Anambra Guber: Voting Continues Till Tomorrow, Sunday – INEC

November 6, 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended voting in Anambra governorship poll to tomorrow, November 7 to enable voters who are not able to vote due to malfunctioning of the Bimodal Accreditation System (BVAS) to do so.
Dr Nkwachukwu Orji,

The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, who made this known today, November 5 at a news briefing held in the INEC headquarters, Awka, said that the measure became necessary to enable more, if not all, eligible voters to cast their votes in the areas affected by the malfunctioning of the system.

He said that the BVAS malfunctioned because of software glitches, assuring that the commission is already working to rectify the problem.

“In line with existing regulations and guidelines of the Commission, any intending voter who is on the queue by 4.00 pm shall be allowed to vote.

“The extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation.

” The Commission is currently investigating the reason the accreditation devices, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), have worked perfectly in some Polling Units, but not in others.

“In cases of malfunction of the BVAS, the Presiding Officer must inform the voters and polling agents that accreditation and voting shall continue tomorrow or at another time determined by the Commission.”

He said that deployment is adversely affected by transportation challenges in some locations.

“It must be noted that on account of security concerns, some of the transporters that were mobilized and collected 50 per cent of their sign on fee backed out at the last moment, leaving some of our ad-hoc staff stranded.

“Also, some of the trained ad-hoc staff backed out at the last moment. The Commission is on top of these challenges and extant regulations and guidelines will be applied.”

The INEC official appealed to all voters, candidates, stakeholders and political parties to remain calm and law abiding.

“We assure you that the commission is determined to a make all votes count.”

Source: NAN.

Cybersecurity: we’re Committed To Sustainable Growth Of Digital Economy, NCC Boss Vows

Editorial staff

November 6, 2021

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the Commission is irrevocably committed to boosting the nation’s digital economy through responsive regulations.

Danbatta, who spoke at the Commission’s 2021 Annual Cybersecurity conference, organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), said that the Commission will continue to be at the forefront in ensuring sound cybersecurity culture built on people, process and technology to bolster digital economy in Nigeria.

Represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Adewolu Adeleke, the EVC, Professor Danbatta stressed the centrality of information sharing with stakeholders, and asked telecom consumers and the public to take advantage of NCC’s pervasive communications campaign, planned to create awareness and sensitize the public about the wiles of cyber criminals.

“Our various cybersecurity awareness initiatives and campaigns are helping the public to understand the risks in digital space and how to reduce the vulnerabilities that adversaries can benefit from. Our collective resolve is to continuously boost trust and confidence in our digital economy by ensuring adherence to sound cybersecurity culture and hygiene, internally and with external partners as well as stakeholders.”

He said that the increasing dynamics in the digital space, saying that the Commission recognizes the importance of ensuring and instituting appropriate cybersecurity measures to derive meaningful gains from the emergent digital economy.

“The growth of digital economies is changing how “trust” is valued by institutions, businesses, and the public. The increase in technological advancement has also resulted in increase in cybercrimes, as well as identity theft and fake news campaigns that have introduced fresh dimensions that affect the notion of trust in the digital era.”

The NCC Chief Executive said that trust and confidentiality promote a healthy digital environment, as gleaned from global best practices in order to guarantee the privacy and integrity of digital data.

He said that to improve digital trust and confidentiality, the digital economy should be built on trusted technologies and partnerships, ensuring strong cybersecurity that rides on public’s confidence, security, privacy and safety to bolster responsive regulations, transparency, accountability and digital governance.

“Acceleration of innovations and enterprise in the digital space amplify vulnerability opportunities, which malicious parties are quick to exploit, thereby slowing down the gains of digital economy. Notwithstanding, strong cybersecurity will have the advantage of reducing the surface of vulnerabilities in the digital economy that can be exploited. Thus, sound cybersecurity is a stimulus for secure and prosperous digital economy.”

Professor Danbatta affirmed that the launching of NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC CSIRT), which is the telecoms sector’s version of the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ng. CERT) is a testament of the Commission’s resolve to promote a healthy digital environment in the telecom sector.

He called on cybersecurity stakeholders to key into the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021, and accelerate the adoption of its various components as cybersecurity is a collective responsibility and no single government, business or individual is immune or can do it alone.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major-General Babagana Monguno, who was represented by the Director, Communications at ONSA, Brigadier General Samad Akesode, recognises the commitment of the Commission in creating awareness on the implementation of national cybersecurity policy and promised even greater collaboration of ONSA with the NCC on the nation’s cybersecurity drive.

The event was attended by people from the academia, including the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Chairman and other members of NCC Board of Commissioners, representatives of Chairman EFCC, and representatives of Directors General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Other attendees and participants include Directors and top management staff from many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, key players in the telecom ecosystem (including ALTON and ATCON), telecom companies, ICT firms, cyber security experts as well as representatives of institutions and agencies in the security governance sector, development enthusiasts, journalists and other communication professionals.

The theme of the event was “Building Trust in the Digital Economy through Cybersecurity and Sensitization on the Implementation of the National Cybersecurity policy and Strategy (NCPS).”

Nigerians Are Turning Their Backs On Sachet Water As Price Doubles

Editorial staff

November 5, 2021

Many Nigerians are now turning their backs on sachet water because of the recent rise in the price of each sachet, even as some people said the source of packaging the water is questionable.

Investigation showed that the unit price of sachet, popularly known as “pure water” was recently hiked by 100 per cent and now being sold at N20 from N10.

The Abuja residents, who spoke with NAN said they used to buy the sachet water with the erroneous belief that it was cleaner and healthier than taking tap water.

They said that with the recent price hike in the packaged essential commodity, they realised the possibility of some of the sachet water producers may just be packaging tap water and selling to unsuspecting consumers.

Mrs. Adams Yinka, said that life had not been easy for the family since the increase in the price of pure water, adding: “we no longer buy sachet water since there are other ways to get clean and healthy water.”

“Some of these sachet water are not even clean, anyone can buy a sealing machine and just pour anything in it and sell.

“Although bottled water is more expensive with the realisation that tap water can possibly be sold as pure water, some of us have to switch to the bottled water,” Yinka explained.

Another respondent, Hamza Jimoh, a resident of Kubwa, said: “since water is a major necessity, buying sachet water is unavoidable despite the price increase.

“I still buy sachet water, considering the fact that at N20, it is still very affordable and though bottled water is healthier, it is too expensive,” he said.

He said that boiling of water would have been a better option but the price of gas had also increased, thereby making it as a waste of resources.

“Boiling water, especially from the tap is also a means of getting clean and safe water, but it is even more expensive than getting bottled water, if one considers the cost of gas,” he said.

Miss Yinika Olowokere, a resident of Dutse said that she is no longer buying pure water but had upgraded to using bottled water.

“I no longer buy pure water, since the increase in price I have switched to taking bottle water.

“Boiling water is not an option either considering the current price of cooking gas,” she observed.

Mrs. Gbemisola Richard, a resident of Apo area said that she no longer bothered to buy sachet water since the increase in price.

“I just buy one bottled water and keep the bottle as container for tap water, which I drink directly from.

“It is easy for me to carry my water everywhere I go,” she said.

Richard said that she used to buy sachet water because it was very accessible, adding that the nylon itself could be harmful.

“We don’t know how they handle and treat the such nylon before selling it to us to consume the content as such there is need for the authorities concerned to look into this too.”

How Nigeria Can Generate 188 Billion From Cassava Annually – Expert

Editorial staff

November 5, 2021

Farmer carefully packing harvested cassava tubers for transportation to the market

The Executive Director of Partnership Initiative for Niger Delta (PIND), Dara Akala, has shown how Nigeria can generate over $427.3 million (about N188 billion) from domestic value-added to cassava in addition to $2.98 (about N1.2 Trillion) in export of the commodity annually.

Speaking today, November 5 at the National Cassava Summit in Abuja, Dala Akala said that processing would potentially unlock about 16 million dollars in taxes to the government per annum.

The summit was in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), it stated.

The PIND boss said that a 2020 report estimated that Nigeria would need to plant about 28.3 million metric tonnes of fresh cassava roots on about 1.2 million hectares of land annually, to meet the country’s demand for its by-products and derivatives.

According to him, PIND has invested almost $800,000 to increase cassava production, strengthened coordination and relationships of cassava value chain actors, and has promoted improved technologies for cassava production in the Niger Delta region.

“Through this, we have effectively reached approximately 300,000 farmers with information and training, and facilitated the creation of almost 2,500 jobs and a network of 150 service providers.”

Akala, however, said the large-scale cassava processors required a reliable, healthy and timely supply of fresh cassava roots to feed their mills continually.

He regretted that Nigerian farmers are unable to deliver the quantity and quality of cassava roots required on time, resulting in low productivity, gross under-utilisation of turnkey processing machines and subsequent loss of capital.

He said that experts had reported that the combination of high yielding, virus free varieties, mechanised system and good agronomic practices, including six steps in weed management, could be the country’s game changer in root supply.

A Director at IITA, Dr Alfred Dixon, expressed sadness that Africa is spending about 35 billion annually on food import.

“The danger is if we do nothing about this, food import would rise to 110 billion dollars by 2025, and if this happens, our trade, and particularly exchange rates, will be in jeopardy.

“We will be exporting jobs and importing poverty, unemployment will rise and raise the tempo of youth restiveness to a higher degree.

“The impact will be precarious on the food and nutrition security of the continent, it is timelier to double our efforts to arrest the situation.”

Source: NAN.

Minister To Abuja Residents: Take Security As Your Responsibility

Editorial staff

November 5, 2021

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has reminded residents of the territory that security is their responsibility.

His spokesman quoted him as having “reminded residents of the FCT that security was every citizen’s responsibility and urged them to be vigilant and always report any suspected criminal activity to the security agencies or their various community leaders.”

The Minister spoke today, November 5 against the background of the release of the six persons that were kidnapped from the University of Abuja staff quarters at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Muhammad Musa Bello, who assured residents of increased security surveillance across the territory, commended the security agencies in the FCT and across neighboring states for their joint and untiring efforts leading to the rescue of of the kidnapped two Professors, two other lecturers and two children on November 2.

The Minister also thanked all other government officials, community leaders and the citizens who silently worked behind the scenes in the FCT and the neighboring communities in determination to see to the rescue of the abducted persons by providing invaluable intelligence.

Muhammad Musa Bello also commended the families of the abductees and the entire University of Abuja community for their patience and collaboration with the security agencies.

He reiterated the importance of citizens’ cooperation with the security agencies for their protection and general wellbeing.

He advised the residents to go about their lawful affairs without anxiety or fear, assuring them of their continuous safety.

Release Of UniAbuja Staff: Kidnappers Demanded N300 Million, But We Didn’t Pay Kobo – Authority

Editorial staff

November 5, 2021

University of Abuja Vice Chancellor | Prof. Abdulrasheed Naallah

Authority of the University of Abuja has confirmed the release of the two Professors, two other lecturers and two children by kidnappers who struck on Tuesday, November 2 at the staff quarters in Giri, on Gwagwalada road.

The spokesman of the University, Dr. Habib Yakoob, in a statement today, November 5, said that the kidnappers demanded the sum of N300 million as a ransom for their release but that a kobo was not released before they were let-off the hook.

According to Dr. Habib, the victims were rescued following the operations of the combined security forces, including the police, DSS, Military, and University of Abuja Safety Officers.

“The University management under the able and visionary leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, expresses gratitude to God Almighty; the joint forces, including military, DSSS, University of Abuja safety officers for the unconditional release of our staff.

“At the moment, the University community is in wild jubilation as staff members and students are congratulating and hugging one another for this good news.

“The management of the University is also grateful to all our staff members, well-meaning Nigerians, who empathized with us in that moment of tribulation and trial. Without your relentless prayers and supports, we might still be in a terrible mood.

“The management restates its commitment to providing adequate security to the University community and will continue to work with security operatives to prevent a repeat of that ugly incident.”

MTN Moves To Sell 575 Million Shares To Nigerians

Greenbarge Reporters

November 5, 2021

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) has announced on the floor of the Stock Exchange, the intention of the MTN Group to proceed with a public offer for sale of up to 575 million shares in MTN Nigeria by way of a bookbuild to institutional investors and fixed price to retail investors. According to the company, the Offer is the first step in MTN Group’s previously communicated plan to sell down c.14% of its current shareholding in MTN Nigeria.

The Offer is expected to open this month, November 2021 with a bookbuild for institutional investors after which a fixed price should be announced for retail investors in the same month.

Today, the local bourse extended its bearish performance as sell-offs in WAPCO (-1.9%), UBA (-2.4%), and ACCESS (-0.5%) pulled the NGX All-Share Index lower by 8bps to 41,943.83 points. Consequently, the market capitalisation shed ₦16.5bn to ₦21.9tn while YTD return was unchanged at 4.2%. Market activity faltered as volume and value traded declined by 45.1% and 31.6% respectively to 160.9m units and ₦1.4bn. FBNH (19.5m units), LASACO (10.6m units), and TRANSCORP (10.6m units) topped the volume chart while FBNH (₦208.3m), NGXGROUP (₦154.1m), and ZENITHBANK (₦130.5m) led the market by value.

Performance across sectors under our coverage was bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 gained while the AFR-ICT index remained flat. The Oil & Gas index shed 0.6% to lead the laggards, following price depreciation in OANDO (-3.4%) and JAPAULGOLD (-5.0%). Similarly, the Consumer Goods and Banking indices declined 0.6% and 0.5% respectively due to sell pressures on UNILEVER (-8.7%), GUINNESS (-7.3%), UBA (-2.4%) and ACCESS (-0.5%). Losses in WAPCO (-1.9%) dragged the Industrial Goods index lower by 0.1%. On the flip side, the Insurance index gained 1.3% on the back of optimism in AIICO (+4.9%), MANSARD (+3.6%) and LINKASSURE (+7.6%).

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth (advance/decline ratio), weakened to 0.5x from 0.7x as 13 stocks advanced while 25 stocks declined. SCOA (+9.5%), LINKASSURE (+7.5%), and OKOMUOIL (+5.2%) led gainers while PHARMDEKO (-10.0%), UNILEVER (-8.7%), and REDSTAREX (-8.2% ) led decliners. In the final trading session of the week, we anticipate that the bears would hold sway in the absence of positive catalysts.

Source: Business News Report

Bianca Remembers Late Husband, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Says APGA Is Like Secret Cult Now

Greenbarge Reporters

November 5, 2021

The widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu has expressed worry over the dwindling political fortune of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“APGA is now like a secret cult and this has reduced our once vibrant party to a shadow of its former self.”

Bianca Ojukwu, in a statement yesterday, November 4 to mark the posthumous birthday of the late Biafra warlord, on November 4, said that it is of serious concern that members of APGA are decamping to other political parties in their numbers, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bianca Ojukwu blamed the current situation in APGA on what she called ’leadership failure’ by the party.

“Bad leadership has left a deeply wounded and visibly divided party, with members decamping from the party almost on a daily basis with the alacrity of rats deserting a sinking ship.

“Curiously, they are almost all defecting to APC. Our party has lost almost half of our state and national legislators, several principal members of our Board of Trustees including the Secretary of the Board.

“The serving deputy governor of the state, Dr Nkem Okeke, who joined the APC recently, Party local government leaders, countless party executive members including Governor Obiano’s own ward chairman all joining APC is very worrisome.”

Mrs Ojukwu blamed APGA’s present leader and the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his henchmen for the downfall of the party.

According to her, the state is suffering the most extreme state of insecurity under his watch which has seen several citizens, including a traditional ruler in his community gunned down in broad daylight recently.

“To the governor’s credit, Anambra Airport is nearing completion but then, the intercity roads and roads leading to the communities are in a terrible state, and this has created a persistent gridlock within the state.”

Bianca, who was a beauty queen, expressed optimism that in spite of the obvious cracks, APGA would do well during Saturday election.

She said that APGA is not just a political party, but a state of mind.

“The party has a good candidate in this guber election in the person of Professor Charles Soludo and he has all it takes to chart a new course both in the trajectory of the party and of the state.”

Source: NAN.

Nigeria Produces 2 Million Metric Tones Of Onions Annually – Agric Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

November 5, 2021

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Abubakar, has said that Nigeria is producing two million metric tones of onions annually.

He told the 4th Regional Onion annual conference and general meeting holding in Kano that one of the commonly consumed vegetable crop in Nigeria is onion.

“In fact, Nigeria is among the largest producers of onions in the world with over two million tonnes produced annually,” he said, pledging to support onion farmers to boost their production, for domestic and export purposes.

Represented by the Ministry’s Kano state coordinator, Mr Abba Gana-Yamani, the minister noted that onion had many health benefits.

“Onion offers excellent health benefits, and ease of cultivating the crop makes it a lucrative venture for any aspiring farmer.

“Onion is used in the preparation of most of the popular Nigerian delicious meals and has numerous health benefits which included lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and sugar levels,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that although there were many farmers involved in the production of red onions, there were still a shortfall in meeting national demand, especially during the wet season.

According to him, the crop is grown mostly in Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau and Kebbi States.

In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said that onion is an important vegetable crop used by all households in the country.

Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, said that Kano state is the third largest onion producer in the country, with the highest number of onion markets.

The governor said that his administration is ready to join hands with private firms to establish an onion processing factory in the state.

Also speaking, the National President, NOPPMAN, Aliyu Isah-Maitasamu, said that the conference is meant to provide them the opportunity to review their activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the country requires about 2.5 million metric tonnes of onions annually.

Isah-Maitasamu said onion us being used by pharmaceutical companies and could be turned into powder to produce bread, chocolate and other products for human consumption, noting that the country needed about 2.5 million metric tonnes of onions annually, to meet demand.

Mustapha Kadri, President, Regional observatory on Onions for West and Central Africa, said that onion is being produced in 22 countries in the region.

He urged stakeholders to intensify efforts in supporting the production of the crop for its value chain benefits.

The event was organised by Regional observatory on Onions for West and Central Africa, in collaboration with National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN).

Source: NAN.

We Never Asked For Boycott Of Anambra Guber Poll – IPOB

Greenbarge Reporters

November 5, 2021

File photo: Members of IPOB during protest in Anambra

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has sworn that it had never called for a boycott of the Anambra governorship election slated for Saturday, November 6.

“We wish to reiterate that IPOB did not at any time issue an order or call for the boycott of the said election contrary to misconceptions in certain quarters. IPOB has nothing to do with the Anambra election,” the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful said in a statement yesterday, November 4.

The separatist group re-emphasised its earlier stance that if its leader Nnamdi Kanu is not released by the end of the day from federal custody after being charged for terrorism the south-east region will embark on a sit-at-home protest from November 5 to November 10.

“The priority of IPOB is to secure the unconditional release of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been illegally detained since his rendition to Nigeria. All we said was that if by November 4 those who abducted, renditioned, and illegally detained him fail to release him unconditionally, Biafrans shall embark on civil disobedience of a one-week sit-at-home beginning from November 5 to November 10.”

The group said that it was unbothered about the election, “but our only advice to Ndi Anambra, especially those contemplating voting, is to be very careful about their security.”

The IPOB said that no one has been asked to enforce sit-at-home order. It also dissociated itself from the audio recording warning hoteliers in Anambra State to shut their doors.

“Our people are all fed up with their suffering and oppressive conditions imposed upon us by the contraption called Nigeria and do not need any persuasion to do the needful.”

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