By Itohan Abara-Laserian

First Bank of Nigeria Limited said that its customers using Verve Cards had begun to enjoy extra five (5) litres of fuel for every N3,000 fuel purchased using the card at specified periods.

Mrs Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

Nigeria has announced 575 new COVID-19 cases in the country as total infections from the virus rise to 33,153.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made this known on its official twitter handle on Monday .

The NCDC said that the new confirmed cases as at July 13 was 595 while four deaths were recorded across the country.

The agency said that no new state had reported a case in the last 24 hours.

According to NCDC, till date, 33,153 cases have been confirmed, 13,671 cases have been discharged and 744 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It stated that the 594 new cases were reported from 20 states.

The NCDC stated that 156of the new cases were reported in Lagos, 141 in Oyo, and 99 in the FCT.

Others were Edo (47), Kaduna (27), Ondo (22), Rivers (20), Osun (17), Imo (13), Plateau (10), Nasarawa (8), Anambra (8), Kano (5), Benue (5), Borno (5), Ogun (4), Taraba (3), Gombe (3), Kebbi (1), and Cross River (1).

The NCDC says Nigerians have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to all preventative measures.

The agency added thatNigerians should also protect the vulnerable around them .

It said that understanding the modes of transmission of a new virus was critical to defining response strategies.

The centre said that an increasing evidence suggestedthe possibility of airborne transmission of COVID-19 could not be ruled out yet.

Evidence on airborne transmission of COVID-19 reinforces need for strict adherence to preventive measures, such as avoidance of mass gatherings and the use of face masks.

We will continue to adapt our guidelines as scientific evidence emerges, NCDC said.

Source: NAN News

Gov. of Osun Goyega Oyetola

By Victor Adeoti

The Osun government has approved easing of lockdown imposed on four local government areas in the state to contain the spread of coronavirus.

A statement by Mr Wole Oyebamiji, the Secretary to the State Government in Osogbo on Monday, said the ease would take effect from Monday midnight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on July 7 announced a total lockdown in four local governments in the state to contain the spread of the virus.

The affected local governments were Ilesha East, Ilesha West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West.

Oyebamiji, said assurance received from traditional and religious leaders as well as civil society in the affected local government areas necessitated the ease of the lockdown.

He said though the lockdown had been eased, physical meetings and mass gatherings in any form remain banned in that axis and indeed throughout the state till further notice.

Notwithstanding the ease of the lockdown, enforcement of safety protocols, especially the use of nose mask in public places must be continued in the axis, and non-adherents will be sanctioned.

The state government wishes to reiterate that any form of breakdown in adherence to the safety protocols against COVID-19 in the four local government areas shall force the government to impose the lockdown again, he said.

Oyebamiji said government would continue to do everything necessary to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has conducted a mid-term review of National Response Strategy on the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak in the country.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the PTF Chairman, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), made this known on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Mid-term review was attended by legislators, Chairmen of relevant Committees on Health in the Senate and House of Representatives, the Office of the Vice President, Ministers, Diplomatic Community and development partners.

Mustapha said that the objectives were to review the PTFs achievements, challenges and opportunities for improvement of COVID-19 response efforts from its inception to June 30.

He said that the med-review was also to engage key stakeholders in developing the way forward on COVID-19 in the PTFs response efforts.

The SGF said it was expected that at the end of the two-day meeting, key resolutions would have been taken covering actions PTF intended to take in the areas like focussing on having enough oxygen nationwide as the numbers of hospitalised people increased.

Establishing one sample collection centre per Local Government Area (LGA) and focussing on high burden LGAs with precision interventions, including increased risk communication.

Increase community engagement, including religious leaders and state ownership by increasing state engagement and collaboration, as well as strengthening ownership at the state and local government levels.

Institutionalise IPC policies in healthcare facilities and take step to increase compliance of non-pharmaceutical measures (use of face masks, hand sanitisers and physical distancing).

Increase engagement with the private sector, industrial development as a gain from the pandemic and support local production of PPE and other critical supplies.

Communicating that anyone above 60 years or persons with morbidities (such as hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancers etc.), should stay at home and avoid social events as they are at highest risk of infection and mortality.

Government meetings/Board meetings should be conducted virtually until further notice and all unnecessary travels for meetings by government officials should be suspended till further notice, he said.

Mustapha said that the task force would also develop an exit strategy beyond September 2020, the life of PTF.

He said that an enhanced Risk Communication Strategy would be designed to educate the citizenry on the virulence of the virus, individual and collective roles, but more importantly, to tackle the deliberate mis-information being bandied around, especially in the social media.

An enhanced Risk Communication strategy becomes inevitable when we realise that within the last 24 hours, the world witnessed the largest single day cases of 230,370, while in Nigeria, last week we recorded the highest weekly fatality of 70 deaths.

The rising fatalities in Nigeria is not unconnected with denial and delay in seeking help, he said.

The SGF supported the foregoing position with an insightful quote from Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programmes, on the rhetorics of denial and the need to take responsibility.

Every person needs to look at your own risk. You need to be aware of what is the local transmission.

You need to know what the transmission in your area is. We do this, everyday in our lives as human beings. We manage risks, we decide when we cross the road.

We decide when we fly. We decide when we have an operation or not have an operation.

Why we need is information to make those risk based decisions. We need to gain the knowledge to be able to make good decisions. We decide on our proximity to other individuals.

We decide on the intensity of our social engagement. We decide on how long we stay in that environment.

We can be advised by government. We can be advised by science, but in the end, it comes down to personal motivation and personal choice.

But in the end, it comes down to individuals and it comes down to communities. If it does not feel safe, it is not safe for you, he said.

Mustapha noted that PTF was also encouraged by the compliance messages that had gone viral on the social media.

He said: One of those that caught attention gave three major reasons why COVID-19 is spreading fast.

They are: My colleagues, So, I can speak without a Mask. They are my close friends, so I can speak without a Mask. They are my relations, so, I can speak without a masks.

According to him, this message is so poignant that if we juxtapose it with the fact that crowded places and closed spaces create environment for the spread, we should behave more responsibly.

He, however, thanked the author of the above and other related messages.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has approved new postings/deployment and appointments of 37 Generals and five Colonels to different formations and units in his effort to rekindle the spirit of professionalism in Nigerian Army (NA).

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Musa said that the posting which was approved by Buratai was a routine/normal exercise intended to reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness and efficiency.

The major highlights of the postings include the postings and appointments of Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor from Defence Headquarters Department of Training and Operations to Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna as Commander.

Maj.-Gen. FO Agugo was redeployed from 6 Division NA Port Harcourt to Headquarters NA Signal Corps Apapa Lagos as Corps Commander Signals, while Maj.-Gen. M Mohammed was moved from Signal Corps Apapa Lagos to Office of the COAS as Special Adviser NA University Biu.

Also, Maj.-Gen. AM Dikko was moved from Administrative Staff College of Nigerian Badagry to NA Training Centre Kontagora as Commander, while Maj.-Gen. US Yakubu moves from Corps of Artillery Kontagora to Army Headquarters Abuja (AHQ) as Chief of Administration (Army).

Maj.-Gen. BO Sawyer moves from AHQ Department of Policy and Plans to NA Armour School Bauchi as Commandant, Maj.-Gen. IO Uzamere was redeployed from NA College of Logistics Lagos to AHQ as Chief of Logistics (Army).

Also, Maj.-Gen. JO Irefin has been redeployed from Headquarters 81 Division Lagos to Headquarters 6 Division Port Harcourt and appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC), while Maj.Gen. JO Akomolafe moves from Headquarters NA Armour Corps Bauchi to DHQ Abuja as Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluatmove

Others according to Musa are Maj.-Gen. CO Ude from NA Resource Centre Abuja to DHQ as Chief of Defence Training and Operations, while Maj -Gen HR Momoh moves from Defence Space Administration Abuja to AHQ as Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans/ Director Special Duties, Policy and Plans.

Maj.-Gen. AT Hamman has been moved from DHQ to AHQ Garrison as Commander, Maj.- Gen. OA Akinyemi moves from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria to Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Oshodi Lagos as Deputy Commandant.

Maj.-Gen. MH Magaji was redeployed from NA Amour School to Headquarters NA Armour Corps as Commander, while Maj.-Gen. MA Masanawa moves from DHQ to NA Ordinance School Lagos as Commandant.

Maj.-Gen. JI Unuigbe has been redeployed from AHQ Department of Logistics to DHQ Chief of Defence Logistics, Maj.-Gen JGK Myam the erstwhile Commander AHQ Garrison Abuja is now the Commander NA Corps of Artillery.

Also, Maj.-Gen. GA Umelo has been redeployed from AHQ Department of Training and Operations to Headquarters 81 Division as GOC, while Maj.-Gen. SE Udounwa moves from AHQ Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Abuja as Commandant.

Maj.-Gen. MO Enendu from Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre moves to NA College of Logistics as Commandant, while Maj.-Gen. GS Abdullahi moves from DHQ to Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria as Director General.

Maj.-Gen. BN Salami has been redeployed from NA School of Supply and Transport to Headquarters NA Corps of Supply and Transport as Commander.

Others affected are Maj.-Gen. FO Omoigui from AHQ Department of Training and Operations to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE Maiduguri as Deputy Theater Commander, while Maj.-Gen. IO Ehiorobo moves from NA School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to Headquarters NA as Commander, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Maj.-Gen. KI Mukhtar moves from AHQ Department of Administration to the Depot NA Zaria as Commandant, the erstwhile Commandant Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. C Ofoche has been redeployed to AHQ Department of Policy and Plans as Director Plans.

Maj.-Gen. AB Ibrahim was moved from AHQ Department of Training and Operations to Defence Space Administration as Director Support Services, while Brig.-Gen. IO Adewa was appointed as Acting Managing Director at NA Properties Limited.

Similarly, Brig.-Gen. KA Kazir has been posted from Headquarters NA Engineers to Headquarters 43 Engineers Brigade as Commander, while Brig.-Gen. MU Abdullahi moves from NA Intelligence and Cyber Warfare School to 58 Signal Brigade as Commander.

Brig.-Gen. MB Dala moves from Army Resource Centre to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Minna as Director Exams, Brig.-Gen. BR Sinjen moves from Headquarters NA Corps of Artillery to AHQ Department of Training and Operations as Acting Director of Operations.

Also, Brig.-Gen. SI Igbinomwanhia was redeployed from 7 Division Garrison Maiduguri to AHQ Department of Training and Operations as Acting Director Campaign Plan, while Brig.-Gen. HG Tafida moves from AHQ Department of Logistics to NA School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering as Acting Commandant.

Brig.-Gen. AO Arogbofa moves from 102 Division Equipment Support to AHQ Department of Logistics as Acting Director Equipment Maintenance, Brig.-Gen. EC Lot from Land Forces Simulation Centre to Headquarters 52 Signal Brigade as Commander.

Others appointments according to Army spokesperson are, Col. B Sarki from Defence Intelligence College to 6 Military Intelligence Brigade as Acting Commander, while Col. KO Ogunsoya moves from DHQ to Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations as Chief of Staff.

While the erstwhile spokesperson for Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena, Col. Timothy Antigha moves to Defence Headquarters as Acting Executive Director Armed Forces Radio, Col. Mohammed Dole moves from Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations to Headquarters Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena as Military Public Information Officer.

Also, Col. AF Maimagani remains in Headquarters Directorate of Chaplain Services (Roman Catholic) as Acting Director Chaplain.

According Musa, all the postings and appointments take effect from July 20, 2020.

While wishing all the officers well in their respective appointments, the Chief of Army Staff enjoins them to take their new responsibilities/appointments seriously and discharge all duties professionally with utmost loyalty to the Nation and the Service, he said.

Source: NAN News

The red Chamber

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 2004.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the passage of the bill followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The bill if assented into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, would broaden the definition of rape and sexual offences.

Amendment to Section 357 of the principal Act, specifically substitutes the words woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, with the words, any person, without consent, or with consent.

The bill also seeks to protect mentally challenged persons from sexual defilement and rape through an amendment to section 221 of the principal Act.

An attempt by Sen.Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central) to effect an amendment to section 357 to define persons susceptible to rape to accommodate married and unmarried persons was rejected by the lawmakers during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

The upper chamber while retaining the provision of Section 364 of the principal Act, however, expunged the gender specific term him and substituted same with such person in defining the punishment for the offence of kidnapping.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), in his lead debate said the piece of legislation would address the lingering issues of status of limitation in the prosecution of rape.

Also in defilement cases and the incessant kidnapping menace, which are on the rise, in recent times.

According to him,contrary to views by those opposing the passage of the bill by the National Assembly, on ground that its passage would usurp the powers of the states to legislate on the subject matter, the bill seeks to amend the Criminal Code Act of 1916 and not Criminal Code of the States.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hameed Ali, NCS Boss

By Deborah Coker

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said it impounded contraband goods valued at N351.4 million.

The Comptroller in charge of the zone, Mr Kayode Olusemire, announced this to newsmen in Benin, on Tuesday.

According to Olusemire, the contrabands impounded include one 40 feet container loaded with 4,043 pieces of used tyres with a DPV of N91.72 million, one 40 feet container carrying 205 bales of second hand clothing and 60 sacks of second hand women handbags with DPV of N37.86 million.

Also impounded are 711 cartons of rubber foot-wears with DPV value of N44.79 million, 29 bales of second hand clothing with DPV value of N580,000 and 2,960 pieces of used tyres valued of N 24.86 million.

We also impounded two Toyota Hilux, 2019 model worth N24.97 million each, a Toyota Corolla 2015 model, with DPV of N5.40 million and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2017 model with DPV of N30.37 million.

Toyota Rav-4, 2017 model value at N11.74 million, Toyota Avalon 2015, with DPV of N76.48 million, Toyota Corolla 2012 model with worth N4.59 million, Toyota Camry 2015 model with DPV of N7.83 million and Toyota Corolla 2019 model with valued at N14.85 million were also impounded.

He said the seizures were made from March till date in the Benin axis of the zone.

The zone C controller said that Nigerians should be stakeholders in the Nigerian project by indulging only in those things that would grow the nations economy and not things inimical to the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He said that Nigerians have no reasons to go for illegal second hand goods, while the government had put in place policies to boost medium scale enterprises.

Olumisere advised Nigerians to stop buying used tyres as 44 per cent of road traffic crashes were caused by used tyres.

He also advised Nigerians to do the right thing, pay their duty at the ports and declare the right content of their importation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Chijioke Okronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is need for stakeholders in Africa including governments to collaborate in curbing the adverse effect of secret and beneficial ownership of corporate businesses on economies across the continent.

Osinbajo expressed this view in his virtual address at the 20Anniversary of Africa Regional Webinar of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the webinar is Combating Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows: New Measure and Strategies.

One more matter of concern that the international community must work together to solve is the matter of secret corporate ownership and the whole issue of beneficial ownership.

For us in the developing world and especially in Africa, breaking the wall of secret corporate ownership is crucial because secrecy around corporate ownership is implicated in our underdevelopment.

Although anonymous companies are not always illegal, nevertheless secrecy provides a convenient cover for criminality and corruption.

Our experience in Nigeria as in other developing countries is that anonymous corporate ownership covers a multitude of sins including conflict of interests, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and even terrorism financing.

The Vice President said that at the May 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari made a commitment to establish a public register of the beneficial owners of all companies operating in Nigeria.

He said that following that commitment, Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in December 2016 and subsequently submitted a National Action Plan prioritising the establishment of an all-encompassing and publicly accessible register.

According to him, Nigeria is in the process of amending its corporate law to implement these measures and mandate the disclosure of beneficial interest in a companys shares and prescribe punitive measures for failure to disclose.

We are mindful of the challenges dogging advocacy for stemming Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), promotion of asset recovery and return to victim countries, and enforcement of beneficial ownership disclosure not just in our country but globally.

We note for example, the resistance of some countries to IFFs, curbing tax evasion and support asset return to countries of origin.

We note that laws passed in some developed countries to mandate beneficial ownership disclosure do not set examples for best practice as they do not cover territories and dependencies where most of the stolen assets from developed countries end up.

I sincerely hope this regional webinar will advance the advocacy further and bring up innovative solutions to these internationally shared concerns.

Osinbajo said there was no magic bullet to ending corruption, stemming IFFs or promoting asset recovery and asset return.

He said that everybody must work hard at it and be determined to succeed.

The vice president said that corruption must be made expensive for those who engage in it and send the unequivocal message that corruption simply did not pay.

We must also make all members of the international community see the benefit of shared prosperity and inclusive growth and development.

It is the unenviable but noble task of ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to make corruption unattractive to its disciples and facilitate new approaches to stemming IFFS and promoting asset recovery and return.

As you ruminate on the key issues to dominate the UN General Assembly Special Session on Corruption in 2021, I urge you to come up with concrete proposals for Nigeria to take to the UN.

Also, for all of our colleagues in the region, to take to the UN in order to begin to positively shape policy in a way and manner that best promotes the interest of our country and region,he said.

He said that the fight against corruption must be democratised as many citizens were interested in the fight against grand corruption which crippled the economy.

The vice added that whistle-blowers persons who come forward with information against corruptionmust be protected.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward kallon, members of the National Assembly among others joined the webinar. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronation Merchant Bank

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Coronation Asset Management has published a report on the Nigerian investment landscape which stressed the need for investors to increase their understanding of invesment risks to enhance returns.

Mr Guy Czartoryski, the Head of Research at Coronation Asset Management, said this at a virtual meeting.

He said that investors needed to increase their understanding of investment risks to enhance returns.

Czartoryski said the revolutionary report titled Navigating the Capital Market: The Investors Delimma studied the Nigerian investment scene over a 10-year period.

According to him, Nigerian investors are faced with difficult investment choices following the unprecedented crash in interest rates.

He said that investors were left with the alternative of either waiting for rates to rise again in future or to accept more risk in order to increase returns.

Navigating the capital market takes a new approach to setting investment return benchmarks. Instead of targeting inflation which is the conventional benchmark.

It recommends that investors should aim to beat the effects of naira devaluation against the U.S dollar and obtain the risk-free return they would have in U.S dollars.

This suggests that they should ask for naira risk-free fixed-income (or Treasury bill) return of 14.7 per cent per annum over the long term.

When it comes to equities, Coronation Research calculates that Nigerian investors should demand a return of 20.5 per cent per annum, Czartoryski said.

He said that these were high benchmarks, but showed what was necessary to preserve the value of investors hard-earned money.

He said that coronation research investor feedback showed that Nigerian investors had two concerns.

The first is inflation, the second is not to lose money in investment schemes.

And with fixed-income and bank deposit rates at record lows and far below the rate of inflation at 12.4 per cent, investors are being tempted to take risks again, he said.

According to him, the priority remains how to understand what those risks are and how they can be managed.

He said that by navigating the capital market, the report would enhance investors knowledge of risks in a challenging times.

The revolutionary report studies the Nigerian investment scene over a 10-year period and finds how people have managed to preserve their capital over the long term.

Some of the conclusions are surprising. For example, it has been remarkably easy to beat inflation over the last 10-years by buying Federal Government Treasury Bills.

However, with the crash in interest rates in the first half of the year, this era has come to an abrupt end.

By contrast, equity market returns have not preserved capital for investors over the long term, even when adding back the generous dividends paid to investors.

Coronation Asset Management Limited, incorporated on Oct. 2, 2015, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide funds and portfolio management services to institutions and individuals.

It offers full-fledged investment services across various asset classes to the entire spectrum of investors major institutions, smaller niche institutions and corporates, public sector family offices, cooperatives and rich individuals.

Its services include fund solutions (money market fund, fixed income fund and balanced fund), portfolio management, advisory services as well as fund administration and trustee services offered through its subsidiary, Coronation Trustees Limited. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

File Photo: Doctors,

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Medical Guild has appealed to the Lagos State Government to ensure proper engagement with doctors toward resolving the issues that led their three days warning strike.

Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, the Guild Chairman, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

We still remain committed to peaceful resolution of issues that we have raised with the state government.

Our position is that there is a need for proper engagement, negotiations and implementation of agreements, in order to make progress in the states health sector, Sodipo said.

According to him, part of the challenges that led to the present situation is the refusal of some government officials to engage the Guild, in spite of its concerted efforts to engage them.

On the state government position on the Guilds grievances, Sodipo said that some of the issues referred to in the governments statement were not correct.

We feel that the statement was not in the spirit of the efforts of the Medical Guild to deescalate the situation, and get solution to the critical issues raised, Sodipo said.

He affirmed that the meeting held with the state government on July 12, ought to have taken place before then to avert the current situation.

There was an acknowledgment from the state government side during the meeting that there ought to have been more engagements with the Guild to avert the strike.

We had an agreement after the meeting with the government to take the resolution to the Guild Council, we intend to hold a meeting on July 14.

However, members of the Guild are worried that government was not ready to discuss some of the critical issues raised by the Guild, and unfortunately that was the picture painted in the press release, he said.

Sodipo expressed optimism that the critical issues raised by the Guild would be discussed with the relevant officials, negotiated and communicated to the state Governor with the hope of resolving the impasse.

He, therefore, appealed to the state government to shift ground on pending critical issues that affects health workers, citizens and development of the health sector.

NAN recalled that doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guild had on July 13 commenced a three-day warning strike that would end on July 16 over issues that affects their safety and welfare.

The Guild, however, exempted its members working in the states COVID-19 isolation centres from the strike.

Reacting to the warning strike, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, had urged the doctors to suspend the warning strike and return to work.

Omotoso said that the state government was disappointed at the warning strike embarked upon by the Guild.

He said that most issues raised by the Guild had been resolved, while unresolved issues were still being deliberated upon. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rail Line ( File Photo)

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and concession agreement for the Eastern rail line.

This, according to the upper chamber was in recognition of its huge revenue potentials to the national economy and for movement of people to reduce the burden on dilapidated roads in the axis.

The resolution was sequel to a motion on Urgent Need to resuscitate and Re-activate the Rehabilitation and Concession of the Eastern Rail line Project.

The motion was sponsored by Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) and co-sponsored by 101 senators during plenary.

The upper chamber also mandated its Committee on Land Transport to interface with the relevant ministry and agencies of the Executive to facilitate the commencement of the Eastern corridor.

It also mandated its Committee on Compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the Senate in three weeks for further legislative action.

Moving the motion, Kalu said that one of the greatest challenges facing the nation as an emerging economy was poor infrastructural development.

Specifically, the movement of goods and persons from one point to another is becoming very cumbersome, if not hazardous, he said.

The lawmaker further noted that the Federal Government in recognition of the fact that there was dire need for transformation of the Nigerian Railway system into a more dynamic and functional one, encouraged the use of rail to reduce road traffic congestion problems.

The Federal Government in 2017 entered into an agreement with General Electric, a Boston, United States based company, under the Rehabilitation and Concession of Western and Eastern Railway lines to connect Abia, Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kaduna, Katsina, Enugu, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno,Yobe and Kano.

While the Western lines of 1,126 Km are from Lagos to Kano and to Nguru 230 km, Funtua 100km and Kaura Namoda 121 km, the Eastern lines are from Port Harcourt to Kaduna 915km, Maiduguri 706 km, Jos 35 km, he said.

He further said that in spite of the fact that the railways were more efficient in haulage of bulk loads over long distances in environmental and economic ease including cargoes and petroleum products, the sector suffered neglect especially the Eastern rail line.

He, however, raised concerns that the Eastern rail line had been denied a similar attention given to Lagos-Kano (Western) rail line in spite of the fact that investigations revealed that the Eastern rail line remained the most lucrative route in Nigeria.

In spite of being the most lucrative route in Nigeria and a distance of about 1, 402 km having passed through Aba in Abia, the commercial nerve center of the South East is regrettably left in a comatose condition.

This has resulted in Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), losing at least N10. 4 billion each year since 2014 totaling N63.2 billion in the past six years.

In spite this colossal loss of revenue in this corridor and the attendant economic benefits that would be accrued, the commencement of the rehabilitation and concession of the Eastern Rail lines as entered by the Executive has not taken off like that of the Western corridor with two to three different companies.

The Federal Executive Council is yet to give approval for the commencement which leaves not just the government as losers, but all host communities to the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, Kalu added.

Supporting the motion, Sen. Rochas Okorocha (APC-Imo) said that such great projects or programmes like the railway shouldnt be such that this nation has to be reminded of where it should go or where it should not go because the benefit to one part of this nation is a benefit to all.

Abia, South-East is not on its own without the others parts of this nation and what that means, Mr President is that once this rail passes through Abia, it will not be used only by the Igbos or the South-East; it is for the entire Nigeria, Okorocha said.

Similarly, Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice said that the development of the Eastern Corridor would solve so many problems including easing the problems of transportation.

He said that the project, if carried out by the government would reduce the incident of accidents on roads.

The incidence of accidents in the eastern part of the country is so dangerous, this axis of rail system is going to reduce the incident of accidents on the roads.

Movements of goods and services by rail will also reduce the incidents of armed robbery, he said.

The prayers of the motion were unanimously adopted by the senators after a voice vote by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River.

By Christian Njoku

Mr Castro Ezama, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade on Education, says Cross River is equal to the task as it concerns the Federal Governments guidelines on school resumption.

Ezama expressed the readiness of the state to implement the guidelines, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar.

Federal government recently released new guidelines for resumption of schools.

The guidelines include that schools must implement safe distancing measures that minimise and isolate risks and ensure fumigation and disinfection of schools, before resumption.

The special adviser said that the state government meant well for the children of the state in both public and private schools.

If the federal government has come up with such guidelines, you can trust that Cross River that is usually ahead on such matters will be equal to the task.

We are in top gear but will just follow the directive of the federal government.

However, next week, there will be a formal statement from the state Ministry of Education on what it is doing concerning the resumption, he said.

NAN recalled that the state had on June 16 deferred its earlier planned resumption of academic activities by West African Peoples Institute, Calabar; Government Secondary School, Ikom; and Government Secondary School, Igoli, Ogoja. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos plants 7.5 million trees in 9 years

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government says it has planted over 7.5 million trees in the last nine years, toward a sustainable environment.

Mr Tunji Bello, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources made this known on Tuesday, during the Year 2020 Lagos State Tree Planting Day programme at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.

Bello said that in 2008, under the administration of Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State Government declared every July 14 as Lagos State Tree Planting Day.

He said that this was further established as a statutory responsibility of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) in its Law of 2011 Section 20(1).

Till date, over 7.5 million trees have been planted since LASPARK was established in 2011.

In addition to this, Tree Planting has contributed in no small measure to the present administrations goal to achieve a Healthy and Sustainable Environment, which is a key component of its T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

Trees constitute life and tree planting is one of the deliberate climate change measures of the present administration in Lagos State Government to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #13 one of 17 Global Goals that make up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to combat climate change and its impacts.

Lagos State features in a network of 100 cities in the world that are working toward strengthening the worlds ecosystem resilience.

This forms a major bulwark of the importance attached to massive tree planting, the commissioner said.

According to him, massive tree planting is considered a major potent weapon against desertification, control of the menace of erosion and a mitigating factor against climate change and mans natural endowment.

He said that the theme for Year 2020 Lagos State Tree Planting Day Trees for Life was very instructive.

Bello said that year 2020 started like every other year with very high expectations, and no one anticipated that it would herald COVID-19 a disease that had become a pandemic and was in no hurry to loosen its grip on mankind.

He noted that the interdependence of man and the environment in which humans exist was becoming increasingly clearer.

This is what informed the choice of Trees for Life, Bello said.

He said that the state had adopted four of its major isolation centres as ceremonial sites for this years tree planting day celebration.

According to him, planting at these locations is very significant in view of this years theme, hoping that the trees being planted will outlive the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Lagos State Government dedicated the 2020 Tree Planting Day to COVID-19 frontline health workers.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had recognised that nations looked at the issue of health holistically.

Abayomi said that the health of human beings was intertwined with the health of the environment and the health of the food people eat.

He expressed gratitude that this years tree planting session was dedicated to the frontline health workers.

According to him, COVID-19 is a phenomenon and it represents that we have not clearly understood the synergy between environment and health.

The destruction of the environment is what is responsible for all the zoonotic infectious diseases that we are seeing around the world, he said.

The General Manager, LASPARK, Mrs Adetoun Poopola, lauded the frontline health workers for their sacrifice and dedication through the challenging times.

Just like the trees, you give us hope and courage to persevere, even in the harshest condition, Poopola said.

She commended the staff members of LASPARK for ensuring a greener and healthier environment for future generations of Lagos State, urging that they continue to plant trees for life. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has given the assurance that banditry in the North West and Central region would soon be a thing of the past.

He gave the assurance when he visited the troops of Exercise Sahel Sanity (ExSS) at the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari in Katsina State on Monday.

Olonisaki said the launch of ExSS by Nigerian Army was a testimony of their commitment to address all security challenges facing the country.

He said that the exercise was a real time exercise that would transit into operation aimed at attacking banditry in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto as well as Kaduna and Niger States.

From the briefs I have received and what I have seen here today, there is no doubt in my mind that the scourge of the banditry will soon be a thing of the past and all law abiding citizens would be able to resume their normal lives.

The past five years of our fight against insurgency, banditry and other criminalities in our nation, the armed forces of Nigeria constantly re-strategise and develop models and approaches as well as restructuring to better position her to address our national security challenges.

The super Camp concept of the Nigerian Army is one of this effort aimed at repositioning the Nigerian army to better contain these challenges.

It therefore gladdens my heart to witness ExSS which is already achieving the much desired result put together by Nigerian army from its super Camp in Faskari, he said.

Olonisaki, however, assured the Chief of Army Staff of the support of the Defence Headquarter towards achieving the objectives of the exercise.

He commended the Nigerian Army for its innovative approaches to the myriad of security challenges across the country with support of other security agencies.

According to him, providing this much needed secured environment, we must continue to strengthen the existing synergy with the services and other security and intelligence agencies to prevent any gaps that could be exploited by these criminals.

I must commend the resilience and relentless spirit of all the personnel taking part in this important exercise and all other operations across the country to ensure peace and security for our people as well as protect the territorial integrity of our father land.

I urge you all not to relent in your efforts as you are the last line of defence in our bid to ensure a stable peaceful country.

Remember that the nation counts on all of us and I have no doubt that the Nigerian Army will acquaint itself creditably by routing all forms of banditry during the ongoing exercise, he added.

Olonisakin congratulated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, officers and soldiers of Nigerian army on the successful conduct of Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2020.

He also congratulated Buratai for his fifth year anniversary as the Nations Chief of Army Staff.

Earlier, Buratai said that tremendous successes had been achieved within the few days that ExSS commenced, adding that a number of bandits had either been arrested or eliminated.

According to him, there have been clearing of bandits, recovery of rustled cattle, recovery of arms, kidnapped victims being rescued and host of other criminal activities that have been stopped.

We have also reduced or arrested quite a number of the informants and logistics suppliers of these bandits and their collaborators in the cities and villages here in the North West.

We are just beginning and we want to assure Nigerians that this operation that is ongoing will bring about very reasonable state of security in the North West.

We are not only restricting ourselves to the North West, concurrently , we are carrying out operations in the North Central especially Kaduna and Niger States.

It is very important that we take note and we will continue to carry out our responsibilities diligently, he said.

Buratai also disclosed that today being July 13 marked the fifth year of their appointment as service chiefs and congratulated Olonisakin for their successes so far.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Edith Ike-Eboh

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the newly reconstituted board of Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas(NLNG) and Bonny Gas Transport Limited ( BGT).

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the current board members had been in office since 2005, hence the need for new people to bring new ideas in the system.

According to him, the new board members for the NLNG include Dr Edmund Daukoru as Chaiman, Mr Henry lkem-Obih as a Member and Dr Rabiu Sulaiman as a Member.

Other Members include the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Bitrus Nabasu.

He also said that Daukoru was also approved as the President of the Board of BST while Doyin Akinyanju and Abdul Abba are members.

The minister noted that Kyari and Nabasu were also members of the board.

I will like to use this opportunity to thank the chairman and other outgoing board members of NLNG for steering the companies to record successes, particularly the Train 7 FID.

l wish the exiting members good health and more successes in their future endeavors.

To the incoming members of the board, I congratulate you on this appointment; your selection is based on your experience, integrity and expertise.

I, therefore,urge you to bring all these to bear in the discharge of your responsibilities in line with the progressive agenda of Mr President, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that some of the new board members had worked in the industry in the past.

Daukoru was a former Minister of State for Energy and also Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in 2006.

He became the Amayanabo, or traditional ruler, of Nembe Kingdom in 2008.

Also, Ikem-Obih was a former Chief Operating Officer, Downstream of the NNPC and Rabiu a former Group Executive Director at the corporation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Saudi Arabia and Nigeria have reiterated their firm commitment to the Organisation of Petroleum Export Countries and its allies known as OPEC agreement.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipriye Sylva, who disclosed in Abuja on Monday, said that the countries also reiterated commitment to the level of production cuts to reduce output.

Sylva said that he had a phone discussion with Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Minister for Energy.

According to him, the discussion focused on developments in the global oil markets, the improvement in demand for oil and progress toward full implementation of the OPEC agreement.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Chairman, Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of OPEC , emphasised the importance for all OPEC participants of meeting, their production stated in the agreement, in order to accelerate the rebalancing of the global oil market, he said.

Sylva further confirmed the commitment of Nigeria to the OPEC agreement and clarified that the country had not yet met the terms of agreement and was currently below the level of the agreed cuts.

He also confirmed that Nigeria would raise its level of conformity to 100 per cent and would compensate, during the months of July, August and September, for the over-production in May and June.

He noted that at the end of the call, the two ministers stressed that efforts by OPEC countries toward meeting production cuts as stated in the agreement would enhance oil market stability.

The minister added that it would also help accelerate the rebalancing of global oil markets.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

ThisDay Dome

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government has added ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre to the list of testing centres for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The centre will be open for treatment soon.

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

Ehanire added that renovation of Agura Hotel would also begin soon as an additional observation centre for Level 1 and selected Level 2 cases.

He hoped that these would considerably increase the capacity of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in responding to the pandemic.

The minister said that Nigeria had carried out 183,294 COVID-19 tests, 28,296 of them within the week, adding that 32,558 people had been confirmed positive.

He said that the high figures within the past week, compared to that of the previous week, suggested an increase in the pace of testing and infection.

Ehanire said that, from reports of the activation of sample collection sites in the FCT, laboratory throughput would increase, as well as the number of positive cases until the curve would flatten at a time yet to be known.

The minister, however, said that the expected increase in positive cases would not be so dramatic, if there would be better adherence by citizens to all advisories.

He also said that COVID-19 curve would flatten if the citizens would determine to take responsibility for reducing the spread of this disease.

He said that conscientious wearing of masks was being confirmed in various studies as the easiest, cheapest and most reliable way to check the rate of spread.

Some countries have made it mandatory by law and imposed a fine for non compliance.

Regular washing of hands, avoiding crowds, social distancing and use of minimum of 65 per cent alcohol-based hand sanitiser remain as relevant as at the beginning, he said.

According to him, 13,447 COVID-19 cases have so far been successfully treated and discharged in Nigeria while 740 fatalities have been recorded.

Our aim is to further reduce the fatalities by ensuring that those defined as vulnerable are protected with non pharmaceutical measures and prioritised for admission to observation or treatment centres, even if they do not yet have symptoms.

On Saturday, we were at the Premier Medical Warehouse, Jabi, Abuja, on the invitation of the Director-General of the West African Health Organization, (WAHO), the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the German Government, to receive a donation of medical equipment and supplies to the Government and people of Nigeria, courtesy of WAHO to support our efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The donations include ventilators, test kits, personal protective equipment and face masks all critical items in our COVID-19 response strategy.

I wish to, once again, thank WAHO and ECOWAS for the kind donation, and the German Government for facilitating it, he said.

He disclosed that the 17-man team of the Federal Ministry of Health deployed to Calabar to engage the Cross River Government in setting up its COVID-19 response and aligning it with the national response, had returned to Abuja after a successful mission.

According to him, the team was led by the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

They had useful interactions with the Cross Rivers State Government and were able to address all areas of concern and interest to the Federal Government and also to the Cross River State Government.

The Federal Ministry of Health will encourage and prioritise patronage of locally-made commodities which meet the minimum specification, he said.

He said that Cross River State had begun to align with the Federal Ministry of Health COVID-19 response and had started reporting on the national dashboard.

We have activated the GeneExpert machine at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to increase testing capacity in the state, and NCDC has resumed deployment of rapid response teams to provide technical assistance to to strengthen the states incident management system.

Following the intervention of the ministerial team with the Cross River State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association officials, issues that led to the withdrawal of medical services by doctors in the state were resolved and strike called-of.

We plan to replicate this success in other states where the need for policy alignment is found wanting, he said.

He added that news of the local development of RNA extraction kits and their validation had been relayed to him.

I am very proud of this development, which I have asked NCDC to evaluate, because it will be a further step in reducing dependence on imported commodities.

I hope our researchers continue with this trend.

NIPRID has also applied for financial support to continue its research on the efficacy of Artemisia annua combination in the treatment of COVID-19, which I hope will resonate with sponsors, he added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients discharged in the country is now 13,447 following 344 new successfully treated cases.

This is according to the new data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on its official twitter account on Sunday.

The NCDC had also recorded 571 new COVID-19 cases in 20 states, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 32,558.

The health agency said that no new state had reported a case in the last 24 hours.

It added that till date, 32,558 cases had been confirmed while 740 deaths had been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

NCDC stated that the 571 new cases reported were from Lagos(152), Ebonyi(108), Edo(53), Ondo(46), FCT(38), Oyo(20), Kwara(19), Plateau(17), Osun(14), Bayelsa(14), Ekiti(14), Katsina(14), Akwa Ibom(11), Kaduna(11), Rivers(11), Niger(10), Ogun(7), Kano(6), Cross River(4) and Bauchi(2).

The public health institute said that there were 16 new COVID-19 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours across Nigeria with the death toll in the country rising to 740.

It also said COVID-19 cases were still rising, adding that reduction depended on collective efforts and adherence to the recommended measures.

The NCDC canvassed for more efforts other than that of the agency to send the right message to Nigerians.

The health agency said that the COVID-19 pandemic was a test of global solidarity and global leadership.

The virus thrives on division but is thwarted when we unite, it said.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Delta Government has denied reports insinuating that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa directed his aides and civil servants to undergo COVID-19 tests.

Mr Olisa Ifeajika, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, gave the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Asaba.

Ifeajika challenged the peddlers to provide evidence of the memo or statement issued by government in that regard.

He said that contrary to reports in the social media, the governors position since the global pandemic spread to Delta, had always been for citizens to adhere to the protocols prescribed by NCDC to stem the spread of the virus.

Ifeajika said the governor had also advised that anyone feeling unwell should go to any of the COVID-19 centres across the state for proper check and treatment.

According to him, there was no time that the governor gave any directive, either by internal memo or any press release that government officials should go for test for any disease, including COVID-19.

The governors spokesman also distanced his office and the government from another social media report to the effect that the entire media team to the governor tested positive for COVID-19, culminating into shutdown of the Press Unit.

All the reports are deliberate falsehood, and the purveyors are hereby challenged to publish the alleged internal memo and the signatory.

The concocted stories, especially the one on no fewer than 43 members of Government House press crew testing positive for COVID-19, only existed in the imagination of the authors as I never spoke to any journalist on the matter.

For clarity and emphasis, the Chief Press Secretary did not address journalists on Wednesday or any other day recently, not the least, the author of the falsehood, he said.
According to him, the authors action is anything but irresponsible and yellow journalism, a misnomer that is acidic and seriously abhorred in the profession.

As a government, we have our authorised sources of information and anything not released from such sources is fake news and should be discountenanced by members of the public.

At every point in time, and with every development on COVID-19, we give updates as demonstrated when principal officers in the government tested positive for COVID 19 and we promptly brought it to public knowledge, he said.

Ifeajika said the government would promptly announce any development in the management of the pandemic in the state through its official channels.

He advised newsmen to always seek clarifications on issues through his office at any given time.

Source: NAN News

Army officials,

By Ishaq Zaki

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Sahel Sanity have rescued eight kidnapped victims and recovered weapons in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kastina States.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this at a press briefing on Sunday in Faskari, Kastina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had on July 6 flagged off the Operation Sahel Sanity at Special Army Super Camp in Faskari as part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration.

Onyeuko said the Chief of Army Staff flagged off the exercise to flush out armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal elements from the North West Zone.

The troops quickly moblised to the area and engaged the criminals, neutralising scores in the process.

The situation was quickly brought under control and the troops subsequently dominated the area with patrols denying criminal elements freedom of action, he said.

He said on July 9 while responding to a distress call, troops deployed at Gidan Baure in Jibiya Local Government Area of Katsina State rescued three young girls kidnapped by armed bandits at Sayau village.

Onyeuko said on the same day, troops also rescued three kidnapped victims in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Two other kidnap victims who were kidnapped on June 1, 2020 at Yayi village in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State have been rescued by the troops.

All the victims have been handed over to Katsina and Sokoto State Government officials for further action.

Receiving a credible intelligence, the troops sprang an ambush at Gidan Jaja in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara, the bandits fled with heavy gunshot wounds, abandoning one AK 47 rifle in the process.

While on aggressive mobile patrol, our troops intercepted three armed bandits who opened fire on troops.

During the fire fight, one of the bandits was neutralised while others fled in disarray, one AK 47 rifle and one motorcycle were recovered, he said.

Onyeuko also said on Saturday, July 11, troops laid ambush between Daki Takwas and Tashar Kuturu villages of Anka and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas of Zamfara.

He said troops made contact with the bandits who escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds in the cover of darkness.

Onyeuko said troops had continued to dominate the area as a means of confidence building for the residents and farmers to continue their agricultural activities.

He added that items recovered included one motorcycle, 10 dane guns, one catarpult and one knife.

Others, he said, were one saw, 16 plugs, one axe and three cell phones.

Onyeuko, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, commended the troops for their gallantry, successes and the professionalism exhibited within the short period of the operation and urged them not to rest on their oars.

He reassured the people of the North-West Zone of the armys commitment to restoring peace in the region. (NAN)

Source: NAN News