Mr Olamilekan Adegbite,

By Emmanuel Afonne

The 2020 Nigeria Mining Week will hold virtually in October due to Coronavirus pandemic, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, said.

The 2020 Nigeria Mining Week will hold virtually in October following the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, has said.

Adegbite, who disclosed this in Abuja at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum said the event was usually part of the ministrys way of showcasing the country internationally.

He, however, regretted that the event which served as a channel for promoting the countrys mineral resources to the world would now be reduced to a mere conference meeting on zoom due to the deadly Coronavirus.

In October every year, we do Nigeria Mining Week and this is to showcase what we have in Nigeria internationally, unfortunately this year, we have postponed the physical aspect of the event following the Coronavirus pandemic but we are going to do it virtually.

The first time I witnessed the event was at the NAF Conference Centre, and I noticed that it was small for us, so I promised that we are going to have a bigger one this year, of course we secured the International Conference Centre as the venue for this years event.

However, we have written to them to keep the money against next year since we cant have a physical Mining Week again, but Nigerian Mining Week will still go on virtually on zoom; so, every day we are going to showcase things for Nigerians to see, Adegbite said.

The minister further said that the country was working towards achieving its full potential in the mining sector.

I was with the president in Russia in October last year, I went to London in January and was in South Africa in February and also in Canada in March before the lockdown and these were mining activities that we attended just to propagate the gospel according to Nigeria.

Essentially, what we were looking for were investors to come into Nigeria to mine some of these things. What most of the artisanal miners do in Nigeria is surface; mining goes deep down.

There is a mine site in South Africa where I went to, it goes in about four kilometers where they are mining and that needs technology because when you get to that four kilometers, it is like a city of its own.

This is very advanced mining; Nigeria is not into that yet. We are trying to get there and we need all the majors to come into Nigeria to access that; so we go about marketing the possibility in Nigeria for investors to come in, he said.

The minister pointed out that the ministry was collaborating with other ministries and agencies to ensure a robust strategy that would guarantee economic prosperity for the country.

Source: NAN News

Fishes _-..

By Cecilia Ijuo

The National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN), has called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of its members who are in distress due to losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National President of the association, Dr Gabriel Ogunsanya, made the call in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Chidike Uko in Abuja on Sunday.

NFAN is an umbrella body for Fisheries and Aquaculture Sub-sector in Nigeria.

He said its members suffered huge losses during the first two months of the lockdown in the country because of the pandemic and were yet to recover from it.

He said that the transportation of fish and input supply services only started from late April after NFAN leadership made a strong case for exemption duty pass for its members.

Ogunsanya lamented that in spite of the fact that the exemption pass was eventually approved by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, so many losses had been incurred by the farmers and other players.

He stressed that unless something urgent was done to salvage the situation, it would be difficult to meet the huge local fish demand in the country.

We have serious concerns that in the midst of obvious inadequate fish supply, production challenges and personal sacrifices, our farmers are currently facing unbelievable fish glut.

They are equally facing abysmally low pricing and inability to harvest and evacuate ponds and other fish holding water bodies.

These challenges are therefore preventing restocking to break the production cycle.

In the same vein, thousands of fish farmers in the South South region, comprising Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states were thrown out of business not long ago.

This is as a result of government order for investigation
and thorough cleaning of alien poisoning incident that caused massive fish and aquatic life mortality in the creeks and coastline water bodies between March and April.

From records, NFAN has the capacity within established members facilities to off take mature fishes for processing from different farms in Nigeria.

This is to prevent post-harvest losses while making smoked fishes available in the markets and for national food bank. However, this requires intervention funding, he said.

Ogunsanya said the industry required strong government commitment particularly in terms of policy direction and funding for fish importation to be banned in 2022 as assured by the federal government.

As we carry on with the task to meet national fish demand threshold in two years, our farmers require palliatives and economic stimulus packages to remain in business as extended to others.

We therefore pray the Federal Government to consider declaration of a state of emergency and implementation of a structured plan to revamp the struggling fisheries and aquaculture subsector.

We urge ministries of agriculture and rural development and industry, trade and investment, to bring attention of government, MDAs and funding bodies to the plight of hard working fish farmers and industry operators.

Their assistance in letting relevant stakeholders know the huge challenges faced by the industry will go a long way in sustaining our contributions to national food security and income generation, he said.

The NFAN president said the association was open
to further discussion on issues raised and more prospects for purpose of ensuring national development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, had on Feb. 4, said following Federal Governments effort to encourage local production, Nigeria may stop fish importation in 2022.

He said time had come for Nigeria to look inward to tap into the huge potential in fisheries and aquaculture for local consumption and export.

He assured that measures were already being put in place by government to actualise the plan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the former Minister of Police Affairs, retired Maj.- Gen. David Jemibewon, on his 80thbirthday on Monday, joining family members and associates to celebrate with the former military officer.

The president, in a congratulatory message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday noted that Jemibewon had played many pivotal roles in shaping the nations history in the private and public sectors.

He extolled Jemibewon for services to the nation, as a former governor of the defunct Western State and later Oyo State, and taking up strategic positions in the Nigerian Army as General Officer Commanding, First Infantry Division and AdjutantGeneral.

The president affirmed that the reforms instituted by the former minister of police had strengthened the Nigeria Police Force for better service, especially the setting up of the Police Service Commission.

He also lauded the former minister for initiating a process for the expansion of the security agency with more officers andmodelling of some global best practices in operations.

Buhari observed that Jemibewons interest in the country continued to soar after retirement as he contributed to the process of returning the country to democratic governance.

He also noted that the former governor had consistently played an active role in advocating good governance and development that directly impact on the people.

The president prayed that the almighty God would continue to bless the former governor with good health and strength to keep serving the nation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Zubairu Idris

The Police Command in Katsina has rescued 14 kidnapped women and recovered 90 animals, Police spokesman, Mr Gambo Isah, said on Saturday.

Isah, a police superintendent, said this in a statement on Saturday in Katsina.

On Saturday at about 1:00 hours, the DPO Dutsinma, led Operation Puff Adder to Kwantawama village, Dutsinma Local Government Area(LGA ), based on report that bandits numbering about 40 on motorcycles armed with AK47, attacked the village.

The bandits kidnapped 14 women including children, and rustled a large number of animals.

The team engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and succeeded in dislodging them, rescuing the 14 women and recovering 30 cows and 60 sheep, he said.

Isah further said the police also succeeded in arresting a suspected bandit (name withheld) of Tudu village in Dutsinma LGA of the state.

Source: NAN News

Galaxy Backbone

The Federal Government has approved the National Information Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB II) for the extension of network to the northern part of the country.

Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, Managing-Director, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), made this known during a facility tour by the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar lll, on Saturday in Abuja.

Abubakar explained that NICTIB I focused on South-South, South-East and South-West, while NICTIB II focused more on the North East and North West of the country.

The farther network will provide a backbone, the GBB boss said.

Abubakar said that the network connectivity made it possible for organisations, enterprises and individuals to communicate and was best using the NICTIB II project.

He, however, gave assurance that the network would be equally distributed so that every city would have the same backbone and use the fiber comfortably.

Recently, there is an approval from the government to go on with the NICTIB II project.

When we bring the network, we will try to distribute it to all the cities so that anywhere you are, you can use the fiber.

We were able to pull the fiber cables from Lagos to some parts of the South South, we came to South East (Enugu) and we came to Calabar and Port Harcourt.

We came to Makurdi, Nasarawa State and Abuja. So, we now have our presence in terms of fiber optics along those routes.

The NICTIB II is focusing on the hinterland that is toward the northern part of the country.

We will rollout this particular backbone infrastructure to move from Abuja to Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kano, and the northwest.

That is what we are doing and it will cover most of the states in the north, apart from what we call the Metro Fiber Network in major cities, he said.

On e-commerce, Abubakar said that the NICTIB II would make lots of economic activities easier, by making people to buy and sell without necessarily travelling outside the country, when put in place.

There is e-commerce where you can request for what you want to buy and make payment. The goods will be supplied from any part of the world without spending money to travel.

This will reduce the cost and ultimately boost the issue of whatever kind of business transaction you are making.

It will bring a lot of economic activities when put in place.

The direction at which the world is moving is what we call fortran industrial revolution, this is mainly knowledge based such as the GSM and internet, Abubakar said.

In his response, the Emir, who was accompanied by his entourage, expressed delight, thanked the government and commended the GBB for going a long way with the NICTIB II project.

He said that the project would go a long way in helping people, especially in the rural areas in terms of communication, businesses and other things that required the use of the fiber.

We are very glad and we cannot wait to start enjoying this fiber in Gombe State, the Emir said.

Source: NAN News

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in collaboration with Muslim Council of Adamawa, has trained 75 religious leaders on how to prepare communities for peace-building and reconciliation in the state.

Prof. Mala Mustapha, CDD Senior Research Fellow, spoke during the training on Saturday in Yola.

Mustapha said that the aim of the training was to build capacity of participants to promote peace and justice.

To develop the requirements that make transitional justice and sustain peace in the communities devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Providing the relevant Islamic tenents for developing messages on specific themes on justice, fairness, peace, patience, repentance, remorse and forgiveness, the senior researcher said.

He called on the participants to pay attention on the training and contribute their part to bring lasting peace in their respective communities.

Mr Gambo Jika, Chairman Muslim council, said that the participants were drawn from 21 local government areas of the state, including council members of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Jika said that the training was timely and at the end, participants would have the skills that could help in ensuring lasting peace in respective communities.

Mr Bashir Tahir, the training facilitator, said that it was significant, especially in the North East Sub region ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency and other violence.

Tahir said the introduction to the programme also assisted towards inclusion of repentant Boko Haram members into the community for onwards peace and peaceful co-existence in the communities.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Ariwodola Idowu

Ekiti Government has directed traditional rulers in towns and villages to either postpone or cancel for the rest of the year, all pending local festivals in their domains to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

The State Coordinator of COVID-19 Task Force Response Team, Prof Bolaji Aluko, made the announcement in a statement in Ado Ekiti.

He disclosed that Ekiti State had cumulatively recorded 78 positive Coronavirus cases, with 29 active, 2 deaths and 47 discharged, warning that the cases can rise dramatically if public assemblies continued unchecked.

He said as the state was gradually entering the full blown season of Traditional Festival, therefore, travels from within Ekiti State and various parts of Nigeria by indigenes and visitors to the various towns and villages during this period of the pandemic, had started to occur.

According to him, the attendant incidents of virus transmission in these crowded and boisterous situations, where social distancing is practically impossible, and mask wearing, which is also required, may be impractical for prolonged times.

Consequently, the wise course is to seriously discourage these festivals at this time.

In fact, they are effectively banned by current government guidelines requiring social distancing and limited-number assemblies.

Therefore, we are appealing to all Obas, Council Chairmen, Councillors and community leaders for the cancellation of the public celebration of all upcoming festivals and cessation of ongoing ones in all part of Ekiti until further notice.

These festivals should be observed in the quietness of homes. Some Obas have already been commendably proactive and announced cancellation for the rest of the calendar year, he said.

The State COVID-19 Coordinator, informed that government order against crowded assemblies, lack of social distance, and non-wearing of masks would, and must be enforced by the security forces.

We ask for your cooperation because Ekiti State currently has cumulatively recorded 78 positive COVID-19 cases, 29 of which are active, with 2 deaths and 47 discharged, but the cases can rise dramatically if public assemblies continue unchecked.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prominent among traditional festivals to be affected by governments position are: Annual Egungun, (Masquerade) festival, Ogun, (god of Iron) festival and celebration of Annual Cultural Days, by various towns among others.

Source: NAN News

Gov. AbulRahaman AbdulRazaq

By Olayinka Owolewa

The Kwara Technical Committee on COVID-19 arrested 50 persons at a night club in Ilorin, the state capital, for violating the ban on night clubbing.

The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee on COVID-19 in the state, Dr Femi Oladiji, disclosed this on Saturday in Ilorin at the states quarantine centre where the suspects were kept.

Oladiji explained that the operation was led by the states Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr Kayode Alabi.

Around 1:00 a.m., we got information that some people were clubbing at Kwara Hotel.

The deputy governor, accompanied by some security officials, raided the club and we arrested so many boys and girls within the age range of 20 and 30.

Around 2:00 a.m., we brought them to the Hajj Camp (quarantine centre). We made them comfortable overnight, and early this morning, we took their samples for COVID-19 tests.

The arrest, which may lead to prosecution, is to send the signal that we cannot tolerate such a conduct. Violations will henceforth attract strong response from government, he said.

He said that the ban on night club activities remained in force in the state to prevent further spread of the virus.

Oladiji added that the clubbers violated the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations, 2020, as well as governments subsisting ban on congregation that is beyond 20 people, except in places of worship.

Government is considering other measures, including enforcement of the use of face mask in public, to flatten the curve of transmission of the virus.

Government will take appropriate actions against any official of the hotel found to have authorised the violation of the existing ban.

This is to send the signal that such behaviour will not be tolerated, he added.

Source: NAN News

Sadiya Umar Farouk

Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, gave the assurance in Gusau while inspecting the storage of the items donated to the state.

The Federal Government brought 104 trailers laden with food items and 29,800 bags of fertilisers to be distributed to communities affected by armed banditry in the state.

The minister said that a committee comprising both State and Federal Government officials would be set up to monitor the distribution exercise.

We are very optimistic that these interventions will get to the targeted beneficiaries.

As you can see, the Federal Government is very committed to supporting states affected by either armed banditry or insurgency in the country.

One of such support is what we have currently brought to Zamfara. We have just brought palliatives for onward distribution to the affected communities.

We brought these palliatives and other interventions to cushion the effects of banditry and insurgency on the poor and vulnerable people in the state, the minister said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the United States Government and citizens, and other world leaders in mourning the passing of two iconic civil rights activists, John Lewis, 80 and Rev. Cordy Tindell C.T. Vivian, 95.

The presidents condolence messages were conveyed vis a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Saturday.

He affirmed that their courage and sacrifice in standing for the truth went beyond the borders of their country.

The Nigerian leader said:John Lewis and Rev. Cordy Tindell Vivian were transformative leaders who worked with others to change the unwanted situations of blacks in their country and the world over.

They left enduring legacies that will never be forgotten. We are all deprived by their passing.

The president prayed that the almighty God would receive the soul of the civil rights activists, and heal the nation of the deep pain of loss.

Source: NAN News