Day: June 6, 2023

Mr Kennedy Agyapong, presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would begin a three – day campaign tour in the Oti Region from Wednesday June 7, 2023.

A statement issued at the Regional Secretariat and signed by Mr Jonathan Akpabeh Manu, the Regional Secretary of the NPP in Oti and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the Mr Agyapong would start his campaign tour with the visit in day one to the Guan constituency, Biakoye and Buem constituency.

Day two per the schedule begins with Akan constituency, Nkwanta South constituency and Nkwanta north Constituency.

It said the presidential aspirant would have a whistle stop at Dambai in the Krachi East constituency on Thursday evening and continue the following morning with the Constituents, and cross River Oti to Krachi Nchumuru constituency and finally ends at Krachi West Constituency.

The statement said, Mr Agyapong would meet with various interest groups, pay courtesy calls on the chiefs, clergy, stakeholders traditional leaders and address them on reason to lead the NPP into 2024 general elections.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has enjoined pilgrims to promptly lodge complain with regards to poor services offered to them in Madina and Makkah.

The Chairman, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this in a statement by Mrs Fatima Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the commission on Tuesday.

“NAHCON enjoins any pilgrim with complain over poor services rendered, whether in poor catering services, transportation, sanitation and other unsatisfactory service delivery, to lodge their complains through NAHCON’s Madinah and Makkah coordinators.

“This will ensure prompt response to such grievances and be addressed immediately.

“NAHCON will not hesitate in taking necessary action where there is an obvious infraction on welfare of its pilgrims.

“The commission will ascertain such claims and stipulate the right penalties for the defaulters as agreed in the contract award terms,” he said.

The Chairman gave the assurance that commission would not compromise Nigerian pilgrims’ satisfaction at all times.

Hassan commended the pilgrims for their resilience and cooperation during the transportation schedules, which has so far made the exercise to go on smoothly.

He also applauded states pilgrims welfare agencies for their prompt response to departure arrangements, which had been orderly with minimal delays.

The NAHCON boss also commended other stakeholders for playing their parts well since the Hajj operations began.

“The commission has screened and selected capable hands in catering services to feed Nigerian pilgrims while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and secured sufficient standard accommodations for them.

“In addition to the selections, the commission has put in place mechanisms for checks and balances that will ensure providers render services dully paid for without shortchanging the Nigerian pilgrims,” he added.

Hassan said that the mechanisms included clearly stated terms and conditions of engagement, signed agreements and advance payment for the services.

According to him, this is being followed by constant monitoring and supervision by NAHCON staff, in addition to a portal for pilgrims to report any complain.

“The complaint line is open 24/7 in Hausa, Fulfulde, Yoruba and Igbo on 097000780.

“Alternatively, one can visit NAHCON’s portal on nahcon.gov.ng then scroll through the resources for complaint management portal,” he added. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council has congratulated its Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, on his appointment as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Messrs Osaretin Osadebamwem and Ochiaka Ugwu, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the union respectively, on Tuesday in Abuja.

NUJ stated that both the executives and members were elated by the appointment which, it said, was well-deserved.

“We commend Gov. Otu for honouring the NUJ FCT family with this appointment.

“We thank the governor for finding our chairman, Comrade Ogbeche, worthy of the appointment,” the union said.

It assured the new chief press secretary of members’ support in projecting, promoting and advancing the policies and programme s of the Out-led administration.

“The executive and members of NUJ, Abuja council, congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment as the CPS to the Governor of Cross River.

“There is no doubt that you will bring your wealth of experience and professionalism to bear on this very appropriate portfolio and ensure a seamless, respectful and mutually-beneficial co-existence amongst the different media platforms.

“We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to Otu for deeming it fit and worthy to appoint a thorough-bred, tested and proven core journalist and image manager to the position of CPS,” the union said.

According to NUJ, the appointment is an excellent sign of better days ahead for the media community in the state.

“Accept our esteemed regards, even as we envisage a more cordial, mutually-rewarding working relationship with you and your principal,” it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Young Farmers Network (NYFN) has advised the Federal Government to divert large percentage of funds saved from fuel subsidy withdrawal to National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

Dr Abubakar Musa, the National President of the organisation, gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

Musa said that this would foster sustainable agricultural practices and support the growth and development of the nation’s agricultural sector and enhance food security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NADF is aimed at giving critical financial support that would facilitate rapid and sustainable growth in various aspects of the nation’s agricultural sector for the benefit of all citizens.

NADF signed into law by the immediate past administration has as part of its functions provision of money to support agricultural development taking into consideration food production and food security in all ramifications.

These include crop production, livestock, fisheries, poultry and agro-forestry.

Musa, who said that the Tinubu administration took a bold step to withdraw fuel subsidy, commended the government for the action.

The president, who emphasised the importance of agriculture in the nation’s economy, implored the federal government to invest in its long-term sustainability.

“The diversion of the fuel subsidy payments to the National Agricultural Development Fund will enhance agricultural productivity, promote technological advancements and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country.

“The funds redirected from subsidies should be allocated to various key initiatives within the agricultural sector.

“These initiatives may include, research and development: investing in research programmes to enhance crop varieties, improve farming techniques and develop innovative solutions that address agricultural challenges,” he said.

Musa said that diversion of subsidy withdrawal payments to NADF would support agriculture programmes through the provision of financial assistance, training, and resources to small-scale farmers, to enhance their productivity and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

He listed other areas to includes investing in critical agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, rural roads, storage facilities and processing centres to facilitate efficient value chain management and post-harvest losses reduction.

“I emphasise that this diversion of funds does not signify the abandonment of the need to address the concerns and

welfare of the people.

“It is rather, a strategic reallocation of resources to address the long-term needs of the agricultural sector which ultimately benefits the entire nation.

“We believe that this decision will contribute significantly to the realisation of our agricultural potential, food security, rural development, and economic diversification,” he said.

Musa further said that it was the collective responsibility of both government and stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s agricultural sector thrives, providing sustainable livelihoods for young farmers and contributing to the overall economic growth of the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday reduced the number of work days that civil and public servants would have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week, amongst other measures.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, Obaseki said the measure was part of efforts to ameliorate the sufferings currently faced by the people in the wake of the rise in prices of goods and services occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

“In the wake of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government, fuel prices have increased astronomically, leading to rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living.

“The Edo State Government shares the pains of our people and wants to assure everyone that we are standing with them in these very challenging times.

“We want to reassure our people that we will do all within our powers as a sub-national government to reduce the pains and ameliorate the sufferings our people are currently facing due to the current realities.

“As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30,000 to N40,000.

“We hope to increase it even further, if more allocation accrues to our state from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy,” the governor said.

According to him, we know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the state.

“Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week till further notice.

“Workers will now work from home two days every week.

“Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as government is working on deepening the EdoBEST@Home initiative.

“To create more virtual classrooms, thereby, reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers and pupils.

“The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days,” Obaseki said.

He said that to lower the rising cost of energy on the people, the state government would continue to work with the electricity companies in the state to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

“Similarly, fiber optics connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation,” he said.

Obaseki called on all to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully while government intensified effort to alleviate the burden of fuel price. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria