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    Military airstrike neutralises terroists in Borno
    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    The Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralised several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements and destroyed their hideouts at Tudun Wulgo and Tumbun Gini in Borno.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Enenche said that the destroyed terrorists hideouts were located on the fringes of Lake Chad.

    He said that the air attacks were executed on Thursday as part of a new subsidiary Operation, tagged Wutar Tabki, after series of aerial surveillance missions had indicated their locations.

    According to him, the locations were being used as staging areas where some ISWAP leaders and their fighters meet to plan and launch attacks.

    Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the two locations.

    The attack aircraft scored devastating hits in the target areas, destroying some structures and neutralizing several of the terrorists, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    IMFC to create framework to handle sovereign debts beyond DSSI- IMF boss

    Kristina Georgieva, IMF Boss

    By Folasade Akpan

    The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) has come up with an agreement to create a Common Framework for handling sovereign debt treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI).

    Kristina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), said this in Washington D. C. at the IMFC opening press conference at the ongoing 2020 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank virtual annual meetings.

    Georgieva said that there were two significant deliverables from the G20 which were endorsed by the IMFC.

    She added that the frameworkwouldbe an important advancement in the international architecture for resolving sovereign debt matters in an orderly way.

    As you may recall, the IMF has raised several issues with improving the architecture so we can have fair, quick, relatively simple, relatively low-cost resolution of unsustainable debt.

    This common framework is a significant step in the right direction, she added.

    She said that secondly, the IMFC had agreed to an extension by the G20 of the DSSI for at least another six months from the end of 2020 and for the option to extend it further if necessary.

    She, however, said that as the IMF had been emphasising, further private sector participation was still needed.

    She also said that the two deliverables were in addition to three broad policy areas earlier discussed.

    The first policy was that countries should continue with essential measures to protect lives and livelihoods.

    Stepping up vital health measures is imperative, as is well-targeted fiscal and monetary support to households and firms.

    So, the IMFs message from these meetings is clear: avoid premature withdrawalpulling the plug too soon risks serious, self-inflicted harm.

    Secondly, she urged them to build a more resilient and inclusive economy, adding that public investment, especially in green projects and digital infrastructure, could be a game-changer.

    This, she said, was because it had the potential to create millions of new jobs, while boosting productivity and incomes.

    Thirdly, she advised that countries should deal with debt.

    According to her, global public debt was projected to reach a record high of 100 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2021.

    This is partly because countries rightly need to boost spending to fight the crisis and secure the recovery.

    Addressing this issue over the medium-term will be critical, but for many low-income countries, urgent action is required now, she said.

    Georgieva, however, said that strong international cooperation was needed especially on vaccine development and distribution.

    According to her, faster progress on medical solutions could speed up the recovery and could add almost nine trillion dollars to global income by 2025.

    This, in turn, could help narrow the income gap between richer and poorer nations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that DSSI is a G20 nations initiative announced in April in response to a COVID-19 call to action from the World Bank and the IMF.

    It supports a Net Present Value (NPV)-neutral, time-bound suspension of principal and interest payments for eligible countries that make a formal request for debt relief from their official bilateral creditors.

    It also encourages private creditors to participate on comparable terms.

    The IMFC advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the international monetary and financial system. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Group drums support for Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner

    Mrs Lauretta Onochie

    By Lizzy Okoji

    The All Progressive Congress Alliance for Good Governance (APCAGG) has called on Nigerians to support the nomination of Mrs Lauretta Onochie as Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Members of the APCAAG made the call while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, saying that those against Onochies appointment were people who undermined democratic process and the rule of law.

    Mr Great Jonathan, the Convener of the group said that the appointment of Onochie could be disputed or seen as partisan as she is not a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Jonathan said that Onochie was only serving as a Technical/Media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari and he has the power to appoint qualified people into his cabinet.

    Some elements, who are afraid of their shadows and dangerous past are up in arms against the well-deserved appointment of Lauretta Onocihie by President Buhari, because of what she represents.

    Those who are afraid of being confronted in their notorious schemes of election rigging by the bold and courageous disposition of Onochie have resulted to a cacophony of noises in order to confuse the nation.

    Through their propaganda machines, they have launched an attack against her appointment but the reality is that they are afraid because she has always stood for free and fair election and that is not in their dictionary.

    They know that her appointment into INEC is a further measure by Mr President to strengthen the institution to ensure freer and more credible elections in the future and they dont like that, Jonathan said.

    Jonathan said none of those opposing her nomination had brought anything tangible against her except that she worked for the government.

    But the question to ask is this- Is the government in which she serves not the government of Nigeria? Does she possess the intellectual capacity to do the job?

    What denies her the right like every other Nigerian from handling responsibilities in any capacity?

    Are those who have been appointed in the past and those currently serving, more Nigerian than she is?

    Has she committed any offence upon which the constitution should frown at her appointment? the group asked.

    Jonathan further cited examples of previous INEC chairmen who were card carrying members of previous administrations.

    Also speaking, Dr Tom Ohikere, a member of the group said that Nigerians should be happy over the nomination of Onochie as she is a professional, upright and with good standing.

    Ohikere described her appointment as well-deserved as she possesses the qualifications to drive Nigeria through a free and fair electioneering process.

    Mrs Sally Chinedu, former South East Zonal Leader of the APC also lauded the nomination of Onochie, saying it is part of the presidents agenda of women inclusion in governance.

    She described Onochie as a God fearing woman whose character in previous positions, professionalism and moral standards qualified her for the position. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    2020 World Food Day: Network advocates strategic youth engagement across agricultural value chains

    Food Day: Minister, NGOs advocate nutrition as part of COVID-19 prevention strategies

    By Felicia Imohimi

    An agribusiness-driven organisation, the Nigeria Young Farmers Network (NYFN), has called for strategic and pragmatic youth engagement in agricultural value chain to unlock the potential of agriculture and achieve food security.

    Mr Promise Amahah, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the network, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in commemoration of the World Food Day on Friday.

    NAN reports that the World Food Day is commemorated annually on Oct. 16, and the theme for the 2020 Edition is, Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions Are Our Future.

    Amahah, who noted that it was imperative now than ever to engage the youth, however, described the sector as currently driven mostly by aging population of farmers and non-youth actors.

    He said that the quest for sustainability would remain insurmountable if the nation continued to pay lip service to deliberate and strategic youth engagement across all value chains.

    The NYFN boss identified year 2020 as a special year of celebration, saying that the year had put even much more pressure on food systems due to COVID-19.

    According to him, the youth are pivotal to the theme of this years commemoration, adding that it is time to empower them to take the centre stage.

    Food security requires much more innovative strategies. To achieve it together, we must expand our reach.

    With a rapidly growing population that is projected to double by 2030, government and private sector should deepen collaboration to build resilient infrastructure for food systems, he said.

    Amahah described the theme as a call for more cohesive action by all stakeholders, especially on vulnerable supply chains.

    According to him, it is critical to review our decisions and actions to enable us to collectively surmount the many odds ahead of us.

    It is time for crisis-proof food production to avert impending disaster.

    The Youth remain the future of food. No Youth, No Food! No Food, No Future!, the NYFN boss stressed.

    He said that the NYFN had created a formidable strategy and structure for deliberate youth engagement across all value chains and value-added services.

    Amahah explained that the strategy and structure of the network were its collective aspiration to unlock the potential of agriculture to achieve zero hunger.

    He identified 2020 World Food Day as a further clarion call and reminder that together, we can grow, nourish sustain our communities but first, it requires our collective action.

    Congratulations to everyone as we celebrate, ponder and act accordingly to achieve food security through collective engagement, he said.

    NAN reports that the World Food Day launched in 1945 was created to celebrate the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

    The days commemoration promotes world-wide awareness and action for those suffering from hunger and the need to ensure food and nutrition security for all. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    Guterres flays attacks against UN peacekeepers in Mali

    UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

    By Harrison Arubu

    These incidents come three days after 12 civilians and at least 11 soldiers of the Malian Defence and Security Forces had been killed in attacks in central Mali, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    Food Day: Minister, NGOs advocate nutrition as part of COVID-19 prevention strategies

    Food Day: Minister, NGOs advocate nutrition as part of COVID-19 prevention strategies

    By Angela Atabo

    The Ministry of Women Affairs and Action Against Hunger, an NGO have advocated that nutrition should be a major part of the COVID-19 prevention strategies to fortify nutritional value of individuals and communities in Nigeria .

    The minister Pauline Tallen made the call on the occasion of World Food Day organised by Action Against Hunger Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.

    According to her, the call has become imperative due to the numerous challenges being presently faced by the country.

    Tallen, represented by Ms Jumia Mohammed, the Director, Child and Focal Officer, Online Sexual Exploitation, said that the effect of COVID-19 crippled livelihoods and resulted in the increase in all forms of violence and women were the most hit.

    She said that available report showed that Nigeria had the highest number of children affected by malnutrition globally, with more than 2.5 million suffering from acute malnutrition.

    Of the national prevalence rate, 32 per cent of children under five,only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment, report also showed that Nigeria has the highest burden of stunted children in the world.

    The ministry has been working to educate the society on the benefits of consuming local nutritious foods among others .

    It is important to note that healthy nutritious diets are key to boosting imunity and preventing non-communicable diseases that are risk factors for higher morbidity and mortality .

    Tallen added that food and nutrition security should be safeguarded ,as nutrition could not wait.

    She said this called for continuous nutrition intervention as short-term disruptions of such programmes could have irreversible effects on child survival, health and development of women and children in the long run.

    Ms Beatrice Eluaka, the Executive Secretary, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) urged government at all levels to ensure delivery of affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all.

    Eluaka said that that there was the need to prioritise the food and nutrition needs of the poorest and most vulnerable households in Nigeria by expanding and improving emergency food assistance and social protection programmes.pp

    She called for the approval and implementation of the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition to guarantee optimal nutritional status for Nigerians through accelerating the scaling up of priority high impact nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions.

    Eluaka called for improvement in the budgetary allocations of nutritions, releasing and cash backing those allocations while ensuring transparency and accountability in use of funds directed at addressing malnutrition.

    She called for extension of the current four months maternity leave for nursing mothers to 6 months to enable them exclusively to breastfeed their babies among others.

    She encouraged Nigerians to increase their overall demand for nutritious food by choosing healthy, and not allowing sustainable habits fall by the wayside.

    Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Senator representing Borno, said that Nigeria still had a lot to do in the area of fighting hunger in Nigeria, especially in the North East, and in Borno.

    Nigerians, Action Against Hunger in collaboration with the Federal and state ministries, agencies and departments and legislators among other stakehlders were developing programmes.

    Adama Diarrassouba, the Deputy Country Director, Support Action Against Hunger said that the programmes were aimed at fighting hunger through the improvement of food security, children, pregnant and lactating women nutritional

    According to the United Nations global state of food security and nutrition report, almost 690 million people across the world suffered of hunger in 2019, an increase of 10 million people from 2018.

    Yet, the situation is expected to be worst in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately, majority of these victims are women and children; the most vulnerable part of the population.

    Diarrassouba said that it was in that context that it was collaborating with stakeholders like CSOs, Development partners ,and MDAs to tackle the challenge.

    Source: NAN News

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    Expert says 25% of anesthetists at high risk of developing burnout

    File Photo: Doctors,

    By Franca Ofili

    Dr Afred Fom, the Chief Consultant Anesthetist, National Hospital Abuja (NHA), says 25 per cent of anesthetists are at high risk of developing burnout at work.

    He said this on Friday in Abuja during a webinar to celebrate the 2020 World Anesthesia Day with the theme Occupational Wellbeing of the Anesthesiologist.

    He spoke on the topic Prevention of Burnout in the Anesthesiology.

    According to him, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress which occurs when one feels overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet constant demands.

    , also known as anesthesiologists, are responsible for administering one of three different types of
    anesthesia to patients undergoing specific procedures that require numbing.

    Fom added that the risk was due to the fact that their work involved intense and emotion draining, high workload, responsibility for making critical decisions and pressure to avoid errors.

    He noted that the prevalence rate of burnout from survey of European anesthetists vary, ranging between six per cent and 18 per cent.

    The chief consultant said good preventive measures were necessary to address such epidemic, saying that medical training should be part of a functional work environment.

    He noted that burnout could be prevented through individual, organisational approach and provision of conducive working environment, adequate equipment and training.

    He explained that the treatment of burnout was not well studied yet but the most therapeutic techniques involved behavioural modification techniques.

    Fom said it was necessary to recognise the stressed behaviour and to identify what caused it and then eliminate the stressors.

    Dr Olatunde Olawoye, the Consultant Anesthetist, Federal Medical Centre Abuja, who spoke on occupational wellbeing of health workers,
    advised that anesthetists should have a good relationship with colleagues and families.

    Olawoye said that when problems were shared with friends, families and colleagues, it could go a long way in addressing burnout.

    He urged anesthetists to always go for medical checkup, do lot of exercise, eat good food, take a break and have fun as it would help to solve some of the problems.

    Dr Maryrose Osazuwa, the Head, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, National Hospital Abuja, advised that medical personnel should cultivate the habit of resting at the hospital before driving home to avoid accident due to work stress.

    Osazuwa said it was necessary to know ones mental wellbeing in order not to administer wrong drugs to patients. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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    We made Ogun Investment Corporation worth N60bn, paid N1.9bn in remittances  Ex- MD
    Mr Babajide Odusolu, former Managing Director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) has given insight into how he turned around the affairs of the corporation during his six-year tenure.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, Odusolu who served as OPIC MD from 2013 to 2019 said that he and his team moved the bureaucratic corporation to a profit making, profit minded company.

    According to Odusolu, in about 29 years that OPIC existed before his appointment, the company had not remitted up to N100 million to the state government account.

    He added that in the six years that he ran the corporation, the Ogun State Government got over N1.9 billion in remittances from OPIC.

    By the time I was sworn in, the maximum OPIC had ever contributed to Government coffers was about N20 million Naira cumulative.

    For all the over 20 years it was in existence I dont think it was even up to N100 million.

    But within a six year period, with the active support of His Excellency, the Governor and his encouragement, OPIC did more than N1.9 billion in remittances to the state government.

    We went from a corporation that had assets that were undermined and undervalued to one that did a turnover of 18.7 billion within a six year period.

    OPIC did not get subventions from the government; we had to generate resources to fund all our work.

    Because the government was averse to commercial loans we also could not borrow, so what we did was to invest and recapitalise all the returns we got from our various projects.

    Despite doing that, we were still about to deliver returns of N1.9 billion to the state government.

    During this same period, the government mandated us, inconjuction with other agencies, to turn around the Gateway Mortgage Bank, he said.

    Giving insights into the state of the Corporation before he was appointed, Odusolu said that he met OPIC being run like the usual civil service establishment, with grossly undervalued assets, demoralised staff, bad offices and broken down equipment.

    He also added that there were serious security challenges in OPICs estate in Agbara where land grabbers had taken over a lot of the estates land while many clients were in gross default of their repayment obligations.

    He added that with marching orders from former governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, he had to conduct a reorientation of staffers, improve the morale of staff and business language, while also moving at top speed to turn OPIC around.

    That meant I had to take people who only understood civil service language and teach them to understand the language of business, all while moving at top speed to restructure the entire organization.

    We carried out a forensic audit and found out that over 500 hectares of our land had been basically grabbed by people who had not paid for them.

    Working with the state government, we had to conduct massive security sweep in Agbara and restore sanity.

    It was so bad then that industrialists had abandoned their factories and flour mills while trucks were broken down everywhere; there was nothing going on.

    We had to go in there, restructure and do everything to make it work. Between 2013 and 2015 we were able to deliver over 15 km of road networks in Agbara, recover all the lands that had been stolen, encourage and attract new industries.

    After we succeeded in doing that in Agbara, we moved to Abeokuta the state capital and also turned it around he said.

    He hinted that in Abeokuta at the time, there was nothing that appealed to industries to stay there, adding that companies only came for meetings in the capital and went back to Lagos to stay.

    The former OPIC MD added that about four multi-million dollar industries came in to Abeokuta due to the intervention of his administration.

    After we finished, based on our track record, we were able to get a partnership with Family Homes Fund, which was a Federal Government-backed initiative to build affordable houses in Nigeria.

    OPIC won a contract to build 1020 housing units at New Makun City. That is still ongoing as we speak

    Odusolu also pointed out that the track record of OPIC spoke for it as the corporation was invited to handle one contract after another.

    He said that OPIC handled construction works at Isheri, an area which he said should have been the Lekki of Ogun state but was then largely undervalued and ill maintained.

    He said that OPIC built 188 housing units in Isheri before moving on to build VIP Housing in Abeokuta which metamorphosed into the Mitros Residences Hotel shortly after its construction.

    The former oil and gas worker, as well as legal practitioner, said that at the end of his tenure, the corporation which was barely recognised had a total asset of about N60 billion.

    Until we came, OPIC just took land without improving it and sold it as it was.

    By the time we were leaving office in May 2019, if you valued the total assets of OPIC, it was a 50 to 60 billion naira corporation.

    We had lands we had recovered and fenced and were available to developers. We also had the Mitros Residences which is a massive investment and a very profitable one for the state government, he said.

    Source: NAN News

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    Mother of septuplets begs FG, Nigerians for assistance
    By Gami Tadanyigbe

    Mrs Amaka Emmanuel, a 44-year-old woman, who gave birth to seven babies at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, on Tuesday, has appealed for assistance from the Federal Government and other Nigerians.

    Emmanuel, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gwagwalada, said that the septuplets came 10 years after her first child.

    The delivery was a miracle and I thank God Almighty. I want the Federal Government to assist me in cash and kind to enable me bring up the kids, he said.

    Prof. Bissallah Ekele, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, who also spoke with NAN, said that two of the babies died after delivery.

    The remaining five are doing fine in the incubator.

    They are doing well and healthy enough in the incubators, but a lot more is needed to keep them alive. Management has been doing its best to ensure both the mother and the babies stay healthy, he said.

    The professor said that the seven babies were the highest delivery ever recorded in the hospital, and commended the hospitals gynaecologists and paediatricians for making it possible.

    Dr Gga Vandi Kwaghe, a chief consultant gynaecologist, told NAN that the delivery, through a caesarian session, was successful following careful handling by competent hands.

    The babies were also premature; we had to delay the delivery to see how they can be matured before we deliver them, to avoid complications.

    We had to weigh the condition of the mother because the effect of the seven babies in her womb was quite overwhelming, he said.

    He advised pregnant women with high blood pressure to always go for regular checks to ensure safe delivery.

    Source: NAN News

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    Lagos by-election: Do not sell your vote, IPAC tells electorate

    Mr Femi Olaniyi Chairman, Lagos IPAC, addressing newsmen on the preparedness for Lagos by-election

    By Yemi Adeleye/Oluwatope Lawanson

    The Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Lagos State Chapter, on Thursday urged the electorate not to sell their votes in exchange for their birth right.

    Mr Femi Olaniyi, Lagos IPAC Chairman, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the INEC expanded stakeholders meeting in Lagos.

    Olaniyi implored the electorate not to allow themselves to be negatively influenced adding that their votes count.

    We ask all political parties to tidy up their ends and respect the peace pact signed by getting their supporters under control.

    Desist from violent acts and stop the act of vote buying.

    Do not intimidate or influence electorate with money to vote against their conscience.

    Its high time we allowed people to willingly make their choice of leader and not take advantage of their economic and financial situation to influence them to vote otherwise.

    To the electorate, do not sell your votes. Selling your vote is exchanging your birth right for peanut or a morsel of food.

    Vote your conscience, vote for the right person that will do it right, he said.

    The Chairman also commended INEC for a job well done in preparing for the forth coming election in Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe II Constituency slated for Oct. 31.

    He charged INEC to be sincere and transparent in the process of voting, collation and announcement of results.

    Let us all continue to work toward a better and greater Nigeria.
    We look forward to a very peaceful, free and fair election, Olaniyi said. (NAN)

    Source: NAN News

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