FRIDAY 15TH MAY 2020

Rate Increase Raises VAT Revenue to N339bn in Q1 Ahmed meets N’Assembly leadership over 2020 budget cut Deji Elumoye, James Emejo, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The federal government has generated additional N30.46

billion in the first quarter of the year (Q1 2020) based on the hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) from five per cent to 7.5 per cent that became effective from February 1, according

to data released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NBS figures were released just as the Minister of Finance, Budget and

National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, met with the National Assembly leadership in Abuja yesterday to discuss the proposed cut in the 2020 Budget.

reflect the country’s economic realities.

With the extra cash, VAT receipts closed at N338.94

The cut, which amounted to N71.5 billion, was subject of economic analysts’ conversation with THISDAY last night as many of them saying the reduction should

Continued on page 10

FG Explains Why Marketers Can’t Exclusively Determine Petrol Prices... Page 5 Friday 15 May, 2020 Vol 25. No 9167. Price: N250

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Decline in Non-COVID-19 Ailment Consultation in Hospitals Worries FG Fears pandemic might hinder fight against other diseases as out-patients crash from 4m to 2m Says face masks compulsory Urges govs not to deviate from presidential guidelines Holds talks with Canada on evacuation of Nigerians 193 new cases bring tally to 5,162 with 1,180 discharged, 167 dead Lagos launches mobile enlightenment campaign Preliminary report shows manpower gap in Kano Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Eromosele Abiodun, Martins Ifijeh, Nume Ekeghe and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

onset of COVID-19, which has resulted in a significant drop in the number of outpatient population of non-COVID-19 ailments in hospitals nationwide.

It said data showed a 50 per

The federal government yesterday expressed concern about the disruption unleashed on the nation's healthcare system since the

cent reduction in the number of outpatient cases from four million people to two million Continued on page 10

Govs Challenge FG over Utilisation of Recovered Loots Urge N’Assembly to stop infectious diseases bill

Chuks Okocha, Deji Elumoye, Udora Orizu in Abuja Governors have raised concerns over the ownership and distribution of recovered looted funds as a first-line charge from the Federation Account.

They also urged the National Assembly to step down the controversial Infectious Diseases Control Bill to give room for consultations with states and other stakeholders.

However, the Chairman Continued on page 10

SECURITY MATTER...

President Muhammadu Buhari meets with the National Security Council in Abuja…yesterday

UN Agency Alerts Nigerians on Impending Terrorists' Attacks... Page 8

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

FG Explains Why Marketers Can’t Exclusively Determine Petrol Prices

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has thrown more light on what it described yesterday as the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, and clarified that the country could not afford to completely leave marketers to determine the pump prices of petrol.

The government said that given recent experiences with petroleum marketers, any attempt to give them a free hand to decide the selling price of the product would lead to profiteering.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, told reporters yesterday in Abuja that there was no argument as to whether the federal government had fully liberalised the downstream sector, adding that petrol was too strategic to be left for those who are mostly interested in profits.

He said: “What we announced was already deregulation. But as we all know, petrol and petroleum products are very strategic commodities; so, you cannot allow the price of this commodity to be determined wholly by the marketers. “It’s the government's responsibility to protect consumers because anywhere in the world if you want to buy anything, there is the recommended retail price. The consumer protection agency will fix a price so that no one will profiteer inordinately from the people. “If we allow marketers to go ahead and be fixing prices as

they like, it will not be good for our people because this commodity is very central to the lives of our people. That’s why you have a regulator for that sector that will determine the price, bearing in mind what it has cost the marketers to land the product, allowing for some profit for them, making sure the consumer is also protected.�

The minister noted that, for instance, since the fall in the international prices of crude oil in the international market, the marketers have refused to slash the prices they sell diesel and other products.

He added: “If the PPPRA does not work with the marketers, they will profiteer from the people. Look at one problem we have been having with the marketers.

For example, today we have brought down the price of PMS because the landing cost came down. “But the landing cost of diesel should have also come down, but the marketers have refused to bring the price down.

We have been having a running battle with them to bring their prices down because their landing cost has also reduced. “It is government's role to protect the consumer.

The PPPRA is to protect the consumer. We said they should not announce (the template for May) because it’s not necessary, after all, FAAN determines prices of airline tickets, but they don’t announce it every time. “They just discuss with operators and agree and increase whatever the ticket price is. The central bank

80m Africans Risk Extreme Poverty, Obasanjo Warns Eromosele Abiodun Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Desalegn Boshe, have warned that 80 million Africans risk extreme poverty if the COVID-19 response is not focused on food security, agribusiness and rural development.

They warned that the continent could be the worst hit from the economic crisis unleashed by the pandemic as a result of the disruptions caused by it on the food ecosystem.

The two former leaders' warning was contained in a publication posted on the website of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, seen by THISDAY yesterday.

They co-authored the publication, warning African countries against neglecting the rural poor. “Africa has so far escaped the worst health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"However, the continent looks like it could be the worst hit from the economic fallout of the crisis: Eighty million Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty if action is not taken.

And disruptions in the food system raise the prospect of more Africans falling into hunger. “Rural people, many of whom work on small-scale farms, are particularly vulnerable to

the impacts of the crisis. It is therefore vital that the COVID-19 response addresses food security and target the rural poor. “Agriculture contributes 65 per cent of Africa’s employment and 75 per cent of its domestic trade. "However, the rich potential of agriculture as a tool to promote food security and fight poverty is at risk from the effects of COVID-19,� they said.

The duo analysed the importance of agriculture on the African economy, saying that efforts must be made to prevent food shortage. “The effect of restrictive measures on food trade is especially worrying, in particular for food-importing countries, but also because of the shrinking export markets for the continent’s farmers. “African governments have defined stimulus measures to mitigate national and regional economic impacts of COVID-19. As they do, they must remember that investments in agriculture can be up to five times more poverty-reducing than investments in other sectors. “Small farms everywhere traditionally make a huge contribution to global food security. Around the world, small-farm dominated systems produce 50 per cent of all food calories on 30 per cent of the world’s agricultural land,� they added.

regulates interest rates with the banks, they discuss with the banks. PPPRA will work with marketers to ensure the best pricing for consumers. “Prices can go up and will go up. That’s why we are in the race to introduce CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) which is a cheaper fuel. If people decide to keep running on petrol, others will migrate to CNG. “It has been completely deregulated. Today is not

when we announced it. The issue of price modulation is what is confusing many.

That is why the price is not stationary because it will make it regulated all over.�

He explained that the ministry had brought down the daily consumption of fuel from over 60 million to about 52 million per day while the DPR has also launched the crude oil lifting and tracking system, which tracks all crude oil being exported from Nigeria.

“We have been able to eliminate completely losses from the terminals, so the 60,000 to 100,000 barrels that we lose sometimes is usually from the pipelines system. We have confirmed this when we gave barging permits to companies to barge crude, we didn’t record any losses," he added.

On natural gas penetration, the minister lamented that Nigeria’s deployment of gas for domestic uses was one of

the lowest in the continent.

He, however, said the rollout of a programme to ensure that rural areas use natural gas would begin in June. “What we are trying do is to get our people to use it more.

We have one of the lowest penetrations in the whole of Africa. Some of you will be surprised to know that Nigeria has one of the lowest in Africa, in fact, Niger Republic has a higher LPG penetration than Nigeria," he stated.

2020 BUDGET IN REVIEW...

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (left), and President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, during a meeting with the executive arm of government on the proposed review of 2020 Budget in Abuja‌yesterday

Osinbajo: COVID-19 Presents Opportunity to Reset the Economy Global Citizen, NSIA unveil Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund Obinna Chima in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have presented an unprecedented opportunity for Nigeria to reset critical sectors of its economy.

Osinbajo spoke yesterday during a virtual media conference, where the Global Citizen, a global movement for citizen-led actions to eradicate poverty and improve human living conditions, announced a collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to establish Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund.

The media conference also had in attendance, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Chairman of the Board, NSIA, Mr. Jide Zeitlin; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji; Chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Folawiyo; Vice Chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede, and Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer at the Global Citizen, Michael Sheldrick.

According to the organisers, the initiative aims to mobilise

Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora as well as global partners in the philanthropic and private sectors to support the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

They, however, declined to announce the amount the fund will be targeting, saying it will be disclosed during a formal launch. The NSIA is to act as the fund manager.

Osinbajo described the initiative as a creative, forward-looking and thoughtful response to the challenge facing the country due to the pandemic.

He said: “The COVID-19 challenge is also an unprecedented opportunity for us as a nation and as a people to reset the critical sectors of the economy. The disruptions in business and commerce, especially on account of the lockdown, have meant that we must develop a comprehensive economic and social response. “This fund would support them. It will also support the Social Investment Programme of the government.�

Folawiyo explained that funds to be mobilised through the initiative would target four areas, including supporting the most vulnerable; strengthening healthcare systems, universal

healthcare access as well as re-skilling and retooling in Nigeria.

He described the Global Citizen as the world’s largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending poverty by 2030. “Global Citizen has the power to drive lasting change around sustainability and equality. In Nigeria, Global Citizen would mobilise Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora, we would also call on our global partners in the philanthropic and private sectors to join our fight against COVID-19. “Nigeria’s recovery from this deadly pandemic requires the commitment of every one of us.

Through the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, together and in solidarity, we would build a more responsive and resilient Nigeria aftermath of this disaster. “That is why the Global Citizen is honoured to join the NSIA to launch a campaign later this month which would engage each of us as Nigerians to do our part, take action and to help mobilise support for this critical effort,� he said.

Aig-Imoukhuede said the fund was being established to provide immediate as well as long-term support in the fight against the COVID-19

pandemic.

He added that the fund, created by Nigerians, for Nigeria in response to the pandemic would mitigate the effects of the pandemic and support economic recovery in the country. “Our areas of focus are to support the most vulnerable.

The most vulnerable include not just those affected directly by the virus, but mental health issues as well. “The vulnerable in terms of those suffering from significant abuse at this point in time. It is also focused on strengthening our domestic healthcare system in more traditional areas of the response such as testing and treatment. “We have a pet project which is to establish in Nigeria one primary healthcare centre in each of our 774 local government areas, which started before the pandemic. Our nation can emerge stronger at the end of the pandemic,� he added.

In his speech, Orji explained that the NSIA was on a mission to drive sustained economic development for the benefit of all Nigerians.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented health, social and economic stress on the nation.

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UN Agency Alerts Nigerians on Impending Terrorists’ Attacks Buhari renews pledge to end security challenges Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) has alerted Nigeria on the looming complex and coordinated attacks on the nation's critical infrastructure, calling for urgent review and implementation of anti-terrorism measures.

According to the UNDSS Nigeria, information received indicated an increased likelihood of terrorist activity, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and complex attacks against critical national infrastructure and High-Value Targets (HVTs) in Nigeria.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to deploy available resources to combat security challenges causing sorrows and trauma to Nigerians.

The UN agency, in its latest Security Threat Information (STI) and Advisory report on Nigeria said based on the information at its disposal, Boko Haram was likely planning to exploit the momentum of the host government's strain due to COVID-19 spread to conduct a series of coordinated simultaneous attacks and so weaken the government’s efforts, to disturb and distract military activities in the Northeast and to gain greater local and regional attention and acceptance.

THISDAY yesterday obtained a copy of the report released on Wednesday by the Chief Security Adviser (CSA) and DSS Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Marinovic.

The report said: "It is assessed that we are at the beginning of the security crisis characterised by a wide spectrum of interconnected crisis (civil unrests, crime and the increasing threat of terrorism), that were fuming for quite some time and now released by COVID-19 impact on the government and population.

"In this context, the critical infrastructure are considered any of economic or security entities and their premises (petrol industry installations, banks, governmental facilities, shopping

malls, hotels, etc), at any location in the country, especially state capitals, including Lagos and Abuja.

"Though the UN in Nigeria is not the primary target for the terrorist activity, it is assessed that the UN can be impacted as collaterally (while visiting governmental installations, banks, shopping malls, e.t.c.), but also as the target of opportunity, if seen to be less protected (‘soft target’)."

The UNDSS added that it had already assessed the likelihood of such terrorist activity and included it in all respective areas of UN Security Management Systems' (UNSMS) Security Risk Management (SRMs) in Nigeria, stressing that therefore, the strict implementation of and compliance with standing security measures are of paramount importance.

However, the UNDSS recommended among others that Nigeria should ensure that all SRM measures, especially those against terrorism threats, are urgently reviewed and fully implemented.

It directed its Security Focal Points (SFPs) to alert security guards and host government security in and around UN compounds, on the above-described threat so to be vigilant against possible hostile surveillance (that usually precedes terrorist attack).

It said UN personnel should patronise only neighborhood markets and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), rather than big shopping malls or banks, to avoid unnecessary risk.

It also advised that emergency phone numbers (emergency contact card distributed by UNDSS SWA) should be kept handy at all times; while respective Security Operations Centres (SOC) should be informed of all suspicious movements/observations.

It also urged SFPs to circulate and disseminate the message to their respective personnel.

Buhari Renews Pledge to End Security Challenges The president yesterday renewed

Abducted Army Captain, Two Others Rescued in Ondo

James Sowole in Akure

Security operatives have rescued an Army Captain, D. Gana, and two others who were kidnapped a few days ago in Ondo State.

Gana and two other persons were abducted by gunmen on Auga/Akunnu in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The abductors, who contacted relations of their victims, asked them to pay N20 million ransom for their release.

However, the spokesman of the 323 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barrack, Akure, Ondo State, Captain Kayode Omojokun, said yesterday that the captain and the two other victims were rescued at a forest around the boundary of Ondo-Edo States near Ibillo.

He said the abductees were rescued without paying any

ransom as the kidnappers fled from their den and abandoned their victims.

Meanwhile, community leaders in the area where the people were kidnapped have expressed their concerns over the safety of people in the area.

The regent of Akunu Akoko, Princess Tola Orogun, said the incessant kidnapping around Akunu, Ikakumo and Auga areas deserved the attention of the government in order to save lives and property of the people.

She appealed to the military to deploy more troops in the area, while the police should embark on frequent patrols to checkmate the activities of the criminals.

The Alauga of Auga, Oba Samuel Agunloye, said many farmers were reluctant to go to their farms because of the fear of being kidnapped.

his commitment to deploy resources to combat security challenges causing sorrows and trauma to Nigerians.

Buhari, while presiding over a meeting of the National Security Council, the country's highest security body, in the State House, Abuja, said he would redouble his effort in ensuring the realisation of the primary responsibility of government, which is to ensure the safety of lives and property.

The meeting was reportedly called by the president following the recent upsurge on security challenges pervading some parts of the country, particularly in Kaduna and Nasarawa States.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), said he briefed the council on the current security crisis bedeviling the country, especially on terrorism in the North-east, banditry in other parts of the country, the emergence of more groups and rising cases

of kidnappings in recent times.

He said the council was informed on the necessity for all security agencies and all other agencies of government as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to collaborate effectively with a view to tackling the challenges.

Monguno stated that Buhari pledged to deploy resources to counter the menace.

He added that the president was conscious of the constitutional provision that the primary responsibility of the government is the security of citizens.

Against this background, he said the president promised to double efforts on security matters.

He said: “I, as national security adviser presented a couple of memos to the council in relation to the current security challenges faced by Nigeria and of course these are issues that revolve around the insurgency in the North-east, banditry, and emergence of all kinds of groups

that are not essentially bonafide. “I also highlighted other issues that are related to the problems of kidnapping, which we noticed has been on the increase in recent times.

"But the most important thing is that I stressed to the council that there is a need for collective action not just for the security agencies but by all ministries, departments, and agencies of governments, civil societies organisations and all non-governmental organisations within Nigeria.

"We have, of course, known that we are all firmly within the crux of all kinds of criminal elements trying to undermine national security. “Mr. President noted all the issues raised and of course in due time he will be able to address these issues. “Arising from this meeting, I will like to assure all Nigerians that Mr. President is fully on board, he is committed to doing whatever is necessary to reduce the spate of violence

and insecurity in the country.

"He is also committed to spending whatever resources he has at his disposal to bring to a quick end to all the issues affecting Nigerians and bringing a lot of sorrows to Nigerians.

"That is the most important takeaway from today’s meeting -Mr. President’s reassurance that issues are being addressed and that he will redouble his effort in ensuring that the primary responsibility of government which is to ensure the safety of lives and property is realised.�

Earlier, the NSA had explained that the council received what he described as a comprehensive briefing from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

According to him, the SGF enumerated successes recorded so far, lingering challenges in the fight against the disease and the task force's calculations in the next few weeks.

PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT...

A mobile campaign truck plies Apongbon area of Lagos as the Lagos State government launches its mobile enlightenment campaign on COVID-19‌ yesterday

In New Executive Order, Fayemi Crashes RoW Fee to N145

Emma Okonji

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday signed an Executive Order reducing the Right of Way (RoW) charges relating to laying of broadband cable or any other telecoms infrastructure in the state from N4, 500 per linear metre to N145.

By this move, Ekiti State becomes the second state to implement the N145 per linear metre RoW charges, after Katsina State that had since commenced the implementation of the new rate as agreed with the federal government.

The governor, in his twitter handle, said the Executive Order was part of the ongoing reforms by the Ease of Doing Business project, which he inaugurated

last year to improve indices that will make Ekiti State an attractive destination for national and international investments in five years.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr. Akin Oyebode, who confirmed the signing of the Executive Order on RoW in the state, said the decision would make Ekiti achieve full broadband penetration by 2021 to attract new businesses, create jobs, improve access to quality healthcare and digital education while improving internally generated revenue.

He added that the measure was also aligned with the ongoing development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, designed

to be Nigeria’s first service based innovation park.

Commending the efforts of the governor in crashing RoW charges from N4,500 per linear metre to N145 through the Executive Order, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the move would drive telecoms development in the state and eventually, place the state among the league of smart states. He said: “Governor Fayemi has raised the social-economic benefits of telecoms above the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which is the reason why most state governors hiked RoW charges in their various states.�

Before now, states imposed

different rates on RoW charges, ranging from N500 to N6,000 per linear metre, depending on how the state wants to raise its IGR. However, following the outcry of telecoms operators over the refusal of state governments to grant them the Right of Way (RoW) to lay fibre optic cables across states for network expansion, designed to improve telecoms service quality, coupled with the intervention of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Fayemi, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in January, had announced the resolve of governors to reverse the charges on RoW to N145 per linear metre.

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PAGE TEN GOVS CHALLENGE FG OVER UTILISATION OF RECOVERED LOOTS of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, told THISDAY that rather than seeking suspension of further legislative action on the contentious bill, each governor should dialogue with his senators on the objection to the bill.

In a communiquĂŠ issued yesterday after a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, the governors, under the auspices of Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said the arrangement of all federation-funded investments should recognise state governments as shareholders in the distribution of proceeds and decision-making.

It stated: "Members also raised concern about the ownership and distribution of proceeds from recovered looted funds and accounts or investments funded as first line charge from the Federation Account.

"The forum agreed to engage with the federal government to ensure that the governance arrangement of all federationfunded investments recognise state governments as shareholders in the distribution of proceeds and decision making."

The governors also asked the National Assembly to halt debates on the controversial Infectious Diseases Control Bill and raised a committee to interface with the leadership of the federal legislature, while also calling for more consultations and the need for a public hearing on the bill after the interface.

The communiquĂŠ, signed by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, noted that following an update from the vice-chairman of the forum and Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, on the Control of Infectious Diseases

Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives, the governors raised concerns over the lack of consultations with state governments that are at the forefront of the pandemic.

It stated further: "The forum resolved that the bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held, including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns.

"In the light of this, the forum established a committee comprising the governors of Katsina, Sokoto and Plateau States to lead a consultative meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.

"The NGF Secretariat was also mandated to comprehensively review the bill and its implication on states."

The governors also expressed worry over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

They said: "The worrying trend urgently calls for additional measures by state governors to ramp up capacity for testing, increase the availability of isolation beds to at least 300 per state, accelerate the procurement of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and training for health workers, as well as the continued enforcement of interstate restriction of movement."

They added that they have intensified public-private collaboration for the delivery of palliatives from the private sector, and would provide warehouses for the delivery of the palliatives.

According to the governors, they have also appointed state coordinators to receive and distribute palliatives to vulnerable persons.

The governors said they

had followed with interest, the development of the 12-month Economic Sustainability Plan by the federal government, which is designed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

"In the spirit of developing a truly coordinated national response to the crisis, governors expressed the importance of greater consultation and collaboration between the federal and state governments on development planning," they added.

The governors also raised a committee to interface with the federal government on the next Medium-term National Development Plan.

The committee comprises governors of Bauchi, Plateau, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Ekiti States.

The governors also received a briefing from the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari, on the Oil and Gas Industry Intervention Initiative on COVID-19, set up by oil and gas operators to provide medical consumables to states.

They also received an update from the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on the operation of the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) project, which is supporting a strong pro-poor fiscal response to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"State governors agreed to take additional measures to strengthen their public financial management systems, including a revision of their 2020 budgets and the amendment of state procurement guidelines to support e-procurement and the participation of small and

Reacting to the position of the governors on the Infectious Diseases Control Bill, the Senate spokesman, Basiru, told THISDAY that it would be ideal for each governor to dialogue with senators from his state on the objection to the bill.

He, however, added that he could not predict the disposition of most senators to the governors’ position.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, told THISDAY that the decision on whether or not to suspend deliberations on the bill was not within his purview.

"I think the governors may need to engage the senators in their respective states on

whatever objections they have on the bill so that it may be taken up on their behalf by the senators from their states during the second reading," Basiru said.

According to him, the bill is yet to be read the second time "at which stage, by Senate Orders, the principles of the bill will be discussed and a decision taken on whether the bill should proceed for further legislative processes."

He, however, did not rule out the possibility of the Senate looking into any official communication on the bill from the governors in line with its procedure.

"When, and if communication is received by the Senate from the appropriate channel, it will be considered democratically in accordance with the procedure of the Senate and a decision taken by the majority as is expected in a democracy.

"So I cannot predict what will be the disposition of the majority of the Senate to the governors' advice you referred to," he said.

Utazi, who chairs the Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, said only the leadership of the National Assembly could decide on the governors' request.

He, however, said it would be a welcome development if suspending the bill would afford the governors an opportunity to have input into the bill.

We Don't Legislate for States, House Replies Govs Also, in its reaction, the House of Representatives told the governors that federal legislators legislate for the country and not states.

The House in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, argued that the legislators were independent of the control of any state governor or former speaker, saying that the

Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was only recognised by members of the House as leading lights in the task of nation building.

The Green Chamber said it was rather surprising that the NGF, in arriving at its decision, relied on "an update from the Governor of Sokoto State," who was a former speaker and an ex-ranking member of the House, who should know better and guide the forum accordingly.

It, however, expressed readiness to work with the committee raised by the NGF to meet its members on the Bill.

The House called on the NGF to review the membership of the consultative committee so as to achieve the desired objectives with unbiased members during their engagement with the leadership of the House.

The statement read in part, "It has come to the attention of the House of Representatives that the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has, through a communiquĂŠ at the end of its virtual meeting held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, asked the House to step down the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020, which public hearing is already scheduled."

"Against the impression given in the NGF's communiquĂŠ, the House has since last week resolved to subject the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill to a public hearing where Nigerians from all walks of life will have the opportunity to make their inputs towards the draft legislation. The NGF's position is coming rather belatedly. However, the House wishes to state clearly that whilst it legislates for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including being the Parliament for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja only."

recession, saying a corporate organisation in such a situation should react by reducing the costs of operations proportionately.

A former Director-General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, expressed disappointment at the marginal level of reduction.

He noted that the budget adjustment was "completely disproportionate to the amount of drop in oil price compared to the budget benchmark and also disproportionate to the size of decline of the economy and the size of revenue generated and to be generated until the end of the fiscal year."

He said: "I was surprised when I heard the Finance, Budget and Planning Minister mentioned that the budget was to be reduced by a paltry N71.5 billion. What occurred to me was that there was no need to call a press conference for this.

"The figure was completely

disproportionate to the amount of drop in oil price compared to the budget benchmark. It is also disproportionate to the size of the decline of the economy and the size of revenue generated and to be generated until the end of the fiscal year. We, therefore, need to be more decisive on the budget adjustment to suit the economic realities of today."

However, Prof. Uche Uwaleke of the Nasarawa State University said the government should be mindful of the country's debt burden and utilise the foreign loans appropriately.

He added that the decision by the government not to have made significant cuts in the budget may have been prompted by recent successes recorded in the arrangements to source loans to finance the fiscal gap.

According to the former Imo State Commissioner for Finance, "The health and economic crisis occasioned by COVID-19 is such

that it requires huge spending to tackle. So, in this regard, it makes sense. "However, the government should not lose sight of the country's huge debt burden and should ensure the domestic and foreign loans being contracted are well utilised.�

Also, the Head of Research, Afrinvest West Africa, Mr. Abiodun Keripe, described the N71.5 billion reduction as negligible.

He said: “There was a 56.1 per cent reduction in the crude oil benchmark price from the initial budget estimate of $57 per barrel and an 11 per cent cut in the expected crude oil production. I believe these fairly capture the choppy outlook for the crude oil market in 2020 with lower oil prices as a result of sluggish demand and lower production due to the OPEC cuts. “The scope for government

medium-sized enterprises," they stated.

The governors resolved that "to fast-track the deployment of e-procurement across the states, the forum will be adopting a Software as a Service (SaaS) model with the Kaduna State Government providing the framework agreement that other states can leverage on."

The NGF also set up a second committee, comprising the governors of Gombe, Nasarawa, Delta, Ebonyi, Oyo and Kaduna States to steer the activities of the NGF-Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) Economic Roundtable (NNER) – a subnational platform of the NGF and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group created to promote subnational competitiveness through public-private collaboration.

The governors congratulated Professor Ibrahim Gambari on his new job as the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Govs Should Dialogue with their Senators, Says Senate Spokesman

RATE INCREASE RAISES VAT REVENUE TO N339BN IN Q1 billion in the first quarter of the year, from N308.48 billion in Q4 2019.

The improved performance represented a 9.87 per cent increase in value quarter-onquarter.

It also represented a 15.66 per cent rise (year-on-year), when compared to the N293.04 billion realised in Q1 2019.

According to the sectoral distribution of VAT data for Q1 2020, which was published by the statistical agency, professional services generated the highest amount of VAT with N38.30 billion and closely followed by manufacturing that generated N37.37 billion.

Commercial and trading generated N17.19 billion while mining recorded the least amount of N61.83 million.

Textile and garment industry and local government councils recorded N306.05 million and N319.04 million respectively.

Of the total amount generated in Q1 2020, Non-Import VAT

locally accounted for N172.67 billion while the foreign component stood at N93.67 billion.

The balance of N72.59 billion was generated as NCS-Import VAT, the NBS added.

Agriculture and plantations generated N973.26 million while automobile and assemblies contributed N751. 56 million to VAT within the review period.

Banks and other financial institutions contributed N5.42 billion while breweries, bottling and beverages accounted for N14.33 billion VAT in Q1.

Commercial and trading, conglomerates, and federal ministries and parastatals contributed N17.18 billion, N1.10 billion and N6.55 billion respectively to the total collections.

Oil-producing and oil marketing accounted for N9.35 billion and N2.38 billion respectively.

Budget Cut Should

Reect Economic Reality, Analysts Urge FG Economic analysts have called on the federal government to ensure that its trimming of the 2020 budget and the MTEF reflects the nation's economic realities.

They spoke in separate interviews with THISDAY while reacting to Wednesday’s resolve by the FEC to revise the MTEF and the 2020 budget that was slashed from N10.594 trillion to N10.523 trillion, translating to a difference of N71.5 billion.

The analysts said with the 56.1 per cent reduction in the crude oil benchmark price from the initial budget estimate of $57 per barrel to $25 and an 11 per cent cut in the expected crude oil production, it was evident that the oil revenues in 2020 would drop by nearly half.

They noted that the other revenue sources would come under pressure owing to the lockdown and looming

Continued on page 11

DECLINE IN NON-COVID-19 AILMENT CONSULTATION IN HOSPITALS WORRIES FG while antenatal patients slumped to 655,000 from 1.3m and immunisation figures halved.

Nigeria recorded 193 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing to 5,162 the total number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this last night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 58 new cases, Kano 46, Jigawa 35, Yobe 12, Federal Capital Territory nine, Ogun seven, Plateau and Gombe five each, Imo four, Edo, Kwara and Borno three each, while Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Ondo have one each.

It said: "There are 5,162 cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. 1,180 persons have been discharged with 167 deaths."

The federal government also said wearing face masks in public

places is compulsory, going by the COVID-19 regulations signed

by President Muhammadu Buhari, pursuant to Quarantine Act. In addition, the government has opened talks with Canada on the evacuation of Nigerians just as the Federal Ministry of Health has started implementing some measures to contain the health challenges posed by the virus based on the preliminary findings of the exploratory teams sent to investigate the unexplained deaths in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi and Borno States.

Speaking at the media briefing by the Presidential Task Force on Control of COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the country's health sector had witnessed some drawbacks

due to the outbreak of the virus.

He spoke against the backdrop of the reports that hospitals, both public and private, had been rejecting patients since the onset of the pandemic over the fear of health workers contracting the virus from patients.

Many patients have been accused of fudging their travel history or lying about their medical conditions so they would not be suspected of having the virus.

"Latest statistics from the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) indicates that outpatient visit has dropped from four million to about two million; antenatal visits from 1.3 million to 655,000, skilled birth attendance from 158,374 to less than 99,000 while immunisation services reduced to about half," he stated.

According to him, the hope of the government is that these failings in healthcare services with yet-to-be-determined consequences will considerably be addressed by the easing of the lockdown.

Ehanire explained that special emphasis is now being placed on ensuring the continued delivery of routine services in all hospitals.

FG Urges Govs Not to Deviate from Presidential Guidelines Ehanire's counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, advised governors not to jeopardise efforts at combating the spread of the virus by undermining the guidelines rolled out by the federal government.

Mohammed was reacting to a report that Bornu State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, had directed the relaxation of the lockdown in the state to allow on mosques and churches hold congregational worshipping.

While admitting that it would be premature to comment on the issue because he did not have the details, the minister cautioned that governors should not encourage moves that could reverse the gains recorded in recent times.

He added that the Chairman of the PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who had been in touch with the governors, would continue to engage them concerning easing of the lockdown. “I also read that the Borno State government has ordered Continued on page 11

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11

FRIDAY, ÍšÍ˝Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS RATE INCREASE RAISES VAT REVENUE TO N339BN IN Q1 to reduce expenditure proportionately with the drop in revenue is obviously limited without creating major pains. The bulk of government expenditures goes into recurrent, which are salaries and debt service. With the expected significant drop in revenue, N71.5 billion is clearly a negligible cut. The implication is that the government would have to raise local borrowing to cover the budgeted deficit, which has ballooned to N5.2 trillion.�

The Head of Research, United Capital, Mr. Wale Olusi, noted that the government did not cut the budget much because it was confident to fund it through borrowing. “I feel that they must be really confident to be able to fund deficit via borrowing, so they were not really worried about cutting the budget too much despite the prediction.

I think the fact that they got the soft funds from IMF, it has given the government a lot of comforts, especially because that can also boost the chances of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) giving them more loans and they can always get the balance from the domestic market, which is very liquid anyway.

“I don't think anything is wrong with the $25 per barrel because oil price can’t stay at $20 for too long. There is a cost implication for the oil price, so even if it drops occasionally to $20, it would always fight back.

And with OPEC cut, and Saudi Arabia agreeing to cut down further, it is clear that prices would be in the region of $30 per barrel going forward. So, $25 is still fair and conservative,�

Olusi added.

Ahmed Meets N’Assembly Leadership over 2020 Budget Cut Ahmed met with the National Assembly leadership in Abuja yesterday over the proposed cut in the 2020 Budget and said the details of the reduction would be forwarded to the federal legislature next week.

She spoke on the plan by the federal government to amend the N10.59 trillion federal budget passed by the Assembly last December and said the amendment would include the N500 billion Intervention Fund voted for COVID-19.

She told the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other principal

officers of the Assembly that the proposed adjustments in the budget would be before the National Assembly next week, adding that the US$57 crude oil price benchmark approved in the 2020 budget was no longer sustainable.

According to her, "It is necessary to reallocate resources in the 2020 budget, to ensure the effective implementation of required emergency measures, and mitigate the negative socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.�

Ahmed stated that in line with the global economic outlook and relevant domestic considerations, the assumptions underpinning the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2020 Budget was revised to slash crude oil benchmark price from US$57 per barrel to US$25 per barrel; reduce crude oil production benchmark from 2.18 million barrels per day to 1.9 mbpd.

She added that the federal government also adjusted the budget exchange rate to N360/ US$1; and reduced the upfront fiscal deductions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for mandated Oil and Gas sector expenditures by 65 percent from N1.223 trillion to N424 billion.

Her words: "The amount available for funding the 2020 Budget is now estimated at N5.548 trillion, down from N8.419 trillion, a revised revenue estimate which is 34 percent (N2.87 trillion) lower than what was initially approved.

"Federal Government’s aggregate expenditure budget was slashed by N88.412 billion; Statutory Transfer from N560.47 billion to N397.87 billion; and Overhead costs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government from N302.43 billion to N240.91 billion".

She, however, disclosed that debt service provision was increased from N2.453 trillion to N2.678 trillion.

On provision of N500 billion for COVID-19 Intervention Fund, Ahmed explained that N263.63 billion will be sourced from Federal Government Special Accounts, N186.37 billion from Federation Special Accounts and the balance of N50 billion expected as grants and donations.

According to her, “The sum of N186.37 billion will be applied toward COVID-19 interventions across the federation, while an additional N213.60 billion was provided in the Service Wide Votes for COVID-19 Crisis Intervention recurrent

expenditures.�

She disclosed that while a total of N100.03 billion was provisioned in the Intervention Fund for new capital spending, the Federal Government carried out a cut in capital expenditures for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) from N1.564 trillion to N1.262 trillion.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Senate president told the executive arm of government to ensure that the interest of Nigerians remain protected in the proposed cut to the 2020 national budget.

Lawan also expressed the willingness of the federal lawmakers to expeditiously consider the proposed amendment to the 2020 budget.

He said: “The budget amendment is very important, but I believe that when we are faced with this kind of challenge (COVID-19 pandemic), it is an emergency and we should do everything and anything possible to fast track the passage and implementation of the government intervention that is so critical and crucial at this stage. “One thing is that the net public expenditure must be targeted at net maximum performance for the benefit of

the people of this country. In other words, we must come up with an amended budget that is operable and favourable to Nigerians," Lawan said.

The House speaker called on the Federal Government to adopt a feasible benchmark in the proposed amendment to the 2020 budget.

His words: “The benchmark is so critical and so important, because once you passed the law, it becomes difficult to adjust that benchmark, and then what happens to the excess? “We have always had problems with the Excess Crude Account, potentially an account which has no backing of the law. So, let’s even assume that the price remains static at $35, that means we have $10 going to the Excess Crude Account, which we have no control over in terms of spending, that is why we guard that benchmark price very jealously.

"Is there a possibility of having a proviso built-in in the budget...So that there can be an automatic kick in if the benchmark price goes beyond $26 or $27. We want you to explore that possibility. “So, I think you should study the market and see what happens next week by the time you present the adjusted budget."

Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said Hydroxychloroquine was amongst the medications he used to recover from COVID-19.

Okupe and his wife, Aduralere, were recently discharged after spending about two weeks in COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre in Sagamu, Ogun State.

He said on Wednesday night that there was no consensus yet amongst scientists on a particular treatment method for the lethal virus. “My medications for COVID-19: Hydroxychloroquine 400mg, two times daily for two days; then 400mg daily for three days. Azithromycin 500mg, fly Zinc Sulphate 100mg daily. VitzC 1200mg daily. I also supported with a mixture of ginger, garlic, turmeric and lemon. In Kaduna they added Dongoyaro leaves. “There is no global consensus among scientists or medical experts on any one treatment regimen. No credible scientific research document is presently available or acceptable for the treatment of COVID-19. The key factor is the immune status of patients. Boost your immunity with known supplements. “If you must take hydroxychloroquine, please speak to your doctor to confirm if you have any cardiac arrhythmias.

If you do, you need close monitoring before embarking on the use of these drugs. Ninety to 95 per cent of infected patients will go through, even without hospitalisation. 90 per cent of young people will survive an attack,� he tweeted.

has risen to 541," Sanwo-Olu said.

DECLINE IN NON-COVID-19 AILMENT CONSULTATION IN HOSPITALS WORRIES FG the relaxation of the lockdown.

But we don’t have the true picture and, therefore, it will be premature to comment on this situation. But as we are always working together with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, we believe the governors won’t do anything that will put in jeopardy all we have achieved in the last few weeks of lockdown. So, I think it is better we continue the engagement and I am sure that the chairman of the task force, who is constantly in touch with the governors, will take up this matter and we hope we will be able to give you feedback when next we are here,�

Mohammed said.

FG Insists Wearing Face Masks Compulsory Mustapha dispelled the insinuation that the wearing of face masks in public is optional.

He explained that in accordance with the regulations signed by the president pursuant to the Quarantine Act, it is compulsory for everyone to wear a face mask.

He said all the protocols, including the use of face masks, were predicated on the Quarantine Act. He urged governors and security agencies with the power of enforcement to ensure that that it is enforced for the overall good of all. “Because we are persuasive does not mean there is an option to it. It was part of the declaration signed by Mr. President. All the protocols are predicated on the authority vested on Mr. President by the Quarantine Act. And once he appended his signature to that, everything listed there has the force of law.

"Our appeal is borne out of the fact that it is a collective effort that each and every Nigerian has a responsibility to himself and to other Nigerians to ensure that when we are in the open we wear a mask. We are deliberate about it so that our people will not go and be picking things from the dust bin and be hanging on their faces. As simple about it, even a handkerchief can serve a purpose. It is not in any way an optional thing; it is a must,�

Mustapha said.

FG Holds Talks with Canada on Evacuation of Nigerians In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Godfrey Onyeama, said the federal

government was engaging Canada on its refusal to give landing right to a Nigerian carrier that was detailed to evacuate Nigerians from the country.

It was reported that the airline lacked the licence to undertake commercial flight to the country and was not known to Canadian authorities.

Onyeama said the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada was already in talks with Canada to reverse the refusal as the evacuation arrangement was an emergency situation.

Preliminary Reports IdentiďŹ es Manpower Gap in Kano On the situation in Kano and other northern states, Ehanire said although the final report from the Kano investigation was not ready, his ministry had identified manpower gap in the state and had started acting on the preliminary findings of the exploratory teams sent to investigate the unexplained deaths in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi and Borno States.

In addition, the federal government has scaled up training "in infection prevention and control, case finding and management, Emergency Patient Transport Systems, Surveillance Outbreak Response Management Analysis System (SORMAS), down to the training of hygienists, stretcher-bearers and security personnel," he added.

According to the minister, these efforts will increase confidence in the healthcare system, reduce instances of health workers' infection and desertion and improve overall performance.

Chinese Medical Team Not Guests of FG When asked to explain the whereabouts of the Chinese medical team, which arrived Nigeria along with package of medical supplies donated by a Chinese construction firm, CCECC, Ehanire said: "I want to explain, first of all, I think not all of them are doctors, I think some of them are technicians and they are the staff of CCECC; the Ministry of Health is not their host; so, we can’t possibly say what happened to them or where they are. There seem to be a lot of interests on these doctors but they are the staff of the company and they are on its reserve. So, I will be very happy if you don't ask me about their whereabouts

because they are not really our guests."

Nigeria May Not Have Access to Vaccines, Says NCDC The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, drew the attention of Nigerians to the likely scenario that would play out in the event of the development of a vaccine against COVID-19, saying that Nigerians may not easily have access to the vaccines.

He said Nigeria should realise the intricate web of global interests in a vaccine with scientific acclaim to effectively prevent coronavirus and start repositioning itself for the epic competition for the drug.

"Why do we need science and why do we need to engage globally? Now the end of this outbreak will come when we get a vaccine, but getting a vaccine doesn't mean inevitably that we will have access to it. We have had a vaccine for human pathology for the last 10 years but because this vaccine costs about $50 per shot, we don't access it in Nigeria. So, we have to engage globally to insist on equitable access to these vaccines when they are developed. We do not do this by looking inwards but by engaging globally,� he said.

Madagascar Drug Gift an Embarrassment to Nigeria, PSN Insists Meanwhile, the President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, yesterday restated the position of the association, describing as insulting the COVID-Organics donated to Nigeria by the government of Madagascar.

He said the PSN was not against Nigeria accepting the gift, adding that there are certain gift a country like Nigeria must not accept given its size and knowhow in herbal medicine.

Ohuabunwa stated this when he appeared on the Morning Show, a breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

He said: “Nigeria is big and endowed enough with sufficient manpower and I believe expertise to produce something as good as or better than what we are getting from Madagascar. “Our cry is not just because money will be spent, we are trying to draw attention to our lethargy, philosophy more

or less in Nigeria that seems to make us always dependent, always looking for a solution from outside without challenging ourselves, without properly putting ourselves to strong efforts to solve our own problems. “We are looking for people to solve our electricity problem, solve our water problem, solve our infrastructure problem and even in the area of sophisticated medication we get all from outside. My worry is when it will be Nigeria’s turn to begin to give something to the world outside liquid petroleum, which nobody is willing to buy now. “I am not saying they shouldn’t take COVID-Organics from Madagascar if it is offered free of charge, the important thing is that there are certain gifts that shouldn’t be actually given to you, there are certain gifts carrying with it insult, there are certain gifts people give to you that is insulting. So, we think that this gift is one of them that look like some insult because a country our size should not be one to be receiving help in herbal medicine. We should be able to help other people, given that we have more and we have a better opportunity.�

Ohuabunwa hailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the initiative to fund research locally, adding that the current leadership of the central bank will go down in history as the most proactive.

Dokpesi Recovers from Pandemic Founder of AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, yesterday said that he had recovered from the virus.

The Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications PLC, owner of AIT, Ray Power and Faaji FM said he had been discharged and free of the virus.

He was discharged along with some other members of his family.

Dokpesi, in an appreciation message that he signed, said that the past weeks had provided him with the first-hand experience of the enormous challenge before the country.

He said he and members of his family were better acquainted with personal sacrifices, many Nigerians were making to defeat the pandemic.

I Was Treated with Hydroxychloroquine, Says Okupe Also, a former Senior Special

Lagos Discharges 13 Additional Patients The Lagos State Government has discharged 13 additional patients from its isolation centres, bringing to 541 the total number of successfully treated persons in the state.

The state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the patients were 11 males and two females.

He said: "The 13 Nigerians have been discharged after they tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19.

"Four were discharged from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, while nine were discharged from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba. With this, the number of patients successfully managed and discharged in Lagos

Lagos Commences Mobile Advocacy Campaign Also, as part of the efforts to reinforce the measures instituted to contain the community spread of the virus, the state government has begun an extensive public enlightenment campaign across all the 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the exercise was initiated after the discovery that members of the public did not comply with the directives issued

by Sanwo-Olu as the lockdown was eased in Lagos.

Omotoso said: “It was disappointing that residents threw caution to the winds immediately Mr. Governor announced the partial lifting of the lockdown imposed by the federal government. People stormed banks without exercising caution despite the ravaging effects of the pandemic. The enhanced public enlightenment campaign, which will involve LED and mobile billboards, is expected to strengthen the advocacy of physical distancing and other preventive measures.

"Information about the symptoms, prevention and sample collection centres for individuals who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will dominate the campaign. It has become imperative to penetrate communities with details that will attract the attention of residents to engender compliance with Health experts’ directives on COVID-19."

UN Warns of Global Mental Health Crisis The United Nations health experts have warned that mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the ravaging pandemic.

Presenting a UN report and policy guidance on COVID-19 and mental health yesterday, the Director of Mental Health Department, World Health Organisation (WHO), Ms. Devora Kestel, said: “The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil - they all cause, or could cause psychological distress."

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

12

NEWS

FG Directs Evacuees to Pay N297,600 before Departing Thailand Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The federal government has directed stranded Nigerians in Thailand to pay the sum of N297, 600 for their quarantine, isolation, and accommodation centres or hotels before their

departure and arrival in Nigeria.

The federal government, through the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand stated this in a memo dated May 14, 2020, which was sent to the stranded Nigerians, warning that any prospective evacuee that refuses to pay

would not be evacuated.

The memo, which was signed by the Head of Chancery, Mr. Nicholas Uhomoibhi, on behalf of the Ambassador, noted that the rates were negotiated in Nigeria.

It stated: “I’m directed to bring to your attention that due to

measures that are beyond the control of the COVID – 19, local organising team in Nigeria, all Evacuees going to Nigeria henceforth are to now pay for their quarantine, isolation, and accommodation centre of hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria.

“In this regard, all prospective evacuees are to note the negotiated rate below: Accommodation N15,000 × 16 days =240, 000; feeding N3,600 × 16days = N57, 600; Total, N18,600 × 16 =N297,600 “Kindly be informed that these rates were negotiated in

Nigeria and that the Embassy has been instructed not to airlift any evacuee who fails to pay above fee.”

However an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the directive from the federal government is “true”.

Makinde Mourns as Oyo’s Environment Commissioner Dies Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State government, yesterday announced the passing of its Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola.

The Commissioner, had at the start of the Fourth Republic, served as the Speaker of the 4th Session of the Oyo State House of Assembly, under the administration of former Governor Lam Adesina, also of blessed memory.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said Ayoola had two weeks ago driven himself to Frontida Critical Care Hospital, Iyaganku, Ibadan for medical checks, after which he was advised to proceed on bed rest.

He was, however, pronounced dead on Thursday morning.

The statement indicated that Governor Makinde received

the news of the passing of the Commissioner with “shock and deep sadness.”

The governor said: “I received with deep sadness, the news of the death of my dear friend and colleague, Rt. Honourable Kehinde Ayoola.

Up until his death this morning, he served as the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources in Oyo State.

“I met late Rt. Honourable Ayoola in 2002, when we worked together as members of the Fortune Group for the election of Senator Rasheed Ladoja. He also served as the Director-General for my 2015 campaign and the Deputy Director-General for my 2019 campaign.

“He was a loyal friend with a dedication to duty that cannot be questioned. He will be sorely missed for his great oratory skills and his love for the people of Oyo Town and Oyo State.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Banditry: Implement Report of Ad-hoc C’ttee on Security Challenges, Senate Tells FG Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Senate has urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges to address the spate of killings arising of the activities of bandits in the country.

The call was made on Tuesday by the upper chamber against the backdrop of two motions considered on the need to stem banditry attacks in Niger and Katsina States, respectively.

Sponsor of one of the motions, Senator Bello Mandiya (APC – Katsina South), lamented what he described as “the rising wave

of coordinated armed attacks in several parts of Katsina State by murderous bandits which have led to mass killings of persons.”

According to him, the said bandits engage in other forms of criminal activities such as cattle rustling, kidnapping and mass displacement of people from their ancestral lands.

The lawmaker recalled that only recently, between Tuesday May 5, and Wednesday, May 6, 2020, armed bandits carried out multiple attacks on several communities in Faskari, Kankara, Sabuwa, Dandume, Batsari and Jibia Locka Government Areas of the State.

Gunmen Abduct Kaduna APC Vice Chairman, Daughter John Shiklam The Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Alhaji Shu’abu Idris Lauje, and his daughter have been kidnapped by gunmen.

Sources stated that Lauje and his daughter were abducted about 1:30a.m. yesterday when the criminals invaded his residence at Kwanar Zango on Zaria-Kaduna expressway.

Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command,

Muhammad Jalige, did not respond to telephone calls and text message sent to him on the issue.

Meanwhile, Kaduna State is facing serious security challenges with frequent cases of abductions and killings, especially in rural communities.

In the past two days, no fewer than 25 people have been killed in some communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state in attacks by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

SEALED AND DELIVERED…

L-R: Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital and Supply of Equipment, Justice JU Oyomire; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and state Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, during the submission of the commission’s report at the Government House, Benin City...yesterday

Panel Indicts Oshiomhole’s Administration for Alleged Breach of Procurement Law Obaseki indicted himself, says APC chairman’s loyalist Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the construction of the Edo Specialist Hospital and supply of equipment for the hospital has indicted the administration of the former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole for

breach of the state’s Public Procurement Law. But a strong ally of the National Chairman of APC and Commissioner for Education under Oshiomhole’s administration, Hon. Washington Osifo said that Governor Godwin Obaseki merely indicted himself as the Chairman of the Economic Team and Chief Economic

Adviser to Oshiomhole’s government.

Chairman of the Commission, Justice James Oyomire (rtd), who presented the commission’s findings to Obaseki, at Government House, in Benin City, yesterday, said the award of the contract for the construction of the hospital was fraught

with breaches of the state’s procurement laws.

He said the procurement law clearly states that any contractor working on a government project should not receive more than 25 per cent upfront payment upon contract award, which Oshiomhole’s administration allegedly contravened.

Tinubu Eulogises Elder Statesman, Fasoranti at 94 Peter Uzoho The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has felicitated with the leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, on his epoch-making 94th birthday, describing him as an epitome of consistency, integrity and a leader by example.

Tinubu also hailed the nonagenarian as a man of great repute, accomplished educationist, astute politician, elder-statesman and die-hard Awoist.

The former Governor of Lagos State in a congratulatory message issued yesterday by his Media Office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, said: “I most heartily congratulate our father and leader, Pa Reuben

Famuyide Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere, as he turns 94. On this occasion of his birthday, I pay a special tribute to a man of great repute, accomplished educationist, community leader, astute politician, elder-statesman and die-hard Awoist.

“What we celebrate is the success story of leadership by example, political consistency, total loyalty to the progressive

cause, devotion to principle, integrity, courage of conviction and uncommon contentment.

“Chief Fasoranti filled the vacuum left behind by our illustrious pathfinders and cherished leaders, and in postChief Abraham Adesanya era, Papa laboured tirelessly to build bridges of unity, accommodation, understanding, reconciliation and harmony in Yorubaland.”

APC Govs Congratulate Gambari on his Appointment as Chief of Staff Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has congratulated Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman of the forum,

Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, in a statement issued yesterday said given Gambari’s vast knowledge, experiences, discipline and loyalty to Nigeria, his assumption as Chief of Staff would further inspire as well as challenge all appointees of government to

aim to achieve global standards especially on matters of national development.

“As Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we rejoice with you and on this auspicious occasion reaffirm our unflinching

commitment to continue to work with Mr. President and all his dedicated team at federal level to achieve the vision of our party of taking Nigeria to the Next Level in line with all our campaign promises and provisions of our party’s manifesto.

FG’s School Feeding Programme, a Big Scam, Says PDP Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the school feeding programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government, even when all schools are closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, as a huge scam and a scheme by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and some officials in the government to siphon a

targeted N13.5 billion public funds to finance their lifestyle.

The party further said the use of innocent school children as cover to steal and funnel not less than N679 million daily to private purses is sacrilegious, wicked and completely unpardonable.

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, while

it is clear that the APC-led administration school feeding programme had always been a scam, the claims to feed school children even when schools are closed is a colossal racketeering taken too far.

This, it said, went to further expose that stealing and corruption are deep-seated in the DNA of the APC and its administration.

“While the PDP has nothing

against any transparent effort to provide succor to Nigerians, particularly our children, at this critical time, our party rejects the on-going fraud in which school children, who are in their respective homes, bearing the brunt of the failures of the APC administration, are being used as metaphors to divert public funds to a few corrupt individuals in the Buhari presidency.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍłËœ 2020

COMMENT

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

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE Charles Isichie urges the governor to reconsider his posture on ports operations in Rivers State

Your Excellency, write as a citizen and businessman who is concerned about how some of the decisions you have taken in the management of the COVID-19 Pandemic affects the maritime sector within which I operate. I also intend to address how the current situation may ultimately affect the economy of the state and nation in general.

Let me state from the outset that I understand the responsibility that you have as the chief executive of Rivers State to provide security for lives of people and their property. It is a right that no one can take away from you even though in the execution of this responsibility, one will imagine that there should be some other considerations.

Again, before I proceed, let me express my joy to read that you have eventually agreed to release 20 Dock Workers that were arrested by the state Task Force on COVID-19 on their way to work earlier this week.

Even though they should not have been arrested at all, given that they were on essential service, I commend you for seeing reason and saving us from the reality of an industrial action, which Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria had threatened. However, I am also hoping that you will consider the withdrawal of all charges against them given the fact that they were on their way to serve the nation.

Before the arrest of this set of people Your Excellency, the task force, had frequently arrested workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority, terminal operators, labourers and clearing agents who were on their way to work in line with the Presidential directives that port operations should continue in spite of the lockdown and the dangers that the pandemic imposes on us all.

This directive itself is an understandable one, which is global!

Given the fact that the sea has remained the way by which the world transports most of its food, medical items and what have you, it would be injurious even to the fight against COVID-19 for countries to close their ports. That would mean that the transportation of the essentials across countries would be impossible and many nations in need of help would not be able to access them. Any country that shuts down ports operations would therefore only be cutting its nose to spite its face, as the expression goes. This also goes to reason that if the ports are open, there must be workers, including marine pilots, stevedores, clearing agents as well as agencies of government to ensure that there is prompt offloading and turnaround of vessels as well as clearance of cargos.

It is sad to note however that all ports in Nigeria are currently open, berthing and dispatching vessels with the exception of those in Rivers State. Operators at Port Harcourt and Onne Ports have been afraid to go to work because of the arrest and intimidation they encounter from members of the task force, who disregard their essential service tags, get

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OPERATORS AT PORT HARCOURT AND ONNE PORTS HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE ARREST AND INTIMIDATION THEY ENCOUNTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, WHO DISREGARD THEIR ESSENTIAL SERVICE TAGS, GET THEM ARRESTED, LOCKED UP AND IMPOUND THEIR VEHICLES

them arrested, locked up (with the risk of prosecution) and impound their vehicles. But this is at enormous cost to investors and the nation at large.

Let me give you an example sir. The vessel MV. Capella (African Atlantic) carry 4,500Mts of FROZEN FISH has been at the Port Harcourt Ports for days unable to discharge its content for almost two weeks. The reason for this non-discharge is the inability of workers to come to work! Owners of another vessel M/V FRIO carrying 3,770 MTS of FROZEN FISH in Cartons now contemplating going back to Lagos Ports to offload so they can go back to base!

The implication of this is that the consignee will have to start battling with bringing in his good from Lagos. Aside from the fact that this would be additional cost, there is also the fear that movement may be impossible given the restrictions on inter-state movements. But there is even something that is worse!

The frozen fish, if they do not perish would certainly lose quality and impose a huge loss on the importer who would have paid anything in the face of 7,000-15,000 United States Dollars as demurrage in the period that the vessel remained in Port Harcourt unable to load.

I also read about vessels laden with Wheat, Gibson and Muriate Potash used in the production of fertilizer unable to berth at Onne Ports. In addition to the economic loses, this situation is also to affect the food supply chain in the South-South and South-East.

Thinking about all of this, I see a very sad irony that I suggest Your Excellency consider. Until very recently, we complained endlessly about inactivity at the Eastern Ports comprising Rivers, Onne, Calabar, and Warri Ports. Now that vessel traffic to the Eastern ports has started to improve as a result of a myriad of policies that the federal government has put in place, it breaks the heart that the COVID-19 pandemic would be the reason any state government would set us back again by allowing a situation in which vessels would turn back to Lagos to offload.

Moments like this YE, are not moments when politics should dictate state policy or actions. There are trying times when the welfare and wellbeing of citizens and whatever it takes to achieve same should be paramount in the minds of leaders. Stakeholders in the industry understand the need to take precautionary measures and remain safe while the pandemic lasts and all we need is the support and encouragement of government. I urge you to reconsider your posture on the operations of ports in Rivers State for the benefit of those of us who play in the industry and all citizens of Rivers State.

Thank you for your time Your Excellency as I pray that God gives you wisdom to handle this situation.

Isichie wrote from Port Harcourt

PASCHAL M. BAFYAU: EIGHTYEARS ON Salisu Nuhu Muhammad pays tribute to former labour leader, Comrade Paschal Bafyau

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ight years ago, on May 15th, 2012, exactly two weeks after he actively and fully participated in that year’s well organized and colourful May Day celebration, in Abuja, the cruel hands of death snatched away the indefatigable workers’ leader, the Adamawa- born Comrade Paschal Myeleri Bafyau.

As one of Nigeria’s foremost statesmen of his generation, a labour leader of austere profile and indomitable repute, the late Comrade Bafyau was from all fair and objective accounts, a talented, respected and beloved president of the most formidable labour Centre in Africa, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Any keen observer of what was then going on in the sphere of labour unionism in the country, throughout those truly eventful years, would readily concede that mother fortune had smiled on the deeply bruised Nigeria’s highly organized trade unions and their traumatized national umbrella, the NLC, when Comrade Bafyau popularly emerged as the undisputed leader of the Nigerian workers in 1988.

We may still find it necessary at this stage to refresh our good memory with the fact that this historic labour breakthrough actually came about at the end of the well-negotiated, win-win and crisis-free, pan Nigeria Delegates’ Conference of the workers, which was held at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

It was not long after this memorable, resoundingly successful and indisputably wise conclusions arrived at during this openly democratic parley of workers, that the long standing ideological skirmishes that had persistently created sharp divisions and seemingly irreconcilable differences, notably between those trade unions who called themselves “progressives� and the others christened “democrats�, could be seen openly expressing true feelings of happiness everywhere, that indeed, a lasting solution to these daunting problems, had

finally been found.

Consistent with this nationwide euphoria, within a short moment of his mounting the labour saddle, he quickly enthroned a result-oriented but collectivist leadership style that meticulously and expeditiously saw all these intractable problems ingeniously brought to a halt. All these could be silently achieved, thanks largely to the consultative approach of those people who easily identified with the leadership acumen of the amiable Comrade Bafyau It took a visionary leader with an abundance of heart, and also one well experienced in the Solomonic art of peacemaking, who equally manifestly had been divinely endowed with Jobian patience, like Comrade Bafyau, to skillfully navigate and wisely manage, the discordantly rambunctious diversity that characterized the entire fabric of Nigerian labour movement.

With the trust, confidence and respect of labour leaders and their teeming members firmly secured, the hitherto dormant decision making organs of the Congress, that is, the National Administrative Council (NAC), the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the National Executive Council (NEC), all of them democratic sources of political authority, caught the late Comrade Paschal Bafyau ‘s full attention, and in no time, they all simultaneously got galvanized and thus, speedily and enthusiastically became catalyzed and activated back into full proletarian animation.

Perhaps in full appreciation of the precarious nature of our immediate past coupled with the trepidation it emblazoned in the hearts of all genuine lovers of the working class and their numerous allies in our country, it became obvious that action advised caution in the urgent imperative of holistically maintaining a delicate balance in weaving the new composition of these decision making bodies into a united fighting entity.

The animating debates and productive discussions that started coming out from these revitalized organs, following the inculcation of the spirit of unity and labour solidarity under the able leader-

ship of Comrade Bafyau, were indeed, to this day, a treasure to behold.

It would appear at that moment in time that Comrade Paschal Bafyau saw well ahead, and understood perhaps far better than many of his contemporary trade unionists that the tangible presence and prevalence of purposeful unity in a working class organization was uniquely and really of indispensable significance.

Seeing their heads bubbling with ideas, having been confronted with a new global paradigm shift, in which the capitalist order was petulantly waxing exuberant, as it had compelled the then existing international anti- capitalist social forces to beat a hasty retreat in nearly all fighting fronts, but undoubtedly inspired by the incandescent vision of Bafyau, the labour leaders, all of them working together, saw themselves effortlessly and easily, churning out viable projects and programs aimed at laying a strong foundation towards actualizing the short, medium and long term dreams and aspirations of Nigerian workers.

Soon enough, the hard lesson was beginning to surface and settle into the restless minds of the labour leaders, that a united trades union movement was not only manifestly powerful and impregnable, but in reality, it was also an unstoppable rugged machine in the long journey of the Nigerian working class and their allies towards achieving social justice and freedom.

The unity achieved by the unions instantly conferred enormous power on them, but also made them to be highly respected. They were feared equally by their adversaries, because the unity made them indivisible. In addition, the cherished unity oiled the workers machine’s fighting capacity and sooner than later, tangible results percolated ubiquitously.

Permit me at this stage to proceed and briefly enumerate some of these Comrade Bafyau’s notable and epochal labour achievements. For convenience of exposition, these are: Raising the National Minimum Wage for the Nigerian workers by

100%; elongation of salary scale for all categories of workers; 50% salary increase across board; the revision of gratuity qualifying period from 10 to 5 years; and pension from 15 to 10 years. More importantly, gratuity and pension to be calculated on the basis of total emoluments instead of on the basis of basic salary of workers as was the common practice hitherto.

Others include introduction of transport allowance, meal subsidy, house rent, leave grant to all categories of workers; revision of Nigerian Workers Compensation Act; abolition of National Provident Fund (NPF) and the introduction of National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), whose benefits encompassed the private sector workers.

He also established the now defunct LACON Bank for labour and spearheaded the formation of the second Labour Party in 1989, as a popular party of the workers, sponsored by the workers and established for the workers. He founded the Labour Mirror Publishing Company, publishers of The Weekly Labour Champion Newspaper, in Lagos.

He successfully launched the workers Education Endowment Fund (EEF) so as to continually support the education and training of workers in the rubrics of trade unionism and labour enlightenment, generally.

Using his board membership of the newly incorporated Urban Development Bank of Nigeria to the full advantage of the workers, he agitated and eventually triumphed in establishing a successful NLC’s wholly-owned transport company- The Labour Transport Services Ltd, for the Nigerian workers.

He crowned his legacy by building a 12-storey edifice as labour secretariat in Abuja, that today houses the NLC, which also subsequently was posthumously but rightly renamed Comrade Paschal Bafyau’s House, by the popular decision of Nigerian workers.

Comrade Salisu Nuhu Muhammad was a former Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

EDITORIAL POVERTY INDEX AMID PANDEMIC The National Bureau of Statistics’ recent report on poverty is another wake-up call

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here was nothing shocking in the ‘2019 Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria’ report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which revealed that more than 83 million Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

But given the current COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for our economy, the report should compel action by government at all levels. We must commend the NBS for the report which makes planning easier by revealing the true state of our national economy and what can be done to address the challenges.

For years, while states and local governments seek oil rents and jeopardise productivity, successive national governments have also not adequately used oil revenue to lift the ordinary Nigerian out of poverty. More disturbing is the geo-political dimension to the report.

While Sokoto State in the North-west has the highest poverty rate of 87.73 per cent in the country, Lagos in the South-west has the lowest rate of 4.50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the survey was conducted in 35 states of the federation and THIS REPORT, LIKE the Federal Capital OTHER SIMILAR ONES, Territory (FCT) with UNDERSCORES THE Borno State excluded COUNTRY’S HIGH as a result of the prevailing security UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY AND INFLATION challenges arising from the Boko Haram RATES insurgency. This NBS report merely reaffirms this year’s earlier World Bank report which painted a gory picture of the endemic poverty ravaging the North.

In all, the central message of the index report is that Nigeria has not made much progress. A 40 per cent poverty rate in a country with huge natural and human resources is an embarrassment to those in authority.

Growth and development in any economy are measured by three indices, viz: low unemployment rate, low poverty rate and declining inflation. This report, like other similar ones, underscores the country’s high

unemployment, poverty and inflation rates. Nigeria’s unemployment rate was said to have risen to 33.5 per cent in 2020 while its current inflation rate is 12.26 per cent as at last March.

I 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

t is unfortunate that Nigerians continue to be ranked among the poorest people in the world almost every year. Some of the factors responsible for this state of affair include high incidence of unemployment, predominant production of primary goods over finished products, aging public infrastructure, increasing insurgency and opaque systems of governance. The high rate of out-of-school children and poor output in the education sector also contributes to deepening this problem as the nation churns out a crop of uncompetitive youth in a world driven by technology.

The challenge is even bigger. Many of the rural communities in the country today are not connected to the national grid and as such, do not have any electricity. Some do not have access to potable water supply and many lack critical infrastructure for storage and transportation of raw materials from their places of production to markets. Farmers are at the mercy of middlemen who exploit them and make significant profits on resale of the same goods in other geographies.

We must as citizens demand equity, fairness and accountability lest this deepening cycle of poverty continues. But the government, at all levels, must also focus on the people, their safety and welfare; the optimal allocation of scarce resources and the effective implementation of policies for service delivery. Until we begin to do all these, Nigerians will find it difficult to maximise their potential in the bid to enjoy better lives.

All said, we hope the federal government and the authorities in all states of the federation will see the latest report of the growing poverty in Nigeria as another wake-up call for a nation blessed with enormous natural and human resources, but which has consistently been held down by poor governance at virtually all levels.

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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: A Threat To Health

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s the story of so many dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States continues to populate the news media, there is a lot of concern about the effect that the consumption of such obviously poisoned fish will have on the health of the residents of those areas. There are also fears that this occurrence in the coastal communities of the Niger Delta may progress to the extent that it also affects coastal communities of Ondo, Lagos, and Cross River States, as reported in a national newspaper recently.

Although the cause of the littering of the coastline with dead fishes is still yet to be verified, this has been fuelling fears of pollution of the country’s territorial waters by toxic substances.

Environmental pollution is one of the most significant challenges that the world is facing in our day. It is the act of contaminating or polluting (either intentionally or accidentally) the natural environment with harmful substances, as a consequence of human activities, to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.

There are various types of pollution which affect our lives on a daily basis. The major types include: air pollution; water pollution; and land (soil) pollution. Others include noise pollution; light pollution; plastic pollution; radioactive/nuclear pollution; thermal pollution; and marine/ocean pollution.

Apart from this report of dead fishes littering the coastline of Delta and Bayelsa States, other contributors to the issue of

water pollution that need to be addressed in Nigeria include the increased use of non-degradable material and especially the use and improper disposal of plastic. Plastic materials such as carry bags, plastic straw, bottles, etc., are choking our drains and harming marine and aquatic life. Serious problems have emerged because of increased plastic content in aquatic organisms. The increased levels of contaminants in water, and exploiting natural resources, have resulted in water crisis in many urban areas. This has resulted in acute shortage of suitable drinking water, or high levels of contamination which makes it unfit for drinking. Also, increased soil pollution has a direct impact on quality of water, as the underground water gets affected by toxic contaminants.

Human activities are the main source of water pollution. The most polluting type includes discharging of industrial waste into water bodies such as lakes and rivers. The harmful chemicals and toxic waste, without being treated, are directly discharged into water bodies. Another source of water pollution is the mixing of untreated sewage with rivers. Polluted and contaminated water from houses is not treated and rather made to enter the water bodies. Another example of water pollution is the mixing up of high temperature (hot) water discharge into water bodies at normal temperature. The sudden change and rise in temperature has a negative impact on aquatic life. Acid rain is also regarded as one of the causes of water pollution.

Air pollution is another major type of environmental pollution faced by our country, and world, today. It is the pollution of air

by smoke and dangerous gases, chiefly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen.

There are ‘indoor’ and ‘outdoor’ sources of air pollution. Indoor air pollution problems can be subtle, and don’t always produce early impact on health. Outdoor air pollution includes exhaust fumes from vehicles, generators, natural gas, the burning of fossil fuels, etc.

However, pollutants outside the home are as dangerous as those inside the home and in offices. Out of the various types of pollution, air pollution is the major contributor to global warming.

In view of all the foregoing, what can we, or what can you, do about environmental pollution? It is good for us to note, first of all, that pollution is as a result of a wrong attitude - a reluctance to exercise “the law of neighbour love.” So, in reality, pollution is a problem of the individual - a problem of his heart and his mind. It is the result of a mind polluted with false values and possible ignorance, and a heart polluted with selfishness, thoughtlessness and general unconcern about the welfare of others.

So, what can we as individuals do? . . . Everyone can discipline himself to put trash where it belongs. Parents should teach their children to value high standards of cleanliness (an example of one interesting storybook I read that can help to raise awareness of environmental issues amongst children is: “Where Have All The Rivers Gone?” by A. Ofori Mensah and E.O.A Asibey.

Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020

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POLITICS

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

Another Testimonial on Gambari Against popular opinion, Abuja-based author, Gbenga Giwa believes strongly that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves commendation for appointing Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, as his new Chief of Staff

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really did not want to write on Prof. Ibrahim Gambari after he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as his new Chief of Staff. The reason for my reluctance was that, even though I saw his appointment as a round peg in a round hole, I don’t want my commendation to be misconstrued as someone seeking favours from him.

But I decided against my initial reluctance and opted to write on him after reading the vituperated attacks on him intended to cast aspersion on his personality and character, by retired Ambassador Fafowora in a piece titled: ‘Testimonial on Prof. Gambari,’ that went viral both on social and regular print media, less than four hours after Gambari’s appointment. I also decided to write, because I don’t want to lament and suffer in silence like Messrs. Olusegun Adeniyi, Simon Kolawole, Waziri Adio and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode did, when they did not talk good about their friend, former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, until he passed away, just because it wasn’t politically correct to do so, when he was alive.

I’ve promised myself, I will not be encumbered by such thoughts again and will defend my friends not only in private but publicly too, whether those friends approve of it or not. Prof. Gambari has not asked me to do this. And I don’t care if he approves of it or not, because those who castigate him, like retired Ambassador Fafowora, did not also seek his consent to do so.

Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is a senior friend who I will forever be grateful to. A man who did not know me but went on to open doors for me in my book publishing career. I wrote a book titled: ‘The March of Democracy in Nigeria, Votes Behind The Figures From The Fuve General Elections, 19992015’ , that was published in 2017.

Prof. Gambari wrote the Foreword.

I won’t say anything more for now. Let me just quote from the Acknowledgements page of the book: “Special mention is reserved for His Excellency, Prof. (Amb.) Ibrahim Gambari, CFR, our former Foreign Affairs Minister and also a former Under Secretary-General at the United Nations in New York, who graciously agreed to write the Foreword. Now, a little bit of background is appropriate here. I had met Amb. Gambari only once in my life in March 2014, when I was introduced to him by Hajia Mariam Mohammed at the National Confab in Abuja, where both of them were delegates. I then casually requested him to write the Foreword to an election book I am putting together.

I was expecting an evasive diplomatic response. But he was blunt and direct. He gave me his number and said: “Call me when you are ready and I will do it.” I couldn’t finish the book until more than three years later. In August 2017, I called him and at the first ring, he answered. I tried to re-introduce myself but he cut me short and said: “Gbenga, I remember you.

Is your book ready?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Yes sir”, I finally managed to blurt out.

“Send it to my email address which I will dictate to you now. And thank you for considering me worthy of

I also decided to write, because I don’t want to lament and suffer in silence like Messrs. Olusegun Adeniyi, Simon Kolawole, Waziri Adio and Chief Femi FaniKayode did, when they did not talk good about their friend, former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, until he passed away, just because it wasn’t politically correct to do so, when he was alive

Akpabio’s Grandstanding in the Face of NDDC Probe Chris Udoh, Country Director of Global Centre For Good Governance states that the proposal by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to have the probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission shown on live television may be a smokescreen

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t is common knowledge in the public sphere that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission has been accused by several persons and organizations of engaging in fraud, looting, pillaging and ransacking of the scarce resources belonging to the Niger Delta region.

The supervising Minister of the commission, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has equally been severally accused of executing an agenda of grievous larceny, greed and revenge.

We, as an organization founded on the ideals of good governance but operating in a society bombarded with daily dose of disconcerting public sector news prefer excessive caution to indifference because of the hysteriaprone ultraconservative way of our political thought. However, the lingering public outrage against the IMC and Senator Akpabio regarding their (mis) management of the affairs of NDDC has made it mandatory for us to speak up as stakeholders in the good governance project. Senator Akpabio and the IMC are alleged to be running the commission in secrecy while running away with money belonging to the region.

It is our duty to seek clarifications and that’s why we are here.

That there is a deficit of professionalism and competence in the commission because of the power grab and revenge schemes of the IMC and the Minister.

Competent Directors and Heads of Departments who questioned the abuse of processes were redeployed in large numbers to state offices and replaced with pliant surrogates and puppets so much so that contract award letters signed by the Head of Procurement Department are regularly disowned and disparaged by the commission.

There are many other allegations too numerous to mention.

The IMC and Senator Akpabio’s Defence The IMC and the Minister have reacted by urging the public not to be misled by what they call spurious claims on unsubstantiated award of phantom contracts and unauthorized payments.

Their exculpatory narrative is that disgruntled elites who are uncomfortable with the forensic audit of the commission have mobilized resources to demonize them. The Minister claims that only duly authorized and certified payments of N18b have been made by the IMC and that he would be glad to have the probe proceedings shown on live television.

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

writing the Foreword.” What?! A book he has not seen and the author I’m sure he cannot confidently identify in a group of two men. And who is the one that is honoured here? Is it not me? This is humility per excellence.” That was what I wrote in my book about Prof.

Gambari, published in December 2017.

I sent the soft copy to him as he requested. He did not ask me to write a sample Foreword as most demand, but wrote it in his own words after going through the manuscript and replied me after two weeks. Permit me again to quote part of his comments on my book: “This is a hugely important and most timely book written by a meticulous and pioneering author, Gbenga Giwa. The importance of the book lies mainly in providing much needed quantification in order to enhance the quality of political analysis and discourse in Nigeria……it is therefore with great delight that I hereby recommend this book to all stakeholders of Nigerian political dispensation, politicians, candidates for elective offices, administrators, researchers, students, journalists, judicial officers and international community and curious followers of Nigerian politics. Their understanding of the dynamics of the third largest democracy in the world would be greatly enriched. I find the book most informative and educative. I sincerely hope you do too.” That was what Prof. Gambari wrote in September 2017 about a book, authored by someone he does not know! I have no doubt in my mind, that it was this Foreword and especially the name behind the Foreword, that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu (who incidentally too, does not know me and I have never physically met, even up till today) read, that convinced him and his Commission, to assist me in making the book a reality and be published. The success of that book, emboldened me to write another one and another one. These two latter books are currently on sale on Amazon. And the person that blazed this trail for me, is someone retired Amb. Fafowora will want us to believe is duplicitous. No, I won’t take it. If Prof.

Gambari can uplift someone that he does not know, I wonder what he will do for the ones he truly knows.

Before I end this piece, let me digress a little and talk about age.

Most of the side comments I came across on Gambari’s appointment, especially on social media, talked about his age. The way Nigerians talk about age these days, is as if it’s a crime to grow old again. This is very unfair. We should not be fixated about age. We should be talking about competence. We currently have in positions of authorities as Governors and Legislators, who are very young but are a bunch of disappointment. Is Gambari competent as the Chief of Staff to President Buhari? Yes. And I believe retired Amb. Fafowora would even also say yes. Let us commend President Muhammadu Buhari for getting this appointment right and pray for Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, that Almighty God will guide him and give him the wisdom to excel in this onerous assignment.

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

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Quick Takes SAHCO Wins BA Contract

TheSkywayAviationHandlingCompany(SAHCO)Plchasannounced that it has taken over the ground handling services of British Airways (BA). Bythisdevelopment,SAHCOwouldbeprovidingpassengerand ramphandlingservicestoBritishAirwaysattheNnamdiAzikiweAirport, AbujaandMurtalaMuhammedInternationalAirport,Lagos.

SAHCOwasabletoattractandretaintheconfidenceofBritishAirways duetoitsseamless,safeandspeedyservicedelivery.Thedealtookeffect withthehandlingoftheevacuationflightwhichoccurredonthe8thof May,2020.SAHCOsaiditwastheonlyaviationgroundhandlingcompany thatispresentinallthecommerciallyoperatedairportsinNigeria. “Inrecenttimes,manyforeignairlineshavemovedtheiraviationground handling operations to SAHCO so as to enjoy being handled by a loyal and dedicated workforce who are well trained and whose integrity is undoubtable,deliveringtheiractivitiesinlinewithglobalbestpractices. “Withconstantinvestmentinmodernaviationgroundsupportequipment fittedwiththelatesttechnology;ateamofengineersthatcanbuildground supportequipmentfromlocallysourcedmaterialswhichisthefirstof itskindinNigeria;ateamthatisversedinthebestofDepartureControl systems in the Aviation industry, World Tracer and BRS; world class warehousing services; unrivaled customer friendly service delivery in asafe,speedyandefficientculture;SAHCOtreatsitsclientsaspartners,� thecompanysaid.

EASA to Set out Safety Protocol

FIGHTING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

L-R: Deputy Director, General Services at Jumia, Mr. Musa Makoji; Regional Manager, Mr. Fredrick Kolo; Director, General Services, Mrs. Juwaretu Olumoko; Director, Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, and Technical Adviser to the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ahmad Baba, during the donation of 100,000 certiďŹ ed face masks to the Federal Ministry of Health

by Jumia Nigeria in Abuja...recently

Bala-Usman: Why NPA Created Special Window for Non-oil Exporters Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, has explained that the agency in line with the directive of the federal government created an opportunity for goods to be exported to get to the port, saying non-oil export remains vital for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

She said the government created priority time for export goods to get to the port despite the gridlock on the port access roads so as to drive export, which has become very important as the country looks to diversify from oil.

However, she noted that most

MARITIME exporters have a habit of doing their documentation when they get to the port, stressing that doing so before moving goods to the port helps to preserve the cargo.

She made the disclosure while speaking at a webinar tagged, “Non-oil export: Disrupting Nigeria’s Growth Cycle, “organised by BudgIT recently.

While stressing the need for the Nigerian economy to be export-driven, Bala-Usman said 78 per cent of total export through the port in 2019 was crude oil export, adding that a decline in oil export would

result to low port utilisation and decline revenue from the port for government. “About 191 MT tonnes of cargo were exported through the port in 2019 and 78 per cent of it was crude oil export. We are prioritising non-oil export but the exporters have to know that you don’t get to the port before doing documentation. “We must also know that multi-modal means of transportation is what will solve the problem of congestion. This is why the Ministry of Transportation is aggressively working on deploying railway at the port.

Also we must utilise the inland waterways and move cargo by barges and we have signed an agreement to that effect.�

Bala-Usman, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has once more exposed the vulnerability of the Nigerian economy to oil-related shocks. “It underscores the need for Nigeria to look outward, diversifying its export base away from the volatile commodity if the country is to win its battles against poverty and inequality. “A recent report has indicated that a unit increase in non-oil export stimulates the growth of the Nigerian economy by 0.03 percent. This outcome reveals the grossly underdeveloped state of the non-oil sector of the Nigerian economy. “Also, data from the National Continued on page 18

Report Highlights Investment Opportunities Peter Uzoho Amid current global market turbulence occasioned by lockdowns in many economies due to the COVID-19 concerns, a report by the FBN Private Banking has revealed unique investment opportunities which Nigerian investors can leverage to survive.

The latest edition of the Wealth Management Digest, a periodic report of the FBN Private Banking’s global economic review, listed some of such investible and profitable business opportunities as FGN Eurobonds, Eurobonds mutual funds, stock market, real estate, foreign currency, among others.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns and restrictions enforced by countries to contain the spread

ECONOMY have led to the crippling of big and small businesses, as demand for goods and services has declined, resulting in loss of appetite in investment.

However, the report encouraged investors to look in the way of FGN Eurobonds currently trading at significant discounts, saying, the investment instrument offers attractive yields up to 200 basis points above the current core inflation benchmark at 13 per cent/14 per cent.

It also advised investors to put their money in Eurobond Mutual Funds, which it said, presents an option for the retail type investors who do not meet the minimum $200,000 needed to purchase stand-alone Eurobonds.

It said the entry point for

the funds would range from $1,000-$2,500, and that the NAV of these funds are currently priced low given the drop in the price of the underlying bonds, adding that the scenario presents opportunities for both capital gain and income in foreign currency.

On equities market stock pick, the report explained that banks stocks are generally trading at discounts to their book values with the high dividend yield, noting that these offer opportunities for growth and good income yield.

It maintained that sectors such as food and beverages, healthcare, telecoms and utilities may also present good hedges in this COVID-19 period, advising that investors in equities should however remember that, “unlike bonds, dividend payments are

not guaranteed or fixed; stocks also tend to exhibit more volatility than bonds, and as such are not recommended as short term options for investing.�

On Real estate, the FBN Wealthdigest pointed out that with a housing deficit estimated at 18million units of dwelling, coupled with deteriorating economic environment, the real estate gap remains and still presents opportunities to acquire affordable residential assets at bargain prices.

It said these may be applied as rentals and that the choice of the location and the type of dwelling is however key.

Also, for foreign currency, the report advised investors to leverage opportunities in FGN Eurobonds, Continued on page 18

TheEuropeanAviationSafetyAgency(EASA)hassaiditwouldsetout technical operational guidelines to enable the air transport industry adoptcoordinatedapproachtorestoringairlinetravel.TheEuropean CommissiondisclosedthemeasurebeingundertakenbyEASAduringa briefingonitsstrategictravelandtourismpackageonWednesday.The CommissionsaidEASAwasworkingontheinitiativewiththeEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, saying it plans to set out “baselineaviationhealthsafetyprotocol�.

Itisexpectedthattheprotocolwouldincludemeasuresonstrengthening ventilation,hospital-gradeairfiltering,andverticalairflow.

Itshouldalsofocusonlimitingcontaminationriskbyprioritisingelectronic payment and documentation, avoiding passenger concentration and managingpassengerflow,limitinginteractiononboard,andexploring the“mostappropriateallocationofseatsbasedontechnicalconstraints�.

Itwasalsoexpectedthatwithinthecabin,movementshouldbereduced, withlesscabinbaggageandfewercrewinteractions. “Regaining the confidence of passengers that aviation is a safe travel modewillbeinstrumentalforexitingthiscrisis,�theCommissionstates. “Theaviationsectorshouldmakesurethatmeasuresarehighlyvisible, coordinated,andcommunicatedtopassengersatalltimes.�

It points out that the air transport sector is already highly controlled with long experience in safety and security – and dealing with the risk ofcoronavirusshould“followthesameprinciples�.

Qatar Honours Healthcare Professionals

QatarAirwayshasannouncedthatitwouldgive100,000freeticketsto frontlinehealthcareprofessionalstothankthemfortheirheroicservice oftakingcareofpeopleduringthecurrentCOVID-19pandemic.

The airline said by maintaining 24/7 operations in recent months, includingtheprovisionofover100charterflights,QatarAirways’mission to repatriate over one million people has received widespread praise andthanksfrompassengersandgovernmentsastheforemostairline taking people home. Given the airline’s work at the frontline of global efforts to repatriate stranded passengers, it now seeks to recognise andrewardtheworld’sfrontlinehealthcareworkers.

Qatar Airways said the healthcare professionals from every country intheworldwouldbeeligiblefortickets.

Itexplainedthattoensuretheapplicationprocessisfairandtransparent, each country would receive a daily allocation of tickets, depending on its population size, staggered over a seven-day period from 12th to 18th May. The daily allocation would be released at 00:01 AM Doha timethroughoutthecampaignperiod. “Healthcareprofessionalsthatreceivethepromotioncodecanbookup totwocomplimentaryEconomyClassreturnticketsonQatarAirways operated flights – one for themselves and one for a companion – to anywhereontheairline’sglobalnetwork. “Tickets must be booked before 26 November, with travel valid until 10 December 2020.The tickets will be fully flexible, with an unlimited numberofdestinationordatechangesallowedwithoutanyfees.Fareand surchargeswillbewaivedontickets,airporttaxesapply,�theairlinesaid.

“We have tried as much as possible to minimize the burden on Nigerians stranded abroad, appreciating that they stayed out much longer than they needed to�

Minister of Foreign Aairs,

Godfrey Onyeama

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BUSINESSWORLD BALA-USMAN: WHY NPA CREATED SPECIAL WINDOW FOR NONOIL EXPORTERS Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows the monetary value of the goods exported during the period.

According to the NBS, Nigeria shipped $53.6 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019, “she said.

Bala-Usman also expressed worry about the data, saying that with falling oil prices, it was not a good signal for the economy “Nigeria is currently the largest African crude oil producer, and the resource accounts for 90 per cent of its exports and foreign exchange earnings and 60 per cent of government revenues. “Nigeria’s crude shipment is tied to exportation and it contributes to the highest revenue of the ports, �Bala-Usman said.

She added that with the reduction in oil shipment and price, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue of the government from the port was likely to decline, stressing that it was time to increase the shipment of non-oil exports. “This underscores the importance of diversification of the economy through non-oil exports so that we can reverse this trend. “There is a need to encourage local investors. We are a large country of consumers; we need to increase local production. We need to make domestic investment a priority,� she said.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Illustrating further, the report said: “You may explore remortgaging offshore rental property for example at five per cent; apply a tax deduction on the rental income in jurisdictions where the tax laws permit such ‘write offs’, and then invest the funds in shorter duration Eurobonds at a 5-6 per cent margin on the yield. “Note though that leveraging is only recommended for sophisticated investors who are fully conversant with the risks of magnified losses where the loan proceeds are invested in equities.�

The FBN Private Banking Wealthdigest however, counseled investors on right market approaches to avoid missing viable opportunities or falling into avoidable market risks during the COVID-19 period.

NEWS

Investors Decry Wike’s Shutdown of Rivers, Onne Port Stories by Eromosele Abiodun Customs agents and other port workers at the Rivers and Onne Ports have called on the federal government to come to their recue following their arrests by the Rivers State COVID-19 task force on the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike.

The arrests they said has led to the loss of their investments and perishable consignments slated for export.

The governor, who has imposed a 24-hour lockdown on Port Harcourt and Obi Akpor Local Government areas over the COVID-19 pandemic, refused to place port workers under essential duty.

This is contrary to the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force of COVID-19 which classified port operations as essential services.

The federal government had said despite lockdown, ports should remain open to trade so as to facilitate importation and delivery of essential goods, such as foods and medical supplies.

But in the last one week, many port workers, including staff of the regulatory Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), terminal operators, shipping agents and dockworkers have been arrested, with vehicles conveying them to work impounded.

The Managing Director of Africa Atlantic International Agencies, Daniel Kalu, said the vessel transporting his consignment of 4,500 metric tons of frozen mackerel fish worth millions of euros have been unable to berth at the Rivers Port for about two weeks, a situation which he said could make his company lose the entire consignment. “Even if we get the consignment out now, we already would have lost half of our investment because the fish has lost quality and

we won’t be able to sell at the standard price,� he said. “That is not to speak of the demurrage that we must pay to ship owners for keeping their vessels longer than expected. We pay a demurrage of $7800 per day,� he added.

He noted that the same vessel had called in and discharged cargo at the Lagos Ports before heading into Port Harcourt where activities are on standstill.

Another consignee, Olufemi MacJulius of Fejudam Shipping Services, said the vessel carrying his bulk cargo of wheat is waiting at neighbouring Bonny because it cannot approach Port Harcourt as a result of the lockdown. “We pay a demurrage of $15 every day because the vessel is not able to berth as

a result of the fact that port workers, including pilots and stevedores cannot come to work out of fear of arrest and detention, if not prosecution by the Rivers state government,� he said.

A vessel laden with a consignment of Muriate of Potash is unable to berth at the Onne Ports as a result of the same situation.

The inability to discharge this consignment may affect planting this year, given that the rains are already here.

The port users expressed worry that apart from the losses that investors in perishable goods like frozen fish and wheat for food processing would incur from the closure of the ports, the situation would affect the food supply chain in the

south-south and south-east regions of the country as well as the image of Nigeria in the international maritime community.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) had threatened a nationwide protest over arrest of 20 dockworkers in the state.

The association had said being essential services providers, the dock workers ought to be allowed to work at all seaports in the country, especially as most seaports are under the ownership and control of the federal government. “We wish to use this medium to state that if nothing is done to effect the release of our members, the union will have no option but to withdraw our services in the entire nation’s seaport, terminals and jetties in

solidarity with our detained members as an injury to one is an injury to all,� MUWN said in a statement signed

by Adewale Adeyanju, its president-general. “We were informed that the affected dockworkers were returning from essential service operations to BUA/PTOL terminal, Port Harcourt and were unlawfully and forcefully arrested, and detained

by Rivers State Taskforce on enforcing COVID-19 Lockdown.�

According Adeyanju, all entreaties made by the dockworkers to the task force team led by Wike, that they were on essential services fell on deaf ears even though they presented duly signed “Essential Duty Port Pass� issued by the NPA.

Shippers’ Council, NCDC Collaborate on COVID-19 Sensitisation The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has announced that it is collaborating with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to contain the spread of COVID-19, particularly in the Maritime community in Nigeria.

The NSC in a statement signed by its Head of Public Relations, Rakiya Zubairu, said it would as part of the

effort, hand over hundreds of face masks and hand sanitisers to the leaders of seven trucking associations. “This is particularly significant because truckers, being essential workers, are some of the few people who are allowed to move across state lines as they deliver essential cargoes all around the country.

“It may be recalled that NSC, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, had made an intervention for this category of persons to be allowed free movement as they convey goods from the ports to the lengths and breaths of Nigeria and indeed beyond the borders of the country. “Also, the NSC will be

making the rounds of terminals and shipping companies on a COVID-19 sensitisation campaign,� it stated.

The NCDC, the statement added, has assigned one if its doctors to deliver a talk on COVID-19 at the various locations where freight forwarders and staff of these organisations would be present.

It added that the Port Health Services department of the Federal Ministry of Health would also be present at these sensitisation events. “Shippers’ Council, as the promoter of this sensitisation campaign will give out face masks and sanitisers to all present at all the terminals and shipping companies, “the statement concluded.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT)

AYM Shafa Unveils Business Continuity Plan AYM Shafa Limited, one of the leading players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, has devised strategies to continue its operations due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company, in a statement, said it has sustained its services through professional operations, entrenched culture and visionary

leadership while ensuring the fight against Covid-19 is won.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Yakubu Maishanu, in the statement, said the company recently provided N100 million to support the government of Nigeria in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and

its attendant impact on the country’s population and economy. “This was in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) alongside other players in the oil and gas industry.

The Company also donated medical equipment worth about N20 million to support the Bauchi State government

in the fight against Covid-19. “AYM Shafa Limited, with outlets across the country and petroleum depot, has recently also carried out some Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs in some parts of the country including the one in Delta State where its petroleum depot is located at Warri,� he said.

Maishanu further stated that, currently, AYM Shafa’s employees, apart from essential operational staff, are working from their homes with modern information technology (IT) tools. “Also, the use of face masks and social distancing are strictly observed at all its facilities including service stations, “he added.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Passenger Demand May Not Recover Until 2024, Says IATA Chinedu Eze The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted that the coronavirus pandemic may result in semi-permanent damage to the airline industry and may subdue passenger revenue until 2024.

In its latest weekly update on the coronavirus crisis, IATA forecasted that revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs) would decline to under four billion per year in 2020 from around eight billion before the virus struck. Under the association’s baseline scenario, traffic would then stage a recovery to 2019 levels in 2023. This would put the key metric of airline revenues at 32 per cent below IATA’s previous expectations for 2021. The underlying assumption was that there would be a reopening of domestic travel markets in the third quarter, followed by a phased restoration of international markets. “We think that Covid’s effects on air travel are certainly going to last for

a number of years, with no quick rebounds to 2019 levels, unlike the current forecast for GDP,� says IATA chief economist Brian Pearce.

However, under IATA’s “setback scenario� – in which lockdowns are extended into the third quarter, possibly due to a second wave of infections – global traffic would be 34 per cent below 2019 levels in 2021 and 41 per below its pre-Covid-19 predictions.

Under this scenario, 2019 levels of demand would not be regained until 2024.

Regardless of which scenario plays out, IATA expects the industry to face a far slower recovery than the wider economy. “If international borders are to reopen to international travel‌ this is last on the list for government measures,â€? Pearce noted.

But so far, there is little appetite for this to happen: “We have yet to see a stabilisation for Covid-19, particularly for emerging markets.�

One indicator for how travel may return can

be found in the Chinese market. Data from IATA shows that as the Chinese economy has reopened, business confidence in the country has bounced back, albeit to a level still lower than before the coronavirus crisis began.

Yet there has been a much slower recovery in airline passenger traffic. “It is clearly the case that air travel will lag the recovery in domestic economies, because consumers in particular will need the confidence‌ to start engaging in discretionary spending,â€? Pearce said.

Another development stunting any recovery in passenger revenues, IATA said, is an expected fall in average trip lengths, of around 8-9 per cent. This reflects the expectation that domestic air travel is likely to resume first, but also that consumers may be wary about venturing further from home, Pearce said. “The consequence of this is that RPKs‌ are likely to be growing more slowly than the rise in passenger numbers,â€? he also said.

Red Star Implements Safety Measures Red Star Express Plc, one of Nigeria’s foremost logistics solutions providers, has announced new safety measures to be implemented at its offices nationwide. This was made known by the Group Managing Director, Dr. Sola Obabori, in a statement issued by the company after the federal government announced a gradual ease of the lockdown in various parts of the country. “Following the decision of the federal government to ease the lockdown in various parts of the country, we have opened our offices nationwide; with the exception of those situated in cities where the lockdown is still in place. “Our offices will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, and between 9:00 am and 3:00

pm. In line with this new development, we have also gone on to implement safety measures to ensure that our customers are safe whenever they enter our offices,� he stated. “We encourage all our customers to wear nose masks and use the hand sanitisers provided at the offices. We also encourage our customers to maintain a distance of at least 2 meters between themselves and the Sales Representative when they visit any of our offices,� he added.

Obabori, also advised customers to minimise the use of cash by using the POS machines at the offices (with their ATM cards) when making payments.

He added that the offices are regularly sanitised while

Sales Representatives and Dispatch Riders are well kitted with Personal Protective Equipment.

Red Star Express Plc is a Licensee of Federal Express (FedEx) Corporation, the world’s largest delivery solutions provider.

The company has over 150 offices nationwide, with a network reach spanning over 1,500 communities in Nigeria and over 200 countries worldwide.

It is made up of four subsidiaries specialising in areas such as Express Delivery, logistics, freight, outsourcing services, supply chain management, e-Commerce logistics solutions, printing and packaging, e-Archiving, business enterprise solutions, as well as agro logistics and trade.

Women Aviators Donate Face Masks, Sanitisers to NAMA Women aviators under the aegis of International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) in Nigeria have donated face masks and hand sanitisers to the Nigerian Airspace management Agency (NAMA).

Speaking while presenting the items on behalf of IAWA at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, NAMA Legal Adviser, Dr. Anastasia Gbem said as working mothers who have put in several years in different areas of specialisation, their intervention was inspired by the fact that the health of personnel in the aviation industry remained

central to the growth and advancement of the industry itself.

Gbem, also noted that as a global organization of professional women advancing their careers and promoting Nextgen professionals, “IAWA has a strong affiliation and has been networking with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Boeing and other critical stakeholders in the sector towards moving aviation forward.�

Receiving the items on behalf of the agency, Manag-

ing Director of NAMA, Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu, recalled that from the inception of aviation, the contribution of women in the sector had been legendary, stressing that over time, women had broken several barriers and made useful impacts and contributions which have remained invaluable to the growth and development of the industry. While appreciating the gesture on behalf of management, the NAMA boss assured that the items would be judiciously used for the benefit of staff in the different directorates and departments of the agency.

Handling Companies Explain Position on Demurrage Payment

MMIA

Chinedu Eze Recently, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA), Lagos Chapter protested against the request by aviation cargo handling companies’ insistence on the payment of demurrage for delays in clearance of goods imported during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The Customs agents insisted they would not honour the mandatory payment of demurrage on cargoes imposed by managements of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc during the lockdown.

They described the insistence of the two handling companies to collect demurrage as a violation of the federal government’s directives on the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja during the period.

The Association, in a press statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Njoku, explained that when its members returned to work on May 4, 2020, following the lift on the lockdown, NAHCO and SAHCO managements insisted that the agents must pay demurrage for shipments affected by the lockdown.

He defended the agents’ position by saying that its members at the seaport did not pay for demurrage during the period, and wondered why they would be compelled to pay such at the airport when the order for the lockdown was not from ANLCA. But the handling companies said that they are not the right bodies the clearing agents should protest against because they abide by their obligations to the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) that manages the airports.

NAHCO in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communication, Samuel Akinrinmade said the company and other ground handling companies have had to provide critical handling services in support the management of and fight against COVID 19 at extra costs and in the challenging circumstances in the last six weeks of lockdown and closure of airports and airspace (except for approved essential and emergency flights).

The company noted that in addition, warehousing services especially ensuring shipments in the custody of the ground handling companies were kept safe, and in good condition at a huge cost during the period. “Cargo agents are asking for 100 per cent waiver on storage, their demand is based on the premise that an agency of government, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is taking on the financial burden of the 100 per cent waiver at the seaports

and issuing credit notes to Port Terminal Operators. “This is not the case in aviation, as ground handling companies have not been informed by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) or Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) that government is giving any financial exchange for storage waiver in the aviation sector. We have shared this fact with the cargo agents and asked them to direct their protest appropriately. “We are a responsible corporate organisation, employing over 2,200 Nigerian and affecting over 100,000 people in Nigeria directly and indirectly. COVID 19 has affected the aviation industry the most.

Today, our industry is faced with revenue loss and cash crunch. Ground handling companies are critical aviation service providers and greatly affected. “Our cost of operations has risen materially in light of the new safety measures in our operations and all the safety equipment, systems, PPE etc that we have put in place for our staff, customers and stakeholders,� the company said.

NAHCO expressed appreciation to the efforts of the Minister of Aviation, NCAA and FAAN, even as the aviation industry continues to face the effects of COVID 19, noting, “We are challenged and meeting our obligations to staff and paying all that is due to FAAN, charges such as five per cent of our revenue as concession fee, rent and service recovery charge etc. Going forward is an insurmountable task.�

NAHCO also said, “Ground handling companies are private companies just like the port terminal operators in the seaports, cargo agents many of whom work in in custom bonded warehouses in both the seaports and airports and or belong to associations that operate in same, understand this and the fact that both maritime and aviation industries are in the same economy. “They should therefore direct their grievances in the right direction away from the ground handling companies to the appropriate quarters to ensure their desire results of equity in all customs bonded warehouse whether in the seaport or airport.�

Also the Managing Director of SAHCO, Basil Agboarumi, insisted that the ground handlers would not give waivers to the customs agents, saying unlike the maritime sector where the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) absorbed some waivers by giving credit notes to terminal operators, the reverse was the case in aviation industry where either the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) refused to do the same for ground handlers.

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As Airlines Prepare for Flight Resumption There are indications that globally commercial and scheduled flight operations would resume in June, which is also the same month domestic carriers, would resume scheduled service, as stipulated by the federal government. Chinedu Eze writes on how Nigeria can revamp air travel post COVID-19

O

ne feels the air of apprehension about what would happen to Nigerian airlines post-COVID-19.

The fear lurking everywhere is that some of them may be unable to sustain their operations and pay their workers’ salaries due to paucity of funds.

By June, the airlines would have suspended operations for two months during which period they earned zero or insignificant revenue. That is why the clamour for support by the federal government is gaining some traction.

In fact, industry experts like Chris Aligbe, the Director of Engineering, Ibom Air, Lukeman Animaseun and other industry stakeholders have reiterated that without bail out the airlines may not survive.

Taking a cue from what is happening globally, it has become inevitable that every country must give fiscal support to its airlines and also the aviation industry. This is because the sector is the hardest hit under the coronavirus lockdown.

International carriers have announced the layoff of thousands of their workers, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Emirates, Qatar and many others. And many nations have announced palliatives for their airlines, which include direct monetary support, zero interest loans and grants.

Gloom to Hope Although many industry analysts believe that airlines would face difficult times on resumption but there are also indications that there would be spur economic growth after the Coronavirus pandemic, most likely after vaccine has been approved and made available to everyone. Some analysts insist that the airlines and the aviation sector would gain double what they have lost during the lockdown.

So the airlines hope to get through the teething challenge of resumption with government support and then stabilise and continue to operate like in the past.

The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY that without government bailout the collapse of the airlines would be imminent, predicting that almost all of them would go down before end of three months.

He said before COVID-19, some of the airlines were already weak. “Weak aviation industry will adversely affect the recovery of the nation’s economy, if not cripple it. Any country that does not have strong aviation industry will record minimal growth, so coming out of the economic quagmire will become very, very difficult,� Sanusi.

He said it would be late if the federal government waits until the end of the lockdown before arranging the modalities and plans for the bailout, adding that government should urgently identify the companies that need the bailout and kick-start the process immediately. “There should be two stages of the bailout.

First phase should be soft loans; which airlines should use to pay for maintenance of their aircraft. Government should support the airlines with foreign exchange to lease aircraft. “The second phase should be providing grant to airlines. The companies that can pay to ensure that their workers remain in service without reliving them of their jobs should be given grants. Then there should be other forms of relief like taxes, charges and others. “Government should look at regulatory issues that are not safety critical. It will be difficult for pilots to travel out of the country, so the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has to make adjustments to accommodate these pilots without lowering standards. Also the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) should give airlines moratorium for three months. We have to also note that aviation agencies need bailout,� the Aero CEO said.

Sanusi, warned that if government decided

Arik Aircraft to do nothing for the airlines, there would be a free fall because the airlines might end up “closing shop. Aviation is very vital in the economy of any nation.�

However, the Aero CEO said when flight operation resume, airlines would look inwards and review the operations, noting that many airlines would want to conduct maintenance on their aircraft locally instead of taking them overseas. This would cost the airlines less and also save the country foreign exchange.

He said airlines would also conduct more training locally and urged government to make the simulator recently acquired by the federal government ready so that instead of travelling overseas, pilots type-rated on simulator ‘s aircraft type would retrain locally.

Regaining Lost Ground The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo, believe that airlines would bounce back financially months after resumption, because the economy which is down due to lockdown would be galvanized; so there would be a flurry of activities both in the public and private sector.

He said those who believe that passengers would be skeptical about travelling by air do not realise that with the new flight protocol, passengers would feel protected and won’t have any fear about travelling by air.

Also, the CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, said the number of persons that travel by air locally is about 12 million annually and those on international travel are about five million people, making air passenger traffic 17 million annually.

He said with bailout from the federal government, the airlines would survive to ramp up the existing passenger traffic, pre-COVID-19. “If the airlines collapse people will no longer move because we do not have reliable rail system and road system is fraught with security fears and this will stifle the economy because people whose work is critical to the growth of the economy will no longer move. “This will be a setback to the economy. So besides the contribution of the aviation sector to the economy, economic activities will ground to a halt without air travel,� Aligbe said.

He noted that over 22,000 people are directly employed in the aviation sector as airline workers, agencies staff, handling companies’ personnel, catering services and others with over 100,000 indirect jobs.

These, he said, would be adversely affected if government fails to bailout airlines, noted that the airlines would bounce back with the support that would be given to them by the government.

Aviation industry consultant and Principal Partner, Etimfri Group, Amos Akpan said that banks should also help the airlines to kick-start their operations after the lockdown. “The real issue is for the commercial banks to grant working capital overdraft facilities to the airlines based on the size of each airline’s operations. This is where the federal government needs to assist the industry by instructing the removal of collateral on such overdraft requests, except that sales must be domiciled in the bank granting the overdraft. Also, the interest rate must be at maximum of 5 per cent in the first twelve months at resumption of operations,� he said.

Surviving Post-COVID-19 Akpan gave a recipe on how the airlines would survive and said that they must have to review their cost and streamline their operations. “The industry will have to hit the ground running with solutions timely enough to avoid delay and catch up with global recovery trends.

This is our time to document our postulations and templates applicable to various scenarios. “My position on bailout is that government should not create funds and invite aviation operators to apply and be granted money.

Instead, the airlines should be given grant incentives through existing institutions that aviation companies transact business with.

Do not give airlines money. How? Nigerian Customs should set up a program on the instruction of CBN and Minister of Finance.

They should publish a list of equipment and parts that will not be paying duty for airlines, handling companies, and service providers like the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and others,� he said.

Akpan suggested the period covered for duty free for the items on such list should be a minimum of two years, adding that the companies would liaise with the Minister of Aviation to send in the list of items.

Post Quarantine Boom Tourism Consultant and Vice President (South East), Federation of Tourism Association of

Nigeria, Ngozi Ngoka projected that there is going to be a post lockdown boom of the travel industry and when airlines are able to overcome the initial challenges, they would be ushered into a boom that would record high passenger traffic. “Yes, it does make sense to postulate that it will take a while before airlines start to operate at full capacity. Travel will increase depending on people’s perception of safety. But you know that in times of crisis, people feel safe in environments they are familiar with-a place that gives them comfort. So those that get the urge to travel may choose to explore their immediate vicinity before attempting to further climes. Some local tourism products may experience a boom once the restrictions are lifted because people are tired of staying home.

Restaurants, event centers, hotels, nightclubs, should use this period to prepare their facilities for post quarantine boom. “But looking forward, I think people may be persuaded to travel to destinations they perceive as comfortable and safe. Therefore, I think a lot of people would prefer to travel domestically when they begin to get the travel bug again. I hope that state governments that have included tourism in the economic planning consider this in their post COVID 19 recovery plans and make concerted efforts to boost the State tourism industry,� Ngoka said.

She suggested that the Nigerian government, through its Ministry of Information should also champion a campaign to encourage Nigerian citizens to travel within Nigeria. “Of course, the security situation would have to be tackled and our elected representatives and leaders would have to live by example.

I encourage travel agents and tour operators to start looking at forging relationships with other businesses in the tourism chain to produce inclusive made in Nigeria tourism packages for the Nigerian market. “This is a good time to develop strategies to tap into the various opportunities for home grown tourism. Nigerians are very well informed and sophisticated tourists. If we can attract Nigerians, we can attract the rest of the world,� she said.

Beyond the apprehension that is currently permeating through the aviation industry, it is believed that once the airlines resume operation, passengers would be willing to travel and local travel may begin to blossom over time.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 • T H I S D AY

21

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Wilson Ighodalo: Addressing Substance Abuse as a Public Health Problem

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

COVER

Wilson Ighodalo: Addressing Substance Abuse as a Public Health Problem Founder, Drug Salvation Foundation, Wilson Ighodalo, who also doubles as the National Coordinator, NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club Nigeria, is also a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Master Trainer on Sensitisation on Drug and Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care. Known for his passion in addressing substance abuse, Ighodalo in this interview with CHIEMELIE EZEOBI, strongly canvassed for public health approach to tackle substance abuse in Nigeria

W

human rights and development agenda. It rest on the fact that existing (criminalisation and discrimination) response has failed to effectively address the drug challenge in our society.

What we adopted as best practice, we do in-house training for our personnel and clients. As part of the efforts to build capacities of staff and associates for optimum performance. All humans are born geniuses. The onus is on all of us to discover, nurture and develop it for the betterment of the society. The need therefore for training and retraining for an enhanced performance cannot be over emphasised.

hat is your take on the state of the health sector now?

At present the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is being addressed, should be a ‘wakeup call’ to Nigeria. Public health approach is the single most important goal. Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.

What is your take on substance abuse as a public health challenge?

There is need to reduce substance abuse to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all, especially children. Millions of Nigerians struggle with a drug or alcohol problem. Almost 95 per cent of people with substance use problems are considered unaware of their problem. Few of those who recognise their problem, many have made an unsuccessful effort to obtain treatment.

These estimates highlight the importance of increasing prevention efforts and improving access to treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.

What are its impact on lives?

Substance abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities. The effects of substance abuse are cumulative, significantly contributing to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems. These problems include: teenage pregnancy, Human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), domestic violence, child abuse, motor vehicle crashes, physical fights, crime, Homicide and suicide.

What was the impact of COVID-19 on children that are addicted to drugs?

Due to the lock down because of COVID-19, some children could no longer have access to drugs and the withdrawal syndromes are becoming more evident and some parents are just beginning to realise that their kids are using drugs. This has made a lot of them panic. I hope they seek for help to allay their fears.

So what is substance abuse?

Substance abuse refers to a set of related conditions associated with the consumption of mind- and behaviour-altering substances that have negative behavioral and health outcomes. Social attitudes and political and legal responses to the consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs make substance abuse one of the most complex public health issues. In addition to the considerable health implications, substance abuse has been a flash-point in the criminal justice system and a major focal point in discussions about social values: people argue over whether substance abuse is a disease with genetic and biological foundations or a matter of personal choice.

Advances in research have led to the development of evidence-based strategies to effectively address substance abuse.

Improvements in brain-imaging technologies and the development of medications that assist in treatment have gradually shifted the research community’s perspective on substance abuse. There is now a deeper understanding of substance abuse as a disorder that develops in adolescence and, for some individuals, will develop into

Ighodalo

a chronic illness that will require lifelong monitoring and care.

Improved evaluation of communitylevel prevention has enhanced researchers’ understanding of environmental and social factors that contribute to the initiation and abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs, leading to a more sophisticated understanding of how to implement evidence-based strategies in specific social and cultural settings.

A stronger emphasis on evaluation has expanded evidence-based practices for drug and alcohol treatment. Improvements have focused on the development of better clinical interventions through research and increasing the skills and qualifications of treatment providers.

What are the emerging issues in substance abuse?

In recent years, the impact of substance and alcohol abuse has been notable across several areas, including the following: Adolescent abuse of prescription (Over The Counter OTC) drugs has continued to rise over the past five years. The recent survey found high rates of nonmedical use of the prescription pain relievers Tramadol and Codeine etc. It is believed that two factors have led to the increase in abuse. First, the availability of prescription drugs is increasing from many sources, including the family medicine cabinet, the Internet, and doctors. Second, many adolescents believe that prescription drugs are safer to take than street drugs.

In addition, as the federal government through Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse, (PACEDA) headed by Retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, should begin to implement health reform legislation, to focus attention on providing services for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders, including new opportunities for access to and coverage of treatment and prevention services.

Why public health-based approach?

The society should start seeing drug abuse problems as public health issues and it need public health centred approach. Drug abuse is not a personal choice rather a public health issue. Thus tackling substance abuse is a call for a public health-based approach to addressing and discussing the importance of building awareness of substance abuse as a public health problem. Public health is the science of preventing disease and injury and promoting and protecting the health of populations and communities.

What is your foundation about?

The Drug Salvation Foundation is a nongovernment and Non-Profit organisation aimed at promoting the quality of public health in the society by leading efforts in the prevention, education, advocacy and care of substance abuse disorders etc. The organisation is based in Lagos and have driven drug abuse interventions across the country, organising trainings and prevention campaigns on substance abuse. We have driven drug abuse interventions across the country, through quiz, debates, organising trainings, conferences, charity walk, courtesy visits, workshops, annual lectures and prevention campaigns on substance abuse.

We have reputable personality as board of trustees and founding fathers of this prestigious organisation in the person of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, who is the Chairman of The Drug Salvation Foundation. He is the Managing Partner at SIAO (a firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants) and Senior Pastor Trinity House Church. We also have Otunba O.A. Lawal (Honorary Consul). He is at present the honorary Consul of Malta in Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian-Maltese Business Council.

Putting it in context, we are reaching out through advocacy campaign that seeks to address the current negative perception about people with drug related issues, by promoting evidence based approach which considers drug use as a public health,

What drives you in pushing issues against drug abuse in Nigeria?

Drug abuse in Nigeria is a major cause for concern, especially since children as young as eleven years old, are abusing drugs. That informed part of my passion to champion the cause and children are the future of tomorrow, focusing on prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle against substance abuse now became my ways of touching lives. I use the platform to share information and ideas about the problem of substance abuse.

A number of investigations show that Nigeria is experiencing a sharp increase in young people abusing substances like drugs and alcohol. Many of the patients admitted to rehabilitation and treatment centres for substance abuse are children as young as 11 to 16 years old.

Drug and alcohol abuse at a young age is often the result of peer pressure, which starts at school. In addition, during the school holidays, children are often at home alone because their parents have to work.

Children, especially teenagers, get bored and start hanging around with the wrong group of people, bad influencers. They are then pressurised into trying new drugs, smoking or drinking alcohol, because they want to fit in. Once children start using substances, they often become problematic drug users. To feed their addictions as they become involved in criminal activities as they try to get money to buy drugs. This can become a continuous cycle of conflict with the law. As part of our integrated approach towards promoting a drug free society, our NGO also looks at ways to target schools and the inner city youths.

How many years have you championed this cause?

My sojourn started as a media consultant to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in 2004. I am a member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria(APCON), thus I am an advertising practitioner.

What are the major challenges you have battled in the course of your journey in ďŹ ghting drug abuse?

Funding and society approach to drug users. Funding from Corporate organisations and High-net-worth individuals (HNWI).

We are still hoping corporate bodies and individuals should fund drug abuse awareness campaign and funds improving the capacity of civil society organisations, so that we can properly take the awareness campaign to schools, inner cities youth, communities and parents, so that parents and communities leaders can properly educate their walls and youths who are more vulnerable to drug abuse.

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NBS: Nigerians Spent N40.20tn on Food, Transport, Others in 2019 James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The total national household consumption expenditure on food and non-food items stood at N40.20 trillion in 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

A similar study conducted in 2009/2010 by the NBS had put total household expenditure at N21.62 trillion.

The NBS stated that of the total expenditure in 2019, 56.65 per cent was spent on food while about 43.35 per cent was expended on non-food items.

According to the Consumption Expenditure Pattern in Nigeria 2019 report released by the statistical agency, food consumed outside the home, followed by transportation costs and starchy roots, tubers and plantains were responsible for the largest proportion of household expenditure representing a combined 24.16 per cent of total household

expenditure during the year under review.

The report stated that total household expenditure in urban areas stood at N19.11 trillion in 2019 (N8.41 trillion in 2009/10) and N21.09 trillion in rural areas (N9.36 trillion in 2009/10).

However, total expenditure on food in urban areas stood at N9.84 trillion in 2019 (N3.65 trillion in 2009/2010), while expenditure in the rural areas stood at N12.92 trillion (N9.36 trillion in 2009/2010).

Both areas spent mostly on food outside the home, Starchy foods, tubers, and plantains, and rice representing about 37.96 per cent for rural and about 42.59 per cent for urban areas of total expenditure on food, the NBS added. It further explained that in the non-food section, education, transport, services and rent represented the highest expenditure for urban households while expenditure on health,

transport, education and services dominated non-food household expenditure in 2019. The NBS explained that the consumption pattern of a country depicts its aggregate demand of goods and services and in most cases constitutes about 60 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as measures the level of welfare and poverty which a country experiences.

The consumption pattern report is based on the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) 2018/2019 earlier published by the NBS which pointed out that over 83 million Nigerians currently live below the national poverty line with the poverty rate at 40.1 per cent.

The NBS had said individuals living in households whose per capita annual consumption expenditure is below the threshold of N137,430 per person per year are regarded as poor by national standards.

FSDH Merchant Bank Assures Shareholders of Improved Performance The Chairman of FSDH Merchant Bank, Mr. Femi Agbaje, has assured shareholders that the financial institution will continue with its conservative and robust risk management framework, leveraging modern digital platforms as it engages the various identified opportunities.

He said this recently during the virtual eight Annual General Meeting of the bank held in line with government’s regulation on social distancing.

In his address, the Chairman said, “despite the short-term risks in the economy, we still see a lot of opportunity for the medium to long-term, especially with regard to the potential in the expanded market that the AfCFTA will bring. “We will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to develop innovative financing and investment solutions to enable us exploit these opportunities and create shared prosperity for all stakeholders in 2020.’’ On her part, the CEO, FSDH Merchant Bank, Mrs. Hamda Ambah, pointed out that despite the tough operating environment, the Bank embraced the winds of change by carrying out

a recent restructuring exercise to enhance the viability of its business model and sharpen its focus on meeting the needs of stakeholders.

In describing the organisation’s decision to restructure for growth, a statement quoted her as saying that, “since the discount house became a Merchant Bank in 2012, it operated at the helm of a group structure, providing oversight to subsidiaries of the FSDH Group including FSDH Asset Management, FSDH Securities and PAL Pensions.�

She added: “In June 2019 however, the FSDH Group concluded a restructuring that transferred the oversight of the four companies in the Group to a non-operating financial holding company. “This has enabled the bank to focus even more closely on its core operations, ensuring faster decision-making and business growth in a time of rapidly evolving regulation in the banking industry.’’ For the financial year ended 31 December 2019, the bank realised a profit before tax (PBT) of N5.183billion, slightly lower than the N5.186 billion recorded for the year ended

31 December 2018.

However, profit after tax (PAT) declined by 18.14 per cent, from N4.41billion for the year ended 31 December 2018, to N3.61 billion for the period ended 31 December 2019.

The decline was attributed to a significant increase in the income tax figure by 103 per cent, from N775.05 million in 2018, to N1.57 billion in 2019.

According to the statement, the increase was as a result of a combination of factors, namely the fact that dividend tax was incurred twice in one financial year following the declaration of an interim dividend as well as the fact that a portion of the bank’s deferred tax assets was wound down. “In spite of this, Earnings per Share (EPS) for the Bank stood at 197kobo, which is 39kobo higher than the 158kobo that was recorded in the financial year ended 31 December 2018,� it added.

Ambah, noted that the resilience of the bank’s business model lays the foundation for the long-term prosperity of the Bank and would drive growth in the near-term in spite of shifting economic conditions.

Lekki Port Donates Food Items to Host Communities Raheem Akingbolu As part of its corporate social responsibility and community relations efforts, the Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (Lekki Port), the developer of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project currently under construction at the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Ibeju Lekki together with China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE) have donated food items to its host communities.

The food items were distributed to the six host communities of Itoke, Magbon-Segun, Idotun, Lujagba, Okesegun and Lekuru, recently at the project site to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the people of the communities.

Speaking at the presentation of the food items to the community leaders of the communities, Alhaji Bode Oyedele, a Director of Lekki Port, explained that the donation from Lekki Port and CHELE, was to help ease the difficulties occasioned by the COVID- 19 lockdown. “We are here today to present these food items to the communities as a way of showing our concern to the well-being of the people of our host communities especially during this trying period�, he said.

While assuring them of the commitment of Lekki Port and CHELE to continue to do everything possible to support the host communities, he urged the community

leaders to ensure that the food items are distributed to reach every household within their communities.

He commended the communities for peaceful co-existence and relationship with the company over the years and expressed the hope that they will continue to adopt diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes and misunderstandings.

Speaking on behalf of all the community leaders, the Baale of Idotun Community, Chief Waheed Tubeko commended the company for the kind gesture and prayed for the successful completion of the project for the benefit of the company, the communities and humanity at large.

Kale

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

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2020

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $23.25 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $22.83 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. s 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

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍłËœ 2020

MARKET NEWS

NSE All-Share Index Rises 0.8% as Market Sustains Positive Performance Goddy Egene The stock market rose further yesterday as buying interest in bellwethers such as Dangote Cement Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc lifted the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (NSE) by 0.77 per cent to close at 23,892.92. Similarly, market capitalisation added N84.9 billion to close at 12.4 trillion.

Having recorded significant

gain last week, the market opened for the week on a negative note. However, after two days of profit taking, the bulls returned on Wednesday, a trend that continued yesterday.

In all, 18 stocks appreciated as against 14 that depreciated.

Fidson Healthcare Plc led the price gainers with 9.6 per cent, trailed by NPF Microfinance Bank Plc with 9.4 per cent, while May & Baker Nigeria Plc chalked up

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

5.7 per cent. FCMB Group Plc gained 5.2 per cent, just as Regency Insurance Plc and Caverton Offshore Services Group garnered 5.0 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively.

Nestle Nigeria Plc went up by 4.0 per cent, while Jaiz Bank Plc and WAPIC Insurance Plc gained 3.4 per cent and 3.3 per cent in that order.

On the negative side, Custodian Investment Plc led the price losers with 9.5 per cent, trailed by Unity Bank

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Plc with 8.3 per cent. AIICO Insurance Plc and NEM Insurance Plc shed 7.5 per cent and 7.4 per cent respectively.

Linkage Assurance Plc and International Breweries Plc went down by 6.8 per cent and 4.0 per cent in that order.

International Breweries Plc has been suffering from dwindling fortunes, recording losses for the 2019 full year and first quarter of 2020.

The brewing firm recorded a loss of N27.791 billion for

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

the year ended December 31, 2019, higher than the N3.933 billion recorded in 2018. As a result, the shareholders will not receive any dividend for the year. Details of the results showed revenue increased by 9.7 per cent to N132.351 billion in 2019, compared with N120.611 billion.

Cost of sale rose by 27 per cent to N107.144 billion from N84.493 billion, while administrative expenses jumped by 64 per cent from

O F

N15.942 billion to N26.17 billion. Also, marketing and promotions expenses rose by 63 per cent from N9.743 billion to N15.967 billion. The company incurred impairment charges on financial assets of N1.667 billion in 2019, up from N807 million in 2018.

In Q1 of 2020, International Breweries Plc posted a loss of N7.694 billion, compared with a loss of N5.317 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

1 3 / 0 5 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

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FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 •T H I S D AY

REALITY CHECK OF U.S. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CHINA ON COVID-19 BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Recently, some US politicians and media outlets have been fabricating preposterous allegations and lies of one kind or another in order to shift the blame to China for their inadequate response to COVID-19.

However, as Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time�.

Lies evaporate in the light of truth. It is time to let facts speak for themselves.

In future, we will continue to reveal the truth to the world whenever new lies appear.

have so many other emerging pathogens.

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1. Allegation: COVID-19 is “Chinese virus� or “Wuhan virus�.

REALITY CHECK: WHO has made it clear that the naming of a disease should not be associated with a particular country or place.

,Q KLV EORJ DUWLFOH SRVWHG RQ 0DUFK )UDQFLV &ROOLQV 'LUHFWRU RI WKH 86 1DWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWHV RI Health (NIH), pointed out that this novel coronavirus arose naturally. Researchers discovered that the virus could not have been man-made for it does not have the backbones of known coronaviruses.

Instead, it probably evolved from a bat coronavirus and a novel virus found in pangolins. It is not the product of purposeful manipulation in a lab. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/03/26/genomic-research-points-to-natural-origin-of-covid-19/

'UDZLQJ RQ WKH OHVVRQV DERXW QDPLQJ LQIHFWLRXV GLVHDVHV LQ WKH SDVW HVSHFLDOO\ WKH KXJH negative impacts caused by the naming of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012, WHO, in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture 2UJDQL]DWLRQ RI WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG WKH %HVW 3UDFWLFHV IRU WKH 1DPLQJ RI 1HZ +XPDQ Infectious Diseases on 8 May 2015. According to these guidelines, the naming of a disease should DYRLG JHRJUDSKLF ORFDWLRQV SHRSOH¡V QDPHV FODVV RI DQLPDO RU IRRG FXOWXUDO SRSXODWLRQ LQGXVWU\ RU occupational references (for example legionnaires) and terms that incite undue fear. https://www.who.int/topics/infectious_diseases/naming-new-diseases/en/ 2Q )HEUXDU\ :+2 RQ WKH EDVLV RI WKH %HVW 3UDFWLFHV IRU WKH 1DPLQJ RI 1HZ +XPDQ ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV DV ZHOO DV LQWHUQDWLRQDO SXEOLF KHDOWK SUDFWLFHV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ QDPHG WKH pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200211-sitrep-22-ncov. pdf?sfvrsn=fb6d49b1_2 /DVW $SULO WKH %ULWLVK VFLHQFH MRXUQDO 1DWXUH SXEOLVKHG WKUHH HGLWRULDOV DSRORJL]LQJ IRU FRQQHFWLQJ COVID-19 with Wuhan and China. It called for an immediate stop to coronavirus stigma and the LUUHVSRQVLEOH DFW RI DVVRFLDWLQJ D YLUXV ZLWK D VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F SODFH https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01009-0 7KH 1HZ <RUN 7LPHV WKH $PHULFDQ %URDGFDVWLQJ &RPSDQ\ $%& WKH %ULWLVK %URDGFDVWLQJ Corporation (BBC) and other mainstream media in the West all reported that the wrongful connection of Asian communities with COVID-19 stoked serious xenophobia, and frequent occurrences of racist discrimination and harassment against these communities in the US. 2. Allegation: Wuhan is the origin of the virus.

REALITY CHECK: %HLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WR UHSRUW WKH YLUXV GRHV QRW PHDQ WKDW :XKDQ LV LWV RULJLQ ,Q IDFW WKH RULJLQ LV VWLOO QRW LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG 6RXUFH WUDFLQJ LV D VHULRXV VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F PDWWHU ZKLFK should be based on science and should be studied by scientists and medical experts. +LVWRULFDOO\ WKH SODFH WKDW Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHSRUWHG D YLUXV ZHUH RIWHQ QRW LWV RULJLQ )RU H[DPSOH +,9 LQIHFWLRQ ZDV Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHSRUWHG E\ WKH 86 \HW LW PLJKW DOVR EH SRVVLEOH WKDW WKH YLUXV GLG QRW RULJLQDOO\ FRPH IURP the US. And more and more evidence proves that the Spanish Flu did not originate from Spain.

6RXUFH WUDFLQJ LV D VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F PDWWHU ,WV PDLQ SXUSRVH LV WR SUHYHQW VLPLODU HSLGHPLFV IURP happening again and causing damage to the human society. At the moment, scientists around the world are searching for the source of the virus, and have presented many academic views on it. &KLQHVH VFLHQWLVWV DUH DOVR HDUQHVWO\ FRQGXFWLQJ VWXGLHV LQ RUGHU WR SURYLGH WKH VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F EDVLV IRU identifying the origin at an early date and dealing with the virus with targeted measures.

2Q -DQXDU\ 7KH /DQFHW DQ DXWKRULWDWLYH %ULWLVK PHGLFDO MRXUQDO SXEOLVKHG DQ DUWLFOH FR DXWKRUHG E\ &DR %LQ 'LUHFWRU RI WKH 3XOPRQDU\ DQG &ULWLFDO &DUH 0HGLFLQH 'HSDUWPHQW RI WKH &KLQD -DSDQ )ULHQGVKLS +RVSLWDO +XDQJ &KDROLQ 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW DQG &KLHI 3K\VLFLDQ RI :XKDQ -LQ\LQWDQ +RVSLWDO 3URIHVVRU /L ;LQJZDQJ DQ H[SHUW ZLWK WKH &OLQLFDO DQG 5HVHDUFK &HQWHU RI ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV RI %HLMLQJ 'LWDQ +RVSLWDO 3URIHVVRU 5HQ /LOL DQ H[SHUW DW WKH ,QVWLWXWH RI 3DWKRJHQ %LRORJ\ of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhao Jianping, Director of Department of Respiratory 0HGLFLQH RI :XKDQ 7RQJML +RVSLWDO HWF 7KH DUWLFOH UHYLHZV DQG DQDO\]HV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV RI &29,' DGPLWWHG WR KRVSLWDO LQ Wuhan between 16 December 2019 and 2 January 2020. It has found that 27 of the 41 patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market, while the rest 14 had not. The symptom onset date of the Ă&#x20AC;UVW SDWLHQW LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG ZDV 'HFHPEHU 1RQH RI KLV IDPLO\ PHPEHUV GHYHORSHG IHYHU RU DQ\ respiratory symptoms. This patient had no exposure to Huanan seafood market. No epidemiological link was found between him and later cases.

9LUXVHV DUH WKH FRPPRQ HQHP\ RI PDQNLQG ZKLFK PD\ DSSHDU DW DQ\ WLPH DQG LQ DQ\ SODFH Epidemics are natural in origin, not man-made. The origin of a virus or epidemic is a victim, not a culprit. It is unfair and unacceptable to blame it or hold it accountable.

2Q 0D\ 'U 0LFKDHO 5\DQ ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU RI WKH :+2 +HDOWK (PHUJHQFLHV 3URJUDPPH said that science needs to be at the center of the exploration of the source of the virus, and they would like to see scientists at the center. He also stated that the WHO had not received any data or VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F HYLGHQFH IURP WKH 86 *RYHUQPHQW UHODWLQJ WR WKH SXUSRUWHG RULJLQ RI WKH YLUXV https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergenciescoronavirus-press-conference-04may2020.pdf?sfvrsn=3ef4c516_4

2Q 0DUFK Ă&#x20AC;YH SURPLQHQW VFKRODUV IURP WKH 86 WKH 8. DQG $XVWUDOLD SRLQWHG RXW RQ 1DWXUH Medicine that the evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9

2Q $SULO :+2 VSRNHVSHUVRQ )DGHOD &KDLE VDLG DW D QHZV EULHĂ&#x20AC;QJ WKDW DOO DYDLODEOH HYLGHQFH suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else. It most likely has its ecological reservoir in bats but how the virus came from bats to humans is still to be seen and discovered. https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coronavirus-update-04-21-20/h_802e1e857336975e196e3 c25c647b02e 2Q $SULO WKH 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH RI WKH 'LUHFWRU RI 1DWLRQDO ,QWHOOLJHQFH RI WKH 86 LVVXHG D VWDWHPHQW RQ LWV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO ZHEVLWH PDNLQJ FOHDU WKDW WKH ,QWHOOLJHQFH &RPPXQLW\ FRQFXUV ZLWK WKH ZLGH VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F FRQVHQVXV WKDW WKH &29,' YLUXV ZDV QRW PDQ PDGH RU JHQHWLFDOO\ PRGLĂ&#x20AC;HG https://www.odni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/item/2112-intelligence-communitystatement-on-origins-of-covid-19 ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU RI WKH :+2 +HDOWK (PHUJHQFLHV 3URJUDPPH 0LFKDHO 5\DQ VDLG RQ 0D\ WKDW numerous scientists have looked at the genome sequence of this virus and we are assured that this virus is natural in origin. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergenciescoronavirus-press-conference-01may2020.pdf?sfvrsn=b8091a87_2 :+2 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH LQ &KLQD 'U *DXGHQ *DOHD VDLG RQ 0D\ WKDW DOO DYDLODEOH HYLGHQFH WR GDWH suggests that the virus has a natural animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus.

Many researchers have been able to look at the genomic features of the virus and have found that evidence does not support that it is a laboratory construct. https://www.who.int/china/zh/news/detail/06-05-2020-covid-19-q-a-with-dr-galea 7KH )UHQFK QHZV ZHHNO\ 9DOHXU $FWXHOOH FLWHG LQIRUPDWLRQ IURP WKH FRXQWU\¡V LQWHOOLJHQFH DXWKRULWLHV WR VWDWH WKDW LW LV DEVROXWHO\ FHUWDLQ WKDW WKH QRYHO FRURQDYLUXV LV QRW D OHDN IURP D 3 ODE LQ :XKDQ 4. Allegation: COVID-19 was caused by an accidental leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

REALITY CHECK: The Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory (Wuhan P4 Laboratory) in the WIV is a government cooperation program between China and France. The Institute does not have the capability to design or synthesize a new coronavirus, and there is no evidence of pathogen leaks or staff infections in the Institute.

7KH :XKDQ 3 /DERUDWRU\ LV D JRYHUQPHQW FRRSHUDWLRQ SURJUDP EHWZHHQ &KLQD DQG )UDQFH with its design, construction and management all following international standards, and operations protected by special facilities and strict protocols. All lab staff must pass relevant tests to obtain TXDOLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ DQG WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW JURXS KDG UHFHLYHG WUDLQLQJ LQ RWKHU 3 ODEV LQ )UDQFH DQG $PHULFD 7KH Lab must have its facilities and equipment examined on an annual basis by a government-accredited third-party agency, and can continue to operate only after it passes such annual inspections.

7KH :,9 LV FRPPLWWHG WR WLPHO\ DQG RSHQ VKDULQJ RI UHVHDUFK LQIRUPDWLRQ WKURXJK VKDULQJ GDWD publishing papers, attending seminars and conferences, and promoting science among the general public. Over the past year, the Institute has received visits by over 70 researchers and scholars IURP RWKHU SDUWV RI WKH ZRUOG $V RQH RI WKH GR]HQV RI 3 ODEV LQ WKH ZRUOG WKH ,QVWLWXWH SXUVXHV a global vision of development, upholds the principles of being open and transparent to all, and promotes exchange and cooperation with all countries in an active and pragmatic way. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR)â&#x20AC;?, an information sharing platform of the WIV, has so far registered over 600,000 visits and 21 million downloads.

2SHUDWLRQV RI WKH :XKDQ 3 /DERUDWRU\ KDYH DOO DORQJ EHHQ VDIH DQG VWDEOH 7KHUH KDG EHHQ QR 6$56 &R9 LQ WKH ODE XQWLO 'HFHPEHU ZKHQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW &29,' SDWLHQW VSHFLPHQV ZHUH GHOLYHUHG WKHUH IRU WHVWLQJ WKUHH GD\V DIWHU WKH ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW UHFHLYHG Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHSRUWV RI WKH YLUXV No one in the WIV has so far been infected by COVID-19. $Q RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO DW )UHQFK 3UHVLGHQW¡V RIĂ&#x20AC;FH VDLG LQ PLG $SULO WKDW ´WKHUH LV WR WKLV GD\ QR IDFWXDO HYLGHQFH OLQNLQJ WKH RULJLQV RI &29,' DQG WKH ZRUN RI WKH 3 ODERUDWRU\ RI :XKDQ &KLQD Âľ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-lab-idUSKBN21Z2ME

0LFKDHO 0HOKDP 0D\RU RI %HOOHYLOOH RI 1HZ -HUVH\ VDLG WKDW KH KDV WHVWHG SRVLWLYH IRU FRURQDYLUXV antibodies, and thinks he may have been sick with the virus back in November 2019. That is over WZR PRQWKV EHIRUH WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHSRUWHG FDVH LQ WKH 86 RQ -DQXDU\ https://news.cgtn.com/news/3149444e79514464776c6d636a4e6e62684a4856/index.html

$FFRUGLQJ WR D UHFHQW DUWLFOH SRVWHG E\ 135 RQ LWV ZHEVLWH PDQ\ 86 OHDGLQJ YLUXV UHVHDUFKHUV have concluded based on their studies that there is virtually no chance that the new coronavirus was released as result of a laboratory accident in China or anywhere else. Rather, they believe that this new coronavirus reached humans in the same way that other coronaviruses have. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/23/841729646/virus-researchers-cast-doubton-theory-of-coronavirus-lab-accident

2Q 0D\ 86$ 7RGD\ UHSRUWHG WKDW SHRSOH LQ )ORULGD VKRZHG V\PSWRPV RI &29,' DV early as in January 2020, and none reported traveling to China. That was several months before RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV DQQRXQFHG LW KDG FRPH WR )ORULGD KWWSV ZZZ XVDWRGD\ FRP VWRU\ QHZV QDWLRQ SDWLHQWV Ă RULGD KDG V\PSWRPV FRYLG HDUO\ MDQXDU\

3HWHU 'DV]DN 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH 86 (FR+HDOWK $OOLDQFH DQG D YLUXV H[SHUW ZKR KDV EHHQ ZRUNLQJ with the WIV for the past 15 years, said during his interview with CNN on 26 April that the Wuhan 3 /DERUDWRU\ GLGQ¡W KDYH WKH YLUXV WKDW OHG WR &29,' DQG ZKDW KDV EHHQ IRXQG QRZ DUH FORVH UHODWLYHV QRW WKH VDPH YLUXV 6R LW¡V QRW D SRVVLELOLW\ WKDW WKH YLUXV FRXOG KDYH FRPH IURP WKDW ODE https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/04/26/exp-gps-0426-daszak-int.cnn

2Q 0D\ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO -RXUQDO RI $QWLPLFURELDO $JHQWV SXEOLVKHG DQ DUWLFOH HQWLWOHG ´6$56 &29 was already spreading in France in late December 2019â&#x20AC;?. According to the article, researchers UHYLHZHG WKH PHGLFDO UHFRUG RI VHOHFWHG ,&8 SDWLHQWV DGPLWWHG IRU LQĂ XHQ]D OLNH LOOQHVV EHWZHHQ December 2, 2019 and January 16, 2020, and retrospectively performed COVID-19 reverse WUDQVFULSWLRQ SRO\PHUDVH FKDLQ UHDFWLRQ 57 3&5 RQ WKHP EHWZHHQ $SULO DQG ,W ZDV found that one sample was positive taken from a 42-year-old man. The absence of a link with China and the lack of recent travel abroad suggest that the disease was already spreading among the French population at the end of December 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857920301643

$QWKRQ\ )DXFL GLUHFWRU RI WKH 86 1DWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWH RI $OOHUJ\ DQG ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV VDLG LQ DQ interview with National Geographic published on 4 May that the best evidence shows the virus was QRW PDGH LQ D ODE LQ &KLQD ,I \RX ORRN DW WKH HYROXWLRQ RI WKH YLUXV LQ EDWV DQG ZKDW¡V RXW WKHUH QRZ WKH YLUXV FRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ DUWLĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ RU GHOLEHUDWHO\ PDQLSXODWHG 7KLV YLUXV HYROYHG LQ QDWXUH DQG WKHQ MXPSHG VSHFLHV %DVHG RQ WKH VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F HYLGHQFH KH GRHVQ¡W HQWHUWDLQ WKH WKHRU\ WKDW someone found the coronavirus in the wild, brought it to a lab, and then it accidentally escaped.

KWWSV ZZZ QDWLRQDOJHRJUDSKLF FRP VFLHQFH DQWKRQ\ IDXFL QR VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F HYLGHQFH WKH coronavirus-was-made-in-a-chinese-lab-cvd/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=twitter::cmp=editori al::add=tw20200504science-faucicoronavirus::rid=&sf233573268=1#close

3. Allegation: The virus was constructed by the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

REALITY CHECK: $OO DYDLODEOH HYLGHQFH VKRZV WKDW 6$56 &R9 LV QDWXUDO LQ RULJLQ QRW man-made.

$FFRUGLQJ WR 7KH ,QGHSHQGHQW %ULWLVK +HDOWK 6HFUHWDU\ 0DWW +DQFRFN VDLG LQ DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK Sky News on 6 May that the British government has not seen any evidence to suggest that the novel FRURQDYLUXV ZDV PDQ PDGH +H DGGHG WKDW ´ZH KDYHQ¡W VHHQ DQ\ HYLGHQFH RI D OLQN EHWZHHQ WKH virus and laboratories researching virus in Wuhan).â&#x20AC;? https://www.sky.com/new-search/ask-the-health-secretary-06-05-20-ccc49a95-e2ca-47af-ad14aa31d75ab92b?q=Matt%20Hancock

2Q -DQXDU\ WKH SUHVWLJLRXV 8. PHGLFDO MRXUQDO 7KH /DQFHW SXEOLVKHG DQ DUWLFOH RQ &29,' by research teams including China CDC, which considered the virus a new human-infecting coronavirus, based on the phylogenetic analysis of the ten 2019-nCoV genome sequences from QLQH FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG SDWLHQWV IURP :XKDQ 7KH DUWLFOH SRLQWHG RXW WKDW FRPSDUHG ZLWK 6$56 &R9 DQG MERS-CoV, 2019-nCoV was more closely related to two bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronaviruses. The analysis suggests that bats might be the original host of this virus.

KWWSV ZZZ WKHODQFHW FRP MRXUQDOV ODQFHW DUWLFOH 3,,6 IXOOWH[W 2Q )HEUXDU\ 7KH /DQFHW SXEOLVKHG D MRLQW VWDWHPHQW E\ OHDGLQJ PHGLFDO H[SHUWV IURP HLJKW countries, indicating that scientists from multiple countries have published and analyzed genomes of SARS-CoV-2, and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as

7KH 86 1DWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWHV RI +HDOWK 1,+ DQQRXQFHG RQ $SULO WKDW LW ZRXOG WHUPLQDWH D MRLQW VWXG\ RQ EDW WR KXPDQ YLUXV WUDQVPLVVLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH QRQ SURĂ&#x20AC;W DJHQF\ (FR+HDOWK $OOLDQFH and the WIV, and withdraw all future funding. The NIH made this decision only seven days after 3UHVLGHQW 7UXPS GHPDQGHG DQ HQG WR D JUDQW WR WKH :,9 GXULQJ KLV $SULO SUHVV FRQIHUHQFH based on allegations that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the virus escaped the labâ&#x20AC;?. This decision has been widely questioned and criticized by US science community. Gerald Keusch, deputy head of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory at Boston University, called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;a horrible precedentâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the worst kind of thing that political interference can causeâ&#x20AC;?, while Dennis Carroll, chair of the Global Virome 3URMHFW GHVFULEHG LW DV DQ DWWHPSW E\ WKH 7UXPS $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR ´DWWDFN UHDOO\ FULWLFDO VFLHQFH IRU

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ T H I S D AY cheap political gainâ&#x20AC;?.

27

$OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD FRXOG KDYH FRQWDLQHG WKH YLUXV ZLWKLQ :XKDQ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH +RZHYHU LW DOORZHG PDQ\ RI LWV QDWLRQDOV WR Ă \ WR 0LODQ 1HZ <RUN DQG RWKHU SODFHV VSUHDGLQJ WKH YLUXV to the rest of the world.

REALITY CHECK: China took the most stringent measures within the shortest possible time, ZKLFK KDV ODUJHO\ NHSW WKH YLUXV ZLWKLQ :XKDQ 6WDWLVWLFV VKRZ WKDW YHU\ IHZ FDVHV ZHUH exported from China.

2Q 0D\ WKH 86 &'& SRVWHG RQ LWV ZHEVLWH D UHSRUW GUDIWHG E\ LWV 3ULQFLSDO 'HSXW\ 'LUHFWRU 'U Anne Schuchat and COVID-19 Response Team. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH UHSRUW DIWHU ´WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FRURQDYLUXV GLVHDVH &29,' FDVH LQ the United States was reported on January 21, 2020â&#x20AC;?, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;outbreak appeared contained through February, and then accelerated rapidly.â&#x20AC;? It notes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;various factors contributed to accelerated spread during February -- March 2020, including continued travel-associated importations, large gatherings, introductions into high-risk workplaces and densely populated areas, and cryptic transmission resulting from limited testing and asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread.â&#x20AC;?

7KH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW WRRN WKH PRVW FRPSUHKHQVLYH ULJRURXV DQG WKRURXJK PHDVXUHV LQ D timely fashion, and effectively broke the chain of transmission. According to a Science report, thanks to these measures, the number of infections in China was reduced by more than 700,000.

9. Allegation: China arrested Dr. Li Wenliang, a whistle-blower, to cover up the spread of the virus.

REALITY CHECK: Dr. Li Wenliang was not a whistle-blower, and he was not arrested.

&KLQD SXW :XKDQ XQGHU D WHPSRUDU\ ORFNGRZQ DV RI -DQXDU\ PHDQLQJ WKDW WKHUH ZHUH QR RXWERXQG FRPPHUFLDO Ă LJKWV RU WUDLQ VHUYLFHV IURP -DQXDU\ WKURXJK $SULO 6R LW ZDV LPSRVVLEOH for Wuhan residents to travel overseas during this period of time.

$OO FRXQWULHV KDYH VWULFW UXOHV RQ WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ RI LQIHFWLRXV GLVHDVHV 7KLV LV D FRPPRQ SUDFWLFH

:KHQ :XKDQ ZDV VKXW GRZQ RQ -DQXDU\ RQO\ RQH FDVH ZDV SXEOLFO\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG LQ WKH 86 :KHQ the US closed its borders on 2 February to all Chinese citizens and foreigners who had been to China ZLWKLQ WKH SUHYLRXV GD\V WKHUH ZHUH RQO\ HLJKW FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV LQ WKH 86 DFFRUGLQJ WR LWV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO GDWD :KHQ WKH 86 GHFODUHG D QDWLRQDO HPHUJHQF\ RQ 0DUFK WKH QXPEHU RI LWV FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV ZDV :KHQ &KLQD OLIWHG WKH ORFNGRZQ RQ :XKDQ RQ $SULO WKH QXPEHU RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV LQ WKH 86 URVH WR $W SUHVHQW FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV LQ WKH 86 KDYH H[FHHGHG PLOOLRQ ZLWK as many as over 70,000 deaths so far. Looking back, it took less than 100 days for the number of FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV WR VXUJH IURP RQH WR RQH PLOOLRQ LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 1HZ <RUN *RYHUQRU $QGUHZ &XRPR SRLQWHG WR D UHVHDUFK E\ WKH 1RUWKHDVWHUQ 8QLYHUVLW\ VKRZLQJ that strains of the novel coronavirus entered his state were not from China. The New York Times cited US research that most New York coronavirus cases did not come from Asia.

'DWD IURP &DQDGD¡V PDMRU SURYLQFHV VKRZ WKDW WKH YLUXV ZDV EURXJKW LQWR WKH FRXQWU\ E\ 86 YLVLWRUV 7KH )UHQFK UHVHDUFK LQVWLWXWH ,QVWLWXW 3DVWHXU IRXQG WKDW WKH YLUXV VWUDLQ FLUFXODWLQJ ORFDOO\ LQ France is of unknown origin. None of the imported cases in Russia was from China. The Australian Department of Health noted that only a very small portion of imported cases came from Northeast Asia. In Singapore, cases imported from China were less than one-tenth of those from other countries.

7KH -DSDQHVH 1DWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWH RI ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV EHOLHYHG WKDW WKH VWUDLQ FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG LQ -DSDQ since early March was not from China.

6. Allegation: The Chinese contracted the novel coronavirus while eating bats.

REALITY CHECK: Bats are never part of the Chinese diet.

7KH ,QWHUQHW YLGHR FOLS LQ ZKLFK D &KLQHVH IHPDOH WRXU JXLGH GULQNV EDW VRXS ZDV SDUW RI D WUDYHO SURPRWLRQ VKRZ Ă&#x20AC;OPHG E\ KHU WHDP RQ D VPDOO 3DFLĂ&#x20AC;F LVODQG LQ DQG ZDV SRVWHG RQOLQH WKDW \HDU Bat soup was a local specialty. %DWV DUH QHYHU SDUW RI WKH &KLQHVH GLVKHV :XKDQ +XDQDQ VHDIRRG PDUNHW ZKHUH FOXVWHU FDVHV ZHUH LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG LQ WKH HDUO\ GD\V RI WKH HSLGHPLF GRHV QRW VHOO EDWV 7. Allegation: China is reopening wildlife markets. It should immediately close all â&#x20AC;&#x153;wet marketsâ&#x20AC;?.

REALITY CHECK: There are no so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;wildlife wet marketsâ&#x20AC;? in China. China has passed legislation banning all illegal hunting and trade of wild animals.

2Q )HEUXDU\ WKH 6WDQGLQJ &RPPLWWHH RI WKH 1DWLRQDO 3HRSOH¡V &RQJUHVV RI &KLQD DGRSWHG a decision on thoroughly banning illegal wildlife trade and eliminating consumption of wild animals to VDIHJXDUG SHRSOH¡V OLYHV DQG KHDOWK 7KLV KDV IXUWKHU HVWDEOLVKHG WKH UHJLPH RI FRPSOHWH SURKLELWLRQ of hunting, trading and transportation of terrestrial wild animals for the purpose of consumption. The legislative decision was welcomed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/wwf-statement-on-china-s-revision-of-the-wildlifeprotection-law 6HOOLQJ ZLOG DQLPDOV LV LOOHJDO LQ &KLQD 6XFK DQ DFW ZLOO EH LPPHGLDWHO\ VWRSSHG RQFH GLVFRYHUHG and will be punished in accordance with law.

7KHUH DUH QR VR FDOOHG ´ZLOGOLIH ZHW PDUNHWVÂľ LQ &KLQD $QG LQ IDFW &KLQD GRHV QRW HYHQ KDYH WKH FRQFHSW RI ´ZHW PDUNHWVÂľ :KDW ZH KDYH LQ &KLQD DUH IDUPHUV¡ PDUNHWV DQG OLYH SRXOWU\ DQG VHDIRRG PDUNHWV 7KH\ VHOO IUHVK Ă&#x20AC;VK PHDW YHJHWDEOHV VHDIRRG DQG RWKHU IDUP SURGXFH $ IHZ RI WKHP VHOO OLYH SRXOWU\ %DVLFDOO\ WKH\ DUH QR GLIIHUHQW IURP WKH Ă&#x20AC;VK PDUNHWV RU IUXLW DQG YHJHWDEOHV PDUNHWV LQ Western countries. Such markets exist not only in China, but also in many other countries. They are an important part of local life. No international law restricts the opening or operation of such markets. :KDW ZHUH UHRSHQHG LQ :XKDQ DUH WKHVH WUDGLWLRQDO IDUPHUV¡ PDUNHWV 5HVHDUFK KDV VKRZQ H[WUHPHO\ ORZ KRPRORJ\ EHWZHHQ &29,' DQG WKH NQRZQ FRURQDYLUXVHV LQ OLYHVWRFN DQG SRXOWU\ %DVHG RQ VXFK VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DQG WDNLQJ LQWR DFFRXQW SHRSOH¡V QHHG for live poultry and seafood products, China has allowed the reopening of such markets in places where sound containment measures are in place as a prerequisite. China attaches high importance to epidemic prevention. As safeguards, competent authorities and sub-national governments have taken a host of stringent measures to strengthen the management of such markets. Sub-national JRYHUQPHQWV PDUNHW RSHUDWRUV DQG YHQGRUV DUH UHTXLUHG WR HDUQHVWO\ IXOĂ&#x20AC;OO WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH responsibilities and ensure that strict anti-epidemic protocols are duly enforced in these markets.

5HOHYDQW DXWKRULWLHV ZLOO DOVR LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK &KLQD¡V ODZ RQ DQLPDO HSLGHPLF SUHYHQWLRQ SHUIRUP quarantine and checkup on live poultry and seafood products, and rigorously implement all prevention and control measures against animal epidemics.

Given the current situation in Wuhan, Hubei, the Huanan seafood market remains closed. $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD¡V LQLWLDO FRYHU XS DQG GHOD\HG UHOHDVH RI LQIRUPDWLRQ UHVXOWHG LQ WKH VSUHDG of the virus.

REALITY CHECK: What has happened is an unexpected attack by an unknown virus against human beings. It takes time to study and understand it. China has provided timely information to the world in an open, transparent and responsible manner.

2Q 'HFHPEHU 'U =KDQJ -L[LDQ GLUHFWRU RI WKH UHVSLUDWRU\ DQG FULWLFDO FDUH PHGLFLQH GHSDUWPHQW RI +XEHL 3URYLQFLDO +RVSLWDO RI ,QWHJUDWHG &KLQHVH DQG :HVWHUQ 0HGLFLQH UHSRUWHG WKUHH FDVHV RI SQHXPRQLD RI XQNQRZQ FDXVH LPPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU UHFHLYLQJ WKH SDWLHQWV 7KLV ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW reporting of suspected cases of a new disease by local authorities of China. On the same day, the Wuhan CDC conducted epidemiological investigation and testing on the patients concerned.

2Q 'HFHPEHU WKH :XKDQ 0XQLFLSDO +HDOWK &RPPLVVLRQ LVVXHG WZR HPHUJHQF\ QRWLFHV on the reporting and treatment of pneumonia of unknown cause.

2Q 'HFHPEHU WKH :XKDQ 0XQLFLSDO +HDOWK &RPPLVVLRQ UHOHDVHG D VLWXDWLRQ UHSRUW RQ pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan. On the same day, China informed the WHO China Country 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH RI FDVHV RI SQHXPRQLD RI XQNQRZQ FDXVH GHWHFWHG LQ :XKDQ 2Q -DQXDU\ &KLQD EHJDQ VHQGLQJ UHJXODU WLPHO\ XSGDWHV DERXW WKH QRYHO FRURQDYLUXV WR :+2 RWKHU FRXQWULHV LQFOXGLQJ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV DQG &KLQD¡V +RQJ .RQJ 0DFDR DQG 7DLZDQ regions. Between 3 January and 3 February, China updated the US 30 times on the epidemic situation and its response measures. )ROORZLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SXEOLF UHSRUWLQJ RI WKH SQHXPRQLD E\ WKH :XKDQ 0XQLFLSDO +HDOWK &RPPLVVLRQ RQ 'HFHPEHU &KLQD FRPSOHWHG WKH LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ DQG VHTXHQFLQJ RI WKH YLUXV DV HDUO\ DV on 7 January 2020, and shared the genome sequence information with WHO and other countries on 11 January. On 10 January, the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other professional institutions developed preliminary testing kits, and stepped up research on vaccines and effective medication. On 20 January, the National Health Commission designated the new coronavirus pneumonia as a statutory infectious disease. On 24 January, COVID-19 cases began to be directly reported online. ,Q FRQWUDVW WR &KLQD¡V UHVSRQVH PHDVXUHV WKH 86 JRYHUQPHQW KDG QRW GHFODUHG D QDWLRQDO HPHUJHQF\ XQWLO 0DUFK GD\V DIWHU LW ZDV QRWLĂ&#x20AC;HG E\ &KLQD RI WKH QHZ YLUXV RQ -DQXDU\ 40 days after it closed its borders on 2 February to all Chinese citizens and foreign nationals who had traveled in China within 14 days.

&KLQD¡V /DZ RQ 3UHYHQWLRQ DQG 7UHDWPHQW RI ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV KDV HVWDEOLVKHG VWULFW DSSURYDO SURFHGXUHV DQG UXOHV IRU WKH UHSRUWLQJ YHULĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ UHOHDVH RI DQ LQIHFWLRXV GLVHDVH 'U =KDQJ -L[LDQ D UHVSLUDWRU\ GRFWRU ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WR UHSRUW &29,' FDVHV DQG ZDV DZDUGHG for this contribution.

2Q WKH DIWHUQRRQ RI 'HFHPEHU WKUHH GD\V DIWHU 'U =KDQJ -L[LDQ UHSRUWHG FDVHV RI unknown infection and one day before Wuhan released the relevant information), Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, sent a message to his alumni WeChat group. He claimed that there were â&#x20AC;&#x153;seven FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG 6$56 FDVHVÂľ DQG DVNHG WKH JURXS QRW WR VSUHDG WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ +RZHYHU OHDNHG screenshots of the conversation spread quickly on the Internet and caused panic.

2Q -DQXDU\ :XKDQ¡V ORFDO SROLFH DXWKRULWLHV DVNHG 'U /L WR D SROLFH VWDWLRQ IRU LQTXLU\ DQG XUJHG KLP WR VWRS VSUHDGLQJ XQFRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG LQIRUPDWLRQ E\ LVVXLQJ KLP D OHWWHU RI UHSULPDQG ,Q PLG -DQXDU\ 'U /L VWDUWHG WR VKRZ V\PSWRPV RI LQIHFWLRQ $QG RQ -DQXDU\ KH ZDV FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG to be infected by COVID-19.

On 7 February, Dr. Li passed away after all rescue measures were exhausted. On the same day, the National Health Commission publicly expressed condolences over his death. The National Supervisory Commission decided to send an inspection group to Wuhan to investigate issues related to Dr. Li. 2Q 0DUFK WKH LQVSHFWLRQ JURXS UHOHDVHG LWV Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJV DQG KHOG D SUHVV EULHĂ&#x20AC;QJ :XKDQ¡V 3XEOLF Security Bureau announced the decision on the matter, pointing to the misapplication of relevant legal SURYLVLRQV LQ 'U /L¡V FDVH DQG UHYRNHG WKH UHSULPDQG OHWWHU 'U /L :HQOLDQJ ZDV D JRRG GRFWRU +H ZDV D PHPEHU RI WKH &RPPXQLVW 3DUW\ RI &KLQD QRW D VR FDOOHG ´DQWL HVWDEOLVKPHQW Ă&#x20AC;JXUHÂľ 2Q 0DUFK KH ZDV QDPHG D ´QDWLRQDO PRGHO KHDOWKFDUH ZRUNHU LQ Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ &29,' Âľ 2Q $SULO KH ZDV KRQRUHG DV D PDUW\U Labeling Dr. Li Wenliang as an â&#x20AC;&#x153;anti-establishment heroâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;awakenerâ&#x20AC;? is very disrespectful to Dr. Li and his family. It is purely political manipulation with no sense of decency. On 28 April, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and the All-China Youth Federation MRLQWO\ LVVXHG WKH WK ´0D\ )RXUWK 0HGDOVÂľ WR KRQRU RXWVWDQGLQJ UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV DQG UROH PRGHOV of Chinese youths, and Dr. Li Wenliang was among the honorees. The Independent Media Institute FRQGXFWHG D WKRURXJK LQYHVWLJDWLRQ RQ KRZ WKH PHGLD PDGH XQMXVW UHSRUWLQJ DERXW 'U /L DQG concluded that the attempt of Western media to describe what happened to Dr. Li as evidence of the &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW¡V VXSSUHVVLRQ RI LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKH YLUXV LV VLPSO\ QRW ORJLFDO https://independentmediainstitute.org/growing-xenophobia-against-china-in-the-midst-of-coronasho ck/?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0 10. Allegation: China was too late in disclosing information about human-to-human WUDQVPLVVLRQ $V D UHVXOW WKH 86 DQG WKH UHVW RI WKH ZRUOG KDG QRW JDLQHG HQRXJK NQRZOHGJH about how contagious and deadly the virus was and therefore failed to respond quickly enough.

REALITY CHECK: The messages from China and the World Health Organization have been WLPHO\ DQG VWURQJ 7KH 86 NQRZV DERXW WKH GDQJHU RI WKH YLUXV DOO DORQJ ,W WDNHV D ULJRURXV VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;F SURFHVV WR GHWHUPLQH ZKHWKHU D QHZ YLUXV FDQ EH WUDQVPLWWHG IURP person to person.

2Q -DQXDU\ D &KLQHVH H[SHUW JURXS KDG DOUHDG\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG RQ WKH PHGLD WKDW WKH SDWKRJHQ ZDV preliminarily determined as a novel coronavirus.

On 20 January, the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission informed the media that the novel coronavirus could be transmitted from person to person. On that day, the US reported QR FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVH On 23 January, China sent a powerful warning to the world by putting Wuhan, a city of 12 million people, under lockdown. On that day, the US reported only one case.

2Q -DQXDU\ :+2 LVVXHG D ZDUQLQJ DERXW WKH SRWHQWLDO ULVN RI KXPDQ WR KXPDQ WUDQVPLVVLRQ on its website.

On 27 January, WHO raised the level of risk posed by COVID-19 at a global level from moderate to high, noting the risk to be very high in China and high at a regional level.

On 30 January, the WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee held a meeting DQG GHFODUHG WKH RXWEUHDN D 3XEOLF +HDOWK (PHUJHQF\ RI ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &RQFHUQ 3+(,&

7KH 86 ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRXQWU\ WR SXOO RXW SHUVRQQHO IURP LWV FRQVXODWH JHQHUDO LQ :XKDQ DQG WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW to announce entry restrictions on all Chinese citizens: As early as on 25 January, the US announced the decision to close its consulate-general in Wuhan and pull out its staff; On 2 February, the US announced the decision to close borders to all Chinese citizens and foreign nationals who had been to China within the prior 14 days, while it only had eight reported cases on that day. ,W ZDV QRW XQWLO HDUO\ 0DUFK WKDW WKH 86 JRYHUQPHQW VHULRXVO\ DFNQRZOHGJHG WKH GDQJHU DQG severity of the spread of the virus in the country. ,Q DQ RSLQLRQ DUWLFOH -HIIUH\ 6DFKV D UHQRZQHG 86 HFRQRPLVW DQG 'LUHFWRU RI WKH &HQWHU IRU Sustainable Development at Columbia University, criticized the US government for making reckless FKDUJHV DJDLQVW &KLQD FDOOLQJ WKHP LOORJLFDO DQG GDQJHURXV +H VDLG WKDW WKH 86 JRYHUQPHQW¡V FODLP WKDW &KLQD LV WKH FDXVH RI $PHULFD¡V SUREOHPV LV D ELJ OLH DQG UHFDOOV WKH HQG RI 0F&DUWK\ HUD KWWSV ZZZ MHIIVDFKV RUJ EORJ P ]PZGSP PF QWIEJU KPO PM 7KH 7DLZDQ DXWKRULWLHV FODLPHG WKDW LWV &'& KDG ZDUQHG :+2 RI WKH H[LVWHQFH RI KXPDQ WR human transmission of COVID-19 in an email at the end of December 2019, but WHO withheld this information from the world. In response to this allegation, Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director RI WKH :+2 +HDOWK (PHUJHQFLHV 3URJUDPPH FODULĂ&#x20AC;HG RQ 0D\ WKDW WKH HPDLO VHQW IURP 7DLZDQ on 31 December 2019 was not a warning, but a request for more information on cases of atypical pneumonia reported by news sources. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergenciescoronavirus-press-conference-04may2020.pdf?sfvrsn=3ef4c516_4 $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD LV QRW WUDQVSDUHQW LQ GDWD UHOHDVLQJ ,WV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO QXPEHUV RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV DQG IDWDOLWLHV DUH WRR ORZ WR EH WUXH DQG WKH UHDO Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV DUH DW OHDVW WLPHV PRUH REALITY CHECK: China has been fully open and transparent about its COVID-19 data. The Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV FDQ ZHOO VWDQG WKH WHVW RI KLVWRU\ $V RI -DQXDU\ &KLQD¡V 1DWLRQDO +HDOWK &RPPLVVLRQ 1+& VWDUWHG WR XSGDWH WKH SXEOLF RQ D GDLO\ EDVLV RQ WKH &29,' VLWXDWLRQ RI WKH SUHYLRXV GD\ RQ LWV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO ZHEVLWH DQG WKURXJK LWV VRFLDO media accounts. Starting from 27 January, the State Council inter-agency task force on COVID-19 KDV EHHQ KROGLQJ GDLO\ SUHVV EULHĂ&#x20AC;QJV WR UHOHDVH NH\ LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG UHVSRQG WR TXHVWLRQV IURP domestic and foreign media. More than 3,000 press conferences have been held at national and subQDWLRQDO OHYHOV *RYHUQPHQW RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV PHGLFDO ZRUNHUV H[SHUWV DQG UHFRYHUHG SDWLHQWV HQJDJHG WKH media face-to-face without dodging any questions. http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2020-05/05/nw.D110000renmrb_20200505_2-03.htm 7KHVH &29,' GDWD DUH DQ LPSRUWDQW EDVLV IRU &KLQD¡V GHFLVLRQ WR SXUVXH DOO URXQG UHRSHQLQJ of the economy with necessary containment measures in place and to restore the normal economic and social order. One case in point is the lifting of the 76-day lockdown of Wuhan after a continuous drop in infections. &KLQD¡V UHODWLYHO\ ORZ QXPEHU RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV DQG IDWDOLWLHV ZDV DWWULEXWDEOH WR WKH PRVW comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures taken promptly by the Chinese government, such as completely shutting down the transportation out of Wuhan. The Science magazine estimated in one of its reports that these measures helped prevent at least 700,000 infections in China.

28 7KH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW DOZD\V SXWV SHRSOH Ă&#x20AC;UVW ,Q LWV Ă&#x20AC;JKW DJDLQVW &29,' VDYLQJ OLYHV LV WKH JRYHUQPHQW¡V QXPEHU RQH SULRULW\ &KLQD KDV H[SDQGHG KRVSLWDO DGPLVVLRQ DQG WUHDWPHQW WR FRYHU DOO those in need to cure and save as many patients as possible. All suspected cases and close contacts have been placed under quarantine at designated places to cut off the chain of transmission and stem WKH IXUWKHU VSUHDG RI WKH YLUXV 7KDW LV ZK\ &KLQD¡V QDWLRQZLGH LQIHFWLRQ UDWH KDV VWD\HG UHODWLYHO\ ORZ ,Q +XEHL 3URYLQFH DORQH RYHU SDWLHQWV DJHG DQG DERYH KDYH EHHQ FXUHG LQFOXGLQJ VHYHQ centenarians.

2Q WKH HYHQLQJ RI -DQXDU\ :+2 'LUHFWRU *HQHUDO 7HGURV $GKDQRP *KHEUH\HVXV QRWHG LQ *HQHYD WKDW &KLQD¡V ´FRRSHUDWLRQ DQG WUDQVSDUHQF\ LV YHU\ YHU\ FRPPHQGDEOHÂľ ,Q DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK US media in March, Dr. Bruce Aylward, Team Leader of the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, UHVSRQGHG WR TXHVWLRQV DERXW &KLQD¡V RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO GDWD E\ VD\LQJ WKDW KH ´GLGQ¡W VHH DQ\WKLQJ WKDW suggested manipulation of numbersâ&#x20AC;?.

2Q 0DUFK 'U %UXFH $\OZDUG D VHQLRU DGYLVRU WR WKH :+2 'LUHFWRU *HQHUDO QRWHG LQ DQ LQWHUYLHZ with US media VOX that China is not hiding anything. And the data he collected through talks with SK\VLFLDQV IURP YDULRXV KRVSLWDOV DQG RWKHU VWDNHKROGHUV FRXOG KHOS FRUURERUDWH &KLQD¡V GDWD https://www.vox.com/2020/3/2/21161067/coronavirus-covid19-china 2Q $SULO &KULVWRIIHU .RFK DQG .HQ 2NDPXUD WZR HFRQRPLVWV IURP WKH 86 DQG WKH 8. MRLQWO\ published a paper based on studies of the data from China, Italy and the US. They found that the FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG LQIHFWLRQV LQ &KLQD PDWFK WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ H[SHFWHG LQ %HQIRUG¡V /DZ DQG DUH VLPLODU WR WKRVH LQ WKH 86 DQG ,WDO\ 7KH\ WKXV FRQFOXGHG WKDW WKHUH LV QR SRVVLELOLW\ RI PDQLSXODWLRQ RI Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV 2Q $SULO <DOH 3URIHVVRU 1LFKRODV $ &KULVWDNLV FR DXWKRU RI WKH 1DWXUH PDJD]LQH SDSHU HQWLWOHG 3RSXODWLRQ )ORZ 'ULYHV 6SDWLR WHPSRUDO 'LVWULEXWLRQ RI &29,' LQ &KLQD WZHHWHG WKDW ´,QFLGHQWDOO\ this result sheds light on accuracy of Chinese COVID-19 reporting, because a totally different source of info (telco mobility) obtained from different source predicts case counts so well, in keeping with epidemiological expectations.â&#x20AC;? https://twitter.com/NAChristakis/status/1255466011672879109

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘T H I S D AY 14. Allegation: The Chinese political system is the root cause of the problem.

REALITY CHECK: Virus does not distinguish between ideology or social system.

7KH &RPPXQLVW 3DUW\ RI &KLQD &3& DQG WKH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW KDYH SOD\HG D GHFLVLYH DQG FULWLFDO UROH LQ OHDGLQJ WKH &KLQHVH SHRSOH LQ WKH VXFFHVVIXO Ă&#x20AC;JKW DJDLQVW &29,' &KLQD¡V SROLWLFDO system, which has effectively united and mobilized 1.4 billion people on a vast land of 9.6 million VTXDUH NLORPHWHUV SURYLGHG D VWURQJ SROLWLFDO JXDUDQWHH IRU &KLQD WR RYHUFRPH WKH GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOWLHV IDFHG by a developing country and pool all available strengths and resources in winning the battle against the virus. What has happened shows that the social system and development path chosen by the &KLQHVH SHRSOH VXLW &KLQD¡V QDWLRQDO FRQGLWLRQV DQG WKDW WKH &3& HQMR\V Ă&#x20AC;UP DQG EURDG VXSSRUW RI the Chinese people. And China has no intention to export its political system.

2Q -DQXDU\ :XKDQ PXQLFLSDO FRPPDQG RQ &29,' UHVSRQVH DQQRXQFHG WKH WHPSRUDU\ suspension of outbound travel from the city of Wuhan. Two days later, 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China activated the highest-level disease response. Starting from 24 January, 42,000 medical workers from across China, rallying in over 330 medical teams, set out to WKH IURQW OLQH LQ +XEHL 3URYLQFH 2Q WKH HYH RI -DQXDU\ WKUHH PHGLFDO WHDPV IURP WKH 3HRSOH¡V /LEHUDWLRQ $UP\ à HZ WR :XKDQ IURP 6KDQJKDL &KRQJTLQJ DQG ;L¡DQ 1LQHWHHQ SURYLQFHV ZHUH SDLUHG up with 16 Hubei cities and prefectures except Wuhan in the battle against the virus. From across the country, key medical supplies and daily necessities were delivered to Hubei steadily. &KLQD SRROHG PDVVLYH KXPDQ DQG PDWHULDO UHVRXUFHV WR EXLOG WKH EHG +XRVKHQVKDQ +RVSLWDO in 10 days and the 1,600-bed Leishenshan Hospital in 15 days. At an average speed of building one hospital at one day and a half, a total of 16 mobile hospitals were put in place to accommodate over 13,000 patients.

5LJKW IURP WKH HDUO\ VWDJH RI LWV &29,' UHVSRQVH &KLQD KDV PDQDJHG WR HQVXUH HDUO\ GHWHFWLRQ reporting, quarantine and treatment for COVID-19 cases. The best human and material resources were concentrated on treating patients with severe conditions. Blanket case screening was implemented at each and every residential communities, and grid-based management was adopted to ensure that all in need had access to testing, quarantine, and hospital treatment.

2Q 0D\ 'U *DXGHQ *DOHD :+2 UHSUHVHQWDWLYH LQ &KLQD VDLG WKDW ´7KH :+2 KDV EHHQ LQ constant technical communication with China since January 3 on the severity, transmission dynamics and the possibility of sustained human-to-human transmission, the clinical course, and effectiveness of treatments, and the WHO has provided detailed information to the international community under the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR).â&#x20AC;? http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-05/06/c_1125945126.htm

,Q &29,' UHVSRQVH LQ :XKDQ RYHU SULPDU\ OHYHO 3DUW\ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV ZHUH VHQW WR residential communities, building up a strong line of defense against the virus. Social distancing measures have been supported and strictly observed nationwide, effectively curbing the spread of the virus.

$OOHJDWLRQ :XKDQ¡V UHYLVLRQ RI WKH QXPEHUV RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV DQG IDWDOLWLHV VKRZV DJDLQ that China covered up a large number of cases in the early days of COVID-19.

REALITY CHECK: The data revision by Wuhan is a common international practice. As a matter of fact, it proves that China is open, transparent and responsible.

&KLQD¡V &29,' UHVSRQVH HIIRUWV KDYH EHHQ KLJKO\ FRPPHQGHG E\ WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO FRPPXQLW\ :KHQ PHHWLQJ ZLWK 3UHVLGHQW ;L -LQSLQJ RQ -DQXDU\ :+2 'LUHFWRU *HQHUDO 'U 7HGURV QRWHG WKDW WKH KLJK VSHHG DQG PDVVLYH VFDOH RI &KLQD¡V UHVSRQVH KDYH EHHQ UDUHO\ VHHQ LQ WKH ZRUOG GHPRQVWUDWLQJ &KLQD¡V VSHHG VFDOH DQG HIĂ&#x20AC;FLHQF\ &KLQD¡V H[SHULHQFH LV ZRUWK OHDUQLQJ IRU RWKHU countries. During the press conference at the AU headquarters on 8 February, UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres also commended China for its â&#x20AC;&#x153;remarkableâ&#x20AC;? efforts to contain the virus.

2Q $SULO LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH /DZ RI WKH 3HRSOH¡V 5HSXEOLF RI &KLQD RQ 3UHYHQWLRQ DQG 7UHDWPHQW RI ,QIHFWLRXV 'LVHDVHV WKH 5HJXODWLRQV RQ 3UHSDUHGQHVV IRU DQG 5HVSRQVH WR (PHUJHQW 3XEOLF +HDOWK +D]DUGV WKH 5HJXODWLRQV RQ WKH ,PSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH 6WDWLVWLFV /DZ RI WKH 3HRSOH¡V Republic of China, and the Rules on the Administration of Death Information Registration (for Trial ,PSOHPHQWDWLRQ :XKDQ LVVXHG D QRWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ UHYLVLQJ XS FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV E\ WR D WRWDO RI and fatal cases by 1,290 to a total of 3,869. ,W ZDV RXW RI D KLJK VHQVH RI UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR KLVWRU\ WR WKH SHRSOH DQG WR WKH OLYHV ORVW WR WKH FRURQDYLUXV WKDW :XKDQ WRRN WKH LQLWLDWLYH WR UHYLVH WKH QXPEHUV WR UHĂ HFW WKH IDFWV LW KDG JDWKHUHG 7KH UHDVRQ WKDW FDXVHG WKH JDS EHWZHHQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV ZDV IRXU IROG )LUVW ZKHQ WKH FLW\ ZDV Ă&#x20AC;UVW KLW E\ WKH YLUXV KRVSLWDOV ZHUH VZDPSHG GXH WR WKH VXUJH RI SDWLHQWV Some patients were thus unable to be hospitalized and passed away at home.

Second, during the peak of COVID-19, hospitals were running overloaded, and medical workers were preoccupied with providing treatment, which resulted in delayed, inadequate or inaccurate reporting of relevant cases.

Third, due to a subsequent rapid increase in medical institutions designated to treat COVID-19 patients, including both hospitals under the central, provincial, municipal and district governments, as well as hospitals run by companies, private hospitals and mobile hospitals, a small number of these institutions did not register with or report cases timely to the established information network.

Fourth, the information of some fatal cases was incomplete. Some of them were reported repeatedly or inaccurately.

$W WKH SUHVV FRQIHUHQFH RI :+2 &KLQD -RLQW 0LVVLRQ RQ &29,' RQ )HEUXDU\ 'U %UXFH Aylward, Senior Advisor to WHO Director-General, said that China has rolled out probably the most DPELWLRXV DJLOH DQG DJJUHVVLYH GLVHDVH FRQWDLQPHQW HIIRUW LQ KLVWRU\ &KLQD¡V EROG DSSURDFK KDV changed the course of the disease and is the only successful measures we know so far to contain COVID-19.

2Q 0D\ D 6LQJDSRUH EDVHG LQVLJKWV DJHQF\ %ODFNER[ 5HVHDUFK UHOHDVHG D MRLQW RQOLQH VXUYH\ LW conducted together with the market research agency Toluna on 12,500 people across 23 economies.

7KH UHVSRQGHQWV ZHUH DVNHG WR UDWH WKHLU JRYHUQPHQWV¡ FRURQDYLUXV FRQWDLQPHQW PHDVXUHV RQ IRXU NH\ indicators: political leadership, corporate leadership, community and media. The Chinese mainland UDQNHG WKH KLJKHVW LQ WKH VXUYH\ ZLWK D VFRUH RI RXW RI (LJKW\ Ă&#x20AC;YH SHUFHQW RI UHVSRQGHQWV LQ WKH &KLQHVH PDLQODQG H[SUHVVHG FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH WKDW &KLQD ZLOO HPHUJH VWURQJHU IURP WKH FULVLV

7R HQVXUH WKH DFFXUDF\ RI WKH UHYLVHG QXPEHUV :XKDQ VHW XS D WDVN IRUFH WR ORRN LQWR WKH ELJ data and epidemiology of the epidemic. Through on-line means, it carefully compared the number of FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG DQG IDWDO FDVHV WR GH GXSOLFDWH DQG FRPSOHWH WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ E\ PDNLQJ IXOO XVH RI WKH FLW\¡V epidemic big data system, funeral service information system, medical administration information system, and nucleic acid testing system for COVID-19. Through off-line means, it collected the full data from all places related to the disease without missing anyone, including fever clinics, hospitals, PRELOH KRVSLWDOV TXDUDQWLQH VWDWLRQV FRPPXQLWLHV KDYLQJ FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV DV ZHOO DV SULVRQV detention facilities, nursing homes and other special sites administered by government agencies of SXEOLF VHFXULW\ MXGLFLDU\ DQG FLYLO DIIDLUV 7KH LQIRUPDWLRQ RI HYHU\ FDVH ZDV FROOHFWHG DQG LW ZDV FURVV FKHFNHG ZLWK PHGLFDO LQVWLWXWLRQV FRPPXQLWLHV FRPPXQLW\ OHYHO SROLFH VWDWLRQV DQG SDWLHQWV¡ employers and families to ensure that the information of every individual case is accurate.

5HYLVLQJ VWDWLVWLFDO VWDQGDUGV LV D FRPPRQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO SUDFWLFH )RU H[DPSOH RQ $SULO WKH 8.

JRYHUQPHQW EHJDQ WR FRXQW IDWDO FDVHV RXWVLGH KRVSLWDOV DQG UHYLVHG WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV DFFRUGLQJO\ 2Q April, the Spanish government published an order for its autonomous regions to harmonize how they collect data and stated that the published numbers would be revised.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/07/coronavirus-china-vietnam-uae-top-list-as-citizens-rankgovernment-response.html

13. Allegation: China has been spreading disinformation about COVID-19.

Reality Check: China has all along been open and transparent in information release. On the contrary, some US politicians, scholars and media outlets that are hostile to China have kept slandering and attacking China. China is a victim of disinformation.

$OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD H[SHOOHG 86 MRXUQDOLVWV WR KLGH WKH WUXWK DERXW &29,' REALITY CHECK: &KLQD¡V PHDVXUH ZDV D UHVSRQVH WR WKH 86 ORQJ WHUP RSSUHVVLRQ RI &KLQHVH PHGLD LQ WKH 86 HVSHFLDOO\ WKH UHFHQW H[SXOVLRQ RI &KLQHVH MRXUQDOLVWV &KLQD KDV UHOHDVHG information in an open, transparent, responsible and timely manner.

7KH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW LQ DQ RSHQ WUDQVSDUHQW DQG UHVSRQVLEOH PDQQHU KDV VKDUHG ZLWK WKH world updates on the disease and its response experience, and has pursued international cooperation.

What China has done is highly commended by the international community. $V RI 0D\ 3UHVLGHQW ;L -LQSLQJ KDV DWWHQGHG WKH ([WUDRUGLQDU\ * /HDGHUV¡ 6XPPLW RQ &29,' and has had 49 phone calls with 39 heads of state and government and leaders of international RUJDQL]DWLRQV 3UHPLHU /L .HTLDQJ KDV KDG SKRQH FDOOV ZLWK IRUHLJQ OHDGHUV DQG KHDGV RI LQWHUQDWLRQDO RUJDQL]DWLRQV DQG DWWHQGHG WKH 6SHFLDO $6($1 3OXV 7KUHH 6XPPLW RQ &29,' State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with 48 foreign ministers and heads of international organizations through 80 phone calls. &KLQD¡V RSHQQHVV LQ VKDULQJ LWV UHVSRQVH H[SHULHQFH DQG LWV LPSRUWDQW FRQWULEXWLRQ WR WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO cooperation against COVID-19 have been applauded and fully recognized internationally.

7KH 86 KDV EHHQ HVFDODWLQJ LWV SROLWLFDO EDVKLQJ DJDLQVW &KLQHVH PHGLD RXWOHWV LQ WKH 86 ,Q December 2018, the US Department of Justice required CGTN America to register as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;foreign DJHQWÂľ 2Q )HEUXDU\ WKH 86 6WDWH 'HSDUWPHQW GHVLJQDWHG Ă&#x20AC;YH &KLQHVH PHGLD HQWLWLHV LQ WKH US, including Xinhua News Agency, as â&#x20AC;&#x153;foreign missionsâ&#x20AC;?.

2Q $SULO 5LFKDUG +RUWRQ HGLWRU LQ FKLHI RI WKH PHGLFDO MRXUQDO 7KH /DQFHW VDLG LQ DQ RQOLQH interview with CNN that when China got the information of the coronavirus, it immediately informed the World Health Organization on 31 December 2019. Mr. Horton also added that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we should be grateful to the authorities in China and we should be grateful to the World Health Organization, because they did all they could to alert the world as to the seriousness of this pandemic.â&#x20AC;?

7LMMDQL 0XKDPPDG %DQGH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH WK 6HVVLRQ RI WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ ZKHQ DWWHQGLQJ WKH UG $IULFDQ 8QLRQ 6XPPLW LQ (WKLRSLD WROG WKH SUHVV WKDW &KLQD¡V 3HUPDQHQW 0LVVLRQ WR WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV KDG SURYLGHG D ZHOO FRYHUHG EULHĂ&#x20AC;QJ WR WKH 81 RQ &29,' 3UHVLGHQW Bande went further to point out that the timely and transparent COVID-19 information release by the Chinese government has helped the world be informed about the situation in China and facilitated multilateral cooperation against the virus.

2Q $SULO 7KH *UD\]RQH DQ LQGHSHQGHQW QHZV ZHEVLWH EDVHG LQ WKH 86 GLVFORVHG KRZ WKH FRQVHUYDWLYH MRXUQDOLVWV ZHUH FROODERUDWLQJ ZLWK WKH 86 DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ LQ D GLVLQIRUPDWLRQ FDPSDLJQ DJDLQVW &KLQD 7KH :DVKLQJWRQ 3RVW MRXUQDOLVW -RVK 5RJLQ ZKR KDV PDGH D FDUHHU RXW RI PDNLQJ fake news, fabricated a dubious article on 14 April. In the article, he cherry-picked a cable from the 86 HPEDVV\ LQ %HLMLQJ DQG GHFHSWLYHO\ LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG DQ DQWL &KLQD HOHPHQW DV ´UHVHDUFK VFLHQWLVWÂľ 2Q WKH HYHQLQJ RI $SULO 5HSXEOLFDQ 6HQDWRU 7RP &RWWRQ Ă RDWHG WKH FRQVSLUDF\ WKHRU\ DQG FODLPHG that the Chinese government must be made to pay the price for all the losses caused by COVID-19.

2Q $SULO 6HFUHWDU\ RI 6WDWH 0LNH 3RPSHR WRRN WKH EDVHOHVV WKHRU\ WR WKH JOREDO VWDJH GHPDQGLQJ access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for investigation. https://thegrayzone.com/2020/04/20/trump-media-chinese-lab-coronavirus-conspiracy/amp/?__ twitter_impression=true

7KH 86 KDV DGRSWHG D GLVFULPLQDWRU\ YLVD SROLF\ WRZDUG &KLQHVH MRXUQDOLVWV )RU H[DPSOH LW JLYHV RQO\ VLQJOH HQWU\ YLVDV WR &KLQHVH MRXUQDOLVWV EDVHG LQ WKH 86 6LQFH WKH YLVD DSSOLFDWLRQV RI RYHU &KLQHVH MRXUQDOLVWV KDYH EHHQ LQGHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ GHOD\HG RU HYHQ GHQLHG E\ WKH 86 2Q 0DUFK WKH 86 6WDWH 'HSDUWPHQW LQVWLWXWHG D SHUVRQQHO FDS RQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;YH &KLQHVH PHGLD organizations designated as â&#x20AC;&#x153;foreign missionsâ&#x20AC;?, intending to slash the number of Chinese staff by DERXW SHUFHQW E\ 0DUFK 7KLV DPRXQWV WR WKH GH IDFWR H[SXOVLRQ RI &KLQHVH MRXUQDOLVWV 6LQFH &29,' EHJDQ &KLQD KDV EHHQ XSGDWLQJ UHOHYDQW GDWD RQOLQH RQ D GDLO\ EDVLV LQ DQ RSHQ WUDQVSDUHQW DQG UHVSRQVLEOH PDQQHU (YHU\ ZRUNGD\ IRUHLJQ MRXUQDOLVWV EDVHG LQ &KLQD FDQ DWWHQG press conferences held by the State Council inter-agency task force, the State Council Information 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH DQG WKH 0LQLVWU\ RI )RUHLJQ $IIDLUV ZKHUH WKH\ FDQ UDLVH DQ\ YLUXV UHODWHG TXHVWLRQV RI WKHLU LQWHUHVW 7KH\ KDYH KDG LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV IURP ERWK FHQWUDO DQG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQWV DV ZHOO DV H[SHUWV DQG VFKRODUV 0DQ\ IRUHLJQ MRXUQDOLVWV ZHQW WR :XKDQ WR JDWKHU Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDQG LQIRUPDWLRQ and have published many reports. All these facts show that the world has unimpeded access to information about the situation in China. &KLQD DOZD\V ZHOFRPHV LQWHUYLHZV DQG UHSRUWLQJ FRQGXFWHG E\ IRUHLJQ PHGLD DQG MRXUQDOLVWV LQ WKH country in accordance with laws and regulations. We will continue to provide them with facilitation and assistance. What we oppose is ideological bias against China, fake news fabricated under the pretext RI IUHHGRP RI SUHVV DQG DFWV WKDW YLRODWH WKH HWKLFV RI MRXUQDOLVP 16. Allegation: China controls and bribes WHO. REALITY CHECK: &KLQD Ă&#x20AC;UPO\ VXSSRUWV PXOWLODWHUDOLVP :H KDYH DOO DORQJ EHHQ LQ JRRG communication and cooperation with WHO. But we have never attempted to manipulate the RUJDQL]DWLRQ 7KH VXVSHQVLRQ RI IXQGLQJ E\ WKH 86 WKH ODUJHVW FRQWULEXWRU WR :+2 KDV EHHQ widely opposed by the international community. :+2 LV D VSHFLDOL]HG 81 DJHQF\ UHVSRQVLEOH IRU SXEOLF KHDOWK VHFXULW\ ,W KDV PHPEHU VWDWHV Eleven members on its 21-strong headquarters leadership team are from the US, the EU, Canada and Australia, and only one is from China. They are all trained or practicing doctors, epidemiologists, rescue workers and public health experts.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ T H I S D AY https://www.who.int/dg/who-headquarters-leadership-team ,Q DQG &KLQD ZDV WKH WKLUG ELJJHVW GRQRU WR :+2¡V DVVHVVHG FRQWULEXWLRQV DIWHU WKH 86 and Japan. According to WHO, assessed contributions only account for less than a quarter of its total funding, with the rest being voluntary contributions. With both sources of funding counted, China is the QLQWK ELJJHVW FRQWULEXWRU $QG LI GRQDWLRQV IURP EXVLQHVVHV DQG 1*2V DUH DOVR IDFWRUHG LQ &KLQD¡V ranking would be even lower.

17. Allegation: Taiwan gave warning to WHO about human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 as early as 31 December 2019, but it was not taken seriously.

REALITY CHECK: The Taiwan region of China did not send any warning to WHO. What it did ZDV DVNLQJ IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ IURP WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ DIWHU WKH :XKDQ 0XQLFLSDO +HDOWK Commission reported the disease. $IWHU :XKDQ UHSRUWHG FDVHV RI SQHXPRQLD RI XQNQRZQ FDXVH RQ 'HFHPEHU WKH ORFDO health department in Taiwan sent a letter to the National Health Commission (NHC) inquiring about the information released by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. The NHC promptly made a written UHSO\ WKURXJK WKH GHVLJQDWHG FRQWDFW SRLQWV VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;HG LQ WKH &URVV 6WUDLW &RRSHUDWLRQ $JUHHPHQW RQ 0HGLFLQH DQG 3XEOLF +HDOWK $IIDLUV 2Q WKH VDPH GD\ WKH KHDOWK GHSDUWPHQW LQ 7DLZDQ VHQW WKH VR called â&#x20AC;&#x153;warning emailâ&#x20AC;? to WHO. The email made no reference to human-to-human transmission. It was primarily an inquiry about information from WHO. The facts are clear. It was the mainland of China who Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHOHDVHG WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG WKH KHDOWK GHSDUWPHQW LQ 7DLZDQ PHUHO\ UHOD\HG WKH PHVVDJH 7KHUH LV QR VXFK WKLQJ DV ´7DLZDQ UHSRUWHG WR :+2 Ă&#x20AC;UVWÂľ

29 FDXVLQJ D VKRUWDJH RI VXSSOLHV LQ WKH 86 REALITY CHECK: Despite a still formidable task of combating COVID-19 at home, China has been providing medical supplies to other countries to the best of its ability.

7KH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW DQG SHRSOH KDYH SURYLGHG PDQ\ VKLSPHQWV RI PXFK QHHGHG PHGLFDO supplies to over 150 countries and international organizations, and these efforts are still ongoing. China has also leveraged its strong production capacity and promptly opened up its medical supplies market and export channels. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 0LQLVWU\ RI &RPPHUFH RI &KLQD EHWZHHQ 0DUFK DQG 0D\ &KLQD KDV PHW H[SRUW orders for anti-epidemic supplies from 194 countries and regions. Among them, 77 countries and regions as well as six international organizations have signed commercial procurement agreements with China WKURXJK RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO FKDQQHOV IRU VKLSPHQWV RI PHGLFDO VXSSOLHV 'LVFXVVLRQV DUH XQGHU ZD\ EHWZHHQ Chinese companies and 71 countries and regions as well as eight international organizations to procure 128 shipments of supplies. $FFRUGLQJ WR VWDWLVWLFV IURP WKH *HQHUDO $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ RI &XVWRPV IURP 0DUFK WR $SULO &KLQD exported 71.2 billion yuan worth of anti-epidemic supplies, including 27.8 billion masks, 130 million protective suits, 73.41 million nucleic acid testing kits, 12.57 million infrared thermometers, 49,100 ventilators, 124,000 patient monitors, 43.63 million goggles and 854 million surgical gloves.

6WDWLVWLFV IURP &KLQD¡V *HQHUDO $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ RI &XVWRPV VKRZ WKDW EHWZHHQ 0DUFK DQG 0D\ China exported to the US 6.6 billion masks, 344 million pairs of surgical gloves, 44.09 million protective suits, 6.75 million goggles, and nearly 7,500 ventilators.

3UHOLPLQDU\ VWDWLVWLFV LQGLFDWH WKDW E\ 0D\ &KLQHVH SURYLQFHV DXWRQRPRXV UHJLRQV DQG PXQLFLSDOLWLHV institutions and companies donated, to 30 US states and 55 cities, more than 9.6 million masks, 500,000 testing kits, 305,900 pairs of medical and other gloves, and 133,500 goggles. &KLQD KDV QR UHVWULFWLRQV RQ WKH H[SRUW RI PHGLFDO VXSSOLHV 3ROLF\ PHDVXUHV VXFK DV WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW on further strengthening quality control of anti-epidemic supplies are introduced not to limit export, but to further strengthen quality control of medical supplies and ensure orderly and well-regulated export. &KLQD¡V FDSDFLW\ WR SURGXFH LQYDVLYH YHQWLODWRUV LV QRW XQOLPLWHG DQG VRPH SDUWV KDYH WR EH LPSRUWHG and are under-supplied. That said, companies are still in discussion with importers in a market-based manner, and the Chinese government has never restricted the export of these ventilators. $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD¡V DQWL HSLGHPLF DVVLVWDQFH WR RWKHU FRXQWULHV LV WR VHUYH LWV SROLWLFDO DQG propaganda purposes.

5HDOLW\ &KHFN &KLQD¡V DVVLVWDQFH WR RWKHU FRXQWULHV LV D UHWXUQ RI WKHLU NLQGQHVV LQ KHOSLQJ &KLQD with COVID-19 response. It is also a concrete step to put into action the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

:+2 KDV PDGH LW FOHDU WLPH DQG DJDLQ WKDW WKH 7DLZDQ UHJLRQ RI &KLQD GLG QRW JLYH LW ´ZDUQLQJÂľ EXW was purely requesting relevant information. WHO had already received multiple inquiry emails from RWKHU VLGHV EHIRUH 7DLZDQ VHQW WKH HPDLO 2Q $SULO :+2 DJDLQ FODULĂ&#x20AC;HG WKH PDWWHU DW LWV SUHVV EULHĂ&#x20AC;QJ QRWLQJ WKDW LW ZDV QRW XQWLO -DQXDU\ WKDW WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW &29,' FDVH ZDV FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG LQ &KLQD¡V 7DLZDQ UHJLRQ 3ULRU WR WKDW 7DLZDQ GLG QRW KDYH DQ\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDQG LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ FOLQLFDO FDVHV OHW DORQH the ability to determine whether there was human-to-human transmission. $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD KDV EORFNHG 7DLZDQ¡V ELG WR MRLQ :+2 SXWWLQJ WKH KHDOWK RI WKH SHRSOH LQ Taiwan at risk.

REALITY CHECK: 7DLZDQ EHLQJ SDUW RI &KLQD KDV QR ULJKW WR MRLQ :+2 ZKRVH PHPEHUVKLS UHTXLUHV VRYHUHLJQ VWDWHKRRG 7KH WHFKQLFDO FRRSHUDWLRQ FKDQQHO EHWZHHQ &KLQD¡V 7DLZDQ DQG WHO is unimpeded.

&KLQD KDV EHHQ VKDULQJ LWV FRQWURO H[SHULHQFH H[WHQVLYHO\ SURYLGLQJ PHGLFDO DQG SURWHFWLYH supplies and sending medical teams to other countries. As of mid-May, China has launched an online knowledge center, published seven editions of diagnostic and therapeutic protocols and six editions of containment plans, and set up a two-billion-yuan fund for COVID-19 cooperation. Chinese medical experts have had over 120 video conferences with their counterparts from more than 160 countries and international organizations. China has sent medical supplies to over 150 countries and LQWHUQDWLRQDO RUJDQL]DWLRQV DQG PHGLFDO WHDPV WR FRXQWULHV ,W KDV HVWDEOLVKHG D MRLQW H[SHUW WHDP ZLWK WKH (8 DQG D MRLQW UHVSRQVH DQG FRRSHUDWLRQ PHFKDQLVP ZLWK WKH 5HSXEOLF RI .RUHD &KLQD has donated US$50 million in cash to WHO. And in response to the debt service suspension initiative for the poorest countries adopted at a recent G20 meeting, China has agreed to suspend principal DQG LQWHUHVW UHSD\PHQW IRU GHYHORSLQJ FRXQWULHV¡ GHEWV GXH EHWZHHQ 0D\ DQG WKH HQG RI These actions of support and assistance have been widely recognized by the international community, DV WKH\ GLVSOD\HG &KLQD¡V VSLULW RI VROLGDULW\ DQG PXWXDO KHOS LQ GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW WLPHV DQG KLJKOLJKWHG WKH importance of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

2QO\ 81 0HPEHU 6WDWHV DUH HOLJLEOH WR MRLQ :+2 D VSHFLDOL]HG 81 DJHQF\ FRPSRVHG RI VRYHUHLJQ states. Taiwan, being part of China, has no right to apply for WHO membership.

$OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD LV LQWHUIHULQJ LQ WKH 86 HOHFWLRQ DQG LV WU\LQJ HYHU\ PHDQV WR VWRS 7UXPS from being re-elected.

Reality Check: China follows the principle of not interfering in the internal affairs of other FRXQWULHV ,I DQ\WKLQJ LW LV VRPH 86 SROLWLFLDQV WKDW FDSLWDOL]H RQ &KLQD EDVKLQJ DV WKHLU election tactics.

8SRQ LWV DFFHVVLRQ WR WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO +HDOWK 5HJXODWLRQV ,+5 &KLQD VWDWHG WKDW WKH ,+5 DSSOLHV WR WKH HQWLUH WHUULWRU\ RI WKH 3HRSOH¡V 5HSXEOLF RI &KLQD LQFOXGLQJ WKH +RQJ .RQJ 6SHFLDO $GPLQLVWUDWLYH 5HJLRQ WKH 0DFDR 6SHFLDO $GPLQLVWUDWLYH 5HJLRQ DQG WKH 7DLZDQ 3URYLQFH

&KLQD SXUVXHV DQ LQGHSHQGHQW IRUHLJQ SROLF\ RI SHDFH DQG DGKHUHV WR WKH SULQFLSOH RI QRQ LQWHUIHUHQFH LQ RWKHU FRXQWULHV¡ LQWHUQDO DIIDLUV 7KH 86 HOHFWLRQ LV LWV LQWHUQDO PDWWHU &KLQD KDV QHYHU meddled in it, and has no interest in doing so.

$V DJUHHG XSRQ E\ WKH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW DQG :+2 D :+2 ,+5 &RQWDFW 3RLQW KDV EHHQ VHW XS LQ &KLQD¡V 7DLZDQ DQG WKH UHJLRQ KDV DQ DFFRXQW WR DFFHVV WKH :+2 (YHQW ,QIRUPDWLRQ 6LWH IRU WKH timely updates on global public health emergencies released by WHO. There is no barrier to technical FRRSHUDWLRQ EHWZHHQ &KLQD¡V 7DLZDQ DQG :+2 %HWZHHQ HDUO\ DQG HDUO\ 0D\ SHUVRQ times from 16 expert groups of Taiwan attended the technical conferences held by WHO.

7KH 3ROLWLFR GLVFORVHG WKDW WKH 1DWLRQDO 5HSXEOLFDQ 6HQDWRULDO &RPPLWWHH KDV VHQW FDPSDLJQV D SDJH PHPR DGYLVLQJ *23 FDQGLGDWHV WR DGGUHVV WKH FRURQDYLUXV FULVLV E\ DJJUHVVLYHO\ DWWDFNLQJ China. The memo stresses three main lines of assault: that China caused the virus â&#x20AC;&#x153;by covering it upâ&#x20AC;?, that Democrats are â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft on Chinaâ&#x20AC;?, and that Republicans will â&#x20AC;&#x153;push for sanctions on China for its role in spreading this pandemicâ&#x20AC;?. Republicans have indicated in the memo that they plan to make China a centerpiece of the 2020 campaign. All these show that framing and attacking China has become a â&#x20AC;&#x153;whole-of-government approachâ&#x20AC;? of the Republican campaign. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/gop-memo-anti-china-coronavirus-207244

6LQFH WKH VWDUW RI &29,' &KLQD¡V 1DWLRQDO +HDOWK &RPPLVVLRQ KDV SURYLGHG WLPHO\ LQIRUPDWLRQ WR WKH 7DLZDQ UHJLRQ $V RI 0D\ &KLQD¡V PDLQODQG KDG XSGDWHG 7DLZDQ RQ WKH VLWXDWLRQ WLPHV ,Q PLG -DQXDU\ WKH PDLQODQG DUUDQJHG D Ă&#x20AC;HOG YLVLW WR :XKDQ IRU H[SHUWV IURP 7DLZDQ WR KHOS WKHP OHDUQ PRUH DERXW WKH GLDJQRVLV DQG WUHDWPHQW RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG FDVHV DQG &29,' UHVSRQVH PHDVXUHV 19. Allegation: China is responsible for the global spread of COVID-19. There must be investigations and lawsuits against China to hold it accountable and make it pay for COVID-19.

REALITY CHECK: There is zero legal basis for holding China accountable and making it pay IRU &29,' (VVHQWLDOO\ VRPH 86 SROLWLFLDQV DUH WU\LQJ WR VKLIW WKH EODPH RXW RI GRPHVWLF political agenda. &29,' LV D QDWXUDO QRW PDQ PDGH GLVDVWHU &KLQD OLNH RWKHU FRXQWULHV LV D YLFWLP QRW D FXOSULW $ SDQGHPLF LV D JOREDO SXEOLF KHDOWK HPHUJHQF\ 7KHUH LV QR VXFK D WKLQJ DV ´VWDWH UHVSRQVLELOLW\Âľ RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRXQWU\ WR UHSRUW FDVHV +,9 $,'6 ZDV Ă&#x20AC;UVW GHWHFWHG LQ WKH 86 LQ WKH V DQG KDV VLQFH spread to the whole world, but the international community has never demanded that the US take responsibility or pay reparations.

7KH 86 KDV QR OHJDO JURXQG WR GHPDQG WKDW &KLQD EH KHOG DFFRXQWDEOH DQG SD\ IRU &29,' According to international law, state responsibility occurs when acts of the responsible state constitute a breach of international law and there is a causal link between such acts and losses suffered by the LQMXUHG VWDWH &KLQD¡V &29,' UHVSRQVH GRHV QRW EUHDFK DQ\ LQWHUQDWLRQDO ODZ QRU GRHV LW KDYH DQ\ causal relationship with any losses the US may suffer due to the massive outbreak of the virus. The 86 DWWHPSW DW WKH VR FDOOHG LQYHVWLJDWLRQV LQWR &KLQD¡V UHVSRQVH LV EDVHG RQ WKH SUHVXPSWLRQ RI JXLOW 7KHUH LV QR ELODWHUDO WUHDW\ RU DJUHHPHQW EHWZHHQ &KLQD DQG WKH 86 RQ SXEOLF KHDOWK DQG HPHUJHQF\ events. As such, there can be no breach of any bilateral obligation. Although the International Health Regulations (IHR) only requires the state party to notify WHO of a public health event, China still SURYLGHG WKH 86 ZLWK WLPHO\ DQG FRQWLQXRXV XSGDWHV RQ WKH YLUXV 7KH 86 ZDV DPRQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FRXQWULHV to be informed about the virus in China and has since received continuous updates. In the face of COVID-19, China has all along acted with openness, transparency and a sense of responsibility. It has SURPSWO\ UHOHDVHG LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG QRWLĂ&#x20AC;HG :+2 RI WKH YLUXV WDNHQ WKH PRVW FRPSUHKHQVLYH ULJRURXV DQG WKRURXJK PHDVXUHV DQG IDLWKIXOO\ IXOĂ&#x20AC;OOHG LWV GXWLHV DQG REOLJDWLRQV XQGHU WKH ,+5 7KH VR FDOOHG ODZVXLWV LQ WKH 86 DUH LOO LQWHQGHG DQG JURXQGOHVV 7KH\ DUH DOVR DJDLQVW JHQHUDO principles of law. According to the principle of sovereign equality under international law, sovereign DFWV E\ JRYHUQPHQWV DW DOO OHYHOV LQ &KLQD LQ UHVSRQVH WR &29,' DUH QRW VXEMHFW WR WKH MXULVGLFWLRQ of US courts. Those unwarranted lawsuits not only undermine the US response to the disease, but DOVR UXQ FRXQWHU WR LQWHUQDWLRQDO FRRSHUDWLRQ RQ Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ &29,' 2Q 0D\ RQH RI WKH ZRUOG¡V WRS PDJD]LQHV 1DWXUH SXEOLVKHG D VWXG\ E\ H[SHUWV IURP &KLQD WKH 8S, DQG WKH 8. DFFRUGLQJ WR ZKRVH PRGHOLQJ IUDPHZRUN WKDW WKH WKUHH PDMRU JURXSV RI QRQ SKDUPDFHXWLFDO LQWHUYHQWLRQV 13,V LQWHU FLW\ WUDYHO UHVWULFWLRQV HDUO\ LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ DQG LVRODWLRQ RI FDVHV DQG FRQWDFW restrictions and social distancing) taken by China not only contained the spread of COVID-19 in China, EXW DOVR ERXJKW SUHFLRXV WLPH IRU WKH ZRUOG 7KH VWXG\ SRLQWV RXW WKDW ZLWKRXW WKH FRPELQHG 13,V WKH COVID-19 cases in China would likely have shown a 67-fold increase to over 7 million. $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD KDV EHHQ KRDUGLQJ PHGLFDO VXSSOLHV DQG SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHULQJ IURP &29,' ,W KDV increased screening of medical exports and restricted export of supplies, especially ventilators,

23. Allegation: By requiring exporters of masks, testing kits and ventilators to submit a statement upon customs declaration, China is in effect banning export of supplies for COVID-19.

REALITY CHECK: The purpose of this requirement is for better quality control.

6WULFW TXDOLW\ FRQWURO LV RI YLWDO LPSRUWDQFH LQ WKH SURGXFWLRQ DQG VXSSO\ RI DQWL HSLGHPLF LWHPV DV WKH lives of people in affected countries and regions are at stake.

7KH &KLQHVH JRYHUQPHQW DWWDFKHV JUHDW LPSRUWDQFH WR WKH TXDOLW\ DQG VDIHW\ RI PHGLFDO VXSSOLHV 7KH UHOHYDQW DXWKRULWLHV KDYH VWHSSHG XS MRLQW DFWLRQV WR WLJKWHQ TXDOLW\ FRQWURO RYHU PHGLFDO H[SRUWV and ensure proper export procedures. By cracking down on sub-standard goods and bad faith and illicit behaviors, China has ensured the quality of medical exports to better support the global response to the virus.

7KHVH PHDVXUHV KDYH SURGXFHG JRRG UHVXOWV DQG UHFHLYHG SRVLWLYH FRPPHQWV IURP WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO community. China does not impose restriction on its exports, and has no intention to do so. While HQVXULQJ WKH TXDOLW\ RI WKHVH H[SRUWV &KLQD¡V FXVWRPV DXWKRULWLHV KDYH WDNHQ VWHSV WR VSHHG XS customs clearance and further improve facilitation. $OOHJDWLRQ &KLQD¡V *XDQJGRQJ 3URYLQFH WRRN GLVFULPLQDWRU\ PHDVXUHV DJDLQVW $IULFDQV WKHUH REALITY CHECK: &KLQD¡V &29,' UHVSRQVH PHDVXUHV DSSO\ WR ERWK &KLQHVH DQG IRUHLJQHUV without discrimination. China follows a zero-tolerance policy on discriminatory words and actions.

'HVSLWH LWV RZQ GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOWLHV &KLQD KDV JLYHQ FDUH DQG SURWHFWLRQ WR DOO $IULFDQV LQ &KLQD HVSHFLDOO\ $IULFDQ VWXGHQWV 7KH PRUH WKDQ $IULFDQ VWXGHQWV LQ +XEHL 3URYLQFH LQFOXGLQJ :XKDQ DUH DOO VDIH and sound, except for one student who contracted the virus but was quickly cured. $V RI $SULO *XDQJ]KRX KDG UHSRUWHG D WRWDO RI LPSRUWHG FDVHV DPRQJ IRUHLJQ QDWLRQDOV including 19 Africans. The enhanced testing and control measures taken by China are for both Chinese citizens and all foreign nationals in China. They are not targeted at any nationality or race.

7KHLU SXUSRVH LV WR SURWHFW SXEOLF KHDOWK DQG SHRSOH¡V ZHOOEHLQJ $ IHZ LVRODWHG LQFLGHQWV WKDW RFFXUUHG in this process due to miscommunications or misunderstanding have been timely and properly handled WKURXJK FORVH FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH UHOHYDQW &KLQHVH DXWKRULWLHV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV RI the African countries concerned. On 18 April, the dean of the African Consulate Corps in Guangzhou FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG WKDW *XDQJGRQJ 3URYLQFH DQG *XDQJ]KRX &LW\ KDYH WDNHQ PXOWLSOH VWHSV WR SURWHFW WKH rights and interests of African expatriates there.

2Q $SULO &KDLUSHUVRQ RI WKH $8 &RPPLVVLRQ 0RXVVD )DNL 0DKDPDW VDLG WKDW $IULFD DQG &KLQD are friends and, more importantly, comrades-in-arms whose destinies are closely linked. He believes that China is not a country that would take discriminatory actions. Some African envoys in China have noted that the profound friendship between Africa and China has stood the test of vicissitudes and that no external force can stop it from growing further. $FFRUGLQJ WR D %%& UHSRUW RQ $SULO D YLGHR ZLGHO\ VKDUHG RQ VRFLDO PHGLD VKRZLQJ D .HQ\DQ couple being attacked in the streets of Wuhan as a result of COVID-19 stigma was actually taken in New York.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

30

COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Buhari Excited as Emir of Daura Recovers from Pandemic Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, who was hospitalised after testing positive

for COVID-19, has recovered and had been discharged from the hospital.

Reacting to the news of his discharge last night, Pesident

Muhammadu Buhari said he was delighted by the news of the recovery and discharge from hospital. ‘’I am happy to hear of your heart-touching experiences, successful treatment

and discharge from hospital after ten days, a part of which was spent in intensive care. ‘’Given the times we are in, we were all worried about you during that period. I am

very pleased that you came out healthy,’’ he said.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the president applauded the dedicated and

hardworking hospital staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina and other frontline medical and health workers, serving various patients in several hospitals across the country.

NCDC Warns against Self-medication The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has kicked against self-medication of any kind by COVID-19 patients in the country.

This followed the disclosure by a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, that “hydroxychloroquine” was among the medications he received while at the isolation centre.

NCDC said the drugs dispensed to coronavirus patients at isolation and treatment centres in the country were tailored to meet the specific needs of each patient.

“Remember, the medicines given by authorised medical personnel to patients with diseases including #COVID19, are dependent on individual conditions.

“Please, do not engage in self-medication based on another person’s prescription as you can harm yourself,” the NCDC tweeted yesterday.

Stay Away from Quarantined Returnees, FG

Warns The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday warned the public to stay away from quarantined returnees from foreign countries.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who gave the warning yesterday during the daily press briefing by the task force in Abuja, warned that such visits were potentially dangerous to public health.

The SGF had lamented reports and viral videos depicting unsafe practices around the quarantine locations of those evacuated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).

He particularly advised those being quarantined to decline visits from their friends and loved ones for the period they would be in observation, noting that the disease for which they were being kept away had a high contagious nature.

OILY AFFAIR...

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva (left), and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, during a briefing on the activities in the oil and gas industry, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja...yesterday

Some States Using Mobile Courts to Extort Citizens, Amnesty Alleges Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI) has raised the alarm that mobile courts are being used to extort alleged defaulters of lockdown violations in parts of the country such as Kaduna and Kano states.

Speaking yesterday during a webinar organised by the Centre

for Democracy and Development (CDD), AI Director in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho said the watchdog has been receiving complaints of such extortion.

The webinar which was titled, “Human rights and law enforcement during the COVID-19 lockdown”, reviewed

human rights issues concerning the pandemic.

Ojigho also said it is unacceptable for the mobile courts to prosecute citizens without them having access to lawyers.

“If people are charged to court, they also need legal services.

And part of the problem is that lawyers have not necessarily been grouped as essential services,” she said.

“When you talk about access to justice, it includes the rights of access to lawyers for defence. The courts shouldn’t be prosecuting cases without lawyers.

declared that the order for the suspension of Jumaat prayer and Sunday services remains active.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to the state governor, Muktar Gidado,

The governor’s media aide said the suspension of Tarawihi and Tahajjud prayers as well as Ittigaf in this holy month of Ramadan still remained imposed.

According to him, already,

order may have caused to the people of the state.

“I want to inform the public that the order or directive by the state government particularly on the conduct of Ramadan Tafsir and other

w“As you are aware, the governor has pleaded with the people of the state for their outstanding as all the steps taken are to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

NOSDRA Traces Cause Prayers Remain Suspended, Says Bauchi Govt of Dead Fishes on Atlantic Congregational announced this while briefing the state Governor, Bala Ibadat, observance of Jumaat Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi yesterday at the Mohammed, has apologised prayer and Sunday service still Coastline to Toxic Wastes Bauchi State Government has journalists Government House in Bauchi. for all the inconveniences the remains imposed.

Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) yesterday said its investigation of the death of tonnes of fishes along the Atlantic Ocean coastline in Nigeria was caused by the discharge of toxic waste into the ocean.

The Director-General of NOSDRA, Mr. Idris Musa, said in a statement that the high toxicity of the dead fishes and water samples was caused by pollution from heavy metals from industrial and domestic wastes discharged from domestic and industrial sources on land.

NOSDRA had instituted a multi-agency investigation on April 22 to unravel the cause of the reported massive death of fishes along the Niger Delta coast stretching from Delta State through Bayelsa State to Rivers State.

The agencies are the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Federal Institute for Fisheries Research.

According to Musa, results of the tests conducted confirmed its preliminary findings that the death of the fishes were not linked to oil leakages as the levels of hydrocarbon in the samples tested were within regulatory limits.

Musa said: “In the course of the analyses, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAR), Benzene, Toluene Ethylene and Xylene (BTEX) were within regulatory standard limits in water, sediments and fish tissue analyses.

Kano Quarantines 2, 000 Almajirai Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Government has quarantined over 2,000 Almajiris to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the second hotspot of the virus after Lagos State.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, stated this yesterday during training of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) managing the Almajiris at their quarantine centres.

He said the trainees were selected from medical doctors, nurses, community health

workers and laboratory scientists to test and screen the Almajiris at their camps in Kiru, Gabasawa and Karaye Local Government Areas of the state.

The commissioner explained that the Almajiris, including those that had been repatriated from other states to Kano State, would be tested for COVID-19.

He added that those that are tested positive for the virus would be taken to isolation centres for treatment, while those that are negative would be taken back to their homes and reunite with their parents.

Hanan Buhari’s SIM Card Controversy: Court Awards N10m against DSS Sunday Ehigiator Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State yesterday awarded N10million in damages against the Department of State Services (DSS) for illegally detaining a trader, Mr. Anthony Okolie, for 10 weeks without charge.

The judge, however, absolved President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan Buhari and struck out the prayer requesting her, and MTN to pay N500million.

Okolie had dragged Hanan, DSS and MTN to court for his 10-week detention for using a SIM card, which was previously assigned to Hanan by the telecoms company.

In a suit filed on his behalf

by human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, the applicant sued all parties for N500million jointly and separately.

The suit, with number F H C / AS B / C S / 3 / 2 02 0 , sought an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500, 000, 000 only as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity.”

The 33-year-old man said in a supporting affidavit that he was arrested on July 19, 2019 in Asaba, Delta State for using a telephone line that was previously owned by Hanan.

According to him, he

remained in custody, bound by handcuffs till September 22, 2019 as the DSS waited for Hanan, who was schooling in the United Kingdom, to come and clear him but she never did.

Okolie also attached the receipt he was issued after purchasing the SIM card as well as the SIM certificate.

During the hearing, Akinyode, who is also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum, asked Justice Dimgba to determine if Okolie’s rights had been breached and if the DSS had the right to detain a private citizen for 10 weeks without charge.

The President’s daughter, through her lawyer, M.E Sheriff, asked the court not to grant

Okolie’s reliefs, insisting that she had never met the applicant before and he should instead channel his anger towards the DSS that detained him.

The DSS in a counter-affidavit said the Presidency ordered the investigation of Okolie, adding that the sensitivity of the case was what led to Okolie’s prolonged detention.

The DSS lawyer E.E Daubry, who is the Principal Staff Officer, Legal Services, DSS, said the agency decided to detain Okolie without a court order because of the sensitivity of the case.

The agency accused Okolie of using Hanan’s SIM card to solicit money from unsuspecting members of the public, an allegation the applicant denied.

Atiku Asks FG to Sell Presidential Jets Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised Nigerian leaders to abandon luxury and adjust to the reality that comes with living in a pandemic.

He urged the federal government to sell the presidential jets and scrap the N27 billion being proposed for the renovation of the National Assembly.

In a statement issued yesterday, Atiku described the

reduction of the 2020 budget by 0.6 per cent as “window dressing”.

“It is to my consternation that despite the crash in the price of oil, and the inability of Nigeria to expand our revenue base through the non-oil sector, the FG of Nigeria has only seen fit to slash our budget by a mere 0.6 per cent This represents a reduction of only 71 billion,” Atiku, who was the presidential candidate for

the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 election, said.

“Putting politics aside, this is grossly insufficient and betrays the fact we have lost touch with the current realities in the global political economy.”

Explaining that crude production and revenue projections have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atiku said the 2020 budget should have been slashed by at least 25%.

“How can anyone justify a reduction in expenditure of just 0.6per cent? We cannot be the only nation bucking the trend?

“Saudi Arabia, a nation with a much stronger production capacity than ours and with a larger global market share, as well as a foreign reserve that is 12 times ours, has slashed her budget by almost 30 per cent. Ditto for other oil economies.

31

Ë&#x153; ͚ͽË&#x153; ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

A N T H O N Y J O S H U Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S P R O M O T E R B L A S T S

Irresponsible to Allow 53-year Old Mike Tyson Back to Ring Eddie Hearn, the British promoter of Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has slammed the proposed return to the ring of Mike Tyson.

According toReuters, Hearn remarked that he would probably like to see former heavyweight champion Mike

Tyson fight again but questioned whether boxing should be encouraging a 53-year-old to get back in the ring.

Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time when he beat Trevor Berbick in 1986 aged 20, caught the attention of the boxing world by posting

Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Net Worth Rises By ÂŁ58m, Ighalo 15th on Rich List Despite the coronavirus pandemic that has stopped all sporting activities around the globe, Nigeria born British Heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, recorded the biggest rise in fortune in sport over the past year.

According to Sunday Times Rich List, Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net worth rose by ÂŁ58million in what was a year of mixed emotions for the boxer.

The 30-year-old Sagamu sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net worth stands at ÂŁ107million after a successful campaign in 2019 that saw him recapture the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia following a shocking defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in their first fight.

Joshua is second to Gareth Bale in the Young Rich List, though his fortune is way off Lewis Hamiltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ÂŁ224million

CHANGE OF I, formerly known as EZEOKE SYLVANUS OKOLIEABOH and SYLVA OKOLIEABOH, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as EZEOKE SYLVA OKOLIEABOH. All documents bearing the former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

net worth as the richest sports star in Britain.

Joshua made ÂŁ18million in his first fight against Andy Ruiz Jr last summer at the Madison Square Garden.

He reclaimed his title via unanimous decision in the rematch in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia last December.

Several endorsement deals add further to his annual income, leading to a fortune now estimated at ÂŁ107million.

Similarly, Nigeria forward, Odion Ighalo has made UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunday TimesRich List for those aged 30 or under.

Ighalo, who will be 31 in June sits in 15th position and is among the five Manchester players in the illustrious list.

The former Watford strikerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ÂŁ18million wealth is factored by his substantial ÂŁ300,000-a-week wage at parent club Shanghai Shenhua.

training videos on Instagram recently and has said he was considering exhibition bouts to raise money for charity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would probably like to see it but â&#x20AC;Ś is it a bit irresponsible to let a 53-year-old legend back in the ring?â&#x20AC;? Hearn told British Boxing Television. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a message from someone saying they wanted to talk to me about Mike. He looks pretty dangerous. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compelling is could he actually go back in at 53 and do some damage? But should we be encouraging that from an alltime great? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fine line and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve crossed it a couple of times â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

between integrity of the sport and entertainment delivering numbers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our job is to deliver numbers for broadcasters but we have to keep it as close to the right mark as we can.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, former heavy weight champion Evander Holyfield has also released a training video on social media, fuelling speculation that he could come out of retirement to face one-time rival Tyson.

Holyfield is urging Tyson to set up a sensational trilogy fight by insisting: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It would be the fight people want to see.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The heavyweight rivals are in talks to step back inside the

ring 23 years after their infamous second showdown in Las Vegas.

In the third round of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Bite Fightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Tyson bit off part of Holyfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear leading to disqualification and a $3million (ÂŁ2.4m) fine.

Despite hanging up his gloves 15 years ago, Tyson, 53, has been back in the gym showing off his trademark pace and power.

Holyfield then announced plans to come out of retirement to enter the boxing ring once more. And he took to Instagram also to show how he is progressing his training, letting his followers inside the first week on his training camp.

When asked whether he

would take on Tyson for the third time, he told UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Sun:â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would do that! Yes, I want to fight Mike Tyson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My whole thing is Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m open, and I know that I want to do well for myself at age 57. I can definitely handle him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Mike would have to want to do it as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to come up with something that is not a knockout grudge match. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about who can beat who, but to show people we were some of the greatest fighters in our era and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come together as men to do something for others,â&#x20AC;? he concluded.

CHANGE OF I, formerly known and addressed as DAVID OGBEDEMAH ISENAH, now wish to be known and addressed as DAVID OGBOLOMAWEI DUBADEI ISENAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. SOALA STELLA ALTRAIDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SOALA STELLA DON-ADANYI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS LINDA EJIROGHENE UDOAFA., now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FAITH EJIROGHENE UDOAFA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKOLOR OREVAOGHENE BENJAMIN, now wish to be known and addressed as OREVAOGHENE OKOLOR BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OJADA EVELYN OKEOGHENE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OREVAOGHENE EVELYN OKEOGHENE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ISINGUZO ANNA CHIBUZO now wish to be known and addressed as ISINGUZO ANNA ADA. All formal documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Mike Tyson is aiming to return to the ring after nearly two decades he retired

Bribery Scandal: Yobo Calls for Caution Femi Solaja Newly appointed Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, has called for caution on the bribery allegation leveled against a former coach of the team prior to the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil.

Nigeria crashed out of that tournament in the second round after late two goals were scored by France at the match played in Brasilia. It was third time Nigeria reached knockout phase in six appearances.

But last week, two former national team players, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi and Taye Taiwo alleged that their inability to make the final list to the football

Yobo

fiesta in that South American country was due to the fact that they refused to give bribe to the coaches.

Late Stephen Keshi was the gaffer that led Nigeria to that

edition.

Although one of Keshiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant coaches at the time, Daniel Amokachi, has refuted the allegation and challenged both Obasi and Taye to name the personalities that demanded the bribe from them, Yobo who captained the team, Wednesday called for caution because the saga will further polarize the football family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the captain of the team (at that time), I was privy to the goings on, most especially when we started the final camping leading to the tournament in Brazil. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the best of my knowledge, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure out any unethical doings but we need to also respect the personalities of the individuals who raised the allegation.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I worked under several indigenous coaches, interestingly, Keshi and Amodu Shaibu of blessed memories were exceptional. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All through my 13 years sojourn with the national team, no coach made such demand from me but would not want to join in the condemnation of the players who have come out to speak for themselves today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have lots of respect for both players at the centre of this issue but we need to move on as the tournament in question is history,â&#x20AC;? explained the former Everton of England defender during a live Instagram session on the Nigeria Football Federation page on Wednesday.

Dare to Launch E-Gaming Sports in Nigeria Mambila Plateau to be revived for long distance races As parts of efforts to key into the global benefits of E-Gaming Sports and make Nigerian sports more viable, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, has concluded plans to launch Nigeria into the E- Gaming Sports world.

Speaking during a webinar on steps to reactivate the sports

sector post covid-19 era, Dare said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are working on a plan that would produce for the first time an industry-based sports policy that will turn sports into business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are on the verge of launching E-Gaming Sports in Nigeria. It is the most suitable for the post Covid-19

era. Globally, it is a $138billion business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also plan to develop the Mambila Plateau area to turn it into a training ground for our long-distance runners who are mostly from the North.

This is necessary and important considering that long-distance race is an individual, none

contact sport that would likely resume soon as the impact of Covid-19 winds down,â&#x20AC;? stressed the sports minister.

Dare further affirmed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;While these are few things we are doing at the Ministry level, we are also keen to learn how other new things can work better.â&#x20AC;?

Friday May 15, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE

PDP to FG

“While the PDP has nothing against any transparent effort to provide succour to Nigerians, particularly our children, at this critical time, our party rejects the on-going fraud in which school children, who are in their respective homes, bearing the brunt of the failures of the APC administration, are being used as metaphors to divert public funds” – The PDP alleging that the school feeding programme embarked upon by the federal government is targeted at stealing N13.5bn.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

In Remembrance of Jonathan “J onathan built 125 almajiri schools, with boarding facilities, libraries, sports arenas, free tuition, free school uniforms and casual wears. This was simply to give life meaning to these kids deliberately neglected by their parents and society. Sadly, Buhari’s first assignment in week-one in office was to cancel this development that incorporated Islamic and modern Western education and permanently took these neglected children off the street.

“Not a single voice from the North asked questions on why Buhari’s government is discontinuing the Modern education for almajiri and throwing them back to the street.

“With the arrival of COVID-19 and the kids still living on the street, they became the most vulnerable in the North and a majority of them have not been lucky as they are COVID-19 positive. This public health challenge was the reason the Northern governors’ meeting remembered that the children have their own states and parents. In a country that have no regards to data or information management, it is apparent that some of these kids cannot be matched to any state in the North or the Niger Republic, therefore the reason, they are being shipped to the South, mostly South-east.

“All that the kids need now is to be appropriately tested and treated in the states they are currently living rather than sending them to villages/families they may hardly recognise as some of them were ‘thrown’ out homes at four to six years. Whatever, these former GEJ Alamajiri pupils will never forget the wickedness the politicians and their educated brothers and sisters (that choose silence) meted out to them. They deserve better”.

Nothing better captures the yawning utility gap between the incumbent Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari and that of his predecessor, Jonathan Goodluck than the excerpts above.

It wasn’t the case that the former had a better alternative for this Northern nay Nigerian eyesore, he has none at all other than casting them out into the streets. I remember the Almajiri question was posed to him at the Kadaria/ Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) townhall meeting pursuant to the 2019 presidential election.

Typical of the fashion the whole night went and obviously struggling with poor health, the president had nothing to say other than waive it away with a response whispered to him by his stand in deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, that it was the responsibility of the local governments. The question that then begs to be asked is: has he since, summoned the concerned local government authorities to give them the marching orders?

To wait here for a response would amount to waiting for Godot.

The sort of priority that seems to be of greater concern for our president is of the kind of bearing down on Nigerians who refuse to remain (like a lamb taken to the slaughter house) sitting ducks for the assault of AK 47 wielding rampage of our fulani kinsmen. This is a government that fosters crisis where there is none and beats a retreat when confronted with the real deal. Given the alacrity with which he threw the books at Amotekun, why has the fidgety Attorney General not deem it fit to enforce the fundamental human rights of the almajiri in the face of the Northern states governors wanton impunity of resorting to internal deportation? Or is it the case that his attention is completely captured by the prospects

Jonathan of what can be done with the latest tranche of the bottomless Abacha loot? Anyway, God dey.

The social media stratosphere was recently seized of another round of Jonathan nostalgia video clips contrasting his presidential stewardship with that of his successor. Flash back 2014: Not really looking like a president who is not having a good time but like an unappreciated leader whose indulgence we routinely take for granted. He confessed, once again, his forbearance with our rowdy and censorious proclivities. ‘I’m the most abused and insulted president in the world but when I leave office you will all remember me for the total freedom you enjoyed under my government’.

In presaging the contrast that may come after him, he is in the elevated company of President Barack Obama. ‘You Republicans who could not wait to see the end of my eight years in office, how do you like me now? Taunted the former American President.The gap between Jonathan and Buhari is somewhat reminiscent of the one between former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. Now let me quickly enter the caveat, in anticipation of the mischief of those who have a negative vested interest in columns of this nature that I should not, thereby be deliberately misunderstood as equating Jonathan with Obama.The point I make is that the statesman/leadership deficit of President Donald Trump vis-a-vis Obama

corresponds to what we now know of President Buhari relative to former President Goodluck Jonathan. If the contrast is less stark between the latter couple in some respects, it is crystal in the potential of the big man in aso rock to trip Nigeria over the edge into political cataclysm.

Under him, it has become difficult for us to differentiate between a Daura vision of Nigeria from a Tunnel vision.

Riding the triumphalism of the hollow rhetoric of killing corruption before corruption kills Nigeria to power in 2015, credulous Nigerians wilfully blinded themselves to his glaring inadequacies especially his unconstructed nativist nepotism.

Like Trump, he could shoot anyone dead and the hero worshippers would only shout Sai Buhari.

So smitten with him were Nigerians, that all of us pleading the restoration of federalism aka restructuring were muscled into playing defensive.

The equally misled but potent international community enablers couldn’t really care less for Nigerian federalism if the bargain was the alighted nemesis of corruption welding the sword of damocles.The backdrop of the corruption stigmatised Jonathan government provided the perfect counterpoise. He wasted no time cashing down on the waiver generously lavished on him to enact the most lopsided presidency ever visited on Nigeria. Whenever the issue of the political regression is raised, craven supporters and calculating partisans rush to the barricades pleading the ouster clause that a Nigerian President should be afforded the privilege of wanton parochial discrimination and be allowed to work with people he can trust; that there is nothing wrong in the Nigerian Presidency becoming a daura writ large affair.

To put it in the ringing solemnity, only he can muster, Bishop Matthew Kukah lamented ‘No one would have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. This president has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our country’s rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women.The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a

Unlike embittered Nigerians who rue the day Jonathan meekly did the right thing conceding power in 2015, I believe the former president and Nigeria (at large) are the better for it. If he had remained to contest the result of the presidential election, all hell would have been let loose, nationally and globally. The secret manipulators of the Boko Haram insurgents (the falcon who no longer heeds the falconner) would have escalated the terror to such manifold proportions, that would put the Nigerian civil war to shame

northern Muslim than a Nigerian’.

Those who insist that this behaviourial lapse was in violation of the notion of Nigerian nationhood and should not be allowed to stand were indignantly censured as ‘corruption fighting back’. As it turned out, corruption didn’t abdicate the occupancy of the villa in the first place (it has only dug deeper), let alone fighting back. Brimming with barely concealed contempt for his fawning fans and fanatics, Buhari had since stretched the inch he was given to yards and miles in utter disdain of the rest of us. We have now gotten to a stage in which the government of Nigeria by Daura plus and for Northern Muslims, has been presently reinforced with the induction of ambitious girlfriends (ask the first lady) into the villa diners club. She was then immediately empowered as a Nigeria wide distributor of raw cash less fifty per cent distributor’s commission and less forty percent handling charges. And there was the audacity of Mr Mamman Daura, who in habitual ummeritted arrogance, couldn’t find any commensurate encomium to lavish on his protege, the late Abba Kyari, than a contemptuous belittling of all who serve his younger than him Uncle- as collectively and individually inferior to the latter.

Never seen such oddity of a blind man presuming to condemn the sighting capability of the a one eyed counterpart. Was he not the eighty years old nephew jostling for residency rights at the Aso Rock Villa with the lady to whom such privilege was assigned by the marriage act?

Unlike embittered Nigerians who rue the day Jonathan meekly did the right thing conceding power in 2015, I believe the former president and Nigeria (at large) are the better for it. If he had remained to contest the result of the presidential election, all hell would have been let loose, nationally and globally. The secret manipulators of the Boko Haram insurgents (the falcon who no longer heeds the falconner) would have escalated the terror to such manifold proportions, that would put the Nigerian civil war to shame. Always a whipping boy and soft target for the media and the intelligentsia, Jonathan would wake up daily with his appetite for breakfast ruined by the media mobilisation of outright revolt of public opinion. In the end, if he (literarily) managed to survive the avalanche, he would be haranged out of office with a looming prospect of jail or exile to Papua New Guinea. In the interim, Pope Alexander would be treated to the visit of high powered Nigerian delegates petitioning him to fastrack the canonisation of Buhari.

But God is not mocked, hence his contrivance of the demystification of Buhari and a bird’s eye view (for those who still have eyes to see) of the danger awaiting Nigeria on present evidence.

Partly on account of his own opaque stewardship at the Petroleum Tax Fund (PTF), under the criminally unsurpassed General Sani Abacha, the president took to absolving and exonerating his benefactor of all charges of corruption. He ceaselessly reels the obtuse exoneration- even as he keeps receiving the proceeds of the theft secreted away by his ill starred role model. Since the Internet never forgets, newspaper banner headline bearing his longstanding character witness to the owner of the Cayman islands account has been making the circulation in the social medium-size by side with the vindication of Jonathan.

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