Politics

Nigerian govt pledges to redress doctors’ demands

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In a bid to ensure an end to the ongoing doctors’ strike, the Federal Government has pledged to do everything possible to redress their grievances.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the ongoing nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has paralysed activities in government-owned hospitals nationwide.

This pledge was issued by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, while addressing the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum Quarterly meeting on Friday in Abuja.

Ngige said this in a statement signed by Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press, and Public Relations in the ministry.

The minister recalled that the doctors were “sleeping on their rights until COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year” and the Federal Government felt that the N5,000 hazard allowance paid to them since 1991 was too paltry.

He noted that the Federal Government paid the doctors and other health workers “bumper money” as a special COVID hazard allowance for three months in the first instance, to the tune of N32 billion.

He said that states were told to pay as much as they could afford.

He, however, narrated to the Health Commissioners the trajectory of the current strike.

“In September 2020, they put a notice of strike, asking for Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), by which each of them will get N542,000 to cover the cost of books and journals for that particular examination, transportation, and lodging for three days.

Luckily, a supplementary budget was being put together and it was included and was paid to them. They called off the strike.

“By March this year, they listed other things again. They said the Residency Training Fund is not in the 2021 budget.

”They also needed the hazard allowance to be upgraded and demanded that States should domesticate Residency Training Act.

They said some states owed their people long months of salaries. They also wanted skipping allowance and arrears of consequential adjustment to minimum wage.

“Before we could say, Jack Robinson, they went on strike on April 1. I thought it was April fool until April 2 when we didn’t see them at work.

“I told them that, they didn’t give the mandatory 21 days notice to their employers who have written to me to complain.

”However, we returned to the table. The government pledged that the 2021 Residency Training Fund will be captured in the supplementary budget. This has been done and payment is ready,” he said.

Ngige noted that the Federal Government had also approved N11.3bn for Group Life Insurance in 2020 and renewed it in 2021.

He said the government had also held a series of conjoint NMA-JOHESU meetings on hazard allowance until the two disagreed and then asked for separate negotiations.

”They are the ones delaying action on this.

“Every other issue bordering on what the states have failed to do with doctors is where our hands are tied, but Federal Government agreed to speak to the Governor’s Forum.

“The arrears of consequential adjustment to the minimum wage cuts across sectors.

“Anyway, N160 billion earmarked for it has been exhausted and the next thing to do is to push for more. But really, some hospitals have got.

”We also abolished bench fees for Residency Training for those doing specialty. At this, the doctors left the negotiation happy,” he said

Politics

Nigerian govt reassures citizens on safety of covid-19 vaccines

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The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on Thursday, reassured Nigerians of the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaibu, gave the assurance when Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), visited the agency in Abuja.

Shuaibu urged Nigerians to erase misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines and ensure they were vaccinated against the virus.

While pledging the agency’s commitment to ensure inclusive healthcare for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country, Bassey tasked Nigerians to have confidence in the system and take advantage of the available doses of the vaccines.

According to him, the vaccination helps people to develop immunity that can fight the COVID-19 virus.

Shuaibu reiterated the agency’s commitment to give priority attention to persons living with disabilities in efforts to ensure that all Nigerians have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to him, the agency has directed all its vaccination centres to give priority to disabled persons, saying “If they are on the line, we can’t keep them waiting”.

“I encourage every Nigerian to have confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines, it’s critical in tackling the virus.

“We encourage you to have confidence in the system.

“Nigeria is the only African country that the first phase of vaccine to Africa did not expire.

“There is no other African country, the least of them was 90, 000 doses, some 92, 900 doses that expired, some up to 600,000 and some 800,000 doses.

“But in Nigeria on July 8, the last dose of vaccine was used at Lagos island maternity because we can track and know on daily basis when it was remaining 5000 doses to 3000 doses to 160 and to the last dose that was used.

We can track the vaccines to be sure that what goes to Nigerians are genuine vaccines and if you watch, it is the only vaccine that we have not given access to people to bring into the country so that they won’t bring what is fake.

“And anything that comes into this country stays about five to seven days in National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and they do their special final analysis to be sure that this is what we are expecting.

“So, you can be proud of your country that at least for once we are getting it right doing something.

“The second phase of vaccination that is ongoing now, we have assured the world that none of the vaccines we have received will expire on us as a country.

And it is because of the performance in the first phase that we are even having the privileges of receiving the vaccines we are receiving at this moment.

“Let Nigerians know that COVID is real.”

Lifestyle

Falana charges Nigerian govt to secure release of abducted NDA personnel

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has charged the Federal Government to secure the release of the military officer abducted during an attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

Gunmen had on August 24 killed two military officers and abducted one other during an attack on the NDA in the Afaka area of the state.

Falana, who is also the interim Chairman of Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), made the call in a statement on Sunday.

He asked President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to unmask the killers and bring the perpetrators to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said the attack on the military base had confirmed that nowhere is safe for Nigerians.

The lawyer said: “The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) strongly condemns the last week’s invasion of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, the brutal killing of two officers and the abduction of another officer by a group of terrorists.

“By attacking the military institution, the dangerous criminal elements had wanted to prove that nowhere is safe in Nigeria.

“To prove the criminals wrong the Federal Government should ensure the immediate release of the abducted officer and proceed to arrest the criminal elements who committed the heinous crimes.”

Lifestyle

Falana charges Nigerian govt to secure release of abducted NDA personnel

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has charged the Federal Government to secure the release of the military officer abducted during an attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

Gunmen had on August 24 killed two military officers and abducted one other during an attack on the NDA in the Afaka area of the state.

Falana, who is also the interim Chairman of Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), made the call in a statement on Sunday.

He asked President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to unmask the killers and bring the perpetrators to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said the attack on the military base had confirmed that nowhere is safe for Nigerians.

The lawyer said: “The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) strongly condemns the last week’s invasion of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, the brutal killing of two officers and the abduction of another officer by a group of terrorists.

“By attacking the military institution, the dangerous criminal elements had wanted to prove that nowhere is safe in Nigeria.

“To prove the criminals wrong the Federal Government should ensure the immediate release of the abducted officer and proceed to arrest the criminal elements who committed the heinous crimes.”

Politics

PIA: Nigerian govt rules out job cut in petroleum industry

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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, on Wednesday allayed fears of job cut in the nation’s petroleum sector following the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the law on Monday.

The law provides a legal, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.

There were insinuations that the new law would lead to job cut in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Sylva, who addressed State House correspondents at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, insisted that the law would create the enabling environment for creation of more jobs in the industry.

He said: “We have already made provisions in the law to ensure that no job is lost in the oil industry as a result of the Act.

“So, no job will be lost as a result of the Petroleum Industry Act. All jobs in the petroleum industry will be intact.

“That was already taken into account, we discussed with labour extensively in the process of drafting the bill.”

Politics

Fani-Kayode warns Nigerian govt not to rely on USA in fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP

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Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has warned the Federal Government to stop its reliance on American aid while detailing lessons from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the Taliban in Afghanistan over the weekend took over Kabul, the country’s capital, 20 years after the US chased them out.

This led to the president fleeing the country.

In his reaction via a series of tweets on Sunday, Fani-Kayode stated that this was an indication that Nigeria should not depend on the United States in its fight against ISWAP, Boko Haram and foreign Fulani militias.

The former minister also pointed out that Nigerians must unite and confront the monster of terrorism together.

Two lessons can be learnt from this. Firstly we must NEVER rely on the Americans or the international community to defend our nation from the terrorists that are ravaging our land and instead we must do it ourselves.

Secondly, we must come together, unite, forget our differences & collectively fight and resist the scourge of Islamist terror that has plagued our land. May God NEVER allow Boko Haram, ISWAP, the foreign Fulani militias or any other terrorist organisation to fly their flag over our nation, take over our nations capital, defeat our Armed Forces and conquer Nigeria,” Fani-Kayode noted.

He also explained the implications of the takeover on Afghanis.

Fani-Kayode wrote: “The implications for millions of Afghans are obvious and the implications for the entire region and the international community are legion.

As from today Islamist terrorist groups all over the world will have massive financial, logistical and moral support from a strong Islamist Government in Afghanistan. Apart from that, millions of Afghan men who refuse to accept the dictates of the Islamists and jihadists will be executed and millions of Afghan women and girls will be enslaved.”

Politics

Why Nigerian govt stopped employment in civil service – Ngige

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Sunday explained why the Federal Government stopped employment in the civil service.

The minister, who made the clarification when the Igwe of Nnewi kingdom, Kenneth Orizu lll; led members of the royal family and leaders of various quarters in the town to his residence in Abuja, said the government’s decision to suspend employment in the civil service was influenced by the poor state of the nation’s economy.

He added that the government created small jobs and empowerment programmes to fortify social safety nets and establish a social protection system in the country.

The delegation had earlier asked Ngige to help secure jobs for young graduates from the town.

The minister said: “The Federal Government placed an embargo on employment because the economy is not in good shape. But, we have the Home Support Programmes like Conditional Cash Transfer and others. Such money is meant for the poor in society.

“I have been making sure that Nnewi town gets its due through my foot soldiers in the community. Nothing is too small but I assure you that we will do more.”

Politics

Nigerian govt deceived Kenya over Kanu’s extradition —Lawyer

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Aloy Ejimakor, one of the special counsels to incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Nigerian government of deceiving the government of Kenya to extradite the fugitive to Nigeria instead of the United Kingdom.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Sunday, Ejimakor explained that technically, Kanu is still in Kenya as he had traveled to the East African country on a British passport and as such, should have been extradited to the UK and not Nigeria.

“Kanu is technically still in Kenya. Yes, that’s right: In the purest interpretations of foreign relations law, as applied to Britain and Kenya, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is technically speaking, still in Kenya. How?

“Dual national or not, Kanu departed Britain and travelled to Kenya as a British citizen and Kenya admitted him as such. That’s the starting point.

“So, after his admission to Kenya, it happens that Kanu must be expelled from Kenyan soil (with or without due process), the next natural and legal thing to do is for Kenya to expel him to Britain, not Nigeria.

“Choosing to expel him to Nigeria means that he could’ve also been expelled to any other country than Nigeria.

Why? Because Kanu presented himself to Kenya as a British citizen, not a Nigerian citizen or even a dual citizen.

“In international law, it was clearly a three-way immigration contract between Kanu, Britain and Kenya.

“Nigeria was not a party to it; and Nigeria was never in reckoning at the Kenyan port of entry when Kanu presented himself for admission. Lawyers call it the privity of contract.

Counting from the time of Kanu’s abduction to the infamous rendition, Kenya sighted no other travel document that could’ve, in addition to Britain, attributed another nationality to Kanu, including that of Nigeria. Or, was Kanu admitted to Kenya on a Nigerian birth certificate?

“So, it’s dubious that Kenya attributed Nigerian citizenship to Kanu because sponsors of the abduction and rendition presumably told Kenya that Kanu was born in Nigeria.

“What about the credible claims (in public domain) that Kanu had renounced his Nigerian citizenship? If place of birth should count, then renunciation should count for more.

Kanu is 53 years old. Out of this, he has spent some 30 years in Britain and 23 years in Nigeria. His wife and children are domiciled in Britain and they are British citizens, either by birth or naturalization. Kanu has his home in Britain and pays his taxes there.

“Therefore, as a strict matter of foreign relations law, as applied to Britain and Kenya (minus Nigeria), Kanu is technically still in Kenya. How? Because Kenya was the last country in which Kanu – a bonafide British citizen was lawfully admitted.

“In view of the foregoing, the next best steps for Britain to take, especially in the face of Nigeria’s intransigence, is to ask Kenya to account for the whereabouts of her citizen, Nnamdi Kanu, last seen in Kenya as of June 19th, 2021, as her Majesty’s subject and a free citizen of Britain, not a criminal suspect.”

Politics

Nigerian govt postpones phase two of COVID-19 vaccination

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The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) has postponed the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.

The committee’s Director of Press, Mr. Willie Bassey, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night in Abuja.

The exercise was earlier slated to commence at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Bassey said the exercise was postponed due to some unforeseen circumstances.

The United States donated four million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria on August 1.

The statement read: “This is to announce the postponement of the national flag-off of phase 11 vaccination programme earlier scheduled for Tuesday this week due to unforeseen circumstances.

“A new date will be communicated.”

World News

Again, Nigerian Govt urged to ban reality show, Big Brother Naija

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The Arewa Youth Advisory Forum (AYCF), a group in the Northern part of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to ban the ongoing reality show, Big Brother Naija.

Yerima Shettima, the National President of AYCF described the show as a ‘‘calamity’’ during an interview with newsmen on Friday.

He also said the government ought not to allow the show to be aired because it promotes immorality and sexual content.

Here is what Shettima stated;

“It’s a calamity for me; I never believed in BBNaija and I don’t think it’s fair because the show is an act of immorality.

Such a spectacle should not be encouraged.

“I have often said that this show encourages immorality and that the Nigerian government should ban it, it should not be allowed to be broadcast in our country.”

He continued;

‘‘You see, a lot of people are watching to see acts of immorality, these sexual things flaunting their nudity, and they made it look like a ‘blue film’, so that is to be discouraged. I urge true lovers of the country to join hands and draw the government’s attention to the implication of this program which should be discouraged”

This is not the first time that a group or an individual would kick against BBNaija.

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Project for Human Development, Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, and the Association of Concerned Mothers have also sought the ban of the reality show.

Politics

Nigerian govt to go ahead with sale of five NIPPs

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The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Dr. Alex Okoh, said on Monday the sale of the five National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs) will go on as planned.

Okoh, disclosed this in a statement issued by BPE Head of Public Communications, Amina Othman, in on Monday Abuja.

He said the Bureau had received 36 Expression of Interest (EOIs) from prospective investors.

He said the federal government was determined to resuscitate the power plants to put them to full use for the much-needed power requirement in the country.

According to him, the privatisation of the five NIPP plants was in line with the Bureau’s 2021 work plan as approved by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

The five NIPP plants are the Benin Generation Company Limited at Ihovba, Edo State, Calabar Generation Company Limited, Cross River State, Geregu Generation Company Limited, Kogi State, Olorunsogo Generation Company Limited, Ogun State and Omotosho Generation Company Limited, Ondo State.

Okoh said following the approval of the NCP, the BPE engaged the services of a Technical Adviser and advertised for the EOI in three national dailies.

Politics

Nigerian Govt begs UN to intervene on food security

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The Federal Government has called on the United Nations (UN) to forge a stronger collaboration with Nigeria to improve the country’s food system.

The appeal was made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while presenting a paper at consolidatory dialogue for the UN Food Systems Summit held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Osinbajo reiterated that aside from the goal of realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and guaranteeing food security, sustainable food systems effort fits into the plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to eliminate poverty across Nigeria, which is paramount to the country’s collaboration with the UN.

He added that the collaboration is aimed at addressing hunger, combating malnutrition, reducing poor diet-related diseases among others.

The VP opined that Nigeria’s food system must be resilient enough to “significantly” impact nutrition security and that collective efforts to reduce the malnutrition numbers.

“We must realise that defining bold steps to improve food systems and by extension, food security, ensures that children have improved health, early development, and increased intellectual and emotional readiness to learn,” Osinbajo said.

“This translates to positive school engagement and improves the potential of children growing into healthy adults,” he added.

Business

Nigerian govt says gas flaring drops by 92%

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The federal government, on Sunday said gas flaring in oil communities has been reduced by 92 percent, and those complaining are only exaggerating.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, made this known while speaking at a forum in Abuja.

According to the Minister, gas flaring is no longer the major problem of our oil communities today.

“Today as we speak on gas flaring, it is so much exaggerated. Gas flaring has been reduced to about eight per cent. We have taken down about 92 per cent of flares.

There has been a lot of monetisation on gas, all the gas that was going into NLNG was previously flared, all the gas going into the power plants was previously flared, and there is a lot of gas also being re-injected into the ground so that we don’t flare it.

“We also use some of the gas to spike the crude oil, so we have found a lot of use for gas which brought flaring down by eight per cent, but people still exaggerate it,” he said.

“Before now in my own community, I saw the flares in the horizon when I stood by the Atlantic, but today it’s no more,” Sylva added

Sylva urged communities in the Niger Delta to tap into various opportunities created by the federal government’s gas utilisation projects and stop complaining about the dangers of gas flaring which had almost been eliminated.

“Gas flaring is no longer a problem in the Niger Delta, eight per cent of gas being flared cannot be the problem.

If I don’t know what to do with my gas that is when I flare, but if I can monetise my gas, why should I burn it when I can make money out of it.

“In fact, it is in my interest not to burn my gas because it now has value. The problem with gas before was that it has no value because nobody was buying it.

“But now, if I can monetise it, I will be guarding it so that I can get some benefits from it,” Mr Sylva emphasised.

Ripples Nigeria had ealier reported that between March 2012 and April 2021, a total of 1.8 billion (MSCF) of natural gas valued at $6.3 billion were flared both onshore and offshore.

This is according to data obtained from Nigeria’s Gas Flare Tracker, an environmental monitoring tool.

The data also showed there are still over 100 active flare sites in ten Nigerian states.

Politics

SERAP sues Nigerian govt at ECOWAS court

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and twenty-four concerned Nigerians have sued the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja.

The suit is progesting “the arbitrary use of the NBC Act and broadcasting code to target, harass, sanction, and fine independent television and radio stations in Nigeria, and to restrict Nigerians’ freedom of expression and access to information.”

SERAP is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare “illegal and contrary to Nigeria’s international human rights obligations the provisions of the NBC Act and broadcasting code frequently applied by the Federal Government and NBC to target, harass, intimidate, and impose sanctions on independent television and radio stations in the country.”

The suit is coming in the wake of what the group describes as the “‘bridge [breach] letter’ by the NBC asking Channels TV to explain why it interviewed the spokesman of a proscribed organisation; the ban on Jay FM 101.9 Jos for playing songs such as Falz’s ‘This is Nigeria’, Wande Coal’s ‘Iskaba’ and Olamide’s ‘See Mary, See Jesus’; and the N9m fines imposed on Channels TV, AIT and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.”

In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/19/21 and filed last week, the Plaintiffs are arguing that, “The rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom allow Nigerians to seek and attain truth, which is an inherently good activity. These rights also allow Nigerians to participate in representative governance, social and political decision-making, which the Federal Government and NBC are obligated to foster and encourage.”

According to the Plaintiffs: “Attempts to justify restrictions on these fundamental rights and freedom on the overly vague grounds of incitement, morality and subversion of the constituted authority contradict the principles of the universality of human rights. Freedom of Expression is a fundamental human right and cannot be denied without lawful justification.”

The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “the application of the Nigerian Broadcasting Act 1992 and broadcasting code to sanction independent television and radio stations is arbitrary, and has created an environment in which independent media houses are censored, or resort to self-censorship.”

The Plaintiffs state that, “Despite the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria which guarantees the right to access public records, the Federal Government and its agents and several states of Nigeria have routinely refused to release information sought.”

The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “A lot of Nigerians at home and abroad rely on independent television and radio stations including online on their coverage of topical issues of public interest to access impartial, objective and critical information about ideas and views on how the Federal Government and its agents are performing their constitutional and international human rights obligations.”

The suit was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi.

Politics

Nigerian govt urges health institutes to ensure proper use of N49bn intervention fund

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The Federal Government has tasked all Federal health institutions in the country to ensure proper utilisation of the N49 billion intervention fund released for the upgrade of their health facilities.

Mr Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, made the call, on Tuesday, during an assessment and evaluation visit to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), in Edo.

While commending the management of ISTH on the utilisation of the fund, the minister noted that only those institutions that had judiciously applied the funds would get the balance of 50 percent.

He said that each of the 52 federal health institutions were meant to get N950 million to upgrade their infrastructure and improve resilience in the sector.

“This fund is meant for some specific purposes such as, the building of molecular laboratories at the cost of N18.5 billion for 52 health institutions and also equipment for isolation centers at N5.2 billion.

Provision was also made for the building of 520 Intensive Care Units (ICU) at 10 each for the 52 institutions at the cost of N18.3 billion and provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at N7 billion.

“In all, each of the federal health institutions is to get N950 million. Edo State is blessed with three federal health institutions and this has brought close to N3 billion into the medical centres in the state. This is aside from the N1 billion given to the state.

“Every state got N1 billion, with the exception of Lagos, Kano, and FCT, that got more because they are the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have the same impression with what I saw in the centres I have visited before now; quality work being done, the equipment has been purchased. ISTH has always been an institution of reference for others,” Agba said.

Politics

Nigerian govt dispels reports of fake COVID-19 vaccines

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The Federal Government has dispelled the possibility of any fake COVID-19 vaccines being administered or sold by unauthorised institution in the country.

This was contained in a circular signed on Sunday, March 28, by Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi, the Director, Department of Hospital Service, Federal Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire in Abuja.

The circular followed a letter from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 regarding the arrest of about 3,000 doses of fake COVID-19 vaccines destined for Africa from China.

The minister, who acknowledged receipt of the PTF letter, however, stated that “I am, therefore, to bring this to your notice and dispel any possibility of COVID-19 vaccines being available for sale or being administered by any unauthorised institution

“To prevent the importation of fake vaccines, kindly note that the Nigeria Customs Service has designated the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as the only Point of Entry (PoE) for imported COVID-19 vaccines.”

He then called the attention of chief medical directors and medical directors of federal tertiary health institutions to the fake COVID-19 vaccines destined for Africa, noting that it had been arrested in China.

Politics

Nigerian govt tenders $1.3m cash in court as exhibit against ex-air chief

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The Federal Government on Thursday tendered as exhibit, a cash sum of $1.3 million recovered from the Abuja mansion of a retired Air Commodore, Umar Mohammed, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The foreign currency was counted in the open courtroom with the aid of an electronic counting machine, and admitted as an exhibit during the continuation of the trial of Commodore Mohammed, over alleged fraud and money laundering charges brought against him by the government.

As the trial resumed, the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, tendered the exhibit with other currencies, saying they were recovered from the defendant’s possession.

In the same vein, the defence counsel, Dr Hassan Liman (SAN), examined the prosecution witness, Stephen Olatubosun, through whom the exhibit was tendered and informed the court that his client intends to file a no case submission on the ground that prima facie case had not been established against him.

However, the trial judge, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo, after listening to the parties, ordered the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court to deposit the foreign currency with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pending the conclusion of the trial.

The case was subsequently adjourned to May 27, for adoption of final addresses, by the parties in the no-case submission motion.

The former air chief is facing a three-count charge of alleged money laundering, illegal possession of firearms and classified documents without authority.

He was accused of receiving $1.3 million in cash from Worldwide Consortium PTY Ltd in 2016, through his company Easyjet Airlines in violation of the Money Laundering Act 2011.

Business

Nigerian govt’s approval of $1.5bn for rehabilitation of refinery a huge waste – Ex-gov Obi

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The former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, on Friday questioned the approval of $1.5 billion for the renovation of the Port Harcourt refinery by the Federal Government.

The ex-governor, who spoke on the development on his Twitter handle, said the approval of such a huge sum for the renovation of the refinery was a huge waste considering the country’s present economic situation.

He accused Nigerian leaders of worsening the country’s situation with their financial rascality.

Obi wrote: “The news of the planned expenditure of a whopping $1.5 billion for Port Harcourt refinery repairs is worrisome to well-meaning Nigerians. In light of our precarious economic situation, it is a huge waste.

Our country on life support, but sadly the managers of our affairs are worsening the situation by their financial rascality.”

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the release of $1.5 billion for rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The repair works will be undertaken in three phases.

Politics

Nigerian govt seeks synergy at all levels to tackle insecurity, terrorism

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The Federal Government has stressed the need for synergy in tackling current security challenges across the country.

It has also emphasised the need to provide basic amenities for citizens at sub-national levels, declaring that the gesture would play a key role in reducing insecurity.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, in a speech at the third Quarterly Meeting of Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs), in Abuja on Thursday, March 18, also underscored the need for synergy among security agencies.

The theme for the meeting was “The Role of Secretaries to the State Governments in Strengthening Sub-National Level Security Architecture”.

According to Mustapha, the theme underscored the need for the security agencies to share their thoughts with the forum and thereby highlight critical areas in which they can provide the necessary support and facilitation for the strategies.

He said: “Nigeria has been confronted with an inexplicable escalation of violence resulting in insecurity across the nation.

“I will not want to bother you with the details of these forms of criminality, but it is good to add that it not only serves as a drain to our national resources but creates a climate of uncertainty and challenges the ability of the nation to provide a convivial atmosphere for its citizens to go about their everyday normal businesses.

“Governments at all levels have been doing their utmost best to address these challenges. However, its persistence calls for approaches that are more than conventional and normal.

“We need to involve all arms of government, all apparatus of government and most importantly, those that have a relationship directly with the rural communities and the citizenry.

It is, therefore, in line with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, with support from all the State Governors, that this forum should bring to bear its coordinating and monitoring role at all levels for a holistic approach to a resolution of these problems,” he explained.

Mustapha said that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen the National parks Service to ensure that all the previous seven National parks and the 10 new ones created remain inviolate for use by criminal elements.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno called on the SSGs to see security as everyone’s business and work toward mobilising everyone to participate in the efforts to tackle the challenge.

“The fight to end insurgency is a fight for everyone, no one should be left out.

“We need to complement each other to put an end to security challenges in the country.

“The success rate in the fight against banditry will be higher if everyone takes it serious. It shouldn’t be left for the government alone,” he explained.

Monguno urged them to develop a robust internal framework that would involve all critical stakeholders, most especially the traditional and religious leaders, to complement the work of the security agencies in their states.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said that the Federal Government had developed strategies to deal with issues of insecurity, but regretted that the strategies were yet to get the maximum cooperation from the state governments.

Adamu said that the Federal government had realised that policing should come from the grassroots and there was a need for the SSGs to be coordinators.

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