How proper diet, lifestyle changes lengthen telomeres- medical expert

Telomeres, basic proteins that shield the body’s chromosomes can be lengthened by lifestyle changes and eating proper diets, Dr Rasheed Abassi, a medical expert says.

Abassi, who is the Chief Medical Director of Heritage Men’s Clinic, said this on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, telomeres are like shields at the end of each chromosome and chromosomes are basic biological markers that form in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.

“We are made of cells, and each cell has a chromosome, the telomeres are the shields at the tail of the chromosomes.

“Our cells become degraded, while DNA breakdown as we age. So, if my telomeres are doing a job and I’m giving them the tools, as protectors, they will slow down and prevent ageing.

“The quality of life is as a result of your protectors and telomeres protect your DNA, so if your DNA is not protected, it gets exposed to inflammatory radicals and this will hasten DNA damage.”

According to him, the telomeres allow human cells to communicate and the latest discovery on human genome is that the longer ones telomeres, the longer one lives.

“The big news, however, is that we can affect this telomeres by making the appropriate lifestyle changes and eating foods that can actually lengthen or shorten your telomeres.”

He said that the lifestyle changes included having adequate and quality sleep, exercise, reduced salt intake and sufficient water intake.

Abassi said that the longer one lives without paying attention to life style changes, they are exposed to inflammation.

“Inflammation is the basic cause of cardiovascular issues such as heart attack, stroke, myocardial infraction and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

“Insufficient sleep creates internal stressors which lead to inflammation, and that affects your telomeres.

“New born babies have not been exposed to any form of stress, so no inflammation at all because they depend on their parents to provide everything for them.

“However, the older you get and start acquiring these life stressors, your body accumulates a lot of inflammatory processes and those are the ones that affect your telomeres.”

He added that these inflammatory processes shorten the telomeres which equated to loss of quality life.

Speaking about how to sleep, he said that in between naps during the day and good sleep at night at least thrice a week would increase the telomeres.

He likened sleep during the day to a car’s mini service, different from major oil change and transmission repair.

“If you get good day and night sleep, the body does the restorative and cleansing process.

“Glymphatic activity, this is the only time the human brain undergoes its cleaning process and this activity is exponentially boosted during sleep.”

Abassi also said that there was a link between telomeres and cancer.

He said that recent research showed that the consumption of processed foods and carbonated drinks lead to inflammation and that inflammatory processes lead to cancer.

“You need to protect your telomeres from cancer. Beans, lettuce and other good foods rich in fiber and low in fat are what we need to regulate our telomeres.

“Also, exercise is good but not stress induced exercise. Regular 15 minutes brisk walk in the morning and evening after dinner has been proven to reduce all major cardiovascular stressors.

“Our major issue in this part of the universe are the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, strokes and heart attacks.

“All are positively mediated by exercise, such as 15 minutes twice daily, including the likes of prostate, breast, colon and lung cancer reduction.

“We live healthy lives by eating healthy and unprocessed foods, reduce salt intake and engage in non-stress induced exercise. No one can exercise his or her way out of poor diet,” he added.

Abassi also said that water was very important in preserving or nourishing the telomeres.

He added that stress cells in the body needed something to get rid of them and that the kidney craved for as much water as it could get.

He stressed that the clearer the colour of the urine without bubbles, the better the kidney.

“Water clears all these deadly toxins and the more water you drink, the better you feel.

“So drink more water throughout the day, and three hours before bedtime so your bladder can hold the urine for eight hours or more, thus allowing you to get a sound uninterrupted sleep.

“Your urine should have no color and no bubbles,” the doctor added.

He also linked environmental factors to impact on telomeres.

He said that pollution could negatively impact the telomeres as exposure to deadly gases act as inflammatory precursor which then affected the telomeres. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Enhancing the Nigeria Customs Service through partnerships

Analysts believe that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is strategic to not only achieving the nation’s economic development but also to ensuring national security.

That explains why many stakeholders argue that the Service can be radically enhanced through collaborative engagements and international partnerships.

The NCS is tasked with three core mandates, which are: robust revenue generation, suppressing smuggling and trade facilitation.

Going forward, they say, these core mandates can be optimally achieved through deliberate, revolutionary, collaborative engagements with stakeholders, home and abroad, besides leveraging the deployment of cutting-edge technology.

Some solicit stepping up the Service’s operations by drastically deepening its existing partnerships with local stakeholders and partners, such as security agencies, government agencies (MDAs), border communities, anti-corruption agencies and the media.

They are of the view that prioritising domestic collaborations and deepening partnerships with international organisations using cutting-edge technologies are critical transformative initiatives that would enhance effectiveness and overall service delivery of the NCS.

Adewale Adeniyi, Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), on assumption of office, captured this in his inaugural speech, titled: ‘Embracing a New Era of Excellence’.

He declared a new era of collaborative engagements and technology-driven customs service.

According to Adeniyi, the service under him will strengthen existing local and international collaborative engagements and partnerships.

Photo: Adewale Adeniyi, Ag. Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service.

This, he intends to achieve by engaging with stakeholders, who will be treated as partners, and adopting technology to streamline processes and revolutionise revenue generation.

“As we embark on this new journey, we recognise the need for collaborations and partnerships.

“We value the relationships we have built with our partner government agencies and the private sector. These collaborations have been vital to our adoption of technology as a tool to streamline processes and enhance revenue generation.

“We will strengthen these partnerships and engage with stakeholders through revitalized platforms.

“By promoting dialogue, we can resolve disputes and advance mutually beneficial solutions that lead to more efficient and effective service’’, he said.

According to him, NCS will continue to treat its esteemed stakeholders as partners, who have a stake in their success.

“It is crucial for us to recognize the modern realities and challenges to Customs operations. In today’s interconnected and technologically advanced world, we face emerging threats that require our utmost attention.

“E-commerce, global supply chains, and transnational criminal networks pose challenges to our role as custodians of trade facilitation and enforcement”, he said.

Adeniyi said NCS will adapt to changing landscapes, leverage emerging technologies, intelligence-led operations, and effective risk management strategies.

He added that collaboration with international partners, local law enforcement agencies and other countries’ customs administrations are critical to combating illicit trade and securing Nigeria’s national interests.

Corroborating Adeniyi’s commitment and determination to change the narrative at the Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, and NCS spokesman, says Adeniyi is imbued with the requisite pedigree to change the Service.

Maiwada assured that under Adeniyi’s leadership, NCS will be on an “exciting journey” towards enhanced efficiency and unlocked potential.

“Through international collaborations, engagements with the World Customs Organization (WCO), exploration of AI-driven solutions, and strategic discussions, the NCS is pioneering innovative projects that will shape the future of Customs practice in Nigeria.

“The Acting CG has engaged in topical discussions within the global Customs community, advocating for the exploration of AI-driven solutions, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions like ChatGPT and advanced geo-spatial intelligence approaches such as GEOINT.

“The NCS has already established a GEOINT unit, leveraging geospatial data, mapping techniques, and satellite imagery to gain valuable insights for customs operations’’, he said.

Maiwada said Adeniyi’s engagements with strategic partners are already getting support for the establishment of a Customs Laboratory, which is a significant milestone in enhancing Customs operations and trade facilitation.

Some of the partners are World Customs Organization, WCO, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Customs Administration (JCA),World Trade Organization (WTO), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Bank, and IMF

“Amid the current landscape of evolving global trade dynamics, the NCS laboratory will provide comprehensive solutions to address challenges, such as counterfeit goods, smuggling, and non-compliant imports, thereby bolstering revenue generation and ensuring the protection of public health and safety.

“With its advanced analytical capabilities, the laboratory is expected to deliver precise identification, verification and classification of goods.

“This would enable efficient enforcement measures and informed decision-making towards achieving seamless customs operations, trade competitiveness and national economic growth in line with the vision of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration,” he said.

Joshua Eze, a stakeholder, for instance, recalls that prior to his elevation, Adeniyi won the exemplary CGC Award for his unprecedented seizing of $8,065,612 million cash at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, in January 2020.

According to him, the new dispensation entails striking a delicate balance between trade facilitation and revenue collection.

He said it offers an opportunity to redefine priorities through collaborative engagements and cutting-edge technology to steer the organization towards the path of efficiency, transparency, and modernisation.

“The new Nigeria Customs Service envisioned by the new helmsman needs collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

“Therefore, the new Comptroller-General must actively engage and collaborate with other government agencies, the private sector, international organisations, and regional trade bodies.

“It is expected that CGC Adeniyi will recognise the need to re-balance the priorities of the NCS, placing emphasis on trade facilitation alongside revenue generation.

“He should focus on optimising Customs processes, embracing technology, and streamlining procedures to facilitate legitimate trade flows, while revenue collection remains crucial,” he said.

Leonard Ogamba, President of Shippers’ Association, Lagos, blamed wrong policies over the years for trade facilitation challenges in the country.

He therefore argued that the success of NCS under Adeniyi would depend largely on whether or not the new Customs boss would do things differently.

He urged the new Customs boss and the entire NCS management to collaborate with domestic and international partners, and operate within the confines of domesticated international conventions.

Frank Ogunojemite, President, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics in Nigeria, (APFFLON), describes Adeniyi’s appointment as a “rebirth” of the NCS.

He identified modernisation as key to achieving trade facilitation, and agrees with other observers on the need for constructive engagements and collaborations with local and international partners towards attaining a robust Customs Service.

“The modernisation of Customs is very important as this is one of the several factors that will increase trade facilitation, and until we get those things right, we will still not be able to take our place in the comity of maritime nations,” he said.

Ogunojemite also advised that NCS under Adeniyi should engage domestic and foreign stakeholders, such as customs brokers and stakeholders, professional bodies and leaders of thought in the Service’s operations.

Similarly, collaborations and engagements with stakeholders by the NCS under the new dispensation is mandatory for it to attain optimal operational success.

This is the position canvassed by Dr Kayode Farinto, Acting President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs (ANLCA.

He said that Adeniyi, being a career officer, must ensure that he is always accessible and regularly engages critical stakeholders in line with the WCO 2013 Handbook.

The document mandates every Customs formation to collaborate with Customs brokers and stakeholders.

Yusuf Malanta, a former Comptroller, Apapa Area Command, NCS, explains that collaboration with other MDAs plays a great role in the high revenue haul.

He, therefore, underscores the role of interagency collaboration in boosting revenue generation, particularly against the backdrop of an unprecedented revenue generation of over N1 trillion by the Command under him in 2022.

Interestingly, the CGC is getting positive feedback from leading stakeholders.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, expressed her readiness to collaborate with NCS to increase revenue generation, when the CGC visited her recently.

Madein pledged to collaborate with the NCS and other federal government revenue generating MDAs, by establishing a robust working relationship with them.

The new Customs boss also recognises the place of border communities in the efficiency of the Service.

“One fair commitment I will like to give to you is that we will do better in recruitment from people in border communities because we believe that they are stakeholders.

“Customs-border community relationship is stronger when you know that you have your sons and daughters in the NCS.

“We are also not unmindful that where we have this kind of critical operations, we should also be talking about the kind of corporate social responsibility programmes that we are going to be doing,” Adeniyi said during a visit to border communities.

In line with its commitment to collaborative engagements to enhance its operations for effective service delivery, the NCS has also identified the media as an indispensable partner in progress by seeking collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

The CGC, who made the pledge at a recent award ceremony of the NUJ in Lagos, explained that such a partnership was necessary because the media informs and educates the public on Customs’ operations.

“The Service requires the support and guidance of the media to consolidate the progress made in trade facilitation and revenue collection aspects of its mandate.

“Smuggling activities, for instance, can be curtailed to a large extent through partnership with the media,” he said.

As Adeniyi marks his first 100 days in office, stakeholders are of the view that NCS should scale up its local inter-agency collaborative engagements and international partnerships leveraging technologies to achieve its core mandates. (NANFeatures)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Political office holders not overpaid, says RMAFC chief

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Muhammed Shehu, says that political office holders in Nigeria do not earn outrageous emoluments as speculated by Nigerians.

Shehu made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Nigerians recently condemned reports on a proposed 114 per cent increase in salaries of political office holders by the commission, amid what they described as biting economic hardships in the country.

Shehu described information about the salary increase as not true.

He, however, said that it was the constitutional responsibility of RMAFC to determine and review the salaries of executive, legislative and judicial officers.

He said that their salaries were last reviewed in 2007.

“From 2008 till date there had not been any single review.

“Last year, some individuals took the Federal Government to court. These were some activists concerned about the salaries of judicial officers.

“In the court, the judge ruled that a judge should be paid about N10 million a month, that was the court ruling,” he said.

He said that the commission would not contemplate the speculated increase now, considering the prevailing economic challenges faced by Nigerians.

“We are Nigerians, we are not going to start talking about reviewing salaries of political office holders now because of the challenges that the government is facing.

“As a commission, we are going to do our work but we are not going to say we will do it now.

“We will do it when the climate is right and then we will take it forward to the stakeholders for them to decide on what to do.

“I want to disabuse the minds of Nigerians. It is not true that people are getting jumbo salaries.

“The monthly salary of Mr President is less than N1.5 million; that of a minister is not even up to one million naira.

“I know of an average CBN worker that is not even a director, who earns more than a minister.

“People in NNPC, NCC, ports authority earn huge salaries. What is the salary of a governor? What is the salary of a legislator?”

The chairman said that what people considered as outrageous earnings by lawmakers were statutory office running costs, which should, ordinarily be managed centrally by the National Assembly Service Commission.

“I know some people will say members of the National Assembly get up to 10 million or 11 million monthly.

“Those are not salaries, they are like operating cost of running their offices which in other societies the legislator does not have to see because there is a structure.

“Once you get elected, you make that structure from your constituency office to computers to logistics to the size of your constituency.

Shehu said, “wherever you have constituency office, the workers you hire, it is the National Assembly Service Commission that is supposed to take care of that.

“But the Nigerian system allows the legislator to be given a certain amount and then he deals with that and retires the receipts,” the RMAFC chief said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Bayelsa Election: Group cautions against electoral violence

Credible Elections Project, a non-governmental group has called on all political parties and their candidates in the Bayelsa governorship election to be decorous in their acts and adhere to the provisions of the electoral laws.

The group, with strong interest in a free and fair elections in Nigeria, made the called in statement by its National Coordinator, Dr Fred Adams and the Public Relations Officer, Amina Musa, made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

The group called for a violence-free election in Bayelsa, saying that the state in the Niger Delta can not afford to be engrossed in crisis due to interest of individuals.

It said there was no need to stoke crisis not originally contemplated by the people of Bayelsa.

The group condemned a statement of “brimstone and fire threat” attributed to candidate of one of the opposition parties, saying such does not arise for any reason.

“We have watched with utmost concerns the security risk utterances of some candidates of political parties contesting the governorship election in Bayelsa which are not in line with the spirit of democracy that require issue based campaigns.

“We take exception to threat of fire and brimstone and other unwarranted threat under any guise by the governorship candidate of the opposition.

“The PDP and the APC have their strong presence in Bayelsa.

“It rests on the candidates including other smaller parties to vigorously embark on issue-based campaigns in a bid to convince electorate rather than contemplating violence which would not serve the people of Bayelsa any good,“ the group said

In particular, it urged the candidate of APC, Timipreye Sylva and others to maintain peace and refrain from any comment capable of causing electoral violence.

The group warned that it would petition President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Service and other security agencies with clips of utterances by any of the candidates should they refuse to refrain from attempting to stoke crisis before and during the election.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos ex-commissioner, agric experts, urge residents to embrace urban farming

Mr Agboola Dabiri, a former Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, has urged residents of the state to embrace urban farming.

Dabiri said this at an agriculture empowerment programme organised by members of Ajowa Community Development Association in Surulere area of Lagos state, in collaboration with Africanfarmer Mogaji, on Sunday in Lagos.

According to him, embracing urban farming will increase and better their livelihood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment programme is titled: “Farm and Profit”.

In his lecture titled, “Global Farming without Boundaries”, Dabiri said that residents must begin to create space for farming in homes, balconies, compounds and garages.

The ex-commissioner noted that he started agribusiness as a young boy in the university because of his passion for food production and business.

He added that agriculture was a huge value chain that included production, processing, marketing, distribution, packaging and many more.

Dabiri urged the residents to develop a passion in any of the value chains to better their lots.

According to him, agriculture has so many areas that they can explore, adding that they can grow vegetables, tubers and also rear animals.

”I don’t know the last time I bought lemon in Abuja. What I did was, I planted seeds in an old sack and that is what I have been using in my home.

“In Masha, here in Surulere, we have the biggest fruit farmers in Lagos. They are very organised and you can also join them by simply identifying where you belong.

“Also, in Surulere, we have one of the largest ram market and I am a member, because I also rear animals.

“You have to look at where you belong and explore all the potential in agriculture. During the last Ileya festival, I sold rams and I made profits, you too can do that. Agric is very profitable.

“I buy my ram myself; rear it my self and give it to my boys to sell during festival. I have already started rearing ram against next festival.

“Residents of Surulere must come together and see how they can promote urban farming and contribute to the food self-sufficiency of the state,” he said.

Dabiri advised the community development association and the local government council to start a Sunday market in Surulere, for residents to purchase farm produce at cheaper and affordable prices, as well as create a market platform for farmers.

He commended the Chairman of Ajowa CDA, Mr Tunji Adebayo, for organising empowerment programmes for members of his association.

According to him, empowering the community is a lasting legacy that will outlive anybody.

“For you as individual in the CDA or community, you have to think outside the box on how you can improve your life by leveraging agriculture.

“There is little that government can do, you must look at how to balance it. We all must try and start farming in bags or plastic containers. You can plant yams, vegetables, tomatoes, pepper and plantain.

“As great as America is, a lot of its citizens own private farms and gardens. They do that so that they can also contribute to food production and we can do that here too,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Africanfarmer Mogaji urged the people at the local government level to embrace agriculture in order to feed the nation.

Mogaji, in his presentation titled ‘Farm and Profit’, urged people in the urban area to embrace agriculture by way of processing, marketing, distribution, packaging, haulaging and production.

He said that majority of people in the South-West zone were consumers of agricultural produce and not generating enough income from agriculture, because of lack of understanding.

“There are a lot of opportunities in agriculture that remain untapped and people need to look beyond farming,” he said.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of food emergency is an opportunity for many agribusiness to thrive because a lot of policies will be introduced that will be beneficial to farmers.

“Partnerships and collaborations is the new agribusiness that farmers must embrace.

“Enough of criticising the government. It is time to collaborate with government to achieve great things and improve food production.

“Opportunities are enormous but farmers must know how to get it, people need to know how to tap into every government policy,” he said.

Mogaji explained that the whole essence was to embrace grassroots farming as the new norm.

“It is almost 10 years that I have been reaching out to the CDA and this is a new executive and we are continuing.

“We need to begin to groom people from grassroots into agriculture. If local government embraces agriculture, we will feed the nation.

“They own lands; they have the people; what we need is resources. Surulere is a major area that we can leverage to distribute farm produce.

“The people farm in their rural and suburbs and we have the local government to expose these to their people,” he explained.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to allocate land to local governments for farming, to make them fully committed to food sustainability and self-sufficiency.

In his remarks, Mr Suleimon Bamidele, Chairman, Surulere Local Government Area, lauded the CDA and the council’s support for continuation of the programme.

Bamidele, who was represented by Mr Abayomi Ambali, Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman on Agriculture, noted that the council would continue to promote and support agricultural policies.

Adebayo, Chairman, Ajuwo CDA, said that the objective of the programme was to impact on the lives of members of the association who required employability and soft skills.

“This is the first of its kind and there are many more programmes to come, to help our people become self-reliant.

“We decided to go into agric because people need to eat and also make money and we saw the need to help our members.

“I urge the local and state government to do more for the people by empowering them, and keep the youth away from crime and drugs,” Adebayo said. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

NG-CARES: Sokoto govt distributes inputs to 1,180 farmers

The Sokoto State Government has begun the distribution of fertilisers, inputs and agric processing equipment to 1,180 farmers under the NG-CARES scheme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, on Saturday, inaugurated the distribution exercise as part of activities lined up to celebrate Gov. Ahmad Aliyu’s 100 days in office.

Mera lauded the state government’s commitment, and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the items on increased investments to improve their wellbeing.

The governor said the state government had paid N2.4 billion counterpart contribution to the programme, and commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for the initiative designed to improve the wellbeing of the people.

He said the beneficiaries comprised all categories of farmers selected from the 23 local government areas of the state, including youths and women groups.

Aliyu listed the items to include milling and grinding machines, fertilisers, improved variety seeds, pesticides, goats, sheep, chicks, among others.

The scheme, he said, was in line with his administration Nine-point Agenda, and encouraged small-scale traders in the state to do their businesses in a manner that would be productive.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Muhammad Wamakko, said the farmers were exposed to financial literacy, saving techniques and cooperatives.

”The training is also about skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, micro enterprise and management,” he said.

NAN reports that NG-CARES programme is a $750-million state-driven initiative supported by the World Bank.

The programme, which is being implemented under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), seeks to elevate businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and expand access to livelihood support.

It also seeks to provide improved access to food security services and financial grants to poor and vulnerable households. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Beneficiaries complain as CBN begins COVID-19 intervention loans recovery

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is set to recover loans it granted some categories of Nigerians to ameliorate harsh socio-economic realities.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the loan initiative involved is the Targeted Credit Facilities (TCF), granted to some Nigerians in 2020 to cushion the economic effect of COVID-19.

Some beneficiaries of the facility, however, expressed concern about the manner of recovery.

A beneficiary, Fatimah Alli, said that the sudden move to recover her N500,000 COVID-19 loan had worsened her financial challenges.

“I got a loan of N500,000 in 2020 to cushion the economic effect of COVID-19. But at that time we were assured that we will not be required to repay the money.

“But recently, all the money in my bank account were removed by the CBN as part of the loan recovery drive,” she said.

Another beneficiary of the TCF, Abbas Sule, also complained about arbitrary loan deductions from his bank account.

“When I was granted the loan facility in 2020, the bank official that processed the release through NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) got a commission of N50, 000, and I was paid N450,000.

“Now they want me to repay N500,000, that is not fair,” he said.

NAN reports that NMFB recently called for the repayment of COVID-19 loans given to households and business operators across the country.

The CBN had in March 2020 introduced the N50 billion TCF to support households and Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that have been particularly hit hard by COVID-19.

The loans were disbursed to beneficiaries by NIRSAL, an entity owned by CBN, at an interest rate of five per cent with a moratorium period that lasts till February 28, 2021.

At the expiration of the moratorium, the interest rate of the facility reverts to nine per cent from March 1, 2021.

According to NMFB in Its official twitter handle, we have played our part. It is now your turn.

The MFB revealed that it had given out loans worth N503 billion to more than 881,081 Nigerians and business operators to cushion the effects of the pandemic.

It urged beneficiaries to take steps to repay the loans, as they were not given as grants.

“You are expected to visit the nearest NIRSAL branch to obtain a loan repayment schedule.

You must ensure that your loan account is always funded,” it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Bandits kill 2, kidnap 3 in Kaduna

The Police Command in Kaduna State has confirmed that two persons were killed and three others kidnapped by suspected bandits on Sept. 15, in a community in the state.

The command’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kaduna.

Hassan said that the incident took place in Dogon Noma-Unguwan Gamu community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the bandits invaded the community at about 6:30 a.m., killing and abducting the victims.

The spokesman assured that the bandits would eventually be arrested to face the wrath of the law. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria