By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the countrys progress as Christians celebrate Easter.

The NCWS National President, Hajiya Lami Lau, made the call in Abuja in her Easter message to Christians.

According to her, as the world celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the NCWS rejoices with Christians on the occasion.

The period symbolises freedom from all forms of challenge and victory over death; hence, the need for Nigerian women to continue in prayers for God to tackle challenges facing the country.

We need to use this celebration of Easter to pray to God.

I urge you to use the occasion of Easter celebration to promote peace, unity and progress, and imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ in conduct and relationship with others, she said.

Lau said that the period called for sober reflection due to attacks on some communities.

According to her, Nigeria needs divine intervention.

As elections approach, we call on governments to tackle security challenges as we urge all Nigerians to continue in prayers for the nation.

This is what we can do to draw Gods attention to Nigeria, she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Aderonke Ojo/ Georgina Adegbei

Bayelsa state team at the weekend in Abuja led the first edition of National Para Sports Games with 93 medals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Bayelsa won 31 gold, silver 30 and 32 bronze to clinch the premier position with 93 medals in the maiden National para Sports Games, which ended at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Abuja.

Ismail Abubakar, permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development who represented the minister at the closing ceremony, commended all participating states for their cooperation in the seven days event.

I want to thank the Almighty God for the huge success recorded in the games and also wish to express my profound gratitude to all the state governments that participated in the first edition.

I want to thank all the team officials and athletes, sponsors for their participation, he said.

Peter Nelson , the Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the next edition would be more interesting than the first edition.

Para athletes had been making the nation proud in international tournaments for the Federal Government to show them what they intended for them in the maiden show.

The second edition of the National Para Games is expected to take place next year, and there after, every two years.

This was put in place to lessen the burden on States in having to fund athletes for both the National Para Games and National Sports Festival in the same year, he said

NAN reports the final medals table thus;

States Medals Position

Gold sliver Bronze total

Bayelsa 31 30 32 93 1st

Oyo 24 15 21 60 2nd

Kano 21 13 8 42 3rd

Edo 17 5 1 23 4th

Ondo 15 11 3 29 5th

NAN report that 21 states participated in the maiden edition of Para Sports Games which stated on April 9 and ended on Friday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Medical laboratory and research scientists from West Africa are set to chart a course that will assist in building local capacity for the manufacturing of vaccines and other medical products in the sub-region.

This was disclosed in a statement by Ms Efam Dovi, Public Relations and Outreach Lead, CelebrateLAB Conference, on Sunday in Lagos.

Dovi noted that the outbreak of COVID-19 disease saw West Africa, and indeed Africa, suffer inequity in access to masks, diagnostic devices, testing kits and other medical supplies, as well as vaccines.

While health inequity against the continent is not new, the COVID-19 pandemic reopened the conversation on ensuring the continents self-sufficiency in healthcare products and solutions through local manufacturing in order to expand access to healthcare.

This effort will require wider collaboration across the region to ensure that the needed expertise and resources are available to create the right environment for product manufacturing.

Critical among these initiatives will be building professional expertise in clinical research and health diagnostics, to ensure that medical products manufactured in Africa are suitable for Africans, she said.

Dovi said that medical laboratory and research scientists from West Africa would converge at the CelebrateLAB West Africa Conference in Accra, Ghana, from April 21 to 22.

CelebrateLAB Conference is an annual meeting of medical laboratory and research professionals, regulators, policy makers, academia and medical product manufacturers and suppliers.

The first conference took place in Liberia in 2014, following the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease that claimed several lives and revealed major gaps in the regions healthcare systems, especially in the area of disease surveillance and diagnostics.

Dovi added that the conference would proffer solutions to enhance laboratory capacity in the area of human resources, clinical research, vaccines and other medical products manufacturing in West Africa.

According to her, the theme of the conference is, Ensuring Diagnostic Capability and Vaccine Sufficiency as Panacea to Combating Infectious Diseases in West Africa.

She added that Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, would deliver the keynote address, with emphasis on strengthening West Africa health systems through lessons learnt from the current COVID-19 pandemic and previous disease outbreaks.

Other speakers at the event include Ghanas Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu; Prof. James Damen, National President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria; among others.

The conference is organised by Africabio Enterprises Inc., in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists and Ghana Health Service with support from the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of the Multinational Joint task Force (MNJTF), have eliminated no fewer than 100 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists,including 10 key commanders in Lake Chad region.

The Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, in a statement on Sunday, said the forces successfully hit the enclaves in a well coordinated land and air offensives.

Dole said the offensives were conducted under Operation Lake Sanity, joint operations involving the MNJTF troops from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and troops from Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK- Nigeria).

He said the operation also included the combined Air Task Forces of MNJTF and OPHK other security agencies and the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF).

Dole said the troops raided the insurgents dens in Zanari, Arina Woje, which served as major fabrication workshops, and several other locations around the Islands from different corridors in the last one week.

According to him, the terrorists were neutralised following intelligence -driven lethal air strikes in the Lake Chad islands by the combined air taskforces.

Some of the commanders include Abubakar Dan Buduma, Abubakar Shuwa, Abu Ali and Abu Jubrilla among others.

Relatedly, sophisticated weapons of different calibres including a 105 mm artillery piece, several canoes/boats, motorcycles, bicycles, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) making factories and bunkers were destroyed.

In the course of the operation, significant number of innocent citizens, mostly women and children held captive by the criminals, were rescued.

Large quantities of food stuff (grains), fuel dumps, illicit drugs, terrorists uniforms and other house holds materials were recovered and destroyed immediately, he said.

MNJTF spokesman said that logistics and foodstuffs, including several bags of maize and beans, motorcycles, some immobilised military and civil vehicles, were discovered at Fedondiya settlement in a clearance operation.

He said that equipment,like grinding machines, vehicle fabrication tools and military uniforms ,were also destroyed and set ablaze in the location.

According to him, it was obviously a big Boko Haram /ISWAP camp having another large IED making and vehicle borne IED making factory that was cleverly camouflaged to prevent detection from the air.

Dole said the MNJTF troops on clearance patrols in Kimeguna near the Lake Chad in Niger Republic accosted terrorists logisticians ferrying 457 bags of fish in several carts.

He said the bags of fish were immediately destroyed in line with the MNJTF standing operating procedure, adding that the suspects were currently being profiled.

According to him, the obviously frustrated BHT/ISWAP criminals have resorted to indiscriminate laying of IEDs and use of vehicle borne explosive devices attacks.

He said the troops had encountered four of such attacks, saying that 18 soldiers including an officer had been wounded in these attacks.

Dole added that the wounded had been evacuated to various military medical facilities for treatment ,while three soldiers and one member of the CJTF paid the supreme sacrifice.

According to Dole,the Force Commander (FC) MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Abdul-Khalifah Ibrahim, commended his deputy, sector commanders, officers and men of MNJTF and other operations, including the CJTF for their courage and commitment.

Dole said Ibrahim paid tribute to the troops who paid the supreme sacrifice and prayed for quick recovery of the wounded heroes.

Ibrahim urged the troops to be resolute and bold to finally eradicate the criminals from the Lake Chad areas and promised continuous logistics support to the troops.

The force commander advised the terrorists to lay down their arms like thousands of their colleagues who had done so instead of pursuing a futile and failed cause.

He also appealed to communities in the areas of operation and beyond to always support security forces by passing credible information on the terrorists quickly to bring an end to the scourge of terrorism in the area. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello, the Director-General, Hope 23, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, says the masses will be the godfather of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi , when he is elected president of Nigeria.

Abiola-Costello stated this while addressing a World Press Conference in Abuja on Sunday on the candidacy of Bello for the 2023 presidency.

She said the fact that Bello was independent and never accepted to have a godfather was a big plus for him, noting that the Nigerian people (masses) would be his godfathers once elected President.

I am leading this campaign because I believe in the candidate.

I think that the Nigerian people deserves to listen to Bello. He is exceptional, he has certain qualities even beyond anything that I have said.

One of the major qualities is that this is a person that is willing to be independent, a person that is willing not to have a godfather.

The people that will be the godfathers of Bello when he becomes president are the people of Nigeria, and it is about time that we have that, Abiola-Costello said.

Reacting to the possibility of Bello emerging APC candidate considering perceived heavyweights in the likes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo vying for the ticket, Abiola-Costello said that Bello would defeat other aspirants in the forth-coming primaries of the party in a free and fair contest.

The D-G, however, said though it was clear that Bello had resisted the idea of godfathers for long, he would carry the older politicians along when be becomes the president of Nigeria.

It is good that you said heavyweights. But he will win in a free and fair contest.

His chances are actually the best of the group because in a competition, it is about the voters and 60 per cent of Nigerians are under 30.I am his Director-General because I believe in him.

There have been a ground swell in our country by young people to play a bigger role in our political affairs.

You do know about the not too young to run campaign that has been going on for a long time, which led to the President signing the Not too young to run Bill into law.

Nigerian young people are ready to take more responsibilities in the governing of our affairs and this is the young peoples candidate.

But we really value and appreciate the heavyweights and those you call tested politicians, and they can be sure that if, God willing, we have president Yahaya Bello come 2023, he will carry them along, he will be consulting them and seeking their counsel.

He will be wanting to build on their networks and resources because the country belongs to all of us, it belongs to the tested politicians and most especially, the young people of Nigeria, the campaign D-G said.

On zoning, she said that the APC as of today had thrown open the contest, not restricting it to any zone, noting that everyone was eligible to contest regardless of the zone.

At this time, the APC has said that all aspirants are free to contest. They have given no restrictions by zone and we are guided by that and our aspirant has the freedom to put his ambition forward.

I can assure you that his aspiration has been done with a lot of consultations from within the party to the highest level and there have been no reservations to his aspirationThe support across Nigeria is overwhelming, she noted.

Abiola-Costello described . Bello as a unifier which her late father represented, adding that when he emerged, he would also tackle issues of poverty, insecurity and other challenges facing the country.

I see in Bello that he is a unifier in Nigeria. We need a Nigerian leader that is a unifier that believe in all Nigerian people and will fight for all Nigerian people.

MKO was such a man. This Gov. Bello is also such a person. In his own cabinet in Kogi , all six geopolitical zones are represented.

This is also somebody that fights for young people. His government has 95 per cent of young people in his cabinet.

He doesnt just use them for campaign, he put them in government with opportunity to have dignity, she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the week with a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery, to ascertain the level of ongoing rehabilitation of the plant.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and members of Board of Directors, NNPC Ltd. who were also on the tour expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the refinery site in, Rivers State.

Sylva who was elated at the level of progress recorded on the project, said he was particularly impressed with the high sense of time management exhibited by the project team.

He said that the Federal Government was interested in the prompt delivery of the project to achieve energy security for Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Board members, the Chairman of the NNPC Board, Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, pointed out that the rehabilitation was aimed at boosting in-country refining capacity and cost reduction.

Chuba-Okadigbo said that the rehabilitation also signals the companys intention to exit from petroleum products importation and associated challenges of foreign exchange issues, adding that she was impressed by the quality of work done so far.

On his part, the Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari explained that the project was uniquely designed with efficiency and sustainable maintenance culture in mind to enable the refinery generate funds.

He assured that the whole process was well thought-out and will enable the company introduce a new business model for the operation of the refinery.

Earlier in his technical report to the visiting team, the Managing Director of the PHRC, Mr Ahmed Dikko stated that the company was determined to deliver on the mandate by all means.

He acknowledged the support of the NNPC leadership, its Board, the National Assembly and other stakeholders towards achieving the current milestones.

Dikko emphasised that the progress made so far could not have been possible without their cooperation and timely approvals.

Project Manager, who spoke on behalf of the contractor handling the rehabilitation, Tecnimont SpA, Mr Davide Broggini, said they would deliver the project in record time.

The visit saw the tour of areas one, two and three of the refinery that housed some major plants including, crude distillation and vacuum units.

Other plants visited were the naphtha hydro-treating unit, catalytic reform and kero hydro-treating units, fluid catalytic cracking and gas unit, and gas treatment and merox units.

It is expected that the PHRC, which comprised of the old and new refineries with a combined refining capacity of 210,000bpsd, would commence partial operation from the first quarter of 2023 by processing 60,000 barrels per stream day into the market.

The refinery would commence full operation on completion of the rehabilitation project scheduled for the last quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said it was committed to ensuring that the new NNPC Ltd. took off on a solid foundation without any encumbrance from the old NNPC.

This was said by the House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate the inventory, assets, liabilities and joint ventures of the old NNPC during an oversight visit.

The visit was to the Frontier Exploration Services Division of the NNPC and the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) recently.

Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Uju Chima, said the exercise was not a probe but a measure intended to help the new NNPC Ltd. to take off on a solid footing.

He explained that the Committees duty was to ascertain the assets of the old NNPC and ensure that those that were supposed to be transferred to the new entity, as envisioned in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), were properly documented.

We are only here to help you ascertain those assets in order to make sure that valuable assets that are supposed to be transferred or reverted to NNPC Ltd. are not left out and at the same time to help you ascertain the value of those assets.

He said the exercise was not only focusing on assets but also on liabilities.

The committee chairman demanded information on the total worth of PHRCs houses, assets, monetary value of liabilities and total amount expended so far on the rehabilitation of the plants.

Chima urged NNPC to sustain the tempo to ensure that the target for the completion of the rehabilitation was not missed.

In his response, the Managing Director of PHRC, Mr Ahmed Dikko commended the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, for their support for PHRC.

He said the visit of the committee demonstrated support, not only for the PHRC, but for the NNPC Ltd.

This support, we hope, will translate to overall success of the rehabilitation for the benefit of Nigerians in view of the current energy crisis.

Dikko assured the committee that the job would be delivered on time and to specification, stressing that efforts were already at an advanced stage to introduce an Operations and Maintenance model to guarantee maintenance of the refinery.

Earlier in a similar visit to the Frontier Exploration Services Division of NNPC in Abuja, the Committee sought to know the activities of the Division and its assets and liabilities

The Chairman of the Committee said they were interested in the sustainability mechanisms which the Frontier Exploration Services Division had put in place for the transition.

The Group General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services Division, Mr Abdullahi Bomai, took the lawmakers through the operations of the division, explaining that the division was in the business of deploying high standard technology for seismic data collection.

He said that the seismic data collected in the course of the divisions operations were part of NNPCs assets.

On the liabilities of the division, Bomai said there was need for the upgrade of technology to enable it scale up its capacity and expressed hope that the provision of 30 per cent exploration fund in the PIA would be able to help address the challenge.

The Ad-hoc committee at the end of the visit expressed confidence in the ability of NNPC to implement a successful transition to a limited liability company.

Also in the week, the NNPC said it would deliver the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Pipeline Project (AKK) on schedule with the first gas to be delivered in the first quarter of year 2023.

Speaking at the project site at Abaji, Abuja, during a tour of the project, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, said efforts were on to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.

He stated that a critical deliverable of the AKK project was the injection of over eight billion standard cubic feet (scf) of gas injected into the domestic pipeline to revive the moribund industries.

Kyari said it would also open up economic opportunities for the country.

He described the AKK Gas Pipeline as a signature project and hinted that it was time for Nigeria to take advantage of its gas reserve in Africa to develop its economy.

There is no country that has access to this volume of gas that did not develop.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the NNPC Board, Sen. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, expressed optimism that the project could deliver its first gas by the first quarter of 2023 based on the magnitude of work done so far.

She noted that the country could leverage on the Russia-Ukraine situation to provide solution to the global gas supply challenge.

On the feasibility of achieving the 2023 target, the Chairman of Oilserv, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project, Mr Emeka Okwuosa, confirmed his companys readiness to deliver the project on schedule.

He said NNPCs interventions at various periods of challenge helped in getting the job to the current appreciable level.

He also assured that the project managers and teams were more than competent to deliver the project within record time.

Also speaking at the KP 171 Welding Site during the tour, the Managing Director of the Oilserv, Mr Chigozie Obi, and General Manager, AKK Project, NNPC, Mr Barwa Muhammed, explained that apart from deployment of modern technologies that guarantee durability, the project had great economic effects for the nation.

The construction of the 614km AKK Pipeline project was flagged-off simultaneously in Kogi and Kaduna states by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 to encourage gas utilisation and serve as a springboard for the nations industrialisation.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Charles Igwe, on Sunday bemoaned the absence of budget in research institutions for efficient environmental research in the country.

Igwe said this at the Environmental stakeholders review on Resources and Environmental Policy Research Centre, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD), for five years strategic plan on environmental issues in Abuja.

Igwe said that serious work such as setting up more programmes needed to be done to help Nigeria solve its numerous environmental problems.

According to him, the absence of allocation funds for research in annual budget for universities is a challenge to the efficiency of research institutions in Nigeria.

I commended the Centre for its achievements on the strategic plan which will help the centre to carry out a focused intervention in the core areas of its mandate.

I am also commending TETfund for its intervention in research funding.

Meanwhile, the absence of allocation of funds for research in the annual budget of universities is a challenge to the efficiency of research institutions in Nigeria, he said.

Dr Nnaemeka Chukwuone, Director of REPRC-EfD Nigeria, said that the centre has produced over 28 high impact research publications since its establishment in 2019.

Chukwuone said that the centre has developed pilot natural capital accounts for Nigeria, for review of the countrys fishery Act, capacity building training for government technical staff among others.

The strategic plan will last for five years from 2022 to 2026 and will help the centre to achieve specific objectives through research, policy engagements and capacity building for researchers.

Our target is to use research to influence policies that will make our environment better, he said.

Chukwuone said that the objectives of the REPRC-EfD are to conduct policy-impact researches that will help Nigeria solve its environmental challenges.

Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, the Chairman of REPRC Policy Advisory Panel, called on government to set up a National Research Council that would determine the countrys problems and proffer solutions.

Oladipo said that the council would help to carry out solution-based research on environmental issues.

Also, Prof. Anthonia Achike, the Chairman of REPRC strategic planning committee, said that the event was organised to solicit suggestions of environmental experts and stakeholders in order to fine-tune the strategic plan. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

A former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, has called on Christians across the country to exemplify the values of Jesus Christ as they celebrate Easter.

According to a statement from the Turaki Media Office in Abuja, the former Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defined Easter celebration to be a season of peace and unity.

Easter is another opportunity for people of the Christian faith to be their brothers and sisters keepers, as well aswork towards the peace and unity of Nigeria and pray for the development of the nation.

Today is a day when we must all reflect on and pray for the way forward for our dear nation, Nigeria. This is because we are approaching a crucial crossroad which is next years general elections.

We must all ask the Almighty God whose reasoning surpasses our understanding for guidance on the way forward, he said.

He, however, noted that as Christians celebrate, Muslim faithful celebrate with them, and together they would work to build a nation that Nigerians would be proud of. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, has urged Christians to always love and forgive one another as a reminder to what Jesus Christ did for mankind at Calvary.

Jack-Rich said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja to celebrate Easter.

He said that love was a necessary ingredient for peace as the country moved toward the 2023 general election.

Jack-Rich expressed the optimism that the security and other challenges confronting the nation would be a thing of the past as Nigerians joined the rest of the world to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I bring warm wishes of peace and hope to you and your loved ones.

It is my fervent prayer that in this season of sober reflection and celebration, our hearts may find thoughts of peace toward our neighbours and one another.

That we may be patient and forgive one another, support the weak and embrace peace.

In the same vein, as our nation enters the season of transition in the midst of global economic challenges and uncertainties, I equally bring you the message of comfort and hope for a better tomorrow.

The times may be tough but we are tougher together in unity. This is in the strong resolve that the fervent spirit of the Nigerian people can never be shaken, Jack-Rich said.

He urged the Christian faithful to imbibe the virtues of Christ and extend love to all Nigerians for the country to achieve the prosperity it yearns for.

This is a great, beloved and blessed country; always love Nigeria. Pray for Nigeria, believe in Nigeria.

Together we can make history in building the nation of our dreams where love and peace, justice and joy reign.

As you celebrate Easter, may this season be a turnaround in your lives and may the joy of the Risen Lord fill your hearts and restore hope in our country, Nigeria, Amen, he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

Police in Kaduna State rescued four kidnap victims on Friday, the spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, stated in Kaduna on Sunday.

Jalige stated that an unspecified number of bandits stormed Gabari Community, Samaru, in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna state on Friday.

An anonymous caller promptly reached out to the Divisional Police Office at Danmagaji, Zaria, he stated.

The caller said an unspecified number of suspected bandits, dressed in military gear invaded the community, shot sporadically and whisked four victims into the forest, Jalige also stated.

He added that on receiving the information, men of Operation Puff Adder II, a police unit, and local vigilantes mobilised and ambushed the bandits on their anticipated escape route.

Jalige stated that the strategy yielded dividends as two of the victims were rescued during a fierce encounter with the bandits.

He added that with the assistance of the local vigilantes, the team laid a second ambush at Gwada Village, another escape route for bandits.

Those who escaped from the first ambush were intercepted just as two other victims were rescued unhurt.

Unfortunately, the bandits had earlier shot and killed one person at Kufena Village, Wusasa, for refusing to be kidnapped, he stated.

He urged members of the public to always alert the police with prompt information as the Commissioner of Police, Mr Yekini Ayoku, has assured of confidentiality on information received.

The commissioner also condoled with the family of the deceased and prayed that he foundeternal rest, Jalige stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News