Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation

By Abujah Racheal

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika says four airports are ready for inspection and possible re-opening if they meet the required COVID-19 protocols.

Sirika, at the Daily Briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, on Thursday in Abuja, said the airports at Calabar, Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi were all ready for inspection on Friday, July 17, 2020.

The minister also stated that on July 20 other airports would be accessed as the need arises and also, based on their preparedness.

Speaking on the pressure to open airports, the aviation minister said that the ministry of aviation, as the regulatory body, reserves the right to withdraw or reopen the operations at any airport, depending on the level of required protocols met.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that airports at Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Maiduguri, Lagos and Abuja had been reopened for flight operations.

He, however, decried the level of violation of the COVID-19 protocols at the airports by some people.

According to him, the ministry is presently investigating about three cases at the Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja airports and will penalise any one found wanting.

Also, the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha frowned at the violation of COVID-19 protocols at the airports by some VIPs and warned against such actions.

The chairman said: You will all recall that the aviation sector reopened for domestic operations on July 8, 2020.

Dry runs were carried out and guidelines meant to protect all travellers were issued.

You also recall that we identified and pleaded even before now, with certain classes of persons, particularly VIPs, to desist from flouting such guidelines.

Unfortunately, we have received reports about violations by some dignitaries who failed to follow the protocols at our airports.

We believe leaders must lead by example. In truth, as leaders and followers, we must change our behavior if we must overcome the pandemic.

This virus does not discriminate against status, age, tribe, creed or color. All we require is diligent compliance and vigilance, Boss warned.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

By Victor Adeoti

Osun has recorded fresh 17 coronavirus cases, barely 24 hours after 37 cases were recorded.

Dr Rafiu Isamotu, the States Commissioner For Health, in a statement in Osogbo on Thursday, said the fresh cases were contacts of previous confirmed cases in the state.

Isamotu also said that seven patients were discharged from the states treatment and isolation centre.

The Commissioner said with the new cases, the number of confirmed cases in the state had risen to 335 with 182 active cases.

Isamotu said the state had successfully treated and discharged 145 patients, while eight deaths had been recorded.

He appealed to citizens of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the state against the spread of the virus.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Borno Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim with Borno State Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, signing agreement by transporters in the state to comply with preventive guidelines on Covid-19 in their operations.

By Yakubu Uba

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Brono State Command, and transport unions in the state on Thursday signed an agreement on enforcement of COVID-19 protocols on roads within the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was the highlight of a meeting convened by Borno Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim, attended by officials of major transport unions in the state.

In his remarks, the Borno Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Sanusi Ibrahim urged stakeholders to support governments effort in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that passengers would be enlightened to report any transporter who failed to comply with the guidelines to FRSC command nearest to them.

Ibrahim said that the FRSC would also sustain its monitoring of motor parks to ensure compliance.

Speaking on behalf of the transporters, Secretary of NURTW in the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, assured that members of the unions would comply with the guidelines.

The unions at the meeting were National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Borno Express Corporation, among other stakeholders.

The agreement included regular sanitation exercise at all parks/terminals and provision of hand washing buckets with water for usage by passengers before and after disembarking from vehicles.

They further agreed to place notices on conducts of passengers to guide the public and other park users on all safety protocols on COVID-19.

They also agreed that thermometers be provided for checking of temperature of all persons entering motor parks, just as the use of face masks by such persons would be enforced.

They further agreed that all interstate and intercity travels should be initiated from registered or organised motor parks/terminals to ensure effective passenger screening, while passengers should maintain reasonable physical distancing both in the park and inside vehicles.

The agreement also included the non-usage of air condition in vehicles, and that only windows be opened for proper ventilation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Boss Mustapha SGF

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task force (PTF), on COVID-19 has revealed that 63 per cent of hand sanitiser sold in Abuja, have no NAFDAC registration.

The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Boss Mustapha, stated this while Speaking at the daily briefing of the PTF COVID-19, in Abuja,

Mustapha said As part of the non-pharmaceutical measures, we recommended in line with global practice, the use of hand sanitiser. Ordinarily, that ought to stimulate local production because of increased demand.

We regret to inform you that a survey conducted by the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), to check the influx of substandard goods into the market, revealed that 63 per cent of alcohol-based sanitiser in Abuja do not have NAFDAC registration numbers.

There could also be similar situations around the country. The Hon. Minister of Health has consequently issued an advisory to the general public to procure their sanitiser and other pharmaceutical products from credible sources, he said.

Mustapha equally appealed to the patriotic spirit of Nigerians and request that they should desist from manufacturing sub-standard goods, which could further endanger other unsuspecting Nigerians who innocently purchase them.

Now is the time to turn adversity into victory by growing our entrepreneurial skills and industrial base.

Let us find growth at the end of the pandemic. Today, we have been compelled to add the fight against fake products to our national response. he said.

The SGF also frowned at violation of COVID-19 protocol at the airports by some VIPs and warned against such actions.

The chairman said You will all recall that the Aviation sector reopened for domestic operations on 8th July, 2020. Dry runs were carried out and guidelines meant to protect all travelers were issued.

You also recall that we identified and pleaded even before now, with certain classes of persons, particularly VIPs, to desist from flouting such guidelines.

Unfortunately, we have received reports about violations by some dignitaries who failed to follow the protocols at our airports.

We believe leaders must lead by example. In truth, as leaders and followers, we must change our behavior if we must overcome the pandemic.

This virus does not discriminate by status, age, tribe, creed or colour. All we require is diligent compliance and vigilance. the chairman added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile,

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The Senate Chief Whip, Dr Orji Kalu, has described the death of Nigerias first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, as a national loss.

A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the office of the Senate Chief Whip quoted Kalu as saying that the late pilot died in her prime while serving the country.

Kalu, therefore, commiserated with the family of the deceased, the Nigerian Airforce, the womenfolk and Nigerians at large over the loss.

He said: the demise of flying officer, Tolulope Arotile, Nigerias first female combat helicopter pilot, is a huge loss to Nigeria.

The late pilot was a dedicated Nigerian, who will be remembered for her professional skills and contributions to the Nigerian Airforce.

It is painful that she died in her prime.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Arotile family and the Nigerian Airforce.

The former governor prayed God to grant the late pilot eternal rest.

According to the Nigerian Airforce (NAF), the young flying officer died from head injury sustained from a road accident which occurred at its base in Kaduna.

The 23-year-old flying officer died on July 14, 2020.

Commissioned into the Nigerian Airforce in September 2017 as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, Arotile was the first female combat helicopter pilot in the service. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

According to the centre, till date, 34,259 cases have been confirmed, 13,999 cases discharged, while 760 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

ederal, State, Private, and GeneXpert laboratories, it announced.

According to the agency, COVID-19 spreads mainly among people, who are in close contact with one another less than six feet.

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

By Martha Agas

The Commisioner for Health in Plateau, Dr Nimkong Lar, said 57 health workers were infected with COVID-19 in the course of their duties in health centres in the state.

Lar stated this at a press briefing after an executive council meeting on Wednesday in Jos.

He said that they were workers managing COVID-19 patients in primary health centres, hospitals and private clinics across the state.

According to him, the state has a total of 571 confirmed cases with a record of 28 case on Tuesday, which is the highest recorded so far.

We have conducted 9,039 test, we have 7,324 results and 1,715 pending while 571 are confirmed cases.

132 are on admission in four treatment centres, 260 discharged and we have recorded 16 deaths, the commissioner said.

He noted that the state was organising community testing in the 17 Local Government Areas which was voluntary, adding that it had scheduled conducting test for government and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Also speaking, the Commisioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang said that government would take disciplinary action against civil servants who refused to submit themselves for COVID-19 test.

Manjang said that the exercise which was supposed to be voluntary has been made compulsory for them.

He said that refusal to comply was a sign of insubordination which the Head of Service of the state have been mandated to handle appropriately .

He urged the public not to stigmatise people submitting themselves for the test, saying it was not a death sentence as many patients had recovered from the disease.

Manjang further said that the executive meeting reviewed the 2020 budget downward, following the current pandemic and that the federal allocation and the internal generated revenue had been affected.

The budget was formerly N177.3 billion but scaled down to N99,907 billion to make it realistic, he said.

Also, Commisioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Sylvester Wallangko, explained that the revised budget was in compliance with the directive to ensure that a minimum of 10 per cent budget expenditure was COVID-19 related.

We have earmarked 11.29 per cent of our expenditure spread between the recurrent and capital expenditure on COVID-19 related issues which is N11.25 billion, Wallangko said.

Source: NAN News

Green House Emission

A group of the worlds top oil companies including Saudi Aramco, Chinas CNPC and Exxon Mobil have, for the first time, set targets to cut their combined greenhouse gas emissions as a proportion of production, as pressure on the sectors climate stance grows.

However, the target set by the 12 members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is eclipsed by more ambitious plans set individually by the consortiums European members, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total.

The OGCI members agreed to reduce the average carbon intensity of their aggregated upstream oil and gas operations to between 20 kg and 21 kg of CO2 equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (CO2e/boe) by 2025, from a collective baseline of 23 kg CO2e/boe in 2017, the OGCI said in a statement.

Intensity targets mean absolute emissions can rise with increasing production.

The OGCI includes BP, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, Exxon, Occidental Petroleum, Petrobras, Repsol, Saudi Aramco, Shell and Total, which together account for over 30 per cent of the worlds oil and gas production.

It is a significant milestone, it is not the end of the work, it is a near term target and well keep calibrating as we go forward, OGCI Chairman and former BP CEO, Bob Dudley, told Reuters.

Members agreed on a common methodology to calculate carbon intensity and the targets could be extended to other sectors such as liquefied natural gas and refining in the future, Dudley added.

The announcement marks an important change for Exxon, the largest U.S. oil company, which has resisted investor pressure to improve the disclosure of its impact on the environment.

It did not report its carbon emissions in 2019.

Exxon supports the OGCI targets to decrease the carbon intensity of energy production and is part of the industrys efforts to take practical, meaningful steps to reduce emissions, a spokesman said.

The targets set by different companies can vary widely in scope and definition, making it difficult to compare.

However, some members of the OGCI already exceed or plan to overshoot the joint target.

For example, Saudi Aramco, the worlds top oil exporter, had an upstream carbon intensity of 10.1kg CO2e/boe in 2019, according to its annual report.

Norways Equinor aims to reduce its CO2 intensity below 8kg/boe by 2025.

It said the current global industry average is 18 kg CO2e/boe.

OGCI said the groups collective carbon intensity would be reported annually, with data reviewed by EY, as an independent third party.

The target includes reductions in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, which the group had previously committed to cut. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Roberto Azevedo, WTO Director-General,

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has stressed the need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to elect a credible candidate based on merit for the position of Director-General.

Okonjo-Iweala who is among the eight candidates vying for the position, stated this on Wednesday in Geneva while answering questions from newsmen at a press conference held shortly after her presentation to the WTO General Council.

Choosing a Director-General for WTO should be on merit. The best person should be chosen to lead an institution thats having challenges.

If it happens to be a woman, great. If it happens to be an African its also great. It should be based on merit, she said while extolling the qualities which makes her well suited for the job.

The WTO needs leadership and Im someone with a strong managerial capability with the ability to forge consensus and reforms.

These bundles of qualities in addition to my leadership quality is what Im bringing to the WTO, she added.

Okonjo-Iweala also spoke on various issues ranging from trade implication of COVID-19, challenges to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMSE) as well as e-commerce.

According to her, e-commerce and the digital economy are vital forms of trade, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, she said, there was a need to address the challenge of the digital divide in developing and least-developed nations where infrastructure remained a major impediment to such form of trade.

Similarly, she emphasized the need to strengthen MSMSE a vital part of the global economy which was adversely affected by the pandemic.

In the same vein, the former finance minister, also said that in tackling COVID-19, if elected as director-general, she would ensure that vaccines are accessible to poorer countries.

When vaccines become available, there will be allocation criteria that will ensure that its accessible to all, she said while noting that she will bring her experience as Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance board to bear.

Other issues addressed by Okonjo-Iweala include fostering relations among member countries to rebuild trust in restoring consensus decision making- in other to strengthen the WTO.

Alongside Okonjo-Iweala are candidates from Mexico, Egypt, Moldova, Republic of Korea, Kenya, UK and Saudi Arabia vying for the WTO Director-General position.

Source: NAN News

USAID

By Lizzy Okoji

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission has launched 19.2 million dollars Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award Region 4 (ICHSSAA 4) to support 76,000 HIV Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC).

USAID made this known in a statement by the Public Affairs Department of U.S Embassy in Abuja.

According to the agency, the new activity is kick-starting in Bauchi and Adamawa States.

It said that the USAIDs Country Director, Stephen Haykin, joined Bauchi State Commissioner for Womens Affairs and Child Development, Hajara Jibrin, at the virtual launch of the new activity.

The new activity was designed to protect about 76,000 vulnerable children and their households, made vulnerable or orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bauchi and Adamawa states.

It said the .2 million ICHSSAA 4 activity was among four new USAID OVC programmes that was targeting about 450,000 people in six states.

It said that the Thevitys integrated approach aimed to protect young people from the stigma of association with HIV and eliminate the perception of people living with HIV as anything less than fully productive community members.

It added that this USAID assistance would help Nigeria achieve a healthier, more resilient and educated population through support to children and their families made vulnerable to HIV.

It quoted Haykin as saying at the virtual launch, we hope its successful practices and procedures can be duplicated and scaled up by state and local governments both in Bauchi and Adamawa.

Over the next five years, ProHealth International, will implement ICHSSA 4 in concert with other indigenous non-governmental organisations in Adamawa and Bauchi states.

To provide much needed HIV prevention, treatment, protection, and care and Support services to over 76,000 vulnerable children and their households.

Working with indigenous community-based organisations, ICHSSA 4 will respond to specific needs of children living with HIV and their families, survivors of sexual violence, and children and adolescents at high risk of HIV.

The activity will focus on strengthening families, communities, government systems, and civic institutions that care for HIV infected, affected, and at risk OVC and adolescents, and help teens stay healthy, stay in school, and lead safe and stable lives.

The five-year ICHSSA 4 will build on the successes of other past and present USAID investments in partnership with local Nigerian organisations and state governments.

To continue support OVCs, including the launches of the COVID-19 Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in nine states and will help further solidify USAIDs relationship with state counterparts, he said.

The Bauchi State First lady, Dr Aisha Bala Muhammad, while speaking at the launch, said the project would ensure provision of quality services for orphans and vulnerable children in a sustainable manner.

Working with the existing mechanisms and structures, we can better the living conditions of the OVCS in Bauchi state, she said.

USAID revealed that from July 2014 to December 2019, it had funded three similar OVC activities in six states that helped mitigate the impact of HlV and Tuberculosis among over 600,000 OVCs and their families.

It noted that the activities had helped improve health systems at the state and local levels while boosting capacity of local partner organisations.

It also disclosed that other states to be included in the ICHSAA4 intervention for the next five years included Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Kano. (NAN)

Source: NAN News