INEC

By Ayodeji Alabi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called on its officers in Ondo State to be fully prepared and ensure that the Oct. 10, governorship election in the state is credible, free, fair and non-violent.

Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, National Commissioner, South West, INEC, gave the advice in Akure on Friday during a workshop of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), Red Zone Implementer.

Adekunle enjoined the participants, made up of electoral officers representing the various local government areas, to spare no efforts to ensure that INEC is able to deliver a good election to Nigeria.

According to him electoral officers are the foot soldiers on the field; hence they will ensure that all sensitive materials, when they get to the headquarters, are ready for distribution.

The eyes of all Nigerians are on the INEC family, and the international communities are focusing their attention on the forthcoming Ondo election.

Accord this workshop the seriousness it deserves so as to be able to achieve our objectives of giving Nigerians a good election, he said.

Ogunmola also explained that INEC used green, amber, and red zone for planning purposes, with the latter indicating a danger zone for preparations, to ensure that all objectives were achievedPoll: INEC tasks officers on smooth election.

Earlier, Mr Rufus Akeju, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State charged participants to give all attention to even the minutest detail to ensure that all gaps were filled before the election day.

As veteran election administrators, the least expected from you in this election is your best effort. You are, therefore, enjoined to bare your challenges for them to be addressed as the workshop progresses.

All your transport and logistics plans are supposed to be in the final stages, he said.

Also Mr Hamza Fassi-Fihri, Project Coordinator, European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), said the workshop would afford an appraisal of the readiness of INEC toward addressing any situation that might hamper a smooth election.

He also encouraged the participants to maximise the platform and constructively seek solutions to any pending logistic matter, as an effective planning almost certainly guarantees a successful delivery of every task.

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), says it has rolled out some digitisation strategies through its new portal to transform the sector and improve insurance penetration.

Mr Abiodun Aribike, the Deputy Director in charge of Information Technology in NAICOM, said this at a seminar for insurance journalists with theme: Digital Transformation of the Commission and Market Development Initiatives on Friday in Uyo.

He said the strategies, which would be made available through the portal would help to reduce incidences of fake insurance, improve productivity and revenue in the industry.

Aribike in a lecture with title: Digital Transformation of NAICOMs Processes and Procedures, said the commission had also begun training of stakeholders in the sector to effect the digital transformation.

He said that the digitisation strategy would help the people to source information about insurers to check their genuineness.

I am here to show you what we are going to do.

We have trained staff of brokers in the South West and we want to train those in the South-South, South East for them to join the portal.

This will improve productivity, enhance stakeholders collaboration, trust and resource management, he said.

He noted that the digital system would aid easy approval of licensing for insurance companies and tracking of insurance related complaints by policyholders.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Aminu Masari, of Katsina State.

The Katsina State Government has conducted soil mapping on 70,750 smallholder farms in 152 communities in the state.

Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Agriculture, disclosed on Friday during a news conference in Katsina.

Abdullahi said that the government partnered OCP of Morocco in carrying out the project.

According to him, the project consists of a mobile soil testing laboratory that move from one farm to another to analyse soil nutrients status.

Abdullahi also said that the project focus on maize, rice, millet, sorghum, cotton, soya beans and cassava nutrients requirements.

He said that it determines the nutrient content of each soil so as to guide on the type of fertilizers needed for more crops production.

Abdullahi also said that the state government had spent N17.6 million on the production of 1.4 million seedlings of various indigenous tree species that were distributed to farmers.

The special adviser said the distribution of the species was part of measures to curtail desertification in the state, adding that 4, 600 trees had been planted on road sides in the state.

Abdullahi also disclosed that 3,875 hectares of land had been demarcated in some forest reserves to prevent clash between farmers and herdsmen.

He said in the past five years, the state government, under the Agricultural Restoration Project, had generated 1, 067, 855 short term jobs and 249, 551 long term jobs.

The special adviser added that N13.1 billion was generated as income by entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector, while N393 million was also generated as income to government as taxes and levies during the period.

Agriculture Restoration Project has brought about some significant development in the agricultural sector, but more needs to be done in order to reach the promised mark.

Our productivity especially yield per hectare has not gone beyond 50 per cent; this means that the level of efficiency in resource utilisation in agriculture still needs to be enhanced.

Source: NAN News

Donald, Melania Trump quarantining after testing positive for coronavirus

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined all citizens of United States of America in prayers for quick and full recovery of President Donald Trump and his wife, Melanie, who reportedly tested positive to COVID-19.

The Nigerian leader, who expressed his sympathy in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, the incident of COVID-19 in the White House manifests the challenge posed by the pandemic across the world, and difficulty in containing the spread.

While wishing the American First Family speedy turnaround in their current health status, Buhari urged more compliance among Nigerians to protocols, and adherence to advice of medical doctors, particularly epidemiologists.

Source: NAN News

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche

The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces have sunk 81 boreholes, renovated 14 schools and constructed 14 clinics and dispensaries in host communities during the third quarter.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while presenting the third quarter scorecard of the military operations between July 1 and Sept. 30, on Friday in Abuja.

Enenche said that the projects were carried out in host communities as non-kinetic operations of the military in form of Civil Military Cooperation Activities (CIMIC).

He said it also renovated two worship centres, donated two buses as well as construction of road, installation of transformer and solar powered equipment in some host communities within the period.

According to him, the military also fostered several stakeholders and reconciliation meetings between hostile communities and carried out medical outreaches.

The coordinator stated that the troops had been engaged in series of land, maritime and air operations, involving both kinetic and non-kinetic activities across the country in major and subsidiary operations.

He explained that the land operations conducted among others across the various theatres of operation include; clearance, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon and search operations as well as artillery bombardments and aggressive patrols.

Others, according to him, were maritime operations involving anti-piracy, anti-illegal bunkering, anti-crude oil theft and anti-pipeline vandalism operations as well as other duties such as anti-smuggling operations.

Furthermore, comprehensive air operations including air patrols, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions, offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue operations as well as close air support and air cover for ground troops.

These operations resulted in the deletion of several terrorists and bandits, inhibition of activities of economic saboteurs as well as exposure and obviation of other criminal activities.

In all these efforts, some of our troops paid the supreme price.

However, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have consistently exhibited gallantry and resilience in the various operations, he said.

Enenche said the result of kinetic operations across the country during the third quarter showned that the military was winning the war against the enemies of the country.

The coordinator assured Nigerians that the armed forces would remain resolute and committed to this cause by sustaining the offensive towards restoring peace at every troubled zone of Nigeria.

He, however, commended the public for their support and further solicits their cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that would facilitate proactive engagements in military operations.

According to him, the third quarter performance of the operations is a show of our commitment, synergy and determination to lay down our lives to protect our great Nation.

The gallant troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and operatives of other security agencies will sustain the tempo against the enemies of our dear Nation.

The military high command commends all the gallant troops and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their resilience, doggedness and commitment.

Troops are further encouraged to remain resolute and decisive in securing the country.

The general public is thus encouraged to continue to support the gallant troops by providing credible intelligence to the troops operating within their localities, he said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Ministry of Science and Technology, says it is collaborating with the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) to verify claims on local COVID-19 cure.

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, disclosed this on Friday at a webinar in Abuja.

The webinar was focused on Science Advice for COVID-19 in the Context of Biodiversity, Conservation and Ecological Restoration.

The meeting was organised by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Nigerian Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NiPBES).

Abdullahi said that the government had made several interventions towards curtailing the spread of COVID-19 through tracking, encouraging curative measures and researchers in the development of local vaccine.

He said that the government was also encouraging initiatives from partners towards addressing the pandemic, through long and short term strategies.

The pandemic has interrupted economic activities and agriculture value chain, due to border closure, hence the need for joint national effort to explore available resources to address the menace.

We are in collaboration with relevant agencies to find solutions to the pandemic; we are working with the NAS to evaluate some claims that promise cure to COVID-19.

They are working on that assignment and soon there will be a way forward on that, Abdullahi said.

According to him, Nigeria is endowed with enormous resources, comprising of flora and fauna.

The competitive benefits of these resources that encourage sustainable healthy ecosystem and growth cannot be over emphasised, he said.

He further said that the ministry was developing a viable value added vocation programme to promote indigenous biodiversity resources using appropriate technologies.

The minister added that the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology had a gene bank for the preservation of the countrys abundant resources.

Abdullahi said that the government was collaborating with local and international partners to forestall challenges of the ecosystem, climate change, and biodiversity.

The ministry through the Natural Medicine Agency initiated a plant restoration project across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country to restore plants that are going extinct.

So far, over 1000 species of plants have been inventoried by the agency, he said.

Mr Lamine Sow, Acting Director, UNESCO Multi-Sectoral Regional Office, said the pandemic had revealed the fragility of the world.

Sow said that science had the power to address the COVID-19 challenge, curb the trend of zoonotic disease infection as well as forestall future ones.

The power of science to address the issue of COVID-19 had become more vivid with the search for vaccines and treatments, and indeed encourages policies that promote ecological resilience.

UNESCO has proposed three strategies to curb the tide of the pandemic, bordering on open science held in March, manning borders on safe water and building ecological resilience.

These strategies can be implemented using the tool of biosphere reserves to enhance biodiversity conservation, creation of safe spaces between nature and humans, thus preventing of zoonotic disease transmission and promote development.

He reiterated that UNESCO Regional Office Abuja had presence in eight West African countries-Benin, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo and was collaborating with actors to promote response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammad Mahmud, said that the growing population and nature demand has made human beings to encroach into natural reserves.

According to Mahmud, if this development is not addressed, we should expect worse pandemics in the future.

He called for synergy among citizens and government to slow the decline of the natural world, move forward and address the issue of consuming natural resources.

We need to change our perception to biodiversity, change the way we run our world, economy and make it better because the natural world is beautiful and should be cherished, he said.

Mr Olagunju Lateef, Secretary General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, said COVID-19 and other infectious disease, have raised the need for the country to include protection of biodiversity as part of its intervention to manage outbreaks of emerging infectious pathogens.

Lateef said there was need to adopt nature based solutions to protect, manage and restore modified ecosystem which address societal challenges effectively.

NAS President, Prof. Kalu Onuoha, said that wild life trading should be considered as a way of regulating the movement of wild animals that transmit dangerous diseases to human beings.

Onuoha, represented by the Executive Secretary of NAS, Dr Oladoyin Odubanjo, said wildlife trading should be considered because they increase the transmission of disease from animals to human beings.

This is evident from the COVID-19 outbreak that went viral from an animal market in Wuhan, China.

Regulating wildlife will not only monitor pathogens but also ensure biodiversity conservation.

Dr Uzodimma Adirieje, Chairman NiPBES, called for the preservation of biodiversity, ecosystem in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to avoid human encroachment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that National Park Service and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria were also participants at the webinar.

Source: NAN News

Nigerian flag

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (APC-Ogun), and Sen. Akon Eyakenyi (PDP-Akwa-Ibom South), have said that Nigeria will triumph in all efforts geared at realising its developmental potential.

The Senators stated this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday as the nation celebrated 60 years of independence.

Amosun said that as an incurable optimist he was certain Nigeria would succeed in spite of its challenges.

Amosun, who represents Ogun Central Senatorial District and a former governor of Ogun, said: for me, Im an incurable optimist; I know, yes, we have our challenges, but ultimately we are going to triumph, we are going to have a Nigeria of our dream.

Of course the foundation has been laid now.

I argue this any time I have the opportunity to say this, I will mention it, yes, clearly we are not where we should be but I can safely say, confidently too, that now the building blocks for development have been laid now.

So, and Im sure we are going to get there, he said.

Well, however, I will like to say that it is twist and thorns, what I call sweet and sour. There are some downs and certainly weve had, for me, many ups than downs.

While acknowledging some of the challenges being faced by the country, the lawmaker said that I think if truth must be told, its more from us the elites really.

For me, average Nigerian see themselves as one, you wont even know who is a Muslim or Christian.

I remember growing up and in school we dont even know the difference between both.

So, I think its more from people like we are, the politicians, the elites that tend to dwell more on what divides us than may be concentrating on those things that unite us.

Well I have said it, and fortunately when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, he did mention that he was going to focus on three key areas.

Of course security, fighting corruption and this our economy, huge unemployment, and that he was going to address them.

I know that nothing good can come out of insecurity really.

Security is very key, yes we have challenges, serious challenges in the area of security but as they will say, problem identified is half solved.

We have all identified that yes, we have these security challenges, just like what I said again, all hands must be on deck.

According to him security cannot be fought by just one arm of government or only the government that should fight security.

No, even in all those what I call advanced climes, you will see that everybody is part of the security.

Amosun further called for togetherness in the fight against insecurity.

Also, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi (PDP-Akwa-Ibom South) said that there was every reason for Nigeria to celebrate at 60.

Do we have any cause to celebrate 60 years of Nigeria; well, for every situation, God says give thanks.

Whether it is bad or good, you must have a reason to give thanks unto God. So on that basis, I will say yes, Nigeria is worth celebrating in 60 years.

Nigeria, yes, the giant of Africa, as I was born to come and see, has gone through levels, different levels, from low level to higher level, to the highest level and then dropped.

There is hope for the nation that it will rise again.

As a person I will say yes to your question that we have every reason to say Nigeria should be celebrated. For now, we are still one, and that I believe God will be one with us, the lawmaker said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Amended Nigerian 1999 constitution

By Yemi Adeleye

About 120 Nigerian elders and leaders of thought on Thursday advocated for a new constitution to put the nation on the path of unity, progress and prosperity.

The elders and leaders spoke at a meeting with the topic: Emergency Virtual National Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria to commemorate the nations 60th Independence Anniversary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the virtual summit, organised by the Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG) in conjunction with National Consultative Front (NCFront), was moderated by Prof. Pat Utomi.

The summit, which brought together Northern and Southern elders and leaders of thought, was put together to urgently intervene and set machinery in motion for National Healing and Reconciliation.

In his opening remarks, a northern elder, Dr Ahmed Joda, noted that the fabric of Nigeria could be repaired and reconstructed through a sincere rejig of the nations constitution to reflect the will of the people.

Joda, who emphasised the need for a peoples constitution, called for a referendum or constituent assembly to work out a new constitution for devolution of powers for a greater Nigeria.

According to him, there is need for men of goodwill who will go back to the people at the grassroots to work out how the nation wants to live together.

A Yoruba elder, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, noted that all was not well with the country, saying that the foundation of the nations problem was in her constitution.

Adebanjo said that Nigeria had jettisoned the constitution that brought about her existence and adopted a military constitution that favoured a section of Nigeria.

We should not pay lips service to the unity of this country. We should be sincere about the unity of Nigeria.

We cant keep this country together under this constitution, it cant take us anywhere, he said.

According to Adebanjo, if the nation does not want to reckon with the latest 2014 National Conference, there is an urgent need for a constitutional conference for a new constitution that will provide for equity, justice and fairness.

Another leader, Victor Attah, added that the problem facing the nation was beyond the National Assembly and the President.

Attah said that the nation had derailed and needed to realign herself to what the founding fathers handed over, which was true federalism.

He said that until the nation settled the fundamental problem inherent in the constitution, all her socio-economic and security challenges would remain.

Contributing, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a Northern leader, noted that Nigerians once had a great country at the beginning, and called for a consensus by the elites to move forward.

Baba-Ahmed, who frowned at the constant bickering, insults, abuses and blames among various groups, called for trust among Nigerian people.

If the constitution cannot solve the problem of the people, then it is no constitution. Nigerians are not stupid, we need to get back to the Nigerian people, he said.

Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Ghali Naaba said: Bringing ourselves together is the way forward. Time has come when we must sit together in this country.

We should look at our structure and autonomy.
We must take the bull by the horn and make up our mind to build our country through our constitution.

We must discuss and bring out a country better than what we have now.

Naaba, who noted that all sections of the country were living in fear due to insecurity and poverty, called for restructuring and tolerance.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, another Northern elder, said that there was the need for wider consultations among Nigerians to provide opportunity and better understanding.

Yakassai said that there had been fears among Nigerians before independence and called for a judiciary that would deliver justice without fear or favour.

Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu said that there had been loads of reports and recommendations to put the nation on the path of unity and development which had been abandoned by the political leaders.

She said that agitations for self-determination and other predicament facing the country were as a result of frustration.

Mrs Iyom Anenih added that secession would not be of maximum benefit to any group in Nigeria and called for restructuring and true federalism to realign and rebuild the country.

Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa said that Nigerians were being hurt deeply and needed a healing, through implementation of various recommendations for devolution of powers.

Dr Bello Falalu, another leader of thought, said that genuine federalism remained the only way to bring justice, equity and peace in the country.

Falalu, who frowned at processes that throw up those leading the country, called for a leadership selection process.

Dr Kunle Olajide, another leader, said that a bill for the establishment of a Constitutional Conference Commission for a new constitution should be sent to the National Assembly.

Cardinal John Onaiyekan said that the situation in the country required an emergency, adding that obviously a new constitution is necessary.

Dr Uche Azikwe, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Dr Kema Chikwe, Prof. Mojubaolu Kome, Chief Michael Ajegbo, Kalu Idika Kalu, Obadiah Mallafia and a host of other speakers took turns to emphasise the need for inclusiveness and new constitution.

Utomi, who noted that the elders were committed to a new constitution, said that the summit had constituted a constitution committee being led by 40 eminent Nigerians to provide a way forward for the nation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stellamaris Ashinze

Search engine Google has announced a partnership with Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) that sought to help the Nigerian Tourism Sector recover and grow in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Amit Sood, Director, Google Arts

Ugandan Airliner ready for business

Uganda on Thursday resumed scheduled commercial passenger flights after seven months of government suspensions over COVID-19 pandemic.

Vianney Luggya, Communications Officer of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, told Xinhua by telephone that the phased flight operations at Entebbe International Airport, about 40 kilometres south of the capital Kampala, resumed after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions on aviation.

He said the first passenger flight to arrive at Entebbe airport was Turkish Airlines, which landed at 3.55 a.m. and departed at 4.50 a.m. local time.

The flights have resumed today and we expect about 12 flights today.

In this first phase, October to December, we are going to have an average of one flight per airline per day to reduce congestion, said Luggya.

The resumption of commercial flights came after President Yoweri Museveni, last week, directed the reopening of the international airport and land borders, which were closed when the pandemic broke out in the country in March.

In these three months, our operations will be scaled down.

Then for the next six months, we will increase on the operations but still not full.

We shall continuously review the situation as it is on the ground.

The flights will be increased, depending on the reviews, he said.

Ugandas cabinet, on Monday, approved strict COVID-19 measures for airlines and passengers ahead of the reopening, directing airlines to ensure that all travellers provide a negative test result for COVID-19, 72 hours before arrival in Uganda.

The outbound passengers are required to arrive at the airport at least four hours before the flight, with an authentic COVID-19 test certificate issued within 120 hours before travel and comply with COVID-19 measures, including hand sanitising, wearing face masks and maintaining a social distance of 1.5 metres in the terminals. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News