![A Ibom community petitions NUC over land dispute with UNIUYO]

National Universities Commission (NUC) building

By Emmanuel Afonne

Offot Usung Ifiayong community in Uyo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom has petitioned the National Universities Commission (NUC) alleging unprovoked attacks on their community by management of University of Uyo.

The community under the aegis of Offot Usung Ifiayong Unity Assembly, made the call on Monday in a communiqu of their meeting in Uyo, addressed to the General Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

The communiqu signed by Obong Tony Asikpo, a former Speaker, Uyo Legislative Assembly and 18 others, appealed to NUC to call the management of UNIUYO to order over alleged harassments of its people pending courts decision over disputed land.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the community hosts the university permanent site located along Nwaniba, Uruan LGA, Akwa Ibom.

The latest in the series of alleged attacks and illegal destruction of property occurred in the night of Sunday May 24, 2020.

Our people were woken up at 2 a.m. by sound of intense gunshots that continued for over an hour. The people were frightened and remained indoors fearing there was an armed robbery attack in the area.

They were however shocked to discover in the morning that not less than 10 houses in the community had been demolished.

This is one in several unprovoked attacks by the university, ignoring many peace moves initiated by the State Government to find lasting solution to the protracted land dispute between the community (ten Offot Ukwa villages), the communiqu read.

The community further alleged that the university authorities eventually withdrew from harassing members of the community when the matter was taken to court in suit no. HU/337/2015, while the police promised to hold dialogue with parties on the matter.

The people of the community, therefore, urged NUC to prevail on the university authority to desist from harassing the people and wait for the pronouncement of the court.

They further asked the commission to prevail on the vice chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien to return to the negotiating table already established through the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Mr Emmanuel Ekuwem for the purpose of peace.

He said the purpose of negotiation was for purpose of delineation of the boundaries between the community and the university so as to put an end to every form of hostility and installing lasting peace for needed development.

We also demand that the management of the university of Uyo be prevailed upon to pay adequate compensations to all the victims whose property at various stages of completion were destroyed in the Feb. 15, 2015 and May 24, 2020 illegal demolition, the communiqu added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

![FG releases N6bn for construction of 3,000-capacity custodial facility]

Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Mr Jaafaru Ahmed

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Government has so far, released N6 billion out of the N22.6 billion budgeted forthe construction of 3,000-capacity building of Karshi Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Abuja.

The Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Mr Jaafaru Ahmed said this duringthe oversight visit of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions to the site on Monday in Abuja.

Ahmed who was represented by the DeputyController-General of Corrections in charge of Human Resources, Mr John Mrabureexplained that N4.1 billion had so far been expended on the project.

He said the construction of the 3000 capacity custodial centre at Karshi was borne out of memo on strategic policy programs of the service that was presented to Federal Executive council in 2017.

He added that it was presented on the need to construct an ultra modern 3,000 capacity building in the 6 Geo political zones of the Federation which was deliberated and approved.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the construction of the 3000 capacity centre in Karshi commenced in 2018 and the project was broken into three phases for easy implementation and funding.

He said the first phase of the project commenced with 51 projects awarded to various indigenous companies in different stages of completion.

The first phase was kick-started with an initial appropriated sum of N6.031b out of the N22.6 billion budgeted to the service in 2018.

A total of 46 projects were awarded to indigenous companies after they were found to be technically and financially qualified.

Thereafter, five additional projects were later awarded bringing the total number of projects to 51, he said.

Responding, the committee chairman, Mr Edwin Anayo commended the quality of the job after inspecting the site.

Anayo said that the committee was satisfied with what was on ground,saying that the committee would ensure that the National Assembly released funds for the completion of the projects.

We have gone round and I think the whole National Assembly is happy.We are going to ensure they released the funds as when due so that the Job can be completed for the use of Nigerians, he said.

The chairman lauded the NCoS for engaging local firms as it would impact the economy while encouraging others to emulate the NCoS. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

![COVID-19: UNGA rules out physical gathering of world leaders in September]
President of the UN General Assembly on Monday said world leaders would not gather in person for the opening session of the 75th Assembly in September.

This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande, who is the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, stated this during a virtual news conference in New York on Monday.

He said it would not be possible for Heads of States and Governments to gather for the annual event in New York as travel restrictions and other measures would likely still be in place by then.

This, according to him, is particularly so as leaders of the UN member states normally travel with their delegations to the largest diplomatic assembly in the world.

He said the general debate, where leaders highlight their foreign policies, would still hold but through means that would be decided by member states in the coming weeks.

World leaders cannot come to New York because they cannot come as individuals; a president does not travel alone, and we do not therefore expect their presence here.

We do not know what the medical advice would be from the country and the host city; host governments are very important in terms of what is possible.

It is my hope that within two weeks, we will have clarity as to the mechanics and formats of the general debate presentations, he said.

The envoy president said he could not immediately provide the specifics of the formats as the decision would be taken by member states during consultations.

The PGAs remarks came a month as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres suggested that the high-level meeting be held through pre-recorded video messages.

Source: NAN News

![COVID-19: AfDB unveils strategy to safeguard food security]

AfDB

By Mustapha Sumaila

African Development Bank (AfDB) has unveiled a strategic roadmap of projects and programmes to safeguard food security against the impacts of COVID-19.

The programme is designed to assist African countries in tackling the nutrition and food security aspects of the COVID-19 crisis through a raft of immediate and longer-term measures.

The Banks Communications and External Relations Department made this known in a statement on Monday.

The bank said that the Feed Africa Response to COVID-19 (FAREC) paved the way for a comprehensive intervention to build resilience, sustainability and regional self-sufficiency in Africas food systems.

It said this would also help farmers cope with coronavirus-related disruptions to the agricultural value chain.

The Banks response to support the agriculture sector lays out specific measures aimed at addressing challenges faced by African countries across all aspects of the agriculture sector.

Africa cannot afford a food crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Jennifer Blanke, the Banks Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

A report released alongside the roadmap recommends immediate, short- and medium-term solutions for the agriculture sector including; support of food delivery for the most vulnerable; stabilization of food prices; optimization of food processing; extension support services, and provision of key agricultural inputs through smart subsidies, the statement read.

According to the report, the Bank will prioritise policy support to enhance movement of inputs and food, to establish food security task forces in countries, and to strengthen the capacity of regional organisations to monitor multi-country initiatives.

The AfDB noted that the pandemic had worsened volatility in the price of food staples and complicated food system actors investment decision-making.

It added that the confluence of impacts risks deepening food insecurity and malnutrition, stating that based on the World Food Programme, over 40 million West Africans face food shortages in the coming months.

FAREC forms one part of the Banks COVID-19 Response Facility (CRF) of up to 10 billion dollars. The CRF is the Banks primary channel to deploy financial and technical measures to cushion African economies and livelihoods against the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

In May, the Banks African Development Institute, its focal point for capacity development, hosted a seminar that examined the pandemics impacts on Africas agri-food systems and offered policy recommendations to make them more resilient and efficient.

Ensuring food security for Africans in all situations is at the core of the Banks Feed Africa Strategy.

Our institution will coordinate its efforts with different stakeholders across the continent to effectively answer the needs of regional member countries, said Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Banks Agriculture and Agro-industry Department the statement read.

Source: NAN News

![Gov. Sule sacks Secretary to State Government]

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

By Sunday John

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed-Tijani.

Ahmed-Tijjani was Commissioner for Education in the administration of Sen. Umaru Al-Makura, immediate past governor of the state.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Hamza Gayam, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Government House Administration, on Monday in Lafia.

The statement said the governor had directed Ahmed-Tijani to immediately handover all government property in his possession to Mr Muazu Adamu-Gosho, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the SSG.

It said that the governor thanked the former SSG for his services and support to the administration and wished him well in his future endeavour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state House of Assembly ad-hoc committee investigating the release of N1 billion for the renovation/fencing of public secondary schools in the state in 2018, had indicted the former SSG.

Following the indictment, the state legislators asked Ahmed-Tijani to refund over N248.5 million as unaccounted funds to the state government.

The house said the former commissioner displayed blatant inefficiency, incompetency and ineffectiveness in the performance of his official duties and urged the governor to relief him of his appointment.

Source: NAN News

![COVID-19: NCDC working closely with public health teams]

Dr Chikwe Ikekweazu NCDC Boss

better understanding of their challenges.

Source: NAN News

Ekiti House of Assembly has passed the Ekiti Tourism and Hospitality Licensing and Regulation Bill, 2020, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The unanimous resolution was taken at Wednesdays plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye in Ado Ekiti.

The passage followed the submission and subsequent adoption of the report of the House Committee on Arts, Culture and Tourism by the Chairman, Mr Adeyemi Ajibade.

According to Ajibade, the bill, if assented to by Gov. Kayode Fayemi, seeks to regulate the activities and registration of hospitality businesses in Ekiti.

The bill was seeking regulation of the relationship between government and the private sector in carrying out business transaction.

Contributing during debate on the bill, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, the Majority Leader, said the bill, when passed, wouldensure seamless relationship between government and private sector in developing strategies.

He urged members to give the bill accelerated passage.

Also EkitiSexual Violence Against Children (Compulsory Treatment and Care) Bill, 2020, passed through the second reading.

Commenting on the bill, the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, expressed concern over the prevalence of sexual violence among citizens of the state and called for adequate care and compensation for victims.

In her contribution, Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle, member representing Ekiti West, advised the relevant committee to look into the area of who pays for treatment and care of the victim.

The bill was subsequently referred to the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development for further legislative scrutiny.

Four other Bills debated were, Ekiti Customary Court (Amendment) Bill 2020; Ekiti Public Finance Management Bill,2020; Ekiti State College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan-Ekiti Law (Amendment) 2020; and Ekiti Mortgages and Foreclosure Bill, 2020.

NAN reports that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Revised Appropriation Bill 2020 were referred to Committee onAppropriation for further legislative action.

Earlier, the Speaker had read two letters from the state governor concerning the MTEF and Revised Appropriation Bill 2020. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) on Saturday called for intensified collaborations of operators in the tourism value-chain.

The two bodies said the collaboration had become necessary at a time like now for the speedy recovery of the tourism, due to the negative impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

They made the call at a zoom meeting, organised by NCAC to address emerging trends in the Nigerian cultural industry with theme: COVID-19: Creating New Business Opportunities for Travel Agents.

The National President of NANTA, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, said it was time for practitioners in all aspects of the tourism industry to unanimously coordinate tourism activities to revive the nations economy.

She said the initiative would involve practitioners such as musicians, restauranteurs, artistes, tour operators, travel agents, tour guides as well as visual and performing artists.

According to her, tourism cuts across all facets of life, ranging from agro, cultural, medical and educational tourism.

The tourism industry is the most affected sector, due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic but we as practitioners must come together to work for the progress of the industry and the nation at large.

The pandemic has happened but we must forge, ahead by taking the bull by the horn and not start crying over spilled milk.

We can have tours arranged locally with some other packages like film show, night life exploration and other activities capable of attracting tourists and this can only be possible when tourism practitioners collaborate and work unanimously.

For the industry to pick up speedily, collaboration is the way forward. Travel agents, tour operators and cultural outfits cant do it alone.

Akporaiye advised travel agents to diversify from mere travel ticket sales to work as cargo agents, charter agents and to engage in farm tours and youth exchange programmes.

She stressed the need to promote the nations culture, advising Nigerians to explore local content in terms of tourism offerings.

As a professional body, we have started organising some collaborations with cargo and charter companies so that we can assist our members to get back to business as travels have been totally cancelled.

Operators can also organise farm tours for local tourists to see how small farms or fish ponds are operated. This will also serve as a means of education.

Diversification is necessary at this critical period that is one of the lessons learnt from the occurrence of COVID-19. An institution with one line of income should be a thing of the past.

Our culture should also be explored. Culture as a tourism product increases peoples curiosity and that is what Nigeria and Africa are rich with.

I advise tour operators to identify some tourist attractions within their state. Do short videos of these sites and display them on their social media handles for people to see that the nation is well endowed with beautiful sites, she said.

Earlier, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General of NCAC urged tourism and travel practitioners to work harmoniously in revamping the industry.

He said that deliberate efforts should be made to promote the nations culture, which according to him, is the content tourism feeds on.

He noted that NCAC had not relented in ensuring that the nations culture takes its pride of place even as COVID-19 pandemic ravages the world.

Runsewe commended the efforts of security outfits in the country on the minimised crime rate in the country.

At this critical period, networking is key among culture, tourism, travel and entertainment practitioners to revitalise the creative industry.

NCAC is open to welcome whatever form of collaboration.

I appreciate everyone present for this programme and hope to see you again next week because it will continue to hold on a weekly basis until we are able to finally combat COVID-19, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Federal Government has commenced payment of N20, 000 each to 5, 000 beneficiaries of its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme in the FCT.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, disclosed this on Wednesday at Kwali Area Council in the FCT.

Farouq said the payment was in line with the directives by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari in a nationwide broacst on Monday, announced the payment as a measure to cushion the effect of the lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the FCT on the poor and vulnerable households.

As we know, the CCT is for poor and vulnerable households in the country.

Beneficiaries are entitled to N5, 000 every month; however, the payment of N20, 000 now to each beneficiary is for four mouths.

It is going to happen all over the country, but we are starting with FCT, Lagos and Ogun. These arethe frontline states. Other states will follow.

With the current pandemic and circumstances on ground, this amount will go a long way to support the families in their daily lives.

Today, we are giving out N20, 000 each to about 190 beneficiaries in Kwali Area Councils. The total beneficiaries in FCT are 5, 000, Farouq said.

The minister further said that the beneficiaries were chosen without any form of bias, adding that political party affiliation was never a criterion for selection of beneficiaries.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Serah Gadaga, a mother of two, said she was happy about the payment.

The payment for January, February, March and April together which amounts to N20, 000, will help in boosting my petty business, settling children school fees and meeting up other needs of the family.

May God give the Federal Government the resources to sustain and continue this programme to help the poor people in the country, Gadaga said

Source: NAN News

Bwari Area Council of the FCT has distributed 900 bags of grains to residents of the area, as part of palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chairman of the Council, Mr John Gabaya, disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja.

Gabaya said that the effort was to complement the efforts of the FCT administration toward relieving residents from effects of the lockdown.

He listed the items to include 600 bags of rice and 300 bags of maize, adding that it would be distributed to the poor ahead of palliatives being provided by the FCT administration.

Gabaya said: We sympathise with the residents over the lockdown and decided to ease their suffering through this gesture.

A committee represented by Councillors of all the 10 wards and led by the vice chairman of the council, has been constituted to ensure proper distribution of the items.

The committee also includes representatives of all religious and traditional leaders in the council and all political party representatives because the situation affects every Nigerian.

The palliatives will be distributed accordingly and judiciously to ensure they get to the poor residents.

This is just from the area council, the FCT administration is working tirelessly to assist residents of the territory during the lockdown.

I assure all residents who may not benefit from this batch that they will benefit from that of the Federal Government when it comes.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Aminu Guma, who is also the chairman of the committee on the distribution of the councils palliatives, promised to ensure order in the process.

Guma advised residents to remain indoors in accordance with the stay-at-home order of the Federal Government, as the items would be shared from one house to another.

He also assured residents that the distribution was irrespective of political party membership, religion or ethnic group but was meant to touch the lives of every resident locked down within the council.

Mr John Awoyi, Youth Leader in the council, while appreciating the gesture, commended the Federal Governments efforts to curtail spread of the pandemic.

Awoyi described the intervention as timely, adding that it would mitigate the effect of the lockdown on the residents.

He, however, called for the review of the lockdown as it was affecting businesses and families in the search for alternative means of livelihood. (NAN)

Source: NAN News