December 2020 – Page 20

Post Date : December 26, 2020

Ogun community dwellers overpower robber, beat him to death

Some residents of Abule -Ijoko , in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have turned the tables on a five – man robbery gang that attacked them during the week, killing one of the robbers. City Round learnt that the robbers armed with a locally -made gun and cutlasses ransacked two apartments occupied by some youths on Tuesday night , dispossessing them of phones and laptops . It was gathered that one of the victims mustered the courage and confronted the robbers when they wanted to cart away his clothes after collecting his phone. Other victims were said to have joined in the resistance, leading to commotion which awoke other neighbours. Our correspondent learnt that the robbers fled the scene with the loot but one of them was not lucky as he was held and beaten to death . The case was said to have been reported at the Agbado Police Station and a team led by the Divisional Police Officer , SP Yero Kuranga, went to the scene to recover the corpse. One of the victims, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred around 11. 30pm when one of his roommates went out to put off the generator. He said , “ We are four living in the room . The generator was on while we went to bed . The power was restored around 11. 30pm and one of my roommates went out to put it off. He didn ’ t know that the robbers were already inside the compound. “ There are three doors to our apartment . He closed the one next to the room while he was going out and kept the two others open . As he wanted to put off the generator, they attacked him with cutlasses and injured him . They asked him to lead them to the room . “ One of the robbers hit me on the head with the butt of his gun. They collected our phones and laptops and went to the next room . They collected phones from the two residents there . They wanted to start packing clothes when one of the occupants confronted them . That gave us confidence and we also supported him to attack the robbers. They fled immediately but we were able to hold down one of them . ” The victim denied that they killed the robber, claiming that he vomited blood and died after revealing two names of his gang members . He added , “ The robber told us that it was some people around the community who gave them information about us . They injured four of us . One of my roommates was shot. They were five and only one of them carried a gun. ” Another victim explained that when they called the line in one of the stolen phones, a robber picked it and mocked his gang member caught during the operation . The resident said , “ He told us that the deceased robber was not smart enough and that is why he died . We reported the case to the police. We did not beat him. He didn ’ t want to reveal the identities of his gang members , saying that he was on oath . But we compelled him to mention them . He vomited blood and died after mentioning two names. ” The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi , confirmed the incident, adding that no arrest had been made . He said , “ We learnt that one of the robbers was beaten to death and a police team rushed to the scene. His corpse was met at the scene by the time the police got there . The robbers injured their victims . ” Meanwhile, one Garuba Ibrahim has been arrested in Ope – Ilu , also in the Ifo council area for allegedly being in possession of a locally -made gun and 10 live cartridges . He was reportedly arrested on Sunday while loitering around a hotel in the community. Oyeyemi, while confirming the arrest, said Garuba was under investigation. He said , “ He was arrested with a locally- made gun with 10 live cartridges . He said it was someone who gave him information that a resident in the area was hiding a gun. He said he went to the house to recover the gun and when he got there , he didn ’ t meet the resident. We are questioning him to know why he didn ’ t inform the police before he decided to recover the gun all alone . ”

Post Date : December 26, 2020

COVID-19: NAFDAC to approve for N400bn vaccines

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is expected to give emergency approval for COVID -19 vaccines once they arrive in Nigeria , Saturday PUNCH has learnt . The Director -General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye , said this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday. Adeyeye said NAFDAC would be doing something called, “ Emergency Use Authorisation . ” She said the agency had been in contact with Pfizer since May and had already received a preliminary report which would guide NAFDAC’ s decision . Adeyeye explained that vaccines that had been approved by reliable bodies like the United States Food and Drug Administration could easily pass the test in Nigeria but that was not to say that NAFDAC would not be doing its own independent examination . The NAFDAC boss said , “ Any vaccine that will be used in Nigeria must go through NAFDAC. It will be an accelerated approval because we will use what is called reliance . Reliance mechanism means that if a strong regulatory agency like the FDA or European Medicine Agency has approved it ( the vaccine) , we will go through their approval. “ For example , we are going through the EMA approval of Pfizer now . We are doing this in readiness of when they ( Pfizer) will submit their own application . So , we have started doing our own work before they approve the application . We are already in touch with them . “ Pfizer visited us in May and we told them to continue doing what they are doing and when they get to Phase 3, they can submit their own application . But because of this reliance , it will make it very fast for approval. We have asked Pfizer to send it since it has been approved in the US and some other regulatory agencies. It will not take time at all . Reliance means you rely on what another strong agency has done . ” Asked how long it would take for NAFDAC to give final approval, Adeyeye said she would not want to be pre -emptive adding that it would not take long at all . She said there could be unforeseen problems if for instance Pfizer failed to send its complete paperwork , explaining that if there were no hitches, the vaccine would be approved in record time . “ We don’ t expect it to be long at all . But again , it depends on what we have . That is if they have the same papers that they submitted to other regulatory agencies. If what is submitted to NAFDAC is different from what was submitted to FDA , it will take longer because we will need to ask questions . “ Hopefully that will not happen . It will be an expedited review. NAFDAC is doing EUA which means Emergency Use Authorisation . So , it is not as if they are coming to register a product but it will still need approval. It is not as if immediately the vaccines are brought, we would tell people to start using it the next day . We will do a desk review , ” she said . Also speaking with our correspondent, the Minister of State for Health , Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora , noted that the government would rely on NAFDAC for approval before the vaccines would be used . On when the N 400bn budget for the procurement and distribution of vaccines would be submitted to the National Assembly, Mamora said it would be next year. He said the figures were still being collated , adding that it cuts across different ministries . He also said the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , would be in charge of the vaccines. The minister said this was the reason the President extended the tenure of the task force . He said , “ We have not yet submitted the budget . We are still putting estimates together and nothing has been finalised . It will be ready early next year . It is not just the Ministry of Health . The President has handed management of the vaccines to the PTF. That was why the President extended the tenure of the PTF till the end of the first quarter next year when we would have started vaccine procurement and administration. ” On whether Nigerians would be forced to take the vaccine , Mamora said there was no such plan . He , however , said there was a need to educate Nigerians on the importance of the vaccines because some people had already started rejecting them . On when the vaccines would be ready for use , Mamora said , “ I think it depends on the assessment report provided by NAFDAC; if favourable and recommended, the Federal Government may approve emergency use authorisation . ” Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Federal Government ’ s COVID -19 response may hit N 1tn by next year. The President had in April approved N 500bn for the COVID -19 response in the supplementary budget which was approved by the National Assembly. It was learnt that if the N 400bn is approved by the National Assembly next month, this would imply that about N 900bn would be spent on the pandemic. This is apart from the sum that several states have individually spent on prevention and treatment of COVID – 19 vaccines as well as intervention programmes .

Post Date : December 26, 2020

Strike called off, another lockdown looms — varsity students are becoming scotched

By Ibe Pascal Arogorn Just like that, Nigerian varsity students will continue their contrived holiday due Coronavurus pandemic and ASUU’s action — it is becoming hapless for them. On 20th March,The Federal Ministry of Education has directed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to shut down and allow students to go home as cases of reported COVID-19 increased to 13. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, told reporters on 19 March that the directive was part of the country’s overall strategy to contain the spread of the virus. Before the official announcement by the permanent secretary, most universities had already sent their students home. Professor Michael Faborode, a former vice-chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun State, told University World News the action by the government of Nigeria was appropriate. “We don’t have to wait for Armageddon before sending the students home; already people are advised to shun large gatherings and keep a social distance, but that is not possible in the universities as the lecture halls are crowed and you can’t tell students not to hug each other,” he said. A former secretary general of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Faborode said it was important that government issued the directives. It will lead to students missing two to three weeks rather than have them remain at university and see growing numbers of cases. Faborode said Nigerian universities are actively involved in the search for a possible coronavirus cure and treatment as most of the testing facilities are managed by universities. Professor Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian professor of virology, educational administrator and former vice-chancellor of Redeemer’s University, said government had been slow in issuing the directive which should have come when the first case was detected. According to Tomori, the fact that the case was only reported on 27 February, two weeks after the person’s arrival in Nigeria, was enough reason for the government to act quickly and close all schools and universities as the learning environment accommodates a lot of people. ASUU PART ALSO on 24th march, Following the expiration of its two-week warning strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared an indefinite strike. The National President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, at a press conference in Abuja, said: “The union has decided to embark on total and indefinite strike from Monday, 23, 2020.” He said the union rejected the use of force to make its members enroll on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). But before the NUC’s directive, ASUU had commenced its warning strike on March 9, 2020. ASUU had embarked on the strike over the non-payment of salaries of their members who refused to enroll in the federal government’s IPPIS, payroll software mandated for all public officials. ASUU had rejected the federal government’s IPPIS, leading to the suspension of the payment of their salaries by the federal government. THISDAY had reported that the warning strike might escalate as the federal government had rejected the union’s demand for more time to develop its alternative payment application, the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS), as its preferred mode for the payment of salaries of academic staff. As the saying goes, when two elephants fights, it is the grass that suffers it. The grass, in this case is the students who bear the brunt of the disagreement. Incessant strikes dwindle the academic performances of students. As learning is suspended for a long period, the students reading abilities fall. Even the knowledge acquired during the learning period is even forgotten by some students. This mostly turns some students into certificate seekers than knowledge seekers. Also, most protracted strikes distort the school calendar. The after-effect is prolonged school year that exceeds stipulated periods. Most academic activities for the school year are distorted. This is one major cause of producing unqualified graduates who are deficient in their fields of study. In the same vein, students who are supposed to do a four year course end up spending six years in the school for a simple programme. Such strike periods also have the tendency of leading undergraduates into some social vices like prostitution, oil bunkering etc. “An idle man” they say, “is the devils workshop.” There is therefore, the need for a re-evaluation of the education sector. Factors that often lead to strike in our institutions should be addressed. There is no doubt that the infrastructures in most of our schools are as old as the years of the schools. This is unacceptable. A conducive learning atmostphere is a sine-qua-non for quality education. In addition, education should be properly and adequately funded to encourage effective research and to avoid brain drain. Proper funding and equipment of Nigerian universities will go a long way to stop further strike action. On Oct 2, Nigeria government orders all schools to reopen from October 12, while schools run by states and private owners may open on their own timetables, the education minister. New COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have steadily fallen in recent weeks, according to official data. The education minister, Adamu Adamu, said the drop spurred the decision to reopen schools. “Since the beginning of September 2020, we have witnessed a considerable decline in the rate of infections,” Adamu said in a statement. The Oct 12 date affects 104 federal institutes known as Unity colleges. The reopening of the rest of Nigeria’s schools is determined by state governments. Nigeria has recorded more than 59,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,100 deaths. Really? Varsity students will have to continue staying home even when ASUU union called off strike. I conducted a poll on twitter on whether students whose mind are still actively on academics , one said, “it is true that I wish varsities to reopen but I can you the truth that there’s is not nothing to remember again, in fact I longer have taste for good education, it just that there’s nothing else to showing for without first of

Post Date : December 25, 2020

COVID-19: FG orders varsities to suspend academic activities

The National Universities Commission has directed Vice -Chancellors of Universities to suspend academic activities involving large crowds on their campuses. The decision came barely three days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities suspended its nine – month-old strike. The Federal Government , had also issued a circular directing Officers on Grade Level 12 and below to stay at home for a period of five weeks, effective from Wednesday December , 23 2020, following the resurgence in the number of COVID – 19 cases . The NUC in a circular by its Deputy Executive Secretary ( Administration ) , Chris Maiyaki, said classrooms , hostel accommodation , conferences and seminars should be suspended . The commission also directed that universities should remain closed during the intervening period , pending further directives by goverment on the reopening of schools. Maiyaki said , “ Vice -Chancellors are to please note that the directive is part of the measures approved by Mr . President to mitigate the second wave of coronavirus infections in the country. “ The affected officers are expected to perform their duties from home while those on GL 13 and above should strictly adhere to the extant preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing of hands and /or sanitizing of hands , wearing of face masks and reducing the number of visitors to offices . ”

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Uzodimma: I had covenant with God not to owe Imo workers, pensioners

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that he will not owe any worker or pensioner in the state or local government civil service their salaries, pensions or entitlements during his tenure as governor. According to Vanguard, He said he has a covenant with God to sincerely serve the people of Imo State and that he will be committed to the promise throughout his tenure. Governor Uzodimma reiterated this during his first Christmas Day Mass at his home Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Omuma, in Oru East local government area. He recalled the events that brought him into politics, the contest for governorship of Imo State and the reclaiming of his mandate at the Supreme Court, noting that “the people of Omuma have many reasons to be grateful to God for making one of their own governor of the state.” Governor Uzodimma said his desire to govern Imo was predicated on “the will of God”, insisting that he has never ventured into anything without first seeking God’s direction, the reason he was able to overcome the challenges he encountered on assumption of office on January 15, 2020. The Governor disclosed that contrary to popular perception, he discovered that the problem of Imo State is more with the Civil Service system than the politicians, regretting that massive corruption was the order of the day in the Imo State Civil Service when he assumed office. He said though his predecessor, Emeka Ihedioha’s administration, noticed the anomalies plaguing the system and tried to do some verification, their efforts yielded little results then until his administration came on board and embarked on full automation of the payment system of the state. Governor Uzodimma said that relying on the automation, 43,000 workers and 21,000 pensioners in Imo State had been paid their salaries and pensions up to date. He maintained that those who have not been paid are those who have issues with accurate bio-data or those receiving double salaries or pensions and therefore queried by the automation system. He challenged those claiming to be owed to approach the data centre with their pension identification number and relevant details so that their status will be revealed and payment effected if they do not have issues. The governor also promised to publish in the newspapers by January 2, 2021, details of all Imo workers and pensioners who have passed the automation process and have been receiving their entitlements till date so that fill those still in doubt will know how serious the government is with the automation. He maintained that he has come for the good of Imo people irrespective of party affiliation, pointing out that though he is the Governor of an APC-led government, he presides over the affairs of all Imo citizens regardless of party leaning. He therefore called on Imo citizens to pray for the state and assured that there is light on the horizon and better days ahead for the state. Earlier in his sermon, the Parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Omuma, Rev. Fr. Ernest Chike Dike noted that Christmas is a season of celebration of the Light of God sent unto a people living in darkness through Jesus Christ his son. “Light had come into the world that hitherto has been in darkness. When you invite Jesus the darkness in your life will disappear,” he said. The Governor was joined at the Mass by some members of the State Expanded Executive Council, close friends and associates.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Fintiri expresses concern on Garkida community attack

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has expressed concern about a confirmed attack on Garkida town in Gombi Local Government Area of the state. Eyewitness report indicated that the attack was carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the eve of Dec. 24. Fintiri, in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou on Friday in Yola, said that the attack caused the death of two civilians, including a five-year old. “This latest cowardly attack on Garkida town is yet another desperate rear guard action by the Boko Haram terrorists who have been under intense pressure from the Nigerian military. “Let me reassure Adamawa residents that this latest cowardly attack on Garkida would not go without severe consequences,” Fintiri said. The governor, however, sympathised with residents of Garkida over the unfortunate attack and called on security agencies to do more to further forestall attacks in the state. Fintiri noted that it was a cruel reminder of the indiscriminate aims of the terrorists and an example of why everyone must be involved to confront a menace without boundaries. “I stand with Garkida community in this difficult time, and will continue to support the military efforts to ensure peace, security and justice for our people,” Fintiri said. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the attack but refused to make further comment.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Nepotism: There could’ve been swift war if Buhari isn’t president, says Kukah

Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, has lamented that nepotism characterised the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari He explained that there could have been a coup or war in the country if a non – Nothern Muslim becomes a president and does a fraction of what Buhari did . The Bishop made this known in his 2020 Christmas message titled, ‘ A nation in search of vindication’ . He said , “ This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness . The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country? “ President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second class status. He has pursued this self – defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion . “ Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non -Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it. “ There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war . The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions. “ He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However , God does not sleep . We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North. ”

Post Date : December 25, 2020

COVID-19 Second Wave: Over 20 Doctors Die In One Week

At least 20 doctors have died of COVID-19 across the country in the last one week , the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) branch has said. The chairman of the branch, Dr. Enema Amodu, made the disclosure Thursday while briefing newsmen in Abuja. He said : “In the last one week alone, we have lost professors, consultants, residents both senior and junior, and other senior medical doctors. “This shows that this virus is still much with us.” He said inspite of the risks doctors encounter, their hazard allowance per month is only N5000 . He urged the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabimiala, to push for an appropriate legislation to review hazard allowance as many doctors are suffering and dying. He said,”We hope that the government will start the new year with a review of hazard allowance. “We as personnel trained to handle emergency conditions are ready for anything that comes; we need things to work with. “We need Intensive Care Units, drugs, facemasks, hand sanitizers and others. “Let there be an appreciation and motivation through enhancing the hazard allowance.” Dr Amodu said the second wave was overwhelming because a lot of people have gone back to the old way of doing things thinking the virus had gone. He also called on Nigerians to be honest with information when they visit health facilities, adding ,”wear your mask and tell us the truth about your past medical conditions. Don’t hold any information back, and follow the laid down rules.”

Post Date : December 25, 2020

EXTRA: Boko Haram Insurgents Kill 6, Abduct 3, Garkida Residents Reveal

Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly killed at least six persons including a policeman and abducted three others when they attacked Garkida in Adamawa state on Thursday. The insurgents arrived the town in several gun trucks at around 5 pm and launched the attack that lasted for several hours, shooting indiscriminately and burning buildings while residents fled to the mountains for safety. This was the second time Boko Haram invaded Garkida this year. During a February attack, three people were killed and several private and public property were burnt. Residents, who spoke to our reporter, said five corpses had so far been found while families were still searching for missing members. A community member, Andrawus Tarfa, said at least four civilians died in the Thursday attack while three others were taken away and dozens of equipment belonging to a construction firm had been burnt by the insurgents. Some of the survivors expressed shock that the attack lasted for several hours despite military presence in the town. “We have returned to our homes this morning after spending the night in the mountains. So far, we have found five corpses and we know of three men they took away,” said a resident who wanted to be anonymous. “The insurgents burnt some houses as well as 19 vehicles belonging to a construction firm, Triacta.” A security officer told our reporter that a policeman, who was in Garkida to visit his family, was among the six people killed by the insurgents.

Post Date : December 25, 2020

Resident Doctors Commence Strike In Taraba

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Specialist Hospital Jalingo, the Taraba State capital have embarked on an indefinite strike action to press home their demands. ARD President, Ahmed Gabriel, who disclosed this to journalists on Friday blamed the decision on the alleged inability of the state government honouring its part of the agreement. He lamented that medical personnel have been exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the total number of resident doctors in the state is not up to 90. According to him, the doctors are not happy with the inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for the fight against coronavirus, non-implementation of the reversed Hazard Allowance and payment of COVID-19 inducement allowance and non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage. Others were insecurity as they lament the kidnap and killing of their colleagues, non-ensuring of pay parity among doctors and medical internship training. “Base on the W.H.O standard, the ratio of doctor to patient stands at one doctor to 600 patients, but in Nigeria currently the ratio is one doctor to 6400 patients, while in Taraba state it is one doctor to 33,000 patients and this is grossly inadequate,” he said. “Currently the number of Doctors who are in Taraba State is actually less than ninety. The Taraba State Specialist hospital created 13 years ago has 19 permanent Doctors and Doctors on contract are 18 in number. “You cannot build a system or run a viable system with this kind of arrangement and no internship training for medical interns, both nurses and medical laboratory unlike what is experienced in sister states. “At the moment, there is the issue of COVID-19 pandemic and already the second wave is with us. So far, no medical health worker has been paid and the second wave is with us yet our morale is low.” While recalling that Taraba has not recorded any fatality since the outbreak of the virus, he attributed the feat to what he described as the resilience of the health workers within the state. He regretted that the state government has not honoured its agreement by paying the COVID-19 inducement allowance for health care workers. “Majority of the doctors employed have left the state for greener pasture due to the inability of the state to implement salary scale for Doctors ” “Majority of the doctors employed are young and there is a high tendency that they will leave and we want the government to look into that quickly. “Within the state, we have more than 25 health workers that were exposed to COVID-19 pandemic and we demand implementation of the MOU entered into with the government,” he added. This is coming more three months after the association signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government to meet some of its pressing demands.