Friday, April 30, 2021 Edition

Friday, April 30, 2021/ Ramadan 18, 1442 AH

Vol. 36 No. 053 N200

2553 Days after Malam Wada Maida (1950-2020), founding Chairman, Board of the Peoples Media Limited

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. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Insecurity: Masari faults Reps, says state of emergency not solution >>PAGE 5

Corruption killing Nigeria, says Ganduje PG 5

From Left: Acting Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Professor Armstrong Idachaba, Chairman House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Onyewuchi Ezenwa and Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Olusina Thorpe at the launch of the Digital Switch Over in Lagos on Thursday.

Reps order NIS to issue Int’l passports within 72 hours No threats to Buhari’s govt Akpabio

Panic grips NASS over alleged threat of attack by terrorists

NNPC’s zero allocation can cripple states -Bauchi Gov

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Obaseki heads PDP e-registration committee pAGE 4

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

News CONTENTS News 6-18 Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-21 24

World Analysis 22 Africa News

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World News

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Bauchi Gov says NNPC’s zero allocation to states capable of causing chaos

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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overnor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed has cautioned that Nigeria would be thrown into chaos if the statutory federal allocation to states are not paid.

Senator Mohammed gave the warning while fielding questions from Journalists yesterday at the end of National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the PDP in Abuja.

The Governor also blamed what he tagged the cluelessness and lack of capacity on the part of federal government in managing the economy for the current state of affairs.

He spoke against the backdrop of NNPC’s disclosure that its projected monthly remittance to the federation accounts allocation committee

(FAAC) for May will be zero.

The governor said, “You have just heard that the NNPC said that they will not be able to give money, I don’t know the amount of chaos that it would cause, because most of the states are depending on federation account.

“Because of cluelessness and lack of capacity to manage the economy, we have found ourselves on this. “ There is even a blame game between the members of the party within the APC,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “The insecurity is too much, the mismanagement of the economy is too much and if poverty is added to it, I don’t know what will become of Nigeria.”

Senator Bala also lamented that the security architecture of the country has failed, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to

work with the governors.

His words, “He has to work with the governors, states and local government. The federal security architecture has failed.

“I have said it before, he has to work with the governors, he has to work with the local government Chairmen, he has to work with the traditional institutions, he has to work with the civil society. We need information.

“We are just living in darkness, it appears that nobody is in charge and somebody has to be in charge and we have to come together to help the federal government discharge it’s exclusive responsibility of providing safety and security,” he said.

Commenting on his security plans and strategies in Bauchi state, he said “We are enthrenching good governance, we are always staying with the

people, we are hardly in Abuja or anywhere.

“We are connecting and establishing community relations with our Emirs, our chiefs, our stakeholders and our politicians across the board.

“There is no partisanship in Bauchi, we are more united as a people because we are aware that we are boarded by about seven states and those states have problems.

“So we really need to work together with security agencies,” he said.

The PDP, Bala said, has realised it made mistakes in the past and has taken steps to correct them.

His words, “We are presenting to Nigerians the better frame work, better platform for them to really actualise their aspirations”.

Gombe Gov makes case for eesuscitation of Port Harcourt-GombeMaiduguri rail line Digest

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Feature 26 Sports 29-31 Back Page

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Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ( 2nd L), Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau ( L), Minister of state for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki and Emir of Akko, Alhaji Umar Atiku, during the commissioning of the Gombe Outreach Learning Centre, Kumo which is an arm of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology in Gombe state yesterday.

ONSA allays fears of security threat at airports O ffice of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has allayed fears of security threat at the nation’s airports as reported through an internal government correspondence.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, ONSA said the correspondence was a routine

threat assessment to ensure preparedness of agencies and not meant for public dissemination.

It explained that in the period covered by the correspondence, threat analysis identified the need to advise airports’ managements nationwide to upgrade existing

security measures around the nation’s airports.

“Regrettably, the unauthorised release of this advisory is likely to raise fear among airport users home and abroad.

“Accordingly, this statement is issued to reassure the public and all aviation stakeholders of

the safety of our airports.

“The security and intelligence services will continue to monitor security threats and provide the assessment and timely advise required by airports’ managements to continuously upgrade security measures in the airports,” it said. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

News

EFCC cautions Nigerians against fraudulent investment schemes

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerians against investing their money in fraudulent investment schemes that promises high returns to investors.

Mr Wilson Uwajaren said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the anti-graft agency was worried over the development that had seen thousands lose their life savings to scammers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of such popular schemes, MBA Forex – which promised its investors 15 per cent Return on Investment monthly, crashed in November leaving its over 100,000 investors stranded.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which later froze MBA’s bank accounts, said that the company owned by one Maxwell Odum, had collected over N171 billion from its investors before crashing.

Also, another popular scheme, Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative headquartered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa had in March announced its inability to meet its obligations to it’s over 25,000 investors.

The company owned by one Miebi Bribena, a pastor, had promised to refund investors their capital running into billions, but didn’t provide any reasonable timeline to refund their monies.

Uwajaren said that the commission had received several petitions from victims of ponzi, forex and Bitcoin investment schemes.

“This trend indicates that investment scams has continued to thrive despite the enforcement and public enlightenment interventions by the commission and other stakeholders.

“The direct implication is that hapless citizens are losing their hard-earned money to fraudsters, who by their activities compound the nation’s economic woes.

“Many have lost, and are still losing money to ponzi schemes, forex trading and most recently, Bitcoin trading,” he said.

The EFCC spokesman warned members of the public against taking unmitigated risk in desperation to earn a windfall on fraudulent schemes.

According to him, investments in Bitcoin and other crypto currencies were a high risk activity especially as the terrain was largely unregulated, and prone to fraud.

“The EFCC states that, while it will continue to investigate and prosecute persons complicit in fraudulent investments schemes, it is incumbent on the investing public to be circumspect in their investment decisions.

“Any investment that promises returns that look too good to be true should be considered a red flag.

“Nigerians are by this notice, warned to be wary of fraudulent schemes, and are hereby, enjoined to resist the temptation of quick gain that could end in misery,” he warned. (NAN)

News Editor, Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Panic grips NASS over alleged threat of attack by terrorist group

By Christiana Ekpa

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here was tension and heavy security presence at the National Assembly yesterday over reports and alleged letter from a terrorist group on a possible attack on public institutions across the nation’s capital city.

Recall that Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State had raised alarm over the presence of Boko Haram insurgents at nearby communities close to the nation’s capital city.

Peoples Daily Correspondent

witnessed that joint security task force including the Sergeant-atArms, Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Security (DSS) embarked on stop and search at the major entrance leading into the complex.

The search our Correspondent gathered led to the heavy traffic as, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, staff and other motorists spend hours to access the complex.

Some of the Security agents

who spoke under anonymity told Peoples Daily that there was a security threat signal of a possible attack on the National Assembly, adding that, there was a letter to that effect.

According to them, the Lawmakers and the staffs of the National Assembly must obey the new norms of search to avoid been taken unaware by the terrorists.

Even as the security were seen shouting at the people driving into the Complex and forcing everyone to obey without giving consideration to who is

who.

At the other point of checking, the security men allowed government marked vehicles without checking which led to protest by those waiting on the cue.

Findings by our Correspondent indicated that most of the installed security facilities at the main entrances into the complex are not functional, as the security operatives resorted to manual checks of vehicles and pedestrians coming into the complex.

L-R: Member House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the need to investigate capital projects executed and funds repeated in appropriation acts from 2015 till date, Hon. Kabiru Rurum, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman, during the investigative hearing with the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s) of the Government across the Nation, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Buhari lauds Ogunsanya’s appointment as CEO Airtel Africa

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he elevation of the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Networks Limited, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, to MD/CEO of Airtel Africa Plc, has received plaudits from President Muhammadu Buhari, who says the flag of Nigeria has been hoisted proudly across the African skyline once again.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Congratulating Ogunsanya, the President says the appointment has once again proven that Nigeria has a surfeit of quality professionals, who can hold their own in any part of the continent, and even beyond.

President Buhari is sure that, with the cognate experience of the new MD/CEO for Africa, which

spans consulting, banking, fast moving consumer goods, and telecommunications, he would acquit himself creditably in his new role, and repeat the strides that made him position Airtel Nigeria as the second largest telecommunications company by revenue, serving over 50 million customers.

He urges younger Nigerians to draw inspiration from Ogunsanya, saying with focus, dint of hard

work, and resourcefulness, they would reach the peak of whatever careers they have chosen for themselves.

The new Chief Executive Officer, an electronics engineer and chartered accountant, joins the board of Airtel Africa Plc from October 1, 2021.

“The reward for hard work is more work,” says President Buhari, as he wishes Ogunsanya greater successes ahead.

Buhari pledges better collaboration its Zambia

By Sunday Ode

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igeria and Zambia will deepen collaboration between the two countries, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured.

The President spoke Thursday

at State House, Abuja, while receiving a Special Envoy of His Excellency, Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

He said the two countries would explore further areas of collaboration for the good of their peoples, and benefit of the African continent, according to a

statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The Special Envoy, Hon Joseph Malanji, who is Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, thanked Nigeria for her “big brother role in ECOWAS and

the African continent,” stressing that “equity is when strong ones strengthen the weak ones.”

The Zambian President called for stronger bilateral relations and greater impetus for the Joint Commission of Cooperation between the two countries.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

News

Gbajabiamila Obaseki heads PDP e-registration committee meets govt ...As NEC passes confidence vote on Secondus, NWC officials ...Chairman threatens Afegbua with N1b suit to avert

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja Secondus-led NWC for being Organising Secretary, National Chairman in bad light. focused and purpose driven in Treasurer, National Financial The letter reads in part, “May we resumption of he Peoples Democratic Party, piloting the affairs of the party.

Secretary, Deputy National state at this point that our client is PDP, has has appointed the The National Publicity Secretary Secretary and the National Publicity not only a decent gentleman but a doctors’ strike Governor of Edo State Mr of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, Secretary. minister of the gospel of Our Lord

By Christiana Ekpa

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he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, met with the relevant government officials with a view to averting the resumption of the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

At the meeting, issues such as non-payment of house officers, abolishment of bench fees, nonpayment of national minimum wage, salary shortfall for 2014, 2015, and 2016, residency training allowance, and payment of resident doctors on GIFMIS platform were discussed.

Present at the meeting were top officials from the ministries of finance, health, labour, and employment as well as the DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, officials from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Committee of Chief Medical Directors (CMDs), among others.

The DG, Budget Office, Akabueze, informed the Speaker that action was being taken on the issues at stake and that a recommendation was submitted to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, for approval after which payment would be made.

On his part, the permanent secretary in the finance ministry, Shehu Shinkafi, who represented the minister, said he would get back to her so that payment could be made before May 7.

It was agreed that another meeting would be held on Tuesday, May 4, for a conclusion on some of the issues at stake to avoid the planned resumption of the strike by the doctors.

Others present at the meeting were the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Yerima Tafa; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi Mashi; the chairman, Committee of CMDs, Dr. Jafaru Momoh, who is also the CMD of the National Hospital, Abuja, officials from MDCN, among others.

The resident doctors had earlier this month embarked on an indefinite strike, making some demands and insisting that they must be met before they would call off the strike.

However, with the intervention of Speaker Gbajabiamila and other top government officials, the doctors suspended the strike and said if the issues were not resolved, they would resume on May 7.

As part of efforts to put the dispute to rest, Gbajabiamila visited the resident doctors at their headquarters in Abuja to assure them that actions were being taken to have a lasting solution.

Thursday’s meeting was part of the actions being taken by the Speaker to address the dispute.

Recall that since the assumption of office, Gbajabiamila has been on the issue of the resident doctors, who had threatened to embark on strike at different times.

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Godwin Obaseki of Edo State as the Chairman of its e-registration committee.

His Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, is to serve as Deputy Chairman.

The main opposition party has similarly passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as well as the member of the National Working Committee (NWC), and cautioned party members “to be wary of agents of distractions and division.

Rising from its emergency National Working Committee, NWC, meeting in Abuja yesterday, the PDP praised the effort of the

who read the communique issued at the meeting to journalists yesterday, According to Ologbondiyan, “NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as well as the member of the National Working Committee (NWC).

“NEC further cautioned party members at all levels to be wary of agents of distractions and division while praising the effort of the NWC for being focused and purpose driven in piloting the affairs of the party”, it said.

Other members of the Obasekiled committee, according to the communique, include ; the National

Ologbondiyan added, “Further nominations will be taken from the Board of Trustees, the National Assembly, Forum of State Chairmen as well as the youth and women demography of our party”.

In another development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus has threatened a N1 billion suit against former Commissioner of Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua if he fails to retract and apologise to him for allegation of fraud levelled against him.

Secondus in a letter by his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, said the allegation portrayed the National

and Saviour Jesus Christ, a mentor, grandfather, father and a loving husband.

“A statesman who has devoted his time to the nurturing of our democracy and the PDP (and has been so heralded by the members of the party),” the National Chairman said in the letter.

Afegbua has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that Secondus has failed to account for N10 billion that accrued to the PDP from sale of nomination forms in 2018.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state, left, yesterday led a delegation to the palace of the Emir of Kano in Kano state to commiserate with the Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and his brother, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero over the demise of their mother, Hajiya Maryam Ado Bayero, popularly known as Mai Babban Daki.

Nigerians are crying out in pains - House Minority Leader. ...says APC colleagues are ready join forces

By Christiana Ekpa

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he Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has disclosed that Nigerians are crying out in pain over Insecurity and other hardships, even as he added that the country has not had it so bad in the history of the Nation.

This was just as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Minority Leader, Elumelu revealed that many of his All Progressive Congress (APC) colleagues in the House have seen reasons to join forces with them and have expressed their readiness to cross over to party PDP. Hon.Elumelu revealed these at the Emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, in Abuja.

He said “I am pleased to report to NEC that given our unrelenting efforts, many of our colleagues in the APC have seen reasons to join forces with us and they have expressed their readiness to cross over to our party for the patriotic task ahead.

“It is with utmost humility and deep sense of responsibility that I address the leaders, elders and critical stakeholders of our great party on the occasion of this emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

According to him, “I sincerely thank the leadership of our party; the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee, the PDP Governors’ Forum and indeed the Board of Trustees (BoT), former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, for their collective effort to ensure the resolution of the leadership issues that confronted our caucus in the House of Representatives.

“Since the resolution of all the issues, I and my colleagues in the House of Representatives have continued to enjoy the confidence and support of the leaders of our party across board.

“I am very glad to report to NEC that our caucus has been working tenaciously as one strong, united and focused front in furtherance of the collective effort, on the platform of our great party, to rescue our dear nation from the misrule of the APC administration.

“Our great party, the PDP was founded on the solid principles of national unity and inclusiveness as well as democratic tenets of rule of law, social justice, equal opportunity, transparency, mutual respect, sustainable economic development; welfare, security and happiness of all.

“It is incontrovertible that our great party worked hard to achieve a

stable and more united country, with unprecedented economic growth, massive infrastructural development and citizen empowerment in our 16 years in power at the center.

“Sadly, these lofty gains have been wrecked within a space of six years by the overtly inept, corrupt, divisive and insensitive APC administration. We have never had it this bad in the history of our nation and Nigerians are crying out in pain.

“Today, due to the misrule of the APC, terrorism, mass killings, kidnapping, banditry, youth restiveness, economic hardship, unemployment, hunger and starvation and utter hopelessness have encircled our nation. Nigerians across board are now intensely looking up to our party to rescue our dear nation and we must not fail them.

“I must commend the leaders of our party for the unity and oneness of purpose that have been achieved in our fold for the task ahead. It is undisputable that if we continue in this stead, our party will certainly take back the reign of power at the center and in most states of the federation, come 2023 and save our nation from this despondent situation.

“Our caucus had, against this backdrop, intensified our legislative activities in exposing the ills,

incompetence, corruption and undesirability of the APC administration while highlighting that solutions lies only in returning the PDP to power at the center in 2023.

“I am pleased to report to NEC that given our unrelenting efforts, many of our colleagues in the APC have seen reasons to join forces with us and they have expressed their readiness to cross over to our party for the patriotic task ahead.

“May I use this medium to commend and congratulate the governors elected on the platform of our party for their landmark achievement and developmental projects in all sectors of life. Our governors have indeed made us proud and we hold them in very high esteem for signposting the commitment of the PDP to the Nigerian people.

“Furthermore, there is need for our party to remain stable. We therefore call on our leaders and critical stakeholders to unite in support of the NWC in the onerous task of piloting the affairs of our great party for the task ahead.

“Leaders of our party, ladies and gentlemen, Nigerians are waiting; they are queued behind us for direction. The onus now lies on all of us to remain united, focused and not allow any distractions at this critical time”, he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

News

Corruption killing Nigeria’s progress- Ganduje From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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overnor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that corruption is what is killing the progress of Nigeria as a nation.

Ganduje stated this at the Inauguration of members of Anti-corruption strategy steering committee by Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC), held at the commission’s headquarters yesterday.

Ganduje, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Usman Alhaji, said Nigeria can not develop or progress with the level of corruption in the country, adding that the nation would not move forward if the corruption level continues like this.

“Believe me, we don’t need to say that corruption in this country is killing all of us. The truth of the matter is that we will never develop

or progress with this level of corruption in this country. We can not go on,” Ganduje said.

According to Ganduje, Kano state, under his administration had held bull by the horns in the fight against corruption by strengthening the PCACC, adding that the commission is doing its job without interference.

Ganduje noted that his government had accorded all necessary support to the PCACC in the fight against graft, stressing that no sacred lamb in the fight against corruption in the state as two of his commissioners most their seats after found wanting.

The governor expressed delight with the setting up of the committee, describing it as one of the most important committees set up in the anti-corruption crusade in the state.

“I want to say that this committee is one of the most important committees we will inaugurate. My reason is that this organization has a dual role and

responsibility. Its first role is of course public complaints.

“That means, people with some complaints could loadge it at the commission, get it sorted out and resolved amicably. Which means, it is not what you may call a crime.

“On the other hand, anticorruption, is of course a fight against crime, which means, the double role should not be misconstrued or lost, that is fight against a crime, and on an on.

So, i urge the committee to bring out the strategies whereby the people of Kano would have the benefit of hope to complain when the need arises and get amicable settlement.

“And on the other hand, to take action against crime or enforcement that could happen.

So that it will open the door to the public to come and loadge their complaints for some disputes within the family or neighbors. Whether it is against the government or government

officials, the complaints could be looked into and sorted out,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, said the mission of forming the committee was to reduce corruption through heightened accountability, transparency and observance of rule of law.

Rimingado, who is also the chairman of the steering committee, noted that the committee would checkmate the excesses of corrupt practices in a modern way in the state.

“The strategy was also designed to intervene at the legal policy, strategic and institutional levels, the private sector and the society in general.

“At the policy level, the ultimate objective is to put in place a system which promotes an increased alignment of private and public interest, while at the institutional level, laws, and measures designed

by the Nigerian Government, state and local government.

“This was to prevent and combat corruption as well as to engage the public more actively in the process.

“The strategy seeks to develop and implement mechanisms aimed to improve the governance of public institutions at state and local government levels.

“And also to remove corruption related factors inhibiting their accessibility and capacity to deliver quality services to Kano citizens.”

He said.

The committee comprises of the Chairman PCACC, as chairman, Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner of Finance and Chairman House Committee on Assembly.

Others include, Commissioner Budget and Planning, Head of Service of the State Government, Commissioner Ministry for Local Government and representatives from Office of the SSG, not below the rank of Permanent Secretary.

ICPC does not spend recovered funds – Chairman

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CPC does not spend recovered funds, but pays them into Federal Government’s coffers, it chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has said.

Owasanoye told the Senate Committee on Finance investigating activities of revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government that ICPC had no retention powers over funds or assets recovered from corrupt people.

ICPC spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday that Owasanoye told the committee that ICPC had a dedicated account for the recovery of proceeds of crime.

All recovered funds are paid into the dedicated account called “ICPC Recovery Account’’ for onward payment into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government once there were no encumbrances, he explained.

“ICPC is not contemplated as a revenue generating agency. In the course of our work, we do recover funds. However, ICPC does not spend recovered assets. We do not use part of it for our work,’’ he stressed.

He also told the committee that apart from recovering proceeds of crime, ICPC had also helped to boost tax revenue by bringing defaulters to book.

He said ICPC had been able to bring defaulters into the tax net while investigating tax components of some transactions and that recovered funds were paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Committee Chairman, Sen. Solomon Adeola, had earlier expressed concern that the country’s budget was becoming too dependent on loans, partly due to non-compliance to financial regulations by revenue generating agencies of government.

He said the investigative hearing aimed to ensure that all revenue generating agencies complied with the Fiscal Responsibility Act which stipulated that 80 per cent of operational surplus be paid into the CRF. “Revenue generating agencies of government have taken solace and pleasure in diverting government’s money; taking care of frivolous expenditure and making provisions for them in audited accounts that are fictitious in nature.

“The 2021 budget has a deficit of N6 trillion; government cannot continue this way,’’ Solomon said.

(NAN)

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (M) and other dignitaries during the unveiling of the Lagos Digital SwitchOver, in Lagos on Thursday (29/4/21).

Insecurity: Masari faults Reps, says state of emergency not solution

By Egena Sunday Ode

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mid hues and cry over the worsening security situation in the country, Katsina State Governor , Aminu Masari, has dismissed the call for an imposition of a state of emergency by some interest groups.

Governor Masari stated this when he spoke to newsmen on Thursday after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The House of Representatives particularly, it could be recalled, had on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a state of emergency on the security sector to effectively tackle the ravaging insecurity in the country.

The Katsina governor also appealed to Nigerians to stop politicizing security issues.aa doing so would not help the already precarious situation.

Masari noted that the military is already overstretched hence declaring a state of emergency will be stretching them the more, since the same

military personnel will be use for its enforcement.

“It cannot because how can state of emergency solve the problem? You have a situation where the military are in all the states of the federation, then you ask yourself, how many do we have? Are we not overstretching them? .

“So the reality is, the responsibility of securing this country is ours, all of us. We have a role to play and we must play it for the sake of the country and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, not for the sake of the persons that are in office.

“I think we have to understand that whatever we do to restore security today, we are not doing it for one particular person or group of persons, but we are doing it for all of us, for the country and in fact, for Africa. A stable Nigeria means a stable Sub-Saharan Africa.

“So I think we better be serious about this issue of security. If you say set up state of emergency, what do you do? We are having the same people, the same security agencies, the same capacities, and the same resources. So what are we talking about?

“We have a problem that everybody has a role to play, we better play it. Politics should be over, the security situation of this country is beyond partisan politics, it’s a national concern for all of us, every responsible person in this country,” he said.

Fielding questions, Masari also stated that in spite of the relative calm in his state , the security situation is still of high concern .

Accordingly, he said, his administration is working closely with the security agencies to ensure that the worst days are over for Katsina State which in the recent past was the hotbed of kidnapping.

He said: “Well, thank God, but actually the situation is still of high concern, insecurity is real and we’re doing everything to make sure that we control the situation so that it doesn’t reach the level it reached before and we’re hopeful that working together with the security agencies and the responsible people and also the repentant bandits we will be able to have our state back to normalcy.”

Answering a question on how the states can cope with the threat

of non-remittance to Federation Account by the NNPC in May, the governor retorted: “I think it’s something that we’ll have to work towards, without resources, again, it’s another factor that affects security, you cannot create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the rural communities.

“What do we do to make sure that those who are recruiting the youths in the localities are not given opportunities, do not have an upper hand?

“It’s with resources state governments and local governments will be able to contain some of these restive youths so that they can be used for better purposes because most of them might be foot soldiers to the bandits.

“So I think we have to look at this issue seriously, it will significantly affect even the capacity of states to pay salaries and to do what is necessary for the smooth running of government and also fund the security agencies, the logistic requirement of security agencies. I think these people better visit the states and see what the states are doing,” he added.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

PAGE 6

News FG, EU partner on ease access to education for disadvantaged children

By Maryam Abeeb

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he Federal Government in partnership with the European Union (EU) has introduced an Accelerated Basic Education Programme to enable disadvantaged children between 10 and 18 years of age to have access to basic education.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Ismail Junaidu presented the pogramme to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in Abuja.

Junaidu said the programme was to reduce to the barest minimum the number of out-ofschool children.

He said that the programme, which was flexible and free for enrollment would provide the recipients with equivalent, certified competences for basic education using effective teaching and learning approaches.

The NERDC boss said that the learning approaches would match their cognitive maturity.

He added that it would also provide pathways to mainstreaming learners into relevant levels of schooling based on proper profiling and effective instruction and learning.

According to him, piloting of the programme began immediately in 54 centres in Borno with over 8,000 learners enrolled.

“Preliminary result from the piloting shows that the programme is indeed a way out from the menace of out-of-school children and youth in Nigeria’’ Also, the Interim Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Mr Robert Komakech, said the goal of the EU was to increase access to safe, quality and inclusive education opportunities both formal and nonformal for conflict affected children, adolescents and youth.

Komakech said that this would address the specific barriers of girls and boys in the view of improving retention and completion, achieving better learning outcomes.

He said that the Plan-lead consortium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)for the development of a National Curriculum to cater for the educational needs of learners that had dropped out of school for one reason or the other.

Responding, the Minister of Education, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Sonny Echono, said that all stakeholders would be carried along to ensure successful implementation of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme.

Adamu assured the country of the need to pursue the programme vigorously to achieve a 90 percent literacy rate.

He added that the ministry would also support the national rollout plan of the programme throughout the institutions of learning in the country.

Issue Int’l passports to captured Nigerians within 72 hours - Reps direct NIS

By Christiana Ekpa

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he House of Representatives yesterday directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to issue International Passports to Nigerians who have applied, paid, and have been captured but are yet to be issued their booklets within 72 hours, The House equally asked the Federal Ministry of Interior and the NIS to review its Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc and IRIS Smart Technologies Ltd with a view to boosting capacity and development of more Passport booklet production lines.

Just as the House mandated it’s committee on Interior and Foreign Affairs to ensure compliance and report back within four (4) weeks.

The resolutions of the House followed a motion moved by Hon.

Ugonna Ozurigbo, calling for an end to the perennial scarcity of booklets for the production of Nigeria’s international passport.

He expressed concern that “most Nigerians who have applied for International Passports and fulfilled all the requirements are constrained to wait endlessly for their International Passports, which ordinarily takes less than 48 hours to be issued, a situation that is causing untold hardship

on Nigerians with urgent needs to travel out of the country”.

According to him, “Nigerians who are on medical referrals outside the country are developing needless health complications while waiting for their Passports to be issued while those for urgent business trips, conferences, etc. have missed rewarding business opportunities due to the unavailability of passport booklets to enable them to travel”

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (left) presenting the Gombe state 10-year development plan to the Hon. Minister of state for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki during her courtesy visit to the Governor in Gombe, yesterday.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Declare state of emergency on security now, PDP tells Buhari ....As Secondus says 2023 election is under threat

Afaka: Parents of the remaining 29 abducted students to storms National Assembly

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P

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

he national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rose from a crucial meeting in Abuja yesterday with a call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a national state of emergency on security in the country.

The main opposition party, at the end of its emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja, also urged President Buhari to, without delay, convoke a national conference on Security so as to galvanize ideas and options to tackle insecurity in our country.

The PDP further commended the efforts of governors, senators, House of Representatives members and other officials elected on the platform of the PDP in forcefully seeking solutions to the spate of insecurity in our country.

In a communique issued at the end of the NEC meeting,

which was read to journalists by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the party lamented the heightened insecurity pervading all parts of the nation due primarily to what it called the “misrule of President Muhammed Buhari and All Progressives” The communique reads in parr, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) after its emergency meeting today (yesterday) Thursday, April 29, 2021, considered crucial issues regarding the programs of the party as well as extensively reviewed the state of the nation, especially the escalated insecurity engulfing all parts of our country and resolved as follow: “NEC lamented the heightened insecurity pervading all parts of our nation due primarily to the misrule of President Muhammed Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as their failure to decisively tackle the menace of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, bloodletting and acts of violence in

our country.

“NEC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a national state of emergency on security.

“NEC also urged President Buhari to, without delay, convoke a national conference on Security so as to galvanize ideas and options to tackle insecurity in our country.

‘NEC further commended the efforts of governors, senators, House of Representatives members and other officials elected on the platform of the PDP in forcefully seeking solutions to the spate of insecurity in our country”, it said.

Earlier in his opening address at meeting, the the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus expressed the fear that the 2023 general election will be unrealistic if the security issues bedevilling the nation are not adequately addressed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has already slated the next general

G

overnor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has informed the visiting Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki that the rail line connecting the North Eastern corridor of the country has been the most neglected, hence the urgent need for the Federal Government to expedite action towards its resuscitation.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya gave this indication when he granted audience to the Minister of state for Transportatation who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House ahead of the commissioning ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT’ Gombe Outreach Learning Centre in Kumo.

This was according to a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs to the governor yesterday.

The Governor noted that no reasonable manager of human resources can do without transportation due to the critical role it plays in the movement of goods and services, describing the siting of the Gombe outreach

learning centre of the NITT in Kumo as a welcome development for the people of the State and by extension, the North East subregion.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya observed that the centre will not only assist the youths in acquiring skills for the proper management of transportation in the zone, but will also help equip them with relevant skills for self employment, especially in such a time when jobs are hard to find by both the educated and the uneducated.

He said, “Recently we set up a portal to find out the numbers of the unemployed, believe you me I was shocked to realize that we have 4752 unemployed graduates that registered, some of them have been unemployed for more than 6 years waiting for the white colar job. That is only for the graduates for you, 24 of them with first class honours and when we extended it to OND and NCE holders, within 24 hours more than 750 registered and I believe by now we should be counting thousands”.

He however expressed optimism that the NITT centre will provide a fertile ground for the teeming unemployed youths

in the State to acquire skills that will benefit them in the future.

The Governor informed the visiting Minister that his administration is investing heavily in the transportation sector through its flagship programme, the network ElevenHundred which seeks to construct at least one hundred kilometres of roads in each of the eleven Local Government Areas of the State thereby linking up the State to ease the movement of goods and services.

He stressed the need for the Federal Ministry of Transportation to facilitate the restoration of railway services in the North East sub-region as it is a priority to the people of the zone, adding that his administration will do everything necessary to support the institute in particular and transportation sector in general.

Earlier speaking, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki told Governor Inuwa Yahaya how strategic the State is to the growth and development of the Transportation sector in the North East zone of the country as well as the role NITT can play in providing the needed manpower

for improving transport and logistics management operations not only in Gombe State but the entire zone.

The Minister sought the support and patronage of the Gombe State Government towards the programmes and services the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology NITT offers, just as she craved the indulgence of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to be the institute’s Ambassador in the NorthEast.

She appealed to Governor Inuwa Yahaya as well as his counterparts in the North East sub-region to mobilize youths in their respective states to enroll in the institute skills acquisition training programmes with a view to reducing unemployment in the zone.

The Minister said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is working to revamp the economy to which the transport sector is one, saying the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation is investing heavily towards the revitalization of rail lines across the country to restore rail transport to Nigerians like the Port Harcourt/Gombe/Maiduguri rail line.

elections for Saturday, February 18, 2023.

However, Secondus, while addressing the emergency NEC meeting attended by Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State) and Prof Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers) as well as deputy governors of Zamfara and Enugu States among others, said that any arrangement made in respect of the forthcoming general election will amount to naught if the security challenges are not drastically addressed.

His words, “All the ‘noise’ for 2023 will amount to naught if the security challenges are not drastically addressed.

“Your Excellencies, leaders of our party, I therefore invite NEC to note on this very critical matter with a view to offering the necessary advice to the government at all levels for prompt solution.

“This has become necessary as nothing, not even 2023 is realistic if security issues are not adequately addressed.

From left: Chief Imam of the Nigeria Police, Oyo State Command, Mallam Imam Sanusi; Oyo State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Iskilu Akinsaya; and Guest Lecturer, ZaynulAbeeden Abduganiy, during a Ramadan lecture organised

by Muslim Community of NSCDC, Oyo State, in Ibadan on Thursday (29/4/21).

Gombe Gov makes case for eesuscitation of Port Harcourt-Gombe-Maiduguri rail line From: David Hassan, Gombe

News

From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna,

arents of the remaining abducted 29 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Mando in Igabi Local Goverment Area of Kaduna state have vowed to stormed the National Assembly in an unprecedented protest if the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), which supervises the college, fails to secure the release of their children from their abductors by midnight of yesterday This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman, Abdullahi Usman and made available to media in kaduna yesterday.

The Statement stated that while at the National Assembly, the aggrieved parents would seek the intervention of the Federal Parliamentarians to query the Minister of Environment whose ministry oversees the affairs of FRIN, which in turn oversees the affairs of the College where their children were abducted.

The parents will also expressed their outrage over the way the 10 released students are left to cater for themselves without any care whatsoever, especially in terms of medical checkup from any arm of government, as against the claim for such care by government.

The parents of the 10 released students, who have vowed not to back out of the struggle for the release of the remaining 29, have had to go in and out of hospital to take further care of their children’s health at their own personal cost.

This development is unacceptable as it shows abdication of responsibility by those in whose custody the students were before their abduction.

Knowing the struggle, the parents of the 10 students so far released are going through to keep their children in good health and sound mind, the parents of the students still in captivity, while awaiting the release of their own children, demand compensation from FRIN for the students already released and a similar demand will be made for those that will be released later for their proposed rehabilitation.

Reps querie N2.5bn increasment in SHESTCO appropriation for 6 years

By Christiana Ekpa

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he House of Representatives yesterday queried the increasment in the appropriation of Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), an agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology from N20 million in 2015 to over N2.5 billion in 2021.

The agency, SHESTCO which appeared before the House ad-hoc committee probing capital projects executed and funds repeated every year in the Appropriation Act

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) since 2015, in it submission to the committee sighted

by by our reporter demanded for the following sums N20m, N342.1m, N501.1m, N670.2m, N730.6m and N2.5b for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively.

The record showed releases made to the agency for the consecutive years were N10m, N205.5m, N250.6m, N313m, N248.7m and N730.6m for 2015 to 2020. For 2021, it showed that over N66 million had been released so far.

The submission showed the agency utilized 100 percent of the money given to them except for 2020 where it spent N730, 381, 598.67 out of the N730, 589, 076 it received. There was no record for

funds expended in 2021.

The Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Rep Abubakar Makki Yalleman, accused the agency of continuously repeating the same projects in their budget.

He wondered how they went ahead to spend over N200 million in their second year after just N10 million the previous year.

“So going by your record you submitted to us in 2015 you were doing appropriation of N20 million.

N10 million was given to you. N10 million was released to you and you utilized it. To my surprise you demanded three hundred and forty something million and two hundred and something million was released

to you again.

“This is why Nigeria is leaking.

See where the leakages are. If in 2015 you demand N20m and in 2016 you demand over N200 million and if you remember that there is medium term sector strategy, how can you justify this your request?

“You even had the power to request over N2b in 2021. This is surprising and the whole releases are there. Virtually 100 per cent release, while some other agencies are crying even under your ministry.

See where the money is going. Please we should try and help Nigerians.

When you are given a fund, you utilize it.

“You are repeating projects and

that is the purpose of this committee to fish out agencies like you. Nigeria cannot continue with this. This government has good intentions for the citizens of this country, but you cannot be lumping money into an agency while other sectors are sinking. Please we should try and help this government,” Yalleman said.

Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Prof Paul Onyenekwe attempted to defend himself by saying most of the funds they received were for constituency projects and not their routine projects, but this did not satisfy the chairman and other members of the committee.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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News

UniAgric ASUU condemn abduction of staff, students in varsities From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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cademic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi has decried that the current trend of students and staff abduction can only suggest that there is a siege on educational system which apparently targets a complete crippling of the major national development.

Chairperson of the Union Dr. Simon Ejembi who stated this in a press statement made available to Peoplesdaily yesterday, condemned in strong terms the recent attack and abduction of students of the institution by unknown gunmen.

He observed that the siege on educational institutions started ten years ago at the University of Maiduguri when the campus was attacked and some people killed, adding that in the recent past, it was the turn of Secondary schools bin Katsina, Zamfara,Niger, Katsina, Yobe and Adamawa States where 100s of students have been taken away, some still in captivity while some have already been killed particularly the students of Greenfield University in Kaduna.

While noting that in all the instances, the attackers/abductors have gone unchallenged, the Union asked ‘why are we never proactive?

“Let the security agents become proactive rather than reactive which in most times have not prevented the damages to lives and property.

“Why can’t we fortify our environment? Where are these people always coming from?

Whose interests are they serving?

Why are the perpetrators never brought to.book? “ We also, call for the complete perimeter fencing of the University campus to control infiltration of all kinds of people in and through the campus from all the cardinal points that are currently porous”, Ejembi appealed passionately.

Tuition fees:75% of students may drop out of school in Kaduna varsity- ASUU From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) said 75 per cent of the university’s students may drop out of school due to the monumental increase in tuition fees.

The Chairman of the ASUU branch, Dr Peter Adamu, stated this in a statement made available to media in kaduna yesterday.

The statement said that the students might have to leave because their parents could not

afford to pay.

The Union therefore, pleaded with the State Government to rescind its decision on tuition fees increment.

Adamu urged the state government to rescind its decision to hike the tuition fees and engage relevant stakeholders on the issue in line with its Open Government Partnership.

According to him, “education is a right and not a privilege, funding of education as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution is the sole responsibility of the government, not parents.”

He said the university had over 19,000 students, with more than 17,000 of them from the state.

Adamu added that 70 per cent of the indigenous students were sons and daughters of peasant farmers, civil servants and petty traders.

“Worse still, the state government had sacked a good number of its workforce, among them, are parents and guardians of our students.

“These people struggle every day against the current economic downturn to pay the fees of their

children.

“Raising school fees by over 500 per cent will, without doubt, send thousands of the students out of school.

“A significant majority of prospective students will be denied entry and this may have a devastating impact on the government’s quest to develop viable human capital in the state.”

“We, therefore, call on the university management to call a spade by its name and desist from the current display that suggests it is okay with the issue at hand.” the Statement reads.

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IPC trains journalists on security From: Umar Dankano,Yola

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he International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) has organised a one-day webinar training for fifty (50) Journalists on safety and security.

Delivering his opening remarks during the zoom training on Thursday, Executive Director of the Centre, Lanre Arogundade said the workshop will enable journalists to manage difficult safety challenges faced while carrying out their professional calling.

“Participating Journalists are expected to be able to practice with increased confidence and manage dangerous situations effectively.”

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News

NLC calls on El Rufai to rescind decision to civil servants T From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, pleaded with kaduna state Governor Mallam Nasir El Rufai to rescind the decision of mass sack against workers in the state public service.

The state NLC Chairnan, Mr Ayuba Suleiman, made the assertion during Workers Day Symposium held in kaduna yesterday.

Suleiman said any sack of workers whose appointments are statutorily protected must be based on strict compliance with the disciplinary procedure provided in the public service rules.

According to him, the state government must take into cognisance, the cost implication of the mass sack on the society and

families, as well as the security situation in the state.

He noted that the state government had not paid the entitlements of workers it sacked since 2016, and wondered how the government would pay the terminal benefits of those being sacked now.

“Kaduna state is already faced with issues of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling business prospects, therefore, any additional pain on citizens will reasonably be repulsive to conscience,” he added.

“We call on the state government to reverse this unpopular decision on the mass sack of workers, and seek alternative means of running government without inflicting additional pains on the public.”

Suleiman said the NLC would remain organized, peaceful and rational in engaging the government and other stakeholders towards ensuring amicable resolution of all issues affecting workers in the state.

“It is our prayers that prominent citizens and other people of goodwill such as senior citizens, the political class, the clergy, traditional rulers would partner with organized labour with a view to save the state from needless skirmishes.

“This is necessary in order to prevent the labour movement from being compelled to take some drastic measures.” Suleiman said.

The NLC chairman noted that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has bastardised the civil service and demoralised workers since his assumption of office.

“Kaduna State has woken to a new style of governance where there is no security of tenure in the public service of Kaduna state, as civil servants are daily threatened by the rumour of sack or actually stunned by mass sack of workers without recourse to the Extant Civil Service Rules,” he added.

He noted that the N5 billion monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which the government is celebrating, is being generated through the hard work of workers in public service, “whose only reward regrettably, seems to be mass sack.”

He also said workers have been subjected to arbitrary and inconsistencies in payment of salaries, which most often fluctuates from month to month, thereby making it difficult for workers to plan in the face of spiraling inflation.

Orji Kalu hails Adenuga at 68

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Representative of the Minister of Education, Mr Sonny Echono (2nd R), receiving copies of Accelerated Basic Education Project journals from the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Education Research and Development Council, Prof. Israel Junaidu, during the latter’s visit to the ministry in Abuja on Thursday (29/4/21). With them are Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development, Dr Ogochuku Ufoegbune(R) and the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education, Hamid Boboye (L).

Lagos govt pays 358 retirees N1bn for April he Lagos State Government says it has credited the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of 358 retirees with more than N1 billion for the month of April.

Mr Babalola Obilana, Director -General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC ) announced this at the Retirement Bond Certificates Presentation to the 84th batch of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) retirees held in Lagos on Thursday.

Obilana stated that the fund had been transferred by the state to the retirees various Pension Fund Administrators (PFA’s) who have confirmed receipt and would begin disbursement within a couple of days.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

He said the state has been consistent with its leadership role in the implementation of the CPS in line with the provision of the State Pension Reform Law of March 19, 2007, now amended.

He explained that the event was organised to celebrate the elder statesmen who had laboured in the state’s public service and also to present them their retirement benefit bond certificates.

According to him, the bond certificates shows the accrued rights due to the retirees for the years spent in the service of Lagos State under the discontinued Defined Benefit Scheme.

“You have worked for 35 years and by God’s grace ,you will not

spend your money on illness.

“Please take very good care of yourself, as health is wealth and the Coronavirus is still very much around.

“Desist also from unimportant spending and beware of pension fraudsters,” Obilana advised.

The director-general hinted that the state government was also working on modalities for the implementation of the Health Insurance for the pensioners which is expected to tentatively kick-start before the end of the year.

Obilana commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to the efficient and effective administration of the CPS in the state.

He explained that the effort of the governor had culminated in the regular issuance of the retirement benefit bond certificates to the retirees.

He appreciated the unflinching support of the commissioner for establishment, training and pension, the state’s approved PFAs and the insurance companies for their efforts at ensuring that all retirees have unrestrained access to their benefits.

Mr Olumuyiwa Oshin, Executive Director, Finance and Investment, LASPEC, lauded Gov. Sanwo-Olu on his effort to clear the outstanding backlog of the accrued pension benefits and improve the welfare of the pensioners.

Oshin prays that God grant the retirees good health, long life and wisdom to use their lump sum judiciously.

Mr Olufemi Ogunlaye, a retiree from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), on behalf of other retirees, thanked the governor for his good work and prayed that God grant him the grace to better the lot of the pensioners.

Ogunlaye also commended Obilana for supporting the government and its policies to improve the life of the pensioners and prayed for his fellow retirees that they will enjoy the benefit of their labour and service years.

(NAN)

he Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has congratulated the Founder and Chairman of Globalcom (Glo), Otunba Micheal Adenuga on his 68th birthday anniversary.

Kalu, in his goodwill message issued on Thursday in Abuja, commended Adenuga and described him as an age-long friend.

The former governor of Abia acknowledged Adenuga’s contributions to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.

While appreciating Adenuga’s entrepreneurship, Kalu stressed that the business mogul, through hardwork, perseverance and consistency built a robust business empire.

“I am delighted to convey my warm greetings to the founder of Globacom Ltd as he clocks 68.

“The celebrant is a household name beyond the shores of Africa, in view of his outstanding and robust contributions to sustainable development across Africa.

“Adenuga has carved a niche for himself in all facets of life.

“He deserves to be celebrated today and always as a successful business mogul and philanthropist of repute,’’ Kalu said.

Kalu urged Adenuga to sustain his good works in all endeavours and prayed God to grant him longer life. (NAN)

R-L: National Youth Leader, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Maurice Ebam, National Chairman, ADC, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwozu, National Director of Communication ADC, Barr. Ifenla Oligbinde and the Party National Coordinator Electoral Matters and INEC Liason, Chief Anayo Arinze , during the presentation of the Certificate of Endorsement of ADC as one Party for Nigerian Youth on recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin imo-owo

Benue Govt receives l Kwagh-hir inscription certification from UNESCO From: Uche Makurdi

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Nnorom,

enue State Government has received Certificate of Inscription from the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO as well as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) acknowledging Kwagh-Hir as an intangible cultural heritage in Nigeria.

It should be noted that Kwagh-Hir is a threatrical puppet performance common only to the Tiv people of Benue State that has been displayed in some parts of the world.

Executive Seceerary, NICO Mr. Muhammad Yahuza who

made the presentation yesterday in Makurdi said the nomination of Kwagh-hir was adopted during 14th Session of the InterGovemmental Committee for the Safeguarding of intangible Cultural Heritage held in Bogota, Colombia 2019.

Yahuza explained that with Kwagh-hir inscription, Nigeira now has five cultural heritage on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, ICH of Humanity.

He also, disclosed that with the approval of Kwagh-hir inscription, “the theatre can now enjoy the support and protection of UNESCO.” He commended Governor Samuel Ortom and the entire Government of Benue State for

their unending support towards the promotion of the Nigerian culture.

“The inscription will also, increase visibility for the element and at the same time enhance the dignity and pride of the performing communities.

“Besides, Kwagh-hir theatrical performance has earned international recognition as a tourist destination and as such a potential foreign exchange earner for Nigeria and the State,” he said.

He said other cultures earlier inscripted in Nigeria on UNSECO world heritage map were: Oral Heritage of Gelede (2008), Ifa Divination System (2008), Ijele Masquerade (2009) and Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival (2016).

In his remarks, Gov Samuel Ortom said Kwagh-hir theatrical performance reinforces Nigeria’s traditional beliefs, uphold it’s culture and behavioral attributes of the Tiv people.

Represented by his deputy, Gov Ortom who said with the inscription, Kwagh-hir has come to stay in the world.

He described Kwagh-hir as a cultural heritage performance of Tiv speaking people of North Central Nigeria whose dramatists convey deep meaning with some kind of mysteries.

Ortom said the Kwaghhir artists through animated characters in some cases expresses the deep rooted cultural heritage of the Tiv people.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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Abia trains youths in road maintenance

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bia State Government has commenced an intensive training in road maintenance for youths as part of its efforts to boost infrastructural development.

Mr Bob Ogu, the state Commissioner for Works, said this on Thursday during the Abia Youth Road Maintenance Corps Orientation and Training organised by the state government in Umuahia.

Ogu said: “The world is in a state of flux as things are changing, every professional needs to change with the time.

“Everything is moving from analogue to digital. We believe in continuous education because basic training or certificate is not enough.

“We want to further train our staff and any member of the public that is interested in the programme to keep abreast with the new trends in the field of engineering.

“It is expected that participants will pass on the knowledge they acquire to their colleagues for the overall enhanced performance of the Ministry of Works.”

According to him, this will facilitate the achievement of success in the state government’s plans to fast track widespread socioeconomic development in Abia.

In his address, Mr Uzoma Onuoha, a resource person, said that attaching premium to maintenance culture as well as health and safety in workplaces would encourage improved workforce productivity.

Onuoha emphasised the need to imbibe maintenance culture, adding that maintenance culture encompasses provision of resources for the management of structures to prevent assets failure.

He said that health and safety in a workplace entailed getting competent personnel, acquiring the right equipment, providing adequate personal protective gear for workers and developing a viable work-plan.

He said: “A lot of infrastructural projects collapse today because of poor supervision by the relevant authorities during the construction of such projects, “The absence of supervision gives the project contractor the room to compromise with the specifications outlined for the job.

“It is pertinent for the government and private establishments to promote the culture of health and safety rules compliance in workplaces to ensure that the right thing is done.

“This will ensure that projects are adequately supervised and the job done in line with the contract agreement signed for the job for the betterment of the society.”

Onuoha said that the importance of maintenance culture as well as health and safety in a workplace cannot be overemphasised because of its centrality to the success of the projects in the workplace and society.

Earlier, Dr Christian Nwaehibe, the Moderator of the Programme, said that participants were drafted from the Ministry of Works and the 17 local government areas in Abia.

(NAN)

Only 30 of 80% Nigerians with voter cards voted in 2019 elections -Research

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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research conducted by The Election Network has revealed that only 30 of 80% Nigerians with voter cards voted in 2019 elections.

The Election Network is a digital media company delivering creative, intelligent and datadriven journalism around global elections.

Speaking yesterday while addressing newsmen in Abuja, Asari Ndem, Editor of The Election Network, said the revelation

was the lowest recorded voter turnout in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

“We wanted to understand why this had happened, to enable us make submissions to policymakers on how this level of failure can be avoided in coming elections. So, we decided to talk to the people.

“To show the human impact of electoral deficiencies on average Nigerians, The Election Network produced a documentary titled “Left Behind.” In this documentary, we interviewed

Nigerians who were unable to or chose not to vote during the 2019 elections.”

She said the Network found out that Nigerians who did not votes were stalled by factors like administrative shortcomings, intimidation, and violence.

“What stood out the most is violence. Between 2003 and 2019 alone, over 1932 electoralviolence related deaths were recorded, with 626 of these deaths occurring in 2019 alone.

To paraphrase one of our expert interviewees, we attribute the low

voter turnout to voter apathy but what really exists is voter fear; fear of intimidation and violence.

The presence of heavy military and police personnel in certain regions aggravated this fear and prevented people from voting.

“In the 2019 general elections, there were at least 13 incidences of electoral violence as a result of military presence at polling units.

“Other barriers to voting were technical and administrative issues like the failure of card readers, and the lack of provisions for people living with disabilities.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

Islamophobia: Pantami and Revisiting attack on Gov. Uzodinma’s home cowardly the hypocrisy of his detractors

By Fredrick Nwabufo

G

unmen, penultimate Saturday morning, attacked the private home of the governor of Imo State, Mr. Hope Uzodinma, burning part of the building and vehicles parked in the compound. They killed two security aides.

The governor’s country home is located in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state.The attack came a day after Governor Uzodinma met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, where he requested that more security operatives be sent to Imo. The government has spoken officially about the incident. The Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, told journalists Saturday that few casualties were recorded in the exchange of gun fire between the attackers and security men.”Gallant security operatives this morning repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodimma. At about 9 am today, Saturday, April 24, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 in a motorcade of three vehicles, accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor and attempted to burn down the house.

However, vigilant security operatives attached to the governor’s house successfully repelled the attack.”

The attack on the private property of the governor is the climax of serial attacks by gunmen on police and prison facilities since February 2021. Within that period there have been six such attacks at Obowo, Aboh Mbaise, Ihite/Uboma, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, and now Mbiere, as well as the police headquarters in the state in Owerri.

Insecurity has been a big challenge in the southeast generally, leading the governors in the region to set up a joint security structure to help bring down the level of violent crime there. Usually the reason is financial. However, the attack on the home of the Imo governor would appear to have a political motive as Mr. Emelumba had suggested.

Mr. Uzodinma, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had apparently lost the 2019 governorship election to his PDP opponent, according to the result announced by INEC. However, the Court of Appeal reversed the outcome, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in Jauary 2020. That did not go down well with some politicians who have vowed to make Imo ungovernable.

“

The government has spoken officially about the incident. The Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, told journalists Saturday that few casualties were recorded in the exchange of gun fire between the attackers and security men.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives The President of Zambian Special Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E Joseph Malanji while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama during an Audience at the State House Abuja.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

NLC Delta plans big for Workers’ Day

ByNosa Akenzua, Asaba

T

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Council, has firmed up plans to make this year’s May Day Celebration, billed to hold on May 1, 2021, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, the best in history.

It equally considered presenting awards of merit to some deserving veteran Labour Leaders who had paid their dues in

Labour Movement.

This decision was reached at the State Executive Council meeting, presided over by the Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, today, Wednesday 28th of April at the Labour House, Asaba.

The Chairman who announced that the Celebration would commence in earnest at exactly 10 in the morning, admonished SECin-Session to mobilize their Union

members to be seated before the arrival of the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Ofobruku informed members that this year’s event would feature lectures on unity of labour leaders and their members and of course, Labour/Government relationship and understanding.

He also said that there would be a side show by a garri processing company - Samvita, who would be around to create awareness on

its product through cooking and serving interested members free.

The theme of this year’s May Day is “Covid-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis, Challenges for Decent Jobs, Social Protection and People’s Welfare”.

Comrade Ofobruku further hinted that the affiliate Union with the highest mobilization would win a trophy and monetary attachment as a way of encouraging participation in Labour matters.

Kebbi promises to restructure private schools From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

K

ebbi State Government said his administration will continue to sustain law and order in educational sector by restructuring the private schools across the State.

Addressing newsmen on Wednesday shortly after the State Exective Council meeting held at the Government House chamber, Birnin Kebbi.

The commissioner for Information Hajiya Rukiya Tanko Ayuba said that the restructure of the private schools will be a long way in

bringing standard into education.

She added that alot of achievements had been recorded in this present administration under the leadership of Governor Atiku Bagudu, adding that the government is fully making an effort in promoting educational sectors and bringing sanity to the system.

Emelumba explained that in the ensued cross fire, “a few casualties” were recorded. He said preliminary investigation suggested that the foiled attack might have been “politically sponsored.” He said the governor had directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation into the incident, promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice. “Yes, I can confirm the story.

The hoodlums attacked the governor’s house by throwing in petrol bombs, as a result of which two cars were burnt, but the attackers were successfully repelled,” he said. “None of the buildings was set ablaze. However, one unarmed officer of the NSCDC was killed in the process.

The hoodlums, while escaping, also killed a police sergeant and another NSCDC officer, both in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction.”

OUR MISSION

Their conduct goes contrary to standard democratic norm. They had their chances at both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court where they lost the legal battle.

Having failed, they are now resorting to self help, which includes the cowardly use of physical violence. We condemn very strongly what happened at the home of the Imo governor, not just because he was the target but also because other persons died who had nothing to do with the politics of the state.

We support the call for a thorough investigation of the attack on the governor’s compound and the attacks before that.

The perpetrators must be fished out and punished - to serve as deterrence.

OUR PEOPLE

“To be the market Chief Operating Officer place of ideas and /Editor, the leading player Hameed M. Bello, PhD in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while HEAD, ADVERT delivering value to patrick UGAMA our stakeholders”

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

P

rofiling.

Targeting.

Scapegoating. In Nigeria, you are more likely to effectuate wry remarks and suspicious stares if you are the prototypical Muslim with full-bred beard, a ‘’decimal point’’ on your forehead – a sign of your devotion to Almighty Allah, and apparelled in modest trousers that stand aloof from the ankle than if you are a Biblewielding evangelist piercing the dawn quietude of a drowsy neighbourhood with screams and shrieks of ‘’repentance’’.

We live in a country that is autochthonously Christianised.

Our ways are Christian. It is commonplace to profile Muslims who hold strong beliefs as ‘’extremists’’ but not Christians who arrogantly profess their beliefs anywhere and everywhere, even commanding obeisance to their faith. I have never heard any Christian described as an extremist – even when some church leaders make galling and inflammatory statements.

In the build-up to the 2015 presidential election, Bishop Oyedepo vowed to open the floodgates of hell on the opponents of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Is this not an incendiary statement – by a man of god? This pastor also physically assaulted a penitent who came to his church for deliverance. But it was excused because he is a Christian leader. Christians are not extremists even when their actions vouchsafe this fact – but any Muslim can be summarily tagged an ‘’extremist?’’ When a Christian leader makes extremist comments, we call it ‘’holy anger’’.

It is hypocrisy.

In 2017, the DSS attempted to arrest Pastor Johnson Suleman after he publicly said he asked his security guards to kill any Fulani intruder around his church. He also threatened the government after state agents swooped in on a hotel he took residence in Ekiti.

In addition, Pastor Enenche and others in the same phylum have made ungodly threats that border on bigotry and extremism. But they were all palliated – because they are Christian leaders. It is hypocrisy.

Our society is subliminally attuned to certain precepts and ways that are predominantly Christian. Any otherness sets off an alarm. It is societal conditioning. Our society has been conditioned to readily see some people in one divide as ‘’extremists’’ and others in another category as ‘’devotees’’.

A conditioning in hypocrisy.

The avalanche of attacks – both sponsored and taxied – against Isa Ibrahim Pantami, minister of communication and digital

economy, accents some Nigerians’ atavism and aboriginal hypocrisy.

I would not want to dwell on the contents of some videos and abstracts rippling on social media because they have been politically ammunitioned for not kosher ends.

Pantami’s only offence could be that he is a Sheikh heading a vital government ministry. Yes, some bigoted interests find his being a Sheikh in a sensitive public office exasperating. They cannot stand the fact that a notable Muslim leader is the superintendent of a key ministry. But Pantami is not just any Sheikh. He is a technocrat who knows his onions.

He is not fish out of water at the ministry of communications. He trained as a computer scientist, obtaining a PhD from Robert Gordon University in Scotland. He bagged sterling credentials from Ivy-league schools like Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also attended Cambridge in the UK. But bigotry clouds the mind of those who see him as a Sheikh who has no business in the communications ministry.

As a matter of fact, the kindler of the current social media blitz against the minister is beyond ‘’what he said or did not say in the past’’. Some interests in the communications industry who perceive him as impervious to inducement, a non-conformist and a strong character are working in the shadows. Pantami has taken some hard-line-decisions against the industry vultures that are desperate to draw blood. The controversy is a smokescreen to exact vengeance. Nigerians should not unwarily cavort on the playground of this horde.

The truth is for every of Pantami’s detractor, the cause for grouse are interests not being served. The minister is not playing ball, hence, veiled daggers drawn.

Those calling for Pantami’s resignation do not mean well for Nigeria. I believe he should be judged by his stewardship at the ministry of communications -not by his faith. If the social media blitzkrieg against the minister is because of his performance at the ministry, that will be a different matter. But it is not.

Pantami is perhaps one of the most resourceful and responsive communications ministers Nigeria has ever had.

Again, the minister should be judged according to his work at the ministry. And he has done a good job of that.

I will not join the multitude to commit murder.

By Fredrick OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter FredrickNwabufo

‘Mr @

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Comment PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Quality education: Key factors to national development

Our imperiled educational system

By Adeleke Azeez Olalekan

By Chiedu Okoye

E

ducation is an investment for human and economic development of a nation. As a matter of fact, Education is fundamental to sustainable Development of every nation.

According to Google, Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, interest, abilities, competence and the cultural norms of a society by people and to transmit this life to the coming generations so as to enhance perpetual development of the society.

Apparently, the importance of Education in National Development in its entire aspects can’t be overemphasized. In fact, in this digital world, Quality Education is of cardinal importance to any nation who is willing to progress along with developed countries.

Provision of inclusive quality education for all levels of social class with no influence by ethno-religious sentiments, cultural norms, rural areas segregation, disabilities, among others will, not only develop the nation’s economy but as well as drastically reduce the rate of insecurity, unemployment, bad leadership, regression, social vices, etc Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The reason as to the agenda is not far fetched.

An Education for all provides every citizen with adequate information, skills, knowledge and character to thrive in their immediate societies.

The level at which priority is placed on Education across the globe varies sharply from country to country. Annual budget

for Education in developed countries differs significantly from developing or underdeveloped countries.

Also, government supports for developmental research, motivation for education stakeholders and provision of adequate learning facilities in designated learning environments could be said to be uninspiring in Nigeria.

This situation has hindered effective learning processes which has directly resulted to ill-trained graduates who are ordinarily expected to contribute to their immediate societies the knowledge, skills and moralities they have acquired in the process of learning.

For a country as giant and highly resourceful as Nigeria to grow, majority of her citizens have to be up-to-date with the global technological, economical and political progression. This is only achievable when quality education is ensured and decentralized across the country.

Parts of the root problems facing the country are uninspiring level of illiteracy and lack of quality Education among Nigerians which have birthed a rise in birth rate, recycling of bad leaders, social vices, nonparticipation in Politics, technological dependency, corruption, unemployment, etc.

When a nation’s human resources are well refined, educated, updated, highly skilled and resourceful, the country tends to develop uncompromisingly.

At higher institutions, applied researches tailored towards economy growth, revenue generation, resources diversification, security, unemployment reduction, empowerment and national development at large should be encouraged, highly sponsored and largely embarked on.

With numerous number of scholars and graduates in Nigeria in different disciplines cut across all aspects of national development, the level of technological and economical dependency, to mention a few, ought to be minimal.

The status quo requires an urgent attention to the level of education in the country, strategic education review, feasible implementation of expanded education dispensation, possibility of highly funded education, among other strategic and important actions primarily towards nation building.

In this regard, the following recommendations are highlighted: Government — The government of the Federation and States with the support of the Local Government Areas should ensure a reasonable increase in the current annual budget for Education in the country.

— The government should establish more enabling and highly equipped learning environments across the country to accommodate more Nigerians conducively.

— In partnership with the authorities of higher institutions, the government should enforce the local production of some imported products to encourage quality education, practical experience in schools, local production and self-reliance.

— To encourage continued productivity and seriousness in students, outstanding graduates should be provided with job opportunities and other motivating factors irrespective of their social class or family background Curriculum Planners/Education Stakeholders The current education curriculum should be reviewed thoroughly to capture

the present realities of the global world of work and operation School Authorities/Teachers — Teachers should be trained in line with the global digital requirements.

— Applied researches tailored towards development by scholars should be given paramount importance and be fully funded to ensure seamless and untainted conduct.

NGOs/Education Support Movements — Financial and material contributions should be provided for schools to ensure and maximize learning expectations — Education programmes and initiatives tossed on practical aspects and feasible strategies to solving national problems should be put in place Students/Youths — While realizing that education is a key factor to changing the narrative of onsought happenings in Nigeria, students/ youths should strive unrelentingly to be well educated, informed and productive — They should tailor their education strength and knowledge capacities towards promoting the unity, economy, security strength and the country’s reputation nationally and internationally Nigeria needs a functional educational system for sustainable national development processes as a functional educational system decentralized across the country will provide sound and quality education by equipping majority of Nigerians with latest science and technology to solving pressing national problems.

Adeleke Azeez Olalekan is Nigerian writer and youths development strategist.

50 Years after Biafra: Bridges we still haven’t destroyed

By Banji Ojewale

O

ne should not forget that the war of 1967-1970 taught everyone, even the victors, a lesson: You cannot massacre a people or destroy their property, even an ethnic minority (without a response)… If you do, they will fight, because they have no choice but to fight. – Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (19332011) Biafra War leader.

In both modern and ancient times, we have inspiring annals of nations which emerged from devastating civil wars and grave turmoil and never remained the same again. They destroyed old roads that could tempt them into bigger caves of crisis. Then they embarked upon a long and engaging construction of great bridges that connected their people to a bright and hopeful future. These overhead stretches ensured the society wouldn’t return to the bitter past that gave nothing but anguish and despondency.

If we spare ourselves a throwback too deep into the past, we can simply settle for two African nations of contemporary times and prove our point that you don’t come out of a life-threatening storm and still be at the mercy of deadly winds.

Rwanda went through a genocidal tide that consumed a third of the population in 1994. A writer says the crisis plunged the land into a “cataclysmic wasteland.” But today the country has been redefined by a united people and selfless leadership that is building bridges of true reconciliation, reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration. Its president, Paul Kagame, has brought forth a new society from ashes to beauty. An observer concludes: “Rwanda is easily the safest, least corrupt, best groomed nation in the region… In other ways, the image is a fantasy…” The motto in Rwanda is: ‘never again’. They’ve allowed

the harsh winds of war to whip them away from the past into the future. They keep singing: once bitten, forever shy.

Go to Ethiopia and you will find the same ashes-to-beauty story. After a succession of ‘creeping revolutions’, as the bloody military coups in the Horn of Africa came to be known, Ethiopia fell into the league of the continent’s failing countries.

But when visionary leaders lay hold on such circumstances, they sail on the crest of adversarial torrents to turn the tide to favour their people and society. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been one such leader. His government has made Ethiopia “overtake Kenya as the economic giant of East Africa.” The International Monetary Fund says the country’s “economy since 2015 has been on an upward trajectory since the government moved to modernize its roads, railway and power plants.

They are on cue to have Africa’s biggest hydroelectric dam upon the completion of work on the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam. Even though landlocked, the country continues to make giant strides in trying to industrialise.” It wasn’t a surprise that the country’s PM won the coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, owing to his effort in pulling Ethiopia from an internecine war with Eritrea to peace and thence into full blast postwar reconciliation and development.

Now, Nigeria has had its own scorching civil war, which ought to have taught us lessons on how to build bridges on which to walk into progress. Hundreds of thousands, millions indeed, lost their souls in the secessionist bid by Biafra. Many more were maimed, while several more incalculable losses were incurred in the conflict. 50 years after the inferno that nearly brought down our rattletrap structure, we can’t identify any bridge we’ve erected to take us away from the graves of those cut down by the sanguinary conflagration. We’ve

been standing at the spot we were in January 1970, when the Biafra War ended.

Other nations concluded their hostilities, whether domestic or external, and moved on, improving the lot of their citizens. They didn’t mock the departed as we do when we fail to improve the society they were slain for.

50 years after Biafra, the wraith of Biafra hasn’t gone home. Every day it threatens us. All what gave birth to this abiku is alive in our politics, in our economy, in our lifestyle, in our homes, in our schools. Is it a coincidence that six state governments in the South-West of Nigeria are declaring that they have no confidence in the security apparatus of the central administration and that they are pushing for an independent machinery to protect their people? Is it a coincidence that this is taking place in January, the month marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War? There was this ambience that preceded the war – insecurity, corruption, nepotism, mutual fear among the ‘federating’ units, toxic politics followed by inane military rule, ethnicity, official contempt for the masses, poverty, social discontent, marginalisation of sections of the nation, unchecked violence, dismantling of the principles of federalism for an extenuated and disfigured one, religious extremism etc. The question is: can we notice that we still have these as our backcloth today some five decades after our Civil War? Military rule is missing in the murderous mix. But you know Esau’s hands and Jacob’s voice. These are bridges we shouldn’t have retained after the war.

When we bulldozed the physical bridges in Biafraland, we should have also razed the more dangerous ones threatening wilder Biafras, scores of years later.

But we have lacked great leaders to exploit the conflict to go for broke over a

radical reordering of Nigeria. Of course, there have been several other missteps in the wake of numerous opportunistic national challenges.

Elsewhere, the war would have produced an Abraham Lincoln with a masterly Gettysburg dirge to inspire the mourning folks to look beyond the seeming helplessness and death around them. Surrounded by fallen servicemen and grieving citizens at the dedication of the cemetery for the slain during the American Civil War in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of man’s greatest speeches, where he said your duty in crisis was to honour those the crisis had claimed by abolishing what brought about the challenges. He made the point that “in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground… It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…”

In our case after we mowed Biafra down and all its great promise of giving the black race a home-grown technology whose fetuses we saw during the war – a mobile radio station, locally-made rockets with launchers and bombs, improvised refineries etc. we did not dedicate to the “great task remaining before us,” namely destroying the bridge to Biafra. We have put up more. To honour those who fought for the land we must begin to pull down those structures that seem to be taking us down the war alley again. Wars, avoidable or unavoidable, are challenges not meant to crush us. They are to guide us into Eldorado as they did for others: Vietnam, South Korea, Rwanda, Ethiopia etc.

Banji Ojewale writes from Ota, Ogun State.

N

obody can gainsay the fact that education is the bedrock of national development, globally.

Any nation-state that is keen on and desirous of achieving sustainable economic growth and technological advancement should place much premium on issues bedeviling its educational system. The superpower countries, which have military might, economic wealth, and technological culture, have great educational institutions. And their schools are bastions of scientific knowledge and studies in the arts and humanities. Regarding countries with great schools, America readily comes to my mind. Doesn’t it have Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and others? And, in England, there is the Oxford University.

Now, some Asian countries have evolved their own technological culture with help and inputs from their universities. And their scholars have formulated variants of democracy that suit their respective countries’ cultural peculiarities. National development is dependent on functional educational system. Not surprisingly, Nigeria brings up the rear on the ladder of global national development chiefly because of its dysfunctional educational system. It is an irrefutable fact that there is a correlation between the growth of a country and the effectiveness of its educational system.

Until the mid-1980s, universities in Nigeria used to be the educational Mecca for foreign students, who sought quality education. However, the rot in our educational system as well as the dip in the quality of education obtainable in our schools came in the wake of the military adventurism by General

Ibrahim Babangida. We still remember how the military dictator deported Dr. Patrick Wilmot, a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna to his home country. Other progressive – minded intellectuals and lecturers were hounded out of the country, too. The brain drain that ensued in Nigeria, then, became the brain gain of many European countries, Canada, and America. Now, from Asia to Antarctica, and from Europe to America, many topnotch doctors, lawyers, lecturers, scientists, and astronauts, who are contributing meaningfully to the development of their host countries, hail from Nigeria.

Back home in Nigeria, our academics and scientists in the citadels of learning do dish out recycled 30-year-old lecture notes to their students, not to talk of their pushing back the frontiers of knowledge in their areas of specialization. But the lecturers’ lack of creativity and lukewarm attitude to their jobs are caused by the government’s utter and criminal neglect of the educational sector, which has become both normative and phenomenal.

Luckily, and, thankfully, too, some corporate organisations have instituted prizes to honour and reward secondary school teachers, who are outstanding in their core duties of moulding the personalities of students and imparting knowledge and skills to them. Gone are the days when people would always say that teachers’ rewards are in heaven. But we are not unconscious of the stark fact that giving teachers prizes is an incentive and recognition that will boost their morale and spur them to give their best.

And, it should be noted that since 2015, the Nigerian Breweries Plc, the organisation that instituted the Maltina Teacher of the Year Prize, has been honouring and rewarding teachers yearly

for their splendid performances in the field of teaching.

In the maiden edition of the Nigerian Breweries Plc Maltina Teacher of the Year competition, a self–effacing petite Chemistry teacher from Federal Government Girls’ College Nkwelle – Ezunaka, who is called Rose Nkem Obi, won the national teaching diadem. Mrs. Obi attributed her victory to a blend of her faith in God and sedulous disposition.

She said that her winning the teaching diadem has boosted her enthusiasm for teaching and gave her a huge voice to offer suggestions to government at different levels on how to revamp our comatose educational system.

Her winning the award gave her an opportunity to undergo an educational programme at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, where she was taught effective methodologies of teaching. Lately, I visited her at Federal Government Girls’ College, NkwelleEzunaka, and she offered her suggestions on how we can tackle our educational problems: “Our school curricula should be expanded to include skill acquisition programmes/courses into them, and what is not necessary should be removed from the curricula.’’ I concur with her on this as students who are equipped with practical skills can deploy them in doing jobs from which they can eke out their existence.

Again, regarding the welfare of postprimary school teachers in Nigeria, the Federal Government has formulated some educational policies that are designed to better the lot of teachers.

But, it seems that only teachers in the Federal Government Secondary Schools will benefit from that welfare package for teachers. Against the background of state governments going cap in hand to

solicit money from the centre, can they implement the Federal Government’s newly approved welfare package for teachers?

Again, Mrs. Rose Obi, an awardwinning teacher and percipient analyst, gave her take on the thorny issue: “What is happening in most of the states is mismanagement of funds. If funds are managed properly, the states won’t have problems in paying civil servants their entitlements and salaries. The money used to run political offices is too much; much of it should be channeled into executing educational initiatives.’’

In Nigeria, education is on the concurrent list, which imposes the responsibilities of handling educational matters on both the state and federal governments. But the sad, pitiable, and execrable condition of most secondary schools owned by states in Nigeria is a true portraiture of state governments’ utter and criminal neglect of education.

And, alongside teachers in federal government -owned schools, teachers in state-owned secondary schools are poorly remunerated. They receive mere pittance at the end of every month.

The political leaders at the state level should know that education is very critical and pivotal to the development of Nigeria. Education should take its pride of place in Nigeria as only skilful and knowledgeable people can drive our national developmental initiatives.

No nation-state desirous of achieving sustainable economic growth and prosperity, technological advancement, and stable political polity neglects the issues troubling its educational system.

Apart from being physical, the spirituality could be disastrous. This could be in form of demonic afflictions either on the wife, her husband or her innocent children. Living a miserable life until she and her children are forced to pack out of the house while the inflictor is extremely happy saying In Yoruba language “Olóríburúkú afí ìgbà tólö” meaning; “Unfortunate being leaves eventually.” What a wicked world!

The effect of the phenomenon that leads to breaking homes is shown, as it has extremely adverse on the children and society at large; even the parents are not spared. The children experience exploitation in different ways: sexual, economic, social and physical. They also go through emotional and psychological turmoil. Many end up becoming hardened criminals constituting nuisance to the society– owing to their shattered education and inadequate parental care. Worst still, some have irreversible experiences like death or everlasting sickness.

The parents and guardians of such children also suffer, as they couldn’t carry out their responsibility as expected.

Sometimes, the mother of the children is seen to be frustrated and stressed which could force her to illicit behaviour in order to survive. Even the father of such children is not excluded, as his responsibility is controlled by demonic affliction.

What would be the effect to the society on this situation? The society suffers the brunt, as young talents are wasted, criminalized and made to become tormentors of innocent citizens.

On another angle, some wives seek court marriage, not for any other thing actually,

but for their men to be for them alone. “My husband is not meant for sharing” is their slogan. They don’t care even if he has a concubine, in as much as they don’t marry each other.

The nature of a man, as designed by God, is to have more than one wife. This could be in respect to his ability; intelligence, wealth, health and sexual ability. Consider yourself lucky if he has married only you and insisted he would only go for you again and again.

A wise man would rather marry another wife, for his ability can never be denied, than have concubines outside his marriage.

A short-minded one would be pleased with fornication outside his marriage ignorantly.

Can’t this affect you as a woman?

The sordid thing of the matter is that– some short-minded wives inflict their husbands with demonic affliction, and even to the extent of killing their husbands because of another wife. They have forgotten the consequence could be on their own lives and even to their children. A wise woman will always long for a peaceful life with her husband and children.

Maryam Sanda’s case and many others in Nigeria are available, as a lesson for us to have a deep thinking. She eventually killed her husband out of jealousy. She is not safe either after being sentenced to death. What a self-inflicted torture, resulting from an action too late to reverse! What about the future of her children? Absolutely shattered.

Tolerating another wife could be a blessing for you, in as much as your husband is responsible. The new wife might open door for more success to your home. She is ready to be submissive and even take you as elder sister. Loving and caring for you and

your family has been the beauty of who she is. Your children and hers are united. It is hard for outsiders to know the real mother of all the children at home. Both children are living a happy life and they are successful.

Isn’t that beautiful? How pleasing would it have been if you understand!

Oh, you ask, “what if the incoming wife is not a good one?” Then, you have to be prayerful, not with demonic intervention, before it eventually happened. Prayer and your patient really matter, for a peaceful home you crave for.

We are already in the world where ladies are more than men and young women have lost their husbands to divorce or death.

Seeking a responsible husband is what they want. Living alone without husband’s guide has even made their lives miserable.

You wouldn’t deny the importance of a responsible husband in the life of a woman or women, would you? And isn’t that immeasurable?

All in all, women should remember the sense of love and compassion they have for their own children, as it can be employed to save their fellow women and children’s life, too. Also, they shouldn’t let their emotion control them negatively, as the adverse of it could be disastrous, not only to them, but the society in general.

Accepting and being considerate to each other could make a peaceful life. With this, you would not be depriving your fellow being from the rights and opportunities they deserve.

Okoye, a poet, wrote in from Obosi, Anambra State

Tolerance among women in our society

By Abdullateef Otuyiga

“There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy” -Lope de Vaga

O

n a serious situation–you might be contributing violence to your fellow being. It hurts, when some women don’t tolerate one another in their homes. Well, that is born out of the trait called “jealousy” which can’t be resisted as humans, but can’t it be controlled after it has destroyed other people’s lives and yours, too?

In African traditional settings, African men are known to marry many wives and have many children, contributing to one of the populated continent in the world. It isn’t a shame for them, as it is part of their culture and they cherish it. Even some religions allow more than one wife, but with some conditions. Some whites, unlike Africans, favour a single wife, blessed with two children or maximum four.

It is a fact that no woman would want her husband to marry another wife, but unknown to many of the women of the world, it could be a blessing in disguise.

Many homes have been destroyed because of this menace born out of self interest–usually with the second wives, but the first wives also suffer. The former suffers untold difficulties when the latter causes havoc in different dimensions. It is either physical or spiritual. Talk of authoritative attitude towards the second wife, this make hell out of her. She becomes the maid in the house. Going here and there without any comfort.

Abdullateef Olakunle Otuyiga is of the English Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

News

Nigeria is burning, falling apart Ekweremadu warns

By Musa Baba Adamu

F

L:R Commanding Officer of Nigerian Navy’s newest Offshore Survey Vessel NNS LANA, Captain Abdullateef Mahmud, Director General Portuguese Hydrographic Institute, Rear Admiral Carlos Ventura Soares and representative of the CNS,Rear Admiral Perry Onwuzulike in gift presentation to mark a visit to the Institute recently.

Photo : DINFO

Okowa mourns late Igbide monarch, Obukeni

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

G

overnor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has commiserated with the royal family of Igbide kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area over the transition of their traditional ruler, Edward Obukeni I. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba on Thursday, the governor said that Delta had lost one of its longest serving monarch.

He said that the late octogenarian traditional ruler, who passed on at 81, was a courageous leader and one committed to the development of his kingdom and beyond.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the Obukeni royal family, the people of Igbide kingdom, the government and people of Isoko South Local Government Area and the entire Isoko nation on the passing of the renowned traditional ruler.

“The late monarch’s 47 years reign, which made him one of the longest serving monarchs in the state, recorded remarkable infrastructural development in his domain.

“He will be remembered for his contributions to the peace, unity and development of his kingdom and the entire Delta,” Okowa stated.

He urged the family of the royal father, friends, associates and the people of Igbide to take solace in the knowledge that the monarch lived an exemplary life.

Benue Deputy Gov. Abounu hints on 2023 guber ambition From: Uche Makurdi

Nnorom,

B

enue State Deputy Governor Engr. Benson Abounu has hinted his desire to contest the 2023 Governorship of the State.

He made this known during a meeting with members of the Correspondents Chapel yesterday in his office.

Engr. Abounu stressed that three (3) factors, God, his boss Samuel Ortom and the people will

determine if he will run for the plum seat of the State.

He boasted of possessing the prerequisite experience having tread the political landscape of the State for a long time, adding that he had contested last in 1991 “Experience has shown me that as a Deputy Governor, God must first approve my decision to contest election because as my boss will always quote John 3:27 a man can receive nothing except it is even to him from Heaven.

My principal’s support and the

support of the Benue people before I can contest election.

“I have never lobbied for anything in my life. Not even the position of the Deputy Governor in 2015 and 2019.”

According to him, for any Idoma man to become the governor of the State because of our numerical deficiency if you do not get support of the Tiv people who are the largest in number must comprehensively agree with the candidate.

“If the Tiv people make up

their mind and say this is the time to have an Idoma Governor, then it will be. There is a wind in the air that maybe the time has come for Idoma Governor in 2023”, he said.

Abounu commended members of the Correspondents Chapel for their objective reporting of government activities in the State.

He admitted that the media has played a very significant role for the success of the Ortom led administration and urged them to sustain the tempo.

FG declares Monday public holiday to mark 2021 Workers’ Day

T

he Federal Government has declared Monday, May 3, as public holiday to mark 2021 International Workers’ Day Celebration.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola, who made

the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerian Workers for witnessing 2021 Workers’ Day Celebration.

He commended them for their patience, understanding and support in driving the policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in its determination to move the country to the next level of

socio-economic development.

The minister, however, called for more dedication and patriotism from all Nigerian Workers and the labour unions.

According to him, the challenges of the moment will soon be over as the government is committed to the security of lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Government is putting all

strategies in place to curb the challenges of insecurity in the country.

“I, therefore, call on the labour force and all patriotic citizens to be fully committed to the task of putting insecurity to a permanent end as much as possible,” he said.

Aregbesola, however, wishes all Nigerian Workers a peaceful Celebration. (NAN)

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

ormer Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has, again, raised the alarm over the worsening state of the nation characterised by wanton destruction of lives and property.

Ekweremadu warned that the nation was fast falling apart and burning to death, but said that the state of the nation, though frightening, was still redeemable.

He spoke on Thursday at the 10th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Umuahia themed “Let us Rebuild and End this Reproach”.

Delivering the Synod lecture entitled “The Role of the Christian Politician in Nation-building”, the Senator, who was represented by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Hon. Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, said the country was at crossroads and it was high time leaders urgently rescued the nation.

“Nigeria is burning, literally and figuratively. Put even more appropriately, we are at that juncture where we must rebuild or risk perishing. But God forbids that we perish”.

Senator Ekweremadu regretted that reports of bloodletting, mass killing, and kidnap for ransom had become the daily realities of Nigerians, adding hunger was on the increase because insecurity had dislodged Nigerians from their legitimate businesses and farms.

“Hunger has enveloped our land because farmers cannot go to their farms.

They are either killed or raped by armbearing militias or have their throats slit like rams as we witnessed in Zabarmari village in Borno state.

“The schools are no longer safe as they have been turned to sports ground by bandits, who kidnap, rape, and kill”.

Ekweremadu equally advised that only socio-economic and political justice could effectively address the frustrations and separatist tendencies and rhetoric across the nation.

“The country is as divided and disjointed as never in our history. Ethnoreligious conflagrations and killings at the slightest provocations have become a norm rather than an exception. Agitations fuelled by palpable social and political injustice pervade the land, as many parts now want out of the union than be slaves and second class citizens in a place that is supposed to be their fatherland.

“We cannot build or rebuild a nation in the absence of social, political, and economic justice. How do you describe a situation where palpable double standard and open marginalisation of the the South East has been raised to a state policy?

“We must show every part of the country a sense of justice because the truth is that a man, who is unjustly treated, will never be genuinely interested in peace. The shortest path to peace is justice”, he stated.

The lawmaker, however, said the situation was not irredeemable, urging the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to decentralise the policing system and seek help from more experienced and resourced nations.

No insecurity can bring down Buhari’s govt - Akpabio

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Minister for Niger Delta Development and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has said that no amount of insecurity in the country can bring down President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Akpabio, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Headquarters in Abuja, stated that the level of insecurity was a combination of external and internal insurrection, with huge political motivation, even though he cautioned that all hands must be on deck to address the crisis as there is no other country for Nigerians.

The Minister, who governed Akwa Ibom state for 8 years said his visit to party secretariat was to give his own advice to the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, on how to address the security threats across the country.

He denied any rift between him and the APC Caretaker Committee Secretary, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe, though there had been allegations of rift between the duo on who is the leader of the party in Akwa Ibom state.

Akpabio, fielding questions from the media on his visit to APC said, “I am a stakeholder in APC and I believe strongly that the APC will wax stronger and stronger. I am happy with what the APC Caretaker Committee is doing so far. Almost in every state of the federation, people are trooping into the APC. The recent registration exercise that was conducted by the caretaker Committee was a very huge success. Even though there are still thousands of people who are still saying they still want to be members and they should be allowed to join. The more the merrier.”

On the present insecurity in the country, the Minister said, “The issues of insecurity for me has already assumed a very worrisome dimension. If you notice, it is not limited to one region, it is not a function of North East, it is not a function of South East, even in the South South, even in my own local government, and if you read everyday what is happening in Benue State and other States.

“We have never in the history of this nation witnessed where people in uniform are targeted for elimination. That will show you that we have infiltrators in our midst.

The security of our neighboring countries must also remain a priority, because all these heavy arms entered into Nigeria when Libya

failed, when Mammah Gadafi was taken out, and people looted the arms. If you enter Chad or Niger Republic, just like you buy Nigerian petrol by the roadside, you can pick up any arm you want.

“So, that has led to very heavy arms entering into the wrong hands. In the Niger Delta region, we have been able to contain the situation, with the amnesty programme, and as I speak today, I think that is the most peaceful region today in the country. The area is very calm and we intend to keep it as such.

“So, there are many reasons that people can ascribe to it. If you say oh! Youths are unemployed, no! because many of the people that are undertaking the insecurity are not even unemployable. They are not even interested in employment, some of them are on the bases of ideology and all sort of things. So, I think most of it are from outside influence. Most of the actions you see today are politically motivated, to try to derail the government, but the government will not be derailed. And there is nothing that lasts forever, you know that everything that goes up must come down. So the insecurity you are seeing today, you will not see it again.”

R- L: Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement center, Comrade Ezenwa Nwagwu, Founder, The Albino Foundation, MrJake Ekpele , Director of Programs , YIAGA African, Cynthia Mbamah and a cross section of the Representative of other Civil society Organizations and their partners, during an open air media briefing and sensitisation campaign at the entrance of the National Assembly calling for quick passage of Electoral Act Amendment Bill, held recently in Abuja.

Photo,: Justin Imo-owo

Omo-Agege makes case for establishment of more Maritime universities

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has made a case for the establishment of more maritime universities across Nigeria.

He made this submission in Abuja when he hosted prominent citizens of Oro Nation from Akwa Ibom State, led by the paramount ruler of Udung Uko Local Government Area and Ahta of Oro, His Royal Majesty, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, Eti Oyo Okpo II. Senator Omo-Agege expressed his support for the bill to make the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State a degree awarding institution.

The bill, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial

District in the National Assembly, Senator Akon Etim Eyakenyi, is currently before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work.

Omo-Agege noted that since Nigeria has one of the longest coastlines in Africa, it is not out of place to have several maritime universities in the area.

His words: “Some are asking why we are making the case as to why there should be a second maritime university in Oron since we already have one in Delta State. I don’t need to be convinced about that.

“Frankly, when this matter came up in the 8th Senate, that argument came up. At that time, those who were sponsoring the bills thought they were in a race, scared that once one is approved, the other will not be approved.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and Ahta of Oro, HRM Bassey Etim Edet solicited the support of the Deputy President of the Senate for the bill establishing the University of Maritime Studies currently before the 9th Senate.

According to the royal father, being an oil-bearing area, Oro deserves a university.

“The issue of Maritime University has been a thorn in the flesh of the Oro people.

We have not hosted any federal institution in Oro Nation. The upgrading of Maritime Academy to a world class Maritime University is a thing that will gladden the hearts of Oro people if actualised. And we cannot do this without your support. We are speaking to the leadership of the Senate to help actualise this dream.”

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

POLITICS N32.4 billion: Senate tackles Humanitarian Minister over spending

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Senate through its Committee on Special Duties, took up the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development , Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, over spending of the N32.4billion allocated to her office for palliatives provisions against COVID - 19 pandemic.

The Committee drilled the Minister on how the fund was spent during an interactive session on Thursday.

First to fire questions at the Minister on how Nigerians are not feeling the impact of alleged interventions made by the Ministry in the heat of the COVID- 19 Pandemic , was Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South) who said the Ministry was not doing enough.

“You are not doing enough as far as poverty eradication in the country is concerned. The modus operandi being adopted by your Ministry cannot in anyway help in fixing the country.

“Humanitarian intervention should be looked at more holistically”, he said.

Also lampooning the Ministry on its modus operandi, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Biobarakuma Degi Eremionyo

Lawan Governor Buni head to Kano, Sokoto on condolence visit to Sultan

By Musa Baba Adamu

T

he Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on Thursday morning departed Abuja for Kano to condole with the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, on the death of his mother, Hajiya Maryam Ado Bayero.

Hajiya Maryam Ado Bayero, also the mother of Emir of Bichi, Basiru Ado Bayero, died on Saturday.

They will also visit Sokoto to commiserate with the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba also over the demise of his mother, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmadu Bello.

Hajiya Aishatu who died on Friday was the second daughter of the late Premier of defunct Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sadauna of Sokoto.

The Senate President is also being accompanied on the trip by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, Senator Sahabi Ya’u and Senator Abdullahi Gumel.

(APC Bayelsa ) said the handouts being doled out to some Nigerians as palliatives by the Ministry, cannot in anyway, take them out of poverty line.

“Giving unemployed people N10,000 or even N20, 000 for a month or two, cannot help them out of the poverty related problems facing them.

“The handouts should be channelled into creation of employment for the unemployed”, he said.

As a face saving device for the Minister , the Chairman of the Committee , Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (APC Taraba

Central), quickly intervened by telling the members that the interactive session was not on poverty eradication by the Ministry but interventions made by it as palliatives against COVID - 19 from the 32.4billion earmarked for it out of the N500billion appropriated by the National Assembly last year.

But the Minister in her response said only N2.4billion was released to her Ministry from the N32.4billion earmarked.

She said the N2.4billion was expended on feeding of School pupils even while Schools were closed down last year and direct monetary interventions made to

vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja ).

When asked to explain how the School pupils were allegedly fed in their various homes , the Minister said: “We drove to some of their homes based on addresses gathered from their Schools and also adopted the template of six person per family and three Children in a home” She explained further that aside feeding of School pupils at home , other interventions such as Rice distributions totalling about 33,000 tonnes were made to vulnerable Nigerians across the 36 states of the

federations.

“We also got a lot of consignments from the Nigerian Customs Service for distribution as palliatives during the period under review aside 70,000 metric tonnes of Grains , Millets, Guinea Corn and Gari released from strategic reserves on the orders of Mr President “, she added .

The Committee Chairman in his closing remarks , tasks the Minister to ensure collection of the N30billion balance from the Ministry of Finance and forward to the committee intervention programmes of action it had on ground for it.

From left: Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Sen. Francis Onyewuchi; Chief Executive Officer, ALEEF TV, Mrs Shareefah Andu; representative of Lagos Governor, Mr Olusina Thorpe; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Information and National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Dokun Odebunmi, during the unveiling of the Digital Switch-Over in Lagos on Thursday (29/4/21).

Zamfara N37.4bn Promissory Notes: Arrest Yari, others now - EFCC boss told

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Patriots for the Advancement Of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) has charged the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrashid Bawa, to work the talk and arrest and prosecute the former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, and all those mentioned in the petition over allegations of diversion of N37.4 billion Promissory Notes being the refund of the rehabilitation of Federal Government roads in Zamfara State.

The group stated that Bawa, during his Senate screening, had vowed to bring to book all corrupt officials without fear or favour, noting that it had written several petitions to the Commission without action from the EFCC. In a statement in Abuja, the Executive Director of the group, Abdulahi Sani Shinkafi, charged the EFCC Chairman to make good his pledge while being screened by the Senate, noting that in spite of several petitions and the conclusion of investigations by the Sokoto Zonal office of the Commission, the former Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, refused to arraign the suspects even when a prima facie case was established against them.

He stated that the Commission had on Friday invited him to come forward and authenticate his petition before the EFCC which he said he has done, now leaving the Commission to do its part by inviting all those involved for investigation, interrogation and possible arraignment.

Specifically, Shinkafi had in a petition called on the EFCC to investigate the alleged fraudulent misappropriation and diversion of the N37.400,263,782:33 billion Promissory Notes belonging to Zamfara State as refund for federal roads projects executed by the state government.

Shinkafi stated “I hereby wish to forward a petition to the Commission for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution of the case of the fraudulent and criminal diversion of the N37,400,263,781 billion, being the promissory notes which were issued by the Federal Government through the Debt Management Office ((DMO).

“The said N37,400,263,781 is a refund of the Federal rehabilitated roads in Zamfara state, which was issued on December 28th, 2018 with Face Value N14,960,105,512:93, with a Maturity Date: 28th December, 2020 and the 1st April 2019, with a Face Value of Promissory Note: N22,440,158,269:00 Promissory Note Reference FGN /

PN/2019/SG/21 with Maturity Date of 1st April 2022.”

Shinkafi pointed out that “the Promissory Notes were however discounted to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) by former Governor Abdulazeez Yari, ahead of the maturity dates, without the approval of the State Executive Council or the resolution of the Zamfara State House Of Assembly.

The Zamfara State government lost billions of naira after the Promissory Notes were acquired at an undisclosed discounted rate.

“In his desperate bid to cash out the N37.400,263,781 bullion that has not matured, he terminated the deal by signing up undisclosed discounted rate percentage per annum. We call for the investigation and possible prosecution of the following people for their active roles in misappropriation of the Promissory Notes belonging to the good people of Zamafara State; “Hon. Abdulazeez Yari, former Governor Of Zamafara State. Hon. Murktar Idris, former Commissioner Of Finance Zamafara State and former Director Of Finance, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Adamu Mohammed Ahmed, former Accountant General of Zamafara State, Abubakar Bello R/ Doruwa, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Finance Zamfara State, Mrs

Patience Oniha, Director General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Asiahana Bayo Okaurau, Director General of Nigeria Governors Forum, among others.

He noted that “the question for determination is why the hurry to cash out the money before the maturity dates?

Former Governor Yari should explain what he did with the money he collected after making the state lose billions of naira as a discount.

“Why the DG and Staff Of the Nigerian Governors Forum Should collect the Promissory Notes on behalf of the Zamafara State government having not being staff of the state government.

We hereby urge the Commission to invite the above mentioned persons for interrogation,investigation and prosecution” he added.

Shinkafi stated that “it is on record that we had been invited by the Ibrahim Magu led Commission to come forward to adopt our petition which we did, our petition was thoroughly investigated, some arrests were made but the Magu led Commission did not allow the prosecution of the suspects. We hope that the Bawa led Commission will do the needful and walk the talk by arresting and prosecuting all those found culpable in the wanton looting, diversion and money laundering of funds belonging to Zandas State”.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Stock Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2021 Low

OPEN Volume Close High

2.80 3.15 0 1.94 3.94 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.64 0.64 0 4.60 8.60 0 37.00 68.30 0 3.79 4.21 0 9.65 10.05 0 31.50 34.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0 2.45 2.45 0

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5.80 6.00 ACCESS -0.35 3.94 3.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 0.27 0.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 0.64 0.64 AIICO 0.00 8.60 8.60 BERGER 0.00 67.00 67.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 3.79 3.79 BOCGAS -0.42 9.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 31.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 1.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 18.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 1.72 1.72 CHAMPION -0.12 23.25 23.25 CONOIL 0.00 0.20 0.20 CORNERST 0.00 0.20 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.00 6.10 6.10 CUSTODIAN 0.00 1.75 1.75 CUTIX 0.00 186.00 186.00 DANGCEM 0.00 6.00 6.25 DANGFLOUR -0.65 14.60 14.60 DANGSUGAR 0.05 1.80 2.00 DIAMONDBNK -0.20 3.37 3.37 EKOCORP 0.00 4.30 4.30 ETERNA -0.40 14.00 14.00 ETI 0.00 7.45 7.60 FBNH -0.35 1.62 1.67 FCMB -0.03 1.92 1.98 FIDELITYBK -0.04 4.95 4.95 FIDSON 0.00 0.33 0.33 FIRSTALUM 0.00 21.85 21.85 FLOURMILL 0.00 29.60 29.60 FO -1.10 0.20 0.20 FTNCOCOA 0.00 12.20 12.20 GLAXOSMITH -0.85 33.50 33.50 GUARANTY 0.55 72.00 72.00 GUINNESS 0.00 1.18 1.18 HONYFLOUR 0.00 1.53 1.53 IKEJAHOTEL 0.00 31.50 31.50 INTBREW 0.00 0.53 0.53 JAIZBANK -0.01 0.20 0.21 JAPAULOIL 0.00 23.25 23.25 JBERGER 0.00 0.44 0.44 JOHNHOLT 0.00 0.30 0.30 LASACO 0.00 1.36 1.36 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0.72 0.72 LINKASSURE 0.00 0.52 0.52 LIVESTOCK 0.03 1.83 1.83 MANSARD 0.00 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 1.14 0.13 LIVESTOCK 0.52 0.01 SOVRENINS 0.21 0.03 OKOMUOIL 60.00 1.80 GUARANTY 23.50 0.55

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0.11 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.43 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.05 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 124.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 3.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 18.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 78.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 0.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 2.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 552.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 NESF 0.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 NESTLE 0.00 0 1.60 1.65 0 1.60 1.60 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 4.60 4.80 0 4.60 4.75 OANDO -0.20 0 80.00 76.20 0 80.00 80.00 OKOMUOIL 3.80 0 64.00 64.00 0 64.00 64.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 PRESTIGE 0.00 0 12.30 12.30 0 12.30 12.30 PZ 0.00 0 4.20 4.20 0 4.20 4.20 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.20 0.21 0 0.20 0.21 REGALINS -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RESORTSAL 0.00 0 0.21 0.23 0 0.21 0.22 ROYALEX -0.02 0 640.00 640.00 405 640.00 640.00 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.21 0.21 SOVRENINS 0.01 0 46.50 46.00 0 46.50 46.50 STANBIC 0.50 0 102.00 102.00 122 102.00 102.00 STANBICETF30 0.00 0 1.97 1.96 0 1.97 1.97 STERLNBANK 0.01 0 203.00 203.00 0 203.00 203.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 6.10 6.10 632 6.10 6.10 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.15 1.21 0 1.16 1.18 TRANSCORP -0.05 0 9.60 9.60 0 9.60 9.60 UACN 0.00 0 1.74 1.92 0 1.74 1.74 UAC-PROP -0.18 0 7.60 7.80 0 7.90 7.95 UBA 0.10 0 6.00 6.05 0 6.00 6.05 UBN -0.05 0 2.89 2.94 0 2.89 2.91 UCAP -0.05 0 36.30 37.00 0 36.30 36.30 UNILEVER -0.70 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.27 0.27 UNIONDAC 0.00 0 1.00 0.99 0 1.00 1.00 UNITYBNK 0.01 0 2.04 1.97 0 2.14 2.14 UPL 0.17 0 0.23 0.23 0 0.23 0.23 VERITASKAP 0.00 0 4.50 4.99 0 4.50 4.50 VITAFOAM -0.49 0 11.30 11.50 0 11.30 11.65 WAPCO -0.20 0 0.40 0.40 0 0.40 0.40 WAPIC 0.00 0 0.59 0.61 0 0.59 0.61 WEMABANK -0.02 0 21.20 22.70 0 21.70 22.50 ZENITHBANK -1.00 0 Copyright © 2019 NgTradeOnline

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CBN approves removal of all Directors of First Bank, calls for calm

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the immediate removal of all directors of First Bank Nigeria Limited and FBN Holdings Plc. CBN’s governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele who spoke on the purported management change at the bank said, the action was to preserve the stability of the bank and to protect minority shareholders and depositors.

Emefiele noted that “by our last assessment, FBN has over 31m customers, with deposit base of N4.2trn, shareholders funds of N618bn and NIBSS instant payment (NIP) processing capacity of 22% of the industry.

“To us at the CBN, not only is it imperative to protect the minority shareholders, that have no voice to air their views, also important, is the protection of the over 31m customers of the bank who see FBN as a safe haven for their hardearned savings”, Emefiele said.

He disclosed that the bank maintained healthy operations up until 2016 financial year when the CBN’s target examination revealed that the bank was in grave financial condition with its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and non-performing loans ratio (NPL) substantially breaching acceptable prudential standards.

He said, “the problems at the bank were attributed to bad credit decisions, significant and non-performing insider loans and poor corporate governance practices. The shareholders of the bank and FBN Holding Plc also lacked the capacity to recapitalize the bank to minimum requirements. This conclusions arose from various entreaties by the CBN to them to recapitalize”.

The CBN stepped in to stabilize the bank in its quest to maintain financial stability, especially given FBN’s systemic importance as enumerated earlier.

Regulatory action taken by the CBN in this regard included: i.

Change of management team under the CBN’s supervision with the appointment of a new Managing Director/

Chief Executive Office in January 2016. ii. Grant of the regulatory forbearances to enable the bank work out its non-performing loans through provision for write off of at least N150b from its earning for four consecutive years. iii. Grant of concession to insider borrower to restructure their nonperforming credit facilities under very stringent conditions. iv. Renewal of the forbearances on a yearly basis between 2016 and 2020 following thorough monitoring of progress towards exiting from the forbearance measures.

8. The measures had yielded the expected results as the financial condition of FBN improved progressively between 2016 when the forbearance was initially granted to the current financial year. For instance, profitability, liquidity and CAR improved whilst NPL reduced significantly.

9. Notwithstanding the significant

improvement in the bank’s financial condition with positive trajectory of financial soundness indicators, the insider related facilities remained problematic.

10. The insiders who took loans in the bank, with controlling influence on the board of directors, failed to adhere to the terms for the restructuring of their credit facilities which contributed to the poor financial state of the bank.

He said, the CBN’s recent target examination as at December 31, 2020 revealed that insider loans were materially non-compliant with restructure terms (e.g. non perfection of lien on shares/collateral arrangements) for over 3 years despite several regulatory reminders. The bank has not also divested its non-permissible holdings in non-financial entities in line with regulatory directives.

“Following further review of the situation and in order to preserve stability of the bank, so as to protect minority

shareholders and depositors, the Management of the CBN in line with its powers under BOFIA 2020 has approved and hereby directs: i.

Immediate removal of the all directors of FBN Ltd and FBN Holdings Plc ii. The appointment of the following persons as directors in FBN Ltd and FBN Holdings Plc Holdco 1.

Chairman – Remi Babalola 2.

Dr. Fatade Abiodun Oluwole 3.

Kofo Dosekun 4.

Remi Lasaki 5.

Dr Alimi Abdulrasaq 6.

Ahmed Modibbo 7.

Khalifa Imam 8.

Sir Peter Aliogo 9.

UK Eke – Managing Director Bank 1.

Chairman - Tunde HassanOdukale 2.

Tokunbo Martins

3.

Uche Nwokedi 4.

Adekunle Sonola 5.

Isioma Ogodazi 6.

Ebenezer Olufowose 7.

Ishaya Elijah B. Dodo 8.

Sola Adeduntan – Managing Director 9.

Gbenga Shobo – Deputy Managing Director 10.

Remi Oni – Executive Director 11.

Abdullahi Ibrahim – Executive Director “The CBN hereby reassures the depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of the bank of its commitment to ensure the stability of the financial system.

“There is therefore no cause for panic amongst the banking public, given that the actions being taken are meant to strengthen the bank and position it as a banking industry giant”, he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari and The 2nd Vice President of the PanAfrican Parliament/ Member of Parliament of Mali, Hon Madame Haidara Aichata Cisse during an audience at the State House Abuja.

PHOTO; STATE HOUSE

IT Clearance: FG backs NITDA to fight corruption, reduce price of projects

By Etuka Sunday attracted foreign investments Ajijola said, if all federal and ICT based start ups across for education creation of wealth,

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been asked by the Federal Government to double its efforts in the fight against corruption and project price reduction through IT Clearance.

Dr. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy stated this on Thursday at the 20th anniversary of NITDA in Abuja.

Speaking on the need to fight corruption using IT project clearance in federal institutions, Dr. Pantami said, “NITDA has to increase its efforts in the area of IT project clearance, so that we will be able to fight corruption and reduce the price of IT projects being executed by federal institutions”.

Pantami said, government has given NITDA the needed support to drive the digital Nigeria policy, “This is enough for NITDA to ensure that we achieve a digital Nigeria”, he added.

Earlier, the DG NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi in his welcome address said, the agency has

more than any other developing country, and has impacted the lives of more than two million Nigerians.

“We have attracted more foreign investments into the digital economy sector than any developing country globally.

Our developmental regulations have created new economic industry such as business process outsourcing, data protection and a robust software industry.

“There is no doubt that NITDA has made a difference and touched the lives of more than 2.5 million Nigerians. Our impact is visible across the country, and this can be attested to by the outcomes.

“NITDA exists to move Nigeria and by extension Africa into the digital realm.The scope of what remains to be done is better that what any of us can achieve alone .

Together,we can move our society towards making Nigeria an IT capable country and a key player in the information Society,using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness”, he added.

Meanwhile, a guest lecturer at the event, Abdul-Hakeem

government agencies could create an ecosystem of N2 billion like NITDA it would be very good for the Nigerian economy.

Mr. Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, acknowledged the great impact that NITDA has made in the country and called on all other federal government agencies to emulate NITDA especially in the area of creating an ecosystem of over N2 billion that consists of jobs and investments.

“NITDA has created an ecosystem that has created jobs and investments worth over N2b; if every government agency can create such an ecosystem, Nigeria will go a long way in reducing unemployment and poverty”, he said.

Speaking further he said, “NITDA has made significant impact in the areas of Increased ICT awareness especially in the public sector which is responsible for improved deployment of IT-capable county and a key player in the public sector.

“Job and wealth creation as we can see from the rise of a generation of solutions developers

the nation and has supported the significant levels of internet penetration in Nigeria”, he said.

He said, though NITDA has achieved a lot, there are challenges before the agency, which are: “The management of our spectrum resources remains spread across the federal ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and Ministry of Information and Culture and their designated regulatory Agencies which may not be the most efficient management model.

“Flaws in Nigeria policy development process, policy document are often wrongly targeted;the drafters often targets senior policy markers who have attended prestigious policy development institutions and not the middle level public servants.

“Policies are often developed in plush city offices by the people who do not understand, have insight or emapthy for the stakeholders in the trenches who need the positive impact of the policy .

He said, NITDA must earn the trust of the industry and society.

“The imperative of “Using IT”

proverty eradication, job creation and Global competitiveness can only be achieved if NITDA’s management earns industry and society believe and have faith in NITDA’s magememt.”

In his recommendations, he said NITDA must, build human capacity; long-term investment is needed at the primary level. Be aware that accredited people are basis of start- up economy.

“Must continually build self sustaining ecosystems.It is imperative that we get our women and youth into IT and evolve them into power players”, he said “ Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) produce more jobs than any other segment,and thus we must first focus on empowering and multiplying them.Leverage public Private partnership,Multi stakeholder consultant and decision marking process work in the best long-term interest of all.We need to firmly and fairly to regulate but be careful not to overregulate and leverage students as ambassador of technology”, he advised.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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SEPLAT records $28 million profit before tax

By Etuka Sunday

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

eplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has announced its announces its unaudited results for the three months ended 31 March 2021, recording a rise in revenue by 16.8 per cent to $152.4 million with increased operational efficiencies and further reduction in costs.

The Company reported a profit before tax (PBT) of $28 million whilst adopting a quarterly dividend policy of US2.5 cents per share in Q1 starting immediately.

A profit before tax (PBT) of $28 million was recorded for the period, up from a loss position of $95.7 million in the same period of 2020 (3M 2020).

SEPLAT maintained a strong cash position of $236.3 million in Q1 2021, with an EBITDA position of $77.8 million.

Commenting on the results, which were released to the NSE and LSE on Thursday, Mr. Roger Brown, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said: “We have made a progressive start to the year, delivering oil and gas production volumes of 48,239 boepd, within our guidance range. With the Gbetiokun field at OML40 now back in production, we are currently achieving average daily volumes of nearly 54 kboepd so far in April and we will build on this as we add additional oil and gas wells this year.

“Our flagship ANOH gas project is proceeding as planned and was fully funded in February when our joint venture company, AGPC successfully raised $260 million of debt financing. In addition, the success of our $650 million Eurobond issuance in March demonstrates investor confidence in our prudent financial management and the exciting future ahead for the Company and its stakeholders.”

The SEPLAT CEO further explained: “As we drive forward our strategy of being a low-cost energy provider delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to the young, fast-growing population of Nigeria, energy transition – which delivers on Nigeria’s social development goals in tandem with the climate agenda – is essential.”

According to him: “This is the backbone of Seplat’s strategy and we will be communicating how we plan to achieve this over the coming months. To that end, the Board took the decision to change our name to Seplat Energy PLC, which more adequately reflects our ambitions of providing a broader energy mix. We will present the name change to our shareholders for approval at the AGM on 20 May 2021.”

Mamman assures timely delivery of Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Minister of Power, Engr.

Sale Mamman nse, has emphasised the progress made towards implementation of the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project in pursuit of early delivery, in line with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

Receiving the management team of the Chinese Firm handling the project including the Vice President of the China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company, Mr Yuan Baoy, the Minister, in spite of the challenges experienced in implementation, assured stakeholders that all efforts towards delivery were at no point relaxed since the reinvigorated effort of the Federal Government to resuscitate the project.

Engr. Sale Mamman explained that a key inhibitor to execution is the ongoing legal challenges with the former contractor,

Sunrise which admittedly has encumbered further development of the project. At this juncture, the Government is in the process of finalising settlement terms leading to an amicable arbitration, so that the project can take off in earnest.

Concurrently, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority , NSIA, to review the progress so far and carry out value engineering of the project in pursuit of optimised implementation and delivery. As is, the Government investment outfit has been given 3 months to submit a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the value engineering and also provide recommendations to move the project forward.

The Special Assistant Media & Communications to the Minister, Aaron Artimas in a statement said, the Minister disclosed that, as part of the process of acquisition of the land, the Ministry of Power

had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taraba State Government, following which, land and aerial survey activities were successfully conducted. “ Sensitization and enlightenment activities have also been carried out with the full buy-in and participation of stakeholders and hosts communities.

Furthermore, the Project Delivery Committee(PDC) Chair, Engr Faruk Yabo, while giving some insights into the take off of the Mambilla Hydropower project, said the Ministry of Power has already committed two hundred million naira to the training of junior and mid level artisans, ensuring the availability of manpower for the project.

These include electricians, plumbers, Masons, drivers and cooks.

The Committee Chair emphasised the Ministry’s desire to follow through on smooth uninterrupted implementation.

“once the project starts, there is no stopping”. Three important issues which may threaten the smooth execution of the project have been prioritised for special attention, these include: financial viability and sustainability; the land acquisition and the arbitration, to free the project from any encumbrances”.

Engr. Yabo further disclosed that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had reached an understanding with Sunrise, and that an amount had also been agreed, pointing out that the settlement may have been delayed by the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Earlier, the Vice President of the China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company, Mr Yuan Baoyi gave assurances that his company was ready to mobilise, once all issues regarding financing, land acquisition and arbitration were settled.

METRO

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Insecurity: Stakeholders tasked on collective responsibility Stories by Onyekwere

Stanley

T

he Coordinator, FCT Administration Counter Terrorism Desk, Mrs. Miriam Yakubu Ikunaiye has called on all stakeholders to join hands to tackle security concerns in the nation’s capital

city and country at large.

Ikunaiye made this call during a courtesy visit to the FCT Commissioner Of Police, Bala Ciroma, in Abuja, according to a statement from Assistant Director, Information in the FCTA, Josie Mudasiru, made available to PeoplesDaily yesterday.

The Coordinator stressed that security is a collective responsibility, hence for any security strategy to be successful, it should include collaboration, partnership and cohesion.

According to her, the establishment of Counter Terrorism Desks by The National Security Adviser (ONSA) in FCT

and 36 States of the Federation, through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs could not have come at a better time as W women, youth and children are critical ctakeholders in fight against terrorism.

Responding, the FCT Commissioner of Police, said the Force is ready to cooperate

with anyone who is sacrificing their time and resources in assisting the country in fighting criminality.

The CP added the Police is passionate about about crime fighting, and appreciates any collaboration that will contribute to ensuring a crime free society.

NSITF boosts campaign for safety in workplace with road show in Kubwa

T

From left: Permanent Secretary, Office of the Environmental Services in Lagos State, Mrs Belinda Odeleye; Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainages and Water Resources, Mr Joe Igbokwe; Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, during the 2021 Ministerial News Conference organised by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to commemorate the second year in office of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Lagos State on Thursday (29/4/21).

NIPSS participants visit TCN to understudy operational policies

By Etuka Sunday

P

articipants of the Senior Executive Course, SEC Number 43, for the year 2021 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru – Jos, visited the corporate headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, in Abuja.

The Study Group 1 participants led by its Chairman, Rear Admiral E.O. Jaiyeola, were in TCN to understudy TCN’s operational policies and were received by the Ag. Managing Director and CEO of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz.

Engr. Abdulaziz said the Institute serves as the think tank of the nation on national development. He made this remark while highlighting the milestone records of TCN in less than one year in office of the present Management team.

He said that the present Management of TCN was vigorously pursuing its grid maintenance, expansion, and

rehabilitation program, knowing fully well that as a nexus in the power sector, TCN plays a vital role in providing leadership and a practical show of commitment to the progress of electricity supply in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Given this, he noted, TCN has installed several transformers, rehabilitated several substations, reconductored power transmission lines with several projects ongoing, and has also put in place a proactive maintenance program to which it diligently adheres.

“Am glad to inform you that due to our commitment in TCN, transmission grid disturbances have been reduced to the barest minimum; grid capacity has also increased. Within the first quarter of this year, TCN efficiently wheeled successive all-time peak generation without a hitch, the latest being 5,801.60 megawatts (MW) to distribution load centers nationwide,” said Abdulaziz.

The TCN head further noted

that the company has continued to collaborate with the Generation Companies (GenCos) and the Distribution Companies (DisCos) towards ensuring that power is made more available to Nigerians.

He urged the Institute to consider including officers of the company as participants in subsequent courses, considering the critical role TCN plays in electricity supply nationwide and as a public utility.

In his remarks, Chairman of the NIPSS Study Group 1 Senior Course participant delegation to TCN, Rear Admiral E.O. Jaiyeola, said the course was to prime the participants on developing strategic and specific policies for national development.

According to him, Nigeria is neither short of policies nor programs for national development but that the challenge has been in implementation and ensuring that things are done properly.

In his words “for this Senior Executive Course, the task from Mr. President is for us

to interrogate the challenges and issues surrounding getting things done as we x-ray various policies and programs and that is the reason why we are here, particularly focusing on the power sector.”

During the interactive session, the Market Operator at TCN, Engr. Edmund Eje explained the process that led to the power sector privatization and the role of TCN in the power sector with two licenses for Transmission Service and Independent System Operations/Market Operations issued to it by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The presentation of the report on inquiries from the visiting NIPSS course participants was followed by an interactive session with the Management team and General Managers heading the various departments in TCN, on various strategies TCN has deployed to boost bulk power delivery in Nigeria and the way forward for the growth of Nigeria’s electricity sector.

he National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has celebrated the World Day for safety and health at Work 2021, with a road show from Kubwa to Gwarinpa, in order to help create awareness on safety in workplaces.

According to the Acting Branch Manager of NSITF, Kagini Branch, Madam Helen Okechi Nwagwu, the theme for this year is ‘Anticipate, Prepare and Respond to Crises: Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health’.

Nwagwu reiterated that NSITF is mandated by government to implement the employee compensation scheme which involves the prevention of accidents, occupational and injury at the workplace.

Similarly, Head Safety and Environment, Obi Nwosu said safety is being conscious of the environment, which means increase in productivity, increase and revenue hence better staff welfare.

She explained that the scheme is financed by contribution made by employers and employees through 1% of their monthly emoluments.

Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim (L), addressing corps members during a workshop for NYSC Store Officers in Abuja on Thursday (29/4/21).

Dev’t Control seals off 4 buildings for distorting Abuja Master plan

A

s part of efforts to check distortion of Abuja Master plan, the Development Control Department (DCD) of the FCT Administration has sealed off four developed property in Maitama District, one of the highbrow areas of the nation’s capital city.

DCD officials who were accompanied by joint security personnel sealed off the Ten Room Hotel; Paris Choice

Hotel and Resorts; Six Club and Restaurants; and Deluxe Colours, a paint making firm respectively, for allegedly contravening the FCT land use Act. Our correspondent who monitored the exercise, on Tuesday reports that managers, staff and occupants of the affected property were given twenty minutes to vacate them, before they were sealed off.

Explaining the exercise, Chief

Estate Officer, Development Control Department, Hussaini Dalhat, noted that the sealed property were illegally converted from private residences to commercial.

Dalhat said: “The (Abuja) master plan has been bastardised, so we want to see that they have put things according to the approved plan for the plots. So what we are doing now is going to be a continuous exercise.

“So far four contravening property have been sealed. This one on number 12a Kastina Ala Crescent, you can see there is no signage or anything, so you might assume that it is just a residential building, it’s not as it’s referred to as Ten Room Hotel, which is in violation of land use Act. “The second one is Paris Choice Hotel and Resorts at Owena Street, Maitama which is supposed to be a residential

building.

The other ones are Six Club and Restaurants, and Deluxe Colours are located within the same premises (plot of land) in the area.

“We had served necessary abatement notices on four of them, precisely on the 21st of March,2021, we gave them grace of 21 days to revert to the approved use, otherwise sanctions will be taken against them.”

Page 22

world news

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Gaunt Navalny attacks Putin as network is disbanded A

lexei Navalny has appeared in court from prison, head close-shaven and face gaunt, and accused Vladimir Putin of attempting to rule Russia “forever” and caring only about “clinging to power”.

It is the opposition politician’s first public appearance since starting a 2.5-year jail term, seen as punishment for his fierce criticism of the Kremlin.

Navalny spoke via videolink, his prison kit hanging loosely after a recent 24-day hunger strike over his treatment.

His language was as robust as ever.

President Putin was a “king with no clothes”, he said, who was “robbing the people” and depriving Russians of a future. Russians were being “turned into slaves”.

The judge rejected Navalny’s appeal against a fine for defaming a Soviet World War Two veteran who had appeared in a pro-Kremlin video. Navalny said his weight in jail had fallen to 72kg (11.3 stones), the same as he weighed in school.

But even as the Kremlin critic spoke, another court across Moscow was discussing a petition by the prosecutor to ban all his political organisations as “extremist”.

Anticipating the court’s ruling, Navalny’s righthand man Leonid Volkov announced that some three dozen “Navalny headquarters” were being disbanded, to protect staff and supporters from prosecution.

The offices were set up in 2017 ahead of Navalny’s attempt to challenge Vladimir Putin for the presidency; he was barred from even joining the race.

On Monday, the Moscow prosecutor suspended all activity by the offices, pending the court decision.

The activities of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) have also been restricted.

“To make it clear, this decision destroys our political organisation in Russia,” Leonid Volkov

told the BBC this week. He was speaking from abroad, where he has lived since 2019 for safety as he faces multiple criminal charges himself.

“There is no way we can continue to operate in the country,” the activist said, adding that the extremism laws carry punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

Activists could face jail The “extremist” branding would be toxic, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia have found out: since the religious organisation was outlawed in 2017 on the same grounds almost 500 of its followers have faced criminal prosecution. Dozens are serving hefty sentences.

So, across Russia, staff who once worked for Team Navalny have rushed to clear out their offices and delete social media accounts and chats.

In St Petersburg, where supporters queued round the block four years ago when the politician swept into town to open his first regional headquarters, there is now no sign his team were

ever there.

The front door of their office is shuttered. Inside there is just a couple of chairs, a coat rack and a printer gathering dust.

Fear of prosecution Irina Fatyanova, who ran Navalny’s St Petersburg team until Monday, stresses that she has now severed all ties with the organisation, at risk of being labelled an extremist.

But she says pressure from the authorities had increased steadily since January, when Alexei Navalny returned to Russia after recovering from a nerve agent attack in Siberia. Arrested on arrival, he has been behind bars ever since.

“Since January, I don’t think there’s been one calm day when I didn’t worry about a knock on my door, or some criminal case,” Irina confided, telling me she had been followed, detained and had her house searched in recent weeks.

But the “extremism” label takes the danger to another level.

Irina describes the move as a personal tragedy and now plans to try running for local election, independently of Team Navalny - a plan Leonid Volkov suggests may be replicated across the country.

“Things are frightening, but what happens if we’re all scared off?” Irina reasons. “I don’t want to look the next generation in the eyes and be ashamed.”

But the strength of Alexei Navalny’s movement was two-fold: his charismatic leadership and the structure he put in place, supporting activists across the country.

Mobilising via social media, they have staged street protests, promoted anti-Kremlin candidates for election and conducted anti-corruption investigations against top-level officials that have gone viral.

But tolerance of their activities has ended.

In St Petersburg this week, even a wall painting of Alexei Navalny lasted just four hours before police arrived, followed swiftly by municipal workers with daffodil-yellow paint.

Within moments, Navalny’s image was obliterated.

Source: BBC

Xi says countries should bear in mind shared interests of mankind and make responsible, wise choices

By He Yin

C

hina calls on all countries in Asia and beyond to answer the call of the times, defeat the COVID-19 pandemic through solidarity, strengthen global governance, and keep pursuing a community with a shared future for mankind,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a keynote speech delivered via video link at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 on April 20.

In the speech entitled “Pulling Together Through Adversity and Toward a Shared Future for All”, the Chinese leader also elaborated upon Chinese proposals for advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, pointing out the direction for surmounting the current crisis and achieving development and prosperity for Asia and the entire world.

“While we live in an age rife with challenges, it is also an age full of hope,” Xi said, noting that the combined forces of changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation and that instability and uncertainty are clearly on the rise.

As global challenges require responses from all countries, the call for upholding multilateralism and enhancing communication and coordination has grown stronger.

However, mounting unilateralism and protectionism are threatening world multipolarization and economic globalization.

“Where should humanity go from here?

What kind of future should we create for future

generations,” Xi asked, considering these important questions a test of humankind’s wisdom.

China’s solution to these questions is building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Countries need consultation on an equal footing to create a future of shared benefits, openness and innovation to create a future of development and prosperity, solidarity and cooperation to create a future of health and security, as well as commitment to justice to create a future of mutual respect and mutual learning, Xi stressed.

It is generally acknowledged by the international community that China’s proposals bear great significance for guiding people through the fog blanketing humankind and helping them find the right way forward.

In response to the countercurrent of unilateralism, China proposed following the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, upholding true multilateralism, and making the global governance system fairer and more equitable.

In this age of economic globalization, openness and integration is an unstoppable historical trend. Attempts to “erect walls” or “decouple” run counter to the law of economics and market principles. They would hurt others’ interests without benefiting oneself.

To combat vaccine nationalism, China believes it important to bolster international cooperation on the R&D, production and distribution of vaccines and increase their accessibility and affordability in developing

countries so that everyone in the world can access and afford the vaccines they need.

As regards the rise of a new “Cold War” and ideological confrontation, China pointed out that countries must advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity, and encourages exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to promote the progress of human civilization.

China’s proposals and practices have been echoed and highly praised by politicians and officials from foreign countries during the conference.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera expressed admiration for China’s efforts to increase the production of COVID-19 vaccines so that they can benefit people in other countries while serving the Chinese people.

As long as countries adhere to the path of globalization, uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win result, and strengthen mutual trust and support, they can absolutely create a better world and a closer community with a shared future for mankind, said Thongloun Sisoulith, President of Laos.

By promoting joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has put the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind into practice. Amid the unstable and unbalanced world economic recovery, various parties have shown greater expectations of highquality Belt and Road cooperation.

Xi said China will continue to work with

countries participating in the Belt and Road construction in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and build with them a closer partnership for health cooperation, connectivity, green development, as well as openness and inclusiveness, in a bid to contribute positively to the common prosperity of humankind.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, first President of Kazakhstan, noted that the BRI has repeatedly demonstrated its viability and significance for promoting advanced cooperation concepts and globalization over the past years.

Cambodia greatly values China’s attentiveness and commitment in the implementation of the Health Silk Road under the BRI, said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who believes that China’s humanitarian assistance for other countries amid the pandemic bears vivid testimony of China’s global leadership.

It is crucial that countries bear in mind the shared interests of mankind and make responsible and wise choices when deciding future paths, according to Xi, noting that China will stay committed to peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and continue to play its part in building world peace, promoting global development, and defending international order.

The country will join hands with other countries, pool efforts together and keep to the right direction so that the giant vessel of human development will stay on an even keel and sail toward a brighter future, Xi said.

Source: People’s Daily

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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Gerd: Sudan talks tough with Ethiopia over River Nile dam

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udan is caught in the middle of a decade-long row between Ethiopia and Egypt over the dam Ethiopia is building on the River Nile and in recent months it has undergone a major shift in attitude, as Zeinab Mohammed Salih reports from Khartoum.

When discussing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), Sudan’s rhetoric has moved from being broadly welcoming to being suspicious and belligerent.

This change, in large part, reflects the increasing influence of the military in the transitional government that is supposed to pave the way to a democratic system after the overthrow of long-serving leader Omar al-Bashir.

The diplomatic temperature has increased as Ethiopia’s rainy season approaches and the reservoir behind the dam will fill up for a second year without any agreement on how it should be done.

Africa’s biggest hydropower project • Construction beganon the Blue Nile in 2011 • The $4bn costhas been partly met by citizens buying bonds • The power generatedwill transform the lives of millions of Ethiopians • Egypt is worriedas it almost entirely relies on the water from the Nile • Sudan and Egypt want a guaranteed flow of water Source: Reuters/BBC Both Ethiopia and Egypt have spoken about the project in existential terms.

Ethiopia says the Gerd is vital for its development as it could bring power to 60% of the population. Egypt says it threatens the flow of the Nile which sustains life there.

Sudan, which sits on the river between the two countries, has now taken to issuing dark warnings itself.

An advisor to the head of Sudan’s sovereign council, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah alBurhan, spoke of a water war “that would be more horrible than one could imagine” unless the international community helped find a solution.

Shift in the balance of power Rewind 14 months and very different noises were coming from the capital, Khartoum.

In February 2020, Water Resources Minister Yasir Abbas talked about how the dam, Africa’s biggest hydroelectric plant, would benefit Sudan.

While acknowledging a small number of issues to be ironed out, he said the Gerd would make the flow of the Nile more

A satellite image taken last November shows part of the reservoir created by the dam predictable and could introduce a third for agriculture in an effort to complicate the negotiations farming season.

“Without an agreement, the Gerd is The dam could also mean cheaper and more reliable electricity for Sudan, which really a threat to the people downstream… recently suffered power cuts for 12 hours a both the environment and the livelihoods of the people,” he added. day.

He argued that Sudan would suffer But earlier this month, following the failed African Union-brokered talks between, more than Egypt if filling the dam reduced Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in Kinshasa, Mr the amount of water flowing into Sudan, as Abbas told journalists that it would threaten Egypt has a large reserve of water sitting national security if Ethiopia filled the dam behind its own Aswan dam.

‘Raising a stick to Ethiopia’ without solving the outstanding issues.

This has all been known for a long time.

Sudan wants Ethiopia to commit to a legally binding agreement, rather than What has changed is a shift in who holds guidelines, on the amount of water retained the balance of power between the military and the timetable for filling the reservoir. It and civilians in the post-Bashir transitional also wants clarity on how disputes will be administration.

Any potential threat to national security resolved in the future.

Mr Abbas also told the BBC that Ethiopia now trumps other considerations. In was making demands about using the water addition, growing tension between Sudan

and Ethiopia over a border dispute in an area known as al-Fashaga has made Sudan less inclined to favour Ethiopia.

The exact boundary in the area between the two countries had not been demarcated and despite colonial-era treaties suggesting that al-Fashaga was part of Sudan, Ethiopians had been living there and paying taxes to the Ethiopian authorities.

In 2008, a compromise was reached in which Ethiopia acknowledged it was part of Sudan, but Ethiopians continued to live there.

Sudan, however, took advantage of Ethiopia being distracted by the conflict in Tigray last year and moved troops into alFashaga.

The government launched a big campaign to get people to support military action in the area. This included taking influential people to the border and pop stars in military uniform performing in Khartoum.

In the north of Sudan, the air force has been carrying out joint training operations with Egypt.

“It’s very clear that they are trying to raise the stick to Ethiopia,” retired brigadier Mahmoud Galender told the BBC. For its part, Ethiopia continues to try and reassure Sudan that the Gerd will not damage the country.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted that Ethiopia “has no intention of causing harm” to the countries downstream, adding that last year’s filling “undoubtedly prevented severe flooding in neighbouring Sudan”.

He also talked about sharing information about what is happening ahead of this year’s rainy season.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter These words though may not be enough to placate Sudan or Egypt as a push for further negotiations continues.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is currently on a tour of the continent to win allies in Egypt’s bid to find a legal solution “on the operation and filling of the dam in a manner that takes into consideration the interests of the three countries”, a statement from the Egyptian government said.

Sudan’s Gen Burhan had a similar message in a TV interview last week.

As the diplomatic pressure increases, time is inevitably ticking and once the rains begin later this year the reservoir could fill up whether there is an agreement or not.

Brahim Bouhlel and Zbarbooking jailed in Morocco over video

A

comedian and an online influencer have been jailed after filming a viral video that “insulted Moroccans”.

In it they are seen posing with local children at a Marrakesh restaurant and apparently swearing at them.

French national Brahim Bouhlel, and the French-Moroccan personality known as Zbarbooking, were tried for “filming people without their consent” and the “corruption

of minors”.

They will now spend eight months and a year in jail respectively.

“This judgement is very harsh! This was all over a bad joke,” said Bouhlel’s lawyer Marouane Rghioui, who vowed to appeal against the Marrakesh court’s verdict.

A third man - French actor Hedi Bouchenafa - is seen in the video with them at the restaurant that day but he reportedly

left the country before investigations began.

The video prompted a backlash when it was shared to social media.

The men are heard using insulting language about Moroccan women and Zbarbooking is seen talking to local children in an upbeat tone while swearing at them, pretending to be their errant father.

All three men later apologised, with Bouhlel calling the video a “parody” and

saying he felt “completely crushed” when he realised the damage he had done.

Zbarbooking said that as “a Moroccan myself I love my people and the country’s traditions”, while Bouchenafa apologised to people who had been offended by them “making a joke about giving money to the kids... I was welcomed like a king in Morocco”.

Ethiopian parties seek voter registration extension

E

thiopian opposition parties have called for an extension of the voter registration exercise that is due to end on Friday.

The parties said only a few people had so far registered to take part in the

elections scheduled for 5 June.

Last week, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia met political parties over the matter when Birtukan Mideksa, who heads the body, said only 25,150 of the 50,000 polling stations were

operational - the rest were shut because of insecurity.

Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy has himself made several appeals to people to sign up, saying it would help determine the future of the country’s democracy.

The polls were originally scheduled for May 2020, but were pushed to August the same year and then to 5 June 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: BBC

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China works to ensure everyone benefits from its rapid development

By Li Haoran

W

hile Fuxing bullet trains, the stateof-the-art high-speed trains of China, are running on the country’s continuously expanding high-speed railway network that might reach 40,000 kilometers in the near future, 81 pairs of no-frills slow trains are carrying 12 million people each year to and from a number of obscure stations at fixed and low prices.

These slow trains normally run less than 40 kilometers per hour and offer cheap tickets throughout the year. What they transport are not only passengers from underdeveloped areas, but also these passengers’ livelihood and dreams.

The galloping bullet trains and unhurried no-frills carriages pose a sharp contrast that presents the “tenderness” of China’s rapid railway development.

Apart from the slow trains, China has launched massive other public service projects in multiple fields tailored for special groups, from the communication base stations set up in deep mountains to the stable supply of orphan drugs, and from the efforts made to redesign internet applications for the aged to improving the security system for children living in difficulty These pragmatic measures, aiming at tackling livelihood problems in a targeted manner, have enhanced people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. It mirrors a fact that China in the new era, is attaching huge importance to leaving no one behind the speed of development, but also the warmth of it.

The warmth of development means that no one shall be left behind during the country’s development.

Amid COVID-19, China has always put people and their lives above everything else and done everything to save the patients.

In the country’s fight against poverty, the Chinese government tailored targeted measures that covered all impoverished population. Besides, when building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, China also made sure that everyone would benefit from the process and results.

To improve livelihood, enhance people’s wellbeing and pursue common prosperity is a remarkable advantage of the socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The warmth of development comes from the country’s concrete actions to solve problems for its people. China believes that livelihood issues are never trivial. During COVID-19, health QR code was widely applied to identify residents’ health conditions in public places. In the meantime, channels that didn’t require QR code credentials were also established to serve those who were unfamiliar with smart phones. The country’s 14th Five-Year Plan also proposed to make public facilities accessible to senior citizens.

Today, more and more local authorities in China are issuing specific and targeted measures to service special groups and those in difficulty.

The warmth of development demonstrates that China never overemphasizes immediate benefits.

Obviously the country is losing money in running the no-frills slow trains, but these rail lines can lead the people along the tracks toward prosperity. Remote villages don’t have a large population, but communication base stations are still erected there, as the country believes that the wellbeing of the people shall not be calculated by economic numbers. Development not only is a grand vision of a country, but also concerns the practical interests of individuals.

“The mission of my life is to drive the train well. It has nothing to do with the speed of the locomotive,” said a conductor of a slow train.

Source: BBC

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

ENVIRONMENT

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Technologies arm professional farmers in China

By Yang Wenming, Qiao Dong, People’s Daily uman resources are of huge importance for China’s rural vitalization. At present, there are over 17 million high-caliber farmers working in the countryside to prosper the rural regions.

The improved scientific literacy of Chinese farmers has laid a solid foundation for their overall development, and is offering stronger support for the country’s rural economy.

Bao Yuan is a young man running an aquatic product company in Qujing, southwest China’s Yunnan province that he established in 2014 after graduating from Yunnan Normal University in 2014.

“Artificial breeding not only diversifies people’s choices, but also helps protect endangered local fish species,” he said.

Song Xueqin is a Gen Y female who has made her name in the Lvliang Mountains, north China’s Shanxi province by flat peach grafting techniques.

After graduation from college, Song was successively engaged in catering business, gypsum processing and sheep husbandry, but didn’t succeed in any of those.

In 2009, she heard that Chinese wild peaches can be turned into flat peaches through grafting techniques, so she asked one of her friends to bring her scions of flat peaches from northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and invited an expert to impart relevant skills to her.

A year later, Song and her husband grafted flat peach scions onto over 4,000 wild peaches on a hillside near Hetaozhang village, Fenxi County, Shanxi province, but the fruiting wasn’t good.

“After consulting relevant materials and experts, we finally realized what crosspollination was. The yield goes high only when varieties grafted match,” she said.

Last year, the woman received her first certification of her life - a certificate for new professional farmers.

“The countryside is never short of resources. In recent years, as people’s

H

Speedy passage of Climate Change Bill will address challenges - Ikeazor

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T A teacher of agricultural techniques (third from left) from a vocational high school in Linquan Township, Qianxi County, southwest China’s Guizhou province teaches students how to prune orchards, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Zhou Xunchao/People’s Daily Online) living standards have been raised, they periods of the cattle.

Mi, always attending training programs are developing a larger demand for green and high-quality agricultural products. held by the county government, has become This trend is mobilizing more and more a specialist in cattle husbandry.

“I made many detours as a layman, but well-educated entrepreneurs who are technically skilled and know how to operate now I’m often consulted by fellow villagers,” and manage businesses to go back to the she said, adding that only by continuous countryside,” said Zuo Chenming, a senior learning can she solve more problems.

Today, local authorities across China researcher with AliResearch, a research are issuing new policies and measures to arm of Alibaba Group.

Early in the morning, Mi Xiaohong encourage farmers to study technologies. from Yuzhong County, Lanzhou, northwest Shandong province has launched a China’s Gansu province started working professional title evaluation system in a cowshed, serving the cattle with new for professional farmers, and Jiangsu fodder and water and cleaning the cowshed. province’s Kunshan is offering free college “The making of cattle fodder is education for professional farmers. complicated, as we must calculate how In Gansu Province, training sessions much grass and other materials we add are launched for heads of professional and animal epidemic in it and fairly decide the ratios of bran, cooperatives glacial flour and salt,” she told People’s prevention coordinators, in an effort to Daily, adding that the ingredients have to bring technologies to the farmland and find be adjusted according to different growth solutions to agricultural problems.

Better cold chain logistics facilities bring benefits to consumers and sellers of fresh food in China

By Qi Zhiming, People’s Daily

T

hanks to the introduction of cold stores into a farmers’ market in Yugan county, east China’s Jiangxi province, Ju Dejin, a fish farmer who raises soft-shelled turtle at a modern agricultural demonstration park in Yugan county, now only needs to deliver products to the farmers’ market twice a week.

In the past when there was no cold storage in the market, Ju had to take the first batch of soft-shelled turtles to the market very early in the morning, and deliver the rest of the goods for the day to the market in small batches for many times, according to Ju. Recently, a batch of facilities for cold chain logistics backbone network worth 2 billion yuan ($310 million) have been officially put into operation in Jiangxi. Such facilities deployed in cities, counties, and villages guarantee instant transportation and delivery of fresh food and have offered easier access to fresh food for urban and rural residents.

The farmers’ market in Yugan county is the largest fair of aquatic products in Jiangxi. Tens of thousands of tons of aquatic products are sent from the fair to various areas of China every day.

“As cold stores were not available in the past, we could only purchase 100 to 150 kg of aquatic products at a time. Even so, there were usually losses before we could sell them all,” said Zhang Jianfu, a seller at the farmers’ market in Yugan county,

PAGE 25

who disclosed that they can now purchase ten times the aquatic products they used to buy at a time without worrying about food spoiling easily as cold stores have been built.

Merely about two hours after Jiangxi Supply and Storage Logistics Co., Ltd., a logistics services provider based in Nanchang city, capital of Jiangxi province, loaded fresh food onto cold chain trucks, the batch of fresh food was seen on the shelves of supermarkets in Nanchang and other cities.

The company has so far established cold stores covering a total area of about 2,500 square meters, each of which can store as much as 5,000 tons of products.

Fresh agricultural products distribution and cold chain logistics system construction represent an important part of rural vitalization as well as an effective solution to bringing fresh agricultural products to consumers.

In recent years, various parts of China have vigorously built modern agricultural products circulation networks that are centered on cold chain logistics and feature joint development of multiple forms of logistics through establishing specialized cold chain logistics companies and strengthening the construction of cold chain logistics infrastructure.

Yengisar county located in Kashgar prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, one of the last counties that shook off poverty in Xinjiang, has more than 400 years of history of apricot cultivation. Almost

every household in the county grows apricot trees.

However, the county’s fresh apricots ran into difficulty reaching more consumers due to short shelf life and long transportation distance.

To address the issue, Xinjiangguoye, a forestry and fruit company in Xinjiang, built in the county an automatic sorting production line and nine nitrogen filling packaging lines in 2019.

After being automatically sorted out, fresh apricots are packaged up in eggcarton boxes filled with nitrogen, which can prolong the lifetime of apricots on shelves from 7 days to 25 days.

Meanwhile, the company uses ice packs, absorbent cotton wool, and shockproof cotton to protect apricots during transportation and guarantee the products are still fresh even after long distance transport.

According to an executive of the company, it has introduced a new type of intelligent and multifunctional reefer truck that is equipped with technologies enabling comprehensive preservation, intelligent network connection and cloud platform management to bring Xinjiang’s fruits to other areas of China.

In July 2019, the new-type reefer truck brought 30 tons of apricots from Yengisar county all the way to Beijing for sale.

“We are no longer worried about the sale of apricots. Last year, the apricots we planted brought us an income of nearly 20, 000 yuan,” said an apricot grower in Yengisar county confidently.

he Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, has appealed to the National Assembly to speed up action on passing the Bill on Climate Change into law will go a long way in addressing climate change challenges in the country.

Ikeazor made the disclosure yesterday at the opening of the National Council on Environment (NCE) yesterday in Abuja .

She said,already the bill has passed second reading on the floor of the House.

Ikeazor said this has become necessary to have a legal instrument that would address the myriads of climate change actions and challenges in the

country.

Declaring the three-day Council open, the Minister applauded the resilience of the critical stakeholders during this trying period of Covid-19 pandemic.

“Your participation in this event is a testimony to your unwavering faith in our collective resolve to reverse all adversities in the sector and sustainably manage our environment in the face of the multiple concerns exacerbated by the novel Covid-19 pandemic.”

She said the theme of the meeting, “Managing Emerging Environmental challenges: Need for Strategic Approach to Sustainable Development in Covid-19 era and beyond”, was strategically chosen to underscore the realities of global

health challenges occasioned by the pandemic and the need to tackle the attendant issues to ameliorate the environmental and developmental consequences that may confront the nation if we fail to act now.

“This, therefore, underscores the crucial nature of this meeting. As a sector, the need for us to deliberate on the increasing concerns with a view to generating actionable policy framework and measures to guide our actions towards addressing these emerging concerns is uppermost. This is why we are here.”

She charged the participants to engage their various experiences, expertise and ingenuity during the three-day event towards finding lasting solutions to the

multifaceted environmental challenges confronting the nation that include biodiversity loss, climate change and Covid-19 pandemic.

In his welcoming address,the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abel Enitan, stated that the meeting was previously scheduled to hold in Kano towards the end of last year, but could not be due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

Enitan said that was why the Council had to be postponed and subsequently repackaged to accommodate the virtual option in a bid to ensure strict compliance with Covid-19 public health and safety protocols.

“As a result of the inability of this meeting to accommodate

the various memoranda from all stakeholders, the ministry has carefully selected 45 memoranda with broad relevance to specific situations and circumstances of members.

In his goodwill message on behalf of the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Michael Nnachi called for the involvement of more non-governmental organisations in the ministry’s activities as most of its activities are grassroots oriented that require a lot of mobilisation and enlightenment.

He said the Senate is very much aware of the lean envelope of the Ministry despite its enormous responsibilities, and therefore assured that positive reviews are being made to facilitate and boost its funding windows.

Oyo closes dumpsites, bans waste collectors from collecting money from clients

T

he Oyo State Government yesterday prohibited private sector operators (PSP) on waste collection from collecting fees from their clients.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Lateef Oyeleke, who announced this in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, also said that all the dump sites in Ibadan, such as Lapite, Aba-Eku and Ajakanga, had been closed with immediate effect.

Oyeleke said that this was part of the new solid waste management policy introduced by the state government to ensure safer environment.

According to him, the new solid waste architecture is aimed at focusing on attaining an all-round sustainable environment that will improve the social wellbeing of the people of the state.

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Lateef Oyeleke, who announced this in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, also said that all the dump sites in Ibadan, such as Lapite, Aba-Eku and Ajakanga, had been closed with immediate effect.

Oyeleke said that this was part of the new solid waste management policy introduced by the state government to ensure safer environment.

According to him, the new solid waste architecture is aimed at focusing on attaining an all-round sustainable environment that will improve the social wellbeing of the people of the state.

All households, facility owners, private, commercial industries, religious houses and other institutions have been advised not to make any form of payment to their PSP operators,” he stated.

The commissioner said that government had appointed revenue consultants who would be serving bills to all clients, while payments would be made through designated banks, either manually or electronically.

He warned that any payment made

to any PSP was at payers’ risk.

Oyeleke also warned that anyone caught dumping refuse in the above-named dump sites would be prosecuted.

He directed all PSP operators to make use of only Awotan landfill, Apete in Ido Local Government Area, which had been provided by government.

The commissioner implored residents of the state, particularly those in Ibadan, to desist from dumping wastes on the road median, drainages, rivers and other open spaces so as to avert outbreak of diseases and flooding.

R-L: Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, National President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Comrade Anderson Eziebe, Vice President ASUP, Mohammed Gbate, Secretary General , Comrade Sunday Shawmah and the Union’s publicity Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Yahwa, during the Union’s meeting with the Minister on the ASUP ongoing strike action, on tuesday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

African presidents, global leaders support climate change adaptation action for continent

W

hat looks like a historic and united show of solidarity for a continent that contributes only 5% to global emissions, more than 30 heads of state and global leaders committed to prioritise actions that help African countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and “build forward better.”

Africa now faces the dual onslaught of climate change – currently estimated at between $7 billion and $15 billion each year – and Covid-19, which has claimed 114,000 lives. The African Development Bank (AfDB) expects that the impact of climate change on the continent could rise to $50 billion each year by 2040, with a further 3% decline each year in GDP by 2050.

Speaking on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 during a virtual Leaders’ Dialogue convened by the AfDB, the Global Centre on Adaptation and the Africa Adaptation Initiative, more than 30 heads of state and global leaders rallied behind the bold new Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme.

The programme’s objective is to mobilise $25 billion to accelerate climate change adaptation actions across Africa.

President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and African Union Chairperson, invited his fellow leaders to “revisit our climate ambitions and accelerate the implementation of our actions planned under our national priorities. To do this we will need to focus on actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change, these include naturebased solutions, energy transition, enhanced transparency framework, technology transfer and climate finance.”

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme is built to address the impacts of Covid-19, climate change, and the continent’s worst recession in 25 years. Therefore, Tuesday’s unprecedented show of support for the financing of African adaptation is so significant.

According to Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, “The Covid-19 pandemic is eroding recent progress in building climate resilience and leaving countries and communities more vulnerable to future shocks. Africa must

make up for lost ground and lost time.

Climate change did not stop because of Covid-19, and neither should the urgent task of preparing humanity to live with the multiple effects of a warming planet.”

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, and Chair of the African Union-led Africa Adaptation Initiative, spoke of Gabon’s record in emission reductions. He said that Gabon is one of the few countries in the world that is carbon positive.

“We have to insist that equal attention be paid to climate adaptation and mitigation in climate finance.

Africa calls on the developed nations to shoulder the historic responsibility and to join the program to accelerate the adaptation in Africa,” President Bongo said.

AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, said: “With our partners, we intend to mobilise $25 billion in financing for the success of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme.

It is time for developed countries to meet their promise of providing $100 billion annually for climate finance.

And a greater share of this should go to

climate adaptation. So far, more than $20 trillion have gone into Covid-19 stimulus packages in developed countries.

The International Monetary Fund’s plan to issue $650 billion of new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to boost global reserves and liquidity will be enormously helpful to support green growth and climate financing for economic recovery. I applaud the leadership of the US government and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, especially, on this big push.”

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said: “African nations are showing leadership. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme, and many other ambitious African initiatives, must be empowered to fully deliver on their goals. “ Guterres added: “Universal access tome energy in Africa, a priority in the coming years, could be provided primarily through renewable energy.

I call for a comprehensive package of support to meet these dual objectives by COP 26. It is achievable, it is necessary, it is overdue, and it is smart.”

Source : environewsNigeria

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F E A T U R E

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Covid in Brazil: Hunger worsens in city slums

T

he queue snakes around the block and each day it gets longer: hungry residents of Heliopolis, São Paulo’s largest favela, waiting in line for the handout that will keep them going until the next morning.

They are given a bowl of pasta with meat and a portion of rice, two packets of biscuits and a carton of milk, shared between a whole household and usually their only meal of the day. Before the pandemic, 300 people would queue up here. Now it is over 1,000, and the charity that runs it has 650 others across São Paulo.

“The vast majority of people who live in the favelas work in the informal economy, as cleaners in homes or helping to bake cakes, so when businesses close or houses stop using them, they feel the impact,” says Marcivan Barreto, the local co-ordinator.

“You see people queuing up at 03:00 for food. I’m very worried that as the pandemic continues, a hungry father will start looting supermarkets.

When you’re starving, despair hits.”

During the first wave of the pandemic, Brazil’s government introduced emergency relief, known as “coronavouchers”. More than 67 million people received a monthly sum of 600 reais (£83; $107, at the time).

It was the biggest single injection of financial aid in Brazil’s history, introduced by a president, Jair Bolsonaro, who had previously railed against welfare spending. It pushed extreme poverty to its lowest level since the 1970s and boosted the president’s support.

But the relief was temporary. With ballooning public debt, the government first suspended the programme and then reintroduced it but at a far lower level of 250 reais and for fewer people.

The drop in aid has hit Luciana Firmino and her family hard. She and her husband now depend on the food handout to feed their five children, living in a cramped couple of rooms in one of the favela’s narrow alleyways.

When the pandemic hit, she lost her job in a manicure studio and her husband’s occasional work dried up.

Clutching her nine-monthold daughter, she says each day is a decision whether to pay for milk or diapers. “We can’t afford the rent anymore.

So we will soon be out in the streets or under a bridge.”

Then she breaks down.

“I was hoping for a good life,” she says through tears.

“Sometimes I think I should give my children away to social services.”

The crisis caused by the pandemic has forced a growing number of people to depend on food donations

Luciana with her nine-month-old daughter breaks down: “Sometimes I think I should give my children away to social services”

Brazil is in the grip of a health and social emergency.

It has the world’s secondhighest death toll from the pandemic at over 370,000, and hospitals are near collapse.

A study last week found that 60% of Brazilian households have food insecurity, lacking sufficient access to enough to eat.

President Bolsonaro - who once dismissed the virus as “just a little flu”, opposed lockdowns and failed to secure vaccine supplies in time - has

“

lost support, particularly as the food handouts have declined.

Attempts at impeachment are stirring.

But he still has his devoted fans, who insist “the establishment” are trying to destroy him.

Three hours’ drive out of São Paulo, the corn harvest is underway on Frederico D’Avila’s farm. He has 1,300 hectares of the crop, as well as soybean, barley and fava, nestled beside dense pine forests.

And as the harvester cuts

“The vast majority of people who live in the favelas work in the informal economy, as cleaners in homes or helping to bake cakes, so when businesses close or houses stop using them, they feel the impact,” says Marcivan Barreto, the local co-ordinator.

“You see people queuing up at 03:00 for food. I’m very worried that as the pandemic continues, a hungry father will start looting supermarkets. When you’re starving, despair hits.”

through the stalks of corn, he talks of how the president is slashing “the system of kleptocracy - chains of corruption - that have run here for 35 years”.

“President Bolsonaro wants to preserve liberty; he wants people to get out, work, feed their children,” he says.

“He wants people to decide if they want the vaccine, not to be obligated by the state.

Freedom in Brazil has always been under threat.”

I put it to him that the price of that policy is the public health disaster that Brazil is living through. “It’s not a disaster”, he replies. “We don’t have all the data from other countries so we don’t know true numbers of dead.”

Supporters of the president echo the same line, hammered home by the effective Bolsonaro communication machine with claims that if other institutions, including the Supreme Court, had not tied his hands, he could have managed the pandemic fully.

To the charge that Brazil was desperately slow to order vaccines, they reply that the shots could not have been ordered earlier as they had not yet been approved by Brazil’s health regulator.

When I remind him that many countries ordered large quantities of vaccines pending regulatory approval so they could then be rolled out quickly, Mr D’Avila tells me the Supreme Court could have sued the president if the shots were ordered and then not approved.

“If he had unlimited power like a king, it would be better.

He wouldn’t need to deal with the Supreme Court and pressure groups,” he says.

President Bolsonaro is on the back foot. Under fire for mishandling what is becoming a humanitarian crisis and facing a threat from former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose conviction for corruption was recently overturned, paving the way to challenge the president in next year’s election.

And all the while hospitals fill up, the food queues grow longer, and this shattered country watches helplessly as fresh graves are dug.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

PAGE 28

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

By Amaechi Agbo

D

etermined to help fight climate change and create a healthy environment for all, the Nigeria Teqball Federation NIGTEQ Tuesday embarked on tree planting The exercise which took place at the River Park, Business District, Abuja was coordinated by the President of NIGTEQ, Egnr Habu Gumel.

Engr. Gumel who personally planed one if the step tress during the exercise said that the move was part of NIGTEQ’s in her fourday training programme and initiatives to help in securing the environment and beautifying it.

He called on the general public particularly Nigerians to see the need to plant a tree as a national and personal assignment.

“We all know the importance of trees around us. They provide fresh air, add beauty to our surrounding and most importantly, help protect us from climatic change.

“We will continue to do this annually because as a federation, we believe that for us to do well in sports, our environment must be healthy and protected.”

On his part, the General Secretary of NIGTEQ, Mr Ndudi Edede noted that tree planting as well as general sanitation were part of the federation’s Corporate.

Social Responsibility, CRS. He noted that the federation would continue to do her best in preserving the environment and

Page

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Nigeria Teqball Federation embarks on tree planting in Abuja

ensuing that Nigerians and indeed the global community imbibes the general message as importance of tree planting.

Chairman of Federal Capital Territory Teqball Association, Mr Ibrahim Galadima also participated in the tree planting.

The tree planting was part of the 4-day capacity programme organised by the NIGTEQ in collaboration with International Federation of Teqball FITEQ. Similarly, the President, Nigeria Teqball Federation, NIGTEQ, Engr Habu Gumel has charged the coaches and Referees of the beautiful game on professionalism.

Engr. Gumel who gave the charge in Abuja while addressing the coaches and referees who underwent a four-day capacity training workshop commended the Coaches and Referees for turning up for the programme.

Describing them as the pioneers of teqball in Nigeria, the President encouraged them to put in their best and be good ambassadors of the curved game.

“We all know that our own Olympic, the sports festival is going on in in Edo state but I decided to cut short my programme there to

NIGTEQ President, Engr Habu Gumel planting a tree in Abuja Monday be here with you.

“This obviously is because if the importance we all attached to this great training programme.

I therefore encourage you that as you finish this training to

be professional in your duties.

Whether as a coach or referee, you should be able to understand your professional duties and be able to uphold them always.

“You are the pioneers of the

teqball in Nigeria and much is expected of you. You should be good ambassadors of the game.

The training which commenced on Saturday, April 10 was rounded up on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Ahemd Musa rejoins Kano Pillars on short deal

By Amaechi Agbo

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fter 6 months without a club, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has returned to Kano Pillars FC for the remainder of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season (NPFL), the club Confirmed Musa previously played for the Pride of Kano in 2009 were he ended the season as the top scorer in the NPFL with 18 goals before moving to VVV-Venlo in the Netherlands.

In a statement from the office of the chairman of the club, Alhaji Surajo Shuaibu Jambul and signed by the media officer, Rilwanu Malikawa revealed that the Sai Masu Gida have agreed to signed Musa until the end of the

2020/21 football season.

According to Malikawa, the club have agreed to the deal after due consultations with the player and the League Management Company of Nigeria (LMC) whom stood as a mediator to the deal.

Malikawa further stated that the club have received a letter from the LMC that was signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Malam Salihu Abubakar, that Kano Pillars will sign Ahmed Musa as an Elite player of the league to the end of the season.

The seasoned journalist said Kano Pillars FC family are happy to welcome back one of their own and have wished him Allah’s guidance.

“Ahmad Musa is our own and Pillars FC will continue to support

him anytime and anywhere he found himself,” Malikawa said.

Amongst the contractual agreement reached and would be documented between Musa and Kano Pillars is……, anytime the player got an offer, he would be released by the club.

Malikawa concluded that after completing all the necessary documentations, Ahmed Musa would be unveil

by His Excellency, the executive Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje before the commencement of the second stanza of the league.

The four-time NPFL Champions are joint leaders of the log alongside Kwara Utd with 36 points each from 19 matches though Pillars are second due to lesser goal difference.

Women’s Ballon d’Or holder makes plea to Messi, Ronaldo

>>PG 31

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U-15 La Liga/ NPFL Tournament: Enugu Sports Commissioners Assures of readiness

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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Rangers players embark on one-week break

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nugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Manfred Nzekwe has assured Nigeria Football Federation/ League Management Company delegation in Enugu State of California the readiness of the State to host a hitch- free under 15 LaLiga NPFL , football tournament in Enugu State.

Speaking while receiving officials of NFF/LMC with Enugu State Football Association Officials and the Local Organizing Committee members, in his office, Tuesday, Commissioner Manfred Nzekwe , commended the NFF for deeming Enugu State capable of hosting such important football tournament.

He assured that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, by accepting to host the tournament, the state government will put everything in place to guarantee the success of the tournament adding that the tournament will be the best organized tournament in Nigeria.

He further assured that every relevant stakeholder will be brought on board to ensure a successful tournament.

In his speech, the leader of the delegation and General Coordinator Youth League, of the Nigeria Football Federation/ League Management Company, Dr Johnson Obaseki, informed the Commissioner that Under 15 LaLiga/ Nigeria Football Federation tournament will commence from Monday 12 the April, as arrival date, while kick- off will commence on Thursday15th April, with the final coming up on May 2nd 2021.

He requested for accommodation of visiting teams and vehicle for the visiting Local Organizing Committee members, adding that the team will work in synergy with other stakeholders to ensure the success of the Championship.

In his statement, the Chairman Enugu State Football Association Barr.Tony Ugwu, assured that all the necessary logistics required for the Championship will be provided by the state Football Association and the organizing committee.

Rangers players celebrating

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anagement of Rangers International F.C, the ‘Flying Antelopes’, ably led by Prince Davidson Owumi has approved a one-week break for players of the club with effect from Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Addressing the players at the club’ ultramodern players’ camp, Nkponkiti road, Independence Layout, Enugu, Tuesday, G.M/ CEO of the side, Prince Owumi Davidson, charged the players to be professional in all their conducts during the break stressing that the period was for each player to relax, refresh and refocus their minds for the task ahead in the second round of the 2020/21 NPFL season.

“This break is coming at the instance of the technical crew led by coach Salisu Yusuf as we now have a date for the start of the second round and I charge you all to be true professionals in this break period. I believe it is a period for you to take your mind off anything football. Just relax, refresh and refocus your minds on what you will do for us to achieve our set target in the second round of the league,” stated the astute football management guru while addressing the players.

Also speaking, technical adviser, Coach Salisu Yusuf advised the players to maintain the level of fitness they have attained while on break warning that there will be penalties for any player that acts unprofessionally during

the period.

“I know the level we are leaving you people and I expect to see it on your return in a week’s time. Please, be professional in all your conducts as there will be penalties for any reported unprofessional conduct during the break,” stated the vastly experienced gaffer.

The players are expected back in Enugu on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 with training sessions commencing Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

The ‘Flying Antelopes’ are currently placed 4th on the twenty-team log with 30 points from 18 matches played as the rescheduled match day 19 fixture with oriental neighbours, Enyimba International F.C is yet to get a date from organizers of the league, L.M.C.

Akure to host NLO division 3

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he Nigeria Nationwide League One, NLO has confirmed that Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure will be one of the centres for the division three of its matches.

The Chairman of the NLO, who also doubles as a board member of the NFF, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali stated this at the inauguration of standing committees by the Ondo State Football Association “My colleagues sent me to welcome him back as the Chairman back after his election. Am assuring the people of Ondo state that right from today, you will see changes.

“The entire Congress of the NFF are happy with the election of Otunba Dele Ajayi. In the next edition of our NLO division 3, a big centre will be awarded to Ondo State.

Inaugurating the committee, Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh said,the constitution of the standing-committees, was in tune with the statutes of the NFF. Fresh said he was happy that the State FA Chairman,Otunba Dele Ajayi, had brought everyone on board from the last election and would be successful, saying,” A divided house will not last “ Fresh urged the members of Sports Writers in the state to also, always put the FA in the state in the right direction whenever they were astray.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ondo FA, Otunba Dele Ajayi said the state

NLO players in action would be full of football activities with the committees in place.

Ajayi said Ondo State FA has the solution to the problem of Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens, urging the state government to carry the association along.

“We are ready to collaborate with people with ideas and personnel from people that can make Ondo state enviable heights.

“We thank the governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for the huge amount he has released for the state owned

teams so far.

“We know what to help both teams. It is too bad to owe for seven months for the male team and 13 months for the female team,” he said.

Ajayi later thanked both Board members Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Alhaji Mohammed Alkali for gracing the occasion.

Alkali, who is the Chairman of the Nassarawa FA, said the whole of NFF were happy with the election of Dele Ajayi as the chairman of the FA in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

PAGE 31

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

SPORTS latest

Chelsea enter race for Liverpool’s Wijnaldum

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Carragher recommends Lampard for England U-21 coaching Job

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egendary Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the England U-21 job could be the ‘perfect’ next step for Frank Lampard.

The young Lions were knocked out of the European Championships on goal difference despite beating Croatia 2-1 having conceded a late, pivotal strike in injury time.

Having lost their opening two group games against Portugal and Switzerland, Aidy Boothroyd’s position as manager has come under intense scrutiny and he himself said this week:“The England senior men’s job was called impossible job.

Taye the Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: news: Kano: lagos:

World Insights: Europe moves cautiously to lift coronavirus restrictions

uropeans are longing for outdoor gatherings and sunshine as the weather turns warm. This week, in some parts of Europe, people once again crowded streets and parks as governments started to gradually lift coronavirus restrictions.

As the number of new infections is still running high and problems surrounding travel certificate and other issues remain unresolved, experts warned a too hasty exit strategy might risk another spike of the virus and that coordination among European countries is also needed.

helsea has reportedly emerged as surprise contenders for the signing of Liverpool Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum this summer.

The 30-year-old Dutch midfielder’s future has been the subject of fierce debate over recent months, with his contract with the Reds due to expire in June.

A move to Chelsea would certainly not go down well with Liverpool fans, who would no doubt rather he move abroad rather than become a direct domestic rival.

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

LOCKDOWN EXIT England became one of the first regions in Europe to end restrictions on non-essential retail. In England, all shops reopened from April 12, along with hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services.

Meanwhile, gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centers can all open.

According to the British government’s four-step plan, restaurants and pubs are expected to be allowed to resume indoor service and see most rules on gathering outdoors lifted on May 17. All legal restrictions in England are expected to be removed by mid-June. Starting from last week, restaurants and bars in Switzerland have been allowed to reopen their outdoor seating areas and restrictions on sporting and leisure activities of adults have also been partially lifted. But the government said additional relaxation of pandemic measures is unlikely before May 26.

Some countries opt for an approach that differentiates between regions with different risks of infection. In Germany, a nationwide “emergency brake” mechanism stipulates that areas with a seven-day infection rate above a certain threshold for three consecutive days will have contact restrictions and a night curfew in place. Similarly, Italy has adopted a color code to evaluate the risk of contagion on the base of local coronavirus data. The country took a first decisive step towards a post-pandemic phase on Monday.

Restaurants, bars, outdoor sporting facilities and museums were among the activities allowed to restart in the 14 “yellow” regions, which show a low risk of contagion.

France, on the other hand, is about to take smaller steps. It decided to end restrictions confining people to a 10-km radius of their homes from May 3. But the nationwide 7

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FOREIGN VIEW

By Xinhua News Agency p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain in place until the epidemic is under control.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE, HOPES ON VACCINES At a press conference last week, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte explained what change has led to the decision to relax restrictions: “The answer is: not much, but just enough.” More and more people are vaccinated, which means that fewer people will soon become ill, and the number of new hospital admissions is expected to decrease, Rutte said. “Opening up society step by step is not without risks. But the cabinet is also looking at the social and economic importance.”

Rutte’s remarks are representative of many European countries’ rationale behind exit strategies. While Europe’s manufacturing sector gradually recovers thanks to a strong global demand, the service sector has been repeatedly hit by the on-again, off-again closures. In southern European countries where the tourism industry plays a key role, calls for reopening are loud. Greece last week lifted the self-quarantine requirement for travelers arriving in the country from the European Union (EU), Britain, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Israel. Its government

“

had announced earlier this spring that it was preparing to reopen the country to tourism on May 14.

The ongoing vaccination campaign also lends support to the governments’ moves to reopen. After a sluggish start at the beginning of the year, the EU’s vaccination rollout recently sped up. On Saturday, Italy’s health authorities announced that 5 million Italian residents had been fully vaccinated, making Italy the third EU member state to reach that milestone, following Germany and France. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday that the goal to vaccinate 70 percent of EU’s adult population could be achieved by the end of July instead of late September as had been previously predicted.

CAUTION FROM EXPERTS As of April 21, more than 33 million people in Britain had been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, official figures showed. But experts have warned that Britain is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first detected in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent. “Fully opening up society is best done when more

As of April 21, more than 33 million people in Britain had been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, official figures showed. But experts have warned that Britain is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first detected in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent. “

than 85 percent of the population are vaccinated ... To achieve this, all age groups should benefit from the vaccines,” said Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

In Portugal, most of the country has proceeded to the third stage of de-confinement, except for a few municipalities and counties reporting high infections. “As long as there is no vaccination coverage for groups at risk of 90 percent to 100 percent,” there is always a danger that may lead to hospitalizations and deaths, warned virologist Pedro Simas.

Meanwhile, Europe is mulling a Digital Green Certificate that could hopefully enable travel by summer, although technical details and issues concerning data protection and privacy remain to be discussed. Depending on the infection curve and national developments, steps of reopening will be taken at different speeds and scopes in Europe, researchers from Deutsche Bank pointed out in a paper earlier this month.

Therefore, European coordination of exit strategies is important.

The European Commission called for early notification and coordination of national steps in a document titled Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures, which was published in mid-April. “The current situation in Europe against the pandemic is generally moving in a favorable direction,” said Lu Mengji, professor of virology at the Institute of Virology, University Hospital of Essen in Germany. The challenge ahead is “to convince the population to continue taking necessary precautions during this transition period and to avoid an excessive number of patients requiring hospitalization,” Lu said.

(Xinhua)

DAN GAYE Dangai

Economic council says another lockdown will be last resort - News

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