Personnel of NSCDC

By Suleiman Shehu

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Oyo State has assured residents of the state of adequate security before, during and after Christmas and new year.

NSCDC Commandant Iskilu Akinsanya for the state announced this in a statement issued in Ibadan.

Akinsanya said that the corps would do the needful to protect lives and property of residents in the state.

He directed the area commanders, divisional officers and personnel of the corps to intensify security coverage across the state.

Akinsanya also urged residents of the state to engage in their legitimate businesses and be security conscious always.

He called on security officers to be professional and civil in dealing with the public.

The commandant similarly called on parents and guardians to caution their wards against any act that could cause breakdown of law and order.

In case of any security threats, he directed the public to call by telephone on 09055533303 or 08077513995 and 09070473188 for security intervention.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

Gov Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has appealed for more resources to mitigate post harvest losses and to ensure food security in the country.

Bagudu made the appeal in Abuja, at the ongoing 3-day intensive hands-on training on Post-harvest handling techniques, organised by Farms Flowers and Allied Products Initiative (FFAP).

The training has as its theme: Mitigating Against Severe Food Security through efficient post-harvest handling technique.

Bagudu, who was the chairman of the event, urged stakeholders to allocate more resources to train farmers and processors on food preservation, which he described as a major challenge to the nations food security.

Represented by Mr Usman Muhammed, Chairman, Anchor Borrowers Programme, the governor explained that the challenges of preservation and management of crops is not a new thing particularly in Africa.

This, he noted, could be caused by the absence of traditional techniques of preservation, particularly with regards to vegetables and other perishable produce.

According to him, the trainings and workshops of this nature are timely, as they will expose participants to skills and knowledge of preservation and management of crops.

Bagudu commended the efforts of FFAP and described it as a laudable initiative that should be supported by all.

The training is a laudable and great initiative of our time with a view to accessing knowledge of preservation of post harvest crops.

In spite of this knowledge, we should also look at resources of making the knowledge available across board in terms of budget structures and available tools that will support the knowledge acquired.

Anybody who has initiative regarding preservation of food to avoid food crisis must and should be commended,he said.

Speaking at the training which will end on Friday, Mrs Christy Yakubu, President FFAP, said that the organisation was committed to raising the quality of life for every individual in the agric-business.

Yakubu said that FFAP was engaged in agric-business and entrepreneurship to create possibilities for agripreneurship, training and technology-driven processes critical to agricultural value chain.

She said that the mission of the training was to provide practical, step-by-step assistance on proper post-harvest handling to reduce wastages and losses which constituted a major challenge faced by small holder farmers in Nigeria and Africa.

She said the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimate indicates that one third of the food produced globally for human consumption was lost or wasted along the supply chain.

According to her, this estimate is even higher in Africa due to several reasons but majorly as a result of lack of post-harvest handling knowledge, skills and infrastructure.

This training initiative is, therefore, an attempt to equip farmers and others in the agricultural value chain with requisite knowledge on efficient and inexpensive methods of preserving farm produce, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Britain, Singapore sign .6bn trade agreement

Britain International Trade Secretary Liz Truss announced that Britain on Thursday signed a free trade deal with Singapore covering 17.6bn dollars.

Today I signed a deal with Singapore covering 17.6bn [pounds sterling] of trade the 2nd biggest agreement weve signed in #AsiaPacific, Truss wrote on Twitter.

A photo showed Truss alongside Singapores trade minister Chan Chun Sing.

The agreement came as British and EU negotiators begin a final push to salvage chances of a post-Brexit trade deal.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held crunch Brexit talks in Brussels on Wednesday.

They had decided on Sunday as a deadline for a decision over their severely jammed trade talks.

In a statement sent to reporters minutes after Johnson was pictured leaving the EU Commissions headquarters in Brussels, a senior Number 10 source said the pair had a frank discussion but significant obstacles in the negotiations remained.

Very large gaps remain between the two sides and it is still unclear whether these can be bridged, the source said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has cancelled the remaining activities of the ongoing 2020 COAS Annual Conference following a positive test to COVID-19 on Tuesday by a participant, a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja said.

The statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa disclosed that as a result of this development, all the participants had been mandated to immediately proceed on self isolation, in line with the Federal Governments protocol on COVID -19, and to prevent any further spread of the disease.

All inconveniences hereby regretted please, Musa said.

Meanwhile, in another statement, Musa said that the COAS had also pruned down the number of attendees to the wedding solemnisation of his son, Hamisu Buratai, scheduled for Friday. Participants at the COAS conference would not participate in the wedding, the statement added.

The Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of his family, feels honoured to sincerely appreciate, thank and welcome all dignitaries and invited guests to his sons wedding slated for Friday, Dec. 11.

However, due to the resurgence of the Pandemic in the FCT, Buratai will be unable to personally attend to, receive, or meet you at the event. All inconveniences are hereby regretted please, he announced. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Some elderly people in Nigeria

By Ikenna Osuoha

The labelling of old persons suffering from dementia as witches or wizards or setting them ablaze is total violation of right to life, Sen. Eze Ajoku, said in Abuja on Thursday.

Rights equality is paramount to guaranteeing senior citizens social and medical security, Ajoku, President, Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He spoke in an interview to commemorate this years Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day is observed yearly on Dec. 10, the day in 1948 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Ajokusaid that only a society with entrenched equal human rights could harness the desired economic and political stability needed for development.

He said: God created us all equal with equal rights whether old or young, rich or poor, female or male, therefore, we must respect the rights of all because injury to one is injury to all.

Ajoku, who bemoaned all forms of social inequality or discrimination against vulnerable people, especially old persons, said discriminatoryacts as ageism were violations of rights perpetrated daily by many against old persons.

He appealed to governments at all levels and the UN to rise to the occasion by upholding the rights of all and protecting the vulnerable, especially old persons.

According to him, old persons rights to association, existence, speech, movement in most cases are violated.

Most times, you will see where young persons restrict old persons from moving freely or expressing opinions.

Denial of pensions, denial of proper health care for old adults, denial of social and economic protection to the vulnerable in the society, especially old persons are rights denials that the various governments must address.

Discriminatory treatments meted out in rural areas of Nigeria against widows and old persons without families should stop, he charged.

Ajoku decried the polarisation of the society occasioned by reckless infringement on perceived weaker persons rights, especially the disabled and old persons.

Hecalled for love and care for a united, progressive society where justice would prevail over injustice. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

Senate has urged President Muhammadu to reconsider his directive on the removal of Dr Nasir Ladan as Director-General of National Directorate for Employment (NDE).

This followed the adoption of a motion by Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia(APC- Jigawa), at Thursdays plenary.

Hadejia, speaking under orders 42 and 52 of the Senate rules, said that the National Assembly was concerned about the sudden removal of the director general.

He, however, noted that, it was within the executive powers of the President to appoint and remove any appointee.

Hadejia said that the sudden removal gave room for speculations that some unpatriotic Nigerians were out to undermine the laudable programmes of the Federal Government being carried out by the NDE.

He said that the removal was capable of creating needless and avoidable leadership crisis in the organisation especially the public works programme aimed at addressing unemployment in the country.

According to him it is in the overriding public interest to reconsider the said presidential directive on the removal to ensure leadership stability in the agency.

Contributing, Sen. Rochas Okorocha (APC-Imo) advised the Senate to apply wisdom in handling the matter given the situation in the country.

Let us adopt a non formal method in resolving this issue and not try to create more conflicts among arms of governments, he said.

President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan in his remarks, said that his understanding of the motion was that the national assembly was in support of NDE programmes.

He said the leadership of NDE, under the sacked director general had successfully embarked on pilot project of the federal governments special public works programme in six states.

Lawan said that the sudden change in leadership could affect successful implementation of the programme.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Ugandas Ministry of Health said on Thursday that it had ordered 9 million doses of Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine amid surging new infections in the country.

The ministry said in a statement that the vaccines would cover 20 per cent of the countrys total population of 45 million people.

Plans are underway to secure additional doses of the vaccine to cover more people, the ministry said.

Uganda on Tuesday said it had applied through the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliances for Vaccines and Immunisation) to secure the COVID-19 vaccine from drugmaker AstraZeneca.

The ministry has warned that the COVID-19 situation in the country is getting worse, urging the public to follow the prevention procedures.

Uganda on Wednesday registered 1,199 new cases of COVID-19, the highest ever daily increase since the novel coronavirus outbreak nine months ago, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 25,059.

So far, Uganda has registered a total of 9,510 recoveries and 219 deaths since the index case was reported on March 21. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Beninese government has announced that illegal mineral resource quarries will soon be closed.

The council of ministers meeting, held on Wednesday in Cotonou, decided that quarry sites for the exploitation of mineral resources, including sand, laterite, stones and precious substances, are open in most communes, in defiance of the regulations in force.

These uncontrolled activities not only cause environmental damage, but also create insecurity due to the uncontrolled reopening of previously closed sites, the government points out.

The government has therefore decided to put a definitive end to them, by carrying out an exhaustive census of the illegal quarries open in the communes in order to issue authorisations to open and operate artisanal mines to those who are eligible.

Similarly, monitoring teams will be set up to provide timely warning of the opening and exploitation of illegal quarries throughout the country. Mobile control brigades will also be set up to enforce the regulations in force in this area.

Local authorities, in particular mayors, are responsible for issuing authorisations for the opening and operation of these quarries in their respective municipalities and will have to ensure, without complacency, the formal prohibition of unauthorised quarrying activities.
(PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

IIRS Chairman Justice Okoye, during the MoU signing

By Victor Nwachukwu

The Imo Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on revenue harmonisation with the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

A statement issued on Wednesday in Owerri by the Head of Corporate Communications, IIRS, Mr Emma Alozie, stated that the MoU was signed on Tuesday between the Chairman of the revenue service, Mr Justice Okoye, and the council chairmen.

Alozie stated that the event was presided over by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Bureau of Local Governments, Mrs Rubby Emele.

According to the statement, Emele said the MoU was designed to help boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.

It is important for us to partner to increase the IGR. The dwindling revenue caused by the global pandemic has made this synergy very important, she said.

The statement also quoted the Commissionerfor Finance,Mr Chuck Chukwuemeka, to have underscored the need for the harmonisation of revenue collection to ensure a seamless exercise in the state.

He was said to have thanked the council chairmen for their cooperation and signing the MoU in good time, describing the synergy as a win-win for all.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Simon Ebegbulem, reportedly said the MoU would calm frayed nerves and restore confidence in revenue collection in the state.

Also, the statement quoted the IIRS chairman to have thanked those who worked to ensure the successful signing of the MoU.

He reportedly pleaded with the chairmen to assist the state government to also drive its implementation.

The state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and chairman of Imo West, Mr Willie Okolie-Ogwo, was said to have lauded IIRS for the initiative.

He reportedly said the new arrangement would help to shift the burden of revenue collection from the councils to the state.

According to the statement, Okolie-Ogwo opined that with the support of the LGAs, revenue mobilisation in Imo would attain a milestone.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

L-R Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Honourable Babangida Ibrahim, Chairman, Dukia Gold, Chief Tunde Fagbemi; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Lamido Yuguda; Managing Director/ CEO, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE ), Mr Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale and Chairman, LCFE, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, during the
Visit of House of Representatives Leaders and SEC Officials to LCFE in Lagos, on Wednesday

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Federal Government on Wednesday promised to partner the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) to propel the growth of commodities exchange in the country.

The Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Babangida Ibrahim, made the remarks during his maiden visit to the Exchange in Lagos.

Addressing the Board and Management of LCFE, Ibrahim, expressed satisfaction at the level of preparedness of the Exchange to commence full-blown operation.

He alsoexpressed confidence over the ability of the LCFE to commence full operation any moment from now.

The Exchange was granted approval in-principle for trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2019.

It is said to have the capacity to commence trading with more than its initial four asset classes namely: Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Currencies.

Ibrahim, who led a high-powered team of House of Representatives Capital Market Committee said that the Federal Government would continue to support the growth and development of Commodities Exchanges in Nigeria.

He also assured the LCFEs Management of continuous collaboration to ensure the development and growth of the economy.

According to him, a commodities exchange is a strong platform for economic growth and development in the wake of the governments efforts to seek alternative means to grow the economy.

As lawmakers, we decided to visit the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange to be familiar with its workings in a bid to providing legislative support where necessary.

The capital market broadens access to economic prosperity by enabling the emergence of financially responsible citizens, accelerated wealth creation, and distribution in any environment.

We are impressed by what is on the ground at the LCFE. The government is ready to support the growth of commodities exchanges in Nigeria, Ibrahim said.

He further stated that the capital market is a critical sector that contributed to macro-economic and financial system stability, by fostering the diversification of economies and raising their capacity to absorb volatile capital flows.

In the same very, the Director-General of SEC, Dr Lamido Yuguda, said thata vibrant and efficient commodities trading ecosystem was amajor driver of economic growth and development.

Yuguda assured that the regulator was committed to working with the Exchange to grow the commodities market.

He noted that LCFE had been well-positioned to trade beyond its initial four asset classes.

This visit is a demonstration of the commitment both the legislative arm of government and the regulator have towards the development of the capital market of which the commodities market is important

We are impressed with what we have seen here today. We have engaged them for the past one year and are aware they have been working hard to make this exchange successful.

He said the SEC is willing to work with LCFE to develop all the rules needed to realise the potentials of the country in the area of commodities trading.

He added that the responsibility of SEC was to ensure good market development, fair trading and investor protection.

We are working to get appropriate rules that will enhance the operations of the Exchange.

In a bid to ensure the relevant standards required are approved by the SON, we are engaging them and pulling our weight to ensure increased visibility of our commodities in the international market.

We need to get the foundation right and are ready to assist you in any way to ensure that we get this right, as this will lead to a more vibrant economy for us in the years to come, he said.

He reiterated the commissions commitment toward ensuring a viable partnership with all market operators to build investor confidence.

He congratulated the Board and Management of LCFE for putting the Exchange on the path of an institution established to create diversification in the collective efforts to develop the nations economy.

SEC is willing to work with LCFE to develop all the rules needed to realise the potentials of the country in the area of commodities trading.

The responsibility of SEC is to ensure good market development, fair trading, and investor protection. We are satisfied with the level of preparedness of LCFE, Yuguda said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, LCFE, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, explained that LCFE was an initiative of the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) the trade group of all Dealing Member Firms of all the registered Exchanges.

The LCFEs Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akin Akeredolu-Ale made a presentation on the operations of the Exchange and noted that every effort is geared towards ensuring that The Exchange operates as a Pan African Commodities Market.

Akeredolu-Ale underscored the importance of collaboration and urged all participants in the ecosystem to work together.

Our Business Model provides for the integration of commodities stakeholders to enable the commodities ecosystem.

LCFE does not compete with the stakeholders of the commodities ecosystem, rather, we encourage alignment of all stakeholders in the Ecosystem, Akeredolu-Ale said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News