By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The nations bourse opened the month of April with a loss of N67 billion, amid profit taking ahead of Easter celebrations.

Specifically, the market capitalisation which opened for the month at N20.428 trillion dipped N67 billion or 0.33 per cent to close at N20.361 trillion.

The downturn was supported by investors portfolio readjustment ahead of first quarter earning results.

Also, the All-Share Index dropped by 128.39 points or 0.33 per cent to close at 38, 916.74 from 39,045.13 recorded on Wednesday.

The market loss was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; Lafarge Africa, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Guaranty Trust Bank and NEM Insurance.

FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers chart in percentage terms losing 8.70 per cent to close at 42k per share.

NEM Insurance followed with a decline of 7.39 per cent to close at N2.13, while Unity Bank shed 6.67 per cent to close at 70k per share.

Regency Alliance Insurance dropped 3.33 per cent to close at 29k, while Livestock Feeds shed 2.60 per cent to close at N1.87 per share.

Conversely, Royal Exchange and UACN dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms with 10 per cent each to close at 33k and N9.90 per share, respectively.

Japaul Gold and Ventures followed with a gain 9.76 per cent to close at 45k per share.

Cutix rose by 9.31 per cent to close at N2.23, while Linkage Assurance gained 9.09 per cent to close at 72k per share.

Transactions in the shares of UAC topped the activity chart with 37.38 million shares valued at N370.01 million.

Transcorp followed with 25.93 million shares worth N20.88 million, while Fidelity Bank traded 12.6 million shares valued at N31.45 million.

Flour Mills traded 10.36 million shares worth N300.40 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 9.65 million shares valued at N289.61 million.

In all, the total volume of traded dipped by 2.54 per cent with an exchange of 239.42 million shares valued at N2.32 billion exchanged in 4,45 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 347.17 million shares worth N2.80 billion achieved in 3,990 deals on Wednesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Mr Funso Adebiyi, Director, Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works and Housing, has called on drivers and other road users to regulate their speed and maintain lane discipline while driving.

Adebiyi made this call at the inspection of the dualisation of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja Road (Section 1), including spur to Airport Junction on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project consists of rehabilitation and dualisation of 42 km existing single carriage-way 30 km of which is on Abuja-Abaji road from Zuba Junction to Sheda Village Junction.

It also includes 12 km along Airport Spur road which is from Giri village junction to Airport link road junction.

NAN also reports that the project also include three major highway interchanges- Giri, Gwagwalada and Kuje and three bridges.

At the inspection, Adebiyi while explaining to newsmen the progress made on the construction, said it was at 97 per cent completion lamented on the issues that contribute to the deterioration of roads.

Everybody is in a hurry and this causes traffic problem, the completed sections I discover that road users are generally impatient, they speed a lot incidentally I am the one overseeing the roads in Nigeria.

The section we completed from Lagos to Ibadan, we have completed about 80 km out of about 127 km, when you see people drive on those sections you will think they are going to heaven.

They will be driving at about 160, 170 km per hour, to where and why are they speeding?.

The resultant effects of speeding are colossal as am talking to you fast moving trucks have destroyed two of our bridges, we have to repair those bridges again at our own cost, he said.

The expert said overloading was another challenge that confronted the constructed roads.

According to him, people overload trucks with animals, food stuffs and human beings and this have adverse effects on the roads because they are carrying more than they are meant to carry.

These pavements are designed for specific axel load a trailer that should carry 600 bags is carrying 900 bags some carry 1000.

This is why you see some rods on the road are getting spoiled; if you look at Abuja to Kaduna you will see distress features all over the places, crash of various sizes because of overloading.

Do you know if you drive from Lokoja to Abuja and you are on 100 km per hour and am driving 140 km per hour the time lag that I will save will not be more than 15 minutes because while am slowing down you probably would have caught up with me.

Do you know what if I lose my front tire at 140 km per hour that car may somersault I may not live to be able to tell the story but you that is on 80 or 100 even if you loss all your tires you will still be stable.

Somehow fatality will be less, those you carry on top of those trucks if you slam the break suddenly the other objects on top will continue moving on.

On Abuja -Kaduna road, we lost about 20 people recently why, the truck slam the break and the human beings on top continue in their own motion, Adebiyi said.

Adebiyi added that every time there was a fire outbreak because of trucks collision there was an explosion and all these add to destroy the pavements.

He further said trucks park indiscriminately on the roads turning them to workshops.

The expert therefore appealed to road users to also discipline themselves to maintaining their lanes while driving and desist from all these issues that belittle government effort to provide sustainable roads that would endure the test of time.

Speaking on the importance of the road he said the Abuja- Abaji Lokoja road links South-West, South-East, South-South to Abuja.

The roads construction was started on Aug. 2006, with the sum of N11,227,571,390.41 trillion, is billed to be completed by June 30,2021 at a revised sum of N29,761,504,648.15 trillion. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju

Youth Employment Foundation (YEF), an NGO, on Thursday said it had started training 1300 girls in 13 secondary schools in Ibadan in vocational and life skills to enhance positive changes among youths.

Mrs Iwalola Akin- Jimoh, YET Executive Secretary, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders meeting for education stakeholders in Oyo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Standard Chartered Bank is partnering with YEF on the programme as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The aim of the programme is to train girls and in each school; we train 100 girls who now reach out to 10 girls each over a period of 9 months on life skills.

They are also trained on different vocations, like hairdressing, tailoring, baking and information technology.

We want everybody to realise that within your little space, you can do a lot to move the country forward, we dont have to be dependent on government, Jimoh said.

According to her, the NGO have different programmes in its five core areas of health, education, sports for development, child for protection and livelihoods.

What we want is a situation where young people are empowered, not only empowered in term of their academics but also empowered to earn some income, empowered to know that your community is your immediate space you can make a change, she said.

Mrs Aderonke Adeleke, YET Coordinator at Onireke High School, said that the laudable programme had been in existence in her school for four years.

Adeleke said that yearly, new girls were recruited and trained on life skills and life goals.

Part of the skills are budgeting, decision making, goal setting among others. I particularly like training on gender-based violence which teaches how girls can cope with such.

The programme has impacted a lot in the lives of the children, at least we see changes in the lives of the children. The way they think and carry themselves.

The girls train others as they have been trained and it has a far-reaching effect on the populace generally, she said.

She added that the programme should be given more funding and encouragement by incorporating it in the normal school curriculum.

Many schools are challenged with timing, giving them adequate time to train the children, so it wont clash with the normal school activities.

If the government, Ministry of Education in particular, could incorporate them into the curriculum maybe after examination, since we normally have two weeks after examination that could be used for YEF to train the students.

Also Ill like to see a programme that would include the boys because if we train the girls to be good and all rounded and the boys are found wanting, these girls will end up with such boys.

They should look into the possibility of training the boys in some particular areas so we can have a balanced environment, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of his former Personal Secretary at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Mohammed Baba Marafa.

In a condolence messag issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Thursday in Abuja, the president said:

Im personally devastated by the death of Mohammed Baba Marafa who had served as my Secretary at the PTF and I am proud of his record of dedication, hard work and loyalty.

The late Marafa did his job with great passion and zeal, and these are qualities that earn a subordinate the respect and trust of his boss.

Buhari conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased, the Lamido of Adamawa, the Waziri family of Adamawa and the Alkali Hamma Joda family as well as the Adamawa State Government over the passing of Marafa. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing says it has adopted proactive technical inspection strategies to fast-track execution of quality road projects across the country.

Dr Babangida Hussaini, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, stated this while inspecting ongoing road projects, on Thursday in Kano.

Hussaini said that the inspection would ensure timely and quality execution of road projects initiated by the President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

He said the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, and other officials of the ministry had inspected various road projects across the country in the past three months.

We have scale up technical inspection and monitoring to ensure that the projects are being executed in accordance with contract specification. The government is geared to ensure quality job to provide one of the best roads in Africa, he said.

Hussaini who expressed satisfaction with progress of work on the projects, said that some of the projects were expected to be inaugurated in May.

Through the technical inspection we have identified some gaps and funding challenges which are addressed. I commend the contractors for a good job and urged them to work towards timely completion of the projects, he said.

Hussaini, however, decried indiscriminate release of water by car washing operators on some section of the Kano-Zaria road, noting that the trend was inimical to sustainable road infrastructure development.

Roads are critical national assets, the federal government is spending huge sum of money on road construction and rehabilitation.

It is disappointing to see some people are destroying the roads in the name of businesses, they should observe the right of way.

The government will not condone the act and it must stop, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Muntari Dantata, Manager Director, Dantata

By Justina Auta

Zizah Okeugo, 12, will feature his artwork at Terra Kulture centre for creative arts, as part of activities to mark this years World Autism Awareness Day.

World Autism Awareness Day is globally celebrated every April 2, to raise more awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world.

Mrs Esther Sule-Okeugo, the Manager and Mother of Zizah disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

She explained that the exhibition was an avenue for the public to see into the mind of an autistic person and appreciate the beauty that could be created.

According to her, they will also be launching a foundation to support autistic children.

We are immensely proud of Zizah and want to use this event to highlight the ability that exists in autism.

We plan to also launch the Haven for Autism Foundation in the coming months to support other kids on the spectrum, she added.

She revealed that a series of acrylic on paper and canvas artworks, themed, Eidetic Impressions by her son would be exhibited at Terra Kulture between Friday and April 11.

She said the artworks were created by Zizah Obioha Okeugo who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4 and also suffers from epilepsy.

According to her, Zizah underwent constant therapy in speech development, motor skill development and several emotional control techniques to help him blend into a neurotypical world.

She, however, noted that it was when he discovered art and music that he really began to engage with his surroundings and his family.

On how he blended in with the world around him, she said, Like most kids of his age, he is constantly trying new things and Art and music are his means to connect and communicate what he is feeling.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Zizah regularly shares sketches, profiles and abstracts drawn from his immediate surroundings on his Instagram page.

The Terra Kulture is an art and culture centre in Nigeria that promotes the beauty, affluenceand diversity of Nigerian Art and Culture.

The centre is popular for its art gallery and exhibitions with its annual events such as art auction and Taruwa festival.

Source: NAN News

By Leonard Okachie

Deputy Gov. Ude Oko-Chukwu of Abia on Thursday challenged journalists to write books so that generations to come would always reference their materials and build up from there.

He issued the challenge while congratulating Chief Sam Ibe for his book Professional Journalism Practice Under Threat.Why all hands must be on deck, which was launched in Umuahia.

Oko-Chukwu, who was represented by Chief Michael Egwu, Permanent Secretary, Trade and Investments, said that journalists were in a better position to write about any subject.

Journalism has left the state of short story into something that can stand the test of time, he said.

Also, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, the Commissioner for Information,Abia, while congratulating Ibe, said that it was important for journalists to document their thoughts.

He challenged journalists to rise above the threat posed by social media and quacks, even as he advised them to manage their time well and write books.

The book reviewer, Uche Uwaoma, an Association Professor, said that it was time professional journalists rose to stamp out those who had no business with the noble profession.

Most of citizens journalists do it for pecuniary reasons, but I want to say that journalism is not for sale, he said.

Earlier in hisremarks, the author said he was inspired by the fact that journalism profession practice had been debased to a ridiculous level that it had become an all-comers affair.

The book is an answer to some of the unethical blunders committed by some of our colleagues at public functions which is reducing the image of the profession, Ibe said.

Ibe, who is the Chairman, Correspondent Chapel of Abia council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, expressed optimism that journalism would regain its enviable status if all hands are on deck.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book presentation was attended by many personalities from the academia, media and business circles. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olajide Idowu

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Thursday inaugurated the Osun Food Support Scheme to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on 30,000 vulnerable citizens.

Oyetola, while inaugurating the programme at the state secretariat, Osogbo, said the initiative was part of his promise to prioritise the welfare and general well-being of the people.

He said the scheme became necessary because available statistics showed that several jobs had been lost with many sources of livelihoods significantly threatened due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oyetola said that the scheme would run till the end of his administration.

He said that the scheme would cater for the critical needs of 30,000 poor and vulnerable citizens, including youths, widows, the aged and people living with disabilities, across the state on a monthly basis.

Oyetola said beneficiaries were drawn from the nooks and crannies of the state using the World Bank-sponsored Social Register.

He stressed that his administrations ultimate goal, apart from feeding the vulnerable in the interim, was to also boost local food production and achieve food security in the long run.

The governor disclosed that the food support scheme had been calibrated, in line with the administrations policy of promoting small, micro and medium businesses to boost the local economy.

He said that all food items would be sourced locally to further encourage local farmers and businesses.

Oyetola said that to achieve the sustainability of the scheme, his administration, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, had commenced the clearing of 10,000 acres of land,.

He said that part of the land would be allocated to youths who are genuinely interested in farming to engage them effectively and productively.

Oyetola added that 30 per cent of the beneficiaries of the Food Support Scheme were youths.

Through this scheme, in the first instance, 30,000 beneficiaries across our state will be reached and provided with 5kg of food bags as a token of support.

To make the exercise hitch-free and transparent, we have constituted a committee made of relevant state functionaries and key stakeholders with representations from the various religious bodies, trade groups, youth groups, minority groups, among others.

We are adopting the use of the World Bank-sponsored Social Register to cater for the beneficiaries in a manner that is just and equitable across the various nook and crannies of our state.

We also followed this up with our post-COVID economic recovery plan targeted at empowering over 5,000 SMEs with relevant skills and requisite funding in partnership with the Bank of Industry.

Through the Ministry of Youths and Sports, we have also been facilitating loans to businesses in the state to support youth entrepreneurship, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

North Koreas national carrier set to resume flights between Pyongyang and Beijing this week, its website showed on Thursday, drawing attention to whether the route would resume after 14 months of suspension amid coronavirus.

According to the flight schedule released on Air Koryos website, the airlines JS251 flight will depart Pyongyang at 4:00 p.m. and arrive Beijing at 5:50 p.m. on Thursday.

Another flight is scheduled to depart from Beijing for Pyongyang on Friday, the airline stated.

The flights could mark the first time the North has operated an international commercial flight since January last year when it closed all ports of entry by land, sea or air as part of efforts to block the COVID-19 virus from spreading into the country.

It was, however, unclear whether the North would actually resume flights.

In February last year, the airline released its flight schedule to the Russian port city of Vladivostok but did not operate the flights.

North Korea has not reported any case of COVID-19 virus infection, but it has called for nationwide efforts to prevent the virus from breaking out on its soil through intensified border controls and tightened quarantine processes. (Yonhap)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Government says it has so far enrolled 51million citizens for the National Identification Number (NIN) as at March 31, 2021.

Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, made this known at the weekly Presidential Media briefing organized by the Presidential Communication Media Team in Abuja on Thursday.

He also revealed that about 189 millionsubscribers of the Identification Module (SIM) had been registered in the country.

According to the minister, only 150million out of the 189million have successfully completed their registration while the remaining have problems of improper registration.

Pantami reminded all citizens to enroll for the NIN, warning that those yet to obtain the NIN risk seven or 14 years imprisonment as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

Based on the requirement by law each and every citizen and legal resident must obtain his/her National Identification Number (NIN), which is being coordinated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Its a requirement by law but many citizens ignore it.

What we achieved in the area of enrolment from the time Mr President has directed me to supervise NIMC till date is unprecedented and we would continue to ensure that in the next few years we have an almost a complete data base of all our citizens in the country.

No country will be successful in education, health, budget planning or national planning without data base of its citizens in place.

What I inherited in the data base was less than 20 per cent of our population. But we want to ensure that before we leave office we would look at the data base and be proud of our country, he said.

According to him, while obtaining a SIM card maybe optional, NIN is mandatory, noting that a lot of transactions in the country are not supposed to be carried out without NIN.(NAN)

Source: NAN News