Now is the Future

Author: tdpel

  • NDLEA raids Lagos Island drug den, arrests kingpin, 6 others; recovers 5,862kg drugs

    A major drug kingpin operating the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, in Lagos state, Mrs. Sherifat Kehinde Lawal has been arrested along with six other suspects by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also recovered 5,862 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including Loud and Codeine in a raid on Saturday 26th February 2022.

    Following credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on illicit drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices at 9:30am Saturday 26th Feb. Other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.

    The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves, took the suspects and exhibits away. Other suspects in custody with Mrs. Lawal include: Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat, and Chukwudi Egon.

    In his reaction to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Lagos Command of the Agency for the successful operation. He warned those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work to desist or face dire consequences.

     

  • Nigerian national seriously injured after Russian missile hit Ukrainian residence. See Video

    Reports coming in from investigative journalist Kemi Olunloyo says a Nigerian natural has been seriously injured in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    The report also says 2wo Kyiv residents were killed and six injured after the missile hit a high-rise apartment building early Saturday morning.

    See the tweet below

    See the video below

  • D8 countries to harness economic, trade potentials among members

    By Fortune Abang

    The Organisation for Economic Cooperation, D-8, on Friday said it would continue to harness economic potentials to promote trade among its member states.

    The D-8 member countries comprise Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

    The Secretary-General of the organization, M Isiaka Imam said this in a statement on the outcome of his official maiden meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheik Hasina, at the Ganabhaban, in Dhaka.

    The statement quoted Imam as saying, “We hope to further introduce new ideas for innovative partnership among D-8 Member States, who have the potential of emerging as a powerful economic bloc.

    “Bangladesh being a founding Member State of D-8 organization seeks cooperation in six key priority areas, namely; trade, agriculture, industry, energy, transport and tourism towards enhancing the socio-economic development of Member Countries.

    “There is the need for effective implementation of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement, to harness the immense economic potential for promoting trade among the Member States.”

    The statement further quoted Hasina, who is also the current Chairperson of D-8, to have expressed the readiness of Bangladesh to provide Member States with exclusive facilities and land in the country’s Special Economic Zones.

    The Prime Minister in the statement also invited Member States to leverage such an opportunity to further enhance economic cooperation in the organisation.

    “Bangladesh has achieved success in the agricultural sector; our researchers have developed the drought and saline–tolerant variants of rice, we can share our experiences with D-8 countries in the agricultural sector.

    “Bangladesh has also achieved tremendous feats in digital transformation and is prepared to share her experience with the Member States to enhance cooperation in the field of ICT.

    “Our government is prepared to provide its ICT Parks to the D-8 Organization, to enhance cooperation in ICT,” Hasina said.

    Hasina highlighted projects undertaken by the D-8 to include; D-8 International University at Hamedan, Iran, D-8 Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation, D-8 Health and Social Protection Programme in Abuja, Nigeria.

    Others are the D-8 Research Centre for Agriculture and Food Security in Faisalabad, Pakistan, adding that the Visa Agreement and D-8 Designated Airports initiatives were aimed at easing travel across member countries.

    The statement also disclosed that the organisation would hold its 25th anniversary celebration in June, 2022. (NAN)

  • LAPO MfB, Mercy Corps partner to support vulnerable Nigerian farmers

    By Abdulrahman Kadiri

    LAPO, Micro-finance Bank (MfB) is collaborating with Mercy Corps, an international NGO, to support smallholder farmers in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe states.

    Both organisations consummated the collaboration on Saturday, in Abuja, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect.

    Cynthia Ikponmwosa, Managing Director of LAPO MfB, said that the collaboration was in furtherance of the bank’s mandate of social and economic empowerment of vulnerable members of the society.

    Ikponmwosa said that the MfB promoted interventions like access to financial services to small holder farmers and other Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

    “This MoU re-emphasises our 30-year mandate of economic empowerment of members of the low income households, who are the most vulnerable.

    “We further contribute to enhancing financial inclusion and rural economic resilience,” she said.

    She expressed hope for a fruitful collaboration with Mercy Corps in their bid to support smallholder farmers in parts of the insurgency-ravaged North East to improve their farming yields and economic power.

    Ndubisi Anyanwu, Country Director of Mercy Corps, said that the corps was a global human development organisation committed to uplifting the lives of vulnerable people worldwide.

    Anyanwu said that the MoU with LAPO MfB had created an opportunity to further expand and promote economic growth, whilst reducing hunger amongst vulnerable Nigerians.

    “This is our decade of operation in Nigeria and we have been able to empower thousands of our vulnerable beneficiaries in the areas of financial inclusion, education, income generation, agriculture, sanitation and hygiene.

    “These are our areas of focus. This MoU gives us the opportunity to expand our impact of promoting agriculture, promoting economic growth, whilst reducing hunger, ” he said.

    He added that the collaboration with LAPO would reduce poverty and increase access to improved agricultural practices and increased financial inclusion for vulnerable people in the North East.

    “It is the coming together of like-minds to improve agricultural practices and economic activities for the country, ” he said.

    Margarita Aswani, Mercy Corps ‘ Chief of Party, said that the project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the support of the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC).

    “We started off at $30million dollars, in July, 2021, they gave us an additional $50million dollars.

    “Our goal is to directly benefit 540, 000 smallholder farmers and producers. They also want us to extend to Benue, Kebbi, Ebonyi and Niger states, ” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU was in furtherance of Mercy Corps’ “Feed the Future ” initiative, a five-year USAID-funded programme to facilitate economic recovery and growth in conflict-affected areas. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

  • I-GP appoints acting DIG, orders redeployment of 3 AIGs

    By Monday Ijeh

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has appointed Mr Bala Senchi, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), as the Acting Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations.

    A statement by the Acting Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, in Abuja, said that by the appointment, Senchi becomes the DIG representing the North-West geo-political zone.

    He said that the I-GP had also ordered the redeployment of three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Aji Janga, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Bala Ciroma, Federal Operations (FEDOPS), and Ndatsu Mohammed, Zone 7 Abuja.

    Adejobi said the redeployments followed the recent vacuum caused by the retirement of some senior officers, after the completion of their statutory years of service.

    The spokesman listed the retirees to include Mr Zaki Ahmed, the DIG representing the North-West geo-political zone and immediate past DIG in-charge of Operations, and Mr John Abang, AIG Police Mobile Force (PMF).

    According to him, the new acting DIG in charge of operations is a consummate police officer who holds a BA degree in History.

    “The Kebbi born cop has held many Command positions including, the Commissioner, Police Staff College, Jos, and the Jigawa Command.

    “Until his recent promotion/posting, he was the AIG in-charge of Community Policing, Force Headquarters, Abuja,” he said.

    He said Janga, the new AIG in charge of the PMF, holds a Bachelors of Law Degree from the University of Maiduguri and is a Member, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

    “Janga, a Borno-born Police Officer, has held several strategic positions in the past and attended several professional courses/workshops.

    “He has served as the AIG in-charge of Zone-10 Sokoto; Commissioner, Police Mobile Force, Federal Operations and the Kogi command, among others.

    “Until his recent posting as the AIG in-charge, Police Mobile Force, he was the AIG in-charge of the Department of ICT, Force Headquarters, Abuja,” he said.

    He added that the new AIG in charge of FEDOPS, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja, was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990.

    According to him, Ciroma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the University of Maiduguri and a Post Graduate Certificate in Corruption Studies from the Honk Kong University.

    “Prior to his posting as AIG FEDOPS, Ciroma, who is a member of Certified Fraud Examiners, was the AIG Zone 7, Abuja.

    “He also served as the Commissioner, FCT Police Command and Head of Operations, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others,” he said.

    Adejobi said that the new AIG in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Sociology from the Bayero University Kano and is a member of the National Disaster Management Board.

    He said Mohammed had attended several professional courses/workshops both in Nigeria and abroad.

    According to him, the Abuja-born Police officer has held several command positions, including Commissioner, Anti-Fraud Section, Force Criminal Investigations Department, Abuja; Commissioner in Enugu, and Borno commands.

    “Until his recent posting as the AIG Zone 7, Abuja, he was the AIG in-charge of FEDOPS, Force Headquarters, Abuja,” Adejobi said.

    He quoted the I-GP as urging the senior officers to bring their vast experiences and professionalism to bear on the leadership of their respective Departments/Commands, so as to enhance the ongoing repositioning of the Force.

    Adejobi said the postings/redeployments were with immediate effect. NAN

  • UNDP earmarks $800,000  for empowering 500 Nigerian women, youth – Official

    By Idowu Gabriel

    The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) says more than 800,000 dollars (N332 million) is in the kitty for 500 participants of its special skills acquisition programme in Nigeria.

    Its Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security in Nigeria, Mr Matthew Alao, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.

    Alao spoke shortly after the graduation ceremony of 200 beneficiaries of UNDP’s skill acquisition programme for women, youth and victims of violence in Ekiti.

    He said that under the organisation’s Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Programmes, 100 beneficiaries were drawn from Kaduna, 200 in Ekiti, and 200 in Osun, all who were trained in various trades.

    “On the monetary term, the general budget for this programme for 500 beneficiaries in the three states in Nigeria, that is Kaduna, Ekiti and Osun States, is more than N332,000,000($800,000).

    “These include, the identification, selection, two weeks orientation, placement for six months training for basic skills in diverse trades, and procurement of sophisticated equipments.

    “This programme is aimed at making the beneficiaries comfortable till the end of their lives” Alao said.

    He, however, added that the programme was actually targeted at victims of violences and crises in their respective areas.

    He highlighted the criteria for their selection to include, whether the beneficiary had actually been a victim of violence, whether the person is not a student of any school, and youth between a substantive age bracket, while the screening team also scrutinized .

    He explained that nobody, politically influence the selection of beneficiaries.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • NITDA, NUJ collaborate to boost digital literacy, tackle fake news

    NUJ President ,Chris Isiguzo, D-G NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa and President of NAWOJ, Ladi Bala

    By Bridget Ikyado
    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is partnering with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to provide digital literacy and fact-checking skills to stem the tide of fake news.
    The Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa, while receiving a delegation led by NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, on Friday  in Abuja, said the partnership would promote digital skills among journalists.
    Inuwa said that the agency was committed to the expansion of the digital space.
     He said digital journalism, media ethics and fact-check would help to promote robust, digital-based journalism that served the best and wider interest of the nation.
    “We wish to have people write more on digital literacy, digital technology and economy.
    “One of the reasons for the synergy with NUJ will be to curb fake news, disinformation and misinformation,” he said.
    Inuwa said the best way to sensitise the public was for NITDA to train media practitioners to learn how to do fact-checks to help them to do due diligence on any information that came to them.
    According to him, this is part of the agency’s efforts to help stem the tide of fake news.
    He said the NITDA had identified developmental regulation, digital transformation, digital literacy and skills.
    “It would help in the  promotion of indigenous content, among the seven strategic pillars crucial to the development of the digital economy.
    “There is no doubting the fact that we are in the digital age, where everything is now based on computers and the internet,” he said.
    He said the agency intended to sensitise 95 per cent of Nigerians on digital  literacy by 2030 and the NUJ could help the agency achieve this.
    “It is of interest to us, therefore, that our journalists take advantage of the available digital tools to do their jobs better and serve the country better.”
    He said he believed that if NITDA trained journalists on digital literacy, they would help spread the information faster.
    The D-G pledged the agency’s support to the union on any training or assistance concerning digital economy for social economic benefits.
    “We welcome all great ideas of digital literacy by NUJ and other bodies,” he added.
    He identified overbearing presence of social media as one the challenges of the digital era.
    “Of course, the unregulated social media is a free market place where anything and everything goes,” he said.
    He said technology could be used as a tool or as a weapon and only with wide knowledge of these can be curtailed.
    “We need to re-skill and update our knowledge on how technology works and harness its use to better the information and technology space.”
    Earlier, the NUJ President commended the D-G for the agency’s many trainings, especially for journalists nationwide.
    He said the NUJ and NITDA needed a synergy as they drove toward same objective,  which would benefit the country.
    Isiguzo solicited for the support of NITDA for the NUJ workshop on digital journalism coming up in March.
    He said that it was imperative for journalists to be exposed to  constant trainings and retraining so as not to pose danger to the society.
    He said the trainings would help curtail fake news and encourage knowledge of advance technology.
    “If we can partner NUJ and PR Nig on Digital Journalism, the journalists will find it easier to pass it down,” Isiguzo said.
    He also appealed to NITDA to help upgrade the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) with modern equipment for easy learning.
    “The IIJ  needs modern equipment to operate optimally, most of our journalists these days are operating online and need digital technology to align with ,” he said.
    Isiguzo also called for collaborative efforts by NITDA for NUJ’s plan to hold a national summit in September ahead of the nation’s independence celebration.
    He said the theme of the event would be ‘Digital Journalism for National Development’.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

  • Nigeria summons Russian, Ukrainian envoys over war in Ukraine

    By Lizzy Okoji

     The Federal Government has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexei Shebarshin  and his Ukrainian counterpart, Kirdoda Valerii  over the raging conflict between their countries and the need to evacuate Nigerians living there.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, met with the envoys separately behind closed doors on Friday in Abuja.

    Onyeama said he told the Russian envoy, Shebarshin that Nigeria as a country would not condone the violation of the territorial integrity of a United Nations member state, a country with which Nigeria has diplomatic relations.

    The minister also said that he told Shebarshin that Nigeria wanted Russia to revert to the status quo before the military action and to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue.

    “This is really the position of the government and also, that we have 5,600 Nigerians in Ukraine and we are very concerned about what we are hearing and what we are seeing regarding missiles and bombs about the safety of Nigerian citizens there and also that we would like to be able to evacuate them.

    “He said that this would be communicated to his headquarters and that obviously, they consider Nigeria a friendly country.

    “The Russian envoy also said that they would do nothing to harm Nigerians and assured me that their action is targeted at military installations and that they are not about to start attacking civilian areas and so forth,” he said.

    Onyeama added that the Russian envoy insisted that civilians were not being targeted and that hopefully, it won’t last long.

    Speaking after his meeting with the Ukrainian envoy, Onyeama said the government sympathised with Ukraine regarding its situation as a country and as a people, in view of the heavy bombardment, which has led to loss of lives.

    Onyeama told the Ukrainian envoy that Nigeria has more than 5,000 students and other citizens in the country and very concerned about their safety and welfare.

    “I told the Ukrainian envoy that we want the cooperation of the Government of Ukraine to do whatever is possible to ensure their safety and security and to also seek advice as to how the evacuation can be facilitated,” Onyeama added.

    He also said the envoy told him that that the Ukrainian government has given all the residents and civilians, specific instructions about how to stay safe and the measures to take.

    Onyeama added that the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine will also act as a coordinating mechanism in reaching out to all Nigerians in Ukraine and ensure that they adhered to all the advice and directives.

    On the evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine, Onyeama said the issue could only come up when the airports reopened.

    Onyeama said that during discussions, the Russian envoy stated that they would possibly also see some airports as military targets.

    The minister said that they also discussed road travel to facilitate the evacuation, even though some Nigerians were able to get into neighbouring  countries such as Holland.

    The Russian envoy however told Onyeama that there might be risk involved, while also saying that Russia was mindful of the civilians from foreign countries and that they would take all the necessary measures to ensure their security.

    The Ukrainian envoy expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Nigeria for their support.

    “Right now, we are in a very difficult situation, but we are fighting against the aggression and we believe that we will all win,” the Ukrainian envoy said.

    Valerii also said Nigerian students in Ukraine were in the same situation as anybody else on the territory of Ukraine.

    “Ukrainian Government does not differentiate between people on the basis of their nationality and that is the best effort to protect everybody.

    “Currently, the evacuation of Nigerian students is not possible because it is not safe to fly on the sky of Ukraine.

    “As soon as it is safe to fly on the sky of Ukraine, we will join the Embassy of Nigeria in Ukraine and jointly with the Nigerian Government, we will arrange for the evacuation of Nigerian Students,” Valeri said. (NAN)

  • Golden Medal Mushroom Inc. Recalls Enoki Mushrooms Because of Possible Health Risk

    Company Announcement

    Golden Medal Mushroom Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling all cases of its 200g/7.05-ounce packages and 150g/5.25-ounce packages of Enoki Mushrooms (Product of China) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

    Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

    The recalled products were distributed to (Chicago IL/ Los Angeles CA/Dallas TX) through produce distributors or wholesalers to retail stores by 1/4/2022 and the affected lot number is 300511.

    The Enoki comes in a 200g/7.05ounces, UPC: 6953150100684 and 150g/5.25ounces UPC: 6953150110157.  Product is packaged in a vacuum sealed plastic package with upper transparent and lower portion has a black background.  The product is “Product of China” and there is no English translation on label.  There are no business name & address printed on packages.

    No illnesses have been reported to date.

    The potential for contamination was discovered after routine testing by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 200gram package of Enoki.

    The distribution of the product has been suspended.

    Consumers who have purchased Enoki mushroom are urged to discard of or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with question may contact the company at (323) 720-9126, Monday- Friday 6:00AM to 1:00PM PST.

  • Engineering, health exhibition aims to benefit Africa, Pakistan- official

    By Maureen Okon

    Lahore, Feb. 26, 2022 (NAN) The Secretary of Commerce for Pakistani Government, Mr Muhammad Faruqi, says the country’s Engineering and Healthcare exhibition aims  to benefits both Pakistan and Africa in areas of trade and export.

    Faruqi said this on Saturday, at the sideline of the inauguration of a three-day Engineering and Healthcare exhibition  which began on Friday  in Lahore the capital of Punjab , in Pakistan.

    Faruqi added that in order to diversify, Pakistani government saw the need to promote other sectors aside from their  traditional textiles, leather and chemicals sectors to engineering, healthcare among others which are mainly value added sectors.

     He further added that Pakistan had been dealing  with traditional markets mainly United States of America, Europe, United kingdom and some other countries  like China  even with the diverse base market Pakistan was still limited.

    “We have very good relationship with African countries and we have large presence of Diaspora living in Africa and we have good relationship with central Asian countries.

    “But in spite of the good political relationship under traditional relationship we have not been able to translate these relationships into economic benefits of both the regions for economic benefits.

    “ Naturally, the efforts are not only to diversify Pakistani export capacity but to increase and also to connect the businesses of both sides with Africa for economic growth.

    “Then also to provide the opportunities for both Africa and  Pakistani businesses to thrive in providing the opportunities and platforms for representatives in Africa and not only the representatives from the countries of the business associations.

    “But representatives of various regional blocs within Africa and Central Asian which will enable us to forge partnerships between both sides to benefit economically,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pakistan show is a unique effort in lunching Pakistani engineering and healthcare sectors to the export world which focuses on African markets.

    The exhibition had in attendance delegates from 46 countries coming together in order to create linkages from both sides and to build on international corporate recognition.

    Also, the show has the best exporters from across 21 engineering sectors of Pakistan. (NAN)