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NMA: Nigerians may suffer if governors take over coronavirus management
File Photo The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow states take full control of managing the COVID-19 pandemic saying Nigerians may suffer. Newsmen recall that Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said on Sunday in the next phase of the lockdown, states will take more responsibility in their areas. “I can assure you of one thing: the ownership of the next phase will be the responsibility of the states under national supervision and coordination, because we have gone into community transmission. Where are the communities? The communities are in the states,” the SGF said. However, speaking on COVID-19 Watch on AIT, on Monday, the NMA president, Innocen...
Thirteen killed in Katsina bandit attacks
Thirteen people died on Friday when villagers fought back against armed cattle thieves in Katsina State where rustling has been on the increase. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Gambo Isah, confirmed this to Channels Television on Saturday. Also speaking to AFP, the PPRO noted that residents of four villages, organised in local militias, took on the livestock rustlers. “Thirteen people were killed and others injured in the process,” Isah said. “We keep telling people who are only armed with muskets and machetes to avoid confrontation with bandits who came with Kalashnikov rifles”. Northwestern Nigeria has been wracked by years of violence between rival communities over land, attacks by heavily-armed criminal gangs and reprisal killings by vigilante groups. Cattle rustling and k...
Nigerian government distributes relief materials to victims of bandits attack in Sokoto
The Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to victims of banditry attacks, kidnappings and animals rustling in Wurno and Raba local government areas of Sokoto State. Tribune Online reports that the gesture was facilitated by the member representing Wurno/Raba Federal Constituency, Arc. Ibrahim Almustpha, in recognition of the plight of his constituents’ as results of incidents. Speaking during the distribution ceremony on Friday, NEMA’s Head of Sokoto zonal office, Dr Kofoworola Soleye, said Almustpha forwarded request for support to people affected with disasters and followed it up until it was approved by the Federal Government. Soleye, who was represented by the Zonal Planning Officer, Mr Tukur Abubakar, said items inc...
President Buhari commiserates with victims of Sokoto attack, orders fierce military operation
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with families who lost loved ones in an attack by bandits in Sabon Birni Local Government, Sokoto State, praying for the quick recovery of those that sustained injuries. “As the world and Nigeria battle Coronavirus pandemic, it is tragic and unfortunate that bandits have remained active in parts of the country, killing innocent people and throwing families into despair. “We will not abandon you to your fate because we are determined to bring these mass murderers to their knees and crush them totally,” he said in a statement. The President noted that a major military operation code named “Operation Accord” has been launched by the military, targeting the bandits that have been tormenting North-West and North Central states. “This operation will be a f...
Nigeria to spend N46.44 trillion for recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians
The Federal Government is set to pay a total of N46,440,000,000 to 774,000 young Nigerians who will be employed for three months under the Special Public Works programme. According to Information and Culture minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, “the 774,000 Nigerians will be engaged for a period of three months, with a payment of N20,000 monthly allowance to each beneficiary to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. Mohammed who spoke at a media briefing to mark the first anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term on Friday said Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of 1,295 offenders in the last one year. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even Whe...
NMA: President Buhari should issue order for unfettered access into Kogi
File Photo Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has sent a “Save Our Soul” message to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the people of Kogi state from pending major health crisis that may be possibly caused by undetected COVID-19 pandemic. NMA, which is the umbrella body of medical doctors in Nigeria, suggested that the President immediately issue an order granting unfettered access and protection to officials of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) into Kogi State to enable them conduct COVID-19 testing and other related activities in the state. NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, in a statement released in Abuja, on Friday, said the suggestion became necessary following strong resistance of Kogi state government to allow NCDC officials carry out COVID-19 testing and other relat...
ICC allows Ivory Coast ex-president Laurent Gbagbo to leave Belgium
Ivory Coast’s former president Laurent Gbagbo can leave Belgium under certain conditions, the International Criminal Court said on Thursday, following his acquittal last year over post-election violence that killed 3 000 people. Gbagbo, the first head of state to stand trial in The Hague, and his deputy Charles Ble Goude were cleared in early 2019 of crimes against humanity – eight years after the former West African strongman’s arrest and transfer to the court. Belgium had agreed to host Gbagbo after he was released under strict conditions, including his return to court for a prosecution appeal against his acquittal. An ICC spokesperson said Gbagbo could travel provided the country he was going to agreed to receive him. It therefore remains uncertain if Gbagbo can return to Ivory Coast, w...
Official: ICPC investigating cases of coronavirus fraud
File Photo The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it is investigating alleged cases of corruption in the management of COVID-19 funds and palliatives. The commission’s Director of Operations, Mr Akeem Lawal, disclosed this during a virtual meeting of stakeholders on the topic, “COVID-19 Funds Management and Monitoring”, on Thursday. In a presentation titled, “ICPC Monitoring Obligation and Strategy Re: COVID-19 Emergency”, Lawal said the cases include alleged fraud by some participating public institution in the release and distribution of grains from strategic food reserve. Others, according to him, include alleged infractions in the procurement of COVID-19 palliatives and logistics and community enlightenment activities. The ICPC official, who...
Loans request: Nigeria now on the auction market – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alarms that with the volume of foreign loans being accumulated by President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC), our nation and her people have been placed on the international auction market. The party said President Buhari’s moves to take a fresh $5.513 billion (N2.1 trillion) loan in addition to an earlier $22.79 billion (N8.5trillion), the size of 2020 budget, without operable repayment plans, will totally compromise the fiscal integrity of our nation and open her up for economic annexation by foreign creditors. This is in addition to N850 billion from the capital market. It is more alarming that the Buhari government, in this fiscal year, cannot muster the capacity to harness the huge resources available in our country to generat...
South Korea’s unification minister visits estuary to renew commitment to inter-Korean cooperation
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul is to visit an estuary of the Han River near the border with North Korea on Wednesday in an effort to renew South Korea’s commitment to jointly using the waterway with the communist nation. Under a military agreement signed at a 2018 summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the two sides agreed on the joint use of the Han River estuary along their western border and conducted joint waterway research. But the project has stalled since the no-deal summit between the North and the United States in February last year. The unification minister’s visit to the estuary is seen as aimed at sending a message to the North that it remains committed to the project. “The visit has been arranged so that (the minister) can see for himself...
Javier Tebas: La Liga could return with Sevilla-Betis derby on June 11
La Liga president Javier Tebas is hoping to resume the 2019-20 season on Thursday, June 11 with the Seville derby. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Saturday that the Spanish top flight had been given permission to resume behind closed doors from June 8 following the coronavirus-enforced hiatus in March. Previous reports had suggested the first match would be played on June 12, exactly three months after the suspension started, with Sevilla’s home match against bitter rivals Real Betis said to be the chosen match. While Tebas confirmed the derby to be his desired fixture, he revealed on Sunday that he is hoping to resume a day earlier, with kick-off to be set at 22:00 local time due to the intense heat in Andalusia’s capital. Speaking on the Partidazo show, Tebas said: “The...
Nigeria’s president urges farmers to increase food production
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerian farmers to increase their food production as Nigeria has ‘no money’ for food importation. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has restricted food importation as the country strived to produce a lot of the food it consumes. The country also shut its borders with neighbouring countries, largely to prevent the importation and smuggling of items such as rice, poultry and petrol. The borders are still shut but were also closed to human traffic following the coronavirus pandemic, although smuggling and other illegal activities still go on with the connivance of corrupt security officials. Buhari gave his advice to the farmers while addressing journalists after observing this year’s ‘Eid’ prayer at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Sunda...
