25032020

More documents

Recommendations

Info

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 SENSITIZATION: Chairman, Saudi Branch B, Oshodi Odi- Olowo, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Mr. Alaba Omolaye (2nd left), Secretary, NURTW, Saudi Branch B, Oshodi Odi-Olowo, Mr. Afeez Badmos (right) and others, during the sensitization exercise of passengers at Motor Parks by the order of the Lagos State Government because of COVID-19 in Lagos. Covid-19: Wike leads enforcement of ban on public gatherings • Edo govt restricts gatherings, limits markets to only essential commodities • Youth group hails FG, Bayelsa, Imo, Kano on response • Activist warns against lockdown of Nigeria's economy By Egufe Yafugborhi, Ozioruva Aliu, Samuel Oyadongha, Festus Ahon, Chioma Onuegbu & Onozure Dania PORT HARCOURT—In sheer determination to stem the spread of growing Coronavirus (COVID-19), Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has committed himself to head a 12-Man Task Force constituted by the state Government to enforce the ban on public gatherings in the state. A statement by the state government, on Tuesday, noted that the committee to be inaugurated today, (Wednesday) at the Government House, Port Harcourt has the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim as Secretary. Other members include: the Commissioner of Police, Garrison Commander, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Air Force Commander, Naval Commander, and State Commandant, State Director, Department of State Services. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Secretary to the State Government, Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief of Staff, Government House and Commissioner for Health are also members of the committee. Wike had warned of sanctions against violators of the various restrictions being put in place by his administration against Covid-19, urging residents to cooperate. Edo restricts gatherings, limits markets to only essential commodities In Edo State, government on Tuesday, stepped up its response to COVID-19 pandemic, as Governor Godwin Obaseki reduced the number of people allowed in any public gathering in the state from 50 to 20 persons. Besides, the state government, also ordered the closure of markets, with only sellers of food items, medicines and other vital commodities allowed to operate. Obaseki, made the decisions public when he inaugurated the Edo State COVID- 19 Response Committee at Government House, Benin City, the Edo State Capital. He said: “We are reducing the number of persons allowed to gather in public places from 50 to 20 persons. Also, only markets where essential commodities like foodstuffs are sold should remain open for now. “The state government is working with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) for mass production of hand sanitizers in drums that would be distributed to Local Government Areas (LGAs), palaces, markets and other government agencies for use in public places.” Obaseki, also directed transport unions to intensify sensitisation among members on the need to implement the social distancing policy by reducing the number of passengers on their vehicles. The governor, however, tasked security agencies in the state on the enforcement of the new measures.” Youth hails FG, Bayelsa, Imo, Kano on response A group, World Assembly of Youth, WAY, has commended the proactive measures taken by the Federal and some state governments to contain the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria. A statement signed by Preye Ketebu-Brown, Coordinator, WAY-Africa Response Against COVID-19, noted that Kano, Imo and Bayelsa were among none index states leading impressively. Ketebu-Brown, who is also the Vice President (Africa) WAY, said the appointment of Prof. Maurice Iwu to lead the COVID-19 taskforce in Imo, is equally strategic in view of his vast experience in pharmacognosy. The statement read: “The decision of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa to personally Chair the Bayelsa State Special Taskforce on COVID-19 and his directive for all council areas in the state to do the same is most impressive. “The step is recommended to other states and countries across Africa. “Africa needs political will to win this. Bayelsa State has taken the boldest step so far in the country by a state government against COVID-19. “WAY calls on all and sundry to take extreme caution in social meetings, greetings and interactions. Youths are advised to be vigilant for correct and current information. “Avoid spreading fake news and comply with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and W.H.O updates/ guidelines/alerts to stay safe from contacting the virus." WAY observed that it was worrisome that Nigeria with a population of almost 200 million only has five reference laboratories for the COVID 19. It therefore, called on every state to as part of emergency proactive measures to set up laboratories with capacities for COVID-19 tests and containment as well as a COV- ID-19 treatment centre. Improve on bud getary provision for health sector, Ewariezi tells Govt Frontline candidate for office of the President of the Isoko National Youth Assembly, INYA, Mr. Ede Ewariezi, has called on government at all levels to step up effort to contain the pandemic coronavirus. Ewariezi, who made the appeal during a meeting with critical stakeholders and youth leaders in Oleh, the Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, said; "The failure of government over the years have revealed the weakness of the country in the area of medical infrastructure," urging government to improve on its budgetary provisions for the health sector. He said; “We have seen how empty Nigeria is in terms of health infrastructure in the face of the pressure from Covid 19. Apart from the failure of our health infrastructure, the outbreak has also shown how weak our educational system is. "The Ghanaian President called for the collaboration between the Ghanaian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Telecommunication to have an arrangement for Distance Learning while we have none of such options. We need to overhaul our entire infrastructure as soon as this episode passes.” Ewarieze however, urged the State Government to redouble her efforts to guide against the outbreak of the virus in Delta, adding that "the State is a strategic corridor for the movement of people across the land, air and sea of the country". He called on the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to step forward and complement the efforts of the Governments of the Niger Delta in containing the spread of the virus. NCS sensitises staff, inmates in A-Ibom on precautionary measures The Nigeria Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom has sensitised its staff and inmates of correctional centres in the state on the precautionary measures to prevent and curtail the spread of Coronavirus pandemic. The Controller of Akwa Ibom state command, Mr Alex Oditah, who spoke at the Ikot Abasi and Eket Correctional Centres yesterday, stressed that the staff and inmates must comply with the measures in order to stay safe. Oditah added that his visit to all the correctional centres was imperative to ensure that they comply with the directives of the, Controller General of Operations, Alhaji Ja'Afara Ahmed to make water, soap, hand sanitisers, and Thermometers available in all the correctional centres as part of measures to check the spread in the correctional Centres. He noted that he had visited other correctional service centres including Ikot Ekpene, Uyo to to ensure that they comply to the directives. , "We have come here to sensitise both the inmates and staff on the need to be cautious of the pandemic virus ravaging the world today and the need for them to keep the environment clean at all times. "And we are using thermometer and infra-red to detect the temperature of whoever come to the correctional Centres as part of measure to prevent the spread of Coronavirus", he said. Oditah noted that henceforth anybody who refuses to use hand sensitisers or check his temperature would not be allow access into any of their facilities in the state, adding that the visits to inmates and staff are now regularised in all the correctional Centres. The deputy Controller of Corrections, Eket, Mr George Njoku said that he had already complied with the precautionary measures, saying, "The Controller had directed me to put necessary measures in place to ensure the protection of our staff and inmates against the Coronavirus" Onitiri warns against lockdown of Nigeria's economy Lagos-based socio-political activist, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has warned that Nigeria cannot afford lockdown of its economy now as it would have a disastrous effect which will compound insecurity and unemployment calamities. He said, “Many Nigerians don't have solid and permanent jobs that can sustain them during any lockdown. If some people don't go out in a day, there won't be food on the table for their families.” In a statement released in Lagos on Tuesday, in apparent reaction to a call for total lockdown of Nigeria's economy, on Monday in Abuja by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Onitiri said, "Nigeria is presently the world's poverty capital and any lock down on our economy will have a disastrous and devastating effect which will compound our insecurity and unemployment calamities. "Many advanced nations are locked down by this deadly Coronavirus. Europe is locked down, China is, America has been and Asia is locking down. The huge economic implications of these lock down is enormous for these nations. "Back home, we are yet to imagine the huge economic implications on our fragile and deteriorating economy which lacks any social welfare for the young, middleaged, unemployed and old people of the country. "The handling of this worldwide calamity is below international standard and unethical. It shows we are ill-prepared for this emergency which is dangerous for the nation. "Our approach to detection, prevention and treatment of the disease is lackadaisical. The information to the nation is in bits and pieces and usually not correct. "Big nations commit huge sums for the cure and treatment of their citizens and also for research purposes. Our budget for the coronavirus is a peanut that is not even enough for a state. "That the national committee set up for Covid 19 in Nigeria is headed by a lawyer, who is not a medical doctor for the job is not good enough. It only shows how serious we are as a nation," he added. Oditah noted that henceforth anybody who refuses to use hand sensitisers or check his temperature would not be allow access into any of their facilities in the state, adding that the visits to inmates and staff are now regularised in all the correctional Centres. The deputy Controller of Corrections, Eket, Mr George Njoku said that he had already complied with the precautionary measures, saying, "The Controller had directed me to put necessary measures in place to ensure the protection of our staff and inmates against the Coronavirus" Onitiri warns against lockdown of Nigeria's economy Lagos-based socio-political activist, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has warned that Nigeria cannot afford lockdown of its economy now as it would have a disastrous effect which will compound insecurity and unemployment calamities. He said, “Many Nigerians don't have solid and permanent jobs that can sustain them during any lockdown. If some people don't go out in a day, there won't be food on the table for their families.” In a statement released in Lagos on Tuesday, in apparent reaction to a call for total lockdown of Nigeria's economy, on Monday in Abuja by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Onitiri said, "Nigeria is presently the world's poverty capital and any lock down on our economy will have a disastrous and devastating effect which will compound our insecurity and unemployment calamities. "Many advanced nations are locked down by this deadly Coronavirus. Europe is locked down, China is, America has been and Asia is locking down. The huge economic implications of these lock down is enormous for these nations. "Back home, we are yet to imagine the huge economic implications on our fragile and deteriorating economy which lacks any social welfare for the young, middle-aged, unemployed and old people of the country." Onitiri, wondered why a lawyer was selected to head the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, describing it “rather unfortunate” that Nigerians were unlucky to have leaders that don't care much for their welfare and security.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020—31 PEER TO PEER LAUNCH: From left, Mr. Tunde Akin-Moses, Chief Executive Officer; Miss Onyinyechukwuka Okonji, Chief Marketing Officer and Mr. Mayowa Adeosun, Chief Operating Officer, all of Sycamore, during the launch of Peer to Peer lending platform for individuals, businesses in Lagos. Contracts: Okorocha, 7 coys fail to appear before judicial commission •I didn't know contract values of projects —Ex-SUBEB chair By Chidi Nkwopara O WERRI—SENATOR Rochas Okorocha and seven contractors, who were billed to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Contracts, failed to appear at the resumed hearing, yesterday. However, they were not represented by their lawyers, despite being subpoenaed through substituted means. Addressing the absence of the witnesses, Justice Benjamin Iheka reasoned that “although they may have failed to appear as a result of the directives on the prevention of the spread of coronavirus, they must realise that this Judicial Commission of Inquiry is limited by time.” Before adjourning their matters to March 30, 2020, Justice Iheka, who was not happy that lawyers also failed to represent their clients, however, said the commission would continue taking evidence from witnesses, despite the directives on COVID-19. I didn't know contract values of projects —Ex-SUBEB chair Meanwhile, more startling disclosures were made at the last sitting of the commission, as former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB, Mrs. Uche Ejiogu, said she did not know the contract values of projects supposedly executed by the establishment. Ejiogu, who spoke from the witness box, vide JUD/ CICA/152M/2020, also told the judicial commission that she did not know anything about the twin-storey primary school project. Her words: “I was IMSUBEB Chairman when the twin-storey primary school project was initiated but I do not know anything about its execution. I was not consulted. I do not know how many buildings were involved. I do not know the contractors that handled the project. I do not also know the contract value of each of the projects, throughout my stay as Chairman.” According to the former IMSUBEB boss, she did not know if the contract was executed and never also knew of any payment in respect of the project, “except for the 91 school buildings, but I do not know the nature of the structure.” Ejiogu affirmed that she brought a documented action plan for the project from Abuja and handed it over to the governor, Rochas Okorocha who decided how he wanted it. Her words: “The next I heard about the project was when the Commissioner of Finance, Chike Okafor, coming to my office, asking that I should release N5.2 billion. I did not listen to Chike Okafor but went to the governor to give me a written approval for the demand. The governor shouted at me to go and release the money. “The governor told me that there was a task force in Government House he constituted, which was handling the projects. I felt that Chike Okafor might be a member of the task force. I returned to my office and met Chike Okafor waiting for me. He told me to release the money unless I wanted to loose my job.” On releasing funds to White Label On how she got involved in releasing funds to White Label International Company Limited, Ejiogu said: “Chike Okafor gave me a company's name called White Label, which he said I should raise N2.7 billion in that name for payment and I called on the Director of Accounts to comply.” Answering a question, Mrs. Ejiogu said she was aware that White Label collected about N3.6 billion, adding that the N3.7 billion on paper from the Director of Accounts notwithstanding. After recounting the procedures precedent before contracts could be validly awarded, Ejiogu, however, added that she did not know if they were strictly observed in the instant case. “Since I handed over the action plan document to the governor, IMSUBEB was no longer involved in the project. The contract sum for each of the 91 projects was N40 million and we paid 75 percent, being N30 million. Another money realised from White Label was withholding tax of five percent, Value Added Tax of five percent on the contract value,” Ejiogu said. Ohanaeze Ndigbo lauds NGF for assisting victims of Lagos pipeline explosion By Ikechukwu Odu NSUKKA—THE apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, yesterday, commended Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, for donating N200 million to victims of the recent pipeline explosion in Lagos State in which many lives were lost and a lot of houses destroyed. A release by National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga, said Ohanaeze Ndigbo was highly touched by the kind gesture and magnanimity of the governors, which shows their commitment to the welfare of the people. The release stated that the action of the governors was an exemplary show of benevolence by statesmen committed to the unity and progress of the country and urged other Nigerians to emulate them. It also appreciated their pledge to offer more assistance to the victims in the future, the dwindling revenue of states notwithstanding. Ohanaeze Ndigbo further thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for launching a N2 billion relief fund to give succour to the hapless victims of the explosion. The organisation further said the prompt response by Governor Sanwo-Olu marks him out as a kind and caring leader, who feels the pains of his subjects. Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in conjunction with its Lagos Chapter, is setting up a relief fund for the victims, which its President-General, Chief John Nwodo and a representative from the office of the Accountant-General of Lagos State will be part signatories to the account. The release called on individuals and groups to contribute handsomely to the project to alleviate the untold anguish the victims of the unfortunate mishap are going through. Court sacks Enugu monarch after 17 years on throne •Says he forged secondary school certificate By Chinedu Adonu ENUGU— AN Enugu State High Court has sacked the traditional ruler of Umuogbugbuagu Autonomous Community in Ugwuoba, Oji River council area of the state, Chief Anayo Anochili, for alleged certificate forgery. The court presided by Justice A. Nwobodo said Anochili was not qualified in the first place to contest for the Igweship stool of the community because he presented a questionable secondary school certificate. Chief Nathan Nwanze Nwangwu, who also contested for the throne, had dragged the embattled monarch to court and prayed the court to declare him the rightful person to occupy the position on the ground that his rivalry was not qualified for the position. Nwangwu had argued that at the time the Igweship election was held in 2003, he was the only qualified candidate who indicated interest and that his presentation to the government for recognition was truncated by Anochili. However, Anochili had contended before the court that he polled the majority of lawful votes cast during the election and was thereafter presented with a letter of recognition bythe Enugu State Government. In his decision, Justice Nwobodo said he found merits in the argument of ....Mrs Anna Nwaokobia too Mrs. Anna Nwaokobia, 104 years, is dead. A statement on behalf of the family by Mr. Clement Nwaokobia and Bishop Mike Nwaokobia said the burial riteswill begin on Thursday, April 16 , 2020 with service of songs/social wake at her residence, the plaintiff, Chief Nwangwu, that Anochili was not qualified in the first place to stand for the election. According to him, the defendant “has since tendered his school certificate before this court as Exhibit 16. The said certificate is dated June 2004 and bears the name of Anochili Anayo C. born on February 1, 1979. Meanwhile, Exhibit 2 filled by the 2nd defendant shows that he was born on September 1, 1965. “Can it be said that the candidate for the Igwe stool in Exhibit 2 and the owner of the school certificate Exhibit 16 is the same person? My answer is in the negative. “Now, even if for the purpose of argument, that they are the same person, the question is: was the 2nd defendant qualified to contest the office of the Igwe of Umuogbugbuagu Autonomous Community as at the time he filled the form on October 30, 2003? My answer is emphatic no.” He, therefore, gave an order restraining Anochili or his agents from parading themselves as the monarch of the community. “The 2nd defendant is hereby restrained by the order of this court from parading himself or being paraded by any other person as His Royal Highness, Igwe Cyril Anayo Anochili or performing any duties customarily reserved for the Igwe of Umuogbugbuagu Autonomous Community." Omoruyi James For burial Okuma Doghor Mrs Omoruyi James (nee Osagiede),108 years, is dead. Burial comes up March 27 and 28, 2020 at her home town in Ekehen, Edo State. She is survived by Mrs Elizabeth Akugue (daughter), Mrs Alice Onaiwu (sister), and other relations, among whom is Mrs Ann Ivie Umokoro (nee Akugue) (grand daughter). The families of Prince Dudu of Oboro in Warri South LGA and Ikpeson Doghor of Ajigbe-Igun in Ethiope West LGA have annouced the death of Sister Okuma Elizabeth Doghor, age 90 years. Burial comes up Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Ajaoguoyibo in Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State by 10 pm. Umuodogwu Ogboli quarters, Ibusa to be followed by funeral service the next day at her residence at 10:00am and thereafter interment at some venue while thanksgiving service will held on Sunday, April 19. 2020.
Page 1 and 2: The role of traditional rulers - Sa
Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews Vanguard
Page 9 and 10: UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS OPS writes Bu
Page 19 and 20: COVID-19: Reps pass bill for coys t
Page 23 and 24: The role of traditional rulers - Sa
Page 25 and 26: COVID-19 and Nigerians FOR the firs
Page 27 and 28: L-R: Chairman, Association of Licen
Page 29: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
Page 35 and 36: Continues from Page 5 Dr Chikwe Ihe
Page 37 and 38: COVID-19: Tokyo 2020 Olympics offic

25032020

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

Delete template?

Save as template?