APC logo

By Kola Adeyemi

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been declared winners of all 21 chairmanship and 239 councillorship positions in Kogi.

The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent National Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mr Mamman Eri, said this in Lokoja on Sunday while announcing the results of the local government elections conducted on Saturday.

While announcing the results, Eri said that candidate of the APC in Lokoja Local Government, Mr Mohammed Dan Asabe, polled 41,731 votes to defeat Mr Ahmed Yabagi of PDP, who scored 14 votes and Mr Isah Yerima of SDP with 28 votes.

According to him, other elected APC candidates and their local governments are Mr Joseph Salami, Adavi; Mr Mustapha Akaaba, Ajaokuta; Mr Ibrahim Abagwu, Ankpa; Mr Mohammed Shuaibu, Bassa; Mr Shaibu Siaka, Dekina and Mr William Obiora, Ibaji.

Others included: Mr Abu Odoma, Idah; Mr James Onoja, Igala-Mela/Odolu; Mr Taofiq Isah, Ijumu; Mr Isah Abdulkarim, Kogi; Mr Moses David, Mopa-Muro; Mr Ibrahim Amodu, Ofu; Mr Goke Oparison, Ogori-Magongo and Mr Abdulraheem Ohiare, Okehi.

Also elected on the platform of the APC were Mr Abdulrazak Yusuf, Okene; Mr Friday Adejoh, Olamaboro; Mr Ibrahim Aboh, Omala; Mr Asiru Abdulrazak, Yagba East and Mr Kolawole Pius, Yagba West.

Eri also announced that APC candidates won all the 239 councillorship positions in the 21 local government councils in the state.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the conduct and outcome of the election as a mockery of Nigerias nascent democracy.

The party, in its reaction contained in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Bode Ogunmola, described the entire process as a scam, saying that it was deliberately manipulated to favour the ruling APC.

There is no election anywhere in Kogi, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

By Rukayat Moisemhe/Oluwatope Lawanson

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated his commitment to ensuring a conducive business environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state.

Sanwo-Olu made the pledge at the closing ceremony of the 2020 edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair themed: Connecting Businesses, Creating Value on Sunday.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the support was to enable the MSME sector maintain its key position of generating wealth and employment opportunities for the nation.

Sanwo-Olu said that his administration would continue to place high premium on providing infrastructure to make the state safe, secure, functional and productive as an impetus towards achieving a sustainable economic growth.

He said the patronage of the fair had further justified the idea of the annual gathering, which continued to provide a platform for businesses to network and establish connections for greater value addition.

We will continue to support the sector to thrive, especially in the area of maximising the huge opportunities in the value chains of the various sectors of the economy.

Our administration will continue to partner with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Organised Private Sector through promotion of fiscal and investment initiatives to ease the burden of doing business in Lagos, he said.

Addressing businesses affected by the EndSARS protests, the governor assured of his commitment to providing measures that would facilitate recovery process.

We share the pains of the victims and promise to do all we can, through some of the measures we have initiated including the Trust Fund that was inaugurated a couple of weeks ago.

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund is already reaching out to stakeholders and concerned business owners and operators of vandalized or looted property to get back on their feet through application of the Lagos Recovery Fund for Looted Businesses.

More than 2,500 business owners and operators have applied to the fund at present, he said.

In her remarks, Dr Lola Akande, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, said the fair was a restatement of the LCCIs mandate to drive economic growth in the MSME sector.

Akande urged MSMEs to be intentional about cultivating and maintaining connections beyond the trade fair, saying their networks is their net worth.

She assured the sector of the states commitment to continue to provide conducive environment for businesses, investments and investors to thrive in the state.

The theme of this years Trade Fair- has proven appropriate at this time due to the increasingly urgent need for the nation to diversify her economy through networking and value addition.

As a responsive and responsible government, we are conscious of the gargantuan challenges faced by businesses in the nation during this period of COVID-19.

It is important for us to continue to provide active support to entrepreneurs and business owners to mitigate such
challenges through consistent marketing support activities such as the conduct at this years trade fair.

With the acute awareness that your network is your net worth, you must be intentional about cultivating and maintaining connections; so put in every effort not to let these budding connections fizzle out.

Set up or show up at virtual hangouts and explore virtual meeting platforms with businesses within your sector, she said.

Also, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, President LCCI, urged government at all levels to continue to address the issues of enabling environment in the country, especially as regards infrastructure.

This, she said, was to fully harness the huge enterprising resource of domestic and foreign investors for the diversification of the nations economy and the welfare of our people.

Let me acknowledge the remarkable cooperation and support we received from all concerned as well as the peace that prevailed since the beginning of the event, nine days ago.

I wish to say that despite the numerous challenges of the transportation, logistics and COVID-19 pandemic, we have endeavoured to ensure a hitch-free and successful Fair.

However, as in most human endeavours, there may have been some lapses and we regret these inadequacies, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Anthony Joshua

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has congratulated Anthony Joshua, the Nigerian-born heavyweight boxing world champion, on his victory over Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev on Saturday in London.

John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja saluted Joshua.

We team up with other Nigerians to salute Anthony Joshua on his victory over Pulev.

The courage, tenacity and die-hard spirit you displayed against Puyev is an attestation of your hardwork, commitment and discipline which has kept you at the top.

Once again, you not only made us proud, but proved to the world that you are the best in the heavyweight class.

We urge you not to relent in sustaining your pole position in world boxing. Keep soaring, we are indeed very proud of you.

We encourage you to maintain the tempo so that you can remain at the top.

Joshua knocked out Pulev in the ninth round of their 12-round clash to retain his WBO, WBA and IBF titles as the undisputed world champion.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)

By Maureen Okon

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Sunday congratulated Anthony Joshua for retaining his World Heavyweight Boxing Titles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Joshua sent his challenger, Kubrat Pulev, thrice to the canvas and ended the fight with a powerful right hand punch to retain his IBF,WBA and WBO titles.

Dabiri gave the congratulatory message via NiDCOM official Twitter handle.

She commended the pugilist for the feat by knocking out Kubrat Pulev three times in a spiteful and vicious performance, saying Hearty congrats @anthonyfjoshua.

Joshua retained his World Heavyweight Titles with a ninth round knockout win over Pulev. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sunny weather

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and hazy weather conditions from Monday to Wednesday across the nation.

NiMets weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the northern region within the forecast period from Monday.

According to the agency, the North Central region is expected to be in partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine.

It also forecasts increased cloudiness over the inland and coastal cities with chances of morning thunderstorms over the coastal parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

It further forecast thunderstorms over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Benin, Oyo and Delta later in the afternoon and evening hours.

For Tuesday, sunny and hazy conditions are envisaged over the northern region within the forecast period.

The North Central cities should be in partly cloudy skies with sunshine intervals throughout the forecast period.

The inland and coastal region should be in partly cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Bayelsa and Delta during the morning hours.

In the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa, the agency forecast.

Over the northern region, NiMet envisaged sunny and hazy conditions within the forecast period on Wednesday.

According to the forecast, partly cloudy conditions with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North Central cities throughout the period.

The agency predicted the inland and coastal cities of the South to be in cloudy skies in the morning hours.

It envisaged cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

In the meantime, many believe that the country is on the threshold of a second wave of the pandemic after it chalked a single day infection rate of 796 in the past week, the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in March. PTF chairman Mustapha, in a recent briefing, says the taskforce shall be submitting its report to the President before the end of December. It remains to be seen what recommendations they would be submitting to government.

Source: NAN News

Eleven people, believed to have travelled from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, were found dead in waters near the South American nations coast.

Trinidad and Tobagos Coast Guard announced this in a press release on Sunday.

At least 40,000 Venezuelans live in Trinidad and Tobago, the majority fleeing the South American countrys economic crisis, unemployment and lack of basic public services.

They often travel in small rickety boats above their capacity with limited supplies of fuel and food.

Last year, at least, two ships that set off from Venezuela en-route to the archipelago disappeared at sea.

The bodies were found on Saturday near the Venezuelan coastal town of Guiria, Trinidads Coast Guard said, citing information provided by Venezuela.

The statement added that preliminary information suggests the 11 bodies found could be related to a boat that left Guiria town, in the northeast of Sucre state, on Dec. 6.

The boat, with more than 20 people on board, has not been seen or heard from since.

Omalirves, who did not provide her last name, had warned her friend, Noebis Aspudillo, 27, who had been a passenger on the boat about the precarious journey.

Aspudillo has gotten increasingly desperate during the pandemic, Omalirves said, after she had gotten laid off from the bread shop she had been working at and her mothers heart condition got increasingly severe.

Venezuelas Information Ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment nor did the countrys prosecutors office.

The coast guard said that in the last week it had not intercepted any vessels leaving from Guiria and that authorities are working together with the South American country in a joint search effort. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

France said on Sunday its ambassador to Iran would not participate in an online business forum in Tehran this week.

This follows a growing row between Iran and European nations over the execution of Iranian dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam.

Other envoys from Germany, Austria and Italy were also cancelling their involvement in the Dec. 14 event, the French Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.

At the foot of its tweet, the ministry ran the hashtag #nobusinessasusual.

In a separate statement, organisers of the Europe-Iran business forum later said they were postponing the event.

Earlier, Irans Foreign Ministry summoned the envoys from France and Germany, the current holder of the European Unions rotating presidency, to protest over French and EU criticism of the execution on Saturday, Iranian media reported.

France on Saturday called Zams execution barbaric and unacceptable, and said it ran counter to Irans international obligations.

Zam had been based in Paris before he was captured in Iraq and taken to Iran.

Zam was convicted of fomenting violence during anti-government protests in 2017.

His Amadnews feed had more than one million followers.

France and its European allies have strived to keep alive a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, in part to save the Iranian economy from collapse, while confronting U.S. efforts to kill the accord.

The new friction over human rights comes as U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to take office on Jan. 20, has said he will return the United States to the Obama-era deal if Iran resumes compliance with the agreement.

The EU also strongly condemned Zams execution, as did Amnesty International and press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Iranian officials have accused the U.S. and Tehrans regional rival, Saudi Arabia, and government opponents living in exile, of stoking the unrest that began in late 2017 as regional protests over economic hardship spread nationwide.

Officials said 21 people were killed during the unrest and thousands were arrested.

The unrest was among the worst Iran has seen in decades and was followed by even deadlier protests last year against fuel price rises. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 617 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The NCDC made this known on its verified website on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COVID-19 cases began to surge around the globe with Nigeria recording over 3, 502 new infections in six days, making it a significant rise in over eight weeks.

The public health agency noted that with the latest infections, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country now stand at 72,757.

It said that the new cases were reported in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC stated that Lagos and Kaduna states as well as the FCT had continued to lead in the number of new infections.

It reported that Lagos State recorded the highest number of new cases with 225 infections, followed by FCT and Kaduna with 181 and 125 respectively.

Others were Adamawa -25; Nasarawa -20, Kano 12, Rivers 8, Edo 4, Ekiti 4, Bayelsa 3, Ogun 3, Plateau 3, Akwa Ibom 2, Delta -1 and Sokoto -1.

The health agency also disclosed that 139 patients were discharged after recovering from the infection in isolation centres across the country.

The NCDCfurther said it recorded four additional COVID-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours in the country.

The agency said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, was coordinating national response activities.

The NCDC noted that till date , 72,757 cases had been confirmed, 65,850 discharged and 1,194 deaths recorded in 36 states and the FCT.

The health agency urged Nigerians not to give up at this critical time.

Avoid large gatherings especially when indoors, wear a face mask, ensure physical distancing and wash your hands.

Been an incredibly tough year,many have lost friends, colleagues and family to the COVID-19 pandemic. We cant let down our guards, it said.

It stated that in the last two weeks, the agencys surveillance system had recorded a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases across the country.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to take its public health advisory on the current situation in the country seriously.

NAN reports that the health agency had conducted about 838,333 tests since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

WHO, IFRC sign MoU on Emergency Medical Team initiative

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are partnering to strengthen delivery of emergency medical and health services during humanitarian crises.

WHO, in a statement on its website, said that its Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, and IFRC Secretary-General, Mr Jagan Chapagain, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on implementing the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative.

The statement quoted Ghebreyesus, as saying we thank the IFRC for their support from the onset of the EMT Initiative and we look forward to this continued partnership in improving the quality of care in emergencies.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant increase in emergencies around the world, this agreement can not come at a better time,it added.

Chapagain said in the statement that IFRC was committed to working side-by-side with WHO in providing life-saving health services to communities affected by humanitarian emergencies.

This MoU will allow us to standardise our emergency health response work and provide increased support for National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies which play such a crucial role in emergency response.

We are very committed to working together with WHO to provide quality emergency health services that communities desperately need in times of crisis.

The MoU, also known as the Red Channel Agreement, is the culmination of years of collaboration between IFRC and the WHO Emergency Medical Team Initiative.

The new agreement will bring more synergies to health emergency response between the two international organisations, particularly in technical standards, accountability, and coordination.

Source: NAN News