, Distance and e Learning (ODL) mode.

However, as regulatory agency for the Nigerian University System (NUS), the commission shall continue to ensure that the quality of programmes delivered via ODL, E-Learning and Transnational Education in the NUS are not compromised by periodically reviewing quality assurance and policies.

Without doubt, the commission is well disposed to opening up the Nigerian space and thus, align with the realities of the 21st century and global best practices in relation to transnational education, he said.

The executive secretary said that 2.147 million students were enrolled in various institutions at the end of 2021, representing one per cent of the population.

He, however, said that he was disappointed with criticism on the establishment of new universities on grounds that the country kept producing graduates not prepared for the 21st century.

We have taken up this challenge and in the last four years, we have developed a strategic plan to reengineer our curriculum.

We have taken up this exercise and have consulted over 1,000 academics in reengineering the curriculum. We have worked closely with industries to give input to ensure they are captured.

We have input of international curriculum, we have received a lot of suggestions as regards this and we are sending the draft to the Federal Executive Council in the next few days, he said.

Rasheed added that the commission would continue to support female academic to attend courses in the U.K.

Responding, Sir Steve Smith, a U.K Governments International Education Champion, said that the agreement was to develop a long time, sustainable, two-way partnership between universities and Nigeria government and universities in the U.K.

Smith said that the partnership would provide opportunity where a Nigerian student could have the opportunity to have a U.K degree without having to travel to Britain.

He said that the partners were trying to bring down the cost of studying in the U.K while not compromising the quality of the degrees.

He noted that the partnership would be a win-win approach that would offer competition and quality across all sector.

Its a very strong relationship and we want to take it further. Were going to do it in a way that deals with the opportunity of having U.K degrees without having to travel abroad.

So its a very exciting opportunity to meet with very positive individuals and we are very happy to have students come to U.K to study in increasing numbers.

We also want to be able to work with them at the same quality.

So, we dont want to simply turn up here to say most students should come to the U.K.

We work a partnership with the NUC, trying to find a way where we can offer U.K degrees at a cost, that will enable the families that do not have the money to send their students abroad get the same quality of degrees, he said.

Also, the Chief Executive, British Council, Mr Scott McDonald, said that the council was determined to partner with Nigeria and support the universities to deepen research that would translate into growth.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Perpetua Onuegbu
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) says it has disbursed N394.575 billion to beneficiaries from 1992 to 2022.

The Group Head, Corporate Communications (FMBN), Mr Lawal Sauri disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, this disbursement is for differentcategories of beneficiaries of the National Housing Fund (NHF).

Giving the breakdown of the total amount, Sauri said the Home Renovation Loan disbursed N68.571 billion to 84,088 beneficiaries.

The home renovation loan is given to contributors that want to renovate or refurbish their existing homes to make it more appealing and comfortable.

In Construction loans, we disbursed N145. 414 billion for the building of 34,158 unit of houses to 34, 158 beneficiaries in 30 years.

On mortgage loans, 23,300 contributors benefited N128.861 billion and NHF refund to retirees was N51.729 billion to 386,045 retirees, Sauri said.

Speaking further on the achievements of the FMBN, Sauri said the bank had registered contributors numbering 5, 500, 72 and registered cooperative societies numbering 1,230.

We have 23,120, cooperative members and a total of N533.932 billion NHF collection in 34 states of the federation. (NAN) ()

PUO/OIF/GY

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News