By David Adeoye

The Oyo State Government has warned purveyors of fake news to leave the state or risk sanctions.

Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.

The statement was a reaction to some online publications speculating that the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was burgled last week.

The state government however described the report as fake news, stressing that there was no iota of truth to the claim in the story.

It admonished newsmen to always seek clarifications from relevant authorities to avoid the allure of fake news.

“Checks with all arms of security at the secretariat confirmed that the story was fake, unfounded and indeed an outright lie.

“Indeed, the original publisher of the story, Mega Icon, was so mischievous that he didn’t crosscheck the purported story with any government official.

“He only added a line debunking the story after an official of the SSG had questioned the veracity of the fake report.

“He had claimed to an official of the government that he had to publish the fake news because he was once shunned by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Surprisingly, Sahara Reporters lapped up the fake news, an indication that the integrity of the media houses is at stake.

“The story not only failed the simplest tests that newsmen worth their onion subject news stories to, it raised all the red flags of fake news, as it claimed that no arrest had been made without stating which police station the alleged burglary was reported to and by whom.

“The fake news had also gone ahead to state that imaginary valuables were carted away without stating what and what was stolen.

“Sadly, the purveyors of the fake news have also let down their readers by not being able to provide further details days after publishing the initial lie,” the statement read in part.

The state government further advised information carriers to always ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties, stressing that responsible and ethical journalism espouses truth and the sanctity of facts above fiction.

It threatened that anyone who deliberately publishes fake and concocted report would be made to face the wrath of the law.

“There are constitutional stipulations that guide against publication of falsehood.

“We find it appalling that a media house worth its name would publish a story that has no basis and is not in any way close to reality.

“In fact, we can no longer doubt the fact that the purveyors of this fake news are out to blackmail the government in an attempt to rubbish the initiatives of the administration in the security sector.

“We want to, however, state categorically that the state will ensure no offender goes unpunished, as there are constitutional provisions against the publication of falsehood by the press despite the fundamental freedom of expression,” it emphasised.

The statement said the administration can no longer condone the excesses of mischief makers. (NAN)

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)

By Justina Aura

National Council for Women Development (NCWD) has promised to improve collaboration with Nigerian and international partners to enlarge interventions targeted at improving the status of women.

The council’s Director General, Mrs Mary Ekpere-Eta, made the pledge in a New Year message on Friday in Abuja.

She recalled the unprecedented events in the country in 2020 such as the #EndSars protests and the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown which impacted negatively on the economy of families, with women and children being the worst hit.

She said that the centre would continue to advocate for the safety, welfare and prosperity of women and girls by scaling-up its empowerment programmes and outreach to vulnerable women and female Internally Displaced Persons with life-changing skills.

Ekpere-Eta stated that “2021 will equally see the centre improving collaboration with Nigerian and international partners to enlarge interventions targeted at improving the status of women in the country.”

The NCWD boss, therefore, encouraged women to renew their optimism about life and position themselves for the opportunities the year would present.

She added that women in the formal and informal sectors should also be open to learning new skills, as 2020 had shown the importance of individuals and organisations being dynamic and ready to adapt. (NAN)

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) says it has concluded plans to roll out no fewer than 90,870 meters to customers in its franchise areas of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti in the first quarter of 2021.

Mr Tayo Adekule, the BEDC head of Public Affairs, told newsmen in Benin on Friday that the meters were allocated to BEDC by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Adekule noted that the meters would be distributed under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), starting from Edo.

He said that the metering would cover four BEDC franchise states on selected distribution transformers covering 90,870 customers over a period of six months.

He explained that Edo would get 40,995, Delta 22,247, Ondo19,453 while Ekiti would get  8,294 of the total number of meters allocated to BEDC

“The meters will be distributed through the BEDC Meter Asset Provider (MAP) for its franchise areas,” he said.

According to Adekule, metering under this scheme is free and customers will not have to pay.

He, however, said that all premises have to be enumerated and shall be certified by electricity inspector before installation of the meters.

“Customers who have collected tellers for meters under the MAP and have not paid shall not pay any amount to acquire a meter.

“Any amount paid to the account of MAP shall be refunded in 21 days subject to customers providing the account details for refund.

“Twenty per cent of the meters are three phases while 80 per cent are single phase.

“Customers in Band A, which include those with minimum of 20 hours supply; Band B, minimum of 16 hours; and Band C, minimum of 12 hours of power supply, will benefit from the metering during the exercise.

“Band D with minimum of 8 hours and Band E with minimum of 6 hours of power supply will benefit from the metering in the second quarter of 2021,” he added.

Speaking on the court case between BEDC and Civil Society Organisations in Edo, Adekule said the lawyers of both parties had resolved to settle out of court. (NAN)

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) on Friday call on Nigerians to continue praying for peace, unity and stability of the country.

Mrs Laraba Shoda, the National President, NCWS, made the call in her New Year message to Nigerians on Friday in Abuja.

Shoda said the call was imperative to foster unity and address security challenges in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As our nation enter 2021, I want us all to pray for peace and stability in our country.

“We should remain fervent in prayers for the peace of the nation and learn to speak positive things about the nation for good things to begin to happen.

“Let’s pray for a better year in 2021. Let’s hand over Nigeria to God to reposition in accordance with His Will and Glory,’’ she said.

Shoda also said that Nigerians, especially women, should pray in their homes for divine intervention on the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and the world at large.

The president noted that women and children were believed to have a special place in the heart of God, therefore, we should continue to pray for God’s mercy over the pandemic.

“There is no doubt that these are trying times in our nation and I am optimistic that it will pass by God’s grace.

“The insecurity situation and the global pandemic have posed serious challenges to the nation and the world at large, especially as it affects health, religion, wellbeing of Nigerians and the socio-economic development of the country.

“I also call on Nigerians to take responsibility at this critical time, adhering to the precautionary measures, protocols , and guidelines released by various strata of government to prevent community spread of the virus as we celebrate the New Year,” she said

Shoda called on Nigerians to have faith in God, support one another and cooperate with government to contain the spread of the disease in the country. (NAN)

By Bolaji Buhari

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday visited Surulere Maternal and Child Care Hospital, where he spent time with babies born on New Year’s Day and their mothers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baby Derrick, a male, the First Baby of the year at the hospital, was born at exactly 12:42 a.m. on Friday and weighed 3.6 kg at birth.

Gbajabiamila congratulated Derrick’s mother, Mrs Immaculata Ozumba, on the safe delivery and the family for the “great gift from God’’.

The speaker then gave various gifts including; cash, bags of rice, cartons of noodles and diapers to the baby and his family

He later went round to see other babies born shortly after Baby Derrick and equally gave them gifts as well as their parents.

Gbajabiamila settled the delivery bills of all babies born in the facility on Friday as well as some other patients who could not pay their bills.

Received by Mrs Aduke Odutayo, Medical Director of the Community Hospital and other staff, the speaker commended the management of the facility for doing their best to improve healthcare delivery in the area.

He promised to support the hospital to further enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital and others in the constituency.

Speaking to the NAN, Ozumba said she was surprised by the speaker’s visit and the show of love to her baby and the family.

Ozumba, who could not hold back her tears of joy, said the coming of Derrick had brought blessings to the family through the speaker’s visit and gifts.

“Honestly, I lack words; I could never have imagined that the speaker will visit my baby, let alone giving us all these gifts.

“Derrick has brought blessings for us; I am extremely happy and grateful to Mr Femi Gbajamiala and I pray that God will bless and always guide him,’’ she said.

The speaker after the visit to the hospital, embarked on an inspection tour of his on-going and just-completed constituency projects in Surulere.

Some of the projects he inspected to ascertain their completion level and quality, were the expansion of Babs Animashaun road and bridge and rehabilitation of a network of roads at Ward F, including Martins and Elizabeth roads.

Others are; on-going construction of Gbajabiamila General Hospital, Iyun Road; renovation of Stadium Grammar School, ICT Centre at Ajigbeda Senior Girls’ High School and work on a 250-capacity stadium at Obele Oniwaala.

He also inspected on-going work at a hostel at the University of Lagos.

Speaking during his visit to Babs Animashaun Road, Gbajabiamila commended the pace of work and quality of the project.

He urged the contractor handling the expansion of the road as well as contractors handling his other constituency projects to work harder to deliver the projects on schedule without compromising quality.

“Please try and work harder and deliver the project as early as you can without compromising quality. That is the most important thing,’’ he said.

Speaking, Mr Idris Adeoye, Project Manager, Global Legend Integrated Ltd., the company handling the project, gave an assurance that the firm would deliver on schedule.

Adeoye said the delivery period was fixed at December 2021, according to the contract.

He, however, said that they would deliver the job two months before the deadline. (NAN)

By Justina Aura

The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has advised parents to register their children at birth to enable government to effectively plan for the future and for national development.

She made the call on Friday when she visited Karu Primary Healthcare Centre in the FCT to welcome the First Baby of the Year 2021 at the centre.

The baby boy, weighing 3.3kg, was born at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 into the family of Mr and Mrs Adamu Abubakar, an indigene of Biu Local Government Area of Borno.

Represented by Dr Mairo Almakura, the Special Assistant to the President on African First Lady’s Peace Mission, Buhari said birth registration was fundamental to creating data that would assist government to keep track of the number of children in the country and make provision for their development.

The first lady also advised pregnant women to always go for ante-natal care, practice exclusive breastfeeding and embrace family planning to protect their health and wellbeing of their children and the family at large.

Mrs Justina Maka, the Nurse who delivered the first baby, said “he is in a healthy condition.”

The father of the baby, Mr Aliyu Adamu, thanked the first lady and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and promised to follow the instructions of health professionals in caring for the baby.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said 22 healthcare facilities across the FCT were involved in the search for the baby of the year, of which, the Primary Healthcare Centre in Karu came first.

Tallen, who was represented by Mrs Jummai Mohammed, the Director, Child Development in the ministry, assured the public of government’s support to improving the lives of women and children. (NAN)

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

No fewer than 52 people escaped death in an accident involving six vehicles on Ihiala road, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra as the New Year 2021 began on Friday.

Mr Andrew Kumapayi, State Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

Kumapayi said the accident which occurred at about 2 p.m., was caused by speeding and loss of control.

“The multiple crash involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AGB268ZT, a Mark Trailer with registration number GWA456YR and another Toyota Hiace bus with registration number NEN106XQ.

“Others are an Acura MDX Jeep with registration number NZM764LK, a Marcapolo Luxury bus with registration number AKD483XF and a Hyundai Jeep with registration number EG172SMK,” he said.

The commander said that witness report reaching the FRSC indicated that the driver of one of the vehicles was speeding, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the other five vehicles.

“A total of 52 people were involved in the crash – 38 male adults and 14 female adults. No life was lost.

“11 people out of the 52 sustained some degrees of injuries and were taken to Obijackson Foundation and Our Lady of Lourdes hospitals in Ihiala for treatment by the FRSC rescue team.

“Meanwhile, the FRSC rescue team from Ihiala were on ground controlling traffic as the obstructions were been cleared,” he said.

While wishing the injured people speedy recovery, the sector commander warned motorists against speed limit violation and urged them to drive safely and stay safe to avoid accidents. (NAN)