The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to meet in Jakarta on Saturday when leaders of member states will discuss the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Myanmar has been embroiled in political and humanitarian crisis brought on bya February coup.

The discussion is to hold in a summit to be attended by the countrys junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed by soldiers in Myanmar during almost-daily protests since the Feb. 1 putsch.

Indonesian and Malaysian leaders called for a summit of South-East Asian countries, of which Myanmar is a member, after the junta failed to heed calls to end violence and release political detainees including deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

This ASEAN leaders meeting is convened simply for the interest of the Myanmar people, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said late Friday.

We hope that the meeting can resultinan agreement that is best for the people of Myanmar, she said.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha andPhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the meeting and will be represented by their foreign ministers.

ASEANs decision to invite Min Aung Hlaing to the summit have been criticised by civil society groups and the National Unity Government (NUG), which comprises parliamentarians that won Myanmars last years elections.

The NUG is the legitimate government that the ASEAN leaders need to be shaking hands with,not the military junta, Khin Ohmar, a Myanmar democracy activist, told an online discussion on Thursday.

Ever since Myanmar was welcomed as a member, ASEAN has always stayed silent about everything thats happened, including the 2017 Rohingya genocide, she said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sudan has threatened to sue the Italian company implementing the Nile dam, and the Ethiopian government if the second filling of the dam is conducted without a legal deal.

Sudanese Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Yasir Abbas issued the threat in a tweet.

In case the second filling is conducted without reaching a legal deal, Sudan has legal teams, supported with international law offices, that will file lawsuits against the Italian implementing company and the Ethiopian government, Abbas twitted.

The lawsuit is based on the fact that the environmental and social impacts and risks of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have not been studied, he added.

The minister noted that failure to reach a deal would pave the way for filing a lawsuit to the UN Security Council as the GERD constitutes a real danger to the regional peace and security.

According to Abbas, reaching an agreement does not reduce the sovereignty or rights of Ethiopia, but provides it with full rights and protects Sudans interests.

Sudan proposed a mediation quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and the African Union regarding the GERD issue.

Ethiopia, however, has announced its rejection of the formula.

In February, Ethiopia said it would carry on with the second-phase 13.5-billion-cubic-meter filling of the GERD in June.

The volume of the first-phase filling last year was 4.9 billion cubic meters.

Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia have been in talks for years over the technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the dam in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the water resources. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Shedrack Frank

The Bayelsa Government said on Saturday in Yenagoa that its investment in rice production would begin to yield returns before the end of the year.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said this at a meeting with traditional rulers from Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

The deputy governor said the state had since subscribed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-backed Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme (AADS) and Anchor Borrowers programmes with a view to revamping the states agriculture sector.

By Gods grace we are going to eat our own rice from the various farms we have cultivated in different parts of the state.

I can assure you (traditional rulers) that we will not buy rice from elsewhere to distribute to you during Christmas.

The Anchor Borrowers and Outgrowers programmes are very key to food security.

So, we are working with the CBN to ensure food sufficiency in our state.

We are working to see how we can get credible partners to mill the rice, he told the traditional rulers.

The deputy governor informed the traditional rulers that the governments intervention in the agriculture sector was not only in crop production but in fisheries and poultry as well.

On security, he said the present administration was taking proactive measures to prevent the breakdown of law and order as experienced in some parts of the country.

The deputy governor urged the traditional rulers to complement governments efforts at tackling insecurity.

He said a new security architecture involving all stakeholders would soon become operational in the state.

He underscored the importance of intelligence gathering and sharing in security management and directed the relevant ministries to install a temporary communication system on the Obioku corridor, with the expectation that other service providers would mount theirs own in the area.

Earlier in his briefing, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Alagoa, disclosed that at least 3500 rice farmers across the state were currently participating as beneficiaries of the AADS and Anchor Borrowers programmes.

Alagoa, who decried a situation where the state received almost all of its food supplies from outside, emphasised the commitment of the present administration to change the trend through its two-pronged policy of food security and mechanised farming.

Describing the policy as participatory, he said government was ready to partner communities by providing the necessary inputs for farming and harvesting, play the role of an offtaker but would not buy or acquire any land.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Retired CP Akpoebi Agberebi, attributed the increasing frequency of communal crisis to lack of transparency and failure to follow due process during community elections.

He advised the royal fathers to synergise with government to curb crimes in their communities and announced the following numbers for the public to call for security purposes: 07006464644, 08166202333, and 08039662779

Also speaking, Mr Douglas Sampson, the Minority Whip and member representing Nembe Constituency 3 in the state House of Assembly, advised traditional rulers to do away with sentiments and cooperate with government to get rid of criminal elements in their communities.

The lawmaker also advised government to carry out diligent background checks on traditional rulers before issuing them with the staff of office as some of them were only interested in using their positions to get contracts from oil companies.

The traditional rulers commended the present administration for organising the meeting and appealed for upward review of their monthly allowances to enable them to perform their duties effectively. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Chairman of the electoral committee, Mrs Ekaeret Ekpenyong, announced that the delegates in Kwali endorsed Chiya as the consensus candidate, along with all the serving councillors in the 10 electoral wards.

She said the voting was to fulfill constitutional requirements as the candidates would be flying the partys flag in the Feb. 2022 Area Council Chairmanship elections.

In his reaction, Chiya expressed appreciation to the delegates and promised not to betray the trust reposed on him, but to consolidate on his achievements.

The News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) reports that the atmosphere at the venue was peaceful and orderly with cultural music played to entertain the delegates and party supporters.

Meanwhile, the APC Chairmanship primary elections in Gwagwalada Area Council was inconclusive due to the violence unleashed by some unidentified political thugs who disrupted the process as the voting was not going in their candidates favour.

The thugs, alleged to be supporters of a former council Chairman, who is also an aspirant came to the venue after voting had been concluded in seven electoral wards and disrupted the process.

Some candidates were hurriedly escorted out of the venue by security operatives while electoral officials, journalists, delegates and party supporters ran for safety. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Kwara, Mohammed Bagega, has confirmed the rescue of a 69-year-old farmer, Alhaji Alaga Olayemi, kidnapped on Wednesday by a seven-man gang.

Bagega said the victim, kidnapped in his farm at Oke Onigbin, was rescued on Friday after a painstaking search and rescue operation conducted within Oke Onigbin, Iloffa, Ekiti and Eruku areas of the state.

The operation, he said, involved the police and other members of the security community in the state.

According to him, the intense efforts and the pressure mounted by security agents forced the abductors to abandon their victim at Oyogbo village when it became obvious they couldnt escape arrest.

The victim is presently undergoing medical checkup in a hospital (name withheld).

Effort is being intensified to get the abductors apprehended, said the police commissioner.

He, however, called on the public to cooperate more with the police by offering useful information.

He assured the residents of their safety at all times, while warning criminal elements to vacate the state.

The police command, he said, would not hesitate to employ all lawful means to deal with criminals, irrespective of their status. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

Imo government has confirmed the attack on Gov. Hope Uzodimmas house in Omuma Oru East council area on Saturday by unknown gunmen but failed to give number of casualties recorded in the attack.

The Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Saturday, said few casualties were recorded after security men on guard repelled the attack.

Gallant security operatives this morning repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodimma.

At about 9am today, Saturday, April 24, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 and driving in a motorcade of three vehicles, accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor and attempted to burn down the house.

However, vigilant security operatives attached to the Governors house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised damage, he said.

The commissioner further disclosed that in the ensued cross fire, few casualties were recorded.

He said preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored

He said the governor has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.

He said yes, i can confirm the story, the hoodlums attacked the governors house by throwing in Petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt, but the attackers were successfully repelled.

None of the building was set ablaze, however, one unarmed personnel of the NSCDC was killed in the process.

The hoodlums, while escaping, also killed a Police Sergeant and another NSCDC personnel, both in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Zainab Oyekan

His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State were at the Al-habibiyya Islamic Centre in Guzape, Abuja, to make donations to the Centre.

The donations were part of the annual reachout of the Cardinal to the Muslim community.

This is contained in a press statement issued in Jos by Makut Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor.

Lalong commended the Cardinal for demonstrating the love of God to Muslims and people of other faiths.

The governor, who accompanied the Cardinal to the centre on Friday for breaking of fast, described the gesture as exemplary, capable of eliminating intolerance and suspicion that exists between Christians and Muslims.

He explained that such interactions and solidarity will foster peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and remove the negative narratives of religious differences that have become a major threat to the progress of Nigeria.

Lalong said Onaiyekans passion for peace would continue to motivate him towards reaching out to people of different ethno religious backgrounds to ensure that humanity is respected and defended.

He described the gesture as a good step towards building bridges and demystifying the so-called differences said to exist among Nigerians.

Onaiyekan later appreciated the Al-habibiyya Islamic Centre for always inviting him.

He said in spite of the terror unleashed on Nigerians by few criminal elements, Nigerians are peaceful people, who love one another and tolerate one anothers religious, political and ethnic persuasions.

He cautioned against the propagation of the notion that Nigerians are at war with one another which is incorrect.

The Imam, Al-habibiyya Islamic Centre, Fuad Adayemi, said the visit of the governor and the Cardinal was significant and showed their antecedents as peacemakers and leaders who should be emulated.

Fuad, who is the presenter of Abrahamic Mission on NTA Network, appreciated the governor for appearing on the programme to entrench peace and progress in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.

NDLEA Chairman, retired Gen. Buba Marwa, also attended the breaking of fast, where the Cardinal and governor Lalong participated in the sharing of food donated to the ummah.

Prayers were offered for the peace of Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Kano State Fire Service says two persons from same family died on Friday night fire incident at Zoo Road, Opposite Kano Zoological Garden, in Sheka Municipal.

Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, its Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Kano.

It said the incident occurred at about 10.10 p.m, an upper floor with two compartment of about 50 X 50 feet used as a dwelling house.

Four rooms, two palour, two toilets and two kitchens were razed down.

We received a distress call from Sabo Wada at about 10.10 p.m that fire has gutted a dwelling house in his area and three persons were trapped including a four year old girl.

On receiving the information, we quickly sent out our rescue team to the scene at about 10.15 p.m.

Two out of the victims were rescued unconscious and conveyed to Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed them dead.

The bodies were handed over to C.S.P Awaisu Suleiman of Sheka Police Division, it said.

The statement said the victims rescued alive were Fatima Salisu, 4, and Salisu Sani, 45, while the two dead victims were Maryam Sani, 19 (sister), and Nafisa Abdulkarim, 28 (wife).

It said all the victims were of same family and that the cause of the incident was being investigated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on pay-per-view tariff has assured Nigerians of its commitment to abolish indiscriminate charges by satellite service providers.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Unyime Idem (PDP-Akwa Ibom) gave the assurance on Friday while addressing newsmen at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Idem said that a bill to compel service providers to implement pay-per-view has passed second reading in the house.

He said that the bill, when passed into law, would expand the powers of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ensure the implementation of pay-per-view tariff.

Idem, who represents Ukanafun/Orukanam Federal Constituency of Akwa-Ibom, said that the process to implement pay-per-view tariff started in June 2020 and would not be swept under the carpet.

I want to assure Nigerians that after the passage of the bill, the issue of indiscriminate price increase even when Nigerians do not expect and service not consumed will be a thing of the past.

I want to appeal to Nigerians to be patient and hopeful as the bill will soon come up for third reading, he said.

Idem, also the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communication, assured that the bill would break the monopoly currently witnessed in the sector.

According to him, it will open up the space for more local and foreign operators to come in and there will be more options for Nigerians.

The lawmaker said that it would create a lot of employment opportunities, noting that the number of companies coming in will help grow the economy. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Projects

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The World Bank-funded Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) has inspire rural transformation through provision of basic infrastructural facilities and other development programmes to some communities in Zamfara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Bank assisted project built a Primary HealthCare Clinic (PHC) in Gurbi Community in Talatan Mafara Local Government, Zamfara

NAN reports that other CSDP projects include building of schools, drilling of boreholes, renovation of Computer Based Centre for the use of the youth among others.

Gurbi Community located at Talatan Mafara Local Government Area (LGA) has a population of over 3000 inhabitants who are mainly farmers and petty traders

The Vice Chairman, Gurbi Community Project Management Committee, Malam Abdullahi Bello at assessment of the impact of project in Gurbi community on Friday, commended CSDP expressed delight at the various projects.

Bello explained that prior to the provision of the health facility by CSDP, the people of the community used to travel a distance of five kilometers to get medical treatment in Talatan Mafara LGA headquarters.

He also revealed that based on huge demand for portable drinking water in the community CSDP drilled hand pump borehole to improve the living condition of the people.

We largely depended on well water which dry up during season and makes life difficult for us. So, we decided to approach CSDP office in the state capital and seek their intervention to support us with two micro projects.

The officials of CSDP came and conducted feasibility studies and directed us to mobilise our 10 per cent of the total sum of the project and to be glory of God the projected was completed and impacting positively on our lives.

Ms Talatu Adamu, Senior Community Health Extension Worker at the PHC, said that centre was used as COVID-19 vaccination centre

She revealed that no fewer than 127 persons took their first jam of COVID-19 vaccine at the centre, adding that more people are showing interest to take the jam in the facility.

She also disclosed that the clinic attended to over 25 patients from the community daily from Monday to Sunday, saying sometimes I received calls in the midnight to attend to pregnant women who are due for delivery.

Similarly, the CSDP renovated the Talatan Mafara Develoment Trust Fund Computer Based Centre, furnished with seats and desk as well as provided electrification, motorised water scheme, CCTB Cameras and toilet for the centre.

Alhaji Yusuf Mafara, Manager of the Centre and Chairman Community Project Management Committee (CPMC), said that the centre was dilapidated and inactive before the intervention of CSDP.

Whenever our children wants to write a computer based test they have to go to the state capital which a distance of about 80km.

That was why the community approached CSDP to help renovated the centre for the usage of Gumi, Anka, Maradun, Bakura, Bukyu, Talatan Mafara Local Governments areas of the state.

Marafa, who expressed optimism that the centre would prepare children of the community for higher education, also said that the center would be use for seminars, Higher School Examinations and and Pre Senior Secondary School Examinations.

We are also going to use the centre to run daily computer training and National Examination Council.

He said that as part of efforts to ensure sustainability of the centre through partnership, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had donated 300 laptops with all networking equipment to the center.

We are also planning to upgrade the centre to Digital Village with a view to boost its revenue profile, he said.

NAN also reports that the CSDP build a two block of hostels and equipped it with 122 double bunk, mattress and two toilets at Command Science Secondary School, Talatan Mafara LG.

Chairman of CPMC of the school, Malam Abubakar Dogo, said if not for the intervention of CSDP the school doesnt have available hostel to admit new students.

Dogo commended the efforts of Zamfara State and national officials of the CSDP for the provision of social infrastructure facilities in communities, adding that their community driven development approached was a good model for development.

Source: NAN News