President Muhammadu Buhari

Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has said that President Muhammadu Buharis administration places high priority in agriculture.

This is why its plan to diversify the economy through agriculture is stronger than ever, Nanono said in his keynote address during a webinar on Tuesday.

The event was jointly organised by National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, and FMARD.

The minister said that Buharis administration, in the wake of the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, was providing rural infrastructure, improved seeds, farm inputs, market access and produce to small holder farmers.

Speaking on the topic, CoVID-19, securing Nigerias food system through technology, he pointed out that technology, especially biotechnology, had a crucial role to play in boosting food security in the country.

Nanono stressed that in the face of the challenging pandemic which was threathening all aspects of modern life, especially the agricultural food chain, modern biotechnology was a critical tool in improving food supply.

He said with biotechnology, the shelf life of vegetables would help resuscitate the food sector.

The minister also spoke about his ministrys collaboration with NABDA and other agencies toward the production of the recent Nigerian invented RNA Swift extraction kit for COVID-19 diagnosis.

He said because of this, COVID-19 test is available locally, re-iterating that the FMARD would continue to support science and technology in order to enhance food production and avoid post-harvest losses.

The COVID-19 may probably open opportunity for our country to look inward in what we produce and what we eat.

The country has enormous potential to feed its people, Nanono said.

Prof. Alex Akpa, co-host of the virtual conference on mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on Nigeria food security system, said the webinar was to fashion out ways to address the pandemic with biotechnology.

He said biotechnology was a very powerful tool that had the potential of helping the country to address many situations including disease outbreaks, hunger, malnutrition, insects and pests infection among others.

The professor noted that the agricultural sector was one of most affected by the pandemic restrictions.

People cant gather closely to undertake farming activities because of social distance rules.

Our smallholder farmers carry out farming through communal participation.

As unplanned as Covid-19, so also other vulnerabilities that agriculture face in this country.

Climate change which has brought flooding and desert encroachment on us did not warn us ahead.

All this has shown that as a country we cannot underrate the contributions of science and technology, Akpa said.

He assured that with technology in agriculture, Nigeria would leapfrog production, have better quality produce and high yields, reduce drudgery, improve resistance to pest and diseases.

He hinted that NABDA had also been been able to unfold a programme capable of producing about five million yam seedlings using the aeroponics technology for farmers across Nigeria in this Covid-19 lockdown era.

Akpa disclosed that the agency had also grown more than 31 bio-resources development centres all around the country, charged with responsibilities of harnessing and developing the bio-resources.

He said this had gone a long way in impacting the immediate communities, impacting the lives of the people by providing food on their table, creating jobs and empowering women and the youth.

Earlier, Dr Rose Gidado, Natiional Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, had given a background and tone for the conference.

Gidado said COVID-19 was one of the worlds most significant pandemics leading to decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She said this had led to social disruptions and loss of millions of jobs, adding that as a result of this, small holder farmers were at the receiving end.

How do we actualise the sustainable agricultural ecosystem of our dreams?

Biotechnology is therefore the kinpin in tackling and overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic to food security, she said.

Dr Philip Ojo, Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), said the council was ready to work hard, through the use of its various innovations, to improve the seed sector amidst the pandemic.

Seed is among the essential services and must continue to thrive in order to ensure food security, he said.

He added that farmers must continue to have access to improved seeds.

Dr Yemi Akinbamijo of Forum for Agricultural Research In Africa (FARA), said all must contribute to keep Nigeria food secure in the challenging pandemic.

He said in this period, Nigeria would be the litmus test of the success or failure of the present situation.

He added that Nigerias biotechnology needed to be strengthened as an emerging leader in biotechnology to curb the pandemic and keep the nation food secured.

Dr Martin Fregene, Director, Agriculture and Agro Industry, African Development bank, also made his presentation alongside Prof. M. Ishyaku, of Institute for Agricultrural Research, Sumaru, Zaria.

Ishyaku said the COVID-19 would be around for a long time and ways must be created for it to work for Nigerians as the new normal.

The conference featured many high profile academics and agricultural biotechnologists, including Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim and Mr Anibe Achimugu, President, National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), among others.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Kingsley okoye

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday submitted the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate.

The submission was conveyed in letter personally signed by Buhari, addressed to President of Senate Ahmad Lawan and read at plenary on Tuesday.

Buhari in the letter said:It is with pleasure that I forward the 2021 to 2023 MTEF/FSP for the kind consideration and approval of this distinguish senate.

Let me cease this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for the cooperation and support of the distinguished members of the senate in our collective efforts to sustain the restoration of the January to December financial year.

In line with our commitment, we have worked very hard to archive an earlier submissions of the MTEF/FSP .

This is to allow the National Assembly to have time to perform its important constitutional duty of reviewing the frame work.

I herewith forward the 2021-2023 MTEL/FSP as the 2021 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the approved 2021-2023 MTEL/FSP.

I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for expeditious Legislative action on the submission.

In a separate letter, Buhari also sought the approval of Senate for confirmation of Dr Chukwemeke Chukwu as Resident Electoral Commissioner, representing Abia State, in the Independent National Electoral Commission.(INEC)

Senate also at plenary passsed for first reading five bills.

The bills are theCompulsory Free Universal Education Act Amendment Bill 2020 by Sen. Rochas Okorocha (APC Imo) ,Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 1988 Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020 by Sen. Oloriegbe Ibrahim(APC Kwara),National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneur Management by Sen. Odebiyi Akinremi (APC Ogun).

Others are Nigeria Deposite Insurance Corporation Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2020 by Sen. Apiafi Betty (Rivers PDP),Nigeria French Language Village Badagry Establishment Bill, 2020 by Sen. Adeola Solomon (APC Lagos) .

It also received the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on urgent need to revive the palm oil industry.

Others are National Rice Development Council Bill, 2020,Food Security Bill and Oil Palm industrial park.

The Senate also received the report of the Committee on Land Transport on the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020.among others committees reports .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President Ahmed Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

Mr Ibrahim El-Ladan on Tuesday assumed duty as acting Clerk of the Senate.

His assumptio of duty was announced by the President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan during plenary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Ladan replaced Mr Nelson Ayewoh who retired from service recently.

While announcing the appointment, Lawan said that El-Ladan was appointed as the acting clerk of the senate by the National Assembly Service Commission on Friday.

He welcomed the clerk and wished him a very successful and peaceful tenure.

NAN reports that other appointments by the commission included Clerk Mr Ojo Olatunde, and Bala Mohamed, Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly both in acting capacity.

While Patrick Giwa remained Clerk of the House of Representatives, pending his retirement in November and Yusuf Danbatta an acting Secretary to the National Assembly. (NAN)

Mr Ibrahim El-Ladan on Tuesday assumed duty as acting Clerk of the Senate.

His assumptio of duty was announced by the President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan during plenary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Ladan replaced Mr Nelson Ayewoh who retired from service recently.

While announcing the appointment, Lawan said that El-Ladan was appointed as the acting clerk of the senate by the National Assembly Service Commission on Friday.

He welcomed the clerk and wished him a very successful and peaceful tenure.

NAN reports that other appointments by the commission included Clerk Mr Ojo Olatunde, and Bala Mohamed, Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly both in acting capacity.

While Patrick Giwa remained Clerk of the House of Representatives, pending his retirement in November and Yusuf Danbatta an acting Secretary to the National Assembly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has reached 37, 225 with 562 new infections, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to the latest data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on its official twitter handle 562 new cases were recorded on Monday.

The NCDC also confirmed that a total of 15,333 patients had been treated and discharged.

The health agency said that in the last 24 hours, Nigeria had recorded 12 new COVID-19 fatalities, taking the countrys death toll to 801.

According to the NCDC, the new COVID-19 cases were recorded in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

The FCT had the highest COVID-19 cases in Nigeria on Monday with 102.

The health agency said 100 fresh infections were reported in Nigerias COVID-19 epicentre, Lagos, while Plateau had 52 cases.

Among other states with new cases were Kwara 50, Abia 47, Kaduna 35, Benue 34, Oyo 26, Ebonyi 24, Kano 16, Niger 15, Anambra 14 and Gombe 12.

Others, it said, were Edo 11, Rivers 6, Nasarawa 5, Delta 5, Borno 3, Enugu 2, Bauchi 2 and Kebbi 1.

According to NCDC, Lagos has the highest COVID-19 cases in Nigeria with 13,538 and followed by the FCT with 3, 129 infections as of Monday.

Meanwhile, NCDC has said bringing down face mask to the chin could result in contamination.

Always use your masks properly or remove completely when necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it said.

The health agency also said that inspite of the ease of interstate travel restrictions, it was critical for Nigerians to adhere to preventive measures .

It urged Nigerians to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as protect the vulnerable and older population.

COVID-19 spreads easily even by those showing no symptoms.

If you are showing symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, self-isolate and call your state hotline to get tested.

Take responsibility to prevent the spread, protect your loved ones and those around you, it said.

Source: NAN News

CAPPA

By Deji Abdulwahab

Two trans-fat free groups say they have unveiled a series of Public Service Announcement (PSAs) for public health groups to address health dangers posed to human existence by trans-fat in the country.

The groups are Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)

The CAPPA Executive Director, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, said in a statement in Abuja, that PSAs would also assist in regulating trans-fat consumption in the country.

Oluwafemi described trans-fat as a food component that has been linked to more than half a million deaths per year.

According to him, research findings revealed that sustained high trans-fat in the body, leads to increased bad cholesterol, lowered good cholesterol, coronary heart disease, dementia, Alzheimers disease and other cognitive diseases.

Oluwafemi added thataccording to the latest available data,trans-fat consumption also increased the risk of heart attack and death with an estimated 540,000 fatalities globally in 2010.

Of this number, 1,261 were recorded in Nigeria, he said.

Also, NHED Project Technical Adviser on Trans-fat Elimination, Dr Jerome Mafeni, urged NAFDAC and other relevant stakeholders to take action against trans-fat in the country.

Industrially produced trans-fatty acids are silent killers, which very few people know about, yet they are present in many of the foods we all love to eat.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made global trans-fat elimination a priority (World Health Organisation, 13th General Programme of Work, WHO/PRP/18.1 (2019)).

And has called on governments to enact mandatory measures to protect the public health from trans-fat consumption (World Health Organisation, REPLACE, Module 4: Legislate or regulate, WHO/NMH/NHD/19.14 (2019)).

The WHO considers a mandatory limit of 2g of trans-fat per 100g of total fat in all fats, oils, and foods to be a best-practice measure.

At least, 29 countries have taken steps to limit trans-fat in their food supplies, including South Africa, India, Brazil, UK, U.S, Canada, Turkey and Thailand.

There has been a consistent call from health experts and advocates for Nigeria to follow suit, Mafeni said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

PMS Pump

By Martins Abachol

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Waba, has called for the downward review of the curent price of petroleum products in Nigeria.

Waba made the call on Tuesday while responding to questions from newsmen in Jalingo, capital of Taraba.

He described the recent increment in pump price of petrol as a means to exploit Nigerians to enrich few oil marketers.

The labour leader added that with the increase,the Federal Government was aiding the oil marketers to enrich themselves at the detriment of the entire Nigerian population.

He stressed that the new pump price was not necessary as the price of crude oil in the international markets had not increased in the recent times which was one of the reasons given by the oil marketers.

Essentially, it is about the exploitation of Nigerians as the Federal Government seems to be protecting the oil marketers rather than defending the citizens.

He said that the government should not leave the control of this very important commodity to oil marketers because they said that the exchange rate had gone up.

He said that rather the government should regulate the prices of petroleum products so as to fulfil one of its electioneering to Nigerians.

And if you say it is because of oil price which has also not gone up in the international markets then this is double tragedy,he said.

The NLC President also called for good governance and urged all people in power to ensure good governance so as to address the inequality and poverty rate in the country.

We need good governance in Nigeria; that is why all of us need to come together to reject some of these obnoxious polices that are meant to exploit Nigerians.

We will continue to engage the government and very soon, we will roll out plans and actions that we will do to ensure that the right things are done, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wabba was in Jalingo to commiserate with the workers and the family of the Chairman of NLC in Taraba ,Mr Peter Gambo,who died recently .(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Justice

An Abeokuta High Court on Tuesday sentenced a 35 year-old man Adekunle Olalere to life imprisonment for defiling a two-year-old girl.

Olalere, who resides at no 18, Bashorun Street off Unity Road Olowotedo in Mowe, Ogun State,was convicted on one- count of defilement.

Delivering judgment, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi held that the evidence presented before the court by the prosecution was tenable and found the convict guilty as charged.

Based on the evidence, I find and hold that the defendant, had sexual intercourse with the child and guilty as charged he said.

Akinyemi sentenced Olalere to life Imprisonment.

The prosecution counsel, Mrs Oluyemisi Aruleba, the Assistant Chief State Counsel, had told the court during trial that the convict committed the offence on March 22, 2017 at No 18, Bashorun Street off Unity Road, Olowotedo area in Mowe area of Ogun.

Aruleba, said the victims mother was a neighbour to the convict.

The prosecution said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 32 of the Child Right Laws of Ogun 2006.

Source: NAN News

Most economists think British government borrowing this year will be its largest since World War Two relative to the size of the economy.

Record UK public borrowing less than forecast, watchdog says

Borrowing in June, excluding state-owned banks, was 35.5 billion pounds, the government statistics office said.

That was five times more than a year earlier though below economists average forecast of 41.5 billion pounds in a Reuters poll, following a big downward revision for May.

April, May and June made up the three highest months of borrowing in Britains history, even though spending on job support was lower than first estimated, and tax revenues higher, the Office for National Statistics said.

Borrowing is still rising at an exceptional rate and we suspect that a slowdown in the recovery and further rise in unemployment later this year will prompt the government to announce additional fiscal spending at the next Budget, said Thomas Pugh, UK economist at Capital Economics.

Last week finance minister Rishi Sunak set out up to 30 billion pounds of new measures, partly to encourage businesses to take workers back when he ends a furlough scheme supporting more than 9 million jobs in October.

Public sector debt, excluding state-owned banks, stayed a fraction below the milestone of 100 per cent of gross domestic product it appeared to pass in May, after an upward revision to GDP, and now stands at 1.984 trillion pounds or 99.6 per cent of GDP.

This is still the highest debt burden since the 1960s, the statistics office said.

Over the medium-term, we must, and we will, put our public finances back on a sustainable footing, Sunak said on Tuesday.

Bond markets have been happy to finance this borrowing, however.

Last week Britain sold a three-year bond with a record-low negative yield meaning investors will receive back less than they lent and longer-term borrowing costs are also near a record low.

Britains government has announced extra spending and tax cuts worth around 192 billion pounds for this financial year, and last week its Office for Budget Responsibility estimated borrowing would hit 322 billion pounds or just over 16 per cent of GDP.

This figure is based on a scenario where the economy shrinks by 12.4 per cent over 2020, and the unemployment rate rises to its highest since 1984 at 11.9per cent by the end of this year. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution for the present crop of service chiefs to step aside for new ideas to come in the fight against insecurity so as not to jeopardise the security system in the country.

The resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) during plenary on The Rising Casualties among the Nigerian Army and other Security Agencies.

Other resolutions by the upper chamber was for the Federal Government to urgently provide modern equipment to enhance the operational capabilities of the armed forces.

The Senate also mandated its committees on Defence, Army, Air force, Navy, Interior, National Security and Nigeria Police to receive briefings on the state of affairs of the services.

Rising under orders 42 and 52, Ndume raised concerns over the various reports on the number of casualties among the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Just recently 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Damboa-Maiduguri road in Borno; 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.

The senate is disturbed that in Katsina again about 20 soldiers were also ambushed and killed why several others were wounded.

The number of civilian casualty is not known.

The senate appreciates the sacrifices of our armed forces in the fight against insurgency, banditry and protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and several other security assignments given to them.

The lawmaker further said that if the trend continued it would have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country.

Contributing, Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP-Plateau) said that the motion was very disturbing as it brought out the very unsavoury and gory details on disturbing developments from the front lines by soldiers fighting insurgency and banditry across states of the nation particularly in the north.

The reports of repeated loss of life of soldiers and desertions is the order of the day.

And the latest development that is novel and unprecedented is the resignation of over 200 soldiers.This shows the level of disaffection and disenchantment.

This calls for an urgent scrutiny by the Senate of the strategic, the tactical and operational details of operation by the armed forces.

Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi said that the senate would not keep quite to the importance of the issue.

And whenever challenges of the nature that have occurred as narrated by Sen. Ali Ndume, we should come out very clearly to show our disgust and at the same time commend those operating as security forces who lay their lives so that we can survive to be free.

We all know that this Senate has done on so many occasions brought this issue of security of lives and property in this country on the floor of this Senate at various interactions that we have arranged with security forces and security institutions.

And at every point when any amount of engagement is done between the leadership of the national assembly and particularly the leadership of this Senate with the President of the Federal Republic.

We have gone ahead over the years to establish so many committees whose reports we have endorsed in this chamber and submitted to the Executive for action.

Im quite aware over the years a lot of these reports have been there and they have been lying, and sometimes unimplemented and this has been the bane of a lot of the work that had been done in the security sector.

The issue that now faces us is that the readiness of our armed forces to really confront these challenges is now under a lot of pressure and this pressure is reflected in the amount and number of soldiers we are losing due to ambush by terrorists and bandits.

This particular issue needs to be tackled. It means our security forces will have to reorganise their deployment, they have to employ new tactics in this fight, Abdullahi said.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that The spirit of this motion is that our armed forces are trying very hard.

Just like the President said the good is still not enough but we need to continue to encourage them, we need to continue to provide for them.

They lay their lives on behalf of all of us and of course, it is very sad that some of them are deserting; are alleged to have deserted the war front. We need to get to the bottom of this, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Rabiu Sani

Kano State has recorded 238 COVID-19 active cases sequel to the confirmation of 16 new infections, the state Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

The ministry, via its official Twitter handle @KNSMOH, also said that the state had tested 22,694 samples for COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state recorded decline in COVID-19 infection in the past two weeks from over 1,000 to less than 200.

The ministry said that the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 238 following confirmation of 16 out of 619 samples tested on Monday.

Sixteen new infections were recorded out of the 619 results received from the laboratories. There is zero discharge as at Monday, July 20.

A total of 22,694 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Kano State, it said.

It added that the state had so far recorded 1,416 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, out of which 238 were active cases, 1,125 discharged and 53 dead.

The ministry urged the state residents to observe personal hygiene, use face masks, wash their hands and observe social distancing to curb the spread of the pandemic.

It also provided toll free numbers: 0909 399 5333; 0909 399 5444, 0800 268 4356.

NAN reports that the state government on July 2 announced total lifting of lockdown of the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News