By Jessica Onyegbula

His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and other Christian clerics have expressed concern over insecurity in the country, urging political office holders to assist government to tackle the menace.

Onaiyekan, who gave the charge during a special thanksgiving programme organised by the Dominion Chapel International Church, on Monday in Abuja, urged politicians to alwaysfulfill their campaign promises.

He stressed that many Nigerian politicians had failed in their responsibilities to the people.

He appealed to them to make the welfare of citizens their priority and protect the sovereignty of the country.

He also urged them to ensure transparency and even distribution of resources as well as embrace federal character in all appointments for justice, fairness and peace.

Onaiyekan, the emeritus Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, also appealed to religious leaders to lead by example and avoid utterances that could overheat the polity.

He stressed the need for Christians to be the light in all spheres and continue to pray for peace and unity in the country.

The General Overseer, Dominion Chapel International Church, Archbishop John-Praise Daniel, commended the role of Church leaders in promoting peaceful coexistence.

Daniel urged the Federal Government to check the spate of insecurity threatening the sovereignty of the country.

According to him, kidnappings, banditry and other insecurity issues portend danger for the future of the country.

Daniel, who is also the National Deputy President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, reiterated the readiness of the Church to fight against corruption and other vices in Nigeria.

There is no doubt Nigeria will rise again as God is still in the business of turning around hopeless situations for good.

I, therefore, call upon my fellow countrymen to fulfill the biblical condition for the turnaround as stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land, he said.

Also speaking, the General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johansson Suleiman, emphasised the need for the Church to stand up and be a voice for the voiceless.

Suleiman said that he believed that with unity and continuous prayers and support of the Church the country would overcome its challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the National Assembly and religious leaders attended the event.

The theme of the occasion is Quest for Credible Leadership In Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi Government has said that it is working hard with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe return of Mr Pius Kolawole, the abducted Chairman of Yagba West Local Governments Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja.

We wish to report, with every sense of sobriety, the unfortunate attack by some gunmen on a Commissioner in the Kogi Pension Commission, Late Solomon Adebayo and also the Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Pius Kolawole, on their way back to the state from Kwara.

We can confirm authoritatively that the unfortunate incident happened shortly after Eruku, Ekiti Local Government, Kwara. Adebayo died as a result of gun wounds sustained from the sad incident.

The whereabouts of the Chairman of Yagba West LGA is still unknown but security agencies in both Kwara and Kogi, as well as local security services are working hard to ensure the safe return of the chairman, Fanwo said.

He noted that in spite of the incident happening on Saturday, the Kogi Government had been circumspect in making official statements in order not to do anything to throw into jeopardy, the efforts of security agencies on the matter.

But it is also incumbent on a responsible Government like ours to speak to our people and assure them that Kogi will spare nothing to remain the safest in the country.

We also wish to caution those making statements which are capable of undermining the security of the state to desist from such an unpatriotic wish for anomie.

It is high time we came together to make our nation safe, secured and governable.

The Government and the people of Kogi are also determined to make Kogi peaceful and safe. Our Government has the backing of the people and the security agencies to keep Kogi safe, Fanwo said.

He further commiserated with the family of the late Solomon Adebayo, the people of Yagba West and the entire Kogi Pension Commission over his demise.

He described the late pension board commissioner as a hardworking and patriotic gentleman who contributed immensely to the states Pension Administration Revolution, saying he would be sorely missed.

We thank all good spirited agencies and private individuals who have stood with us in this dark time.

As a government, we will recommit ourselves to collaborating with neighboring States to ensure security of lives and property.

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The organisation, which distributed food items including noodles, rice, salt and garri, also did check-up on the people in Gaube rural community, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.

The Founder, G-WAF, Mrs Laide Awosedo, said at the event that the gesture was in line with the organisations mandate to provide succour and empowerment for PWDs.

According to her, the organisation will also empower three persons from among the PWDs in whichever area of business they desire to venture into.

Awosedo, also living with a disability said the COVID-19 pandemic had further exposed PWDs to poor access to medical facilities, care and economic hardship.

She called on other philanthropists to emulate the gesture as it would reduce the hardship experienced by PWDs, which was further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She urged PWDs not to relent or allow disabilities affects their pursuits for economical independence, adding that they should be strong and strive toward excelling in any venture they decided on.

Leader of the medical team, Vivian Oguiebe, a nurse, said the PWDs and other community members were tested for blood sugar, blood pressure, temperature and weight.

Oguiebe, while giving a health talk, stressed the need for regular medical check-up to aide early diagnosis of any ailments for quick medical intervention.

Regular check-ups can help find potential health issues before they become a problem.

Early detection gives the best chance for getting the right treatment quickly, avoiding any complications, she said.

On his part, the Chief of the community, Tanko Gimba, expressed appreciation to the foundation for its supports to the community, particularly PWDs.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

A Non-governmental Organisation, International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged the Federal and State Governments to ensure the success of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).

In a 26-page report released on Tuesday, with the report by ICGs Senior Communications Officer for Africa, Nicolas Delaunay, the Brussels-based organisation said that apart from ending thethe NLTP will also boost livestock production.

The ICG noted however that two years into the project which is scheduled to last for 10 years, the plan was faced with numerous challenges and no sign of meeting the deadline.

The plans major challenges include inadequate political leadership in promoting the plan, low awareness among herders and persistent misgivings among farming communities as well as delays and uncertainties in the funding of activities and projects.

Other challenges are lack of expertise in federal and state agriculture ministries, for establishing and managing ranches and grazing reserves, as well as widespread insecurity in many states, which is constraining access to some designated project sites.

The situation, the report notes, has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which delayed implementation activities in 2020 and also undercut federal and state revenues.

If governments fail to address these challenges urgently, they could delay or even scuttle the plan, leaving the country vulnerable to an escalation of herder-farmer conflict, which could degenerate into wider ethnic, regional and religious violence, it said.

As a way out, the ICG urged government at federal and state level to provide stronger political leadership and step-up public communication in order to improve awareness, dispel misgivings and increase buy-in to the plan.

It also pointed out that addressing insecurity, curbing impunity and rehabilitating communities adversely affected by herder-farmer-related violence in participating states, are vital to creating a secure environment for progress on the plan.

The group urges Federal and state governments to improve on budgetary commitments, expedite the release of funds for projects, and also liaise with international development partners for donor funding and capacity building

Budgetary commitment should be made especially for managing ranches and grazing reserves, and also for ramping up dairy production, meat processing and logistics services.

In preparation for the two million new jobs which the NLTP expects to be created down the livestock value chain, ICG calls on the federal government to avail pastoralists children training programs that would enable them key into the anticipated job opportunities.

In order to ensure the NLTP is sustained through its projected ten-year span, ICG urges federal and state authorities to give the plan firm legal and funding bases, through new legislation establishing livestock sector transformation agencies, as the Plateau state government is already doing, it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLTP is a scheme adopted by the National Executive Council (NEC) on Jan. 18, 2019.

It is an initiative designed to partner with interested state governments to provide land for livestock farmers to practice their profession.

Through this programme, livestock farmers, including the controversial Fulani herders (and their employers), will have access to land for ranching. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola

Most Gorgeous Girl Nigeria (MGGN) has made its debut with the aim of empowering the girl-child in the country.

Miss Grace Ene, the Chief Executive Officer of MGGN, announced the maiden edition of the beauty pageant at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

According to her, MGGN is a celebration of youth and empowerment, an important way to convey the true meaning of beauty and the empowerment of all women and girl-child.

She stressed that the MGGN was aimed at creating a formidable voice for the girl-child and making a meaningful impact for them through pageantry.

The girl-child deserves more in our community, there has been terrible conflict that separated families in our country.

It is time to make sure change and transition for peace to reign, we need to ensure the love and peace reign because all of us have only one thing in common, she said.

Ene said that the pageant would be an opportunity to demonstrate at a national that there was no intercultural barrier in spite of not speaking the same language, culture and tradition.

She said we all speak the same language of life, respect and integrity through the pageantry.

She said that the first edition would hold on Oct. 29, with a unique process targeted at spotting young female stars with talents in a bid to accelerate their progress by providing mentorship.

According to her, there is going to be a star prize of a car and cash prizes for the winner, first and second runner up.

She added that there would metric for measuring success, adding that the success would be measured in what the finalists made of their lives.

Ene said that 37 MGGN finalists would be selected, one from each state in the country and the FCT, adding that they would be in the academy for nine weeks before a winner emerged at the grand finale. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Moses Omorogieva

The police in Lagos have arrested 10 suspected traffic robbers terrorising motorists in different parts of the state.

The spokesman for the state police command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, had rejiggered the commands security strategies.

He said the Strike Team of the command arrested the suspects at Railway Crossing, Ikeja Along.

According to him, the suspects were attacking innocent people and dispossessing them of their belongings.

The image maker said that the police responded to distress calls from victims and arrested some of the suspects during robbery, adding that the others were arrested at their hideouts.

They have confessed to the crime.

The suspects also revealed that they attack their targets with iron rods, guns, cutlasses and charms.

Adejobi said that a gold necklace belonging to one of the victims and some other suspected stolen items including phones and wristwatches were recovered from the suspects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ketu/Mile 12/Ikorodu Road, Mile 2/Badagry Expressway and Ikeja Along-Iyana-Ipaja/Abule-Egba axis record high rate of traffic robbery.

These areas are known for heavy vehicular traffic.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, had recently promised to rid the state of criminals, particularly traffic robbers.

According to Adejobi, Odumosu has directed the commander of Rapid Response Squad and other tactical commanders to sectorise the state for easy operations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted Boko Haram Terrorists attempt to infiltrate into Rann Town in Kala Balge Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno on May 1.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Yerima said that the terrorists in their number attempted to breach the border town but were met with stiff resistance from the troops who engaged them in a fierce fire fight that lasted about an hour.

He said the terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of them suffering fatal injuries leaving behind several weapons and ammunition.

According to him, equipment recovered from the terrorists include anti aircraft gun barrel, AK 47 rifle, hand held communication radio and different calibres of ammunition.

Army spokesperson disclosed that troops also engaged another band of terrorists who attacked Ajiri town in Konduga LGA of the state on May 2.

He said that the terrorists entered part of the town, burnt nine houses and killed some innocent residents before they were engaged by the troops deployed in the area.

According to him, the retreating terrorists escaped with various degrees of gun shot injuries while the gallant troops are on their chase.

Unfortunately however, two personnel paid the supreme price in the resulting encounter.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, commended the troops for their resilience and determination to keep their areas free of terrorists activities.

He further charged them to sustain the renewed vigour in discharging their duties, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwabukola Akanni

A consultant clinical pharmacologist, Dr Obaro Michael, says that Nigeria can attain zero-malaria target by year 2030.

Michael of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.

He, however, said that eliminating malaria in the country would require strong political will and determined involvement of all stakeholders.

Michael said that vaccines also had the potential to accelerate malaria elimination in the country.

Nigeria has one of the largest burdens of malaria in the world. A malaria vaccine will be the most certain way to eliminate the disease.

Perhaps, Nigeria will be the country that will benefit the most from a malaria vaccine, he said.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected some of the significant gains made in reducing malaria cases in the country.

He appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise and strengthen malaria support system, saying that a disease such as malaria should not be ignored.

COVID-19 has impacted negatively on malaria control efforts.

The scarce resources for the control of malaria have been shared with the COVID-19 control efforts.

Currently, the focus of the government and government agencies are on COVID-19 while gains of malaria control achieved before the pandemic are gradually being lost, he said.

According to the 2019 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global malaria cases in 2018 and accounted for the highest number of deaths. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Britains Queen Elizabeth II said reconciliation in Northern Ireland cannot be taken for granted in a statement marking the centenary of when a partition was created between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The anniversary comes at a time of political turmoil for Northern Ireland. Elizabeth said the date reminds us of our complex historyand provides an opportunity to reflect on our togetherness and our diversity.

She added that the establishedpeace between Northern Ireland and the Republic should be credited to political leaders and its citizens, on whose shoulders the future rests.

It is clear that reconciliation, equality and mutual understanding cannot be taken for granted, and will require sustained fortitude and commitment, the queen said.

Her message came 100 years since the state was founded on May 3, 1921.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson followed the same theme, stating the eventwas an opportunity for people to come together.

Arlene Foster, the outgoing first minister for Northern Ireland andleader of the Democratic Unionist Party, did notpublish a statement marking the anniversary but retweeted a message from Economy Minister Diane Dodds,who championed the nations industry.

The calls for people to join together come after a tumultuous few months for Northern Ireland.

Violence was sparkedin April in response toissues surrounding the European Union border, which is in place between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom after Brexit.

Foster last week announced her plans to step down. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on Sunday held a special prayer session for peace and unity to reign in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prayer session and Ramadan lecture took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Director-General of the organisation, Aminu Suleiman, said the prayer session was also held for the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu, because of his compassionate nature.

Suleiman said that many who knew and appreciated the good things Tinubu had done in Lagos wanted him to replicate the same at the national level.

We need someone like him to rule this country, he has done it in Lagos, that is why we are praying for him; let God give him the chance to come and rule this country. He has feeling for human being, he said.

Suleiman said that there was the need to maintain peace and unity as the way to progress in the country

In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissoner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said that the prayers for peace and security in the country were very important.

Elegushi said that it was also imperative for Muslim faithful to pray for a good leader ahead of the 2023 election.

Really, we are praying for security, for peace but at the same time, we must pray for us to have a good leader as the president of this country.

That is why we are using this medium to drum support that come 2023, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerge as the president of this country, he said.

Elegushi, who said that peace and love must be allowed to reign, also cautioned those calling for the disintegration of the Nigerian nation.

Earlier in his lecture, the National Missioner of As-Abul Janat Islamic Group, Sheikh Muritadoh Alawiye, admonished the Yoruba to eshew hatred and internal division.

According to him, Lagos State is standing and progressing because successive governments have been following the Tinubu template given since 1999.

Alawiye, who described Tinubu as forgiving, said it was believed that Tinubu could do well for Nigeria, hence, the prayer organised for him. (NAN)

Source: NAN News