18052020 - COVID-19: Why UK plane was impounded by FG — MINISTER

7 COVID-19: Chinese doctors in Nigeria working hard to help, not missing —EMBASSY

Gunmen on rampage in Edo, C-River, Delta communities 12 Marauders kill 3 persons, 6 9 cows in Kogi

MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

VOL. 27: NO. 64071

COVID-19: Why UK plane was impounded by FG — MINISTER •Plane granted humanitarian flight approval operates commercial flight •Govt impounds plane, crew arrested, facing interrogation

Work on Infectious Diseases Bill not suspended

by Court —Reps

5

COVID-19 TASK FORCE BRIEFS BUHARI...

8

IPPIS: FG directs ASUU to suspend strike 10 Ganduje slashes salary of political office holders by 50% 13 Electricity consumers register 1,810 complaints against 11 DISCOs

From left: Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health and others, as President Buhari receives briefing from Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Lockdown could kill more people than COVID-19 in developing nations, 8 UNICEF warns 9

•Says Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, others’ll be hard hit in under-5, other deaths •As world physicians warn against withholding funds from WHO

OWEI

16 SOBOWALE 21

OCHEREOME

29

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

SAFE DELIVERY IN ISOLATION CENTRE—Health workers and a COVID-19 patient after a

successful caesarean section to deliver her baby boy at Gbagada Isolation centre, Lagos, weekend.

COVID-19: Why UK plane was impounded by FG — MINISTER •Plane granted humanitarian flight approval operates commercial flight •Govt impounds plane, crew arrested, facing interrogation

By Lawani Mikairu & Dirisu Yakubu

L

AGOS — U n n a m e d persons were last night said to be working behind the scenes, deploying their influence to ensure that Flair Aviation, whose plane was impounded yesterday by the Federal Government, did not face maximum sanctions.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday said the Federal Government had impounded an aircraft belonging to Flair Aviation, a United Kingdom-based aviation company, for violating the current ban on flights

into the country.

But strong indications emerged that pressure is already being mounted on the Federal Government to soft-pedal on the incident and investigations.

A source told Vanguard that those responsible for the flight into the country were already using their contacts within the government to plead for leniency.

The source,who does not want to be named, said: “You don’t expect those responsible for this serious breach of Presidential order to fold their arms and allow justice to take its course.

They are already pleading and lobbying.

Don’t worry, an official statement will be issued later,” the source told Vanguard.

Sirika had disclosed government action on his official twitter handle @hadisirika, saying the company sought approval for h u m a n i t a r i a n operations, only to embark on commercial flights into the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Lagos.

Impounded plane

The impounded aircraft, an Embraer Legacy 600 jet, marked G-ERFX, with capacity for 13 passengers,

Vanguard learned last night, is currently being detained at the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport in Lagos.

Sirika said the flight crew of the flight is also being interrogated to know their level of culpability, stressing there shall be maximum penalty for the offence.

He said: “COVID-19.

Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them conducting commercial flights.

“This is callous! The craft is impounded, crew being interrogated.

There shall be maximum

penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve.”

Flair Aviation operated a commercial flight as against the humanitarian operations approval it secured to operate to Nigeria.

NCAA investigates

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has c o m m e n c e d investigation into the incident in a bid to unmask possible internal collaborators.

In a chat with Vanguard , James Odaudu, Director, Public Affairs and Communication, Federal Ministry of Aviation, pledged to keep Nigerians abreast of the whole incident at the end of investigation.

Odaudu said: “Yes, the Federal Government has c o m m e n c e d investigations into the incident. An official statement will be issued by the minister after the investigation.”

When pressed further for time lag of the investigation, Odaudu said “as soon as

investigations is concluded, a statement will be issued. It could be anytime.”

At press time last night, it could not be ascertained the number of passengers the aircraft brought into the country as both the Aviation Ministry and NCAA kept sealed lips on it.

The Federal Government had earlier on May 27 shut down Nigerian airspace following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The flight ban was recently extended by another month.

The extension of the flight ban was announced on May 6 by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha during the Presidential Task Force daily briefing on COVID19.

He said the decision was based on the assessment and advice from experts of the aviation industry to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

By Olayinka Latona

On FG's school feeding programme during lockdown

I

will advice that the federal government should sincerely use the money meant for this school feeding programme on other important things. Majority of Nigerians are hungry and here the government is spending billions of naira on school feeding, moreover these children are currently not in school. *Marvis Hope, Engineer

T

HE Idea is a good one but we have heard series of promises before now and nothing came out of it. The government has always made us believe they are doing something whereas nothing is being done. The idea is good but as always implementation is a problem. *Obasanya Abosede, Businesswoman

I

T does not make sense because pupils are on compulsory holiday and there is no sense in continuing the school feeding programme when the participating schools are closed. Even if they want to give internally displaced people and orphanages, it is not proper. *Ifeoluwa Bankole, Marketer

Obviously Nigerians know that it is all lie and another means of enriching some set of people.

However, I am not sure the government will be able to carry out the project effectively due to lack of data. It’s another scheme to steal money and the feeding will not work. *Ray Yobo, Entrepreneur

I can only sense another fraud here, why will the federal government spend that huge amount of money on feeding school children when school is not. This is waste of resources. The money can be used on some other things. FG should rather empoer parent to feed their kids. *Victor Oghenekevwe, Fashion designer.

This government is not serious. Are they going to feed those pupils from their homes? I am here with my children and they have not benefitted from the school feeding programme. Would they be fed at home? Something is certainly wrong with that programme and only an investigation will unravel it. *Alatise Oluwabunmi, Secretary

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

5 in Police net for beating 25-year-old man to death

By James Ogunnaike

FI

VE men have been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly beating a 25-year-old man, Monsur Kareem, to death in Ijoko in AdoOdo/Ota local government area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command,DSPAbimbolaOyeyemi, who disclosed this in a statement in Abeokuta, said the suspects, Toheeb Popoola, Ibrahim Ridwan, Mutiu Tijani, Akeem Ishola and Lawal Afeez, were arrested last week.

Oyeyemisaid:“Thesuspectswere arrested following a report by the deceased's father, Najeem Kareem, at Sango Police Station that his son was beaten to coma by the suspects following a minor misunderstanding he had with Toheeb Popoola.”

Oyeyemi added that Monsur was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead by the doctor.

Gunmen kill 3 persons, 9 cows in Kogi Death toll in Adamawa communal crisis rises to 34 as fighting intensifies

By Umar Yusuf & Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—Three herders, including nine cows, were reported killed in Egume, Dekina local council of Kogi State by yet to be identified gunmen.

The Kogi State Chapter of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, led by its state chairman, Wakili Yusuf Damina disclosed this to newsmen in Lokoja, yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Assistant Secretary of the association, Mallam Ademu Abubakar, said there have been renewed onslaught against their persons and cows in the community, adding that the latest attack was the second in the last two months.

According to him, "On the 14 of this month, which was on Thursday,

at about 8 am some gunmen heavily armed with guns and other dangerous weapons invaded Fulani community at Ofanwa Elubi in Egume, opened gunfire on the Fulani people and killed three persons on the spot while about nine cows were also killed during the deadly attack.

“Many people were injured in the attack that lasted several minutes.

This was another attack on our people within the last two months.

The first attack was in March."

Abubakarsaidthelatestattackwas promptly reported to the DPO at Egume Police station, who quickly organised his men and took the corpses to the police station before taking them to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Command, William Ayah, confirmed that three persons and

nine cows were killed during the attack on the Fulani community.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police has deployed fully armed men to the area to avoid further attack.

The command is already hunting those behind the attack.”

Death toll in Adamawa communal crisis rises to 34

Meanwhile, the casualty figures in the communal clash between Chobo natives and the Hausa/Fulani settlers in Tigno of Lamurde Local GovernmentAreaofAdamawaState has risen to 34 One of the survivors of the conflict, Abdullahi Musa, who spoke with journalists in Yola, said the figure might be higher as fighting is intensified in the interior and remote settlements that are not accessible to the military and the police deployed

Suspected killer of UNIJOS lecturer nabbed, kidnapped daughter rescued

Many wounded, as 2 Islamic sects clash in Kogi mosque

By Therese Nanlong OS —ONE of the suspected J killers of Dr Mandi Drenkat, a lecturer with the University of Jos,

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—Many worshippers reportedly sustained injuries, Friday, when members of two Islamic sects clashed over who occupies the position of Imam of theCentralMosqueinOkene,Kogi State.

It was gathered that the fight was between members of the Tijjaniya andSunnisectsoverwhobecomes the Chief Imam following the demise of the former occupant of theposition,AlhajiMusaGaladima.

Vanguard gathered that few minutes to the commencement of the Juma’at prayer at the Central Mosque, a member of the Sunni group, Uztaz Bello Hussaini, who was giving the sermon stopped midway and referred to Sheik Salihu Abere as the acting Chief Imam when the later entered the mosque.

The statement was said to have infuriated one Momoh Jimoh, a member of Tijjaniya group, who demanded an apology from Hussaini for being rude to have called Abere the acting Imam.

DONATION : Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Fred Kpakol (left), receiving items from Rivers State Chairman of Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria, CAFFAN,, Elder Clapton Ogolo (2nd right). With them are Dr Samuel Momoh, National Treasurer/State Secretar y, CAFFAN (2nd left) and Chief Chizi Woko, Rivers State CAFFAN Legal Adviser, during the presentation of palliatives to cushion the effect of COVID-19 to Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt.

LASEMA team escapes mob attack as bus crushes Okada rider in Lagos

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

M

EN of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, narrowly escaped death Saturday night, when they were attacked by suspected hoodlums while rescuing some victims of a road accident at

Oke-Gbegun hill in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

It was gathered that a 14 -seater passenger commercial bus while trying to navigate the Oke-Gbegun hill developed a mechanical fault that made it rammed into a commercial motorcyclist and killing the rider in the process.

Director-General, LASEMA, Dr

Armed youths invade Agolila village, Escravos, injure many

T

HE quiet village of Agolila in Escravos area of Delta State was last week thrown into confusion when some armed youths invaded the village in speedboats, shot and injured many people, including Mr. Eric Otsema Asawa, an Ugboegunguncommunityrefugee, whoiscurrentlyreceivingtreatment at the Warri Central Hospital.

The incident, according to an eyewitness, tookplaceatthe early hours of Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

The matter has since been reported to the Area Commander, Nigeria Police, Burutu, who directed that Mr. Eric Asawa, who sustained a cut in his left hand as a result of the gunshot, be taken to WarriCentralHospitalfortreatment.

At press time, no arrest has been

to maintain peace in the area.

According to him, until yesterday, Chobo militias were still going into the bush and adjourning localities to kill those that escaped and were trapped in the area.

Abdullahi Musa added that the militiashave been stealingtheirrice and other farm produce, including their farming implements.

Another local, who spoke on conditionofanonymity,allegedthat the Fulani militias with their sophisticated weapons were seen movingintotheTignocommunities for possible full-blown war with the natives, even as they continue to burn houses, kill and maim people, including women and children.

According to the local, the mode of operation of the Fulani militia will be difficult for the military and Police drafted to the area to control as they strike in the wee hours of the day.

made. Also Ugboegungun community leaders could not be reached for comments.

It will be recalled that Ugboegunguncommunityinvasion of February 2018 resulted in the forceful ejection of over 70 per cent of members and residents of the community.

All efforts of the team sent by the Inspector General of Police, Joint Task Force set up by the Delta State Government, the Olu of Warri and Warri High Court order directing all displaced persons to return to their settlement in Ugboegungun communityaswellastheAIGBenin City order for people to return to their community failed as those that have attempted to return were beaten and forced to return to their refugee lives in different parts of Nigeria.

•The injured Eric Asawa.

Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmedtheincident,explainedthat “in the cause of performing its essential duties during the period of COVID-19curfew,theactivatedmen of the LASEMA Response Team wereattackedbyhoodlums, Saturday night.

“The attack on the LASEMA Response Team and other first responders by hoodlums at the Ikorodu incident site came on the heels of the death of a commercial motorcyclist, who died when he was crushed by a commercial vehicle at Oke-Gbegun,inwardLASPOTECH in Ikorodu.

“The yet-to-be-identified commercial motorcyclist was said to have been taken away by officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, before the arrival of the LASEMA Response Team, while the ill-fated commercial bus was set on fire by angry hoodlums.

“LASEMA Response Team in preparation for evacuation of the said dead cyclist and on-spot medical attention for the injured had in turn, alsoactivatedtheLASAMBUS,while SEHMU was called up to bag and retrieve the body, all of which was putonholdduetosecuritychallenges faced at the Ikorodu incident site."

hasbeenarrestedattheBabalearea ofJosNorthLocalGovernmentArea of Plateau State.

The suspect, identified as Ali Mohammed, was arrested with an AK-47 rifle and a kidnap victim in their den named Chiboze Joseph rescued unhurt.

It will be recalled that late Drenkat was shot in his home at the University of Jos Senior Staff Quarters, Friday night, and his sixyear-old daughter kidnapped was subsequently rescued by the Police.

Confirming the arrest and rescue, the state Police Commissioner, EdwardEgbuka,whoalsoparaded the suspect, yesterday, said: “On 16/ 5/2020 at about 0030hrs, the command received a distress call at Road 6, University senior staff quarters,Joswheresomehoodlums entered the house of one Dr Nandi Drenkat ‘m’, a lecturer with the UniversityofJos,wherehewasshot and his six-year-old daughter kidnapped.

“Immediately, a combined team of conventional policemen, mobile men, operatives from the antikidnapping unit, vigilante group and hunters were deployed to the hilly areas where the kidnapped victim was suspected to have been kept. The scene was thoroughly combed and in the process, the kidnappers were sighted on the hill and there was a gun duel between the operatives and the kidnappers.

“In the process, one of the kidnappers, Ali Mohammed, ‘m’ of Narabi, was shot on his right leg and was arrested with one AK-47 rifle with breach Number 1984/AP 0240, 29 rounds of live ammunition were also recovered from him.

A kidnapped victim, Chiboze Joseph ‘m’ was rescued unhurt while other bandits fled with injuries.

On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. The case is under investigation and will be charged to court as soon as possible.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 7 :Vanguard News

:@vanguardnews

:@vanguardnews

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Minister directs board to reinstate suspended FIIRO 2020 and signed by the acting DG university’s Director, Prof

A

DEPLOYMENT: From left—Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Bararabe; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa State, and the representative of the Chief of the Air Staff, AVM Charles Ohwo, during the deployment of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces to Lafia, Saturday.

Photo: NAN.

Buhari re-appoints Akabueze D-G Budget

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of the tenure of Mr. Benjamin Akabueze as Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

This was contained in a statement , yesterday, by Mr. Yunusa Abdullahi,

the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Mr. Akabueze was first appointed as a Special Adviser Planning (SAP) to the President on February 15th, 2016 and later re-deployed and appointed as DG Budget, June 10th, 2016 by Mr.

President, to handle the nagging issues in the Budget office at that time.

This appointment would expire June 10th, 2020.

The Budget Office is currently undergoing several reforms under the leadership of Akabueze towards improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Budget office of the Federation.

“Akabueze has a track

record of sterling performance and it is due to his achievements that Mr. President has approved Akabueze’s tenure to be renewed for another term in order to institutionalise the achievements for a s u s t a i n a b l e improvement in the Budget Office of the Federation,’’ the statement read.

Govs to cooperate with new CoS to President, Gambari

By Henry Umoru

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B U J A — GOVERNORS of the 36 states of the federation have pledged to work in synergy with the new Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

The governors, who spoke under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, said the synergy was necessary to rev up the level of leadership and governance in the country, especially against the backdrop of fresh challenges imposed on the country by volatility of oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.

In a congratulatory letter signed by the NGF chairman and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the governors said they were excited by the appointment of Gambari as the Chief of Staff by the President.

Fayemi in the letter which was addressed to the Chief of Staff, read: “On behalf of the 36 democratically elected state governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),

I write to congratulate you and to express our deep joy on your appointment to the exalted office of the Chief of Staff to our President, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. “As you know, this appointment comes with great responsibilities and unconventional demands requiring candor,

discipline, professionalism, loyalty, focus, diligence and the highest level of service.

“Your credentials, pedigree, experience and career trajectory both locally and globally speak to your capacity. As Governors, we are excited about this appointment..

“We are available at the sub-national level to work

with you as you strive to make a positive difference in our country even more so now with the exacerbation of our circumstancesprecipitatedbythe volatility of oil prices and the COVID-19pandemic.

“We wish you God’s guidance and the best of luck in this very important and challenging assignment.’’

BUJA—THREE months after the suspension of Acting Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, FIIRO), Dr. Chima Igwe, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has directed the institute’s Governing Board to recall and reinstate him.

Igwe was suspended in February, following controversy surrounding the doctorate he obtained from a university in Republic of Benin.

The FIIRO Governing Board, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo, had suspended Igwe when protests rocked the institute over his doctorate degree and directed the Director of Production, Analytical and Laboratory Management, Dr. Agnes Asagbara, to take over.

An official notice to the workers then by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. O.A. Akinfire, revealed that Dr. Asagbara would oversee the activities of the institute until a substantive directorgeneral and chief executive officer was appointed.

The Governing Board had asked Igwe to produce his doctorate degree certificate to prove his claim that he possessed it.

Dr. Igwe has presented the original doctorate degree certificate from the Universite d’AbomeyCalavi, Republic of Benin issued on February 14,

COVID-19: Chinese doctors in Nigeria working hard to help, our companies to fulfill their staff on how to effectively not missing —Embassy social responsibilities in follow the NCDC

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA—THE Chinese doctors and medics who arrived the country last month to help the Nigerian authorities in containing the ravaging coronavurus, are not missing.

The Chinese Embassy in Abuja confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that contrary to claims by one of the leading political parties in Nigeria that the whereabouts of the medics in Nigeria remained unknown, the 14 medical experts were actively helping out in their duty posts to meet the mandate for which they came to Nigeria.

Spokesman of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Sun Saixiong, told Vanguard

that although the embassy was not directly involved in the operations and activities of the medics, it was fully aware of their contributions towards the containment of the pandemic in Nigeria.

Mr. Saixiong explained that the mission of the 14 doctors and medics who were brought into Nigeria by one of its leading construction giants, CCECC, in collaboration with the Federal Government, was to assist Nigeria in preparing for the containment of the virus and cater for thousands of the company’s workers spread across Nigeria.

“The Embassy of China is not directly involved in what the medics do on a daily basis but we have always been supportive of

Nigeria and we do appreciate their collaboration with their Nigerian brothers and sisters.

“We are aware also that the medics have completed their quarantine period in a cooperative and respectful manner strictly prescribed by the Nigerian Health authorities and manner to help contain the pandemic in the country.

“We are also aware that Nigerian Ministry of Health has organized a video conference call and both sides have exchanged their COVID-19 fighting experiences, the result of which we believe should be mutually beneficial.

The Chinese doctors and medics also had some lectures with some CCECC

guidelines on selfprotection during this pandemic, like how to wear mask and ensure proper social distancing since the company has thousands of employees in Nigeria,” Saixiong said.

O

Joel Tossa and Vice Registrar, Prof Djimon Marcel Zannuo, which the Ministry of Science and Technology has verified through the Federal Ministry of Education.

Following this, Dr. Onu wrote to the FIIRO Governing Board to reinstate Dr. Igwe to his position as Acting DG. Findings revealed that Dr. Igwe’s doctorate degree certificate, in French, marked: “Attestation de Diplome de Doctorat,” was issued for “Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils of Some Aromatic Plants from South West Nigeria.”

With the minister ’s directive, the FIIRO Governing Board is expected to sit and recall Dr. Igwe, who graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with First Class.

He obtained a master’s degree from the University of Lagos and subsequently went to Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin for his PhD, which was completed in 2001.

After the completion of the doctorate degree courses, Universite d’AbomeyCalavi, Republic of Benin first gave Dr. Igwe a letter marked “attestation” dated March 12, 2019 and signed

by Prof Valentin D. Wotto, certifying that “Mr. Igwe Chima Cartney of Nigerian nationality and holder of a Master of Science Degree from the University of Lagos, was enrolled in thesis at the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology under the serial number 3007500.”

It further said: “Mr. Igwe undertook the following course. 1st year of thesis: 1998-1999; 2nd year of thesis: 1999-2000; 3rd year of thesis: 2000-2001.

“This certificate is issued to him to serve and assert what is right. Made in Abomey-Calvi March 12, 2019 -The Deputy Director/ EDSEA.”

CORRIGENDUM

N Monday, May 4, 2020, we mistakenly published a report by CUPP on Vanguard Online alleging that the leadership of the House of Representatives took $10million to pass the Infectious Diseases Control Bill.

We have since discovered that the report is baseless, with no evidence whatsoever to support the claim. We,

hereby, retract the report in its entirety and tender an unreserved apology to the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives.

We also apologise for whatever inconvenience that false report might have caused the leadership and members of the House of Representatives.

Editor

8 — Vanguard Vanguard,, MONDAY MONDAY,, MAY 18, 2020

UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS Consideration of Infectious Diseases Bill not suspended by court —Reps

By Tordue Salem BUJA—The House of A Representatives, yesterday, dismissed media

VISIT: Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau (2nd left) with the state Commissioner for Finance and member of the Plateau COVID-19 Management Team, Dr Regina Soemlat (right) and other government officials during the governor ’s visit to the COVID-19 isolation centre in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau on Saturday. Photo: NAN.

UNICEF warns lockdown could kill more than COVID-19 in developing countries Says Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, others’ll be hard hit in under-5, other deaths As World physicians warn against withholding funds from WHO

By Chioma Obinna, with agency reports HE United Nations T Emergency Fund, UNICEF, has warned that

lockdown could kill more people than COVID-19, predicting there could be 1.2 million child deaths.

Thewarningcameatatime physicians all over the world also called on governments not to relent in providing the World Health Organisation, WHO, with sufficient funds, warning that withholding funds to the organisation as this time of a pandemic was neither helpful nor safe.

This warning came ahead of the 73rd World Health Assembly which begins tomorrow.

UNICEF noted that "indiscriminate lockdowns were an ineffective way to control COVID-19 and could contribute to a 45 percent rise in child mortality."

It contended further the risk of children dying from malaria, pneumonia or diarrhoea in developing countries was spiralling due to the pandemic and “far outweighs any threat presented by the coronavirus.’’

ChiefofHealthatUNICEF, DrStefanPeterson,cautioned in an interview with The Telegraph in London that the blanket lockdowns imposed in many low and middle income countries were not an effective way to control COVID-19 and could have deadly repercussions.

“Indiscriminate lockdown measures do not have an optimaleffectonthevirus,”he told The Telegraph. “If you’re askingfamiliestostayathome inoneroominaslum,without food or water, that won’t limit virus transmission.

“I’m concerned that lockdown measures have been copied between countries for lack of knowing what to do, rarely with any

contextualisation for the local situation.

“One size fits no one. The objective is to slow the virus, not to lockdown people. We need to lift our eyes and look at the total picture of public health.’’

Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, others’ll be hard hit in under-5, maternal mortality deaths

Themodellingprojectedthat India would see both the largest number of additional deaths in children under five and maternal mortality, followed by Nigeria,Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Indonesia are also likely to be hit hard.

Such a situation has some precedent - research has shownthatin2014,duringthe EbolaoutbreakinwestAfrica, more people died from indirecteffectsthanthedisease itself. But the scale of the pandemic means the consequences will be far greater.

“Ever since we started counting child deaths and maternal mortality, those numbers have been going down and down and down,” said Dr Peterson. “And actually these times are unprecedentedbecause we’re very likely to be looking at a scenario where figures are going up.

World physicians warn against withholding funds from WHO

Meanwhile, as the 73rd World Health Assembly begins tomorrow, leaders of physicians all over the world have called on governments not to relent in providing WHO with sufficient funds, warning that withholding fundstotheorganisationatthis time of a pandemic was neither helpful nor safe.

The physicians from Africa, Asia, Latin America and

Europe in a joint statement also noted that WHO was in dire need of structural reform to ensure its independence from political or ideological assaults.

The statement read: “We acknowledge the work of the WHO and its leadership as a technicalagencyforproviding guidance, coordination and support for public health, and we underline its efforts to bring Universal Health Coverage to all people. This is even more crucial in times of a pandemic.

“However, we also appeal to all and foremost to democratic governments, to reject any political abuse or undue influence by governments or any other parties in the execution of the International Health Regulationsandthetechnical work of the WHO.

‘’We also urge the WHO to resist any undue political influence and to concentrate on its health and scientific mission. This requires constant vigilance against such abuse and the swift rejection of any attempts to exclude or prioritise individual territories in the work of the health agency."

The statement was jointly signedbyleadersoftheWorld Medical Association, Coalition of African Medical Associations, Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania, CONFEMEL (the Confederation of Medical Entities of Ibero-America and the Caribbean), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the Standing Committee of European Doctors.

reports that a court sitting in Abuja asked it to halt considerationoftheInfectious Diseases Control Bill, 2020.

Spokesman of the House, Benjamin Kalu, in a statement on behalf of the Green Chamber, said the report was misleading and wrong.

He said: “The House notes with dismay, the erroneous reports by certain print and online media outfits, in what appears to be wilful or malicious misinterpretations of the decision of the court in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/463/ 2020 on May 13, 2020, asserting that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the House to suspend the ongoing process of the consideration of the ControlofInfectiousDiseases Bill, 2020 (the “Bill”); a misrepresentation of facts which has in turn misled various other media outfits and the general public.

“While the House encourages the public and all media outfits to verify and refer to the certified true copy of the court’s order in all further social commentary or report on the subject matter, it has become necessary to set the record straight.

“The truth of the matter is that although the applicant, by way of a motion exparte, sought a court order suspendingtheconsideration of the bill by the House, the court in its wisdom and in the interest of justice and fair hearing, declined to grant the reliefs sought by applicant to enable the respondents in the case to appear before it and enter a defence.

“Upon hearing this motion

ex-parte as moved by learned counsel to the applicant and upon careful consideration of the averments in the affidavit in support, exhibits attached and the written and oral address of learned counsel, the court is of the view that bearing in mind the weighty averments in the affidavit in support, which are intended to stay the legislative actions of the respondents in regard to the bill in disputation and the exigencies of the times (that is to say the COVID-19 pandemic) and the attendant hysteria in the polity, the court is of the opinion, that it is in the interest of justice to hear the Respondents before making a long term decision in this case.

“It is for this reason that, I hereby, make an order mandating the respondents to appear before this court on the 20th day of May 2020 to show cause why the application of the Applicant should not be granted.

“It is unfortunate that the purport of the interim order was wrongly reported. The House, therefore, wishes to put the order of the court in proper perspective and state that the act of legislation is a sacred and constitutional responsibility which should not be subjected to flimsy or superficial reportage in the interest of our democracy. ‘’While the respondents await official service of processes in the abovementioned suit as directed by thecourt,theHousereiterates that as a creation of the Nigerian Constitution, it will continue to perform its lawful mandate without jeopardizing its healthy deference to the judicial system and the process of adjudication.”

The House resumes plenary tomorrow.

Island Club gives N10.076m to Lagos govt As Ooni stresses need for banks, others to disinfect premises

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

I

SLAND Club of Lagos has donatedN10.076millionto Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos State tosupport the administration in the ongoingfighttostopCOVID19 pandemic.

Similarly, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, urged banks and the organised private sector to fumigate their premises to prevent the spread of the virus as government eased lockdown.

Presenting the cheque on behalf of Island Club memberstoSanwo-Oluatthe Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Chairman of the Club, Prince Philip Abumere, said the gesture became necessary following increasing number ofcaseswithattendantdeaths and the need to support the state government in fighting

the war together.

AccordingtoAbumere,“the issue is that we are all aware of what is going on all over the world and particularly Lagos. And Lagos State is carrying a big burden of the population of this country.

“We believed what they are doing is worth it and as aclub, we feel concerned to assist financially and that was why members of the club on their owndonatedN10.076million voluntarily to help the state government tackle the pandemic.”

He said the donation was not pulled out from the club’s purse, but through voluntary donations from members.

“Individual members felt that since Lagos State was doing something, we should support the state. About 200 members donated,” he added.

He, therefore, urged all residents to commit to help thestategovernmenttotackle

the pandemic.

Ooni donates to PECAN

The Ooni gave the charge in Ikeja, Lagos, when he handed over two motorised modular fumigators to the Pest Control Association of Nigeria, PECAN. He said COVID-19 is real and hovering all over the world: “I think there is the need to introduce other measures to fight and control the pandemic from causing grave damage to humanity.

“Weareallfightingwhatwe cannot see with our naked eyes. It is much more difficult to fight a pandemic that we cannot see.

“A lot of people, even in Nigeria, still don’t believe that the virus is real. Maybe becausetheycannotseewhat we are fighting.

“It is indeed a war, absolute war against humanity. It is about time we started taking

it serious. Disinfection is a key aspect of preventing and controlling COVID-19 in Nigeria and it is as important as wearing of nose masks, washing of hands and other health precautions stipulated by government.

“Letthegovernmentputthe law in place; as they are mandating us to wear face masks, they should mandate basic disinfection of the environment to prevent the spread of the pandemic.”

He, therefore, charged PECAN to set the pace by moving around public areas to disinfect the environment, public areas and educate people on the essence of fumigation.

Mr. Kunle Williams, National President of PECAN, said the association was ready to partner with the government and private sector in fighting the pandemic through active fumigation and disinfection of the environment.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 9 :Vanguard News

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COVID-19: Electricity consumers register 1,810 complaints against 11 DISCOs As supply remains unstable, inadequate

By Udeme Akpan

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VISIT: Minister of the Federal Capital Ter ritory, Mallam Muhammad Bello (left), presenting the site location map of the land allotted for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, health facility to the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, during the minister ’s visit to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, yesterday . Photo: NAN.

S electricity supply remains inadequate and unstable, electricity consumers have made 1,810 complaints to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, against 11 Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, in the country.

The complaints were lodged between April 24 and May 7, 2020, via telephone, email and WhatsApp through Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry Situation Room, created by NERCtoenableconsumersfiletheir complaints during coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Investigation by Vanguard showed that NERC has started investigation, targeted at resolving the issues, including unstable and inadequate supply, excessive billing and metering.

The DISCOs include Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC; Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC; Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC; Ikeja Electric, IE; Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC; Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KAEDCO; Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO; PortHarcourtElectricityDistribution Company, PHEDC, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC.

Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, could not be reached for comments yesterday.

But NERC had earlier noted: “We have constituted the Nigerian ElectricitySupplyIndustry‘Situation Room’ to forestall prolonged electricity supply interruption by the industry operators for the period of lockdown declared by the Federal Government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“The ‘Situation Room’ adopted a three-prong approach of surveillance of NESI during this period: System Operators Report Analysis/Monitoring, Customer Complaints Handling, and Transmission Company of Nigeria and Discos Interface Resolution.

Complaints received from electricity customers through telephone/text messages, WhatsApp messages, and emails are tracked daily with relevant operators to ensure expeditious resolution.

“Daily operational reports are analysed, summarised, and trend identified weekly for further regulatory oversight and directives to the operators. Prolonged electricity supply interruptions are tracked by the ‘Situation Room’ to ensure Nigerians have stable electricity supply for the lockdown period. " Meanwhile, 2,689 complaints on electricity supply interruptions were monitored during the period under review.

COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu mulls full re-opening of Lagos economy

By Olasunkanmi Akoni PRESENTATION: Counsellor, Chinese Cultural Centre, Abuja, Mr Like Xuda

(2nd left), presents some medical kits to the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Samuel Atang (2nd right), at the Ministry in Abuja on Saturday. With them are Chairman of FCT Secondary Education Board, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad (right) and Secretary for Education, Alhaji Umar Marafa . Photo: NAN.

PRESENTATION: From left, Advertising Manager, Mikano International Limited, Wura Orimolade; Sales Manager, Mikano Motors, Mr. Ezeh Evaristus; representative of Head of Service and Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mr. Olusegun Ajibade; General Manager, Mikano Motors, Ali Salaa and Private Secretary to the Head of Service, Mr. Akimbode Obadina, during the presentation of a key of ZNA Rich 6 Pick-up 4x2 model to the Lagos State Government in support of COVID-19 pandemic at the secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance to safety guidelines against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state, saying the state was considering full reopening of critical sectors of its economy but was not in a hurry to do so.

The governor said in the coming days, the state government would be rolling out the Register-to-Open initiative as part of plans that would enable it assess the level of readiness of players in the identified sectors for supervised operations.

He said: “We are at a level where we are reviewing the other arms of the economy. In the coming days, we will be starting what we call Register-to-Open, which means all players in the restaurant business, event centres, entertainment, malls and cinemas will go through a form of re-registration and space management.

“There is a regulation that will be introduced to supervise this move. We will be coming to their facilities to assess their level of readiness for a future opening. I don’t know when that opening will happen in the weeks ahead, but we want these businesses to begin to tune themselves to the reality of COVID-19 with respect to how their work spaces need to

look like.

“For us, it is not to say they should re-open fully tomorrow (Monday) or any time; there has be a process guiding the reopening. We will be mandating LASEPA and safety commission to begin the enumeration process and the agencies will be communicating with all relevant businesses and houses in the days ahead. I must, however, caution that this should not be misinterpreted as a licence for full opening; it is certainly not. The state’s economy is not ready for that now.”

The governor disclosed that all the 10 staff of Government House, who tested positive to the virus, had fully recovered and returned to their beats.

Also, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed that the state would commence the clinical trial treatment of COVID19 this week using chloroquine as approved by National Agency for Food Drug, NAFDAC. Omotoso said: “We are ready for the chloroquine clinical trial because we have just secured all the approvals. The documentation has also been completed. Those that will be used for the trials are ready too. By next week we should be ready for the trial.

“Also, Lagos got a supply of additional 20,000 testing kits, although we were expecting 40,000. It means that the testing will increase now.”

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 :Vanguard News

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Makinde confirms 31 new COVID-19 cases in Oyo

RELIEF: From left—Assistant Secretary, Lagos State Governor ’s O f f i c e Correspondents, T o c h u k w u Ilodigwe; Vice C h a i r m a n , Governor’s Office Correspondents, Akindele Adeola, and Executive Director, Polo Luxury Group, J e n n i f e r Obayuwana, during Polo Luxury Group's Relief Outreach to frontline workers of the Fourth Estate, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

....As Ondo records new case

By Dayo Johnson & Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, confirmed 31 new COVID-19 cases, noting that 30 of the cases are staff members of a company, which has been shut.

In a statement, Governor Makinde, however, did not name the company but said it is based in the Ibadan South-West local government area of the state.

The governor said: “The COVID-19 confirmation tests for thirty-one suspected cases came back positive. 30 of these cases are members of staff of the same organisation based in Ibadan South West Local Government Area. The organisation has been shut down and will be decontaminated.

“We urge members of the public to remain calm as the situation is under control.

Intensified contact tracing has already commenced.

We will give an update on

any additional measures that may need to be taken.

“The remaining one case is from Egbeda Local Government Area. So, the total number of confirmed cases in Oyo State as at 8 pm today is 107.”

Ondo records new case

Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has announced that another case of COVID-19 was recorded at Oke Aro area of Akure.

This brings the cases in the state to 20.

The Health Commissioner, Dr, Wahab Adegbenro, who confirmed this to Vanguard in Akure, said the patient, a woman, was reported by a private hospital as a suspected case after which necessary test was conducted and it turned out positive.

He said there was no plan to quarantine the private hospital but contact tracing had commenced to reduce the spread of the disease in Oke Aro community where the facility was situated.

FG, states urged to increase poor COVID-19 testing capacity

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—THE Alliance for Surviving COVID19 and Beyond, ASCAB, yesterday, called on the Federal and State Governments to increase their testing capacity to have a full picture of the country ’s COVID-19 pandemic.

The group, led by human rights activists, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, said without mass and effective testing of Nigerians, the daily figures released by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, would fall short of representing the actual extent of the outbreak.

In a statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Adewale Adeoye said: “Nigeria is far from knowing her real coronavirus pandemic status. The total number of Nigerians confirmed positive as last week was about 4,300. This does not appear to reflect the reality

given the poor public access to testing. It is unfortunate that Nigerian testing capacity is lower than what is obtainable in Egypt, Ghana and South Africa.

“We cannot claim to know the average number of people that have contracted coronavirus in Nigeria. The testing capacity for 200 million people is very poor.

Brazil tests about 8,000 people in just one day. It means in 10 days, Brazil tests 80,000 people, almost three times the number of tests carried out in 60 days. ”This continues to raise fundamental issues about how long Nigerians will live with the virus. The reality is that more people are likely to die from diseases like malaria and Lassa fever since many of them may not have access to medicare given the current practice of private and public hospitals sending patients back home for fear of COVID-19."

IPPIS: FG directs ASUU to suspend strike •IPPIS, a tunnel to siphon govt resources —ASUU

By Dayo Johnson & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, called on the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to suspend the strike and return to the classroom to manufacture drugs for the cure of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This came as ASUU described the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, as a tunnel created to siphon government resources.

ASUU proceeded on strike over the Federal Government’s insistence that the union should enroll in IPPIS if not its members will not receive their salaries.

The Federal Government said it was immoral for those who should be conducting research for the discovery of new drugs, medical equipment that would be used during the COVID-19 period to say

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to students of the school, in the course of his career.

The Publicity Secretary for SJOBA, Kehinde Bamigbetan, in a statement, said SJOBA appreciates Awotinde’s significant contributions to efforts to restore the school. and wishes him more years in the service of humanity.

The statement reads: “On behalf of the newly-elected

ludo and draft and other games.

“Even if schools are not open the ASUU members especially researchers are supposed to be going into their laboratories, going to botanical gardens to get some shrubs and other plants to be used in producing drugs during this COVID-19.

“Those who are pharmacologists, those of them who are in the electronic department and software engineers, this is the time for research to manufacture ventilators or make some conventions.

“It is unpatriotic for them to even continue saying that they are on strike at this time. They should not be saying it.”

IPPIS, a tunnel to siphon govt resources — ASUU

Meanwhile, ASUU has described IPPIS as a platform for fraud and corruption.

Chairman of ASUU in the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA,

Dr. Olayinka Awopetu, said: “The events of the last four months of using the platform for university staff had exposed that the platform is not only fraudulent corruption on steroids but also fraud on a roller coaster.

“Events of the last few months have not only vindicated the position of ASUU, but they are also proving that serious fraud could be going on through IPPIS if not urgently checked.

“The names of academics had been arbitrarily injected into the platform even without any registration or capturing their biometrics and queried the possibility of registering academics on a payroll system that was touted to have the unique identity management feature and based on personal biometrics.

“The answer is blowing in the winds, but this is of very grave consequences and Nigerians should be worried."

Secret account: How N4.3b was appropriated in Also, a member of the 2019 Budget —Ondo Govt assembly confirmed

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE Ondo State government, weekend, cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the N4.3 billion lodged in secret

Emulate virtues of Awotinde, SJOBA tasks Awotinde for living president, Dr. Festus police officers hailed by the principles imparted

AGOS—The St John’s Old Boys Association, SJOBA, yesterday, called on serving police officers to emulate the virtues of honesty and diligence of outgoing Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Awosola Awotinde.

Congratulating the Commissioner of Police on his retirement, which fell on his birthday, the SJOBA

that they were at home.

S p e a k i n g to Vanguard in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said: “The government has shown enough goodwill. The expectation now is ASUU should announce the calling off of their strike, go back to the classroom and get back to the negotiating table and continue negotiations.

“Two reasons why they should call off the strike is that one government has shown goodwill, it has offered the olive branch that you are on a wrong strike and there is the issue of no work, no pay but the government is paying you.

After all, the government is giving palliative to people, so why not extend it to you and your family members.

“Second, it is immoral and despicable for those who should be conducting research as Nigerians for the discovery of new drugs, medical equipment that will be used during the Covid19 period to say that they are at home playing

Osoba, we, hereby, congratulate Johnian Awosola Awotinde for enabling the moral virtues of our school to shine brightly in him through a distinguished career in the Nigeria Police.

"We encourage serving police officers to emulate these virtues so that Nigeria’s dreamofanefficient,incorruptible andpeople-orientedpolicecanbe achieved.”

account for 10 years, insisting that it was appropriated for in the 2019 budget.

This came as principal officers of the Assembly are panicking after realising that they have raised a false alarm.

Vanguard learned that the Assembly leadership appealed to the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to help to placate the governor for raising false alarm that the money was spent without appropriation.

Confirming to newsmen in Akure, the Finance Commissioner, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa said: “The executive is not hiding

anything as we have always said.

“The narrative set out by mischief makers is that there was no appropriation for the money in question. This is untrue.

“The 2019 Appropriation passed by the Assembly included among others, this N4.3b under the overall summary of the budget, item on Cash reserve/ rollover fund is very apt and unambiguous for the public to confirm the truth. The story of non-appropriation is utterly mischievous “The 2018 Accountant General’s Statement is clear and very explanatory enough too. The sum in question is captured there.”

to Vanguard that “it wasn’t part of the 2018 and 2019 Budget because I came into the House in June 2019. By then, the 2019 Budget had been signed into law. The Budget is a public document.”

Meanwhile, a top member of the party in the state told Vanguard that the leadership of the Assembly has been running helter-skelter to party leaders to help them plead with the governor, fearing that they may be impeached for raising the false alarm against the governor.

The party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, had several meetings with the leadership of the house throughout the weekendtomakepeacewiththe executive.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 11 :Vanguard :@vanguardnews

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... with Emma'nKen (08163121378)

CONDOLENCE—Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde (right); wife of the late Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Kehinde Ayoola, Prof. (Mrs.) Olukemi Ayoola, (second left) and their children -- Folarin and Beel'Oluwawi, during condolence visit by the governor, at the commissioner's resident in Apata, Ibadan.

SERAP to Buhari: Ban car perks for Presidency, ministers

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency and all ministers, until May 2023.

Namibia’s President, Hage Geingobon had last week, reportedly imposed a five-year

ban on buying of new cars for top politicians and government officials in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his country.

The presidential directive is expected to save the country some 200 million Namibian dollars (US$10.7 million), which would then be directed to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is dealing with the health and economic

3 Dubai evacuees in Lagos test positive for COVID-19

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—THREE out of the 256 Nigerians evacuated from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, yesterday, tested positive for COVID-19 in Lagos.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who disclosed this via his verified Twitter handle, said the positive evacuees have been moved to one of the isolation centres for further treatment.

However, Abayomi did not disclose which of the hotels the patients were discovered.

The evacuees have been observing the mandatory 14-day quarantine in Lagos since arrival into Nigeria.

The voluntary evacuees who were initially stranded in UAE since the introduction of COVID19 lockdown by the country arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on May 6, about 07.40 p.m, via an Emirates Airline.

implications of COVID-19.

In the letter dated May 16, 2020,

by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged Buhari to use his “leadership position to follow the Namibia example by urgently issuing an executive order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency, and all ministers for the remainder of the tenure of your administration, that is, until May 2023.”

SERAP also urged the president to “use the savings from this ban to support students of tertiary institutions across the country to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on them and their parents and to improve access to healthcare for all Nigerians. We also urge you to encourage the National Assembly and governors to ban the purchase of new cars and to use the savings to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the urgent need for high-ranking public officials and politicians to demonstrate the constitutional oaths of absolute loyalty to the public interest and the common good."

....Then most of our managers should have been at home!

Falana seeks amnesty for 12 soldiers jailed for including those who have spent imprisonment. mutiny “In view of the foregoing, we have 75% of their sentence after

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AGOS—HUMAN rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to immediately comply with the amnesty granted by President Muhammadu Buhari to 12 convicted soldiers in the Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons.

The 12 soldiers were convicted in 2014 by a general courtmartial and sentenced to death for failing to confront Boko Haram insurgents.

Upon a review of the case, the death sentence was commuted to 10 years imprisonment.

In a letter to Aregbesola dated April 20, 2020, Falana noted that by virtue of the review of the soldiers convicted from death sentence to 10 years imprisonment, they are entitled to benefit from a recent amnesty granted to certain categories of prisoners by President Buhari.

Part of the letter reads: “In exercise of the powers of Prerogative of Mercy under section 175 of the Constitution President Muhammadu Buhari has granted amnesty to certain categories of convicted inmates

remission. Having been in custody for 67 months out of the prison term of 80 months you will agree with us that our clients have spent more than 75% of their 10-year

the instructions of our clients to urge Your Excellency to use your good offices to secure the immediate release of our clients in accordance with the terms of the aforesaid Presidential Amnesty. ”

When your teacher wants to fail you by all means!

Osun Amotekun corps intercepts 14 driver’s statement but when northern youths the he reluctantly opened the door, it

By Shina Abubakar

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S O G B O — THE Amotekun Corps in Osun State, weekend, intercepted 14 northern youths who breached the interstate travel ban at Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

They were discovered hidden at the back of a space bus used to transport food items from the northern part of the country.

According to a source at the scene, the driver was asked to park at the checkpoint and was asked to declare the content of his vehicle but said the vehicle was empty.

But it was gathered that the team leader insisted that the driver opened the rear door to confirm

was discovered he was transporting 14 persons into the state.

The driver, who refused to disclose their originating destination, however, said he was taking them to Osun State before they were intercepted.

When the rear door was opened, most of the occupants were sweating profusely and did not respond to questions asked them.

The Director-General of the Amotekun Corps, Amitolu Shittu, who said they were escorted back to the Osun-Oyo boundary and were asked to return to their originating state, said the government would not hesitate to ensure that those breaching the law were dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

And the consequencies'll be devastating!

12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 :Vanguard News

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PRESENTATION: Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr Olisa Ifeajika (middle); Vice President General, Illah Development Union, Ogbuenyi Mike Ofili (right) and Rev. Fr. Steve-Maro Edward,(left) during the presentation of Facemask by the Chief Press Secretary, to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Illah, Delta State in fight against COIVD-19.

Gunmen on rampage in C'River, Edo, as Delta communities lament influx of northerners • Former commissioner, medical doctor kidnapped in Edo • Delta communities raise alarm over influx of Northerners • Delta monarchs want security agencies to stop herders' killings in Delta • We prefer Coronavirus than to be killed by bandits — Katsina District Head • Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff meet over bandits attacks in Katsina

By Victor Young, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ike Uchechukwu, Ozioruva Aliu & Paul Olayemi

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ALABAR—A former Chapter Chairman of People's Democratic Party, PDP, in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Ekpenyong Akom and aide to Governor Ben Ayade, was weekend, shot dead in his neighborhood by gunmen in a suspected cult attack.

The incident Vanguard learned occurred at 8p.m., on Saturday at a joint close to the deceased house in Akai Efa, Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State.

In a related development, a former Commissioner for Sports and local government chairman in Edo State, Egbe Ediagbonya has been kidnapped from his Okada farm settlement near Utese, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Saturday.

Also, Traditional Rulers in Delta State, have called the Police and other security agencies in the state to arrest the persistent menace of kidnapping, killings and other criminal activities being perpetrated by herdsmen in the state.

In similar vein, following the recent wave of deadly attacks on innocent villagers in several communities in Ruma and Batsari Local Government Areas of Katsina State, the District Head of Batsari, Alhaji Tukur Mu'azu, has said his subjects prefer to die of Coronavirus than being killed

by rampaging bandits.

Mu'azu in a short video, noted that the rising insecurity in Katsina was worse than the threat of COVID19.

This came as President Buhari has directed the military to commence major operation to wipe out the bandits and kidnappers out of Kastina State.

On the cult killing in Cross River State, a family source, who pleaded anonymity, said Akom was playing WHOT(card)with his friends at one of his brother's joint, simply identified as CY, when the gunmen stormed the place, singled him out and shot. He dead instantly.

The source said: "He was playing WHOT( cards) with his friends when the gunmen came in and shot him, and they made sure he was dead before they left in a waiting vehicle."

Speaking further, he noted that Akom had denounced membership of cult group a long time ago but wondered why he could be targeted in the recent cult war in Calabar.

When contacted, yesterday, state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo confirmed the killing of the ex-PDP Chapter Chairman, adding "I am aware of the tragic incident but cannot substantiate same because we are investigating the matter, but he was killed by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

"I will make available more information about the matter, when I have been properly briefed, it is a sad development," she said.

On his part, state Security Adviser to Governor Ay-

ade, South, Mr Ani Esin lamented the cult clashes, adding that that the incident was unfortunate.

Former commissioner, medical doctor kidnapped in Edo

In Edo State, former Commissioner for Sports and council chairman, Ediagbonya has beend kidnapped.

A family sources said he was kidnapped between 2a.m., and 4 a.m,m when the gunmen broken into his farm house and took him away at gunpoint.

It was gathered that the suspected kidnappers have opened communication and were asking for N15 million.

Ediagbonya was chairman of Ovia North East council chairman and later Commissioner for Sports under Adams Oshiomhole as governor of the state.

In a related development, Director, Primary Health Care of Owan East council, Dr Monday Iraoya was kidnapped while traveling from Afuze to Benin for COVID-19 training materials.

He was kidnapped between Uhumora and Ozalla on Friday and the kidnappers are asking for N100 million ransom.

A family source said: "He was kidnapped on May 15, 2020, while traveling to Benin City to collect training materials for Covid-19. They have contacted the family and are requesting for 100million."

Vanguard gathered that the family is distraught and has been only able to raise N900,000.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said he was expecting a comprehensive briefing on the developments from the police formations in the two areas.

Delta communities raise alarm over influx of Northerners

Communities in three local government areas of Delta State, weekend raised the alarm over the influx of Northerners into their areas.

Chairman of Ethiope West LGA of the state, Mr Solomon Golley, who spoke to Vanguard confirmed the incident. He said, "Sapele is a landlock council but Ethiope West shares a common boundary with Jesse Boboroku and Obe area, all these are boundaries with Edo State.

For now, we are trying to stop influx of not only northerners, but other states trying to access the state through that area.

"Our team is on ground to make sure that the interstate border lockdown is strictly adhere to," adding that the state Commissioner of Environment, Mr Chris Onogba, was on ground with his team at the border town.

But a chief in Oghara, Ethiope West council, who prayed anonymity, lamented that "Northerners are sneaking into the town and the way and manner they are doing so, is frightening."

He said, "Just go and look at the Hausa quarters, they are everywhere, we

saw over 20 of them heading to Oghara after the bridge on Saturday and we don't know where they are going to, Only God will save us."

Some of the locals, who spoke to Vanguard in Sapele, said the influx of northerners was another big issue. A resident, Mr Egbeluya, said the way northerners were flooding the state, residents are scared that the corona virus will not be too far off, as "Every week, we have two to three trucks of northerners coming into the state and if you go to their quarters in Sapele, you will be surprise at their numbers."

Delta monarchs want security agencies to stop herders' killings in Delta

Meanwhile, worried by the worsening security situations in their respective domains, Traditional Rulers in Delta State weekend called the Police and other security agencies in the state to arrest the persistent menace of kidnapping, killings and other criminal activities being perpetrated by herdsmen in Delta State.

The communiqué at the end of a meeting of the Council of Delta State Traditional Rulers, with security chiefs in the state, including the Police Commissioner, Mr Inuwa Hafiz, said the meeting was called among others, for the security agencies to explain the reasons for the upsurge in crime wave.

Chairman of the Council and Obi of Owa, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor, who read the communiqué, said "During the meeting, the police presented a detailed account of the security situation in Delta State, factors responsible for the high incidence of criminality and efforts of the police to stem the tide. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi appeared before the monarchs to give update on COVID 19 and efforts by Government to contain the spread.‘‘

We prefer Coronavirus than to be killed by bandits — Katsina District Head

Following bandits attacks on communities in Ruma and Batsari councils of Katsina State, the district head, Mu'azu, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Ruma Katsina, said: "My people will prefer to die from coronavirus infection. Not from these senseless killings orchestrated by bandits. So far, the pandemic has not claimed any life in Batsari and other neighboring councils, but the bandits have killed scores and attacked harmless villagers and residents. So, what are we saying?"

On the recent attacks launched by bandits at old and new Ruma, Mu'azu, while speaking to PRNigeria on telephone , said the marauding criminals after invading over 10 communities, killed and maimed several lives.

He said, "The thing is, the bandits always scatter themselves when going on operations against our villages. Hence, security personnel find it difficult sometimes to easily contain the bandits' attacks. However, we are still calling on the Federal Government to deploy more soldiers, mobile policemen and fighter helicopters to Katsina. Let them comb all the forests in our state, and eliminate these bandits."

Speaking on the floor of the Katsina State House of Assembly Chamber, Mustapha Jibiya, said the "Irresponsibility and insensitivity" of relevant stakeholders was responsible for growing insecurity in the State.

"It is very disturbing that from eight councils, we now have about 12 councils that are ravaged by the criminals. This is as a result of the insensitivity of both the State and Federal Government," he said.

Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff meet over bandits attacks in Katsina

Meanwhile, worried by the constant attacks by bandits in Katsina State, President Buhari has directed the military to commence major operation to wipe out the bandits and kidnappers out of the state.

The President and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, met in Abuja where the latter briefed the President.

The directive by the President and his meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff were made known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja, yesterday.

The statement said, "A major proactive operation

by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret, is now in progress to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps.

"To give full effect to the exercise, a planning team is already in the state selecting targets and making preparations for the execution of the "unprecedented" operations.

"The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin, who has been measured in issuing official statements on the oncoming exercise, briefed the President on the plan he intends to flag off shortly.

"President Buhari, who expressed sadness over the recent attacks in the state extended his condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of the injured."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 13 :Vanguard News

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NHRC probes killing of UNIJOS the office student headquarters, Abuja.

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BORDER ROAD—Bad portions of the Sango Ota-Idiroko road, at Sango Bus Stop. An international road that links Nigeria with Benin Republic, in Ogun State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Eid-el-Fitri: Katsina relaxes lockdown, as COVID-19 death toll hits 35 in Kano

By Bashir Bello & Shehu Danjuma

K

ATSINA—AHEAD of next week Eid-el-Fitri, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of katsina State has relaxed the lockdown earlier imposed across the state to contain the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, appealing to Muslims to pray at home.

Secretary to the Government of the state, Mustapha Inuwa, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the “ relaxation of the lockdown is only effective between Monday 18th and Sunday 24th May, 2020 and to be observed within the local government areas,

LGAs while the ban on inter LGAs movement remains in Force.”

The statement directed all Katsina and Daura Emirate councils to ensure that, district and village heads stay in their domains to observe the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitri prayers.

The statement which noted that, two-third of the COVID-19 cases in the state fell within Katsina LGA, advised residents of the area to strictly observe and adhere to all protocols given by Health/Security officials.

It said “Such as the wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular washing of hands and use of sanitizers”, it also

advised the aged and persons with health challenges to avoid crowded places.

While commending the people of the state for the understanding, support and cooperation so far since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government appreciated the efforts of the frontline health workers for their assistance in the fight against the dreaded disease.

Meanwhile, in Kano State, the death toll of patients who have died as a result of the complications from the contagious COVID-19 has risen to 35.

This followed two more deaths recorded on Saturday night.

The State’s Ministry of Health confirmed the additional two deaths on its official twitter handle, informing also that three additional patients had been discharged from the isolation centres bringing the total to 93 patients so far discharged in the state.

According to the tweet, “Covid-19 update as at 11:55pm on 16th May, 2020, Kano State records additional two deaths and three patients were discharged from the isolation facilities, total now 93. No positive case reported today, Saturday.”

At the time of this report, number of confirmed positive cases in the state was 761.

COVID-19: Ganduje slashes salary of political office holders by 50%

By Bashir Bello

K

ANO—GOVERNOR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, yesterday slashed the salary of political office holders in the state by 50 per cent, due to shortfall in federation account and collapse in the internally generated revenue, IGR, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ganduje who announced this decision said it is to take immediate effect from May. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, the Governor said, listed category of those affected by the decision to include himself.

“Due to shortfall in the federation account and collapse in the internally generated revenue (IGR) because of COVID-19

challenges, all political office holders in Kano state are to receive half salary with immediate effect from this Month of May. Due to shortfall in the price of oil in the global market which affects world economy and eventually causes serious shortfall in the federation account for states, the state slashes the salary of all political office holders by 50 percent.

“There is also a serious setback in the IGR, due to COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Whereas almost all companies in the state are no longer in operation due to lockdown.

So also other areas where the state gets revenue, are no longer operational. This also is another reason for giving political office holders half salary.

"This includes the

Governor and his Deputy, all Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants among others. At the local government level

those affected are Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen, Elected Councillors, Supervisory Councillors, Advisers and Secretaries of Local Governments”

ATIONAL Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has launched a full investigation into the extrajudicial killing of an undergraduate student of University of Jos, UNIJOS, Rinji Peter Bala, saying the killing is unacceptable.

NHRC, in a statement by the Director Corporate Affairs and External L i n k a g e s , Lambert Oparah, while condemning the gruesome killing of Bala, allegedly by security operatives along Zaria Road, Jos, Plateau State, informed that the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, had launched a full scale investigation into the unfortunate death of the student, sequel to the preliminary findings received by

The Commission described the killing of Rinji as inhuman and a gross violation of his right to life as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amendedandotherinternational human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party.

A statement by the Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of NHRC, Lambert Oparah, quoted the Executive Secretary to have appealedtomembersofthepublic to remain calm, promising that allthoseinvolvedinthedestardly act would be fished out and brought book, saying: “This is in line with the commission’s mandate of monitoring and investigating all alleged cases of human rights violations in the country and seek appropriate redress and remedies for victims”

Gambari's wealth of experience to continue to is an asset —Olofa Nigerians support the present

By Gabriel Olawale

O

FFA—THE newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari, has been urged to bring his wealth of experience to bear in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Oloyede, Ajagungbade I, Esuwoye II, who gave the charge in his congratulatory message in Offa, Kwara State, advised the new COS to deploy all his arsenal in helping the administration in revamping the economy via priority focus on agriculture.

Gbadamosi said that the new COS deserved the appointment considering his track record in public service. He enthused that the choice of Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is one of the luminous appointments made in recent time.

While wishing the accomplished diplomat success in his new office, Oba Gbadamosi also urged

administration as it is poised to stabilize the economy amidst the challenges posed by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Wike loses media aide

By Egufe Yafugborhi

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has lost his Special Assistant, Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.

Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications, in a statement said “Nwakaudu died today (Sunday) at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) after a brief illness.”

Nsirim stated that the Governor, in shock, “described late Nwakaudu as a loyal and dedicated professional who contributed immensely to the implementation of the The NEW Rivers Vision.

Durueke, an outstanding activist —ULC

By Victor Young

U

NITED Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, weekend described the death of a human right activist and former president of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Uche Wisdom Durueke, as a great shock, benumbing and left a big hole in the hearts of labour movement and advocates of human rights.

ULC in a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, said Uche was a great pillar of support to the labour movement and contributed immensely to the debate,

advocacy and deepening of the nation’s Industrial Relations laws both in theory and in practice.

According to Ajaero: “At a time when we are all engaged in fashioning new legal frameworks to govern the nation’s industrial relations clime, it is most disheartening to hear of his passing especially in this tragic manner, which leaves us completely befuddled and gasping for breath.”

Recall that Durueke died on Friday from injuries sustained after his electric generator exploded while he was refilling its tank.

Among others, the statement said “Uche was a great pillar of support to the labour movement and contributed immensely to the debate, advocacy and deepening of the nation’s Industrial Relations laws both in theory and in practice. He was looking forward to the various conversations leading to the passage of the various Acts that would run the Employment relations clime in the country. He had hoped to use the opportunity to create a fair and just workplace for Nigerian workers that would serve as the fulcrum

for driving national progress.

"Durueke was unarguably one of the most outstanding human rights lawyers and activists in the country. He was a Senior member of the nation’s Bar given his over three decades in practice and input into both judicial and legal processes in the country. He would have assuredly been coronated a Senior Advocate many years ago if not for his inclination to the ideology of the left in his defense of the common man and oppressed Nigerian workers."

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

P R E S E N TAT I O N : Wife of Zamfara State Gover nor, Hajiya Balkisu BelloMatawalle (left), presenting Ramadan/ Eid-El-Fitr palliative to an orphan at Damba community in Gusau, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Insurance comparison firm SelectQuote to raise $342m in IPO

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One dead, many injured as inmates attempt jail break in Aba

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—ONE inmate was reported dead, with many others injured at the Nigeria Prisons, Aba when some old inmates tried, but failed to escape from the prisons at the weekend.

Vanguard reliably gathered from sources that some good number of inmates on Saturday afternoon tried breaking away from the prisons, but met strong resistance from some prisons arm guards who thwarted their moves.

A source told our reporter that the inmates inflicted serious injuries on some prisons arm

guards who in the process of trying to save their own lives, shot at the rampaging inmates.

The source who chose to remain anonymous said that the situation was surprising to everyone at the prison facility as the inmates involved in the failed prison break were old inmates who had few years to go.

He said that it took the joint efforts of prison arm guards and police reinforcement to prevent the prison break planned out by the inmates whom he said were seriously determined to escape.

A witness who was within the area while the incident was

ongoing said: “It was towards afternoon on Saturday. We started hearing gunshots and noise coming out from the prison.

He said: “I actually went to Aba Central Police Station which shares fence with the prison to give something to someone when I saw two injured prison arm guards who were brought there and were rushed to be treated.

"Later I saw some police officers moving towards the prison in unusual form.

When I went closer, people who have shops closer to that place were all in panic. The gunshots were too many. I was there when I saw prison vehicle moving out some

inmates who were screaming in pains probably they were the ones injured.”

Further inquiries by Vanguard revealed that out of the inmates that tried to breakaway, four were severely injured as they were riddled by bullets.

A source however told our reporter that one of the severely injured inmates died on Sunday afternoon from the bullet wounds he sustained while trying to escape from the prison.

When contacted earlier, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Abia Command, Deputy Superintendent of Prisons, DSP, Kalu Ikpe, told our reporter that they are still carrying our preliminary investigation into the matter.

COVID-19: NIMC workers seek FG's intervention over funding appealed to Federal Security and Fight Against progress of the commission,

By Emmanuel Elebeke

L

AGOS—THE leadership of the National Information M a n a g e m e n t Commission, NIMC workers’ union has

government to effectively fund the Commission to enable it deliver on its statutory mandate.

In a Save-Our-Soul, SOS, statement to the Federal Government titled ‘Empower NIMC to Effectively Take Care of the Vulnerable, Improve

Corruption, signed by the Union Chairman, Mr. Lucky Asekokhai, and made available to Vanguard, the union appealed to the President to urgently intervene in the funding challenge currently constituting a clog in the wheel of

NDDC: We're in support of forensic audit —NDFA Forum, NDFA, weekend, to support and stand, by the

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—ACTIVISTS from the Niger Delta region under the aegis of Niger Delta Activists

said they were in support of the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The forum in a statement

by Donald Igudia and Andrew Efole, Delta State chairman and legal adviser of the forum, respectively, also threw its weight behind the leadership of the NDDC, adding that the group was at the frontline of agitation for a better region through peaceful and intellectual means.

The forum in the statement, said: “we totally support this leadership of the NDDC and the Forensic audit that it was commissioned to oversee.

“This is because, it is our brainchild and we will continue

CommissionandtheHonorable Minister in this regard.

“The Niger Delta Activist Forum, is a group that has been able to attract more than N150 billion development, from the Federal Government to the region in the last twelve months, and should by no means continue to take the back seat on issues like this.

“We make bold to say that you can’t find or name any other group in this class. We will not fail to resist to the fullest, any disbursement scheme that does not give us chief consideration.

“We also want to affirm, that, our position is in the best interest of your Commission, since the Forum has the largest known coordinated, grassroot structure on ground that has continuously, been a machinery for peace."

particularly in the capturing of the 200 million Nigerians and keeping a reliable national database.

Asekokhai said the importance of effective funding of NIMC, especially at this period of COVID-19 cannot be underestimated considering the enormous benefits it accrues to the economy, national security and other socio-economic imparts.

He lamented the absence of credible database in the country, which is currently posing a big challenge to the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable Nigerians by the agents of governments at both federal, states and local government levels.

Recall that the Federal government in its efforts to provide succour to vulnerable Nigerians whose means of livelihood might have been affected by the nationwide lockdown to curtail the spread and reduce mortality by COVID-19, it has been facing identity crisis of the recipients of palliatives, leading to a widespread outcry and criticism by concerned Nigerians and Civil Society organisations who expressed dissatisfaction with the mode of the distribution.

ELECTQUOTE Incorporated last week said it was looking to raise about $342 million in an initial public offering that could value the owner of the insurance policy comparison website at more than $3 billion.

The company will offer about 18 million shares at between $17 and $19 per share, with selling stockholders offering another 7 million shares, taking the overall amount expected to be raised to about $475 million.

Overland Park, Kansas-based SelectQuote allows consumers to compare insurance policies for life, auto and home insurance from providers including American International Group, Prudential Financial Incorporated and Liberty Mutual.

While using websites to compare and buy insurance products is commonplace around the world, the U.S. insurance industry has been slower to embrace technology as means of bypassing traditional insurance brokers.

First Abu Dhabi Bank puts on hold talks to acquire Bank Audi’s Egyptian business

F

IRST Abu Dhabi Bank has put on hold discussions to acquire the Egyptian assets of Lebanon’s Bank Audi due to difficult market conditions, two sources told Reuters.

FAB, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest lender, communicated the request a few days ago to Bank Audi, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, declining to be identified due to commercial sensitivities.

Neither FAB nor Bank Audi were immediately available to comment. FAB said in February it would decide on the deal in the second quarter.

Bank Audi Egypt has grown from a three-branch operation acquired by Bank Audi in 2005 to 50 branches with total assets of $4.4 billion at the end of September.

One of the sources said the timing of the deal, which the source said was worth $700 million, was not right due to the need to support the UAE economy in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

US expected to revise PPP aid program for SMEs

T

HE United States (US) is expected to revise its aid program for small businesses to cope with the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

The changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are expected to include more flexibility to spend funds and more time to spend loans beyond the two months originally set, the newspaper reported, citing lawmakers.

Revisions to the program, launched in April, are expected to be implemented in two phases, the Journal reported.

Technical fixes in a new guideline on loan forgiveness from the Department of the Treasury and the Small Business Administration will be unveiled in the coming days, according to the report.

The program allows small businesses hurt by the pandemic to apply with lenders for a government-backed loan which can be forgiven provided at least 75percent is spent on payroll costs.

COVID-19: Coca Cola, #BeApp to raise $3m through Coke studio launch

T

HE Coca Cola Foundation and #BeApp, is a new live music streaming platform, and Coca-Cola are partnering to launch Coke Studio Sessions, an exclusive collaboration featuring a diverse line-up of musical performances for fans to enjoy in over 60 consecutive days, to raise $3million to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice President, Global Sports & Entertainment, Ricardo Fort said in a statement, “We know that people may feel lonely or isolated as a result of the pandemic, and Coca-Cola remains committed to uplifting the human spirit and fostering connection while we are apart. “The Coca-Cola Company by providing 60 days of live, interactive music content that fans can share and enjoy with others, we hope that Coke Studio Sessions will provide small, daily moments of entertainment for those adjusting to their new normal.”

“Throughout the 60-day program, fans will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to support Covid-19 efforts.

The Coca-Cola Foundation has donated over $14 million to individual Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world in response to Covid-19 and will additionally match up to a collective total of $3 million in consumer donations made through this program.”

Some strories from Reuters.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 15 :Vanguard News

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Anambra 2021: Leave me out of your mischief, Ngige tells aspirants

By Victor Young

A

PALLIATIVES: Representative of Enugu State Government, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu (right), addressing newsmen during the handing over of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown palliatives to members of the Radio Television, Theater and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Enugu State chapter at the NUJ Press Centre in Enugu.

Photo: NAN.

Embattled Anambra villagers flee to Delta after violent clash with neighbours

• Security joint task force monitoring the situation — PPRO • As Monarch calls for peace after another clash at govt irrigation project

By Vincent Ujumadu & Festus Ahon

A

SABA—HUNDREDS of people from Allah and Onugwa communities in Anambra West Local Government Area, Anambra State, have taken refuge in Delta State following a violent clash with their neighbouring Odekpe.

They told reporters at Asaba where they fled to, that their community has lost several lives and property worth millions of naira to the clash, with many people still missing and called on the Anambra State and federal governments to come to their rescue.

This came as the traditional ruler of Omor Community in Ayamelum local government area, Igwe Chris Chidume condemned the abduction, killing, and destruction of properties during a clash between farmers from Omor and Umunbo in cluster areas at the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project in the area.

Secretary to the Attah Okakwu of Allah, Mr. David Uzor said the people of Allah and Onugwa, as well as other residents of the two communities had to flee to Delta State to save their lives following deadly attacks in the locality.

Lamenting that there was no single building standing in the two communities of Allah and Onugwa, Uzor said; "The trouble began on the 9th of January this year following series of attacks on our communities. The next day, they returned to remove all the beacons planted on the borders between the two communities on the directive of the Anambra State government.

"The Igala speaking vil-

lages in Allah and Onugwa had in the past initiated several peace moves to end the crisis with the larger Odekpe community with a population 10 times our size, but they would not allow peace to rein.

"As we speak, all the houses in Allah have been razed to the ground and many youths and the aged have lost their lives. We appeal to the Federal Government to investigate what is happening in our communities and urgently come to our rescue.

"Even policemen on peacekeeping mission were attacked by youths from Odekpe and one ASP lost his life in the incident."

Uzor also alleged that two members of their communities were brutally attacked recently by the rival community, noting that the issue had been brought to the attention of the Anambra Police Command and other relevant authorities in the state, yet nothing was done to end the crisis.

According to him, a petition had been sent to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu for his intervention before the situation escalated to a full blown war in the area.

Recalling an earlier attack in the area, Uzor claimed: “They came near our primary school and started shouting. Our people kept quiet and nobody confronted them. They went back only to return later more fortified.

“Our people went to our primary school and waged them not knowing that they had divided themselves in groups. Some moved in from the front, some went to the back and invaded our community through the bush.

“They started burning our houses, which made our people to run away. They pursued us and we ran to safety.’’

Uzor alleged that throughout the period the battle lasted, policemen did not come to the village to quell the situation; lamenting, however, that his people had fled to their neighbouring Innoma community.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said the joint security forces were on ground and monitoring the situation.

He, however, punctured Uzor’s claim of renewed hostility in the area, saying ‘‘the joint security forces stationed in there have not reported any renewed battle between the two villages.’’

We’re not at war — Igwe Chidume

In another clash between the two communities of Omor and Umumbo in Ayamelum local government area, Igwe Chris Chidume of Omor said the crisis arose from farmers at the clusters of E71, E72, E8, E9 and E10 in the Lower Anambra Irrigation Basin who were contesting allocation of farmland.

He said: "The crisis was between farmers from Omor and Umumbo extractions.

These farmers were at the clusters of the developed areas of the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) who had issues over farm land allocations at the cluster.

"When this matter came to my knowledge in January 2019, I personally took it upon myself to ensure the problem was nipped in the bud by raising a committee from Omor Royal Cabinet to mediate in the mat-

ter and ensure the issue did not snowball into major crisis.With that and other preventive measures we took, we were confident the matter had been resolved.

“Unfortunately, I only got to know that the matter was still on when, on May 5th 2020, we received reports of fresh crisis resulting in abduction, killings and destruction of properties.

“Sadly, lives have been lost; some people are still missing, while some sustained different degrees of injuries and properties destroyed during the skirmishes.”

WKA—MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige weekend dismissed insinuations that he had been mobilising to replace Willie Obiano as Governor of Anambra State.

The said insinuation trending in social media credited to a faceless top All Progressive Congress, APC, member in Anambra State, claimed the Minister had received the nod of the leadership of APC and was waiting for the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari before declaring his ambition publicly.

But in a statement through his media Emmanuel Nzomiwu, Dr Ngige warned governorship aspirants in Anambra State to leave him alone and mind their businesses.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Hon Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Dr Chris Ngige OON has been drawn to a news item in the Daily Post and trending in the Social Media that the Minister wants to contest and have been mobilising to replace the incumbent Governor Obiano. Although this

utterly mischievous and deceitful report was not credited to anybody in particular, the Minister wants to make it clear that he has not at any time told anybody that he wants to contest for the Anambra governorship seat, neither has he overtly or covertly shown any interest.

"Senator Ngige wishes to make it known that he is very busy with his duties as the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment and member of Federal Cabinet in charge of the various parastatals and other establishments under the Ministry "The Minister is occupied, involved and engrossed with his duties as a member of Economic Sustainability Committee constituted by President Buhari and headed by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to develop a comprehensive and clear economic plan to tackle the challenges and fallouts of COVID-19 and post COVID-19 era; and member of the Federal Cabinet Committee for implementation of Economic Recovery.

All these are besides other demanding engagements of office of the Minister of Labour and Employment."

Exempt lawyers from lockdown, Owubokiri begs Wike

P

ORT HARCOURT—A Port Harcourt, Rivers State based legal practitioner, Mr John Iyene Owubokiri has appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike to extend the exemption from the COVID-19 lockdown to all lawyers, not only to those with court engagements.

Thanking the governor

for exempting lawyers with court engagements, Owubokiri explained that as the range of services rendered by lawyers are mostly essential to life, freedom and the protection of property, it is in the interest of the state and her residents that all lawyers be counted among professionals rendering essential services.’’

COVID-19: Imo govt threatens fresh lockdown after 4 new cases

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—IMO State Government, weekend, threatened to impose fresh lockdown on the state, following the confirmation of four new COVID-19 cases, by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. Governor Hope Uzodimma, who read the riot act in Owerri, expressed displeasure over the non-compliance of the citizens with the government’s directives on the prevention of the spread of the virus in the state, however gave a two-week opportunity for bereaved families to bury their loved ones.

"It is regrettable that an infectedpersoncameinfrom Lagos and went to his village where he, in turn, infected three members of his family. This portends danger to those living in the villages and should be avoided because of the fear of community spread", Uzodimma said.“ While reiterating that he

"will stop at nothing to protect the lives of Imo citizens from the dreaded virus", the Governor however warned that he "will be left with no other option than to order a total lockdown, if citizens continue to violate the directives and measures put in place by government to contain the spread of the virus.

“I want to warn citizens of Imo State that coronavirus is

very serious and must be taken seriously. This COVID-19 does not know political parties, religion, language or class. It is a dangerous virus that we must unite to fight. By Tuesday, May 19, 2020, I will review the situation. If the violation continues, I will have no option than to lockdown the state completely to save the lives of our people.”

Enugu two COVID-19 cases test Obi disclosed that “these negative two cases are the three-year

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State Ministry of Health has announced that two of the 10 previously active Coronavirus, COVID-19, cases undergoing treatment in the state have tested negative for the virus.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, the patients were being assessed for discharge from the isolation and treatment centre where they have been receiving treatment.

old and 13-year old contacts of the 3rd case in Enugu State, the indigene of Bauchi State with a positive travel history, to and fro, Jos, Plateau State. The unwavering support and commitment of the Enugu State government ably led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has continued to yield good results as the motivated staff of the State Ministry of Health continue to work tirelessly to identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 cases in the state.”

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

I cannot write on governors and the coronavirus

I

T is not unusual for me to receive messages asking that I address particular issues in my twice weekly columns.

Sometimes students ask that I write on particular topics they are being taught or conducting research on. But the amount of requests I have received in the last fortnight that I write on our governors and the coronavirus challenge is so unprecedented that I suspect a set up. So is an attempt by unpatriotic people and agent provocateurs to lure me into writing about members of Nigeria’s most powerful trade union, the Governors Forum.

I refuse to take the bait because first, I have already made so many ‘enemies’ out there that I need to start making friends, especially amongst the powerful.

Secondly, to write on one governor might be suicidal, to write on two, treasonable and to write on three or more is simply to commit suicide. Besides, it will be unpatriotic to write about strong, powerful, rich men who are ably leading us.

I can easily and comfortably write volumes on Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the virus. It was his government, when the rest of the country was asleep, which

woke us to the pandemic and has continued to lead both the Federal and state governments on COVID-19. In setting up a team of professionals and allowing them to lead the war, he gave us a model of leadership worthy to replicate.

For instance, while many of his colleagues are hugging the limelight, he lets his Commissioner for Health, Professor Emmanuel Akinola Abayomi, who has experience in Africa and the West Indies on matters like cancer, sickle cell and diabetes, to lead the fight. This way, the state government can answer any question on the virus, no matter how technical.

I can also comfortably write on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who runs a close second to Sanwo-Olu in terms of effectively tackling the virus and its spread.

My verdict, which can be appealed, is that: Sanwo-Olu by being non-offensive, civil, coolheaded, accommodating and result-oriented, has been far more effective than Wike.

While Sanwo-Olu relies more on persuasion, procedures and processes, Wike’s strength is reliance on force and putting the fear of God in people even if that violates the law and the precepts

set down by God. For instance, the Bible tells us that although God knew Eve had listened to the snake and along with Adam, eaten the Forbidden Fruit, he did not deal with them summarily; rather, He gave them fair hearing.

However, Wike has no such patience. When told that two hotels: Edemete and the Prodest Home violated his COVID-19 rules, without giving the owners or management the right to fair hearing or their day in court, he moved in bulldozers to demolish the structures. I am sure he must have felt justified. So, as he personally supervised the bulldozing, he would not have felt any pang of guilt.

Unfortunately, there was no

To write on one governor might be suicidal; to write on two, treasonable and to write on three or more is simply to commit suicide official bold enough to reminded Wike that the country is running short of spaces to isolate COVID19 patients, so the hotels should rather, have been seized and handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. I am a fan of the governor, and in our Wike Fans Club, a member from Rivers State said he does not mind Wike locking the people down, his only worry is that as the governor hops from place to place, he might lose the key and the people will remain perpetually locked down. The Rivers people know that the fear

Open letter to Governor Wike

By CHARLES ISICHIE

Y

OUR Excellency, I write as a citizen and businessman who is concerned about how some of the decisions you have taken in the management of the COVID19 pandemic affects the maritime sector within which I operate. I also intend to address how the current situation may ultimately affect the economy of the state and nation in general.

Let me state from the outset that I understand the responsibility that you have as the chief executive of Rivers State to provide security for lives of people and their property. It is a right that no one can take away from you even though in the execution of this responsibility, one will imagine that there should be some other considerations.

Again, before I proceed, let me express my joy to read that you have eventually agreed to release 20 dock workers that were arrested by the state Task Force on COVID-19 on their way to work recently.

Though they should not have been arrested at all, given that they were on essential service, I commend you for seeing reason and saving us from the reality of an industrial action, which Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria had threatened.

However, I am also hoping that you will consider the withdrawal of all charges against them given the fact that they were on their way to serve the nation.

Before the arrest of this set of people, the task force had frequently arrested workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority, terminal

operators, labourers and clearing agents who were on their way to work in line with the presidential directives that port operations should continue in spite of the lockdown and the dangers that the pandemic imposes on us all.

This directive itself is an understandable one, which is global! Given the fact that the sea has remained the way by which the world transports most of its food, medical items and what have you, it would be

I urge you to reconsider your posture on the operations of ports in Rivers State for the benefit of those of us who play in the industry and all citizens of Rivers State injurious even to the fight against COVID19 for countries to close their ports. That would mean that the transportation of the essentials across countries would be impossible and many nations in need of help would not be able to access them.

Any country that shuts down ports operations would, therefore, only be cutting its nose to spite its face, as the expression goes.

This also goes to reason that if the ports are open, there must be workers, including marine pilots, stevedores, clearing agents as well as agencies of government to ensure that there is prompt offloading and turnaround of vessels as well as clearance of cargos.

of Governor Wike is the beginning of wisdom. In fact, I do not know who they fear more: Wike or COVID-19?

I can also write on Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya who has been the most democratic so far, at least compared with Saudi Arabia.

Given its monarchical nature, the latter thought the best option was to lockdown the country. Even when this was eased, and despite several appeals, Saudi Arabia maintains the lockdown on the Holy City of Mecca. In contrast, Governor Yahaya called a meeting with religious leaders in the state and the democratic consensus was that people should be allowed to congregate for religious activities.

In a state-wide broadcast last Friday, Governor Yahaya announced the verdict of his referendum: “While majority supported the call, some cautiously approved of it. It is against this backdrop that government has resolved to gradually ease the restrictions in our dear state by re-opening places of worship.” This of course comes with guidelines which hopefully, will minimise casualties.

But it is not on men like SanwoOlu, Wike or Yahaya people want me to write, it is about some of their other colleagues, especially those who have exhibited extraordinary brilliance, displays and uncommon toughness in combating the virus.

They want me to write on youthful Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who in fighting the virus, vibrated so much on his seat that the frightened COVID-19, at his command, fled across the Nigerian borders into safer havens. Yahaya Bello, whom I love calling General Yahaya Jammeh, because of the striking

It is sad to note, however, that all ports in Nigeria are currently open, berthing and dispatching vessels with the exception of those in Rivers State. Operators at Port Harcourt and Onne Ports have been afraid to go to work because of the arrest and intimidation they encounter from members of the task force who disregard their essential service tags, get them arrested, locked up (with the risk of prosecution) and impound their vehicles. But this is at enormous cost to investors and the nation at large.

Let me give you an example sir. The vessel MV Capella (African Atlantic) carry 4,500Mts of Frozen Fish has been at the Port Harcourt Ports unable to discharge its content for almost two weeks.

The reason for this non-discharge is the inability of workers to come to work!

Owners of another vessel MV FRIO carrying 3,770 Mts of frozen fish in cartons now contemplating going back to Lagos Ports to offload so they can go back to base!

The implication of this is that the consignee will have to start battling with bringing in his good from Lagos. Aside from the fact that this would be additional cost, there is also the fear that movement may be impossible given the restrictions on inter-state movements. But there is even something that is worse!

The frozen fish, if they do not perish, would certainly lose quality and impose a huge loss on the importer who would have paid anything in the face of 7,000-15,000 United States Dollars as demurrage in the period that the vessel remained in Port Harcourt unable to load. I also read about vessels laden with wheat, gibson and muriate potash used in the production of

characteristics he shares with the former Gambian President, is so tough on the virus that in a public admonition of visiting officers of the NCDC, he threatened to detain the federal officials in an isolation centre.

I will also not be lured into writing about His Most Excellent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State who was asleep while Sanwo-Olu was combating COVID-19. But immediately the Federal Government allocated N10 billion to the latter, the whiff of the money woke Ganduje up, and one of his initial acts was to demand N15 billion to battle the virus. No, I will not write on Ganduje. Rather I will leave his pioneering work of expelling the Almajiri children to historians.

I will also avoid the temptation of making further comments on His Excellency Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State. I recently wrote on his pioneering directives that anyone who tries to escape from isolation be shot summarily as the offence is a capital one. To comment on this again, will amount to plagiarising myself.

As I earlier insisted, I will not write on any governor and COVID -19. Rather, I will commend the Governors Forum for drawing the attention of the House of Representatives to the fact that states are not carried along in its speedy attempt to pass a bill that may impose a regime of compulsory vaccination on Nigerians. In response, the House had dismissed the governors as mere “stakeholders” whose consent is not required to make federal laws. I suspect that this uninformed position was taken because Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his Green Chamber colleagues have not advised themselves on the powers of the Governors Forum.

fertilizer unable to berth at Onne Ports. In addition to the economic losses, this situation will also affect the food supply chain in the South-South and South-East.

Thinking about all of this, I see a very sad irony that I suggest you consider. Until very recently, we complained endlessly about inactivity at the Eastern Ports comprising Rivers, Onne, Calabar and Warri Ports.

Now that vessel traffic to the Eastern ports has started to improve as a result of a myriad of policies that the Federal Government has put in place, it breaks the heart that the COVID-19 pandemic would be the reason any state government would set us back by allowing a situation in which vessels would turn back to Lagos to offload.

Moments like this are not moments when politics should dictate state policy or actions. There are trying times when the welfare and wellbeing of citizens and whatever it takes to achieve same should be paramount in the minds of leaders.

Stakeholders in the industry understand the need to take precautionary measures and remain safe while the pandemic lasts and all we need is the support and encouragement of government.

I urge you to reconsider your posture on the operations of ports in Rivers State for the benefit of those of us who play in the industry and all citizens of Rivers State.

Thank you for your time Your Excellency as I pray that God gives you wisdom to handle this situation.

•Isichie, a maritime entrereneur, wrote from Port Harcourt

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 17

18—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 THE Integrated Payment and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, the Bank Verification Number, BVN, and the Treasury Single Account, TSA, were technology-based instruments to fight corruption and money laundering at source and sanitise government spending.

IPPIS, in particular, was meant to digitalise the payroll of the Federal Government and eliminate the ghost worker syndrome whereby corrupt senior civil servants kept the names of dead or dismissed workers on the payroll which they exploited for their selfish needs and at public expense.

It was one of the innovations that former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, pushed through during her stewardship under former President Goodluck Jonathan in September 2011.

In a laudable continuation of good policy, President Muhammadu Buhari adopted the IPPIS to fight corruption.

In January 2020 Buhari directed that

Identify, neutralise IPPIS saboteurs any Federal Government employee who refuses to register with the IPPIS should no longer be paid.

This was the cause of the strike that the Academic Union of the Nigerian Universities, ASUU, embarked upon before the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns began in March.

We still stand by the Federal Government in insisting that all personnel on its payroll must be on that scheme because of our conviction that it is easier and cheaper to nip corruption at source than to chase after thieves after they have taken the people’s money for their own use.

Apparently, the university lecturers are not the only ones seeking to

torpedo the system.

The Federal Government has received several hints from within the armed forces about efforts being made by senior military officers to pull the military out of the scheme, which so far has been resisted.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, penultimate week raised alarm over alleged attempts by unnamed individuals to sabotage the IPPIS by capitalising on the delayed payment of the military’s April salary.

The OAGF disclosed that IPPIS has saved the Federal Government N361bn ($1bn), which is money that would have been pocketed by corrupt

OPINION SMEs: Keeping record is good, don’t stop there

By TIMI OLUBIYI

I

F you have established or about to launch your business, congratulations! It takes unwavering passion and perseverance to get by with that all-important decision. Starting a business or running it effectively can be an overwhelming process in this environment. You will agree with me that small business operation is difficult without proper records and documentation of all business transactions.

In Nigerian, especially Lagos State which is the commercial nerve centre of the country, millions of micro and small business owners are struggling with basic bookkeeping and having structured financial statements despite having a good business case with great products and services.

Consequently, it is important to state that business records are significant to the sustainability of any enterprise. The simplest of the records are book-keeping and accounting which are two aspects of the accounting process. Bookkeeping is the dayto-day process of recording business activities, summarising, categorising financial transactions and reconciling bank statements.

Accounting assumes more advanced responsibilities of analysing and interpreting outputs of bookkeeping. Bookkeeping is so essential from the first day of your business to the time of the business owner’s retirement.

Book keeping and accounting tell the actual state of the business. Therefore, for an entrepreneur, it is advisable to monitor the

progress of your business by paying attention to every minute detail of book keeping and accounts. Consequently, to achieve this, one must be aware of the accounting basics and keeping the right records. As a business owner or entrepreneur, if you do not understand the different types of “accounts” required to organise your finances, measuring the success (or failure) of your efforts will be fruitless.

Particularly doing it right, prepares you for government audits, helps prevent fraud, and also help in recognising the business status.

Categorically, basic accounting practices are the primary tasks in every business entity,

A good financial record and bookkeeping is the road map that shows us exactly how the business choices affect the profitability of the company regardless of its size and number of employees.

Many small business entrepreneurs in Nigeria forget that the token of being a successful entrepreneur is understanding the basic terms of bookkeeping and accounting. No doubt, small and micro business owners forget that for business to be successful everything about the business finances needs to be captured, not just the business bank account balance.

Do you know according to Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, the government agency stimulating, monitoring and coordinating the development of the MSMEs in Nigeria and

intermediating between MSMEs and government reported that over 50 per cent of small businesses fail in their first year and 95 per cent fail within the first five years of the business? And the most common reason is a lack of bookkeeping knowledge among the owners.

Without proper accounting system and bookkeeping, it will be difficult to survive with the harsh environment in Nigeria. Because a good financial record and bookkeeping is the road map that shows us exactly how the business choices affect the profitability of the company.

The starting point is to have legal registration of your business, set up a business bank account with a commercial bank. Develop a bookkeeping system that is the foundation of solid business record keeping, learning to track your business income and expenses effectively.

Recall quality accounting practices can assist you to make timely payment or early payment, which is a good sign of business success.

So, learning the way to create and read balance sheets, cash flow charts, and other financial records has become imperative for small businesses to survive in the competitive market. However, if this proves difficult it can be outsourced. Here are some of the accounting and bookkeeping basics that you need to understand: Cash account is important; remember cash is the blood of any business and every business transaction passes through the cash account; this ledger shows how much cash a company holds. Further to this is accounts payable which is concise bookkeeping to help ensure accurate payments and avoid paying a

civil servants.

We want the OAGF to go beyond raising mere alarms and identify the sources of the sabotages for necessary action by the anti-graft agencies.

It is a good thing that the military payroll had since been put on the IPPIS. That way, we would not have to worry whether the senior officers are padding the payroll at the nation’s expense.

For too long, senior bureaucrats have been ripping off the country through the corruption of the payroll system.

It has forced Nigeria and its subnational entities to spend more than 70 per cent of their annual budgets on recurrent expenditures.

While the nation remains deficient in infrastructure, top civil servants and retired generals own choice property both in Nigeria and abroad.

This must stop.

Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com vendor/contractor twice. More so it helps in managing working capital and also improves business reputation. It’s necessary to track the pending bills and have a clear idea of the payments that need to be done. Accounts Receivable is next, this simply means the amount owed you.

Every business should keep a record of its debts and try to recover the amount as soon as possible to keep the business liquid. Another very important accounting activity to prepare is bank reconciliation which in accounting means verifying, so this is the verification of the statements/records that you have maintained and the bank statements. This helps you to avoid any kind of fraudulent transaction and gives you the right picture of your income and expenses.

It is said that loans payable should be monitored in business because if you have borrowed money to buy equipment, vehicles, furniture, or other items for your business operations, the loans payable account tracks payments and due dates. Some of the other records to keep are inventory account, payroll expenses, equity shares of the owner, sales account, retained earnings.

In conclusion, if you are having problems managing the records, bookkeeping or accounting process of your business or your business process requires a review due to some challenges or current realities, you might need to reach out to get smart, professional and effective advice to help rectify any businessrelated issues.

Dr. Olubiyi, an entrepreneurship and small business management specialist, wrote via drtimiolubiyi@gmail.com

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 19

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020, 21

EADERS of this page would have noticed that part two of last week’s article should have been published today. But, a more urgent matter has arisen. The Federal Government announcedwhat was called the 2020 Revised Budget.Keen observerswouldhavenoticedthat thereislittledifferenceintheaggregatefigurefromtheoriginalbudget.Themajorchangeswere made to the benchmark and the estimates for foreign borrowing. For the most part, the Buhari administration remains wedded to its “BORROW-AND-SPEND” instead of “EARN-ANDSPEND” economic management strategy. It is an economic paradigm destined to bankrupt Nigeria–soonerorlater–becausethereisnodiscernibleplanforrepaymentofdebtswhichdoes not depend on crude oil prices rebounding. The economy, at the end of 2020, will be less diversifiedthanatthebeginning.Ourdependenceoncrudewillbemoreself-destructive.Ished tears for Buhari’s successors – whoever they might be.

However,onenon-oilsourceofraising revenue remains on the table – VALUE ADDED TAX, VAT. It is seriously threatenedbyLabour,academiciansand the herd of “Know-Nothing” commentators on media. The FG must resist all pressures and refuse to reduce or suspend VAT as many people have suggested. day.Withthenewbundleofforeigndebts squander the funds on recurrent “Saudi Arabia triples VAT to support to which Buhari is committing Nigeria, expenditure. coronavirus-hit economy”. the nation is certain to end up in a debt “The National Bureau of Statistics BBC NEWS, BUSINESS, MAY 11, trap worse than we escaped in 2004/5 had said that the country generated a 2020. underPresidentOlusegunObasanjo.Our total of N1.1tn as Value Added Tax The news report went on to explain childrenandgrandchildren’sfuturehave revenue in the 2018 fiscal period.” why Saudi Arabia, a nation many been totally mortgaged by a President IBRAHIM B BABANGIDA 1985Nigerians assume has no financial and whose understanding of economics is 1992: LETTING A THOUSAND economic problems, has turned its frightening.Wewillpaydearlyforhaving FLOWERS BLOOM, page 43. attention to increasing the Value Added Buhari as President at a time like this.

But, VAT remains at 7.5%; and it is my Tax, VAT, as an option for achieving Despite the overwhelming sense of fervent hope that the FG will not allow macro-economic stability in the next despair concerning the management of itselftobeheckledorbulliedbytheusual three to ten years. our economy, one is still constrained by opposition to suspend or repeal it. I have “Saudi Arabis is tripling its value love of the country to notice that there is been waiting prayerfully for an added tax (VAT) as part of austerity a good chance that we can at least earn measures to support its coronavirus-hit some of the money government intends economy….Saudi Arabia’s state news to spend instead of begging and agency said VAT will increase from 5% borrowing every kobo.

If IBB had not to 15% as of 1 July…These measures VAT represents one glimmer of hope are painful but necessary to maintain developed the instincts of that we might learn that a nation, like an financialandeconomicstabilityoverthe individual should not spend more than a true leader who knows medium to long term.” itslegitimateincome.Andliketheprivate The news report from Saudi came at citizen, should only borrow to invest in that the noisy majority is therighttimebecauseadayafter,theFG projects that will repay the loan and be not always right, Nigeria releaseditsrevised2020Budget.Nothing self-sustaining.Buhari’sgovernmenthas specifically was said about VAT. The since 2015 been incurring debts to fund would not have had budgetwhichincreasedthebudgetdeficit recurrent expenditure and to help pay N1.1trillion of its own to almost 50 per cent of the expected salaries. The new debts acquired will revenuesimplybecausetheInternational most likely go the same way. The money to spend in 2018 Monetary Fund, IMF, and other global EconomicAdvisoryCouncil,headedby lending institutions are willing to be Dr Salami might as well not have been generous reminds me of a poor man appointed. Their professional advice who loves drinking but cannot restrain would have amounted to attempting to opportunity to educate the vast majority himself. He is too happy to meet with put something on nothing. It will not of Nigerians that VAT, after the initial those who declare unlimited supply. He stand. Nobody in the FG understands riseinpricesbecomesapositiveinfluence invariablywakesupinthegutterthenext that you cannot borrow indefinitely and on the economy because it provides a

Why FG must not reduce VAT, see the Saudi example dependable source of revenue for government–unlikecrudeoilwhichhas now failed us.

DrKaluIdikaKalu,KIK,Babangida’s Minister of Finance was the father of VAT in Nigeria. The US-trained, former World Bank economist introduced VAT during the period of Structural Adjustment Programme, VAT. It was during a period when Nigeria was strugglingwithcrashingcrudeoilprices.

KIK and his disciples were in a distinct minority when the first reports of the proposal went public. Labour leaders, Socialists in universities, populist politicians and even some religious leaders were adamantly opposed to it. I was in total support of VAT for reasons too numerous to detail here.

Surprisingly, against all odds, President Babangida, to his everlasting glory, approved it. If IBB had not developed the instincts of a true leader who knows that the noisy majority is not always right, Nigeria would not have hadN1.1tnofitsownmoneytospendin 2018. KIK deserves a monument.

The point we were trying to make to theopposedtoVAT then as well as those still against it has been simply stated by theSaudigovernmentwhichearnsmore than we do from crude and which has a Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, several hundredtimesourown.UnlikeNigeria, they did not set out primarily to borrow.

The priority was to look inwards; to get thepeopletounderstandthathardtimes

are here and everybody alive must contribute towards economic revival. A Nigerian government, especially this one, would have raided the SWF and, if need be liquidated it. Not the sensible Saudiswhorecognisethattheyowetheir children a great deal of responsibility not to leave them with a huge debt burden.

Itisnotonlythesenseofresponsibility of the Saudi economic policy managers that one finds commendable. While Nigeria increased from 5% to 7.5%, the courageousSaudiswentfrom5%to15%.

ThePresidentofNigeriahadbeenunder attack for a mere 50% VAT increase; the Saudi leader will most probably not receiveanyabusebyeconomicilliterates and academicians because the people are better educated, more patriotic and canseethetemporaryinconvenienceas partofthepricetheyhavetopayfor200% increase.

Last Line “No government deficit can create inflation unless the quantity of money goes up.” G. Haberter, VANGUARD BOOKOFQUOTATIONS,VBQ,p103.

One of the fallacies promoted by opponents of VAT is that it increases inflation. That is not strictly true. The classic definition of inflation means too muchmoneychasingtoofewgoods.VAT merely re-allocates the money in circulation and gives more to government. Total money supply is not affected. Initial aggregate price increase reduces demand and stimulates the search for greater efficiency in management. Buhari should ignore the no-sayersandcollectmoreVATrevenue.

God knows we need it.

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

Economy

Access Bank shareholders reaping gains of post-merger

By Peter Egwuatu

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arely one year of its post-merger with erstwhile Diamond Bank Plc, shareholders of Access Bank Plc, have started reaping the gains of the successfully consummated marriage which has made the Bank to be the largest in the country by total assets as well as largest in Africa by customer base.

The stellar financial performance of the Bank in just one year post- merger for the financial year ended December 31, 2019 is a signal of the gains of the synergy towards achieving its fiveyear strategic objectives.

Specifically, Access Bank in the full year of 2019, recorded significant growth in virtually all performance indicators. For instance, the Bank grew its Profit After Tax (PAT) by 2.7 percent to N97.509 billion, up from N94.981 billion and paid a final dividend of 40 kobo to bring the total dividend to 65 kobo per share.

The Group delivered a 26 percent increase in gross earnings of N666.8billion from N528.7billion in 2018, comprising interest in-come growth of 41 percent from previous levels to N155.9billion despite declining interest rate environment.

The effects of an enlarged loan book contributed significantly to the interest income growth of N155.9billion (+41 percent Year on Year, YoY ), leading to strong bottom-line figures.

The net effect on operating income resulted in strong profit before tax (PBT) of N115.4billion as against N103.2billion in 2018.

Even in the just concluded first quarter performance of 2020, Q1’20, the Bank showed its resilience in spite of the coronavirus , COVID19 pandemic effect as it posted good result. Just as the shareholders of the Bank expected, the first quarter, Q1’20 results to be favourable, Access Bank ended March 31, 2020 with a brighter future. The gross earnings of the Bank rose to N211.12 billion in Q1’ 20, up from N160.12 billion in the corresponding Q1’19. Profit Before tax (PBT) and Profit After Tax, PAT stood at N46.29 billion and N41.14 billion in that order. The Bank gave out more loans as at the end of Q1,20 which stood at N3.14 trillion, compared with N3.06 trillion at the end December 31, 2019.

Customer deposits rose by 4.7 percent to N4.45 trillion from N4.25 trillion in full year 2019, while total assets expanded to N7.28 trillion from N7.14 trillion in full year 2019.

Meanwhile, when Access Bank held its 31st Annual

General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos recently, the shareholders were full of praise to the Board, Management and its staff.

The AGM was held by proxy, following the outbreak of the COVID-19, which necessitated social distancing protocol to avoid the spread of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the three leaders of shareholder

shareholders considering the synergy the merger has brought to the bank and the expertise the management and staff is deploying the ensure Access Bank maintain a leading role in the retail banking space.”

He also commended the leading efforts of Access Bank in the private sector lead Coalition Against COVID19(CACOVID) in the

•Herbert Wigwe, CEO Access Bank associations who represented the minority shareholders at the AGM included Sir Sunny Nwosu of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Owolabi Peters of Integrated Shareholders Association of Nigeria and Mrs. Bisi Bakare of Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria.

The shareholders expressed their delight and showered encomiums on Board, Management and Staff for the post merger stellar performance .They expressed that the dividend of the merger has started bearing fruits. They commended the Management on the new head office that befits the status of the enlarged Access Bank Plc and commended the Board for the final dividend of N14.218 billion and given the business strategy unveiled by the Bank, they were sure of better returns on investment going forward.

Specifically, Sir Nwosu said: Access Bank had a good foresight that saw it merge with defunct Diamond Bank.The professional and seamless manner with which the integration was done should be commended and shareholders appreciate the Board and Management.”

According to him “ the future is very bright for the all

supporting the Federal Government to fight the pandemic.

However, after the showering of praises on the board and management, the shareholders urged the Bank to control its operating

We know what to do when it comes to running our business and one thing we wanted to make sure that the benefit of this combination with Diamond Bank was going to be retained and successful expenses.

In his response, Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said: “The high operating expenses resulted from the business combination with Diamond Bank. It was a deliberate strategy to ensure the Bank did not lose customers within the first year of the merger. Having

successfully integrated the operations of the two banks, we are now addressing the operating expenses using various strategies.

Wigwe said: “One of the areas we need to address very seriously and you will see it going into the future is our operating expenses. And for last year, the big jump that you saw came as a result of the merger. We decided to try, for once, a different way of treating a merger. This merger was different because we were bringing a large retail infrastructure and we did not want to lose customers.

“We have seen it happen before, so we told ourselves, let us move with the large infrastructure and gradually see how to manage down the cost. When we did the first merger (with Intercontinental Bank) as successful as it was, we saw a deposit run. Now as today, our savings account is getting to one trillion Naira.”

“We could not afford to do anything that will upset the customer, so we made sure that there was no issue of staff going away. We made sure that branch closure was done a very systematic manner not to irritate the customers because it is a very competitive market. Imagine that we had to carry staff strength of 30, 000 right through the year, this made our expenses to rise than normal. But we have seen our first quarter still high, but we have taken very drastic measures and you will see the results come through in second and third and fourth quarter,” he added.

According to Wigwe, “we know what to do when it comes to running our business and one thing we wanted to make sure that the benefit of this combination with Diamond Bank was going to be retained and successful.”

“As so we are not in mad rush to do what we would had typically done. So now, we are basically rationalising the branches, making all the adjustments necessary to ensure that you start seeing a steep reduction in cost as we move on particularly now that a global recession is staring us in the face. We are doing this to be sure that we manage our institution better.”

Although Access Bank Plc was already in the process of reducing cost after the successful merger with Diamond Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more burden on the bank, a development that led to apprehensions that 75 per cent of its workforce would be sacked.

However, the management of Access Bank denied any plan to sack its workers, saying it was a baseless speculation.

“This is malicious and a

distraction from a genuine and compassionate plan to protect our staff and help keep jobs in the unfolding m a c r o e c o n o m i c environment. We state that based on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not expect that all our branches will be fully opened for in-branch services until later in the year. This has made it impossible for many of our outsourced workers to perform their duties as usual.

“Based on the abovementioned circumstances, we have commenced engagement with various stakeholders with a view to ensuring that they provide the relevant services and optimum manpower as may be required by the bank on an on-going basis. As we navigate the new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic we wish to assure all our esteemed stakeholders that in our traditional manner the bank will continue to ensure that its actions and decisions are guided by fairness, justice, equity and good conscience,” the bank said.

Meanwhile, Access Bank explained that it had only suspended operations in some branches following the directive by the CBN. “At the onset of the COVID19 pandemic lockdown, we suspended in-branch operations at different locations as directed by the CBN and in line with business continuity plans at vulnerable spots, whilst we continued to provide services through our alternative digital platforms.

Beyond complying with the regulatory directive, this action was taken to ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees,” it said.

“At the onset of the COVID19 pandemic lockdown, we suspended in-branch operations at different locations as directed by the CBN and in line with business continuity plans at vulnerable spots, whilst we continued to provide services through our alternative digital platforms.

Beyond complying with the regulatory directive, this action was taken to ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees,” it said.

For one, the closure of any bank branches requires the approval of the CBN. But Access Bank has not applied nor obtained the approval of the apex for the closure of any of its branches as widely speculated. The bank has only suspended operations in some branches as directed by the CBN. However, capital market operatos were of the view thaat Access Bank would not have committed any wrongs if it had chosen to lay off its workers in the context of the COVID19 crisis.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 —23

Economy

The fresh push for Ajaokuta

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

F

ORTY years after the commencement of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, in Kogi State, what should have been a game-changer in Nigeria’s industrialization remains a dream till date. Successive Presidential candidates went to Kogi to canvass votes with the the promise to complete the multi-billion dollar project and put it to operation, but each ended abandoning it after winning elections.

The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo made two desperate attempts to privatise the complex. First, it was given to Solgas, said to be owned by Nigerians and Americans in a concession arrangement that failed. The Complex was later handed over to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited owned by Indians. Rather than completing and operating the company, the Indians were accused of asset-stripping the company. That concession was again terminated by the federal government.

The fresh push by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration could perhaps make a difference if the president and his top government officials demonstrate adequate political will.

The proposed agreement between the federal government and the Russians on the completion and operation of the multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel Complex (ASC) has been in limbo, seven months after the initiative.

The Russians had upon the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Russia in October, last year, pledged to provide $460 million for the completion of the complex.

Africa’s Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) also pledged another $1billion to enable the company complete all ancillary facilities in the complex to make it operational.

The development signifies what could become an effective end to the over 40-year delay in the completion of the project.

Speaking on the euphoria that greeted the announcement of the deal, last year, the Minister of Mines and Steel Developemnt, Arch.

Olamilekan Adegbite told Vanguard in an earlier interview, “It is good that we went to town then, it was something that was worth celebrating.

The President went to Russia with the basket of requests, that was the Russia-African summit in Sochi in October last year.

On the sideline of that summit, we had a bilateral with the Russian President.

“One of the requests that was tabled was for the Russians to come back and complete Ajaokuta, minding the fact they built it in the first place, when they were Soviet Union.

It was essentially the Russians and the Ukrainians under the Soviet Union- it was big coun-

*Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation

*President Buhari try then, that built Ajaokuta, to about 95- 98 per cent completion.

“The request that we made was, we’ve tried some commercial to complete Ajaokuta avenue in the past which have failed, so now we want to try a government to government arrangement.

And president Putin acceded to that and promised that the Russian government will do that.

“The beauty of it is that we got funding- the Russian Export Centre which is akin to what is called EXIM Bank in other countries pledged a sum of $460 million towards this project, while Afrixim Bank

The Russians had upon the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Russia in October, last year, pledged to provide $460 million for the completion of the complex which is the bank that we are also shareholders, also pledged a billion Dollars.

“The beauty of it is that the money is not tied to Nigerian revenue. It is tied to revenue from that company. S o Ajaokuta is beholding to pay back the money that is used to complete it. That is why this is a Build-Operate-Transfer. It is the details that we are going to work out. The kind of money it needs to be running. Ajaokuta is such that we do it properly. There’s a business case for that and it can pay for itself.

“That was too good a news to keep to ourselves and that’s why it was celebrated because Ajaokuta is something that is just waiting to catapult us into the industrial era. Nigeria is not industrialised because to produce simple implements, complicated tools, vehicles, aircraft parts you need steel.

“And that’s the problem we have in Nigeria. We have not been able to manufacture those things because we do not have steel.

“We need to produce liquid steel which can now be manipulated into many other things.

Once you produce liquid steel, you can do anything you want with it. You can alloy it- that is add some metals because you want to have some benefits from that alloy. You can change it to flat sheets, which of course goes to form other shapes, you can start making body parts for cars. That is why everybody is excited about it.”

However, more than half a year after officials of the two countries agreed to complete the complex and put it to use, the agreement has yet to be signed.

Why agreement not yet signed

Adegbite disclosed that work had been going on between Nigerian experts and their Russian counterparts to with a view to coming up with a mutually beneficial agreement between the two parties.

He said: “A lot of works have been going on. It is not something we can go to the public about. We have set up some local bodies in the ministry with experts from Ajaokuta itself, the ministry, and some people outside who have knowledge about Ajaokuta, including former staff.

“They have been working.

We have been exchanging correspondences, technical details, local contents, and all that.

“There is a meeting that is coming up in Cairo, and the Russians and the Nigerian team will meet there. This meeting is to crystallise everything and then we go into the MoU. Once this is done, we will move faster.”

Attempt to smuggle in Metpron

Vanguard investigations revealed that the six-month delay in signing the deal which will put Ajaokuta to work was much more than “just ex-

changing details,” as some top federal government interests and a state governor attempted to maneuver and takeover ASC from the backdoor using a private Russian firm known as Metpron.

Following the Sochi meeting between President Buhari and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a governmentto-government arrangement was agreed upon.

However, a cabal who were out to scuttle the new efforts at completing the ASC and putting it to operation, and making it work for the Nigerian economy, secretly brought in Metpron, a private Russian company, into the arrangement, without the knowledge of President Buhari.

As learnt, it became evident to a few other patriotic Nigerians on the trip that something was amiss.

This set of patriots consisted of a handful of technocrats with vast knowledge of government-to-government transactions, as well as, private citizens who have been campaigning for the completion of the multi-billion dollar complex.

The second group queried the choice of Metpron, instead of TyazhpromExport (TPE). It was argued that TPE should be the natural choice since it is owned by the Russian government and the original builders of the complex.

The struggle between these two sets of Nigerians, it was gathered, played a major in the delay in the negotiations that followed the approval for the new deal by the two presidents.

Vanguard learnt that it became a matter of who was closer to President Buhari, members of his kitchen cabinet and was able to convince them on the honesty of their positions.

At last, the President’s inner circle gave the nod for the TPE to be brought in. Consequently, TPE was invited to a scheduled meeting in Cairo, Egypt for negotiations.

It was gathered that the president had to intervene and asked that TPE be brought in, following which the negotia-

tion meeting in Egypt was held in March. It was attended by Nigerian and Russian top government officials, TPE and Africa Export-Import Bank which pledged to provide $1 billion for the completion of the project.

Another thorny issue which had to be resolved was the management of the $1.460 billion pledged by Afreximbank and the Russians.

Some officials, it was learnt, wanted it to be managed by a team in the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation or the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

However, those who insisted on engaging TPE, again argued that to ensure greater transparency, an Independent Project Implementation Committee (PIC) should be set up to manage the funds, while the Ministry should concentrate on policy issues.

The suggestion was that the PIC should be made up of technocrats from the Presidency, the ministry, experts from the private sector, especially members of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, metallurgists, Miners’ Association and representatives of the host state of Kogi, as well as, Afreximbank which will provide bulk of the funding.

It was gathered that the process of setting up the PIC would have been completed by now, but for the drawback occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is expected that the inauguration of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project Inauguration Team (APPIT), on May 11, 2020, to help revamp the company in line with the recent agreement reached with Russia to resuscitate the steel company, would accelerate the new push to make Ajaokuta a reality.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Boss Mustapha who chairs the team noted that revamping the plant has become imperative, saying “this is further underscored by difficulties being witnessed with present challenges in the global oil industry.”

24—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 25

26—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 27

FG to secure 995m Euros agric mech facility from Brazil

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BREAKING OF RAMADAN FASTING—Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria (PRRFN), Pastor Yuhana Buru, and Okuma Sunday Foundation Director, Mr. Okuma Sunday, addressing people living with disabilities, during the Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin Foundation donation of food for the breaking of Ramadan fasting in Kaduna. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

Banditry/kidnapping: NAF deploys special forces to boost security in Nasarawa •Activates 22 Quick Response Wing in Lafia.

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—In its bid to add impetus to ongoing operations against security threats in the North Central Zone of the Country, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday deployed additional Special Forces operatives to Lafia in Nasarawa State.

The deployment of the SF elements followed earlier deployment of a NAF Mi-35P Helicopter Gunship to conduct operations in the area and also marks the formal activation of the 22 Quick Response Wing in Lafia.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, who disclosed this yesterday, said: “The objective of the deployment is to hasten the restoration of peace and security to the North Central Zone.’’

In his address to the troops during the deployment, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, represented by the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM)

Charles Ohwo, stated that the deployment was aimed at enhancing the existing security architecture in the area.

He noted that the 22 QRW was established in 2018 with the objective of bringing security closer to the people by curbing the activities of bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminal elements in Nasarawa State and its environs, working in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies.

He noted however that the Unit could not fully commence operations at that time due to some logistics and manpower constraints, which, he said, had recently been overcome in 2 ways.

The first, the AOC disclosed, was the recent graduation of additional 94 SF personnel at the NAF Regiment Training Centre (RTC) Annex in Bauchi, while the second was the support provided by the Nasarawa State Government; which paved way for the deployment of the SF elements and their equipment.

He therefore used the opportunity to thank the

Governor and his entire cabinet for their unrelenting support towards ensuring that security agencies in the State succeed in performing their constitutionally assigned roles.

AVM Ohwo also used the opportunity to congratulate the troops for being chosen as part of SF personnel to activate the 22 QRW Lafia.

He charged them to continue to uphold the NAF’s core values of ‘Integrity ’, ‘Ser vice before Self ’ and ‘Excellence’, as they carry out their assigned tasks.

Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdulahi Sule, who was present to receive the troops, expressed appreciation for the swift response by the NAF to deploy SF elements to the State which, he said, would help to bring acts of criminality in the State to an end.

The governor added that the deployment was evidence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s pragmatic leadership and the importance the current Federal Government attached to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians in the North

Central part of Nigeria.

“No one could have thought that the response to the requests that I made 3 days back, during a meeting with the President, would come into fruition so quickly,’’ he said.

He thanked the President and the CAS for their efforts towards ensuring peace was restored to Nasarawa and surrounding states.

BUJA—The federal government has secured an Agricultural mechanisation facility from Brazil to the tune of 995 million Euro.

The proposed in-kind facility is expected to be a game-changer in the sector.

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Agriculture, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, told a business intelligence magazine, The Commerce Africa, in Abuja that the deal was in being struck with Brazil.

Under it, Brazil would be expected to supply agricultural machinery, comprising tractors and other equipment to be leased out to farmers.

The SSA said that the in-kind facility was to develop Nigeria’s a g r i c u l t u r a l mechanisation u n d e r. t h e . G r e e n Imperative programme recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC. Dr. Kwasari added that the facility had been designed to help Nigeria attain food security, create jobs and diversify the economy from oil.

According to him, the agricultural machines from Brazil “will set the basic foundation across 632 Local Government Areas (LGAs) for proper agricultural service.”

These machines, he said, would be leased out

to the farmers “for fee operations by privately managed service centres in a competitive manner.

“Services ranging from land preparation to harvest and storage will be provided timely and on demand to all farmers in a move to enhance productivity of smallholder farmers that don’t need to own tractors and implements.

“Over 142 agro processing factories will be situated across all senatorial districts to create aggregation, intermediary and final processing of the increased farm outputs on the back of the 632 primary production supporting service centres in the respective LGAs. “This design logic is meant to prioritize tackling of the primary issues of post-harvest losses commonly suffered by smallholder farmers and also, to domesticate efficient supply chain operations where factories or aggregation hubs are closer to sources of raw material as well as strengthen quality and standards control for out grower scheme.

“36 months from this approval, Nigeria will be food secured for the various plant and livestock related commodities identified to be supported by the programme across the states.

When the programme takes off fully, it is expected to create at least 5 million jobs.’’

Dead fishes: Direct NDDC to intervene in our plight, Bayelsa chiefs urge Buhari

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By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA— SOME traditional rulers in Bayelsa State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to come to the aid of their impoverished communities.

The appeal is contained in a letter by 29 royal fathers, addressed to the President through the office of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godwsill Akpabio.

The disturbed paramount rulers also sent a copy of the letter to the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, led by Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei.

The chiefs, under the auspices of “Paramount Rulers Forum for Oil Host Communities in the Salt Water Belt, Mainstream

(Central) Niger Delta,” lamented that the combined effects of COVID-19 lockdown order and massive death of fishes caused by toxic chemical wastes discharged into the waters were causing biting hunger in their communities.

They said: “Our purpose of bringing this problem to your Excellency is informed by the ongoing massive ecological disaster in our fishing environment for more than one month now by the activities of multinational oil corporations.

“It is seriously and negatively impacting us as riverine people that earn a living by fishing. We are at the same time suffering the harsh impacts of COVID19 lockdown order by government.

“Your Excellency should help us intervene and direct the NDDC to come to the rescue of oil host

communities who are going through hardship.”

Chief Perekebina Alfred, coordinator of the paramount rulers’ forum, weekend in Yenagoa, said over N2 billion had been estimated as panacea towards alleviating the suffering of the people.

Alfred, who is the paramount ruler of Koromotoru in Ekeremor Local Government Area, pleaded with the President to save the people from the starvation imposed on them

by COVID-19 lockdown directives and the largescale death of fishes due to chemical pollution of their waters.

He explained that the forum was delighted at the ongoing forensic audit of the commission, noting that the exercise would help to clean-up the agency and reposition it for effective service delivery to the people of the region.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 OSA MBONU-AMADI 08070524223 osaamadi@yahoo.com

Wide acceptability is more important to me than winning prizes — Chiazor Enenmor, author …says some books have gone out of circulation after winning prizes

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By Prisca Sam-Duru

nambra State-born Ndidi Dorothy Chiazor-Enenmor is an award-winning author of many children’s books.

Married with four children, Chiazor-Enenmor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Post Graduate Diploma in English from the University of Lagos. She recorded a major feat in her creative writing career last year when her book, “A Hero’s Welcome” made the longlist of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2019 sponsored

by Nigeria LNG. This brilliant writer shares more in this interview with Vanguard’s Arts & Reviews: Where did you start your education?

I did Primary 1 and 2 in my hometown before I went to Aba to live with my sister. I attended Hospital Road Primary School Aba, formerly St. Michael’s school, when it was being run by the CMS. Interestingly, this school has the honor of being the place the great Chinua Achebe wrote his entrance examination to Government College Umuahia. So, when the government took over schools, it became Hospital Road Primary School. But now, I think the church has taken it over again. That’s the St. Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Aba. I run an education consultancy outfit in Lagos/I represent colleges in Canada. I recruit students from Nigeria to study in Canada.

When did you develop the passion for writing?

Writing is a passion ignited in me at an early age. I grew up in Aba, in home full of books. I was seven years old when my eldest sister got married. Shortly after her marriage, she brought me to live with her. Her husband, Geo Ezeaba of blessed memory was a lawyer. He was a voracious reader; therefore, the house was stocked with books; beautiful books covering all subjects.

There were novels, biographies, encyclopedias, memoirs, autobiographies, books on geography, history – just name it. I read and read… and that helped me a lot in school. I had sterling performances in primary and secondary schools and through the university.

I attended St. Catharine’s Girls Secondary School, Nkwerre, Imo State. Established in 1955, St. Catharine’s was one of the best schools in the Eastern region. While there, my love for reading was boosted by the rich collection of story books in the school library. I read a lot of the Enid Blyton series in the library. The librarian then knew me and admired me. I will borrow books and return them even before the last due date because I read them very fast and wanted to borrow more.

Also, my mother told me a lot of folk stories; not only my mother but other members of the extended family. Whenever I was in my hometown for the holidays, I enjoyed the tales told under the moonlight.

Folktales were the norms then.

Usually, after dinner, families sat around and told stories. Playmates also exchanged stories with each other. I had a lot of cousins and while growing up, we enjoyed this beautiful norm together. I could say that these are the things that influenced me and geared me towards writing.

So far, how many books have you published?

My first children’s book was published in 2006 while I was still working at the British Council, Lagos. I was previously selected and sponsored by British Council to attend the London Book Fair in 2003.

After I came back from the book fair, I wrote an article entitled, ‘Books, Books Everywhere’. It was published in ‘InfoNews’, the British Council Global Magazine.

Before then, I had written several short stories and poems. Some of them were published in the defunct TNT and Diet newspapers where I had brief stints with journalism as a reporter and features writer respectively.

My short story ‘Oso Ochu’ featured in “Wings of Dawn”, an anthology of works by WRITA (Women Writers of Nigeria), published by British Council, Lagos. I can recall my first poem, ‘Departure’ which I wrote in my final year in the university. I posted it on the notice board of our department and my classmates wrote comments on it. I was thrilled, even though some of the comments were very critical. I kept that poem for a long time. I showed it to my siblings and other family members.

Their encouraging words were very exciting to me.

After my first book, I went ahead with more children’s books; “One Little Mosquito” (2008), “Stories of our Land” (2011) and others. “One Little Mosquito” won the ANA/Atiku Abubakar Prize for Children’s Literature (2009).

In 2017, I wrote a picture book, “Mina and the Birthday Dress”. It was part of the Book Dash project in Johannesburg. There were selected children’s books and authors from several countries in Africa who took part in the project. We were sponsored by the Goethe Institut, Nigeria after a rigorous selection process.

It looks like you’ve concentrated only on children’s literature?

True, I have a lot of children’s books to my credit. But my debut novel “If They Tell the Story”, was published early this year. The book has

Ndidi Dorothy Chiazor-Enenmor domestic violence, depression and societal culpability as major highlights.

Your book, ‘A Hero’s Welcome’ made The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2019 longlist. What informed your writing of the book?

“A Hero’s Welcome” was borne out of my desire to promote the speaking of our indigenous languages. Like some of us are aware, our local languages have been relegated.

While English remains the official language, there is no reason why we should not speak our languages to our children.

Did you have the Prize or any other in mind while writing the book?

The wide acceptability of “A Hero’s Welcome” and my other books is far more important to me

than any prize. Of course, like every writer, it is natural to desire to win prizes, but it becomes pathetic when a writer does not look beyond the prize. I can tell you that there are some books that have gone out of circulation, after they had won a prize. That goes to show that the writer only wrote for the prize and after the whole euphoria of prize winning, you don’t get a copy of the book to buy anywhere. It is very pathetic.

How has making NLNG Literature Prize Longlist impacted on your creative writing?

I have been overwhelmed by the reception accorded “A Hero’s Welcome”. Many schools have adopted it for their book clubs and other book reading projects.

A head teacher here in Lagos called me and pleaded that I adapt it for drama. There are so many things I am working around with the book.

I am in talks with some organisations to hold a major programme annually to mark the International Mother Tongue Day which is commemorated in February. “A Hero’s Welcome” will be a handy tool for that. Being longlisted in the 2019 NLNG/ Nigeria Literature Prize was one of the high points in my writing career.

It brought a lot of recognition to me and I don’t take that for granted.

Are there other projects through which you contribute towards improving our reading culture?

I have held similar programmes in the past, in collaboration with the Goethe Institut, Nigeria. Project Read Aloud and Tell (PRAAT) was one of them. The first edition was held many years ago in the old Alliance Francaise premises in Lagos. So, apart from writing, these are the kind of projects I have been involved with; programmes that promote reading and learning outside the classroom. Various schools in Lagos and Ogun states have participated in them. We have also held events to mark Children’s Book Week, in collaboration with the Lagos State Library Board.

What inspires you as a writer?

I am inspired by things that happen around me; things that happen in society as well as some personal experiences.

What’s your assessment of the literary industry?

The writing industry in Nigeria has gone through a lot of metamorphoses. There is a lot of dynamism, which is good. It is an ever-evolving industry.

What challenges do you have as a writer?

Sponsorship is always a major stumbling block but I don’t give up because I enjoy what I do. It will be a welcome development for corporate organisations to sponsor programmes that enhance our children’s creative abilities.

Finalists emerge for 2020 Henrike Grohs Art Award

By Prisca Sam-Duru

O

rganisers of the Henrike Grohs Art Award have announced three finalists of the competition for 2020 edition.

They include; Akwasi Bediako Afrane (Ghana), Jackie Karuti (Kenya) and Sabelo Mlangeni (South Africa).

The finalists were selected by a jury consisting of Paula Nascimento (Architect and Independent Curator, Angola), Gabi Ngcobo (Curator and Educator, South Africa), and Sarah Rifky (Writer and Curator, Egypt). The Henrike Grohs Art Award is a roving biennial art prize conceived by the GoetheInstitut and the Grohs family in memory of the former Head of Goethe-Institut in Abidjan, Henrike Grohs. The prize is awarded biennially to an artist or arts collective living and working on the African continent, and practicing in the field of visual arts.

The organisers disclosed that “While each iteration of the award ceremony is celebrated at a different biennale or major art event on the continent, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Henrike Grohs Art Award has decided to announce the 2020 winner through a different platform.

We will share this new format and the date of the winner announcement in the coming weeks.”

The winner will receive a cash prize of 20.000•, with 10.000• towards the production of a publication on the winner ’s work, while two artists will be selected as runners up and will be awarded a cash prize of 5.000• each.

Akwasi Bediako Afrane, a Ghanaian artist living and working in Kumasi, Ghana, through his works, explores the idea of augmentation and extensions between technological gadgets and humans. He works with discarded electronic gadgets which he refers to as “amputees”.

He refashions and repurposes these amputees into machines and micro- organisms he describes as ‘TRONS’. These ‘TRONS’, become potential platforms and media for reflection, engagement and interactions. “His ‘TRONS’, stripped bare of their familiar housing become mechanical gizmos subsumed with the consciousness of previous owners of these gadgets and himself.”

An artist based in Nairobi, Kenya, Jackie Karuti’s practice is largely experimental and employs the use of new media through drawings, video,

installations and performance art. Her work is founded on ideas around knowledge production & accessibility as well as the depths of possibility enabled by radical imagination.

Karuti is an alumnus of Àsìko, a roaming Pan African art school established by the late Bisi Silva, designed to redress the frequently outdated or nonexistent artistic and curatorial curricula at tertiary institutions across Africa. Karuti’s work has been exhibited widely most recently in 2019 at The Lofoten International Art Festival in Svolvær, Norway as well as in 2018 at the Dak’Art Biennial in Dakar, Senegal. Other projects that respond to her practice include programming the OutFilm Festival in Nairobi 20162018 and her online workspace, ‘I’ve been working on some MAGIC’. Working mainly in a black and white format, Sabelo Mlangeni’s photographs have focused on capturing the intimate, everyday moments of communities in contemporary South Africa. Born in 1980 in Driefontein near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, Mlangeni moved to Johannesburg in 2001 where he joined the Market Photo Workshop, graduating in 2004. Since then, his work has been widely exhibited locally and internationally.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020, 29

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Moving almajirai southward: For what?

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HEN the coronavirus pandemic reached the shores of Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje did something that must be seen as a crime against humanity: he “deported” thousands of almajirai street children to their states of origin in the North.

This action surprised me, really.

The almajiri system, whereby children aged from five to 15 are sent by poor parents in the Islamic North to Koranic Mallams for Islamic education (the Mallams in turn send them into the streets to beg) is an age-old culture in the entire Sokoto Caliphate and Muslim North.

Incidentally, there is nothing like that in the Middle East and Asia from where Islam was imported into sub-Saharan Africa. Certainly, there is nothing like almajiri in Western Nigeria where Islam, though a strong cultural factor, has a very progressive and modern orientation.

Ganduje’s move was a surprise to me because the Islamic North is a unified society. Islam is the

common platform of unity which transcends ethnicity. I lived and worked in the North for five years and I have toured all the Northern states except Zamfara. There is social and cultural homogeneity.

Someone can move from Maiduguri to Sokoto and be accepted and treated almost like an indigene, so long as he is a Muslim. Governor Nasir el Rufai was born in Katsina but he is the governor of Kaduna State.

The same thing obtains in the South West but along ethnic lines.

That is why Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is an indigene of Ogun State is now the governor of Lagos State.

In fact, Lagos has traditionally been governed by non-indigene Yoruba elements. But the South East and South-South are the most fractious societies in the country, where a non-indigene cannot contest election or hold a political office even if he belongs to the ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds of the indigenes.

But, even in the South East and South-South where the indigeneship factor is exploited against people of the same

As Suleiman Abba mounts the Police Trust Fund saddle

BY IKECHUKWU AMAECHI

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N Monday, May 18, former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, assumed office as chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund. That is a big deal.

It is momentous not only because the Trust Fund finally began operations almost one year after the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill was signed into law, but also because of the quality of leadership empanelled to superintend its affairs.

Many Nigerians agree that Abba’s appointment is consequential, the axiomatic round peg in a round hole, a laudable instance where competence, character and capacity have been given the elbow room to trump inhibiting national fault-lines.

But it couldn’t have been otherwise given that the idea of the Trust Fund, a child of necessity, is perhaps the administration’s lastditch effort to extricate the country from the fatal grips of non-state actors who seem to be effectively challenging the state’s sole proprietorship of the instruments of coercion.

When the president assented to the Bill on June 14, 2019, the question of who chairs the Board concentrated the minds of many. That was important because the answer would underscore government’s seriousness in tackling insecurity and point to the direction the Trust Fund was headed.

C M Y

*Suleiman Abba Insecurity is an existential threat to the corporate entity called Nigeria. The wellbeing of Nigerians has never been more parlous.

At the core of this national malaise is the near collapse of the country’s internal security architecture propelled by an ill-equipped and poorly funded police force with a disillusioned personnel to boot.

The need in the circumstance, therefore, for an interventionist agency that will help attenuate the debilitating security challenges that have hobbled our claim to civilization cannot be overstated.

The president put his hand on the button when he envisioned that the solution was to retool the country’s policing architecture by establishing a Trust Fund that will “meet the aspiration of a well-funded, equipped and highly professional Nigeria Police Force in line with international best practices”.

The Fund which duties include training, overall improvement of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in the discharge of their duties, purchase of equipment, machineries and books and the construction of police stations and liv-

religious and cultural backgrounds who are nonindigenes, no one was expelled or discriminated against because of coronavirus. So, why did Ganduje commit what was obviously anathema in the North? He should answer that question.

What bothers me more is how some elements reacted to Ganduje’s “deportation” of the almajirai. El Rufai reacted excellently. He received the returnees and sent them for testing. Those cleared were sent to their families for immediate enrolment in the state’s free education scheme. Those infected were kept in care centres for treatment.

Some other governors did not behave well. They turned their backs to the almajirai. Suddenly,

The driving force of these human movements must be something more important to those behind them than the need to stay home and join the fight to defeat the pandemic we started seeing some of these unfortunate young boys being loaded in trucks and trailers used to convey goods, cement, foodstuff and livestock. They were smuggled to the South East, South-South and South-West in

ing facilities for the Force, sprouted from that exigency – the need for a special intervention fund to finance necessary expenditures of the police.

As an interventionist agency designed to cover all police personnel, including auxiliary staff in Nigeria and abroad, the Trust

Many Nigerians agree that Abba’s appointment is a laudable instance where competence and capacity have been given the elbow room to trump inhibiting national fault-lines

Fund, which is to operate for a period of six years, will get 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account; a levy of 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating in Nigeria; any take-off grant and special intervention fund as may be provided by the Federal, State or Local Governments; monies appropriated by the National Assembly in the budget to meet the objective of the Act; aids, grants and assistance from international agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector; grants, donations, endowments, bequests and gifts (whether of money or property) from any source; and money derived from investment made by the Trust Fund, which are exempted from income tax.

Who calls the shots is key to the success or otherwise of this all-important agency. And failure is not an option, which perhaps explains why it took President Buhari almost one year to chew over the matter of its leadership.

As a former Inspector General of

the dead of the night. A closer examination of the trafficked individuals shows that many of them are not almajirai. They are grown-up young men being dumped all over the South.

Now this question: How did these trucks pass through the various state borders being manned by the Police, Army, Civil Defence and other Federal security agencies in clear violation of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governors’ COVID-19 containment orders? Many states were forced to send their own indigenous task forces to their borders. This was why the trafficked human cargoes were intercepted and turned back. Yet, the leader of the Abia State Task force complained of being heavily pressured to allow the smuggled individuals in.

It is obvious that some agents of darkness are at work. While the nation is struggling to beat the worldwide pandemic which is threatening to overwhelm our system, some evil-minded individuals in high places have seized the opportunity, in cahoots with their collaborators in our security system, to push these people of questionable motives down South under the cover of the night.

This has nothing to do with the spurious argument of “Nigerians’ fundamental right to freedom of movement and to live in any part of the country”. Your freedom to live in any part of the country does not entitle you to move into people’s lands and build ethnic settlements without the express consent of the owners of the land.

That is a criminal offence and

often leads to bloodshed.

That some faceless and not-sofaceless individuals are allowing their trucks to be used in the massive movement of people of questionable motives to occupy territories belonging to others means there is an evil agenda which must be unmasked.

Moreover, why do it at this time when the nation is fighting a pandemic; moving people from areas of high infection to areas of negligible spread? The driving force of these human movements must be something more important to those behind them than the need to stay home and join the fight to defeat the pandemic.

What is the basis of sending the almajirai to areas where they will likely be treated as outcasts? The Islamic culture is almost alien to the South East and South-South.

It is practised mainly by nonindigenes. Who will look after these almajirai or educate them there? There is no other conclusion to be drawn other than that those behind the human shipments are looking for trouble.

This calls for vigilance and firm resolve by the governments and people of the targeted states. They must take every legitimate step to safeguard their people and property. Since the security agencies that should implement the laws of the country and protect law-abiding citizens appear to have abandoned their roles and allowed the evil forces to have a free ride, it is up to us to look out for ourselves within the ambit of the law and the rules of natural justice.

Protect yourself or you die.

Police, who rose through the ranks, Abba, no doubt knows the terrain.

In the course of his career, he was Commissioner of Police in Rivers and Lagos states as well as AIG Zone 7, Abuja.

As AIG, he was the chairman of the 2015 General Elections NPF Planning Committee and as the IGP, he upped the ante.

Highly understated, it is to his credit that the elections touted as perhaps the freest and fairest was successfully conducted despite the charged atmosphere that preceded it. That was because of the unprecedented security architecture he built around the exercise.

An award winning and highly decorated officer, Abba attended courses and seminars in China, Jordan, UK, U.S., Benin Republic and Russia, including trainings as member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in the 31 years he spent in the Force. He was by no means a run-of-the-mill security operative.

Abba is also an intellectual. A History graduate from the University of Jos, in quest of more robust knowledge, he also garnered a law degree from the University of Abuja and is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. But, perhaps, what is more important are the things he has done to develop himself intellectually since retirement in 2015.

Unlike most other Nigerian public officers who go home to vegetate after retirement, he proceeded to the prestigious London School of Economics in 2015 for an “International Human Rights Law and Practice” certificate course. In 2017, he was at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago for a certificate course on “Corporate Governance: Effectiveness and Accountability in the Boardroom.” In 2019, he was at the INSEAD Business School, Paris, France for yet another one-year

course on “Challenge of Leadership.”

He has been as successful in private business as he was in public life.

As commendable as his foray into the uncharted waters of private business is, what particularly stands him out are the kind of businesses he has ventured into which spans law, agribusiness, aviation, real estate and information technology.

Of course, as a lawyer, it was not a surprise that he set up a law chamber, Fasaha Solicitors & Advocates.

Hearkening to the national call for self-sufficiency in food production, he set up Suleiman Gagaryaga Farms Ltd. In collaboration with the Indiabased Aptech Computer, he set up KANI Computer Technologies Ltd which operates advanced computer training centres in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. The Dutse Aptech Centre will soon begin operations. He also runs KANI Aviation International which provides aviation support services and Finehalls Properties Ltd. But the retired police boss’ passion is not all about making money. He has a heart of gold and gives back to humanity through numerous philanthropic acts. He takes delight in sponsoring students in computer training at the Aptech Centres in Kano and Dutse.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth over N3 million to medical personnel in the 27 local governments of Jigawa State.

But he is by no means the only former police boss with some of these credentials. What placed him in the pole position for the job are other police-related assignments he has been handling creditably since his retirement.

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com

30—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

SOUTH-EAST: Influx of Almajirai poses great risk — Ezeife

ONOGWU

I, formerly known as Onogwu Joseph Monday, now wish to be known as Joseph Monday. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

T

HERE have been influx of the Almajirai from the North into the South especially South East, what is your take?

We have closure of state boundaries, meaning that nobody can go from one state to another. We also have curfew meaning that travelling by night is out of the question, yet people are moving in thousands, I think it is condemnable.

Now I have sympathy for the Almajirai.

They are not responsible for what they are doing, they didn’t hire any vehicle, some people are organizing them and sending them to the South. I don’t know, we the Igbo people have problem, we don’t accept discrimination, we don’t accept talakawas, we don’t accept almajiris.

If a President of Igbo origin comes on board, both almajiri and talakawa will become things of the past. We believe in giving the best education, training, and apprenticeship to everybody. I do not know whether that is why some feudalists are against our people. want my children to be head and shoulders above me and people who are in trade want their apprentices to be head and shoulders above them and see it as an achievement.

So we have a problem in Nigeria. I don’t know what to do, I think conscience is dead. I don’t know who will resurrect it, whether the traditional rulers or true men of God. But somehow, we have to resurrect conscience in Nigeria.

This comprehensive corruption that enables people to move to anywhere no matter the curfew and blockade is very dangerous. Well let me tell you what I feel. Jesus Christ said we should love our neighbours as our ourselves. I should ordinarily love almajiris if they become my Neighbour, but some people were responsible for producing almajiris.

Those people who gave no education, no training, nothing to survive with to human beings who they call almajiris, they should take responsibility and keep the almajiris where they grew up and pay the price for making human beings useless.

Anyway, it is not easy, God will wipe away all the problems of Nigeria, it may be soon, it may be late, but God will wipe away the problems of Nigeria. Almajiris are among the problems of Nigeria, talakawas are among the problems of Nigeria, me, I am among the problems of Nigeria, Fulanis are among the problems of Nigeria.

Somehow peace will reign and the country will continue to be one but if we cannot be one, we can go our different ways so that Biafra people would go away, Oodua people would go away, anybody who wants to go away can go away, but it should be done peacefully.

Some people blame the South-East governors for allowing the boundaries to be porous Did the governors send the almajiris or don’t people who sent them have conscience? The people who produced them sent them, why can’t they leave them, why are they transferring the problems they created to other parts of the country?

What is your advice to South East governors with influx of almajirai into the area?

It is not possible to keep them in the South-East, if we have

Ikechukwu Ojo, now wish to be known as Ojo Ikechukwu Peter.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

*They won’t survive in South-East without handiwork *Creators of Amajiri system should enjoy their creation

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, elder statesman, and Third Republic governor of Anambra State, in this interview, says that the influx into the South-East by Almajirai from the North portends great danger and appeals to South-East governors to do everything possible to send back the almajirai back to where they came from.

ONWUMA I, formerly known as Onwuma

OLATUNJI

IKECHUKWU

I, formerly known as Olatunji Olatunde Ayinde Idowu, now wish to be known as Mr. Olatunde Ayinde Idowu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, formerly known as Ikechukwu Lucky Igwe, now wish to be known as Igwe John Alaba. All former documents remain valid.

Access Bank, Relevant Authorities and general public please take note.

RASAK

OKOSUN

I, formerly known as Olatunji

I, formerly known as Okosun Ifeanyi Ndulue, now wish to be known as Ndulue Ifeanyi Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Rasak Adisa, now wish to be known as Abdulrasaq Olatunji Adisa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BENNETH

*Ezeife: I have sympathy for the Almajirai

the capability, we return them to where they came from and then we begin to do something about them. Our people who live in the North will have an assignment to make sure that almajiris become useful in the society. It is not a matter of saying it is Hausa, Fulani or Yoruba, our people who live in the North should now take the responsibility to repair the damage but I don’t see the advantage of bringing them to the South-East.

How will the Igbo in the North take the responsibility of repairing the damage Because they are there. Individuals among us who are not living in the North also can contribute. We cannot leave these people like that. If they didn’t exist, would they have been sent back? And if we took action early enough, many years ago, they wouldn’t have existed.

Look at former President Goodluck Jonathan came and set up schools, how many people are in the schools now? It is not easy, I encourage the governors to help the almajiris go back because they don’t speak Igbo, they cannot survive

I encourage the governors to help the almajiris go back because they don’t speak Igbo, they cannot survive in the system except by

This is to confirm that the names Nwanyanwu Emenazu Benneth and Emenazu Benneth Nwanyanwu refer to one and the same me. I now wish to be known and addressed as Emenazu Benneth Nwanyanwu. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and the general public please take note.

Chisom, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Ugorji Gift Chisom. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MERCY I, formerly known as Kemeghen Ebikebuna, now wish to be known as Kemeghen Ebikebuna Mercy. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank, Institutions and general public please take note.

OBOBA I, formerly known as Miss Oboba Faith Ujiroghene, now wish to be known as Mrs. Alfred Collins faith Ujiroghene. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, First bank, Fidelity bank, Union bank and general public please take note.

IFECHUKWUDE

EFETOBORE

I, formerly known as Aniemeke

I, formerly known as Pandora

Ifechukwude, now wish to be

Efetobore Emmanuel, now wish

known as Aniemeke Romeo. All

to be known as Pandora Gift

former documents remain valid.

Emmanuel. All former documents

General public take note.

remain valid. General public take note.

IDOGE

OJOCHENEMI OBIE I, formerly known as Anyebe

I, formerly known as Miss Idoge

Friday Ojochenemi, now wish to

Ejiro Rose , now wish to be known

be known as Anyebe Friday

as Mrs. Akporido Rose Ejiro. All

Ojonugwu. All former documents

former documents remain valid.

remain valid. General public take

General public take note.

note.

AI MOTTOR I, formerly known as Ibojoh Clery Mottor, now wish to be known

in the system except by being a security risk.

Some people are even saying that they are in the SouthEast to fight battle, how do we know the truth? The truth is that hunger will kill them, if they are stranded. They should be taken back and we the Igbo will contribute to developing the almajiris, developing the talakawas for economic survival, they are human beings like us.

Do they really pose any security threat being in the South-East?

You know they pose security threat to the South-East, people who have no handiwork, people who have no basis for existence, economic survival, they are liabilities immediately they arrive. But if it were possible to build schools and make them go to school... I think we should get the Imams from the North or the East to talk to them that ultimately we want them to be useful to themselves.

They can if they become helpers in farms and they will be made to survive with the food from the farms. But if it is just a matter of they go there and begin to run around, it’s not possible. Our governors have to wake up, I don’t mind what it will cost them, the governors can help as they go to the North and find ways of helping to convert them to economic beings.

NZE I, formerly known as Nze Gift

NNALUE I, formerly known as Nnalue Chibueze Michael, now wish to be known as Gabriel Chibueze

as Ibojoh Clery. All former

Michael. All former documents

documents remain valid. General

remain valid. General public take

public take note.

note.

OG IHEAGWAM

BOB

I, formerly known as Miss

This is to certify that Bob Akpotu Edojah and Bob Akpotu Williams is one and the same person but now wish to be called Bob Akpotu Williams. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Iheagwam Paracleta Chimdiya, now wish to be known as Mrs. Gabriel Paracleta Chimdiya. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGEDEGBE I, formerly known as Ogedegbe Ekpeju, now wish to be known as Mami Ekpeju. All former documents remain valid. General public and Banks please take note.

S PA C E FOR SALE

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 — 31

Ighalo worth £20m – John Barnes L

iverpool hero John Barnes believes Odion Ighalo would be worth 20 million pounds under normal circumstances considering his Premier League experience coupled with the fact that the striker has excelled since his shock move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

However, the former England star, famous for scoring against Brazil at the Maracana in 1984, has suggested that the value of the former Nigeria international has plummeted, like most other players, because of the coronavirus crisis which has left a hole in clubs’ balance sheets.

The future of Ighalo at Old Trafford has become more complex with his loan deal set to run out at the end of this month and Marcus Rashford nearing a return to full fitness ahead of the resumption of the Premier League “When you think about Odion Ighalo, a proven goal scorer and has experience in the Premier League, then £20 million is very good value in this market,” Barnes was quoted as saying by tribuna.com.

“However, if you are looking at the current situation with coronavirus and the transfer market, with a player who won’t necessarily start every game, he is not worth the money.

“Under normal circumstances, £20 million is nothing for a player in the transfer market, If I look at an overall player, someone who is happy to be a squad player and will help back-up players like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, then yes, he would be a decent signing for Manchester United.”

Ighalo has roughly eighteen months left on his contract with Shanghai Shenhua and the Chinese Super League club want the 2019 AFCON top scorer to return to China upon the expiration of his loan deal •Ighalo with United.

Osimhen: Tottenham offer £75m to Lille ottenham are leading the race to sign Lille striker Victor Osimhen as reports claim they have offered £75m to T Lille for the Nigerian striker.

Osimhen who only joined Lille last July from Belgian club Charleroi has been a major target for top English clubs including Man United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. But according to a report on Tribal Football, Belgian media sources claim Tottenham are leading the queue of clubs in the battle for Osimhen.

Lille have set an initial massive asking price of •85m for the 21-year-old striker but Spurs are hoping to talk that down with manager Jose Mourinho close to LOSC sporting director Luis Campos.

Tottenham are in the market for a new forward this summer to provide competition for Harry Kane.

Osimhen who still has four years remaining on his contract, scored 18 goals this season in all competitions. 14 of those goals came in the Ligue 1 before it was cancelled last month.

•Osimhen

Coronavirus: Clubs in for hard Covid-19: Victor Moses, others times — Egbe C test negative

Pogba on verge of Juve deal I anchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is nearing a M return to former side Juventus.

The France international amassed 34 goals from 178 appearances for the Old Lady before returning to Old Trafford in 2016, but Pogba has been persistently linked with a move away from Manchester in recent times.

The midfielder has only chalked up eight appearances across all competitions during an injury-hit 2019-20 campaign, and Juventus are reportedly set to welcome Pogba back to Turin this summer.

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Juve are putting together the finishing touches on a deal for Pogba - although United will demand a fee in the region of £72m.

With the current uncertainty surrounding big-money transfers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Juventus will supposedly throw in Adrien Rabiot as part of a deal.

A recent report claimed that Maurizio Sarri’s side are keen to offload Rabiot after the relationship between the two parties allegedly deteriorated.

nter have confirmed all medical tests carried out on its playing, coaching and management staff returned negative results.

Serie A clubs are allowed to resume group training from today, having been permitted to return to team bases for individual sessions on May 4.

Every team in Italy ’s top flight is conducting testing as Serie A works towards a resumption of the 2019-20 season, which has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

An Inter statement read: “FC Internazionale Milano announces that all of the results from Friday’s medical tests on the club’s players, coaching staff, management staff and the remainder of the team group have returned as negative.”

The league and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) are yet to agree on medical protocols set by the government for the competition’s return.

The health ministry wants entire teams to be quarantined for 14 days if a player tests positive, while clubs and the league believe such measures would make a restart impractical and favour a scenario where only the individual in question is isolated.

A June 13 resumption has been suggested, with inter-regional movement to remain limited until June 3. On Saturday, Parma confirmed two players had been placed in quarantine ahead of the return to group sessions.

“At the end of the exams, all the members of the team group tested

negative for the two swabs for Covid19 performed within 24 hours, except for two players who tested positive for the first swab and negative for the second,” read a club statement.

•Lukaku and Moses

Chiellini lifts the lid on Sarri’s ‘outlandish attachment to cigarettes’

J

uventus defender Giorgio Chiellini admits manager Maurizio Sarri’s obsession with cigarettes is so bad that you need to shower after speaking to him.

The Italian manager, 61, is understood to smoke around 60 cigarettes a day and has even been seen smoking on the touchline during his career.

Holyfield confirms advanced negotiations with Tyson over trilogy comeback fight vander Holyfield has confirmed he the ring. The 57-year-old is 2-0 up to show the kids that if you take care E is in advanced talks to come out of against Tyson but revealed negotiations of your body at a young age, if you don’t get bad habits, you don’t gotta retirement for a trilogy fight with Mike for another bout are underway.

Tyson.

It’s been 23 years since their infamous second showdown in Las Vegas where Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s ear in the third round and the pair could be set for a third showdown.

Tyson retired 15 years ago but has been back in the gym and Holyfield has announced his intention to get back in

•Holyfield and Tyson, in their first fight.

‘His people have been talking to my people and we haven’t yet got a solid deal together but it’s coming that way,’ he told The 3 Point Conversation.

‘If it happens, then that’s no problem.

Well the thing is, he was doing something and I was doing something.

‘When I told people about it, they saw me working out and they kind of put two and two together, ‘They must be coming together to do this like this. But the fact of the matter is, I didn’t mind if we do something like this.’

While both got back into the gym at the same time, Holyfield was insistent that their comebacks were not planned to coincide.

‘Well the point of the comeback – somebody just made up the names themselves – I’d been telling people that I wanted to start doing exhibitions.

‘Meaning that with my foundation, the Holyfield Foundation, I wanted to help the kids.

‘I wanted to come back and be able

hief Executive officer of Monimichelle, Ebi Egbe has declared that clubs are in for a hard time in terms of sponsorship as some European leagues return without fans.

Egbe who spoke on Sportsville, a television sports show on Channels TV on Sunday noted that playing

put them down.

‘Then at an old age you ain’t got to be worried about what type of person you’re going to be or if somebody going to have to help you.’

•Chiellini

And Chiellini reveals that Juventus players make sure they speak to Sarri immediately after a match in order to avoid speaking to him after their postmatch shower.

The Italian defender said in his autobiography: ‘He’s got a very closedoff personality, doesn’t let much slip, even if Juventus managed to whittle down some of his sharper edges.

‘The one thing nobody has been able to change is his outlandish attachment to cigarettes.

‘You can only go and talk to him in his office before a shower, still wearing your playing kit, because otherwise we’d stink of smoke.’

Sarri’s journey to the most highprofile club management role in Italy has been remarkable, beginning his coaching career at amateur sides such as U.S.D Stia and U.S Fallese in the 1990s whilst also working as a part-time banker. After rising through the Italian divisions, Sarri became known to the wider world when he took the Napoli manager’s role in 2015.

•Sarri

without fans would make football uninteresting, even as he added that it would affect the revenue of the teams.

“Clubs make a lot of money from the fans, without the fans, the game won’t be interesting and I feel sorry for the clubs because it would affect their financial base. You know clubs make a lot of money from the fans some of whom already have seasons ticket,” Egbe said.

He stressed that the nation’s league body, LMC must urgently come up with a decision on how to end the season since Nigeria would need to forward the names of the clubs that would be flying the country’s flag next season in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup to African football governing body, CAF. “I trust Shehu Dikko and the NFF know what to do in the midst of the present challenge...it’s a difficult one and I just pray we get over the coronavirus crisis.”

“With no activities as a result of the lockdown, I registered with the Yenagoa golf club where I have started taking lessons in golf and I also do a lot of swimming to keep fit,” Egbe said.

•Egbe

Champions League, Europa League will be finished in August — UEFA

U

EFA chiefs want this season’s Champions League and Europa League finals wrapped up by August.

The football federation’s president Aleksander Ceferin has said the summer is the deadline for all of Europe’s top leagues.

He expects “80 per cent” of the European leagues to be completed by that date - or have cancelled their campaigns due to Covid-19.

The Champions League final is the curtain-closer on the season so that will be the last match of the season.

That is likely to take place in Turkey on August 29 at the very latest.

Those leagues that do not complete their season by that date could forfeit places in next season’s European competitions - or face a series of gruelling qualifiers.

Most football leagues in Europe have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

QUICK CROSSWORD TODAY’S CROSSWORD

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION

Sudoku TODAY’S PUZZLE

FRIDAY’S ANSWER

Across 1 Renown (4) 3 Aspirant (anag) (8) 9 Speaker's platform (7) 10 Construct (5) 11 Healed (5) 12 Scallywags (6) 14 Income from employment (6) 16 Squirm (6) 19 Missing (6) 21 Essential (5) 24 Meeting place (5) 25 Equilibrium (7) 26 Not quite a score (8) 27 Gait between a walk and a canter (4)

Down 1 Prediction (8) 2 Skinflint (5) 4 Nearly(6) 5 Shin bone (5) 6 Scrap (of information, news, etc (7) 7 Naked (4) 8 Dealer (6) 13 Recklessly determined (8) 15 Middle East country (7) 17 Rebellion (6) 18 Steady (6) 20 Upright (5) 22 Male singing voice (5) 23 Level, regular (4)

How to Play Sudoku Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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