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Nigerians in China are embarrassing us
A group of Nigerian students studying in China, The Coalition of Nigerian Students Jun in China, CNSC, have come hard on some Nigerians living in China for being bad guest of the Communist government.
The President of the group, Umar Abukabar in a statement made available to the media over the weekend denounced statements purportedly issued by Nigerian groups in China, stating that these groups does not represent their views and opinions about the Chinese government.
*most of these group are hardly known to us and we doubt if they exist at all”. Abubakar said.
He bemoaned the frequent statements being issued by one group or the other against the Chinese government noting that it was unbecoming of foreigners living in another man’s country, “if truly they are been maltreated as claimed what are they still doing here? The Chinese government is our host and it bespoke of a bad guest to constantly harangue your host in this manner while you are still a guest in the country.” The statement read.
He said that as president of Nigerian students in China there was no truth in the prevailing stories that Nigerians are being harassed in China. On the incident in Guangdong he had this to say.
“what happened in Guangdong should be seen as an isolated incidence, and most of the Nigerians that were denied accommodation is because they refused to adhere to the stringent measures put in place by the Chinese government to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately many Nigerians are capitalizing on it to demonized the Chinese government”. He said that the sucesses the Chinese government have achieved in curtailing the spread of the virus was because of these very stringent measures. “how do you think China was able to defeat the virus? many other nationals have been adhering to these new rules without questions, why Nigerians think they should be treated differently and can now dictate to the Chinese government how to run their country beats imagination”
He said that as president of Nigerian students in China there was no case of any Nigerian student facing discrimination or molestation. “many of us appreciate the efforts of the Chinese government in seeing to our welfare. We have being fully provided for and in most cases the Chinese government have borne the extra cost of our upkeep especially during the lockdown in some provinces. Amazingly the efforts of the Chinese government has ensures that no Nigerian student has so far contracted the virus and we hope it remains so ”
He noted that if there were genuine grievance among Nigerian living in China, there were appropriate mechanism for dealing with them rather than constant media statements.
“Each time we come across such statement it is an embarrassment not just to us but our host who sincerely don’t deserve this media trial” he said.
June 8, 2020
Court grants order restraining APC from conducting primaries in Edo
A Federal High Court in Benin City has granted an order restraining the All Progressives Congress and its national chairman from conducting any primary election in Edo State ahead of the state governorship election in September, pending the determination of the suit before it.
APC faction loyal to governor Obaseki has been at loggerheads with the national leadership of the party over the choice of the primary ahead of the governorship election in the state.
INEC has fixed September this year for the governorship election in the state, but Political watchers say the success of the election is dependent on how politicalk parties manage their primaries.
For months now, there has been no love lost between governor Godwin Obaseki and the national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, a development political analysts say affect the chances of the party in the state.
June 8, 2020
Kogi Government insists state has no coronavirus cases
The Kogi State government has accused the management of the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Lokoja of conniving with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, (NCDC), to declare non-existing COVID-19 cases for Kogi state, insisting that the state is still free of the virus at the moment.
The commissioner of Information and communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who stated this at a press conference in Lokoja on the discharge of the Chief Imam of kabba, Sheikh Abubukar Ejibunu, who allegedly tested positive for the virus nine days after he was taking into custody, said NCDC has not been transparent in it’s handling of cases associated with the state.
He noted that while the two index cases were still being disputed, the agency has now gone ahead to build on what he described as “false foundation” by declaring one more case for the State last week, for a total score of three.
He said that the state was however shocked to discover that the experiences of the chief Imam in the hands of the NCDC are far from everything that Nigerians have been told constitute best practices in a COVID-19 situation, especially its pathogenesis and management.
Fanwo added that the son’s case is even more strange, as he has a negative test result to confirm that he is COVID-19 free including all his siblings who were tested in the days following as the NCDC serially sought an off-taker for the second COVID-19 case which they had earlier foisted on Kogi State.
Speaking further Fanwo said “We have called this Press Conference to bring you up to speed on the Covid-19 situation in Kogi State and to further clear the air on our disagreements on some facts and principles with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) over their management of alleged CoviD-19 patients in Kogi State.
“It is no more news that the NCDC declared 2 Covid-19 cases for Kogi State on the 27th of May, 2020 in circumstances which the Kogi State Government found herself unable to accept as transparent. It has now gone ahead to build on that false foundation by declaring one more case for the State last week, for a total score of 3.
“The respected Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheik Abubakar Ahmad who is in his early 60s along with one of his sons were the purported index cases from Kogi State declared on May 27, 2020 by NCDC. They were whisked to Abuja from Lokoja on the said day and declared Covid-19 positive a few hours later.
“After 9 days in her custody, the NCDC discharged the Chief Imam on Saturday June 6th, 2020 and upon his return home, he was extensively debriefed by us with a view to ensuring that any lingering public health implications of his case are identified and resolved.
“The Chief Imam, an upright and outstanding man who is only interested in the truth confirmed what we have known all along – that he did not test positive for CoviD-19 and received no result of such a diagnosis neither did his doctors at the National Hospital, Abuja where he was confined advise him of it.
“The cleric maintains that he suffered from nothing beyond complications from an attack by bees, medical conditions which pre-date the Covid-19 pandemic and stress from travels associated with his work. Till he was released yesterday, he was held in conditions which allowed him to interact with visitors.
“Throughout his father’s time in the custody of the NCDC, and in keeping with his Covid-19 negative status, the son remained at liberty and was his father’s primary helper. He was never hospitalised and was allowed to go home each day and return the next. He was allowed to mingle freely with family, visitors, hospital staff and others. Yet, till this day, he remains the second case of Covid-19 allocated to Kogi State on the NCDC’s scoreboard.
“You all will recall that despite our disagreement with the NCDC’s conduct in the entire circumstances of this case, we moved rapidly and ensured that every member of the Chief Imam’s family as well as his direct contacts were traced and tested within hours of the NCDC announcement on May 27. They all tested negative.
“We also declared a total lockdown of his Local Government Area, Kabba-Bunu, and carried out thorough contact tracing and surveillance activities involving active case search, with SARS-COV2 tests duly conducted and completed. Again, we found nothing to warrant a protracted lockdown which is why His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State lifted it after only 4 days.
“The alleged 3rd Case of Covid-19 credited to Kogi State by the NCDC is shaping up to be another exercise in secrecy and unverifiable processes by the NCDC. Nearly one week after she was sneaked onto the NCDC’s list, the Kogi State Government is yet to be armed with the actionable information she needs to take preemptive actions in line with the Covid-19 guidelines.
“We suspect that the NCDC’s lackadaisical attitude may not be unconnected with the knowledge that no infection has been found.
Just like in the case of the Chief Imam and his family, let it be known that we are looking out for our citizen and will demand full reckoning should any harm come to her.
“We make this briefing because it is important, in line with the sensitivity of public health issues, to communicate developments so that you may in turn inform the public accurately.
“We make it clear once again that there is no case of Covid-19 in Kogi State. If ever there is, we will be the first to announce it while deploying all recommended protocols and procedures.
“Our people can rest assured that we will continue to work extra hard to make sure that this increasingly controversial disease does not come into our state. We have been in a state of advanced readiness since the early days of this pandemic. Our isolation centres remain unoccupied, we have thousands of Rapid Test Kits available and we recently acquired a mobile molecular laboratory which will arrive the state any moment now.
“Global research on the novel coronavirus or SARS-COV2 has caused guidelines on Covid-19 to change with confusing rapidity and Nigerians must hold the NCDC to higher standards of responsiveness and responsibility to make sure that we do not sacrifice the nation itself on the altar of mere notions about the disease.
All efforts to reach the chief medical director, (CMD), FMC Lokoja, Dr. Alabi Olatunde, proved abortive, as he neither picks is calls or responded to text messages sent to him.
June 8, 2020
BREAKING: Drunk police sergeant kills inspector in Lagos
Barely two weeks after a trigger-happy policeman killed his colleague at Ikoyi, Lagos, another drunken Police Sergeant has been arrested for allegedly stabbing an Inspector to death and injuring another victim.
The yet to be named Sergeant is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, after the Inspector identified as Francis Adekunle died in the hospital Monday morning.
It was gathered that the Sergeant went berserk at the weekend after drinking alcohol at a nearby liquor store and returned to his compound in Oke-Odo.
The Guardian gathered that both the Sergeant and Inspector were tenants in a compound alongside other civilians. It was alleged that there have been several complaints against the Sergeant by other tenants whom he usually harassed.
On that night, the Sergeant was alleged to have intimidated co-tenants after being drunk and was chasing a man about with a cutlass when the Inspector, said to be attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) 2 Ikeja, intervened.
Not minding that Inspector Adekunle was his senior, the Sergeant pounced on him with the machete, leaving several cuts on his legs and body.
It was gathered that the victim was rushed to the hospital where he died Monday morning.
Police sources who hinted on the issue appealed to Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu to bring the Sergeant to justice, saying that he has been a threat to his neighbours and the entire vicinity where he lived.
“He drives a fully tinted Toyota Camry car with no plate number. He was reported at the Oke-Odo, Ile Epo Police Station for his previous actions but nothing was done to call him to order before he perpetrated this evil act.
“I saw Inspector Adekunle this evening on his hospital bed. He was still alive then. Unfortunately, I received a call from his brother, Ojo Adekunle that he just passed on.
“The doctor also confirmed his death. I am using this medium to appeal to the CP Hakeem Odumosu to do the needful and prosecute this killer Sergeant that has been terrorising everyone in the vicinity. This kind of character should not be in the Nigeria Police,” an officer lamented.
Police spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed the arrest of the Sergeant, adding that the CP has ordered an investigation into the incident.
“They both stay in town with other civilians. They were neither on duty nor anywhere near a police facility when it happened. I have to correct that impression because a lot of people have been calling me to say it happened inside the barrack.
“No matter where it did happen, a crime was committed and the suspect is in custody. I will issue a statement soon on this incident,” he said.
June 8, 2020
2020 Admissions: JAMB fixes June 16 for policy meeting
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has scheduled the 2020 Policy Meeting of tertiary institutions for June 16, 2020.
The exam body disclosed this in its weekly bulletin made to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to JAMB, the policy meeting is to be chaired by the Minister of Education with all Heads of Tertiary Institutions in attendance.
JAMB added that the 2020 policy meeting is peculiar as it will go down history as the first that will hold online owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It would be recalled that part of the protocols put in place by government to curb the spread of COVID-19 requires that no gathering of persons exceeds prescribed number.
“Compliance with this directive has become imperative as no fewer than 4000 Heads of Tertiary Institutions comprising Degree, Diploma, NCE and NID-awarding institutions and other stakeholders would normally be expected to congregate at a location but because of extant protocols, would now be expected to participate in the virtual meeting.
“The modalities for the meeting would entail the board issuing only one access code to each participating institution to join the meeting. This access code is not to be shared or given to unauthorised persons.
“However, other critical stakeholders within the institutions like the Registrars, Admissions Officers can cluster around a big screen in a location to attend the meeting using the unique access code,” the exam body said.
JAMB further noted that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, would preside over the meeting with other stakeholders and top functionaries in the ministry joining in from their operational points.
It added that heads of regulatory agencies and other critical stakeholders like chairmen of committees on Education at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly were also expected to join the meeting.
“The meeting will discuss critical issues bordering on the advances made in the educational sector in the last one year in addition to setting the tone for the 2020/2021 Admission exercise.
“The meeting will also chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines and make a holistic review of application statistics, performance as well as evaluate the 2019 admissions exercise.
“The meeting, in addition to other deliberations, would take a stand on concessional and acceptable minimum admissions standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“The meeting would be streamed live on the Board’s website; www.jamb.gov.ng, its face book, JAMBulletin and other social media platforms,” the exam body said.
June 8, 2020
Police confirm 2 dead in Akwa Ibom renewed cult clash
The police in Akwa Ibom on Monday confirmed the death of two persons in a renewed clash between two rival cult groups in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman of the police in the state, CSP Nnudam Fredrick, confirmed the incident to newsmen at Oruk Anam, Akwa Ibom.
Fredrick said, “I just received a report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oruk Anam area that there was a cult related case in the area and two persons have been confirmed dead.’’
He said that some persons had been arrested in connection with the killings.
“I don’t know the number of persons arrested for now but two persons have been confirmed dead,’’ Fredrick said.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state had directed the anti-cultism unit of the command to take charge of the area.
“So for now, the police have taken control by patrolling the area to ensure that there is law and order,’’ Fredrick said.
A resident of the area, who did not want to be identified, told newsmen that the incident which occurred on Saturday was between ”Debam and Iceland confraternities”.
June 8, 2020
BREAKING: Nigerian Doctors to embark on Strike amidst Covid-19
The National Association of Resident Doctors, the umbrella body of all doctors working in government health facilities, has issued a notice of strike effective Monday, June 15, 2020.
The association said the call to strike also includes doctors attending to COVID-19 patients and other emergencies.

The National President of NARD, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, said this in an official letter with reference number NARD/SG/2019-2020/070620/246.
The NARD President said the strike would be total regardless of the current pandemic.
Sokomba said the action had become necessary due to the failure of the government to redeem its pledges especially in the areas of salary arrears and working conditions.

The letter read in part, “The strike shall, therefore, be total and indefinite. No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at COVID-19 treatment centres shall be exempted and members including all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of principal medical officer, and house officers are expected to be part of the strike.”
While sympathising with Nigerians and patients as a whole, the doctors said they could no longer condone government neglect.
NARD said the plight of its members in state health facilities was sometimes worse than those at the federal institutions.
June 8, 2020
NDLEA intercepts 3.136 tonnes of cannabis in Kogi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 3,136 tonnes of Cannabis Sativa on the Okene-Lokoja Express way in Kogi.
NDLEA Head of Public affairs, Mr Jonah Achema, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja said that the illicit substance was conveyed in a 30T HOWO truck heading to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Achema said:” NDLEA patrol team intercepted the truck. When an officer got on the truck to confirm its content, the driver engaged the engine and drove away with the hapless officer still in the truck.
“The members of the team mobilised and pursued the truck. When the pursuit became hot, the driver and one other person who were in the vehicle jumped off the vehicle and escaped.
“In the course of the operation, the team discovered some items and documents belonging to the suspects.
“We have the vehicle number plate, a telephone and some other documents that were recovered from the truck which the team took to the office for further investigations.
” The two suspects are Ibrahim, also known as Ade Bendel, from Edo but based in Abuja and the second one which is the driver, Abor Bello, from Edo also and both enroute far Northern States, FCT, ” he said.
Achema said that the ownership of the drug labeling on the bags indicated many owners.
”The NDLEA is in possession of the truck while officers continue with its investigation.
”The agency will intensify surveillance in Kogi because of the fact that it shares boundaries with no fewer than 11 states,” he said.
The State Commander, Mr Alfred Adewunmi, assured Nigerians that the NDLEA would ensure that all suspects are arrested.
He said that the agency had been on the forefront to ensure those who were still in the drug business were brought down to face the consequences.
“The public should not hesitate to call on the agency the suspects are seen , adding that the fight against drug abuse and trafficking was everyone’s business.
“As the crack-down on drugs continues, it is only expected that all stakeholders will ensure cooperation so as not to undermine the need to bring these illicit drug criminals to book.
June 8, 2020
Nigeria records 260 new COVID-19 cases, total infections now 12, 486
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control(NCDC), has announced 260 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 12,486.
The NCDC announced this on Sunday through its official Twitter handle.
The centre said that as at June 7, 2020, 260 new confirmed cases where recorded in 19 states.
It also said that 12 deaths, bringing the total number to 354.
The centre added that 3,959 patients have been treated and discharged.
The health agency stated that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours.
“Till date, 12,486 cases have been confirmed, 3,959 cases have been discharged and 354 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said that the 260 new cases were reported from 19 states- Abia(67), FCT(40), Lagos(38), Ogun(19), Gombe(16), Edo(14), Imo(9), Kwara(8), Katsina(8), Nasarawa(8), Borno(8), Kaduna(6), Bauchi(5), Ekiti(4), Niger(2), Ondo(2), Plateau(2), Kano(2),Sokoto(2).
Scientists are still learning about the disease, and think that the virus began in animals.
At some point, one or more humans acquired infection from an animal, and those infected humans began transmitting infection to other humans.
The disease spreads from person to person through infected air droplets that are projected during sneezing or coughing.
It can also be transmitted when humans have contact with hands or surfaces that contain the virus and touch their eyes, nose, or mouth with the contaminated hands.
COVID-19 was first reported in China, but it has now spread throughout the world. (NAN)
June 8, 2020
Forthcoming poll will strengthen democracy- Gov Obaseki
The 22nd of June 2020 has been fixed for the Governorship Primary of the All progressives Congress in Edo state.
Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has said he is optimistic the forthcoming gubernatorial election will redefine the tenets of the democratic system in Nigeria.
Mr Obaseki said this during a ‘Thank You’ tour to Principal Officers and Leaders in the Wards of Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor also cleared doubts about his Certificates and reaffirmed readiness to participate and win the ticket of the APC at the Governorship Primary.
Governor Obaseki defined politics as revamping the healthcare system, development of infrastructure and delivery of service in every sector for the benefit of the people.
The Governor urged the people to be wary of the antics of those spreading rumours in the run-up to the elections scheduled for September.
Members of the APC also gave assurances of support for the Edo State Governor’s bid to emerge the candidate of the party.
Governor Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Mr Osaze Uzamere; Special Adviser on Political and Community Matters, Chief Osaro Idah; Special Adviser on Politics, (Edo South), Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, and APC Chairman in Oredo LGA, Mr. Godwin Alabi, among others.
June 8, 2020