Dangote, MTN others to build 794km road with tax credit – FG

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August 20, 2021

The Federal Government says about 794kms of road have been priotised for construction by eligible companies through Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in Washington DC during his on-going engagement with various global media outlets, global think tanks and influencers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the engagement is to enable the minister put across the correct narratives about what is happening in Nigeria, showcase government achievements and present challenges facing the country.

Rivers, Largest Global Source Of Mercury In Oceans – Study

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Angel Gimalo

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August 20, 2021

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The presence of mercury in the world’s oceans has ramifications for human health and wildlife, especially in coastal areas where the majority of fishing takes place.

But while models evaluating sources of mercury in the oceans have focused on mercury deposited directly from the atmosphere, a new study led by Peter Raymond, professor of ecosystem ecology at the Yale School of the Environment and published in Nature Geoscience shows that rivers are actually the main source of the toxic heavy metal along the world’s coasts.

“It kind of rewires the global mercury cycle,” Raymond says. Previously, it was believed that most mercury in the open ocean was deposited there from the atmosphere, and then made its way into coastal areas.

But now it appears that most mercury flows into the coastal ocean areas from rivers, and from there it moves out into the open ocean.

“Currently, policymakers mainly focus on controlling atmospheric emission and deposition of mercury, while the contribution of river mercury to coastal oceans is not well understood,” says Maodian Liu, a postdoctoral fellow in Raymond’s lab.

He says that the new findings underscore the importance of limiting the mercury that makes its way into rivers.

KEDCO decries revenue losses over meter bypass in the North

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Henry Williams

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August 20, 2021

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The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) said the company was recording revenue losses due to meter bypass and illegal connection in Kano State, Katsina State and Jigawa.

This is contained in a statement signed by KEDCO Head of Communications, Mr Ibrahim Sani-Shawai, on Friday in Kano.

The company said over 17, 190 metered customers had not vended between January and July 2021.

President Buhari Reappoints Heads Of Education Boards

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 20, 2021

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Is-haq Oloyede, the immediate past registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has been reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also, the former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abubakar Rasheed and Hamid Boboyi, were among the top executive officers of agencies within the ministry of education, who were reappointed on Friday.

The spokesperson for the ministry, Bem Goong, confirmed the reappointment in a telephone call on Friday.

A statement issued by the ministry noted that the reappointments were based on the recommendation of the minister of education, Adamu Adamu.

The statement also confirmed Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe as registrar and chief executive officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

A new director and chief executive officer, Promise Mebine, a professor, was appointed for the National Mathematical Centre for a tenure of five years.

Twitter accedes to 7 of 10 demands – FG

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Henry Williams

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August 20, 2021

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Government says from the 10 demands put forward to lift Twitter suspension, the microblogging and social networking platform has acceded to seven.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed disclosed this in Washington DC during his on-going engagement with various global media outlets, global think tanks and influencers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the engagement is to enable the minister put across the correct narratives about what is happening in Nigeria, showcase government achievements and present challenges facing the country.

Nigeria’s Electoral Commission Affirms Date For Final List Of Candidates In Anambra Election

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Angel Gimalo

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August 20, 2021

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed the date for the release of the final list of candidates who will partake in the Anambra governorship election holding on November 6, 2021.

At a meeting on Thursday, the Commission agreed to publish the final list on October 7.

According to a communique by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the date is the same one contained in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, which was released earlier.

Okoye said the timetable and schedule of activities approved by the Commission on January 18, 2021, provides for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in line with Sec. 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Accordingly, by the deadline of July 30 fixed by the Commission, seven governorship and 11 deputy governorship candidates were substituted by 11 out of 18 political parties.

In addition to this, the Commission was served with the judgement of the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) which set aside the judgement of the High Court of Jigawa State on the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.

As a result of the substitutions and court judgements, the Commission has published an updated list of candidates on its website and will publish the final list on October 7.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that the electoral umpire will continue to deepen the use of technology in conducting elections across the country.

Professor Yakubu made the comment while speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day retreat for officers of the commission in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

According to him, INEC does not need new laws to deploy certain technologies.

Based on that, he said the Commission will be deploying “new and innovative” technology for the Anambra poll.

“We may have different tools, but they all work towards achieving one and the same goal,” he said.

“There are some activities, some aspects of technology that we have deployed that the laws are already adequate for us to continue to deploy these tools.

“We don’t need any specific provisions of law, for instance, to deploy the EMSC (Election Monitoring and Support Centre).”

His comment comes weeks after the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act amendment bill amid sharp divisions over whether the electronic transmission of election results should be sacrosanct.

Govt. Agency Urges Residents to Embrace Health Insurance

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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August 20, 2021

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The General Manager of the Govt. Agency Urges Residents to Embrace Health Insurance

The General Manager of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuelle Zamba, has urged residents of the state to embrace health insurance scheme to gain access to quality health care.

Zamba said this during the inauguration of Ilera Eko divisional office at the Ikotun/Igando Local Council Development Authority.

She said, “Ilera Eko, which is what we call our social health insurance plan is a call to action for all Lagos residents to prioritise their health. It is an opportunity for us to get ourselves quality and affordable health care that will safeguard our lives”

“We are appealing to Lagos residents to please come forward and safeguard the lives of their families.

The essence of social health insurance is about equity; that is, taking care of those that are downtrodden, that cannot take care of themselves.”

The LASHMA General Manager stated that the state government had set aside money to take care of Lagos residents who cannot pay for health insurance plan

She further stated “The Lagos State Government has set aside one per cent of our consolidated revenue fund to pay for citizens that cannot pay for themselves. We have a scientific way of going about knowing those people.

President Buhari Arrives Yola On Condolence Visit, To Visit Royal Palace

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Angel Gimalo

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August 20, 2021

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President Muhammadu Buhari is also expected to visit the Lamido of Adamawa

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the Yola International Airport, Adamawa to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Ahmed Joda.

The late Joda was the Chairman of the Buhari Transition Committee in 2015.

Buhari is also expected to first visit the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, Mohammadu Aliu Barkin.

On the ground to receive the President was the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintri; Chief of Staff, Prof Maxwell Gidado; minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello; heads of security agencies in the state and members of the State Executive Council.

Buhari had earlier in a condolence message, described the late Joda as a trustworthy and loyal companion “who steadfastly stood for the interest of the nation through highs and lows”.

He said his demise is a great loss to Adamawa State and the country at large.

University Of Ibadan Emerges Champions At Global ICT Challenge

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 20, 2021

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The University of Ibadan’s contingent at the 2020 edition of Huawei ICT Global Challenge has emerged as one of the Global Champions in the National and Cloud Categories.

The University’s Public Communications Director, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Tunji Oladejo, said this in a statement in Ibadan.

Tunji said that the Country Manager, Talent Ecosystem Development, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, Kenneth Igwe, commended the University during a courtesy call on the Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Adebola Ekanola

Igwe said the excellent performance of the UI students at the competition showed they were talented, skilled, creative, gifted, passionate and zealous for information and communication technology toward sustainable development.

He further said that due to the excellent performance of UI delegation at the edition, he would coach the next set of students on the requirements for the 2021 Challenge.

“In the 2020 edition of the competition, the University of Ibadan, alongside Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Port Harcourt emerged as global champions in the National and Cloud Categories.

“The three champions from the University of Ibadan: Toheeb Adeniyi Badiru, Bolaji Olaide Abideen and Sulaiman Damilare Olubiyi, all of the Department of Electrical Electronics, Faculty of Technology, currently participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme displayed outstanding digital skills and values impacted in UI’s students.

“Collaborating with UI on the project tagged ‘Huawei Partners’ will involve at least ten other companies, not only Huawei,” Igwe said

He said the project would tap into the talent resources abundant at the university, giving the students internship, graduate training and employment opportunities.

In his response, the Acting Vice-Chancellor UI, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, indicated the keenness of the University of Ibadan to collaborate with Huawei in programme.

He said this would bolster the institution’s effort in promoting teaching, learning and research through information and communication technology.

The acting Vice-Chancellor also said “UI is willing to collaborate with Huawei in achieving and sustaining the goal, since IT is now a great tool for teaching, learning, research and administrative work.”

He, however, urged the company to make known to UI management the needs and challenges facing the company so that it could form the thrust of future research efforts at the university.

“I specially thank Huawei for partnering with the University in the past, for taking cognisance of the excellent performance of UI students in the 2020 Huawei competition, and for being anxious to have an enduring relationship with UI,” Ekanola said.

Ogun State: Health Insurance to be implemented in the Informal Sector

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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August 20, 2021

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The Ogun State Government has said the implementation of universal health coverage within its domain will start with the informal sector so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and increase access to quality health care irrespective of socioeconomic status.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said this in a statement on Thursday.

She was cited to have said this amid the pre-inauguration press briefing of the state’s informal sector health insurance scheme in Abeokuta.

Coker said it was sad that individuals spend a high proportion of their wage on health care which numerous may not afford, saying the result of out-of-pocket use was poor health results such as high maternal and under-five mortality rates as well as a ineffectively used health service.

She said, “According to the National Health Account of 2017, no fewer than 76.6 per cent of Nigerians pay out-of-pocket for their health care expenditure. Of particular note are the vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under five and elderly who do not have the means to pay for the healthcare they need.

“The present administration in Ogun State having understood the prevailing economic constraints in the country is aligning with the global and national agenda of pursuing the goal of Universal Health Coverage by the year 2025, thereby establishing the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme.

“The Ogun State Health Insurance Agency will be responsible for mobilising financial resources for the scheme, pooling of risks, purchase of health care services for the beneficiaries and performing general oversight functions.”

The Commissioner expressed that the fundamental advantage of the scheme would cut across both preventive and curative health administrations, taking into cognisance the prevailing local morbidity and mortality profile, counting pre and post-natal care as well as normal delivery.

She stated that access to basic health care would be through public and private facilities offering primary health care services.

“Our prospective clients can start registering for the scheme at different locations through the OGSHIA website, the designated third-party administrators and Primary Health Centres in their communities across the twenty Local Government Areas of the state,”

“There shall be a clearly defined procedure for registering enrollees as well as a form of identification, including membership and insurance card to assist in identification of members at the point of care.