RMRDC DG, Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim with the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, during a tour of the RMRDCs resource centre in Abuja

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Locally made Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) backed by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) may be set for launch soon.

The equipment, which had already scaled tests by the Standards Organisation of Nigerian (SON), and currently being tested by NAFDAC, is a collaboration between the council and the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

This was disclosed on Wednesday when the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Kabir Bala led a team on a working visit to the Councils headquarters in Abuja.

Bala said the council gave the grant to support the research and the production of the PPE kits.

In recent times, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government tried to reawaken our institutions to provide home grown solutions to these problems.

Solutions from other countries are not readily available, for instance when the pandemic started, face masks were not easily available, therefore, we had to look inwards.

The Polymer department is involved in the production of PPE against COVID-19. The department is working in collaboration with the council and the council has given it a grant.

We ran to RMRDC and the council promised to assist us, so far it has given the research team N2 million and promised 300,000 dollars-worth of equipment.

The products have been produced, they have passed SON tests and some of them are in NAFDAC, we will take it further from there, he said.

The VC, however, stressed that the university had already produced face masks, ventilators and a four in one sanitiser among others.

Speaking after the tour of the RMRDCs Resource Centre, he said that there were still many areas of collaboration, which could be sought between the two organisations.

According to him, the university is also setting up an incubation centre, and it is ready to partner with RMRDC in pharmaceutical and ceramics industry.

For his part, the Director General of the Council, Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim said that the RMRDC had enjoyed a long standing relationship with ABU.

He noted that they have had a number of collaborations over the years, including the development of modular refineries, which was still ongoing.

On the production of PPE, the DG said that the council was given the charge by the Minister of Science and Technology to localise the production of the kits.

He stressed that the key role of the council was to employ reverse engineering in determining the composition of the products and support manufacturers with source of raw materials to reproduce them.

We now have to look inwards, look at the ones that are imported, what they are made of and then we now begin to source the raw materials for their production, he said

The DG also noted that the council was also working in partnership in the area of pharmaceuticals to develop medications that could tackle underlying illnesses that make people more susceptible to COVID -19.

The most vulnerable group are people that have high blood pressure, people that are diabetic or have other underlying illness, we have been working on all of these areas.

We have gone far in the medicine for Turberculosis, high cholesterol and we also showcased our anti-diabetic, which is a collaboration with Usman Danfodio University, he said.

He commended ABU for their focus on the pharmaceutical industry, stressing that their call for collaboration was indeed welcomed and would be strengthened to achieve success.

The DG also pointed out that the council was also collaborating with the university on textile engineering, adding that the private sector was also involved so that the result of the partnership could quickly be implemented.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the RMRDC had been in the news recently for having developed technology for Kilishi production in its 33 years of existence.

NAN further reports that the council had been involved in a number of research and development, which had impacted sectors such as beverage, brewery and fruit juice; Pharmaceutical, chemical and automobile industry as well as the Agro-allied industry (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Lagos Zonal Office, said it secured 257 convictions including politically exposed persons in one year.

The convictions were secured in various courts in Lagos Stats.

The Commission also said it recovered about N14.9 billion, ,723, and 31,500 in the same period under review.

The convictions and recoveries are contained in a statement signed by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Head, Mr Muhammed Rabo, and released to newsmen by Mr Ayo Oyewole, Head, Public Affairs of the zone on Thursday in Lagos.

According to the EFCC Lagos Zonal Head, the convictions and recoveries are recorded between May 2019 and early June 2020.

The EFCC Lagos Zone Head also confirmed that the Zone had arrested 1,444 suspects, filed 585 cases in various courts and arraigned no fewer than 300 suspects within the same period.

Mr Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, and his conspirator, Hamza Khoudeih, were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for various alleged criminal offences during the same period.

The Lagos Zonal office still has several ongoing high profile cases before the Federal High Courts, Ikoyi and the State High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, Rabo said.

Rabo expressed the determination of the acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, to tackle financial corruption in the society.

Rabo, further reiterated that the Zone would not relax its independent actions against internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo Boys.

EFCC is prepared more than ever, for robust collaboration with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2020.

This collaboration led to the arrest of many fraudsters in different parts of the state, some of whom are being prosecuted in courts, the statement quoted Rabo as saying .

The Lagos Zonal Head in the statement warned perpetrators of computer-related frauds to desist from the undisciplined acts.

The EFCC has not gone to sleep, but re-strategising, especially in the face of the lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Rabo said.

He also decried the activities of impostors who had been swindling unsuspecting members of the society of their assets and property.

Rabo said that EFCC was also aware, through intelligence gathering, that some unscrupulous elements were in the habit of using the names of prominent citizens to defraud unsuspecting Nigeians.

EFCC frowns at this criminal activity and without any equivocation, anyone caught in the act would face the consequences, he said.

Rabo also stated that the Commission, contrary to the erroneous belief by Nigerians, was not lagging behind in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Recently, the Commission handed over a property forfeited by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, to Lagos state government to be used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 patients.

The six flats of three-bedrooms and a boys quarter had been forfeited to the Federal Government, following an order of a Federal High Court in Lagos in 2017.

This gesture is part of the Commissions efforts in discharging its own social responsibility towards the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.

The Commission is committed and ready to fight economic and financial crimes, to render any essential services that may be required of it in the fight against covid-19, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the ECOWAS Commission to come up with an economic recovery plan to help member-states to recover from the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president gave the challenge at a virtual meeting with the President of the Commission, Jean Kassi-Brou, on Thursday.

Buhari, in his capacity as the ECOWAS COVID-19 Champion, agreed to provide logistic support to enable the sub-region receive and distribute procured and donated medical equipment using Abuja as the hub for the distribution.

The Nigerian leader lamented that the pandemic is yet to reach its peak in the sub-region and warned against laxity in the fight against it.

He called on member-states to continually sensitise their citizens on preventive measures.

The President expressed appreciation on behalf of ECOWAS member-states for the swift interventions made to the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control by the Jack Ma Foundation.

He also commended the support so far received from development partners such as the European Union, African Development Bank, France and Germany for their financial contributions in the procurement of medical supplies.

He urged member-states to work closely in order to overcome the pandemic in the sub-region.

In his report to President Buhari, the President of ECOWAS Commission advocated additional strategies to assist the sub-region in fighting the health and economic impact of COVID-19.

According to Kassi-Brou, these include, the need for advocacy at continental and global levels particularly with the G20, World Bank, United Nations and the African Development Bank among others, for support to negate the health and economic damage to the ECOWAS sub-region.

He also stressed the need for mass awareness campaign to achieve behavioural change among the citizens of the community with effective customs, security and health protocols put in place throughout the sub-region.

He used the occasion to condole with the government and people of Nigeria on the latest Boko Haram attack on Gubio Local Government in Borno during which scores of innocent Nigerians were killed.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa

By Muhammad Bashir

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has approved the slashing of the states 2020 Budget from N152.92 billion to N242.357 billion due to COVID-19 lockdown.

This followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation on the revised 2020 budget at plenary in Dutse on Thursday.

Briefing the House,the Chairman of the committee, who is also the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Garba Idris, said that the reduction was made following a request by the state Governor in view of the present economic realities in the state.

Areas affected by the slash in the budget included road projects, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) intervention, loans/grants funded agricultural projects, health, economic empowerment and social welfare.

The adjustments were made under health, commerce, empowerment and social welfare sectors.

Also, a reduction of N16.58 billion was made from the 2020 budget of the 27 Local Government Councils in the state as their budget was reduced to N56.2 billion.

Source: NAN News

Tree planting

By Francisca Oluyole

The Federal Ministry of Environment has directed its Forestry Department to release five million seedlings to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

The seedlings comprising variety of species would be released within 72-hours.

Dr Muhammad Abubakar, the Minister of Environment, gave the directive in a statement made available to newsmen by Mr Saghir el Mohammed, Director Press of the ministry on Thursday in Abuja.

Abubakar who received the NDA delegations led by Maj. Gen. Jamilu Sirham in his office, said the seedlings would be released to NDA within 72 hours.

He said this was in line with President Muhammadu Buharis target of planting 25 million trees in 2020, to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.

In line with Military protocols of immediate effect, I am directing the forestry department to commence the release of five million seedlings to the prestigious military academy within the next 72 hours, he said.

Abubakar also assured the NDA that the ministry would partner and collaborate with it in the area of effective waste management, among others.

According to him, though, Nigeria is battling with Coronavirus, climate change is still far worse than COVID-19.

Long after coronavirus might have gone, there will still be climate change issues.

The minister said that the ministry has been taken very proactive measures in waste management, particularly recycling.

With the concept of circular economy, we have, from the three Rs which are reduce, recycling and reuse, moved further into repair and recover.

The economy has changed from the standard production, usage and disposal. We cannot afford that anymore as it is detrimental to climate action, environment and the countrys resource base.

He said the task of decontaminating and disinfecting the NDA campus was the Ministrys responsibility, and not something that the NDA management should ask or show appreciation for.

I can assure you that from this moment, there will be a permanent partnership and collaboration between the Environment Ministry and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

We will do everything humanly possible to assist whenever you come to us. For you to undertake the greening of your environment shows that you are ambassadors of climate change action.

Earlier, Sirham, disclosed that they came to thank the Minister and his team for disinfecting and decontaminating the NDA campus.

The ministrys kind gesture has boosted the morale of cadets, as they are now assured that the environment they are kept is safe.

He said that as part of its desire to totally green its campus, the school management has mandated every cadet to plant at least 100 trees.

Shirham, also seek the Ministrys collaboration to organise an international conference on security and environment, saying that cause of insurgency around Lake Chad region was due to deforestation and badly degraded environment.

Source: NAN News

GMD OF NNPC, MALAM MELE KYARI

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its partners are investing 53 per cent of the N21 billion COVID-19 donations from the sector in construction of hospitals across the six geo-political zones in the country.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja, on Thursday.

Of the N21billion (million) pledged in kind as medical intervention by the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry to combat COVID-19 and improve on healthcare delivery in the country, 53 per cent of the sum pledged has been earmarked for the construction of medical infrastructure across the six geopolitical zones in the country, he said.

He said the ground-breaking ceremonies for the construction of 200-bed Infectious Diseases Hospitals with in-situ laboratory had already been held in Bayelsa, Borno and Katsina States, with that of the other locations to follow suit.

According to him, a recent report of the groups delivery schedule indicates that other medical consumables and logistic support have been delivered to 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Obateru said that end of June 2020 had been set for states that had yet to receive.

He quoted the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, who led the intervention group, to have said that 14 medical centres in total and two Intensive Care Unit (ICU) expansion and upgrade would be delivered across the federation as part of the intervention initiative.

According to him, the groups Governance Committee comprising Managing Directors of oil companies and other Industry players, headed by the NNPC GMD, has also allocated 26 per cent of the intervention funding to the deployment of logistics and in-patient support systems

He said that 21 per cent of the sum was also for provision of medical consumables across the country.

All the initiatives by the respective stakeholders form part of their usual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme/commitments.

The report said medical consumables comprising respirators, protective suites and test kits as well as logistics and in-patient support systems among which are ambulances, ventilators and beddings and laboratory equipment have been delivered to 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, he added.

He said the States that had received medical consumables as well as logistics and in-patient support systems are: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kwara, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Plateau and Rivers State as well as the FCT.

Intervention is provided in kind by donors using internal transparent procurement processes driven with a clear governance structure of the various coalescing companies, Obateru, said

The Oil Industry Intervention group is made up of the NNPC, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

It also includes Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers (DPPMA), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).

The sector embarked on an Industry-wide collaborative intervention in recognition of the ravaging impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the critical sectors of the national economy.

The initiative was to support the ongoing Federal Governments efforts and in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to curb the pandemic.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

File Photo: Oil spill in Niger Delta Region

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Director General, National Oil Spill Detection Agency (NOSDRA), Mr Idris Musa, said that the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 had caused a delay in the ongoing remediation project in Ogoniland.

Musa, who disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, added that land tussle in some communities was another reason for the delay.

He said the cleanup of Ogoni should not be seen as a political gimmick, assuring the people of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buharis commitment towards the remediation of the land.

The 35 sites that were supposed to have begun were unable to begin because just about the time they were mobilising to site was when the lockdown started and in Rivers state movement is highly restricted.

And the protocol of the COVID-19 will not allow such a thing. Even all over the world construction workers were asked to stay home.

So that was what has really slowed down the tempo of activities in Ogoniland. But I can assure you that 56 contracts have been issued under the cleanup of Ogoniland, so they are now working hard to get it done.

At leastout of about 380million dollars that have been provided by the oil industry operators and out of this less than 50 million dollars has been spent. So money is there, so if money is there where is the politics.

If contracts have been given to contracts, so what is the politics. Two things are just responsible, COVID-19 lockdown on one hand and there were a few sites where there were delays in commencement because of community tussle.

Hence, the tussle delayed those who are supposed to work in those particular areas. Those are just the thing happening there otherwise everything is moving.

Musa said the communication group of the project coordination office on a daily basis embarked on sensitisation of the people in the communities, where there were land tussles and some cases had been resolved.

The D-G said there was a misconception as to how long the Ogoniland clean-up would take, adding that the clean up was for a five year period according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report .

The cleanupitselfis expected to be for a period of five years, hence the release of fundson a yearly basis at the rate of 200million dollars per year will make up onebillion dollars at the beginning of the fifth year so it will complete the exercise.

If you have cleaned up some of those mangrove areas that have been polluted and you put a seedling of mangrove, it will take up to 25 to 30 years before it can grow as tall as the one that withered.

That is where a number of people misplace the argument. Some people will say UNEP said it will take 25 to 30 years to clean-up the region.

No! It wont take that but restoration to its re-existingstate will take up to that. So, we needto always correct that assumption.

NAN recalls that the Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, recently said while briefing state house correspondentsthat a total of 57 sites impacted with hydrocarbons were currently being cleaned up and more were being planned for remediation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Bola Tinubu APC national Leader

By Oluwatope Lawanson

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Cherie Blair (Wife of Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister) are among personalities expected at the 2020 Democracy Day celebration by Lagos State Government.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olus Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said in a statement that the state will be celebrating the 27th anniversary of June 12 and Democracy Day with Nigerian youths.

The theme of the online celebration is June 12: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the virtual event holding on June 12 by 12.00 noon, will also feature multi-award winning artiste, Timi Dakolo and TY Bello, among notable personalities.

The statement said that the artistes would be joined by a veteran journalist, public commentator and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Bashorun Dele Momodu.

It further said that artistes are expected to entertain youths from different campuses that will be attending the online celebration.

They (artistes) will be joined by Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Dele Alake.

Also, daughter of late Moshood Abiola, Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello, to inculcate democratic values that will aid Nigerias continued development.

Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu and others, including Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Ms Yemi Adamolekun and Mr Seun Onigbinde, will further chronicle how June 12 was declared a public holiday by the Federal Government in honour of the memory of Moshood Abiola, it said.

The statement further said that the contributions and efforts must be done to ensure the contributions made by several Nigerians do not go in vain.

It said that Sanwo-Olu would address the youths and explain to them how the present administration had ensured that none of the citizens rights was trampled upon.

The statement said that the governor would explain what the administration had done in the last one year to ensure residents of Lagos got the dividends of democracy they agitated for while marching on the streets to demand for the return of civilian government over 20 years ago.

It added that the participants would also have the opportunity to ask questions that would possibly help prepare them for the future.

It said that the event would be held virtually via Zoom and streamlined across various internet platforms, to accommodate large number of attendees while remaining in compliance with government directives on social distancing.

NAN reports that day is celebrated annually in some states to commemorate the annulment of June 12 Presidential election in 1993.

The election, presumed to have been won by Late Chief MKO Abiola, was annulled by former military President, Ibrahim Babangida. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Babatunde Fashola Minister of Works

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved N115.5 billion for the construction of various road projects in Adamawa, Plateau and Taraba States.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of Wednesdays virtual cabinet meeting held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

He said: The Ministry of Works presented two memoranda for consideration and award of three roads, all of which Council graciously approved.

They are the award of the Jabbi-Lamba-Belel Road in Adamawa State for N26.829 billion.

The Achingali-Udobi-Udona-Umuwana-Ubakala Road, including the bridge, across the Imo River in Imo State, for the sum of N11.540 billion.

The Jarmai-Bashar-Zuruk-Karim Lamido Road, linking Plateau and Taraba States, in the sum of N77.279 billion.

According to the minister, the projects are consistent with the ministerial responsibilities his ministry was mandated to execute under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, and the commitment to improving road transport infrastructure across Nigeria.

For example, the road that links Plateau and Taraba States, when completed along with the Ibi Bridge, will reduce the journey time from Abuja to Jalingo in Taraba from about 12 hours to about eight hours.

It will be a significant reduction in journey time and also the other roads will be equally beneficial in bringing down cost of goods, cost of transportation and cost of doing business, he said.

The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, disclosed that the Council approved revised estimated total cost for the completion of Zungeru-Wushishi Water Supply Project in Niger State from N1.9 billion to N6.9 billion.

According to him, this is part of the Buhari administrations efforts to complete inherited projects with huge socio-economic impact on the lives of the people.

Today, we presented to council, a request for approval of revised estimated total cost for the completion of Zungeru-Wushishi Water Supply Project in Niger State in the sum of N5.021 billion, raising the project from N1.93 billion to N6.955 billion, inclusive all taxes.

He recalled that the project, which was started in 1998 by Niger State Government and could not be continued, was eventually transferred to the federal government.

He disclosed that efforts were made to revive the project in 2012, saying that was when it was revised from N889 million to N1.9 billion.

But after the work started and attained about 30 per cent completion, funding stopped.

The minister, however, stated that the water project was accorded medium priority in 2015.

Of course, one of the reasons why the cost had to be revised was because the design as of 1998 was for one million gallons per day with water treatment system.

Then, from 1998 to 2020 today, definitely, if you apply our growth rate, you will know that scheme as was then designed was no longer feasible for the two twin towns of Zungeru and Wushishi.

Zungeru in particular is of varied interest to us because its one of the most historical cities in the country, being the first colonial capital of northern Nigeria and the birthplace of the first President-General, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, and with all the infrastructure around it Shiroro Dam, Jebba and River Niger.

For such an historical town to be in the 21st century and cannot boast of adequate water supply, we think its not something we can wish away.

So, we accorded it the priority that it deserves and we got approval of FEC to that effect, he explained. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

John Enenche, Director Defence Information

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) hideout and neutralised some of their fighters at Kacha Korle in the Sambisa Forest general area of Borno, the Defence Headquarters says.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Enenche said the operation was executed on June 10, following an intelligence reports which revealed that the location was being used as a staging area and meeting venue for the terrorists.

He explained that the location was identified as where the terrorists planned and launched attacks against troops locations and civilian settlements within the Sector 1 Area of Responsibility, including the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.

According to him, the Air Task Force dispatched an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and fighter jets to attack the hideout.

Overhead the target area, many BHT fighters were observed in and around some prominent structures.

These were engaged in successive passes by the attack aircraft leading to the destruction of some of the structures as well as the neutralisation of several of the terrorists.

The Chief of the Air Staff has commended the Air Task Force and urged them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists.

The Defence Headquarters also salutes the courage and dedication of the Air Task Force working in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders towards the defeat of the criminals in the North East, he said. NAN

Source: NAN News