All Posts in "Month: March 2021"

Fire Razes over 15 Shops in Edo Market

Goods worth millions of naira were last Saturday night destroyed by fire, which razed a section of the Ikpoba Hill market in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was learnt that the fire, which started at about 9p.m. last Saturday night, affected mainly makeshift shops made up of caravans.

It was also gathered that the owner of one of the electronic shops affected by the fired simply identified as Tony, was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed on hearing the news.

A witness identified as Peter said: “At about 9p.m., we saw smoke billowing from one of the shops, and before we knew what was happening, the whole place was engulfed in fire.”

He said the fire fighters, who came later, couldn’t salvage the goods, as the fire had already engulfed the shops and razed goods worth millions of naira.

The witness said the shop owners could not salvage their goods either, as the shops were already engulfed by fire before their arrival.

When THISDAY inquired about the incident from one of the shop owners who was at the scene, he managed to say that it was pointless talking about the incident because they will not get any help from the government or individual.

“Are you going to help me if I talk to you about it? Just leave me alone.”

A sympathiser, Mr. John Izu, said they were still wondering what must have caused the inferno, as there was no electricity in the area, blaming the fire service, which he said didn’t come on time to salvage the shops.

“This is an electronic shop, and the goods here worth over N10 million. I know the owner, and he is currently at the hospital because of the incident,” Izuh said.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Business 0
Nurses’ Strike May Paralyse Ondo Healthcare Services

The healthcare delivery services in Ondo state government-owned health facilities may be paralysed totally from today, as nurses under the auspices of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) will embark on a three-day warning strike starting from today.

Already, medical officers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) had been on strike for about three weeks due to issues relating to payment of monthly salaries.

Similarly, the nurses said they are embarking on the warning strike to press home their demand on the half payment of salary by the state government.

The decision of the nurses was contained in a letter dated February 26, 2021, and signed by the state Secretary of NANNM, Aina Emmanuel Oluwasegun.

The secretary said the nurses’ decision was reached after the meeting of the leadership of the union and its members.

He said the industrial action would commence from 12 noon today to March 3, 2021.

The notice stated: “Sequel to the meeting the State Executive Council of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) held on February 16, 2021, we resolved that the state government should: ‘Pay 100 percent salary of January 2017, December 2020, January 2021; 20 percent of balance of December 2016; 50 percent of November 2020 and commencement of new salary adjustment for local government nurses within seven working days’.

“Following the expiration of the seven working days ultimatum without any response from the government, you are directed to proceed on three days warning strike from 12 noon March 1 to March 3, 2021 at first instance.”

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Oduduwa 0
Nigeria Receives 3.92m Doses of AstraZeneca Tomorrow

Nigeria is scheduled to receive 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow.
This was contained in a joint press statement issued yesterday by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA); United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in Abuja.

The delivery will mark the first arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country and make Nigeria the next West African country to benefit from the COVAX Facility after Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
The arrival of the vaccine will enable the NPHCDA to commence the vaccination of Nigerians in priority groups, starting with the frontline healthcare workers.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive of the NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said in the statement that the arrival of this vaccine is the result of the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria, the support of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the guidance of the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

He also said that the agency is fully prepared to receive and deliver the vaccine to eligible Nigerians, adding it has commenced the training of health workers and ensured that cold chain facilities are ready at all levels.

“We have a robust cold chain system that can store all types of COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the required temperature. We are therefore confident that we will have a very effective roll-out of the vaccine, starting with our critical healthcare workers, who are in the frontline in providing the care we all need,” Shuaib added.

On his part the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Mr. Peter Hawkins, said that the delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine is part of an overall 16 million doses planned to be delivered to Nigeria in batches over the next months by the COVAX Facility, as part of an unprecedented global effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“The COVAX Facility is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), with UNICEF as a key implementing partner,” Hawkins said.

WHO’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said COVAX Facility, has worked exceptionally hard to ensure that Nigeria gets the vaccine as soon as possible so that it can start its vaccination programme to the largest population in Africa.
“Vaccines are a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19. In the meantime, Nigerians must continue to take steps to contain the virus, as the vaccination programme will take at least a year before it is fully effective,” he added.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Nigeria News 0
Restore Professionalism in EFCC, PDP Charges Bawa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, to re-engineer the commission and restore professionalism in the anti-graft agency.

The party also called on him to avoid the pitfalls of his immediate predecessor in office, Mr Ibrahim Magu, by resisting pressures to use the agency as a tool for political persecution, harassment of dissenting voices, settling of personal scores as well as for personal enrichment.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said such tendencies eroded professionalism in the EFCC compromised its activities and diminished the public confidence in its fairness, impartiality and even-handedness in the handling of cases.

PDP said the anti-graft agency was articulated and established by a PDP administration to fight corruption and not as a tool for oppression and intimidation of innocent Nigerians for political and other unjustified reasons.

The PDP stated that for the first time, the chairman of the EFCC had been drawn from the pool of trained investigators of the commission, adding that Nigerians expect Bawa to sanitise the system and restore professionalism in line with international best practices.

The PDP said: “Our party urges the new EFCC Chairman to bear in mind that, given his young age and training, he should exhibit the ideals of the generation-next Nigeria in reciprocation of the confidence Nigerians repose in him.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier urged Bawa to spare no one in his fight against corruption.
The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement last week in Abuja, had urged Bawa to be guided by the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari that the fight against corruption must be total and unsparing.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Nigeria News 0
Buhari Launches Eastern Rail Corridor March 9

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has said President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eastern rail corridor in the country’s ongoing railway modernisation on March 9.

Amaechi, while on an inspection tour to all the stations from Mobolaji Johnson Station at Ebute Metta to Ibadan station yesterday, also said Buhari had approved the redirecting of the Eastern line to two new spurs.

The minister, in a statement yesterday by the Director of Press of the ministry, Mr. Eric Ejiekwe, identified the two spurs as Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and Awka, Anambra State.

He added that the federal government has approved the commencement of the Port Harcourt – Kano rail project and is also negotiating loans for the Lagos-Calabar rail project.
On the take-off of the Ibadan-Kano rail project, Amaechi said the government was seeking approval for a loan to enable it to take off.

On the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, Amaechi stated that he had challenged Messrs. China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) to deploy global acceptable safety and security standards for the project.

He directed that the central cooling system be installed in all the major train stations along the route.
Amaechi also urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to punish truck drivers who fail to comply with government’s directives when the rail end of the Apapa Port Spur line is completed.

He added that Buhari has specified the tonnage of cargo that should be allowed on the roads and the directive will be complied with.
According to him, the directive has not been implemented as there are no viable alternatives yet.

During the inspection, the minister took the train to the completed southward 8.72 kilometres of the Apapa Port Spur Line end of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, where he expressed displeasure at the outrageous number of trucks parked on the rail tracks, making work difficult to complete.

The minister, therefore, directed the NPA to ensure that the trucks are moved out and that only registered trucks moving goods are allowed into the ports.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Nigeria News 0
Commit to Rule of Law, Democracy, Jonathan Urges African Leaders

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African leaders to adhere to the rule of law and prioritise equality and justice in order to build a continent of peace, prosperity and development.
Jonathan made the call during the Ninth African Leadership Magazine Person of the year award ceremony organised virtually during the weekend where he was awarded with the African Peace and Security Leader of the Year 2020.

In his acceptance remarks, the former president stated that for peace to reign, those who wield power should respect the rule of law, be fair to all and dispense justice in a manner that promotes equity and boosts the people’s confidence in their nation.
“When politicians undermine democratic principles and usurp citizens’ rights, it creates a situation that impacts negatively on peace and development,” he said.

Jonathan also underscored the importance of democracy, stable leadership and peace and development to national growth.
He stated: “In Africa, it appears we see the political process as a civil war or a fraudulent enterprise that has no rules. This is unhealthy for our polity as it impedes our development.”

Jonathan, in a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said that leadership commands a great influence in the affairs of men, such that the fate of a nation is often interconnected with that of the leader.
According to him, leaders that promote peace and build institutions always focus on those deliveries that cater to the needs of our citizens and keep them safe.

“More than in any other parts of the world, self-centred and egocentric contests for power by African politicians had, more often than not, unleashed widespread violence and insurgency on the African soil.

“Peace in our continent is mainly threatened by political instability, poor democratic practices and weak institutions. Many African nations that are today mired in conflicts, or just emerging from one, often have such crises rooted in the struggle for leadership.

“I always make the point that there is a clear link between a nation’s social and economic standing and its position in the global conflict index. Nations with fewer conflicts and more stable leadership tend to be richer and better off in the human development profile,” he added.

Jonathan stated that the nations with the lowest progress on the official United Nations Human Development Index, many of them in Africa, are those that are either poorly governed or embroiled in leadership struggles.

Jonathan thanked the publisher of African Leadership Magazine and the award committee for the honour, saying that “I am delighted that my little contributions towards peace and sustainable democracy in our continent are being recognised.

“Awards and recognitions are good because it reassures the recipients that their little contributions to the growth of society have not gone unnoticed. It also comes with a sense of responsibility which jolts the awardees to the fact that they can no longer go below a certain threshold. To all of us receiving the award today, it is, therefore, a nudge to do more.”

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Politics 0
Soludo Alleges Plots to Kidnap His Children during Consolidation

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, has said his family went into exile because of several threats to their lives when he introduced the banking consolidation policy in 2004.

Soludo added that he received 19 written threats to his life following that policy.

He stated this in an interactive session with some journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Soludo, who is contesting for the governorship of Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, said a good leader must be adamant and revolutionary when embarking on progressive policies.

He said, “I am a very impatient person to see change happen and I am passionate in anything I focus on. At that time, no bank in Nigeria was in the top 1,000 banks in the world. If you needed to make an investment of $500m, you had to go through the then 39 banks and it was an impossible task.

“If you wanted to borrow abroad, there was no bank here to guarantee that. So, I came to the realisation that if we wanted to build a private sector-driven economy, it was not possible with the rickety ‘mama and papa’ banks, which could not guarantee even N3m loan. We, therefore, needed to pull down the house and rebuild it.

“There was nothing I did not see. I received 19 written threats to my life. Even there were attempts to kidnap my children at Offa in Kwara State. So, it was a very brutal revolution. I had to evacuate my family during the banking consolidation because when you want to uproot a system, it is usually a deadly routine.”

The Professor of Economics said his quest to govern the state was not for personal enrichment as God had blessed him all round, even before he became 30 years.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Business 0
Bandits Kill Seven in Fresh Attacks on Kaduna Communities

Seven people were killed in fresh attacks on communities in Igabi and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan confirmed the killings in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

He said in Kajinjiri village, Igabi LGA, two people were killed when bandits attacked the village.

He said in Rago village, also of Igabi LGA, the bandits killed two people.

Aruwan further said three people were killed in another attack on Kutura station, Kajuru LGA.

The statement reads: “On a sad note, security agencies have reported that armed bandits attacked Kajinjiri village, Igabi local government area and killed two residents identified as: Ibrahim Rabi’u and Abdulrahman Mohammad.

“One person, Kamal Murtala, sustained gunshot injuries, and is receiving treatment at a nearby facility.

“Similarly, in Rago village also of Igabi Local Government Area, bandits killed two locals identified as:Alhaji Ibrahim Iro and Muhammadu Rabiu.

“In a separate incident, gunmen invaded Kutura station, Kajuru Local Government Area and killed three residents, identified as: Michael Shadari, Clement Aura Bili and Danlami Shaban”.

The commissioner said “Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the reports with sadness and condoled the families of those killed in both attacks, while offering prayers for the repose of their souls. He also wished the injured victim from Kajinjiri village a quick recovery.”

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Arewa 0
JAMB, Tertiary Institutions to Close 2020/2021 Admissions June 15

All admissions into the nation’s tertiary institutions for the 2020/2021 academic session will end by June 15, 2021, according to a decision collectively taken at a virtual meeting with heads of tertiary institutions in the country on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and tertiary institutions agreed at the meeting to close admissions for the 2020/2021 academic session by June 15, 2021, JAMB’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement yesterday.

The statement said Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede used the meeting to find out the progress tertiary institutions had made on the 2020/21 admissions scale.

It noted that the goal of the interactive meeting was to forestall an endless admission regime generated by the series of disruptions to daily life occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the statement, the meeting would enable the board to put necessary machinery in place for the 2021/2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME/DE) registration exercise.

It noted that only 30 per cent of institutions had started admissions into the 2020/2021 Academic Session.

The statement said there was need to collectively decide when to close the 2020/2021 Admission Exercise.

It added that the proposal was for Public Universities to end admissions four weeks ahead of Private Universities, the Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and IEIs.

“After a robust and insightful deliberation, members collectively agreed that all public universities are expected to finish their admissions on or before 15th May, 2021, while the private universities and all IEIs, polytechnics and COEs would complete theirs at the agreed date of June 15, 2021.

“Oloyede reiterated that the chosen deadlines remained sacrosanct and binding on all institutions as the Board would not tolerate any breaches of the collective decision reached at the meeting.

“He said the Board would announce in a week’s time the commencement date for the sale of application documents for the 2021/2022 Academic Session,” the statement said.

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Education 0
2023 Elections: ADC Rejects Creation of New Polling Units

As preparation for the 2023 general election continues, the African Democratic Congress ( ADC) has rejected plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional polling units in the country.

The issue of additional polling units, which was shelved ahead of the 2015 general election, seems to have taken the centre stage again.

In August 2014, INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega, sought to create 30,027 additional polling units ahead of the 2015 general election, with 21,615 in the north and 8,412 in the southern part of the country.

Addressing a press conference on the state of the nation at the weekend, the ADC said creating more polling units in addition to the existing 120,000 would further increase the cost of electioneering in the country.

The ADC National Chairman, Chief Okey Nwosu, who stated this at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja at the weekend, urged public officials to exercise restraint while formulating policies that would affect the economy of the country adversely.

Nwosu noted that while the United States of America with a land mass of 9.8million square kilometres has 250,000 polling centres, Nigeria with approximately 923, 768 square km has 120,000.

According to him, “Recently, INEC has been on the offensive to create more polling stations in addition to the existing 120,000 in spite of the Nigeria budget limitations and economic struggles.

“INEC and the National Assembly have shown apathy to due diligence and efficacious financial management. The ration and rationale of election expenses to the GDP of the country is mind-boggling and sparks a sign of irresponsibility.”

The ADC chairman stated that the cost of electioneering in Nigeria is taking a heavy toll on the country, political parties and the citizens

Consequently, he said the National Assembly, INEC as well as political parties should be concerned about the cost of elections in the country and its effects on the economy.

“Our elections and democracy must not continue to sap the country because leaders are inept, corrupt and uncreative,” he added.

Also, Nwosu, while lamenting the level of insecurity in the country, said: “Today, Nigeria has become more divided than ever before. Leaders at national and state levels have learnt the art of designing and borrowing framework to source for money across the world to no end, while they leave the country and future generation in perpetual debts.

“For over two years now, Nigeria has maintained the shameful record of the poverty capital of the world. The insurgency and brigandage at all level across the country is mind bugling. Boko haram terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and dangerous activities of herders who have infiltrated the country from all over Africa countries have continued to leave the country in a state of depression, despair and death.”

He also lamented that despite the huge borrowing, the infrastructural deficit in Nigeria presently is beyond redemption.

On the National Assembly, the politician said: “The National Assembly has failed woefully. The former DIG of police, who got elected into the Senate in 1999, was embarrassed that the men in both the red and green chambers were persons that have criminal records, some of whom were on the wanted list of the force’s CID units. The Senate has become converted to chambers for ex-governors and a refuge where people with large fraud records go to hide to avoid harassment from security agencies in the country.”

Main Admin by — March 1, 2021 in Politics 0