Day: May 13, 2023

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Computer Society begs FG to withdraw NITDA bill from National Assembly

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has appealed to the Federal Government to withdraw the controversial National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) bill, before the National Assembly.

It is recalled that the 2007 NITDA Act is currently awaiting passage, following its amendment at the National Assembly.

President of the NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday said the bill lacked stakeholders’ input and was hurriedly put together by vested interests.

According to him, some stakeholders had condemned the bill for attempting to arrogate the powers of other government agencies to NITDA.

“Unfortunately, we got to know from the social media that the bill was being proposed and it had gotten to the advanced stage by the time we got our information.

“We saw that the bill was not good for us as a nation, we called on NITDA to arrange for stakeholders meeting.

“The meeting was held in some cities, but all our inputs, as stakeholders were not considered.

“We have asked questions, if the new bill is for all of us, we are all part of government.

“Even the operators in the digital space must make contributions, but we discovered our position was not considered by NITDA,” Sodiya said.

He said there was public hearing about two weeks ago on the matter, saying what the social media said concerning the bill remained the same.

Sodiya said even if the bill was to be upgraded, there was need to consider all stakeholders.

He noted with concerns, that the bill, if passed into law, would lead to multiple regulations for telecom operators and other service providers in the ICT sector.

Sodiya urged NITDA to focus on its core mandate of Information Technology development in Nigeria.

He said having NITDA as another regulator in the telecom sector would send wrong signals to investors, as they would be subjected to multiple regulations and fees, if they invest in the industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NITDA Act 2007, which established the agency, says its main objective was to use ICT as a tool in tertiary institutions, to drive the mechanism of the education sector in the country.

“As the agency of the Federal Government, responsible for developing Information Technology in Nigeria, NITDA is empowered by its enabling Act to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of IT practices, activities, and systems in Nigeria”.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Weight loss in children can be sign of tuberculosis – Experts

Health experts at a media training on Tuberculosis (TB) said that unexplained consistent weight loss in children could be as a result of TB.

According to them, other signs and symptoms suggestive of TB in children include failure to thrive or gain weight, persistent fever and cough of two weeks, and close contact with anyone with TB.

The training was organised by the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) in collaboration with Breakthrough Action-Nigeria (BA-N).

Dr Babajide Kadiri, Lagos State Team Lead USAID IHVN TB LON 3 Project, spoke on the sidelines of the training.

According to him, children who are at risk of contacting TB include those living with adults with TB, those who are HIV positive and children who are malnourished.

On the challenges associated with control of childhood TB, he said: “ There is low childhood TB awareness among the general population.

“Also, poor health-seeking behavior, stigma and discrimination, limited media engagement in TB awareness creation, low index of suspicion for child TB by healthcare providers and low funding for childhood TB control.”

He proffered that regular sensitisation of the general population on TB in children and collaboration with the media would help in TB prevention, control and management.

Also speaking, Dr Joseph Edor, Senior Programme Officer II TB/RCCE USAID Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, said that tuberculosis was an airborne disease, more common in men than women in Nigeria.

He said that TB of the lungs ( Pulmonary TB), caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tuberculosis), is the most common type.

Edor said that TB could occur anywhere in the body noting that four symptoms used to screen patients included cough ( of two weeks duration or more), fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.

He said that an untreated case could infect an average of 10 to15 people in a year, noting that only 25 per cent of Nigerians had correct information about TB.

He said that the diagnosis for TB was mainly the sputum test for pulmonary TB, Chest X-ray and Stool test in children.

Edor said that TB treatment included oral medications for a minimum of six months.

However, he said drug resistant TB ((MDR TB) could occur when TB treatment was not well adhered to and could also occur when someone was infected directly by someone with (MDR TB).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Egypt has indicated interest in Ogun’s Agro Processing Zone- Gov. Abiodun

Egypt has indicated interest in Ogun’s Agro Processing Zone (APZ), Gov. Dapo Abiodun said in Abeokuta on Saturday.

The APZ is located at the Gateway International Agro Cargo Airport in Iperu-Ilishan in the Remo part of the state.

Abiodun told executive officers of the Ogun chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), at an interactive session that Egypt planned to have farm plantations in the zone.

He said the North African country planned to plant crops, process the harvest and export finished products to Egypt.

He added that representatives of the Egyptian government would visit Ogun soon to finalise details of the investment.

“I met with the National President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in Abuja. He is working with a team of farmers sent by the Egyptian government.

“Egypt has a food security programme and has identified Ogun as one of the states to partner with.

“Representatives of the Egyptian government in agriculture will be coming to Ogun on May 16.

“They have done their research and were convinced that Ogun is one of the states strategically located to invest in; to farm in; to process in and to export from,’’ Abiodun said.

He assured that his administration was determined to encourage foreign and local investors in agriculture.

He also assured AFAN that government would look into its proposal to start a state-owned Anchor Borrowers Programme.

The core of the programme is to provide loans in kind and in cash for smallholder farmers to boost agricultural production, create jobs, and reduce food import bills.

Abiodun also promised to also look into the possibility of appointing AFAN members into agriculture-related government agencies.

Earlier, AFAN Vice-President, Mr Segun Dasaolu, said there were lots of opportunities and grants available for Ogun to exploit for the commencement of its own Anchor Borrowers Programme.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Expert urges incoming administration to prioritise agricultural transformation

An Economist, Dr Biodun Adedipe, has urged the incoming administration to pay more attention to agriculture being the largest contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Adedipe, who is a Chief Consultant at B. Adedipe Associates Ltd, made the call on Friday at a virtual conference organised by CMC Connect LLP.

The National Policy Dialogue with the theme: “Setting a Fiscal Policy Agenda For the Bola Tinubu Administration”, was moderated by Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the Lead Partner at CMC Connect.

He said the incoming administration needed to provide incentives for infrastructure development to encourage all year farming.

According to him, the new administration should encourage large scale farming and linkage with smallholder farmers, adding that agricultural research and development was essential to boost the economy.

Adedipe also advised the incoming president not to come up with a big framework but accommodate the 12 pillars of productivity which included market size, labour market, business dynamism and innovation capability.

Others are: health, product market, ICT adoption, institution, skills, infrastructure, macro economic stability and financial system.

“In improving the ranking and performance of the economy, the incoming administration should also look into payment of taxes, training across borders, enforcing contracts, and protecting minority interests among others.

“We need to aggressively promote export to African countries and also strengthen domestic manufacturing which interrogates the nexus between import and export,” he said.

The chief consultant urged them to look at imported products that could be produced locally, stressing that this would be beneficial for the economy.

Adedipe, however, decried the state of the country’s economy occasioned by poor policy coordination, misplaced priorities, fiscal inefficiency and revenue leakages which discourages productivity.

He said with the inflation rate persistently trending upwards, the Central Bank of Nigeria had to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

“Yet the economy was desperate for growth and the big number in Nigeria is food inflation which was at 24.35 per cent in March 2023 rising from 24.13 per cent in December.

“Food security should, therefore, come big in Nigeria’s economic development agenda,” he said.

On education, Adedipe said the incoming government should revamp the school curriculum to support future works in the 21st century and embark on massive capacity building of teachers.

He said that it was necessary to increase funding to improve infrastructure in the educational sector.

Similarly, on universal health care and enhancing life expectancy, he urged the government to redesign the integrated healthcare model and address brain drain in the sector.

“In the financial system, government needs to totally revamp the financial ecosystem, reset system regulation and supervision and accelerate capital market development.

“On Information Communication and Technology (ICT), they should offer incentives for ICT investors and align policies on ICT with the needs of the 21st century digital economy,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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UK defence team visits Army War College of Nigeria

A team from the Global Defence Network United Kingdom (UK) has pledged to collaborate with the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian military and promote regional security and stability.

The team led by Director of the network, AVM Mick Smeath, said they would strengthen collaboration in the areas of training and other capacity building initiatives.

The AWCN Public Relations Officer, Maj. Hashimu Abdullah, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that Smeath and his team made the pledge on Wednesday.

In his speech, the Commandant AWCN, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Ababi, expressed appreciation to the team for the visit, saying that Nigeria and UK shared a long history of cooperation on security issues.

Alabi said the partnership would be crucial in enhancing the mandate of the college of producing well-trained, educated and inspired operational level leaders for the Nigerian Army.

He said the visit was a testament to the strong relationship between the two countries, while expressing appreciation for the support and partnership of the UK government in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

He said the AWCN is a premier institution for the training of senior military officers from Nigeria and other African countries.

“The UK has been a key partner in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, providing intelligence support, training and equipment to the Nigerian military.

“The visit is expected to further strengthen the relationship, especially in the area of sharing expertise and knowledge between the college and the United Kingdom,” he said.

Responding, Smeath expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit the college and learn more about the Nigerian military’s approach to professional military education.

He said that the UK remained committed to supporting Nigeria in its efforts to address the threats facing it.

“We believe that by working together, we can enhance the capacity of the Nigerian military and promote regional security and stability,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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NNPCL, security team nab 6 suspected crude oil thieves, destroy barge

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private security outfit engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has intercepted an illegal Crude Oil Barge and arrested six suspected crude thieves in Warri, Delta State.

The NNPC Ltd. security contractor and the Nigerian Security Operatives on Saturday also set ablaze the 1000 metric tonnes capacity barge used in conveying the crude oil at a final execution point in Oteghele, Delta state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the barge was destroyed shortly after an inspection of the sites of Mawe Service Limited and associated barge which allegedly housed illegal crude oil.

On the inspection were some officials of NNPC Ltd. and Tantita Security Services, Journalists, the Nigerian Army and Naval officers, among others.

The team visited the Mawe Services Jetty, illegal crude oil dump site and Fenog Jetty for Illegal Crude Oil Barge inspection.

Speaking, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services said

MAWE Services had an approval from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to provide services within the confines of lifting sludge.

Enisuoh said on the fateful voyage, intelligence reports received by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and Mason Engineering indicated that the MAWE Yard was being used for activities outside its approval limits.

He said further surveillance and intelligence also revealed that a 1000 metric tonnes capacity barge (FP AMANGWU) was coming to berth alongside its jetty, loaded with illegal crude oil declared as sludge.

The captain explained that the barge was towed by an unknown Tugboat into Mawe Services Limited’s Jetty and left.

“A team of Tantita Security Services Operatives continued to monitor the Jetty for suspicious activities. It was observed that a Sewage Truck with Plate No. JR7750XA visited the Jetty twice.

“During its third visit on May 12, 2023, the Truck was accosted by the Tantita Security Operatives keeping constant vigil over the area. Upon inspection, the substance found inside the tank was not sewage, rather, crude oil.

“The driver was arrested and handed over to government security operatives. The driver later revealed the destination of the contents, which took us to another yard inland, also operated by Mawe Services Limited.

“Within the Mawe Services Limited’s premises, there were two metallic cylindrical tanks of about 45,000 liters capacity, each. Both tanks were inspected and one was found to be filled up with Crude Oil.”

Enisuoh also said the driver of the Truck confirmed that he has been transferring the contents of the barge into the tank that was filled adding that inspection of the Yard Security Logbook showed that the Truck visited the location severally while the contents of the Truck were well spelt out as “CRUDE OIL”.

He explained that the perpetrators usually loaded the crude from the big barge in small gallons, batch by batch then transfer to illegal refineries.

“One new method they use now is that they obtain documentation and autourisation from the government to fool security agencies, then go on to do other illegal jobs,” the captain said.

The captain further explained that most times when the suspects were being interrogated, they would claim to be newly employed by their companies whereas they were already trained to operate in that line.

“At the same time I feel sad because the big players always hide behind them while the small errand boys are literally the victims.

“I believe the law enforcement agents will get to the root of the matter,” he said.

According to him part of the crude has been evacuated while the rest will go through combustion process.

Meanwhile, the suspects who were paraded by the combined security team said they were not aware of any illegal badge of crude oil but were sent by their companies to evacuate waste water with oil from the barge.

Mr Daniel Dickson, one of the suspects working with First Priority Research Resources International Ltd, the owner of the barge said the barge was hired through Petralon 54, located at Port Harcourt, Rivers State to cargo crude from Port Harcourt to Warri in 2022.

Dickson, who said that it was not all the compartment in the barge that contained crude said that it had about 700 barrels of crude oil but in the process of evacuation in May 2023, the security agents caught them.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Girls’ education: World Bank lauds KDSG for taking ownership of AGILE project

The World Bank has commended the Kaduna State Government for taking ownership of its supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

The Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, gave the commendation at the official inauguration of the project in Kaduna on Friday.

Chaudhuri, who was represented virtually by the bank’s Senior Education Specialist, Aisha Garba, also praised Gov. Nasir El-Rufai for the support to ensure the success of the project in the state.

Describing the project as a “huge success” in Kaduna State, Chaudhuri said that supporting women and girls in Nigeria was at the top of the World Bank agenda.

According to him, AGILE is one of the biggest projects in the bank with $1.2 billion.

“This is to demonstrate the commitment of the bank to the development agenda of enhancing education opportunities and empowerment of young girls and women in Nigeria.

“We appreciate the full cooperation and partnership of stakeholders, and we will continue to support the government of Kaduna state in achieving this important agenda.”

Earlier, the National Project Coordinator, Hajiya Amina Haruna, explained that the AGILE project was the initiative of the Federal Government with funding support from the World Bank.

Haruna said that the project aimed to ensure adolescent girls access quality secondary education, through enhanced learning, digital literacy and life skills which empowered and assured better life chances and experience.

She said that the project, which disbursement began in February 2022, was being implemented in Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Ekiti, Borno and Plateau states, adding that the project would be extended to other states soon.

The national project co-ordinator said that so far, Kaduna State made a giant stride towards the achievement of the project objective and commended the State Project Implementation Unit for the efforts.

She urged the relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the project for the beneficiaries to reap the full benefits of the project.

Inaugurating the project, Gov. El-Rufai pointed out that the talents of girls were being wasted either by not educating them, getting them out of school, or subjecting them to early marriages.

He explained that his decision to appoint many women in his cabinet as deputy governor, commissioners and head of departments and agencies was not by accident.

According to him, the step was a deliberate effort to inspire young girls to be whoever they aspire to be.

He explained that the AGILE project was specifically designed to encourage and promote girl child education, which he equally described as one of the most successful World Bank financing projects in the state.

On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Halima Lawal, said that the project has currently reduced gender disparity in secondary school to less than one per cent.

Lawal, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Haliru Soba, added that the project had equally reduced the distance to the nearest secondary school to less than a kilometre.

She added that enrolment of girls in secondary school had equally improved due to the project.

A virtual presentation of the achievements recorded so far by the State Project Implementation Unit showed that a 779 classrooms were renovated in the state.

The report also indicated that 2,629 Water Sanitation and Hygiene facilities were constructed and rehabilitated in schools, 46,252 sets of furniture provided, while five schools have fully fenced and five currently ongoing.

It also showed that the project equally renovated Government Girls Secondary School Kawo, and renovation of Barewa College Zaria, is ongoing, while 155 new secondary schools will be built.

“The project is establishing safe spaces across 142 schools with girls being trained in leadership, self- agency, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, safeguarding against gender-based violence, reproductive health and climate change and action.

“Also, a total of 6,250 students are currently participating in the project’s digital literacy programme while 35,575 girls have received scholarships.

“AGILE project is also supporting 550 secondary schools with information and communication technology infrastructure and devices for the delivery of digital literacy,” the report indicated.

The Project Coordinator in the state, Hajiya Maryam Dangaji, ascribed the successes recorded so far to teamwork, stakeholders’ collaboration, and the overwhelming support from Gov. El-Rufai and his Executive Council.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Aregbesola wants comprehensive review of criminal justice system

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has called for comprehensive review of Nigeria’s criminal justice system to reduce the alarming number of inmates awaiting trial.

A statement by the Media Adviser to the minister, Sola Fasure on Friday in Abuja, said Aregbesola made call the while inaugurating the Imo Command Headquarters of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Owerri.

He said in spite of massive investment in making inmates’ reformation impactful through increased budgetary provision and upgrade of custodial facilities, prison congestion has remained a problem.

“One big challenge we have at corrections is congestion, especially in urban centres where the population density is high and human relations are more complex.“

This, he said, has led to higher crime rate and the need to keep some people behind bars.

The minister added that the federal government had taken steps to address the challenge through the construction of six mega custodial centres in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“The ones in Kano and Abuja are ready and with regular funding, the remaining will be completed.

“It is also hoped that state governments will take advantage of the constitutional amendment recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, which makes corrections a concurrent affair.

“It is on record that more than 90 per cent of inmates in our facilities are state offenders. It is important, therefore, that state governments begin to invest in corrections,” Aregbesola said.

He said that it was “even more important to reform the criminal justice system.

“I have been making this case and I will continue to do so, that 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial and constitute the majority in our facilities.

“The sad thing about this is, we cannot statutorily begin their process of reformation because they are assumed to be innocent, except for those who voluntarily wish to participate in any of our programmes.”

The minister expressed concern that most of the awaiting trial inmates “have spent time in detention longer than the maximum sentence their alleged offence carries.

“This predispose them to violent conduct and they are the biggest source of the challenge of discipline and control at the custodial centres.“

The minister, therefore, stressed the need for state governments to reform their justice administration system by putting a cap on trial period of accused persons and ensure swift dispensation of justice.

This, Aregbesola said, would end long court trials and perpetual detention of accused persons.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria