WTO Officials Mull Delay in Okonjo-Iweala’s Fate over COVID-19 Scare Obinna Chima with agency report The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) efforts to elect a new leader next week could be delayed for at least another month because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in
Switzerland. While some in-person meetings may be virtual, it was gathered that senior WTO officials are discussing whether to postpone their plan to formally confirm Nigeria’s candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the next
director-general of the WTO. According to Bloomberg, on Sunday, Geneva’s cantonal authorities announced strict new lockdown measures amid a surge in infections and hospitalisations in the Swiss city. From November 2 until
November 29, the area will prohibit public and private events of more than five people. The development could further disrupt the WTO’s ability to confirm OkonjoIweala as the first African and first woman to lead the
organisation in its 25-year history. A General Council meeting had been scheduled for November 9 at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva to break the deadlock triggered in the appointment of a new director-general after
the United States opposed Okonjo-Iweala's candidacy in the aftermath of her trouncing her only challenger, South Korean Trade Minister, Ms. Yoo Myung-hee, at the voting session. Continued on page 8
Trump, Biden in Close Race as Americans Vote Today... Page 16 Tuesday 3 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9339. Price: N250
www.thisdaylive.com TR
UT H
& RE A S O
N
Diplomat Reveals Nigeria’s Role in American Hostage’s Rescue Says Buhari approved mission to Sokoto Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Details emerged yesterday on the role Nigeria played in the rescue of an American
kidnapped in Niger but liberated by the United State elite Special Force, SEAL Team Six on Saturday in Sokoto State.
A senior diplomat told THISDAY that the Nigeria intelligence community provided the ‘’intelligence operation’’ that made
the rescue mission of the American, Philip Walton, successful. Walton was kidnapped on October 26 in Niger and
ferried to Nigeria by his kidnappers. The source spoke against the backdrop of bickering between the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday over Continued on page 8
Northern Leaders Back FG’s Quest to Censor Social Media Govs, monarchs, others reaffirm commitment to Nigeria's unity Accuse separatist groups of hijacking #EndSARS protest for sinister motives John Shiklam in Kaduna Northern leaders, comprising governors, traditional rulers and senior political appointees from the region, yesterday backed the campaign by the federal government to regulate social media. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of Nigeria, while alleging that those pushing for superlative agitations and other change-regime actions outside the ballot box hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protests to further their separatist agenda. The Northern leaders also called for strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to guide against unwarranted and destructive protests as well as to safeguard critical
national assets. These were some of the resolutions reached at a meeting the Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) held with traditional rulers, some federal government officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, and leaders of the National Assembly in Kaduna. The meeting, presided over by the NSGF Chairman and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, was attended by governors of Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara and Zamfara States. The governors of Kogi and Kano states were represented by their deputies. In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Northern leaders decried Continued on page 8
NCC Approves e-SIM Trial for MTN, 9Mobile... Page 6
COME BACK TO WORK... L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), and State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, during the governor’s meeting with top police officers of the command in Benin City...yesterday