06112109

More documents

Recommendations

Info

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2019 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 EBOLA: Reps raise alarm over fresh outbreak, want Adadevoh honoured By Tordue Salem A House BUJA—THE of Representatives yesterday raised the alarm over a possible recurrence of Ebola epidemic in the country, urging the Federal Ministry of Health to deploy materials and personnel at the airports, seaports and land borders to screen passengers. Besides, the House urged the federal government to set aside funds for the management of Ebola virus in the event of its recurrence in Nigeria. The House also mandated its Committees on Health Care Services and Health Institutions to ensure that relevant agencies took precautionary measures to avert a recurrence of the disease. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion brought by Paschal Chigozie Obi (PDP- Anambra) who expressed fears at the likely fresh outbreak of Ebola in the country. Leading debate on the motion, Obi noted that the recent outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, in March, 2019, where more than 1000 cases of Ebola infections were reported. He recalled that “in 2014, the Ebola epidemic spread to some West African countries such as Guinea, Sierra-Leone, Liberia and then to Nigeria, when a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, arrived Lagos by an airplane and infected many Nigerians, including doctors and nurses”. The lawmaker reminded the House that “the virus quickly spread to different parts of Nigeria, causing up to 50% death rate of infected people. ‘’Conscious of different measures by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to curtail the menace of Ebola, ranging from issuing an alert to airline operators directing them to ensure a high level of vigilance and ensure that proper checks were carried out on passengers and other relevant measures such as providing sanitizers and clinical equipment, where necessary. “Also conscious of steps taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on August 8, 2019, to sensitise the public by declaring Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and also raising the alarm on the need for nations to take preventive actions against the possible further outbreak of Ebola virus.” He commended the federal government for its efforts in tackling the menace of Ebola disease in 2014, notwithstanding the ravaging force it came with. In a related development, the House has also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise the heroic acts of patriotism of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who died fighting against Ebola virus and her medical team and confer a befitting posthumous national honour on her. ....Probe PPMC over alleged fuel pricing fraud By Tordue Salem Aby BUJA—MIFFED allegations of fraud in the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited, PPMC, and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, the House of Representatives yesterday set up an enquiry to fish out culprits and recommend appropriate sanctions. The motion to probe the allegation was brought on the floor by Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun. Before adopting the motion, the House noted that though PPPRA was saddled with the responsibility of “fixing prices for petroleum products in Nigeria”, it was operating on a discriminatory and unlawful basis. The House said it was “disturbed that the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited, being the coordinator of petroleum products distribution in the downstream sector, is selling Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to the two blocks at different prices, as it is selling the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to major Marketers at N125. 65k per litre, while selling same to Independent Marketers at N133.28 per litre in breach of the law setting it up. The House wondered why there would be a disparity in the pricing “since members of the two blocks are selling the products to retailers in the same market.” The House said the “discriminatory prices have been affecting the participatory capacity of the independent marketers in the market, as well as impoverishing them against their counterparts in the sector”. The House in adopting the motion and its prayers, said it would check the discriminatory practices of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited in order to give all concerned marketers a sense of belonging. VISIT: From left, Chairman, Council of Yoruba Traditional Rulers in FCT, Oba Olusegun Salau; Chairman Yoruba Traditional Rulers in the North,Amb. Muhammad Arigbabuwo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the President Yoruba Community in FCT, Aare Lanre Ajayi during an audience the Vice President granted a delegation of Yoruba Community in the North at the State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. ALLEGED N2BN FRAUD: Maina hospitalised, as court rules on his bail request tomorrow By Ikechukwu Nnochiri A Federal BUJA—THE High Court sitting in Abuja said yesterday it would on Thursday consider the merit of an application former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N2billion fraud, filed to be released on bail pending his trial. Trial Justice Okon Abang heard and reserved ruling on the bail application, even though Maina was absent in court. An officer of the Nigeria Correctional Service Center, Kuje, had shortly after the matter was called-up for continuation of trial, produced a medical report that indicated that the expension boss was seriously sick. The report, which was signed by one Dr. Idowu Ajayi, further revealed that Maina was receiving medical attention at his detention center. Maina had earlier lamented that Justice Abang aggravated his high blood pressure on the day he was arraigned. He said his health deteriorated after the Judge asked the court registrar to order him to stop staring at the bench, a pronouncement Maina said made him to feel as if he was being convicted. Meanwhile, though he was not present in court yesterday, based on the medical report, Justice Abang, deferred his trial and directed a staff of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mrs. Mairo Mohammed, who had appeared as the first prosecution witness, PW-1, in the matter, to return on the next adjourned date. The trial Judge however refused application by Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Francis Oronsaye, for hearing of his client’s motion for bail to be suspended till a later date. Mr. Oronsaye told the court that his principal, Chief Joe Gadzama, SAN, was handling another matter before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and was therefore unable to attend the proceeding. Not satisfied with the reason, Justice Abang ordered him to move the bail application, stressing that his principal ought to have known that the Federal High Court was higher in the order of judicial hierarchy. Besides, Justice Abang noted that though he initially fixed November 19 to hear the bail application, the court, owing to a motion by the defendant, abridged the time. After counsel to the defendant insisted that he was not prepared to argue the bail application, the court, gave the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, the nod to move its own counteraffidavit to the motion. EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, told the court that the Commission had in the counter-affidavit it filed on October 30, opposed the release of Maina on bail. In the counter-affidavit that was deposed to by one Deborah Opete, EFCC, chronicled all the efforts it made before it was able to FG disputes $25bn diaspora remittances, says figure higher By Victoria Ojeme & Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA—THE Federal Government has disputed the $25 billion figure said to be the annual remittances of Nigerians in diaspora, saying it was actually higher. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the opening of a two-day Technical Workshop on Diaspora Remittances and Sustainable Development under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Belgium and the French Republic. Onyeama, who said the figure often bandied about was actually not a true reflection of diaspora remittances to Nigeria, added that the challenge with most countries was how to channel such remittances to development. “As you know, in the past few years, it is said that Nigerians in diaspora remittances are $25 billion. The figure being bandied about is $25 billion per year in remittances. “I read not too long ago that this figure is inaccurate. It is far from being accurate because when you logically think about it, it is huge and as they say, it even dwarfs the budget. It is hard to fathom. A B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr Sarah Omotunde Alade as Special Adviser on Finance and the Economy. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba arrest the ex-pension boss. The anti-graft agency told the court that it took the intervention of a team that was led by the Department of State Service, DSS, to apprehend the defendant whom it said declined several invitations it extended to him. It therefore urged the court to deny him pail, insisting that he posed a flight risk. Meantime, though Maina’s lawyer did not argue his bail application, Justice Abang ruled that it would be deemed to have been duly moved before the court. He consequently adjourned the matter to deliver ruling on the bail motion. ‘’So, I think there is some debate as to how accurate that really is. But of course, we will love it to be that. There are huge resources coming into the country from Nigerians in diaspora and the challenge, as with most countries, is how to channel those resources to development,” he said. Buhari appoints ex-CBN's Alade Special Adviser on Finance, Economy By Johnbosco Agbakwuru Shehu in Abuja yesterday, explained that Alade would be domiciled in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. Dr. Alade, who holds BSc (Economics) and PhD in Management Science (Operations Research), retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as Deputy Governor in 2017 after spending 23 years in the apex bank. She had also acted briefly in 2014 as CBN Governor.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 — 9 AWARD: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State (left) receiving an Award of Active Participation and Funding from the President, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Francis Faduyile, during the 2nd National Health Summit, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Nigeria in messy situation because FG failed to act against those threatening peace, unity — SOYINKA By Peter Duru M N AKURDI— O B E L Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said yesterday that Nigeria was currently in a mess because the Federal Government failed to take decisive actions against those threatening the peace and unity of the country. Soyinka, who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State in Makurdi, regretted that the northern part of the country had been besieged by armed gangs, with issuing threats, lamenting that government had failed to take decisive action against those behind the threats. He said: “This area of the country is really besieged. First, it was Boko Haram and then herdsmen wherever they came from and recently, it was ISWAP. It means holistic approach has to be taken and not just by government but the entirety of the nation. “We cannot have this succession of negative intrusions into our normal lives, into developments, into the growth, in the upbringing of children. “We must commit ourselves to making sure that they do not grow up in a culture where they belief that violence is the norm, that violence is a way of life. And growing up traumatized is the natural bequest of children. “For me, this vulnerable generation who are not culpable of any of the laxities, the incompetences, the crimes of the adults, it is most unjust that they should have to undergo this kind of punitive existence for the crimes of their parents and the adult society. “I think we have a responsibility, those of us who knew and grew up under different circumstances, we have a responsibility to ensure that the kids have a glimpse of what we enjoyed as children. “For me, it is a moral responsibility, one we cannot dodge and we do not know what will come after ISWA. So, it’s time to take preventive measures, HEALTH TIPS By Sola Ogundipe High Blood Pressure HIGH blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a serious illness that affects millions in Nigeria. High blood pressure is often called a “silent killer” because many people have it but don’t know it. Over time, people who do not get treated for high blood pressure can get very sick or even die. It can cause life-threatening illnesses like kidney problems, stroke, heart failure, blindness, and heart attacks. Your chances of having high blood pressure are higher if you are overweight, eat foods high in salt, do not get regular exercise, smoke or drink alcohol heavily. Many people with high blood pressure do not feel sick at first. The only way to know for sure is to get your blood pressure checked. A few women will get high blood pressure when they are pregnant. When pregnant women get high blood pressure, it is called preeclampsia or toxemia. When you have your blood pressure which means not just military, protective, defensive means but the very development of society in a way in which we discourage the very possibility of any of the violent negative hindrances to normal development. “It is not the responsibility of Benue alone, it is not the responsibility of the affected states alone, its a national responsibility and I hope this governments has seen the result of taking things easy when they are supposed to be taken by the throat and tackled very decisively. “Now that they have seen how violence led to violence, impunity caused impunity, violent arrogance cause more and more arrogance when you have any kind of unit in a rural community which says either you do this or we will show you, this is the mentality which led to the virtual take over of order by philosophy of disorder. “The possibility that any section of the society can call the shots for the totality and I’m referring to when Benue State passed the grazing law and criminals and homicidal gang had the nerve to say you take that law out or else. That means we do not live in a Boundary Commission begins work on Benue, Ebonyi dispute By Johnbosco Agbakwuru A National BUJA—THE Boundary Commission said yesterday it has started preliminary work for the demarcation of boundaries to end the protracted dispute between the people of Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and their neighbours, Agila, in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. Members of the commission had in September took far reaching decisions on the matter, with a view to putting a finality to the reported killings in the civilized society. “Once that happens, the only one answer is that the tail cannot wag the dog. This is what the Buhari government failed to do at the right, critical moment and that is why parts of the country are still in a mess which they are today. “We must learn to take proactive measures to prevent any further deterioration of the country. ''As for those who make threats over herdsmen settlements as panacea for peace in the states, I will say that when they come to Ogun State, we will have a suitable response for them.’’ area, including a programme to aid the demarcation of the disputed boundaries between the two states. At the meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe, in attendance, the commission had directed the authorities of the NBC to work with the states to provide the necessary logistics and security for the demarcation exercise. Speaking with State House correspondents, after the 10th Board Meeting of the Commission yesterday, the Acting Director-General of the Commission, Adamu Adaji, said that the panel members were poised to follow the directive religeously. He said: “The last meeting between the vice president and governors of the two states directed that we should resume the demarcation that was stalled for many years now and we have started action accordingly. “We have met at technical level to identify the number of beacons as permanent markers that are required and what we need to do preparatory to the field work. We have come out with a programme. We will discuss with the states at a joint meeting of officials that will be scheduled very soon. ''We are in contact with the states to ensure that agreements adhered to.'' SIGNING PSC BILL IN LONDON: Buhari can govern Nigeria from anywhere — OSHIOMHOLE •Says APC monitoring activities of Lawan-led Senate •9th Senate working for Nigeria, says Lawan By Henry Umoru AChairman BUJA—NATIONAL of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday took a swipe at critics knocking President Muhammadu Buhari for signing a bill into law in London, saying the President can govern from any where. Speaking yesterday in Abuja when he led members of the APC National Working Committee, NWC, on a visit to President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and other principal officers of the APC in the Upper Chamber, Oshiomhole said Nigeria had gone beyond what he described as Mungo Park where a President was expected to function only from his base. According to him, President Buhari signed the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract, PSC, Amendment Bill into law on Monday in London at Nigeria House. Oshiomhole, who disclosed that the party had been monitoring the activities of the 9th Senate under the leadership of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the President, said the Upper Chamber has performed extremely well, especially with the cultivation of what he described as an unusual, but very fruitful bipartisan working relationship. He said: “I was also excited to see Mr. President sign into law that Act in London. Again, a couple of implication on this. The President recognised that if you can manage it as quickly as you did and come out with such fundamental amendment that has such enormous impact on our national revenue, he as President also has to do the needful. ‘’I think by signing the bill into law at the Nigerian House in London, it shows that wherever the President is, he is Presiding over Nigeria and with the benefit of modern technology; we have passed the Mungo Park era. “So signing it in London for me has also made several statements. Namely, that wherever national interest is involved, the President is on duty and wherever he is, he is presiding. I also salute his assenting to the Bill as fast as he did and even at the Nigerian House in London.” Recall that President Buhari has temporarily relocated the Presidency to the United Kingdom where he signed the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract, PSC, Amendment Bill into law on Monday. Speaking further on the achievements recorded so far in the 9th Senate, with Senator Ahmad Lawan as President, Oshiomhole, who called for a more robust bipartisan working relationship among APC are senators, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Young Progressives Party, YPP, for effective development, said national interest should be paramount and not personal interest. Responding, the President of the Senate, Lawan, who noted that the 9th Senate was working for Nigeria, said all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, have defended their budgets. He said with the amendment of the PSC, Nigeria would, at $55 per barrel of oil, receive about $1.5 billion annually, adding that when price got as high as $60, the earning would be close to $2 billion which he described as a monumental quantum leap. Lawan said: “We have a Senate today that is primed right from the start to deliver to Nigerians. We campaigned and said that we want a Senate that will work for Nigerian. This Senate works for Nigeria, indeed. And this is just the beginning of what we intend to achieve.''
Page 1 and 2: Operation ‘Identify Yourself’:
Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 20
Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews Vanguard
Page 7: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 20
Page 17 and 18: VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 20
Page 19 and 20: By Udeme Akpan Oil price recorded f
Page 27 and 28: Direct Digital Transformation Inves
Page 31 and 32: The NDDC, corruption and the politi
Page 45 and 46: Pinnick, 4 others discharged, acqui

06112109

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?