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COAS Commissions Ultra Modern Gymnasium, Swimming Pool

Chidi Uduma Nwoke
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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commissioned a state-of-the-art gymnasium and swimming pool at Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army in Jos, Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.

The COAS said the edifice will complement the Federal Government’s efforts at providing qualitative sporting facilities for personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA), according to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 3 Division, Major Ishaku Takwa.

General Yahaya, represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation Army Major General S. Muhammed, commended the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN Major General Ibrahim Ali for conceiving the project and ensuring its completion within his tenure in office as GOC.

He charged the personnel to make sporting activities a hobby to improve competitiveness in sports competitions, emphasising that his decision to support the improvement of sporting facilities in all Nigerian Army Barracks is premised on the resolve to make sporting activities a source of joy and energy to troops and their families.

He further said the facility is significant to the health and fitness of personnel as well as assisting troops in preparing for combat competitions to train for a successful outing.

The COAS further commended the GOC for his visionary leadership and laudable achievement attained during his tenure, wishing him success as he takes over as the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI.

Speaking earlier, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff laid the first block on which the Gymnasium and Pool was built and appreciated him for his continuous support to 3 Division.

Also speaking during the briefing, the Deputy Director 3 Division physical Training Lieutenant Colonel AA Olatoye, said the gymnasium which has the male and female sections is equipped with 6 treadmills of 7 horse power, 6 electric exercise bikes, 2 multipurpose machines, 4 total crazy body massagers.

Highlights of the event was the tour of the facility, swimming demonstration by Private Joy Ogbolu, presentation of gifts and group photographs.

The facility also has a leg press, a hip abduction machine and 2 sauna rooms, amongst others. While the pool which is 4-feet deep at the shallow end and 8-feet deep at the deepest end, is equipped with a water heater, underwater lights, and it’s pavilion has a 170-spectator capacity.

The Commander 3 Division Garrison Brigadier General MO. Agi said the building of the gymnasium will not only improve troops welfare but also enhance competence in the field.

VP Osinbajo presides over first Cabinet Meeting for 2023

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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Nigeria’s first Cabinet meeting for the year 2023, presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is going on at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In what seems a first since COVID-19 protocols were put in place in 2020, several Ministers are physically present.

Also present are the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Dr. Adeola Ipaye.

 

Before the commencement of the Council meeting, members held prayers, led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, and his Aviation counterpart, Hadi Sirika.

Ministers who are attending in person are the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk; Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Health, Osagie Ehanire; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

Others are Ministers of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Agriculture, Mohammad Abubakar; Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Niger Delta, Umana Umana; Special Duties, George Akume, Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi; Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; Justice, Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi amongst others.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday traveled to Nouakchott, Mauritania, to participate in the Programme of the Third Forum of the African Conference for Peace.

Read Also:President Buhari Receives African Peace Award

He is expected back in the country today.

Helicopter crash kills Ukrainian interior minister, others

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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At least 18 people, including Ukraine’s interior minister and three children, have been killed in a helicopter crash near a nursery outside the capital, Kyiv.

Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy Yevhen Yenin and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych were among those killed on Wednesday, according to Ihor Klymenko, chief of Ukraine’s National Police.

It was unclear what caused the helicopter to crash in the town of Brovary, a commuter town that was the scene of fierce fighting early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The State regional governor said 29 people were also hurt, including 15 children. “There were children and staff in the nursery at the time of this tragedy,” Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram.

It was not immediately clear what caused the helicopter to crash in the town of Brovary, a commuter town that was the scene of fierce fighting early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Klymenko from Ukraine’s police service said earlier that nine of those killed were on board the helicopter when it crashed. A reporter from Kyiv said the deaths were a huge blow to the country on a government level.

“This is Ukraine’s interior minister, one of the highest posts in the country; his deputy. These are key figures in Ukraine’s government when the government is at war with Russia, so this will be a huge blow to the country, no doubt. You can only imagine some conversations happening right now, in Kyiv in those government circles, what’s going to happen next,” Butler said.

Monastyrskyy, 42, responsible for the police and security inside Ukraine, would be the most senior Ukrainian official to die since the war began. A trained lawyer, he has served as Ukraine’s interior minister since July 2021. He was a key member of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party and was married with two children.

“My colleagues, my friends. What a tragic loss. The deepest condolences to their families,” said Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser.

Peter Zalmayev, the analyst at the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, told Al Jazeera that poor visibility in Brovary may have been a factor behind the crash of the helicopter. “However, the incident was very suspicious; I would not rule out a terrorist act by the Russian Federation,” he said.

Helicopter pilots know the area they fly in and the potential obstacles regardless of weather, according to Zalmayev. The Ukrainian government also avoided commenting on the mission, which required senior interior ministry officials on board the helicopter.

Aviation accidents are fairly common in Ukraine, where the use of aging and sometimes Soviet-era infrastructure is still common. In one of the deadliest recent incidents, 26 people, most of them air cadets, were killed when their Antonov-26 plane crashed near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in September 2020.

The town of Brovary is located some 20km (12 miles) northeast of Kyiv and was among the urban hubs around the capital that Russian troops had tried to capture after invading Ukraine last year.

Regions around the capital are no longer the scene of fierce fighting after Russian forces were pushed back. Still, a series of Russian missile strikes have disrupted power supplies across the country, including in the Kyiv region.

 

Aljazeera/S.O

Tech Ecosystem: Nigerian Government Woos German Investors

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
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The Nigerian Government has urged  international investors in Germany to invest in the Nigerian tech ecosystem, saying doing so comes with many rewards.

The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency in Nigeria ,(NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa made the invitation while speaking on the Evolution of the Nigerian Tech Ecosystem during a conversation with Ludwig von Bayern Startup Lions in Germany.

The Director General said, “Nigeria provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to quickly and conveniently start and grow businesses.”

According to Inuwa, the future of Nigeria is much more promising than today due to the four comparative advantages the nation has over other countries of the world, adding that these four advantages could hardly be gotten anywhere else in the world.

“There are four comparative advantages you will never get anywhere in the world but Nigeria. So, come to Nigeria and invest such that you can easily get these comparative advantages,” he said.

Listing the comparative advantages, the NITDA boss informed his audience that Nigeria’s large population and its emerging economic status positioned it at a pole-length as a suitable investment destination in Africa.

“Africa is a continent with 54 countries and 1.4 billion people with 2.9 trillion GDP. Nigeria alone has 15 percent of the population and the GDP, so investing in Nigeria is like investing in Africa.

“Moreover, it is emerging because if you look at the tech-ecosystem, Nigeria attracts 30 per cent of the continent’s Foreign Direct Investment FDI. Last year alone, the country attracted more than 2 billion USD.”

Inuwa stated further that the level of support the government now gives to the tech ecosystem is unparalleled in the history of the country.

He said the government has been supporting innovation and startups.

“There are so many interventions in terms of policies, laws and infrastructure to help businesses to grow.”

He said, “In 2019, the President expanded the mandates of our ministry to cover digital economy. Before, it was just ministry of Communications but realizing that communication is not the end but a means to an end, while the end is how we can use technology for economic prosperity.”

The NITDA Boss recalled the passage of the Nigerian Startup Act, the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business, including other incentives like visa on arrival and business incorporation under 24 hours were all aimed at transforming the country.

“Thirdly, we have youthful and talented population which you can never get anywhere in the world. While the developed countries are suffering from aging population, we have one of the youngest populations in the world,” he observed.

He said Nigeria has high potential for social and economic impacts and investing in the country would help the country solve challenges the nation faces.

“We have so many challenges that need innovative ways of solution; we have challenges around healthcare, financial inclusion, education,transportation, and
logistics.And you all know IT or technology can provide faster solutions for us to solve all these problems.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While urging the investors to look the way of Nigeria, Inuwa invited them to grace the Africa Tech Conference that comes up in July 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gombe state Commissioner of Police appeals for peaceful 2023 polls

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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The Commissioner of Police in Gombe State Command, CP Oqua Etim, has appealed to the two Emirate councils of Funakaye and Nafada to use their influence and fatherly voices to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 General Elections.

 

The Commissioner of Police was in the Emirate Councils to familiarize with the councils, solicit for support and seek for fatherly counsel and blessings, saying he deem it fit to pay homage and accord respect, giving honour to whom honour is due.

 

Speaking separately to the emirs, first the Emir of Funakaye, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Gwairanga IV and the Emir of Nafada Mohammadu Dadum Hamza, Mr. Etim sought for their collaboration to impress on the hearts of members of their communities to shun violence or any other vices and conduct themselves orderly in respect to the rule of law.

 

Similarly, Mr. Etim urged the people to be careful with their utterances, in order to stay away from hate speech for peaceful conduct of the 2023 General Election.

He reiterated the readiness of the command in providing adequate security before, during and after the Election.

 

 

The Emir of Funakaye, Dr. Kwairanga IV, applauded the Commissioner for the visit and gave the assurance of their commitment to maintain the relative peace enjoyed by the loving people of their communities.

 

“We will do as you said Commissioner, we will do everything possible within our reach to conduct ourselves and vote peacefully,” the Emir of Funakaye added.

At the Emirate Council of Nafada, the Emir, His Royal Highness Dadum Hamza requested for the renovation and building of new police barracks, redeployment of women police to the communities, as well as the recruitment of the sons and daughters of the community into the Nigeria Police Force, so as to give them a sense of belonging.

 

Responding to the request, CP Etim promised to look into the request with the view of sorting it out in the shortest time possible.

Nigeria to develop strategic plan for effective implementation of SDG-6

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
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The Nigerian Government says it is developing a strategic plan for the coordination and tracking of effective implementation of Sustainable Development Goal-6 (SDG-6) in Nigeria.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the 29th Regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources (NCWR) in Sokoto state.

 

Mrs. Walson-Jack said the strategic plan is to provide guidance and sustainable pathway for various stakeholders in the Water Sector to monitor the level of implementation of SDG-6, across the eight hydrological areas of the country.

 

“In similar vein, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources recently conducted the Voluntary National Review on the implementation of SDG-6.

 

“This is with a view to showcasing the status of its implementation in the country,” the Permanent Secretary said.

 

She added that the two Strategic Documents are therefore the outcomes of the wide and in-depth consultations undertaken.

 

“This is in order to ensure that SDG-6 is mainstreamed and integrated into the various policies and plans in the Sector,” she noted.

 

The Permanent Secretary further said that the theme of the meeting, “Actualising Sustainable Development Goal-6: Prospects and Challenges,” was carefully chosen, bearing in mind that only seven years remains from the target year set for achieving SDG-6.

 

“In this regard, we should review our strategies particularly in the area of implementation of projects and programmes, identify gaps and proffer solutions on the way forward to overcoming the challenges.”

 

She appreciated Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the officials of the state Ministry of Water Resources and the entire people of Sokoto State for accepting to host the meeting.

 

Walson-Jack further thanked the officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stakeholders, and development partners for their support and intervention in the development of the Water sector in Nigeria.

 

“The fact remains that, all our accomplishments in the Sector would not have been possible without your continued technical support and funding of critical water projects across the country,” She said.

 

She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the launch of Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign as well as signing of the Executive Order to end open defecation by the year 2025 in the country.

 

Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Sokoto, Mr. Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, said the choice of the meeting theme signifies commitments of government to address various water challenges in the country.

 

Mr. Yabo appealed on Federal Government to put to use the established Shagari earth dam which was constructed in the year 2005 during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

“Shagari dam when put in use would help to improve agricultural activities, provide employment opportunity as well as address poverty in Sokoto and its environs,” Yabo said.

 

He called on the participants to utilise the opportunity of the meeting in ensuring the proper implementation of the SDG-6 for the best of the water sector in the country.

 

The Commissioner further urged all participants to come up with Implementable policies that would help in addressing water shortage in dams across the country.

Niger Tornadoes Visit Ailing Ex-Player Ahead Of Doma Clash

Chidi Uduma Nwoke
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Niger Tornadoes Football club of Minna paid a courtesy visit to a former member of the club and Junior International, Joshua Daniel, who is battling to recover from an accident that cut short his football career ahead of their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Doma United.

Daniel was involved in an accident along Sarkin Pawa Kaduna road, while still under contract with the Ikon Allah Boys. The team paid a visit to the former player after they arrived Kaduna in preparation for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 2 encounter against the visiting Doma United of Nasarawa.

Tornados held a light training session to shake off the stress as the team prepares to consolidate on a current form on the adopted home turf, before they visited their former player.

Niger Tornadoes Football club in training ahead of NPFL clash with Doma United.

While handing over a gift items to Daniel — which comprised of food, a cash gift and two Niger Tornadoes Jerseys — Tornadoes manager Aliyu Mohammed said the player has become a part of the team and there is no way he would be forgotten.

“We were here last season, when we resumed for our home games here and we found it fit to pay you and your family a visit, we shall continue to do this, as a way of identifying with you for the services you have rendered in the past to our dear club and State,” Mohammed said.

Responding, mother to Joshua Daniel, Asabe Daniel, who could not hide her feelings, prayed God to bless the team, especially Abubakar Bala Mohammed for not turning his back on her son despite his predicament.

“Some people have chosen to forget him, but you have been visiting him, God will continue to remember you, the way you are remembering us,” Asabe said.

“For Coach Bala, there is nothing I can say rather than to pray God to continue to uplift you and your team to continue taking higher and higher in Jesus name.”

In his part, Joshua Daniel thanked the entire team for the visit and prayed for a successful season for the Ikon Allah Boys.

WHO Plans To Establish TB Vaccine Accelerator Council

Temitope Obatoke
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The World Health Organisation (WHO), said the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuberculosis (TB) services has brought the urgency of vaccine development efforts into sharp focus.

Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director General of WHO, announced the plans to establish a new TB Vaccine Accelerator Council at a high level panel on TB at the World Economic Forum.

Ghebreyesus said the council would facilitate the licensing and use of effective novel TB vaccines catalysing high level alignment between funders, global agencies, governments and end users in identifying and overcoming barriers to TB vaccine development.

“One of the most important lessons from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is that innovative health interventions can be delivered fast if they are prioritised politically and financed adequately. The challenges presented by TB and COVID-19 are different, but the ingredients that accelerate science, research and innovation are the same.

“Urgent up front public investment, support from philanthropy and engagement of the private sector and communities. We believe the TB field will benefit from similar high level coordination.”

According to him, despite countries making bold commitments to end TB by 2030, in the Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO End TB Strategy and the 2018 political declaration on the fight against TB. The WHO boss said the epidemic showed no sign of slowing down. In 2021, approximately 10.6 million people fell sick with TB and 1.6 million died. He said that drug resistance continued to be a major problem with close to half a million people developing drug resistant TB every year and Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is currently the only licensed TB vaccine.

“While it provides moderate efficacy in preventing severe forms of TB in infants and young children, it does not adequately protect adolescents and adults, who account for close to 90% of TB transmissions globally,’’ Ghebreyesus said.

He said that a recent WHO commissioned study, an investment case for new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, estimates that over 25 years. According to him, it is a vaccine that is 50 percent effective in preventing disease among adolescents and adults could avert up to 76 million new TB cases. Also, 8.5 million deaths, 42 million courses of antibiotic treatment and 6.5 billion dollars in costs faced by TB affected households, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.

“A vaccine that is 75 percent effective could avert up to 110 million new TB cases and 12.3 million deaths.”

Ghebreyesus said that the study further suggests that every 1dollar invested in a 50 percent effective vaccine could generate an economic return of US$7 in terms of averted health costs and increased productivity.

He said later in 2023, Heads of States and Governments would meet for a second United Nations High Level Meeting on TB, to review progress against commitments made in the 2018 political declaration.

According to him, this presents an important opportunity to correct setbacks in the TB response, which includes the urgent development and delivery of new TB vaccines.

 

 

 

NAN

World’s oldest known person dies at 118

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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French nun Sister André, the Guinness Book of Records world’s oldest known person, died on Tuesday at 118 in the southern city of Toulon.

The city’s mayor, Hubert Falco, announced the news of her death on Twitter, writing that;

The nun’s spokesman, David Tavella, said she died on Tuesday at 2 a.m. local time and lived near Toulon. “There is great sadness, but she wanted it to happen; she hoped to join her beloved brother. For her, it is freedom,” Tavella said. Born as Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, Sister André dedicated most of her life to religious service, according to a statement released by Guinness in April 2022.

Before becoming a Catholic nun, she looked after children during World War II and then spent 28 years caring for orphans and older people at a hospital. She was also the oldest nun ever to live, according to Guinness.

When she turned 118 in 2022, the nun received a handwritten birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron – the 18th French president of her lifetime. There have also been ten different Popes presiding over the Catholic Church since she was born.

She became the world’s eldest following the death of Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman previously certified as the world’s oldest person, who died at 119at 119at 119 on April 19. The title of the oldest person ever recorded also belongs to a French woman. Born on February 21, 1875, Jeanne Louise Calment’s life spanned 122 years and 164 days, according to the Guinness World Records statement.

 

CNN/S.O

FABDA Boss Calls for Restructuring of Agriculture Ministries

Kamila Bello
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The managing director of Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), Emeka Illoghalu, said there is a serious need to restructure agriculture ministries, in at the state and federal levels in the country to encourage entreprenurship and SMEs to do well.

According to Illogbhalu, the agriculture ministries in both federal and state levels should give room for innovations and inventions to thrive and expand entrepreneurship.

He argued that Agric Ministries should be unbundled that if that was not done, a lot of talents and opportunities will be wasted in the country.

He also said, Anambra State has taken the lead in unbundling the activities of commodities within its Ministry of Agriculture and that a clear example is the establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA).

“The ministries of agriculture are not structured to produce entrepreneurs. Everybody knows that, and it is not in contest, all this while, the government and others have been saying that agriculture should become business.

“Clearly, something is still missing, and as much as we say agriculture should be business, the next step is matching them with the existing agricultural commodities so that we will be able to have value and have outcomes which will increase the economy of our state and our country.

“We need to take the next step of taking another commodity. I mentioned cassava. It could be rice; it could be maize, it could be soya beans, it could be any other commodity.”

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