Main gate of Benue House of Assembly

By Emmanuel Antswen

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Thursday presented the 2021 appropriation bill of N132.5 billion to the States House of Assembly for consideration.

According to Ortom, the figure represents N23.7 billion or 18 per cent increase from the revised 2020 budget.

Presenting the bill on the floor of the House, Ortom said N90.8 billion was proposed as Recurrent Expenditure while N41.7 was earmarked for Capital Expenditure.

Ortom also presented 2020 supplementary budget estimates of N20 billion for consideration, adding that the revised 2020 Budget anticipated aggregate revenue estimates was N108.8 billion.

According to him, the Economic Sector will gulp N51.3 billion, Social Sector N44.5 billion, Administrative Services to receive N33.8 billion, while Law and Justice gets N2.8 billion.

He said his administration was working hard to improve the quality and impact of its expenditure for effective development.

We are also working to improve the quality and impact of our expenditure. To this end, we are establishing a budget intelligence unit and also strengthening the existing efficiency unit in the ministry of finance to monitor the quality of expenditure.

We are undertaking state-wide payroll reform, including the deployment of technology using the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

We are also making good progress towards the comprehensive implementation of the Treasury Single Account; completion of the Benue State Geographic Information Service (BENGIS) project, which will enhance data for planning and monitoring as well as improve revenue administration, he said.

The governor regretted that the global impact of COVID-19 on national economies would be an inhibiting factor in the successful implementation of the 2021 budget.

We are exploring every opportunity to ensure that this budget works for our people in spite of all the constraints.

We are undertaking a debt sustainability analysis with the aim of restructuring some of our existing financial obligations and thereby reducing the monthly repayment burden on our revenues.

He noted that the 2020 budget had to be revised owing to the debilitating impact of COVID-19 and the oil price war between Russia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The economic pressures and fiscal constraints that prompted the 2020 downward budget revision are still very much with us, and the outlook for 2021 and beyond is not rosy.

In addition to these, is the high rate of unemployment and poverty, insecurity, youth restiveness and breakdown in citizens trust of government that has been highlighted in the recent EndSARS protests.

The governor disclosed that despite paucity of funds, his administration was able to make significant achievements in the areas in education, infrastructure, healthcare in 2020.

He said by the end of the second quarter of 2020, the State realised the total sum of N47.4 billion representing 43.63 per cent of the approved aggregate revenue estimates.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Titus Uba, assured the governor that the budget estimates would be given adequate attention. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Action from past CBN Tennis Championship

By Ijeoma Okigbo

CBN earmarks N12.9m for Tennis championship

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has earmarked the sum of N12.9 million as total prize money for its 42nd Senior Open Tennis Championship.

This was made known at a press briefing by CBN in collaboration with the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday.

Ifedayo Akindoju, President of the NTF, said the winners in both the male and female singles would grab N700,000 each.

We are expecting a minimum of 250 athletes. Today is the arrival of athletes but the qualifying series starts tomorrow.

We have up to 128 entries in the male qualifying series and over 64 entries for females.

For the main draw which begins on Monday, we have 64 entries for male and 32 for female. We also have 16 entries each for men and women wheelchair tennis.

The event is in six categories; male and female singles, men and women doubles and wheelchair men and female singles.

The top 42 players in the male categoryaccording to our rankings from last year will qualify for the main draw automatically.

Sixteen players will move to the main draw from qualifiers while four players will be given a wild card for the mens category, Akindoju said.

The tournament is expected to begin on Monday and end on Saturday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A well equipped hospital

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate, on Thursday, called for the upgrade of the State House Clinic to check medical tourism.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Sen. Danjuma Laah, made the call when the State House Permanent Secretary, Tijani Umar, appeared before the panel to defend the 2021 budget.

Laah said that the committee would consider the budget for the State House Clinic; adding that the clinic needed to be more active in its operations.

We must ensure our hospitals are fully equipped with world class standards.

So that no matter the issue of emergency our hospitals should be endowed with that capacity to attend to them before flying out if the need arises, he said.

He said that the proposal for the State House Clinic of N1.3 billion had already been approved.

I want this thing done and the credit goes to the entire members of the committee.

We want to leave a legacy that the clinic we requested is built in the State House within the shortest time frame. That is our primary concern and we must do it at all costs, he said.

The Permanent Secretary, in an interview after the meeting with the lawmakers said that I took over in the State House in April this year and in the last six months; we have made giant strides in almost every aspect of our work.

We have outlined a lot of things trying to put it on the right pedestal, so it is not correct to say that it is comatose, it is not.

We have realigned so many things. One of the fundamental challenges we have dealt with is the sustainable supply of drugs and consumables.

Dont forget that this derives from the budget. You have a budget and you have a sustainable supply, if the budget is not sufficient it affects everything.

What we have on the ground now is something we can use to stabilise the State House Clinic and this is what we have achieved, stability in the supply of consumables, stability in the supply of electricity.

Stability in motivating our doctors and all our medical professionals, stability in infrastructure renovation, upgrade and maintenance of the facility and our equipment.

What we can do with the resources right now is all that, just to maintain and to try to hold on to what we have until the new budget comes on stream, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

By Emmanuel Acha

Enugu State Government has confirmed incidences of unusual deaths in two communities of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi made the confirmation in a statement on Thursday in Enugu.

Obi said that there had been a number of deaths suggestive of a disease of public health importance in the area.

The communities are Ette Uno and Umuopu of Enugu Ezike.

The commissioner said that the State Ministry of Health had collected samples from patients and sent them to the National Reference Laboratory for investigation.

On-the-spot-check and outbreak investigation have revealed a number of deaths from an illness which symptoms are suggestive of a disease of public health importance.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been informed and is collaborating with the ministry to investigate and control the reports, he said.

Obi urged members of the public not to panic as the ministry was handling the emergency.

When contacted, the council Chairman, Mr Williams Ejike, said the unusual deaths were noticed in the two communities in October.

Ejike however, said that the people of the area had until early November thought that the deaths were normal.

Two days ago they said we should send samples of those that are sick or got in contact with the disease.

Yesterday, they called me and said that they are suspecting Lassa Fever and the state government sent an ambulance to take the people to the treatment center in Abakaliki, he said.

The chairman said that contrary to the information that no fewer than 57 persons had died, there is no confirmed number yet.

Ejike said that the council had arranged for a stakeholders meeting with the officials of World Health Organisation (WHO) and the state health ministry to sensitise the people of the area.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Panel of inquiry on police brutality in Anambra

By Chimezie Anaso

Mrs Chidimma Edozieuno, a petitioner to the Anambra Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality has called for the release of the corpse of her husband, Johnson, to his family for burial.

Edozieuno made the call in her petition to the panel sitting in Awka, the state capital, on Thursday, alleging that the deceased died in police custody.

She said her husband, who lived in Benin Republic, visited Nigeria after she gave birth to a baby and was arrested in the early hours of Aug. 1, 2017 by policemen on mufti at their Ichida Street residence in Awka.

She alleged that her property was taken away to an unknown destination by the operatives, whose operational base was not disclosed to her.

She said the operatives alleged that her husband was a kidnapper and she would not see him again.

The widow said that after conducting a search in the police stations around Awka without success, information got to her that her husband was allegedly being tortured and detained by the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) at Awkuzu.

She said that she instituted a legal process at the state High Court, Awka to secure his release.

She said that during one of the proceedings, the Legal Department of SARS informed the court that her husband had died.

According to her, that was how the matter was dismissed by the court.

Edozieuno pleaded with the panel to order the police to release the husbands corpse to his family.

She also urged the panel to order the police to return her property and pay reasonable compensation to the deceaseds family.

The Chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Veronica Umeh, said the panel would investigate the claims in the petition and make appropriate recommendations.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five of the 33 petitions sent to the panel were entertained on Thursday.

The panel struck out the petition by one Dr Peter Ekemezie, following his application for withdrawal.

The matter was said to have been determined by a court and was still pending in an appellate Court.

Other petitioners, Onyechi Ngene and Nestor Ngozichukwuka, were advised to engage the services of legal experts to enable them to prepare their case and make clear prayers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Emblem launch

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government on Thursday launched the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and appeal fund with a pledge to galvanise support for the Nigeria Legion ahead of next years Remembrance Day.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, made the pledge in during the launch in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is an annual tradition towards acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and sacrifices of veterans in the first and second world wars.

Also to appreciate peace keeping operations around the world and internal security operations, including the ongoing campaign against terrorism in Nigeria.

Mustapha emphasised the need for soldiers who have paid the supreme price in the cause of defending the nation to be honoured.

The SGF commended the activities of the Nigerian legion for their continued services to the country as security personnel in public and private offices.

He also promised to galvanise support from Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the Remembrance day.

The SGF however, urged corporate organisations and business concerns to support the veterans and well meaning Nigerians cause through voluntary donations, employment and welfare support.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Brig.-Gen. Jones Akpa Rtd, expressed gratitude to the government for the support given to the legionnaires so far, while callingfor a stronger partnership.

Akpa also used the opportunity to commend the SGF and its team for an effective coordination in the countrys response on COVID-19.

Highlights of the occasion were decorations of the SGF, permanent secretaries, some directors in the Office of the SGF and some journalists with the emblem.

NAN recalls that Jan.15 of every year is celebrated as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

From Nov. 5 to Jan. 15, 2021, top government officials and other Nigerians are expected to hang the emblem on their clothes as a mark of appreciating the efforts of fallen soldiers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Egypt flag

An Egyptian court has ordered the release of 461 political activists from detention after they were charged with spreading false news, a rights lawyer said on Thursday.

The journalists and students had been detained in connection with 19 different cases over the past four years, lawyer Ramadan Mohammed said.

Authorities have freed the majority of them in response to orders issued by the Cairo Criminal Court earlier this week, he added.

Charges levelled against them included misusing social media to publish false news and promoting the agenda of a terrorist group, a reference to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, according to the lawyer.

So far, there has been no comment from authorities.

The reported releases come more than a month after rare, small protests erupted in some parts of Egypt against the government of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.

Al-Sissi has repeatedly warned Egyptians against protests, saying that they could lead to chaos.

In 2013, the army, then led by al-Sissi, deposed Egypts first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, a senior official in the Muslim Brotherhood and a divisive figure in the country.

Thousands of secular and Islamist opposition figures have since been rounded up.

Street demonstrations are heavily restricted in Egypt under a contested 2013 law that the government said was necessary to restore stability to the country. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rafa Nadal

Top seed Rafa Nadal was forced to save a set-point before overcoming Australian Jordan Thompson 6-1 7-6(3) on Thursday to reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals.

A day after becoming the fourth player in the Open Era to record 1,000 tour-level wins, Nadal resumed his pursuit of a maiden Paris-Bercy title.

He broke Thompsons serve twice to claim the opening set in convincing fashion.

The world number two saved a set-point on his serve while trailing 5-6 in the second, winning a 26-shot rally which ended with a backhand error from Thompson.

He started to serve well in the second set. I missed a couple of returns I shouldnt have, Nadal said. I suffered until the end, but I found a way to win the tiebreak.

Nadal, who has now reached the quarter-finals in all eight appearances at the indoor tournament, will next face fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta.

Earlier, sixth seed Diego Schwartzman eased past Spanish qualifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-1.

He is now one victory away from qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals for the first time in his career.

World number nine Schwartzman occupies the final automatic qualification spot for the season finale at Londons O2 Arena from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22.

The Argentine will next face Russias Daniil Medvedev, who came back from a set down to beat Australias Alex de Minaur 5-7 6-2 6-2 in just under two hours.

I watched his match and Diego played really well, Medvedev said of Schwartzman, who has finished runner-up at three ATP tournaments this season.

I think he made five unforced errors and was returning a lot of balls in the court. He served pretty well and it will be a really tough match, because he has been on fire this year. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

By Abujah Racheal

The International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), is to participate in an international study targeted at finding safe and effective treatment for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

IRCE Executive Director, Prof. Alashle Abimiku, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.

Abimiku said that the study entitled: In-patient Treatment with Anti-Corona Virus Immunoglobulin (ITAC), would enroll not less than 500 hospitalised adults globally, with mild or moderate symptoms of COVID-19.

She said that the study had been approved by the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Abimiku further said that the National Hospital, Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada would form part of the partnership in the studyto ease access to COVID-19 patients admitted into isolation centres.

The study will utilise infusions of antibodies (hyperimmunoglobulin), from COVID-19 survivors popularly referred to as convalescent sera, with the aim of evaluating its efficacy at improving the clinical outcome of patients at risk of degenerating with the disease, he said.

Abimiku expressed hope that findings from the study would provide a pathway to a treatment option and prevent patients from having a worse progression into the disease in the Nigerian population.

The Principal Investigator for the Nigerian Study Centre, Dr Nnakelu Eriobu, also told NAN that the duration of the research study was 16 months or earlier, depending on the speed at which participants were enrolled into the research.

In future versions of the research, one or more drugs from a different class with a different mechanism of action may be considered, he said.

According to Eriobu, a research team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, data managers and other health care workers have been trained on study requirements.

He said that Nigeria was the only African country participating in the research funded by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), at the National Institutes of Health, and carried out by the International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT). IHVN is a member of INSIGHT.

IHVN has participated in other studies within the INSIGHT clinical network such as the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) Study, a clinical trial involving 215 sites in 35 countries.

Findings from START have shown that people living with HIV have a considerably lower risk of developing AIDS or other serious illnesses if they start taking antiretroviral treatment sooner, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

UEFA said on Thursday it has overseen 61,859 COVID-19 tests since August, allowing for more than 500 European matches to be played and making football one of the worlds safest environments.

The European football body, which has been criticised in the media for pressing ahead with international football during the pandemic, said only 340 of those tests had been positive.

This was 0.55 per cent of the total, and only three per cent of matches had been cancelled.

The (protocol) that we put in place is robust and ensures the safety of all those involved, even in these trying times when the pandemic is progressing across the continent, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said.

It gives us confidence that our competitions will be played as planned.

It is a tribute to those involved and it demonstrates that matches can be played safely.

Describing it as a massive cross-continent effort, UEFA said on average there had been 53.9 tests per team, per match, and less than half the positive results had been from players.

UEFAs Return to Play Protocol made professional football among the safest environments in the world, it added.

UEFA said that, since August, it had staged matches in eight competitions.

These are the Champions League, Europa League, Womens Champions League, Youth League, the Nations League, Euro 2020 playoffs, Under-21 and Womens Euro qualifiers. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News