Scene of the accident in Benue

By Emmanuel Antswen

Gov. Samuel Ortom on Sunday condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in a motor accident on Saturday at Gbatse Village, Ushongo Local Government Area.

This was contained in a press statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

The governor also sympathized with the Management, Staff and students of the University of Mkar, Mkar, who lost two of their lecturers, Joseph Leva and Moses Tarnongo, in the accident.

NAN reports that Tarnongo died alongside his wife and three children, and that a total of seven persons died in the accident.

Ortom described the incident as devastating and urged the relevant agencies to investigate the unfortunate development.

He prayed God for the repose of the souls of the departed and consoled the bereaved families to look onto God for strength to bear the pains. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Electricity transmission power line

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government has extended the suspension of the new electricity tariff by one week.

Prof. James Momoh, Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said this when the ad hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff submitted its interim report at a reconvene bilateral meeting between Federal Government and Organised Labour on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new tariff was earlier suspended for two weeks and ended at midnight on Oct. 11, when the organised labour suspended the planned industrial action over agitation on the hike in electricity tariff on Sept. 28.,

It would also be recalled that the the committee which was Chaired by Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour is to examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff.

It was also agreed that while the committee carries the justification that electricity tariff should be reduced for two weeks.

Momoh while speaking, said the one week extension new tariff said was to enable the committee to review and work out modalities for the implementation of the agreement reached on the electricity tariffs structure.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, while reading a resolution reached between the Federal Government, Organised Labour and the Ad Hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff said that adoption of the work plan for effecting the resolutions has been reached.

Ngige said the resolutions adopted would be implemented by all stakeholders within the week by Sunday, Oct. 18.

According to him, the following amendments to the resolutions were adopted include, phase one immediate reliefs.

Using of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) VAT proceeds to provide relief in electricity tariff. This is to leverage on the VAT from the NESI, the increases experienced by customers due to the transition to the Service Based Tariff will be reduced.

That is Band A 10 per cert reduction, Band B 10.5 per cert reduction and Band C 31 reduction, he said.

He said on the acceleration of National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

It was adopted that for the distribution of the first one million meters, the Ministry of Power was to liaise with Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

He added that they are to start work by Oct. 12, to accelerate the roll out of meters with a target of December 2020.

The minister, therefore said that the meeting agreed that it would work towards bridging the metering gap.

The Federal Government committed to provide six million meters and NERC is expected to compel the DISCOs to meet the metering needs of the customers, he said.

Ngige also said on the resolution adopted for the Local procurement for Meters for National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) that organised Labour would to work with government to improve and ramp up local production capacity.

He also said that the resolution adpoted on salary protection for electricity workers was that NERC should ensure that the personnel costs of electricity workers should be placed on first-line charge on the Primary Collection Account.

He added that the process would commence from Monday, Oct.12.

On the issue of mandatory refund for any over billing during system transition by the DISCOs that NERC should implement immediately within October.

While on the freezing of customer band migration during the interim period that the revised NERC order will include specific guidelines on freezing band migration, he said.

Ngige also noted that the resolutions adopted for Phase two for the extensive review of key sector reforms include that the ad hoc committee would work from Oct. 12 to Dec. 12, to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved and implemented.

He also said the resolution adopted on gas pricing was that the Group Managing Director was co-opted into the Technical Committee to assist with the purpose.

He added that on resource capacity, the Managing Director, NEMSA is also co-opted into the Technical Committee to work with NERC on the metering assignments. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rugby players

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic could see Englands rugby clubs start going bankrupt before Christmas without a government bailout, Premiership Chief Executive Darren Childs said.

Britain last month postponed plans to allow limited crowds back into stadiums, a decision that hit Premiership clubs hard.

This is because they were already budgeting for some fans to return for the start of the new season in November.

A coalition of over 100 sports bodies have asked the government for emergency funding, and Childs painted a bleak picture of how soon Premiership clubs could go bust.

I think for some of the clubs it is before Christmas, he said. There cannot be a situation where there isnt an aid package for six months.

The current projection is that it will be 12 months, from lockdown in March to next spring, before clubs can generate any match-day income.

The first thing that needs to happen is, the government needs to step in and clarify what this bailout is going to look like for us all.

Childs added that the league was still working to bring supporters back to stadiums.

I am always concerned about losing a club. We have lost clubs in good times and there has not been a worse time than this for rugby, he said.

You have to defer to the experts and the governments position is that it is not safe to proceed with fans in stadiums.

I am absolutely convinced that if community prevalence drops over the next couple of months theres a chance (the return of fans) might get accelerated. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Los Angeles Lakers celebrating their 17th title

The Los Angeles Lakers captured a record-tying 17th NBA Championship on Sunday with a 106-93 victory over the Miami Heat that sealed the best-of-seven title series 4-2, restoring the storied franchise to the top of the basketball world.

The Lakers victory tied them with the Boston Celtics for most NBA championships and capped an unprecedented season that resumed in July at a spectator-free campus at Disney World in Florida after a four-month COVID-19 shutdown.

Finals MVP LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists while spearheading a defensive masterclass that doused the Heats offense.

The Lakers, who won their first title since 2010, also got a key contribution from Rajon Rondo as the veteran point guard delivered an early offensive burst that helped them to a 28-point halftime lead and the Heat never threatened again.

It means a lot to represent this franchise, said James, who joined the team in the summer of 2018 after they had missed the playoffs five seasons in a row.

I told (Lakers president) Jeanie (Buss) when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs.

We just want our respect. Rob (Pelinka) wants his respect, coach (Frank) Vogel wants his respect, our organisation wants its respect, Lakers nation wants its respect, he said.

And I want my damn respect too.

The championship win ends a more than 90-day stay for the Lakers inside the NBAs bio-secure bubble.

It also marked the end of an emotional season for the franchise after Lakers great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others near Los Angeles in January.

Racial justice issues were front and centre since the NBA restarted, with players wearing slogans like Vote and Education Reform.

The death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody in Minneapolis in May, sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for reform among players and the public.

We all want to see better days and when we leave here, we have to continue to push that, James said.

Continue to push against social injustice, continue to push against voter suppression, continue to push against police brutality, continue to push against everything that is the opposite of love.

If we continue to do that all of us America will be a much better place.

We all love this country. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Buhari meets with ex-Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed door with the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okonjo-Iweala contesting for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

She has already emerged as one of the final two candidates for the position.

NAN reports that the agenda between the president and Okonjo-Iweala was unknown to newsmen as at the time of filing this report.

NAN, however, learnt that the former ministers visit to the Villa might not be unconnected with her efforts to clinch the WTOs position.

A presidency source told NAN that Okonjo-Iweala was in the villa to seek presidential blessing and support from the president over her ambition of winning the WTO election.

Those sighted at the venue of the meeting included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyeama and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

NAN reports that PresidentBuharinominatedOkonjo Iwealafor the position on June 5.

Also the ECOWAS endorsed her candidature for the position of director-general for the period 2021 to 2025.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

United Nations

By Ahmed Abba

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and medical consumables to Yobe Government for the prevention and spread of COVID-19.

Dr Homsuk Swemen, the Programme Officer, at the presentation on Monday in Damaturu, said UNFPA has been partnering and supporting Yobe Government in various health related areas, such as sexual reproductive health and gender base violence.

Swemen, who was represented by the state programme manager, also noted that the items were given to Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Affairs and Primary Healthcare Management Board as sub-implementing partners.

The items according to him include, MPDSR manuals, HMIS tools, hand sanitisers, IR thermometers, hand gloves, Mgso4, oxytocin, foot operated hand wash, disposable plastic aprons, sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine for ANC among other things.

In his remarks, Dr Muhammed Gana, the State Commissioner for Health described UNFPA as partners in progress.

We have been working together for quite long time.

We thank UNFPA very much because the items donated to the state government today are meant to save human lives.

I want to assure them that all the materials will be put into judicious use, Gana added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Buhari congratulates Akeredolu on re-election

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with Rotimi Akeredolu on his re-election as Governor of Ondo State for another four-year term.

In a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday, Buhari lauded the resounding victory of the governor at the election held on Saturday.

He believed that the votes garnered show that one good turn surely deserves another.

The president thanked the people of Ondo State for keeping faith with their governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He noted that the people know the person and party that truly serves them, and have spoken in clear voice and unmistakable terms.

Buhari appreciated the electorate in the state for comporting themselves decently and in order, and for exhibiting conduct that indicates that the country is making progress in its electoral behavior.

He also gave kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organizing credible, free and fair election, and to security agencies which ensured that orderliness was enthroned and maintained.

The president urged Akeredolu to be humble and magnanimous in victory, and serve the people of Ondo State even better than how he did in the first term.

When you serve with heart and might, the people respond in like manner, and we can easily get to where we are headed as a country, he added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the governorship election held on Saturday in Ondo State.

Prof. Abel Olayinka, the Returning Officer of INEC, who is also the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, said that Akeredolu got 292,830 votes to defeat Eyitayo Jegede of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 195,791 votes, while Ajayi Agboola of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) got 69,127 votes.

Source: NAN News

Akeredolu is for Ondo State not just for a political party APC UK

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom Chapter, says the re-elected Governor of Ondo State Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is for the people of the state and its development and not just for the political party.

The chapter said this in a statement issued by Mr Jacob Ogunseye, its Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja while congratulating Akeredolu, who was the APC candidate at the Ondo governorship election, for emerging victorious.

The APC UK charged those who contested the election with Akeredolu to join hands with him for the progress and development of Ondo State.

It urged other contestants at the election to be gracious in defeat, stressing that in every contest a winner must emerge and should be supported by others in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Other leaders who contested the election with Akeredolu should put the past behind and work with him for the progress of the state as he continued with the progressive agenda of taking the state to the next level of prosperity.

We want to appeal to the opposition contestants that the re-elected Gov. Akeredolu is for the state and not just for a political party, the APC UK said.

It, however, charged the re-elected Akeredolu to be magnanimous in victory and work harder in his second term as governor in consolidating the good works he had started in the state.

It congratulated the people of Ondo state for their wise decision in renewing the mandate of the governor to continue providing and solidifying on his previous giant strides.

According to the APC UK, Akeredolus developmental strides have taken the state to an enviable position in the country.

The statement commended Mr Ade Omole, the leader of APC UK and Mr Joseph Adebola, chairman of APC UK for Aketi campaign council for their contributions to the partys electioneering campaigns and the eventual electoral victory of the incumbent governor.

It attributed APCs success at the election to the robust approach provided by the governor to solve the perennial problems created by past administrations of the state.

The statement quoted Omole as saying that he was very sure of Akeredolus victory in the election.

I knew Ondo indigenes would renew the mandate of Arakunrin. No one would vote out a performing governor like Akeredolu for an untested hand.

It is obvious that Akeredolu has done more than his predecessors looking at the period he has governed the state.

His achievements in the areas of industrialisation and infrastructural development have formed a solid base from which others should emulate.

His efforts to date, especially ongoing scheme to secure the state at this present time, is undeniable and we hope to see more of these in years to come, Omole said.

He added that the people of Ondo state should be accorded accolades for Akeredolus giant strides and for deciding to stay with the APC, saying that they would not be disappointed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Akeredolu as winner of the Ondo State governorship election haven scored the highest votes among the 17 candidates that contested the election.

INECs returning officer, Prof. Abel Olayinka of the University of Ibadan, while declaring the results said Akeredolu won the election with 292,830 votes.

He said Akeredolu won the election in more than two-third of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state required by law.

According to him, Akeredolu defeated his two main contenders at the election; including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Eyitayo Jegede who polled 195,791 votes at the election.

The Ondo deputy governor Agboola Ajaji, who contested the election with him on the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 69,127 at the election, the INEC returning officer had said.

Source: NAN News

Liverpool, Man United back proposal to scrap League Cup, reduce EPL teams, others

Liverpool and Manchester United are backing a plan to radically change the Premier Leagues structure, according to a report on Sunday in Manchester.

The changes will see more power being given to the big clubs, reducing the 20-club league to 18 clubs and scrapping the League Cup.

The plan will see the Premier League commit to providing 25 percent of the leagues revenue to Football League (EFL) clubs

It will also see a 250 million pounds (326.15 million dollars) package to help with the immediate impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The report said the plans had been put together in a document called Revitalisation.

It was produced by Liverpools American owners Fenway Sports Group, with support from Manchester Uniteds Florida-based owners, the Glazer family.

A source with knowledge of the discussions and the document confirmed to Reuters that the report was accurate.

The Premier League, Manchester United and Liverpool did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The plan does not, however, call for the top six to be given a greater share of television revenue.

The plan has the public backing of EFL chairman Rick Parry, the former Liverpool chief executive, who has expressed concern about the state of EFL clubs finances.

The proposal is sure to prompt a lively debate within the Premier League.

The change to the one club, one vote system has been in place since the league was formed as a breakaway from the Football League in 1992.

The plan calls for the nine clubs with the longest continued presence in the league, which includes the big six, to be given long-term share-holder status.

They are to also have the ability to make changes with the support of just six of the nine.

The bottom two clubs would be automatically relegated from the Premier League and replaced with the top two from the Championship.

The 16th-placed Premier League club will have to play in a play-off with the Championships third-, fourth- and fifth-placed clubs.

The plan will need the support of 14 of the Premier Leagues 20 clubs to be approved.

Source: NAN News

Foundation calls for collective action on girl-child challenges

By Talatu Maiwada

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Sunday in Abuja urged all stakeholders and governments at all levels to unlock the girl-child potential through better initiatives.

Dr Echey Ijezie, AHFs Nigeria Country Director, in a statement, said there was now the need to invest in initiatives capable of empowering and developing leadership potentials in the girl-child.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was in relation to the commemoration of the 2020 International Day of the Girl-Child across the world on Sunday.

The International Day of the Girl-Child is commemorated annually on Oct.11 to celebrate the importance, power, and potentials of girls around the world.

The days theme, Empowered Girls Brighter Future, is aimed at celebrating girls worldwide, by keeping them healthy, confident and providing opportunities for them to succeed.

For us at AHF therefore, the 2020 International Day of the Girl-Child is another auspicious moment for stakeholders to rally round for the well-being of girls.

The opportunity has come again for everyone to contribute and lift up our girls by investing in initiatives that are capable of developing their leadership potential.

These are the provision of water and hygienic toilets in schools, provisionof free sanitary pads to indigent girls and considering lowering the age of consent from 18.

This will be a strong statement of our support for their well-being, Ijezie said.

He pointed out that AHF had since 2016 made young women and girls their top priority with the global Girls Act programme.

This is out of the belief that girls everywhere should stay safe, healthy and able to achieve their goals, Ijezie added.

He recalled that on Sept. 30 members of AHF-Nigeria Girls Act had an interface with the House of Representatives Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control (ATM).

Ijezie said the group sought help from the parliamentarians in improving the well-being of girls in the country, particularly to create unhindered access for girls to reproductive health services that are youth-friendly.

During that visit to the National Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Dahiru, Chairman House Committee on ATM, in his response, had promised that his committee would lead the effort to improve the well-being of girls in Nigeria.

That is heartwarming for us at AHF, he said in the statement.

It also quoted Terri Ford, AHF Chief of Global Policy and Advocacy, as reaffirming the need for government and stakeholders globally to provide vital keys for the success of the girl-child.

They should be able to stay in school, avoid unplanned pregnancies and persons that are HIV-positive should remain on treatment.

COVID-19 has been devastating, but the limited access to services for sexual and reproductive health and other vital areas for girls and young women are making the situation increasingly worrisome, Ford stated.

Also, Loretta Wong, AHF Deputy Chief of Global Policy and Advocacy, took a look at the United Nations Population Fund prediction.

The Fund predicted that there could be up to seven million unintended pregnancies and an increase in cases of gender-based violence as a result of the pandemic.

We however urge governments and stakeholders globally to do more to ensure girls are protected and have access to the health services they need.

Source: NAN News