-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

THE Ghana government has denied a disparaging comment credited to it’s President Akufo Addo on Nigeria and Nigerians.

The Ghanaian President in the report on the social media was alleged to have asked Nigerians to go back to their country and make it better.

The headline of the publication read: “Go Back to your Country and Make it Better- Nana Akufo tells Nigerians.”

The body of the report read: “The Nigerian government sending special envoys to us will never change the way we will govern our nation.

“The same Ghanaians you chased away in 1983 during Buhari administration is the same Ghanaians Nigerians are running to for shelter. We fought for a better Ghana with our blood by carrying out a revolution. We killed corrupt politicians for Ghana to be a new nation.

“Nigerians are been chased in South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, UAE,
all over the world because of failed government.

“The government of Nigeria is a disgrace to democracy and justice in Africa. We expect Nigerian youths to wake up from their slumber for a better Nigeria.”

Reacting to the publication, the Ghana government in a statement released to the Nigerian media by Ghana High Commission in Nigeria on Monday said: “The attention of Ghanaian officials has been drawn to another spurious publication by faceless individuals who are hell bent on destroying the very cordial and brotherly relations existing between our leaders( President Akufo Addo and President Buhari).

“President Akufo Addo has not and will not make any disparaging remarks about any country and her people, let alone a very strategic partner like the Federal Republic of Nigeria and her people.”

The statement added that: “Clearly this is the work of people who hate the progress , the two leaders are making to forge more deepened and strategic relations.

“The said publication is false and should be seen as the work of detractors who want to sow discord between our leaders and people.”

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-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Albert OGRAKA:

MANAGING Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has called for prayers to God to enthrone a new era of justice, fairness and development in Nigeria.

Bashorun Askia, who made the call in his Eid-el-Kabir Goodwill message, acknowledged that despite the security and economic challenges in the country, the occasion radiates hope that with greater devotion, obedience and adherence to God’ will, Nigeria will triumph.

“On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC), I rejoice with our Muslim brothers and sisters as they mark the Eid-el-Kabir. We must give God thanks and praises for His abiding grace and blessings.

“Coming at a time like this when our country is burdened with a lot of challenges, especially security and economic challenges, this occasion gives us hope that with greater devotion and obedience to God and adherence to His commandments and will, Nigeria will triumph.

“Just as the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ishaku, made him find favour before God, this season demands the sacrifice of leaders through selflessness, fairness and jettisoning of avarice for Nigeria to rise again.

“Even though the country is facing its greatest challenges ever, the celebration of this great sacrifice offers us an opportunity to renew our faith in God and love for our fellow men. We must at this time rededicate ourselves to the service of the poor, the vulnerable and the less privileged amongst us.

“I urge the Muslim community to never waver in praying to God for His divine guidance towards enthroning a new era of justice, fairness and development in Nigeria.

“I wish the Muslim faithful a wonderful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

“Barka de Sallah.”

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-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) -From Mike SOGBOLO:

MÉDECINS Sans Frontières otherwise called Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has opened a centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for the treatment of children with complicated forms of malnutrition.

The MSF in a statement on Monday said, the centre named Nilefa Keji (which means ‘health is wealth’), has 120-bed and will provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

MSF assistant project coordinator Mohammed Dikko Abdullahi was quoted in the statement to have said: “The move from Fori to Nilefa Keji became necessary because we were seeing a lot of malnourished children in our facility,” noting that: “Fori nutrition centre had limited space for expansion and we needed to accommodate more people.”

The new facility has four emergency beds, 14 intensive care beds and two beds for children with kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition (which causes the legs and body to swell). MSF teams will provide inpatient treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition and with moderate acute malnutrition accompanied by medical complications. The new centre also has an outpatient therapeutic feeding centre with space to accommodate more than 150 children and parents each day.

MSF project medical advisor, Rodel Lambatin said: “The medical team has seen increasing numbers of patients with malnutrition over the past couple of months and, looking at the trends at our hospital and recent reports on food security, we expect an increased number of patients in the coming months.”

To staff the new centre, MSF has recruited and trained additional Nigerian nurses, doctors, nutrition assistants and counsellors.

From January to June 2021, MSF staff at Fori nutrition centre treated 1,110 children for severe acute malnutrition as inpatients and provided outpatient care to 1,122 children with moderate acute malnutrition.

The new centre at Nilefa Keji was completed over five months and includes improved infection prevention and control measures. It also has a rainwater channel, designed to prevent flooding and avoid the accumulation of standing water, which can attract insects and present a health risk.

“With the new site, we have more land for any needed extensions and we have more room for staff,” says MSF construction manager Jordan Gartner. “We will be able to handle more patients, especially during the peak malnutrition season.”

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Austen AKHAGBEME:

One of the major challenges of the Nigerian state, especially in a supposedly majoritarian rule such as ours, is the gross insensitivity of our elites to the real issue plaguing the nation.

The mismanagement of our robust diversity by these self-same elites and the many wars for supremacy amongst themselves have brought the nation to its knees over time. Yet even in the face of insecurity and existential threat, the Nigerian elite still carries on with insane politics of rotational presidency and its accompanying tributaries of distractions, hate, tribalism, unhealthy geopolitical alignments and realignments et cetera.

While the power elites in the north are quietly rooting for power retention, their southern counterparts are fighting for power rotation; all amid a damning and seemingly insurmountable security challenge hovering over the nation. How did we get here?

It is gradually becoming more obvious by the day who our collective enemy is in this country. Our enemies are those who do not care about our future but their ambition; those who do not care about our stomachs but about lining up their pockets to the brim with our collective patrimony to secure their future and that of their loved ones.

Why would anyone be discussing the politics of rotational or no rotational presidency in a nation where people do not sleep with their two eyes closed? Why would any sane person be more interested in governing a nation than keeping her citizens safe and secure?

Who will help us tell these desperate politicians that Nigeria is not just an empty geographical space but a real people bamboozled daily by international and local market forces, threatened by daredevil kidnappers and killer herdsmen, incessantly being attacked by terrorists and expressly being rejected by the leviathan itself?

How has the Presidency benefitted the average man in the streets of northern Nigeria in these many years of northern occupation of the highest seat in the land? How has a Southern presidency impacted the Niger Delta East-West Road, the several Eastern villages cut off from civilization by gully erosion or added a 4th or 5th mainland bridge to alleviate the traffic situation in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos?

So, let the noise coming from the coalition forces fighting for the retention of power in the North and their Southern counterparts be ignored while we focus our attention on the serious insecurity challenges that are snowballing into ethnic agitations and also the dwindling purchasing power of the average Nigerian.

• Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
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-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) -From Mike SOGBOLO:

The Minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has made case for more place for female in the nation’s paramilitary services.

Aregbesola said in order to strengthen the fight against insecurity in the country, more women should be encouraged to join the newly formed female squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil defense Corp, (NSCDC), as well as other sister security agencies, since women are known to be more determined in the realizing set goals.

The minister made the case during the launching of the NSCDC Gender Policy Document on Thursday in Abuja, organized in partnership with Partners West Africa Nigeria, (PWAN), the United Nations Women, (UN Women), and the federal ministry of women’s affairs, with funding from the governments of Norway and Germany.

He said women are scientifically and generally known to be more resilient than men and can go to lengths to ensure that they achieve whatsoever they set their mind on doing therefore the training and formation of a special squad made of only females charged with the task of protecting schools from attacks and kidnappings, is apt.

The Minister said: “Women are biologically prepared by nature to be physically strong and suited to military service and by excluding them from military duties, we have lost the natural advantage that nature has given us and other advantages that women can bring to service will also be lost.

Women are very loyal, far more loyal than men to every cause they are in and they are also more result oriented as records have shown that women produce more and better result than men in nearly every assignment.”

Aregbesola also discounted the notion that men are physically stronger than women, saying that where women receive the same level of training, (with the same intensity), as men, the men do not have any physical advantage over them as studies has shown.

Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi noted that the female squad was established to address growing security concerns, especially the kidnappings in schools and to bridge gender gap in the agency.

He said: “The NSCDC gender policy is consistent with international, regional and national obligations towards gender mainstreaming and gender equality, particularly the national gender policy of the government which outlines strategies for addressing violence against women in all sectors while creating equal opportunities for both in decision making in all areas and at all levels.

“It was the need to address observed gender inequality in the corps that gave birth to the NSCDC gender policy with the aim of promoting equitable access for both male and female officers to rise to management rank and participate policy formulation and decision making and address gender based barriers among others.”

While calling for a financial mechanism that would ensure that the policy fully comes to life, the United Nations Women’s (UN Women), representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Comfort Lamptey, said that “Nigeria has come far as a leader in West Africa in implementing the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women and peace and security.”

Also speaking on the efficiency of women in committing to target realization, minister of women’s affairs, Pauline Tallen, said “women are known to deliver on any given task faster, better and more efficiently.”

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-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

THE Federal Government has declared Tuesday July 20 and Wednesday July 21, 2021, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulates all Muslim faithful and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

Aregbesola in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said: “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment. These mainly are bandits in the North West and North Central, insurgents in the North East, kidnappers, armed robbers, ethnic agitators and sundry criminals in other parts of the country” Aregbesola added.

The Minister assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and property of every Nigerian, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools, especially with the spate of innocent school children being targets of kidnapping.”

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslim faithfuls a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, advised all Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities to law enforcement agencies, especially during this festival.

He also enjoined on all Nigerians the observance of all COVID-19 protocols, particularly the non-pharmaceutical measures – wearing facemasks, hand washing and social distancing – designed to keep transmission of the disease at bay.

He said: “We must all take responsibility for containment of the pandemic during this year’s festival.”

The Minister however sympathised with the families of school children who have been kidnapped or suffered one misfortune or another. He said: “Our hearts and prayers of comfort are with you.”

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Albert OGRAKA:

DELTA Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), has called on the National Assembly to urgently jettison the obnoxious Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts amendment Bill that is presently before it.

In a Press Release dated July 14, 2021 and signed by it’s Secretary, Comrade Shedrack Onitsha, the Forum said that the amendments sought by “anti-democratic forces” are obviously offensive and diabolical to the growth and sustenance of democracy and could lead the nation into totalitarianism.

According to the statement, “Our demand is hinged on the obvious fact that the amendments seek to arrogate all media powers and control to the Minister of Information and pseudo-agencies of the Federal Government.”

The statement reads:

“The importance of free and unshackled media has been universally acclaimed as the bastion of freedom of expression and human rights in the strengthening of democracy. The point has also been made that this freedom is neither the prerogative of the politician nor the privilege of the journalist. Yet in the exercise of performing their daily work of gathering and transmitting news, journalists are merely exercising every citizen’s right to free speech.

“While the Delta Online Publishers’ Forum (DOPF) appreciate and thank the House of Representative for the step taken so far in withdrawing the vexatious media bill, for further consultation following the outcry that greeted the bill from the media community and civil society groups, we want to appeal to their conscience that they should channel their energy to more productive ventures.

“It is against this background that the DOPF views the proposed amendments to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Acts that was before the National Assembly as obnoxious instruments by power mongers of Nigeria’s political elites to badger and shackle the press and undermine the people’s right to speak and make their opinions known on issues.

“We demand therefore that the so-called amendments should be jettisoned by the National Assembly as the offensive sections are diabolical to the growth and sustenance of our hard-fought and won democracy which is currently under assault by anti-democratic forces with eyes on leading the nation into totalitarianism. Our demand is hinged on the obvious fact that the amendments seek to arrogate all media powers and control to the Minister of Information and pseudo-agencies of the Federal Government.

“Accordingly, we reject the disguised evil intent of the proponents of the amendment bill and their sponsors who are hiding in the background to nullify media independence by making the media subject to the control of the whim and caprice of presidential control. The evil intent of the proponents of the despicable bill is its deadly pretence not to acknowledge the importance of press freedom as the foundation of many other human rights covering freedom of speech, freedom of the press, which gives individuals and communities the right to articulate their opinions without fear of retaliation, censorship or punishment.

“It pretends not to know that a free press helps to inform the people in print, online, or on TV or radio, thus underscoring the point that knowledge is power. It also pretends not to know that it is through a free exchange of information that people can be fully aware of what’s going on around them, and so can meaningfully participate in their communities or democracies.

“Therefore, in rejecting the obnoxious amendments we call attention to the fact that local and national reporters, bloggers and news outlets keep people informed about what is happening in the world around them, and that freedom of expression allows people to access information about current events and matters of public interest – whether that’s from large media companies, local newspapers, or each other through citizen journalism and social media.

“Therefore, we call on the National Assembly members to stand up and protect media independence by jettisoning the clauses that seek to criminalise functions of the journalist and undermine Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Nigeria is a signatory.

“We demand that the media sector regulation must not be subjected to the influence and control of politicians working for the government of the day. Thus, the proposed amendment must be discarded and thrown overboard because it is to undermine the people’s inalienable right to drive home a legitimate point of view, and so express their feelings against injustice and unfair treatment. It is a sinister move to criminalise the people’s right to free speech.

“We call on members of the National Assembly to recognize the place of the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm in a democracy and honour it. They must see the proponents of the very offensive bill as an unpleasant bill for who they are: Anti-people.”

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ODOGU ISELEGU
(FOR WOLE SOYINKA AT 87)

At eight seven, your road
Is full of sacrifices on the bank
Of a suffocating stifling river.

And the vapour of vanity
Shy away from your blinding presence
Like the leaves of Itikoti shrine.

Daring deity of duels
Born into clamorous burnfire of struggles.

In parturition of nation’s hic – cup
Of gurgling gong tearing tyrants ears
Fainting and death.

Like elephant taking a walk in
The grassy anthills
You, Odogu Iselegu.

Masquerade of gorgeous guttural
Your voice lifts peasants stupor
What panegyrics will be poet – playwright.

Receive but thousand voices
In the womb of eighty – seven lines
You great deity of daily dawn.

Did we not say that
A billion candle light
Can’t go into the ring with the sun.

For you stay straight and solid
In the midst of meagre midgets
Railing, raving, throwing stones and shooting.

Into our oppressors camp
Thunder tightening tyrant’s territories
Retaliatory cannons wither at your whispers.

For your power pop – up peasants hope
You live a sacrificial life of eternal victory
Along love’s lamenting ladder.

Those who sold our country thought
Your life will be brief
Forgetting the charmed circle at your feet.

Those who caged us in their polo hole
Run helter skelter, at your vociferous tongue
That tore through marble palaces.

Your combat monkey – coat
Refuse to thread bare
Even as enemies within give you another.

Gear which you refuse
Demanding justice alone
Which is the first condition of humanity.

At eighty – seven your path
Is full of broken spears
That generations unborn will see.

You, that iroko tree that tyrants
Try to fall with headless machete
In that wee hour of hazy hotness
Feverish ferment in fuming forest.

For even in your nap
Memories can’t meander through
Your barricaded bounteous intellect
In the breezy breathless barn.

Odogu Iselegu
Your voice was heard in
Masquerade gathering in the spirit world
As they salute, your baritonic voice.

Oh, dear
The voice of a daring deity
Direct sun of Ogun
The god of thunder.

The sun is rising
The wind and his son, the whirlwind
Welcome the returning eagle
The sky celebrates your soar.

In this tumultuous time
Now your hands on the plough
You elbows dipped in the sweat
Of a painful labour.

Refusing to quit
In the draining strength
Of your aging toughness
The wind brings a consoling catechism.

Too soon, the withering words
Would challenge your strong voice
Their press releases inept and futile
At eight – seven your face shines.

Wrinkleless in this commanding height
Of Olomo rock
Staring at Aso rock
Unblinking.

Eye- wink duel
Let our people be the arbiter
Of this combative combat of kolocume
Unblinking.

• ©Azua Alonu,
  is a Nigerian poet and writer.

-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) – From Albert OGRAKA:

MANAGING Director and Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has felicitated with Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on his 62nd birthday anniversary.

Bashorun Askia Ogieh, in a signed statement titled, “62 Garlands For A Great Leader”, said the Board, Management and Staff of DESOPADEC are privileged to walk the path you have charted to making a difference in our mandate communities.”

He affirmed that the Governor Okowa’s visionary reform and remodeling of DESOPADEC have ushered robust achievements, in meeting the expectations of Deltans at the grassroots through remarkable development projects and programmes.

The statement of appraisal described Governor Okowa as a “Humble. Amiable. Unassuming, Godly, Focused, People-oriented. Leader.

According to Bashorun Askia, “These attributes and more capture the essential Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa Governor of Delta State, adding that “Today, our amiable leader clocks 62 years.

“For the wonderful works you have done for our people, the accomplishments not just in the provision of infrastructure but also for giving our younger generation the wherewithal to take their destiny in their own hands and become employers of labour, we are proud to celebrate you.

“As you add another year, Your Excellency, the Board, Management and Staff of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) are privileged to walk the path you have charted to making a difference in our mandate communities.

“There is no gainsaying that your visionary reform and remodeling of DESOPADEC have ushered robust achievements, in meeting the expectations at the grassroots.
As we return all the glory and adoration to the Most High God, you deserve a hearty commendation for initiating the projects that have remarkably changed the narrative of development in Delta State.

“We join millions of well-wishers worldwide to celebrate your visionary leadership and guidance that have progressively and positively changed the narrative of development in Delta State.

“We pray for a more prosperous, Stronger Delta and that our younger and unborn generations will steadfastly hold on to the tenets and virtues you continue to espouse for their success.

“Happy birthday, Your Excellency!”

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):

THE Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has congratulated the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on his 62nd birthday anniversary.

In his goodwill message on Thursday July 8, 2021, Elumelu described Senator Okowa as a blessing to Delta state and Nigeria as a whole, noting that he has devoted a greater part of his life for the betterment of the Country and humanity in general.

“I heartily celebrate and felicitate with our dear leader, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on the auspicious occasion of his 62nd birthday anniversary.

“Indeed, Senator Okowa is a rare blessing from God to Delta state and Nigeria as a whole and this is evinced in his sacrifices in devoting the greater part of his life for the betterment of our country and humanity in general.

“I am particularly inspired by how Governor Okowa has allowed himself to be a tool in the hands of God in engendering the peace, progress and prosperity being experienced in Delta state as enunciated in his SMART and STRONGER DELTA AGENDA.

“Not only has your Excellency been a great blessing to our beloved party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), you have also remained an indispensable factor in the development and stability of our country, Nigeria.

“On behalf of my entire family, the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, the good people of Delta state as well as the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, I heartily rejoice and felicitate with you on this momentous occasion.

“We pray God, in His infinite mercy, to continue to give you good health, strengthen you with His might and give you many more glorious years ahead as you celebrate His love today.

“Congratulations, happy birthday and many happy returns sir,” Elumelu stated.

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

CHINESE President Xi Jinping has expressed the willingness of Communist Party of China and indeed China to collaborate with political parties worldwide to lead the economic globalization toward a direction that is more open, inclusive, shared, balanced and win-win.

The Chinese President made this commitment on Tuesday, in a speech he delivered during the centenary anniversary celebration of the CPC.

The occasion which was celebrated in Beijing and virtually transmitted worldwide with more than 500 leaders of political parties and political organisations from over 160 countries and over 10,000 parties representatives attending the summit.

The occasion, focusing on the theme: “For the People’s Wellbeing: The Responsibility of Political Parties” also gave opportunities to leaders and representatives of political parties worldwide to give their remarks.

Xi Jinping, who is the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Community and the President of the People’s Republic of China, said: “The CPC is willing to enhance communication with political parties worldwide and jointly lead the economic globalization toward a direction that is more open, inclusive, shared, balanced and win-win.”

He claimed that the economic globalization now encounters more momentum than resistance.

Xi said at the CPC and World Political Parties Summit via video link that the
trend that countries stay open to cooperation remains unchanged and will not change.

He also called to enhance cooperation with the international community to improve high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and promote global connectivity to enable more countries to share the development outcomes.

CPC was founded in July, 1921 and it fought the Chinese Civil War to achieve its present status as the sole ruling party of China.

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

NIGERIA and United Arabs Emirates (UAE) have continued to exchange words over the traveling ban imposed into the Arab country.

The Nigerian government had last week come out that contrary to insinuation that the United Arabs Emirates placed a ban on flights from Nigeria, it actually placed a ban on the UAE first due to the terms and conditions laid down by the Emirate.

The United Arab Emirates had June 19 lifted ban on travels between Dubai and Nigeria after a protracted disagreement between the two countries on Covid-19 protocols.

UAE had insisted on travelers from Nigeria undergoing several other COVID-19 tests after the initial test in Nigeria.

UAE had few weeks ago while announcing the resumption of flight between the two countries, said passengers from Nigeria were now expected to ‘have received a negative result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure’.

But in another statement it released on June 21 reversed its initial stance on resumption of flights.

The Emirates statement read, “In line with government directives, passengers flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with immediate effect from 21 June, 2021 until further notice.”

In a reaction however, the Secretary of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Muhammed, told journalists that the Federal Government had placed a ban on the Emirates before an announcement came from the UAE.

In another twist to the whole event, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued a statement on Monday, stating that the decision to ban flights from Nigeria was for the public good.

The UAE GCAA said the latest statement was mad in response to remarks made by the Aviation Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the suspension of flights to and from the United Arab Emirates.

The statement read that: “The GCAA underlines that the UAE transport authorities are committed to upholding the highest standards of public health and safety in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The statement further added: “The GCAA will continue to work tirelessly with its international counterparts to find ways to facilitate travel without compromising public health and safety, and in line with international aviation standards. In this respect, the GCAA looks forward to reviewing constructive responses from the relevant authorities in Nigeria, following the consultations held between the UAE embassy and Nigerian officials over recent months.

“The UAE authorities, like those in every country, have made a number of difficult but necessary decisions throughout this pandemic to protect the health of those in the country. Over the course of the past 12 months, the UAE has introduced a variety of special measures to govern travel between the UAE and a number of countries.”

The statement noted that: “These measures have sometimes been tailored to the particular characteristics of certain areas, but they were always introduced with only one objective in mind: to ensure the health and wellbeing of citizens, residents, and visitors.”

The statement however revealed that: “In some cases, the UAE has decided to restrict all or indirect travel from countries where the COVID-19 situation is especially concerning. This list of countries is subject to regular review and change. These decisions have been taken after reviewing the prevalence of concerning variants, the number of passengers arriving from each country who subsequently test positive for COVID-19, and the integrity of domestic testing facilities. At no point has the UAE ever given certain airlines exemptions from these measures.”

The statement also revealed that: “The UAE government continues to coordinate with the Nigerian government and to closely monitor the current situation, and will proceed with updated measures that are in the best interests of the safety and well-being of citizens, resident, and visitors.”

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

THE Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold its delocalized meeting under the theme: “Cryptocurrency as a facilitator of Community trade in West Africa”, from July 6 to 10, 2021 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Members of Parliament of the joint committee on Administration, Finance and Budget | Macroeconomic policy and Economic research | Public accounts | Trade, Customs and free movement will lead participation at the delocalized meeting.

According to a statement, the main objective of the meeting in Ougadougou, is to provide the ECOWAS Members of Parliament with an understanding of cryptocurrency and its use in the process of facilitating regional integration.

The meeting will also provides an opportunity for the regional parliamentarians to determine the need and nature of regulation to guard against the misuse of cryptocurrency in the region.

A cryptocurrency is a decentralized digital currency that uses cryptographic algorithms and a protocol called “blockchain” to ensure the reliability and traceability of transactions. The adoption of cryptocurrency is affecting the whole world and is finding more and more users in developing countries and regions.

According to the statement: States are only just beginning to realize the need to protect citizens against misuse and to regulate its use. Therefore, the ECOWAS Parliament, aware of the need to educate citizens on the implications of cryptocurrency, decided to organize this meeting.

During the discussions, high-level experts will expand issues around this virtual currency and provide participants with the knowledge necessary to better understand its use.

The ECOWAS Parliament is made up of 115 seats. For the allocation of seats, each member state is guaranteed a minimum of five seats. The remaining forty seats were distributed in proportion to the population of each country. Based on this distribution, Nigeria has 35 seats, Ghana 8, Ivory Coast 7, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Senegal have 6 seats each. The other countries namely Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo have 5 seats each.

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

CHAIRMAN/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Georg Steiner at an interactive Session in Abuja on Monday discussed the issues of Diaspora Reintegration, Diaspora Data Mapping and Capacity Building, among others.

The NIDCOM Boss explained that with the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and ratification of the National Diaspora Policy by the Federal Executive Council, Nigerians in the Diaspora now have a one-stop agency to latch on for mutually beneficial engagement, encouragement and enablement for overall national development.

Dabiri-Erewa, during the interaction, added that since the Swiss Government has been engaged with Migration issues for over ten years in Nigeria, now that NIDCOM is birthed, it becomes utmost expedient to partner more importantly on Diaspora component of Reintegration of Returnees, Data Registration of Nigerians living in Switzerland and Capacity Building of Staff.

She said that this will enhance and plummet socio-cultural and economic cravings of Nigerians in Switzerland to always think home.

In the same vein, the Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria Amb. Georg Steiner who commended the giant strides of NIDCOM within a short span of just two years, added that NIDCOM is the motivator and face of the Diaspora. He described Nigerians in the Diaspora as great and excellent achievers and professionals that are changing the narratives.

Steiner promised that his government will be willing to help NIDCOM in priority areas of socio-cultural exchanges, staff training and Diaspora Reintegration Process.

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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO:

THE Controller General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi has set up a committee of enquiry to investigate the individuals or group of persons behind the fake 2019/2021 replacement and recruitment supplementary list currently in circulation on social media.

According to a statement on Monday by the Director, Public Relations of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, the purported list of successful applicants for NSCDC job going viral on social media came as a shocking news to the Corps who has not released or published any recruitment list whatsoever, hence, “the need to alert members of the public to this fake, mischievous, misleading and perfidious list capable of sending wrong signals to Nigerians especially applicants from different parts of the state.”

Odumosu said: “The Corps however wish to set the record straight and state unequivocally that the list did not emanate from the Corps nor the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Service Board but the hand work of some unscrupulous elements who are taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”

He said: “Members of the public are therefore warned to disregard the fake recruitment list currently being circulated across the country as a ploy by nefarious individuals and mischief makers to defraud innocent job seekers, some of whom have been made to part with different amount of money in their desperation for NSCDC recruitment.”

He said the CG reiterated that the NSCDC recruitment list will be published in the mainstream media once it is ready, while assuring Nigerians that in due cause, the perpetrations of the callous act shall be nabbed and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He however asked members of the public to avail the Corps of any information that may lead to the arrest of the criminals who have been defrauding Nigerian, warning all and sundry that NSCDC would not be held liable for anyone that falls prey to the antics of criminals and fraudsters in the name of recruitment.

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-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Albert OGRAKA:

THE newly sworn-in Delta State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Jonathan Ukodhiko, has vowed to facilitate the sustenance of the stronger Delta objectives of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by ensuring that the Ministry renders services that are for the genuine needs of Deltans.

Ukodhiko stated this during his official assumption of office at the Ministry of Power and Energy in Asaba, on Monday, July 5, 2021.

While addressing the management team and staff of the Ministry, Engr. Ukodhiko said, “I want to thank you very much for welcoming me. We are really overwhelmed by the hospitality and warm reception accorded me and my delegation and i appreciate you you all.

“I assure you that we would work together in order to promote the stronger Delta agenda of the governor and have a better smart Delta State that would be beneficial for everybody to live in and also enable the Governor to finish strong.

“As you know, he is on the last lap of his administration and he has done a lot and we believe by coming here, it is for us to add to what he has already been doing and what he has already done. And we know that with your cooperation we would be able to achieve that.

“One thing I want to assure you is that we are coming here to see how we can join hands with you and move this Ministry forward and in order for the Governor’s agenda to be achieved so that at the end of the day we would be able to achieve fundamental things to touch the lives of Delta citizens, to make sure this Ministry would be able to achieve what is required for them. And you know what that is, it’s to give light to the people.” He said.

Presenting the hand over note to the new Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Anthonia Ubogu, said the entire management and staff will depend on his technical managerial prowess in the day to day activities of the Ministry.

She congratulated Engr. Ukodhiko on his recent meritorious appointment, adding that the management and staff are fully prepared to give him the needed professional support to improve goals and objectives of the Ministry.

Present at the brief ceremony were Commissioner DESOPADEC, Dr Paul Oweh, Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Rural Development Rt. Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Okoro, Chairman Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon. Christian Iteire, Chairman Isoko North PDP Prince Godwin Ogorugba, Pastor Powell Tos, Dr. Peter Emaziye, Hon. Mike Ogwah, Hon. Isagba Richard, Comr. Nelson Egware, Dr Evelyn Aluta, Chairman Board of Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Felix Ofou, Prince Obaro Unuafe, Publisher of Blank NEWS Online, Albert Ograka, among others.

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