FEC Receives Organic Agriculture Policy For Adoption, Approval In Nigeria

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March 29, 2022

The Vice-President of Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria and also the Country Coordinator of Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative in Nigeria, Olugbenga Adeoluwa, has said that the organic agriculture in Nigeria policy has been sent to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval and adoption.

Adeoluwa who disclosed this at the Annual General Meeting of the Association held on Monday in Abuja Nigeria’s, said the policy will address issues like production, processing, inputs, marketing, quality control, certification of organic products in the country.

Nigeria is on the good track as far as organic development is, because one of the indicators of a country doing well is having a policy in place that could support or that can support organic agriculture”.

Adeoluwa added, “And we are lucky in Nigeria, that although the country is young, as far as development of organic, not just globally but in Africa, but late year, December precisely, the dialogue of the stakeholders on organic policy in the country that was carried out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in conjunction with ecological agriculture initiative in Nigeria, is moving. That’s a very good step”.

President of the association, Victor Idowu said organic agriculture relies mostly on what one can produce within the system, and does not depend more on external inputs.

He said it is a production system that every family, no matter how small their size is, can practise organic agriculture.

Central Bank of Nigeria Reveals Currency in Circulation Drops by N37.94bn

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Elizabeth Williams

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March 29, 2022

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Data from the money and credit recent report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has shown that currency in circulation in Nigeria fell by N37.94 billion in February to N3.25 trillion compared to N3.29 trillion recorded as of January 2022.

This represents a 1.2% decline on a month-on-month basis, while when compared to the corresponding period of 2021, it increased by 16.95% compared to N2.78 trillion as of February 2021.

Nigeria’s currency circulating in the economy has recorded significant growth since the Central Bank maintained its dovish monetary approach as a means to ensure the recovery of the nation’s economy, following the recession recorded in 2020, caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

The several intervention policies pushed currency in circulation to its highest level in history in December 2021.

However, it has recorded a decline in two consecutive months, dropping by N37.13 billion in January and N37.84 billion in February 2022.

Can Eguavoen And Amuneke Deliver The World Cup Ticket?

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Emenike Agu

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March 29, 2022

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria are at the verge of another World Cup appearance. Should the Eagles prevail tomorrow, Nigeria will feature in her seventh World Cup in Qatar.

Unlike in the previous two qualifiers for 2014 and 2018, it has been anything but a smooth ride for the Super Eagles. In the course of the 2022 qualifiers, the Super Eagles, on field, lost their admirable record of 36 unbeaten streak at the World Cup qualifying series.

Before the shocking 0-1 loss to Central African Republic in Lagos last October, the last time the Nigerian side lost a World Cup qualifying game was way back in 20 June 2004 against Angola in Luanda.

They went 38 matches without a loss, even though the result of their last qualifiers against Algeria, which ended 1-1, was annulled owing to Nigeria’s fielding of an ineligible Shehu Abdulahi.

The qualifying series for 2022 took a dramatic twist after the Eagles lost 0-1 to unrated Central African Republic in what incidentally, was the first ever international meeting between both countries.

That was the beginning of the end for the unduly elongated coaching tenure of Gernot Rohr. Although his team managed to reverse the score-line in the return leg at the adopted home ground of Central African Republic in Douala, Cameroon, it was clear that Rohr was living on borrowed time.

The last group match, a home duel with Cape Verde was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Needing to just avoid a loss, Rohr’s team laboured throughout the game, despite getting a dream opening, scoring in the very first minute of the match.
The mantle has now fallen on former international, Austin Eguavoen, who incidentally as the coach of the national team, lost his role to a German, Berti Vogts in 2007.

Taking over from another German, Rohr, Eguavoen, seems to have had his ‘vengeance’. But what should we expect?

Austin Eguavoen is assisted by fellow ex-international, Emmanuel Amuneke as they prepare the Super Eagles for the decisive encounter with Ghana Black Stars.

The first match comes up in Kumasi on Friday. This will be Nigeria’s 111st World Cup qualifying match. Coincidentally, it was against Ghana that Nigeria debuted in the World Cup qualifying series when they met in Accra on 28 August 1960.

At the time, Nigeria lost 4-1. But time has changed and Nigeria Super Eagles have since taken the commanding role when it comes to World Cup qualification.

As at the end of the group stage of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, no African side has racked up as many qualifying victories as Nigeria, whose overall record of 62 wins in 110 games equates to a win rate of 56.4%.

This record is the benchmark for Eguavoen and Amuneke as the Eagles target the ultimate goal of making it to Qatar 2022.

This will be Eguavoen’s second attempt at qualifying the Super Eagles for the World Cup. At the closing stages for the Germany 2006 qualification, he was drafted to take over from Christian Chukwu.

He achieved some good results, but they were not enough to steer the team to Germany. When he took over from Chukwu in 2005, though a defender in his playing days, he showed he had an attacking philosophy.

The Super Eagles under his watch scored 10 goals in two matches and became the only coach of Nigeria to have led a team to beat Algeria at home.

Such offensive inclination had seen his side becoming the only one with a 100 per cent outing at the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021. Playing against Ghana is not a strange assignment for him considering that his team had beaten Ghana before at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Port Said, Egypt.

With good attacking option as well as solid defensive strategy, Eguavoen’s side should be able to overcome Ghana and qualify for the World Cup, a feat that will make him and Amuneke, the third set of Nigerians to achieve World Cup qualification feat after those of Amodu Shaibu and Keshi combination in 2002 and Keshi in 2014.

The decisive match will air on SuperSport on DStv Premier League channel 203 and GOtv channel 38. Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

Nigeria Hosts Ghana In Decisive World Cup Playoff Clash In Abuja

By

Emenike Agu

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March 29, 2022

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A mammoth clash looms as Nigeria host arch-rivals Ghana in the second-leg of the 2022 World Cup playoff on Tuesday with the result deciding which side qualifies for the competition to be played in Qatar later this year.

The West African rivals face off at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja in what is the decider between the two sides after the first-leg failed to produce a result

The Black Stars were held to a goalless draw in Friday’s match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Kumasi which left the return encounter delicately poised.

Both sides had good chances of winning the game but the two goalkeepers Joojo Wallocot and Francis Uzoho of Ghana and Nigeria respectively, were on top form to prevent the opponent from breaking the deadlock.

Ghanaian youngsters Felix Afena-Gyan, Abdul Fatahu Issahaku and Mohammed Kudus were all denied by Uzoho’s heroics, while Wallocot pulled off an astonishing save to deny Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho

Nigeria must win their match against Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday to be able to qualify for the World Cup which would be their fourth successive appearance at the global tournament.

The Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen admits they must be at their best level to be able to defeat the Black Stars even though they would be playing at home.

“Ghana were on top of their game in the first leg but they didn’t have any clear-cut chances – but we had two clear-cut chances,” Eguavoen said.

“Ghana are not pushovers, they have a lot of talent. We will keep respecting them and I’m very sure the Ghana team will give us a lot of respect.

“We wanted to win the first leg but if we couldn’t win I would have settled for a draw and that’s exactly what happened. Our organisation was very good, we combined well in all the lines.

“But we didn’t react quickly, so that’s something we have to work on because we cannot allow the Ghanaian players freedom on the ball,” Eguavoen added

Nigeria must win their match against Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday to be able to qualify for the World Cup which would be their fourth successive appearance at the global tournament.

The Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen admits they must be at their best level to be able to defeat the Black Stars even though they would be playing at home.

“Ghana were on top of their game in the first leg but they didn’t have any clear-cut chances – but we had two clear-cut chances,” Eguavoen said.

“Ghana are not pushovers, they have a lot of talent. We will keep respecting them and I’m very sure the Ghana team will give us a lot of respect.

“We wanted to win the first leg but if we couldn’t win I would have settled for a draw and that’s exactly what happened. Our organisation was very good, we combined well in all the lines.

“But we didn’t react quickly, so that’s something we have to work on because we cannot allow the Ghanaian players freedom on the ball,” Eguavoen added

The Black Stars, on the other hand, need at least a scoring draw to be able to advance to the World Cup, completely transforming the recent fortunes of the Black Stars.

This follows their unimpressive showing at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations last month where they crashed out at the group stage without winning a match.

Since then, former international winger Otto Addo was appointed as the interim coach to take over from Milovan Rajevac who was sacked following the tournament in Cameroon.

Addo, who is part of the technical team of German side Borussia Dortmund, says the Black Stars want to win the match in Abuja instead of going for a draw.

“The result doesn’t change anything. When we go there we want to win,” Addo said.

“Even though our Africa Cup of Nations was not good this year, you saw we matched Nigeria in the first leg.

“They have high quality players but they’ve got respect for us and I thought the match in Kumasi was equal in terms of performance.”

Ghana have no fitness concerns ahead of Tuesday’s match as youngster Felix Afena-Gyan declared himself fit after being taken off in Friday’s game with a thigh concern.

Nigeria have some injuries worries as midfielder Innocent Bonke picked up a hamstring injury during Friday the game speedy winger Samuel Chukwueze could be unavailable for the reverse fixture due to a muscular injury.

The Black Stars will be chasing their fourth appearance at the World Cup while Nigeria are seeking their fourth World Cup qualification in a row.

Roman Abramovich Was Poisoned At Peace Talks — Reports

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Zoe Maven

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March 28, 2022

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Journalistic investigations have revealed that several negotiators suffered symptoms of a suspected poisoning including Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Abramovich accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

At least two members of Ukraine’s negotiating team and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich suffered symptoms of poisoning following talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations on March 3, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The report, which was confirmed by the investigative journalistic group Bellingcat, said the symptoms included skin and eye irritation. However, these all appeared to subside within a day.

The condition of those who reported suffering the effects of supposed poisoning have all improved and none is in danger, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The reported poisoning took place during talks held in Ukraine. According to Bellingcat, the Ukrainian negotiators first felt the symptoms that night after returning to Kyiv.

These included “eye and skin inflammation and piercing pain in the eyes,” the group wrote on Twitter.

The negotiators reached out to Bellingcat, which connected them with a chemical weapons specialist for examination.

UN Estimates Almost 4 Million Ukrainians Have Fled

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Zoe Maven

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March 28, 2022

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About 170,000 civilians remain trapped in Mariupol without adequate food, water or medicine, according to Ukraine’s foreign ministry, as the UN said some 3.9 million people had fled their homes.

The Kremlin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could resume face-to-face peace talks in Turkey as early as Tuesday.

Russia said on Monday it was preparing to restrict entry into Russia for nationals of “unfriendly” countries, which include Britain, all EU states and the United States.

After the West piled unprecedented sanctions on Moscow following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine, Russia expanded the list of what it calls “unfriendly” countries.

They now include the United States, Australia, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, all EU member states and several others.

Russia’s top independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose chief editor was last year awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said Monday it was suspending publication until the end of Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has so far cost Ukraine $564.9 billion in terms of damage to infrastructure, lost economic growth and other factors, Kyiv’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Monday.

In an online post, she said the fighting had damaged or destroyed 8,000 kilometres of roads and 10 million square metres of housing.

The Kremlin said on Monday that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could get underway in Turkey on Tuesday, and said it was important that the talks be held face-to-face despite scant progress in negotiations so far.

Turkey had earlier said the talks could begin as early as Monday, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that was unlikely as the negotiators would only be arriving in Turkey on Monday.

UN Chief Launches Effort For Ukraine Humanitarian Cease-Fire

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Zoe Maven

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March 28, 2022

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The United Nations chief has launched an initiative to immediately explore possible arrangements for “a humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine” in order to allow the delivery of desperately needed aid.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he used his “good offices” and asked Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, head of the U.N.’s worldwide humanitarian operations, to explore the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia and Ukraine.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority of about 140 nations, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine twice — on March 2 and on March 24 — and Guterres told reporters he thinks “this is the moment” for the United Nations “to assume the initiative.”

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the secretary-general said, there has been a “senseless loss of thousands of lives,” displacement of 10 million people, systematic destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and other essential infrastructure, “and skyrocketing food and energy prices worldwide.”

Over the past month, U.N. humanitarian agencies and their partners have provided nearly 900,000 people, mainly in eastern Ukraine, with food, shelter, water and hygiene supplies, and the U.N. World Food Program is scaling up to reach 1.2 million people by mid-April.

Osmat Lubrani, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said that on Monday U.N. agencies were able to bring food, medical supplies and household items to the besieged northeastern city of Kharkiv.

He said, the Ukrainian Red Cross will deliver them to the most vulnerable communities there as well as other hard-to-reach areas.

Mexico To Rent Out Unwanted Presidential Jet For Parties

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Zoe Maven

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March 28, 2022

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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that his government would offer to rent out a luxury presidential jet for birthday and wedding parties after failing to find a buyer.

Lopez Obrador, an austerity advocate who uses commercial flights, has been vowing to sell the Boeing 787 Dreamliner since his 2018 election campaign, calling it an “insult” to the people.

The plane will be handed over to a military-run company in charge of a new airport that opened last week outside Mexico City and other major infrastructure projects, the president told reporters.

It will be rented out to generate income to cover its expenses and maintenance costs, he said.

The jet will be available if someone “is getting married and is going to take their family and friends” by air, as well as for birthdays and company trips, Lopez Obrador said.

The plane was purchased for about $218 million during former president Felipe Calderon’s 2006-2012 term in office, but the only one who used it was his successor Enrique Pena Nieto.

Lopez Obrador was unable to find a buyer for such a massive jet, which is customized with an executive bedroom, private bath and seating for 80 people.

In September 2020, his government held a symbolic raffle aimed at raising funds roughly equivalent to the plane’s value.

Kenyan Court Frees 16 Motorcycle Riders Detained Over Attack

By

Zoe Maven

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March 28, 2022

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A Kenyan court on Monday acquitted for lack of evidence and ordered the release of 16 motorbike taxi drivers who were arrested after the attack on a female diplomat in early March that shocked public opinion in the country.

The drivers were arrested three days after the violent attack, which took place in broad daylight in the capital Nairobi after a traffic accident.

In a video posted on social media, the young woman was seen screaming in self-defence behind the wheel of her car as a group of men tried to strip her naked and touch her.

Judge Martha Nanzushi told the court on Monday that hence the investigating officer having found no evidence to prosecute the suspects, she hereby releases them.

A 17th man, believed to be the ringleader of the attack, will face trial. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of sexual assault.

He was arrested in mid-March in a town near the Tanzanian border, 400 kilometres from Nairobi, after police said he escaped arrest by running away down a drain.

In response to the nationwide outcry over the attack, President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for a crackdown and ordered a general census of motorbike taxis in Kenya.

According to official figures from 2018, 1.4 million motorbikes were registered in Kenya, most of them boda-boda.

Boda-boda riders, mostly young men, have a bad reputation, disregarding traffic rules and easily attacking other riders. They are also regularly accused of snatching and harassment or assault, including rape.