Category Politics

Assembly
By Idowu Gabriel
Ado-Ekiti, April 2, 2020 (NAN) The Ekiti House of Assembly on Thursday reconvened to debate the State Public Procurement Bill 2020 and reached a unanimous decision to repeal the BPP Law, 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, presided over the plenary.

Afuye said the Assembly reconvened to debate the bill, especially now that the Kayode Fayemi administration was waging war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

NAN reports that at the end of the plenary, the House resolved to commit the bill to its Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and Due Process for further legislative scrutiny.

“I laud all members for their prompt response to the call to duty. The bill is for the good and well being of Ekiti.

“The committee is saddled with the responsibility to work extensively on the bill, to do so speedily and submit its report on Tuesday, April 7.

“The speedy passage of the bill will assist government in the procurement of certain equipment that may be needed now to fight against the Coronavirus pandemic,’’ the Speaker said

Contributing to the debate, Gboyega Aribisoga, Ajibade Adeyemi, Femi Akindele, Abiodun Fawekun and Oluwajuwa Adegbuyi all lauded the bill and called for its speedy passage.

They said the bill, if eventually passed and assented to, would promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the public procurement processes.

Adeoye Aribasoye and Adeyemi called on the committee to extensively scrutinise the bill at the committee level to ensure that any ambiguity was removed.

Fawekun particularly lauded the introduction of e-procurement by the new bill, saying that it would showcase to international donors and partners the readiness of the Ekiti government to promote openness in public procurement procedures.

The assembly, thereafter, adjourned sine die. (NAN)
JIG/COF/OJO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Mufutau Ojo)

COVID-19: Rep donates kits, relief materials to constituents, essential workers

By EricJmaes Ochigbo

Intervention
Abuja, April 2, 2020 (NAN) Rep. Sam Onuigbo (PDP-Abia) has distributed personal hygiene kits and relief materials to constituents of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia to aid the containment of COVID-19 in the state.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, Onuigbo said he also donated personal protective kits to market, transport unions and essential workers in the constituency.

The legislator said that all efforts must be brought on board as the world battles the Coronavirus pandemic.

He urged his constituents and Nigerians at large to key into all precautionary measures outlined by the government and health experts to defeat the virus as it had claimed many lives globally.

The lawmaker noted that no matter how uncomfortable the measures were, there were necessary temporal actions, designed to prevent the further spread of the novel disease.

“This is my contributions towards the prevention and containment of the spread of the Coronavirus in the country and we must stress the need for people to take the issue seriously.

“This will assist the beneficiaries which include the health workers, the media and the populace to protect themselves,’’ he said.

The legislator commended the Federal Government for the proactive steps so far taken in combating the spread of the virus, calling on all Nigerians to be vigilant.

The items distributed included face masks, hand gloves, tap-buckets, hand sanitisers and literature on how to prevent the spread of the virus, among others

Receiving the protective kits, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, commended the prompt intervention of the lawmaker.

Represented by Dr Onyemachi Orji, the Deputy Chief Medical Director, Onyebuchi said it would go a long way to assist the people at this critical time.

He said that the effort of the legislator would affect the entire world beginning from the constituency, urging other leaders in the society to emulate the gesture.

Also, the Director-General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, Mr Anyaso Anyaso, described the gesture as unique especially with the inclusion of journalists and media practitioners.

Represented by the Director, News and Current Affairs, Mr Hyacinth Okoli, Anyaso said that media practitioners were always on duty to cover and inform the public of events as they unfold.

Anyaso assured that the media would continue to discharge its duties in ensuring that the country and the world overcome the current challenge of COVID-19. (NAN)

EOO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Attack
By Florence Onuegbu
Lagos, April 2, 2020 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has condemned the attack on members of the COVID-19 Task Force, by some worshippers at the Agege Central Mosque.

NAN reports that the COVID-19 Task force was mandated by the state government to monitor and enforce compliance against public gatherings exceeding 25 people.

Speaking on the incident in a statement, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr Dolapo Fasawe, who condemned the attack, described it as barbaric and uncalled for.

”Our people are out to protect the residents of the state and yet were attacked for doing their jobs,” Fasawe, who is the leader of the Task Force said.

She said that the state government would not hesitate to sanction violators, as it would serve as deterrent to others.

According to her, it is obvious the gathering did not comply with the directive of Gov.Babajide Sanwo-Olu on public gathering and social distancing.

Fasawe said that the task force  team comprising of LASEPA, Lagos Safety Commission and the Rapid Response Squad, saw the worshippers observing their evening prayer (Solatul Eshai) in a large congregation.

She said that this was contrary to the directive on total lockdown to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

”However, a drama ensued when some of the youths sighted the team and became aggressive, unruly and started to attack the team.

”Others in the mosque, numbering about 300 rushed out chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and joined them in the attack by throwing stones at the vehicles.

”All entreaties to talk to the Imam failed as the youth were persistent. But the Police escort rose to the occasion by curbing further attacks and ensuring the safety of the team,” the team leader said.

Fasawe said that the agency has been enjoying support and compliance from religious houses and was surprised that the congregation of a mosque that was visited last week could default and also attack government officials trying to enforce compliance.

She said that the team had visited several places of worship and had been able to enlighten them and advocate the social distancing approach in all gatherings.

”But in this instance, the mosque was filled to capacity. The essence of social distancing is to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. The people are endangering their lives and those of their neighbours,” Fasawe said.

She said that the state government remained committed to protecting all residents, hence would escalate the matter to appropriate quarters because such gathering should not be allowed to continue in the interest of all.

In his own remark, the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola said that the leadership of the two prominent religious organisations in the state had been adequately sensitised and carried along in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

”We won’t relent, we will continue to appeal to our people to heed advice. Prayers can be observed at home, businesses can be resuscitated but this deadly virus is dangerous if not well managed and timely controlled.

”If not for us, but for our families, friends and neighbours, let us do the needful and observe safety measures at all times,” Mojola, the Co-Leader of the task force said.

He, therefore, urged the general public to comply fully with the directive as the present administration would not hesitate to apply the law when necessary. (NAN)
FON/ BOLA/SH
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Sadiya Hamza

Electricity

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, April 1, 2020 (NAN) The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has met with major stakeholders in the power sector in a bid to improve electricity supply as Nigerians adhered to the stay at home order to contain COVID-19.

The meeting which held on Wednesday in Abuja, had the Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, and the management of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in attendance.

Also in attendance via virtual connection was the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  Mr Mele Kyari.

Gbajabiamila expressed dismay over the barrage of calls and messages from Nigerians through his social media account on lack of electricity supply.

He said a Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, had earlier protested poor electricity supply to Nigerians during the ongoing lockdown in major parts of the country in a video that went viral on social media.

The lawmaker said that many Nigerians, while reacting to Ameh’ protest on social media, called for prompt action by relevant authorities.

“It has become imperative that I urgently call for this meeting to find a solution to the poor supply of electricity during this lockdown period.

“If we ask people to stay at home to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, at least we have to make their homes comfortable for them to stay.

“The complaints have just been too much in the last 24 hours; there are people in the hospital now without electricity; we need to brainstorm over an urgent solution,” he said

The minister of power, Mamman, highlighted the challenges encountered by power Generating Companies (GENCOs) and the possible intervention by the leadership of the house.

Mamman said the ministry was aware of the electricity challenges faced by Nigerians at the moment.

He said  they had started engaging the GENCOs, based on complains that the Distribution Companies (Discos) were only remitting about 20 per cent of their dues.

The minister said the GENCOs were faced with technical and revenue shortfall which had hindered them from meeting their financial obligations to gas companies.

According to him, the Discos also paid  less of their generated revenue to GENCOs, because they complained about power theft by consumers and high technical costs.

“The sum of N130 billion is what the government gives GENCOs to augment the shortfall of payments not fulfilled by Discos.

‘’We still have about N1.2 trillion payment shortfall in all; we have been begging the gas suppliers to please, in the interest of Nigerians, release gas to the GENCOs.

‘’The shortfalls are accruals from the problem of estimated billing, non-payment of bills by estimated customers.

“What the NASS can do is to plead with CBN to help with funds to enable the federal government augment the revenue shortfall to enable government pay gas companies and thereafter bring all the critical stakeholders to a table,” Mamman said.

The Commissioner on Compliance, NERC, Mr Dafe Akpeneye, said the commission was committing the Discos to a new guideline to show empathy with Nigerians during this COVID-19 lockdown.

According to Akpeneye, all NERC commissioners are in the Situation Room in our office monitoring GENCOs and Discos activities.

“We know the demand for this power during this lockdown is for residential, since most industries are on lockdown, so we are going to release a new guideline and sanction electricity companies that can not show empathy during this period,” he said. 

The GMD of NNPC, Kyari said that the problem with the Trans Vocados gas line was resolved on Wednesday morning and gave assurance of supply of gas to enable GENCOs generate power.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele in their various contributions gave accounts of complications arising from the nonfulfillment of financial obligations by the electricity stakeholders.

They, however, assured of interventions in the interest of Nigerians who were observing the lockdown order.

The stakeholders agreed to reconvene in the next few days to find lasting solutions to the challenges in the sector beyond the lockdown period. (NAN)

EOO/CHOM/DCU 

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Donald Ugwu

Lockdown

By Deji Abdulwahab

Abuja, April 1, 2020 (NAN) Mr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has said that President Muhammadu Buhari acted in order by imposing a lockdown on Lagos, FCT and Ogun.

Reacting to a senior lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa’s criticism of President Buhari ‘s order, Lukman, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the lockdown of the cities was the right decision as human survival was at stake.

He recalled that immediately the President announced the lockdown of the cities on Sunday, some legal experts and activists argued that the “Presidential Order was not enforceable without legal backing”.

“After Buhari announced the lockdown of the three cities among other measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus, Adegborua argued that the President was required to invoke his powers under the Constitution to declare state of emergency, which must be approved by the National Assembly.

“Mr Adegboruwa’s position was endorsed by many activist lawyers, including Femi Falana, SAN, who argued that the Presidential Order not enforceable without legal backing,” the forum’s director-general recalled.

According to him,  the argument against the lockdown as declared by the President is on account of the lack of recognition of the emergency timeline which Covid-19 has imposed on the world.

“Leaders across the world are struggling to respond to this new timeline. Largely because it is a challenge that border on saving human life, citizens are required to work in partnership with governments.

“The government’s decision to lockdown these cities tends to focus attention on the moment of emergency and not on the afterlife of survival.

“It also tends to make us feel like everything is justifiable and there can be no cause for regret when our survival is at stake,” he said.

Lukman, who said that the legality of decisions of government to lockdown these three cities with the highest potential to spread Covid-19 virus to every part of the country may only serve to distract the attention of government from the critical issue of ensuring effective response to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“Rather that asking the question whether locking down Abuja, Lagos and Abeokuta is sufficient to contain the spread of Covid-19, we are seeking to undermine the government.

“Good enough, our state governments are responding in a way that expand the jurisdiction of the lockdown to cover virtually all parts of the country.” (NAN)

ADA/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

COVID-19: Sen. Bamidele donates N10m to Ekiti Govt

Donation

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, April.1,2020 (NAN) Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, has donated N10 million to contain the coronavirus pandemic in Ekiti State.

The senator made the disclosure of his donation to Ekiti government in a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

The senator’s gesture was coming barely 24 hours after Gov. Kayode Fayemi announced an eight-man Support Account Committee to tackle the pandemic in the state

Bamidele represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

“The donation is my way of identifying with the state government and the people in combating the pandemic.

“This patriotic zeal is an additional step after all the 109 senators had resolved to donate half of our monthly salaries to the national COVID-19 Account.”

Bamidele said he had given directive that five million naira should be given to the state’s COVID-19 committee, while another five million naira be given to the centrally coordinated COVID-19 food Initiative in the state.

He also called on well-meaning indigenes of the state to complement ongoing efforts of Fayemi’s administration to curtail the spread of the pandemic.

He said: “I, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele has started by donating a sum of N10 million to fight the scourge.

“Other federal lawmakers from Ekiti will definitely do something in a matter of days as well.

“A sum of five million naira has been paid into the State’s COVID-19 account while the remaining five million naira will go into the centrally coordinated food drive initiative specifically targeted at the vulnerable population in the senatorial district.

“I am appealing to other illustrious leaders, sons and daughters of Ekiti to join hands with the state government by contributing sacrificially to the COVID-19 account to augment what government can mobilise.

“The House of Representatives members and senators from Ekiti had since last week been distributing hand sanitisers, hand washing soaps and buckets in their various constituencies.

“This came barely 24 hours after Governor Fayemi’s statewide broadcast where he appealed to well-meaning Ekiti stakeholders to join hands in waging war against coronavirus.

“This underscores the fact that the cord of unity among public officials remains strong and such strength is being deployed to develop human capital resources of our dear state,” he said. (NAN)

KC/ESAN/EAL

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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Ekemini Ladejobi

Cleen Foundation inaugurates public safety, security support centre on Covid-19

By Diana Omueza

Centre

Abuja, April 1, 2020 (NAN) Cleen Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation has inaugurated a Covid-19 Public Safety and Security Support Centre to provide public safety and security information to Nigerians.
Mr Benson Olugbuo, Executive Director of the foundation said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Olugbuo said that the centre would be working in collaboration with the Public Complaints Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.
He said that the Covid-19 Nigeria Security Support Group (CNSSG) would observe the conduct of security agents deployed to ensure compliance with government lockdown directive.
“We will specifically be using our electronic ‘Tella’ platform application to report compliance by citizens to government directives and cases of rights violations by security personnel.

“Coordinators at the state levels and volunteers of the support group will be reporting on conditions and needs of vulnerable groups and their communities to aid health and security officials.

“This we aid even other critical stakeholders in responding effectively to the management of covid-19 pandemic and related issues across the country,” he said.

He, however, said that the foundation was still in need of volunteers at both federal, state and local governments levels.

Olugbuo commended the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its timely dissemination of useful information and organisations and individuals who have contributed funds and resources towards the coronavirus fight in Nigeria.

He also commended efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and other security personnel in enforcing government’s stay-at-home directive to stop the spread of the disease.

He, however, said that the organisation was concerned about reports allegedly showing some police personnel destroying businesses of citizens flouting government’s directive.

Olugbuo also urged the police and other security personnel deployed to monitor and enforce compliance with government directive to work within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.(NAN)

DOM/DE/ABI

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Restriction

By Florence Onuegbu
Lagos, March 30, 2020 (NAN) Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged security agents to be friendly in enforcing the lockdown order announced on Sunday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Monday, during a Security Council meeting held at the State House, Marina, with commanders of all security formations in the state.

He urged those who would be carrying out the enforcement to show high professionalism in dealing with erring persons.

According to him, high-handedness may lead to violation of human rights of residents.

President Buhari had  announced 14-day restriction of movement in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun State as part of the steps to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Lagos is the worst hit among the three states under lockdown by the Federal Government.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said that the presidential directive would be fully implemented.

Odumosu said that commanders of each security agency had resolved to comply with the governor’s entreaty.

He said that the enforcement of the restriction order would be executed with human face, but pleaded with residents and inter-state commuters to exercise self-compliance with the presidential directive.

”We have just concluded a Security Council meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and as commanders of security agencies in Lagos, we have fully digested the presidential directive on COVID-19.

“We have all resolved to comply and enforce all the restrictions.

”The enforcement of the restrictions and all directives will be done with human face. We want to appeal to members of the public; what matters most is self compliant.

”They must try as much as possible to comply voluntarily to the laid down regulations, so that we can collectively defeat the pandemic,” he said.

The Lagos police Commissioner said that those who had been exempted in the presidential directive would be allowed to move unhindered at any time of the day in the containment period, but that the exemption was not blanket.

Odumosu said some other professionals and government officials on essential duties would be allowed to move, but said their leadership must obtain clearance from security agencies before sending out staff to work.

”The exemption is not blanket. Some other measurements will still be attached to it and sent to various government ministries in the state.

”The Commissioners in charge of these ministries will have to review and confirm those who are exempted are actually qualified to be exempted,” he said. (NAN)

FON/KTO/IU
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo and Isaac Ukpoju

Coronavirus

By Deji Abdulwahab

Abuja,  March 30, 2020 (NAN) Mr Salihu Lukman, the Director-General, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has identified testing, contact tracing and isolation as the best practices to contain and manage the spread of Coronavirus.

Lukman, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, decried low number of those who had been tested in the country.

“As we try to emphasise the need to support our governments in the fight against COVID-19, we need to remind ourselves that at the moment the recognised best practice across the world is testing, contact tracing and isolation.

“These are realities that all governments across the world are facing, which include small number of testing equipment.

“This has accounted for why, as at March 29, 2020, less than 500 (in fact less than 300) tests have been carried out in the country.

“This is partly being used by some critics to suggest that the number of confirmed cases is only 111 because of the low number of those who have been tested,” he said.

According to him, problem of testing has created challenges that weakens capacity of nations to contain the spread of COVID-19 all over the world.

Lukman said that part of what non-governmental actors should bring to the table would be issues of strategy to ensure effective applications of best practices from other parts of the world.

He also urged Nigerians to desist from playing politics with Coronavirus disease, adding that they should have trust and confidence in the governments’ initiatives geared toward addressing COVID-19 challenge.

The forum’s director-general said Nigerians should borrow a leaf from Lee Hsien Loong, the Sigaporean Prime Minister, who said that people must understand and maintain trust in governments’ measures to address COVID-19 challenge.

Lukman, who described Singapore as one of the recognised successful countries to have controlled COVID-19, said Loong’s statement proffered solution to the problem facing the country.

“The position of Mr Loong underlines our problem in Nigeria, which is that we don’t trust our government and our leaders.

“With almost daily ministerial briefing by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and his team, the Sunday speech by the President should have given Nigerians the needed confidence to strengthen their belief about the commitment of government to fight and contain COVID-19.

“Instead, what we have is distrust and commitment to undermine initiatives of the government,” forum director-general said.

According to him, this will appear to be setting us up for failure in a way that will cost the lives of many citizens, which may include some of us that may unfortunately become infected by the virus.

“We deceive ourselves to imagine that some of us are free from the virus, on account of which we could be tempted to politicise the problem.

“It is an unconventional challenge such that the enemy, COVID-19, doesn’t respect politics, legality or recourse to any form of interest,” he said. (NAN)

ADA/GOK

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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Food

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja, March 30, 2020 (NAN) An Abuja based eatery, Cockerel Fast Foods and Beverages; and Corporate Kickers Sports Club (CKSC), a recreational football club, has donated packaged cooked food to children in Internally Displaced Persons camp at Abuja.

The Chief Operating Officer of Cockerel, Area1, Mr Kingsley Obokhare, while handling over the packaged cooked rice and chicken to the leader of the IDP Camp in Durumi on Monday, said the gesture would be for two weeks lockdown period.

Obokhare said it was part of the corporate body’s contributions as palliative measures to alleviate the effects of Coronavirus lockdown on the IDP residents.

Obokhare pledged that they would, on daily basis bring not less than 200 packs of the packaged cooked meals to children in the camp for the next two weeks.

He said the plan was to on daily basis provide 500 packs which cost N500 each, but due to fund challenge they could only offer 200 to 300 packs daily.

“Hopefully with collaboration with other well-meaning Nigerians and corporate entities, more packs could be offered to the IDP residents.

“We want a situation where well-meaning Nigerians will collaborate with us or come individually to help them. We should be our brothers’ keepers. This is a time that they need our help,” he said.

The Captain of Corporate Kickers Sports Club, Mr Nosa Ihaza, said the gesture was to provide for children in the IDP camps, who might be faced with challenge of feeding during the lockdown period.

Ihaza, represented by Mr Ono Akpe, said the two corporate bodies hoped to offer their assistance in the next two to three weeks and urged Nigerians to come to their aid.

“Fellow Nigerians, we appeal to you to join us to provide for the less privileged who have nothing or not enough to eat at this moment,” Ihaza said.

The woman leader of the IDP, Mrs Liatu Ayuba, appreciated the gesture saying it is God that touched their hearts to remember them at the critical time when COVID-19 had caused lockdown everywhere.

Ayuba said hunger was a critical challenge in the camp, especially now they were directed not to go out of the camp because of the outbreak of corona virus.

“It was God that sends you to bring food for us. We will continue to pray for you. You can see plenty women and children here. Some of us eat just once in a day, because we cannot go to the market or do anything again but stay in the camp.

Ayuba urged Nigerians and government to look into their helpless situation by providing them with hand sanitisers and materials to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“They say we should stay in the camp. There is no food and hand sanitiser to protect ourselves.

“Yesterday, someone try to sell us the nose masks and hand sanitiser. One packet of nose mask was N15,000 and a five litre of hand sanitiser was 5,000.

“We want the voice of the voiceless to help us in this helpless situation because even in our houses there is no light and no ventilation,” she said.

The Camp Chairman, Ibrahim Amodu, said they could not afford their daily living anymore because they were not allowed to go out to work.

Amodu said that they needed help of Nigerians as the camp residents could not afford hand sanitizers and nose masks but they needed help urgently. (NAN)

OBE/OIF/KAY

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Kayode Olaitan