By Ikenna Osuoha

The National Population Commission (NPC) has reassured the public of the safety of its server and data as they prepare for the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

Dr Isiaka Yahaya, Director, Public Affairs Department (PAD) said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a staff of the Commission and Comptroller of Chanchaga LGA, Niger State, Mr Sanusi Maigida had earlier claimed that the NPC server was hacked.

Maigida had cited this development as the reason for the postponement of the LGA-level training of the Supervisors and Enumerators for the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

Yahaya, who reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to a credible and acceptable census, said that its server was not hacked.

The public affairs department boss described as false and misleading, the information on hacking of the commission’s server.

“We wish to assure the public that the security of the data for the
2023 Population and Housing Census is absolutely guaranteed.

“The commission is committed to upholding the highest standards of data protection and maintaining the trust placed in us by the Nigerian population,” he said.

Yahaya explained that the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Nasir Kwarra’s visit to the United Nations was to attend the 56^th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development was to the benefit of the country.

He said the chairman also presented Nigeria’s statement on ‘Population and Development’ at the global event and has since returned to the country ahead of preparations for the first digital Census in Nigeria.

“Over the years, it has been the standard practice for the Chairman of the Commission to attend the annual event on Population and Development in line with the mandate of NPC as the coordinating agency on population matters in Nigeria.

“Consequently, the public is advised to disregard the false statement trending online about the hacking of the commission’s server and the subsequent travel of the NPC Chairman to restore the purported hacked server,” he said.

He assured of the commission’s determination to continue to update the populace on developments regarding the 2023 Population and Housing Census as events unfold.

Yahaya solicited for Nigerians’ support to ensure a secure and successful 2023 Census exercise. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has said that the approval of the concessioning of its two projects by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would attract N180 billion revenue to Nigeria.

A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Ifeanyi Nwoko, Acting Head, Media and Publicity, ICRC), said the projects included the Cassava Bio-mass and Bio-ethanol Value Chain and National Fire Detection And Alarm System (NAFDAS).

Nwoko said the concessioning was to create wealth, reduce poverty, improve food security and nutrition, provide jobs and renewable energy, and reduce carbon footprint.

“While the NAFDAS project will generate a total of N75 billion in the 15-year concession period, the cassava bio-ethanol value chain will generate a total revenue of N105 billion within the five-year concession period.

“The cassava bio-ethanol value chain, which will be done on a pilot phase, aims to build a Bio-technology Industrial Park on a 20-hectare plot across 20 universities, academia and research and development institutes.

“In the pilot phase, 5,000 special hybrid cassava (TME 419) stems will be planted per hectare, (totalling) 100,000 stems for the 20 hectares,” he said.

In addition, he said the project would supply organic fertiliser, boosters, conditioners, pre and post-emergent herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and knapsack sprayers.

“The project also seeks to double cassava production from the current 62 million tons to an output of no fewer than 120 million tons.

“With improved tropical agro-ecology, bio-technology, intense mechanisation, and effective partnership resource mobilisation, Nigeria can double output to 120 million metric tons in five years,” he said.

Nwoko said the key goal of the cassava-bioethanol pilot project was to demonstrate the efficacy of a private sector-led approach in promoting investment in renewable biomass and creating wealth.

“Also in providing jobs, reducing poverty, improving food security and nutrition, providing renewable energy and reducing carbon footprint,” he said.

Nwoko said the project was proposed to be financed with a grant from the Federal Government and Concessionaire investment totalling N11.9 billion.

The ICRC spokesman said the revenue stream presented by the project includes sales of cassava stem, cassava flour, garri, starch, and Bio-ethanol.

“Total revenue for the five-year concession period is N105,610,000,000,” he said.

He said that the NAFDAS project would provide fire mitigation hardwares, softwares, and equipments that would be linked to a cloud network.

Nwoko said the project would be supervised by the Federal Fire Service through a private entity.

“Through the use of this technology, call, and response time in fire incidents will be automated thus drastically reducing avoidable incidents,” he said.

Nwoko said more lives and properties would be saved, and generally ensure efficient fire prevention, detection and management.

“This means that smoke alarms and other fire detection hardware will be linked to a server which will alert the system when the user is in distress without them having to call for help,” he said.

He said the project would begin in seven states on pilot basis, before rolling it out to all states across the country.

Nwoko said the total cost of the project was N3.5 billion, while the government targets to generate N75 billion within 15 years of the concession.

“Share of revenue to the government was projected as 40 per cent of subscription revenue totaling N17,262,850,871, an average of N1,150,856,724 over the 15 years proposed concession period.”

He added that the revenue stream included margin on installations and annual subscription fee from users.

Nwoko said both projects would be executed under the regulatory guidance of ICRC with the revenue shared between government and the concessionaire at a ratio decided in the concession agreement. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed

By Justina Auta

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) says it is intensifying antipiracy drive and enforcing stiffer penalties for copyrights infringement and abuse of all literary works in the country.

Dr John Asein, the Director-General, NCC, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Book and Copyright Day, celebrated every April 23.

Asien, while lamenting over the cases of piracy in the country, added that the new Copyright Act 2022, will improve author’s rights and address the challenges of digital transmission and online exploitation of works.

“To guarantee adequate return on intellectual and financial investment in all creative sectors, the Commission is intensifying its proactive enforcement initiatives as well as enhancing the collective management of rights.

“Working with various stakeholders and relevant agencies, the Commission has commenced a series of public education and enlightenment campaigns as a prelude to the full scale national antipiracy drive.

“With the stiffer penalties available in the new Act for criminal infractions, the public is therefore advised to desist from all forms of copyright infringements and abuses,” he said.

He also called on authors and other stakeholders to join the commission in telling the copyright story and drawing attention to the ills of piracy and other copyright abuses.

He stressed the need to recognise linguistic diversity and the importance of preserving, promoting and encouraging the use of indigenous languages in literature and other creative works in line with 2023 theme, “Indigenous Languages!”

” Together, let us, in our literature, music, performances and movies explore alternative languages and give voice to indigenous communities,” he said.

He explained further that with the over 600 indigenous languages in the country, Nigeria has a lot to offer to the world through its indigenous languages and the associated knowledge.

The NCC boss said they had consulted with relevant stakeholders to formulate the needed Regulations and Guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of the Act on the protection of expressions of folklore. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Mateen Badru

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Triumphant Foundation, on Sunday in Lagos empowered 100 people  with new skills and supported them with grants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries included women, widows and youths, who were trained  in tie and dye, making of pastries, soap, air fresheners and cement.

The participants were part of a three-day skills acquisition programme organised by the NGO.

The Founder, Mr Patrick Tinka, commended the turnout of participants and said there was hope for the future of the country, seeing that people were still interested in personal development.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the skills they had acquired as it was a rare opportunity that should be cherished.

“In the past, we had embarked on skills  acquisition but never had we made it this elaborate by delving into empowerment.

“The reason for this is because in the last five to six months, a lot of transformational events occurred in the country.

“Events like the Naira redesign, cash crunch and fuel hike, among others, of which widows and orphans were mostly affected.

“Who cared for them, who checked up on them, who saw the need to alleviate their sufferings? These are the questions that come to mind.

“If they are empowered, if they are given an opportunity to fend for themselves and their immediate families, life would be easier, crimes will reduce tremendously and poverty will be at its barest minimum.

“Nigeria is blessed with rich resources and our human capital is one of them, that is why you are here today,” he said.

He urged the participants to take the trainings very seriously and remain focused on the goals and the reasons for the training.

Tinka said the training was free but charged the participants to approach it as though it was being paid for.

He advised the participants never to look down on themselves but to only forge ahead as this was the only way they could achieve their goals.

“Never think that you are not enough to be self reliant or to be great in life, push and you will win.

“I hope and pray that this will be the beginning of greater things to come,” he said.

A participant, Mrs Grace Taiwo, a widow, expressed appreciation for having the opportunity to take part in the skills acquisition programme.

She commended the organisers and prayed for continuity to enable other people benefit from the initiative.

Another participant, Onaolapo Oladoja, said it was a special day for him, having been opportuned to participate in the peogramme as a form of enlightenment.

“This has enlightened me in some aspects of life and opened the eyes of many youths like me to see that there is need for hard work.

“There is also need for creativity and the need to do something great, especially with our talents, to make our country better,” he said.

He further commended the organisers for a job well done, adding that he was overwhelmed with the love and hospitality shown by the organisers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 participants who showed more commitment and passion, were given a token of N10,000 as start-up capital.

Meanwhile, mechanisms were put in place to monitor and ensure that the monetary assistance was channeled to the purpose for which it was given. (NAN)

Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Idris Abdulrahman

Justice Now Coalition, an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to obey the court judgement on the case of wrongful removal of Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume as non-executive Chairman of the board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Tony Erha, the group said compliance with the court order would impress on Nigerians the culture of rule of law.

Erha added that it would also save the federal government from engaging in unending legal tussles, which may give wrong signals to foreign investors in the oil and gas sector.

“The Federal Government should take the window of opportunity provided by the Federal High Court judgment to the issue once and for all.

“Afterall, Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume was a director in the board of NNPCL before he was simultaneously appointed as the non-executive chairman, thus enjoying the privilege of having his name in the company’s records with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“Araraume remains a part of the NNPCL family in the face of the law. All issues settled in his favour in the judgment can be quietly revisited and resolved in ways that there will be no losers at the end of the day.”

He said that the court judgements has opened a window of foreclosing the long legal battle that would emanate from several appeals as well as reduce public attention.

“Araraume is a committed member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. We also understand that he was an appointee of President Muhammadu Buhari, as a federal commissioner at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), where he represented the Southeast zone from 2016-2018, a position he held after he passed rigorous security checks by the Police and the Department of State Services.

“That being the case, we believe that this issue can be resolved in-house in the interest of his party, government and the nation, so that the NNPCL can be surefooted forthwith in its operations and dealings with the IOCs, whose confidence the new national energy company must enjoy, more than ever before, to thrive.”

He said that the legal option taken by Araraume was a good precedence that would solidify the judicial system and give confidence to judicial pronouncements in the country.

Erha added that all parties involved should not see it as a personal clash as was being insinuated in some quarters.

“Besides, some groups had also erroneously claimed that by reinstating Araraume, the Court had usurped the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari to hire and fire.

”A claim that is clearly not in tandem with the due process of removing a member of the Board of the NNPCL as circumscribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and other extant laws.”(NAN)

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

Jodor Asset Management Limited says Nigeria’s economy will rebound with new generation of global investors, industry players and consumers.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Nduka Ofulue, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Ofulue spoke on the heels of the DiČX Africa Launch-Pad Empowerment Summit, which is scheduled to hold in Asaba, Delta from April 26 to April 28.

He said that the summit was centered on the theme, “Empowering new generations using innovative products to improve digital skills”.

According to him, “investments in key sectors of the Nigerian economy will show double-digit growth within three to four quarters.

He said that the DiČX Africa project was designed to achieve sustained value across the Nigeria commodity sector using technology and innovation.

“The cost pull effect on global commodities and material value has seen traders and merchants struggle to meet absolute returns for investors.

“This is as a result of the issues arising from domestic Insecurity, the CBN cashless policy, the lingering economic fall-out from Covid-19 and the international funded war in Ukraine.

“Many of Africa’s once calm and buoyant economies are struggling to generate organic growth.

“The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts for the 10 major economies in Africa are dire,” he said.

According to Ofulue, value is being eroded with more money giving birth to less quantity for Africa’s consumers.

“Manufacturers have increased costs of goods while consumers have seen the value shrink in the same goods.

“Coca-Cola is not left out. They have had to marginally increase their product cost and reduce their product size.

“ This chilling effect is felt across all key sectors in Nigeria and Africa`s; higher prices for a lesser quantity in products.

“Such trend can only exacerbate further issues across economic value chains, resulting in less revenue for governments,” Ofulue said.

He said that to address the challenges, DiČX Africa project and Launch-Pad Summit was initiated to critically rethink the impact of monetary and fiscal policy on a new generation of consumer goods and services.

“Nigeria’s future stares us direct in the face, we must stare back with confidence for new generations of global investors, industry players and consumers,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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(Edited by Joseph Edeh)

By Ruth Oketunde

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has restated its commitment towards evacuating stranded Nigerians in Sudan.

The Director-General of the agency, Mr Mustapha Ahmed stated this in a statement issued by the Head of its Press Unit, Mr Manzo Ezekiel on Saturday in Abuja.

NEMA, he said, has set up a committee which was already working on all possible options of ensuring the safe return of Nigerians from the conflict-ridden Sudan, especially students in its various universities.

He said the committee comprised of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts, who would constantly evaluate the situation and recommend the safest approach for the evacuation.

“It has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies.

“While seeking for an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner.

“The current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between waring factions going on and all airports and land boarders closed,” he said.

He assured Nigerians that NEMA was working assiduously with all its partners, and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that clashes erupted amid an apparent power struggle between the two main factions of Sudan’s military regime.

The Sudanese armed forces are broadly loyal to Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the country’s de facto ruler, while the para militaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a collection of militia, follow the former warlord Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

The power struggle has its roots in the years before a 2019 uprising that ousted the dictatorial ruler Omar Al-Bashir, who built up formidable security forces that he deliberately set against one another.

When an effort to transition to a democratic civilian-led government faltered after Bashir’s fall, an eventual showdown appeared inevitable, with diplomats in Khartoum warning in early 2022 that they feared such an outbreak of violence.

In recent weeks, tensions have risen further.

The UN said no fewer than 180 people have been killed and another 1,800 injured in three days of fighting between the rival factions in Sudan. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Martha Agas/Sadiya Hamza