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Nigeria expecting 3.92m doses of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines by July ending – NPHCDA
… 680, 345 Nigerians get second dose of vaccine
By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has announced that between July ending and early the second consignment of 3.92 million doses of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive Nigeria.
Shuaib gave this hint yesterday during the press briefing update on the status of COVID-19 vaccination in the country.
He said that so far 680, 345 Nigerians have collected their second dose of the COVID- 19 AstraZeneca vaccine and advised Nigerians who have received their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their first dose and ensure that they receive the second dose between 6 – 12 weeks after their 1st dose to gain full protection against COVID-19.
He called on those who are 18 years and above who has not been vaccinated to visit the nearest vaccination site for their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, for this category of persons their second dose will be due in 12 weeks when Nigeria would have received the next consignment of vaccines, adding that the agency is working with international partners to ensure that the next shipment of vaccines to Nigeria.
This he noted confirms the US government’s willingness to purchase 500 million doses of the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine to be donated to low and middle income countries through the next year as well as the MasterCard Foundation which has pledged to donate $1.3 billion for vaccines in Africa over the next three years in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Speaking on the Indian ( Delta) variant B.1.617.2 he said that recent research has shown that it is 92% susceptible to Oxford/Astrazeneca. which confirms that the vaccine used in Nigeria can protect against this variant that caused high morbidity and mortality in India.
The WHO Country Representative Dr. walter Kazadi Mulombo noted that the threat of the three wave of COVID- 19 is real in the African region including Nigeria.
Mulombo noted that while the rollout of COVID – 19 is important while intensifying the preventive measures such as observing physical distancing, wearing of masks, avoiding crowds, cleaning of hands and coughing into handkerchief.
June 16, 2021
EFCC Arraigns 5 Sokoto Govt Officials Over ‘N500m Scam’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned five management staff of the state Primary Staff Pension Board for allegedly diverting N553.985,644.1.
The money was meant for the payment of retired teachers’ gratuities and pension.
The staff include, Abubakar Aliyu, Hassana Moyi, Haliru Ahmad, Kabiru Ahmad and Dahiru Muhammad Isa who are Secretary, Director of Finance and Supply, deputy Director of Finance and Supply, Accountant and Cashier of the board respectively.
The staff were arraigned before the Sokoto High Court on 28 count-charge bordering on forgery, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation, which were contrary to sections 92 (2), 311, of the Penal Code law CAP 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria and Sections 351, 353, 348 of the Sokoto Penal Code law 2019.
Explaining more about the case, the Zonal Head of EFCC, Usman Bawa Kaltungo, said the staff used forged vouchers, withdrew and shared monies meant for pension and gratuities of primary school teachers in the state.
According to him, the money was withdrawn in tranches.
Kaltungo, who said they acted on a petition brought to them by one of the affected pensioners, said between January 17, 2017 and March, 2020, the Director of Finance withdrew the sum of N83.2 million from their account with Polaris Bank.
“During the same period, Haliru and Kabiru withdrew 203,217,770.71 and 266,567,053 respectively from the same account in the name of pensioners,” he said
“We had to pay for the transport fares of some of the pensioners before they could come and testify and they were shocked to find out that their long awaited pensions and gratuities had been diverted.”
Another EFCC official told our reporter that, “With all these money that they had withdrawn, we could not recover anything from them. This is why we are suspecting they were withdrawing for some top government functionaries which they refused to disclose to us.”
However, Kaltungo hoped that the court would do justice.
The case was adjourned till June, 28 for the continuation of trial.
June 16, 2021
Kogi Police Command Arrests Suspected Kidnapper In Kogi
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A Kidnap Syndicate Suspect, Mohammed Sani of Fulani Camp Ejale area, Okene Local Government Area has been arrested by the Kogi state Police Command.
The police operatives attached to Ajaokuta Division on 15th June, 2021 at about 1800hrs acted on credible intelligence that some persons suspected to be kidnappers allegedly terrorizing Kabba-Okene axis were sighted at Speed-Break Bumps area around Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
Immediately, it was gathered that the Police operatives swung into action and nabbed one Mohammed Sani of Fulani Camp Ejale area, Okene Local Government Area in Kogi state.
The suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation that he belong to a kidnap syndicate terrorizing Kabba-Okene axis and had actively participated in several operations along Kabba-Ayere road in the Western senatorial district of Kogi state.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Aya said the Kogi state Commissioner of Police, CP Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation with a view to arrest other members of the gang.
CP Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, however, reiterated the command’s high level commitment in collaboration with other security agencies in the State to sustain the ongoing onslaught against criminal elements in the State.
Suspect will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
June 16, 2021
KEDCO To Install 87.747 Meters, Goes Tough On Meter By Passing
By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.
The management of Kano electric distribution company KEDCO has disclosed that the company would install 87.747 meters at zero phase to ensure accurate billing at Kano franchise area, and warns against meter bypass as tough measures are being taken to ensure severe punishment to defaulters.
In a press statement signed and issued to newsmen by the company’s head of corporate communication, Malam Ibrahim Sani Shawai, KEDCO would not spare any body found guilty in an offense related to meter bypass as all the necessary arrangements have been
made to fight against meter bypass.
In this regard, KEDCO appealed to it’s numerous customers to co-operate with the company’s readiness towards the constant power supply at Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states and reassured that more preparations are on the way to ensure accurate billing systems.
June 16, 2021
IYC hails Buhari, NLNG on Train-7 project
Warns against divide and rule tactics
Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) for the Tuesday’s flag-off of the company’s Train-7 project in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The President, IYC, Peter Timothy Igbifa, in a statement he signed in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said the IYC was particularly interested in the over 12,000 direct jobs the project would generate on completion.
Igbifa asked the company to ensure that the Ijaw communities directly and indirectly hosting the project were fairly carried along without resorting to the wicked old tactic of divide and rule.
He said the youths in the affected communities must be engaged from the construction of the project to its completion to reduce tension in the company’s area of operation.
Igbifa warned against intimidating and shortchanging any Ijaw community hosting the project insisting that the IYC would not tolerate such injustice.
He lamented the environmental hazards especially air pollution caused by the activities of NLNG in Bonny and surrounding communities saying the company had yet to address all the issues.
He recalled how a particular specie of fish died in its numbers and was washed ashore the Bonny Ocean adding that despite the promises of the authorities to investigate the cause of the incident, nothing had happened since then.
Igbifa appealed to the NLNG to avoid any incident that would further worsen the Bonny environment in its quest to complete the Train-7.
He also advised the company to settle the rift between the Finima community and Bonny to avoid a repeat of the recent violence that broke out in the area.
Condemning the violence that led to arson and inflicted injuries on many people, Igbifa urged the Bonny and Finima communities to embrace dialogue and resist the temptation of waging a war against each other.
The IYC boss further asked the warring parties in Andoni Local Government Area of the state to end the age-long conflict in the council, sheath their swords and embrace peace.
He said: “The groundbreaking of the NLNG Train-7 project in Bonny is a welcome development. We are ready to partner with the NLNG and the government to complete the project within the stipulated time.
“As a Council, we appeal to the company to carry all the host communities to the project along without resorting to the the wicked old tactic of divide and rule.
“Youths from the communities must be considered for employment to reduce the tension in the affected area. The company should also avoid any incident that will worsen the environment of Bonny. Care must be taken to protect the environment”.
June 16, 2021
It’s not only to borrow money that you’re in charge, but also security – Wike tells Buhari
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says it is unconstitutional for the President to shift his constitutional responsibility of securing lives and property of Nigerians to state governors.
The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said the President is the Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces and cannot declare that governors are in charge of security in their respective states.
Wike, who spoke at the inauguration of the 21-kilometre Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in the Etche Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, said such a position suggested that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government lacked strategies on how to tackle insecurity in the country.
He stated, “Mr President, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector General of Police. You appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the commissioners of police, the Director of Department of State Services and other heads of security.
“Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr. President be under me?”
“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must, also, be in charge of other things including security. Who signed order 10? Is it the governors? It is not when things are going bad concerning security, and you say you’re not in charge, and it becomes governors’ responsibility,” he stated.
Wike advised the APC-led Federal Government to agree that it could no longer fulfil promises made to Nigerians.
The governor said Nigerians should begin to compare the performances of the Peoples Democratic Party governors with their APC counterparts.
He said, “Mr President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people.
“Mr President should have come out openly and said, ‘my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work.’ On that, I support him.
“Thank God, Mr President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under the PDP, you’ll never find me there,” Wike said.
June 16, 2021
Court denies Baba Ijesha bail
The magistrate court sitting in Yaba, Lagos state, has denied embattled actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju popularly known as Baba Ijesha, bail.
The movie star was arrested in April this year for allegedly defiling the foster daughter of comedienne, Princess, when she was 7 and 14 years old. After 25 days in detention, Baba Ijesha was granted bail on May 17 by magistrates in charge of prison decongestion. He however has remained in custody as he failed to meet his bail conditions.
On Wednesday morning, June 16, he was arraigned before the Magistrate court. His counsel, Kayode Olabiran, prayed the court to release his client on health grounds.
Delivering a ruling in the bail application, the magistrate, P.E Nwaka, held that the court can not grant the actor bail because the matter is beyond its jurisdiction. The judge also explained that the case has already been filed before the high court.
Also speaking, Yetunde Cardoso, the superintendent of police in charge of the case, said the matter is now beyond the police.
“Mr Olanrewaju was actually granted bail during the JUSUN strike and based on the conditions given, he couldn’t meet them and he was properly charged today.
Just like the court stated, the case has already been filed before the high court and the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) of Lagos State Ministry of Justice has taken over the matter from the police.
So presently, we have handed over to the DPP so the case is before them (DPP). It has nothing to do with the police anymore, it’s now left for the DPP to handle it.”she said
Baba Ijesha is facing trial over charges bothering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor. He was charged with indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault which contravenes Sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to him.
The case has been adjourned to July 13 for mention.
June 16, 2021
BREAKING: ISWAP Fighters Set Military Base On Fire In Borno
Insurgents suspected to be members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran a military formation in the southern part of Borno State on Tuesday and cart away weapons after a fierce gun battle with the troops. It was learnt that the fighters rode on about 10 utility vehicles to storm the military formation at Kwamdi village, Damboa local government area, on Tuesday evening.
They were said to have burnt down one Ammour Personal Carrier(APC) and a gun truck.
According to a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Hamidu Abu, the deadly group targeted soldiers camp but not residents.
He further disclosed that the base was razed down as arms and ammunition were stolen by the invaders.
“They came at about 4 p.m. and due to the sand storms it was difficult for soldiers to repel them. They burnt down the base including APC and four other vehicles.
“I can’t ascertain if there was any causality figure,” Abu said.
A security source confirmed that the base came under attack from gunmen believed to be ISWAP fighters at about 4 pm and it lasted for about an hour and 30 minutes.
The source added that fighters seized the opportunity of the sand storm to penetrate the base.
“Our base at Kwamdi came under attack but we didn’t lose any of our personnel to the attackers, unfortunately the base suffered some damages,” the security source told Daily Trust.
There has not been any official reaction from the Nigerian military.
June 16, 2021
JUST IN: FEC okays resumption of FCT land swap plan
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the resumption of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) land swap plan.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the week’s virtual Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The initiative, which worth was put at about N1 trillion under the previous dispensation, was designed to remedy the infrastructure deficit in the federal capital by swapping land with private investors who would in turn provide necessary infrastructure.
The minister said FEC approved the resumption following a memo he presented to the council.
He said some amendments were made to the original form of the initiative by establishing a legal framework to protect all parties.
June 16, 2021
Governor Lalong Excited Over Release Of Rev. Polycarb Zongo
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has expressed excitement over the release of Rev. Polycarb Zongo of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Wild Life Park, Jos who was abducted by insurgents last year October.
Lalong said the release of the clergyman and other abductees is an answer to the prayers of the Church and other people of goodwill which affirms that God does not abandon his people even at difficult moments.
Lalong praised all those who played various roles in facilitating the release of the clergyman, as well as thosea who showed concern to the family and the Church, saying this is the solidarity and humanity that is needed to overcome the insecurity and intolerance in the country.
Governor Lalong wishes Rev. Zango well as he recuperates from the emotional and physical trauma he has undergone. He also urges him to remain strong and use his ordeal to encourage and motivate the people towards trust in God and respect for humanity.
He also sends his special goodwill to the family of Rev. Zongo, the COCIN family and its President, Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, urging them to continue to pray for God’s intervention in the affairs of the nation and interceed for other people in similar circumstances as well as upholding the security agencies as they continue to battle the insurgents.
June 16, 2021