By Ikenna Uwadileke

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has dismissed an online media report purporting that the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Simon Harry, is dead.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Ichedi Joel, Director, Communication and Public Relations Department, NBS, said the report was false.

The Bureau wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in what was published by an online medium and considers the publication as the height of irresponsible journalism and a figment of the imagination of the publisher.

The fact of the matter is that the Statistician-General was slightly indisposed on Saturday and following medication is now recuperating.

We are well certain that he would, in a matter of a few days, be back to his desk and continue his work in repositioning the NBS as the foremost national statistics agency in Africa and among the best globally.

The statement urged the public to completely discountenance the purported death of the Statistician- General. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A Charity Organisation, Janeolive Foundation, on Saturday donated food items to 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The Co-founder of the organisation, Mrs Emilia Nwokoro, while presenting the food items to leaders of the IDPs said this was part of the organisations objectives by putting smiles on the faces of those displaced by the crisis in some parts of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by the organisation include, 300 tubers of yam, 64 cartons of noodles, and four bags of 50kg rice.

Nwokoro said that the objectives were also to provide free education to the less privileged by sharing relief materials with the needy.

She said her family started the foundation out of love for charity, adding that so far, a lot of the less privileged children have benefited from this gesture.

A lot of people are hungry. People are unable to go to school; there are widows that nobody takes care of. They dont even have three square meals.

I am a widow too. I lost my husband 20 years ago. So, based on what I passed through, when I was in need then, very few people assisted me.

So I kept telling God that if you bless me, I will bless others. And that is the essence of setting up a charity organisation. If you are blessed, you should reciprocate, she said.

She said that the organisation was involved in women empowerment, and scholarships to the less privileged students in primary and secondary schools, just to put smiles on their faces.

Nwokoro expressed the hope that the project titled; feeding the displaced provide succor to over 3,000 persons made up of 250 households in the camp, especially during this fasting period would meet its set goals.

Nwokoro added that insecurity has also contributed to the problem of hunger and poverty facing the country, urging the government to enhance measures at addressing it.

I am appealing to the governments at all levels to beef up security. It is a problem for the country and to all of us.

You know the cause of hunger; farmers are unable to go to farm because they are not safe. And once we dont go to the farm, there is bound to be a food shortage. That is why we are having this problem.

If farmers are going to farm, there will be food, even if we are crying of other issues.

Insecurity is a very big issue. Look at these people in this IDP; it is insecurity that brought them to the camp. This can happen to any of us. It is not their fault.

So, we are begging the government to look into this, go back to the drawing board, look at where we got it wrong, try to amend it, and restore safety to the country, she said.

Nwokoro also urged all those perpetrating attacks on citizens and the country to have a repenting heart to allow peace to reign in Nigeria.

Receiving the food items, the Chairman of the Camp, Mr Ibrahim Ahmadu, appreciated the foundation for its gesture, adding that this was the first donation since the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

Ahmadu promised that the items would be distributed to all households in the camp.

The Camp Women Leader, Liasu Ayuba, also appreciating the gesture, said it had not been easy surviving in the camp, but to the glory of God and help from different groups and individuals.

Similarly, another group who visited the camp to celebrate Good Deeds Day commended the good gesture shown by the Janeolive Foundation, and urged more groups to emulate the good gesture.

According to the leader of the team and Executive Director, Kleo Foundation for Children, Mr Obi Emmanuel, said Good Deeds Day is being celebrated on April 9.

He said the day was an initiative of an Israeli woman, to celebrate the act of doing good to others.

Emmanuel said that the day has been celebrated by different organisations, cooperate, and individuals to encourage people to do good to others from the little that they have.

The Abuja coordinator of the team, Mr Chidiebere Obiagwu , said that the group was at the camp to donate items, medical outreach, and sensitisation program to the IDPs on their health and personal hygiene.

NAN reports that the group also presented Nwokoro the team-branded T-shirt in appreciation of her good deeds to Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

A group, Emefiele Mobilization Team (EMT), says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele, represents a unique opportunity to achieve peace, unity and development in the country if he runs for president.

The EMT is a group under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Team Leader and National Coordinator of EMT, Dr Jacob Attah, spoke at a news conference on Saturday in Lokoja on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the group.

According to him, the EMT is made up of patriots who have come together to showcase the leadership qualities of the CBN governor.

For a man who was born in the South-West, schooled in the South-East and from the South-South, Dr. Emefiele represents a unique opportunity for peace, unity and development not just in Southern Nigeria but across Nigeria.

We call on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all important task of who becomes the next president of Nigeria and support the call for Dr. Godwin Ifeanyinchukwu Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

At a time when Nigeria is passing through a lot of economic and security challenges, we must bring in experience, dynamism, energy, equity and fairness in the choice of who becomes the next President of Nigeria.

Over the past eight years at the helm of the affairs of the Nigeran apex bank, Emefiele has shown capacity, focus, courage and worked tirelessly with the economic team of President Mohammadu Buhari to keep the economy of our great country afloat above recession and outright collapse.

His policies in the area of education, health, agriculture, industry and social credits have brought about positive transformation in these sectors and strengthened the Nigerian economy, he said.

The coordinator stressed that Dr. Emefiele had done well as CBN governor, saying his policies have reflected in the growth of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created lots of employment in all states of the federation.

The Anchor Borrowers Scheme as one of Dr. Emefieles many achievements that benefitted over 4.8 million Nigerians spread across the country.

Under the scheme, the CBN launched the brown revolution, an intervention aimed at boosting wheat value chain.

Wheat is the most widely consumed commodity, after rice, and only one per cent of it is produced in Nigeria with about billion spent annually on its importation.

With this brown revolution, the CBN cut about 60 per cent of this importation cost and brought about 22.35 per cent and 23.78 per cent growth in GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 alone, Attah said.

He added that 150,000 farmers were beneficiaries cultivating 100,000 hectares, saying this had improved local production of wheat in line with the mandate of the government to produce what we eat and eat what we produce.

He explained that production of onions was another area where the people have benefitted immensely from the CBNs policies under Emefiele.

According to him, Nigeria needs 2.5 million tonnes of onions yearly to meet national demand, but only 1.4 million tonnes are produced.

Attah said that the provision of loans under the scheme had assisted onion farmers in the North-central to make up for the 1.1million tonnes shortage.

Cotton is the third commodity to join the Anchor Borrowers Scheme after rice and maize, with 15,000 cotton farmers securing loans to mention a few.

This has significantly improved cotton production in the Nigeria.

Rice farming has been supported and boosted by the ABP as well; over 1.8 million farmers in Nigeria received seedling, fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides, water pumps and more with beneficiaries from across the country.

For now, Emefiele is focused on his assignment as the governor of the CBN.

We use this opportunity to caution those who may wish to carry out actions or make statements capable of distracting him from delivering on his national assignment as the head of Nigerias apex bank.

He called on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all-important task of who becomes the next President of Nigeria and support the call for Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

The national coordinator said that the youth population would be adequately carried along in all the process. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Mr Shina Peller (APC), Oyo State, a member of the House of Representatives, wants the reinvigoration of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to raise the moral tone of the society.

Peller, member representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Federal Constituency of Oyo State, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated that the reinvigoration of NOA would enable the agency sensitise and re-orientate the people on their obligations as responsible citizens of the country.

The lawmaker therefore advised the Federal Government to pay more attention and improve the budgetary allocation of NOA to consistently raise citizens awareness.

This, according to him, will enable the agency to accurately and adequately inform; and mobilise citizens to act in ways that promote peace, harmony; and national development.

At the level of the National Assembly, I will speak on this, As one of the members of the 9th Assembly, I personally moved a motion on the need to reinvigorate the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

We also have a bill that has passed the second reading to reinvigorate the NOA, because out of all the government parastatals, it is one of the agencies that has the spread across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

And the first obligation of NOA is to pay attention to the welfare of people, which definitely has to do with the culture and morals of the society.

So, I am sure if the government begins to give attention and allocate more funds to the NOA, it will enable the agency sensitise the people, re-orientate them on what is required of them as patriotic citizens, he said.

According to the lawmaker, all Nigerians should realise that the change they desire begins from everyone, adding that everybody must see themselves as problem solvers.

Leadership exist in every sphere of life; at home and within your family, try to be a leader by not just saying things, but by doing those things.

If everybody takes leadership responsibilities seriously at every level, then we will be able to build a safe and progressive country.

The country is suffering from system failure which did not just start today, people have been clamouring for change for over four decades now, he said.

He also said that in his constituency, he always organised town hall meetings, where role models at every level were identified to encourage people to do the right thing.

I have a network called Shina Peller Network, and people at the network are people that show the kind of leadership that Shina Peller stands for.

The network preaches that we are Nigerians first before we start to think about politics, religion and ethnicity.

And as a people, we must understand that there is a an undisputable relationship between Islam and Christianity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his 65th birthday.

In a congratulatory message issued by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, Buhari joined family members, friends and associates to celebrate the milestone with the business magnate.

The president shared the memorable occasion with the Dangote Group, including management and members of staff, and the many visionary leaders that daily redefine the livelihood of Nigerians for the better.

He commended the Dangote Group for driving competitiveness in the economy with clear ranking of excellence in provision of goods and services.

Buhari affirmed the footprints of the consummate businessman in key sectors of the economy, and the remarkable results achieved in production and supply of food items, making him a household name.

He particularly saluted Dangotes dynamism in buoying the nations economy through heavy investments in building Africas largest refinery, fertiliser manufacturing company and cement factories.

The president also appreciated the patriotism, simplicity and wisdom that Dangote has consistently displayed, making Nigeria and Nigerians his first priority.

He also lauded Dangote for setting example for many that charity truly begins from home.

Buhari wished Dangote greater service to God, country and humanity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government, in collaboration with World Bank, has launched the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, to address environmental challenges in Nigerias North.

Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of Environment, at the Pre-launch Mission of the World Bank on Sunday in Abuja, said that the project would last for five to six years.

Abdullahi assured Nigerians that the project would be effectively implemented, adding that all documentations on the project would get to the World Bank as soon as possible.

He said that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources and also the World Bank support, the objective of the project must be achieved.

According to him, the project is very important, as it will also address water stress system and restore the loss lands, thereby, making the lands reproductive for agriculture.

The project will as well tackle environmental challenges such as climate change, erosion system, biodiversity, among others.

We thank the world bank for initiating this project, and I am assuring you that from the Ministry of Environment, we will do all the best we can to implement the project.

We will ensure that the political will to drive this project, in accordance with the mandates and its objectives, are achieved.

We are going to make sure that various governors at the state levels deliver on the objectives of the project.

I have instructed the national project coordinator to ensure that all the documentations that are needed by the world bank to declare the effectiveness of the project, reach the world bank latest by April 15.

The minister said that the ministry had also established a project tracker system in the office, adding that the system would enhance the achievement of the project

He, however, urged all the governors, commissioners and other relevant stakeholders, to support in the implementation of the project through strong cooperation and commitment.

Chief Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment said that collective action in the implementation of the project, would bring positive result.

Ikeazor said if the project was implemented effectively, about 70 per cent of environmental issues would be solved in the states.

We are ready to implement the project, with the two ministers we are working with, I think it will enhance execution of the project.

This project is a big one and it is a project that Nigeria is privileged to have, I want to thank the world bank team and the three ministries, for their strong support and commitment to the implementation of the project, she said.

The World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, said that the bank would continue to support Nigeria to ensure that the objective of the project was achieved.

The world bank team remained committed in this project, but I want to appeal to governments at all levels to ensure that the team and other people in the field are protected.

The government should ensure that all kinds of insecurity is tackled in the areas to enable people concentrate and do the job effectively.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who spoke on behalf of other governors said that the project would benefit all the people in the states.

We are happy and grateful to have this laudable project that will curb poverty and address environmental challenges in our state.

We as governors, will ensure that we support the world bank team and the Federal Government in ensuring that insecurity is tackled efficiently in the states, Sule said.

Also speaking, Dr Mamood Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the project was initiated by the world bank when he was the minister of the environment.

I have great passion about this project because I know that it will change lives of many people and the various communities in the states for good.

This project will improve livelihoods of the people; therefore it requires careful planning, good management and commitment from everyone, Abubakar said.

Dr Suleman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources, urged all the states, local governments, and other beneficiaries of the project to claim ownership of the project for sustainability.

The state governors and the people of all the states should ensure that the efforts of the world bank and the Federal Government will not be a waste.

There is a need to secure the project and ensure that its benefits are realised, Adamu said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Raji Rasak

The Sme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 39,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol along the Badagry and Seme border creeks.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Jibo, said this in a statement issued by Mr Hussein Abdulahi, the spokesman for the Command, on Saturday in Seme, Lagos.

Jibo said the petrol was concealed in 30 litres jerrycans.

He said that the seized petroleum products has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.54 million only.

Jibo noted that the continuous offensive patrol against the smuggling of petroleum product along the creeks within the Seme and Badagry axis by officers and men of the command had recorded yet another massive seizure of the product.

The arrest was made on April 6, the petrol was packaged in sacks.

The findings revealed that 1,300 jerry cans of petroleum products in 30 litres each, equivalent to 39,000 litres were discovered.

This arrest is coming at a time when government is spending huge resources to subside the products to ameliorate the plight of its citizens.

These unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.

It is on this premise that the officers and men of the command, redoubled their efforts with renewed vigour in the fight against smuggling of the petroleum product, he said.

Jibo attributed the successes recorded to consistency on the part of the management of the NCS in providing the needed logistics, adequate working tools, support and ensuring hard working officers were recognised and rewarded through promotions.

He said that the continuous monitoring and surveillance of the border axis had contributed in suppressing such illegal activities, sending right signal to people involved in such unfortunate act of smuggling to desist and face lawful business.

Jibo said the command remained committed to ensuring such illegal and unlawful business were suppressed and discouraged at Seme borders.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited his Security Aide, Inspector Gambo Joseph, who was injured in the Wednesdays road crash at the vicinity of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Jonathan expressed joy that the injured officer, Joseph was responding to treatment and recovering fast.

He also stated that the second officer, Inspector Michael Ebute, who sustained injury during the accident was discharged on Friday.

Thank God Gambo is recovering so fast. I am pleased to inform you that the second officer, Michael has been discharged and returned to his family, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two police officers were reported dead during the accident which involved a car conveying them from the airport. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Mr Bashir Ahmed, has described as fake the social media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on 20-day vacation to London on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some online media outfits, including Sahara Reporters and summitpostnews, reported that the president departed Abuja on April 9, for another three weeks vacation in London.

NAN observed that the summitpostnews quoted a statement issued by one of the presidents spokesmen allegedly saying that the Nigerian leader would be back in Abuja on May 10.

However, Ahmed on his verified twitter account on Saturday dismissed the reports, saying:The news going round that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a 20-day vacation trip to London is fake.

The president is in Abuja and he is not planning to embark on any trip to London.

NAN also reports that there is no statement from the presidency, as at the time of filing this report, confirming the presidents trip to London as being speculated by the online media. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Saturday elected Dr Kenneth Opara as the 22nd President/Chairman of Council of the institute.

Opara, who was elected alongside seven other members during the institutes 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, would run the affairs of the institute for the next two years.

He will be succeeding Dr Bayo Olugbemi, whose two-year tenure will end on May 21.

The other elected officers are: Prof. Pius Oladeji Olanrewaju, FCIB, 1st Vice President; Mr Oladele Alabi, FCIB, 2nd Vice President and Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, FCIB, National Treasurer.

Other elected positions in the Governing Council are: Dr Victor Aguwah, FCIB; Mr Olayinka Odutola, FCIB; Mrs Mary Aina, ACIB and Mr Segun Oshadare, FCIB.

In his acceptance speech, Opara said, I wholeheartedly accept the mandate to serve as the 22nd President and Chairman of Council of CIBN.

I am mindful of the fact that you have high expectations for me and my colleagues. Let me assure you that we shall collectively do our best to deliver on your mandate as an obligatory, innovator and implementer.

We will leverage what the past president has done and also look on how to build capacity, collaborate with the stakeholders, and work with other regulators and the banks to ensure that we make a perfect and meaningful competition.

I thank the electoral officer and I congratulate all the candidates. I want to say that we are all winners, no victor no vanquish, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Institute also reviewed the 2021 financial and operational reports.

The CIBN National Treasurer, Mr Oladele Alabi, while giving the financial highlights, said the Institute recorded an improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.77 billion in 202.

Alabi said that the IGR represented an increase of 20.3 per cent when compared with N1.47 billion recorded in 2020.

He said the growth was an indication that the CIBN was strategically moving toward its aspiration of becoming financially independent.

Alabi added the institute closed the year with a net operating surplus of N800.14 million from N570.26 million recorded in 2020, an increase of 40.31 per cent.

The Chairman of the CIBN Audit Committee, Mr Babatunde Oduwaye, affirmed that the accounting and reporting policies of the institute were in accordance with legal requirements and ethical practices.

Speaking on the 2021 operations, the outgoing President of CIBN, Olugbemi, said that the institute stood tall as a vanguard for the promotion of banking education and professionalism in Nigeria and the world at large.

Olugbemi said that the number of individual members grew from 144,922 as of April 30, 2021 to 149,967 as of March 24, 2022, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent over the previous year.

Mr Seye Awojobi, CIBN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, said that a total of 291 graduates were conferred with MCIB, 380 candidates with the ACIB and 320 candidates via the regular ACIB Examination route.

Awojobi also said that 41 candidates were conferred via the Chartered Banker MBA route and 19 candidates via the MSc/ACIB Linkage Programme route.

Members in their remarks commended Olugbemi for his two-year leadership and suggested that there was the need to improve on its membership drive.

Source: NAN News