Only Students With Interest In Agric Will Henceforth Be Admitted In Universities – Minister

January 31, 2017

Nigerian minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbe has made it clear that henceforth, only the students who have interest in farming will be admitted into the nation’s Universities of Agriculture.

Chief Audu Ogbeh, who spoke today, Tuesday, at a stakeholders meeting with registrars and pro-Chancellors of the universities in Abuja, said that the decision is aimed at repositioning the institutions with a view to involving youths in agriculture, training them to proffer solutions to the multi-faceted problems in the sector.

The minister expressed regrets that non-agriculture-based courses like engineering is being thought in the schools, even as he directed that only agriculture-related disciplines be thought. Audu Ogbeh said that the Federal Government’s decision to relocate its three Universities of Agriculture from the Federal Ministry of Education to Agriculture, was to refocus the schools as globally acclaimed citadels to move the agriculture sector forward.

He assured the universities that the government would actively support them by providing funds and grants to assist in research to move the agriculture sector forward.

“The domiciliation of the universities in this ministry is a commendable effort by the Federal Government based on sound reasoning and logic.

“Your return will effectively help us to reposition the three universities of agriculture as centres of excellence for the rapid development of the agriculture sector.

“There is no place where the competence and capacity to drive agriculture resides outside the Universities of Agriculture. We need to achieve a hunger-free Nigeria.

“Henceforth, students who are not interested in becoming farmers should be made to seek admission elsewhere.

“We are determined to offer you the necessary support for your transformation, for research for a healthier realm of discovery and self-actualization.’’

This was even as the Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Mohammed Munguno, advocated a bill to establish the National Universities Agricultural Commission to regulate operations of the Universities of Agriculture.

He said that the National Assembly would amend their rules to make sure that the universities were adequately domiciled in the ministry for effective monitoring by the assembly.

“There is need either through an executive bill or bill to be sponsored by the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture for the establishment of the National Universities of Agricultural Commission.

“The commission will be charged with the responsibility of regulating the universities of agriculture to effectively perform their statutory roles in tandem with the laws establishing them.”

the Pro-Chancellor of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, Professor Anya O. Anya, applauded the Federal Government for the relocation.

Professor Anya, who raised concern over disconnect with the science and practice of agriculture in the country, expressed hope that the domiciliation of the universities in the ministry would reposition the sector. [myad]

UNICEF Seeks $3.3 Billion For Emergency Assistance To 48 Million Children Trapped In crises

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is seeking for the sum of $3.3 Billion in emergency to assist 48 million children who are living through some of the world’s worst conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies.

The UNICEF, which launched the 2017 appeal fund today to raise the amount revealed that children in many countries, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan and Nigeria, are under direct attack and that their homes, schools and communities are in ruins, adding: “their hopes and futures are hanging in the balance. In total, almost one in four of the world’s children lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster.”

The UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine said: “in country after country, war, natural disaster and climate change are driving ever more children from their homes, exposing them to violence, disease and exploitation.”

UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children sets out the agency’s 2017 appeal totalling $3.3 billion, and its goals in providing children with access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection in 48 countries across the globe.

An estimated 7.5 million children will face severe acute malnutrition across the majority of appeal countries, including almost half a million each in northeast Nigeria and Yemen.

Manuel Fontaine said: “malnutrition is a silent threat to millions of children. The damage it does can be irreversible, robbing children of their mental and physical potential. In its worst form, severe malnutrition can be deadly.”

The largest single component of the appeal is for children and families caught up in the Syria conflict, soon to enter its seventh year. UNICEF is seeking a total of $1.4 billion to support Syrian children inside Syria and those living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

UNICEF said that, working alongside its partners, it’s other priorities in 2017 are:

– Providing over 19 million people with access to safe water;

– Reaching 9.2 million children with formal or non-formal basic education;

– Immunizing 8.3 million children against measles;

– Providing psychosocial support to over two million children;

– Treating 3.1 million children with severe acute malnutrition.

It announced that in the first ten months of 2016, it supported 13.6 million people with access to safe water; 9.4 million children vaccinated against measles; 6.4 million children accessed some form of education and 2.2 million children treated for severe acute malnutrition. [myad]

Ajaokuta Steel Will Save $5 Billion Annually On Railway Maintenance – Minister Assures

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

The minister of State for Mines and Steel, Abubakar Bwari has assured that a total sum of $5 billion spent annually on importation of railway expansion and maintenance materials would be saved when Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) begins full operation.

The minister, who spoke when he appeared before the House of Representatives to defend his ministry’s 2016 budget allocation said that the ASCL also has the capacity to generate 100,000 direct and 500,000 indirect employment opportunities in both Downstream and upstream industries.

“I will not conclude the presentation to this honourable committee without re-emphasising the benefits of a functional steel sector will have on the recessed Nigerian economy.

“For the construction industry, imports of over four million tons of rolled steel products and over 12 million tons of other steel products at the present rate will stop, leading to savings of several billions in foreign currency per annum.

“In the transport (rail) sector, with rail track production in ASCL, more than $5 billion imports of rail for railway expansion and maintenance will be saved per annum. Likewise, in the transportation (road) sun-sector, availability of flat sheets, spares for automobile industries will
significantly reduce foreign exchange, reduce unemployment, increase technology acquisition, etc.”

The minister said that due diligence exercise has been concluded on the modified concession agreement signed between Federal Government and Messrs. GINL/GSHL, in October 2016.

Bwari said that the concessionaire has scheduled to carry out cold/hot tests to enable preparation of NIOMCO business plan and immediate commencement of operation.

He said that the stakeholders are in constant meeting with the concessionaire to address the issues of logistics and completion of other relevant schedules of settlement agreement.

He said that collaborations are ongoing with Federal Ministry of Transportation for the development of Central Rail Corridor through Itakpe and Ajaokuta, adding that his ministry is also cooperating with Federal Ministry of Power for the development of Coal Power projects for increase economic activities in the sector. [myad]

Presidential Candidate Of AD In 2007, Pere Ajuwa Is Dead

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

Presidential Candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria and the Alliance for Democracy in the 2003 and 2007 elections, Chief Pere Ajuwa has been reported dead at a hospital in Port Harcourt.

Confirming the development, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson who confirmed his death, described Ajuwa’s demise as sad, shocking and a monumental loss to the government and people of Bayelsa State.

In his condolence message, the governor recalled Ajuwa’s journey into politics, which saw him hustle for the governorship stool of the old Rivers State and later for the presidency.

Dickson said: “Ajuwa supported every genuine effort of the Ijaw people to be properly recognised and be accorded their pride of place politically, economically, and in other areas of human endeavour by using his personal resources to fight for the political and economic emancipation of the minorities of the South-South.” [myad]

Muslims, Christians To Stage Endurance Trek In Kaduna For Religious Tolerance

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

Ahead of the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony, Week starting tomorrow, February 1, Muslims and Christians in Kaduna have planned to stage an endurance trek as a way of attaining religious harmony and tolerance in the state.

The General Overseer of the Christ Intercessory Fellowship Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna Buru, who announced this today, Tuesday in Kaduna said: “as the interfaith and harmony week commences, we are going to organize an endurance trek for Muslim and Christian clerics to create awareness on peaceful co-existence.

“We will also organize reading and writing competition among Muslims and Christians in schools and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to enhance understanding among youths.”

He said the Church would also donate prayer mats and plastic kettles to some Mosques to reciprocate the gesture and to foster peaceful co-existence.

This came just as a Muslim woman, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, who is a peace Ambassador, donated chairs to Church to boost inter-religious tolerance and harmony.

Hajiya Ramatu told newsmen that the donation was also aimed at promoting mutual respect and better understanding between Muslims and Christians in the state and the country in general.

She said that the World Interfaith Harmony Week was to promote peaceful religious co-existence and dialogue on peace, share love, unity and encourage togetherness, irrespective of faith.

She said that the week is part of efforts to strengthen inter- and intra-religious relationship toward preventing and countering violent extremism and promoting peace building, reconciliation and conflict transformation, which is part of events of the ceremony worldwide. She said that the week is also to celebrate the principles of tolerance and respect for one another which is deeply rooted in the world’s major religions.

Hajiya Ramatu said that the impact of ethno-religious and political crisis in Kaduna State some years ago claimed hundreds of lives and properties and damaged the hitherto peaceful co-existence enjoyed by the people.

She called for the creation of institutes of comparative studies in the country to promote better understanding, religious tolerance, forgiveness, reduce blasphemy tendencies and continuously preach peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians.

According to her, there are more than 6,000 religions in the world, most of which are different from the literate Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) that many people think of when they hear the word “religion.”

“In order to make statements or generalizations about religion, the concept of religion, rather than a specific religion or group of religions, we need to engage in comparative study of religions so as to reduce ethno-religious attacks and blasphemy.”

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and unanimously adopted by the UN on October 20, 2010. Therefore, first week of February is being observed as World Interfaith Harmony Week. [myad]

Delta State APC’s Tales By Moonlight, By Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State has read with great concern a press statement issued by the fractured Delta State All Progressives Party and signed by one Engr. Leonard Obibi, who describes himself as the State Publicity Secretary (Ag) of the party, linking Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to a report in some national news dailies alleging that a Governor from one of the Oil Producing States in Nigeria, diverted $10 million bail-out fund through a so-called “mistress.”

The statement by the Delta APC is baseless, unfounded, tendentious, malicious and deliberately calculated to impugn the integrity of Governor Okowa whose reputation as a God-fearing man, astute administrator and good manager of resources is well known and is driving fear into his enemies. Perhaps, it would be too much to expect anything more from a party that is filled with renegades, dubious characters, opportunists and failed politicians.

Suffice it to say that the original report by The Nation newspaper did not mention Governor Okowa and credited ‘a source within the EFCC’ for the story. Moreover, the Commission itself has not commented on the story nor suggested and confirmed their involvement. But the APC is shamelessly dragging Okowa into what is at best a speculative story and at worst the job of paid hirelings, in a desperate bid to gain relevance, further proof of their notoriety as a party of irresponsible and mischievous people. The Delta APC can be likened to a drowning man clutching at every available straw for survival.

In their desperation to establish an ethnic link, the Delta APC described Georgina Onuoha, the central figure in a Facebook altercation relating to the story, as ‘an actress that hails from the Ika-speaking area of Delta State and based in Texas U.S.A.” But this is a complete lie and misinformation. Georgina Onuoha has told the world that she is from Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State. She also disclosed for the benefit of the APC nit wits who know nothing about the cities in the United States that she lives in Sacremento, California, not Texas. So where did the APC get their own information from if not for mischief purposes?

For the benefit of the unsuspecting public, we wish to make it abundantly clear that State Governments DO NOT RECEIVE DOLLARS from the Federal Government, whether FAAC allocation or bail-out funds. So where did the APC get the information that Delta State received $10 million as bail-out fund if it is not the figment of their own imagination? If we are to go by their phantom story, how was it diverted? Was it by wire transfer? How is that kind of transaction possible given the stringent foreign exchange regulations currently in place in Nigeria? Or is the Delta APC suggesting that $10 million was moved by cash through the nation’s airports? Can such a huge amount of money be transferred into the United States without triggering the red flag at both the Financial Intelligence Units in Nigeria and the United States of America, because they receive, analyse and distribute financial intelligence gathered from Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) on per seconds basis? Can the ailing APC do Deltans a favour by giving us the details of the account that the $10 million was diverted to since it claimed that the money has been traced to a particular bank account?

Even as they torture their feeble minds to grapple with these very simple but critical posers, we wish to assure the divided and divisive APC in Delta State that their cheap attempt to cast aspersions on the solid reputation of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has failed woefully, as it is already common knowledge that he is a man of unassailable integrity and great moral rectitude. Governor Okowa will not be distracted by the antics of these disgruntled politicians. He remains irrevocably focused on his stated vision of bringing prosperity to all Deltans as evident in the fruits of his job creation programme, infrastructural renewal and agricultural reforms. Deltans know better than to believe the APC, a party that has become synonymous with lies and vile propaganda and has not fulfilled one electoral promise since it gained power at the centre.

Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza is Delta State Publicity Secretary of PDP

Time For Nigeria To Domesticate UN Security Council Resolution 2250, By Lawal Rafiu Adeniran

Greenbarge Reporters

January 31, 2017

File photo: The United Nations Security Council

On the 9th December 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2250. This is the first Resolution that deals with the role of young people on issues of peace and security. This global policy framework was and is still been celebrated by youth across the globe because it recognizes the actual potentials of youth in conflict and post conflict reconstruction.

This resolution was adopted because the world realized that it cannot build sustainable peace without the involvement of youth, protecting their lives, meaningfully engaging and empowering them on issues of peace and security. This resolution gives recognition and legitimacy to the several works been done by youth at local, state and national levels towards building lasting peace.

The importance of this resolution cannot be over emphasized, putting into consideration the fact that the world is currently experiencing a wave of youth bulge; there is an increasing population of youth when compared with other age groups. In Nigeria for example an estimated 70% of her population is under the age of 35. Given this demographic advantage, it is only imperative that youth are involved and included in decision making and peacebuilding.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 225O has five (5) main components which mandate governments to increase the participation of young people in decision-making institutions at local, state and national levels; ensure the protection of youth and civilians during conflict and in post-conflict settings; support youth by creating conducive atmosphere so as to allow them implement violent prevention and peacebuilding activities; establish and strengthen partnerships with relevant actors by engaging and empowering them on issues of countering violent extremism, social cohesion and inclusion and lastly that government should disengage youth from taking violent actions through the provision of job opportunities, education, capacity building and trainings, civic engagement programmes and take possible actions to support the ideas and aspirations of young persons.

All member states of the United Nations including Nigeria have been mandated to implement and domesticate the contents of this resolution at local, state and national levels.

The United Nations has done her part by adopting this resolution; it now lies on youth across Nigeria to ensure that it is acted upon. Youth across Nigeria must demand the domestication and implementation of UNSCR 2250 from their leaders at local, state and national government. Both lawmakers and policy makers must be lobbied on the importance and need to implement this resolution in Nigeria. All youth must join in spreading this word. Let people know about the existence of this resolution, what it says and why it is important to young people.

Lawal Rafiu Adeniran is the National Coordinator, Nigeria Youth for Peace Initiative

Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State [myad]

Bauchi Is Broke; Can’t Raise N2 Billion To Conduct Council Poll

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2017

The Bauchi State Government has declared that it has no money to give to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to conduct local council elections.

The government said that though the local council polls was important, it has been unable to raise about N2 billion required for the election.

The state commissioner for Information and Tourism, Abdullahi Idrees, who spoke in an interview with New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi today, Monday said: “we are ready to do the election because this a democratically elected government and we respect people that are duly elected.

“We are not saying that it is not important, it is very, very important, but there is paucity of fund and we don’t have the fund for now to sponsor the local government election.

“But I want to tell you that the governor is ready to conduct local government election.” [myad]

Ban On 7 Countries Is Not ‘A Muslim Ban,’ President Trump Clarifies

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2017

“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.”

These were contained in a statement by President Donald Trump of the United States of America on his recent executive order banning citizens of seven countries from entering the US.

While announcing the erection of a wall along the US-Mexico border recently, Trump had declared a ban on some Islamic countries. The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen.

Read full statement of President Trump below…

“America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border. America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave.

“We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months. The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.

“This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days.

“I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.” [myad]

Jimoh Moshood Becomes Overall Police Spokesman

Greenbarge Reporters

January 30, 2017

Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jimoh Olohundare Moshood has been appointed as the Force Public Relations Officer as the Acting Commissioner of Police, Don N. Awunah who has since been acting as spokesman is now posted as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.

CSP Jimoh O. Moshood, whose appointment has been approved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, hails from Ilorin Township in Ilorin South LGA of Kwara State.

He holds B. Sc in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State. He was once a Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He attended several courses within and outside the country few of which are Crime Prevention Of Korea Police, At Police Training Institute, Seoul South Korea, Training Course on Anti – Hijacking Techniques and Tactics for Developing Countries at Special Police Academy, Beijing, China. He is a member of Nigeria Institutes of Public Relations, member of Africa Business School, Abuja and Associate Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration Of Nigeria.

The officer has served in various capacities in the Nigeria Police Force as DPO Central Area, Abuja between 2012 and 2013 and Chief Superintendent of Police in charge of Department of Finance and Administration, FCT Police Command, Abuja among others.

Until his appointment as the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood was the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

He has since assumed duty. [myad]

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