By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Chairman, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Ltd., Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, has felicitated the entire Muslim ummah (community) in Nasarawa and the country as they commence the Ramadan fasting.

In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, Wadada, who is a frontline senatorial aspirant for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District, emphasised the need for Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for the restoration of peace and harmony in the country.

The former two-term member of the House of Representatives admonished wealthy Muslims to give more charity to the poor in order to ease their difficulties during the breaking of the fast.

Wadada, founder of Keffi Polo Ranch, also urged Muslims to assist the needy, particularly the orphans, widows and the less privileged.

He thanked the Almighty Allah for sparing the lives of the ummah and giving them the grace to witness this years Ramadan.

This, he said, is a season of high spiritual exercise that called for sober reflection and recommitment to worshipping the Almighty Allah.

Wadada, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Keffi, advised the Muslims to pray for Gods mercy, guidance and protection, as well as avail themselves solemnly to the teachings of Islam.

The former lawmaker emphasised the need for all Muslims to imbibe the spirit of peace, tolerance, and patience as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad.

He stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence without which no development could be achieved. (NAN) (www.portal.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Johnson Eyiangho

The National Commander, Man O War, retired Col. Sani Depsia, has called on Nigerians to contribute their quota toward tackling the current security challenges facing the country.

He spoke to newsmen on Saturday at Nyanya in the FCT, shortly after the inauguration of newly appointed Man O War state commanders and their deputies.

Depsia, who is also the Special Adviser to the Gombe State governor on Security, said that insecurity was everywhere, hence the citizenry must assist the security agencies in tackling it.

He said: insecurity is not outside the scope of where we are. Therefore, it requires that each and every one of us participate in assisting the security agencies.

You can assist the security agencies in terms of information of who, where, what is suspected.

On the role of the Man O War in combating insecurity, Depsia said that they could complement the efforts of security agencies when called upon.

He said that as volunteers, they should complement the efforts of the police and other law enforcement agencies toward maintaining law and order in the various communities.

Depsia described volunteerism as an aspect of human nature which has to do with building the community.

Volunteerism is an aspect of human nature that has to do with selfless service to build man and build the community.

At whatever level you find yourself, try and see that the community is secured and the value of the community is enhanced.

According to him, volunteerism is an office or institution with registered volunteers and with adequate logistics.

That is what we are trying to do in Nigeria, we have not got there but I think with time we will be able to make an impact.

But you cannot do volunteerism without the will. The will matters. It is selfless service, nobody is paying you for doing volunteerism, he said.

Earlier, the national commander urged the newly appointed state commanders and their deputies to be tolerant, carry out their duties diligently and carry their men along. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) says it has disbursed N35.3 billion to all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to boost their performance in the country.

The National Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, made the disclosure at the training for Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Heads of Delivery Platforms in all the states and Heads of States Cares Coordination Units, on Friday in Abuja.

Obaje said that the resources was an advance to all the states, noting that the programme was a performance programme for results funding framework of the World Bank.

The coordinator said that the advance, which ranged from N500 million to N1.3 billion had been given to all the states of the federation.

Implementation has started in many states as we speak, some few states already have results because even achievements of results prior to the effective take up of the project is considered as part of what will be reimbursed when the Independent Verification Agents visit the states.

As we speak today, all the 36 states of the federation and FCT are now effective and resources have been disbursed to all the 36 states amounting to N35.3 billion.

And the states are expected to post specific results in line with the Delivery Link Indicators (DLI) that they have selected for themselves.

It is on the basic of satisfactory that the payment of this results are supposed to be reimbursed but the Federal Government in its wisdom and the World Bank have agreed to give the states some advance.

And this advance ranges from N500 million to N1.3 billion and this have been given to all the states as we speak.

So the results with effect from 2020 are also consider so we have quite a lot of such results across the states that are participating.

Obaje, however, said that though not all the states but very many states are have prior results and this will be considered for reimbursement anytime the Independent Verification Agent came.

He said that the advance was supposed to enable states boost enough results so that anytime the Independent Verification Agent came to verify their DLI that have been achieved, then resources would be made available to do more.

He said that the resources coming to the state currently was an advance, adding that NG-CARES encouraged all the states government to add more resources.

So that the price money and the gains that will come after independent verified agent assessment will be bountiful to enable them continue implementation.

It is a two year programme, expected to close in June 2023 and there is a lot yet to be done so we need a lot of resources to enable state meet up.

What we are interested in is quality data and integrity of the data that are generated at the state level is of utmost importance to us.

Obaje said that the objective of the training was to give the target participants first-hand knowledge on operationalisation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Manual developed jointly with the states.

We train them on how the manual will operate, what are the template to be used; what are the regularity of reporting, how should report be sent to us and most importantly, we are now in an ICT- driven world.

So we have a high dose of Information Technology Integration into submission of report from the data and all that.

So we are taken them through some software that have been designed to fast track the process of submitting report to the state and to the Federal Government for consolidation.

Earlier, the Chairman, Federal Cares Technical Committee, Mr Aso Vakporaye, reiterated that the programme was aimed at ameliorating the impact of COVID-19 on the vulnerable and the poor.

The unique components of the programme is a programme for result, so it is not like the usual take money and go. You work first then you show your results.

After evaluation and verification, then you will be reimbursed for what you have done.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Head, State Cares Coordinating Units, Delta State, Lady Patience Ogbewe, said the workshop had exposed all participants on how to generate credible data for effective implementation of the programme. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says global increase in crude oil price occasioned by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and ensuing energy disruption call for geopolitical energy security and sustainability.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Commissions Chief Executive, NUPRC, made this known in Abuja at the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum 2022 (OLEF), organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

The forum themed: Global Energy Transition: Implications on Future Investments in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, was hosted and sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

Komolafe, represented by his Special Technical Adviser, Mr Abel Nsa, said the attendant disruption of the global oil demand-supply chain had reawakened the call for sustainability in the industry.

For instance, in the United Kingdom, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) formerly the Oil and Gas Authority, is envisaging a leasing and licensing round for oil and gas exploitation and future projects.

Thereby, reassuring the relevance of oil and gas in the future energy mix.

Given this outlook, it is evident to note that in meeting the growing energy demand in the short and medium term, we need to carry out further exploration and development drilling, he said.

This, he said, would optimise reservoir extraction, drill into new targets, and employ technological advances to maximise production yields for appropriate energy mix.

The NUPRC boss said the global energy transition could pose great challenges to future investments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, but stakeholders were working assiduously to mitigate every negative impact.

According to him, as all geopolitical zones grasp with the appropriate energy mix for their energy security, Nigeria is poised toward the development of its untapped huge gas resources to achieve economic growth and energy security.

He said the commission, empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, had steered its focus toward working with all stakeholders to ensure business investments in the oil and gas sector were adequately protected.

Komolafe said that in the light of the global energy transition, funding for oil and gas projects, was a huge challenge as funding sources were now predominantly channelled toward renewable energy projects.

He further said that the clarity in the fiscal regime provided by the PIA would hopefully help to turn the tide around, especially as regards some important upstream projects that have been stalled due to financing.

Some of these projects, including the Preowei project, Bonga South West Aparo project and Bonga North project, among others when completed, have the combined capacity to add upwards of 800,000 BOPD to Nigerias production figures.

He said it was, therefore, imperative for Nigeria to take advantage of the present high crude oil prices, as well as the emergence of the energy transition, to fully exploit our hydrocarbon resources in a timely manner.

The commission will ensure that all the necessary engagements are made, and that innovative ways to fund oil and gas projects are explored, in order to bring these projects back on stream, he added.

Komolafe said it was striving to ensure that all bottlenecks associated with regulatory processes were eliminated or minimised, to ensure seamless operations, as it gradually roll out the key policy initiatives necessitated by the PIA.

According to him, section 92 of the recently enacted PIA 2021 provides a flexible tool for honouring investment guarantees and contract sanctity.

Komolafe also commended the SPE Nigeria Council on its effort to proffer proactive solutions and recommendations for energy transition and sustaining the forum up to its 22nd edition, in commemoration of Nigerias first commercial oil discovery at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in 1956. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Idowu Gabriel

About 42.9 hectares of Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) farmlands were destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Ekiti Command, in the year 2021.

The NDLEA Commander in Ekiti, Mr Anthony Olowonihi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ado-Ekiti.

Olowonihi said the destructions were carried out in Ise-Ekiti and Eporo-Ekiti, in Ise Local Government Area and Emure Local Government Area, respectively, between January 2021 and December 2021.

The Ekiti NDLEA boss, who decried the increasing rate of drug abuse in the state, said a total of 5,140 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa, known as Indian hemp, was also seized within the period under review.

There was a rise in the use of illicit drug in Ekiti in 2021. In January we seized 29kg of Cannabis sativa and down the line it kept increasing.

By September we seized 61kg, while nine hectares of Indian hemp farmlands were destroyed and in October another 32 hectares of farmlands was destroyed on Use-Ekiti forest and Eporo in Emure.

In November, we seized 2,838kg of illicit drug within Ise and Emure axis.

In other areas of the state, we seized 1,447kg of cannabis sativa for the months of September, October, November and December all in 2021, Olowonihi said.

He urged land owners in Ekiti not to give their lands to Indian hemp farmers.

Do not give your lands to those who will use them for illicit drug cultivations; rather release the lands to people that will use them to farm yams, cassava, maize and cash crops that will benefit our nation, he said.

Olowonihi advised Nigerians, especially Ekiti residents, to desist from smoking or use of illicit drugs, as they are destroying their future, that of state and the country at large.

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

A former Vice President of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, says Nigerian women have to be deliberate in contesting elections and map out clear strategies for success.

Fatoumata spoke at a forum in Abuja on Friday, where the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Women in Politics Forum also had participants.

The participants strategised on ways women can clinch elective positions in the 2023 polls.

It was organsied by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Women and Electoral Politics in 2023: Setting the Agenda.

The event also witnessed the launch of a report interrogating 20 years of democracy..

Tambajang said that a woman who wants to participate in decision making has to develop an agenda ,have diplomacy and must have a constituency across board of men, women and youths.

In the issue of Nigeria today, due to the bills that have not been adopted, I will like to recommend that you have to develop a strategy for 2023.

You have to identify competent women among you and build a coalition among women, forget about yourselves and your sense of differences and work for the empowerment of women.

You must also identify men from different levels, even from the executive, and then have your conferences; bring men and women together to vote for women.

One of these strategies is that you have to be bold to tell men that if you dont put us in governance ,if you dont give us opportunity in politics, we are going to have professional defiance, which is, we are not going to vote for the men.

Tambajang said that when women threaten men with losing their number in elections, they would adjust, because no political party would want that.

She also advised women to leverage the laws and charters adopted by Nigeria, then use them as basis to hold them accountable.

Tambajang also urged Nigerian women to mobilise millions of votes by signing petitions both live and on internet to submit to all the arms of government.

That way, their voices would be heard too, she said.

Dr Sintiki Ugbe, Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, said that Africa is one region where women have not really been participating in politics.

The director said that ECOWAS had, therefore, come up with a strategy to tackle it.

Ugbe said that different barriers ranging from cultural, religious beliefs, to income inequalities were some of the major obstacles that hindered women participation in politics.

It will surprise you to know that out of the 15 countries that we have in west Africa, nine have a sort of legislation or reserved seats for women, but where is Nigeria?Nigeria is not among them.

If you are a member of a community, how come you have nine that have some form of affirmative action and quota systems and we as Nigerians dont have any form of affirmative action or quota?

Senegal is ahead with its gender parity law, Guinea is there with its parity law ,Rwanda is there, Cape Verde is there, they are all members of ECOWAS.

I think that is not impossible to achieve in Nigeria, that was why ECOWAS came up with the Gender and Election Strategic framework so that our member states can know that there are 10 areas they need to work on to ensure equal participation and representation.

Ugbe said that with constant mentorship and leadership programmes, women would be well equipped with the right skills for vie for leadership positions.

A legal practitioner, Frank Tietie, advised women to leverage existing laws and the constitution to demand for their rightful place in politics.

Tietie, who is also the Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, encouraged women to establish women political parties to contest for elective positions.

He said that section 40 of the constitution empowered Nigerian women to form a political party exclusively for women.

This, he said, would give them some type of power and a voice in the political sphere.

He also urged women to raise funds and garner support from Nigerians so that financial constraints they experience would reduce.

The President, Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu, said that affirmative action would have helped the marginalised groups to participation in politics, but it was turned down by the National Assembly.

Ifendu said that all the parties that had held conventions had not given women reasonable positions.

Consensus does not favour women, so far, all the parties that have conducted election still dont have enough space for women, only the position of women leaders; we were targeting working committee.

It shows that women still need special seats through affirmative action, and from the way things are going, 2023 election might still witness low women in politics if deliberate action is not taken.

This is where legislation would have helped us because every political party would have been compelled to put into consideration special seats for women to participate .

Ifendu said that the country was going through a lot of challenges but some of these were because enough women were not part of governance.

She called for support and collaborative effort by all stakeholders to improve women participation in politics so they could contribute their own ideas, expertise and augment the effort for national development.

Mr Austin Aigbe, Senior Programme Manager, CDD, said that the programme was organised to underpin womens participation in politics and to strategise on increasing their participation in the 2023 elections.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders in welcoming the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting and intense devotion for Muslims.

The president made his feelings known in a message to Nigerians and Muslims all over the world, released by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Friday in Abuja.

According to the president, the fasting period offers a unique opportunity to feel the hunger experienced by the poor so as to feel what it is like to be deprived and marginalised.

Muslims should seek greater personal discipline, which is necessary for the realization of a great nation.

He advised Muslim elite against food waste and extravagant spending while others face hunger and destitution, urging that they should care for their neighbours, the poor and the marginalised.

He also called for prayers for peace in the country and beyond, and for healing and harmony throughout the world.

He wished all Muslims a successful completion of the 30-day fasting period.

Source: NAN News

Pope Francis has apologised to the indigenous people of Canada for the Catholic Churchs abuse of them.

For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask for Gods forgiveness.

I want to say to you with all my heart, I am very sorry, Head of the Catholic Church told representatives of various Indigenous groups at the Vatican on Friday.

And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon, the 85-year-old continued.

Canada has been rocked by the gruesome discoveries of hundreds of childrens bodies near former Catholic boarding schools from May 2021.

They triggered outage at the Catholic Church, which between the 17th century and the 1990s placed Indigenous children, who had been snatched from their families in the institutions.

Francis met this week with several of Canadas indigenous groups, including the Mtis, Inuit and First Nations.

Among other things, they asked that the Pope participate in their processing.

I ask you again to join me in praying so that we can start our deliberations and discussions, said First Nations representative Fred Kelly.

Feeling shame at the role various Catholic Church leaders had and the abuse and lack of respect for Indigenous identity and culture, the Pope said.

Francis also said he wanted to visit the people in their territories, indirectly announcing a trip to Canada.

He named the commemoration day of Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, for this, which would be at the end of July.

This year I would like to be with you on those days, Francis declared.

In 2021, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded that the pontiff come to Canada and apologise after the discovery of the graves.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, has cautioned against continual face-off between oil companies and host communities, saying it could lead to further divestment in the oil sector.

Okowa gave the advice while inaugurating the 2.1-kilometre Obitobon-Elolo-AjaokurreOgbo-Orubu roads in Ogidigben and 2.3-km roads in Benikrukru, both in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

Okowa said in a statement on Friday through his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, that Nigeria was producing only 60 per cent of its oil production quota because of the recent divestments from the nations oil and gas sector.

He said that communities were at liberty to protest but warned against causing breach of activities at oil companies.

He urged them to channel their complaints to the State Ministry of Oil and Gas for further action.

When you make a request and your request is not met, please channel it to the Ministry of Oil and Gas and we can always find a means to intervene on your behalf.

We need to handle everything with care to prevent the international oil companies from further divesting from the nations oil and gas sector.

At the moment, we are operating at 60 per cent of our production quantum because many of the oil companies are beginning to withdraw their investments from the country.

But that does not mean that the oil companies would take advantage of that situation not to fulfil their obligations as stated in their memorandum of understanding with host communities. Okowa said.

Okowa, who was in company of his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro,Sen. James Manager and member representing Warri South-West in the state Assembly, Mr Emomotimi Guwor, commended youths of the communities for supporting the completion of the projects without hindrance.

The governor charged those who had the privilege of being close to Government to put their community first before self as a way of attracting development to their communities.

He appreciated the people of the community for taking interest in the development of their place saying when I came in, I saw the level of development in this community.

I must first appreciate the people of this community for realising that home is home.

This gives me a lot of encouragement and anything we are able to do within our resources to be able to help improve on development of this community is worth doing because its obvious that the people here love their community.

He appreciated Mr Matthew Tonlagha for the effort he made to attract the project to the community, saying it was important for those who have the privilege to associate with government toremember their community.

On the dilapidated state of the General Hospital at Ogidigben, Okowa apologised for the decay.

He said that after undertaking an inspection of the hospital, he has directed the State Ministry of Housing to carry out a total rehabilitation of the hospital.

I am excited to be here today in Ogidigben and I am glad that the State Ministry of Works (Rural and riverine) and the contractor were able to deliver on this project.

I have inspected the general hospital Ogidigben and I must publicly apologise to the community for the poor state of the hospital.

I am not aware that the hospital is in such state of dilapidation, but I want to reassure you that action has already been started and I have directed Ministry of Housing to undertake a total rehabilitation of the hospital.

I can assure you that we will act very fast and in the next few months, you will get a totally different and transformed hospital, he said.

On the abandoned projects by DESOPADEC, he assured that he would discuss with the management, to intervene in ensuring completion of the projects.

Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Solomon Golley said the contract which involved rigid concrete paved road and side drains, was awarded in 2017 as part of the state governments commitment towards improving road networks and transformation of communities in the state.

Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Council, Mr Taiye Tuoyo, appealed for the extension of same gesture to other communities in the local government area.

Austine Ajuremi, who spoke for Ogidigben community, said Okowa was the first governor to construct a road project in the community, adding that economic activities had greatly improved since the road was completed.

The community appealed for the construction of phase two of the project to link the remaining communities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Acha

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says it has paid N119. 1 billion as insured sums to 5535, 815 depositors, creditors and shareholders of closed banks as at Dec. 29, 2021.

The Managing Director of NDIC, Mr Bello Hassan, disclosed this on Friday in Enugu during the 33Enugu International Trade Fair.

Hassan also said that a total of N101. 117 billon had been paid as uninsured sums.

According to him, the corporation has declared full payment of insured and uninsured sums to depositors of 18 banks in-liquidation.

This implies that the corporation has realised liquidation dividends to pay all depositors of the banks who present themselves for payment.

The corporation has promptly responded to emerging issues in the emergence of Fintech and other forms of digital financial services with a view to extending Deposit Insurance Coverage to new financial services.

I assure you that NDIC will not rest on its oars in its unrelenting efforts to protect depositors through prompt operational responses to new developments in the banking system, he said.

He said that the mandate of NDIC is focused on the protection of depositors, especially, small and less-sophisticated ones against the risk of bank failure.

He said that a sound and stable financial system was the pivot upon which the economic system of any nation rests.

Hassan urged Nigerians to always save money in licensed banks where their savings would be protected by the NDIC.

People should also endeavour to report cases of dubious activities by banks to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NDIC through 080063424357, Hassan said.

Earlier, the President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Jasper Nduagwuike, said that the NDIC had discharged its duties effectively.

Nduagwuike said that the corporation had through its excellent interventions made people to forget the negative effects of bank failure.

Source: NAN News