Rabi'u Sani Ali - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Troops destroy 197 bandits’ hideouts, neutralise 220, arrest 892 suspects – DHQ

126 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje/Ibrahim Ahmad

The troops of Operation Sahel Sanity destroyed 197 bandits’ hideouts, neutralised 220, arrested 892 suspects and recovered large cache of arms in North West in the second half of 2020, says Defence Headquarters.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said this at a news conference held at the Army Special Super Camp 4 in Faskari on Wednesday.

Onyeuko said the operations were carried out from July 1 to Dec. 31 2020.

He disclosed that 73 AK47 rifles, one GPMG and 194 Dane guns as well as 5,032 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 568 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition and 156 live cartridges were recovered by the troops.

According to him, 197 bandit’s camps and hideouts including the notorious Dangote Triangle and several bandits’ logistics bases have been destroyed by troops during the period.

“Also, 335 suspected bandits, 326 illegal miners, 147 bandits informants and collaborators, 14 bandits arms suppliers, 24 rustled cattle marketers and 46 bandits logistics suppliers were arrested.

“Similarly, a total of 7,761 cows, 1,867 sheep/rams and four Camels were recovered and given back to the owners by troops within the period.

“It is also heart-warming to note that a total of 642 kidnapped victims were rescued by the valiant troops, and these include the rescued 344 students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara.

“Also within the period, the gallant troops successfully foiled 165 bandits’ attacks and 81 kidnap attempts,” he said.

Onyeuko recalled that Exercise Sahel Sanity was inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai on July 6, 2020 to consolidate on the existing Operation Hadarin Daji.

He said the exercise was aimed at effectively flushing out bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other sundry criminals from the region.

According to him, these acts of criminalities orchestrated by the bandits have hitherto posed danger and threats to the peace and security of the people, thereby, crippling social and economic activities in the region.

He said the exercise which subsequently dovetailed into a real time operation had significantly brought peace and stability to the affected states of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto.

According to him, the gallant troops within the period under review carried out series of clearance operations, ambushes, farm and other aggressive confidence building patrols within Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.

Onyeuko said the troops also carried out some Civil Military Cooperation projects and activities to support some host communities within the operational area of Op Sahel Sanity.

He said activities involved distribution of palliatives to locals and renovations of medical facilities at Faskari and Kauran Namoda communities in Katsina and Zamfara States.

He added that the troops also conducted medical outreaches and distribution of palliatives to locals and flood victims at Koko-Besse and Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The army personnel said compensation had also been paid to farmers whose farmlands were affected as a result of the ongoing operation and due to the expansion of the Special Army Super Camp IV in Faskari, Katsina State.

The spokesperson, however, said that two officers and four soldiers paid the supreme price in the cause of defending the country during the period under review.

“After diligent review of the numerous successes achieved so far and the need to finally eliminate all the remnant security challenges within the region, the COAS has graciously extended the duration of the operation to last till March in order to consolidate on the gains so far achieved.

“The gallant troops are hereby commended for their gallantry, sacrifices, successes and professionalism exhibited within the period of Operation.

“The people of the North West zone of the country are also appreciated for their cooperation in providing timely information leading to the success of the operations.

“They are also encouraged to continue to avail the troops with actionable information that would aid the desired goal of the operation.

“They are further reassured of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to restore total peace in the zone and indeed the country,” he said. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

General News

NIMC enrols 2.3m persons in Kano State

135 total views today

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), says it has so far enrolled more than 2.3 million persons in Kano State since inception of the programme in 2007.

The Coordinator of NIMC in the state, Mr Illo Sarkin-Yamma, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

He said that following the Federal Government’s directive that Nigerians should link their National Identification Number (NIN) with their SIM cards, the Commission had designated 52 centres for registration.

According to him, the aim is to fast track the enrolment of eligible Nigerians in the 44 local government areas of the state.

The coordinator said the centres had been equipped with modern gadgets designed to ease congestion and hasten the enrolment process.

According to him, the exercise is being conducted smoothly in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols in all the centres across the state.

“There is rush by enrollees at the centres following directive by the Federal Government for Nigerians to link their NIN with their SIMs.

“Each of the 52 centres is currently enrolling between 100 and 200 persons daily. We have upgraded our services to enable more people to get enrolled.

“We make arrangements for the enrolees to come on a certain day for the exercise to reduce congestion,’’ he said.

Sarkin-Yamma said the Federal Government had approved about 203 private firms to facilitate smooth running of the enrolment process in the country.

While commending the Kano State Government for its support to the Commission, the director added that enrolment was free, warning residents to be wary of fraudsters.

Also speaking, Lawal Yahaya, the NICM Regional Director, said the Commission had adopted proactive measures to enhance access to its services across the country.

Yahaya advised Nigerians to adhere to guidelines set out by the Commission on enrolment to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

General News

FG disburses N52m to 2,600 rural women in Nasarawa State

127 total views today

By Awayi Kuje

The Federal Government on Wednesday disbursed the sum of N52 million to 2,600 vulnerable rural women in Nasarawa State to uplift their socio-economic status.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, while flagging off the Special Cash Grant for rural women in Lafia, said each beneficiary was entitled to N20,000.

Represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Hassan-Abdullahi, Umar-Farouq, said the programme was designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria.

“The Special Cash Grant for rural women programme being flagged off today was introduced in 2020 by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, as part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda,” she said.

She added that the programme was also geared towards the realisation of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 year.

The minister said that over 150,000 rural women across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would benefit from the grant aimed at increasing access to financial capital required for economic activities.

“Since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, the government has paid more attention to protecting and promoting the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country.

“This informed the decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), a strategy for enhancing social inclusion and protection of the most vulnerable segments of our society.

“Nasarawa state has received a total sum of N3, 122, 740, 000 from the Federal Government Conditional Transfer Programme from inception, impacting the lives of 48, 687 poor and vulnerable households in five Local Government Areas in the state.

“They are Lafia, Wamba, Akwanga, Kokona and Nassarawa Local Government Areas,’’ she said.

Umar-Farouq urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the funds to better their standard of living.

Also speaking, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State lauded the federal government for initiating the programme towards changing the lives of the vulnerable women positively.

Sule, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe also restated the state government’s determination to key into peoples’ oriented programme in order to boost development across the state.

Earlier, Hajiya Halima Jabiru, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said the state was lucky to witness yet another show of benevolence by the federal government.

She added that the gesture would ameliorate the plight of citizens, particularly the vulnerable rural women.

Some beneficiaries of the grant, Mrs Ladi Ambrose and Mrs Azumi Yusuf, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), lauded the federal government for the gesture, promising to ensure judicious use of the fund. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Health

Ogun govt. inaugurates clinical skills lab for midwifery students

123 total views today

By Yetunde Fatungase

The Ogun government in collaboration with the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), on Wednesday, inaugurated a skills laboratory to aid the learning of midwifery students.

Speaking during the inauguration at the School of Midwifery, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, wife of Ogun governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, said the laboratory would improve clinical experience for midwifery students.

Abiodun said the structure was part of the efforts of the government to reduce maternal mortality by 25 per cent at the end of the year 2022.

She noted that the laboratory, which was equipped with modern infrastructure, would facilitate learning and keep students abreast of current trends in maternal and child health.

“This new laboratory will help broaden the knowledge of students and facilitate learning, especially in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in line with global best practices,” Abiodun said.

The governor’s wife thanked the UNFPA for collaborating with the government to make the project realisable.

She said the laboratory was one of Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s investment in maternal and child health.

Abiodun expressed optimism that it would be one of the best of such facilities in the South-West region of the country.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the ongoing renovation and equipping of primary health centers across the state, would be complemented by skilled healthcare workers.

Coker said this would contribute to the reduction of mortality from childbirth.

“Through our collaboration with UNFPA, we have been able to revamp the skills laboratory with mannequins that will simulate real child delivery scenarios.

“This will help our student midwives to have the right skills for safe child delivery in line with global best practices,” she said.

Coker assured that the government would continue to promote capacity building initiatives for health care students and workers across the state. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Environment

Gov. Tambuwal inaugurates N3bn erosion control projects

143 total views today

By Habibu Harisu

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Wednesday inaugurated the N3 billion erosion control project tagged: “Mabera Storm Water Management Works” and others in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project consists of 18.5 kilometres enlarged drainage system across Mabera Jelani, Mabera Iddi, Nakasarin Barebari, Nakasarin Nagaji, Salame and Trade Fair areas in Sokoto township.

NAN reports that the project is being executed under the World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), in partnership with the state government.

Inaugurating the project, Tambuwal said the state government had settled its counterpart funding of N1.4 billion since 2017, adding that some procedures had delayed execution of the project.

The governor said the projects were aimed at reducing the vulnerability to soil erosion, floods and other complex environmental challenges bedevilling the state, threatening infrastructure and livelihood of people.

According to him, the flood experienced in Mabera and suburbs predated his administration as the previous governments could not offer good efforts toward addressing the menace.

“My administration is committed to ensure lasting solution to environmental and other problems thereby ensuring the settlement of project counter fund since 2017.

“The programmes were approved under the project comprised Mabera Storm Water Management Works, rehabilitation of Lugu Dam, construction of Earth Dam at Rafin Duma and Sakkwal.

“Others were Yarbulutu River Bank Erosion Control Works, Flood and Erosion Control Works at Goronyo and Durbawa areas.

“Smaller sites in the project included 1.9 kilometres, 1.5 kilometres and two kilometers Flood Control works at Tureta, Sayyinna and Specialist Hospital in Sokoto,” Tambuwal said.

He said that some people embarked on political colourations capitalising on the delay to criticise the present administration.

Tambuwal, therefore, implored people to have good understanding of the government programmes and ensure constructive criticisms that would encourage his government to execute people-oriented projects.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Sagir Bafarawa, said the projects were in fulfilment of Tambuwal’s pledges toward uplifting people’s lives.

Bafarawa said the state government had completed all the necessary formalities of the collaborative agreement along with professional and technical scrutiny enshrined in the overall procedures.

He explained that the NEWMAP strives toward reducing vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-catchments designed to support the country’s transformation agenda to achieve greater environmental and economic security.

The commissioner said that the project would impact positively toward addressing flood and gully erosion through good drainage systems, rehabilitation of degraded lands and establishment of earth dams in some parts of the state.

“The project will facilitate reactivation of some irrigation schemes to boost agricultural activities to ensure food security and livelihood activities of the people of the state,” Bafarawa said.

Also, the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, expressed appreciation to the governor for his courage and good stewardship that transformed the state.

Umar-Jabbi urged residents who had received compensation to hasten evacuation from the places affected to pave way for smooth continuation of the project billed to be completed within 32 months. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Economy/Business

NSE lists best performing stocks in 2020

209 total views today

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc has emerged the best performing stock in 2020 in percentage terms, appreciating by 259.68 per cent, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Statistics obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the period indicated that the stock, which opened trading at 62k, rose by 259.68 per cent to close at N2.23 per share.

NAN reports that FTN Cocoa came second with a growth of 230 per cent to close the year at 66k compared with the opening price of 20k.

Airtel Africa trailed with 184.98 per cent to close at N851.80 from N298.90, while Livestock Feeds improved by 178 per cent to close at N1.39 against the year’s opening price of 50k.

Other top gainers are United Capital with 96.25 per cent; May & Baker 81.87 per cent; FCMB Group 80 per cent; Vitafoam 77.27 per cent; BOC Gas 74 per cent and Cutix 72.93 per cent.

Commenting on the market performance, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said 48 stocks closed the year upbeat with 11 of them growing their share prices by over 70 per cent.

Omordion said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s policies impacted positively on the stock market due to low return offered by the fixed income market.

He said that low capitalised stocks from agribusiness and healthcare sectors dominated the best performance table for the year 2020.

Consequently, the nation’s bourse closed 2020 upbeat, appreciating by 50.03 per cent with the All-Share Index crossing the 40,000 mark on the last trading day, in spite of COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the All-Share Index, which opened trading for the year at 26,842.07, inched higher by 13,428.65 points or 50.03 per cent to close at 40,270.72.

Similarly, the market capitalisation rose by N8.098 trillion to close at N21.056 trillion from the opening year figure of N12.958 trillion.

On the flip side, Omordion said that 34 stocks closed the weaker, which was dominated by consumer goods stocks arising from the effects of the economic recession that led to weaker purchasing power among citizens.

Conversely, Arbico was the best performing stock in percentage terms during the review period having lost 70.66 per cent to close at N1.03 per share against opening price of N3.51.

Omatex trailed with 60 per cent to close at 20k compared with 50k opening price and NCR which opened at N4.50 dipped 56.44 per cent to close at N1.96 per share.

Axa Mansard dropped 46.97 per cent to close 2020 at N1.05 against the opening price of N1.98 and Afro Media lost 41.18 per cent having closed the year at 20k per share against 34k opening price.

Other top losers are Seplat 38.84 per cent, Deap Capital 37.50 per cent, International Breweries 37.37 per cent, Unilever 36.82 per cent and Guinness 36.77 per cent.

On market expectations in 2021, Omordion predicted that the NSE would likely maintain the positive trend until the end of 2020 full year earnings reporting season.

He said the trend would likely persist as no other investment windows would offer returns and yields that could match the dividend yields of some listed companies still selling below their fair value. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Economy/Business

Kwara wins $16.9m World Bank-supported programme

164 total views today

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

The Kwara Government has won 16.9 million dollars in the 2019/2020 World Bank-supported State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme for achievements.

The award is the highest ever achieved by the state since the initiative began in 2018.

The award was contained in statement issued by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Mrs Saad Hamdalat, on Tuesday in Ilorin.

She said the award came after the state satisfied the disbursements linked indicators (DLIs) as contained in the Annual Performance Assessment (APA) final report, submitted by the Independent Verification Agents (IVA) that had earlier visited Kwara.

“The DLIs include improved financial reporting and budget reliability, increased citizens engagement in budget process; strengthened Internally Generated Revenues (IGR); biometric and BVN used to reduce payroll fraud.

“Strengthened public debt management, improved debt sustainability and implementation of a tax compliance for individual taxpayers and businesses.

“This will also strengthen procurement function for COVID-19 or emergency situations and facilitate participation of SMEs in public procurement resilient recovery phase and publication and approval of amended COVID-19 response budget.

“The import of the foregoing is that the state is eligible to the total sum of 16.9 million dollars, representing performance-based grant for 2019 APA, with an earlier disbursement of five million dollars in November 2020.

“Of the balance of 11.9 million dollars, the state has received additional 9.4 million dollars on Jan. 4, 2021 and awaits the balance of 2.5 million dollars later in the month,” she said. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Health

COVID-19: Nigeria reports 1,354 highest daily infections

162 total views today

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria has recorded 1,354 new infections of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed on its verified website on Tuesday.

The health agency said the figure represented the highest number in a single day since the first index case was reported in Nigeria on Feb. 27, 2020, smashing the record of 1,204 infections recorded on Monday.

The figure also showed that the infection rate has continued to soar across the country, especially in Lagos State, which has remained the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria.

With the 1,354 newly infected people the NCDC put the total number of residents who had contracted the disease at 92,705.

The public health agency reported one additional new death in the past 24 hours.

The agency said that 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded the new infections with Lagos State topping the list with 712 victims and the FCT coming second with 145 cases.

Plateau recorded 117 new cases, Kwara 81; Kaduna State 54; Sokoto 39; Oyo 38 and Rivers had 36.

Gombe had 21 newly infected people; Enugu 20; Akwa Ibom 16; Bauchi and Delta 14 each and Ebonyi reported 13.

Anambra registered nine newly infected residents; Taraba and Edo, eight each; Kano State, three; Osun and Ekiti two each and Ogun had one.

According to the NCDC, in the past 24 hours 697 victims had recovered from the disease.

“Our discharges today (Tuesday) include 324 community recoveries in Lagos State and 137 community recoveries in the FCT, managed in line with guidelines,” it said.

The public health agency has said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated at Level 3, is coordinating response activities nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that at present 14,990 active cases were being managed by the NCDC.

This figure is nearly three times above the in-patients capacity of government hospitals and reference facilities being used for the treatment of the coronavirus.

As a result, some categories of patients are reportedly being treated at home for lack of bed space.

The NCDC is facing a greater challenge in coping with tracing the contacts of the active cases, estimated to be above 100,000.

Nigeria’s testing capacity is still very low and restricted to only targeted high risk exposures and contacts of active cases and international travellers.

From Feb. 27, 2020 till date, only 980,046 samples of suspected infected people had been tested in a population of more than 200 million people.

Lagos, the FCT and Kaduna accounted for more than 70 per cent of the cases, with Lagos recording 250 deaths and the FCT 104.

Kogi had the least confirmed number of cases with only five and a fatality rate of about 50 per cent with two deaths and three survivors.

Lagos and the FCT had the highest burden of the active cases, 5,100 and 4,593 respectively.

Only two states, Kogi and Cross River, had no active case of the infection as of Jan. 5.

The country also approved 70 public, seven corporate and 32 commercial laboratories across the country with varying testing capacities. (NAN)

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Economy/Business

OPEC, non-OPEC countries to increase production by 0.5mb/d in January

120 total views today

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the non-OPEC countries have agreed to increase crude oil production by 0.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) in January.

The group reached the agreement at the 13th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), held via videoconference, on Tuesday in Vienna.

The meeting acknowledged the need to gradually return two mb/d to the market, with the pace being determined according to market conditions.

It reconfirmed the decision made at the 12th ONOMM to increase production by 0.5 mb/d starting in January 2021, and adjusting production to 7.7 mb/d from 7.2 mb/d.

The adjustments to the production level for February and March 2021 will be implemented as per the distribution detailed in a table.

It noted that production adjustments for April and subsequent months would be decided during the monthly ONOMM following the criteria agreed upon in the 12th ONOMM.

The meeting reiterated the need to continue closely monitoring market fundamentals, including non-DoC supply and its impact on the global oil balance and overall market stability.

It further noted that high conformity levels had contributed significantly to market rebalancing and stability.

“Between May and November, participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries contributed to reducing the global supply by approximately 1.9 billion barrels, including voluntary adjustments, and this has been key to the rebalancing of the market.

“The meeting drew attention to the exceptional year of 2020 as an outlier that distorts the latest five-year average of OECD commercial oil stock levels.

“It recommended retaining the 2015-2019 average as a more representative metric, while keeping the latest five-year average for the time being.

“Furthermore, the meeting expressed appreciation to participating countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Angola, which have performed beyond expectation.

“At the same time, it reiterated the critical importance of adhering to full conformity, and compensating the overproduced volumes in accordance with the statements of the 11th and 12th ONOMM, in order to achieve the objective of market rebalancing and avoid undue delay in the process,’’ it said.

The meeting requested all underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the OPEC Secretariat by Jan. 15, 2021.

It welcomed Dr Mohammad Alfares, Kuwait’s new Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water, and expressed its appreciation to his predecessor, Dr Khaled A. Al-Fadhel, for his dedication to the DoC process.

It further decided to hold the next Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) Meeting on Feb. 3, 2021, followed by a JMMC Meeting on March 3, 2021 and ONOMM on March 4, 2021 (NAN).

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Jan, Wed, 2021

Economy/Business

Osinbajo updates Buhari on implementation of ESP

195 total views today

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, received Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who updated him on the progress so far in the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP).

Osinbajo’s spokesman Laolu Akande in a statement said it was the duo’s first official meeting for the year.

Buhari had in 2020 mandated Osinbajo, as chair of the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC), to coordinate the implementation of the ESP aimed at cushioning the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vice president said that three months into the implementation of different components of the ESP: MSMEs Survival Fund; Social Housing Scheme, and Solar Home System, among others, Nigerians across different sectors had been impacted.

He said that under MSMEs Survival Fund, more Nigerians had received Payroll Support payments, Artisans and Transport Grants.

“For the Payroll Support track of the Survival Fund, a total of 277,628 beneficiaries drawn from 56,575 businesses have now been paid.

“This total number includes the batch of 20,614 beneficiaries recently paid for October, and 257,014 beneficiaries that were paid for November and December.

“A breakdown of the 257,014 beneficiaries shows that N30, 000 each was paid to 222,466 beneficiaries as November and December payments while N50, 000 each was paid to 34,548 beneficiaries as November and December salaries.

“Out of the total number, three per cent are beneficiaries with special needs, while 43 per cent are female employees/beneficiaries.’’

Osinbajo said that the enumeration of prospective beneficiaries for the Transport Support Track, which was launched in Dec. 2020, was still ongoing.

According to him, payment of N30,000 each one-time grants to 333,000 artisans across the country is in progress with payments already made to verified beneficiaries in states under streams 1, 2, and 3.

He listed the states as FCT, Lagos, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Abia, Plateau and Delta under stream 1.

Others are Taraba, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Enugu, and Ebonyi under stream 2.

Also, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Imo, Oyo, Osun, Jigawa, Gombe and Benue under stream 3.

The vice president said that the Solar Home System aimed at connecting five million households in off-grid and underserved communities to electricity was ongoing.

“The process of installing N140 billion Solar Home System that will cover up to five million households has begun and serve about 25 million individuals in rural areas and urban communities has begun with the enlistment of solar assembling companies and components manufacturers as well as solar servicing firms.

“Under the scheme, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will make available funds to private companies involved in the manufacture, installation, servicing of the solar systems, at rates ranging between five and 10 per cent.

“An important aspect of the scheme is the option of outright ownership by beneficiaries at a cost ranging from N1,500 per week to N4,000 monthly depending on the capacities, for a period of years.’’

He said that construction, under the Social Housing Prototype Units launched in FCT, was set to start in 12 states.

According to him, the plan by the Federal Government to support 1.5 million Nigerians to acquire low-cost houses Under the Social Housing programme of the ESP was on course.

He said that the portal for application by prospective beneficiaries was launched in December 2020 alongside the prototype 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units.

More so, the vice president, held a virtual meeting with management of the North East Humanitarian and Innovation Hub (NEHIH).

Osinbajo pledged the support of the Federal Government and the National Economic Council (NEC) in the establishment of a Social Innovation and Research Institute (SIRI), an initiative of NEHIH aimed at developing skills and building capacity for social innovation.

The vice president said that the idea of establishing a centre for social innovation as conceived by the NEHIH was commendable.

“I don’t think there is enough attention being paid to the local needs of social innovation.

“ I really think that this proposed institute can do enough in terms of capacity building and leveraging on ideas, and also making a lot of the innovations relevant to our demands and needs here in Nigeria,” he said.

Other participants at the meeting included the coordinator of the Hub, Mr Ahmad Moddibo, the SIRI project coordinator at the hub, Nguveren Mary, among others. (NAN)