The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has counseled the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to play politics with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) but join other wellmeaning Nigerians in seeking solution for the scourge.
The party gave the advice in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Ologbondiyan, it is on record that the APC was yet to offer any meaningful suggest on ways to address the raging pandemic.
“Nigerians will recall that the PDP had on several occasions advised the Federal Government on effective pre-emptive measures as well as the need for concerted efforts and safeguards in the fight against Covid-19.
“The PDP had been on the forefront in canvassing for stringent steps at our international ports and borderlines, consequent upon which President Muhammadu Buhari had approved international travel ban from 13 countries,” he said.
Ologbondiyan recalled that the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday advised the President to reduce the pump price of fuel and suspend stamp duties on all accounts as palliative measures against Covid-19, which was on Wednesday implemented.
He said that the PDP would not be distracted in its commitment to the wellbeing and safety of Nigerians.(NAN)
Author: Alpha Maidawa
Don’t play politics with Covid-19, PDP advises APC
COVID-19: NYSC debunks report of corps member testing positive
Mr Emmanuel Attah, Zonal Coordinator, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Southwest Area Office in Osun, has debunked online reports that a corps member in NYSC Ekiti Orientation Camp tested positive to COVID-19.
Attah, said in a statement that the report was fake, being peddled by mischievous people.
He said it was saddening that such misleading and damaging reports would be peddled at a time the COVID-19 pandemic was being battled worldwide.
“The attention of the NYSC has been drawn to a fake and unsubstantiated news making the rounds that a corps member presently in NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ise-Orun, Ekiti State has tested positive to Coronavirus and has been moved to the State Isolation Centre situated at Oba Adenuyigbe Hospital, Anilosun, Ado-Ekiti.
“The said report was in bad light and it is orchestrated just to mislead Nigerians especially, parents and guardians of members of the service corps that are in NYSC Camps nationwide.
“With every sense of responsibility, I wish to reiterate the commitment of the scheme to continue to wage unrelenting war against whatever pandemic that may rear its ugly head near any NYSC formation nationwide with far reaching actions in order to guard against the contraction of any deadly virus by corps members.
“I equally wish to add that the corps member that was purportedly alleged to have tested positive was taken to a Laboratory in Ede, Osun State for comprehensive medical test to determine the veracity or otherwise of the damaging allegation and I am happy to inform the general public that the corps member tested negative to the dreaded epidemic.
“Once again, I want to repeat that no corps member has tested positive to Coronavirus or any other disease in all the NYSC formations nationwide.
“Accordingly, newsmen should endeavour to seek information and clarification from NYSC management or the accredited spokesperson before going to public with such damaging news items.
“NYSC remains committed to the remarkable welfare and well-being of all corps members nationwide,” he said.(NAN)
Coronavirus: Interfaith Centre calls on UN to declare global Day of Prayers
The Interfaith Mediation Centre has called on the United Nations to declare a day of global prayers against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The call was contained in a statement issued by Co-Executive Directors of the Centre, Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, and made available to News Agency of NIgeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna.
“We beckon to all faith based groups the world over to intercede for God’s mercy and intervention and bring to an end this threat to human existence.
“We also call on the United Nations to as a matter of urgency declare a day for global prayers, for God’s intervention across the world from this global pandemic.
“We pray for God’s protection over our families, community members, regions and nations of the world, we pray for healing for those in turmoil of the virus,
“Our hope and prayers for those that are quarantined and for God’s mercy and healings.
“We call on all religious groups and institutions to continue to educate their adherents on the basic knowledge of hand washing, and to avoid touching other sensitive part of the head with the hands.
” Our faith is strong as we pray for those that are vulnerable.”
They also prayed for the success of the various medical teams and researchers working day and night across the globe to end the pandemic.(NAN)
COVID-19: Lagos State to shut down all schools on Monday
The Lagos State Government is closing down all public and private schools from Monday March 23, 2020 as part of preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, said in a statement that the move became necessary to prevent children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.
It advised parents to ensure that their children practise ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene.
“The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat.
“Children should be encouraged to remain at home,” the Commissioner said in the statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
She said that the Lagos Incident Command Centre, headed by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would continue to trace all contacts of the identified cases.
The Commissioner encourage anyone who has information about suspected cases to report to the nearest hospital or call the emergency telephone numbers 08023169485, 08033565529, 08052817243 and 08023401214.(NAN)
Ooni inaugurates Moremi Intl. Market, says ‘ll boost economic growth
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has inaugurated Moremi Multipurpose International Market, Onikoko, saying the market will boost the economic growth of the town, state and the nation at large.
Oba Ogunwusi stated this at the commissioning of the market at Ife Ooye Local Council Development Area, along Onikoko, Area of Ile-Ife on Wednesday.
Ooni said that the market was set up at the needed time whereby citizens and people from Diaspora would benefit immensely from it.
According to him, people will be coming from far and near which will bring progress and development to the ancient city of Ile-Ife and the country at large.
He said that Ejigbomekun Market which was known as Oja-Ife, was the first market worldwide set up in the cradle of Yoruba’s, but today, there are numerous markets.
Ooni assured his people that within the next few years, the place would soon become beehive of activities, whereby people within and outside would be buying and selling.
The Royal Father therefore, admonished the citizenry to make good use of the opportunity availed them by the market.
Earlier, the Developer of the Project, Ose Ogunkorode, commended Ooni Ogunwusi for his developmental drive to boost the economy of the ancient city of Ile-Ife and the state.
Ogunkorode described the international market as first of its kind, saying 80 acres of land was released for the market and would be developed in three phases.
According to him, phase one would be completed in 2020 while the second phase would be finished by December 2021 and the third phase would rounded up by December 2022.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Committee of the Market, Oba Muritala Adewale, the Onikogun of Okerewe, acknowledged Ooni Ogunwusi for the reality of the project.
Oba Adewale said that the market would benefit everybody, for the project would go viral, due to its uniqueness.
According to him, different products will come to the market and people from near and far would be patronising it.
Also, Ganiyu Egbetunde, the Chairman, Ife Ooye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), appreciated God for given them Ooni Ogunwusi, who he described as a “nation builder.”
Egbetunde said that Moremi International Market was one of its kind globally, for it is multipurpose, the market would encompass all things that have to do with market, for it will empowers the youth.
The market men and women would showcase their products in divers area while people globally would have access to the market.
The chairman gave assurance that there would not be any cause for alarm as market will be adequately secured. (NAN)
NSE sustains negative outlook, index down by 0.71%
Sell pressure continued on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday with the indices dropping further by 0.71 per cent , just as Feburary inflation rate hit 12.20 per cent.
Specifically, the All-Share Index (ASI) lost 162.12 points or 0.71 per cent to close at 22,543.07 compared with 22,705.19 on Monday.
Similarly, the market capitalisation dipped N85 billion to close at N11.747 trillion against N11.832 trillion on Monday.
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which were; Dangote Cement, CAP, Ardova Plc, NASCON and International Breweries.
Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said: “We expect the bearish sentiment to persist for the rest of the week. However, we note that there are opportunities for bargain hunting.”
Dangote Cement and NASCON led the losers’ chart in percentage terms, dropping by 10 per cent each, to close at N137.70 and N8.55 per share, respectively.
Ardova followed with a decline of 9.80 per cent to close at N13.80, while CAP lost 9.77 per cent to close at N18 per share.
International Breweries was down by 9.57 to close at N5.20, while Lasaco Assurance, Niger Insurance and Courteville Business Solutions shed 9.09 per cent each, to close at 20k per share each.
Conversely, Access Bank, Lafarge Africa and United Capital led the gainers’ table in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent each, to close at N6.05, N11 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
FCMB Group garnered 9.66 per cent to close at N1.59, while Cadbury and Caverton rose by 9.62 per cent each, to close N5.70 and N2.28 per share, respectively.
Transcorp increased by 9.52 per cent to close at 69k, while NPF Microfinance Bank rose by 9.41 per cent to close at 93k per share.
However, the total volume of shares traded rose by 22.56 per cent as investors bought and sold 675.91 million shares valued N8.06 billion in 7,368 deals.
This was in contrast with a total of 551.48 million shares worth N5.76 billion shares achieved in 6,981 deals on Monday.
Transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank topped the activity chart with 173.94 million shares worth N2.32 billion.
Guaranty Trust Bank came second with 131.06 million shares valued N2.57 billion, while FBN Holdings traded 119.27 million shares worth N478.91 million.
Access Bank sold 92.03 million shares valued N539.13 million, while United Bank for Africa transacted 31.47 million shares worth N168.89 million. (NAN)
FG begins review of oil and gas free zones authority Act
The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja began review of the Act establishing Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) in Nigeria.
The review is to remove ambiguities and enhance effectiveness in the sector.
Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment while declaring open a stakeholder’s forum to review the OGFZA Act no 8 of 1996, called for stakeholders’ input.
OGFZA is the government agency which promotes investments in the nation’s oil and gas free zones.
The stakeholder’s forum was organised by the ministry to examine the OGFZA act and the imperative of addressing imperfections in the act through an amendment bill to reposition the agency.
The minister said review of the OGFZA act based on the experience and observation that the act required a serious review to remove ambiguities and inconsistencies to achieve clarity and enhance effectiveness.
He said over the years, the inadequacy of the act led to avoidable inter-agency conflicts and hampered OGFZA in the execution of its mandate, hence the decision to create a platform to engage stakeholders for best possible outcome.
“Nigeria is the pioneer in Specialised Economic Zones (SEZs) with the establishment of the first oil and gas free zone Act No 8 of March 29, 1996 in Onne, Rivers, which was supervised at the time by the then Ministry of Commerce.
“Nigeria occupies this pride of place in a global industry that boast no fewer than 5,383 SEZs as at 2019, according to the United Nations Conference on trade and Development (UNCTAD) statistics,’’ he said.
He expressed regret that in spite of the efforts of pioneering the industry of SEZs, the inadequacy of the law empowering the regulating agency for the SEZs had not allowed the nation to reap its optimal benefits.
Adebayo commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on its sound policy initiatives that had attracted Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the nation’s oil and gas free zones.
He also said the ministry felt a special sense of privilege to contribute to the achievement of the policy goals of the current administration.
According to him, the ministry will also look at the situations in all the agencies under the ministry with a view to repositioning them for the important task of developing the non-oil sector.
He urged the forum to take a close look and suggest pathways for the legal framework that would make OGFZA act the most effective oil and gas free zone regulatory agency.
Amb. Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment said the ministry had consistently delivered on the promise to promote economic growth.
This she noted the ministry had done by championing creation of jobs and drive for inclusive growth while promoting integration of Nigeria based businesses into regional and global value chains.
“OGFZA plays both a strategic and catalytic role in economic development, particularly in employment creation, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), zero oil plan, skills development and industrialisation, technology and innovation,’’ she said.
Mr Umana Okon, OGFZA Managing Director, expressed worry over imperfections in the act which was put in place 24 years ago.
According to him, without appropriate legal framework, it cannot not exercise its mandate appropriately.
Okon urged the stakeholders to look into areas such as, concession of taxes, supervision and conduct of export free zones, licences permit and tax incentives for investors.
He said that between 2007 to 2017, the oil and gas free zone contributed highest cargo throughout, with the creation of 200, 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Okon said it also attracted FDIs worth more than 15 billion dollars to Nigeria.
He noted other free zones fully licensed by OGFZA and in operation are the Warri Oil and Gas Free Zone, Notore Industrial City, Onne, Rivers, Brass Oil and Gas City, Bayelsa and Lagos Oil and Gas Free Zone, Apapa. (NAN)
COVID-19: Buhari meets Economic Council, vows to protect Nigerians
President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria has foreseen the economic problems that may come in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will explore all alternatives to protect citizens.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement that the president spoke on Tuesday at State House, Abuja, during a briefing session by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) led by Prof. Doyin Salami.
The president noted that with oil prices oscillating between 29 and 30 dollars in recent times, as opposed to the 57 dollars benchmark for year 2020 Budget, many variables, including production cost and political impact will determine oil prices.
”We will see how to survive fallen prices, as we already envisaged the problem,” he added.
He explained that protecting the people from vagaries of international economic fortunes, ”and associated fallen prices of oil, is a priority of government, and we will do our best to do so”.
While stressing the importance of education and healthcare, Buhari submitted that if people were adequately educated “they won’t accept any form of mismanagement by leadership, nor would they allow themselves to be manipulated by those promoting ethnic and religious sentiments”.
He promised that inputs in agriculture, education and healthcare would continue as much as practicable.
In his briefing, Salami, leading a team of PEAC members, painted sobering scenarios of what could happen to the Nigerian economy, if the COVID-19 pandemic lasted for too long.
These, according to him, include slower growth, as the supply and demand sides of global economy would be affected; uncertainty, which would erode confidence; governments acting unilaterally instead of cooperatively; further drop in oil prices, and lockdowns gaining grounds around the world.
”There would also be oil glut, trade imbalance, drop in foreign reserves and rise in unemployment,” it said.
While noting that many countries round the world may go into economic recession, the PEAC advocated hard work for Nigeria to keep its head above the waters.
The council recommended, among others, a possible revision of the 2020 Budget, with priority spending on healthcare, reprioritisation of expenditure on infrastructure to focus on projects nearing completion with pro-poor effects and curtailing recurrent expenditure.
It added that the private sector should be mobilised to strengthen health sector infrastructure and boosting of government revenue.
The PEAC also stressed that the projections may seem dire, but the worst may be avoided with hard work and scrupulous implementation of policies. (NAN)
Bauchi speaker empowers 500 unemployed youths
Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly has disbursed N5 million to 500 unemployed youths to enable them to engage in productive activities.
Sulieman, (PDP Ningi Constituency) distributed monies to indigent constituents as part of comprehensive youths and women empowerment initiative.
Mr Abdul Burra, the Spokesman of the speaker made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Bauchi.
Burra said the beneficiaries were carefully selected in the eleven wards in the area, adding that the scope of the programme would be expanded to mobilise participation.
He said that 200 females received N5, 000 each while 300 their male counter part got N10, 000 each, respectively.
Burra said the disbursement committee set up by the speaker would monitor the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the monies to achieve the expected positive impact on them.
According to him, about 100 youth will be train on vocational and skill acquisition programme designed to expose the trainees to weaving, pomade processing , leather work and computer literacy.
The spokesman added that the speaker also engaged 10 unemployed qualified health personnel to serve as casual workers of the General Hospital, Ningi.
He said: “They are placed on a N10, 000 monthly stipend while several boreholes and hand pumps were procured to enhance access to clean water in the area”. (NAN)
Nigeria’s Iyorhe, 2 other females to officiate at 2020 CHAN
Nigeria’s female FIFA-badged referee, Mimisen Iyorhe, would join Ethiopian central referee, Lidya Tafesse, and Malawian assistant referee, Bernadettar Kwimbira, to officiate at the forthcoming 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon.
A statement by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday said that the trio joined their male counterparts, 19 referees and 19 assistant referees in the five-day training preceding the championship.
The championship, which is in its sixth edition, would hold from April 4 to April 25.
The statement quoted CAF Refereeing Director, Eddy Maillet, as saying that the decision was to provide a platform of more competitions for the female referees, considering the limited number of women’s tournaments and also to improve their match fitness.
“We launched this ground-breaking initiative during the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania last April and the result was inspiring.
”During the U-23 AFCON in November in Egypt, the performance of the female referees was impressive which saw two of them (Fathia Jermouni and Salma Mukansanga) taking part in the third place match.
“The CHAN is the next senior competition after the Africa Cup of Nations, and it will provide a major platform for the female trio to prove that they are capable.
”It was interesting to see them compete for a spot in the final tournament with their male counterparts,” Maillet said.
The statement added that the five-day training programme focused primarily on the application of Video Assistant Referees, which would be deployed at the sixth edition of the competition designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues.
”It was under the supervision of experienced instructors such as Jerome Damon (South Africa), Jean Claude Birimushahu (Burundi), Hadqa Yahya (Morocco), Hannachi Boubaker (Tunisia) and Mohamed Hussein Ali (Djibouti).
”It was the second major seminar for the pre-selected match officials after a similar one in Cairo, Egypt last February,” the statement said.
With this development, CHAN will be the third major men’s competitions to have female match officials after the Total U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (Tanzania 2019) and the Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Egypt 2019.)
Tafesse is one of the most experienced female match officials having participated in major competitions, including the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.
On her part, Kwimbira has several Women’s Africa Cup of Nations participation to her credit in addition to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, whilst Iyorhe served at the 2016 and 2018 Women AFCON. (NAN)
