World Bank Assists Nigeria’s Federal Capital With $15 Million To Cushion Effects Of COVID-19

August 11, 2021

The World Bank has extended an assistant to the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the tune of $15 million, through the Federal Government, to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially its impact on lives and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable.

The federal government World Bank-assisted economic recovery fund is put at $750 million for Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.

Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, Olusade Adesola, who stated this while inaugurating the FCT Steering Committee on COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, known as FCT CARES, said that the committee will use the money to help restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of small and medium scale enterprises.

Adesola, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management in the FCTA, Mallam Bashir Mohammed, explained that the advent of COVID-19 in Nigeria in 2020 had a devastating impact the people and that the lockdown which was imposed as part of containment measures against the virus severely affected income, as businesses were limited and restricted in the FCT. According to him, a significant reopening of the economy has been on several months, but the recovery from last year’s forced contraction and economic difficulties continues.

“The FCTA is especially eager to support the acceleration and expansion of this recovery to help businesses regain markets, income, and confidence. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy arising from the global lockdown and its severe negative impact on livelihoods and food cannot be overemphasised.

“As a result of this, the federal government in collaboration with the World Bank and the Nigeria Governors Forum developed the States/FCT CARES programme to cushion the effect of the pandemic, most especially on the most vulnerable segment of the Nigeria population. CARES is a result-oriented programme to deliver the results in the following three key areas; result area one; to increase social transfers, basic services, and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable household. “Under this, 42, 606 individuals are expected to benefit directly, while over 180,000 people will benefit indirectly.”

He further explained that the result area two would be to increase food security and safe functioning of the food supply chain under which a total of 12, 293 farmers will benefit directly, while over 100, 000 people will benefit indirectly.

“Result area three, to facilitating recovery of SMEs through grants, under this, a total number of 612 business will benefit directly, while over 10,000 people will benefit indirectly. “Outcomes from the three result areas reinforce one another, enhancing the wellbeing of poor and vulnerable households, together with employment and livelihood grants can help boost demand for the agricultural produce of farmers and food suppliers and other goods and services offered by SMEs.”

Adesola said that the newly inaugurated steering committee is expected to provide oversight and policy guidance to the implementation of the program (PforR) at the FCT, by the financial agreement and operations manual, that they will also liaise with the National Assembly for adequate allocation/appropriation of resources. Among other expectations, the committee is expected to consider and clear the work plan and budget of the FCCU and delivery units/platforms to be funded from the NG CARES resources of the FCT.

Source: Business News Report.

5 Companies Form Alliance To Tackle Youth Unemployment In Nigeria

Editorial staff

August 11, 2021

Five companies: Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Sterling One Foundation, Big Bottling Company and the United Nations Global Compact have joined forces under the Global Alliance for Youth to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria.

The Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria is a business-driven movement of like-minded organisations passionate about working together to help young people around the country get the necessary skills to thrive in the world of work, today and tomorrow.

With 62 percent of the Nigerian population below age 25 years, Nigeria has one of the highest youth population in the world. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, as of the second quarter of 2020, over 13.9 million young Nigerians were unemployed. Millions are also underemployed or in uncertain jobs.

High youth unemployment presents serious global social and economic challenges including increased poverty and insecurity. The members of the Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria have positioned themselves to invest in various joint and individual initiatives to give young Nigerians meaningful work experience, internships, readiness-for-work training, and mentoring opportunities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 – to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all by 2030.

The Alliance plans to reach more than 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills to enable them get gainful employment or set up businesses of their own within the next 3 years.

In a statement at the Press Conference to launch the Alliance, Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nigeria PLC said: “We are excited to announce the Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria today. If there was a time where an alliance for youth is needed, it is today. Yes, our youth are confronted with multiple challenges, but the critical challenge is that of a lack of opportunities. Our youth have great potential, and those who have been privileged to find the right opportunities have thrived in remarkable ways. This is what this alliance seeks to do: create the opportunities for our youth to attain their highest potential as productive and contributive members of society.

“For us at Nestlé, contributing to a better future for younger generations is a core part of our purpose as an organization. We are confident in the potential impact of the alliance to drive change at scale, leveraging the resources, expertise and network of member companies.”

According to Norena Francis, HR Manager of The Big Bottling Company, “The youths are the future of the world, but the future is now, it therefore means that the youths are the NOW of the world and as such, deliberate actions to make the NOW happen to the benefit of all of mankind is vital.

“Hence, we join the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s International Youth Day… Happy International Youth Day!”

For Rolake Rosiji, Chief Executive Officer, Jobberman Nigeria, “We are excited to be a part of the Alliance to tackle the employment and employability challenge in Nigeria today.

“Through the Alliance, youth will gain access to high-quality trainings, and will be able to gain the critical skills needed to swiftly enter the workforce, as well as grow in their respective fields.”

In her comments, Naomi Nwokolo, Executive Director UN Global Compact Network Nigeria said, “It is no longer fashionable to ignore the youth, never has it been.

“The time is now for all stakeholders (government, private sector and civil societies) to pivot towards harnessing the powers and potentials of the youth demographic. Our participation, which we are proud of, as a member of the Global Alliance for Youth is a clear statement of our intent to engage with the private sector to further entrench the corporate sustainability agenda particularly in the areas of Women and Youth inclusion, Sustainable Innovation, Decent Work and Economic Growth.”

Also speaking about the Alliance, Chief Executive Officer, Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe said, “We have prioritized partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across our focus sectors as we believe effective collaboration is the only sustainable strategy for holistic social impact at this time.

“In line with this, we are glad to partner with the Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria as we mark the International Youth Day and look forward to the various innovative projects that will be executed for young people across the country.”

The Global Alliance for Youth – Nigeria member companies are committed to working in collaboration with policymakers, government, and other stakeholders to develop solutions to address youth unemployment and foster job employability and job creation in the coming years.

Together, the Alliance intends to drive concrete actions, providing solutions for measurable change. The International Youth Day, which is celebrated on August 12 annually, serves as an opportunity for Governments and stakeholders to draw attention to youth issues worldwide while celebrating the potential of young people as active partners in the global society.

Stronger Economy: Communication Commission, Summit Group Jointly Look Beyond Pandemics

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2021

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) have resolved to work together to bring about a robust economic development as well as advancement in the communications sector of the economy in the post-pandemics world.
This position was canvassed during a courtesy visit to the NCC headquarters in Abuja, by a delegation of the National Assembly Business Environment Round Table (NASSBER), a policy unit of the NESG, led by Nnanna Ude and a member of the technical committee of NASSBER, Yemi Keri.
The need for stakeholder collaboration and engagement between the Commission and other stakeholders in order to conduct an impact assessment and gap analysis of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which will lead to improvement of the legal instrument and reflect new trends, especially in a post-pandemic world, was the primary focus of the visit.
The two bodies also considered synergy in the area of Research and Development (R&D); while NESG has expressed its desire to have the Commission feature prominently in the forthcoming Nigeria Economic Summit (NES), an annual summit organised by the NESG, scheduled to hold in October this year.
While receiving the delegation on behalf the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said that the meeting was a welcome development, as it aligns with the telecom regulator’s strategic partnership and collaboration objectives.
Dr. Adinde said that the NCA 2003 is a robust regulatory instrument, which has given the NCC the mandate to regulate the telecom sector effectively, as seen in the contribution to the overall economic development of the country.
According to him, by virtue of Section 70 of the NCA 2003, the Commission has developed various regulations and issued guidelines that have helped in addressing critical issues pertaining to its regulatory activities.
Dr. Adinde said that the Commission is excited by the prospects of partnering with NESG and NASSBER, adding that such partnership will further enhance telecoms contribution to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
“All the issues discussed will be articulated in a memorandum, which will be submitted to Management for consideration.”
Other senior management staff of the Commission, including the Director, Licensing & Authorisation, Muhammed Babajika; Director, Technical Standards & Network Integrity, Bako Wakil and representatives of the departments of Legal & Regulatory Services; Policy Competition & Economic Analysis and Financial Services of the Commission, took turns to talk about the activities of the Commission in implementing its regulatory mandate for the benefit of the country.
Babajika spoke on the licensing regime of the Commission and its impact on innovation in the economy, while Engr Wakil spoke about NCC’s regulatory efforts and collaborations with various stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) towards addressing challenges to quality of service (QoS) in telecom industry.
The impact of these challenges such as multiple taxation and regulations, fibre cuts, vandalism, high cost of Right of Way (RoW), theft of telecoms facilities and the need for the passage of the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Bill into law.
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Laoye Jaiyeola, Ude acknowledged the critical role NCC is playing in the provision of essential digital support for the Nigerian economy.
He noted that, in 20 years of telecoms liberalisation, the Commission has been contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Ude explained that the visit was part of the efforts of the NESG to strengthen collaboration with key institutions of government such as the NCC.
He extolled the role of the Commission in driving telecommunications sector growth through efficient and result-oriented regulations, saying that the impact of the regulations are evident in industry performance indicators which have shown upward trajectory over the recent years.
“The NCC is key to the digital transformation agenda of the government and we can see the footprints of the readiness of the country on that journey, in terms of the level of broadband penetration, internet subscription, teledensity and other critical indicators.”

Abuja Nurses Begin Week Of Activities, With A Long Walk

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2021

Three of the active nurses pose for pic.

Nurses operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, August 10, began a week of activities, known as Nursing Week. They began with what they called “nursing walk,” trekking from Eagle Square, through Area One, to FCTA and terminating it at Labour House where leadership delivered addresses.

The nurses walk on.

The week is scheduled to end on Friday with carnival.

Yes, I Left My Husband To Marry My Pastor: The Pastor Is God Sent – Woman Owns Up

Editorial staff

August 11, 2021

Wife to Bright Ben, Mrs. Tina, who was accused of Adultery after she left her husband to marry the General Overseer of World Bank Assembly, Pastor Moses Adeeyo has owned up her action.

Reacting to news making the rounds that she left her husband, Bright Ben to marry Pastor Moses Adeeyo, Tina described the pastor as a god-sent who helped heal her from the bruises sustained from Ben Bright.

Tina, in a series of videos, said that her husband had made her to borrow a huge sum of money from people nut that the debts were later offset by pastor Moses Adeeyo.

She claimed that her husband had never given her money for both his children and her upkeep, adding that he stopped her from going to work and made her quit her music career.

Tina said that her husband always accused her of adultery, pushing her out of his house and leaving her on the streets to cater for herself.

She said also that how he used to threaten to disfigure her, apart from assaulting her on countless occasions.

Tina said that it was her family that dissolved the marriage between her and her ex-husband when the maltreatment became too much.

Bright Ben, had, via his Facebook account, made the allegations against his former pastor who he claimed was a full financial member of the church alongside his wife, Tina Bright.

Nigerian Army Flush Out 45 Bandits In Zamfara, 70 In Niger

Editorial staff

August 11, 2021

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army are believed to have flushed out 45 bandits when they stormed Sububu Forest in Zamfara State, just as another set killed about 70 bandits in Niger State.

Security sources hinted that a coordinated strikes by air platforms and assault by ground forces under Operation Hadarin Dajiof from the Defence Headquarters, led to the eliminations of bandits who gathered for a meeting in Sububu Forest in Zamfara State.

It was gathered that local and foreign high profile bandit leaders were struck at the designated location which happened to be their leader, Halilu Tubali’s residence at the North of Sububu Forest.

A top military intelligence officer said that upon receipt of information of a planned gathering of the bandits at Sububu forest, the Air Component of the OPHD was immediately activated to initiate and maintain ISR missions over the Forest.

It further gathered that land forces within the vicinity of the forest were also alerted to prepare for an assault on the bandits once air strikes on their gathering are executed, just as the operatives of Department of State Security Setvice (DSS) kept surveillance on their movement.

The officer said: “at about 2.24pm on 6 Aug 21, intelligence filtered of the arrival of the bandits as well as the positive sighting of Halilu Tubali amongst a host of other high-profile targets.

“Subsequently, an Alpha Jets was dispatched to the target location. On sighting many of the bandits dressed in black, the Alpha Jet engaged with rockets in a first pass, neutralizing scores of them. The remnant bandits taking cover in a well camouflaged green roofed structure within the shrubs were equally neutralized.

“On a second pass, the aircraft targeted makeshift structures where remnants of the bandits were hiding and successfully decimated them.

“Few wounded bandits scampering in disarray after the strikes were promptly intercepted by ground troops who assaulted the location after the air strikes.

“The joint operation led to the successful neutralization of more than 45 bandits. It is still unclear if the bandit leader Halilu Tubali was killed in the air strike even though one of the bandits who was wounded in the strike confirmed the effectiveness of the strikes.”

Efforts to reach the new spokesman of Defence Headquarters, Major General Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyer for comment on the development were futile.

This came at the same time information filtered in that soldiers also flushed out 70 bandits and their logistics bases destroyed in their camps at Jasuwan Garba-Urege axis in Niger State.

A senior military officer involved in the operation said that the aircraft formation took turns in engaging the locations with rockets while fleeing bandits after the rocket strikes were mopped up with cannons.

“The camps were seen engulfed in flames after the strikes. Reports from locals disclosed that about 70 bandits including their logistics bases were destroyed.

Similar operations were recently executed by the air component at Kwawu and Uzawo all in Niger State,recording huge successes with several bandits killed.

Source: PRNigeria.

WHO Raises Alarm As Marburg Virus, Deadlier Than Ebola Emerges, May Spread Fast

Editorial staff

August 10, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the reported case of a new virus, known as Marburg virus, in Guinea, said to be deadlier than Ebola and threatening to spread “far and wide.”

WHO made it clear that swift action is necessary to prevent it from exploding like Ebola, which is part of the same family of viruses.

The WHO’s regional director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, in a statement today, August 10 said: “the potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks.

“We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way.”

Health officials in Guinea said that they have identified four high-risk contacts with the infected patient even as Dr. Krutika Kuppalli told BBC News that another 146 people who are at risk have also been found.

Experts said that like Ebola virus, Marburg is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease that initially spreads to humans through fruit bats and that once infected, humans can spread the virus to other people through bodily fluids and via contaminated surfaces.

They gave the symptoms of the virus to include headache, fever, muscle pains, bleeding and vomiting blood.

WHO said that the disease is severe, untreatable and ultimately kills approximately half of the people it infects.

Doctors also said that the best way to deal with it is to treat the symptoms and give patients lots of water.

The disease is said to however be very rare and hard to recognize, as the symptoms resemble malaria, typhoid and other hemorrhagic fevers.

The virus was first identified in 1967, when simultaneous outbreaks occurred in Belgrade, Serbia and the German cities of Frankfurt and Marburg. Those outbreaks were linked to lab monkeys that had been imported from Uganda.

Since then, health officials have recorded handfuls of cases and a few outbreaks in Uganda, Kenya, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo over the years.

The worst outbreak occurred in 2005, when 374 people were infected in Angola. Of those 374 infected, 329 people died

Kogi Poly Expels Student Over Forged Documents, Withdraws Admission Of 217 Others

Editorial staff

August 10, 2021

The Kogi State Polytechnic has expelled a Higher National Diploma (HND) II student of the Department of Library Science, Tope Atolagbe for tendering forged documents.

The Polytechnic also withdrew the provisional admissions of 217 students of the institution for poor academic performance.

In a statement today, August 10, the Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the institution, Mrs. Uredo Omale said that the decision to expel and withdraw the affected students was taken at a meeting of the Academic Board held yesterday, August 9, chaired by the Rector, Dr. Salisu O. Usman.

The statement reads in part “The Board, after due consideration of the recommendations of Student Disciplinary Committee, found Mr. Atolagbe guilty of conniving with one Mr. Gbenga Ayeni Michael (2017/ND/BUS/1032) who illegally tendered forged documents to obtain a statement of results which they also used to dupe other students.

“Consequently, the Board approved that the result of Mr. Gbenga Ayeni Micheal who is at large be withheld until he appears before the Disciplinary Committee for interrogation.”

PDP Halts Crisis, Provides Soft Landing For Secondus, Holds Convention In October

Editorial staff

August 10, 2021

PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus

Leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have provided a soft landing opportunity for the embattled National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, fixing its national convention to hold in October this year.

Rising from a crucial meeting that lasted several hours at the party’s Wadata House headquarters in Abuja today, August 10, the leaders and stakeholders, including governors, former governors, serving and former National Assembly members, among others, requested the National Executive Committee (NEC) to constitute a committee to zone national elective and party positions.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who read a communique at the end of the meeting, reiterated the need for unity in the party in order to offer a ready platform as an alternative to “the failed All Progressives Congress, APC administration

Full text of the communique is reproduced here:

The PDP Stakeholders held a meeting on Tuesday 10th August, 2021, at Wadata Plaza,, Abuja on the recent developments in the PDP.

There were extensive consultations with all major stakeholders in the Party including the Governors, members of the Board of Trustees, former Presiding Officers and current Principal officers and Leaders from the National Assembly, former Governors, former Ministers, and indeed other leaders of the Party with a view to bringing all tendencies within the Party together in view of the urgent task facing the Party as the only viable vehicle to checkmate the abysmally poor governance of the APC led Federal Government.
The meeting deliberated extensively on the issues thrown up and resolved as follows:
That the Constitution, traditions and practices of the Party should be strictly adhered to in finding solutions to any problems.
That all parties should sheath their sword in the greater interest of the PDP and the need to RESCUE Nigeria from the avoidable National malaise and drift occasioned by the APC administration.
That all processes leading to an early National Convention in October be immediately activated by relevant Party organs, especially National Executive Committee (NEC).
That the Party should redouble efforts to provide a credible alternative leadership for Nigeria as it still remains the only hope for the Nigerian people for good governance.
The meeting requested the NEC to immediately constitute a Zoning Committee for Party Offices and another Committee for National Elective Offices.
The meeting expressed appreciation to Party elders for their commitment and wisdom in handling Party affairs.
We shall overcome and restore peace, security and development once again to Nigeria.

Nigeria Protests To Indonesian Govt Over Manhandling Of Nigerian Diplomat

Editorial staff

August 10, 2021

The Nigerian Government has complained strongly to the Government of Indonesia, and the Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria, over the manhandling of a Nigerian diplomatic agent in that country.

In addition, the government of Nigeria has also summoned the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria to explain the circumstance that led to such incidence.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in a statement today, August 10 in Abuja, described the unfortunate incident as against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations between States.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in receipt of a report and has seen a video in circulation regarding an unacceptable incident in Jakarta, Indonesia concerning the manhandling and arrest of a Nigerian Diplomatic Agent in front of his official quarters on 7 August 2021.

The statement said that the Indonesian Ambassador had already apologized to the government of Nigeria “unreservedly on behalf of the Government of Indonesia.”

The statement stressed that despite such apology, Nigerian Government had still sent an official protest to the Government of Indonesia.

“The Ambassador of Nigeria to Indonesia has confirmed that the immigration officials involved had since come to the Nigerian Embassy to apologize to the Ambassador and the diplomat concerned.”

The Indonesian Envoy was scheduled to have met with the Minister later today, August 10. Source:NAN

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