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Kano State Govt. conducts 8,273 COVID-19 samples test
Kano State Government says it has conducted 8, 273 coronavirus (COVID-19) samples test
since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state in April.
The Kano State Ministry of Health disclosed this via its official Twitter handle @KNSMOH on Tuesday.
It noted that “a total of 8,273 samples of COVID-19 were tested in Kano State.”
It disclosed that 21 new confirmed cases of the virus were recorded and 32 patients discharged in the state as at Monday, June 15.
Accordingly, the state had so far recorded a total of 1,158 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which, 450 were active cases, 658 discharged and 50 deaths.
The ministry urged residents of the state to observe safety protocols, personal hygiene, and use face mask, hand washing, as well as social distancing to
stem further spread of the pandemic.
It also provided toll free numbers: 0909 399 5333; 0909 399 5444, 0800 268 4356.
June 16, 2020
Niger governor’s wife advocates for death penalty for rapists
Dr Amina Bello, Wife of Niger Governor has called for speedy dispensation of rape cases and for the death penalty for convicted rapists.
Bello, who is also the Chairperson of the Wives of Northern Governors Forum, made the call during the one-week campaign against rape and gender-based violence organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in Minna.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that activists carried placards with inscriptions such as; “NHRC says no to rape. Rape is a crime not a family matter, believe and support rape survivors. Rape is a crime and a rapist is a criminal.”
Bello, who was represented by Hajiya Mariam Kolo, Director-General of the Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency, said that violence affects both female and male genders, but the female tends to suffer most.
“Violence on women is mainly done by an intimate partner, women who are subjected to violence are at risk of depression and anxiety,”she said.
She stressed the need for a strong political will and appealed to government at all levels to invest and support women organisations against the scourge.
She suggested strengthening of laws and policies that would add value to women and bring a gradual end to violence against women.
She called for the need to dismantle the foundation of gender inequality arising from religious, traditional and customary beliefs.
In his address, Mr Nuhu Mohammed, the State Coordinator of the NHRC disclosed that about 70 per cent of women in the country face physical and sexual violence in their lifetime.
“The effects of violence can remain with women and girls for a lifetime and can be passed from one generation to another.
“Studies have shown that children who have been subjected to violence are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves,”he said.
Mohammed advocated for rape survivors to have access to good health facilities to administer emergency medical care such as: treatment to prevent HIV, unwanted pregnancies and counseling.
He called on other collaborative agencies to take up the task of fighting for rape victims and called for stiffer punishment for perpetrators of rape and violence against women.
June 16, 2020
Obaseki will join us soon – PDP
Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Tony Aziegbemi, has confirmed that Governor Godwin Obaseki and other top officials of the All Progressives Congress would soon join his party.
Aziegbemi, however, said the governor would not be given an automatic ticket to fly the party’s flag as other aspirants had shown interest in the same position.
The PDP has fixed its governorship primary for June 19 and 20.
Obaseki was disqualified from contesting the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress slated for June 22.
In a telephone interview on Monday, Aziegbemi said Governor Obaseki would have to go through the laid down rules of the party when he eventually defects.
He said, “There is nothing like an automatic ticket for anybody; it is like that in any democratic environment, and there is a process as laid down by the constitution of the party and that we will follow.
“But I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy, and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining the PDP soon. We have been in touch in the last few days; by tomorrow (today), I will be able to confirm the exact date he will be joining with his team.”
However, one of the PDP aspirants in the forthcoming primary, Mr Ken Imasuagbon, said he would resist any attempt to hand over the party’s ticket to Obaseki ahead of the state governorship elections.
June 16, 2020
Domesticate Child Rights Act, VAPP – Gbajabiamila tells State Speakers
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tuesday urged State Houses of Assembly Speakers to ensure that all states in the country domesticate the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
This development followed a commitment made by the Speaker two weeks ago when he met with some civil society organisations over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence across the country.
Daybreak learnt that the meeting was conducted via zoom and moderated by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Rep. Adewunmi Onanuga, with the Speakers of Bauchi, Ekiti, Delta, Edo and Plateau states, among others, in attendance.
In his remarks, Gbajabiamila said the meeting was convened to address the problem of sexual and gender-based violence.
In his words, “We called this meeting to see what we can do. It is to also find out from states that have not domesticated these Acts, to know what exactly the problems are; what are the issues?
“How exactly can we collaborate from the federal level, from the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, in helping to domesticate these two laws, taking into consideration the different cultures and communities?
“We had a robust debate in the House of Representatives. We had very far-reaching resolutions that will address some of these issues. The bottom line is we need to do something fast.”
But the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rep. Abubakar Suleiman, who is also the chairman of the North-East States’ Speakers, said the VAPP Act is currently at public hearing stage in the state.
It was also resolved at the zoom meeting that he should lead in soliciting the commitment of the other states in the North to emulate his actions based on the two laws and domesticating them according to their local context.
Further, the state assemblies are to work with some members of the House of Representatives from states where the acts are yet to be domesticated for regular updates on the progression of the two Acts in their respective states.
Other resolutions are that the Office of the Speaker, relevant House Committees and government agencies such as NAPTIP, NHRC, Police will provide technical support to states legislatures in amending the two Acts to suit local circumstances to ensure timely consideration.
Also that the House would work with states legislatures to sensitize key response actors and consider other protective laws as well as strengthen existing government agencies that have the mandate to protect and prosecute perpetrators of heinous crimes of SGBV in all forms.
DAILY POST gathered that Gbajabiamila would next week send the resolutions arrived at in a letter to all states legislatures that are yet to domesticate the VAPP Act and CRA to reflect the urgency of the matter.
June 16, 2020
Naira Marley looked exactly like Fashola when boarding – Buhari’s aide mocks Executive Jets
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie has mocked Executive jets over its claim that it mistook Naira Marley for Fashola while airlifting him to Abuja.
Following the controversy of Naira Marley’s concert in Abuja, the airline on Tuesday in a letter to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika apologized for airlifting Naira Marley and others.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Mr. Sam Iwuajoku, added that airline airlifted Naira Marley due to a case of mistaken identity.
According to him, there was no indication from the names in the manifest that Naira Marley was part of the flight, as they thought it was Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
The names listed on the manifest are: Adewunmi Segun, Chinonso Opara, Fashola Babatunde, Fashola Adeshina and Adeyeye Tobi.
Reacting, Onochie on her Twitter page described the statement by the airline as an act of lawlessness.
Sharing a picture of Naira Marley alongside Fashola, She wrote: “We thought Naira Marley was Buhari’s minister, Fashola – Executive Jets Services
“Me: Sure, and when he appeared to board the flight, Naira Marley looked exactly like Hon. Minister, Fashola. Lawlessness.”
June 16, 2020
BREAKING: Obaseki finally dumps APC
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has formally announced his decision to resign his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Obaseki, who was disqualified from contesting the party’s governorship primary election slated for June 22, announced the decision to State House correspondents after meeting with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
The embattled governor said he would pursue his ambition for second term in office on another platform.
He had on Monday said he would only disclose his next line of action after meeting the President.
Obaseki has been having a running battle with his predecessor and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
Details later…
June 16, 2020
Obaseki vs Oshiomhole: Nigeria governors reply Wike for calling them ‘toothless dog, beggars’ over Edo crisis
The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has faulted comment credited to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on the forum being a beggar and toothless dog.
Wike had made the remark while berating NGF over the travails of his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki.
Recall that Obaseki, who has been involved in a face-off with Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was disqualified ahead of the party’s primary election in the state.
Ahead of his planned defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Daybreak recalls that Obaseki had on Sunday visited Wike in Port Harcourt.
However, Wike while condemning NGF’s silence in the face of Obaseki’s travail, had said: “Ordinary, I would not speak on the fate of Obaseki, but the NGF has become a toothless bulldog that can only bark and not bite. It is quite unfortunate that I belong to such a forum. Nobody seems to respect the Governors Forum again because we have given ourselves out”.
Reacting, NGF’s spokesperson, Abdulrazaque Bakindo, faulted Wike for making such a comment.
A statement by Bakindo blamed the comment attributed to Wike on Rivers State Commissioner for Information.
Bakindo said: “Governor Wike is an old member of the NGF and a strong one at that. He could not have referred to the NGF as a Beggars Forum.
“Blame it on the author of the release, Mr Nsirim the Information Commissioner in Rivers State who couldn’t distinguish between the NGF and the Progressive Governors Forum which is the political platform of APC Govs. The NGF has six core mandate areas and politics isn’t one of them.”
June 16, 2020
COVID-19: Osinbajo’s committee hints on suspending NYSC for two years
The Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) led by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp for two years.
The recommendation was made by the committee due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee, however, recommended that deployment of primary assignment will still go on despite suspension.
The report reads: “The immediate focus in the Education sector is to address the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and ensure social distancing measures at all levels of education.
“Practical steps will be taken to minimize disruption to learning and appropriate utilization of technology.
The committee also recommended the implementation of virtual convocation ceremonies with issuance of certificates (with postponed ceremonies) in a bid to continue the progression of education.
“In a similar context, consideration will be given to suspending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp Exercises for at least 24 months while allowing deployment to places of primary assignment.
“This will ensure that there is no backlog in the National Service placement in the country,” the letter added.
DAILY POST recalls that the NYSC submitted a proposal for approval which includes guidelines, to reopen camps across the control.
The 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Orientation Course was suspended after a week, as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
June 16, 2020
BREAKING: FG lists conditions for reopening schools, varsities
The Federal Government has given conditions for the reopening of schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, announced the conditions in Abuja on Tuesday.
He spoke at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
Nwajiuba said, “All Institutions must have (1) Hand-washing facilities, (2) Body temperature checks (3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc. (4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and (5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene (6) Ensure Social and Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces.”
In a copy of the minister’s speech obtained by our correspondent, he commended the higher institutions for responding promptly with different innovations, including the manufacturing of some of the facilities that were required to attend to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The minister, however, warned them against reopening schools without the Federal Government’s authorisation.
“While we Iook forward to easing the Iockdown which win ultimately lead to re-opening of our campuses, I urge all the Heads of Institutions not to wait till the announcement on reopening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control,” he added.
June 16, 2020
‘We didn’t know they were useless people’ — Executive Jets apologises over Naira Marley flight
Executive Jets Services Limited, an airline suspended by the Federal Government for flying Musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, to Abuja to attend a concert, has written a letter of apology to the government over what it described as a “mix-up”.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had announced the suspension of the airline during a Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Sirika said, “The person on that flight conducted a concert. We approved a flight, certainly not for a musician. The flight was approved to convey Honourable Justice Adefope Okogie from Lagos to Abuja and then back to Lagos for an official assignment.
“The operation is a clear violation of our approval which we take very seriously. It seems this is becoming a norm. This is the second time. So, Executive Jet Services is hereby suspended indefinitely and they will face the law.”
However, in a letter dated June 15, 2020, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Sam Iwuajoku, said he gave the approval for the flight thinking the passenger was the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
In the letter entitled, “Re: Flight For 13/06/2020 Done By Executive Jets Services Ltd To Abuja”, and directed to Sirika, Iwuajoku explained that he did not know the said passengers were “a bunch of useless people”.
He said, “We hereby apologise for the above flight with your permit ref: FMA/ATMD/0175/V/V/1268 dated 11th June 2020.
“Please the flight was to carry a judge to Abuja on Sunday, 14th, June 2020 as requested and the permit was granted based on the application but unfortunately, when I called the Judge on Saturday morning to inform him that we have the permit, he then said he has reached Abuja already with a different flight that someone gave him a lift to Abuja.
“So, on Saturday morning, 13th June 2020, my staff called me that they have a charter flight to Abuja, and that the passengers are already in the lounge. As a rule, passenger manifests are always sent to me before departure.
“When I went through the manifest and saw FASHOLA BABATUNDE, I thought it was the Honourable Minister of Works going to Abuja with his men. So, we decided to do the flight since he is a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I didn’t know that it was a bunch of useless people.
“We are very sorry for this mistake and we promise that this would not happen again.”
Also, in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday morning, the airline owner revealed that he gave a discount on the flight fare thinking the beneficiary was the Works Minister.
“We have learned our lessons and we will be more careful going forward,” he said.
June 16, 2020