Nigerian Army officer testifying before Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry over #EndSARS shooting at Lekki tollgate

By Moji Eniola

The Nigerian Army on Saturday denied using live ammunition on unarmed #EndSARS protesters, during the alleged Oct. 20 shooting at the Lekki Tollgate before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army made the denial before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, who testified on behalf of the Nigerian Army said that the military had fired blank ammunition into the air to disperse protesters on the night of the alleged shooting.

Taiwo, who gave a presentation to the panel with the use of a projector, played a footage which showed soldiers standing in front of singing protesters and firing their weapons into the air.

He said there would have been a lot of fatalities if the 600m live ammunition normally used by the military were used to disperse the #EndSARS protesters.

I have been in the army since 1986 and you cannot be under fire and be singing.

The entry hole for the 600m is thin while the exit is wide, if it hits you in the chest or the bowels, the intestines comes down.

I am an expert in ammunition having spent so long in the army. Blank ammunition is slower and can do no damage to the flesh and you have nothing to fear except you take a rifle, put it against your eye and fire.

Even if you put it against your skin and fire you will only have burn marks, he said.

Taiwo said that troops had managed to disperse most of the #EndSARS protesters, and had even shared drinks from protesters who had remained at the Lekki Tollgate.

He said he was monitoring the situation on the internet, and that it was after the departure of the soldiers that hoodlums set the tollgate on fire.

He said that non-kinetic (non violent) means was used in the Armys rules of engagement during the protests.

Following his revelation, Taiwo through the counsel of the Nigerian Army, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), presented four spent blank ammunition to the panel as evidence.

NAN reports that Taiwo told also the panel that there was a lapse in communication between the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Army regarding the imposing and lifting of the curfew.

Due to the urgency of the security situation in the state, the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which was supposed to start at 4pm.

They wanted everyone off the streets to deal with the hoodlums, but after some observations the timing was shifted to 21:00 hours, but this timing was not communicated to the Nigerian Army.

Be that as it may, we the Nigerian Army had already immediately deployed the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division Garrison to forestal all further violence and loss of lives.

It is important to note that this deployment of troops contrary to reports, was done throughout Lagos to activate Phase 4 of the Internal Security Operations, Taiwo said.

The officer told the panel that the Army had entered the Stabilisation Phase of the Internal Security Operations, and had started recovering looted items when the Lagos State Government lifted the curfew without informing them.

We were still recovering a lot of looted items which were given back to the owners on production of receipt or proof of ownership.

If the curfew was not lifted we would have recovered a 100 times more than the items we recovered, Taiwo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Palm fruits used in producing palm oil

By Maureen Ojinaka

The price of palm oil has further increased in major markets across Enugu metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A market survey conducted by NAN on Saturday revealed that the price of palm oil has again increased by 20 per cent when compared to what its price was some days ago.

NAN reports that price of palm oil at Akwata, Garki and Mayor markets increased as a five-litre keg of palm oil now goes for N5,000 as against N2,900 the previous week.

A 70Cl bottle has also increased from N500 to N700 in the same period.

The survey also revealed that a 25-litre jerry-can of palm oil is now sold for between N22,000 and N24,500 as against N16,500 and N18,000 depending on its processing pattern and grade.

Palm oil dealers, who spoke to NAN at the various major markets in the metropolis, blamed the increase in palm oil price on palm fruits season.

They said the palm fruits season had come to an end.

Mrs Naomi Ijele, a palm oil seller at Akwata Market said that price of oil as at Sept. and down the months was between N300 and N350 per 70cl bottle.

Ijele added that a 25-litre then went for between N10,500 and N11,000, when it recorded production increase from July.

The scarcity of palm oil fruits has led to less production of oil thereby causing the increase in price of the commodity, she said.

According to Patience Onuh, another seller of palm oil at Akwata Market, a 25-litre jerry-can in major markets in the metropolis sells for about N24,000 while in the villages where most of the oil is produced goes for N19,500.

However, Mr Ify Ochulugha, another palm oil dealer at Garki market, expressed the hope that the price of the commodity might remain relatively stable.

Ochulugha said that there was much production of palm oil during the harvest season as it would make it available for sale until next season.

I am hopeful that the price of palm oil will not increase further than this because many producers were committed in palm oil production this year, she said.

A buyer at Mayor Market, Mrs Madeline Ikem, said that the price was becoming unaffordable for many families.

Buying 70cl bottle of palm oil for N700 is too high as many families cannot afford it, she said.

NAN reports that the traditional Palm oil processing techniques, prevalent in Enugu rural communities, make the commodity have tasty flavour admired by dealers and consumers nationwide. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Tennis racket and ball

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Joseph Imeh and Oyinlomo Quadre on Saturday in Abuja won the mens and womens singles finals of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Open Tennis Tournament.

Imeh got the better of Nonso Madueke, winning the first set 6-3 before Madueke retired due to a groin injury when he was leading the second set 3-1.

After the match, Imeh who has now earned N700,000 for his effort said his semi-finals match against Uche Oparaoji boosted his confidence.

Madueke is a good player. I was prepared for a long and tough match but it wasnt so because he was injured.

After I won my semi-final match, I was optimistic about winning my first CBN title and it happened. I am happy, he said.

The womens singles final saw Marylove Edwards lose 0-6 0-6 to defending champion Quadre.

I am excited about winning because I had been looking forward to defending my title, Quadre said.

Meanwhile, Abdulmumin Babalola and Lawal Shehu paired to win the mens doubles event while Quadre and Serena Teluwo were winners in the womens doubles.

Alex Adewale won the mens wheelchair event while Chituru Nwaozuzu was champion in the womens event. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC responds as Yellow fever claims 76 lives in 3 states

Development Agency (NPHCDA) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria has recorded 156 new cases of Coronavirus infections (COVID-19) in 10 states and the Federal Capital City (FCT, the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed.

With the new infections the NCDC, on its verified website on Friday, put the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 64,884.

According to the centre, 146 COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the disease have been discharged from isolation centres across the country in the past 24 hours.

It said one coronavirus-related death was recorded within the same period.

The NCDC statedthat Lagos, the epicentre of the disease in the country, led with 70 new infections, followed by the FCT with 22 and Kaduna State with 18.

Rivers had 15; Plateau, 11; Ogun, 10; Bauchi and Katsina had three each; Kano had two and Ekiti and Osun had one each.

The NCDC said of the 64,884 patients infected with the virus , 60,936 cases have been treated and discharged while 1,163 deaths have been recorded.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has so far tested 697, 544 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 27, 2020.

The NCDC said that it had activated a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre at Level III to coordinate response activities across the federation.

Source: NAN News

Ikpeazu issues 14-day ultimatum to contractors handling federal roads in Abia

By Sam Oditah

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Friday gave contractors handling the rehabilitation of federal roads in the state up until Nov. 28 to return to site or the state government would takeover the projects.

Ikpeazu issued the ultimatum during an interactive session with newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, saying that the measure was to ensure the timely completion of the projects.

He said that his administration would no longer fold its arms and watch the people suffer untold hardship as a result of the complete dilapidation of the roads.

The governor listed the roads to include Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway (awarded during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan), Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road and Umuahia Ikot Ekpene Road, awarded in 2018 and 2013 respectively.

Others are the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road and Ohafia-Bende-Umuahia Road which were both awarded about four years ago.

The rehabilitation of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, which commenced about two years ago, and Port Harcout Road in Aba had reportedly suffered a setback.

Ikpeazu said: We are calling on all the contractors handling federal roads in Abia to redouble their efforts.

They should return to site on or before Nov. 28 otherwise we will be forced to takeover the projects because we cannot continue to watch our people suffer, he said.

He noted that many lives and valuable property had also been lost due to the deplorable conditions of the roads.

The governor expressed concern that trade and commerce in Aba had suffered a major drawback because traders from other parts of the country could no longer access the commercial town.

Ikpeazu said that his administration would take over the rehabilitation of the roads, with or without a refund from the Federal Government.

He said that the governments recent experience with the Federal Ministry of Works over the construction of the road leading to Osisioma depot did not suggest Abia would get a refund.

He said that government had also initiated measures to ensure the speedy completion of state roads, adding that only contractors with proven performance would be paid.

The governor announced plans by the government to provide bailout for the last time to Abia Polytechnic, Aba to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries to its workers between now and January 30, 2021.

He said that similar gesture would also be extended to Abia State University, Uturu, Health Management Board, College of Health Technology, Aba, and others with arrears of unpaid salaries.

Ikpeazu also spoke on the devastation caused by the EndSARS protesters in the state, which included the destruction of lives and property.

He blamed the protest on the rising unemployment rate and the non-conducive environment for creativity among the nations youth.

He described the proposed Enyimba Economic City, which would provide 6,500 jobs and governments focus on the development of the small and medium enterprise in Aba, as some of his administrations job creation initiatives.

The governor also spoke on the health and socio-economic challenges thrown up by COVID-19, the state governments response in tackling the pandemic and positive fallout from it.

According to him, the pandemic exposed the huge deficit in the nations health facilities and challenged the government to step up its game in the provision of medical facilities.

He said that the state government, in collaboration with Abia indigenes in the diaspora, was at the final stage of establishing a Mother and Child Hospital in Umuahia.

He said that already three containers of modern medical equipment had been shipped by them for the proposed facility.

Ikpeazu also said that government had purchased additional dialysis machines to support the ones at the Me Cure Dialysis Centre in Umuahia, with plans for another facility in Aba for all kinds of ailments.

He said that part of the steps taken to combat COVID-19 in the state was the setting up of isolation centres in Aba and Umuahia.

He said that Abia has isolation centres with more than 150 beds and state-of-the-art equipment.

The governor also said that the state had two functional molecular labs with additional facilities for testing across the 17 local government areas of the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the frontline medical personnel in the fight against the spread of the pandemic, which made fatality rate very low.

Abia recorded 92 per cent success in the management of COVID-19 patients, one of the best records in the country, he said.

The governor, who is a survivor of the pandemic, said, with early diagnosis and proper clinical management, COVID-19 is not a death sentence.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) says Nigeria and the United States of America are committed to lead global coalition against ISIS and other terrorist groups in the world.

A statement by ONSA on Saturday in Abuja, disclosed that the decision was reached during a virtual meeting of the 82-member global coalition drawn from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East on Tuesday.

ONSA said the virtual meeting which was co-chaired by the coordinators of the National Counter Terrorism of Nigeria and U.S. also had the Africa Union, European Union, ECOWAS and G5 Sahel represented among other international and regional organisations.

The Nigeria delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), was represented by the Coordinator of the Nigeria Counter Terrorism Centre, Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa.

He noted that the challenges of global terrorism had negatively impacted on the economy, polity and livelihoods of people as apparent in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin and parts of the North-Eastern Nigeria.

According to ONSA, the meeting deliberated on key issues including sessions on understanding and countering the ISIS threat.

The session, moderated by U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel, Ambassador J. Peter Pham had panelists from Global Coalition members Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, and co-host Nigeria providing key perspectives on evolution of ISIS affiliates and their troubling activities in West Africa.

The panelists also provided useful ways the Global Coalition could enhance efforts to curb the expanding influence of ISIS in the West Africa and the Sahel.

Discussions also centered on lessons learnt from the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria and reviewing of potential lines of efforts, including the use of battlefield evidence and border security measures and how these lessons and lines of efforts could be applied in West Africa and the Sahel, it stated.

ONSA said that Nigerias roles in the fight against terrorism in the sub region was also acknowledged and applauded during the meeting.

It also stated that the leading role of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari towards defeating terrorism in West Africa was commended.

According to the statement, the meeting noted that ISIS was undermining state authorities and peoples means of livelihood across the globe, particularly in Africa where more affiliates were springing up.

It was stressed that terrorists across the globe exploit some drivers, including economic imbalance and marginalisation among other local grievances to penetrate the local population.

The meeting called for more measures to counter radicalisation, recruitment of gullible individuals and concerted global efforts to defeat ISIS.

At the end of the meeting, the co-host, Nigeria and USA as well as the 82-member global coalition reaffirmed full commitment to defeating ISIS and other terror groups including ISWAP and Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Nigeria also expressed her readiness to seek for more support and partnership within the activities and mandates of the Global Coalition against ISIS to enhance its ongoing operations against terrorism in the North East and efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism in the country, it added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AFCON Qualifiers: Osimhen missing as Super Eagles begins training

The following are results of all Day 3 matches in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Friday.

Group A
Mali 1 Namibia 0

Group C
South Africa 2 Sao Tome and Principe 0

Group E
Morocco 4 Central African Republic 1

Group J
Tunisia 1 Tanzania 0

Group K
Niger 1 Ethiopia 9

Group I
Nigeria 4 Sierra Leone 4. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Participants at the ongoing Carnival Polo Tournament in Abuja

By Victor Okoye

Rubicon of Abuja, have booked a place in Sundays final for the prestigious Presidents Cup at the ongoing Carnival Polo Tournament in Abuja after a narrow 6 to 5 and a half goals victory against Malcomines of Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high 10 goal match for the tournaments top prize saw Malcomines awarded half a goal at the start of the game to compensate for the teams handicap difference.

Total team handicap for Rubicon was 15 with the Badamasi brothers ( 3), Jamilu Mohammed ( 3) and the Argentine assassin, Gonzalo Bourdieu, a six goaler making up the team.

Malcomines, on the other hand, had a total team handicap of 13 with Hamisu Buba ( 3), Murtala Mohammed ( 3), Fernando ( 2) and Juan Cruz of Argentina, a five goaler at the top of the playing quartet.

The pulsating but nerve-wracking encounter was indeed a bizarre upset caused by Rubicon against a more illustrious opponent.

But for the highly rated Buba, who did meet up with his rating, especially in the first two chukkers as he failed to convert a lot of chances for Malcomines, the score line would have been different.

In spite of all his errors in front of goal, however, Buba still managed a hat-trick, as Murtala and Cruz scored a goal each to tally five goals, just a half goal short of victory

Rubicons youthful Badamasi brothers, proved to be quite a handful for the Jos-based team as Mohammed and Bourdieu combined well, switching in between the defensive and sweeper roles to feed the attacking duo.

Bourdieu scored a total of four goals, while Idris Badamasi and Mohammed scored a goal each for Rubicon to post a six goal tally.

At the other end, Malcomines were relentless as they matched the fire power of their opponents but still fell short with only five goals.

With the result, table toppers Rubicon, who had won their first two games, have now secured a berth into Sundays final with maximum points.
Jos-based Malcomines are second with three points, while Lintex and Keffi Ponies, who are yet to register any points in the tournament, are third and fourth respectively.

FCT-based Rubicon will again slug it out with Malcomines in Sundays final, while Lintex and Keffi Ponys play for a chance to win the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Cup.
In other results of matches played on Friday, 60 yards thrashed D-Hayatt by 6 goals to 3 and a half goals for the Legislative Shield.

By this, the winner of the encounter between 60 yards and Casiva, with three points, will face six points leader, Fas Agro, in Sundays finals.

The tournament, which started on Monday, will end on Sunday, Nov. 15, with the grand finale. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has urged Nigerian youths to explore opportunities in the Information Communication Technology sector for self actualisation.

Pantami said this at the opening of the Hackathon Actinspace Competition in Abuja.

He challenged the competitors to strive hard towards winning the competition.

Mr Francis Chizea, Director General, National Space Research Development Agency (NASRD), represented by Director Space Application, Mr James Godstime said the youth had a vital role in the space sector due to their advisory role.

Chizea said that the United Nations placed premium on the role of youths in the Space Generation Advisory Council.

The youth serves as incubation for space exploration ideas and concepts.

Youths also define the direction of future space exploration and also participate in the implementation of space development projects, he said.

Dr Abimbola Alale, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, said it was the first time Nigerian youths were participating at the event.

She urged Nigerian youths to be more creative and futuristic.

Winners at the competition will represent Nigeria at the global ACTINSPACE Competition in Paris, France in 2021.

Actinspace is an international competition targeted at students of tertiary institutions aimed at utilising space technologies to create solutions to daily life problems. (NAN)

Source: NAN News