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Synergy Imperative For Optical Mining Benefits, Says Ogah

By
Toyin Adebayo
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In an effort to ensure diversification of the economy, create wealth and grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for sustainable industrialization of the country, the Ministry has initiated programmes and policies geared towards creating synergy between the Federal, States, Local Governments and community leaders as such synergism is imperative to harness the mining benefits that abound in the country.

The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah has stated that this during a sensitization visit to the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency (Senator) Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on Revenue Generation Optimization in the Minerals Sector, in Asaba Delta State, recently.

According to him, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by Director Press & Public Relations Unit, Mrs Etore Thomas stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Ministry to efficiently develop the mining of 7 priority minerals in the mining roadmap, strengthen collaboration with State Governments and relevant security agencies, introduce incentives to improve the investment climate for mining activities as well as stamp out illegal mining and formalize Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining activities across the country.

He added that the Ministry is determined to actualize its mandate as it would create large number of well-paying jobs for Nigerian youths.

Speaking further, Ogah enjoined the State to take advantage of its strategic position in the mineral and metal sector as it is endowed with abundannc of sand deposits which can be mined and used for construction, glass manufacture, foundry operations and other industrial purposes as well as other solid mineral endowments which abound in the State, including the two integrated Steel Plants in Nigeria, Delta Steel Company located at Aladja near Warri with an installed capacity to produce one million tonnes of liquid Steel for the benefit of Delta State and Nigeria.

The Minister notified the Governor that the Federal Government has commenced the establishment of mineral processing clusters across the six – geopolitical zones of the country, citing the Barite processing cluster for the South – South Zone in Cross River State. Saying “the project was conceived to harness fully, the abundant barite resources in Nigeria and put an end to baryte importation”.

He solicited the Governor’s continuous support towards ensuring information sharing between the State and the Federal Mines Office and the proper functioning of the Delta State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO).

Earlier, the Governor of Delta State, (Senator) Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa stated that a strong collaboration between the Federal Government and the Private Sector would help in the development of the sector.

Okowa who stated that the State has always enjoyed a warm relationship with the Federal Government on issues of mining, commended the Ministry for developing a structured approach to mining, adding that it would leverage on the mining potentials to generate revenue and develop the State.

Our Input Support Initiative Strategy Is To Boost Agriculture, Aliyu

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu on Friday disclosed that the FCT Administration has put in place an Input Support Initiative, a strategy aimed at increasing access to critical Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, agro-chemicals, pesticides, feeds, irrigation equipment to support all year farming in the nation’s capital.

She gave this disclosure at the flag off/roll out of Agricultural inputs distribution to small-holder farmers as palliative to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT, organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Minister also hinted that under this programme, the administration provides 50 percent subsidies on all inputs.

Aliyu who was represented by the Senior Assistant on Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Abdul Agbadi, the minister affirmed that the policy thrust of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is human capacity development.

She stressed that the policy lays emphasis on adopting strategies that would help facilitate the growth of small businesses through improvements in Agriculture and land use which are fundamental in addressing the plight of less vulnerable groups and the attainment of food security.

Aliyu maintained that in the FCT Administration, the core of Agricultural policies was the implementation of grassroot developmental programmes that are targeted at harnessing the vast arable land mass.

Her words, “with a large percentage of small-holder farmers, the FCT Administration has put in place an Input Support Initiative which is a strategy that is aimed at increasing access of farmers to critical Agricultural inputs such as Fertilizers, Agro-chemicals, pesticides, feeds, irrigation equipment to support all year farming amongst others.

“It is no longer news that Nigeria’s Agricultural sector has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, we must use every opportunity to proffer measures on how to better support all the production systems towards mitigating the impact of the pandemic. We must evolve better strategies to build on what we have already been doing in our different ways and synergize efforts towards our collective desire to attain food security. There is no better time to act than now”.

Aliyu, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other critical stakeholders for the distribution of inputs to small-holder farmers aimed at cushioning the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the nation’s capital, noting that with the pandemic, Nigerians must begin to chart a new course for the Agricultural sector which plays a crucial role in the economic growth of any nation.

Chief of Defense Staff Bemoans Rise of Arms in Nigeria

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor has described the proliferation of illegal arms across the country as a threat to its corporate existence.

He made this known in Asaba while briefing newsmen after he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at Government House, while stating that the Presidential directive to shoot-at-sight anyone with an AK-47 rifle was very clear and must be enforced.

According to him, “Nigeria as a country forbade illegal bearing of arms, and warned that anyone found with such weapons was an enemy of the state and would be treated as such.

“The mandate of the President for dealing with everyone holding AK-47 illegally is a mandate that must be enforced because we are a state that does not condone illegal bearing of arms.

“The armed forces and other security agencies are the only institutions that are mandated to carry arms in the course of their duties.

“So anyone who is carrying an AK-47 or any other weapon, for that matter, is considered a threat to the existence of the state.

He continued; “And, because he is an enemy of the state, it must be addressed; so it’s not a question of my view but rather a question of having to carry out the mandate of Mr President.

“The Armed Forces in partnership with other security agencies will do all that is necessary to bring peace and security across the land and Nigeria certainly, will know peace again.”

He said that he was in Delta for the first time since he was appointed CDS and commended Governor Okowa for his support to the armed forces and other security agencies in the state.

“Delta is my home and it feels good to be home, and I said that I cannot come home without paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of the state who has done pretty well, giving very credible support to the members of the armed forces and security agencies.

“I am aware of the threat dispositions within Delta even though it is stable now, but we know that there are areas of interest that we will need to do a lot to add value in up-scaling the security disposition of the state and this is part of what myself and my colleagues were doing.

LI believe that the state will in no time begin to experience greater level of peace and security,’’ he added.

Earlier, Okowa congratulated the CDS on his appointment and promotion and urged him to do more to secure the nation.

He said that, “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you again on your appointment and subsequent promotion to the rank of General.

“We have had a very challenging time because of the COVID-19, but when the appointments were made, we were very happy because we believe that it will improve the security situation, with the injection of new strategies.

“I also believe that there is no problem that is insurmountable and with the cooperation of all security agencies we can combat the insecurity in our land.

“I must say that you have started well because I had the opportunity of being at the stakeholders meeting in Abuja and I must commend you for that.

“Here in Delta, we have our own security outfit – Operation Delta Hawk – and we are able to work together in terms of our information gathering.

“We will need more support, especially in the Warri area where we have oil installations because when the place is more peaceful and secure, more industries will come,” the governor stated.

NEITI Boss Says Volume Of Crude Oil Production In Nigeria Unknown

By
Ola Akinola
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The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has revealed that no Nigerian knows the exact volume of crude oil produced in Nigeria especially at deep offshore fields.

He said that the absence of meters at wellheads and the lack of capacity to monitor deep offshore means Nigeria do not have the exact amount of crude oil produced in the country.

Orji made this revelation on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) Dr. Mansur Liman in Abuja.

NEITI have in all its oil and gas audit reports recommended that meters by placed on oil wellheads to measure the volume of crude oil produced in the country.

He explained that efforts to reform the petroleum industries have not yielded the needed results because those who benefit from the outdated oil law governing the sector have resisted the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.

“The only law that governs the oil and gas industry in Nigeria currently is the Petroleum Act of 1969. And if you use this law in computations of taxes and royalties based on very old rate, Nigeria losses a lot of revenue”, he stated.

He said NITEI has helped in drawing attention to this, noting that the industry has been operated through regulations, guidelines and pronouncements with no new law since 1958.

He stressed that Nigeria’s failure to update its laws in the sector means when prices go up, the country is unable to derive maximum benefit from the situation.

He pointed out the International Oil Companies, IOCs do not have interest in updating the laws because it currently favours them.

According to him; “We do not have capacity to go deep shores to know how much we are producing. As we speak, it is very difficult for any Nigerian to ascertain how much actually we are producing. This is one of the challenges that NEITI is dealing with because if you do not know how much you are producing how would you know how much you are expected to earn.

“Because the companies the companies that go deep shore that are involved on offshore exploration none of them are indigenous Nigerian companies and they cannot really protect the interest of the country as much as Nigerians can.

“But we must concede to those companies, they are doing a great job here because without them there will be no oil industry”, he added.

Orji described his visit to FRCN as a home coming, having worked there as a journalist for many years.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible and solicited the support of the media in ensuring that the petroleum industry is reformed.

In his response, Dr Liman assured the NEITI boss of the support of the Corporation, saying it was important that the media support the reform of the sector to ensure that Nigerian benefit more from the sector.

While congratulating Orji on his appointment, he assured him of the radio station’s support on the activities of NEITI.

COVID-19: Medical Lab Scientists Accus FG Of Exclusion In Review of Hazard Allowances

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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Chris Ngige Minister of Labour
Chris Ngige Minister of Labour

The National Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists accused the Federal Government for excluding them in negotiation of upward review of Covid-19 hazard allowances.

The Association particularly chided the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, accusing him of using divide and rule tactics in the negotiations for upward review of the allowances.

Prof. James Damen, the National President of the association said that Labour Minister isolated the National Association of Resident Doctors NARD, while engaging them in the ongoing discussions to meet their demands, but Laboratory Scientists who collect samples and have direct link to patients were excluded in the talks.

The Association which is commemorating the World Biomedical Laboratory Science Day, 2021, with the theme: Testing Times-Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Role in the Covid19 Pandemic, said it will resist the terms of agreement they will arrive at since they were not party to the negotiation.

Damen said, “The Minister of Labour and Employment called a meeting to negotiate for hazard allowances and excluded us from the meeting. This is unfair, injustice and unacceptable to us, in developed countries hazard allowances are paid based on the risk of exposure of professionals, while in Nigeria the reverse is the case”.

The Laboratory Scientists also accused the government of paying lip services to the development of infrastructure to support scientists, insisting that ordinarily baseline studies was supposed to precede the current Covid-19 vaccination taking place in the country to uncover any adverse effects on the populace.

According to Damen, some countries have reported that in some Covid-19 vaccine recipients blood cloth was observed, but Nigeria has not done a single research to further authentic the efficacy of the vaccines on the populace.

“In the wake of the pandemic, the Medical Laboratory Scientist showed their undying compassion for the patient by walking the path dreaded by many. While some were stigmatizing, the Medical Laboratory Scientist was on the search to collect samples from those who others feared to come close to, they indeed provided the needed specimen that guided public health actions.

“In the laboratories, the world couldn’t have known the strains we were dealing with, if not for the efforts of this unsung heroes who spent sleepless nights in the laboratories to provide evidence that guided policy makers in making key and timely decisions”.

FG Distributes Agricultural Inputs To 7,500 Small Scale Women Farmers

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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Federal Government has rolled out the distribution of agricultural inputs to about 7,500 smallholder women farmers drawn from North Central States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, who made the distribution on Thursday in Abuja, said the distribution of the agricultural inputs to women farmers and processors was part of the Federal Government’s measures to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on food production in the country.

He said that the rationale for the distribution of agricultural inputs to women, Nanono said women typically earn less and hold less secure jobs than men.

According to him; “With plummeting economic activity, women are particularly vulnerable to layoffs and loss of livelihoods.

“The resurgence of extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic has revealed women’s precarious economic security.

“Women, who were socially and financially disadvantaged, were disproportionately affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recession that followed.

“Weakened social protection systems have left many of the poorest in society unprotected, with no safety nets to weather the storm.”

The minister who underscored the significant roles played by women in the food production value chain in the country, added that there was the need to give them priority attention for the overall national development.

“Women are key to sustainable development and quality of life in the country.

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved.

“It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing,” he said.

He assured that his Ministry together with research institutes was working assidously towards making Nigeria self-sufficient in good quality seed and its availability to farmers as a foundation for attaining food and nutrition security as well as industrialisation.

“We are making concerted efforts to improve rural infrastructure such as rural roads, boreholes, irrigation facilities, solar lights, markets, among others, that are enablers for improved agricultural performance for our farmers and processors active in the rural space,” he said.

Some of the items distributed to women include value kits (planting materials, growth enhancer and agro-chemicals) in yam, cassava, potatoes, soybean, rice, maize, sesame, ginger, sorghum/millet, cowpea and horticultural crops.

Also, Nanono alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mohammed Bello, distributed production and processing equipment to the women in a bid to reduce drudgery, improve efficiency, reduce cost of production and improve quality of product and produce from the operations.

In her remarks, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, thanked the Federal Government for providing palliatives to small holder women farmers.

Tallen called on other Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) to accord priority to the welfare of women.

She however called for adequate provision of security to women in their farms, adding that Nigerian women would continue to support the Federal Government in its quest to achieve food security in the country.

Hoodlums Hijack Federal Highway Diversion in A’Ibom, Kill, Adopts

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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A diversion by Ikot Ebak village in Mkpat Enin Local Council of Akwa Ibom  on the dilapidated Abak-Ekparakwa-Ikot Abasi federal highway has been hijacked by hoodlums, leading to the death of five persons. 

The  diversion  followed ongoing excavation of soil on a 200m stretch by the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the highway, China Civil Engineering  Construction Company, CCECC.

An eye witness account stated that hoodlums have resorted to robbing and kidnapping unsuspecting commuters plying between Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River states who regularly use the road.

The residents told newsmen that lack of security  presence on the narrow community road, which has also become dilapidated due to  sudden increase in vehicular traffic has led to increased criminal activities along the lonely route..

One of the residents, Mr Ekot Ita lamented that hundreds of  unsuspecting commuters have fallen prey to the hoodlums who exploit the commuters’ ignorance of the terrain to rob and kidnap passengers.

He said in one of the incidents, a kidnap victim who recognised one  of his abductors was killed by the hoodlums after  the sum of N200,000 was allegedly collected from him.

Two other abducted commuters  were said to have been killed by their abductors on Thursday last week because they could not part with the amount  of money demanded by the hoodlums.

They have also expressed sadness over the timing of the excavation work by the contractor as doing so during the rainy season would make the work more difficult and longer.

The residents harped on the need for adequate information and deployment of security personnel on the diversion while calling for a more motorable diversion or alternative road.

Meanwhile some drivers on that route have resorted to using the longer but safer Etinan-Onna-Ikot Akpaden road as they could no longer  guarantee the safety of their passengers on the Abak-Ikot Abasi route.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP  Odiko MacDon said the command was yet to receive report on the issue.

The Federal Comptroller of Works in the state Engr Nkeruwem Ukpong who spoke on the progress of work on the road said “I am just from the site, the contractor is working.”

MHWUN NAFDAC Branch Begins Seven Days Warning Strike

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Medical & Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Branch on Thursday embarked on Seven (7) Working Days Warning Strike.

This is to press home their demands on payment of Promotion Arrears.

A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by Vice Chairman Public Relations Officer Medical & Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) NAFDAC Branch, Comrade Ejor Michael stated that the Strike commenced in the early hours of 15th April, 2021.

The statement stated that, “The Union is demanding for the payment of promotion arrears for 2018 and 2019 promotions owed their members (NAFDAC Staff). more worrisome is that, 2020 promoted staff will soon (also) join the queue. This request has lingered for too long hence the strike action.

“Upward Review of Job Specific Allowance In Line With Minimum Wage: Job Specific Allowance paid to staff of NAFDAC has not been reviewed for the past 10 years or so. Usually, every allowance increases correspondingly with increase in salary. But unfortunately, this has not been so with regard to the Job Specific Allowance. The Union is, therefore, demanding for a review of the said Job Specific Allowance in line with the current National Minimum Rate .

“Trainings: The Management of NAFDAC hides under COVID-19 to avoid training of staff, despite the fact that trainings have resumed in other MDAs. The Union demands immediate resumption of training for their members.

“Complaint on Delayed Financial Claims by Staff: The Union is alamed at the rate at which financial claims by staff are delayed without reasons given for non-payment not even to communicate the affected staff. The Union demands the immediate payment of all pending financial claims by their members.

The statement continued;”Working Environment: The Union raised concerns on the not so conducive working environment in some of our offices and the non-equipping of the driver’s office particularly in Isolo, Lagos where drivers spend their personal money to put the office in good working condition. For instance, the situation where members of staff procure fans for office used by them was viewed as not normal and no longer acceptable.

“Severance Allowance: The Union frowns at the suspension of Severance Allowance being paid to retirees despite the fact that this allowance has been approved by NAFDAC Governing Council and is contained on the Condition of Service for NAFDAC staff. The Union Leadership is demanding for the immediate resumption of payment of this allowance to deserving beneficiaries”.

“Staff Buses: The Union is also demanding the purchase of staff busses for their members to alleviate the hardship associated with transportation to work. The Union particularly frowns at the poor conditions of staff buses used by staff and in some cases, some routes where staff live do not have buses. It is worthy of note, to state here that, the NAFDAC Management is more concern with the procurement of Hilux Vehicles, as the Management recently purchased well over 50 Hilux Vehicles. There was this particular incident where members were trapped in the staff as the doors refused to open.. Staff had to get of the bus through the booth.

“Discriminatory Payment of COVID-19 Palliative: The Union also frowns at the discriminatory payment of COVID-19 Palliative (allowance) by percentage as used by NAFDAC and or the non -payment of some staff. Meanwhile in other sister agencies and MDAs, other better modalities were adopted in the payment. The Union is demanding that the Management should borrow a leaf from other agencies of government on the modalities used in paying their staff who performed various frontline and or essential services.
The strike continues till further notice”, the stated stated.

NABDA Assure Farmers Of PBR Cowpea In 2021 Planting Season

By
Ola Akinola
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The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) stated that Nigerian farmers will get Pod Borer resistant Maruca (PBR) pea beans during the 2021 planting season.

NABDA Director-General/CEO Professor Abdullahi Mustapha made this known in Abuja when he presented the award to journalists who won the 4th Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Awards 2020 at the continental level.

Mustafa said that PBR pea beans will be provided to Nigerian farmers during this year’s planting season to increase the country’s cow bean production.

Recall that the federal government approved the commercialization of a biotech cow bean variety that is resistant to pod borers in December 2019.

This development places Nigeria as the first country to commercialise genetically improved cowpea.

The PBR pea project is a public-private partnership that is developing and disseminating cow beans that are resistant to Maruca Pod Borer to increase productivity.

A project partnership that brings together leading African and international institutions by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project is being implemented in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi.

Stakeholders in the field of biotechnology stated that PBR pea beans will increase cow bean production by controlling Maruca Pod Borer because it will increase yields, bring higher incomes to farmers, and improve the use of harmful chemicals to control pests. Their health.

Mustapha therefore tasked journalists to be in the vanguard in the dissemination of accurate information to the farmers.

He called on science journalists to avoid fake news, focus on factual reportage of issues that promote the deployment of technology in agricultural development to guarantee food security in Nigeria.

According to him, “It is the duty of the media to monitor all the stages and channels through which the PBR Cowpea seads reach the farmers to ensure that there is no compromise or sharp practices that will deny farmers of maximum benefit the technology offers.”

Also speaking, Country Coordinator of OFAB, Nigerian Chapter, Dr. Rose Gidado, commended Nigerian journalists who participated in the competition for winning awards at the Continental level.

Gidado underscored the need for science journalists to make their simple and easy to be understood by readers or audience, urging them to always include human angle in their reportage.

Gunmen Attack Police Post In Ebonyi , Kill Three Policemen

By
Ola Akinola
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0

Report has it that, three policemen were killed by unidentified gunmen who attacked the police on stop and search operation along the Onuebonyi/Nwezenyi Road in Abakaliki, at the junction of the Cross River and Ebony State, and conducted a search operation.

In addition, it is reported that three other policemen were also severely injured by shooting in the attack on Wednesday night. The gunmen who attacked the bus checkpoint are said to have attacked and escaped.

The source said that the victim was taken to the Alex Ekweim Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki. Three of them were confirmed dead by doctors and the other three are currently receiving medical treatment for various degree of injuries.

Security agencies especially the Nigeria Police have been under severe attacks from hoodlums across the South-East and South-South regions in recent time.
Many policemen have been killed and several police facilities torched across the two regions since the attacks started.

Worried by the security challenge, the Southeast Governors held a security summit in Imo State at the weekend where they announced the establishment of a security outfit codenamed Ebubeagu.

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