Business
PTF on Covid-19 certifies NYSC orientation camps ready to open on November 10
The PTF on COVID-19 has certified orientation camps of the NYSC as COVID-19 compliant.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has certified the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camps across the country as COVID-19 compliant and ready to welcome prospective corps members.
The 2020 Batch B Stream 1A orientation programme is expected to kick off across the country on November 10, 2020.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the PTF on COVID-19 on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
In its statement, the PTF on COVID-19, said,
“PTF Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) focal persons visited the Orientation Camps in all 36 States and the FCT and worked with NYSC and State Health officials to ensure the readiness of the facilities across the country.
“NYSC camp facility requirements include COVID-19 sample collection sites, at least one ambulance, water supply and hand washing sites, adequate and well-spaced beds, as well as spacing for other camp facilities.”
PTF National Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, stated that Federal and State health authorities are collaborating with all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) to ensure the successful operation of the NYSC Orientation Camps.
Dr Sani Aliyu said, “The Orientation Camps are significant in terms of Covid-19 prevention and management. The camps represent a large gathering of persons in demography most susceptible to Covid-19 infections.
“We have to ensure that everyone in these camps follow prevention protocols to protect themselves and their colleagues, as well as those they will return home to.”
The PTF has called for caution as schools and other institutions reopen, following the resurgence of the pandemic in Europe and America.
The statement also pointed out that all the NYSC officials and participants are expected to adhere to the NYSC safety guidelines which encourages participants to comply strictly with the date of reporting, undergo temperature checks on arrival, have at least 2 washable facemasks, and wear their facemasks properly at all times.
Prospective corps members are advised to observe physical distancing in all camp activities, wash their hands with soap regularly or use hand sanitizers.
Business
N117 billion approved by FG for road rehabilitation
Babatunde Fashola has disclosed that the FG has approved the sum of over N117 billion for road rehabilitation across the country.
Business
$1.3 billion Malabu oil field sale was perfect – Dan Etete
Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister has said that the sale of the $1.3 billion Malabu oil field to Shell and Eni in 2021 was legally perfect.
Dan Etete, former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum has said that the $1.3 billion sales of Malabu oil field to Shell and Eni in 2021 was legally perfect, with zero traces of corruption in the deal.
He disclosed this on Wednesday through his lawyer, Antonio Secci, in a Milan Court, investigating the cases of bribery and corruption related to the deal, as reported by Reuters.
In Wednesday’s hearing, Dan Etete’s lawyers called for the former Nigerian Minister to be acquitted of corruption charges related to the deal.
Reuters disclosed that 13 other people are involved in the corruption case including CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi.
The accused pleaded non-guilty and said that the proceeds of the deal were paid into accounts owned by the Nigerian Government.
The ex-Shell executives also accused in the case will have a hearing on the 9th of December.
What you should know
Multinational oil companies, Eni and Shell, paid $1.3 billion in 2011 to acquire OPL 245 offshore field.
The payment was to a company called Malabu, which was owned by Nigeria’s former Oil Minister, Dan Etete.
However, Italian prosecutors claim that most of the payments were kickbacks to Nigerian government officials. Italian prosecutors also claim that nearly $1.1 billion was stolen by Nigerian politicians and middlemen, with Dan Etete keeping half.
Nigeria’s Minister of Justice, Justice Abubakar Malami, reported in July that the Dutch and Swiss governments were expected to send the sum of $200 million from the OPL 245 Malabu Oil deal to Nigeria.
Multinational Petroleum oil and gas giant, Royal Dutch Shell, announced that it would write down its investment in the controversial Malabu OPL 245 offshore field in Nigeria.
in June, the Federal Government tracked down and grounded a luxury private jet, owned by the country’s former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, over his alleged involvement in the $1.1 billion Malabu oil scam. The luxury private jet was alleged to have been purchased with proceeds from that oil deal.
Nairametrics reported that the Federal Government, on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, asked a court in Milan to order Royal Dutch Shell and Eni to pay the sum of $1.092 billion as an immediate advance payment for damages in the Malabu oil scandal.
Business
Nigeria is the 14th largest producer of tomatoes in the world, second in Africa – NIHORT
NIHORT has said that Nigeria is the world’s 14th largest producer of tomatoes, finishing second in the continent.
The Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan has said that Nigeria is the world’s 14th largest producer of tomatoes, finishing second in the continent.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Olaniyan disclosed this during the inauguration of a one-week empowerment and training programme for 150 youths and women farmers on Telfairia (Ugwu vegetable) production and tomato value chain in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Despite producing 2.3 million metric tonnes of tomato annually, current national demand is estimated to be slightly higher at 3 million metric tonnes annually
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What they are saying
Commenting on the subject matter, Dr. Olaniyan who was represented by the Director of research at the institute, Dr. Ephraim Nwanguma stated that: “Tomato is a profitable horticultural crop that provides income to farmers and agents involved in its production and marketing.
“Nigeria is the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world, second in Africa, but it is the 13th largest importer of tomato paste in the world and third in Africa.
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“Nigeria currently produces 2.3 million metric tonnes against 1.8 million metric tonnes produced two years ago while the national demand is three million metric tonnes.
“Also, there is a high prospect in production of telfairia and marketing within and outside Nigeria.”
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What you should know
- The recent production capacity of 2.3 million metric tonnes indicates an increase of 27.8%, from the corresponding figure recorded in 2018.
- Despite being one of the largest producers of tomatoes in the world, Nigeria is also one of the world’s net importers of tomato paste, placing 13th globally and 3rd in Africa.
- This fact was corroborated in a research by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition titled ‘’Landscape analysis of dried tomato production and market in Nigeria’’, which stated that over 45% of fresh tomato produced in Nigeria is lost due to poor handling practices and other logistics issues
READ: Fear among tomato farmers as Dangote Farms suspends seedlings distribution
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COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
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