NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Trading at the nations bourse closed flat on Wednesday with the All-Share Index (ASI), which opened at 24,174.45, closing at 24,173.53.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ASI dropped by just 0.92 points or 0.004 per cent.

Similarly, the market capitalisation lost one billion naira to close at N12.610 trillion against N12.609 trillion recorded on Tuesday.

The marginal downturn witnessed in the market was due to losses in GlaxoSmithKline, Africa Prudential, Caverton, Sterling Bank and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance.

Analysts at APT Securities and Funds Limited urged investors to position in fundamentally justified stocks.

They noted that the market was set to rally in response to impressive half year earnings results.

Eterna dominated the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 8.89 per cent, to close at N1.96, per share.

May and Baker followed with 7.91 per cent to close at N3, while NPF Microfinance Bank grew by 7.58 per cent to close at N1.42, per share.

Neimeth International appreciated by 7.14 per cent, to close at N1.50, while Cutix improved by 3.90 per cent to close at N1.60, per share.

Conversely, GlaxoSmithKline recorded the highest loss to lead the laggards table in percentage terms, dropping 9.52 per cent, to close at N4.75, per share.

Consolidated Hallmark came second with 8.16 per cent to close at 45k, while Prestige Assurance declined by 6.12 per cent to close at 46k, per share.

Africa Prudential dipped 4.07 per cent to close at N4.01, while Sterling Bank shed 3.28 per cent to close at N1.18, per share.

However, the volume of shares transacted inched higher by 32.36 per cent as investors staked N4.55 billion on 402.64 million shares in 3,252 deals.

This was in contrast with 304.19 million shares worth N3.27 billion achieved in 3,500 deals on Tuesday.

Transactions in the shares of UAC of Nigeria topped the activity chart with 136.72 million shares valued at N786.72 million.

Nigerian Breweries followed with 52.62 million shares worth N1.63 billion, while Multiverse accounted for 50 million shares valued at N10 million.

Sterling Bank sold 29.20 million shares worth N35.73 million, while FBN Holdings transacted 18.42 million shares worth N91.19 million. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

who

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says Africa recorded over 15,000 COVID-19 deaths.

The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO on Wednesday.

WHO stated on its dashboard that there are over 748,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa, with more than 409,000 recoveries and 15,000 deaths.

The regional office noted that South Africa had 381,798 cases and 5,368 deaths, followed by Nigeria with 37,801 confirmed cases and 805 deaths, while Ghana had 28,969 confirmed cases and 153 deaths.

It added that Seychelles, Gambia and Eritrea were countries currently with the lowest confirmed cases in the region.

Seychelles, the office said, had 108 confirmed cases with zero death, Gambia; 132 confirmed cases with five deaths, while Eritrea had 251 reported cases with no death.

Meanwhile, a statement posted on the offices website shows that Sierra Leone International Airport will reopen to commercial flights from July 22, four months after closure to international passenger flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the initial measures before the closure of the airport included travel restrictions and mandatory quarantining of passengers arriving into the country.

The measures helped to delay importation of the virus until March 31 when Sierra Leone reported its first positive COVID-19 case.

Preparations are now underway and the aviation authorities and partners are getting ready for the commencement of full operations at the Lungi International Airport, the main gateway in and out of Sierra Leone.

Reopening of the airport is part of the recent actions taken by the Sierra Leonean authorities to ease some of the restrictions instituted as part of the COVID-19 response.

Schools are now partially opened for examination candidates, and bans have been lifted on inter-district travels and places of worship, but with requirements to observe preventive measures remain.

Evans Liyosi, the WHO Representative in Sierra Leone, said reopening the country is a welcome development.

However, ensuring that all the appropriate public health measures are in place and are fully implemented will help to safeguard lives and prevent further spread of the epidemic.

According to WHO, Sierra Leone recorded 1,727 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 66 deaths.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Edo Government says the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has accredited Edo Specialist Hospital as one of its laboratory network to conduct COVID-19 test.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to Gov. Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie on Wednesday in Benin.

Osagie stated that the feat came in the wake of reforms by the state government, which procured three Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)machines for three designated hospitals for COVID-19 test in the state.

He noted that the development had raised the states capacity to test for coronavirus and to properly manage the spread of the virus.

He said we have just received the news that after necessary vetting and inspection, NCDC has accredited Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin, to conduct COVID-19 test.

This followed the installation of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines at the facility by the state government in its proactive response to containing the pandemic.

The Director General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, visited the state and severally at the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, he mentioned how Edo was leading the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Osagie said that the state government would continue to prioritise the health and safety of the people.

He added that the state government would spare no resources in facilitating effective and efficient health services to Edo people.

According to him, the increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state is as a result of an efficient response system which allows for more testing of samples to get a good picture of the spread of the virus. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NHRC

The Executive Secretary of NHRC , Mr Tony Ojukwu, made the call in Abuja during a stakeholders webinar meeting on access to clean water and sanitation.

Ojukwucalled on all actors, including governments to commit to measurable action at the community level to increaseaccess to clean water.

No responsible government can afford to play politics with such essential commodity.

Our engagement today is to start the process of continuous creation of awareness about the citizens right to clean water and sanitation.

We are all aware there is a nexus between clean water and sanitation. The lack of clean water and sanitation impacts on the wellness and wellbeing of citizens, he said.

He stated that the stakeholders meeting was aimed at strengthening and reinforcing the right to clean water and sanitation in Nigeria, through collaboration with the Commission.

This situation needs to be urgently addressed especially in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic which necessitates good practices relating to the use of clean water, sanitation and general hygiene.

Also speaking, theHead, monitoring department of the NHRC, Mr Benedict Agu reiterated the need to continue to involve Community Gate Keepers.

This he said are the traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, LGAs), concerned MDAs and International Development Partners.

This will help to create awareness for improved (WASH) policies, guidelines and strategies in order to mainstream human rights norms and tenets into Nigerias water resource and sanitation management he said.

Speaking on the theme Unsafe water , sanitation and hygiene in Nigerias public spaces: its effects on the COVID 19 pandemic on human rights, Mrs Oluwayemisi Akhile , Assistant director, legal in the commission tasked governments at all level to provide access to clean water.

Theprimary responsibility of the Federal, State and Local governments in times like this is to ensure safe water, basic sanitation, and waste management disposal in communities, healthcare facilities and quarantine centres.

There is the need to ensure that water utilities have the required financial and safe operational conditions to continue to deliver services in Public Spaces thereby promoting and protecting the rights of its citizens.

Any action short of this, goes contrary to the core human rights principle of non-discrimination.

This will in turn expose a certain section of the population to health risk and probably death based on their economic status or because of the community they reside in she said.

Also speaking,Dr Bala Yunusa from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said that the Nigerian government has shown commitment towards provision of safe water and sanitation.

The Nigerian government has demonstrated strong commitment towards the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the SDG.

Institutional frameworks have been established at the national and sub-national levels to support effective implementation of the SDGs.

The SDGs, cannot be achieved with stand-alone programmes and project rather, must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by NHRC and other stakeholders (NAN )

Source: NAN News

Hameed Ali, NCS Boss

By Mustapha Sumaila

The Customs Service Board (NCSB) has approved the the appointment of five Assistant Comptrollers- General (ACG) of Customs and promoted 2,634 Officers.

Mr Joseph Attah, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the service, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

Attah said the newly appointed ACG of Customs were Mohammed Boyi, Training and Coordination, Adewale Adeniyi, Commandant C

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday depart for Bamako, Republic of Mali on a one-day visit, following the briefing by the ECOWAS Special Envoy to the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Nigerian President and some ECOWAS leaders led by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organisation, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic, agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.

Host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote dIvoire are expected to participate in the Bamako meeting, Adesina stated.

Former President Jonathan was at the State House in company of President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on Tuesday to brief President Buhari on the unfolding situation in Mali.

The briefing, according to Adesina, has necessitated the visit of ECOWAS leaders to consolidate on the agreements reached by various parties.

We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward, President Buhari had said during the Jonathans briefing.

President Buhari thanked Jonathan for his comprehensive brief on the situation in Mali, which you had been abreast with since when you were the sitting Nigerian President.

The former President had briefed President Buhari on his activities as Special Envoy to restore amity to Mali, rocked by protests against President Keita, who has spent two out of the five years second term in office.

A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign, before peace can return to the country.

Crisis erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.

Riots on July 10 led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the establishment of a N75billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) to support enterprise among Nigerias 68 million youth between 18 and 35.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Dare, the fund is meant to assist qualified candidates with genuine business ideas, and can approach any of the 125 micro credit banks across the country to access it.

He said: For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council today approved the establishment of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) to the tune of N75 billion.

This fund is meant to create a special window for accessing credit facilities and financing on the part of our youths that will help to fund their ideas, innovations and also support their enterprise.

The best way to call it is that for the first time the country will have a youth bank.

A fund that will cater specifically for our youths within the stipulated age bracket which is going to be between 18 and 35 years.

Dare assured that the scheme would not be hijacked by politicians as only genuine candidates would benefit from the funds.

He stated that his ministry would play a lead role in working on necessary steps needed to be taken in terms of legislation, organisation and other aspects of financing of the scheme.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning will take the lead when it comes to the aspect of financing, working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and other relevant MDAs.

A couple of other details will be released later, but I think the most important thing is that the N75 billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, to cater specifically for this target group, a population of over 68 million, got the attention and support of the Federal Executive Council today.

This fund will be assessed by our youths, once they are able to present their ideas, they can assess this fund directly, he further explained.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The Government of Norway is the latest contributor to the One United Nations COVID-19 response with a donation of 9.9 million Norwegian Kroner (420 million Naira) in support of the Nigerian Government.

The UN made this known in a statement jointly issued by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement said the donation would bolster support to the Nigeria COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Pandemic Response Plan and help the government to sustain its efforts in addressing critical issues of the on-going pandemic.

It quoted the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, as saying: Global solidarity is our only option.

The coronavirus pandemic requires that we join forces for urgent action and coordinated efforts to mitigate its short- and long-term effects.

Through the UN Basket Fund, Norway is partnering with Nigeria in this time of crisis to address the multifaceted nature of the pandemic and its unprecedented implications on the healthcare system, as well as the socio-economic impacts.

According to the statement, the Nigeria One UN COVID-19 response reflects the United Nations in Nigerias support to an inclusive and nationally owned COVID-19 response through a shared vision and a common strategy.

Its purpose is to coordinate and align UNs efforts and leverage partnerships with the government, development partners, foundations and CSOs as well as the private sector.

It will leverage partnership to increase the availability, accessibility, affordability, adaptability and acceptability of COVID-19 response services in Nigeria.

The statement also quoted Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, as saying: The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic calls for global solidarity in time of crisis.

The UN appreciates the financial contribution from the Government of Norway to the Nigeria One UN COVID-19 response.

This will support efforts aimed not only at scaling up the COVID-19 health response, but to support the Government of Nigerias socio-economic interventions for vulnerable populations, including water, sanitation, hygiene and interventions to address food insecurity.

The One UN COVID-19 Basket Fund managed by UNDP aims to further strengthen Nigerias response and the management of the crisis, through socio-economic analytics, and proactive early recovery and social protection interventions, targeting the poorest and most vulnerable groups.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN, in collaboration with the Federal Government, launched the One UN COVID-19 Response Basket Fund on April 6, 2020.

The Basket Fund serves as the One COVID-19 Financing and Investment Platform, through which different stakeholders can channel their financial support to the multi-sectoral efforts of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Response.

The overall management of the One UN COVID-19 Response Basket Fund is led and coordinated by the Project Board.

The Project Board has representation from the Presidential Task Force; Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), relevant government departments, fund contributing donors and the UN.

Source: NAN News

Tussle for Imo leadership: Group sues for truce, stability

By Ikenna Osuoha

Members of Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), in Imo on Wednesday demanded an end to the ongoing court actions to sack Gov. Hope Uzodimma.

Chief Frank Ebere-Njoku, Deputy National Coordinator of the group, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja.

Ebere-Njoku decried the calls for the removal of elected governors in the state through court orders which he said had brought economic and political instability upon the state.

The immediate past PDP government of Emeka Ihedioha could not complete his projects, policies and programmes before he was sacked by the court leaving unpaid pensions and salaries behind.

Uzodinma on assumption of office introduced new cabinet members and policies without continuing from where his predecessor stopped.

Such change of batons or irregularities in governance is adversely affecting Imo people especially workers and pensioners, he said.

The ILDC Deputy Coordinator appealed to leaders of thought in the state to rally round to prevent a reoccurrence of governors vacation of office to avert further hardship on the people.

He called for a concerted efforts of both the federal government and lovers of democracy to help save democracy in Imo by ensuring that the matter was withdrawn from court.

According to him, if our leaders of thought cannot do anything to settle this out of court, we will instead prefer a fresh election by INEC where we will have a say than court order.

He explained that the position was taken after a wider consultation with Imo people aimed at charting the way forward for the state.

Ebere-Njoku, who reiterated the call for stability, described as abuse of judicial process the call for the removal of elected governors in the state by courts.

The ILDC is calling on all Imo people both home and abroad to join this campaign for stable governance and enough of the abuse of judicial system.

NAN reports that Mr Kingdom Okere of the Reformed and Advanced Party (RAP), is currently asking the court to sack Gov. Uzodimma for occupying the position illegally.

Okoye had alleged that he was not the legal flagbearer of APC in the 2019 gubernatorial elections. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Air peace

By Yunus Yusuf

The management of Air Peace on Wednesday said its pilots were not on strike as insinuated in the social media.

Mr Stanley Olisa, the Media Executive of Air Peace made this known in a statement in Lagos.

The attention of Air Peace has been brought to a publication which is circulating on social media, purporting that our pilots are on strike.

The information is not only unfounded but also mischievously orchestrated by its source to portray the airline in bad light.

This is to categorically state that our pilots are not on strike and nothing can warrant such development.

The members of the public are advised to ignore such publication as our pilots have not downed tools, he said

He said that Air Peace would continue to provide best-in-class flight services while observing the highest safety standards.(NAN)

Source: NAN News