Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State

By Martha Agas

Plateau Government has allocated portions of land of the Brewery Agro Research Company (BARC) to people, to reinvigorate the Jos International Breweries (JIB).

The land located in Zallaki community of Bassa Local Government Area was allocated to different categories of qualified people.

The beneficiaries include: farmers associations, civil servants and pensioners.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JIB was established in 1975 by the Joseph Gomwalk administration which BARC farm was part of its subsidiary.

Gov.Simon Lalong while issuing certificates of lease to beneficiaries of the allocation on Saturday at the farm, said government was committed to boosting the states economy through agriculture and reviving all its moribound companies.

Lalong said during the operation of the brewery, which got its raw materials mostly from the farm, massive revenue was generated leading to establishment of subsidiary companies such as Pioneer Milling Company, Plateau Bottling Company Ltd. and
BARC.

According to him, during the boom days of BARC which was sold to a private farmer for more than 20 years, it employed more than 4000 workers through direct or indirect means.

In its days of glory, the farm was into cultivation of dry and irrigated crops such as grain, vegetables and tree crops and cattle ranches for rearing cows.

Poultry farms with parent and hatchery units;Pig rearing ; Abbatoir for poultry,Pigs and cattle as well as operated a big farm for fishery,he said.

The governor said the farm was leased to beneficiaries whom included civil servants, farmers associations and pensioners, saying the measure was part of efforts to revamp the farm.

The desire to return the farm to operations in the era of economic diversification that is driven by agriculture, made us to consider the re-acquisition of the farm through purchase of 90 per cent of its shares.

So far, we have paid N1 billion for the re-acquisition of BARC Farm shares, representing about 70 per cent of the total sum, and we are hoping to complete the balance before the end of the year,he said.

He said portions of the land were allocated for the current cropping season to be cultivated temporarily, pending when suitable investors would take over management of the entire farm.

Our dream in the long run is that the Farm which has potential for occupying over 30 per cent to 40 per cent shares of the Agro-allied market in Nigeria, will leverage on these existing structures to cultivate crops that the State has comparative advantage in, Lalong said.

He assured the beneficiaries of safety, saying hunters whom were part of the State Governments home grown security outfit, Operation Rainbow, would be deployed at the farm.

He also that said steps were already being taken to ensure acess to the farm through repairs of its deplorable roads.

The governor advised the people of the state, especially civil servants, to embrace farming as an additional source of income.

He said that agriculture was the hope of government and individuals in coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, saying it was one of the comparative advantages of Plateau.

The Managing Director of Plateau Investment and Property Company (PIPC), Mr Chris Yilzak, said operation of the Farm would have multiplier effects on the state economy especially establishment of agro allied companies.

The State Commisioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Hosea Finangwai, commended the governor for his efforts at boosting agriculture in the state.

Finangwai said the governor had been providing farm inputs, counterpart funding for Agricultural programmes,among other gestures.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Eugene Manji, who is also the Chairman of the State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), assured the governor that they would keep to the terms of the lease.

Manji thanked the Lalong for the provision of security at BARC, saying it would encourage more people to farm there.

NAN reports that the governor also distributed bags of Fertilisers to beneficiaries of the farm allocation.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Ayinde Olaide

No fewer than 51 medical personnel had so far tested positive for the Nobel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Bauchi State.

Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Bauchi.

Mohammed said that 17 inmates of the correctional facility in the state also tested positive to the COVID-19.

He lamented that one of the medical personnel lost his life to the virus in the line of duty.

The chairman disclosed that an isolation centre had been established in the correctional facility to ensure that no inmate escape.

We have 51 medical personnel, who have been infected so far in the state and out of this figure, one lost his life in the line of duty.

Also, we currently have 17 inmates who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

We created an isolation centre in the facility because we dont want the inmates to escape.

Fourteen of them are currently on treatment in the isolation centre inside the facility, Mohammed said.

Mohammad, who is also the Chairman, Bauchi State Contact Tracing Committee on COVID-19, however, advised health workers in the state to be very vigilant and ensure that they properly make use of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times.

He said that the state government was conducting an active community search, taking samples from members of the communities for testing.

We are engaged in massive community search, trying to take samples of members of the communities, said the BASPHCDA boss.

NAN reports that Bauchi state had so far recorded 402 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 230 had been discharged, 11 deaths and 161 patients on admission.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has appealed to Nigerians to observe safety guidelines to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

Mr Rotiba Gabriel of the Ministrys Press Unit said in a statement that Tallen made the appeal when the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The group was led by Salute Nigeria Initiative and Police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV)

The minister stressed the need for parents, most especially women to wash their hands, use face mask and follow the rule of proper hygiene.

She also advised them to boost the immune system of the family in other to remain safe from COVID-19.

She commended the efforts of the Presidential Task-force on COVID-19 and others for all the proactive measures to keep Nigeria safe from the pandemic.

Tallen, noted that the increasing cases of rape and killings, especially during the COVID-19 was worrisome.

She called on all stakeholders to strive towards ridding the society of the menace and ensuring perpetrators were reported to authorities for prosecution.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Chielo Ojirika, stressed the need to educate women on the measures to protect the family against the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

Ojirika, disclosed that the group was working on producing a campaign video on COVID-19 to educate more Nigerians to observe good hygiene practices.

He further condemned the rates of rape and other forms of violence against women and children, calling for incarceration as the major punishmentfor rapists which would deter others.

Source: NAN News

Utako Market

By Franca Ofili

The Light Interveners Foundation (LIF), an NGO, on Saturday took itsCOVID-19 awareness campaign to Utako market in Abuja, to enlighten people on how to curb its spread and stay safe.

Mr Israel Abam, Chairman of the foundationsaid that the gesture was to support Federal Governments effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

We know that the COVID-19 situation in the country and the world is serious so we decided to contribute whatever way we can to the fight against the virus.

No matter how small it is; it will be appreciated. We decided to come to a major market in the city where lots of people come to shop, Abam said.

He said that lot of sensitasation needed to be done as people still go about their normal life without minding the effect of the virus.

We found out that many people are not using face mark or observing social distancing.

We are here to create awareness and sensitize the market leadership so that they can educate the community on the danger of COVID-19.

We met with the management of the market to give our message and hope to return to meet with the associations to carry out the sensitszation programme.

We need to be alive to do business so people must take care of themselves. Abam said.

He further said that the foundation would be giving out hand sanitizer, cotton high quality face masks and vitamins C zinc supplements.

He said that the foundation would also distribute handbills conveying safety measures and personal protection items.

Abam added that the foundation would also train selected organisations on crowd control as a measure of safety

Mrs Adaku Okoro,, who sells food items, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that most people in the market do not believe that COVID 19 exist.

People are not taking measures against the virus, she said.

She called on the government to put more effort in sensitising the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Abdalla Adamu, has called on Nigerian students to rise up to the challenges of the modern world and join government in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Adamu made the call in an address to new students during the universitys 19th matriculation ceremony, which was held online on Saturday through Zoom application.

A statement issued by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN disclosed that Adamu urged the students to assist government in eradicating future diseases like the current coronavirus.

The VC urged them to see any challenge they encounter in their quest for knowledge as a building block.

One block at a time, and you will erect a mansion, he said, adding, You are in the best position to do this because your learning is powered by your personal desire to learn.

Adamu noted that while many students enter higher institutions in order to become educated and get jobs, the matriculating students at NOUN already had jobs and occupations.

According to him, NOUN has optimised its online facilitation exercise such that students can easily interact directly with their lecturers because technology has become a commodity.

He pointed out that the university was the only one having a Directorate of Learning Content Management System (LCMS) which in due course could become a full-fledge online university.

He added that all the academic programmes of the university were fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in order to ensure their integrity.

Our programmes, quality assurance and delivery mechanisms are therefore more solid than those of many conventional universities who keep coming to us to see how we work this technological magic.

Adamu, who informed the students that his tenure of five years would end February 2021, noted that the 19th matriculation would be his last with the university.

I want to meet you in the next four years, during your graduation, not as Vice-Chancellor, full of knowledge and ready to take on the world as a result of your studentship in NOUN.

I want to proudly watch you graduate with flying colours as simply the best of the best, he said.

The matriculation oath was administered online on the students by the Registrar of the university, Mr Felix Edoka.

It ended with exchanges between the vice-chancellor and some of the students, who joined from remote locations as the event was beamed live on the social media and NOUN platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NOUN is the only single-mode open and distance learning university in Nigeria and the largest in West Africa with 580,000 enrolled students spread in 78 study centres across Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NUJ Logo

By Ahmed Mohammed Kaigama

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bauchi State Council on Saturday elected and inaugurated new executive officials to run the affairs of the council for the next three years.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theoffices of Chairman, Secretary, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary were keenly contested for, while the other positions were declared unopposed.

Alhaji Umar Said of the stateIinformation Chapel was elected chairman having polled 150 votes to defeat Bashir Idris of the Bauchi State Tadio Corporation.

Malam Abbas Maikano of the NTA emerged Vice Chairman with 114 votes to beat Hashimu Bulkachuwa, while Mr Garba Gadau was elected Secretary of the council with 120 votes after defeating his sole challenger, Malam Kabir Garba of Bauchi Radio who got 107 votes.

Mr Abubakar Waziri became the Treasurer with 162 votes to beat Mr Mohammed Inuwa of Globe FM who scored 62 votes, while the post of Assistant Secretary went to Hajiya Adama Ibrahim of the state Information Chapel with 205 votes to defeat Mr Sani Muazu of same state information charpel who scored 84 votes.

Mr Nazib Sani of Blueprint newspaper and Malam Danjuma Saleh of Bauchi Radio Corporation emerged Financial Secretary and Auditor, respectively, unopposed.

In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Malam Umar Said, appealed solicited for support from all, including losers, for the progress of the NUJ.

Power comes from the Almighty and He gives whom he wishes. I know how the NUJ members yearn for development.

I want to assure you that the new exco shall hit the ground running, Said said.

He pledged regular consultations and Congress meetings by the council to carry all members along and ensure effective service delivery. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Dogo

The Nigerian Youth Compact on COVID-19 (NYCC), says it will provide a minimum data of 10 million youth across the 774 local government areas in the country.

The National Chairman of NYCC, Comrade Gambo Haruna, made this known on a live streaming programme, which was monitored on zoom and Facebook by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on saturday.

The NYCC organised programme was tagged: One Stop Youth Talk.

Haruna assured that NYCC would achieve the data through five key areas, which were: Data gathering, Advocacy, Capacity building, Access and Resource in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact on Humanitarian Action and COVID-19.

He emphasised the importance of data in planning and the fight against Coronavirus, more importantly the Post-COVID.

He added that it was more threatening to the youth, without proper planning, to cushion the aftermath of the pandemic.

It will be a worthless effort if meaningful and accurate data of the youth in the country are not properly documented.

They will be the most hit during the post-COVID for constituting more than 60 per cent of the population and also being the drivers of the economy of Nigeria.

The youth compact can boast of accurate data of the youth in almost all the local government areas in the country, barely a week after it was unveiled, he said.

The Chairman expressed satisfaction with the massive inflow of the youth into the NYCC website to upload their data.

He also commended the associations partners like the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Common Wealth Association of Youth Workers (CAYWA) Commonwealth Association of African Youth (CAAY), YES Project, Action Aid, Minister of State for Education, FCT Minister of State and several others for their efforts in the project.

Haruna urged the youth to register as members of the project, reminding them that the world was being reset and might not fully recover from the pandemic.

Mrs Millicent Osakwa, the moderator of the One Stop Youth Talk as well the head of publicity, said the youth compact welcomed membership from youth within the ages of 18 years and 40 years.

Osakwa said that the organisation was partnering Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations and Faith Based Organisations in actualising the project.

She noted that the programme would be a weekly exercise that would engage Nigerian youth across the globe.

Source: NAN News

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria records 627 new COVID-19 cases, another high for two consecutive days, the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control(NCDC) says.

In a tweet on Friday, the centre said Nigeria has 15,181 cases of the COVID-19.

The NCDC also said that as at June 12, 12 deaths were recorded.

The however said that no new state had reported a case in the last 24 hours.

NCDC said that Lagos state again led the state ranking with 229 new cases. Abuja trailed behind, reporting 65 new infections.

Other states with new infections include Abia (54), Borno (42), Oyo (35), Rivers (28), Edo (28), Gombe (27), Ogun (21), Plateau (18), Delta (18), Bauchi (10), Kaduna (10), Benue (9), Ondo (8), Kwara (6), Nasarawa (4), Enugu (4), Sokoto (3), Niger (3), Kebbi (3), Yobe (1), and Kano (1).

The NCDC said that till date, 15,181 cases had been confirmed, 9891 active cases 4891 cases have been treated and discharged deaths , 88, 432 samples have been collected, and 399 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The health agency said that in spite of the difficulties faced as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the country, it will remain focused and committed to its mandate of protecting the health of all Nigerians.

The NCDC called on Nigerians as they celebrate Democracy Day to reflect on their journey as a nation and TakeResponsibility for the future they all seek.

NAN reports that the NCDC said it is ready to active the GeneXpert labs in locations and would start functioning on June 14.

Meanwhile, the measures for COVID-19 still remain easing of lockdown phase 2, public spaces, mandatory use of face masks, temperature checks, Physical distancing of 2 metres, Facility/business owners must provide hand washing facilities or sanitizers. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AGF Abubakar Malami

By Ebere Agozie

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, says no names were dropped in the case of Taraba alleged kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume.

He disclosed this in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, in Abuja.

Malami said what his office did was to severe the charges in view of the unavailability of the soldiers who in their own case needed to be released by the military authorities, as they are undergoing military processes before their release.

The interest of justice requires and legitimately allowed for segmentation of the case in the interest of speedy trail, the AGF said.

He said it was in the interest of justice to accord speedy trial to the accused persons that were readily available to stand trial as against delaying at the expense of other co-accused persons, who in the peculiarity of the case, are not available for immediate arraignment.

It is a common practice that absence of a co-accused will not constitute impediment to the progress of a case.

Those available are entitled to fair trial and have their cases determined within a reasonable time as a matter of Constitutional rights.

Moreso, looking at the fact that the available accused persons are not to be held responsible for the unavailability of the co-accused persons, Malami said.

He said his office had taken steps to procure the availability of the co-accused and shall have them arraigned immediately upon procuring their availability by the military authorities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Botswana President, Mokgweetsi Masisi

Botswana brought back a strict coronavirus lockdown in its capital city, Gaborone, and surrounding areas after the southern African country recorded 12 new cases of the virus, a senior health official said on Friday.

Diamond-rich Botswana ended a 48-day national coronavirus lockdown late last month, allowing businesses and schools to reopen under controls, but its borders are still closed apart from for returning citizens and imports of essential goods.

But Malaki Tshipayagae, the countrys director of health services, said in a televised announcement that officials had recorded four new imported cases at its borders and eight at a private hospital in Gaborone, bringing cumulative cases to 60.

We are still to determine whether the hospital cases are local transmissions, Tshipayagae said.

From midnight today the greater Gaborone area will revert to extreme social distancing until further notice, where only essential services will be allowed to operate.

Before the new cases were announced, Botswana only had one active case of the coronavirus, while it recorded only one coronavirus death.

But the economy has been severely hurt, with real gross domestic product seen contracting 13 per cent this year while the budget deficit could more than double.

Source: NAN News