THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2020

CBN Urges Vigilance to Mitigate Banking Sector Credit Risks Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the anticipated economic damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic requires vigilance to mitigate emerging risks in the banking system.

The Deputy Governor,

Financial System Stability Directorate, CBN, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, said this in her personal statement at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, a copy of which was posted on the bank’s website yesterday.

According to her, the effects

of the pandemic, which has continued to spread, “requires heightened vigilance by the bank to mitigate emerging risks and other complementary measures such as the restructuring of credit lines for existing obligors and provision of liquidity backstops as and

when required to safeguard the financial system.”

The deputy governor said stress tests conducted by CBN staff under low to moderate scenarios had revealed that the financial system remained resilient in the face of tightened financial conditions. However,

she stated that under severe stress scenarios, certain vulnerabilities in the system were evident.

These, according to her, included reduction in earnings, deterioration in asset quality and decline in capital adequacy.

“The Nigerian economy is facing a significant and unprecedented shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, accentuated by idiosyncratic structural deficiencies.

“It must forestall an Continued on page 8

Spare No Resources to Fight Pandemic, IMF Advises Nigeria... Page 5 Thursday 16 April, 2020 Vol 25. No 9138. Price: N250

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Concerns Mount over Treatment of COVID-19 Patients by Private Hospitals Doctor treating patient dies of pandemic Increase contact tracing, flatten the curve, Buhari charges task force FG attains 3,000 daily testing capacity, labs increase to 13 Expands criteria for testing, approval for treatment facility Issues guidelines on use of face masks Cases rise to 407 with 128 discharged, 12 deaths WHO says Trump’s suspension of US aid regrettable Martins Ifijeh in Lagos, Olawale Ajimotokan and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Treatment of patients suspected of contracting COVID-19 by private hospitals and other undesignated health facilities has sparked concerns about the danger to public health with many people fearing that it might undermine prevailing

efforts to contain the spread of the rampaging virus.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed COVID-19 Regulations No 2 on Monday, extending the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States, which started on March 30, by another 14 days.

Continued on page 8

Tinubu Wants 5% Budget Deficit Limit Altered

Obinna Chima

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has recommended that the provision of the Fiscal Responsibility Act that prohibits fiscal deficit of more than five per cent budgetary limit should be suspended for the current fiscal year, due

to the injury inflicted on the economy by COVID-19.

Alternatively, he said the limit could be raised to between 25 and 30 per cent to boost government spending in order to reflate the economy.

Tinubu, who made the recommendation in a paper he wrote titled, “Coronavirus Continued on page 9

TAKING CHARGE...

President Muhammadu Buhari holds teleconference with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 from his office, at the State House, Abuja…yesterday

FG Releases N200bn to Power Sector to Improve Supply... Page 6

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Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Spare No Resources to Fight Pandemic, IMF Advises Nigeria Gives $11bn to 32 African countries Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday advised Nigeria not to spare any resources in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

IMF’s Director, Africa Department, Mr. Abebe Selassie, said during a media briefing yesterday, to unveil the ‘IMF Regional Economic Outlook for sub Saharan Africa,’ at the ongoing World Bank/IMF Virtual Spring Meetings in Washington, United States, that the Nigerian economy was among those to be hard hit by the pandemic.

He urged the federal and state governments to roll out more fiscal measures to fight the virus, which has continued to spread in the country. “In the near term, no resources should be spared to put the health crisis threat that Nigeria faces from the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we see scope for more supportive policies on the fiscal side,� he stated.

He added that the federal government has requested for support under the multilateral institution’s Rapid Financing Instrument, which he said was a very quick dispensing resource that the government can use to strengthen health spending to provide social protection to people. “There is also scope for having an exchange rate policy framework that would be supportive of this fiscal stance. So, we look for those policies to be adopted to support Nigeria to put this crisis behind it,� he said.

The IMF had on Tuesday predicted a negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of -3.4 per cent for Nigeria in 2020, due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the latest ‘Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa titled: “COVID-19: An Unprecedented Threat to Development,� the IMF noted that Africa was facing unprecedented health and economic crises which threaten to throw the region off its stride, reversing the development progress of recent years.

It stated that by exacting a heavy human toll, upending livelihoods and damaging business and government balance sheets, the crisis could retard the region’s growth prospects in the years to come.

According to the fund, no country in the region would be spared while the rapid spread of the virus, if left unchecked, could overwhelm weak healthcare systems. “As a result, the region’s economy is projected to contract by −1.6 per cent this

year—the worst reading on record, a downward revision of 5.2 percentage points from our October 2019 forecast.

Across countries, the less diversified economies will be hit the hardest, reflecting the impact of lower commodity prices and containment efforts. “Among the non-resourceintensive countries, those that depend on tourism are expected to witness a severe contraction because of extensive travel restrictions, while emerging market and frontier economies will face the consequences of large capital outflows and tightening financial conditions. “The large adverse shocks will exacerbate social conditions and aggravate existing economic vulnerabilities. The measures that countries have had to adapt to enforce social distancing are certain to imperil the livelihoods of innumerable vulnerable people,� it added.

The IMF stated that given the limited social safety net available, “people will suffer.� “Moreover, the pandemic is reaching the shores of the continent at a time when budgetary space to absorb such shocks is limited in most countries, thus complicating the appropriate policy response. “The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to exact a heavy human toll, and the economic crisis it has triggered can upend recent development progress. The policy priority is to ramp up health capacity and spending to save lives and contain the virus outbreak. “Support from all development partners is essential to address the sizable financing needs, including debt relief for the NPTU WVMOFSBCMF DPVOUSJFT r Fiscal, monetary, and financial policies should be used to protect vulnerable groups, mitigate economic losses, and support the recovery. Once the crisis subsides, fiscal positions should return to sustainable paths,� it added.

The IMF explained that decisive measures are needed to limit humanitarian and economic losses and protect the most vulnerable societies in the world.

"The immediate priority is for countries to do whatever it takes to ramp up public health expenditures to contain the virus outbreak, regardless of fiscal space and debt positions. “Fiscal policy, sizable, timely and temporary fiscal support is crucial to protect the most affected people and firms, including those in the informal sector.

Policies could include cash or in-kind transfers to help people under strain (including through digital technologies)

and targeted and temporary support to hard-hit sectors.

"Once the crisis has subsided, countries should revert fiscal positions to paths that ensure debt sustainability,� the report added.

IMF said Africa could reverse an economic contraction linked to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

It, however, warned that firm forecasts are currently hard to make, adding that in the event of a more protracted disease outbreak and deeper global recession, it envisions Africa’s economy shrinking an additional 2.5 per cent this year. “I don’t think we’ve ever had as difficult a time trying to do projections in the

institution, certainly in my 25 years,� Selassie added.

IMF to Give $11bn to 32 African Countries Selassie also said the IMF was set to provide $11 billion to 32 countries in Africa that had requested for assistance in fighting the pandemic.

This, he said, the IMF and its partners - the World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union (AU) – believed would support domestic measures, including transfers to vulnerable households, monetary and fiscal policy responses.

The fund has already

disbursed money to Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, and Togo.

The $11 billion for countries in the region would be financed through its rapiddisbursement instruments and debt-relief support of about $300 million that would be provided this year, Selassie added.

Globally, the IMF has approved debt-service relief for 25 poor countries to support emergency medical and relief efforts. “Together with the World Bank, the IMF is also making the case for debt relief from official bilateral creditors for those low-income countries that request forbearance,�

Selassie added.

According to him, in addition to existing support, the fund would be looking for resources to provide grants to countries with debt-service payments that fall due to the IMF for the remainder of the year.

He said the move was intended to offset debt-service costs and create fiscal space for countries to respond to health needs.

Restrictions to limit the movement of people and real per-capita income that is projected to fall by 3.9 per cent on average across the region will worsen existing vulnerabilities and jeopardise livelihoods at a time when policy makers have limited fiscal scope to respond, Selassie added.

PROGRESS REPORT...

L-R: Minister of State for Industry, Trade & lnvestment, Ms. Mariam Katagum; the Minister, Chief Niyi Adebayo, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, during a weekly brieďŹ ng by the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of the Committee on Sustainable Production/Delivery of Essential Commodities on COVID-19 Pandemic in Abuja‌yesterday kingsley adeboye

Gunmen Kill Pregnant Woman, Eight Others in Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Gunmen have killed at least nine persons, including a pregnant woman, in Hurra village of Irigwe chiefdom in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The assailants also set some houses ablaze during the attack on Tuesday night.

President of Irigwe Development Association, Mr. Sunday Abdu, who confirmed the attack in Jos yesterday, condemned the fresh onslaught against his people, saying that it was unfortunate that such wickedness could be allowed to take place in the community despite the total lockdown imposed on the people by the state government.

He said: “We woke up this morning to the cries and wailings of our people.

When I enquired, they told

me nine persons, including a pregnant woman, have again been killed by gunmen who raided Hurra village in Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area. Several houses have also been burnt down before the attackers left the village. “The situation is really hard to understand. Our people are on lockdown as directed by the state government and some other people who feel they can do anything and get away with it came and attacked them, killing nine of our people and setting their houses on fire. How do you explain this?�

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Dan Manjang, in a reaction said the state government was aware of the killings.

Manjang, who blamed the killings and attacks on

crisis merchants whom he said were fuelling insecurity in the council area for personal benefits said the state government had sent security operatives to the community to contain the crisis The commissioner said: “We are aware of the fresh killings in Bassa. No government will be happy to see its citizens being killed.

It is unfortunate that while the government is doing everything possible to ensure the sustenance of peace in the state, some people who are benefiting from the crisis are bent on scuttling government's efforts but the government will not allow them to succeed in their evil agenda. “The truth is that some crisis merchants who are benefiting from the killing would not want the

situation to stop. Unless the warring parties come and tell themselves the truth, the situation will continue.

Unless those killing their fellow human beings realise that they don't have the right to take another person's life, the situation will continue. “We have sent security operatives to the community where the attack took place and we are appealing for them to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance in the council area.�

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Gabriel Uba who confirmed the death toll, said he and the Commissioner of Police just returned from the scene of the attack.

He said that the village was attacked at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, adding that more security personnel have been deployed in the area.

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FG Releases N200bn to Power Sector to Improve Supply Peter Uzoho Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, said yesterday that the federal government had paid over N200 billion to the power sector towards improving electricity supply.

Kyari disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Abuja shortly after a closed door meeting between the NNPC; Minister of Power, Mr.

Sale Mamman, and Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Mr. Usman Mohammed.

“Actually the federal government has made payment of over N200 billion for power in the last 23 days and this will go a long way to ensure that issues around power supply are addressed.

“We will work as a team to ensure that all issues are settled,” he said.

The News Agency of

NHRC: Security Operatives Enforcing Lockdown Kill 18 Alex Enumah in Abuja A report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has revealed that no fewer than 18 persons have so far been killed by security operatives in attempts to enforce the directive on restriction on movement as part of measures to curtail the spread of the deadly COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The killings, according to the report, is an indication of both the level of unprofessionalism of security operatives in dealing with civil population as well as their reckless disregard for human lives.

Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, who signed the report, however, disclosed that an App has been developed to effectively monitor, document and report incidences of human rights violations by law enforcement agencies during the period of the lockdown.

"The report shows that complaints of human rights violations were received and documented in the following thematic areas: extra-judicial killings, violation of right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest, and detention, seizure/ confiscation of properties, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), discrimination, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, and extortion.

"There were eight documented incidents of extra-judicial killing leading to 18 deaths. Out of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna State. Abia State also recorded two deaths arising from two incidents; while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina States recorded one death each.

"Whereas COVID-19 has led to the death of about 11 patients to date (Tuesday), law enforcement agents have extrajudicially executed 18 persons to enforce the regulations. This speaks volumes of the protocols and rules of engagement for our law enforcement as well the efficiency level and capacity of law enforcement agents to deal with the civil population. It’s a sheer display of impunity and reckless disregard for human life in law enforcement by security personnel," he said.

According to the report, the Nigeria Correctional Service was responsible for eight out of the 18 deaths while the Nigeria Police Force was responsible for seven deaths. The Nigeria Army, on the other hand, was responsible for two deaths while the Ebonyi State Task Force on COVID-19, Afikpo South LGA was responsible for one death.

The report also noted that

other types of violations recorded within the period include 33 incidents of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, 27 incidents of violation of the right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest, and detention, 19 incidents of seizure/confiscation of properties, 13 incidents of extortion, four incidents of SGBV, and one incident of discrimination in the distribution of food items.

"The report finds that the Nigeria Police Force accounted for about 90 per cent of the total cases of violations followed by the Nigeria Army and Nigeria Correctional Service and other non-state actors. The report also finds that 31 incidents of violations representing about 29 per cent of the complaints have been resolved by different security agencies.

"The report further finds that the various human rights violations recorded during the period arose as a result of excessive or disproportionate use of force, abuse of power, corruption and none adherence to international and national human rights laws and best practices by law enforcement agents.

Ojukwu however said that with the development of the App, the commission will be updating Nigerians with the state of human rights violations and SGBV during COVID-19 pandemic on a weekly basis throughout the period of the lockdown.

The report span across the initial lockdown period commencing from March 30, 2020 to April 13, 2020, and looked into a total of 105 complaints from twenty-four states (24) out of the 36 states of the federation including the FCT, namely.

Out of 105 complaints/ incidents of human rights violation received and documented within the initial lockdown period, Lagos State was said to have the highest recorded cases with 28 incidents, followed by the FCT, Abuja which had 10 recorded cases.

Enugu State recorded nine incidents, Abia, Delta and Nasarawa States seven, six and five incidents respectively.

Rivers State also recorded five incidents of human rights violations while Imo recorded four incidents.

Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Kaduna and Ebonyi states recorded three incidents each; while Kwara, Osun, Benue and Niger States recorded three incidents each. Edo, Adamawa, Ogun, Cross River, Kogi, Bayelsa, Katsina and Plateau States recorded one incident each.

Nigeria (NAN) reported that Kyari said that team was in the Ministry of Power to inform the minister that in the last one or two months and particularly during the COVID-19 period NNPC had increased gas supply to the power sector.

According to him, there will be a significant improvement in power generation in all federal government and associated power facilities.

He said: “This also means that Nigerians will get better access to power during this lockdown period and going

forward.

“There are issues around power supply process and we have discussed most of them and we are moving as a team to make sure that we resolve issues around payment and evacuation.

“We are very confident that this will get the desired result.

We will visit some power plants tomorrow to make sure that we sort out any issue to ensure that Nigerians have access to better power.”

He said that the minister was very clear on what was to be done to improve the

power supply.

“We will make sure this becomes transparent and obvious to all Nigerians.”

The TCN Managing Director, Mohammed, said the meeting was to ensure that there was a constant supply of power as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mohammed said the president had directed that there should be constant power supply to the people during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“This is why this meeting was convened by the minister of power to discuss the supply

of gas to the power plants.

“This is very important before now we have been discussing with NNPC, of course there is gas availability in the market but there are several power plants that don’t have gas and that is a big problem for us.

“With this meeting where the minister prevailed that NNPC should assist in supplying gas to the power plants we believe that will have steady and sustainable power supply going forward especially during the COVID-19 lockdown,” he said.

VENTILATORS TO THE RESCUE...

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Minster of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq, and Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, during the delivery of ventilator and medical supplies to Nigeria in Abuja…yesterday kingsley adeboye

Firms Target More Digital Adverts as Pandemic Takes Toll on Industry Raheem Akingbolu Players in the marketing communications industry are currently at crossroads as some of their clients have indicated the decision to rejig their marketing spending in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THISDAY checks revealed that some banks and multinationals in the fastmoving consumer goods (FMCG) sector of the economy have reached out to their agencies on the need to review business relationships as people practice social distancing and also stay home.

A source within one of the leading firms told THISDAY that with most people now staying at home, companies are working towards leveraging platforms such as digital marketing, radio, and television that would better connect them with their target audience.

The pandemic caused a major economic backlash a few weeks ago when Coca–Cola Company, a major multinational beverage producer, suspended indefinitely all commercial advertising of its brands, THISDAY learnt.

The company said the initiative became necessary in view of the exigencies and expediencies of the time, adding that it wants to stay focused in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its people and communities.

President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Emmanuel Ajufo, confirmed

that the sector is mostly hit by the pandemic, which has necessitated lockdown in most of the major cities in the country.

"One of our unique strengths is that we are outdoors where our audience is. Now that coronavirus has forced us to stay indoors, the audience we used to use as our strength has been forced to stay indoors.

“Of course, this means that our clients will look for more appropriate channels to reach their audience. To this extent, we are receiving a lot of suspension and cancellation orders.

“Indeed, our sector is seriously hit and we hope that things will normalise soon enough for the lockdown to be lifted,” he added.

He stated that outdoor operators foresaw the situation and had decided to work closely with the government to rescue the industry.

"Truly the fear of business failure is real because we know that the economy will be affected by what we are all going through now.

“To this end, we are collating our projected losses and hope to use it to negotiate and appeal to the government to give our sector our own form of palliative. Luckily for us, we are presently helping government carry the COVID - 19 campaigns.

“We hope that this service will count for something when we come with our palliative request.

"It is our strong belief that if we are able to get some support from the government,

our companies will be in a better place to fight for survival. It won’t be easy but we ll pull through hopefully," Ajufo said.

Also commenting on the development, the Executive Director, Media Investments, MediaReach OMD, Mr. Yinka Adebayo, described COVID-19 as an experienced business owners have never had before hence no sector was prepared for it.

"Without doubt, it has made nonsense of all plans and projections hence the need to urgently go back to the drawing board and restrategise whether as client, agency or media. "Even as individuals, we need to pre-order our priorities,” he added.

Adebayo, who is also the Publicity Secretary, Media Independent Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), however, said this period called for careful planning and thinking out of the box.

A former President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Bunmi Oke, called on brands to be “sensitive and sensible” about marketing campaigns, despite the challenges, adding that they have to be in touch with consumer realities.

"At the moment, brand campaigns must be tweaked to demonstrate some form of empathy in line with natural human relations during a crisis of some sort. Life for consumers in Nigeria and worldwide has been disrupted and consumers want to deal with brands that relate with them as people,

at the moment and not just with their pockets!

“A caring brand will outlive the pandemic with consumers reciprocating fair play or otherwise after the storm passes and the true test of caring brands are during a crisis!" Oke said.

Another outdoor practitioner and former Director-General of the Oyo State Signage and Advertising Agency (OYSAA), Mr. Yinka Adepoju, said the pandemic was bound to affect every sector, including the marketing communication industry.

"In fact, it is another calamity that has befallen the advertising industry in view of the fact that it happened at the beginning of the year when advertising budgets are just being put together for campaigns to break.

Naturally, immediately it happened there were spontaneous reactions of budgets cutting from clients directly and their media buyers, which has significantly affected the outdoor and print media as an opportunity to see was drastically reduced and badly affected," To manage the situation, Adepoju said it was an opportunity for advertisers to cultivate the habit of financial prudence but a big catastrophe for advertising practitioners as virtually everything was badly affected, especially accruals in terms of turnover and operations, which may not come down except some drastic measures like laying off of staff and or increase in prices of services, which may also reduce patronage.

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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PAGE EIGHT CONCERNS MOUNT OVER TREATMENT OF COVID-19 PATIENTS BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS In signing the regulations the president said it was necessary to ramp up the gains of the first 14 days of lockdown, which had achieved its objective of increasing the tracking, testing and treatment of cases and their contacts, admonishing Nigerians to abide by the protocols outlined by the lead agency for the containment of the virus, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The NCDC had established protocols, including that a person with symptoms of COVID-19 should approach it or state health authorities for testing and case management, admonishing citizens not to self-medicate or patronise private health care facilities but rather report to designated isolation centres built for the management of the disease.

Only on Monday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, warned private health providers against the danger of managing COVID-19 patients in their facilities because of what he called “risk of selfinfection and cross-infection.”

But THISDAY gathered that the practice of people, particularly very important personalities (VIPs) diagnosed with COVID-19 avoiding designated isolation centres and preferring undesignated private hospitals is on the increase, particularly in Lagos.

“They are endangering the lives of many other Nigerians,” a source told THISDAY last night, warning: “This may jeopardise the efforts of the government to contain the spread of the virus.”

THISDAY learnt that as a result of the pressure from COVID-19 patients who wanted private care, many private clinics and health care centres in Lagos are shutting down to avoid risks to their staff and patients.

Yesterday, the imminent danger of this unwholesome practise to health workers become real when a medical doctor, Dr. Emeka Chugbo, who had contracted the virus from a COVID-19 patient he was managing in his facility, died of the virus at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Lagos, which is also not a designated centre for the management of the virus.

The patient Chugbo was treating had died on April 3.

Confirming Chugbo's death

to THISDAY yesterday, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, said the doctor was not a staff of the hospital but was rushed to the facility after he showed severe signs of the disease.

“He was brought in late so there was no much we could do. He was a staff in LUTH years back before he went to join the private sector. We learnt he had COVID-19 patients in his facility that he was treating.

He may have been exposed to the virus from there.

“His death has shown what health workers are exposed to in the cause of treating COVID-19 patients. Our hearts are with his family in this trying time. It is a sad development for us.”

Investigation showed that Chugbo did his residency training at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in LUTH. He was at the time the Vice President of the Association of Resident Doctors in the hospital. He was also said to have worked at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) as a consultant.

Under extant regulations, only designated public facilities can handle COVID-19 cases.

Ehanire, at a press conference in Abuja, last month, said private hospitals should not treat COVID-19 cases because it was highly contagious and risky to their medical personnel and other patients.

He had urged private hospitals to refer any suspected case to the designated centres for diagnosis and treatment.

According to him, besides being highly contagious, private hospitals lack the facilities and laboratory to handle the treatment and could easily infect their staff and patients.

“Private hospital, yes, we know that private hospitals offer 50 to 60 per cent consultation to Nigerians, which is a very powerful factor and very powerful partners in the healthcare system. We know that a good number of patients first of all report to the private centres.

“Most of the private centres don’t have the facilities to treat a highly infectious disease like that and they will definitely not have a laboratory for it.

But in that case, we urge private hospitals if they have suspected cases, to refer them

for diagnosis. If you can hold him in isolation while getting your result, fine otherwise you can refer them right away to the centres for isolation of suspected cases; get the test done and let the patient be treated in a designated centres,” he had stated.

However, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the federal government was considering bringing in some private hospitals to join in combating the virus.

But he added that such private hospitals would be required to seek certification from the Committee of Infectious Disease Experts to be assembled by the Federal Ministry of Health for standardisation and to ensure the safety of frontline staff and other patients.

THISDAY, however, learnt that despite the federal government's warning, some private hospitals and other undesignated facilities have been treating COVID-19 patients and exposing their staff members and other patients to the danger of contracting the virus.

Cases Rise to 407 Meanwhile confirmed cases of the pandemic rose to 407 with the discovery of 34 new ones in the country yesterday.

However, 128 cases have been discharged and twelve deaths have been recorded.

The 34 new cases, according to the NCDC are reported from five states, including Lagos 18, Kano 12, Katsina 2, Niger 1, and Delta 1.

It said a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3 had continued to coordinate the national response activities

Lagos, Osun, Kaduna, FCT Discharge 32 More Patients Lagos, Osun and Kaduna States as well as the FCT yesterday discharged 32 more patients.

The Lagos State Government discharged 16 more patients from its isolation centres, bringing to 85 the total number of persons successfully treated

for the disease in the state.

The Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the discharged patients comprised 14 males and two females.

He said: "Among the 16 persons are three foreigners, including a Briton, Chinese and a Polish citizen.

"The patients; 14 from the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, and two from the Onikan Isolation Centre, have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19."

FCT discharged nine additional patients from its isolation and treatment centres.

Seven patients were discharged from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, (UATH), Gwagwalada, while two were discharged from the National Hospital, Abuja.

The latest figure of discharged patients has brought the number of COVID-19 cases now discharged in FCT to 20.

The remaining ones are clinically stable and responding well to treatment, the FCT authorities said.

The Osun State Government also announced the discharge of six more COVID-19 patients after testing negative twice for the virus following their treatment at the Isolation Centre in Ejigbo.

The Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, said via his official Twitter handle, @ GboyegaOyetola yesterday that the six patients discharged were among the remaining seven Ivorian returnees.

The patients, who are among the 127 returnees have been discharged to join their families.

A total of 17 out of the 127 returnees had tested positive for the virus while 10 out of them were discharged on Saturday after testing negative twice for the virus.

The release of another six patients yesterday brought to 17, the number of patients that have been managed and discharged in Osun State.

In Kaduna State, one of the six people infected by the virus has been discharged.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Baloni, said in a statement yesterday that the patient had recovered following treatment at the isolation centre in Kaduna.

She said the patient’s recovery ‘’ has been confirmed by two consecutive negative

results, the second of which came yesterday, Tuesday, 14 April 2020.’’

FG Attains Testing Capacity of 3,000 Daily Nigeria now has the capacity to carry out 3,000 COVID-19 tests daily, from 1,500.

This followed the increase in the number of testing laboratories in the country, which now stands at 13.

NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, at a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 yesterday in Abuja, said: “We now have the capacity of testing 3,000 per day. That capacity is not being fully utilised. That is why I focused on Lagos State and the FCT and the efforts they are putting to get more people tested and more samples in.

“The bottleneck now is not the testing, but collecting the samples from the right people and getting it into the lab.

“Ending of today, we are going to publish a testing and diagnostic strategy for the country so that everybody is aware of where we are and where we are going – short and long term. That is, how we are going to introduce the TB facilities (GeneXpert Machines), HIV testing, and how we are going to end up with one lab per state.”

FG Expands Testing Criteria for Pandemic Also speaking at the briefing, Ehanire explained that the ministry has expanded the testing criteria to include cases with fever and respiratory tract symptoms.

According to him, “To ensure maximum utilisation of our increased testing capacity, the case definition and testing criteria have been expanded to include not only contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases with fever and respiratory tract symptoms but also all persons with fever and respiratory tract symptoms of unknown cause.

“The advent of community transmission marks the evolution of our initial strictly containment strategy. Risk communication to the public and coordination with the state level COVID-19 response preparedness groups are going

to be scaled up.

“There is also an increased drive to detect cases more rapidly, especially in hotspot communities. All persons fitting the case definition are advised to first wear a mask of any type, isolate themselves from friends and family as they call the national emergency number 112, or the NCDC toll-free number 0800 9700 0010, or report to the nearest health facility for referral.”

He added that his ministry's accreditation committee has produced guidelines to ensure that standards are maintained at all COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres.

He said: “There are three levels of isolation: Isolation 1 is for suspected cases of COVID-19 while awaiting results, this is also used to designate the mandatory quarantine facilities for those returning from abroad with negative results, or those unable to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

“Isolation 2 is for confirmed COVID-19 cases with mild or moderate symptoms, which need little to no clinical management.

“Isolation 3 is for confirmed COVID-19 cases with severe or critical symptoms, which need enhanced clinical management or intensive care.

“In Abuja, for example, the designated Isolation 3 facilities are University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) and National Hospital, while Isolation 2 centres are located in 4 other places."

FG Issues Guidelines on Use of Face Masks The federal government has also issued a health advisory on the use of face masks for the containment of the COVID-19.

Ihekweazu unveiled the guidelines for the use of face masks by members of the public.

He said government recommended face mask to be used in conjunction with other safety measures such as regular hand washing, sanitisers and social distancing.

He said the federal government was making the use of face masks optional for Nigerians, adding that they Continued on page 9

CBN URGES VIGILANCE TO MITIGATE BANKING SECTOR CREDIT RISKS imminent severe health crisis, whether a global economic crisis and maintain financial and macroeconomic stability in the light of exchange rate pressures, low foreign exchange flows from crude oil receipts amidst a severely constrained fiscal space and low reserve buffers.

“Like other central banks, the Bank has limited policy options in this circumstance.

As it works in collaboration with the fiscal authorities to limit the humanitarian and economic costs of the pandemic, it will be prudent to focus on structural reform and the long term objective of diversifying the economy to enhance its global competitiveness,” Ahmad stated.

According to her, initiatives designed to boost local food and manufacturing production, improve import substitution and support local businesses to meet domestic demand, whilst positioning for export and participation in the global supply chain must

be sustained.

In his contribution, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, CBN, Mr. Edward Adamu, recommended that the federal government should set up a trust fund to support the informal sector as part of the overall response to the fallout of the pandemic.

In addition, he said effective coordination of responses and some understanding of sectoral impact of the pandemic would be important in ensuring efficient allocation of resources and attainment of superior outcomes.

On his part, the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, explained that in the light of a somewhat hazy economic outlook, the central bank must remain vigilant and retain the flexibility to act at short notice.

This, he said, was because no one knows the length and depth of potential effects of the pandemic on key macroeconomic variables.

“But it does appear that the net effect of the associated temporary supply shocks and the reductions in the price of petrol would be a slight moderation in both inflationary and related fiscal pressures in the coming months.

“At the moment, many financial sector indicators suggest that the industry remains safe and sound, but several downside risks may materialise in the short term, particularly those related to loan exposures.

“This implies that both the central bank and deposit money banks must be ready with nimble and effective strategies to contain and/or mitigate these risks.

“That is why I support the recent policies by the central bank that grants regulatory forbearance allowing banks to restructure existing loans, while also providing immediate reprieve to households and businesses through interest rate reduction and a moratorium on both new and existing loans,” he said.

He added that the policies would provide direct credit facility to the healthcare industry and strengthen the loan-to-deposit ratio policy to ensure greater flow of credit to other key sectors at this critical time.

Obiora also said coordinated and targeted policies were needed to ensure that the opportunities presented by the pandemic are not wasted.

“As aforementioned, this is first and foremost a public health problem and as such, the most immediate priority is clearly to keep people as healthy and safe as possible,” he added.

In his contribution, Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, said in taking proactive actions to ameliorate the pain of the public health shock on the domestic economy, the central bank must continue to take actions to rein in inflation, especially as it becomes inimical to growth while addressing other impediments to growth.

According to him, the monetary policy rate (MPR) serves more as a reference rate and a tool for signaling, while the cash reserve ratio has proven to be a more effective tool for liquidity management.

He said the loan-to-deposit ratio policy was achieving its credit growth and interest rate reduction targets.

“Clearly, our current activities to support growth is working in the right directions and only requires us to be steadfast, for the full benefit to materialise.

“At this juncture, the fiscal authority is advised to be more pragmatic in its engagement of the issues. As I mentioned in my earlier statements, government is encouraged to explore aggressive expenditure rationalisation, including significant reduction of recurrent expenditure, in the face of persistent revenue shortfall and consider opportunities to use excess liquidity in the banking sector for deficit financing,” he added.

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NEWS

FG to Give Below N5,000 Account Holders Palliatives

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The federal government yesterday rolled out fresh guidelines on the distribution of palliatives to the poor and the vulnerable during the extended lockdown, which will focus on those living in the urban areas.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq, told State House reporters in Abuja that the beneficiaries would be those whose bank account balance is less than N5,000 and who recharge their phones with not more than N100.

She said in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to increase the number of beneficiaries of palliatives by one million, to cushion the effects of the restriction of movements in the fight against COVID-19, the second round of the distribution of the palliatives would focus largely on the poor and people living with disabilities in urban settings.

According to her, the modus operandi will involve the distribution of money under

the conditional cash transfer scheme as well as food items.

“You are aware that the president in his broadcast of Monday, April 13, directed that we expand the beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer by one million and in this regard, we are going to focus more now on the urban poor.

“These are people who depend on the informal sector to earn their livelihood; they are daily wage earners and these are the people that we are really going to focus on more as well as people living with disabilities," she said.

Asked what would be the criteria for selection of the beneficiaries, Farouq said her ministry had adopted three options for the cash transfers.

She listed the options as the use of bank verification numbers (BVN) of account holders to select persons who have N5,000 and below in their accounts and people who recharge their phones with not more than N100 as well as social registers.

“Well, we have three options.

One, we are going to use the

national social register that we already have. "Two, we are also going to focus on the urban poor as I mentioned by using their verified BVN accounts to get them, that is, people that have an account balance of N5, 000 and below.

“We are also using the mobile networks, to know people that top up the credit units for their phones with maybe N100 or less. These are people that we consider to be poor and vulnerable.

"So, these are the three options that we are exploring and I am sure that by the time we get this data, we will be able to give this intervention," she added.

However, the minister said only 25 per cent of the affected population in each of the two states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be covered in the current arrangement, explaining that the scope may be enlarged later.

“Let me also say that we have a standard. Twenty five percent of the total population is what we will take out. It cannot go round everywhere, but we are

starting from somewhere.

"Twenty five percent of let’s say the location of Lagos State, for example, is what is going to benefit from this intervention that we are doing. Going forward, we might expand it but this is what is obtainable for now,” she stated.

On the distribution of food items, Farouq said her ministry would hand over the relief items to state governments, following the unpalatable experiences of members of the distribution team in the last two weeks.

According to her, some of them were mobbed during the distribution and to avoid a repeat of such a bitter experience, the items would just be handed over to the state governments for onward distribution to their people.

The minister added that different groups set up by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would sort out the distribution.

“On the issue of palliatives in terms of food relief, we have an emergency response plan in

place. In the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, we have different functional groups.

“One of such groups is that which deals with mass care, logistics and security, to be led by the National Emergency Management Agency under the ministry and they have a structure from national, states, down to local governments, where the various state emergency agencies and other security agencies are involved in this distribution.

“So far, we have already done the distribution together with the state authorities in these two states affected by the lockdown, together with the FCT but going forward, when we are going to give these food items, we are going to hand them over to the states because issues have come up, as at yesterday (Monday).

"Our people were mobbed.

Some of them were attacked in the course of carrying out this assignment. So, the general conclusion is that we give this food relief directly to the state governments for them to distribute to the beneficiaries,”

she said.

The minister also shed more light on the N21 billion donation to Nigeria by the European Union (EU) to assist the country in the fight against COVID-19 on Tuesday.

According to her, the donation did not come in cash but as medical equipment and provision of structures aimed at facilitating efforts in fighting the virus “This donation is coming in kind, basically, by way of medical equipment and also some structures to be put in place as a response to this COVID-19 pandemic.

“In that intervention, there are also humanitarian issues that would be addressed. As you are aware, this is a health emergency but at the same time, it is also a humanitarian emergency.

'So, the ministry is going to come in here because we are to coordinate all humanitarian interventions coming into the country by way of making sure that such interventions get to the poor and vulnerable in our society,” she said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday fired back at Trump, saying it was focused on saving lives and stopping the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Reacting to Trump’s freezing of funding to the agency, WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said it had done no wrong but only following the creed for which the organisation was established in 1945.

According to him, the organisation was established by nations to protect the highest attainable standard of health as one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, and

political belief, economic or social condition Ghebreyesus said: “That creed remains our vision today.

“There is no time to waste and WHO’s singular focus is on working to serve all people to save lives and stop the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Trump had on Tuesday said he was freezing the funding of WHO, pending a review into the UN health agency’s “role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus,” adding: “everybody knows what’s going on there.”

But Ghebreyesus, during a virtual briefing in Geneva, said the US had been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO and hoped the relationship would continue to be so.

“We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in funding to the World Health Organisation,” he added.

A WHO special envoy also urged critics to focus first on defeating the virus.

“There are one or two countries that seem to be quite concerned about actions that were taken early on in the pandemic … we say to everybody, we plead with everybody, look forward.

“Focus on the epic struggle right now and leave the recriminations until later,” Special Envoy David Nabarro told an online conference.

“If in the process, you decide you want to declare that you’re going to withdraw funding or make other comments about the WHO, remember this is not just the WHO, this is the whole public health community that is involved right now.

“Every single person in the world is a public health worker now, everybody is taking responsibility, everybody is sacrificing, everybody is involved,” he added.

insurance to those who can prove they were relieved of employment due to the crisis.

“This would be more targeted at the actual victims of the crisis but harder to administer. This stipend would also have to be extended to owners of small and medium-sized businesses.

“Third, we could render some form of payroll support to companies and businesses that seek to retain workers albeit they may not be fully employed. The stipend could help companies stay in operation while maintaining workers on their payroll. By maintaining workers, the company can more swiftly return to full operation when normalcy returns.”

He said payment of such stipends would require hiring additional government workers to augment the existing bureaucracies to implement the program.

Tinubu added: “Payments can be made quickly by using the BVNs of prospective recipients to make direct deposits into individual bank accounts. This will encourage those without bank accounts to establish such accounts.

“This process will bring millions of people into formal banking. It will also be safer

and not lead to the types of violence and crime that might follow physical cash transfers.

“The agricultural sector is perhaps the least affected by this crisis. This is fortunate as it is the most important tool in mitigating the threat of widespread hunger. Yet the agricultural sector is still beset by uncertainty over prices and supply.

“To maintain an adequate supply of food and ensure price stability, government should re-establish commodity boards for strategically important crops.

“These boards will specify a guaranteed minimummaximum price range for these crops in order to maintain and stabilize farm incomes as well as consumer prices.”

In addition to the work of the boards, the government and the boards must take additional action to improve the transportation of goods from farm to market, he said, adding that constructing new storage facilities in major urban centres would help maintain supply, keep prices lower and also provide employment for those constructing and maintaining the storage berths.

“At this time, imports generally hurt the economy because they siphon much

needed hard currency. It is imperative that we drive down our level of imports.

“The sole exceptions to this rule are medicine, essential raw materials and vital products such as petrol imports that we do not produce in sufficient quantities. On some essentials, we may even lower taxes and tariffs,” he said.

Even with schools closed to classroom instruction, Tinubu recommended that the school feeding program should be continued.

He reiterated his call for the Central Bank of Nigeria to lower interest rates to single digit in order to spur the private sector.

“To ensure the health of commercial banks, the CBN should give liberal access to its discount window at a virtual zero interest rate policy. To assist large businesses to maintain operations and their payrolls, the CBN can give conditional interest-free loans.

“Conditions could include firms maintaining their workforce and even hiring an extra 10 per cent for two to three months but at a more reduced wage. These additional workers should be youth hired under a temporary internship or training program,” he added.

CONCERNS MOUNT OVER TREATMENT OF COVID-19 PATIENTS BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS can use home-made brands or even improvised ones such as clean, dry handkerchief.

He explained that a health condition for use of face mask is that it must be washed after use every day, dried and ironed before reuse.

He said that one should avoid touching the inner part of the mask while putting it on.

Ehanire also gave reasons for the government's decision not to make the wearing of a face mask or foreign made brands compulsory, saying that it does not want Nigerians to be exploited while scrambling for branded face masks that are not enough.

He said presently some of the countries producing the face masks had shut down their companies due to the impact of the virus.

Also speaking in Abuja after a teleconference with Buhari, Mustapha said the president had enjoined the task force to

ramp up contact tracing and flatten the virus curve as soon as possible.

Shippers’ Council May Waive Demurrage on Cargoes Meanwhile, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is considering the granting of a waiver on the demurrage to be paid by shipping companies on cargoes that are imported into the country.

The Chairman President Task Force on COVID-19, Mustapha, said yesterday in Abuja that the discussion between the Shippers’ Council and shipping companies also centred on the consideration of the prospects of a partial reduction in the demurrage expected to be paid on the cargo, adding that a decision would soon be reached on that.

He noted that the president

in his first declaration allowed that the Lagos Seaport should remain open but be guided by the quarantine processes and protocols that were put in place.

Mustapha also responded to the issue of banks shutting down and not allowing for port operators to carry out the processes of payment of duties, excise and tariffs of port costs.

He said he had a discussion with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday on how to uphold the protocols signed regarding how the banks around the ports would operate during the lockdown without shutting down the economy.

“But I really understand that the Central Bank Governor went further to allow banks to open between the hours of 9 a.m. and- 2 p.m. in Apapa, where most of the transactions in the seaports are located. I

believe that we will go back to discuss with him," he added.

WHO Replies Trump, Says It’s Focused on Saving Lives

TINUBU WANTS 5% BUDGET DEFICIT LIMIT ALTERED Economic Stimulus Program,” made available to THISDAY yesterday, said his proposal would allow the federal government, “more room to make the minimum expenditure necessary to save the economy and the people.”

“The best step would be to suspend the five per cent budgetary limit for this fiscal year. Alternatively, the limit should be raised to 25 to 30 per cent,” he explained.

The former Lagos State governor argued that presently, recessionary forces outweigh inflationary, pointing out that the agricultural, service and manufacturing sectors have been hurt by the pandemic, with urban employment severely battered.

The economy would suffer palpable contraction unless government enacts countervailing measures, he warned.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act prohibits fiscal deficit of more than five per cent of GDP. He explained: “This provision was fashioned after the Maastricht Treaty governing membership in the Eurozone.

Eurozone members never honoured the deficit ceiling even in normal times; it was too impracticable and deflationary

to abide. Given the exigencies of the current moment, the Eurozone has completely ignored the Maastricht limits.

“The fiscal responsibility limit, while perhaps well intentioned, is, to say the least, inapt for a nation in our economic situation. The provision is based on two inaccurate assumptions. The first myth is the belief that national government fiscal deficits are always harmful.

The second is that economic conditions will always be ‘normal’ even for the longterm.”

According to him, a government deficit serves to enrich the private sector, boost growth and activity.

He, however, noted that the only concern with deficit spending would be inflation.

But, Tinubu maintained that in the present case, the threat the country was faced with was more recessionary than inflationary, saying that a bit of inflation would be the cost, “We should be prepared to pay to avert severe contraction.”

He insisted that: “In the current situation, the provision is a mean straitjacket blocking the federal government from taking the steps required to salvage the economy at a

time when only the federal government can do so.”

According to him, with the fiscal latitude provided by lifting the budgetary limit, the government would be able to render emergency sustenance relief to most Nigerian households, especially the recently unemployed, via cash payments.

This, he explained, would blunt hunger, maintain aggregate demand in the domestic economy and help sustain private-sector markets to the extent possible.

Directed towards needy and modest households, such expenditure must be heavily weighted to local produce, not to imports, the APC leader said, adding that it would also help mute inflation.

Tinubu said: “Such payments can be done in either one or in a combination of three ways.

First, we can designate a stipend for every household.

The amount should be enough to pay for the monthly needs of an “average” household for food and other basics.

“While this may somewhat penalize larger families, perfection cannot be had at this time. Second, the stipends could be given as a form of emergency unemployment

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Again, Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna Several villages have been deserted as bandits raided Shiroro and Rafi Local Governments Areas in Niger State and killed at least six people.

The incident occurred between 10p.m. on Tuesday and 12 noon yesterday.

THISDAY gathered that five people were killed while another five people were injured in Shiroro Local Government Area (SLGA). The bandits also left one person killed and several others injured in Madaka community in Rafi Local Government Area (RLGA).

The attack in Manta town of SLGA was allegedly carried out by 50 heavily armed gun wielding bandits that invaded the town on motorcycles.

It was learnt that on their

arrival at Manta community, the bandits surrounded the town and made it difficult for the villagers to escape.

Local vigilantes, according to sources, tried to dislodge the rampaging bandits but abandoned the chase when they noticed that a helicopter was hovering in the area.

“We beat a retreat when we saw the helicopter because we were afraid that they may mistake us for the bandits and bomb us,” an eyewitness said THISDAY learnt that more than 600 hundred people, mostly women and children, have been displaced from Manta community and are currently taking refuge at Bosso Primary School, near Minna, the state capital.

The chairmen of Shiroro and Bosso local governments and

the Director General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Inga, were trying frantically to manage the situation at the temporary camp when THISDAY visted.

This was the second of such attacks in the local governments

within four days. The first was on Easter Sunday when the bandits attacked Maikujeri and two other communities in the RLGA, leaving three people dead while a young girl was raped and an injured pastor hospitalised.

Thirteen people were also

condemned the recent attacks on his people and described the incidents as “callous and wicked.”

Musa pleaded with the security agencies to be more alive to their responsibility so that “my people will again live normal lives.”

alleged to have been kidnapped in the that attack.

The Nigeria Air force (NAF) claimed that it had been raiding and killing the bandits in the two local governments.

The Senator Representing Niger East Senatorial Zone, Mr. Mohammed Sani Musa, has

Renewed Cult War Claims Six Lives in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Six persons were alleged to have lost their lives to suspected herdsmen and rival cult war in some parts of Edo State.

It was gathered that two farmers in Odighi, Ovia North East Local Government Area (ONELGA) were killed yesterday by suspected herdsmen.

The victims were said to have gone to their farms to source for food for their families when some armed men suspected to be herdsmen shot them to death.

An eye witness, Mr. Hilary Omoregie, an indigene of Odigbetue, said: “I am from Odigbetue, a neibghouring community to Odighi. I was going to my village this morning (yesterday) when I

saw people gathered around two dead bodies. The two were farmers, one from Igbira farmer and the other an Urhobo man. They were said to have gone to their farms when they were ambushed and shot by suspected herdsmen.

They have been troubling us and people don’t go to farms again because of attacks like this one.”

The corpses of the two persons have been evacuated by the police from Ekiadolor Police Division in ONELGA In a related development, four persons were alleged to have been killed since Easter Sunday as a result of continued clash between members of Eiye and Black axe confraternities.

A young man was allegedly shot dead on Tuesday night at Ugbague Lane by suspected rival cult members.

Irate Youths Set Chinese Company on Fire Rebecca Ejifoma A group of irate youths has set ablaze a yet to be identified Chinese company in Ogun State for allegedly locking its workers inside their facility despite the stay-at-home order of the federal government following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

The angry workers of the company could be seen protesting their forced “detention” inside the Chinese

factory in a video that has gone viral on the internet.

The factory is sited at the lbese Area of the state.

The poster, who took to Instagram, noted that the youths divulged how the company owed them two months’ salaries.

Chinese officials, as well as the security detail attached to the company, were alleged to have fled the scene as the mob continued to vandalise the company.

Fire Guts Shops in Ibadan Market

Traders at Dugbe Alawo area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital were thrown into panic on Wednesday afternoon, following a fire outbreak in the area.

According to the traders, the fire started around 1.20 p.m. and engulfed a high-rise building located at Lebanon road.

Channels Television reported that rows of shops close to the building were not left out as they were also affected by the fire. Items like household goods, clothes and electronics

being sold by the traders were destroyed in the fire.

Although, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, men of the fire service from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the state fire service were later seen at the scene frantically battling the fire.

As at the time of this report, no life was reported lost in the inferno.

The traders however lamented that valuable goods which cannot be quantified yet were destroyed in the fire outbreak.

DISTRIBUTION OF PALLIATIVES…

L-R: Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; his wife, Dr. Linda Ayade; and state Commissioner for Health and Chairman of COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Betta Edu, during the inspection of hand sanitizers shortly before flagging off the distribution of the items and food stuffs as palliatives in Calabar…yesterday

Soyinka, Others Urge African Leaders to Rebuild Continent Some scholars have called on African governments to use the opportunity of the COVID-19 crisis to develop models to improve the continent’s health sector, public policies and infrastructures in the service of its people.

The letter obtained by Premium Times, advised African leaders and citizens to seize the opportunity to develop the continent’s potential.

They asked African leaders “to break with a model of development based on the vicious cycle of indebtedness and break with the orthodox

vision of growth for the sake of growth, and of profit for the sake of profit.”

The letter was signed by 50 scholars including Wole Soyinka (Nobel laureate), Inocência Mata (University of Lisbon), Anthony Obeng (The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning), Lionel Zevounou (Paris Nanterre University), Amy Niang (University of the Witwatersrand) and Ndongo Samba Sylla (Economist, Sénégal), among others As of April 14, Africa has 15,738 cases and 838 deaths, data

obtained from African centre for disease control revealed.

The scholars said the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to shatter the foundations of states and institutions whose profound failings have been ignored for too long.

“Like a tectonic storm, It is impossible to list these, suffice it to mention chronic under-investment in public health and fundamental research, limited achievements in food self-sufficiency, the mismanagement of public finances, the prioritization of road and airport infrastructures at the

expense of human well-being.

“All of this has in fact been the object of abundant specialised research, except that it seems to have escaped attention in spheres of governance on the continent.

The management of the ongoing crisis constitutes most glaring evidence of this gap,” part of the letter reads.

The coalition also said coronavirus “has given rise to a call for radical change in direction of governance as African leaders are being urged to take the destiny of the continent back onto its own hands”.

Sanwo-Olu Approves Moratorium on N2.8bn Loan to MSMEs The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday announced a three months moratorium on loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) granted by Lagos State government.

Sanwo-Olu said the sum is a reprieve of about N410 million.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile said that there will be no interest payment on the N2.8billion loans given out by the Lagos State Employment Trust Funds (LSETF).

According to him, the move is part of the State Government’s

new palliatives to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on micro and medium-scale businesses.

The loan beneficiaries, who cut across various sectors of the economy, now have their repayment of principal and accruing interest deferred.

“At LSETF, we have 1,170 SMEs and 2,160 Micro Enterprises across sectors in agriculture, education, information technology, food processing, and transport with total outstanding loan balance of over N2.8 billion.

“We are granting a three months moratorium on principal

and interest worth over N410 million. This will go a long way to reduce the pressure on these businesses as a result of the economy freeze occasioned

by COVID-19.”

Sanwo-Olu stressed that the state would be providing a free meal to 100,000 young people across communities in Lagos on a daily basis.

The daily feeding scheme, Sanwo-Olu said, would be decentralised, with each local council having its food kitchen domiciled at a pre-arranged location agreed upon by residents.

The governor also said residents

of each local council would know the food vendors to be engaged by the Government for the feeding programme.

Besides, he said additional 250,000 vulnerable persons already identified in social registers of the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) would be getting conditional cash transfer as a form of support for them in the period of the lockdown. The beneficiaries, he said, will not be part of the people that had already got relief food packages from the Government in previous weeks.

PDP Accuses Osun Gov of Intolerance Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday berated the administration of the Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, labelling it as intolerant and insensitive for ensuring that one of its members, Saheed Akinloye, was remanded in prison over a Facebook post.

Akinloye was on Tuesday

arraigned before a Magistrate for alleging in a Facebook post that the Osun State Government imported into the state COVID-19 patients in order to claim money from the federal government.

However, the PDP in a statement issued yesterday by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Prince Diran Odeyemi, and made available to THISDAY in

Ibadan, questioned the insistence of the Magistrate on sending Akinloye to remand for a bailable offence.

He said the insistence of the state Ministry of Justice represented by its acting Permanent Secretary, the Director of Public Prosecution and three other counsel in court to take over the case was an indication that the administration of Oyetola

has already commenced clampdown on the opposition.

He wondered why a government that could not provide food for 20 per cent of its citizens, imported adulterated rice for them and still ordered they should stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, would only be jeered back to life when an opposition was to be dealt with.

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FG Excludes Lagos, Delta, Others from Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme

Peter Uzoho

No fewer than five states of the federation, including Lagos, Delta, Borno, Ogun, and Ebonyi were conspicuously excluded from the list of states currently benefiting from the federal government’s N20, 000 conditional cash transfer scheme to the poorest and vulnerable households in the country to cushion the hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cash transfer scheme, which is part of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the current administration is under the newly-created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and being superintended by the Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

Data seen by THISDAY yesterday, which emanated from the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) Abuja, showed that, of the 36 states of the federation, 31 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are benefiting from the scheme, while five states including Lagos, Delta, Ebonyi, Ogun and Borno were

left out.

According to the data, 133, 227 households benefitted in Katsina; 130, 764 in Zamfara; 99, 044 in Jigawa; 84,148 in Kano; 78, 434 in Plateau and 76,026 benefitted in Kebbi.

Others are Kogi, 62, 129; Benue, 58, 943; Nasarawa, 48, 687; and Kaduna, 35, 384; Kwara, 33, 218; Gombe, 26, 532; Akwa Ibom, 24,929; Yobe, 24, 814; Bauchi, 23, 305; and the FCT, 20, 129.

Also benefiting are Niger, 19, 898; Taraba, 17, 803; Adamawa, 16, 988; Osun, 15, 527; Oyo, 13, 811; Cross River, 11, 998; Edo, 11, 368; Bayelsa, 9, 805; Rivers State, 9, 596; Abia, 9, 347; Anambra, 8, 105; Imo, 7, 220; Ekiti, 4, 709; Ondo, 3, 812; Enugu, 3, 305; and Sokoto, 3, 165.

The data also showed that as of April 9, 2020, a total of 1, 126, 211 households are currently benefitting from the conditional cash transfer of the federal government.

However, the reason for the exclusion of the five states in the cash transfer scheme is not yet known.

Farouq had approved the

Interpol Uncovers €1.5m Face Mask Fraud Traced to Nigeria The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has stated that it has uncovered a fraudulent scheme to the tune of €1.5 million run across three countries, with part of the money headed to Nigeria.

According to The Cable, the organisation said the scheme, coordinated across Spain, Netherlands and United Kingdom, kicked off when German health authorities ordered face masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The order, which originally targeted masks worth €15 million, was placed in March through two sales companies in in Zurich and Hamburg,

according to Interpol.

The police organisation said the buyers placed an initial order of €1.5 million with a company liked to Spain, not knowing their legitimate email addresses had been compromised.

“Through email correspondence, the company initially claimed to have 10 million masks, only for the delivery to fall through,” Interpol said.

“As consolation, they then referred the buyers to a ‘trusted’ dealer in Ireland. The Irish middleman promised to put them in touch with a different supplier, this time in the Netherlands.

FCTA to Arraign Violators of Lockdown Order Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that mobile courts would be activated to try all violators of the directive on the cessation of movement across the FCT. The decision was announced yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Muhammad Musa Bello, who is also the Chairman of the FCT COVID-19 Security Committee.

The announcement followed a review of the effects and level of compliance with the lockdown order in the territory as part of measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The committee condemned the level of compliance with the lockdown in both the FCT and lamented that residents were using the excuse of going to the markets to flout the lockdown directives.

It, therefore, resolved to reduce market activities to only Wednesdays and Saturdays in order to ensure that the FCT does not witness an escalation in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and prevent a public health emergency.

The new guidelines also asked residents to patronise only neighborhood markets as movement from one district to the other would now constitutes a violation of the lockdown order.

Also commercial motorcycles (Okada) are henceforth barred from operating anywhere in Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji during the lockdown.

The FCTA said it would step up sensitisation efforts,, especially in the rural communities and enjoined the area councils’ chairmen, traditional rulers and community leaders to actively engage in sensitising the populace to the dangers of the COVID -19.

immediate termination of the contract of two Payment Service Providers (PSPs) following their inability to meet the contractual agreement to commence

Conditional Cash Transfer to beneficiaries in four states of the federation.

The affected states are: Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia

and Zamfara.

Farouq also added that the federal government cannot accept delays in the current payment round of N20,000

stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households under any excuses in the four states or any other states of the federation.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY…

L-R: Senior government official, Edo State, Mr. Ayuba Sedenu; Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Security Matters, Mr. Yusuf Haruna; and Sales Officer, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), Edo State, Mr. David Osemhenkhian, during the official handover of food products donated to Edo State Government by FMN, as part of its commitment to support the lockdown against the spread of COVID -19 in Benin, Edo State ...yesterday

No Records Lost to Fire Outbreak, Says CAC James Emejo in Abuja The Registrar-General/Chief Executive, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr. Abubakar Garba yesterday said the commission’s main building and all records including vital information remained intact following a “minor fire incident”.

He explained that the inferno, which occurred at

about 10.20 a.m was due to a power surge in one of the outer units of the split airconditioner on the 6th floor in the main building, leading to an explosion.

He told journalists that the sound had attracted the attention of the few personnel within the premises who immediately mobilised to quench the fire using fire extinguishers and fire hose

reels within the building.

But he said the fire was subsequently put out by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service which responded promptly following a distressed call.

According to the CAC boss, the fire had descended through the outer AC ducts to the 5th and 4th floors when the fire service was called in to salvage the situation.

He said:”The fire has since been contained. Only one unit of 2 horse power split air conditioner and the electric cabling leading to it were affected.

“There was no casualty arising from the incident.

Furthermore, the commission’s main building and all records and other vital information have not been affected by the incident.”

Bauchi Gov Signs Two Executive Bills into Law Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has signed two executive bills into law.

The bills are a law repealing the State Geographic Information System (BAGIS) and other matters connected to its operations and a law establishing the State Statistical System and Bureau of Statistic Law 2020.

Mohammed used the occasion to reaffirm the determination of his administration to work within due process and rule of law.

He observed that the

repealing of the State Geographic Information System would ensure effective land administration in the state in line with global best practices.

The governor also directed the State Commissioner of Lands and Survey to use the development to enable the state government to achieve its set objectives as plans.

“We pray Allah to bless the State House of Assembly and the Bauchi State Government for the kind of synergy we established. I must thank the assembly for the synergy, cooperation and statesmanship and response to call to duty.

“These bills that we have just

signed with your approval are critical to the management of our geographic system.

“With my background as a former FCT Minister, I know that land administration is larger than geographic system and I approached the assembly to make it useful under land administration and the Ministry for enforcement of geographic information system so that we can have one of the best in terms of urban and regional planning,” he said.

According to him, the state government could not make good plan for its education, health, and rural development among others without accurate

data.

“We know that the most important thing in developmental planning is statistics. So, we submitted the bills to the lawmakers to establish administrative framework for the collection, storage and usage of our data for developmental purposes,” the governor said.

Presenting the Bills to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Abubakar Y Suleiman, hoped that the two bills would assist towards the delivery of dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.

IPC Launches Advisory on COVID-19 Reporting The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria, today formally launched an advisory to aid journalists in the course of covering and reporting the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said in a statement yesterday that generations of Nigerian journalists were covering a pandemic for the first time and therefore needed as

much professional support as possible.

Arogundade also said that journalists were being exposed to heath and security risks as front men and women in the effort to disseminate information that would help combat the pandemic.

“It is against this background that the advisory is divided into three parts - Safety, Ethics and Professionalism and Social Responsibility,” he said.

Mr. Arogundade said the advisory had also become necessary because the COVID-19 infection was spreading to more states and all journalists, whether on the field or not, should benefit from relevant knowledge.

“The advisory derives from and complements existing national, regional and media standards for crisis reporting,” he stated.

The IPC Director said the

release of the advisory would be followed by capacity trainings for journalists in partnership with other media and communication professional bodies in the next couple of days.

“The trainings will enable journalists to share information and ask questions based on their experience on the field and in turn receive more professional support,” Arogundade added.

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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14

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ 2020

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

DIPLOMACY BEYOND CORONAVIRUS

African governments should speak against economic violence on persons of African descent, writes Okello Oculi

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resident Donald Trump cried tears from his eyebrows for African-Americans dying from Coronavirus by accusing the World Health Organisation (WHO) of declaring a global pandemic late; and commending China’s policy of restricting movement within and out of Wuhan: a city of 10 million people but criticizing his prohibiting travel from Europe into the United States.

President Trump hid his repeated dismissal of COVID-19 as a flu which would soon vanish, and repeatedly lied that the country was conducting tests, having enough doctors, nurses and ‘’ventilators’’, masks and ventilators for patient in Intensive Care Units.

President Trump once campaigned vigorously to get Barack Obama disqualified from contesting for the presidency. He repeatedly claimed that Obama was not born in Hawaii, a state in federal America. Obama’s Kenyan father never acquired American citizenship, and that the politician was born in Indonesia. Not only did his campaign fail but the African-America occupied the White House: riding on a horse of mass popular votes by white and other racial communities. Obama later joked that both of them had been born in Kenya.

The Nobel Prize committee denied Trump a laurel in his first term as president. Obama had won it. History’s cheeky sense of humour gave the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize to Abey Ahmed, the youthful Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Trump complained openly.

Abey proclaimed from a stage in South Africa his innocent surprise at beating Trump to the tape. It did not help that the Ethiopian was also a Muslim, a social badge he was allergic to.

Teodos was an Ethiopian and the first African elected Director General of the World Health Organisation, and second African at the head of a United Nations’ agency to attract America’s wrath. Mukhtar M’bow from Senegal, infuriated powerful racists in Washington for getting UNESCO to finance the publication of 10 volumes of scholarly research by Africa’ most distinguished historians writing ‘’from an African perspective’’.

M’bow had also joined Diallo Telli, the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Organisation (OAU), a campaign to release Nelson Mandela from prison; and humanizing global culture by ending ‘’Apartheid’’ as ‘’a crime against humanity’’. The United States withdrew financial support from UNESCO. Teodoros has called on developed economies to support African, Asian and South American countries whose medical and health care resources are likely to crumble from levels of Coronavirus storms which had hit China. Having described Africa as a latrine (or ‘’shit-hole’’), President Trump is unlikely to see American money

THE AFRICAN UNION MUST PROMOTE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT

BY HER DIASPORA IN NORTH AMERICA, BRAZIL, PERU, COLUMBIA, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA AND NUMEROUS ISLAND COUNTRIES

shared for human solidarity with Africa.

The high rate of death from Coronavirus by African-Americans should not all be blamed on Trump. In 1977, Victor Sidel and Ruth Sidel in their book titled: “A HEATHY STATE: An International Perspective on the Crisis in United States Medical Care’’ wrote that in 1970 poor Americans aged 17-44 had a ‘’50 percent higher rate of diabetes, hypertension than do those with incomes higher than $15,000’’. African-Americans are ravaged by these health problems.

Dr Fauchi, a leading authority on epidemics described these ailments as ‘’underlying conditions’’ that increase chances of death from Coronavirus.

One implication of this condition is for African governments to speak openly against records of economic violence against persons of African descent. European political, business and media leaders resolutely battered President Robert Mugabe’s economy with savage embargoes because he directed veterans of his liberation movement to grab land forcefully seized by European immigrants.

The African Union must promote economic and political empowerment by her Diaspora in North America, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Mexico, Australia and numerous island countries.

Egypt earns $10 million annually from tourism. African tourist agencies may attract more Chinese tourists following racist attacks on Chinese persons in Europe and the United States – blaming them for the virus . Negotiations with China should focus on her buying Africa’s debts owed to Euro-American institutions. Many African countries lose the investment potential of at least 70 percent of their annual incomes as repayment for these debts. Up to $44 billion will be repaid in 2020 alone.

An Italian Foreign Minister blamed France’s expropriation of $500 billion from 14 former colonies in Africa for youths perishing in the Sahara and Mediterranean Sea while fleeing from the resulting poverty and economic stagnation in these suffocated countries. The African Union must confront this matter as a form of ‘Economic COVID-19’ and crime against rights to human development.

Commendable pumping funds into the ‘’informal sector’’ should follow a wit that if an elephant dies you do not save the meat but the tusks. Cash in their hands should buy goods that will keep jobs for innovative factory workers to boost new productivity and consumption. A Pan-African Market Women’s Innovation Trust Fund should be established for supporting innovation in this sector. Their past inventions of Gari, Kose, Kunun Gero are testimonies.

CHINA, COVID-19 AND AFRICAN ANGER Olusegun Adeniyi argues that African countries should adopt a more strategic approach to managing relations with China t $POUJOVFE GSPN CBDL QBHF

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t a time like this, anti-China misinformation, including that 5G is somehow connected to coronavirus, is unhelpful and so is the animosity that some of our leaders are fuelling.

The Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian was invited by the House of Representatives Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila last week. In the course of the meeting, he was asked to watch video clips of Nigerians being maltreated in Guangzhou. The mobile phone showing the video clip was placed on a tea table in deference to social distancing. In stooping to watch, the ambassador was directly in front of the seated speaker. In the photograph sent out

by Gbajabiamila, the handset and the table were cropped out and the photograph was made to appear as if the ambassador was trying to prostrate before him. Members were even circulating the photograph with the caption, ‘Mr Speaker reads the riot act to the Chinese ambassador.’ These same ‘patriotic’ members were laughing hysterically while debating the plight of Nigerians in Wuhan in January this year. On Sunday, the Chinese embassy had to issue a statement to state that “any other interpretation of the scene” in the photograph is a distortion of what transpired at the meeting. What Gbajabiamila did is disgraceful. China is not only a global superpower, it is too strategic to Nigeria for its ambassador to be treated with such disrespect.

Now to the conduct of some of our people in China. This is an area where sentiments must be tossed and a rational cap donned. Irregular migrants from the continent too often disregard the

laws of their host countries, putting many of them in trouble.

The account of Zara Gift Onyinye, a trader who claimed to have witnessed an incident that went viral, corroborates this. She narrated how some of those who arrived China shortly before the borders were closed defied the lockdown and the unfortunate drama that occurred when two out of three cases turned out to be malaria and typhoid – though one was positive for coronavirus.

This was the man who reportedly assaulted a health worker, which led to the siege on black people. In the process, a Chinese woman married to a Nigerian who runs a restaurant patronised mostly by her husband’s compatriots tested positive. The Chinese woman had reportedly visited her village where she caught the virus but had not self-isolated for 14 days upon return to Guangzhou. That prompted the Chinese police to move in to shut everywhere, according to Onyinye. “They (the Chinese) rationalised that if it was black people who patronised the woman, and she had been serving them for days, some black people would have contracted the virus from her.

Because of that, they asked those people who had been in isolation to remain indoors until they sort out the issue of this Chinese wife of a Nigerian and the people she came in contact with. Health workers moved from house to house to check people and run tests. They do the tests, ask you to wait for 24 hours, and if you test negative, they give you a card to be able to go out. Now that card is what you would use to go to the markets and different places. So these people were asked to stay indoors until the tests had been done for everybody so that they could figure out those

who had it and those who didn’t have it, but they refused....”

While I commend the efforts of the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria for trying to douse the fire generated by this crisis, the fact also is that this problem did not start today nor is it restricted to Guangzhou. That explains why China should also be careful. Every ascendant power or civilization soon acquires a certain messianic arrogance that defines reality in terms of ‘us’ versus ‘them’. This is more so when the ascendant power is in the envious economic position of apparent benefactor as is the case between China and Africa. Often, the racial factor creeps in if the recipient happens to be coloured differently. I scan the Chinese media online almost on a daily basis and I can see a growing xenophobia on which their government must begin to engage their citizens.

As an emergent global power, China has much to lose from any hint of racism in its policy towards people from other continents.

It is, however, gratifying to note that appropriate lessons are being learnt as a result of this crisis. The Guangdong authorities, according to a statement on Monday, “attach great importance to some African countries’ concerns and are working promptly to improve their working method.”

These measures, according to the Chinese, include providing health management services without discrimination, designating hotels for accommodating foreigners required to undergo medical observation and adopting price adjustment for those in financial difficulties; setting up effective communication mechanism with foreign consulates-general in Guangzhou; and rejecting all racist and discriminatory remarks. “The Chinese

people always see in the African people partners and brothers through thick and thin. African friends can count on getting fair, just, cordial and friendly reception in China. The foreign ministry will stay in close communication with the Guangdong authorities and continue responding to the African side’s reasonable concerns and legitimate appeals. The virus knows no borders.

The pandemic, a challenge to all mankind, can only be defeated through concerted international efforts. With mutual understanding, mutual support and cooperation, we are ready to continue working with African friends to achieve the final victory,” the statement said.

On the whole, what most African countries are yet to recognize is the ongoing contest for global pre-eminence between the United States and China. To that extent, African countries like Nigeria ought to adopt a more strategic approach to managing relations with China. No one knows if Nigeria has a China policy yet and if any, what precisely that policy is. At the level of the African countries themselves, there is need to adopt a mixture of self-esteem and pragmatism in relating to China’s new influence and presence on the continent. We can accept aid and concessionary loans without compromising our dignity. African countries also need to manage its Chinese relations with tact, especially in the context of this virus and its geopolitical dimensions. Pragmatism, reasonableness and clear-headedness are advised on both sides of the Africa-China spectrum.

One last word: While the Chinese authorities continue working with African governments, they will be wise to ensure that they do not in the process create enemies of African people.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

EDITORIAL THE BURDEN OF KIDNEY DISEASE There is need for preventive interventions to avert the onset of the disease

T

he increasing burden of kidney disease in Nigeria was brought to the fore recently when the country, along with others, marked the World Kidney Day with the fitting theme, “Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere.” Medical experts used the opportunity to harp on the need to intensify awareness campaigns and urgent intervention, particularly on preventive measures that will help contain the scourge.

According to the President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, Ifeoma Ulasi, some 25 million Nigerians suffer from kidney disease which could lead to renal failure and death.

Indeed, kidney disease is emerging as a major health problem. The World Health Organisation (WHO) projects that about two million people in Lagos State are suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). “It affects all ages and genders and commonly complicates diabetes, and hypertension. Most patients present late, requiring life-saving interventions and procedures,” said a Nephrologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Moses Tari.

THE WORLD HEALTH Kidney disease, acORGANISATION PROJECTS cording to him, makes THAT ABOUT TWO MILLION up a large part of daily PEOPLE IN LAGOS STATE hospital admissions and constitutes about ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 40 per cent of referrals to tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. A study conducted between 2008 and 2011 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) said kidney-related diseases accounted for 9 per cent paediatric admissions.

A leading cause of death in Nigeria as elsewhere, the disease refers to a condition where the kidney is unable to perform its functions effectively. It becomes a chronic disease when the ability to filter waste from the blood is seriously hampered. It could go undetected in the early stages because of lack of obvious symptoms. But at a later stage, referred to as end-stage kidney disease

(ESKD), or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the signs become obvious as unfiltered waste build up in the body.

These come in form of frequent or infrequent urination, swelling in feet and ankles, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.

T

T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA

he leading causes of the disease are varied, ranging from high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell and kidney infection. According to experts, other predisposing factors include obesity, untreated microbial infections, HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and malaria. Smoking, toxicity due to long-term use of herbal concoctions as well as long-term use of skin whitening creams, unsafe drinking water, abuse of analgesics had also been linked to the development of kidney disease.

During the 2020 event, medical experts were emphatic about the need for preventive interventions to avert the onset and progression of kidney disease. This is instructive as managing renal failure is expensive. Very few people are enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and even so, the coverage is grossly inadequate. Most individual patients can hardly afford the cost of medical intervention by means of dialysis to filter waste and extra fluid in the blood. A typical dialysis session, for instance, costs about N30,000 and least two or three times a week are required to keep the patient alive. About 18,000 of the 25 million Nigerians suffering from renal failure reportedly need regular dialysis annually.

The cost of an alternative, a kidney transplant, is even more prohibitive as it runs into millions of naira. The very few who can afford that often travel abroad for the operation since few hospitals in the country have the capacity to conduct such delicate surgery. “The awareness aspect is critical because people must be made to come to terms with the fact that they are, first of all, responsible for their health and wellbeing,” said Lagos State First Lady and medical doctor Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu. Indeed, people need to embrace healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and maintaining normal body weight. It’s time to place emphasis on reducing the risk factors.

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COVID-19: REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF WORK

B

efore now, Human Capital experts have warned of imminent changes to the work environment. They projected a revolution in the way, manner and how works are done, as well as the dynamic nature of work itself.

As hard as these realities seem to many, current Covid-19 global pandemic experience has further underscored the believability of these changes and several alternatives available to how works could be done, either through a ‘virtual-physical’ or ‘virtual-virtual’ platform as against the traditional ‘physical-physical’ work model.

Since the virus made its way to countries of the world through the Wuhan Province of China up till its discovery in Nigeria, several lessons have manifested from this unfortunate development.

For us in Nigeria and Lagos State specifically, being the epicenter of the virus in the country, the stay-at-home order from President Muhammadu Buhari has further exposed the dependence of a large chunk of the country’s population on daily earnings, just as it also revealed the need for us to be more inventive in our approach to work and move with the current trend of virtual work environment.

In March this year, President Buhari launched the Digital Nigeria Programme as “one of federal government’s key initiatives that will empower innovators and entrepreneurs with skills required to thrive in our emerging digital economy”.

Also, the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy is partnering with a number of institutions to enable Nigerians acquire cutting edge digital skills within the comfort of their homes. One of such partnerships is based on the MoU signed

with IBM, a computer hardware company in January this year to provide Nigerians with over 280+ hours of free learning & 85+ courses on key emerging technologies like Blockchain; Artificial Intelligence; Big Data; and Cloud Computing.

The tragic episode of Covid-19 may be one that had exhumed inherent creativity in us as human and it has, no doubt, made it more glaring that certain things we had hitherto considered to be far-reaching and highly unattainable are actually achievable and within our reach. Thus, “we may not know the giant that lies in us until we’re pushed to the wall.”

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lagos State government may never have considered the possibility of an online Executive Council meeting if the current reality had not compelled governments across the world to be more ingenious and think outside the box to ensure that the business of governance continues in spite of the threat posed by the virus.

As it was in Lagos State, the United Kingdom also witnessed a first electronic cabinet meeting which allowed ministers to discuss the latest updates on the corona virus outbreak, while observing official advice to work from home whenever possible.

In the education sector, the Lagos State government also introduced a teaching and learning platforms on Radio and Television for learners. The initiative, according to the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, was intended to support SS3 students preparing for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while the Chairman of Lagos SUBEB, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King explained that the on-air programmes were designed to academically engage pupils despite the closure of

schools.

Of the most recent in these series of online initiatives in Lagos State was an online training session targeted at thousands of public servants in the state through the Ministry of establishments, Training and Pensions with emphasis on the future of works across the globe. This initiative was also made possible through Zoom App and was facilitated by several resource persons including the Chairman of the State’s Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo. This, being another first of its kind, was commended by several public servants who joined the online training sessions.

Perhaps, the underlying message here is that in spite of several disruptions of social and human activities globally occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, creative ways are being devised to keep the business of governance going, improve the human capacity of workforce and ensure smooth running of school curriculum through the aid of technology.

Also, in what appears to be incredulous, faith-based activities are now being held online, with faithful worshiping in the comfort of their homes. Charity offerings are now being sent online and used for the purposes which they are meant for.

To government officials and other corporate workers, the reality is dawn on them that their daily activities could now be carried out anywhere and anytime via the internet, considering the viral advantages associated with the various online platforms and channels which are yet to be fully explored for maximum economic gains.

Ayo Afuwape, Social Media Department, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Buhari Congratulates Johnson on Successful Recovery Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated the British Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson, on his successful discharge from hospital where he was treated for COVID-19.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president sent a congratulatory

letter dated April 14, 2020 to Johnson.

Adesina said Buhari received with great relief the news of Jonhson’s discharge from the hospital, and expressed delight on his recovery on behalf of his family, the government and people of Nigeria.

“We all join you in appreciating the wonderful staff at both the hospital and the NHS who worked round

the clock to look after you and those afflicted by Covid-19,”

Buhari was quoted as saying.

The statement added that

the president also wished the prime minister “full recovery

and good health in the coming days.”

I Have Not Recovered from Pandemic, Says el-Rufai Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday said he is still positive for COVID-19.

The governor, who disclosed this on his Twitter handle yesterday afternoon, also disclosed that he chaired the State Executive Council meeting through a video conference.

He called on Nigerians and people of the state in particular to ignore fake news over his status, saying that he will personally make it public when he is cleared of the disease.

According to the governor, “Earlier today, between 10a.m. and 2p.m., I took few hours during my isolation and chaired a virtual meeting of the State

Executive Council.

“I have not been cleared of COVID-19 yet. I will personally announce when I am confirmed negative. Please ignore all fake news even if they are what you wish for” he said.

He commended his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, members of the state executive and advisers for keeping the State running in his absence.

“I am grateful to our team ably led by the deputy governor for keeping the agenda going without me. I am super proud of all our commissioners, advisers, assistants, security agencies and other state government officials for a job well done,” he said.

Enugu Discharges one COVID-19 Patient Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Enugu State Government has discharged one of the two COVID-19 patients at the Isolation Centre in Enugu.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ik Obi announced this development in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists last night.

He recalled that the NCDC had announced two cases of COVID 19 in Enugu that have

been in isolation and receiving care.

According to him, one of them has tested negative for the virus and has been discharged.

The other person, he said is stable and responding very well to treatment.

“We encourage all persons to continue to stay home, maintain hand and respiratory hygiene, wear a facemask in line with the NCDC’s advisory and maintain physical distancing”, he said.

FG Approves Extension for Foreigners with Valid Pass The federal government has stated that foreigners with valid visitors pass or resident permit with confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out would be issued the relevant government extensions at no cost.

The extension is to enable the beneficiaries reschedule their flights and travel within one week whenever the restriction on travel is suspended.

Many foreigners are stranded as a result of the closure of the international airports and land borders by the federal government.

Following this development, many foreign embassies in the country, including the United States Mission, British High Commission and others, demand government permission to airlift their nationals through special evacuation flights.

But the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) explained in a statement in Abuja yesterday that the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, had approved the order in respect of the aliens affected by the

embargo on international travels vide a letter with reference MI/ PM/16012/S.266/V.II, dated April 6.

The statement by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, said: “In the light of the above, all visitors and migrants holding valid visitors pass or resident permit with confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out within the period of the international travel restriction, are to be issued with relevant extensions at no cost to enable the beneficiaries to reschedule their flights and travel within one week whenever the embargo is suspended by the federal government.”

However foreigners whose permits pass expired before the restriction order must pay for overstay for the period and the penalty it attracts.

“Furthermore, anyone that overstays beyond the waiver period whenever the restriction is lifted by the federal government is to promptly comply by paying for overstay,” it added.

FIGHTING PANDEMIC…

L-R: Leader of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Uzochukwu Onyebinama (left), and Chairman of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Committee, Imo State, Prof. Maurice Iwu (right), during the donation of sanitizers to lmo Government bythe union in Owerri... yesterday

US Halting of WHO Funding is Dangerous, Says Bill Gates American business tycoon, Mr. Bill Gates, has described President Donald Trump’s halting of funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “dangerous as it sounds.”

President Trump had on Tuesday said he was instructing his administration to halt funding while “a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organisation’s role in severely

mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”

Trump explained that the US will now “discuss what to do with all that money that goes to the WHO.” Gates in a tweet on his handle, however, faulted Trump’s decision at a time the world is fighting a pandemic.

“Halting funding for the WHO during a world health

crisis is as dangerous as it sounds,” the businessman said.

The world, more than ever, needs the WHO which is helping to slow down the spread of COVID-19, according to Gates.

He said: “Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO

now more than ever.”

The WHO had in January declared coronavirus a public health emergency of global concern with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledging about $100m to help in the fight against the pandemic.

According to the foundation, the money will be deployed to help find a vaccine for the pandemic

Members Not Refusing to Donate their Salaries for Pandemic Fight, Says House Spokesman Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday said that none of its members was against the donation of their two months’ salaries to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had announced that the Green Chamber agreed to contribute their salaries for March

and April to support the federal government’s efforts amid the pandemic.

But, a lawmaker representing Niger State, Hon. Lado Suleja, was reportedly quoted as saying that lawmakers were “forced” to donate their salaries of two months to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, while responding to THISDAY enquiry, the Spokesman of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu,

said that the debit authorisation for the month had gone out in line with the standing debit order from the management of the National Assembly to the banks handling the payroll before the approval of the leadership to donate was issued According to him, “it is being rectified by the management of National Assembly and we are committed to our pledge to donate 100 per cent of our two months salaries because we saw

the need to do so which the speaker specifically identified and chose for its application”.

Kalu recalled that the speaker had said the contributions by members would support provisions for the welfare of frontline medical professionals and health workers, and other interventions to provide for the wellbeing of all Nigerians through these trying times.

FAAC Meeting to Hold through Video Conferencing Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja The April 2020 edition of the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting will hold through video conferencing due to the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum of Commissioners for Finance, has revealed.

The Forum encompasses the finance commissioners of the 36 states of the federation.

The monthly FAAC meetings are usually held at the headquarters of the Federal

Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Abuja where revenue allocation to the different tiers of government are disbursed.

The Chairman of the Forum of Commissioners for Finance, Hon. David Olofu disclosed that due to the effects of COVID-19 and the social distancing protocol, the April meeting of FAAC would hold through video conferencing.

Olofu, who spoke when he led a delegation of the Forum on a solidarity visit to the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris over the recent fire incident at the Treasury House, which houses the Office of

the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Abuja, said the Forum of Commissioners was impressed by the efforts of the Accountant-General of the Federation in restoring services on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform less than 24 hours after the fire outbreak.

Olofu, who is also the Commissioner for Finance of Benue State, expressed the relief of the Forum of that no document related to federation accounts were destroyed in the fire outbreak.

A statement issued by the Director (Information, Press and Public Relations, OAGF, Henshaw Ogubike, quoted Olofu as saying that the Forum has had a cordial working relationship with the Office of AccountantGeneral of the Federation and commended Idris for the various financial management reforms implemented in the last five years, including the migration of the operations of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) from manual to electronic processing and distribution of federation revenue to the three tiers of government.

MultiChoice Talent Factory Portal Launches DOLBY Webinars MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), in partnership with the Dolby Institute, has launched Dolby Audio Webinars, an online learning channel for content creators in the movie industry.

The webinars, eight in this series, will go live today at 12:00

pm and run every Thursday.

The webinars cover a range of topics such as sound for video editors, setting-Up a 5.1 session and mix environment, Dolby Atmos Content Creation and other sound engineering topics.

The first four sessions will

focus on script analysis and planning for 5.1 productions and will be one of four webinars developed for all content creators, while the other four webinars are more technical and tailor-made for mix engineers, video editors and system integrators.

The Dolby Institute develops educational programming to help creatives advance in the art of storytelling, whether they are making a film, mixing the sound for a sporting event, or designing the next-generation music experiences.

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

17

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Kogi Police Investigate Ex-commissioner over Alleged N69m Fraud Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The immediate-past Kogi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Paul Ebije, has been ordered by the state government to account for about N69million, money allegedly meant for the rehabilitation of 11 tourist sites in the state.

THISDAY learnt that the former commissioner was accused of diverting the funds, a matter that has now become an issue that would have to be unraveled by men of the Criminal Investigation

Department (CID), Kogi State Police Command.

Sources also hinted that all heads of departments of the ministry and the immediatepast permanent secretary of the ministry have been invited for questioning over the missing funds and were seen at the state police headquarters.

The HoDs who were all gripped by fear following the invitation and arrest, however, feigned ignorance as to the way the money disappeared, as many of them claimed not to be in the know of the amount allegedly

diverted.

The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello has expressed his disdain for corrupt

officials, and has constantly dealt with those found wanting.

The state Police Command has, however, confirmed the

development through the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Aya, that the matter is before the police criminal

investigation department and that investigation into the matter is on to unravel those behind the missing funds.

Coalition of Political Parties Commend Sanwo-Olu Segun James

The Conference of Registered Political Parties in Lagos has commended the efforts of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in combatting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The group also condemned criticisms of the governor’s handling of palliative measures for the less-privileged Lagosians during the current COVID-19 lockdown, saying those who

were using the pages of newspapers and online media as “the altar of injustice” against the good governance of Sanwo-Olu were those “who have added no value to the polity of Lagos State and would stop at nothing to pull the state down.”

According to the Chairman of the group, Mr. Taiwo Fatai, “Sanwo-Olu deserves commendation for his reaction to COVID-19 and not condemnations.

FG Subsidises Fertilizer for Farmers

The federal government has said it has subsidised the price of fertilizer from N5,500 to N5,000 as part of palliatives for farmers in the country as the nation battles with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chairman of the Committee on Presidential Fertilizer Initiative and the Jigawa State Governor, Mr. Badaru Abubakar, disclosed this yesterday at the Government House in Dutse, the state capital.

The governor noted that the federal government has concluded plans to produce 12 million of 50kg bags of the fertilizer in order to make it available for the farmers.

“As part of the palliative measures introduced by Mr President to help the Nigerians

farmers on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market price for the sale of NPK fertilisers and other end users has been reduced from N5, 500 to N5,000 per 50 kilo bag,” he said.

According to him, famers will be allowed to go to their farms despite the lockdown in the country.

He however advised farmers, especially those in the rural areas to maintain social distancing and hygiene to prevent further spread of coronavirus.

The governor noted that although the lockdown affects few states in Nigeria, he is however optimistic that farmers will be considered to go on with their activities in due course.

Medical Supplies for Nigeria, Others Leave Addis Ababa The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that the first United Nations (UN) solidarity flight carrying “vital COVID-19 medical supplies to all African nations,” has departed Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The WHO disclosed this in its “Coronavirus Disease 2019 Situation Report -85” published yesterday.

“WHO cargo includes one million face masks as well as personal protective equipment which will be enough to protect health workers while treating more than 30,000 patients and laboratory supplies to support surveillance and detection,” the report indicated.

The report added that there is no evidence that oral poliovirus vaccine protects people against infection with the COVID-19 virus.

It however said that a clinical trial addressing the question is planned in the USA, and WHO

will evaluate the evidence when it is available.

It added, “In the absence of evidence, WHO does not recommend OPV vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19.

WHO continues to recommend OPV as part of essential immunisation services to prevent poliomyelitis and as part of global polio eradication efforts.

“There are experimental signals from various studies over the years that OPV has non-specific effects on the immune system.

These effects have not been well characterised and their clinical relevance is unknown.

“Such non-specific effects may not be limited to OPV, as other live vaccines have also been associated with non-specific protective effects (such as BCG vaccine against tuberculosis).

Non-live vaccines in contrast do not seem to have the same effects.

ENFORCING THE LAW…

FCT Ministerial Task Force checking vehicles to ensure full compliance with the restriction of movement order in Abuja...yesterday JULIUS ATOI

REA Powers Isolation Centres in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the body responsible for the provision of electricity to underserved communities in the country, yesterday fulfilled its pledge to deploy solar power in lighting up several isolation centres in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States.

The agency said it presented the four completed solar hybrid mini grid plants in the three states as part of its support in stemming the tide against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Projects handed over to authorities at the health centres

included a 53.1KWp solar hybrid mini grid installed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital COVID-19 isolation centre and a 25KWp solar hybrid mini grid at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) public health laboratory in Lagos.

Also, REA handed over a 20KWp solar hybrid mini grid at the 128-bed Ikenne isolation centre and the 10KWp solar mini hybrid at Kodo isolation centre in Ogun State.

It said the initiative was being implemented by the agency to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments as well as the private sector

in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

This, the agency noted, followed the outlined intervention and palliative measures of President Muhammadu Buhari in his national broadcast of March 29, 2020, and the Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh’s directive on the role of REA in complementing the government’s effort. The organisation had before now, said it was providing emergency electrification of COVID-19 health centres across the country in collaboration with development partners.

The Managing Director of the agency, Ahmad Salihijo, while

delivering his remarks at the handing over of the project, reiterated REA’s support in containing the pandemic and commitment towards electrification of unserved and underserved areas across the country.

He stated that: “The REA, being the implementing agency of the federal government for the electrification of unserved and underserved areas across the country, hereby provides and hands over this 53.1KWp solar hybrid mini grid to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital COVID-19 Isolation Centre.

SystemSpecs Donates N100m to Fight against COVID-19 Leading indigenous fintech and human capital management company, SystemSpecs, has announced the donation of N100million towards efforts of the government and other stakeholders to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

The amount given included cash donations to federal and state governments; provision of a complete COVID-19 test system as

well as direct intervention to help keep the government operations running during the lockdown.

Commenting on the initiative, the Managing Director of SystemSpecs, John Obaro said: “The quick containment of the COVID-19 pandemic requires well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to support the efforts of the government and other stakeholders; as a responsible

corporate citizen, our organisation is doing this through a range of measures. “It is imperative for everyone to lend a helping hand in whatever way they can as nothing is too small at a time like this.”

According to the organisation, the amount included a donation of N50million to the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) coordinated initiative; cash donation to states

across the geo-political zones; procurement of an advanced COVID-19 test system for the International Foundation Against Infectious Diseases in Nigeria (IFAIN) for installation at its Kano laboratory, and technology support (computers and Internet subscriptions) to enhance remote operations by state government officials responsible for critical operations.

Police Investigate Sale of Exemption Tags in Abuja The FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Bala Ciroma, yesterday ordered a discreet investigation into an allegation trending on the social media that the COVID-19 exemption tags were sold to persons not on the exemption list.

It said only the Police and

the Federal Capital Territory Authority Security Service Department were authorised to issue the tags as part of measures adopted to check the flagrant violation of the presidential lockdown order in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19

by some residents.

The command, in a statement, said the authentic COVID-19 exemption tags are issued only to duly verified persons that are essential service providers.

“The exemption tags are free of charge. “The command wishes to

therefore assure members of the public that investigation into the allegation that some unscrupulous elements are printing and sharing these tags has commenced and the outcome of which will be made known to members of the public”, it said.

Pathologist Urges FG to Invest in Healthcare Emma Okonji A Nigerian-born Clinical Director of Pathology at the Leads Teaching Hospital in United Kingdom, Dr. Rotimi Olorunda, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to invest more in healthcare delivery system in order to boost the health situation of Nigerians and effectively manage any sudden outbreak of virus

like the Coronavirus presently ravaging the world.

Olorunda, who spoke yesterday from UK and featured on Arise TV, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said: “The Coronavirus is no respecter of persons and it is killing fast, and this is the reason the Nigerian Government must invest more in its healthcare delivery system.

Olorunda, who said the current investment of N2, 000

per person annually on healthcare delivery system in Nigeria was not enough to give Nigerians a befitting healthcare delivery system, advised that the federal government should increase the healthcare centres in the country, and upgrade them to international standard.

“High profile Nigerians have been infected by COVID-19 and they are not able to travel outside the country for any form of

healthcare service because of the global lockdown. This is the more reason why the government must invest in the country’s healthcare delivery system and establish healthcare centres in the country that have international standard.

Government should revisit its healthcare system from the primary healthcare to the tertiary healthcare delivery system and upgrade them to international standard,” Olorunda said.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com (08114495324 SMS ONLY)

‘Igbos are a Conquered People, Held in Bondage and Monitored Aggressively’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong interacts with Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, President of Igbo Youth Movement on what he perceives as the underlining politics of COVID-19 palliatives and other issues that define the relationship between the government at the centre and the various states, particularly Eastern Nigeria ow are you coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in the East?

My dear brother, there’s nothing inspiring going on. It’s like we’re all standing still, marking time.

Nobody I know is excited, fulfilled, confident or happy with the situation in the country. The East cannot be different. Nobody is sure where exactly we are headed. This is not the best of times.

The COVID-19 holiday affords all the opportunity for soul searching and self examination. But the plight of the starving, less privileged and the vulnerable, is disturbing.

H

land. PDP laid the foundation for the confusion in the land today. Dr. Alex Ekwueme told me that former President Obasanjo assured him that he would restructure Nigeria, but the fellow mischievously preferred a third term to salvaging Nigeria. Igbo political elite surrounded Jonathan for five years, they drank brandy with him into the wee hours, they failed to use the opportunity to address group interest, today Igboland has no international airport, no seaport, no rail services, nothing. The roads until recently were in a horrible condition. The PDP is extremely lucky that Buhari goofed, if not PDP would have been history.

But the government is distributing food stuff and making cash payments to the very poor around the country to alleviate their suffering.

So we see on television and newspapers. Here in the East, there is no such thing as cash payments and free food from the central government.

What we have here is commendable efforts to stem the hunger and hardship experienced by daily income earners, by churches, corporate institutions, individuals and a few politicians.

But those are clearly inadequate. The hardship is real.The suffering is real. The volume of aid getting to these groups of people is inadequate.

We are yet to see any kind of help from the central government.

Government is playing games with Eastern Nigeria as usual. Nothing stops them from distributing the aid or whatever through the 774 local government areas, if they are sincere.

That way, it would get to every region. But they obviously don’t want to do that. They seem to be concentrating in the North, especially the Northeast and North-west. Our people feel sidelined as usual. No town or village in Igboland can claim to feel the impact of the Federal Government palliative. We only here of that in the news. I challenge the people in charge to come out and show us beneficiaries here in the East. If anything is going on here, it must be very infinitesimal that nobody feels the impact. As always, we are deliberately sidelined.

The same people sidelining our region are wondering why the youths of this region want out of Nigeria like yesterday. The government released billions, wealthy nations, foreign bodies, individuals and organisations donated billions, just yesterday EU gave 50 million Euros and Igboland is missing out as the largesse is shared in certain regions to the exclusion of others. They are only aiding the recruitment drive of the seccesion agitators. This is sad and disturbing.

How do you mean?

With all due respect, Buhari lacks the political sagacity needed to effectively run a heterogeneous, multi-cultural society like Nigeria. Probably, angered by the fact that Ohanaeze rebuffed his plea to meet with him during the 2014/2015, he angrily decided to teach the region a lesson. I suspect that both Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina, by their professional training, must have tried to get his permission to correct the grave mistake of 97%/5% formula and the import of the faux pas, on the psyche of a very over-sensitive people, he fought against during the war. A people that remembers vividly the role he played at Asaba and other war theatres. They also recall how he distributed the PTF intervention projects under Abacha. His media handlers managing his public image know that the unprovoked 95%/5% dichotomy will irreparably damage both his image and place in history. That no effort was made to clarify the statement and mitigate the damage done by the pronouncement, simply suggests that the man probably said he didn’t care. His image handlers could have easily played with words and said their principal couldn’t possibly say or mean to apply such divisive formula. But the whole world waited in vain. I suspect the man must have told them, “to hell with Nyamiri.” So those hurtful words stuck till this day. He unwittingly placed a wedge between Ndigbo and himself. And of course, PDP benefitted.

Had he been smart enough to reach out to Ndigbo in his first term, he would have won them over. He also chose fear and coercion, as his style of governance, to the end that his close aides seem afraid to tell him any thing they perceive he may not want to hear.

His mistake were avoidable. He didn’t know Ndigbo do not worship man. He erroneously mistook the quite horrible and shameful boot licking culture of the Igbo contractor class, as the Igbo way of life, nobody told him that the genes of Ndigbo are completely different from those of the other ethnic nationalities that bow down and submit to eternal subjugation. He had to find out himself between 2015 and 2020, that Ndigbo worship no man. So within this period he erroneously assumed that Ndigbo would bow and worship, the PDP smartly latched onto Ndigbo in order to survive. That is the truth.

Had Buhari wooed Ndigbo with appointments and projects and maybe set up a committee on restructuring Nigeria, in 2015, he would have swept Igboland and the PDP would have been blown into oblivion. Nobody could tell him, as all the people around him were scared of getting on the wrong side with him, by telling him what he obstinately didn’t want to hear.

You see, because he comes from the cultural background where the rulers decide and the masses concur immediately, because they are too impoverished and helpless to argue, the completely egalitarian Igbo society is strange to him. He doesn’t understand egalitarianism, where the masses agree and the leadership simply concur with the wishes of the masses, if they hope to remain relevant.

Are the governors in Eastern Nigeria aware of this lopsided distribution and if so, what are they doing to correct the anomalies?

I expect you journalists to investigate and bring this inequity to the attention of the authorities.

This inequity and inequality are stuff revolutions are made of. You don’t need a soothsayer to note that, just a little spark could lead to riots and mayhem. The little aide available is not being fairly shared across the country. That is unfair.

That is wrong. Every discerning person can see that the seeds for a revolution are being sown by the people applying this dichotomy. They are actually saying to some regions “go to hell, you don’t belong here.”

Our governors should note that the angry people of this region are unhappy with the state of affairs in the land, especially with the one-sided style of distribution of the so-called palliative. Our people are clearly disappointed.

Why can’t the governors seize the moment and carry out their own palliative measures?

I don’t want to talk about our governors. I don’t agree with their style and I also don’t want to breach my code of conduct, which is: not to attack any governor, as that would distract me.

The people know wether the governors are stand-

Uguchukwu-Uko ing up for them or not. When I and Prof. Ben Nwabueze escorted Nnamdi Kanu to a meeting with the South-east governors, two and half years ago, I realised that the overbearing influence of the central government, makes it difficult for the South-east governors to be their own man.

I painfully saw why the central government is very interested in whoever emerges as governor in Igboland. Ndigbo are in big trouble my dear brother. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is good at trying to avoid any kind of fight.

He struggles to be a nice guy. Governor Umahi of Ebonyi State, even though he is performing wonders in Ebonyi, with very impressive infrastructure development, is totally committed to the politics of pleasing the master and remaining in the good books of the owners of Nigeria. Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State decided from day one to fight his benefactor, thereby concentrating on survival in office. He has never stood up to identify with Ndigbo aspiration. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State doesn’t have any achievements you can put your finger on. He too is busy battling for survival. The Supreme Court governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma is the one that will split Igboland.

Sad but true. Because even though, nobody is thinking about it now. In nine months, he will produce the next Ohanaeze leader, you won’t expect him to nominate a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sympathiser. That would negate why he was forcefully made governor at this time. You also won’t expect Ndigbo to flow with his Ohanaeze nominee, who will definitely be an All Progressives Congress (APC) sympathiser. the last nine months of the present President of Ohaneze, Okwesileze Nwodo, may actually be the last days of a united Ohanaeze. So Ndigbo are going through difficult times and its not over

yet. The younger generation are not proud of our governors, they are nobody’s heroes, except of course the (otinkpu) praise singers and cheerleaders. The owners of Nigeria will never, for obvious reasons, allow strong willed, independent minded guys to emerge as governors in Igboland. We are a conquered people, held down in bondage and monitored aggressively. All our political leaders are compliant actors. This subject is a taboo. A no go area.Never to be discussed. But interestingly, the angry youths are discovering a lot of things, which informs their agitation.

The people who share and distribute the palliatives know that they are not fully carrying the South-east along. They may cleverly organise a roadshow somewhere in Igboland for photo or propaganda purposes, but nobody is fooled.

The intensely provocative dichotomy, makes it difficult to preach one Nigeria in this region. These are clearly some of the reasons the agitation has remained very popular, in fact, reality on ground, points to the fact that every thing is being done to hold Ndigbo down perpetually as slaves in Nigeria, but for the awareness and agitation by the younger generation, who tell me all the time, that they believe, there is a deliberate agenda to hold them down as slaves for one thousand years.

The opposition party says the government is not handling the COVID-19 crisis properly, unlike Jonathan’s government that handled the Ebola outbreak in an effective and efficient manner that the world applauded Jonathan That could be true, but, even though this Buhari regime is a disaster, the 16 years of PDP didn’t actually move Nigeria forward. The PDP brought upon the land, the evil of imposition of candidates, mind boggling rigging, financial malfeasance or sleaze in a scale never before experienced in the

Dr. Alex Ekwueme told me that former President Obasanjo assured him that he would restructure Nigeria, but the fellow mischievously preferred a third term to salvaging Nigeria. Igbo political elite surrounded Jonathan for five years, they drank brandy with him into the wee hours, they failed to use the opportunity to address group interest, today Igboland has no international airport, no seaport, no rail services, nothing. The roads until recently were in a horrible condition. The PDP is extremely lucky that Buhari goofed, if not PDP would have been history

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ 2020

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Unveiling Measures to Cushion Effect of COVID-19 Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the recently held inter-ministerial briefing in Lagos was to bring Lagosians up to speed on holistic measures put in place by the state government to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic

A

s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on economies of nations, Lagos State government on its part has unveiled measures taken to cushion the effect of pandemic on citizens. From mulling the re-ordering of the 2020 budget to offering a three-month moratorium on LSETF loans with plans to inject more funds into the scheme and even commencing the second phase of emergency food relief programme, the state government seems to have its strategies on top gear.

Reeling out the measures at an inter-ministerial briefing to update the media about the holistic palliatives by the government, commissioners were drawn from the ministry of health, finance, agriculture, youth and social development, environment, home affairs and education.

The media briefing, which was held at the JTT Park in Alausa, was organised by the state government to enable commissioners directly involved in the intervention programmes of Lagos State government provide updates on the activities aimed at reducing the effects of the pandemic on the populace.

When he took to the podium, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Olanrewaju Anofiu Elegushi, Lagos enjoined all residents to continuously observe social distancing rule in all religious houses and worship centres in compliance with directives to contain the spread of COVlD-19 and the federal government’s lockdown order in the state.

Elegushi noted that prior to the lockdown order of the federal government, religious leaders and groups in Lagos had agreed to shut down worship centres and restrain worshippers from congregational worship for a period of four weeks subject to periodic mutual review.

He, however, observed that considering the number of infected cases currently being handled at various isolation centres across the state, the government, for now, does not see the possibility of allowing religious gatherings until the medical practitioners, especially the Ministry of Health, give the nod in order to prevent an epidemic.

The commissioner noted that after the lockdown order is lifted by FG, all worship centres would be disinfected and certified free of the virus before worshippers are allowed to reconvene in an environment that guarantees their safety.

On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adeflsayo, disclosed that the state government is currently engaged in talks with First Bank of Nigeria Limited and private sector organisations to provide one million digital devices to aid the teaching of students in the state.

Noting that the state government is also exploring the option of online classes for pupils across schools in Lagos to prevent a disruption of the ongoing academic session, she added that discussions are ongoing with the bank as well as private education consultancy firms to teach students who are currently at home and prepare them for various examinations, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

She explained further that the government is "working with a technology firm that will provide devices, which has Nigerian curriculum, tests and quizzes on them. I am also glad to announce that MTN has given us airtime on these devices. First Bank has set the ball rolling with 20,000 pieces. EdFin Microfinace Bank has also given us devices for our teachers and we are open to other private firms that may want to support this initiative. Lagos government will be funding part of the project.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube hinted that the administration will consider reordering the N1.17 trillion budget for 2020 to channel funds into ventures that will generate quick employment and resources for Lagosians.

Egube said the ravaging pandemic had slowed

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

down the growth of the state’s economy, shut down industrial production and distorted the supply chain of essential items, thereby heightening the fear of food insecurity among residents.

Assuring that the government has started responding to the concerns of citizens, Egube said, “We have started to put together postCOVID-19 response and stimulation plan to ensure our business continuity plan is riding after pandemic. We are going to look at enterprise; that is, Small and Medium Scale businesses that have the capacity to generate quick revenue and employment. “ All these economic stimulus packages will be rolled out when we have clarity on the slowdown of the spread of COVID-19 in the state. We will be looking at the construction sector and agriculture, empowering of people with vocational knowledge and skills. We believe these investments will stimulate growth and set the economy of the state on a powerful rebound for more prosperity.”

While pointing out that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had reinforced the need to draw up the database of people living in the State, Egube advised residents to enrol with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to enable the government update its database of residents for emergency planning and budgeting.

In his own contribution, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, said the national economy felt the impact of the twin-shock occasioned by the falling prices of oil in the international market and freezing of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olowo disclosed that the state government

had granted three months moratorium on accrued principal and interest payment on loans granted to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Entrepreneurs by Lagos State Employment Trust Funds (LSETF).

He said: “Those who have loans currently running with the LSETF have been given three months moratorium by the state government for principals and interests to ensure that these small businesses that generated jobs are not hit by crisis. We will also be raising the capacity of LSETF to support the SMEs with capital that will act as a shock absorber and give necessary incentives to enable them mitigate the impacts.

This plan is for a period after the battle would have been won against COVID-19.“ Admitting that the state revenue had been greatly affected by under-performance of businesses occasioned by the lockdown, Olowo said it would be premature to evaluate the state’s loss at the present time, adding that government had apportioned all donations it received from private sector and federal government transparently, stressing that all funds received in support of COVID-19 will be fully accounted for.

Also briefing the media on activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Commissioner, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, noted that government was proactive with the introduction of its Stimulus Food Relief Programme for the vulnerable people in the state, which will cater for 200,000 families in the first tranche. Dismissing misinformation about the scheme, Lawal explained that the state engaged Community Development Associations (CDAs) to distribute the food items, and not politicians or local government chairmen.

Lawal said government had created direct jobs

for 600 individuals employed in centres where the relief package items were produced, asserting that the economies of other states were boosted as their farmers supplied produce packaged for distribution to the aged, vulnerable and physically-challenged. Giving insight into the latest developments about patients undergoing treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, attributed the success achieved, so far, by Lagos State to the commencement of capacity build-up five years ago and the experience acquired during the Ebola epidemic in 2014.

The Health Commissioner expressed optimism that the record of new cases in the last few days suggests that there is a gradual flattening of the COVID-19 curve in Lagos, envisaging that there will not be an exponential increase in confirmed cases in the state.

In his address, Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello stated that agencies under the purview of the Ministry, especially LAWMA, was mandated to ensure the evacuation of waste across the state during the lockdown.

“We ensured that PSP operators go around Lagos to prevent the accumulation of waste within the metropolis during the lockdown and ensure the environment is kept clean and healthy,” Bello said.

He maintained that despite the fumigation being undertaken across local governments and some bus stops within the state, plans are in place for massive disinfection of all the highways across the state, just as he affirmed that the cleaning of all drainage channels in Lagos is ongoing to take advantage of the dry season before the rainy season commences fully.

20

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

COVID-19: Over Two Million Cases Recorded Globally More than two million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially registered around

the world, half of them in Europe, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1000 GMT

Trump Decision on WHO Deeply Regrettable, Says African Union Chief The decision by US President Donald Trump to freeze funding to the World Health Organization amid the coronavirus pandemic is “deeply regrettable,” Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the African Union Commission, said Wednesday.

“Today more than ever, the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response.

Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate, has never been more urgent,” Faki said in a Twitter post.

Trump on Tuesday announced that he would halt payments to the UN body that amounted to $400 million (366 million euros) last year.

He said the payments would

hardest hit continent, with 1,010,858 cases and 85,271 fatalities. The United States, where the virus is spreading most rapidly, registered 609,240

cases, and 26,033 deaths.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health

Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are testing only the most serious cases.

be frozen pending a review of the WHO’s role in “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus” and accused the Geneva-based body of putting “political correctness above life-saving measures.”

Trump charged that the outbreak could have been contained “with very little death” if the WHO had accurately assessed the situation in China, where the disease broke out late last year.

Africa has so far not been hit by the coronavirus as hard as other regions, but experts worry that weak health systems could quickly become overwhelmed by an influx of cases.

As of mid-Wednesday, there were 16,215 COVID-19 cases across all of Africa, resulting

UK Dismisses 5G, COVID-19 Claims as Nonsense The British government on Wednesday dismissed a TV presenter’s claim that there could be a link between 5G technology and coronavirus as “complete nonsense”.

The 5G conspiracy theory, spread widely on social media, has already led to a new telecoms mast being set alight in Ireland at the weekend.

Experts have poured scorn on the claim, saying 5G is based on radio frequency and is not related to the viral outbreak.

But Eamonn Holmes, who presents ITV’s This Morning show, said they were dismissing the theory “when they don’t know it’s not true”.

“What I don’t accept is mainstream media immediately

Wednesday based on official sources.

At least 2,000,576 infections, including 126,871 deaths, have been recorded. Europe is the

slapping that down as not true when they don’t know it’s not true,” he said, leading to hundreds of complaints.

“It’s very easy to say it is not true because it suits the state narrative.”

A government told journalists that Holmes’s claims were “complete nonsense” and “entirely bogus”, while experts also rubbished the comments.

“It’s fair to say Eamonn Holmes is to the advancement of science what I am to banal and unsatisfying morning television,” said Michael Head from the University of Southampton.

“There are no links between 5G technology and transmission of the novel coronavirus.”

Brazilian 99-year-old former WWII combatant, Ermando Armelino Piveta, gestures as leaves the Armed Forces Hospital in Brasilia, after being treated for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and discharged AFP

Danish Schools Begin Reopening after Month-long Closure Denmark began reopening schools on Wednesday after a month-long closure over the novel coronavirus, becoming the first country in Europe to do so.

Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools were reopening, according to an AFP correspondent, after they were closed on March 12 in an effort to curb the COVID-19 epidemic.

However classes are only resuming in about half of Denmark’s municipalities and in about 35 percent of Copenhagen’s schools, as other have requested more time to

adjust to health protocols still in place. All are expected to reopen by April 20.

In early April the country’s centre-left government announced that schools would be reopened “on the condition that everyone keeps their distance and washes their hands.”

Schools are required to ensure that a distance of two metres (about six feet) is maintained between desks in classrooms and recesses must be organised for small groups.

To adhere to guidelines, many schools favour outdoor classes, presenting a challenge

for schools in urban areas.

Some parents have opposed the reopening of schools, citing health concerns. A petition dubbed “My child is not a guinea pig” has garnered some 18,000 signatures.

Henrik Wilhelmsen, principal of a school in the Norrebro district said that they “expect quite a lot of children to be kept at home.”

Middle and high school students, will continue remote classes and are only expected to return to classrooms on May 10.

As of Tuesday, Denmark had 6,691 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 299

deaths.

The country has banned gatherings of more than 10 people and bars, restaurants, hairdressers, shopping malls and clubs have been closed.

Before Denmark, Austria was the first European country to unveil its roadmap for a return to a “new normal”.

On Tuesday, it allowed small non-food shops to open up, while maintaining social distancing rules and requiring masks to be worn in shops and on public transport.

Austria plans to keep schools, cafes and restaurants closed until at least mid-May.

99-Year-Old World War II Veteran Germany Slowly Eases Lockdown Measures German Chancellor Angela Large public gatherings because of the risk it could pose reopen, regardless of their size.

Beats COVID-19 In Brazil Merkel has announced plans to including religious services will to participants.

Hairdressers will be allowed to A 99-year-old World War II veteran in Brazil was released from hospital with military honors Tuesday after recovering from the coronavirus.

Second Lieutenant Ermando Piveta, who served in the Brazilian artillery in Africa during the Second World War, was brought out of Brasilia’s Armed Forces Hospital to trumpet music and applause.

Wearing an army-green side cap, he raised his arms in the air as he left after eight days as a patient.

“It was a tremendous fight for me, greater than in the war.

In war, you kill or live. Here, you have to fight in order to

live, and you leave this fight a winner,” said Piveta.

He served in the Brazilian fourth artillery regiment soon after the country entered the war on the side of the Allies, the army said.

Piveta returned home with his regiment to defend Brazil from an Axis invasion that never was.

“He won another battle, this time against the new coronavirus,” the military said in a statement, adding Piveta was released on the 75th anniversary of Brazil’s successful campaign in Montese, Italy.

Piveta’s nation is the hardesthit country in Latin America by

slowly ease restrictions brought in to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing rules will stay in place until at least 3 May, with Ms Merkel also recommending the use of face masks in shops and on public transport.

But as of next week shops under a certain size could open their doors.

And schools will gradually start to reopen from 4 May. Ms Merkel said the country had achieved “fragile intermediate success” through the strict measures.

The chancellor said the country “must keep focused and keep going”, adding that they “do not have a lot of room for manoeuvre”.

remain banned until 31 August.

Bars, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and music venues will all remain closed.

According to Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country has 127,584 confirmed cases and has reported 3,254 deaths.

Ms Merkel’s announcement makes Germany the latest European nation to start easing restrictions: France, however, has extended its lockdown measures for four more weeks until 11 May. Belgium will maintain its restrictions until at least 3 May. And in Russia, veterans groups have called for President Vladimir Putin to postpone the World War Two 75th anniversary victory parade planned for 9 May,

After a video conference with the heads of Germany’s 16 states, Ms Merkel announced the gradual loosening of the strict lockdown measures.

Schools can reopen “gradually and very slowly” after 4 May, she said, with new safety measures for breaks and school buses, and priority given to those students with exams.

“It will be a great logistical effort and it needs very careful preparation,” she said.

Shops of up to 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) could be able to restart their businesses from Monday, provided they have “plans to maintain hygiene”, she said.

Car dealers, bicycle shops and book stores can all

open their doors from 4 May, provided they too comply with strict hygiene measures.

But the lockdown is far from over. The chancellor strongly recommended people don protective face masks while shopping and while taking public transport, saying this “will help to protect other people”.

It makes Germany the latest country to issue guidance on face masks in public - although Ms Merkel did not make it mandatory.

Europe’s biggest economy entered a recession in March, its economy ministry said, citing “collapsing global demand, interruption of supply chains, changes in consumer behaviour and uncertainty among investors”.

president was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend,” he added. “And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a president right now.”

He added, “this crisis has reminded us that good

government matters. That facts and science matters. that the rule of law matters.

That having leaders who are informed and honest, and seek to bring people together rather than drive them apart – those kinds of leaders matter.”

Obama, Sanders Back Biden for President Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders have formerly backed Joe Biden for the 2020 presidential election.

The senator and the former president announced in separate messagesm respectively, that Biden would

provide needed leadership at a time of serious public health challenge in America.

“The kind of leadership that’s guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace.

That kind of leadership doesn’t

just belong in our state capitals and mayors’ offices,” Mr Obama said in a video message on Tuesday. “It belongs in the White House, and that is why I am so proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States.”

Obama’s message, which contained both overt and subtle takedowns of President Donald Trump, hailed Mr Biden’s loyalty to the United States and his preparation for leadership.

“Choosing Joe to be my vice

21

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 16, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S

A S

MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A T

REPO 12.17 % 13.67 %

CALL 1-MONTH

12.50 % 15 %

A P R I L S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

9 , 2 0 2 0 S&P 482.72 % 1.01 %

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE 3.66 % 0.32 %

N361/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Rensource Launches Distribution Platform

Rensource, a renewable energy and merchant service company has launchedMerchlist.co,adigitalplatformthathelpssmallandmedium-sized retailers get discovered quickly while enabling servicing and fulfillment ofcustomersordersonline.

The platform was rapidly developed as a solution to keep SMEs viable duringtheCOVID-19pandemicandhastwomainfeatures:BUY–which allowscustomerspurchasedirectlyfromSMEs,andDISCOVER–which aggregatesservices,contactdetailsanddeliverymethods,ensuringthat enduserscanseeserviceavailabilityinreal-time.

PartnerSMEsontheonlineplatformincludeGroceryBazaar,GrandSquare, Rx Pharmacy, Food Jaar, and The Meat Shop. While the platform is currentlyinitsbetatestingstage,plansareunderwaytorolloutinadditional marketsacrossNigeria–allowingmoreSMEsandmerchantstogodigital andaccessend-users.

Thecompanyexplainedthatits missionhasalwaysfocusedonenabling accesstocriticalservices.

Commenting on the launch of Merchlist.co, Chief Operating Officer at Rensource,AnuAdasolum,said“AtRensourcewe’refocusedonconnecting people to the most important things. Energy has always been our core businessbutinlightofthepandemic,weseetheopportunitytohelpsmall businesseswhoarethebackboneofoureconomysurvivebygainingaccess toconsumersonline.

“ThelaunchofMerchlistwillensurethatsmallbusinessesstayinbusiness andeverydayconsumerscancontinuetoaccessessentialgoods.”

PITCH COMPETITION

L-R: Group Head, Creative Industry, Bank of industry (BoI), Mrs. Cynthia Nwuka; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya; Group Head, SME Credit, BoI, Mr. Taiwo Oyenola; MD/CEO Crown Nature Nigeria Plc, Omolara Aromolaran; Regional General Manager, Lagos South-west, MTN Nigeria, Josephine Sarouk, and Founder Minuel Designs, Emmanuel Faleti, at a business pitch competition by the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme by MTN Foundation in Partnership with BoI, held in Lagos… recently

Group Faults Planned Use of Subscribers’ Data in COVID-19 Fight Stories by Emma Okonji Paradigm Initiative, a panAfrican social enterprise working to advance digital rights and inclusion in Africa, is concerned about Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum attempts to collaborate with telecoms operators to use subscriber data to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

They insisted that such plan negates the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, which seeks to protect the data of all Nigerians.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), had on January 25 this year, issued the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which was modeled after the European Union (EU) General Data Protec-

TELECOM tion Regulation (GDPR).

The NITDA’s Data Protection Regulation applies to all residents of Nigeria, all citizens of Nigeria residing outside of Nigeria and all organisations processing personal data of individuals.

According to the regulation, the processing of personal data may only be processed if at least one of five legal bases are met, which stipulates that the data subject provides consent, and there are specific requirements for obtaining consent.

Therefore, the group was of the view that the planned use of subscriber data in accessing the history and behaviour of people for the fight against COVID-19, negates the privacy

of the subscriber, if the telecoms operator did not seek the consent of the subscriber before releasing his or her data.

The CEO of Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Ggenga Sesan, in a statement, said the report that MTN and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have entered into a data-sharing partnership, following a presentation by MTN, to mine and provide its users’ data to profile states vulnerability in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus, negates the rights of MTN subscribers if they were not approached to seek their consent before releasing such subscriber data.

The statement added: “While efforts to mitigate and control the spread and sting of this novel coronavirus are appreciated, the

existing fundamental rights of users must be protected at all times.

“First, it is important to state that no other time than now presents MTN and other Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with the opportunity to be transparent with the public about the sharing of Mobile Operator Data with governments or agencies and to help counter misinformation and raise awareness of data sharing to help combat COVID-19.”

Reacting to the concern of Paradigm Initiative, the President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, said: “Data protection, data privacy and digital rights are very sensitive Continued on page 22

ALTON Allays Fears of Hazards Linked to Telecoms’ Emissions The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has again allayed fears that electromagnetic emissions from telecoms masts and facilities could cause health hazards to humans.

The Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that it became necessary to reemphasise it, following recent insinuations that electromagnetic emissions from telecoms masts are gradually deteriorating the health situations of Nigerians and that the emissions from 5G networks are linked to COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Adebayo, “As a responsible corporate citizen and natural partner in progress,

TELECOM ALTON deems it necessary to address some of the misguided theories circulating on the internet linking 5G technology to COVID-19.

“Contrary to these rumours, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever supporting any causal connection between the spread of COVID-19 and 4G, 5G or electromagnetic waves in general. In fact, according to a seven-year-long scientific study published last month, 5G has no detrimental health effects in general.”

The clarification, Adebayo said, was intended to help remove the fear of public

health concerns relating to telecommunications cell towers.

According to him, “In these unprecedented times, we need to ensure the resilience of telecommunications networks to support the delivery of vital health services and sustained economic recovery.

“Digital connectivity has become essential to the social and economic development of the 21st century. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), generate great opportunities, but also raise questions for businesses and citizens. One of these concerns is public health.

“In recent years, questions

about health and safety concerning electromagnetic frequencies produced by telecommunication towers have been raised: What are the health implications of this proliferation of antennas and the frequencies they emit?

What effects do they have on humans and animals? Can they cause any disorders?

“Public exposure to these frequencies is not new. On the contrary, these radio signals are nearly omnipresent as they have been produced by electric currents or telecommunication antennas for decades. The average household deploys various sources of these signals Continued on page 22

Airtel Supports COVID-19 Fight

Airtel Nigeria has announced commitment of over N1.9 billion towards thefightagainstCOVID-19inNigeria.

Providingabreakdownofthepledgedsum,AirtelsaidN200millionwould gotowardsprovisionofanIsolationCenteroranyrequiredMedicalFacility agreedwiththeappropriatehealthauthorityinthecountry;anotherN120 million towards provision of over 100,000 Respirator Masks for health workersacrossthecountry.

ItisalsoofferingfreeShortMessageServices(SMS)tocustomersacross all networks worth over N1 billion as well as free data for customers to accesseducationalandhealthsitesworthaboutN500million.Thesites includethoseofFederalMinistryofHealthandNigeriaCentreforDisease Control(NCDC)onCOVID-19.

The company had earlier commenced a multi-million-naira educational awareness campaign to sensitise Nigerians on steps to take to prevent spreadofthevirus.

Airtel added that it was also committing about N100 million to support theNCDC,PortHealthServicesandthe36States,includingtheFederal Capital Territory (FCT) on provision of toll-free lines to help in the fight against COVID-19 and to connect the NCDC’s offices nationwide with Broadbandservices.

According to Airtel, the staff of the company voluntarily contributed N20 million to be donated to Lagos State government during the week forprovisionoffooditemstoneedyfamiliesduringthecrisis.

Commenting on the efforts of the organisation to join well-meaning Nigerians and corporate entities to stop the spread of COVID-19, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel was deeply connected with the feelings of every Nigerianatthistime.

SystemSpecs Partners Paga

SystemSpecs, a fintech company and providers of Remita, and Paga, a mobilemoneyserviceproviderinthecountryhavepartneredtoextendthe frontiersofelectronicpaymentsinNigeria.Thisiscomingatatimewhen thefederalgovernmentextendedthesit-at-homeorderonCOVID-19by another two weeks beginning from Monday this week.The partnership wouldhelppeoplegetconnectedwitheaseforallfinancialtransactions aslongasthesit-at-homeorderlasts.

Inarecentannouncementbytheorganisations,thefirstphaseofthecollaborationwouldenablePagacustomerstoeasilyinitiateandcomplete paymenttoallRemitabillersandmerchantsrightfromPaga’swebchannel – paga.com. Paga’s agents nationwide would also be able to process end-to-endpaymentstoallRemitacustomersfromtheirplatforms.

SystemSpecsExecutiveDirector,InfrastructureandPaymentsGateway, EzinneObikile,said:“SystemSpecsiscommittedtodrivingfinancialinclusion andprovidingpaymentconveniencetoall,whichunderscoresthisstrategic partnership with Paga to extend a wide range of financial solutions and servicestocustomerseverywhere,evenatatimeasthis.”

“Zinox Group has set up a special palliative fund running into millions of naira from which all employees across the Group will have their accounts credited. Every staff is expected to use the funds to adopt a minimum of three families which it will support with essential food items to last them through the next two weeks” Chairman, Zinox Group,

Leo Stan Ekeh

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 16, 2020

22

BUSINESSWORLD GROUP FAULTS PLANNED USE OF SUBSCRIBERS’ DATA IN COVID-19 FIGHT areas that underpin the digital economy. It has to been seen by government that any approach they take concerning consumer data is handled with utmost care and is treated with the highest level of ethics.

“Otherwise, the ability to get citizens’ information in the future will be jeopardised. It appears that unless we have data that is used specifically for tracking and doesn’t disclose medical details of individuals then a case may exist on the same precedence set by China in how they utilised data to fight the pandemic.”

He, however, said if MTN or any other operator would abide by the data protection regulations and existing laws regarding data protection, then it will not be infringing on subscribers’ rights.

“As it is the SIM registration, database is already used to contain consumer and hence citizen data that is shared with security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes.

“In order to effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced tools rely on robust and correct data to assist government in effective measures,” Teniola added.

ALTON ALLAYS FEARS OF HAZARDS LINKED TO TELECOMS’ EMISSIONS such as home appliances like microwaves, TVs, refrigerators, or internet connections repeatedly throughout the day.”

Adebayo, cited the World Health Organisation (WHO), which earlier stated that the low intensity of cell site emissions is estimated to be between 0.002 per cent and 2 per cent of the levels of safe exposure and is lower than those produced by a radio or TV transmission.

Studies carried out by the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) agree there are no health risks related to radio signals, Adebayo said.

Explaining the safety of 5G technology, Adebayo added that by using small cells, or lowpower, low-range transmissions, 5G smart antennas send signals where required, and that the cells enable localised use of signals while increasing coverage and efficiency.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

NEWS

‘Smart Utility Solution Will Reduce Electricity Consumption’ Stories by Emma Okonji The Vice President, Corporate Development, CWG Plc, Mr. Daniel Shoban-Das, has said the Smart Utility Solution (SUS), which it pioneered and initiated can reduce electricity consumption by Nigerians.

The firm said the initiative was designed to automatically and remotely manage electricity consumption.

Disclosing the functionalities of the solution in Lagos recently, Shoban-Das noted that apart from power reduction, the solution would make a remote prepayment, remotely connects and disconnects service, detects tampering and monitors voltage and current.

He added that as part of the efforts to manage customers’ complaints, which was hitherto one of the challenges of the power distribution companies, the SUS combined cutting-edge customer technologies such as smart Customer Interface Unit (CIU), as well as web and mobile applications.

“The key component of the solution is smart meters, which provide functions such as measuring customer electricity consumption on predetermined intervals, measuring voltage, and current levels, monitoring the credit

levels, and monitoring the on/ off status of electricity service,” Shoban-Das said.

He explained that the solution could communicate metre readings to the head-end system for processing, analysis, and re-communication back to customers for billing, and feedback for actionable

insights.

According to him, the key component of the SUS included smart metres, which are installed at the customer’s premises. This typically collects electricity consumption data in minute intervals.

Another component is software systems that manage

the large volume of load data from the meter to the server.

Metre Data Management (MDM) system, is another key component of the system used to store and process the metre data and integrate the metre data with the head-end system and billing system, and Customer Information System

(CIS) are other components of the SUS. The solution is an advanced metering infrastructure, which comprises of smart metres, communications networks, and data management systems that enable two-way communication between utilities and customers.

ADVOCACY FORUM

L-R: Director, Zonal office Directorate, Lagos State Environmental Pollution Agency, Mr. Adeleke Olukoya; Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagboun; Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi Oke Osanyintolu; General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, and Director, Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainability Development, Prof. Adeola Animashaun, during an Advocacy Campaign on Single Use Plastics/Nylons in Lagos... recently

Report: 5G Will Address Surge in Urban Migration The Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Zoran Lazarevic, has stressed that the world will need stronger, more reliable networks for mobile connectivity, such as 5G technology in order to cater to the demands of the future urban migration, which is projected to accelerate in the coming decades.

He also cited a recent research report, which explained that two-third of the world’s population would reside in cities by 2050, adding that in the next 40 years, urban centres may experience one

million new residents arriving each week, According to him, “5G offers wireless speeds comparable to today’s wired broadband, while delivering better energy efficiency than modern 4G networks.

“As the next step in the evolution of mobile communication, the key aim of 5G is to provide connectivity everywhere for any kind of device that may benefit from being connected.

“5G will support a wide range of new applications and use cases, including

smart homes, traffic safety, critical infrastructure, industry processes and very-high-speed media delivery. And it will accelerate the development of the Internet of Things (IoTs).

“This will be one of the most significant technological transformations of the twentyfirst century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labour and financial markets, as well as shaping demand for goods and services.

He added: “In response, technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and automation have great potential to improve

the way we live and work. To meet the demands of the new applications and use cases, the capabilities of 5G will extend far beyond previous generations of mobile communication.

“Examples are very high data rates, very short delay with low latency, ultra-high reliability, high energy efficiency and ability to handle many more devices within the same area. But it is about far more than powering smartphones.”

He said in a time of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, information and communication remained

critical, adding that mobile networks would be an essential part of the communications backbone that enables health workers, public safety officials and critical businesses to stay connected during this global crisis.

“As we continue toward a more urbanised world, the need for 5G becomes truly paramount. Now more than ever, we have a responsibility towards our users.

“A responsibility to prepare for the many new innovations and emerging challenges, and eventually foster a smarter,

Microsoft Urges Educators to Leverage Tech to Curb Cyberbullying The Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso, has advised educators to take advantage of technology to put an end to online cyberbullying.

According to him, while technology is helping to transform teaching and learning experiences in profound ways, it could also leave students exposed to significant online risk like cyberbullying if the right measures aren’t in place.

He said a recent survey on online bullying in the Middle East and North Africa, revealed the depth of the challenge educators and parents face, highlighting that at least 85 per cent of African and UAE children have been bullied online.

“In Nigeria, the government has addressed this plight through the provision for an Act that protects people from cyberbullying. However, there

is much that still needs to be done in curbing cyberbullying by providing effective means of prosecuting cases in this regard and by raising awareness of the Cybercrimes Act in order to encourage victims of cyberbullying to report the offenders.

“As a means of dealing with a wide variety of technology-based threats, the National Assembly enacted an Act called The Cybercrimes Act 2015, with the purpose of providing an effective and unified legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria. It’s worth noting that two specific forms of cyberbullying have been criminalised – cyberstalking and racial and homophobic offenses,” Banuso said.

According to him, research had showed that children lack

the necessary supervision required to effectively safeguard them from becoming victims of any form of cyberbullying.

While parents have a role to play in limiting and supervising access to the internet, educators can also make a key difference. The more teachers are equipped themselves to deal with cyberbullying, the better the chance we have of combatting the online threat. In fact, there are several powerful ways we as adults can intervene in the cycle of online bullying.

He said: “Helping to prevent cyberbullying begins with listening to children. Ask them to talk about their lives. Sit with younger children while they play and explore online. It’s a good idea to regularly ask tweens and teens to show you around the websites they visit, where they hang out with, and how they talk

to each other. This is particularly important in a school setting, where online activities should be closely monitored so that appropriate online behaviour can be encouraged.

“There are also ways of watching out for signs of online cruelty. This typically involves taking note when children get upset while online or texting, or when they have a reluctance to be at school. At the same time, teachers can keep an eye out for children being mean to others online.

“Greater awareness around the consequences of bullying can assist in discouraging a culture of cyberbullying.

Help children understand that cyberbullying can get them into serious trouble,” In some cases, this might even involve legal ramifications. At the same time, encourage them to think about the psychological effects

cyberbullying might have on others. Its important children feel they can report cyberbullying to you. Microsoft’s recent Digital Civility Index reveals that while cyberbullying is frequently listed as one of the most painful online risks, just 56 per cent of teens in Turkey and 46 percent in South Africa ask for help when dealing with an online threat.”

Banuso said to counteract this, adults needed to promise unconditional support, part of which involves reassuring children of the continuous use of phone, gaming, or computer systems, despite other people’s behaviour. He added that one of the most effective ways to prevent online bullying was social and emotional learning—the process through which we learn to build strong relationships and develop healthy boundaries and self-perceptions.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ´, 2020

MainOne Provides Connectivity to Lagos Command Centres

COVID-19: Zinox Group, Konga to Feed 7,000 Families

MainOne, a leading connectivity and data centre solutions provider, has partnered the Lagos State Government and National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to help curtail the COVID-19 spread in the state. The company is enabling the COVID-19 Command Centre and isolation facilities with high speed connectivity infrastructure to facilitate effective monitoring, communication and response, as its contribution to Lagos State’s efforts to fight the pandemic.

MainOne’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) solution will ensure that the state government, health officials and doctors on the frontline s battling the pandemic are well connected with each other and to the rest of the world.

This is being achieved via the provision of high-speed internet access as well as managed Wi-Fi services to the five isolation and command centres spread across Lagos in Yaba, Ikeja, Gbagada, Lagos Island and

In a bid to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in most states of the federation, the combined staff of Zinox Group and Konga Group has committed to feeding over 7000 Nigerian families for two weeks.

The initiative is also targeted at supporting the efforts of the federal and state governments in reaching needy Nigerians across the country.

To this end, the management

Ikoyi, in addition to the state’s Command Centre.

The Command Centre plays a critical role in enabling the government to monitor the spread of the disease, using algorithms, data analytics and surveys to localise the spread and update stakeholders on the current COVID-19 situation in Nigeria.

The enhanced connectivity is expected to provide a platform for exchanging up-to-date scientific findings and knowledge on the disease with colleagues around the world, positioning Nigeria as partners in the global fight against the pandemic.

Speaking on the company’s COVID-19 intervention, Sales Manager, Public Sector, MainOne, Funmike Olayera, said: “We understand that our healthcare centers are our first line of defence. We appreciate the work the health care workers, the State Government and the NCDC are putting in to ensure we curtail the spread of the virus in Nigeria.�

Stories by Emma Okonji

of the Zinox Group, which includes Zinox Technologies Ltd, TD Africa, Task Systems Ltd, TD Plus, TDiLife, among others, as well as the Konga, has decided to use their staff across all its network of branches dispersed across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to reach the under-reached and under-served populations.

The initiative, a brain-child of the Group Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh, was borne out of the hardship and suffering he witnessed during his personal visitations to various rural

locations and suburbs around town after donations to NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs), some churches and states.

Consequently, the Zinox Group has set up a special palliative fund running into millions of naira from which all employees across the Group will have their accounts credited.

Every full time staff in each of the respective companies in the Zinox Group and Konga – starting from the security man at the gate up to members of executive management – is expected to

use the funds received to adopt a minimum of three families which it will support with essential food items to last them through the next two weeks.

While junior staff in all the companies across Nigeria are expected to nominate and donate the Zinox Group’s special palliatives to at least three needy families around their vicinity, mid-level executives are expected to reach at least five families each while members of Executive Management will be expected to donate to at least seven families.

Facebook Launches Tools to Connect Communities Facebook has launched key resources to help faith groups stay connected and engaged during the current COVID-19 outbreak. The resources include the “Faith on Facebook Resource Hub� and the Faith on Facebook toolkit, both providing guidance and step-by-step tips that faith-based groups can use to keep their communities engaged while observing social distancing. The tools are part of Facebook’s ongoing efforts in keeping communities safe, connected and informed during this pandemic.

Some of the tools that faith-based groups can use to connect with their communities during the COVID-19 outbreak include: Facebook Pages, which explore how to build an active and engaged audience of faith communities, advice on posting interesting content, as well as creating events and using Groups for discussions; Facebook Groups, which allow people to come together around a common cause, discussing issues and ideas, posting photos and sharing related content; Facebook Events, which host virtual events using Facebook Events to spread the word; Utilising

WhatsApp, which considers sending bite sized sermons or recordings through the voice note feature on WhatsApp to members, using either the dedicated broadcast list function or creating a New Group list.

Others include: Watch Party, which host a Watch Party for your Group, choosing videos that are relevant to your community and invite members to join and discuss; Facebook Live, which streams live stream events and performances on Facebook, utilizing interactive features such as reactions, shares and comments enabling people to further engage their audience.

Commenting, Facebook Africa Regional Director, Nunu Ntshingila said: “At a time like this, our mission has never been more relevant, to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. We know that faith leaders across Africa are grappling with the unexpected challenges in serving their members digitally, and we are committed to providing them with the resources and tools to support them as much as possible.�

BREAKFAST MEETING

L-R: Managing Director, ADASSA Energy Limited, Agatha Obiekwugo; Managing Director/CEO, Nepal Oil and Gas Limited, Ngozi Ekeoma; Group Executive Director, Rainoil Group, Mrs. Godrey Ogbechie; Managing Director, Energy and Infrastructure Finance Investments Ltd, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, and Managing Director, Energy Institute in Nigeria, Yewande Abiose, at a breakfast session organised by Women in Energy Network in Lagos‌ recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

HP Set to Promote Distance Learning Hewlett-Packard (HP) has announced the launch of BeOnline programme in collaboration with Classera, the leader in learning management systems, and Mirai, a learning innovations group focusing on learning strategy and digital pedagogy.

In line with the most recent regional governments’ directives for distance learning, the programme aims to support schools and universities in establishing a fully-fledged virtual learning environment, by providing expertise and tools at no cost.

BeOnline programme gives schools access to the full ecosystem needed for a comprehensive remote learning environment, promotes peda-

gogical consultancy for online education provided by Mirai; a robust learning management solution from Classera, and HP’s information technology (IT) consultancy on the required infrastructure. These services will be provided to schools until the end of the academic year at no cost. Classera and Mirai will help education providers by curating online learning pathways including the creation of a complete virtual school set-up that includes digital lesson plans, virtual assignments, e-attendance, e-assessment among other support functions. Besides IT consultancy, HP will provide schools with the HP LIFE program – a set of 32 modules on business and technical skills

for youngsters. The trio said in a statement that the modules would be available online and students could self-pace the courses and receive certificates on completion.

BeOnline is part of HP’s commitment to improving the learning outcomes for 100 million people globally by 2025 and run focused pedagogyoriented programs to deliver on its education and sustainability goals – Classroom of the Future, HP Learning Studios, Digital School Awards, HP LIFE and HP Teaching Fellows.

Commenting on the launch of BeOnline in the region, Vice President and Managing Director of HP Inc. Africa said: “Access to means of technology is now a key part of daily life

for many people living in Africa. The world has changed and the way we work, study and interact has altered forever.

This program is designed to help schools to quickly adopt distance learning, even in times where various countries are faced with uncertainties for the near future. Today, technology can support new styles of learning. PCs and tools designed for education can offer students flexibility of time, place, and pace of learning, whether in or out of the classroom, or in a blend of environments. Technology can not only engage students and improve learning outcomes, but also help to equip them with the skills they need for the future.�

Stakeholders Hail Book on Crisis Communication Strategies Raheem Akingbolu As the nation fights its way through the present national security challenges as well as the COVID-19, stakeholders have canvassed for more professionalism in crisis communications management in Nigeria.

The calls were made in Abuja recently, at a book presentation on: ‘Award-Winning Crisis Communications Strategies’, authored by Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib, the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic

Confidential.

Speaking at the event, the spokesperson of the Department of State Service (DSS), Dr. Peter Afunanya, noted that the book is not only timely but crucial to solving the emerging national crisis and security challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Afunanya, said the book would go a long way in helping Nigeria deal with its crisis, as it is “action-packed in the sense that it contains usable strategies that can be deployed to save

lives and humanity�.

In the same vein, the book presenter and ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, recommended it for the purpose of strategy during conflict times, “as we are currently facing the Coronavirus challenge in the country�.

Owasanoye, who was represented by the Director of Public Relations, ICPC, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, stressed that “more than ever, the book is critical on national issues like insurgency and now we are

dealing with the Coronavirus�.

Also speaking, the former Director of Defence Information (DDI) and pioneer Coordinator of Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade (rtd), described the author as one of the most qualified person to write on ‘Award-Winning Crisis Communications Strategies’, as he is a living example.

In the same vein, the Director-General National Power Training Institute of

Nigeria (NAPTIN), Mallam Ahmed Bolaji Nagode agreed that there is no better time to have a book on ‘crisis management ‘ than now that Nigeria and the world is dealing with one form of crisis or the other.

According to Nagode who is also Chairman of Third-Estate Forum, the “globe is in crisis of Coronavirus and if there is one lesson learnt from the past events, it is that we did not manage our information management effectively�.

On his own, Senator Umar

Dahiru Tambuwal, commended the author as someone who has made immense contributions towards national security and crisis management.

Tambuwal recalled his useful contributions that helped to shape the successful passage into law of the Cybercrime Act, which according to him contained most of the useful parts of what are being clamoured by the proponents of ‘antisocial media bill’, adding that “everything has been captured in the Cybercrime Act�.

24

IMAGES

L-R; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, inspecting NASENI Disinfectant SafetyTunnel O, during a tour of NASENI COVID-19 intervention products by the Ministers of Science andTechnology with Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Science and Technology, at NASENI headquarters in Abuja..recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Imo State Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Umar-Farouk, and Governor Hope Uzodinma, during the visit of the minister to the State...recently

Cross section of volunteers at theTraining of Oyo State COVID-19 Containment and Decontamination orgainsed by University of Ibadan in partnership with Oyo State Government in Ibadan...recently

L-R: Managing Director Jayta Petroleum Commodities Nigeria Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Onyenweliakuba and Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, during the presentation of the donated food Items / Food Bank Inspection, at Agricultural Development Authority (ADP), Ibusa, Delta State...recently

Officers of Nigeria Police Force mounted a check point at Apongbon area of Lagos Island to enforce the fourteen days ‘’stayat- home’’ directive by the Federal Government as a preventive measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country...recently kunle ogunfuyi

Canadian citizens at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos about to be evacuated to Canada...recently

L-R: volunteer, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Emmanuel Ejeh; Officer,Gender Desk, Lagos State Police Command, Inspector Olakunle Orebe; and WARIF staff, Simon Alonyenu, during the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to five police stations across Lagos State by WARIF...recently ETOP UKUTT

25

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 16, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Omilabu: Lockdown, Proper Hygiene, Social Distancing will Curb Spread of COVID-19 Prof. Sunday Omilabu is a Consultant Virologist and Director, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital. In this interview with journalists, he said Nigerians should adhere to the lockdown directive and other health advisories as they would help in curbing spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. He also spoke on how plasma of recovered patients can be used in the treatment of the disease. Martins Ifijeh brings excerpts

H

ow effective will the lockdown help in curbing spread of COVID-19?

Simply put, it is to restrict movement or mingling of people.

In this context; it is to restrict our people from contracting COVID-19 or spreading it among ourselves. If we restrict ourselves to our houses the chances of COVID-19 will be minimal. That is the first thing government could do to control or checkmate the spread and transmission of the virus.

Again, while we are on lockdown, the next thing is to apply all that we have heard on television and radio jingles about living a hygienic life style.

Ideally, we should cultivate the culture of hand washing using soap and water. Wash our hands before we eat anything, and before we touch our face. During Ebola outbreak, we applied it and it helped.

Lockdown is the way to stop local transmission.

Some people are growing the virus in their body without knowing it and that is why we should maintain social distancing so that we don’t cross-infect each other.

It is important for people to stay away from public places or where we know that there will be more than few people. And of course, we should also look within our community for people showing signs and symptoms of the virus, it is our duty to raise alarm. I think whatever can create a scene, whatever that can bring people together is forbidden at this stage. That will negate the principle of lockdown. You can exercise within your own confinement. So we have to think outside the box. The essence of lockdown is to prevent our coming together, mingling together.

The lockdown is not actually to punish.

Is it possible to still have community transmission after the lockdown?

Presence of coronavirus at the expiration of the lockdown is possible because we now have community transmission. I cannot say that the virus will be completely eliminated. We have to keep on waging war and always be conscious that there is a possibility of having the virus around. We still don’t need to mingle but we have to reduce the crowd. That is the only way to stop the virus transmission. What we really need to do at the expiration of the lockdown is not to relent in our efforts to practice hygienic way of life. We have to maintain social distancing. We have to keep on using the masks, the N95 particularly those of us that have signs and symptoms. Don’t forget that a good number of Nigerians are carrying the virus asymptomatically. All of us have to practice hygienic lifestyle. When we eat, we wash our hands, when we touch surfaces we wash our hands. Hand washing should be our way of life. Don’t forget that any object can carry the

It is feasible and doable in Nigeria but we need to determine the level of antibodies in those blood. Of course, we need to show that such plasma has the power that will neutralise the virus particles. It is very good and we can do it in Nigeria and we have plans to do it.

Is it possible to have our laboratory scientists develop vaccines against the virus?

There is no enabling environment. If you want to develop vaccine you need resources and there must be enough funds. But is the country’s economy buoyant to afford that? Then, of course, the manufacturers are not also encouraged to bring their resources to carry out such development. It is a huge capital intensive project. Out industrialist is not ready to put money in such a venture that will take several years, before any commercial purposes, it takes a minimum of 10 to 15 years before a good vaccine is now made available.

These are some of the issues surrounding why lab scientists in Nigeria are not venturing into vaccine production.

Is self-medication advisable in the treatment of COVID-19?

We have to stop self-medication once we are feeling unwell especially at this period, we should go to the next healthcare centre, let the healthcare caregivers carry out their observation, let them decide and tell us what to do. They can easily test if it is malaria or something combined with malaria. We should stop self-medication and self-treatment to stop this calamity.

Omilabu

virus, and whatever we touch we must wash our hands thoroughly with soap. Soap and water will do the magic for us and make our hands free of the virus.

Is it true COVID-19 survivors have immunity against the disease?

A person that contracted the virus and survived has developed adequate immunity so the chances of being re-infected are very minute. That is why before the individual is discharged, we must make sure that he or she tested negative twice before the individual is finally discharged. And once you are discharged, it shows that you have adequate immunity to fight any remnant virus.

So the immunity is always very adequate before one gets discharged so there is no cause for any alarm, and no fear of re-infection. Again, on recovery of organs that were affected, once the individual recovers, the organs too will recover.

Once there is immunity, the immunity will clear all the virus particles.

It is a new disease we need to study more cases before we arrive to a conclusion if there are long time effects. Nutrition and immune system Nutrition plays a key role in the rapid development of the immune system. Viral infections are majorly cleared by body defence mechanisms. It

is our body immune system that fights the viral infections. And we can achieve this if we take balanced nutrition. We need vitamins, we need minerals, and we can only get this through well balanced nutritious meals. If we have good immune system, the virus particles will not overgrow in our body. A good body immune system clears viral infections faster and better.

How does the virus affect pregnant women and breastfeeding?

From our little experience, the infected mothers that we have during this outbreak had no virus in their breast milk. This is not farfetched because the virus is localised in the respiratory tracts; it takes a longer time before the virus can moves into the bloodstream or into the body and that is what we have seen. It is not a systemic viral infection. Whether the virus can get to the fetus is a matter of study because it is a new disease, we still need more studies to actually prove that.

It is an instance where we have anaemia that will make it much easier for the virus to get access into the foetus.

We heard plasma of successfully treated patients can help in treatment of the infection, how true?

What is the role of local herbs in the treatment of COVID-19?

On the use of local herbs; we have to very cautious. We should use all those local herbs that are licensed by NAFDAC. It is only those that NAFDAC labeled that we’re sure will not be poisonous and will not destroy our organs and it is only those herbal materials that must be taken with adequate measures stated. We know that there are a lot of promising, efficacies with our local herbs but we should make sure we limit ourselves to those that NAFDAC approved.

What is your assessment of Nigeria’s response so far?

It is as excellent as able because we have been able to detect promptly and the government made available consumables. The patients are being managed at various isolation centers. We have been discharging a number of these patients.

That is the mark of this success story. Patients are being isolated promptly and diagnosis carried on promptly and many of them are getting well and being discharged.

To me, that is a huge success and we should not relax on our oars but put in more effort to make sure that we don’t allow the virus to stay in our community.

Ailing Lawyer Urgently Needs N1.7 to Treat Heart, Kidney Disease A trained lawyer, Christopher Okonji is urgently in need of N1.7 million to treat a degenerating heart and kidney disease if he must live to train his three children.

Okonji, who is on the verge of losing his life if nothing

is done, was diagnosed with hypertensive cardiomyopathy which has caused ventricular failure of his heart and kidney, and has made him incapacitated.

Speaking with THISDAY recently, he said in 2017 he was fitted with cardiac

defibrillator which was supposed to last nine years but that the machine’s battery unfortunately ran down within two year prompting his health to degenerate.

“I have gone to First Consultant Hospital in Lagos and I was told it would cost me

N4 million. I have been able to raise N2.3 million through the sale of my properties, from friends and family members.

My health is fast deteriorating. I am pleading for Nigerians to come to my aid.

I have three children and a

wife whodepend on me. I don’t want to die,” Okonji said.

For support, please reach Okonji on +2348086289601.

His bank details are: Account name, Christopher Okonji; Bank name, GTB; Account name, 0121316395

Okonji

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ´Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

EU Invests â‚Ź250m to Support Nigeria’s Health Sector James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Ketil Karlsen has disclosed that a total sum of â‚Ź250 million had been invested to boost funding in the health sector in Nigeria over the last decade.

He noted that this was in addition to several interventions in other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on the delegation’s contribution in supporting the federal government’s fight against the COVID-19, he added: “The way that we handle the COVID-19 response now will also determine the world order in the aftermath of this very significant crisis and that’s why this kind of solidarity from Europe is so important.�

Also, shedding more light on the EU’s ₏50 million (about N21 billion) support for the country, he insisted that the most vulnerable Nigerians should benefit and be the center stage of the various palliative interventions towards

addressing the adverse impact of the COVID19 pandemic in the country.

Karlsen, specifically identified the poor Nigerians who depend on informal markets or day to day work to get food on their table as well as the elderly as deserving immediate attention.

He said the current situation required that Nigeria makes it a priority to develop an approach, “where we keep an eye as well on the economic impact- not substituting the Coronavirus with the poverty virus.�

To this end, he noted that the latest â‚Ź50 million additional funding by the EU to contain the pandemic in the country is expected to be properly channeled towards relief and safety net for the most vulnerable of the population, particularly the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

There had been increasing concerns by members of the public that ongoing palliatives against COVID-19 as well as other social safety programmes of government had not reached

the vulnerable groups concerned.

However, the EU envoy said the intervention will also focus on women and the girl child who have intensified and gender based risks.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on the Union’s response to supporting the federal government on the fight against the pandemic, he further made specific reference to the poor Nigerians who depend on informal markets or day to day work to get food on their table as well as the elderly as deserving immediate attention.

He described the pandemic as a global challenge which requires a global response as well adding that, “If we try to fix this country by country then we may not get it right.�

He explained that the ₏50 million additional funding, coming after an initial ₏1.2 million, will be operated through the United Nations COVID-19 Funds, working with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 adding that it will increase and double the country’s existing testing capacity.

FG to Raise N60bn through Bond Auction Nume Ekeghe The Debt Management Office (DMO) on behalf of the federal government is set to raise N60 billion through the FGN savings bond issuance.

The debt office is also reopening the FGN bond market next week, having raised N50 billion from a bond auction held last month. The debt office in the bond auction notice released yesterday said it plans to raise N20 billion each from the 12.75%

FGN APR 2023 5-year paper, 12.5% FGN MAR 2035 15-year paper and 12.98 % FGN APR 2050 30-year paper at the auction scheduled for next Wednesday.

Last month, the DMO had raked in N50 billion from auction from the tree bond in addition to N20 billion realised from non-competitive bids from two of the bonds. Also, the March 2020 bond auction also met the N50 billion expectation, although the short-term bond did underperform.

As against the N15 billion it planned to raise from the 5-year paper, the debt office had realised only N5 billion from the seven successful bids which had been at 10 per cent marginal rate. Investors also put in N10 billion in the bond through the non-competitive bids.

For the 15 and 30-year bonds the DMO had allotted N20 billion and N25 billion in spite of the N69.01 billion and N91.8 billion subscription offered for the two bonds respectively.

Sterling Bank Unfolds Palliative Measures for Customers Sterling Bank Plc has introduced some palliative measures for customers in a bid to cushion the adverse effects of the government-ordered lockdown in parts of the country, aimed at halting the spread of the dreaded COVID-19.

Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday said, “We understand that a lot of businesses have had to shut down their operations to curb the spread of the virus.�

According to him, “This has taken a toll on the employment and source of livelihood for many

people. We are offering a range of solutions to help Nigerians manage through temporary or extended periods of reduced or lost income as a result of COVID-19.�

Among the measures taken so far, he said, was the reduction of the restructuring fees on all new and existing loans by up to 50 per cent. Also, the bank has made provision for the extension of the repayment of loan obligations that are due.

Suleiman said the bank has also suspended the penal charge for late minimum repayment on customer credit cards during this

period.

The CEO said doctors are on standby for free medical consultation on COVID-19 for the bank’s customers and employees anytime, anywhere because their health and safety remained a top priority.

He explained that, for 60 days, customers and employees can have 24-hour access to free medicals just by registering for the service.

He added that customers of the bank who signed on to its novel and affordable Health Insurance Scheme would access qualitative medical cover worth N500,000.

Adegbohungbe Now Coronation Merchant Bank’s Substantive MD Coronation Merchant Bank Limited recently held its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) where shareholders were informed that the Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the appointment of Mr. Banjo Adegbohungbe as the substantive Managing Director/CEO of the bank.

This followed the retirement of Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, who led the leadership team of the bank from inception in 2015 until recently when he commenced his terminal leave. The meeting, which

took place at the bank’s head office, according to a statement, was held in strict compliance with social distancing rules and the directives of the federal and Lagos State governments.

Only nine persons attended physically, while others participated via video conference.

The bank’s audited figures showed a 14 per cent increase in profit after tax from N4.484 billion in 2018, to N5.097 billion.

Total assets grew by 14 per cent from N222.78 billion in 2018 to N253.35 billion.

Also, cost of risk remained

at a healthy level of 0.05 per cent while the bank stated that it sustained its zero nonperforming loan ratio indicative of strong risk management practices and good quality of risk assets.

Commenting on the appointment of Adegbohungbe as MD/ CEO, the Acting Chairman for the AGM, Mr. Larry Ettah, noted that, “The seamless transition in the bank’s leadership is a result of deliberate succession planning by the Board, in line with its commitment to strong corporate governance standards.

Buhari

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

11,007,422.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͯͲ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $19.70 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $21.18 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

27

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ 2020

MARKET NEWS

FBN Holdings to Divest from Insurance Business, Market Gains Further Goddy Egene FBN Holdings Plc is to divest its 65 per cent equity in FBN Insurance Limited to Salam (PTY) Limited, which currently holds 35 per cent stake in the insurance firm.

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), it explained that the proposed sale was in line with FBN Holdings’ “strategic objectives.”

According to the notification, the group is currently engaging

the regulators for the necessary approvals. FBN Holdings, however, assured the exchange and other stakeholders in the market further announcement will be made if the transaction is concluded.

The insurance business contributed 9.8 per cent to the gross earnings of FBN Holdings in 2019, up from 4.2 per cent in 2018 and 9.8 per cent to profit before tax (PBT) in 2019, compared with 9.6 per cent in 2018.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

The insurance business recorded gross premium written of N44.9 billion in 2019, up by 46.8 per cent as against N30.6 billion. PBT rose to N8.8 billion, showing an increase of 23 per cent from N6.8 billion.

On its part, the FBN Holdings Group posted a PBT of N84 billion representing a growth of 31 per cent over 2018 PBT of N64billion. Profit After Taxation (PAT) at N74billion was a growth of 27 per cent

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

over N58 billion reported for 2018. The company’s board of directors recommended the payment of the sum of N13.64 billion, which translates into to 38 kobo per share, which is a growth of 46 per cent over prior year dividend.

According to the company, the proposed divestment will unlock significant value to leverage the Group’s strength in its core business for which it is renowned.

Meanwhile, the stock

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

market continued with its positive performance as the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) rose further, gaining 3.02 per cent to close at 22,539.94. Similarly, market capitalisation added N330 billion to be at N11.7 trillion. Gains recorded by Dangote Cement Plc, Zenith bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc contributed to the bullish trend yesterday.

Activity level was mixed as value traded advanced 26.9 per cent to N3.3 billion

O F

while volume traded declined 41.4 per cent to 326.4 million shares. The most active stocks by volume were FBN Holdings Plc (74.8 million shares), Zenith Bank Plc (72.1 million shares) and GTBank (36.8 million shares). In terms of value, Zenith Bank Plc led with N1.1 billion, followed by GTBank (N794 million) and FBN Holdings Plc (N354.2 million). In all, 28 stocks appreciated compared to 11 stocks that depreciated.

1 5 / 0 4 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

28

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ Exchange Admits Flour Mills of Nigeria Bonds, NIDF Fund Goddy Egene FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (FMDQ Exchange or the Exchange), has admitted the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc Series 3 N12.49 billion tranche A and N7.50 billion tranche B Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bonds under the N70.00

billion Bond Issuance Programme, for listing on the exchange Proceeds from these bonds will be used to refinance the food giant’s short-term debt obligation as well as support its working capital.

He exchange had in December 2018 admitted the Flour Mills of Nigeria Series 1 & 2 N20.11 billion bonds.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

FMDQ also admitted the Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 6 162.72 million Units of N100.00 each at N109.72 under the N200.00 billion Issuance Programme.

The Chapel Hill NIDF, which is the pioneer Infrastructure Debt Fund in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, has

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 14Apr-2020, unless otherwise stated.

its investment focus on the traditional infrastructure sectors, primarily transport, power, renewable energy, utilities, energy infrastructure, logistics and other public-private-partnership type investments. The Fund aims to enable investors access infrastructure as an asset class, while providing returns

available from long-dated infrastructure debt investments.

Similarly, the Coronation Merchant Bank Limited N0.32 billion Series 7 and N6.64 billion Series 8 Commercial Papers (CP) under the N100.00 billion CP Issuance Programme was also admitted for quotation on the platform

of FMDQ Exchange.

According to the exchange, the listings and quotation by these corporates continue to validate FMDQ Exchange as the choice platform for the registration, listing, quotation, trading and recording of financial securities in the Nigerian financial market.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 109.25 112.89 -25.38% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.11% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.12 306.12 -2.09% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.07% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.51 2.56 1.88% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 13.04 13.44 -14.86% ARM Discovery Fund 314.95 324.45 -8.82% ARM Ethical Fund 26.54 27.34 -8.72% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.93% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 88.22 88.84 -8.18% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.78% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.45% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 94.62 95.03 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 102.48 102.99 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.55% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.86 -8.12% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 2.18% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,325.93 1,328.63 2.70% FBN Balanced Fund 135.10 136.04 -7.98% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.27% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 109.08 111.13 -8.52% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 109.64 111.69 -8.50% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 107.29 108.57 -17.55% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.65% Legacy Debt Fund 3.73 3.73 2.09% Legacy Equity Fund 0.98 1.00 -13.30% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.10 1.10 1.31% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,854.95 2,883.27 -4.32% Coral Income Fund 3,147.21 3,147.21 14.81% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 6.09% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.90% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 117.35 117.73 8.71%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.02% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.11 2.15 -3.69% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.09% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.69 141.21 -1.91% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.13 1.15 -3.12% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,112.50 1,112.50 3.25% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.29 1.31 5.81% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.49 11.52 2.22% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.50% PACAM Equity Fund 0.94 0.95 PACAM EuroBond Fund 85.58 87.64 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 111.19 113.00 -9.85% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 3.11% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -3.45% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 2.05% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -11.80% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 2.30% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -11.79% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.82% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -11.87% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 1.65% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.39 9.51 -8.61% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.07 11.18 -4.73% Zenith Income Fund 23.32 23.32 4.87% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.79%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.15 113.96 52.75

-67.35% 1.81% 1.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.06 78.02 57.76

7.16 79.66 58.83

-18.83% -15.64% -21.66%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.73 3.38 10.02 9.49 170.55

2.77 3.46 10.12 9.69 172.55

-22.83% -42.54% -16.95% -8.55% -8.87%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

29

˾ THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Thursday, April 16, 2020 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Up 2.2%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index rose 224bps to ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϵϴϯ͘ϴϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƵƉƟĐŬƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ FLOURMILL (+9.1%), FIDELITY (+3.4%), and MOBIL

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

;нϴ͘ϴйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϯ͘ϭй ŽĨ Ticker

the index.

Previous Price Change

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

Price Price Current Change Change Weightin YTD Index to g Date

983.86

2.24%

-33.0%

-1.6%

98.00

0.0%

30.3%

-6.7%

-10.1%

298.90

0.0%

17.0%

0.0%

0.0%

ROE

ROA

11.7%

4.4%

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

4.1x

0.6x

7.7%

19.1%

9.9x

13.8x

4.8%

10.1%

ĂƌŐĂŝŶ ,ƵŶƟŶŐ WĞƌƐŝƐƚƐ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ ϯ͘Ϭй

2 Airtel Africa PLC 3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

21.90

7.1%

9.8%

-26.3%

-25.0%

31.6%

5.5%

3.1x

1.0x

13.1%

31.8%

In today's trade, the bulls held on to gains as the local

4 Zenith Bank PLC

15.90

9.7%

6.7%

-14.5%

-15.0%

23.8%

3.4%

2.4x

0.5x

18.4%

41.8%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC

830.20

0.0%

bourse advanced 302bps to close at 22,539.94 points due

3.4%

-43.5%

-43.5%

95.4%

25.7%

14.4x

14.4x

8.0%

6.9%

6 Dangote Cement PLC

133.10

10.0%

5.1%

-6.3%

-6.3%

21.6%

11.7%

11.3x

2.6x

12.5%

8.9%

7 Access Bank PLC

7.00

6.9%

3.6%

-30.0%

-30.7%

17.8%

1.6%

2.3x

0.4x

9.5%

43.4%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

6.50

3.2%

3.1%

-9.1%

-9.7%

16.2%

1.6%

2.6x

0.4x

15.4%

38.8%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

4.85

1.0%

2.6%

-21.1%

-25.4%

12.0%

1.2%

2.8x

0.3x

7.8%

35.8%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

26.80

9.8%

1.5%

-54.6%

-54.6%

9.6%

4.2%

13.3x

1.3x

7.5%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

12.85

3.6%

2.8%

-16.0%

-6.9%

48.0%

22.2%

24.0x

0.6x

ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ DANGCEM (+10.0%), ZENITH (+9.7%) and GUARANTY (+7.1%). Consequently, investors gained േϯϬϬ͘ϬďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ േϭϭ͘ϳƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ůŽƐƐ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ -ϭϲ͘Ϭй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ value traded advanced 26.9% to േϯ͘ϯďŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϰϭ͘ϰй ƚŽ ϯϮϲ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

TY ;ϯϲ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ZENITH ;േϭ͘ϭďŶͿ͕ GUARANTY ;േϳϵϰ͘ϬŵͿ ĂŶĚ FBNH ;േϯϱϰ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ĐŚĂƌƚ͘

495.00

0.0%

2.2%

-24.7%

-16.4%

16.2%

9.6%

2.8x

0.4x

7.6%

36.4%

28.60

0.4%

1.7%

-30.2%

-28.5%

27.3%

4.1%

4.1x

1.0x

10.5%

24.5%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

21.50

0.0%

1.3%

9.1%

9.1%

3.6%

1.3%

16.7x

0.6x

5.6%

5.00

0.0%

0.6%

-47.4%

-47.4%

-130.5%

-8.2%

15 International Brew eries PLC

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ 4 of 6 indices that we cover advanced. The ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϰ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϯ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ďĂƌͲ ŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ ZENITH (+9.7%), GUARANTY (+7.1%)

(+2.5%) ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ;нϭ͘ϭйͿ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ E'^h' Z (+8.6%), NIGERIAN Z t Z/ ^ (+9.8%) and OANDO (+9.9%). Meanwhile, the Insurance index slipped 0.5% due to price decline in NEM

5.00

3.1%

0.9%

-23.1%

-23.7%

13.2%

0.8%

1.7x

0.2x

2.12

0.0%

0.9%

3.4%

5.0%

13.4%

1.5%

2.1x

0.3x

9.5%

46.8%

160.90

0.0%

0.9%

8.8%

8.8%

24.1%

10.9%

6.5x

1.5x

5.1%

15.3%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

55.05

0.0%

0.8%

-1.0%

-1.0%

19.1%

13.5%

9.5x

1.8x

5.4%

10.5%

12.70

8.5%

0.6%

-6.6%

-9.3%

19.6%

11.6%

7.5x

1.5x

8.7%

13.3%

0.73

9.0%

0.4%

-26.3%

-31.8%

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

11.00

4.8%

0.3%

-50.0%

-46.9%

-5.7%

-3.6%

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

22.50

-0.9%

0.4%

-25.1%

-25.1%

4.9%

2.6%

11.7x

0.6x

6.8%

8.6%

1.70

7.6%

0.4%

-8.1%

-6.6%

9.2%

1.1%

1.9x

0.2x

8.3%

52.4%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.50

-1.3%

0.3%

-24.6%

-21.1%

9.8%

0.9%

4.0x

0.4x

2.0%

24.8%

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

7.30

2.8%

0.3%

-15.1%

-18.0%

-9.6%

-4.1%

2.1x

0.5x

8.8%

48.8% 17.0%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance 28 Presco PLC

ed in the previous session as 27 ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ 11 losers. The top gainers were , DW/KE (+10.0%), NEIMETH

13.6%

5.3%

5.9x

0.8x

7.8%

-23.3%

15.9%

6.4%

9.2x

1.4x

5.6%

10.9%

6.20

-4.6%

0.3%

3.3%

2.5%

8.4%

1.2%

7.5x

0.7x

4.0%

13.3%

14.5%

96.30

0.0%

0.2%

-13.2%

-13.2%

8.8%

2.0%

12.5x

1.1x

2.90

9.8%

0.1%

-27.3%

-27.3%

14.5%

2.6%

1.2x

0.2x

8.50

0.0%

0.1%

-34.4%

-34.4%

16.5%

5.8%

11.8x

2.0x

4.3%

8.5%

2.2%

0.2%

15.6%

15.6%

23.2%

2.9%

3.5x

0.8x

12.0%

28.9%

4.5x

0.4x

5.1%

-9.7%

0.1%

-24.3%

-17.6%

9.0%

0.9%

0.0%

0.1%

-38.1%

-37.8%

5.1%

1.4%

37 Beta Glass PLC

70.00

0.0%

0.1%

30.1%

30.1%

17.4%

11.4%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-12.1%

-3.8%

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.58

0.0%

0.1%

-20.2%

-20.2%

10.3%

2.8%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.00

0.0%

0.0%

-18.4%

-18.4%

1.1%

0.5%

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC

0.55

(+10.0%)

OA N D O NB Z EN IT H B A N K

ϵ͘ϭйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŽƉ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶͲ ƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵŽLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

0.9x

6.3x

1.0x

2.7%

-7.0%

6.9x

0.7x

14.6%

49.4x

0.5x

1.8%

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

10.0%

FB NH

74.8

1.0% 9.7%

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

72.1

10.0%

GUA R A N T Y

36.8

7.1%

2.90

9.8%

UB A

22.9

3.2%

26.80

9.8%

FCM B

19.2

7.6%

9.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

18.3

0.0%

9.2

-1.3%

T R A N SC OR P

0.73

9.0%

UC A P

UN IT YB N K

0.49

8.9%

T R A N SC OR P

8.5

9.0%

8.5%

A C C ESS

7.6

6.9%

8.1%

OA N D O

5.2

9.8%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.07

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er A R B IC O WEM A B A N K C UT IX

P ric e 2.57 0.56 1.20

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1096.6

9.7%

-9.7%

GUA R A N T Y

794.0

7.1%

-9.1%

FB NH

354.2

1.0% 10.0%

P ric e C hg %

A IIC O

0.80

-4.8%

D A N GC EM

276.7

UB N

6.20

-4.6%

UB A

145.8

3.2%

H ON YF LOUR

0.94

-4.1%

N EST LE

96.4

0.0%

UP D C R EIT

3.10

-1.6%

J B ER GER

71.0

2.2%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.50

-1.3%

A C C ESS

52.2

6.9%

UC A P

2.30

-1.3%

WA P C O

39.5

3.6%

-1.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

38.5

0.0%

UP L

0.98

2.0%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

0.88

12.70

15.9%

1.5x

133.10

15.90

D A N GSUGA R

22.1% -13.5%

0.0%

P ric e

D A N GC EM

8.0% 80.1%

23.00 0.56

while ARBICO (-9.8%), WEMABANK (-9.7%) and CUTIX (-

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

-4.2%

-23.3%

11.20

C H A M P ION

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϱdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ Ϯ͘ϰdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚͲ

and

-4.2%

0.2%

34 Wema Bank PLC

N EIM ET H

(+10.0%)

0.3%

0.0%

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

T ic k er

DANGCEM

0.0%

31 Oando PLC

35 Ardova PLC

-6.7%

5.75

29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 30 Total Nigeria PLC

1.4% 0.9x

36.45

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

59.5%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

(-3.4%) while the AFR-/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

6.0% -61.6%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

and DANGCEM (+10.0%). ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ

5.8x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

24 FCMB Group Plc

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

7.5% 4.2%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

18 11 PLC

FBNH ;ϳϰ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ZENITH ;ϳϮ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ GUARAN-

3.6%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Oluwarotimi Ashimi | oashimi@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

30

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

NSCDC Officer Kills Driver in Abia Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

A commercial vehicle driver was yesterday shot dead by an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, for allegedly refusing to bribe at a checkpoint.

The driver, who was identified as Amobi Igwe from Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, was said to have been gunned down at Umuikaa junction in Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State along the EnuguPort Harcourt expressway.

The ugly incident occurred barely 10 days after a police officer shot dead a petrol station attendant at Ogbor Hill in Aba on similar reason of enforcing the lockdown directive.

According to an eye witnesses, the victim was conveying food items, including rice and tomatoes, to Umuahia when he was stopped at the

checkpoint manned by the Civil Defence officer.

It was gathered that an argument had ensued when the Civil Defence officers demanded bribe from the driver before he would be allowed to cross the checkpoint and proceed on his destination.

While the driver was arguing that he was carrying food items and was therefore exempted from the restriction on movement, the officer demanded the key of the vehicle and started armtwisting the driver to collect the key.

As the argument and the struggle for the car key heightened, the trigger-happy Civil Defence officer was said to have let off his gun and hit the hapless driver on the chest, killing him instantly.

On seeing the gruesome killing, a mob was said to have gathered to lynch the killer Civil Defence officer but he ran into a nearby police

station for protection while other members of his team drove away from the scene.

But the state Commandant of NSCDC, Nnamdi Nwannukwu, has denied the eye witnesses account of the incident, saying the deceased was neither carrying any food item in his vehicle nor was he asked to

give bribe at the check point.

In a statement he personally signed, the state commandant admitted that the driver was killed by a ‘stray’ bullet fired by one of his men identified as SIC Eke Richard, adding that the gun was aimed at the tyres of the vehicle.

According to him, the driver

was flagged down at the check point but sped off dangerously, skidded over a barricade and brushed an officer in a bid to beat security. “The action raised suspicion among the operatives that he (driver) could be a criminal attempting to beat security,” he said, adding that the development “prompted”

one of the operatives “to fire a shot targeting the tyres.”

Meanwhile the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has demanded the dismissal, arrest and prosecution of the killer Civil Defence officer, saying his action was barbaric and he should suffer the consequences.

IG Warns Transport Companies against Night Journeys Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Determined to curb the likely spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday read the riot act to transport companies engaged in night trips.

He also called on the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to warn members against embarking on night journeys.

He said the continued breach of the restriction order by transport owners undermines government’s efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said violators would be met with the full weight of the law even as the IG has also ordered Commissioners of Police in the 36 States to enforce the directive without delay.

“The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has

warned of tough consequences for members of the organised transport sector who continue to breach the existing restriction order by resorting to night travels, a development that has proven to be counter-productive as it undermines the tireless efforts of the Federal Government at curbing the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

“This warning is sequel to intelligence at the disposal of the Force showing that road transport workers, especially interstate operators, have continued to defy the lockdown order and cessation of movements as emplaced by the federal government as they continue to embark on night journeys”, he said.

Consequently, the IG directed Commissioners of Police to ensure full implementation of the restriction order, especially as it relates to night travel without being unmindful of categories of exempted persons and the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

Dickson, Peterside Mourn Pastor Okoko Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The Immediate-past Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Setriake Dickson, was among the people that paid their condolences to the late oil magnate and former Governorship Aspirant in Bayelsa State, Pastor Keneibi Okoko, who died on yesterday during a surgery to remove excess fat from his body in a Lagos hospital.

His death certificate, which was issued by the Amethyst Health Care and Diagnostic Centre Limited, Lagos, showed that he was brought to the hospital over issues related to localised fat in the abdomen and breasts.

The report that was signed by one Mr. Benedict Olusola on behalf of the diagnostic centre, stated that “he died on Wednesday, April 15 and the cause of death was primarily hypoxia and secondarily Cardiac arrest.”

Okoko’s death came few days after he made a donation to his kinsmen on April 10 at Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area as means of alleviating the suffering experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dickson and the immediate past Director General of National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, offered their condolences to the family of the deceased.

Dickson said the death of Okoko, who left indelible marks in the world of business and politics at a young age of 42, was painful.

“Keniebi was somebody we all had a lot of hope in. He proved to be an open minded, accommodating, large hearted, understanding political leader that I encouraged to be under my wing henceforth for political grooming and support.

FIRE DISASTER…

Fire fighters struggling to put off the raging fire that gutted Dugbe Market in lbadan...yesterday

FELIX ADEMOLA

Ayade to Pay 8,000 New Employees N30,000 Each Monthly Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade yesterday distributed stimulus package to vulnerable persons as well as citizens who cannot fend for themselves due to age or incapacitation across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Speaking at CROSPIL in Calabar during the distribution of the stimulus package, Ayade declared that he had already approved N30,000 as monthly stipend for beneficiaries of the automatic employment given to 8,000 youths between the ages of 18 to 35 in the state starting

from Tuesday next week.

He said, “Distributing food is not the real palliatives; the real palliative is in giving people jobs .Palliative, which is temporal is for poor and vulnerable who cannot fend for themselves.

“We are starting the real palliative on Tuesday. Whether you are a gardener or cleaner, whatever you can do, we will give a job but we can only pay you 30,000 if you know you need it and want to earn that amount please put down your names and phone numbers;

you will be contacted.

“The food will be shared through our traditional rulers to all the 18 LGAs: We want it to get to the grassroots; this is not about political party. It is about governance; we will also give to churches and various religious organisations to distribute because they know the people well.

“This is a time to show humanity. Humanity does not know colour or ethnicity.

We need to stop spreading fear about the pandemic. What we need is to show the people

love especially at this critical time. Fear and hunger is killing people even more than the pandemic.

“We want to thank President Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria for granting us clearance to deliver our rice seedlings to states.

“We have built industries and made serious investment. federal government support is key. We need more of their support so that we can achieve more growth and development in our economy and even more”.

Lalong Extends Lockdown of Plateau by One Week Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, has announced the extension of the lockdown of the state by one week to meet the medically stipulated quarantine period of 14 days, which would begin on Monday, April 20.

Lalong said the precautionary measures were important even though the state has not recorded any positive case of COVID-19. He said: “The total lockdown has been extended to 12 midnight of Thursday, April

23, 2020, to meet the medically stipulated quarantine period of 14 days.

“However, beginning from 11pm tonight, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to 12 midnight of Sunday, April 19, 2020, the total lockdown will be relaxed to enable people go out to restock their homes.”Lalong also announced that the testing laboratory in Jos at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) was ready to attend to cases, adding that it has the capacity to test over 1000 cases per day

He said: “I am happy to announce that the Testing Centre for Plateau State earlier envisaged has finally come to fruition as the Bio-Safety Level 3 Grade 1 Laboratory at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, has been equipped and certified by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to begin outright test for COVID-19.

“I was at the NVRI earlier today to inspect the laboratory and I must say that I am impressed with the standard of facilities and staff available.

This centre, which has capacity to test over one thousand samples per day, will assist us test more people and serve other neighbouring states.”

He also described the initial lockdown of the state as successful and worthwhile.

“Apart from official field reports by members of the task force and the individual reports from members of the public, I personally went round to see things for myself where, I confirmed the high level of obedience and compliance to the government directive.

CENTI, Partners Donate $10m to Vulnerable Nigerians Sunday Okobi In a bid to help combat the economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, CENTI in partnership with Africans Preventing Poverty Foundation (APP) among other partners has announced that it would provide $10 million to vulnerable Nigerians.

CENTI is a stable token block chain asset, which has recently been launched in Nigeria and is available

exclusively through bitfxt technology, a Nigerian block chain company.

Founder of APP, Joseph Orike, made this disclosure yesterday in a statement made available to journalists.

Orike said the APP Foundation intended to distribute the equivalent of $10 million in digital tokens to one million Nigerians who will then be able to redeem the tokens in selected supermarkets and retail stores against a minimum purchase

across Nigeria from the date of CENTI’s official launch in May, 2020.

He added that the relief is supported by indigenous foundations and organisations such as the Foundation for Children of Bakassi, Genio Global, RoadSeal Construction, Inter-Bau Foundation, Konek, Barkiya Foundation and Aisha Fulani Foundation.

He further said thousands of relief kits containing items such as hand sanitisers,

Antiseptic soap, vitamin C, noodles, bread, yam, Maggi, tomatoes, detergent, power oil and rice will also be distributed to the most vulnerable people in the society who are affected by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While highlighting the four simple steps to follow before redeeming the $10 CENTI, APP founder said the android application is available now while the iOS version will be available in May 2020.

˜ ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

31

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

FIFA: Super Eagles, Others May Not Play This Year Due to COVID-19

L-R: Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, John Obi Mikel, Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheanacho spotting the Nigerian home jersey to the World Cup in Russia...two years ago

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic may now force international matches like those of the Super Eagles not to be played this year as the various leagues around the world would be top priority should life return to normal soon, according to FIFA Vice-president Victor Montagliani.

FIFA have already called off international matches in March and June no thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Eagles last played on November 17, 2019, when they beat hosts Lesotho 4-2 in a 2021 AFCON qualifier.

The double-header against Sierra Leone in March as well as an AFCON qualifier in Benin in June have since been postponed.

The three-time Africa champions are now scheduled to host Lesotho in a reverse tie for the 2021 AFCON on

September 8.

Montagliani, who leads a FIFA committee to oversee the fall-outs for football because of the Coronavirus, has now warned that the international windows of September, October and November could also be called off.

“Personally, I think it will be a challenge (to play international games then). Not only because of the health problems around the world and the need for preparation, but also with regard to having to go abroad as soon as we start again,” said Montagliani who is also president of CONCACAF. “I think the leagues will be first priority. The international matches in September are still ahead, but I would rather not say that they are not safe because such things are now.”

He further suggested that the

Arsenal to Continue Paying Staff, Casual Workers Arsenal will not use the government’s furlough scheme and will continue paying employees and casual workers their full salaries until the end of May, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

The top-flight season has been suspended until at least April 30 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and the north London club had initially committed to paying employees’ salaries until the end of this month.

“All our employees are receiving their full salaries and we plan to continue this. We are not currently intending to use the government’s furlough scheme,” Arsenal said in a statement on its website.

“In addition to our employees, we are extending our commitment to pay casual workers on our payroll from the end of April to the end of May. “For our matchday casual

workers this means they will be paid for all four Premier League games that have been postponed and will be paid again should they work at these games once re-arranged.”

A few Premier League clubs had initially opted to use the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to temporarily help pay staff during the stoppage.

However, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth reversed their decisions amid a backlash from the fans.

Arsenal said they were in talks with their players regarding “potential financial challenges” in future but had not reached an agreement with them yet on how to move forward.

Last week, West Ham United and Southampton announced wage deferrals for their players to cope with the financial impact of the pandemic.

qualifying format of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar may have to be redesigned on account of these several postponements.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino had earlier restated his position in a message sent

to its 211-member federations last weekend.

“Our first priority, our principle, the one we will use for our competitions and encourage everyone to follow is that health comes first,” the FIFA President

said. “I cannot stress this enough.

No match, no competition, no league is worth risking a single human life.

“Everyone in the world should have this very clear in their mind. It would be more

than irresponsible to force competitions to resume if things are not 100% safe. If we have to wait a little longer we must do so. It’s better to wait a little bit longer than to take any risks,” concludes the FIFA chief.

Nigeria’s Russia 2018 Jersey Makes Iconic Football Shirts List Femi Solaja with agency report Super Eagles’ outfit to the last World Cup finals at Russia 2018 still continue to resonate in the global football space following its nomination among the best shirts don by football teams in the last 52 years.

According to a survey carried out by BBC Sportsyesterday, Nigeria’s home attire which was also used at AFCON 2019 last summer in Egypt was among the best 20 since 1966 when England won the FIFA World Cup on home soil in a 3-2 win against the then West Germany at the Wembley Stadium.

The survey to select the best outfit was carried out by seasoned football writers and visitors to the site are

expected to vote for the best among the 20-team shirts and the results will be published today (Thursday).

That Super Eagles’ jersey to the Mundial took the world by storm few weeks before Russia 2018 kicked off.

Fans queued for hours outside Nike’s flagship store in London to get their hands on one. Three million pre-orders of the replica shirts, sold out almost immediately after they were released.

Interestingly, it was the jersey that gave the Super Eagles its only win at the World Cup with a 2-0 win against Iceland but crashed out in the Group phase with 0-2 and 1-2 loss to Croatia and Argentina respectively.

Other shortlisted jerseys aside

England’s outfit at 1966 include, FC Celtic in 1967, Brazil’s World Cup winning team at Mexico 1970 which was very similar to most other Brazil kits, but this one was a retro classic and the last shirt Pele sported before retiring from international duty.

Also on the list is FC Chelsea shirt in 1970 and FC Ajax of 1971 which was simple but an absolute beauty.

It was in this kit that Ajax beat Panathinaikos 2-0 at Wembley as they won the first of three consecutive European Cup finals.

Mexico jersey to Argentina 1978 was also selected just as Argentine’ Boca Juniors shirt of 1981 made the list of iconic shirts.

Belgium outfit in 1984; FC

Liverpool 1984 as the Reds wore a near-identical home shirt from 1983-1985, but this sponsorless edition worn for the 1984 European Cup final in Rome stands out. Joe Fagan’s side beat Roma on penalties that night, and the famous shirt was used to inspire the Reds’ 2019-20 kit.

Denmark’s outfit at Mexico 1986 is also in the mix same with the Netherlands’ outfit with which they won the 1988 Euro Cup tournament. Colombia’s outfit, England and that of eventual winners, the then West Germany made it.

Interestingly, the Germans’ slick designed outfit was adopted by Nigerian clubside, Iwuayanwu Nationale of Owerri.

Oyinloye Gets African Badminton Confederation’s Certification Nigerian badminton technical official, Naomi Adeoyin Oyinloye, has been upgraded to a Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) Certificated Umpire status.

This lift for Oyinloye followed her success at the BCA Umpires Assessment which took place in Casablanca, Morocco during the African Games in August, 2019.

The last time Nigerian Umpires were upgraded by the BCA was 20 years ago in the year 2000 at the All Africa Senior Championships in Bauchi where a group of five were certificated.

Expressing joy and immense satisfaction on the matter of the upgrade, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih, said: “It was one of the major thing we wanted to achieve when the board gave the nod for the commencement of series of Umpires Training courses which started in Abuja in 2018.”

He said the BFN has always believed that the growth of the game is not just about the development of the players, but should also encompass the development of the technical department of the game.

“In line with the administration’s policies, plans are in the pipeline to develop and upgrade the coaches as well,” the BFN President hinted. He said that the overall development of these sectors of the game is a continuous exercise that cannot be overemphasised.

Orbih said the board under his watch will leave no stone unturned in achieving these noble objectives.

“These, among other crucial areas are what we will like to see firmly in place to justify the confidence that various stakeholders in the game have

reposed in us”.

Miss Naomi Oyinloye is a product of the umpires training courses conducted by the Francis Orbih-led BFN. She was invited together with Adebayo George Ilori by the BCA to be part of the officiating officials at the last African Games in Morocco.

Adebayo Ilori was invited as a Referee and Miss Oyinloye as an Umpire. Adebayo Ilori is also being encouraged to pursue the BCA Referee certification by the BFN. Their invitation to the African Games was unprecedented in African Badminton umpiring history.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Clemens Westerhof to Bonfere Jo “He cannot do this and go free. I have never spoken ill of him here in Dutch papers. He put it on radio in Nigeria that I sold the match to Italy. I will sue him in Nigeria. I regret that I brought him because he is a bad man” – Former Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof on the allegation by his former assistant and fellow Dutch, Bonfrere Jo, that he ‘sold’ the USA ’94 match against Italy.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI China, COVID-19 and African Anger F THE VERDICT

ollowing a meeting in Beijing last Thursday, the ‘Group of African Ambassadors’ wrote a joint letter to Chinese authorities to express their displeasure with the growing “discrimination and stigmatization” of people from the continent. Without a single report that African nationals have violated Chinese government anti-pandemic regulations, the ambassadors said, “we have received disquieting reports of inhuman treatments meted out to Africans particularly in Guangdong Province.”

The diplomats, representing Nigeria and other African countries, listed grievances, including the ejection of Togolese, Nigerian and Benenois nationals from their hotels in the middle of the night; forceful administration of nucleic acid tests on a group of African students in Sun-Yat Sen University in Guangzhou despite the fact that they had no travel history within the stated period; discriminatory COVID-19 tests on African men married to Chinese women; forceful evictions of Africans from their various apartments; seizure of passports of African nationals in violation of international practices and conventions; persistent subjection of nationals of African countries to unwarranted medical examinations even after testing negative for COVID-19; threats of revocation of visas as well as detention and deportation of legal migrants for no cogent reasons.

To buttress the position of the diplomats, numerous video clips now trend on social media depicting the way African people are being ill-treated by Chinese officials; though in one, a Nigerian official stands up to Chinese officials in defence of our nationals which makes me very proud. But before I deal with the substantive issue, let me make a disclosure.

Beginning from October 2000 when I covered the first Sino-African conference in Beijing at the instance of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, I have been to China several times, and in recent years, I have had an association with the country.

It all began in 2016 when I received an invitation from Beijing to speak on the theme “Advancing China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and media cooperation to achieve development” at the China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A year later, I was nominated as the African voice at the September 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, in Dunhuang, Gansu Province of Western China. The following year in Boao, Hainan Province on 30th October, 2018, I was again one of the speakers. And in April last year in Beijing, I was inaugurated, along with journalists from 25 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Eurasia, into the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) Council. Coordinated by Peoples Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), with membership from 182 media organisations in 86 countries, the objective of the BRNN is to promote “mutual assistance, collaboration and exchanges among members.”

Although there are no financial benefits for this role, it has given me access to people who matter within the media in China. And in all my interventions I have highlighted the precarious nature of the relationship between their country and Africa. My 2018 speech, “Of China, Africa and ‘Colonial Master’”, emphasized that given the enormous financial investment China has made in Africa “it is in her interest that the relationship be seen as one based on shared humanity and prosperity, not as a

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Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian new colonial master coming under the guise of loans and lopsided trade.” I referenced projects funded with Chinese loans in Nigeria, made a distinction between the colonialism of physical occupation and exploitative extraction of resources that we had in the past and the indirect control or neo-colonialism that the Chinese are accused of. “The latter is not physically controlling and more supportive of trade and infrastructural development on the continent but it is nonetheless viewed with distrust and apprehension,” I said on that occasion.

While I have in recent days spoken with some people in Beijing on the unfortunate developments in Guangzhou, it is obvious from the video clips in circulation that, whatever may have been the justifications—and I will come to that—people from African countries, including

China must also be careful. This problem did not start today nor is it restricted to Guangzhou. Every ascendant power or civilization soon acquires a certain messianic arrogance that defines reality in terms of ‘us’ versus ‘them’. This is more so when the ascendant power is in the envious economic position of apparent benefactor as is the case between China and Africa

Nigeria, were not treated with dignity. Living in denial about this problem or making excuses will not help. China must accept responsibility and begin to deal with it. But it is also true that the problem appears limited to Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong, one of 26 provinces in China. A problem in just one city, some of my Chinese friends have argued, cannot be used to tar the image of a whole country.

Besides, I was offered explanations as to what exactly transpired in Guangzhou.

The problem faced by African migrants in the city reportedly started at a period China was close to putting down the pandemic but new cases were continuing to come from abroad.

In Guangzhou, 111 imported cases of infection were reported last week Tuesday (7th April).

Among them, 25 are foreign nationals, with nine from Nigeria, three from Angola and two each from DRC and Niger. There were also one each from Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Madagascar as well as from France, Brazil, UK, Australia and Russia. So 19 of the 25 cases involving foreign nationals were from African countries.

What has allegedly put the focus on our continent is that many immigrants share small apartments in squalid conditions that constitute health hazards. And among the Nigerians who recently arrived China, not everyone was strictly following quarantine regulations, according to Chinese officials. There was the case of a Nigerian man, 47 (name withheld), who tested positive and was isolated for medical treatment. On 1st April, he was said to have attacked a nurse at the hospital.

The incident was a big story in the Global Times (official Chinese newspaper published in English) edition of the next day with the headline, ‘Nigerian man tested positive for COVID-19 beats nurse to escape quarantine in Guangzhou’. The case, according to the report, “has caused great uproar on Chinese internet, with many calling for the man to be deported” for assaulting “a nurse who tried to stop him, pushing her to the ground, beating her…A forensic examination found that she sustained injuries to her face, neck and waist.”

On Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama blamed poor communication between Chinese authorities and African consulates in Guangzhou for the current crisis. Onyeama, who made reference to a new video which has a different narrative from those in circulation, explained that Chinese officials were trying to contain some Africans, including a Nigerian restaurant owner, who came into China and tested positive for the virus. “And so, (the Chinese) automatically demanded and insisted that they all be quarantined; with nobody allowed to come out in 14 days...So, they put in very strict measures to try to contain this outbreak which to them at that time clearly seemed to have been within that community. Now, it was misinterpreted by some of the Nigerians and Africans, who could not understand why it seemed to be selective and targeting only themselves,” Onyeama said.

While the Nigerian embassy has corroborated that narrative, according to Onyeama, “what our officials in China made clear was that the communication could and should have been better. If the authorities in Guangzhou had informed the African Consulates in Guangzhou that this was the situation and this was the measure they were putting in place, it could have become a joint effort. That mutual suspicion would not be there. That was not done and it led to counter-narrative and it exacerbated

the situation,” said Onyeama, who confirmed that both the Nigerian and Chinese authorities were working closely to resolve the issue.

I commend the intervention of Onyeama who has displayed both maturity and leadership in the management of this crisis. But I am also aware that there are larger issues here.

Guangzhou is the city with the highest concentration of African people, including Nigerians. Many of them are irregular immigrants so there has always been a tension between them and Chinese officials, with numerous accusations of human rights violations. This is what Chinese authorities should look into. But it is equally important that we do not allow this episode to damage our existing relationship with China, especially at a time we are dealing with a serious pandemic.

I am a firm supporter of the underappreciated Nigerian doctors who labour under impossible conditions. But to deal with COVID-19, we need all the help we can get. And there is a reason why many countries are turning to China for assistance. Between 16 to 24 February, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sent a team of 25 international experts to China.

They include nationals of the United States, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, Singapore and Nigeria, (represented by the Director General of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu). “In the face of a previously unknown virus, China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history,” they stated in their highly revealing 40-page report.

The world, according to these experts, “urgently needs access to China’s experience in responding to COVID-19, as well as the material goods it brings to the global response. It is even more urgent now, with escalating COVID-19 outbreaks outside of China”. Some of these assets, according to the WHO experts, include “the remarkable speed with which Chinese scientists and public health experts isolated the causative virus, established diagnostic tools, and determined key transmission parameters, such as the route of spread and incubation period”, as well as the “uncompromising and rigorous use of non-pharmaceutical measures to contain transmission of the COVID-19 virus in multiple settings.”

The ANAP Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank, a group established to respond to the coronavirus disease, has also underscored the need to accept the kind of support offered

by China if Nigeria is to beat the virus.

“Strategic alignment of purpose, transparent communication, close collaboration and collective accountability are essential to the successful delivery in times of stability, and even more so in times of crisis such as now,” the group said in a statement signed by Atedo Peterside and Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, chairman and vice chairman respectively.

NOTE: Piece concluded on page 14

Sex for Grades

Working with the MAX team, as I explained two weeks ago, we built an online store to enable readers purchase my book, ‘NAKED ABUSE: Sex for Grades in African Universities’ and get it delivered to their doors. Sales will commence on Monday but deliveries are active only in Lagos and Abuja. To make purchase, readers can visit MAX.ng/NakedAbuse and complete their purchase. Online book sales will go live just after Midnight on Monday April 20, 2020.

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