How Nurse Saved My Life After Intestinal Surgery – Pope Francis

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.

Christmas: Poultry Farmers Complain About Low Sales Of Chicken

Editorial staff

December 23, 2021

Poultry farmers are complaining about the low sales of chicken and other poultry produce as the nation and the world prepare for Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Lagos Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Godwin Egbebe, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today, December 23 in Lagos, said that customers are complaining about the increase in the prices of poultry produce when compared with previous years.

He said that the purchasing power of the customers have greatly affected demand this year.

“The sales of poultry this Christmas season has been on for some days now, although customers are complaining about the price.

“There is nothing we can do about the price of chicken this Christmas; however, the demand for the produce is still there but not much.

“With the low purchasing power, the demand for chicken is also low.

“The only thing is that most customers that buy in bulk to retail have reduced the quantity they purchase because of the price.

“A customer that would order 10 broilers before can only afford 5 or 6 now.

“What we have is enough to meet the low demand of customers, our production rate has really dropped.”

Egbebe attributed the huge variance in the price of chicken this year to high production cost.

“There are many reasons for this increment this Yuletide but the cost of production is the major reason for the increase.

“The cost of feed and materials for production of feed have gone up since the beginning of the year.

“Insecurity issue and the inability of farmers to access their farms also contributed to this increase in poultry prices this Yuletide.

“There has been huge variance in the price of chicken this year when compared to previous years.

“Old layers sold for about N1, 800 to N2,000 last year now goes sell for N2,800 to N3,000 at wholesale price.

“The price for broilers and cockerels are actually on the high side presently. A broiler or big cockerel previously sold at N4, 500, now goes for N8,000 to N9,000.”

2023: Babangida Prefers Osinbajo For Presidency

Editorial staff

December 23, 2021

File photo: Osinbajo speaks at a rally in Kabba, Kogi state

Former Nigeria Military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has shown open support for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for Presidency in the 2023 general election.

He described Osinbajo as a personality the nation should look up to for leadership.

Babangida, who spoke today, December 23, when a pressure group, Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation (OGO) paid him a courtesy visit at his Hilltop Residence in Minna, Niger State tressed that Osinbajo is a man that can mobilise and engineer growth in the country.

To Achieve 5-Year Development Plan, Nigeria Needs N348 Trillion Investments – Buhari

Editorial staff

December 22, 2021

The Nigerian government requires an investment size of N348.1 trillion to achieve the targets set out in the National Development Plan 2021-2025, President Muhammadu has said.

The President spoke today, December 22 in Abuja, at the formal launch and public presentation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025, the successor to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), 2017- 2020, which lapsed in December 2020.

President Buhari explained that the overall target of the Plan is to achieve a broad-based real GDP growth rate of 5 per cent on average during the Plan period; generate 21 million full-time jobs; and through an inclusive growth, lift 35 million people out of poverty.

He added that this would set the stage for achieving the government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).

To achieve these, the President said that out of the investment size of N348.1 trillion, the Government is expected to provide N49.7 trillion or 14.3%, while the private sector would provide the balance of N298.3 trillion or 85.7%.

‘‘This implies that successful implementation of the Plan will require a strong partnership between the public and private sectors.

‘‘In this regard, a Development Plan Implementation Unit headed by the Vice President with the Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning as the Vice-Chair will be established in the Budget and National Planning arm of the Ministry to ensure overall coordination with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies; sub-national governments; Private sector operators and Civil Society Organizations,’’ he said.

The President said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on November 10, approved the Draft National Development Plan, 2021-2025, which is the first of the envisaged Medium Term development Plans to implement the Nigeria Agenda 2050.

‘‘The Plan, as a matter of deliberate efforts, is comprehensive and has the capacity not only to accelerate and sustain national development but also the attainment of various Regional and Global Agendas, including the AU Agenda 2063, ECOWAS Agenda 2050 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, 2030.

‘‘I have no doubt in my mind that with effective and sustained implementation, Nigeria will achieve quantum leap in unlocking its potentials in all sectors of the economy for a sustainable and inclusive national development,’’ the President said at the presentation before the commencement of the weekly FEC meeting.

The President commended the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Leaderships of the National Steering Committee, the Central Working Group and the Technical Working Groups for the sacrifice and efforts in achieving this milestone.

According to the President, the implementation of the ERGP not only helped the country to exit the 2016 economic recession but sustained a modest growth until the advent of the recent global economic challenges occasioned by the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

‘‘The sustained implementation of the ERGP ensured execution of our social investment programmes and improvement in infrastructure across the country.

‘‘In order to ensure a seamless transition and continue the implementation of the policies, programmes and projects of government, it became necessary to prepare a successor Plan to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

‘‘I on September 9, 2020, therefore, inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC), co-chaired by the respected Mr. Atedo Peterside and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed.

‘‘Apart from the NSC the institutional arrangement for the preparation of the Plan also included; the Central Working Group (CWG), the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and a strong Secretariat that supported the process.

‘‘The process adopted for the preparation of the Plan was not only participatory and consultative but also inclusive; involving all segments of the society such as; Key Political Parties; Government Agencies; Labour Unions; Youth Organizations; Civil Society Organizations; Women Society; Farmers’ Association; ALGON; Traditional and Religious Leaders and Representatives of People with Special Needs; and Development Partners,’’ he said.

According to the President, the broad objectives of the Plan include the establishing a strong foundation for a concentric diversified economy with robust MSME growth and a more resilient business environment as well as investing in critical, physical, financial digital and innovation infrastructure.

The President added that the Plan is also expected to build a solid framework to strengthen security and ensure good governance while also enabling a vibrant, educated and healthy population.

‘‘The macroeconomic framework recognizes that sectors have differing potentials for growth and identified and leveraged on those sectors with the highest potentials for stimulating growth,’’ he explained.

NNPC Rakes In N203 Billion From Petroleum Products Sale In July

Editorial staff

December 22, 2021

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a downstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has announced a big leap, making a total sum of ₦203.73 billion on the sale of white products in the month of July 2021.

This was contained in the July 2021 figures of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), made available today, December 22, by the Corporation’s chief spokesman, Garba Deen Muhammad.

The report also revealed that total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period July 2020 to July 2021 stood at over ₦2.563 trillion where PMS contributed about 99.67% of the total sales.

Similarly, a total of 1.544billion litres of petroleum products were sold and distributed by the PPMC, in the month of July 2021 with PMS accounting for 99% of total volume.

Total sale of petroleum products for the period July 2020 to July 2021 stood at 19.535billion litres and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) accounted for 99.73% of total volume, the report stated.

The report also indicated a 5.23 percentage increase in the average daily gas supply to power plants in the month of July 2021 which stood at 759million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD), equivalent to power generation of 3,250MW against the June 2021 figure of 721mmscfd to generate 3,181MW.

According to the report, national gas production in July 2021 increased by 3.99% at 232.69Billion Cubic Feet (BCF) compared to output in the previous month, translating to an average daily production of 7,502.28mmscfd.

For the period July 2020 to July 2021, a total of 2,891.53BCF of gas was produced representing an average daily production of 7,305.43mmscfd.

Period-to-date production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and NPDC contributed about 58.67%, 20.45% and 20.89% respectively to the total national gas production.

In the Downstream sector, to ensure sustained increase and effective distribution of petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), across the country, the NNPC has continued to diligently monitor the daily stock of petrol to achieve success in this regard.

In July 2021, the MFOR noted that 42 pipeline points were vandalized representing 10.64% decrease from the 47 points recorded in June 2021.

This month, Port Harcourt area accounted for 40% and Mosimi Area accounted for 60% of the vandalized points.

In the Upstream, NNPC recorded total export receipt of $191.26million in July 2021 as against $188.00million in June 2021.

Receipts from crude oil amounted to $12.95million while gas and miscellaneous receipts stood at $78.69million and $99.61million respectively.

Total crude oil and gas export receipt for the period July 2020 to July 2021 stood at $1.73billion.

Islamic Bank Plans $55.4 Million Special Agro-Processing Zones In Abuja

Editorial staff

December 22, 2021

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has planned to commit about $55.4 million for the development of Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) in the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Secretary of the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, who made this known today, December 22, at a news conference in Abuja said: “in the first phase, the IsDB is investing a minimum of 55.47 million dollars in the FCT (SAPZ).

“We are committed to making this a resounding success and shall provide the needed counterpart contribution to complement this investment.

“I am happy to note also that the Boards of the African Development Bank and the ISDB have approved the SAPZ project.”

Abubakar said that provision has been made in the 2022 budget for the procurement of 12 tractors for the six Area Councils in the territory to boost agriculture so as to ensure food security.

“If we are to make progress in agriculture, we have to go into mechanised farming.”

Abubakar said that the FCT Administration would engage the Agro Rangers Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide security for farmers in the territory against banditry.

He said that the administration has banned the use of scrap tyres by butchers and abattoir operators to roast animals in view of its terrible health consequences on consumers.

The secretary, who described the practice as an embarrassment, pledged that officials would pay greater attention, especially this Yuletide period.

He said his team is also partnering with relevant agencies to ensure efficient waste disposal at the abattoirs.

“The issue of FCT abattoirs has become an embarrassment to the administration. We want to ensure that we do the needful by first ensuring that water is provided in the abattoirs round the clock.

“We want to ensure that abattoir wastes are well managed. The first approval will be on waste evacuation.”

He said that the administration would also focus on animal husbandry and veterinary services and would ensure proper inspection of meat.

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