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No evidence Rwanda’s president ordered 18 Chinese nationals to leave the country
Posts claiming that Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the deportation of Chinese nationals for mistreating Rwandan workers have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. However, there is no public record of such an order, and representatives of both the Rwandan and Chinese governments said this never happened.
According to a Facebook post published by a page called “CNN Zambia”, 18 Chinese nationals were “sent packing back to China” on May 27, 2020, after President Paul Kagame allegedly discovered that they were mistreating Rwandan workers and grabbing their land.
The post also includes a long quote attributed to Kagame, which reads, in part: “This country is for Africans and those who mean well for us. I’m instructing those 18 Chinese nationals to go back and never return back!”
The transparency section of the Facebook page reveals that it was first created on May 2, 2020, under the name Bally News, then changed to CNN Zambia on May 23, 2020. The page is not verified — unlike others belonging to the American news channel CNN.
Similar Facebook posts were shared here and here, while on YouTube the same claim was circulated in videos here and here.
The claim also appeared on a website called Zambian Observer, which has frequently published misinformation.
A screenshot of a false article on the Zambian Observer website, taken on June 3, 2020
No deportation order
There are no reports from any reputable media organisations of Kagame making such a statement. A Rwandan government spokesperson told AFP Fact Check the claim was “fake news”.
And in response to a Zimbabwean politician who tweeted the claim, Kagame’s media adviser, Yolande Makolo, warned that the reports were false.
On June 3, 2020, the foreign affairs ministry also issued a statement on Twitter asking the public to ignore the claims.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation would like to inform the public that there has been fake news circulating on various social media platforms stating that 18 Chinese citizens were expelled from Rwanda; no such thing happened. Please ignore,”
The Chinese embassy in Rwanda confirmed to AFP Fact Check that claims about the deportation were, indeed, wrong.
“Chinese embassy didn’t receive any info about this fabricated deportation. Total fake news”, a representative of the Chinese embassy in Rwanda wrote.
June 10, 2020
OECD warns of world’s worst peacetime recession in a century
The world is facing its worst peacetime recession in a century due to the coronavirus, the Organisation for Economic and Social Development (OECD) warned on Wednesday.
“That applies even if the virus continues to recede.
“But the economic outcome will be much worse if a second wave of rapid contagion arises later in the year,’’ the intergovernmental think tank warned.
According to the OECD, it is taking the unusual step of publishing a double set of predictions in the latest edition of its twice-yearly Economic Outlook.
It added that it has been a best-case scenario for a worldwide single wave of COVID-19, and a worst-case scenario of a widespread second wave.
“In the single-hit scenario, world gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to decline by 6 per cent this year, however will rise by 5.2 per cent by 2021 to return to 98.9 per cent of its 2019 level.
“In the two-wave scenario, global GDP is projected to decline by 7.6 per cent this year, recovering by only 2.8 per cent next year to reach 95 per cent of its 2019 level.
“Even in the more favourable scenario, in many advanced economies, the equivalent of five years or more of per capita real income growth could be lost by 2021,” the OECD warned.
OECD chief economist Laurence Boone argued that ultra-accommodative monetary policies and higher public debt are necessary and will be accepted as long as economic activity and inflation are depressed, and unemployment is high. 2020 (dpa/NAN)
June 10, 2020
$182m needed for ‘lifesaving aid’ to Nigeria — WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) says over 182 million dollars (N68 billion) is needed to “sustain lifesaving aid” to Nigeria over the next six months.
WFP’s senior spokesperson, Ms Elisabeth Byrs, stated this on Tuesday, according to a report by the United Nations.
The report said “help and funding are needed urgently for millions of people hit severely by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic”.
They include “conflict-hit communities ‘on life-support’” in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
“We are concerned by conflict-affected communities in northeast Nigeria who already face extreme hunger and who are especially vulnerable.
“They are on life-support and need assistance to survive,” the report quoted Byrs as saying.
The three so-called BAY states, have been plagued by a decade-long insurgency that has spilled over into the Lake Chad region, the report said.
It remains among the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The report said about 7.9 million people, mainly women and children, were in need of urgent assistance in the region.
“That’s why WFP is distributing now two months’ worth of food and nutrition assistance in IDP camps and among vulnerable communities.
“This is to ensure that people have enough food while they are on full or partial lockdown”, Byrs reportedly said.
WFP said needs were also growing nationwide following a sharp drop in international oil prices since the outbreak of the virus.
As of Tuesday, there were 13,464 confirmed cases and 365 deaths from COVID-19 in the country, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Byrs said no fewer than 3.8 million people mainly working in the informal sector were at the verge of losing their jobs “amid rising hardship”.
She said the number could rise to 13 million if movement restrictions (inter-state restrictions) continued for a longer period.
“This would add to the almost 20 million (23 per cent of the labour force) already out of work.
“In a country where about 90 million people, 46 per cent of the population, live on less than two dollars (N752) a day, this is a real concern.
“The urban poor who depend on a daily wage to feed themselves and their families have been very hit by movement restrictions to contain the spread of the virus,” the WFP spokesperson said. (NAN)
June 10, 2020
El Rufai opens up Kaduna, gives guidelines
Gov. Nasir el Rufai has opened up Kaduna State after 75 days of partial lockdown, following the invocation of the Quarantine Act.
In a state broadcast on Tuesday, the governor paid tribute to the people of the state for their immense sacrifices in the last two and half months as containment measures against Covid-19 were implemented.
He said that as from Wednesday, the Quarantine Order would be amended to permit significant reopening of the state, especially businesses and places of worships.
He, however, said that schools and markets would remain closed because at this stage of COVID-19 containment, it was still considered unsafe for markets and schools to reopen.
He promised that government would keep engaging the relevant stakeholders on the matter to determine the appropriate timing and conditions precedent.
‘’Businesses can reopen, subject to the provision of thermometers for temperature checks, sanitizers or hand washing equipment and physical distancing measures within all facilities. Working hours will be between 9am and 3p.m. daily,’’ he said.
The governor further said that church services are allowed only on Sundays and mosques are allowed to conduct only Friday Jumat services for the time being, subject to compliance with the safety stipulations.
El Rufai maintained that transport operators must reduce capacity to not more than two passengers per row and not more than 50 per cent of capacity.
The governor said that the ban on intra-state travel has been lifted but government officials would continue to control state boundaries to reduce unauthorised interstate travel.
‘’Within the state, security checkpoints will be allowed only to enforce compliance with the night curfew.
”During the day, any violations of the adjusted Quarantine Order like failure to wear facemasks will be enforced by Operation Yaki, KASTLEA, the Vigilance Service and Mobile Courts,’’ he said.
According to him, ‘’supermarkets and personal services providers such as hair dressing and barbing salons can reopen; hotels can fully open, but with their restaurants and bars offering only room service”.
The governor warned that restaurants may all reopen after decontamination, but still restricted to takeaway services.
On office, he said that public servants would be summoned back to work in phases to be announced by the Head of Service.
El Rufai cautioned that after the opening up of the state, the next step of staying safe while pursuing socio-economic activities was strictly in the hands of each individual.
‘’While we require citizens to practice personal responsibility, the places where they work, worship or shop and the vehicles they travel in must also protect their health and safety.
”Any facility or sector that violates the guidelines will be closed down under the Quarantine Order No. 2 of June 2020 that I will sign today for immediate gazetting,” he said. (NAN)
June 10, 2020
I am Aregbesola’s leader, no cold war between us — Tinubu
Sen. Bola Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday debunked speculations of any cold war between him and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stating that he remains his leader.
Tinubu, in a statement by his media adviser, Tunde Rahman, stated that ‘there is no war, cold or hot, between us.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body within the APC in Lagos, had on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for the disbandment of all factional groups within the party.
There were online media reports that the resolution had worsened a phantom cold war between Tinubu and Aregbesola.
Tinubu, however, said that there had never been and there would never be any form of misunderstanding between the two of them following the dissolution of the groups.
He said that Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun, had been unswervingly and wholly committed to the progressive ideology of Tinubu’s political family.
“Today, the Governor’s Advisory Council, the highest decision-making body within the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, passed a resolution calling for the disbandment of all factional groups within the party.
“This was to promote discipline, harmony and cohesion and engender party supremacy. The APC is one united political family in Lagos. I remain Ogbeni Aregbesola’s leader,” Tinubu said.
The former governor of Lagos said: “Our political family remains strong. The GAC is a very strong body within the APC leadership structure in Lagos.
“And we are staying focused in our commitment to building and maintaining a cohesive political party. “Its resolution is not targeted at any particular individual or collection of individuals.
“The resolution was to restate the often-stated position that the only group known to us is APC and not any of the factional groups. The GAC position does not imply any division within the group.
“The resolution is well-meaning and should not be misinterpreted,” he said.
Tinubu expressed disappointment in the claims, adding that to do so impulsively as the authors of the report had done was to take the frontier of reporting away from facts to the realm of groundless speculations.
He noted that the GAC position does not imply any division within the group.
“The resolution is well-meaning and should not be misinterpreted. It was to renew the commitment to APC and its unity.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a strong member of the political family,” he said. (NAN)
June 10, 2020
Nigeria records 663 new cases of COVID-19, highest daily infections -NCDC
Nigeria Nigeria has recorded its highest daily COVID-19 infections with 663 new cases.
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control(NCDC) said, this brings the total number of infections in the country to 13,464.
The NCDC announced this on Tuesday through its official Twitter handle and said that as at June 9, four deaths were recorded in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the health agency said that Lagos State recorded the highest number of infections for the day with 170 cases while Ogun and Bauchi had 108 and 69 cases respectively.
The NCDC said that the new cases showed that Ebonyi State had 49 infections, Edo (33), Rivers (30), FCT (29), Jigawa (26) and Delta (20).
Amongst others were Anambra (17), Gombe (16), Kano (16), Imo (15), Abia (14), Borno (11), Oyo (11), Plateau (8), Kebbi (6), Kaduna (6), Ondo (4).
Niger and Katsina had two cases each while Osun, Ekiti, Kwara and Nasarawa recorded one case each.
The health agency said that till date, 13,464 cases had been confirmed out of which 8893 were active cases, 4206 cases treated and discharged and 365 deaths recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
NAN reports that the agency had activated three additional laboratories in the country, bringing the total number of laboratories that could carry out PCR testing for coronavirus disease in Nigeria to 33.
The health agency said it had stayed on track, in its goal to rapidly scale up laboratory testing for COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The NCDC stated that the three new laboratories were Biorepository and Clinical Virology Laboratory UCH, Ibadan, Oyo , Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Infectious Disease Unit, General Hospital, Ituk Mkpang, Akwa-Ibom and Jigawa State Molecular Laboratory, Dutse. (NAN)
June 10, 2020
COVID-19: NYSC proposes camp reopening
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it has embarked on measures that will ensure safety and efficient operations post COVID-19 restrictions on socio-economic activities in the country.
Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, the Director, Press and Public Relations of NYSC, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
The statement quoted Brg.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Director-General of the scheme, saying this during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, in Abuja.
Ibrahim informed the NCDC boss that NYSC suspended the 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Orientation Course just one week into the exercise as a proactive measure to avert the spread of COVID-19 to any of the orientation camps.
He said other operations of the scheme were scaled down in line with the Federal Government’s restrictions order.
Ibrahim said that the passing-out of the 2019 Batch ‘B’ Stream One corps members was low-keyed with full adherence to the COVID-19 prevention protocols.
He said conscious of the possibility of further or complete lifting of lockdown, the strategies mapped out by the NYSC management had taken care of various scenarios, and would be presented to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 through the NCDC for guidance.
The NYSC director-general said the suspended 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One orientation course would be completed, when the scheme received the green light from the PTF.
He also briefed Ihekweazu on the various COVID-19 interventions made by the scheme especially through corps members’ activities all over the country, including sensitisation, production and distribution of face masks.
Others, he said, are liquid soaps, hand sanitiser, automated disinfection chambers as well as automated and foot-operated liquid soap, hand sanitiser and water dispenser.
Ibrahim therefore solicited the PTF’s support in the funding of mass production of the automated disinfection chambers for use in all the NYSC orientation camps.
He commended the NCDC for its role in the overall national efforts at containing the COVID-19.
Responding, Ihekweazu commended NYSC for its support to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic through corps member’s activities.
He particularly expressed delight at the fabrication of hand washing machines and production of disinfectants among other interventions.
Ihekweazu, who praised the contributions of the scheme to the unity and development of the country, stressed that it deserved every form of support to enable it succeed.
The NCDC boss assured that the proposals presented by the NYSC director-general would be studied and recommendations made to the appropriate authorities. (NAN)
June 10, 2020
Woman delivered after 10 years of carrying pregnancy
By Abel Leonard
The people of Angwan Toni community in Nasarawa state are currently full of joy and surprise as malama Hindatu Isa who became pregnant ten years ago has delivered a bouncing baby girl.
Hindatu who spoke with daybreak news in Hausa language said, “as you can see my baby is safe after ten years. At a point I was thinking it is no longer a child sometimes I feel nothing inside of me but whenever I go for a test they will say there is nothing inside but often times I feel movement inside of me. I just thank God for today”. She said.
According to information, the couple have been married for ten years and the pregnancy was as old as the marriage but a miracle happened as she has delivered a baby girl.
” I am the second wife of my husband the first year I came into his house I got pregnant according to test from the hospital after some months I went for check up and they said the pregnancy was no more there. I kept praying at a point I gave up. But something kept telling me that I am still pregnant so I kept going to the hospital sometimes they don’t attend to me thinking something is wrong with me. That is what I did for ten years”. She narrated.
However, the father of the miracle baby, malam isa Sadanu Umar an Islamic teacher said it is a thing of joy to welcome a child in his home after many years of trial. ” I was married to my first wife for 23years and we had no child. I decided to take a second wife in 2011 which is Hindatu, in the first year she got pregnant which the doctor confirmed. After sometimes I started hearing stories I was patient and kept on praying until this day came to pass”.
“I want to thank every one for their support and kind gueature towards making this day blessed for me”. He further said.
More so, a medical Nurse safya Muhammed Barde said ever since she has been practicing she has never seen or experienced this kind of scenario. “I don’t think this will have any medical explanation the years the baby stayed in the womb has broken medical records I am yet to know what doctors will come out with. Am still surprised because I am the one that aided the safe delivery of the baby”. She said.
As at the time of filing this report efforts to get the views of the head of gynecology adepartment in specialist hospital lafia proves abortive because of an ongoing strike by doctors.
June 10, 2020
NCDC records 663 new cases, total now 13,464
Nigeria has recorded 663 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the number of confirmed infections in the country to 13,464.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known on Tuesday.
NCDC also announced that no fewer than 365 patients have died of coronavirus-related complications in the country.
It said, “On the 9th of June 2020, 663 new confirmed cases and 4 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
“No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
“Till date, 13464 cases have been confirmed, 4206 cases have been discharged and 365 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The 663 new cases are reported from 26 states- Lagos (170), Ogun (108), Bauchi (69), Ebonyi (49), Edo (33), Rivers (30), FCT (26), Jigawa (26), Delta (20), Anambra (17), Gombe (16), Kano (16), Imo (15), Abia (14), Borno (11), Oyo (11), Plateau (8), Kebbi (6), Kaduna (6), Ondo (4), Niger (2), Katsina (2), Osun (1), Ekiti (1), Kwara (1), Nasarawa (1).”
June 10, 2020
Bauchi APC suspends Senator Bulkachuwa
The All Progressives Congress in Kafin Kuka, Kofar Gabas Ward of Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State has suspended Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, representing Bauchi North Senatorial District, over alleged absenteeism from the constituency for a long period since he was elected.
The APC Ward Chairman, Sa’adu Muhammed, who disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the party’s zonal secretariat in Azare, said the Senator deserted the party and the constituents since his inauguration as a member of the National Assembly.
According to him, Bulkachuwa did not deem it fit to visit the area to commiserate with them over the outbreak of coronavirus, mass deaths and or give any donations.
He said, “The essence of democracy is primarily to present and safeguard the interest of the populace. A representative should uphold the interest of the people he represents above his personal ones. If he cannot afford to do that, he is not worth to be given the mandate.
“The demand and aspiration, pain and agony, needs and wants of the people of Katagum is pitiable because of the senator’s gross misconduct and failure to table it where it matters most – the Senate chambers.
“Senator Bulkachuwa has disappeared into thin air, evidently deserted his constituency for over six months now, no iconic presence or project from him is sighted in his constituency all this while.”
The party also alleged that the lawmaker is yet to employ legislative aides despite the fact that every serving senator is empowered to employ five personal staff, thereby leaving his teeming supporters jobless.
June 9, 2020