Yakubu Gowon

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government has berated a UK parliamentarian, Tom Tugendhat, for accusing a former Nigerian leader, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, of stealing during a debate on the #EndSARS protest in the House of Commons.

The government also rebuked the UK parliament for acting in an uninformed manner in recommending sanctions for Nigeria over the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate during the protest.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a meeting with online publishers in Lagos on Tuesday said the knee jerk reaction of the House of Commons was informed by fake news and disinformation.

He chastised Tugendhat, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons for being ignorant and flippant in his accusation against Gowon.

It is most disheartening that parliamentarians in a country with a history of upholding the finest ideals of democracy will act in such an uninformed manner on an issue such as EndSARS.

The quality of the debate at the British Parliament on EndSARS was under par.

Fake accusations based on fake news and disinformation were levelled against the Federal Government by poorly-informed participants at the debate.

One MP even accused former Nigerian leader, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), who served this country to the best of his ability, of stealing half of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Sheer Ignorance! The flippant MP, who unfortunately chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons, did a great disservice to himself, the committee he chairs and the entire parliament by allowing himself to be misled by fake news exponents.

Fittingly, the British Government has distanced itself from him, he said.

Tugendhat, a Conservative Parliamentarian for Tombridge, Edenbridge and Malling had during the debate which led to the recommendation of sanctions against Nigeria, accused Gowon of stealing and money laundering.

Now some people will remember when Gen. Gowon left Nigeria with half of the Central Bank, so it was said, and moved to London, the MP had said.

Mohammed stressed that the twin evils of fake news and disinformation aggravated the recent #EndSARS protest and the aftermath.

He said the reactions of some countries were informed by fake news and disinformation, and varying figures of those purportedly killed in the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate.

For example, parliamentarians in Britain put the figure of those killed at 10, CNN first reported 38 and then lowered the number to 1.

And DJ Switchs numbers cascaded from 78 dead to 15 to 7!

Even an international broadcaster like CNN was misled by fake news and disinformation.

But CNN has itself to blame for relying on unauthenticated videos which it took from social media

Now, CNN is seeking to save face by trying to clarify its report, which was not only inaccurate but failed the simple test of balance and fairness, he said.

The minister recalled that the government had petitioned CNN, asking it to use its own internal mechanism to probe its so-called investigative report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigeria stock market on Tuesday sustained bullish sentiment to open the month of December with N55 billion growth due to buying interests in Tier 1 banks.

Consequently, the market capitalisation rose by N55 billion or 0.30 per cent to close at N18.364 trillion compared with N18.309 trillion posted on Monday.

Also, the All-Share Index grew by 105.48 points or 0.30 per cent to close at 35,147.62 from 35,042.14 recorded on Monday.

Accordingly, month-to-date and year-to-date return increased to 15.1 per cent and 30.9 per cent, respectively.

The uptrend was also driven by price appreciation in medium and large capitalised stocks amongst which are; Guaranty Trust Bank, Seplat, Zenith Bank, Caverton and Cutix.

Market analysts at APT Securities and Funds Ltd., anticipated more bullish run amidst short term profit taking as the trading week unfold.

Caverton dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, growing by 9.88 per cent to close at N1.89 per share.

Cutix followed with 9.80 per cent to close at N1.68, while AIICO Insurance rose by 9.78 per cent to close at N1.01 per share.

Chams went up by 8.70 per cent to close at 25k, while McNichols appreciated by 8.51 per cent to close at 51k per share.

Conversely, Cornerstone Insurance led the laggards chart in percentage terms, losing by 10 per cent to close at 54k per share.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance dipped 9.68 per cent to close at 28k, while Prestige Assurance declined by 9.09 per cent to close at 50k per share.

Lasaco Assurance declined by 8.82 per cent to close at 31k, while Mutual Benefits Assurance shed 8.70 per cent to close at 21k per share.

Transactions in the shares of Access Bank topped the activity chart with 43.37 million shares valued N376.48 million.

FBN Holdings followed with 31.94 million shares worth N229.79 million, while Mutual Benefits Assurance sold 24.44 million shares valued N5.16 million.

United Bank for Africa accounted for 24.09 million shares worth N200.21 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 24.06 million shares valued N859.15 million.

In all, the total volume of shares traded closed with an exchange of 308.18 million shares valued N3.40 billion in 4,515 deals, a decrease of 25.8 per cent.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 415.53 million shares worth N4.89 billion achieved in 5,264 deals on Monday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Guyanese President, Dr Irfaan Ali

By Ismail Abdulaziz
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has reaffirmed his Governments commitment to ensure that local businesses are optimally involved in the oil and gas sector.

He stated this on Tuesday at the Virtual Guyana Oil and Gas Summit.

The two day event will allow for online networking with Guyanas key stakeholders in the Energy Sector.

Ali noted that the emergence of the oil and gas sector would result in an explosion of opportunities for the people.

He said that it would also require investment, technical skills and capacity on an unprecedented scale.

We are developing a Local Content Policy and Law which will promote local participation in the sector. The policy is being developed through a consultative process, including through the examination of best practices around the world.

The President said that while Foreign Direct Investment was essential for capitalising on the opportunities within the sector, it was also vital in building the capacity of the local sector.

Guyana therefore welcomes foreign investment to help us acquire the capital, the skills and the technology to convert economic transformation into economic opportunities.

The President said that oil and gas would move Guyanas development trajectory to a higher level, which represents a paradigm shift in our countrys development.

He added that local companies must, therefore, embrace new ways of doing business.

The old culture of buying and selling must give way to one which emphasises production of goods and services and partnering with others to maximise local traction in the sector.

Local firms must become bold and ambitious they must think big and think international. They must embrace innovation and inventiveness if they are to compete effectively in the global economy.

The Oil and Gas Summit, he added, provides an opportunity to begin preparations for the new economy by highlighting the investment opportunities in Guyana.

It also offers local investors the opportunity to establish synergies, build capacities and forge strategic partnerships.

I assure all that my Government is supportive of investment foreign and local. We are working to ensure a more enabling environment to boost business in Guyana.

The President commended Global Future Energy Limited and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for their partnership in organising the summit, which he acknowledged as an expression of confidence in Guyanas future.

All speakers and participants at the summit will be remotely connected through an online platform and have access to a unique programme and high-level networking.

The delegates will actively participate in the event through engaging functions, including polling, Q

Nura Sani Kangiwa

By Emmanuel Yashim
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) says it has trained 50 women and youths in catering to enable them become owners of small restaurants and food vendors.

The institute said that it carried out the training in Imo, in association with the office of Mr Henry Nwawuba, the member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency of the state, in the House of Representatives.

Director-General of the institute Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that at the end of the training, both the youth and women will have grasped the necessary skills and change in attitude for good toward preparing them for occupational trades in catering.

This phenomenon will definitely yield value chain along the system and will no doubt create direct and indirect employment among our people.

According to him, the three-day training provides the beneficiaries with occupational skills to set up fast food businesses, bakeries, and confectionaries as well as promote entrepreneurship.

Kangiwa said that the training was a deliberate effort to uplift the living standard of women and youth in the state, who are considered less privileged out of poverty.

In this respect, let me commend the Federal Government in its current efforts toward launching social empowerment programmes aimed at lifting our one million youth and women out of poverty.

The director general expressed gratitude to Nwawuba for the giant strides, and the passion he has for lifting youth and women within his constituency out of poverty through the training and empowerment programme.

I appreciate the state government for its support and for creating an atmosphere conducive for the success of the training.

To the trainees, I would like to encourage them to take advantage of the rare opportunity of the training, so that at the end of the day, the skills they acquired and the empowerment kits given to them will be transformed into a successful business venture.

Kangiwa said that the number of trainees was limited to 50 in recognition of the need to observe the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocol put in place by the Federal Government to curb the spread of the disease.

NIHOTOUR was established to exploit the emergence of tourism as a viable path toward socio-economic development of the country.

It was set up to become a centre of excellence and manpower development that will address the skills gap in the hospitality and tourism industry through qualitative training and standardised professional regulatory framework.

Source: NAN News

Eagles Supporters Club to organise football competitions for grassroots development official

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club says it is making plans to organise football competitions in various states of the country to aid grassroots development.

The Chairman of the clubs Board of Trustees, Mr Sunny Gullong, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Gullong was speaking following the recent inauguration of 30 state and FCT chapters of the club.

He said that the club used to have 12 chapters but now has 31 chapters, which would help enhance the effectiveness of the clubs activities.

Each chapter is in charge of its own activity which entails organising competitions and charity plans for their state.

About competitions, we felt that we need to contribute to the development of football at the grassroots by keeping the youths busy.

He said that the competitions would help keep sporting facilities in various states busy as well.

We have sporting facilities in various states that are not in use, so these competitions would help keep those facilities in proper use.

Before now, we usually organise Unity Cup tournaments in some states but now we are looking at inter-local government and inter-secondary schools competitions.

The idea is to get and groom young talents who could feature in future national and international events, Gullong said.

Aside the organisation of football tournaments, Gullong also added that the club usually engages in charity works.

During the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, we distributed face masks and sanitizers to various states in the country. This was done in partnership with the National Lottery Trust Fund, he said.

The football stakeholder said that 2021 would be a busy year for the club following various sporting events like the Olympics and other continental qualifiers, where they are expected to cheer Team Nigeria to victory.

Source: NAN News

NCDC boss Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

eports that Nigerias COVID-19 recoveries increased last week compared to the previous week.

Source: NAN News

The 36 states governors are to hold teleconference on Wednesday to evolve a new national security order that will ensure safety of lives and property in the country.

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The 36 states governors are to hold teleconference on Wednesday to evolve a new national security order that will ensure safety of lives and property in the country.

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) disclosed this in a statement by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, on Monday in Abuja.

Bello-Barkindo said that the forum at its 22nd meeting would also be receiving zonal updates on the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and internal security.

He added that the governors would also revisit the issue of the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) palliatives with updates on its current status in all the states.

He added that three groups would be making presentations at the meeting, scheduled to start by 2 p.m.

These, according to him, include a joint effort between the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, discussing how to access Pension Funds for infrastructure development in the country.

Others include resolutions and matters arising from the just concluded 26th Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

Also slated for presentation is the medium and long term national development agenda by the Core Working Group (CWG) of the Human Capital Development program of Nigeria.

Bello-Barkindo added that issue of stamp duty collection and a response to the water resources minister on the Water Resources Bill would form part of the agenda.

He said that updates would also be given on State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS ), as well as on a meeting with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and Conference of Legislators of Nigeria (COSLAN).

Source: NAN News

WHO

By Cecilia Ologunagba
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, says the rights of women and girls, and gender equality, must be the focus to stop new HIV infections.

Moeti said this in her message to mark the 2020 World AIDS Day, globally celebrated on Dec. 1 to raise awareness of the pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

According to her, children living with HIV are not being adequately identified for treatment.

Moeti said girls and women aged 15 years and 24 years accounted for 37 per cent of all new HIV infections, and stigma and discrimination especially against key populations continue to create barriers to service access.

Despite these challenges, significant progress is happening in African countries. 2020 is a milestone year towards ending AIDS epidemics and 81 per cent of people living with HIV know their status.

Among them, 70 per cent of adults and 53 per cent of children are receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Eighty-five per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV are on ART, which protects their health and prevents HIV transmission to their newborn infants.

Globally, Moeti said there are 38 million people living with HIV and 67 per cent of them are living in the WHO African Region.

In 2019, more than one million people in the region were newly infected with HIV, accounting for 60 per cent of the global total, and sadly, 440,000 people in the region died from HIV-related causes.

She, however, urged communities, especially people living with HIV, to be proactive in their self-care and in understanding how to prevent the spread of the infections.

This World AIDS Day let us all demand global solidarity and shared responsibility to maintain HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as we strive to achieve the 2030 targets.

The theme of World AIDS Day this year is global solidarity and shared responsibility because in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic we are seeing how important it is for the world to come together.

We have seen how important for world to come together with determined leadership from governments and communities to sustain and expand access to essential services, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.

The pandemic is making it even more challenging for countries to provide these services, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, disasters, outbreaks and rapid population growth.

This is on top of the fact that in the African Region new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are not reducing fast enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS epidemics by 2030, the regional director said.

She commended the governments, partners and communities who had contributed to the progress on HIV in the Region, and come up with innovative ways to keep services going during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, young people living with HIV in Zambia are advocating for the elimination of stigma, adherence to HIV treatment, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and mental health support.

They are also contributing to the national COVID-19 response by creating and disseminating health messages, busting myths, and raising awareness.

In Cote dIvoire, Nigeria and Senegal, women living with HIV are serving as community pharmacists, visiting hard to reach semi-urban and rural areas to facilitate the home delivery of HIV treatment and medicines for other diseases.

They are helping to ensure that no one is left behind during the COVID-19 crisis, she said.

To sustain and accelerate the gains made, Moeti urged governments and partners to come together, with the same level of urgency and leadership demonstrated in response to COVID-19, to increase domestic funding and strengthen health systems.

There must be global solidarity and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to ensure integrated, people-centred, quality care and an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities for HIV services, she said

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dec. 1 every year, the global community comes together to mark World AIDS Day to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS.

Source: NAN News

Divorce Decree

By Olawale Akinremi

A businesswoman, Iyabo Donald, on Tuesday petitioned a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve her six year-old marriage to estranged husband, Richard because he often treated her like a common criminal.

In her statement before Chief Ademola Odunade, the courts President, Iyabo said she had lived in great fear and panic for the past six years of marriage.

My lord, it is usually one day, one trouble, with me in Richards home because he tortures me like a common criminal if I go out or do anything he is not happy with.

In fact, he tracks me around the house with his gun and even locks me out at the midnight with our two children.

Besides, Richard monitors my movements in town. Worst still, he is such an irresponsible man because he neither caters for the children nor I, Iyabo said.

Iyabos mother corroborated her daughters statement, saying that Richard could kill her daughter if the court failed to act now.

I cant count how many times I have settled quarrels between them and on each occasion, Richard went back home to unleash mayhem on her, Iyabos mom said, in her testimony to the court.

However, Richard, a mobile police officer, objected to the suit and prayed the court to help keep his marriage because he still needed her.He admitted guilt but promised to make amends.

In his judgment, Odunade, however, pronounced the marriage dissolved in the interest of peace.

He awarded custody of the two children from the union, to the petitioner, and directed the respondent to pay N10,000 as their monthly feeding allowance, including being responsible for their education and welfare. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

IDPs in Nigeria

By Hassana Yakubu

Ahead of Christmas celebration Kaduna-based cleric, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has called on wealthy Christian leaders and aid organisations to support victims of ethno-religious crisis and those affected by activities of banditry in Southern Kaduna.

Buru is the General overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna state.

He said the organisations should support such victims with food and cloths to enable them celebrate the yuletide in peace, joy and happiness like every other Christian across the world.

Buru made the call when he visited some internally displaced persons(IDPs) residing at Kujama, while praying to God to strengthen them in view of the critical situation they found themselves.

According to him, it is necessary to make the call in view of the hardship most internally displaced person face in the new communities they are amid the outbreak of harmattan and Coronavirus pandemic.

The Pastor said there were many IDPs at Kujama that were living in rented houses andmost of them found it extremely difficult to afford foods while their children lack cloths to put on.

He stated that there was need for Christians around the world to immensely support them as most of their houses were completely burned down by gunmen.

The cleric also appealed to the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency and all humanitarian NGOs, civil society organisations and Human right groups to also give a helping hand.

Please visit Kujama and see the daily challenged these victims faces in the new environment they are living, he pleaded.

He expressed concern that some of the IDPs could not even send their children to schools due to lack of finances.

According to him, as harmattan season approaches, there is the need for Nigerians to also donate cold-protective clothing to the privileged children.

He said that such measure would protect them from diseases and respiratory infections such as conjunctivitis, asthma, cough, catarrh, and tonsillitis.

This Harmattan season comes with its own challenges to health and environment, to skin and also to hair and the body in general.

He further enjoined both Muslims and Christians to keep praying for peace and stability in the country while appealing for special prayers for Nigerian military for victory and commitment to defend the country.

The cleric further applauded the effort of an NGO, Zaman-tare, on its peace move in the area. (NAN)

Source: NAN News