Military

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji has neutralised scores of bandits in air strikes at Wagini West in Katsina State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this in Abuja on Saturday.

Enenche said the air interdiction mission was conducted on Oct. 8 after credible intelligence reports and confirmatory surveillance missions revealed significant presence of the bandits with hundreds of rustled cattle in their camp.

He said the air component subsequently deployed a force package of fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the location.

He added that the attack aircraft subsequently engaged the location in successive runs, destroying portions of the camp and neutralising many of the bandits.

The armed forces of Nigeria, in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the northwest zone of the country, will sustain the offensive against all enemies of our nation, he assured. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NEPZA MD Prof. Adesoji Adesugba

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), says it is working assiduously to resolve critical challenges in Free Trade Zones (FTZs) scheme to spur investments and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, NEPZAs Managing Director, made this known on Friday at the Nigeria and West Africa GDP Global Webinar 2 on FDI, State Economic Prospects and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Promotion.

Adesugba, while speaking on Nigeria Special Economic Zones Prospects listed some critical challenges facing FTZs scheme, which could act as a deterrent to investments and GDP growth in the country.

The NEPZA Chief identified one of the most critical challenge as lack of understanding of the concept of the FTZs by relevant government agencies and other stakeholders.

He equally decried lack of adequate fund and infrastructure, obsolete law and inconsistency in government policies, urging critical stakeholders on FTZs to synergise to work on a law to improve operations of FTZs.

Adesugba, while calling for adequate infrastructure said for Nigeria to have an international standard FTZs there must be infrastructure like power, road, water and adequate services.

The NEPZA boss recalled that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) was set out to increase manufacturing contribution from four per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to over 10 per cent in next five years.

According to him, it is projected that the increase in GDP will translate to about five trillion naira annually.

He recalled that in April 2017 President Muhammadu Buhari also launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a road map agregrating the sectorial plans to agriculture, transportation, industrialisation and social investments.

Under the ERGP, he said the SEZs model was being used to accelerate the implementation of NIRP, a 4-year roadmap on industrialisation to create jobs and promote export which in turn will facilitate economic growth.

He noted that these projections were made but the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global economic projections and Nigeria was not left out.

However, he said that the development of SEZs in Nigeria still remained a presidential priority and one strategy to get Nigeria out of economic downturn.

He said the government identified the SEZs scheme as a key policy instruments for realisation of its industrialisation agenda following the Presidents visit to China in 2016.

It is very important for us to note that if we are trying to replicate what China did we must ensure that all the parameters are met, especially on infrastructural development and regulatory framework, he added.

He said in support to the Presidents agenda, NEPZA recently revised its strategic plan to include an increase in the number of functional and optimal SEZs as one of its key goals.

He explained that there were several planned and ongoing strategies targeted at achieving these goals including the creation of SEZs border, establishing technical zones and enabling environment in formatic areas like medical tourism, mining, technology and agriculture.

He added that FTZs in Lekki in Lagos, Ilorin, Funtua in Kastina and Gombe would be developed to modern zones with hope to set up SEZs for functional medical tourism in Lekki in collaboration with World Bank and state government.

He said NEPZA act of 1992 mandated the authority to provide a conducive investments climate with competitive incentives regime, streamlines administrative procedures and infrastructural development.

NEPZA currently operates various types of FTZs, which include the export processing zones, free trade zones, border free zones, science and industrial technology parks and logistics zones.

We have about 42 licensed free trade zones and currently we have 22 operational zones, 400 free zones enterprises in different sectors and have managed to attract over 16 billion dollars while local investments have been put at N270 billion.

We have generated over 15,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs, generated government revenues of N30 billion, carried out pilot projects like construction of Dangote Refinery at Lekki FTZ , the largest refinery due for completion by first quarter of 2021, he said.

We are in the process of upgrading, retraining zones managers. The current NEPZA management has a renewed focus to resolve these challenges to improve efficiency in trade zone operations, he noted.

Earlier in a remark, Charles Ughele, Chief Representative and Advisor West Africa, GDP Global Development, stressed the need to focus on how to get Nigeria out of COVID-19 economic downturn through pragmatic solutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GDP Global Development is a leading and specialized economic promotion and business development consultancy, which provides pragmatic solutions to economic policies, encourage international best practices and trade facilitation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Food vendors making brisk business at a checking point

By Aderemi Bamgbose

Food and other consumable vendors made brisk businesses at polling units in Okitipupa during Saturdays Ondo State governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the electorate who trooped out to cast their votes were seen buying foods, minerals, bottle water, chinchin, puff-puff (Deep fried dough), biscuits and other items.

Some of the vendors who spoke with NAN said that they made good money from voters at the units.

They also said they needed to bring out their wares since the election had grounded movement.

A food vendor, Mrs Modeola Ajayi, I made some money today as many people bought from me today and am happy,

Mr Emmanuel Badmus, a mineral and bottle water seller, also said that he made money as many people bought from him.

Miss Shade Akanji, a small chops seller, also informed NAN that so many people patronised her which made her happy.

I am happy as many people patronised me today, she said.

Kazeem Aminu, a cigarette, kolanut, bittercola vendor, also expressed satisfaction on the sales he made at polling units, saying the large crowd was a blessing to him.

NAN also reports that the election grounded commercial and business activities as all shops were closed while vehicular movements were also restricted. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Onigbinde

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former Super Eagles handler Adegboye Onigbinde has questioned the basis for the selection of players for the friendly double-header against Algeria and Tunisia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Friday night pipped the Super Eagles by a lone goal to extend their unbeaten run in all matches to 19.

Onigbinde told NAN that only Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles Technical Adviser can give an account of the players and their style of play during the friendlies.

There is one thing we must accept, and that is that I am not close to the team.

I dont know on what basis Rohr made his selections. He is the only person that knows why he chose those in the team.

For now, I am a stranger to Nigerian football and I wish the managers best of luck, he said.

Meanwhile, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu , had commended the handlers of the team for inviting new players and also convincing some to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

I am happy that the boys are expressing high level of patriotism; that is how it should be.

Anybody who is a Nigerian must be encouraged to work for the country.

Nobody will come and do it for us except those of us that are Nigerians, so if one is in Diaspora, he or she should be thinking how best do I work for Nigeria.

So, I am happy that the boys are encouraged to do what they are doing; its a positive sign for a greater tomorrow for the country, Lulu said.

The Super Eagles will meet Tunisia on Tuesday in another friendly encounter in Austria, while Algeria play Mexico. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) says normal academic activities will resume on Oct. 12 (Monday) after six months of break following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which affected the economies and social life all over the world.

A statement issued on Saturday by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, said the decision to resume normal academic activities followed the recent decision of the Federal Government on re-opening of all academic institutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NOUN suspended all academic activities on March 20, 2020 following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

The university Management has directed all members of staff to resume duty on Monday, the statement quoted Sheme as saying.

According to Sheme, the university Registrar, Mr Felix Edoka, has advised the staffers to strictly abide by all the known COVID-19 safety protocols while at work.

Sheme quoted Edoka as saying that breach of COVID-19 protocols would not be tolerated by the institution.

He added that the Registrar had informed all deans, directors and heads of unit to ensure compliance with both the resumption and the safety measures.

It is noteworthy that NOUN students were able to continue with their studies from home during the six-month lockdown.

The university, being an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution, requires no classroom attendance, Sheme added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Voters at polling unit

By Muftau Ogunyemi

The Ondo State governorship election was peaceful in Akoko North East and Akoko North West Local Government Areas of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reporter, who visited the two local government areas, reports that people trooped out in their numbers to exercise their civic duty in spite of the rain that had earlier threatened to distrupt voting process.

Speaking with NAN in Ikare, Taofeeq Abdulsalam, a former Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, said that the election was peaceful without any rancour.

However, Abdulsalam, also a former Commissioner for Works, decried the level of vote buying across the local government as pathetic.

So far so good, the election has been peaceful except that people are buying votes which is not the best, and it doesnt show that democracy is Improving.

You see where people pay as much as N5,000 to N10,000 for a vote and our people are collecting it because of circumstances in which they found themselves.

There is poverty all over the places and people dont think they are selling the next four years of their lives.

But apart from the vote buying all over Akoko North East Local Government, election is peaceful.

According to him, he has called the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS and Police to inform them of the vote buying.

Abdulsalam, who commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the roles it played, said security agencies needed to find a way to reduce vote buying in the country.

INEC has been trying its best, but it is going to be difficult for it to do something in that regard.

The people that can do it better are security agencies because INECs presiding officers can not be moving around.

At least we have about four security agents in each polling booth, he said.

But Fatai Adams, the state chairman of PDP, who cast his vote at Unit 5, ward 7, Oyi in Irun Akoko, told NAN that he had not received any official report on vote buying.

I have not received official report about other wards across the state but in my unit there is no vote buying or inducement. People are voting with their conscience.

And my expectation is that people of Ondo State should be able to vote right and get it right, he said (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

BY Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday said that there was no loss of life or election materials from the boat mishap that happened within Ilaje Local Government Area on Friday night.

Mr Rufus Akeju, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State, disclosed this to newsmen in Akure on Saturday.

INEC can confirm that there was an accident last night during the movement of personnel and materials to the Registration Areas of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State for todays governorship election.

Fortunately, all personnel and election materials were rescued when the boat capsized.

This was made possible by the officers and personnel of the Nigerian Navy who escorted the boats.

The movement was eventually concluded and voting commenced as planned in all the polling units today.

Akeju commended the resilience and professionalism of the Nigerian Navy as well as other personnel involved in the exercise.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mental health

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said only 350 psychiatrists who specialise in mental health are currently serving 200 million people in Nigeria.

Prof Baba Issa, the Chairman of Kwara branch of NMA, said this to mark the 2020 World Mental Health Day.

Issa in a statement said that this years theme titled: Mental Health for all: Greater investment, greater access, is to call on government, non governmental organisations and individuals to pay more attention to mental health, invest more in it to make mental healthcare accessible to all.

Issa said, There are fewer specialists in mental health care, less support for mental health and the stigma against mental health is the highest amongst all health conditions.

In Kwara State, there are about 12 psychiatrists with all of them practising in the state capital, Ilorin, he said.

According to him, Mental health is a leading cause of disabilities and deaths due to suicide globally, Nigeria inclusive.

He described health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not the absence of disease or infirmity.

He pointed out that there is no family without someone who has or has had a mental health condition, adding that health is not complete without mental health

The NMA Chairman who is also an expert in Psychiatry stated that anxiety, depression, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders are very common in our society.

The incidences of substance; drug use disorders such as cannabis, alcohol, sedatives, opioids, hallucinogens, among others went up tremendously globally and in Nigeria to an alarming rate to get everybody talking, yet special attention has not been paid to mental health, he said.

He, however, observed that at the state level, the Kwara government is working hard to upgrade its health facilities, recruit more health workers and enhance the health system.

We are grateful to the government but we will want the government to focus more on mental health as it is doing to physical health.

The entire Kwara North currently does not have a single mental health care doctor, whether in private or public.

As a psychiatrist, myself; there are some other things that we (NMA) will like to discuss with the government as soon as we are able to do so that will help in strengthening mental health in Kwara State, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Betty Akeredolu

By Oluwafemi Ojo

The wife of the Ondo State Governor,Mrs Betty Akeredolu, on Saturday dispelled a viral video making the rounds in some quarters that she was injured in Owo at her polling unit.

She gave the hint while fielding questions from newsmen during an interview in Akure.

Mrs Akeredolu said that such a desperation from her detractors would not bring about any spirited efforts that can soil her reputations.

According to her, I am happy you asked this question for the world to see what detractors are trying to do; to damage the exercise.

She said that within few minutes of the video going viral, she had been receiving calls and text messages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purported video had gone viral in the early hours of Saturday on the social media.

The video was titled: Akeredolus wife injured, three killed as Governors details invade polling unit.

The governors wife described the video as doctored by those who hated her and who were bent on misinforming the public, especially, during this electioneering.

She said the victory of her husband at the polls was non-negotiable, calling on the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be vigilant and be proactive as soon as the results start trickling in.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi

By Joan Nwagwu

Striking university teachers say they are not affected by President Muhammadu Buharis directive that only federal workers on Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) would be paid salaries.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), made the claim in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja.

Buhari, while presenting the 2021 Budget at a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, said that only federal workers captured by the IPPIS would continue to receive salaries.

He ordered all federal workers to enroll into the IPPIS platform, declaring that the platform was meant to check fraud, including the payment of salaries to non-existent personnel.

He said that the platform would also check the payment of unauthorised allowances.

But Ogunyemi, while reacting to the Presidents directive, said that the workers referred to were civil servants.

The directive was meant for civil servants; university academics are not civil servants.

We have an understanding with government to develop an alternative platform which would be sensitive to the operations of the university and accommodate its peculiarities.

The platform we are developing will also respect the autonomy of our universities as obtained globally.

The idea of seeking clearance from the Head of Service or the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is alien to university operations because it will halt its flexibility.

The University Miscellaneous (Provisions) (Amendment)Act (2003), which government gazetted as University Autonomy Act (2007), has vested the powers of personnel and payroll system issues in the hands of each universitys governing council, he claimed.

He added that ASUU, on 9 January, 2019 reached an understanding with Mr President to develop its proposed University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), for testing and adoption for managing personnel information and payroll system in the universities.

We have since done that and presented to the Federal Ministry of Education. What is left is to present to other major stakeholders, particularly in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The development of UTAS was done at no cost to government. We used contributions from the check-off deductions of ASUU members to finance the project and this cost us millions of naira, he said.

NAN reports that the university teachers have been on strike since February to register their disapproval of governments insistence that they must be captured on the IPPIS platform if they were to receive salaries.

They have also cited other issues bordering on welfare and more funding for the universities as some of their reasons for abandoning the classrooms. (NAN)

Source: NAN News