Television Nigerian

50 trafficked ladies arrive in Nigeria from Lebanon

News

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May 26, 2020

50 trafficked ladies arrive in Nigeria from Lebanon

The Federal Government has revealed that 69 stranded persons including 50 trafficked Nigerian ladies arrived in the country from Lebanon on Sunday.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this via his Twitter handle while appreciating the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese community in Nigeria for their support in the evacuation process.

“With the financial and logistic support of the Lebanese Government and Lebanese community in Nigeria, 50 trafficked Nigerian girls and 19 stranded Nigerians were successfully evacuated from Lebanon and arrived in Nigeria today (Sunday).

“Profound gratitude to Ambassador Houssam Diad, Lebanese Ambassador in Nigeria and Ambassador Goni Zannabura, Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon,” he wrote.

FG screens 19 Nigerian firms for COVID-19 drugs production

Covid-19

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May 26, 2020

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FG screens 19 Nigerian firms for COVID-19 drugs production

The Federal Ministry of Health is screening 19 local firms for the production of herbal drugs that can possibly treat or cure COVID-19.

The firms, it was learnt, made many claims ranging from the outright cure for COVID-19 to the treatment of the symptoms.

It was learnt that the 19 firms had met with the leadership of the ministry and the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The firms have, however, been asked to submit their samples to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control out of which three would be picked and recommended for funding.

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, confirmed this during a chat on Monday.

He said a meeting was held with the leadership of NAFDAC, the National Institute for Medical Research, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and other relevant stakeholders.

Mamora said the ministry asked interested herbal manufacturers to tell the government what their challenges were.

The minister said some of them complained about funding as well as possible theft of their patent. Mamora said concerns over how to identify patients for trial were also discussed.

He said, “We met with about 19 of them to know what remedies they have in place and to know how we can put them through the processes from listing the medicine to clinical trial and then we wanted to know the challenges they were having.

“They said those challenges essentially were funding and they needed assurances that their intellectual property would be protected and their product or remedy would not be stolen or repackaged by someone else.

“The other challenge is how to go about the clinical trial. Part of that is how they source for patients because they will need patients who are volunteers. These patients have to be volunteers since it is a new product that will be put out there.

“So, we are now in the process of screening the 19 of them and we will shortlist some of them. About three will be shortlisted for further assessment and we will recommend support for them in order to fast track the process of determining their efficacy.”

When asked if the drugs were for the outright cure of COVID-19 or just for the treatment, Mamora said it was too soon to say as discussions were still on.

He said NAFDAC would test the herbal solutions to see if they are safe for human consumption.

WHO suspends chloroquine trial, says Africa’s cases, deaths appear unreal

The World Health Organisation on Monday announced the suspension of clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

The organisation’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in his opening remarks at a virtual press conference.

Ghebreyesus attributed the suspension to a recent report on the effect of the drug on patients.

He said, “As part of our continued response to the pandemic globally, WHO continues to work aggressively on research and development.

“As you know, more than two months ago, we initiated the solidarity trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four drugs and drug combinations against COVID-19.

“Over 400 hospitals in 35 countries are actively recruiting patients and nearly 3,500 patients have been enrolled from 17 countries.

“On Friday, the Lancet published an observational study on hydroxycholoroquine and chloraquine and its effects on COVID-19 patients that have been hospitalised.

“The authors reported that among patients receiving the drug, when used alone or with a macrolide, they estimated a higher mortality rate.

“The Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial, representing 10 of the participating countries, met on Saturday and has agreed to review a comprehensive analysis and critical appraisal of all evidence available globally.

“The review will consider data collected so far in the solidarity trial and in particular robust randomised available data, to adequately evaluate the potential benefits and harms from this drug.

Kogi West: Tribunal Reserves Judgement in Dino’s petition

Politics

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May 26, 2020

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Kogi West: Tribunal Reserves Judgement in Dino’s petition

The Kogi State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has reserved its judgement in the petition filed by Senator Dino Melaye and his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the victory of Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 30th, 2019 Kogi West Senatorial election.

Senator Melaye and dragged Senator Adeyemi before the tribunal, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.

According to him, despite the irregularities, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Senator Adeyemi, winner of the election.

At the sitting of the tribunal yesterday, parties adopted their final written addresses.

In his written address, counsel to Senator Adeyemi, Dr. Otitoju Oladapo, urge the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and substance.

According to him, the petitioner failed to proof petition by bringing credible witness to proof it case.

Dr. Otitoju said, ”VWhen a witness lies before the court, it becomes unreliable and the evidence the counsel to the petitioners brought before the tribunal emanated from his table and it can not stand as evidence before your Lordships.

”I urge your Lordships to discountenance the paragraph 3.00 to 5.0, because they amount to re-argument which the court forbid. Having satisfy the law the 2nd respondents (Senator Adeyemi) was declared the winner and it has not been disprove by any witness and on this, I pray your Lordships to dismiss the petition”.

In his argument, Counsel to Senator Melaye, Professor Wahab Egbewole, told the tribunal to upheld his petition and set aside the election that brought in Senator Adeyemi as a senator in the Senate.

According to him, the election was marred by irregularities and was conducted in flagrant breach of the electoral act.

He said he was able to prove beyond g reasonable doubt that the election did not conform with the laws guiding elections in the country.

He said all the witnesses of the petitioners were able to prove that the election was everything but free and fair.

Also, INEC and the APC called on the tribunal to dismissed the petition and uphold the the election of the 2nd defendant.

After listening to the arguments of counsel in the matter, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Isa Sambo reserved the petition for judgment.

WHO temporarily stops study of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment

Covid-19

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May 25, 2020

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WHO temporarily stops study of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment

The World Health Organization said Monday that it will temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine — the malaria drug U.S. President Trump says he is taking — from its global study into experimental COVID-19 treatments, saying that its experts need to review all available evidence to date.

In a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in light of a paper published last week in the Lancet that showed people taking hydroxychloroquine were at higher risk of death and heart problems, there would be “a temporary pause” on the hydroxychloroquine arm of its global clinical trial.

“This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19,” Tedros said, adding that the drugs are approved treatments for people with malaria or autoimmune diseases. Other treatments in the trial, including the experimental drug remdesivir and an HIV combination therapy, are still being tested.

Tedros said the executive group behind WHO’s global “Solidarity” trial met on Saturday and decided to conduct a comprehensive review of all available data on hydroxychloroquine and that its use in the trial would be suspended for now.

Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, said there was no indication of any safety problems with hydroxychloroquine in the WHO trial to date, but that statisticians would now analyze the information.

“We’re just acting on an abundance of caution based on the recent results of all the studies to to ensure that we can continue safely with that arm of the trial,” he said. WHO said it expected to have more details within the next two weeks.

Last week, Trump announced he was taking hydroxychloroquine although he has not tested positive for COVID-19. His own administration has warned the drug can have deadly side effects, and both the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned health professionals last month that the drug should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of hospital or research settings due to numerous serious side effects that in some cases can be fatal.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are approved for treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and for preventing and treating malaria, but no large rigorous tests have found them safe or effective for preventing or treating COVID-19.

Burundi ruling party candidate wins presidential election

Africa

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May 25, 2020

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Burundi ruling party candidate wins presidential election

Burundi’s ruling party candidate won a presidential election held last week, securing 68.72% of the vote, the electoral commission said on Monday.

Evariste Ndayishimiye, a retired general, will take over from President Pierre Nkurunziza, after he beat the main opposition candidate Agathon Rwasa, and five others, avoiding a runoff by securing more than 50% of the vote.

General Ndayishimiye, 52, is expected to succeed President Pierre Nkurunziza. Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005, had decided not to stand for a fourth term and had dubbed him his “heir.

The main opposition candidate, Agathon Rwasa, president of the National Council for Liberty (CNL), has already described these results as “fanciful” and accused the government of “cheating” and “pure manipulation”.

Election held in the midst of COVID-19

According to partial results compiled by AFP covering 105 communes, Mr. Ndayishimiye obtained an absolute majority of the votes in 101 communes. In the four communes where he is defeated, he never gets less than 43% of the vote. He obtains at least 70% of the votes in 66 communes and more than 50% in 35 others.

Even if these elections, maintained despite the epidemic of new coronavirus, were generally held in calm, the CNL denounces since Wednesday the pressure exerted on its assessors, some of whom were arrested, as well as massive frauds.

Mr Rwasa thus obtains only 24.6% of the votes in Kabezi, a commune in the province of Bujumbura-rural (west) which is nevertheless considered one of its historical strongholds.

The CNL is also outraged at the case of the Musigati commune (west), where Mr. Ndayishimiye received 99.9% of the vote. The turnout rate there is estimated at more than 102%, according to an AFP calculation.

Numerous witnesses throughout the country and Burundian journalists confirmed to AFP the validity of these accusations, even though no UN or African Union observer mission had been authorised by the government.

Analysts expected a duel between General Ndayishimiye and Agathon Rwasa, which drew crowds during the campaign, which was marred by violence and arbitrary arrests.

Premium Times and her uncharitable Sallah gesture to the military

Opinion

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May 25, 2020

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Premium Times and her uncharitable Sallah gesture to the military

By Samson Abu

“Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility. Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helpingng to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.”

The above sentence is what readers on the Premium News platform are confronted with for every news story. The appeal is strong and meant to elicit monetary donations from members of the public in the sustenance of “journalism of relevance.”

Whatever the motives of Premium Times are in soliciting for monetary donations from members of the public remains to be unravelled in the fullness of time. I am still struggling to come to terms with it because I have had reasons to question the editorial stance of Premium Times in times past.

When I see responsible journalism, I know it. When I also see irresponsible journalism occasioned by mischief and a price tag for every news story I also know. I stand to be corrected; Premium Times is leading in this fold, especially when it comes to issues that concern the Nigerian Military in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.

Having all these in mind, I sparsely visit Premium Times let alone rely on the genuineness of its reportage of issues. But a senior colleague of mine and an expert in conflict and security drew my attention to a publication in Premium Times titled “EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Army ‘secretly trying’ soldier who criticized service chiefs on social media” he left the following note for me:

“Your good friends are in their elements again. This story is not about the soldier, but that of the Service Chiefs. You can guess what is up. Happy reading”

Out of curiosity, I followed the link to the story and to say I wasn’t disgusted at the display of shoddy journalism would be an understatement. My conclusion was that with the likes of Premium Times, journalism has indeed gone to the dogs in Nigeria.

As a first, I knew after reading the first paragraph that someone has made a “modest support” in the accounts of the organization towards helping “to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.”

The trajectory in the story was poor. No media house that is well structured and abides by the journalism creed would sanction such a disjointed story lacking in every form of integrity and professionalism.

The Premium Times story reminded me of an article “Thinking about the Symbiotic Relationship between the Media and Terrorism” written by Mohammed Elshimi, where he stated that that the media does not create terrorist organizations, but it does promote terrorism. The principal distinction to bear in mind is: once terrorism gets going, the relationship between terrorism and media becomes symbiotic.

He stated that ‘Symbiotic’ explains how these strikingly different actors become interlocked in a relationship hinged on a convergence of interest: the media’s insatiable drive to supply content is simultaneously mirrored by the strategic necessity of terrorist movements for the oxygen of publicity.

“The media provides a platform for terrorist movements to broadcast and amplify their message to global audiences. Without this platform, the message of terrorist movements would not reach beyond its very immediate locale and therefore would remain unknown to most people outside the confined boundaries of the attack.”

Enter the world of Premium Times in Nigeria where the medium has been notorious in promoting acts of terrorism in Nigeria. Their scathing campaign against the Military is indeed legendary. They seem to have absolute disdain for the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East, Nigeria for inexplicable reasons.

I recall that sometime in 2016, the Chief of Army Staff sued Premium Times for libel and character assassination. And since then there has been no love lost between the Nigerian Army and Premium Times. In my opinion, this recent diatribe by Premium Times is nothing but a huge distraction to the counter-insurgency operations in North-East Nigeria.

I am aware that the military authorities have stated that the soldier involved in the online video that went viral would be placed under observation and counselling. That was the most rational thing to do in a circumstance like this and not what Premium Times wants members of the unsuspecting general public to believe.

Premium Times must understand that a warfront is different from a newsroom and therefore the need to be circumspect in the propagation of half-truths. This is also on the heels that the country is at the last phase of the Boko Haram war and Nigerians may have forgiven those that contributed in promoting the war in the past but not anyone or organization that further prolongs the war through whatever means.

This is not a time for distractions, and it’s such a shame that Premium Times is that veritable tool identified by those against the interest of Nigeria to distract the Nigerian Army. Sufficing to add that the prerogative of the tenure of the Services Chiefs in Nigeria is that of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

And for those interested in the Service Chiefs, I wonder in whose interest they want this to happen. I can bet that it is not in the interest of the country, but that of their cronies and business partners whose trade has been greatly affected since the Nigerian Military turned the tide against the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Even though it is expected that these merchants of war would fight back, the interest of the country must supersede personal interest. The promoters of Premium Times must realize and desist from availing their medium to unpatriotic elements to further fan the embers of war in Nigeria. The agitation is needless. It would only serve the purpose of denting further the already dented image of the organization by their often malicious stories on individuals and organizations.

It must be stated, and expressly so that since Premium Times cannot substantiate their claim of a secret trial, it would be in the interest of remnants of their reputation to retract their story and commit themselves to the best practices in journalism.

Premium Times must not distract the Army at this point. The authorities have said the soldiers involved in the outburst would be put through observation and counselling on the heels that emotions can run riot in war situations. This is normal and not peculiar to Nigerian troops engaged in the Boko Haram war in North-East, Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army is in the process of taking stocks, and it is expected that the Boko Haram group and their collaborators would fight dirty, including launching vicious attacks using different mediums and methods. And the Premium Times charade is an example of an uncharitable Salah gesture to the efforts of the Military in the push emancipation of North-East Nigeria from the clutches of Boko Haram terror group.

Needless, I mention that terrorist activities won’t thrive if there are no collaborators in the chain of violence. Some carry arms, some facilitate logistics, and some propagate their activities. Premium Times must stand out and not be counted as accomplices to acts of terrorism in Nigeria when the history of the Boko Haram insurgency is written.

Terrorism knows no tribe religion or organization for we all are victims of their fangs. Consequently, there must be a unity of purpose to defeat terrorism in Nigeria. The media has a vital role to play in this regard. This is the time for the press to join ranks with the generality of Nigerians that have given their support to the efforts of the Nigerian troops in battle. There is no need magnifying issues that would provide the Boko Haram terrorist the psychological boost that they so crave. For that in itself is aiding and abetting their activities.

Premium Times should take a cue from other media organizations in Nigeria. No doubt, they boast of some fine blend of journalists in the country, but this credit must be channelled in the right way and the interest of Nigeria. This is a piece of advice.

Abu is a freelance journalist based in Maiduguri.

Nigerian Army records major breakthrough in sustained onslaught against bandits, terrorists

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May 25, 2020

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Nigerian Army records major breakthrough in sustained onslaught against bandits, terrorists

Troops of Army Super Camp 11 in Gamboru, Ngala Local government area of Borno State has sustained its onslaught against insurgents and other criminal in its reinvigorated operations across the country.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said that the troops of Army Super Camp 11, Gamboru, in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno, on May 21, rescued a local, who was abducted around Wulgo general area by some Boko Haram insurgents.

He said that a hot pursuit by the troops forced the abductors to abandon their victim and flee, adding that they also recovered five bicycles belonging to the abductors.

Nigerian troops sustains onslaught against boko haram

The coordinator also said that the troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in Dolari, in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force, arrested one Bakura Rawa Modu who was detected loitering within Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp on May 20.

According to him, the suspect claimed to be a “motor boy”, and also confessed to be a Boko Haram member for the past five years, during preliminary interrogation,.

He said the suspect further disclosed that he coordinated several suicide bombings within Konduga general area in addition to his participation in series of Boko Haram attacks on the military and civilian targets.

“He confessed to be a spy sent to monitor activities of the troops within the IDPs camp,” the coordinator said.

Enenche further said that on May 18, troops of Strong Response Area, Ngoshe while on patrol, intercepted a woman named Maryam Ali, who was abducted by Boko Haram criminals five years ago, after they killed her husband.

“She revealed that her escape from Boko Haram was made possible by the devastating artillery and mortar bombardments on the Boko Haram enclave in Gava, Gwoza Local Government Area by Nigerian Army troops.

”She disclosed that the troops killed 15 of the insurgents while many others, including herself, suffered various degrees of wounds.

“She was, however, given first aid by the troops and later moved to a medical facility for better management,” he said.

Enenche also said that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had, on May 22, discovered a kidnappers’ hideout at Tungar Duna deployed at Doka and Tungar Duna Villages in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara.

He said that the kidnapped victims were rescued from their den as the criminals fled on sighting the advancing troops.

He revealed that the rescued victims had been debriefed and reunited with their families.

British Flairjet to pay N1m penalty for airport violation-Minister

News

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May 25, 2020

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British Flairjet to pay N1m penalty for airport violation-Minister

FlairJet, a British private charter company, which is also an affiliate of Flexjet, is to pay one million naira for violating COVID-19 airport directives in Nigeria.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure on Sunday via his verified twitter handle.

“Flairjet were found to violate our civil aviation regulations IS 1.3.3(a) Table 2(IV) 7(a) and IS 1.3.3 (a) Table 2 (VIII) (4).

“The maximum penalty for each is N500, 000.

“ We caused them to pay and reported their callous misdemeanour to UK CAA, MFA and the UK High Commission,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company was recently authorised to conduct humanitarian flights but was caught operating commercial flights.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had earlier banned commercial flights from operating into Nigeria as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Only passenger flights, which evacuate people or repatriate Nigerian citizens are currently allowed to operate as all airports in Nigeria are closed to international commercial flights until at least June 4.

However, flights for essential services, such as the delivery of food supplies and items for humanitarian use are allowed to operate. (NAN)

Buratai to Zulum: ‘Your support is quite immeasurable’

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May 25, 2020

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Buratai to Zulum: ‘Your support is quite immeasurable’

The support of Borno Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, mni to the Nigerian Army is immeasurable, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai has said.

Buratai who has been in Maiduguri for over a month now to lead the nation’s army war against Boko Haram, acknowledged the Borno governor’s support during a Sallah homage at the Borno Government House.

The COAS said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank Your Excellency, most sincerely, for all your support to the Nigerian Army and other services, the Nigerian Airforce, as well as the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole. Your support is quite immeasurable. We appreciate it and this has really made us to improve on our operations.”

In his response, Governor Zulum assured the military of his continued commitment in the fight against insurgency.

Zulum also pointed out that he has always kept faith in the Nigerian military, stressed that despite some misunderstandings, his heart has always been with the military.

“This administration under my leadership will remain faithful to the Nigerian military, we shall be faithful to you. There has never been anytime as a Governor of Borno State I decided not to be faithful to the military. To the best of my knowledge, I always say the right and positive things about the military. Even when I had an outburst, it was made out of good intentions,,” Zulum said.

The Governor said Buratai’s presence in the theater of war in the last two months has added so much value to the ongoing counter insurgency operation in the region.

He said: “Within the last two months we have been witnessing a gradual return of peace, we are optimistic that the Nigerian military can contain the situation. Government of Borno State will do everything possible to support the Nigerian military.”

China Warns US at Brink of Starting ‘New Cold War’ with Beijing

World

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May 25, 2020

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China Warns US at Brink of Starting ‘New Cold War’ with Beijing

China says some “political forces” in the United States have taken bilateral relations hostage and are pushing the world’s two biggest economies towards “a new Cold War.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress in Beijing Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Wu said “a political virus is spreading in the United States” which is “using every opportunity to attack and smear China.”

Wang said China has no intention to either change or replace the U.S., and that the U.S. should abandon its “wishful thinking of changing China and stopping 1.4 billion people in their historic march toward modernization.”

The Trump administration has clashed with Beijing over a range of issues in recent months, including trade, technology, and the coronavirus pandemic, with President Donald Trump himself alleging the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the virus was first detected late last year.

China’s proposed security law for Hong Kong is the latest flashpoint between the two sides, which critics say threatens Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status.