By Naomi Sharang

The Senate on Tuesday, mandated the Ministry of Education, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to review the implementation of the National Identity Number (NIN) policy.

This according to the Senate is with a view to extending the JAMB registration deadline or suspending this requirement for prospective students until there is a seemless and well-organised process for obtaining the NIN.

This resolution was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra) during plenary.

The motion is titled The need to address the untold hardship caused by the introduction of NIN as compulsory requirement for JAMB registration.

Other resolution of the upper chamber was a mandate on the Ministry of Education and NIMC to introduce and streamline a simple and decentralised NIN registration process where students would be able to obtain their NIN in their various accredited school premises.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that JAMB recently made NIN mandatory for students seeking admission into universities of their choice.

Raising Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, Ubah while noting the untold hardship the policy had generated for students said the action is inconsiderate and a premature decision.

He said For JAMB to include NIN as a precondition for registration of UTME candidates in 2021 is inconsiderate.

This action is an inconsiderate and premature decision that has further complicated the already rigorous process of both registering for JAMB examination and procuring the NIN.

JAMB initially attempted to start the implementation of this policy in 2020/but had to postpone it owing to technical problems and irregularities bedeviling the process of obtaining NIN from NIMC.

From all indications, these technical hitches are yet to be addressed; the long queues at NIMC centres are a testimony to the fact that a well organised process is yet to be put in place to ease the stressful process of registration.

The board (JAMB) already has enough logistical and technical problems to tackle.

Ubah further said that adding more complications was counterproductive and would serve as a hindrance to young Nigerians desirous of getting into higher institutions to further their education.

Seconding the motion Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra) said it was a very straightforward motion and apt.

This has come when we have to show concern for what is happening on students presenting NIN before they are registered for JAMB.

Mr President, remember that the whole of last year was taken over by COVID-19 and that restricted a lot of movement and it made it impossible for many students to have access to NIN.

Telling our students now that they cannot register for WAEC and GCE because they do not have NIN is actually very insensitive on the part of JAMB and NECO.

Mr President I want to state very clearly that the awareness on NIN has not been felt. There is no public enlightenment, many people dont even understand what NIN stands for.

The awareness has not been taken to the grassroots; the enlightenment has not been taken to schools; it has not been taken to universities and tertiary institutions.

Therefore many children and many students dont even know the need for them to have the NIN, they dont even know that the NIN is a requirement for them to participate in NECO and GCE.

Schools should not make NIN as a requirement for participation in any examination, Ekwunife said.

The resolutions were unanimously adopted by the senators after a Voice Vote by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Temitope Ponle

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable private sector development in Africa.

A statement from the AfDB on Monday said thatthe MoU would catalyse new sources of financing to help bridge the 2.5 trillion dollars annual financing gap for development in Africa.

It added that to bridge the gap, development finance institutions needed to work in partnership.

The bank noted that both institutions would capitalise on their expertise and experiences with a focus on climate change, green and resilient infrastructure and capital market development.

It also noted that both institutions would work on improving business environments, bolstering the real economy and mobilising private sector investment.

The statement disclosed that Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, said the new partnership would pave way for both institutions to do more together.

The impact of COVID-19 on government resources is huge and we need to mobilise more private resources to help African countries build back stronger.

Also, President of the EBRD, Mr Odile Renaud-Basso said the pandemic had made more urgent the need for better and closer collective action.

Collaboration between the EBRD and the African Development Bank has grown from strength to strength over the years in the region.

This partnership will allow our institutions to do even more to promote sustainable private sector development in North Africa.

The new partnership would enable the two institutions to strengthen the potential for joint projects and activities as well as unlocking investment opportunities in their countries of operations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Francisca Oluyole

Alhaji Kabiru Kankara, President, Miners Association of Nigeria, has advised affected miners in Zamfara to stay away from their mining sites, until the Federal Government lift its ban.

Kankara gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

The Federal government recently declared that artisanal or small scale miners should vacate all mining sites due to insecurity in the state.

The Federal government on March 2 also announced a complete ban on mining activities as well as declared the State a no fly zone.

Our members can take unnecessary risk; they can dare government directive. My advise is that, affected miners should stay away from their mining sites until government announce lifting of the ban.

Kankara called on the Federal government to improve on security situation in Zamfara to enable miners return to their legitimate businesses.

According to him, it is not governments wish to make miners stay away from their mining activities, especially now that government placed gold on its priority list.

We, the executives of the association are making efforts to meet with all officials and security personnel to ensure all mining sites in the state are safe before our members can resume mining activities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Dr Femi Onasanya, Lead Physician, Trauma Center, Gwagwalada, on Monday, called for routine checkups for blood pressure levels, warning that poorly managed high blood pressure could cause damage to vital organs.

Onasanya gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, to commemorate the 2021 World Hypertension Day (WHD) with the theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.

He cited such organs to include the heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, and vascular system, adding that proper management of hypertension can, therefore, reduce the risks of organ damage.

The WHD, commemorated globally every May 17, focuses attention on combating global low awareness of the condition, especially in low to middle-income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods.

Hypertension still remains underdiagnosed, untreated or sub optimally treated. Hypertension is the most frequently managed condition in general practice.

Its prevalence is probably on the increase in developing countries because of adoption of western lifestyles coupled with the stress of urbanisation, he said.

According to him, Hypertension or high blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure rises to an unhealthy level, the normal blood pressure should be systolic: less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg.

He said the disease was quite common and develops over a course of years, adding that narrow arteries cause more resistance and increase blood pressure.

Onasanya said that elevated blood pressure (BP) was a major modifiable risk factor in diseases such as stroke and cardiac arrest.

He added that while primary hypertension, formerly called essential hypertension, was found in most patients with no specific cause identified, secondary hypertension, in a few cases, may be due to identifiable causes such as drugs, renal disorders, endocrine disorders and coarctation of the aorta.

The Known modifiable risk factors include: Obesity, excessive intakes of salt, fat, and calories, inadequate physical activity, uncontrolled hyperglycemic states.

High alcohol consumption, tobacco use, Low potassium intake, Sleep apnea, as well as psychosocial stress, is often implicated but difficult to measure.

The non-modifiable factors include age, race, that is African ancestry and family history of hypertension or diabetes, Onasanya said.

He said the management of the hypertensive patient required a careful assessment of the presence or absence of risk factors, though screening for hypertension should be a routine part of every health care encounter for adults, especially persons with a family history of hypertension, stroke, heart disease or diabetes.

Onasanya advised that effective lifestyle changes may lower blood pressure, by a similar magnitude as single drug therapy, saying that this was based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH ) Plan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, on Monday says the construction of the Lagos Film City will commence before the end of 2021.

Akinbile-Yussuf made this known during the 2021 Ministerial news conference in commemoration of the second year in office of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Ikeja.

She said that the idea behind the film city was to provide a place for film makers where film production could be carried out without public interferences.

Akinbile-Yussuf noted that 100 hectares of land had been acquired for the purpose in Ejirin, Epe Local Government Area of the state.

We have had so many private sector showing interest in the development of the Lagos Film City.

Preliminary discussion with the private sector under a PPP arrangement is ongoing and the Ministry has got Mr Governors approval for the Aerial View Video, 3D, Mapping and Floor Plan of the Film city.

I can assure you that before the end of this year, work will actually commence on Lagos Film City, she said.

The commissioner assured movie practitioners, content owners and producers in the creative and entertainment industry of a modern and conducive atmosphere for production of movies and creative contents in the state.

She said the filmmakers were in for better experience in their movie productions, as the present administration was passionately committed to the growth and expansion of the creative Industry.

Akinbile-Yussuf said better days that would herald seamless movie production experience awaited content creators, movie makers and producers.

She, therefore, urged them to leverage on the film city initiative to carve a solid niche for themselves.

This initiative will boost and develop the movie and entertainment industry and we urge everyone to come on board and support this dream, she said.

The Acting Executive Secretary of Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Adebukola Agbaminoja, said that the days of location challenges would soon be over in the film making industry.

Agbaminoja said the Lagos Film City would provide ample technical improvement in the production of movies in the state.

She said that movie makers could now shoot film in a more standard and serene ambience with up to date technology.

Lagos Film City will be a one-stop centre for all movies and content creators far and near.

It will be an opportunity for all genre of creative arts and entertainment to have an avenue to display and showcase their potential through the proposed Film City.

When it is finally established, the Lagos Film City at Ejirin will serve as a huge impetus for the development of the entertainment industry.

Especially as it will reduce film production expenses, generate employment and bring about a huge relief and improved production for the practitioners, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined sports loving Nigerians in wishing one of the worlds best goalkeepers, Emmanuel Okala, a happy 70th birthday.

The presidents congratulatory message was issued by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday.

Buhari recalled that Okala, as a goalkeeper for the senior national football team in his prime, represented the best of Nigerian talent and dexterity.

The president thanked the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Winner for inspiring many with his brand of patriotism and dedication to duty each time he donned the national colour on duty.

According to him, Okala is worthy of honour and celebration as a coach and mentor, who has helped many footballers succeed in their chosen careers.

He prayed almighty God to grant the elder statesman more memorable years of health and fulfilment in all his endeavours. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says inflation rate reduced by 0.05 per cent in April compared to what obtained in March.

It said while inflation rate stood at 18.17 per cent in March, it reduced to 18.12 per cent in April.

The rate is contained in the NBSs Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April 2021 released on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CPI measures the average change over time in prices of goods and services for day-to-day living.

The report also said increases were recorded in all Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index.

On month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 0.97 per cent in April. This is 0.59 percentage points higher than the rate recorded in March (1.56 per cent), the report said.

The NBS said that the percentage change in the average composite of CPI for the 12 months period ending in April over the average of CPI for the previous 12 months period was 15.04 per cent.

This, it said, represented a 0.48 per cent increase over 14.55 per cent recorded in March.

It, however, said that the rural index also rose by 0.95 per cent in April, down by 0.57 per cent, compared to the 1.52 per cent rate recorded in March.

The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 15.63 per cent in April.

This is higher than 15.15 per cent reported in March, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in April is 14.48 per cent compared to 13 per cent recorded in March, it stated.

The NBS said that composite food index rose by 22.72 per cent in April compared to 22.95 per cent in March.

It added that on month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 0.99 per cent in April, down by 0.91 per cent from 1.90 per cent recorded in March.

It said that the rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of coffee, tea and cocoa, bread and cereals, soft drinks, milk, cheese and eggs, vegetables, meat, oil and fats, fish and potatoes, yam and other tubers.

The data bureau said that All items less farm produce or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 12.74 per cent in April, up by 0.07 per cent when compared with 12.67 per cent recorded in March.

It added that on month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 0.99 per cent in April, down by 0.07 per cent when compared with 1.06 per cent recorded in March.

It said that the highest increases were recorded in the prices of pharmaceutical products, vehicle spare parts, hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments.

Other areas are garments, furniture and furnishing, medical services, shoes and other footwear.

Others are motor cars, major household appliances whether electric or not, dental services, hospital services, non-durable household goods and fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment.

For state profile, the NBS said that in April, all-items inflation on year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi at 24.33 per cent, Bauchi State at 22.93 per cent and Sokoto State at 20.96 per cent.

Abia at 15.94 per cent, Kwara at 15.70 per cent and Katsina State at 15.58 per cent recorded the slowest rise in headline year-on-year inflation.

On month-on-month basis, however, in April all-items inflation was highest in Kebbi at 2.24 per cent, Cross River at 1.99 per cent and Jigawa at 1.78 per cent.

Ebonyi at 0.12 per cent recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation month-on- month with Rivers and Ogun recording price deflation or negative inflation.

For food inflation on a year-on-year basis, in April, it was highest in Kogi at 30.52 per cent, Ebonyi 28.07 per cent and Sokoto State at 26.90 per cent.

Abuja at 18.63 per cent, Akwa Ibom at 18.51 per cent and Bauchi State at 17.64 per cent recorded the slowest rise in year-on-year inflation.

On month-on-month basis, however, April food inflation was highest in Kebbi at 2.46 per cent, Ekiti State at 2.42 per cent and Kano State 2.17 per cent.

Meanwhile Abuja at 0.05 per cent recorded the slowest rise in month-on-month food inflation with Rivers and Ogun recording price deflation or negative inflation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the immediate past governor of Kwara, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, for questioning.

The spokesperson for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via an SMS on Monday.

Uwujaren gave no further information on reasons for the invitation.

Ahmed had governed the state between 2011 and 2019

But in December 2020, the EFCC invited him to clarify specific transactions and decisions he took while in office.

This is the second time the former governor will be invited by the commission since he left office in 2019 .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

Acting Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba has ordered the deployment of additional operatives and crime prevention assets to ensure public safety on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Baba said that the deployment followed the disruption of other means of transportation in the state, occasioned by the strike embarked upon by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

According to him, the directive is a proactive measure to protect communities and travellers in anticipation of increased traffic on Kaduna Abuja expressway.

The acting I-G said that the idea was to enhance police visibility, prevent and neutralise possible criminal activities targeted at citizens plying the road.

He also directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in zonal and state commands with jurisdictions straddling Kaduna Abuja Highway to rise up to the task.

The AIGs and CPs are to ensure that no new threat to lives and property thrive within your Area of Responsibility as a result of the industrial action, he said.

Baba said that the AIGs in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau had been directed to immediately, deploy covert operatives from the Intelligence Response Team and the Special Tactical Squad.

He said that the deployment was to prevent any untoward situation along the expressway.

The police boss pledged the commitment of the force to continue to do all within its powers to promote public safety.

He urged citizens, particularly, communities, transporters and commuters on the Kaduna Abuja expressway to cooperate with security operatives deployed to their areas.

He said that citizens were also enjoined to be vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movement or criminal activities in their localities to the Police. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, on Monday said that reliable hydrographic data and information from the Nigerian Navy (NN) would further guide maritime activities.

Gbassa made the assertion at a reception of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) LANA, which held at NNS BEECROFT Jetty/Parade Ground, Apapa, Lagos.

He said that the Hydrographic ship, NNS LANA, would help provide the data and information needed to help make the sea more better and safe place for maritime activities.

NNs capacity to conduct hydrographic survey that will assure safety of naval and merchant traffic over the sea is significantly impaired with the absence of a hydrographic ship in NN fleet.

With NNS LANA joining the fleet, the maritime industry can be assured of getting improved and reliable hydrographic data and information from the NN to guide maritime activities, he said.

According to the FOC, in seafaring, safety is key and can mean life. All the potentials and prospects man stands to benefit from the sea and by traversing it amounts to nothing without safety.

Anything that will keep one away from danger in an unfriendly environment such as the sea is welcome.

Therefore, NNS LANA is one such asset hence our joy at receiving the ship, Gbassa said.

He said that the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambos leadership reflected in his vision to re-energise the NN and motivate its personnel.

Indeed, the Command is grateful for this rare privilege to receive the brand new NNS LANA.

I have no doubt that the ship will contribute to safety in the maritime industry as well as to Nigerias national security, Gbassa said.

Also speaking, the Commanding Officer (CO), NNS LANA, Captain Abdullateef Mahmud said that the ship spent 30 days at sea from France on her voyage to Lagos, Nigeria.

Based on the average speed of 10 knots, the ship covered a total distance of 4,005 nautical miles and approximately spent 30 days on the voyage.

The ship stopped over at four countries which were Portugal, Spain, Gambia and Ghana.

The ship performed satisfactorily well during the voyage except for one oil operation unit that developed a problem which was rectified in Portugal, Mahmud said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the construction of NNS LANA commenced in France in Dec. 2018 and was completed in July 2020.

The ship was launched on September 2020 in France and was handed over to the Nigerian Navy on Jan. 15, 2021. (NAN)

Source: NAN News