Hundreds of thousands of first- to fourth-graders returned to schools throughout Israel on Sunday, as a second stage of the countrys exit strategy from a nationwide coronavirus lockdown took effect.

Children below the age of 6 returned to kindergartens throughout Israel two weeks ago, as part of the exit strategys first stage.

Sunday is the start of the working and school week in Israel.

With daily Covid-19 infections hitting local all-time records up until late September, Israel on September 18 imposed a second nationwide lockdown. From early October, numbers have been dropping.

The Health Ministry reported on Sunday that Israel recorded 218 new infections the previous day, down from over 9,000 infections on September 30.

However, fewer people get tested on Saturdays compared to other days of the week, and the preceding six days saw an average of 737 daily infections.

As part of Israels phased easing of its second lockdown, high-street shops are scheduled to open only as of Sunday next week provided that numbers continue to drop.

The first- to fourth-graders who returned to schools on Sunday will be learning for now in turns in smaller groups called capsules, to ensure fewer pupils present in classrooms at any one time.

I think that the solution we gave is a good temporary solution, Education Minister Yoav Gallant said, rejecting fierce criticism by school principals and many others that Israel is neglecting the education of an entire coronavirus generation.

In total, 2,541 people in Israel have died with Covid-19.

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protesters

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Anglican Archbishop of Owerri, Imo, Most Rev. Dr David Onuoha, has urged Nigerian youths to shun violence and give government time to respond to their demands that necessitated the #EndSARS protests.

Onuoha made the call on Sunday on the heels of protest by some Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said that the protest presented Nigerian youths as resourceful and intelligent with the capacity to make things happen but that they must exercise restraint and allow government to meet their demands.

Having strongly registered your concerns and demands, you should now allow a little time for our leaders to respond, he said in a statement in Abuja.

According to the prelate, the Federal Government and the Imo State Government in particular will not fail in meeting the expectations of the protesters going by the programmes unveiled by the Hope Uzodimma-led administration.

Onuoha therefore, urged the youth to shun violence, looting and destruction of lives as they were not the best ways to resolve issues.

He added: Your demand for an end to police brutality as well as for good governance is very well placed, legitimate and appropriate.

What gain is there when we use the scarce resources available to replace and rebuild damaged structures instead of using it to improve on what we have for our common good?

A lot of people are known to have lost their lives in the violence and brigandage of the nature that we witnessed recently; we do not want to lose you in this manner because you are very dear to God and us.

Active participation and peaceful resistance are recognised globally as legitimate means of redeeming the society. God also approves it; this is a preferred option.

We welcome enthusiastically your resolve to take active part in politics as a way of ensuring the rebirth of this nation.

You must pursue this vigorously and peacefully, Onuoha said.

He urged the youth to always be agents of positive change and to always be civil and peaceful in all their demands as there could not be another country to call ours if the nation is destroyed.

The archbishop urged Nigerians to be steadfast in prayer as the innocent blood of citizens spilled during the protests would surely be the seed of the new Nigeria that all would cherish. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Dead body

By Olanrewaju Akojede

In what seemed a myth but a reality occurred at Abeokuta, Ogun, as Pa Israel Akojede and his wife, Mama Esther both died few hours apart having lived together in marriage for 72 years.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that their demise which occurred at Gbonagun Obantoko area of Abeokuta, had Pa Akojede reported dead around 3 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, while his beloved wife died a few hours later having got the news of her husbands death.

Pa Akojede, was 103 years, while Mama was 98 years,

The first son of the family aged 70, Mr Joseph Akojede, who confirmed the deaths, said that though the incident remained a mystery to the family, but that it was expected because of the fondness between them.

Their death is shocking but also expected. What we are thinking is maybe there would have been a short interval because they both loved themselves dearly.

I have watched them since I was young and I know they are inseparable, they wear same colour of clothes, have the same belief and always consulted each other for advice.

You can hardly hear them grumbling against each other as mama will say whatever her husband did was final, she wont give a second opinion even if she had any.

Such was the love they shared. Papa died very early in the morning and as we were being careful about breaking the news to his wife, she already knew and few minutes later she gave up the ghost, he said.

The first grandson of the family, Mr Olanrewaju Akojede of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the demise of the couple was a true version of the popular film, Romeo and Juliet.

I have watched them play Romeo and Juliet whenever I have the opportunity to be with them. Its so surprising to me that they even shared the same mobile telephone.

Whenever I call, its either Mama or Papa that answers the call; it depends on who the phone was with it when I called.

They are so great parents who had lived a pleasant and worthy life that is worth emulating. May their souls rest in peace, he said.

Their burial ceremony will be announced later by the family.

They are survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Main Gate of FMC Lokoja

By Kola Adeyemi

A member of the House of Representatives from Kogi, Tajudeen Yusuf, has appealed to Federal Government to reopen the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, in the interest of the people of the state.

The lawmaker, representing Kabba-Bunu/ Ijumu Federal Constituency, made the appeal in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.

He said that the closure of the facility for the past four months had affected the health of the people, saying that so many innocent lives have been lost due to the prolonged closure.

Yusuf appealed to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, to use his good office by ordering the reopening of the centre to save residents from avoidable deaths.

The continued closure has meant more deaths for patients whose health complications would have been better managed at FMC Lokoja, the lawmaker said.

It would be recalled that armed thugs had in July invaded the hospital and attacked staff, vandalised equipment, furniture and other property of the centre.

The incident forced the management to order the closure of the facility which was also at the centre of a disagreement with the state government over the COVID-19 status of the Chief Imam of Kabba, Alhaji Abubakar Ejibunu

The FMC had referred Ejibunu to the National Hospital Abuja where he tested positive for COVID-19, a development which resulted in a dispute between the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state government.

The state government immediately rejected the result, saying its Ministry of Health was not carried along in the series of tests conducted on the patient.

But Yusuf, however, argued that the ordinary citizens should not be made to continue to suffer for this, and urged the Federal Ministry of Health to reopen the hospital in the interest of justice and fairness.

The FMC, Lokoja, the only tertiary federal health facility in the confluence state, offering quality, professional services to indigenes and residents in the state, was closed on the order of the Federal Ministry of Health, following an alleged invasion of the hospital by thugs.

Since then, our people have been travelling all the way to Abuja or Akure, Ibadan and Lagos for health conditions that could otherwise be treated at FMC, Lokoja.

Patients with prior medical appointments now face the rigours of travelling, even at the risk of further complicating their health challenges.

Many indigent patients are now forced to live in precarious conditions and several of those who can afford the trips to Abuja or other cities face increased likelihood of death.

People from all the three senatorial districts and seven federal constituencies in Kogi State are stridently appealing to the conscience of the minister and others in authority for the reopening of FMC, Lokoja, the lawmaker said in the statement.

According to him, the senselessness of a few irrational elements should not be the basis for which Kogi residents are punished. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AGF Abubakar Malami

By Ebere Agozie

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, says the Federal Government is set to end impunity for crimes against members of the public including journalists.

Malami made this known in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Sunday.

In a message to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Minister said it was gratifying to note that Nigeria is no longer among the countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dayagainst is a UN-recognized international day observed annually on Nov. 2.

The day draws attention to the low global conviction rate for violent crimes against journalists and media workers, estimated at only one in every ten case

The 2020 global index for impunity for crimes against journalists by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), released on Oct. 28 indicated that Nigeria is the only country that came off the index from 2019.

He described the achievement as a result of deliberate and committed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian justice sector.

These, he said, include increased access to justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongesting of Nigerias correctional centers and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and Justice Sector reforms.

The AGF expressed optimism that with the solid foundation of reformed justice sector to be bequeathed by the Buhari Administration, never again will Nigeria feature among nations where journalists, citizens and inhabitants of the country will suffer from any form of impunity in the future.

The recent developments in Nigerias international arbitration against P

By Ikenna Osuoha

Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, Executive Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC) says the commission will set its entire operations on pedestal digitalisation, starting with the National Population and Housing Census.

Kwarra made the promise in his inaugural speech in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Kwarra was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the substantive chairman of the commission.

He said that digitalisation of the registration of vital events such as births and deaths were to ensure the effective delivery on the commissions data collation and dissemination mandate.

We need to put in motion a machinery for the improvement of birth registration coverage nationwide, so that by August 10, 2021, we will have more to celebrate on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CVRS), he said.

Kwarra, who called for team work among the commissions federal commissioners, promised to motivate the NPC with encouraging remuneration and incentives.

He pledged a synergy with all data generating agencies and end users like the Bureau of Statistics (BOS), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Ministry of Health and the National Planning Commission in improving and sustaining the dissemination of data to stakeholders.

At the same time, we will increase the tempo of our engagement with our development partners: UNFPA, UNICEF, DFID, UNDP, Bills

#EndSARS protesters

By Emmanuel Afonne

The United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP) an NGO, has commended the Federal Governments directive to states to constitute Judicial Panels of Inquiry to investigate alleged abuses by security agencies.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Mr Shalom Olaseni, Executive Director, UGRFP, described as timely the establishment of the panels in the 36 states and the FCT to ensure accountability and justice for persons who suffered brutality in the hands of the police.

Olaseni urged the appointed members to be guided by the truth so as not to jeopardise the purpose of establishing the panels.

He said that the composition of the panels must be with men and women of impeccable character and verifiable records of respect for human rights.

In the same vein, the judicial panels ought to have represented on it a sizable number of youths approved by their peers so as to lend balance and credibility to the entire set-up, he said.

According to Olaseni, it is satisfactory to note that the panels are not restricted to public hearings on the disbanded SARS alone but has been extended to accommodate complaints against the Nigeria Police Force as a whole.

We have those who suffered police brutality and the policemen and women who were harassed and some killed by hoodlums, are the two broad categories of victims in the matter.

The first group consists of all innocent Nigerians who have suffered from police brutality and unprofessionalism and is further extended to those harassed and killed during the duration of the #EndSARS protest.

The second group is represented by the policemen and women who were equally harassed, and some killed, by hoodlums who hijacked what was a peaceful protest.

We want to specifically identify the killings at Lekki Toll Gate, as constituting a third group of victims with a symbolic leaning and implication for Nigeria as a whole.

These groups are consequential victims of a dysfunctional policing system and it is hoped that justice will be meted in each individual cases without fear or favour, Olaseni said.

He advised the federal government to provide the enabling environment for the people to have confidence in the panels.

As each states Judicial Panel of Inquiry begins its critical job of hearing and verifying claims against the Nigeria Police Force, the public are advised to make the most of the opportunity by actively participating in its summons or hearings.

Federal and State governments must also commit to providing an enabling environment for the hearings to be productive such as convenient logistical arrangements for the members of the panels, complainants and audience, protection for victims and witnesses from targeted harassment.

It must also provide full media coverage to forestall secrecy or manipulations in the panels affair.

Olaseni noted that justice for the Lekki victims by identifying the soldiers who opened fire on the protesters and also who gave order for the shooting, would go a long way to stimulate public confidence in the hearings happening all over the country.

He also said that killer-cops must be brought to book, while unprofessional cops should be shown the way out of service and arraigned where necessary.

The Lekki Toll Gate shooting is a national embarrassment for Nigeria and only by letting justice take its due course for the victims against the perpetrators can national healing occur.

Furthermore, Federal and State governments must exercise restrain in imposing itself over these panels in a manner that impairs its capacity to deliver justice.

All levels of government must also commit to enforcing the conclusions of the Judicial Panels in whatever form it takes, the UGRFP director said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Ogalue
The maritime sector has the capacity to generate more than 1.6 trillion dollars annually if properly harnessed, Mr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said.

Jamoh stated this on Wedneday while delivering a lecture on Maritime Security and National Development in Nigeria at the National Defence College, Abuja.

The maritime sector can generate not less than 1.6trillion dollars if we can properly harness all the investment opportunities and have foreign investors come and assist in the development.

Development in the shipping sector requires good planning. This is the right time we have to start planning.

With the estimated revenue per annum in the maritime sector, it can provide 30 times what the oil industry can provide.

That means that the journey must start from today to ensure that we harness and achieve such target, Jamoh said.

According to him, a recent publication described NIgeria as having the most dangerous waters to trade in, in terms of maritime security.

He explained that the consequences of the report was that it would transcend to negative impact on the nations growth and development.

The NIMASA boss listed some of the negative effects of maritime insecurity to include negative image of the country internationally, increase in insurance premium, inflationary impact, economic consequences, among others.

On measures to achieve maritime security in the country, Jamoh said it would require good governance, maritime infrastructure development and maritime security.

When you have good governance, you address all the issues.

Today, we are talking of maritime insecurity; the international community wants to make sure that when they arrive Nigeria safely, they will leave Nigeria safely.

From time to time we must have policies that can be able to protect the maritime industry so that good things can continue to flourish.

On governance, he said that Nigeria must introduce macro level policy interventions, fiscal and monetary policies, modular floating dock, stakeholders support system, deep blue project and fleet expansion.

He also suggested ship building, among others, to enable good governance.

The Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Mackson Kadir, in a remark, called for a change of orientation if Nigeria was to improve participation in the maritime sector.

While commending the efforts of NIMASA director-general toward the growth of the sector, Kadir said that the maritime outfit sharpens the government of the sea.

Multiplicity of agencies will not serve national interest; it is important to link all organisations in the country to drive growth, he said.

Source: NAN News

Buhari with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari forbackingDr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealain emergingas the first female and African Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The partys National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, gave the commendation in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Mr Ike Abonyi, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Secondus welcomed what he described as historic emergence of Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerias former Finance Minister, as the first female and African D-G of the WTO.

He commended Buhari forputting aside political sentiment in backing both Okonjo-Iweala andDr Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB),for the exalted international jobs.

He said Okonjo-Iwealas victory coming shortly after the re- election of Adesina as the AfDB President, gladdened particularly the PDP who he said brought Nigerias best heads into government.

The PDP national chairman said that the victory of Okonjo-Iweala in the highly contested global position mirrors the greatness of tomorrows Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iwealas victory is a reward for hardwork and commitment to excellence as she demonstrated in all positions she held nationally and internationally.

This savoring news coming at this time that the nation is witnessing her worse is relieving and hope rising that a greater tomorrow awaits this land.

Secondus also commended the international community particularly the ECOWAS and the African Union, AU, for showing brotherhood when it was highly needed.

He prayed God to grant her daughter all she would need, including wisdom, the intellect and discerning mind to lead the World trade. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), and Mr Ibrahim Nakande, Chairman, Board of NBMA, with staff members at the Review Meeting on the National Biosafety Guidelines for the Regulation of Gene Editing and Biosecurity in Abuja on Wednesday.

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has urged Nigerians to embrace the emerging aspects of modern biotechnology with potential to boost the nations economy.

Its Director-General, Dr Rufus Ebegba, made the call on the sidelines of a Review Meeting on the Guidelines for the Regulation of Gene Editing and Biosecurity in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ebegba said that gene edited products that were confirmed safe, has a lot of economic benefits.

He said the agency was concerned with the safety aspect of gene editing and other emerging biotechnology, as well as ensuring that it added economic value to the farmers and the economy.

According to him, you can gene edit tomato to delay excessive ripening in order to prevent early deterioration, especially if you want to move it from one part of the country to another.

You can gene edit a particular product to increase the productivity or reduce the gestation period so you can have early harvest to meet up with the production of that particular crop.

The economic benefits are enormous if confirmed safe; farmers will have higher yield, that means they will have more products to sell and we can produce for export, he said.

Ebegba had earlier said that the purpose of the meeting was to get stakeholders buy in and to guide the agency to ensure Nigeria has a strong biosafety regulation in the area of gene editing and biosecurity.

He said: The issue of Coronavirus is a biosecurity issue and government is trying to be proactive to have a law on biosecurity.

It will also come up with a policy, which will serve as a blueprint on the issues of biosecurity in the country, once adopted by the Federal Executive Council.

We owe this county to come up with documents that can guide our operations, and also ensure confidence in governance, while we ensure they are protected from harmful biotechnological agents.

He gave assurance that the guidelines, being presented had undergone due diligence and after input from other stakeholders, the country would have a national document that can be used by everyone.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Nakande, Chairman, Board of NBMA, allaying the fears of Nigerians, encouraged citizens to consume any Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) approved by the agency, because they were considered safe.

With the setting up of the NBMA and the National Biotechnology Development Agency, the Federal Government has already put in place the necessary measures for us to regulate and ensure that any harm that can be caused as a result of GMO would be checked in good time.

We have presence in all parts of the country, which helps the agency to check any product we think fall within the mandate of the agency in good time.

This has been made possible, because of the collaboration we have with other agencies like Ministry of Agriculture, Customs, National Agricultural Seeds Council and many others.

This will help us to check any harmful products related with GMOs in the country,Nakande said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NBMA Act was amended in 2019, and its scope expanded to include emerging aspects of modern biotechnology which include gene editing and bio-security. (NAN)

Source: NAN News