20052020 - Cancel power privatization now, Senate tells FG

Emefiele mobilizes Herdsmen Journalists, doctors, other Pandemics in private sector for invade farms in essential workers history: Was post-COVID-19 Delta, Nigeria prepared suffer as Police economic for COVID-19? chase out disregard 28 11 recovery 21 (3) farmers 26 exemption DMO to sell N60bn FGN bonds, as external reserves hit $35.47bn 20

VOL. 27: NO. 64073

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Cancel power privatization now, Senate tells FG 5

•We won’t have power in 10 yrs, says Senate President •Tasks its Power committee to probe all FG interventions •Urges FG to suspend planned electricity tariff increase •Don't upset investors, stakeholders warn

Boko Haram wreaks havoc on Dapchi community, razes hospital, police station, 13 palace FG begins fumigation of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airport 8 Banditry: Senate asks Buhari to extend rescue operations to Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto 27

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PRIVATIZATION...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (R) presides over the National Council on Privatization (NCP), Power Sector and Healthcare Reforms, at the State House in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

COVID-19: We won’t reopen economy fully until... — FG

6

•Research ongoing on five drugs in Nigeria •Says, fatalities increasing due to self-medication •Seeks NASS support for National Response •Chinese medical team still in Nigeria — FG •Madagascar syrup given to Nigeria free

ROTIMI FASAN

19

DEAR BUNMI

29

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 3

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Literary activist, Enewaridideke, petitions IGP over plot to indict him literary activist, Mr Ekanpou A Enewaridideke, has raised the alarm over plans by some

persons in Ayakoromo and Akparemogbene communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State to indict him.

In a petition to the InspectorGeneral of Police, Enewaridideke called on him and other police authorities to take note of the impending frivolous petition rumoured to have been authored by some mischievous persons to soil his reputation.

According to Enewaridideke in the petition, “I have been alerted of a plot by some persons in Ayakoromo and Akparemogbene communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State to author a frivolous petition loaded with imaginary criminal allegations to Nigeria Police to arrest, embarrass and keep me in perpetual jail to prove to the world how powerful and connected they are in the corridors of power.

“It is their plot to heap on me criminal allegations that would make it difficult for me to be granted bail. It is part of the plans of the authors of these allegations to send the frivolous petitions to the IGP, Delta State Commissioner of Police, AIG of Zone 5 and the Burutu Area Commander for immediate attention.

“I wish the Nigeria Police to know that Ekanpou Enewaridideke is simply a writer with over 18 books in the genres of prose, poetry, drama, and collections of critical essays.

“Mr Ekanpou Enewaridideke has no criminal record in Nigeria over which he could be netted through a frivolous petition loaded with fictional criminal allegations authored by persons carrying bad intentions.

“Some past JTF Commanders can testify to these claims. I am only capable of strong advocacy against criminality and injustice in Nigeria. My records are in the public domain.”

We came from Lagos to rob in Ogun, suspects confess

By James Ogunnaike

A

BEOKUTA— Men of the Ogun State Police have arrested two armed robbery suspects in Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, according to a statement by the command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital are Evans Iyamu and Adedayo Taiwo.

Oyeyemi said the duo were arrested while on robbery escapade at Damsalam Street in Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “The suspects were arrested following a distress call received by the police in Ajuwon division that a three-man robbery gang had stormed the street and

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ARRI—MOTORISTS and commuters using Ughelli-Port Harcourt section of the East-West Road in Delta State were stuck in gridlock, yesterday, for several hours following an accident involving a petrol tanker, Monday night.

According to an eyewitness, the head of the truck reportedly pulled off from the tanker and flew across the median to the other lane of the expressway.

Fortunately, no life was lost

The suspects

Gunmen kill Ijaw rights group's spokesperson in Delta

By Perez Brisibe & Jimitota Onoyume

U

DU – GUNMEN suspected to be armed robbers, Monday night, trailed and killed the national spokesperson of an Ijaw rights group, Ijaw Interest Advocate, IIA, popularly known as Izanzan Camp, Famous Wonikiri-Ebi. The Ijaw Interest Advocate is an intellectual platform promoting the interest of the Ijaw nation.

Famous was reportedly shot on the neck by the hoodlums in the presence of his wife along Udu Road in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State and was confirmed dead at an undisclosed hospital where he was rushed to for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, said the victim was shot during a struggle with the hoodlums over his car key, adding that the gunmen eventually went away with the car after shooting him.

She said: “He was shot while struggling his car key with them.

However, they eventually went away with the vehicle. Efforts are currently in top gear to apprehend the culprits and recover the stolen

Motorists groan as tanker falls on East-West Road in Delta

By Francis Efe

shooting sporadically, thereby threw the street into a panic.

“On receiving the distress call, the DPO Ajuwon Division, SP Andrew Akinseye mobilised his anti-robbery team and moved to the scene.

“On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels but were hotly chased with the support of the members of the community; two members of the gang, who came on a motorcycle, were apprehended while the third suspect escaped with their motorcycle.”

Oyeyemi added that one locally made short gun was recovered from them.

He said: “On interrogation, they confessed to have come to the street from Ishasi in Lagos State for the robbery operation.”

in the accident, but the truck driver is said to have sustained injuries.

Residents of the area expressed joy that the accident claimed no life, saying: “Thank God, the tanker was empty. Otherwise, the fire would have been horrible.”

The incident is currently causing traffic congestion along the road, preventing motorists from accessing nearby Ughelli town and Warri metropolis.

At press time, security operatives were said to be at the scene of the accident in a bid to control the traffic.

vehicle.”

Sources said he acquired the vehicle recently, adding that the killers could have been armed robbers who were after the vehicle.

Speaking on the incident with journalists, national

coordinator of IIA, Yerinmene Salaco, who also confirmed the incident, appealed to the police to ensure that the culprits are fished out and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

He said: “A soon as I heard

the incident, I called his wife, who told me that he was shot on the neck. We have complained of the matter at the police station and we expect the police to do their job towards ensuring that the culprits are arrested.”

Police recover 11 stolen cows from sell by his brother. councillor in Adamawa On his part, Numan said he serving councillor paid N50,000 as part payment handed over the cows to the A representing Vulpi Ward in for the five cows at about 11:30 Numan Local Government Area, leadership of Pulaku Njonde Jam, Adamawa State, Makana Ngari, caught with 11 stolen cows has been arrested by police operatives.

Adamawa State Public Relations Officer, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, who disclosed this while handing over the cows to their owners, yesterday, in Yola, said the suspect was cooperating with the police in its investigation.

“The arrest of Makana Ngari and other suspects in connection with cattle rustling is yielding positive result. Eleven cows have so far been recovered from the councillor and his cohorts.

“The command, however,

Adamawa State Chapter, on bond on behalf of the original owners,” he said.

He said an investigation was ongoing to recover more cows including those recently rustled at Mbemum village.

Narrating his level of involvement, the councillor said he sold the cows to one Adamu Numan, a butcher and a cow dealer in Numan town, who is also in detention.

Ngari confirmed that the police recovered five of the stolen cows he sold to Numan, claiming that the animals were given to him to

pm on May 12.

“This is not the first time I have been buying cows from Makana Ngari,” Adamu told the police.

Speaking shortly after receiving the cows, Alhaji Ya’u Isa, state Chairman of Pulaku Njonde Jam, thanked the Police command and Adamawa government for their quick intervention and recovery of some of the stolen cows.

Isa saidwithin one year, herders had lost no fewer than 450 cattle and 240 sheep to cattle rustlers in Numan and Lamurde LGAs.

Man gets 7-year jail term for sexual exploitation

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ATIONAL Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Benin Zonal Command said it has secured a seven-year jail term against one 43-year-old Kingsley Ugowe for sexual exploitation.

Mrs Ijeoma Uduak, Zonal Commander, Benin Zonal Command comprising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, who disclosed this in a media chat, said the convict was also expected to pay N1.5 million.

Mother, daughter electrocuted in Anambra Sharon Hospital

A

55-year-old woman, Mrs Patience Ugbana, and her 10-year-old daughter, Adaeze, were electrocuted Monday night at their shop along Nnewi-Nnobi road in Nnewi North Local Government Area.

It was reported that a high tension wire opposite St. Peter's Clavers, along Nnewi-Nnobi road cut and fell on the roof of a shop, electrocuting the mother and child.

It was gathered that the victims were rushed to Rose of

by sympathisers, before the arrival of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Anambra Command rescue team from Nnewi Unit Command, but on reaching the hospital, the doctors confirmed them dead.

Mr Andrew Kumapayi, Anambra State Commander of FRSC, confirmed the incident, yesterday, in Awka.

The Sector Commander advised traders and shop owners not to build shops under high tension wires.

She explained that Ugowe was convicted for harbouring a 15year-old girl for sexual exploitation, an offence punishable under the Traffic in Persons NAPTIP Act 15(b) as well as procurement for sexual exploitation 16 (1) of Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement Administration Act 2015.

She disclosed that the convict was arrested in 2016 after a good Samaritan reported to the agency that he was sexually exploiting the victim whom he had taken custody of after the death of her father.

She explained that almost four years after the commencement of the legal battle, Justice Geraldine Imadegbello of Criminal Court II, Benin finally found the convict guilty and sentenced him to jail.

Meanwhile, the convict has said he had accepted the judgement in good faith.

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NEW HIGH COURT JUDGES IN KADUNA —Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state (M); Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe (3rd, L); Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Bilkisu Muhammed (4th, R); new High Court judges and other officials, during the swearing-in of four new High Court Judges at the Government House in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Cancel power privatization now, Senate tells FG •We won’t have power in 10 yrs, says Senate President •Tasks its Power committee to probe all FG interventions •Urges FG to suspend planned electricity tariff increase •Don't upset investors, stakeholders warn

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — Following u n e n d i n g epileptic electricity supply in the country, the Senate yesterday condemned the power sector, and asked the Federal Government to urgently cancel the entire privatization process carried out during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

It also warned that Nigeria might not have adequate power supply in the next years, if the

privatisation was not cancelled, and urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend the planned electricity tariff increase due to take effect in July.

The Red Chamber also called on government, through the Ministry of Finance, to include the Nigeria Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of proposed N1.7trillon COVID-19 intervention fund.

Speaking yesterday during discussions on a motion, titled “Power Sector Recovery Plan and

the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic,” President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said it is disheartening that with huge sums of money spent so far on the power sector, results are not being achieved.

Lawan, who said the the Senate committee will investigate trillions spent so far to reinvigorate the power sector without commensurate results, said: “We gave power to them (power generation and distribution companies) and they still come to the public to ask

for funds.

“I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing privatization of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatization process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.”

DISCOs lack capacity

“We expected efficiency and something better.

DISCOs have no capacity to supply us power. We shouldn’t continue to give them money. They ’re

POCKET CARTOON

private businesses; we need to review this whole thing. Something is wrong.

“Our committee needs to investigate trillions spent.

That’s a lot of money. Try and find out what has happened so far.

Government needs to look at this whole thing.

Maybe government is not doing its own part.

“We need to find out.

There is lack of capital. We feel very bad. There is no electricity and the country is suffering.”

Consequently, the Senate mandated the Committee on Power, led

by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North-East), to investigate all Federal G o v e r n m e n t interventions in the power sector since privatization of the sector to date, with a view to ascertaining adequacy of such interventions and desired impact, and report back within four weeks.

The Senate also asked its Committee on Power to investigate all market participants in the power value chain and ascertain the level of corporate governance compliance in the Nigerian Electricity

Industry and also report back within four weeks.

The resolutions yesterday were sequel to the adoption of a motion on Power Sector Recovery Plan and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, sponsored by Senator Gabriel Suswam.

Senate seeks forex access for power sector

The Upper Chamber commended the Federal Government for the proactive initiative to establish the N1.7trillion COVID-19 crisis intervention fund to cater for critical issues on effective management of COVID -19.

It also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to allow operators in the power sector access to foreign exchange for procurement of equipment and materials as it was done in the aviation sector and oil industry.

The Senate equally asked the Federal Government to consider additional tariff support to cushion the effect of rate shock over a fixed period Continues on Page 27

By Abosede Adelaja

On FG school feeding programme during lockdown (3)

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HE programs is no ble but at this time that schools are on lockdown, it will be operationally difficult to reach pupils.

There are other better things the federal government can do with the money to help Nigerians to eradicate hunger like empowering the parents of the pupils. *Uka Olanma, Student

I

T’s a good thing that the FG aims to continue this arrangement.

By doing so, our local farmers and food vendors will be have a viable business.There will be cash flow in the economy and this will strengthen our local communities during the lockdown. *Ogunkunle Emmanuel, Analyst

T

HIS is clearly an other avenue to perpetuate fraud. How can we say we want to feed school children who are not in school?

If the federal government is bent on providing help to pupils, the proposed allocation should be sent to the parents of the pupils to help feed them. *Akipu Stellar, Analyst

T

HE Federal gov ernment should desist from this wasteful spending and focus on productive things. We have more pressing needs than school feeding. The billions budgeted for this project should rather be diverted to fixing infrastructural deficits or loan servicing. *Oyedokun Ibukun, Entrepreneur

I

N a country that bare ly has record for anything; I don’t know how the government intends to identify students. It’s absurd, bizzare, vague and definitely full of dark spots. Most assuredly, a few people will get these relief packages and that’s why I feel it should have been called something else. *Fafiolu Samuel, Public Analyst

I

T is a good idea if only the money will be spent justly on the programme.The government should look more into how to contain the virus, provide more testing kits for hospitals, improve our health sector and do more sensitization. FG should work on how to get things back to normal. *Zakariyau Oluyemi, Entrepreneur

6 — Vanguard, WEDNesDAY, MAY 20, 2020 :Vanguard News

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PALLIATIVES: District Head of Makera, Mallam Shehu Tijjani, receiving 1000 pieces of face masks from the Director of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, Maj.-Gen. Victor Ezugwo, during the distribution of COVID-19 lockdown palliatives, by DICON to 8 communities in Kaduna, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

COVID-19: We won't re-open economy fully until... —FG •Research on-going on five drugs in Nigeria •Says, fatalities increasing due to self-medication •Seeks NASS support for National Response •Chinese medical team still in Nigeria —FG •Madagascar syrup given to Nigeria free

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

BUJA — The Federal Government has said it will only re-open the nation's economy fully when it is able to strike a delicate balance between safety and economic considerations. It also explained the whereabouts of a 15-member Chinese Medical Team after initially engaging in several back and forth on the issue.

The government lamented the growing number of casualties with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying many of those who died recently, apart from having some underlying illnesses, had embarked on some form of self-medication or home care.

These were disclosed yesterday in Abuja during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19.

The federal government also announced that it has met the relevant committees of the National Assembly in its bid to deepen its collaboration with the legislature and strengthen its National Response to the pandemic. It added that about five drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, were currently being analysed by research institutes in the country to determine their efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19.

Reopening the Economy

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the decision of government to extend the eased lockdown for another two weeks was to effectively contain the virus before fully reopening the economy.

Mustapha added that he had taken delivery of the Madagascar COVID-19 Syrup, stating that he would engage the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie

Ehanire in that regard.

He said: "Yesterday, the PTF comprehensively conveyed Mr. President’s directive on extending the eased lockdown for another two weeks in the bid to further contain and control the spread of the disease.

"This well considered decision was taken out of an abundance of caution, current experiences from different countries and expert advice. I must add also that we were persuaded by the history of global pandemics because it is replete with evidence of exponential rise upon early lifting of restrictions, for which the 1918 – 1920 influenza remains the most recent example in human history.

"Nigeria, judging from these historical perspectives, must in our present approach, delicately balance between safety and economic considerations before we reopen the economy, fully. Again, I wish to repeat that the decision is not punitive, we share your pains and also share your concerns. However, our future remains in our hands and compliance is one of the keys to opening that future.

"I must also emphasise that the two additional weeks should be utilized by businesses, offices, professional bodies, places of worship, educational institutions, etc awaiting reopening to plan and adopt new strategies under a COVID-19 era in line with the guidelines. Above all, behavioral change is a must for every citizen because COVID 19 has changed the world completely.

Engagement with NASS

"As part of our engagement strategy, the PTF met with the Joint Health Committees of the National Assembly, today, to seek further collaboration and sup-

port for the battle. We robustly presented the Health Sector Response to the pandemic. As expected, the interactive session was very useful and the PTF COVID-19 received a reassurance of the support from the legislature".

We're not paying for Madagascar Syrup

"We have repeatedly said here that we did not ask for it. It was given to us by the government of Madagascar to African countries as its contribution to wanting to find a solution to COVID19 pandemic. And I have repeatedly said that our consignment and that of West Africa were dropped in Guinea-Bissau. We were making arrangements to go and airlift, but as God would have it, the President of Guinea-Bissau decided to visit our President last Saturday. So, when he was coming, he came with our consignment of five cartons and those five cartons were delivered to me yesterday in the evening, sealed.

"I am going to engage the Minister of Health who has responsibility of validation through his institutions that are chartered by law to do that and the President was upfront with that even when he took the delivery from the President of Guinea-Bissau. He said it quiet clearly that what we were going to do with the consignment will be guided by science. After the processes of validation, we will now know where to go.

"In terms of the question of whether it comes with a cost, well it was handed to me without an invoice. So, I assume it doesn't come with any cost. That is my assumption. For that, I think the Madagascar issue and the Chinese issue should be laid to rest because these two issues are not central to the problem that we have at hand now.

So, we should try as much

as possible to minimise the judicious use of our time to deal with important issues."

Rising fatalities

Mustapha advised those who are infected to seek help rather than going underground.

"For those who are struggling with the disease, help is available. Do not go underground. It is important to talk about it and to seek help. Every effort spares humanity the agony of the spread of the virus", he stated.Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire added that many recent cases of fatalities were as a result of the preference of some patients for home care, rather than accessing official treatment.

He said; "It is of great importance that we, members of the health sector and citizens, endeavor to use this period to dedicate their effort to strive for the best, but also prepare for the worst. As we learn more about coronavirus every day, we must be ready to adjust our strategy, based on knowledge and evidence.

"1, 644 patients have been treated and discharged from care, but we have sadly recorded 191 deaths in 26 states and the FCT. Even though this figure seems low compared to other countries, a disturbing picture emerging from statistics is that not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with preexisting diseases, many are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they develop sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital. Experience is showing that breathing complications in COVID-19 patients can arise with little or no notice.

This is an added reason why all persons should seek medical attention when they test positive.

Research on drugs "We do not support self medication. There are medicines that should not be in your hands except they are prescribed by your doctor.

There is a study being down on the efficacy of some drugs by about five centres in our country. Hydroxychloroquine is one of them. When the result is

out, I will let you know. But do not take medications on your own because you can do considerable harm to yourself", he added.

He advised Nigerians to always check for the NAFDAC numbers of hand sanitizers they are buying as well as verifying that the ingredients used in making such sanitizers are displayed on the body, with one of them being at least 60 percent alcohol.

No reward for states with low or higher cases Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control NCDC, Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu dismissed speculations that the federal government has a financial reward for states with high number of Covid-19 cases.

He said; "None of them.

Whether you report more or less, there is no direct relationship between the number of cases and how much support you get. So, I do not see the benefit of either reporting more or reporting less. In our situation report today which we have made public following your request, the number of tests that every state in Nigeria has carried out so far, I think the data speaks for itself".

Chinese Team still in Nigeria

The federal government said yesterday that the 15member Chinese medical team that came into Nigeria April 8 on the bill of CCECC was still in the country, disclosing that research was currently ongoing on five drugs to tackle coronavirus in the country.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force, PTF, in Abuja said: "Indeed, 15 Chinese nationals came into Nigeria on April 8, 2020 and from everything we have heard and said, they are here on the bill of CCECC, a Chinese company working in Nigeria. ''They are doing some work for us in several places and in conjunction with some Nigerian companies agree to support us in the effort to respond to the pandemic. At Idu in Abuja, they participated in retrofitting and equipping the isolation there. ''They equally worked on the Dome project that was handled by the NNPC Consortium in conjunction with Thisday. So, those were the locations in which they came to work. They are helped in retrofitting the two facilities and installing critical, essential and sensitive medical equipment. ''They came in, 15 of them, on April 8. They came on a 30-day Visa issued in Beijing. They are still here. I do not need to tell you why they are still here. They are still here not because they have not completed their job but because there is a restriction on travels in Nigeria occasioned by the protocol of COVID-19.''

C'ttee on postCOVID initiatives

Minister of Information

and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed announced that his ministry has set up a Committee on Post-Covid-19-Initiatives for the Creative Industry.

"If you recollect, I announced the establishment of the committee two weeks ago, when I met with members of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria BON. "The Committee comprises 22 members drawn from the various sectors of the Creative Industry. The number of members increased from the 14 that was initially announced to 22, as we brought in more sectoral representatives.

"The Committee is to:assess the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advise the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as create succour for the industry small businesses."

No immediate access for Nigerians in France

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said Nigerians who are in France and seeking to come into the country through Cotonou in Benin Republic would not be granted immediate access.

He said; "For Nigerian citizens in France who were enquiring whether they could safely board an Air France plane destined for Cotonou with the assumption that they can then cross into Nigeria, the thing is that we have a protocol in place. We can only take people according to the number of facilities that we have available, where they would be quarantined for two weeks and when we have adequate staffing to monitor them for that period of two weeks. That is really the precondition for an approval for anybody to come into the country from outside.

"I have reported here in the past that we have taken in almost 100 Nigerians who have come in through the land borders from Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

So, the possibility is there, but first, we have to be sure that we have the requisite capacity to take in those people. So, the simple answer to them in this particular case is, if it is the case that they have already bought tickets and have boarded the flight or are about to board the flight, when they get to Cotonou if it is a fait accompli, we will, as in the past liaise with our Charge de Affaires in Cotonou and with the two states, depending on the borders that they choose to go through and to see what capacity they might be in and see how we can process them from Cotonou. But there is certainly no guarantee that they will have immediate access to the country until such a time that they can be absorbed.

We also do not know the number of those who might have boarded that flight.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 7

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS FG begins fumigation of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports

By Lawani Mikairu the world, causing the closure of

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PRESENTATION: From left, Commander of NSCDC, P.E Ukpam; DCP S. Babaji, Director (RCSI); Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, Minister of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, member, COVID-19 Task Force, Attah Ikharo, Director, Security Services, Adamu Gwari & FRSC FCT Commander during presentation of palliative to COVID- 19 enforcement team by the Minister in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

COVID-19: Reps probe ‘disappearance’ of Demands account of COVID-19 Chinese medical team donations PDP flays FG’s alleged concealment, deception over doctors respecting or interacting with

By Dirisu Yakubu & Tordue Salem

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday began an investigation into the alleged disappearance of the medical team of Chinese nationals who were brought into the country in April by the federal government.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, had on May 14, told journalists that the Ministry was not aware of the whereabouts of the Chinese team.

Consequently, the House mandated the probe of the whereabouts of the team, yesterday, after considering a motion brought on the floor by Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau).

This came as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also yesterday accused the federal government of denials and coverup on the whereabouts and activities of the Chinese medical experts.

Sponsor of the motion, Bagos, recalled that on April 3, 2020, the Federal Government announced that a 15-member team of medical personnel, comprising doctors, nurses and other medical advisers, arrived the country, along with a plane-load of additional PPE. He said: On April 8, 2020, a 15- member team of Chinese medical personnel arrived in the country to share their experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by some government officials, including the Minister of Health.

“The decision to bring in Chinese medical personnel into the country to help the fight against COVID-19 by Federal Government sparked a lot of controversies from some Nigerians who kicked against the decision, saying the country has enough doctors and nurses, who are supposed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.’’

The lawmaker said he was further aware that in response to the controversies, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, convened a

meeting between the leadership of the House and Minister of Health on April 7,2020, adding that the speaker insisted that the medical team must undergo necessary checks as provided by the NCDC and also go on 14 days isolation before any interface with Nigerians.

“On arrival of the supposedly 15- member Chinese team on April 20, 2020, the Minister of Health in a press statement while welcoming them, told Nigerians what the Chineses doctors will be doing in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The lawmaker said he learned that “before the coming of the Chinese medical team into the country, COVID-19 data stood at 254 confirmed cases with 44 successfully treated by Nigerian medical personnel with only 6 deaths who, reportedly had other underlining ailment. ‘’Today, the data stands at about 5959 cases with 182 deaths, yet the nation has heard nothing as to the contribution of the supposedly Chinese medical team and their supposed medical expertise.’’

He expressed concerns that the Minister of Information reported in an interview with Sahara Reporters on the 4th of May, 2020 that the Chinese doctors had started working in isolation centres, helping the country in capacity building, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhai Lljian, said the medical team was sent at the request of the Nigerian government who had voiced welcome and gratitude to China’s help.

But while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Minister of Health said the medical personnel were not guests of the Federal Government but CCECC, a construction company” Bagos said he brought the motion, following the complaints and concern of Nigerians, saying “it is our duty as lawmakers and as representatives of our constituents to protect the Nigerian citizens, even while

foreign nationals.’’

The House adopted the motion in its entirety, mandating the Minister of Health to give a detailed status report of activities of the Chinese medical team to the speaker, as agreed during a meeting of April 7, 2020.

The House also mandated its Committees on Health Services, Interior, National Security and Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, to investigate the reports of Chinese medical team’s whereabouts and who they really were.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday accused the federal government of denials and cover-up on the whereabouts and activities of the Chinese medical experts brought into the country last month to help curtail the spread of coronavirus.

It also demanded an immediate apology from the federal government for what it called “taking Nigerians for granted” in its handling of the Chinese medical team.

The party said the conduct of the federal government in disclaiming the Chinese team and declaring that it could not account for their whereabouts after it had accorded them state reception, has further exposed the dishonesty, lack of transparency and inherent corruption that pervaded the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration and for which Nigerians had completely lost confidence in it.

In a statement issued by the spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP described as bizarre claims of the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, that he had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the medical team, whereas clarifications by the Chinese Embassy and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, indicated that the team had been in CCECC facility and had also collaborated with the nation’s health agencies.

The statement read: “The party notes that the declaration by the Minister of Health that government cannot account for the medical team it officially received, directly triggered public

alarm and raised suspicion of clandestine designs against our nation, consequent upon which our party issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the federal government.

“The PDP notes that the APC administration would have faced the anger of Nigerians for its lack of transparency, at the lapsing of the 48-hours ultimatum, but for the clarifications by the Chinese Embassy and CCECC. “With this clarification by CCECC, the PDP demands that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 should come clean on the reasons it claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the Chinese team and apologize to Nigerians.

“This is because our party believes that the Health Minister’s conduct betrayed a plot by certain officials of the Federal Government to deceive Nigerians and ostensibly distract public attention from the acts of corruption being perpetrated in the fight against COVID-19 in our country.

“The PDP consequently demands that the Federal Government should immediately declare and account for, in details, all funds, equipment, therapeutics and sundry aids it has received from international and indigenous bodies and individuals, given the exposed proclivities of its officials for diversion of such aids.''

HE Federal Government yesterday commenced the fumigation of three of the country ’s international airports, including the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The exercise, which was started by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is a signal that the temporary closure of the country’s airports will soon be lifted.

The fumigation is due to the coronavirus pandemic ravaging

all airports in the country.

Though it is still not certain when the ban on flights will be lifted, FAAN is taking this proactive steps to ensure the safety of passengers and other airport users when they are eventually reopened.

In March this year, FAAN embarked on a similar exercise of disinfection and fumigation of all the international airports.

With the extension of the ban on flight operations by four weeks on May 6 by Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, it is hoped that by June, flight operations may resume, though the ban is still being subject to review.

Senate moves to ensure food security to avert emergency crises  Seeks setting up of Food Reserve Agency

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—AS part of moves to avert any form of emergency food crises in future, following the outbreak of the coronavirus, a bill for an Act to establish the National Food Reserve Agency has got a boost in the Senate.

Consequently, the Bill for an Act to establish the National Food Reserve Agency and for matters connected therewith, 2000(SB.189) and sponsored by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West, yesterday scaled second reading.

The bill was referred by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for further legislative work.

The committee, chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is expected to report back to the upper chamber in four weeks.

Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Adamu, who underscored the importance for the diversification of the Nigerian economy, however, explained that there was need for enabling laws to address the problem of food insecurity.

According to the former governor of Nasarawa State, the Food Reserve agency when

established, will be responsible for storing food grains and other food commodities for strategic purposes.

Senator Adamu said: “Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the development and growth of every nation. Any country seeking to diversify its economy, alleviate poverty, create jobs and ensure food security should prioritize agriculture.

“Nigeria recognizing the important role Agriculture plays has made efforts to place the sector at the fore by introducing different intervention programmes and policies backed by enabling laws.

“A further step to be taken to ensure food security in our country at all times is to formulate enabling laws that will address food insecurity.”

He said the Food Reserve Agency “will implement the overall National Food Reserve Policy to ensure a reliable supply of designated commodities in the country.”

The lawmaker recalled that, “the recent mandate of the President during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute 70,000 metric tons of grains from the Grains Reserves shows clearly how important it is for a country to have a Food Reserve Agency.”

....To focus on NCDC's activities too Beam searchlight on status of local medical, pharmaceutical research for COVID-19 treatment funding for intense medical

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — TH E House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Ad-hoc Committee on coronavirus pandemic to investigate the operations of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, with regards to finding local cure for the deadly disease.

The committee was also asked to investigate the status of local medical research in the fight against coronavirus and other diseases in Nigeria.

The resolution was sequel to the consideration and adoption

of a motion titled: “Need to Investigate the Status of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research in the Fight Against COVID-19 and Other Diseases in Nigeria,” moved by Toby Okechukwu (PDP Enugu State), at plenary.

Moving the motion, Okechukwu, who is also the deputy minority leader of the House, noted the efforts of the World Health Organization, WHO, to find cure for COVID19.

According to the lawmaker, the Federal Government is also making effort on the need for a methodical approach in providing effective coordination, supervision, mandate and

research for cures of the diseases and for local production of essential medical supplies used in the fight against diseases in the country.

He noted that countries had come under intense pressure to develop cure for the disease, stressing that though Nigeria was well endowed with scientists and medical experts who could engineer local remedies for the disease, there was also the need to subject the processes to legislative scrutiny.

“The House is also aware that drugs for today’s societies are products of intense medical research by individual scientists and major pharmaceutical companies,'' he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 9 :Vanguard News

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N7bn building carcass: Agric minister, FEC approved all contracts, Perm Sec replies HOS representations and response to all the

A

MAIDEN VISIT: Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari (left) on his first official visit and courtesy call on the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Babagana Monguno (retd), in his office, Abuja, weekend.

By Omeiza Ajayi

BUJA—PERMANENT Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello, has denied allegations of financial misconduct levelled against him in his last tour of duty at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, had in a query to Dr Bello dated May 11, 2020, asked him to within 72 hours answer to allegations of buying an “uncompleted carcass” building for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development FMARD in the sum of N7 billion.

Bello was also accused, among others, of giving out seven deep drilling rigs for borehole procured at N1.3 billion to some unnamed individuals under “fraudulent arrangements.”

However, in his reply to the query dated May 14, a leaked copy of which was obtained by Vanguard yesterday, Bello said the Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono and the Federal Executive Council, FEC, actually gave approval for the purchase of the building.

He described the allegations as “baseless, completely concocted, unfounded, without facts, malicious and calculated to deceive,” urging the Head of Service to “kindly note that we have been invited, interrogated and cleared by the EFCC and ICPC on this particular matter after glaring facts were presented to them.”

Some of the allies of Dr Bello at his former ministry also punctured the allegations, saying the man was first posted to the ministry on a rescue mission to clear the rot during the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The reply

“While denying in totality all the allegations, I hereby forward my

false allegations contained in the query,” Dr Bello said in his reply.

“I am constrained to give details of the transactions I approved to set the records straight and clear my name. I will like to state the following that all transactions at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were approved through Administrative processes and principles as traditioned in the conduct of government business.

“That FMARD runs a rolling budget year in year out as most projects are being captured as ongoing; that all contracts/ procurement and payments at the FMARD followed due process. There are procedures for contracts/procurement and payments handled by various departments in all government agencies, FMARD inclusive.

“That my tenure as Permanent Secretary at FMARD commenced from 10th January, 2019 to 18th December, 2019 and hence cannot be held responsible or liable for actions prior to 10th January, 2019.

“I state that contractors were duly paid.

The allegation of contractors not been paid is totally false. All contractors whose contract was captured in the 2018 budgetary allocation were paid in accordance with budgetary releases.

However, contractors whose contracts are ongoing were rolled over as ongoing.

Rollover capital projects are not new in contract management.

FEC's Approval

“I will state that due process was followed to the latter in the purchase of the said building. After submission of recommendations to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture; He approved that Council Memo be made to that effect. We then sent the Memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation who then scheduled it for Federal Executive Council Approval. Consequently, the Federal Executive Council approved the purchase of the building.”

Reps probe NBET over fraud allegations

By Tordue Salem INSPECTION: From left: Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr Joe Igbokwe; Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services Office, Mr Lekan Shodehinde; and Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, during the inspection of canals and drainages in Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos state yesterday.

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committees on Power and Financial Crimes to look into allegations of sleaze at the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, NBET, from 2015.

The motion to look into allegations of financial impropriety at the agency, was sponsored by Muhammed Wudil (APCKano) and twelve others.

Presenting his motion, Wudil, argued that reports of sleaze were already generated against NBET by anticorruption agencies since 2015.

“In line with the provisions of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Power is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out oversight on the Ministry of Power and its agencies, including the NBET.

“The Committee on Power is in receipt of complaints against Nigeria Bulk Trading Company, NBET, since inception of the agency,’’ Wudil said.

He said he was also “aware that several anti-corruption agencies, among which are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, have further investlgated the agency, and come out with reports.”

He called the House to review the reports from the agency, make its additional findings and recommend sanctions as appropriate.

The House, without debate, adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Power, Financial Crimes and Anti-corruption to investigate NBET, from 2015-2020, and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

Buhari writes Senate, requests Yuguda's confirmation as SEC boss, others

By Henry Umoru

A

DONATION: From left: Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Obafunke Denloye; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Jordi Borrut Bel; Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Olubunmi OlopadeOlaopa; and Brewery Manager, Ibadan & Ijebu Ode, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Tayo Ogundana during the donation of Clinical Laboratory Simulators to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan by Nigerian Breweries Plc at the College in Ibadan yesterday.

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate, requesting for screening and confirmation of Lamido Yuguda as the new Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Also to be screened and confirmed are three nominees as full-time commissioners of the commission.

Others for confirmation are Reginald C. Karausa, full-time Commissioner; Ibrahim D. Boyi, full-time Commissioner;

and Mr. Obi Joseph, full-time Commissioner.

President Buhari’s request was contained in a letter read by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, at plenary.

The letter read: “Pursuant to Section 3 and 5(1) of the Investment and Securities Act 2007, I write to request for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following four nominees as Director General and Commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Their CVs are attached herewith.''

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 :Vanguard News

N4.3bn secret account: No plan to impeach Akeredolu —Ondo lawmakers

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—MEMBERS of the Ondo State House of Assembly, said yesterday that there was no plan to commence impeachment moves against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu over the N4.3 billion lodged in a new generation bank over 10 years ago.

The controversy had trailed the lodgment of the money in the bank and spending without appropriation by the government coupled with the accrued interest over the years.

But the lawmakers, in a statement yesterday by the Chairman House Committee on Information, Mr. Gbenga Omole, said a robust relationship exists between the Assembly and the governor.

The statement reads: “There was no plan to commence impeachment moves against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. “That the news making the rounds that the Speaker ’s lodge was

under siege is a hoax and the imagination of those behind it.

“The lodge was never under siege. The armed Policemen sighted there were at some distance away and were there to maintain peace, law, and order.

“On the issue of the N4.3b under scrutiny, all relevant documents should be submitted to the Committee on Public Account and Committee on Finance and Appropriation respectively.

“There is a robust relationship between the Executive Arm of government and the Legislature; whatever has been planted in the media in recent times is the handiwork of fifth columnists.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mr. Oleyelogun Bamidele has mandated the Finance Commissioner and the Accountant General to furnish the House with documents on the said secret account transactions tomorrow (Thursday) at the plenary.

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Northern youths flooding south not Almajirai —Tanko Yakassai

By Dapo Akinrefon & Shina Abubakar

L

AGOS—FORMER Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, yesterday, clarified that northern youths flooding the south are not Almajirai.

This came as Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in Osun State, NSCDC, arrested about 35 young men while trying to sneak into the state.

Yakassai, who tried to set the records straight regarding the influx of northern youths to the south, said the youths were not Almajirai.

Yakassai, in an interview with Vanguard, said: “You need to investigate those who are sending these Almajirai. Is it true that they are Almajirai? I saw a bunch of youths wearing shirts, the Almajirai don’t wear shirts.

In the beginning, they said Fulani and now they changed to Almajirai. They wear the same things most of our compatriots wear.

....As NSCDC arrests 35 northerners sneaking into Osun These are not the Almajirai from where I come from.

This is part of the kill and hate Nigeria campaign and I will not be part of it. I am a committed Nigerian; I spent all my life, starting from 1953 when I was just 28 years old, to fight for the unity of Nigeria. I will not support or associate myself with anybody who is antiNigeria.”

NSCDC arrest 35 northerners sneaking into Osun

Meanwhile, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adeyinka Oguntuase, stated that the

boys were arrested while hiding under the guise of darkness to travel out of the state.

During interrogation, one of the arrested northerners disclosed that they were trying to travel through Ede to Ogbomoso and head to Sokoto.

Oguntuase said: “The guys were arrested last Monday night while trying to sneak out of the state despite the ban on interstate travel to go all the way to Sokoto state. They even revealed that they deliberately decided to travel at night to escape being caught.

“We have called on the

leader of Hausa community in Ilesa intimating him of the development and he felt bad, saying he has spoken with his subjects on the need to obey the rules set by the government in its bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The NSCDC commandant said the arrested men would be returned to Ilesa, where they would be handed over to their leader.

He said: “We are making arrangements on how to return them to Ilesa and hand them over to their leader with a view to ensuring that they live within the ambit of the law.”

Osun Amotekun nabs 10 Chinese, Ghanaian, 3 locals for illegal mining

By Shina Abubakar

O

S O G B O — OPERATIVES of the Osun Amotekun Corps in collaboration with the state Joint Taskforce, yesterday, arrested illegal miners during a raid on four illegal mining sites in the state.

Those arrested include 10 Chinese nationals, a Ghanaian and three indigenous illegal miners.

The raided sites were Itagunmodi, Igun and Ariye I and II, all in Atakunmosa-West Local Government Area of the State, following a tip-off by members of the public.

The operation which lasted about two hours was carried out at all the illegal mining sites in the council area.

Speaking with journalists after the operation, the Director-

General, Amotekun Corps in the state, Mr. Amitolu Shittu, said the operation was part of the state government’s resolve to clear the state of economic saboteurs.

Shittu commended the JTF comprising Nigerian Army, Air force, Navy, Police, DSS, NSCDC and Immigration for their cooperation with Amotekun corps to make the operation a success.

Oyo govt shuts Indian firm with 31 COVID-19 The management of the Ibadan. cases company said that staff

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—AN Indian firm, where 31 staff contracted COVID-19 discovered on Monday, has been shut by the Oyo State Government.

The company (name withheld) is located on the second floor of the old Kingsway building, Dugbe, Ibadan.

For fear of spreading the virus to other companies on the same floor, the companies which share the floor with the Indian company were also shut.

The company is a subsidiary of a telecommunication giant.

members with suspected risks have undergone the necessary test and placed in isolation under the supervision of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. The management said: “We have ensured contact centre services are available on a 24/7 basis with additional work from home customer service advisors activated and maintained ‘Business as Usual’ for us as well as for our customers.

“Important points with regards to our Nigeria operations – we have some of our employees who were detected positive for Covid19 at one of our centres in

“Employees with suspected risks have undergone the necessary tests and placed in isolation under the supervision of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. “Together with the authorities, we will ensure the full return of our employees to good health for their eventual resumption back at work.

“As of now, our office premise is temporarily closed for thorough disinfection. We are focused on providing services in a safe and healthy environment, and taking the necessary proactive measures to mini mize the spread of COVID-19 virus.”

COVID-19: Foundation distributes palliatives to 300 households in Lagos religious and social affiliations in

L

AGOS—A NonGovernmental Organisation, Kehinde Salami Foundation, KSF, has set up machinery for the distribution of palliatives to indigent members of the Ojo Local Government in Lagos State as a way to assuage the sufferings of the masses, particularly in the month of Ramadan.

Kehinde Salami, who is CEO of Kenolt Global Resources Limited and Founder of the

KehindeSalamiFoundation,said the palliative is aimed at cushioning the effects of the lockdown imposed on the state as orchestrated by the COVID19pandemicoutbreak.

Salami, who will lead the team to ensure effective distribution of the palliatives on Thursday said: “Our foundation is set out to be a frontrunner in humanitarian activities and making life meaningfulforthelessprivileged irrespective of their political,

the society. Our mission is clear and with the support of God, we aregraduallyachievingourgoals ofbridgingthewidegapsbetween the poor and the rich.

“Majorly, this intervention programme will go a long way in providing reliefs to our brothers andsisters,youngandoldaswell as the downtrodden who have beensubjectedtohardshipbythe outbreak of COVID-19 which eventually led to lockdown and movements restriction order imposed by the government.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 11 NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378)

WEMA AGM: From left—Company Secretary, Johnson Lebile; MD/CEO, Ademola Adebise, and non-Executive Director, Samuel Durojaye, all of Wema Bank, during the bank's 2019 AGM, held by proxy at the Wema Bank Towers, Monday.

22-yr-old COVID-19 patient delivers twins at LUTH

By Chioma Obinna

L

AGOS—THE Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday, delivered another pregnant woman diagnosed with COVID-19 of twins.

The delivery brings the total number of babies delivered at the LUTH isolation centre to five while their mother

becomes the fourth patient with COVID-19.

The twins delivered through cesarean section weighed 3.2kg and 3.25kg.

The baby girl and boy, as well as their mother, are doing well.

The hospital’s Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, stated that the

babies were delivered on Tuesday 19th May 2020.

Adeyemo said: “The mother and babies are doing well. Once again, we celebrate our committed frontline staff for this achievement.

“We also appreciate the support of the Federal Government, Lagos State government and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.”

COVID-19: Market leaders to arrest defiant traders Ogogoro in action!

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS—LEADERS of the Balogun Business Association at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, yesterday, vowed to arrest defaulting traders, who flout the directives aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the market.

Speaking with newsmen on the level of compliance to the precautionary measures, President of the association, Mr. Tony Obi, said: “On our part, we owe it a duty to enforce the directives which include social

distancing, wearing of face masks, providing and use of sanitizers by customers.

“We have no problem with the directive of the government to either close down or ensure the continuity of the market as a result of the spread of the virus.”

Also speaking, Chief Security Officer of the association, Mr. Okechukwu Emechebe, however, appealed to the Lagos State Police Command to give the association a marching order to arrest and hand over erring traders to the police.

Emechebe said: “The

challenges we have are dealing with human beings because of their complex nature. Part of the efforts made so far to ensure that the Federal Government’s directive reaches the grassroots has been cumbersome because many people still believe that coronavirus is a hoax.

“We seal shops of violators who do not comply with the directive of the government but I would be glad if we can hand them over to the government to be quarantined for 14 days.”

Oyo Assembly grants Makinde’s N20bn loan facility

By Adeola Badru

I

BADAN—THE Oyo State House of Assembly, yesterday, approved the request of Governor Seyi Makinde to access the N20 billion contractor financing loan facility from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The assembly also approved the governor’s request to access another N2.5 billion CBN credit support intervention fund for the health sector in the state.

Makinde sought the approval of the legislature in two separate letters of request he forwarded to the assembly and read at the plenary by the Speaker, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin.

The governor, in the request, noted that the N20b loan facility became imperative in view of the dwindling revenue accruable to the state from the Federation Account and the drop in the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

On the N2.5b CBN credit support intervention fund, the governor said the money would be used to revamp

the health care facilities, manage the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote other health initiatives of his administration.

The speaker said the assembly approved the governor’s requests in view of the importance the

administration attached to infrastructural development especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads and other social amenities as well as the need to upgrade health facilities to combat Coronavirus and other health challenges.

Group begs FG for more fuel supply to Badagry

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—THE Hengo Badagry Youth Association, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to increase the supply of petroleum products to nine approved fuel stations in Badagry border communities of Lagos State.

The Federal Government on March 23 lifted the suspension placed on 66 fuel stations across the border communities to ease fuel scarcity in the areas.

However, nine out of the 66 fuel stations belonged to Badagry border communities in Lagos State.

President of the association, Mr. Felix Godonu, who made the plea at a press briefing in

Badagry said: “The Federal Government should please support the efforts of the state government in curbing community transmission of COVID-19 by supplying more fuel stations to dispense the products.

“This is because the large crowd at the petrol station whenever there is fuel, calls for worry and concern, as most people unintentionally disregarded the social distancing and use of mask guidelines.

“Government should allow fuel stations with proper documentation and credibility to start lifting fuel for distribution so that normalcy can return to our communities.”

To bid the person final farewell!

Na so life be!

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 :Vanguard News

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DISTRIBUTION: Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Olisa Ifeajika (left); Vice President General, Illah Development Union, Ogbuenyi Mike Ofili (right) and Matron, Comprehensive Health Centre, Illah, Mrs Okafor Ifechukwude, during the distributions of face mask by the CPS to the Health Centre in Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, as part of measures to fight COVID-19 in the community.

Edo intensifies contact tracing of 830 suspected cases, clears 917

• Medical Doctor tests positive in Bayelsa • Fear grips Delta community over suspected Covid-19 patient • Market leaders champion containment of Coronavirus spread in Trade Fair

By Samuel Oyadongha, Evelyn Usman, Gabriel Enogholase, Perez Brisibe, Davies Iheamnachor, Ephraim Oseji & Paul Olayemi

B

ENIN CITY—EDO State Government has announced the discharge of 917 suspected coronavirus cases across the 18 local government areas of the state, who have completed the compulsory 14-day follow up and tested negative.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, yesterday, said the cleared cases comprise 338 Persons of Interests (POI) and 579 others that had various degrees of contacts with confirmed cases.

He disclosed that the state has so far recorded 95 confirmed cases, 885 suspected cases, five deaths and 35 discharges, adding that the state's improved efforts at screening and testing were responsible for the rising number of confirmed cases.

According to him, the state has tested over 917 residents, screened over 126, 000 persons and is currently contact tracing over 830 others across the 192 wards of Edo. The commissioner reassured that the remaining 55 cases that were yet to be discharged are on active treatment at various isolation centres in the state and were responding well to treatment.

The commissioner, who identified screening and testing as essential in the government's efforts at containing the pandemic, said, "The Edo State Government encourages all residents with symptoms of the disease to come out for screening, testing and treatment as early detection is key to containing the virus. When detected early, a patient's chances of survival increases."

Medical Doctor tests positive in Bayelsa

A medical doctor has tested positive for COVID-19 in Bayelsa State, bringing the number of active cases in the state to two.

Governor Douye Diri announced the new confirmed case, yesterday, in Yenagoa during a meeting of the COVID-19 Taskforce, which he chairs.

Diri said, "The doctor, who is a staff of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, was earlier admitted at a private hospital before he tested positive for the virus.

"His travel history showed that he came into the state from a trip to neighbouring Delta State. The hospital has been shut down for decontamination to commence."

The governor noted that five positive COVID-19 patients had been successfully treated and discharged, as he cautioned frontline medical personnel handling active cases to adhere strictly to laid down protocols.

Arising from the resolutions taken by the taskforce, the governor directed that the presidential directives of inter-state lockdown be adopted for another two weeks as well as the duskto-dawn curfew of 8p.m., to 6a.m.

Fear grips Delta community over suspected Covid-19 patient

Meanwhile, there is fear in the Yoruba Road area of Sapele in Delta State after a Covid-19 case was reported.

Vanguard learned that the suspected case was a middle aged man, who was found to be abandoned in a wood house in the area, but was noticed by neighbours breathing heavily and was promptly reported to the authorities.

A source who craved anonymity told Vanguard that

"The man was brought back from Lagos few days ago and left in the car for days. However, when his presence in the vehicle was beginning to raise dust, he was moved to a house built with wood and left there before we noticed his condition and raised the alarm.

"When the news got across to a community leader and activist, Chief Newumi Omolubi, he dashed down to where the patient was, and sent for the man's relatives, who denied their brother's illness was a case of corona virus but said it was a result of heart problem," the source narrated.

Omolubi was said to have provided cash for the man's relatives to move him to the hospital.

Onuesoke seeks increase in testing, quarantine centres across Nigeria

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has appealed to both Federal and state governments to increase covid-19 testing and quarantine centres across the country as a measure to curtail the rising spread of the pandemic.

He appealed to corporate organisations and well to do individual to provide funds for the establishing of both testing and quarantine centres for the treatment of covid-19 patients, adding that until there were enough testing and quarantine centres in the country, the pandemic will still linger on.

Onuesoke in a statement, yesterday, disclosed that he has observed that Nigeria does not have enough testing centres, adding that the few covid-19 testing centres were not enough to attend to the high population of Nigerians.

"We need more testing centres across the federation in

combating this global pandemic. We need people to get tested, sensitised and have the know-how of overcoming this monster called Covid-19. To achieve it, we need at least one testing and quarantine centre in each local government across the country."

ALMAJIRIS:Group task S'South govs on neighborhood watch

To check the spread of the coronavirus in the South South, Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, CENTREP, has tasked governors of the region on the need to form neighbourhood watch to curb the influx of Almajiris into their states.

CENTREP in a statement yesterday by its executive director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, explained that the security outfit will help in possibly averting any calamity by Boko Haram insurgents, whom have

threatened mayhem in the South-South and the South East in the event of an attack.

He said, "Our attention has been drawn to the movement of suspected terrorist from the North to the South-South region and other Southern states of the federation under the guise of being Almajiris while COVID-19 lockdown is on.

"We wish to timorously advice the governors of the South-South region to immediately set up neigbourhood watch in various communities within their respective states to possibly avert any calamity by Boko Haram which have threatened mayhem in the South South and the South East in the event of an attack."

APC to Buhari: Disregard Rivers monarchs on disbandment of joint Taskforce

Dissatisfied with the call by Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers to stop the activitiesoftheJointTaskforce on movement of agricultural products and foodstuffs, set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the call.

Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Dandison Jaja, had as part of efforts to check the spread the coronavirus in the state, tasked President Buhari to call the IGP to order over the joint Taskforce, adding that the activities of the team would jeopardize the health of the people of the state.

But, the South South Zonal Secretary of APC, David Okumgba, in a statement in Port Harcourt, described the call as unnecessary, urging Buhari to discountenance it.

Okumgba said: "Our people are already being strangulated by actions of Governor Nyesom Wike's - cog-

itare facit- generalship in combating the virus."

He expressed shock over the involvement of Traditional Rulers in the politics of the state, adding that the council led by King Jaja appears to be under the supervision of Wike.

He enjoined the council to call the governor to order, adding that his frequent conduct since the outbreak of the pandemicremainsaconstant embarrassment to the good people of the state.

Market leader champion containment of Coronavirus spread in Trade Fair

Meanwhile, market leaders at Trade Fair Complex on Mile 2-Badagry expressway, Lagos, have put up precautionary measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus to the market.

They also, called on Police authorities to accord them the right to arrest traders, who failed to carry out stipulated directives towards achieving the aim.

The call is coming on the heels of complaints that some of the traders at the Balogun wing of the market failed to obey directives on the provision of water and soap for customers to wash their hands before entering the plaza.

Speaking with journalists on the level of compliance to the precautionary measures, President, Balogun Business Association, Mr Tony Obi, said that on the part of the association, buckets of water were stationed at the entrance gates as well as a thermometer to test the temperature of everyone entering the premises.

He said that it was not possible to get 100 percent compliance to the Federal Government's directive, but "On our part, we owe it a duty to enforce the directives which include social distancing, wearing of face masks, providing and using sanitizers for customers.

Emmanuel slashes salaries of political appointees subsequently or spread by the governor. by 20% He explained that the the discomfort (20 percent

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has directed the slashing of salaries of all his political appointees by 20 percent due to the dwindling revenue occasioned by drop in the price of oil.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem disclosed this in a statement in Uyo. Ekuwem explained that the prevailing economic downturn in the country led to the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Post COVID-19 Economic Reconstruction Committee

salary cut was only temporary, as the state government would resume full payment of salaries whenever the situation improved.

Ekuwem said, "In response to the prevailing economic realities of dwindling revenues, caused by the crash in the price of crude oil in the global market, Governor Emmanuel, has painfully directed the slashing of salaries of all political office holders by 20 percent.

"The governor was confronted with an urgent need to take decision on either of two painful options: continue to pay the current salaries for a while and end up being totally unable to pay same

cut) sustainably over a period of time pending the return of crude oil price to normalcy in the global market."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 13 :Vanguard News

:@vanguardnews

B/Haram wreaks havoc on Dapchi community ....Raze, hospital, police station, palace etc.

•Military kills scores of terrorists

By Kingsley Omonobi & Ndahi Marama

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APCHI—BOKO Haram terrorists have razed a hospital and palace of the District Head of Dapchi Town, Yobe State, after looting foodstuff and other palliatives brought by National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for onward

distribution, because of coronavirus, COVID-19 lockdown.

The insurgents, who stormed the community, Monday night, also burnt down Police station, shops and residential houses as well as vehicles. Also three members of vigilante/ hunters were reportedly killed in the area.

This came as the military said its Air Task Force, ATF,

of Operation Lafiya Dole, successfully neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists, BHTs, and destroyed two of their gun trucks on the outskirts of Dapchi Town in Yobe State.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer of Yobe State Police Command, Dungus Abdullahi, said: “Seven terrorists were killed in air

Again, Kano reviews FG's lockdown

By Abdulmumin Murtala

K

ANO—KANO State government has reviewed the two weeks extension of total lockdown imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Presidential Taskforce, PTF, on the state, as part of efforts to check the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19. The governor

gave a four-hour window for residents on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm.

Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, yesterday, said “government is fully aware of the difficult but necessary hardship people have to pass through which informed the need for controlled enforcement.

After series of meetings with key health experts, the Ulama and other

Ortom merges science school, technical college to get support, funding merger would also enable

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—BENUE State government has merged the State Technical School situated at the Benue State University Makurdi with the Special Science Senior Secondary School also in Makurdi to galvanize support and funding for science and technical education in the state.

The institutions would now be known as Government Science and Technical College Makurdi.

Governor Ortom who yesterday announced the change after inspecting infrastructure at the Special Science School said “the

the state government give maximum attention to the institution since the global focus has shifted to science and technical education.”

The Governor who also inspected infrastructure at the Alfred Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi disclosed that the legislative process to convert the College to a Polytechnic had reached advanced stage at the Benue State House of Assembly.

He directed the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar to immediately compile the list of challenges confronting the two schools visited in order of priority and forward same to him for attention.

stakeholders, the state government adopted some measures that will further bring relief to the populace, with the partial lift on the lockdown on three days, that is, Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10:00am and 2:00pm with a total relief of 12 hours per week as earlier recommended by the Presidential Task Force.”

On the enforcement of the prevention protocols of COVID-19 at the Mosques in Kano, where Muslims have been allowed to congregate on Friday and on the Eid day, Garba said “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed the state Hisbah Board to hold meeting with Imams and deploy its personnel to Friday (Jumu’at mosques) across the state to ensure that worshipers comply with personal hygiene through maintaining social distancing, hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizers and facemasks.

“The government considers it convenient to allow the conduct of Eid Prayers on the Sallah day in all the five Emirates in the state during which restriction of movement has been lifted from 6:00am to 2:00pm under strict observance of safety and prevention protocols.”

COVID-19: Nasarawa lifts ban on religious gatherings

By David Odama

L

AFIA—NASARAWA State Government, yesterday reviewed the lockdown, lifting ban on religious gathering in the state for two weeks among others.

Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Dogo Shammah, announced this while briefing

journalists on the update of the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic at the end of the security and stakeholders meeting in government House Lafia.

Recall that Governor Abdullahi Sule had banned religious gathering since March 2, as parts of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commissioner however explained that the ban was lifted for only two weeks for now with certain conditions that religious leaders would have to observe.

According to the commissioner, “after the expiration of the two weeks the government would review the situation to see the level of compliance with the conditions to ensure that members abide by preventive measures.”

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strike during the encounter, as there was no casualty on the side of the police.”

He regretted that a Police station among other structures were set ablaze by the insurgents.

On the attack, residents said: “The insurgents, with gun truck vehicles, AK47 rifles, and Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, invaded the community at about 5:30pm, on Monday, while majority of Muslim faithful were preparing to break their fast. The insurgents wrecked havoc without confrontation as they killed three members of vigilante/hunters, looted shops before setting them ablaze, as many fled into the bush for safety coupled with lack of telecommunications network due to destruction of masts in previous attacks.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said: “The air operation was conducted following reports that BHT/ISWAP terrorists, in about five vehicles, had launched an attack on the Town. A helicopter gunshipwasscrambledtoengage the terrorists and scored direct hits on their vehicles, destroying two of them and killing the occupants."

NCDC: Only one COVID-19 test done in Kogi In a statement issued

O

UT of 35,983 samples tested in 36 states and the federal capital territory, FCT, so far, Kogi and Cross River states have the lowest figures of samples tested.

The two states are yet to record any positive COVID-19 case.

While Kogi has only tested one sample, Cross River has tested seven samples, all of which returned negative for COVID-19.

This was contained in the May 18 situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, yesterday.

According to the data provided, Lagos has tested the highest number of persons with 14,886 samples tested, followed by the FCT and Kano with 4,688 and 2,653 samples tested, respectively.

The NCDC had visited Kogi in the first week of May, but the state claimed the agency ’s officials “fled” the state when they were asked to undergo tests for COVID-19.

on May 8, following the NCDC’s visit, Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi commissioner for information, said the team refused to be isolated or have their samples taken for tests.

“It was drama today at the Kogi State Government House as officials of the National Center for Disease Control sent to ascertain the COVID-19 status flee the state,” Fanwo said.

“The Officials said they were not ready to be tested for COVID-19 and went back to Abuja.

Today, the Governor showed the statesmanship in him once again by appreciating the support of the NCDC and defending the health interests of his people.”

In response to the development, Chikwe Ihekweazu, directorgeneral of the NCDC, e x p r e s s e d disappointment with the outcome in Kogi, saying his team can only offer help where it is needed.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

VISIT: From left— Hon. Paul Nmah, Chairman, Delta State I n v e s t m e n t s Development Agency, DIDA; Mr. Chima Ofoma, Managing Director Re-Homes Property Development Co. Ltd.; Mr. Peter Okolie Snr. Inv. Analyst DIDA; Mr. Ifeanyi Abanum, Chairman, Delta State Automobile Technicians/ Artisans, during the inspection visit to the Asaba Ultra-Modern Mechanic Village and Auto Parts in Asaba.

Oil rises on signs of output cuts and demand hopes

O

COVID-19: How Okowa's medical background paid off in Delta, by Commissioner

By Festus Ahon A SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. Matthew Tsekiri, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his good management of the Covid -19 pandemic in the State.

Matthew who made the commendation while chatting with newsmen in his office, said the Governor brought his medical knowledge to bear in the

handling and containment of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in the State.

"Delta is lucky to have a Medical Doctor at the helm of affairs. He has deployed his medical knowledge and experience for the benefit of Deltans in the management of Covid-19 in the State.

"Dr Ifeanyi Okowa's prompt establishment of fully equipped isolation centres, holding centres, procurement of

ventilators,othervitalequipment and training of health personnel to manage the dreaded virus is commendable.

"But for timely decision of the Governor to lockdown the State, the situation could have been worse than this. I want to therefore implore Deltans to continue to maintain social distancing,compulsorywearing of face masks in public, use of alcohol based sanitizers as well as obeying the dusk to dawn curfew and border closures".

Heexpressedhopethatwiththe strides of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the containment of the coronavirus pandemic, the curve would soon be flattened in the State,urgingthepeopleoftheState to cooperate cooperate with the Governor in his resolve to make the State free of the virus.

Matthewwhospokefurther,also commendedpracticingJournalists in the State for their reportage of the management of the virus in the State.

Ubiaza's an autonomous community —Odionwere ...celebrates new Benin Prince

By Ozioruva Aliu

B

ENIN CITY—THE Odionwere (Eldest man) of Ubiaza Village in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State, Pa Aigbanbee Emokpae has said that contrary to reports, the village has always existed as an autonomous village spanning over 300 years.

The Odionwere also congratulated the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II on the arrival of a new Prince into the palace given birth to by Her Royal Highness Queen Iyagota of Benin Kingdom.

Reacting to a publication of Sunday Vanguard dated 17th May, 2020 Aigbanbee said the Ogiamien family attempted to drag the names of the Odionwere and elders of Ubiaza to the mud but insisted that the people of Ubiaza Community have extreme regard to the Revered monarch, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin He told Vanguard that the community has existed independent of Obaretin and that it is headed by Odionwere.

He said: “Ubiaza has always been under the headship of Odionwere.Ubiazahasboundary with Uhuoro, Okha villages and Obaretin Government Reserve AreaasfarasAgbasaandObagie N’Okenkporo.

“The immediate past Enogie and father of present Enogie in their life time never had cause to dispute the existence of Ubiaza as an autonomous village.

Ubiaza has had several Odionweres, including Pa

Okunbor, Pa Obasuyi, Pa Arhuomwanbo and Pa Ogiemwense who handed over to Pa Osifo.”

He said Obaretin’s trespass on Ubiaza land started as far back as 1960 when an unnamed

individualcapitalized onthethen Odionwere’s loss of sight and that orchestrated Obaretin’s trespass into Ubiaza.

Pa Emokpae said the issue of trespass is pending before a competent court with Suit no 13/ 171/2018andthatduringthelast

sitting of the court, counsel to one of the complainants had prayed that the court should allow for out of court settlement .

The matter is also before the Palace of the Oba of Benin who has suspended regular palace activities because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19: Mojec donates relief materials, targets 20,000 households

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AGOS—AS part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, efforts aimed at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Mojec Meter Assets Management Company, a subsidiary of Mojec International Limited, has donated relief materials including food items, cash and face masks to vulnerable citizens across the Country.

The laudable Initiative which has been dubbed:

MOJEC COVID-19 ‘Food Bank Drive’ is targeted at impacting circa 20,000 households/ individuals in Nigeria. The Program will span the catchement areas and states Mojec serves withinthefollowingDISCOs: Abuja Disco, Enugu, Ikeja, Ibadan,EKO,Kano,Kaduna, and Jos DISCO. According to the GMD, MOJECHoldingsLimited,Ms. ChantelleAbdul,M3AC,Mojec Meter Asset Management Co., created the Food Bank Drive as its response to the socio-

economicimpactoftheLockdown on 65% of the Nigerian populace whodependsontheirdaily/weekly wages to feed & care for their families.

“Due to M3AC’s foot prints and the number of customers it serves acrosstheCountry,wehavebegun distributing the Relief Packages starting in Lagos. The COVID19 Food Drive Initiative’s sole objective was intended to help bringmuchneededsuccortomany ofit’scustomersnationwideaswell asamelioratetheeconomicimpact of the month long lockdown on themthroughthereliefpackages,” she said."

Ramadan: Maltina shares happiness through food, other essentials to Muslim families to enjoy and pass on to

L

AGOS—TO support Nigerians as they deal with the current pandemic, Maltina is sharing happiness through food, prayers, drinks, and other essentials to Muslim families in states hardest hit by the Coronavirus, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Oyo as they celebrate Ramadan.

This is in line with the brand’s commitment to share happiness to Nigerians. The pandemic has deprived many of access to the necessary refreshments, essential

food items, and knowledge to keep them nourished, learning, and happy during this Ramadan season, a tragedy that Maltina is committed to mitigating.

In the spirit of Ramadan, apart from sharing 50 cases of Maltina packs every Friday to consumers at key Mosques and Islamic leaders across Nigeria, the leading malt drink is giving key Muslim influencers with food boxes from Maltina, healing prayers, free Maltina drinks, and a letter of hope

others in their community.

Maltina is working to empower Muslim leaders to support others in their community for Ramadan, as the nation faces a global pandemic while completing the month-long spiritual exercise.

Elohor Olumide-Awe, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, said, “The Maltina care boxes [SA2] are designed to share happiness physically throughnourishingfood,spiritually through prayers, and emotionally through a letter of hope and our shared vision to continue sharing happiness across Nigeria."

IL prices rose yesterday amid signs that pro ducers are cutting output as promised and on signs of increasing demand as more countries ease out of curbs imposed to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

Benchmark Brent crude was up 42 cents or 1.2percent at $35.23 a barrel by 1411 GMT. The front-month contract for US West Texas Intermediate crude, which expired yesterday, was up $1.03, or 3.2percent, at $32.85 a barrel.

The July contract, which was trading at vastly higher volumes, was up 46 cents at $32.11 a barrel.

“The market sees both forces aligning: the cuts OPEC+ promised are materialising and other nonmember production shut-downs are also really helping to limit the oversupply,” said Paola Rodriguez Masiu, senior oil markets analyst at Rystad Energy.

AT&T closes payTV service in Venezuela amid US sanctions

A

T&T Incorporated yesterday said it has closed its DirecTV Latin America operations in Venezuela amid sanctions by the United States on the country.

The sanctions prohibited it from broadcasting channels that were essential to providing its pay TV services in Venezuela, the wireless carrier said.

The United States has been slapping sanctions on Venezuela in a pressure campaign aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro.

AT&T said the decision to close operations was made by its US team without any participation from the pay TV’s Venezuela team.

Debtors Africa launches searchable database on delinquent debtors

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EBTORS Africa, an independent searchable database of recalcitrant and delinquent debtors in Africa has been launched into the market.

In addition, a Debtors Report - a comprehensive analysis of the debt/Non-Performing Loans situation - in the Nigerian banking industry was also presented for information.

The report, which was done in partnership with Proshare, represents a culmination of a detailed review of the credit experiences of local Nigerian banks in the last two decades and reveals the challenges of a local lending cycle that has seen lenders become victims of the tyranny of bad and delinquent debtors.

The report makes a case for a new approach to the lending cycle to ensure that integrity, professionalism and evidence-based best lending practices are strictly followed to guarantee the sustainability of the financial system and the prosperity of the larger economy.

The Debtors Africa, a website of a searchable database of delinquent borrowers, enables speedy assessment of the character of a prospective customer. Of equal importance is that investors can use the database as a starting node for assessing the quality of the management of a business they intend to either partner or invest in.

ABC Health appoints Atoki new Chief Executive Officer

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he African Business Coalition for Health (ABCHealth) has announced the appointment of Mories Atoki as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The coalition said in a statement that Mories brings years of experience as senior manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she pioneered and led the firm’s Sustainability & Climate Change practice.

It said with an extensive track record in the field of development and as a recognised sustainability expert, she is a member of the Advisory BoardofPartnersforReview(P4R),aUnitedNationssupportedinitiative to standardise sustainable development reporting. Mories is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School (HBS) as well as the London School of Business & Finance.

Chairman of ABCHealth and Co-Chairman of Global Business Coalition for Health (GBCHealth), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said: “Mories’ appointment comes at a critical moment for ABCHealth. We have just finalised a rigorous strategic planning process aimed at transforming Africa’s Health landscape. Our theory of change now needs to be implemented and Mories has a mandate to successfully drive its implementation.”

CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and Board member of ABCHealth, Zouera Youssoufou, said: “Mories has a strong track record for execution. She has good communications skills and great leadershipcapabilities.HerunderstandingofAfrica’shealthlandscape provides a balanced perspective in our organisation’s mandate of transforming the continent’s health landscape.

Speakingonherappointment,Atokisaid:“Iamhonouredandexcited to lead ABCHealth.

Some strories from Reuters.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 15 :Vanguard News

By Anayo Okoli, Vincent Ujumadu & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NUGU—ENUGU State has recorded three new positive cases of COVID-19 just as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has warned that the Presidential curfew must be strictly observed by the people of the state.

The three new cases came on a day two other cases were discharged from one of the state’s isolation and treatment centres.

According to the State Commissioner for health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, "Presently, Enugu State has had 15 cases with nine active cases and six cases discharged after testing negative.”

Prof. Obi explained that “the two cases that have tested negative are case number 5 and her daughter who is case number 9.”

According to him, “The 3 new positive cases, who entered Enugu State illegally during this ban on inter-state transportation, are as follows: Case 13 is a 25-year-old man from Ondo State who lives in Lagos and made his way first to Akwa Ibom, then to Rivers State and finally to Obollo Afor in Udenu LGA of Enugu State, all within the period of closure of all land boundaries and inter-state movements. He developed symptoms while at Obollo Afor; the health authorities were alerted, he was tested and his result came out positive.

"Case 14 is a 38 year old male, from Okpuje in Nsukka Local Government Area who lives in Nassarawa State and found his way back to Enugu State during the same period of lockdown. On suspicion that he may have contacted the virus, he initially went into self-quarantine in a hotel at Nsukka. He subsequently developed symptoms and alerted the health authorities. He was tested and his test result also came back positive.

“Case 15 is a 28 year old female and a widow who hails from Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Enugu State and lives in Lagos State with her husband. She recently lost her husband in Lagos and was able to smuggle her husband’s corpse back to Enugu State for burial despite the lockdown in Lagos State and the national ban on inter-state movement. Her action raised suspicion and the health authorities were alerted.

She was subsequently tested and her result came back positive.”

The commissioner regretted that “these unfortunate figures are coming up as a result of individuals who have deliberately disobeyed the lockdown order and interstate transportation as ordered by the federal and state governments.”

He said: “in these times, we all need to comply strictly with all measures and regulations and exercise restraint from behaviours that will put

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Enugu records 3 new cases of COVID-19 Ohanaeze youths warn against influx of Northern youths, Almajirai to S’East NAUTH, Nnewi dismisses rumours of death of COVID-19 patient in the hospital MASSOB laments hardship faced by people; Keke riders receive palliatives

VISIT: From left: Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Secretary to Cross River COVID-19 Response Team; Dr Betta Edu, Chairman of the state COVID-19 Response Team; Dr Omobolanle Olowu, from the Federal Ministry of Health; and the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon V, during a courtesy visit to the monarch in Adiabo, Calabar. others at risk.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to tackle the illegal movements, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has warned residents of the state to strictly observe the Presidential curfew and ban on interstate movement, saying that no violator would be spared.

Ohanaeze youths warn against influx of Northern youths to S’east

Also yesterday, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing has warned against the influx of Almajirai and suspected religious extremists into Igbo land, saying that such mischievous acts would not be tolerated by Igbo youths.

Ohanaeze youths also urged everybody to strictly obey the ban on interstate movement and other measures put in place by the the Federal and state governments to tackle coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement by the National Deputy Youth President of the group, Dr. Kingsley Dozie, Ohanaeze youths reminded Nigerians, particularly Northern youths that COVID-19 is spread by moving people from place to place.

“We will no longer tolerate the sabotage by security operatives at our borders who deliberately encourage the movement of the almajirai, including suspected Boko haram terrorists.

“We are engaging our local vigilantes to take charge of the borders.

Enough is enough. There should be a review of the circumstances surrounding the decisions of Northern governors to return the Almajirai to their states of origin this period of COVID19 pandemic. We will not tolerate any Almajiri on the streets of the Southeast as they will be instantly sent back to the North.

“We warn all the security operatives manning all interstate boundaries in the southeast zone to adhere strictly to the ban on interstate movement. We are now positioned to checkmate the boarders by ourselves as we can no longer condone the sabotage from greedy and selfish security operatives.

The lives and property of our people are very important to us.

“We will not tolerate any kind of almajiri system in the South East. This obnoxious policy seen in some Hausa quarters in Igboland will no longer be entertained. We will accommodate any Nigerian especially from the North and West doing genuine businesses in the South East, but anyone who has no genuine business at this challenging time in Igbo land will face hostilities from our people. Igbo youths will deal decisively with any street beggar anywhere in Igboland henceforth.

“We plead with South east governors to close rank and provide adequate security across the borders in Igbo land as the Igbo youths are now ever ready to partner with the governors in order to protect our people at this challenging time.

“We equally call on the Inspector General of Police and leadership of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to caution their men not to sabotage the efforts and directives of the Federal Government on the ban on the interstate movement aimed at flattening the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are not banning any northern youth or person from entering our region but at the moment, everyone should stay in his place and adhere strictly to the federal and states’ governments' ban on

interstate movement”, Ohanaeze youths said.

MASSOB laments hardship faced by people

Meantime, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has lamented the hardships faced by people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the closure of markets in parts of Igbo land had led to excruciating hunger and suffering.

MASSOB Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel observed in a statement that many people could no longer cope with life after ten weeks of lockdown in Nigeria as a result of COVID-19.

While commending the Igbo governors, as well as political and opinion leaders in their benevolences and palliative support to eradicate the hunger and sufferings of the people during this most devastated period, MASSOB also appealed to the South East governors to relax the lockdown for economic, social and religious revival.

MASSOB urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to extend his fatherly gestures to the people by reopening the Ogbete Main Market and Coal Camp market in Enugu.

According to the group, the reopening of the two major markets in Enugu would reduce the sufferings of the citizens whose source of livelihood was anchored on the markets.

“The governor of Enugu State should know that he is the father of Ndi Enugu, including the traders in New Market, Kenyeta

Market, Abakpa Market, Garki Market, etc. While other markets in Enugu have been opened for businesses, Coal Camp and Ogbete markets still remain closed.

“MASSOB, as a stakeholder in Igbo affairs, appeals to Governor Ugwuanyi to listen to the cries of the traders in Ogbete and Coal Camp markets. We want you to imitate your counterparts in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States who have reopened all their markets fully,” Samuel said.

NAUTH, Nnewi dismisses rumours of death of COVID-19 patient in the hospital

In a related development, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi yesterday dismissed the rumoured death of a coronavirus patient in the hospital.

The industrial city Nnewi, Anambra State, was yesterday thrown into panic over the rumour of the death of an alleged COVID-19 patient at the NAUTH, Nnewi which allegedly caused confusion in the hospital.

The patient was said to have been taken to the hospital on Friday by his relations for high fever and malaria related sickness, but died on Sunday and his family immediately took his dead body away from the hospital.

The rumour had it that the death of the patient threw the hospital into panic as doctors, nurses and other health workers wondered why the patient should be admitted in the first place.

However, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, of NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, dismissed the rumours, saying that they do not have any case of

coronavirus patient and there is no panic in the hospital as all the staff are doing their normal job.

Prof. Igwegbe said the patient was brought to the hospital on Friday night and she died on Saturday morning and the relations took her away possibly for burial or embalmment.

“When people started the rumour that the patient may have died of coronavirus, we took samples from the relations that brought her and sent it to NCDC and the results have not come out.

“We don't know why people are always carrying false rumours and news over COVID-19. People have died of different sicknesses and will continue to die. Why is that of COVID-19 so special that every death is linked to coronavirus as if it is a good thing?

“We are doing our normal work and there is no panic in NAUTH or Nnewi in general. People should ignore those fake and false news merchants.”

Keke riders receive palliatives

In Enugu metropolis, Tricycle (Keke) riders, on Monday, received food items donated by the Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund, amid excitement.

The Keke riders in Enugu metropolis also received free 1000 face masks produced by the state government, using fabrics supplied and sewed by indigenous traders and trained tailors respectively as a means of socioeconomic empowerment.

Similar palliatives were recently distributed to Keke riders at the three senatorial districts of Enugu State alongside the okada riders and National Union of Road Transport Workers, as part of the state government’s measures to cushion the effect of the lockdown on its residents.

Receiving the items on behalf of his members, the state chairman of the Tricycle (keke) Riders Association, Comrade Benjamin Ikah, expressed delight at Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s benevolence and passionate interest in the welfare of the people, especially the less privileged.

Ikah, who disclosed that “today is not the first day Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is remembering us,” stressed that the governor has been consistent in assisting the Keke riders to thrive in their business.

According to him, “We are always happy with this present administration in Enugu State. It seems we are always the first when it comes to what goes to the less privileged, especially those of us who are struggling to make ends meet. We cannot thank His Excellency enough for remembering us in this difficult time.”

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 17

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 IF you tell an average Nigerian that our country’s healthcare system ranks 187th out of 192 countries he or she will not be surprised.

Evidences of our shambles of a health system abound everywhere you look.

Even our leaders who have the mandate to change the sordid state of affairs in our social sectors such as education and health spend our money to treat themselves in hospitals abroad and educate their children outside the country.

Due to this neglect the frustrated healthcare workers have lost their sense of empathy, etiquette and care towards their patients and routinely subject them to callous and inhuman treatment.

This is more pronounced in our public health facilities.

The same situation has reared its ugly head with the coronavirus pandemic as thousands of infected Nigerians have been forced to relocate to

Protesting coronavirus patients government isolation centres. Over the past two weeks the situation boiled over in Gombe and Kano states.

In Gombe, scores of patients of the Kwadon isolation facility in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area broke bounds on May 4 and went on street protests for being unattended to and poorly fed by health officials.

They were joined by members of the community which increased the risk of infection spread.

On Tuesday May 12, 2020, isolation patients at Kwanar Dawakin in Kano rounded up and detained doctors and nurses on ward round for hours also for alleged abandonment.

Patients went for days without food and drugs. Some patients said they had been in the centre for upward of two weeks without medical attention, thus raising the risk of possible avoidable deaths.

It is unfortunate that patients had to take these desperate and dangerous measures to draw attention to their plights.

Indeed, their aim was achieved in that the Gombe State House of Assembly instituted a probe into the COVID-19 patients’ protest.

It is the height of wickedness to force people to government isolation centres without making adequate

OPINION Fastening security and safety belts amid COVID-19

BY KUNLE BABAFEMI-JOHNSON

G

OVERNMENT must not lose sight of national security amid the fight against COVID-19. Challenges around the world today point to one thing and one thing only: the need for the leadership to move away from sheer rhetoric and show capacity in areas of demand.

It is in same light that the current situation in Nigeria demands that government put in place a watertight border management plan that could guarantee the security and safety of the Nigerian people.

Putting in place proper border control and management system through constant review of the aviation security programmes at the airports; among operating airlines, seaports and land ports, is very essential if Nigeria intends to improve its internal security.

This is so because it is the best way possible to prevent the entry and exit of unwanted elements in the country, including material things.

There is no doubt that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has been doing all it could to ensure that security standards are duly implemented at the airports, but some lapses that are sometimes seen at that level as well as the continuous influx of weapons used for all sorts of crimes are indicative of the porosity of the nation’s borders.

The security breach at the Benin-City Airport in 2013, when a teenager sneaked into the main wheel of an Arik Air flight to Lagos; the 2016 incident of the lifeless body of a stowaway on one of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa; and more recently, a man who climbed onto the wing of an Azman aircraft as it prepared for takeoff at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos, are all pointers to the vulnerability of the Nigerian avia-

tion industry to attack.

These were mere misdemeanors by the ‘stupid’ perpetrators; what if they were well coordinated attacks by criminals? It is obvious that a proportional response required was not there and that the know-how on how to tackle such challenges are not on the ground. Generally, over the years, Nigeria has not come across as a country whose border system is capable of providing ample security to its people and the economy – no thanks to the inadequate infrastructure and the extremely corrupt officials

The forces responsible for smuggling goods, including arms and ammunition, are so powerful to the extent that government could hardly challenge them of some of the agencies of government.

Sharing four international boundaries with its four neighbouring countries, one would have expected that Nigeria has four international borders, but truth is that there are as many illegal accesses into Nigeria as there are people willing to bring in or take out contrabands.

In one of its evaluations of the Nigerian border control, the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, INCSR, said: “Nigeria is the hub of African narcotic trafficking, and Nigerian poly-criminals continue to expand their role in narcotic trafficking worldwide.

Nigerian organisations control the drug market of Sub-Sahara Africa and operate drug distribution networks from strategic locations throughout the world.

“Nigerians transport a large portion of the heroin abused in the United State; they smug-

gle South American cocaine to Europe and Africa, especially South Africa, and they export marijuana – the only narcotic cultivated in Nigeria.”

The INCSR further noted that: “Although counter-terrorism effort at Nigerian international airports have hindered the free passage of drugs carried by air by individual couriers, narcotics continue to flow through Nigerian porous borders.”

In another heartbreaking assessment in 2010, the World Bank estimated that $2 billion worth of textiles were smuggled into Nigeria every year and the consequence of this is that jobs have been exported to China, where the inferior textiles are hauled into the Nigerian markets. There is also the perspective that the incessant killings by the so-called Fulani herdsmen in the country are being perpetrated by herders from other parts of Africa.

So, why should Nigeria give up its borders to criminal elements? This is exerting untold hardships on the country socially, economically and security-wise and must therefore be addressed with all the available modern technologies as done in other climes.

Proper implementation of border security will certainly promote appropriate trade between nations as seen between Canada and the United States. The security measures would also encourage the collection of taxes and therefore provide a source of income to Nigeria.

In”Smuggling Across the Nigeria: Benin Border and Its Impact on Nigeria’s Economic Development In Crime, Law and Society in Nigeria”, Jackson Aluede recommended that the Nigerian government should remain protective, support local industries through adequate funding, adopt proactive legislation to curb smuggling and improve its border security. He said the numerous trans-border eco-

arrangements to feed them and give them the needed medical attention.

This is doubling the state of anxiety and distress of the patients who need all the succour they can get in order to survive.

It is this neglect and lack of human feelings by government employees at the various care centres that have prompted some patients to abscond and put others at risk.

The neglect might also be connected to government’s inadequate responses to the need to provide the funds, equipment and trained personnel to adequately fight the disease at the care centres.

Governments must consider the war against the coronavirus pandemic as the absolute priority of the moment and channel resources in that direction.

We must eliminate any further tensions in our care centres.

Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com nomic and security challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, smuggling, illegal migration and proliferation of light weapons, among others, can be effectively managed if the government and appropriate authorities were more proactive.

Though some informal traders have been very critical of Nigeria’s recent border closure against Benin Republic to prevent movement of all goods, some of the gains of that exercise were that it showed that it was possible to put a stop to illegally diverted goods from coming into Nigeria through smuggling.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed once said: “Nigeria is closer to attaining self-sufficiency in rice production than at any time in the country’s history, thanks to the border drill that has drastically reduced rice smuggling into the country and catalysed rice production by our farmers across the country.”According to him, the border drill has addressed the smuggling of rice and other prohibited items into the country, led to significant seizures with an estimated monetary value of over N3.5 billion, reduced local fuel consumption by 30 per cent and reduced the importation of arms, munitions, and drugs.

“With the closure, terrorists and other criminals are finding it hard to procure arms and ammunition while criminal elements no longer make their way into the country through the land borders,” Mohammed added.

The Nigerian government has also said with the introduction of the drill, the Nigeria Customs Service now generates up to N8 billion daily, which nearly doubled the N4.5 billion daily before the drill.

Considering the gains of a well-protected border, it beats one to understand why successive governments have not taken the bull by the horn in ensuring that the Nigerian borders are well protected.

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com *Babafemi-Johnson, a public affairs commentator, wrote Lagos

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Vessel crashes into breakwaters in Escravos channel

By Godwin Oritse

A

SUPPLY vessel, ‘M/T DEVISA’ has crashed into the breakwaters of the Escravos channels damaging the vessel and part of the mole.

S p e a k i n g t o Vanguard Maritime Report o n t h e development, Captain Tobi

Charlie, Managing Director of Escravos Pilots Nig. Limited, said that the vessel was travelling at night when the accident occurred adding that immediately after the accident the vessel began to take in water.

According to Capt Tobi, as a result of the accident part of the breakwater has

submerged, even as he called on the authorities to quickly rehabilitate the facility before more accidents occur on that axis of the port.

He explained that because the mole was submerged, the vessel did not know it was close to it and ran into the mole and got its bottom hull damaged.

The vessel, according to Captain Tobi, is currently sitting on the rocks of the mole.

Speaking in similar vein, former Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on maritime matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said the negligence on the part of the government was responsible for the lapses being experience

in the Warri port.

Oyewole said he cannot fathom any reason for the continued neglect of the breakwaters considering the volume of maritime activities going on in that area.

According to the former presidential aide, the repairs

Continues on page 2

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NIMASA tests new anti-piracy law on intercepted Chinese vessel

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, is set to test the new anti-piracy law with the intercepted Chinese fishing vessel Hailufeng 11 where about

ten pirates who hijacked the vessel were arrested. The vessel had been licensed to fish in Côte d’Ivoire.

Vanguard Maritime Report gathered that the arrested persons are presently in Police custody in Apapa, Lagos.

A collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA resulted in the interception of the vessel. Recall that President, Muhammadu Buhari had, last year, signed the Anti Piracy Bill into law which seeks to prosecute anyone caught in maritime crime.

The fishing trawler was taken by pirates on Thursday, May 14 in the Ivorian exclusive economic zone with 18 crew-members aboard, eight Chinese, seven Ivorians and three Ghanaians.

However, through rapid and engaged cooperation among a

number of different African states and institutions, the vessel was tracked, and the Nigerian Navy was able to interdict it 140 nautical miles south of the Lagos Fairway Buoy at about 2210 local time on the night of May 16.

The dramatic rescue was hugely successful, as all 18 hostages were recovered, 10 pirates were arrested, and the vessel was safely escorted into Lagos.

Speaking at the handing over of the criminals, Director-General of the NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, attributed the successful operation that led to the arrest of the pirates and rescue of the ship and its crew to collaboration between the NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.

He said the Agency will continue to work with relevant security agencies in order to achieve its goal of eradicating piracy and all forms of illegality on the Nigerian waters.

Jamoh stated: “We have just witnessed the handover of pirates. This is as a result of the robust collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.

There has been a lot of synergy between NIMASA and the Navy with regard to the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act. I also want to seize the opportunity to thank Mr. President for signing the antipiracy law, which would facilitate sufficient prosecution of these pirates.”

Continues on page 4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

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News

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•Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, Captain Peter Yilme handing over 316 drums of products suspected to be PMS to the Assistant Commandant NSCDC Uyo, Bondinga BB.

COVID-19: Shippers’ Council completes first phase of sensitisation

By Godfrey Bivbere

N

IGERIAN Shippers’ Council, NSC, has concluded the first phase of its COVID-19 sensitisation for the maritime community.

The three-day programme started on Wednesday last week at the headquarters of the Council where the Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello, joined by the Council’s Directors of Regulatory Services and Consumer Affairs, Ms. Ifeoma Ezedinma, and Chief Cajetan Agu, respectively, presented hand gloves, sanitisers and masks to the leaders of seven trucking associations.

According to a statement signed by the Head, Public Relations of NSC, Rakiya Zubairu, Bello said the Shippers’ Council considered it part of its responsibility to ensure the safety of truckers as they are silent facilitators of Nigeria’s economy.

He commended them for their cooperation in acceding to NSC’s request to reduce their fees during the period of the lockdown.

Bello also reminded them

that they were primarily responsible for their wellbeing, urging them to do everything to stay safe as their families and the nation needed

Unions & Associations, COMTUA, commended the Shippers’ Council boss, describing him as a partner in progress. He assured him of

Why Shipping Lines hold back container deposit — Shippers’ Association

By Godfrey Bivbere

W

ITHHOLDING of container deposits running into several billions of naira annually by shipping lines in the country have been attributed to the shipping firms’ insistence that the release of such funds must be to importers.

President of the Shippers Association of Lagos State, SALS, Jonathan Nicol, who disclosed this in Lagos, said that importers want to collect the refund for themselves.

Container deposit is a specified amount that the importer is made to pay as a guaranty for the return of the container after the goods in it have been discharged.

Nicol noted that most importers were not interested in the refund as it was part of the payment for the agents who made payment for all charges including the container deposit

Vessel crashes into breakwaters in Escravos channel Continues from page 1 of the mole on that channel were long overdue adding that the oil exploration activities should make the government repair the damaged moles.

He stated: “The mole has collapsed for a long time and it ought to have been repaired; there is no exact reason why it has remained like that. The

them.

Responding on behalf of the trucking associations, Stephen Okafor, Coordinator of Committee of Maritime Truck

their cooperation in resetting Nigeria’s post-COVID-19 economy.

The sensitisation programme moved to the terminals and shipping companies where the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC hygienist, Moji Ayorinde, under the direction of Evaristus Aniaku who is the head of emergency operations and National Response Team on COVID-19 in Lagos State, gave talks on how to protect oneself from contracting COVID-19.

She demonstrated the correct method to use face mask, hand wash and sanitisation as well as physical distancing among others.

The audience at the various locations engaged the NCDC team with questions as well as seeking clarifications. Over 100 stakeholders attended the first phase of the programme.

Participants were made up of freight forwarders and staff of the shipping companies and terminals.

Participants are also expected to cascade the lessons as the dictates of physical distancing could not allow for all stakeholders within the different terminals and shipping companies to attend the sessions. Participants received masks and sanitisers courtesy of Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

only thing that could come to anybody’s mind is probably negligence, nothing more, otherwise, the traffic on that channel may not be too heavy but then the oil exploration activities should also command that the place should be repaired.

“I think we need to re-focus and ensure that the place is repaired because it has claimed lives.”

on behalf of the importer.

The SALS president wondered why the shipping lines would receive money from the clearing agents on behalf of the importers but refuse to refund directly to the clearing agent.

He stressed that these shipping firms were illegally

holding on to monies as well as enriching themselves from such uncollected funds. He commended efforts of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, to ensure return of such funds but noted that the shipping firms dragged the Council to court and that the

case was still pending.

Executive Secretary of the NSC, Hassan Bello, had earlier said that the Council was working at getting insurance companies indemnify containers at the port and get the return when such containers were brought back.

Tenor elongation stokes controversy in CRFFN Act amendment

By Godwin Oritse

A

T the backdrop of the controversies surrounding the planned amendment to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN Act, some stakeholders have alleged that members of the governing council of CRFFN were behind the amendment.

Industry sources also claimed the Council members want the tenure of members to be extended to four instead of two years provided in the existing Act. The current members’ term of two years expires in October 2020.

Some stakeholders also alleged that the members want the amendment to confer on the President the powers of appointing the chairman of the Governing Council of CRFFN instead of the supervising minister of transportation.

Chairman Education Committee of CRFFN, Mr. Kayode Farinto, said the push for the amendment of the Act did not come from the CRFFN, but from the National Assembly. He, however, stated that the Act was due for review.

Farinto who also doubles as the Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, told Vanguard Maritime Report, that there were so many loopholes in the Act that need to be reviewed.

While admitting that the current governing Council of the CRFFN was seeking tenure elongation because it could not do much owing to circumstances beyond their power, he explained, “after the Council election in April 2018, it took about three months before the inauguration of the Council and with the COVID-19 pandemic which has also lasted close to four months, it has been difficult for the Council to really do much.”

He said the tenure elongation for the Council members will help the Council to do more, rather than calling for another election by November this year. “The issue of pushing for an amendment is not from the Council, but from the National Assembly. I think someone somewhere wrote that the Act is due for review, and we do know that once the Act is over five or 10 years, then it is subject to a review.

“There are too many lacunas in the Act that need to be reviewed and when it was brought to the notice of the Governing Council, we deliberated on it. But, I am surprised that people are reading more to the tenure elongation, which I will say is normal anyway.

What we discussed on the issue of tenure elongation is that, if you are a member of the Council elected before the time of President Muhammadu Buhari, you can sit in Council meetings for as many times as you can, but when Buhari came, the instruction was that if you are a member of any Governing Council, you are expected to sit three or four times a year, that is quarterly; just to reduce government spending.

“Secondly, the sitting allowance is just N50,000. So this actually disrupts the activities of the Council; we cannot flout the instruction of the executive council that every Council member should sit four times in a year. And there are a lot of things that were not done within the period of these two years. If you look at when we were actually elected, it took about three months before we were even inaugurated at all.”

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Regulations & Policies

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Customs deploy TRS to enhance trade facilitation, revenue generation •Collects N118billion in four months

By Godwin Oritse & Godfrey Bivbere

I

N a bid to enhance trade facilitation, the Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has deployed its ‘Time Release Tool Study,’ TRS, for strategic planning in determining the actual time required for the release and clearance of goods, right from the time of arrival to physical release from Customs Control.

A statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, said TRS is a strategic tool that is capable of identifying bottlenecks in the trade value chain and creating an enabling environment for effectiveness and efficiency in operations.

Ejesieme stated that it was on the strength of the tool and other factors that enabled the Command to realise a total N117.8billion between January and April 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has posed a great challenge. The figure is against the sum of N106.6billion generated during the same period in 2019.

While responding to issues bothering on challenges amidst the COVID-19, the Command reiterated the readiness of its officer and men to ensure adherence and compliance with the extant protocols by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and World Health Organization, WHO, towards containing the spread of the virus.

The Command’s spokesman disclosed that prior to the declaration of the virus as a pandemic disease, the Command had conducted series of seminars and awareness campaigns, targeted at sensitising the officers/men as well as stakeholders on measures to adopt in dealing with the menace. These measures according to the CAC would be sustained even after the COVID-19 era.

He stated: “Even at the onset of this pandemic when pressure, anxiety and general apprehension was the order of the day, the Command demonstrated resilience, sagacity and compassion in its

approach to the novel pandemic, such that tension was reduced from the psyche of the operatives with confidence inspired that enabled them to attend to their functions without let or hindrance.

“With this pandemic, the Command will upscale her sensitisation on the need for Nigerians to fully take advantage of the operations in export trade, especially at this moment when it has become compelling for diversification of the economy for national

development.”

He also spoke about the focus of the NCS trade facilitation, saying, “We use this medium to remind Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the numerous incentives by the Federal Government in the area of export, to draw and attract the consciousness of Nigerians to the advantages in export trade.

“With the Time Release Studies tool, we have generated statistical data on the actual time declarations were made up till the time of release from Customs

Control. It is on the basis of this, that the Command realised that the Nigeria Customs Service is only involved in two major functions in the Trade Value Chain (Examination and Release of Cargo) from Customs Control. The unwavering commitment of the Command necessitated the need to work assiduously towards it.

“The Command will continue to support and encourage the culture of compliance with Fiscal and Monetary Policies,

while also rewarding compliant traders. We have developed a framework and different layers for channeling of official complaints, including the Help Desk for speedy Resolution of Trade Disputes. Efforts are also being made to ensure continuous ‘stakeholder engagement’ and collaboration for the actualisations of the joint responsibilities of creating a friendly business environment that will encourage trade and investments as well as boost the morale of stakeholders”.

Speaking further, he stated that in spite of the few challenges militating against the performance, the Command will not let its guards down in the pursuit of its official mandate.

•An official of Nigerian Shippers Council distributing COVID-19 protective materials to stakeholders.

Why our oversight visit to NIMASA is inconclusive —House Committee on Marine

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE House of Representative Committee on Marine Safety, Education and Administration has said that the national shutdown has also shut down the oversight function of the Committee.

Speaking with Vanguard Maritime Report, chairman of the committee, Kabiru Idris, said that until everything gets back to normal, the oversight functions of the House remains suspended.

On the outcome of the Committee’s last visit to the Lagos headquarters of the Nigerian Maritime

Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Idris said that he could not say much on the visit and the Committee’s work because of the current situation in the country adding that the oversight visit to NIMASA remains inconclusive.

Recall that Idris had expressed worry over the continued idleness of the agency’s floating dockyard at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos.

He lamented that 24 months after purchase, the dockyard has not been put to use.

He also queried the continued daily rental of Fast Security Intervention Boats and demanded to know why

the agency was still renting such boat. Idris stated that it was a huge investment to acquire the dockyard adding that it must not be allowed to waste.

According to him, the equipment was meant to develop local capacity in the ship repair sub-sector of the industry.

He said: “It’s a lot of investment to acquire this kind of facility for the development of the maritime industry.

Nigeria is a developing country, we are copying from developed countries and that was part of the reason the last administration of NIMASA decided to come up with

something like.

“It is very unfortunate that 24 months after procurement, delivery has taken place and nothing has been done; so it is a waste. I feel worried about it; I am so worried about it; my main concern is to find out who is responsible for this and ask questions when we get to their office.

“What does it take us to buy these instead of renting; is it a cartel? Is it that they do not want us to buy, we keep renting? This is something we can do abroad and pay as it comes than paying rent on the ones that are currently deployed; I hope to look into that as well”.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 4

Terminals & Ships

Shipping, other sectors count losses to lockdown •Customs agents puts losses at N500bn

By Godwin Oritse

O

PERATORS in various sectors of the economy are still counting their losses to the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic with the shipping sector estimating loss so far at N500 billion.

Vice President of the Association of the Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Mr. Kayode Farinto, who disclosed this while speaking to Vanguard Maritime Report, expressed worry that the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to about 35percent of work force losing their jobs, post-COVID 19.

He said: “We have lost a lot of money, because the import from China stopped and about 65 percent of our imports comes from China so it has reduce our level of importation by 65percent. So the import is nose diving and unfortunately there is no encouragement from the government because the implementation of waiver on storage fee is zero.

“We have a situation now where our importers believe that we are thieves saying after all the government said they should waive demurrage. We have lost a lot of money that can’t be less than N500 billion in the last two months. And I am also seeing a situation where the work force in the maritime industry may reduce by 35 percent. I have spoken to about five shipping companies and they said 50 percent of their workforce has been asked to stay at home in line with the guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them actually said they don’t know if they can work with 50 percent work force meaning that post COVID-19 a lot of people will lose their job.”

Speaking in similar vein, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Fashion Wear Dealers Association, Lagos State, Chief Mezie Okwuosa, said importers have been at the receiving end of the pandemic. He said: “The whole world is calculating what they have lost and they are still losing. There is no sector that does not record heavy loss as regards this virus but mostly importers are at the receiving end. The loss cannot be quantified and the loss is just about to start. Also note that most big time businessmen thrive on credit from the financial institutions.

“The major victims now are the people that have financial commitment with their banks.

Will the banks insist on the earlier conditions before giving the loan or will they consider the people? Because look at it now, for an importer who has a daily turnover of about N1million to N2million daily before going into the business.

Now the person has stayed six weeks out of business and now they only operate six hours in a day and three times a week within those six hours and there is strict compliance in the market what will such person do?”

Speaking also, Chairman of Alaba International Market Association (Electronics), Mr. P a u l i n u s Ugochukwu, said since the lockdown he has lost several millions of naira, stating that many importers are already out of business. “I am dealing with musical instruments and now they have closed everywhere, the churches, hotels, clubs, and mosques amongst others, everything that deals with musical instruments are closed, there is no business for us now, we are out of business”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, freight forwarders as well as importers have lamented the negative impact of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in the maritime industry. Both the

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, LCCI, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, expressed worries that the government has lost several billions of naira which could have been used to develop the nation since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.

The Director General of LCCI, Dr Muda Yusuf, in a chat w i t h Vanguard Maritime Report stated that, with about 65 to 70 percent of the country’s imports coming from China, several billions of Naira must have been lost in import duty which could be difficult to regain in few years.

According to him, “The pandemic has really affected every section of the maritime industry, from the importers to the freight forwarders and the terminal operators and other people attached to the logistic chain of driving the economy in the maritime industry. I may not be able to give an exact amount of how much must have been lost, but what I can tell you is that the industry has lost money running into several billions of naira.

“You are aware that about 60 to 70 percent of our import comes from China, and of course with that, you can actually look at how much must have been lost in the industry, so it has affected every sector even the logistic chain of the industry”. While expressing fears of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the industry, especially as it concerns the manufacturers, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, urged the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency in the manufacturing sector and immediately place the sector on an integrated policy ventilator through the provision of a comprehensive support systems and stimulus packages to swiftly return the sector to the path of sustained production.

According to a report made available to our correspondent by the Corporate Communication Manager of MAN, Mrs. Tayo Okewunmi, titled “MAN CEOs Confidence Index, MCCI”, the group further said, “with the radical drop in the price of crude oil, coupled with the

outbreak of the pandemic which has significantly impacted on all facets of the world’s economy, it has been pretty difficult to source forex from all the available windows.”

MAN further lamented that asides the confrontation of the pandemic, the persistent traffic gridlock in the approaches to the country’s port facilities and perennial congestion have remained a recurring decimal, leading to delay in clearance of manufacturing inputs and machinery as well as high demurrage which increases the cost of production in the sector.

The association said most worrisome are the issues of deliberate delay in cargo clearing time, raising of technical barriers, rejection of relevant documents by officers of the agency that approved import documents, multiple agencies with duplicated functions and other rent seeking activities of vested interests at the port that excessively fleece operators.

While urging the government to urgently conduct a comprehensive review of all the contributory factors and consciously implement ongoing reforms in a manner that all port-related challenges that seemingly appears to have defied all solutions are permanently resolved.

•Two unidentified guests with the Secretary General of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding, and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro at a maritime forum for women empowerment in Lagos.

NIMASA tests new anti-piracy law on intercepted Chinese vessel Continues from page 1 Jamoh, who was represented by the Agency’s Head of Legal Services, Mr. Victor Egejuru, assured that with the anti-piracy law, there was ample legal framework to prosecute pirates and other perpetrators of maritime offences in the country to bring the menace to the barest minimum.

He stressed the need for increased regional cooperation

and information sharing, disclosing that the arrest of the pirates was due to a tip-off by the Beninoise Navy. Shettima warned criminal elements to stay away from Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, saying the Navy has the capability to deal with such threats.

He added that the current management of NIMASA will focus on three main areas, namely, Maritime Security,

Safety, and Shipping Development, in pursuit of a robust maritime domain for the country.

The alert about the attack was raised and disseminated by local authorities. The coordination was provided by the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, without the involvement of foreign navies. Oil was not the focus of the attack; with Nigeria having new legislation and

procedures which may help produce a successful legal as well as operational finish.

Even before the owners of the vessel and Chinese government officials began notifying local authorities in a variety of African states that they believed t h e Hailufeng 11 had been attacked, the Vessel Monitoring System in Côte d’Ivoire’s Fisheries Ministry had triggered an alert.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 5

Customs & Imports COVID-19 has stalled Customs recruitment — Official

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has said its recruitment exercise has been stalled by the coronavirus, COVID-19, crises.

Its spokesperson, Mr. Joseph Attah, said that the Service has put the exercise in abeyance and that no one should talk about it again.

He said the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 has put a temporary halt to the Customs recruitment. Recall that the NCS had on April 17, 2019 opened its portal for the recruitment of 3,200 officers, but nearly one year and one month afterwards, the exercise has not been concluded.

Since the exercise began, candidates who applied for the job have lamented the delay and also alleged secret recruitment and corruption in the process, but NCS has always refuted allegations of corruption or secret recruitment involving the officers.

Recall also that a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, who is also current member of the Senate, Francis Fadahunsi, had described the recruitment into the NCS as a monumental fraud.

Fadahunsi, had accused the Comptroller General of the NCS, Hammed Ali, of superintending a lopsided and illicit recruitment exercise, alleging that the Customs boss was using N1.6 billion for the recruitment of just 3,200 new officers.

The senator further alleged that the customs boss deliberately outsourced the process of recruitment and training, despite availability of requisite facility in the agency to carry out the exercise.

However, explaining why the Service delayed the recruitment process to our correspondent, Attah blamed the outbreak of

•The arrested pirates

the COVID-19 pandemic for the delay. He said the service would have completed the recruitment process if not for the outbreak of the pandemic.

He also expressed uncertainty as to when the service will finally execute the recruitment exercise.

According to him, “the

COVID 19 has affected everybody, every organisation and even our person-to-person relationship; when there is a global situation such as this, it will naturally affect our plans.

The recruitment exercise is a situation that requires a future answer which is in the hand of God, By now we shouldn’t be

talking about recruitment”.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Nigeria Customs Service said it had shortlisted 162,399 candidates for an aptitude test as part of its recruitment exercise which began in 2019.

About 828,333 candidates had applied into the Service, with

the shortlisted candidates representing 19.6 per cent of the total number that applied for the recruitment exercise.

And the Customs spokesperson said on Friday, “for now, I can only say we could not release names of people for the interview, because of COVID-19 and you know that’s the reason”.

NECA accuses Customs of killing import, export businesses

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By Godwin Oritse

HE Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, has accused the Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, of the “frequent obstruction” caused by men and officers of the agency, a development, stating that the situation is hindering the Ease of Doing Business policy of the Federal Government.

In a statement, NECA’s Director-General, Timothy Olawale, said that some businesses were going down due to the actions of Customs officers.

Olawale expressed concern about Customs operatives obstructing legitimate businesses through inconsistent and arbitrary tariff classification, excessive and unfriendly duty rate on key raw materials that have no local substitute.

He noted that other blockages

by Customs include improper valuation of consignments and reckless interception of containers after legitimate clearance, among others.

“The world economy is on the precipice with nations doing all that is necessary to keep their productive sector going. Recent incessant issues with the Nigeria Customs Service have become worrisome as it has the potential to push businesses off the cliff,” the NECA DG said.

Olawale said Customs officers’ attitude would fast-track

the demise of more enterprises and exacerbate the current unemployment situation in Nigeria, noting that while the NCS is desirous of meeting its revenue target, it should not be at the expense of legitimate businesses.

“With the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, ACFTA, coming into effect January 1, 2021, these recurring issues will only destroy Nigerian businesses. It will also make importation of manufactured

goods more attractive with grave consequences for Nigeria,” he stated. Olawale further asked the Federal Government to call NCS to order,” he added..

Shippers’ Council asks CBN to give maritime, logistics sector priority

By Godfrey Bivbere

E

XECUTIVE Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Hassan Bello has called on Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to give priority to the maritime and logistic sectors as part of measure to boost the non-oil sector of the nation’s economy.

Bello made the call in Lagos yesterday during a meeting with the maritime press in continuation of the Council’s sensitisation of stakeholders in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. He commended efforts so far taken by the CBN to boost the economy but stressed the need for the bank to focus on export.

According to him, “For the government, we have to look inward and for the economy, it has to be retrospective. We have not been able to wean ourselves from our dependence on oil but I think this is a harsh lesson for us. We have no other choice than to look at diversification and strengthening our

source of revenue, so that we can have a buffer if a thing like this should happen again, we cannot rule it out.

“This is the time to look at the mirror and tell ourselves the truth and shippers council is leading the way to look at the economic alternative, viable alternatives, including exportation. We call on the government to have a deliberate policy on exportation.

“Financing, export, insurance, access to finance, access to the port, access to the market, the whole value chain must be analysed quickly, so that we can take advantage of the gap in world trade because we have exportable commodities here.

“We can upgrade them; we can process them and create a value chain of employment from the farmhouse to the port.

I am happy with what the CBN is doing, taking the lead in incentives, in palliatives and in interventions. But I will like the CBN to go further and look at the logistic chain as far as ex-

port is concerned that is very important to the critical survival of this country.

“Of course we are concerned and we have started looking at that. Our export goods have been on the road for some time and do not have access to the port, which is sad. There are some worrisome bureaucratic steps that should be done away with especially now. It is not a matter of “we should” it is a matter of “we have no option” but to clean up our export procedure and processes to make them efficient than they are now; make them more reliable and then the transportation aspect of it, it has to be done.

“We need terminals for export; we need special places for export. We need a dedicated terminal for export, it is very important that we take the issue of export seriously because it is only there that we can earn revenue. We cannot have any revenue from import because import may dwindle; we have to rely on export. I know that the government has done a lot but now is the time to look at it deliberately, consciously so as to know what to do.

“We have comparative advantage over some products, we can add value to these products, create a chain even for employment, provide capacity for rail and other infrastructure, have access to finance for exporters, had insurance for exporters and our products will be competitive and we will build capacity on that. We will see that the Nigerian maritime economy will stand in for oil, it will replace oil.”

On the sensitisation exercise, Bello said the Council had done it with truckers, with freight forwarders, terminal operators and so many others.

“It is very rewarding, NSC and the journalists are going to sit down and assess the situation.

It is going to be post-COVID19,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 maritimerepor6005@gmail.com

6

We got truck park consultancy on technical considerations —MOB COO, Ezekwe THE Federal Government recently handed over the TinCan Truck Park to MOB Integrated Services Limited, a Management Consulting firm for effective management of the park. In this interview with Vanguard Maritime Report, its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Tokunbo Ezekwe said that a Bar-coding system in conjunction with the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, will be introduced to manage the call up of trucks into the ports. Excerpts

By Godwin Oritse

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HAT informed your decision to go into Truck Park business?

Like I said Apapa is a national embarrassment and people who are successful in life do not look to make money, they look for solutions and they find the solutions to the problems, the solutions make monies for them. So we have come as a company to manage the TinCan Truck Park effectively because we believe government is in the position of policy making but the effective management of the facility will be by MOB. We have a track record of things we have done in the past in Nigeria. We are not new to the business of truck parking, we are willing to work with all the stakeholders.

Excess monies We have met with the Nigerian Ports Authority at both port and management levels and they are all excited to have us on board. And the Unions are willing to work with us as we will ensure to cut on the excess monies they pay to gain access into the ports.

For a long time, there was this talk about deploying electronic call up system to manage the movement of trucks into the port, are you going to deploy this in managing the Tin-Can truck park?

Yes like I said we are to manage the truck park, the responsibility of trucks going in and out of the ports is that of the Nigerian Ports Authority and Terminal operators. So what we can do, is to key into whatever system they have and we will work with them like I said.

The Nigerian Shippers Council has said over 4,000 trucks try to come into the ports on a daily basis but the facilities at the port cannot take more 1,500 trucks. How do you hope to manage this?

Things can be run effectively.

There are ports that are bigger than Lagos ports and if you go through them, you will not know there are ports there. A good example is what I will tell you now. If you go to Tin-Can truck park today, there are

terminal operators who want to receive empty containers but the truck drivers will not leave to go and drop the container and for a simple economic reason.

If they drop the container, they must be able to pick another container on their way out but because of the lockdown, the banks are not opened so importers cannot pay their duties and levies so they cannot move containers out of the ports. So we have a stalled movement at the ports because they are stuck there and nobody is moving out because there are no containers for them to pick up.

Having said all that, we all know the capacities of these terminals. For example the TinCan Island Container Terminal, TICT, has enough space for at least a 100 trucks. So at any given time, all they need to do is communicate to us saying they need another 100 trucks once they are done with the ones inside.

That would create a free flow of trucks’ movement. The problem of Apapa I repeat is human interface. I give a simple example, a truck coming into Apapa, has over six check points where papers will be

The terminals and the truck parks should work with the NPA checked. Four out of the six can tell you that you are in the call up you can go ahead. The fifth guy can decide and say you are not in the call up, so we must have something that protects both the driver and NPA. So something must show that look I am actually on this call up. Now drivers are left to whims and caprices of the authorities.

What is the capacity of the Tin-Can truck park?

The facility has capacity for 380 trucks, if you squeeze it and put them on the line, it can take 400.

Can that alone solve the gridlock in that axis?

Well it can and it will, if you look at the number of trucks that come here you may think managing them is not feasible.

This whole thing is an issue of

•Tokunbo Ezekwe, MOB Integrated Services Limited COO throughput. Four hundred trucks come in at a time, if they go out, that simply tells you another 300-400 trucks can come in again. So it is an issue of throughput. I give an example, I do not have anything against people like Dangote. If Dangote releases 150 trucks to the ports, they have what they are going to do, you will be surprised that before the next morning, they are all out of the place. The thing is that they have what to do there so it is an issue of throughput, the turnaround time, that is what we talking about.

How would you overcome this issue of human interface?

This is my suggestion, I am not a government person in charge of whatever. You have identified truck parks, all you will need to do is to call trucks from the truck parks. This is what they are doing at the moment but there is an issue of sentiments. There are people or operators called priority.

Why should there be priority?

They should define who is priority. I give a good example, there is a company probably not even owned by Nigerians, they call them priority but they are going to do the same your regular truck owner is going to do in the ports. Why they are priority, we do not know up till this moment. The issue of priority needs to be defined.

If BUA, Honeywell and Dangote who have their own terminals at the ports and they are going to engage their trucks immediately, it makes a lot of

sense for you to give them time to get into the ports. But they must be called because in this priority thing, there is guise for people to come in as well and do what they are not supposed to do.

Will the use of a barcode system eliminate the issue of human interface being experienced at the ports?

Absolutely, the terminals and the truck parks should work with the NPA. It is a simple thing. If you have a barcode, a man stays there with a barcode gadget, he will check the barcode given to the truck driver.

Financial consideration When you press your gadget and it is red, you know you are not supposed to come into the ports, you can’t pass. Like I said it is human beings that will also check these barcodes.

What is the salary of the security official of the Nigerian Ports Authority or whoever that is there? These people are bringing N50,000 they will look the other way and allow them to pass. There are lots of factors leading to the road block.

About using the waterways to move cargoes It is a fantastic idea, good, but there must be some sort of control.

What did it take you financially to get the concession of the Tin-Can Island Truck Park?

I would not say it was our financial consideration, it was

more of our technicalities. We showed that we had the capacity and capability to manage the truck park. We came with our technical partners and showed them what we were able to do and after due consideration I think there were others who also applied to be management consultants but it came out favourable for us.

How long are you supposed to manage that facility?

We will have it for the next four years and if at the end of four years we did a good job, we can start talking about concession afterwards.

What will it cost MOB to update the facility in terms of upgrade?

Like I said, we are going to put up a lot of infrastructure at the park like automated barriers, screens and possibly the barcode in conjunction with NPA and it is going to cost us some money.

What is your budget for this facility upgrade?

The budget for upgrade from my last calculation is about N180million.

So what are you giving back to government?

Fifty percent of our earning goes to the government.

What are your projected returns on investment?

There are lots of uncertainties; if you ask me this question three months down the line I will be able to answer it. I think the issue should not be the return on investment but our ability to effectively manage the park that will bring the ease of traffic in that axis.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

maritimerepor6005@gmail.com

Foreign Maritime Piracy is on the rise, and coronavirus could make it worse

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N early April, eight armed raiders boarded the container ship Fouma as it entered the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador. They fired warning shots toward the ship’s bridge, boarded the ship and opened several shipping containers, removing unknown items before escaping in two speedboats. Nobody was harmed.

Ecuador isn’t exactly a hot spot of global piracy, but armed robbers regularly attack ships in and around the port of Guayaquil. It’s the seventhbusiest port in Latin America, handling most of Ecuador’s agricultural and industrial imports and exports. Ships moored along the port’s quays or, like the Fouma, transiting its narrow river passages are easy prey for local criminal gangs.

Only a few short years ago the international community was celebrating the end of maritime piracy. Worldwide in 2019, there were fewer attacks and attempted attacks on ships than there had been in 25 years.

But as the Guayaquil attack hints, pirates may be getting more active. Already, the first three months of 2020 have seen a 24% increase in pirate attacks and attempted attacks, over the same period in 2019.

As a scholar of sea piracy, I worry that the coronavirus pandemic may make piracy even more of a problem in the coming months and years.

Counter-piracy successes Modern sea piracy often involves pirates in small fast boats approaching and boarding larger, slowermoving ships to rob them of cargo – such as car parts, oil, crew valuables, communication equipment – or to seize the ship and crew for ransom.

Beginning in 2008, the greater Gulf of Aden area off the coast of East Africa became the most dangerous waters in the world for pirate attacks.

Somali pirates like those portrayed in the 2013 Tom Hanks movie “Captain Phillips” spent five years regularly hijacking large commercial vessels.

Three international naval efforts, and industry-wide efforts to make ships harder to attack and easier to defend, helped reduce the threat – as did improved local government on land, such as enhanced security and better health and education services.

By 2019, the International Maritime Bureau reported no successful hijackings in the Greater Gulf of Aden.

In Southeast Asia, better aerial and naval surveillance

has curbed pirate threats, with the help of improved coordination between national governments that share jurisdiction of the region’s busy shipping lanes.

As a result of these efforts, the global number of attacks and attempted attacks dropped significantly over the past decade, from a high of nearly 450 incidents in 2010 to fewer than 165 incidents in 2019 – the lowest number of actual and attempted pirate attacks since 1994. Ship hijackings, the most severe and visible manifestation of sea piracy, also have declined since 2010.

A return of pirates?

However, the Fouma attack is a troubling sign. The sea robbers seem to have had detailed advance knowledge of the ship’s cargo, as well as its course and the personnel on board. Those are clues that the pirates planned the attack, likely with help from the crew or others with specific information about the ship.

That sort of insider information is relatively rare in pirate attacks in general, but is common when pirates go after large cargo vessels and tanker ships, as happens in about one-third of pirate attacks.

Piracy in the waters off of South America – and off West Africa – has been increasing somewhat in recent years.

Some of the conditions in those regions are similar to the ones that drove the Somali spike a decade ago: weak governments embroiled in

political violence, widespread economic hardship and easy access to weapons.

Most piracy ultimately affects poor countries with weak governments. That’s because criminals, insurgents and other groups see opportunities to raise money for their land-based battles by stealing from passing ships.

For instance, militant groups in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger River Delta region and the Gulf of Guinea, siphon oil off tanker ships and resell it on the black market.

With economic hardship striking Venezuela and Brazil, poor and jobless citizens may see opportunities offshore.

Weak police and corrupt officials only exacerbate the economic problems.

The coronavirus weakens nations – and

ships The medical and economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic seems likely to pose severe challenges for countries with few resources and weak governments. West African and South American countries already struggle to police their territorial waters.

Those regions have not yet been severely affected by the coronavirus, though infections are growing on both continents.

As hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients, the regions’ governments will almost certainly shift their public safety efforts away from sea piracy and toward more immediate concerns on land.

That will create opportunities for pirates.

The disease may make it harder for crews to protect

77 ships as well. Most merchant vessel crews are already stretched thin. If crew members get sick, restrictions on international travel prevent their replacements from meeting the ship in whatever port it’s in.

Slowing consumer spending around the globe means less trade, which brings less revenue for shipping companies to spend on armed guards or other methods of protecting ships against pirates. As a result, ships will likely become easier targets for pirates.

Even with the early numbers suggesting an increase for 2020, global piracy still isn’t as high as it was during the Somali peak from 2009 to 2012.

But if economic conditions worsen around the globe and ships look like easy targets, more desperate people may turn to piracy, or ramp up their existing efforts in an attempt to survive.

COVID-19: IMO releases guidelines on crew change challenges, comes out with a 12-step framework

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ITH over 3.5 million confirmed cases and close to quarter of a million deaths as reported on the WHO dashboard the pandemic is not showing any significant signs of slowing down. From a maritime perspective, while it is essential to keep the trade moving, it is equally important to designate professional seafarers and marine personnel regardless of nationality as ‘key workers’ to make it safe and efficient to conduct ship crew changes and travel.

IMO has issued a new

circular setting out a 12-step recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

ICS has issued the attached statement emphasizing the need for the industry and governments to follow the IMO guidelines on how to facilitate ship crew change during the pandemic as a failure to relieve crews will risk the wellbeing of seafarers, maritime safety, and the critical supply chains of the world.

The IMO circular and ICS statement are in the

attachment box.

A new layer of information covering crew changes is now available on the International Group of P&I clubs COVID-19 dashboard.

The new information is available under the label ‘Are crew changes permitted? Provided by IG P&I Clubs’. It shows up for each country as a light sandy colour in contrast to the orange colour layer giving generic advice ‘Coronavirus Information provided by IG P&I Clubs’. As such, users will have to select/ deselect these layers to see the different information.

•Caught in the act: 10 suspects arrested with 956 bags of foreign rice by personnel of Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

maritimerepor6005@gmail.com

Data & Figures Vessels Expected At Tin Can Port, May 18 2020

Vessels Expected at Delta Port, May 18, 2020

Vessels Expected at Calabar Port, May 18, 2020

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

It’s force-feeding not school feeding

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HE ill-timed initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide meals at this time of global lockdown for pupils in schools should be called by its proper name: force-feeding. We all know what it entails to force-feed a child in our part of the world. For those who don’t, this is what happens when a child for one of several reasons, usually loss of appetite due to illhealth, refuses to eat. After all petting and cajoling had come to an end and there is nothing left more to do to persuade the child to eat, the stalemate is broken when the child is force-fed. It is a last-resort tussle of desperation for which my mother holds a black belt in the heavy weight category.

In practical terms a child being force-fed is held down, turned almost upside down, limbs held and hands tightly locked behind its back.

Equally locked are the nostrils and jaws that are intermittently unlocked to allow the ingestion of usually liquid food. Force-feeding a child, it should be clear from my brief description here, is not at all an easy move. Nor is it something to be indulged in indiscriminately. It is in fact a dangerous move for which reason medical experts have advised

against it. But a child who is seriously ill needs to be fed in order to take necessary medication. Which is why such a child is fed, dole, as a matter of survival.

Should Abuja put a halt to its socalled homegrown school feeding programme now, what would happen to the children who are the supposed beneficiaries? What are these children likely to lose now that they have not lost before? I can’t see what the desperation is about feeding these pupils who have like everyone else been forced home, if not indoors, by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than serving these children, government’s insistence to go ahead with the programme can only complicate and make worse an already bad situation. Going by how Nigerians have thrown caution overboard in their effort to get their share of the foods and groceries that are being distributed across all parts of this country in an apparent effort to palliate those in need, going by how all safety cautions have been violated, taking trailer loads of food to depressed communities could well aid the transmission of the pandemic in the communities.

Only the Federal Government knows what it wants to achieve by its

rigid commitment to the execution of the programme at this time. But let it be reminded that Nigerians are quite clear in their minds that this feeding exercise is not about the school children. It is all about the greed of the executors of the programme. About their crass desire to fritter away scarce resources at a time of desperate need. There is far more to this exercise than meets the eye and rather than mobilising the security as well as civil society agencies to help monitor the distribution of the food items, as the Federal Government has said it would, it is the government itself that Nigerians need to probe closely to find out why the prosecution of this

I can’t see what the desperation is about feeding these pupils who have like everyone else been forced home, if not indoors, by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic feeding programme is so important to it at this most inopportune a time as any.

For one, the school feeding programme was designed to provide cooked, nutritiously balanced meals to pupils during school session. But Nigerian public and private schools have been shut since March 23 and the pupils sent home. Rather than save what they have for when the schools will reopen, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of the

Akugbene-Mein's silence

By EKANPOU ENEWARIDIDEKE

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HE forest is the comfiest home of biodiversity where there has been no invasion of the ecological composition of that biological world. But where no croaking, screeching, hooting, chirping, flapping of wings of birds suddenly caught bedraggled in the 'JPClarked' night rain, where there is no hissing, or no crackling of leaves sending fears into squirrels known for their frightful noise-making and running from trees to trees to tell stories they know little or nothing about, the forest ominously sends fears into foresters. Foresters then turn into temporary prophets in their imaginative journeys trying to figure out the cause of the pervading silence. That is the danger of silence anywhere it chooses to sojourn and only appears when there is ecological disharmony or dislocation. Could this be the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State?

No authority has come to fault the age-long admission of sages that silence is golden where the forces at war with silence are coconutbrained, disgustingly coated and gaudily garnished with thoughts and expressions inexorably drawing the world to the abyss.

Silence becomes questionable when silence silences aspects of life that would awaken man towards thorough knowledge of his entire being, the sociological and anthropological compositions of his society, and the values imbibed which can throw the world open to transformational ideas blended with untainted historical facts.

A man truly awakened to the true ideals, values and the history behind those ideals and values is armed with the moral, cultural and historical compass to negotiate any bend and navigate safely to any envisioned destination.

Society becomes endangered by historical lacuna occasioned by deliberate silence. This is why many view the silence of AkugbeneMein Kingdom over the years as a misnomer because it threatens the required peaceful coexistence where the moral, cultural, philosophical, sociological, anthropological, ecological and intellectual symmetry of brothers and sisters bound by historical ties of consanguinity would be broken ignorantly, leading the way to eruption of baseless altercation among brothers.

C M Y K

I hold the strong view that the silence of Akugbene-Mein kingdom should be broken by anyone blessed with the power to defy and defile their age-long silence. Whether or not the kingdom likes my daring intervention, I have unstoppably decided to break the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom and tell the world that treasured historical truth kept away from this generation by them for many years like the Holy Grail in Dan Brown's novel named Da Vinci Code. The Akugbene-Mein Kingdom in Bomadi Local Government Area currently ruled

by His Royal Majesty Pere S.P. Luke-Kalanama VIII, born July 8, 1966, a product of the prestigious Akugbene Grammar School from 1978-1983 - that grammar school that produced great men like Chief E. K. Clark, Chief Senator J. E. Manager, Chief Tubodei Joseph Penawou and other notable personalities, a graduate of Applied Biology from the River State University of Science and Technology in 1995, one-time National Secretary Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria; one-time Secretary Delta State Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, one-time representative on the Board of WAEC (20042006), one-time member of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme (2010-2011), member of Task Force on Movement of Cattle and Cattle Rearers in Delta State (2014-2015), member of the Delta State Boundary Adjustment Committee, the 2nd ViceChairman Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers with a Master of Science, M.Sc. degree in Corporate Governance from the prestigious Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, known now as Leeds Beckett University (2014), the only chairman and Traditional Ruler in the Bomadi Local Government Area with a functionally harmonious reign over twelve communities satisfactorily welded to his style of governance and administration in the kingdom who has Queen Tina Febrade Luke and Queen Gloria Kuroakegha Luke as his endearing two wives blessed with ebullient and vibrant children.

Crowned in 1997 as Kalanama VIII after the death of His Royal Majesty Pigha Okubo, a great lover of sports, he has carved a solid reputational space for himself for being a strong voice in the agitation for upward review in the budgetary allocation to NDDC and an activist demand for repayment of the unreleased

Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Ministry and other officials of her ministry chose to go on a fool’s errand of chasing these children of no known address to their homes. This would be done through vendors that would take the food items to designated points for delivery to the parents of these children.

By one ill-digested move, attention has been shifted from the children to their parents and instead of cooked food what is now been distributed are raw, bagged foods, trailer loads of the likes of which as so-called COVID-19 relief packages are under the supervision of this same minister being diverted to be openly sold at profits in markets. That the food suppliers or contractors have been paid in advance cannot be enough excuse for this wasteful exercise that could only enrich a handful of Nigerians at the expense of the majority, especially our defrauded children. Since the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry has chosen to distribute raw rather than cooked food, what is wrong with storing the items until the schools reopen? What is the sense in taking the food to the children in their homes where their parents have not abdicated their responsibilities as parents?

In the end, a close investigation of the exercise will no doubt reveal that most of the food would have been delivered at the wrong address to the wrong people and that much if not most of the money earmarked for purchasing the food items was expended on ‘logistics’, transporting and distributing the food to ghosts.

Is this too cynical or pessimistic?

accumulated N500 billion to NDDC. And as a lover of education, over 50 persons have benefitted from his ongoing scholarship scheme created in his kingdom with tentacles magnanimously spread beyond his kingdom.

By firmly established historical evidence His Royal Majesty Kalanama I traditionally got his Pereship from Benin in the 16th Century, but that Akugbene-Mein Kingdom animated by her historic but questionable besottedness with silence over beneficial historical facts, is, sadly, not even prepared to awaken the world to these indelible historical realities. Is the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom historically a curse or a blessing to this generation?

His Royal Majesty, Pere S.P. Luke Kalanama VIII being a grassroots man who is an advocate of community transformation, he is known to have influenced and attracted development projects to his kingdom through a functional collaboration and partnership with Rt. Hon.

I have decided to break the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom and tell the world that treasured historical truth kept away from this generation Nicholas Mutu, the developmental enigma descriptively cast as the unbeatable apostle or bishop of developmental arrogance in the Niger Delta. Even after all these deafening vibratory developmental echoes, His Royal Majesty Pere S.P. Luke Kalanama VIII is still vehement in his refusal to end his pact with silence to promote silence in every dimension of his achievements in life.

I would have suffered historical dislocation and distortion if my father's 90-year-old brother, Mr George, had embraced silence on historical matters like Akugbene-Mein Kingdom. My roots of historical origination from the Sokoh Family of Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has been authenticated historically. Mr Onoriosuoghwu is the founding father of the Sokoh Family in Ovwian from whom all the branches of the Sokoh Family came. A marital dance between Mr. Sokoh and Uduvweyara produced Muakere and Munuphior who were all females. My great grandfather Izon of Ayakoromo,

Certainly no. Not as cynical or pessimistic as the mindsets that chose to defraud mere children of what we were told was designed to make their lives a bit easier.

Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, it seems, is unable to steer clear of needless and avoidable controversies. If anything, she appears to have honed her capacity for taking one disastrous decision after another. Before now, it was her ministry’s ghastly handling of the COVID-19 palliative distribution that exercised Nigerians for a period. While the dust raised by that is yet to settle, she has moved on to distributing food meant for school children to their parents. There is nothing nearly salutary about this drainpipe that will deplete Nigeria’s treasury to the tune of about N679 million daily or N13.5 billion monthly in the heat of a health crisis that has destroyed our revenue balance and left the government with begging bowls, as it goes about seeking assistance to fight the pandemic from both private businesses and individuals.

At the best of times, Nigerians were sceptical of the school feeding arrangement which they thought was a scam. The determination to feed children at home with their parents at a time of a global pandemic that demands caution - to go ahead with this plan with all the confusion that comes with it can only point in one direction: corruption. There is no reason why anyone should believe the explanation of Abuja that the feeding programme will not gulp up to the amount reported in the media.

The action of the government lacks logic and integrity and ultimately belies any claim to transparency.

Akparemogbene, Oyangbene and Ekameta towns married Muakere from the Sokoh Family of Ovwian and gave birth to messrs Ogiren, Ekanpou, Ododo and Ekregbainmo. Prince Besibe is the surviving son of Munuphior the sister of Muakere. Ekanpou is a son from the marriage between Izon in Burutu Local Government Area and Muakere of the Sokoh Family in Ovwian. Historically, Ekanpou is both an Urhobo man from the Sokoh Family of Ovwian, and an Ijaw man from the Gogi Family, Ezaigba Family and Izon Family of Ayakoromo. Our roots of origination from Ovwian would have been distorted and wiped out but for Mr George Ekanpou who unveiled the history and led us to the Sokoh Family for historical reconnection and reunion. This deliberate digression is designed to fault the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom when they should be everywhere parroting their endearing ancient roots of origination.

Then could this pact of silence be likened to that pact of Dr. Faustus in Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus for fullness of the pact?

From every angle though the pact of Dr. Faustus is an objectionable one because it carries diabolical, demonic and Mephistophelian echoes of destruction.

Questionable as the silence of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom is, its comparison with that pact of Dr. Faustus is purely metaphorical because the Akugbene-Mein Kingdom's silence does not carry Mephistophelian echoes though the silence irks and saddens this generation beyond the power of words. Bound by undiluted historical symmetry, Akugbene-Mein Kingdom is the oldest kingdom in Mein Ijaw Western Division as Kalanama I was even the first to settle in River Forcados among the grandchildren of Mein. From Pere Kalanama I (the founder) (1485-1561), Pere Buleduo Kpeki Kalanama II (1561-1608), Pere Okirizi Kalanama III (1638-1718), Pere Buro Tubodei Kalanama IV (1744 - 1805), Pere Ogu Buro Kalanama V (1832 - 1932), Pere Francis Bekewuru Ogu Kalanama VI (1934 - 1965), Pere Pigha (1974-1995) to Pere S.P. Luke Kalanama VIII (1997 till date), AkugbeneMein Kingdom has had eight kings.

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com

•Enewaridideke, a literary activist and social critic, wrote from Akparemogbene, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Global firms fear prolonged global recession, others — WEF

DMO to sell N60bn FGN bonds, as external reserves hit $35.47bn

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Debt Management Office (DMO) will, today, conduct bond auction by offering N60 billion worth of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds to investors.

This comes as the databank of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, shows further rise in the nation’s external reserves.

According to the revised debt issuance calendar for second quarter released by the DMO last week, the bond action comprises N20 billion worth of 5year bond, N20 billion worth of 15-Year bond and N20 billion worth of 30-year bond.

The bond auction is expected to record oversubscription as investors take advantage of the higher returns on FGN bonds compared to the less than 3.5 percent yield on treasury bills.

However, the DMO is expected to take advantage of the oversubscription to further reduce stop rates on FGN bonds. Last month, the N60 billion worth FGN bond offered by the DMO recorded 459 percent oversubscription.

The total subscription received through competitive bids for the three instruments was N275.67 billion. The subscriptions’ breakdown indicated that N49.70 billion or 248.50 percent was received for the 5-year bond; N107.47 billion or 537.35 percent for the 15-year bond and N118.50 billion or 592.25 percent for the 30-year bond.

The successful bids were allotted at the rate of 9.0 percent for the 5-year, 12 percent for the 15-year and 12.5 percent for the 30-year bond, all of which were lower than the rates at the March 2020 FGN

From left, Head Anti-Corruption Unit, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Barr Ifeanyi Obialor, Acting, Executive Commissioner Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission Mr Isyaku Tilde and Acting Director General, SEC Ms Mary Uduk during the Inauguration Ceremony of Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit and Monitoring Unit of SEC in Abuja bond auction.

External reserves rise to $35.47bn Meanwhile, the nation’s external reserves rose for the second consecutive weeks to $35.47 billion on Monday.

According to the CBN data update, the external reserves

rose to $35.47 billion on Monday, May 18th from $34.66 billion on Monday May 11th, translating to week-on-week increase of $810 million.

Consequently the reserves had risen by $2.04 billion since April 29th when the ten months downward trend halted

at $33.427 billion.

The improved fortune of the nation’s external reserves was prompted by the inflow of $3.4 billion courtesy of the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) facility granted to Nigeria by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month.

COVID-19: Shareholders seek consolidation of 255 stock broking firms incentives extended to them in this

By Peter Egwuatu

A

PPARENTLY, hinting of the distress in the stockbroking industry as a result of the adverse impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across financial markets, 0.35 108.10 an investor group under the aegis of Independent 2,429.00 25.00 Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, 0.16 10.96 has moved for the consolidation of the 255 stock broking firms in the country.

34.60 -0.21 The National Coordinator of the group, Dr 32.15 0.33 Anthony Omojola, stated that the consolidation has CURRENCY BUYING SELLING become necessary because only about 10 of US DOLLAR 360 360.5 361 the stock broking firms 437.652 438.2599 438.8677 POUNDS are still very active, domi390 390.1331 390.6742 EURO nating the market.

370.218 370.7322 371.2464 FRANC He also said: “We ex3.3551 3.3597 3.3644 YEN pect that recapitalization 0.4845 0.4945 0.5045 CFA 415.4988 416.0759 416.653 WAUA of the stock broking firms 50.5986 50.6693 50.74 RENMINBI should see some merg95.8211 95.9542 96.0873 RIYAL ers that will bring the RAND 19.5122 19.5393 19.5664 number to a manageable size and help to improve the performance of the CBN Exchange rate as at 19/05/2020 capital market sector that

has also been affected by the coronavirus.

Omojola, who was speaking in a virtual interview however, said that going forward there is every likelihood that that the nation will witness some growth in the areas of Medium and Small Scale Enterprises, SMEs because of some palliatives and tax

year’s budget.

While commenting on shareholders expectation for 2020, he stated: ‘’We are concerned with the purchasing power of the people in terms of goods and services which has been seriously affected by the value of naira which is a reality of increase in tariffs, rates and other government policies that have negative effects on the people.”

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

P

ROLONGED global reces sion, high unemployment, another outbreak of infectious diseases and protectionism now top the list of worries of corporate organizations across the world, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in a report titled, “COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and Its Implications”, released yesterday.

The report indicated that the global economy was not ready for the effects of the pandemic but added that the situation could be salvaged if world leaders acted together.

The WEF report said, “Economic distress and social discontent will rise over the next 18 months unless world leaders, businesses and policy-makers work together to manage the fallout of the pandemic.

“As economies restart, there is an opportunity to embed greater societal equality and sustainability into the recovery, which would unleash a new era of prosperity.”

The report, produced in partnership with Marsh & McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, tapped into the views of nearly 350 senior risk professionals who were asked to look at the next 18 months and rank their biggest concerns in terms of likelihood and impact for the world and for business.

“The immediate economic fallout from COVID-19 dominates companies’ risks perceptions.

These range from a prolonged recession to the weakening fiscal position of major economies, tighter restrictions on the crossborder movement of goods and people, and the collapse of a major emerging market.

“In examining the interconnections between risks, the report also calls on leaders to act now against an avalanche of future systemic shocks such as the climate crisis, geopolitical turbulence, rising inequality, strains on people’s mental health, gaps in technology governance and health systems under continued pressure.

SMEs must reinvent to remain competitive — Heritage Bank boss way to go.”

M

ANAGING Director/ Chief Executive, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, has advised Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to reinvent themselves in order to remain competitive and overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on “Converting ideas into reality with focus on SME’s”, Sekibo also stressed the need for SMEs to continually embrace partnership and function as an integral part of a value chain.

He said: “For SMEs to strive, they must continually re-invent themselves, one big plus for SMEs is that they are quite

small, and they can easily change.

Cooperation is key at this very time. I advocate always, competition is good but complementing each other is better, it comes with value chain principle.

“When you plan yourself in a value chain, you gain more because the big dinosaurs need the small SMEs to survive. The economy of Nigeria needs the SME to survive. I recommend that partnerships are developed in the space of SMEs, one-man business find it difficult to survive in an economy that is changing on daily basis or even hourly. If you want to remain viable, your dreams being viable, partnerships are good

Sekibo also counselled SMEs on the need to adapt to the realities of a new world occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the increased adoption of electronic channels (E-Channels) for productivity and product marketing.

He said: “The truth is that even after this pandemic, we can never return to the normal way because this is the new normal and in our desperation to find solution, mistakes abound, failures will set in and most of us will hide from our failures other than face it.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 21

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

Emefiele mobilizes private sector for post COVID-19 economic recovery

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has called for the support of industrial conglomerates operating in the country towards efforts to boost economic recovery from COVID-19 challenges.

But he also warned that the CBN will not support the importation of items that can be produced in Nigeria because the bank could not spend its foreign exchange reserves on what would not boost the domestic economy and generate jobs for Nigerians.

Speaking during a virtual meeting with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of conglomerates in Nigeria, Emefiele said the apex bank was determined to return the Nigerian economy to the period when the manufacturing and agricultural sectors led economic development.

The Governor, while acknowledging the challenge of low crude oil prices, expressed confidence that the price of crude will not remain at low levels for a long period.

While also emphasizing that the low crude oil prices were surmountable, he declared that Nigeria’s foreign reserves remained robust enough to support the economy.

He therefore enjoined the conglomerates to key into the current administration’s drive towards diversifying the base of the Nigerian economy by taking advantage of its large population to produce goods for the local population and also for exports to the rest of the world.

He also pledged the apex bank’s willingness to provide foreign exchange to companies that required such for raw materials and machinery that could not be obtained in Nigeria.

Stressing further on the need to prioritise the Nigerian market, the CBN Governor assured the companies that the apex bank will collaborate with the relevant government agencies to help nip smuggling in the bud, while also promising to protect their businesses to ensure they succeed in Nigeria.

He assured the CEOs of the CBN’s willingness to collaborate with other fiscal authorities to improve on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, with a view to simplifying their import and export processes.

On the issue of Direct Foreign Investments, Emefiele said the apex bank was not opposed to the conglomerates seeking alternative but legitimate sources of foreign exchange to boost their businesses, just as he said the CBN would not hinder the companies from repatriating their dividends.

CSCS gets approval from CAC to hold AGM by proxy

C

Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (center) been decorated with the badge of office by Otunba Debola Osibogun, FCIB, Former President, CIBN (left) and Mr. Seye Awojobi, FCIB, Registrar/CEO, (right) CIBN during the Investiture of Mr. Bayo Olugbemi as the 21st President/Chairman of Council, CIBN held in Lagos

ENTRAL Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has gotten approval from the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to hold its 14th Annual General Meeting, AGM. To this effect, the CSCS has announced that it will hold its 26th AGM) on the 14th Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Building, Lagos on Friday 22 May 2020 by 10:00am.

The Company obtained the following approval from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as stipulated in the Commission’s Guidelines on holding of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of Companies using Proxies.

Nigeria lost $150bn in 10yrs over stalled oil industry reform

By Michael Eboh

T

HE value of investments lost to over the stalemate in the proposed oil sector reform has been put at $150 billion over the last 10 years.

An energy expert and Senior Partner, Energy & Commercial Contracts, Primera Africa Legal, Mr. Israel Aye, who gave this information yesterday at a oneday online workshop for civil society organizations and the media, said that the current structure of the Nigerian petroleum industry was not sustainable, and emphasized the need for governance of the industry to improve.

He further stated that the recently introduced gas policies, especially in the area of commercializing flared gas, lacked the necessary legal backing to ensure that the envisaged gains were sustained going forward.

Aye explained that while it was within the powers of the Minister of Petroleum or his delegate, to remove under-recovery on petroleum products, especially as it was in line with the Oil and Gas Policies, until the Petroleum Act is amended, the government could not have been said to have deregulated the downstream petroleum sector.

He stated: “The bedrock of the regulation of the downstream and petroleum product price control is Section 6(1) of the Petroleum Act. Until we change the law, the minister may hardwire the removal of subsidies and formally replace it with the Price Modulation template (2015), assuring bulk importers that they can sell at cost-reflective prices subject to price regulation mechanisms prescribed

in the regulation.

“In order to deregulate the downstream sector, we need to amend or expunge Section 6(1) as it is currently written. We need a framework that prescribes the role and responsibilities of each institution taking decisions at every point in the petroleum producing pricing process. We need a framework that show how the pricing template was arrived at, the intervals of the price modulation adjustments, whether monthly,

quarterly, weekly or daily.

“There must be an agency legally empowered to handle the responsibility of modulation of petroleum products prices in the country outside the NNPC, which should be allowed to face its responsibility of handling the operations side of the business.

“We must demand an open and transparent process to handle all the issues in the price modulation value chain to remove arbitrariness and exploitation.” He explained that the

much-needed reforms of the Nigerian petroleum industry would be achieved by the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

He noted that the PIB, when passed, should address issues that would promote growth of reserves and production; sustain revenue to government; incentivize outcomes, not efforts; remove barriers to entry and ensure level playing fields across all the petroleum value chains.

Axxela records 5m LTI-free man-hours

By Udeme Akpan

A

XXELA Limited, an indig enous company, has achieved five million man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) across its operations.

Speaking on the safety milestone, Bolaji Osunsanya, Axxela’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We are proud to celebrate Axxela’s advances in safety performance.

This safety mark underscores Axxela’s unwavering commitment to health and safety best practices across all facets of our enterprise. Our integrated Environment, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) management strategy revolves around operational excellence, stringent safety processes, high standards, strict compliance, comprehensive training, capability building, and vigilant monitoring.

“Building on our 4 million LTI free man-hour record achieved in 2018, we are excited about this new accomplishment, and are already working towards the next ground-breaking milestone.

Safety is firmly entrenched in every aspect of our business and I must commend our managerial and operational teams, along with

our partners and contractors for their relentless efforts in upholding our robust safety guidelines.”

He said: “Achieved over 8 years, the Five Million LTI-Free ManHours is comprised of operation time in the 12” x 128km Eastern Horizon Gas Company pipeline traversing Akwa Ibom and Cross River States (divested in 2014); the 12.15MW Akute Power Plant Project (divested in 2016); the Gas Network Services Limited Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mother Station (a 5.3mmscfd CNG Plant); the 10.4 MW Alausa Power Plant Project (divested in 2017); the 12" x 8.5km GLIV gas pipeline project taking gas from Ijora to the Marina in Lagos State; the 12" x 8.5km Central Horizon Gas Company pipeline expansion project from Trans-Amadi through the greater Port Harcourt area; the installation of Eight CNG Daughter stations across South-West Nigeria; and commencement of a 12" x 120km gas pipeline project in Sagamu, Ogun by Transit Gas Nigeria Limited.”

Similarly, Axxela’s EHSQ Manager, Uche Okpala, who attributed the remarkable feat to the dedication of employees and contractors to ensuring an incident-

free work environment, said: “This new safety record is indicative of company-wide adherence to our Occupational Health and Safety standards in line with (ISO 45001:2018). While we are elated, our vision remains zero accidents to our employees, contractors, customers, suppliers and host communities, and continued collaboration with our stakeholders to maintain a safe environment for all.”

He added: “In 20 years of delivering innovative energy solutions to the Nigerian and West African markets, Axxela has built and maintained a safety culture supplemented by a rigorous EHSQ management system for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting performance.

“Axxela holds monthly EHSQ meetings and an annual EHSSQ Day to deepen awareness and strengthen an incident-free work culture. The company is also the first organisation in the Nigerian oil & gas space to achieve and hold a trifecta of Integrated Management Systems: Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015), and Occupational Health & Safety (ISO 45001:2018).”

22— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Nigeria’s logistics marketplace, Dellyman pulls monthly double-digit growth despite COVID-19 effects

By Juliet Umeh At a time that most businesses are battling the negative impacts of COVID-19, asset-free logistics marketplace, Dellyman, is recording double-digit growth, proof that aggregating logistics assets is the right solution to the challenge of sameday delivery in Nigeria.

The marketplace has seen an uptick in all major indices, including a 45 per cent spurt in the number of active customers to 1,586 between

Stories by Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

I

N the second quarter of 2018, youth unemployment peaked at 38 percent. Even though there are no recent statistics, experts in the labour sector say the figure has soared year-on year.

The issue has remained a hydra-headed problem of the world, especially for developing countries like Nigeria. With the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has become more dire, as various sectors of the economy and industries stand greatly threatened including the financial and technology industry in Nigeria.

Recently, companies like Andela, the software engineering talent company, laid off 135 of its staff across four locations in Africa including Nigeria, while some financial institutions and commercial banks have had to also take measures like salary cuts to thwart mass layoffs.

Another financial institution, Ren Money recently, laid off about 391 sales agents, claiming that a new technology was being introduced to change the company’s mode of operation. In their place, an app was introduced, to take up the assignments the field sales agents used to do.

Hiring during times of COVID-19 However, there seems to be hope, after all, because despite the dire straits that COVID-19 has put many global industries, futuristic IT companies say they can still hire at an unending pace, despite the effects of the pandemic.

For instance, multinational IT support and professional services company, Tek Experts recently said it has no intention of laying off any staff because it foresaw the future of work and aligned itself to the process.

With operations in seven countries, including Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Vietnam, USA and Rwanda, the company said its target is to be a major employer of labour and harbinger of a new digital dispensation.

Tek Experts provides technical support and professional services for some of the world’s largest IT companies. The company has over 7,000 employees across seven global offices, but says it desires to increase staff C M Y K

March and April2020 - a 91 per cent growth from January 2020.

The period also saw a surge in the number of logistics companies to 450, with over 100 verified and active on the platform.

Within the same period (March specifically), Dellyman inked its first major partnership with fintech firm, Opay to boost its delivery assets by deploying some of the idle motorcycle assets from ORide. The company said this saw an increase in the number of riders on the plat-

strength because with more people working from home during this period, tech support, the service it provides, has never been more sought after.

Speaking about the ramp up and future plans for the company, Country Manager for Tek Experts Nigeria, Lars Johannisson, says that the company’s growth is unprecedented and unlike any other in today’s Nigerian tech industry. “We are growing at an exponential rate and this comes on the heels of the need to grow our operations to meet the teeming demands of our global IT clients.

“Nigeria has a wealth of amazing young talent and we are truly passionate about identifying those talented individuals, training a huge number of them to be IT experts so they can compete successfully in the future of work. We also have a unique opportunity to reduce the unemployment rate of youths in the country.

“To accommodate this increasing workforce and new service lines, the company recently moved into a brand-new office building called Everty One, at Oniru, Victoria Island. It is a state-of-the-art building which

form and over 3,000 orders completed by the first week of May 2020, translating to 93 per cent increase from February this year.

Launched in March 2019, Dellyman set out to solve same-day delivery problem in Nigeria and has since grown revenue 20 times between January and April 2020 with average monthly growth within the same period averaging 145 per cent. It now targets over 5,000 orders in May alone.

The platform has seen 20 average daily customer acquisitions,

with at about 38 per cent of the total active customers placing at least one order since coming onboard.

According to Dellyman’s founder/Chief Executive Officer, Dare Ojo-Bello “the numbers we have seen within the past two months is a concrete validation of our business model. We had initially assumed that it is because of the lockdown alone, but we continue to see even a more increased adoption after the phased easing of the lockdown started. We are

now looking to even expand our capacity to be able to keep up with the growing demand”.

Ojo-Bello, said that most of the orders have come from online retailers, restaurants and home kitchens offering custom meals such as soups; pharmacies delivering drugs and other medical supplies, computer & electronics retailers, cake & confectionary makers, foodstuffs sellers, marketers dispatching multi-level marketing products and documents.

A modern work place

How technology can check youth unemployment

Nigeria has a wealth *Tek Experts continue to hire despite COVID-19 effects of amazing young *Says futuristic businesses see staff as strength not burden talent and we are truly global leadership team is alThe company began opera- These issues range from per- most entirely composed of wompassionate about identions in Nigeria in April 2018, sistent pay gap, lack of career en who have proven through tifying those talented promising to employ 300 staff growth opportunities for wom- their amazing track record in by the end of its first year and en, recruitment bias, general the industry that they deserve individuals, training a 2,000 staff by the end of its sec- lack of inclusion and diversity a seat at the table.” huge number of them ond year. As at May 2020, Tek in the IT industry amongst Expanding business frontiers to be IT experts so they Experts says it has employed many others.

Johannisson said that while 1,350 staff and is still up scalThe survey, completed by over can compete successful- ing its business and plans to 2,000 women worldwide, was other companies are laying off due to impacts of COVIDly in the future of work. increase its staff strength to conducted in five countries in- staff 19 Tek Experts,part of multinawill serve as our main headquarters.

The purchase of this building and this ramp up is also in fulfillment of the promises our founder, Yaniv Natan made at the April 2018 launch event of the company in Nigeria. He said, then, that we would hire 300 staff in our first year of operations and gradually ramp up to 2000 by the second year of operations. We have come into Nigeria to stay and do good business and we are committed to making this happen by nurturing IT talent in Nigerian youth thereby growing the IT industry and reducing unemployment.”

2,000 people by the end of 2020.

Upon employment, the organisation trains its staff for six weeks, using Microsoft-approved curriculums and training programs.

Diversity and inclusion Johannisson also told Hi-Tech that Tek Experts is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion not just in Nigeria but in the global IT industry, drawing attention to a white paper it produced last year, themed, ‘Achieving Gender Balance: Views from Across the IT Industry’. In the whitepaper, the company highlighted a wide range of issues identified by women in the Nigerian IT industry.

cluding Bulgaria, Nigeria, Costa Rica, USA and Vietnam. The white paper also proposed actionable solutions to the problems raised by women in IT and has called on the IT industry to collaborate in the achievement of these objectives.

At the launch of the whitepaper, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Naama Saar said, “At Tek Experts, we are deeply passionate about inclusion and diversity in the workplace and we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure we are a reflection of what we preach. We have implemented recruitment policies to achieve gender balance. So, we not only talk the talk; we also walk the walk. Our

tional group of companies called YNV Group is expanding businesses because it realized early enough that businesses should be tailored in a way that staff should be a strength and not a burden even at a time like this. “YNV Group operates in sectors including tech, education and real estate, and has been expanding its portfolio over the past few years to include Everty, a global real estate business and owners of the Everty One building located in Victoria Island; and elev8, a global IT training and education company, which is due to open a new academy in Nigeria this summer”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 23 pected.

In Lagos, eighteen Nollywood associations released a statement asking the federal government to discountenance the idea of dealing with individuals when Nollywood is the subject.

They argued this could set individuals against the various guilds

DSP Ovie Omo-Agege’s Politics: Excellent leadership in action

A Minister’s good and an

BY BLESSYN BRUMEangry broadcast industry ATAGUBA and, thus, cause disruption in the sector. They ET us begin this discourse from an anec OLITICS is a social alleged there was neither consultation with them LBako dotal platform. Years ago Mallam DanPactivity. It permeates nor an inclusion of any official of the strategic and affects our lives – ofladi was the Director General of the Na•Okoh Aihe tional Broadcasting Commission. Quite a young and articulate fellow who cut his teeth very early with epochal programmes on NTA, the sort that have mutated into AM Television across the country today.

Getting him to be DG of the NBC was a most auspicious opportunity for a much younger person to put more water on the seeds already planted by Dr Tom Adaba, pioneer DG who with some of his colleagues created an industry with the skin of their teeth. The coming of the private broadcasters into the country’s broadcast landscape can be both funny an also outlandishly selfish. Someday, that story will be told.

However, for the time being, let’s return to Danladi Bako. He had the curse of Nollywood being in full bloom during his time, or so we thought that the industry was in full bloom. Bako tried to pull the entire industry together, ensure that the various guilds had a common vision for an industry that would grow to shelter everybody. Quite a number of efforts at the NBC Office, Race Course, Lagos, and another major one in Cape Town, South Africa, where he had to use leadership masterstroke to resolve a situation that would have grown to become an international scandal to our nation. This was at the annual SITHENGI programme.

Danladi planned good for Nollywood but most of the dramatist personae at the time wore fame as insignia and pursue vapour in a most ironic struggle to exemplify the razzle dazzle of modern entertainment. The result: the industry has been in self-attrition and has rarely been able to approximate the creative strength of members to support individual and industry good.

In one of those moments Danladi had confided in me his plan to pressure the ministry into forming an endowment fund for Nollywood. Unfortunately, the plan leaked. Industry members nearly took up arms against people who were collecting money from government on their behalf, saying they did not need any help from anybody. Not even government. We built the industry. We are well able to run it! Really?

It is the responsibility of government to create conducive environment for the operation of any business, the reason being that a thriving industry creates jobs, as it is in the entertainment and the telecommunications industries, where individual networth is very high. The government gets generous returns in terms of tax returns and individual well-being. And crime suffers setback.

However, COVID-19 is creating a major disruption causing the broadcasters to raise a cry, before the entertainment sector, calling for the intervention of government. In a spontaneous response which belies the snail-speed approach of this administration, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed set up a Committee last week to work with government in this respect. The Committee, chaired by venerated comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere (with stage name, Ali Baba), has been given the responsibility to study the impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry and report back to government in four weeks.

That’s a great idea. But, the little problem is that the minister in his enthusiasm to do something, under-estimated the very inapposite situation and the very pervasive nature of the creative industry for which the broadcasters supply some of the pipes that carry the real stuff. The minister would never know the crater of differences among industry players which had blunted well-intentioned efforts in dressing up the sector for growth. And in very clear case of irony, the minister was playing host to the broadcasters who had sought audience with him.

A source at the meeting told me the tension in the air could crush a bone. There was outrage.

The broadcasters felt betrayed for not being involved in the process as their very proud contributions to the committee were by some employees, who only discussed palliatives for the stations employing them! There was fury in the air, like the tale of the hen when some little birds are being roasted, and the hen mistaking the birds as her little chicks. I grew up in the village and could feel the anxiety and pain of the hen each time we returned from bird-hunting and it was time to roast our harvest.

Reactions were instantaneous but not unex-

guild of the industry in the committee.

With anger boiled over, the broadcasters retreated to cool down their systems. Now, they have recovered and made proper request to the minister, asking him to right the wrong so the obvious disdain could not be taken as intentional.

Making their position known to the minister in a document dated May 7, 2020 and titled: Re Constitution of the Stakeholders Committee to advise Government on the Measures to be undertaken to Support the Stability of the Industry, BON observed: “In a Committee of 14 members, BON has only one. We believe very strongly that we are not adequately represented in the Committee as the only umbrella of the broadcast Organisations in Nigeria.”

BON in the statement signed by its chairman, Sa’a Ibrahim, alerted that three persons on the Committee except the chairman are individuals and not BON members as membership of BON is made up of Organisations that are registered Companies with Corporate Affairs Commission or created by Act of Parliament of Federal or State Government(s) and duly licensed

by NBC. BON therefore appealed to the minister to do the needful. It sent a list of members to be included in the committee.

In the secondary school, my teacher told me one day that indignation is righteous or justifiable anger. That With a little description has not left me ever permission I will since. So were the want to point out broadcast operators right to feel that what the such exacerbated minister couldn’t indignation, so that it made handle immediate- solid so many people ly in spite of all his very uncomfortin that hall? goodwill is the little able The broadcastdistinguishing ers have my support. The minister factors between also has my supthe various indus- port. Except that equivocation in try players manner of speaking doesn’t always help the cause of society. This is why I told the story of Danladi Bako. He tried to understand Nollywood and to do his best to promote the industry, although that best could hardly be appreciated. The creative industry the minister tries to affect is much bigger and more complex than Nollywood.

In fact, it is an integrated industry combining so many subsectors. This is why the minister should have been more circumspect and less hasty.

Broadcasting is a major sub sect in the creative industry. With a little permission I will want to point out that what the minister couldn’t handle immediately in spite of all his goodwill is the little distinguishing factors between the various industry players.

There are content makers or creators and there are content aggregators and platform owners. Content is key in the entertainment industry but the aggregators and platform owners are the ones holding the handle of the cutlass while the creators are holding the sharp end. So who is more endangered?

The broadcasters were right in crying out; after all, they have been the real heroes bring the story of COVID-19 to our once comfortable homes.

But the minister was wrong, very wrong in setting up a committee that belittled this group that has given this government maximum support in telling the story of a country resilient in the face of COVID-19. These are no times for blame games and recriminations, however. The times we are in call for heroes who can admit weaknesses and failings but will quickly contribute remedial actions that can straighten the people to look at the future with rejuvenated optimism. The minister should be bold enough to take redeeming actions that can assure and give hope to operators in an integrated but very vital sector of the economy.

ten without us realising just how much of our daily life it affects and shapes. Yet, the importance of politics to everyday life, and the degree to which many of our daily activities are ‘political’, is not always fully appreciated.

We have in His Excellency, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, the Deputy President of the Senate (DSP), a truly great and pragmatic leader with a big social conscience and a high sense of public duty. A man with a tenacious and deliberate determination to lift up his constituents - our good people of Delta Central. His entire interest in politics is the people, the people, the people, and you see the passion all over him like none other. Omo Agege does not entertain negative reports on the betterment of his people. Period!

The price of greatness In the words of Winston Churchill, ‘The price of greatness is responsibility’.

And so it is with our DSP. He takes responsibility in unique ways.

When it became evident that Covid-19 had metamorphosed into a pandemic, the world was suddenly faced with the existential threat of the century. A new struggle between life and livelihood suddenly ensued. Then our DSP sprang into action with a bang! He donated N85,000,000 cash to be shared N5,000 to at least 17,000 old, vulnerable, sick, or otherwise weak constituents in Delta Central. He wanted our people to determine what to do with the money instead of buying fanciful items that won’t make meaning to all persons at the same time.

That is quite thoughtful, isn’t it?

To execute the purpose of His Excellency’s magnanimous personal donation, he went further to carefully assemble a very responsible, competent and incorruptible group of young leaders to deliver his message directly to the people without any compromise on their brief. Today, everywhere in Urhoboland and Delta Central is aglow with joyful reactions from grateful recipients of the donation who are chosen at random and without partisan considerations or other such sentiments.

Once again, there is joy in the land as DSP’s team penetrate all the nooks and crannies of Urhobo, spreading a piece of the Most Distinguished Senator ’s magnanimity to our wonderfully appreciative hearts. Old women and men dancing on streets and

*Senator Omo-Agege, Deputy Senate President praying endlessly for a profoundly good leader. One who is always doing good.

It is the humble and fervent prayer of all good people that the gratitude that our people currently feel towards our generous DSP is sustained. By the scriptures we know that he who waters shall himself be watered. Let us continue to water the DSP with more prayers and unflinching support. He is a special pride to the Urhobo nation and all our people.

Our DSP’s COVID19 palliative is obviously not meant for partisan political gains hence it has zero

The time is always right to do what is right’.

Whether it is today or tomorrow, our DSP deser ves our prayers and support to do better and more for us ting of party control. It is essentially a philanthropic and humanitarian gesture. However, it should count for something significant in the political realm.

Our people will surely remember someday on their way to choosing leaders that there is a good man called Senator Ovie OmoAgege who remembers those who periodic and fruitless politicians love to forget in haste. As the great Martin Luther King once said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right’.

Whether it is today or tomorrow, our DSP deserves our prayers and support to do better and more for us.

With humility, I know what true service to the people means. My beloved dad, the Most Distinguished Senator Fred Aghogho Brume, lived it all his life. In our DSP OmoAgege I see an exceedingly great leader who is robed in God’s grace to serve very well. And he is delivering excellent results.

Politics, my friend, quali-

fies as a social responsibility when people are engaged to the point of true happiness along the line of the DSP’s palliative.

It is also true to say that everything that is social is political. I hope this does not stretch the meaning of politics too thin to the point of dilution. Although, politics itself as a concept is a contested concept.

Less of these ideological rants and more to the point.

We are seeing images of the palliatives from some public characters and governmental establishments on social media. It is pitiful and indeed very sad that our people are being subjected to such degrading and dehumanising treatments. Pictures of single cups of rice and beans are being peddled all over the social media space as the very best for families.

The questions that come to mind are - WHY and WHY? Are our people not worthy of a share of our collective wealth? The questions are too numerous to mention here. Maybe it’s best not to even go there.

Leader with people’s interests Friends, we will do well not to forget the federal and constituency projects which have either been influenced or have been delivered to your communities by our amiable Senator. There is a saying in Warri that, ‘Na who call you person, na him you dey call person.’ Translation not required. Let us always remember our beloved DSP Senator Ovie OmoAgege in our prayers. As one grateful Efetobor O’tega prayed, “Until Omo-Agege and the entire team is blessed, heaven will not rest.” Amen, and in that heavenly blessing lies our true collective future political greatness. We have a great duty to reward this leader who has our people’s interests in his heart. May God bless The Obarisi of Urhoboland.

*Mrs. Brume-Ataguba, daughter of late Senator Fred Brume, is a Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the DSP. She wrote from Abuja.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 25 :Vanguard News

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Dumping of strange persons in S/East dangerous— Anambra town unions Almajirai to be used to attack Igbo communities — INC Security agencies responsible for their influx— PFN

By Vincent Ujumadu, Chinedu Adonu & Chinonso Alozie

WKA—THE leadership A of Anambra State Association of Town Unions,

ASATU, yesterday, frowned at the influx of people from the northern parts of the country to the South East, arguing that such dumping of human beings in the zone was dangerous.

Addressing reporters at ASATU headquarters in Awka, National President of ASATU, Chief Alex Onukwe, saidcommunitiesinAnambra State were disappointed with what he described as the ongoing wicked efforts by some desperate citizens of Nigeria to cause disharmony among the various segments of the country.

He said: “It is no longer news that in recent weeks, truckloads of persons, who may be carriers of COVID-19, have been intercepted by security operatives in various parts of the South-East.

“Just yesterday (Monday), a truck with number plate,

MGR148XA,wasintercepted in Awka loaded with no fewer than 33 persons hidden inbetween goats. The driver of the truck said they were from Plateau State going to Onitsha. This is completely unacceptable to NdiAnambra and the rest of the South-East and it must stop forthwith.

“Whosoever that is behind this wickedness must refrain from doing so immediately as the communities of Anambra State can no longer fold their hands and watch as our lives are being threatened by the mischievous inclinations of some unpatriotic citizens, who can go as far as hiding human beings between animals and bags of cement or whatever and smuggle them from the northern parts of the country down to Anambra State and the South-East.

“Whatever be the intentions of these unscrupulous individuals, we consider them most ungodly and totally unacceptable."

Almajirai to be used to attack Igbo communities— INC

Meanwhile, Igbo National

Council, INC, yesterday, said the reported movement of almajirai from northern part of thecountryintotheSouth-East was aimed to carry out attacks in some communities in Igbo land.

INC in statement by its President, Chilos Godsent, alleged that his organisation received the information as a red alert on the planned attacks.

INC further said they would also be used to extract information to “perfect “ their plan ahead of 2023.

INC said: “The Igbo National Council, INC, has noted with dismay and anger, the deliberate clandestine exportation of almajirai into various communities and townsin south-east states of Nigeria with reckless impunity.

“We have received several red alerts on the coordinated plans by northern Nigeria oligarchy to use these almajirai to infiltrate communities and towns in southeast states of Nigeria.

“They are using them as tools for intelligence

gathering in perfection of their planned coordinated militant attackandinvasionoftargeted townsandcommunitiesinour territory ahead of the forthcoming2023presidential election, which the oligarchy has sworn to retain to the North.

“Consequently, INC, therefore calls on the leadership of communities and towns in Igboland to start re-training their vigilante outfits and also start the immediate personal identification verification exercise meant to classify all none indigenes of the communities and towns. We also enjoin the vigilantes to commence regular combing and security of all the forests in our communities.”

Security agencies responsible for influx of almajirai —PFN

Similarly, the Pentecontal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, yesterday, expressed dismay over the influx of almajirai into the southern part of the country.

PFN, while accusing securityagenciesofcomplicity, said the development was eroding the gains already made in the efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease.

This was contained in a statement by National Vice President (South-East) of the PFN, Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu, and made available to journalists in Enugu.

He said it was strange and inexcusable that “these men and women are flooding the South-East despite the nationwidelockdownandban on interstate travel.

“To this end, we are calling on the South-East governors to work the talk by putting up stern measures to ensure the protection of the region’s boundaries. The current situation should not be left unchecked as it posed grave danger to this zone.”

It’s abomination for political appointee to issue directive when VP is alive —Nnamdi Kanu

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu NEWI—THE leader of N Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi

Kanu, has described as an abomination in a democracy, a situation where a political appointee will be issuing directive to citizens, who cannot hold him accountable through the ballot boxes.

Mazi Kanu, therefore, mocked the Nigerian government for allegedly going to his Facebook page yesterday to receive what he described as “free education” in History, Civics Constitutional Governance andDemocracy.

The IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, therefore, said that very soon, he would start charging Nigerian government for receivingfree educationfrom his page.

In a statement entitled, “Learning is good, isn’t it? especially from miscreants” personally signed by Mazi Kanu and made available by

IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary,EmmaPiwerful,he queried why the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustaphawill allegedlymake announcement that was supposed to be made by the VicePresident, YemiOsinbajo.

Hesaidthatlater that same night, the PeoplesDemocratic Party,PDP,issuedastatement, rebuking the government for usingBossMustaphatoissue directives to Nigeria citizens.

Mazi Kanu’s statement read: “Good to see that Nigeria, her failed government and opposition come to my page to receive free education in History, Civics, Constitutional GovernanceandDemocracy.

Very soon I have to start charging them.

“Last night, I wrote in my penultimate post that “an unelected, unaccountable Boss Mustapha made an announcement which a popular TV station, knew ought to have been made by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in the absence of a President.

Enugu Assembly seeks unified salary for primary sch teachers, LG staff

By Dennis Agbo NUGU State House of Assembly, yesterday, E debated a motion seeking to

have a unified system of paying the salaries of primary school teachers and that of the local government staff in the state.

In the motion sponsored by the member representing Nkanu West state constituency, Iloabuchi Aniagu and 10 other members of the House, the lawmakers noted that whereas other civil servants in the state regularly receive their salaries on or before 25th of every month, the primary school teachers and the local government staff could hardly say when theirs

would be paid.

Aniagu disclosed that some councils pay half salaries to their workers while others pay in arrears.

“This is caused by the deductions made on individual LGA’s account based on the number of teachers in that LGA,” he remarked.

Aniagu, therefore, prayed the state Joint Account Committee, JAC, to structure a unified system of payment where the salaries of primary school teachers and other local government staff in Enugu State are deducted from a collective pool of all local governmentallocationbeforethe appropriation of the remaining fundsaremadeusingnormalratio ofallocationoftherespectiveLGA’s.

Chinese president calls for greater support for Africa to fight COVID-19 of boosting international coopBy Chioma Gabriel

P

RESIDENT Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China has called for greater support for Africa to fight the pandemic of COVID-19.

Xi Jinping made the call when he delivered a speech via video link on May 18 in Beijing, at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly.

According to President Xi, developing countries, African countries in particular, have weaker public health systems and helping them build capacity must be a top priority in COVID-19 response.

He said: “The world needs to provide more materials, technological and personnel support for African countries."

President Xi said China had

sent a tremendous amount of medical supplies and assistance to over 50 African countries and the African Union. Five Chinese medical expert teams have also been sent to the African continent.

“In total, in the past seven decades, over 200 million people in Africa have received care and treatment from Chinese medical teams. At present, 46 resident Chinese medical teams are in Africa helping with COVID-19 containment efforts locally.

“China stands for the vision of building a community with shared future for mankind.

China takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its own citizens, but also global public health.”

President Xi said for the sake

eration against COVID-19, China will “provide US$2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.

"China will work with the United Nations to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China, ensure the operation of antiepidemic supply chains and foster 'green corridors'for fasttrack transportation and customs clearance.

"China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters to help the continent ramp up its disease control capacity."

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 :Vanguard News

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Ex militants make case for Wabote

By Jimitota Onoyume

W

PIRATES —Ten pirates who hijacked a fishing vessel, MV HAILUFENG II , being paraded after their arrest by Nigerian Navy, Special Boat Service operatives in Lagos.

Herdsmen invade Delta farms, chase farmers out of forests • Delta to establish joint security taskforce — Ebie

By Emma Amaize & Festus Ahon

A

SABA—SECRETARY to the Delta State Government, SSG, Mr Chiedu Ebie, yesterday said the state government would soon set up a joint security task force as part of its efforts to tackle the growing insecurity occasioned by the incessant kidnappings, killings and maiming of Deltans by armedsuspected herdsmen.

This came as about onehundred farmers have fled their camp (residential area) in Ibusa, Oshimili Local Government Area of the state, following invasion of their farms by suspected armed herdsmen, who attacked them.

Some fleeing farmers told Vanguard that armed herdsmen invaded their farms with their cattle and pounce on them, forcing them to run for their lives.

Meanwhile, briefing newsmen in Asaba, Ebie said the state government was worried about the situation and expressed the state government determination to protect the lives and property of all Deltans as well as those residing in the state.

He said: "Government has resolved to establish a joint security task force which will be drawn from the existing security agencies (in collaboration with the respective vigilantes), but operating under an independent structure that will be backed by legislation.

"A bill to this effect will be laid before the state House of Assembly in the next few days. Our main concern is the rising trend of insecurity involving clashes between herders and their host communities.

"This matter has been under the focus of the state government since inception of this administration and had informed the appointments and governance structure that has

been created since then such as the creation of the office of Special Adviser (Peace Building and Conflict Resolution).

"This include the appointments of persons of Northern extraction and the formation of Vigilante Groups in various communities. At the same time, we have been very active in the use of intelligence and a recent outcome of this application is the demolition and relocation of the Abraka Market, which had turned into a meeting point and haven for criminally minded persons.

"We have also been quite active in engaging with herders and their host communities to ensure mutual trust and peaceful co-existence through the offices of some of the political appointees.

"Against this background, the recent clashes are quite unfortunate, but let me reassure Deltans that the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is rising up to this challenge.

"Already, full compliments of our security outfit is investigating the incidents and I am aware that some arrests have been made as mentioned by the Commissioner of Police recently."

The SSG who was flanked by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said, "Let me seize this opportunity to appreciate Deltans for their strong collaboration with the state government in coping with the exigencies associated with managing the COVID-19 pandemic since it made landfall in Delta State.

"The state government is well aware of the hardships and the dislocations that the pandemic has brought upon homes and businesses and have continued to reach out to the most vulnerable among

us in order to help them this period.

"We will continue to work with other stakeholders including the Federal Government and the private sector to put measures in place to contain and manage the pandemic as best possible as we can."

Herdsmen invade farms, chase farmers out of Ibusa forest

Findings by Vanguard showed that many farmers and their families have left the affected camp in large numbers, since last weekend, when kidnappers stormed Ogboli quarters, killed an instrumentalist and abducted about four other persons, who escaped while being whisked to their den inside the forest.

A woman, Mrs Comfort Obi and her children sighted by Vanguard, yesterday, said: "Fulani people are the ones pursuing us from our farms in the forest. The occupants are

all running away from the camp where we reside as you speak to me. We are escaping to Ibusa town to take refuge for now."

One of the residents, Azuka Nnoli, who expressed anger at the development, said, "This is dangerous. How can we be running from Fulani people in our land? People who are engaged legitimately in farming in Ibusa homeland cannot farm because of the herdsmen. You can see that everybody is running, yet government and police are there watching, giving all manners of excuse every day.

"Go and see for yourself, the whole expanse of land, people are scared and running away because Fulani people have declared war on Ibusa people just like they did on Okpanam. All the people doing farm work in Ibusa have stopped going to farm because of Fulani people," he added.

ARRI—Ex militants under the aegis of Creek Dragon have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore pressure from some persons in the name of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, not to reappoint the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMD, Mr Simbi Wabote.

The ex militants made the appeal in Warri, Delta State. President General of the group, General Freedom Adowei said MEND was no longer in existence, adding that those using the name of the defunct body should be ignored.

He said those kicking against reappointment of the executive secretary of NCDMD with the name of MEND had no genuine reasons for their action.

The ex militants further urged the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timi-

pre Sylva to also ignore any threat from those using the name of MEND to kick against the re appointment of Wabote.

"Engr Wabote, executive secretary of NCDMD is not found wanting in any way, he should be reappointed to continue his good works for the board and the Ijaw nation as well.

"Anyone calling for his non reappointment is an enemy of Ijaw nation. We therefore therefore, urge our dynamic Minister for Petroleum, State, Sylva to completely disregard such unproductive and fake calls crying for the downfall of fellow Ijaw man against the larger interest of Ijaw nation.

"Simbi has done more than enough to deserve whatever appointment on that board and beyond. We are using this medium to warn all those behind such childish garbage statements in the name of our revered but dead MEND, it is in their best interests to desist from this act of betrayal."

Reps to probe NCDC activities, others for COVID-19 treatment

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—HOUSE of Rep resentatives, yesterday, mandated its Ad-hoc Committee on Coronavirus pandemic to investigate the operations of Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, with regards to finding local cure for the deadly disease.

The committee was also asked to investigate the status of local medical research in the fight against coronavirus pandemic and other diseases in Nigeria.

The resolution was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion moved

by Mr Toby Okechukwu from Enugu State at the plenary.

Moving the motion, Okechukwu who's also the deputy minority leader, noted the

efforts of the World Health Organisation, WHO, to find cure for COVID-19.

He observed, "The recent declaration by Madagascar that it has found the cure for COVID-19, while the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was reported in the media as saying that the bank is developing a framework to provide support to aid the fight against coronavirus disease in the country. ’’The FG is also making effort on the need for a methodical approach in providing effective coordination, supervision, mandate and funding for intense medical research for cures of the diseases and for local production of essential medical supplies used in the fight against the diseases in the country.’’

Alleged N40B NDDC fraud: We'll sue NASS over failure Says NASS must reject ‘‘IMC virement to to probe IMC — Group •cover up fraud’’

By Egufe Yafugborhi

P

ORT HARCOURT — NIGER Delta Rights Advocates, NDRA, has warned the National Assembly to "totally reject" the virement request by the Interim Management Committee, IMC of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to justify bloated expenditure of the last three months.

NDRA in a statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by its Spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, said the region's right group would sue the NASS if it fails to comprehensively probe the allegations of financial recklessness hovering over the current IMC. He said, "We are alarmed at attempt by the Prof Keme

Pondei led IMC to compromise the inquisitions by both chambers of the NASS into liquidation of over N40billion in record three months. Assuming without conceding that such a request is considered important, why now?

"The current IMC seeks virement to cover up indefensible expenses milked from the commission's coffers in the dangerous guise of executing projects for the long suffering people of the Niger delta.

"For instance, in the said letter by Prof Pondei to NASS, a whooping N400million was purportedly spent on 'Regional Communication Strategy/ Production of Annual Reports'. This item is enlisted in the 2019 budget as

passed by NASS and was approved for the sum of N110million.

"Let's not forget that the life of the Appropriation Act 2019 expires on May 31, 2020. Why ask the for virement for a project or programme that is contained in a budget that would soon outlive its usefulness?

"If this request is granted and or approved by the Senate, the whole anti-corruption fight by the present administration would have been given a black eye and further rendered the much publicised NASS probe of the N40billion expenses of document, an exercise in futility.

"We call on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to outrightly reject and

dump that particular request in one of the thrash cans at the Three Arms Zone to avoid incurring wrath of the long suffering people of the region.

"Shamelessly, in same request, Pondei curiously wants the Senate to vire a whooping N100million for an MD/CEO Football Competition which had an initial N37million approved.

We ask, where in the Niger Delta will such expensive football be played under COVID-19 pandemic?

"To think that they are brazenly asking for virement for items that have no direct bearing on the economic, social, capital or even spiritual growth of the long suffering people of the region is an insult taken too far.’’

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 27 vanguardnews

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Cancel power privatization now, Senate tells FG Continues from Page 5 to allow time required for TCN and DISCOs to access funds to implement performance improvement investments that will support increased tariffs of certain classes of customers, especially during the pandemic.

The Senate urged the Federal Government to include the Nigerian Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of the proposed N500bn COVlD-19 Crisis Intervention Fund in order to ameliorate the financial hazards and operational challenges, such as enumeration of metering of actual consumers and recent problem arising from the pandemic.

Earlier in his presentation, Senator Suswam noted that stable and uninterrupted power supply is also a critical factor in the management of COVID-19 patients at designated isolation and treatment centres across the country.

According to him, uninterrupted electricity is also key in the proposed upgrade of health facilities and in the manufacturing sectors of the economy.

He noted that if the negative impact of COVID-19 on the sector continues without any emergency financial intervention from the Federal Government, DISCOs, might not meet their remittance obligations to the electricity market.

He also said the financial obligations of Generating Companies, GENCOs, and gas-topower suppliers would also be negatively impacted.

‘Take care not to

upset investors’

Reacting to the development yesterday, Executive Director, Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, said: “It is true that trillions have been spent to reinvigorate the power sector without commensurate results.

Taking steps to investigate, understand and address the factors militating against the success of power sector reforms, is also a step in the right direction.

“However, care must be taken to avoid distortions in investor confidence in the process. In other words, cancelling the entire privatization program abruptly is not the kind of decision to be made in haste. The plethora of laws, regulations and standards guiding the power sector reforms cannot be overlooked, unless repealed.

“The oversight actions proposed by NASS, though necessary, must be taken with care to ensure that political decisions do not cause business uncertainty and financial instability, which could potentially spill over into the macro economy.’’

Similarly, a Port Harcourtbased energy analyst, Dr. Bala Zaka, said: “The move to take over the privatized assets would not succeed because the privatization was based on many laws.

It would be difficult to cancel the exercise without visiting the laws.

“The Federal Government made a mistake to place the assets at the bosom of the companies without doing appropriate work to establish their competencies. Much emphasis seems to have been placed on financial competencies than technical, which explain why much progress has not been made over the years.”

Naira stable at N386.33 /$ in I&E window

By Elizabeth Adegbesan

T

HE Naira, yesterday, was stable at N386.33 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window.

However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the window yesterday dropped by 79 percent to $8.67 million from $40.28 million on Monday.

Meanwhile, the naira yesterday appreciated by 50 kobo in the parallel market.

According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rate dropped to N454.5 per dollar from N455 per dollar on Monday, indicating 50 kobo appreciation of the naira.

AIR FORCE SPECIAL FORCE —Nigeria Air Force Special Force personnel deployed to Plateau State, during their arrival at the 205 Combat Search and Rescue Group Headquarters in Kerang village of Mangu Local Government Area, yesterday. Photo” NAN.

Banditry: Senate urges Buhari to expand military operations to Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger •Senator Gobir alleges Nigerian soldiers don’t respond to distress calls in Sokoto •Adds Nigerians now run to Niger Republic Army for help •Notes over 300 killed in Sokoto East in 3 months; over 5,000 migrate to Niger Republic •Army keeps mum measures by Special

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — The Senate yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately deploy the military to Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Sokoto states to flush out bandits currently terrorising the states.

The call came against the backdrop of last week’s order by the President that the military be deployed to Katsina State for the same reason.

The Senate’s decision followed the alarm raised by chairman of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East), that over 300 people had been killed or kidnapped in his senatorial district on daily basis by bandits in the last three months.

Senator Gobir also told his colleagues that people in his constituency now run to Nigerien soldiers for protection, alleging that Nigerian soldiers often fail to respond to distress calls when the bandits come calling or come late when they respond at all.

The Nigerian Army could not be reached for comments last night as the spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, who promised to send the Army’s reaction failed to do so at press time last night.

However, Senator Gobir, who was contributing to a motion on urgent military action against banditry in Niger State by the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), also alleged that Nigerian soldiers have completely abandoned his constituents, exposing them to serious danger.

Senator Abdullahi had in the motion, drawn the attention of his colleagues to the activities of bandits in Niger State and also called on government to extend its current military operations to flush out bandits in Zamfara and Katsina states to Niger State.

In his contribution, Senator Gobir, who took a swipe at the Nigerian military, said many people in his senatorial district have in distress, fled to Niger Republic for safety, aided by the military of the neighbouring country.

Senator Gobir said the people of Sokoto State have lost over 7,800 cows worth N2.5 billion, adding the activities of the bandits have displaced about 5,000 people in Basira area, located in the border between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Senator Gobir said: “The situation in Sokoto East as far as armed banditry is concerned is pathetic and tragic because it is the army of Niger Republic that had been coming to their rescue, while the Nigerian Army looks the other way.

“In fact, based on very reliable and verifiable information from the area, many at times, the people of the affected areas call on Nigerian Army for help and protection against the bandits, but get no response.

“But graciously, the Nigerien Army has been assisting in warding off the bandits, the very reason why not less than 5,000 people in the affected areas have migrated to Niger Republic for safety.

“Fallout of this is the grinding poverty ravaging the affected

people in the form of serious hunger since their cows and other animals are on daily basis being stolen.

“The situation is so bad that we only get help from Niger Republic and not from Nigeria at all, be it from the military or the police.

“The affected people cannot be perpetually be at the mercy of Nigerien soldiers and still expect to proudly see themselves as Nigerians.

“Very urgent, drastic action is required from President Buhari through the military in the form of expansion of antibanditry operation currently being carried out in Zamfara and Katsina state to Sokoto State.”

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Muhammed Musa (APC, Niger East), who last week brought a similar motion before the Senate, expressed worry that Nigeria might not be able to nip banditry in the bud, considering the manner the issue is being handled by government.

Earlier, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who came under Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules as amended, lamented the daily occurrence of armed banditry in Niger State, stressing that required urgent intervention from President Muhamnadu Buhari.

He said the Senate is “aware through a Presidential spokesman that President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the commencement of a major military operation to sweep bandits and kidnappers out of Katsina State; as major proactive

Forces to replace the reactive strikes against the camps of these bandits and criminals.

“The criminality by these armed bandits and kidnappers is carried out mostly under the cover of the contagious forests reserves and areas stretching from Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna to Niger states with pockets of safe havens in Kebbi and Sokoto states.”

The lawmaker expressed concerns that a major offensive in Katsina State alone was likely to make the armed bandits and kidnappers seek safer haven in Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states which host the Zurmi and Kamuku forests among others.

According to him, this will further compound the plight of hapless and poor communities along these forest corridors.

“It was the earlier massive operations in Zamfara and Kaduna states that led the armed bandits to seek safe haven elsewhere, moving into Katsina and Niger states respectively,’’ he said.

The Senate also commended President Buhari for the antibanditry operations going on in Katsina and Zamfara states.

Meanwhile, the Senate has urged President Muhamnadu Buhari to direct the military to immediately expand its operations against banditry from Katsina and Zamfara to Sokoto, Niger States and other affected neighbouring states.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who noted that the security challenges in the country were enormous, said they were, however, surmountable.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

Was Nigeria prepared for COVID-19?(3)

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HE focus of the previous editions has been on the timeline of epoch-making pandemics in the course of human existence and humanity’s response in ensuring its survival. This week, however, I intend to deal with Nigeria’s response to the novel Covid-19 in the light of the nation’s poor healthcare system.

The gloomy reality of Nigeria’s healthcare system: One of the most important sectors in any economy is the health sector, and therefore, the promotion of a good healthcare system which supports the attainment of economic development and general wellbeing of the citizenry ought to remain a topmost priority by any government. However, Nigeria’s health sector is, perhaps, one of the least funded and poorly managed in the world. Many factors account for this state of affairs, with corruption being the most pronounced. Without a doubt, corruption in any nation’s health sector usually has life-threatening consequences on the citizenry – the low-income class and the middle class - who have limited or no privilege of affording foreign medical care. Corruption in health sector is sustained by a complex network of interrelating factors.

Researchers have argued that corruption in the health sector thrives where frontline workers are poorly paid and lack resources to meet the needs of their patients, in settings characterised by weak governance structures and processes, lack of transparency, and ineffective accountability mechanisms and it is especially common among those involved in procurement of resources where oversight is weak.

Other incidences of corruption in the health care sector includes absenteeism, diversion of patients from the public to the private Clearly, s e c t o r , Nigeria’s inappropriate budgetary prescribing, i n f o r m a l allocation p a y m e n t s / for the bribery and theft of drugs and health sector supplies. Some has fallen ranking indexes all around the short of world have expectations identified Nigeria’s health sector as one of the nation’s most corrupt sectors as attributed to weak governance structures, poor oversight and nonaccountability, usually resulting in adverse health outcomes, and on a larger scale, being a threat to Nigeria’s achievement of the healthrelated Sustainable Development Goals.

Besides corruption as a plague on Nigeria’s healthcare system, low budgetary allocation equally accounts for the current decline in the sector. In Nigeria, healthcare financing has not received the required budgetary allocation it truly deserves and apart from contributing immensely to the fall of the life expectancy of the average Nigerian, the near-total neglect of the sector has equally caused Nigeria to lose billions of naira annually to medical tourism. The health sector appropriation in the 2020 budget amounts to 4.5 per cent of the total federal budget, a far cry of 15 per cent which was agreed by African Union countries in the 2001 Abuja Declaration. At the Abuja Declaration, the participant countries met and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15 per

cent of their annual budget to improve the health sector and urged donor countries to scale up support.

Clearly, Nigeria’s budgetary allocation for the health sector has fallen short of expectations.

One would wonder whether if the Nigerian government had foreseen that the transnational COVID-19 would knock on its doors uninvited, maybe the government would have allocated more funds to shore up the nation’s healthcare system, adequately equipped the sparsely furnished healthcare facilities littered all over the nation and provided the requisite infrastructures, more particularly as the pandemic has closed the option of foreign medical tourism to rich politicians, wealthy private individuals and privileged government officials. The outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria has made one thing glaring – Nigeria was not prepared for COVID-19.

Among Nigerians, however, the near-immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the prioritisation of spending on essential goods and services and expectation management. In the capital market scene, the pandemic resulted in a massive decline in stock prices as the Nigerian Stock Exchange recorded its worst performance since 2008. Expectedly, the commodity-dependent Nigerian economy has also been negatively impacted due to the fall in global demand for oil, thereby resulting in a fall in market price. By extension, the steep decline in oil price has necessitated a cut in government expenditure with the Minister of Finance announcing a $4.17bn cut in nonessential capital spending in the 2020 budget.

The antecedence, emergence, trajectory and spread of COVID19: According to Wikipedia, coronavirus disease, COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As of May 17, 2020, more than 4.65 million cases have been reported across 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 312,000 deaths. More than 1.7 million people have also recovered. The name “coronavirus” was culled from the word “Corona” which represents crown-like spikes on the outer surface of the virus. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, ICTV, named the virus as SARS-CoV-2.

Earlier in 2003, the Chinese population was infected with a virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, in Guangdong province. The infected patients exhibited pneumonia symptoms which led to acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS. After the emergence of SARS in Guangdong, China, it spread rapidly around the globe with more than 8000 infected persons and 776 fatalities. A decade later in 2012, a couple of Saudi Arabian nationals were diagnosed to be infected with another coronavirus. The detected virus was confirmed as a member of coronaviruses and named as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, MERS-CoV, which infected more than 2428 individuals and occasioned 838 deaths.

Recently, by the end of 2019, the Chinese government reported several cases of pneumonia which initiated from the Hunan seafood market in Wuhan city of China and

rapidly infected more than 50 peoples. Live animals frequently sold at the Hunan seafood market includes bats, frogs, snakes, birds, marmots and rabbits. Initially, it was suggested that the patients infected with the Wuhan coronavirus may have visited the seafood market where live animals were sold or may have used infected animals or birds as a source of food. However, further investigations revealed that some individuals contracted the infection even with no record of visiting the seafood market. These observations indicated a human to the human spreading capability of this virus, which was subsequently reported in more than 100 countries in the world.

Border closure: A more effective response to COVID-19: In last week’s edition, I noted human responses to pandemic outbreaks in ancient and modern history which has included scapegoating, acts of penance, quarantine, camphor injections, wearing facemasks, gargling saltwater and social distancing. There, however, exists one preventive measure for the spread of COVID-19 – Border closure. A closed border, according to Wikipedia, is a border that prevents movement of people between different jurisdictions with limited or no exceptions associated with this movement. It is no news that COVID-19 is an imported disease which originated from China and had transcended over 100 countries world-over. COVID19 in Africa was first recorded in Egypt on February 14, 2020 while the second case was recorded in Algeria about a week after.

In Nigeria, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 27, 2020 when an Italian who arrived in Lagos tested positive for the virus. On March 9, 2020, a second case was reported in Ewekoro, Ogun State by a Nigerian who had come in contact with the Italian. The rest is history. Despite these incidences, the Federal Government of Nigeria did not announce the closure of all land borders until March 23, 2020 – a period of 25 days after the first reported incidence. Without a doubt, if the Nigerian government had been proactive since COVID-19 entered the African continent by shutting all its borders to prevent outsiders from entering the country, perhaps there would have been no recorded incidence of COVID-19 in Nigeria which is sparsely equipped to deal with the health implications of the pandemic in the first place.

Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Even if borders were not immediately shut, adequate quarantine measures ought to have been quickly set up to isolate recent returnees for a specified period of time before being released into the Nigerian society. However, this was not to be the case as Nigeria’s index case freely entered the country through Lagos, had unbridled contacts with Nigerians all the way to Ewekoro, Ogun State where the second case was reported. The prompt quarantine of foreign returnees in well-equipped isolation centres would, no doubt, have saved the country from the imported coronavirus disease.

Inadequacy of healthcare facilities: As of May 17, 2020, there exists over 5,600 cases of COVID19 in Nigeria. Unfortunately, however, there is a shortage of testing facilities, isolation centres and medical equipment, including PPEs, to bolster an effective detection and management of COVID-19.

According to reports, the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, was noted to have confirmed this poor state of affairs.

There is, therefore, no doubt that Nigeria is still at a shortage of the requisite medical facilities and equipment to accommodate and treat the budding rate of infected COVID-19 patients.

Continues next week

Tension brews as two Anambra communities tussle for primogenitor

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE people of Agukwu Nri, the acclaimed custodians of the Igbo culture and their Enugwu Ukwu brothers appear set to stir up controversy over which of the two communities is the progenitor. Although both communities have over the years, enjoyed cordial relationship as brothers, recent utterances from both sides tended to suggest that there had been bottled animosity among their people.

The latest trouble was said to have reared its head during the inauguration of a museum in Enugwu Ukwu by the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh.

At the epoch-making ceremony, the monarch was quoted as saying that Agukwu Nri has usurped the place of the son of Nri who is OkpalanakanaUkabia Nri. Though the statement came as a surprise to many people, the royal father assuaged their feelings when he acknowledged that “nevertheless, we cannot stop commending the effort of Agukwu to preserve the glories and artifacts of Nri.” He, however, said that “In doing this, they (Agukwu) should not forget to accord respect to the first son of Nri, who is Okpalanakana-Ukabia Nri." He said further: “Quick realization of this and cooperation would help Nri Kingdom to restore its place in history. Together, we shall move mountains, but rancour, disintegration and incoherent

achievement will lead to consequences.”

In the words of the Traditional Culture Minister of EnugwuUkwu, Chief Jude Ekwunife, Enugwu-Ukwu is the first son among the nuclear children of Nri, who was one of the sons of Eri. Ekwunife said: “Nri, who migrated from Aguleri spent most of his active life at a spot known as Nkpume Onyilienyi in Ugwu Awovu area of Isionye quarter of Enugwu-Ukwu. It was while sojourning at Nkpume-Onyilienyi that Nri begat Okpalanakana, the revered father of Enugwu-Ukwu.”

Worried by the signals from Enugwu Ukwu of the seniority issue, Prince Charles Tabansi, the former President General of Nri Kingdom and great grandson of the former king of Nri, frowned at the word ‘usurpation’ used by the Enugwu Ukwu monarch.

•Nri symbol.

Edo commission of inquiry deliberately misleading, say APC chieftains

B

ENIN CITY—SOME chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, have described the state government Judicial Commission of Inquiry and its finding as deliberately misleading, vindictive, reprehensible, and completely irresponsible.

The commission investigated the contract and construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital and last week, returned with its results and indicted the administration of the former governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on the alleged grounds of breaching the state’s Public Procurement Law. The APC chieftains said the commission, its findings, and the charges raised against the previous administration are found to be political in motive, conflicted in judgment, and fundamentally flawed.

The party chieftains in a statement by former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and 16 others, said “The commission began and completed its findings in a suspiciously discreet manner,

failing to invite the individuals concerned with the project approval for a fair hearing—a right deservedly reserved for any accused person in a democracy.

“The executive extract of the meeting dated January 13, 2016, approving the contract for the award, installation, and commissioning of medical equipment and approving the paymentof75percentadvancepayment stipulated that such payment must be done in compliance with the state procurementlawsandaftertheprovision of requisite bank guarantee.

“As individuals concerned in the unsavoury indictment, while we are not holding brief for Oshiomhole nor interested in getting involved in GovernorObaseki’ssecondtermbattles, we want to clearly state that the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is categorically false in its findings, deliberately misleading, vindictive, reprehensible, and completely irresponsible.

“Weadvisethegovernor,asourformer colleague, to set aside this report and inform the public of its falsehood, just as itmadebroadcast,thefallaciouscontent.

Ifthisisnotdone,wewouldbecompelled to,individuallyandcollectively,takelegal steps to defend our names and our integrity.”

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 29

How can you tell if your relationship is not working?

My husband has 'love-children' Dear Bunmi, A few weeks ago, I found out that my husband of almost 30 years has been having an affair for the past 10 years.

This is the second time he’s done this, and both relationships have been with younger women, who’ve given him a child each. His latest mistress is 26, a young Youth Corps member, and my husband is in his mid-50s.

He keeps telling me it was just sex with these women and doesn’t want to lose me. We have five children and I’m scared he’d start yet another affair.

How can he do this to me and our children, and then

tell me he still loves me? I’m disillusioned with him and have lost respect for the man I was crazy about.

Emma, by e-mail.

Dear Emma, A single affair doesn’t have to spell the end of a relationship. Many people, male and female, are guilty of making foolish mistakes or errors of judgment. But two affairs, both with much younger women leaving him with children? Well, that’s different!

Your husband says he loves you, but he certainly has a peculiar way of showing it!

He’s definitely enjoying the

best of both worlds at the moment and he seems to be getting away with it, apart from your resentment. Now, after 30 years of being married, what makes you think he’ll suddenly be able to stop cheating on you?

Your man is obviously a serial adulterer and all you could hope for is that age would slow him down.

Don’t ever stop talking to him and showing him how hurt and resentful his unfaithfulness is making you. You have five children, continue enjoying their progress and pray that this randy husband of yours would one day see the light!

Why did I have this affair, when I love mv husband?

Dear Bunmi, I’m a secretary and made an irrational decision to sleep with my boss nine months ago. He was years older but extremely sophisticated, and sex with him was good. So, was sex with my husband.

My lover is happily married, so what we had was a fling.

But why was I attracted to another man when I love my husband? My boss had since been promoted and he now heads a branch office. The

affair is more or less dead. But why did I have it? Does it mean my marriage is doomed? Please help.

Abah, by e-mail.

Dear Abah, To be faithful 'till death do us part' might be a wonderful idea, but there is plenty struggle - and slip - along the way. While an affair isn’t pleasant, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a dreadful marriage.

No matter how loving, sexy or beautiful you are, everyone is prone to temptation at some stage.

Women are more likely to cheat on their men if they’re not happy at home. Your fling seems to be a momentary and stupid lapse of judgment and, thank goodness, your boss is no longer around to make your fling marriagethreatening...and your love for your husband and this guilty conscience that’s tearing into you means you won’t make the same mistake again!

Sometimes we’re tempted simply because we want something new. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not happy with what we have, nor is an affair anyone’s fault.

It’s impossible to make a partnership affair proof. No matter how loving, sexy or beautiful you are, everyone is prone to temptation at some stage.

This doesn’t mean your partner is no longer in love with you. Most of the men who admit to having affairs claim to be happier in their marriages than other men who say they had never had one. Women are more likely to cheat on their men if they’re not happy at home, but that still doesn’t mean they don’t love their partners.

Your fling seems to be a momentary and stupid lapse of judgment and, thank goodness, your boss is no longer around to make your fling marriage-threatening.

Some marriages even end up stronger after an affair. Your love for your husband and this guilty conscience that’s tearing into you means you won’t make the same mistake again!

How do I find a new boyfriend?

Dear Bunmi, I’ve just split-up with my boyfriend of two years and this got me really upset, especially since all my friends are paired up. So, I need some tips on how to find a man fast.

I don’t want to be the only one out of my group of friends that looks like a loser!

Moirat, by e-mail.

Dear Moirat, You won’t be the only person in the world who finds herself without a partner, albeit temporarily. And guess what?

Some of them are not panicking and thinking it’s the end of the world. Some are

using the opportunity to become independent, to enjoy being in charge of their lives.

So, instead of giving you tips on getting a man, let me encourage you to enjoy life.

The happier you can be in yourself, the happier you’ll be when you’re finally in a relationship.

Dear Bunmi, I’m currently in a relationship and fancy my boyfriend to bits. I met him toward the end of last year and he says he loves me too. My relationship before then was a big dent in my self-esteem. Despite my ex’s professed love for me, he didn’t hesitate to drop me when he found a new lover. Was I blind or was he the rat? I didn’t see the break-up coming, and I would love to know the things to look out for when a relationship is not working.

Obi, by e-mail.

Dear Obi, Nobody’s happy all the time. All relationships go through bad patches and down stages.

But if you’ve entered the so-so zone, thinking your relationship’s not bad enough to leave but are not enthusiastic about the future, then it might be an indication that you’re not as compatible as you thought.

Relationship experts agree that it may be time to go when you only share one or two things in common -- a hobby, sex or the dog. You are doing all the work to solve the relationship’s problems.

Your partner is unwilling to change or compromise.

They don’t think you have any problems, even though you’ve confessed you’re not happy. He or she treats you badly. You love them but don’t like them much.

It sounds bizarre, but love isn’t a reason to stay together. You can love your partner on one level but still not be suited long term. If you’ve been with a person a long time, of course you still care desperately about them and have lots of shared history and good times. But if your head tells you you’re not only both moving in entirely different directions but very happy about where you’re headed, it’s time to kiss each other tenderly and change the relationship to friendship.

Marriage hasn’t stopped his flirting controlling you and does Dear Bunmi, My husband gets a load of kicks from flirting with other women. For the eight years we’ve been married, I’ve watched him chat-up women and had countless nights anxiously waiting for him to come home from his night crawling. Now, after his last affair, where his latest girlfriend insulted me to my face in his presence, I’ve decided I can no longer live with him.

When I told him I wanted to quit the marriage, he said that suited him fine, as he was thinking of going abroad to work. This would mean our two children might not even see him. It’s hell being with a man who can’t stay faithful, but if I end our marriage, my children will lose their father. What should I do?

Bilikis, by e-mail.

Dear Bilikis, Being married to a Casanova can be a nightmare. Flirting might be harmless but it led him to having affairs, while

what he likes. Now that you’ve found the strength to fight back, he’s making you feel guilty for the hurt your children may feel at the separation. As a mother, you naturally want them to have contact with their father, but you can’t make your husband a responsible father. He has shown little respect for you and your marriage.

You deserve better, and if he’s unwilling to change, then you are right to end the relationship. While your children need a father, they also deserve a happy mum. Perhaps your threat to end the marriage has made him invent his job abroad, so you’ll change your mind. Let him know that going away would be his choice, and he will have to justify this to his children in the years to come.

As much as plausible, I always try to advise couples to stay together but, unless your husband shows real desire to change, you owe it to yourself to build a happier life for you and your children.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

RED CARPET: Liverpool to lift their 1st Premier League trophy without fans

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TESTING TIMES: 6 Premier League players test positive ahead of return HE Premier League has announced six players from three clubs have tested positive for coronavirus as doubts over Project Restart continue.

T Top-flight bosses had pencilled in a return date of Friday June 12 for the first

Man City Euro ban appeal to be heard on June 8

M

ANCHESTER City’s appeal against their two-year European ban will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport next month.

The Lausanne-based court has scheduled a three-day hearing, starting on June 8.

And that is expected to return its verdict in time for Uefa to confirm next season’s entry lists for the Champions League.

The Etihad outfit were found to have “committed serious breaches” of financial fair play rules in February after a lengthy investigation.

City were accused of disguising millions in funding from their Abu Dhabi-based owners as legitimate sponsorship income and fined £25m in addition to the ban.

The Prem champions have always vigorously denied any claims, which they have pinpointed to the publication of “out of context” emails as part of the Football Leaks document dump.

City have publicly questioned the legitimacy of the investigation, headed by former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

The club branded the Uefa process as “flawed and consistently leaked”, accusing Leterme of having decided the outcome before the opening of his probe and refusing to listen to their “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

•Guardiola

match back from the lockdown.

A statement from the top-flight read: “The Premier League can today confirm that on Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May, 748 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19.

“Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.

“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.

“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and the results will be made public in this way after each round of testing.”

A number of Premier League players, including Sergio Aguero and Troy Deeney, have claimed they are fearful of a return to action in recent weeks.

Football bosses have introduced strict rules, including the requirement for balls, corner flags and other equipment to be disinfected after every •Aguero session.

But players are already back at their clubs’ respective training bases, working individually, for the time being.

The initial plan moving forward is for team-mates to be allowed to return in groups of five but in a noncontact environment - what is being called “phase one” of the return.

Phase two will allow contact between players, while phase three will see a return of competitive games - but there have been no official dates for those introductions, yet.

Tottenham are expected to play Manchester United in the first game back on TV on Friday June 12.

And it’s now thought games will NOT be played at neutral stadiums after police gave the green light for games to go ahead at their normal grounds.

Earlier on Tuesday, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher had admitted his fears over the testing - saying he couldn’t see any world where at least one star didn’t register a positive results.

Lille willing to sell Osimhen, 2 others to Tottenham

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PURS fans on Twitter have been reacting to the reported news that Lille are looking to sell some of their most-prized assets this summer and have offered Spurs the chance to sign Victor Osimhen, Mike Maignan and Boubakary Soumare.

According to Soccer Link, Lille are looking to sell some of their mostprized assets this summer and have offered the trio of goalkeeper Mike Maignan, midfielder Boubakary Soumare and striker Victor Osimhen to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Sporting Director of the French club Luis Campos is good friends with Spurs boss Jose

Mourinho and is hoping the Portuguese will be keen on buying any or all of the trio.

Lille have slapped a huge asking price on Osimhen, claiming that an English side have already offered £72 million for h i s signature in a bid to drive his fees up.

It’s the same tactic they used last summer prior to selling Nicolas Pépé to Arsenal and they are hoping it will force Tottenham and other suitors into action.

The North London giants want to boost their striking

IVERPOOL have been promised they WILL be allowed a Prem trophy lift - but behind closed doors.

Jurgen Klopp’s men need just two wins from their remaining nine games when the Premier League returns next month to lift the crown for the first time since 1990.

The Kop will be denied the right to witness the historic moment in person with all resumption games taking place in empty stadiums.

But League chief executive Richard Masters vowed that the new champions will be handed the trophy in the traditional manner, allowing them a sort of celebration.

Masters said: “If at all possible, yes, there will be a ceremony and they will pass the trophy round.

“We would like to have a trophy presentation to give the players and staff the moment they have worked so hard for.

“So we would try and do it unless it wasn’t possible because of safety concerns.

“From a planning perspective, we are focused on finishing the 2019-20 season, but we also have to plan for

•Salah

Don’t put NSF date beyond August, athletes urge Sports Ministry

By Ben Efe

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ESIROUS of picking Tokyo Olympics qualification standard at the National Sports Festival, top Nigerian athletes have asked the Sports Ministry not to fix the new date beyond August 2020.

The Sports Ministry and Edo 2020 organisers are scouting for a new date for the National Sports Festival after the March 20-April 2 date was scuttled by the Covid-19 worldwide sports postponements, which included the 2020 Olympics, now to run in the summer of 2021.

Athletes who are still hopeful of making world standard performances to qualify for “Tokyo 2020” said any new date beyond August for the National Sports Festival will not allow their performances to be recognized by the World Athletics.

“The WA set the qualification deadline from December 2019 to August 2020 and so those of us who are aiming to achieve the standard at the National Sports Festival need do

•Osimhen department this summer as they look to add quality depth, but it remains to be seen if chairman Daniel Levy will break the bank for one.

•Okon-George

ARIS SAINT-GERMAIN could line-up with an attacking three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mauro Icardi and Neymar next season.

P The Ligue 1 side could be plotting an outrageous move for Ronaldo this

•Ronaldo

so by August,” said 400m runner, Patience Okon-George.

“We are appealing to the Sports Minister and the organizers to consider a date in August, otherwise whatever we do after that will be a waste of time,” she added.

Only six Nigerian athletes including Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo and Chukwuebuka Ebube have earned the qualification standard so far.

“The coronavirus crisis really affected athletics. All the competitions where our athletes could have picked up performance standard were cancelled.

“They had no track to train (because) all the stadia were closed. It would really be nice if they can run the festival to give the athletes something to cheer this season,” said former 400m runner and Africa record holder, Falilat Ogunkoya.

Holyfield plans gentle, no-knockout fight with Tyson

HE champion with the altered ear isn’t T listening. To those who feel Evander Holyfield should find safer pursuits at the

age of 57, he has a straightforward answer.

‘They have their opinion and I have mine,’ he said. ‘I prefer to follow mine.’

And so the man they called the Real Deal is looking to strike another. If he has his way, you suspect that will be with Mike Tyson, who has evidently lost none of his sense of timing.

That relates as much to Tyson’s ability to hit pads cleanly at 53 as it does his decision to release workout videos in close proximity to those uploaded by Holyfield. Purely a coincidence, says Holyfield, and yet it is a fact that a third meeting between two old greats is being discussed by both sides.

Terming it a fight might be a stretch, given Holyfield claims he is only after a three-round exhibition in which there will be ‘no winners or losers or going for knockouts’ - conditions the four-time heavyweight champion of the world says must be upheld as he enters a 10th year since his last bout.

Amuneke, Adepoju happy with Eagles players’ exploits in La Liga

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PSG target Ronaldo summer after owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi dropped a hint earlier this week.

The Portuguese star, 35, is back in Turin after spending lockdown in his native Madeira - and was seen reporting for training on Tuesday morning.

The Qatari chief mentioned Ronaldo in the same breath as “transformative” PSG legends Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham, subtly hinting at another ambitious swoop.

Al-Khelaifi told France Football: “[Ronaldo] remains motivated by this desire to improve every day and he always pushes his limits.

“I admire this relentless will, he is a great example for all athletes of the future.”

Ronaldo could join Neymar - who looks set to stay - and Icardi at the Parc des Princes, with the Juventus star a replacement for Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe.

Los Blancos chiefs are hoping to team Mbappe up with Eden Hazard and Erling Haaland to form a new Galacticos-worthy front-three. Since last summer Neymar has made no bones about his desire to go “home” to Barcelona. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s unlikely Barca will be able to afford him.

In fact, the Spanish giants are plotting a mass sale of all players - with only Lionel Messi and Marc-Andre ten Stegen safe - in order to fund their summer moves.

But Neymar could be happy to stay if it means playing alongside Ronaldo on the opposite wing, with loan star Icardi in the middle.

all eventualities.”

Meanwhile, the Premier League are considering using fake crowd noises inside stadiums to enhance viewer experience.

The return of the Bundesliga at the weekend was an advert as to how matches will look once football gets back underway in England.

With empty stands, the only sound was the ball being struck and the occasional shouts from players and coaches.

ORMER Super Eagles greats, Emmanuel Amuneke and Mutiu Adepoju have expressed delight at the performances of Super Eagles players in the Spanish LaLiga.

Top Nigerian players like Samuel Chukwueze, OgheneKaro Etebo, Kenneth Omeruo, Azeez Ramon and Chidozie Awaziem are in the top flight LaLiga and according to Amuneke and Adepoju who also played in Spain, the current Super Eagles players have done well and made the country proud.

“Our players are doing very well in La Liga weekin week-out. They are playing and contributing their part to the development of La Liga,” Amuneke, who starred for Barcelona, said Former Real Sociedad midfielder, Adepoju added: “ A number of African players are impressing in the Spanish top-flight like Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze, Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem, who are on the books of Leganes as well as Ramon Azeez, playing for Granada.

“I am so happy because in the past when we were playing, we had so many Nigerians and Africans in La Liga and all of a sudden due to some circumstances there were no Nigerians in La Liga and as La Liga ambassador I was thinking what could be happening? Then we had Chukwueze, Ramon Azeez, I am just so happy and having Omeruo and [Chidozie Awaziem] in Leganes I am so happy there are Nigerians there,” he continued.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 — 31

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020

QUICK CROSSWORD TODAY’S CROSSWORD

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Sudoku TODAY’S PUZZLE

FRIDAY’S ANSWER

Across 1 Placate (7) 5 Domestic servants (5) 8 Horrifying, sensational (5) 9 Exult, make merry (7) 10 Matrimony (7) 11 Rule (5) 12 Heavenly (6) 14 One who attends to horses (6) 18 Capital of Western Australia (5) 20 Disrobe (7) 22 Ceased (7) 23 Short-legged breed of dog (5) 24 Fittingly (5) 25 Borne (7)

Down 1 Permitted (7) 2 Trimmed, peeled (5) 3 Et cetera, (3,2,2) 4 I’ve found it! (6) 5 Military rank (5) 6 First (7) 7 Back of a boat (5) 13 New England state (7) 15 Beguiled (7) 16 Discern (anag) (7) 17 Embrace (6) 18 Penne, rigatoni, etc (5) 19 Contented (5) 21 Mistake (5)

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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