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Troops Dislodge Bandits, Rescue 30 Kidnapped Victims

Lateefat Ibrahim
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A fighting patrol from 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna on Thursday 2nd February 2023 rescued 30 kidnapped victims, recovered 2 motorcycles and cleared the highway for free flow of vehicular traffic.

The gallant troops had an encounter and engaged the armed bandits kidnapping commuters at Manini village along Kaduna – Birnin Gwari road according to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Yahaya Musa.

The troops who were escorting the the Chief of Defence Training and Operations Major General SE Udonwa who was on operational visits to Operation Whirl Punch Headquarters in Birnin Gwari engaged the bandits and overpowered them forcing the criminal element to withdraw in disarray.

The rescued victims were escorted to Udawa and Birnin Gwari to continue their journey.

The Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major General SE Udonwa, has commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

160,000 Children Acquired HIV In 2021–WHO

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The World Health Organisation, WHO says 160,000 Children acquired the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in 2021.

The WHO also say a child dies from AIDS-related causes every five minutes globally.

The global health body in a press statement made said Ministers and Representatives from 12 African countries have committed themselves, and laid out their plans, to end AIDS in children by 2030.

“Currently, around the world, a child dies from AIDS-related causes every five minutes.

“Only half (52 per cent) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults of whom three quarters (76 per cent) are receiving antiretrovirals.

“In 2021, 160,000 children newly acquired HIV.

“Children accounted for 15 per cent of all AIDS-related deaths, despite the fact that only four per cent of the total number of people living with HIV are children,” the statement read in part.

Alliance

The UN body said 12 countries with high HIV burdens -Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, have joined the alliance to ensure that the 2030 target is met.

The Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said “the organisation is committed to leaving no children in need of HIV treatment behind.”

Dr Ghebreyesus said “More than 40 years since AIDS first emerged, we have come a long way in preventing infections among children and increasing access to treatment, but progress has stalled.

“The Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children is a much-needed initiative to reinvigorate progress. WHO is committed to supporting countries with the technical leadership and policy implementation to realise our shared vision of ending AIDS in children by 2030.”

Also, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima said “An inequality that breaks my heart is that against children living with HIV, and leaders today have set out their commitment to the determined action needed to put it right. As the leaders noted, with the science that we have today, no baby needs to be born with HIV or get infected during breastfeeding, and no child living with HIV needs to be without treatment. The leaders were clear: they will close the treatment gap for children to save children’s lives.”

The Executive Director of The Global Fund, Peter Sands said, “In 2023, no child should be born with HIV, and no child should die from an AIDS-related illness.

“Let’s seize this opportunity to work in partnership to make sure the action plans endorsed today are translated into concrete steps and implemented at scale.

“Together, led by communities most affected by HIV, we know we can achieve remarkable results.”

 

 

PUNCH/Mercy Chukwudiebere

Police Shuts Down Illegal Arms Factory in Cross River

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Police has seized several locally made guns and shut down the illegal manufacturing base in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The Commissioner of the Cross River Police Command, Mr Sule Balarabe told journalists in Calabar, the state capital that the several accessories used for the manufacturing of arms and ammunition were recovered at the factory alongside seven locally made single and double-barrel guns.

Balarabe said; “through credible intelligence-led policing the men of Operation Restore Peace at Ogoja arrested two suspects in Kakwe Ablessang Village in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, who specializes in the manufacturing of local arms.”

“They took my team to their manufacturing factory and recovered one double barrel gun, five live cartridges, seven locally made single barrel guns and other manufacturing accessories. The suspects confessed and will soon be charged in court,” he said.

Remain focused

According to him, the command in the previous year had security challenges such as flashes of violent campaigns by political thugs, defacing of campaign posters and billboards, attacks and counter-attacks on perceived political opponents, pockets of kidnapping armed robbery, which threatened the order and cohesion of the state.

Balarabe said that despite those challenges, “the command’s move against crime and criminality has remained unhindered, resolute and focused with the arrest of kidnap syndicates, recovery of small arms and ammunition through actionable intelligence, strategic raids and effective deployments around critical infrastructures.”

The Police Commissioner, who paraded 17 suspects arrested for various crimes, said that those apprehended had illegal firearms and ammunition as well as hard drugs and charms.

Balarabe further said that “the Anti-cultism and Kidnapping squad foiled the attempted kidnap of Governor Ben Ayade’s Commissioner, while the remains of a murder victim were recovered.”

He further attributed the successes recorded in the command to a “robust synergy with sister agencies, community and youth leaders, traditional institutions and good-spirited citizens across the state.”

On the ongoing political parties campaign in the state, Balarabe advised politicians to shun politics of bitterness, and embrace sportsmanship.

He urged parents, guardians and leaders, to persuade their children and wards against being used to foment trouble ahead of the February 25 election.

The Commissioner said, “I once again enjoin parents, guardians and leaders wielding various levels of authority to persuade their children, wards and followers against being used as detractors in the election process as there would be awful consequences and corresponding sanctions as prescribed by the extant laws of the land.”

While assuring the people of enhanced policing across the state, he urged citizens to remain law-abiding.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Commissioner Reassures Nigerians Of Credible Census

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The National Commissioner, National Population Commission, Kwara State, Alhaji Razaq Gidado has reassured Nigerians of credible Census saying the outcome will determine the future of the Country.

Alhaji Gidado stated this while addressing trainees at the ongoing training programme for facilitators held at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

He said;  “This year’s Census exercise is not like that of the past as the present one is technologically driven and the Commission has adopted the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) data collection method which has largely reduced the use of paper forms.”

Alhaji Gidado stated that Nigerians and the nation cannot afford to jettison the exercise due to its importance as it would provide key information about persons, households, buildings, localities and the nation.

He recalled that the last census exercise held in the country was in 2006 which by international standards should hold every 10 years.

The NPC National Commissioner urged the people of Kwara to cooperate with the Census personnel by giving them all the necessary support and information required from them.

Alhaji Gidado who described Kwara as one of the first-generation states in the federation was marvelled at the low population of the state.

He stressed that it was through a population that the issue of social and economic development would be determined, appealing to the people to participate fully in the exercise.

Alhaji Gidado assured the people that the commission would give all necessary and legal support to the census personnel particularly the supervisors, facilitators and enumerators in ensuring they discharge their duties without fear or favour.

He also said adequate security measures would be put in place, particularly for those that would be posted to the rural areas.

Alhaji Gidado commended participants at the 10-day training workshop for their commitment and zeal. He urged them to concentrate more on the training programme as they would end up training the Enumerators whom he described as the most important census functionaries.

Participants at the training programme commended the commission for allowing them to be part of the 2023 census and promised to discharge their duties assiduously.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Qatargate: Two MEPs Lose Immunity in Corruption Case

Shakirat Sadiq
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Two MEPs have had their legal immunity lifted by European lawmakers, following a request by Belgian authorities investigating a corruption scandal that has rocked the European Parliament.

Italian Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella deny wrongdoing.

The Qatargate affair unfolded when a Greek lawmaker and three other suspects were arrested on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering.

One of the suspects then agreed to “tell all” as part of a plea deal.

Pier Antonio Panzeri is alleged to have led a network that took bribes from Qatar and Morocco in return for influencing the European Parliament. Some €1.5m (£1.3m) was recovered in cash in a series of raids in Brussels and Italy.

Both Qatar and Morocco have strenuously rejected allegations that they sought to gain influence over MEPs. However, prosecutors said Mr Panzeri had admitted “criminal responsibility.”

Mr Tarabella’s home was raided last month when Belgian police detained the four suspects. Prosecutors then asked the parliament to lift his immunity from prosecution as well as Mr Cozzolino’s. Both men were members of the parliament’s centre-left Socialists and Democrats grouping.

The votes happened with little ceremony in a matter of seconds when lawmakers began a session of the European Parliament on Thursday morning. MEPs simply raised their hands as the details were read out.

Marc Tarabella attended the vote himself, making his way through a scrum of reporters as he headed into the chamber. Afterwards he told me he had voted to waive his immunity in order to “be able to respond to the investigators’ questions and help authorities shed light on this affair.”

According to the parliament report on Mr Tarabella, he is suspected by investigators of backing “certain positions within the European Parliament in favour of a third country in return for cash payments” for two years. Testimony against him suggests several payments totalling €120,00-€140,000, the report adds.

 Belgian police released pictures of the cash seized in raids in Brussels in December

“Of course I deny any wrong,” Asked if had ever taken money to influence proceedings in the European Parliament he said: “Never in my life!” Reports said.

The parliament’s report on his Italian colleague cites investigators alleging participation in a criminal organisation and money laundering. Mr Cozzolino’s lawyers said last month that he was innocent and that he had carried out political activity in a “free and transparent way, having nothing to do with the crimes being investigated.”

He resigned last month as head of the parliament’s delegation that works with the Maghreb nations, including Morocco.

 

 

 

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq

Group Promotes E-Commerce In Nigeria

Confidence Okwuchi
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A Global e-commerce and direct selling group QNET in partnership with Transblue Limited says promoting e-commerce and upscaling entrepreneurship education will bridge unemployment gap among young people in Nigeria.

The group  also says that skills education and financial literacy would equip them with self-employment and self-reliant skills that would serve them for life.

Regional General Manager of the Sub-Saharan Africa Region for QNET, Biram Fall speaking at a media round table in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital said the association provides a platform for training to boost the socio-economic status of young people.

He said this aligns these with the Nigerian Government’s vision to partner with the private sector to achieve the desired economic recovery and transformative growth effectively.

World Bank Report

According to the World Banks report in 2019, e-commerce has the potential to overcome market barriers and connect consumers and businesses.

It can create jobs directly and reduce inequality by bringing to people in rural areas the convenience, variety, and low prices enjoyed by urban dwellers, and contribute to economic growth by lowering the asymmetry of information and increasing economic activities.

For this reason, he said “the brand is positioning itself as a credible business entity, set to create genuine entrepreneurial skills among the youth of Nigeria through well-established global e-commerce and Direct Selling ecosystems, hence implementing a pilot phase of its signature financial literacy programme, FinGreen.

“The association is built on the need to tap into the Nigerian market’s exuberance in Direct Selling and provide a globally recognised platform for customers and distributors to facilitate sales and marketing that will significantly improve customer service management and local market penetratiion,” he said.

Mr. Fall, attributed the success to high-quality products, a strong network of independent distributors, a commitment to ethical business practices, and Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSRs as efforts to create a positive social impact in the society it operates.

“We provide comprehensive training and support to our independent representatives, including sales and marketing tools, product knowledge, and leadership development.

Managing Director Transblue, Abdulhakeem Abiodun explained that the group was leveraging on technology and innovation in providing opportunities  for job and wealth creation.

According to Him, the QNET  financial literacy programme is designed with women and youth of vulnerable communities in emerging economies to drive developmental goals in mind.

He believes skills acquisition will not only employ unemployed persons but also transform them into employers of labour on a sustainable basis.

“It is vital in supporting overall economic growth and encouraging governments, corporations, and communities to achieve broader development objectives.

“This partnership enables us to connect every Nigerian to the global network of QNET, which aims to provide a great business opportunity to those who seek a better tomorrow and transform their lives.

We want to leverage the technological advancement needed for direct selling to achieve these goals.

He added that “We provide Entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, skill development and business management programs which is  available for young people in Nigeria to build the skills necessary to start and grow their businesses in different areas, including music, fashion, and the arts,” he said.

Centre Launch

The Group Chief Communications Officer, Ramya Chandrasekaran disclosed that  the company launched a Direct Selling Disinformation Centre (DSDC) to combat the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation about the direct selling industry and its brand.

“QNET operates an online global Direct Selling Disinformation Centre (DSDC) to dispel misconceptions, unethical behavior and public complaints about the sector. From an industry perspective, this is a unique initiative that advocates transparency and good practices,” Chandrasekaran emphasised.

She  added that QNET promotes  entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals to start their businesses and achieve financial independence globally especially in Africa.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Unavailability of new naira threatens standard of living -Labour Union

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has expressed concern over the scarcity of new naira notes in circulation.

 

It warned that the unavailability of the redesigned nation’s currency posed threat to the standard of living of the people and the nation’s economy.

 

The Chairman, of the State Council of NLC, Comrade Aliyu Issa Ore, who said this in a statement issued in Ilorin, added that the new notes are neither in the commercial banks nor Bureau De Change or the market.

 

The organised labour said the burden of hardship, which the scarcity of the new naira notes precipitated, is on the Nigerian workers.

 

It called on the federal and state governments to address the unavailability of cash in the interest of the workers and the poor masses in general.

The state NLC Chairman urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to liaise with the Ilorin Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to tackle the acute shortage in the distribution of the new naira notes in the state.

 

It is observed that customers have continued to lament the scarcity of the new naira notes despite spending several hours at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of commercial banks nationwide in their bid to withdraw cash.

 

Many of the customers had besieged bank ATMs to avoid being caught up in the web of the deadline of CBN for Nigerians to switch from old notes to the newly redesigned currency.

 

The state NLC said in the statement, “We are constrained by the acute shortage of new currency notes in the country, which is caused by the Naira Redesign Policy of the apex bank.

 

“The currency notes are neither in the commercial banks nor Bureau De Change nor the market.

 

“The social economic implication of nonavailability of the Naira in the market is a threat to the standard of living of the people of Nigerian and the nation’s economy. The burden of the hardship caused by the unavailability of the new naira notes is on the Nigerian workers.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

 

Police Boss Tells Lawmakers to Direct Queries To Attorney General

Confidence Okwuchi
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The Inspector General of Police in Nigeria, Usman Baba Alkali, has urged the House of Representatives to direct all queries on the alleged loss of $2.4 billion from illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and relevant courts as the matter is already in court.

He was speaking when he appeared at the Ad-hoc Committee Investigating Alleged Loss of Over $2.4 Billion from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015, including Crude Oil Export From 2014 Till Date, in Abuja.

The police boss said the interpol had received a petition about some individuals who blackmail and extort money from government officials and swung into action by inviting them, while others fled the country.

“It is my responsibility to act on any information received. I assure you, we are not investigating, we are only inviting people to come and say their own part of the story,” Alkali said.

On why the interpol wrote to the self-styled whistleblowers who brought information to the House, the IGP said that part of his responsibility was to assist law enforcement agents with tools to carry out their investigations.

He also said that the interpol is a different arm of the police force and has different responsibilities and duties.

“The interpol has nothing to do with national police,” he stressed, staring that the interpol cannot be used to witch-hunt anyone.

The IGP was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Garba Baba Umar.

The Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Honourable Mark Gbilla, wondered why the whistle blowers who came to give more details to the House were being hunted.

He said that one of the whistle blowers was supposed to be at the hearing but was afraid and feel intimidated.

“We found out that your department wrote to those two individual which is not a coincidence. Why did the interpol write to them before they came to the House?” Gbilla asked.

The committee chairman employed the interpol to respect the House and stop the harassment and intimidation of persons of interest to the House.

More Cooperation

He called for more cooperation by the interpol towards the success of the investigation.

He also said that the committee plans to go to Mexico to investigate the allegations.

The chairman, however, stressed that the IGP needed to appear before the committee as there are still questions for him to answer personally

Our correspondent learnt that the whistle blowers are facing trial also by the EFCC and their earlier bail has been revoked with continuation of the case slated for March 15, 2023.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Digital Economy Boosts Nigeria’s Diversification Strategy

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the digital economy sector has been most successful in the diversification of the nation’s economy, saving the Nigerian Government over N45.7 billion in IT projects clearance.

The President stated this on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, when he unveiled and launched two new policies developed by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

Linking the two policies to the diversification and prosperity of the economy, President Buhari said the National Policy on the Nigerian Government Second-Level Domains and the National Data Policy, is central to accelerating the development of the nation’s digital economy sector, adding that the current administration would continue to develop policies and programmes in furtherance of the diversification of the economy.

The President noted that Nigeria’s strides toward a thriving digital economy started on October 17, 2019, with the re-designation of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the restructuring of its mandate, stressing that the changes have been phenomenal.

“We are proud of the great strides of our digital economy sector and the impact it has had on the different sectors of our economy and I commend the Honourable Minister for being committed to the implementation of the digital economy mandate.

“As part of our commitment towards ensuring the sustainability of our gains in the digital economy sector, we have taken steps to institutionalise the process by developing relevant policies and strategies,” President Buhari further stated.

According to him, a total of 21 new national policies and strategies have been developed by the Government since 2019, adding that “the policies and strategies are national instruments to support Nigeria’s digital economy at the national and sub-national levels. The national policies have led to significant development across all sectors of our economy.” 

On the issue of digital identity for the country, President Buhari declared that the present administration has actively promoted it as key to a sustainable and secure development of our digital economy which will ultimately promote the use of the right identity by all Federal Public Institutions.

While noting that “the National Policy on Nigeria Government Second-Level Domains is a welcome step in this direction,” he directed that all government officials should refrain from using private emails for official purposes and Federal Public institutions (FPIs) must migrate their websites to the relevant government domains.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

 

UK Government promises robust Crypto regulation

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The UK government has published proposals for crypto-asset regulation and hopes it will manage the risks of the industry.

The sector has had a calamitous year, with assets collapsing in value by an estimated 75% from their peak of about $3 trillion in November 2021.

Ministers estimate up to 10% of UK adults now own some form of crypto.

They plan to use existing regulations for the industry, rather than creating a bespoke regime.

The Treasury says that will allow crypto to benefit from the “confidence, credibility and regulatory clarity” of the existing system for financial services, as set out in the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).

It wants to create a level playing field between traditional and emerging financial services, where the principle is “same risk, same regulatory outcome”.

But it also acknowledges some crypto businesses may simply choose to continue operating in offshore jurisdictions that “do not impose equivalent market-abuse rules”.

 

BBC/Dominica Nwabufo

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