South African Noble Prized, Bishop Desmond Tutu Dies At 90

December 26, 2021

South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, has died at the age of 90.
Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his campaign of non-violent opposition to South Africa’s white minority rule.
Desmond Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and has been hospitalised several times in recent years to treat infections associated with his cancer treatment.
“Ultimately, at the age of 90, he died peacefully at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town this morning,” Dr Ramphela Mamphele, acting chairperson of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust and coordinator of the Office of the Archbishop, said in a statement on behalf of the Tutu family.
Ms Mamphele did not give details on the cause of death.
“The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
The statement described Tutu as a man who “turned his own misfortune into a teaching opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the suffering of others.”
It said: “He wanted the world to know that he had prostate cancer, and that the sooner it is detected the better the chance of managing it.”
The statement added: “Courageous, gracious, and concerned for the welfare of others to the very end.
“As Mrs Tutu says, although he was not physically imposing, he had the inner strength of a lion.”
Source: Sky News.

Minister Lai Justifies His Campaign Against Fake News, As Heat Turns On Him

Greenbarge Reporters

December 26, 2021

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has justified his campaign to stamp out fake news in the country, against the background of a news that circulated yesterday, December 25 that he was tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement today, December 26 by his spokesman, Segun Adeyemi, the Minister said that the report of his COVID19 positive was first published by an online newspaper and then

latched on to “by some mainstream lapdog media.”

The sensational report, Lai Mohammed said, “once again, highlights the uphill task we face in our campaign to stamp out fake news and

misinformation.

“A journalism mantra says ‘when in doubt, leave it out’. Also embedded in the code of ethics for journalists are the basic principles of

truthfulness and accuracy, among others. The report in question did not meet those standards.”

The Minister said that he was at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, an extraordinary FEC meeting on Thursday and also witnessed the swearing-in of the Minister of State for Works and Housing on

Friday.

“All these events took place at the Villa, where the correspondents of many media organizations are deployed. In fact, the Minister coordinated the post-FEC press briefing on Wednesday and Thursday. Could he have done this from the imaginary isolation centre where he was consigned by a mischievous reporter?”

Lai Mohammed stressed that as a member of the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19, he had the added responsibility of leading by example, hence would not have hesitated to publicly announce his Covid-19 status if, indeed, he has contracted the virus.

“After all, I was not only fully vaccinated, I have also taken the booster shot, a situation that offers me different layers of protection even if I contract the virus. For those who contract the virus, they deserve our empathy and

prayers, not stigmatization.

“The media does itself a great disservice by making ‘exclusive news’ out of beer parlor gist. Sooner or later, the truth will come out and a fake-news-peddling-organization will have its credibility dented for good.

“In the best tradition of journalism, we expect the online newspaper behind this fake news not only to retract the publication but also to apologize to the Minister for causing him such embarrassment, especially in a season of joy.”

Task Force On Illegal Arms Boss Hopes Insecurity In Nigeria Will Soon Be Over

Greenbarge Reporters

December 25, 2021

Director-General of the National Task Force on Prohibition of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE), Dr. Baba Mohammed has

expressed strong hope that insecurity in Nigeria would soon be a thing of the past.

In a statement today, December 25, to felicitate with Christians in Nigeria and in ECOWAS Member States on the occasion of the Christmas celebration, Dr. Baba called on Nigerians to remain optimistic that Nigeria’s security challenges would not last long.

Describing Christmas as a season that symbolizes hope for humanity, he is hopeful that the NATFORCE bill before the National Assembly would soon be passed and upgraded to Commission status in line with the ECOWAS treaty where the decision was taken unanimously.

According to the Director-General, the bill has passed the first and second reading and is currently awaiting the final stage to give NATFORCE the required legal framework and backing to carry out its activities as required.

He said that as a legally recognized Organization, NATFORCE when fully established, will be known as National Commission (NATCOM) and is independent from any other Agency or Center.

“It is an Organization with unique community based structures and mandate as agreed by the leaders of the ECOWAS member States.”

He said that the National Assembly has made significant progress on the bill since the beginning of this year and has assured Nigerians of their commitment to expedite the process because the establishment of NATFORCE/NATCOM is critical to our national security.

Dr. Baba advised citizens to emulate God’s love to mankind and replicate same by helping to make Nigeria free of illegal arms, ammunition and light weapons “in the spirit of this season.”

He thanked the officers of the Task Force for their dedication and patriotism in helping to eliminate illegal arms, ammunition, and light weapons in West Africa, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to Nigeria’s Safety and security.

He said that despite obstacles, the President had remained unwavering in this cause and has made some appreciable successes.

He insisted that there has been remarkable and notable improvement in security agencies growth and development under the Buhari administration.

This Insecurity Is A Phase That’ll Pass Away, Like Others In Past – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

December 25, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to stick to their indomitable spirit for which they are well known, in the face of the security and other challenges that have been confronting the country, and the world.

In his message to Nigerians today, December 24, as the world gets set to celebrate Christmas, the President philosophized that it is in the midst of hardship that the true test of a nation emerges.

“I urge Nigerians to invoke the indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavory situations in the nation’s history.”

According to President Buhari, despite the remarkable successes generally recorded, Nigeria still has some challenges.

“Our courageous security forces, bolstered by the necessary support from this administration, daily confront the wicked ones amongst us, who continue to threaten the peace of the land.

“Recently, during the meeting with fellow Heads of State of the ECOWAS, I discussed the need to intensify efforts to jointly confront this menace causing instability in our sub-region.

“I am confident that with the renewed commitment and empowerment of our committed security personnel, all these issues which inflict pain and trauma on us will soon be history.

“Let us utilize the opportunity that this festive period brings to encourage ourselves so that the machinations of the wicked ones in our midst will find no place to thrive.

“Christmas is a season when hope is rekindled. Hope, Peace, Joy, Love are the recurring themes of this time.

“This government will not abandon the promises made to Nigerians for a better lease of life.”

Buhari said that the diversification of the economy embarked upon is yielding fruits, adding that his government would continue to create opportunities for the teeming youths to ventilate their tremendous energy.

“As we felicitate with family, friends, colleagues, associates, let us spare moments to reach out to the less privileged.

“Let us also pray and give words of encouragement to our gallant security personnel fulfilling their oaths to keep us safe.

“I assure my compatriots that this administration remains resolute at ensuring that the standard of living of the average Nigerian is elevated.”

The President regretted that for the second Christmas running, the world will not be able to celebrate as it used to be in years past.

He said that the COVID-19 pandemic, with its attendant debilitating impact, has remained with mankind, mutating and leaving in its wake devastating consequences on the economy, social interaction, and curtailing certain freedoms.

He said that the silver lining, however, is that humanity has been able to rise up with one voice and purpose, to confront the foisted conditions.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our dear citizens to embrace vaccination, which is the best scientifically known bulwark against the pandemic.

“Recent events have shown that vaccination greatly reduces the effects of the virus on the human body.

“I will also urge those that have taken the two doses to go ahead and take the booster as advised by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC).

“I commend the efforts of members of the PSC under the headship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as they continue to chart a roadmap out of the pandemic and associated issues.”

Agency Holds Agric Workshop On Climate Information Services To Farmers

Editorial staff

December 24, 2021

Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has held a day stakeholders workshop on climate information services to help farmers improve their output.

The workshop, which was held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was co-organised by Oxfam in partnership with the NIMET.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from NIMET, Kwara ministry of agriculture, ARMTI, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and farmers.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of HEDA), Arigbabu Suleiman, said that the importance of climate information services to farmers in the country could not be over-emphasized.

He said that climate change impacts on the food crises and poverty induced conflicts experienced in Nigeria.

He said that the annual Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) and other forecasts from NIMET to the agriculture sector are parts of critical efforts to building the resilience of smallholder farmers in the nation.

He said that it is important for stakeholders to improve the dissemination of data and forecasts from NIMET for the agriculture sector in the grassroots.

“This programme is important to food security, our agriculture is climate dependent that is why we do seasonal farming.

“Our aim is to mobilise stakeholders on how to properly optimise climate information being provided by NIMET to empower our farmers so that we can build resilience into our food system especially food production.”

Arigbabu said that government should help farmers to access climate information, adding that agricultural research institutions need information on climate change in order to help the farmers avoid food shortages.

He noted that agriculture remains the mainstay of the nation’s economy and employs about seventy percent of rural workforce who contribute a larger proportion of food consumed in Nigeria.

A representative of NIMET, Desmond Oyinlo, in his presentation, highlighted the importance of SCP to farming saying that it would help in agricultural planning towards food sustainability.

Oyinlo said the agency was ready to partner with NGOs, CSOs and agricultural groups on SCP towards ensuring food security.

Mohammed Hassan, a representative of the Kwara Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the state government was ready to bridge the communication gap among stakeholders.

Hassan said this would be done by updating its network base, engaging more agric extension workers and also building synergy with NIMET to ensure adequate information get to the farmers even in the remote rural areas.

Participants hailed the organisers for the workshop, saying that it has brought together stakeholders to rub minds, design a workable information system and in all help resolve key challenges confronting farmers in the area of climate information.

Source: NAN.

How Nurse Saved My Life After Intestinal Surgery – Pope Francis

Editorial staff

December 24, 2021

Pope Francis talks to journalists during a press conference he held aboard the flight on the way back to Italy, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Pope Francis traveled to Africa for a six-day visit that took him to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis has thanked healthcare workers for their work, in a Christmas interview today, December 24.

The 85-year-old head of the Catholic Church told the Italian newspapers — La Stampa and La Repubblica — that “we often do not recognise the greatness of the daily work of these doctors, nurses and health workers, and instead we should all be grateful to each of them.”

He confessed that a nurse saved his life after undergoing intestinal surgery in July this year. He spent 10 days in a Rome clinic.

The surgery has meant he has not been so confident taking trips out of the Vatican, but he said he hoped to continue travelling in 2022

Chicken Priced Out Of Reach Of Many Christians For Christmas

Editorial staff

December 24, 2021

Many Christians are lamenting the high cost of chicken which they cannot afford for the celebration of Christmas this year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who visited some markets in Abuja and its environs today, December 24, reported that the price of chicken has doubled, as compared to the price few weeks ago.

At Wuse market, a large size chicken is sold for between N6,500 and N8,000, and medium-size goes for between 4,000 and 5,000, while turkey goes for between N25,000 and N35,000 depending on size.

At Gwagwalada market, the regular size chicken is sold for between N5,500 and N9,000, while turkey is sold for between N20,000 and N35,000.

The same goes for Masaka market as a chicken is sold for between N6,500 and N8,000, while turkey is between N27,000 and N35,000.

Some poultry farmers attribute the high cost of chicken to increase in their feeds during the season.

The farmers said that the price of poultry feeds had gone up by 100 per cent.

They said the high demand for materials used in making the feeds such as maize and soya is responsible for the increase in price of poultry feeds.

David Longyen, a poultry farmer said that a bag of vital feeds in 2020 was N3,200, and a month ago went for N6,500; now sells for N7,200.

“There are several factors affecting the hike in the price of chicken but the most significant is the hike in cost of chicken feeds.

“ Since January this year till now, the price of feeds has been increasing and there is nothing we can do. We need to keep buying the feeds to keep the chicken alive.

“We are in business to make profit, but I can tell you that we make little or no profit in the rearing of poultry animal this year as compared with 2020,” he said.

Another poultry farmer, Mrs. Maria Akinsanya, who sells at 7,500 per chicken, said that many could not afford to buy because of the high price.

Akinsanya, who said she sold her chicken in 2020 for between N3,500 and N4,000, adding that a month ago she sold for 4,000 to 5,000.

“Now I cannot sell for not less than N7,500, this is almost 50 per cent increase a month ago and over 100 per cent increase from 2020.”

Mrs. Rosemary Onah, a mother of three and a buyer, said that she was considering looking for alternative for the celebration because she could not afford to buy chicken this year.

“Usually, cooking with chicken is the real thing we do every Christmas but this time, I don’t think it’s possible.

“But with what is happening now, I don’t think I can afford to buy a chicken for N8,000 when I will still need to buy other things to accompany the cooking,” she said.

Mrs. Evelyn Okafor, a resident of Gwagwalada expressed displeasure with the way the price of chicken had gone up.

Okafor said that she would reduce the number of chickens she would buy for this Christmas.

“ Normally, I buy two to three chickens for my family to celebrate Christmas every year but I can’t do that now because of the increase in price.

“I will only go for one and buy meat to support it. I need to make my family happy this season, so with just one, I think we will all be okay,” she said.

NAN reports that Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria (PAN) had recently at a forum predicted that Nigerians would buy chickens at exorbitant costs during the festive period due to high cost of production.

The association also said that foreign exchange and security challenges in the country were major factors contributing to the increase in poultry products.

Kogi Assembly Passes 2022 Budget Of N145.8 Billion Into Law

December 23, 2021

The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed into law, over N145.8 billion budget for the 2022 fiscal year.

The budget, tagged: ”Budget of accelerated result” is made up of N90.1 billion, representing 61.79 percent recurrent expenditure and N55.7 billion, representing 38.1 percent capital expenditure for the 2022 fiscal year.

The Speaker of the House, Prince Mathew Kolawole, in his speech, described the state’s 2022 budget as “very realistic” and met the timely approval of the House.

Kolawale explained that the state’s 2022 budget followed the adoption of the report of the House committee on appropriation, fiscal planning and budget monitoring l at plenary.”

“The committee considered the bill clause by clause and approved the respective funds allocated for both recurrent and capital expenditures,” he said.

The Speaker pledged the lawmakers’ unflinching readiness to synergies with the executive to ensure effective and efficient supervision in the implementation process of the budget.

He noted that one fact was that budgets have always been well conceived but their implementations have always been the challenge.

“But we, Lawmakers, who are equally. co-managers of the economy and drivers of development, we shall join hands with the Executive to ensure that this budget is well implemented for the good of our people.”

Governor Yahaya Bello had on October 28, presented the 2022 budget to the state House of Assembly for perusal and approval.

Governor Bello had said that the key target for the 2022 budget was to ensure that lives of residents are positively touched through the actualization of government’s development plans and priorities.

The also pledged prompt maintenance of a favourable proportion of Capital to Recurrent expenditure, completing all on-going projects and adding new projects in areas of critical need as well as expanding revenue generation.

According to him, over dependence on federal allocation would drastically be reduced within the fiscal year as focusing IGR would be the order of the year.

Sources: NAN.

Court Seizes 60 Buildings, Land, Illegally Acquired By Ex Civil Defence Boss

Editorial staff

December 23, 2021

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has seized 60 buildings illegally acquired by a former Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Adenike Ishola Bintu, to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a forfeiture proceedings, had approached Justice O. A. Egwuata, praying for an order for the final forfeiture of the 60 buildings and a 9.6 hectare plot of land, both located at Sabon-Lugbe South-West Extension, Airport Road, Abuja, alleged to have been acquired by Bintu through corrupt means.

Counsel to ICPC, John-Paul Okwor, told the court that the Commission was relying on Section 48 (1) (2) and (3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which gives it power to approach the courts to forfeit properties corruptly acquired by individuals.

The Commission had argued before the court that the former NSCDC Deputy Commandant, set up a private company, Faith Winners Victory Properties Limited, through which she allegedly perpetrated the fraud by selling plots of land to unsuspecting members of the public.

The court heard that Bintu claimed that the land, which she used to dupe over 1000 people that subscribed into the estate business, was owned in partnership with NSCDC.

However, the subscribers, who had made several payments running into millions of naira, were never allocated plots of land nor had their funds returned to them by Bintu and her company.

Furthermore, ICPC proved before the court that Bintu, who had jumped bail and is now a fugitive, did not enter into any partnership with NSCDC to build estates for members of the public.

She told the court in her argument that ICPC had no powers to prosecute civil cases and that Sections 6 and 48 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, relied upon by the Commission have been repealed by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003. Therefore, the case should be struck out, she prayed.

Her arguments were dismissed by the court for lack of merit, and Justice Egwuata then ruled that all the 60 buildings and the 9.6 hectare of land situated at Sabon-Lugbe South-West Extension, Airport Road, Abuja, listed by ICPC be forfeited to the federal government.

Presidential Committee Warns: 4Th Wave Of COVID19, Omicron, Spreading Fast

Editorial staff

December 23, 2021

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) has warned Nigerians to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays responsibly because the fourth wave, known as Omicron is now spreading fast.

Chairman, PSC on COVID-19, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha in a statement today, December 24 in Abuja, said: “as we prepare to celebrate with our families and loved ones, it is important that we do so safely by taking the necessary precautionary measures to stop the further spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“Nigeria is now experiencing the 4th wave COVID- 19 as new cases have continued to rise.

“This is the result of a mix of very low vaccination coverage, increased travels and movements, reduced compliance to public health social measures and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant now circulating in the country.”

Boss Mustapha appealed to Nigerians to imbibe the culture of citizen’s responsibility and observe the following safety measures to reduce community transmission of COVID- 19 during the festive period.

“Avoid activities that involve mass gathering especially in enclosed spaces, as follows; Families are advised to limit the number of visitors to their homes and put in place precautionary safety measures;

“Any gathering in excess of 50 people should be done in open spaces with physical distancing;

“Indoor religious congregation should be limited to 50 per cent capacity with full compliance to public health social measures; and Face masks and hand sanitizers should be used at all times regardless of vaccination status while in public spaces;

“Avoid non-essential interstate travel at this period as this increases the risk of spreading infection from one place to another.

“People who intend to travel are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test to confirm status as many infected persons are asymptomatic;

“ Ensure that you have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccination including the booster dose to reduce your risk of severe infection and death in case of exposure to COVID-19.

“Seize the opportunity provided by the mass-vaccination campaign to ensure that your family and loved ones receive their COVID-19 vaccines including the 3rd dose (booster shot) at the nearest vaccination centre,” he said.

The SGF also reminded Nigerians on the need to continue to comply to COVID-19 safety measures in order to reduce the surge of new COVID-19 cases which may overburden the country’s healthcare system.

He noted that the PSC may be forced to consider the introduction of additional restrictions on gatherings and curfews if the current surge in the number of cases continues.

“The PSC wishes all Nigerians a merry Christmas and Happy Year 2022.”

Source: NAN.

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