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Currency Swap: Lagos Assembly Calls For Deadline Extension 

Confidence Okwuchi
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The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for extension of the currency swap policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The House called on the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to extend the deadline to July, 2023 in support of the prayers by the National Assembly.

Moving the motion on the floor of the House, Rotimi Olowo who highlighted the challenges Nigerians have been facing since CBN Governor came up with the currency swap, said, the policy has further worsen the living condition of the masses.

According to him, the policy is anti-masses, saying that most entrepreneurs, SMEs, market women who are illiterates are more prominent in the economy of the country.

He said the Point of Sale, POS service that has offered employment to the teeming youths has been destroyed by the policy.

He argued that the IT infrastructure in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. “In as much as we appreciate the rationale behind the policy which is capable of curbing corruption, the negative effect of the policy on the masses is frustrating. The only beneficiary of the policy is the elites, he said.

Corroborating, members including Bisi Yusuf, Makinde, Meiranda, Oluwa, Kasunmu, Idumogu, Akande, and Setonji among others lamented that the policy put together by the CBN Governor was not only frustrating but causing more pains than gains on the masses.

According to them, “Banks are selling the new naira notes to the highest bidder and they are making life miserable for the average Nigerians.

“We are angry because masses are directly affected by this policy. This is not the right time for this kind of policy and it is targeted at some people. It should vehemently be rejected.

“The present situation in the country is demoralizing. This policy is affecting everybody. People are fighting at the ATM points just to get their monies. The policy is alien to us. There are some communities that do not have banking system. There are some communities that do not have internet facility. Some do not even have mobile phones. How can this policy work?”

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa commended his colleagues for their forthrightness and approach to issues concerning the masses. According to him:

“Our concern is the pain, anger and frustration which the policy has brought.

“The intention of the policy has been defeated. Before embarking on the policy, there should have been engagement and consultation with the people.

” We commend the National Assembly that intervened on the matter but we want to say that the 10 days extension will not be enough. We are calling on the National Assembly to ensure that the deadline is extended till June, 2023″.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

India Journalist Walks Out of Jail After 2 Years

Shakirat Sadiq
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Indian journalist Siddique Kappan, who spent nearly two and half years in jail without trial, has walked out of prison, more than a month after he was granted bail by a court in the northern city of Prayagraj in a money laundering case.

Kappan was initially charged under various sections of the Indian penal code, before being hit by terror and money laundering charges. He had been granted ‘bail’ in the ‘terror case’ by the Supreme Court in September 2022.

“I am happy to walk out of jail after almost 2.5 years. ” “I am hopeful to defend my part and prove my innocence.”The 43-year-old Journalists said.

Journalist rights watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, welcomed Kappan’s release and demanded that all charges be dropped against him.

“I had only gone to report. What is wrong with that? I was only carrying two pens and a notepad, ” Kappan said

He was arrested in October 2020 in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where he had travelled to report on a high-profile gang-rape case. He and three others, including his driver, were accused of belonging to a Muslim organisation and “eventually charged with conspiracy to incite violence.”

His driver, Mohammad Alam, was granted bail last month while the two others remain behind bars.

Kappan has maintained his innocence and says that he had only travelled from his home state of Kerala to do his duties as a journalist.

Kappan added that the years since his arrest have been tough for him and his family.

 

Aljazeera /Shakirat Sadiq

UN Warns Against Sub-standard Drugs In North Africa

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, has warned that up to half of the medicines available in the Sahel region ( North Africa) are either sub-standard or out of date,

The inferior drugs are withdrawn from the supply chain in Europe and to a lesser extent from China and India. They then often pass through seaports in Guinea, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria before being transported to the Sahel.

The UNODC report published on Tuesday highlights Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad as the hardest-hit countries.

It said; “Even if there are no reliable data on all the quantities trafficked in various forms and routes in the countries of the Sahel, studies indicate a percentage of substandard or falsified medicines on the market ranging from 19 to 50%.”

Worse, once the medicines are diverted from the official supply chain there is little guidance on how it should be used by the patient.

The UNODC said fake medical products kill almost 500,000 million people in sub-Saharan African every year.

Head of UNDOC’s research and development unit,  François Patuel said; “If you want to get an antibiotic from the market, you can have it. Is it the right one to be used or not? It has to be controlled.”

”These deficiencies contribute to microbial and antimalarial resistance,” he added.

 

 

Africanews./Mercy Chukwudiebere

US Canvasses for More Democratic Inclusion In Tunisia

Christopher Ojilere
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The United States has called on Tunisia to show greater democratic inclusion amid a low turnout at recent parliamentary elections.

Report says just 11% of voters took part in a second round of elections that ended on Sunday.

“The low voter turnout reflects the dire need for the government to engage in a more inclusive path going forward to further expand political participation,” State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel said.

Meanwhile, opposition parties boycotted the poll, accusing the president of staging a coup after he shut down parliament in 2021 and gave himself almost unlimited executive powers.

Mr. Saied has defended the low turnout as a sign of discontent with parliament.

 

BBC/Christopher Ojilere

FCTA to sanction Filling Station violating safety standards 

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has warned that any filling stations that violate the minimum safety standard on product discharge will not only be sanctioned but may also stand to lose their operating licence. 

 

The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Abbas Idriss disclosed this during a chat with Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

 

The DG explained that “Not only that, they may be compelled to pay compensations to any third party whose property got affected as a result of their negligence” 

 

He made it clear that the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello is worried about the increasing cases of filling station fire disasters in the territory and therefore directed that such filling stations must be sanctioned for violating the laws regulating their business.

 

Dr. Idriss also informed the residents that the FCTA is liaising with the Upstream and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders to ensure strict adherence to the regulations on product discharge.

 

According to him, “there is going to be the proper engagement of all the stakeholders as directed by the FCT Minister to prevent further incidences of fire”.

 

The FEMA boss emphasised that no filling station should discharge petroleum products when the temperature is high to avoid fire outbreaks.

 

The DG further stated that the FCTA was putting modalities in place to ensure that all filling stations in the Territory have public liability insurance and maintain a minimum standard of fire defense equipment where the staff is adequately trained on safety standards.

 

“We will investigate and ensure that they have insurance so that they can pay compensation to the third parties“, he added.

 

He appealed to residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in an emergency.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

 

U.S. Drills Threatens North Korea

Shakirat Sadiq
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North Korea said on Thursday that drills by the United States and its allies have reached an “extreme red-line” and threaten to turn the peninsula into a “huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone.”

The Foreign Ministry statement, carried by state news agency KCNA, said Pyongyang was not interested in dialogue as long as Washington pursues hostile policies.

“The military and political situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region has reached an extreme red-line due to the reckless military confrontational manoeuvres and hostile acts of the U.S. and its vassal forces,” ministry spokesperson said in th statement.

It cited a visit to Seoul this week by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. On Tuesday, Austin and his South Korean counterpart vowed to expand military drills and deploy more “strategic assets,” such as aircraft carriers and long-range bombers, to counter North Korea’s weapons development and prevent a war.

“This is a vivid expression of the U.S. dangerous scenario which will result in turning the Korean peninsula into a huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone,” the North Korean statement said.

The United States has pushed to expand military, political, and economic ties across Asia.

In Manila on Thursday, Austin and his counterpart there announced that the Philippines had granted the United States expanded access to its military bases amid mounting concern over China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and tensions over self-ruled Taiwan.

When asked about the tensions with North Korea during his stop in the Philippines, Austin said that “the U.S. goal was to promote greater security and stability and that it remained committed to defending South Korea.”

“We will continue to work alongside our allies and train and ensure that we maintain credible and ready forces,” he said.

North Korea said it would respond to any military moves by the United States, and had strong counteraction strategies, including “the most overwhelming nuclear force” if necessary.

 

 

 

 

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq

Bayern Coach Nagelsmann Praises Cancelo’s Creativity In Debut

vonsports
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Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann praised the creativity of new signing Joao Cancelo in Wednesday’s 4-0 win at Mainz 05 that booked their spot in the German Cup quarter-finals.

Full back Cancelo, who joined from Manchester City on an initial loan deal for the rest of the season, set up Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for the opening goal as Bayern bagged their first win of 2023.

“Joao played very well today. He was very creative, you saw the first pass he made, how he used the outside of the foot. There were two very good crosses to Thomas Mueller. He made a lot of runs from deep,” Nagelsmann told reporters.

 

“I think he tried to sprint 15 times into space. He’s done very well. I didn’t really have any worries about playing him.

 

“He’s been with one of best managers in the world and he played 160 games under him in the Premier League,” Nagelsmann said, referring to City manager Pep Guardiola.

 

Bayern had drawn three games in the Bundesliga before Wednesday’s Cup win but Nagelsmann said he was not worried about their form.

“As for our crisis, I think there is worse crisis than this. It’s quite a tough word to use. In general, we didn’t achieve the results, which we wanted and we should have done,” he said.

Reuters/Samuel Isaiah

Tottenham Coach In Recovery After Gallbladder Surgery

Emmanuel Ukoh
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Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is in recovery after he had surgery to remove his gallbladder.

The 53-year-old Italian required an operation on Wednesday after he was diagnosed with cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder.

Spurs’ next fixture is at home to second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

It is likely that assistant Cristian Stellini will take charge for the game.

“Thank you for your lovely messages, my surgery has gone well and I’m already feeling better,” Conte said on Instagram.

“Now’s time to recover, I can’t wait to get back on the field with the team.”

Tottenham have said Conte, who had been suffering with severe abdominal pain, will return “following a period of recuperation”.

“Everyone at the club wishes him well,” the club added.

Conte’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League table on 36 points, 14 points behind league leaders and north London rivals Arsenal.

 

 

 

 

BBC/Emmanuel Ukoh

Russia Switch To Asia Would Require Thorough Examination

vonsports
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Saudi Arabia football chief Yasser Almisehal said the possibility of Russia switching to the Asian Football Confederation AFC would come only after exhaustive examination of the implications.

FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams from all competitions after the invasion of Ukraine last February and, with those sanctions still in place, speculation has been mounting over the Russian Football Union (RFU)’s next move.

Switching from the European governing body to Asia’s 47-nation confederation has been touted by RFU chief Aleksander Dyukov as a possible option to allow the Russian national team and clubs continued international competition.

The notion was given a boost when the Olympic Council of Asia said last week that athletes from Russia and Belarus could use its qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Summer Games if they are excluded from European competition

Almisehal, the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said such a transfer could only be considered after being thoroughly assessed by the AFC.

“It really needs a thorough study: What would that add to the continent? What kind of benefits would football in Asia have out of that move?” Almisehal, who was elected onto the FIFA Council on Wednesday.

“In recent years we’ve not seen such a transaction so it would take a lot of deep studying to evaluate whether it makes sense to do that, if it becomes a real request.”

Alexey Sokoryn, Russia’s former FIFA Council member and organiser of the 2018 World Cup, was present at Wednesday’s congress, adding to speculation that discussions would be taking place between Russian and Asian officials.

Almisehal, though, said speculation was all it was.

“Today we had four other FIFA Council members here as guests,” he added.

“I’ve not heard anything about any intentions for the Russians to do such a step, but if it becomes official it will be handled by the relevant authorities, whether it’s the AFC, FIFA or UEFA.

“But to be honest I’ve not heard anything about this and it’s only speculation in the media.”

Moves between confederations are rare.

 

 

 

Reuters/Samuel Isaiah

55,864 Farmers Benefit From APPEALS Project

Lateefat Ibrahim
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Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS) on Wednesday said it has supported a total of 55, 864 farmers across the country.

Alhaji Mohammed Jobdi, the National Project Coordinator, APPEALS stated this during the progress monitoring meeting of its project implementation in Abuja with the World Bank Task Team on Wednesday.

Jobdi also said that a total of 75 aggregation and cottage processing centres were being constructed across states.

He said the APPEALS was constructing about 80 kilometers of farm access roads as well and energy infrastructure linked to production and processing clusters.

According to Jobdi, the projects are visible when one interacts with the beneficiaries during visits to the participating states.

“The participating states have continued to make progress in the implementation of activities under the various components of the project,” he said.

Jobdi said the total number of Value Chain Investment Plans (VCIPs) being implemented across the states stood at 2,892.

He said that the projects had continued to contribute to the national food basket across the different value chains in the year under review.

This according to Jobdi, had come with significant increase in the output of the commodities when compared with the last mission’s figures.

“For instance, cocoa output increased by 129.01 per cent, while poultry egg, cassava, rice and poultry meat increased by 48.3 per cent, 24.7 per cent, 23.8 per cent, and 7.6 per cent respectively,” he said.

Jobdi said the number of farmers adopting improved technologies stood at 33,857 with females constituting about 36.0 per cent.

According to him, the project is linking farmers to markets through the facilitation of commercial partnerships resulting in a total of 303 business alliances.

Jobdi said this was with 145 off-takers already buying the farmers’ produce across the 11 value chains, with a transaction value worth N23.439 billion.

 

NAN/Lateefah Ibrahim

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