UNHRC

By Lizzy Okoji

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday called for action and solidarity, as 79.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and persecution,

Ms Chansa Kpaya, UNHCRs Representative to Nigeria, made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2020 World Refugee Day with the theme Everyone can make a difference, every action counts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the highest number of displacement the world was witnessing since World War 2.

Kpaya said that this World Refugees Day, UNHCR is appealing to everyone to help continue the global movement of solidarity and action.

She explained that everyone can make a difference and everyone counts when it comes to promoting inclusion, respect, and dignity for all including refugees, internally displaced and stateless persons.

Kpaya said that the current COVID-19 pandemic has shown that everyone matters, including refugees and other persons of concerns who have either been on the frontline and making positive contributions fighting the pandemic.

Two decades ago, the numbers of refugees and internally displaced seem to be declining.

However today, the inverse is true as we estimate that 1 out of every 100 people has fled their homes because of conflicts and climate change among others.

The number is overwhelming. It is important to remember that these nearly 80 million are real people whose lives have been torn apart, leaving their homes, family, jobs and schools behind.

In Nigeria, the Persons of Concern to UNHCR include, 2,045,000 IDPs in the North East, out of which1.8 million are in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states, 57,800 Cameroonian Refugees in the South East.

2,340 urban refugees and 1,122 asylum seekers in Lagos, Ogun, FCT and Kano States.

Over the past few years, there has been escalation of conflicts in the Lake Chad Region with cross-border activities of Boko Haram which has caused the displacement of many in North Eastern part of Nigeria and far northern region Cameroon.

Consequently, 292,141 Nigerian refugees have sought asylum in Niger, Cameroon and Chad, Kpaya said.

In her remarks, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Social Development said that the theme of the 2020 WRD was apt following global devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that the protection of refugees and other vulnerable groups is among the top priorities of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration and the Ministry would continue to ensure the safety and well-being of refugees.

Let me emphasize that in other to make everyone count, most especially the vulnerable groups, all hands must be on deck in our drive to providing protection, assistance to refugees and IDPS.

The Ministry took a step further step in developing modalities for inclusion of refugees in the social safety nets, through the National Social Investment Programme, Farouq said.

Farouq called on the international community to show commitment in the implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees, a document she explains has provided a veritable guide towards addressing the protection of refugees.

Also speaking, Ms Fatima Jgne, ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, said that Commission is committed to engaging Member States, local communities and partners to search for durable solutions to displacement in the region.

Jagne, who was represented by Dr Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Directior, Humanitarian and social Affairs in the commission, said that the Commission was making these through various political and diplomatic processes as well.

Jagne added that ECOWAS Commission was also geared towards mitigating and alleviating the sufferings of our displaced populations in the ECOWAS space.

She said that the Commission is most concerned about the people and will work with partners to ensure that their situations are ameliorated.

Mr Ernest Cho, a Cameroonian Refugee in Nigeria, appreciated the UNHCR and the Federal Government for their assistance in alleviating their plights.

He said that, aside relief aid, the UN and FG have been able to help them acquire permits to work and earn a decent living in Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

OPEC Sec-Gen, Muhammad barkindo

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies in the Declaration of Cooperation, called OPEC , has set June 22 as deadline for non-compliant member on the oil output cut to submit their compensation plans.

The group disclosed this in a statement issued after the 19th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), held via video conference, in Vienna, on Thursday.

Nigeria was listed among countries yet to fully comply with the first phase of agreed production output cuts.

The group said that the attainment of 100 per cent conformity from all participating countries was not only fair and equitable, but vital for the ongoing and timely rebalancing efforts and help in delivering sustainable oil market stability.

The statement reads: The Committee would like to thank those participants, namely Iraq and Kazakhstan, which have already submitted their compensation schedules.

It agreed to give other under performing participants, which have not yet submitted final plans, until next Monday, June 22, to submit their schedules for compensation to the OPEC Secretariat.

Furthermore, the Committee mandated the Secretariat to reach out to all the underperforming Participating Countries to submit their schedules for compensation by the above mentioned date.

The Committee stated their appreciation of additional voluntary contributions totaling 1.2 million barrels per day made by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Oman in the month of June.

The Committee thanked the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) and the OPEC Secretariat for its ongoing work. The JTC and the JMMC will continue their monthly meetings, with the next ones scheduled for 14 July and 15 July, respectively. it said.

The statement noted that the JMMC reviewed the monthly report prepared by the JTC and recent developments in the global oil market, as well as immediate prospects for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.

It further reiterated the critical role that the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) continued to play in supporting oil market stability and economic recovery, in the face of the COVID- 19 pandemic shock and the subsequent severe global economic downturn.

The Committee took note of the overall conformity of 87 per cent for the month of May 2020, while it also observed individual country conformity levels.

It reiterated the critical importance that all participating countries achieved their 100 per cent level, and make up for any monthly shortfalls in the months of July, August and September.

Earlier,in his address to the JMMC, Secretary General of OPEC, Dr Mohammed Barkindo, disclosed that it was vital that the committee looked to lay out possible pathways for the coming months and the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.

He said that it would aid all ministers in their future decision making processes, and enable the DoC partners to remain proactive to help further rebalance fundamentals and try and reduce volatility in the oil market.

We need to be calm, but resolute; patient, but persistent. From the perspective of the OPEC Secretariat, let me stress that we will continue our outreach to other producers beyond the DoC, as well as to consumers.

It is vital that we have transparent and open channels for communication.

At the recent Ministerial Meetings, we had Ecuador, Indonesia and Trinidad

File Photo: Doctors,

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged striking resident doctors to resume work to save the nation from the COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases.

Chairman of CLO, Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the plea while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday on the impact of the nationwide strike by resident doctors nationwide.

Ezekwueme noted that other closely related disease the country was battling included Lassa fever and typhoid/malaria.

I most passionately appeal to our distinguished and respected striking medical doctors to remember Hippocratic Oath to save and protect the lives of hapless patients and humanity.

Government at all levels should engage them in sincere dialogue and negotiations to ensure industrial harmony and peace.

Significantly, payment for their agreed hazardous allowances and other entitlements will motivate and encourage them to urgently resume their very sensitive work, he said.

Ezekwueme noted that it was still outrageous that some Nigerians still doubt the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that enlightened Nigerians should be in a better position to educate the citizens.

It is of great relevance to note that COVID-19 is the greatest threat and enemy of humanity. The health challenges posed by the pandemic calls for marshal plan by government, medical experts, civil society organisations and citizenry.

It will be very unfortunate and pathetic if the virus is not control, because the future just like the present will be very bleak and regrettable, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde

Oyo State on Thursday said it had recorded one more COVID-19 death and 56 confirmed new cases.

Gov. Seyi Makinde, who made the announcement in his tweeter handle, monitored in Ibadan, said the incident had brought the total number of deaths in Oyo State to nine.

He said that COVID-19 confirmation tests for 56 suspected cases on Wednesday, came back positive.

According to him, 14 cases are from Saki West LGA, nine from Oluyole LGA, Ibadan North LGA has six, while Akinyele LGA has 10 cases and five cases confirmed in Ibadan South East LGA.

Four COVID-19 cases were recorded in Ibadan Southwest LGA, Ibadan NorthWest LGA has two, Atisbo LGA, Saki East, Ido, Ona Ara, Ibarapa North and Egbeda LGAs have one case each.

So, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oyo State today (Thursday) is 661, Makinde tweeted.

He further implored individuals with any strange fevers, sudden loss of taste/smell or other known COVID-19 symptoms to visit the nearest community-based testing centre to get tested.

Source: NAN News

Nasir El-Rufai Gov. of Kaduna State.

By Philip Yatai

Kaduna State has recorded 12,246 new cases of malnutrition among children under five years, between January and May, according to official report.

A nutrition data obtained by NAN from the state on Thursday indicated that a total of 5,284 malnourished children were being treated from the beginning of the year.

They were being treated in various Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) sites in the state, with support from the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.

The document showed that 1,909 new cases were recorded in January, 2,283 in February, 2,857 in March, 2,556 in April and 2,641 in May.

This indicated that the new cases recorded during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown in the state amounted to 5,197.

However, a total of 8,869 children had been cured, while 65 deaths, 178 non-recovery and 1,469 defaulters were recorded within the period.

Commenting on the development, Mr Isah Ibrahim, Nutrition Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children International, blamed the increasing rate of malnutrition in the state on poor budget performance.

Ibrahim further told NAN that the COVID-19 pandemic had further created a lot of gaps in the performance of nutrition interventions in the state.

He commended the state government for providing uninterrupted nutrition and health services throughout the lockdown period and for supporting vulnerable families with food to cushion the effect of the lockdown.

Nonetheless, I am particularly not happy with the performance of nutrition funding in the state. The year is half gone and there is no single release and cash backing of funds for nutrition intervention at the state level.

At the local level, very few Local Government Areas were able to make one or two cash-backing of funds for nutrition activities.

This is even when over N1.1 billion have been budgeted by the state and local governments for nutrition line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to carry out sensitive and specific nutrition interventions.

The state government had particularly budgeted N500 million in the 2020 Budget for nutrition intervention, before it was slashed to N300 million in the reviewed draft budget, due to COVID-19, he said.

He stressed that relevant agencies would not be able to do much without funds to work with, adding that most of the current nutrition interventions in the state were donor driven.

This, coupled with the outbreak of COVID-19 has increased the burden of malnutrition in the state, he said.

Ibrahim appealed to the state government to ensure timely release and cash backing of the N300 million reviewed nutrition budget to enable agencies implement nutrition activities.

This, the nutrition advisor said, would prevent more children from becoming malnourished and increase the survival rate and development of malnourished children in the state.

He noted that the need for 2020 budget review in response to COVID-19 pandemic was necessary but argued that slashing nutrition and health sector budget was uncalled for.

According to him, nutrition and health sectors are critical areas that need more funding to efficiently respond to COVID-19 pandemic.

On his part, Mr Muhammad Awwal-Waziri, Programme Manager, Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) noted the challenges of budget releases and cash backing.

He however said that the relevant MDAs were not writing memos requesting for funds to implement nutrition programmes.

So far, from January to date, only Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency had submitted a memo requesting for funds to carry out nutrition sensitive interventions, based on their work plan for 2020.

All the nutrition line MDAs need to step up and be proactive in terms of requesting for allocated funds to carry out planned nutrition programmes and interventions, Awwal-Waziri said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with security and service chiefs behind closed doors at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reportsthatthe service chiefs were led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin.

Others attending the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi.

Others were; Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu; the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Yusuf Bichi.

NAN gathered that the president would be updated on security developments across the country during the meeting.

Buhari had on June 16 approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits.

Source: NAN News

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe, Minister of Information and ulture, Lai Mohammed and Executive Secretary, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

With alarming figure of 717 reported cases of rape between January and May, the Federal Government has promised to do everything possible to stem the growing tide of the pandemic.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the pledge on Thursday in Abuja when officials of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) paid him an advocacy visit.

According to the Inspector-General of Police, between January and May 2020, a total of 717 rape cases were reported.

That is an average of 143 cases per month and around five cases per day.

And we are talking of reported cases. Definitely, there are also hundreds of unreported cases.

This is totally unacceptable.

The good news is that 799 suspects were arrested during the same period, while 631 cases were conclusively investigated and charged to court.

It is said that the true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members and that include women and children.

I can assure you that the Federal Government will do everything possible to stem the growing tide of rape and gender-based violence in the country, the minister said.

Mohammed disclosed that his ministry was partnering with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch a national campaign against rape and gender-based violence.

He said the campaign would include advocacy, public sensitisation and social mobilisation.

The campaign is necessary not only to raise the level of awareness about rape and gender-based violence, but to ensure that Nigerians own the fight against the abhorrent and repulsive criminal acts.

I have no doubt that when we launch the campaign, the National Human Rights Commission will also join us, he said.

The minister commended the NHRC for its ongoing advocacy campaign against rape and gender-based violence.

Your campaign couldnt have come at a more auspicious time.

Today, as we are fighting the pandemic of COVID-19, we are also being confronted with another pandemic, the pandemic of rape, he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu said rapeis a gross violation of human rights right to dignity, right to life, right to sexuality.

Ojukwu said the public outrage on account of rape and other violent crimes against women and girls leading to the death of some of the victims had reached a horrifying and scary proportion in recent times.

He, therefore, called for all hands to be on deck to address this pervasive crime in the society.

He said thecommission had put together a week long activism withthetheme:Equality and Dignity for Nigerian Women, Join the Fight against Rape and SGBV to among others create and maintain visibility on the crime.

Ojukwu called on the minister to use his office to join other key stakeholdersin the questfor a durable solution to the national challenge. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Chief Samuel Ohiri

By Ikenna Osuoha

The Chief Executive Officer, Hi-TECH Diagnostics Ltd., Chief Samuel Ohiri, says the discovery of dexamethasone is a major breakthrough for the cure of COVID-19 for third world countries.

Ohiri, who was reacting to the World Health Organisation on the discovery of dexamethasone as steroid for COVID-19, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Ohiri, who is a medical laboratory expert, said that the steroid was affordable at five pounds (N15,000), describing the feat as a great news for third world countries being ravaged by poverty.

We in the third world countries with little or no resources can comfortably afford the drugs.

And dexamethasone has been very effective in the treatment of skin inflammation and severe acute respiratory syndromes right from 1960s, he said.

Ohiri explained that the steroid had the potency of reducing COVID-19 mortalities from 50 per cent 15 per cent.

About 50 per cent of patients severe acute respiratory syndromes who are placed on ventilators do not survive, but this steroid will reduce deaths by one-third, he said.

He expressed delight over the discovery, described it as respite for patients in severe conditions and the world at large.

Ohiri, who is also theChairman, Imo Council of Traditional Rulers, however, said that consistent education and awareness on the dangers of COVID-19 were needed out for communities safety.

He decried the level of ignorance about the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and called on traditional institutions as well as religious institutions to take the lead in mass sensitisation.

COVID-19 is real and very deadly, so let everyone continue to stay safe by washing hands, observing social distancing and take dexamethasone if infected. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Okunjimi Odimayo, Ondo APC Governorship Aspirant

By Kingsley Okoye

Mr Okunjimi Odimayo, one of the Ondo state governorship aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a five-point developmental agenda for the state.

Odimayo unveiled his agenda in a statement shortly after obtaining his nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja on Thursday.

He listed the agenda to include, free and quantitative education, quality healthcare services, infrastructural development, merchandise agricultureand industrialisation and good governance and accountability.

On education, Odimayo said that education has been the major industry and vocation in the state, since its creation in 1978, and has been the main strength for modern human capital development.

He said education was a deployable tool for modern agricultural and other industrial businesses and enterprises.

He, therefore, promised to guarantee improved funding abovewhat was obtainable at present.

He promised to facilitate the use of resources for free and compulsory education in primary and secondary levels like the days of late progressive leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Pa Michael Ajasin.

He promised to reduce drastically, the exorbitant tuition fees currently charged by the state owned tertiary institutions.

This, Odimayo said, was a way to stop the mass withdrawal syndrome of undergraduates from the institutions,caused by inability of parents and guardians to pay school fees.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice (APC-Ondo) has endorsed the aspirantfor the July 20, governorship primaries.

I congratulate Odimayo for achieving the milestone of obtaining the Ondo state governorship nomination form of our great party, the APC for the July 20 primaries.

To the best of my knowledge,he is the first aspirant among all the aspirants from the Unity Forum to achieve this milestone.

This feat clearly underscores your sincerity of purpose and confidence.

It is instructive to note that I had appealed to all aspirants in the Unity Forum to come together in order to present a flag bearer for the forthcoming APC governorship primaries.

This idea has not been achievable because of incurable optimism of aspirants as no aspirant is willing to step aside for the other.

Therefore, I decided to consult some elders, youths and women across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

They have given me nod to identify with a credible aspirant who represents our aspirations, collective interests and hope for a more prosperous state, Boroffice said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

APC Logo

The South African Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied the death of its Chairman, Mr Bola Babarinde.

A statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday by Mr Sani David, the National Publicity Secretary of the Chapter. said that Bolarinde was still alive contrary to misleading media report of his death.

The APC South Africa Chapter is aware of the passing away of Mr. Taiye Olusola Abe, who was until his death a staunch pillar of the Nigerian community in South Africa.

The APC South Africa chapter has offered their condolences and also wish to use this medium to commiserate with the family of the deceased on the loss of their loved one who died after a brief illness.

However, the APC South Africa Chapter deems it necessary to issue this press release to state categorically that the late Mr. Taiye Olusola Abe was not its chairman.

The bonafide Chairman of the APC South Africa is Engr. Bola Babarinde, who is still very much alive, hale and hearty.

The APC South Africa is, therefore, calling the attention of the various media organisations who may have published the false and misleading report of the death of its chairman to kindly retract such reports. We therefore urge them let the public know that Engr. Bola Babarinde, the Chairman of the APC South Africa is not dead.

Further information and details concerning the operations of APC South Africa can be sourced from its official website on https://apcsouthafrica.com or contact can be made directly with the APC South Africa Chapter official Secretariat via the following details: It said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News