By Fortune Abang

Dr Benson Bana, Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, says the country is set to host Tanzania-Nigeria Tourism, Investment and Trade (TN-TIT) forum, to deepen trade between both countries.

Bana, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the forum on Friday in Abuja, said that the forum was scheduled to hold on May 4, in Abuja and May 6, in Lagos.

He said that the forum, centered on economic diplomacy, was aimed at promoting Tanzania-Nigeria bilateral relations dated back to the early 1960s.

According to him, it will enhance economic cooperation between the two sister countries in areas of tourism, investment, trade and development financing.

Bana said: TN-TIT is specifically intended to increase the number of tourists from Nigeria to Tanzania from the annual average of around 6,000 to about 12,000 by December 2022.

To increase the number of major Nigeria companies with investments in Tanzania from the current five to about eight by December 2022.

Increase volume of Tanzania products into the Nigerian market from an average of 13,641 tons per year to 15,000 tons by December 2022. Increase number and varieties of Tanzania products available in the Nigeria markets.

To facilitate Tanzania governments access to Nigeria-based finance institutions for loans or grants at affordable terms and conditions, at least one trade mission from Nigeria to Tanzania.

He noted that the forum would be attended by business moguls from across the two countries in sectors such as the chamber of commerce, banking, tourism among others.

The High Commissioner noted that precautionary measures had been put in place in line with COVID-19 protocols to achieve meaningful growth.

He said that the forum would be streamed live through the missions platforms via; www.tanzaniahcnigeria.com.

Bana urged people wanting to participate to register http://bit.ly/TN-TITabuja and http://bit.ly/TN-TITlagos for Abuja and Lagos event respectively. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has congratulated the labour force in Nigeria on the 2021 International Workers Day.

Kalu in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, described Nigerian workers as critical stakeholders in nation building.

The former governor of Abia acknowledged the contributions of workers to the social, economic and political development of the country.

Kalu, who applauded their perseverance, patriotism selflessness and dedication to service, called on workers to uphold and sustain best global practices in discharging their duties and responsibilities.

I join workers across the country to celebrate Labour Day.

Workers are the bedrock of any economy in view of their strategic importance in national development.

In Nigeria, the labour force is made up of committed, productive, talented, patriotic and selfless individuals across all sectors of the economy.

I acknowledge and celebrate the giant contributions of workers to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria.

Workers have continually made sacrifices for Nigeria to grow and progress.

For any economy to be self-sufficient, thewelfare of workers must be a top priority in the policy thrust of government, he said.

Kalu called on employers of labour in the public and private sectors to provide good working conditions for employees, adding that workers in every organisation should not be undermined.

He felicitated with theNigeria Labour Labour (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC)andother labour affiliated bodies, saying that employees are the lifeline of any organisation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Head, National Peace Academy (IPCR) noted that Vaccine nationalism had not been beneficial to African countries, especially African countries with low GDP and who cannot afford to purchase the vaccines for their citizens.

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has assured Nigerian women that the National Assembly would soon create 111 legislative seats, specifically for them.

Tallen made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

She said that a bill to create 37 seats in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women had already passed second reading in the lower legislative chamber.

Nigerian women today stand tall and in solidarity as we send warm felicitations to the ninth National Assembly on this historic milestone recorded in our demand for more political space for women.

I want to, on behalf of Nigerian Women, salute the leadership of the ninth National Assembly, especially the Senate led by Sen. Ahmed Lawan, and the House of Representatives led by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The year 2021 represents a great milestone in our advocacy for increasing the participation of women in governance and decision making.

A Bill that seeks to create 111 additional special seats for Women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, when passed into law, 37 additional seats will be created in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for Women, Tallen assured.

She added that Bill also provides that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the state will be created exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly.

She said that the Bill was expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only Women.

As a temporary measure to promote women representation, the Bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure.

As we await the final reading, we will not rest on our oars in praying for them, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Barcelona, April 30, 2021 (Xinhua/NAN) FC Barcelona missed the chance to go top of La Liga with just five games left when they were stunned 2-1 by Granada at Camp Nou on Thursday night.

Although Barca controlled most of the ball and had the majority of the chances, two defensive lapses did them in.

They allowed Darwin Machis and Jorge Molina to overturn Leo Messis opener for the home side.

But they remain third in the table, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

With a difficult visit to Valencia on Sunday, FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman made three changes to his starting 11.

Samuel Umtiti, Ilaix Moriba and Sergi Roberto came in for Clement Lenglet, Pedri, and Sergino Dest.

As expected, Barca controlled the ball, but they could not test Aaron in the Granada goal until the 20th minute.

Three minutes later, Antoine Griezmann, who is in his best form of the season, set up Leo Messi to put Barca ahead.

It was the French forwards seventh assist of the season.

Griezmann and Messi combined again shortly afterward, only for Messi to drag his shot wide and with Barca in the ascendency.

Aaron did magnificently to deny Messi when he was able to deflect the ball just wide after a pass from Sergio Busquets.

The second half began with Griezmann shooting just wide from the edge of the Granada penalty area.

Shortly after, Sergi Roberto fired just over the bar after a flowing move involving Messi and Frenkie de Jong.

The home side looked to be in complete control as they stroked the ball around.

But they were caught flat-footed in the 63rd minute when Oscar Mingueza failed to cut out a through ball.

It allowed Darwin Machis to race forward and beat Marc Andre Ter Stegen and level the scores.

Koeman was sent off for his protests, but TV replays showed there was no offside in the move.

Although his side again took control after Ousmane Dembele and Pedri came into the game, Jorge Molina again made Barca pay for more poor defending.

This was when he nodded home Granadas second goal in the 80th minute completely unmarked from five metres out.

Source: NAN News

The risk of COVID-19 resurgence remains high in several African countries due to poor adherence to public health measures, including mass gatherings, low testing and vaccination rates, an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown.

Three countries face very high risk of COVID-19 resurgence, 20 face high, 22 moderate risk, and only one country faces low risk, according to the risk assessment of 46 countries, a WHO Africa Regional Office said in statement on Thursday.

The risk was estimated using seven indicators with data from the past four weeks, including COVID-19 cases per million people; the percentage of change in new cases; the percentage of change in new deaths; and the reproductive number (the rate at which an infection spreads).

Others are the pandemic trend; the average weekly number of tests per 10,000 people; and the percentage of the population that has received at least one vaccine dose.

With more than 4.5 million confirmed cases and over 120,000 deaths to date, the continent has not experienced a surge in cases since January and the epidemic curve has plateaued for six weeks, WHO said.

However, it noted, the relatively low number of cases has encouraged complacency and there are signs of reduced observance of preventive measures.

It added that recent political rallies in countries such as Benin, Cote dIvoire, Guinea and Kenya caused a spike in new cases and upcoming elections in Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe and Zambia could trigger a rise in cases due to mass gatherings.

We cannot be lulled into a false sense of security. The devastating surge of cases and deaths in India, and increases in other regions of the world, are clear signs that the pandemic is not yet over in African countries.

A new upsurge of COVID-19 infections is a real risk in many countries even if the regions case count in recent weeks appears to be stable, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Combatting COVID-19 fatigue appears to be the key battle in our collective response to the pandemic.

WHO said most countries in the region are experiencing community transmission, yet 31 out of the 46 countries analysed performed fewer than 10 tests per 10,000 people per week in the past four weeks.

This suggests that the number of cases reported in the past 28 days may not reflect the true situation as countries continue to target only people with symptoms for testing, it cautioned.

Most new cases are still not being detected among known contacts. Investigation of clusters of cases and contact tracing are worryingly low in most countries in the region, Dr Moeti said. We must scale up testing including through rapid diagnostic tests to enhance response to the pandemic.

Additionally, it is important for countries to step up case finding in areas with widespread community transmission, increase capacity to isolate cases and reorganise the health workforce including by redeploying health workers to the most-affected areas.

The WHO noted that the pandemic has had widespread impact across many sectors, with key health services in several African countries still reeling from disruptions experienced more than a year since the first cases were confirmed on the continent.

The statement said of the 40 countries responding to a WHO survey conducted earlier this year, 95% reported disruptions of varying degree.

It said while the survey shows there has been an improvement in service provision, with 41% of services disrupted between January and March 2021 compared with 64% in the last quarter of 2020, the persistent high levels of disruption to health services even after many countries have eased restrictions is concerning. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be having a long-term impact on health services.

The pandemics shockwaves have persisted, but we must work hard to ensure that they do not become intractable and further weaken health systems capacity to cope with potential surges in COVID-19 infections, Dr Moeti said.

Most countries have implemented policies to revamp essential services, but more support is needed to enhance the welfare of health workers, restore peoples confidence in seeking health services and build stronger safeguards for health system to better cope with shocks, the statement said. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Crude oil futures closed higher on Friday in daytime trading on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange.

The most active crude oil contract for June delivery was up 7.5 yuan (about 1.16 dollars) to close at 420.1 yuan a barrel.

The total trading volume for 13 listed crude oil futures contracts on the exchange was 168,820 lots, with a turnover of about 70.8 billion yuan.

China launched the crude oil futures trading, which was open to overseas investment, in March 2018.

It is the biggest oil importer in the world, and three years ago today, it launched its own crude oil futures benchmark in Shanghai.

The total trade volume of the Shanghai Crude Oil Futures has reached 44 trillion yuan, or 6.7 trillion dollars, with overseas clients spanning across 23 countries and regions.

The Chinese yuan-denominated Shanghai Crude Oil Futures, which was launched in March 2018. Three years in, its already the third biggest oil contract by volume.

And 2020, those who bet on prices altogether on the Shanghai Crude Oil Futures, in turn, helped the economy in a way many hadnt anticipated.

On the other hand, by March and April of 2020, Chinese factories were anticipating a gradual resumption of production in the months ahead.

This, combined with other factors, pushed demand for oil from China back up. The result was that Shanghai Oil Futures were priced higher than other global contracts.

Many oil companies grabbed at the opportunity. They sold crude futures contracts in the Shanghai market, effectively locking in a fixed price for future deliveries that was higher than in other markets at the time.

Buyers of the contacts in China saw these futures as great bargains in the long term as well, since you never know when oil prices will rebound. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Malaysia says it will vaccinate teachers as part of its second phase of COVID jabs, which started earlier forthe elderly and those deemed high risk due to other medical conditions.

Announcing the revised plan, the Deputy Education Minister, Mah Hang Soon said thesafety of teachers and students remains the ministrys top priority, according to local media reports on Friday.

The first vaccination phase started two months ago and saw health-care workers and security forces personnel vaccinated.

The decision to vaccinate teachers comes amid a spike in coronavirus case numbers.

The Health Ministry on Friday reported almost 3,800 new cases,the third consecutive day the number topped 3,000.

Schools remain mostlyopen, though several outbreaks have been reported among students, leading to some temporary closures and a state-wide shutdown in Kelantan, a northern region.

Schools were closed across the country during Malaysias pandemic lockdowns, the first of which ran from March to May 2020 and the second imposed for about a month from mid-January.

The governmentsaid in February it would not lock down for a third time, citing concerns about likely economic losses after the first shutdown in 2020 which led to a 17 per cent quarterly contraction. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Temitope Ponle
The Federal Government has approved the adjustment in pensions of retirees under the defined benefit pension scheme arising from the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2019.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, Mr Ekpo Nta, Acting Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) said the approval would take effect from April 18, 2019.

The circular from the NSIWC on Thursday noted that pensioners who retired on Grade Level 17 on CONPSS would receive a new monthly pension of N188,688.49, representing a nine per cent increase.

Grade level 16 retirees would receive N154,576.39, while those on level 15 would get N123,964.72, both also representing a nine per cent increase.

The grade levels representing a 10 per cent increase are 14 with N92,194.53; 13 with N84110.56; 12 with 76,604.35; and 10 with N68,114.13.

Levels nine and eight are both with a twelve per cent increase representing N59,570.18 and 50,520.68 respectively.

For level seven, a 14 per cent increase is recorded representing N40,934.64 while level six is a 42 per cent increase representing N37,242.21.

Levels five to one recorded increases of 51 per cent, 55 per cent, 57 per cent, 58 per cent and 59 per cent, each level representing N32,49146, N29,179.14, N26.942.50, N25,239.45 and N23,426.17.

The difference in increment ranged from the highest which is N15,579.78 to the lowest of N8,692.83.

It further noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the consequential adjustment in pensions of retirees, under the defined benefit scheme consequent to the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019.

It pointed out that agencies on the following salary structures would be affected.

They are Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS); Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS); Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS II); and Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS II).

Others are Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure (CONTEDISS); Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS); Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS); and Consolidated Medical Structure (CONMESS).

The rest are Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICSS); Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS); Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS); and Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS).

Nta said the review would not affect workers and pensioners on the contributory pension scheme and added that payments would be effected immediately.

This review is addressing those on the old pension scheme which is the defined pension scheme.

We would not have sent out the circular if we did not have the ability to look at the cost implications.

When such decisions are arrived at, it is not done alone with the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission. It is done in collaboration with the budget office, the Pension Transition Administration Department (PTAD).

It is the organisation responsible for everybody on the old pension scheme until the last person on the scheme passes on. It is a transitional arrangement set up by law.

We have been anticipating this approval to come in and PTAD, that had always been in the picture, had made arrangements for the availability of funds and I can assure you, based on what we discussed with them, they are ready to go, he said.

The acting chairman explained that the conditions of the contributory pension scheme were different from the defined scheme.

The difference is the workers that are on the contributory scheme are contributing towards their pension in later years when they finally leave the service or retire.

They have a portion they are contributing and the government is also contributing a percentage.

The way it is arranged under this new pension scheme the worker can actually take out extra insurance to cover himself or herself and his or her family in arrangement with their Pension Fund Administrator.

He advised that those agencies did not fall under the recognised consolidated salary structures to get in touch with the commission.

He also said the constitution stated that workers salaries be reviewed every five and earlier, if the federal government so decides.

Nta further encouraged Nigerians to regularly visit the websites of the NSIWC, PTAD and the Pensions Commission for accurate information. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muftau Ogunyemi

A development organisation, Diamond Group of Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to deploytechnology such as drone surveillance to tackle the rampant banditry and kidnappings across the country.

The group also said that it has become imperative for the government to collaborate with neighbouring countries, including seeking foreign help, to deal decisively with the worsening security challenges.

Mr Toyyib Musa-Omoloja, Diamond spokesperson, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure.

The group, which claims to be a development organisation with social and political orientation, attributed the security challenges facing the country to its porous borders and difficult terrains.

It also attributed what it to what it called anemic security architecture and controversial peace agreements between some states and criminal groups.

According to the group, in view of the alarming spike in insecurity in the country in recent time, non-state actors are apparently dictating the pace.

We are alarmed at the rate of death being recorded daily, the arson and destruction of symbols of government and governance in some parts of the country.

While the Northeast is perennially under the sword of fake jihadists and insurgents, the Northwest is under the yoke of bandits.

The Niger Delta is home to piracy and organised crimes while the rest of the country is battling with herders-farmers crises of no mean proportion.

The Southeast and Southwest have become more strident in their calls for secession. What a trying period for Nigeria and Nigerians.

So,we are of the opinion that without a thorough diagnosis of the causes of this insecurity incubus, prescribing effective solution will be a mirage, the group said.

The group, who called onPresident Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful before it is too late, said government shouldprovide employment and stimulate the economy through strategic human and infrastructural development. (NAN)

Source: NAN News