PDP Logo

By Deborah Coker

The Edo 2020 Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its only interest is the conducting of free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the state, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Chief Dan Orbih, the Chairman of the PDP campaign council, said this in a statement in Benin on Saturday.

Orbih said that the campaign council would not be dragged into the narrative in the social and conventional media dwelling on the appointment of a Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state by INEC.

The Campaign Council of Edo PDP recognises that INEC is an independent body and reserves the right to appoint officials who have been cleared by the National Assembly to conduct elections in various states.

As the commission responsible for election management, INEC will take responsibility for successes of elections and of course its failures.

Expectedly, we are watching with keen interest, steps that are taken by INEC in preparation for the election.

The election is just a few weeks away and our candidate has been recieved with enthusiasm in all the 126 wards so far visited.

In all stops, he has preached non violence, compliance with COVID-19 regulations and of course, his achievements and further development strides.

Edo people must not be scared or intimidated by the narrative of violence.

We hereby encourage all Edo people to come out enmass to vote for Gov. Godwin Obaseki and PDP on the election day, September 19, he said.

Speaking further with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that enough policemen were deployed to the state to protect voters from unnecessary harassment by agents of any political party.

The campaign council chairman noted that democracy would be depeened if voters were allowed to exercise their rights and franchise.

He said that unleashing violence on the electorate would not save any situation, adding that the various political actors should show the people their report cards and what they would do for the people.

Orbih also noted that since the ward-to-ward campaign tour of the party, it had continued to harvest defectors across the 126 wards so far visited.

He explained that the defectors were attracted by what the PDP candidate had done in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flood

By Opeyemi Aremu-Gbemiro

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged Ekiti residents to obey environmental laws of the state to avert the flood predicted to accompany heavy rains in many states including Ekiti.

Mr Olusegun Afolayan, the NEMA Head of Operations, in charge of Ondo and Ekiti, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.

Afolayan was speaking on the sideline of a Road Show organised by NEMA to sensitise the residents on the effects of flood if not averted.

He said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) listed Ekiti among 28 states that might be flooded due to expected heavy rains between August and October.

The 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, unveiled by the NiMET had projected that rainfall would start on February 24 and cease by December 28 in the southern part of the country.

According to him, obeying environmental laws of the state will stop them from dumping refuse on waterways, canals and drainage systems and building on flood plains.

Flood is a natural disaster, we can only take preventive measures to avert it and in case it happens, to ensure the impact is less, that is the reason for this exercise.

There is a need to clear all the refuse dumped in the gutters so that water will flow properly and thoroughly. We saw some canals where refuse was dumped.

We have to notify Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency to clear those wastes that were dumped in such canals, he said.

According to him, the state government and the community should do the needful while the governments should direct its agency to clear blocked canals.

Government should also embark on the sensitisation of the communities by disseminating information on the ills of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the gutters or surrounding environments.

This is to avoid the flood disaster predicted by NiMET, NIHSA and NEMA, he said.
Afolayan said that Ekiti residents needed to be proactive by not dumping waste indiscriminately in the drainage or public places

He warned those living in flood-prone areas to vacate such environments.

He said the road show became necessary to intimate the citizens on early moves to avert the flood predicted to accompany heavy rains in the state.

The NEMA boss said other sister agencies, the State Emergency Management Agencies, Red Cross, some NGOs, National Orientation Agency, joined in the sensitisation to warn residents and traders on the need to dump wastes properly to avoid flooding. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Audu ogbe

By Ginika Okoye

Chief Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has expressed joy over the re-election of Dr Akinwumi Adesina as President, African Development Bank (AfDB).

The former minister told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday that Adesinas re-election was a good omen for Africas development.

Ogbeh urged the AfDB president to design an agenda capable of giving more robust support to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the private sector.

It is a good thing for Africa; the continent desperately needs growth in virtually all sectors. I urge him give more support to micro small and medium enterprises.

In supporting MSMEs, economic growth and job creation will be enhanced in the continent, he said.

Ogbeh said that the MSMEs and the private sector had the capacity to eliminate desperation among the youths, if properly harnessed.

It would be recalledAdesina was on Aug. 27, re-elected as AFDBs president for a second term of five years. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Prof. Uche uwaleke

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

An economic expert, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, has urged thePresident of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, to facilitate the integration of African economies through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Uwaleke, Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, stated this on Saturday, while reacting to the reelection of Adesina as AfDB President.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adesina was on Aug. 27, reelected by the Banks Board of Governors, for a second five-year term.

Adesina will serve a second five-year term beginning on Sept. 1, having being first elected to the position in May 2015.

Uwaleke told NAN that AfDB should concentrate efforts in the coming years in facilitating the integration of African economies through AfCFTA.

According to him, AfDB should work closely with African Export-Import to boost intra African trade.

Another area I expect to see remarkable progress in the next five years is industrialisation of Africa, which can only be possible with adequate power infrastructure.

This will help in diversifying the economies of most African countries that are heavily commodity dependent.

To this end, I would like the bank to focus investments in projects that harness the continents potential in renewable energy, he added.

He noted that Adesinas re-election was a testimony to the good works he did during his first term.

Uwaleke said that Adesinas good works were increasing the banks capital base and the contributions of the bank in reducing poverty in Africa through agriculture.

He stated that the efforts earned the AfDB President prize for his achievements in promoting food security in Africa through innovation in Agriculture.

I would expect him to continue along this path, as food security is a major challenge in Africa, Uwaleke said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sport Minister Mr Sunday Dare

By Akeem Abas

Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, says the Federal Government has approved the training of over 5,000 youths in different vocations.

Dare said this during his visit tothe Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, at his Popoyemoja Palace in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dare had visited the monarch to felicitate with him on his 92nd birthday.

The minister also said there was a marching order for contractors working on federal government roads in Oyo State to return to site.

Dare, who noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the laid down programmes of the Federal Government, however, said work had now commenced across the various sectors of the economy.

I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for giving me the opportunity to serve in his cabinet from my dear state, Oyo State.

Sir, because of COVID-19, all the laid down programmes of our president was stopped. But since last three weeks, he has been approving the programmes.

If you recall, when I became a minister, you sent some youths to me for employment, but today we have received approval to train 5,000 youths in the state.

I want the palace to nominate one person to liaise with my office and myself to carry out the programme, he said.

Dare added that approval had also been given to commence work on Saki water works following the efforts Mr Adebayo Shittu, the immediate past Minister of Communications.

The minister, who pleaded for forgiveness for not visiting the monarch since he became minister, congratulated the Olubadan on his 92nd birthday and wished him long life in good health.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 160 new cases of COVID-19, with total infections rising to 53, 477.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 160 new cases marked the lowest figure in the country since the last three months.

On Aug. 4, Nigeria reported 288 COVID-19 cases and 290 new cases just one week later.

The NCDC further reported 252 cases on Aug. 25 and 221 on Aug. 26.

It said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre activated at Level 3 had continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

The NCDC also stated that 291 persons recovered from isolation centres across the country in the last 24 hours with no fatality.

The public health agency noted that the new figure brought the total number of confirmed cases to 53,477 in the country.

Out of this figure, the NCDC said 41,017 had been successfully treated and discharged while the death toll remained at 1011 in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It stated that the 160 new cases were from 15 states.

According to it, Plateau topped the list with 44 cases, Lagos came second with 27 infections, followed by Katsina, 18, Edo, 15 and the FCT, 14.

Others were Ondo with 10, Oyo, 9, Kwara, 6, Abia and Nasarawa, 4, Kano , 3, Ekiti and Kaduna, 2, Kebbi and Ogun, 1.

Meanwhile, the agency said that the reopening of places of worship did not mean that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had subsided.

If you must gather to worship in the mosque today, take preventive measures to protect yourself and loved ones.

Wear a face mask and dont share personal items, it said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed delight at the progress made in Nigeria-Norwegian relations in the last four years.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement on Friday.

He quoted the president as making his feelings known at a virtual farewell meeting with the out-going Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud.

Buhari commended Kjemprud for the bilateral accomplishment in the area of oil and gas, fishing, humanitarian assistance in the Northeast and other benefits that his efforts have brought to Nigeria.

I congratulate you on your performance and hard work and for the help in the promotion of welfare of people in the Northeast where we have problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and infrastructural deficit.

We are very grateful. Thank you, he said.

The out-going Ambassador in his speech, said his four-year tenure had grown economic relations between the two nations substantially.

He noted in particular, the presence of more than 70 Norwegian companies in the country as well as the important step by the Norwegian Sovereign Welfare Fund to invest in the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He also cited as a very important achievement, the organisation of two donor conferences driven by Norway that raised more than one billion dollars for the development and humanitarian assistance to the Northeast.

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged the commissions officials in the 18 local government areas (LGAs), of Edo to be neutral and professional in handling the Sept. 19, governorship elections.

Yakubu made the call at a meeting with the Electoral Officers (EOs), Heads of departments, heads of Units and other members of staff of the commission on Friday in Benin.

He said, we are really happy to be here, we have heard so much about the preparation about Edo election and we thought we should come and see things for ourselves.

As part of our visit, we are meeting with members of staff particularly the field commanders who are the EOs in the 18 local government areas of the state.

I am here to draw your attention to a few things you need to know.
Neutrality is absolutely very important.

I am excited about what the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said about neutrality and professionalism.

We are not supporting any political party or candidate and we are not also against any political party or candidate either.

Our concern is the integrity of the entire process. The choice of who becomes the governor of Edo is entirely in the hands of Edo people, he said.

According to the Chairman, we are going to guide and jealously protect the process.

The INEC boss also informed the EOs that the commission had introduced new innovation in order to deepen transparency of the results management process.

He noted that the commission had introduced a new results viewing portal which was piloted in Nasarawa Central state Constituency bye-elections.

In addition to the smart card readers for voter authentication there will be new tablets with camera in all the polling units and voting points.

At the close of voting, sorting, counting and recording of ballots, pictures of form EC8A will be taken and transmitted to a dedicated portal.

So that Nigerians can view the polling units results even before a declaration is made. We did it in Nasarawa bye-election.

This is the next major election, so you are going to set the pace for major elections. We look forward to availability of the form EC8As on the portal for the public to view on election day, Yakubu added.

The Chairman also emphasised the need for INEC officials to be punctual at their various polling units and voting points and must begin the process at the stipulated time of 8.30am and close voting by 2.30pm.

According to him, you have to address the issue of logistics particularly transportation. You have to engage the vehicles and boat owners early enough.

Please take note that boats and vehicles should only carry 50 per cent of the installed passenger capacity because of social distancing and COVID-19 policy, which means you will be needing more means of transportation.

I am confident that you will not let the commission down.

One of the lessons we learnt in the 2016 Edo governorship election is that we must speedily conclude the process and declare the results in good time.

The longer it takes to declare the results, the more problematic it becomes for us to manage public perception.

So you have to get logistics right in order to speedily conclude the process.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Johnson Alalibo, said the card readers for the election had been supplied and were being configured for the election.

He noted that the commissions mantra for the conduct of the Edo governorship election was professionalism, neutrality and non- partisanship. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Douye Diri Bayelsa State Governor

By Shedrack Frank

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has activated the newly inaugurated Bayelsa State Molecular Laboratory, Research and Diagnostic Centre for COVID-19 testing.

The facility, which was inaugurated by Gov. Douye Diri, brought the number of NCDC accredited laboratories in the country to 66 in 34 states.

The Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, announced this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yenagoa.

He said that the NCDC in a letter by the Laboratory Network Advisor, Celestina Obiekea, to the Bayelsa Commissioner for Health, statedthat the laboratory had fulfilled the necessary requirements to test for COVID-19.

He quoted the NCDC as saying that the state would be responsible for procurement of consumables, equipment and other materials while it would support the state with reagents and test kits.

While inaugurating the centre, Diri expressed delight at the quality of medical equipment in the laboratory.

He said that the setting up of the centre marked the end of the rigorous task of getting sample results from Edo and Rivers.

From when we had the index case to the point of collection of samples out of Bayelsa to as far as Irrua in Edo State it was not comfortable for us.

It took a long time to get there same day for the test and the sample results to be ready. There were some results we got two months later from Rivers State.

From that time, we became determined to have our own testing centre and laboratory.

Then I gave a directive to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and his team. Im happy because it is one thing to give approval and another to get it implemented.

So, I appreciate the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Public Health, Vice Chancellor of the Bayelsa Medical University and others who made it possible for us to have this centre.

Now we have our own laboratory and test centre even beyond COVID-19. I call on Bayelsa people to take full advantage of this centre, he said.

The permanent secretary, Dr Inodu Apoku, on his part, described the inauguration of the centre as the most advanced measure and comprehensive COVID-19 response in the state.

Apoku said the centre had been adjudged as one of the best testing centres by the NCDC during the accreditation process, considering the type of equipment put in place.

He noted that the centre could process 200 samples in three to four hours, stressing that with a disease that spread quickly as COVID-19, every hour was critical to containment. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The volume of shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday dropped by 45.46 per cent.

Speficially, investors sold and bought 137.05 million shares worth N920.53 million in 2,869 deals.

This was in contrast with 251.29 million shares valued at N1.58 billion exchanged in 2,954 deals on Thursday.

Access Bank drove the activity chart, accounting for 25.78 million shares worth N162.51 million.

FBN Holdings accounted for 15.65 million shares valued at N77.66 million, while FTN Cocoa traded 11.34 million shares valued at N2.34 million.

Royal Exchange accounted for 11.18 million shares worth N2.54 million, while FCMB traded 8.13 million shares valued at N17.18 million.

However, the market capitalisation rose by two billion naira or 0.02 per cent to close at N13.203 trillion against N13.201 trillion recorded on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index increased by 5.12 points or 0.02 per cent to close at 25,309.37 from 25,304.25 achieved on Thursday.

CAP recorded the highest gain to lead the gainers chart, gaining 55k to close at N16.70 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank came second with 20k to close at N25.40, while Access Bank gained 15k to close at N6.40 per share.

United Capital increased by 5k to close at N3.10, while FCMB Group also gained 5k to close at N2.15 per share.

Conversely, Guinness led the losers chart, dropping by N1.45 to close at N14.15 per share.

FBN Holdings trailed 10k to close at N4.95, while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated dipped 5k to close at N3.90 per share.

Jaiz Bank lost 5k to close at 58k, while UACN also dropped 5k to close at N5.70 per share. (NAN)

Source: NAN News