Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

NSE: Indices drop further by 0.14%
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) market indicators on Tuesday recorded further depreciation, dropping by 0.14 per cent.
Specifically, the All-Share Index which opened at 21,330.79 lost 30.32 points or 0.14 per cent to close at 21,300.47.
Similarly, the market capitalisation dipped N16 billion or 0.14 per cent to close at N11.100 trillion compared with N11.116 trillion posted on Monday.
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Zenith Bank, UACN, Guaranty Trust Bank, Lafarge Africa and Access Bank.
Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said, “We expect the bearish sentiment to continue, however, there exists bargain hunting opportunities in the equities market.”
Also, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said that market outlook would remain unstable during the lockdown period and beyond due to high volatility in developed and developing markets.
Omordion noted that bouquet of stimulus packages had failed to uplift the market.
“This is because there is no clear road map for implementing these fiscal and monetary measures to ensure that they are devoid of the usual bottlenecks”, he said.
Market breadth closed negative with nine gainers in contrast with 11 losers.
Jaiz Bank led the losers’ chart in percentage terms, with a loss of 9.43 per cent, to close at 48k per share.
Ikeja Hotel came second with 9.09 per cent to close at 90k, while Courteville dipped 4.76 per cent to close at 20k per share.
Sterling Bank trailed with 4.17 to close at N1.15, while Transcorp shed 2.94 per cent to close at 66k per share.
On the other hand, GlaxoSmithKline recorded the highest to lead the gainers’ pack in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent, to close at N4.40 per share.
May and Baker followed with a 9.74 per cent gain to close at N2.14, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.52 per cent to close N2.07 per share.
Wema Bank rose by 6.38 per cent to close at 50k, while Unilever increased by 4.76 per cent to close at N11 per share.
Transactions in the shares of Sterling Bank topped the activity chart with 303.46 million shares valued at N348.75 million.
Zenith Bank followed with 29.65 million shares worth N350.397 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank traded 16.87 million shares valued at N301.16 million.
United Bank for Africa accounted for 14.49 million shares worth N72.58 million, while FCMB Group transacted 9.65 million shares valued at N14.41 million.
In all, investors staked N1.72 billion on 422.01 million shares exchanged in 3,448 deals.
This was against 466.91 million shares worth N1.93 billion achieved in 3,659 deals on Monday. (NAN)
April 1, 2020
COVID-19: Ikeja Electric suspends disconnection of customers
Ikeja Electric (IE) has announced the suspension of all disconnection activities of non-paying customers for a period of two weeks effective April 1, due to the lockdown of Lagos State caused by COVID-19.
Mrs Folake Soetan, Acting Chief Executive Officer, made the announcement in a statement in Ikeja on Wednesday.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday in a nationwide broadcast announced the 14 days lockdown Lagos State, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, from 11pm on March 30, as part of efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
Soetan said the suspension of the disconnection activities was to ensure that customers who could not afford to pay their March bills due to the closure would continue to enjoy supply until the stay at home order was lifted.
According to her, customers who wish to pay their bills can also do so using any of the DisCo’s designated online payment platforms.
She said: “Our prepaid customers can buy energy online using any of your preferred online banking or merchant platforms. You can also visit our website to purchase vending units.
“In line with treating our customer first, using technology now policy, our customer service representatives will be available to respond to all your complaints and inquiries in a prompt and professional manner.
“We will leverage on our world class communication tools online and via social media to attend to your complaints and inquiries while also increasing the turnaround time for resolution.
“All employees on essential services throughout this lockdown period are committed to ensuring that you get the best customer service and have been mandated to deliver in line with our processes and best practices.
“We, therefore, implore you to avoid giving any monetary inducement to any of our employees as we carry out the job of serving you better.
“At Ikeja Electric, the job is not done until it is done. It is our job to serve you.
“In carrying out their job, our trained engineers will deploy globally accepted safety procedures and practice social distancing, and all that is required to contain the spread of COVID-19.”
While urging IE’s customers to cautiously observe the stay at home order and other safety measures, she noted that defeating the pandemic requires a collective effort by all and sundry.
She said the DisCo was committed to ensuring that its customers enjoy steady and quality supply throughout the difficult period and beyond.
Soetan said: “We recognise the fact that electricity supply is critical to our ability to stay safe, clean and indoors.
“As one of the companies designated as essential services, we have put measures in place to ensure that our engineers and technicians are available to clear all forced and unforced outages, while also continuing with preventive maintenance programmes.
“We, therefore, solicit the support of customers to cooperate with our staff as they carry out their duties, while we restate our commitment to deliver steady electricity supply in line with our allocation.” (NAN)
April 1, 2020
Lockdown: Ilorin residents appeal for palliatives
Some residents of Ilorin have on Tuesday called for palliatives to cushion the effect of the stay at home order I posed by the State Government.
They complained of lack of money to buy food for themselves and their children, which they said is as a result of the lockdown policy to prevent spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the state.
The Kwara Government had on March 23, directed residents to stay-at-home to complement Federal Government effort at containing COVID-19 pandemic.
The restriction in movement affected all commercial vehicles, including government, private and public offices and shops, with exceptions of food, provisions and pharmaceutical shops.
Speaking with NAN in Ilorin, Mr Saheed Olapeju, a vehicle repairer said that the action taken by the government is commendable, but there is need to make preparation for the lower class, as most of them depend on their daily income.
“We rely on our hard earned money, through the work of our hands, but with this disease that the world is battling with, we had to stay indoor and there is no other means to provide for ourselves and our family
“Many of us have finished the little food we have at home and there is no how we can work and get money to buy another food. We are broke and stranded
“Government should come to our aid, so that we will not fall ill as a result of hunger,” he said.
Mr Tope Isa, a foot wear seller, said that the government only allowed those that are selling food, drinks and medicine store, which he said has affected the living condition of other businessmen.
“We do not know when this stay-at-home will last, and we did not plan for it, which is the reason why many of us have started asking for help from the rich people in our area.
“It is shameful to ask for help, but more painful not to get assistance from those you relied on, and those you believed can help,” he said.
A trader, Madam Iya Tawa said that there is poor sales, adding that many people are complaining of no money and are begging to buy on credit, for them to pay later.
“Even those of us that are allowed to sell drinks and provisions are finding it difficult to sell well, as many of our customers are complaining of no money, since they could not open their shops
“Some youths have started behaving cunny, thereby looking for how to maneuver their way to buy one thing and steal three other things in the process.
“This is so unfortunate. We plead to government to assist us by all means and reduce this hunger that is already affecting us,” she said.
Some youths have started stopping vehicles in Oja-Oba market, Ilorin, begging for money to buy food, while others are sited by the road sides looking dejected. (NAN)
April 1, 2020
Gombe Govt moves to mitigate economic impact of COVID-19
Gombe State Government says it’s taking measures to mitigate the effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy of the state.
Mr Muhammad Magaji, Gombe state Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Wednesday in Gombe.
Magaji said that the quick-fix measures being taken by the state government were to strengthen the Internally Generated Revenue base to ensure that it meets most of its needs in terms of the aspirations of the people.
He said the state had commenced reviewing its 2020 budget to reflect the effect of the pandemic on the economy with a view to maintain financial discipline as allocation from Federal Government dwindles.
“For us in Gombe, we have started to look at our budget for 2020 and already in the process of reviewing it to reflect the changes that have already been adopted by the Federal Government.
“Our budget should also reflect the reality, so that we capture correctly what we expect as revenue from federal allocation and that of course, translate to a reduction in the overall revenues accruable to the state.
“It therefore means that we have to scale down on the budget and activities we have outlined for the year 2020,”he said.
The commissioner added that the state government had also put in place austerity measures aimed at containing the recurrent expenditures to ensure that it reduces the recurrent expenditure to the barest.
He stated that part of such measures led to the suspension of the N30,000 minimum wage after due deliberation with labour leaders in the state while also slashing the salaries of all political appointees.
“Last week, we had a meeting with labour and we agreed to suspend the N30,000 minimum wage. We have done that to enable the state pay salaries.”
Magaji said the worst days were yet to be seen but, “as a responsible government, we will try to ensure that we are able to pay salaries and meet our minimum obligations within those periods.
“All we will do is to ensure that we become very strict with our spending. Ensure that whenever we don’t need to spend money; we don’t.
“We begin to plan ahead for those months that will be extremely difficult.”
He, however stated that though the review of the 2020 budget would affect the capital projects but, “It does not mean that some of these projects will not be undertaken.
“But it may take a longer time for the projects to come to reality.”
According to Magaji, the lesson from the impact of the coronavirus on the nation’s economy only tells us that we need to diversify by encouraging people to move into other sectors to harness the potentials there.
“In Gombe state, we are making moves to diversify our economy and this is the reason Gov. Inuwa Yahaya is passionate about the industrial park and already, we have investors.
“They want to partner with us to ensure that the project comes to fusion within a very short period. This will provide jobs, create more taxes for government and enhance the corporate image of the state.
While commending the federal government for efforts to diversify the nation’s economy through agricultural sector, the commissioner appealed for more supports for states from the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government should assist states by suspending all the FGN intervention loans for at least a year to allow states have more money to pay salaries and undertake other obligations,”he said. (NAN)
April 1, 2020
Improvise at home to play golf, says No. 1 golfer
Andrew Oche, the Number One ranked golf player in Nigeria, on Wednesday advised upcoming players to improvise and continue to practise at home in order to hone their skills against the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Oche, who gave the advice while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, added that just like every other thing that had been affected by the pandemic, golf was not exempted.
“Yes, one has to be consistent by practising at home by improvising so that one would not get rusty when this is over.
“Almost everything is being affected by the pandemic, of course. Sports are definitely hit hard with the Olympics and major sporting events around the world being called off, it speaks volume as how it affects us.
“Golf surely is not an exception. Hopefully, things can recover really quickly after the pandemic.
“But, be rest assured it will take time for things to normalize before getting even better,” he said. (NAN)
April 1, 2020
COVID-19: What President Buhari has done, and is doing – by Presidency
In his broadcast to the nation on Sunday, March 29, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that “in Nigeria’s fight against Covid-19, there is no such thing as an overreaction or under-reaction. It is all about the right reaction by the right agencies and trained experts.”
Lest we forget, below is a chronicle of some of the reactions by the agencies and trained experts, under the leadership of President Buhari. All these are apart from the impressive job being done by some state governors.
· January 28, 2020, (one month before the first case of Corona Virus). Federal Government assured citizens of the country of its readiness to strengthen surveillance at five international airports in the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The government announced the airports as Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT.
· January 28: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also announced that it had already set up coronavirus group and was ready to activate its incident system if any case emerged in Nigeria.
· January 31: Following the developments on Covid-19 pandemic in mainland China and other countries worldwide, the Federal Government set up a Coronavirus Preparedness Group to mitigate the impact of the virus if it eventually spreads to the country. On the same day, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed Nigeria among other 13 African countries identified as high-risk for the spread of the virus.
· February 27: Nigeria reports its first Coronavirus case
· Early March: Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, announced that 60 persons who had contact with the index Italian patient were under isolation – 40 in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State.
· March 9: President Buhari established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.
· March 17: Nigeria postponed the 20th National Sports Festival that was billed to hold in Benin City, Edo State from 22 March to 1 April.
· March 18: Presidential Task Force Press Briefing during which the Federal Government announced that travellers from 13 countries would no longer be allowed to enter Nigeria until the Coronavirus pandemic was over.
· Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travellers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland. These are countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.
· The government also stopped issuance of visas from the countries.
· The Federal Government also suspended the issuance of visa on arrival to travelers from the earlier named countries. All travelers returning from these countries prior to the restriction will be in supervised self-isolation, monitored by NCDC and Port Health Services.
· March 18: The Management of the National Youth Service Corps suspended the 2020 Batch A stream one 21 days orientation exercise indefinitely. The orientation exercise commenced on 10 March and was expected to end on 30 March, before it was suspended after just 8 days.
· March 18: Nigeria placed a travel ban on 13 countries with high cases of the virus namely: United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, China, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and Iran.
· March 18: The Nigeria Football Federation suspended all football activities for four weeks.
· March 19: Nigerian President’s daughter in isolation after returning from Britain.
· March 20: Nigerian government announced the closure of tertiary educational institutions, secondary and primary.
· March 20: Nigeria extended travel ban to two more countries, Sweden and Austria.
· March 20: Nigeria announced the closure of international airports in Enugu, Port Harcourt and Kano.
· March 21: The Nigerian Railway Corporation announced the suspension of all passenger services from 23 March.
· March 21: Nigeria announced the closure of the remaining two international airports in Abuja and Lagos.
· March 23: The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad ordered all courts in Nigeria to shut down from 24 March.
· March 23: Nigeria announced the suspension of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and National Council of State (NCS) meetings indefinitely.
· March 23: The Independent National Electoral Commission announced suspension of all activities for 14 days.
· March 24: The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board suspends activities for two weeks.
· March 24: The National Examination Council announced an indefinite postponement of the 2020 common entrance examination into 104 Unity schools in Nigeria, which was scheduled to hold on 28 March.
· March 24: The Federal Capital Territory Administration ordered the immediate closure of shops in the markets and neighbourhood centres, except those selling food items, medicines and other essential commodities.
· March 24: FCT also directed the immediate suspension of gathering in churches and mosques.
· March 25: Government announced the closure of Asaba airport with effect from March 27; land borders from March 29.
· March 26: CBN announced Covid-19 fund contributions by seven Nigerian billionaires and banks. Access Bank Plc, Nigeria’s biggest lender by assets, is teaming up with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to provide treatment and isolation centres across Africa’s most populous nation as it braces for the impact of the coronavirus.
· March 26: Federal Government received 107 boxes of medical supplies from China, comprising surgical masks, protective clothing, face shields and detection kits.
· March 27: Federal Government released 10 Billion Naira to Lagos State, and 5 billion Naira special intervention fund to NCDC to equip, expand and provide personnel to its facilities and laboratories across the country.
· Closure of the nation’s international Airports and Land Borders for four weeks in the first instance, to enable the country put up the appropriate policies, processes and infrastructure to cope with suspected and confirmed cases at home, without risking compounding of the situation with more imported cases.
· Only cargo vessels that have been at sea for more than 14 days would be allowed to dock in the ports, after the crew have been tested and confirmed disease-free by the Port Health Authorities.
· NCDC to draft all its recent retirees back into service to beef up manpower.
· Furthermore, all NCDC staff and experts who are away on training or international assignments are to return immediately. Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducting an evacuation mission to bring back some of Nigerian specialists in Central Africa, to enable them support the national response.
· March 27: President Buhari commends the monetary policy authorities for their financial intervention to support entrepreneurs and companies. Government also looking at fiscal measures to minimise the negative impact of this pandemic on the livelihood of millions of Nigerians.
· Government begins the process of reviewing the federal budget.
· President Buhari directs the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, to work with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to ensure that production of essential items such as food, medical and pharmaceutical products continues.
· The Minister of Health stated that of the 65 Coronavirus cases, 40 had immediate travel history to one or more of the Coronavirus affected countries in the last two weeks;10 are close contacts of confirmed cases; 6 had neither a recent travel history nor a known contact and 6 were detected on an offshore oil vessel. He further revealed that, 3 persons had been discharged from treatment and one fatality was recorded. The Minister affirmed that 61 currently active cases are clinically stable with mild or moderate symptoms.
· The Minister of Health hinted that Lagos State is currently the epicentre of COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, stating also that the Lagos State government and the ministry of health had scaled up their response activities as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control supports them as well as other affected states, through the rapid response teams deployed.
· The minister emphasised that health facilities and health workers at all levels should be on high alert and maintain a high index of suspicion to give full cooperation to contact tracers everywhere. He added that while train stations, land borders and international airports remained closed, precautionary measures should be taken by FG to protect sea ports.
· The minister emphasized the containment strategy of social distancing which he said, had been repeatedly announced. He added that directives had been issued at National and State levels to limit large gatherings, including religious, social and political gatherings, school events etc.
· March 27: A circular was issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) directing public servants on Grade Levels 12 and below on non-essential roles to work from home.
· Contact-tracing is on-going to identify persons who had been in close contact with confirmed cases.
· The Federal Ministry of Health is working closely with States and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to review response activities, and initiate measures to protect the health and wellbeing of Nigerians. The Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), led by NCDC coordinates it and other national response activities
· NCDC launched a WhatsApp APL, a free to use service to provide a central source of accurate, verified and current information on COVID-19 in Nigeria.
· The Minister of Health also emphasized that the NCDC hotline is available 24/7 and toll free and that various states also have hotlines that could be called for direct state specific questions on COVID-19, while urging citizens to use them legitimately for reporting and enquiries.
· March 29: Presidential Broadcast.
· March 30: President Buhari signs Covid-19 Regulations, 2020 into law.
· March 30: 11pm: Lockdown begins in FCT and Lagos, as directed by President Buhari.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 1, 2020
April 1, 2020
Germany’s Audi announces €5m in coronavirus aid
German carmaker Audi has announced 5 million euros (5.5 million dollars) in emergency aid to support medical and care facilities both at home and abroad during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The corona pandemic presents extreme challenges for all of us worldwide, for us as a company and for the society as a whole,” said Markus Duesmann, who became chairman of the carmaker’s board on Wednesday.
“I would like to thank all the Audi employees who are looking ahead, doing their bit and helping where they are needed in this extraordinary time,’’ he said in a statement.
Audi says that a growing number of employees are signing up to volunteer for the crisis-response efforts.
The millions of euros in aid from the Ingolstadt-based Volkswagen subsidiary comes on top of 600,000 euros already announced on Monday for hospitals in the luxury carmaker’s home city and the city of Heilbronn, where it has a factory.
Audi’s production lines have been still for over a week now, with just under half of the company’s 61,000-strong workforce placed initially until Easter on the German government’s short-time work scheme, helping to cover the bulk of their wages while there’s no work to do.
A company spokeswoman said Audi was fielding lots of calls requesting help and donations.
Employees are helping in a number of ways, she said, such as helping with the harvest in southern Germany’s hop-planting region of Hallertau.
She added that Audi vehicles have been provided to the Technisches Hilfswerk civil protection organisation.(dpa/NAN)
April 1, 2020
COVID-19: Residents play down April Fool prank in Anambra
Pranks associated with April 01 as Fool’s day is being downplayed this year in deference to a more serious matter, the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world.
Most residents of Awka view the event associated with the day as of less significance compared to what coronavirus was doing to global peace and welfare.
A number of them approached for comments refused saying they would rather save their breath for other things.
Mr Moses Nnakee, a vigilante operative, who responded to our correspondents’ prodding on the matter, said the time was a trying and should not be used for pranks but sober reflection.
“We are in a time of seeking ways out of this deadly pandemic that has crept into our nation.
“Anybody playing such a prank on me would invite my wrath for we are going through uncertain period that is unpleasant, ” he said.
However, Mr Peter Nnatuanya, an essential services worker said that though the situations in the world called for prayers and precautions, it did not stop humour.
“April Fool pranks are allowed to some extent of humour and not agonising for the situation the pandemic has put us in.
“What the citizens needed now is fervent prayers and strict adherence to lay down directives on curbing the spread of corona virus,” he said.
Miss Adaora Okeke, a civil servant, called on the citizens to join in making the nation come out of the pandemic un-shattered urging that regular pranks be kept for another day.
“Playful humour be postponed, as we join government in ending this pandemic fast,” she said.
NAN investigations online also revealed that there was little or nothing on April 1, as most social media users devoted time either praying for an end to the pandemic or providing perspective observations on COVID-19 from their areas of residence.
Others simply shared public service messages relating to the pandemic
By the Gregorian calendar, April 1 is the 91st day of the year that stands out as the only holiday that celebrates foolishness, also called All Fools Day.
Steeped in myth and controversy, one account traces April Fools’ Day back to 16th century in France when the 1564 Edict of Roussillon decreed that New Year’s Day, historically observed on Easter by Christians, be moved to January 1.
Early adopters of the new date began to dub others stuck with the previous tradition as “April fools.” (NAN)
April 1, 2020
Coronavirus: Anambra govt. starts teaching of SS3 students on radio
The Anambra State Government on Wednesday said it had started the teaching of eight subjects on radio to help SS-3 students prepare for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, that the programme tagged “Anambra Teaching On Air”, would ensure that students were engaged during the school closure.
It would be recalled that public and private primary and secondary schools had been shut down in Anambra from March 23, as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19.
Omenugha said teachers who specialised in core subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Literature-in-English and Financial Accounting, would take the various topics on radio in line with already prepared time table.
She said though the tutorials were targeted at the SS-3 students preparing for their SSCE, but SS-1 and SS-2 students could also benefit from it.
“The on- air teaching programme, which started today, April 1, on ABS radio, is basically for SS-3 students, who are preparing for SSCE but because SS-3 class is usually for revision, those in SS-1 and SS-2 can also benefit.
“To tell the truth, I don’t know how long this sit-at-home directive will last. So, the on-air teaching programme will go on as long as we are at home. The teaching starts from 11.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m everyday.
“We already prepared eight subjects for the programme, but we can still add more as time goes on, ” Omenugha said.
The Commissioner urged parents to ensure their children listened to the programme rather than allow them patronise tutorial centres, to curb the spread of coronavirus. (NAN)
April 1, 2020
London gin distillers make hand sanitiser for police
Three gin distillers are using their expertise in alcohol production to make hand sanitiser for police in the British capital.
London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said this on Tuesday.
The police approached distilleries after finding supplies short of the “crucial item” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Hand sanitiser is a crucial item for officers and staff in the MPS, especially those on the front line who are patrolling the streets of London, dealing with prisoners in custody and attending crime scenes,” the force said.
The police expect to receive their first delivery of the sanitisers – made according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards by Portobello Road Gin, 58 Gin and Copper Rivet Distillery – in the next few days.
Brewing giant Budweiser will also donate 6,000 litres of hand sanitiser to the force, it said.
“Hand sanitiser is an essential item for our officers and staff, especially those on the front line,” said Mark Roberts, the force’s director of commercial services.
“So I am extremely grateful to all of the suppliers who have agreed to work with us and provide us with this vital commodity, which will help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ultimately save lives.
“It shows the importance and necessity of everyone working together in these challenging times,” Roberts added. (dpa/NAN)
April 1, 2020