President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged African leaders to ensure the immediate actualisation of the Common African Position on Assets Recovery (CAPAR).

Buhari made the call as the continent celebrates this years Anti-Corruption Day on July 11.

According to a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari made the appeal in a letter addressed to South Africas President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa is the current Chairman of African Union (AU).

In the letter, the Nigerian leader asked for a re-commitment to the anti-corruption war by leaders on the continent to engender an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

The president lamented that the massive corruption being perpetrated across our national governments has created a huge governance deficit.

He said this in turn had created negative consequences that have worsened the socioeconomic and political situation in Africa.

The letter by President Buhari read in part:

As Your Excellency is aware, the continental fight against corruption has been premised on an irreducible minimum that can pave the way for Africas transformation.

In this effort, the emphasis has been on the continents collective determination to forge resilient partnerships among our national governments, civil society organisations and other interest groups, such as women, youth and the physically challenged, to ensure improved socio-economic, political and security development and ultimately, the improvement of our continent.

The concern of the African Union is that the massive corruption being perpetuated across our national governments, has created a huge governance deficit that has in turn created negative consequences that have worsened the socio-economic and political situation in Africa.

Your Excellency may recall that these continental concerns led our colleagues at the African Union, to appoint my humble self as the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion.

I believe that the efforts and focus of the Nigerian Government at home, partly informed this decision as well as the need for Africa, as a continent, to recommit herself to the fight against corruption and the imperative to free resources for meaningful development.

I am, therefore, in full support of the call for the issuance of a continental message to commemorate this day, on July 11, 2020, to re-commit the African Union to the continental fight against corruption, including through a robust approach to assets recovery, hence the need for a strategic framework on a Common African Position on Assets Recovery (CAPAR).

Happily, in February 2020, at the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, CAPAR was adopted.

In my view, the African Union must go beyond the mere annual celebration of the Africa Anti-Corruption Day by moving swiftly to operationalise the African Common Position on Assets Recovery by all member states.

This is an excellent way to drive Africas Agenda 2063, for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

As current Chair of our Union, I sincerely commend to you, this suggestion that seeks to call our leaders in Africa to recommit ourselves to this very important task of reclaiming our continent from the vice of systemic corruption.

Please accept, Your Excellency and Dear Brother, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama

The Federal Government says the evacuation flight from the United Kingdom, initially scheduled for July 12 from London Heathrow, has been rescheduled to depart from Gatwick Airport on July 14.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known via his twitter handle @GeoffreyOnyeama on Saturday as he gave the evacuation update as contained in a statement from the Nigeria High Commission in London.

Onyeama said the flight was rescheduled due to landing clearance issues, adding that Air Peace has contracted Air Partner to convey the intending passengers on its behalf.

Notice of the rescheduling and change of departure airport of evacuation flight from the United Kingdom.

This is to inform all prospective evacuees that have been issued tickets for the Air Peace flights departing on July 13, from London Heathrow to Abuja and Lagos.

That due to landing clearance issues, the flights have been rescheduled to depart on Tuesday, July 14, at 10.00 a.m. from Gatwick Airport.

Furthermore, Air Peace Airlines has contracted Air Partner to operate the flight on its behalf and any other information will be communicated directly to the passengers.

In the light of the foregoing, the mission wishes to extend its appreciation to the Chairman and Management of Air Peace Limited for ensuring that our stranded nationals in the UK return home safely.

The High Commission, however, regrets any inconvenience caused as a result of these changes.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Salihi Magashi, decorates officers and soldiers for outstanding performance

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, has won the Chief of Army Staffs Commendation Award alongside six other officers and nine soldiers for outstanding performance in operations and innovations.

The NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commendation award and unveiling of the book titled, Compendium of Nigerian Army Transformation; Buratais years, 2015-2020 is the climax of the activities lined up to commemorate the 2020 NADCEL.

The event, which has the theme, Nigerias Territorial Defence and Sovereignty; Imperatives for Nigerian Armys Sustainable Training and Operation, started on July 1.

Udoh was awarded for his forthrightness and exemplary leadership in planning and execution of operations that had yielded tremendous success across the theaters of operation.

Other officers awarded include the Commander, 107 Division Equipment Support, Brig.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, who designed and fabricated the made in Nigeria Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in Maiduguri.

Alaya was recognised for his ingenuity and innovation in developing local solution to the equipment needs of the Nigerian army.

Also, Col. Damian Deke was recognised for leading the research and development centre of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

While Lt.-Col. Emmanuel Ekan and Lt.-Col. Ibrahim Mohammed were recognised for operational efficiency and gallantry against terrorists in the North East, Lt.-Col. Yusuf Salisu was recognised for facilitation and execution of projects in his unit.

Capt. Ado Ibrahim was conferred with the commendation award for research, development and manufacture of combat vehicles at DICON such as Ezugwu MRAP and other patrol vehicles.

In the soldiers categories, four warrant officers, two staff sergeants, one Sergeant, one Lance corporal and one private soldiers were recognised for innovations, gallantry and bravery in the discharge of their duties.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, commended the officers and soldiers for their commitment to the defence of the country.

Buratai urged the awardees to sustain the hard work that had earned them the awards and enjoined those who were not recognised to strive more towards achieving the height.

Source: NAN News

Florida, one of the states seeing the sharpest spike, reported more than 10,000 daily cases and 93 new deaths.

Disney resorts in the state are starting to reopen, beginning with the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom.

Governor Ron De Santis rejected the idea that he had pushed his state to reopen too quickly before the virus spread was under control.

This contradicts what AnthonyFauci, the governments infectious disease expert has said.

Fauci warned that states, seeing surges of new cases, moved too swiftly in recent weeks and did not follow guidelines.

During a press conference onSaturday, De Santis said he would not be imposing a mandatory mask requirement state-wide.

Disney has enforced one at its locations, as part of its reopening, which comes about four months after the pandemic forced the parks to shut down.

Georgia, also a hotspot, shattered its own record, with more than 4,000 new cases.

However, a fight is brewing between the mayor of the states main city, Atlanta, a Democrat, who is trying to roll back re-openings, and the governor, a Republican, who is refusing.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms warned of alarming spike in new cases.

The White House has downplayed the severity of the new outbreaks across multiple states, insisting, despite the evidence that the rising caseloads are only due to expanded testing and focusing on death rates.

While mortality figures have been in sharp decline, they are starting to tick back up, with places like Texas and Florida seeing sustained high levels, far surpassing their peaks earlier in the pandemic.

Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, has been urging citizens to wear masks, despite resistance and warned he may have to impose new rules if cases and hospitalisations continue to climb.

President Donald Trump, who generally does not wear a mask, is due to visit a military hospital and has said he likely would wear a face covering while spending time with injured soldiers. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos state Assembly suspends activities

By Adekunle Williams

The Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended all legislative activities, for one week, until July 20.

The suspension was announced in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Azeez Sani on Friday night in Lagos.

All committee meetings, assignments and visit to the Lagos State House of Assembly is hereby suspended.

The suspension takes effect from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, July 19, while legislative activities shall resume on July 20, Sanni stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspension of legislative activities might not be unconnected with the death of one of the lawmakers, Mr Tunde Buraimoh.

Late Buraimoh reportedly died of COVID-19 on Friday morning.

Until his death, Buraimoh was the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy.

He had been laid to rest at the Ikoyi Cemetery in Lagos on Friday evening. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

VP Yemi Osinbajo and daughter, Kiki

By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Dr Ayuba Musa, the landlord of the property housing the company, GLAMD Africa, has dismissed Mr Jackson Udes claims concerning the ownership of the house.

Musas reaction was sequel to a social media post by Ude, a New York based blogger, that Vice President Yemi Osinbajos daughter, Kiki, owns the property which houses her company, GLAMD Africa.

The landlord, in a disclaimer he signed on Friday in Abuja, said the property was never, at any point in time, sold to the Vice Presidents daughter or to anyone.

Musa said that he remained the rightful owner of the property and that all documents on the house were still carrying his name and challenged anyone in doubt to check with the FCT authorities.

In reaction to the recent reports on social media with regards to the above mentioned property, I write to declare that I, Dr Ayuba Z Musa, am the rightful owner of the said property located at No. 40 Durban Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

I have all my documents which are duly registered with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).

I have never at any point sold or have agreed to sell my property to GLAMD Africa, Miss Osinbajo or to any other person; this is completely false, he said.

According to him, Osinbajos daughter is his tenant and has been since April 12, 2017, adding that the tenancy was recently renewed for an additional period of one year.

Ude, had through his platform, recently claimed that the suspended EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, had confessed to giving N4 billion to the Vice President.

He further reported in another post that part of the money was used to purchase the property at Wuse 2, Abuja for GLAMD Africa.

Source: NAN News

AfDb president Akinwunmi Adesina and President Muhammadu Buhari

By Mustapha Sumaila
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says harnessing the youth workforce can speed economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 era in the West African countries.

The AfDBs Communications and External Department made this known in a statement on Friday on in its regional economic outlook report.

It stated that the virtual launch of the report was jointly hosted by its Regional Development and Business Delivery Office for West Africa, the Nigeria Country Office and the Country Economics Department.

The bank explained that West Africas burgeoning youth population offered a strategic workforce which could be harnessed for employment and economic growth.

This, it said, was in spite of COVID-19 pandemic that was devastating the continent and global economies.

The bank said growth in West Africa, poised to expand by 4.0 per cent in 2020, was now projected to contract by at least -2.0 per cent in 2020.

As a result of the pandemic, growth in the West Africa region, which was poised to expand by 4.0 per cent in 2020, following growth of 3.6 per cent in 2019, is now projected to contract by -2.0 per cent in 2020, and could fall by as much as -4.3 per cent in a worst-case scenario.

Countries that depend on oil and tourism for foreign exchange and fiscal revenues will especially face reduced fiscal space and heightened external account imbalances, stoking a build-up of public debt the bank stated.

Source: NAN News

UNFPA

By Ikenna Osuoha

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Saturday says about 47 million women in low and middle-income countries were likely to be deprived of contraceptives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA, made this known in astatement released by Mrs Kori Habib, the Media Associate of the fund in Abuja.

Kanem,whose speech is entitled peace in the home: safeguarding the health and rights of women and girls even during COVID-19, in commemoration of World Population Day (WPD) said that the impact of COVID-19 would likely hamper global efforts to achieve three zeros at the heart of our UNFPAs works.

NAN reports that theWorld Population dayis a United Nations initiative celebrated on July 11 every year.

NAN reports that theday aimsat spreading awareness about the explodingworld populationand the importance of reproductive health.

She regretted the possibility of a set back in their achieving of the three zero -zero unmet need for contraception, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls by 2030.

UNFPA projects, for example, that the pandemic will cut global progress towards ending gender-based violence within this decade by at least one third.

Moreover, if mobility restrictions continue for at least six months with major disruptions to health services.

47 million women in low- and middle-income countries may be deprived of modern contraceptives, resulting in sevenmillion unintended pregnancies, Kanem said.

The Executive Director said that peace in the world had its beginning with peace in the home, quoting the United Nations Secretary-General as saying in his call for a global ceasefire on Gender-Based Violence.

Describing Gender Based Violence as a pandemic within the COVID-19 pandemic, Kanem expressed worry over how one woman in three have experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.

Now, with countries on lockdown and household tensions heightened, gender-based violence is on the rise, and sexual and reproductive health services are being sidelined by health systems struggling to cope with COVID-19.

She said that the COVID-19 crisis has taken a staggering toll on people, communities and economies everywhere,noting that not everyone was affected equally as women and girls tend to suffer most.

Kanem however reiterated calls for global attention to the vulnerabilities and needs of women and girls during the COVID-19 crisis aimed at protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights and ending the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence.

UNFPA is working to ensure that the supply of modern contraceptives and reproductive health commodities is maintained and that midwives and other health personnel have the personal protective equipment they need to stay safe.

We are encouraged that so far 146 Member States have signed on to the Secretary-Generals call to make peace in the home a reality, and we are partnering to support them.

As part of our COVID-19 response, we are innovating to deliver remote services such as hotlines, telemedicine and counselling, and gathering and using disaggregated data to support governments in identifying and reaching those most in need.

Positive public messaging around gender equality and challenging gender stereotypes and harmful social norms can reduce the risk of violence. In this, men and boys can and must be key allies.

The UNFPA boss said that Sexual and reproductive health care was a right, and like pregnancies and childbirth, human rights could not stop for pandemics.

According to her, together, lets put the brakes on COVID-19 and safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now!canvassed for global synergy between countries and organisations saying no organization or country could do this alone.

The pandemic is a stark reminder of the importance of global cooperation. The United Nations, which this year marks its 75th anniversary, was founded to foster international cooperation to solve international problems.

As the global community comes together in solidarity to survive this pandemic, we lay the foundation for more resilient, gender-equal societies and a healthier, more prosperous future for all.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) has restated commitment towards ensuring a zero Coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission as Port Harcourt International Airport resumes operations.

Mr Abayomi Akinbinu, the Regional Manager, South-South and South-East, FAAN, said this on Saturday at the airport during the arrival of the first flight after three months of COVID-19 shutdown.

The first flight conducted by Air Peace 5N EUV from Lagos arrived Port Harcourt International Airport terminal at 7.50 a.m.

Abayomi said that the Port Harcourt airport management was poised at ensuring zero chances of COVID 19 transmission as flight operations kick-starts at the airport

According to him, compliance with the COVID 19 safety guidelines by regulatory bodies in the sector has been well upheld, adding that management will give no room for default.

While commending safety compliance level by service providers and passengers at the airport, he however decried poor adherence to the physical distancing rule.

To the best of my understanding, I think Im satisfied with our adherence to safety tips but there could be a few protocols that we need to adjust especially in the area of adherence to physical distancing rule.

Our markings of 1.5 metres apart are visibly on the floor, but may be because of excitement its not being properly followed; so we need to make quick enforcement in that regard, he said.

On passenger turnout, Abayomi said that being the first COVID-19 flight, low passenger turnout was expected with a gradual increase in the coming days.

On the departure section, we are gradually getting more passengers and I believe that going forward passengers turnout is going to increase.

My message to prospective passengers is that the Port Harcourt International Airport terminal is safe, he added.

Dr Nuhu Mwabi, Head of Aviation Medical Clinic of the airport also said that the Port Health is fully on ground conducting mandatory temperature checks on both service providers and passengers before allowing them into the terminal building.

This is because we want to fish out persons with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius and above, so that we can isolate such individual.

Our cardinal objective is to ensure that we contain the spread of COVID-19 as well as other communicable diseases within the airport, he said.

Mwabi also said that various medical teams and the WHO are also fully ready to professionally handle any suspected case where the need arises.

We have an isolation centre right here for any person with a high temperature to be examined and if need be, we would then call for further assistance from the State Epidemiological unit, Mwabi said.

Meanwhile, some passengers have also commended FAAN on its innovations in the COVID-19 era.

Mr Ralph Akinyemi, one of the first passengers who arrived Port Harcourt from Lagos, urged management of the airport and other regulatory bodies to maintain the tempo, which he described as commendable.

Source: NAN News

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Saturday, said the success was a result of the troops aggressive aggressive clearance operations in the states.

Enenche said the operation was sequel to actionable intelligence on the infiltration of armed herdsmen on July 10 at Chambe community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue where two villagers were killed.

He said the troops, swiftly deployed to the scene, adding that the bandits had fled the area before their arrival.

According to him, troops tracked the assailants to a makeshift camp at the outskirt of Arufu in neighbouring Taraba.

On sighting the troops, the armed bandits opened fire, troops overwhelmed the criminals with high intensity fire, killing two of them while others fled in disarray with gun shots wounds.

In the process one AK 47 rifle as well as 10 rounds of 7.62mm Special were recovered.

Additionally, the gallant troops have dominated the area conducting clearance patrol from Arufu to Akwana in order to rid the general area of any untoward activities.

The High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops for their dexterity and encourages them to remain resolute in curtailing the activities of criminal elements in the North-Central Zone of the country, he said.

Source: NAN News