Monday, November 2, 2020 Edition

Monday, November 2, 2020/ Rabi’ul Awwal 16, 1442 AH Vol. 35 No. 035 N150

1394 Days after Malam Wada Maida (1950-2020), founding chairman, board of the Peopels Media Limited.

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The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Nigeria Hostage Rescue:

Stop kidnapping Americans, Trump warns terrorists, criminal gangs >>>page 5

Post #EndSARS protests:

Sultan lauds Northern youths for calmness, maturity page 2

L-R: The MD/ CEO of Kaduna Electric, Engr Garba Haruna, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswan, Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, Chairman, Kaduna Electric, Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar and Representative of the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon.Shehu Yunusa during the flag off of the National Mass Metering Program in Kaduna, Friday

Electricity: AEDC resumes approved Reflective Tariff

pg 19

Reps resumes plenary to WTO: Buhari steps address youth bills up lobbying for ― Gbajabiamila Okonjo-Iweala pAGE 17

pAGE 3

Troops kill 5 bandits during encounter in North West pAGE 4

Man, 26, nabbed for circulating counterfeit naira notes in Adamawa pAGE 6

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Op.Ed

12-13

Sultan lauds Northern youths for calmness during #ENDSARS protests

Politics 15-17

From: Kaduna

Stock Watch

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Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

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World News

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Femi

Oyelola,

he sultan of Sokoto, his Eminence Alhaji Sa,ad Abubakar has lauded Northern youths for their calmness amidst the violence that trailed the #ENDSARSAR protest across the nation.

He made the assertion during the 50th anniversary celebration of Arewa House held in kaduna yesterday.

The Royal Father, said the Northern youth showed high degree of responsibility by not joining wanton destruction of lives and property.

He encouraged them to

continue in that dimension.

Abubakar, said burning of any property is an act of wicknesses that is condemnable.

The royal farther lamented that what is happening in the North today is not the dream of Sir Ahmadu Bello and therefore called on all leaders to wakeup to their responsibility.

In his remarks former vice president who is the chairman of the occasion warned that no nation survived admits chaos, saying events of the last two weeks is a wakeup call for leaders of the country to do the needful.

Similarly Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-

Rufai, said urgency of present challenges dictates that government should move fast with a sense of purpose to remove the structural bottlenecks that hobble the country, According to him, there is very little time left to secure and begin to implement the necessary constitutional amendments El Rufai who was the Chairman APC Committee on True Federalism added that his Committee produced clear recommendations to strengthen federalism and achieve national cohesion and healthy subnational competition.

“The committee also made efforts to accelerate

the implementation of its recommendations by producing draft bills that incorporate the recommendations either as proposed amendments to our Constitution or our national laws. “ It is a matter for regret that for some reasons, the consequential action by the APC leadership to adopt and implement the report has not happened since it was submitted in January 2018.

“The urgency of our challenges dictates that we should move fast with a sense of purpose to remove the structural bottlenecks that hobble our country.”

Reps resumes plenary to address youth bills ― Gbajabiamila Page 17

Digest

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Feature 26 Sports 30-31 Back Page

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L-R: Governor of Ekiti state/Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, Former Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Emir of Lafiya, Justice Sidi Bage, during the Golden Jubilee of Area House on Saturday in Kaduna state, Photo: Shehu Goro

RTEAN settles age long dispute, sues for peace

By Ochiaka Ugwu

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he members of Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) for a long time now has come together under one leadership having been embroiled in leadership crises that nearly tired the association apart.

This followed a court judgment delivered by Justice Yemi Anuwe of the National Industrial Court which recognized Alh. Musa Muhammed (Maitakobi) as the Executive National President of the association.

In a press conference jointly addressed in Abuja Thursday

by Alhaji Musa Muhammed (Maitakobi) and Yusuf Adeniyi,

National President and Secretary General respectively, they appealed for members to embrace total peace and genuine reconciliation to be able to move the association forward.

“The present leadership under the current Executive National President, Alhaji Musa Muhammed (Maitakobi), is calling on all disenchanted, aggrieved, dissatisfied and disconnected members, to come together for us to build and reinvigorate RTEAN for progress and development.

They also called on the press, relevant stakeholders and general public for support since the association cannot do it alone.

“I want to say here that the members of RTEAN cannot do it

alone to ensure that peace reigns and progress achieved without the support, co-operations and collaborative partnership with the press and the general public.

We are therefore calling you all to give support, cooperate with this current leadership in ensuring that there is stability”.

They informed that the court victory is not for them alone but for all Nigerians who were interested in moving the association forward.

“This victory is neither a victory for Alh. Musa Muhammed (Maitakobi) as a person, nor for the NEC alone, nor for the National Hqtrs., nor for the members of the organization but for all Nigerians, for the fact

that this conflicts and crises has lingered for a long time and it has affected the entire transport industry in the country”.

They appealed to members to remain law-abiding as ever and avoid any act(s) that may lead to breakdown of law and order and cooperate with law-enforcement agencies in the country to achieve their goals of effective policing of the people.

“I must not forget to use this medium to condole the families of those that lost their lives in the #EndSars protests across the country’.

They announced that a committee has been constituted to ascertain the extent of damages and lost that members suffered.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

WTO: Buhari steps up lobbying for Okonjo-Iweala

By Egena Sunday Ode

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resident Muhammadu Buhari Friday held a video conference with Mr Charles Michel, President of the European Council, during which the latter reiterated Europe’s support for Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The President is leading Nigeria’s charge for OkonjoIweala, the country’s former Minister of Finance, to emerge as the first Black and female WTO DG. President Buhari thanked the European Council for its

support for Nigeria’s candidate, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement.

Okonjo-Iweala has already received support of overwhelming number of WTO member countries but the United States is not yet favourably disposed to

Nigerian’s candidate.

Also discussed during the conference were issues bordering on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad, which has currently shrunk to less than one-third of its usual size, and throwing about 130 million people who depend on

the Lake into dire straits.

Recharge of the Lake Chad is an issue the Nigerian President had vigorously canvassed at diverse global fora in recent time.

President Buhari expressed appreciation to Mr Michel for expected positive developments on the issues, the statement said.

US rescue operation confirms presidency’s incompetence, says PDP

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that the swift operation by the United States to rescue her citizen held hostage by bandits on Nigerian soil has further confirmed that the Buhari presidency can neither secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria nor arrest the wave of insecurity ravaging our country under its inept watch.

The PDP said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The party described the situation where the United States had to come on the Nigerian soil to pull a rescue, as an international embarrassment and shows how low the Buhari Presidency had fallen in its failure to guarantee the safety of lives and property in our country.

Moreover, the PDP said that the fact that under President Muhammadu Buhari, bandits and abductors from neighboring countries now freely “cross into our nation to use our soil as detention camps further shows the failure of his administration to secure our national borders and territorial integrity”.

According to the PDP, “It also shows that contrary to claims by the Buhari administration, parts of our country are still under the control of bandits and insurgents.

“It is indeed grossly disconcerting that under our Commander-in-Chief, a general, who had consistently promised to lead from the front, it took a foreign country to come on our soil to rescue their citizen, while hordes of our citizens are reportedly being held, tortured and killed in various kidnappers’ and insurgents’ dens in various parts of our nation.

“Our party recalls that earlier in April, Nigeria was equally embarrassed by reports of how the Chadian President Idris Deby, personally led his troops to rout out insurgents and freed

Nigerian territories and soldiers held captive by terrorists in northern part of Borno state, while our leaders recede into the safety and comfort of Aso Presidential Villa.

“The fact that other countries with competent and determined leadership have successfully dislodged and vanquished bandits on our soil highlight the incompetence, lack of honesty and want of will power on the part of the Buhari administration to effectively secure our nation.

“The exploits of these countries on our soil only go to

show that the bandits, vandals, kidnappers, insurgents are not invincible but have been allowed to take hold of our nation due to the failures of the Buhari administration.

“Such failures had dragged our nation down to rank as the third country with the highest level of terrorism, after Iran and Afghanistan, according to 2019 Global Terrorism Index rating by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

“Our party believes that the latest experience will compel President Buhari to accede to widespread demand by

Nigerians to rejig his security architecture as well as replace his service chiefs with more competent hands to effectively tackle insecurity challenge facing our country.

“Nevertheless, our party commends and immensely values the courage and sacrifices of our gallant troops who are daily risking their lives in the front to safeguard our nation against the insurgents despite the challenges they face”, it said.

The PDP charged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to pray for our nation at this trying time.

The Katsina State National Talent Hunt Challenge Logo, launched by Governor Aminu Bello Masari, at the Katsina State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday.

NPHCDA intensifies actions to end maternal, child mortality in Nigeria From Yusuf Shekarau, Jos

H

Mairiga

aving successfully championed the eradication of polio, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has turned more vigorous attention towards ending maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.

The Agency, through its National Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (NEMCHIC) is

mobilizing more stakeholders, development partner, civil society organizations, private sector and ward development committees across the country and building health workers capacity on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health plus nutrition (RMNCAH+N).

At a capacity building workshop for Zonal Technical Officers of state emergency maternal and child health intervention centres held in Abuja, the NEMCHIC Program

Manager, Dr. Laila Umar disclosed that the declaration of a state of emergency on maternal and child health in April 2019 was followed by developing of high impact interventions strategies for reducing preventable maternal and child deaths by 50 per cent in 2021.

Stakeholders and partners, she added, were needed to enhance program implementation across all states of the federation. Top among development partners

supporting the agency in this effort is the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Others include Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), USIAD Integrated Health Program (IHP) and Breakthrough Action, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Bank, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), e-Health for Africa, e-Health for Everyone.

Until the declaration of a state of emergency, it is noteworthy that Nigeria, which makes up only two percent of the world’s population, accounts for 14 percent, 8 percent, and 10 percent of global maternal, neonatal and underfive mortalities respectively.

Experts believe that as much as 70 percent of the causes of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria can be prevented if appropriate measures are taken.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

News

Troops kill 5 bandits during encounter in North West From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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roops under Operation Sahel Sanity have succeeded in neutralizing five armed bandits as one had paid the supreme price during encounter in Diskuru village under Faskari local government area of Katsina State.

The successes was recorded

as according to the statement made available to newsmen in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, by the Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko.

The General noted that, the troops had swiftly responded to a distress call about bandits activities at Diskuru village in Faskari Local Government

Area of Katsina State as the marauding bandits storm the village on several motorcycles, shooting sporadically with the intent to scare the locals and loot valuables.

He further informed that, on arrival, the gallant troops engaged the criminals in a fierce fire fight forcing them to withdraw in disarray resulting

to neutralizing the criminals by as several others were believed to have escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.

“During the exploitation phase, two additional bandits’ bodies were discovered along their withdrawal route. Also in the aftermath of the encounter, three women and their infants earlier kidnapped by the bandits

were rescued from the criminals.

Troops continue to dominate the village and adjoining environment to deny the bandits any respite.

“Regrettably, one brave soldier paid the supreme price in an attempt to save one of the rescued nursing mothers in the heat of the encounter”, the statement added.

FCT: Ebira community elects new officials in Gwagwalada

By Usman Shuaibu

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he leadership of Ebira Community Association in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the association for three years.

The elected officials are: Shuaibu Isah Oyeba; President, Kabiru Sheidu; Vice President, Suleiman I. Mechero; Secretary, Dahiru O. Momoh; Assistant Secretary, Mohammed Jamiu Audu; Treasurer and the position of financial secretary went to Mohammed Jamiu A. U. Other executives include: Abdulrahaman A. Abdulmalik; Provost, Abdulmumin Audu Muhammad; Public Relations Officer I, Haruna Isah; Public Relation Officer II, Abdullahi Yakubu; Social Secretary I and Patrick A. Enebe; Social Secretary II. In an interview, the President of the association, Shuaibu Isah Oyeba, charged the executive members to maintain the unity that had already existed among them.

He added that the members of the association should be united as well as to maintain peace and harmony within the

association.

His words: “The essence of this association is that we should promote unity among our members in Diaspora so that we can have the benefit of unity” He said that his leadership would deem it necessary to partner with other units of Ebira community for the sake of unity and togetherness.

The President further pointed out that he would

maintain cordial relationship with other tribes for the benefit of their cultural heritage.

Oyeba, however, said his administration would focus on the leadership training to pave way for the conflict resolution in Ebira community.

Also speaking, the chief of Ebria community in Gwagwalada, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulkarim Ibrahim, said the election was a landmark achievement for Ebira

community as a body.

He advised the elected officers to remain committed to the development and progress of Ebira Community, noting that the Ebira Community Association had been established in 1992.

The Ebira community Chief commended the electoral Empire for satisfying their desire, saying that the election was conducted in a transparent manner.

On their parts, the Air Commodore (Rtd) Yusuf Idrisu, the Adinoyi of Ebira in Gwagwalada, Alhaji (Engr) Umar S. and the former presidents of Ebira Community Association, Mallam M. S. Omeiza and Albdulrahaman Yakubu Ozigi, expressed joy over the conduct of the election.

Not left out, the electoral chairman, Ihieze Jamiu Aliyu announced the election result.

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun (R), receiving former Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, who led some Osun Elders on a solidarity visit over the recent attempt on the Governor’s life, wanton looting and destruction of property in the state by suspected hoodlums, in Osogbo on Friday (30/10/20).

Photo: NAN

Looting: NASEMA distributes 62 truck of relief materials, denied no item in stock From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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he Authority of Nasarawa state Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) has denied the ongoing speculation by some individual that the agency kept some relief materials in government warehouse, in the state.

This was made public by the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Barrister Zakariah Z. Alumaga on Thursday, in an

interview with journalists in Lafia the state capital, over an allegation that the state through the agency, evacuated relief materials meant for distribution to one of the military formation in the state.

His words “The state government was in received of 43 trucks of assorted grains, a donation from NEMA, which has nothing in relation with COVID-19 palliatives, but targeted to be distributed to communities that were affected

by crisis and flood disasters recently witnessed”.

Alumaga added that the affected communities are Dousu, in Toto LGA , Ara, Udeni Magaji and Nasarawa town ,all in Nasarawa local government area and then Gidan Soja,and Ribi in Awe LGA respectively.

He further explained that the agency had earlier distributed the items to the affected communities, identified.

Barrister Alumaga, also maintain that some assistance

from NEMA specifically were added, and all the items that were needed by IDPs, which included mattresses, blankets, mats and even children clothing’s and women rappers were distributed at that period to the victims.

The third round, NEMA again brought additional food items at the time the flood in Nasarawa took place and most of the items were taken there, with other communities pending.

“So the state government advanced monies for the purchased of building materials, which were procured and brought to the store .

“They were the last items we distributed last week”, Alumaga added.

The Executive Secretary, however debunked the speculation of diversion of relief materials, adding that such rumour is baseless and should be disregarded.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

By Ochiaka Ugwu

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he President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump has warned terrorists and criminal gangs to desist from kidnapping Americans as securing freedom of Americans held in captivity abroad has been a top national security priority of his Administration.

This is coming on the heels of a successful rescue operation by United States Military to free an American hostage in Nigeria.

In a statement released by the U.S. Department of State Last night, according to Mr. Trump, “Last night, at my direction, the United States military conducted a successful

News

Nigeria Hostage Rescue: Stop kidnapping Americans, Trump warns terrorist, criminal gangs operation to rescue an American hostage in Nigeria, kidnapped just 96 hours earlier.

“United States Special Forces executed a daring nighttime operation to rescue their fellow American with exceptional skill, precision, and bravery. No United States Service Members were harmed. The former hostage is currently in good health and has been reunited with his family.

“Securing the freedom of Americans held in captivity abroad has been a top national security priority of my Administration. Since the beginning of my Administration, we have rescued over 55 hostages and detainees in more than 24 countries. Today’s operation should serve as a stark warning to terrorists and criminal thugs who mistakenly believe they can kidnap Americans

with impunity.

In a related development, the U.S. Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo in statement Saturday noted that United States is committed to the safe return of all U.S. citizens taken captive.

“We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a U.S. citizen

after a group of armed men took him hostage across the border in Niger.

“Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family.

“We will never abandon any American taken hostage” he concluded.

Palliative Crisis: PDP alleges plot to shield Humanitarian Affairs Minister, FG officials

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday that it has exposed designs by federal government officials to use the invasion of CACOVID palliative warehouses to escape investigation into the reported stealing and criminal diversion of funds and palliatives provided by the government to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The PDP said that it is appalled by the scandalous attempt by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, to create an impression that the CACOVID palliatives besieged in the aftermath of the EndSARS protest were the same federal government palliatives for which she is required to give account.

The party informed the Minister that such infantile antics cannot sway Nigerians, as the public is already aware that CACOVID palliatives came from donations from wells meaning individuals and organizations which is completely different from the N500 billion voted by the federal government, which has not been accounted for.

The main opposition party, in the statement said, “Our party wants to inform the minister that such infantile antics cannot sway Nigerians, as the public is already aware that CACOVID palliatives came from donations from wells meaning individuals and organizations which is completely different from the N500 billion voted by the federal government, which has not been accounted for.

“If anything, this attempt by the minister to muddle-up issues and confuse Nigerians only goes to validate allegations of stealing and diversion of funds and palliatives provided by the Federal Government and placed under her purview.

“Of course, the CACOVID palliatives has nothing to do with the alleged stealing and diversion of funds in the cash disbursement of N20,000 to undocumented beneficiaries leading to widespread outcry by Nigerians that bulk of the money may have been diverted.

“The embattled minister has not explained the reason for the obvious circumventing of statutory public finance report system and appropriate documentations by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), leading to the

alleged diversion of funds to private purses”, it said.

The CACOVID palliatives, the PDP pointed out, have nothing to do with the billions of naira claimed to have been spent on school feeding at a time the schools were shut and school children were in their respective homes in different locations across the country.

The party added, “It is revealing to state that our party had earlier gotten winds of allegations in the public space that some indicted federal officials compromised arrangements at CACOVID warehouses to trigger an invasion by agitating Nigerians,

as a decoy to frustrate investigation into the alleged stealing and diverting of federal government palliatives by government officials.

“Indeed, the rush for selfexoneration by the minister as well as her forgiveness showboating, apparently in an attempt to posture a foreclosure of an investigation into the handling of Federal Government palliative funds, goes to validate the allegations.

“But Nigerians cannot be swayed by such antics as they hugely smacks of guilt and desperation to evade investigation and conceal corruption.

“Moreover, it is evident that

the besieging of the CACOVID warehouses was further inflamed by bottled-up anger and frustration over the corruption that characterized the handling of Federal Government palliative funds by the Minister, who now postures for foreclosure of investigation into the manifest atrocities in her ministry.

“Our party holds that this particular attempt to cover corruption places a huge burden on the Buhariled administration and we call on Mr. President to come clean on the handling of Federal Government funding on COVID-19.

“The Minister of Humanitarian

Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development should therefore end her unnecessary showboating and self-exoneration and get ready to give account of the allegedly diverted billions of naira provided by the Federal Government for COVID-19 palliatives instead of seeking to hide under CACOVID palliatives looting.

“The PDP standing with millions of deprived Nigerians demands that President Muhammadu Buhari immediately order an open and independent public enquiry into the handling of the funds released by the Federal Government as COVID-19 intervention fund.

Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies,Prof.

Muhammed Ladan (left); Chairman,Code of Conduct Bureau,Prof.

Isah Mohammed; Chairman, House Committee on ethics and privileges,Hon. Kolawole Lawal and Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim during a training on the Code of Conduct for Legislators, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG determined to end impunity for crimes against Journalists, AGF assures

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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ttorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, has assured of Federal Government’s determination to end impunity for crimes against members of the public including the journalists.

Malami gave the assurance yesterday in statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu in Abuja.

The AGF and Minister of Justice, in his message commemorating the United Nation proclaimed November 2nd as International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, said it is gratifying to note that Nigeria is no longer among the countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.

The 2020 global index for impunity for crimes against journalists by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), released on Wednesday 28th day of October 2020 indicated that Nigeria is the only country that came off the index from 2019.

Malami described the achievement as a result of deliberate and committed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian justice sector to include increased access to justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongestion of Nigeria’s correctional centers and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and Justice Sector reforms.

He expressed optimism that with solid foundation of reformed justice sector to be bequeathed by Buhari Administration, never again will

Nigeria feature among nations where journalists, citizens and inhabitants of the country will suffer from any form of impunity in the future.

The Minister said the recent developments in the Nigeria’s international arbitration against P&ID and some international oil companies are but indicators of resolute determination of the Federal Government to bring to an end the era of impunity and lack of adherence to due diligence and rule of law in governmental operations.

The AGF recalled that in the last decade, before the advent of the present administration, Nigeria ranked 13th across the globe and used to be among top three African countries with impunity for crimes against journalists only after Somalia and South Sudan.

While expressing commitment to maintain the tempo, Malami said there

was no room for complacency in ensuring serene online and offline atmosphere of journalism practice in the country.

He noted that with the development of information and communication technology and as the internet became a veritable tool for mass media and communication, “the government is working to ensure safety of journalists against rhetorical aggression, trolling, incursion of privacy, phissing and cyber attacks”.

He stated further that with the implementation of cybercrime Act 2015, the incidences of cyber related crimes would be minimized.

The Minister urged journalists to adhere strictly to the ethical provisions of their profession and refrain from misinformation and fake news.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

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Man, 26, nabbed for circulating counterfeit naira notes in Adamawa From Umar Dankano,Yola

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26 year old man, Eson Fatgoel has been arrested by the police in Guyuk local government Area of Adamawa state for alleged money counterfeit.

In a statement issued in Yola weekend, spokesman of From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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rchbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese Bishop Kaigama has expressed hope that the #EndSARS protests will serve as a wake up call to leaders to live up to their responsibility to the led.

Archbishop Kaigama said this yesterday at celebration of 90 years existence of Holy Ghost Parish, Makurdi.

“Let us not pretend that there is no problem in the country. Let us not behave like the Ostrich that buries its head in the sand and behave like there is no danger. There is danger. The brutality we are suffering in the hands of the police was enough and the youths have said it.

“The Catholic conference has been saying it. Stop corruption, stop corruption so that the wealth of the nation can go round. We kept saying that but they didn’t listen. Now, the youths have said it. I hope it will wake us all and I hope that the next political dispensation will be a different one.

“Not of selfish interest but with values. We have been driven by selfish, self centered materialistic interest, by religious, tribal, partisan political sentiments and that

the command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje said the suspect was allegedly circulating the fake naira notes in several transactions in Guyuk,Lafiya-Lamurde and Numan respectively.

DSP Nguroje attested that the suspect when apprehended was in possession of some fake naira notes, urging the public to

be watchful and careful as the already spent ones are still in circulation in those areas.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the counterfeit notes are still in circulation in those areas and the public particularly traders should observe carefully while trading in exchange so as to avoid falling a victim.

“The Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adeyanju while assuring that much is being done to preventing the circulation of the counterfeit notes enjoins residents to report any suspicious person or group around their neighbourhoods to the nearest police division or report same through

any of the police command control/emergency numbers : 08089671313,0810736494 and 08053872326”.Nguroje added.

He also appealed to parents and guardians to be watchful of the kind of company their children are keeping with a view not to be lured in to some societal vices.

Archbishop Kaigama preaches peace Peaceful Co-existence Nigerians is why we can’t grow. We make one step forward and three steps backwards, the youths are determined to change this.

He therefore, urged the youths to continue to be peaceful and not allow the bad ones to

destroy what they started with killing, and looting.

He expressed the hope that change will come, insisting that “This world is not our home we have little time here so let us use the little time to embrace

ourselves and embrace peace “Force won’t bring peace Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be sons and daughters of of God. Let us embrace peace so we can see God,” Kaigama said.

During the event, Bishop of.

Makurdi Diocese Wilfred Anagbe confirmed the Sacrament of Confirmation on over 200 candidates urging them to be active members and contribute to the growth of the church

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ( L) presenting title documents of a facility donated by Gombe state Government to DIG Lawal Shehu for establishment of a Police Tactical Operations Training School, at the weekend in Gombe state

Ohanaeze promises youth collaboration, pledges support for FG

By Ellien Ihemadu

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he Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide has promised to work with all Igbo youth and pledged its support to federal government owing to it developmental programmes in Igboland.

In a press conference addressed in Abuja recently, President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, Bar. Basil Onyeachonam Onuorah informed that Ohanaeze General Assembly Worldwide will work with Igboland youth and support them to take advantage of both federal and state governments

empowerment programmes, aimed at poverty alleviation.

Onuorah noted that they will begin with the ongoing youth empowerment funds and programs introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He said that Elders Council will no longer be business as usual and a one man show as it has been in the past.

He posited that this is the time for all our Igbo elders to participate in the affairs of OHANAEZE NDIGBO. His words, “We commend Nigerian youths for standing up in moment of anger and frustration to speak up, the nationwide protest has yielded

the anticipated attention from the Federal Government of Nigeria and concerned stakeholders. The youths must desist from further protest as their voices have been heard loud and clear”.

While stressing the need for unity in the country to achieve a greater nation, he cautioned that henceforth, any publication or gathering in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo anywhere in Nigeria or abroad without the due approval or recognition by the current National Executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide amounts to impersonation with the convener facing the full force of the law.

“On one Nigeria we stand!

There is a great future in one Nigeria, this is the time for greater unity in Nigeria, a time to respect our elders and honour those whom honour is due, a time to consolidate on the visions of the founding fathers of OHANAEZE NDIGBO; it is the vision of our founding fathers to unite NDIGBO and speak with one voice.

“This is the time for NDIGBO to align and appreciate the Federal Government for its developmental strides in Igbo land.

“Under the present administration of Federal Government of Nigeria, people oriented projects capable of

impacting on the economy of South East region have been prioritized in governance.

“Recently, reconstruction of Akanu Ibiam airport was completed and commissioned.

Enugu-Port Harcourt express road, Enugu-Onitsha express road and other arterial federal roads are at different levels of rehabilitation while construction work on the Second Niger Bridge is progressing at impressive speed.

“It is a thing of joy that Onitsha sea port is now functional, even as Ebonyi International Airport has been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other gargantuan projects for the South East region”, he concluded.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

CRIME News

DHQ debunks killing residents in Plateau community

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has debunked publication in a national daily, not Peoples Daily, that soldiers killed 4 residents of Gwafan village in Jos North local Government.

The report alleged that soldiers attached to the Special Task (STF) Force, Operation SAFE HAVEN From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced the immediate implementation of welfare packages for all categories of workers in the State.

The Governor also approved the immediate implementation of Minimum Wage, lifting of ban on Annual Salary Increment and embargo placed on promotions and conversions since 2012.

The implementation of welfare packages will commence in November 1st, 2020.

This was even as the Governor reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to workers-oriented policies and general well-being.

He stated this in a statement signed by his Press Secretary Ismail Omipidan and made available to media in kaduna yesterday.

Oyetola said the implementation of the welfare packages was in fulfilment of the electioneering promises made to the workers while seeking office.

He disclosed that the new development would cost the State an additional N750 million in monthly wage bill.

The Governor who recalled the pocket of socio-economic challenges inherited by his administration, said “despite these stifling challenges, we remained resolute to fulfil our promises to workers as a welfare-oriented government”.

Oyetola stated further that the Administration has been working assiduously to take the State out of economic woods and set it on the lane of economic transformation, growth, development and prosperity.

To meet up with the numerous demands of the workers in the face of economic

(OPSH), killed 4 members of the community and dumped their bodies in surrounding Dams in the area during an attempt to stop hoodlums from looting the residence of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

But the military in a statement issued yesterday

by Major General, John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence

Headquarters, said “on Sunday 25 October 2020, hoodlums and vandals invaded the private property of the former Speaker at Lamingo, with a view to looting it. Consequently, troops of the STF, OPSH, which is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace and tranquility in Plateau State and environs, were immediately deployed to bring the situation under control.

“Guided by extant Rules

of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures for such situations, the highly professional troops arrived at the residence and apprehended a total number of 30 looters.

Additionally, a total of 114 hoodlums comprising 21 females and 93 males were apprehended for looting. Recall that Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN paraded the suspects before the press, and this was widely reported

in various main stream and online media.”

“It is worthy to mention that the timely intervention of our troops at the residence of the former Speaker ensured that the situation was nipped in the bud. Thus, the story is a malicious and mischievous publication against the Nigerian Military and Operation SAFE HAVEN in particular, that has commendably fostered peace in Plateau State”.

Oyetola orders immediate implementation of new welfare packages for Osun workers challenges, Oyetola said his Administration had earlier set up the Government/Labour Committee to work out the modalities for resolving all workers’ welfare-related issues, including the minimum wage.

He said, “You will all recall that, despite the raging

economic challenges when we came into office in 2018, we resolved as an Administration to give the welfare of our workers the deserved attention.

“As you all know, we came into office in the heat of strident economic challenges necessitated by oil price

shocks, debilitating monthly allocations and lean internally generated revenue. We also inherited arrears of pension, embargo on promotion and conversion, ban on annual salary increment since 2012, among others.

“While we were still battling

with these ominous challenges, the Federal Government approved minimum wage in response to Labour agitation.

But despite these stifling challenges, we remained resolute to fulfill our promises to workers as a welfareoriented government.”

Kaduna State Police Command, Paraded one hundred and thirty one suspect for various crimes including shop breaking looters of government, private warehouses yesterday in kaduna. Photo: Shehu Goro

COVID19: Group trains 149 teachers on digital technology From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

Group under the auspices of Ihifix Technologies Limited has commenced digital training to make education affordable to the poor masses, through the use of digital tools.

The Chief Executive Offcer CEO of the company Emmanuel Adikpe made the assertion during the opening ceremony of the training in kaduna yesterday.

According to him, teachers were out of work during the COVID-19 period because they could not transform from the analogue teaching method to digital, but the training will prepare them ahead of any occurrence capable of stopping curricula activities.

He added that the participants received training on use of Gsuite, Google classrooms among others to facilitate distance teaching and

learning.

While saying the training will make teaching and learning seamless, and affordable to the public, Adikpe explained: “We are here to bridge the gap and prepare the participants for the digital age.

“We have over 149 schools from northeast, northwest and benue state that attend the training. And as a digital company, we have put them on lots of platforms for free.

For instance Gsuit education is free. They will be thought on how to communicate with students, mark classworks and assignment ls using digital technology.

“Today’s training is for school owners, proprietors, principals and teachers to make them understand how to get online and use the the tools.

Digitization is what we need in every sector and including education.”

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

PAGE 8

News

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

K

ano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has fired stern warning to bypassers of prepaid meters across its franchise areas of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

The warning was fired at the flag off of the distribution of 87,747 meters across the KEDCO’s franchise area, under the National Mass Metering Scheme (NMMS), a Federal Government intervention programme of providing meters to customers at no cost.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, held in Kano on Friday, Chief Customer Relations Officer (CCRO) of the company, Abubakar Yusuf said the firm would not condone any act of bypassing or tempering with the meters.

According to him, the federal government had set aside punishment against vandalizing and tempering with National Critical Assets, which includes infrastructures of power companies in the country.

He added that “anybody found tempering with these meters would face the wrath of the law.

KEDCO will not condone any act of vandalism and bypass on its installations. Anybody found wanting, would be prosecuted.”

Olapade Agoro, expresidential candidate, dies at 77

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A

former presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, is dead.

He was aged 77.

Agoro was, until his demise, the Spiritual Head, Aladura Churches and Christ Merciful Church worldwide.

A family source confirmed that Dr. Agoro died in the hospital in the early hours of Sunday November 1, 2020, during a protracted illness.

One of the children of Dr Agoro, Alhaja Adeola, confirmed his death on Sunday on her Facebook page.

Alhaja Adeola Agoro, in her post yesterday, wrote about her 77-yearold father: Olapade Agoro we are calling you but you’re not answering again.

“Ha! We said we loved you but you refused to listen.

“You have left us like that? It’s not okay o. It’s just not okay.

“But as you have gone to be with your mother Dorcas Oyejola Asabi, I won’t talk yet.

“But this is not fair on me. Baba Deola, you should have looked back a little now….

“Ha death you’re wicked!

Agoro, a spiritual leader cum politician is survived by wives, children and grand children.

Severe punishment awaits bypassers of prepaid meters, KEDCO warns customers Yusuf also stated that KEDCO had received its share out 6 million meters to be distributed nationwide, explaining that the company would start distribution at zero phase, beginning with 87,747 and would continue in phases until the federal government stop the intervention.

He noted that the idea behind the free installation of the prepaid meters is to check the problem of

estimated billing, disclosing that about 1 million customers across Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states would be metered.

“We will provide effective arrangements for the distribution.

We will ensure that 1 million customers have gotten the meter across the franchise area. “ I therefore enjoined our esteemed customers to make

proper use of these meters. I also warn again that anybody found bypassing the meters would be punished,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the company, Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, who was represented by the Chief Operation Officer, Mr Vijaykumar Sonawane said with the free distribution of the meters, customers would no longer

receive estimated bill.

“With the distribution of the meters, customers will no longer receive estimated bill as in the case before now. “ I therefore thank everybody for cooperation and assure our esteemed customers of our commitment to always satisfy them,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

Page 9

News Minister calls attack on The Nation, TVC assault on free press, democracy

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the recent attack on The Nation Newspaper and Television Continental (TVC), during the EndSARS protest in Lagos, as an attack on free speech and democracy.

The Minister made the assertion in Lagos on Saturday when he visited the two media organizations in Lagos to commiserate with their management and staff over the

attack.

He said the action of the arsonists was a premeditated attempt to silence the voice of reason and stifle press freedom.

“We believe that the attack on the Nation is not just an attack on the Vintage Press, it’s an attack on the free press, it’s an attack on democracy, because there can be no virile and robust democracy without a free media.

“Therefore, an attack on the Nation or any media house is a direct attack on freedom of speech and also democracy and, honestly, we believe that there is

no justification whatsoever for the attack,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He however expressed his delight that a few days after the attack, the two media houses bounced back, a development which he described as a sign of the commitment and sheer determination by the organization’s management and staff to continue to promote democracy in the country.

“The fact that within a few days you were able to return to the stand and on air, I think it’s a big blow to the attackers, who thought they could shut out the light of

press freedom,’’ the Minister said.

He strongly and unreservedly condemned the attack on the media houses, saying the attempt by the arsonists to stifle press freedom has failed woefully.

This was contained in statement signed Segun Adeyemi Special Assistant To The President (Media) Office of The Minister of Information and Culture.

Mohammed, who expressed sadness at the extent of damage to the corporate headquarter buildings and other properties of the two media houses, said there

Looting: Niger business Mogul sympathizes with Lagosians From Minna

Yakubu

was every reason to thank God that no life was lost in the attack.

The Minister assured that the Federal Government will continue to support responsible journalism and wished the two media organizations a quick rebound in terms of properties, equipment and revenue losses.

The Chairman of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Managing Director of TVC, Mr. Andrew Hanlon, conducted the Minister round the premises of the two media organizations, respectively.

L-R: Inspector General of Police Muhammaed Adamu; Force Secretary. Kali Baba Usman and Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Lamode during the inauguration of committee to investigate Assess lost by Police during the EndSARS Protest, recently in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Mustapha,

A

Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers (L), receiving an address from the Leader of Rivers Caucus of the National Assembly, Sen. George Sekibo, during the caucus’ solidarity visit to Rivers Government, in Port Harcourt on Friday (30/10/20). Photo: NAN

Kaduna NUJ hands over financial support to ailing member From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

N

igeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Council, yesterday, handed over the sum of 140,000 Naira to one of its members, Suleiman Shaibu who is due to under go operation at 44Armed Forces Hospital Kaduna on Saturday.

The Council Chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf and Elder Joseph Edogbo (financial secretary) handed the money to

the wife of Suleiman Shuaibu, a retired photo Journalist with NAN and New Nigerian Newspapers.

Comrade Yusuf said, he emotionally felt touched with the massive turn out of our members towards assisting our ailing colleague, Suleiman Shaibu who is scheduled for operation this Saturday.

“Elder Joseph Edegbo, Financial Secretary and I this morning visited him and handed over your financial support of one hundred and forty thousand naira

(N140,000) to him through his wife.

“Suleiman Shaibu and his wife couldn’t hide their tears for the love, care and sympathy of our members towards his health.

“Tears suddenly ran down his cheeks while his wife kept on wiping it with a handkerchief.

“Suleiman Shaibu wasn’t crying for the money but for the love and care from his members which came to him unexpectedly.

“When I came on board as the Chairman of the Council I made

three promises; Peace, Unity and Development.

“With your support the council now enjoys peaceful coexistence and we are now our brothers’ keepers ever than before. When someone approached me that one hundred thousand naira is needed for the operation, I said our members will do that, we don’t need to beg any politician for just little one hundred thousand naira. I’m not surprised within 24 hours more than the amount was contributed.

#ENDSARS : Group pleads with Buhari to address insecurity From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

Group under the auspices of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and Coalition of Arewa People for Peace and Security (CAPS) has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to do more in the area of security.

The Spokeperson of the Group Isah Abubakar made the plead during a press conference held in kaduna yesterday According to him, lives of the people must come first always.

He further reaffirmed and pledge the Group commitment and support to an indivisible Nigeria,

as they assure the President of support as he continues to steer the nation on the path of infrastructural development and economic growt The text of the briefing jointly signed by Alh. Shetima Yerima President, AYCF and the Chairman BOT CAPS, Comr. Isah Abubakar -

Spokesperson (CAPS) and Mallam Yusuf Idris Amoke - Secretary CAPS, stated that Sequel to the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest that resulted into hijack by hoodlums causing chaos the Group called for calm and restoration of peace and order across the states.

Lagos based business mogul in Niger state, A. A. Aliyu Wuya has expressed sympathy with the people of Lagos over destruction and lotting of property belonging to innocent citizens and government during EndSARS protest.

This was contained in a statement he personally issued and made available to journalists yesterday in Minna.

He however commiserate with Lagosians who’s property were destroyed and looted.

He however condemned as criminal the hijacking if a peaceful protest by well coordinated youths who were pressing home their demands about police brutality and excesses.

EndSARS: FG restates commitment to peace

By Amaechi Agbo

T

he federal government has reiterated its commitment to enthroning enduring peace and unity in the country and commended the youth for their conduct following the waves of peaceful conduct in the country.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri made this known in Borno.

Mr Shehuri commended the peaceful conduct of the Borno youths during the EndSARS protest and reiterated the federal

government’s commitment towards addressing all their grievances.

He appealed to all Nigerians, particularly the youths, to embrace peace and stop the looting of warehouses across the country.

Speaking during the Presidential Stakeholders

meeting held at the Government Hall in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Minister, stated that “Mr. President in his nationwide broadcast emphasized that the youth were heard loud and clear with a pledge that the 5-point agenda they raised, would be addressed accordingly”.

Niger stakeholders tell FG Insecurity, AEDC, bad roads are our challenges From Minna

T

Yakubu

Mustapha,

he Niger state Stakeholders have again reminded the federal government to address the incessant bandit attacks, bad roads and inadequate

electricity as the challenges bedevilling the people of the state.

The stakeholders include; Legislators, traditional rulers, youth organizations, women groups and religious leaders.

They made the presentation

yesterday at the Government House in Minna during a critical stakeholders meeting at the instance of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada.

In his contribution, the Chief Imam of Minna, Malam Ibrahim

Fari stated that insecurity and lack of electricity are the major problems of Niger state.

He said that if the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) cannot provide adequate electricity in the state, they should leave and allow others who are

willing to supply the state with electricity to operate in the state.

“We want AEDC to increase the supply of electricity in the state. We are not accepting anything less than 20 hours of electricity, if they cannot give us this, let them leave the state.”

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

PAGE 10

News

Troops arrest 13 bandits collaborators in Sokoto, repels attack in Katsina

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian military said its troops have arrested arrested 13 suspected bandit collaborators at Tangaza town in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Speaking while in Abuja, at the weekend while giving update on the military operations in the country, Major General, John Enenche, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, added that troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Katsina State Command, on 27 October 2020, acting on credible intelligence, successfully repelled coordinated attack by bandits on revenge mission on Tsakiya Village of Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“The gallant troops engaged the bandits in a gun duel thereby neutralizing 5 while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“Furthermore, the Land and Air Components of Operation THUNDER STRIKE acting on credible Human Intelligence reports as well as series of aerial surveillance missions neutralized

scores of armed bandits. The successful operation was carried out to clear identified bandits’ camps in the Yadi and Kufai Shantu areas of Giwa Local

Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Following the Air Components’ efforts at Kufai Shantu, the Land Component,

supported by an attack helicopter, successfully assaulted one of the bandits’ hideout at Yadi, clearing 2 of 3 objectives. The ground troops subsequently fought through

fierce resistance from bandits hiding under the foliage at the third objective and eventually overpowered the criminals, eliminating several of them.”

EHORECON boss urges NASS to review environmental laws

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Acting Registrar, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) Dr. Baba Yakubu Mohammed has appealed to National Assembly members to review the environmental health Laws .

He said environmental law has become obsolete and continue to impede the smooth running of the Environmental Health Practice in the country.

Mohammed made the disclosure when House Committee members on Environment led

by Hon. Johnson Ogbuma paid the Council an oversight visits

to ascertain the workings in the Council.

This was contained in statement signed by Kehinde A. Openibo, Head, Public Affairs For: The Registrar.

Speaking on youth restfulness, the Registrar informed the House committee members that the Council has developed a bench

mark where youths can be trained on skill acquisition.

He explained that there are five(5) areas where the youths can be developed and engaged such as; cleaning services, waste collection, public health services among others.

He said all these are within the mandates of the Council.

Military nab 16 suspected cultists in Jos

T

he Nigerian military said its troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, arrested 16 cultists at Federal Low-cost area in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Speaking while in Abuja, at the weekend while giving update on the military operations in the country, Major General, John Enenche, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said the cultists were apprehended with various dangerous weapons.

“The suspects are presently being profiled after which they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecution agency for further action. This was followed by another raid operation at the hideout of a suspected illicit drugs peddler at Afana village in Marsa district of Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on 24 October 2020.

“During the operation, troops apprehended the suspect, one Ishaku Thomas. Also recovered at the hideout were one locally made pistol, one cartridge, three 50kg sacks of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, amongst other items. “

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, commiserating with one of the school children involved in a road accident, when he led other prominent Igbo leaders and youths to visit the hospitalized children in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, in Enugu on Friday (30/10/20). The Governor offered to pay all their medical bills. Photo NAN

FG launches one-off rural women grant in Zamfara

By Amaechi Agbo

T

he minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk has launched a OneOff Rural Women grant initiative of the federal government in her home state, Zamfara.

The minister launched the

grant on Tuesday in which over 2, 800 women in the state were handed N20, 000 grant to support their businesses.

The one-off program was launched on Tuesday in Gusau, Zamafara State capital during a town hall meeting in which the minister was in attendance.

The Minister said the Cash

distribution in Gusau was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to sustain the social inclusion agenda of the present administration.

“The Grant for Rural Women programme was introduced to sustain the social inclusion agenda of the Buhari Administration, including the realization of the

national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. It is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria. A grant of N20,000.00 will be disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

What’s USA’s problem 22 officers killed: Police lives matter with Nigeria?

By Fredrick Nwabufo

N

igeria’s former finance minister She has all the skills necessary to be an Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is all but effective leader of the organization. This confirmed as the new Director is a very difficult time for the WTO and General of the World Trade Organization international trade. There have been (WTO). On Wednesday, Oct. 28, 163 of no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 the 164 members of the organization years, the dispute settlement system endorsed her as the right person to lead has gotten out of control, and too few it. The troika of ambassadors heading members fulfill basic transparency its three main branches determined obligations. The WTO is badly in need after four months of consultations of major reform. It must be led by with member states that Okonjo- someone with real, hands-on experience Iweala was the most likely to obtain the in the field.” consensus needed to take the top job, Rockwell said that the United States’ WTO spokesperson, Keith strong opposition did Rockwell, told journalists. not mean that OkonjoThe initial pool of Iweala could not be eight candidates for the appointed but agreed WTO’s top post had been Washington has a whittled down to just two There have been considerable influence over two previous rounds no multilateral over the final decision of consultations with only to be taken by the Okonjo-Iweala and South tariff negotiations WTO’s General Council in 25 years, Korea’s trade minister Yoo on November 9. He Myung-hee left in the race. expected a “frenzied the dispute However, on Wednesday the settlement system activity” in the few United States opposed the ahead to secure a has gotten out of days candidacy of Okonjo-Iwealaconsensus for OkonjoIweala, instead backing Yoo. control, and too Iweala’s appointment.

America’s position casts We at Peoples few members doubt on whether she can Daily are not surprised fulfill basic obtain the necessary full by the United States’ transparency backing from member states. opposition to Okonjo Rockwell said that 27 obligations. The becoming the WTO delegates had taken the floor WTO is badly in director general. To during Wednesday’s meeting. need of major Washington, everything “One delegation could not reform. It must be Nigerian is anathema. support the candidacy of Dr. We recall its opposition Nogzi and said they would led by someone to a second term for continue (supporting) South with real, hands- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Korean Minister Yoo. That on experience in as the president of the delegation was the United African Development the field.

States of America.” He Bank (AfDB). It took the stressed that Wednesday’s solid vote of the entire meeting “was never intended to make a African continent to save Adesina’s job. final decision on our next DG (director- As to Washington’s reason that Okonjogeneral). That decision can only be taken Iweala lacks the “hands-on experience” by the General Council. Consultations on in trade matters to take the WTO DG the way foward will start immediately.” job, nothing can be farther from the In a statement by the office of the truth. And what is the truth? It is that US Trade Representative, America cited the United States wants its ally in the lack of experience and procedural issues South Atlantic to fight a proxy trade war for its stance. The statement reads, against China, the world’s second largest “The Office of the United States Trade economy.

Representative issued the following As Rockwell has said, the following statement today on the selection of the days hold out a window of opportunity next World Trade Organisation Director- for Nigeria to do the necessary General. The United States supports the consultations for Okonjo-Iweala to selection of Korean Trade Minister Yoo get the job. It has started well, getting Myung-hee as the next WTO Director- last week the European Union’s General. Minister Yoo is a bona fide trade endorsement of its candidate. That of expert who has distinguished herself the continent of Africa already is a done during a 25-year career as a successful deal. Once again, America will have to trade negotiator and trade policy maker. stew in its own juices.

“

OUR MISSION

OUR PEOPLE

“To be the market Chief Operating Officer place of ideas and /Editor, the leading player Hameed M. Bello, PhD in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while HEAD, ADVERT delivering value to patrick UGAMA our stakeholders”

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

H

umanity is all inclusive. There are no higher or lesser humans. We all breathe the same air. Whether doctor, lawyer, journalist, police or soldier; we are all humans first, and as such we are entitled to the natural right to exist, to live. When this right is breached – even if it concerns our ‘’enemy’’ – we must all stand up against the violator and condemn the abomination. We cease being human when we selectively outrage against transgressions. Every breach of the human code must be condemned.

The right to live is eternal; hence any innocent soul lost to violence of any kind must not be discounted. All lives matter.

As a matter of fact, in the heat of the violence that assailed the peaceful #EndSARS protests, the indignities executed on some members of the security agencies were consigned as footnotes. I must say, the violence was not the craft of the #EndSARS protesters; it was the sleight of hand of state agents and commanders who introduced hoodlums into the mix. The protests were largely peaceful until thugs, like bloodhounds, got unleashed on citizens exercising their rights. The centre could no longer hold and mere anarchy was loosed upon the nation.

Yes, we simply cannot obviate the government’s role in the violence that nearly devoured the country. We must recognise that, and in fact emphasise it, those retailers of violence across the country were never #EndSARS protesters. We must not confute this fact. While the hooligans were plaguing peaceful protesters, their brothers in arms took over the place, killing and maiming citizens, including law enforcement agents.

I must concede, the savage killing of police officers in the recent violence has not received proportional outrage.

I understand why this is so. But it is inexcusable. These are humans like the rest of us – with families. Some of them were the breadwinners of their homes; they were fathers to their kids; they were husbands to their wives; they were brothers to their siblings and sons to their parents. Let us take a minute to imagine the agony of those they left behind. Really, beyond their uniforms, they are just humans -- with one life and cognate human challenges.

I watched the videos of some of these killings. Too gruesome, too bestial, too ghastly. One of the recordings show a policeman with a knife stuck in his forehead, bleeding from all orifices while a mob takes a vicious turn on him. Another shows the beheading of an officer. Oh! God! Really, the past incidents are some of the darkest episodes in our recent history. Stranger than fiction. I used to think ‘’beheading’’ is a barbarity left in the gutters of our bloody past. Alas! We are unevolving.

In some places, police officers were

‘’carbonised’’ and about 205 police stations razed. I believe, this is saddening for all genuine #EndSARS protesters. Let me restate it, the violence was never the design of the majority of Nigerians who demanded the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad unit. Nigerians only seek a police that will protect them, and not extort, frame, harm or kill them.

I condemn the killing of all police officers in the recent orgy of bloodletting.

I am outraged by the killings. And I ask that all those who have a hand in the carnage be made to account for their crime.

Expectedly, police officers are refusing to return to their duty post.

They are asking, ‘’why should we protect those that have humiliated us so?’’

A divisional police officer was quoted

by PRNigeria to have said: “In these ember months, and up to Christmas period and the New Year, I doubt if any of the security services can guarantee maximum security as usual. There is no way we can discharge our statutory responsibilities and function when we have become soft targets of miscreants and violent persons. Our destroyed facilities are yet to be reconstructed and rehabilitated; our looted armouries are yet to be restocked and when our men and women are yet to get over the humiliation of the atrocities committed on them by the same people we are charged to protect, how can we return to our duty post?”

There is no defence for truancy. As long as they are still being paid by taxpayers they have to do their bounden duty. It is understandable that they could be experiencing ebbing in morale, but this is the time they have to rise up and show Nigerians it is a new era in the force.

Let the #EndSARS protest be the change that the police themselves need to reform and survive, and to address its own internal contradictions and challenges. We cannot minimise the important issue of police welfare if we really desire the best from the security agency. Let this be the herald of improved welfare and work condition as well as training for members of the force. By declining to do their constitutional duty, the police officers are leaving more room for citizens’ distrust and revulsion.

The police cannot police well without the cooperation of citizens. So, leaving Nigerians to their own fate because they campaigned for reforms in the force will only worsen police – citizen relationship.

This is the time we have to reach out to each other – the police and the civil population – to build a strong bond.

We must rise from this stronger and better. Let #EndSARS be the spark that will bring about a new epoch of law enforcement and citizen camaraderie.

Again, police lives matter.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist Twitter @FredrickNwabufo

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

I

n effect, authorities failed overtime to harness the energies, the risk taking and inquisitive nature as well as inventiveness of its burgeoning youthful population. They were busy twiddling their thumbs while danger lurked.

It was regrettable that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums. However, #EndSARS was a vehicle for stating in no uncertain terms where government got off concerning the parlous state of affairs of the country. There’s no running away from the fact that a well intentioned idea birthed the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) with record of resounding successes in their operation across the country.

Soon, the squad became inebriated with naked power and impunity. Then, gained notoriety for intimidation, extra-judicial killings, corruption and arbitrary arrests.

Accordingly, exposing itself to public opprobrium. The #EndSARS campaigners easily assembled youthful sympathizers for the cause owing to the greater exposure of this segment of the population to the squad’s brutality.

The youth bulge is real. It has the potential to make or mar any Nation. The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed that the population in Nigeria rose to 201 million in 2019. The age distribution of 15-64 years is the highest population composition with 54 % of Nigerians falling within the age range. 44 % are within the age distribution of 0-14 while 32% of the

population is between 10-24 years and the least falls within 65 years and above comprising 3%. This affirm that Nigeria has one of the highest youth demographics in the world.

However, the youthful population is unengaged and suffers extreme unemployment in a country that is stuck in socioeconomic doldrums. In truth, unemployment steals dignity, plunges its victim into psychological pressure. It opens the door to despair and allowing desperation to settle in. Then, turns the victim to a ticking bomb.

Citizens grin and bear atrocious living conditions created by an uncaring system.

Hunger and poverty runs so deep, so much so that the country has supplanted India to assume the unenviable status of poverty capital of the world. Education is hardly given a pride of place. And, we continue to languish at the lower rung of the Human Development Index (HDI). The lingering ASUU-FGN impasse is a shameful case in point of our disposition towards the development of the future of the country.

The Health sector is decidedly a nightmare and a collective shame.

Budgetary allocation to the critical sector remains paltry. Quality health care is inaccessible to the poor. While, the country significantly contribute to the global health tourism which eloquently typifies the sad state of the sector. The country has become a clear reflection of the Hobbesian State of Nature where life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

Corruption continues to fester like a bad sore while the government makes light of the campaign against it. The fight against the monster is not blind. Those in the good books of the government of the day gets a slap on the wrist making the fight against corruption lose trust.

The maelstrom was a safety valve for the suppressed energies, pent up anger. Anger against a system that have treated them unjustly and without empathy. Effectively, pushing them down the totem pole of our priorities. It was a struggle against entrenched social injustice and against cavalier leadership that promotes self over the rest.

We saw an army of youth flushed with anger and frustration. They were the products of a dysfunctional system that has left them to swim or sink while the privilege few display obscene ostentation. They are as good as cannon fodder. And, have been weaponized for political gains.

Today, in the country, unity exist on the lips and not in the heart. Patriotism is non-existent and allegiance is to parochial interests. Our leaders display tunnel vision and view things through ethno- religious coloured spectacles.

Again, ethno-religious chauvinism remains active and stand in the light of our progress with merit made expendable in the pursuit of primordial ends.

The leadership production chain is fraught with anomalies that is prejudiced against qualified candidates. Basically, the system is made to spawn political

office holders who are beholden to their principals effectively leading to reckless impunity. It goes without saying, that the electoral process have been compromised to upend popular wishes.

Without a doubt, the protest enjoyed not a few covert and overt cheerleaders owing to the betrayal of the social contract by the country’s leadership. It is a telling leadership failure across board except for few notable exceptions. We have seen leaders abjectly failing the minimum test of leadership. Our diversity and collective wealth effectively mismanaged.

If the unity of the country really matters. Then, there is no auspicious time to begin the reordering of our priorities and reinventing the old, creaky and unproductive system that have stymied our progress. Well, government may not be barking the wrong tree, if it revisit and sift through the many recommendations of the 1994-95 constitutional conference, National Political Reform Conference, 2005 and the 2014 National Conference for some workable solutions. The youth need to start throwing themselves into the political fray.

The reset button needs to be activated in ushering the country into a new world of equity, good governance, security, stability and accelerated socioeconomic development.

Abachi Ungbo can be reached at abachi007@yahoo.com

I

f there is any lingering disagreement between the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Nigerian lawmakers, it is unarguably the federal government’s insistence to regulate the social media space. This is coupled with the fact that the minister of information and culture has for the umpteenth time reiterated that there was need to inject sanity into the space as he has in his assessment concluded that it has totally gone out of control.

It would be recalled that on December 15, 2015 that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) together with 19 Nigerians, Africans and international organizations appended their signatures to an open letter addressed to Nigerian Senators urging them to reject a bill they deemed capable of undermining press freedom, stifle public opinion, and criminalize freedom of expression in Nigeria.

According the coalition, the bill, titled the “Frivolous Petitions Bill 2015,” which passed its second reading at the Nigerian Senate on December 1, 2015, would impose a two-year prison sentence or a 2 million naira (about US$10,000) or both, for any person who “through text message, tweets, WhatsApp, or through any social media” posts any abusive statement against any person and/or group of persons or government institution, according to news reports.

The bill also seeks to compel any person who might want to petition, file a complaint, or report a person’s conduct for the purpose of an investigation to file a sworn affidavit in a court–a requirement that would compel whistle-blowers to reveal their identity and put them at risk, said Frank Tietie, a lawyer who heads the Abuja-based Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER).

The punishment for noncompliance would be a six-month prison sentence without the option of a fine.

Also enshrined in the bill is , “A person who makes any allegation or publishes any petition in any paper, radio, or other medium with intent to discredit a person, group, or government institution could be punished with two years’ imprisonment or a fine of 4 million naira (about US$20,000).

Despite the wide condemnation that trailed the move to regulate the social media space, Lai Mohammed, ostensibly to exhibit federal government determination in ensuring that the space is regulated as planned, he on October 29, 2019, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said the social media has constituted real danger to the unity of the country.

He added that “What goes on social media is so ridiculous and we will contain it.”

While assuaging the nerves of those that were opposed to the move, the minister explained that contrary to insinuations, the government had no intention of muzzling the media or stifling free speech, saying the campaign was against fake news and hate speech. He said only those engaged in disseminating fake news or hate speech needed to be worried because they would not be spared.

He said, “We cannot allow fake news and hate speech to become free speech because these Siamese twins of evil are capable of inflicting untold damage on our democracy and are threatening our national unity. They represent a clear and imminent danger to our survival as a nation.

He assured that the planned social media regulation would be in line with international best practices as obtainable in Singapore, the United Kingdom and other countries.

“No responsible government will sit by and allow fake news and hate speech to dominate its media space because of the capacity of this menace to exploit our national fault lines to set us against each other and trigger a national conflagration.

That is why we will continue to evolve ways

to tackle fake news and hate speech until we banish both,” he stated.

Despite the fact that the social media bill suffered setback with 80% opposition at senate hearing in March, 2020, and notwithstanding the public outcry that has trailed the move even as at now, there was a clue that the federal government on Tuesday, precisely on October 27, 2020, kick-started a fresh campaign to regulate the social media space, especially in the wake of the #EndSARS protests that were largely driven on social media platforms that cut across, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, WhatsApp, Youtube, and their likes on the virtual space. The indication was glaring when Lai Mohammed said that the federal government was obligated to regulate social media space to curb the spread of what he called fake news. The minister spoke in Abuja while responding to questions when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to defend the 2021 budget proposal.

He said the biggest challenge facing the country is fake news and misinformation, warning that the next war that will be fought in the country and across the globe may be on social media.

While citing the recent #EndSARS protests, saying that it was fought on social media, he said:”They mobilized using the social media. The war today revolves around two things. Smart phones and data and these young men don’t even watch television or listen to the radio or read newspapers. We are sitting on a time bomb on this issue of fake news.

“Unfortunately, we have no national policy on social media, and we need one.

When we went to China, we could not get Google, Facebook and Instagram”.

The aversion which Nigerians, particularly the youths, have toward the intent of the government to regulate the social media space has no doubt found expression

Comment

By Francis Aubee

I

njustice to one is an injustice to all. When fundamental human rights are grossly abused, a fight for survival is bound to happen. This has been the case in Nigeria over the past few weeks and in other African states.

It is time for the status quo to change. Time and time again the youths have been told that they are the “leaders of tomorrow” but that is one of the most futile, nonsensical, and implicitly repressive statements. The youths are not even afforded a chance to live and succeed. There is so much potential in the African youth, and this is something that cannot be ignored as an African leader.

Few macrosystems are self-correcting and governments are not one of them. There has been a great distrust for states and their self-serving institutions and that is not changing anytime soon. Many public institutions across Africa are filled with crippling inefficiency, negligence, and brazen corruption. From Nigeria to Zimbabwe, Namibia to Congo, Cameroon to South Africa, citizens are demanding two things — their right to life and justice for the slain. The right to life ought to be sacred and protected, instead, men, women, and children now have to demand and fight for it from the state, police, exploiters, and oppressors. The bloodied social contract must be torn apart. Governments in Africa do not uphold their own side of the bargain — to protect lives and properties.

Humans are irrational; states aggregate

that and act with greater irrationality. States are amoral and largely interest-driven. Though power comes with responsibilities, our leaders often ignore most of their fundamental responsibilities and for this, the people are saying — ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. If ever a curse was placed on African countries, it must have been in the form of our governments. Only when we unite do we begin to realize that our political elites cannot be separated by ideology regardless of the political party. But remember this — power is transient, no single man or woman has a monopoly on it for life.

We have a lot of work to do as Africans to uplift our countries and eventually our dear continent out of the shackles of poverty, exploitation, human rights abuse, corruption, and lackadaisical governments.

Currently, meaningful economic, political, and infrastructural progress remains elusive.

For poverty to be eradicated in Africa by 2030, “more than one person would need to escape poverty every second’’ (Kharas et al., 2018). This is sad and frightening. By the time you finish reading this article, approximately 300 people should have escaped poverty, but that will not be the case. The constant romanticization of Africa should stop. Africa in its present state is underdeveloped. The presence of numerous natural resources does not equate to higher standards of living or substantial development and until it is transformed with value-added, it remains in its present state. Do you know why countries in Africa with an abundance of

resources (Ghana, Botswana, Congo, etc.) don’t lead in global GDP? GDP accounts for “final value.” Is Africa rich in natural resources? Yes. Is there exploitation? Yes. Stopping exploitation is paramount but what you do beyond that with the available resources determines a lot. This is where responsible and forward-thinking governments flex their muscles. Having a coconut tree in your compound simply means you have one. Taking the coconuts, making juice out of it, and then selling it makes a difference.

The same applies to crude oil, raw diamonds, gold, cocoa, etc.

The current #EndSARS protest in Nigeria could be a remarkable turning point for the most populous black country in the world.

At face value, the protest might be revolving around police brutality, but make no mistake because this movement is much more than incessant police killings. The protest which has spread rapidly across the globe is unique for three reasons: it is youth-led and well organized, leaderless, and social media driven. But why is this protest different from others before it?

The simple answer — the youths are FED UP. Now mind you, Nigerians are some of the most resilient set of people you will ever come across.

But decades of dealing with mediocre leaders has in effect become the norm for many generations, until recently. This juncture where the youths challenge the status quo will be a critical point in the future of Nigeria. It is no longer a case of the sleeping giant.

In Africa, you are simply your own

government partly because you shoulder the very duties of the state in one way or another.

For decades, many Nigerians have had to provide for themselves the same amenities their counterparts in other parts of the world enjoy from their governments. That is to say, the average Nigerian has to provide alternative sources of electricity, water, security, healthcare, and education for themselves, simply because the state has not held its end of the social contract. Affording the very basics for a decent life in Nigeria comes at a premium and is often glorified. As such, millions of youths are locked out of opportunities simply because they lack resources. Despite that, the resilience of these youths has kept them going, allowing them to thrive in hostile environments while pursuing entrepreneurial ventures to make ends meet.

Now, multiply the plight of Nigerian youths across Africa and you have one frustrated generation tired of hearing the same old story from their leaders. The truth is, African youths want a better future. One where they don’t have to risk their lives across high seas in search of a better life (as is the case in the Gambia).

A conducive and dignified life is a must for future generations, otherwise, more youths would prefer to die on the high seas in search of a better life abroad, than wallow in perpetual backwardness. So, what you see in Nigeria at the moment is simply beyond police brutality, it is about comprehensive change.

Francis Aubee is a Public Policy Analyst.

Under new leadership, Mali opens its doors to Russia

Who is afraid of the social media space?

By Isaac Asabor

PAGE 13

Africa is bleeding and bleeding fast

#EndSARS: How we came to the sorry state

By Abachi Ungbo

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

By Kester Kenn Klomegah in Desmond Eliot’s debate on Thursday, October 29, 2020, during the plenary session of the Lagos State House Assembly.

The Nollywood actor cum politician, since he bared his mind on the need to regulate the social media space, has suffered criticisms from members of the public and his colleagues in the entertainment industry, after groaning that the influence of social media was eroding the culture of Nigerian society.

Unarguably rattled by the backlash of condemnations that greeted his comment, he was compelled to apologize to the youths.

Explaining his debate at the state house in an interview on Arise TV, Elliot said: “As a practitioner, and also for the kind of things I do… I watched it over and over again I can see where people thought it meant I am regulating the social media space. That was not in any way what I meant. When I do things in my constituency, I put it up on my social media space why would I ask for that?

Besides, it’s constitutional. I could never have called for the social media space to be regulated.”

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Who is afraid of the social media space?” To answer the foregoing question, it is germane to say that those who are ignorant of the fact that criticism is part of the political position they hold, and that they are answerable and accountable to the people, when it comes to leadership, are the ones that are afraid of the social media space. They are the ones that are ignorant of the fact that regardless of how popular they are that there will always be criticism even as there will always be commendation when they perform well in the representation of the people.

Again, it is equally germane to say that good leaders don’t fear criticism, and that it is only insecure leaders that are afraid of being criticized on social media.

Isaac Asabor is a Public Affairs Analyst.

W

ith strict pressure from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the August coup leaders have installed an interim government that will run state affairs until next elections. Plucked from obscurity, the former Defense Minister Bah Ndaw (here) became the transitional President, while Colonel Assimi Goita serves as Vice President. The transitional committee made up of representatives of political parties, civil and religious groups agreed on both positions.

According to their biographical reports, both had part of their professional military training in the Soviet Union and Russia respectively – read & watch this video – indicating that the new Malian leadership could be more Russia-friendly. The transitional civilian government, swearing-in ceremony and inauguration into office took place on Sept 25, completely closed the political chapter on the political administration of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The military takeover, Mali’s fourth since gaining independence from France in 1960, came after months of protests, stoked by Keita’s failure to roll back a bloody jihadist insurgency and fix the country’s many economic woes.

Over the years, reform policies have had little impact on the living standards, majority highly impoverished in the country. As a developing country, it ranks at the bottom of the United Nations Development Index (2018 report). The country, however, is a home to approximately 20 million population.

The primary task, right now, is to draw up “a comprehensive road map” for economic recovery.

Earlier before the Sept 25 ceremony, Assimi Goita had issued a public statement at a media-covered conference to the Malian population, “We make a commitment before you to spare no effort in the implementation of all these resolutions in the exclusive interest of the Malian people. We request and hope for the understanding, support and accompaniment

of the international community in this diligent and correct implementation of the Charter and the transition roadmap. The results you have achieved allow me to hope for the advent of a new, democratic, secular and prosperous Mali.”

While West African leaders would likely remove the economic sanctions imposed in the wake of last month’s coup, following the installation of a civilian interim president, a number of foreign countries including Russia have already recognized these new developments taken toward stability. Russia, apparently, is exploring all possibilities to regain part of its Soviet-era influence as Mali begins to restructure and systematize its state administration.

In an official statement to mark Mali’s 60th anniversary of its independence from France, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) hoped that Mali would fix in place civilian form of government and, focus on holding free and democratic elections following a short transitional period with the assistance of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union.

It is noteworthy to recall here that Russia and Mali are linked by friendship and cooperation. In 1960, Mali attained independence following a prolonged struggle and opted for a socialist orientation. There were major projects implemented with Soviet assistance. These includes a cement factory, the Kalana gold-mining company, a stadium in Bamako, the Gabriel Toure Hospital, an airfield in Gao and a number of national education facilities. Large-scale prospecting operations were conducted, and 9,000 hectares converted into rice paddies.

Thousands of Soviet educators, doctors and other specialists worked in Mali. Over 10,000 Mali citizens received higher education in Russia.

“We hope that the time-tested RussiaMali ties will continue to develop steadily in the interests of both states. We would like to congratulate the friendly people of Mali on their national holiday and to wish them every

success in achieving nationwide reconciliation, reviving their country as soon as possible, and we wish them peace, prosperity and wellbeing,” the statement particularly stressed.

As Russia pushes to strengthen its overall profile in the G5 Sahel region, Mali could become a gateway into the region. Russia has made military-technical cooperation as part of its diplomacy and keen on fighting growing terrorism in Africa.

Experts suspected that the regime change in Mali could see Russia-friendly new leaders taking over the country from the Frenchfriendly Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his government, thereby dealing a severe blow to French influence and interests not just in Mali but throughout the Sahel zone that includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Research Professor Irina Filatova at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow explained recently in an emailed “Russia’s influence in the Sahel has been growing just as French influence and assistance has been dwindling, particularly in the military sphere.

It is for the African countries to choose their friends and people who are now in power will be friendlier with Russia.”

That said, the transitional government could continue to leverage with Russia. Reports indicate that Russia has established cordial relations with transitional government. On August 21, Russian Ambassador to Mali and Niger Igor Gromyko met with representatives from the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). The CNSP is an umbrella organization of military personnel involved in the coup, which wishes to oversee an 18-month transition before returning power to civilian authorities. Russia signed a military cooperation agreement with Mali in June 2019.

In November 2019, demonstrators in Bamako urged Moscow to repel Islamist attacks in Mali as it did in Syria. At the Independence Square demonstrations in Bamako that followed the coup, protesters were spotted waving Russian flags and holding posters praising Russia for its solidarity with

Mali.

Samuel Ramani, DPhil candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, wrote in the Journal of the Foreign Policy Research Institute that “Since Russia possesses a diverse array of partnerships in Mali and Sahel countries are frustrated with the counterterrorism policies of Western powers. Moscow could leverage the Mali coup to secure economic deals and bolster its geopolitical standing in West Africa.”

According to the expert, Kremlin-aligned research institutes and media outlets have consistently framed France’s counterterrorism operations in Niger and Mali as a façade for the extraction of the Sahel’s uranium resources.

Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom, which directly competes with its French counterpart Avenda for contracts in the Sahel, could benefit from favorable relations with Mali’s new political authorities. Nordgold, a Russian gold company that has investments in Guinea and Burkina Faso, could also expand its extraction initiatives in Mali’s gold reserves.

As one of the largest on the continent, Mali is a landlocked country located in West Africa.

For centuries, its northern city of Timbuktu was a key regional trading post and center of Islamic culture. Mali is renowned worldwide for having produced some of the stars of African music, most notably Salif Keita. But, this cultural prominence has long since faded.

After independence from France in 1960, Mali suffered droughts, rebellions, and 23 years of military dictatorship until democratic elections in 1992. Mali has struggled with mass protests over corruption, electoral probity, and a jihadist insurgency that has made much of the north and east ungovernable. President Ibrahim Keita, who took office in September 2013, proved unable to unify the country.

With time and commitment to sustainable development and good governance, there is still hope for Mali.

Kester Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and BRICS.

PAGE 14

NEWS

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the registration and certification of the Shell Graduate Programme (SGP) and Shell Advanced Technical Programme (SATP) graduates.

This was contained in a statement issued during the weekend by COREN’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Faith Ocheh.

The statement stated that under the agreement, the council hopes to build its capacity to regulate the competency standards and skill acquisition in the Oil and Gas sector.

Ocheh said “This would harnessed engineering practitioners’ skills that will facilitate and create new job areas like integrity tests for Engineering infrastructure and help to mitigate engineering failures”.

The statement also emphasized that “In accomplishing this, COREN

Okowa unveils plans for youths roles in governance, political participation

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

COREN, Shell sign MoU for graduates’ registration, certification commits to set up an internal structure/committee drawn from industry practitioners to supervise the process of building institutional capacity to manage the registration and certification programmes”.

The statement also quoted the COREN’s Registrar,Professor Joseph O. Odigure, saying that the council as regulatory body was ready to liaise with and cooperate with all relevant organizations in Nigeria to improve engineering education.

According to Odigure“We cannot act effectively today, if we do not develop an all-inclusive platform of engaging all stakeholders to build consensus in regulation.

This is the prerequisite

for market-driven engineering education, for job creation and sustainably in competencies growth”.

He said there was no alternative to guaranteeing the health and safety of the nation’s infrastructure.

“What we are doing today is very important particularly knowing that SPDC contributes substantially to the economic wealth of our nation. Ignoring their methodologies and techniques of training Engineers and the possibility of post-employment of those involved in these trainings, is a big disservice to our Nation. ” We are beginning a process that will enhance considerably the engagement of staff of SPDC

during and after their service. We are committed to implementing the structure agreed upon” Similarly,the General Manager, Nigeria COG Projects SPDC Nigeria, Toyin Olagunju said the MoU with COREN was an opportunity to expose young Nigerian Engineers.

Olagunju who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Business and Government Relations, Engr. Bashir Bello, said“We as a company are even double-excited that we have achieved this milestone today.

SPDC as an oil and gas company, is deeply involved in human capacity development.

“We pride ourselves in capacity

#End SARS: Minister preaches peace in Calabar

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he minister of state for power, Honourable Goddy Jeddy Agba, has urged the #End SARS protesters in Calabar to shun violence and maintain peace.

This was stated in a press

statement made available to Peoples Daily and signed by the Deputy Commander-General of United Nigeria Chaplaincy (UNC), Ambassador (General) Abdulrahaman Aliyu Babajo in Abuja after the minister came back from Calabar, Cross River State

to foster unity on the #End SARS protest.

He said he would continue to dialogue with the protesters for the overall development of the State and Nigeria at large.

He added that he was ready to dialogue with the Stakeholders for

the sake of Unity and Peace in the State.

Jeddy Agba noted that no State or Country that could move forward in the atmosphere of acrimony and rancor, calling on the #End SARS protesters to always gear towards the development of the State.

L-R: Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammdu Mera presenting an award to the wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr.Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu for her efforts against polio, cancer and others during the commemoration of this year’s World Polio Day at the Emir’s palace in Argungu, Kebbi state recently.

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

G

overnor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has assured youths and young women in the state that they shall constitute 80 to 90 per cent number of counsellors in the forthcoming local government elections slated for the first quarter of 2021.

He also called on the federal government to revamp Warri port and other Seaports in the state so as to create additional jobs.

He added that it was time for both states and federal governments to give the youths substantial roles in governance, create jobs for them through direct employment whenever the opportunities arises, as well as vocational training and skills acquisitions.

The governor who had two meetings with youths at weeked in Asaba, said the federal government need to speed up infrastructure development efforts by taking additional positive steps to revamp key and viable agencies and corporations especially the Warri seaport which is capable of providing thousands of direct and indirect jobs for young graduates, skilled and unskilled labourers.

building. So, when we had this opportunity to structure some of our internal programmes for the development of Engineers through our SGP & SATP in a way that it will receive COREN recognition and certification, we made the most of it.

He added “We will consider other areas beyond the SGP and SATP, to support COREN and the nation in general, to facilitate human capacity development in the engineering profession as there is hardly any branch of engineering that we do not get involved in. We truly believe that this is an opportunity to expose young Nigerian Engineers”, Bello said.

My objective is to transform NAWOJ - Presidential Aspirant From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

H

ajiya Aisha Ibrahim, aspirant for the post of National President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), has said she joined the race to give the Association a voice among other women groups in the country.

She stated this while speaking to Peoples Daily Correspondent in Kaduna yesterday.

According to her, the founding criteria of NAWOJ is to give voice to the women and children.

Unfortunately, in the last decades, the association has deviated from this, so there is a need to reposition NAWOJ.

Hajiya Ibrahim who hails from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, North-East, Nigeria said it is disheartening that young women are shying away from the profession.

Speaking on her agenda for the association, she said training and retraining of women Journalists will be her key point as she is already

working with development partners in that regards.

She vowed to get a permanent secretariat for NAWOJ in Abuja, and as well promised a new positive agenda for the association.

The aspiring National officer of t NAWOJ stated her conviction to join the race is answering the Clarion call by her teeming supporters.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Baba Adamu

S

enate yesterday criticised the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, over his allegation that the lawmakers make poor budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Works and prioritizing of their constituency projects above others, hence the deplorable states of federal roads.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru (APC Osun Central), the Senate alleged that the Works Minister blamed the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly for disrepair state of Federal roads in Benue South and poor budgetary allocations for road projects across the country.

Basiru had in the statement titled: “Senate Debunks Minister’s Claim

Sanwo-Olu directs civil servants to resume November 2nd

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed all public servants on Salary Grade Levels 1- 12, to resume work fully from Monday, November 2nd.

The workers had been directed to work from home since March 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

However, Sanwo-Olu in a circular titled: “Re: Further easing of COVID-19 lockdown, with Ref. No: CIR/HOS/’20/Vol.1/115, issued by the Office of the Head of Service and dated October 30, 2020, asked them to resume.

The circular was signed by the Head of Service, Muri Okunola, and sent to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the state.

It explained that the decision was taken after informed recommendation of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the State Ministry of Health.

The circular read in part: “Sequel to the informed recommendation of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the State Ministry of Health advisory on same, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved that all public servants on salary Grade Levels 1- 12, who were directed to work from home since March, 2020 resume at the office with effect from Monday, November 2, 2020.

Senate slams Fashola over passing the buck on poor state of federal roads on Budgetary Allocations to Road Construction”, alleged that Fashola lied against the Senate in his office last Monday during a courtesy call on him by retired Generals and leaders of thought from Benue South Senatorial District on bad state of Federal roads in the area.

Senator Basiru in the statement alleged that Fashola told the Air Vice Marshall Morgan led delegation that deplorable state of roads in that part of the country was caused by the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly through poor budgetary allocations.

Basiru accused the Minister of telling the delegation that N600 billion proposed for road projects in the 2020 budget was not approved in any way despite prioritizing implementation of their constituency projects.

The statement reads in part: “The Senate has taken exception to a statement credited to Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola, the Hon. Minister of works that the National Assembly should be held responsible for the dilapidated state of Federal roads in Benue State, describing it as a “fallacy of the highest order” “The Hon. Minister was quoted to have made the allegation in his office in Abuja during a courtesy

call by retired Generals and ‘other leaders of thought’ from Benue South Senatorial District led by Air Vice Marshal Morgan Monday who came to complain about the deplorable state of roads in the senatorial district.

“The Senate and the National Assembly can not and should not be held responsible for the dilapidated state of roads whether in Benue State or any part of the country.

“Putting the records straight, the Senate gave the figures of the 2020 proposal for capital expenditure as N265, 868 037,093 billion Naira by the Executive which the National Assembly passed.

“The Executive later brought revised allocation of N256, 734,983,667 billion Naira which we also appropriated just as the N363, 266, 425, 976 billion capital expenditure proposed for the Ministry in 2021 fiscal year , is being looked into.

“The Senate then wondered where the Hon. Minister got his figure ofN 600 billion Naira which he said was the figure proposed to the National Assembly by his ministry and which was allegedly not supported or approved by the National Assembly “On the Minister’s allusion and or allegation to prioritising

constituency projects over other projects, the Senate affirmed that the Hon Minister was merely calling a pity party and being sentimental adding the statement was made to set the National Assembly on collision course with the people they are democratically representing.

“It should be emphasized therefore that never has allocations specifically meant for other projects ever been diverted to constituency projects as constituency projects are having allocations in the budget” But Fashola in his reaction through his Media Adviser, Hakeem Bello, said Senator Basiru’s statement was premised on speculation or hear say and not what actually took place or said.

According to Hakeem Bello, the said meeting between the Minister and delegation from Benue South took place two weeks ago and not last Monday as erroneously claimed.

“Besides, the meeting between the leaders of thoughts from Benue South and the Hon Minister, was more of situation report on state of roads from that part of the country and not protestation cum blame game discussion between the two parties.

“The most baffling aspect of the whole thing is that the said meeting was not given media coverage ,

making one to wonder where the Senator got his information from , as nothing of such was reported in the media two weeks ago”.

Though he said he was still making frantic efforts to reach out to the Distinguished Senator on where he got his information from but,” all the allusions he made, were wrong as for example , the projected capital budget for the Ministry in 2020 as presented by President Muhamnadu Buhari on Tuesday , October 8, 2020, was N262billion and not N600billion the Hon Minister was alleged to have complained about” “The same thing goes for allegation on prioritizing of constituency projects above other ones, levelled against the Hon Minister.

“The only place the Hon Minister blamed the National Assembly on delay of execution of some federal road projects , was at the Senate wing of the National Assembly itself during 2021 budget defence session last week before joint committees on works.

“The roads in question are Abuja - Kaduna - Zaria and Kabo due to petitions written against the their designs hitherto planned for 2 lanes, rejected and changed to 3 lanes, rejected again and changed to 2 lanes now”, he said.

From left: Special Adviser to Kwara Governor on Special Duty, Alhaji Yinka Aluko; Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and the District Police Officer in-charge of B Division, SP Akinwale Olaoye, during the Governor’s courtesy visit to the B Division Police Station, Surulere, Ilorin to cheer the police for their efforts in maintaining peace in the state, on Saturday (31/10/20).

Bode George blames greed for system rot

By Musa Baba Adamu

A

retired military officer, Bode George, has revealed that a former Governor of Lagos State has three jets, stressing that greed was a major problem in Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain did not mention a name, in an interview with journalists.

The politician warned that if leaders and officials fail to act right, youths may descend on their graves after death.

“Look at the former Governor of Lagos State, he has three executive jets, private jets. The other one, 900X, can fly from Lagos to New York. Where is his business?

“Look at the Falomo Shopping Mall that was built by Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson; you know what

they have there now? The horse cable for Bola Tinubu’s son. What kind of madness is that? These are our heritage.

“Look at the end of Awolowo road there, the nursing home. We can’t even train nurses anymore in Lagos State. These are issues, I am talking as an elder statesman.

“I am in my mid-seventies, what am I afraid of if I can’t say it? If things go well, fine; if things

don’t go well, our children – these same youths – will come and exhume our bodies and be mad with us.

“Today, every day, we keep talking about Papa Awolowo, Herbert MacCaulay, talking about our heroes’ past because of their contributions. The greed is too much”, the ex-Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Chairman declared.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

POLITICS

Don’t panic over military exercise in Oyigbo – LGA Chair

L-R: Co-chairman, Southern Kaduna Joints Peace Committee (SKJPC), Dr Ahmad Mairiga; Adviser to the Chairman of the Committee, Dr Benjamin Gugong; and the Chairman, of the committee, Abdullahi Zubairu, during a press briefing in Kafanchan Local Government at the end of advocacy visit to Chiefdoms and Emirates,yesteday in Southern Kaduna

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

R

esidents of Oyigbo Local government areas of Rivers State have been asked not to panic over military presence in the area.

Chairman of Oyigbo LGA, Gerald Oforji made the appeal in a statement he personally signed on Sunday.

Oforji also urged residents not to panic over military exercise going on in the area as it is aimed at recovery of stolen arms.

“People living and doing businesses in Oyigbo should strictly obey the 24hrs curfew imposed by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

“Total compliance to the Governor’s directive will ease the lifting of the curfew,” he stated.

This appeal comes on the heels of allegations by residents that the security agencies are engaging in extra Judicial killings, though no content in the media space or pictures and videos from Oyigbo to back up the claims, but residents have been raising alarm on social media and local radio in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Indigenous Youth Forum (IYF) says it has given Governor Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State Government 48 hours to release those arrested and missing, and also bring out bodies of those allegedly executed in Oyigbo Local Government Area.

The group said it will be forced to take necessary actions if the authorities fail to comply within the given period.

General spokesperson for IYF, Ebube Nwagbara in a statement accused the Rivers State Governor of declaring war on Ndigbo under the pretext of hunting members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He also alleged that the ongoing military operation in Oyigbo has claimed the lives of 28 persons in four days, 33 people are missing and 17, including women and children, are shot and wounded.

He said, “We are using this medium to draw the attention of well-meaning Nigerians and members of the international community to the ongoing massacre in Rivers State by soldiers

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

POLITICS

Reps resumes plenary to address youth bills ― Gbajabiamila

T

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said the House will reconvene plenary to address youth-related bills next week.

Gbajabiamila made the announcement on Saturday in Abuja, at a national strategy retreat organised by the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat was titled, “Rethinking Youth Development in Nigeria”.

Gbajabiamila said that the

retreat was coming at a time of a new and intense wave of restiveness sweeping across every part of our country.

The Speaker said that there is a large majority of young people who are tired of the way things are going.

He said the youth want to see rapid and progressive change in the structure of the country and in the practice of democratic government.

“We all know the House suspended plenary to consider the Budget which is a yearly thing we do to give time to pass the

budget to maintain our January to December budget cycle.

“But I do intend to reconvene the House to consider a couple of very important things that will affect Nigerians such as the Electoral Law, the PIB and more importantly the Bills that are already in the system concerning the development of the youth.

“So we will hopefully by next week take one or two days to consider those bills and others.

I will also want to encourage the young parliamentarians that we will give you all the support necessary.

Ondo guber: Police officers lament non-payment of allowances

W

eeks after they participated in the gubernatorial election in Ondo State, some policemen who were deployed for the election are yet to be paid their allowances and some of them are already apprehensive about it.

The gubernatorial election held on Saturday, October 10, with the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, securing a second term in office.

Some of those who participated in the election said that over 300 police officers who participated in the election are yet to be paid.

PREMIUM TIMES is yet to independently verify the number of police officers yet to be paid.

Some of those who spoke to this reporter, however, said they

were promised to be paid before the deployment but were surprised that up till now they have not been paid.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that police officers from Oyo State and other states in the Southwest region were deployed for the election.

The officers said the police headquarters in Abuja sent a signal that they would be paid before deployment but this was not done.

Those who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday and Friday in Ibadan said some of them were deployed to Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

They said that all of them who are from Oyo State Command are yet to receive their allowances.

They said they used their personal money throughout the election to take care of their expenses.

Speaking on the condition of anonimity for fear of victimisation, they called on IGP Mohammed Adamu to intervene.

One of them said, “We were deployed to Ondo State, Ese-Odo local government area, 300 of us from Oyo State. But, we are yet to see our alert.”

Another said, “No single officer deployed to Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo State has been paid and we were about 300 deployed to that local government.

“We are calling on the police authority to pay our allowances and let it not be promise and fail as

usual.”

Another one said, “those of us who are yet to be paid are over 300.”

The police spokesman in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. He said that the officers would receive their money from the police headquarters, asking them to be patient.

“I have told someone who called me today. The election is from the headquarters,” he added. “When they are ready, they have gotten their details, they will pay them.

That is just it. They will pay them at the appropriate time. ” All efforts to get the reaction of the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, were unsuccessful.

Govs didn’t hoard COVID-19 palliatives – Akeredolu

By Musa Baba Adamu

G

overnor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Sunday dismissed claims that palliatives meant to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic were deliberately hoarded by state governors.

Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the Southwest

Governors’ Forum disclosed that the insistence on official flag-off ceremony by the Coalition Against Covid-19 before the distribution was largely responsible for the delay in distributing the items to the people.

Recall that during the End SARS protest which was said to have been hijacked, many warehouses where COVID-19 palliatives were stored

were looted by hoodlums According to the governor, Ondo State was saved from the looting spree due to the continuous distribution of the palliatives.

Akeredolu was speaking at the Church service marking the 3rd Year Enthronement of the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Revd. Dr.Stephen Fagbemi, held at the All Saints

Church, Idasen, Owo. He revealed that states where the palliatives were warehoused, were also waiting for the donation of the remaining items and flag-off by the CA-COVID-19.

Meanwhile, on his re-election, Akeredolu described his victory at the October 10, governorship election as God’s project which no man can truncate.

Opposition sponsoring thugs against us – Fintiri alleges

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

damawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has accused opposition elements of sponsoring thugs to undermine his leadership and public good.

The governor, who made the assertion against the mass looting of last Sunday and Monday especially around the state capital, Yola, said sponsored violence and

unconstructive criticism would not do the state any good.

“They should not be sponsoring thugs to destroy our Commonwealth, they should come and see what we are using public funds for,” the governor said.

The governor, who spoke to newsmen while inspecting road projects in the state capital, Yola, said, “I expect the opposition forces to come and see how government

funds are being judiciously used for the common good of the citizenry.”

Ongoing projects which Governor Fintiri inspected during the weekend included Dougire Lane, Government House back gate road, Doctors Quarters, Zumo Street & Links, Lagos Crescent, Falu Road & Links, among others, all around the Yola North and Yola South metropolitan local government areas.

Fintiri said the projects had come to stay and they would be completed and new ones initiated, declaring that despite the activities of hoodlums, his administration would not be distracted.

Of eight road projects which Governor Fintiri inspected during the weekend, those of Dougirei Lane and Lekki Tabba streets have been completed.

“You will agree with me that many times when we talk about the constitution, the makeup of Nigeria when we talk about the structure, when we sing the National Anthem when we talk about the pledge, we always refer nostalgically to our founding fathers.

“Many of them were not even fathers at that time, they were extremely young in their 20s. So I think it is time we stopped making reference only to our founding fathers or let those references be few.

“But let’s start talking about

Representative of Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, Dr Bashir Maru (R), receiving certificate and other items from the Registrar of the University of Science, Administration and Commerce, Lome in the Republic of Togo, Dr Hermann Mensah, following the conferment of a Honorary Doctorate Degree in ‘Leadership and Administration’ on the Governor by the University, in Lome, Republic of Togo on Saturday (31/10/20).

#EndSARS protests: Lagos senator advocates special status for economic hub

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

ftermath of the #EndSARS protests across the country, one of the three senators who represents Lagos State, Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West Senatorial District) yesterday called time has become expedient to grant the state a special status being the economic hub of the country as well as considering the level of vandalism that took place in the state over ENDSARS. In a statement by his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday, titled, ‘#EndSARS protest: Adeola renewed call for special status and grant for Lagos.

He said, “The issue of special status for Lagos State has again been brought to the front burner following the fallouts of the protest against extra-judicial killings and Police brutality.

“With the magnitude of

the destruction of critical infrastructures in Lagos State last week, it is inconceivable that Lagos Government alone can handle the rebuilding of destroyed properties, most of which are for public good.

“It is necessary at this time to state that when Federal Government makes interventions to assist the state like the N1bn per state to assist in efforts aimed at stemming COVID-19, Lagos State should be more favourably treated in view of its status.

“Nigerians boarding all the burns Bus Rapid Transport buses are not asked their state of origins when they board,” he stated.

On the handling of the crisis by the State Governor, the lawmaker who is also the chairman of Senate Committee on Finance described it as “adroit and patriotic”, in view of the power and resources available to him.

Adeola called for an urgent grant from the Federal Government to aid the state in rebuilding and replacing destroyed public facilities of all kinds during the attendant mayhem to the protest.

“From what we saw during our sympathy and condolence visit to Lagos State Governor and its people, it was clear that Lagos State Government cannot handle the rebuilding of infrastructure and facilities destroyed alone.

“The destruction in Lagos State in all aspects expectedly dwarfed that of other states and FCT put together as a result of the crisis”, according to the Lagos West senator.

The Senator said such a grant from the Federal Government at this time following the regrettable mayhem was ultimately in national interest because Nigerians from all parts of the country resident and doing business in Lagos State,

would benefit.

He also said many revenue generating agencies and other federal institutions are similarly located in Lagos State with the real possibility that their operations would be greatly impeded without urgent rebuilding and replacing some of the destroyed properties.

He said over the years, many attempts had been made in the agitation for a special status for Lagos State on the basis of its being the nation’s economic nerve centre and its status as the former Federal Capital of Nigeria with many federal infrastructures and huge population of all tribes of Nigeria.

He added that the resources of the state government could not adequately cater for the population and the pressure on amenities arising from the status of the state as an acknowledged megacity with a population of over 20 million Nigerians.

our modern fathers and mothers, those of us here the young people out there, this is your time, this is your moment, it is important that we seize it,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers should consider an amendment in the Constitution to the definition of Federal Character.

According to him, “when we talk about Federal Character within the context of appointments, infrastructure and the rest of it in the Constitution, Federal Character as it is, is limited to where you are from, like your ethnicity.

“I think it is time that we expand the definition of Federal Character because the character of a Nation is not just based on your tribe. It is based on religion, it is based on where you are from, it is based on your sex, it is based on your age.

“So when you are talking about Federal Character you look at all those things and they are what make up the Federal Character.

You talk about so so percentage of women, percentage of youth, that is the true meaning of Federal and I think that is what should be reflected in the constitution,” he said.

Gbajabimila said that the youth would be given more representation in the Special Committee on Constitutional Reform in the House.

He pledged to liaise with the Clerk, Mr Amos Ojo, to get a Secretariat for the YPF in the House.

The Chairman of the YPF, Rep. Kabir Tukura, said following the #ENDSARS protest the forum took some steps to ensure that the demands of the youth were met.

He said that the demands are genuine saying that there is a need for a general overhaul of the way things are done especially in the security sphere.

Tukura said that the forum visited the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and it was agreed that the YPF should come up with a white paper to be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Director of Programmes, YIAGA-Africa, Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, congratulated the young parliamentarians for organising the event.

She said young Nigerians were fanning their office of the citizens and are demanding for a better Nigeria through the #EndSARS protest.

Mbalamu said that this was the time to collaborate with the National Assembly to deliver a new Nigeria to the youth.

She said that the Nigerian youth and women were looking up to the National Assembly to speak for them and ensure their participation in government.

Also, the Country Director, Westminister Foundation for Democracy, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said that more than ever before, it was time to rethink youth development in Nigeria.

He said it was time to create conducive environment for quality and affordable education for Nigerian youths. [NAN]

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

Stock Watch: Friday, October 30, 2020 Low

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2.80 3.15 0 1.94 3.94 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.64 0.64 0 4.60 8.60 0 37.00 68.30 0 3.79 4.21 0 9.65 10.05 0 31.50 34.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0 2.45 2.45 0

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Electricity: AEDC resumes approved Reflective Tariff

By Etuka Sunday

A

buja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), yesterday announced that from 1st November 2020, it has effected a revised Service Reflective Tariff as approved by the regulatory agency.

AEDC said, customers on the pre-paid platform would be the first to experience the revised tariff when they vend from Sunday, 1st November 2020, while the revised tariff would reflect in the bills for customers on the postpaid platform when they receive their electricity bill.

The Company in a statement said, “the tariff is divided into 5 Bands and based on hours of supply to the customers. While customers on Bands D & E have

Power Sector records peak generation of 5,520.40MW

By Etuka Sunday

T

he power sector has recorded yet another national peak generation of 5,520.40MW on 30th October, 2020 at 9.15pm, surpassing the previous 5.459MW recorded on 28th October, 2020 by 60.90MW. The General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah in a statement said, the new national peak was a result of continued collaboration among players and the gradual increase in capacity in the power sector.

On her part, with the current capacity of 8,100MW, TCN seamlessly transmitted the new peak at a frequency of 50.11Hz. through the nations grid.

As players in the power sector value chain continue to work together to improve the nation’s power supply, TCN implores everyone to help protect power infrastructure nationwide and desist from bush burning or burning of trash beside transmission towers or under power line cables nationwide.

their tariff frozen, those on Bands A, B & C will see some level of reduction in their tariff as they vend.

“AEDC assures her

customers that it will, in line with the spirit and letter of the service reflective tariff, ensure that all customers receive quality service. We are also committed

to the improvement of service to customers in all our franchise area.

“We, however, appeal to customers to please see this tariff

regime as an opportunity for them to join hands with AEDC to speed up the process of improving the quality of service in the Nigerian power sector,” the statement said.

Representative of the First Lady, Dr Hajo Sani (R); Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen (4th, R); United Nations Women Representative, Ms Comfort Lamptey (5th, R); Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Mrs Mary EkpereEta (5th, L) and other women leaders, after a news conference on the activities lined up for the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the UNSCR-1325 on Women Peace and Security, in Abuja on Friday ( 30/10/20).

Photo: NAN

House of Reps hails NNPC for Strides in Gas Development

By Etuka Sunday

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources has applauded the Mallam Mele Kyari-led Management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its achievements in the areas of gas infrastructure development, gas supply obligations for the domestic market and the NLNG Train 7 Project.

A press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the Chairman House Committee on Gas Resources, Hon. Nicholas Mutu,

as saying during an oversight visit to the NNPC Towers, Abuja, that the committee was pleased with the ongoing drive by the Corporation to promote the use of gas as a cheaper and cleaner form of energy.

“It is a step in the right direction. Indeed, gas resources have come to take the pride of place in our national development agenda, and given the quantum of proven gas reserves in the country, we can rightly declare that Nigeria is more of a gas country,” Hon. Mutu stated.

He said the Committee was satisfied with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill 2020 on gas resources development, particularly Section 52 which

provides for the establishment of a Midstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.

“We acknowledge the efforts of the Management of NNPC in developing the gas sector, and we commend them on the existing projects. The Ajaokuta-KadunaKano (AKK) gas pipeline that was recently launched by Mr. President is an exhibition of total commitment by the NNPC” he said.

In his welcome address to the visiting legislators, Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, expressed gratitude to the Committee for its continued support to the Corporation.

The GMD, who was represented by the Chief

Operating Officer, Gas & Power, Engr. Yusuf Usman, said NNPC will continue to engage and seek further support for approvals of budgets appropriated for critical Gas Infrastructure Projects as well as the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2020 which is currently before the National Assembly.

He reiterated NNPC’s commitment to the provision of alternative fuels for Nigerians through the deployment of LPG and CNG skids at filling stations for automobiles.

“This will give Nigerians more opportunity to enjoy cheaper fuels for their vehicles as well as reduce carbon emission footprints in line with the global environmental aspirations,” he said.

BU$IN€SS

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Mass metering: Kaduna Electric Chairman Tasks Customers Against Energy Theft

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he Chairman, Board of Directors, Kaduna Electric, Alh. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, has called on electricity consumers to avoid all forms of energy theft to enable the company provide better services.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kaduna State Chapter represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Ephraim James, also averred that with the national mass metering program, the era of estimated billing will be a thing of the past and urged Nigerians to be patriotic by ensuring that they pay for the electricity consumed and avoid sharp practices.

The Chairman and the NLC representative stated this at the official Flag off of the National Mass Metering Program, held on Friday, 30th October, 2020.

According to the Chairman, President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Administration is doing its best to ensure that citizens get qualitative

service and the power producers and distributors like Kaduna Electric are equally committed towards that direction.

He lamented however that the lack of payment, energy theft among others are major challenges hampering effective performance.

“What we want our customers and consumers to help us do is not only to pay their bills but also to ensure that people who are stealing power are reported to the agency.

Because if your neighbor is stealing power and you do not report, what you are actually doing is that you are short changing yourself” he said.

The Chairman further stressed that the Federal government is highly committed to ensuring that electricity consumers are not arbitrially charged, adding that they are doing everything possible to ensure everybody within their franchise area are metered so that what customers paid for is the exact energy consumed.

He therefore called on customers to work and collaborate with the company during and after the deployment and installation of the meters.

In his remark, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam, said the National Mass Metering Program will help in no small measure to address issues associated with energy theft.

This is just as he disclosed that the National Assembly (NASS) is doing everything possible to introduce an electricity bill to help address the numerous challenges in the power sector.

According to the Senator who performed the flagging off, “What the National Assembly is doing is to appropriate enough money to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), so that TCN will reduce infrastructure deficit that have resulted to technical loses, I heard from them that in past few days

they were able to evacuate 5000+, we need to consistently have about 7000 megawatts of electricity in transmission line and that can only happen when infrastructural deficit are reduced and for you to do that enough money must be appropriated to them to address that, so we are working on that.

“Now if we reduce the technical loses and we have about 7000 megawatts, what you have is that about 80% of customers because from the statistics they said 10 million Nigerians are on the network but only 4 million have been metered, with this programme, we expect that at least 80% or 90% of customers will be metered, once you reduce the technical loses the electricity industry will become very robust, people who are paying will have electricity almost 24 hours”.

He stressed that having 24 hours power supply will take some time but at least 18 -20 hours and for those customer providers like

DISCOS there will be stability in the industry.

Senator Suswan further said, the metering of houses now, consumers will have no option but to be disciplined in the way and manner the use electricity. Bulbs and other power consuming objects will have to be put off when not in use. “ All forms of electricity theft will equally be reduced minimally, am also sure that a mechanism of check will be put in place to avoid bypass”.

He assured Nigerians that the exorbitant charges hitherto complained about will no longer be there as the industry is now determined to operate base on service reflective tariff from cost reflective tariff.

Several dignitaries including the Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip of Kaduna State House of Assembly, traditional and religious leaders and relevant stakeholders in the electricity sector grace the flagging off program.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

By Stanley Onyekwere

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ome road users have expressed the dire need for all stakeholders involved in traffic management in the to return to the roads and ensure seamless movement and improvement of economic activities in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In particular, they appealed to the traffic management officials to save their souls from the current daily nightmarish experiences, following return of traffic gridlocks on major roads, in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.

Recall that since eruption of violent mob attacks on public and private facilities, which trailed the controversial protests against Police brutality otherwise known as #EndSARS protests, most traffic officials are yet to return to their respective duty points, thereby resulting in hightened choatic traffic situations everywhere.

Making the appeal for the

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#EndSARS aftermath: Road users send SOS to traffic mgt officials resumption of full traffic control activities, President, Road Users Development Network of Nigeria, Dr. John John Uket observed that the renewed severe traffic situation in Abuja and Lagos was “as a result of the absence of road traffic personnel from agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Department of Road Traffic Services (VIO), LASTMA and others who have left the roads unattended to for the fear of the mayhem of the recent uprisings.”

Uket, who spoke during a one-day national dialogue on traffic management held in Abuja, tendered an unreserved apology, and reassured the personnel of safety in public places.

He said: “We have taken into cognizance the need to reassure you the public support that you have always enjoyed before the protest.

“In the spirit of nationhood and patriotism, we want to kindly appeal to you all to let by gone be by gone and forge a new page in our nation’s history.

“For all the traffic officers who are still feeling hurt, we the road users, both motorists and commuters, say sorry for the actions of the hoodlums as we hope that such hoodlums will be brought to justice soon.”

He also condemned the burning of public facilities by the hoodlums, particularly mass transit buses and called for investigation into the matter, even as he advised

memebers of the public to rather safeguard public facilities because they were for their good.

However, Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Administration Traffic Management Team, Comrade Ikharo Attah, revealed that traffic management personnel from in FCT remained on the road, doing their routine job during the EndSARS protest, until it was high jacked by hoodlums when the officers had to seek their safety, leaving the roads blocked and unsafe for the public.

Ikharo therefore frowned at a situation where traffic personnel were attacked by hoodlums and the people were cheering them up, instead of appealing to them to

stop the act, adding that they were “our brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, and have families, so did not deserve to be attacked in that manner.’

“We are very keen and determined to return to the roads, because we want to be on the road and do our routine job. We don’t want to die. When people are stirred up against us, we get scared.

The public should support us.”

He equally promised to report to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on the appeal from road users for traffic officers to return to the roads because “We all want to get to our destinations on time but not to be held up traffic for hours.”

L-R: Arise Women convener, Dr Suu Ilumoyede; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and others, during the Arise Women International Conference themed “Deeply Rooted”, on Saturday n Lagos. Photo; NAN

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (middle) with FCT Christian leaders following an emergency FCT Security Committee meeting in Abuja yesterday.

Photo; Mahmud Isa

LG to expand company's presence in Middle East, Africa HVAC Industry

By Etuka Sunday

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senior executive at LG Electronics communicated the company’s intention to expand the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa HVAC industry.

At a virtual conference yesterday, the head of LG’s Air Solution business division explained LG’s brand philosophy to become a trusted partner in the region based on the values of integration, expertise, and commitment as well as a new portfolio of air purification solution products for residential, office and commercial environments.

“Most people may think of LG as a washing machine and refrigerator brand but we provide solutions in many sectors that consumers don’t see,” remarked Dr. Lee Kam-gyu, head of LG’s Air Solution business unit. “LG is constantly investing in capabilities to raise the

trust of our customers and we will reinforce this commitment through better integrated solutions, expert insights and more dedicated support to become a trusted partner for HVAC in the region.”

Since the pandemic outbreak and the increasing time spent indoors, concerns over indoor air quality have grown. Needs for high quality HVAC and air management solutions have increased due to the pandemic with LG’s products – which not only meet but surpass guidelines for clean air in the region – seeing unexpected demand.

To further raise the value for MEA customers and enhance the level of trust in the brand, LG is focusing on its three core values of integration, expertise and commitment. As an integrator, LG will deliver even more optimized HVAC and energy management solutions for each and every project to achieve the minimal total cost of

ownership (TCO) for its clients.

With its deep expertise, LG will advise its customers with its technological experiencebased knowledge to find the most effective and efficient solution to any problem. And as a committed partner, LG promises to go beyond the installation of its solutions to service, maintain and help manage its products through the system’s lifecycle.

James Lee, president of LG Middle East and Africa, reinforced LG’s experience and commitment in the Middle East and Africa. “The key reason behind our success in this region to date is our commitment to understand and respond to the real needs of the MEA market,” said Lee. “Expanding beyond this will require significantly more technology, more innovation and especially more customer service.”

Consistent with this strategy, LG has introduced products and solutions in the

region that are designed to deliver the best technology that the company as to offer. For example, a new, ceiling-based DUAL Vane Cassette lineup boasts a powerful five-step air purification process that is seamlessly designed into the unit itself.

With its new air purification-inclusive design, this advanced product delivers various airflow modes that are optimally customized for all spaces, delivering clean, filtered air to its indoor destination. What’s more, LG’s innovative Round Cassette for commercial spaces not only provides a luxurious design that makes a space look more inviting, it also covers large areas with flexible airflow compared to conventional 4-Way cassette. Its increased airflow and detailed wind direction makes it possible for its cool breeze to spread widely and evenly.

FCT Christian leaders pledge commitment to peace

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n furtherance of ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the aftermath of the mayhem that followed the EndSARS protest, Christian leaders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have declared commitment to the promotion and sustenance of peace in the Territory.

A statement from the Office of the FCT Administration’s Chief Press Secretary, disclosed that the religious leaders’ assertion was one of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders meeting held with leaders of the Christian Community, Friday last week, in Abuja.

According to the statement signed and made available

yesterday by the FCTA’ Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the clergymen also pledged to explore the power of the pulpit to encourage their congregants to maintain peaceful co-existence with followers of other faiths in the FCT. It reads: “The meeting which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello had in attendance the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Samson Jonah, the State House Chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo and heads of the various Christian denominations in the FCT. “Also at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary FCTA Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam

Bashir Mai-Bornu the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, the representative of the FCT Commissioner of Police, ACP Nendel Gomwalk, the State Director of the DSS and relevant senior staff of the FCTA. The Christian leaders noted that the FCT has always been a home to all Nigerians where residents can practice their faith without hindrance and stated that nothing should be allowed to overturn this situation.

“The Christian leaders also condemned the wanton destruction of property which occurred in the wake of the ENDSARS protests and stated unequivocally that the demonstrations should be halted as the Federal Government had acceded to the five demands of the

youths and requested that they eschew violence in any form.

“They also commended the FCT Administration for the proactive steps it took in ensuring that the demonstrations did not degenerate into ethno-religious crises and commended the FCT Minister for the on-the-spot assessment tours and visits to the damaged and looted business premises.”

It continues: “The religious leaders were also informed that the Presidential Panel of Inquiry on the disbanded SARS would receive complaints from the FCT. Residents are enjoined to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the panel.

“The religious leaders expressed regret that the agricultural inputs stored by the

FCTA Agric Secretariat intended for dry season farming were also looted and vandalized.

“On the issue of community policing, the religious leaders were also informed that 2500 special constabularies have been recruited for which they expressed satisfaction and commended the FCTA and FCT police command.

“The meeting noted that it was essential that efforts are made to understand the nation’s youthful population so as to engage with them. “ The meeting also called for an early resolution of the ongoing ASUU strike so that students can go back to school. The Christian leaders appealed for immediate and long term plans to check youth unemployment.”

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international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Turkey earthquake: Search efforts continue for third day as death toll rises

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escue teams in the Turkish port city of Izmir are continuing to search for survivors of Friday’s powerful earthquake, as officials say the death toll has increased to at least 64.

Sixty-two deaths have been confirmed in Turkey, while two teenagers died on the Greek island of Samos.

Dozens of people remain unaccounted for following the quake.

A 70-year-old man was pulled from the rubble of a building in Izmir after being trapped for some 33 hours.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said Friday’s quake was 7.0 magnitude, but Turkey put it lower at 6.6.

The shallow tremor triggered tidal waves that hit coastal areas and islands in both Turkey and Greece.

What’s the latest?

Rescue teams were searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings in western Turkey for a third day on Sunday, hoping to find survivors.

Thousands of personnel were deployed to help with the rescue efforts, using mechanical diggers to remove blocks of concrete.

A 70-year-old man, identified as Ahmet Citim, was pulled out from beneath the rubble of a destroyed residential building in Izmir in the early hours of Sunday morning and taken to hospital.

Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca visited Mr Citim in hospital, and said he was doing well.

Later on Sunday, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency

IBuildings were damaged and destroyed in Friday’s earthquake (AFAD) announced the new national death toll of 62, all in Izmir.

It said more than 900 people had been injured, though the majority have now been discharged from hospitals.

Eight people are reported to be in intensive care.

Food was distributed among survivors and thousands of tents set up for those unable to return to their homes.

Vice-President Fuat Oktay said 26 badly damaged buildings would be demolished.

“It’s not the earthquake that kills but buildings,” he told reporters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government was “determined to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Izmir before the cold and rains begin”.

What happened on Friday?

The earthquake struck 14km (nine miles) off the Greek town of Karlovasi on Samos island at 13:51 local time (11:51 GMT), according to the USGS. It said the quake - which was felt as far away as Athens and Istanbul - struck at a depth of 21km (13 miles), although Turkish officials said it was 16km below ground.

Most of the damage occurred in Izmir, off Turkey’s Aegean coast - where the tremor sent many people running out into the streets in fear and panic.

“It was a really strong shaker almost enough to knock you off your feet. Running out of the house with my children was like a drunken wobble,” Chris Bedford, a retired British teacher who lives in Urla, west of Izmir, told the BBC. There were reports of flooding in Izmir after the sea level rose, with one person killed after their wheelchair was hit and overturned by rising water.

Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city with a population of nearly three million.

Turkey and Greece both sit on fault lines and earthquakes are common.

What about Greece?

Two teenagers were killed when a wall collapsed on Samos. Eight people were injured across the island, where about 45,000 people reside.

A mini-tsunami flooded the port of Samos and a number of buildings were damaged. Greek officials put the magnitude of the tremor at 6.7.

“We felt it very strongly,” local journalist Manos Stefanakis told the BBC. Fareid Atta, another Samos-based journalist, told the BBC that the damage was “quite extensive along the seafront” of the island’s main town.

“Many businesses will be going under after this,” he said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered his condolences to Mr Erdogan.

Typhoon Goni: Philippines hit by year’s most powerful storm

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yphoon Goni is barrelling across the Philippines, bringing with it “catastrophic” winds and rain.

At least seven people have died amid reports of storm surges, flash floods, power outages and blown-off roofs.

Goni made landfall as a super typhoon at Catanduanes island on Sunday at 04:50 local time (19:50 GMT Saturday) packing winds of 225km/h (140mph).

It has since weakened, but is still wreaking damage across the main Luzon island, home to the capital Manila.

Mark Timbal of the Philippines’ national disaster agency said that 19 million people may have been affected by the path of Goni. “This 19 million already includes the populations in danger zones for landslides, flooding, storm surges and even a lava flow,” he told the BBC. Goni - known as Rolly in the Philippines is the most powerful storm to hit the country since Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in 2013.

What do we know of the damage so far?

The BBC’s Howard Johnson in Manila says there is concern for the small town of Virac on Catanduanes island, home to some 70,000, where contact has been lost since Goni made landfall.

Video footage showed storm surges through coastal towns, and local governors spoke of power supply outages, roofs torn off evacuation centres, damage to infrastructure,

Typhoon Molave barrelled through the same region last week.

But this year preparations have been complicated by the Covid-19 virus, which has already caused 380,739 infections and led to 7,221 deaths in the Philippines.

Some 347,000 people were evacuated, civil defence chief Ricardo Jalad said - revising down the one million figure he mentioned ahead of the storm.

Gyms and schools have been converted into covid-secure emergency shelters for people

Power lines have been brought down by the storm flash flooding and blocked roads.

Seven people, including a five-year-old child in Albay province, are reported to have died; two drowned, another was swept away by volcanic mud and another killed by a falling tree.

“The winds are fierce. We can hear the trees being pummelled. It’s very strong,” Francia Mae Borras, 21, told AFP from her home in Albay’s coastal city of Legazpi.

Forecasters on Sunday morning had warned of “catastrophic violent winds and intense to torrential rainfall” as Goni made landfall in eastern Luzon.

By Sunday evening, Goni was moving westward at 25km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 125km/h, forecasters said.

How did the Philippines prepare?

The Philippines is used to powerful storms - it is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons a year and lost 22 people when

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

Coronavirus patients being treated in isolation tents had been evacuated, officials said.

Ports and airports were shut, and schools, gyms and government-run evacuation centres were being used for covid-secure emergency shelters.

“Evacuating people is more difficult at this time because of Covid-19,” Bicol regional civil defence spokesman Alexis Naz told AFP on Saturday.

Relief goods, heavy machinery and personal protective equipment were being moved into areas of need, but a local mayor in Quezon province said the pandemic had depleted their funds for disaster emergencies.

The Red Cross said it had also put emergency response teams, first aid, hygiene kits and other relief supplies in position ahead of the storm’s arrival. Source: BBC

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Ivory Coast election: Opposition demands ‘civil transition’ O pposition leaders in Ivory Coast are demanding a “civil transition”, following Saturday’s presidential poll that their parties boycotted.

Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Henri Konan Bédié say it was illegal for President Alassane Ouattara to stand for a third term as it broke rules on term limits.

But the president’s supporters dispute this, citing a constitutional change in 2016 which they say means his first term effectively did not count.

Vote counting is still under way.

At least 16 people have been killed since riots broke out in August after President Ouattara said he would run again following the sudden death of his preferred successor.

At least two people were killed during Saturday’s vote.

Key opposition figures are urging mass protests to block what they describe as a “dictatorship”.

Mr N’Guessan said on Sunday: “Opposition parties and political groups call for the start of a civil transition.” “[We] note the end of President Alassane Ouattara’s mandate on 31 October and call on the international community to take note,” he added, saying a civil transition was needed to “create the conditions for a fair, transparent and inclusive election.”

Several polling stations were ransacked in opposition strongholds on Saturday and election materials were burned.

In the eastern town of Daoukro, protesters erected roadblocks. Meanwhile tear gas was used to push away demonstrators who gathered close to where the president cast

his ballot in the main city, Abidjan.

At least two monitors from the independent election group Indigo Côte d’Ivoire were attacked, the Washington Post reports. It quotes the group as saying 21% of polling stations were closed during the day.

But the electoral commission head called the disturbances on Saturday “minimal”, saying they “only affected 50 polling stations out of 22,381”.

Some 35,000 security officers were deployed across the country to transport election materials and ensure safety, the security minister said.

After voting in Abidjan on Saturday, Mr Ouattara called for an end to the protests.

“I call on those who called for civil disobedience, which led to the loss of life, to stop,” he said.

“They should stop because Ivory Coast needs peace, these are criminal acts and we hope that all this can stop, so that after the election this country may continue on its course of progress, which it has enjoyed over the last few years.”

Why is it so controversial?

According to the constitution, Ivory Coast has a two-term presidential limit.

Mr Ouattara - who has been elected twice initially said he would stand down.

But, in July, the ruling party’s previous presidential nominee, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, died of a heart attack.

Mr Ouattara subsequently announced that he would run for president after all.

His supporters argued that a constitutional change in 2016 reset the clock and that his first term did not count.

His opponents do not share that view, arguing instead that it is illegal for Mr Ouattara to run for a third term.

What’s the background to the tension?

There has been a decades-long quarrel between some of the country’s leading political figures.

In 2010, Laurent Gbagbo, who was president at the time, refused to concede to Mr Ouattara following the election that year.

This sparked a bitter civil war.

More than 3,000 people were killed in the five months of violence.

Mr Gbagbo also put himself forward to stand in this year’s election but the electoral commission blocked him because he had been convicted in the Ivorian courts.

He was one of nearly 40 potential candidates who were turned down by the commission.

Who are the four presidential candidates?

• Alassane Ouattara, 78, economist.

Became president in 2011, serving his second term after years in opposition. Party: Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) • Henri Konan Bédié, 86, career politician. Served as president between 1993 and 1999, deposed in coup. Party: Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PCDI) • Pascal Affi N’Guessan, 67, career politician. Served as prime minister between 2000 and 2003 under then-President Laurent Gbagbo. Party: Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) faction • Kouadio Konan Bertin, 51, career politician, known as KKB, was once youth leader in the former ruling Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, is now an MP. Independent candidate

Algeria referendum: A vote ‘to end years of deviousness’

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lgerians are voting in a referendum that is meant to cement changes made possible after long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign last year.

But opponents say it falls short of fundamental reform.

The referendum’s timing is auspicious.

It falls on 1 November - the anniversary of the start of Algeria’s war of independence against France back in 1954, a date today’s government chose for its symbolism.

It also comes though as Algeria’s president has been flown to Germany for medical care.

The cause of his ill health has not been disclosed, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had self-isolated and spent time in a military hospital in Algiers after a number of his aides and colleagues contracted coronavirus.

Algerians are voting on presidential term limits and creating a new anti-corruption body.

To win the referendum, either the “yes” or “no” camp needs at least 51% of the vote.

Results are to be announced on Monday.

Why now?

President Tebboune, 74, came to power last year in a controversial election that followed the departure of Mr Bouteflika, who resigned in the face of massive popular protests against his bid for a fifth term in office.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 74, has been flown abroad for medical treatment Mr Tebboune’s election campaign saw him vow to “lay the foundations of a new Algeria”.

He pledged an end to what he calls the practices of the “gang” of politicians and businessmen in President Bouteflika’s inner circle.

Ultimately this new government is

answerable to the demands of the huge popular movement, or Hirak, to reform the political system. And doing this has required redrafting Algeria’s constitution.

What are the key changes?

Algeria will go back to allowing its presidents a maximum of two terms in office, if the constitutional amendments are approved in Sunday’s referendum.

The law had been changed under President Bouteflika in 2008 so he could run for a third term in power.

MPs would also serve for a maximum of two terms.

The proposed creation of a corruptionbusting unit is a direct response to the major concern that caused popular anger and sparked the massive protests which led Mr Bouteflika to resign.

And the new constitution would oblige public institutions to guarantee the freedom of press.

What does the government say?

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said the new constitution “will put our country on the right path after years of deviousness mainly during the recent years under the gang”, referring to Mr Bouteflika’s ruling clique.

He insisted during the referendum campaign that the constitutional amendments were designed to meet the demands of the Hirak popular movement that “toppled the corrupt regime”, and to reinforce the “separation of powers”.

How about its critics?

The referendum is an attempt to “suppress” the protest movement and “turn the page” with a constitutional “quick fix” that Hirak has never claimed, says former judgeturned-opposition leader Zoubida Assoul.

Political scientist Prof Louisa Dris-Ait Hammadouche says that the authorities missed an opportunity to involve current

Mass protests against ex-President Bouteflika rocked Algeria last year Hirak members in drafting the amendments and thereby confer legitimacy on the new constitution.

Only former protest members were brought on board - the so-called “original Hirak” who withdrew once elections took place last year, seemingly appeased by a new government.

What happened during campaigning?

Campaigning played out mostly on TV, radio and social media because of coronavirus restrictions.

But there was some dismay and criticism when Youth and Sports Minister Sid Ali Khaldi said people who “reject the new constitution [should] leave the country”.

Comments by another pro-change politician were called “laughable”.

Religious Affairs Minister Youcef Belmehdi described voting in favour of new constitution as an act of commitment to follow the teachings of the prophet of Islam.

Who are the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps?

The two largest parties in parliament the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the

National Democratic Rally (RND) - have both campaigned and called for a “yes” vote in the referendum. They are also supported by smaller parties.

The FLN and the RND are both under new leadership. Former RND leader and exPrime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia was jailed for corruption, together with former cabinet ministers and senior officials of both parties.

Opposition has come from across the political spectrum.

Although Hirak does not not have a formalised leader, many protesters oppose the referendum because they say it does not deliver “real change” and have been calling on social media for “all the political elite” associated with the ousted president to be kicked out.

The major Islamic parties - including the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), the Movement for Justice and Development and the Nahda movement - have dubbed the proposed constitutional amendments as “against the Islamic values of the Algerian society”, and back a “no” vote. Source: BBC

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Qatar to prosecute officials over forced US alters passport exams of women at airport

ruling for Jerusalem

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atar says several airport officials have been referred for prosecution after forced gynaecological exams were carried out on women flying to Sydney.

The group - which included women from Australia, the UK and New Zealand - was checked for evidence they had recently given birth after a baby was found in a bin at Doha airport on 2 October.

Qatar’s government said on Friday that “standard procedures were violated”.

It also offered its “sincerest apology” for what the women went through.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called the referrals for prosecution an “important step”.

“The statement of the government of Qatar is consistent with our expectations for contrition, accountability and determination to avoid any repeat of this disturbing episode,” she said.

The incident came to light earlier this week after some of the Australian passengers spoke out and

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Female passengers were forced to disembark a Sydneybound Qatar Airways flight foreign governments said they were appalled.

The women said they were ordered to disembark the Sydneybound Qatar Airways flight at

Hamad International Airport.

They were then taken to ambulances on the tarmac and told to remove their underwear before being examined.

The women said they were given

no information by officials and that they did not have an opportunity to provide informed consent.

Female passengers on nine other flights were also reportedly examined.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: UK expresses ‘grave concern’ over fresh court proceedings

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he Iranian ambassador has been told of the UK’s “grave concern” at a move to bring fresh court proceedings against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

The British-Iranian, under house arrest in Tehran since being moved from jail in March, has been summoned to court next Monday and told to expect to return to prison, her husband has said.

The charity worker is nearing the end of her current five-year sentence after being jailed on spying charges in 2016.

She has always denied the charges. media captionWhy one mother’s personal plight is part of a complicated history between Iran and the UK (video published August 2019 and last updated in October 2019) Iranian Ambassador Hamid Baeidinejad was summoned to the Foreign Office on Thursday, where Thomas Drew, Foreign Office director general for the Middle East, conveyed the UK’s “grave concern” at Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe being recalled to court, a department spokesman said.

In the meeting Mr Drew also called for Iran to end her “arbitrary detention”, the spokesman added.

“We have made it clear to the Iranian ambassador that his country’s treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is unjustified and unacceptable, and is causing an enormous amount of distress,” the spokesman said.

“Iran is further tarnishing its

Sudan is the fifth Arab country to officially recognise Israel reputation through its actions towards Nazanin.

“It is time to end her arbitrary detention and that of the other dual British nationals it is holding.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 42, was arrested in April 2016 while travelling to visit her parents with her young British-born daughter, Gabriella.

The dual national was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies. Prior to her arrest, she lived in London with her husband,

Richard Ratcliffe, and child.

She was allowed to leave prison in March due to the coronavirus pandemic but remains under house arrest.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with her daughter Gabriella during a temporary release from prison in August 2018 In September, she was told she would face a new trial, only months from her expected release date.

Mr Ratcliffe said it would hear charges of spreading antigovernment propaganda.

This case was previously

dropped by officials in December 2017, after a visit from the then foreign secretary Boris Johnson, but was reopened in May 2018.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family and the UK government have always maintained her innocence and she has been given diplomatic protection by the Foreign Office - meaning the case is treated as a formal, legal dispute between Britain and Iran.

Mr Ratcliffe believes his wife and other dual nationals are being held hostage because Iran wants the UK to pay a decades-old debt over an arms deal that was never fulfilled.

mericans born in Jerusalem can declare Israel as their country of birth in US passports, the Trump administration says, in a reversal of US policy.

Before now, Jerusalem was identified without a country because of its contentious status as Israel’s self-declared capital.

The latest move further cements Donald Trump’s 2017 recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the entire city.

Palestinians claim the occupied East as the capital of a hoped-for state.

President Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital broke with decades of US policy and was met with outrage across the Arab world.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and later effectively annexed it in a move not recognised internationally.

The fate of the city is one of the most heated issues between Israel and the Palestinians, with both sides having agreed to negotiate over it in the last stage of peace talks.

More than 25 years of on-off peace talks have never reached that stage.

The issue of whether Jerusalemborn Americans had the right to declare Israel as their country of birth on their passports reached the US Supreme Court in 2015. It ruled that it was not permissible, saying only the president had the right to effect the change.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the new position on Twitter: The latest move comes a week before the US elections, in which Republican Donald Trump is standing against Democrat Joe Biden.

Mr Biden has said he disapproves of the relocation by the US of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 but says he will not reverse the step.

The Palestinians have accused President Trump of bias towards Israel and froze relations with his administration in response to his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

In January, Mr Trump unveiled a roadmap for peace between Israel and the Palestinians which did not advocate a two-state solution - a formula supported by the international community which envisages an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel.

Mr Biden has said a two-state solution should remain on the table.

This week, a poll of Arabs in 18 countries across the Middle East and North Africa suggested neither Mr Trump nor Mr Biden were considered good for the region, though most respondents favoured a Biden presidency.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

Education

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FG feeding about 300,000 pupils in Zamfara – Minister Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

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total of 282,529 pupils are currently being fed under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Zamfara, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya-Umar Faruk, has said.

The minister made the disclosure at a town hall meeting in Gusau .

She said the scheme was being carried out in 1,759 schools spread across the 14 local government areas of the state.

Faruk added that 2,000 cooks were employed in the state to provide food to the pupils.

On the town hall meeting, the minister explained that it was to identify, articulate and derive solutions to the humanitarian and Maryam Abeeb

S

weden has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen bilateral relations with Nigeria on innovative education technology to promote effective teaching and learning.

Gràns Carl-Michael, Sweden Ambassador to Nigeria, made this known in an interview with newmen, on sidelines of the inauguration of ‘SchoolTry’, in Abuja.

SchoolTry is a Swedish Education Technology company in Nigeria.

According to him, Sweden is seeking opportunities that will increase the trade relations and volumes between it and Nigeria, hence the establishment of the SchoolTry educational platform.

“Sweden works with different projects regarding digitisation that is a huge challenge for many countries, including Sweden and of course Nigeria because of its populations.

“What I learnt about SchoolTry founded by a Nigerian in Sweden working with education and e-learning is that it will be interesting for Nigeria.

“Education is a national responsibility for Nigeria as it is for Sweden. I think e-learning is for the future and it is developing very fast.

“So, we can just guess what comes in five or 10 years, when it comes to digital learning, I think this is an area we can cooperate and proffer solutions to educational challenges as well.

“It is obvious that Nigeria has challenges when it comes to the big population and granting education to the entire population, which is the heart of the populace,” he said.

Carl-Michael said that the digitisation of the education sector of the country was key in creating a platform for solutions to the challenges often faced.

He said for Nigeria’s economy to grow in line with its population size, there was the need to engage people on digitization as blueprint to achieve meaningful growth.

Mr Hassan Imam, the Executive

developmental challenges in the state.

“It must be noted that the COVID-19 lockdown, ongoing activities of armed bandits and the flooding experienced across the North West has led to the displacement of over 247,000 persons across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi.

“This has impacted on the economic and agricultural activities in Zamfara State, thereby, creating social and economic vulnerabilities.

“This Townhall meeting is significant, as it will allow us to collectively communicate, identify, articulate and derive solutions to the humanitarian and developmental challenges that have arisen in Zamfara State from banditry, extreme weather conditions and the COVID – 19 pandemic,” she said.

Faruk commended the commitment of Zamfara government in addressing the challenges of economic vulnerability, and pledged that her ministry will continue to partner with the state to implement humanitarian, social inclusion and protection measures.

According to her, the Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) programme had provided loans to 48,503 individuals in Zamfara.

She also said that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme has impacted positively on the lives of over 6.44 million vulnerable poor people across the country, including Zamfara.

“Beneficiaries enrolled into the program increased from 630,964 Poor and Vulnerable Households with direct household beneficiaries

of 3,201,402 as at August 2019, to 1,289,405 Poor and Vulnerable Households with 6,443,878 direct households beneficiaries as at August 2020.

“Number of beneficiaries receiving payment increased from 469,362 households in 22 states to over one million in 34 states.

“The CCT is providing support to 129,137 poor and vulnerable households in Zamfara with a monthly base cash transfer of N5,000, with the sole aim of graduating them out of poverty,” she said.

Gov. Bello Matawalle, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Maru, appealed to the federal government to fulfill its earlier promise of providing N10 billion to support victims of flood and armed

banditry in the state.

Matawalle also appealed to the federal government to reconstruct the Dansadau-Birnin Gwari-Minna federal road, which went through Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states.

The governor explained that the reconstruction of the road will aid the fight against banditry in the state.

He called for synergy between the state government and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to form a joint team for distribution of support materials to deserving persons.

Also in his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad appealed to the federal government to provide assistance to displaced person and families affected by banditry.

Sweden reaffirms commitment to partner Nigeria on Education Technology Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, North Directorate said that the financial institution would partner with SchoolTry to promote growth in the education sector.

According to him, partnership with SchoolTry will boost quality education in Nigeria, which is what has been brought to the table.

“Digital education solution is what is needed to enhance quality of education and we at Fidelity Bank are partnering with them.

“We have provided the payment

solution using paygate and equally supporting some of our partners, so they are up and running.

“I want to introduce the solution to both private and public schools in Nigeria because it has captured everything needed on e-learning, covered from curriculum to teachers’ engagement and all other aspects.

“It is something that will enhance quality of education in this country,” Imam said.

He described education as one of the focal points of the bank,

saying “it is something that has been happening before now and therefore will key into SchoolTry for benefit of Nigerians.’’

Meanwhile, Mr Ismail Eleburuike, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SchoolTry said that the initiative started in 2018.

According to him, the innovation began two years ago and the organisation has considered different sectors as a means to bring about national development.

“This is why we try to use

technology to be able to transform the education sector in Africa and starting with Nigeria.

“We looked inward and have seen that a large percentage of students who are not in school can adopt this initiative because they sure are more than those of elite schools.

“This is the reason we employed digital education learning platform for both the poor and the rich to be able to transform education system in Africa as a whole,” Eleburuike said.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu (middle), flanked by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sunny Echono (left) and the Registrar and Chief Executive, National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Godswill Obioma, during the monitoring of the NECO entrance Examination into Federal Government colleges at the Government Secondary School Wuze 3, recently in Abuja. Photo; Justin Imo-owo

Infrastructure, power challenges, affects E-learning in Nigeria -Minister Maryam Abeeb

T

he National Universities Commission (NUC) has restated the country cannot operate 100 per cent e-learning due to challenges of infrastructure, power, and internet access.

NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, also expressed the commission’s concern over

integrity issues surrounding the operation of the mode of learning in the country.

He said that e-learning must pass the integrity test before being fully embraced, adding that the commission wants to ensure that when there is e-learning in place, it would be run in such a manner that every student is accounted for.

“We need to sit down and articulate the requirements for e-learning: materials, men and

women, infrastructure; what should we put in place, how should we proceed; we can’t do e-learning today in Nigeria. What we can do is blended learning.

“Anybody who is making noise that e-learning must start tomorrow is either mischievous or ignorant. If he knows what e-learning entails, no one can decree e-learning in Nigeria before the end of this year.

“We need to plan; we need to invest; we need to train. After

putting all the infrastructures in place, we need training of teachers. You must get them to have a mind-set shift,” he said.

Raymond-Yusuf added that private open universities will come on board when all stakeholders are satisfied that the country has what it takes to guarantee quality and integrity of the e-learning programme, in order not create a window for the proliferation of worthless certificates under e-learning.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

Feature

CLASSIFIED

Seychelles elections: How a priest rose to become president

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n his sixth attempt Wavel Ramkalawan, an Anglican cleric, has become Seychelles’ president ending decades in opposition, but as Tim Ecott reports from the Indian Ocean archipelago - he now has to bring the country together.

“After 43 years we have regained democracy. The road has been long and now we will reap its rewards.”

There was only the merest hint of triumphalism in President Wavel Ramkalawan’s acceptance speech as he addressed an audience of invited dignitaries assembled in the manicured grounds of State House.

His election marks a seismic change for the islands, where the presidency has been dominated by one party since 1977.

In front of the grand Victorian colonial mansion and accompanied by a military guard of honour, the 58-year-old was sworn in by the chief justice on Monday.

The new president is an ordained Anglican minister, and not surprisingly his overall message was one of peace, tolerance and an appeal for all Seychellois to work together for national unity, and to overcome the divisions of so many years of political wrangling.

Thanking outgoing President Danny Faure for keeping political dialogue open over the past few years, Mr Ramkalawan stressed the need for tolerance among the Seychellois people and appealed for what he called a return to civility, to a society where everyone says good morning to one another and where racial and social differences are put aside.

“Seychelles,” said the new president, “should be an example of tolerance for the whole world. We are 115 small islands in the Indian Ocean, but we are not insular.

“We will maintain friendly relations with all nations, and welcome help and assistance from our international allies whomsoever they may be.”

Behind the Christian sentiments expressed by the new president there is also political steel.

‘Pulpit politician’ This was his sixth attempt at the presidency, a journey that began when he first contested the role in 1998.

He had entered politics several

years earlier, and was criticised by the government for making what they saw as political statements from the pulpit during the one-party state era.

He had come tantalising close to winning the presidency several times, and in 2015 lost to James Michel by only 193 votes in a second round of voting.

Referring to the years in opposition, and his five previous defeats in presidential elections Mr Ramkalawan quoted Nelson Mandela: “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”

In spite of the positive messages in his inaugural address, there is no doubting the divisions within Seychellois society.

It is precisely 43 years since the islands were subjected to a violent coup by Albert René, who overthrew the democratically elected government of James Mancham, the man who had led the islands to independence from the UK in 1976.

Amid his appeals for peace and harmony, President Ramkalawan pointedly paid homage to Gerard Hoarau, an opponent of René assassinated in London in 1985, and whose killers have never been identified.

Hoarau was not the only person who died or disappeared during the one-party era that lasted from 1977 to 1991.

Many of the crimes committed during that period were exposed publicly during recent Truth and Reconciliation hearings in Seychelles.

There is no doubt that those revelations harmed the chances of Mr Faure and his United Seychelles party in these elections.

United Seychelles is the current name of the former Seychelles People’s Progressive Front, which was in power when René so ruthlessly imprisoned and persecuted his political opponents.

For all its convoluted political history in the decades since independence, the 97,000-strong population of Seychelles now faces very big challenges.

The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with around 350,000 annual visitors accounting for 65% of GDP. Covid-19 has reduced tourist arrivals to a tiny trickle, and the economy has already shrunk by

around 14%.

In addition, local nongovernmental organisations estimate that approximately 10% of the working population, some 6,000 people, are addicted to heroin, and many are reliant on the government’s methadone rehabilitation programme.

As well as winning the presidency, Mr Ramkalawan’s party, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), has also won a convincing majority in the islands’ national assembly.

They will have 25 seats to the United Seychelles’ 10.

However, the president warned his parliamentarians not to become complacent.

“Just because we have won, we can’t sit back,” he said. “We need to carry on working hard, delivering

Opposition supporters came out to celebrate the victory at the weekend what our people deserve.”

One of the subtexts of Mr Ramkalawan’s inaugural address is that the LDS will need to unravel decades of inefficiency, corruption and cronyism within the civil service and public administration of Seychelles.

He has promised that under his presidency “no-one will be above the law”.

Even though the one-party state was dismantled more than 25 years ago, a small number of educated Seychellois have tended to occupy key positions and appointments have been handed out based on party

loyalty rather than competence.

Internationally, the new president is likely to also face challenges negotiating the tricky geopolitical order of the Indian Ocean.

Just a day before the elections he reiterated that the islands’ sovereignty was not for sale.

India-China rivalry He was referring to a deal made

by President Faure to cede control of a remote island to the Indian Navy as a base.

Mr Ramkalawan is adamant this will not go ahead.

However, in recent years the region has been the scene of diplomatic rivalry between India and

“

For all its convoluted political history in the decades since independence, the 97,000-strong population of Seychelles now faces very big challenges.

PAGE 27

China.

India had hoped to use the Seychelles’ island of Assumption to rival China’s military base in Djibouti.

Both China and India have made significant donations to Seychelles, although the most generous donor is the United Arabs Emirates - especially Abu Dhabi.

However, fresh diplomatic overtures towards President Ramkalawan from India are highly likely, especially since he had a grandfather who emigrated to Seychelles from the Indian state of Bihar.

The LDS victory has been received peacefully in Seychelles, and most people believe that it is time for a new philosophy at State House.

President Ramkalawan stated clearly that his wish was for national reconciliation and for all parties to join in helping young people secure a better future.

“Whatever our party,” he said, “we must now concentrate on being Seychellois together.”

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

CLASSIFIED AGBO

BASHIR

SA’ADU

I, formerly known as AMEH JOY ROCKLYN now wishes to be known and called AGBO JOY ROCKLYN. All former document remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I formally known and address as BAWO USMAN BASHIR now wish to be known and address as BASHIR USMAN BAWO. All former documents remain valid The General public should please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IDRIS SAIDU MALLAM NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SA'ADU IDRIS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAINS VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

PAGE 28

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

monday, november 2, 2020

FOSLA Academy holds 7th graduation ceremony in grand style

By Amaechi Agbo

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igeria’s Premium Independent Football Academy, FOSLA Academy held her 7th graduation ceremony at the academy’s headquarters in Karshi, Abuja on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

A total of 28 students were on parade for the ceremony made up of JS 3 students who are stepping into the senior class as well as SS 3 students who are biding the school farewell after spending six years in the school where they have been modelled and nurtured both in academic work and moral values.

In her welcome address, the principal of the school, Ms Ebhodaghe Josephine enumerated the strides the school recorded within the academic year to include how the management of the school made best use of the Covid-19 lockdown to hold e-learning for the students at no cost.

While noting that a total of 28 students were honoured in the ceremony in which deserving students received various awards for their excellent performances socially, academically and character-wise, she described the period of the covid-19 lockdown “as strange” that the school, like every other sector in the country, was impacted greatly as the smooth running of the day-to-day activities of the school were hampered.

While thanking the graduating students for their exemplary life in the school, she encouraged them to be worthy ambassadors of the academy.

“It is a great delight to welcome you to this 7th graduation ceremony of 28 students who have completed their three and six years course and are taking the bold step of moving into the ever-demanding society for the actualization of their divine talents.

“To be frank, this session has been strange and tasking owing to the emergence of the deadly coronavirus, COVID-19 which impacted on the day-to-day activities in which educational institutions are used to but in all, we have been able to pull through due to timely advice and prayers which acted as support and has led us this far.

“The school, FOSLA Academy, started this journey to greatness with 23 students in the 2011and in the year 2017 graduated its first graduands who have gone on to excel in their respective endeavours within and in diaspora having taken in moral values, academic resourcefulness, and an innate ambition to be the best in the world,” she said.

She enumerated achievements the school recorded within the session (20192020) to include adaption and embarking on e-learning during the pandemic to

The graduating students in gown during the celebration on Saturday ensure students were active academically during the six months national lockdown which was at no cost; enhanced motivation and timely intervention during the pandemic carried out in order to put members of the staff in the right frame of mind; a student of the school (Derrick Kalu) emerging first in a national essay competition (senior category) organised by System Specs during the 2020 Children’s Day celebration in May. Others are: success in all external examinations put in for the students; running the academy in spite of the obvious challenge posed by the pandemic; construction of an athletic track in the academy to host standard athletic needs; creation of FOSLA Football Club, FFC to serve as the bedrock of the FOSLA DREAM as well as the construction of a standard stadium to cater for the FOSLA Football Club, FCT Football development, etc.

Highlights of the ceremony was the presentations of awards to deserving students of the academy with a total of 20 students all making it to the podium.

Abdulkadir Muhammed got award as the best student in JS 1 while Alfa Benjamin got same award for JS 2 class. Ezike Kingsley was awarded the best academics in JS 3 just as Derrick Kalu emerged the best student in his class, SS 1.

In SS 2, the award of best student went to Emmanuel Yakubu just as the school

Head Boy, Bulus Yusuf was recognised as the best student in SS 3.

In terms of character, other students were also recognised in this category. Attah David was awarded the honour as the bestbehaved student in JS 1 whereas same position went to Attah Samuel in JS 2 just as that of JS 3 best-behaved student award went to Tukura Joel.

In the senior class, Samuel Abdul got the award for SS 1, Janet Bawa for SS 2 and Habib Kazeem for SS 3.

Awards were also presented to deserving players of the academy with Ubebe Silas being crowned as the Most Valuable Player, MVP in the junior category. Aminu Nasiru won the Highest Goal Scorer for the same category while Gabriel Shedrack was recognised as the best goalkeeper for the junior class.

At the senior category, Habib Kazeem emerged the MVP while Highest goal scorer award went to Simeon Zakari.

Peter Emmanuel went home with the best goalkeeper award.

In the female category for the senior class, Bawa Janet collected double awards as she emerged the MVP and Highest goalscorer while Folorunsho Fumilayo emerged best goalkeeper.

In his valedictory speech, the Academy Head Boy, Bulus Ezra Yusuf thanked the management of the school, staff and fellow students for the great sacrifices, love and

support they gave them and promised that they will be good ambassadors of the Academy.

He thanked and appreciated the proprietor of the school, Alhaji Sani Lulu for given them the privilege and opportunity to see through secondary education.

Eminent personalities who graced the occasion include the Paramount ruler of Karshi, the host community of the academy, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed Danladi who is also the Chairman of the school board.

Others are, Group Captain Tanko Adamu, Prince Tanko Suleiman Abubakar, the Galadima of Karshi and a host of others.

The 2020 FOSLA Academy 7th graduation ceremony was celebrated in strict implementation of COVID-9 guidelines as stipulated by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC as hand sanitizers, wearing of face maskuse of temperature check and social distancing were used and observed.

FOSLA Academy was established in 2011 with the aim of giving the less privileged members of the society the opportunity to acquire sound education and at the same time actualize their football talents. Over 75% of the students are on scholarship courtesy of the benevolence and magnanimity of former Nigeria Football President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi.

Hazard scores first goal in more than a year

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, november 2, 2020

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t

Emenalo’s FIBA commences AFROBASKET quest to qualifiers media accreditation become AS Roma Sporting Director hits rock The Federation of International Basketball Associations, FIBA has announced the commencement of media accreditation for the second window of the Afrobasket qualifiers taking place in Rwanda and Egypt between the 23rd of November and 1st of December, 2020 The registration which had since started on Monday will end on Wednesday, 25th of November, 2020 All media interested in attending the qualifiers should apply through the FIBA Media Portal.

All accredited media are expected to fully respect and comply with COVID-19 related guidelines which, among others, may restrict access to certain areas inside the venue.

In some cases, if required by local authorities, the number of media accredited may have to be reduced even after approval, at the discretion of the host.

Guidelines will be forwarded to accredited media following their accreditation approval.

Meanwhile, the remote coverage accreditation has been introduced to cater for journalists who wish to report the event irrespective of their location.

This will allow such reporter(s) to follow the event remotely and have the opportunity to ask questions from players and coaches virtually in the mixed zone and during postmatch press conferences with additional content to support coverage of the event also made available.

Michael Emenalo

A

S Roma have decided against appointing former Nigeria international, Michael Emenalo, as the club’s sporting director.

According to reports from the RomaPress, Dan and Ryan Friedkin, owners of the Serie A club, are still looking to fill the vacant directorial position, but they are no longer interested in offering the job to the former Chelsea and AS Monaco director.

Emenalo, who has been without a club since leaving the Ligue 1 club in 2017, had shown interest in the Roma job after it became public that the Italian giants were looking to make an appointment.

But the club has now reportedly declined his application, preferring instead to pursue other options.

Emenalo is one of Europe’s most celebrated sporting executive, having led Chelsea during their most successful period of the 21st century.

Just a few weeks ago, legendary Arsenal striker Ian Wright recommended the 47-year-old to Manchester United as a worthy replacement for Ed Woodward.

Baskeballers in action The application information submitted is subject to a review process, the availability of space and a security check with all applicants responsible for their travel visa.

Nigeria is grouped alongside hostRwanda, Mali and Algeria in Group D and will

Pinnick Confident he will be on FIFA Council

Amaju Melvin Pinnick

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Super Eagles player tests positive for COVID-19 S uper Eagles goalkeeper invitee, Sebastian Osigwe, has tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus.

His club, FC Lugano confirmed the development in a statement on its website Thursday.

According to the Swiss club, seven other Lugano players also tested positive for virus.

“The management of FC Lugano announces that the tests carried out following the positivity of Mattia Bottani also highlighted the positivity of the goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe,” the statement partly read.

The goalkeeper will now observe the mandatory self-isolation for ten days before he is eligible for another test.

Osigwe was on Thursday selected by team coach Rohr for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying doubleheader against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.

The goalkeeper has made four league appearances for Lugano this season.

Face of Governor Ikpeazu Preseason Tournament Unveiled Y

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resident of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Melvin Pinnick has assured football lovers in the country that a Nigerian will be on the FIFA council executive board.

Amaju revealed that he is making consultations at the moment but confident that a Nigerian must be on the FIFA top council.

“I have consulted and consulted with my families, with my executive committees and I am still consulting and within the next ten days it will be clear but you should understand that it’s not about desperation but about rebuilding, revamping football in Africa, it might not be Amaju Pinnick going for the CAF presidency it might be Amaju Pinnick going for the FIFA council executive board seat but let me assure you, at the end of the election a Nigerian will be at the FIFA council,” he said.

start her race for qualification against Algeria on Friday, 27th of November before taking on the host on Saturday.

D’Tigers will conclude its first round of qualification campaign against West African opposition, Mali on Sunday.

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PAGE 31

oung Erondu Uchendu Chidozie aka Dodosports has been unveiled as the ‘Face’ of the 2020 Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu Preseason Tournament.

The 11-year-old JSS 1 student of the Christian International School, Lekki, Lagos was decorated on Sunday.

According to the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu the lad was picked based on his positive impact in sports development in state.

“At his tender age, the young boy is a very good sports commentator and analyst. He is an encouragement to other young children in the state, and to ensure that they pursue their passion to the fullest. He said that they should know at any point that people are watching”. He said that the boy will be fully involved in the tournament all through.

Young Erondu Uchendu Chidozie aka Dodosports who was decorated with the tournament regalia, promised to make good use of the opportunity to improve on himself.

It could be recalled that Erondu Uchendu Chidozie was recently decorated with an Award of Excellence by the Abia State Sports Ministry for his impact in sports journalism and analysis.

Present at the unveiling ceremony are Chairman of the Preseason committee Ugochukwu Anosike (Dauda) and Secretary/Coordinator Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu Abia).

The tournament holds 15-24 November at the Enyimba International Stadium.

Uchendu Chidozie, centre

monday, november 2, 2020

SPORTS latest

Hazard scores first goal in more than a year

E

den Hazard scored his first goal for more than a year as Real Madrid moved to the top of La Liga with an emphatic win over Huesca.

The Belgian opened the scoring with a superb left-foot shot into the left corner from outside the penalty area.

France forward Karim Benzema scored twice for the hosts, with Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde getting their other goal.

David Ferreiro scored the visitors’ only goal.

Asmoah Gyan joins home club Lego

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ormer Ghana captain, Asmoah Gyan has joined his home club in Ghana, Legon City FC. The club unveiled him on Saturday after he signed a oneyear contract with them “Here we go. I’m back home to continue my career with @ legoncitiesfc. I’m happy to join this club because they have a future plan for Ghana football.

Don’t blink when the season starts. Follow my new club for every details of the club. Thanks for your support,” the former Sunderland striker said.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: news: Kano: lagos:

. . . putting the people first

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

Benue palliative Events moved in Nigeria in the last few weeks at supersonic speed.

The #EndSARS demonstrations, once peaceful and successful, extracting concessions from government turned violent; and the violence went on with unprecedented looting of public and private store houses. For once it seemed as if the much expected Nigerian revolution had come.

It came unannounced.

When Omoyele Sowore, the fast footed journalist and politician had come last year blaring the music and messages of his “Revolution Now”, the government was ready and waiting for him. They quickly picked and locked him up.

The #EndSARS thing came with a difference. For the first time since it came to power in 2015, the government beat a series of retreats, conceding to all demands from demonstrators and started conceding to their seemingly unarmed demonstrators.

Apparently buoyed by their initial successes, the demonstrators went a bit too far. They attacked prisons and freed convicted criminals.

Soon the demonstrations lost their innocence attracting a volley of military fire power at the Lekki toll gate where the demonstrators had amassed.

Now clearly provoked and on the offensive, the demonstrators went wild. In the wake of the outbreak of Covid19 and the inevitable lock down, government had set up a Presidential Task Force PTF which went ahead to raise staggering amounts of money from public and private donors.

These donations were devoted for palliatives that will help the poor who were at the receiving end of the ravaging hunger and pandemic. But the masses kept complaining that the palliatives were going the wrong way and never met those who were the poorest of the poor and the would-be beneficiaries.

We soon knew the truth when mobs of demonstrators

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Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

attacked the warehouses where the palliatives were kept. All over the country, the palliatives were locked up - some in advanced stages of decay. The demonstrators did not waste time in helping themselves by carting them away. These exposures were certainly embarrassing to the state governments who were to be the focal points of distributing the palliatives.

But the most bizarre, revealing and embarrassing exposure was the short video clip which surfaced on the social media. In it, we were told that palliatives meant for the people of Benue in North Central Nigeria were suddenly found in the Norwest, specifically, the city of Kano which has made its name over the years as a center of national and international trade. The items clearly labeled and branded palliatives for Benue state were out there in the Kano market for sale.

The social media video came out at a very bad time. It was a few days after a meeting of stake holders in Benue unanimously agreed and passed a resolution that Governor Samuel Ortom had performed well in the face of the #End SARS crisis.

Suddenly, it appeared the accolades for Ortom were undeserved if under his watch palliatives meant for the poor people of the state were sold out.

To save the day, Ortoms foot

“

soldiers stepped out to explain how the COVID19 palliatives meant for the Benue poor got to Kano market. Benue State Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi who spoke on the matter at the end of the State Executive Council, EXCO, meeting in Makurdi explained that traders who benefited from the palliatives resorted to selling off the items rather than make use of them. She explained that the leader of the traders who received the items on behalf of his members had been invited for questioning over the matter few months ago when the incident happened but regretted that a video trending on social media had portrayed the issue as a recent incident.

Mrs. Addingi said, “there is a video trending on social media that is talking about palliatives that had been given to Benue state but were sold in Kano. “I wish to clarify that the matter did not happen in October. When the CACOVID distribution was made, the committee had met and decided that some of the market people and traders that were also affected by not being able to open their stalls for a long time should be beneficiaries of the palliatives.

“So the market associations were invited during the sharing of the palliatives and they got their shares. So that is how

In fact our Police Commissioner in Benue state is involved in that investigation and at the end of it he will brief everyone of their findings

some of the palliatives got to the market people.

“However we heard that the chairman of the Wurukum market, name withheld, who hails from Kano state had collected those items and instead of using the items for themselves felt they should sell them. That is how those things got to Kano “As a matter of fact, the issue is being investigated and he was actually arrested. We leant that some of them sold the palliatives instead of using them because they needed the money more than the palliatives at the time. “So that issue happened long ago and it has nothing to do with the #EndSARS protests or palliatives problems as the trending video tends to portray.

“In fact our Police Commissioner in Benue state is involved in that investigation and at the end of it he will brief everyone of their findings.”

In all my over forty years post- graduate experience as a journalist in Nigeria, I have never seen a most dumb and unintelligent defense of government by its spokesperson. The Benue Information Commissioner has complicated the problems of the state government. It would have been better if she kept quiet over this stinking scandal. The explanation has scandalized the government by raising more questions than answers. They have only shown us how not to defend a government.

DAN GAYE Dangai

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