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Abdulsh
Flood
~111.1 mins read
Open HUSSEIN YAHAYA & MUIDEEN OLANIYI 
Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu assesses a submerged farmland in the state. On the right are farmland and a road flooded at Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Adamu Jumba road in Bauchi
Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu assesses a submerged farmland in the state. On the right are farmland and a road flooded at Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Adamu Jumba road in Bauchi
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (center) with some Rep. members at a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian traders and key stakeholders in Accra, Ghana yesterday, during the speaker’s legislative diplomatic mission to resolve some issues between Nigeria and Ghana ZAKARIYYA ADARAMOLA, MUIDEEN OLANIYI, CHRIS AGABI, MALIKATU UMAR SHUAIBU, VICTORIA ONEHI, SAAWUA TERZUNGWE, FRANCIS ARINZE ILOANI, UMAR SHEHU USMAN (ABUJA), SUNDAY MICHAEL-OGWU, ABDULLATEEF ALIYU, CHRISTIANA T. ALABI, RISIKAT RAMONI & EUGENE AGHA (LAGOS), MARYAM AHMADU-SUKA (KADUNA) & IBRAHIM MUSA GIGINYU (KANO) EUGENE AGHA, LAGOS TERKULA IGIDI ABUBAKAR AUWAL, SOKOTO TONY ADIBE, ENUGU SAAWUA TERZUNGWE USMAN A. BELLO, BENIN ABDULLATEEF ALIYU, LAGOS . ABUBAKAR SADIQ ISAH ALIYU M. HAMAGAM, BIRNIN KEBBI MUIDEEN OLANIYI
NEWS
Food Security Threatened As Floods Destroy Farms
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:51:10 AM
Fear of food crisis is heightening in Nigeria following massive floods that are ravaging crop farms in many parts of the country.
Many farmlands were reportedly destroyed by floods in Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Rivers, C/Rivers, Sokoto, Bauchi and some parts of Kwara State.
Rice and maize farmlands were most affected and farmers fear this could further hike the prices of the staple food in the country.
A Daily Trust market survey showed that prices of food items are already going up in the market.
In Kano, a 100kg of maize now costs N20,000, N22,000 in Benue, N24, 000 in Abuja and as high as N25,000 in Lagos State.
The same size of maize sold between N9, 000 and N11, 000 last year across the country.
Also, 100kg of local rice now costs N55,000 in Kano, N58,000 in Abuja, while prices of beans range from N22,000 to N24, 000 per 100kg depending on the market and state.
– The warnings –
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had warned that the current water level in the Middle Niger of the Niger Basin portends some level of concern for Nigeria as there could be a likelihood of river flooding in the states contiguous to River Niger.
The states, according to the Agency, are Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa.
The Director-General of the agency, Engr. Clement Onyeaso Nze said the country through Kebbi State might be flooded beginning from September 6
Reports from Kebbi had shown that several hectares of rice farms were washed away by flood and similar incidence was also reported in some parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kwara, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Niger states.
The incident is already a source of concern for stakeholders in the food sector as they are expressing fears that if the ugly trend continues, there might be food crisis in the country.
In Kebbi State, over 500,000 hectares of farmlands were reported to have been destroyed by flood.
The Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency, Sani Dododo, who announced the incident said rice farms accounted for about 450,000 of the hectares while the remaining 50,000 were for other crops.
– Farmers narrate ordeal –
It was reported that farmers in Kebbi State lost over N5 billon to the flood.
A victim and female rice farmer in the state, Lubabatu Bunza, said she lost about 16,000 hectares to the recent flood in the state.
Also, Mallam Isa Ahman, another victim from Patigi LGA of Kwara State, said early last month, flood washed away about six hectares of his rice farm and four hectares of his maize farm.
The farmer said he obtained a loan from a commercial bank and invested on the farm, saying it would be difficult to repay the loan.
Many of the affected farmers in Kebbi and Niger states said they got their inputs from the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the federal government and wondered how they would be able to repay the loans.
President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Architect Ibrahim Kabiru, said even though it would be difficult to ascertain the damages done to the farms by the flood across the country, the trend portents a great danger ahead.
He said the flood-affected rice, maize, sorghum and other crops in the affected states.
Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu assesses a submerged farmland in the state. On the right are farmland and a road flooded at Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Adamu Jumba road in BauchiAccording to him, the situation was being worsened by the insecurity in the rural areas where the farms are located.
The farmers’ leader had earlier warned that bandits were preventing farmers from accessing their farms, which he said was a dangerous pointer to food security.
Mr. Mathew Ajayi, a food security expert told Daily Trust on phone yesterday that already the country was nearing food crisis as this could be seen in the skyrocketing prices of food items across the country.
“It is obvious that we are approaching a serious food crisis considering the rising prices of food items across the country.
“And now look at the flood ravaging the farms’ couple with the bandits chasing away farmers from their farms,’’ he said.
Alhaji Muktar Umar, a farmer and local rice miller in Sabo-Wuse, Niger State, told Daily Trust on phone Wednesday that the country might experience serious rice crisis this year because of the flood incidence and security challenges threatening the farmers.
“From my experience as a farmer, I know many people go into rice farming this year but the farms are being washed away by the flood.
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“Many farmers can no longer go to their farms now, most especially here in Niger State,’’ he said.
Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu assesses a submerged farmland in the state. On the right are farmland and a road flooded at Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Adamu Jumba road in Bauchi– Buhari orders release of food items from reserves –
President Muhammadu Buhari said Wednesday that the flood disaster in Kebbi State had exposed the country to a major setback in the efforts to boost local food production.
Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, expressed concerns over the heavy floods that took a number of lives, submerged thousands of hectares of farmlands and houses, destroying farm produce and personal belongings in the affected communities.
The president said: “I am particularly sad over this incident because it is a setback to our efforts to boost local rice production as part of measures to stop food importation.
“Kebbi State is the focal point of our policy to produce rice locally as part of this administration’s commitment to agricultural revival, which suffered relative neglect in favour of food importation.
“With the loss of six lives and still counting; thousands of hectares of land flooded and estimated economic losses of more than one billion naira by rice farmers in Kebbi State, we face a major setback in our efforts to boost local food production.
“This bad news couldn’t have come at a worse time for our farmers and other Nigerians who looked forward to a bumper harvest this year in order to reduce the current astronomical rise in the costs of food items in the markets.â€
The president, while sympathising with the bereaved families and farmers affected by the devastating floods, assured that “we are going to work closely with the Kebbi State government in order to bring relief to the victims.â€
In another statement yesterday by Shehu, Buhari expressed the concern of his administration about the sudden spiral of food prices at a time when the economy was already mired in a slowdown occasioned by the global coronavirus situation.
Buhari, however, assured Nigerians that the situation was transient.
He said his administration had already begun looking and putting in place measures to ameliorate the situation.
“While Providence has been kind to us with the rains and as such an expectation that a bumper harvest would lead to crashing of food prices and ease the burdens on the population, the government’s concern is that the exploitative market behaviour by actors has significantly increased among traders in the past few years and may make any such relief a short-lived one.
“This year has indeed tested us in ways that globalisation has never been tested since the turn of the century.
“These challenges have disrupted lives and supply chains all over the world and Nigeria has not been spared.
“The effect has been deeply felt in the delays encountered in the procurement of raw materials for local production of fertilizer (damaging standing crops before harvest) and the speculative activities by a number of rice processors who are ready to pay for paddy at any price to keep their mills running non-stop.
“But of all these problems, the most worrisome is the activities of “corrupt†middlemen (with many of them discovered to be foreigners) and other food traders who serve as the link between farmers and consumers found to be systematically creating an artificial scarcity so that they can sell at higher prices.
“In dealing with these problems, the administration has, in line with its ease of doing business mantra, avoided imposing stockholding restrictions in order not to discourage investments in modern warehousing and cold storage.
“The president has just approved the release of food items from the strategic reserves, including 30,000 tons of maize to animal feeds producers to ease the high cost of poultry production.
“President Buhari’s administration has raised some of these issues with the various food producer associations involved, particularly those of rice and other grains.
“With their cooperation, the high food prices should soon be a thing of the past.
“In addition, investments in the agro-allied sector by the private sector will significantly increase domestic production of farming inputs especially fertilizer, further crash prices, create employment and ease the pressure on our foreign reserves.
“One of these major investments is the Dangote Fertilizer plant, which is projected to come on stream by the 4th quarter of 2020,†the president said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (center) with some Rep. members at a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian traders and key stakeholders in Accra, Ghana yesterday, during the speaker’s legislative diplomatic mission to resolve some issues between Nigeria and Ghana– Experts suggest ways out –
The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc. Ibrahim Kabiru noted that to mitigate the effect of these calamities on the food system or food security, farmers should be encouraged to embark on full-scale dry season farming, which could lead to all-year-round farming
He advised that government should expand the nation’s irrigable lands by investing more in water resources.
He also advised farmers to quickly plant alternative crops that require little time to mature in order to mitigate the crisis.
He said government at all levels could support such farmers with seeds and other inputs.
“Whereupon the time left for the rainy season cannot be sufficient for any crop, some form of compensation commensurate to the ascertained loss could be given to the affected farmers,’’ he advised.
The farmer’s leader urged his members to insure their farms, adding that the association is already working with National Agricultural Insurance Company (NAIC) to that all farmers insure their farms.
The women leader of the Kebbi State Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Lubabatu Usman Kamba suggested that the way out for some of the challenges was for the farmers to be provided with good knowledge of forecasting the planting season.
She said flooding has been the farmers’ biggest nightmare, adding that they could only be addressed with good forecasting knowledge on when and where to plant the crops, which she said was currently lacking because of the near absence of extension service workers.
LETTERS
Foodstuff Price Hike, Kano’s Rimin Gado Way
When Kano State found itself in the jaws of stinging food commodity price hike during the COVID-19 lockdown, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje directed the no nonsense chairman of the state anti-graft commission to swing into action.
The price of food commodities then had soared by 100%.
The governor’s concern was that if the situation was left unrestrained it would turn into a permanent scenario.
Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado went into action immediately.
There was he oscillating from one market, supermarket, warehouses to another.
The commission had received a series of complaints on unnecessary hike in commodity prices by retailers.
He met with market leaders and associations, dealers, supermarket owners and the Rice Processors Association (RIPAN).
An investigation was instantly launched by the agency.
Hours later there were warehouses where essential commodities were being hoarded and some items were confiscated.
In no time the marketers were dismounting their bully horse.
Sugar that was sold at N26,000 before the commission’s intervention reverted to its former price of N16,000 per bag and even the made-in-Nigeria rice that jumped to N26,000 was reduced to N16,000.
I have learnt that farmers and the masses are blaming the federal government and the government on its part is blaming other forces for the hike.
Enough of passing the buck! Let the federal government take responsibility and its cue from the government of Kano State and mould its own Muhuyi Magaji to save Nigerians. And the time is now.
Abdulyassar Abdulhamid [email protected]
BUSINESS
Nigerians React As Petrol Price Rises Above N151
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 5:10:53 AM
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced the immediate increase in the pump price of petrol to N151.56 per litre from N149, being the third increase in three months.
A statement by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), informed oil depots owners of the hike.
“Please be informed that a new product price adjustment has been effected on our payment platform.
“To this end, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is now N151.56 kobo per litre.â€
When contacted, the president of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Okoronkwo, said they may get the directive at the depots on Thursday.
However, our correspondent found that the product prices have been adjusted already at many filling stations in Lagos with some along the Mile 2-Badagry expressway selling for N151/litre.
Chairman of the Kano branch of IPMAN, Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, said the association was meeting to decide a retail price tag.
– Nigerians express pains –
Nigerians, comprising transporters, entrepreneurs, workers and the unemployed, have expressed shock over the fuel price increase.
In Lagos, Ojo Gabriel, a transporter said: “I don’t think it is a good idea because people are suffering, there is no job.
“It would further inconvenience the people.
“Government should not bring the idea.â€
Ikechukwu Ebekwe said the fuel price hike was coming a day after the electricity hike; coinciding with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cutting interest rate from 3.75% to 1.25%.
“Meanwhile, we are enduring a food inflation of over 15%.â€
Maryam Abdallah, a consumer in Abuja, said fuel price hike will only make life miserable for the masses.
A cross section of motorists and transporters who spoke to our correspondent around the Utako and Jabi motor parks in Abuja, said the government’s action was insensitive.
“We are just trying to come out of COVID-19 lockdown.
“We haven’t even fully come out of it, and only what the government can do is to increase fuel price, Okay Michael, one of the transporters said.
Drivers charge N10,500 from Abuja to Lagos rising from N7,500 before the COVID-19.
“With the new fuel price, it may rise to N12,000.â€
In Kaduna, the residents are fuming over the increase.
While some blame the government, others are worried about the expected increase in the prices of goods and services.
Ben Onoja, who owns a laundry outlet in Kaduna said, “We have not finished digesting the news of increase in electricity tariff, only for me to hear that the price of fuel has also increased.â€
Tanimu Moshood, a commercial taxi driver expressed dismay over the increase.
“Even with the N148 per litre, we were finding it difficult to make ends meet not to talk about N151 again and I heard the independent marketers are going to sell at N62 and up to N200.â€
It was observed that the filling stations still sell at N148 in Kaduna metropolis.
This was also the same thing in Kano state.
Kano state chapter chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Salisu Balarabe, said the association was waiting for the IPMAN’s decision to take a stand.
The National Vice President, North Central, National Association of Small and Enterprises (NASME), Eng. Auwal Ibrahim Bununu, said: “The increase will negatively affect MSMEs because those into manufacturing of goods will find it difficult to increase any price now because of COVID-19.â€
Another entrepreneur and CEO Vivido Natural, Ruqayyatu Hussaini, a spice seller said: “I get the raw materials from states and Chad.
“So ,the increase in fuel price will lead to increase in transportation.â€
Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remi Ogungbemi, said: “As a transporter, it would impact negatively on the operational cost of haulage.
“Truck owners would definitely shift the overhead on to the end-users.â€
The National President of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunike, said: “Yes, we know that the Government is looking for money to fund the budget but it should do so by increasing the price of luxurious goods and not items which are used by all.â€
The Acting Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Ambrose Oruche said the hike was expected because the petroleum industry was now fully deregulated, and price will keep fluctuating.
“So small businesses will be impacted negatively by the increment.â€
To reduce the impact on businesses, Oruche appealed to the government to do more in ensuring that power generation and distribution is efficient to cut dependence on power generators.
An economist, Chijioke Okechukwu, said the latest hike in petrol price to N151 may likely lead to marginal inflation in the economy.
Okechukwu, who was a former Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), said the hike in price will lead to further increase in prices of goods and services in the economy.
The expert said the price increment is connected to the pronouncement of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed that Nigeria had discontinued the payment of subsidy on petroleum products.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the increase in fuel pump price by the federal government.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said: “While rejecting this with the strongest terms, I think Nigerian government is taking Nigerians for granted.â€
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also rejected the fresh increase in the price of fuel to N151 per litre and electricity tariff to N66 per kilowatts (kwh) under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government.
The opposition party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, demanded an immediate reversal of the prices to avert a national crisis.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a response to PDP, said it was successive PDP governments that foisted on Nigeria a corruption-tainted fuel subsidy regime.
It said under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, there is no fuel queue and product scarcity.
APC in the statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, also noted that the reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system with constant fuel availability.
NEWS
Robbers Raid MKO Abiola House, Torture Family
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:48:57 AM
Armed robbers, on Wednesday, broke into the Ikeja home of the late Moshood Kasimawo Abiola and subjected the family to torture and harassment and succeeded in escaping with cash and valuables.
It was learnt that the robbers broke into the house around 4 am on Wednesday through one of the rooms and allegedly carted away jewelry.
The Abiola family, also confirming the incident in a statement issued yesterday evening said the armed men invaded and ransacked the house in the early hours of yesterday.
The statement, signed by Tundun Abiola for the family, narrated that the hoodlums subjected the family members “to extreme emotional torture and harassment and stole cash and other valuable items and belongings.â€
The family expressed consolation that no life was lost “in this unfortunate and frightening incident.â€
The Lagos State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday to our correspondent, said that the Command suspected it was an inside job.
Elkana said that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu led detectives from the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad to the house and some suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime.
The PPRO said, “It is not an armed robbery but burglary.
“We are suspecting that it was masterminded by an insider.
“The burglars entered the house from the back and gained access into the wife’s bedroom.
“They stole some valuables.
“We have some suspects in custody and we have commenced an investigation.â€
Senior secondary three students of Government Science Secondary School Abaji, adhering to sanitary precautions over the spread of Coronavirus, before entering the hall to write the WAEC examination last Monday 17 August, 2020
CITY NEWS
COVID-19: Principals Say FCT Schools Ready For Reopening
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:48:30 AM
Principals of secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said safety measures have been put in place for students to resume classes.
The president, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), FCT chapter, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, who made the statement, stressed that principals were satisfied with the arrangements put in place by the FCT Administration to ensure that students did not contract coronavirus when they resume.
He spoke during the distribution of 10,000 units of three-in-one protective equipment against COVID-19 for students across the FCT at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja.
Alhaji Abdulkarim insisted that principals were prepared for reopening as safety guidelines had been put in place.
“Coronavirus is not a threat to FCT schools because the principals have braced up for reopening of schools, especially with the necessary provisions by the administration.
“We are happy and set for commencement of classes because the FCT Administration, through the Education Secretariat has provided all the necessary medical materials needed to ensure safety in the schools,†he said.
He explained that the items, which were donated by Kas Arts Service Limited, would be shared based on zones and across schools under the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Secondary Education Board (SEB) and Science and Technology.
According to the breakdown, schools under UBEB got 600 cartons of nose masks, sanitizer and face shields.
Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA)
President Muhammadu Buhari on August 7, 2020, assented to the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) after years of deliberations by the National Assembly.
The signing represented a milestone since the Act had been in existence for 30 years before it was reviewed and amended to suit the present times.
Highlights of the Act include the establishment of a Governing Board for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which must include representatives of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators and the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as the introduction of single member companies, which makes it possible to create a company with a single shareholder.
The Act also provides for the introduction of electronic filing, electronic share transfer and virtual meetings for private companies.
These provisions bring the conduct of business in line with the new technological developments across the globe.
So far, stakeholders had hailed the signing into law of the new Act which they believe would enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in foreign direct investment as it will bolster the country’s policy of ease of doing business.
They also said the Act would formalise the activities of thousands of small-scale businesses which were hitherto operating under the informal sector.
This, they added, would help to bring many small and informal businesses into the country’s tax net.
Thus the effect is more revenue for the government especially in a situation of declining oil revenue.
Sadly, this good news is being overshadowed by protests from the leaders of churches and civil society organisations (CSOs) against a provision in the Act which they said was meant to interfere with their activities.
The contentious provision empowers the CAC to suspend the trustees of a non-governmental organisation, association or foundation and appoint a manager to manage its affairs where it reasonably believes that the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it believes there is misconduct or mismanagement in its administration.
It is also empowered to seek court order to suspend the trustees of such organisation and appoint an interim trustee to manage its affairs.
Though the leaders of CSOs and churches opposed to these provisions could be right to say that the CAC has been given too much powers to interfere into their activities and could be abused by unscrupulous officials, but it should not be lost on us that this is the practice worldwide.
It is foolhardy to allow such entities to operate without any guidance by the authority given the fact that they are entrusted with other people’s resources which they are expected to manage in a transparent manner.
However, more worrisome is the manner the advocates are going about making their case.
It is sad that those who are naturally considered to provide leadership to millions of their followers are seen pursuing their cases with less decorum.
Leaders are expected to be levelheaded and pursue any issue in accordance with the provisions of the law.
We believe there is no need for the hysteria and accusation of waging war against any religion.
This provision will only be applied where there is a serious infraction.
The CAC must also spell out modalities to be used in applying this provision so as to clear any doubt about its neutrality and readiness to carry out its duties in the most transparent and professional manner.
Meanwhile, we advise those who feel aggrieved to mobilise and take their case to the National Assembly for an amendment of the “offending’’ provision.
This is something they ought to have done before the bill was passed, but they now have another chance.
NEWS
Man Arrested For Duping Policeman, 14 Others
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:41:24 AM
A 33-year-old man, Labaran Aliyu of Gidan Bahuri area in Wamakko Local Government of Sokoto State, has been arrested for allegedly duping 15 persons, including a policeman.
The Commander of the Sokoto State Hisbah Commission, Dr. Adamu Bello Kasarawa alleged that the suspect collected the sum of N2.4 million from his victims under the pretext of producing hard currency for them.
According to the Hisbah commander, the victims were from different parts of the country, which were traced by the suspect, as their respective phone numbers were found intact in his phone contact list.
He noted that the policeman (name withheld) currently serves in Kaduna State.
“He used Juju rituals, animal sacrifices, spiritual facemask, and different forms of perfumes to carry out his deceptive and unlawful activities,†Kasarawa said.
Items recovered from the suspect include fake US dollars and Nigerian currency in different denominations among others.
The commander also alleged that the suspect sexually abused three minors at different times and used his mobile phone to record the illicit acts.
“He recorded their sexual acts with his mobile phone which was also recovered,†the commander alleged.
Kasarawa said the suspect was handed over to the police for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The Minister of Science and Technology and leader of the South-East zonal caucus of the APC, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
POLITICS
Embrace Dialogue, Onu Urges South East APC Members
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:18:23 AM
The Minister of Science and Technology and leader of the South-East zonal caucus of the APC, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has advised the state chapters of the party to quickly embrace peace and dialogue.
Onu, who spoke during their meeting on Wednesday at the party’s secretariat in Enugu, said APC could hardly make any headway in the zone when rancour and disunity persisted.
The minister, who was represented at the occasion by the immediate past national vice chairman of the party in the South East, Chief Emma Enukwu, said it was worrisome that internal crises had caused serious damage to some of the state chapters of the party in the zone.
POLITICS
Your Action On Zamfara APC Is Contempt Of Court, Marafa Camp Tells Buni C’ttee
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:13:42 AM
A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State led by Senator Kabir Marafa has described the decision of the party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee to expel its chairman, Alhaji Sirajo Garba, as contempt of court.
The Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee had, in a letter dated August 26, 2020, addressed to the Zamfara State chairman of the party, signed by the APC National Secretary, Sen. John J. Akpanudoedehe, said Garba flouted the directive of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The APC NEC had on June 25, 2020, passed a resolution directing members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw their cases in court to explore the internal conflict resolution mechanisms of the party.
But the state publicity secretary for the Marafa faction, Alhaji Bello Bakyasuwa, told newsmen on Wednesday, in Abuja, that a court of competent jurisdiction had dissolved the state factional executives and ordered for fresh congresses, adding that the committee’s decision would spell doom for Zamfara APC.
Governor Godwin Obseki
POLITICS
Edo 2020: Oba Of Benin Urges Obaseki, Ize-Lyamu To Emulate Ex-President Jonathan
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:11:25 AM
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare, has called on the governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki and that of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-lyamu, to tell their foot-soldiers to shun violence.
The Oba made the call, Wednesday, at his palace in Benin during a meeting with the candidates of the two major political parties on the need for peaceful election in the state.
He said the meeting was convened to appeal to politicians to control the youths and their thugs.
He urged them to emulate former President Jonathan who in the 2015 election, before the result was announced, called President Muhammadu Buhari and congratulated him, a development which, the monarch said, doused tension in the country.
He also advised the candidates to have the kind of good working relationship that existed between President Buhari and former President Jonathan.
The Oba, who frowned at endorsement of political candidates by traditional rulers, said the Benin throne is non-partisan.
He also expressed disappointment over the sour relationship between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki.
While speaking, Governor Obaseki said as the chief security officer of the state, he had already sworn to an oath to protect the lives and property of the people and would not do anything short of that.
On his part, Pastor Ize-Iyamu assured the monarch that he would address his followers to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
Also speaking, a former national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, expressed shock over the political crisis in the ruling party that degenerated to the present state and promised to work for peace.
In his remarks, Oshiomhole said he didn’t promote violence during his election and would not do so for others, assuring the monarch of peaceful election.
For Chief Dan Orbih of the PDP, he commended the monarch for calling for the peace pact and assured that they would abide by his instructions.
Oshodi terminal intercharge in Lagos
CITY NEWS
Lagos Flags Off Inter-State Travels At Oshodi Interchange
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:06:00 AM
The Lagos State government yesterday commenced commercial activities at Terminal 1 of the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI).
The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, at the event, urged Nigerians to take ownership of the facilities at the terminal to guard against vandalization.
Oladeinde explained that the Terminal 1 would be the hub for inter-state transportation, adding that 21 ticketing booths had been created for 21 destinations spanning the entire southwest, southeast, Abuja and the northern states.
The Commissioner, represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Transportation, Mr Oluwatoyin Fayinka, said the interchange was the first of its kind in Nigeria,
The Managing Director, Ibile Holdings, Mr Abiodun Amokomowo, also described the project as “phenomenalâ€, while commending the contractor for delivering “a world-class project in record time of less than three years to the people of Lagos.â€
The Managing Director, Planet Project, Biodun Otunola, said the uniqueness of the interchange was that passengers could access it from any of the locations in Lagos, saying it would cater for about 50,000 passengers daily.
Otunola disclosed that as a sign of the warm reception of the facility by commuters, no less than 100 buses had loaded inter-state passengers by mid-day yesterday.
He said, “We are resolutely committed to providing first-class passenger comfort in this terminal.
“We are determined to make this place a reference point and a tourist arena.
“We are assuring every passenger of premium safety.
“We will not scale down on the comfort and security of anyone who patronises our terminals.â€
CITY NEWS
Bizman In Court For Allegedly Shielding Neighbour From Arrest
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 4:03:24 AM
A 24-year-old businessman, Dolapo Omole, on Wednesday appeared in a Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrate’s Court, Abuja, for allegedly shielding his neighbour from arrest.
The police are prosecuting Omole, who lives in FHA, Lugbe, Abuja, with one count charge of shielding an offender.
The prosecution counsel, ASP Peter Ejike, alleged that Innocent Ndubuisi of Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, reported the matter at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 7, against Ms Princess Omobola on Aug. 11.
Ejike, in addition, alleged that when the police went to arrest Omobola, the defendant, her neighbor, prevented the arrest.
The prosecutor further said the defendant knowing full well that the police were searching for Omobola, screened her in order for her to invade police arrest, thereby aiding her from lawful punishment.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 167 of the Penal Code Law.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
The defence counsel, Daniel Akinwale, applied for bail for his client, saying that he was presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He assured the court that a reliable surety would be provided if bail was granted.
Magistrate Linda Chidama admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one reasonable surety in like sum, resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
Chidama also ordered that the surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 09 or above.
She adjourned the case until Sept. 29 for hearing. (NAN)
FRSC supervising opening of the Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to traffic on Sunday in Lagos. PHOTO CREDIT: NAN.
CITY NEWS
Driver Killed, 12 Injured In Sabon-Gari Auto Crash
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 3:59:34 AM
A commercial bus driver, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, died while 12 passengers sustained injuries in an auto crash which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Sabon-Gari village, on the Abuja-Lokoja road.
A source said the accident happened around 3 am when an 18-seater commuter bus, with registration number NNG 516 XA, coming from Lokoja rammed into a moving Daf truck without registration number.
He said the driver of the bus was strapped to his seat, adding that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) evacuated the corpse and the 12 injured passengers to hospital.
When contacted, Yangoji unit commander of the FRSC, ACC Aminu Shuaibu, confirmed the accident which he attributed to overspeeding and poor weather.
He said the corpse of the driver was deposited at Kwali General Hospital morgue, while the 12 injured passengers were receiving treatment in the same hospital.
He also disclosed that one person sustained injury in another accident which occurred on Sunday evening at Sheda village along the same road.
The commander said the accident happened around 4 pm after an Audi jeep with registration number PK 199RBC lost control and crashed into a ditch.
He said the injured person was rescued and taken to Kwali General Hospital for treatment.
One of the rice farms owned by the women in the state
AGRICULTURE
Despite Challenges, Women Take Up Rice Farming In Kebbi
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 3:53:56 AM
Women are not left out in the rice farming revolution in Kebbi State as there are over 40,000 of them involved in both rainy and dry season rice farming in the state.
The women are not only participating in rice farming but competing among themselves for high volume of yield at harvest by expanding their farms sizes annually.
This is even as most of them said poor knowledge of weather forecast usually affect their outputs.
Among the women, there are those that handle as much as 20 hectares of rice farm which give them over a trailer load of paddy rice at harvest.
The women rice farmers in the state are largely located in Argungu, Zuru, Bunza, Danko/Wasugu and Yauri towns.
They compete based on the fertility of their locations.
Some of the women rice farmers, who include married women, divorcees and spinsters, like their male counterparts, also partook in the N17 billion anchor borrower loan scheme that was launched by the president in 2015 in Kebbi State.
A large number of women rice farmers in the state are into the business of rice farming through inheritance and their spouses’ influence while others got involved out of interest.
Those that are involved through inheritance grew up in families of rice farmers, and those that took over from their late husbands.
The women farmers enjoy all form of support from the state chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN); not only through accessing facilities but also by improving their knowledge of new techniques in rice farming.
Women in the state are said to have joined in on the hitherto men dominated occupation, following the enlightenment campaign carried out by some of their counterparts already in RIFAN.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the women leader of the state chapter of RIFAN, Lababatu Usman Kamba said there were over 40,000 women operating as small holder and large scale rice farmers in Kebbi State.
She added that most of the large scale farmers are in Yauri, Argungu, Bunza and Dandi towns saying among women from such areas there are those that cultivate as much as 10 to 15 hectares rice farm.
According to her, women cultivate over 3,000 farms across the state, noting that among the large scale women rice farmers, there are some that could realize as much as a trailer load of paddy rice at harvest.
She added that rice farming is not a new business to women in the state as many might have been into it right from birth, saying many of the big-time women rice farmers might have inherited farmlands from either their parents or spouses.
Kamba explained that since the great revolution in rice farming in the state spearheaded by the federal government through the Anchor Borrower intervention scheme, the statistics of women in rice farming in the state has been on the rise.
The population of women rice farmers keeps growing in the state owing to the encouragement they receive from RIFAN, Kamba said, adding that the rice farmers’ union in the state does not discriminate against them in terms of accessing loan and any other intervention.
She explained that apart from encouragement from the union, the involvement of off-takers is helping to produce rich women rice farmers in the state, adding that for the fact that there is availability of market with good turnover, women thronged rice farming.
Speaking on problems rice farmers encounter in the state, she said poor knowledge of weather forecast exposed most of the women farmers to poor harvest.
She argued that when farmers cannot take advantage of weather forecast by experts to enable them to determine to either go for early planting or delay for a certain period, such can negatively affect harvest.
“RIFAN, as the union for rice farmers, is of great help to women rice farmers in the state.
“It is based on this that I always call on women to join the union.
“One derives a lot of benefits being a member.
“There are some women rice farmers that realize full trailer load of paddy rice at harvest.
“This is to tell you how far some women among us have gone in rice farming.
“In my own case, I cultivate 20 hectares of rice farmland.
“I am also into dry and rainy season farming.
“I am among the bigtime women rice farmers as I can harvest a full trailer load of paddy rice every season.
“Our greatest challenge is poor knowledge of forecasting the planting season.
“Flooding has been our biggest nightmare but with good forecasting knowledge, I have started overcoming the problem,’’ she said.
Alhaji Imam Abdullahi, an agric expert, said the courage by the women rice farmers in Kebbi should serve as lesson to their counterparts in other producing states.
‘’Instead of them to start waiting for their husbands for everything or even engaging in ungodly activities, these women have shown that they could do it on their own.
“They should be given the necessary support so that women in other states can learn from them,’’ he said.
NEWS
Terrorists Have Taken Radicalization To Online – Buhari
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 AT 3:53:53 AM
President Muhammadu Buhari says his government will continue to monitor activities of terrorists online to control radicalization of citizens by terrorist groups, and other violent cells, following huge traffic online due to COVID-19.
Buhari, in his remarks at the AQABA Process virtual meeting in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Wednesday, said the migration to cyber space posed greater risk for radicalization, especially with the growing constraints on physical contacts and movements.
“It’s important to state that the spread of COVID-19 has led to the movement of activities to cyber space.
“Furthermore, lock-down policies and restrictions of movement in affected areas means that people would move their day to day social and business activities to cyber space.
“This, however, comes with an increase in the risk of individuals being radicalized online,†he said.
Buhari said his government would sustain efforts to make adjustments to new lifestyles and be sensitive to the security underpinnings as experts tried to find vaccines for COVID-19, and a possible acceptable cure.
He said Nigeria developed a robust framework led by Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to coordinate and oversee the country’s multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts at containing the spread and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the government had also taken measures to tackle the devastation of social and economic dimensions of the pandemic with a focus on the most vulnerable citizens in the society through provision of palliatives as well as other economic stimulus packages.
The president said the measures came at a cost, but would be sustained, while citing Mali as an example where social and economic challenges took a toll on government and pushed democracy to a “breaking point.â€
“Such situation could create a vacuum that can be exploited by terrorists and violent extremists,†he said.
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B/HARAM
~90.3 mins read
Open IBRAHIM SAWAB, MAIDUGURI
MUIDEEN OLANIYI Buhari is a better captain – Ogun governor Sanusi backs FG on subsidy removal, others Truck Transit Park will boost Nigeria’s economy – Shippers Council Council, importers protest surcharge by foreign shippers ZAKARIYYA ADARAMOLA IDOWU ISAMOTU I would have married Hanan Buhari – Fulani herder First photos from wedding of Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, surface JEREMIAH OKE, IBADAN FG creates 3 companies from NIPOST Stamp duty: House of Reps moves to reconcile FIRS, NIPOST Table Tennis: Quadri wins first Nigeria Open Aruna Quadri: Rivalry with Omar Assar is healthy and good for African table tennis Suarez angry, frustrated after another Barcelona draw Barca yet to decide if Suarez ready to start, says coach RISIKAT RAMONI, LAGOS VICTOR EDOZIE, PORT HARCOURT How DSS, IPOB face-off turned bloody in Enugu IPOB using Christianity to wage war against Nigeria – Presidency TIJJANI IBRAHIM, KATSINA MALIKATU UMAR SHUAIBU
The Minister of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq
NEWS
B/Haram: FG Identifies Victims’ Locations For Food Airdrop
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:34:04 AM
The National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC) has identified locations of communities that were ‘inaccessible’ by road for delivery of foods and non-food items by airdrop approach via helicopters.
The committee led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiyya Umar-Farouq, inspected the airdrop demonstration by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopters at the Maiduguri International Airport.
The committee also inspected aircraft loads of food and non-food items that would be conveyed to those unreachable-by-road vulnerable communities liberated from Boko Haram militants by the military.
The Air Taskforce Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Commodore Precious Amadi, while briefing the committee shortly after the demonstration said the airdrop was meant to take foods to places that could not be reached by road.
“The purpose of the airdrop is to ensure that locations that cannot be reached by road have access to food supply by air using helicopters.
More Stories
B/Haram: FG identifies victims’ locations for food airdrop
NEWS
Nigerians flay ‘naira rain’ at Buhari’s daughter’s wedding
NEWS
Digitalization: NIPOST to create 10,000 outlets
NEWS
Quadri makes top 20 for ITTF World Cup
SPORTS
Suarez agrees three-year deal to join Juventus
SPORTS
“The Nigerian Air Force has the capacity to use airdrop to drop foods for people so that there would be no case of people being starved,†Air Commodore Amadi said.
The minister, while rounding up the visit, told newsmen that Kala-Balge, Marte, and Damboa Local Government Areas of the state are locations where the food airdrop delivery exercise would be carried out.
More Stories
Subsidy Removal: History Will Be Kind To Buhari – Presidency
Military Nabs Fake Soldier, 21 Others In Jos
NSC Targets 90% Seaports Automation By 2021
9mobile Gets New Chief Commercial Officer
B/Haram: FG Identifies Victims’ Locations For Food Airdrop
Nigerians Flay ‘Naira Rain’ At Buhari’s Daughter’s Wedding
Garba Shehu
NEWS
Subsidy Removal: History Will Be Kind To Buhari – Presidency
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:49:07 AM
The Presidency on Sunday said history would be kinder to President Muhammadu Buhari than his critics were “prepared to beâ€.
A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said certain tough decisions like the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others had to be taken to put back the country on the path of sustainable development.
Shehu said with the support of ordinary Nigerians, Buhari had shown “a rare determination to carry out the bold initiatives†“driven by nothing other than the greatest good for the greatest number of people.â€
He said Buhari was pushing development goals not politics in these challenging times, stressing that “history will judge him in favourable terms rather than his critics in the new media and the opposition.â€
Shehu, who said the most important certificate in governance was acceptance by the people in any democracy, said Buhari needed the support and understanding of all citizens-inclusive of the opposition parties, the labour movement and civil society groups in carrying out the reforms.
He said Buhari’s administration “has worked hard to meet many expectations, but still, there are certain tough decisions which had to be taken to put back the country on the path of sustainable development.
“To stop the mismanagement of taxpayer money, eliminate corruption associated with subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others, the administration took the decision to implement long-delayed reforms, withdraw and allow the market to determine their prices.
“Subsidy removal in these sectors had long been foreseen by successive administrations as game changers in search of solutions to move forward with the nation’s development. These are reforms that are necessary and overdue.â€
The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau has arrested one James Dogo, for falsely parading himself as a military personnel.
Dogo was arrested alongside one Dotun Shomoye, who specialises in printing identity cards for fake security personnel.
Other 20 suspected criminals, who are between the ages of 20 and 25, were arrested for armed robbery, drug abuse, snatching of phones, and other criminal activities.
The Commander of the task force, Maj.-Gen. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, on Sunday in Jos, said the suspects were arrested in different locations within Jos metropolis.
Okonkwo said that the raid was aimed at ensuring sanity and ending petty crimes as well as other criminal activities within Jos and environs.
“In our efforts to weed out bad elements across our area of joint operation, we have arrested some criminal elements terrorising the peace loving people of Jos and environs.
“Among them is a fake soldier and printer who produces identity cards for fake security personnel.
“Similarly, 20 other suspected criminals were arrested as part of our operation, launched to bring sanity to Jos metropolis,†he said
The commander, who said over 60 suspects were arrested in the past days, added that they would be handed over to the Police for prosecution.
Okonkwo assured Jos and Plateau residents in general of his commitment to ridding the area of criminal elements and ending all forms of insecurity in the state.
(NAN)
Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said it is targeting 90 percent automation of seaports ports operations by the first quarter of 2021.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the management of Media Trust Limited, the publishers of Daily Trust, Kilimanjaro, Aminiya, and other titles.
Bello and his entourage were received by the acting CEO, Media Trust Limited, Malam Nura Daura, along with other management staff.
He said the ports automation, which should be 100% complete soon is part of a series of initiatives to make Nigerian ports efficient and a choice destination for shippers.
“We carried out a study and found out that about 68% of the processes are done electronically. The remaining 42% must also be done electronically. We want that, by the first quarter of 2021, 90 percent of our transactions at the ports are done electronically so we can reduce the human to human contact and reduce corruption,†Bello said.
He reiterated that by the middle of next year, a lot of things would have happened and the Nigerian ports will rank up.
Bello also harped on the need for the federal government to promote value-added commodity export. “We can be an import-dependent economy. We found that Nigeria has 63 commodities of which 22 of them can compete with those of other countries.â€
However, he said logistics on getting commodities to ports for shipping was still a problem, along with poor packaging, preservation and standardisation issues.
Bello also said through interagency collaborations, operators are creating intermodal transport means including rail movement of cargoes to decongest Apapa ports and traffic issues.
He also lamented the slow pace of the clearance regime by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). “The Nigeria Customs still carry out 100 percent manual inspection. This is primitive. Perhaps we are the only port in the world doing that. This leaves room for maneuvering and collusion. It takes five hours to clear a container,†he said.
But he noted that NCS will soon launch the e-customs platform, which will make goods clearing a lot faster.
The Shippers Council head also called on the insurance industry to rev up investments in marine insurance as Nigerian shippers are being ripped off by foreign shipping lines.
“Our insurance companies should come to look at our containers regime for example. We spent N17 billion last year on deposit for insurance.â€
He explained that taking a container from the shipping companies attracts an insurance deposit and must be returned within four days. “But if Apapa is blocked and you are unable to return it, your money is gone. That is not fair. N17bn could have been used for other investments. But if they pay insurance companies, they will bear the risks and find a way around it.â€
He also said the cargo tracking note (cargo information system) which the president has approved will also be a game-changer when deployed.
BUSINESS
9mobile Gets New Chief Commercial Officer
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:36:42 AM
The board of directors of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), trading as 9mobile has appointed Stjepan Udovicic the Chief Commercial Officer of 9mobile.
Udovicic arrives at 9mobile from Axiata Group Berhad and its operating company in Cambodia (Smart), where he has managed a large and successful commercial team, a statement from the telecom company said on Sunday.
A highly adaptable personality, the new chief commercial officer has acquired people management and leadership experience in diverse markets and different cultural contexts, having led various multinational teams in Cambodia, Croatia, Indonesia, Slovenia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the USA.
Before joining Axiata Group, Udovicic was engaged at Orange Romania for three and a half years as Marketing Director, in charge of products and services, digital, brand, and pricing. The CEO of 9mobile, Alan Sinfield, said the company was happy to welcome him into its fold, especially with his wealth of experience. “Stjepan is a thoroughbred professional with a can-do spirit which is at the core of who we are at 9mobile. We are an adventurous brand, always pushing the limits of innovation, so Stjepan has come right into his home.â€
NEWS
Nigerians Flay ‘Naira Rain’ At Buhari’s Daughter’s Wedding
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:23:14 AM
Some Nigerians on social media on Sunday reacted to a viral video showing guests at the wedding of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, spraying money at the event.
They condemned the show, saying it was ridiculous that it happened at the nation’s seat of power.
Hanan and Turad Sha’aban got married last Friday at the Presidential Villa.
The latest video, captioned ‘Naira Rain at Hanan Buhari’s wedding’, was posted on social media by Sahara Reporters and had attracted over 3,000 comments on Facebook and Twitter as of 9:30pm on Sunday.
In the video, Hanan was seen dancing with the bridegroom; while several persons threw naira notes at them.
The Central Bank of Nigeria had warned against spraying of naira notes, saying it violates Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 and attracts a jail term of six months or N50,000.
The Nigeria Police Force had also arrested and paraded persons caught selling new naira notes at party venues.
NEWS
Digitalization: NIPOST To Create 10,000 Outlets
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:20:07 AM
The Nigerian Postal Service has concluded plans to run a digital postal service by setting up 10,000 smart outlets nationwide.
NIPOST Post-Master General Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, disclosed this in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, at the weekend while inspecting NIPOST offices in the southwest.
Adewusi said the NIPOST would partner with private sectors to drive digital postal services
He stated: “So, there are lots of things we’re bringing to table to change the face of postal services in Nigeria. We’re going to run a digital postal service.
“These post offices are designed many years ago. When we set up the smart postal offices working with private sectors, we are going to have more than 10,000 of such outlets across the country so that we can bring postal services to the doorstep of the people.
He said: ““NIPOST is going to work with all the agencies of the government where they can do a lot of transactions. You’re supposed to walk into post office to collect your international passport, obtain your driver’s license and capture your national identity card images.
“We also want to run smart offices. We discovered that our outlet offices are in bad shape. The structures are dilapidated. This is not good for our image at all. “We’ll introduce newly technology platforms to run NIPOST. We have licences to do international payment transaction working with western union.â€
Africa number one ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri reacts after winning a point
The International table tennis federation (ITTF) has listed Aruna Quadri as one of the top 20 players in the world that will compete at the ITTF Men’s World Cup scheduled for November in China.
Quadri was selected based on the world ranking which makes him the highest-ranked African in the world rated 20th in the globe and he will be taking parting in his third consecutive World Cup.
He was the first African to reach the quarterfinal of the competition following his exploits at the 2014 edition in Dusseldorf, Germany.
A statement by the world table tennis ruling body revealed that after several months of suspended activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Men’s and Women’s World Cups will kick-start the resumption of international table tennis competitions.
The World Cups according to ITTF will feature 20 female and 20 male athletes, including the World Champion, qualified players from all completed continental events (Africa, Europe and Pan America) and players selected by world ranking from the other continents (Asia and Oceania) as well as the whole world according to the provisional World Cup playing system. The players from Asia are the same who would have played at the 2020 Asian Cup, had it not been cancelled due to COVID-19.
The men’s star-studded field include China’s Ma Long who is considered by many as the greatest table tennis player of all time, and he will be looking to add the 2020 Men’s World Cup to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.
Ma Long is joined by world no.1, Fan Zhendong (China) as well as a number of other top Asian players to have qualified via their world ranking, such as teenage talents, world number four at 16 years, Tomokazu Harimoto and Lin Yun-Ju (Chinese Taipei) who is world number seven at 18 years old.
Europe is providing plenty of strength, especially in the form of German pair, Timo Boll, who qualifies off the back of his 2019 Europe Cup victory, and Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the former world no.1 entering as a wild card.
Barcelona and Juventus are negotiating a fee that will allow Luis Suarez to make the move to the Serie A champions.
Goal has learned that Uruguay international Suarez has already reached a personal agreement over a three-year contract worth €10 million (£9m/$12m) per season with the Turin giants.
Suarez is set to sit an Italian language exam in the coming days to get a passport to allow him to make the move.
The 33-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Camp Nou, which will automatically renew for a further year should he feature in more than 60 per cent of matches.
New Barca boss Ronald Koeman has decided Suarez has no place in his plans for the future and the attacker called for clarity on his place in the squad from president Josep Maria Bartomeu last month.
The Catalan side could release Suarez but it would cost €14m (£13m/$17m) to terminate the former Liverpool star’s contract, which is far from ideal considering the financial issues the club has had to contend with amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Barca are already plotting a move for Inter star Lautaro Martinez to take Suarez’s place and partner fellow Argentina star Lionel Messi up front.
Ryan Giggs saluted “fantastic†Neco Williams after the Liverpool defender snatched a last-gasp winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Bulgaria.
Giggs’ side were well below their best for most of the League B, Group 4 tie, but 19-year-old Williams came off the bench to break the deadlock with a header deep into stoppage-time at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Williams’ first goal in professional football made it four successive wins in all competitions for Wales.
Following their 1-0 success in Finland on Thursday, Giggs’ men stay top of the group and are now unbeaten in eight matches dating back to June 2019.
Of the teams who qualified for Euro 2020, none scored fewer than Wales, who struck just 10 times in their qualifying campaign.
That lack of firepower was a problem for long periods against stubborn Bulgaria, but right-back Williams finally opened up their massed defence on his home debut.
After a promising season with Premier League champions Liverpool, Williams’ match-winning cameo rewarded Giggs’ faith in a youngster who has a bright future, even if he has to serve as back-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield.
SPORTS
NTTF Appoints Adesoji Tayo As Technical Director
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:05:34 AM
The Chairman of Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Adesoji Adetayo has been appointed the technical director of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).
The appointment was ratified by the board of the NTTF after the president of the sport federation Ishaku Tikon had given his approval.
According to a statement, signed by the Secretary-General of NTTF, Chimezie Asiegbu, Dr Adesoji’s appointment was based on his immense contribution to the sport at state and national level coupled with his vast knowledge of the game.
He is expected to help in the selection of players and coaches for major tournaments as well as oversee the national tournaments with the aim to unearth and groom talents.
“By this appointment, you are the technical head of the federation and you are to advise the board on technical matters concerning the federation. The appointment is with immediate effect which will last throughout the life span of the present board.â€
As the Chairman in Oyo, Tayo has brought vibrancy to the sport with several talents emerging from the state including Aruna Quadri and Usman Okanlawon.
His vast knowledge also came to fore when Nigeria defeated Egypt in the team event of the 2018 African Championship in Mauritius.
In his response, Tayo said he would justify the confidence reposed in him to contribute to the growth of the game with special attention on talent identification across the country with the sole aim of grooming talented players who will match the records set by the likes of Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri.
NEWS
2 Feared Dead As IPOB Attack Hausa Residents In Rivers
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 4:01:21 AM
No fewer than two Hausa indigenes resident at Oyigbo in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State are feared dead when suspected members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked their base in Oyigbo.
Eye witness account had it that suspected irate IPOB members had on Saturday and Sunday launched coordinated attacks on Hausa residents in Oyigbo.
The eye witness said two persons were feared dead while two other persons sustained serious injury.
“The incident, which looks like a coordinated attack started on Saturday and extended to Sunday. Some youths suspected to be IPOB members invaded the area mostly inhabited by Hausa indigenes and attacked them with dangerous weapons. Two persons were said to have died in the attack while two other persons sustained serious injuries,†he said.
The Spokesman of the Northern community in Rivers State, Alhaji Musa Saidu, who confirmed the incident to our reporter, condemned the attack.
Alhaji Musa Saidu said that the deceased were allegedly attacked and killed by irate youths suspected to be members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) at Oyigbo.
He said the problem started when the suspected IPOB members armed with dangerous weapons attacked a base in Oyigbo that has a high concentration of Hausa indigenes.
He said that the incident which happened on Saturday and Sunday had 2 Hausa residents who were petty traders killed while two persons sustained life-threatening injuries.
He said that he could not ascertain the reason behind the attack but pointed out that the attack might be an offshoot of previous threats issued to the Hausa community in Rivers State by suspected IPOB members.
He called on the police to step up action and arrest those behind the attack.
Several telephone calls put across to Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni to confirm the story was not successful.
But a source from Rivers State Police Command told our reporter that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan has directed the deployment of police tactical command to restore normalcy in the affected area.
In the meantime, the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Prince Gerald Oforji has condemned the attack and appealed to Hausa residents in Oyigbo to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands.
NEWS
Sarkin Musawan Katsina, Muhammad Gidado Dies At 77
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 3:58:04 AM
The death has occurred of Sarkin Musawan Katsina, District Head of Musawa, Muhammad Gidado Usman Liman.
Late Alhaji Muhammad Gidado Usman Liman died in the afternoon hours of Wednesday, 2nd September 2020 after a protracted illness.
The Late traditional ruler died at the age of 77 and left behind two children, Hajia Binta and Hajia Maijidda, many grandchildren and relatives.
Among his relatives were Nigeria’s famous historian, Late Yusuf Bala Usman, and the present member representing Musawa/Matazu federal constituency, Hon. Ahmad Usman Liman.
Late Muhammad Gidado Usman Liman is a grandchild to Emir Muhammad Dikko, first Katsina Emir of the Sullubawa dynasty.
Late Muhammad Gidado was also the last district head appointed by Emir Usman Nagogo, the grandfather of the present Emir.
He was since buried according to Islamic rites at his palace, Sabon Gari, quarters in Musawa Local Government.
Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman and some of his district heads were among the dignitaries that attended the funeral prayer held at 5 pm.
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, who was not in the state when the death occurred, proceeded to Musawa town on Friday in company of his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, and other members of his executive council to condole the people of the district.
The governor described the death of the late monarch as a monumental loss not only to the people of the state but Nigeria in general, saying late Sarkin Musawa was a peacemaker and a bridge-builder whose valuable advice would be greatly missed.
FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Nami
BUSINESS
FIRS Launches Online Portal On Income Tax
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 AT 3:51:59 AM
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has launched the Automatic Exchange of Information-Common Reporting Standard (AEOI-CRS) system for financial institutions on administering income tax.
The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, disclosed this in Abuja. He said the portal was part of its ongoing reforms to align the nation’s tax system with global standards.
“The AEOI-CRS system portal is currently live, open and active. Consequently, all reporting Financial Institutions (FI) – commercial banks, merchant banks, discount houses, mortgage and development banks, insurance and life assurance companies, investment advisers, trustees, asset management companies, issuing houses, brokers/dealers, among others are invited to enroll on the AEOI-CRS portal.â€
He directed the institutions to the agency’s website for further details on the enrolment process, noting that reporting begins immediately.
“FIs are to further take notice that the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) reports for 2019 are due not later than 30th September 2020.â€
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