Connect with us

Uncategorized

COVID-19: EU Donates N21b to Nigeria

Published

on

Share


By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The European Union (EU) has announced a EUR 50 million (N21 billion) contribution towards the implementation of a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by EU in Abuja,  the new donation was announced in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and is a reflection of the strong partnership, friendship and solidarity with Nigeria.

President Buhari emphasized that “Although the EU is facing significant challenges due to this pandemic, I am indeed touched and grateful that the European Union still had the vision and foresight to remember its friends, partners and allies across the world”.

According to the statement “The funding for Nigeria is aimed at ensuring optimum care for the confirmed cases of the virus, while containing further spread through an inclusive, national response.
Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen stressed that “COVID-19 must be fought globally.

“The EU support is focused on the people most at risk. Africa and Nigeria are vital priorities, and must not be forgotten or left alone. Now more than ever we want to show solidarity with our partners.”

“The funding will be channeled through the One UN COVID-19 Basket Fund launched in concert with the Nigerian authorities during the week.

” The EU intervention will focus on the 10 key pillars of the National COVID-19 Response Plan, including coordination, socio-economic measures, such as cash transfers or food distribution to vulnerable groups, scaling up surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, personal protection equipment for medical staff, disinfectants for medical facilities, risk communication, community engagement, clinical management of the critically unwell COVID-19 patients”.

As UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed stated on the occasion of the EU support: “The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis, but it is a humanitarian and development emergency with a human face. While the pandemic tests our resilience, this is the time for genuine commitment to multilateralism and partnerships, that guarantee the necessary investments towards response and recovery.

” The EU’s solidarity at this momentous time will save lives. It will also ensure we protect the gains of the SDGs while safeguarding the livelihoods of the most vulnerable, especially women and girls” the statement read in part.

The European Union noted that its support will translate into improved delivery of key support to Nigerians, which could include the following:
Swift procurement of equipment and commodities required to respond to the outbreak, including those required for surveillance, prevention and control as well as clinical management (portable ventilators, surgical masks, examination gloves, protective googles, gowns, PCR test kits amongst others).

“Improved testing capacity for the National Center for Disease Control molecular Lab network – currently existing capacity of 1,500 tests per day nationally to be scaled up to 3,000 tests per day.

“Technical support provided to expand communication and community engagement to reach women, persons living with disabilities and marginalized groups, in order to address their unequal access to information on outbreaks and available services.

“Maintenance of essential health services to ensure that the vulnerable do not experience catastrophic health expenditures during this period.

“Cash transfers to mitigate impact of social distancing measures put in place.
“Decisions on fund allocation will be made in close consultation with national authorities leading the crisis response,” it stated.

Furthermore, the EU said, it will leverage on previous experiences including in supporting the multilateral action for Polio Eradication as well as ongoing regional support in deployment of SORMAS digital surveillance for contact tracing which worked very well during the Ebola outbreak of 2014.
  
The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen said the European Union was looking in particular at Africa to underline that Europe will not forget its sister continent when addressing this global pandemic.

“While as individuals we keep distance, as true partners the EU and Nigeria are coming together. To all Nigerians, I wish to remind all that you are not alone,” he said.


Uncategorized

Bandits Invade Niger Local Market,  Village  Head, 20 Others Killed

Published

on

Share

From Dan Amasingha,  Minna

After relative  peace since the start of the Ramadan fast,daredevil Bandits  invaded a Niger local market and killed the Village head and 20 traders in Madaka, Rijau local government areas of Niger State.Rijau Local Government which borders  neighbouring Kebbi State, has experienced consistent banditry attacks in the past one year.

Eye witnesses inform our Correspondent that the suspected bandits riding on motorcycles stormed the market  on Thursday  afternoon  around 3.
30- 4pm  when activities at the market  were  at its peak.According  to the source,  the invading  bandits who shot sporadically  into the air to scare away traders later started ransacking big time traders by carting away food stuffs  and Cash.
Villagers who had the pandemonium at the market square fled into nearby bushes to take cover and the Village head who attempted  to find out  what was happening was shot dead at close range.”At the end of the confusion, we discovered that twenty one persons  including our Village  head were wasted,The Source  maintained that, the bandits before leaving  later set about 50 houses  including commercial shops on fire, and a  number of cars and motorcycles were burnt down during the incident.”After  killing innocent victims and burning down the market they also went away with an unspecified number of the villagers to an unidentified destination”Confirming  the incident,  Madaka District Head, Alhaji Isah Bawale  said  it was a black Thursday evening in a telephone interview on Friday morning.He further recounted that the Community  had come under similar attack some times ago when his predecessor  was killed without any resistance from security agencies.When contacted, Niger State Command of Police Public Relations Officer PPRO SP Wasiu Abiodun assured to verify and get back but he couldn’t revert at the time of filing in the report.Meanwhile, the Niger state government, especially the commissioner for security, General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (retired) is yet to speak on the incident.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Women Are Nation Builders, Bayelsa NAWOJ

Published

on

Share

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Bayelsa State chapter has described women as society builders hence they should be empowered to harness their potentials for nation building.

Chairperson of NAWOJ Bayelsa, Mrs Grace Orumieyefa handed down this during a one day program to commemorate the 2024 International Women Day held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Mrs Orumieyefa noted that NAWOJ has over the years been at the forefront of advocacy for women rights as the empowerment of women brings empowerment for everyone around her which makes a better society.

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation, ENWAF, Lady Eunice Nnachi urged women to take advantage of technological advancement to improve their learning and training in order to empower themselves.

“You can learn almost anything using the internet, through YouTube, women should use this medium to learn many things and train themselves.”

While responding to questions, she said, women should not be desperate to get life partners but should ensure that they have partners who can help them to achieve their dreams.

The Keynote Speaker, Mrs Ebi Kakandar who delivered a lecture on “Harnessing the Prospects and Potentials of Women” called on women to shun all forms of laziness, be determined and courageous to pursue their life ambitions.

Mrs Kakandar pointed out that factors such as building a growth mindset, improving your emotional mindset, developing willpower, cultivating strong social support, aspiring for greatness and setting achievable goals are some of the keys to achieving success as a woman.

She encouraged women to seek more knowledge and inspire themselves to be self-reliant.

Various organizations such as NUJ, FIDA, NLC, MWAN, Starzz Initiative, DO Foundation, POWA and other women organizations as well as NGOS delivered Goodwill messages for women advising to aspire for higher achievement.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Students Loan: FG Explains Delay in Take-off, Sets New Date

Published

on

Share

The Federal Government has set the month of March for a definite opening of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) portal for eligible students.

Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, Execute Secretary NELFund, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja urged eligible students to register to access the fund.

President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023, signed the Access to Higher Education Bill into law to enable indigent student access interest-free loan to pursue their education in any Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The scheme was slated to commence between September and October 2023, but because of unforeseen circumstances, there was a revised timeline to January.

Giving reasons for the delay in starting the scheme as earlier scheduled, Sawyerr explained that the process is technically driven and necessary measures needed to be put in place for proper execution.

“The take-off date is this month (March) and the reason for the delay is that we are trying to get it right.

“This is not a political programme where we say, oh! we are just going to do it, it doesn’t  matter how it works.

“This is a programme that will, probably run beyond me as a human being, not even as a Secretary. This is something that we want to run adequately, so we have to get it right,’’ he said.

Sawyerr, reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to ensure that lack of finance should not be a reason for any student in Nigeria to halt education at a tertiary level.

According to him, the scheme was designed for indigent Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and applications would be done online.

“We have decided that, all applicants should be able to access this scheme regardless of where they are, who they are and who they know.

“We want this to be a process that is fair to all and we will advertise the portal widely so that applicants will be able to go to the website to fill series of forms and answer certain questions.

“Base on the data they input and their answers to the questions, the system will be able to determine appropriately, whether they are eligible to apply or not,’’ Sawyerr explained. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS7 hours ago

FCT HOS: Why President Tinubu Extends Atang’s Tenure By 6 Months

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the extension of Atang Udo Samuel, as the the Head of...

NEWS7 hours ago

FGGC Benin Emerges Winner of 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Federal Government Girls College, Benin has emerged overall winner of the 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’...

NEWS7 hours ago

We’re Meeting Our Targets on Airport -Kuje Road Construction – Wike

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, haom Wednesday,  expressed satisfaction with the...

NEWS8 hours ago

Osun to Partner FG on Culture, Tourism Development

ShareFrom Kunle IdowuGovernor Ademola Adeleke has secured a partnership deal with the Ministry of Tourism on the development of tourism...

POLITICS8 hours ago

I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia

ShareFrom Attah Ede, MakurdiGovernor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All...

POLITICS8 hours ago

Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials

ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, JosThe Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among...

POLITICS8 hours ago

FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing...

Metro8 hours ago

FG Declares March 29, April 1, Public Holiday to Mark Easter Celebration

ShareThe Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1, as public holidays to mark the Easter celebration.This...

NEWS8 hours ago

Nigeria Prepared to Expedite Sustainable Dev’t in Collaboration with Partners — Tinubu

SharePresident Bola Tinubu yesterday said his administration is committed to deepening democracy by ensuring adherence to the rule of law...

NEWS8 hours ago

Police Engage Bandits in Gun Battle, Kill two, Arrest One in Benue

ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Men of the Benue State Police Command yesterday engaged bandits in gun duel in Mba-Mtsar village,...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc