By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Muslim communities in Nigeria to take the COVID-19 vaccination without any fear.

The pro-Muslim non-governmental group said vaccination would help to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

MURIC Director IshaqAkintola gave the advice on Friday in a statementmade available to newsmen in Abuja.

COVID-19 vaccine is designed to give protection to those who take it by making their bodies produce substances known as antibodies whose function is to fight disease.

We have seen our leaders both at the federal and state levels taking the injections, this is to build confidence in us.

We urge Nigerian Muslims and the rest of the citizenry to embrace the vaccine. Let us obey our leaders as enshrined in the Glorious Quran (4:59), he said.

Akintola also reaffirmed the position of Islamic scholars on the importance of vaccination during pandemic.

We reaffirm the position of scholars of Islam, especially that of the prolificShaykh al-IslamIbn Taymiyah in his book.

The scholars also cited the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) where he said Seek medical treatment.

And it was the consensus of Islamic scholars that vaccination is(permissible) he said.

The MURIC director called on cynics to have a rethink and accept the vaccine for the benefit of their health.

We are concerned with the right of every Nigerian to live a healthy life free from any disease.

We also believe that Nigerian lives matter as no Nigerian deserves to lose his life to any epidemic when a vaccine has been made available, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country received four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on March 2.

NAN also reports that the vaccination exercise has since begun as doses of the vaccine have been sent to all states. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Habibu Harisu

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to work towards harnessing the nations huge population for the desired progress and development of the country.

Osinbajo made the call at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd combined convocation of the Sokoto State University on Friday in Sokoto.

The Vice President, who was the Guest Speaker, said Nigeria was among the densely populated nations of the world, noting that careful planning needed to be done to fine tune the development of the country and find solutions to its challenges.

He said careful scrutiny on ways to tackle population growth, climate change, security and unity of the nation have to be done, emphasising that the unity of the nation should be sacrosanct.

According to Osinbajo, a good leader should be able to handle ethnic diversities through equity, justice and fairness.

He said managing ethnic diversity was not peculiar to Nigeria, stressing that many nations which faced similar challenges, however, strive to ensure transparency and development.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari administration prepared for the nations good future by ensuring right educational policies with embedded creativity and innovations.

Education was accorded priority to reduce poverty and facilitate economic emancipation, he said.

He urged Nigerians to continue emulating Nana Asamau of the Sokoto Caliphate who became a role model in the promotion of education and entrepreneurship in the society.

He commended former Gov. Aliyu Wamakko for establishing the institution, as well as Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for sustaining it and enjoined the management to live up to expectation.

Osinbajo called on the graduands to regard themselves as agents of change and to concentrate on nation building.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sani Dangoggo, said that no fewer than 36 students of the university would be conferred with first class degrees at the combined convocation.

Dangoggo said that a total of 1,473 students graduated in the 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2019/2020 sessions, adding that the convocation, scheduled for Saturday, March 13, would be the first to be held since the institution was established in July 2009.

The graduands are drawn from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Faculty of Education and Faculty of Science. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola has announced a six weeks partial closure of the Falomo Bridge in Victoria Island from Sunday for repairs.

Popoola in a statement on Friday night appealed for understanding of road users promising that traffic regulatory and law enforcement agencies have been deployed to minimise gridlock

The Federal Government will be embarking on rehabilitation of Falomo Bridge for a period of six weeks starting from Sunday 14th March 2021.

This will require partial closure of one lane at a time.

The motoring public are advised to please cooperate with the traffic law enforcement agents, while the federal government will try its best to minimise the inconveniences this may cause, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Mr Folorunsho Coker, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) says its strategic tourism development roadmap titled CHIEF PLAN would open Nigeria as a major tourism destination in Africa via the development of domestic tourism to attract foreign investments.

According to him, the roadmap will utilise strategic ideas to encourage Nigerians to spend their holidays within the country and learn more about its endowments.

He said that the five points of the CHIEF PLAN include, Corporate Government and Regulations, Human Capital Development, Infrastructural Development, Events, Marketing, Finance and Investment.

We at NTDC recognise the abundant investment potentials in the tourism industry and realised the urgent need to explore and promote the best of Nigeria tourism domestically and internationally

Nigeria is enriched with diverse people, distinct cultures, unique art, good music, food, fashion, film, sport and religion.

It is a country with the greatest concentration of black people in the world and it is the economic and entertainment hub of Africa, Coker said.

He stressed that the country was blessed with a large population, adding that if Nigerian patronised tourism it would eventually attract foreign tourists.

Coker said that the majority of countries benefiting from tourism revenue like Kenya, South Africa and Seychelles; dont have the population of Nigeria.

He said that the total inhabitants of some countries do not equate the total population of Lagos dwellers alone, which according to him was over 20 million.

The NTDC boss maintained that the percentage of Nigerias population with the purchasing power for tourism was over 30 percent out of over 180 million Nigerians.

By and large, the CHIEF PLAN has started yielding fruits before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020.

But we are gradually getting back to the path of successful achievements of the plan with the Tour Nigeria Brand and many others, Coker said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has congratulated NFF president, Amaju Pinnick on his election into the FIFA council.

Dare said this in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), John Joshua-Akanji on Friday in Abuja.

Pinnick was elected into the FIFA council on Friday at the CAF 43rd general meeting in Rabat, Morocco,
winning by 43 votes to his opponents eight votes.

Dare described the victory as an opportunity for Nigeria and indeed Africa to contribute to the administration of world football.

The minister charged Pinnick to use his position to reposition Nigerian and African football.

This is an opportunity to use your new position to make Nigerian, African and World football great again and make it better than you met it.

This is the reward of hard work and unity of purpose. We are better off when we support our collective aspirations for the development of our great country. This is an honour well deserved, he said.

The minister had recently declared Federal Governments support for Pinnicks bid.

Dare thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Foreign Affairs ministry, football stakeholders and Nigerians for making the dream a reality.

Pinnick becomes the third Nigerian after late Orok Oyo Orok and Dr Amos Adamu to occupy the FIFA council seat. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Friday that the country stands to benefit so much from the election of its President Amaju Pinnick into the FIFA Council.

Sanusi Mohammed, NFFs General Secretary, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, noted that the victory was a great political achievement for the country.

The victory of the president of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick is not only for him but for Nigeria and all Nigerians, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pinnick was on Friday in Rabat, Morocco, elected into the FIFA Council which is the highest decision making organ in world football.

FIFA Council is a combination of 37 men selected from across the world charged with the responsibility of FIFA governance in terms of structure, decision, policy formulation and making sure that the policies well implemented.

Pinnick defeated his rival and incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 to 8 to step into the exalted 37-member FIFA Council.

Mohammed told NAN in an interview that the country had stepped into the mainstream of world football administration.

It means a lot to us because to have representation in the FIFA Council means so much to football administration and I know that Amaju Pinnick being who he is will do everything possible to represents Nigeria very well.

There is nothing that is for Nigeria that will escape the country, and whatever that is needed to lobby for, I know he will do it for Nigeria and Africa in General.

So, I can say that this feat is a big political achievement to Nigeria; it has a lot of political advantage by the mere fact that a Nigerian is being called everywhere any time FIFA are having meetings.

With this also, Nigeria will have an edge over those countries that do not have representation

If any special consideration is to be given to member nations, Nigeria will be among the first to be considered, bearing in mind that we have somebody in the council who can say lets support Nigeria.

In fact, there are so many things that we can benefit, and hosting of FIFA tournaments could be one of it depending on interests and facilities, Mohammed said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The International Olympic Committee on Friday unanimously approved a set of 15 reforms it hopes will again turn the Olympics into an attractive prospect for fans, cities and sponsors through reduced cost, an increased digital presence and new revenues streams.

The IOC has seen its key product the summer and winter editions of the Olympics lose some of its shine in recent years, failing to ignite enthusiasm among potential host cities, scared off by the size and cost of the worlds biggest multi-sports event.

The coronavirus crisis has changed our world in fundamental ways, IOC President Thomas Bach told the organisations session.

The world will never again be like it was before. Even once we have finally overcome the health crisis, we will face the far-reaching social, financial, economic and political consequences.

A previous set of reforms, Agenda 2020, was passed in 2014 but did not stop the exodus of cities midway through bidding processes for the 2018, 2020 and the 2022 editions of the Games.

The postponement last year of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics the first to be delayed outside world war periods by 12 months further affected the image of the Games and the IOCs finances.

The latest reforms are based on five pillars that include digitisation, sustainability development and financial resilience and according to the IOC are designed to better position the organisation and the Games in the global environment after the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Among the reforms approved on the last day of the IOCs virtual session are the improvement of legacy plans for Games that would leave a bigger positive impact for the local community and also to consider the addition of physical virtual sports, such as stationary cycling, in the Olympic programme.

The IOC has for years been trying to stop the rising age profile of its Olympic supporters and inject new blood into its spectator base and its involvement with virtual sports is seen as a way to do this successfully.

The IOC has already awarded the 2024 summer Games to Paris, the 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles after reforming the bidding process in 2014 and a few weeks ago picked Brisbane as the preferred hosts for the 2032 edition. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

RARARA Football Club of Katsina on Friday in Abuja held hosts EFCC FC to a 1-1 draw in a Group A1 Week Six match of the ongoing 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL).

EFCCs Clement Obi opened scoring in the 18th minute of the game played at the Area 3 football pitch while Abbah Attach replied nine minutes later via a penalty kick.

At the end of the game, some aggrieved fans who felt the centre referee favoured the visiting team by awarding a penalty kick to them pounced on him and his colleagues.

The security operatives available could not match the number of aggrieved fans who invaded the pitch with sticks, heading towards the referees.

The security personnel finally took hold of the situation but not until the fans have physically expressed their anger on the referees.

Mahmoud Sheriff-Abdullahi, coach of RARARA FC, said he was disappointed with the behaviour of the home team.

I think my boys performed well today. Its a good point for us and we are happy we achieved it.

For me, I believe that the officiating was fair. I am shocked at the behaviour of the home team. Fans attacking referees is not good for the league, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, says the Federal Government is committed to making Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders available to Nigerians at affordable prices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sylva spoke on Friday at the groundbreaking of Rungas Group Type 3 Composite Cylinder Manufacturing Plant located at Alaro City, Epe, Lagos State.

The minister said the project, which was being executed in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), would enhance penetration of LPG, also known as cooking gas, in the country.

He said: In addition to making gas cylinders available to all Nigerians at affordable prices, our gathering here today is necessitated by the hazards posed by substandard, old, expired and illegal marketing of cylinders to innocent users in Nigeria.

In our current circumstance, there is dire need for safe, efficient and user-friendly cylinders, both for domestic and industrial use, as well as our concerted drive for gas expansion programme in the auto and other prime movers.

Therefore, todays groundbreaking ceremony for a composite cylinder manufacturing plant is a watershed moment for enhancing deeper penetration of LPG and by extension Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption in Nigeria.

According to him, this is in line with the federal governments commitment to ensure economic diversification using the oil and gas industry as a pivot.

He said the ministry of petroleum resources would continue to promote initiatives that support the utilisation of Nigerias abundant natural gas resources for the growth and development of the country.

Let me congratulate all the hardworking parties for driving this very impressive initiative that will bring quality composite gas cylinders to the market and primarily enhance the domestic use of LPG in Nigeria.

Let me also add that this laudable initiative will not only bring affordable and durable cylinders to Nigerians, but will create countless direct and indirect jobs for our teeming citizens.

I look forward to seeing the robust development of this facility in no distant time, as well as the addition to other plants being built in the various locations across the country, Sylva said.

Also, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr Simbi Wabote, said the project was the second of such partnership between the board and Rungas Group with another gas cylinder manufacturing plant already set up at Paloku in Bayelsa.

Wabote said when both plants are operational, they would produce about 1.2 million units of type 3 composite cylinders per annum, making the project one of the largest in the world.

He said: We are deliberate in going for the Type-3 Composite LPG cylinders considering the unique features such as safety, lightweight and durability.

We believe our handshake with the Rungas Group will catalyse the transition away from the heavy metallic LPG cylinders to the composite LPG cylinders.

Wabote said latest data released from the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency showed that domestic consumption of LPG in Nigeria exceeded one million Metric Tonnes (MT) in year 2020.

This is the first time domestic LPG consumption would reach the one million MT mark. Even though 2020 was the year of COVID-19 pandemic, it was also the Year of Gas and it is significant that the LPG consumption level broke the previous records.

This shows that the various initiatives being embarked upon by the government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its agencies are already yielding fruits.

Despite utilising one million MT of LPG in 2020, Nigeria still has one of the lowest per capita LPG consumption in Africa, hence, a lot of opportunities still exist for increasing LPG penetration in Nigeria.

That is why we chose to partner in the local manufacturing of composite LPG cylinders as one of the key conduits to get LPG to our homes to enhance the attainment of the target of five million MT of LPG consumption annually within this Decade of Gas.

On his part, Mr Lanre Runsewe, Managing Director, Rungas Group, thanked the Federal and Lagos State Government for the support given to the company to embark on the project.

Runsewe expressed optimism that the plant, when completed, would produce enough products to meet the countrys demand and export to other countries, thereby earning the nation much needed foreign exchange. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on purchase of arms and amunition on Friday insisted that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim must appear in person to clarify issues on purchase of arms by Nigerian Army.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Bede Eke (PDP-Imo) at a public hearing in Abuja.

Ibrahim has sent a team of officers led by Maj.Gen. Charles Ofoche to represent him at the event.

Rep. Ifeanyi Mouma (APGA-Anambra) while raising a point of order at the hearing said that a written invitation was sent to COAS by the committee to appear in person.

For me as a member of this committee which is suppose to actually lay ground facts for the people of Nigeria on the objective that this committee was set up.

I do not think the representative of the Chief Army Staff can be held culpable or liable for the remarks made here because it is assumed that any remarks made here is made by the Chief of Army Staff.

So if he is not the one making the remarks, it makes it very easy for him to actually engage in culpable deniability since he is not the one making the remarks, he said.

Ofoche had tendered the apology of COAS for his inability to appear in person.

He explained that the COAS has been on tour of formations in the country to get first hand information on the state of troops.

He was in Ibadan and Enugu yesterday all for the same security needs; the country is embroiled in a lot of crisis so he is moving around, he said.

Source: NAN News