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General news

Argungu fishing festival, breeding ground for future Olympians – Lai Mohammed

Canoe race at the 2020 Argungu international fishing and cultural festival
Olympians
By Rotimi Ijikanmi
Argungu, March 14, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is breeding ground for future Olympians considering the raw talents of young boys and girls at the “Kabanci display”.
The Minister stated this while speaking to newsmen at the Kabanci display arena of the ongoing 2020 Argungu fishing festival in Argungu town of Kebbi state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Kabanci display, one of the events for the festival included,  bare hand fishing competitions by men, women boys and girls, canoe race, swimming with clay pot balanced on heads.
Other competing events at the Kabanci are water relays, swiming on gourd, diving competition, wild duck catching competition and save their souls competition.
The Minister who witnessed the displays with Kebbi state governor, Abubakar Bagudu and the Emir of Argungu, Alh. Sama’ila Mera said he was impressed and fulfilled.
“What has impressed me most today are those young girls and boys swimming 160 metres and displaying their raw talenrs.
“This is a breeding ground for future Olympians  looking at the performances of the boys and girls of about 10 and 11 years.
Swimming on gourd, one of the Kabanci displays at the 2020 Argungu international fishing and cultural festival
“If their talents can be tapped and developed they can become international great sports men and women.
“I think that next year we will ensure that the ministers of sports, science and technology and agriculture are all here” he said.
Mohammed said that the festival is beyond entertainment because the events he had witnessed so far cut across  culture, sports  agriculture and science.
“The archery, traditional boxing and wrestling, swimming  all come under sport.
“The agricultural exhibition and the fishing come under agriculture while  water motorcycle and motor rally all come under technology.
“You can see that from the very beginning when this festival was organised in 1934  what we witnessed today are the oldest forms of these innovations’ he said.
The Governor said that the festival is one of Nigeria’s premier festivals; noting that it is historic, cultural and designes to celebrate the nation’s cultural diversity.
He said the festival is something his people all look forward to showing their capacity, cultural heritage and agricultural prowess.
The Governor noted that the 2020 edition which is the 60th in the series is being celebrated after 10 years hiatus.
“The events put together, especially at a time when people thought we cannot hold the festival again is very illustrative and inspiring.
“It attest to the strong leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari especially in the security of the country.
“We will continue to ensure that the festival becomes better every year,’  he said.
Bagudu specifically assured that in the subsequent editions of the festival, they would have more domestic and international participants in all the competing events.
For his part, the Emir expressed happiness that the festival has come back with big bang after 10 years it was suspended for security concerns .
He expressed gratitude to the President for accepting the invitation of his people to declare the festival open and witness the agricultural show.
“Every person  in Argungu is happy and the entire leadership of the community is here.
“We have many guests and participants from many places and since the day the events atarted we have not recorded any incidence of violent crime.
“My expectation is that next year we will stage the festival better and use it as a platform to project agriculture to Nigeria and the rest of West Africa,” he said.
The Emir appreciated his subjects for their contributions towards the successful hosting of the festival. (NAN)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza
General news

Argungu fishing festival revival indicates peace in Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Middle) and other dignitaries at the. Argungu International Fishing and Cultural events in Argungu, Kebbi.
Festival
Argungu (Birnin-Kebbi), March 12, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the revival of Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival after 10 years hiatus is an indication that Nigeria iis peacedul and safe for tourists and investors.
The Minister stated this in Argungu, Kebbi state during the donkey, camel race competitions and archery which form parts of the competing events for the festival.
Mohammed who was the guest of honour at the events said that Nigeria is safe for tourists and investors.
“With the return of the festival, we can assure that there is peace in Nigeria because over 10 years back, the festival could not hold because of security concerns.
“I congratulate the government and the people of Kebbi for the efforts they put in organising the events.
“After all these years, Argungu international fishing  festival has come back with a big bang with all the significant and exciting events and competitions.
“With the enthusiasm of the people of Argungu and Nigeria as a whole I can assure you that the festival has come back to stay,” he said.
Mohammed said that the festival is significant because of its unifying factors between Nigeria, it’s neighbouring countries and the globe a large.
He noted that the competitions being witnessed and others to come are not just among the Emirates in Argungu and Kebbi state alone but there are competitors from Niger and other neighbouring countries.
He said besides giving the festival an international status,  it aerved as a unifyimh factor between Nigeria, other West African countries and the globe at large.
“When you have people competing from other parts of Africa it foster unity and brotherhood,” he said.
The Minister said the festival is also significant because of the link to agriculture, creative industry and cultural heritage which are key sectors to diversifying our economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Minister who earlier kick off a polo competition at a polo ground dedicated forthe festival,  presented awards to winer’s of the competitions. (NAN)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza
General news

Passengers protest Aero Contractor’s flight delay, unprofessional conduct

Protest

Abuja, March 11, 2020 (NAN) Passengers in their hundreds have protested at the local wing of the Nnamidi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja against flight delay and unprofessional conduct by the Aero Contractors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the protest took place on Tuesday at the counter of the airline and the boarding gate in the departure hall by the passengers who claimed their flights were delayed for many hours by the airline.
The passengers mostly, Sokoto bound from Lagos and Abuja said the airline kept them waiting at the airport for over 10 hours  without any explanations from the officials except the routine announcement of “delay due to operational reasons”.
One of the passengers  Mr Samson Makanjuola said he booked the flight from Lagos to Sokoto with a schedule to leave Lagos airport at 6.45 am arrive Abuja  at about 7.45 a.m. and depart Abuja at 12.15 to arrive in Sokoto by 1.20p.m.
He said at about three hours into the layover in Abuja he approached the airline counter to check in to Sokoto flight but was told that the flight had been rescheduled for 4.pm.
Makanjuola and other passengers from Lagos and Abuja said they did not receive any notice on the flight rescheduling from the airline but got to know about it when they got to the airport
Another passenger, Mr Tunji Oyeyemi who expressed disappointment over the airline’s unprofessional operations said he contacted the customer care of Aero contractor, severally over the delay but he got no response.
At about 4p.m the airline was said to have two separate flights to Sokoto with flight number 117 and 119 respectively.
The passengers said when one of the flights landed at the airport,  rather than announcing boarding openly as it is usually done, the airline officials were selectively whispering to passengers at the departure hall, one after the other, to go and board.
When most passengers who they did not inform got wind of the development that some people had boarded the aircraft without boarding announcement, they openly expressed their anger in a near chaotic manner at the departure hall.
The passengers were later pacified with the assurances that an aircraft was coming from Lagos to take them to Sokoto.
However, the passengers said that while they were waiting, the airline, twice  announced delay of their flight by 50 minutes respectively, simply attributing operational reasons.
When.the third announcement of delay was made at about 6p.m. many of the passengers stood up spontaneously to protest at the departure gate while some move down to the airline counter.
The passengers said that besides the delay, information filtered to them that many of their checked in luggage had already arrived in Sokoto with the aircraft that left earlier  while they were still held in Abuja.
They also complaint of no official communication, apology and remorsefulness  from the airline with all  what they were made to pass through.
The aircraft eventually arrived the airport from Lagos at about 7pm.
There was, however, another round of protest by the passengers when their was delay in announcing boarding and news also filtered to them that the aircraft was to be diverted to Yola.
The passengers who were already charged and tensed, rowdily thronged the departure counter in protest insisting that the airline should announce their boarding
As the situation became chaotic and uncontrollable, boarding announcement was made and the passengers, without waiting for the routine checking of their boarding passes and identification means at the gate, trooped through the tarmac  to the aircraft.
The aircraft eventually departed Abuja at about 7.50pm and arrived at the Sokoto airport at about 8.40pm.
Some of the passengers said that Sokoto was not their final destinations and they would have to bear the unbudgeted fund to pass the night in the city before proceeding the following day.
Both Oyeyemi and Makanjuola said they were going to Kebbi for the Argungu festival  when they left Lagos at 6.45a.m hoping to get to their destination early.
They called on relevant supervisory agencies to call airline operators into order over delays, unethical conduct and impunity in rendering their services.
Reacting, Aero Contractors Airline expressed regret on its flight delay that occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday.
The airline made the apology during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
An Aero high rank Official at NAIA, who pleaded anonymity, said that number of passengers ready for boarding were greater than normal number of passengers to board scheduled air craft at 4.30pm from Abuja to Sokoto.
According to her, others passengers that were left behind were afraid and taught, possibly there would not be other flight again.
She said the airline urgently organized for another flight that airlifted remaining passengers later by 6.45pm.
“There was delaying in flight operation yesterday. After our scheduled air craft boarded by 4.30pm, some passengers were still left behind. The remaining passengers were afraid, thinking they had been disappointed.
“We arranged light refreshment for the left over passengers before they were finally flown by 6.45pm by another aircraft we organized for them.
“ We intentionally paid for extension fee to ensure the fight was not cancelled in order to please our passengers. You can see now that everything has been going on smoothly since morning today (Wednesday), “ she said.(NAN)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza
Defence/Security

Boko Haram attacking Christians to trigger religious war – FG raises alarm

Alarm

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

Abuja, Feb. 27, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Government says Boko Haram insurgents and their ISWAP allies have changed their strategy, targeting Christians and Christian villages to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed raised the alarm at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

 

“Recall that Boko Haram insurgents didn’t use to discriminate between Christians and Muslims when they carried out their attacks in the past.

 

“Churches and mosques, Christians and Muslims were attacked without discrimination.

 

“When they targeted motor parks, the religion, gender, ethnicity or political leaning of the victims didn’t matter, as long as they inflicted the maximum damage to lives and property.

 

“But in the wake of a renewed onslaught by our tireless military against Boko Haram and their ISWAP allies in recent times, the insurgents have apparently changed their strategy:

 

“They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.

 

“Apparently, they have realised how emotive and divisive religion can be, when exploited by unscrupulous persons,” he said.

 

The minister noted that the insurgents, who deluded themselves as Muslims, were nothing more than “blood-thirsty, rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion”,

 

He stressed that they were deliberately targeting Christians to sow the seed of confusion between the two religions.

 

The minister buttressed the government position with the attack on a Christian village, Kwarangulum, near Chibok and the killing of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government in Adamawa, Lawan Andimi.

 

He also cited the incidence of the killing of NRopvil Daciya Dalep, a student who was also a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN); and the killing of 11 Christians on Christmas Eve.

 

Mohammed said that some had misinterpreted the attacks to insinuate a systematic campaign to persecute Christians in the country.

 

“This is absurd, and very unfair to the men and women who are daily battling the insurgents.

 

“The truth is that, having run out of options in their battle against Nigeria, the insurgents are desperate to stay relevant, to stay in the news, hence their cowardly and senseless strategy targeting Christians, as part of their increasing resort to the use of Guerilla tactics,” he said.

 

The minister appealed to religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims, not to fall for the desperate move by the insurgents or allow them to divide the country and weaken the resolve to deal the insurgents the mortal blow.

 

He also canvassed for their unalloyed support to the military, which he said had also upped the ante against the insurgents.

 

“The resort to the increasing use of Guerilla tactics by the insurgents is a sign of weakness on their part.

 

“Contrary to the belief in certain quarters, these insurgents are getting weaker by the day, thanks to the gallantry of our men and women in uniform.

 

“We therefore, appeal to our leaders, especially religious leaders, not to fall for the antics of Boko Haram and ISWAP, who are trying to divide us along religious lines by

targeting Christians for attacks.

 

Mohammed added: “This is the last desperate move by a decimated and disillusioned band of killers and psycopaths to stay relevant amid constant decimation by our gallant troops,” he said.

 

“We have what it takes to come together and foil this divisive and satanic strategy.

 

“We appeal to Nigerians to support the military as it moves to decapitate the insurgents.

 

“Second-guessing the military at this time is like playing into the hands of Boko Haram”.

 

Mohammed stressed that the renewed vigour by the military in their war against the insurgents was paying off, judging by the victories they recorded in recent times.

 

He listed the successes to include, the killing of top ISWAP leaders at two separate meeting venues at Marte Local Government in Borno State and a successful attack against the leadership of Boko Haram in Alafa Yagayaga in Borno earlier in the month.

 

The minister also cited the killing of Boko Haram Chief Judge in Lake Chad and the in-fighting in the leadership cadre of Boko Haram which he said was a fallout of the pressure on the insurgents by the military

 

He also identified the continued foiling by the military of many attacks by Boko Haram, the continued decimation of the insurgents across the North-east and the inability of the insurgents to hold any territory as it was in the past.

 

He said, apart from fighting insurgents, the military had also continued to carry out developmental programmes in the North-east, as part of efforts to win the hearts and minds of the populace.

 

Mohammed said the military had engaged in road and bridge construction and repair; provision of potable water and scanning of roads and highways to detect planted IEDs and keep the roads safe

 

He said the military also engaged in teaching in schools where there is shortage of teachers and provided educational materials, including books to schools. (NAN)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Health

WHO partners Information Ministry on TB, NCDs eradication

Partnership
By Rotimi Ijikanmi
Abuja, Feb. 24, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has expressed the readiness of his ministry to partner the World Health Organisation (WHO) in combating Tuberculosis (TB) and Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country.
The minister stated this on Monday in Abuja when a WHO delegation led by Dr Jean Maire Dangou paid him an advocacy visit.
He assured the delegation that with the commitment of Nigeria to the UN Health For All Programme, the ministry would deploy all relevant platforms to disseminate WHO programmes in tackling the diseases.
He specifically noted that all government information disseminating organs would work with WHO in the necessary advocacy toward eradicating TB and NCDs.
Mohammed said he had directed organs such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to propagate WHO plans of action at eradicating the diseases.
NAN reports that heads of all the parastatal agencies attended the meeting, where the minister told the WHO delegation to make contents available to the agencies for dissemination using their platforms.
Earlier, Dangou said the advocacy visit was a follow up to the commitment made by President Muhammadu Buhari to eradicate TB and address NCDs during the last UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He said that the team was in Nigeria to meet with relevant stakeholders in the public and private sector to translate the commitment to action.
Dangou underscored the importance of information dissemination in the protection of people from both communicable diseases and NCDs.
He said that awareness was key in the treatment and eradication of TB and NCDs and urged the minister to support the efforts of the world health body in information dissemination toward combating the diseases.(NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
Metro

Stop providing succour for terrorists, FG warns AI

Terrorism
By Rotimi Ijikanmi
Abuja, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Government on Thursday admonished Amnesty International (AI) to stop providing succor to terrorists with its “growing practice of constantly attacking the Nigeria military and casting them as the bad guys”.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the admonition on Thursday in Abuja while briefing the media on topical national issues.
Mohammed was reacting to AI accusation that the military burnt some villages in the North East and forcefully displaced the residents.
“In carrying out their duties, Amnesty International should not cast themselves in the league of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
“They should stop the growing practice of constantly attacking the military and casting them as the bad guys, when all they are doing is putting their lives on the line to fight
terrorists who have no respect for the sanctity of life.
“The terrorists who willfully go after women and children, who attack houses of worship without respect or allegiance to any religion.
“Amnesty International should stop providing succour for terrorists by attributing their atrocities to our troops.
“Our soldiers, who are defending the country, are guided by extant rules of engagement and operational codes of conduct.
“They should not be made to look like the aggressors here,” he said.
The minister reiterated the Defence Headquarters’s earlier response denying the accusation.
He said the federal government has always taken seriously any allegation of rights violation by soldiers or other security forces.
He said government has been carrying out investigations and ensuring that culprits, if any, were punished. (NAN)
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Editing by Wale Ojetimi
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Metro

$500m loan not for NTA alone, Lai Mohammed clarifies

 

Loan
By Rotimi Ijikanmi
Abuja, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has clarified that the 500 million dollar loan being sought from China is not for the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) alone.

At a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the minister said the loan was for three major projects contrary to the hysteria created over it in a section of the media.

A section of the media had reported that the minister, while defending the loan before the National Assembly, said it was for the upgrades of facilities to enable NTA compete with the likes of America’s Cable Network News, CNN.

“In an era of social media, the real news is usually sacrificed on the altar of sensationalism and disinformation.

“That’s how I will describe the hysteria, in a section of the media, over the reportage of the 500 million dollars loan being sought from China,” he said.

The minister said the loan would be used to construct a headquarters complex and transmission network for Integrated Television  Services (ITS), the Federal Government-owned signal distributor and a major component of the country’s Digital Switch Over (DSO)

He said the fund would also be used to build an ultra-modern Media City in Ikorodu to have, Indoor/Outdoor shooting area, Animation Production Facility and Digital Media Training Centre.

He said other facilities in the city would include World Class Cinema, Four-Star Hotel, an Amusement Park and Amphi-theatre.

The minister said the loan would also be used for acquisition of digital movie production equipment for rental as well as power system

He disclosed that the Media City Training Academy was only the second of its type in Africa and the first is in Egypt.

He said the facilities would be used to train Nigerian broadcasters and filmmakers in the production of high quality media content programmes and make Nigeria a hub for digital movie production in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The minister also disclosed that the loan would be used for digitisation of all NTA Stations at the Headquarters, 12 zonal stations, the 36 states and FCT as well as 78 community stations.

He said the fund would also be used to upgrade, purchase and install relevant digital TV
broadcasting equipment compatible with DSO products and accessories.

Mohammed stressed that the equipment were necessary for the production and broadcast of digital programme contents in addition to provision of power system and manpower training. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Health

COVID-19: Agencies working in synergy to mitigate entry, spread – FG

Inbound passengers undergoing Corona Virus Epidemic (COVID-19) screening at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday
Screening
By Rotimi Ijikanmi

Abuja, Feb. 18, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Government on Tuesday reassured Nigerians that its relevant agencies are strategising and working together to mitigate entry and spread of Corona Virus Epidemic (COVID-19) in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the reassurance when a government ministerial team was on assessment tour of screening and other facilities put in place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports others in the team are Ministers of Aviation, Hadi Sirika,  Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq and Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnibe Mamora.
Briefing newsmen on the entourage of the team, Mohammed recalled that when the epidemic broke out late last year, the government put together an inter-ministerial  task force to ensure that passengers coming in and going out of the country are adequately checked.
He said the task force is also to ensure that if there is any suspected case of infected person, adequate measure should be taken at the point of entry to forestall spread.
The minister said that his ministry, working in collaboration with others, was embarking on vigorous public enlightenment  to ensure that enough information are given to the public on the virus and what are needed to be done.
”Media agencies of the Federal Ministry of Information, like the NTA, FRCN, NAN, VON and NOA, are using all their platforms to sensitise and enlighten the public.
“ They are producing documentaries on what is being done to keep the virus away from Nigeria, and on the level of preparedness of health institutions to deal with a possible outbreak
”Jingles are being aired on radio and television SMS sensitisation messages are being sent to Nigerians
”The various sensitisation programmes are being translated to the major indigenous languages to expand their reach
” Features on the disease (prevention, treatment, etc.) are being written and disseminated.
”The National Orientation Agency (NOA), with presence in all the country’s 774 local governments, is using its wide network to take the sensitisation and enlightenment campaign to the grassroots,” he said.
On his part, Sirika said that the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been collaborating with Port Health Services and other stakeholders to prevent, detect and respond to any infectious disease outbreak associated with air travel.
He said they have put in place entry screening for arriving passengers on all flights using temperature scanners, collection of travel history information and physical observation of all arriving passengers.
The minister said they also put in place measures for early case recognition, isolation of suspect passengers, safe transport to designated hospitals and contact tracing around individuals.
He assured that there is adequate secondary screening areas for suspected cases of the virus in all ports of entry.
Speaking in the same vein, Mamora said that there is no exception to the screening processes put in place at all ports of entry.
The minister said they have provided hand sanitisers within terminals buildings to facilitate hand hygiene.
He said there is enhanced disinfection of facilities in airports toilets and other public areas as well as provision of basic and advanced personal protective clothing to members of frontline staff.
Similarly, Farouq said since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared corona virus pandemic as a global health emergency, her ministry has been collaborating with relevant agencies to protect vulnerable citizens.
The minister said she was satisfied with what were demonstrated by relevant agencies ranging from the public health sector, aviation and emergency responders.
She assured that her ministry would continue with coordination role to ensure that citizens are protected and if affected are provided with all necessary support by the government.
Farouq  advised members of the public to follow health and safety precautions set out, such as, reporting symptoms and suspected cases in a timely and humane manner.
NAN reports the team observed the screening processes for inbound passengers on Ethiopian Airline that landed during the tour. (NAN)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza