By Kingsley Okoye

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has urged Nigerians to keep praying for the leaders in government as they tackle the various challenges facing the nation.

Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser on Media, said in a statement that Lawan made the appeal on Saturday at the appeal fund raising for Potiskum Emirate Central Mosque, Potiskum, Yobe.

The Senate President, who announced a donation of N20 million to support the project said that leaders need prayers always, particularly from the followership.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was a God given leader, hence people should pray for him and others for good health and to keep leading the country successfully.

He is trying his possible best for you and we too that are part of his leadership, we are trying our best to ensure that things are okay for Nigeria.

I will, therefore, urge you to continue to pray for our leaders that may Almighty Allah continue to guide them as they proffer solutions to security challenges, youth unemployment and for us to continue to assist our people.

The same thing is with our state, Yobe State, our pride. Our Governor, Mai Mala Buni, is trying his best to ensure development in the state.

It is public knowledge that there are development projects in every part of the state, Lawan said.

The Senate President announced that Sen. Sani Musa, who accompanied him, donated N5 million while Senators Bello Mandiya and Sadiq Suleiman donated N1 million each towards the project.

Other senators, who accompanied the Senate President on the trip from Abuja included Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Adamu Aliero, and Hon. Tijjani Dan Mutum. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Perpetua Onuegbu/Collins Yakubu Hammer

Mr Kassim Ali, the Chairman of FCT Water Board has called on the Federal Government to expedite action to address the issues of sanitation and open defecation across the country.

Ali made the call in his presentation at the 1st Engr Umar Jibrin Distinguished Annual Public Lecture titled prioritising Development of Sanitation Infrastructure Towards Eliminating Open Defecation in the FCT in Abuja.

The public lecture was organised by Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, a division of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to honour Jubrin for his meritorious services to the engineering sector in FCT and Mark his birthday.

According to Ali, access to basic sanitation services is still a major challenge in Nigeria.

As of 2018, about 112 million people lack access to basic sanitation services and almost a quarter of the population practice open defecation.

Over the years, government made frantic efforts to ensure access to sanitation service and discourage open defecation but its efforts did not show significant progress.

Thus, universal access to toilet that safely contain excreta and elimination of open defecation should be prioritised by governments at all levels, ensuring that progress is equitable and in line with the principle of the human right to water and sanitation.

Sanitation interventions should ensure coverage of entire communities with safe toilets that address technological and behavioural barriers to use, Ali said.

The FCT Water Board boss also suggested that everyone in school, healthcare facilities, workplace and public places should have access to a safe toilet.

He stressed that sanitation workers should be protected from occupational exposure through adequate health and safety measures and also sanitation campaign to give strong emphasis on Information, Education and Communication.

Speaking, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, commended NICE and Jubrin.

Adamu urged the FCT administration to ensure that the territory was free from open defecation adding that there was a need to improve sanitation in the territory.

He also called on participants to also contribute their quota in the provision of toilets to reduce open defecation in rural areas and communities.

Adamu said his ministry was open to collaboration in the area of sanitation and addressing open defecation.

Also speaking, Mr Jang Tanko, the National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), said the theme of the lecture was apt and timely.

According to him, the Federal Government has already issued an Executive Order 009 for an open defecation free Nigeria by the year 2025.

We thank the FCT authorities for attending to some of the report we put forward on open defecation and sanitation; we urge them to take immediate action to addressing the issues.

I congratulate Jubrin on this well deserved honour by NICE, Tanko stressed.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Babagana Mohammed, who is also the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Chairman in Council described Jubrin as a committed engineer with ethical values.

Mohammed commended the effort of NICE, adding that the honour on Jubrin was well deserved.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Mohammed was represented at the event by Mr Gidari-Wudil Saad, the National Deputy President of NSE.

The Minister of FCT, Mala Mohammad Bello, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said Jubrin had distinguished himself and rose through the ranks to become what he is today.

According to him, FCT is not doing well in the area of sanitation and open defecation.

However, we are closely working with the Ministry of Water Resource, because the effort to overcome open defecation and sanitation is absolutely necessary; collaboration is good for sustainability.

The Managing-Director of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Mr Nurudeen Rafimdadi, represented by Mrs Gini Osoro congratulated Jubrin on his contribution to the Development of FCT.

NAN reports that other dignitaries present at the occasion include the former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Mina, Prof. Suleiman Adeyemi, President of COREN, Mr Ali Rabiu among others.

High points of the occasion was the award for excellence to Jubrin and the cutting of his birthday cake. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Prof. Abubakar Ali-Agan, an Islamic cleric, says Islam warns against incurring heavy debts as those who died with unsettled debts will not enter paradise.

Ali-Agan admonished the faithful against incurring debts in his Ramadan lecture on Saturday in Ilorin.

He described debt in Islam as taking a loan from someone or lending money to someone without reward.

He said that debt has no commercial value as the debtor cannot ask for profit from people but the reward is from Allah.

He observed that Muslims must change their attitude towards incurring and settlement of debts, adding that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned Muslims to beware of such attitude.

Some people become arrogant after they incur debt and purposely refuse to pay. One of the most important things is to write owed payments down.

It is decreed by Islam that every contract of debt should be written down by a scribe with fairness and no biases, he said.

Quoting the Quran further, he said: O you who believe! When you deal with each other in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing; let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties.

Ali-Agan, also a lecturer at the Department of Religions, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, explained that one of the most important things was to write owed payments down.

According to him, Islamdiscourages heavydebtas much as possible, because it has a serious and direct effect on a Muslims belief or conviction for it can lead to harmful consequences.

In Islam, debt is an obligation that needs to be fulfilled. Islam takes the matter of debt very seriously and warns against it and urges the Muslim to avoid it as much as possible.

Anybody who wants to borrow money from anyone, the person must be adjudged to be credit worthy.

I thereby advised that if anyone died without paying his or her debt, the family member or friend of the deceased Muslim should pay on the behalf such debt.

If the debt is not cleared, soul of the believer is suspended because of his debt until it is paid off, he said.

The cleric, however, urged all the Muslim faithful to let their debts be known to others by writing it down or letting them know. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded Enugu State Government for its openness to be assessed during a sub-national health security assessment.

Dr Shola Haruna, the Team Leader for the International Health Regulations (IHR) Office, WHO Nigeria, gave the commendation, on Saturday in Enugu.

Haruna spokeat the end of a week-long Sub-national Health Security Assessment of International Health Regulations (IHR) Core Capacities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that assessment workshop is sub-themed: Strengthening Epidemic Preparedness Across Nigeria.

He called on all health offices in the state ministries of health, agriculture and environment to further work together so as to achieve the best as regards human and animal health issues.

When it comes to health issues, it is solely not the responsibility of the health ministry but every stakeholder should be involved, she said.

She commended the state health ministry personnel for understanding each other in health security as it had helped them to work together and had a frame work that would move health forward.

Dr Oyaladun Okunromade, Head, IHR and One-Health in Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said that Enugu total ready score was 36 per cent.

Okunromade enumerated areas with critical needs to include policy and legislation, financing for health security, multi-sectoral coordination at all level and human resource capacity building.

She commended the state for their leadership role and for being the first in Nigeria and the African continent to be assessed.

Enugu State is the first state engaging in the Health Security Assessment of International Health Regulation Core Capacities, she said.

Responding, the states Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, said that the ministry hhad already done its internal and joint assessments before now.

According to Obi, the tools used for the internal and joint assessments were parts of the tools used for external assessment by WHO today.

He assured WHO, NCDC and other health partners that the state would meticulously study the recommendations of the assessment and improve in all areas of its health indices and coordination.

The IHR assessment team assessed the states ministries of health, agriculture and environment emergency preparedness to tackle emerging epidemics and outbreak of diseases. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 on Saturday to book a place in next months FA Cup final thanks to a second-half goal by Hakim Ziyech.

The win extended a remarkable turnaround since manager Thomas Tuchel took over as Blues coach in January.

By contrast, City manager Pep Guardiola who made eight changes to the side which beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek saw his dream of steering them to an unprecedented quadruple of titles come to an end.

Eight-times FA Cup winners Chelsea face Leicester City or Southampton, who play their semi-final on Sunday, in the showpiece match on May 15.

It will be the Stamford Bridge sides fourth appearance in the finals in the past five seasons.

Ziyech scored in the 55th minute when he tapped into an empty net from a cross by Timo Werner with City goalkeeper Zack Steffen in no mans land.

This was after racing off his line to close Werner down, but then seeming to change his mind.

You always have to have the feeling before the game that you want to score, the Moroccan winger who has struggled to find his form after arriving at Stamford Bridge from Ajax Amsterdam last year told reporters.

It was a good delivery and I put it in easy, he said.

Citys Steffen made some amends a few minutes later when his outstretched leg thwarted Ziyech when the forward looked certain to score a second goal after poor defending by City.

The victory at an empty Wembley Stadium, with fans not allowed to attend, due to COVID-19 restrictions, leaves Tuchel in the hunt for two trophies with the Blues also in the Champions League semi-finals where they face Real Madrid.

The German, who replaced Frank Lampard after a slump in form by the Londoners, outsmarted Guardiola with his game-plan, focusing on catching City with fast counter-attacks down the wings, one of which provided the breakthrough moment.

Citys woes were compounded by the loss of midfielder Kevin de Bruyne early in the second half with an apparent ankle injury which Guardiola said probably doesnt look quite good.

Runaway Premier League leaders, City, could still win a treble of trophies this season as they are back at Wembley for the League Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday.

They also face Paris St Germain in the Champions League semis. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju

Sixteen-year-old Segun Ibironke of Pathfinder College, on Saturday emerged the winner of the maiden U-17 Oyo State Junior Golf Clinic at the Ibadan Golf Club.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ibironke, son of Oladiran Ibironke, the Chief Executive Officer of Dudu Heritage Films, won by 96 gross.

The young golder told NAN that he didnt have a good start and that at a point, he almost gave up on winning the tournament.

He, however, said that somehow, he started playing better and eventually won.

I feel great winning this tournament, because I came from behind to win.

My long time goal is to be one of the best golfers in Nigeria and I have been playing golf for four years now.

Honestly, I see this win as a challenge to get better in golf and to keep striving to be the best, he said.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who witnessed the closing tournament of the weeklong golf clinic, said he was glad to be part of the event.

Makinde urged all the participants to keep up the sporting spirit, adding that they were all winners.

Sports development is a way by which we can engage the youths in Oyo State and thats why the government is doing everything possible to ensure that our sporting facilities are upgraded to attract talents to those facilities.

As we can see the return on investments on sports, our athletes at the just concluded National Sports Festival clinched 31 gold, 30 silver and 43 bronze medals.

I saw that it was in swimming majorly that we had more gold medals and I called the contractor handling the Lekan Salami Stadium to hasten up and give us an Olympic sized swimming pool.

At the next National Sports Festival, Oyo state will compete favourably in swimming.

Yes, weve made some improvements; we performed better at the just concluded festival compared to the previous one.

Our target in the next edition is a minimum of 100 gold medals and I know this will still happen during this administration, he said.

According to Makinde, it is wrong to assume that golf is a game for the elites, especially now that it is now obvious that talents exist everywhere.

We want to attract talents from even those who cant afford golfing equipment. We must get a programme that will give them that opportunity.

This clinic is good. Ill like to say that it will be an annual tournament and I look forward to seeing you all next year.

I want 30 per cent of the subsequent editions to be reserved for disadvantaged children and we will ensure that the slot is filled, even if it is to buy them the golfing kits, he said.

NAN reports that 96 kids participated in the week long clinic, with students from Vale College, Methodist High School, Concord School, Ibadan International School and America Christian Academy in attendance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prince Philips coffin has been interred in the royal vault of St Georges Chapel.

It was placed on a catafalque on a marble slab andlowered into the vault by an electric motor.

The vault was created between 1804 and 1810 for George III, who died in 1820 and is one of three kings buried there. The other two are George IV and William IV.

Horns were played as his coffin was lowered down.

A blessing was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury before the choir sang the national anthem, God Save the Queen.

The members of the royal family looked up as the choir sangwhile the queen bowed her head.

The 94-year-old monarch was then led out of the church by thearchbishop and followed by her family members.

Prince William, her grandson, was seen glancing back at the vault as he left his pew.h

In the funeral procession which departed Windsor Castle to the chapel was Queen Elizabeth II, who was driven in a car. It was her first appearance in public since the death of her husband.

Philips coffin had been draped with his personal standard and was driven in a green military Land Rover Defender.

The children of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward walked behind the Land Rover.

Also in the procession were the Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Prince William, Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence, and the Earl of Snowdon.

Queen Elizabeth II followed behind in a car.

For the eight-minute procession, a gun was fired by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kenya will rely on charter flights to boost tourism numbers during the challenging Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) period, a government official said Saturday.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the charter flights Kenya is receiving signals the growing confidence in the countrys tourism products and preparedness against COVID-19.

I thank the marketers and travel agents who are working tirelessly to bring visitors to Kenya. I assure you of the governments support, we need to all work together to revive the sector fully, Balala said in a statement issued in Mombasa after receiving the first-ever flight from Ukraine to Kenya.

The flight operated by Bees Airline, a Ukrainian Charter operator and marketed by Travel Professional Group (TPG), landed in Kenya carrying 189 visitors from Ukraine.

Of the 189 passengers in the flight, 21 were travel agents traveling for product knowledge and to sample Kenyan tourism products and offering in order to sell the destination to consumers in their country.

Balala said that the flight was testament to the advancements Kenya is making in markets which are not deemed traditional source markets for Kenyas tourism.

He noted that the destinations tourism products resonate well with the needs of consumers from the Eastern European region.

I am glad to note the progress that we are making as a destination in attracting tourists from different markets, Balala said.

Kenya last month received the first-ever Romanian charter in Kenya carrying 200 visitors, said the official, noting that the flight has had five rotations into the country with another one expected later this month.

We must ensure that we explore all the available markets and tap into them. This is especially now more important with there being less travel across the globe, Balala said.

He welcomed the visitors, noting that the flight had come at an important time and provided hope for the recovery of the Kenyas tourism which had been severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Balala said the Ukrainian market presents an opportunity to push beach and wildlife products that resonate well with the consumers from the country.

The arrival numbers from Ukraine have been incremental over the last few years with Kenya receiving 1,523 visitors in 2017 and 1,892 visitors in 2019.

Currently, there is great opportunity to grow the numbers through charters especially due to the challenging environment brought about by the pandemic, Balala said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Yemens Houthi militia said they fired an explosive-laden drone on Saturday toward King Khalid Air Base in the Saudi southwestern city of Khamis Mushait.

The hit was accurate, Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement reported by the rebel groups al-Masirah TV.

Saudi Arabia has made no comment on the alleged attack.

Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib in central Yemen.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadis government. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Uganda will import five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines next month after the discovery of new COVID-19 variants in the country, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

In a televised address to the nation late Friday, Museveni said the vaccines will be used to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of the 5.5 million elderly.

People below 50 years, with underlying medical conditions that are at high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, will also be vaccinated.

Uganda targets to vaccinate more than 21.9 million people who face the highest risk of the infection, including the health workers, teachers, social workers and security personnel, elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.

The government is working hard to ensure we bring another five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of May to complete the threshold vaccination and ensure that those vaccinated before getting the second booster dose, said Museveni.

Vaccines are the most effective intervention we have against COVID-19.

The government and partners are working hard to bring vaccines to most adult Ugandans to protect them and to support us to reopen the economy and get back all our children to school.

Henry Mwebesa, Director-General of Health Services, last week said Uganda is scheduled to receive some two million more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in May through the COVAX facility.

Uganda has so far received 964,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX vaccine sharing programme and the Indian government.

As of April 16, a total of 220,893 people had been inoculated with the first jab of AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health statistics.

The country has reported the emergence of the highly transmissible COVID-19 variants which were first reported in Britain, South Africa and Nigeria.

The ministrys data showed that as of April 16, Uganda had registered a cumulative total of 41,340 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 40,898 recoveries and 338 deaths. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News