The National Assembly members will tomorrow resume from their Eid-el-Fitri break to consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2020..
Both Chambers of the National Assembly had on May 20 adjourned plenary till 2 June 2020.
But on Tuesday, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in a statement in Abuja, said all Senators and members of the House of Representatives are expected to resume on Thursday, May 28 to reconsider the 2020 budget.
Doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, have demanded for the payment of their 24 months’ salary arrears owed its members by the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde.
The doctors in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Abraham Akinbola and General Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Usman stressed the need for urgent payment of the salary arrears.
The statement reads jn part: “There is a need to urgently commence the payment of our two years half salary arrears from January 2016 to December 2017.
“This payment has commenced for other affected institutions in the state. Our assumption as an association is that we are not different from other Oyo State workers.
“But we feel the government of the day is neglecting our concerns. This alone has put the government in a bad light in the eyes of our members.
The resident doctors also demanded the installation, repair and maintenance of some of their sophisticated medical equipment for upmost service deliveries.
“As an association of resident doctors, we have upheld the best of professional conducts in delivering our services to the good people of Oyo State and its environs.
Odion Ighalo has been banned from returning to China, according to the Daily Mail.
Foreign players may not be able to return to the country until October, although the new season begins in June.
About a third of the Chinese Super League’s players are currently outside of China and face being refused entry until much later in the year.
Ighalo is among a huge group of players and managers that fall into that category, including Dalian Yifang manager Rafa Benitez.
However, the 30-year-old’s agent, Ladi Salami, has hinted that the Nigerian striker might end up remaining in the UK. According to Salami, an extension is close to being agreed.
Ighalo joined United on a six-month loan deal in January, which expires on May 31.
He has scored four times in eight appearances.
The Presidency has reacted to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the cancellation of appointments made by his late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
Reports had over the weekend emerged that the President directed his new Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, to cancel all appointments and approvals made by the late Chief of staff Abba Kyari.
The reports claimed that 150 memos were signed without Buhari’s permission.
But, reacting, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, described the reports as false.
Shehu urged Nigerians to disregard the reports adding that Buhari has not given anyone such power.
He wrote on Twitter, “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has canceled a number of memos and appointments signed off by his former Chief of Staff. Not surprisingly, these reports have quoted unnamed sources.
“There is not a grain of truth in these reports and Nigerians should please ignore the insinuations behind them.
“President Buhari was duly re-elected by Nigerians in February 2019. He has not and will never cede to anyone else, that power and trust given to him by the Nigerian people”
The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has showered encomium on President Muhammadu and the Nigerian troops for their efforts towards ending the war against insurgency in the last five years.
CESJET made this known in its five-year assessment report on President Buhari’s administration in the war against terrorism and the accompanying efforts of the Nigerian Army.
President Buhari has earned plaudits from Nigerians and the international community for dramatically halting the once growing spate of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks in the country.
Prior to Buhari’s reign, Nigeria appeared powerless, clueless and helpless, with terrorists extending their mayhem to the Federal Capital Territory; bombing prominent locations at will.
After carrying out an assessment tour of the North-East, spanning five years, CESJET acknowledged that President Buhari has displayed sincerity of heart and purpose towards bringing the war to an end.
In the report signed by Executive Secretary, Isaac Ikpa, on Tuesday, the centre hailed the current administration for showing the much-needed political will to finish off the terrorists.
CESJET also extolled Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for aligning with the vision of the president, showcasing exemplary leadership, commitment and doggedness in the theatre of operations.
According to the centre, the army has so far been professional in the discharge of their duties, exhibiting utter respect for human rights.
With the end of the war insight, CESJET, however, urged the Federal Government to continue to give the needed support to the troops.
Read full report below:
Introduction
The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) is a civil society organization in the vanguard of the entrenchment of social justice, equity and transparency at all levels of governance in Nigeria.
CESJET has over the years been consistent in holding government accountable in policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria. We have released various reports on governments dedication in various sectors of the economy by way of assessing the commitment of the government to the rule of law, human rights and protection of lives and properties, as well as the freedom of expression of the rights and privileges of Nigerians as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
CESJET in fulfilment of the above-stated areas of interest and focus undertook a strategic five-year assessment report on the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria.
The assessment report covered five years (2015-2020) with emphasis on the operations of the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war in North-East Nigeria and other parts of the country.
Research Methodology
In undertaking this assessment, emphasis was placed on primary sources of data collection that included interviews, distribution of questionnaires, on the spot assessment visits to the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria, to IDP camps, as well as affected communities in Nigeria.
CESJET constituted a team of researchers with each team consisting of journalists, psychologists, doctors and nurses, interpreters, observers and auditors. The team was spread across communities in North-East Nigeria and reported to a central processing team stationed in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Duration of Research
The research lasted a period of two months and three weeks. A group of experts analyzed the reports from the various teams under a strict guideline that emphasized objectivity in an attempt to achieve the overall objective of putting issues in proper perspectives with regards the prosecution of the war against terrorism by the government and the Nigerian Army.
The Assessment
The team of researchers undertook extensive research work in North-East Nigeria while highlighting various issues such as:
The level of casualties on unarmed civilians
The level of destruction in North-East Nigeria
The operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army
The respect for human rights by the Nigerian Troops
The state of IDP camps
The commitment of the political authorities
The Level of Casualties on Unarmed Civilians:
From the reports aggregated, there was an agreement that the level of casualties in the battle between the Boko Haram group and the Nigerian Army was at a minimal level. The bulk of those affected was in the process of rescue missions by the Nigerian Army where Boko Haram terrorist carried out mass killings when the Nigerian troops closed in on them in their numerous camps.
Borno State recorded the highest number of the use of women and children as a human shield by the Boko Haram group. This fact is responsible for why some clearance operations of the Nigerian Army were hindered so as not to record human casualties.
It was observed that those rescued from Boko Haram captivity were placed in counselling camps and were attended to by counselling psychologists and those requiring medical attention were transferred to the nearest medical facilities.
There is also a level of agreement amongst the various teams on the level of commitment of the Nigerian troops in ensuring that all rescue operations were carefully planned and with minimal use of force.
The Level of Destruction in North-East Nigeria:
It was observed that the level of destruction in North-East Nigeria was phenomenal. Damages in these communities date back to 2009 at the onset of the Boko Haram crisis.
However, life seems to be returning to most of these communities as the Nigerian Military has been carrying out reconstruction work and spearheaded the relocation of displaced persons back to their communities.
It was also observed that the military engineers were also involved in the provision of basic amenities such as water and the rebuilding of primary healthcare centres and places of worship in these communities.
The operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army:
The operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army in North-East Nigeria received a pass mark from the various teams. It was highlighted that there is a strong presence of the Military in all the communities visited by the team.
It was observed that the Military were in high spirits and showed dedication and commitment to the prosecution of the war within the ambits of the law. It was also noted that the military boast of sophisticated arms and ammunitions and the officers and soldiers were well-kitted in operational gears.
The operational line of command was also well-spelt out with each command, battalion and company responding to chains of authority most efficiently.
However, the team gathered that some soldiers have been in operation for as long as three years, and some of them exhibited fatigue occasioned by prolonged absence from their families and loved ones.
The respect for human rights by the Nigerian Troops:
After extensive interaction with the community and religious leaders in most communities visited by the team of researchers, it was stated that the Nigerian troops were respectful for locals and continuously carried out profiling of people in conjunction with representatives of the people to ensure that they fish out Boko Haram members that have taken refuge amongst the population.
It was discovered that the template for identifying Boko Haram infiltrators were issued to the various community leaders who in turn passed such information to their subjects.
The consensus in all the communities was that of praises for the efforts of the Nigerian troops in respecting the rights and privileges of the people. The relationship between the people and the Military is cordial, and this has resulted in the provision of food as gestures to the soldiers in the various communities visited.
The state of IDP camps:
Our team of researchers visited some select IDP camps in North-East, Nigeria. It was observed that most of the camps were populated by those that have refused to return to their communities despite pleas and assurances by the relevant authorities that it was safe for their return.
The team observed that soldiers and other security operatives adequately manned the various camps daily. There was a high level of organizations in their daily routine, but for some teething issues that were being addressed at the time of visiting by our team of researchers.
The commitment of the political authorities:
It was observed that was a conflict between political authorities in North-East Nigeria, and this gave rise to a delay in the provision of infrastructures in some of the communities in North-East Nigeria.
The political authorities at the state and local government levels felt that the government at the centre is usurping their responsibilities to the people by carrying out reconstruction work in communities without permission from the state government.
Our team observed that there have been concerted efforts towards resolving the differences by both parties.
Other Highlights:
It was observed that the army leadership in North-East Nigeria has been exceptionally professional with regards to the prosecution of the war. It was noticed that there was a high sense of collaboration between the various security agencies in operation.
The Boko Haram group does not control any swathe of Nigerian territory like in times past where over 16 local government areas were under the control of Boko Haram group.
According to information gathered the activities of Boko Haram has been restricted to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region, but for pockets of attacks carried out by the group from their hideouts.
The welfare of the officers and soldiers takes a high premium, and the equipment of the troops are mostly new and of serviceable conditions.
Conclusion:
The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency upon conclusion of the assessment tour of North-East Nigeria, states the following:
That the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria is commendable, there has been an unprecedented display of sincerity of heart and purpose by the government towards bringing the war to an end.
That the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed provided that political will towards defeating the Boko Haram group by ensuring the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Military in operation in North-East Nigeria.
That the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been exemplary in its operations in North-East Nigeria, its observance to the rules of engagement and the preservation of human rights are of high standards.
That the gains recorded by the Nigerian troops in battle in North-East Nigeria are as a result of the provision of a conducive environment for the operation of the Nigerian Military by the political authorities in Nigeria.
That the Nigerian authorities are indeed committed to halting the threat posed by the Boko Haram group across the West African region through the reinvigoration of the Multinational Joint Task Force.
Suggestions:
CESJET herby suggest that the Nigerian government must continue to give the needed support to the Nigerian Military by ensuring that it continuously provides all that is required in the prosecution of the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
Rivers State Government has cancelled its former decision to resume lockdown of the capital city, comprising Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt local government areas, as part of its strategy to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The lockdown billed to commence tomorrow Wednesday, 27 May, 2020 in Rivers State has been cancelled, Television Nigerian gathers.
The governor, who spoke in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday imposed 8pm to 6am curfew in the 23 local government Areas of the state beginning from June 2 till further notice.
He disclosed that his government uncovered plans by some criminal elements led by one Bobosky to cause security breaches in Khana, Eleme, Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo and Ikwerre local government areas.
He said: “After a comprehensive review of the measures taken and further considerations placed before us by well-meaning members of the public, the state security council has decided to cancel the proposed lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the State.
“In essence, no part of Rivers State is or will be under any lockdown from this moment and this will be so, except where it becomes necessary again”.
He advised residents to strictly observe all protocols and measures put in place to contain the pandemic such the regular washing of hands, religious wearing of face masks and keeping effective physical and social distance of between 1.5 to 2 meters from other people
He said residents should completely avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands and ensure that regularly touched surfaces were cleaned as part of effective measures to contain the pandemic.
But he said: “All land borders, including all exit and entry routes into Rivers State shall remain closed to human and vehicular traffic, except those on essential services and duly exempted.
Rivers people have in recent times complained about Governor Wike’s highhandedness in enforcing previous lockdown in the state in the wake of the pandemic.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has put arrangements in place on passenger facilitation and what to expects ahead of resumption of flights.
Speaking at an aviation webinar organised by Women in Aviation (WIA) Nigeria with the theme: “Aviation: The New Norm in the post COVID”, General Manager Corporate Affairs of FAAN Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said passengers should expect delays and long hours of checks and re-checks right from when they arrive the airport and departs.
She said escorts of VIPs would no longer be allowed to follow their principals into the terminal and such principals would be subjected to all health checks.
To this end, she said passengers are expected to leave their home early hours before their flights to go through the various checks before entering the terminal and after.
“We are going to expect flight delays, flights will experience delays from checks and re-checks. If you are travelling, I will expect a potential traveler to leave home hours before his flight. Why do I say this?
”Because there is going to be a lot of checks in the front of the terminal we have been told that some may activities and procedures will take place in front of the terminal. So air travelers are expected to leave home very early so that they can get to the airport on time.”
The FAAN spokesperson also explained that passengers should expect that airlines would charge more in terms of airfare, adding the International Air Transport Association, IATA said that there would be 45 percent increase in fares.
Yakubu stated that the COVID-19 had brought a lot of changes to air travel and to ensure the safety of passengers and airport users the way of doing things before have to change, adding that the pandemic would make people cut down on non-essentials and lead to low demand of air travel.
At all airports, she said social distancing would be 100%, temperature screening, wearing of face masks, disinfection of shoes and luggage of passengers would also be carried out 100% regardless of personalities.
“There will be floor markings indicating where each passenger will wait on the queue, arriving Passengers will also be subjected to temperature screening, physical distancing too will be observed while Passengers are waiting by the carousel to pick up their luggage.”
Passengers are expected to arrive the airport with their face masks on, their luggage and pairs of shoes to be disinfected. Passengers are expected to observe to observe social/physical distancing.”
“Passengers will subject themselves to temperature screening and departure halls will be arranged in such a way that physical distancing too will be observed,” she added.
General Manager Customer Service/SERVICOM, FAAN Mrs. Ebele Okoye harped on the decongestion of the terminal building especially outside where all sorts of people who do not have business at the airport mill around.
According to her, in reducing contact, the days of opening people’s bag at the airport to search what is inside should be done away with.
” I will urge all the airports to consider and make provision for different kinds of passengers, social distancing, adequate information and security and more importantly, Social security.
Okoye urged passengers to save themselves the stress of coming to the airport to buy tickets rather they buy their tickets online, check in online and pay for their trolleys online to reduce the hours they would have to spend carrying out these activities.
“Social security can be done online ticket purchase am sure that the airline will notify the people who purchase their ticket online to check in online and decongest the terminal building, no hangers around, touts should be
out of the airport, anyone not travelling should not be allowed to enter the airport, how do passengers get their trolley, they can pay online, you don’t need contacts.”
The webinar moderated by the WIA President, Mrs Rejoice Ndudinachi featured the Airport Manager South West Airports/Airport Manager, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba, former Rector, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria and other top women professionals in the industry.
Some of the biggest names in Africa’s music scene, including Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour and Grammy-winner Angelique Kidjo, have taken part in a virtual concert to raise awareness about the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 100 artists and celebrities from across the continent and the diaspora performed in the WAN Show broadcast online by the Worldwide Afro Network and carried by 200 African channels on Monday to mark Africa Day.
The event was modelled after the One World: Together At Home concert in April that brought together Lady Gaga, Elton John, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones and dozens of others playing from their homes.
The two-hour-long show was hosted by British actor and musician Idris Elba, who has recovered from COVID-19 – the highly contagious disease caused by new coronavirus – after testing positive earlier in March.
“After COVID-19, Africa will be great, Africa will be strong. Together we are unbeatable,” Malian kora star and hip-hop artist Sidiki Diabate said at the launch of the star-studded concert.
Malian Afro-pop star Salif Keita, Congolese singer Fally Ipupa, Nigeria’s Wizkid, Femi Kuti, Senegalese rapper Awadi, Ivory Coast’s Magic System and Beninese singer Zeynab were among the stars performing from their living rooms, home studios or gardens, ending their songs with the line: “Together as one.”
“I am optimistic, culture is at the beginning and at the end of everything,” said N’Dour, noting the event aimed “first to raise awareness of the fight against the pandemic, but also to say that in many areas nothing will ever be the same again”.
Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also joined in.
“Africa is a continent of rich history, culture uniqueness and dynamism. Africa must rise above this as we have done with every previous challenge,” said Rawlings.
“Together as one I know we shall overcome and if music is the food of love let us play on.”
The coronavirus outbreak has reached every nation on the African continent of 1.2 billion people.
As of Tuesday, more than 115,000 have been confirmed as having been infected and at least 3,471 gave died, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 46,000 have recovered.
Countries across the continent have gained praise for responding swiftly to the pandemic and keeping the number of infections relatively low compared with other parts of the world. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for vigilance, warning that COVID-19 could kill up to 190,000 people in Africa and infect between 29 million and 44 million in the first year if containment measures fail.
As @idriselba said – the LEGEND that is @angeliquekidjo on the @MTVBaseAfrica #AfricaDayBenefitConcert for @UNICEF + @WFP’s work to help children on the continent survive #COVID19. You can support here: https://t.co/8t5RdHkEPW ✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/N4nAj2jLNg
— UNICEF Africa (@UNICEFAfrica) May 25, 2020
On Monday night, Benin-born Hollywood actor Djimon Hounsou spoke about vaccine trials in Africa, in the wake of a controversy that arose last month when two French doctors discussed on television whether to test a vaccine on the continent – a debate that unleashed accusations that Africans were being used as lab animals.
“Time for self-preservation, time to be attentive, time to stay vigilant from any Westerners coming to test their vaccine on us,” said the Blood Diamond and Guardians of the Galaxy star.
“Deceit can be powerful but truth is even more powerful,” he said.
British supermodel Naomi Campbell called for Africans to come together.
“We face an extraordinary challenge but we cannot afford to be spectators. We must show our resilience and share our commitment as Africans to overcome this and grow stronger from it,” she said.
“Use your voice to call our leaders in Africa to use this crisis as a moment to build our solidarity and deal with deep structural issues that affect our nations and their economies.”
Tune into MTV Base Channel 322 right now for the #AfricaDayBenefitConcert.
We can't get enough of @sautisol's performance of #Insecure!!! Tune in now. #AfricaDay #AtHome pic.twitter.com/eqq0tCpTkB
— MTV Base Africa (@MTVBaseAfrica) May 25, 2020
The pandemic has also raised concerns of racism and discrimination after African nationals were reportedly mistreated and evicted in China, where the virus was first reported last December.
Jamaican reggae and ska legend Jimmy Cliff recorded “a message in these uncertain times”.
“The time has come again for us Africans to show the world who we are. Those in the continent and in the diaspora, it is time to be together as one,” he said.
Madagascar is sending soldiers and doctors to the city of Toamasina in an effort to contain a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country’s second largest city.
Madagascar has confirmed 122 new cases since last Thursday.
The more than 100 soldiers sent to Toamasina are charged with keeping the peace and enforcing requirements for wearing masks and social distancing.
A spokeswoman for the anti-COVID 19 operational command center said doctors will investigate whether recent deaths on the Indian Ocean Island are due to the coronavirus or another disease.
The French News Agency (AFP) said some witness accounts revealed that bodies have turned up in the streets of Toamasina, with the cause of the deaths not known.
AFP says Madagascar Communication Minister Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy denied bodies were in the streets anywhere in the country and that reinforcements were sent to Toamasina due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Madagascar has confirmed 527 cases of coronavirus and two deaths.