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Power Generation Drops By 849.2Mw

AHEAD TARIFF HIKE

PAGE 8GenCos losing generation units – Ogaji

Court To Hear Application On Kanu’s Bail, Others January

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In a historic move, on December 19, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/245, which designated December 4 as the International Day of Banks in recognition of the significant potential of multilateral development banks and other international development banks in financing

sustainable development and providing know-how; and also in recognition of the vital role of the banking systems in Member States in contributing to the improvement of the standard of living.

In September 2015, the General Assembly adopted the

comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals ,SDGs, and targets, and reaffirmed its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of those goals by 2030. It recognized that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

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International Day Of Banks: For A Better Globalised Economy

EDITORIAL

Fake Certificates: 233 Teachers To Go In Kaduna

e-Naira: CBN Assures Of Effective Technology Against Fraudsters

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POLITICS & POLICY

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27 SGBV: Worse

Case Scenarios In Nigeria

SPECIAL REPORTNEWS NEWS

No More Foreign Education Sponsorship –NDDC

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NIGERIA

نيجيريا الجزير ة


BY MARIAM SANNI, ABUJA

Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, has assured that it has put in place effective mechanisms to insulate the e-Naira from

hackers and fraudsters.The Director, Corporate

Department, CBN, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed this on

BY RUTH GBAKA, ABUJA

Federal High Court Abuja will on January 18, 19, 2022 among other things hear bail application for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was absent in court

during the continuation of his trial yesterday.

One of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor told journalists that part of the things that will be heard is the application for his bail among others. The lawyer also said it is not mandatory that Nnamdi Kanu be in court for the bail application

hearing.As at 7:57 am, the court premises

was empty as few journalists and court officials were looking out for the presence of security operatives, which is common with his court appearances. It would be recalled that Kanu is facing charges bordering on alleged terrorism

and treasonable felony.During the last hearing, the trial

judge, Justice Binta Nyako heard the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competency of the charge against him.

I Will Not Impose My Successor –Wike

BY CALEB ISHAYA, ABUJA

Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board is set to dismiss 233 teachers working with fake certificates, Chairman of the Board, Tijjani Abdullahi, stated at a news

conference in Kaduna yesterday.Abdullah recalled that the board

embarked on certificate verification in April as part of its responsibility to ensure that teachers actually had

Joseph Wayas, A Colossus Bows Out

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As President Muhammadu Buhari is set to observe his birthday on December 17, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs has appealed to the president to sign the recently passed Electoral Amendment Bill as his birthday present to the nation.

In a letter to the President which was jointly signed by the Executive Director, Adopt A Goal for Development, Ariyo-Dare Atoye; Programme Officer, Center For Liberty, Maryam Ahmed; Convener, Raising New Voices, Jude Feranmi; and Executive Director, The Nigerian Alliance, Simi Olusola, the group said doing so would be a lasting legacy of the Buhari-led administration.

In addition to the letter, the group on Thursday, December 2, embarked on an advocacy rally at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to drive home their demand for the president to use his good offices to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians even as the citizens are optimistic of a better electoral system, going by the recently concluded governorship election in Anambra State, which has been adjudged free and fair.

The coalition said, in the event that President Buhari refuses to sign the Electoral Amended Bill, the National Assembly should veto him to ensure that the Bill sees the light of the day.

According to the letter, “We the undersigned representatives of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations organized in the Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform ,CiSPER, Alliance of Civil Society Organisations for the Expansion of Electoral and Democratic Space ,ACESS Nigeria, and other concerned Nigerians pushing for electoral reforms and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2021, write on behalf of millions of Nigerians who are

Endorse Electoral Bill As Birthday Gift, CSOs Urge Buhariurging you to rise above the partisan, unpopular and narrow political interests of a few politicians, to immediately assent the Electoral Bill into law.

“As you celebrate your birthday in a couple of days on 17 December 2021, history beckons on you to present the signed Electoral Bill 2021 as a perfect gift to Nigerians. This is indeed a glorious opportunity for you, Mr. President, to etch your name in Nigeria’s democratic plate as an advocate of electoral reforms.

“As you may recall, in June 2021, you promised Nigerians and made a commitment to the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, that, “We will make available to them ,INEC, everything including signing the Electoral Act 2021 they

need to operate efficiently, so that no one will say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term.” You equally summed this up vowing that: “There will be no excuse for failure. We will meet all of INEC’s demands”.

“The opportunity has therefore come for you to show fidelity to your words and reject all manner of excuses being made by a few persons who want to continue with the business-as-usual politics. It is gratifying that INEC has said publicly that: “It is the constitutional and legal responsibility of the commission to give effect to laws passed by the National Assembly”.

“Your Excellency, while it is a welcome development that you have written to seek INEC’s advice

and clarification on a number of provisions in the Electoral Bill, we wish to do you and INEC a public service by drawing your attention to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, Item F, Paragraph 15(c), which states “the Commission ,INEC, shall have power to monitor the organisation and operation of the political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses and party primaries”.

“By this provision of the Constitution, it is clear that direct primaries will not impose any additional burden on INEC beyond what it ought to have been doing at every stage of the more demanding, complex and opaque indirect mode. In addition, the problem is not really

about the system of primaries but the character of the political players.

“Mr. President, in addition to giving your assent to the Bill, we urge you to advise the political parties to embark on internal reforms, adopt digitization of membership, operate a standard register and make a success of the direct primaries with acceptable guidelines.

“We, however, concede that after testing the exclusive use of direct primaries in the coming governorship primaries in Ekiti and Osun states, the process could be re-evaluated to assess the impacts and challenges. We must continue to learn and get better, but never afraid of taking bold steps”, the Coalition stated.

JOEL AJAYI

A group known as Clean-Up Nigeria, CUN, a frontline international Non Governmental Organisation, revealed that, performance indicators from studies shows that over 172.7 million Nigerians in 2021 are living in unclean and dirty environment, compared to 170 million in 2020.

The National Coordinator of the group and National Secretary study group CUU Nigeria, Prince Ene Baba Owoh Jnr made averred on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja, rated Nigeria low on its 2021 Cleanliness Performance monitoring and evaluation study.

According to Baba Owoh Jnr, two percent improvement was recorded in the procurement of waste management equipment by some States and Local councils in the country in 2021, and there was a significant drop in waste management equipment as most previously on ground became unserviceable.

Prince Owoh, however, named Akwa Ibom State as the country’s cleanest State having scored highest in all the ratings.

He regretted that 32 out of 36 States including the rest of FCT outside of Abuja City by the organization’s statistical study are rated as unclean States.

CUU Secretary said the outcome of the studies could be used as catalyst for the modernization of waste management services, and also increase citizenship knowledge, attitude and hygiene practices.

“In 2021 our studies further showed that less than four States who scored above 40% can be considered to be clean, compared to 2020 when there were three states : Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bauchi and four cities namely; Abuja, Uyo, Bauchi and Abakiliki, can be said to be clean in year 2021.

“Performance indicators from our studies show that over 172.7 million Nigerians in 2021 are living in unclean environment, compared to 170 million

in 2020.“Presently only four States in the

country namely Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and Bauchi have sanitary landfills, while the remaining 34 States operate open dumping. This development is not only alarming but calls for urgent intervention in addressing the menace.

“As our graphic chart statistics on monitoring/evaluation of the States have shown seven states such as Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Cross River, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Lagos and Kaduna, who scored above 15% out of the 30% on the streets/roads cleanliness indicators have clean roads in the country.

“Vegetation/drainage control shows that only Akwa Ibom and FCT scored an average of 8% from the 20% marks have effectively managed and sustain vegetation /drainage control, in the country.

“On personal hygiene and sanitation only three States , Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Abuja City, scored above 3% of the 10% and can be said to come

72.7m Nigerians Dwell In Unclean Environment – Group

Members of Social Development Integrated Centre (aka. Social Action) during a One Day National Dialogue on Local Government and National Development: Need for autonomy and National Accountability in Nigeria’s Local Government in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

close to possession of good personal hygiene/sanitation practices in the country

“On the average, only four States : Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Bauchi, can be considered to be clean having scored above 40% respectively.

“Painfully, 32 out of 36 States including the rest of FCT outside of Abuja City by our statistical study are rated as unclean States.

“As observed from our satellite imagery 95% of the States/Towns in the country recorded poor performance under the five variables, in our performance indicators , street/road cleanliness, vegetation control/distilting, waste management services, public opinion pool and knowledge and attitude and practice of hygiene and sanitation.

Except States like Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Kaduna including Abuja metropolis however stepped up their environmental activities during the period under review.

Friday, December 3, 2021



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editorial MISSION STATEMENTOur mission is to create hard-breaking national and international news, as it unfolds. We deliver unparalleled perspectives across multiple categories including politics, health, entertainment, education, classy, judiciary, parliament, foreign affairs, business, sports and more.

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WhoSAIDWhat?IN THE NEWS

“The Panel considered that firing live bullets at unarmed, peaceful and unresisting protesters which led to the death of some of them, was cruel and atrocious on the part of the military and the police. The White Paper ignored these explanations and findings by the Panel[u1] ,”.

– Being response of the Lagos panel on #EndSARS protests countering the position of the state government that no gunshots heralded the protest at Lekki toll gate.

The goals seek to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental in a balanced and integrated manner, building on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and addressing their unfinished business.

Achieving sustainable development in particular eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and combating climate change requires a long-term perspective, with governments, the private sector and civil society working together to tackle global challenges. However, a more uncertain world favours more short-term behaviour. Therefore, private businesses, many of whom already face a range of short-term incentives, hesitate to commit funds to long-term investment projects. During periods of financial insecurity, households often focus on their immediate needs. And policymakers are often guided by short-term political cycles.

Hence, effort is needed at all levels to ensure that strengthened collective action can help reduce global uncertainty, while financial innovation can generate significant progress across the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Weaknesses in the global financial system could pose heightened risks to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Those risks include the volatility of international capital flows, resulting from the short-term nature of many elements of international capital markets; persistent global imbalances; debt sustainability challenges in the public and private sector; and growing monopoly power and less effective competition policies.

It is agreed that well-run national development banks can help countries develop financing options for Sustainable Development Goal-related investments. Such banks should be aligned with the Goals in a holistic way and be considered in integrated national financing frameworks. Collaboration between national development banks and multilateral banks, through co-financing

FROM COVER

International Day Of Banks: For A Better Globalised Economy



NIGERIA

In the country, the transformation in the banking sector with the CBN being the anchor has impacted immeasurably on the Nigerian economy and it cannot be denied that the banking sector needs to be celebrated.

“

or on-lending arrangements, can enhance Goal-related finance through the complementarity of international resources and local market knowledge.

National and regional development banks also play a valuable countercyclical role, especially during financial crises when private sector entities become highly risk-averse. We call upon national and regional development banks to expand their contributions in these areas, and further urge relevant international public and private actors to support such banks in developing countries.

Given statistics from credible sources, Nigeria

had 73.2 million active bank customers in 2019. Compared to 2016, the number of clients increased by over ten million. Moreover, credit card penetration in Nigeria is quite low: less than three percent of people aged 15 and older own a credit card that was at September 2021.

AljazirahNigeria celebrates the banking industry across the globe and indeed in Nigeria for enhancing seamless trade across borders with the ‘tap of a button’. That situation would have been impossible decades ago but for the fresh impetus that has given rise to the upsurge in banking activities.

With the new drive under the keen watch of the nation’s Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under the indefatigable, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, banking penetration assumed an unprecedented level with the sector brimming with enormous feats.

In the country, the transformation in the banking sector with the CBN being the anchor has impacted immeasurably on the Nigerian economy and it cannot be denied that the banking sector needs to be celebrated.

Amid these accolades however, we must come to terms with a few concerns of a cross-section of citizens to the extent that they are being short-changed by the money-deposit banking system which is occasioned by customers complaints including but not limited to, extraneous charges, illegal or unauthorised withdrawals from their accounts, failed transactions, epileptic internet services to few tellers available to attend to a large number of customers who have to stand on their feet in the banking halls without regards to their health status.

Also there has been media reports of banks staff conniving with criminal elements to leak information on customers account information with a view of scamming them of their money and unsolicited SMS messages regarding one service or another. We urge the CBN to continue in its drive to sanitise the sector in its drive to make it a model beyond the continent.

...first in breaking the news

PHOTO OF THE

DAY

“Haggling, watching are parts of the trade in Mararaba Market,

Nasarawa State.

Photo: Danjuma HAT

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First lady, Aisha Buhari, yesterday called for adequate implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security to ensure gender mainstreaming for effective service delivery.

She was speaking at the 2nd Annual Security Forum focusing on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria.

The theme of the event is: “Mainstreaming Gender in National Early Warning System and Responses to Security Challenges’’ at the National Defence College in Abuja.

The first lady expressed optimism that the event would ensure greater opportunities in gender mainstreaming within security sector in the country.

“I am delighted to be part

First Lady Seeks Implementation Of UN Resolution On Women, Others

NUT Backs Sacking Of Fake Teachers In Kaduna if…

of this 2nd Annual Forum which serves as a viable platform to deepen discussion on accelerating gender mainstreaming within our Security Sector.

“I am optimistic that the outcome of this forum will ensure equal opportunities for all officers in the sector with the hope of ensuring sustainable peace and security in our dear country.

“While expressing my

Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, yesterday backed the state government’s decision to sack 233 teachers alleged to have been working with fake certificates.

The Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Dalhatu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Kaduna that the union would not defend any teacher with fake certificates.

“As far as NUT is concerned, we will not defend them if the allegation of tendering fake certificates is true.

“We have instructed the affected teachers that if any of them have a genuine certificate and his or her name is on the list, they should submit the

certificate to us.“We will follow up with

Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, to rectify the issue’’, he said.

On the competency test for public primary school teachers, the NUT chairman said that the union’s decision not to participate in the test had not changed.

According to him, only the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has the mandate to test and certify a professional teacher and not any state government agency.

“We will not go for any test. If the Kaduna SUBEB wants to assess the performance of our members, it should follow them

optimism that this gathering will provide a road map for expediting action on the implementation of UN Resolution on Women, Peace and Security Agenda within the Security Sector.

“I will like to call on all stakeholders to match the outcome of this meeting with action’’, she said.

Buhari, also used the opportunity to declare her commitment and support to

sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.

“I therefore declare my commitment to ensuring peace as well as encouraging the effectiveness of all established structures and networks towards adequate implementation of the Peace Resolution”, she said

The first lady was later decorated as the super champion of the Nigerian Mothers in recognition of her role in championing the course of

Aisha

to the class and assess them while they are teaching pupils’’, he said.

The NUT National Executive Council had on Nov. 18 directed its members in Kaduna State not to participate in the competency test organised by the state government.

The Deputy National President of the union, Mr Kelvin Nwankwo, who gave the directive, insisted that teachers’ competence had been proved by various accredited universities and colleges of education.

He stressed that the teachers were also tested before they were hired.

According to him, the NUT affirms and relies on the

women and girl-child in Nigeria by the Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen.

The event was part of 16-days activism on Gender Based Violence Women and Girls.

The UN has set aside Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 to commemorate International day for the elimination of violence against women.

The theme for 2021 day is:“Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now!

provisions of Section 1(d) of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, Act 2004, which made provisions for the regulation and control of the teaching profession.

“As teachers who belong to a professional body, registered and licensed, we shall only subject ourselves to any professional recommendation issued by our Regulatory Council, and to no other body’’, Nwankwo said.

NAN reports that the list of the affected teachers provided by the Kaduna SUBEB shows that 210 out of the 233 affected teachers claimed to have obtained their certificates at the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged rural dwellers in the state to have valid bank accounts as to benefit from various governments’ micro-credit and empowerment programmes and be financially included.

Diri stated this at Kaiama, headquarters of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, on Monday while flagging off the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, digital financial inclusion drive for women and youths in the state.

The governor encouraged the rural dwellers to take advantage of the CBN financial inclusion drive to open bank accounts.

He noted that his administration in the state had various financial and empowerment programmes, in partnership with the Federal Government, which could only be accessed through bank accounts.

Diri, represented by the Permanent Secretary, office of Secretary to the State Government, Mr Anthony Orwells, said that there some empowerment programmes which the state government was doing in partnership with CBN and other federal institutions.

“However, you will need bank accounts to be financially included. Hence the need to encourage this to ensure that everyone, including the rural dwellers, benefits and is carried along in the scheme of things”, he said.

Diri Urges Bayelsa Rural Dwellers To Obtain Bank Accounts

Federal Government yesterday in Uduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, inaugurated a 40.7 kilometre-road linking communities in Ebonyi and Enugu states.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, performed the inauguration on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari restated commitment of the Federal Government to improving road infrastructure across Nigeria to enhance the ease of doing business.

The road project which traversed Ishiagu and Uburu in Ivo and Ohaozara LGAs of Ebonyi and Nnenwe and Uduma in Aninri, Enugu state was awarded in 2012 by the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan while construction work started in 2013.

The president said that the inauguration of the project would accelerate movement of farm produce from the hinterlands to the urban areas.

He said that the project was divided into sections, adding that section ‘1’ of the project is 26.7 kilometers traversing Nnenwe – Uduma-Uburu roads in Enugu State while section 2 spur to Ishiagu – Mile 2 road in Ebonyi covering 14 km.

Buhari while handing over the projects for use, urged members of the benefitting communities to protect the infrastructure and other government amenities in their localities.

FG Inaugurates 40.7km Road Linking Ebonyi, Enugu Communities

Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS, popularly known as VIO on Thursday attributed high rate of road crashes in the country to substandard training by driving schools.

This is contained in a communiqué issued in Abuja by Mr Bepeh Paul, VIO Directors Board National Chairman after a three-day conference by members of the board.

The conference urged states to begin certification of drivers, noting that there is inadequate attention to standardisation of driving schools and quality of drivers’ education.

It observed that many states did not have standard training institutes to certify professional drivers and driving schools instructors.

It resolved that states and the FCT should embark on massive driver education to create awareness towards improving driving culture.

VIO Attributes High Road Crashes To Poor Driving Schools

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Saudi Arabia has launched a health probe after reporting the country’its first positive case of omicron COVID-19 variant.

The Kingdom joined more than 21 other nations in recording an omicron infection after a Saudi national who flew in on a passenger plane from a North African country tested positive.

The individual was placed in isolation, along with a number of other people they had been in contact with, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

“An epidemiological investigation has started, and the case was sent to quarantine, where accredited health procedures were followed,” the SPA report said.

During a specially convened Saudi Ministry of Health press conference, ministry spokesman, Dr Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said there was still much to learn about the new variant and warned against spreading false information about it.

“Health experts across the world and the Kingdom are closely monitoring the situation and more research needs to be done to determine its lethality. At this stage, prevention is better than cure and standard precautions must continue to be practiced,” he added.

A Virologist and Assistant Professor at Jazan University’s College of Medical Sciences, Dr Abdullah Algaissi, recently told Arab News that “based on what we know from the genetic sequencing,

KSA Probes First Omicron Variant Case

British Consulate Hosts Reception To Mark Inaugural F1 Grand Prix

Saudi Arabia has launched a health probe after reporting the country’s first positive case of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

we don’t have information that could tell us if these mutations will make the virus more lethal, more transmissible, if it will impact the immune response either after infection or vaccination. As of now, we don’t know.”

Al-Aly pointed out the importance of people completing vaccination programmes and recommended that anyone who had gone six months since having their second jab should receive a booster, especially those aged over 65.

Health officials have said that third doses offer increased

protection against COVID-19 and can prevent infection or milder illness with symptoms.

According to the US CDC, data from clinical trials showed that a booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series six months earlier or who received a Johnson and Johnson/Janssen single-dose vaccine two months earlier.

With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against COVID-19, including the delta

variant. For Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson and Johnson/Janssen, clinical trials also revealed that a booster jab helped prevent COVID-19 with symptoms.

Till date, more than 47.4 million vaccine doses have been administered in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Aly urged people to keep a check on their health status via the ministry-approved Tawakkalna app, to self-isolate where necessary, and continue to follow precautionary measures brought in at the start of the pandemic.

“Masks continue to be a very important protective measure

against any infection,” he added.Health officials are stationed

at the Kingdom’s ports to check the temperatures of arriving passengers.

News of the omicron case came as Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on direct travel from India, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia although arrivals would need to enter institutional quarantine for five days.

On Wednesday, the Kingdom reported 34 new COVID-19 cases and 26 recoveries. One death was recorded, and 39 patients remained in critical condition.

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British Consulate in Jeddah recently hosted a special reception to celebrate the inaugural Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 that roars into action in the Red Sea port city on Friday.

The event, organised in partnership with Saudi Motorsport Co., was attended by the Chairman of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and SMC, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, and SMC Chief Executive Officer, Martin Whitaker, along with senior business and government figures.

The Kingdom’s first female professional racing driver, Reema Juffali, was also among the guests who were treated to a display of some of the best of British engineering and motorsport.

On show at the reception was the

legendary Saudia airlines-sponsored 1980 Williams FW07 Formula 1 racing car, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s long relationship with Formula 1. This classic car will be driven each day of the sporting weekend on the new Jeddah Corniche Circuit alongside Aston Martin safety vehicles also featuring at the race meeting.

Speaking at the reception, the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Neil Crompton, said: “The debut of Formula 1 in the Kingdom is another important first for Saudi Arabia. I am delighted to celebrate it here in Jeddah and look forward to watching the race with our Saudi hosts and friends.

“Formula 1 is an industry with deep roots in the UK. With seven out of the 10 F1 teams based in the UK, the event will showcase British

innovation and manufacturing excellence on the amazing new Jeddah Corniche Circuit – another great example of the strong collaboration between our two countries.”

British firms are at the forefront of the motorsport industry’s rapid technological innovation. Increasingly, the technology used in the sector is filtering down into the wider automotive sector and other industries such as health and infrastructure.

At the start of the coronavirus disease, British Formula 1 teams set up the Project Pitlane initiative to utilise the industry’s manufacturing expertise to support the development of new COVID-19 respiratory devices.

British Consul General, Seif

Usher, who also attended the Jeddah reception, said: “Formula 1 encapsulates so much of what Vision 2030 is seeking to achieve, bringing world-class technology and creativity to the Kingdom, and boosting efforts to expand the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

“The new Saudi Motorsport Co., led by CEO Martin Whitaker, is doing an amazing job to develop the motorsport industry in the Kingdom, building on the successful Saudi UK partnership of KAUST, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the famous F1 racing team McLaren.

“And with millions of global viewers turning on to watch the race on Sunday evening, this is a hugely exciting time for everyone in Saudi Arabia.





Saudi Architecture and Design Commission on Wednesday launched the King Salman Urban Charter for Architecture and Urbanism initiative during a special ceremony at Tuwaiq Palace, in Riyadh.

Government officials, including the Deputy Minister of Culture, Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, and the commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Sumaya Al-Solaiman, attended the event. The exhibition is an urban vision inspired by the monarch.

Speaking at the launch, Al-Solaiman said: “I extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the generous support of the cultural sector in the Kingdom and for drawing a distinctive cultural identity for our country in all our development fields, including the field of architecture, which has received special care that is reflected in urban values.”

King Salman spent more than 50

years as governor of Riyadh where he drove through urbanisation schemes while also preserving the authentic cultural identity of the region.

The exhibition, opened in Riyadh, marked the launch of King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism which aims to celebrate and promote the national architectural identity of cities throughout the Kingdom.

Other charter launches will take place in the country as part of a traveling exhibition visiting cities including Jeddah, Abha, and Dammam. Each event will highlight the specific architecture of the region and the pivotal role played by King Salman in bringing the concepts to life.

The Riyadh exhibition, open to the public for four weeks, contains many architectural and rehabilitation projects from the capital that won international and local awards. It also takes visitors through a timeline of development of the city beginning with the birth of King Salman in

1935 in a section titled, “Growing Up in The Old Riyadh.”

The stages of urbanisation development in Riyadh, including “Accelerated Modernity” in the 1950s with pressure to equip residents with modern architectural amenities, were also showcased along with a section focusing on the steps taken by King Salman to preserve the architectural identity of the capital during the modernisation programme.

“King Salman chose to draw inspiration from our history and our authentic cultural heritage. In the King Salman urban charter, we extracted the extensive guiding values and reformulated them in a scientific template in order to enrich urban thought, deepen experiences and dialogue, and create local identities,” Al-Solaiman added.

In order to create the charter, a major study was conducted on the different types of architecture from various regions in order to capture the authentic urban identity of the Kingdom.

Southern African country, Angola has opened its embassy in Riyadh with the aim of enhancing bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to the media, Angolan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Frederico Manuel dos Santos e Silva Cardoso said: “For us, it is a very important moment because being here will allow us to better know the Kingdom and its people, administration and businesspersons. This will help in strengthening our bilateral relations.

“Familiarity with the situation here will help boost trade relations between the two sides.

“Both Saudi Arabia and Angola are OPEC member states. Our principal relation is that of

King Salman Architecture, Urbanism Exhibition Launches In Riyadh

Diplomatic Quarter: Angola Opens Embassy In Riyadh To Strengthen Bilateral Ties

The Riyadh exhibition open to the public for four weeks contains many architectural and rehabilitation projects from the capital that won international and local awards.

consultation within the OPEC forum, taking the most important decisions about oil commerce.”

The envoy said the opening of the diplomatic missions in Riyadh will boost OPEC’s partnership between the two countries, the ambassador added.

“There are a lot of areas in which both countries could work together. We have a very high potential in agriculture, and we could work together in this area in order to have a mix of investments in both countries,” he added.

The envoy added that Saudi Arabia is also going to open its embassy in Angola soon. Currently, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Zambia is also in charge of Angola.

Bilateral relations between the

Kingdom and Angola began in 2007 and were reinforced in 2019 with the visit of a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia to the Southern African nation.

In January, Saudi’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a meeting with his Angolan counterpart, Tete Antonio, during which they reviewed their relations and ways to develop them across various fields.

The opening ceremony of the embassy was attended by a number of Saudi officials and diplomats from embassies in Riyadh.

In his welcome remarks, the Angolan ambassador thanked guests for attending this important occasion and “the Saudi authorities for the warm reception.”

Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, Hissein Brahim Taha, met a number of foreign ambassadors to Saudi Arabia at the organisation’s General Secretariat in Jeddah this week.

On Wednesday, Norwegian Ambassador, Thomas Lid Ball discussed with the OIC chief ways in which cooperation between his country and the organisation can be enhanced, and they reviewed international issues of common interest.

Taha expressed his appreciation for Norway’s role in promoting international peace and security and its support for development efforts in OIC member states. Lid Ball praised the OIC for its stature and positive role in the international arena.

Also on Wednesday, Taha welcomed Ambassador Zakaria Fadoul Kitir of Chad. They discussed bilateral relations, how they might be developed, in addition to ways of strengthening Islamic solidarity and joint Islamic action.

On Tuesday, he held talks with the Sudanese Ambassador, Adel Bashir and Nigerian Ambassador, Yahaya Lawal. They congratulated the new OIC chief on taking office last month and discussed their countries’ relations with the OIC.

Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season has recorded over 4.5 million visits in a month, state news agency, SPA reported.

More than 122,000 jobs were also offered by the season, SPA added.

The Groves, one of the season’s 14 zones, opened its doors on Monday for visitors to experience the site’s spa, restaurants, shops and shows.

The Groves has combined work and relaxation through an area called The House which offers business meeting rooms in a luxurious environment.

The Riyadh Season 2021 was launched on October 20 and includes 14 areas; Boulevard Riyadh City, Via Riyadh, Combat Field, Al-Athriyah, Riyadh Oasis, The Groves, Riyadh Winter Wonderland, Riyadh Front, Al-Murabba, Riyadh Pulse, Riyadh Safari, Al-Salam Tree, Khalouha and Zaman Village.

OIC Chief Holds Talks In Jeddah With Envoys

Riyadh Season Gets More Than 4.5m Visits

King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve has opened its doors to reveal its treasures to visitors at the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival.

The festival, held at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Mulham, north of Riyadh, is running until December 16.

The reserve is known for its broad geographical scope, which includes Al-Tanhat, Al-Khafs, Noura parks, and parts of the Al-Summan plateau and the Al-Dahna desert, covering approximately 28,000 sq. km.

The wild animals and birds include the steppe eagle, the griffon vulture, the Arabian oryx, the goitered gazelle, Arabian wolf, sand cat, Arabian red fox, honey badger and porcupines.

The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve hosts ample vegetation such as perennial ruminant, wild sidr, bitter melon, acacia, ragweed, grass, buttercup, lavender, star anthracnose, which is famous in Chinese medicine, and the thorny ladder tree that can reach up to five meters in height.

The reserve is also known for its topography, sites, and parks for visitors to the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, including Al-Dahna Desert, famed for its dunes, the Al-Summan plateau east of the Najd Plateau, and Rawdat Al-Tanhat, known as the King’s Forest known due to its lush and fertile land.

The reserve also includes Qalta rock formations, also known as Qalta Umm Qalidah, east of Tamir. It is characterised by natural carvings that have become waterfalls, which look like natural pools amid the eroded rocks.

The fourth day of the festival showed fierce competition between falcons in the speed category. In the first round, the first-place winner in the 400-meter run came in at a speed of 19.125 seconds, second place followed closely with 19.224 seconds, while the third place hit 19.261 seconds.

Winner in the second round went to a falcon that crossed the 400-meter run at a speed of 18.650 seconds. Second place went to a time of 18.671 seconds, with third place going to a time difference of no more than 0.2 seconds.

The festival allocated financial prizes of about SR25 million, $6.66 million, to the winners of the Al-Milwah and Al-Mazayen competitions, and for the champion of the King Abdulaziz Cup.

Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Reveals Its Treasures At Falconry Festival

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OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha with Norwegian Ambassador, Thomas Lid Ball

Ahead Tariff Hike: Power Generation Drops By 849.2Mw

Kwara Leveraging On Peace To Record Huge Strides – Gov Abdulrazaq

BY CHARLES EBI

Latest data obtained from the Nigeria power grid shows that electricity generation on the national grid plunged by 849.2 megawatts, as power producers blamed this on the poor utilisation of energy.The shortfall occurred at a time consumers are already embittered over electricity tariff scheduled to take effect next year and the recent Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, announcement of a 32.8% and 21.7% increase in the cost of purchasing electricity metres which increase price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44, 896.17 to an upward reviewed price of N58, 661. 69.A study of the country’s grid performance as posted showed that a peak power generation of 4,898MW was recorded on November 26, but this dropped to 4,048.8MW on November 27.Our correspondent also observed that the total energy generated on November 27 was 108,361.39 megawatt-hour, which was lower than the 111,436.31MWh that was recorded the preceding day.Findings from the latest report on the grid performance also indicated that the total energy of 106,802.88MWh that was sent out on November 27, was also lower than the 109,883.01MWh, which was sent out the preceding day. But power producers blamed the drop in generation to the poor utilisation of generated electricity.Reacting, the Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies, GenCos, Joy Ogaji, said GenCos were not dispatching at full capacity due to the poor utilisation of what they produce.She said, “There may be many reasons for the ‘seemingly perceived poor or lack of generation. I want to state for the records that

no single generation company is allowed, by the system, to send out its available capacity.“I make bold these claims and wish to be corrected with facts not political claims. I repeat! All GenCos are sub-optimally dispatched, with many units idle”.She argued that capacity utilisation in any market was often used as a measure of productive efficiency and stressed that the average production costs tend to fall as output rises.So higher utilisation can reduce unit costs, bringing about a more competitive market

BY ABDUL SALAUDEEN, ILORIN

Kwara State is leveraging the peaceful co-existence, diverse cultures, hospitality and other variables to make the state the best investment destination in Nigeria, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said yesterday.Speaking at the official opening of the Federation of the Public Service Games in Ilorin, the Governor expressed hope that the coming years will offer Kwara a ticket to become the Nigerian capital for digital economy, tourism and agribusiness along key value chains.“Kwara State has over the years been a peaceful State. We are blessed with rich human and natural resources. And we are a very diverse, hospitable and peace-loving people. We are therefore leveraging these variables to make the state the best investment destination in Nigeria”, he said.“In the coming years, we want to become the Nigerian capital for digital economy, tourism and agribusiness along key value chains.“We are making this happen through our

which makes plants financially viable”, Ogaji stated. She added, “The truth is, we are losing generation units due to these games. Do you also know that the wellbeing of the power generation company goes beyond efficient operations to include its ability to generate income from power generated?”She said the APGC carried out frequency analysis from January to October 2021 and there was no one day that the grid met the grid code requirements as contained in Section 15.3.1 of the Grid Code.The GenCos argued that maintaining a consistent electrical frequency was important because multiple frequencies could not

strategic investments in the innovation hub, Dolby studio-fitted visual arts centre, garment factory, largest squash court in the country, international conference centre, roads linking our major agricultural and mining hubs, and manpower training and welfare for our civil servants. “On top of that is our deliberate steps to further ease the business climate through necessary legal frameworks”, he added.The Governor said the Games the first of its kind to hold in Kwara since it began in 1980 offered a platform to strengthen national unity, promote team spirit, and excellent physical and mental health among public servants. “It also serves as an avenue to appraise your contributions to nation building, and plan for a sustainable future”, the Governor added.AbdulRazaq, while expressing his delight at the glamour and turnout of compatriots at the venue, said his administration has invested heavily in renovation of many facilities in the state’s Stadium complex. He assured the sports enthusiasts of their

operate alongside each other without damaging equipment.“But do you know what causes high frequency? It is not low generation but poor utilisation of generation which forces the System Operator to ramp down the GenCos”, Ogaji stated.However, one of the consumers of power has reacted on the way the electricity sector is treating consumers with poor services despite clandestine and arbitrary increment without adequate services to compliment the high cost of energy in Nigeria. You would recall that Nigerians are paying higher taxation today than ever and ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt. Taking a stand on the poor electricity production despite the privatisation of the sector, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, said it was high time that the government reviewed the privatised sector.He said, “Exactly eight years ago, the power sector was privatised and there was a paradigm shift from public sector-driven business model to a supposedly private sector driven business model.“Taking a glossary look at the general performances of the power sector, the picture is fluid and toxic and there is little or nothing to celebrate. Today, after the distribution companies manage to pay the monthly salaries of staff there is usually no other money to invest in improving their networks”. He stated that Nigeria had no accurate customer data, adding that this was conservatively put at between eight million to 12 million.“Without credible data it will be difficult to plan and be taken seriously. Tariff is usually tied to customer data. Data is needed for mass meter roll out”, Olubiyo said.He added, “The post privatisation bitter experiences of the end users of electricity in Nigeria have been reduced to a scam of sort. And it seems to the end users that Nigerians have been sold a dummy”.In a related development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria recently announced that it would install a new 33kV current transformer and circuit breaker on its 30MVA 132/33kV power transformer in its Suleja 132/33kV transmission substation in Niger State.It, however, stated that the 45MVA, 132/33kV transformer 2 in the same substation would be temporarily interrupted for two hours within the proposed six-hour time frame required to install the new transformer.

safety throughput their stay in the state.The opening ceremony featured march-past by officials of various federal establishments, including Federal Ministry of Health, National Emergency Maintenance Agency ,NEMA, National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, and Federal Ministry of Finance, among others Comrade Aloku Amaebi, National President for FEPSGA, said Kwara won the hosting lisence on the basis of the Governor’s exceptional commitment and investment in sports in the state.“We singled you out as Governor that has performed well in this country, most especially in sports sector. We considered the state as choice to host the games this year because of the existing peace here. Peace and security being enjoyed in Kwara State is unparalleled compared to other states”, he affirmed.He commended AbdulRazaq for giving them enabling environment to have the sporting activities hitch-free and colourful.

GenCos losing generation units – Ogaji

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Earlier in November, the case was adjourned till January 19, 2022, after lawyers of the defendant walked out of the courtroom.

Kanu’s lawyers walked out of the court in protest over the refusal of the DSS to allow some other lawyers in the team to gain access to the courtroom, including Bruce Fein, Kanu’s lawyer from the US.

The IPOB leader was on October 26 re-arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

the qualifications they presented.

He said so far, the board had verified 451 certificates by contacting the institutions that awarded them.

According to him, “Nine of the 13 institutions contacted have responded”.

“The responses show that 233 teachers presented fake certificates. This represents 51% of the 451 certificates on which responses have been received from the awarding institutions.

“One institution disowned 212 of these 233 certificates.

“The board will dismiss the 233 teachers who presented the fake certificates and their files forwarded to the Ministry of Justice to initiate prosecution for forgery’’, the chairman said.

According to him, the names of the 233 teachers found to have presented fake certificates will be uploaded on the website of the Kaduna State Government. “When the Kaduna State Government recruited 25,000 new teachers after the 2017 competency test, it made it clear that it would continue to assess its teachers both for their own improvement and for better delivery of learning outcomes for pupils’’, he added. Abdullahi said the state would soon conduct competency test for its teachers, adding that the test would be followed up with series of trainings.

“This will begin in January 2022 for 12,254 teachers.

“The board has signed Memoranda of Understanding with the National Teachers Institute, the College of Education, Gidan Waya and the Federal College of Education, Zaria, on the training’’, he said.

Court To Hear Application On Kanu’s Bail, Others January 18

BY JOS EZUMA, PORT-HARCOURT

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday said he would not impose any governorship aspirant of his choice on the people of Rivers.

Wike, who gave the assurance in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Kelvin Ebiri, assured that the leadership of the party would meet to decide who to support at the appropriate time.

Wike however said that


N i g e r i a n C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission, NCC, has announced the qualification of three telecoms companies as approved bidders of the forthcoming 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum auction for the deployment of Fifth generation, 5G, network in the country.

The bidders that have

met the criteria for participation are include MTN Nigeria Plc., Mafab Communications Limited and Airtel Networks Limited a statement by NCC’s director of public affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, has said.

It indicated that “consequently, the stage is now set for the three companies to participate in the Main Auction as well as in the mandatory

Mock Auction process, which will come as a precursor to the Main Auction”.

The Commission has also reaffirmed the dates for the conduct of both the mock auction and the main auction. The mock auction is scheduled to hold on Friday, December 10 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 11:00 a.m., while the main auction

will hold on Monday, December 13 at the same venue and at the same time.

MTN Nigeria recommended the reserve price be lowered to $50 million during deliberations on the draft information memorandum, also requesting an extension of the licence validity period to 20 years from the proposed 10 years.

I Will Not Impose My Successor –Wike

5G: Three Bidders Qualify For 3.5Ghz Spectrum Auction

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Aishatu Dukku, Chairman Councilors Forum in Gombe State, Hon. Yahaya Yusuf;Leader House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Chief of Staff to House leader, Umar Ahmed Nafada, during the Councilors Forum visit to the Leader, at the National Assembly Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

BY SULEIMAN MUSTAPHA, ABUJA

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated that henceforth it would rather prefer to sponsor people to universities in Nigeria, instead of sending them abroad, a special assistant to the NDDC managing director, Udengs Eradiri, has said.

Eradiri, stated this yesterday at an event organised to commemorate the World Youth Day in Calabar, Cross River State.

He said that, “We cannot be sending people to study accountancy or law in foreign universities; rather we can send someone to read forensic law as a specialty that is not so available in Nigeria.

“We will plunge those monies in our universities in the Niger Delta to develop them and affiliate them with foreign universities”.

He said NDDC would rather invest the money in universities in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the gesture is to develop tertiary institutions in the nation and affiliate them with their foreign counterparts to make them centres of excellence to train thousands of Nigerians.

“On skills acquisition, NDDC is looking at the areas where we have comparative advantage as a nation to build the capacity of the youths. These areas include agriculture, the creative industry and manufacturing”, he said.

No More Foreign Education Sponsorship –NDDC

he is obliged to ensure that Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, wins the 2023 governorship election in Rivers.

“One mistake I will not make is to impose somebody. From my experience as a student of history, reality has shown that it is difficult for you to say Joseph is the man I can trust.

”Until you give somebody power and money, that is only when you will know

whether that person is trustworthy or not”, he said.

Wike stated that God would not allow someone who will destroy all the remarkable progress the state had made over the years to be the next governor.

”God will ensure that it is only someone who is courageous, firm and ready to protect the interest of Rivers that will succeed me.

“Rivers is a state that

so many people have interest in. It is a state that you have to put your feet on the ground. It is a state that you have to annoy a lot of Nigerians and a lot of Nigerians will hate you.

“But what is important is for you to know is what is good for your people and stand for your people. Do not allow personal interest to sway you against the interest of your people”, Wike stated.

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Friday, December 3, 2021 9www.aljazirahnews.com

Dr.Pondei

This is to inform the general public that GABRIEL was omitted from my name. That my full names are ESSIEN

BLESSING GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAMECHANGE OF NAME

Fake Certificates: 233 Teachers To Go In Kaduna

FROM COVER PAGE

FROM COVER PAGE

This space is for sale

DTSG Harps On Curbing Cultism In Schools

Plateau: Taroh Vanguard Protest Accuses Lalong Of Impunity

BY OWEN AKENZUA, ASABA

Delta State Government has called on parents and community leaders to evolve measures towards eradicating the menace of cultism and other social vices among students.

Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, made the call at Ughelli yesterday during a stakeholders meeting on the activities of some students of Ekugbo Grammar School, Ekugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area.

The students had destroyed some facilities in the school

BY UKANDI ODEY, JOS

Taroh Vanguard in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State has shut down all the major roads leading to the council’s secretariat and grounded socio-economic activities, even as they vowed to end Governor Simon Lalong’s rule of impunity.

They also vowed to resist the ongoing illegality being perpetrated by the Plateau State Government to install Zulfa Rimven of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as chairman against the judgment of a Jos High Court of November 2 that Joshua Ubandoma should remain in office till October 2022.

Irrespective of political

including the principal’s car.Ezewu, who stressed

the need for good parental upbringing of children, decried the unwholesome attitude of some students of Ekugbo Grammar School.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Schools, Mr Augustine Oghoro, noted that most of the things were happening as a result of teachers and community collaboration with the students, but commended the people of Ekugbo community for their objective leadership.

Oghoro reminded them that it was the responsibility

differences, the group blocked Langtang/Shendam road and Langtang/Jos road carrying APC, PDP, ADP and YPP flags, demanding that Governor Lalong should as a matter of urgency allow the rule of law to prevail and direct the commissioner of police to allow Ubandoma and his deputy, Daniel Balbong to resume work as chairman and deputy respectively without delay.

They also expressed disappointment that the governor is the architect and brain behind the leadership crises rocking the council in an attempt to install his stooges against the order of a State High Court which ruled that Ubandoma should be reinstated immediately as the duly elected chairman of Langtang North.

of the community to ensure the security of schools, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration had emphasized the need to protect schools, even as he urged the community to fix the damaged facilities.

Narrating the incident, the Principal of Ekugbo Grammar School, Mr Sunday Onoshagbegbe, said the school had been confronted with security challenges and that the ugly incident led to the destruction of his car.

He added that the car of a female teacher was damaged on November 15, even as he disclosed that before the security men could intervene,

The Convener and Coordinator of Taroh Vanguard, Boniface Ndam, told newsmen that the governor should be held responsible for any bloodshed in Taroh land as a result of his attempt to impose Barrister Rimven on them.

He argued that the political interest and ambition of the governor is not worth the blood of anybody in Taroh land and the entire Plateau State, noting that the events unfolding in Langtang North and the entire state are fearful, and called for serious concern.

Taroh Vanguard also expressed worry that Langtang North is the only council with two chairmen, stressing that Ubandoma was sworn in by Lalong in

the destruction had been done.

He said on that fateful day, a vigilante group had arrested a student whom, according to them, dressed like a cultist and the development made other students to demand for his immediate release.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the President-General of Ughelli, Prince Pius Omobaye, President of Ekugbo Community, Baker Benard and Chairman of the Parents Teachers’ Association, PTA, Elder Sunday Ukeh, appealed to the state government not to close down the school as a result of the unwarranted activities of the students.

2019 as affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The group therefore called on Rimven to stop parading himself as the chairman of Langtang North, warning that any attempt to sign official documents or transact business on behalf of Langtang North is illegal and unconstitutional.

Also speaking on behalf of Taroh elders, Elder Robert Soldier said they are appealing to Governor Lalong to allow the chairman to complete his three years tenure in office.

According to him, they are not against the governor, rather Taroh Elders are peace loving people who are in the forefront of ensuring the unity, progress and development of Taroh land and Plateau State in general.

BY ASIYA UMAR ADAM

Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, CSMC, Bethel Cathedral, Numan, Yola District, Adamawa State celebrated its Annual Harvest Anniversary Thanksgiving Service recently, with a call on Christians to let the lessons learnt and the spirit imbibed during the harvest season to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.

In his sermon at the special thanksgiving service with the theme: “Harvest Of Liberation”, Special Apostle Segun Awofadeji stressed the need for Christians to be their brothers’ keeper and assist the less privileged and vulnerable for the spirit of harvest to germinate in their daily lives.

Quoting copiously from the Holy Bible, he said “Psalm 128:3 tells us that God ordained the harvest season with the major aim for man to eat the fruits of his labour. The harvest season is one of the principal covenants of God with man, and that is why he gives seed to the sower to ensure food on the table for the eater”.

“This is the reason why the harvest season is usually a period of celebration, jubilation and happiness, and it is also a time to gather in the rewards of our labour or harvest (Proverb 6:8)”.

According to him,” Life is about sowing and reaping. It is either you are planting or harvesting. We are on earth as a seed, someone will harvest us someday. So be not deceived, and Jehovah is not mocked so whatsoever you sow determines what you reap both in frequency, quality and quantity”.

While quoting from the Gospel of Saint Matthew chapter 6:21 that “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be”, he enjoined Christians “to always desire and pursue the growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom’’.

He also declared that the “harvest season is a period when we re-assess and reappraise our relationship with God, a period of thanksgiving when we show gratitude to God, the Lord of harvest and also put our nation in prayers for us to overcome the multitude of challenges facing us”.

In his remarks, the Church Secretary/Organist, Special Apostle Moyosolu Sonaike called on Christians to go back to God, work in his way and stop depending on their ability and knowledge in their daily activities, especially in this end time.

CSMC Admonishes Christians To Imbibe Spirit Of HarvestADAMAWA

JOS

DELTA

BY ABDUL SALAUDEEN, ILORIN

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, yesterday, secured the conviction of one Arowosegbe Feranmi, who claimed to be a native of Offa in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State for posing as a citizen of Germany to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Arowosegbe was prosecuted on two counts before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.

The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.

One of the charges reads: ‘’That you Arowosegbe Feranmi (Alias Betty Joe) sometime in August 2021, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did cheat by impersonation, when you pretended to be Betty Joe, a white female, resident in the United States of America, with Gmail Account [email protected] and induced one Joluko, a German Citizen, to send 370 Euros to you Via Gift Card and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.’’

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Rashidat Alao, drew the attention of the court to a plea bargain agreement entered by the defendant with the commission.

She urged the court to consider the plea of guilt entered by the defendant, his extra-judicial statements and the uncontroverted testimonies of the sole prosecution witness to convict the defendant in line with the plea bargain agreement and the provisions of the law.

Justice Abdulgafar, in his judgement, said “the court has found merit in the case brought by the prosecution”.

The judge convicted and sentenced Arowosegbe to six months imprisonment on each of the two counts to run concurrently at Mandala Correctional Centre, which should be suspended.

According to the judge, “the convict is to forfeit the iPhone 11 used to perpetrate the crime and the sum of N300,000, which he benefited from the crime to the federal government.

Court Jails German Impersonator In IlorinKWARA

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L-R: Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea, Mr. Kim Young-Chae, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria/South Korea parliamentary friendship group, Hon. Joseph Asuku Bello and Member of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Isyaka, during the parliamentary friendship group visit to National Assembly, in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

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BY ABDUL SALAUDEEN ILORIN

National Population Commission, NPC, has commenced the second pre-test census exercise in Kwara State.

A statement signed by the Federal Commissioner for the state, Abdulrazaq Gidado, yesterday, said the exercise will take place in four local government areas.

The exercise which will start from Friday, December 3 to Friday, December 10, will take place in Ilorin South, Kaiama, Offa and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas.

The commissioner appealed to the affected local government areas to cooperate with the field functionaries for the desired results to be achieved at the expected time.

Gidado assured that the necessary security measures have been put in place for the safety of the field functionaries.

He said the commission is collaborating with security agencies and traditional rulers to ensure the safety of the functionaries involved in the exercise in the affected local government areas.

NPC Begins 2nd Pre-Test Census Exercise In KwaraKWARA

ZAMFARA

BY HENRY IBYA, MAKURDI

Wife of a governorship hopeful in Benue State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mrs Josephine Ubwa, has assured Benue women that her husband, Dr Paul Ubwa, would ensure women participation in governance, as well as prioritize gender based programmes, for improved living standard.

She gave the assurance on Wednesday during a consultative visit to Zone A Food Sellers Association at Katsina-Ala, to drum support for her husband, as part of her ongoing consultative visit to women groups, political and non-partisan associations to intimate them of the need to support her husband.

Ubwa told the women that her husband’s campaign organization has placed emphasizes on issues concerning women rights as a demonstration of his commitment towards their cause, stressing that a vote for him means total upliftment of their living standard.

She expressed appreciation to the members of Zone A Food Sellers Association for the unity of purpose existing among them.

Ubwa also charged the women to extend the bond of cooperation and unity of purpose that has made them strong as an association to their homes by preaching peace so that the larger society can embrace it.

The wife of the governorship hopeful assured Benue women that if her husband is given the mandate to become governor, his administration would assist them to improve their businesses, through granting of interest friendly soft loans, timely provision of fertilizer to boost food production and appointment of women into government offices among other welfare packages.

In a welcome address, the President of the food association, Mrs Ayali said though, the association is non-partisan, but as citizens of the country they are at liberty to exercise their franchise at the appropriate time for a candidate of their choice, and thanked Mrs Ubwa, for identifying with them.

The president on behalf of members of the association prayed God to grant Ubwa and her husband their heart desire but charged them to be peaceful in the course of the campaign.

2023: Guber Aspirant’s Wife Assures Women Of Upliftment ProgrammesBENUE

BY AHMAD IBRAHIM GUSAU

A group, Zamfara State Patriotic Association, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and elders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to save the party from collapse.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Nabature, made the call while addressing a press conference in Gusau on Wednesday.

“There are some dark horses trying to destroy the party before the 2023 general elections if things do not go their way,” Nabature alleged.

He said the association had observed with dismay that some governors are working to destroy the party if their excesses are not checked.

The association noted that if the excesses of APC governors are not checked, the party would be history before the 2023 polls.

He cited the crisis rocking the party across several states, following its recent congresses as deliberate attempts by some of the governors to destroy the party they used as platforms to get elected.

The chairman appealed to the president and elders to intervene and rescue the party.

Zamfara APC Urges Buhari To Save Party

South South Leaders Slam Delta Monarch, Laud AkpabioDELTA sell out Urhobo and look

out for his own petty interests is great. The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Obukowho Monday Whiskey, is prepared to barter away the honour of Idjerhe kingdom and the interests of the Urhobo and Ijaw for a job in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, or a handout from top government functionaries’’.

A statement by the Chairman of South-South Front, SSF, Chief John Harry, not only described Whiskey’s

outburst as misleading, but commended Akpabio for steering the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to greater heights.

‘‘The Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Obukowho Monday Whiskey speaks from a place of deep ignorance’’.

The leaders rebuked Whiskey for not bringing critical and unemotional apparatus to the examination of problems in the Niger Delta.

They praised Akpabio for his adherence to the principles of transparency.

According to them, ‘’The

NDDC forensic report marks an important step forward for the Niger Delta region. It also underscored intelligent leadership, appreciation and respect.

‘’Senator Akpabio is a quintessential politician. He has done well’’, the statement said.

The leaders called on stakeholders in the country not to be influenced by Whiskey and his sponsors.

‘’The monarch is already losing contact with the purse of the Niger Delta people’’.

BY OWEN AKENZUA, ASABA

Notable leaders in the South-South geo-political zone yesterday hit back at the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Obukowho Monday Whiskey, describing his comments on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio as ‘’reckless’’.

The leaders also described the Delta monarch as ‘’a self-seeker, trouble maker and opportunist’’.

‘’The temptation to

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (2nd right); Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali (left)); representative of the First Lady and presidential aide, Mrs Lauretta Onochie(middle), and Osana of Keana, His Royal Highness, Abdullahi Agbo (right) during the launch of the book entitled, ‘Teardrops of a Widow’, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA


DG Tasks Youths To Preserve Benin Casting HeritageDirector General of the National Gallery of Arts, NGA, Mr Ebeten Ivara, has tasked Edo youths to preserve the wood carving and bronze casting culture for which the people are known globally.

Ivara made the call yesterday in Benin, during the opening of a workshop on Wood Carving and Bronze Casting/Iron Smithing Guild System in Benin Kingdom.

He noted that the Benin Kingdom was notable for

its rich cultural heritage which should be kept alive by the young generation.

The director-general said that the guild system and casting/carving tradition dated back many centuries and formed an essential aspect of the rich history of Benin culture and palace arts.

He further said that the workshop was to showcase the cultural values embedded in the Benin artistic traditions with a view to ensuring its preservation.

“The National Gallery of Arts as a promoter of Nigerian visual arts will continue to bring these unique aspects of the nation’s art sector to the public glare through exhibitions and workshops.

“I am confident that the efforts of the NGA will re-instil a sense of pride in the average Edo person, and indeed all Nigerians”, he said.

The DG noted that the workshop was timely as it was taking place at a time

when artworks originally forcefully removed from Benin to Europe and elsewhere were being returned to the country.

He commended the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11 and the Edo Government for their resolve to see to the repatriation of stolen artifacts.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, commended NGA for answering the clarion call to promote the country’s culture industry.

BENIN



@aljazirahnewsng



SGBV: Worse Case Scenarios In NigeriaBY AMEH GEORGE

Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, 2018 revealed that 30% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years have experienced sexual abuse. We are suffering from Sexual and Gender -Based Violence, SGBV crisis. The instability in the North-east and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the situation and served to highlight the depth of the problem. In June 2020, following increasing reports of sexual violence against women, President Buhari and the Nigerian Governors Forum declared a state of emergency on SGBV ravaging the nation.

Incidences of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV, is growing astronomically across the country with many more cases being under reported due to accompanying social stigma that goes with being a known victim. From forced and early marriages to the physical, mental or sexual assault on a woman, Statistics from NDHS in 2013 have it that nearly 3 in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15.

Due to the aggravating degree of the phenomenon of SGBV in the country, in 2015, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, Act of 2015 was signed into law after which twenty states including the Federal Capital Territory have adopted the law in an effort to provide more protection under the law for women. Thus far, 6 states are awaiting Executive assent. Though Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and civil society and humanitarian organisations have made efforts to address the crisis, it remains a deep-rooted challenge.

In a sustained effort to keep the beam on the menace, Nigeria has established 31 Sexual Assault Referral Centres, SARC, responsible for providing free medical assistance, forensic medical examination counseling and justice support services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across 17 states. However, they are unable to function optimally due to a lack of funding from the Federal and State governments.

SGBV has significant social and economic repercussions, not just for the victim, but also for communities and the country at large. Nigeria must join other countries to honour their commitments to an increased and strong political will and leadership to tackle sexual and gender based violence against women and girls in all its forms. This can be achieved through creating transformative gender policies that build a society devoid of any form of discrimination, encourage SGBV victims to report cases because they are sure of receiving fair hearing and promise a country where women are assured of their safety within and outside their homes.

Despite Nigerian governors’ declaration of state of emergency on SGBV, the menace has been on the rise, an advocacy group has revealed.

The SGBV movement consisting of several non-governmental organisations including TechHerNG, Yiaga Africa, Connected Development, CODE, amongst others, said this at the one-year anniversary of the movement recently.

Despite the Nigeria Governors Forum’s, NGF, declaration on June 12, 2020, of a state of emergency on SGBV, according to the movement, rather than wane, the menace has spiked.

“During the COVID-19 outbreak and the

consequent nationwide lockdown, Nigeria witnessed a disturbing surge in cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

“Before the pandemic, violent and domestic attacks on women were common. However, the lockdowns caused a significant spike in the incidents, resulting in an alarming increase in brutality and death.

“According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2018, 30 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 reported being subjected to sexual abuse. The Lagos State Domestic and Gender Violence Response Team reported a total of 3193 cases of SGBV between January and December 2020 alone. The statistics are similarly dire across the rest of the country,” the group stated.

One of such is the murder of 22-year-old Vera Omozuwa, who was gang-raped and clubbed to death inside the Ikpoba Hill branch of Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin City, Edo State, in May 2020,

Another is a 12-year-old raped by a 57-year-old man and 11 others in Jigawa State.

Grace Oshiagwu, Barakat Bello, and Azeezat Somuyiwa were raped and gruesomely murdered in Ibadan.

One year after, these victims are yet to get justice, the movement noted.

In April, Iniobong Umoren, a graduate of the University of Uyo, was allegedly raped and killed by Uduak Akpan, who, under the guises of possible employment, lured her to her death in Akwa Ibom State.

Last week, Olajide Omowumi Blessing, a 300-level student of the University of Ilorin, was sexually assaulted and killed by rapists.

The group also lamented that the prosecution of Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulmumuni Danga, accused of assaulting Elizabeth Oyeniyi, last year, has been stalled.

Similarly, the case levelled against the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abdul-Balogun, accused of attempted rape, remains uninvestigated, it added.

On the way forward, the founder of TechHerNG, Chioma Agwuegbo, said it was not enough to have laws, adding that it is pertinent that laws are implemented.

“SGBV cases should be promptly prosecuted within a reasonable timeframe and in line with the provisions of extant laws, regardless of requests or interference by the victim’s family or interested parties”.

She also stated the group noticed that some states are “adopting a watered-down version of the VAPP Act, significantly reducing the punishments for sexual violence against women and girls.

“This is not acceptable. While national leaders can modify laws in line with the

socio-political peculiarity of their states, the standard remains the 2015 version of the VAPP passed by the National Assembly. We, therefore, call for urgent amendments to these below-par versions in these states.”

The group also urged the 36 state governors to establish independent specialised courts for sexual offences, establish new or fund existing Sexual Assault Referral Centers, SARCs, and shelters in every state.

Recalling a previous call by the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, the group said, “A Sexual Offenders Register should be opened in all the states.

“The Police should implement well-resourced functional Family Support Units and Force Gender Units of the Nigeria Police Force to address SGBV cases in collaboration with and at the state level. Also, there should be public disciplinary measures against officers of the Nigeria Police Force and state prosecutors who mishandle cases of GBV”, the group demanded.

Many communities have little or no knowledge of SGBV issues, with some even seeing the acts as culturally and traditionally allowed. Where they see it as a crime, they do not know what help to give the victims or where to refer them. Some know of only the police, which a lot of community members have distrust for. These were some of the reasons for the creation of a surveillance team consisting of residents volunteering to curb the alarming increase in SGBV cases.

The Spotlight Initiative is another notable global effort to eliminate violence against women and girls. It is a multi-year partnership between the European Union and United Nations and the largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. The Initiative represents an unprecedented global effort to invest in gender

equality as a precondition and driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG. The Spotlight Initiative also responds to all forms of violence against women and girls, with a focus on domestic and family violence, SGBV, other harmful practices, early child marriage, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic, labour, exploitation. In Nigeria, the Spotlight Initiative is implemented in six states: Adamawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Sokoto and the FCT.

The Spotlight Initiative Project being implemented by Project Alert in Lagos and Sokoto states started in December 2019 and began sensitisation in 2020 in the two states.

Before the sensitisation, Project Alert created a strategy to penetrate communities. First, they mapped stakeholders like the relevant ministries, the police, local government officials, traditional leaders, and service providers in the selected states, visited them to get their buy-in and support for the project.

They also partner with sexual assault referral centres and primary healthcare centres, training them to respond to the psycho-social and medical needs of SGBV survivors. They also provide safe spaces that shelter survivors who are homeless and stranded.

After an advocacy visit to a local government area, LGA, in the two states it focuses on, Project Alert mobilises community groups and selects about 50 persons in the LGA. It also conducts a capacity-building workshop for them, teaching them the rudiments of SGBV, prevention and how to respond to cases. From there, volunteers are requested to serve as the surveillance team.

With all hands on deck to snuff life out of the evil menace of SGBV, Nigerians of all creed could only hope that it becomes at best completely eradicated from our clime or at least have it highly mitigated.

According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2018, 30 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 reported being subjected to sexual abuse

“

Tallen

special reportFriday, December 3, 202112 www.aljazirahnews.com





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Follow us on twitterinterview

‘We’re Ready For Any Eventuality’We are presently in the harmattan season, this period is very prone to fire outbreaks, just recently, there was one of such outbreaks in Nyanya market, a suburb of Abuja. How prepared are you for such occurrences?Before now, we have been doing series of fire sensitizations in various markets within the FCT, but unfortunately, fire outbreaks still happen in markets which is due to carelessness on the part of traders themselves and you see in the market you have different forms of people, that is why you see fire happen in the market most times.

What happened in Nyanya market…, the cause of the fire was not known immediately until when I sent my men to the place this morning to go and do thorough investigations about the unfortunate incident and let me know, but we later discovered the incident happened as a result of electric power surge, because throughout the day there was no light in the area, I think around 7:40pm, power was restored back to the market, so within 5 minutes after restoration of power, the fire started from one of the shops, but they did’nt call us in time, because they first rush to Federal Fire Service in Nyanya, but unfortunately they could not get the

service as they demanded but as they called Asokoro, which is our number and we called our men in Karu and they responded immediately and they were able to put the fire under control with the support of our men here in the headquarters.

However, because of the dryness of this period coupled with the fact that most of the shops were constructed with zinc and wood the fire consumed about 20 shops in the market before we are able to contain the fire not to spread, but we

thank God there was no human casualty.For effective fire-fighting operation,

you need necessary equipment.

What are the state of your equipments presently?Of course, equipment need to be updated from time to time, but what we have we do thorough maintenance of them, we can not just discard what we have, we can not say if government don’t buy us new ones, then, we will not work, we will continue to maintain and maintain until when government say Fire Service here are your additional equipment to work with, and we will receive it with joy, and then the efficiency will be much more higher, but the government do give us funds to maintain the ones we are having and we are happy with it, the good thing is that we have never been found wanting in discharging our duties, so, we will keep on updating the ones we have.

You mentioned sensitizing the traders in the markets on fire safety measures, but what about the larger society?Sensitizing the general public is on a daily basis, in fact we have what we call Fire Prevention and Protection Unit, this Unit goes hand in hand with the Operations Unit, in fire Service there are three main units , we have administration Unit, we have Prevention and Protection Unit and we have Enforcement Unit, and both the enforcement group and the prevention and protection unit , all of them go out together, they are known

as field workers, they use to go out and sensitize members of the public, be it in the markets, banks, gas sector and all the rest of it, we do reach the markets people through their unions, they are the ones that help us to organise their members once we give them letters for such sensitization programme on how to protect their markets against all forms of fire outbreaks. You see, what we have noticed is that most fire outbreaks do happen in unplanned markets, one rarely hear that it happens in a well-planned markets such as Wuse, Garki markets and others that were well built, and if at all it occurs, may be it will only one or two shops that will be affected and we ensure we do the needful and put it off.

What is your take on the indiscriminate siting of gas plants and gas refill outlets in residential areas?We have been talking with the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, we have made it clear to them that before giving anyone licence to sell such highly inflammable substances, they should first visit the place where such person wants to be selling the products, so, anyone who does not have a befitting place should not be allowed to engage in it, we on our part when we see such thing we do sanction them through our enforcement unit, so we don’t allow them. Gas are not to be sold in a densely populated residential area.

How regular do you engage your personnel, am talking of in terms of capacity building in order for them to meet up with the international best practices?Let me tell you for this year, we have written to our permanent secretary FCT for the approval of about 55 personnel at different levels for this our professional course, we call it GOC, so, we are waiting for the approval to come out, as soon as it comes out. We fix date, everything have been out in place, but we can’t go without his approval but the moment it is approved and the money is released into their various accounts, so they move.

How do you react to this popular complain by members of the public concerning late arrival of your men to the scene of the fire outbreaks, and also issue of lack of no water?Lack of water is not an issue at all, because here in FCT there is availability of water, almost in all our stations we have water tankers attached to them, the fire appliances are there and water tankers are attached, so that the moment one is moving it go along with a water tanker, the water in the fire appliances alone contain 4,500 litres and the water tanker also has 10,000litres of water, so before this kind of water will be exhausted unless the magnitude is very high we now call for more assistance, you know our services is decentralized , just within the Federal Capital City (FCC) alone we have 9 stations , then in the area councils there are stations there too, so you can see that there is no cause for alarm. The only thing is that the moment there is any fire incident, let them inform us very quickly as they are trying their own efforts, they should call on our number here in the headquarters in Asokoro which is 092906118, then we will call the nearest station to go and do the needful, if they also need assistance they will in turn call any closest station for support.

The only thing is that the moment there is any fire incident, let them inform us very quickly as they are trying their own efforts, they should call on our number here in the headquarters in Asokoro...

“





Saidu

Ismaila Jimoh spoke with the Director FCT Fire Service, Engr. Sani Saidu and he was forthcoming on the capacity-ready of the

service to handle any eventuality.

12 Unique Virtues Of Fridays!BY YASRAB SHAH

8) FRIDAY CONTAINS THE HOUR OF ACCEPTANCEAs mentioned before, there is an incredibly special hour that occurs every Friday in which supplications are accepted:

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra) who said, ’Abu al-Qasim (the kunyah of the Prophet) (saw) said, “Indeed, there is surely a time on Friday at which no Muslim would stand, pray and beg Allah for what is good except that He would give it to him”. And he indicated with his hand that (this time) is short and narrow’. [Bukhari and Muslim]

The scholars present two dominant opinions about when this blessed time is based on the following two ahadith:

1. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’It is between when the Imam sits down to when the prayer ends’. [Muslim]

2. On the authority of Jabir ibn ’Abdullah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Friday is twelve hours in which there is no Muslim slave who asks Allah for anything except that He will give it to him, so seek it in the last hour after ’Asr’. [Nasa’i]

The strongest opinion is that supplications are accepted in the last hour after ’Asr, i.e. the hour before sunset. This is because this is when Allah created the Prophet Adam (as). And Allah knows best.

As we keep reading these ahadith, it becomes clearer that Friday is truly a time of celebration for humankind. After all, it is the day on which we were created, the day on which Islam was perfected - and it contains the Hour of Acceptance. Every single week, when Friday arrives, we have the chance to live through this hour and ask Allah for anything we want - truly a cause for celebration and happiness!

As if this wasn’t enough cause for celebration, Friday continues to be significant for us even after we pass away, as we shall see.9) PROTECTION FROM THE TRIAL OF THE GRAVEAnother profound virtue of Fridays is that, if a Muslim passes away on a

Friday, they will be protected from the trial of the grave:

10) THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT TAKES PLACE ON ITThe Prophet (saw) said, ‘The Last Hour will not take place except on Friday’. [Muslim]

We are told in another hadith that Allah’s creation fears Fridays because of this: ‘There is no angel who is drawn close (to Allah), no heaven, no earth, no winds, no mountains, and no sea that does not fear Friday’. [Ibn Majah]

Sadly, this is not the case for jinn and men. ‘On Friday, every beast is on the lookout from dawn to sunrise in fear of the Last Hour, but not jinn and men’. [Abu Dawud]

The following hadith provides further details about Friday’s connection with the Day of Judgement:

On the authority of Aws ibn Aws (ra) who said, ’The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday. On it Adam [as] was created, on it he died, on it the last trumpet will be blown and on it the shout will be made, so invoke more blessings upon me on it, for your blessings will be presented to me”’.

He (the narrator) said, ‘The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, how

can our blessings be presented to you while your body has decayed?” He said, “Indeed Allah, Mighty and Exalted be He, has prohibited the earth from (consuming) the bodies of Prophets”’. [Abu Dawud]

Thus, the Prophet (saw) directly advises his Ummah to increase sending blessings (Salawat) upon him on Fridays. This connects with his statement:

Interestingly, one of the names of the Day of Judgment in the Noble Qur’an is ‘Yawm al-Jam’’, the Day of Gathering [The Noble Qur’an, 42:7 and 64:9].

The word Jam’ itself is from the same Arabic root word for Jumu’ah, thus proving the link between Friday and Day of Judgement. Scholars deduce that Fridays - and especially the Friday prayers themselves - are a reminder and dress rehearsal for the Day of Judgment itself.

11) WE WILL SEE ALLAH ON A FRIDAYThe greatest event and the greatest reward of Friday is undoubtedly to see Allah - as we will on the Day of Judgement:

The people of Paradise will also experience this ultimate reward of seeing Allah. Scholars say that the following two ayahs, which speak of ‘even more’ (ziyadah and mazid), are alluding to seeing Allah:

’Those who do good will have the finest reward and even more (ziyadah). Neither gloom nor disgrace will cover their faces. It is they who will be the residents of Paradise. They will be there forever’. [The Noble Qur’an, 10:26]

’There they will have whatever they desire, and with Us is even more (mazid)’. [The Noble Qur’an, 50:35]

This incredible reward is experienced by the people of Paradise on a Friday, where again they will ‘gather’ and due to this experience they will increase in ‘beauty and loveliness’:

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Indeed, in Paradise there is a market to which they would come every Friday. The north wind will blow and would scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes and would add to their beauty and loveliness,

and then they would go back to their families after having an added lustre to their beauty and loveliness, and their family would say to them, “By Allah, you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us”, and they would say, ”By Allah, you have also increased in beauty and loveliness after us“’. [Muslim]

We sincerely pray with all our hearts that Allah (swt) showers His favour and mercy upon us all and grants us entry into His eternal Garden of Bliss where we are truly blessed to see Him every Friday. Ameen!

12) FRIDAY IS THE MASTER OF ALL DAYSAfter reading all of the above ahadith, it will be completely unsurprising to you that the Prophet (saw) outright called Friday the master of all days. The rank of Fridays is so vast that it outweighs the virtues of other days and this even includes the days of Eid:

It is therefore undoubtedly important for us to reflect on the virtues of this day and maximise our efforts on Friday.

CONCLUSIONThe famous Yemeni companion, Abu Hurairah (ra), mentioned that the Prophet (saw) was once asked, ‘For what reason was the day called Jumu‘ah?’ He said, ‘Because on that day, the clay was shaped from which your father, Adam [as] was made, and on that day will be the trumpet blast (on the Day of Judgement), the Resurrection and the great seizure (of the disbelievers). And in its last three hours, there is an hour when whoever supplicates Allah in it, it will be responded to’. [Ahmad]

The above hadith beautifully summarises some of the incredibly unique virtues of the blessed day of Friday. Let us expose ourselves to the winds of mercy (Nafahat) of our Lord today!

We can start by giving some Sadaqah for Allah’s sake. Why not sponsor an orphan, give to our Water Fund, or set up a regular Sadaqah to those most in need? Muslim

Source: Muslim Hands

The rank of Fridays is so vast that it outweighs the virtues of other days and this even includes the days of Eid: It is therefore undoubtedly important for us to reflect on the virtues of this day and maximise our efforts on Friday.

“

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK




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Khutbah In Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah

Cleric Urges Prayer To Security Challenges

His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al Shaikh, Imam, and Khateeb of the Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah, said in his sermon recently regarding the virtue of steadfastness over obedience and abandoning evils, as he began it with the hadith of Muadh bin Jabal, (may Allah be pleased with him), on the authority of Allah’s Messenger, who said “fear Allah wherever you are, and do good to erase bad, and become people with good manners”.

BY DAVID CHRISTOPHER, LAFIA

A renowned Islamic Scholer from Kebbi State, Sheikh

His eminence added: It is a great hadith that includes a great commandment with great sentences and important rules and the first principle in it is the realization of the piety of Allah, the Exalted, the necessity of commands and obedience, and avoiding sins and in public and private, and it is a commandment that obliges the servant wherever he is and goes to preserve the limits of Allah and to keep away from sins. Allah says: “beware of

Abubakar Giro Argungu, has urged Nigerians to pray fervently for God’s intervention to end banditry and other security

Allah and know that Allah knows what you do”.

His eminence also mentioned that working with this principle will result in a great victory and a generous reward, in Two Sahih Ahadith the Prophet, PBUH, said: “seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His and a man who gives charity so secretly that his left-hand does not know what his right hand has given”.

challenges facing the nation. Giro made the call recently,

in Umaisha, Toto LGA of Nasarawa State while preaching

He further said: “that the second principle is to cover the bad with good deeds, and that there is no name that is close to Allah, the Glorious and the Most High, for the one who does the greatest good deeds which then drives their bad sins, with sincere repentance and sincere forgiveness.

If you do a bad deed, then follow it with a good deed that you can erase. Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of Abu

at the wedding of the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alh. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi and his third wife, Rukaiyat Mohammed.

He said that if Nigerians pray fervently for God’s intervention, it will not only end banditry but will also promote peace, unity and speedy development of the nation.

The Islamic scholar also advised against corruption, saying that 85 percent of Nigerians are not sincere to themselves while calling for attitudinal change among citizens to build an egalitarian society.

“Corruption is too bad in Nigeria. We must stop corruption for the country to move forward.

“Informants are also responsible for increasing banditry in the country. There are bad boys in the town who are giving information to bandits.

Dharr, who said: “O Messenger of Allah, advise me, He said, “if you do something bad then follow it with a good deed that will wipe your bad deeds”.

His eminence concluded the sermon by noting that one of the good deeds which erase bad deeds is kindness to people of all kinds, so The Almighty Allah said: “do good; for Allah loves those who do good”.

Source: HARAMAIN SHARIFAIN

“They are the ones revealing secrets to bandits about people around them for personal gains”, he said.

Giro, also urged Nigerians to show love to one another for the progress of the country as well as urged the couple to be patient with each other for the progress of their family, pointing out that “marriage is about patient, tolerance, understanding and love. So, I told Mr Speaker to embrace these virtues, be patient with his wives and trust God for the progress and development of his family”.

On his part, the Speaker Alh. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, appreciated the scholar and all those who traveled from far end near despite their schedules to be part of the event and prayed God to reward them accordingly.

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al Shaikh

Sheikh Abubakar Giro Argungu

islamic seriese-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng







BY JOEL AJAYI

President of world football governing body FIFA, Mr. Gianni Infantino has showered encomiums on the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as he marked his birthday anniversary on Wednesday, December 1.

“This past year, which has presented us with many challenges, has nevertheless shown and highlighted the exemplary unity and solidarity of the football world, and I can only reiterate my sincere thanks to you for your efforts, work, and contribution within the FIFA Council”, Infantino wrote a letter, signed it, sent to a fellow Member of the FIFA Council.

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, which Pinnick has led brilliantly for the past seven years and two months, also heaped plaudits on the debonair and formidable administrator as he celebrated on Wednesday.

General Secretary of the NFF and Secretary to the Board, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said Mr. Pinnick has demonstrated exemplary leadership and remains one of the most innovative and energetic leaders that Nigeria Football has seen in a long time.

“The past year has been quite challenging but we are happy to have a leader like Mr. Pinnick who has never been shy to lead from the front and courageously confront odds, hurdles, and obstacles in the way of Nigeria Football. He is an altruistically visionary leader who never looks back once he decides

on the best pathways forward”.In the past year, the NFF and the National

Teams have accomplished tremendous gains in a number of areas, including qualification of the Super Eagles for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, qualification of the Super Falcons for the final round of the 2022 Women AFCON, and qualification of the Super Eagles for the play-off round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals. The NFF also organized a first ever international women’s invitational tournament that had the top African women teams on parade ,Aisha Buhari Cup, and the Super Falcons and Super Eagles have fully utilized FIFA windows for friendly matches and camping programs.

At the end of last year, globally –renowned auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers ,PwC, awarded the NFF a ‘clean opinion’ in its financial accounting and governance procedures, and despite pandemic imposed squeeze on businesses worldwide, the NFF continues to attract gilt-edged corporate partnership, with Dettol, Revolution Plus, Air Peace, MTN and Premier Lotto ,Baba Ijebu, all signing up to support the NFF and the National Teams.

On the personal front, Pinnick spearheaded the successful campaign of South African, Dr. Patrice Motsepe to become President of the Confederation of African Football, and himself became only the third Nigerian to win election into the FIFA Council the highest decision-making organ in world football. Pinnick is also Member of the CAF Emergency and Executive Committees.

Infantino, NFF Board Felicitate Pinnick On Birthday Anniversary

30 Players Resume Camping Ahead Of African Men Handball C’ship

Aruna Quadri Shifts Focus To WTTF Finals Mido Lambasts FIFA For Hosting Club World Cup In Jan.

Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen has started training alone at the Danish club he represented as a teenager as he continues his recovery from suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.The midfielder, 29, collapsed on the pitch when playing for Denmark in June.The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator ,ICD, device he subsequently had fitted means he is banned from playing in Italy’s Serie A.Denmark’s Odense Boldklub ,OB, said Eriksen was using their facilities.“Eriksen reached out to us, and he is now training by himself”, said a spokesperson for OB.“It’s natural for him since he played here in his youth and lives around the corner. We are very happy to be able to provide training facilities for him”.Eriksen represented OB from 2005 to 2008 before joining Dutch side Ajax.After seven years with Tottenham, he joined Inter in 2020. The Italian champions have said they are prepared to let him leave the club after the country’s medical authority suspended him from playing in Serie A.

BY JOEL AJAYI

No fewer than 200 golfers from across the country are expected to participate in the maiden all Captains Invitational Tournament organized by Ibadan Golf Club, IGC.Larry Adeyemo, Chairman, Local Organising Committee said on Wednesday at a news conference that the tournament, scheduled to hold between December 3 and December 4, was aimed at bringing more unity in the golfing community.“The idea was that of our late Captain, Oladiran Ibironke, popularly known as Dudu Heritage Films.“It’s going to be the first time that all captains from different clubs will be participating in a tournament that will have both present and the past captains competing.“The competition will accord us all to be seated together and celebrate ourselves.“We are ready to host the tournament, we have done our homework and we are looking forward to seeing golfers from all over the nation, to celebrate one another,” he said.

BY JOEL AJAYI

Commercial nerve center of the Federal Capital Territory, Gwagwalada will be the center of attraction this weekend as the Gwagwalada Football Coaches hold its maiden edition of the Gwagwalada Football Coaches Award and Fundraising ceremony. The event will hold today December 3 at the Yesmin Event Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Some of the awardees include Senator Phillip Aduda, FCT Honourable Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, Senator Dino Melaye, former president of the NFF Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Justice Mwanda Balami, Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council Honourable Obama, Alhaji Ahmed Jalingo CEO, Season Seven, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, Barrister Tunde Bucknor, Chairman FCT Football Association Mukthar Adams, First Leader of the Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council, who incidentally was the immediate past First Vice-Chairman of FCT Football Association Mr. Patrick Ngwaogu ,Odogwu Ndi Abia, among others.

According to the host, and the present Leader of the Gwagwalada Football Council Barrister Justice Ayodele, the program is in recognition of the efforts made by the various individuals in the development of football in the Area Council and beyond, and also to raise funds in support of the football development programs in the LGA and awakening the consciousness of the youths of the need to embrace football fully as a way of vocation and career.

BY JOEL AJAYI

World basketball governing body, FIBA has sent a warning letter to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, stating that it would not welcome any third party interference in the internal workings of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, as well as, the planned elective congress of the NBBF.

Eriksen Training Alone At Odense Boldklub In Denmark

200 Golfers For IGC Captains Invitational Sen. Aduda, Melaye

Others Storm Gwagwalada For Coaches Award Night

BY JOEL AJAYI

Technical Adviser of the Senior Men National Handball Team, Coach Rafiu Salami has invited KS Vive Kielce player Faruk Yusuf, Israeli-based Obinna Annih, and twenty-eight other players for intensive camping ahead of the 2022 African Men’s Handball Championship holding in Morocco.

The 30 players arrived in Abuja for camping on Wednesday, December 1, after the executive board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria

approved the list of players for preparation for the Nation’s Cup that is in its 25th edition.

Several players, who participated at the just concluded Prudent Energy Handball Premier League, were invited for camping after Coach Rafiu watched them in the league.

Some of the players include Goalkeeper Sanni Bature and his Kano Pillars teammates, Stephen Sesugh and Chris Ogedengbe, Confluence Stars duo of Anthony Agada, and Cameroon-born Michael John, Sokoto Rima’s Abbas Mohammed to mention a few.

Also included are foreign-based players led by Obinna Annih and Kielce Vive of Poland sensation Faruk Yusuf.

Nigeria has participated in eleven editions of the Africa Men Handball Nations with their best outing recorded in the 1998 edition held in South Africa wherein they finished 4th after losing to Egypt 35-26. The Africa Men Handball Championship, which will commence from January 13 to 23 2022, is the African qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Men’s Handball Championship in Poland and Sweden.

sports newsFriday, December 3, 2021 Friday, December 3, 2021



17www.aljazirahnews.com16 www.aljazirahnews.com

responsible for the latest development. While reacting to the ranking, Germany’s star was happy about it and promise to do more in the future.“I’m so excited to improve my world ranking

and this means I must work hard to remain on top in the world.This is another task I must face in my career and

I will not relent to do my best as I look forward to the WTTF cup finals taking place this weekend in Singapore”.

BY JOEL AJAYI

Legendary Egyptian striker Mido has slammed world governing body Fédération Internationale de Football Association , FIFA, for hosting Club World Cup same time with AFCON.

Former Tottenham Hotspur star is unhappy with FIFA’s decision to stage the Club World Cup at the same time as the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Club World Cup was scheduled for December 2021, but it will now

be held from February 3 to 12, 2022, in the United Arab Emirates.

While the AFCON tournament will take place from January 9 to February 6 in Cameroon, Mido, who won the 2006 AFCON title with Egypt, feels that FIFA is disrespecting Africa’s biggest football tournament.

“FIFA deciding to hold the Club World Cup while AFCON is going on is a sign of disrespect to African football.

“It wouldn’t have been the case with the

Euros or Copa America”. The draw for the Club World Cup was conducted on Monday and African champions Al Ahly of Egypt will represent in the global tournament.

They will face Mexican side Monterrey in the first round and the winner will face Copa Libertadores winner Palmeiras in the semi-finals.

Egyptian and Africa Football power house, Al Ahly are set to protest dates for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup finals.

BY JOEL AJAYI

Nigeria’s table tennis sensation Aruna Quadri is excited following his improved position in the latest ITTF ranking, The latest ranking released witnessed

Quadri move up to 13th position in the world against 17th he was in the past.His performance in the just-concluded ITTF

World Championship in Houston, Texas was

The letter by FIBA, also stated that in view of its magnanimity to allow the country’s male national team to participate in the recently held world cup qualifiers in Angola, the elective congress of the NBBF must be held on or before January 30, 2022.

It further warned against any change in the ratified existing statutes and constitution of NBBF before the elective congress, as such action might attract its sanction.

I don’t really believe in bogey teams. The results might just be a coincidence, but we need to make sure the same thing doesn’t

happen at Wembley. – James Milner

We can not love everyone and be loved by everyone. It would be perfection, and nothing is perfect in this world. – Paul Pogba

Test yourself with ALJAZIRAH easy sports quiz questions

Which country has won the most World Cups?

Which team won the first Premier League title?

Sports Quiz

FIBA Warns Against Interference In NBBF Elective Congress

1000 Children Set To Celebrate TIG 11th AnniversaryBY JOEL AJAYI

Founder of Tony International Gymnastics club TIG, Anthony Asuquo has revealed that the club is ready to celebrate the 11th years anniversary of the club with over 1000 children not only with gymnastic activities lined up but with classy entertainment laden as well as a lot of gifts for the children and parent across the country.

Speaking with AljazirahNigeria Sports, in Abuja coach Asuqou said that the eleventh edition will come up on December 4 to 5 2021 in the Federal Capital Territory.

The 11-years-old club, which has been at the forefront in the grassroots development of raw talents Players, and coaches and polishing them to international standards.

He expressed satisfaction in the level of growth experienced by the club courtesy of hard work and determination.

According to him, in the history of gymnastics, the club is organizing eleven editions and it keeps growing from year to year.

“We started this club with just six gymnasts in Abuja, we then move to a compound with 11 gymnasts and today I must tell you that TIG

have over 800 students across the country sinning under TIG Program while over 50 coaches have received training so far and they are all over the world as we speak teaching gymnastic in different countries.

“We have impacted so many lives; many athletes have and are representing us at the local and international championships with many medals.

“While we send some to further their education at the National Open University, NOUN,across the country to have education and still play gymnastic”.

Speaking on the 2021 edition of the club anniversary, world gymnastic satisfied coach Asuquo said “It’s going to be more exciting, entertaining with a lot of gifts, we just hope we get support from the ministry of sports development.

“Close to 1000 will be participating that is why we make it two days event to enable all kids to participate.

He, however, call on the government, parents, partners to support the club to enable it to help the need more, as well as the success of activities, line up for the days.

Quadri

Aduda

Mido

Babban Hafsan Sojoji (COAS), Laftanar Janar Farouk Yahaya ya shawarci maza da jami’ai da su yi amfani da gasar zakaru don inganta lafiyarsu, juriya da azamar tunaninsu don shawo kan qalubalen da ake fuskanta a wannan zamani. Yahaya ya ba da wannan nasihar ne a gasar koyar da sana’o’in hannu na ‘yan mata na rundunar sojojin Nijeriya, wadda aka shirya ta sassa bakwai.

An qare ne a ranar Laraba a filin dajin na Oyo, Igbeti, a Jihar Oyo.

Manjo Dickson Ehirobo, Kwamandan Corps, Injiniyoyin Lantarki da Injiniyoyi na Sojojin Nijeriya. Yahaya ya ce irin wannan gasa za ta shirya su, a lokaci guda, don hasashen qalubalen da ke tasowa a yayin gudanar da ayyukansu.

Ya ce shirin yana kuma da nufin bai wa mahalarta taron qalubale kwatankwacin wanda a halin yanzu sojojin ke fuskanta a ayyuka daban-daban a faxin qasar nan.

Yahaya ya ce gasar ta shafi horo ne da kuma kimar da ke tattare da ita.

COAS ya tuna cewa ginshiqai guda hudu na hangen nesansa, waxanda ya saki jim kaxan bayan hawansa mulki, sun haxa

da qwarewa, shirye-shirye, ingantaccen tsarin gudanarwa da haxin gwiwa. “Waxannan ginshiqai huxu za su iya yin ma’ana ne kawai idan aka kore su tare da ingantaccen horo.

“Saboda haka, na yi farin ciki da cewa Ma’aikatar Horo da Harkokin Kiwon Lafiyar Jiki na Sojoji sun kiyaye ra’ayi na sababbin abubuwa daban-daban,” in ji shi. A cewarsa, tsarin tunani ya fito da mafi kyawun sojojin mu a duk jadawalin horon da aka gudanar tun farkon kwata na biyu na wannan shekara.

Yahaya ya ci gaba da cewa cimma manufar horaswar ya fi muhimmanci fiye da lashe kofuna.

Haka kuma, Manjo Janar Gold Chibuisi, Babban Kwamandan Rundunar Sojojin Nijeriya ta biyu (GOC), ya ce ba za a iya qarasa muhimmancin atisayen ba. Chibuisi ya amince da muhimmiyar rawar da qananan shugabanni ke takawa wajen yaqi da ta’addanci da sauran ximbin qalubalen tsaro da ke addabar qasar.

Ya ce atisayen na da nufin bunqasa shirye-shiryen gudanar da aikin da sojoji ke yi a qarqashin yanayi mai cike da gasa. GOC ya

gode wa hukumar ta COAS da ta bai wa runduna ta biyu da ke Ibadan damar karvar baquncin gasar.

Ya bayyana cewa shirin zai qara mayar da rundunar soji don fatattakar dukkan abokan gaba da kuma taimaka musu wajen bayar da gudumawa wajen cimma burin COAS.

“Manufar COAS xin ita ce ‘Qwararrun Sojojin Nijeriya da ke shirye don aiwatar da ayyukan da aka ba su a cikin yanayin haxin gwiwa don kare Nijeriya,” in ji Chibuisi. Ya ce ko shakka babu yadda gasar za ta bunqasa esprit-de Corps a fannoni daban-daban kamar motsa jiki, karatun taswira, kewayawa, gudanarwa a fagen da kuma qananan dabaru da sauransu. Waxanda suka halarci taron su ne Garrison Abuja; na 1 Division Kaduna; na 2 Division Ibadan; na 3 Division Jos; na 6 Division, Fatakwal; 81 Division, Lagos and 82 Division, Enugu.

Daga cikin abubuwan da aka fafata a cikin shirin na tsawon mako sun haxa da titin kilomita 10 da matattun kaya mai nauyin kilogiram 12.5, gasar gwajin motsa jiki, zirga-zirgar kilomita 20 da tafiyar kilomita 30 tare da jimillar kayan aiki.

A ci gaba da sanarwar sayen kayayyaki na Oktoba 4, Airtel Africa Plc. ya sanar da kammala sayan hannun jarin tsirarun na Airtel Networks Ltd. (Airtel Nigeria). Hakan na qunshe ne a cikin wata sanarwa xauke da sa

hannun Sakataren Kamfanin, Simon O’Hara, wanda aka buga a shafin intanet na ‘Nigerian Exchange Ltd.,’ranar Alhamis a Legas.

A cewar sanarwar, adadin kaso 8.22 na tsirarun hannun jarin da aka

samu a qarqashin saye ya kai Naira biliyan 61, kwatankwacin Dala miliyan 147, inda aka yi amfani da canjin Naira 415.07 kan Dala.

“A halin yanzu Airtel Africa yana da kashi 99.96 na babban kamfaninsa,” in ji shi.

Ku Yi Amfani Da Qwarewarku Wajen Nuna Qwazo – COAS

Kamfanin Airtel Africa Ya Sanar Da Kammala Tayin Sayen Tsirarun Hannayen Jari A Nigeria

Ministar harkokin mata da ci gaban zamantakewa, Dame Pauline Tallen (L); Wakiliyar UFPA a Najeriya Ulla Micellar (2nd L), da sauran mahalarta taron, a yayin taron shekara-shekara na bangaren tsaro kan mata, zaman lafiya da tsaro a Najeriya karo na biyu, a Abuja, jiya. HOTO: TYOZENDA TYOAKAA

Hukumar Kula Da Babban Birnin Tarayya (FCTA), ta buqaci mazauna yankin da su yi gini daidai da tsarin biranen yankin na yankin, don gujewa sauya tsarin Babban Birnin Tarayya Abuja. Mista Ikharo Attah, babban mataimaki na musamman ga ministan babban birnin tarayya Abuja a kan sa ido, dubawa da tabbatarwa, wanda ya bayar da wannan shawarar a wata tattaunawa da manema labarai a Abuja, ya ce FCTA ba za ta yi qasa a gwiwa ba wajen ruguza duk wani tsari da ya savawa doka.

“Ina kira ga mazauna Babban Birnin Tarayya da su yi aiki daidai da dokar tsara birane da yanki. Wannan zai taimaka wa waxanda muke cikin qungiyar tilastawa. “Zan tsaurara matakan tsaro saboda muna buqatar mu mallaki garinmu, kuma aikin da aka ba ni na vangare uku ne; Sa ido, dubawa da aiwatarwa” don haka tare da wannan, za mu kalli yankin gaba xaya.

“Zan tabbatar da cewa ‘yan kwangila suna ba da ayyuka masu kyau da inganci don kuxinmu. Aiki ne da yawa.”

“Na kasance ina aiki tun 2019 a matsayin Shugaba, Qungiyar Gudanar Da Zirga-zirgar ababen hawa, tilastawa Korona, da kuma Shugaban Kula da Tsaftar gari.

Wannan a gare ni kamar komawa bakin aiki ne, ”in ji Attah. Attah ya kuma gargaxi jama’a da su guji yin gine-gine a magudanan ruwa, wuraren da ake fama da ambaliyar ruwa, da kuma kafa rumfuna da gine-ginen da ba a saba ba.

“Waxanda suka savawa tsarin mulki ta hanyar gina haramtattun gidaje da gidajen kwana, za mu ba su sanarwa, kuma idan suka gaza cika wa’adin da aka kayyade, za mu cire shi domin amfanin jama’a.”

FCT Ta Buqaci Mazauna Cikinta Da Su Riqa Gini Bisa Tsarin Hukumar

Hukumar Kula Da Jami’o’i Ta Qasa (NUC) ta amince da sabbin shirye-shiryen karatun digiri na farko da na biyu a jami’ar Al-Qalam da ke Katsina. Hakan na qunshe ne cikin wata sanarwa da shugaban sashen hulxa da jama’a na cibiyar, Alhaji Akilu Abubakar ya raba wa manema labarai ranar Alhamis a Katsina.

“Shirye-shiryen su ne; BSc. (Ed) Accounting, BSc (Ed) Kimiyyar Computer, BSc (Ed) Tattalin Arziki da kuma BSc (Ed) Tattalin Arzikin Gida.

“Sauran sun haxa da; MA (Ed/PhD) Ilimin Larabci; MA (Ed/PhD.) Ilimin Ingilishi; MA (Ed/PhD) Hausa da MA (Ed/PhD) Ilimin Addinin Musulunci,” in ji sanarwar.

A cewar sanarwar, shirye-shiryen da aka amince da su, waxanda suka haxa da shirye-shiryen karatun digiri huxu da na digiri na biyu, za su fara ne a zaman karatun 2021/2022.

“Amincewar NUC ta samu ne bisa ziyarar tantance albarkatun da gungun qwararru daban-daban suka aika zuwa jami’ar a watan Agusta, 2021. “An samu wasiqar amincewar Babban Sakataren NUC, Farfesa Abubakar Rasheed a ranar 25 ga watan Nuwamba. 2021, wanda Daraktan Tsare-tsare na Ilimi, Dokta NB Saliu ya sanya wa hannu a madadinsa.

“Dukkanin shirye-shiryen takwas na cikakken lokaci ne kuma za a gudanar da su a harabar jami’ar,” in ji sanarwar.

NUC Ta Amince Da Sabbin Shirye-Shirye Guda 8 Na Jami’ar Al- Qalam

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Don havaka qwarewar aikin lafiya na cikin gida da ba da horo a cikin kulawa lokaci-lokaci a Nijeriya, ma’aikatan kiwon lafiya biyu, ‘Anesthesia’ da masu ba da shawara ta musamman (A3C) sun shiga haxa gwiwa da Asibitin ‘Evercare, Lekki, dake Legas.

Hakan na qunshe ne cikin wata sanarwa mai xauke da sa hannun Daraktan Kasuwanci na A3C, Mista Akintunde Sawyerr, ranar Alhamis a Legas. Sanarwar ta bayyana cewa shirin wani mataki ne na ci gaba da samar da qarin ilimi a fannin ci gaba da xorewar kulawa da lafiya mai mahimmanci.

Wannan ya ce zai haifar da qaruwar rayuwar marasa lafiya da ke fama da barazanar rayuwa.

Wanda ya kafa cibiyar kuma Babban Babban Jami’in A3C, Dakta Seyi Oyesola, ya bayyana

a cikin sanarwar cewa ya zama muhimmin a magance matsalar rashin qwararrun masu muhimmanci a Nijeriya da Afirka, don haka haxin gwiwa.

“Sanannan al’amari ne cewa kulawa mai zurfi ita ce mai yuwuwa kashi mafi tsada na kowane tsarin kulawa na asibiti, kuma a wannan lokacin ne rashin qware na iya shafar mara lafiya da mummunar illa don haka, mafi tasiri ga xorewar rayuwar xan adam.

“Dukkanin Asibitin A3C da ‘Evercare’ sun himmatu wajen samar da hanyoyin samun araha mai araha ga daidaitattun jinya na duniya, horo da ilimi ta hanyar gogewa da koyo, don taimakawa havaka qwarewar gida da iya aiki a cikin kula da marasa lafiya musamman a Nijeriya.

“A3C yana shiga cikin wasu shirye-shirye da yawa kuma yana sarrafa sassan kulawa masu zurfi da lafiya a duk faxin qasar amma zai ba da gudummawa ne kawai inda asibitoci suka cika qa’idodin duniya, dangane da shirye-shiryen kayan aiki da kulawa,” in ji shi.

A cewar Oyesola, an kiyasta cewa Najeriya na da gadaje na musamman 350 ne kawai don yiwa al’ummar kasar miliyan 200 hidima.

Ya kara da cewa a yau, babu kasa da dubu 500 da ake yi a duk shekara a fadin duniya, wadanda kadan ne kawai ake yi a Najeriya.

“An fi amfani da aikin tiyata na zuciya don hanyoyi masu rikitarwa, irin su jijiyoyin bugun jini ko hanyoyin hadaddun hanyoyin zuwa aorta ko kuma zuciyar kanta,” in ji shi.

Dokta Julius Olasoji, masanin kimiyyar iri, ya shawarci manoma da su shuka irin masara mai inganci domin samun amfanin gona mai kyau. Ya ce dashen iri masu inganci da kuma tabbatar da isassun yawan shuka a kowane yanki da aka noma girke-girke ne na yawan amfanin gona.

Olasoji na Cibiyar Bincike da Horar da Aikin Gona da ke Ibadan, ya shaida wa Kamfanin Dillancin Labarai na Nijeriya (NAN) cewa ya kamata manoma su ci gaba da kula da kyawawan ayyukan noma don yin tasiri.

Ya bayyana cewa, ya kamata su yi hakan ta hanyar yin shuka a lokacin da ya dace, da zuba taki yadda ya kamata, da share gonakinsu da kuma girbe amfanin gona a lokacin da ya dace.

“Manoman kuma za su iya amfani da masara iri-iri waxanda ke da yawan amfanin qasa fiye da Buxaxxen nau’ikan ‘Pollinated’.

Ma’aikatar Lafiya Ta Nemi Haxin Gwiwa Da Qwararru Don Inganta Lafiya

Shuka Ingantaccen Irin Masara Na Havaka Amfanin Gona – Masani

“NIjeriya ta daXe a fannin dogaro da kai, musamman wajen noman masara, kuma bai kamata a dogara da shigo da su daga qasashen maqwabta ba,” in ji shi.

Olasoji ya yi kira ga gwamnatoci da su riqa taimakawa manoma a kodayaushe wajen samun kayan amfanin gona a farashi mai rahusa da kuma aikin share fage. “Ya kamata gwamnati kuma ta vullo da manufofin da za su samar da kasuwa ga manoma.

“Ya kamata manoma su riqa tuntuvar cibiyoyin bincike da suka ba da umarnin noman masara don samar da iri mai inganci domin bunqasa noman su da amfanin gona,” in ji shi.

Shi ma da yake magana da NAN, Tsohon Shugaban Qungiyar Masara Ta Nijeriya reshen jihar Oyo, Mista Isa Raji, ya ce ba da gaggawar samar da ingantaccen iri ga manoma zai inganta noman masara. “Kamfanoni kamar

tarakta, sinadarai, takin zamani yakamata a baiwa manoma a watan Mayu domin a fara shuka a watan Yuni. A watan Satumba, masara ta girma kuma za a fara girbi tsakanin Oktoba da Nuwamba.

“Idan manoma sun yi shuka a makare, amfanin gona ba zai samu isasshen ruwa ba kuma amfanin gona zai yi kaxan.

“Har ila yau, ya kamata gwamnati ta samar da yanayi mai kyau ta hanyar taimaka wa manoma wajen kawar da filaye. “Lokacin da aka shirya qasar da kyau kuma muka shuka tare da kulawa mai kyau, tabbas za a sami mafi kyawun amfanin gona,” in ji shi.

Raji ya jaddada cewa za a samu mafi yawan amfanin gona idan manoma sun samu irin shuka da wuri wanda ke buqatar tsakanin kwanaki 60 zuwa kwanaki 75 don girma.

Ko’odinetan kasa Muhammad Buhari da Osinbajo (MBO), Dynamic Support Group, a lokacin da suke zantawa da manema labarai a fadar shugaban kasa bayan ganawa da mataimakin shugaban kasa a fadar shugaban kasa dake Abuja, jiya. Tare da shi akwai Daraktan Tsaro, MBO Dynamic Group, Ahmed Alhassan (L) da Kodinetan shiyyar Arewa maso Yamma, Mahmoud Adhama. HOTO: JOHNSON UDEANI/NAN

UNICEF ta ce za ta taimaka wa Jihar Borno wajen samar da wani shiri na aiki don sauqaqa aiwatar da dokar kare haqqin yara. Shugaban ofishin filin na Maiduguri, Phuong Nguyen ne ya bayyana hakan a wajen wani taron jin ra’ayin jama’a na daftarin dokar kare haqqin yara a cikin gida na jihar Borno, wanda majalisar dokokin jihar ta shirya.

Nguyen ya ce UNICEF da sauran abokan ci gaba na ci gaba da jajircewa wajen ganin an samar da masu taimaka wa dokar ta zama doka.“Duk da cewa samar da dokar wani muhimmin ci gaba ne, amma akwai sauran aiki a gaba don aiwatar da dokar kare haqqin yara a jihar Borno. .

“UNICEF da sauran abokan ci gaba sun himmatu wajen tabbatar da cewa akwai masu taimaka wa wannan doka ta zama doka, don haka ta samar da tsarin doka da ke xaure da duk masu ruwa da tsaki a cikin labarinta.

“UNICEF za ta kuma taimaka wa gwamnatin Borno wajen samar da wani tsari na aiki tsakanin ma’aikatun da zai sanya dokar zama daftarin aiki mai rai da aiki don mayar da Borno wuri mafi kyau ga yara,” in ji Nguyen.

Ta bayyana cewa tun lokacin da Nijeriya ta kafa dokar a shekarar 2003 jihohi 27 ne kawai daga cikin 36 na qasar suka aiwatar da ita.

Jihohi tara da suka haxa da Borno da Yobe da Adamawa da Bauchi da Gombe da Kano da Kebbi da Jigawa da kuma Zamfara har yanzu ba su amince da dokar

Gwamna Ahmadu Fintiri na Adamawa ya raba sabbin motoci qirar Land Cruiser Special Utility guda biyar da motoci qirar Toyota Hilux guda biyar ga sarakunan jihar. An miqa motocin ga sarakunan aji biyar na jihar.

Gwamnan ya ce hakan na daga cikin taimakon dabaru da gwamnati ke bai wa sarakunan gargajiya a matsayin masu kula da al’adu. Ya ce gwamnati na girmama sarakunan gargajiya saboda rawar da suke takawa wajen inganta zaman lafiya da al’adu.

Fintiri ya ce, “Gudunwar da kuke takawa wajen samar da zaman lafiya a cikin al’umma ba za a iya mantawa da shi ba, don haka akwai buqatar gwamnati ta ci gaba da tafiyar da ku a cikin tsarin mulki,” in ji Fintiri. Ya ce gwamnati ta dogara kacokan ga sarakunan gargajiya wajen samar da zaman lafiya da tabbatar da tsaro saboda kusancinsu da jama’a.

Da yake mayar da martani, a madadin majalisar gargajiya ta jihar, Sarkin Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmadu, ya gode wa gwamnan

UNICEF Za Ta Taimakawa Borno Don Aiwatar da Dokar Haqqin Yara

Gwamna Fintiri Ya Raba Motoci Ga Sarakunan Gargajiya Na Adamawa

Hukumar tattara kuxaxen shiga ta Jihar Kaduna (KADIRS) ta cire inshorar ta uku wajen rajista da sabunta takardun motocin kasuwanci daga cikin ayyukanta. Dr Zaid Abubakar, Shugaban Hukumar KADIRS ne ya bayyana haka a Kaduna a wajen taron wayar da kan masu biyan haraji a shiyyar Kaduna ta tsakiya.

Abubakar ya bayyana cewa an biya inshorar na dole ne a daidai lokacin da ake yin rajistar motoci, ya qara da cewa, galibin masu motocin ne masu zaman kansu suna sabunta takardun motar su a jihar.

Ya ce masu motocin haya sun gwammace su yi rajista da sabunta takardun motar su a jihohin da ke maqwabtaka da su inda kuxin inshorar na uku ya yi qasa da abin da ake samu a jihar. “Idan inshorar dole na vangare na uku zai zama cikas ga tattara haraji da samar da kuxaxen shiga ta kowace hanya, za mu iya yin ba tare da shi ba.

“Wannan abu ne mai matuqar tayar da hankali domin waxannan masu motocin kasuwanci suna gudanar da harkokinsu a jihar Kaduna amma sun gwammace su sabunta takardun motar su a wasu jihohin.

“Saboda haka, muna cire inshora na vangare na uku a cikin rajista da sabunta takaddun abin hawa na motocin kasuwanci. “Bayan cire inshorar da aka yi na sabunta takardun mota, ina kira ga duk masu motocin kasuwanci da su sabunta takardar motar su a jihar Kaduna. “Hakan zai baiwa jihar damar inganta hanyoyin samun kudaden shiga daga rijistar motoci saboda jihar,” inji Abubakar.

Da yake mayar da martani game da korar, Mista Suleman Shaba, Sakataren Kungiyar Masu Daukar Ma’aikatan Sufurin Mota Ta Qasa (RTEAN), reshen jihar Kaduna, ya yaba da matakin yana mai cewa matakin zai qarfafa sabunta takardun mota a jihar.

Shaba ya tabbatar da cewa mafi yawan ‘yan qungiyar sun yi tattaki har zuwa Jigawa, Kano da sauran jihohin da ke maqwabtaka da su, ko dai su yi rajistar sababbin motoci ko kuma sabunta takardun da suka wuce.

Ya ce wasu daga cikin ‘ya’yan qungiyar da suka gwammace su je wasu jihohi sun ce Naira 5,000 da ake karva a Jihar Kaduna ya yi tsada idan aka kwatanta da Naira 1,500 ko N2,000 na inshora iri daya a Jigawa.

“Yanzu da aka cire inshora, za mu qarfafa wa mambobinmu gwiwa don sabunta takardun abin hawa a jihar Kaduna,” ya yi alkawari. Kamfanin Dillancin Labarai na Nijeriya (NAN) ya ruwaito cewa wayar da kan ta na da “Digitisation of Tax Administration, Education Payer and Volvolintary Compliance: Panacea for Fiscal Resilience”

Jihar Kaduna Ta Cire Inshorar Ta Uku A Sabunta Rijistar Takardun

news in hausaFriday, December 3, 2021






@aljazirahnewsng



استخدم البطولة لتعزیز اللیاقة والمثابرة - كوئاس وفقا للخطة الحضریة واإلقلیمیة

منطقة العاصمة الفیدرالیة تحث السكان على البناء

نصحت إدارة منطقة العاصمة الفیدرالیة (أف سي تي أي) السكان

بالبناء وفقا للخطة الحضریة واإلقلیمیة لإلقلیم ، لتجنب تغییر خطة

أبوجا الرئیسیة. الذي قدم النصیحة خالل جلسة

تفاعلیة مع الصحفیین في أبوجا ، قال إن أف سي تي أي لن یتردد في ھدم أي ھیكل غیر قانوني. ھذا سیساعد أولئك منا في فریق اإلنفاذ. "سأكون

صارما في اإلنفاذ ألننا بحاجة إلى امتالك مدینتنا ، والمھمة المعطاة لي ھي مھمة ثالثیة ؛ المراقبة والتفتیش واإلنفاذ" لذا من خالل ھذا ، سیبحث

في المنطقة بأكملھا. "سأضمن أن یقدم المقاولون خدمات

جیدة وعالیة الجودة ألموالنا. إنھا وظیفة متعددة المھام." "أعمل منذ عام ٢٠١٩ كرئیس "فریق إدارة

المرور ، وفرض كوفید-١٩ ، ورئیس إدارة الصرف الصحي في المدینة. بالنسبة لي یشبھ العودة إلى

العمل." كما حذر عطا الجمھور من البناء على الممرات المائیة والمناطق

المعرضة للفیضانات ، فضال عن إقامة األكواخ واألكواخ.

مبان غیر قانونیة: كل من یخالف المخطط العام ببناء مبان وأكواخ غیر

قانونیة ، سنرسل لھم إخطارات ، وعندما ال یلتزمون باالمتثال في الوقت المحدد ، سنزیلھ لمصلحة

الجمھور.

Ulla Micellarفي نیجیریاUFPAوزیرة شؤون المرأة والتنمیة االجتماعیة السیدة بولین تالین (یسار) ؛ الممثلة المقیمة ومشاركین آخرین خالل المنتدى السنوي الثاني لقطاع األمن حول المرأة والسالم واألمن في نیجیریا ، في أبوجا ، أمس.

) الثاني من الیسار(

تعزیز الجاھزیة العملیاتیة للقوات في ظل مناخ تنافسي. شكر مركز

األلعاب كوئاس على منح القسم الثاني إبادان الفرصة الستضافة

النسخة األولى من المسابقة. وأوضح أن البرنامج سیعید وضع

الجیش بشكل أكبر من أجل الھزیمة المھنیة لجمیع األعداء ویساعدھم

أیضا على المساھمة في تحقیق رؤیة كوئاس. قال تشیبویزي:

"رؤیة كوئاس" ھي "جیش نیجیري محترف جاھز إلنجاز

المھام المحددة ضمن بیئة مشتركة للدفاع عن نیجیریا".

وقال إن نطاق المسابقة سیعزز بال شك إیسبیریت-دي موریس في

وظائف مختلفة مثل اللیاقة البدنیة ، وقراءة الخرائط ، والمالحة ،

واإلدارة في المیدان ، فضال عن التكتیكات الصغیرة ، من بین أمور

أخرى. وكانت التشكیالت المشاركة ھي

حامیة الجیش أبوجا. ١ قسم كادونا ؛ ٢ فرقة آبادان. ٣ شعبة جوس ؛ ٦ شعبة ، بورت ھاركورت ؛ ٨١

شعبة ، الغوس ٨٢ شعبة ،

فترة وجیزة عند تولیھ منصبھ ، ھي االحتراف واالستعداد واإلدارة

السلیمة والتعاون. "ھذه الركائز األربع ال یمكن أن

یكون لھا معنى إال عندما تكون مدفوعة بتدریب مبتكر. وقال:

"لذلك ، یسعدني أن إدارة التدریب وإدارة التدریب البدني للجیش قد

حافظتا على تصور مختلف االبتكارات". ووفقا لھ ، فإن

التصور قد أظھر أفضل ما في قواتنا في جمیع جداول التدریب

التي أجریت منذ بدایة الربع الثاني من ھذا العام.

أكد یحیى أن تحقیق أھداف التدریب كان أكثر أھمیة من الفوز

بالكؤوس. أیضا ، اللواء. وقال جولد تشیبویزي ، الضابط العام

) ، الفرقة الثانیة بالجیش )GOCالنیجیري ، إنھ ال یمكن المبالغة في

التأكید على أھمیة التمرین. أقر شیبویزي باألدوار الحاسمة للقیادة

الصغیرة في مكافحة التمرد والعدید من التحدیات األمنیة األخرى التي

تواجھ البالد. وقال إن التدریبات تھدف إلى

رئیس أركان الجیش (كوئاس) ، اللفتنانت جنرال. ونصح فاروق

یحیى الرجال والضباط باستخدام البطولة لتعزیز لیاقتھم البدنیة

ومثابرتھم وعزمھم الذھني للتغلب على التحدیات المعاصرة.

قدم یحیى النصیحة في أول مسابقة للتوجیھ والمغامرة بین األقسام

للجیش النیجیري ، والتي نظمت لسبعة أقسام. انتھى یوم األربعاء في حدیقة أویو الوطنیة القدیمة ،

إجبیتي ، في والیة أویو. تم تمثیل كوئاس في ھذا الحدث

من قبل اللواء. دیكسون إیھیروبو ، قائد الفیلق ، المھندسین الكھربائیین والمیكانیكیین ، الجیش النیجیري. وقال یحیى إن مثل ھذه المنافسة

ستعدھم في نفس الوقت لتوقع التحدیات الناشئة في سیاق مھامھم. وقال إن البرنامج یھدف أیضا إلى منح المشاركین تحدیات مماثلة لما

تواجھھ القوات حالیا في عملیات مختلفة في جمیع أنحاء البالد.

یحیى قال إن المسابقة كانت حول التدریب والقیمة المرتبطة بھ.

وأشار المركز إلى أن الركائز األربع لرؤیتھ ، التي أصدرھا بعد

إینوجو. من بین األحداث التي تم التنافس علیھا خالل البرنامج الذي

استمر أسبوعا ، كانت ھناك ١٠ كیلومترات من الجري على الطرق

بحمل میت ١٢٫٥ كیلوجرام ، ومسابقة اختبار اللیاقة البدنیة ، و

٢٠ كیلومترا للمالحة عبر التضاریس و ٣٠ كیلومترا على

الطرق مع مجموعات كاملة.

فیما یتعلق ببعض التوصیات األخرى.

قالت حكومة والیة الغوس إنھا لیس لدیھا سیطرة على الشؤون

الداخلیة لقوة الشرطة النیجیریة ، مضیفة أنھ سیتم إحالة التوصیة

بالتالي إلى السلطات المختصة ، وھي الحكومة الفیدرالیة لنیجیریا

والمجلس االقتصادي الوطني ، لجنة خدمة الشرطة وقوات

الشرطة النیجیریة.

وقالت أیضا إنھا ستنشئ خط مساعدة منفصال على مستوى

الوالیة النتھاكات حقوق اإلنسان ، باإلضافة إلى ذلك

news in arabic e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng






سیستخدمون المركبات بحكمة.وقال إن ھذه الھدیة الخاصة ستبقى في أذھاننا ، كما أكد األب الملكي

للحاكم دعم ووالء الحكام التقلیدیین. ودعا رعایاھم إلى التعاون مع الحاكم

الفنیتیري ومنحھ أقصى قدر من التعاون لتمكینھ من تحقیق المزید من

مكاسب الدیمقراطیة ، والحكام التقلیدیون الذین استفادوا من ھذه

البادرة ھم المیدو أداماوا ، أمیر موبي ، وآمن شیلنغ جانجوارى من جاني

وحماه باتا.

الكبیر للحكام التقلیدیین ألدوارھم ومساھماتھم في تعزیز السالم

والثقافة. "ال یمكن تجاوز دورك في ترسیخ التعایش السلمي في المجتمع - وأكد ، من ھنا ضرورة قیام الحكومة

بمواكبتك في مخطط الحكم. شكر المجلس التقلیدي للدولة ، أمیر موبي الحاج أبو بكر أحمدو ، الحاكم

على ھذه البادرة ، ومثل األمیر المیدو أداماوا ، الحاج محمدو

باركیندو بھذه المناسبة ، ووعد الحاج أحمدو بأن الحكام التقلیدیین

قام حاكم والیة أداماوا أحمدو فینتیري بتوزیع خمس سیارات

الندكروزر الخاصة الجدیدة وخمس شاحنات تویوتا ھایلوكس جدیدة

للحكام التقلیدیین في الوالیة ، وتم تقدیم المركبات لخمسة أمراء

ورؤساء من الدرجة األولى في الوالیة ، وقال الحاكم إن ھذه البادرة

كانت جزء من المساعدات اللوجیستیة الحكومیة للحكام التقلیدیین كأوصیاء

على الثقافة. وقال إن الحكومة تعطي االحترام

الوطنیة لحظر االتجار بالبشر (نابتیب) في أنامبرا إنھا تلقت تلقت نابتیب ٣٠ التماسا في ١٢ شھرا في أنامبرا قال قائد الوكالة

الحاكم فینتیري یوزع المركبات على حكام أداماوا التقلیدیین

جدیدة لجامعة القلم

لجنة الجامعات الوطنیة تعتمد ٨ برامج

نون حقوق الطفل

یونیسف تساعد بورنو في تنفیذ قا

سیعمل مقدمو خدمات الرعایة الصحیة معا لتعزیز

المھارات في رعایة القلب أقرت الھیئة الوطنیة للجامعات (أن

یو سي)ثمانیة برامج جامعیة ودراسات علیا جدیدة لجامعة القلم

كاتسینا ، جاء ذلك في بیان صادر عن رئیس وحدة الشؤون العامة بالمؤسسة

الحاج عقیلو أبو بكر للصحفیین یوم الخمیس في كاتسینا.

البرامج ھي بكالوریوس(محرر)محاسبة،

بكالوریوس(محرر) علوم كمبیوتر ، بكالوریوس (محرر) اقتصاد وأیضا

بكالوریوس (محرر) اقتصاد منزلي." تشمل البرامج األخرى ؛ ماجستیر (إد

/ دكتوراه) تعلیم اللغة العربیة ؛ ماجستیر (إد / دكتوراه) تعلیم اللغة

(. Ed / PhDاإلنجلیزیة ؛ ماجستیر ( ( Ed / PhDالھوسا وماجستیر (

تعلیم الدراسات اإلسالمیة ، وفقا للبیان ، ستبدأ البرامج المعتمدة ، التي

تتألف من أربعة برامج جامعیة وأربعة برامج للدراسات العلیا ، في

الدورة األكادیمیة ٢٠٢١/٢٠٢٢. “استندت موافقة الجامعة على زیارة

التحقق من الموارد التي أجرتھا لجان مختلفة من الخبراء التي تم إرسالھا

إلى الجامعة في أغسطس ٢٠٢١. تم استالمھ في ٢٥ نوفمبر ٢٠٢١ ،

ق أعلن نیابة عنھ مدیر التخطیط األكادیمي الدكتور أن بي سالیئو أن "جمیع البرامج الثمانیة بدوام كامل وسیتم تشغیلھا في الحرم الجامعي

الرئیسي للجامعة".

تقول الیونیسف إنھا ستساعد والیة بورنو في وضع خطة عمل لتسھیل

تنفیذ قانون حقوق الطفل. أدلى رئیس مكتبھا المیداني في مایدوجوري ،

فونج نجوین ، بھذا اإلعالن في جلسة استماع عامة حول مشروع قانون

توطین حقوق الطفل في والیة بورنو ، والتي نظمھا مجلس النواب

بالوالیة. قال نجوین إن الیونیسف وشركاء التنمیة اآلخرین ما زالوا ملتزمین

بضمان توفیر عناصر التمكین إلقرار القانون لیصبح قانونا.

بینما یعتبر تدجین القانون معلما ھاما ، ال یزال ھناك الكثیر من العمل الذي ینتظرنا لتنفیذ قانون حقوق الطفل في

والیة بورنو. تلتزم الیونیسف وشركاء التنمیة اآلخرین بضمان

إتاحة عوامل التمكین لسن ھذا القانون لیصبح قانونا ، وبالتالي توفیر اإلطار

القانوني الملزم لجمیع الجھات المسؤولة بمواده.

قال نجوین: "ستساعد الیونیسف أیضا حكومة بورنو في تطویر خطة عمل مشتركة بین الوزارات تجعل القانون

وثیقة حیة وفعالة لجعل بورنو مكانا أفضل لألطفال".

وأشارت إلى أنھ منذ سن نیجیریا للقانون في عام ٢٠٠٣ ، نفذتھ ٢٧ والیة فقط من أصل ٣٦ والیة في

البالد. تسع والیات ھي بورنو ویوبي وأداماوا وبوتشي وغومبي وكانو

وكیبي وجیجاوا وزامفارا لم تعتمد القانون وتدجینھ.

"لقد حققت بورنو إنجازا كبیرا من خالل جلسة االستماع العامة ھذه.

وشدد نجوین على أنھ "بالوصول إلى ھذه المرحلة ، أبدت حكومة الوالیة والمشرعون في مجلس النواب في بورنو التزاما وتفانیا لتأمین حقوق

أطفالھا وحمایتھم".

سیعمل العاملون في مجال الرعایة الصحیة معا لتعزیز المھارات المحلیة والتدریب في مجال رعایة القلب قبل الجراحة في نیجیریا ، وقد دخل اثنان

من مقدمي الرعایة الصحیة ، وھما مستشاري التخدیر والرعایة الحرجة

) في شراكة استراتیجیة مع )A3Cمستشفى إیفاكیئا ، لیكي ، في

الغوس. جاء ذلك في بیان وقعھ المدیر A3Cالتجاري لشركة ، السید

أكینتوندي سویا ، یوم الخمیس في الغوس. وأوضح البیان أن البرنامج كان خطوة إلى األمام في عملیة خلق

المزید من المعرفة في تطویر واستدامة الرعایة الحرجة.

وقالت إن ھذا سیؤدي إلى زیادة بقاء المرضى الذین یعانون من ظروف

تھدد حیاتھم. قال المؤسس / الرئیس A3Cالتنفیذي لشركة ، الدكتور

شییي أوییسوال ، في البیان إنھ أصبح من المھم معالجة المعدل المقلق لنقص تخصص الرعایة الحرجة في نیجیریا

وإفریقیا ، ومن ھنا جاءت الشراكة. "من المعروف أن العنایة المركزة

ربما تكون أغلى عنصر في أي نظام عالج بالمستشفى ، وفي ھذه المرحلة

یمكن أن یؤثر نقص الخبرة على المریض بشكل سلبي ، وبالتالي یكون

أكثر تأثیرا على استدامة حیاة اإلنسان.

A3Cیلتزم كل من مستشفى ومستشفى إیفاكیئا بتوفیر وصول

میسور التكلفة إلى العالج والتدریب والتعلیم على مستوى عالمي من

خالل التعلم التجریبي ، للمساعدة في زیادة المھارات والقدرات المحلیة في

الرعایة ما قبل الجراحة خاصة في نیجیریا.

A3Cوقال: "تشارك في العدید من البرامج األخرى وتدیر وحدات العنایة المركزة في جمیع أنحاء البالد ولكنھا ستساھم فقط عندما تفي المستشفیات بالمعاییر الدولیة ، من حیث جاھزیة

المرافق وصیانتھا". وفقا ألویسوال ، یقدر أن نیجیریا بھا

٣٥٠ سریرا فقط للعنایة المركزة لخدمة سكان ٢٠٠ ملیون نسمة.

وأضاف أنھ الیوم ، یتم إجراء ما ال یقل عن ٥٠٠ ألف عملیة قلب مفتوح

كل عام على مستوى العالم ، منھا عدد قلیل یتم إجراؤه في نیجیریا.

وأوضح أن "جراحة القلب تستخدم غالبا في اإلجراءات المعقدة ، مثل

مجازة الشریان التاجي أو اإلجراءات المعقدة للشریان األورطي أو القلب

نفسھ".

مجموعة الدعم الدینامیكي ، یخاطبان مراسلي مقر الوالیة بعد االجتماع مع نائب الرئیس في الفیال ، (MBO( المنسق الوطني ، محمد بوھاري وأوسینباجوأحمد الحسن (إلى الیسار) ومنسق المنطقة الشمالیة الغربیة ، محمود أعظمھ. ، MBO Dynamic Groupالرئاسیة في أبوجا ، أمس. معھ مدیر األمن ،

ھو المكان الذي من المفترض أن نقوم فیھ بعملنا اإلداري.

على الرغم من أن حكومة أنامبرا وفرت لنا مساحة ، إال أنھا ال تساعدنا في ضوء ما نقوم بھ. قال القائد: "لكن

الحكومة وعدت بتوفیر مكان أفضل لنا".

وأدانت تشوكو كافة أشكال العنف ضد الرجل أو المرأة أو األطفال بما

في ذلك تشویھ األعضاء التناسلیة األنثویة. وحثت الضحایا وعالقاتھم على اإلبالغ عن مثل ھذه الحاالت

إلى منظمات المجتمع المدني أو األجھزة األمنیة التي بدورھا ستقوم

بإخطار نابتیب. وقال إن حكومة الوالیة ملتزمة

بضمان تشغیل جمیع مرافق الرعایة الصحیة األولیة ، مضیفا أن حوالي

٢٠٠ من أصل ٢٧٤ مركز رعایة صحیة أولیة كانت تقدم خدمات

وظیفیة

والمشاركة في المناصرة ، وخلق الوعي ، وتلقي االلتماسات ومعالجة

القضایا". قال القائد إن نابتیب تم تأسیسھ

لمكافحة االتجار بالبشر والعنف القائم على النوع االجتماعي واستغالل

األطفال بالسیاسات واالستراتیجیات الصحیحة لمكافحة التھدیدات. وقالت إن الوكالة تعمل مع الوكاالت الشقیقة

ذات الصلة وكذلك األجھزة األمنیة لضمان الحد من االتجار بالبشر

واالنتھاكات بشكل كبیر. ومع ذلك ، أشار تشوكو إلى أن

نابتیب كانت تواجھ بعض التحدیات بما في ذلك عدم وجود أماكن إقامة

مناسبة لتمكینھا من العمل على النحو األمثل. وفقا لھا ، فإن بعض الحاالت تتعلق بضحایا یحتاجون إلى المأوى.

لكن لیس لدینا مثل ھذه التسھیالت. في بعض األحیان ، نحضر مراتب ونجعلھم یبقون في المكتب ولكن ھذا

لیس الغرض من المكتب. "المكتب

أكثر من ٣٠ التماسا خالل ١٢ شھرا من عملھا. كشفت السیدة جودیث

تشوكو ، قائدة الوكالة في الوالیة ، عن ذلك في مقابلة مع صحفیین في

أوكا ، كجزء من النشاط المستمر لمدة ١٦ یوما ضد العنف القائم على النوع

االجتماعي. وقال تشوكو إن بعض الحاالت التي

تلقتھا الوكالة تضمنت استغالل األطفال ؛ العنف القائم على النوع االجتماعي ، واالستغالل الجنسي لألطفال ، وبیع البشر واألطفال ،

والعنف ضد المرأة. وقالت إنھا تلقت أیضا حاالت ھجرة

غیر نظامیة حیث تم تھریب شبان من نیجیریا بوسائل غیر نظامیة. مثل ھؤالء الرجال یجدون أنفسھم في

البلدان األفریقیة واألوروبیة حیث یتم استغاللھم في العمل وحصد

أعضائھم. قال تشوكو: "لقد عملنا في أنامبرا

منذ نوفمبر ٢٠٢٠ ، لتوعیة الناس ،

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South African President Calls For Solidarity Against Travel BansSouth African Ppresident, Cyril Ramaphosa has visited Nigeria with the hope of strengthening relations between both countries.

Speaking during the visit with Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Ramaphosa again called on countries to lift “unscientific” flight bans.

“This is a global pandemic and overcoming it requires that we collaborate and work together.

“The resulting damage of this travel ban to the economies of the countries affected will be considerable and long-lasting,” he told journalists with Buhari by his side.

France said on Wednesday that it would start allowing flights from Southern Africa to land on its territory from Saturday, but with “drastic”

restrictions allowing only French and EU residents to disembark, along with diplomats and flight crews.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, on Wednesday confirmed its first cases of the new COVID-19 variant, saying it had been found among three passengers who had travelled to South Africa.

West African neighbor, Ghana also said it had recorded the new Omicron variant, tracing cases to Nigeria and South Africa.

Cases of Omicron have been detected in numerous countries since the strain was first reported to the World Health Organization, WHO, in South Africa last week, prompting border closures and travel restrictions.

“Genomic surveillance has now identified and confirmed Nigeria’s

first cases of B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, now known as the Omicron variant,” the Head of Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, said.

Contact tracing and “follow up to ensure isolation... have commenced,” Adetifa said.

“Omicron is widespread globally… Therefore, it is a matter of when, not if, we will identify more cases,” he said.

Ghana’s Director-General of Health Services, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said its cases had been detected at Accra’s international airport, mainly coming from South Africa and Nigeria.

“The good thing is that in the community test done so far, we have not seen any Omicron within the community of Ghana,” he said at the launch of a vaccine campaign.

“But the danger is that if someone has the Omicron, and it is incubating, it will not be found at the airport.”

Those travellers will need a COVID test upon arrival, with a negative result still requiring a seven-day quarantine, while a positive test will require a 10-day quarantine, government’s spokesman, Gabriel Attal said.

The coronavirus outbreak has killed 2,976 people and infected 214,113 in Nigeria, according to official statistics, but the real figures are believed to be much higher, in part because of low testing rates.

Home to around 210 million people, the West African nation has launched vaccination campaigns and requires civil servants to show proof of jabs or a negative test to enter public buildings.

For the first time in 40 years, a passenger ferry on Wednesday set sail from the Libyan port of Misrata to Turkey’s Izmir province

Libya has not been serviced by any international ferries for the past 25 years.

Travel links with and within the country were severely disrupted by the 2011 insurgency that overthrew

longtime dictator, Moamer Kadhafi, and years of unrest which followed.

The restoration of the ferry service had come as a welcome news to many including passengers.

“We are looking forward during the coming period to a number of other trips. We have approvals for Alexandria and Tunisia,” Taha Hadid, Commercial Director of Misrata Marine Terminal,

said.One of the many passengers,

Abdallah Mohammed, was excited to see this day.

“After a break of more than forty or fifty years, Libya returns to sailing the sea with this ship, praise be to God.”

During Kadhafi’s rule, from 1969, the country was under sanctions and largely closed to tourists.

Misrata, about 200 kilometres, 125 miles, east of Tripoli, is home to numerous Turkish businesses.

Air travel has also begun to return.Airports were severely damaged

in Libya’s struggle and many air links were suspended, but some have resumed since an October 2020 ceasefire between the main rival camps.

First Ferry Between Turkey And Libya Sets Sail After 4 Decades

In Cameroon, the prevalence of HIV AIDS is decreasing according to statistics.

The CAMPHIA survey focused on providing estimates of HIV risk and burden by measuring annual HIV incidence, and prevalence, shows that 3.7 percent of adults are living with HIV in Cameroon, representing approximately 500,000 individuals.

The annual rate of new HIV infection among adults was 0.24, or 31,000 new cases per year according to the 2018 survey. But young girls

between 15 and 24 are still the most infected segment of the population, presenting the most challenge, in part, due to men’s refusal to protect themselves during sex.

For years, experts have presented the female condom as an effective way around the problem yet societal acceptance of the preservatif option has been poor.

“Some men arrive here at this bar and meet women. Sometimes they propose you to spend the evening with them and you accept. But when

you ask for the preso, condom, he starts to tell you that he does not like that. He has never even used it, and he wouldn’t even want to. Most often with some men it becomes a fight”, Chantal a barmaid in Douala said.

The disagreement over condom use is a situation Chantal and many women are familiar with in Cameroun. But this reluctance endangers sexual health, health and wellbeing.

On December 1, in Bafoussam,

Western Cameroon, a march of support and solidarity to people living with HIV took place. Organizers were seen distributing male condoms, but also female condoms, a prevention tool many on the streets were persuaded to accept.

“No, I’ve never had to use the female condom, because some people say it’s not practical, it’s difficult to use, it makes noise during use, which makes me a little skeptical”, a student, Ange explained.

Cameroon Begins Campaign On Usage Of Female Condom

Ugandan troops stepped up their deployment in Eastern DR Congo on Wednesday, witnesses said, on the second day of an operation against the notorious ADF rebel group launched in cooperation with Kinshasa.

“They are arriving aboard armoured cars, with escorts from members of the local security services,” Tony Kitambala, a freelance journalist based in North Kivu province, said at Nobili on the border.

Ugandan soldiers were seen crossing into the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday after their armed forces launched air and artillery strikes from Ugandan territory.

The target is the Allied Democratic Forces, ADF, a group blamed for massacres in Eastern DRC and attacks in the Ugandan capital, and which the Islamic State group claims as an affiliate.

DRC at the weekend said through a presidential advisor that it approved a Ugandan offer to pursue the ADF on its soil, where the group had holed up since the mid-1990s.

An aid worker in Nobili said “air strikes on ADF positions continued last evening” but the situation was calm on Wednesday.

“This morning, the UPDF, Ugandan armed forces, has been reinforcing its troops with men, ammunition and military trucks,” he said.

DRC’s army spokesman, Leon Richard Kasonga told reporters late Wednesday that “we bombarded terrorist camps in the forest”.

“We are on ground for far-reaching operations,” he added, without providing any details about the number of troops being deployed or how long the mission will last.

A senior DRC military officer said Congolese troops were heading towards Beni, the capital of North Kivu province, from neighbouring South Kivu.

The bombardments aimed at several ADF positions in North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province to the northeast.

On Tuesday, the Ugandan armed forces spokesman said the bombardments had successfully hit their targets, and that ground operations would hunt down “terrorists.”

The ADF was historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to President Yoweri Museveni.

The group established itself in Eastern DRC in 1995, later becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region.

DR Congo’s Catholic Church said ADF has killed around 6,000 civilians since 2013 while a respected monitor, the Kivu Security Tracker, blames it for more than 1,200 deaths in the area alone since 2017.

Ugandan Troops Step Up Deployment In DRC Anti-Rebel Operation

South African Presiden Ramaphosa with President Buhari



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Upsets As OMICRON Sends ‘Jitters’ Across Business WorldBY SAMAILA ISHAKU WITH AGENCY REORT

The latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) variant – Omicron – has sparked a wild ride in markets.

Investors say the volatility probably isn’t over yet, as they look for selective opportunities to pounce on while protecting their portfolios as the year-end nears.

The emergence of the Omicron variant saw the S&P 500 notch its worst one-day percentage loss in nine months on Friday – only to rebound on Monday as hopes grew that the variant might be milder than first feared. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) cautioned of a very high risk of infection surges, U.S. President Joe Biden said America would not go back to lockdowns.

Some investors saw an opportunity in those swings.

“We have been endeavouring to take advantage of sharp sudden concerns (such as Omicron) to add to positions where we believe the value more than outweighs any new/incremental risk,” Shawn Kravetz, founder of Esplanade Capital, told related by email.

He is looking to swoop in if markets take another dive.

London-based hedge fund Westbeck Capital Management took advantage of Friday’s sharp drop in oil to take a position in Brent crude.

The fund is waiting for more details on the Omicron variant to become clear before making a bigger bet on a bounce in oil prices.

“We need to wait to see how this new variant develops. My gut feel is that this is a big buying opportunity,” said Jean-Louis Le Mee, the firm’s co-founder.

Still, not everyone is sanguine. Tim Pickering, chief investment officer at Auspice Capital, a Canadian computer-driven commodities-focused fund, reduced equity exposure on Friday.

“I think the biggest takeaway is the market is fragile and we should expect volatility,” he said.

The Cboe Volatility Index (.VIX) Wall Street’s most widely followed fear gauge, was down on Monday but still elevated from its range over the last couple of months.

Steven Oh, head of credit at PineBridge Investments, said the Omicron variant has introduced more risks to the downside on the heels of the market’s sharp rally.

“If you have less confidence in the base case you may get a bit more defensive in positioning,” he said.

While there may be hopes that the virus may not be severe as initially thought, it shouldn’t be dismissed, others warned.

Omicron “definitely has the potential to change the game globally,” said Grant Wilson, head of Asia Pacific at Exante Data, who said other factors such as transmissibility and vaccine evasiveness needed to be taken into account.

Indeed, the Financial Times on Tuesday quoted the chief executive of Moderna as saying existing vaccines would be less effective at fighting Omicron.

S&P 500 e-mini futures were trading lower.

Wilson said large asset managers take time to make decisions and he expected a lot of investment committee meetings would be scheduled where a key question would be if the outlook for 2022 has changed.

How central banks respond to the threat is also key. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday warned that the new strain muddies the outlook.

“The question now is, does the Omicron variant mean that the Federal Reserve won’t hike rates next year?” said Troy Gayeski, chief market strategist for FS Investments, who still sees rate hikes on the horizon and thinks there will be a near-term peak to the market sometime between mid-January and April.

Despite the concerns, big Wall Street

firms including BlackRock and Citi advised clients to stay invested or buy on weakness.

BlackRock’s analysts on Monday said if vaccines prove effective “the strain only delays the restart of economic activity,” while Citi analysts said while “a market sell-off seems logical” it “would buy into any dip.”

Others have noted that stocks managed to move higher in the face of the Delta variant this year.

The S&P 500 is up about 10 per cent since early May, when the WHO designated the variant now known as Delta a “variant of concern.”

However, a strong year in markets may mean some investors will look to protect their profits as year-end nears, rather than assume more risk.

The average hedge fund, for example, ended October up 11.4% for the first 10 months of the year, according to data from Hedge Fund Research, compared to an 11.8% gain for all of 2020. The S&P is up 24% year-to-date.

Marc LoPresti, co-managing director of alternative investment management firm The Strategic Funds, said hedge funds had already taken off some riskier positions as the COVID-19 situation deteriorated last week in Europe to protect gains going into year-end.

“They did the majority of the derisking, (but) they may do some more,” LoPresti said. (Reuters/NANFeature)

We need to wait to see how this new variant develops. My gut feel is that this is a big buying opportunity“





special feature

BY YAHAYA UMAR

The Auditor-General has raised an alarm on domestic crude oil lifted by the NNPC and was not accounted for in 2019 the 104.48 million barrels of missing crude oil could have added at least N2 trillion to the federal government’s coffers

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , NNPC, failed to account for 104.48 million barrels of domestic crude oil it lifted in 2019.

In the year under review, NNPC lifted a total of 107.24 million barrels as domestic crude, out of which it only accounted for 2.76 million barrels. Thus, the corporation failed to account for 97.4% ,104.48 million barrels, of the total domestic crude lifted.

By virtue of their responsibilities and functions, Paragraph 110 of the Financial Regulations grants the Accountant General and Auditor-General or their representatives’ free access to books, accounts and information of all federal ministries or extra ministerial offices and other arms of government.

They are also entitled to require and receive from members of the Public Service any information, reports and explanations they consider necessary to enhance the performance of their functions.

In line with this, the Auditor General of the Federation, AuGF , Aghughu Adolphus went through the books and accounts of the NNPC and discovered that the corporation did not provide information about 104.48 million barrels of crude oil that was lifted as domestic crude in 2019.

The 2019 NNPC-NAPIMS audited annual report and financial statement showed that 107.24 million barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude.

Out of the 107.24 million barrels, only 2.76 million barrels were allocated to local refineries, as stated on page 17 of the NNPC 2019 Annual Statistics Bulletin. This happened between January-May as shown on this table.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, the 2.76 million barrels allocated to the domestic refineries were valued at N55.89 billion.

The Auditor-General noted that information about the whereabouts or sales of the remaining 104.48 million barrels of crude oil was not provided. Even more worrisome is the silence of the management of the NNPC to the queries of the Auditor-General. Thus, raising the fear that the unaccounted

2019 Audit Report: N2trn Unaccounted For In NNPC Over Crude Oil

As Reps to set up investigative Panelbarrels of the domestic crude or the money from its sales may have been diverted.

A similar situation played out in 2011 when NNPC was unable to account for 65,000 barrels of crude out of the 445,000 barrels allocated to it daily, costing the country the sum of N1.033 billion daily and N31.005 billion monthly.

Outlining the risks of the millions of barrels of crude oil that the NNPC did not provide information about in 2019, the Auditor-General raised the issue of loss of revenue to the Federation Account.

Last year, at a media parley, Austin Avuru, the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum Plc noted that the country’s 2019 budget performance indicates that the percentage of total budget revenue from the oil sector is decreasing.

While other factors may have contributed to that, the unaccounted 104.48 million barrels of crude oil lifted in 2019 may have also been responsible for the decrease in oil sector revenue contribution to the country’s total budget.

The Auditor-General stated that the 2.76 million barrels was valued at N55.89 billion. Relying on this valuation, the unaccounted 104.48 million barrels will be valued at N2.112 trillion. It could therefore be inferred that the country lost or can’t find N2.112 trillion in

2019. Thus, leading to more borrowing for the government to finance its budget and other critical infrastructures in the country especially since oil and gas is still one of the biggest revenue earners for the government.

Asides from the loss of revenue to the Federation Account, the practices of not accounting for the whereabouts of million barrels of crude oil or the money generated from the sales of the un-utilized ones could dim the confidence of investors in the new NNPC , as a registered company.

Following the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill , PIB , into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in August, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva stated that the NNPC will become a commercial company.

With the current operations of the company especially as highlighted by the audit report, there is no assurance that the same practices which have held the company insolvent will not continue.

Some years ago, the NNPC reported losses that led to the insolvency that mandated a new structure but with a chunk of funds or millions of barrels of crude oil unaccounted for, the country is still on a path of fiscal challenges.

Report had exposed how tax credit amounting to N1.4 trillion was granted by the corporation. This further reveals possible reasons why the previous corporation may have encountered

financial difficulties and failed to meet responsibility towards the revenue of the country.

The Auditor-General has outlined a number of pertinent issues in the 2019 Audit report that the government should pay strenuous attention to.

To avert issues of loss of revenue to the Federation Account, the government should adopt the recommendations put forward by the Auditor-General and most importantly, apply sanctions relating to failure to collect and account for government revenue as stated in paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations

Similarly, the House of Representatives has announced it will set up an Adhoc Committee to investigate accounts belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ,NNPC, and its subsidiaries

The House adopted the resolution after a motion by Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka ,APC-Ogun, at plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.

The committee is to investigate the consolidated inventory, assets, interest and liabilities as the need to boost investors’ confidence and enhance transparency and efficiency in the supply chain management of the newly established NNPC Ltd, owing to the outstanding credit sales and the much-needed revenues by the federal government to support annual budgets.

NNPC Towers

busin

ess &

econ

omy




Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has projected that the Nigerian economy will end the current year with a growth rate of two per cent or 2.5 per cent in 2021.

President of LCCI, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, made the projection at the 133rd Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the chamber yesterday Lagos.

Mabogunje, said that the fiscal and monetary sides of the economy should promote growth-enhancing and confidence-building policies that would encourage private capital flows to the economy to achieve the growth.

She added that fiscal and monetary authorities must develop a medium-term recovery plan anchored on local productivity, ease of business, attracting private investment, and developing physical and soft infrastructure.

The LCCI President, however, anticipated the country’s inflation

figure to be sustained at its double-digit level in the short to medium term.

This, she said, was largely driven by persistent food supply shocks, foreign exchange illiquidity, higher energy cost, potential removal of fuel subsidy, insecurity and social unrest in the Northern region.

“These structural factors will continue to mount pressure on domestic consumer prices,” she said.

Mabogunje, noting the non-oil economy growth by 5.4 per cent, said the worsening security challenges in some parts of the country, may cause production to shrink and supply chain to be disrupted.

“Key drivers of the non-oil sector growth were finance and insurance with 23.2 per cent, transport and storage 20.6 per cent, trade with 11.9 per cent, telecommunications 10.9 per cent.

“Others are manufacturing 4.3 per

cent, construction 4.1 per cent, real estate 2.3 per cent as well as agriculture 1.2 per cent all year round.

“However, with the worsening security perception about the country, foreign investors are not interested in bringing in Foreign Direct Investments to Nigeria”, she said.

On the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria to retain policy parameters, Mabogunje said its credit provision might not yield desired outcome.

She said this desired outcome was if the structural challenges stifling domestic productivity remained unaddressed.

“While the CBN has been keen to extend credit to the real economy as a way of supporting the economy.

“The fact remains that credit provision in recent times has proved ineffective in boosting output growth and stabilising consumer prices.

Nigeria Will End 2021 With 2.5% Growth - LCCI

BY MIMIDOO PATRICK

Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, has introduced standard harmonization to ensure that all manufactured products conformed to standards prior to sales in the market or exportation to boost market opportunity for Nigerian goods at the continent.

SON FCT Coordinator, Mr Umar Yakubu who made the disclosure in an interview with yesterday in Abuja, noted this would provide consumers with confidence that products manufactured in the country were fit and safe for the intended use.

Yakybu restated the commitment of his agency to Small and Medium Enterprises to break into the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, through effective standardisation of their products.

He said agency was lobbying the National Assembly to increase penalties on standardisation breaches in subsequent amendments to the SON Act so as to compel manufacturers and importers to learn to play by the rules.

According to him, SON’s ability to enforce standards for Nigeria and other West African countries will help companies to create more jobs for the teeming youths of the country.

According to him, “The AfCFTA offers a good opportunity for Nigerian SMEs to export to West Coast and into sub-Sahara Africa. Today our cables and wire products are among the best in the world. This is because our laboratories are among the best in Africa.

The SON boss however lamented the influx of substandard products into the country, while urging Nigerians to change their habits and lifestyle to de-emphasise consumption of imported products now taking a toll on the nation’s foreign reserves.

He also assured that the Federal Government might likely adopt stronger sanctions at bi-lateral levels with other trading partners to ensure that the influx of substandard goods into the country is curtailed.

He said AfCFTA, the agency is prepared to ensure that only goods that meet the minimum requirements of the standards are allowed into the country from neighbouring African countries.

“In terms of the AfCFTA, we are prepared and all our standards are international standards. We are prepared standard wise to watch out for products brought in from other African countries. We are ready for any situation whether from Africa or other continents across the world.

AfCFTA: SON Introduces Harmonisation Of Products

banking & financeFriday, December 3, 2021




BY DICKSON PAT

In the third quarter of the year, the manufacturing sector recorded a total output of N7.1tn.

The N7.1tn is N1.7tn higher than N5.4tn recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

This is according to data contained in the latest Gross Domestic Product report released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.

The output of N7.1tn for Q3 2021 also represents an increase of N1.6tn when compared to the N5.5tn recorded in the Q3 2020.

According to the report, 11 out of the 13 subsectors of the manufacturing sector recorded positive economic performance quarter-on-quarter while only two subsectors experienced a decline in productivity.

The 11 sub-sectors that recorded increase in economic performance include cement, from N1.1tn in Q2 2021 to N1.7tn in Q3 2021; food, beverage and tobacco, from N1.9tn to N2.3tn; textile, apparel and footwear, from N1.1tn to N1.4tn; and wood and wood products, from N107.6bn to N126.5bn.

Other subsectors are pulp,

BY UMORU ABDULKADIR

Equity investors on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited ,NGX, recorded N641 billion gain at the end of the November trading period, as sentiment shifted to equities following low returns in the Fixed Income ,FI, market segment amidst renewed interest in high dividend yielding stocks.

A look at the trading statistics for the month shows that the market capitalisation of listed equities rose to N22.579 trillion from N21.938 trillion at the beginning of the month, indicating a 2.9% increase.

Correspondingly, the All-Share Index , ASI, of the Nigerian Exchange Group ,NGX, advanced by 2.9% to settle at 43,270.94 points from 42,038.60 points.

A further analysis of the trade data indicated that the stock market in its Year-till-Date ,YtD, performance gained N1.5 trillion from N21.063 trillion the stock market opened in 2021 to close last month November 30, at N22.579 trillion.

Similarly, the NGX ASI has gained 7.4% or 2,977.33 basis points to 43,248.05 basis points as at November 30, 2021, from 40,270.72 basis points it opened this year.

paper and paper products, from N70.7bn to N96.5bn; chemical and pharmaceutical products, from N149.3bn to N168.5bn; non-metallic products, from N346.2bn to N448.4bn; plastic and rubber products, from N145.3bn to N199.2bn; electrical and electronics, from N3.7bn to N4.8bn; basic metal, iron and steel, from N96.9bn to N143.3bn; and other manufacturing, from N129.4bn to N255.8bn.

Meanwhile, the oil refinery sub-sector recorded a significant decline in productivity within the period

Despite the fact that the stock market in 2021 has been confronted with foreign investors’ exit, a double-digit inflation rate that discourages investment as well as the movement of liquidity to money market instruments, the local bourse appreciated.

Meanwhile, it was yet another bearish trading session on yesterday on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited , NGX, as the indices headed South, as both the All Share Index ,ASI, and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.50% at the end of trading yesterday.

The market routed south amid stronger sell-side pressure seen in telcos, banking, industrial, insurance and oil & gas sectors.

Accordingly, BOCGAS Plc led the losers’ league on the Local Bourse after its share price decreased from N10.50 to N9.45, down by 10% while UPDC Plc followed after its share price fell from N0.0.99 to N0.90, shedding 9.09%, among others.

Conversely, on the advancers list, Meyer Pharmaceuticals Plc gained most, from N0.20 to No.22, up by 10%; followed by NEM Insurance Plc which rose from day-open low of N1.90 to N2.05, appreciating by 7.33%, among others.

under review, from N6.7bn to N7.8bn.

Also, output from the motor vehicles and assembly subsector fell slightly to N255.2bn from N255.3bn.

The growth recorded in the manufacturing sector in Q3 2021 was despite numerous challenges affecting the industry as highlighted by manufacturers and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the 49th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, in October, the President of the African

The Nigeria Exchange Limited All-Share Index ,ASI, and the equities Market Capitalisation decreased by 0.50% ,N112billion, from 42,463.16 points and N22.157 trillion recorded the preceding trading day to 43,247.98 points and N22.045 trillion yesterday.

The activity chart was topped by First Bank Holdings Plc, as it traded 113.3 million shares valued at N1.3 billion it was followed by Guaranty Trust Company with 33.5 million shares worth N821.1

Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, identified high cost and unreliable power supply as major obstacles to manufacturing in the country.

He had said, “Today, the major challenge facing Nigeria’s manufacturing is the very high cost and unreliability of electricity supplies.

“Load shedding and the inconsistent availability of electrical power have resulted in high and uncompetitive manufacturing costs”.

Another challenge he listed was dilapidated transportation infrastructure, including ports, highways, and railways among others.

Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria had lamented that 45% of the production cost of manufacturers in Nigeria was spent on electricity.

Speaking on the development, an economist and the Head of Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Dr Seyi Adelowokan, said the data on improved performance in the manufacturing sector was doubtful as it didn’t correspond with the realities in the sector.

He, however, noted that the disparity might be as a result

million; Access Bank Plc exchanged 18.9 million shares estimated at 170.6 million.

While Transnational Corporation Plc traded 18.1 million shares worth N18.2 million to occupy the fourth position on the chart, Zenith Bank Plc, accounted for 14.5 million units of shares valued at N346.3 million.

Analysts believed that the upward movement in November was due to the positive price movement in big cap stocks, including Airtel Africa Plc, MTN

of the failure of the Bureau to adjust the data obtained for inflation.

“Another aspect is that, you know that there is inflation in Nigeria generally, and if those figures are estimated based on the changes in prices and it isn’t adjusted for inflation, then the figure will continue to rise, because prices are rising”, he said.

Another economic analyst and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, stated that at best, the growth in the manufacturing sector was as a result of base effect; the economy returning to normalcy from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sectorial growth in 2020.

“So some of the growths we are witnessing today are at best evening out, that is normalisation, bringing things to the way they were before COVID-19”, he added.

He, therefore, urged the government to address the infrastructural deficit in the manufacturing sector to improve the competitiveness of the sector and drive increased exports.

Communication Nigeria Plc and Dangote Cement Plc.

We have many good stocks that yielded more than 20% returns during the month. FBN Holdings, for instance, has recorded more than 60% returns in the last three months. MTN, Dangote Cement, Airtel Africa, Vitafoam, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc have recorded more than 25% returns within the year, while Honeywell Flourmills Plc has achieved more than 200% return among others.

Investors Gain N641bn In November Amid Renewed Interest

Amid Unfavourable Environment, Manufacturing Output Rebounds, Hits N7trn

Wednesday at a Central Bank of Nigeria Fair in Kano.

The theme of the fair is “Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development”

Nwanisobi said apart from new technology to prevent cyber criminals, the CBN had introduced other measures such as making individual passwords up to 12 digits.

“This will make it very difficult for any cybercriminal to break and penetrate into customers’ accounts.

“Gone are the days, when

cyber crooks will be allowed to have a field day and smile home with people’s sweat.

“e-Naira is the Digital representation with the equivalent of the physical Naira, the only difference is that, while one is physical, the other one is virtual”, he said.

The director also explained the mode of payment in respect of e-Naira.

“We have cash payment, electronic payment and now added digital payments, all aimed at reducing hardship faced by bank customers at the point of transactions with their bank or other banks.

“The beauty of the e-Naira is that it is instant, immediate, and the cost is very low as well.

“That is why when we are talking of the e-Naira, we say it’s the same Naira with possessing power and possibilities”, Nwanisobi said. According to him, the e-Naira will solve the problems facing financial institutions, cross border issues, relationship with the Diaspora, and taxation.

The director said that the Fair was to enlighten the public about CBN policies and interventions, as it relates to youth development.

e-Naira: CBN Assures Of Effective Technology Against Fraudsters

Emefiele

FROM COVER PAGE

BY INIOBONG SUNDAY, UYO

Akwa Ibom State Government has taken the delivery of medical consumables worth N28m as different variants of Coronavirus ,COVID-19, continue to take hold of the global population.

The items include over 303,000 units of hand sanitizers and other safety materials for onward distribution to residents across the 31 Local Government Areas.

Governor Udom Emmanuel took the delivery of the medical consignments donated by the Japanese group in collaboration with the Junior Chambers International ,JCI, Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organization ,NGO, at the Government House, Uyo, and the state capital.

He charged foreign firms to explore the Foreign Direct Investments ,FDIs, opportunities available in the state as government has provided the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

The governor assured that his administration was ready to provide land and other facilities that would guarantee a seamless process towards investing in the state’s economy.

Given the potential threat by the emerging dangerous variant of the virus, Omicron, the governor ruled out the possibility of another round of lockdown of the state economy and warned the people to imbibe lay down safety measures especially as the yuletide approaches.

He, therefore, charged the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh, to expedite action in the distribution of the materials and sensitization of the populace to imbibe safety protocols.

However, Umoh expressed the hope of government’s readiness to contain the threat posed by the pandemic given its huge investment in the health sector and appealed to the people to safeguard their lives through basic sanitation regimes.

The President of Saraya Japan, Dr. Saraya Yusuke, who was represented by another official, Mr. Pascal Dike, disclosed that the firm has been into health and hygienic equipments since the 60s with presence in 25 countries of the world.

He added that the gesture is to help Nigerian government combat the COVID-19 scourge, as well as establish foothold in Nigeria.

Japan Donates N28m To A’Ibom As Variant COVID-19 Omicron Rages

Obaseki Proposes N214.2bn For 2022 Fiscal Year


Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation ,NDIC, has urged secondary school students in Sokoto State on the need to imbibe proper financial disciplines and saving culture for a productive living.

Speaking at Sani Dingyadi Secondary School, Sokoto, the NDIC’s Zonal Controller, Sokoto Office, Mr Umar Kaoje-Bello, said the initiative would encourage financial prudence and resource management among the students.

According to him, the activity is part of the annual commemoration of 2021 World Saving Day with the theme:”Understanding the Importance of Saving”.

He said NIDC was committed to promoting saving culture and remodelling of youths to improve their financial inclusion and increase investment growth in the nation’s economy.

Kaoje-Bello said the campaign on financial literacy, resources management and budgeting, saving culture were embarked on nationwide by NDIC to encourage poor Nigerians on how to keep their money and make wise investments.

He said the exercise also provided the chance to educate young people on how to keep their money safe at designated banks instead of keeping them in an unsecured environment to be mutilated by termites or stolen.

Kaoje-Bello emphasises the importance of monetary saving habits among Nigerian students, as part of efforts to “Catch Them Young” to cultivate good financial habits.

He said that good saving habits would encourage prudence, transparent dealings and growth of businesses, in view of the need to breed empowered individuals in the society.

The controller urged participants to be wary of financial frauds going on through online banking services, Points of Service ,PoS, Operators among others, which he said mostly occurred due to greed and eagerness to obtain cheap proceeds.

He said that NDIC had core mandates of depositor’s guarantee, banking supervision, failure resolutions and bank liquidations.

He said that the NDIC had since 1994 undertaken liquidations of 49 Deposit Monetary Banks ,DMBs, 367 Microfinance Banks ,MFBs, and 51 Primary Mortgage Banks ,PMBs, in Nigeria.

NDIC Trains Students On Financial Discipline

governance.We are providing our people

with an oasis of hope even with the harsh realities that confront us as a sub-national government in a country that is confronted with a number of developmental challenges”, he said.

He said the budget will be financed from a revenue projection of N186bn, consisting of N65billion statutory allocation, N23billion Value Added Tax ,VAT, Internally Generated Revenue ,IGR, of N50.3billion, and N11.6billion from grants among others.

The governor, explained that the recurrent budget estimates are based on $57 per barrel benchmark for crude oil, an average daily production of 1.88 million barrel per day

According to him, we believe

BY ENAHORO IYEMEFOKHAI, BENIN

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has presented the 2022 budget proposal of N214.2billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

The budget proposal christened, “Budget of Renewal, Hope and Growth”, is made of capital expenditure estimate of N118billion and recurrent expenditure of N95.9billion.

Obaseki, while presenting the budget, said the 2022 budget size is 32.9% higher than the N161bn budgeted for 2021.

“The 2022 budget is centered on reinforcing the sense of belongings in the citizens and providing them with the opportunity to understand, participate and contribute to deepening

that with the reforms we have been undertaking in our tax collection management and administration today, we will be able to raise the IGR to N50.3billion next year. We will also utilize creative financing option which will boost our capital spending this year.

In line with this, we are proposing a capital, recurrent ratio of 55% to 46%, respectively, through which we will strengthen the economy and propel the much-needed growth to engender inclusive development”, he added.

Obaseki, announced the allocation of N30bn for construction of roads and bridges, N24.6billion to education; N14.1bn to health; N21bn to government buildings,

N5billion to youths and social development and N8bn to environment.

He further proposed N4.6bn for agriculture, N1.2bn for water, N2.7bn for electricity, N9.2bn for public safety and security, N4.5bn for effective physical and business friendly regulatory policies while technology enhancement will take N7.6bon.

Others are N15bn for enhancing the working environment, N4.5billion for citizen’s reorientation, N1.2bn for social protection, N5bn for administration of justice, and N2bn for tourism and development of the Benin cultural districts.

Receiving the appropriation bill, the Speaker of the Edo State House Assembly, Hon Marcus Onobun assured that the legislature would work with the executive for the speedy passage of the appropriation bill.

economyFriday, December 3, 202126 www.aljazirahnews.com



Emirates Aircraft

BY UMORU ABDULKADIR

After the Federal Government last week lifted restrictions on Emirates flights almost ten months after the diplomatic discussions around COVID-19 travel requirements for Nigerian passengers. Emirates airline has announced that it will resume passenger operations between Dubai and Nigeria from December 5.

The airline made this disclosure in a statement on yesterday, where it said that the Airline has mandated COVID-19 PCR tests for all inbound passengers.

“Passengers from Nigeria will take the COVID-19 PCR test within three days before departure and another test on arrival at the UAE.

“The world’s largest

Emirates Airline Resumes Nigeria Route December 5

international airline will operate to and from its Nigerian gateways with daily flights, providing travelers from Nigeria convenient access to Dubai, which remains a highly popular holiday and business destination.

It will also enable travelers to safely connect via Dubai to the Emirates network of over 120 global destinations”, the statement reads.

The airline further explained that it will fly to Abuja with EK 785 and 786, leaving Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

According to Emirates, passengers departing Nigeria must obtain their certificates from designated centres

provided by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

“Travelers coming from Nigeria will also need to take another COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport”, the statement adds.

“Ensuring the safety of travelers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving to Dubai, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from”.

Recall that Emirates Airline had in February instructed Nigerian travelers at the Lagos and Abuja airports to take another PCR test on arrival at Dubai and the directive led to a ban on Emirates flights in

Nigeria. The decision was later rescinded when the airline agreed to stop the rapid antigen tests.

However, in March, the Federal Government reintroduced the ban, explaining that Emirates had continued to conduct tests for passengers before departure and at arrival in Dubai.

But almost ten months after, the Federal Government last week lifted restrictions on Emirates flights on the diplomatic discussions around COVID-19 travel requirements for Nigerian passengers.

The minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika stated that the Airline had removed some of its travelling conditions for Nigerian passengers.

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Joseph Wayas: A Colossus Bows Out

constituent Assembly in 1977-78.When General Olusegun Obasanjo

terminated military rule in 1979, Joseph Wayas was elected to the Senate on the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) platform and appointed Senate President. He represented the Ogoja senatorial district alongside senator Joseph Oqua Ansa who represented calabar senatorial district Wayas had an excellent relationship with president Shehu Shagari, ensuring that bills were generally discussed and agreed before being introduced.

Wayas used to play tennis with the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thomas R. Pickering, afterwards taking Pickering to the State House at Ribadu Road to visit with President Shagari, a breach of protocol.

Under Wayas’s leadership the Senate summoned Tony Momoh, editor of the Daily Times, for contempt. This caused a major legal battle in which Momoh successfully argued that as a journalist he was empowered by the constitution to hold government accountable at all times.

While visiting the United States in September 1981, Wayas was entertained by boxer Muhammad Ali, who threw a spectacular party in his honor. Ali had previously visited Nigeria and received red-carpet treatment.

In the lead-up to the 1983 elections, Wayas was the leader of the NPN party’s “Lagos Group” that supported a change of governor in Cross River State, in opposition to the “Home Front” led by Clement Isong.

Wayas left office along with other members of the Shagari administration when General Muhammadu Buhari staged a coup on New Year’s Eve 1983, and went into exile.

He returned in 1987 and was held in political detention, 1987-1988.

Wayas was Deputy Chairman of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference that organised and midwifed the National Conference itself. In 1998 Wayas was a founding member of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP. He later joined the Peoples Democratic Party in 2001 at the urging of the then Cross River governor Donald Duke.

He was a strong believer in true Federalism as the only solution to Nigeria’s democratic problems, which

had been manifested in the Nigerian Civil War.

In October 2003 he spoke out against the ongoing local council reforms by the Federal Government, describing them as “unconstitutional”.

Wayas was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).

In January 2009 he described post-election petitions to electoral tribunals as senseless, reckless and time wasting.

In January 2010, Wayas advocated that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan be authorized to act as President pending the return of President Umaru Yar’Adua, who had been incapacitated by illness for some time.Tributes

Since his death became a public knowledge, Nigerians from all walks have been paying glowing tributes to him over his exploits in the political landscape.

In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari said Wayas’ “influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.’’

The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Thursday in Abuja.

Buhari noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.

The president joined the National Assembly, Government and people of Cross River, his friends and associates in mourning Wayas, believing his legacies would be approximated for posterity.

He prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.

In the same vein former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Wayas lived for the welfare and security of the common man.

Obasanjo, in a statement signed his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Thursday, noted the federal lawmaker, during the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1979, would “be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides and contributions to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place, Bassang, in Cross River State, to every nook and cranny of the country.

“Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the Second Republic.

“He was such a great patriot who

had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria.

“He always pitched its tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo was quoted as having said.

His knowledge of practices and procedures of the Senate, according to Obasanjo “helped him greatly in running the affairs of the Senate. He demonstrated high level of maturity and level-headedness. His disposition towards effective nation building remains unparalleled.

“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional. His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future.”

The former President also described Dr. Wayas’ death as painful and commiserated with his family, Governor Benedict Ayade, the entire people of Cross River State, as well as all associates of the late statesman across the country over the unfortunate incident.

He urged the family of the deceased, the government and people of Cross River State, “to be comforted by the fact that Dr. Wayas served God and mankind diligently and worked hard to make his country great.” He added that “the deceased left a worthy legacy of selfless service and a good name.”

Also reacting to Wayas’ death, incoming National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who was Senate President in the botched Third Republic, described the late Wayas as a quintessential democrat who left bold prints on the politics and political history of Nigeria.

In a statement from the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu Media Office, Maitama, Abuja, the former Senate President recalled the role the late Wayas played during the Second Republic.

According to Ayu, “Wayas brought stability, colour, style and depth to his leadership of the National Assembly.

“I join millions of Nigerians across different strata of life mourning the passing of this great Nigerian statesman. He dedicated his life to the service of his Fatherland.

“He was a great man, a quintessential democrat and an outstanding statesman who has left very bold prints both on the politics and political history of Nigeria.

“As Senate President in the Second Republic, he brought stability, style and depth to his leadership of the National Assembly at the time.

“Even after the collapse of the Second Republic, Wayas continued to be a stabilizing force. We recall his work as a statesman at the 1994 Constitutional Conference.

“I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, the people and government of Cross River State as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

While morning the late Wayas’, former President of the Senate, Dr.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the deceased as a true statesman and father-figure.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki recalled: “I remember when I was younger, whenever Oloye used to visit Dr. Wayas, or Dr. Wayas came to our home on visits, he always had a knack for wanting to ensure that everyone was carried along in the solutions to the problems of the day.

“During my time as Senate President, knowing fully well how closely he and my father worked, based on his experience, I consulted with him regularly on issues relating to the running of the Senate. He was a guest at a few of our anniversary events in the 8th Senate”.

Majority of those who spoke about Wayas described him as a statesman, experienced legislator, and people-centered politician.

Nigerians, like many others across the world woke up Thursday to the shock of the death of former Senate President Joseph Wayas, who died in a London hospital at the of 80.

The Second Republic Senate President was also vice-chairman of the 1995 Constitutional Conference.

Breaking the news of Wayas’ death, Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, said Wayas died after a brief illness while in the United Kingdom where he was receiving medical attention.

To the governor of the South South geo-political zone, Wayas’ death is a monumental loss to Cross River State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, the governor said Wayas left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

“As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. Dr Wayas’ demise is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria.

Ayade noted noted that as Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership of the upper legislative chamber.

It has been said that since his retirement from active politics, the former Senate President had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of not just the state but the nation at large.Life and Times

Wayas was born in Basang, Obudu, Cross River State on 21 May 1941 and attended the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He went to the United Kingdom where he studied at the Higher Tottenham Technical College, London, the West Bronwich College of Commerce, Science and Technology, Birmingham and Aston University, Birmingham. Returning to Nigeria, he worked as a manager or controller from 1960-1969 for several companies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Wayas was a member of the Society of International Affairs at the Lincoln University, United States.

Wayas joined the Federal Government in 1969-72. He was commissioner for Transport, South-Eastern State, now broken into Akwa Ibom and Cross River states from 1972-74. He was a member of the

MUYIWA OYINLOLA in this report writes that the late Second Republic Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, who died Wednesday in a London hospital would be greatly missed as a statesman, experienced legislator

and people centred politician

The Wayas







@aljazirahnewsng


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Electoral Act: Why Buhari Wrote Us – INEC“The President has requested

the commission and other critical national institutions to revert with detailed and considered views indicating whether or not the President should assent to the bill.

“This is the democratic way to go and the commission will make its views known to the President bearing in mind the overriding national interest and interest of our democracy.

“The commission will go through the bill and revert to the President within the time frame given to it.”

Speaking on the cost implication of the electoral bill, Okoye said, “It is difficult at this stage to speculate on the cost implications of direct primaries. As of today, the bill is inchoate until the President assents to it.

“It is the constitutional and legal

BY CALEB ISHAYA

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari wrote her over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, who shed light on this said stated that as the end user of the electoral legal framework, it was fundamental to seek the opinion of the commission and other critical agencies in the electoral matrix before the Act becomes law.

According to him, “Pursuant to Section 58(4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the President has 30 days to assent to a bill presented to him by the National Assembly.

responsibility of the commission to give effect to laws passed by the National Assembly.

“Moreover, direct primaries have been a feature of our electoral legal framework. The commission has monitored direct and indirect primaries organised by the different political parties. The commission does not dictate to political parties on the mode of primaries to adopt.

“The new system of direct primary election proposed in the bill domiciles the conditions for the conduct of the primaries with the political parties. In other words, the procedure adopted for the direct primaries shall be spelt out in a guidelines to be issued by the political party and filed with the commission at least 14 days before the primary election.”

Recall that the bill was passed by

the National Assembly on November 9, 2021 and was transmitted to the president on November 19.

Few weeks ago The President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari Said the national Assembly is expecting the president to sign the bill.

The President of the Senate said nobody could dictate to the President on the decision to take on the electoral law without recourse to his advisers and following due process.

Also, the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said, President Buhari was in support of the direct primary which allows all card-carrying members of political parties to be involved in the choice of candidates for major elections after a meeting with the President.

From left: Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello; Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State receiving a plaque from the Speaker of the Students Union Government (SUG), Mr Mustapha Adejuwon and President, of SUG, Mr Oladipupo Badmus, during the inauguration of the new Student Union Arcade at LASU, Ojo, in Lagos yesterday. Photo...Oladapo Kayode/NAN

Mrs Esther Dusu, PDP, representing Jos North-West Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly says the impeachment of Ayuba Abok as the Speaker of the assembly remains “illegal”.

Dusu said this when some stakeholders in her constituency visited her on Thursday in Jos.

Recall that seven out of the 24 members of the assembly on October 28 at about 6a.m., impeached Abok and elected Assemblyman Yakubu Sanda as its new speaker.

However, 12 members of the assembly kicked against the act and described it as “gross illegality”.

Dusu also maintained that none of the nine members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the house participated in the impeachment.

She explained that Abok committed no crime, insisting that as speaker, he has always carried all members along devoid of religious, tribal or party affiliation.

She alleged that the removal of Abok from office was politically motivated, adding that it was to satisfy the whims and caprices of some few persons

“During our last sitting before we proceeded on recess, we all passed a vote of confidence on Abok as our speaker.

“The motion was moved by Na’aanlong Daniel, the Majority Leader of the assembly and nobody has for one day brought any allegation against Abok.

“Abok was a speaker for all; he never discriminate members along party, tribal or religious lines.

“For the records, none of the nine PDP members signed anything or collected money to impeach Abok as claimed in some quarters.

Plateau Assembly Crisis: Abok’s Impeachment Remains Illegal – Lawmaker

BY MUYIWA OYINLOLA

A group operating under the aegis of Concerned All Progressives Congress, APC, Stakeholders has condemned the purported suspension of Prince Mustapha Audu from the ruling party.

The group also berated the party for allegedly being behind his alleged invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Audu is the leader of the Progressive Youth Movement, PYM, which recently formed a parallel caretaker committee against the one led by that of Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe had, in a response to a Press Conference by the Youth Movement dissolving the CECPC and constituting a new one, described the Mustapha led group as a paid and misguided group who are unregistered or it’s members unknown to the party.

A statement issued on behalf of the group by Aliyu Audu noted that: “apparently flowing from the

at the response of the Caretaker Committee and purported dissociation of the ward chairman”.

It stated that “for the leadership of the APC to take this position against a group it has interfaced with at various times, so much as disowning their leader, Prince Mustapha Audu who was recently a governorship aspirant under the platform of the party, one only imagines how seriously those superintending over the affairs of the party takes their responsibility”.

instruction of the CECPC, the chairman of the APC in Ogbonicha Ward of Ofu LGA of Kogi State, Hon. Peter Onoja, in a purported press conference addressed by him disowned Prince Mustapha Audu and said he has ceased being a member of the party’.

It added that “While we are yet to come to terms with this flagrant disregard for constituted rules and procedures and the diplomacy required at this time, it has been brought to our attention that the Department

of State Services (DSS) has extended an invitation to Mustapha Audu, who is the leader of the Progressive Youth Movement to appear before the service.

“Even as we have not minced words, especially in our previous press statement in disagreeing with the method of the movement, particularly in the sacking and reconstitution of a duly constituted committee which has the blessings of our leader and president, Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Rebirth Group completely frowns

Group Carpets APC Leadership Over Audu’s Travails

Resign If You Have Governorship Ambition, Fayemi Charges AspirantsBY CALEB ISHAYA

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has directed people serving in his government but interested in contesting for governorship election in the state to tender their resignation before 18th December.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

The development, according to the statement became imperative in order to ensure cohesion and excellent service delivery, which he claimed are the two major hallmarks of the administration.

“In compliance with directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has slated the governorship primaries for January, ahead of the

June 2022 governorship election.”The APC had earlier in its official

notice for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states fixed November 16, this year for commencement of sales of nomination forms for Ekiti and November 18 for Osun.

The notice was signed by the National Secretary of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, John Akpanudodehe.

where are they ?Friday, December 3, 2021




Dr Idi Hong was the former minister of state for culture and tourism, foreign affairs as well as health both in the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. This Adamawa state-born politician is a trained medical practitioner who appeared to abandon the profession for politics in the years that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in power.

He was also a one-time secretary of the party in Adamawa. While he was in the cabinet, he was said to be the youngest member, of which one expects that he would have been intimidated by the presence of more powerful, experienced ministers, but he said, “Rather than being intimidated by them, the

same older members of the cabinet often protect me”.

Hong who at other times indicated to run for the governorship seat of Adamawa, he once talked about how he left the medical practice to join politics: “I was not born into a political family; neither was my father a politician. I still believe that some invisible forces pushed me into it. It is destiny and once it has been written, you will find yourself toeing that path. I started politics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where I was in the Students Union Government”.

Speaking further, he said: “I also served as the director-general of the Professor Jibril Aminu Campaign Organisation where I successfully handled his re-election to

the Senate. I was also the Adamawa state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2006 and 2007 before I became a minister”.

Dr. Hong was also the Executive Committee member of the chamber in charge of Government Relations, Diplomatic Affairs and Strategy.

Hong said economic liberation and progress had been co-opted by Yar’adua’s cardinal principles of the seven point agenda, saying that the then government is committed to removing some of the obstacles retarding the growth and development of the nation’s economy.

According to a report by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, the track-records of achievements by Dr. Hong has earned him the position of

Director of Government Relations in Bua Group. It was said that with the appointment of Dr. Hong in that capacity, the Bua group will enjoy a smoother relationship with other stakeholders

in the public sector and other auxiliary bodies in their areas of operations.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I received the news of the appointment of our own Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong in the

capacity of Director of Government Relations with Bua group.

“Dr. Hong has worked closely with me and I can attest to his commitment to any assign task. He has zest, zeal and always deploys a mixture of competence and diligence to deliver on any laudable objective. Bua will certainly be better for it “, Prince Kayode stated.

Former President of the Chamber and current Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Second National Deputy President, Otunba Dele Oye also said he was not surprised at the appointment.

Despite all these, he seems to have gone off the “”radar” as it is not clear where he is now.

Idi Hong: One Time Nigeria’s Youngest Minister



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Hong said economic liberation and progress had been co-opted by Yar’adua’s cardinal principles of the seven point agenda

“

Hong



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Federal government has disclosed plans to introduce censorship laws and regulatory framework for Over-The-Top, OTT, streaming services and content providers.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a two-day conference organized by NFVCB in Lagos, shared that streaming services could be used as a medium to “cause chaos” and undermine the country’s democratic processes, hence the need for regulation.

Represented by the Director, Information and Technology in

Nigerian superstar, Fireboy has joined Burna Boy and Olamide in Boomplay’s Golden Club with over 100 million streams on the platform.

“Laughter, tears and goose bumps,” his 2019 debut album is his most streamed body of work with 58 million streams and his most recent single, ‘Peru’ leading as his most-streamed single with 14.9 million streams.

In 2020, the Afropop sensation

FG Announces Plan To Regulate Netflix, Other Streaming Services

Fireboy Hits 100m Streams On Boomplay

the ministry, Comfort Ajiboye, Mohammed stressed that the increased demand for streaming services in Nigeria grew amid the pandemic.

In his opening address, the NFVCB Director, Adedayo Thomas said the conference was in a bid to bring stakeholders together with the goal of creating policies and regulations for streaming service in the country.

“With over 50 percent internet penetration, it has become imperative to convene this conference to bring together stakeholders and legislators in a conversation so as to come up with

released his sophomore album “Apollo,” which had instant hits like ‘Champion’ and ‘Tattoo.’ The RnB album gathered over 57 million streams on Boomplay by 2021 pivoting Fireboy’s ingress into the Golden Club.

According to an in-depth analysis of data, Fireboy’s music enjoyed a total of 1,884 playlists inclusion and is currently being consumed in 107 countries worldwide via the platform.

crystal policies on the regulation of streamers and content providers,” Thomas said.

While reiterating the board’s promise to not stifle creativity, Thomas defended government’s new approach by stating that streaming service providers were unable to self-regulate, hence the need for regulatory policies.

“The goal of regulation is not to stifle creativity but to create sanity and encourage healthy competition for socio-economic gains,” he added.

Government’s latest move follows the controversial ban of social media platform, Twitter.

Mohammed

Chike, Wizkid, Burna Boy Top Music Youtube Videos Lists

… As Wizkid, Olamide, Davido top Apple Music’s lists in South Africa, Others

On December 1, global video giant, YouTube released its year-end lists.

The Alphabet subsidiary also focused on Nigeria as part of its global drive. Throughout the year, Nigerian artists had been releasing quality videos in entertainment, comedy, music, gaming, movies, shows and more.

This list only focuses on music videos though. Please note that this data only focuses on views from Nigeria alone, not the total views of Nigerian videos globally.

See the list below;Chiké & Simi - Running (To You)TENI - FOR YOU ft. DavidoWizKid - Essence ft. Tems

Also on December 1, Apple Music released lists of the top songs, artists, albums on its platforms. It also dropped a list of top South African songs and released insights into top songs and albums in Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya.

Apple music released stats of artists and songs on Shazam in South Africa.

Please note, this list only ranks the top songs, albums and artists based on Apple Music and Shazam users in these countries alone respectively, not globally.

SOUTH AFRICAApple Music: Top Songs - South Africa1. Busta 929 & Mpura - Umsebenzi Wethu (feat. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa)2. De Mthuda - John Wick (feat. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef)3. Kwiish SA - LiYoshona (feat. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda)4. Blaq Diamond - SummerYoMuthi5. Tiësto - The Business6. DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU - Izolo

Apple Music Top Albums of 2021 - South Africa1. Drake - Certified Lover Boy2. Pop Smoke - Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon (Deluxe)3. Wizkid - Made In Lagos4. Kanye West - Donda5. Riaan Benade - Spontaan6. Ariana Grande - Position7. Olivia Rodrigo - SOUR8. Justin Bieber - Justice9. Makhadzi - Kokovha10. J. Cole - The Off-Season11. The Weeknd - After Hours12. Drake - Scorpion13. Drake - Views14. Kabza De Small - I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust15. Drake - Take Care (Deluxe Version)16. Sun-El Musician - To the World & Beyond17. Summer Walker - Over It18. Drake - More Life19. Blxckie - B4now20. Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 - Maba Jabul’abantu

Apple Music Top Artists of 2021 - South Africa1. Drake2. Kanye West3. Justin Bieber4. Pop Smoke5. J. Cole6. The Weeknd7. Kabza De Small8. Beyonce9. Taylor Swift10. DJ Maphorisa

Top Shazamed Songs of 2021 - South Africa1. Kwiish SA Feat. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda - LiYoshona2. Musa Keys Feat. Sir Trill & Nobantu

WizKid - Ginger ft. Burna BoyDavido - The Best ft. MayorkunDavido - La La ft. CkayRuger - Bounce

Nathaniel Bassey - HallelujahChallenge Praise MedleyCHIDINMA - Jehovah OverdoOmah Lay - Understand

(feat. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca)7. The Weeknd - Blinding Lights8. Musa Keys - Vula Mlomo (feat. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi)9. DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU - Banyana (feat. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small)10. Mr JazziQ & 9umba - uLazi (feat. Zuma & Mpura)11. Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license12. Wizkid - Essence (feat. Tems)13. Soa mattrix & Soulful G - uThando (feat. Shaun 101)14. Cassper Nyovest - Siyathandana (feat. Abidoza & Boohle)15. Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 - VSOP (feat. Reece Madlisa, Zuma, Mpura, Riky Rick & 9umba)16. Azana - Your Love17. Big Zulu - Mali Eningi (feat. Riky Rick & Intaba Yase Dubai)18. DBN Gogo,Blaqnick & MasterBlaq - Khuza Gogo (feat. Mpura, AmaAvenger & M.J)19. DJ Stokie - Superman (feat. Kabza De Small, Masterpiece YVK & Madumane)20. Major League Djz & Abidoza - Dinaledi (feat. Mpho Sebina)

Vilakazi - Vula Mlomo3. Busta 929 & Mpura Feat. Zuma, Mr JazziQ, Lady Du & Reece Madlisa - Umsebenzi Wethu4. Boohle Feat. Njelic, Ntokzin & De Mthuda - Wamuhle5. DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca - Izolo6. DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU Feat. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small - Banyana7. De Mthuda Feat. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef - John Wick8. Mthandazo Gatya Feat. DJ Manzo SA & Comado - Senzeni9. DJ Obza Feat. DJ Freetz & Nkosazana - Dlozi ‘lam10. Zandimaz Feat. Nokwazi - Emathandweni

Top Shazamed Artist of 2021 - South Africa1. Kabza De Small

GHANALooking across the rest of Africa, the Apple Music 2021 Year End Music Charts sees Gyakie & Omah Lay’s ‘Forever’ as the Top Song of 2021 and Davido’s ‘A Better Time’ the Top Album of 2021 in Ghana.

TANZANIAIn Tanzania, Olamide featuring Omah Lay’s ‘Inifinity’ was the Top Song and Davido’s ‘A Better Time’ the Top Album of 2021.

KENYAOlamide featuring Omah Lay’s ‘Inifinity’ was the Top Song and Wizkid’s ‘Made in Lagos’ was the Top Album of 2021.

Fireboy

Chike Wizkid

Olamide

Burna

Davido

fashion & styleBY RUTH GBAKA e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng



There was a time when wearing glasses with tinted lenses for protection from sun rays was not a concern. A man called James Ayscough began experimenting with tinted

lenses around 1752.Ayscough was steadfast in the belief that blue-or

green-tinted glass could potentially correct specific vision impairments.

Glasses tinted with yellow-amber and brown were also a commonly-prescribed item for people with syphilis in the 19th and early 20th century because one of the symptoms of the disease was sensitivity to light.

In the early 1900s, the use of sunglasses became more widespread, especially among Hollywood movie stars.

Inexpensive mass-production of sunglasses started in 1929 when Sam Foster introduced them to America. Foster sold his sunglasses on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey under the name, Foster Grant from a Woolworth on the Boardwalk. These sunglasses were made to protect people’s eyes from sun rays. Today, sunglasses are beyond protection from sun rays, they are a fashion accessory.

Glasses: An Evolving Trend





...first in breaking the news www.aljazirahnews.com No. 29



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ALJAZIRAH NEWSPAPERS is published in Abuja by ALJAZIRAH NEWSPAPER LIMITED, Plot 11, Dunukofia Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja Tel: (09) 2909054, (09) 2900147, +234 8172279943, 08055322191 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.aljazirahnews.com Editor: Ibrahim Mohammed. (ISSN: 2449 – 1144)


In the first century AD, Plutarch, a Greek historian, exalted the many ways in which mother hens cherish and protect their chicks, “drooping their wings for some to creep under, and receiving with

joyous and affectionate clucks others that mount upon their backs or run up to them from every direction; and though they flee from dogs and snakes if they are frightened only for themselves, if their fright is for their children, they stand their ground and fight it out beyond their strength. By doing so, the hen embodies the essence of motherhood. This is not the case with Nigeria. She is a mother who has failed her children living at home and abroad.

The death of Itunu Babalola, a female Nigerian resident in Bondoukou, Côte d’Ivoire, epitomises the failure of a mother hen to keep her chick safe. Her death will remain something of an enigma to us. She reportedly got snarled in a legal battle when she related to the Ivorian police that her house in Bondoukou, Côte d’Ivoire, had been burglarised by someone she knew. In the twist of events, she was said to have been charged to court and the prosecutor banded with the police to allegedly make disreputable concession of the case and indicted her of human trafficking. How the case went from burglary to human trafficking is definitely a closed book to many Nigerians. Babalola was condemned to 20 years in prison which was later downscaled to 10 years. It was subsequently confirmed that she had contracted an infection in prison and was dying. Her death came to many Nigerians as a horrifying shock.

Precisely, the conspicuous sluggishness of the Nigerian government in responding to Babalola’s case when it was first brought

to public knowledge by a journalistic gadfly, David Hundeyin, on March 14, 2021, clearly demonstrates that Nigeria lives for herself. The lives of its citizens - home and abroad - do not matter to the Nigerian power class who are all over immersed in the garment bag of egomaniacal politics and greed. In Babalola’s case, Nigeria is a mother hen in flight to roost on the roof of her imagination.

On this affair, listening to Abike Dabiri-Erewa - the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, - on the radio programme, Lagos Talk 91.3 FM, with Michelle, the radio host, I was not only defeated in expectations, I was deeply agonised by her rejoinder to questions from the callers, especially when she adduced several attempts by the Nigerian government to salvage what had remained of Babalola’s fate from the tinderbox of ignominy and death. She sounded like a politician swerving moronically mendacious stories. All I deduced from her

interview with Michelle was appalling and lame brained excuses on the government’s failure to act in a drastic manner to save Babalola from the clutches of Ivorian hawks. Dabiri-Erewa exhibited with frailty the gait of a disconcerted mother when she tried to compel Michelle to turn down Hundeyin’s call. In fact, her intermittent inclination towards rejecting Hundeyin’s phone call revealed undeniably that she had got a few secrets up her sleeve.

In truth, the conspiracies surrounding Babalola’s death, her deterioration in health before death, the demeaning way she was left to rot helplessly in incarceration like someone without a root, would all have been avoided if the Nigerian Consul in Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM, headed by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had acted with judicious urgency.

Dabiri-Erewa’s submissions in that interview were her underhanded attempt at, to borrow Tunde Odesola’s words “trying all manner of facelifts to beautify deceit”. You see, one thing about the deceitful power of lies is that it represents one in its stain and lives one embarrassingly tainted and reeking of its odor. Dabiri-Erewa should have known that when she gibbered again and again over the ineptitude of the government she represents to engage precautionary means in keeping Nigerians, home and abroad, safe from all manners of violence. Her inane rejoinder to all the questions raised by Hundeyin gave her away as one absorbed in guilt and the smell of a rotting conscience.

To the arsonists who torched the All Progressives

Congress, APC Kano headquarters, recently.The action does not support any civilized political engagement.

08088302929

Joseph C.P. ChristopherItunu Babalola: Another Face Of Deceit And Failure (I)

BREAKING THE NEWS TO OVER 50 MILLION

COMING SOON & DIFFERENT

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Be warned!

Dabiri

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW

AHEAD TARIFF HIKE - Aljazirah Nigeria Newspaper

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