Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Category: News

You can add some category description here.

Orji Kalu resumes in Senate, attends plenary
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, resumed normal legislative duties at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The former governor of Abia State arrived at the Senate wing of the nation’s parliament at exactly 9:00 am, Daybreak reports.
He exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues and acknowledged greetings from legislative staff and security operatives.
Speaking with journalists on arrival at the entrance to the Senate chamber, Kalu described his experience as a good one.
He said, “I just want to thank God for everything that has happened. It is the will of God. I want to urge Nigerians to keep hope alive.”
Kalu was released after over six months of incarceration at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Senator and others, were in December last year, convicted and sentenced for N7.1bn fraud.
Justice Mohammed Idris, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench, had returned to the Federal High Court in Lagos to complete the case, which started in 2007.
However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel led by Justice Amina Augie, on May 8 this year, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and a former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, in December last year.
The verdict of the apex court was not categorical on whether Kalu should be released from prison or not and his lawyers decided to approach a Federal High Court in Lagos for the interpretation of the judgment.
The Federal High Court led Justice Mohammed Liman before whom the applicant’s motion was pending, however, granted the prayer of the applicant, and ordered the release of Kalu, from the Kuje prison custody on Tuesday.
The Senator was invariably released on Wednesday by the authorities of the Kuje prisons.
June 9, 2020
NDDC probe: Senate grants panel four weeks extension
The Senate on Tuesday granted a four-week extension to its ad hoc committee handling the investigation of the alleged mismanagement of N40bn by the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The Chairman of the panel, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, had raised a point of order, drawing the attention of his colleagues to the need to extend the initial one month period of investigation with additional weeks.
Adetunmbi had said the COVID-19 lockdown in the country had prevented his panel to receive written memorandum from affected stakeholders.
He said only a few of them had responded as of the deadline for the submission of the written explanation on Monday, June 8.
However, after a review of Adetunmbi’s proposal, the Senate granted his panel one month extension.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, asked the panel to remain focused and avoid distractions “because of the sensitive nature of the matter”, which he said was generating national interest.
Details later…
June 9, 2020
Protest in Katsina over gunmen attacks
Residents of Yantumaki town, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State on Tuesday morning embarked on a protest against bandits’ attacks in the town and in the neighbouring communities.
Eyewitnesses said the protesters barricaded the Katsina/Kankara major highway and blocked the road leading to the town with used tyres, dried trees and debris.
Our Correspondent learnt that the protesters were also irked by the kidnap of one Alhaji Mansir Yusuf and his daughter by bandits around 1 a.m on Tuesday.
The protest is ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, has not reacted to the incident.
Daybreak reports that the District Head of Yantumaki, Alhaji Abu Atiku, was last Sunday murdered by bandits. The incident took place about 11.55 p.m.
A combined team of security operatives is currently in the state to curb activities of bandits and kidnappers.
June 9, 2020
Gbajabiamila inaugurates ad-hoc committee on power sector reforms
…says estimated billing remains ‘a no, no’
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday inaugurated the House Ad-hoc Committee on Power Sector Reforms, charged with the responsibility of undertaking a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and recommending appropriate legislative action to the House.
Gbajabiamila said setting up the ad-hoc committee became necessary because of the resolve of the House to ensure a comprehensive review of all legislation relating to the power sector.
The Speaker noted that he was personally concerned about the myriad of challenges in the power sector, saying the issue of estimated billing system “remains a no, no,” and that whatever needed to be done to address the issue must be carried out.
“Our nation has long struggled with the problem of fixing the power sector in Nigeria and getting it to work in the optimal interest of all our people. We have not succeeded, despite the best efforts of many.
“The consequences of that failure are evident in the many industries that have collapsed across the country. It is also apparent in the abysmally low productivity of existing industries due to the enormous cost of generating their power independently.
“The power sector is so integral to our national economic growth, to national security and even to social development, that we cannot ever stop trying to get it right. It is for this reason that the House of Representatives on the 12th of May, 2020 resolved to set up this AdHoc Committee to undertake a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and to recommend legislative action to the House of Representatives,” he said.
He said the ad-hoc committee, chaired by House Leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, must take steps to ensure that the House fulfils its commitment of a comprehensive review of all legislation in the power sector.
“The importance this AdHoc Committee’s assignment is perhaps best reflected in the choice of Hon. Ado Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House as its chairman.
“It would not be an easy task. Nation-building rarely is. But it will be a worthwhile effort when at the end of it, we can initiate and complete necessary legislative reforms to remove the regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to mitigate against optimum performance in the sector.”
He expressed confidence in the ability of the committee leadership and the members to deliver on the critical assignment the House has given them.
“I assure you of my support and that of the House of Representatives. Still, I must ask you to keep three things in mind. First, the complexity of the issues in the power sector are such that your success will depend a great deal on your ability to engage productively with experts and stakeholders across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Please do not be reluctant in this regard.
“Secondly, be sure to resist any and all attempts to compromise your work or unduly influence the recommendations you make to the House. Finally, remember that success in this assignment may very well be the defining factor of both your legacies as well as the legacy of the 9th House of Representatives.
“Estimated billing remains a no, no for me and members of the House. However we need to do it, we have to do it,” he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Doguwa, thanked the Speaker for finding him and other members of the panel worthy of carrying out such an important national assignment.
Noting that despite huge investments made in the power sector over the years, Doguwa said Nigerians hardly feel the impact, but that they would do their best to unravel the situation.
He said they would serve with their strength and sense of commitment, responsibility and patriotism, and that they would not leave any stone unturned to right the wrongs in the power sector.
Delivering votes of thanks, the chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, who is a member of the ad-hoc panel, thanked the Speaker for giving them the opportunity to look into the complex issue in the power sector and assured that all hands would be on deck in discharging the assignment.
June 9, 2020
Out Of Court Settlement May Be Accepted–Hotelier calls for a truce
By Joseph ETTA in Calabar
The proprietor of Potomass Hotel and Bar in Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Mr. Otoobong Sam Peters has said the only reason he would not drag the Nigeria Navy to Court is if they opt to settle him out of court.
He explained this to Daybreak weekend in Calabar while narrating how men of the Navy raided his Hotel and Bar, “arrested my customers, shot at my roof and damaged my properties worth about N10 million.”
Mr. Sam Peters who said he hard been vindicated said: “It was two weeks ago they raided my Hotel, destroyed things and arrested my customers. They said my customers were cultists and that was their den. I have no business with cultists. I have been vindicated because all the people they arrested in my Hotel have been released after they realized that they were innocent. I have been vindicated.
“Because of the raid, a lot of damages has been done to the reputation of my Hotel and Bar, POTOMASS. Many customers are now afraid to patronize us. I am asking the Navy to pay me compensation of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) because I have lost a lot due to their raid.
Reminded that he had once threatened to go to court over the matter, he said: “We are standing by our words. There is no going back. The Navy must be held responsible for what they have done in Potomass Hotel and Bar. My lawyers are willing to go to court. The only reason I may not go to court is if the Navy offers to settle out of court. Personally, that’s the only reason I may not go to court. Even at that it is still for our lawyers to make the final decision. We are ready, he added.
It will be recalled that two Sundays ago, “Men of the Navy numbering about 50 raided my hotel and Bar at Akpabuyo and recked havoc on the property and arrested my customers, accusing them of being cultists.”
Attachments area
June 9, 2020
NSSG. Refuters claims of comments on one time Governor
By Abel Leonard
Nasarawa state government has refuted Newspaper report indicating that Gov Abdullahi said he did not bother about his reelection for second term in 2023
A statement issued by Director General Strategic Communication and Press Affairs Government House Lafia, Malam Yakubu Lamai said: “The attention of the Directorate of Strategic Communication & Press Affairs to His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi A. Sule of Nasarawa State has been drawn to a malicious report by Linus Oota and published in THE NATION Newspaper of Saturday June 6th 2020 which is fast gaining attention online on such platforms as OPERANEWS”
“The report originally written by Linus Oota alleged that: “Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said that he is not bothered about being re-elected in 2023” and that the Governor sees his “four-year mandate” as “a period he deems long enough for him to contribute his quota to the development of the state” and that Governor Sule was: “ready to return to the US or Saudi Arabia to enjoy his life after his four-year mandate!”
According to the statement, this report was nothing but hatchet job executed with singular wickedness by Mr. Linus Oota of THE NATION Newspaper, because it defies all logic that Linus was the ONLY journalist out of over 50 journalists, who took the liberty to quote Governor Sule “out of context” and deliberately distort, “editorise” and misrepresent the meaning behind the innocent comments made by Engineer Abdullahi Sule during a Media Parley which he granted to over 40 News organizations.
The truth of the matter according to the statement was that a journalist asked Governor Sule if he felt threatened by the fickle boasting and ranting by some members of the political opposition that he is “a one term Governor”, and Governor responded by saying that he was neither threatened nor distracted by such empty babble and political rabble rousers; but that instead, “he was grateful to the Almighty Allah for having given him his first four-year mandate!”
“The entire report and negative slant by Oota is false and a deliberate distortion of the truth for the purpose of sensationalism, as a weaponized political propaganda to cause disaffection among the teeming political supporters of Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule”
“We wish to put it on record that the report by Linus Oota is most uncharitable and goes against the letter and spirit of the CODE OF ETHICS for Nigerian Journalists approved by Nigerian Press Organization which states that, “truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event!” the statement further stressed.
“We in the office of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule note that while everyone has the right to say whatever he or she wants, those of us with influence over audiences like journalists have the moral responsibility to exercise their free speech with vigilance”
“A speech is like an open book that is being read out loud. There is so much knowledge worth sharing and interpretating; but our reporters should please remember that journalism entails a high degree of public trust and as purveyors of information, we should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information but provide to the public, factual, accurate, balanced and fair reportage” the statement added.
June 9, 2020
New pump price: Marketers yet to comply with the directive in Makurdi
Despite the directive by the Federal Government that all marketers should revert to the new pump price of N121.50 for the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, most of the dealers of the said product in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital are yet to comply with the directive.
It would be recalled that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) recently announced the reduction of the oil pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit to N121.50 from N123 per litre.
Reacting to the development while fielding questions from Day Break in an exclusive chat, the Manager of Basemail Oil Saidu Tahiru disclosed that he was not aware of the increase in the pump price of petrol.
Tahiru who lauded the Federal Government over the downward review of the price of petrol expressed optimism that the new price would reduce expenses, he appealed to the Federal Government to continue to do that which is in the best interest of the people.
In her reaction, the Assistant Manager of Gabrrow Oil Nig. Limited, Makurdi Ms. Grace Agbo Said the management of the oil company is aware of the new price of the PMS, noting however that, the old product is yet be sold.
According to her the company would comply when the old product is exhausted, stressing that government should have created awareness for about two weeks before effecting any change.
“Why we have not complied is that the old product is still much on ground”, lamenting that “the first change in the pump price of petrol affected our business, it came shortly after we loaded our trucks”.
According to the guidelines issued by the PPPRA, prices for the month of June, 2020, the ex-depot price band is now N100.13 and N108.13 per litre while ex-depot for collection is N108.78 and N111.78 per litre.
The agency had urged all marketers to operate within the indicative prices. Ends
June 9, 2020
Resident doctors threaten nationwide indefinite strike
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) chapter, on Monday urged the Federal Government to pay their allowances to avoid industrial action.
Dr Lanre Olosunde, the branch President of ARD, in statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin warned that the strike would commence on June 15, if their demand was not addressed
Olosunde said that health workers were poorly paid in spite the hazard encountered with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, incurring extra expenses and facing greater health risks.
According to him, the federal government wants to stall and if possible renege on agreement signed to pay hazard allowance to health workers.
“There is no better time for a government to prioritise health, workers and institutions.
”It is seven-days to a national indefinite strike by resident doctors. This strike is avertable if the government honours the agreement.
“The government should not be insensitive to doctors who have been in the front line especially in the on-going battle against COVID-19.
“Resident doctors constitute one of the major human power driving the healthcare of the nation,” the local ARD president said.
Olosunde said that many doctors have died in the line of duty after been exposed to dangerous diseases, urging government to do the needful.
“We have negotiated like gentlemen over and over again, but we have been left with no other option than to speak out loud and clear with a strike since the government has refused to do the needful,” he said.
Olosunde noted that the implications of being a health worker in the COVID-19 crisis was that while others stayed at home during the lock down, health workers went to work. (NAN)
June 9, 2020
NCDC announces 315 new COVID-19 cases, infections now 12,801
The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 315 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 12,801.
The NCDC announced this on Monday through its official Twitter handle, noting that as at June 8, 315 new confirmed cases and seven deaths were recorded in the country.
No new State has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
The NCDC said that COVID-19 cases were managed based on the symptoms, complications and other conditions patients present on admission or develop during treatment while their immune system fights the infection.
The health agency said that till date, 12,801 cases have been confirmed, 8,400 active cases, 4,040 cases have been treated and discharged and 361 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCDC said that 315 new cases were reported from 14 states: Lagos (128), FCT (34), Rivers (32), Edo (28), Oyo (22), Kaduna (20), Gombe (13), Ogun (8), Plateau (5), Delta (7), Kwara (7), Kano (5), Bauchi (4), Katsina (2).
The public health Institute said that they were not where they wanted to be in the response to COVID-19 in the country.
“We have reagents for about 200,000 tests across our lab network, however, our testing capacity is grossly under-utilised.
“We’re challenging states to collect samples from the right people,” it explained.
NCDC said that it recognised that they started from a very low base, with inadequate health infrastructure to respond to an outbreak of such magnitude.
“What we have regardless is a vibrant workforce, working round the clock to control the infection,” it said. (NAN)
June 9, 2020
Shortage Of Reagents For Testing Covid-19 Suspected Cases Hits Nigeria

INNOCENT OWEH ABUJA
As cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria exceeded the 12,000 benchmark over the weekend, there are indications that the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC may be facing serious shortage of reagents that is necessary for testing suspected patients.
Beyond this, logistic challenges occasioned by flight restrictions and high demand for the reagents may also be giving the Task Force cause for concern.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha gave a clue to this problem while giving an update on Monday in Abuja.
All these came to the fore when the Committee visited the National Reference Laboratory to have a first hand observation of how testing is carried out.
Boss said with the challenges on ground, stakeholders should start looking inward to address the shortfall.
Meanwhile, as at mid night on Sunday 7th June, Nigeria’s statistics were as follows, Confirmed cases: 12,486, Discharged: 3,959 and
Fatalities: 354.
Boss said, “the visit enabled the PTF listen to the challenges faced at the National Reference Lab and to recognize such challenges as opportunities because they represent motivations for action.
“The shortage of reagents and supply chain issues are global issues because the entire world is seeking to purchase the same commodities. To the PTF, the motivation for action is to look inward, plan ahead and develop our domestic capacities.
“This is because COVID-19 is neither the first nor will it be the last pandemic. What is certain is that we must not allow the next pandemic to catch us unprepared. The strategic thrust of the National Response is to test, test and test”.
The PTF also bemoaned manpower shortages and skills acquisition on the part of some frontline health workers.
Recall that a sizable number of health workers have been testing positive to the virus, a development that may spur more training on their part.
Boss stated, “The visit to the NRL has shown that while we ramp up capacity for testing, we must also enhance the skills and size of manpower to run the laboratories. Moving from two to a network of thirty technology driven laboratories and coordinating them is certainly not a small feat.
“It is therefore significant to mention that a major outcome of the 100 days assessment is the recognition of the need for States to scale up responsibility for their public health response. In the medium to long term, we hope to build a network of state public health labs that will bring about sustainability in public health response in Nigeria”.
The PTF chairman also seized the opportunity review the strides achieved by the Committee, announcing that its been 100 days since the index case was reported in Nigeria.
He said over 80,000 tests have been carried out in Nigeria, while the number of laboratories in the COVID-19 network has increased from 2 to 30 – with a laboratory in every geopolitical zone.
“The COVID-19 has taken the entire world by the storm because it has disrupted all known systems, including governance, economy, financial system, travels, healthcare. Even the best of health care systems and arrangements succumbed to the force of the virus.
“Within our national setting, the weaknesses inherent in our national health care systems were made glaring and needed urgent attention.
“Government determined immediately, to take on the lessons and to ensure that the healthcare system experienced tremendous leap in human and infrastructure development as well as policy focus, stability and direction.
“Within the 100 days under review, the following modest accomplishments were recorded: Over 13,000 health workers have been trained, increasing the human resource available for case management.
“More personal protective equipment and ventilators have been procured and prepositioned across the country. The number of beds available for isolation and case management has increased from 3000 beds to 5000 beds nationwide, “he noted.
According to the PTF Boss science and data has proven that Nigeria has entered deep into the community transmission phase.
He said data gathered has significantly helped in identifying 20 high burden LGAs that accounts for over 60% of infections in Nigeria.
He said, “The PTF is already pursuing precision actions on these high burden LGAs. It is therefore important for Nigerians to recognize the need to take responsibility and the significant role community ownership and risk communication will play in the future of our National Response”.
He noted that in the absence of a vaccine, Nigeria and the rest of the world must depend on public health, social measures and supportive management of confirmed cases.
He equally urged all Nigerians to take individual and collective responsibility by adhering to public health advice.
June 8, 2020