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Poorest of poor: Delta LG chair comes under attack

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Poorest of poor: Delta LG chair comes under attack

 

The Chairman of Sapele Local Government area, in Delta State, Hon Eugene Inoaghan has come under attack after his explanation that the poorest of poor was the modalities for sharing of food items said to be donated to Sapele residents by Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri kingdom, following the lockdown to contain Covid-19 pandemic.

The Alema had on Friday, 3rd of August donated 50 bags of rice,10 cows, and 500 cartons of indomie, to the Local Government Council to be share to residents of the town, but a directive from his Chief Press Secretary, Malcolm Tagbara through Sapele Oghenek, a Facebook news page was said to have announced that the items was for the poorest of poor.

However, this did not go down well with some residents of the town who wondered what the poorest of the poor meant, if the government cannot provide for its citizen.

“We have been sitting at home for days now, and the only time, something comes in from the government, he is saying the items is meant for the poorest of the poor” Mr Tony Adekiyan, a furniture maker said furiously.

Madam Adega Margaret, who claim she owns a store where she sells second hand clothes said, it was improper for the LG boss to use that kind of language, we all need the food items, so he should stop using poorest of poor as a yard stick”

“Let him explain the poorest of poor to us, we are all hungry Nigerians, so why the big Grammer for food items, abeg make he share am round” A transporter said.

 

 

Covid-19 lockdown: Deji Ashiru gives monies to vulnerable in Ogun East

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Covid-19 lockdown: Deji Ashiru gives monies to vulnerable in Ogun East

Former Ogun East Senatorial Candidate in the 2019 General election, Engr.(Dr.) Deji Ashiru (EDA) has joined Ogun state government and other well meaning indigenes of the state to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world with a palliative.

Ashiru made this known on Monday during a media chat with journalists in Lagos.

He said: “I have decided to give five thousand naira (#5,000) each to 400 beneficiaries and second batch will be two thousand naira (#2,000) each for 1000 beneficiaries.

As a form of palliative for Covid -19 lockdown in Ogun East Senatorial District.The recipients which are the vulnerable and poor have started receiving the money directly in their accounts since yesterday (Sunday) and we hope to be done by today”.

Speaking further, he said the EDA foundation already has the data base of the vulnerable and the poor within the senatorial district over the years which made it possible to interact with them directly. He however admonished all to keep praying for God to cease the plague ravaging not only the country but the world at large. In addition, he urged the people to observe a high level of personal hygiene such as wash their hands with soap under running water, use alcohol- based sanitisers as well as maintain social distancing as key tips to preventing the spread of the virus.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent thanked EDA for his humanitarian gesture which will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the common man.

It would be recalled that Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had announced a lockdown in the state last week but explained that markets would be open every two days during the lockdown.

 

 

Social distancing: Uproar over Funke Akindele’s husband birthday bash

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Social distancing: Uproar over Funke Akindele’s husband birthday bash

It is not the best of time for the popular Nollywood super actress and Ambassador of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Funke Akindele-Bello, as Lagos State Government is set to investigate the widespread news of a party she allegedly organized for her husband, JJC Skillz’s birthday in the midst of the social distancing campaign against contracting Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

Akindele-Bello, who had since apologized profusely through her twitter handle, was the topic of criticism on social media (instagram) on Sunday after videos of the birthday party that also included Naira Marley and Eniola Badmus went viral.

When contacted, a senior official of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, who preferred anonymity, said the agency, has not been notified officially, “but the state government will not hesitate to investigate and apply necessary sanction if found wanting. I will get back to you if there is any update on the matter.”

LASEPA is saddled with the enforcement on compliance of Presidential directive on measures against COVID-19 in the state.

The popular “Jenifa Diary” star who had been engaged by the government and private companies to help propagate the social distancing campaign aimed at combating the pandemic in her sobering apology affirmed that all those at the party had been staying in the Amen Estate residence for days and weeks as part of her new project that also involves Naira Marely.

She regretted and repeatedly apologized for her indiscretion in allowing the video to get to social media, saying that she had no intention of misleading the public.

Funke Akindele, has offered explanation on why she held a birthday bash for her husband despite the lockdown placed by President Muhammadu Buhari over the Coronavirus Disease.

Akindele offered the explanation in a video on her social media handles.

In a short accompanying note on her Twitter handle, she said: “I hear you all and I acknowledge all your honest feedback.

“I also thank you for your concerns, well wishes and calls.

“I am sorry and hope this video offers some explanation.

“Please stay safe. And God bless.”

She was blasted by Twitter users for organizing the bash during this lockdown period.

The award winning Nollywood actress threw a birthday party at their home in Amen Estate and Nigerian Twitter users have pointed fingers saying it’s a wrong move by the actress.

The Twitter users, who were particularly displeased owing to the current lockdown as everyone has been instructed to be indoors because of the dreaded Coronavirus ravaging the country, said the party should not have held.

It was coupled with the fact that Naira Marley just returned from the United Kingdom, and he was present at the sitting room birthday party which had quite number of people in attendance.

Another top Nollywood actress, Emiliano Badmus was also present.

According to the Twitter users, “it shouldn’t have been from Funke Akindele as she is the brand ambassador of NCDC and Dettol, meaning she was the one that is meant to lead by example.”

 

 

Boko Haram suicide bombers kill seven in Cameroon

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Boko Haram suicide bombers kill seven in Cameroon

Seven people were killed when two suicide bombers, suspected to be members of Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadist group, attacked a village in northern Cameroon on Sunday, police and a local official said.

“Two Boko Haram bombers blew themselves up at around 8pm” in the attack on Amchide, on the border with Nigeria, a policeman said Monday, while a local official said a village chief and two teenagers were among the dead.

The attack took place as the villagers were “returning home” though a zone that the authorities have said is dangerous after 6pm, the official said.

Amchide is a small trading village in Cameroon’s Far North province, a tongue of land that lies between Chad to the east and Nigeria to the west.

The province has been hit since 2014 by Boko Haram fighters making incursions from northeast Nigeria.

The jihadists’ campaign has killed more than 27,000 people since 2009, several thousand of them in Cameroon, and displaced more than two million, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad region.

According to Amnesty International, at least 275 people were killed in the Far North last year.

 

 

DPO keeps mum as Varsity Don petitions Police Service Commission over Rights abuse

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DPO keeps mum as Varsity Don petitions Police Service Commission over Rights abuse

A former university lecturer and proprietor of the proposed Aeronautic Engineering University, Professor David Ngene, has accused a Chief Superintendent of Police CSP, Danladi Mashat of using his powers to harass and intimidate him.

In a petition addressed to the Chairman, Police Service Commission PSC, Alhaji Musiliu Kunbi Smith, the Enugu-born Professor, recalled how CSP Mashat, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Independence Layout Station, Enugu, allegedly arrested and abused workers at the site of his proposed Aeronautic Engineering University.

However, when contacted, CSP Mashat said he was not in a position to comment on the issue since it didn’t involve crime. He said Enugu State Police Command was in a better position to respond to the allegations made.

“I think you should direct your enquiries to the Public Relations Officer of Enugu State Police Command. They’ll respond to your questions,” he said.

When contacted, Public Relations Officer of Enugu Command, Mr. Daniel Ndikwe, said he was going to make inquiries on the claims and revert.

When pushed further, he said he was yet to confirm as at the time of filing this report.

In the petition sent to the PSC, Prof. Ngene said; “I am also aware that except were a piece of land is a subject of a violent dispute leading to crimes, the Nigeria Police has no right whatsoever

over lands, as any dispute thereon which has not occasioned any crime or likelihood of crime is entirely the business of a civil court of law.

“With my limited knowledge of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it relates to the extent of the powers of the Nigeria Police, it amazes me why CSP Danladi Mashat has made himself a law over the land I procured with all of my life’s earnings, having laboured and retired in the United States almost two decades ago and whose title transfer was authorized by accredited representatives of the six villages that make up Ugwuaji Awkunanaw as at the said material time and as is the practice with land procurement in these parts.

“My workers have been subjected to all manner of harassment and torture by CSP Danladi Mashat, who rather than combat crimes in the society has made my land his focal point of duty by detailing several armed police men under his office and which men to the knowledge and approval of CSP Danladi Mashat harasses, arrests, detains and even uses their canister smoke on them just so as to scare them away from working for me on land.”

He called on Police authorities to prevail on CSP Mashat to withdraw his men from the site for the establishment of his Aeronautic Engineering University.

 

 

Buratai lauds Gen Adeniyi over counter insurgency operations in Northeast

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Buratai lauds Gen Adeniyi over counter insurgency operations in Northeast

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai has praised Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, for the successes recorded under his leadership as Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD).

Buratai gave the commendation at a dinner organised in honour of Adeniyi at the Military’s Command Guest House, in Maiduguri, on Saturday night. Burutai said that the emergence of Adeniyi as the Theatre Commander was a turning point in the history of the army’s war against terrorism.

He said that Adeniyi showed high level of dedication, commitment and understanding of the operational environment, which placed him in a very good state to achieve success as the commander.

“Adeniyi came at a point when virtually most of the FOBs were falling and his coming was a turning point in Lafiya Dole’s operation. “He never led from the rear, he is always in the front; that is the type of leadership that is required and that is an excellent attribute of a field leader. I have always emphasised that you must lead by example.

“This one; no matter the lapses, no matter the inadequacies and no matter what happened, nobody can take that away from him as part of his successes.

“He came at a time when things were already crumbling and his leadership style turned things around to bring us to where we are today.

“He never led from the rear, he is always in the front; that is the type of leadership that is required and that is an excellent attribute of a field leader. I have always emphasised that you must lead by example. Buratai lauds Adeniyi.

“So Adeniyi, be rest assured that you have made your mark. You are leaving the Theatre, but you will be required to share the experience you have gathered here. You will be consulted accordingly,” he said.

The COAS also lauded other security agencies for their roles in ensuring successes in the counter insurgency campaign.

Maj.-Gen. Farouq Yahaya, the new Theatre Commander of OPLD, assured the COAS that he would do his best to achieve the vision, mandate and objective of the operation.

“The Theatre is out to achieve all the directives with the orders and instructions from the headquarters,” he said.

In his remarks, Adeniyi lauded the COAS for supporting him to serve under his supervision as Theatre Commander.

“I am very happy that, to the best of my knowledge, I have done everything in my power, and that I did not let you down, sir,” he said.

Adeniyi has now been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre as Senior Research Fellow

IGP orders action against ex-Benue LG boss, brother, others over attempt to murder journalist in Abuja

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IGP orders action against ex-Benue LG boss, brother, others over attempt to murder journalist in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has ordered immediate investigation into the attempt on the life of DAILY POST Deputy Editor, Ameh Comrade Godwin and threat to attack its Managing Editor, Ali Adoyi, by one Samuel Odoh Onuh (also known as Prince Onuh).

Onuh, who is the Peoples Democratic Party’s chairmanship candidate in Ogbadibo for the postponed local council election, had led some thugs alongside his brother, Frank Onuh, to attack Ameh on February 26 in Area 8, Abuja.

The journalist had in a statement said that the Onuh brothers and their hired thugs numbering eight, after assaulting him, labeled him a thief.

“It was God that saved me because when Samuel ordered one of the boys to shoot me, I took to my heels and they went after me shouting thief, barawo (which means thief in Hausa language). Some boys around the area went after me with weapons to lynch me, thinking I was actually a thief. It was God that saved me,” Ameh had explained in his statement submitted to the police.

The politician also threatened to deal with Mr. Adoyi and those he believed were against his chairmanship candidature after his attempt to kill Ameh failed.

Consequently, DAILY POST through its lawyer, Barr. John George Itodo, Esq, of Hedgewood Legal, petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the attempted murder and threat to lives of DAILY POST staff.

In the petition entitled: “Petition against one Samuel Odoh Onuh, the PDP candidate for Ogbadibo LGA chairmanship election in Benue State for violent attack on Ameh Comrade Godwin and threat to lives of Ali Adoyi and others” the lawyer called on the police “IG to without delay investigate and prosecute the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs, who have vowed to either make life unbearable for our clients’ staff or terminate their lives. And our clients are more apprehensive as the said Samuel Onuh and his thugs have carried out the first attack.”

Meanwhile, the IG of police has ordered the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command to treat the case without delay.

In a memo forwarded to the CP through his Principal Staff Officer, DCP Idowu Onohubwa, the police boss asked the commissioner to “treat” the attempt on the life of the journalist and that of his colleagues by Onuh and his thugs.

“I forward herewith a copy of a letter dated 2nd March, 2020 received from Hedgewood Legal on the above underlined subject and respectfully convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you treat,” part of the memo read.

EXPERTS HIT FG: TraderMoni, conditional transfers, wrong vehicles for palliatives

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EXPERTS HIT FG: TraderMoni, conditional transfers, wrong vehicles for palliatives

• Say School Feeding Programme irrelevant

• ‘Measures capture only 15% of people that need support’

By Peter Egwuatu, Assistant Business Editor & Naomi Uzor

Experts and stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy have expressed mixed feelings over the Federal Government’s decision to use TraderMoni, conditional transfers and School Feeding schemes as vehicles for palliatives to cushion the effect of lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as Abuja, as a result of coronavirus outbreak.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, while announcing the 14-day-lockdown, which commenced on Tuesday, in a broadcast last Sunday, said, “For residents of satellite and commuter towns and communities around Lagos and Abuja whose livelihoods will surely be affected by some of these restrictive measures, we shall deploy relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks.

 

“Although schools are closed, I have instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to work with State Governments in developing a strategy on how to sustain the school feeding program during this period without compromising our social distancing policies.

“The Minister will be contacting the affected States and agree on detailed next steps.

“Furthermore, I have directed that a three-month repayment moratorium for all TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans be implemented with immediate effect.

“I have also directed that a similar moratorium be given to all Federal Government funded loans issued by the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and the Nigeria Export Import Bank.

“For on-lending facilities using capital from international and multilateral development partners, I have directed our development financial institutions to engage these development partners and negotiate concessions to ease the pains of the borrowers.

“For the most vulnerable in our society, I have directed that the conditional cash transfers for the next two months be paid immediately. Our Internally displaced persons will also receive two months of food rations in the coming weeks.

“We also call on all Nigerians to take personal responsibility to support those who are vulnerable within their communities, helping them with whatever they may need”.

Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said there is a major problem with the appropriateness of the palliatives announced by the President, adding that the School Feeding Programme, for instance, is not relevant when all schools are closed already.

He said: “The segment of the vulnerable that should be targeted at this time is the urban poor, many of them in the slums of Lagos especially, and other states currently on lockdown.

“This was the understanding of the palliatives that were contemplated in the wake of the pandemic and eventual lockdown.

“The pre-COVID-19 pandemic palliatives should be markedly different from what should happen at this time.

“There is a need for a comprehensive review of social intervention programmes to bring it in alignment with the current social crisis resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The context has changed. Therefore the intervention model should change as well.”

Many vulnerable people not captured—MAN

Also speaking, Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa branch, Engr. Frank Onyebu, commended the President for the measures taken so far.

However, Onyebu expressed dismay that the vulnerable people in the country have not been captured.

Specifically, he berated government for using TraderMoni as one of the palliative measures to cushion the effect of COVID-19.

He said: “I must, however, say that majority of the vulnerable members of the society have not been captured in government’s plan.

“It is wrong to use TraderMoni and School Feeding programmes as platforms for the palliatives.

“It is clear that these programmes, despite their good intentions, never went beyond a certain insignificant percentage of the intended beneficiaries.

“Government must, therefore, device means of reaching out to majority of the people.”

Continuing, he said: “One way of doing this is to go through the local community leaders, churches, mosques, and all such organisations with direct link to vulnerable members of the society.

“This way, we can be sure that majority of intended beneficiaries are captured.

“In the longer term, government should fashion out an all-encompassing social programme to cater to the needs of the vulnerable amongst us even beyond the current crisis.

“Government can borrow a leaf from advanced countries where such social programmes have been in practice for generations.

I must say that it is important that this issue is given careful consideration because of the security implications of having a very large population of unemployed people, especially young people.

“I do not want to imagine what a large population of hungry, unemployed youths can do if pushed to the limit.

“There is a saying that a hungry man is an angry man.”

FG should look at other directions —NASME

Similarly, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME), Prince Orimadegun Agboade, noted that TraderMoni, conditional transfers and School Feeding schemes were programmes designed by government to address identified pains that different groups of people go through.

“For instance, TraderMoni was for micro businesses operating informally, conditional transfers for internally displaced people while the School Feeding Programme is to attract pupils to school, especially those with a high probability of dropping out of schools.

“In the light of this, government’s plan to use the same programmes/schemes to serve the purpose of cushioning the effects of lockdown is not appropriate. “Using the same schemes will not be able to capture all those who truly need support this time around.

“In the same way, one can state that the percentage of Nigerians captured by TraderMoni and conditional transfers to the vulnerable is so small.

“It is less than 15 percent of Nigerians that need support. We should not forget that the whole population is affected by lockdown.

“How then will the school meal reach pupils, if the same scheme is to be used now?

“The good news is that the Chairman of the Presidential Committee informed Nigerians that the President has approved release of 70MT of grains from National Reserve with Lagos and Ogun states as well as FCT as first beneficiaries.’’

Design policies that will help private sector — NACCIMA

National President, NACCIMA, Hajia Saratu Iya Aliyu, on her part, said: “We look forward to a more comprehensive package that will include fiscal policies that will help resuscitate businesses in the private sector after this crisis.

“We are also calling on state governments to work closely with our members to design policies and programmes that will help the private sector in their states taking into consideration their specific circumstances.”

Small businesses will lose N62bn —ASBON

Also speaking, the President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola, said: “A lockdown will make business owners in the informal sector lose their businesses and source of livelihood.

“I can tell you that quite a number of these businesses will die with this lockdown.

“For those who live on a daily/weekly income, the lockdown portends hunger.

“Yet to some others, the stay-at-home will force them to dip their hands into their meagre working capital and savings.

“Of course, you can’t have stipends with you and watch your family die of hunger.

“The long term effects of this lockdown will haunt us when Covid-19 pandemic is over.

“Now that the nation’s earnings are dwindling, government should support micro and small businesses. They are the engine of our economy.”

 

World War II veteran beats coronavirus, celebrates 114th birthday

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World War II veteran beats coronavirus, celebrates 114th birthday


A 104-year-old World War II veteran living in Oregon has recovered from the novel coronavirus, making him what is believed to be the nation’s oldest survivor of the pandemic.

Family of William “Bill” Lapschies revealed that he came down with symptoms of the virus on March 5 and was isolated in his room. On March 11, a test came back positive for COVID-19. Luckily, his doctors said he only had a mild case of coronavirus and did not develop respiratory symptoms that might have required the use of a ventilator.

Lapschies, who also survived the Spanish flu, reportedly recovered from the virus this week just in time for his 104th birthday on Wednesday. Unlike his 100th birthday, which had 200 guests, his celebration this week was a bit smaller.

Family members met up outside the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Oregon with balloons and signs to share their birthday wishes for Lapschies, with everyone remaining at least 6 feet apart to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Asked how he survived, Lapschies told said with a laugh: “I don’t know. … It just went away. Sit out here and you can get rid of anything.”

The nursing home where Lapschies resides has seen 16 coronavirus cases among residents and two deaths. The virus spreading among seniors at long-term care facilities has been a major concern of health experts as the elderly are at a higher risk of facing more serious illness from the disease. In Washington state, nursing homes were at the epicenter of the outbreak.

Asked by his granddaughter how he felt to be 104, Lapschies said: “Pretty good. I made it.”

A 103-year-old grandmother in Wuhan, China, and a 101-year-old Italian person have also recovered from the illness. Lapschies is believed to be the oldest person known to recover from COVID-19 so far in the United States

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NCDC receives ambulance, medical equipment, others from Living Faith Church

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NCDC receives ambulance, medical equipment, others from Living Faith Church

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC on Saturday confirmed that it has received medical equipment and ambulance donated by Living Faith Church to support the fight against coronavirus in Nigeria.

Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church had on March 31 announced that the church will be donating medical equipment and relief materials to Lagos and Ogun States to aide the fight against coronavirus.

 

The donation was made known in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Church’s Editorial Board, Prof Sheriff Folarin.

Oyedepo emphasized that the church will join hands to support the government and Nigerians, saying that Living Faith Church as a faith-based organization with a global outreach wishes to register its support, in entirety, to the Nigerian government and global efforts to win the war against this unseen but common enemy of mankind.

Confirming the donation, NCDC on its verified Twitter handle said “this week, NCDC received an ambulance, medical equipment & protective gear from Living Faith Church to support #COVID19Nigeria response We are grateful for the collective efforts of the government & community institutions to #PreventCOVID19Spread”

 

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