The European Commission on Wednesday announced it had earmarked 123 million euros (146 million U.S. dollars) to fund urgent research into Coronavirus variants.

The fund, through Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation program, adds to a range of EU-funded research and innovation actions to fight the coronavirus and contributes to the Commissions overall action to prevent, mitigate and respond to the impact of Coronavirus variants, the Commission said in a statement.

We continue to mobilise all means at our disposal to fight this pandemic and the challenges presented by Coronavirus variants.

We must use our combined strength to be prepared for the future, starting from the early detection of the variants to the organisation and coordination of clinical trials for new vaccines and treatments, while ensuring correct data collection and sharing at all stages, said Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

The new calls for urgent research into Coronavirus variants complement earlier actions to develop treatments and vaccines by organising and conducting clinical trials to advance the development of promising therapeutics and vaccines against the virus.

The Commission said the emergency calls will tackle the short to medium-term threat and simultaneously prepare for the future by enabling the EU to anticipate and better tackle future pandemics. (1 euro=1.19 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Council of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday defined the attraction of international investments in hydrogen energy as a priority.

This is a consensus that was built during a virtual meeting with representatives of the member states promoted by the Portuguese presidency of the EU.

The European leaders of the energy portfolio highlighted the need to create a stable regulatory framework for hydrogen in the European Union, noting that it is a competitive and predictable market.

Public and private investment must ally, and governments have a responsibility to give the right signals, creating the conditions for the private sector to invest with stability and security, said Portuguese Minister of Environment and Climate Action Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes.

The Netherlands Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Bas vant Wout urged for mobilising public sector investment for the implementation of the European strategy.

The planning of the necessary infrastructure for the production and distribution of hydrogen is crucial, said Germanys Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and Energy Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker.

It is time to accelerate investment and political decisions in a bid to lay the foundations for stable investment, said Spains Secretary of State for Energy Sara Aagesen Munoz.

Luxembourgs Energy Minister Claude Turmes called on the EU to establish a transparent system, because the private investor will only be interested in moving forward if there is transparency. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied hiring individuals or groups as consultants for staff recruitment.

INEC said this in a statement by Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in Abuja.

Okoye urged members of the public to report to security agencies, individuals or group claiming to be consulting for the commission on recruitment of staff.

He said the attention of INEC had been drawn to activities of some fraudsters claiming to be working for the Commission on recruitment of personnel.

He said that unscrupulous elements had gone to the extent of cloning INEC logo and commenced soliciting for applicants for jobs in the Commission.

The fraudsters claim that they have been appointed consultants to the Commission and are reportedly asking innocent Nigerians to pay some amount of money as application fees.

Okoye recalled that the commission had at least on two previous occasions in the last few months issued disclaimers on the matter of fake employment merchants.

He added that INEC issued disclaimers on the racketeers who opened fake employment websites, collecting money from unsuspecting members of the public and issuing fake employment letters purporting to be acting on behalf of the Commission.

The claim of being appointed consultants clearly adds a new dimension to the fake employment scam.

The general public should take note that not only is the Commission not recruiting at the moment; it has not appointed any consultant or agency to recruit on its behalf.

The Commission calls on members of the public to be cautious and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by fraudsters. Any person who is approached by any individual

The Commission calls on members of the public to be cautious and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by fraudsters.

Any person who is approached by any individual or group claiming to be recruiting for the Commission should please report to security agencies, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says proper internal democratic practice among political parties will solve 80 per cent of electoral challenges in the country.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, said this in a welcome address at the opening of a workshop in Enugu on Wednesday.

The workshop focus on the Capacity Building Workshop on Political Party Management and Administration and Party Audit.

Participants at the workshop include the Heads of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department in INEC state offices from the 17 states in the southern part of the country.

Ononamadu said that the workshop was critical to the ongoing reforms in INEC, especially for political parties, to always abide by the electoral law guiding all stakeholders concerned with elections.

According to him, bad internal democracy within parties, most time, snowballs beyond internal wrangling but affect the outer society and entire electoral process.

With proper internal, there will be less disagreement during elections.

Those that win or lose in a well laid out internal party primaries, according to the electoral law, will agree that the process is fair and credible.

And there will be fewer disagreements on results.

However, in a situation where internal democracy is lacking, there will be internal party disagreement or wrangling would start affecting the entire system.

There will be chaos and violence emanating from different groups that feel cheated or denied in the political party.

The violence will lead to low turnout of voters, and while in the post-election period, there will be electoral suits and counter electoral suits from the same political party, Ononamadu said.

The REC noted that there was a need for officers in the EPM department to be proactive; start monitoring and guiding the political parties according to the electoral law on time during the pre-election period.

Political parties must have good management and administration of its affairs as well as a good audit of its events and resources including finances for them to have fewer problems as well as be stable.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director, EPM Department in Abuja, Mr Shehu Wahab, said that the workshop was meant to prepare the participants for the task ahead.

It also meant to ensure that political parties get it right from the onset.

Wahab also thanked the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) for supporting INEC to facilitate the workshop which is meant to drive the wheel of reform in the electoral system.

In a goodwill message, the ECES Deputy Project Coordinator, Mr Wilson Manji said that the centre had been at the forefront of supporting INEC to get the electoral process right and engender free, fair and credible elections.

Manji stressed the need for the EPM department to keep the political parties in check-in line with the electoral law.

The workshop, at the end of the day, will awaken them to their responsibility and guide them on how to carry out their responsibility more effectively.

This will ultimately check internal political party fractions and make them be committed to abiding with the electoral law, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ayinde Olaide

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has pledged his readiness to give financial autonomy to the judiciary in the state.

The governor made the pledge in Bauchi during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed acting Chief Judge (Grand Kadi) of Bauchi State Sharia Court, Mohammed Abubakar.

Mohammed, who said he was always ready to go by the judiciarys tradition, which, he said, was predicated on justice and equity, noted that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

The judiciary is the last hope of the common man and it is not only the common man, it is the last hope of Bala Mohammed, because I have derivedsolace in the judiciary.

I am always ready to go by their tradition, because it is predicated on justice and equity.

We, in the executive, are ready to give you your autonomy; we are ready to give you your respect, we are ready to clear latitude and leverage, so that you will be able to dispense justice, he said.

The governor reminded the newly sworn-in acting chief judge of the state sharia court that society expects a lot from him, now and even after service.

I know you are going to have a very little stint, but it does not matter how long you stay, but how well you stay and how much you impact, he said.

Mohammed commended t

I call on the judges to ensure that verdicts are quickly made in criminal cases in order to enhance the issues of reward and punishment in the state, he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tenure of Alhaji Dahiru Ningi, the out-gone chief judge of the sharia court, ended on April 6. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, has called for support of Nigerians for the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba.

The Chairman of CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab, who made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna, also commended the appointment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the appointment of Baba as the new Acting 1-G of police.

l call on Nigerians to cooperate with the new I-G so that, together, we could attain the peace we once enjoyed in the land, he said.

Hayab said the task ahead of the new I-G calls for support of Nigerians, irrespective of any differences to enable him tackle the security challenges in the country.

The chairman said that the association can testify to his virtue ofhonesty of purpose in ensuring a peaceful society.

He said that his appointment came at a time Nigerians needed a man who has the vision and road map to bring an end to the security challenges in the country.

Given the task before him, he needs our sincere advice, suggestions and prayers on the useful directions forward for a safe society devoid of any form of criminality.

Let us all give him all the support, with the advice that is needed for the police under his leadership to succeed, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja decorated Mr Usman Baba as the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police was on Tuesday appointed as acting Inspector General of Police by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Babas appointment was announced by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, when he addressed State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

He said that the appointment was with immediate effect.

The Acting I-G replaced Mr Mohammed Adamu whose tenure ended on Feb, but Buhari extended his tenure for three months.

The event was witnessed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, the immediate past I-G, Adamu and the Minister of Police Affairs, Dingyadi.

Others were the Permanent Secretaries, State House, Tijjani Umar and Ministry of Police Affairs, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has challenged the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to restore confidence and the dignity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Osinbajo gave the task when he decorated the acting Inspector-General of Police with his new rank at the conference room of the Vice Presidents office, State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Vice-President performed the decoration on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently on medical check-up in the United Kingdom.

Osinbajo urged the new Police boss to ensure that the NPF lives up to expectations and comply with the rule of law.

He said:The organisation you are leading is one that is itself facing several challenges, your officers work in extremely difficult conditions and some face the threat of super power by terrorists and hostile non-state actors while in the line of duty.

There is no question at all that there is a lot to be done.

Under your leadership, the Police must now rebuild some bridges of trust and regain the confidence of the citizens.

This is an on-going challenge and task that the Police Force and all the senior members of the Police must take on as a responsibility.

They must continue to rebuild their trust with the Nigerian public.

Osinbajo also charged the acting I-G to implement the Community Policing Policy which had already taken off as well as restore the dignity of the Nigeria Police.

One of the ways you can restore confidence and build trust is by implementing the Community Policing Policy which has already taken off and reconceptualising policing as a task carried out in partnership with local communities and officers who are members of these communities.

Under your leadership, the force must live up to all the high standards of professional conduct and compliance with the Rule of Law.

It must significantly improve the welfare and working conditions of its officers while rapidly scaling up its forensic, logistical and operational capacities to meet todays challenges.

You must stamp out the excesses and abuses and the culture of impunity demonstrated by some elements of the force which provoked public outrage against the institution.

In short, your mission is nothing less than the restoration of dignity and high repute of the policing profession and the continuous oiling of that machinery, that enables it to be one that is respected by the public and the international community,he further advised.

He, however, charged Baba to build on the successes of his predecessor, adding that he should rejig the operational strategies of the Police.

Baba, who fielded questions from State House correspondents after his decoration, said he would build on the successes of his predecessor.

According to him, he will rejig the operational strategies of the Police.

You will see improvement on where my predecessor has left.

I came in at a very challenging time. I know it. I recognise it and I will work on how to improve from where my predecessor has left.

I have been a member of the management team. We have tried to do our best, but its not enough.

There is room for improvement. Definitely, we are going to rejig our operational strategies,he said.

The acting I-G stated that with the support of Buhari, the police would acquire new gadgets that would enhance their efficiency.

He also stressed the need for support and cooperation from the public, to enable the Police achieve its mandate of ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.

Baba said: We have the blessing of Mr President and we are hoping to get more of what we have requested through the Police Trust Fund very quickly.

Nigerians should expect improvement on the security situation. And Nigerians should also collaborate and cooperate with us. With all the inadequacies we have, we still require everybody to be part of policing in this country.

And that is why the emphasis on community policing will continue and the emphasis of collaborating with all other sister agencies will continue and we hope to have a better situation very soon. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Sokoto State on Tuesday engaged students of tertiary institutions on value reorientation.

The agency conducted the exercise under its attitudinal reorientation programme, tagged Campus Focus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Director of NOA, Alhaji Abubakar Danchadi, said this at the National Youth Summit 2021, organised by the agency in the state.

According to Danchadi, the summit which has as its theme: Youth Participation in National Development, considered the challenges concerning youths in the country.

He said it was important to note that the growing youth bulge in Nigeria was of serious concern to the government.

These facts clearly indicate that the government can no longer ignore the demands of young people and therefore raises the need for a different approach for productivity and national development.

The peaceful protest by Nigerian youths against the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) has raised a number of issues worthy of consideration.

That is why the government must now engage and hold dialogues with youths on a sustainable basis and ensure that it is proactive in dealing with the challenges confronting them, he said.

The director further explained that the objective of the summit was to engage Nigerian youths on government policies, programmes and activities in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

This is in order to inform and educate youths on various social investment programmes designed for their empowerment and how to key into these programmes.

It is also to analyse issues raised by Nigerian youths, provide credible feedback and build confidence in them on ability and commitment of government to addressing their challenges.

The programme will as well reawaken the consciousness of youths on the need to embrace the national core values and ethics as well as seek for resolutions of their grievances through dialogue, he added.

The state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Bashir Garba, appreciated the Federal Government for coming up with programmes that had direct impact on youth development.

Garba, represented by the Director, Quality Assurance in the ministry, Mr Muhammad Bawa, urged Nigerian youths to desist from social vices to ensure the best future for them.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Social Investment, Alhaji Hayatu Tafida, expressed confidence that the social investment programme of the government would continue to yield positive results on Nigerian youths.

NAN reports that two papers were presented at the event on: The impact of Youth participation and Involvement in Policy Making and Governance by Malam Nura Attajiri, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Greenlight Center for Youth and Social Services.

The second paper entitled: Insecurity and the Nigerian Youth: The Way Forward, was presented by CSP Mainasara Maru from the Police Command in Sokoto. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, in collaboration with Women and National Development (WAND), an NGO, will on Thursday, April 8, in Abuja stage a public presentation of a book entitled Aisha Buhari Being Different.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the book was written by Dr Hajo Sani in honor of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the event would be chaired by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu while Mrs Folorunso Alakija will be the Special Guest.

The book will be reviewed and presented to the public by Prof. Fatai Aremu of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

The event will also feature a summit on First Ladyship with the theme: .

The summit is targeted at state First Ladies and gender-focused institutions, with Mrs Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti Governor as the Keynote Speaker and the wife of Edo Governor, Dr. Besty Obaseki,as session Chair (NAN).

Source: NAN News