By Sheila Offiong/Patience Aliyu

The General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI), Nigerian Chapter, has approved a domesticated Constitution to guide its operations in the country.

The approval was given at a meeting of the IPI held, both virtually and physically, and hosted by Daily Trust Newspapers in Abuja.

IPI is a global network, for senior Journalists, Publishers, seasoned Broadcasters and Communications experts, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and operates under a global constitution.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Secretary of the Institute, Mr Raheem Adedoyin, said deliberations, which began on Tuesday, in Abuja, yielded the desired result.

The Nigerian chapter, otherwise referred to as the Nigerian National Committee, has domesticated the IPI Constitution to suit its environment.

The IPI Nigeria constitution provides for an expansion of its current Executive committee from just the Chairman (changed to President), to now include the offices of deputy president, assistant secretary, Auditor and legal adviser.

Other resolutions of the meeting, chaired by its President, Malam Kabiru A. Yusuf, included deployment of robust measures to enhance membership drive into the Nigerian chapter of the body, as well as approval of the criteria for such membership recruitment, Adedoyin said

Membership of the Institute is open to persons active in the field of Journalism from reputable traditional and web news media organisations, freelancers and lecturers, researchers in schools of Journalism or Mass Communication and Communication Arts.

Or those working in outlets that defend and support the principles of Press Freedom and Rights and the desire to co-operate to achieve the objectives of the global body of the Institute, according to the IPI Nigeria Constitution.

Similarly, membership would be open to only persons who have spent 10 years and above in a recognised media organisation, whilst the Constitution provides for a 7-member Board of Trustees for IPI Nigeria, with members entitled to not more than two-terms of five years each.

The General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021, to receive the reports of the contact/mobilisation and the property purchase ad hoc committees which were set up late last year, Adedoyin said,

In the meantime, preparations would get underway for the composition of a new executive committee, to pilot the affairs of IPI Nigeria for the next three years.

The meeting was attended by captains of the media industry, including the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust, Naziru Mikailu Abubakar, the Director General of the National Council for Arts

China Police has nabbed more than 34,000 suspects while handling 19,000 food-related criminal cases in 2020 in a crackdown that started in May, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on Monday.

The monetary value involved in the cases amounted to 2.51 billion dollars, the ministry said, adding that more than 9,500 crime dens had been demolished and over 3,100 criminal groups were busted during the period.

The MPS launched the Kunlun 2020 operation in May, targeting violations of food and drug safety laws, intellectual property rights, among others.

During the operation, the police also dealt with more than 4,600 cases and detained over 10,000 suspects for jeopardising drug safety.

Besides, about 8,600 cases related to crimes involving counterfeiting and rights infringement had been solved.

In another development, the countrys Ministry of Public Security also said on Monday that the number of newly identified drug users under the age of 35 dropped by 31.5 per cent in 2020.

Police cracked 64,000 drug-related cases in 2020, down 23 per cent from the previous year, leading to over 92,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 55 tonnes of drugs, according to the ministry.

It said that a total of 427,000 drug users involved in the cases were identified, a year-on-year decrease of 31 per cent.

Close to three million former drug users have not relapsed for three years since rehabilitation.

The majority of Chinese people are satisfied with the countrys efforts to tackle narcotics, citing a satisfaction level nearing 97 per cent in a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, the ministry said. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is deploying all its operational energies in enforcing the use of helmets by motorcyclists across the country, its spokesman Mr Bisi Kazeem has said.

Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) of the FRSC, said this on Monday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He stressed that the enforcement had reduced fatalities in the event of crash, adding that motorcyclists were vulnerable road users as most of the crashes involving them were fatal.

According to him, the use of helmets reduce damage to sensitive parts of their bodies, including eyes, skull, brain and nose.

As such, the use of helmets does not only make them responsible, but saves their lives in most cases.

Currently, our records show that there is significant improvement in the safety of those categories of road users, he said.

Kazeem also said that the ban on motorcycles on the expressway was still in force, adding that the corps was utilising its workforce in enforcing it.

He said that the ban coupled with the introduction of tricycles had accounted for the reduction in accidents involving motorcycles on the expressway

Most of the bikes you see around are owned by security operatives on duty and they have been admonished to always wear their helmet and so far, so good, the compliance is reasonable, he said.

Kazeem said that the corps had intensified strategic public enlightenment campaigns for road users using conventional advocacy strategies and the mass media. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

Mr Ene Baba-Owoh, National Coordinator, Clean-Up Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation, says the recent ban on charcoal exportation by the Federal Government will mitigate environmental challenges in the country.

Baba-Owoh, who is also an environmentalist, made his view known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

NAN reports that recently, the Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, announced the ban on exportation of charcoal in the country, saying that it contributed to environmental challenges.

The environmentalist said that production of charcoal increased emissions, thereby causing environmental problems.

Baba-Owoh said that production of charcoal was the first instance that led to land degradation and climate change.

According to him, one of the major causes of climate change in the environment was the destruction of tropical forest as trees were used to produce charcoal.

Production of charcoal encourages more cutting of trees and thus affects our forests.

Deforestation is a permanent destruction of our forests. This can include clearing the land for agriculture, grazing or using the timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing.

Deforestation causes greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming; however, trees are made to help mitigate environmental challenges in our environment.

So, banning charcoal exportation in the country will go a long way to address climate change and other environmental problems.

Trees provide shelter to man and help in purifying our health; they prevent erosion and act as buffer against climate change, while the forest offers home for plants and animals.

Forest provides natural resources such as herbs, which can be used for medicine and other commercial purposes, Baba-Owoh explained.

He said that studies had shown that about 300 million people lived in forests while over 20 per cent of greenhouse gases carbons were released yearly in the tropical forest.

Baba-Owoh said that studies also showed that the forest alone contributed about 10 per cent to global warming.

He said that constant cutting of trees led to flooding during rainy season, thereby causing loss of lives and properties as well as displacement of indigenous people.

Baba-Owoh said that destruction of the forest exposed people to various diseases which could lead to death.

He urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of planting more trees and ensuring that any tree cut down was replaced.

Baba-Owoh said that the effort would help to prevent deforestation and destruction of lands and forests in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebeli

Some residents of Enugu State have expressed mixed feelings concerning the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination in the State.

Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in separate interviews, said that they preferred provision of food, security and other social amenities to the vaccine.

Mrs Blessing Eze, a teacher, said she would not take the vaccine on the ground that it was not what Enugu people needed at the moment.

According to her, people in Enugu need food, good road and security to make life better for them.

The way they are going about COVID-19 of a thing, one will wonder if there is coronavirus in the state, but as for me, the vaccine is not for me.

They should give it to politicians and their families, why are they remembering the poor ones now, she said.

Mrs Ngozi Okpara said she preferred free vaccination of Typhoid and Malaria to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Typhoid and malaria kills us more than coronavirus in the country and there is no free vaccine for it.

As for me, I will enquire from my husband as to know if I should take it or not, she said.

According to Chukwuemeka Chioke, a trader, I heard that the vaccine causes headache and weakens the body so l would not take it.

But a nurse, identified as Philomena, said she would take the vaccine since some health workers in the state had died of COVID-19.

I will take it whenever I am called upon to take the jab. Some doctors and health officers had already taken the jab and nothing has happened to them, she said.

Meanwhile, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Enugu State, Mr Isaac Onukwube has urged residents in the state to embrace the vaccine.

It is one who is alive that will think of road and food, I know that they are the basic necessity of life but life is the most important thing, he said.

He urged them to disregard death rumors surrounding COVID- 19 vaccine as the vaccine is real and safe.

NAN reports that Enugu State Government had on Wednesday took delivery of 65,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government has described the reported formation of Biafra Customary Government by Asari Dokubo as a theatre of the absurd by a joker seeking attention.

Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria on the development in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the President Muhammadu Buharis administration will not be distracted by the absurdity.

I am sure you have heard of the theatre of the absurd, that is the best way I can describe it.

If Asari Dokubo wants to form and run a fathom government, I think he is free to do so.

This administration will not be distracted because we still have a lot to do.

We are not ready to give any attention or time to a joker like Dokubo who is just looking for attention.

We will just take it as one of these entertainment thing.

The beauty about Nigeria is that it is never a dull country, you must have one thing or the other to entertain you, he said.

Dokuboleader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force reportedlyannounced himself as the leader of the new Biafra Customary Government.

The fathom government was announced with names of some leaders by one Uche Mefor, who claimed to be its head of information and communications. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the signing of a seven-year 350 million dollar Term Loan Facility to provide financing to OCP Group of Morocco.

The bank made the announcement in a statement it issued in Cairo, Egypt on Monday, adding that the financing was to support the groups expansion plans across Africa.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, the banks President said the partnership was in fulfilment of its mandate of facilitating export development in the continent and promoting intra-African trade and investments.

Oramah was quoted as saying that the Afacility had symbolic value, as it marked the beginning of a productive and close relationship between Afreximbank and OCP group.

We are delighted to announce this facility, as the first demonstration of the strong relationship the bank enjoys with Morocco.

This is an important transaction which supports the development of Africas agricultural capacity.

OCP Groups products, which are tailored to the needs of African farmers will generate broad and deep improvements to the continents ability to compete in international agricultural markets, he said.

The statement said OCP group ranked among the worlds largest phosphate producers, with a strong position across all five continents and exporting to more than 160 clients.

It added that over the last decade, the group had consolidated its position in many African countries and, as an African player, was committed to developing South-South cooperation.

It said it had also placed Africa at the heart of its growth plan to contribute to bolstering the continents agricultural ecosystem, by providing the continent with both the right quantities and qualities of customised fertiliser products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria recently signed a 1.4 billion dollar agreement with OCP Group of Morocco to produce ammonia and diammonium phosphate in the gas industrialisation strategy.

The project is structured to commercialise Nigerias vast natural gas resources and satisfy Moroccos demand for cost-competitive ammonia.

The agreements are designed to create a clear path for the second phase of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the creation and operationalisation of a Multipurpose Industrial Platform (MPI) in Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Reporters

Safe Haven Football Academy was inaugurated on Sunday in Ikorodu area of Lagos State as part of efforts to develop grassroots sports in Nigeria.

The academy, which is situated at Safe Haven, Legina Estate, near Adamo Town in Ikorodu, was established by Rev. Dele George of the little Saints Orphanage, Lagos in partnership with Daraya Sports, La Liga and Real Betis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the young players, aged between 10 and 12, along with their officials, were presented to the public at the inaugural ceremony.

Rev. Dele George, in a speech, said that the main goal was to remove vulnerable children/ adolescents, abandoned or orphaned, from the streets.

We want to reform and empower such children.

The academy will stir up the natural and academic abilities of the children/adolescents, while creating a safe environment for the maximisation of their abilities.

The academy will also empower the children/adolescents for prosperous and independent living in adulthood.

The Little Saints Orphanage has, in the past 25 years, rehabilitated, reformed and reintegrated hundreds of orphans in Lagos State. Majority of these children/adolescents have been adopted into wonderful families approved by the government.

The children/adolescents left in the orphanage are currently engaged in academic and vocational pursuits, including sports. They have become the pride and joy of our nation, she said.

George commended La Liga and Real Betis for partnering her orphanage for the football academy, stressing that their efforts would enhance football development in Nigeria.

Mr Desmond Chiji, a representative of La Liga Global Network for Ghana and Nigeria, in a remark, said that the partnership would help the quest to discover and develop talents from the grassroots, adding that the developments would be in stages.

According to Chiji, La Liga has entered into an agreement with Nigeria professional football league where it just concluded a coaching seminar.

He added that La Liga usually organise an under-15 football tournament every year but could not do so this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that La Liga was a global brand committed to discovering and developing talents in the community.

We want to speak the local language; we dont want to be another league that just came and showed football.

We dont want La Liga to be made up of only Spanish teams. We also want Nigerian teams with different languages.

He said that the U-15 tournament organised every year usually bring out the best out of the teams, with the very best players chosen to go to Spain and train with some of the clubs.

Chiji further said that La Liga had also partnered the Spanish Embassy and different organisations to organise sporting clinics and also develop an engagement with the Nigeria women football league which was also important to developing talents.

He urged the kids to be disciplined and be dedicated in order to get to the higher level, and promised to continue to develop community youths and women grassroots football.

A former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju, commended the partnership with world international football groups like La Liga and Real Betis, stressing that the academy would improve football development in Nigeria, if sustained.

He called for structures that would encourage grassroots sports development like the Haven Football Academy, urging the children in the academy to be serious and disciplined if they must do well in football.

The Founder of Daraya Sports, Adeniyi Segun, said that his outfit was involved in the project with a view to improve sporting activities in Nigeria, particularly at the grassroots, where the indigents live.

He pointed out that many sports academies in town were not affordable for children of the poor, stressing that only the rich could afford to register their wards in such outfits.

We have come to Nigeria to reach out to the poor and assist them to realise their dream of becoming great footballers and also get educated.

The long term goal of the partnership is to raise awareness for grassroots sports education and provide access to quality training for those that cant afford it, he said.

He assured the coaches of full support, and expressed optimism that the kids would represent
the nation in the next 10 years. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah

The Nigerian Navy (NN), says the service had redeployed 60 Rear Admirals, 123 Commodores, as well as 74 Captains, following the recent appointments of new Service Chiefs.

A statement by the Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun, stated that the deployment affected a total of 257 senior officers.

According to the statement, those affected included: Rear Adm. Francis Isaac, formally the Navy Secretary, is now Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Abraham Adaji, formally Group Managing Director, NN Holdings Ltd., is now the Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Danjuma Dogonyaro, moved to Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, Lagos as Admiral Superintendent, while Rear Adm. Taiye Imam, has been re-appointed Director of Administration, Naval Headquarters.

Also, Rear Adm. Elkanah Jaiyeola, was also re-appointed Moderator at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, while Rear Adm. Baribuma Kole, was also re-appointed Director, Foreign Liaison Directorate.

Rear Adm. Jatau Luka, moves from Defence Intelligence Agency to Defence Headquarters as Director of Education. While Rear Adm. Raimi Mohammed, formerly Director at Defence Headquarters resumes as the Director of Plans, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa, was re-appointed Coordinator, Counter-Terrorism Centre at the office of the National Security Adviser, while Rear Adm. Ibikunle Olaiya, formerly Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Idowu Yusuf, formerly Director of Plans, Naval Headquarters, has been re-appointed as Chief of Naval Transformation, at Naval headquarters

Additionally, Rear Adm. Kamarudeen Lawal, formally Chief of Naval Standards and Safety, resumes as Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Lagos. While Rear Adm. Othaniel Filafa, has been re-appointed as Director, Veteran Affairs, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Abdullahi Adamu, has also been appointed as Chief of Defence Administration, Defence Headquarters. While Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, resumes as commandant, National Defence College, from the Western Naval Command, where he was the Flag Officer Commanding.

Rear Adm. Solomon Agada, who was the Chief Staff Officer, Central Naval Command, has been re-deployed to Naval Headquarters as Director, Peace Keeping Operations. While Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, formerly Director of Operations, Naval Headquarters, takes over as Commandant Naval War College, Nigeria.

Rear Adm. Bamidele Oluwagbamila, has been re-appointed as Director of Research and Development at the Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Tanko Pani, the immediate past Chief Staff Officer, Western Naval Command, is the new Admiral, Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot.

Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, formerly Commandant Naval War College, moves to Naval Headquarters as Director of Operations, as Rear Adm. Chukwu Okafor, was re-appointed as the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy.

While, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu, was re-appointed as the Managing Director, Nigerian Navy Hotels and Suites Ltd., while Rear Adm. Zakariyyah Muhammad, formerly Fleet Commander, Western Fleet, takes over as Director of Recruitment, Reserve and Resettlement, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shettima, former Commander, NN Ship BEECROFT, is now the new Managing Director, Naval Building and Construction Company Ltd.

Also, Rear Adm. Monday Unurhiere, the immediate past Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, resumes at the Headquarters Naval Training Command, as Chief Staff Officer.

Similarly, Rear Adm. Sulaiman El- Ladan, re-appointed as Chief of Naval Engineering, at Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Idi Abbas, formally Commander, NN Ship VICTORY moves to Headquarters, Central Naval Command as Chief Staff Officer.

Rear Adm. Mohammed Abdullahi, was also re-appointed as Commander, Command Naval Drafting. Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Istiphanus Albara, a moderator at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), has been appointed as Director of Communication and Information Technology, Naval Headquarters.

Also, Rear Adm. Samson Bura, formally Commander, NN Ship PATHFINDER, takes over as Director, Air, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Olusola Oluwagbire, a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, has been appointed Chief Staff Officer, Eastern Naval Command.

While Rear Adm. Mustapha Hassan, formally Commandant, NN Ship QUORRA, takes over as Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command. and Rear Adm. Baratuaipri Iyalla, who was Director of Projects, Naval Headquarters, is now the new Managing Director, Naval Engineering Services Ltd.

Rear Adm. Kohath Levi, was re-appointed as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Ltd. ,while Rear Adm. Patrick Nwatu, formally Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Naval Staff, is now appointed Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

The new Chief Staff Officer, Western Naval Command, is Rear Adm. Habila Zakaria, while Rear Adm. Joseph Akpan, was re-appointed Director Personnel Release, Naval headquarters. and Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu, resumes at Naval Headquarters as Director of Planning.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who is on a one-week operational visit to Borno, said his visit was to enhance the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North East.

Attahiru, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen, on Sunday, in Maiduguri, said a lot of successes had been recorded with many terrorists eliminated and weapons recovered.

I am here on an operational visit, I will be here for one week.

The essence is to enhance operations, raise morale and motivate the soldiers, to ensure we achieve better results towards the total annihilation of Boko Haram and indeed the insurgency, Attahiru said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the COAS, who had visited troops of Sector 1 and Sector 2 of Operation Lafiya Dole. in Borno and Yobe states, also inspected some building projects at the headquarters of 7 Division, Maiduguri. (NAN)

Source: NAN News