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NGX All-Share Index drops by 0.01%

Amaka Nliam
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The gains recorded on the equities market of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday could not be sustained on Wednesday as trading activities closed in the red, with the all-share index depreciating by 0.01% to close at 39,545.67 points.

 

In the same vein, the market capitalization shed N3 billion to close the day at N20,603 trillion as against N20.606 trillion on Tuesday.

 

The market sentiment was, however, positive as market recorded 19 gainers and 17 losers.

 

The gainers were led by Pharma-Deko with N0.13k gain to close at N1.43k,followed by BOC Gases Nigeria with N0.90k gain to close at N10.10k and Honeywell Flourmill  with N0.24k gain to close at N2.71k.

 

On the other hand, SCOA Nigeria led the losers’ table with a price depreciation of N0.17k to close at N1.59k.

It was followed by Prestige Assurance Company with N0.04k loss to close at N0.44k, then Regency Alliance Insurance Company which lost N0.03k to close at N0.40k.

 

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria recorded the highest volume of 14.1million traded shares followed by Chams with 14 million shares.

 

Sectoral performance was also positive on Wednesday as four out of the five indices tracked closed in the green zone:

The Banking index appreciated by 0.08%, while the Consumer Goods index gained 0.12%; the Oil and Gas index gained  0.04%, while the Industrial index gained 0.04%.

 

On the other hand, the Insurance index depreciated by 0.87%.

 

Nigerian Government applauded for prioritising adolescents, young people’s health

Mosunmola Ore
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Nigeria Government applauded for prioritising adolescents, young people’s health

Development partners on Adolescent and health development has applaud the government of Nigeria for its readiness to partner with international organizations and other development partners in ensuring the prioritization of the health and development of Adolescents and Young people.

READ ALSO: USAID collaborates with Lagos state to assist HIV vulnerable children

The appraisal was made at the 1st African Regional & 2nd Nigeria Adolescent Health and Youth Conference, held in Abuja.

The conference presented a platform for young people and policymakers to jointly assess the progress made with fulfilling promises related to adolescents and young people’s health and wellbeing.

The Country Director of Pathfinder International Dr Amina Dorayi, said that the conference is aimed at discussing, learning and strategizing on the means to improve on the health needs of adolescents in Nigeria.

“This chart a way to optimize future investments in the development of adolescents and young people.” Dr Dorayi said

The Country Director of Pathfinder International also emphasised on the role of partners in advancing adolescent health agenda in Nigeria with the theme fulfilling the promise.

She said that Pathfinder International will continue to support the government to identify the needs of adolescents especially as it areas of concern, which are mostly addressed through policies, plans and guidelines by the government and that the organization have supported the government to develop policies.

The Country Director also highlighted some of the National Policy the Health and Development of Adolescents and Young People in Nigeria which the organization supported the review and validation alongside other partners at the sub-national levels, for in Ogun State Adolescent Strategic plan and framework and also set up Adolescent Technical Working Groups in Gombe and Nasarawa States.

She added that Pathfinder International “is work with young people to ensure they are taking control of their health and leading the process of decision making as it affects their health and development.”

 

 “No American will be left behind in Afghanistan” – Biden

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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US President Joe Biden has said US troops may stay in Afghanistan beyond his withdrawal deadline, as armed Taliban fighters kept desperate evacuees from reaching Kabul’s airport.

Mr Biden wants US forces out by the end of this month, but up to 15,000 US citizens are stranded in the country.

The US president said the turmoil in Kabul was unavoidable.

Foreign governments are ramping up the airlift of Western citizens and Afghans who worked with them.

About 4,500 US troops are in temporary control of Karzai International Airport in the nation’s capital, but Taliban fighters and checkpoints ring the perimeter.

The Taliban are blocking Afghans without travel documents but even those with valid authorisation have struggled.

One Afghan interpreter was reportedly shot in the leg by the Taliban as he tried to reach the airport on Tuesday night for an Australian military evacuation flight.

Some US nationals were also unable to enter for scheduled evacuation flights.

In a press conference earlier on Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was asked if the American military had the capability to rescue the stranded Americans.

“We don’t have the capability to go out and collect large numbers of people,” he replied.

Mr Biden said the US would stay to get all Americans out of Afghanistan, even if it meant remaining beyond the August 31 deadline for a complete withdrawal.

“If there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay to get them all out,” he said.

The US president said between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans needed to be evacuated, along with 50,000 to 65,000 Afghans such as former translators for the American military.

Almost 6,000 people have been extracted so far. A Western official said they were diplomats, security staff, aid workers and Afghans. The Pentagon told reporters they aim to expand the airlift to 9,000 people a day.

Late on Wednesday US time, the US Federal Aviation Administration said domestic air carriers and civilian pilots would now be allowed to fly into Kabul to conduct evacuation or relief flights, as long as they had prior permission from the US Defense Department.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said American officials have told the Taliban that Washington expects them to allow all those who wish to leave to do so.

At least one person was killed during anti-Taliban protests on Wednesday in Jalalabad, about 150km (90 miles) east of Kabul.

Taliban fighters reportedly attacked demonstrators who were attempting to lower the militant group’s flag and replace it with the Afghan national tricolour.

 

BBC/Nneka Ukachukwu

 

 

 

Wachakal Airport: Federal Executive Council approves N16.6bn for construction

Amaka Nliam
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the total sum of N16.6 billion for the Wachakal Airport in Yobe State, Northern Nigeria: N6.3 billion will be used for its construction; N219.8 million will be spent on post-construction services for the same airport, while N9.5 billion will be used for the procurement of eight airport rescue and firefighting vehicles.

 

This was disclosed by the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, in a briefing with State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

 

“FEC approved four memoranda for the Ministry of Aviation, and one of which is approval for the construction of Wachakal Airport in Yobe State at the contract sum of N6,284,065,056.

 

“And in our drive to develop the sector and ensure connectivity within our region and also improve on our security architecture and also attend to the various needs of civilization, we found this airport and many others that are coming across the country useful.

 

“The second was a post-Consultancy Services for the construction of the same airport, Wachakal Airstrip which is very close to Nguru in Yobe State.

 

“So, first Consultancy Services is given to Kafe Engineering at the sum of N219,782,500 only. This will include seven and a half per cent VAT,”  said the Aviation Minister.

The Federal Executive Council meeting

He also stated that the FEC made provisions for the supply and maintenance of eight units of airport rescue and firefighting vehicles including spare parts and training, adding that the contract was given to Messers Gulf of Africa International Ltd., the exclusive representatives of the OEM with the sum of N9,535,132,500.

 

“The last memo has to do with approval for the award of contract for the deployment of sniffer dogs canine in airports in Lagos and Abuja. We will be continuing with this procurement and other airports as well.

“So, the total contract sum for this procurement is N658,762,783.36 which includes seven and a half percent VAT,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, last week the Federal Government listed the eligibility requirements for companies or organizations that want to bid for the concession of the country’s  4 international airport terminals.

 

Source: Nairametrics

LASHMA urges residents to embrace health insurance

Mosunmola Ore
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The General Manager of the Lagos State Health Management Agency(LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, has urged residents of the state to embrace health insurance scheme to gain access to quality health care.

READ ALSO: Health insurance: FCT flags off campaign to increase enrollment

Zamba said this during the inauguration of Ilera Eko divisional office at the Ikotun/Igando Local Council Development Authority.

She said, “Ilera Eko, which is what we call our social health insurance plan is a call to action for all Lagos residents to prioritise their health. It is an opportunity for us to get ourselves quality and affordable health care that will safeguard our lives”

“We are appealing to Lagos residents to please come forward and safeguard the lives of their families.

The essence of social health insurance is about equity; that is, taking care of those that are downtrodden, that cannot take care of themselves.”

The LASHMA General Manager stated that the state government had set aside money to take care of Lagos residents who cannot pay for health insurance plan

We are able to change face of health insurance, says LSHS “The Lagos State Government has set aside one per cent of our consolidated revenue fund to pay for citizens that cannot pay for themselves. We have a scientific way of going about knowing those people.

“For those earning money but they cannot afford the subscription, we have what call the Ilera Eko pay small small plan. Everybody must key into the health insurance scheme, our interest is in the masses,” Zamba noted.

Martha M/ Punch

Experts task cassava farmers on healthy planting   

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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The Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture has hosted the Advocacy and Sensitization Meeting on Cassava Viral Disease Management through Participatory Surveillance.

The meeting facilitated by the Central and West Africa Virology Epidemiology (WAVE) Project, is aimed at raising the awareness and training of Cassava farmers, Extension Officers, Cassava seed multipliers/seed entrepreneurs and other critical stakeholders in the Cassava sector.

It also sensitised farmers on the use of healthy planting materials, symptoms recognition to prevent the incursion and spread of Cassava brown streak disease in West Africa.

At the meeting, Ogun and Benue states being the largest producers of Cassava was selected as pilot locations for the participatory surveillance intervention for the South West and North Central Zones of Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State, Dr. Adeola Odedina said the State has one of the biggest Cassava Anchor Borrowers Programme, hence the importance of the participatory surveillance Programme to help improve Cassava productivity, which in the long run, would ensure food and nutrition, security, in line with the agricultural agenda of Ogun State.

The WAVE programme is an international research programme funded from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom.

It is being implemented in ten West and Central African countries including Nigeria.

The programme also works closely with small holder farmers and national key stakeholders such as Researchers, Extension Officers, Seed Multipliers, Scientists and Policy Makers so as to put in place preventive control measures to mitigate the impact of viral diseases.

The meeting also had in attendance, Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Timothy Ijir; Country Director of HarvestPlus, Dr. Paul Ilona; Country Director, WAVE Project, Nigeria (South West and North Central) Dr. Angela Eni; Country Director, WAVE Project, Nigeria (North West and North East), Professor Ibrahim and Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs, Stakeholders in the Cassava Sector, among others.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

Poultry farmers groan as bird flu worsens in Delta

Kamila Bello
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The management of Oghenejename Farms Limited, Ekrerhavwen-Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, has bemoaned the outbreak of bird flu, as the flu has wrecked havoc in the farm.

Director of Production in the Farm, Mr. Andrew Unutame, revealed that most of the farms in the state have been affected by the influenza which they had been trying to curtail in the last three months.

Over 11, 000 birds, including laying birds and the ones at the point of lay, have been killed in the farm in the last three days.

Unutame said, “The bird flu is an airborne disease that kills birds on hourly basis. The first day we noticed, two birds died. Within the next one hour, five birds died, then 10 and the mortality rate began to increase at a geometric progression.

“Presently, we are helpless because all measures to put the disease has so far failed. We have lost millions of naira to the outbreak of this disease and we don’t know how to come out of it presently.

“We are calling on the Federal Government, State government and relevant agencies to come to our aid by providing for us all that is necessary to tackle this problem, including financial assistance.”

READ ALSO: Farmers to adopt smart-climate techniques – Director

 

Kamila/Vanguard

 

Dozens die as Burkina Faso militants raid convoy

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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At least 47 people, including 30 civilians, have been killed in northern Burkina Faso, in a clash between Islamist militants and government forces.

At least 19 more people were wounded after the suspected jihadists raided a military convoy escorting civilians on Wednesday, the ministry of communication announced.

It said 14 soldiers and three volunteers from the Défense de la Patrie militia also died.

The army said government troops had “neutralised” 58 militants in retaliation and injured many of them without being specific on the numbers.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been targeted by attacks that have resulted in numerous deaths and thousands of internally displaced persons.

The violence has caused more than 17,000 people to leave the country since the beginning of the year, according to the UN.

 

BBC/Dominica Nwabufo

Ivory Coast leader resumes duty after Covid-19 recovery

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has recovered from Covid-19 and resumed his duties on Wednesday.

The presidency said the head of state tested positive for the virus at the beginning of the month.

The president was earlier said to have been self-isolating after coming into contact with a person who tested positive.

The office did not at the time mention that the president had tested positive.

President Ouattara had encouraged the Ivorian population to get vaccinated while observing the health measures put in place to fight the disease.

 

BBC/Dominica Nwabufo

 

Brent Crude trades at $67 per barrel

Amaka Nliam
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0

Brent crude futures were down for a 6th consecutive day to around $67 a barrel on Thursday, close to levels not seen since May, amid persistent concerns about the rapid spread of the coronavirus delta strain and the effects it will have on the economic recovery and fuel demand.

 

Meanwhile, a stronger dollar was also weighing on oil prices as the Federal Reserve signalled the taper plan would start this year.

 

On the supply side, the EIA report showed US crude inventories fell by a more than expected 3.2 million barrels last week to their lowest since January 2020; while gasoline stocks unexpectedly rose 0.696 million barrels.

 

Brent Crude oil is a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. While Brent Crude oil is sourced from the North Sea the oil production coming from Europe, Africa and the Middle East flowing West tends to be priced relative to this oil.

 

Source: Trading Economics

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