Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government says it has earmarked N1 billion as part of COVID-19 bailout for the hospitality sector in the state.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made this known on Wednesday in Ikeja during the 6th Lagos Corporate Assembly, tagged: BOS Meets Business.

The Lagos Corporate Assembly was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.

Sanwo-Olu said that the fund would be accessed through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).

One of the commitment that we will continue to give to you is that when it comes to your businesses, we must continue to ensure that we give you the opportunity to do well, we give you the space to thrive.

It is only when you do well that Lagos can continue to have that lead, that Lagos can continue to remain that place that good businesses can continue to thrive.

We need to do a lot more for the industry. We have just given approval for a N1 billion support that will go through the Lagos Employment Trust Fund.

The hospitality operators have to meet certain criteria to be able to access the fund.

I am working collaboratively with the CBN to get specific sign up from them that I will donate to the hospitality industry in Lagos, he said.

The governor said that measures already being implemented to ensure a business friendly environment included waivers of penalties on annual tax remittance and tax returns on COVID-19 donations.

He said that the measures also included the signing of a new Land Use Charge Law with a 48 per cent reduction in the 2018 payment of the charge.

Sanwo-Olu assured members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that a list of approved taxes would be published on the states website to resolve the issue of multiple taxation.

Representatives of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) who attended the interactive meeting, the first by the Sanwo-Olu administration, commended the state government for continuing the meeting.

Members of the OPS present included Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NACCIMA, SMEDAN and Nigeria Employers Consultative Association.

The meeting was also attended by the State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and other top government officials.

At the meeting, the OPS asked the state government to review the 10p.m. curfew imposed in the state because of the COVID -19 pandemic.

The OPS also urged the state government to address issues of taxation, bad roads and unwholesome attitude of some officials.

They commended the state government for the various measures already implemented and solicited more to ensure a robust environment for businesses to thrive.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, MrsLola Akande, said that all theissues raised during previous meetings had been resolved by the relevant government ministries and agencies.

Akande said that the issues, contributions and feedback helped immeasurably to improve on governments service delivery towards making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Delta Government on Wednesday said Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state would benefit from the tax waivers as measures to cushion the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on their businesses.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who disclosed this to newsmen at a news conference in Asaba, said the state also received .5 million (about N1.6 billon) World Bank grant for budget discipline.

Aniagwu noted that the tax waivers would enable the small businesses; private schools, hotels, agro-based businesses to remain afloat despite the ravaging impact of the pandemic.

He said that the state government was not unmindful of the impact of the COVID-19 on the people, which had impacted the nations economy, adding that the tax waivers would enable the businesses keep prices of goods and services on check.

According to Aniagwu, the pandemic has impacted the economy of the country and the private business since March.

At the beginning as a government, we appealed to the privilege individuals to support the government to reach out to the less privilege in the society.

We have provided palliatives, particularly in the area of food items to reach out to the poor and vulnerable across the 25 local government of the state.

Today, the government has been able to put up some tax incentives as palliatives for SMEs in the state to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on businesses and to make lives easier for our people, Aniagwu said.

Speaking further on the tax waivers, the Chairman, State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Monday Onyeme, said private schools, transporters, private hospitals, eateries among other would benefit from the tax incentive.

According to Onyeme, all outstanding audit liabilities from 2011 to 2019 by all captured businesses will no longer attract interest or any penalty for the period.

Also, the state government has approved waivers for charges on late submissions of returns.

And for businesses that we have not mentioned, anyone that feels that it is necessary for them to benefit from government palliatives is free to apply as the revenue authority will look at their demands, he said.

For his part, Dr Barry Gbe, State Commissioner for Economic Planning,
disclosed that the state government has apportioned 17.1 per cent of its revised 2020 budget to COVID-19 expenditure.

Gbe said that the tax relief has been weighed by the government, adding that its impact had been absorbed.

He said that because the government was responsible to the plight of its people, the 2020 years budget had to be reviewed to reflect the realities of the time.

According to him, the state initial budget of N395 billion for the year under review has been reversed to N282 billion due to the pandemic.

Gbe noted that to cushion the impact of the dwindling revenue, the state has signed up with World Bank programmes and other organisations to adopt best practices by ensuring discipline in the budget line.

In the revised budget, 17 per cent is focused on SMEs and the informal Sectors for businesses to survive and thrive despite the pandemic.

The World Bank grant of .5 million was given to Delta for display of fiscal and financial discipline in 2019, Gbe said.

Mr Fidelis Tilije, State Commissioner for Finance, said the pandemic no doubt impacted the state economy, adding that the state government was prepared for the palliatives to cushion the impact on the private sector.

According to him, the state approved amendment to the tax law to check challenges of multiple taxations in the state.

Today, all forms of tax assessment and collections are done by the board.

However, before the COVID-19, we have planned aggressive pursuit in terms of widening of tax nets of tax payers in the state, which has currently been put on hold because of the pandemic, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will observe the Eid-el Kabir prayers with his family at home, just as he did during the Eid-el Fitr over two months ago.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

The presidential aide stated that Buharis decision was in line with advisories from the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

While wishing all Muslims safe and happy Eid-el Kabir celebrations, the president reiterated the protocols, as issued by the PTF that large gatherings should be discouraged, as much as possible.

Where small groups choose to hold the Eid together, face masks are absolutely necessary, as social distancing.

Advisedly, such prayers should hold outdoors and worshippers are encouraged to bring their own prayer mats, the president added.

Buhari also said that he would not be receiving Sallah homage by religious, community, party and government leaders, as part of measures to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

While calling for the observance of the occasion as advised by state and local authorities, the president wished all citizens safe and happy celebrations.

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with an Israeli firm, DOR Group of companies on methanol production technology.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology signed the MOU on Wednesday in Abuja, as a decisive step toward implementing the methanol production technology.

Prof. Vincent Asor, Chief Operating Officer, signed on behalf of DOR Group of Israel.

The Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the state of Israel, Mr Yotam Kreiman and Florence Osuji, Senior Economic Officer, witnessed the event.

Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of state for Science and Technology, who spoke after the signing, said the Federal Government was determined to execute the terms of the agreement.

Abdullahi said the signing of the MoU would change the fortunes of Nigeria significantly.

According to him, the methanol technology shall expand the chemical industry value-chain, replacing kerosene as household cooking fuel, and contribute to efficient and effective transportation.

He added that other advantages of the methanol production technology was to mitigate climate change and improve electricity generation.

Abdullahi further said the policy would create an enabling environment for more investment in the oil and gas sector and bring about an end to gas flaring in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Asor gave the assurance that DOR Group of companies shall do its best to fulfil its own side of the agreement.

He also said that quality and efficient engineering for which Israeli firms were known for would be brought to bear in the implementation of the agreement.

Source: NAN News

With an estimated 6.4 million babies to be born in Nigeria during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many expectant women who should be glad at the figure have rather become apprehensive.

The figure released by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) shows that the babies will be born up to 40 weeks from March 11, when COVID-19 was recognised as a pandemic.

Although, the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that, at present, there is no evidence that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population, pregnant women in Nigeria are bothered about bringing life during a pandemic, considering the associated risks, strained healthcare and fear of infection.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, high-quality and timely maternal healthcare services were deficient, inaccessible or unaffordable for thousands of women in Nigeria, a factor that contributes to maternal mortality in the country.

To exacerbate trepidation, reports of pregnant COVID-19 patients who died in Ekiti, Jigawa and Ogun states went viral on social media and the mainstream media.

UNICEF warns that about 6,800 more maternal deaths could occur in Nigeria in six months as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts routine services and threatens to weaken the health system.

We have made steady progress in reducing preventable child and maternal deaths in Nigeria over the last 20 years.

It would be devastating if that progress is lost or reversed for Nigerian families, communities and the country as a whole, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, says.

Nigerias maternal mortality ratio of 512 per 100,000 live births, as contained in the National Demographic and Health Survey 2018 Report, shows no major reduction from the 545 per 100,000 live births in the NDHS 2013 Report.

With this, it becomes important to provide lifesaving support to pregnant women, especially COVID-19 positive ones.

Among those who have taken up the challenge of giving hope to pregnant women, who tested positive for COVID-19, is a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, anaesthetists, neonatologists, nurses, psychiatrists and infectious disease control experts at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

The team of specialists has delivered five COVID-19 pregnant women of babies, including a set of twins.

Prof. Chinyere Ezeaka of the Neonatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, believes that COVID-19 infection is not a death sentence even for pregnant women.

Ezeaka, a member of the team of LUTH specialists, however, regrets that many pregnant women, because of fear of stigmatisation, are avoiding antenatal care and child delivery in hospitals.

Some are delivering in their houses, calling nurses to come and treat them at home, while some use traditional and religious centres for delivery.

I am using this opportunity to appeal to pregnant women to stop devising various means of avoiding hospitals.

They should attend antenatal clinics and come to hospital to deliver babies with the help of skilled birth attendants, Ezeaka urges.

Affirming that being pregnant and positive for COVID-19 is not the end of the world, or a reason to despair, she notes that medical practitioners have successfully delivered pregnant COVID-19 patients of their babies.

Highlighting measures that will assist Nigeria to achieve safe delivery for pregnant COVID-19 patients, Ezeaka advises that every state should have a designated centre for treating and delivering pregnant COVID-19 patients.

The professor says a dedicated centre for pregnant COVID-19 patients is the best practice globally, arguing that not all COVID-19 treatment centres can take deliveries.

COVID-19 will be a threat for a while. I would advise proper planning, coordination and communication at the national, state and local levels to ensure effective response.

There must be the full protocol for antenatal, pre-delivery care; centres for birth should be well equipped with full monitoring, theatre and diagnostic equipment for mothers and babies.

There should be plans for where the stable babies with symptomatic mothers will be, and also plans for babies that might test positive; designated and isolated areas should be created, she urges.

On the pregnant COVID-19 patients at LUTH, Dr Christian Makwe, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, discloses that four of them were asymptomatic.

According to Makwe, their COVID-19 status was detected based on their exposure and contact with people who tested positive for the virus.

Makwe, Delivery Coordinator, Pregnant COVID-19 Patients, LUTH, says, however, that the fifth patient exhibited symptoms of COVID-19: coughing, fever and breathlessness.

On whether all pregnant COVID-19 patients should be restricted to Caesarean Section (CS) for delivery, Makwe says the delivery option should be individualised.

One of the patients had done two Caesarean Sections; automatically she doesnt qualify for vaginal delivery. Another patient had done a fibroid surgery.

For the multiple birth, the first baby was breech, and was blocking the birth canal, definitely such a delivery has to be CS, he says.

According to the obstetrician, one of the patients requested for CS, saying she didnt want to go through the stress of vaginal delivery.

For the fifth patient, her symptoms were worsening and we felt it might compromise the babys status; we had to conduct the delivery preterm 37th week to save her and the baby.

Makwe says vaginal delivery will be done for COVID-19 patients who request for it, and whose medical conditions are deemed clinically satisfactory.

All the babies delivered tested negative and their clinical status stable, Makwe adds.

According to him, LUTH Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department is committed to eliminating maternal morbidity and mortality.

He, however, says, that the department needs better facilities to function more effectively.

He urges governments to invest more in maternal and child care, noting that maternal health, neonatal morbidity and mortality are indices used to measure a countrys health status.

The healthcare team is willing and has demonstrated the capacity; we just need the support.

Provide us with more PPE, equipment, and make everything standard, and we will see more people join the fight against COVID-19, he adds.

According to one of the five pregnant COVID-19 positive women, each patients experience differs.

I was not sick throughout and I tested negative to the virus in less than two weeks. The medical personnel were very kind, understanding and supportive.

However, facilities in the hospital are very poor. Imagine being in a room without air conditioners, and the doctors performing surgery dripping with sweat in their PPE.

It is not a good experience, the hospital management and government should improve facilities in LUTH, she urges.

The survivor also calls for improvement in the way patients COVID-19 status is being relayed to them.

According to her, she was traumatised at the news until medical personnel at an isolation centre counselled and encouraged her.

Dr Olutola Olatosi, Consultant Anaesthetist, is, however, confident that the medical team establishes rapport with patients and allays their fears.

He adds that patients are monitored through telemedicine to provide psychosocial support and ensure their wellbeing.

On the anaesthetic techniques deployed for surgery for pregnant COVID-19 patients, Olatosi reveals that regional -based techniques are used.

According to him, the techniques have better post operation outcomes and rapid recovery among patients.

He calls for an urgent increase in the number of anaesthetists in the country,
as a strategy to reduce maternal mortality.

He notes that there are about 200 specialist anaesthetists serving Nigeria and about 600 undergoing training.

It is important that we grow the number if we are to reduce the rate of maternal mortality, because most patients with complications will require surgical interventions and safe anaesthesia.

We have to address that with emphasis on manpower development because some patients will present with COVID-19 and other co-existing medical problems.

It is an existential challenge for us to provide critical care, he adds.

He appeals to the Federal Government to support LUTH with more critical care equipment options that will enable it to function efficiently toward saving more lives.

Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH, points out that oxygen is critical in the management and survival of patients with severe cases of COVID-19.

Adeyemo emphasises that oxygen saves lives, adding that its provision is a critical component for emergency respiratory resuscitation globally.

Mr Rotimi Dada, Head of Theatre Nurses, is of the opinion that implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and other safety measures for healthcare workers and patients is of great importance to the team.

Dada urges that the hospitals IPC Committee should map out the dedicated theatre and delivery area, and decide on work flows for a unidirectional area.

Corroborating, Makwe says proper training of every member of the team on IPC, wearing and removal of PPE, and emphasis on hygiene are done constantly to reduce exposure of health workers and patients to infections.

We have a dedicated operating space and we streamline the number of operational staffs in the operating room to reduce the number of people that might be exposed to infection.

We place a priority on IPC because it is key. We know that if we have a member of the team infected, it will demoralise other members and affect our capacity to function effectively, he argues.

On the role of the pharmacy department in supporting delivery of pregnant COVID-19 patients, Mrs Olabisi Opanuga,
Head of Pharmacy Department, LUTH, says the department must always be on ground to ensure the medical team gets all the required supplies for a successful operation.

We give the patients medications depending on their comorbidities.

She is, however, worried at the challenge in getting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.

She notes that PPEs are scarce and expensive.

The procedure itself for normal Cesarean Section is N65,000, but the PPE to be worn by health workers is over N300, 000, she says.

Opanuga appeals to the Federal Government to intervene through adequate funding.

Local production of PPE should be explored and encouraged, with the government providing financial support.

Nigerians are ingenious, we should be able to produce standard PPE which will help to reduce cost, she urges.

Dr Tunji Akintade, Chairman, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, is optimistic that concerted efforts will save more pregnant COVID-19 patients and their babies.

Akintade advises that advocacy and awareness should be sustained to enlighten pregnant women and the general public on the preventive measures against the virus pending discovery of a vaccine.

Analysts hail Nigerias giant steps in the fight against COVID-19 particularly in giving hope to pregnant patients.

They urge more support for health workers and institutions to achieve a stronger response. (END)

Source: NAN News

NSE

Nigerian stock market opened new week on Monday on an upward trend with key indicators appreciating by 1.46 per cent.

Specifically, the All-Share Index (ASI), which opened at 24,427.73 points, rose by 355.88 points or 1.46 per cent to close at 24,783.61, compared with 24,427.73 on Friday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation increased by N186 billion at N12.928 trillion to close at N12.742 trillion on Friday.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are: Dangote Cement, Guaraty Trust Bank, Lafarge Africa, Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.

Analysts at the United Capital Plc said that half-year results would determine performance of the local market.

Also, analysts at Imperial Asset Managers Limited said: We expect the current volatility (up and down movement) to continue this week.

However, buying interests are expected to continue in the tier-one banks and resurface in some blue-chip companies that usually pay interim dividend for half-year, they said.

The analysts urged investors with long-term investment goal to continue to build their portfolios in fundamentally viable stocks.

A breakdown of the price movement chart shows Unity Bank led the gainers chart in percentage terms, rising by 9.62 per cent to close at 57k per share.

Lafarge Africa followed with 9.59 per cent to close at N12, while Guaranty Trust Bank rose by 7.62 per cent to close N23.30 per share.

Neimeth grew by 7.14 per cent to close at N1.50, while Dangote Cement appreciated by 5.66 per cent to close at N141.80 per share.

Conversely, AXA Mansard Insurance and UAC Property led the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping by 10 per cent each to close at N1.44 and 81k per share, respectively.

Seplat followed with a decline of 9.99 per cent to close at N312.70 per share.

Berger Paints lost 9.84 per cent to close at N5.50, while CAP shed 9.76 per cent to close at N17.10 per share.

Transactions in the shares of Flour Mills topped the activity chart with 30.47 million shares valued at N518.06 million.

Lafarge Africa followed with 28.07 million shares worth N335.84 million, while FBN Holdings traded 9.95 million shares valued at N49.77 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank traded 8.98 million shares valued at N201.60 million, while UBA transacted 8.27 million shares worth N50.41 million.

In all, the total volume of shares decreased by 2.41 per cent with an exchange of 169.99 million shares valued at N2.39 billion traded in 4,336 deals.

This was in contrast with 174.19 million shares worth N2.38 billion transacted in 3,723 deals on Friday.

Source: NAN News

Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health

By Abuja Racheal

Federal Government says it has so far crossed the quarter million mark with the testing of 262,579 Nigerians for COVID-19 in the last five months.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this on Monday in Abuja at the 53rd national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

With 262,579 persons tested, we have crossed the quarter million mark. When the epidemic curve will begin to flatten is still a matter of conjecture, given the relatively small fraction of our population that has been tested so far, Ehanire said.

Ehanire said that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country crossed the 40,000 mark to 40,534 over the weekend, with 555 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours.

He, however, said that 17,374 had been successfully treated and discharged, while the nation regrettably recorded 858 deaths, most of them with comorbidities.

The minister said 60 PCR Public Health laboratories were now active in the country, which together should be in a position to address testing capacity challenges and ramp up utilization if only the logistics could be improved.

According to him, this will, along with sheer community spread, be responsible for the rising trajectory of the epidemic curve in the population tested so far.

The minister said that the 70 to 30 male to female gender ratio and the case fatality rate of 2.1 per cent had not changed significantly, as two thirds of all fatalities remained in the over 50-year age group.

Ehanire said that comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, among others, were common among all fatalities.

He said: They underscore the need to protect senior citizens and the vulnerable from infection, by giving special attention to risk communication and priority for admission for observation and treatment.

Of utmost concern are still the asymptomatic cases, with the potential to spread the disease, of whom the young and able-bodied can be difficult to manage.

Ehanire assured that the government would continue to improve the quality of services in the hospitals as more persons admitted for treatment, not only for COVID-19 infection, but also for routine and essential care.

According to him, it is also our desire to reduce the fatality rate, and expand our treatment capacity such that our health system is not overwhelmed.

In this regard, the FMoH expects to take delivery of the newly completed Isolation Centre at UATH, Gwagwalada, as other centres are under construction nationwide.

He also said that the UN System in Nigeria informed of the arrival of another consignment of essential COVID-19 related commodities on Sunday, to be officially handed over to Nigeria.

He said the Federal Government remained appreciative of the UN System for this gesture and its consistent support, which had greatly increased reserves and recognized the countrys needs, especially of oxygen concentrators and PPEs.

According to him, the gesture also reassures our frontline health workers that we are well stocked and can ensure availability of essential items and consumables at the point of need.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister also formally introduce the new Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, who assumed duty in Abuja recently.

On the coming Sallah celebration, Ehanire urged Muslims and all Nigerians to continue to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols and to reduce risk of transmission amidst celebration, especially on wearing of facemask, hand-washing and use of sanitizers, among others.

Source: NAN News

By Yunus Yusuf

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria has concluded plans to commence training for aircraft accident investigators in the West African sub-region.

AIB Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday.

Olateru said this when the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime visited the agency to ascertain their level of ICT infrastructure and cyber security architecture.

He explained that beyond partnerships with local and international institutions, it has also completed plans to begin training air accident investigators for the entire West Africa.

According to him, the training will be conducted at the Abuja Bureaus facility in partnership with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

The commissioner also disclosed that the agency would be releasing new air accidents reports on Tuesday.

Olateru said that would bring the total number of final reports of air accidents to a record 27 in four years.

He said since he assumed office in 2017, AIB had released 27 final accident reports and issued 97 safety recommendations to the public.

The commissioner said the figure represent 64 percent of releases since the inception of AIB.

He said: We will be releasing an additional four reports tomorrow, which will bring the total number of final reports released to 32 and 106 safety recommendations during this current administration.

The releases will make a total of 50 final reports and 187 safety recommendations since the inception of AIB.

Olateru told the senators that AIB now release air accidents in record time unlike in the past, adding that this was made possible due to the capability it has attained in the last four years in terms of equipment and human capital.

He also said the AIB now had the capability of releasing air accident report in 18 months from the date of the accident.

The commissioner said it had partnerships with United Kingdom Air Accident investigation Bureau (AAIB UK), Singapore Transportation, Safety Investigative Board (TSIB).

According to him, others are Canadas Transportation Safety Board (TSB Canada) and the University of Ilorin, among others.

Olateru appealed to the Senate for improved funding and the quick passage of its Amendment Act to enhance its operations.

The commissioner noted that it had acquired some drones and its staff were schedule to undergo the training to enable it get aerial shots of crash sites and proper analysis.

He said handheld investigation equipment devices they also acquired would help its investigators to carry out on-the-spot analysis of evidences at the crash site.

Olateru noted that the equipment had the capability to download the Flight Data Recorder

United Nations

The United Nations says it has identified and placed on administrative leave without pay another staff member involved in a recent viral sex video in Israel.

Mr Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, disclosed this during the daily news briefing held virtually on Monday
Haq said: A third male international staff member who was in the UN vehicle in Tel Aviv has also been identified as having engaged in alleged misconduct.

The staff member has been placed on Administrative Leave Without Pay, pending the results and conclusion of the ongoing OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services) investigation.

On July 2, the UN announced the suspension of two employees involved in the video, which went viral on social media in late June.

The video showed a couple allegedly having sex in a marked UN car in the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv.

The organisation had confirmed that the 44 vehicle was likely assigned to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).

UN spokesman, Mr Stephane Dujarric, said, at the time, that the organisation was shocked and deeply disturbed by the footage.

In the short video, a woman in a red dress was seen allegedly straddling a man in the back seat of the white SUV bearing the UN inscription.

With them in the moving car are the driver and a bald-head man sitting on the passenger side in front.

Media reports say the footage was recorded on HaYarkon Street, a major thoroughfare in Tel Aviv.

According to the organisation, UNTSO is the first ever peacekeeping mission established by the UN in 1948.

It says the mission comprises military observers to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements and prevent military escalation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in2019, the UN said it received and investigated 175 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against its staff.

Out of the total, 16 were substantiated, 15 unsubstantiated and all others still being investigated.

Source: NAN News

Air Peace plane

Nigerian High Commission in the UK has announced the closure of Air Peace Evacuation flight from that country scheduled for Aug. 8, as all seats on the aircraft are fully booked.

The High Commission disclosed this in a statement made available to the news agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

The High Commission advised prospective evacuees who are yet to make payment not to do so and necessary arrangements are being made for alternative flights.

Further to the notice of July 25, 2020, the High Commission wishes to inform that the evacuation flight scheduled for Aug. 8, 2020 is now fully booked and seats are no longer available.

In this regards, all prospective evacuees who have not already made payments for the flight are strongly advised not to do so.

The Mission will endeavour to make necessary arrangement to schedule another flight, details of which will be communicated in due course, the commission said.

Source: NAN News

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has extended the phase two lockdown by one week from the initial one month extension.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the PTF-COVID-19, Boss Mustpha, revealed this at the daily briefing on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

The PTF has continued to evaluate the developments as well as the level of compliance nationwide.

(It) has regrettably come to the inevitable conclusion that majority of Nigerians irrespective of status, creed and level of education continue to live in denial on the virulent nature of the virus and consistently breach the guidelines and non-pharmaceutical measures put in place.

We informed you two weeks ago that the process of submitting the 6th Interim Report and recommendations for next steps had commenced.

The PTF has reached advanced stages of the process. It has also considered that due to the upcoming Sallah (Eid El-Kabir) festivities which coincides with the expiration of the current phase, it would be prudent to extend by one week, from 29th July, 2020 till Thursday 6th August, 2020.

It has accordingly secured permission to retain the existing guidelines till that date.

Mustapha further called on Muslims and all Nigerians to observe all measures put in place to reduce the curve of the pandemic.

We note with delight, the increasing number of States that have shelved activities during the Eid-el-kabir and we still urge others yet to do so, to follow suit.

WHO has also issued Safe Eid practices in the context of COVID-19 and I urge us all to access and disseminate. The National coordinator will also elaborate on this.

Similarly, the PTF appreciates the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), who has always been a great champion in the fight against the pandemic, for advising Muslims to avoid massive gatherings at Eid grounds and pray at Area Mosques under prescribed protocols.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Buhari has urged Malian political leaders to consider the fragile peace in the country and the likely spiralling effect on the sub-region.

The president gave the challenge on Monday during a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.

The Nigerian leaderappealed to government and people of Mali to consider recommendations of ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his team, in resolving the political crisis.

According to him, a government of national unity will provide inclusivity and ensure peaceful co-existence.

I wish to place on record, my commendations for the various layers of efforts, and especially, of former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose painstaking engagements as Special Envoy and Mediator, provided clear road-map to contain the crisis in Mali.

I appeal therefore, to all the Malian stakeholders to consider the proposals for the reform of the Constitutional Court and the established modalities for resolving the continuous 31 seats issue at the National Assembly.

Equally significant, is the need to address governance challenges, whose manifestations are at the core of restiveness across the country.

In order to address these matters holistically, it is important that all Malians embrace the call for a Government of National Unity where inclusivity of participation in the affairs of governing their country will be a responsibility of each and every Malian actor.

I wish to reiterate the imperative of compromise and concessions for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis which would be acceptable to all parties, he said.

The president commended the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

The Kano State Government has distributed over two million face masks to various groups in the state, in an effort to stem further spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The distribution of the face masks was carried out by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje..

Ganduje said that the gesture would go a long way in curbing the spread of the pandemic.

According to him, National Association of Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW), student unions and market associations, among others will benefit from the exercise.

Ganduje said that the state government had made the wearing of face mask compulsory in public places across the state.

If the state government wants to sustain the efforts it has made in curtailing the disease, COVID-19 protocols must be followed.

Although Kano State is winning the war against Coronavirus, there are some issues to stick to, especially coordination among the stakeholders to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

We have also observed that people are not comfortable with wearing face masks, which is a very important preventive measure.

We are working with relevant stakeholders, especially security agents to ensure total compliance in the state, he said.

Ganduje said that transport unions must ensure that the face masks are distributed to their members and drivers must ensure every passenger wears one before boarding their vehicle.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Nasiru Gawuna, said that the state government had earlier distributed three million pieces of face masks to various organisations.

Gawuna, however, urged the public to take responsibility to complement the governments efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, said that the Emirate Council would sensitise the people on te need to abide by the COVID-19 protocols for the general well-being of the public.

We are calling on the good people of Kano State to abide by the laid down rules and regulations, especially, during Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, he said.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 555 new COVID-19 cases in the country as total infections from the virus exceeded 40,000 in five months.

The NCDC, which made this known on its official twitter handle, also recorded two deaths in the country in the last 24 hours.

NCDC said 40,537 cases had been confirmed, 17,374 cases discharged and 858 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory till date.

It said that the new cases were reported in the 18 states of Lagos (156), Kano (65), Ogun (57), Plateau (54), Oyo(53), Benue (43), FCT (30), Ondo(18), Kaduna (16), Akwa Ibom (13), Gombe (13), Rivers (12), Ekiti (9), Osun (8), Cross River(3), Borno (2), Edo (2) and Bayelsa (1).

The health agency said a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated at Level 3 would continue to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

It also advised Nigerians to limit or avoid sharing personal items as well as avoid touching high-contact surfaces like door handles and stair rails.

According to the agency, the virus that causes COVID-19 can live on surfaces for several hours.

The NCDC further urged Nigerians to clean all surfaces with soap and water or disinfectants.

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya
The Niger state Child Rights Protection Agency says it will ensure that parents of the 15 children discovered from a torture house in Suleja are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Hajiya Mariam Kolo, Director-General of the agency, made this known during a visit to the COVID-19 Isolation Centre where the children are receiving medical attention in Minna on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police, following reliable information received on July 18, rescued the children from a house disguised as an Islamic study centre.

The children were said to have been physically abused, chained by their teacher and had scars all over their bodies.

They were later handed to the state child rights agency to be taken care of.

The children are doing fine now, we have been taking good care of them in terms of feeding and medical care and until we are sure they are out of danger medically before we will reunite them with their families, she said.

Kolo said that parents of the children would soon be prosecuted once the ongoing strike by the state labour union was over to serve as a deterrent to others.

The D-G appealed to parents especially fathers to look inward within their communities for Islamic schools to enrol their wards and desist from sending them to strangers.

There are enough Islamic schools within their locality, children are supposed to be blessings to society rather than a burden, these children from every indication do not have moral training.

Henceforth, any parents caught sending their children away from home to other places will be dealt with decisively, she added.

Source: NAN News

By Yunus Yusuf

Arik Air has announced the resumption of its flight operations to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Yola Airport from July 28.

Mr Adebanji Ola, its Communications Manager, said in a statement in Lagos that both services would originate from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with connections to and from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

According to Ola, Arik Air will be operating separate flights from Abuja to Kano and Yola.

Flights from Abuja to Kano will operate four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while flights from Abuja to Yola will operate thrice weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Passengers traveling from Lagos can connect seamlessly to these services from Abuja, he said.

The airline has again assured passengers of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with COVID-19 health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Ola reiterated the need for passengers to use their face masks at every stage of their flights and arrive at least one and a half hours before their scheduled departure time.

He quoted the Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, as saying: We are delighted to recommence services to Kano and Yola following the approval for the reopening of the airports by the NCAA.

We shall continue to review our operations as more airports are given official permission to reopen to ensure we serve our customers efficiently, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari and President General of SEAMATA, Chief Gozie Akudolu

By Stanley Nwanosike

The South-East Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATA) has expressed has commended President Muhammadu Buharis fight against corruption.

The association said in a statement jointly signed by SEAMATAs President-General, Chief Gozie Akudolu, and its Secretary-General, Chief Alex Okwudili, in Enugu.

The statement was entitled Anti-Corruption Crusade Must be Prosecuted without Sentiments.

The association advised the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), not to be distracted by social media and fake news publications, but to make the fight against corruption evidence-based.

According to the statement, the consequences of corruption are legion and traders and business owners are at the receiving end of the cankerworm.

This is why the present issues at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must be handled without emotions and sentiments.

The information available to the public are still sketchy, but some of them appear novel in line with due process and supportive of the principles of fair hearing, it said.

The association said that it supported the following:

That the Ministerial memorandum from Malami to President Buhari detailing infractions against the EFCC and its mangers was in order and in line with his supervisory responsibilities.

That the action of Malami is an unprecedented act of courage and should be commended.

In the past, ministers have been in unholy alliances with the Chief Executives of Agencies and Departments under their supervision, leading to massive corruption, colossal waste of public resources and shameless economic conspiracy against the Nigerian state.

That President Buhari acted in national interest and in line with his powers by setting up the Justice Salami Investigative Panel. The Panel as the name implies is investigative and not a court of law.

The Panel has provided opportunities for accused persons to defend themselves nothing could be more independent and transparent than this presidential process.

That CP Ibrahim Magu and his colleagues have the opportunity to provide answers to the questions posed by the panel and defend themselves in the process.

That the issues under investigation are serious financial issues ranging from alleged re-looting of recovered property/assets to sabotage in the investigation, prosecution of high-profile corruption cases and must not be swept under the carpet.

That Nigerians are enjoined to give Justice Salami and his colleagues in the Panel, an opportunity to conclude their inquiry, come up with their report and recommend actions before jumping to inglorious conclusions.

That avoidable distractions, distortions, media orchestrations, fake news sponsorship and faceless damage to the reputations of public officials will never be a solution to a legitimate process, to establish guilt or otherwise, of principal actors in this investigation.

Source: NAN News

Malam Shuaibu Sani

By Salisu Sani-Idris
An indigene of Nasarawa state, Malam Shuaibu Sani, has emerged the Speaker of the 3rd Republic of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) after polling 541 votes at the just concluded election of the assembly.

The chairman, National Convention Committee, Ambassador Umaru Babayaro made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Babayaro said that the position for the office was keenly contested by three state ambassadors who decided to step down on July 25 before the election.

This paved way for a single contestant. We are pleased to announce that with the help of technology, the sorting and collation was done in minutes.

Shuaibu Sani from Nasarawa state, scored 541 votes, while Amb. Ezenwata Albert Enugu state scored 294 votes to emerged the deputy speaker.

For the office of the Majority Leader, Amb. Samuel Adeyelu scored 442 votes, while Amb. Musbau Esinrogunjo polled 442 votes to emerge deputy Majority leader.

For the office of Chief Whip, Amb. Sanusi Sarki Sokoto state scored 400 votes while Amb. Abubakar Ibn Usman Yobe State scored 242 votes to emerged deputy Chief Whip.

The highest votes are hereby declared winners of the election and are returned elected into the above positions, he said.

Babayaro, on behalf of the national convention committee, thanked the outgoing speaker of the assembly, Mr Godstime Samuel, for having faith in the committee to deliver on its mandate.

He also thanked the newly elected Ambassadors for showing passion and commitment to ensuring the success of the election.

Babayaro, therefore, enjoined the new speaker and the principal officers to do their best and take the 3rd Republic of youth Assembly of Nigeria to a higher pedestal.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other sub-regional leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in an extra-ordinary virtual meeting to mitigate the political crisis in Mali.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was summoned in line with the outcome of Thursdays meeting of the ECOWAS leaders in Bamako, Mali.

The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, President Mahamadou Issoufou had on that Thursday said the sub-regional organisation would do all it could to address the crisis in Mali.

The Thursdays meeting was attended by President Buhari, Host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote dIvoire.

A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Friday said the ECOWAS leaders listened to a brief by the ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and leader of the opposition, Imam Mahmoud Dicko.

The representatives of opposition alliance, M5 and Civil Society Organisations also briefed the leaders on their positions over the crisis.

NAN reliably learnt that todays meeting of the ECOWAS leaders with single agenda, namely; Political crisis in Mali, may recommend drastic measures meant to address the crisis.

A resistance group in Mali, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign, before peace can return to the country.

Crisis erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.

Riots on July 10 led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.

But the Special Envoy of ECOWAS to Mali, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who earlier paid a peace mission to Mali last two weeks, said: ECOWAS felt that the violent protest should not continue, so I should lead a special team to go again and engage them (protesters).

Jonathan, who described the outcome of their mission to Mali as partially successful, expressed the hope that normalcy would soon be restored to the troubled country.

He disclosed that a government of national unity would soon be constituted in Mali as the countrys parliament and Constitutional Court would be put in place.

He called on the Malian opposition leaders to cooperate with the ECOWAS in bringing sanity and political stability to the country, saying that the mediation team had no mandate to ask the elected Malian president to resign from office.

Source: NAN News

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Dr Yemi Popoola, a livestock scientist, has urged Nigerians to embrace production and consumption of rabbit because of its numerous nutritional benefits.

Popoola, a livestock scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR