29032020 - El Rufai tests positive as experts insist on Total lockdown

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2020 SENATE BILL SPONSOR FIRES BACK: Buhari, govs, everyone should What prompted you to sponsor the Bill to prohibit the use of generating sets in the country? I will tell you and I will be very blunt. One of the re<strong>as</strong>ons I came up with this Bill is because of the frustration that I see my brothers, sisters, mothers, Nigerians go through; the frustration over the p<strong>as</strong>t 40 years about electricity power supply in Nigeria. We don’t have reliable power supply in Nigeria; we don’t have efficient power in the country. I am worried that without electricity, industrialization is almost impossible, socio-economic activities are affected, our health condition, the welfare of our people is at risk. I am worried, we cannot continue on this path, we have to change the narrative and, for us to change, we need dr<strong>as</strong>tic action. Let me refer you to what Mallam N<strong>as</strong>ir <strong>El</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong>, the governor of Kaduna State, said. He said our power sector is broken and we need to take difficult decisions in order to put it right. That statement moved me to come up with this Bill. Nigeria is so blessed. We have rivers to develop our hydroelectric power. We have the sun to develop solar energy. We have g<strong>as</strong> to develop thermal energy. We have coal. What else do we need from God? He h<strong>as</strong> given everything to us, but we have failed to utilize these natural blessings from God to us. And I know that without power, it will be difficult for us to move to the next level and I believe we have a good government in place; I expect and believe that this government can take very bold steps to put things right and that’s what motivated me. Don’t you think that there should be alternative on ground, <strong>as</strong> many Nigerians have suggested, before coming up with this Bill? You are saying we should have reliable and efficient power before we ban generators? Nigerians are very good, but the problem we have is how decisions are taken. If we wait for efficient power to be in place, we will never get there; if you go through history of power system in Nigeria, there have been many reforms but we have achieved virtually nothing. For the p<strong>as</strong>t 40 years, we have generated below 3,000 megawatts and we have remained there. We have had all sorts of reforms and we got nowhere. Now we have generating companies, we have TCN, we have distribution companies but where are we? For the p<strong>as</strong>t five years, there have been no significant changes and I believe that, no matter the reforms you bring into this country, if you want to wait for change, the change will never come. We need to take this difficult decision. If I don’t have standby generator in my house, if governors, ministers, President Buhari in the Villa do not have standby power in their offices, in their houses, I think Nigeria will be a better place. Do you have generator in your stop using generat –Senator Enagi •‘Importers of generating set to serve 10-year-jail-term if...’ By Henry Umoru, Assistant Political Editor Senator Muhammad Bima Enagi, All Progressives Congress, APC, represents Niger South i Senate. He is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Vice Chairman, Committee on Local and Foreign Debts. On March 11, 2020, a Bill for an A prohibit the importation and use of generating sets in the country, sponsored by him, w<strong>as</strong> rea first time during plenary. If the Bill, aimed at curbing environmental air pollution and to faci the development of the power sector, scales through and p<strong>as</strong>sed, then signed into law, any pe who imports or sells generating sets shall be sentenced to imprisonment for ten years. In this Inter Bima bares his mind on why he is sponsoring the Bill. Excerpts: house? Of course I have. I am a law abiding citizen. If generator is banned, I will comply 100%. And what I have suggested is not total ban. There are exceptions; so it is actually a regulation. We have exempted medical facilities, seaports, airports, research institutions and any such vital facilities that we need 24 hours power system to run. But there is an existing Act setting up an agency to make and review regulations of air quality and even sanction offenders... Yes, I am not ignorant of such an agency, but what I can tell you, no matter the reforms you bring into this country, if you do not come up with bold and difficult decisions, we will get nowhere. There have been reforms in the power sector but that h<strong>as</strong> not significantly changed anything on ground. I believe that no matter what we do, if we don’t take this bold step in order to sanitize the system, you will continue to have pollution; and it affects the environment, it affects the health, welfare and the socioeconomic activities of the people. We have had serious fire outbreaks <strong>as</strong> a result of people using generators, so it is If I don’t have standby generator in my house, if governors, ministers, President Buhari in the Villa do not have standby power in their offices, in their houses, I think Nigeria will be a better place something we need to take a bold decision to stop in this country. Are you saying that the disadvantages of using generators are more than the advantages? There are alternatives, we have renewable energy, we have solar system which can be deployed in this country. God h<strong>as</strong> blessed us, we have the sun. Will the Bill not affect the rural people against the backdrop that they live without public power supply and their activities are tied to generating sets? Yes, it will but they have clusters. For example, in Wuse Market in Abuja, they are using solar system presently; people there do not use generators any longer. There are such environments where such system can be deployed and that is the way I want us to go. We need clean energy, we don’t need to continue to use generators that bring so much air pollution and consequently health hazards; we cannot continue that way. Are you aware that the agency in charge of energy, b<strong>as</strong>ed on its mandate, banned the importation of two-stroke engines which include generators in 2011? I am aware, but what do we have on ground? There h<strong>as</strong> not been any significant change on ground. Go to markets and you will get generators. I am aware that the ban w<strong>as</strong> for bulk importation of generators, but not for individuals to buy and use; so that h<strong>as</strong> not solved the problem. This ban I am proposing will be comprehensive. Critics say the Bill is anti- people. How do you manage the criticisms trailing it and lobby to get it to become law? I will <strong>as</strong>sure Nigerians that the Bill is people friendly; it is focused on the welfare of the people. Yes, we may have initial challenges, but I can tell you that, in the long run, Nigeria will be better for it. If you <strong>as</strong>k any woman that h<strong>as</strong> a hair dressing salon or any man that h<strong>as</strong> a barber’s shop or a small business that is running on generator, the money she or he spends on fuelling and maintenance of the generator, compare it with the money he or she would pay utility company, it is far lower; the money you spend to maintain your generator is like five times what you pay to utility company. If you bring down the cost of goods and services in this country, this bill is for the good of the people, it will bring down the prices of goods and services. The subsidy that government is paying on importation will also go down, fire incidents will also go down and we will be better off in terms
SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2020, PAGE 37 Killing of 10 Uwheru sons is a savage attack against Urhobo nation — Prof Eghagha or s By Perez Brisibe FORMER Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha, h<strong>as</strong> described l<strong>as</strong>t months killing of 10 persons in Uwheru kingdom, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State <strong>as</strong> a savage attack on the entire Urhobo nation. Prof Eghagha who also doubles <strong>as</strong> national chairman of Urhobo Renaissance Society, URS, made the disclosure at Agadama community during a condolence visit by members of the group to the people of the community. Speaking on efforts being put in place to stop a repeat of the incident, he explained that members of the group, most of whom are academic dons, will develop ide<strong>as</strong> and programmes towards tackling the challenges of herdsmen attacks in Urhobo land. He said: “The attacks that happened here will not be tolerated in Urhobo nation, if others condone such in their are<strong>as</strong> and this must not continue in our are<strong>as</strong>. “Our people are defenceless because by the laws of the land, you cannot bear arms, hence we are calling on the federal government to perform its duties and obligations towards the Urhobo people, particularly the Uwheru people by ensuring that security sources protect them. ”Where we fail to protect our people, the international community should take note and whatever actions by bringing pressure to bear on the federal government to protect the citizens of this country. ” the , and ct to d the itate rson view, of the health of the people. Pollution is not good for us and the environment because the ozone layer is being depleted. After going for second reading and public hearing, the Bill will be fine-tuned and more friendly, and I think Nigerians will accept it. Can you <strong>as</strong>sure your constituents that the Bill and others from you will be beneficial to them? The Bills are beneficial not only to my people, but also Nigerians. This is the not the first Bill from me that h<strong>as</strong> p<strong>as</strong>sed in the National Assembly. I have two other such bills. I sponsored a bill on Rice Development Council and another on Shea Development Council. This is my third Bill. I have also sponsored many motions. You quarantined your daughters. Give you give an insight into the development? That w<strong>as</strong> the right thing to do. I care about the health of my family. My daughters spoke with me on phone from Key takeaways • Nigerians have unduly suffered power problems for 40 year ears • <strong>El</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong> opened my eyes to broken electricity sector • We don’t need efficient power sector before banning generat ator ors • This is time for difficult icult decision • How I quarantined my two daughters who flew in from Egypt Egypt and told me that by Thursday, airports will be closed; their schools had been closed earlier. So I had to rush to get tickets for them so that they could return to Nigeria. I told their mothers that we had to be careful, that the health of all us is very important; that when they returned home, “don’t hug them, let us keep them in a flat. If we cannot keep them for two weeks, we keep them for ten days. But I prefer two weeks, p<strong>as</strong>s food to them and when they finish eating, go and pick the plates and anybody going to pick the plates will wear gloves, make sure you w<strong>as</strong>h the plates and then you w<strong>as</strong>h your hands very well”. The driver who went to pick them at the airport, I told him “ple<strong>as</strong>e, don’t carry their luggage, they should carry them themselves. When they get home, they should get the luggage themselves to the flat where they are supposed to stay. And take the car straight for w<strong>as</strong>hing”. And I spoke with them immediately they arrived, telling them that they shouldn’t hug their We have exempted medical facilities, seaports, airports, research institutions and any such vital facilities that we need 24 hours power system to run mothers, don’t enter their rooms, go straight to that flat and remain there” and they complied. When I got home, I went to the room and saw the two of them, they were f<strong>as</strong>t <strong>as</strong>leep. I w<strong>as</strong> happy that they were f<strong>as</strong>t <strong>as</strong>leep. I <strong>as</strong>ked the mothers whether they followed the instructions I gave and they told me that everything w<strong>as</strong> complied with. The following morning, I went there to greet them. I kept some distance from them and everybody kept some distance from them. They are busy watching television and reading. What message do you have for Nigerians and government on how to address the ravaging COVID- 19? I believe government is taking very good steps. We heard about flights from 13 countries which they have banned <strong>as</strong> from Saturday. They have also established quarantine facilities in some airports like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano. You tune to television stations, we have been advised on the me<strong>as</strong>ures, keep a distance <strong>as</strong> I am with you now; it is very important to w<strong>as</strong>h your hands. All the things we are all expected to do, we are told on television and radio. I think government is taking <strong>positive</strong> steps. Covid 19: Yingi t<strong>as</strong>ks Deltans on personal hygiene By Festus Ahon SPECIAL Adviser to Governor If eanyi Okowa on Environment and Marine Transportation, Chief Daniel Yingi h<strong>as</strong> advocated for enhanced personal hygiene among Deltans <strong>as</strong> government steps up me<strong>as</strong>ures to check the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus to the state. Yingi who gave the advice during Covid 19 sensitization visit to his home town, Okpokunu in Burutu local government area, said the people must encourage government efforts by complying with directives being issued out to them. The former lawmaker who represented Burutu Constituency 1, in the State House of Assembly posited that the dreaded Coronavirus h<strong>as</strong> humbled the world. He commended the resilience of the State Central Committee on Managing and containing the Coronavirus Pandemic headed by Governor Okowa for the several far-reaching decisions made so far to wade off virus from the shores of the state. Yingi maintained that even <strong>as</strong> scientists and researchers continued to seek for antidotes for the cure of the dise<strong>as</strong>e, it w<strong>as</strong> pertinent for the people to adopt all preventive me<strong>as</strong>ures to avoid the contiguous virus. The Special Adviser listed constant use of face m<strong>as</strong>ks, frequent hand w<strong>as</strong>hing and the use of sanitizer <strong>as</strong> globally accepted me<strong>as</strong>ures to check the spread of the virus. He also urged Deltans to obey the stay at home order of the state government <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> maintaining social distancing at all times. Yingi expressed the hope that the deadly virus would soon be a thing of the p<strong>as</strong>t "<strong>as</strong> God h<strong>as</strong> not and can never abandon His children".
Page 2 and 3: PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29,
Page 10 and 11: PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29
Page 16 and 17: PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH
Page 18 and 19: PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29
Page 20 and 21: PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH
Page 24 and 25: PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29
Page 34 and 35: PAGE 34 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH
Page 38 and 39: PAGE 38 - SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29
Page 40: SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 29, 2020 SEE

29032020 - El Rufai tests positive as experts insist on Total lockdown

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?