GMD OF NNPC, MALAM MELE KYARI

By Edith Ike-Eboh

No fewer than 339 companies are bidding for the 2020/21 sales and purchase of the Nigerian crude oil grades.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari disclosed this at the 2020/2021 Crude oil tender prequalification bid opening ceremony, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the event marked another transparent process for the corporation.

He said that inspite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Corporation had modified the bidding process by leveraging on technology to progress the cycle of crude oil bidding.

According to him, there will be strict compliance with all the extant regulations and reinforcement of commitment by the Corporation to transaparency and accountability.

We have continued to see a strong demand for different grades of Nigerian crude in the oil market despite the lockdowns and refinery run cuts.

We are also witnessing demand for Nigerian crude switch from traditional destinations such as India and finding home in new markets such as china, he said.

Represented by Mr Umar Ajiya, NNPC Chief Financial Officer, he said that the 2020/21 crude oil bidding had many objectives, which include to engage reputable, qualified and high capacity international and indigenous companies.

He said that companies would guarantee market placement of the Nigerian crude oil at optimum value during the next contracting cycle.

He noted that other objectives was to ensure that selection of off-takers was aligned with tested transparent and accountable procedures in compliance with the Public Procurement and Nigerian Content Acts.

The GMD futher noted that apart from the objectives, the corporation would sustain transparency in all process and establish the best partners through robust mix of big international players.

He assured of support for indigenous companies capacity development in the process.

Ultimately, crude oil is a major revenue earner in Nigeria, therefore, the credibility of this process is very important to us all.

In his remarks, Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, Chief Operating Officer Upstream, said that the corporation had taken steps to ensure the process of producing the best bidder emerged while adhering to COVID-19 principles.

He added that the process also adhered to the Corporations Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda, extant statutory requirements and most important the Public Procurement Act.

He noted stakeholders like the Nigerian Extractive industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Bureau of Public procurement (BPP), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), among others were part of the bid opening as part of statutory requirement.

Also, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, Mr Billy Okoye said that the selection of off-takers aligned with tested transparent and accountable procedures in compliance with the BPP act.

The bid submission process was modified by replacing it with virtual submission interphase on the NIPex portal to ensure all applicants were granted equal opportunity and access to unified submissions platform, he said.

He further assured that the commitment of the Corporation was to deliver the selection process with utmost transparency and accountabilty and to support the GMDs agenda to deliver NNPCs obligations to its stakeholders.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police Service Commission (PSC)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP), an NGO, has called for the amendment of the Act establishing the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reflect current exigencies on the practicality of its functions and purpose.

Mr Shalom Olaseni, Convener of UGRFP, on Thursday in Abuja said the amendment had become very necessary as it would ensure a better Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and address the demand of #Endpolicebrutality protesters.

Olaseni said that the call for the amendment of the PSC Act was also to strengthen the commission to function better.

Police Service Commission, being the oversight body by constitutional law and an enactment of the National Assembly over the NPF, must receive the full backing of the government to function optimally and independently.

The convention of appointing a retired Inspector-Generals of Police to oversee the PSC as its Chairman raises more problems than it solves any.

This tradition must be discontinued as the commission must be run independently of personnel with police service history to avoid bias and prejudice in the discharge of the function of the commission.

UGRFP recommends that retired jurists, justices, judges or avowed security and human rights experts should henceforth serve as Chairmen of the PSC to forestall any conflict of loyalty and function or any resemblance of the same within the commission, Olaseni said in a statement.

According to him, the PSC Act is clear that only neutral persons can and should serve as chairman of the commission, a provision that has been neglected in the appointment of chairmen of the commission.

The UGRFP convener noted that the PSC must enjoy adequate staffing and budgetary provisions to better serve the public; as such, its budgets and finances must be independent.

Olaseni noted that a lot of factors had militated against the police and that efforts must be made to immediately curtail unlawful stop and search patrols, illegal raids and other extra-judicial matters.

He suggested that the prosecution of erring officers would go a long way in restoring the confidence of the public in the Nigeria Police.

There is an urgent need to mainstream youths and civil society organisations into the Nigeria policing system through a strategic stakeholders forum to protect the public, especially youths from becoming scapegoats of future security arrangements.

Public trust has been eroded in the Nigeria Police Force, and the priority of the NPF must be the restoration of the same through transparent policing, psycho-social training, thorough screening and vetting of police officers.

Until the Nigeria Police Force becomes answerable to the oversight function of the Police Service Commission, all or most gains in the momentum of the #EndSARS protest would be lost in due course, Olaseni added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during engagement with EndSARS protesters at the Lagos House of Assembly gate, Alausa, Ikeja on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020

By Monday Ijeh

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has warned all police officers across the country against the use of force on peaceful protesters.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

He said citizens had fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly and movement, which must always be upheld and protected by the police.

Mba said the I-G had appealed to protesters to continually conduct themselves peacefully and guide their ranks against infiltration by criminal elements.

He said the Force leadership had heard the voice of the people and pledged to do everything within its powers to address the observed ills, punish any offending officers and promote a people friendly police. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Seyi Makinde and his late mother Abigail

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo and his entire family over the passing of their mother, Mrs Abigail Makinde.

The presidents condolence message was conveyed in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday.

Buhari also condoled with friends, family and associates of the matriarch, whose testimony of love and kind heartedness continues to be shared, particularly her warmth to the poor and less privileged.

He urged the friends and family members to find solace in the good works of the governors mother, who invested heavily in the fear of God, love and hard work, and ensured her children and grandchildren followed same training of diligence, discipline and charity.

The president prayed that the almighty God would receive the soul of the departed, and comfort the family. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC boss Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu

By Abujah Racheal

As protests continue in spite of the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) warns protesters to be mindful of the risk of getting COVID-19 infection.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, gave the warning on Thursday at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Media Briefing in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that demonstrations against police brutality have taken place in cities across the country in the past week.

The subsequently replaced the scrapped unit with another unit which he called the Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT).

Ihekweazu said: The number of new cases we will have will be determined by our own behaviour and the circumstances that we find ourselves.

So, right now we are reopening schools; schools by definition means you are going to have more people in confined spaces.

We have published guidelines together with the Federal Ministry of Education to mitigate those risks. How effectively they are implemented will mean if there will be more transmission or less.

You can see some of the demonstrations happening across the country. The virus doesnt know whether you are young or old, policeman or a demonstrator; it uses the opportunity to jump from persons to persons.

So, we will continue to advise everyone, wherever you are, to continue to wear mask, you can still have you voice heard if you are wearing a mask.

Whatever the circumstances, whether you are managing school or NYSC camps or outside, the important thing is to continue to carry out these public health measures, he said.

On the reported second wave of the pandemic across the world, the D-G said , the second wave in Nigeria is inevitable but it wont happen here because it is happening in Europe.

It will only happen here based on our behaviour and our own ability to manage it.

So, as we open up our offices, the onus is on the leaders of each office to determine whether you will come into that room with a mask or without a mask.

They will determine where there will be sanitizing system in that room or not.

So, a lot of leadership will be required as we go into the next phase of easing the lockdowns, Ihekweazu said.

NAN also reports that the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had in September 2020 announced that youths under the age of 19 accounted for 10 per cent of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

According to Ehanire, as regards COVID-19 and the growing complacency, though adults, especially those from 60 years and above are more vulnerable, complications do occur in all age groups.

He had said that records showed that 10 per cent of all positive cases we had been treated were below the age of 19 years.

They are also the same mobile group that can be without symptoms, but can easily spread the disease, he had said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sunday Dare

By Franca Ofili

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Thursday, launched the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) recently approved by Federal Government.

Dare said at the launch of application for the fund in Abuja that the NYIF underscored the importance placed on youths by the current administration

He said that the fund would be spread over three years to cater for youth-owned businesses and investment needs.

He added that I must mention the support we enjoyed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which in line with Presidents directive, provided the initial N12.5 billion required for the Fund to operate in the remaining part of the year 2020.

We are also grateful that the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has on its part, committed to providing the next tranche of the fund in the 2021 budget.

The minister said that the loan provided under the NYIF has an interest rate of five per cent per annum.

He explained that any youth who wished to apply as an individual, or a non-registered business could draw up to N250,000.

He added that the youth-owned registered businesses could apply for up to N3 million.

Dare said that the loans are with a tenor of five years and moratorium of up to 12 months.

Our commitment to see the youth succeed is such that the loan is bundled with trainings that will ensure business sustainability for successful applicants.

It is my belief that the fund will grow to become a permanent feature of our society, where beneficiaries run successful businesses and repay the loans, he said.

According to the minister, the application is available online on NIRSAL Microfinance Banks site www.nmfb.com.ng.

Applicants can also visit our website on www.youthandsport.gov.ng and www.noya.ng, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

SGF and COVID-19 PTF Chairman Mr Boss Mustapha

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 on Thursday lifted the ban on sporting activities and directed all categories of civil servants to resume work.

The task forces National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, disclosed this at its press briefing in Abuja.

Aliyu said : It is therefore the informed recommendation of the PTF that Nigeria maintains Phase 3 of the response with further changes to address economic, socio-political and healthcare.

In this regard, and effective from Monday, October 19, 2020 at a minute past midnight, the following guidelines will come into place.

The lifting of restriction on outdoor sporting activities including football is in line with earlier consultations with the Federal Ministry of Youth Sport Development and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

However, this is limited to the actual sport itself not with mass gatherings.

In this regard mass gathering including at sport events is still restricted as this represents an opportunity for the virus to spread with an increased rate of a second wave.

For gatherings in enclosed places, this will continue to be limited to only 50 persons with physical distancing and compulsory wearing of face masks except for workplaces.

The PTF also believes that it is now time to allow civil servants of all grades to resume work safely. Additional guidelines will be provided for heads of MDAs.

Chief executives and heads of MDAs are responsible for ensuring the strict enforcement of non-pharmaceutical interventions, and making sure that their work environment is safe for the staff.

Face masks are expected to be worn in every public building including govt offices.

He said, We have developed guidelines with NCDC and the NYSC for the reopening of the orientation camps on November 10, 2020.

The PTF has also arranged for additional safe bags to include the testing of all corps members and staff in the camps for COVID-19 prior to commencement of the orientation programmes.

It is also time for schools to open but to open safely, and in this regard we have continued with providing guidelines and engagement with states to ensure close supervision and guidelines and oversight as schools open, the PTF said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 test

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19has said that only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos state have achieved the target of testing of one per cent of its population, while 26 states of the federation are yet to get to 25 percent testing rate.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the taskforce.

According to him, apart from FCT and Lagos State, three states that have crossed 50 percent testing rate are Plateau, Gombe and Rivers.

Twenty-six others are yet to measure up to 25 percent. This is considered a serious problem which is further compounded by the increasing general apathy and disbelief about the risk of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Mustapha said.

The SGF recalled that at the last briefing, he had said that the PTF had compiled all its observations and findings and would in due course present the 8th Interim Report and recommendations to Mr. President, to enable the National Response proceed into the next phase.

He said that the 8th Interim Report, focused on the primary objective of consolidating the gains recorded in the National Response over a period of six weeks which ended on 13th October, 2020.

Mustapha noted it was due toother exigencies, including the celebration of the diamond anniversary of Nigerias Independence, that the phase had to be extended, he said.

The SGF noted that many countries in different continents have, however, gradually commenced reopening and adapting to the reality of the pandemic lasting longer than originally expected.

He said that schools were reopening with strict guidelines; airlines have commenced flights with enforced advisories and other aspects of social engagement continue to be gradually reincorporated.

Mustapha said that the response remains buoyed by the ever-increasing global collaboration among nations and with international organisations.

He expressed delight that the PTF has observed and learnt great lessons from these jurisdictions and have similarly taken measures to reopen the economy albeit in a safe and cautious manner.

Mustapha also said that as much as the world was coming to terms with the new normal, emerging statistics indicate that Nigerians still have to be cautious, vigilant by taking responsibility due to the second wave of the virus in many parts of the world.

In Nigeria, the PTF continues to rely on data, research, science and experience of other nations to inform decisions at all stages. Our National response to COVID-19 remains targeted at achieving the purposes of epidemic control through reduced transmission and minimizing mortality among vulnerable parts of the population.

Till date, Nigeria has sustained the substantial successes earlier recorded. Although statistics show that the pandemic is not slowing down globally, the number of recorded cases in Nigeria has remained between 100-200 daily for the last four weeks with a progressive fall in the case fatality rate to 1.9 percent, he said.

He said that the reduction in the test positivity ratio to less than 5 percent further corroborates the belief that the epidemic curve is flattening, despite the unsatisfactory testing rate in the country attributable to general apathy among the populace.

The SGF said that as at October 14, 2020, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 60,834; total active cases 7,575; 1,116 deaths; 52,143 recovered cases; while the cumulative number of samples tested was 567,857.

The SGF said that number of laboratories established was 69 with at least one in each state. He said, Presently, there is a molecular laboratory for COVID-19 testing in every state of the country and the additional funding provided by the Federal Government, should help to scale up testing for COVID-19.

The PTF has concluded arrangements to test additional 100,000 at the various NYSC orientation camps nationwide, when they re-open soon; the PTF has also concluded arrangements to execute the National Testing Week as part of the arrangements to ramp up testing.

Mustapha also said that over 27,000 international passengers have arrived Nigeria since the resumption of international flights.

He, however expressed concern over the low level of sample collection by states; increasing apathy, scepticism and disbelief; very low compliance with non-pharmaceutical guidelines by Nigerians; and low risk perception leading to low sample collection rate and decreasing testing.

Listing ways of avoiding second wave,Mustapha said that if the nation must avoid a second wave and continue to flatten the curve, it was imperative for all to jointly address these concerns and the PTF appeals strongly for collaboration and for all hands to be on deck.

He said, The reopening of the international airspace has been largely successful with most passengers following the laid down regulations and adhering to testing requirements. We have not seen a spike of cases since the reopening of the airspace.

The PTF, however, noted the huge challenge posed to our national response by states as a result of poor engagement which manifests strongly in the form of low level of sample collection across the country.

After a very careful review of the national response, the PTF believes that while recent numbers point to a likely flattening of the curve consistent with emerging epidemic control, Nigeria is not yet ready for a full-reopening of the economy.

The SGF said that President Buhari approved that Nigeria further relaxes the restrictions in this third phase of the response, while maintaining key limitations to curb the risk of a spike in cases.

He said, The major changes proposed by the PTF are gradual and safe re-opening of schools and NYSC camps; re-commencement of sporting activities, in particular all outdoor activities such as football; sustaining the midnight to 4am curfew on movement nationwide; and removal of the limitation on civil servants allowed to come to work.

He said that the President also approved maintaining the third phase of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of four weeks with effect from 00.01am on Monday, October 19th, 2020 in line with amendments to address economic, socio-political and health considerations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

By Harrison Arubu

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres says he welcomes the Federal Governments decision to undertake broader reforms in the Nigeria Police Force following the #EndSARS protests.

Speaking through his spokesman, Mr Stephane Dujarric, in New York on Thursday, Guterres said the UN was ready to accompany Nigeria in those efforts.

While noting that he was keenly following the ongoing protests, the UN chief urged the countrys security forces to exercise maximum restraint in their response.

The Secretary-General is following the protests in Nigeria calling for the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and an end to human rights violations allegedly committed by security agencies.

The Secretary-General stresses the importance of respect for peaceful protests and freedom of assembly and calls on the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in the policing of the demonstrations.

He welcomes the decision by the Government of Nigeria to disband the Special Anti-robbery Unit and undertake broader police reforms.

He expresses the readiness of the United Nations to accompany Nigeria in those efforts, Dujarric said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL)

By Oladapo Udom

The Managing Director, Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL), Mr Idowu Oguntona has suspended all bus operations for the safety of passengers following the #EndSars protest in the city.

A statement by LBSL Public Affairs Officer, Afolabi Olawale, disclosed that Oguntona said the suspension was due to a viral video on social media of thugs who disrupted protesters at Alausa coming out of bus 240171.

This is contrary to the narratives being circulated across social media in respect of a bus belonging to LBSL captured at the Secretariat Bus Stop, Alausa this morning, he said.

Oguntona said that the bus was heading towards Oshodi from Berger around 8 a.m when some armed individuals disembarked from a particular yellow vehicle in front of the bus at the Secretariat Bus Stop.

One of our buses during the normal cause of operations ran into approaching armed people this morning. When the people were sighted armed and heading towards our bus, commuters in the bus scampered for safety due to the imminent danger.

One of the passengers even tried to escape through the rear window of the bus. However, the armed group, whose identity remains unknown, later went their way without attacking the bus, he said.

Oguntona said that no LBSL Bus was used to commute persons to disrupt the ongoing protests.

Gov. Sanwo-Olu has consistently spoken to protesters on their rights to peaceful protest, hence cannot support thugs in any form.

It is quite disheartening that this incident is linked to the activities of some hoodlums in spite of the level of understanding shown by the state government since the beginning of the #EndSarsProtest.

I plead for understanding from all esteemed passengers. I reiterate the rights of people to peaceful protests and condemn any attack on people participating in the protest, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News