Author: tdpel

By Deborah Coker

Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo e-registration committee, has said that the state was fast becoming the strongest PDP base in Nigeria.

Adjoto, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, said that this was on account of the success recorded in the ongoing e-registration.

He disclosed that the party has recorded 516,000 membership via the exercise, adding that the website still enjoys high traffic from Edo people.

A situation he said was a clear testament that the sterling performance of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo was endearing the party to the people of the state.

He also said giving the huge electoral consciousness of Edo people, the state was set to impact on the forthcoming National Elections.

“It will interest you to know that 516,000 residents of the state have Registered to be members of our great party the PDP, here in Edo.

“This figure accounts for more than 10 per cent of the state population.

“These are real time registrants whose records are verifiable and accessible to members of the public. No other political party can brag to relish this feat.

“As we speak, after 516,000 entries, the e-registration website still enjoys high traffic from Edo people”, he said.

Adjoto a former Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, also disclosed that a number of the ruling party’s heavyweights have approached him to express their interest to join PDP.

The e-registration committee chairman gave the assurance that the 1 million party membership drive in the state was obviously achievable if the present momentum continued,

He revealed that so far Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area has recorded the highest number of registrants with 189,931 people.

He added that Ikpoba-Okha is closely followed by Oredo Local Government Area with 86, 281, and then Akoko-Edo Local Government Area with 42, 553.

“In Egor Local Government Area, we so far have 25, 000 e-registrants, Uhumwonde 6, 389 e-registrants, Ovia North East 13, 087, Ovia South West 15, 708 and Owan East 15, 104.

“Similarly so far we have recorded 6, 912 e-registrants in Owan West Local Government Area, Esan North East 8, 639, Esan South East 13, 876, Esan West 15, 550 and Esan Central 8, 635.

“For Etsako West Local Government Area we have so far recorded 28, 620 e-registrants, Etsako East 15, 693, Etsako Central 8, 423, Igueben 6, 246 and Orhionmwon 9, 343”, Adjoto said.

He further disclosed that the party had 1,778 active agents across the state for the e-registration exercise.(NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has expressed commitment to greater collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on infectious diseases awareness and quality health services for Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Dr Patrick Dakum, expressed the organisation’s commitment when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, on Thursday in Abuja.

Dakum, who commended NAN “for the prompt and accurate dissemination of news to Nigerians”, added that IHVN had collaborated with NAN for more than 12  years and had been enjoying and benefiting fro services given it by the agency.

He said, “We’re hoping that this is something that we will continue to build on.

“We want to continue to see how using the NAN medium will ensure timely information for Nigerians to live healthy lives free of diseases and be able to access treatment.”

The NAN managing director, while congratulating the IHVN boss on the institute’s new campus in Abuja, expressed the hope that it would provide a platform for collaborative research and partnerships for quality health service for Nigerians.

He assured IHVN of continuous cooperation and reportage of health issues, care, treatment, capacity building and research into communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country.

Ponle said that research institutes were like the backbone of a healthy nation and IHVN was not an exception.

He added that “I believe with increased funding, Nigeria has the manpower and resources to be as developed as other nations of the world.”

He noted that “NAN is a home for solution journalism; home for positive reporting and home for development communication.

“We always try to see the positive side of issues, discuss and package reports to ensure that we do the best for the country.” (NAN)

By Lizzy Okoji

First Lady Aisha Buhari has called for concerted efforts aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and fostering sustainable development in the country.

Buhari made the call on Tuesday during the Women in Culture event organised by the Chinese Embassy in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 International Women’s Day celebrated annually on March 8.

The first lady who was represented by Dr Rukayatu Gurin, Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, expressed regret at the National Assembly’s decision to turn down the Bill seeking to promote women’s interests.

She applauded the resilience of women and encouraged them to do more.

She underscored the need for joint efforts towards ensuring better healthcare, education, and employment for women and the vulnerable.

According to Buhari, the Aisha Buhari Foundation and Future Assured projects have worked in close collaboration to contribute significantly to the development of women, youths, and children.

“The theme of this year’s celebration: `Gender Equality for Sustainable Development’ not only identifies the vital role of women in sustainable development, but also signifies the role of women as mothers, sisters, and daughters in engineering sustainable development.

“The role cannot be effectively executed without promoting partnerships and collaborations in the provision of education, health, and empowerment to women and youth.

“Aisha Buhari Foundation and Future Assured have in partnership and collaboration contributed a lot to the development of women, youth, and children.

“On this special day, I thank the ambassador and our development partners for working hard to promote women’s development.

“To our women, I salute your resilience and encourage you to do more.

“To our stakeholders, I urge you to network more and intensify efforts to do more for women and children to reduce the effects of climate change.

“We need everybody’s support in providing education, health, employment, empowerment for women and the vulnerable.

“I, therefore, call upon all to join hands in promoting women’s equality and empowerment for sustainable development,” Buhari said.

Mrs Liang Huili, Wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, described women as founders of human civilisation and promoters of social progress.

Liang said the level of women’s development in society serves as a key index of civilisation.

“With joint efforts of the whole society, Chinese women have made great progress in all fields. Their statuses in economics, decision-making, management, health, and education have been continuously improved.

“The gender gap narrowed from 4.1 per cent in 2010 to 2.8 per cent.

“The proportion of female employees in the whole society remains above 40 per cent. Overall, tremendous success has been achieved in poverty alleviation among rural poor women.

“As of the end of 2020, women accounted for about half of the nearly 100 million people who had been lifted out of poverty.

“The proportion of deputies to the National Women’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Consultative Congress is the highest in history,” Liang said.

She, however, said that in spite of the progress made in the protection of their rights in employment, to personal property, in marriage, and in family, women still face significant challenges.

She called for concerted efforts at the global level towards ending all forms of discrimination and inequality against women and the vulnerable.

Mrs Sulola Onyeama, Wife of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs praised Nigerian women for their resilience, and for being very active across all sectors.

Onyeama urged the women to remain committed, strong, and not be discouraged. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission to develop special interest in the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun as well as the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria.

PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, made the call when he received the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission, led by the Head of EU Observation Mission, Mrs Maria Arena, at the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

Ayu who commended the mission on its recommendations on 2019 General Elections, said the recommendations were not only useful to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but also assisted in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

“I think your observation across the country should be based on helping not only INEC but also the security services to do their Job which constitutional they have been provided to do.

“It is wrong for agencies which are supposed to be independent to help see credible elections, to subvert the electoral process.

“So we have serious apprehensions particularly in those areas where details will be made available.

“I will also want more observers provided to go around because it is a big country.

“We have two very important state elections for governorship in the southwestern part of the country in Ekiti and Osun. One will take place in June and the other one will take place in July.

“We urge you to take special interest in those elections because they are very important elections.

“I believe that the way you did in 2019, you will be able to put down your observations which we make available to INEC to help them improve on their performance, so that when we come to 2023 some of the lapses will be reduced.

“ So, we think your visit is very much welcomed we have no problem with it. We believe it will help not just Nigerians but the who process of democracy in the country,” Ayu said.

Ayu said that though the PDP performed well in the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils election as well as in the just-concluded by-elections in Imo, Plateau and Cross River, but the party still has evidence of electoral practices in some of the elections.

He disclosed that the party already petitioned INEC on cases of alleged intimidation in the case of by-election held in Imo, stating that PDP would take legal action if its petition was not properly addressed.

“In Imo where PDP National Secretary comes from, we are going to make a report which is submitted to INEC in that particular election available to your agency.

“In that particular state, we face a lot of harassment, particularly from the security agencies, we have submitted a petition to INEC.

“We intend to take necessary legal action if nothing is done because it is not in the interest of our country that the will of the people is not respected.”

Ayu said that PDP’s recent performance across the country was consistent and strong.

“Our people are determined to promote, mobilise and make sure that Nigerians vote because they have seen the difference between us and the other party.”

Earlier in her remark, Mrs Maria Arena, said the mission is in the country to access the level of implementation on the recommendations made after the conduct of 2019 General Elections.

She said they were also at the PDP secretariat, as a critical stakeholder to hear their concern about the 2023 elections.

“I am the chief observer for the elections in 2019. We are here for follow-up mission. As you know, we have made a report with 30 recommendations in this report.

“This follow-up mission is to assess how these recommendations have been taken on board by the different authorities in the country.

“It is important to meet with all the stakeholders as much as possible because it’s not easy in five days meeting with stakeholders, but we have met with civil society, with media, with the government and the political parties.

“It is important because you are playing a very important role in the electoral process. And so for us, it is important to listen to you about the main concern that you have for 2023 future elections,” Arena said .(NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed collaboration between the Ministries of Environment, Water Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development and Power to combat desertification.

His spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, stated in Abuja on Thursday that the president gave the directive in Nairobi after a meeting with Mr Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Buhari, who is attending a Special Session of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP@50), said the 11 states prone to drought and desert encroachment should join in the collaboration on the platform of the Northern Governors Forum.

The president equally directed full cooperation between Nigeria and UNCCD in the prelude to the forthcoming meeting to combat desertification billed for Cote D’Ivoire in May.

In his remarks, Thiaw said apart from the meeting in Cote D’Ivoire, Climate Change conference would hold in Egypt later in the year, noting that “the Conference of the Parties would be coming back to Africa after 11 years.’’

On desertification, he said Africa lost about 60 per cent of its arable land in the past 50 years, leading to a challenge of feeding the people.

“Land degradation is about food, peace and security. And land restoration provides multiple solutions. It brings carbon back to the soil when you cultivate the land,’’ the executive secretary said.

According to him, no one qualifies more to speak on large scale restoration of land than the Nigerian leader, who is also President of the Great Green Wall.

He added that Nigeria had the greatest stretch of the Wall, which is longer than 1,000 kilometres.

On drought, Thiaw said it was a phenomenon that had always existed, “but is now much more severe, and have become a global issue’’.

He said Buhari’s leadership is important to drive the process of tackling the various germane issues on desertification, drought, and land restoration. (NAN)

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) said in Lagos on Thursday that 15,357 ghost pensioners within Federal Government’s agencies were collecting pensions illegally.

Mr Kabiru Yusuf, Director, Parastatals Pension Department, PTAD, made the disclosure when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side-line of a one-day training for newsmen covering pensions.

NAN reports that PTAD was established by the Federal Government in August 2013 in compliance with the provisions of the repealed Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004.

Its establishment was necessitated by the need to reform the old Pensions Offices under the Defined Benefit Scheme which was bedevilled by myriad problems.

Yusuf said while reviewing the number of pensioners on its payroll in the last quarter of 2020, it discovered that there were 120,000 of them prior to the call for verification.

He explained that following verification, the directorate discovered that 20,191 of the pensioners could not be found on the PTAD verification data base but were on the payroll.

“After a lot of due diligence, we decided to remove them from the payroll in the belief that if they were genuine pensioners, they would come out to present themselves.

“We established a robust complaint management system and notified the Pensions Commission, our regulator, the National Assembly and agencies where the pensioners claimed to have worked,’’ he said.

He said only 4,834 of the affected pensioners went through the process of the complaint management to present themselves for verification and they were restored on the payroll.

Yusuf said some other cases caused by errors were corrected and the affected persons were also restored to the payroll .

“Up till now, we have close to 16,000 pensioners unaccounted for and unless anyone comes out with valid identification, they are people who have been collecting pensions illegally,’’ he said.

The director said he could not readily name the amount of money the directorate was able to save from ending the illegality, but that in 2016, during the directorate’s initiative to validate BVN of pensioners, it saved up to N7 billion.

Yusuf noted that the initiative was geared towards bringing integrity and validity to the data base in place.

He said that verification was the only recognised basis for PTAD to ascertain that the pensioners it was responsible for were not only qualified but were alive.

The director said the verification would enable the pensioners to link their details to their bank accounts biometrics and thereafter compute their entitlements and pay them their monthly pensions, different from the inherited pension which had lots of errors in it.

He expressed disappointment that PTAD only got an Excel list of pensioners’ names, amounts, bank names and account numbers when it took off in 2014.

“We started making payment on what was called ‘good faith ‘ at that time until when we were able to do verification,’’ he noted.

He told NAN also that PTAD had opened state offices and several social digital platforms manned by competent officers to bring its services closer to pensioners.

Earlier, Dr Chioma Ejike, Executive Secretary, PTAD, said the directorate had worked assiduously over the years to change the narrative of pension administration in Nigeria. (NAN)

German car giant,  Volkswagen (VW) said it would stop its vehicle production in Russia “until further notice” and “immediately” halt exports to Russia in light of the attack on Ukraine.

VW operated its own car production sites in Kaluga, south-west of Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, further east.

The company on Thursday,  announced that production at both sites would be stopped for the time being.

No cars from among the VW Group brands, including Audi, Porsche and Skoda would be exported to Russia, it said in a statement.

On Wednesday, luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it was halting business with Russia.

Selling to or buying from Russian companies had become far harder in the days since the Kremlin launched its invasion due to sanctions imposed by the international community.

German carmakers had  been particularly hard hit and the conflict had affected for example the provision of wiring harnesses from Ukraine that relayed  information and electric power around a vehicle.

Several car manufacturers had announced temporarily halts in production at some of their German sites in the past two days.

It is not only German carmakers that have been affected by the conflict.

Toyota on Thursday said it would suspend production at its St Petersburg plant from Friday due to supply chain disruptions, the plant manufactures RAV4 and Camry models, mainly for the Russian market.

The carmaker said it had already stopped all activities in Ukraine as of February 24.

International sanctions prompted a number of key global companies to announce that they were winding down or reducing business with Russia.

These include among many others Boeing, Apple, ExxonMobil and shipping company Maersk.

Music and podcast streamer Spotify said it was closing its offices in Russia but it would continue to make its services available in Russia “to allow for the global flow of information.” (dpa/NAN)