Rabi'u Sani Ali - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Sat, 2021

South Africa urges manufacturers, farmers to expand exports through AfCFTA

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South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel on Friday urged manufacturers and farmers in the country to prepare themselves for opportunities in export markets following the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA came into effect on Friday.

Patel, while believing the agreement could lead to more employment opportunities, said it could also help manufacturers in South Africa to expand to new markets available in West, Central and East Africa.

“Trade with the rest of the continent is a critical source of output and jobs growth. African countries recognise that industrialisation is critical to the development of the continent,” he said.

Patel said the agreement could potentially transform business in Africa though its impact will not be immediate.

“The new agreement that comes into effect today will take some time to be fully operational but has the potential to be transformative for Africa, breaking our dependence on a neo-colonial pattern of trade that characterised trade,” he said.

He also said this was a chance to build advanced economies and innovative businesses.

“It will take dedication and disciplined implementation over the next few years to fully realise the benefits,” he added.

The free trade agreement, launched in March 2018 in the Rwandan capital city Kigali, has so far gathered 54 African Union member signatories.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa said the African free trade accord has the potential to boost the level of intra-Africa trade by more than 52 per cent by the year 2022. (Xinhua/NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Sat, 2021

Foreign

China-Africa friendship emerges still stronger from COVID-19 challenge

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the friendship between China and Africa emerged still stronger from the challenge posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020.

Wang made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group.

“With our shared identity as part of the developing world, China and Africa have the responsibility of advancing the interests of developing countries,” he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and African leaders had a successful Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, and the tradition of mutual assistance was further strengthened.

China has sent medical teams, paired up Chinese and African hospitals, provided much-needed medical supplies, and worked with Africa on vaccines, he said.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters as an assistance project by China has just had its groundbreaking ceremony.

It will stand as a historic witness of China-Africa solidarity in fighting the pandemic.

China and Africa have scaled up the implementation of follow-ups to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, with the health care initiative as a top priority, Wang said.

He added that China had signed debt service suspension agreements with 12 African countries and provided waivers of matured interest-free loan for 15 African countries.

“China has suspended more debt service than any other G20 member,” he said.

Twenty years ago, FOCAC entered a new era of political mutual trust and all-round cooperation between China and Africa.

Wang said 20 years on, FOCAC had become a new model of friendship, cooperation, and common development among developing countries.

“Together, we have drafted and implemented the 10 cooperation plans and the eight major initiatives.

“With China’s help, over 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 20 ports, and over 80 large power plants have been built in Africa.

“Two-way trade has grown by 20-fold and China’s direct investment in Africa 100-fold.

“We have expanded cooperation with Africa in new business forms like digital economy, smart city, clean energy, and 5G, thus boosting high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation between the two sides,” he said.

Noting that China and Africa would hold FOCAC meetings in Senegal in 2021, Wang said in that context, China would work with Africa on the three priority areas of vaccine cooperation, economic recovery, and transformative development to build new consensus on solidarity, break new ground for cooperation, and deliver new benefits to the people. (Xinhua/NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Sat, 2021

General News

FRSC boss praises minister for prompt evacuation of fallen tanker

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By Ibironke Ariyo

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, for aiding the speedy removal of a fallen tanker on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Oyeyemi praised the minister in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal, Bisi Kazeem, on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accident occurred at about 1300 hours on Dec. 31, 2020 and involved five people who came out of the crash unhurt.

The fallen white tanker with registration number EPE 104 XX, loaded with LPG (cooking gas), and a Kia Saloon car with registration number KRD 386 GG caused obstruction at the Mountain Top University, on the outward Lagos lane of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

According to him, the gas tanker fell around the Ibafo area of the expressway and caused undue gridlock with saw commuters stranded during the crossover night.

“While the FRSC worked out modalities for the immediate removal of the obstruction, the minister’s intervention was critical to the evacuation of the tanker, ” Boboye said.

The corps marshal stated that it took Fashola’s authorisation to contact FP&FP Limited, a private crane operator company with the required tonnage capacity, to lift the tanker.

Oyeyemi urged fleet operators to ensure that their vehicles were always road worthy before embarking on any trip.

He urged public office holders to emulate the minister’s proactive approach to issues of national importance. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Sat, 2021

Health

COVID-19: Nigeria reports 1,074 new cases, 11 deaths

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By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 1,074 new infections of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The NCDC made this known via its verified website on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has so far tested 948,048 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27, 2020.

The agency put the total number of COVID-19 infected people in the country at 88,587.

The public health agency also reported 11 additional new deaths in the past 24 hours in Nigeria.

The NCDC said that 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded the new infections.

It noted that in the past 24 hours, 660 recoveries were recorded in isolation centres across the country.

“Our discharges today include 459 community recoveries in Lagos State and 156 community recoveries in Katsina State, all managed in line with stipulated guidelines,” the NCDC stated.

The agency said that Lagos reported 642 cases of the new infections, followed by Kaduna with 92 cases, Rivers had 78 cases, while the FCT and Gombe reported 66 cases each and Kano 35.

Other states with new cases were Ogun-31, Katsina-22, Plateau-20, Abia-seven, Niger-four, Oyo-four, Akwa Ibom-three, Delta-two and Osun-two.

It said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level Three, is coordinating the national response activities.

Meanwhile, the NCDC noted that in 2020 the agency rose to the challenge of leading the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The centre said that while it understood the need for Nigerians to relax after a difficult year, it noted that COVID-19 “does not recognise the necessity for humans to celebrate’’.

It urged Nigerians to observe all the safety protocols by covering their mouth and nose properly with a tissue paper or their elbow when sneezing or coughing.

“Dispose the tissue properly immediately after use and wash your hands with soap under running water,“ it advisd. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Sat, 2021

Education

COVID-19: Kwara Govt. announces Jan. 11 for schools resumption

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By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

Ilorin, Jan. 2, 2021 (NAN) Kwara Government has announced that tertiary institutions will resume on Jan. 11, 2021, under strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Chief Press Secretary to the State Government and Spokesman for Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday in Ilorin.

“Government has directed that the tertiary institutions should put in place appropriate safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus on their campuses.

“The coordinating ministry is to work with the state technical committee on COVID-19 and other stakeholders to ensure that schools do not take safety rules for granted.

“Specifically, the use of face mask is mandatory on the campus and in lecture rooms. Authorities are not to allow anyone, students or otherwise, into college facilities without the use of the face mask.

“Similarly, elementary schools in the state are scheduled to resume on Jan. 18, subject to new developments on the pandemic,” it said.

According to the statement, while COVID-19 appears to have come to stay and our communities have to cope with the new normal, the government urges everyone to take responsibility for their own safety by adhering to protocols already outlined to flatten the curve of transmission. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Fri, 2021

Environment

NiMet predicts 3-day sunshine, haziness from Jan. 2

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By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Saturday to Monday across the country.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the Northern region and the North Central states throughout the forecast period on Saturday.

According to NiMet, sunny and hazy conditions are expected over the inland cities of the South throughout the forecast period.

It predicted the coastal region to be under partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine within the forecast period.

The agency envisaged sunny and hazy conditions over the Northern region throughout the forecast period on Sunday.

NiMet predicted North Central cities to be in sunny and hazy conditions within the forecast period.

It anticipated partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over inland and coastal cities of South with prospects of few thunderstorms over coastal parts of Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River in the afternoon and evening hours.

“For Monday, sunny and hazy conditions are anticipated over the North and North Central regions during the forecast period.

“Partly cloudy condition with interval of sunshine is envisaged over the inland and coastal parts of the country throughout the forecast period,” the agency said. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Fri, 2021

Education

Foundation promises scholarship for 90 female science students in Kano State

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Scholarship

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

Kano, Jan. 1, 2021 (NAN) The Ma’ajin Watari Foundation (MWF), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has promised to provide scholarship to 90 female science students to tackle shortage of female medical personnel in Kano State.

Dr Abba Ahmad, MWF founder, told newsmen on Friday in Kano, that the students would be trained under the education endowment fund of the foundation.

Ahmad, also the District Head of Kabo, said the target was to provide special training to students of senior secondary schools in science subjects, to prepare them to study medicine and related disciplines in tertiary institutions.

“It is a deliberate step to train the girl-child starting from SS1 to SS3 classes, to prepare them to excel in the National Examination Commission (NECO) and Senior Secondary School Examination Certificate Examination (SSCE).

“It will avail them the opportunity to secure university admission to read medicine and other related disciplines.

“Our target is to tackle shortage of female medical personnel, reduce maternal mortality and enhance healthcare services in the state,” Ahmad said.

According to him, the foundation will also offer scholarship to successful students to further their education at the university level.

Ahmad said the foundation was being funded through personal donation, adding that modalities have been put in place to ensure sustainability of the project.(NAN)

RSA/OIF/ABI
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Fri, 2021

Foreign

COVID-19: WHO clears BioNTech’s vaccine for emergency use

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To speed up access to COVID-19 vaccinations in the developing world, on the eve of the new year, the UN health agency approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for emergency use.

Regulatory experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) from around the world and UN agency’s own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and found on Thursday that it met WHO’s must-have criteria for safety and efficacy – with its benefits offsetting any potential risks.

“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Dr. Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.

“But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere.”

A UN statement said the move opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine.

It also enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.

The statement said at the same time, WHO is encouraging more developers to come forward for review and assessment to satisfy the critical supply for all countries globally to stem the pandemic.

“WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards,” said Dr. Simão.

The statement said drawing from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) population prioritization  recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, which were issued in September, the group will convene on 5 January to formulate vaccine specific policies and recommendations.

Meanwhile, WHO is working with regional partners to advise national health authorities about the two-dose shot and its anticipated benefits.

WHO, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure the equitable distribution of vaccines to all countries and not just to wealthy nations. (PANA/NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Fri, 2021

Foreign

Trump extends suspension of work visas, green cards

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By Harrison Arubu

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a proclamation extending the suspension of issuance of work visas and green cards.

Trump imposed the measures in April and June to protect job opportunities for American workers amid a rise in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proclamation came hours before the president’s executive order on the immigration restrictions was set to expire.

The order will now expire at the end of March, extending into the first term in office of President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to reverse Trump’s immigration policies.

The proclamation said allowing immigrant workers into the country would “pose a risk of displacing and disadvantaging U.S. workers during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak”.

“The effects of COVID-19 on the United States labour market and on the health of American communities is a matter of ongoing national concern.

“And the considerations present in Proclamations 10014 and 10052 have not been eliminated,” Trump wrote in the proclamation.

The president first imposed the restrictions on the issuance of green cards for immigrants in April, and expanded it in June to limit several other work visas.

They include new H-1B tech worker visas, H-2B seasonal worker visas, certain J work and education exchange visitor visas and L executive transfer visas.

The proclamation said the recent surge in COVID-19 cases had surpassed previous highs in June.

This, in addition to implementation of pandemic-related restrictions, has placed further strain on U.S. businesses, it said.

“The effect of recently approved vaccines and other treatments has not yet been fully realised for the U.S. labor market.

“While the November overall unemployment rate in the United States of 6.7 per cent reflects a marked decline from its April high, there were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020,” the proclamation added.

The order applies only to foreigners who are currently outside the U.S. and do not yet have permission to enter.

Those who already have permanent residency are not affected, and there are exceptions for certain people, including spouses and children of U.S. citizens. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Fri, 2021

General News

Buhari restates commitment to address socio-economic challenges

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By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has again assured Nigerians that the country will survive and thrive in spite the ongoing socio-economic challenges facing the it.

He said the challenges would be faced head-on with renewed determination and urgency required.

Making this known while addressing the nation via a New Year broadcast in on Friday in Abuja the president maintained that as elected President and Commander-in-Chief he had no option but to ensure the safety of lives and property of all citizens.

He also pledged to continue to listen to viable advice and suggestions on how best to address these challenges for the nation’s progress.

He said: “In the midst of all these challenges, I had initially pledged that as your elected President and Commander-in-Chief, I would ensure that these ongoing challenges will be faced head-on with renewed determination and with all the appropriateness and urgency required.

“Your voices have been heard and we would continue to listen to you, and all the key stakeholders who are committed to the unity of Nigeria to ensure that every region of this nation is safe for us all, while guaranteeing that the future is also secure for the coming generation.’’

The president, who saluted the courage of the nation’s youth, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to securing the future of the youth.

He noted with delight that many of the young people had been excelling in various spheres of life including sports, entertainment, information and communication technology, commerce and globally recognised as achievers.

“I wish to also use this occasion of New Year to reaffirm my commitment to the people of Nigeria, especially the youth who need our collective encouragement and support. In securing this nation we need to secure the future of our youth.

“Our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. Their ingenuity, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is evident to all.

“Many of our young people are excelling in various spheres of life including sports, entertainment, information and communication technology, commerce and are globally recognized as achievers.

“As a Government we are committed to actively engaging with the creative energies of our young people,’’ he said.

Buhari said the executive arm would continue to partner with the legislature to develop an enabling environment to turn the youths passions into ideas that could be supported, groomed and scaled across the country.

According to him, this will create vast opportunities in fintech, agriculture, business process startups and in the entertainment industry.

“The year 2021 will indeed be a year where we will work to reinforce the hopes of fellow Nigerians in the vision of a united and progressive Nigeria,’’ he further emphasised.

He said the administration would continue focusing on delivering key strategic priorities under its “SEA” — Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption — Agenda.

He, however, urged the citizens as they celebrate the new year 2021 to also “acknowledge the passing away of our brothers and sisters who did not make it into this New Year. (NAN)