Farmers

By Ifeanyi Olannye

The Delta Government has granted its approval for the state to access eight billion naira loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to develop agriculture in the state.

The states Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Asaba, said that accessing the loan was part of the decisions reached at the States Executive Council meeting.

He said that the State Government had approved a review of the states 2020 budget to reflect the reality on ground because of the fall in crude oil price at the international market and the impact of COVID-19.

We are taking steps and looking beyond the coronavirus pandemic and for that reason, we are examining our 2020 budget to reflect the realities on ground.

At the council meeting today, we focused on things that will boost our economy and create jobs for our people.

We are making sure that we boost our agro-industrial park at Aboh, Ogwashi to come on steam. As a result,the Delta government has decided to take advantage of the CBN commercial agriculture loan scheme.

A committee has been set up to take a look at how we can maximise that particular window.

And today,the governor has approved for the state to access as much as N8 billion to give strength tothe activities in the agro-industrial park.

The commissioner explained that it was going to be a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to boostactivities at the agro-industrial park.

We are convinced that when it comes on stream, it will boost the stateseconomy and create jobs for our teaming youths population.

Aniagwu said that the council also gave its approval for the state to access two million dollars as equity fund in partnership with a private company to start mass production of telecommunications towers in Isele-Uku in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the government has also re-visited the moribund African Timber and Plywood Company in Sapele, which currently occupies a vest area of land.

As a government,we are already thinking about what we should do. We are taking a look at selling some of the machinery, auctioning some of the machinery and then converting that place to proper use to boost the states economy.

Delta is a state known for its petrochemicals. The state government is also investing in modular refinery to be championedthrough a PPP arrangement at Okpai in Ndokwa East LGA of the state.

So, as a state apart from engaging our people, we also create areas to build our internally-generated revenue for the state from the natural resources that God has given to the state.

Aniagwu warned, however, that with the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state and the country, individuals must take personal responsibility to check the spread of the virus. (NAN).

Source: NAN News

UEFA Champions League

UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a Final Eight tournament held over 10 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday.

According to Reuters, the proposal is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached on Monday.

Under the plan, the competition, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume with the second-leg of remaining last 16 games played at the scheduled venues.

The single-leg quarter-final games will be played in Lisbon on four straight days from Aug. 12-15.

The semi-finals will take place on Aug. 18 and 19 and the final on Aug. 23 in the Portuguese capital.

The plan allows for a quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format, but does mean the competition will have six fewer games which will cost UEFA broadcast revenue.

The games are likely to be shared between Lisbons two major stadiums Benficas Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbons Jose Alvalade stadium.

Organisers are proceeding on the basis that matches will be played behind closed-doors but UEFA is understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal allow.

Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final but will now, instead be the venue for the 2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year.

A similar format will be used to decide the Europa League competition at German venues from Aug. 10.

The remaining last 16 games will be held at neutral venues in Germany with the Final Eight held in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne.

The traditional opener to the European season, the UEFA Super Cup, is expected to be held in Budapest on Sept. 24. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadium

Qatar showed off the latest stadium to be completed for the 2022 soccer World Cup in a virtual presentation and dedicated it to frontline workers battling the COVID-19.

The 40,000 capacity Education City stadium, a Diamond in the Desert, is the third venue to be ready with five more under construction.

The Al Rayyan Stadium, also with a 40,000 capacity, and the 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium are due to be completed by the end of this year.

Gianni Infantino, president of world soccer body FIFA, looked forward to a time when matches no longer had to be played without spectators due to the crisis.

We must not forget, health comes first. In some parts of the world, it is already possible to look ahead to better times. In others, we still have to be extremely careful, stay strong and united.

In the meantime, the new stadium in Education City reminds us that football will return and with more passion than ever, he said.

When the time comes, we will be sharing the stands with families and friends. In this beautiful and modern stadium, we will come together to celebrate the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

The stadium will drop to a 20,000 capacity after the tournament, with the surplus seats going to stadiums in developing countries.

Three down, five to go. Were on track, the World Cup chief executive Nasser Al Khater said.

According to him, this is a virtual launch, not something that we ever imagined wed do.

But who would have imagined that the world would be where it is right now, he said.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has ordered the total overhauling of facilities in the General Hospital, Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Ugwuanyi gave the order on Monday when he inspected the new structure at the hospital and the state of facilities existing in the hospital.

The governor said that his administration would deploy the essential materials and manpower to ensure the full operation of the facility.

He said the action was in line with his administrations resolve to upgrade health facilities in the state for the well being of the people.

Ugwuanyi also inspected the reconstruction of the Colliery Hospital, Enugu, and construction of new structures at the hospital, now designated as an Infectious Disease Isolation and Treatment Centre.

It would be recalled that Ugwuanyi administration last week, awarded multiple contracts for construction and rehabilitation of health facilities across the state.

The contracts include new Primary Health Care Centres in seven LGAs, rehabilitation of 34 health facilities across the 17 LGAs, upgrade and rehabilitation of General Hospital Ogrute, Enugu Ezike and Nsukka District Hospital, among others.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) has announced a 22.4 million dollars funding for 2020 to address increased vulnerability of people affected by both COVID-19 pandemic and insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Mr Edward Kallon, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the fund was the largest donation since its commencement in 2017.

According to him, the fund is coming at a critical time when the region is entering its 11th year of crisis occasioned by continued insurgency which is now compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before and during the COVID-19 response, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund has proven to be a rapid and flexible funding tool enabling aid actors to adapt to fast-changing humanitarian emergencies.

With the new coronavirus now spreading across the country, the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund swiftly provided emergency funds to procure essential personal protective equipment for frontline aid workers when the pandemic reached Nigeria.

This allocation will further support urgent efforts in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, Kallon said.

He said that the NHF donation was just a fragment of the over 246 million dollars which was required in 2020 for COVID-19 specific humanitarian actions in North-east.

Kallon said that the figure was also in addition to the 834 million dollars funding needed to provide urgent aid to about 5.9 million people across the three conflict-affected states.

He added that the United Nations and humanitarian partners estimated that 7.9 million people were already in dire need of humanitarian assistance before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This number is expected to increase as the effects of the pandemic exacerbate humanitarian needs, including health services, food security and livelihoods.

The impact of COVID-19 has made it even more essential for donors to contribute to the NHF and support aid organisations in adapting their response and providing critical life-saving assistance in North-east Nigeria, Kallon explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NHF was launched in February 2017 and is being managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The fund has received contributions from Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Sweden and Switzerland for urgent actions in 2020. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde

Oyo State has recorded 68 new cases of COVID-19, the latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have revealed.

In the figures released on Monday night, the 68 cases in Oyo were among the new 573 recorded in 20 states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the latest figure in Oyo has brought the total COVID-19 cases in the state to 575.

Gov. Seyi Makinde, had, on Monday directed all categories of workers to resume work on June 22 as well as the resumption of classes for primary six pupils, Junior Secondary School III and Senior Secondary School III students on June 29.

He also announced relaxation of the curfew imposed on the state as the curfew will now run between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. against the earlier period of between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Makinde said that the decision was taken by the state COVID-19 task force headed by him and further announced opening up of Mosques and Churches, which were to operate at 25 per cent capacity.

Some residents have expressed fear over the upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the, especially with the decision of government to reopen schools and and offices.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Fire outbreaks: Fire Service advises on best practices

By Peter Okolie

The Anambra Fire Service said it recorded no fewer than 125 fire outbreaks across the state between January and May this year.

The Director, Anambra Fire Service, Mr Martin Agbili stated this on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

Agbili said the figure showed an increase in fire cases when compared to its record of 64 in 2018 and 52 in 2019 within the period.

From January to February, it was not easy. That was at the peak of dry season and we had so many fire outbreaks within the time.

They were not just structural fire outbreaks but fire from crashes by petrol laden-articulated vehicles and high level of unconsciousness in the handling of inflammable materials.

In terms of value of property saved or lost within the period, we cannot say for sure this is the estimate, but we can say we saved more than what was destroyed, Agbili said.

The fire chief said the agency would soon commence sensitisation campaign across the state to enlighten residents on measures to take to prevent and handle fire outbreaks and inflammable materials.

He commended Gov. Willie Obiano for procuring and rehabilitating fire trucks, approving employment of 120 personnel and for increasing staff hazard allowance from N10 to N20, 000.

Agbili further commended the governor for procuring 13 operational vehicles as well as for constructing and installing fire hydrants in all the markets in the state.

He said the state government was also making effort toward providing fire trucks in all the major markets.

At the moment, only three markets namely: Main Market, Onitsha; Building Materials Market, Ogbunike; and Ochanja Market have fire trucks, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chinese president Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Beijing on Wednesday.

He will also deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Tuesday.

The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

It will be held via video link.

Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African sub-regional organisations; and the chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation.

The secretary-general of the UN and the director-general of the World Health Organisation will attend the meeting as special guests.(Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ijuo

The Federal Government has provided N13.9 billion for Pest, Migratory Birds and Zoonotic disease control programme in the country.

The government on Tuesday provided a breakdown of N13.9 billion Pest Control Fund recently announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono.

The Director, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services in the ministry, Dr Alabi Olaniran, gave the breakdown, while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the fund was approved not only to address pest control but for two other critical areas.

According to him, the fund was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on March 11, to address the control of migratory pests, control of animal and zoonotic or trans-boundary animal diseases and upgrade of abattoirs.

The minister had at the launch of the 2020 Dry Season Control of Trans-boundary or Migratory Pests on June 12 in Kebbi State, announced approval of the intervention fund.

Olaniran explained that, of the N13.9 billion announced by the minister, N2.8billion was for migratory pest control, N9.6 billion for control of animal and zoonotic diseases and N1.4billion for rehabilitation and upgrade of abattoirs.

He explained that the N2.8billion for control of migratory pests would be disbursed to 12 front line states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Zamfara.

He stressed that 12 Northern states were chosen because they were likely entry points for migratory pests from other countries.

He added that no state in the South was chosen because we are bounded to the South by the sea or ocean, so nothing comes in from there.

Olaniran, however, explained that the N9.6 billion for control of animal and zoonotic diseases and N1.4billion for rehabilitation and upgrading of abattoirs would be for all states across the country.

The N13.9 billion intervention fund was actually meant for intervention in three key areas, the control of migratory pests.

The second area of intervention is the control of trans-boundary animal diseases, through vaccination and eradication of dog related human rabies.

Because over the years we have been inundated with increasing number of animal diseases and some of these diseases are are zoonotic that can also affect human beings.

And you know that Nigeria is endowed with very large livestock resources and presently diseases are affecting the production level of our animals.

So, this is the first time really, that the government is providing intervention for the control of animal diseases, he said.

He further said, the other intervention is to upgrade abattoirs across the states. You will notice that most of the abattoirs in most states if you have taken your time to visit some of these abattoirs, they are in very deplorable states.

We are trying to see if we can develop a model. The function is really for the state governments and local governments.

We are just trying to see if we can build model standard abattoirs in the states so that the states can see and replicate.

So that the meat that comes out of these abattoirs are really fit for human consumption.

So those are the areas for this intervention. It is not only for pest control.

The director pointed out that, the essence of the intervention was to bridge the gap created by the annual budgetary appropriation, which he said would not be enough to address the three key areas.

He said the intervention, beyond tackling economic challenges, would tackle public health concerns, adding some of the animal diseases are transmitted to human beings.

Even the COVID-19 that we are dealing with, there is information that it might have originated from bats. So, we have so many of these zoonotic diseases around.

He assured that disbursement of funds for the project would commence as soon as they were made available by the Ministry of Finance.

Source: NAN News

A financial expert, Dr Hassan Mahmud, has advised West African countries affected by COVID-19 pandemic in look inward to revamp their economies.

Mahmud, Director, Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), advised African states to use their domestic resources to revamp their economies.

He gave the advice at a diagnostic Webinar organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had as its topic: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Economies of WAIFEM Member Countries.

The countries concerned are: Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

According to him, most advanced economies have started looking inward because of the externalities and shocks that they have experienced.

We should start looking inward at the regional level and at the country level to see that we are revamping our Agricultural sector, the Small and Medium Enterprises and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, such that we can be able to aggregate our domestic demand level to meet our supply capacities, he said.

Mahmud urged countries to consider perfecting or improving the value chain of agricultural sector from the primary production to the end user.

According to him, when this is done, there will be a vertical integration that will revamp a lot of our economies living it less-dependent of external financing.

Earlier, the countries gave very detailed analysis of the state of their economies and their responses to COVID-19, and the story from each representative was more or less the same.

They said the beginning was a health crisis which translated to an economic crisis and then to issues that had to do with fiscal and monetary development.

However, they predicted recession in 2020, expressing optimism that their economies would get back to recovery path in 2021.

Source: NAN News