September 2020 – Page 46

Post Date : September 8, 2020

83 stranded migrants rescued in Sahara desert.

Eighty – three migrants were saved last week after their smugglers abandoned them in the Sahara desert in northern Niger, the International Organisation for Migration said on Tuesday. A team from the IOM and Niger’ s Civil Protection service found the group 230 kilometers ( 140 miles) from the crossroads town of Dirkou on September 3, the agency said on Facebook . The 83 comprised 75 Nigerians , 41 of them women, including twin four -year – old girls, as well as four Togolese , three Ghanaians, and a Malian. They had left the Nigerien town of Agadez , the main stepping -off point for African migrants trying to cross into Europe via Libya, a week earlier . On September 1, the migrants were abandoned by their four drivers, after first taking all their belongings, when they spotted military vehicles a year , the IOM said . “ We were stranded for three days without food or water. We searched for water , but all we found were dirty wells used by livestock. So we were not able to drink at all , ” a 25- year -old Nigerian identified as Dennis told the IOM. “ People were collapsing left and right. I started crying when I saw the cars approaching , hoping help was coming . ” After receiving water , food, and medical care the migrants were taken to a coronavirus quarantine site , where they will be detained for 14 days . The cross – Saharan migrant route to Europe is notorious for vehicle breakdowns in heat frequently exceeding 38 degrees Celsius ( 100 degrees Fahrenheit ) and abandonment by traffickers, fearing interception at checkpoints, or by military patrols. More than 250 migrants were picked up in April near Madama , near Niger ’ s border with Libya. ( AFP)

Post Date : September 8, 2020

FG, states, LGs shared N3.88trn in six months – NEITI

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee shared N 3. 879trn to the Federal Government , states , local governments , and other statutory recipients in the first half of this year , the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has said . A breakdown of the disbursements showed that N 1. 53tn went to the Federal Government , while the states got N 1. 29tn and the 774 local government areas received N 771. 34bn. This is contained in the latest edition of the quarterly review of NEITI in Abuja on Tuesday. The review stated that the N 1. 53tn received by the Federal Government in the first six months of 2020 was 4. 28 per cent lower than the N 1. 599tn it got in the first half of 2019, and 7. 36 per cent lower than the N 1. 652tn it received in the first half of 2018. The story was the same for the states and Local Government areas. “ For states , a total of N 1. 298tn was disbursed in the first half of 2020. This was 2. 8 per cent lower than the N 1. 35tn disbursed in the first half of 2019, and 5. 6 per cent lower than the N 1. 375tn disbursed in the first half of 2020, ” the report stated For local government areas , the 2020 first half disbursements were 2. 64 per cent and 3. 04 per cent lower than the corresponding disbursements for 2019 and 2018 respectively . The report , however , noted that disbursements in Q 2 2020 were 1. 09 per cent higher than total disbursements in Q 2 2019 and 3. 66 per cent lower than the one for Q 2 2018. FAAC disbursements in the second quarter of 2020 stood at N 1. 934tn . This was made up of N 739. 2bn to the Federal Government , N 629. 3bn to state governments , and N 375. 4bn to the 774 Local Government areas. The report pointed out that the total FAAC disbursements in the second quarter of 2020 was slightly lower than the N 1. 945tn disbursed in the first quarter of 2020. “ This aligned with the projections made in the previous issue of the NEITI Quarterly Review which projected lower FAAC disbursement in the second quarter, ” the report stated . It attributed the 0. 55 per cent decrease in Q 2 2020 to a couple of factors such as the rebound in oil prices in the second quarter as a result of ease of lockdowns by countries across the world . Others include the adjustment of the official exchange rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria from N 307 per dollar to N 360 per dollar in March resulting in higher naira disbursements . NEITI also disclosed that from January to May 2020, actual government revenue was N 1. 62tn , representing 62 per cent of the expected pro- rata revenue of N 2. 62tn from the revised budget .

Post Date : September 8, 2020

EFCC Arraigns Banker, Two Others In Sokoto.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office, has arraigned a banker, Ezeagbor Chijioke and two others: Anthony Chidiebere Nneji and Ibenegbu Chukwudi Francis before Justice Muhammad Muhammad of the Sokoto State High Court on four -count charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira only) Trouble for the trio started, when the Commission received intelligence against them for alleged conspiracy to defraud one Olajide Adeshina Muhammad Misbahudeen, to the tune of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira only) under the guise of investing same in Central Bank of Nigeria Treasury Bills, which they allegedly forged and issued him a fake Certificate. Count one read : “That you Ezeagbor Chijioke while being the Direct Sales Agent of First City Monument Bank Plc, Anthony Chidiebere Nneji and Ibenegbu Chukwudi Francis of the C.S Paper works business center, on or about the 20th day of February, 2020 at Sokoto, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud falsely obtained the total sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) from one Olajide Adeshina Muhammad Misbahudeen under the guise of investing the money in Central Bank of Nigeria Treasury Bills which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” They pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, S. H Sa’ad asked for a date for commencement of trial and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of Correctional Services, Sokoto. Responding, counsel to the first defendant, Y. Y Gwazawa prayed for a short time to file the bail application of his client. Counsels for the 2nd and 3rd defendants made same prayers. Justice Muhammad adjourned the case to September 24, 2020 for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional Center pending the hearing and determination of their bail.

Post Date : September 8, 2020

Herbalist allegedly killed, burried in shallow grave by relation in Anambra

A native doctor and a philanthropist in Okija, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, Mr. Henry Okam, popularly known as Chinyereze was allegedly killed by a member of his family, with the connivance of some people and buried in a shallow grave. The police have already recovered the decomposed body in the shallow grave at Ihiala. The death of the native doctor forced youths in the community to take to the market square in the town, demanding justice. Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Haruna Mohammed said that following intensive manhunt and actionable intelligence, police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) arrested members of a syndicate allegedly responsible for the killing. Those arrested were Obasi Faith Ezinne, 23, from Mbaitolu in Imo State, Ntomchukwu Anabaraonye, 33, from Okija and Abuchi Obinna, 26, from Ihiala. According to the PPRO, “the suspects had on the 30/8/2020 allegedly abducted one Henry Okam ‘m’ aged 34years of Okija in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State. “They also killed the victim with a pomp action gun and subsequently buried him in a shallow grave. ” The suspects, who voluntarily confessed to the crime, took operatives to a thick forest in Ihiala where the decomposing body of the victim was exhumed and recovered and taken to the mortuary for autopsy after it was certified dead by a medical doctor. “The pomp action used by the suspects in perpetrating the heinous crime, including the victim’s phones, were also recovered in their possession and registered as exhibits. ” The case under investigation after which the suspects and their accomplices would be brought to book”

Post Date : September 8, 2020

Groups rally against kidnapping of women in Calabar

The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Cross River Chapter and other women organisations on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest against kidnapping in the state. The other women groups include International Federation of Women Lawyers, Holy Child Old Girls Association, Nigerian Women of Journalists and Presbyterian Women. The peaceful protest, which was organised by the Medical Women Association in the state, went round major routes in Calabar metropolis. Speaking, Dr Bassey Nakanda, President of MWAN in the state, said the protest was to draw the attention of the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders on the need to end cases of kidnapping in the state. According to Nakanda, medical women had continued to suffer incessant kidnappings in the state with the recent one of Dr Vivien Otu, who was kidnapped on Aug. 28, in Calabar and released on the night of Sept. 3. “Medical women and others have become victims of kidnapping in Calabar and this act is totally condemnable. When it comes to kidnapping, the trauma that women go through lives with them forever; they are beaten, raped and humiliated. “We are all aware that they have been several cases of kidnapping in Calabar and as women, we need to stand up, speak and fight for ourselves. Calabar used to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria but we are now leaving in fear. “We need to visit the government, royal fathers and security agencies to register our complaints,” she said. At Watt market roundabout, she spoke and called on the state government to provide security for all residents in the state. “The government owe us a responsibility of security and they have to rise up to that responsibility,” she said. She called on all residents in the state to always report abnormal movements of suspected persons around them to security agencies. Mrs Agnes Otu from Holy Child Old Girls Association also called on the state government and relevant security agencies to be proactive in safeguarding lives and properties of the residents.

Post Date : September 8, 2020

P&ID: Governors Forum commend FG on UK Court order

The Progressives Governors Forum has commended the Federal Government for getting the United Kingdom Commercial Court to order a stay of execution on the $9.6 billion Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) debt judgment against Nigeria. This is contained in a statement signed by Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi, who is its chairman on Tuesday in Abuja. According to the forum, it has earlier held an emergency teleconference to deliberate on some national issues. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the order suspended any penalty against Nigeria in respect of the $9.6 billion P&ID debt judgment against her. The forum said the ruling, which was given by presiding judge Rose Cranston of the Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, was a victory for Nigerians. “Progressives governors in particular, commend Nigeria’s legal team led by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN). “The forum also commend President Muhammadu Buhari for efficiently managing Nigeria’s economy, which has led to giant strides in the execution of major national projects,” it said. It listed some of the projects to include: the revival of railways, the second Niger Bridge, Ajaokuta Steel Company, and road projects across parts of the country, among many others. According to the forum, the efficient management of the economy has strengthened the capacity of the federal government to control the impact of the CIVID-19 pandemic. It applauded Nigeria’s certification by World Health Organisation (WHO) as polio free country, assuring the commitment of the governors to continue to work with the federal government for the eradication of communicable diseases in the country. It congratulated the federal government over the re-election of Dr Femi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank for second a term. It also appreciated and commended the federal government’s backing of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Eweala for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. It further applauded President Buhari for setting up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Executive and Legislative Tripartite Consultative Committee. It said the committee, which was under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was a welcome innovation to enhance the party’s capacity. It expressed optimism that the committee would resolve the party’s political challenges and develop the country’s democracy. “Forum members unanimously reaffirm commitment to continue to support President Buhari, the federal government, APC and all our party leaders to expedite delivery of our electoral promises to Nigerians,” the forum said.

Post Date : September 8, 2020

FG approves new test kit for HIV

The Federal Government has approved the inclusion of Wondfo HIV I and II rapid test kits for use to stem spread of the scourge in the country. The National Coordinator, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NASCP) Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, made the this known while presenting the evaluation report on the kit, on Tuesday in Abuja. “The Wondfo rapid test kit, could be used as a confirmatory test because of its high specification of 99.4 per cent,” she said. The coordinator said that in 2019, the Federal Ministry of Health( FMOH) approved the conduct of the laboratory performance evaluation of Wondfo HIV I and II rapid test kit. “The result of the evaluation which was conducted at the reference testing laboratory Public Health in Vitro Diagnostic Laboratory, Lagos” showed that Wondfo rapid test kit sensitivity, was 99.5 per cent and its specificity was 99.4 per cent. “The rapid test kit has an accuracy of 99.4 per cent with positive and negative predictive values of the kit to the Gold Standard as 99.3 per cent and 99.5 per cent respectively. “These results met the requirements for the kit to be included in the first line screening test of the HIV testing algorithm in Nigeria,”she explained. She disclosed that Nigeria had conducted some rounds of evaluation of HIV rapid rest kits, using the World Health Organisation(WHO) guidelines for appropriate evaluation of HIV testing technologies in Africa, where three phases of evaluation were recommended. She noted that these phases were, laboratory-based, field-based and continuous monitoring of the performance of the algorithm. Ikpeazu said that the National HIV testing algorithms were developed from these rounds of evaluation conducted and all the test kits were antibody based kits. “HIV testing is the fulcrum of any HIV programme as it establishes the individual’s HIV status which then determines the subsequent package of prevention or treatment services that will benefit that individual. “A person who tests negative is counseled on how to stay negative, while a person that tests positive is immediately linked to Anti-Retroviral Therapy(ART) services and so the importance of providing accurate and reliable diagnosis devoid of false negatives or false positives results cannot be overemphasised,” she explained. In his speech, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Dr Gambo Aliyu, appreciated the national evaluation team for the successful completion of the process. Aliyu said that the agency was using all strategy available to increase hematocrit (HCT) uptake in the country. “Provider Initiative HCT strategy is being introduced to most government funded hospitals to ensure that all patients that come in to health facility have access to HCT services at no cost,” he said. Aliyu noted that there was need for more Nigerians to be tested for HIV in the country. “We have to address the gap between the target and where we are as a nation. We are at 73 per cent in our testing and we still need to do more,” Aliyu said. He, however, said that it was important to make sure that a lot of people got tested and be placed on treatment immediately, noting that testing remained the gateway for HIV treatment and care services. In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer, PREZZO SHED INVESTMENTS LIMITED, Mr Emmanuel Njoku , said that the dissemination was coming at a time when the Federal Government of Nigeria was concerned about quality of care, effectiveness and efficiency in healthcare service delivery. “As you may be aware, Nigeria has had rounds of evaluation of HIV rapid test kits, but because of the magnanimity of the government of the day, it has given opportunity that more HIV rapid test kits be evaluated, bearing in mind the WHO specifications on specificity and sensitivity of HIV Rapid test kits and if found suitable for use, they may be included in the HIV testing algorithm in Nigeria,” Njoku explained. He commended the federal government for approving the kits. “We must commend the Minister of Health for approving the report of the Technical Committee on the Laboratory performance evaluation of Wondfo HIV I & II Rapid Test Kit and the Wondfo HIV I & II rapid test kit in addition to other existing HIV Rapid test kits that are already in use in the country.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that results released in 2019 by the Federal Government indicate a national HIV prevalence in Nigeria of 1.4 per sent among adults aged 15 to 49 years. Previous estimates had indicated a national HIV prevalence of 2.8 per cent. UNAIDS and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS estimate that there are 1.9 million people living with HIV in Nigeria. NAN

Post Date : September 8, 2020

PPPRA steps back as oil marketers get go-ahead to fix retail petrol price

….assures Nigerians of better days ahead The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) says it would no longer provide a price band at which marketers will sell petrol,The Punch reports. The newspaper quotes Abdulkadir Saidu, PPPRA executive secretary, as saying the retail price of petrol would henceforth be determined by demand and supply of the commodity and the international price of crude oil. With this move, it means that the downstream sector of the oil industry has been fully deregulated. Saidu, who was represented by Victor Shidok, PPPRA general manager for administration and human resources, also said the agency would remain the regulator to ensure that oil marketers do not cheat consumers. “This, however, must be in accordance with our code of conduct because as a regulator, it is our duty to protect the consumer and operators must abide by our codes,” Saidu stated. Saidu was also quoted to have said independent marketers have not begun to import refined petroleum products because of the scarcity of foreign exchange. In March, the federal executive council approved that the pump price of petrol is modulated in line with happenings in the global oil market. At the time, it said this was a step in deregulating the downstream sector as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would no longer absorb the differences between the landing cost and the pegged retail price. “You know how things are globally with the impact of COVID-19 to the global oil market. Accessing forex remains a challenge for marketers. “We are hopeful that in a few months to come, Nigerians will understand what government is doing to stabilise the downstream sector,’’ he said. Abubakar said that the agency would continue to monitor the code of conduct that guides operation of marketers in the industry and ensure that it was not violated. He reiterated that government was no longer in business of fixing the pump price of petrol but would monitor marketers to avoid profiteering. He hinted that the agency may not be able to provide monthly price band for the product as it contradicts the deregulation policy. “If we give you the price band for this month, it is like price fixing’’ he said, and assured Nigerians that better days were ahead as things would normalise with time.

Post Date : September 8, 2020

Police charge Kogi commissioner to court over alleged rape, battery

Senior Police sources at the Force Intelligence Bureau, Force headquarters, under which the Police Gender Unit operates, on Tuesday affirmed that the Nigerian Police Force has charged the Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulmumuni Danga to court for allegedly raping and assaulting a lady, among other charges, over a Facebook post. The lady, one Elizabeth Onyeniyi had petitioned the Police Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) on her ordeal in the hands of the Kogi Commissioner and other accomplices alleging that she was not only raped, but beaten mercilessly and threatened, prompting the FIB to invite Mr. Danga to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gender Unit, for questioning on the 2nd of June 2020, after which the Commissioner was released. It was gathered that discreet investigations by the Gender Unit had been ongoing since June, leading to the discovery of evidence showing the need for the case to be taken to court. Elizabeth Oyeniyi had alleged that Mr. Abdulmumuni Danga, the Commissioner for Water Resources of Kogi state, personally flogged her and said he could have killed her were it not for her young son who was with the mom. She claimed the commissioner then stripped her while some men who worked for Commissioner watched as some others videoed the nude woman as she was being whipped and humiliated. She said the workers collected her phone and destroyed it so that she will not have a record of everything adding that she was made to apologize to the fans of the Commissioner on Facebook denying what she earlier posted, that the Commissioner is a philanthropist and humanitarian. She claimed that the Commissioner gave her #30,000 to get a new phone after making the video which she rejected because she felt humiliated for the beating and being stripped naked in the presence of about 15 men. Ms Onyeniyi claimed that the assault did not end there; that after the attack, the Commissioner drove her to a hotel close to the Kogi State House in Lokoja, the state capital, where he forcefully had sex with her three times overnight. Elizabeth said her ordeal started on March 29, 2020, when she made a post accusing the commissioner for water resources of abandoning his step sister, who is a close friend of hers (Elizabeth Onyeniyi), since he refused to support her financially leading to her friend dropping out of school and that her friend has been speaking to the Commissioner without response. Police sources said that following conclusion of investigations, the Police is charging Mr. Danga along with one Success Omadivi along with some others who are at large. The seven-count charge sheet signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Barr at Law), ACP Effiong Asuquo who is the Prosecuting Counsel for the police noted that the case will be prosecuted by the police on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Both Abdulmumuni Danga and Success Omadivi are to be arraigned at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division. The seven-count charge include rape, brutality, coercion, torture, falsifying documents and threatening medical officer to forge test result. The Police charges read, that Mr. Danga forcefully had carnal knowledge of Elizabeth Onyeniyi without her consent; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. The Police said in Count two that Mr. Danga with other persons now at large; in Lokoja willfully inflicted physical injury on Elizabeth by flogging her with electric cable wire. Danga was also charged for falsifying documents and threatening medical officer to forge test result. Other charges read, “That you Abdulmumuni Danga, Success Omadivi ‘F’ with other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did coerce one Elizabeth Oyeniyi to kneel down by torturing her; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 Of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. That you Abdulmumuni Danga, Success Omadivi ‘F’ With other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did create or falsify a Facebook chat purporting same to be a chat between Elizabeth Onyeniyi ‘F’ and unknown person where Elizabeth Oyeniyi ‘F’ confirmed that she was not raped; and there was no test done at the hospital because the doctor was scared to issue report so that she will not lose her job; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. That you Abdulmumuni Danga, Success Omadivi ‘F’ with other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March, 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did falsify an audio recording purporting same to be a lady talking to another female saying that Elizabeth Onyeniyi ‘F’ confessed to her that she was not raped by the Defendant, Abdulmumuni Danga but that it was Natasha that asked her to say she was raped; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 Of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. That you Abdulmumuni Danga with other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March, 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did falsify an audio recording purporting same to be the audio of Dr. Chinonyerem Welle, Medical Director, Police Hospital, Area 1, Garki, Abuja saying that she issued medical report for the rape and assault of Elizabeth Onyeniyi ‘F’ unlawfully; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.”

Post Date : September 8, 2020

FG urges Resident Doctors to suspend strike

The Federal Government on Tuesday, urged the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to suspend its ongoing industrial action across the country. Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in a statement signed by Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Head, Press and Public Relations in Abuja. Ngige said that it was imperative for NARD to suspend the industrial action as government had already addressed six out of the eight demands listed by the association. He said government would reconvene a conciliation meeting between NARD and Federal Ministries of Health, Finance and Budget and National Planning on Wednesday at the Ministry of Labour and Employment to avert the ongoing strike. According to Ngige, by Labour Laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, when issues are being conciliated, all parties are enjoined not to employ arm-twisting methods to intimidate or foist a state of helplessness on the other party; in this case, your employers, the Federal Ministry of Health. He, therefore, appealed NARD to respect the country’s laws and suspend its industrial action, while noting that a high percentage of the Association’s demands had already been addressed. “This is coupled with the existence of a pending case in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) instituted by two Civil Society groups against NARD, the Attorney -General of the Federation, and the Ministers of Health, and Labour and Employment. “NARD has no reason to embark on an industrial action, ”he said. He also stated that the groups, Citizens Advocacy for Social Rights (CASER) and Association of Women in Trading and Agriculture (AWITA), had also asked for an interlocutory injunction against further strike by NARD. He added that all the parties had already appeared and exchanged court processes. Ngige said that in spite of lean resources occasioned by the effect of COVID-19 on oil output, the federal government had already spent N20 billion on the Special Hazard and Inducement Allowances for Medical and Health Workers for April, May and June 2020,. This, he said was with a few outstanding payments to some health workers for June 2020. He added that the federal government has expended N9.3 billion as premium for Group Life Insurance for Medical and Health workers, as well as for all civil and public servants in federal organisations that are Treasury funded, to run from March 2020 to March 2021. He disclosed that the federal government have appropriated the sum of N4 billion in the Special Intervention COVID-19, while N500 billion in 2020 appropriation for the funding of Medical Residency Training and intended to do same in the ongoing 2021 Budget. The minister further stated that N4 billion had been processed for payment. Ngige also said that the matter between NARD and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital had been resolved. He said that the resolution of the issue of State Governments not addressing the consequential adjustment to the new minimum wage, and low patronage of Residency programme were ongoing. He said plans were on for the conciliation meeting between NARD and Federal Ministries of Health, and Finance, Budget and National Planning to be held on Wednesday at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.