President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the review of the Federal Government White Paper on Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

The president, who made this known during a broadcast to mark this years Democracy Day in Abuja on Friday, said the review had become imperative in view of the nations dwindling resources and rising cost of governance.

He said: In the face of dwindling resources and rising cost of governance, I have authorised that the White Paper on the Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies be reviewed for implementation.

Buhari, however, promised to continue to give all necessary support for ongoing reforms, designed to restore discipline, integrity and patriotism in the public service.

According to him, the public service of Nigeria remains the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in the country.

This accounts for why it continues to evolve especially its new socio-economic challenges to emerge for government to address.

I will continue to give all necessary support for the ongoing reforms designed to restore discipline, integrity and patriotism the hallmark of the public service, he said.

The president observed that his administration had continued to implement accountability and transparent policies through the Open Government Partnership and the transparency portal on financial transactions.

He said the government had also strengthened auditing and accountability mechanisms so as to ensure that rules and regulations were followed strictly.

He revealed that governments anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, had so far secured more than 1,400 convictions and recovered funds in excess of N800 billion.

These monies are being ploughed into development and infrastructure projects, he disclosed.

The Nigerian leader also pledged that his administration would continue to execute programmes and projects meant to uplift the quality of life of Nigerian youths.

He said: Our youth population remains a source of strength in achieving development objectives.

In this regard, we would continue to concentrate on developing their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their entrepreneurial research and industrial capacities as well as opportunities to take leadership positions in the service of the nation.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the well being of people living with disabilities, saying that governments concern for their welfare remained unwavering.

Government recognises their contributions to development.

I have directed that all relevant government agencies should pay sufficient attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and are suitable to their employment, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

June 12: Group advocates youth inclusiveness in governance

By Gami Tadanyigbe

Noble Youth Mass Support Association (NYMSA), an NGO, has called on governments at all levels to include youths in the governance of the country for the development of democracy.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Godwin Onmonya, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja to commemorate June 12 Democracy Day.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, recognised the outcome of the June 12, 1993, Presidential Election and declared June 12 as a national Democracy Day.

According to him,the government should engage youths in such a way to make them achieve the desired SDGs that would help tackle national and global challenges.

NAN reports that the SDGs are universal agenda for transformation, aimed at integrating economic, social and environmental development.

Democracy should be by the people and for the people, through youths active participation in governance and citizenship engagements.

Young people are good communicators; therefore, the government should provide substantive engagement for youths to ensure sustainable development in the country.

That makes a good case why young Nigerians should engage political office holders, especially their representatives, he said.

Onmonya explained that the success of the country depends on the full participation and engagement of youths in the planning, implementation and monitoring of policies.

He, however, called on the youth to fulfill their roles as agents of unity, positive change as well as sustainable development.

The future of humanity and of our planet lies in todays younger generation, who will pass the torch to future generations.

It is glaring that we have credible youths who have proved globally in knowledge and social consciousness and have enhanced the capacity of the Nigerian youths.

However, the ability to utilise these assets effectively to drive national transformation will depend on the leadership opportunities available to them, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged Nigerian scientists and researchers to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19 as humanity and democracy is under threat of the pandemic.

The president gave the challenge in a nationwide broadcast to commemorate 2020 Democracy Day in Abuja on Friday.

He, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would survive the pandemic like similar crises in the past where the country emerged much more stronger.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had on June 11 announced on its official Twitter handle that Nigeria had recorded a total of 14,554 cases.

The centre also revealed that Nigeria recorded its highest daily toll on Thursday with 681 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in 17 states.

Buhari, however, expressed optimism that the steps being taken by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 had started showing fruitful results.

I therefore implored all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility.

Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nationwide public healthcare system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.

Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19, he said.

The president noted that the pandemic had affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems as well as brought grief and pains to families that had lost their loved ones

Buhari, however, announced that his administration had put in place various measures to cushion the negative effects of the pandemic on Nigerians and the nation economy.

According to him, the impact of the pandemic has disrupted the nation economic system.

And to ensure it functions while still addressing the spread, the federal government put in place a number of various non pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.

As part of the strategies to create jobs in reducing the effects of COVID-19 on our youths, I directed the employment of 774,000 of Nigerians.

These youths would be engaged in sufficient public work programmes aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn.

Each of the 774 Local Government Areas of the country will be allotted 1,000 slots.

I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced, he revealed.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus

The Enugu State Government has announced five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total number to 35.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, announced this in a statement in Enugu on Friday.

Obi said that the patients were four healthcare workers and a 43-year-old male, who had been admitted as ill in one of the tertiary hospitals in the state.

A 32-year-old female, who works as a cleaner in a private hospital, a 32-year-old female, who is a health worker in a private hospital in the state.

A 33-year-old male, who is a medical doctor working in a private hospital in the state, a 35-year-old male, also a medical doctor in a private hospital in the state.

These four cases of healthcare workers infection are contacts of an earlier reported confirmed case, he said.

According to him, they have been part of the patients initial management before the states rapid response team was alerted.

The fifth is a 43-year old male, who had been admitted as ill in one of the tertiary hospitals in the state and on a high index of suspicion; also the state team was contacted for the patient.

Unfortunately, also, the State Ministry of Health confirms a second and third deaths among the COVID-19 patients reported in Enugu, he said.

The commissioner noted that the second death was the other male case reported as having been admitted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) with a severe underlying medical condition.

He added that the patient also died before he could be transferred to the states isolation and treatment centre.

The third death is of a male COVID-19 patient who had been admitted at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Parklane Isolation and Treatment Centre, also with an underlying health condition, he added.

According to him, the update on COVID-19 cases in Enugu is that 35 cases have been reported, 16 cases are active, 16 cases have been discharged with three deaths. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov.Godwin Obaseki of Edo State

By Deji Abdulwahab

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his re-election bid under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) is narrowed because of the interest of the partys National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in the state.

Obaseki expressed his fears on Wednesday at a news conference shortly after he was screened by the seven-memberscreening committee headed by Prof. Jonathan Ayuba at the partys National Secretariat in Abuja.

The governor alleged that some of the questions asked by the committee showed that Oshiomhole had not distanced himself from the process of conducting governorship primaries in the state.

Like I said, as a party man I have gone through the screening process but I do not believe that I will get justice because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo process.

One of the questions that was asked was that why did I issue a gazette that will prevent the party from performing direct elections in Edo.

That did I not see it as an anti-party activity? I just felt that if we put politics above the the lives of the people of Edo State, then we may be missing the point, he said.

Obaseki recalled that when he came to the partys National Secretariat to submit his nomination form, he told a news conference that Oshiomhole should distance himself from the process.

The last time I came here, I asked that Oshiomhole should recluse himself from the process in the interest of peace and justice.

But as a party man, I have had to go through the screening like everybody else.

Since he is the judge and the jury in this matter, I will just wait for the outcome of the screening.

I have given them all the information they need; the controversial certificate from the University of Ibadan has been tendered, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

China Auto sales

Chinas auto sales in May rose 14.5 per cent from the same month a year earlier, industry data showed on Thursday, the second consecutive month of increase as the worlds biggest vehicle market recovers from lows hit during coronavirus lockdowns.

The result followed a 4.4 per cent rise in April and a 43 per cent drop in March, when the pandemic pummelled demand.

Before April, sales had suffered an almost two-year slump.

Sales in May rose to 2.19 million vehicles, showed data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the countrys largest auto industry association.

In May, sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) fell for an 11th month to 82,000 units, the data showed.

NEVs include battery-powered electric, plug-in petrol-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Automakers including Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, Japans Toyota Motor Corp and the U.S. Ford Motor Co reported positive China sales in May. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Imo COVID-19 Task Force, says contact tracing of active cases is in full gear to ensure they are taken to isolation centres for proper medical examination.

Prof. Maurice Iwu, the Chairman of the Task Force, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on the activities of the task force and the 86 coronavirus cases recorded in the state on Wednesday.

He said that out of 86 coronavirus cases in Imo, only 12 were active and the patients are receiving treatment in two different locations in the state.

He said that the state has not recorded any death arising from the dreaded virus.

He appealed to the citizen of the state to always inform the taskforce on suspected cases for immediate action.

Iwu said that the committee was monitoring the non-active cases closely.

He urged the people to always stick to the NCDC guidelines on COVID-19 prevention.

Source: NAN News

U.S.-coronavirus cases hits 2 million

Reported cases of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. have topped two million, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, late on Wednesday.

The U.S. leads the world by far in coronavirus cases, trailed by Brazil, Russia and Britain, each of which have recorded fewer than one million confirmed cases.

The development comes amid concerns of a second wave of coronavirus infections, as the U.S. reopens its economy and widespread anti-racism protests continue, with participants in close contact.

According to John Hopkins, at least 19 states saw an upward trend in their reported case totals over the past three days, with the most severe swings coming in Michigan, South Carolina, Arizona and Arkansas.

President Donald Trump has pushed for a quick economic reopening, often bucking recommendations from his public health advisers.

He is restarting his massive campaign rallies next week ahead of the presidential election later this year.

Over 112,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus outbreak, according to the tracker. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is deeply shocked by the brutal killing of tens of people by the Boko Haram/ISWAP in Gubio, Borno.

The president made his feelings known in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday.

While condemning the incident, President Buhari charged the armed forces to sustain their recent string of successes against the terrorists to extract a heavy price from the attackers and bring back all those they kidnapped and a large number of cattle rustled.

President Buhari said he was expecting a detailed briefing by Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on the outcome of his visit to the affected communities.

The primordial nature of the killings is particularly shocking because it happened not long after the Ramadhan and Eid, and the country is preparing to celebrate the Democracy Day, President Buhari said.

He also expressed the sincere condolences of the government and people of Nigeria to the bereaved families, communities and the government and people of Borno.

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says a total of 603 repentant Boko Haram fighters are billed to be reintegrated into their communities in July.

They had completed the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving update on Armed Forces of Nigeria operations at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

Enenchesaid the DRR programme, which is defence Headquarters led multi-agency programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), had recorded tremendous success since inception in 2016.

He added that OPSC had admitted 893 ex-combatants for the programme out of which 280 including 2 Chadians had been successfully reintegrated back into the society through their respective national and state authorities.

Presently, there are 603 of them undergoing the DRR Programme and would be graduating by July 2020.

The Operation is a success story as feedbacks from those reintegrated are positive.

A particular one in Bama who learnt barbing as a vocation has successfully empowered four locals and is happily married with children, he said.

Enenche said that the concept of OPSC was that of a unique non-kinetic operation aimed at giving hope to ex-combatants who willingly give up their arms to embrace peace.

He emphasised that the operation was guided by among other provisions such as International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws.

According to him, it is being administered by 468 staff drawn from 17 organisations including the armed orces, law enforcement and security agencies, other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He added that the scheme had also enjoyed widespread collaboration and support of local and international NGOs.

The coordinator explained that the concept was not a process of assembling raw repentant ex-combatants to inject back into the society by the Military.

He added that it was an international best practice for conflict management backed by relevant laws with the concurrence of key stakeholders such as international organisations and MDAs among others.

Enenche urged the public to disregard the misinformation about the programme, saying it was part of effort to end insurgency in the North East.

He also clarified that the ongoing operations in the North East and North West were aimed at curtailing the movement of terrorists and bandits across the country.

According to him, the military is proactive in dealing with the crisis in the country.

Source: NAN News