Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika

By Naomi Sharang/Kingsley Okoye

The Federal Government says 10 new airports will be constructed across the country to boost civil aviation.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation for the 2021 budget defence by the ministry and its agencies.

Sirika said that the civil aviation had witnessed growth saying that the number of airports in the country had increased.

There are airports coming up in Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Lafia, Damaturu, Anambra and so forth. All of these show that civil aviation is growing during this administration, he said.

Sirika said both the executive arm of government and the National Assembly had done justice to the civil aviation sector since 2015 when the current administration came on board through the development of a roadmap, which was being implemented.

So, we have about 10 new airports coming up; that is almost half the number of airports we used to have in Nigeria. We are adding 50 per cent of the number of airports, Sirika said.

He also noted that Kebbi, Osubi, Dutse, Jigawa airports were taken over by the Federal Government while the Gombe State Government had also written the federal authorities, asking it to take over the Gombe Airport.

Meanwhile, Sirika told newsmen after the budget defence that the national carrier, Nigeria Air, was part of the Aviation sector roadmap, which would be delivered before 2023.

We are on it. The transaction adviser has brought in the outline business case. It is being reviewed by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Soon after it completion, it will go to the Federal Executive Council fir approved. We will not leave this government without having it in place, Sirika said.

On the need to site another airport in Lokoja, Kogi, as alternate to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Sirika said, Lokoja is an important Northern town.

Lokoja is a cosmopolitan town, its a mini Nigeria and it is extremely very important in growth and development of our country.

We have a lot of agricultural activities around there. There is fishery, there is perishable item production and so on.

So sitting an airport there is quite apt. For me, it is something we should have done long ago for its importance, Sirika said.

On the issues of dilapidated equipment at some airports across the country, Sirika said it was a work in progress as the airports were being attended to one after the other based on priority.

We dont have the resources to take them all at once. We are attending to them according to their needs in terms of safety and security.

Certainly we are making Ilorin one of the best airports because in the first place it is an alternate for Lagos, Sirika said.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, said that observations were made by the committee on how to assist the aviation industry.

This is more importantly as the world grappled with global recession, aviation becomes a very important sector that requires the attention of any progressive government.

I am happy to see that there is an improvement in what is being proposed for 2021 compared with the outgoing year.

Aviation is important because when the economy is down for a developing nation as ours, it makes sense to focus on aviation in order to be able to accelerate socio-economic activities.

Aviation must be given serious attention and I am happy this government has responded to that, Adeyemi said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Oloniruha Emmanuel

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has congratulated Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on his reappointment as the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The CUPP in a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Tuesday in Abuja, described Yakubus reappointment as the only chance for him to set Nigeria electoral processes on the right path.

They also urged him to use this second term appointment, which is novel in the political history of Nigeria, to cleanse our electoral process and consolidate on the gains of Edo and Ondo elections.

The shifted elections earlier scheduled for Oct. 31, would be the first test of what this second term would be for.

Nigerians will expect nothing less than a very credible, free and fair 2023 general election from him, the statement said.

It alsocalled on the Nigerian Senate and opposition lawmakers to confirm the re-appointment of Yakubu.

According to the statement, Yakubus confirmation will allow him the needed neutrality to oversee the upcoming by-elections and adequate time to start the cleansing process for Nigerias electoral process.

It, however, said that the CUPP would be watching the INEC Chairman closely as he led the Commission into reforming Nigerias electoral process.

We will watch him as he carries through the introduction of electronic voting which the Commission has been test running over the years.

As the longest serving Chairman of INEC, we call on Prof. Yakubu to deploy all his now garnered experience in the last five years to hit the ground running knowing that there will be no third chance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS)

By Bukoka Adetoye

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) on Tuesday said it averted another fire explosion in Lagos.

According to a statement signed and released by Mr Dosumu Jamiu, the Head of Public Affairs Unit of LSFRS, the explosion was averted at Yerevan Petroleum Filling Station at 29, Ajayi Road, Eagle bus stop, Ogba, Ojodu LCDA, Lagos.

According to the statement, the Acting Head of the Service, Mrs Margret Adeseye, got a distress call at the early hours of Oct. 27, which prompted the service to swiftly mobilise to the scene for rescue operation.

On arrival, it was discovered that a 33,000-litre tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was discharging to the underground storage facility of the station when its rear tyre and 33KVA transformer installed at the entrance of the petrol station caught fire.

The fire was quickly doused to avert ripple effect of explosion and loss of lives and property.

Only one dispensing machine was partially affected, the statement said.

The statement quoted Adeseye as saying further that the fire emanated from the discharging valve of the tanker.

However, there was no injury or loss of life involved in the incident, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

#ENDSARS protesters

By Nicholas Obisike

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has constituted an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to look into the recent loss of lives during the EndSARS protest in Enugu.

This was contained in a statement from theSecretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, in Enugu on Tuesday.

According to the SSG, the panel will also look into other grievous bodily injuries to private citizens and security personnel.

The panel, he said, will also tasked to look into the related destruction of properties of private citizens and security infrastructure in the state.

Ortuanya said, The governor constituted the panel pursuant to Executive Order No. 04 of 2020, dated Oct. 27, 2020, made in the exercise of his powers under Section 4 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap. 24 of the Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, he said.

According to the SSG, the panel has 60 days to conclude and submit its report to the governor.

Its terms of reference includes identifying private persons and security personnel who lost their lives.

It will recommend compensation that may be paid to the victims families; to identify private persons and security personnel who sustained grievous bodily injuries and recommend compensation that may be paid to them.

To determine private properties and security infrastructure destroyed and recommend compensation or remedial measures.

And to make any other recommendations arising out of the evidences, considerations or findings of the administrative panel in relation to the matters set out which the panel might consider appropriate.

The SSG disclosed that membership of the panel, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday at the Government House, Enugu at 1:00 p.m., includes:Justice Fredrick Obieze (Rtd.), the Chairman; Mr Charles Abugu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, as the Secretary, and Prof. Frank Ezugwu, the Provost, ESUTH College of Medicine as a member.

Other members are Prof. Agozie Ogbodo, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Godfrey Okoye University; His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Ugwu, the Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; Prof. Ngozi Ejionueme, the Head, Department of Marketing, ESUT, as a member.

Others are, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State, and Chief Frank Maluze, Chartered Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

In addition are Comrade Modester Onwuha, the Vice President, Student Union Government, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, and Ben. Chinedu Oloko, a private legal practitioner, representing the youths. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Monday berated the Federal Ministry of Power over the non provision of budgetary allocation in the 2021 budget for the execution of the Mambila Power Project in Taraba state.

The Senators expressed their displeasure when the Minister of Power, Mamman Sale, appeared before the Senate Committee on Power for the 2021 budget defence session of the ministry and its agencies.

Sen. Shuaibu Lau, (PDP, Taraba), in his presentation, said the project may not see the light of the day, given the absence of commitment on the project by the ministry.

He said that his assessment of the Mambila project site indicates that there is no commitment on the part of the ministry to begin execution of the project.

There is no road to Mambila. You cant take any equipment to Mambila at the moment, there is no road to transport personnel to the place, so how will the project take off?.

There is a court case that has not been settled and the Chinese company cannot come with the court case still on.

We are just going round on one particular project for more then 20 years. We must be sincere with ourselves and tell ourselves the truth about the project.

Let us plan something and do the project accordingly as planned.

Sen. James Manager, (PDP-Delta) said that several power experts had noted that the Mambila project, if completed, will help salvage the power deficit in the country.

He, however, noted that no seriousness on execution of the project has been shown by the ministry from discussions so far.

Manager said he had thought that the minister would be desirous of completing the project, given the life time opportunity of being minister from that region.

He said that the project should have been a priority of the ministry before the Senate Committee on Power.

I get very frustrated, Mr Chairman, why are we like this.

Other senators that decried the absence of commitment on the execution of the project are Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe), Gabriel Suswan (PDP-Benue), Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), Adamu Alero (APC-Kebbi), among others.

Responding, the Minister of Power, Mamman Sale, said that since he assumed office, he had been doing his best to kick start the Mambila power project.

He, however, shocked the Senate Committee when he disclosed that prior to his assumption of office, there was nothing like Mambila project.

I am doing my best and I will continue to do my best. The counterpart funding that we had is 200 million dollars.

This money had been there, and I have been pressing for the release, so that we can move to site and start work.

It is with this money that we can clear the place, do the roads, do site clearance and begin the ground breaking.

This will show the whole world that we are ready, and that is when any investors that are ready to come will invest, that is what the Chinese are waiting for.

He, however affirmed that there was a lingering litigation, noting that he was still trying to convince President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues.

It is all our responsibility and that is why we are here in the Senate for budget defence to solve the problem. Once we succeed in taking up this project, it will be completed, he assured.

The Mambilla hydropower project has a generation capacity of 3,050 Mega Watt (MG) when completed.

The project is being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Power with the help of a consortium of Chinese investors.

Chinese Export Import (Exim) Bank is funding 85 per cent of the estimated 5.8 billion-dollar project cost, while the remaining 15 per cent funding will come from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The project is estimated to cost 5.8 billion dollars and will generate up to 50,000 local jobs during the construction phase. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

PTF on COVID-19

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government says the risk of resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria is high due to the large gatherings of the #EndSARS protesters and the mayhem that followed.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 , made the disclosure at a joint national media briefing of the taskforce in Abuja on Monday.

Over the past two weeks, Nigerians have focused attention on two important issues

Namely, the protests by youths which has unfortunately metamorphosed into an unprecedented safety and security situation and COVID-19 developments in the country and around the world.

Both activities are critical to our nation because the security situation impacts negatively on our economy, social life, international reputation and ability to effectively coordinate the national response.

Also, the large gatherings witnessed during the protests and during the break-ins at various warehouses, homes and looting of stores put us at a great risk of resurgence of the virus, hesaid.

Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that the global pandemic situation had continued to escalate, with the cumulative number of infections crossing the 43 million mark.

In the last 20 hours, 4,498 deaths were reported from 96 countries and territories worldwide, with Europe (France, Italy, and UK) accounting for 30 per cent (1,358 deaths).

Africa has recorded a cumulative total case count of 1,727,887 including 41,323 deaths.

Nigeria maintains the 5th position in highest cumulative cases after South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia, he said.

The SGF commended the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) for partnering with state governments in the distribution of palliatives to their people.

With the support of the federal government, CACOVID has been working with the states through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to determine the quantum of their intervention, which was intended to be effective and equitable.

Of particular concern to the PTF is the issue of palliatives found and looted from various warehouses around the country. It is important to make the following clarifications.

That the federal government palliatives consisted largely of the 70MT of grains released from the Strategic Grain Reserves as well as rice secured from the Nigerian Customs Service.

The share for each state were handed over to the state governments for onward distribution to the citizens.

A number of indices were worked out for this purpose.

The national coordinator shall also provide further distinction and the modus operandi for the distribution of the palliatives donated to the states by the coalition, he said.

He urged all Nigerians to remain law abiding and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to restore normalcy in the country.

Humanity has been traumatised by COVID-19. Our nation is not experiencing a second wave, but has been impacted negatively by looting and arson, Mustapha said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus update

made this known via its verified Website on Monday.

The centre also recorded two COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Source: NAN News

Buratai

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has warned that the army would not allow subversive and unscrupulous elements to destabilise the peace and stability of Nigeria.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said that Buratai made the remarks during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers, Commanding Officers and field commanders on Monday in Abuja.

Musa briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting at a news conference.

Buratai told the PSOs, GOCs and field commanders that there would be no room for disloyalty amongst all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

He directed that they must reiterate to all their subordinates that the army was determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress.

According to him, the best system of governance was democracy and we must all ensure that Nigerias democracy remained stable and steady.

We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire.

We remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of this great nation do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation.

Buratai stated that the events of the past few days in the country had shown the determination of some unscrupulous individuals and groups to destabilise Nigeria by all means.

He said that those individuals, groups and other undesirable elements eventually hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest marches that resulted to widespread violence, acts of wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties in many parts of the country.

These acts according to him, led to the imposition of curfew in several states of the federation.

The COAS added that the army had been aware from the onset of the #EndSARS protest about the grand design by the sponsors of the protests to draw it into the crisis.

He added that the plan was to embark on massive propaganda to discredit the military and the government, so as to set the people against the army once it was called out to aid civil authorities.

According to him, the army being aware of the plan was careful not to be dragged in, and issued the initial warning through a press release on Oct. 14 of its resolve to secure and safeguard a united Nigeria.

Now the detractors alongside their local and international collaborators have mischievously and deliberately misrepresented troops efforts to ensure compliance with the curfew imposed by legitimate civil authorities in Lagos and other states.

These agitators are falsely accusing the army of being responsible for the activities of the miscreants in spite of glaring evidence to the contrary.

They have continually threatened to report the army to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families.

Thankfully, however, a large percentage of Nigerians and the international community have started seeing through the smokescreen of falsehood, and deliberate misrepresentation of facts being orchestrated by enemies of Nigeria and have retracted their earlier false publications, he said.

Buratai stressed that the army had continued to exercise restraint and fully abided by the internationally recognised rules of engagement as contained in its published Standard Operating Procedures for Internal Security Operations.

He said the processes were derived from the International Human Rights Laws in accordance with the international principles guiding the use of force.

The COAS, however, encouraged officers and soldiers not be afraid of the ICC for carrying out their legitimate duties as stated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other extant laws, rules and regulations of Nigeria.

He said they had every right under the constitution to carry out assigned and legitimate roles of maintaining law and order in aid of civil authorities and other security agencies.

He stressed that anyone who doubted their commitment to their constitutional responsibilities must be made to know that they remained committed, loyal and unwavering in ensuring the unity, stability and security of our dear country Nigeria.

He charged them to show the detractors and other elements of destabilisation that they are neither part of them nor in anyway supportive of their activities at all times.

He directed that any act of arson or attempt to kill or maim any military or security personnel and other law abiding civilians must be responded to quickly and decisively.

He charged them to fully cooperate with the police and other security agencies to ensure that they are in full compliance with imposed curfews and any other extant security instructions in force.

Buratai said the recent activities by unscrupulous elements had shown their desire to acquire arms and ammunition at all cost from security personnel.

He disclosed that no fewer than 10 AK-47 rifles have been lost to these miscreants in the past two weeks across the country with the attendant loss of lives of personnel.

The COAS, however, charged commanders to nip in the bud these emerging trends at all cost, and directed them to warn their troops on internal security or on guard duties outside the barracks to be at maximum alert at all times, and to also deal decisively with any attack on their duty locations.

According to him, there was no choice between a democratically united, strong and prosperous Nigeria and a nation disunited in a state of anarchy and retrogression.

We must all strive for a united, strong, stable and progressive Nigeria, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rivers state House of Assembly

Ikuru Lizzy

Rivers State House of Assembly has reassured residents of peace and security following unrest witnessed in some states, in the aftermath of #EndSARS protest.

The house gave the assurance on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, at a news conference unanimously signed by lawmakers representing the 32 state constituencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Nysom Wike, had deployed some stringent measures to ensure peace in the state.

The measures ranged from imposition of curfew in some parts of the state to an official ban on activities of the Ingenious Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group.

The house also restated support for state governments ban on IPOB in Rivers.

The resolve read by Speaker of the house, Mr Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani urged residents to remain calm as government was employing all legitimate steps to return normalcy to the state.

The lawmakers said that government took the steps as a result of deliberate breach of peace by hoodlums who took advantage of the #EndSARS protest to cause trouble in the state.

In line with our constitutional responsibility as enshrined in Section 4, sub-section 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended for peace and good governance in the state, we are poised to delivering on this mandate, the lawmakers resolved.

They said that while supporting all peaceful agitations and calls for disbandment of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), destruction of lives and properties would not be acceptable.

We condemn in its entirety the violence that was orchestrated by members of the proscribed Ingenious Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and other miscreants during the protest.

This has led to loss of lives and property of the people and that of some security personnel in the state.

We advise those who have hijacked the #EndSARS protest to perpetrate crime, to desist from such act as it is capable of destroying national stability, the lawmakers said.

The house also assured some residents, especially those in Oyigbo local government area, a boarder community with Abia who allegedly fled the area for fear of continued crises of safety.

They condoled with families of victims of the protest and urged their respective constituents, especially the youth to maintain peace. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Goitre

By Abiodun Azi

A physician, Dr Idris Giwa, saysiodine deficiency isthe causeof 75 per cent of goitre in victims.

Goitre is a swelling of the thyroid gland that causes a lump in the front of the neck. The lump moves up and down when the victim swallows.

Chances of goitre developing in the thyroid gland increases with age. Women are also more likely to develop goitre.

Other causes of goitre are an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), hormone changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause and the taking some types of medicines, such as lithium, a medicine used to treat some mental health conditions

Inflamed thyroid gland (thyroiditis), having radiation treatment to the neck or chest area, such as radiotherapy for neck cancer, harmless nodules or cysts within the thyroid can also cause the development of goitre.

Symptoms include coughing, a tight feeling in the throat, and sudden hoarseness in the voice, difficulty in swallowing, difficulty or high-pitched sound in breathing.

Dr. Giwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)in Lagos on Tuesday that goitre affects between 200 million and 300 million people worldwide as of today.

He recommended the intake of between 100 and 150 microgrammes of iodine in diets per day.

Iodine is not produced in the body and is obtained from iodine-rich foods such as tuna fish, shrimp, dairy, iodised salt, eggs, prune andseaweeds and are readily available, he said.

He also advised goitre victims to avoid consumption of foods like cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens and horseradish as they could worsen the symptoms of goitre. (NAN)

Source: NAN News