Television Nigerian

Multinational Joint Task Force Rescues Nurse From ISWAP Captivity

coic

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August 27, 2020

Multinational Joint Task Force Rescues Nurse From ISWAP Captivity

A nurse who was incarcerated in one of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP’s) strong-holds in the Lake Chad has been rescued by troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, following intensive airstrikes at the terrorist hideouts.

The nurse, who initially bolted to safety and freedom in the aftermath of the joint air interdiction conducted by the MNJTF and other national partners, like the Nigerian Airforce, was rescued by troops of Sector 4 MNJTF, having escaped into Niger republic.

In his words, “after bombs and rockets from the aircraft landed and everywhere exploded in flames, both terrorists and hostages ran for dear life. I had to take my chance. I am grateful to God that I was able to escape”.

The airlift and hand- over of the nurse to Nigerian authorities was preceded by a medical examination conducted to determine the state of health of the victim after spending 8 months in the horrific and squalid conditions which he had to endure during the period of his captivity in the ISWAP enclave.

The MNJTF wishes to reassure populations in the Lake Chad Basin of it’s determination to provide security and facilitate development efforts being spearheaded by the respective national governments and international development partners.

Nigerian student missing after yacht party

World

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August 27, 2020

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Nigerian student missing after yacht party

Parents of a Nigerian student in Ukraine, Caleb Obari-Mark, have solicited help from Nigerian and Ukrainian authorities over their missing son.

A Ukraine-based news website, Kyiv Post, reported that Caleb “disappeared while taking a boat trip in Odesa”.

It noted that Nigerians in Ukraine are alleging racism after the Nigerian graduate got missing.

20-year-old Caleb was said to be a fresh graduate from Ukraine’s Sumy State Agrarian University.

The platform reported on Wednesday that Caleb attended a yacht party at the invitation of a woman in the southern city of Odesa on August 20.

The Ukrainian police are said to be investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

According to reports, two private divers have been engaged to explore the Black Sea, in case he drowned.

In a video that surfaced online on Wednesday, Caleb’s parents pleaded with Nigerians in Ukraine to assist with information on their missing son’s whereabouts.

Mark, who is Caleb’s father, in the video, said, “My son who just graduated from Sumy State Agrarian University is missing. It is very unfortunate. We never expected what had happened.

“On Thursday, I got a call from the embassy that my son was invited by a woman for a party and when they came back, they came without my son. I was surprised, so I had to call the embassy back. I also called the school.

“We are not happy and comfortable. We don’t sleep again. That is why we have decided to escalate this matter and get to the root of it. Who took this boy out and never returned with him?

“We want every good Nigerian in Ukraine to come into this matter. This could happen to anyone if we take it for granted.”

On her part, Caleb’s mother expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her son.

“I am looking for my son right now. He was invited to a surprise party to drive on a yacht. Caleb did not return.

“I strongly believe that you (the host) are hiding him somewhere. Our son must be found. This is my belief. I believe that wherever my son is held hostage, he would be found. I believe he is safe and would be found,” she said.

The Pen is Mightier Than The Mic

Opinion

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August 27, 2020

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By Adakole Elijah

A lot had been said or written about the ignoble encounter between the self appropriated rich man, FKK and the poor Journalist. To some, the journalist was rude in his question. To others, the reporter ought to have reply fire for fire. But for me, the reporter acted nobly and with maturity.

First, those who said that the reporter was rude in his question does not know what Journalism is all about. Journalism unearth what is hidden by bringing it to the fore of the public. This could be done via journalistic interrogation called interview. Questions and answers are part of this interrogative process.

No matter how silly a question is, the interviewee is under obligation to answer or not to answer. Either way, the reporter has something to report.

FKK therefore has the right to answer or not to answer and he would have satisfied the curiosity of the Reporter and the general public.

In view of the above, I want to state clearly in my opinion that the Journalist acted well. There was no need exchanging words or tantrum with FKK. After all, he had gotten the answer. FKK had succeeded in ridiculing himself the more even though people hardly perceive him with the lens of positivity. He is seen more as a man without integrity. He is seen as a man who is morally bankrupt.

There is no smoke without fire. The reaction suggested that he was indeed being bankrolled by somebody. And he doesn’t want people to know. And fearing that the Journalist was going to let the cat out of the bag, he took advantage of his possession of the mic to shot the hapless reporter down.

I was once faced with similar circumstances. It was the twilight to the exit of military interregnum in this country. It was a hillarious episode. I still remember it with nostalgic feeling.

Sometimes in 1999, I and Chief Ignatius Chukwu then of the Post Express were invited to interview late Graham Douglas, former Minister of Sports, who was on a nation wide tour in pursuit of his presidential ambition. I was a reporter with The Comet newspaper then.

We met him at the PDP Secretariat in Makurdi. He first went into a close door meeting with the Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic party. After interfacing with the party Leadership, he came to meet us in Mrs Rebecca Apedzan’s office. She was the Secretary of the party in the state then.

When we started, I asked him a very harmless question as follows “Sir, what do you have in stock for the people of Benue State if you clinch the presidency? This question that was indeed a bait was swiftly responded to by the presidential aspirant.

Graham – Douglas quickly enumerated all his plans for Benue State and added a tonic by saying that as a southern minority, he was conversant with the problems of northern minorities since according to him the bigger tribes in the country were deliberately subjugating and oppressing the minorities. He cited the case of the golden geeze that laid the golden eggs but its offsprings were never allowed to participate in either the eating or sharing.

Ignatius Chukwu on hearing this pointedly asked him to comment on the allegation that those of them especially the elites from the Niger Delta Region has been that each time they complained about the neglect of the Niger Delta, they were always doing so for altruistic reason because when the Federal Government listened to their cries and sent in measures that could evenly develop the area, they will wack the money to the detriment of development of the place.

At this point, instead of Douglas responding to the question, he instantaneously lost his calm and start raining insults on us by saying, “you are a fool. You are stupid. You are a goat. You are an idiot etc”.

We kept our cool and was busy jotting down his abusive words. We were equally engrossed in recording him. When he realized that we were unperturbed by his insolence, and as if stung by a scorpion, he halted himself all of a sudden and retorted, “Stop it. what are you people doing? Writing what I was gushing out! Recording me? No. Don’t. Stop it”.

And that ends the interview. He knows that we were going to take him to the cleaner. He later apologised alongside the state secretary of the party. We let it go.

The reporter did what was correct. He stirred the honest next. FKK unveiled his true colours because he had the mic. The reporter kept calm because he had his pen. And the pen is mightier than the mic. And The reporter won. FKK lost full time.

He who laugh last, laughs Best.

Owukpa Coal Mine: Benue Deputy Governor Visits Site, Calls for Peace to Attract Investors

Security

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August 27, 2020

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Owukpa Coal Mine: Benue Deputy Governor Visits Site, Calls for Peace to Attract Investors

Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu has stressed the need for peaceful atmosphere to enable investors tap the abundant natural resources available in the state for the benefit of our people.

He spoke at Owukpa, Ogbadibo local government area, when he led the investigative committee set up by Governor Samuel Ortom to investigate allegations of illegal mining in Owukpa on an assessment visit to the area.

He enjoined all stakeholders and parties in the disagreement that led to the suspension of mning activities by the state government to embrace peace and create the enabling environment for the mining company to continue its work, stressing that the mining activity offers the community multiple socio-economic benefits, such as employment, boost in economic activities and value addition through corporate social responsibilities.

Engr. Abounu, who restated government’s zero tolerance for companies that will not live to its corporate social responsibilities to the community where they operate, however called on the people in Owukpa who have issues with the operation of the mining company to embrace dialogue rather than violent confrontation.

At the mining site, the deputy governor directed the company to ensure timely reclamation of every area they excavate in the course of their work to prevent runoff from the debris contaminating the stream down the valley.

He also ordered the evacuation of the coal deposited at the premises of Owukpa Community Secondary School, and the relocation of the school to another area to be provided by the Owukpa Development Association (ODA) in consultation with Ada Ogbadibo and other chiefs.

An environmentalist, whose petition triggeted the protest that led to the suspension of mining activities, Dr. Sadiq Okoh accused the company of environmental degradation; of using substandard equipment in its operations; of failure to abide by the agreement entered into with the community and of contaminating the community source of drinking water; charges denied by the company.

National chairman of ODA, Elder Peter Akor (rtd CSP) said the company has operated for only 6 months, within which they have not defaulted in the monetised payment of their corporate social responsibilities as well as in road rehabilitation. He denied misapropriating money paid by the company and disclosed that all payments by the company are made directly into the account of the association.

The deputy governor and members of his committee had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Ada Ogbadibo and Onomo of Owukpa. Chief Emmanuel Odeh, who told them the community has no issues with the mining company, and that the protest by some youths in the area was instigated by one of their sons, who chooses to distance himself from what happens at home.

Chief Odeh appealed to his people to be patient with the company and allow the ODA be the liaison between them and the community, assuring that they will not fail them.

He called on Dr. Sadiq to avail the community of his expertise in environmental issues so that they can benefit maximally from the mining operations instead of instigating youths to carry out unnecessary protest.

The Committee is expected to submit its report to Governor Samuel Ortom within two weeks. On the visit with the governor were the state Head of Service, Mrs Veronica Onyeke, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr.

Michael Gusa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Col. Paul Hemba (rtd) and other top government functionaries.

Boubacar Keita No Longer Interested In Power, Jonathan Tells Buhari

Africa

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August 27, 2020

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Boubacar Keita No Longer Interested In Power, Jonathan Tells Buhari

The ousted Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, says he is no longer interested in returning to his former office.

This was according to Nigeria’s former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dr Jonathan, who is ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali, was at the Villa to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the crisis in the West African country.

Dr Jonathan with the Mali Junta leader Col Asimi Goita

The meeting comes ahead of an extraordinary virtual summit by ECOWAS Heads of State and Leaders scheduled to take place on Friday.

Briefing the President on his recent visit to Mali, Dr Jonathan disclosed that his team was allowed to meet with the ousted President who confirmed that he resigned from office voluntarily.

The former president also brought President Buhari up to speed on dialogue with the military coup leaders seeking to stay in power for three years, before holding elections in the country.

A photo taken on August 26, 2020, shows former President Goodluck Jonathan with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja

“They call themselves National Committee for the Salvation of the People,” Dr Jonathan was quoted as saying in a statement by President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

He added, “We asked them to allow ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to return to his personal residence where he would be given tight security, but they said he could travel abroad and not return to answer questions they may have for him.

“We also told them that what would be acceptable to ECOWAS was an interim government headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six or nine months and a maximum of 12 calendar months.

“The Interim Government would then organise elections to restore full constitutional order.”

According to the former president, the military leaders in Mali want ECOWAS to lift sanctions put in place as it is already affecting the country.

In response, he said, “But we told them that the authority to do such was only in the hands of ECOWAS Heads of State.”

President Buhari, in his remarks, stressed that the priority in Mali now should be securing the country which he said was largely occupied by terrorists.

“About two-thirds of Mali is occupied by terrorists, and it makes common sense to secure the country, rather than pursuing individual interests,” he stated.

Senate never asked our management staff to step aside – NTA

News

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August 26, 2020

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Senate never asked our management staff to step aside – NTA

The Nigerian Television Authority has denied reports that its management staff have been asked to step aside by the Senate Committee on Finance.

The government-owned broadcast network made this known in a statement signed by its Deputy Director Corporate Affairs, M.C. Moses, on Wednesday.

There were reports that the Senate had recommended the dismissal of the NTA hierarchy over alleged non-profitability of the venture with StarTimes which had been since 2008.

However, in reaction, the NTA expressed concerns over the “inaccurate and fallacious story being circulated”, describing it as “untrue and thrives only in the reign of malice and mischief”.

The statement added that the NTA as a corporate body and public broadcaster is not under the radar of the Senate.

“What is being looked at is the NTA/Star Joint Venture – a limited liability cable television company formed in 2009 and jointly owned by NTA and StarTimes,” Moses said.

“The company has its own management, which is independent of, and entirely different from, the management of the NTA. This management has appeared before the Committee on invitation and presented documents as requested”.

The NTA, however, assured that its management headed by the Director-General, Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, is intact and has not been asked to step aside.

Scorecard: What Sadiya Farooq Has Done in One Year

Featured

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August 26, 2020

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Scorecard: What Sadiya Farooq Has Done in One Year

By Best Agbese

I recall when the president announced the creation of a new ministry known as the Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, there was a bit of scepticism in the polity. It was argued in some quarters that the president in creating the new Ministry was duplicating portfolios by creating jobs for the “boys.”

One year down the line, those postulations have indeed been punctured by the superlative performance of the honourable minister, Hajia Sadiya Farouq. This indeed reminds me of the popular saying what a man can do a woman can do better. Hajia Sadiya Farouq did not only surprised many of us with her one-year scorecard, she indeed proved her mettle and justified the confidence reposed in her by President Muhammadu Buhari to head such a sensitive ministry whose activities revolves around the implementation of the social intervention programmes of the government that would have a direct impact on the lives of the ordinary citizens in the country.

I am not just a fan of Hajia Sadiya Faroug; I would call myself an adherent of her infectious mien that speaks volume of a woman on a mission for the betterment of the lives of the ordinary citizens in the country.

She comes across as someone that is very self-aware of herself and others around her. She knows who she is and what she wants, and this much she has exhibited in her duties as the honourable minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development in Nigeria.

In one year in the saddle, Hajia Sadiya Farouq rose to the occasion in the implementation of various social invention programmes in the country, so much so to the envy and consternation of some individuals and organizations that thought it would be business as usual in running the affairs of the Ministry. But she proved all of them wrong and has continued to forge ahead not mind the scathing attacks on her personality and efforts in the past year.

I make bold to say that she has indeed raised the bar for political appointees in the country. She has displayed uncommon courage in the face of stiff attempts to blackmail her into submitting to the whims and caprices of those groupings that do not wish the country well.

Make no mistakes; this piece is not about her personality alone, but also the lofty heights she attained within one year. It can thus be only imagined what the story would be after four years. Your guess is as good as mine.

I would start with the N-Power initiative, which has generated quite some uproar in the country. What people do not know is that the minister took a very bold step in repositioning the scheme through the introduction of the Batch C stream to accommodate more youths. This is sufficing to state that within 24 hours of the introduction of the Batch C stream, over one million youths made applications. And at the close of the application process, a total of 5,042,001 applications were received from Nigerians. This fact implies that indeed the minister understood the need to expand the net to accommodate more Nigerians in dire need of some form of engagements.

This, in my opinion, is thinking outside the box, which is a necessary skill in governance in modern times that entails questioning the status quo regularly. Make nonconformity the regular conversation, take a broader perspective and oscillate between uncommon content, draw a picture as a team and draw a picture of your challenge and possible ways to solve it.

The above listed are some of the attributes the minister has brought to bear in the discharge of her duties in the past one year in the saddle as the honourable minister of the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.

Under the National Social Investment Programme N-SIP, cutting across the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, (NHGSF, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, (GEEP), N-Power and the National Cash Transfer Programme, over 6.1 million Nigerians have been captured in the database of the national social intervention register. It is also estimated to have impacted the lives of over twelve million Nigerians, including several millions of indirect beneficiaries.

It is indeed a one year of service to humanity for Hajia Sadiya Farouq through numerous initiatives that have had far-reaching benefits to the generality of Nigerians directly and indirectly. The intervention of the Ministry during the COVID 19 pandemic is another point of reference. The efforts of the Ministry and Agencies under it have been outstanding. They have been involved in the distribution of different kinds of palliatives to the most vulnerable in the society, which includes refugees and IDP’s, People Living with Disabilities, Older Persons, Trafficked Persons, Orphans, the Poorest of the Poor in Communities, Petty Traders and other Persons of Concern.

The palliatives include foodstuffs like rice, maize millet, sorghum, vegetable oil, tomato paste, milk, sugar and spaghetti. Also, Four months of stipends paid at once to those benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer to cushion the effect of COVID 19, Loans and moratorium to trader and market moni beneficiaries, take-home food rations for Households of Children enrolled in the National Home -Grown School Feeding Programme and others too numerous to mention.

Under the supervision of Hajia Sadiya Farouq, the Ministry held the first-ever Civil Security Cooperation Workshop (CISEC) which birthed the Civil Security Coordination Framework out of which the National Humanitarian Coordination Forum was created and inaugurated earlier this year to ensure the smooth conduct of all humanitarian activities in the country.
Other structures include the Humanitarian Policy Dialogue Forum which was established to provide a forum in which the Ministry will interact with all CSO’s and NGOs to give room to interact and review all government policies and humanitarian activities. This is indeed, brilliant.

I dare to say that if all political office holders take a cue from Hajia Sadiya Farouq, Nigeria would indeed be a better place for all because, in this critical point of our existence, there is the urgent need for proactive actions towards addressing the myriads of challenges confronting the country.

I can go on non-stop on the exploits of Hajia Sadiya Farouq in the past one year without abate because her dedication and grasp of issues are indeed commendable and worthy of emulation. I can guess that President Muhammadu Buhari would be most pleased with the conduct of Hajia Sadiya Farouq, which has translated to the successes recorded in the implementation of the social intervention programmes of the government.

Some might want to argue that one year is too short to make an assessment, but I dare say that with the way and manner the minister has carried on, it is evident that Nigerians would see more of proactive measures in governance aimed towards delivering the dividends of democracy for all and sundry. This is my charge to Hajia Sadiya Farouq: she should stay focused and refused to be distracted by the activities of mischief makers that are bent on blackmailing her into submission to their whims and caprices.

It is indeed a statement of the fact that Hajia Sadiya Farouq is the star performer in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari despite the avalanche of attacks on her personality by refusing to play ball and maintain the statuesque where a select group feasted on our commonwealth recklessly.
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If not for anything the actions and inactions of Hajia Sadiya Farouq at the helm of affairs of the sensitive Ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development give hope to Nigeria that some individuals are passionate about sustainable growth and development in the country.

Hajia Sadiya Farouq leads this pack of dedicated Nigerians that are burning alive with passion for Nigeria. I must not also fail to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the choice of Hajia Sadiya Farouq in the implementation of the social intervention programmes of the government.

It is not yet Uhuru as there a lot that still needs to be done. However, this cannot take away the fact the in the past one year, the scorecard of Hajia Sadiya Farouq has been most brilliant, coupled with the transparent way she has carried on as a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria evident in passion, kindness, creativity and innovation. Indeed the past one year in the activities of the Ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development has been phenomenal and worthy of emulation as she remains one of the performing ministers of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Agbese is a researcher at Dundee University, United Kingdom.

Ogun Police Kill Serial Killer Behind Death of Seven People

Security

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August 26, 2020

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Ogun Police Kill Serial Killer Behind Death of Seven People

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, on Tuesday, disclosed that he and his men employed technology to smoke out alleged serial killer and drug addict, Feyisola Dosumu, from a dungeon and shot him dead.

Ajogun said the command employed technology to fish out the suspect when it became difficult to apprehend him where he hid in the bush.

Dosumu, aka Spartan, had been declared wanted by the police.

He had reportedly killed no fewer than seven people in Ogere and Iperu-Remo, in the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspect was shot dead by joint security forces in Ogere on Tuesday.

Ajogun explained that the suspect was killed in his dungeon built in the bush in the Ogere area, after two days of operations.

He said, “We employed the reactive means of always combing the bush each time this thing happens. He started this in April, then on August 21, he killed another victim.

“Yesterday (Monday), we almost arrested him, but he slipped through our fingers. I felt it was important to employ technology. So, we contacted our technical platform in Abuja, which provided us assistance.

“Today (Tuesday), we were able to have a pin-point location where he was hiding and we engaged him. We nailed him in the leg and it turned out to be a fatal injury.”

Earlier, Governor Dapo Abiodun had applauded the security agency for a “job well done” and urged them to make Ogun a crime-free state.

Dosumu, a cultist and drug addict, graduated from a polytechnic in Abeokuta.

“License Gun for Residents,Terrorists Now in Oyo State”- Gani Adams Cries Out

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August 26, 2020

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“License Gun for Residents,Terrorists Now in Oyo State”- Gani Adams Cries Out

The Aare Onakakanfo Council led by Gani Adams has asked south-west governors to emulate Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, by urging residents of their states to get gun licences.

In a communique signed by its members at the end of an extraordinary meeting on the state of Yorubaland on Sunday, the council claimed it had “credible intelligence” on the infiltration of terrorists into the region, particularly in Niger state and Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo state.

The council further asked the federal government to intensify its effort in securing the country’s land borders to prevent the entry of criminals from neighbouring countries.

Ortom recently asked the federal government to allow responsible Nigerian citizens to carry sophisticated weapons like the AK-47 so they can defend themselves when attacked by bandits.

The communique read: “The Ààrẹ Ona Kakanfo-in-Council has in its possession credible intelligence, gathered from within and outside the country, which strongly indicates the infiltration of terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen in the region.

“More worrisome, the intelligence report also reveals that suspected ISIS operatives have already positioned themselves in Niger state via Ìbàrùbáland and are now within the Òkè-ògùn corridor of Oyo state.

“Indeed, the intel also reveal that about 500 power bikes and assorted armour belonging to the terrorists have been physically sighted along the abandoned Lusada route moving towards Sokoto, from Igbó-ọrà in Ọ̀yọ́ state. The council, therefore, enjoin all southwest governors, as well as the governors of Kwara and Kogi states, to emulate the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, by directing their citizens to apply for a gun licence for self-defence against the marauding terrorists and killer herdsmen.

The council calls for an immediate halt to all ethnic and genocidal killings in Nigeria. No nation prospers on the blood of the innocent. President Muhammadu Buhari, rise to the occasion and put a stop to the senseless killings in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Taraba states, among others. Stop this senseless bloodletting now.

“The clamour, by the Yorùbá, for an effective and adequate security architecture for the region goes beyond Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn or any form of self-help. It is all about the preservation of our heritage as a race, our way of life, our patrimony, our culture and traditions that are so precious to us and which we guard so jealously.”

Africa can defeat Coronavirus just like polio – Buhari

Health

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August 26, 2020

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Africa can defeat Coronavirus just like polio – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed hope that African countries can equally defeat the coronavirus pandemic the same manner it eradicated the Wild Polio Virus on the continent.

The president said this Tuesday at the formal certification of the Wild Polio Virus eradication in the African region during the virtual session of the 70th World Health Organisation (WHO) regional committee for Africa.

“I recall that shortly after assuming office in May 2015, I made a pledge to Nigerians that I would not bequeath a polio-endemic country to my successor. This certification is, therefore, a personal fulfillment of that pledge to not only Nigerians, but to all Africans.

“At a time when the global community is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, this achievement strengthens my conviction that with the requisite political will, investments and strategies, as well as citizens’ commitment, we will flatten the epidemic curve. I can affirm the commitment of all African leaders to this course of action,” he said.

The president assured the global community that Nigeria would sustain the momentum and leverage on the lessons learnt from polio eradication to strengthen her health system, especially primary health care, and prioritise health security.

He said Nigeria used data systems, community engagement and innovative technology to monitor and predict the occurrence of polio outbreaks, adding that these same skills and tools were being used to fight COVID-19 and the multi-country outbreaks of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Viruses.

The president, who described the achievement as a truly historic moment, commended President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union, under whose leadership, Africa crossed the finishing line.