By Martha Agas

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, has said that the state Govt. has sacked 532 workers, over falsified documents following findings of investigation of a committee, on the verification and audit of staff strength.

The governor made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of Policy Retreat for the state Permanent Secetaries, on Tuesday at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Kuru near Jos.

He said that the huge manpower gaps that exist in the Plateau State civil service,would be addressed at end of committees asignment.

Already, about 532 names have been removed from Government payroll after an investigation using the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system, revealed inconsistencies in their records.

Some had falsified their ages or tampered with their records. Others could not appear to answer queries on such records.

We shall ensure that all of them are properly investigated and made to face appropriate sanctions. This exercise will be a continuous one, he said.

He said the retreat was organised to build the capacity of Permanent Secetaries, because they occupied a unique and critical role in administration, and to ensure their diligence as leaders of the workforce.

It is in realization of the fact that you need to invigorate your capacity for creativity, productivity and also strengthen ability for effective and robust service delivery, that I approved for this policy retreat to hold,

He said in order for them to effectively carry out their responsibility, their skills and competencies must be updated for understanding and managing change, reforms and new thinking, to align with the ethical values of the state governments vision.

This policy retreat was also carefully planned to expand your horizon through strategic thinking, improved competencies, and development of innovative ways, especially in this era of COVID-19 where many things have been affected.

We are today facing continuous decline in revenue from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, which makes it very necessary to generate more revenue internally to meet the yearnings of the people.

This means that we must prioritise spending on areas that will yield revenues in all our Ministries Department and Agencies, and also block leakages in the system.

You have a very crucial role to play in this regard and you cannot afford to fail, he said.

He urged the participants to be proficient in Information Communication and Technology (ICT), while also mentoring all civil servants in utilizing ICT for carrying out their day-to-day schedules.

The governor said his administration was committed to training civil servants to facilitate update of their ICT skills, saying it would facilitate the implementation of e-governance.

He warned that he would not tolerate promotion of ethnicity, religion or politicising the civil service, pointing out that the act could ruin governance, truncate service delivery, professionalism and competence.

Lalong said that the state government would build a more robust relationship with the organised labour, to ensure that the existing industrial harmony is fortified.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Jos Business School, Dr. Ezekiel Gomos, said the two day training comprised building their capacities on leadership imperatives and ethical issues.

Gomos, who is also the chairman, Plateau State Economic Advisory Council, said top government officials shared with participants, tools and skills such as public financial management strategies, and procuremet laws and processes.
to make them more effective as permanent secetaries.

In his remarks, the Head of the state civil service, Mr Sunday Hyat, said that Permanent Secetaries play vital role in the implementation of policies.

Hyat said the responsibility required continous update of skills and competencies on policy and programme implementation, to discharge the responsibility effectively.

He charged them to improve service delivery in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies , to align with ethical values and policy thrust of the state government.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has donated N5 million to victims of suspected gunmen attacks in a Benue village inhabited mainly by Izzi natives from Ebonyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that suspected gunmen on May 30 attacked the Nwori-Ndi Obasi Village in Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.

The attack, which left some persons dead and many wounded, was stopped from spilling over to the neighbouring Okwofuruike and Odoke Villages of Ebonyi LGA by a combined team of security agencies and Ebubeagu security outfit.

Umahi made the donation on Tuesday, while commiserating with the wounded victims, who were still receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

He said the government had set up a committee, headed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to ensure adequate care for the victims.

The committee will ensure adequate feeding of the wounded persons and those displaced during the attack, including medical expenses and shelter.

I have directed the hospitals Chief Medical Director to do everything possible to stabilise and treat all the victims.

They will not leave the state in a hurry as we will ensure adequate security before they return to their homes, the governor said.

He urged the Benue Government to form a replica of the Ebubeagu security outfit to protect the people, saying that Ebonyi Government would be forced to do so, if Benue failed.

These are Ebonyi people paying their taxes in Benue and should not be abandoned.

We cannot ask security agencies from Ebonyi to protect the people in Benue but we will deploy our youths and the indigenes to protect them.

I want to restate that the incident did not occur in Ebonyi or within the buffer zone of the boundary with Benue.

The incident affected Ebonyi indigenes living in Benue for over 100 years and if they wish to belong to Ebonyi, the Benue people should allow them, Umahi said.

He described the attack as barbaric, saying it should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

Mrs Florence Adeyemi, a septuagenarian and nutritionist, on Tuesday, urged older people to take milk to prevent osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which bones become weak and stiff as the body constantly absorbs
and replaces bone tissue.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the occasion of World Milk
Day (WMD).

The Day is annually celebrated on June 1 around the globe to raise awareness about the importance of milk to healthy living.

It is also aimed at publicising activities connected with milk and the milk industry and this years theme and focus
is: sustainability in the dairy sector with messages on nutrition.

The nutritionist, therefore, urged older people to see milk as essential dairy required to keep healthy and stronger
bones necessary for longer life.

She added that milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults need to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength and prevent osteoporosis.

For some elderly persons, milk means more than nutrition. It has the potential to provide comfort in their old age otherwise called golden years.

Adeyemi, who described old age as a blessing, said milk was imperative in the nutritional maintenance of bones for elderly persons.

She emphasised the need for older persons to continue to eat right to enjoy their old age.

The nutritionist, who affirmed the medical benefits of milk to older persons, called on them to develop the habit of taking milk.

She said that some older persons who have no financial ability to afford the dairy required for calcium, needed government to help them with monthly stipends as done in other climes. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ginika Okoye

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has solicited the support of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in recovering the landed properties of banks in liquidation with the territory.

A statement by Mr Bashir Nuhu, the Director, Communication and Public Affairs Department of the Corporation disclosed this on Tuesday.

Nuhu said the Chairman of the NDIC Board of Directors, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, made the appeal when the management of the board visited Malam Mohammed Bello, the FCT Minister in Abuja.

The statement quoted Sokefun, as saying that, the move was to enable the corporation to pay depositors of affected closed banks.

She said the corporation had faced bottlenecks in the full payment of trapped depositors funds as a result of the difficulty in recovering assets of banks in-liquidation.

According to her, the difficulties are due to poor documentation by the banks, revocation of title by authorities and litigations over the assets.

Some of these assets are located in the FCT so, the support of the Ministry in realising the properties would assist the corporation in the discharge of its mandate of deposit guarantee, she said.

It also quoted the Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Bello Hassan, as highlighting the roles of the NDIC and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the management of banks assets.

Hassan said the NDIC as a liquidator focused on the assets of closed banks following revocation of their licences by the CBN while AMCON was involved with Non-Performing Loans of an existing bank.

The Minister, according to Nuhu, said the ministry was willing to assist the corporation in resolving issues around its properties and those of banks in-liquidation within the ambit of the law. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigerias Ijeoma Okigbo has been selected as a participant in the maiden International Cricket Council (ICC) 100 per cent Cricket Future Leaders Programme.

Okigbo, ajournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was selected under the umbrella of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), an associate member of the ICC.

Musa Ehizoje, the NCF Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said Okigbo, who is the founder of Girls Aspire Sports Initiative, an NGO, was recognised forusing cricket as a medium of empowering the Girl Child.

The journalist, alongside 39 other women across the globe, will be mentored on various leadership positions in cricket.

Forty women from 29 ICC member countries have been selected to be mentored as part of the ICC 100 per cent Cricket Future Leaders programme, designed to support emerging female talents in Cricket.

The programme which is part of the ICC long-term commitment to accelerate the growth of Womens Cricket and Women in Cricket, received an overwhelming response of over 300 applicants from 45 different countries.

The initial intake will be split into two batches and the programme, which is designed to address the low percentage of women in leadership positions in global Cricket.

It will build a pipeline of new female leaders in Cricket, the statement added.

Okigbo has been selected in batch 2 for this programme which is expected to kick off in November 2021.

Meanwhile, Girls Aspire, also won the ICC Best Female Cricket Initiative Award for Africa in 2020. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Zambia has approved five COVID-19 vaccines to be administered on citizens as a preventive measure against the pandemic, a government official said on Tuesday.

The vaccines include Chinas Sinopharm, Johnson

By Felicia Imohimi

In commemoration of the World Milk Day, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has called for the genetic improvement of indigenous cows to increase milk production.

The association made the call in a statement signed by it spokesperson, Dr Gloria Daminabo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja.

NAN reports that World Milk Day is commemorated annually on June 1 and the theme for 2021 is:
Sustainability in the Dairy Sector along with empowering the environment, nutrition and socio-economic growth.

It noted that Nigeria had the required resources, a large cattle population, large market for dairy products, farmers, adequate veterinarians and other experts, to improve the sector.

The association, however, decried the challenges faced by the dairy sector in the country ranging from poor production practices, low milk producing indigenous breeds and inadequate policies, accounting for the sectors underdevelopment.

It is important that these key production challenges be addressed to increase domestic milk production in sustainable ways.

There is also a critical need to engage veterinarians and other experts to successfully achieve this.

We need to do more in a partnership between the Federal, State governments and other value chain stakeholders to rapidly improve the dairy sector, the association said.

It assured of its continuous advocacy, professional roles and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to promote sustainability in the sector, so as to combat food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty.

NAN reports that since 2000, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) set aside June 1 as an annual World Milk Day, to celebrate the dairy sector and highlight the importance of milk products as a global food.

The main objective of the day was to make people aware of the importance of milk and dairy products in their lives.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly Eteng Jonah-Williams has said that Gov. Ben Ayade was not respected and honoured by the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jonah-Williams, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar, said that Ayades defection from the PDP to the APC was timely.

The Speaker, who represent Yakurr II State Constiturncy in the Assembly, told NAN that out of the 25 House of Assembly members in the state, APC has 18, while the PDP has seven.

Before the governor took the decision, he consulted widely and majority of the people told him that he needed to move to the APC.

While in PDP, the governor was not respected and given the honour he deserved by the hierarchy of the PDP as the leader of the party in the state.

So, there was need for him to move. The Governor has also stated clearly that he needed to align the state with the happenings in the centre for the interest of the state.

Cross River is known for always playing politics with the centre. Since 1999, former Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke all played politics from the centre.

Ayade is the only governor from the state who has played opposition for six years now and he feels it is time to align with the centre for the benefit of the state, he said.

He recalled that during the last ward and chapter congresses of PDP in the state, the PDP national had to recognise a list of executive members who did not even contest for the positions at the ward and chapter level.

He said that such marginalisation of key stakeholders in the state by the PDP also informed their decision to defect with the governor to the APC.

As Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, the ward list from my political ward that I have been winning elections with was neglected and a new list was constituted with members that I do not even know and nobody consulted me, he said.

According to the Speaker, the remaining two years period of Ayade will attract the needed development from the centre into the state.

He gave assurance that APC will win all the elective positions in the state in the 2023 general elections in view of the governors defection to the ruling party.

The Superhighway and the Deep Seaport will now be given utmost attention by the Federal Government and other things will also fall in place as well.

Gov. Ayade has spent six years in office, I will advice him to consolidate on the gains of his industrial revolution in the state by completing the projects and privatising them for the future.

The House of Assembly wants the industries that were initiated by Gov. Ayade to live beyond this administration.

On road infrastructure, I want to specially commend the governor on the construction of the Mfom-Obanliku dual carriageway and the ongoing East-West road in Boki local government area, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has reiterated that prepaid meters are free under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, advised customers to report any individual that demands any form of payment or gratification for meters.

Idemudia said the DisCo had received reports that some individuals had been demanding for payments for the acquisition of prepaid meters under NMMP.

We appeal to customers to report all cases of demand for money for the acquisition of prepaid meters to enable us investigate and ensure such staff faces the full extent of the law and serve as deterrent for other erring staff.

Meters are absolutely free and should not be paid for under the NMMP. Please report to us via our whistleblowing email- [email protected] or via our website-, he said.

Idemudia also noted that EKEDC would not tolerate any form of extortion, stressing that any customer who experiences such an act should immediately report to the company for necessary investigation and disciplinary action.

We have a robust process to enable us investigate and sanction any staff who is fingered in any act of extorting customers under the guise of offering a helping hand.

It is our duty to serve our customers and all payments should be made through our official channels, he said.

Idemudia assured customers who were yet to benefit from the mass metering programme to be patient as the company has ramped up its metering roll-out.

He also advised customers that were yet to apply to do so on the companys website viato get metered immediately without any charge.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had on Oct. 30, 2020 inaugurated NMMP.

The programme is aimed at meeting the target of closing the metering gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry by December 2021.

It would assist in reducing collection losses, while at the same time increasing financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligation of the DisCos.

NAN also reports that part of the objectives of the company, also include the elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability, and provision of data for market administration and investment decision-making. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the nations security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts towards the recovery of the 200 children kidnapped from an Islamic school in Niger.

The president gave the order in a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday.

According to the presidential aide, the president, who received briefing on the latest incident of school kidnapping, condemned the incident.

He urged all the agencies involved in the rescue operation to do their utmost in securing their immediate release.

He also directed that the concerned government agencies to extend possible support to the families of the kidnapped children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Police Command in Niger had on Sunday confirmed the abduction of school children and some residents of Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Adamu Usman, the Commissioner of Police in the state told NAN in Minna that the children were abducted from Salihu Tanko Islamiya School.

He also confirmed that the abductors killed one person in the process.

He explained that the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. when a large number of bandits on motorcycles attacked the town. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says using mobile phone while driving is unsafe and can endanger the lives of other road users.

Mr Bamidele Ayanwale, FRSC Unit Commander in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, made the assertion while delivering a lecture at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) in Awka on Tuesday.

The programme was organised by the Department of Religion and Human Relations, Faculty of Art, NAU, to honour the final year students.

Ayanwale, represented by Mr Chinedu Okonkwo from Oraifite Command, said that the FRSC Establishment Act 2007, Section 10 (4), prohibits the use of phones while driving for obvious reasons.

According to him, the use of phones while driving has been identified as one of the major causes of road crashes, injuries and deaths in recent time.

No message or call is as important as your life and what that means is that all messages or calls can wait.

So many drivers and innocent people have died owing to distraction from the use of phones while driving.

If you receive a call or message while you are driving, the best thing to do is to pull over safely and answer the call if you feel it is very important.

If you dont pull over to answer that call, you will be distracted. You can look away from control of the vehicle and crash or ram into other vehicles or hit pedestrians.

Use of mobile phones while driving has remained a growing concern to safety on Nigerian roads which is why we advise motorists to always obey the FRSC officials and traffic rules and regulations at all times, Ayanwale said.

The road safety official also urged motorists to avoid speeding and drinking of alcohol while driving, stating that these were factors responsible for road accidents.

He called on the outgoing students to be change agents and ambassadors of road safety in their communities by passing the message to the public.

In his remarks, Dr Anayo Ossai, Staff Adviser of the department, advised the outgoing students to utilise the training acquired from the school to become self employed and self reliant.

No time to lazy around and stay unemployed, with your training and knowledge, acquire more skill to be useful to yourself and the society, Ossai said.

The programme featured an award ceremony where Ayanwale, was recognised for his outstanding efforts at ensuring safety on Anambra roads. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

The Police Command in Delta says it has rescued a kidnapped victim in the state.

The Commands spokesman, DSP Edafe Bright, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Warri.

Bright identified the victim as Mrs Ibude Celestine, adding that she was rescued from her abductors on May 27, 2021in Usiefurun Community, Off Ughelli/Warri Road.

On May 27, 2021 at about 0845hrs, Dragon Patrol team of the police while on stop and search duty in Ughelli/Warri expressway by Ekrehavwe Community junction intercepted and rescued oneCelestine.

The victim was kidnapped at about 0730hrs of May 27, 2021 in her Lexus Jeep after dropping her kids at school in Okoukoko.

Based on technical intelligence, Dragon patrol team in conjunction with the Agbarho Divisional patrol team promptly swung into action and moved to Usiefurun Community.

The vehicle was sighted by the combined teams and the hoodlums on sighting the police abandoned the victims Jeep and their operational vehicleand fled into the bush, he said.

Bright said thatone Pump Action Gun, Breech No. 870150457, and six live cartridges were recovered from the abandoned Honda Pilot Jeep of the hoodlums adding that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has pledged to pay over 7000 students bursary, as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, said this at a news conference to reel out programmes marking the 100 days Akeredolu in office on Monday, in Akure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akeredolu was sworn in for second term on Feb. 24.

According to Odu, Medical and Law students will be paid N50,000, while other students will be paid N10,000 each.

The SSG noted that the step was aimed at boosting academic excellence among the benefitting students, while 1,200 primary school teachers, recently recruited would be trained and inducted

The SSG revealed that 720 widows would also be given N5000 each as 40 of them would be picked from each of the 18 Local Governments.

Odu added that Gov. Akeredolu would inaugurate many projects across the state, to mark his 100 days in office.

She noted that although few of the projects were carried over to Akeredolus second term in office, many others were the ones executed in the last 100 days.

She also revealed that the new Government House lodge foundation would be laid as the current one was in deplorable condition and inhabitable.

The SSG, while speaking about the reasons the free shuttle buses being used to convey secondary school students were not being seen again, revealed that the buses had broken down, and therefore were off the road.

We all know that the buses were working very well but sometimes, like every machine, they break down and we are trying to fix it, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Ghana has made tremendous strides in gender equality.

MrAlexander Afenyo-Markin, leader of the delegation of MPs to the ECOWAS Parliament,made this known on Monday in Abuja while presenting the Country Report of Ghana at the ongoing 2021 Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The Ghanaian Authority, he said it is fully committed to implementing the ECOWAS Supplementary Act on the Equality of rights between women and men for Sustainable Development.

He said that the government of Ghana has put in place policies and programmes that seek to mainstream perspective of women and men and to ensure the implementation of the polices.

Afenyo-Markin said the interventions have however begin to yield positive results, as it has increased the awareness of the citizens on the role women can play in the development process.

The Government of Ghana in recognition of the invaluable role women play in National Development has initiated various affirmative policy measures.

Aimed at ensuring adequate participation and representation of girls and women in educational and leadership endeavors in the country.

For instance, Ghanas University admission policies make provision for thirty per cent placement for female candidates.

Ghana has also adopted the convention, where all legislations make a provision for women to be included in Governing Councils/Boards of public corporations and institutions.

It has been realized that in order to ensure gender balance in leadership positions, and promote full participation of women in public life, there is need to institute a deliberate legislative regime.

That prescribes equal representation of of women in leadership positions and the general governance of the country.

To this end Government has made a commitment to pass an affirmative Action Bill that seeks to promote a progressive increase in the active participation of women in public life.

And bridge the gender imbalance between man and women, Afenyo-Markin said.

Afenyo-Markin noted that the realization of these policies however lies in the net of the Ghanaian Parliament which is expected to expeditiously pass and domesticate international instruments in the country.

This he added would ensure that womens rights are respected.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Supplementary Act on Equality of Rights between Women and Men for Sustainable Development in the ECOWAS Region that was adopted by the 47th Ordinary Session of the Conference of the Heads of State and Government held in Accra, Ghana, on May 19, 2015.

Source: NAN News

By Ramatu Garba

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has restated its commitment to metering in line with the Federal Governments initiative in the country.

The Head of Corporate Communications KEDCO, Ibrahim Sani-Shawai, who stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano, on Monday, also warned consumers against what he called meter apathy.

We are committed to ensuring end of estimated billing system in the Kano franchise and we will roll out more phases of metering going forward, to complement the present phase.

The statement said thousands of households had been metered and the scheme was still ongoing so as to plug the outstanding gaps.

Our metering has remained free and we still insist it is free, hence, any act towards sabotaging our efforts of free metering whether by staff or non staff, would not be tolerated and would be prosecuted.

KEDCO also warns against meter apathy from customers because we have observed that some customers deliberately refuse metering. This is unacceptable to us, as it is the way forward for the Kano franchise, the statement said.

Sani-Shawai called on the general public to report any case of extortion before, during or after metering to the nearest KEDCO office, while urging customers to embrace metering. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Member Countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have said sensitisation of citizens of Member States on ECOWAS Protocol was critical to foster regional integration.

Some ECOWAS Member States made the call while presenting their Country Report at the ongoing 2021 Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament on Monday in Abuja.

Members of Parliaments from The Gambia noted that without proper sensitization of ECOWAS Citizens, the implementation of various protocols and conventions will be very difficult.

Presenting the report of The Gambia, Hon. Kebba Barrow, leader of the delegation noted that parliamentarians in the Gambia have continue to educate their citizens on ECOWAS integration protocols among others.

The Gambian delegation in consultation with the Ministry of Trade and ECOWAS Matters continue to publish series of newspaper press releases and advertisements on the community text.

To educate and enlighten the general populace on these important ECOWAS Community instruments, he said.

According to him, all these efforts are meant to sensitize and bring ECOWAS protocol and its institutions to the people.

We firmly believe that without proper sensitization of our citizens, the implementation of various ECOWAS protocols and conventions will be very difficult.

The delegation, on behalf of the people of the Republic of Gambia wishes to reiterate that the Gambia is ever committed to the ideals of the Regional Bloc.

And shall never relent in its efforts for the integration process of the ECOWAS Community, Barrow noted.

Similarly, Members of Parliament representation from Senegal said plans were underway by the legislators to foster regional integration by bringing border communities together.

Head of the Senegalese delegation, Hon. Aime Assine, while delivering the Country Report of Senegal said such actions should also be replicated by other countries.

As part of our sensitisation activities, the ECOWAS MPs from Senegal are planning to step up activities to bring border communities closer together.

Activities that should be replicated, particularly in the areas of sport as well as culture.

The Senegalese party recommends the organising of sub-regional festivals to enhance the rich cultural heritage of our people, Assine noted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that regional integration is one of the core pillars of ECOWAS.

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

The newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara in Kogi on Monday commenced academic activities, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Salawu Sadiku, said this shortly after the Kogi State government formerly handed over the newly constructed and renovated facilities to the universitys management in Osara.

He commended the state governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, and the commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, for their commitment to the realisation of the project.

We are very happy for the facilities handed over to us, most of which have been completed, while some are at advanced stage of completion.

Inline with the directive of His Excellency, we would now map out our strategies and do all the plannings required to complete the remaining jobs or to add value to whatsoever you have given us today, Sadiku said.

The VC noted that coincidentally, the handover of the facilities marked the beginning of the registration of students that had been offered admission as pioneer students of CUSTECH.

He stressed that it was good that the students registration commenced the same day the universitys management officially took over the facilities.

He assured that the management would continue to make life easy for the pioneer students.

The VC, therefore, appealed to the pioneering students to learn to cope with some of the present challenges at the campus.

He commended the ministry of education for her support, saying, we want to put on record that the university is really proud of the state ministry of education as its parent ministry.

We are of course answerable to you, so you can always draw our attention to whatever actions or inactions that you may think necessary to ask us to review.

We will also not hesitate to draw you into our programmes from time to time with a view to receiving that matured advise and guidance from you, Sadiku said.

In his remarks, the commissioner expressed his delight to hand over the facilities, and in executing and implementing the directive of the governor at the university.

He commended the governor for his vision and leadership traits to have initiated the monumental idea of establishing the institution.

Jones, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, said the governor was highly interested in the immediate commencement of activities at the university.

We are happy that the dream of His Excellency that started in December last year has been realised in the open today.

I am happy because it is glaring that the VC himself and other management and staff of the university are zealous to commence activities.

As we went round, we are also happy that we saw that some students are already coming in, he said.

He assured the VC of the ministrys continued partnership and good working relationship with the university.

We are happy and assure you that we are going to work closely with you and support you because the governor have so much confidence in your capability to do this work, he said.

One of the students, Mohammed Adeiza, expressed joy being one of the pioneers of the university, and commended the governor for the gesture.

The facilities handed over include: Administrative block, blocks of classrooms, Auditorium, Library, Multipurpose and workshop Laboratories.

Others are: ICT centre, School Clinic and Canteen blocks, Boys and Girls Hostel blocks, academic blocks, among others.

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya
Gov. Abubakar Sani- Bello of Niger has described the death of Prof. Godswill Obioma, Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO), as a great loss to the nation.

Bello in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje in Minna on Tuesday, said the death came at a time when the country needed his services in the advancement of the education sector.

He said that since he assumed office a year ago, Obioma had made his impact felt in the running of the organisation through prompt examination and the release of result.

The Registrar was an experienced and hardworking personality, our heartfelt sympathy is with the family, and the examination body praying that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss as well as grant the deceased soul eternal rest, he said.

The governor sympathized with the family of the deceased, adding that government was with the family at this time of grieve and will give them the necessary support and comfort.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obioma died during a brief illness at the age of 67.

He was appointed Registrar of NECO on May 14, 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for joint international efforts to tackle COVID-19, with spillovers into dwindling national economies that would require a global framework to ameliorate burden of struggling citizens, and re-ignite growth.

Mr Femi Adesina, the president spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said Buhari made the call at a ceremony to receive Letters of Credence from Ambassadors of Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Yanko Yordanou, and Peoples Republic of China, Mr Cui Jianchun.

Other who presented their Letters of Credence included the High Commissioner of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Muhammad Tayyab Azan, Ambassadors of Republic of Turkey, Mr Hidayet Bayraktar and Ukraine, Valerii Kirdoda, at the State House.

The president said: As you all settle down to your solemn duties to promote your respective national values and interests through your countries foreign policy on Nigeria, you should rest assured that the Federal Republic of Nigeria will engage you as we all strive to relate through effective cooperation and collaboration to enhance our collective interests.

As we are all aware, the pre-COVID-19 era was already faced with the challenge of attaining sustainable development. Some countries were even faced with additional challenges like securing their territorial integrity against violent non-state actors.

The unprecedented crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has now caused far more serious setbacks to our quests for sustainable development; hence the need for international cooperation and collaboration to fight the disease, as no country is immune from its devastating effects on lives and livelihoods.

The president stressed the need for greater unity of purpose and concerted efforts to address common challenges such as climate change, terrorism, insurgency, population growth, highlighting their catastrophic impacts and why the challenges cannot be underestimated.

These challenges underscore the need for the international community to work even more in concert with each other to collectively identify appropriate ways and manners to globally resolve these challenges, he added.

He said bilateral relations between Nigeria and each of the countries were most cordial, adding that: We still need to enhance these fraternal ties between our nations.

Buhari welcomed the Ambassadors to Nigeria, urging them to build on the successes of their predecessors, while assuring the government would continue to support their mission in Nigeria.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to Abuja, Nigeria, marking the formal assumption of your diplomatic responsibilities to your various countries, following the presentation of Letters of Credence that has just been concluded.

This age-long tradition and practice enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations marks the official commencement of your functions as Principal Representatives of your respective countries, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the envoys, Ambassador of Bulgaria extended deep gratitude and appreciation for the reception on arrival in the country and State House, bringing the goodwill of the Heads of State.

Yordanou expressed the desire of the countries to continue working with Nigeria, assuring that the partnerships at various levels would be of progress and prosperity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says that 50 per cent of short listed companies for marginal field oil operations have been awarded letters in different oil locations in the country.

The award letters were presented to the operators in Abuja on Monday by Mr Auwalu Sarki, DPR, Director/Chief Operating Officer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a marginal field is an oil field that has been discovered and left unattended for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of first discovery.

Sarki explained that the 57 marginal fields to be explored by the operators are located on land, swamp and offshore terrains in various parts of the country.

He said that the companies presented with their certificates were those that have met all the conditions for the award out of the 161 that were shortlisted.

A total of 591Expression of Interest applications were submitted; out of these applications, 540 were successfully prequalified during phase 1 of the exercise.

At the end of phase 2, 482 bids were submitted by 405 applicants. Following the evaluation of the bids, 161 companies were shortlisted as potential awardees out of which 50 per cent have met all conditions and therefore eligible for award today.

We are set to ensure opportunities are extended to other deserving applications to fill the gap, Sarki said.

According to the DPR boss, the award marks the end of the bid round process which started on June 1, 2020, but the beginning of the post award phase which is very important.

He said the DPR had developed a strategy to ensure the awarded marginal field operators achieve early development and would continue to follow up and guide the awardees in every step they make.

Sarki noted that a National Oil and Gas Business Opportunity Desk has been established in the DPR.

This desk synthesises opportunity across the value chain of the industry and creates a platform for investors, financiers, funders, and other intending partners to realise desired objectives, Sarki said.

He implored the awardees to take advantage of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre for the industry recently commissioned by Mr President which offers services in improved oil recovery, alternative dispute resolution, integrated data analysis and competence development.

Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, the Executive Chairman, Vhelbherg Exploration and Production Development Company Ltd., one of the companies that secured the licence, commended the DPR for its transparency.

This is the first most transparent exercise carried out by the DPR since 2003; it was open to everybody and there were publications.

The job is not completed, and for the DPR to complete their work, it has to assist operators to produce in their various locations and ensure we are not suffocated, Okoroafor said.

He said the move by the DPR to award letters to the operators of marginal fields was in the right direction as it would help boost the countrys oil reserve.

Mrs Timbu Ayinde, the Chief Operating Officer, Dutchess Energy Ltd., another awardee, said they were looking forward to a successful business.

It is a fantastic opportunity for me in the sector as I have been in the downstream and this is an opportunity for me to go into the upstream.

We are going to increase crude oil production for Nigeria and for the companies themselves, it is an expansion into the upstream sector; we are going to harness and employ people, Ayinde said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News