By Francisca Oluyole

The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) said on Monday that it contributed N7.8 billion to the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021.

The Director of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) Department in the ministry, Mr Patrick Ojeka,made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Ojeka said the N7.8 billion was realised by the ministry through its agencies and departments.

According to him, the Mining Cadastra Office (MCO), an agencies of the ministry, contributed substantially to the amount.

NAN recalls that MCO, at a news conference recently, revealed that it made N4.3 billion as revenue in 2021.

MCO is an autonomous agency of government saddled with the responsibility of managing and administering mineral titles.

Ojeka said that the ministrys contribution to the GDP in 2021 was unprecedented compared to its past contributions.

The ministry in its effort to put the sector in its rightful place came up with a Road Map, inaugurated by the former minister and incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The road map made the sector attractive to investors and has placed the sector on the path of growth and development.

Fayemi also accessed N30 billion for the ministry. It was a great achievement; the fund helped to upscale the performance of the sector to a higher level, he said.

The director said that the current ministers in the MMSD had also done well since they assumed duty, adding that the ministry had never contributed up to the amount to the GDP in the past.

According to him, the ministry will soon begin to capture the biometrics of more 2000 artisanal miners that registered in cooperatives across the country.

He said the essence of the biometrics capturing was to know their locations and monitor their operations.

The biometrics will help to locate and apprehend artisanal miner that commit offence; it will help in locating where they are conducting mining operations.

Currently, the ministry has formalised the operations of over 2000 artisanal miners that registered into different cooperatives. We want to go beyond formalisation; we want to have their biometrics.

We have procured biometric equipment that will soon be deployed to the field for the exercise and we will issue them Identity Cards.

We noticed that some artisanal miners have been formalised several times due to their movement from one field to another, but the biometrics will henforth prevent double formalisation.

The Federal Government do not call artisanal miners illegal miners; they are miners that are scratching the surface of the land to earn their living. We call them artisanal miners.

As far as they have been formalised into cooperatives, they can access small scale mining licences from the MCO to conduct full mining operation, he said.

Ojeka said that agreement had been reached with artisanal miners operating on tenament (land) that belong to mining investors to sell minerals mined on the tenament to the investors.

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to devise policies for the preservation of forest reserves for not only tourist attraction, but foreign exchange income.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the group, Ms May Ikokwu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 World Forests Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that March 21 is a day set aside by the UN as World Forests Day to raise awareness about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth.

NAN reports that in 1971, World Forestry Day was established at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture.

Ikokwu, therefore, said that government at all levels should rise up to the occasion of protecting trees and woods from destruction.

She said the more people are allowed to fell trees illegally, the more government loses revenue, especially foreign exchange that comes through tourism, and the more desert encroaches.

Forests are not only sources of wood, but have the capacity to break winds and prevent water erosion, so we need to preserve them, she said.

The culture advocate, who described forests as an important component of nature with protective characteristics against the onslaughts of wind, said it was time for Nigeria to improve on its preservation.

Many trees and plants in the forest have medicinal values, yet unknown to some herbalists.

The fact that we are unaware of their medicinal properties is no reason to destroy them, she added.

According to her, forest reserves such as Shasha River Forest in Ogun, Anara forest reserve in Kaduna, Edumanom forest reserve in Bayelsa, Okomu forest reserve in Edo, and others, should be given more attention now for economic benefits.

Ikokwu expressed the determination of her initiative to continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to preserve gifts of nature, especially forests.

She said that continuous and reckless felling of trees was responsible for deforestation and desert encroachment, inimical to nature and national development.

Source: NAN News

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

The Hoteliers Association Of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has called on the state government to rescue the industry from prevalent multiple taxation and outrageous bills in the state.

The associations President, Mr Ayodele Ogundele, made the appeal in Ibadan, while briefing newsmen on Monday.

According to Ogundele, paying multiple taxes and outrageous bills to the state government has worsened the situation of the members of the association.

He said that after managing to survive the challenges of COVID-19, the sector had experienced massive inflation and shortage of staff.

Ogundele expressed dissatisfaction that the industry had experienced serious downturn due to the global economic situation, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the latest increase in fuel, diesel and total lack of electricity supply in the country had also affected their businesses, that were now on the verge of total collapse.

We once asked the Oyo State Government to harmonise our bills, we negotiated with them, they gave us bill in January, February, every year and latest by July we paid.

But, in a bid to raise revenues, with the setting up of Local Council Development Area (LCDA), we now pay taxes to the state government, local government and also to the LCDA.

Also, since the last administration, we had been paying for generator emissions even for generators that we are not using; making generating electricity an expensive part of our business.

All hoteliers are currently running at below 50 per cent of our capacity because of the cost of electricity generation.

We are no longer generating enough money to pay and take care of our staff and many of them are leaving even when we need them most, because we can no longer pay their salaries.

We really need the help of the government at this critical time, before our businesses collapse, he said.

Ogundele said the tourism and hospitality industry was one of the largest employers of labour in the country and should not be allowed to collapse because the sector could not pay its staff and even make profit.

The hospitality industry contributes a lot, especially in the area of job creations; our industry is not the type government should watch to suffer at all, because it would affect all sectors, including the food sector.

Tourism depends a lot on infrastructural development such as health, security, road construction and others, so that government at all levels should strive to provide an enabling environment for tourism to thrive in the country, he said.

Members of the association present at the briefing included Chief Joseph Emoabino (Vice President), Dr Yemisi Bhadmus, Mrs Anna Anjorin (Welfare Officer) and Mr Kunle Adesanya(PRO). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Hussaina Yakubu

The Zamfara government says peace is gradually returning to the state in spite of the activities of unpatriotic conflict entrepreneurs in the State.

Conflict entrepreneurs are a group or individuals who promote conflict for profit.

This was made known at a joint press briefing in Kaduna on Sunday by the Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, andthe Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, retired DIG Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, on the state of affairs in Zamfara.

They said that, as part of the measures,the state government has recruited 4,200 Community Protection Guards (CPG), comprising of ex-servicemen, volunteer able bodied men and other patriotic citizens.

The commissioners said the CPG will be supporting the state security operatives to confront the bandits in their enclaves, with a view to curtailing their menace.

It may interest you journalists to note that these 4,200 CPGs have already commenced the basic training and are now collaborating with security operatives chasing the bandits, they said.

According to them,in spite of activities of unpatriotic conflict entrepreneurs, Zamfara State would soon reclaim its lost glory as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

Unknown to many Nigerians, bandits apart, there are some unpatriotic, conflict entrepreneurs politicians hell bent to sabotage peace process out of their selfish desire either to gain power or to deter the successes of the governor forZamfara State and its citizenry.

We wish to announce that, Insha Allah, Zamfara State will soon regain its lost glory as one of the most peaceful statesin the federation.

It may interest you to also note thatthere is relative peace in almost all the northern parts of the state, with some few skirmishes here and there. I hold the belief that to succeed 100 per cent in making a crime-freestate, will never be a one-day affair, the commissioners said.

According to the commissioners, the government and people of Zamfara are nowadays very hopeful as peace returns to their communities gradually.

To buttress this claim, the Zamfara State Government recently hosted a mammoth crowd in Gusau, the state capital, from within and outside the state who came and lived in Gusau for a week without a single act of banditry against our visitors.

Interestingly, not a single visitor was troubled either on his way coming or going back to their destinations, they added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Diana Omueza

Mr Malik Ado-Ibrahim, a Presidential aspirant under the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has promised to run a government that would bedrock on service to humanity if elected in 2023.

Ado-Ibrahim made the pledge at the YPPs stakeholders summit which was held on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that it was enough of mediocrity in Nigeria and that his party and he were out to bring back the lost glory of Nigeria where service to humanity in the previous years was invisible.

According to him, I am out by the mandate of the YPP, operating on the rules of service to the people.

A lot of harm had been done to the country in the last three weeks where the queue for the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), electricity breakdown had now become the order of the day.

The country needs to put all these pitfalls in order in choosing the right leaders who will have the mind of sacrifice in rendering humanitarian services to Nigerians.

I am saying this because YPP is capable of leading this country; we need change in leadership. The bar is on the ground, we only have to step over it but we are going to set it so high.

We are going to set an example, we are going to show what our party can do which the members believe. Power is earned by people who have vision.

Some motivate their people with disregard but you can also motivate your people with vision.

I want to tell you my vision so that you dont think I am trying to win a popularity contest or trying to be something I am not.

My head is full of ideas for a better Nigeria which I hope you will all join in trying to manifest it through your love for nation, position, through your drive for a country that desires to take its place on the global stage again, he said.

Ado-Ibrahim added that YPP and he would also run an inclusive government where everyone would be carried along and would be free from religious sentiment.

Mr Debo-Ranti Ajayi, a Governorship aspirant under the same party platform in the June 18, Ekiti State Governorship election pleaded with Nigerians to allow fresh leadership into the country on the platform of YPP.

Ajayi alleged that the country did not have leaders but dealers who were using the country to advance their personal interests and agenda against general interest.

According to him,YPP as a party has qualified and tested individuals who can run leadership position very well.

He said this was the reason he was running for the governorship position in Ekiti State under his party platform.
I have been tested. I am a former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.

Back in 2013, I was the Commissioner for Trade Investments and Innovations and I already saw the future of Ekiti, it is a knowledge economy worthy of true leaders.

And if given the opportunity, Ekiti will be transformed for good, he said.(NAN)(Www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Philip Yatai

Sen. Danjuma Laah (PDP-Kaduna South), on Sunday inaugurated the Catholic Archdiocese of Kadunas Lenten Season Campaign toward mobilising resources to support the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Laah inaugurated the campaign in Kaduna at Our Ladys Chaplaincy, Sabon Tasha Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna.

He explained that the Lenten campaign was an annual event of the Archdiocese designed to mobilise resources to support widows, orphans, the less privileged and other poor and vulnerable people in the communities.

He added that the resources would be used to equip poor and vulnerable people with self-sustaining skills and support rural communities with clean water.

The senator called on Christians to use the Lenten season to extend hands of fellowship to the needy.

He also called on residents of the state to be law-abiding and strive toward promoting peace and unity.

He pledged his untiring commitment to the service of God and humanity, particularly the people of Southern Kaduna Senatorial District.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, also called on Christians to love one another as God commanded.

Aruwan equally advised residents to be security conscious and support the governments efforts to tackle security challenges.

Earlier in his remark, Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Nmanso-Ndagoso, appealed to well-meaning individuals to support the campaign.

The Bishop explained that the Archdiocese usually mobilise resources at the beginning of every Lenten season for pro-poor interventions throughout the year.

He called on the privileged few to use the Lenten season to assist the less privileged in the society by shouldering some of their responsibilities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Ijegun-Egba Tankfarm Owners and Operators Association has committed to the supply of 40 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, to the Federal capital Territory (FCT) daily.

The programme would begin from Monday all through the week and beyond.

The association also announced that its members collectively had 106 million litres of PMS in stock, which it had agreed to load and truck accordingly.

These were some of the resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the owners/chief executive officers of the association held on Sunday in Lagos.

A communique at the end of the meeting was signed by the chairman of the association, Mr Adebowale Olujimi and the associations secretary, Eshiet E. Eshie.

The association resolved that: in line with our transparent posture, we wish to put it on record that we collectively have approximately 106 Million litres in stock and will load and truck same accordingly.

That all Tankfarms within the Ijegun-Egba axis are committed to load and supply 40 trucks of PMS per day to Abuja, FCT to address and augment energy supply and energy security in Federal Capital Territory.

They also resolved that: The Owners/CEOs, having considered the energy situation in the country, committed themselves as credible businessmen and women to work assiduously with the Federal Government and their Agencies to ensure effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products in the nation.

The Meeting commended the effort of the Government in addressing the energy situation in the country, especially in making PMS available despite the volatility of same globally.

That in line with our collective corporate values, all members of Ijegun-Egba Tankfarm Owners will continue to maintain and ensure full compliance with government regulated and stipulated price of PMS, and as such no Tankfarm should sell or price PMS above the Government regulated price.

Any Tankfarm within the Ijegun-Egba axis that defaults or fails or neglects to operate in full compliance with the regulated price should be sanctioned accordingly.

To underscore transparency and our good faith in ensuring effective product distribution across the Nation, we are committed to work with and cooperate with all Government Agencies and Security Agencies regarding our members operational plans, loading plans and pricing.

The association pledged to avail the regulatory agencies with its members books for scrutiny whenever same is required.

It also stated that members are collectively expecting consignments in the next few days, and would load and truck to ensure energy stability and security.

To further complement Governments efforts, plans and policies we commit ourselves to work 24 hours to ensure seamless loading, trucking and distribution of petroleum products, especially PMS from the Ijegun-Egba axis.

That Tankfarms will run and continue to run their operations transparently, openly and will account for their operational plans, loading and pricing to the Government at all times.

It laude governments effort to address the volatility in product distribution and agreed that any Tankfarm that sabotages the governments plans or policies by pricing above the government regulated price should be held responsible.

To ensure and guarantee effective implementation of the agreed resolutions, the Meeting mandated the Chairman, either on his own or through officers of the Association or agents to monitor the operational activities, loading and pricing by the Tankfarms.

The Chairman was further mandated to exercise this oversight function in conjunction with the regulatory or security agencies.

Members of the association in attendance include Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano GMD, A.A.Rano Ltd; Engr Johnson Oboh Peters GMD, Menj Oil Ltd; Chief Peter Chinedu GMD, Chipet Oil Ltd; Dr Gabriel Ogbechie GMD, Rainoil Ltd; Mrs Judith Ogbara CEO, Stallionaire Ltd; Mr Olutayo Awogboro MD, Aipec Oil Ltd; and, Princess Adedoyin MD, First Royal Oil Ltd.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, says Nigeria must promote its national interest positively to be accepted globally.

Gambari made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the book launch of a Nigerian Former Ambassador, Mohammed Ibrahim titled With Heart and Might: 33 Years In the Nigerian Diplomatic Service.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book, a memoir of Ibrahims life as a Foreign Service Officer highlights some of the challenges in the Foreign Service, Nigerias Foreign policies with recommendations for improvements.

Gambari commended the author for the initiative, urging Foreign Policy experts to articulate Nigerias Foreign Policy to promote the countrys interests, stands on global issues which must be interdream with national policies.

Foreign policy is not just about theories but an external projection of the values we have as a nation, it is also a promotion of our national interest and our world views.

Therefore, we need to continue to struggle to build a national consensus behind the articulation design, defense of our national interest in the new millennium.

Which is based on the promotion of peace and security, sustainable development as well as the development and democratization at home and abroad.

In this regards, Nigeria must continue to establish both in principle and in practice that it is no longer enough to see what the country can do for others.

But what we can do together with others in the pursuit of our common interest.

It is our duty at the diplomacy to persuade others that it is in their own interest to try to support us with what we promote and propose as our national interest.

If you do not agree with this, just look at what Israel has managed to do with the United States, they made their interest the interest of the United States in the articulation and promotion.

Because you are adding to your prestige when other countries adopt as their interest what you decide.

And, that is why you have to recruit the best and the brightest to not only define your interest but let other people define their interest in your own interest, Gambari, said.

He said that building African Institutions like the Lake Chad Basin Commission, ECOWAS, the African Union, African Development Bank had become a distinct feature of the Buharis Administrations Foreign Policy and our Countrys diplomacy.

The biggest asset we have as a nation today is the credit and credibility that President Muhammadu Buhari enjoys in our subregion, in Africa, the middle East, and the world at large.

So, how do we take advantage and try to institutionalize that credit and credibility which he has brought to our nation even beyond his tenure.

Because he has warned that come 2023 after may he is going to lead by example.

So, when he frowns at extension of term limits, when he frowns at amendments of the constitution to suit particular persons in office, he is leading by example, Gambari said.

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno said that all great nations have clearly defined foreign policies, which entail the Defence of the territorial integrity of the nation.

Zulum who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Isa Marte said that defined Foreign policies also entails the protection of the interests of her citizens both within and outside the country.

He, however, lamented the lack of national passion and commitment in the Countries Foreign Policy Foray in present days.

This he noted were some of the challenges highlighted by the writer which should be urgently addressed as a nation.

For the first three decades of her independence, apart from the protection of Nigerias territorial integrity, there was no foreign policy issue that Nigeria had pursued with unrelenting commitment.

As the fight against colonialism in Africa and ending Apartheid in South Africa.

Since successfully bringing these inhuman vices against Africa and the Blackman to an end, Nigeria has not taken up any foreign policy foray with the same national passion and commitment.

This continues to be one of the major challenges of our foreign policy, Zulum said.

Ibrahim told NAN that the book sought to spur young Foreign Service Officer to use their position to take Nigeria back to its place of prestige in the Sub-region, continental and global pedestal.

NAN reports that also present at the event was the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Gabriel Aduda, retired Ambassadors, amongst others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Into Skills for Care and Corporate Ltd., on Saturday called for improved elderly and child care services in Nigeria.

Its Director, Ms Titilayo Shonubi, made the call in Lagos during the unveiling of Care Academy and the graduation of trainees for care services.

Shonubi decried the lack of professional care services in Nigeria, and suggested that it was high time Nigeria and Nigerians adopted professional care services, especially for the elderly, so they could live more meaningful lives.

She said that the firm, in collaboration with care organisations in the United Kingdom, were training Nigerians on acceptable care standard for the elderly and children.

In Nigeria, we see keeping our elderly ones in a care home as a taboo, but that is wrong. It is high time we begin to see the advantages in doing so.

Most people engage in different works; when they leave their elderly ones just sit at home bored, but when in a care home, they will relate with their peers on the same level and continue with activities they love to do.

These activities will help to stimulate their brains and earn them more active years.

I believe we need more of professional care homes in Nigeria to also ease the stress of caring for the children. That is why Into Skills for Care is training people to become professionals in this field.

We train you on the 15 standard care certificate, which is the minimum certificate needed to work in the UK, Shonubi said.

Another Director in the company, Miss Tomi Banjoko, said that the firm was especially using the tier two visa opportunity given by the UK for healthcare professionals to give more Nigerians the opportunity to relocate to the UK.

Banjoko said the firm was training interested persons to prepare them to become skilled care workers in the UK standard.

She said that the training was to help Nigerians get into the UK easily by becoming care givers.

According to her, the UK recently launched its tier two visa, where it is bringing in healthcare professionals from all over the world, because there is shortage of healthcare staff.

We are not only training people, but we also help with other important aspects of the relocation. We work with about five care firms in the UK, looking to recruiting and link our trainees with them.

These firms cater for whatever is needed for the relocation, including an initial three-year stay and work visa, one month accommodation, health insurance, among other benefits.

The six weeks training is based on UK standard, so our trainees are familiar with questions when they attend interviews.

We also work on their curriculum vitae, so they are relevant to the positions being applied for and are more attractive to prospective employers.

About 32 persons were trained in the first batch, while the training for the second batch of 30 candidates is ongoing, and another class will start on April 16, she said.

One of the trainees, Ms Linda Papo, said that the training had exposed her to the care world, especially for the elderly.

It was through this training that I was able to properly care for my mother, who had dementia and diabetes. I have had three placements so far, and now I can say I have a career in the care field, Papo said.

Another trainee, Mr Tobi Cole, said the training had showed him that he could make money through his personal traits of having passion for people.

Cole said that care service entailed perseverance and empathy for people, looking beyond oneself and putting people first. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

The Argentinianwas absent from training on Saturday due to flu, and PSG have confirmed he is out of their plans for the fixture.

PSG came into the weekend with a 15-point lead over nearest rivals Marseille and Nice at the top of Ligue 1.

Already this means Messi remains on course to land a major trophy in his first season at the Parc des Princes.

However, the former FC Barcelona captain, who scored a record 672 goals for the Catalan giants, has struggled to make the impact he would have wanted in the French capital.

To date, he has only two Ligue 1 goals from 18 appearances, although he has managed 10 assists and hit the woodwork eight times in the competition.

Injuries and illness have hampered Messis progress, and now PSG will hope his latest absence is a short one.

Without Messi, PSG still have a substantial attacking threat.

Kylian Mbappe, who began his career at Monaco,has scored nine goals in eight games against his former employers in Ligue 1, netting more only against Dijon (11).

Indeed, Mbappe has scored PSGslast five goals against Monaco in the competition.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to take charge of his 50th game as a coach in Ligue 1.

He averages 2.29 points per game in the French top-flight.

Only his two predecessors at PSG, Unai Emery and Thomas Tuchel, havea better points-per-game record in the history of the league.

This is based on a win being worththree points, and both are with 2.37 points per game.(dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News