President Muhammadu Buhari

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Mr Ken Henshaw, Executive Director, Center for Social Studies and Development (CSSD) says a decent Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) must address major concerns that will drive economic growth of oil producing communities and the country at large.

Henshaw made this known at a Virtual Masters class on Precept 5 of the Nigerian Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) in Abuja on Sunday.

He said it was unfortunate that over the years, various forms of benefits transfer to oil-producing communities, put in place by the Federal Government had failed to address the exploitation, degradation and deprivation suffered by the communities.

He named the benefits transfer to oil-producing communities to include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Ministry of Niger Delta, the 13 per cent Derivation Fund and Ecological Fund.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva had on July 14, announced that the PIB would be sent to the NASS in two weeks.

NAN also reports that the National Assembly said it was expecting the new PIB soon for deliberations.

Henshaw said that passage of a decent PIB bill that addressed the concerns of citizens must ensure benefit sharing mechanisms that translated to tangible benefits for people in the region.

According to him, it has to ensureImplementation of the National Petroleum Policy and end to all environmentally dangerous practices in the sector.

Amendment of NOSDRA Act to increase its capacity to carry out its activities without relying on oil companies.

Engendering trust by ensuring meaningful participation in extractive resource projects, he said.

On the 13 per cent derivative paid to oil producing states, he said that it had not impacted the communities as the accounts were domiciled with the state governments.

This, he said, has made it difficult to monitor its use for the development of the region.

He said that some states like Edo, Delta and Imo had created some special commission for implementation of projects which nerve worked but rather promoted corruption in the system.

The continuous failure of government to ensure local impact to ensure benefits are properly transferred, will not bring any change, he said.

He said that the recent Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) introduced in the system should be explored effectively to help benefit transfer mechanism.

He called for the overhaul of benefit transfer mechanisms, like the Niger Delta Development Commission and 13 per cent derivation fund, adding that strengthening issues in the GMOUs and ensuring that they were put into law should be key.

A decent PIB can tackle all these for the effective growth and development needed in the country, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba Minister of State for Education

By Chimezie Anaso

Federal Government will partner Anambra Government in its e-learning initiative toward enhancing effective teaching and learning in post-COVID-19 era.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, said this in a message to the e-conference organised by the Anambra Government to sensitise stakeholders in the education sector: parents, teachers and traditional institutions on the need to adjust to the new methods of education.

The e-conference with the theme: Facing the New Normal: Post-COVID-19 Education in Anambra was organisedby the Anambra Ministry of Basic Education and Integrated Developments Konsult (IDK) Learning Centre, Awka.

Nwajiuba said that the conference was timely and continuously necessary as the pandemic had upset the norm in the nations education history.

He added that the Federal Government would like to be part of what Anambra was doing.

The minister thanked the Anambra Government for leading in addressing the new challenges in the education sector caused by COVID-19.

We want to thank you for this unique step in fashioning ways to forge ahead with education in post-COVID-19 era.

Anambra is unique, we are happy with the quality and success in the sector.

This conference is not only unique, it is timely and continuously necessary.

I urge you to make us part of your work-team so that your deliberations and conclusions can get to us so we can fine-tune it and make it impact on the system.

We want to produce people with skills that can impact the society and not just certificate wielding graduates, he said.

Also, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said his administration was interested in seeing that there was no setback in education as a result of COVID-19.

Obiano said that he gave his full support to ensuring that no child was left behind with teaching-on-air, a radio programme, which had kept the students educationally fresh since May.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, said that education could not wait, hence, the need to brace up for the new challenges posed by COVID-19.

Omenugha said that to sustain the quality of education in the era of limited physical contact between teachers and students, technology remains the best option and that everyone must appreciate it.

According to her, this is the time for innovativeness in the education system, we need all stakeholders to be involved in the new normal education post-COVID-19.

There will be limited physical contact between teachers and students, we are going into the era of remote teaching and learning. This conference is aimed at sensitising every stakeholder about the new normal in the education sector, she said.

Prof. Charles Esimone, the Vice-Chancellor of the oNnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), lauded the ministry for spearheading the revolution in the post-pandemic challenges in the education sector.

Esimone said that emphasis at the moment should be maintaining the best educational standard without physical meeting, adding that virtual learning is the way to go.

Source: NAN News

Fg distributes relief materials to IDPs in Katsina

By Ruth Oketunde

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Katsina.

In addition to the relief materials, through NEMA, it also provided five cows to celebrate Sallah with the IDPs in the camp.

The items were distributed at the Model Primary School in Batsari Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, where the IDPs were camped.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items donated include; 1000 bags of 12.5 kg rice, 1000 bags of 25 kg beans, 1000 bags of 12.5 kg maize, 50 cartons of Milo, 50 cartons of powdered milk, 50 bags of 50 kg Sugar, 167 cartons of seasoning, 83 cartons of tinned tomatoes and 2, 000 pieces of blankets.

Others were, 2, 000 pieces of mats, 2, 000 pieces of foam mattresses, 100 kegs of 20 litres of vegetable oil, 50 bags of 20 kg salt, 50 cartons of OMO detergents, 63 cartons of bath soap, 3,500 pieces of womens clothing, 2,500 pieces of childrens clothing as well as five live cows.

AVM Muhammadu Mohammed (Rtd) Director General, NEMA, while inaugurating the relief distribution , in Katsina, said the food and non food items were meant to provide succour to the people who were displaced due to bandit attacks.

Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Godwin Tepikor, Assistant Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, NEMA, added that the items were sent to enable the displaced persons celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir happily.

We are here with these items, as part of the federal governments commitment to providing succour to persons affected by bandit attacks in this camp and also to slaughter these cows so that together, we can celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir with them, he said.

He however, charged officials that would be in charge of the distribution, to do so with utmost transparency and fairness to all displaced persons.

Mr Kabiru Umar, Camp Manager, Model Primary School IDPs camp, Batsari, commended the federal government and assured that the food items would be judiciously used for the upkeep of the IDPs.

NAN reports that the camp which had no fewer than 3,600 IDPs presently, witnessed the birth of five newborn babies, comprising of four girls and a boy, while the celebration was ongoing.

A mother of one of the babies, Maryam Abubakar, appreciated the federal government for the donation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege

By Kingsley Okoye

The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, on the occasion of his 57th birthday coming up on Aug. 3.

Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, on Sunday, rejoiced with Omo-Agege, his family, friends and political associates for the good health granted him by God.

Omo-Ageges public life has been an inspirational story of courage, forthrightness and consistency in championing the causes of his people and the unity and progress of Nigeria.

Since our election to presiding roles in the Ninth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Omo-Agege has brought those qualities to bear on our onerous task of providing leadership for the execution of the legislative agenda of the august assembly.

He has been steadfast and resolute in his commitment to the vision that we all share under that agenda.

Our partnership and the unwavering cooperation of all our distinguished colleagues across party lines have made the journey of the past year smooth and fruitful in the service of the people of Nigeria, Lawan said.

The senate president wished Omo-Agege, the Obarisi of Urhoboland, many more years of fruitful service to God and the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Lalong congratulates Archbishop Kaigama @62

By Martha Agas

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has congratulated Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja on his 62nd birthday which he marked on Friday, July 31.

Lalong in a congratulatory message by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Sunday in Jos described the cleric as a man of God whose passion for peaceful coexistence and justice was legendary.

He described the prelate as an advocate of peace, who worked tirelessly when he was the Archbishop of Jos, to foster peaceful coexistence among the different groups in the state.

Lalong lauded Kaigama for using his platform to bring the different groups in Plateau to dialogue, to forgive one another and to reconcile with each other irrespective of their differences.

We cannot thank His Grace, Archbishop Kaigama, enough for the role he played in ensuring that peace returned to Plateau.

He demonstrated the true essence of the love of God by embracing people from different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds and motivating them to love one another at all times, Lalong said.

Lalong wished the Archbishop Gods divine protection and peace, saying Plateau would continue to remain his home because of the respect the people there have for him.

He said this was because of the love, generousity and goodwill he showed them in his many years of preaching the gospel in the state.

He prayed that God grace and wisdom would continue to be with him to discharge his pastoral duties as the Archbishop of Abuja diligently.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ignatius Kaigama was born on July 31, 1958 in Taraba and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1981.

He was the Archbishop of Jos from 2000 to 2019.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Online classes

By Chimezie Anaso

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, on Sunday said that the Federal Government would partner Anambra Government in its e-learning initiative toward enhancing effective teaching and learning in post-COVID-19 era.

Nwajiuba said this in a message to the e-conference put together by the Anambra Government to sensitise stakeholders in the education sector: parents, teachers and traditional institutions on the need to adjust to the new methods of education.

The e-conference with the theme: Facing the New Normal: Post-COVID-19 Education in Anambra was organisedby the Anambra Ministry of Basic Education and Integrated Developments Konsult (IDK) Learning Centre, Awka.

Nwajiuba said that the conference was timely and continuously necessary as the pandemic had upset the norm in the nations education history.

He added that the Federal Government would like to be part of what Anambra was doing.

The minister thanked the Anambra Government for leading in addressing the new challenges in the education sector caused by COVID-19.

We want to thank you for this unique step in fashioning ways to forge ahead with education in post-COVID-19 era.

Anambra is unique, we are happy with the quality and success in the sector.

This conference is not only unique, it is timely and continuously necessary.

I urge you to make us part of your work-team so that your deliberations and conclusions can get to us so we can fine-tune it and make it impact on the system.

We want to produce people with skills that can impact the society and not just certificate wielding graduates, he said.

Also, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said his administration was interested in seeing that there was no setback in education as a result of COVID-19.

Obiano said that he gave his full support to ensuring that no child was left behind with teaching-on-air, a radio programme, which had kept the students educationally fresh since May.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, said that education could not wait, hence, the need to brace up for the new challenges posed by COVID-19.

Omenugha said that to sustain the quality of education in the era of limited physical contact between teachers and students, technology remains the best option and that everyone must appreciate it.

According to her, this is the time for innovativeness in the education system, we need all stakeholders to be involved in the new normal education post-COVID-19.

There will be limited physical contact between teachers and students, we are going into the era of remote teaching and learning. This conference is aimed at sensitising every stakeholder about the new normal in the education sector, she said.

Prof. Charles Esimone, the Vice-Chancellor of the oNnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), lauded the ministry for spearheading the revolution in the post-pandemic challenges in the education sector.

Esimone said that emphasis at the moment should be maintaining the best educational standard without physical meeting, adding that virtual learning is the way to go.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Malam Garba Shehu

By Ismaila Chafe
The Presidency on Saturday said the views expressed by Malam Mamman Daura, on zoning were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the president or his administration.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

He said that Mamman qualified as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under the nation constitution and laws of the land.

He added that he does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right.

The statement read in part: We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buharis nephew to the BBC Hausa Service.

It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration.

At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this countrys most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land.

He did not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right.

In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated.

The issues discussed during the interview, centred around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from.

These issues remain at the heart of our evolving and young democracy, and as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, Malam Mamman has seen enough to add his voice to those of many other participants.

Source: NAN News

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport

By Lucy Ogalue
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi says Nigerian government has the capability to pay back loans collected for the construction of rail projects within the stipulated period of 20 years.

Amaechi, in a statement on Saturday, said China was the only country giving out loans with a low interest rate of 2.8 per cent.

He said no country in the world would give out a loan without a guarantee to pay back such loans.

The trade agreement between Nigeria and China, the ministry of transportation does not take loan, everything about loan is directed to the Ministry of Finance, so, I couldnt have signed any loan because I dont take loan.

What I signed is what is called commercial contract, which is contract between the Federal Government and CCECC as a contractor, the contract between Nigeria and China is usually signed by the ministry of finance.

Whether its the ministry of finance that signed it or the ministry of transportation, the issue is that nobody will give you loan free of charge.

There must be an agreement and such agreement must contain some terms, that doesnt mean that you are signing away the sovereignty of the country, no country will sign out its sovereignty.

What clause 8 says is, I expect you to pay according to those terms we have agreed, if you dont pay, dont throw your immunity on me when I come to collect back the guarantee that was put forward, that is all.

We are paying the loans. In the same National Assembly sitting, they were told that of the 500million dollars loan, we have paid 96 million dollars already, Nigeria is already paying.

And the 500 million dollars was not taken by us, it was taken by President Goodluck Jonathan in his term and that clause was there.

Nigeria has the capacity to pay back for the period of 20 years at 2.8 per cent, which country will give you that loan? Secondly, these loans are not given to us, they are paid directly to the contractors.

Once they sign that the job has been done, they pay the contractors and that has never happened before and this project are in place. Are they trying to rubbish the fact that there is a railway from Abuja-Kaduna?

There is no loan in Nigeria, either internal or external that is not approved by the National Assembly, none.

Chinese government will not even give you a loan without an approval by the National Assembly because if they give you a loan without the approval from NASS that is no loan, Amaechi explained.

The minister further said the government needed the loans to boost infrastructure in the country.

According to him, the sovereign guarantee and sovereign immunity clause raised by the NASS is a term used to ensure that loans collected are paid back.

The minister said in the case of a default, only the assets constructed with such a loan would be taken back.

He said: What you do is you give a sovereign guarantee and that guarantee is the immunity clause they are talking about.

When we say, I give you a sovereign guarantee and we get immunity clause, the immunity clause is that, if tomorrow I am not able to pay and you come to collect the items we have agreed upon, that these are the items that am putting down as guarantee, I can waive my immunity and say no you cant touch it am sovereign country.

So, they are saying, if you are not able to pay, dont stop us from taking back those items that will make us recover our funds.

It is a standard clause in every agreement whether is America we signed it with, whether is Britain, any country would want to know that they can recover their money.

Just like you go to the bank to collect a loan, the moment you dont pay they go after your assets you put down, that is all about the clause, the Chinese can never come and take over Aso rock and become President or Minister.

And if the assets you put down become depreciated then you negotiate which assets they can go after. Chinese will never take over what was not constructed with the loan.

Amaechi noted that it would be unconstitutional to take a loan not approved by the NASS, but for confidentiality in government he would have published the clauses generating the dusts.

On the Zambia experience, where the country could not meet up with its loan agreement, the minister said that the Chinese government will never take over infrastructure that was not constructed from the money taken.

He also acknowledged that the finance ministry in a payment plan had started paying back some of the loans collected.

He said the payment plan was the responsibility of the ministry of finance, and the Ministry of transportation was supposed to implement the contract.

They are meeting the requirements, at any point in time that we need to pay, well pay. 1.6 billion dollars was taken to fix Lagos to Ibadan, we are asking for 5.3 billion dollars to fix from Ibadan to Kano.

3.2 billion dollars to fix Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, then Lagos to Calabar which is about 11.1billion dollars, if those things were done when we had money, the infrastructure will be here today, Amaechi added.

The minister, however, called on the National Assembly and Nigerians to appreciate government efforts in providing infrastructure in the country.

Amaechi noted that the Itakpe /Warri rail project in the South South, which was abandoned for 34 years by successive governments was fully rehabilitated by the present administration without seeking for loan.

Source: NAN News

bababjide Sanwo-olu, Lagos state governor,

By Florence Onuegbu

Lagos State Government has announced the increase of the permissible capacity of public gatherings from 20 to 50 persons.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced this at the Lagos House, Marina, during the 17th update on the management of coronavirus in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said that the increase applied to a wide range of events from Annual General Meetings (AGMs) to funerals.

He said that there had been a general decrease in positivity rates of COVID-19 cases in Lagos State over the past two weeks.

According to him, the decrease, when combined with the increase in testing numbers, paints a very encouraging picture of the outcome of governments response strategy.

He said that the state government would continue to fine-tune its efforts and strategies to build on the successes and close any existing gaps.

Dear Lagosians, having carefully reviewed the current scenario in Lagos State, we have taken some important decisions in line with the ongoing objective of calibrating an effective balance between the competing demands of safeguarding lives and enabling livelihoods.

We are increasing the permissible capacity for public gatherings from 20 to 50 persons. This applies to a wide range of events, from AGMs to funerals.

Lagosians should please continue to keep in mind that there is documented evidence that mass gatherings can increase the spread of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus.

As such, all standard prevention and control measures must be strictly adhered to: physical distancing, mandatory temperature checks and use of masks in public places, regular disinfection of premises, and strong personal hygiene.

Restaurants will now be permitted to open for in-dining services, from the 14th of August, on the proviso that they maintain a 50 per cent occupancy capacity.

The restaurants must have also obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission: www.lasgsafetyreg.com, Sanwo-Olu said.

He added that Social Clubs and Recreational centres would also now be allowed to open from Aug. 14, on the condition that they had applied for and obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate.

According to him, these Safety Clearance Certificates are at this time being issued only to Social Clubs with Registered Trustees.

He said that clubs and centres that reopen without complying with these mandatory requirements would be shut down and dealt with according to the law.

Note also that the closure of all spas, bars, lounges, night clubs, cinemas, games arcades remains in place. The possible re-opening of these places will be further reviewed before the end of the month.

As a State Government we will be ramping up our monitoring and enforcement work, to ensure that all our guidelines and directives are complied with to the letter.

The relevant agencies will be carrying out spot checks and random inspections of businesses and facilities, and defaulters will be sanctioned appropriately, the governor said.

He also said that secondary schools in Lagos would reopen, as earlier communicated by the Ministry of Education, from Aug. 3, for Exit Classes only SS3 and Technical Studies TEC3 students only.

Sanwo-Olu said that the resumption date would allow them two weeks to participate in revision classes and examinations in preparation for the forthcoming West African Examinations (WAEC), which would start on Aug. 17, 2020.

He said that all COVID-19 standard precautions must be put in place by school authorities, as officials of the Lagos State Government would be inspecting all qualifying schools to ensure that these requirements were fully met.

Sanwo-Olu said that the state government would make face masks available to all schools to which this reopening exemption applies, for the duration of the reopening.

Source: NAN News

Plane Crash

One of the aircraft involved in the crash was a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The other twin-engine plane had been later confirmed as a Piper PA-12.

Alaska Department of Public Safety said in a statement that one plane carried six people.

Gary Knopp was the only occupant in the other plane.

All were confirmed deceased on the scene except for one person that succumbed to injuries during transport to the local hospital, the statement said.

It added that positive identity has been made on all occupants of both aircraft and next of kin notifications have been made.

Knopp was a certified flight instructor and registered pilot.

He was elected to the Alaska Legislature in 2016 after serving on the Kenai Borough Assembly.

He was a candidate in this years Republican primary for House District 30, according to the ADN report.

Alaska Governor, Mike Dunleavy, has ordered the U.S. flag and Alaska state flag to be flown at half-staff in honour of Knopp, beginning mid-day Friday and ending at sunset on Monday.

Throughout his 42 years on the Kenai Peninsula, Gary became well known as an avid outdoorsman, a skilled pilot, and a dedicated public servant.

His presence will no doubt be missed by those he faithfully served, Dunleavy said.

The Alaska legislative leaders, on both sides of the political aisle, also expressed their grief over Knopps death and extended condolences to his wife and family. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News