The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says sample collection for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country decline in August.

A report data made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday night by NCDC, showed a decline in sample collection for six states from May to August.

The report indicated that all states analysed showed a significant decline in sample collection in August, with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) having the least sample collection.

FCT hadone of the leading COVID-19 testing performing locations in the country, it said.

The public health agency noted that Plateau recently stepped up its testing.

Plateau has the highest polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), laboratory capacity utilisation and operational efficiency in the country at the moment.

The NCDC said that Edo sample collection also declined significantly but appeared to be in recovery mode, as from July 8 to July 21.

The state collected 2,713 samples and from Aug. 5 to Aug. 18, it collected 1,230 samples.

The agency stated that Lagos state accounted for 24 per cent of all COVID-19 test in the country.

Sample collection has declined significantly as data showed that from July 8 to July 21, a total of 22,714 samples were collected while 9,877 samples were collected from July19 to Sept. 1, it said.

Oyo State had performed reasonably well in the past regarding COVID-19 testing but unfortunately, sample collection declined significantly of recent.

Data from July8 to July 21 showed 4,776 samples and July19 to Sept. 1, showed 919 samples collected.

The health agency said that Kano State was a leading state for COVID-19 tests with five PCR laboratories and a low percentage of transmission.

Kano accounts for over 10 per cent of all COVID-19 tests in the country.

Unfortunately, the sample collection dropped significantly in August.

July 8 to July 21 showed that 11,834 samples were collected while 1,364 samples were collected from July19 to Sept. 1.

NAN reports that as at Sept. 2, there were 216 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of reported cases to 54,463 in Nigeria.

A total of 42,438 patients have recovered and dischargedwhile 1,027 deathsrelated to the virus were so far recorded.

Source: NAN News

FAO

World food prices rose for a third month running in August, led by coarse grains, vegetable oils and sugar, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)s food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 96.1 points last month versus 94.3 points in July.

The Rome-based FAO also said in a statement that worldwide cereal harvests remained on course to hit an annual record in 2020.

The agencys cereal price indexrose 1.9 per cent in August from the month before and seven per cent above its value a year earlier.

Among the major cereals, sorghum, barley and rice prices rose the most, FAO said.

Maize also climbed strongly, pushed up by concerns over U.S. production prospects following recent crop damage in Iowa.

The vegetable oil price index climbed 5.9 per cent month-on-month, returning to around the levels registered when the coronavirus crisis hit the world at the start of the year.

Palm oil was buoyed by expected output slowdowns in major producing countries, which, combined with firm global import demand, were expected to result in lower inventory levels.

Average sugar prices rose 6.7 per cent from July, reflecting forecasts of a reduction in production due to unfavourable weather conditions in the European Union and Thailand.

Strong import demand in China also helped push prices higher.

By contrast, the dairy index was little changed on the month, with falls in cheese and whole milk powder offset by stronger butter and skim milk quotations.

The meat index was also largely steady, with bovine and poultry prices in retreat while pig meat prices rose after four consecutive months of declines, as Chinese imports jumped.

FAO revised down its forecast for the 2020 cereal season by 25 million tonnes, largely due to expectations of a lower maize production in the U.S.

However, despite this reduction, the agency still expected a record harvest this year of almost 2.765 billion tonnes, up three per cent on 2019 levels.

Record maize harvests are forecast for Argentina and Brazil while global sorghum production is expected to grow by six per cent from the previous year.

Worldwide rice production in 2020 is also expected to reach a new record of 509 million tonnes, FAO said.

The forecast for world cereal utilisation in 2020/21 hit 2.746 billion tonnes, up two per cent on the 2019/20 level.

The estimate for world cereal stocks by the close of seasons in 2021 was 895.5 million tonnes, down 33.4 million tonnes since July. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council of Womens Societies (NCWS) has called for prayers, especially among women, for Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to win her bid to be elected as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday quoted Mrs Laraba Shoda, NCWS President, as pleading with all Nigerians to support Okonjo-Iwealas aspiration and seek divine intervention for victory.

It described the former finance minister as an industrious mother, wife and daughter of Nigeria who needs every support and prayers at this time.

The Muslim women should please offer special prayers during the Jumat on Fridays while Christian women should also offer special prayers on Sundays as they go to worship God.

Following her antecedents, Dr Okonjo-Iweala has proved herself, both locally and internationally, as an expert on trade, economics and governance.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is a world-acclaimed economist, skilled in the workings of international financial and development systems.

As an innovative manager, she has a good grasp of the world economy and most importantly, trade, as a tool of development, the statement said.

It particularly noted that the candidates experience in financial systems and global trade had made her an expert consultant to governments across the globe.

Following Okonjo-Iwealas antecedents, she is very qualified to be the new head of WTO, especially at this critical period of global economic downturn caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Headquarters of EEDC in Enugu

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has announced a planned electricity outage within the Enugu metropolis on Friday, Sept. 4.

The Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement on Thursday in Enugu that the planned outage would last for four hours, from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Ezeh explained that the outage was meant to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) engineers carryout maintenance on the secondary breaker to the TR2 60MVA power transformer at their New Haven station.

He said that the exercise would affect supply to Kingsway, Tunnel, Lomalinda and 9th Mile Injection Substations.

This would further affect the following step-down feeders at Abakaliki Road 11KV; Artisan 11KV; Hilltop 11KV; Coal Camp 11KV; Golf 11KV; Onitsha Road 11KV; GRA 11KV; Power House 11KV and Prisons 11KV.

Other feeders to be affected are Government House 11KV; Achara Layout 11KV; 9th Mile Industrial 11KV; Okwe 11KV; NTA 11KV; Abor 33KV; Ezeagu 33KV; Ajali 33KV and Government House 33KV.

The spokesman stated that consequently, the companys customers in Government House, Permanent Secretary Quarters, some parts of Independence Layout, Spar Mall, Kia Motors, Psalms Hotel, Rico Factory, Aarons Suites and Coal Camp will be out of supply during the period of the maintenance.

Other areas are Ngwo, Ngenevu, Old UNTH, Bunker, Kingsway and Uwani, some parts of Ziks Avenue, Okpara Avenue, 9th mile, Ezeagu, Udi, some parts of Ukehe, Abor and some parts of Achara Layout.

We regret the inconveniences this will cause our esteemed customers and assure them that supply will be restored once the maintenance is completed.

EEDC remains committed to delivering improved services to her esteemed customers, Eze stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Livestock market

By Felicia Imohimi

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has urged the Federal Government to establish a livestock ministry to harness the full potentials in the sub-sector of the economy.

The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Othman Ngelzarma, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He noted that such ministry had been established in other West African countries, adding that it will help address the enormous challenges facing the sub-sector.

According to him, a mere department under the Ministry of Agriculture will not be able to address the challenges and allow Nigeria benefit fully from the endowments of the livestock sector.

He listed some of the challenges in livestock development to include; cattle rustling, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping, banditry and neglect, especially with regard to demarcation of grazing reserves.

We are calling on the Federal Government to create a ministry that will squarely address all issues relating to the livestock sub-sector of the economy.

This is because the magnitude of the problem or crisis faced by the livestock sector is more than the one that can be handled by a mere department under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Some of the enormous problems are farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, neglect on the part of the government regarding grazing reserve, banditry, kidnapping, shrinking of Lake Chad that is housing millions of pastoralists and so many other natural and man-made factors.

We want an agency or ministry that can squarely handle this issue and resolve it permanently being the practice in most West African countries; they all have Federal Ministry of Livestock because of the essence they attach to livestock production.

It is essential for the government to consider the creation of the Ministry of Livestock independent from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Lets have a livestock ministry so that this entire problem can be addressed by an organisation solely charged with such responsibility, Ngelzarma stressed.

Ngelzarma also likened the livestock sector as next to petroleum in terms of revenue generation if fully exploited.

If it can be developed in a better way considering the value chain related to the sector it will create a lot of employment, bring a lot of wealth to the country and to individuals.

According to him, pastoralists who are the producers of livestock are gaining little or nothing from their products.

But if a particular ministry can be established and assigned to handle squarely any problem relating to livestock, it get the deserved attention it requires. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Fuel Pump

By Chimezie Anaso

Members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Anambra, have suspended their planned strike in the state scheduled to hold on Thursday over levy and other issues.

Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community, who announced the suspension said that the government and the association had met and reached some agreements which addressed their demands.

The shutdown was to protest multiple levies by government agencies, police harassment and indebtedness by Transport Company of Anambra State (TRACAS), to Siluch Oil and Gas Limited.

Recall that IPMAN on Aug. 4, issued an ultimatum to shut down the state after 21 working days if the government did not revert to the unified annual levy agreed by both parties.

It also asked the government to withdraw all court cases against their members.

Anyaso said that the suspension was based on the communiqu jointly signed by the association and state government after a meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Prof. Solo Chukwudebelu, the Secretary to the Anambra Government, represented the state while Anyaso signed for IPMAM.

Anyaso stated that at the end of the meeting, the following resolutions were reached:

That the Internally Generated Revenue Payable by IPMAN members which had been N100,000 per station since 2017 be continued untill Dec. 31.

The Anambra Internal Revenue Service will meet with the leadership of IPMAN to renegotiate the new rate(s) that will apply from 2021.

Those who had yet to pay for the subsisting levy of N100,000 for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 must clear the arrears immediately, but not later than Sept. 30.

Anambra government will suspend all pending court cases against members of the depot community who are currently in default of payment of the levies, this suspension apples until Sept. 30.

The chairman further said that on the indebtedness of TRACAS to Siluch Oil and Gas limited, the parties agreed that the Commissioner for Transport would review the claims and send memo to the governor within seven days.

He said that the meeting, however, agreed that it was a private commercial transaction which should not be matter for industrial action.

He further said that the parties mandated the Special Adviser, Legal and Petroleum Resources to facilitate a meeting between IPMAN leadership and Commissioner of Police to understand the scope of IGPs monitoring team within one week.

Government will provide a suitable land within one month and a Certificate of Occupancy will be held in the name of Ministry of Transport, Anyaso said.

He added that the depot community on its part would provide a detailed business proposal on financing and management. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday urged religious leaders to sensitise their followersto shun any form of violence as the governorship elections draw close in Edo.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr John Alalibo, made the call during a one-day stakeholderssensitisation meeting in Benin.

He noted that the commissions efforts at ensuring free and credible elections on Sept.19, might suffer a setback if religious leaders failed to douse the rising tension.

According to him, threats of violencecoupled with COVID-19 pandemic in the state can lead to voter apathy in the forthcoming electionsshould religious leaders fail to take responsibility as relevant stakeholders before, during and after the election.

It is on this light that I am appealing to you the religious leaders to help allay the fears of the voters.

The commission has put in place seamless processes that will enable the voter to vote without contracting COVID-19 if they follow the preventive measures and guidelines properly.

The commission is aware that some of you are role models and opinion leaders. Therefore, talking to you translates to talking to thousands of prospective voters in the forthcoming elections, he said.

According to Alalibo, 14 political parties are contesting the elections, stressing that the use of face mask is mandatoryfor all registered voters.

The REC assured the religiousleaders that the commission wouldprovide a level playing ground forall political parties fielding candidates in the elections, saying that it had no unholy alliance with any political party to rig the polls.

They should concern themselves with canvassing for votes because INEC will not award vote to any political party or candidate.

It is the number of vote scored that will be awarded them, he added.

However, Alhaji Suleiman Ojo, during question and answer session stressed the need for the commission to remain committed to delivering on its mandate of conducting free, fair, credible and transparent poll.

Ojo, former Deputy Chairman, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Edo chapter, recalled that the role of the commission in the previous elections was not entirely commendable.

He said that the conduct of some Electoral Officers in the previous elections left much to be desired.

Responding, the INEC, Administrative Secretary, Mr Etim Umoh, dismissed such allegations against the EOs, saying that politicians were in the habit of making unfounded allegations if the EOs declined to play ball.

Umoh said, if you find any EO wanting in any way, please come with evidence. I can assure you that strict actions will be taken against that person.

The commission has its own internal mechanism for dealing with such issues, he said.

The participantsurged INEC to ensure that polling materials were deployed to their various locations on time and the voting also done in time.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Motor park

By Solomon Asowata

Vehicle owners and commuters in Lagos on Thursday decried the increment in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), following the new ex-depot price announced by Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporations (NNPC), had on Wednesday announced a new ex-depot price of N151.56k for PMS, also known as petrol.

A NAN correspondent who monitored the development in Ikeja, Agege, Maryland, Egbedaand Iyana Ipaja axis of the state, observed that some major marketers were selling fuel at N161 per litre.

However, some filling stations owned by Independent marketers dispensed the product at between N162 and N164 per litre, depending on their location.

A vehicle owner, Mr Victor Olaniyi, told NAN that the increment caught him unawares and had left him frustrated.

He said: I usually fill my tank once a week and I was supposed to fill it on Tuesday but I was unable to and I had to buy fuel at N162 today.

I believe the increment is much, because last week I bought fuel at N148 per litre. Government should please look into this because it will affect everybody, he said.

Another motorist, Mr Taiwo Balogun, said as a private cab operator, he increased his fares to meet with realities in the country.

He said he usually picked people from Ikeja to G.R.A for N150 but increased the fare to N200 per passenger due to the fuel increment.q

A businesswoman, Ms Joy Ibe said she paid N500 from Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi, a journey that usually cost between N300 to N400 depending on the time of the day.

My fear about the fuel increment was that bus drivers would take advantage of it to hike fares and that is what they have done.

This is going to affect the cost of goods and services, unless something is done quickly, she said.

Another commuter, Mr Michael Bamidele, said his plan was to commute with the BRT buses because they were cheaper than the commercial ones.

He said: I leave very early to work now and join BRT. This morning, they (commercial buses) were carrying Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi at N400 while BRT which is faster is N300.

The queue is now very long because everybody prefers waiting than being exploited by the commercial buses, he explained.

NAN reports that the oil marketers had attributed the increment of the ex-depot price from N138.62k in August to N151.56k in September to market forces due to the deregulation of PMS by the government. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Wumi iledare

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Prof. Wumi Iledare, former president, Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) says the new price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol is in line with development in the global oil market.

Iledare disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, on Thursday.

NAN reports that the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had on Sept. 2 announced a new Ex- depot price of N151.56 for petrol.

Ex- depot price is the price marketers buy products from depot owners.

An increase or reduction in ex-depot price determine the pump price of petrol.

He said that going by the prevailing market fundamentals, the cost of petrol could be as high as N200 per litre in the country.

The reality on the ground is not pretty at all with respect to what the price ought to be.

At the current official exchange rate of one dollar to 385, 200 is about right price because of the level of demand driven by population and quality of life.

Keep in mind that any attempt to invoke subsidising petroleum has unintended consequences, he said.

Iledare, a professor of Petroleum Economics said that it was unfortunate that the country missed the opportunities when there was lower crude oil price.

We suggested not to set the price then, but fear of unrest predominate government action then.
The economy is highly dependent on oil revenue. Salaries are low and not paid.

It is a double whammy for petrol to go up. But no budget to subsidise, he said.

He advised that Nigerians must adjust and government on its part should pump more money to the economy and invoke patriotism

Nigerias exchange rates call for at least N200 per litre in Nigeria.

In Ghana, a litre is about N325 -N350 per litre of petrol. Like Nigeria PMS consumed are imported, lessons can be learnt from Ghana.

If Ghana is surviving, we need to learn from them, he added.

Meanwhile, a check by NAN in some petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) revealed that the pump price was between N158 and N162 per litre.

Apart from Total filling station in Tipper Garage, along Kubwa Expressway selling at the old price of N148.8, others had already adjusted their pumps to the new price.

Oando filling station, Gergu oil and Eterna station along the expressway were selling at N160, N159, and N158.1 per litre respectively.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) retail outlet along the same axis was selling at N160 per litre. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

EPL

The Premier League on Thursday said it has cancelled its contract with Chinese broadcasters PPLive Sports International after just one season.

The broadcasters, part of retail group Suning, paid around 700 million dollars for three years of English Premier League (EPL) streaming rights from the 2019/2020 season.

The Premier League confirms that it has today (Thursday) terminated its agreements for Premier League coverage in China with its licensee in that territory.

The Premier League will not be commenting further on the matter at this stage, the league said in a statement.

It had been reported last month that the Chinese broadcasters had withheld payments due to the league in March.

In a statement posted on their official company Weibo account, PPLive Sports International said that it had held negotiations over the price of the rights with the league.

COVID-19 has brought many challenges, and its especially obvious during broadcasting rights negotiations, the statement said.

After rounds of meetings, PPLive Sports and the Premier League have a disagreement on the price of broadcasting rights. We regret we couldnt have an agreement with the Premier League.

The direction of PPLive Sports strategic development will not change. Broadcasting rights strategy adjustment is based on objective reality and strategic thinking.

PPLive Sports will continue to dedicate itself to providing high quality services to fans, copyright holders and partners.

The deal with PPLive Sports International was struck during the peak of Chinese interest in international football and marked a huge increase in revenue on the previous deal.

Beijing-based Super Sports Media was the previous rights-holder in China.

Local media reports have suggested they paid more than 1 billion yuan (145.13 million dollars) for a six-year deal until the end of the 2018/2019 season.

The ending of the PPLive Sports International deal is a further loss of income for Premier League clubs following the coronavirus outbreak, which forced a stoppage in play lasting several months.

The League resumed games in June and July without fans.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News