How Chevron Nigeria Limited Deepens Campaign Against Malaria

Rick Kennedy Becomes New Chairman/ Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria  Limited - Oriental News Nigeria
“Defeating malaria is absolutely critical to ending poverty, improving the health of millions, and enabling future generations to reach their full potential.” This statement by Tedros Adhanom, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), depicts the relevance of the fight against malaria, a disease that continues to devastate the world population.
According to WHO, in 2019, an estimated 229 million cases of malaria and 409,000 deaths from malaria occurred worldwide. Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2019, they accounted for 67% (274,000) of all malaria deaths worldwide. Nigeria accounted for 23% of all malaria deaths worldwide.
World Malaria Day is celebrated annually on the 25th day of April. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment in malaria prevention and control programmes. Malaria has become a major source of concern in our society, and defeating this common enemy requires concerted effort. The reality is that there is no better time to end this scourge than now, hence the aptness of this year’s theme: “Reaching the zero malaria target”.
In Nigeria, one company that continues to support the fight against malaria and other communicable diseases is Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/CNL Joint Venture. In the communities around its areas of operations in Nigeria, CNL invests in initiatives and programmes aimed at improving the health of members of such communities. Through partnerships, leadership, and financial resources, CNL continues to assist government and institutions in addressing health issues and has recorded significant success in this regard. CNL works to protect the health and safety of its employees, their registered spouses, dependents, and retirees.
CNL is committed to the fight against malaria through initiatives such as the Roll Back Malaria Program, Malaria in Pregnancy program, training of health workers, distribution of Intermittent Preventive Treatment and Artemisinin-based drugs, and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets. The Roll Back Malaria programmes are specifically targeted  at infants, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women who have been worst hit by malaria.
CNL’s partnerships with other organizations such as the Corporate Alliance for Malaria in Africa have helped in enhancing the support of the government’s vision, through the National Malaria Elimination Programme, to end malaria in Nigeria.
Over the last 13 years, Chevron has also partnered with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and building of resilient health systems in Nigeria.
Rick Kennedy, CNL’s Chairman and Managing Director explained that the partnership between Chevron and Global Fund is an example of how Chevron is contributing strategically to the development of Nigeria by helping to improve the health of its people.
He affirmed that Chevron has been one of the largest Global Fund corporate partners and this partnership focuses on capacity development initiatives, joint advocacy and communications campaigns, and other local initiatives. “Chevron also encourages its staff to share their skills with local programs to help improve grant reach and performance,” he added.
CNL has continued to receive commendation for its commitment to the fight against malaria in Nigeria. In 2011, the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria commended CNL for its commitment to the Small and Medium Enterprise Wellness programme. Also, in 2012, CNL was recognized and given an award of excellence by TruContact, a Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability monitoring organization, for its outstanding contributions to the provision of basic health services to the local communities of the Niger Delta.
Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs explains further on CNL’s commitment to health development in Nigeria. “For us at Chevron, we are committed to adding value to communities where we do business. In this regard, we focus our social investments on health, education, and economic development, and we are always open to partnerships that will add value to the living conditions of Nigerians,” he declared.
How Kaduna Electric Receives,Distributes Daily Load Allocation

Kaduna Electric Begins Distribution of Prepaid Meters Friday | Business  Post Nigeria
Kaduna Electric,one of the nation’s power distribution companies has explained how it receives and distributes daily allocation of power for the ultimate satisfaction of its customers.
Abdulazeez Abdullahi,Head, Corporate Communication,Kaduna Electric,said
power generated by the Generation Companies (Gencos) are channelled through transmission lines to various load centres across the country.
The load centres are the 330/132/33KV transmission facilities across the country.
He disclosed that the National Control Centre (NCC), an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which is responsible for all TCN grid operations determines what percentage of the generated power is allocated to each load centre based on the daily load allocation to each of the 11 Distribution Companies in the country.
He said Kaduna Electric whose daily load allocation from the national grid is 8% has 12 load centres across its franchise states from which it receives its allocation for distribution in Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
He added:”Kaduna Electric does not determine what is distributed to each load centre the cumulative of which is 8% of what is generated. That is the responsibility of the NCC. We are only responsible for the distribution of what is allocated to us”
DSS,IPOB Disagree Over Movement Of Bombs  To Imo

IPOB Moving Bombs, Explosives From Lagos To Destabilise Imo – DSS Reveals —  Afriupdate
The  Department of State Services says the Indigenous People of Biafra’s Eastern Security Network has acquired bombs and explosives with which they intended to destabilise Imo State.
But,IPOB said there was no truth in the revelation of the secret police.
The secret police stated that it received intelligence that the explosives were being moved in articulated trucks from Lagos to a hideout in Orlu, Imo State.
The DSS stated this in a letter to the Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Imo State.
The DSS letter with reference number, S.238/5/1538 dated April 26, 2021, was signed by I. Abdullah on behalf of the Imo State DSS Director.
It was titled, ‘Movement of explosive devices into the state by IPOB/ESN’.’
The letter read, “Intelligence revealed that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network has acquired bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices with which to further their subversive activities.
“It was reliably gathered that the newly acquired items are currently being conveyed from Lagos to an unconfirmed location in Orlu Local Government Area.
“The items are being concealed in articulated/heavy duty vehicles to beat security checks along the road. It was further revealed that the group intends to deploy the explosives in their planned attacks on security/government installations across the state.”
The DSS advised the Brigade commander to ensure that deployed security personnel carried out thorough search on trucks coming to the state.
The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said :“What the DSS is saying is a huge lie. There is no iota of truth in what that Federal Government-sponsored Zoo and Caliphate agent is saying. Now, did you listen to my interview with Channels Televisions, two days ago?
“It’s just like the question the Channels Television guy asked. He asked me, ‘Who is sponsoring IPOB?’ I told him there was no single individual sponsoring IPOB. IPOB is a very gigantic movement.
“There is no truth in that allegation. Where are we moving the arms to and from where? I don’t think it is wise to continue to reply whatever this Zoo people accuse us of,” Powerful said.
Gunmen Kidnap University Don

Breaking: Gunmen attack Kaduna hospital, kidnap 2 nurses, hours after  abducting Greenfield students
Suspected  bandits have kidnapped a professor of Engineering and former Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Prof. Osadolor Odia.
He was said to be on his way to his farm at Egoro, Ekpoma, on Thursday morning, when the incident occurred,according to a source,who also confirmed that the suspected bandits  have already made contact with the family of the professor and  demanded  N18 million ransom.
The  Public Relations Officer of the University, Edward Aihevba, said he has no details of how the  don was  kidnapped
Oshiomole Blames NGF For Insecurity In Nigeria

Alleged Fraud: Oshiomhole attacks SSS, says agency 'interfering'
Former Governor of Edo State and Ex-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole has faulted  the Nigerian Governors Forum for shoddy implementation of the N30,000 National Minimum Wage, saying  they were indirectly contributing to the security crisis rocking  the country.
Speaking at the 2nd National Peace and Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja,Oshiomole  said while he would not subscribe to separation or fragmentation of Nigeria, he would appreciate if the Federal and state governments can approach national security with social welfare policies to calm anger of most Nigerians.
He noted that peace is eluding the country because majority of citizens who were once busy at the industries, manufacturing goods, were now jobless and only option left for them was resorting to  banditry and kidnapping.
He said  the 36 state governors have no justification to renege on the payment of a minimum wage of N30,000, especially when the President, Muhammadu Buhari has graciously assented to it.
He said:” If insecurity must abate, the government must reverse our trade policies”we must bring back those labour intensive industries like the cotton mills in Kaduna and Kano States.As Governor of Edo State, I increased the minimum wage to N25, 000 even before the N30,000 was assented to by the President, it has gotten to a stage where we must interrogate the expenditure of the state governments, what does it cost to arm and the police or soldier to make him deliver his job effectively”.
Appeal Court Upholds Abiru’s Victory

Appeal Court Upholds Abiru's Victory, Dismisses PDP, Gbadamosi's Case For  Lacking Merit – Independent Newspapers Nigeria
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the December 5 Lagos East Senatorial by-election , Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi.
Justice Daniel Kallio threw out the prayers of the appellants seeking to upturn the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC Candidate Senator Tokunbo Abiru for lacking in Merit.
He described PDP and its candidate’s appeal as unmeritorious and consequently affirming the judgment of the Justice Obiozor J of the Federal High Court Lagos.
 He held that the residency of a candidate to an election is not a qualifying or disqualifying factor.
He also maintained that Abiru did not submit false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as claimed by the PDP and its candidate.
The arguments that the Abiru had irreconcilable names canvased by Gbadamosi’s lead counsel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa ,SAN were also dismissed
 Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel to Senator Abiru proved beyond reasonable doubt that the PDP and its candidate were busy wasting  the time Court by instituting case that was prima facie defective.
The Court in its Judgment agreed with the arguments of Kemi Pinheiro SAN and allowed the Cross-Appeal.
 NYSC Boss  Advocates Creation  Of National Youth Service Trust Fund

Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, the  Director-General (DG), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),  has emphasized the need for  the establishment of National Youth Service Trust Fund that would cater for the financial empowerment of all corps members after their service year
He also said this would help them to establish their vocational businesses with the skills they acquire from the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the course of service.
Ibrahim stated this on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to the former Head of State and founder of the NYSC Scheme, General Yakubu Gowon at his residence in Abuja.
Adenike Adeyemi, Director, Press and Public Relations in a statement quoted the DG to have said, “The  establishment of the Trust Fund would also reduce the level of unemployment among the youths, while curbing the increasing rate of crime in the country.
He revealed that since 2012 when the NYSC Scheme introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Department into its Orientation Course content, it has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry and other financial institutions in respect of offering credit facilities to Corps Members to establish their businesses.
He  restated the need to expand the capacity of NYSC Orientation Camps to be able to accommodate the ever increasing Corps population; while also calling for a regular maintenance of the camp facilities.
He added that the funding will come from a certain percentage of profit accruing to some corporate bodies, adding that  such funds can be used to expand NYSC Orientation Camps and renovate the camp facilities.”
“NYSC is critical to the Health and Education sectors of the economy, and our Corps Members serve as head teachers in some schools especially in the rural areas.The introduction of the Trust Fund will take a lot of financial burden off the State Governments”, the DG said.
How To Strengthen  Nigerian Airlines-Stakeholders 

Stakeholders  have tasked  airline operators in the country to embrace interlining and codeshare agreement in a bid to enhance operations, save costs and increase profit.
They gave the advice  at a virtual meeting of Quarter One of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI),where they suggested paradigm shift  from point-to-point operations.
Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in his comment said that it was high time the Nigerian airlines started to put their resources together as the region welcomes Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) for the continent.
He insisted that only cooperation and partnerships in different forms would enable airline operators to harness the huge potential of air transportation in the region.
He, however, said that the government could not compel the operators to interline or codeshare, but insisted the government was ready to provide the enabling environment for business to thrive.
He explained further that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had provided a clearing house for operators, challenging the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body of indigenous airlines in the country to encourage its members to interline.
He added: “We have a huge market, I don’t see why Nigerian airlines cannot dominate the West and Central African region, we have over 600 million passengers and they could do 60 million. With partnerships, these are possible.”
Besides, Dr. Harold Demuren, the former Director-General, NCAA, said that it was necessary for the domestic sector to have a domestic settlement system, but harped on credibility and transparency.
Demuren said that with this, the country’s operators would dominate the sector, while the aviation industry in the region would improve tremendously.
He said: “Cooperation is very imperative, the airlines can even graduate to joint training and others; let’s take advantage of technology, let’s turn the West African market into a domestic operation, instead of trying to go to London and compete with airlines that have it all.
“We appeal to the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation to dismantle the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) arrangements and allow the airlines to move. When the airlines have a track record and when foreign airlines are looking for partnership, they will have the confidence that you are ready.”
Earlier, Dr. Gabriel Olowo, the President, ART, pointed out that the poor on-time performance of Nigerian airlines were due to inadequate fleet and depleting fleet, thereby affecting turnaround performance of the airlines.
Olowo expressed that if the nation’s airlines pooled their resources together through interlining and codeshare, flight delays and cancellations would be minimised.
Electoral Violence Consumed 1,932 Nigerians  In Sixteen Years

58 people die from pre-election violence in Nigeria – NHRC - Vanguard News
No fewer than 1932 Nigerians lost their lives due to electoral violence in the country between 2003 and 2019,the Election Network, a digital media company has said
Asari Ndem, Editor, The Election Network, gave the figure on Thursday, during the presentation to the media, the  “Left Behind” a documentary which highlights the irregularities that rocked Nigeria’s general elections.
According to him, 626 of these deaths occurred in 2019 alone, stressing that fear of intimidation and violence accounted for low voter turnout and voter apathy.
“To show the human impact of electoral deficiencies on average Nigerians, The Election Network produced a documentary titled “Left Behind.” In this documentary, we interviewed Nigerians who were unable to or chose not to vote during the 2019 elections. We found that these Nigerians were stalled by factors like administrative shortcomings, intimidation, and violence. But what stood out the most is violence. Between 2003 and 2019 alone, over 1932 electoral violence related deaths were recorded, with 626 of these deaths occurring in 2019 alone.
“To paraphrase one of our expert interviewees, we attribute the low voter turnout to voter apathy but what really exists is voter fear, fear of intimidation and violence” she said.
The Election Network proposed the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
According to group, overarching law on elections in Nigeria, when passed, will help put in check several irregularities but more importantly, give way for the full implementation of electronic voting during elections.
The  group also advocated electronic accreditation, voting and collation saying it will ensure credibility in the voting system, adding that accreditation, voting and collation need to be done electronically to avoid errors and easily trace malpractices in the system.
Police Uncover  Fake Wine Factory  in Delta 

Police uncover fake wine factory in Delta community | The Guardian Nigeria  News - Nigeria and World NewsNigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria  and World News
Police Operatives in Delta State has  unearthed an illegal wine factory in Ovwia, Udu Local Government Area of the state.
Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright revealed that the Delta state command anti -cult unit  SP Christopher Igbaji after due intelligence gathering, mobilized operatives from SACU  on  a sting  operation with the civilian anti-cult volunteer corps and  arrested one kenneth Ajie of Amadaga village, where they uncovered an illegal factory where fake alcohol is been produced.
Edafe said: ” He buys the cork from open market, he claims he washes the bottles himself, cork the wines himself, and sells to members of the public, according to him, he works alone and produces about one to three cartons per day”.
After his arrest, the suspect, Kenneth Ajie confessed to operating a illegal wine factory within his apartment.
According to the suspect:” I sell the wine for the sum of three hundred naira (#300) per bottle and three thousand, six hundred naira (#3,600) per carton.I bottlee the wine myself, I use bottles that has already been used and dispose. I buy these bottles at Ten naira (#10.00) per bottle”