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”We have empowered 1.6m Nigerian Households”-President Buhari

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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President Muhammadu Buhari says 1.6 million poor and vulnerable Nigerian households, comprising more than eight million individuals are currently benefiting from the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer programme.

President Buhari says the scheme is part of the ongoing efforts to reduce poverty in the country and N300b has so far been disbursed to farmers.

Speaking virtually at the opening ceremony of the 14th Annual Banking and Finance Conference of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the President said; ”the National Social Register of poor and vulnerable Nigerians had 32.6 million persons from 7 million poor and vulnerable households identified.”

Stronger role
He therefore implored bankers to play a stronger role in improving livelihoods.

President Muhammadu Buhari addressing the 14th Annual Banking And Finance Conference, State House Abuja.

 

The President said; “From this number, 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households, comprising more than 8 million individuals, are currently benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer program, which pays a bi-monthly stipend of N10, 000 per household.”

Largest Programme
He said the National Social Investment Programme was the biggest in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest in the world.

According to him, “Some of the various initiatives embarked upon to boost agric trade in Nigeria include the Anchor Borrowers Programme through which the Central Bank of Nigeria had made more than 300 billion Naira available to over 3.1 million smallholder farmers of 21 different commodities including Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Cassava, Poultry, Soybeans, Groundnut, Fish, cultivating over 3.8 million hectares of farmland.

“It is on record that 80% of rice consumed in Nigeria is now produced locally.’’

To further strengthen recovery and enable more Nigerians, President Buhari said, last year, he approved the establishment of InfraCo Plc, a world-class infrastructure development vehicle, wholly focused on Nigeria, with combined debt and equity take-off capital of N15 trillion, managed by an independent infrastructure Fund Manager.

He said; “The Solar Power Naija project was launched in April 2021 with the aim of delivering 5 million off-grid solar connections to Nigerian households. In May 2021, the Rural Electrification Agency announced the planned deployment of solar-powered grids to 200 Primary Health Centres and 104 Unity Schools nationwide.

“Under the Family Homes Fund Limited, Social Housing programme incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, more than two thousand hectares of land with title documents have been issued by 24 states with the capacity to accommodate about 65,000 new homes. The Central Bank of Nigeria is providing a N200 Billion financing facility, with a guarantee by the Federal Government.”

The President affirmed that the theme of the Conference, “Economic Recovery, Inclusion, and Transformation: The Role of Banking and Finance’’ was most appropriate, following the global shocks from Covid-19.

“I salute the Institute and the entire banking and finance industry for the commitment towards charting a practical path for economic recovery and transformation of our country, Nigeria, and by extension Africa as epitomised by the theme of your conference.

“I commend the financial services industry for its interventions and contributions towards the promotion of financial inclusion and literacy in our country. And more importantly, the roles played by the banks in fostering economic growth of the country.

“I am confident that the speakers that have been carefully selected to contribute to the conference will share insights that will help individuals, businesses and governments at all levels make necessary adjustments and take the right steps towards our collective resolve to position Nigeria as one of the top economies in the world,’’ he explained.

The President said a report from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew 5.01 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; the strongest rise since the fourth quarter of 2014.

“This is cheery news and an indication that the efforts of this administration at repositioning the economy is paying off,’’ he said, urging bankers and financial institutions to leverage on the abundant business opportunities to grow the economy,” he said.

President Buhari implored financial institutions to play a stronger role in making sure the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises were fit for purpose, with support in full implementation of ‘Agreement.’

He said; “Indeed financial intermediaries could not be any more relevant than at a time like this. We need you, the banks, to drive value creation by developing new technologies, scaling payment infrastructure to serve the diversified economies expected to benefit from this Agreement.”

Use of Technology
President Buhari stated that technological innovation was also important in the modern business terrain, noting that most transactions now take place online given the advent of the ‘Internet of Things.’

“As we continue to progress towards the next frontiers of digitization, we must harness all opportunities while being mindful of the inherent risks. For example, the protection of data is now of utmost importance to provide users with more secure access to the online space,’’ he stressed.

President Buhari said the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything in the world, from interaction, work, communication to general lifestyle, noting that the epidemic also triggered new opportunities which helped to reshape the economy in the areas of digital transformation, trans-African trade, financial inclusion, security, workforce of the future, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, processing, supply, and logistics.

“As we look beyond the effects of the pandemic to the future, there are bountiful opportunities ahead of us. As you all may know, the African Continental Free Trade Area, of which Nigeria is subscribed, is not only an opportunity for the growth of trade but also the growth of Pan African businesses.

“It portends opportunities for our teeming youth population, the women, the creative industry, the digital economy, the financial services sector, agricultural value chain, commerce, industry, education and indeed every aspect of the economy as Nigerians will have unfettered access to the over 1.3billion consumer market,’’ the Nigerian leaders further said.

The President commended the CBN, working in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, for providing single-digit financing to young Nigerians in the fields of fashion, film, music and Information Technology through establishment of the Creative Industry Financing Initiative.

Exploring new technology
In a goodwill message, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda said exploring new technology in the banking sector, with more focus on innovation, will enhance financial inclusion.

“The banking sector can lead the way in integration. Banking is about trust,’’ he said.

The CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said the regulatory body had been working with the Bankers Committee to scale the challenges posed by Covid-19, which include reduction of interest rates on loans, increasing the moratorium for payments, and injecting N3 trillion loans in the private sector.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele addressing the 14th Annual Banking And Finance Conference, State House Abuja.

 

“We do expect that the pace of inflation will moderate as we approach the harvest season,’’ he added, assuring that banks remain strong, resilient and healthy,” Emefiele stated.

He said the N15 trillion infrastructure fund would be launched in October, 2021, while innovations like the Nigeria/International Financial will provide a gateway for capital and investments, and digital currency, e-naira, will enhance inclusion.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

2023 Elections: Group seeks increased women participation in politics

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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A group of women under the aegis ‘Stand Up for Women Society’, SWS, has called for increased participation of women in the forthcoming elections across the country.

The National President of the group, Deborah Ojadele-Adetona made the call at the inauguration of the Cross River State chapter of the association in Calabar, the capital city.

Ojadele-Adetona, who said the association was established as a rights protection group for women across the country, remarked that women should be given the opportunity to contribute to the growth of Nigeria.

She stated, “we urge women to wake up to the clarion call to build capacity and take up leadership positions in the country and end the trend of women being viewed as weaker vessels and unfit to attain certain heights in society.”

Fulfill objectives

The National President urged the inaugurated state executive of SWS in Cross River to fulfill the objectives of the association by ensuring that women were liberated from challenges such as unemployment, lack of vocational skills and violence.

 

She urged governments at the local, state and federal levels to ensure the rights are protected as well as provide a level playing ground for more women to participate in politics come 2023.

“We commission you the executive of the Cross River State chapter to do all in your power to protect the rights of women and girls. I also use this medium to call on the three tiers of government to provide a level playing field that would encourage more women to participate in politics.

“We commend the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade for appointing more women into various political offices and making it possible for more women to be elected as chairmen and councilors of local government councils. We are appealing for more opportunities as the 2023 general election approaches,” she stated.

Women support

In a remark, the Cross River Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo, who is also accorded the title of State Matron of SWS, encouraged women to support the growth of others when opportunities abound.

Odey-Ekpo lauded Governor Ayade for creating an enabling platform for women to thrive in Cross River and promised to support the newly inaugurated executive.

Also, the Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Tina Agbor advised the women to remain focused and determined to achieve its mandate despite challenges.

The Chairperson of the newly inaugurated chapter, Umo Bassey-Edet described the event as the beginning of an era for women including the vulnerable.

Highlights of the event were the presentation of He-for-She Ambassador award to the Special Adviser to the Cross River Governor on Cocoa, Dr. Oscar Ofuka.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

Kano to harmonize drugs supply chain management

Emmanuel Ukoh
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Kano State government will soon harmonise all vertical public health programmes into a single supply chain system including equipment.

Kano State commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa made the statement when he declared open a 3-day, 2-Year Supply Chain Management (SCM) workplan development workshop at Bafra hotel, Kaduna state..

Dr. Tsanyawa said that one of the major challenges in actualizing this dream is the issue of vaccines.

“The ministry is looking at the possibility of upgrading the Drug Manufacturing Unit of Drugs Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) along with the vaccine warehousing harmonization,” said the Commissioner.

He also highlighted the achievements of  the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in health sector development in terms of investing resources as well as renovating and upgrading health facilities as well as equipping the facilities.

During the workshop Dr. Tsanyawa appreciated the National Products Supply Chain Management Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Africa Resource Centre for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM), CHAI, SOLINA, Technical Advice Connect (T. A Connect), Lafiya FCDO, SOLINA, BMGF and UNICEF for their unrelenting supports to Kano State Government and the Health sector in particular.

The Chairman Kano State Supply Chain Management Team, who is also the Director Pharmaceutical Services, Kano State Ministry of Health, Pharmacist Gali Sule enumerated the objectives of the workshop which includes among others the development of a robust 2-year SCM work plan in collaboration with all the stakeholders.

Pharmacist Ghali appreciated the Commissioner for his commitments and support to all the pharmaceutical activities and programmes of the Ministry.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Haj. Amina A. Musa welcomed the participants and wished them fruitful deliberations.

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh

NYSC advocates tree planting and sustainable environment. 

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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 The management of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC in Taraba State, North-East Nigeria has called on corps members, camp officials and other members of the camp community to cultivate the habit of tree planting.

This is as the Taraba State NYSC Coordinator Mr. Tony Nzoka revisited his pledge to sustain Tree planting across the sixteen local government areas of the state; and to continue the advocacy for tree planting and sustainable environment.

According to him, trees and green environment were essential for human survival.

The most recent in a growing list of concrete positive steps in this regard was seen in the flag-off of the fourth phase of NYSC Tree Planting Exercise during the 2021 Batch B Stream 2 Orientation exercise.

The event which took place immediately after the morning meditation on Tuesday 14th September 2021, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Sibre Taraba State, witnessed the planting of Mahogany trees, pole wire, and others trees which could survive during dry the season.

Highlights of the event, as in previous phases, was the planting of trees by the State Coordinator, Heads of Collaborating Agencies, Senior Camp Officials, the three Corps Camp Directors and representative of the ten platoons.

The fourth phase of the tree planting exercise saw the planting of an additional 155 trees within the Orientation Camp bringing the total trees planted within the camp in 2021 to 1000.

So far, over 7000 trees of various varieties have been planted across the sixteen local government areas of Taraba State.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

 

Ronaldo’s son joins Manchester United academy

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has joined up with the Manchester United academy while his father has returned to the club he left 12 years ago.

It comes as the Portugal international put on a performance on his second debut for the Red Devils against Newcastle, Mirror UK reports.

Ronaldo scored the opener and went on to grab another in a 4-1 win over the Magpies in front of a raucous Old Trafford crowd.

They did not stop singing the 36-year-old’s name throughout the contest while Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard also got on the scoresheet in sublime fashion.

But he is not the only Ronaldo at the club, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s son also turning up to training.

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has turned up to United training along with Nemanja Matic’s son.
The youngster was pictured alongside United star Nemanja Matic’s son on his way to training.

This is not the first time Ronaldo Jr has turned up to work with his dad, doing the same while at Juventus.

And if any of Ronaldo’s talent has been passed down to his son, he is in for a brilliant and long career.

Just days after the youngster turned nine, he made his debut for Juve where he scored four goals.

 

 

PUNCH/Mercy Chukwudiebere

Credible data key to fight drug abuse – NDLEA Boss

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has identified the use of credible data as essential in the fight against drug abuse even as he warned that the number of people using illicit drugs in Africa might rise by 40 percent in year 2030.

Marwa stated this while launching the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) Report of Statistics and Trends on illicit drug use and supply 2018-2019.

He expressed Nigeria’s preparedness to continue to provide credible data to sustain the fight against drug abuse.

According to him, the misuse of psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine as well as prescription medications, exert tremendous toll on the individual, families, communities and societies, adding that substance use has impacted negatively on public health, caused injuries, loss of income and productivity, family and community dysfunction and even death.

“Drug use around the world has been on the increase in terms of the overall number as well as the proportion of the world’s population that use drugs. The continuous increase in the types of new psychoactive substances being discovered globally is also worrisome. According to the World Drug Report 2020, in 2018, an estimated 269 million people representing 5.3 percent of the global population was reported to have used drugs as against 210 million in 2009 representing 4.8 percent.”

Marwa said, “the West Africa Sub Region is in the lime light at the international scene because of its role as a transit hub for cocaine from South America and heroin from East Asia to Europe as well as its heightened tramadol, codeine and cannabis use.”

“To employ this well-articulated report for informed policy formulation, programming and monitoring of our interventions in the ECOWAS Sub Region for better outcome in our drug control efforts.” ,

Gen. Marwa urged all ECOWAS member states that Nigeria will continue to play its role to support the sustainability of WENDU by continuously providing credible data through its National Sentinel Network, the Nigerian Epidemiological Network on Drug Use, NENDU.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

Morocco arrests suspected IS-linked Militants

Shakirat Sadiq
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The Moroccan security forces say they’ve broken up a cell of militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group.

The arrests  were made in the southern city of Errachidia.

The suspects have been ‘accused of plotting the imminent killing of a public servant.’

The name of the target hasn’t been revealed.

BBC/Shakirat Sadiq

Floods killed more than 80 in Sudan

Shakirat Sadiq
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More than 80 people have been killed by flooding in Sudan since the beginning of the rainy season in July.

The spokesman for Sudan’s National Council for Civil Defence said that ‘’84 people had died and 67 injured.”

The torrential’ rains have affected at least 14 of the 18 provinces, with over 30,000 houses destroyed or damaged. Crops and public infrastructure have also been affected.

The UN estimates that at least 102,000 people have been affected by heavy rains and flooding across the country.

Last year, Sudan declared a national state of emergency for three months because of floods that killed about 100 people, affected over 600,000 people and destroyed more than 100,000 homes.

 

 

BBC/ Shakirat Sadiq

“Nigeria Institute of Oceanography will boost concept of blue economy” -NASS

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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The Nigerian National Assembly says the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), will play an integral role for government to develop the concept of the blue economy, so as to generate more revenue in the maritime sector.

Members House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Research Institutions gave this indication during working oversight duties to the research institute in Lagos.

Chairman of the Committee, Munir Baba Dan Agundi said the committee members are happy with the level of infrastructural development NIOMR has put in place within the shortest period of time coupled with the paucity of funds bedevilling the agency in the last 40 years.

He said based on the budgetary submission proposed by the agency, it is imperative for the house committee to visit and verify their facilities, see things they have done, and to see the areas of interventions from the National Assembly in terms of proper funding.

Agundi mentioned that under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the agency has improved with the little resources they are getting from government, while urging them to do more in area of research as well as to collaborate with her sister agencies, like the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA and the rest, in order to improve the nation’s economy.

“In 2011 and 2012, I came here to see the facilities of the fishery college and NIOMR, and that time where we are standing right now is not somewhere you can come near, and you can see the level of infrastructural improvement in the college which is very commendable, and what we are standing on here (the Jetty) which has been resuscitated.

“In the last 40 years, there was no funding for them to carry out the repair. But with what we have seen today, we’re happy to report that there is considerable improvement in their infrastructure facilities to research on, and with the little funding they’re getting from government, they have done a lot and the members are satisfied and we will continue to engage them to do more in area of research, and also to ensure that they collaborate with other agencies for an enhanced expansion on its mandate.

“And as members of the national assembly we’re trying to understand the mandate of all our agencies especially this one that has to do with research and see how we can help them in terms of funding,” he said

Needed empowerment
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Professor Garba Sharubutu said NIOMR is going to be empowered to conduct research to know the level of resources of the blue economy.

He said the agency should not restrict itself to fishery alone, as they are going to study the varieties of fishing products in the ocean, the population of the fish the country has, so as to develop them alongside other marine products.

According to him, “for quite some time the research institute has been underfunded and the performance in terms of research has not been very serious. But with coming of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, there’s need to focus on agriculture for the purpose of diversification of the Nigerian economy.“

He explained that diversification does not only affect the oil industry alone, even in agriculture there seem to be over concentration on crop production and if the country is serious to diversify, it should be looking at other areas of agricultural importance.

“And that’s the reason why within the sector we have been looking at the livestock sub sector where we have the agricultural livestock transformation program and now we are concentrating on the fish and marine products, and we have institutions that are responsible for this. For the fresh water fishery and marine, NIOMR is the institute that has been given the mandate to develop the marine resources and in other to do that they need a lot of facilities and this facility is what the government has provided,” Sharubutu said

Apart from seeking funding from the National Assembly committee on Agriculture, Sharubutu added that the institute is also looking inward to generate revenue themselves, explaining that the Ministry has given all agencies under it a target to meet in order to be self sustaining, and part of the agenda is the usefulness of the jetty which is expected to bring in revenue when put to use.

Relatable research
House member representing Ibeju Lekki constituency, who is also part of the committee, Prince Bayo Balogun said the agency should ensure that their research must relate and be of benefit to the community of their area.

He said that once there is any fishing technological breakthrough by the agency, people in the area must be seen using the technology because their research is for the people, and not meant for the archives.

Keeping to mandate
The Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Doctor Sule Abiodun said the commendation by the committee shows that the agency is keeping to its mandate, which is development of the blue economy in support of this government agricultural policy.

He however urged the committee members to support the institute more so as to improve the economic value of the country.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

Somali spy’s family rejects President’s commission

Shakirat Sadiq
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0

The family of a missing Somali Intelligence Officer, Ikran Tahlil, has rejected a commission of inquiry formed by President Mohamed Farmajo’ to probe her disappearance in June.

President Farmajo posted on Twitter that the five-member panel’s findings would be handed over to the “responsible legal institutions for execution of justice.”

However, Ms Tahlil’s family has rejected the appointment of the commission of inquiry, saying ”they only trust the military court to handle the case.”

“We are not confident and will not accept the commission of inquiry the President has appointed to investigate the case of Ikran. We are only confident in the military court, which is where we had filed a case.” Qali Mohamud, Ms Tahlil’s mother, told Universal TV.

Prime Minister, Mohamed Roble, who has differed with President Farmajo over the case, has not yet reacted to the formation of the commission.

On September 2, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (Nisa) said Ms Tahlil, who worked in its cyber-security department, was killed by al-Shabab after being abducted in Mogadishu.

However, al-Shabab denied involvement in Ms Tahlil’s disappearance and purported death.

 

 

BBC/Shakirat Sadiq

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