Epl: Nigerian Youngster, Afolami Signs First Professional Contract With Liverpool

By

Emenike Agu

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November 7, 2023

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Nigerian-born youngster, Afolami Onanuga has signed his professional contract with Liverpool.

Afolami linked up with Liverpool as an U-11 and has progressed through the ranks.

The 17-year-old was spotted playing grassroots football in Manchester.

The midfielder is currently a regular member of the U-18 squad.

Afolami made his debut for the U-21s when he started against Blackpool at Bloomfield last month.

He is a talented player who links the game well and looks to have a positive impact in the attacking third.

Anambra To Digitize Land Administration, Plans 72-Hr C of O

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 7, 2023

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Anambra State government has completed an arrangement to set up the Geographic Information System (GIS) process, which will facilitate land administration activities in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning & Rural Development, Prof. Ofornze Amuchanze, said the system will be fully digitised by the end of this year.

This is in line with Governor Charles Soludos’ vision of achieving a livable and prosperous homeland for citizens.

Speaking at a two-day “Performance Management And Appraisal System workshop for Anambra State Ministry of Lands, the state Commissioner for Lands, Physical planning and Rural Development, Prof Ofornze Amucheazi, SAN, said that the GIS will ensure land owners obtain their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)within 72 hours.

Also read: FCT Minister Revokes 167 Plots Of Land In Abuja Highbrow Districts

The “Performance Management and Appraisal System Workshop” which held on the 26th and 27th October, 2023 at the Seminar/Workshop Hall, Arnold and Associates headquarters,Millennium City Layout in Awka Capital City, Anambra state was organised by the Ministry of Lands.

Amucheazi said: “We have commenced implementation of the GIS, which is aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness of land administration and other related land matters.

“It will enhance online land transactions and is expected to be concluded by the end of 2024. All the activities are aimed at turning Anambra state into a progressive state in the Southeast region.”

He disclosed that the programme is the first in a series of training for the 120 staff in the ministry, and assured that it would be a continuous process.

Participants commended the state government for organising the workshop, insisting that it has added to whatever knowledge and experience gained before on the job.

The Commissioner further extended his appreciations to Mr Arnold Ekweoba the CEO of Arnold Ekweoba and Associates Limited who provided the venue of the workshop as well as Ubosi Eleh & Co and McTimothy Associates Consulting LLC who were the facilitators of the workshop.

Arnold & Associates on its part, congratulated the Commissioner and the entire management and staff of the Ministry of Lands for this strategic and progressive step towards actualizing the dream of Governor Soludo vision of making Anambra State a liveable and prosperous homeland.

According to the organizers of the workshop, the selection of Arnold and Associates headquarters in Awka for the workshop was borne out of the fact that the new office complex offers the ideal environment for such an event.

Recall that on May 2, 2023, Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, inaugurated a seven-man land recovery committee for Onitsha, Nnewi, Idemili, and their environs in the State.

The inaugurating the committee took place at an event inside the conference hall of the Ministry of Lands, Awka the State capital on Tuesday.

The governor through the Commissioner for lands, Professor Offornze Amucheazi,SAN, declared that his administration would not condone land grabbing or encroachments of any kind on government-owned lands and properties.

The Governor mandated the committee to take record and recover all government owned lands and properties within their terms of reference.

Cervical Cancer: Expert Advocates Yearly Screening for Women

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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November 7, 2023

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An Oncologist, Dr Adediran Ademola, has counseled women of reproductive age to go for cervical cancer screening yearly to know their status. Dr. Ademola, practising at the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, Oncology Department, made the call during an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo.

The doctor, who spoke on the causes of cancer, its management and treatment, said early detection will help to save lives.

He added that though the cause(s) of cancers are attached to numerous factors, every woman of productive age is at risk of having cervical cancer.

He said “cervical cancer is one of the health challenges faced by women globally, the second leading cancer in the world and the fourth leading cancer in West Africa. It is the cancer of the cervix and the cervix is a part of the female reproductive system.”

The oncologist explained that some factors associated with cervical cancer include having multiple sexual partners and high risk sexual behaviour.

He also said that like other forms of cancers, cervical cancer can also be hereditary, caused by what goes into the body and the environment, such as global warming effect.

He said the signs of cervical cancer depend on age, and difficult to detect in women of reproductive age until they get screened.

“Every woman of productive age is supposed to be screened at least once in a year. If a post menopausal woman suddenly sees her menses again, she is supposed to go for cervical cancer screening; also, a woman that has delivered four babies by herself (grand multiparous woman) is also at risk of cervical cancer.”

He added that surviving cancer generally depends on the time of presentation and that there are many ways cancer can be treated, which include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and others.

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has a 95-95-95 plan to ensure 95 per cent of women are aware of cervical cancer, 95 per cent are screened, while 95 per cent are treated or are on treatment by the year 2030.

Osun State Govt. Conducts Free Medical Screening For 300 Women

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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November 7, 2023

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Osun State Government has conducted free cervical and breast cancer screening for over 300 women living in selected rural communities in the state.

The screening was part of a three-day sensitisation and awareness campaign programme tagged, ‘Nigeria for women project’ and themed ‘Say no to breast and cervical cancer.’

During the campaign and screening exercise which took place in Oke-Ila in Ifedayo Local Government Area, Ogbaagba in Olaoluwa Local Government Area and Iwara in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of the state, over 300 women who were screened, were also counseled on the need for them to shun any act that could jeopardize their health.

Speaking in Oke-Ila during the flag-off of the exercise, the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Director of Planning and Research in the State Ministry of Health, Dr Olalekan Famakinwa, said the programme was aimed at improving women’s health.

Famakinwa further explained that ailments like cervical and breast cancer could be treated if discovered early, adding that “Minimum of 100 women from each chosen local government areas will benefit from the free screening, while anyone found positive at the early stage of test shall be given free drugs for treatment and prevention.

She also advised women of 35 years old and above to go for cervical screening and do follow-up checkups after six months of the first one.

Health Sovereignty: Coalition Writes President Tinubu to reject WHO’s IHR Amendments

By

Henry Williams

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November 7, 2023

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The coalition against the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) and Equity International Initiative (EII) has called on President Bola Tinubu in an open letter to reject the proposed new amendments to the WHO’s health regulations.

The letter states specifically why the amendments should be rejected and what threat it poses to the nations sovereignty.

Coalition calls Tinubu to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty, reject WHO’s new amendments to IHR

We call on President Tinubu to write to the WHO, Reject the Amendments to the IHRs, and STOP THE NEGOTIATIONS on Nigeria’s behalf

IHRs are non-binding recommendations that delegates to the World Health Assembly at the WHO, on behalf of Nigeria and 193 other nations of the world, freely agreed to follow in 1963. These recommendations guide member Sates on how to respond to public health events that can cross national borders and affect regions, continents, and the whole world.
As non-binding agreements, these IHRs come into force without the need for parliamentary or executive input from member States.
The IHRs have been amended multiple times over the years without incident. However, these new amendments, which began to be negotiated in 2021, have been fraught with numerous irregularities.

-The first set of amendments were adopted in May 2022 and reduced the time period for rejection of amendments from 18 to 10 months, and reduction of the time period for enactment into force from 24 to 12 months. There is no reason for this reduction except to make engagement & response to WHO policies/decisions by citizens of the world more difficult.

-Having no merit or benefit to Nigeria, and only leading to a stifling of the voices of we the people of Nigeria, we call on President Tinubu to write to the WHO, rejecting the Amendments to the IHRs adopted in May 2022.

In addition, stealthy, underground negotiations continue, and these new amendments involve many areas of the domestic life of Nigerians that should never be controlled by people outside of Nigeria
The WHO & its partners, claim that this total power shift is to be done for our own good, to protect us against biological threats. Yet decisions will be made without our consent/ participation, with total immunity and no liability for the repercussions of the actions of unelected WHO bureaucrats.
Specifically, these amendments to the IHR give the WHO the power to, at any time, suspend our constitutions and our human rights in international law in the name of an actual or potential health event.
This global power grab is a corruption and abuse of international law that will lead to harm to the health, economies, and national sovereignty of Nigeria and all nations of the world.
These amendments include widening the concept of a PHEIC such that climate change and the reduction of CO2 levels are now issues that can trigger a PHEIC. Thus, this rule of emergency law shall become our new normal, and our normal constitutional lives become the exception
As such, the WHO can describe anything as a threat, make draconian laws/interventions essential to dealing with these threats including which medicines to be given for them, whether people can travel, what travel documents will be acceptable, etc. These edicts will be enforced by making these IHRs binding on nations to implement them on their citizens and institutions.
We call on well meaning Nigerians to ensure that our national sovereignty is protected by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This letter rejecting the IHR Amendments need to be received by the WHO before Dec. 1st.

-President Tinubu, protect Nigeria’s sovereignty. and our freedom. Write and reject the WHO Amendments to the IHRs!!!

Bangladesh Garment Workers Reject 56% Pay Rise

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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Bangladesh raised the minimum monthly pay for the country’s four million garment workers by 56 per cent on Tuesday, a decision immediately rejected by unions seeking a near-tripling of the figure.

The South Asian country’s 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 per cent of its $55 billion in annual exports, supplying many of the world’s top fashion names including Levi’s, Zara and H&M.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector’s four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly pay starts at 8,300 taka ($75).

Workers have gone on strike to demand a near-tripling of their wages, with violent scenes in recent days, while employers offered 25 per cent.

The minimum wage is fixed by a state-appointed board that includes representatives from the manufacturers, unions and wage experts.

“The new minimum monthly wage for garment factory workers has been fixed at 12,500 taka ($113),” Raisha Afroz, the board secretary added.

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The figure was immediately rejected by unions, which have been demanding a 23,000 taka minimum.

Unions say their members have been hard hit by persistent inflation, which in October reached nearly 10 per cent, and a cost of living crisis partly triggered by the taka depreciating about 30 per cent against the US dollar since early last year.

“This is unacceptable. This is below our expectations,” said Kalpona Akter, head of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation.

The panel normally sits every five years and in 2018 raised the basic minimum from 5,000 taka to 8,000. Garment workers also get at least 300 taka per month as an attendance fee.

Earlier Tuesday, police fired tear gas at thousands of workers who set a bus on fire outside Dhaka, as tensions rose ahead of the announcement.

Police said violence broke out in the industrial city of Gazipur as about 6,000 workers walked out of their plants and staged protests.

According to the Police, around 600 factories that make clothing for many major Western brands were shuttered last week and scores were ransacked as the worst wage protest in a decade hit major industrial areas and a suburb of the capital.

Four factories were torched and at least two workers were killed in the violence, with tens of thousands of workers blocking highways and attacking factories.

The protests have coincided with separate violent demonstrations by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of elections due in January.

FGN Savings Bonds Subscription Opens

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced an offering for a two-year and three-year Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) savings bonds.

In a statement on Monday, DMO said the offers, which opened on November 6, 2023, will close by November 10, 2023, at N1000 per unit.

The agency said the first offer is a two-year FGN savings bond due on November 15, 2025, at an interest rate of 12.464 percent per annum.

DMO opens two FGN savings bonds for subscription at N1,000 per unit

The second issuance, DMO said, is a three-year savings bond maturing on November 15, 2026, at 13.464 percent per annum interest rate.

The organisation also said coupon payment dates are November 15, 2023, February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 2024, respectively.

“They are offered at N1,000 per unit subject to a maximum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter, subject to a maximum subscription of N50 million,” DMO said.

“Interest is payable quarterly and the bullet repayment (principal amount) is done on maturity.”

The debt office said the latest offers have a settlement date of November 15, 2023.

DMO said that FGN savings bonds were backed by the full faith and credit of the FGN and charged upon the general assets of the country.

The debt office said: “They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the trustee investment act.”

“They qualify as government securities within the meaning of the company income tax act (CITA) and personal income tax act (PITA) for tax exemption, pension funds, amongst other investors.”

The agency further said the savings bonds are also listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.

Maritime Workers Reject Plans to Repeal Ports, Bill

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) have voiced their strong opposition to the proposed Ports and Harbour Bill in the National Assembly, which seeks to repeal the existing Act that established the NPA.

The two internal unions in the country’s marine sector issued the warning, saying that if the Bill becomes a law, it could threaten the security and the economy of the country and cause many Nigerians including NPA employees to lose their jobs.

At a joint briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, November 7, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, and his NPA counterpart, Akinola Bodunde, claimed that some individuals were secretly introducing the Bill that the 8th National Assembly had rejected and discarded.

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They urged Nigerians to oppose the Bill, which they alleged was intended to appropriate and transfer national heritage to a small number of people.

According to them: “We wish to note that the bill if allowed to be passed into law, will have far-reaching grave consequences on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands.

“We are therefore not surprised that the bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the maritime sector, who are hell-bent on appropriating our commonwealth and cornering same into the lining of their pockets and that of their cronies.

“We would have thought that given our persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various nation’s seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports.

“The focus of this 10 National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriad of problems bedevilling our ports, terminals, Jetties, and Oil and Gas platforms and even the need to dredge all the ports, particularly Calabar, Warri, Onne, etc for increased efficiency; and not to clandestinely and recklessly seek to misappropriate public infrastructure through unfriendly legislation for the benefit of individuals whose only interest is capital accumulation and not the general public.

“We are further surprised that the sponsors of this bill outrightly ignored our demand to call the International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in our sovereign territorial economic zones, who have deliberately refused to obey our extant Maritime regulations, standards, and laws but, find it expedient to sit in the comfort of their hallowed chambers to push for laws that will be detrimental and inimical to the welfare and wellbeing of the working class, Nigerians and our nation’s security and sovereignty.

“The Joint House Unions, MWUN, and SSACGOC use this medium to convey our views to the leadership, members of the National Assembly, and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this is certainly not the right way to go as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018 will not be allowed to come to fruition.”

The unions also claimed that a draft of the Bill shows that it offers entirely non-pensionable, non-transferable, and non-terminable work without access to terminal benefits.

They maintained that the Bill has to be removed so it does not conflict with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to create five million jobs in Nigeria through the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The said: “This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the Bill to the right of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered by a worker, in accordance to known law, industrial relations practice, equity, and good conscience.

“We believe that allowing this Bill to be passed into law will effectively institutionalize the evil concept of casualization of workers and negate the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 as amended.

“This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the provision of about five million jobs for Nigerians through the newly-created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“Having said this, We, the two in-house unions in the maritime sector; MWUN and SSASCGOC, will not fold our hands and allow a few unpatriotic Nigerians within the industry to rip off the nation’s commonwealth and render our sector unproductive via this infamous Bill that will only create poverty, hopelessness, hunger and generate avid bitterness amongst the already impoverished workers and Nigeria citizenry.

“Consequently, we confirm our absolute vote of confidence on the Nigerian Ports Authority ACT as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further. We, therefore, demand its withdrawal in its entirety with the laid down laws.”

Strike: NLC, TUC Summon NEC Meeting

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

0

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.

The National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with News correspondent on Tuesday afternoon.

The aim of the meeting, according to Etim, is to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero.

He also said the meeting will give room for the review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

This, he said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.

He stated, “We will be holding an extraordinary NEC meeting any moment from now. The modalities include the injustice meted upon comrade Ajaero, the planned strike and the MOU signed with the Federal Government. More details will be revealed after the meeting.”

Recall that the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although, the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack.

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

Nigeria Lost N4.3tn to Oil Theft in 5 Years- FG

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

0

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday revealed that more than N4.3tn worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within a period of five years.

It disclosed this at the Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Growth.’ The conference was organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria.

In a presentation at the conference by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Federal Government agency, the organisation revealed that oil theft and losses in Nigeria had become a national emergency.

The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji, said oil theft was an emergency that posed serious threat to oil exploration and exploitation with huge negative consequences on economic growth, business prospects and profit earnings by oil companies.

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Providing data from the agency’s reports to back his claims, he said: “NEITI disclosed that in the last five years, 2017 to 2021, Nigeria recorded 7,143 cases of pipeline breakages and deliberate vandalism resulting in crude theft and product losses of 208.639 million barrels valued at $12.74m or N4.325tn.

“NEITI reports also disclosed that during the same period Nigeria spent N471.493bn to either repair or maintain pipelines.”

Orji pointed out that from NEITI’s 2021 Oil and Gas Industry Report released in September, the sector accounted for 72.26 per cent of Nigeria’s total export and government’s foreign exchange, 40.55 per cent of government revenue, and provided 19,171 jobs.

“However, for us in NEITI, it is not a matter of debate that despite the strategic contributions, the country is yet to derive optimal benefits from its oil and gas resources due to oil theft and losses through pipeline vandalism, pipeline integrity compromise, outright sabotage, and general insecurity in the region.

“From NEITI’s reports over the years, and recently insights from our membership of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft and Losses, we are aware that oil theft is perpetrated mainly through pipeline clamping, illegal connections on major pipelines, exploitation of abandoned oil wellheads, pipeline breakages and vandalism of key national assets to illegally siphon crude into waiting vessels stationed in strategic terminals.

“This criminal exploits take place most times in atmosphere of communities’ complicity and conspiracy of silence,” the NEITI boss stated.

He stressed that it was also a matter of fact that many members of the pipelines association were directly and indirectly involved in providing the skills and knowledge required to perpetrate oil theft.

“As you are aware, illegal connections, pipeline clamping, etc, cannot be done by just anybody. And so, your association is largely complicit by failing to put in place stringent regulation and appropriate sanctions to check involvement of your members.

“For instance, NEITI has put in the public domain empirical data of oil theft and losses at 619.7 million barrels of crude, valued at $46.16bn or N16.25tn between 2009 and 2020.

“In addition, Nigeria lost 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products from refineries, valued at $1.84bn at the rate of 140,000 barrels per day, from 2009 to 2018.

“Thus, the total value of crude losses between 2009 and 2020 is higher than the size of the country’s foreign reserves and almost 10 times Nigeria’s oil savings in Excess Crude Account,” Orji stated.

He told participants at the conference that Nigeria’s economy cannot grow in an atmosphere of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and general insecurity in the oil producing communities.