All Posts in "Day: October 8, 2021"

1m Children To Receive  Polio Vaccines In Enugu

Polio vaccination: Enugu targets over 1m children —Official - Healthwise
The Enugu State Government on Thursday unveiled its plan to vaccinate  1,014,953 children for vaccination against wild polio virus to  prevent the upsurge of the disease.
The target population, which represent 20 per cent of the total population of the state, are children between the ages 0 and five,according to Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA).
He told newsmen in Enugu on Thursday that the  exercise had already kicked off on Oct. 6 and would end on Oct. 10 in the state, adding that a few days additional (mop-up) might be possible if the need arises.
He disclosed that the state had received 1,306,700 doses of the new oral polio vaccine from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and its health partners for the exercise.
He said:”Enugu State does not have any case of wild polio. But what we intend to do is to emphasise on prevention and check possible resurgence of polio in our state and land”
The ENS-PHCDA boss said that the agency had trained and kitted 2,834 vaccinating teams, which comprises: 1,643 home-to-home teams, 780 special teams and 411 fixed teams.
He said that the exercise would reach all nooks and crannies of the state, adding that it would cover the state’s 17 council areas, 291 wards and over 3,000 settlements.
Ugwu said: “The vaccinators have been mandated to look for every child and ensure no child is left out.We are going to homes, schools, churches, malls, parks, markets, farms as well as all living areas, where a child can be found.
“We have mobilised our ward and council information volunteers and mobilisation officers as well as written to religious, traditional and community leaders about the exercise and need for them to totally key in.Today, we are mobilising the press for their support to enlighten our people to take the vaccination seriously and ensure that wild polio does not come to cripple any child in the state and the country in general.
“We are appealing to parents, teachers, caregivers and family members to support this exercise and ensure no child known to them or close to them is left out of taking the new oral polio vaccine”.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in News 0
Why We Arrested Nollywood Actor -Army

 Nigerian Army(NA) have arrested , Nollywood Actor, Chiwetalu Agu while inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement  by  Onyema Nwachukwu,
Brigadier General, Director Army Public Relations,said Agu was dressed  in a  well known attire of the proscribed group when he was arrested
He  added:“ Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalization. While the Nigerian Army  recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any  individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order. It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace,  and national security.
“For the avoidance of doubt and emphasis, the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) remains proscribed . Therefore, any individual or group seen to be projecting and advancing the cause or activities of the group is viewed as brazenly challenging the constitutionality of Federal Republic of Nigeria. More worrisome, was the fact that considering the prevailing security situation of the region, coupled with the ongoing Exercise GOLDEN DAWN , his action could be a tacit endorsement and support for the proscribed group. We have all witnessed the activities of the group take a violent dimension in recent times.
“Chinwetalu Agu has clearly demonstrated uncharitable disposition to negate peace and security in the region, hence, he is taken into custody for preliminary investigation. It is important to once again place on record that the allegation that he was brutalized is false and should be disregarded accordingly.
“While the NA would not allow IPOB and its sponsors to hold the region captive and allow the security situation to degenerate,  it is instructive to restate that national interest supercedes any parochial consideration. Individuals or groups who fan the embers of violence are warned to desist or face the consequences of their actions. The ongoing Exercises are on course and will rid the region of all forms of criminality”
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in News 0
 Anambra: INEC Publishes  Final Lists Of Guber Candidates, Voters List 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the November 6 Governorship Election in Anambra with all 18 registered parties fielding candidates.
All the front runners campaigning for votes in the state  were listed, including APGA candidate Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo of the PDP and APC flagberar Andy Ubah.
Other noticeable names include YPP candidate Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, ZLP runner Francis Obiora Okonkwo, Uzoh Obinna Godwin of SDP, amongst others.
It  also presented the final register of voters to all the political parties as  required by law as the campaign enter the home stretch.
Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee in a statement assured the people of Anambra state that the commission was determined to conduct the election as scheduled.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in News 0
 NCC Inaugurates Incident Response Facility To  Stop Cyber crimes

Cybersecurity: NCC inaugurates incident response facility, Minister, ONSA, Lawmakers, others commend initiative - Pointblank News
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has inaugurated an incidence response facility aimed at addressing incidences of cybercrimes, protecting telecoms infrastructure and encouraging increased participation in nation’s digital economy.
The NCC Center for Computer Security Incident Response is the Commission’s industry-specific intervention, whose objectives are aligned to the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) published by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The NCPS requires each sector to establish a computer incident response team provides requisite services to the stakeholders and players within each sector.
The overall mandate of the NCC-CSIRT is to ensure continuous improvement of processes and communication frameworks to guarantee secure and collaborative exchange of timely information while responding to cyber threats within the sector.
Speaking during the commissioning of the project in Abuja, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, described the Center as a strategic step in boosting cybersecurity in Nigeria and commended the Board of NCC and Danbatta-led Management of the Commission for ensuring successful implementation of the project.
Pantami noted that the commissioning of the Facility marks an important milestone in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, and described it as a significant measure in the support of national efforts at protecting the information and communication technology infrastructure in the country.
“The creation of the Center is in line with the provisions of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) document published by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which was recently updated and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021.
“In keeping with the principles enshrined in the policy, each sector is expected to establish a sectoral Computer Incident Response Team (CSIRT) that provides requisite services to the constituents within that sector,” the Minister said.
In his address at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta stated that, considering the increasing growth in Internet usage, especially as a consequence of the outbreak of the pandemic, the Commission observed a rise in cyber incidents and criminal activities.
 “Thus, the Commission recognises that with the borderless nature and pervasiveness of these incidences, relentless and concerted attention is required to protect Internet users as well as the Critical National Information Infrastructure and ensure they are resilient”, Danbatta said.
The EVC emphasised that the NCC-CSIRT has been structured to operate within the framework of the NCPS and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) to assist the Nigerian communications sector with the management and coordination of cyber security incidents and threats.
He noted that the CSIRT is established as a proactive step towards building trust, and safety needed for growing the digital economy.
“The CSIRT’s services will commence with four main thrusts, namely: monitoring, incident management, communication, and alert and warning.
“The devices for handling these four areas will be scaled up and expanded as the Centre’s operations grow in order to enhance the digital economy and ensure it yields great dividends to the Nigerian citizens,” Danbatta said.
Danbatta explained that the key mandates of the CSIRT, which will be achieved through collaborative effort with critical stakeholders, organisations and agencies, include assisting the sector in the defence and response to major cyber threats and attacks targeted at the members within the sector, providing information, technical as well as policy advisories to the constituency to strengthen the defensive and response capabilities to cyber threats.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in IT&Telecoms 0
Power:Aliyu Woos More Investors 

Power sector headways, pitfalls new minister must brace | Dailytrust
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu,says
investment opportunities in the nation’s power  sector were enormous and encouraged investors to take advantage of this.
He disclosed this when he  hosted  the Nigerian-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja,according to a statement by the  ministry’s Deputy Director, Austin Asoluka.
The statement said:“Aliyu, who further said that the ministry has a lot of potential for investors especially in the renewable energy, generation and transmission, (stated that) some of these have been completed.The Kastina Windfarm and Zungeru projects, for example, are ready for investors to come in and take over the operations.”
Aliyu implored the team from the Nigerian-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce to make a detailed proposal to the ministry to enable it identify  areas of partnership with the chamber.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in Power 0
Buhari Urges NNPC,ExxonMobil’s Collaboration On Increased Oil Exploration

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged
ExxonMobil Corporation to collaborate on a bigger scale with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation  to realize the full potentials of the abundant gas resources in Nigeria.
He spoke recently at an audience with a team from ExxonMobil Corporation led by Liam Mallon, its President on Upstream Oil and Gas, at State House Abuja.
He said:“We look forward to ExxonMobil engaging in deeper collaboration and partnership with the New NNPC and other Nigerian institutions to ensure optimum exploitation of the abundant Oil and Gas resources in Nigeria while also aligning the processes with the global drive towards carbon neutrality”
He also implored operators in the petroleum industry to take advantage of the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to promote their investments in the oil and gas sector.
He added:“I will expect the ExxonMobil companies in Nigeria to avail themselves of the opportunities created by the Petroleum Industry Act and invest in further development of the Nigerian assets in line with our national interest.We expect that your company will also support our desire to deepen gas utilization and monetization aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and facilitating economic growth and development of our country.”
Buhari commended his visitors for their commitment to continue to be a bigger player in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
He added:“We thank you very much for the reassuring words on your continued presence in Nigeria with the promise of expanding your investments in the Deep-water.This will no doubt be further facilitated by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act which are designed to provide a competitive fiscal framework and a world-class regulatory framework that is at par with our global peers”
In his earlier remarks,Mallon told his host that ExxonMobil,  has done business in Nigeria for over 60 years, remained as committed and strong,despite the company’s   divestment from the Joint Venture (shallow water) with NNPC.
 He said:“Whoever emerges buyer must be a capable operator. We won’t compromise on that at all.The party must have the capacity to make growth vision happen. And we will be very transparent about it.”
He lauded the president on the successful way the country handled the COVID-19 pandemic, and also for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0
Nigeria’s Energy Compact To Electrify 5million Homes,Create 250,000 Jobs

Nigeria's Energy Compact Initiative To Create 250,000 Jobs, Electrify 5 Million Homes – Osinbajo – Independent Newspaper Nigeria
Nigeria has created  an Energy Compact Initiative  aims at  electrifying  5 million homes in the country, and creating  250,000 jobs in two years,according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
He disclosed that the Energy Compact was presented at the High-Level Dialogue on Energy at the recent 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
He spoke in a paper entitled ‘perspectives of the energy transition, its economic impact, challenges prospects and the changing paradigms to the geo-politics of energy’ at the Seplat Energy Summit, held in Abuja.
The theme of the Seplat Energy Summit 2021 “Global Trends in Energy Transition and the Africa Perspective”.
Represented by Sharon Ikeazor, the Minister of State for Environment, the Vice President,
According to him,the energy sector is facing a series of interlinked challenges, including – rising populations and economic growth with the attendant increasing demand for energy services.
Osinbajo,who was represented by Sharon Ikeazor, the Minister of State for Environment, added that these challenges  progressively promote resilience to future economic and environmental shocks, as well as massive shift from a highly centralized energy sector to decentralized energy production.
According to him,in order  to meet challenges of transition of the energy sector, there was need  to ensure massive efforts towards increasing energy efficiency and productivity, facilitate changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle choices, and expand renewable energy for power supply and direct use within and across the country.
“The earlier mentioned Nigeria’s Energy Compact includes our flagship 5m Solar Power Project which aims to electrify 5m homes and 25m people by 2023, and aims to create 250,000 jobs.
“The implementation of this programme is underway with several sites commissioned and being by the private sector with support from the government.
“There is a need to change and expand the electricity sector infrastructure to allow for increased use of variable sources, system flexibility, and electrification of new services, mainly for transport.
“The good news is that many solutions already exist, and transitions are already under way and being expanded and scaled up. It is recognised, however, that the pace and scale of transition demands finances, expanded innovation in technologies, business models, and market solutions and an enabling policy framework to continuously improve the existing options and fill the gaps for a decarbonized energy system by 2050 for a sustainable Future!” he added.
In his remarks,the Minister also stated that the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), recently signed into law has enhanced the Nigerian petroleum industry’s reputation, providing the pathway to new investments, and consolidates Nigeria’s ability to play a significant role in meeting the world’s growing demand for energy.
According to him,the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 will  assist in harnessing Nigeria’s potential to achieve its plan of increasing oil production to 4mb/d and oil reserves from 37bbls to 40bbls, while also drawing on the country’s estimated 600TCF of natural gas reserves to provide clean and efficient energy.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in Power 0
Nigeria’s Huge Budget Deficit Hurts,Unacceptable-Senate

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan,has faulted huge level of deficit in the national budget in Nigeria,saying it was unacceptable.
 He advised the executive to explore avenues to reduce the deficit  through the availability of more revenues  as well as seek other means of financing ongoing infrastructural projects across the country.
Lawan spoke  at the 2022 budget presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, where he also advised that efforts must be put in place to enhance revenue generation and collection by ministries, agencies and departments of government.
He also said that the legislature was resolute on zero allocation for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to remit/upload their revenues for the 2022 Appropriation.
He added:”This position saw an increase in the contribution of the MDAs by over N400 Billion. It is my view that MDAs can contribute to the Federation account much more than that. This policy should be expanded and deepen to cover more MDAs.”
He also  expressed National Assembly’s role in supporting the executive’s request for loans due to paucity of revenue.
He said:“The Federal Government has to resort to raising funds from foreign and domestic sources to provide infrastructure across the country. That is why, the National Assembly approved the requests for borrowing.”
He also commended the executive for keeping to the new budget calendar of January to December as initiated by the legislature, noting that the early presentation and subsequent timely consideration by the National Assembly will make that possible.
“The implementation of the 2021 Appropriation Act so far indicates that, it is possible to achieve the feat of the 2020 budget implementation. We must therefore work assiduously to continue with that moment. Mr President, the 2021 budget and indeed the 2020 budget provided for significant infrastructure development across the country.
“Mr. President, the members of the ninth National Assembly have kept to their promise of passing the annual Appropriation Bill before the end of the year to ensure that the Bill is signed into law before the beginning of the new year. The 2020, and 2021 Appropriation Bills were considered and passed before the end of each year. The Distinguished and Honorable members of the National Assembly remain committed to working on the 2022 Appropriation Bill and pass it before the end of this year.
Mr President, the Nigerian economy and indeed our citizens are benefitting from the early passage and assent to the 2020 and 2021 Appropriation Bills. We all recall that the 2020 budget was fully implemented, becoming the first and only budget that was implemented 100 percent since the fourth Republic began,” he maintained.
Online Editor by — October 8, 2021 in News 0