01052020 - COVID-19 Job cuts loom, as Buhari falls back on Oronsaye report

Soldier killed, policeman 

shot <strong>as</strong> securitymen 

cl<strong>as</strong>h in Delta 

•Joint investigation by Army, Police coming 

— PPRO •There won't be reprisals from 6 

soldiers, says Army commander 

Govs playing 

pranks with 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> to 

get money 

8 

—NEF 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: 113 health 

workers infected — FG 

I’ve authorised use of 

31 

chloroquine for treatment 

of Coronavirus — BAUCHI GOV 

IMF’s $3.4bn loan: Nigeria needs to restructure, reposition economy — Moghalu 

9 

<strong>19</strong> 

VOL. 27: NO. 64060 FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: 

<strong>Job</strong> <strong>cuts</strong> <strong>loom</strong>, <strong>as</strong> <strong>Buhari</strong> <strong>falls</strong> 

<strong>back</strong> on Oronsaye report 

5 

•President orders SGF, HoS to implement Oronsaye report 

•We won’t tolerate job losses – NLC; SERAP hail move 

AT ACCESS BANK'S 31 ST AGM 

Mysterious 

deaths: 

Toll rises, 

<strong>as</strong> 4 more 

persons 

die in 

8 

Kano 

From left: Dr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc; Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika, Chairman, and Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, 

Company Secretary, during the bank’s 31st Annual General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

Naira 

depreciates to 

N387.30/$ in 

I&E window 41 

Mr & Mrs 

MAY DAY: Workers 

lament unfair 

practices, warn 

against post-<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

job insecurity 

•As pandemic stops May 

Day funfair •FG <strong>as</strong>sures 

job security, decent 

employment 

39 

HUNGER Vs SOCIAL DISTANCING... 

OWEI 17 AZU 36 ATIKU ABUBAKAR 40 

A queue 

for free food 

at Oshodi 

underbrigde 

<strong>as</strong> lockdown 

continues to 

prevent 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

spread in 

L a g o s , 

yesterday. 

P h o t o : 

A k e e m 

Salau.

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1 2020

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1 2020 — 3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

TASK FORCE ON BORDER CLOSURE —Rivers State Governor, 

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, (standing right) inaugurating the State T<strong>as</strong>k Force on 

Border Closure at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday. 



•President orders SGF, HoS to implement Oronsaye report 

•We won’t tolerate job losses – NLC; SERAP hails move 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Victor Young & 

Henry Ojelu 

LAGOS — There 

were widespread 

fears of imminent 

job <strong>cuts</strong> in the public 

sector yesterday <strong>as</strong> 

President Muhammadu 

<strong>Buhari</strong>, in response to 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> realities, 

a p p r o v e d 

implementation of a 

report submitted by the 

Stephen Oransaye 

Presidential Committee 

on Restructuring and 

Rationalization of Federal 

Government Par<strong>as</strong>tatals, 

Commissions and 

Agencies during the 

Goodluck Jonathan 

administration. 

Known <strong>as</strong> the Oronsaye 

report, the 800-page 

report had recommended 

the abolition and merger 

of 102 government 

agencies and par<strong>as</strong>tatals, 

among others, to 

dr<strong>as</strong>tically cut the cost of 

governance. 

Minister of Finance, 

Budget and National 

Planning, Zainab Ahmed, 

who disclosed this in an 

interview on Channels TV 

said: “The President h<strong>as</strong> 

approved that this 

administration should 

implement the Oransaye 

report, and that the 

president’s approval had 

been forwarded to the 

Head of Service and 

Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation. 

“It h<strong>as</strong> reviewed the 

whole of the size of 

government and h<strong>as</strong> 

made very significant 

recommendations in 

terms of reducing the 

number of agencies and 

that would mean merging 

some agencies. 

“This is a report that h<strong>as</strong> 

been in place for a long 

time and there h<strong>as</strong>n’t 

been implementation but 

the President h<strong>as</strong> 

approved that this should 

be implemented and we 

have conveyed Mr 

President’s approval to 

the arms of government 

that are responsible for 

this and that will be the 

office of the Secretary of 

Government and the 

Head of civil service of the 

federation.” 

NLC, SERAP 

commend move 

Yesterday, the move 

elicited mixed reactions 

from the Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, and an 

NGO, the Social- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Projects, 

SERAP. 

The NLC, which said it 

would issue a detailed 

reaction later, noted that 

the merger of agencies is 

welcome if it does not 

include job losses. 

An official of NLC who 

spoke on condition of 

anonymity, told 

Vanguard yesterday, said: 

“The merger is a welcome 

development because we 

do not expect it to lead to 

job losses. The agencies 

are not doing the same 

jobs, there are no 

duplications of jobs. 

“It is just like the Police 

and Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC. You may 

argue that traffic control is 

part of the police jobs but 

the work of FRSC is far 

more than just traffic 

control. The merger also 

may not lead to marginal 

reduction in the cost of 

governance. 

“If the government 

really wants to reduce the 

cost of governance, there 

must be a conscious effort 

targeting at the political 

structure, the bogus 

political appointees and 

their huge pay packages. 

Do we really need the 

Senate and the House of 

Representatives at the 

same time? This is 

debatable. What about 

the bogus political 

appointees by the 

President, the governors, 

the ministers, the 

commissioners and the 

rest? These are what are 

bleeding the economy. 

“But when you are 

merging agencies that are 

doing different jobs, it h<strong>as</strong> 

no major effect on cost of 

governance. We want to 

see how the merger will 

unfold, the implications 

for job security among 

others. We sincerely 

believe that the merger is 

necessary in <strong>as</strong> much <strong>as</strong> 

it does not lead to job 

losses. Like I said earlier, 

we will see how it unfolds 

before we make detailed 

reaction.” 

President is 

right – SERAP 

Reacting, Executive 

Director of SERAP, Mr. 

Adetokunbo Mumuni, 

said: “I believe the 

directive by the President 

is the right thing to do to 

ensure accountability. 

SERAP <strong>as</strong> an organization 

h<strong>as</strong> been in the forefront 

of the campaign for 

merger of agencies that 

are mere duplications of 

others and so become a 

source of w<strong>as</strong>te of 

government resources. 

“You cannot burn your 

candle at both ends and 

expect to make any 

progress in the 

management of scarce 

resources. We are happy 

that the President h<strong>as</strong> now 

given a directive to the 

SGF and HoS to scrap or 

better still merge some of 

these agencies.” 

The Oronsaye 

committee 

The Oronsaye-led 

committee w<strong>as</strong> mandated 

on August 18, 2011 to, 

among others, identify 

civil service inadequacies. 

Among others, its terms of 

reference include” 

“To study and review all 

previous reports and 

records on the 

restructuring of Federal 

Par<strong>as</strong>tatals and advise on 

whether they were still 

relevant; examine the 

enabling Acts of all the 

Federal Agencies, 

Par<strong>as</strong>tatals and 

Commissions and cl<strong>as</strong>sify 

them into various sectors; 

examine critically, the 

mandate of the existing 

Federal Agencies, 

Par<strong>as</strong>tatals and 

Commissions and 

determine are<strong>as</strong> of 

overlap or duplication of 

functions and make 

a p p r o p r i a t e 

recommendations to 

either restructure, merge 

or scrap some to eliminate 

such overlaps, 

duplications or 

redundancies; and advise 

on any other matter 

incidental to the 

foregoing which might be 

relevant to the desire of 

Government to prune 

down the cost of 

governance.” 

In its report, the 

committee said then that 

there were 541 

government par<strong>as</strong>tatals, 

commissions and 

agencies (statutory and 

non-statutory) in the 

country 

and 

recommended a reduction 

in the number of statutory 

agencies from 263 to 161. 

At present, the number 

of federal agencies h<strong>as</strong> 

incre<strong>as</strong>ed and is 

estimated to be close to 

Continues on Page 41 

By Olayinka Latona 

& Bose Adelaja 

Extension of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> lockdown and 8pm-6am nationwide curfew (3) 

hough we may not 

Twant to admit it, 

Nigerians need the 

extension. Similarly, the 

lockdown h<strong>as</strong> to end too 

because many of the 

m<strong>as</strong>ses are suffering 

from hunger. Armed 

robbery h<strong>as</strong> become the 

order of the day. The 

extension of lockdown to 

May 4 is a fair and 

logical. 

B a b a t u n d e 

Olamilekan, Actor 

The lockdown is 

supposed to help in 

decre<strong>as</strong>ing the numbers 

of c<strong>as</strong>es recorded but it 

h<strong>as</strong> not, because more 

than 60% of the economy 

is in the informal sector, 

which means people 

survive on what they 

make on daily b<strong>as</strong>is. 

Government h<strong>as</strong> to 

improve the mode of 

palliative distribution. - 

Abdullateef Zainab, 

Blogger 

The extension of the 

lockdown to May 4 

is for our best interest 

because <strong>as</strong> it stands, it’s 

either battle against 

hunger or battle against 

death. Only few people 

understands that the 

lockdown is for our good, 

but we still have to 

consider those that can’t 

feed without stepping 

out. 

Afolabi Abdulmalik, 

Enterpreneur 

B<strong>as</strong>ically, the idea of 

the lockdown is 

really the best, <strong>as</strong> it’s the 

most reliable way to 

contain the virus; hence 

the extension of the 

lockdown is not really a 

problem. However, the 

end of the lockdown 

without having other 

me<strong>as</strong>ures of containing 

the virus will obviously 

expose everyone to it. 

-Adebayo Muheez, 

Content creator 

I 

will rather say it’s 

better for us to remain 

in door. The numbers are 

f<strong>as</strong>t rising and powerful 

countries are on extension 

so what is stopping us to 

join them also. Few weeks 

ago some country lifted the 

ban on banks but within 

few days, some of them 

ended up with more c<strong>as</strong>es. 

I will rather support the 

government on this. 

-Adeleke Toluwani , 

Public Analyst 

This is hard to digest 

in a country where 

offices are far from 

residential are<strong>as</strong>. How 

will you expect a banker 

who closes by 6pm or 7pm 

and stays in Ikorodu to get 

home before 8pm? It is not 

possible. I agree with the 

ban on social and religious 

gatherings. It will help us 

even after the demise of 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

-Akeem Lateef, Public 

Servant

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 

Dismissed soldier, 

promotes self to Lt 

Col, escorts trucks 

to Lagos Ports 

By Evelyn Usman 

A 

dismissed Corporal from the 

Nigerian Army, Mr Afolabi 

H<strong>as</strong>san, who w<strong>as</strong> arrested for 

parading himself <strong>as</strong> a Lieutenant 

Colonel, in Abule-Egba area of 

Lagos, said he bought the uniform 

to escort trucks from Mile 2 to Tin- 

Can port. 

Speaking with journalists during 

the parade of 13 persons arrested 

by operatives of Operation 

Checkmate of 81 Division of the 

Nigerian Army in Lagos, yesterday, 

Afolabi, who w<strong>as</strong> arrested in 

complete Army woodland 

camouflage uniform, said: “I w<strong>as</strong> 

dismissed in 2016 <strong>as</strong> a corporal 

because I went on Awol (Absence 

Without Leave). 

“I bought this uniform from 

someone at Abacha market in 

Abuja. I do not use it to steal, I use 

it to escort trucks from Mile 2 to 

Tin-Can port. I escort one truck for 

N80,000, use N50,000 to settle t<strong>as</strong>k 

force officials and take the rest home 

to feed my family. 

“I used the Military Police, MP 

badges because I w<strong>as</strong> used to them 

(MP) when I w<strong>as</strong> serving. On the 

day I w<strong>as</strong> arrested, a soldier called 

me that his boss wanted to buy a 

parcel of land because I am in 

charge of my family’s land. By the 

time I got there, I w<strong>as</strong> arrested.”. 

Another suspect paraded, a 

civilian, who h<strong>as</strong> been parading 

himself <strong>as</strong> an Army Captain, Allen 

Afolabi Allen, said he w<strong>as</strong> simply 

a private security operator and had 

never been a military personnel. 

Asked how he got the uniform 

and captain badge, he replied: “ I 

am the Managing Director, 

System Projection Security. I w<strong>as</strong> 

arrested because of the portrait they 

found in my house. 

“I am not a military man, it w<strong>as</strong> 

edited. I don’t even know who the 

person is. They only cropped my 

head and replaced it with that of 

the officer’s. 

“I did it because of the 

har<strong>as</strong>sment from Omonile (land 

grabbers). I w<strong>as</strong> told they were 

only afraid of the military and when 

I did, they stopped har<strong>as</strong>sing me, 

especially when I w<strong>as</strong> building”. 

General Officer Commanding 

81 Division, Major General 

Johnson Irefin, while parading the 

impersonators, yesterday, said he 

w<strong>as</strong> arrested at his residence at 

Olugba community, along Ilogbo 

road, Ogun State. 

Delta curfew: Soldier killed, policeman shot 

<strong>as</strong> security operatives cl<strong>as</strong>h in Bomadi 

•There' ll be a joint investigation by Army, Police — PPRO 

By Perez Brisibe & 

Chancel Sunday 

BOMADI—A soldier w<strong>as</strong> 

reportedly killed, yesterday, in 

Bomadi town, headquarters of 

Bomadi Local Government Area of 

Delta State, <strong>as</strong> some soldiers 

cl<strong>as</strong>hed with policemen over the 

implementation of the dusk to 

dawn curfew imposed to curb the 

spread of coronavirus, <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, 

in the state. 

It w<strong>as</strong> also gathered that a 

policeman sustained gunshot 

injury during the incident, which 

occurred at about midnight at a 

merry spot close to a military unit 

along NDDC Road in Bomadi. 

Giving details on what 

transpired, a senior police officer 

said the policemen, who are 

operatives of the Eagle Net 

Formation, while enforcing the 

dusk to dawn curfew in the area 

had accosted some individuals at 

a merry spot in the middle of the 

night in violation of the curfew and 

demanded to know the re<strong>as</strong>on for 

their action, leading to an 

altercation. 

The security source, who spoke 

on condition of anonymity, said: 

“The police team unknowing that 

those at the spot were soldiers in 

company of some civilians had 

enquired to know why they were 

violating the order and drinking 

outside in the middle of the night. 

“Though we are yet to <strong>as</strong>certain 

UNDER ARREST: Security men arresting an Okada rider for violating the 

stay at home order of the Federal Government at Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, yesterday. 

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

One killed, several others injured, <strong>as</strong> 

cultists cl<strong>as</strong>h in Delta community 

By Paul Olayemi 

THE supremacy battle between 

Baggar and Aiye cult groups in 

Sapele, Delta State h<strong>as</strong> reportedly 

claimed the life of one with many 

sustaining injuries. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered that the 

supremacy war started with a cult 

leader demanding c<strong>as</strong>h from a rival 

cult member in what they call 

‘protection money.’ 

“And when the rival cult member 

refused to pay, we learnt he w<strong>as</strong> 

badly bruised and that angered 

members of his cult group who 

attacked in retaliation,” the source, 

who craved anonymity, said. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered from a source at 

Irato Road, where the only death 

w<strong>as</strong> recorded, that Tega (the 

Tega, the dece<strong>as</strong>ed. 

dece<strong>as</strong>ed) w<strong>as</strong> ch<strong>as</strong>ed from the New 

Road area of the town to Irato Road, 

adding: “It w<strong>as</strong> close to Richard 

Continental Hotel that they finally 

caught up with him and w<strong>as</strong> killed.” 

The source said the cultists 

operated freely in the Vita foam area 

of Amukpe, where gunshots rained 

on Tuesday night till the early hours 

of Wednesday morning. 

When Vanguard visited Irato Road 

Wednesday night, there were 

spl<strong>as</strong>hes of blood at the scene where 

Tega (the dece<strong>as</strong>ed) w<strong>as</strong> said to have 

been killed, with residents speaking 

about it in hush tunes. 

Attempt to reach Delta State Police 

Public Relations Officer, Onome 

Onowakpoyeya, w<strong>as</strong> not successful 

<strong>as</strong> her mobile number w<strong>as</strong> not 

connecting. 

Nigerian dancer, Picture Kodak, dies after being electrocuted 

By Benjamin Njoku 

POPULAR Nigerian dancer, 

Love Divine, popularly 

known <strong>as</strong> Picture Kodak, is dead. 

The talented artiste died 

Wednesday night after she w<strong>as</strong> 

reportedly electrocuted while 

charging her phone during a 

shoot at Clarence Peters’ house 

cum studio at Omole Estate, 

Lagos State. 

Clarence Peters is one of the 

veteran music and video directors 

in the country. 

Kodak, who appeared in a 

number of music videos, w<strong>as</strong> 

confirmed dead after being 

rushed to a nearby hospital. 

She posted a video about four 

hours before she succumbed to 

death, where she w<strong>as</strong> spotted 

dancing with another popular 

dancer, Poco Lee. 

Confirming the sad news on her 

Instagram page, 9jabox wrote: “It 

is with deep sadness we 

announce the death of popular 

video vixen @picturekodak, who 

p<strong>as</strong>sed on while charging her 

phone at a video director’s 

apartment in the Omole area of 

Lagos.” 

“May your soul rest in peace 

and pray the good Lord console 

the family you left behind...” 

Also, tracenaija wrote, “ We are 

sad to announce the p<strong>as</strong>sing of 

sensational Nigerian dancer, 

#LoveDivine @picturekodak 

from the famous 

#WestSydeLifestyle dance group. 

Our condolences to the family and 

close friends she left behind.” 

Picture Kodak. 

However, her friends and 

colleagues have since taken to 

social media to pay tributes to the 

dece<strong>as</strong>ed. 

Paying tribute to her; rapper, 

Olamide wrote on his Instagram 

page, “Rest Up.” 

Also popular dancer, Poco Lee 

also wrote: “We lost a legend in 

the dance industry and Nigeria 

at large….Forever in our hearts 

#restinpeacepicturekodak.” 

Blaqbonez tweeted: “The vixen 

in the Haba Video, ‘picture 

Kodak’ just died, it hurts so much. 

I don’t know how to handle my 

emotions.” 

Meanwhile, Kodak’s 

management, Westsyde Lifestyle 

is yet to rele<strong>as</strong>e an official 

statement on her death. 

if the soldiers identified 

themselves, angered by the 

action of the policemen, who 

insisted on dispersing those at 

the spot, the soldiers insisted that 

the policemen did not have the 

right to question those hanging 

out close to their unit. 

“This led to an argument with 

one of the soldiers retrieving his 

rifle from the shelter nearby and 

shot one of the policemen 

identified <strong>as</strong> Sergeant Chukwudi 

Osuali in the stomach. Angered 

by the action of the soldier, a 

colleague of the shot policeman 

immediately opened fire on the 

soldier in retaliation and killed 

him on the spot.” 

But an indigene, who resides 

close to the scene of the incident, 

who also pleaded anonymity, 

said: The incident occurred 

around 1 am yesterday when 

SARS police patrol van came to 

the residential hotel premises of 

JTF officers. 

“The JTF officers were on mufti 

busy drinking in front of their 

premises when the police patrol 

van came, <strong>as</strong>king why they were 

outside at such a time. 

“Trouble ensued when the 

police officers insisted on seeing 

their ID cards after the military 

officers identified themselves, 

but refused to show their ID cards. 

“The military officers became 

infuriated when the police officers 

insisted on taking them to the 

station, leading to exchange of 

blows and a police officer shot 

one of the military officers and 

fled.” 

There‘ll be a joint 

investigation by Army, 

Police —PPRO 

However, there w<strong>as</strong> tension in 

Bomadi and environs when the 

news of the soldier’s death 

filtered into town <strong>as</strong> shops and 

business centres around the 

scene of the incident closed for 

fear of impending chaos 

yesterday morning. 


Commander, Sector 1, Operation 

Delta Safe, Col. Habib Manu, 

immediately moved to the area 

to douse tension, <strong>as</strong> he <strong>as</strong>sured 

that there would be no reprisal 

attack by the soldiers, noting that 

army high command would 

commence further investigations 

into the matter to <strong>as</strong>certain the 

true position of what transpired. 

Confirming the incident, the 

state Police Public Relations 

Officer, DSP Onome 

Onovwakpoyeya, said a 

policeman w<strong>as</strong> shot during the 

melee. 

She said: “As it is now, it is too 

early to comment on the matter. 

More so, Delta State 

Commissioner of Police h<strong>as</strong> met 

with the army head in the state 

to unravel the mystery behind 

the incident and there is going 

to be a joint investigation into the 

matter.” 

Reacting to the incident, Pere 

of Kerebiri-Mein Kingdom, 

HRM Godspower Oporomo, 

said “though the incident is 

unfortunate, the prompt reaction 

and intervention of the JTF 

Commanding Officer into the 

matter is highly commendable. 

This is a sign that he and his 

officers are alive to their duties.” 

C 

M 

Y 

K


:Vanguard News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

MEETING — Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara (middle) with some young professionals from Zamfara ICT 

Hub, after a meeting in Gusau, yesterday. 

Terrorism: <strong>Buhari</strong> warns against 

complacency at borders 

•Meets with Yobe Gov on insecurity 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — PRESI- 

DENT Muhammadu 

<strong>Buhari</strong> h<strong>as</strong> warned 

state governors at the border 

are<strong>as</strong> and the armed 

forces not to exhibit any act 

of complacency in the fight 

against terrorism in order to 

achieve sustainable peace 

and development 

He also noted with satisfaction 

the giant strides being 

recorded by the armed 

forces in the fight against 

insurgency and urged them 

not to relent in the discharge 

of their mandate. 

The President, who spoke 

with Yobe State governor, 

Mai Mala Buni, on phone 

yesterday, directed the 

armed forces to sustain ongoing 

counter insurgency 

operations on the fringes of 

Lake Chad and the entire 

North E<strong>as</strong>t, so that Boko 

Haram menace could be 

totally eliminated. 

“In a statement by the 

Special Adviser to the President 

on Media and Publicity, 

Femi Adesina, President 

<strong>Buhari</strong> "specifically 

warned against complacency 

in the t<strong>as</strong>k of ensuring 

that the nation’s territory is 

no longer habitable for terrorists 

so that sustainable 

peace and development 

May Day: Atiku salutes <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> health workers, 

wants NASS to criminalize salary sl<strong>as</strong>h 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

ABUJA — Former Vice 

President, Atiku 

Abubakar, yesterday lauded 

the nation's health workers for 

their dedication and sacrifice 

in helping to contain the 

spread of coronavirus. 

He also said the cr<strong>as</strong>h in 

crude oil price in the international 

market is a blessing in 

disguise for Nigeria. 

Atiku in a statement issued 

in Abuja, said it w<strong>as</strong> to the credit 

of health workers that 307 

persons, including his son, 

Mohammed, had so far been 

successfully treated. 

He said: "Because this 

year’s Workers Day is coming 

at a time when we are in the 

middle of a ravaging health 

pandemic, I believe it is more 

appropriate to use the opportunity 

to express my utmost 

gratitude to our health workers 

who have been leading the 

battle to contain the spread of 

the deadly coronavirus in our 

country. We cannot thank you 

enough.“"The outbreak of this 

pandemic however h<strong>as</strong> vindicated 

organised labour’s long 

time agitation for improved 

investments in our healthcare 

service system. 

''There is no doubt that when 

the world comes out of this 

depressing anguish, governments 

will look around and 

see the absolute necessity to 

incre<strong>as</strong>e spending on healthcare, 

human capital development, 

better standard of living 

for the people and all 

can be achieved."“The 

President said this w<strong>as</strong> necessary 

to ensure that farming 

and other socio-economic 

activities in the area 

were not disrupted. 

He expressed the belief 

that the health and well 

being of the nation depended 

largely on its ability 

to feed itself, adding that 

"agricultural production is 

key." 

President <strong>Buhari</strong>, however, 

t<strong>as</strong>ked the Yobe State 

governor to continuously 

mobilize community support 

for the military operations, 

saying "intelligence 

sharing and synergy between 

law enforcement 

agencies and the civil populace 

are critical towards 

those other topical issues that 

Labour h<strong>as</strong> long called our 

attention toward. 

"We are all witnesses to the 

reality today that governments 

across the world have 

fallen short of the requirement 

to keep people safe and 

healthy if there is a sudden and 

unexpected shock. For a developing 

country like ours, 

this is a moment of truth - a 

time for us to look inwards and 

accept that the strength of our 

national security is intrinsically 

connected to how virile our 

workforce is. ''That is a lesson 

that we must be ready to learn 

from this pandemic. That no 

matter what, we are all exposed 

to the same dangers 

when the time is dire. 

"No one ever envisaged that 

the global economy could afford 

to shutdown for several 

weeks with heavy consequences 

on businesses - both public 

and private sector. 

"But even the greater c<strong>as</strong>ualties 

of the current lockdowns 

are the workers. There 

are abundant reports about 

how companies and corporations 

are laying off staff and 

cutting wages. Even many 

state governments in Nigeria 

could not pay monthly dues 

to workers who, even before 

the lockdown, lived on subsistent 

means, while some oth- 

achieving the objectives." 

Governor Buni in the telephone 

conversation, 

briefed the President on 

the security situation in his 

state and formally appreciated 

the Federal Government 

for the decisive and 

proactive me<strong>as</strong>ures being 

employed in the renewed 

onslaught against Boko 

Haram terrorists. 

He said significant 

achievements had been recorded 

by the military in 

containing the criminal elements, 

enthusing that the 

terrorists are now in disarray 

after the recent operations 

by the Chadian military. 

Governor Buni informed 

the President that if the tempo 

w<strong>as</strong> maintained, Boko 

Haram would soon become 

history. 

NITDA enlists Digital Encode among data 

protection compliance organisations 

By Prince Osuagwu 

THE National Informa 

tion Technology Development 

Agency (NITDA), h<strong>as</strong> 

licensed 

Consulting and integration 

firm, Digital Encode, to provide 

training, auditing, and 

consulting services throughout 

the country in line with the 

Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 

NDPR principles. 

Digital Encode specializes 

in the design, management, 

and security of business-critical 

networks, telecommunications 

environment and other 

Information Technology 

(IT) infr<strong>as</strong>tructures. 

NITDA said the license w<strong>as</strong> 

under the Data Protection 

Compliance Organisations, 

DPCO. On 25 January 20<strong>19</strong>, 

NITDA issued the Nigeria 

Data Protection Regulation 

(NDPR) mainly for the protection 

of the privacy rights and 

freedoms of Nigerian citizens. 

What the license means is 

that Digital Encode is now 

among companies that will 

ensure the promotion of local 

and foreign investments in the 

digital economy by safeguarding 

the information systems 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure against 

breaches and implementing 

internationally compatible 

rules. 

As a DPCO, Digital Encode 

is expected to verify self-auers 

are sl<strong>as</strong>hing workers’ salary 

on account of the COV- 

ID-<strong>19</strong><strong>19</strong> situation. 

"This is a grossly irresponsible 

thing to do. It will be 

wrong of us <strong>as</strong> a society to say 

that the weakest of us, should 

bear the pain of this affliction. 

The reverse should be the 

c<strong>as</strong>e. It will not be <strong>as</strong>king for 

too much to urge the National 

Assembly to forbid any employer 

of Labour from penalizing 

workers in the effect of 

the pandemic. 

"The grim reality of the situation 

that we are in today 

calls for greater understanding 

between government and 

Labour. It is therefore time 

that both entities saw each 

other <strong>as</strong> partners in progress." 

dits prior to submission to 

NITDA, <strong>as</strong> a means of decentralising 

compliance activities 

for more efficiency. 

The Co-founder and Chief 

Operating Officer of Digital 

Encode, Dr. Peter Obadare 

promised that <strong>as</strong> a Pan-African 

cyber security, Digital Encode 

will continue to keep <strong>as</strong>sisting 

individuals and businesses 

protect their information 

<strong>as</strong>sets. 

This is just <strong>as</strong> his colleague 

and the Chief Technical officer 

of Digital Encode, Dr. Seyi 

Akindeinde, said the license 

is a testament to the company’s 

unique methodology 

rooted in the concept of professionalism. 

N850bn: We didn't approve 

'fresh' loan for <strong>Buhari</strong>, says 

Senate 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA — THE Senate 

said yesterday that it 

did not approve a fresh loan 

of N850 billion for President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>. 

The Upper Chamber said 

what it did on Tuesday w<strong>as</strong> only 

to amend a resolution reached 

earlier <strong>as</strong> to where the initial 

N850 billion already approved 

by the National Assembly 

would be sourced. 

A statement issued yesterday 

by the Chairman, Senate 

Committee on Media and 

Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola 

B<strong>as</strong>iru, All Progressives 

Congress, Osun Central, said 

reports that the Senate approved 

a fresh loan for the 

Presidentw<strong>as</strong> not a true representation 

of what transpired 

on the floor during plenary. 

He said: "Recall that the 

Senate had initially approved 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & Dirisu 

Yakubu 

ABUJA — THE Trade 

Union Congress, TUC, 

h<strong>as</strong> advocated tax rebate of 

at le<strong>as</strong>t three months to companies 

in Nigeria, especially 

the unionized ones at this time 

of lockdown occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by 

coronavirus. 

This is even <strong>as</strong> Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, yesterday 

felicitated with Nigerian 

workers on the occ<strong>as</strong>ion of this 

year’s Workers’ Day celebration, 

describing them <strong>as</strong> the 

life force of the nation. 

The TUC also recommended 

two months free electricity 

to SMEs in particular and 

Nigerians generally adding 

that the SME sector should 

be made to work efficiently 

The demands were contained 

in the address of the 

TUC President, Comrade 

Quadri Olaleye, at the 2020 

May Day celebration. 

Speaking on the dev<strong>as</strong>tating 

effect of the outbreak of 

the dreaded <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

(Coronavirus) pandemic and 

the lockdown imposed by the 

government to contain the 

spread of the virus, Olaleye 

said it had negatively affected 

the economy of the country. 

He said: "<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

affected our lives in such a way 

that it is <strong>as</strong> if the country is 

starting life anew. To this end, 

we must together- government, 

employers and workers 

- give all to rejig our economy 

to avoid the <strong>loom</strong>ing acute recession. 

"TUC believes that subsidy 

no longer existed in our economy 

and advocates fixing of 

the refineries and building of 

new ones. This will shield the 

economy from the vagaries 

and vicissitudes of international 

oil prices and politics. 

" We advocate reduction of 

food and drug prices to enable 

Nigerians who survived the 

pandemic to recuperate well. 

" Furthermore, <strong>COVID</strong> -<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic met us in a state of 

unpreparedness. The Chief of 

sourcing of the loan from external 

borrowing." 

“The upper chamber, according 

to him, rescinded its 

earlier decision to seek external 

borrowing by resolving to 

obtain the loan through the 

domestic capital market. “It 

is very important to make a 

very important clarification 

particularly on the widely circulated 

erroneous report that 

the Senate approved a fresh 

loan of N850 billion at the 

Plenary on Tuesday. 

“That is far from the truth. 

The resolution p<strong>as</strong>sed w<strong>as</strong> an 

amendment of the earlier resolution 

<strong>as</strong> to the source of the 

initial N850bn loan that had 

been approved to be part of 

what should be used to fund 

the 2020 Appropriation Act. 

“You will recall that the Senate 

had actually approved the 

loan of N850 billion but to be 

sourced from external sources. 

May Day: TUC advocates 

3-month tax rebate over 


•As PDP lauds 

workers' patriotism, 

resilience 

Staff to the President died of 

coronavirus complications. 

Mr. ABBA Kyari's death presents 

us a great opportunity 

to revisit our health sector 

challenges. 

" All existing federal teaching 

/ specialists hospitals 

should be upgraded and 

equipped with the state of the 

art medical equipment to 

meet modern day standards 

and the new emerging dise<strong>as</strong>e 

conditions . " We also appeal 

to government to set up standard 

state of the art hospitals 

in each of the six geo-political 

zones to ensure the pandemic 

does not consume more 

Nigerians needlessly. 

On its part, Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, described 

Nigerian workers <strong>as</strong> the life 

force of the nation.“In a message 

of solidarity signed by the 

spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, 

the PDP commended 

Nigerian workers for their 

sacrifices towards the well 

being of the nation, "particularly 

at this critical time, when 

many of them are on the front 

line against the spread and 

impact of the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic in our country." 

The party also commended 

the resilience of workers in the 

health and other essential services, 

"who have continued to 

exhibit unequalled patriotism, 

despite the daunting challenges, 

in the overall effort to mitigate 

the health, economic 

and social impacts of the 

scourge. These citizens are 

indeed our national heroes. 

"The party notes that the 

Nigerian workers have continued 

to work hard in every 

sector to ensure the unity, stability 

and economic growth 

of our dear nation <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

standing <strong>as</strong> a strong voice for 

the entrenchment of equity, 

social justice and rule of law 

in the polity." 

It continued: "The PDP laments 

<strong>as</strong> depressing, that the 

2020 Workers Day came at a 

time when the world is on lockdown 

over the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic, but noted that such 

does not detract from the essence 

of the celebration. 

"The PDP therefore urges 

workers not to deter in their 

commitment towards nation 

building while wishing them 

a happy Workers' Day celebrations."

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 

UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS 

Health personnel make use of COBAS system at the Nigeria Centre for Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control National Reference 

Laboratory, for <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> testing. Using this system, approximately 960 samples can be tested in 8 hours. 

MYSTERIOUS DEATHS: 4 more prominent 

persons die in Kano 

By B<strong>as</strong>hir Bello & 

Abdulmumin Murtala 

KANO—FOUR 

more 

prominent persons have 

died in Kano State in the l<strong>as</strong>t 

twenty-four hours. 

They include Alhaji Aliyu 

Daneji, father of National 

Coordinator, Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k 

Force, PTF On <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, Dr. 

Sani Aliyu, who died at the age 

of 96 on Wednesday night in 

Kano. 

Son of the dece<strong>as</strong>ed, Mahmud 

Daneji, who confirmed the death, 

said Alhaji Aliyu Daneji died after 

a protracted illness. 

However, the funeral prayers 

w<strong>as</strong> observed early yesterday at 

his residence at Sabuwar Kofar, 

close to Kwalli Primary School, in 

Kano Municipal after which he 

w<strong>as</strong> buried according to Islamic 

rites. 

Late Alhaji Aliyu Daneji w<strong>as</strong> a 

former Permanent Secretary, 

Kano State, Ministry of Finance 

from <strong>19</strong>72 - <strong>19</strong>75. 

Similarly, a younger brother to 

the late AVM Hamza 

Abdullahi, identified <strong>as</strong> Alhaji 

Isah Abdullahi, also p<strong>as</strong>sed 

away, just <strong>as</strong> Alhaji Aminu 

Galadanchi w<strong>as</strong> also 

confirmed to have died in the 

early hours of yesterday. 

Abubakar Galadanchi said 

his uncle, Aminu, died at the age 

of 57 and had since been buried 

at the Goron Dutse cemetery. 

Also a retired Director/Senior 

Manager with the defunct Bank 

of the North, Rufai Abdulmalik, 

• Retired banker dies of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

complications 

died yesterday of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

complications in Kano. 

A family source said late 

Abdulmalik, cousin to Ohinoyi of 

Ebira Community in Kano, Aliyu 

Abdulmalik, died at a federal 

hospital in the city. 

The source, who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, said the 

late banker had been on selfisolation 

upon return from a 

condolence visit to Dr. Aliyu’s 

family who died of <strong>COVID</strong> -<strong>19</strong> 

in Katsina. 

Late Dr. Aliyu Yakubu,whose 

death w<strong>as</strong> announced by Katsina 

State government, w<strong>as</strong> an in-law 

to Rufai Abdulmalik and a distant 

cousin <strong>as</strong> both hailed from Kogi 

royal family. 

The source further explained 

that “upon his return from Daura, 

....As 16 Almajiri kids from Kano test positive for 

coronavirus in Kaduna 

By Ibrahim 

H<strong>as</strong>san Wuyo 

K 

A D U N A — 

KADUNA State 

government h<strong>as</strong> confirmed 16 

new <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> c<strong>as</strong>es in the 

state. 

The Commissioner for Health, 

Dr. Amina Mohammed-Baloni, 

who disclosed this in Kaduna 

yesterday, said the new c<strong>as</strong>es 

Ereyitomi donates stimulus 

package to physically-challenged 

across Warri LGAs 

By Jeremiah 

Urowayino 

THE lawmaker representing 

Warri Federal Constituency 

at the National Assembly, Chief 

Thom<strong>as</strong> Ereyitomi, JP, h<strong>as</strong> 

presented stimulus package to 

persons living with disabilities 

across Warri South, Warri North 

and Warri South-West Local 

Government Are<strong>as</strong> of Delta State 

to <strong>as</strong>sist cushion their pains 

during the government-ordered 

lockdown to contain further 

spread of the rampaging 

coronavirus dise<strong>as</strong>e, also known 

<strong>as</strong> <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

Ereyitomi, while presenting the 

palliative package to the 

beneficiaries, charged them to 

ensure equitable sharing of the 

donation so that all will benefit 

and heave a sigh of relief during 

the difficult times. 

Senior Legislative Aide to the 

lawmaker, Barr. Alex Gbiwen, 

who represented Ereyitomi 

during the handing over of the 

palliative package to the 

physically challenged people, 

urged them to comply with 

me<strong>as</strong>ures put in place by 

government in tackling the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic. 

Chairman of Physically- 

Challenged People in Warri 

South, Fatai Onifade; Chairman, 

Warri North, Victor Oniyeburutan 

and Warri South-West chairman, 

who were accompanied by their 

secretaries and tre<strong>as</strong>urers to 

receive the materials, which also 

included c<strong>as</strong>h donation from the 

lawmaker-cum philantrophist, 

promised Mr Gbiwen that the 

packages will be distributed b<strong>as</strong>ed 

on the instruction given by the 

Warri Reps member. 

Responding, Chairman of the 

group, Warri South-West, Miracle 

Amatesiro commended the 

federal lawmaker for 

remembering them at such a 

critical time, <strong>as</strong>suring that 

everything will be evenly shared 

among members to alleviate their 

hardship being experienced. 

were Almajiri from Kano. 

“Their test results returned 

positive from a sample of 40 

persons whose test results were 

rele<strong>as</strong>ed today. 

‘’These latest c<strong>as</strong>es have raised 

the number of active <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

c<strong>as</strong>es in Kaduna State from nine 

to 25,” she said. 

Baloni said the high number of 

positive results from persons with 

travel history from outside the 

state confirmed the government’s 

fears about the danger of 

infection from neighbouring 

states and the role of interstate 

travel in facilitating the spread of 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> across states. 

“One of the 17 c<strong>as</strong>es 

announced by NCDC w<strong>as</strong> a 

repeat test from an existing 

patient, Their attention h<strong>as</strong> been 

and subsequent confirmation by 

Governor M<strong>as</strong>ari that Dr. Aliyu 

died of coronavirus, he took to 

self-isolation over the l<strong>as</strong>t 14 

days” 

He said “just yesterday 

evening, we noticed <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

symptoms and rushed him to 

health facility only for him to give 

up the ghost.” 

Confirming his death in a telephone 

conversation, Tiijjani Aliyu, cousin to 

late Abdulmalik, said: “I’ve just received 

the sad news and I’m heading to the 

hospital to join the Ohinoyi of Ebira 

community to evacuate his remains for 

proper burial.” 

The Wokilin of Ebira Community in 

Kano, Alhaji Yahaya Sadiq, described 

his death <strong>as</strong> “dev<strong>as</strong>tating tragic news.” 

Alhaji Sadiq said arrangement w<strong>as</strong> 

currently on to bury him. 

NIRSAL Microfinance Bank begins CBN N50bn 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> facility disbursement 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

A BUJA—NIRSAL 

Microfinance Bank, 

NMFB, yesterday, commenced 

the disbursement of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, N50 billion 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> facility to 

beneficiaries. 

Managing Director of the bank, 

Mr. Abubakar Kure, who 

disclosed this at the official flagoff 

of the disbursement in Abuja, 

said 3,356 beneficiaries would 

receive facilities in the first batch. 

He said: “The facility is 

drawn to it and it will be remedied. 

“As part of the implementation 

of the preventive me<strong>as</strong>ures, our 

health officials are monitoring 

suspected <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> c<strong>as</strong>es who 

are believed to have sneaked into 

the state despite the ban on 

interstate travel. 

“The Ministry of Health wishes 

to draw attention to the appeal 

the State Standing Committee 

on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> made to the 

security agencies to accelerate 

the blocking of entry points into 

the state. 

‘’Effective enforcement of the 

prohibition of entry into Kaduna 

State <strong>as</strong> outlined in the 

Quarantine Orders is clearly a key 

success factor in efforts to avert 

the nightmare scenario of 

community transmission.'' 

available for service providers in 

the health sector, trading and all 

those businesses that have been 

affected by the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic. 

“The idea is to provide c<strong>as</strong>h flow 

which h<strong>as</strong> been disrupted by the 

lockdown occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by the 

pandemic. The product is 

intended to provide liquidity for 

businesses. 

‘’This initiative is to provide 

liquidity and allow the economy 

to normalise. Businesses are hurt. 

People are hurt. People are no 

longer staying on jobs. 

“By the end of today, they 

Governors playing pranks with 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> to get money — NEF 

By Ibrahim 

H<strong>as</strong>sanWuyo 

THE Northern Elders 

Forum,NEF, alleged 

yesterday that governors were 

playing politics with corona-virus 

to get money. 

NEF, which made the allegation 

in a statement signed by Prof. 

Ango Abdullahi in Kaduna 

yesterday, noted that it w<strong>as</strong> public 

knowledge that what the 

country needed w<strong>as</strong> good policies 

that could turn around things 

when the current resources in 

the Nigeria were managed 

transparently. 

It also appreciated <strong>as</strong>sistance 

( funds and equipment) from 

the international community 

aimed at fighting the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic, <strong>as</strong>king the federal 

government to put the <strong>as</strong>sistance 

into proper useit w<strong>as</strong> important 

that the federal government put 

whatever that were rendered 

<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>sistance into proper use. 

The forum also commended 

the individuals and corporate 

organization for the tremendous 

donation towards the fight 

against the coronavirus in the 

country. 

The statement read: “The 

forum regrets the appearance of 

attempts by many state 

governments to play politics with 

numbers for what appears to be 

expectations that more funds 

from Federal Government and 

foreign donors will be allocated 

to them. 

“It is public knowledge that 

what the entire nation needs are 

good policies that protect all 

Nigerians; equipment and 

facilities for testing and 

treatment and resources to 

support people who will find 

it hard to stay at home without 

EU distributes food items to 2,157 

poor households in Abuja suburbs 

By Victoria Ojeme 

A BUJA—THE 

European Union h<strong>as</strong> 

started the distribution of b<strong>as</strong>ic 

food items to poor households in 

the Federal Capital Territory, in 

furtherance of its wider support 

to Nigeria’s <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> response. 

A total of 2,157 households 

whose livelihoods have been 

most impacted by the crisis are 

targeted in the exercise carried 

out in close collaboration with 

local authorities of the benefitting 

communities. 

The Head of the EU 

Delegation to Nigeria and 

ECOWAS, Amb<strong>as</strong>sador Ketil 

should be able to receive alerts. 

The idea is to launch the product 

so that people will know that we 

have started disbursement. 

‘’We hope that the money being 

disbursed will allow you to reactivate 

your businesses; allow 

you to stay in jobs and allow the 

economy to normalize. 

“The way we want to create 

awareness about this product is 

this gathering. So that people 

legitimate businesses and 

households will be aware of the 

product and apply.” 

Kure warned that the 

money w<strong>as</strong> not a grant, and 

thus, it must, therefore, be 

paid <strong>back</strong> to the bank''. 

some palliatives during 

lockdown. 

“The forum acknowledges the 

<strong>as</strong>sistance, in funds and 

equipment, from the 

international community. These 

gestures of support for our efforts 

at a time when they face their 

own problems are particularly 

appreciated, and it is important 

that our governments put them 

to prompt and effective use. 

“The Forum similarly 

appreciates the tremendous 

<strong>as</strong>sistance of Nigerian individuals 

and corporate bodies in this fight. 

“We hope that all governments 

will utilise the v<strong>as</strong>t <strong>as</strong>sets in 

expertise, goodwill and integrity 

available in the private sector and 

professional groups and 

individuals in the country and 

involve them in all stages in the 

fight against this pandemic. 

“These requirements can be 

met with resources currently 

available, but they need to be put 

at the service of the public in a 

transparent and professional 

manner.'' 

“Policies that w<strong>as</strong>te progress in 

some parts of the country and 

others which trample on the 

rights of vulnerable groups must 

be discouraged. States should 

adopt policies that suit their 

peculiarities, but the nation <strong>as</strong> a 

whole must agree on, and 

implement b<strong>as</strong>ic policies that 

protect the entire population. 

“In particular, we commend the 

decision to deploy a strong 

medical team to, among others, 

verify the causes of many deaths 

that are being popularly 

attributed to the pandemic <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong>sist the government of Kano 

State to improve its facilities, 

investigations and treatment of 

suspected infections and those 

who are infected.” 

Karlsen, who led a team for the 

exercise, called for solidarity to 

defeat <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, adding that 

the gesture aims at mitigating the 

adverse economic effects of the 

crisis on the most vulnerable 

persons. 

Karlsen said the benefiting 

communities were carefully 

selected after a thorough needs 

<strong>as</strong>sessment conducted by the EU 

and its partners. 

“The choice of the beneficiaries 

and distribution of the items are 

being done in concert with the 

local leaderships of the selected 

communities,” Karlsen said. 

He said a quarter (25 per cent) 

of the items will go to People with 

Disabilities, PWD, while the rest 

will go to female heads of 

households and widows <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> other vulnerable households 

in pre-selected Abuja suburbs. 

“Each household will receive 

<strong>as</strong>sorted food items, including rice, 

beans, detergents, noodles 

sardines, salt, vegetable oil, 

tomatoes, se<strong>as</strong>onings, beverages 

and condiments. 

‘’Also included in the over N40 

million intervention is the 

installation of public sanitation 

facilities in the communities and 

provision of information booklets 

on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> to enhance public 

awareness on the virus. 

“We are focusing on the 

immediate needs of the most 

vulnerable because they always 

pay the highest price when the 

economies are struggling. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A BUJA—THE 

Federal Government 

h<strong>as</strong> said no fewer than 113 health 

workers are currently infected 

with coronavirus. 

The government, which 

stressed the need for those on 

the front lines against <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> to adhere to its advisories 

relating to the management of 

the pandemic, also <strong>as</strong>ked 

Nigerians to remain where they 

were at present and refrain from 

travelling to their states or 

villages. 

It said this w<strong>as</strong> necessary to 

halt the transmission of the 

pandemic. 

The Federal Government, 

which said it h<strong>as</strong> received an 

interim report from the team of 

medical experts it sent to Kano 

in the wake of m<strong>as</strong>s deaths in 

the state, added that it had sent 

in three ventilators, personal 

protective equipment, PPE, and 

experts drawn from Abuja, Lagos 

and Irrua to <strong>as</strong>sist the state in 

halting the deaths in Kano. 

One more molecular 

lab for Kano 

While noting that two 

molecular laboratories had begun 

functioning in Kano State, the 

government said it had also 

begun establishment of a third 

laboratory there. 

These were some of the updates 

given by the Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k 

Force PTF on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> on the 

fight against the pandemic during 

its daily briefing in Abuja 

yesterday. 

In his presentation, the 

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie 

Ehanire, <strong>as</strong>ked health workers 

to adhere to advisories of the 

ministry to guard against 

infection, adding that more 

experts would be sent to Kano to 

<strong>as</strong>sist the state halt the spread of 

the virus. 

He said primary healthcare in 

the country would not be 

abandoned, in spite of the current 

efforts to stamp out <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

The minister said: “It is very 

important for healthcare workers 

to understand that nobody is 

conscripted, everybody is a 

volunteer. Those who cannot 

handle it generally have the 

option of requesting to be 

excused and someone else would 

come in. 

“As for the doctors, it is not true 

to say over 300 of them are 

infected. There are not so many 

people in the health sector who 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

A 

B U J A — 

FOLLOWING the 

relaxation of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

lockdown billed to commence in 

the Federal Capital Territory, 

Lagos and Ogun states on 

Monday, the federal government 

h<strong>as</strong> directed civil servants on 

Grade 14 and above to resume 

work at their duty posts with 

effects from May 4, 2020. 

According to a memo signed 

by Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, 

Director of Information, Office of 

the Head of the Civil Service of 

the Federation, the directive is 

premised on President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s broadc<strong>as</strong>t 

on a ph<strong>as</strong>ed and gradual e<strong>as</strong>ing 

of the lockdown me<strong>as</strong>ures 

occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by coronavirus. 

It noted that offices would open 

thrice a week - Monday, 

Wednesday, and Friday - with 



MRS BUHARI'S PALLIATIVE: The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen (left) making a few remarks 

when she received some items on behalf of her Ministry from the Representative of the First Lady, Dr. Hajo Sani 

during the presentation ceremony of medical supplies and food items to some agencies to cushion the effects of 

the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> lockdown through the Future Assured Project of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha <strong>Buhari</strong> in Abuja. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: 113 health workers infected — FG 

•To set up molecular labs in all states; Tells Nigerians, remain where you are 

•Receives interim report from Kano; sets up 3 labs in Kano 

•Sends in 3 ventilators, PPE experts from Abuja, Lagos, Irrua 

are infected. The latest figures we 

have is that they are about 113 

actually and these are not all 

public health workers. 

‘’A good number of them are 

from private hospitals and if you 

hear us speaking here frequently 

against trying to treat 

coronavirus in private clinics, we 

are actually referring to people 

who do so without having 

necessary precautions or training 

because they risk infecting 

themselves and they go home 

and give this infection to their 

family. 

‘’That is not the right thing. So, 

the healthcare workers who have 

no training, have no business 

actually handling coronavirus. 

More PPE coming 

‘’As for those who do not have 

equipment, we have said we 

provided equipment and PPE 

for all those who are out 

there. There are one or two 

places where we have heard 

that there is a tightness with 

supply and we are trying to 

GL-14 officers, others to resume 

work Monday 

closing time being 2.00pm daily. 

Also expected <strong>back</strong> at their duty 

posts are those on essential 

duties. 

The memo read: “The 

concerned officers are to ensure 

full compliance with the directives 

and advice on the prevention of 

<strong>COVID</strong> -<strong>19</strong> pandemic. 

“These me<strong>as</strong>ures include 

maintenance of social distancing, 

regular w<strong>as</strong>hing and /or 

sanitizing of hands and wearing 

of face m<strong>as</strong>ks. 

“Officers are to limit the 

number of visitors they receive 

to the barest minimum. They 

should also ensure that the 

visitors comply with safety and 

health advices /directives.'' 

“Permanent Secretaries and 

Chief Executive Officers are also 

advised to ensure that hand 

w<strong>as</strong>hing and sanitation facilities 

are placed at entrances and 

strategic points in their 

Ministries, Department s and 

Agencies, MDAs.'' 

send them over. 

“I once again call on health 

workers to stringently follow laid 

down standard infection, 

prevention and control me<strong>as</strong>ures 

at all times and not to take risks. 

We cannot afford to lose the 

services of essential manpower 

at this time. 

‘’Every client should be treated 

with a high index of suspicion for 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, but treat every client 

with fairness so that persons 

suffering from other ailments do 

not suffer neglect or treatment 

refusal. 

‘’It is not ethical to turn clients 

away without, at le<strong>as</strong>t a medical 

advice, neither should a person 

in distress be refused care in 

emergency situation. The 

advisory on c<strong>as</strong>e management is 

accessible online. 

“I shall, <strong>as</strong> usual, <strong>as</strong>k citizens 

to adhere to advisories: stay 

home and do not travel 

anywhere, because there is no 

call for everyone to return to their 

villages. Wear a m<strong>as</strong>k or face 

covering if you must go out of 

your house and make sure you 

w<strong>as</strong>h it every evening. 

‘’W<strong>as</strong>h your hands regularly 

and practice respiratory hygiene. 

Remember social distancing, 

avoid crowds and inform those 

around you of these advisories.’’ 

Kano gets more help 

On Kano, Dr Ehanire said: “As 

community transmission 

emerges, the Federal Ministry of 

Health h<strong>as</strong> brought in manpower 

capacity from National Primary 

Health Care Development 

Agency to strengthen and 

integrate risk communication 

with the planned training of 

primary healthcare workers and 

also community mobilizers to 

identify new c<strong>as</strong>es and drive 

demand for <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> testing, 

while continuing to maintain 

normal outpatient service. 

‘’This ensures that health 

services provision does not suffer 

at the primary health care level, 

but also that health workforce 

remains safe. NPHCDA will 

anchor community engagement 

and mobilisation for <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

“The Ministerial T<strong>as</strong>k Team 

sent on a fact-finding mission to 

Kano h<strong>as</strong> sent an interim report, 

which provided information on 

the needs, strengths and 

weaknesses of the Kano response 

system. 

‘’While I await a full report, this 

will guide the Federal Ministry of 

Health in supporting Kano State 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> T<strong>as</strong>k Force with 

necessary material, training and 

human resources. They will 

include <strong>as</strong>sembling and 

dispatching a technical team from 

FMoH and viral Infectious 

dise<strong>as</strong>e specialists from Irrua 

Specialist hospital to join a 

technical team from Lagos 

Ministry of Health that is already 

on ground in Kano at the request 

of the governor of Kano State. 

‘’There will, therefore, be a good 

pool of very experienced handson 

experts to support the leading 

role of Kano State in the 

response. 

“An emergency medical team 

from FHoH h<strong>as</strong> left Abuja with 

ambulances, five of which were 

kindly donated by Federal Road 

Safety Commission, FRSC, on 

their way to Kano to provide 

emergency response, in view of 

movement restrictions arising 

from the lockdown.’’ 

Director General of Nigeria 

Centre for Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control, 

NCDC, Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu, 

said the laboratories at Aminu 

Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, 

and that of the Bayero University 

Kano BUK were already in 

operation, while a third one w<strong>as</strong> 

underway. 

Iheakwazu also advised 

Nigerians not to stigmatize 

communities which have a high 

prevalence of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> the staff of the NCDC who 

were on field operations, saying 

such behaviour could serve <strong>as</strong> a 

disincentive. 

He said: “In terms of states 

<strong>as</strong>king for more laboratories and 

the ability to manage them, I 

think this is a good thing. 

‘’We have said severally that 

our strategy here is really to have 

a molecular laboratory in every 

state and manage it through a 

hub and spoke approach through 

the National Reference 

Laboratory that is at the NCDC, 

connecting to all the laboratories, 

make sure that we organise a 

supply chain and IT support and 

others. 

“We want to get a connected 

and collaborative public health 

network in Nigeria that is no 

longer, <strong>as</strong> in the p<strong>as</strong>t, focusing 

on TB or HIV or <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. We 

want each laboratory to be able 

to diagnose any of the infectious 

dise<strong>as</strong>es that are important for 

us.’’ 

Also speaking, Chairman of the 

T<strong>as</strong>k Force and Secretary to 

Government of the Federation 

SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, said his 

team h<strong>as</strong> continued to engage 

the Kano State government in 

the collaborative effort to fight the 

spread of the virus. 

“The high-level technical team 

sent to Kano on Monday h<strong>as</strong> 

already submitted its interim 

report,” he stated. 

While <strong>as</strong>suring of greater 

support for the state, the SGF 

said: “The already established 

isolation and treatment centres 

with holding capacity for 274 

persons, the proposed 

establishment of additional 

facilities with capacity for 500, two 

sample collection centres, along 

with six new proposed centres, 

have provided a strong 

foundation for tackling the spread 

of the virus in the state. 

“Similarly, the Nigerian military, 

under its <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> response 

plan, will establish an additional 

isolation centre, treatment facility 

and a testing laboratory service 

in Kano State. 

‘’The PTF <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, in the 

immediate, would further 

strengthen Kano State to scaleup 

its response with the provision 

of necessary facilities and 

equipment, capacity building, 

improving stakeholder interph<strong>as</strong>e 

and guidance on any 

existing policy capable of 

diminishing the fight against the 

pandemic in the state. Already, 

the testing laboratories in AKTH 

and the BUK have become fully 

functional. 

“The PTF h<strong>as</strong> rele<strong>as</strong>ed a 

number of equipment to be 

transported immediately to Kano 

to beef up the response. These 

include two oxygen 

concentration and three 

ventilators; 280 protective gowns; 

51 face shields; 538 examination 

gloves; 25 boot covers; medical 

m<strong>as</strong>ks and surgical caps <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> IR Thermometers. 

“I am confident that the above 

collaboration, complemented by 

the lockdown directed by the 

President, will be effective in 

slowing down the spread, while 

we continue to test, detect, 

isolate, contact trace and manage 

c<strong>as</strong>es. 

‘’Also, the on-going 

investigation into the causes of 

the recently reported high 

number of deaths will be pursued 

to a logical conclusion.’’ 

$3.4bn: Nigeria’s commitment 

to IMF revealed 

By Emma Ujah 

SOME of the 

commitments made by 

President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s 

administration to the 

International Monetary Fund 

(IMF) to be granted the $3.4 

billion facility have emerged, with 

transparency in the utilization of 

the funds, topping the list. 

A document on the facility made 

available to Vanguard, yesterday, 

indicated that the government 

promised to publish names of 

companies to be awarded 

contracts in the procurement 

processes in the fight against the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic and 

mitigate its effects on the nation’s 

economy. 

The federal government also 

pledged an independent audit of 

the expenditures under the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis-mitigation 

activities. 

According to the document, “to 

ensure financial <strong>as</strong>sistance 

received <strong>as</strong> part of the <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> response is used for intended 

purposes, the Nigerian 

authorities committed to 

undertake an independent audit 

of crisis-mitigation spending and 

related procurement processes 

and to publish procurement plans 

and notices for all emergencyresponse 

activities, including 

•FG to name 

contractors, 

beneficiaries 

names of awarded companies and 

beneficial owners.” 

It w<strong>as</strong> learned that discussions 

on the facility took place via 

videoconference calls from April 

17 to 21, 2020. 

The IMF team w<strong>as</strong> lead by the 

Mr. Amine Mati , Snr. Resident 

Representative and Mission 

Chief for Nigeria. 

The IMF team held 

videoconference calls with Vice 

President Osinbajo; Minister of 

Finance, Budget and National 

Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; 

Central Bank Governor, Mr. 

Godwin Emefiele; among other 

senior government officials. 

An Executive Summary on the 

request indicated that the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic w<strong>as</strong> 

severely impacting Nigeria’s 

economic activities. 

The report read: “The sharp 

fall in international oil prices and 

reduced global demand for 

Nigeria’s oil products are 

worsening the fiscal and external 

positions, <strong>as</strong> Nigeria’s oil and g<strong>as</strong> 

exports (84 percent of total 

exports) are expected to fall by 

more than $26½ billion. The 

economy is projected to contract 

by almost 3½ percent in 2020, a 

six-percentage point drop relative


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

PRESENTATION: From left—HRM Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Deputy Governor of 

Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele (middle), and Governor Dapo Abiodun of 

Ogun State (right), when the monarch made a presentation of motorised fumigators to 

the state to fight <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, in Abeokuta. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: We’re struggling with bed 

spaces in Lagos —NCDC 

•We've utilized 90% capacity, says Lagos govt 

•25-year-old dies of dise<strong>as</strong>e; 12 more patients discharged 

By Ol<strong>as</strong>unkanmi Akoni 

& Chioma Obinna 

LAGOS—THE 

Nigeria 

Center for Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control, 

NCDC, said yesterday that it is 

currently “struggling” for bed 

spaces for the treatment of 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> patients in Lagos 

State which h<strong>as</strong> the highest 

number of persons infected by 

the coronavirus in Nigeria. 

Disclosing the development 

in Abuja during the daily 

Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k Force media 

briefing on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, the 

Director-General of the NCDC, 

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said 

efforts are being made to 

change strategy not to allow the 

inadequate bed spaces affect 

the fight against <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> in 

Nigeria. 

Ihekweazu said: “Lagos is the 

only place where we are 

struggling with bed spaces for 

now. We will always tell 

Nigerians the truth. We are 

struggling with bed spaces in 

Lagos for now.” 

Our isolation centres are 

filled to 90% capacity — LASG 

But reacting to the remarks, 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

of Lagos State, said although 

the isolation centres across the 

state were 90 percent filled, he 

<strong>as</strong>sured Lagosians that there 

w<strong>as</strong> no cause for alarm. 

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke 

through his Commissioner for 

Information and Strategy, Mr. 

Gbenga Omotoso, said: “It is 

true that our isolation centres are 

filled with patients but there is 

no cause for alarm. We have 

made other arrangements with 

some hotel managers who have 

offered us their facilities <strong>as</strong> 

isolation centres, coupled with 

three other isolation centres 

newly opened with one in Yaba 

already in operation. 

“We are not unmindful of the 

challenge facing us <strong>as</strong> the 

epicentre, that’s why the 

Incident Commander, Governor 

Sanwo-Olu, in his foresight, 

approved the setting up of more 

isolation centres before now 

which have been quite helpful 

and we are still upscaling our 

capacity. 

“Do not forget, Lagos 

discharged about 49 persons on 

Wednesday, after they 

recovered from <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, 

thereby, creating more space. 

We are on top of the situation, 

so there is no cause for the 

alarm.” 

25-year-old dies of 

dise<strong>as</strong>e 

Similarly, a 25-year old male 

patient h<strong>as</strong> died from 

coronavirus infection in the 

state. 

The Lagos State 

Commissioner for Health, 

Professor Akin Abayomi, who 

stated this on his twitter handle, 

explained that the dece<strong>as</strong>ed 

w<strong>as</strong> brought in a state of 

breathlessness due to the 

severity of the coronavirus 

infection. 

Abayomi said: “We regret to 

announce additional <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

related death involving a 25year 

old male who at the time of 

admission w<strong>as</strong> in a state of 

severe breathlessness. The total 

number of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> related 

deaths in Lagos is now 20.” 

12 patients 

discharged 

Also, the Lagos State government 

h<strong>as</strong> discharged another set of 12 

patients who have tested negative for 

the dise<strong>as</strong>e after spending some days 

at the isolation centres in the state. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the 12, 

including a Ukrainian, comprised nine 

males and three females were 

discharged after they tested negative 

to the virus on two consecutive 

occ<strong>as</strong>ions. 

Lagos partners Stanbic IBTC to improve civil service 

LAGOS—THE Lagos State 

Government, in 

collaboration with Stanbic IBTC 

Holdings PLC, recently 

organised an online training 

programme for civil servants in 

the state. 

The programme w<strong>as</strong> geared 

towards capacity development 

of the state’s civil servants 

during the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

lockdown. 

The webinar themed: 

“Evolution Series: A New 

Generation of Public Service”, 

w<strong>as</strong> designed to further expand 

the horizons of civil servants <strong>as</strong> 

they continue to observe the 

stay-at-home directive of the 

Federal Government. 

The Lagos State 

Commissioner for 

Establishments, Training and 

Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, 

said the online training 

programme w<strong>as</strong> designed to 

enhance capacity development 

of the workforce, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

sharpen their skills during the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> lockdown. 

She disclosed that the online 

training is part of the 

government’s initiatives to 

continually improve the staff <strong>as</strong> 

they remain at home to curtail 

the spread of the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic. 

In her presentation titled: 

“Current Trends in the World of 

Work and Workplace, the 

Country Head, Human Capital, 

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, 

Olufunke Amobi, disclosed that 

there are three products that 

define the quality of every type 

of work, which is, ‘the Work, the 

Worker and the Workplace.” 

She said: “The introduction of 

this kind of programme and 

policy into the Public Service 

affirms our readiness to align 

with current trends in the 

world.” 

Amobi urged the Lagos State 

Government to invest more in 

new digital activity for its 

workforce. She also urged 

participants not to rely solely on 

their employers to acquire 

knowledge but to exploit 

different opportunities for free 

online courses, to develop their 

digital literacy skills. 

Enough palliatives! 

She is the coronavirus in his life! 

As the wild animal killers that we are!



:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

40 trapped in collapsed 

Imo 8-storey building 

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Arrangement of newsmen showing ‘Social Distancing’ during the daily 

briefing by Gov. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Marina. 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O forty WERRI—ABOUT 

workers are said to 

have been trapped in an ongoing 

construction of an eight story 

building which collapsed at 

Yardua drive in Owerri, on 

Thursday in Imo. 

Vanguard w<strong>as</strong> at the scene of 

the collapsed building where 

excavation of those of the trapped 

workers are still in the process at 

about 7:01pm. 

At the time of filling this report, 

about ten were said to have been 

rescued and seven severely 

injured and taken to hospital just 

<strong>as</strong> they said for now two feared 

death. 

Many issues were raised by 

some of the survivors, which could 

have led to the collapsing of the 

building that the pillars were very 

weak, adding that the pillars 

holding the eight story building 

were not also enough carry the 

weight of the entire structure. 

They also said that few days to 

the building collapse that they 

noticed cracks in some parts of 

the building and complained to 

the engineer who <strong>as</strong>sured them he 

would do something about it. 

However, members of the Red 

Cross were seen at the scene 

<strong>as</strong>sisting in the evacuation of 

both the death, moving some to 

hospitals for immediate medical 

attention. 

Spirited individuals moved in 

<strong>as</strong> Vanguard noticed that some 

of them are aware of the locations 

of those trapped <strong>as</strong> they <strong>as</strong>sisted 

in the rescue operation. 

At the time of filling this report, 

one of the survivors, who 

introduced his name <strong>as</strong> Prosper, 

said that at the moment they 

were nine in number that have 

survived. Five have been taken 

to the hospital who sustained 

various degrees of injuries. 

According to Prosper, “I w<strong>as</strong> 

very close to the building when I 

heard a crack around the pillars 

and I started running and before 

you know it it is like a sound of a 

bomb. The story building fell 

down. 

“We are working in different 

departments I can’nt count the 

actual number. We are many. We 

may be upto 40 in number. '' 

Delta Assembly resumes 

sitting after six weeks break 

...p<strong>as</strong>ses two bills 

VISIT: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama (right) receiving the Chinese Amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, to discuss developments in relation to treatment of Nigerians in China 

and Nigeria-China relations, in Abuja. 

DONATION: National Coordinator of the Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k Force on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, Dr Sani Aliyu (right) and 

the Deputy National Chairman, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim, when the faith-b<strong>as</strong>ed 

organisation donated some foodstuff in support of the fight against <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> in Abuja. 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—THE 

Delta State House of 

Assembly, yesterday, resumed 

plenary after over six weeks 

forced holiday <strong>as</strong> a result of 

outbreak of Corona virus 

pandemic in the country, p<strong>as</strong>sing 

two bills in what could be 

described <strong>as</strong> marathon sitting. 

The bills were the Delta State 

Fiscal Responsibility Amendment 

bill and the Delta State Public 

Procurement bill 2020. 

The House at the resumed 

session presided by the Speaker, 

Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, 

announced the adoption of some 

stringent me<strong>as</strong>ures for members 

and staff to prevent spread of the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic in the 

Assembly Complex, subjecting 

members, visitors and staff to 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> checks before they 

were granted access into the 

Assembly Complex. 

Aside the checking of their 

body temperature and w<strong>as</strong>hing 

of hands, the sitting positions of 

the lawmakers were adjusted in 

strict adherence to social 

distancing, even <strong>as</strong> the use of the 

facem<strong>as</strong>k w<strong>as</strong> made mandatory, 

amidst other me<strong>as</strong>ures. 

Oborevwori commended 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his 

doggedness and firmness in 

containing the spread of the 

coronavirus scourge in the state. 

Imo govt not behind impounding 

of trucks — COMMISSIONER 

OWERRI—THE Imo State 

government h<strong>as</strong> dismissed 

<strong>as</strong> false and unfounded reports 

in some national dailies that it 

impounded some trucks 

conveying food and beverages in 

Owerri on Tuesday and slammed 

N50, 000 fine on them <strong>as</strong> 

condition for p<strong>as</strong>sing through the 

State to their destinations. 

A statement yesterday by the 

Commissioner for Information 

and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, 

said that the illegal act w<strong>as</strong> 

perpetrated by a gang of thugs 

who tried to c<strong>as</strong>h in on the 

<strong>COVID</strong> <strong>19</strong> lockdown in the state 

to impose illegal levies on 

unsuspecting haulage operators. 

It explained that the governor’s 

executive order on lockdown and 

curfew, clearly exempted those on 

essential duties which includes 

trucks conveying food and 

beverages. adding, “some 

hoodlums who tried to take 

advantage of this, formed 

themselves into an illegal 

t<strong>as</strong>kforce to extort money from 

truck drivers and claimed falsely 

to be agents of government. 

According to Emelumba, when 

the situation w<strong>as</strong> brought to the 

attention of governor, Hope 

Uzodimma, he directed the 

Commissioner for transport, Barr. 

Rex Anunobi to go with security 

operatives and disperse the 

hoodlums which he did with 

dispatch, adding that some of the 

thugs were arrested. 

Emelumba however said the 

situation w<strong>as</strong> regrettable and 

<strong>as</strong>sured that all necessary 

me<strong>as</strong>ures have been put in place 

to ensure that such an ugly 

situation not repeat itself. 

“While the government 

regrets the inconvenience the 

truck drivers must have 

suffered in the process of the 

illegal clampdown, it should be 

stated clearly that those behind 

the act were thugs on illegal 

operation who have also been 

arrested. All necessary 

me<strong>as</strong>ures have been put in 

place to ensure that the ugly 

incident does not repeat itself,” 

Emelumba declared.





LOCKDOWN: Ikokwu axis of Ikwerre Road completely empty, following the total lockdown of some 

parts of Port Harcourt Local Government, by Rivers State Government, over what the government 

described <strong>as</strong> the uncooperative attitude of residents respecting state regulations on <strong>COVID</strong> <strong>19</strong> Protocol 

in the affected are<strong>as</strong>. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: 4 relatives of Bayelsa index c<strong>as</strong>e, 

56 others placed on self isolation 

• Death toll rises to 2 in A'Ibom, 3 new positive c<strong>as</strong>es 

• Edo nurse declared wanted <strong>as</strong> Ob<strong>as</strong>eki extends curfew 

• Wike inaugurates T<strong>as</strong>k Force on border closure 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha, Gabriel 

Enoghol<strong>as</strong>e, Egufe 

Yafugborhi, Emem 

Idio, Francis Efe, 

Harris Emanuel & 

Chioma Onuegbu 

YTACTS ENAGOA—CON 

tracing of 

Bayelsa State first index 

c<strong>as</strong>e of Covid-<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> been 

enlisted and concluded 

with four close relatives and 

56 other high-risk contacts 

counseled and placed on 

a 14-day self isolation and 

their samples collected and 

sent for testing the Reference 

Laboratory in Irrua 

Specialist Hospital in Edo 

State. 

Permanent Secretary of 

Bayelsa State Ministry of 

Health and Co-chairman 

of the State T<strong>as</strong>k Force on 

Covid-<strong>19</strong>, Dr Inodu 

Nathaniel disclosed this, 

yesterday in Yenagoa, during 

a media briefing and 

update on the index c<strong>as</strong>e 

of Covid-<strong>19</strong> in the state. 

He said the condition of 

the index c<strong>as</strong>e, a middleaged 

female is stable, adding, 

"All her vital signs including 

her temperature 

have also been normal 

since admission. She is 

looking a lot radiant when 

compared to the first day 

she w<strong>as</strong> admitted at the isolation 

facility. A repeat test 

will be conducted shortly." 

He stated that the 60 persons 

on the mandatory self 

isolation have not developed 

any symptoms suggestive 

of Covid-<strong>19</strong> so far, 

adding that they have been 

given facem<strong>as</strong>ks, gloves, 

thermometers and hand 

sanitizers, while the state 

government h<strong>as</strong> made 

plans to ensure that they 

do not lack b<strong>as</strong>ic items such 

<strong>as</strong> food, water, toiletries 

during the period of self 

isolation. 

However, he noted that 

the high risk contacts who 

are on self isolation would 

be transferred to the government's 

owned isolation 

facility if they were found 

wanting, but maintained 

that they have been cooperative 

with the <strong>as</strong>signed 

volunteer health workers 

who follow them up daily. 

Death toll rises to 

2 in A' Ibom, 3 new 

positive c<strong>as</strong>es 

Meanwhile in Akwa 

Ibom, the state government 

h<strong>as</strong> said it recorded another 

fatality <strong>as</strong> it h<strong>as</strong> in the 

l<strong>as</strong>t couple of days lost one 

patient and recorded three 

new positive c<strong>as</strong>es of Covid-<strong>19</strong>. 

Governor Udom Emmanuel 

dropped the hints, yesterday, 

while giving update 

on Covid-<strong>19</strong> in the state at 

Government House, Uyo. 

He said, "In the l<strong>as</strong>t laboratory 

test we conducted on 

44 suspected c<strong>as</strong>es, three 

persons were confirmed 

positive, while we lost one. 

"The patient we lost w<strong>as</strong> 

a 68 year old woman, who 

w<strong>as</strong> transferred to the centre, 

totally unconscious, 

with multiple long outstanding 

comorbidity. 

"And I want to use this 

opportunity to appeal to 

doctors ple<strong>as</strong>e, whether it 

is Covid-<strong>19</strong> or not, once the 

illness is beyond your experience 

and facility can't 

carry, seek the help of your 

colleagues.’’ 

Edo nurse declared 

wanted <strong>as</strong> Ob<strong>as</strong>eki 

extends curfew 

A nurse identified <strong>as</strong> Mrs 

Amaka Okoro is currently 

on the run after she tested 

positive for <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

Okoro, who is a resident of 

No 2, Atoe Idubor Street off 

2nd Ugbor in Benin City is 

said to be a nursing mother. 

Governor Godwin 

Ob<strong>as</strong>eki h<strong>as</strong> urged the 

public with any useful information 

to contact relevant 

health and security 

agencies, noting that she 

poses a risk to herself, baby 

and the public. Ob<strong>as</strong>eki declared 

this on his official 

twitter handle. 

He said: "One Amaka 

Okoro, who tested positive 

for Covid-<strong>19</strong> is wanted for 

treatment. She is a nursing 

mother who h<strong>as</strong> a baby that 

is already coughing. 

"She h<strong>as</strong> been unreachable 

since her results returned 

positive. Anyone 

with useful information on 

her whereabouts should 

ple<strong>as</strong>e contact relevant 

health and security agencies." 

Besides, Ob<strong>as</strong>eki yesterday 

extended the dusk-to 

dawn curfew from 8p.m., 

to 6a.m., for the next 14 

days. He had on April <strong>19</strong>, 

announced a 10-day dusk 

to dawn curfew to contain 

the spread of Covid-<strong>19</strong> 

which expired yesterday 

morning. 

No help would 

come to Rivers if 

our c<strong>as</strong>es escalate 

— Wike 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers 

State, yesterday, said the 

state can't afford to relax its 

aggressive me<strong>as</strong>ures at 

tackling coronavirus because 

no help would come 

to the state if the pandemic 

escalates among its populace. 

Wike, while inaugurating 

a state Tax Force On Border 

Closure also lamented 

how oil firms were sabotaging 

his government's efforts 

over the pandemic, disclosing 

that one of the state's 

current confirmed c<strong>as</strong>es is 

an oil worker who returned 

from rig duty. 

The t<strong>as</strong>k force is to checkmate 

sabotage by security 

agencies enforcing his order 

for closure of road, 

waterways and air routes 

across the state to prevent 

spread of Covid-<strong>19</strong>. 

In his charge to the 

team, Wike said, "This 

T<strong>as</strong>k Force is very important. 

When they don't 

want you to live, you must 

devise means to survive. 

You have to support the 

security agencies and 

don't allow anyone get 

into the state without approval. 

"Anyone coming into the 

state must be screened by 

the health officials. Don't 

join the security agencies 

to extort money from people. 

If that happens, the 

essence of this t<strong>as</strong>k force 

is defeated.’’ 

Govt decision to 

e<strong>as</strong>e lockdown 

difficult — SAN 

Chief Thompson Okpoko, 

SAN, yesterday, said 

that the decision of government 

to e<strong>as</strong>e the lockdown 

imposed on the people 

to check the spread of 

the coronavirus w<strong>as</strong> a difficult 

one. 

Okpoko, who spoke in 

Warri, Delta State in a telephone 

conversation with 

Vanguard, noted that government 

needed to strike 

a balance between the 

need to remove the restriction 

so that people 

can get what they can eat 

and the need to restrict 

and prevent further 

spread of the virus. 

According to him, "The 

position of things is that 

the government is put in 

a difficult situation. Business 

people are saying 

that they are dying because 

there is no business 

for them to do. The c<strong>as</strong>ual 

workers working along 

the road can no longer 

come out to work because 

of the restriction on movement 

and so their means 

of livelihood h<strong>as</strong> been taken 

away from them. 

"So what plans h<strong>as</strong> the 

government put in place 

for this cl<strong>as</strong>s of people in 

terms of palliatives? On 

the other side of the scale 

is the need to protect public 

health of everyone. Can 

the government shut it's 

eye to what can be a very 

dangerous spread of this 

coronavirus? 

Oil coys donate 

Pick-Up Van, food 

items, PPEs to 

Delta govt 

In a another development, 

<strong>as</strong> part of their social 

responsibilitIes, a 

cluster of oil companies 

operating in Delta State, 

yesterday donated a 

Nisan Pick-Up Van, facem<strong>as</strong>ks 

and food items to 

the state government to 

cushion the impact of 

Covid -<strong>19</strong> pandemic. 

Presenting the items to 

the state government on 

behalf of the cluster, the 

Health Community Liaison 

Manager of Midwestern 

Oil, Mr Williams 

Eboh, explained that the 

gesture w<strong>as</strong> in response 

to the governor's call on 

organisations and well 

spirited individuals for 

support in the fight 

against the dise<strong>as</strong>e. 

Eboh who led the team, 

disclosed that the cluster 

comprises eight oil firms 

operating in the state 

which include Midwestern, 

Sun Trust, 

Newcross, Platform, Energia, 

Oando, Chorus 

and Pilla oil limited companies. 

He explained that the 

oils companies had at 

various fora donated 

food items to their host 

communities to alleviate 

the impact of the pandemic 

on the people. 

Group decries 

alleged excesses of 

security personnel 

Bayelsa State Civil Society 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Situation 

Room h<strong>as</strong> expressed 

concern over reports of 

exploitation of the lockdown 

by some security 

personnel deployed to 

the enforce order in the 

state. 

The group in a statement, 

yesterday, in Yenagoa 

by its co-conveners, 

Kuroghobogha Robinson 

and Dise Ogbise, who 

are also the chairman 

and president of Bayelsa 

Non-Governmental 

Organisations Forum, 

BANGOF and Do Foundation, 

respectively, noted 

that the state government's 

"directives for unhindered 

movement of 

essential goods and services 

had been exploited 

by some security operatives 

at strategic places. 

"We have received reports 

of extortion of drivers 

and food suppliers 

before being allowed access 

into the state," they 

stated. 

They pointed out that 

the government's sevenday 

stay-at-home order 

on April 27 w<strong>as</strong> too sudden 

and did not give sufficient 

time for residents 

to prepare. 

According to the group, 

the development resulted 

in a rush and panic 

buying by residents 

which "might have incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

risk of community 

transmission <strong>as</strong> nobody 

cared about social 

distancing or any other 

high risk behaviour." 

Nestlé boosts 

Rivers food bank 

with N32m 

palliatives 

NESTLE Nigeria, yesterday, 

shored up Rivers 

State's food bank with 

donation of N32million 

worth of food and beverages 

to help the vulnerable 

deal with the stress 

of Corona Virus in the 

state. 

Victoria Uwadoka, the 

donor's Corporate Communications 

and Public 

Affairs interface said the 

goodwill w<strong>as</strong> part of 

Nestle's contribution of 

over N700million in c<strong>as</strong>h 

and kind towards the 

national response efforts 

through the Presidential 

T<strong>as</strong>k Force on <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong>. 

"The food and beverages 

donated will support 

individuals and families 

most impacted by the 

containment me<strong>as</strong>ures 

put in place by the state 

t<strong>as</strong>k force on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

to stop the spread of the 

virus," Uwadoka said. 

Alleged breaches: Ize Iyamu's 

bail conditions may be revoked 

BENIN CITY — BUT for 

the coronavirus crisis, 

the bail conditions of the 

2016 governorship candidate 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, and now 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, governorship <strong>as</strong>pirant 

in Edo State, P<strong>as</strong>tor 

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, would 

have been revoked on April 

27 

Ṫhis is <strong>as</strong> a result of what 

the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, deemed consistent 

breaches of the conditions 

upon which he w<strong>as</strong> granted 

bail. 

It is believed he is 

warming up to wrest the 

APC ticket from Governor 

Godwin Ob<strong>as</strong>eki during 

the June primaries to contest 

the September governorship 

election. 

It is also believed that 

the APC National Chairman, 

Mr Adams Oshiomhole 

is supporting him 

against Ob<strong>as</strong>eki. 

The matter had been 

adjourned for judgment 

on March 26, but could 

not be heard because of 

the coronavirus situation. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

By Clifford 

Ndujihe, Vincent 

Ujumadu, 

Ugochukwu Alaribe, 

Chinonso Alozie, 

Ikechukwu Odu & 

Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

NSUKKA—IN keeping 

with the Enugu State 

government’s order 

restricting interstate 

movement, the chairmen 

of Igbo-Eze North and 

Nsukka Local Government 

Are<strong>as</strong>, both in Enugu State, 

Ejike Itodo and Patrick 

Omeje, have intercepted 

two corpses from Kano 

State. 

The corpses were 

smuggled into the two local 

governments from Kano 

State but were intercepted, 

following intelligence 

report in the councils. 

Itodo intercepted the 

corpse at Enugu Ezike, the 

headquarters of the local 

government when the 

corpse w<strong>as</strong> smuggled into 

the General Hospital’s 

mortuary and accepted by 

the mortician Tuesday 

night. 

Similarly, at Nsukka Local 

Government Area, the 

chairman, Patrick Omeje, 

w<strong>as</strong> said to have turned 

<strong>back</strong> the vehicle conveying 

the corpse. 

Vanguard learnt that the 

corpse had come into 

Nsukka and w<strong>as</strong> about 

being deposited at the 

Bishop Shanahan Hospital 

mortuary when the 

chairman w<strong>as</strong> alerted. 

He reportedly sent his 

security team who escorted 

the corpse <strong>back</strong> to the 

border before returning to 

Nsukka. 

When Vanguard spoke 

with the Chief Security 

Adviser to Nsukka local 

government chairman, 

Uche Eze, he said: “It is sad 

that our people still toy with 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic even 

in the face of dev<strong>as</strong>tation 

inflicted on the world by the 

ravaging virus.” 

Ugwuanyi directs 

council chairmen, 

others to man 

land 

boundaries 

Following reports that 

persons on non-essential 

duties have continued to 

traverse the boundaries of 

Enugu State, with the tacit 

support of some 

unscrupulous persons, 

despite the state 

government’s <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

Containment Order 

(Executive Order No. 1 of 

2020) in force, Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi h<strong>as</strong> 

directed all the 17 local 

government council 

chairmen “to mobilize all 

development center 

administrators, councilors, 

traditional rulers and 

presidents general of 

communities <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

Neighborhood Watch 

groups and youth leaders 


Coronavirus: LG chairmen intercept 

corpses smuggled into Enugu 

•Obiano orders workers to resume work on Monday 

•Govts, NGOs, wealthy individuals t<strong>as</strong>ked for more palliatives 

•T<strong>as</strong>k force nabs vehicle conveying suspected cannabis in Umuahia 

within their jurisdiction to 

man the borders of their 

local government council 

are<strong>as</strong> that are contiguous 

with other states.” 

Obiano orders 

workers to 

resume work 

InAnambra State, Governor 

Willie Obiano yesterday 

directed the state’s 

workforce to return to their 

duty posts on Monday, 4th 

May, 2020. 

Secretary to the State 

Government, SSG, 

Professor Solo 

Chukwulobelu, who 

announced the governor’s 

directive said although 

primary and secondary 

school teachers would also 

resume work same day, 

pupils and students should 

remain at home and follow 

the newly introduced 

Anambra Teaching On Air 

programme through the 

state-owned Anambra 

Broadc<strong>as</strong>ting Service, ABS, 

radio, television and ABS 

online platforms. 

Obiano’s directive read: 

“All workers in the state and 

indeed all residents should 

procure protective face 

m<strong>as</strong>ks <strong>as</strong> this is now 

compulsory in Anambra 

State. 

“Workers and visitors will 

not be allowed access into 

the state secretariat and 

other government offices if 

they are not wearing face 

m<strong>as</strong>ks. 

“All should always 

observe strict personal 

hygiene protocols such <strong>as</strong> 

w<strong>as</strong>hing of hands regularly 

for 20 seconds each time, 

use of alcohol-b<strong>as</strong>ed hand 

sanitizers, maintenance of 

physical distancing 

guidelines of six feet 

between people, avoidance 

of hugs, kisses and 

handshakes <strong>as</strong> stipulated 

by the World Health 

Organizations (WHO) and 

Nigeria Centre for Dise<strong>as</strong>e 

Control (NCDC). 

“These protocols must 

also be followed at public 

gatherings which should 

not exceed 30 persons. 

Places of worship should 

follow these strict personal 

hygiene protocols before 

and during worship, 

including compulsory 

wearing of face m<strong>as</strong>ks. 

“Market places, 

restaurants, bars, bus stops 

and all other such public 

places must also observe 

the strict personal hygiene 

protocols. 

“Families are encouraged 

to bury their loved ones <strong>as</strong> 

soon <strong>as</strong> death occurs. The 

DISTRIBUTION: From Left—Nze Johnpaul Ezenwaka, Chairman of all 

Chairmen, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos; Chief Robert Ob<strong>as</strong>i, Special Assistant 

to the Chairman, Lagos; High Chief Solomon Ogbonna, President, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos; Chief Everest Ozonweke, Secretary, Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, Lagos, and Chief Joe Eboh, Assistant Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

Lagos, during the distribution of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> palliatives, in Lagos. 

burial should not involve 

more than 30 persons 

during which the 

guidelines on social 

distancing and wearing of 

face m<strong>as</strong>ks must be strictly 

observed,” Obiano further 

directed. 

T<strong>as</strong>k force nabs 

vehicle conveying 

suspected 

cannabis 

The Abia State t<strong>as</strong>kforce 

on Covid-<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> arrested 

a Toyota Sienna car, 

conveying bags of 

substance suspected to be 

cannabis at Ogbudiukwu 

community in Umuahia 

South council area. 

Confirming the incident, 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Mr. Chris 

Ezem, disclosed that apart 

from the suspected 

substance, the t<strong>as</strong>kforce 

also recovered One 

Hundred and Twenty 

Thousand Naira in the bus. 

He explained that 

investigation h<strong>as</strong> revealed 

the identity of the driver 

and <strong>as</strong>sured that he would 

face the wrath of the law, 

<strong>as</strong> the state will not tolerate 

such acts. 

Also speaking, the State 

Commandant, National 

Drugs Law Enforcement 

Agency, NDLEA, Mr. 

Akinbede Bamidele, stated 

that the samples of the 

materials would be taken to 

Abuja for forensic analysis. 

Govts, NGOs, 

wealthy 

individuals 

t<strong>as</strong>ked for more 

palliatives 

Meantime, governmenrt 

at all levels, non 

governmental 

organisations and wealthy 

individuals have been 

urged to give the citizenry 

more palliatives to mitigate 

the effects of the lockdown 

occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by the raging 


Since the plague hit 

Nigeria, a host of corporate 

organisations, NGOs, 

churches, politicians, 

philanthropists and 

governments at many 

levels have given 

palliatives in the form of 

c<strong>as</strong>h, nose m<strong>as</strong>ks and food 

items to the citizenry. 

However, the palliatives 

were grossly inadequate. 

To make the palliatives 

count, a community leader, 

Chief Tochukwu Kpajie, 

h<strong>as</strong> urged more affluent 

citizens to chip in the bit. 

Some of the beneficiaries 

who spoke to journalists 

prayed for and commended 

Kpajie’s kind gesture. 

Gregory 

University 

donates to govt 

Also yesterday, Governor 

Hope Uzodinma of Imo 

State, said his government 

received some palliatives 

from the Gregory 

University, Uturu, GUU, 

in Abia State to <strong>as</strong>sist Imo, 

in the fight against the 


This w<strong>as</strong> made known to 

newsmen through the 

governor’s Chief Press 

Secretary, Oguwike 

Nwachuku, in Owerri, 

when the management of 

the University, led by their 

Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. 

Augustine Uwakwe, visited 

the governor at the 

Government House. 

The items included 250 

Covid-<strong>19</strong> test kits; two 

thermal digital Infra-Red 

thermometers; 600 bottles of 

GUU comprehensive hand 

sanitizer; 150 bottles of 

GUU sniff-sniff; 50 bottles 

of GUU herbal honey; 50 

bottles of GUU adonis 

yellow, 50 cartons of instant 

noodles and 100 pieces of 

nose m<strong>as</strong>ks. 

According to the rele<strong>as</strong>e, 

“As Imo State battles 

successfully to prevent the 

spread of coronavirus in the 

state, Governor Hope 

Uzodimma h<strong>as</strong> continued 

to attract support and 

partnership from corporate 

bodies and organizations 

operating both within and 

outside the state. 

“Receiving the items, 

Governor Uzodimma 

thanked the University and 

its Chancellor, Prof. 

Gregory Ibe for the show of 

love and support given to 

the state at this trying time. 

“Governor Uzodimma 

described the Chancellor 

and Proprietor of the 

University <strong>as</strong> a worthy son 

who h<strong>as</strong> always been 

available anytime there is 

a challenge confronting the 

South E<strong>as</strong>t, not only 

through financial support, 

but also Services." 

In the same vain, the 

House of Representatives 

member representing the 

oil rich communities of 

Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, 

federal constituency, under 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Kingsley 

Uju, yesterday said he 

distributed to his 

constituents some 

palliatives <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> other 

facilities to start up small 

businesses. 

Uju who is the Deputy 

Chairman committee on 

Public Procurement, 

spoke to newsmen in 

Owerri, after the 

distribution of the items in 

his are<strong>as</strong>, said the move 

w<strong>as</strong> to enable his 

constituents survive the 

challenges of covid-<strong>19</strong> virus 

lockdown. 

Anambra oil 

magnate donates 

bags of rice, 

tubers of yams to 

communities 

Determined to ensure that 

his people did not suffer 

hunger following the 

nationwide lockdown over 

the spread of Coronavirus, 

an Anamvra Oil magnet, 

Sir Emeka Okwuosa 

yesterday shared 4,000 

bags of rice and 8,000 

tubers of yams worth N40 

million to the entire people 

of Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local 

Government Area, 

Anambra. 

Other beneficiaries of the 

Sir Emeka Okwuosa 

Foundation, COVOD-<strong>19</strong> 

palliatives were the 

Nigerian Police, Federal 

Road Safety Corps, the 

Department of State 

Services, DSS and the 

Clergy in the community. 

The food items were were 

shared to the four villages 

that make up Oraifite town, 

namely, Ibolo, Ezumeri, 

Irefi and Ifite. 

Addressing the people of 

Oraifite, the Executive 

Director of the Foundation, 

Sir Azuka Okwuosa, who 

represented the Chairman 

of the Foundation, Sir 

Emeka Okwuosa, an 

engineer and Chief 

Executive Officer of Oil 

Servev Limited, said it w<strong>as</strong> 

their own way of helping 

the people to cushion the 

effect of the lockdown over 

Coronavirus pandemic. 

Sir Okwuosa also 

disclosed that the 

Foundation also extended 

it palliative me<strong>as</strong>ure to their 

neighbouring Ozubulu 

town, also in Ekwusigo 

Local Government Area, 

with bags of rice and tubers 

of yam, worth millions of 

naira. 

“Similar gesture w<strong>as</strong> also 

made to the people in Port 

Harcourt, where Oil Servev 

Limited operates, and 

other communities in 

Rivers State to cushion the 

effect of the lockdown to 

stem the spread of the 

deadly pandemic virus.” 

“We also extended the 

distribution of the <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> palliatives to the heads 

of Churches in Oraifite, the 

Anglican, Catholics and the 

Pentecostal, just <strong>as</strong> we gave 

to the Police, Department of 

State Services, DSS and 

Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, because they 

have families.”


ORIENTATION: 

Chief Orientation 

and Mobilization 

Officer, National 

Orientation Agency, 

NOA, Mrs Helen 

Amucheazi (right), 

addressing 

residents of Enugu 

during 

a 

sensitization 

campaign on 

C O V I D - 1 9 

pandemic, at 

Kenyatta market 

road in Enugu, 

yesterday. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: INEC meets ahead of Edo, Ondo 

governorship polls 

By Omezia Ajayi 

A BUJA—FOLLOWING 

the gradual e<strong>as</strong>ing of 

lockdown by the federal 

government, the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, yesterday met to 

deliberate on a number of 

issues, including 

preparations for the 

conduct of Edo and Ondo 

governorship elections. 

Other issues discussed 

were the upcoming bye 

elections in Bayelsa, Imo 

and Plateau states <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> plans for resumption of 

normal activities. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: Surveyors donate palliatives to 

vulnerable persons in Delta 

WARRI—AS 

the 

lockdown order by 

the Delta State Government 

enters its 29th day, 

members of the Delta State 

Chapter of the Nigerian 

Institution of Estate 

Surveyors and Valuers, 

NIESV, Wednesday, 

donated various food items 

to the aged, indigent and 

vulnerable persons in Warri 

and Asaba are<strong>as</strong>. 

Communities that 

benefitted from the 

palliatives included 

Alderstown, Pessu and 

Market Road, Warri, in 

Warri South LGA of the 

state. Same distribution, 

made in Asaba, w<strong>as</strong> done 

simultaneously with Warri. 

Accompanied by the Vice 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: EKEDC improves electricity 

supply to isolation centres 

By Gabriel Olawale 

LAGOS—THE 

Eko 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, EKEDC h<strong>as</strong> said 

that over N100 million 

have been invested into 

distribution infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

and improvement of 

electricity supply in three 

covid-<strong>19</strong> isolation centres 

under its network in Lagos 

State. 

Speaking during a 

courtesy visit by the jointdelegation 

from the Lagos 

State House of Assembly 

Committees on Energy and 

Mineral Resources, and 

the Information/Strategy, 

Both governorship 

elections would take place 

between September and 

October 2020. 

National Commissioner 

and Chairman, Information 

and Voter Education 

Committee of INEC, Festus 

Okoye, in a statement 

issued after the meeting, 

said the commission noted 

the advisory and protocols 

outlined by the Presidential 

T<strong>as</strong>k Force, PTF, on <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> on the gradual e<strong>as</strong>ing of 

lockdown from Monday, 

May 4, 2020. 

He said: “The 

commission will meet on 

Thursday, May 7, 2020, to 

Chairman of Warri South 

Local Govt, Mrs. Ann- 

Divine Iniovosa, members 

of the Delta State branch of 

NIESV, presented the 

foodstuffs to the 

communities. 

The Chairman of the Delta 

State Chapter of NIESV, Esv 

Chris Okolo, said the gesture w<strong>as</strong> 

to complement the efforts of the 

Delta State Government to 

.... As Abanje Farms distributes food 

items to ESL Farm in Delta 

A SABA—ABANJE 

Farms Limited, a small 

holder in the oil palm sector 

in Delta State, gave out bags 

of rice, gallons of palm oil, 

Maggi cubes, bags of 

Managing Director of 

EKEDC, Mr. Adeoye 

Fadeyibi said that the 

company will continue to 

ensure that all electricity 

customers being served by 

it were adequately metered 

and provided with 

improved power supply 

throughout the period of the 

pandemic and beyond. 

“Eko Disco continues to 

take about 12-15 per cent of 

the national grid allocation. 

In the months before 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, we were 

averaging between 270 

megawatts and 300MW. 

Now, we take 90 per cent to 

100 per cent of that amount 

review the situation in its 

offices across the country 

and adopt a clear road 

map and guidelines for 

resumption of activities in 

line with the 

announcement by the 

PTF. 

“The exact date for the 

step-by-step resumption 

of normal activities in the 

headquarters, State and 

Local Government offices 

will be communicated to 

staff, our stakeholders and 

the public after the 

Commission’s meeting on 

Thursday, May 7, 2020. 

“Staff earlier designated 

for the provision of 

cushion the economic effects of 

the lockdown on the m<strong>as</strong>ses. 

“Our choice of those living in 

the interior of Warri, popularly 

referred to <strong>as</strong> ‘Ikpara’, is for the 

palliatives to make more 

meaningful impact. The gesture 

would help to alleviate hunger 

and starvation, even <strong>as</strong> the 

state government h<strong>as</strong> partially 

relaxed the lockdown order.” 

Mrs. Iniovosa thanked the 

onions and salt to Emu 

School Leavers Farm in 

Emu Unor, Ndokwa West 

Local Government Area of 

the state, <strong>as</strong> the company’s 

own support to the group, 

of energy. 

“We are doing our best 

to support the 

government during this 

critical period. That is why 

our board and 

management approved a 

budget of N150 million 

towards <strong>as</strong>sisting the 

government. Over 100 

million is being spent on 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure and 

boosting electricity supply 

to three isolation centres 

within our network 

thereby incre<strong>as</strong>ing supply 

hours in the centres. We 

also donated food items 

worth over N40 million to 

the state government.” 

essential services are to 

continue with their work. 

All stakeholders are 

advised to wait for further 

communication from the 

Commission on resumption 

of normal activities. 

“The commission 

understands and 

appreciates the need for 

timely resumption of 

activities in view of the 

Governorship Elections in 

Edo and Ondo states and 

the bye-elections in Bayelsa, 

Imo and Plateau states and 

is doing everything possible 

to observe critical protocols 

that will make for the 

seamless and gradual 

restoration of normalcy.” 

Chairman and members of NIESV 

for the gesture and the modality 

for distributing the items, noting 

that it would no doubt alleviate 

the plight of the lucky beneficiaries, 

and urged other groups to emulate 

the gesture. 

More than five hundred aged 

and vulnerable persons in Warri 

benefitted from the NIESV 

palliatives. 

<strong>as</strong> a result of the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

lockdown in the nation. 

The company’s 

Administration Manager, 

Michael Nezianya, who 

spoke on behalf of the 

Managing Director of the 

farms, Fidelis Olise, while 

handing over the items to 

the beneficiaries, said this 

gesture is indicative of the 

future relationship between 

the company and the group. 

He thanked the group for 

the existing partnership and 

that, notwithstanding this 

palliatives, the company will 

give out bursaries to 

deserving students who are 

children of members of the 

group. 

Responding on behalf of 

Emu School Leavers Farm, 

Okpara thanked the 

company and Mr. Olise for 

remembering them at this 

critical period, though they 

were taken by surprise. “It 

is not the first time that the 

company is sending gift 

items to us, especially food 

stuffs.” 

OPEC April oil output surges 

to 13-month high before new 

cut deal 

OPEC oil output h<strong>as</strong> jumped in April to a 13- 

month high <strong>as</strong> Saudi Arabia and its Gulf 

allies opened the taps following the collapse of an 

OPEC-led supply pact, offsetting further declines 

in Libya, Iran and Venezuela. 

On average, the 13-member Organization of the 

Petroleum Exporting Countries h<strong>as</strong> pumped 30.25 

million barrels per day (bpd) this month, according 

to the survey, up 1.61 million bpd from March’s 

revised figure. 

An OPEC-led supply pact collapsed on March 

6, temporarily ending three years of cooperation 

and starting a battle for market share. This freefor-all 

l<strong>as</strong>ted until the producers, known <strong>as</strong> 

OPEC+, agreed a new cut<strong>back</strong> from May. 1. 

Local investors cushion impact 

of South Africa bond index exit 

South Africa’s exclusion from a major global 

bond index on Thursday appears to have been 

a less severe blow than expected, with foreign 

investors having been given a full month’s warning 

to exit the market and local investors stepping in 

to buy. 

But if the bonds have so far avoided a sudden 

shock, they remain vulnerable to a plunge in 

sentiment because of the impact of the coronavirus 

on an already vulnerable economy. 

South Africa lost its l<strong>as</strong>t investment grade rating 

in March, forcing it to be excluded from the World 

Government Bond Index (WGBI) on Thursday. 

That means some large overse<strong>as</strong> funds will no 

longer be able to hold the country’s debt. 

ABCON urges CBN to establish offshore 

<strong>as</strong>set repatriation window to boost 

capital inflow 

T 

he Association of Bureaux De Operators of Nigeria 

( A B C O N ) 

h<strong>as</strong> urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish 

a Voluntary Offshore Asset Repatriation Window to allow more 

foreign capital inflows into the economy in view of the coronavirus, 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic that h<strong>as</strong> affected the country’s foreign 

exchange earnings. 

ABCON President, Ahaji (Dr) Aminu Gwadabe, who disclosed 

this in a statement weekend said the proposed policy plan will 

be a monetary instrument of the CBN <strong>back</strong>ed by an Act of the 

National Assembly for non-disclosure of the sources or b<strong>as</strong>is of 

proceeds of the funds to be repatriated. 

The ABCON boss said : “ There w<strong>as</strong> need for tougher me<strong>as</strong>ures 

to keep the forex market and economy going by fiscal and 

monetary policy makers at this extraordinary time ignited by the 


He said: “ The <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic h<strong>as</strong> led to drop in crude 

oil prices and dr<strong>as</strong>tic cut in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. 

The proposed window will boost liquidity in the Bureaux De 

Change (BDCs) sub-sector, Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) 

forex window and help the CBN sustain stability of the exchange 

rate.” 

According to him, “ the forex window, which differs from the 

previous Voluntary Offshore Asset Regularization Scheme 

<strong>back</strong>ed by executive order 008 and tied to taxation, will be an 

incentive for owners of st<strong>as</strong>hed funds abroad to be given an 

amnesty to repatriate their foreign c<strong>as</strong>h holding into the window 

and to be traded at the prevailing rates in those windows. 

Naira to weaken against dollar 

The Nigerian currency is expected to weaken 

against the dollar over the next week <strong>as</strong> the 

country prepares to begin e<strong>as</strong>ing its coronavirus 

lockdown while the Kenyan shilling is seen stable. 

Nigeria’s naira is likely to weaken owing to a <strong>back</strong>log 

of dollar demand <strong>as</strong> the central bank restarts forex 

sales to commercial banks ahead of the expected 

gradual e<strong>as</strong>ing of a coronavirus lockdown, traders 

said. 

The naira this week hit a low of 460 against the 

dollar on the black market, before the central bank 

on Wednesday said it would sell $100 million per 

week to help individuals with dollar expenses abroad 

and importers revamp economic activities. 

Some strories from Reuters.

Look not upon me because I am Black 

TEDROS 

Adhanom 

Ghebreyesus, the Ethiopian 

microbiologist who heads the 

World Health Organisation, 

WHO, is simultaneously engaged 

in perhaps the two biggest battles 

in his 55 years on earth. He is 

leading humanity’s fight against 

the treacherous <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> virus, 

and a battle to remain in office 

against the expressed wishes of the 

United States of America, USA, the 

world’s unipolar power. 

Some American legislators have 

teamed up with the Trump 

administration to kick him out. 

Senator Martha McSally 

(Arizona, Republican) for 

instance, accused Tedros of 

collaborating with China to 

allegedly under-report the virus 

outbreak. 

Without providing any proof, she 

said: “The WHO needs to stop 

covering for them. I think Dr. 

Tedros needs to step down. We need 

to take some action to address this 

issue. It’s just irresponsible, it’s 

unconscionable what they have 

done here while we have people 

dying across the globe.” Senator 

Rick Scott who also demanded 

Tedros steps down, called for a 

congressional probe into the 

claimed China-WHO cover up. 

Tedros who h<strong>as</strong> a Doctorate of 

Philosophy, Ph.D, in Community 

Health from the University of 

Nottingham and a M<strong>as</strong>ters in 

By ALLISON ABANUM 

JUST recently, I w<strong>as</strong> chatting with a 

friend on governors that have made 

appreciable impacts in their states, 

especially during this period of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic that h<strong>as</strong> brought the world to 

a standstill. When I mentioned Douye Diri 

of Bayelsa State, he w<strong>as</strong> curious to know 

what the governor h<strong>as</strong> done. When I w<strong>as</strong> 

done telling him of the governor's 

achievements in such a short time since 

he <strong>as</strong>sumed office, he w<strong>as</strong> speechless. 

So it became clear that <strong>as</strong> a people we 

are good at fault-finding. Do not get me 

wrong, I am not fan of any political party. 

I believe that government is a continuum, 

PDP, APC or any party. As long <strong>as</strong> you 

can deliver on your promise by improving 

the standard of living of the citizens, then 

you have my support. Hence, I decided to 

change the narrative with the use of my 

pen to bring the spotlight on the new 

governor of Bayelsa State and some of his 

laudable achievement since he w<strong>as</strong> sworn 

into office on February 14, 2020. 

Douye w<strong>as</strong> the first national organising 

secretary of Ijaw National Congress, INC, a 

notable organisation of the Ijaw nation. He 

w<strong>as</strong> also appointed <strong>as</strong> executive secretary, 

Centre for Youth Development from 2000- 

2002, during the tenure of the first governor 

of Bayelsa State, the late Chief Diepreye 

Alamieyeseigha. Then again, from 2005- 

2006 he rose up to the position of 

Commissioner of Sports during the 

Goodluck Jonathan administration <strong>as</strong> 

governor. He also served <strong>as</strong> the governing 

board member of the University of 

Maiduguri, and a one-time Chairman of 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

Disciplinary Council, Bayelsa State in 2012. 

He w<strong>as</strong> appointed deputy chief of staff 

in 2012, but a year after, w<strong>as</strong> appointed 

<strong>as</strong> principal executive secretary; he held 

Immunology of Infectious Dise<strong>as</strong>es 

from the University of London, 

thought such qualifications and 

his having served <strong>as</strong> Ethiopian 

Health and Foreign Minister, 

qualified him to lead the WHO. 

However, he h<strong>as</strong> come to realise 

that leading a world body is 

beyond qualifications and being 

democratically elected <strong>as</strong> he w<strong>as</strong> 

from a number of candidates 

including British health expert, 

David Nabarro whom he dusted 

133-50 in a secret ballot. 

The allegations against Tedros 

are <strong>as</strong> bizarre <strong>as</strong> the claims that 

the coronavirus is caused by the 

introduction of the G5 network. 

First, there are claims that the 

Ethiopian administration he 

served, w<strong>as</strong> a dictatorship, so it is 

natural for him to support another 

dictatorship, which is how they 

characterise China. Secondly, 

there are claims that the Ethiopian 

government in which Tedros w<strong>as</strong> a 

leading figure, covered up a 

cholera outbreak, so his alleged 

cover up of the coronavirus 

outbreak in China is in his 

character. 

Thirdly, that China <strong>as</strong>sisted 

Ethiopia to build critical 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure such <strong>as</strong> the Addis 

Ababa-Djibouti international 

train, so that this w<strong>as</strong> Ethiopia 

pay<strong>back</strong> time. The American and 

Taiwanese governments stopped 

just short of calling Tedros a 

the position till he resigned in 2014 to 

represent the Kolokuma Opokuma and 

Yenagoa federal constituency at the 

Federal House of Representative. It w<strong>as</strong> a 

landslide victory. Douye's achievements 

in such a short while since <strong>as</strong>suming office 

is really commendable, considering the 

circumstances surrounding his 

appointment. While some unprepared and 

opportunistic leaders would in the first few 

months witch-hunt and settle political 

scores with their enemies’ or those who 

did not vote for them, he hit the ground 

running by giving the m<strong>as</strong>ses a t<strong>as</strong>te of 

good governance and exemplary 

leadership. 

One thing that really stood out is the 

level of maturity he h<strong>as</strong> shown in the fight 

against <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic. Despite the 

fact that Bayelsa State h<strong>as</strong> recorded a 

single c<strong>as</strong>e of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, yet he is proactive 

in the fight against the dreaded virus. In 

addition to the Niger Delta University 

Teaching Hospital, the newly built 

mother and child referral centre w<strong>as</strong> 

commissioned <strong>as</strong> an 80-bed isolation 

ward. 

Also, apart from the partial lock down 

in Bayelsa State, part of the prevention 

me<strong>as</strong>ures to curb an outbreak and possible 

spread of this virus in the state is the 

closure of land borders between Port 

Harcourt and other neighbouring states 

to restrict interstate movement of persons 

and goods. It is said the virus does not 

spread, but people that spread the virus. 

That’s not all. He also went ahead to sign 

an executive order on security/public 

health. This will give a legal <strong>back</strong>ing to 

fighting the pandemic. By this act the 

governor is making a bold statement that 

"prevention is better than cure”. The 

problem with some of these so-called 

political leaders is that they just fold their 

Chinese spy. He said he took the 

attacks on him in his stride 

including death threats, but what 

he would not accept are the racists 

insults that portray Blacks <strong>as</strong> 

inferior beings incapable of 

running a high office like the 

WHO. 

It is a scientific fact that all 

humans flowed from Africa and 

that it is at the core of human 

civilization. Yet today, it is on the 

lower rungs of human 

development and virtually nonexistent 

in the upper rungs of 

human leadership. This is one of 

the main re<strong>as</strong>ons why after an 

average 60 years of independence, 

the continent h<strong>as</strong> no permanent 

seat in the United Nations Security 

Council. 

The allegations 

against Tedros are <strong>as</strong> 

bizarre <strong>as</strong> the claims 

that the coronavirus 

is caused by the 

introduction of the 

G5 network 

But once in a while, perhaps by 

accident of history, an African 

emerges <strong>as</strong> leader of a major world 

body such <strong>as</strong> WHO. However, that 

is just a part of the story, the other 

is that the tenure of such Africans 

are often characterised by the 

suffocating attitude of other 

humans who claim superiority and 

<strong>as</strong>sume that unless they teleguide, 

such Africans cannot be fit to 

remain in office. 

Sometimes, when such Africans 

cannot be gotten rid of e<strong>as</strong>ily, the 

powerful would prefer to destroy 

the institution. WHO is being told 

in no uncertain terms; get rid of 

the bloody African leading you if 

you want to continue receiving 

Building bridges in governance the Diri way 

hands and do nothing. Indeed, this period 

of the corona virus palaver h<strong>as</strong> once again 

exposed the calibre of some leaders we 

elected into public office both at the federal 

and state levels. 

Again, to cushion the effect of the partial 

lockdown caused by this deadly pandemic, 

the governor h<strong>as</strong> rolled out me<strong>as</strong>ures by 

providing palliatives or relief materials 

to vulnerable people in the state, 

irrespective of party lines or affiliations. 

It is believed that hunger kills f<strong>as</strong>ter than 

the virus. 

Another re<strong>as</strong>on I doff my hat for this 

governor, is that despite the fact that oil 

revenue h<strong>as</strong> dropped sharply <strong>as</strong> a result 

All the governor needs to do is 

remain diligent, listen to his 

conscience, uphold his integrity 

and the good reputation he h<strong>as</strong> 

built over the years 

of the pandemic, he h<strong>as</strong> set up plans to 

ensure the diversification of the economy 

to other sectors. For over half a century 

Nigeria <strong>as</strong> a nation relied entirely on the 

revenue derived from crude oil sales. 

Infact, about 90 per cent of our foreign 

exchange income flows from crude oil. The 

time h<strong>as</strong> come to diversify the economy 

to commerce. 

In my opinion it takes an exemplary 

leader like Douye to harness the available 

resources for growth and development. He 

further went ahead to reduce the cost of 

governance by 50 per cent. This move would 

go a long way to cut w<strong>as</strong>teful spending and 

channel the resources into restructuring the 

state's economy. Prior to this time, there 

h<strong>as</strong> been concerns over the country’s cost 

of governance from eminent Nigerians, 

intellectuals and top government officials. 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020—17 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

payments from America. The word 

for this is racism. This same 

scenario played out when the 

Senegalese, Amadou-Mahtar 

M'Bow, a former Minister of 

Education and Culture w<strong>as</strong> 

appointed in <strong>19</strong>74 <strong>as</strong> the Director- 

General of the United Nations 

Educational, Scientific and 

Cultural Organization, UNESCO. 

The body w<strong>as</strong> established on 

November 16, <strong>19</strong>45 in London, 

charged with promoting 

international collaboration in 

education, the sciences, and 

culture, and championing the 

quest for universal justice, rule of 

law, and human rights. M'Bow 

would not allow American 

dictation. So, the Reagan 

administration on December 

31,<strong>19</strong>84, withdrew America from 

UNESCO, accusing it and M’Bow 

of being pro-Soviet, anti-Israel, 

and anti-capitalist. 

America staged a come<strong>back</strong> on 

October 1, 2003, but refused to pay 

its dues totalling over $500 

million before staging another 

withdrawal on December 31, 2018. 

The League of Nations which in 

<strong>19</strong>45, w<strong>as</strong> transformed into the 

United Nations, UN, w<strong>as</strong> founded 

on January 10, <strong>19</strong>20. In its first 79 

years, no African headed it until 

<strong>19</strong>91 when Boutros Boutros-Ghali 

of Egypt, w<strong>as</strong> elected its Secretary 

General. 

He w<strong>as</strong> a man of peace, but his 

tenure w<strong>as</strong> characterised by four 

bloody wars: the old Yugoslavia 

War which broke that state into 

seven new countries; the ripples of 

the <strong>19</strong>91 Gulf War; the fractious 

war in Somalia, and the genocide 

in which 850,000 Rwandans were 

m<strong>as</strong>sacred. Ghali w<strong>as</strong> quite bitter 

about the Rwanda genocide 

because he thought that if the 

powerful countries like America 

and France which had control over 

UN peacekeeping troops and 

logistics had agreed with his 

leadership, the m<strong>as</strong>sacres would 

have been prevented. 

He also opposed the NATO 

bombing in Bosnia. For these, and 

his refusal to be controlled, the US 

vetoed his re-election even when 

he had m<strong>as</strong>sive support from 

member countries. Instead, fellow 

African, Kofi Annan who w<strong>as</strong> his 

Head of Peacekeeping Operations 

during the failed mission in 

Somalia and the Rwandan 

genocide, w<strong>as</strong> elected to replace 

him. Annan w<strong>as</strong> considered a more 

pliant person and w<strong>as</strong> rewarded 

with a second term. 

It is unlikely that in order to 

survive, Tedros would want to play 

the Kofi Annan card in order to 

remain in office. Rather, like 

M’Bow and Ghali, he would want 

to stand on principles. Indeed, the 

WHO is too important to be turned 

over to an overbearing country led 

by a narcissist with the mind of a 

petty trader who will seek to 

control any cure or vaccine for 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> rather than ensure their 

equitable distribution across all 

countries. 

In spite of the numerous attacks 

on him, Tedros, whose surname, 

Ghebreyesus, means ‘Servant of 

Jesus’ knows he must not be 

distracted <strong>as</strong> his leadership h<strong>as</strong> the 

potentials of saving many lives 

across the world. The racist attacks 

on him would not make Tedros 

have a sense of inferiority; he 

knows he is not inferior to any 

human, is more intelligent than 

Donald Trump, and that he h<strong>as</strong> the 

same ancestry with King Solomon, 

the wisest man in Bible. 

He might <strong>as</strong> well respond to the 

racists in the words of Solomon 

who declared in the Songs of 

Solomon (1:5-6) “I am Black but 

comely…Look not upon me, 

because I am Black, because the 

sun hath looked upon me.” 

For him to take the initiative to reduce the 

cost of governance shows that he h<strong>as</strong> the 

best interest of the state at heart. 

Fully aware of the role c<strong>as</strong>h flow in 

economic development, the governor h<strong>as</strong> 

carried out civil service reforms that ensures 

that salaries are paid on the 28th of every 

month. That is not all. He also paid the <strong>back</strong> 

log of pensioners’ gratuity owed them. This 

h<strong>as</strong> further demonstrated his commitment 

to the welfare of all retired and serving civil 

servants in the state, because in reality they 

deserve life both in service and retirement. 

Indeed, one would <strong>as</strong>k how he h<strong>as</strong> been 

able to achieve all these. Well, he h<strong>as</strong> 

constantly attributed his success to God. 

My counsel to him, however, is that he 

should remain focused and not be 

distracted by those who do not wish the 

state well. 

All the governor needs to do is continue 

to remain diligent, listen to his conscience, 

uphold his integrity and the good 

reputation he h<strong>as</strong> built over the years. 

He should continue to be committed to the 

welfare and development of Bayelsa State. 

Also, he should run an all-inclusive 

government by carrying <strong>as</strong> many that 

wish to be carried along irrespective of 

their party affiliation towards a greater 

state. The time for political acrimony is 

over. It is time to unite for development. 

My advice is anchored on the words of 

Ernest Agyemang, which is that he should 

regard his election <strong>as</strong> "a journey to make 

real impact that changes lives, give 

meaning to life and living, and turns 

vision of the m<strong>as</strong>ses into realities demands 

a true focus, an utmost zeal and 

robustness and an unfailing tenacity to 

do whatever necessary within the powers 

and reach of a true leader, and with 

needed dexterity, wit and wisdom, to 

make real impact have a meaning and 

give real liberation to the m<strong>as</strong>ses." 

• Abanum, a public affairs analyst, wrote 

from Bayelsa State.


TODAY is May Day! It is so e<strong>as</strong>y not 

to remember under the prevailing 

Coronavirus pandemic lockdown 

atmosphere. 

Where would the world be without the 

working cl<strong>as</strong>s? They are found in the 

formal and informal, public and private 

sectors. They are the ones who create 

and sustain wealth. They are currently from contamination. That w<strong>as</strong> what 

the main force against <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. They informed the theme: “Stop the 

literally make the world go round. Pandemic at Work”, during the 2020 

So, no matter the circumstances that International Workers’ Memorial Day 

face the world, this special Day set <strong>as</strong>ide marked on Tuesday, April 28. 

to celebrate the workers with a public This year’s May Day is coming amid 

holiday h<strong>as</strong> to be honoured. 

rising tensions between the state 

The usual parades and speeches at governments and the Organised 

public aren<strong>as</strong> will not be observed. But Labour over the reported intentions of 

that will not reduce the need to pay governors to sl<strong>as</strong>h workers’ pay to free 

quality attention to the current issues up funds to fight pandemic. 

confronting the working cl<strong>as</strong>s not only Several state governors, notably 

in Nigeria but other parts of the world. N<strong>as</strong>ir el Rufai of Kaduna and John 

The main concern is how to protect Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, have sl<strong>as</strong>hed 

jobs in a world under various degrees the salaries of political appointees, 

of lockdown and protect the workplace including theirs. 

May Day under lockdown 

Labour is, predictably, resisting the 

attempt to tamper with their members’ 

pay. And rightly so. In the first place, 

the government h<strong>as</strong> no right to cut the 

wages of workers unilaterally. They 

must consent to it if need be. 

Arbitrary workers’ pay cut w<strong>as</strong> 

sometimes the practice when the 

military w<strong>as</strong> in power. That era is gone. 

We are in a democracy and must put 

<strong>as</strong>ide impunity in all its forms. 

Responsible governments in other 

parts of the world are taking some of 

the financial burden off their citizens 

and workforce. 

In the USA, the Federal Government 

sent pay cheques to citizens at the lower 

end of the social pyramid. UK 

government is paying up to 80 per cent 

of wages of some cl<strong>as</strong>ses of workers. 

Hong Kong is raising the salaries of 

workers, while Singapore is 

implementing pay cut for political 

office holders and senior bureaucrats. 

Nigeria already pays some of the 

lowest workers’ wages, including 

minimum wages, in the world. 

The le<strong>as</strong>t we expect is that 

governments take steps to pay the 

workers when due. 

They should help the private sector 

bear the burden of forced closure or 

scale-down of productivity. We all need 

money to maintain the lockdown rules. 

It is the overpaid political 

officeholders that should temporarily 

give up some comforts till things return 

to normal. 

Happy Workers Day! 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> and virtual May Day 

By ISSA AREMU 

TODAY I join all workers of the world on 

the occ<strong>as</strong>ion of 2020 May Day. As the 

Vice President representing our beautiful 

continent, Africa, on the Executive Committee 

of Industriall Global Union founded in 

Copenhagen, Denmark, June <strong>19</strong>, 2012, I bear 

witness that this is the first time of virtual May 

Day in eight years. May Day used to hold on 

the streets through solidarity matches and 

protests. In 130 years of May Day celebration, 

this year’s is the most precarious, in a global 

lock down! In <strong>19</strong>80, PRP state governments in 

Kaduna and Kano under governors Balarabe 

Musa and the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi 

respectively progressively declared May Day 

a public holiday. 

In <strong>19</strong>81 following the agitation of NLC led 

by its pioneer President, H<strong>as</strong>san Sunmonu, 

President Shehu Shagari declared first of May, 

public holiday to celebrate dignity of labour. 

In the p<strong>as</strong>t 40 years (and during my 35 years of 

trade unionism), this is the first May Day 

without open manifestations by workers world 

wide. No thanks to <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic! 

Globally, 3,147,626 Coronavirus C<strong>as</strong>es had 

been reported, with 218,187 deaths. In America 

alone, coronavirus c<strong>as</strong>es p<strong>as</strong>sed the one million 

mark and deaths almost doubled Africa’s at 

58,220, (more than lives lost in the Vietnam 

War!) according to Johns Hopkins University. 

In Africa, there have been 34,924 confirmed 

coronavirus c<strong>as</strong>es, confirmed 1,529 

coronavirus deaths and 11,336 recoveries. In 

Nigeria, <strong>as</strong> at Wednesday, there were 1532 

confirmed c<strong>as</strong>es, 255 recoveries and 44 deaths. 

Kano, an industrial city raises a spectre of 

pandemic within a pandemic. This is not the 

time for blame game. Needed is solidarity to 

save lives and livelihoods. All Nigerians must 

rise in solidarity with Kano people and 

government to stop the scourge of m<strong>as</strong>s deaths. 

We commend the interventions of the Federal 

Government in Kano. The dead and recoveries 

are not just numbers but fathers and mothers, 

sisters and brothers, health and medical, media 

workers, factory and service workers, 

statesmen, government officials, sportsmen 

and women, musicians with shortened 

<strong>as</strong>pirations. Collapse of livelihoods stares the 

living through closures of factories, loss of jobs 

and incomes deepening poverty. 

Is virtual May Day a p<strong>as</strong>sing fad or a new 

normal? Physical distancing affects m<strong>as</strong>s 

rallies <strong>as</strong> much <strong>as</strong> it affects any m<strong>as</strong>s 

gatherings of workforce. The world of work 

can hardly be the same again. Smart work or 

hardworking? Home working or industrial 

work? Formal or informal work? We live to 

work or work to live? ILO centenary l<strong>as</strong>t year 

agonised about all the above questions but it 

takes an ubiquitous virus to compel urgent 

answers today. 

I salute all comrades and affiliates in all 

sectors of our continent in the struggle and 

resistance against this ubiquitous deadly 

opportunistic dise<strong>as</strong>e negatively impacting 

lives, jobs and well being. Happily our global 

union gives the tools of the struggle against 

endemic exploitation in the world of work no 

less than a deadly <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, (even though 

nobody imagined the scale of this virus 

menace). Immediate t<strong>as</strong>k is defence of 

workers’ rights. First thing first: the right to 

life! Before the vaccine is obtained, it’s time 

for personal and industrial hygiene. Physical 

distancing without stigmatisation! Obedience 

of advice by public health authorities. Then 

m<strong>as</strong>s education of workers that <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> is 

real not a joke but life and death <strong>as</strong> President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> had repeated in his 

three national broadc<strong>as</strong>ts. 

Governments and employers have the 

singular responsibility to ensure the safety of 

all but importantly essential workforce under 

the lock downs, especially the doctors, nurses, 

pharmacists and medical workers, media and 

information <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> security workers in 

general through the provisions of quality 

Personal Protective Equipment, PPE. The 

OPINION 

pandemic shows that Labour not only creates 

wealth but saves and nurtures lives. 

Post <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> governments and businesses 

must stop underrating workers but see them 

<strong>as</strong> partners in development. Minister of 

Health, Osagie Ehanire, reported that not less 

than 40 health workers in Nigeria tested 

positive for <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. Some have actually 

died in both public and private hospitals. Better 

late than never: Presidential T<strong>as</strong>kforce on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, PTF, had initiated the Life 

Insurance cover to the frontline workers on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> for a maximum of 5000 health 

workers who are employed to fight against the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic. The premium in the sum 

of N112,500,000 is, however, still token given 

the risks to irreplaceable lives. There must be 

social protection through comprehensive 

health insurance for all workers and citizens 

<strong>as</strong> a matter of right. And it should start now. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic no doubt raises the noise 

level of lives and livelihoods. But malaria kills 

There must be social protection 

through comprehensive health 

insurance for all workers and 

citizens <strong>as</strong> a matter of right 

100,000 annually in Nigeria. More than 

corona virus! And malaria h<strong>as</strong> cure which 

many poor people can hardly afford because 

public health h<strong>as</strong> collapsed. <strong>Job</strong> related deaths 

must be of concern to all. ILO statistics indicate 

that one worker dies every 15 seconds 

worldwidwe, 6300 workers die everyday and 

an average of two million three hundred 

thousand workers die annually <strong>as</strong> a result of 

work related accidents and dise<strong>as</strong>es. In fact, 

more people die at work than at wars. 

Secondly there is an urgent need to protect 

and advance livelihoods. Organised labour 

under the most difficult conditions had 

commendably risen to defend the right to pay, 

wages and jobs under the lock down. 

IndustriALL Secretariat in Geneva salutarily 

coordinates the efforts of affiliates in 

mitigating the impact of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> on sectors 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

and regions, sharing the best responses. I salute 

the leadership of NLC and TUC for ensuring 

that President <strong>Buhari</strong>’s directive that all 

workers should be paid <strong>as</strong> at when due during 

the lock down is respected by all employers in 

both public and private sectors. 

The NLC/TUC/ Civil Society labour 

situation room is novel and timely to promote 

the use of existing collective bargaining and 

social dialogue in ensuring employers and 

government do not shift the burden of the 

pandemic on workers. It is also significant and 

commendable that the National Salaries, 

Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, 

under the acting Executive Chairman, Nta 

Ekpeyong, had proactively initiated improved 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> allowances for medical doctors 

and other health workers allowances, 

particularly for those in the frontline of the 

fight against <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, starting from March 

2020. 

The Minister of Labour and Employment, 

Chris Ngige, led the government team with 

doctors and other health workers to effect 

payment from March 2020. The Petroleum 

and Natural G<strong>as</strong> Senior Staff Association of 

Nigeria, PENGASSAN, commendably 

recently resisted the attempt by Governor 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to har<strong>as</strong>s 

members of the union on essential duty by 

security operatives. It’s time new relationships 

between all stakeholders for partnership 

against pandemic and new post <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

economy not the old war of attrition and 

adversarial unhelpful relations. 

Governor Wike should also immediately lift 

the siege on the NLC secretariat in Port 

Harcourt and initiate social dialogue for 

resolution of all outstanding labour issues 

especially on the new minimum wage. We 

salute the prompt action of the Inspector- 

General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in 

removing former Rivers CP, Dandaura 

Mustapha, and replacing him with Gobum 

Mukan. 

Continues online: www.vanguardngr.com 

•Aremu is Vice President, IndustriALL 

Global Union

LIFTING LOCKDOWN: Market rebounds <strong>as</strong> 

Nigerian funds switch to stocks 

•Investors gain NN220bn 

•NSE plans fresh rules on listing by introduction 

By Peter Egwuatu and 

Nkiruka Nnorom 

There are indications that equity 

investors are already 

positioning their stakes in the 

stock market ahead of resumption 

of economic activities next week. 

Consequently, a bull run h<strong>as</strong> set 

in leading to positive market 

outcome for all the trading days of 

the week, the forst time since the 

Coronavirus (<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>) 

pandemic entered Nigeria’s 

economy. The investors have 

gained over N220billion during 

the week. The Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, market 

capitalisation surged to N11.997 

trillion at the close of trading 

yesterday from N11.777 trillion at 

the close of trading l<strong>as</strong>t week 

Friday. 

NSE All Share Index, ASI 

another major stock market gauge 

up by 1.9 percent or 431.63 points 

to close at 23,021.01 points from 

22,599.38 points it closed l<strong>as</strong>t week 

Friday. 

Analysts have explained that 

Nigerian funds managers are 

switching <strong>back</strong> to equities from 

fixed-income securities, hoping 

for a stock market rebound in 

response to the move to re-open 

the economy after the lockdown 

and also a further acceleration by 

middle of the year when global 

economy would have shaken off 

the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> shocks and the oil 

price rebounds. 

On the other hand, Mr Adeniyi 

Falade, Managing Director of 

Crusader Sterling Pension, major 

institutional investors in the 

Nigerian stock market, who spoke 

with Reuters said domestic funds 

were betting on equities to stay 

ahead of rising local inflation. 

“I believe the worst is over. We 

are positioning for a rebound 

which will come at some point ... 

before the end of the year,” he said 

by phone. This is a period to go 

long on equities and short on 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

103.75 -1.95 

2,360.00 0.00 

9.78 0.44 

$22.74 2.28 

$15.72 3.38 

360 360.5 361 

446.904 447.5247 448.1454 

390.384 390.9262 391.4684 

369.3065 369.8<strong>19</strong>5 370.3324 

3.3781 3.3828 3.3874 

0.4882 0.4982 0.5082 

417.4855 418.0654 418.6452 

50.8602 50.9313 51.0024 

95.7702 95.9032 96.0362 

<strong>19</strong>.5201 <strong>19</strong>.5472 <strong>19</strong>.5744 

CBN Exchange rate <strong>as</strong> at 29/04/2020 

bonds, whether corporate or 

sovereign.” 

An equity analyst, who declined 

to be named, said that over the 

p<strong>as</strong>t five years, Nigerian pension 

funds have cut <strong>back</strong> their holdings 

of local equities in favour of fixedincome 

instruments, blaming the 

situation on the lack of reforms to 

spur growth in Africa’s largest 

economy following a recession. 

New listing rules underway 

Meanwhile, the NSE plans to 

introduce rules that would compel 

companies intending to list their 

securities by introduction to make 

more shares available for trading 

to the public on the day of their 

listing. 

The NSE stated this in a notice 

Following the combina 

tion of the coronavirus 

,Covid-<strong>19</strong> pandemic and the 

cr<strong>as</strong>h in oil prices, former Deputy 

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, Kingsley Moghalu 

h<strong>as</strong> emph<strong>as</strong>ized the need for the 

Federal Government to commence 

a far-reaching restructuring 

and repositioning of Nigeria’s 

economy. 

Moghalu in a statement themed 

“Nigeria’s Covid-<strong>19</strong>, Oil Price Cr<strong>as</strong>h 

and Fiscal Crisis Calls for a More 

Fundamental Response” said that 

the fundamental problem facing 

the country is: “our extreme reliance 

on oil for revenues, no fiscal 

savings, and unwillingness to cut 

the bloated costs of governance 

and restructure Nigeria constitutionally 

to make its economy 

more productive, cannot be 

solved by borrowing for balance 

of payments.” 

tagged: “Amendments to the 

Listing Requirements: The 

Rulebook of the Exchange”. 

Listing by introduction involves 

listing of company whose shares 

are already held through private 

placement. 

Investors, especially domestic 

retail investors, have always 

expressed frustration at the 

inability of minority investors to 

secure shares in those companies 

for trading whenever such 

companies list their shares by 

introduction on the Exchange. 

NSE said that the proposed 

amendment to the listing rules 

would not only address the 

concerns around availability of 

shares, but also provide clearer 

description of what listing by 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY I, 2020 — <strong>19</strong> 

introduction entails. 

The Exchange stated that the 

proposed rule would also compel 

prospective issuers to make 

information on their financial 

position available to investors in 

order to allow them make informed 

investment decision. 

Accordingly, companies seeking to 

access the equities market through 

Listing by Introduction would be 

required to publish information on 

their financial position on their 

website at le<strong>as</strong>t 48 hours before 

listing. 

According to the Exchange, “The 

amendment to the listing rules 

requirement seeks to impose an 

obligation on prospective issuers of 

equity securities, excluding public 

offerings, to make a re<strong>as</strong>onable 

volume of shares available for 

trading on the day of listing.’’ 

IMF’s $3.4bn loan: : Nigeria needs far-reaching 

restructuring, repositioning of economy- Moghalu 

Commenting further he 

said: “I make this suggestion 

b<strong>as</strong>ed on my strong 

view that our 100 million 

countrymen and women 

who live in extreme poverty, 

giving us the title of 

“poverty capital of the 

world” are not poor because 

we lack intelligent 

economists. Nigerians are 

impoverished by their 

country’s politics, politicians, 

and by its unworkable 

constitutional structure 

which creates perverse 

incentives that ensure 

the country is locked 

into the resource curse of 

oil. 

“The Federal Government 

of Nigeria borrowing 

$3.4 billion from the 

International Monetary 

Fund under the Fund’s 

Rapid Financing Instrument 

program and seeking 

another $3.5 from the 

World Bank and the African 

Development Bank 

without structural economic 

and constitutional 

Kingsley Moghalu 

reforms, in an age of declining oil 

revenues, is to postpone the evil 

day. Our country’s moment of 

reckoning h<strong>as</strong> arrived.” 

He added : “We need more than 

$7 billion to solve the balance of 

payments challenge, but that is not 

the point. If, <strong>as</strong> is likely, oil prices 

remain low for some time, this is 

just bandaid. With these loans, our 

reserves position may improve 

temporarily. Central Bank of Nigeria 

will restart intervention to create 

artificial strength for the naira, 

and those who don’t understand 

the fundamentals of economic 

transformation will think we have 

overcome our problems.” 

While preferring solutions, he 

said : “ We also need to be mindful 

of a further implication of the many 

loans our federal government 

seeks to take: borrowing so much 

without a real source of revenue to 

repay will likely result in a sovereign 

debt crisis. While we are told 

that our ratio of debt to our GDP is a 

moderate 21%, the more relevant 

ratio is that of revenue to debt servicing 

which in the region of 60% or 

more. This means simply, that 

nearly two-thirds of our country’s 

revenues go to debt servicing. Nigeria 

is entering a dangerously vicious 

cycle. 

“We need to re-incentivize the 

economy to be productive. The surest 

way to do so after the Covid crisis 

subsides is to wean ourselves of 

oil dependence by commencing a 

constitutional restructuring that devolves 

far more powers to regions 

(not states, many of which are not 

viable on their own) so they can 

make use of the economies of 

scale to create viable regional 

economies. 

“In the meantime, if and when 

the oil price returns to $40 or 

above the Nigerian government 

must enter into hedging 

contracts to protect our oil 

price at a “floor” price regardless 

of the fluctuations of the 

market. In a hedging contract 

we would lose the upside on a 

price surge but secure a floor 

of revenue below which we 

cannot fall. Since it is unlikely 

that oil will return to the $133 

price level that would be required 

to balance our budget 

and cure the budget deficit, the 

potential loss of oil profits 

doesn’t matter anyway.” 

In any c<strong>as</strong>e, the Covid-<strong>19</strong> crisis 

will see oil prices depressed 

for several months because the 

global economic recession it 

will entail will see demand for 

oil remain depressed because 

of decre<strong>as</strong>ed productivity in 

the national economies of industrialized 

countries. So, the 

hedging proposal is simply a 

holding pattern until we diversify 

our economy by restructuring 

its political foundations. 

In the meantime <strong>as</strong> well, the 

federal government should deploy 

at le<strong>as</strong>t $500 million of the 

RFI from the IMF to the establishment 

of a venture capital 

fund (NOT credit funds such <strong>as</strong> 

the CBN h<strong>as</strong> been established) 

to provide equity capital to unemployed 

youth (with a skills 

training component), urban 

slum and rural unemployed 

citizens to start new, small and 

micro business ventures. The 

fund will be a co-owner of the 

businesses in order to ensure 

return on investment and corporate 

governance. This venture 

capital Fund should be run 

by the private sector b<strong>as</strong>ed on 

a PPP arrangement and transparent 

guidelines that guarantee 

equal access to qualified Nigerians 

in all parts of the country. 

It is clear, from experience 

with the Covid-<strong>19</strong> palliatives 

debacle, that the Nigerian authorities 

lack the infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

and capacity to run an efficient 

and effective country-wide 

program of such magnitude 

and potential impact. This is 

necessary to stimulate the 

economy and address the incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

unemployment 

brought about by the Covid crisis. 

In conclusion, Nigeria should 

prepare for and take the following 

steps immediately after the 

Covid crisis: 

1- Deploy $500 million from 

the $3.4 billion IMF loan to 

boost employment and sustainable 

wealth creation for 

the extremely poor and the 

unemployed through a venture 

capital fund. 

-Commence hedging contracts 

on the price of oil <strong>as</strong> 

soon <strong>as</strong> the oil price recovers 

to a level that makes this a viable 

option. 

- Dr<strong>as</strong>tically reduce the cost 

of governance. 

-Ensure that the 2021 budget 

allocates not less than 15% 

of the budget to health and 

education respectively. This 

allocation should be for capital 

investments and reforms, 

not for recurrent expenditure. 

- Restore fiscal savings 

through an oil price rule that 

determines a percentage of oil 

revenues that must go into a 

savings fund. 

-Convoke a constitutional 

conference to prepare a 

framework for a new Nigerian 

constitution that restores Nigeria 

to genuine federalism on 

the b<strong>as</strong>is of six or more geopolitical 

and geo-economic 

zones.





24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 — 25







DONATION: Delta State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and 

Valuers, NIESV, Chris Okolo (6th left), flanked by a fellow of the institution, Meyiwa 

Erewa (left); Vice Chairman of Warri South LGA, Mrs Ann-Divine Iniovosa and members of 

NIESV during the distribution of food items to the aged, indigent and vulnerable persons 

in Warri and Asaba, on Wednesday. 

Imo contracts: I’ve been receiving 

threatening calls — Witness 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—A former 

member of Imo State 

Executive Council, Ichie Best 

Mban<strong>as</strong>o, yesterday, told the 

Judicial Commission of 

Inquiry on Contracts that he 

h<strong>as</strong> been receiving 

threatening calls since he 

appeared before the 

commission. 

Mban<strong>as</strong>o made the 

disclosure while answering 

questions from the witness 

box. 

His words: “My Lord, I 

have been receiving a lot of 

threatening telephone calls 

since I appeared before this 

honourable commission and 

stated all I knew about the 

specific contract details I w<strong>as</strong> 

<strong>as</strong>ked to explain. 

“The callers usually hid 

their phone numbers. I am 

not perturbed by such threats, 

so long <strong>as</strong> I know that I told 

the truth. What I told this 

commission are what I can 

fearlessly tell any other 

person or group. I only felt 

that I should let you know 

what I have been p<strong>as</strong>sing 

through.” 

Reacting, Justice Benjamin 

Iheka advised his counsel, 

Mr. Fintan Ilika, to 

immediately report the matter 

to the police, “since such an 

act is criminal in nature.” 

Going into the substantive 

issue, Mban<strong>as</strong>o said all the 

jobs he did, including the 

Orlu Shopping Mall, were 

executed by direct labour. 

“The jobs were done by 

direct labour. The total cost of 

the projects were determined 

by the governor (Roch<strong>as</strong> 

Okorocha). We worked <strong>as</strong> 

money w<strong>as</strong> rele<strong>as</strong>ed to me,” 

Mban<strong>as</strong>o said. 

On the mode of payment, 

the former commissioner said 

“the governor had the 

practice of paying 

instalmentally and <strong>as</strong> it 

ple<strong>as</strong>ed him.” 

When the matter of a 

Permanent Secretary, Mrs. L. 

N. Asuzu, w<strong>as</strong> called up, her 

counsel, Mr. J. Ike Nwankwo, 

told the commission that “she 

is still in London and held up 

there because of the 

lockdown.” 

He also told the 

commission that the 

documents sought to be 

tendered are domiciled in the 

office. 

Justice Iheka, however, 

reminded Nwankwo that “the 

essence of the invitation is to 

give her a fair hearing, 

especially <strong>as</strong> we are an adhoc 

commission that is time 

bound.” 

While warning that the 

commission cannot wait 

indefinitely for Mrs. Asuzu, 

the commission’s chairman, 

however, added that “the alibi 

pleaded by the woman does 

not impress the commission.” 

The matter w<strong>as</strong> adjourned 

to May 4, 2020 for counsel to 

report his discussion with his 

client. 

Nnamdi Kanu urges Jonathan 

to defend himself, wife, family 

By Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu 

THE leader of Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, 

yesterday, warned that he 

and his group will no longer 

tolerate the intimidation and 

har<strong>as</strong>sment of former 

President Goodluck Jonathan 

and his wife, Dame Patience. 

IPOB also said those who 

are calling for the accounts of 

Dr Jonathan, his wife and 

that of Dr. Diezani Allison 

Madueke, are the real people 

perpetrating corruption and 

looting in Nigeria. 

In a radio broadc<strong>as</strong>t on 

Wednesday, made available 

by IPOB’s Media and 

Publicity Secretary, Emma 

Powerful, Kanu, also 

expressed anger that some 

people were calling his 

younger brother in 

Afaraukwu in Umuahia, Abia 

State to inquire if he (Kanu) 

is dead following what he 

called "gutter journalism." 

He said: “I wonder why 

such people have not 

dissipated the same energy 

to <strong>as</strong>k about the atrocities 

going on in Aso Rock, who is 

occupying the seat of the 

President of Nigeria and 

question the laughable 

speech by the President on 

Monday.” 

Mazi Kanu urged former 

President Jonathan to 

abandon his ‘gentleman 

toga’ to confront headlong the 

alleged intimidation and 

har<strong>as</strong>sment against him, his 

wife, family members and 

some members of his former 

inner cabinet. 

Kanu’s statement read: 

“They are now pursuing 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan after looting the 

country and are now 

shopping for loans from 

lending agencies. They have 

not given the account of the 

N13.9 billion meant for Aso 

Rock clinic, yet the same 

people are <strong>as</strong>king for the 

account of a former president 

and his wife to disgrace them 

and make them scapegoats 

in their misrule. 

“They are also pursuing 

Mrs. Diezani Madueke 

because they want to divert 

attention of Nigerians and 

the world from their 

incompetence and looting, 

but they have not responded 

to the allegation of looting of 

N13.9 billion meant for Aso 

Rock clinic which alarm w<strong>as</strong> 

raised by the wife of their 

president against the cabal in 

the government. 

“We in IPOB are warning 

them and their compromised 

media who have not seen 

anything good in other 

administrations except theirs, 

to leave former President 

Jonathan and his wife, 

Patience, alone. 

"You may toy with Jonathan 

because he allowed you to do 

that to him, but do not toy 

with Patience, otherwise we 

will bring down Nigeria. We 

are surprised that PANDEF 

and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have 

all kept quiet to this renewed 

attack on Jonathan. 

“It is high time Dr Jonathan 

dropped his gentleman’s 

toga and defend himself, his 

wife and family members." 

Couple, 3 children found dead in Enugu 

By Chinedu 

Adonu 

THERE w<strong>as</strong> tension in 

Enugu State <strong>as</strong> residents 

of Amaokpo Nike village, 

Enugu E<strong>as</strong>t Local 

Government Area, Enugu 

State, on Wednesday, 

discovered the decomposing 

corpses of a man, his 

pregnant wife and three of his 

four children inside his 

apartment. 


only surviving child w<strong>as</strong> 

unconscious when they broke 

the door. 

A resident, who spoke to 

Vanguard on the condition of 

anonymity, disclosed that 

they were worried when they 

noticed that nobody had 

come out of the building 

between Tuesday and 

Wednesday and suspected 

something w<strong>as</strong> wrong. So, 

they started dialing the man’s 

phone number which rang 

many times without response. 

According to him, “this is 

mysterious. We discovered 

that nobody had come out of 

the man’s apartment for two 

days and we called his 

number without answering. 

"It w<strong>as</strong> by the time we broke 

the window that we 

discovered the entire family 

UN h<strong>as</strong> admitted Biafra <strong>as</strong> 

46th member of UNPO 

—Uwazurike 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—It h<strong>as</strong> been 

jubilation galore since 

Biafra Independence 

Movement, BIM, received 

information that the people of 

Biafra have been officially 

admitted <strong>as</strong> the 46th member 

of the Unrepresented Nations 

and Peoples Organisation, 

UNPO. 

The protagonist of Biafra 

Independence Movement, 

BIM; and Movement for the 

Actualization of the Sovereign 

State of Biafra, MASSOB, 

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, 

broke the news to Vanguard 

yesterday, in Owerri. 

“The people of Biafra have 

been admitted <strong>as</strong> the 46th 

member of the 

Unrepresented Nations and 

had died and were already 

decomposing except the 

man’s first son, who w<strong>as</strong> 

unconscious. 

“We decided to transport the 

corpses to St B<strong>as</strong>il Hospital 

close to the local government 

secretariat but they were 

rejected. So, we left it in the 

vehicle till this morning. 

“We informed the state 

Ministry of Health , they 

came this morning 

(Thursday) and carried the 

corpses to the National 

Orthopedic Hospital 

mortuary. They were also here 

this morning to 

decontaminate the man’s 

compound.” 

Peoples Organisation, 

UNPO, an international body 

attached to the United 

Nations, the European Union 

and the United States of 

America,” Uwazuruike said. 

Uwazuruike also confirmed 

that he h<strong>as</strong> received a letter 

officially addressed to him, 

dated April 22, 2020, and 

signed by the UNPO General 

Secretary, Mr. Ralph Bunche, 

through his Foreign 

Representative, Ikenna Obibi 

Egeonu. 

He said the organisation 

expressed its gladness to 

welcome the people of Biafra 

<strong>as</strong> new members of the 

UNPO. 

“By this development, the 

nation of Biafra joins 

Catalonia, Scotland and other 

nations, who are members of 

UNPO and who are on the 

verge of getting their 

independence,” Uwazuruike 

said. 

Abia govt accuses Aba NBA 

of misinformation on 

Ogbonna 

By Innocent 

Anaba 

ABIA State government 

h<strong>as</strong> accused Nigerian 

Bar Association, NBA, of 

misinformation on the trial of 

a lawyer, Mr Emperor 

Ogbonna, over his issue with 

the state government, saying 

NBA w<strong>as</strong> misinformed by the 

branch of the <strong>as</strong>sociation. 

Chief of Staff to Abia 

governor, Dr. Anthony 

Agbazuere, in a counter 

statement, yesterday, said 

Ogbonna w<strong>as</strong> being 

prosecuted in court for 

cybercrime and not terrorism 

<strong>as</strong> allegedly claimed by NBA. 

Agbazuere stated that the 

facts put forward by NBA, 

Aba branch, which NBA 

national relied on were 

“copiously false, erroneous 

and misleading.” 

He said: “My attention h<strong>as</strong> 

been drawn to a press 

statement issued by Kunle 

Edun, National Publicity 

Secretary of NBA with regard 

to one Emperor Ogbonna 

which h<strong>as</strong> also been 

published in the media. 

“As Chief of Staff to the 

governor, who w<strong>as</strong> also 

mentioned in the press 

statement, I am compelled to 

put the records straight that 

the NBA press statement 

clearly confirmed that at le<strong>as</strong>t 

Ogbonna h<strong>as</strong> accepted that 

he re-shared a post in his 

Facebook page that Governor 

Ikpeazu went to India and 

took an oath before a Hindu 

god to mortgage Abia State. 

“He also made other posts 

on this. Governor Ikpeazu 

h<strong>as</strong> never visited India all his 

life and <strong>as</strong> a law-abiding 

citizen, he took recourse to the 

law instead of self-help. The 

governor reported this c<strong>as</strong>e 

of cybercrime to the Police 

and the Police arrested Mr 

Ogbonna and charged him 

before the Federal High Court 

in Umuahia for cybercrime 

and not terrorism <strong>as</strong> the 

misinformation from NBA 

Aba opines. 

“On April 28, 2020, the 

court granted Ogbonna bail 

and adjourned the matter to 

May 25, 2020, for hearing. 

This is the much involving 

the governor and we are 

ready to prosecute the c<strong>as</strong>e. 

No government official even 

attended court on the said 

April 28, 2020, what more 

entering the court premises 

for any arrest. 

“I have <strong>as</strong>ked questions 

and I understand that the 

said Emperor Ogbonna w<strong>as</strong> 

now arrested because he had 

made other divisive and 

subversive comments on his 

Facebook page against the 

President and the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria referring 

to Nigeria <strong>as</strong> an Islamic 

Republic, among others. 

“The NBA headquarters 

and the public can now see 

that NBA Aba carried their 

emotions too far and thus 

misinformed NBA 

headquarters, hence the 

unwarranted and manifestly 

embarr<strong>as</strong>sing press 

statement. I know that the 

Nigerian Bar Association 

leadership will never support 

crime but I am nonetheless 

appalled that my NBA could 

hurriedly issue a press 

statement on an issue without 

hearing from the other side, 

not even a phone call to any 

official of the Abia State 

government. This is bad.”




Edo 2020: APC Aspirants’ shadow 

primary postponed, consultation ongoing 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY— A meet 

ing called by some leaders 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Edo 

State to agree on a consensus 

candidate to face Governor 

Godwin Ob<strong>as</strong>eki in 

the APC primary election 

ended in a deadlock yesterday 

and the exercise 

postponed but Vanguard 

gathered that consultation 

w<strong>as</strong> continuing and a fresh 

meeting would be rescheduled. 

The meeting at the residence 

of a former deputy 

governor of the state, Lucky 

Im<strong>as</strong>uen w<strong>as</strong> disrupted 

when the personalities tried 

to agree on modalities to be 

adopted for the shadow 

election. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered that there 

w<strong>as</strong> controversy on whether 

to allow the 14 elected 

House of Assembly members, 

who are yet to resume 

sitting to vote. Vanguard 

gathered that it w<strong>as</strong> agreed 

that they should vote but 

the decision caused division 

among the <strong>as</strong>pirants, 

<strong>as</strong> most of 14 of them were 

said to be supporting the 

<strong>as</strong>piration of P<strong>as</strong>tor Osagie 

Ize-Iyamu. 

An <strong>as</strong>pirant w<strong>as</strong> said to 

have questioned the number 

of delegates from Edo 

North and Edo Central. 


By Jimitota Onoyume 

WARRI — CHIEF 

Judge of Delta State, 

Justice Marshal Umukoro, 

h<strong>as</strong> described <strong>as</strong> untrue, 

some media report that inmates 

of Sapele Prisons, 

Delta State allegedly set 

some parts of the prison 

ablaze recently to protest 

what they dubbed his bi<strong>as</strong> 

towards them during his 

l<strong>as</strong>t visit to the prisons to 

effect rele<strong>as</strong>e of some inmates. 

Justice Umukoro in a 

statement by Mr Agbaragu 

Timothy, Head of Protocol 

and Public Relations, state 

contest w<strong>as</strong> fierce amongst 

the trio of Ize-Iyamu, 

former Deputy Governor, 

Pius Odubu and former 

Minister of State for 

Works, Egr Chris Ogiemwonyi. 

It w<strong>as</strong> gathered 

that Ogiemwonyi left the 

meeting shortly after the 

meeting w<strong>as</strong> disrupted. 

A source at the meeting, 

hinted, “The consensus 

arrangement w<strong>as</strong> led by 

and presided over by Prof. 

Julius Ihonvbere before it 

w<strong>as</strong> scuttled in Chief 

Lucky Im<strong>as</strong>uen's house. 

Some of the <strong>as</strong>pirants believed 

that the 14 lawmakers 

will support Ize-Iyamu 

and initially opposed their 

inclusion before it w<strong>as</strong> 

High Court, Asaba, said the 

Chief Judge restricted himself 

to the inmates approved 

for rele<strong>as</strong>e from the Sapele 

prison, adding that he had 

no powers to add or subtract 

from the approved list. 

He said, "While the Chief 

Judge w<strong>as</strong> not interested in 

joining issues with anyone 

on allegation of bi<strong>as</strong>, he considers 

it a public and moral 

duty to keep members of the 

public correctly informed 

about the matter and protect 

them from reckless misinformation. 

"The visit of the Chief 

Judge to the Sapele prisons, 

SOCIAL DISTANCING: 

From Left—Mr Kola 

Adepoju, Member, 

Progressive CDA, Odo- 

Nla, Ikorodu, Director 

General, Lagos State 

Safety Commission, Mr 

Lanre Mojola, Director 

General, Lagos State 

Environmental Protection 

Agency, Dr Dolapo 

F<strong>as</strong>awe; Chairman, 

Progressive CDA, Odo- 

Nla, Ikorodu and Mr 

Olorunnimbe Oladipupo, 

during a Social 

Distancing Advocacy to 

stop the spread of Covid- 

<strong>19</strong>, in Ikorodu, Lagos, 

yesterday. Photo: Kehinde 

Gbadamosi. 

agreed that they should 

be part of it. 

“An <strong>as</strong>pirant also raised 

concern over the number 

of delegates from Edo 

Central and Edo North. 

Some of the <strong>as</strong>pirants 

had stepped down for 

Ize-Iyamu, which boosted 

his chances but others 

raised issues that led to 

the disruption which we 

believe one of them sponsored 

and then the eventual 

postponement. The 

composition of the delegates 

if the meeting w<strong>as</strong> 

not disrupted would have 

given an edge to Ize-Iyamu 

who seems to have 

majority support,” he 

said. 

C'River PDP inaugurates new exco in <strong>19</strong>6 wards 

....State Chairman rejects lists 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

& Emma Una 

CALABAR —THE Peo 

ple's Democratic Party, 

PDP, ward executive committee 

members in Cross 

River State were, yesterday, 

inaugurated in <strong>19</strong>6 wards 

of the state. 

This came after the state 

party chairman, Ntufam 

Edim Edim, refused to inaugurate 

the party's executives 

in the wards, saying 

the list of those sent to him 

w<strong>as</strong> fake. 

The Ward Executive Committee 

members, who were 

sworn-in by Okim<strong>as</strong>i 

Ojong, a private lawyer in 

accordance with the provisions 

of Section 65 of the 

PDP Constitution <strong>as</strong> 

amended in 2017, will be 

in office for a tenure of four 

years (2020-2024). 

The committee w<strong>as</strong> inaugurated 

following a directive 

by the National Working 

Committee, NWC, of 

the party contained in a letter 

with ref number: PDP/ 

DOM/GF.V/VOL.2/20- 

387B dated April 26, 2020, 

by the National Organiaing 

Secretary, Col Austin 

Akobundu(retd). 

The national leadership of 

the party had rele<strong>as</strong>ed the 

approved authentic list for 

ward and local government 

executives for all the <strong>19</strong>6 

wards and 18 councils. 

The letter further directed 

the state party chairman, 

Edim, to inaugurate the 

new executive officers in 

accordance with the provisions 

of section 65 of the 

party constitution <strong>as</strong> 

amended in 2017. 

Edim refused, which 

forced the party to invoke 

Section 65 of the PDP Constitution 

<strong>as</strong> amended in 

2017. 

In a letter obtained by 

Vanguard dated April 30, 

2020, and addressed to the 

party through the State Legal 

Adviser, Ojong said, 

“Kindly be informed that 

upon submission of the 

duly completed oath of office 

and oath of allegiance 

form today, April 30, 2020 

by 7:30a.m. 

"And in line with the provisions 

of Section 65 of the 

PDP, the newly elected ward 

executive officers of your 

party whose names were 

verified and contained in a 

letter with reference N0. 

PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL.2/ 

20-387B are admitted to 

oath and therefore sworn in 

already to function in their 

various offices.” 

State Chairman 

rejects lists 

Meanwhile, rejecting the 

list, Edim said the list of 

executive members duly 

elected during the ward 

congresses on March 5, 

and sent to Abuja had been 

changed. 

"We do not know these 

people and <strong>as</strong> such cannot 

inaugurate them <strong>as</strong> executive 

council members of 

our party. 

"We have no faction in 

our state and a list of executives 

should emanate 

from the state to Abuja and 

not from Abuja to the state." 

He said aggrieved 

members of the party 

who were duly elected <strong>as</strong> 

ward officials of the party 

had obtained a court 

injunction to stop the inauguration 

of ward executive 

which he must 

obey. 

No bi<strong>as</strong> against Sapele prisons, only approved 

inmates rele<strong>as</strong>ed — Delta CJ 

on April 23, 2020, w<strong>as</strong> pursuant 

to Presidential Directives 

<strong>as</strong> contained in the 

letter of the Attorney-General 

of the Federation and 

Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, SAN, 

with reference number 

HAGF/STATES/DCC/1/20 

dated April 8, 2020, addressed 

to the Governor of 

Delta State. 

"The letter requested 

Chief Judges of various 

states of the federation to 

urgently embark on a visit 

to all prisons/custodial centres 

within their respective 

jurisdictions to identify and 

rele<strong>as</strong>e inmates deserving 

of amnesty. 

Edo community accuse state govt 

of neglect despite attacks 

BENIN CITY—RESI 

DENTS of Oke-Oroma 

community, Ikpoba-Okha 

Local Government Area of 

Edo State, have accused the 

state government of deliberate 

silent, despite repeated 

complaints over killings 

of it people by neighbouring 

Amagba Community in 

Oredo Local Government 

Area of the state. 

Speaking on behalf of elders 

of the community, Elder 

Osaro Uwaifo, lamented 

that the state government 

h<strong>as</strong> refused to act on 

their complains despite several 

attacks allegedly carried 

out against the community. 

Narrating their recent ordeal, 

Elder Uwaifo said, 

“Two days ago in a commando-like 

operation at 

4a.m., hoodlums allegedly 

sponsored by Amagba community 

again attacked Okoroma 

community, the inv<strong>as</strong>ion 

w<strong>as</strong> once again bloody 

with many c<strong>as</strong>ualties recorded 

and houses burnt. 

“At the wake of the attack, 

security operatives led by 

the state Wabazigan made 

some arrest, guns and ammunition’s 

were recovered 

from the sponsored hoodlums. 

“The wanton killing of 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT — 

PETROLEUM Products 

Retail Outlets Owners Association 

of Nigeria, 

PETROAN, h<strong>as</strong> urged the 

Federal Government to 

support the private sector 

with stimulus package to 

prevent loss of jobs and collapse 

of businesses under 

the stress of Coronavirus. 

PETROAN in a message 

by its President, Prince Billy 

Gillis-Harry, to mark this 

year's Workers Day, also applauded 

Nigeria workers 

for their resilience, doggedness 

and courage in the face 

of Covid-<strong>19</strong> 

Gillis-Harry said, "Stimulus 

package is necessary to 

defenceless Okoroma indigenes 

by Amagba hoodlums 

is despicable, condemnable 

and harrowing. 

When are we going to see 

the end to the prolonged silent 

exhibited by Edo State 

Government 

“Why h<strong>as</strong> the Edo State 

Government decided to forsake 

us? When is our afflictions 

going to end? We 

don't know why Amagba 

people want to eliminate 

us. The river naturally demarcated 

the two communities. 

We are in Ikpoba- 

Okha while they are in 

Oredo LGA, yet they 

crossed over to our community 

“These are the questions 

on the lips of every resident 

of Okoroma community 

since the communal cl<strong>as</strong>h 

between the warring communities.” 

However, the state government 

through the 

Commissioner for Communication 

and Orientation, 

Paul Ohonbamu said 

the government w<strong>as</strong> 

aware of the crisis and 

had put up plans in collaboration 

with law enforcement 

agencies to halt 

the further killings <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> arrest of those behind 

the heinous act. 

Diri h<strong>as</strong> great plans for Bayelsa 

youths—Turnah 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—FORMER 

Special Adviser on 

Youth Matters to two former 

Managing Directors of the 

Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, Mr 

George Turnah, h<strong>as</strong> said 

that Governor Douye Diri of 

Bayelsa State, h<strong>as</strong> great 

plans to better the lots of the 

youths in the state <strong>as</strong> well 

<strong>as</strong> diversify the state economy. 

Turnah in a telephone interview 

in Yenagoa said Diri 

w<strong>as</strong> clear in his agenda for 

youth empowerment, employment 

generation and 

wealth creation. 

He lauded the governor 

for giving priority to agriculture 

and other youth 

empowerment related matters 

in the 2020 Bayelsa 

State appropriation bill recently 

p<strong>as</strong>sed by the state 

Assembly and signed into 

law. He urged the youths 

to brace up for the anticipated 

agricultural and entrepreneurial 

revolution in 

the state. 

"Diri's administration is 

poised to lift <strong>as</strong> many 

youths <strong>as</strong> possible from the 

poverty line and ensure a 

better life for all. He will 

leverage on his robust agricultural 

and entrepreneurial 

policies and programmes 

to build the capacities 

of women and 

young people of the state 

in a deliberate effort to diversifying 

the state's economy 

and unle<strong>as</strong>h prosperity 

on all over the land.’’ 

May Day: PETROAN wants FG's 

stimulus to private sector 

forestall job losses and ensure 

business continuity 

even after the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

"Government should be 

concerned about business 

sustainability in the formal 

and informal sectors. What 

is paramount at a time like 

this is for government to 

support the private sector 

to ensure retention of jobs. 

"Economic stimulus 

should be impact filled to 

avoid lay off of workers and 

incre<strong>as</strong>e productivity. I appreciate 

FG for the palliatives 

already put in place, 

but more needed to be done 

by government and the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN.’’

C 

M 

Y 

K 


:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

Goni, first Borno’s civilian 

governor dies at 78 

PALLIATIVE: Chairman, 

Nigerian Labour Congress 

(NLC), Kaduna Chapter, 

Comrade Ayuba Saulawa 

(M), presents <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

palliatives of a bag of rice, 

a bag of millet and hand 

sanitizer to Esther Bitrus, 

in Kaduna yesterday. 

I’ve authorised use of chloroquine for 

treatment of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> — BAUCHI GOV 

B 

A 

U C H I — 

GOVERNOR 

Bala Mohammed of Bauchi 

State, h<strong>as</strong> informed that he 

h<strong>as</strong> authorised the use of 

chloroquine <strong>as</strong> a 

medication for the treatment 

ofcoronavirus, <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

Governor Mohammed, 

who w<strong>as</strong> the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

index c<strong>as</strong>e in the state, said 

he w<strong>as</strong> treated with 

“chloroquine and 

Zithromax.” 

The governor, who 

disclosed this while 

providing an update on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> in the state, at 

the Government House, 

Bauchi, said he would take 

responsibility for any 

consequences of 

approving such drugs. 

He said “Our medical 

team is using their own 

ingenuity to use 

chloroquine and Zithromax 

to treat the patients, even 

though in some places, 

they said it is against the 

protocol. As the governor, 

I’m taking responsibility for 

that because I don’t want 

anyone to die.” 

Addressing the health 

officials directly, 

Mohammed said, “I have 

given you the directive that 

you must use something 

that I have used to get well, 

just <strong>as</strong> you have used for 

all other c<strong>as</strong>es that got well. 

Rather than saying that 

something is harmful, we 

should not follow what the 

white people are saying by 

not taking anything and 

die. We are used to taking 

chloroquine in Nigeria. We 

are going to use them. We 

have taken responsibility 

and I have taken 

responsibility. Zithromax 

....As Jigawa records first death 

By Aliyu Dangida 

D Jigawa 

UTSE—THE 

State 

Government h<strong>as</strong> 

announced the first death 

from coronavirus, <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> in the state, saying the 

dece<strong>as</strong>ed, a Lagos 

returnee, w<strong>as</strong> a resident 

of Fanisau community in 

Dutse, the state’s capital. 

He died hours after he 

w<strong>as</strong> moved to the isolation 

and chloroquine are not 

harmful to our body, our 

physiological system h<strong>as</strong> 

adapted to it. If you are 

having a fever you take 

chloroquine.” 

According to him, 

“Nobody is affected with 

any serious distress in 

Bauchi, even though now 

we are going to be tested 

with the 23 c<strong>as</strong>es.” 

Ruling out a total 

lockdown that involves 

curtailing of all movement 

and commercial activities, 

he said: “community 

participation in the 

centre. 

Commissioner for 

Health, Abba Zakari, said 

“Immediately after we got 

results of Jigawa, we swiftly 

moved to action and 

evacuated the patients into 

the isolation centre. 

Unfortunately one of them 

came in a very bad situation 

and p<strong>as</strong>sed away.” 

Mr Zakari added that the 

state recorded a total of 

nine c<strong>as</strong>es from eight of its 

enforcement of social 

distancing works out best 

for the government and 

people of Bauchi. We have 

noticed that total lockdown 

is not a solution and I still 

maintain that community 

consciousness, communal 

efforts, and professionalism 

of our health workers in 

terms of contact 

searching and testing 

are key to curbing the 

spread of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

Yes, we don’t have a 

lockdown for now, but I 

still believe when the need 

arises, we will do it.” 

27 Local Government 

Are<strong>as</strong>. The affected local 

councils include Gumel, 

Auyo, Gwaram, Kazaure, 

Miga, Taura, Birnin-Kudu 

and Dutse. 

He said the state 

government h<strong>as</strong> locked 

down the affected local 

government are<strong>as</strong>. This, he 

said, will aid the health 

workers to trace the primary 

and secondary contacts of 

the infected persons. 

N'Delta Ex-Agitators <strong>as</strong>k <strong>Buhari</strong> to ignore blackmailers of Monguno 

By Idowu Bankole 

THE Ex-Niger Delta 

Ex-Agitators Forum 

h<strong>as</strong> written an open letter 

to President Muhammadu 

<strong>Buhari</strong>, <strong>as</strong>king the 

Nigerian leader to ignore 

some groups hell-bent on 

tarnishing the image of the 

National Security Adviser 

(NSA), Major-Gen 

Babagana Monguno (retd) 

on the Niger Delta amnesty 

programme. 

The forum in the letter to 

the president obtained by 

correspondents in Abuja, 

stated that members of the 

Concerned Niger Delta for 

Sustainable Development 

and the Niger Deltans for 

Accountability and Good 

Governance are unknown 

PTF Coordinator loses father 

in Kano 

By B<strong>as</strong>hir Bello 

K ANO—NATIONAL 

Coordinator, 

Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k Force, 

PTF on coronavirus, 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, Dr. Sani 

Aliyu, h<strong>as</strong> lost his Father, 

Alhaji Aliyu Daneji to 

death. 

He died aged 96 on 

Wednesday night in Kano. 

His son, Mahmud 

Daneji, who confirmed 

the death, said Alhaji 

Aliyu Daneji died after a 

protracted illness. 

However, the funeral 

prayers were observed 

early yesterday at his 

residence at Sabuwar 

Kofar, close to Kwalli 

Primary School, in Kano 

Municipal after which he 

w<strong>as</strong> buried according to 

Islamic rites. 

to genuine ex-Niger Delta 

agitators. 

The groups had in a 

statement tried to discredit 

Monguno over some 

alleged financial 

infractions linked to the 

amnesty programme. 

''They are rather 

desperate individuals who 

are being sponsored by 

dubious politicians and 

fraudulent contractors who 

are bent on dragging the 

name of the National 

Security Adviser into 

imaginary allegations of 

fraud in order to rub mud 

on the image of your 

administration. 

''All the issues they are 

peddling are a bunch of 

falsehood which contain no 

iota of truth. This is obvious 

because rather than 

bringing up verifiable 

evidence to substantiate 

their wild claims, they have 

resorted to proxy media war 

even from cloned sites, the 

indicted because faceless 

groups said so but will be 

cleared of any wrongdoing 

in line with the laws of the 

land. 

''In addition, the looting of 

the Amnesty storage facility 

in Kaiama h<strong>as</strong> been 

exhaustively investigated 

by security agencies and 

the report did not in any 

way indict either the NSA 

or the Amnesty 

Coordinator. Yet these 

hirelings continue to try in 

futility to drag their names 

into it in other to discredit 

them.'' 

''Although we believe that 

it is within the right of 

every qualified Niger 

Deltan to <strong>as</strong>pire to be 

appointed <strong>as</strong> the 

Coordinator of the 

Presidential Amnesty 

Program, however, we take 

strong objection to their 

only style of attempting to 

discredit the NSA, Gen 

Monguno.'' 

By Ndahi Marama 

M FIRST AIDUGURI— 

civilian of 

Borno State, Alhaji 

Mohammed Goni, 78, is 

dead 

He died on Wednesday 

night after a brief illness in 

Maiduguri, aged 78. 

According to Wikipedia, 

Muhammadu Goni w<strong>as</strong> 

born in <strong>19</strong>42 in Kareto, 

Mobbar Local 

Government Area, Borno 

State. 

He attended Maiduguri 

Middle School (<strong>19</strong>53–55), 

Borno Provincial 

Secondary School (<strong>19</strong>56– 

61) – they are now 

Government College, 

Maiduguri, Provincial 

Secondary School, Kano 

(<strong>19</strong>62–63) and the Institute 

of Administration, Ahmadu 

Bello University, Zaria 

(<strong>19</strong>64–67), where he 

gained a BA 

(Administration), 

specialising in 

international affairs. 

In <strong>19</strong>77, he transferred to 

the Nigerian National 

Supply Company (NNSC). 

In April <strong>19</strong>79, Goni 

resigned from the National 

Supply Company and 

joined politics. He w<strong>as</strong> 

elected <strong>as</strong> the first civilian 

governor of the former 

Borno State, on the 

platform of the Great 

Nigeria People’s Party 

(GNPP), and w<strong>as</strong> in office 

from October <strong>19</strong>79 to 

September <strong>19</strong>83. He w<strong>as</strong> 

also part of the 

Progressives Coalition led 

by Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo. 

Goni founded the Borno 

Radio Television (BRTV) to 

counter the propaganda 

which w<strong>as</strong> being pumped 

out of the Federal 

Government-owned 

Nigeria Television 

Authority (NTA). In 

retrospect, his period of 

office w<strong>as</strong> considered one 

of achievement when 

compared with his 

successors. 

<strong>Buhari</strong> extends tenure of 

Northern NDDC interim govs greet mgt c’ttee Tinubu 

at 68 

....Okays N6. 25bn for 9 NDDC 

states to fight <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

A 

B 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

U J A — 

PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

extended the tenure of the 

Professor Keme Pondei-led 

Interim Management 

Committee of the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, from 

May 1 to December 31, 

2020. 

The extension according 

to the statement by Special 

Adviser to the President on 

Media and Publicity, Chief 

Femi Adesina, in Abuja l<strong>as</strong>t 

night w<strong>as</strong> to cover the 

period of the forensic audit 

of the NDDC, earlier 

THE 

Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, h<strong>as</strong> 

told the National Assembly 

Election Petition Tribunal 

sitting in Abuja, to dismiss 

the c<strong>as</strong>e filled by Dino 

Melaye (PDP) challenging 

the victory of Senator Smart 

Adeyemi (APC) in the l<strong>as</strong>t 

year November 16/30 Kogi 

West Senatorial District 

rerun election. 

This w<strong>as</strong> contained in an 

oral submission by counsel 

to INEC, Chris Al<strong>as</strong>hey, 

yesterday while closing its 

c<strong>as</strong>e, saying the application 

filed by the petitioner 

(Melaye) lacked merit and 

w<strong>as</strong> incompetent. 

Al<strong>as</strong>hey said, “When I 

w<strong>as</strong> trying to get in touch 

approved by the Federal 

Executive Council, under 

the chairmanship of the 

President. 

President <strong>Buhari</strong> h<strong>as</strong> also 

approved that the NDDC 

provides intervention 

support to complement 

efforts of the Federal and 

State governments against 

further spread of <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> in the nine States of the 

Niger Delta region, in the 

sum of N6.25 billion. 

“The materials and 

supplies are to be done 

through Emergency 

Procurement method <strong>as</strong> 

provided in Sections 42(b) 

(c) and 43 of the Public 

Procurement Act, 2007,” the 

statement said. 

KOGI WEST: Dismiss 

Melaye’s c<strong>as</strong>e, it lacks 

merits, INEC tells tribunal 

By Boluwaji Obahopo 

with my witnesses, I also 

used the same time to 

review the testimony of the 

Petitioner’s witnesses, 

where most of them 

admitted before the court 

that they lied. On this note 

I am no longer calling any 

evidence. This is on the fact 

that the first respondent, 

INEC, c<strong>as</strong>e w<strong>as</strong> clearly 

established during the 

cross examination of the 

Petitioner’s witnesses. 

“Your lordships can bare 

me witness that I 

commanded the witnesses 

for saying the truth that the 

election w<strong>as</strong> free and fair. 

On this I hereby close my 

c<strong>as</strong>e and plead your 

lordships to grant me my 

prayers that the petitions 

should be strike out for 

lacking in merits and full 

of lies, errors and deceits.”


The late Johnson Ehiakhamen, one of the police officers killed by 

herdsmen at Ohoror Ughelli North LGA, Delta State 

Kidnapping, banditry: 

PRESIDENT General of the Issele-Azagba 

Development Union, Mr. Ben Illoh stressed 

the need for security agencies to focus on the 

community so <strong>as</strong> to save his people from the 

agonising and traumatic attacks of the herdsmen 

who, he said, have taken over and occupied their 

forest. “Killer herdsmen must leave Uwheru 

territory. That is non-negotiable. Secondly, President 

<strong>Buhari</strong>’s invitation that Fulani worldwide should 

come and take Nigeria <strong>as</strong> home does not cover 

Uwheru. The North h<strong>as</strong> the landm<strong>as</strong>s; Sambisa 

forest is large enough to contain all of them. He 

can equally turn it into another Dubai.” 

Bizarre finding: Isoko Development Union, 

IDU, President, Chief Amadhe, who spoke on the 

alleged collusion between community leaders and 

security agents, said: “Strangely, some community 

leaders and security operatives were among those 

aiding the herdsmen to wreak havoc in the are<strong>as</strong>. I 

have said before on behalf of the Isoko nation that 

killer herdsmen should not come near Isoko land 

and I am repeating that those people should leave 

lsoko land. 

“It h<strong>as</strong> become an embarr<strong>as</strong>sment to everybody 

and to the government. We heard the other day that 

some people are aiding them; some community 

leaders and security agents are all <strong>as</strong>sisting 

them, which is a big embarr<strong>as</strong>sment to us, but to 

us in Isoko, we will never welcome them to our 

land. They should not come near Isoko land 

because they are not helpful to us. They rape our 

women, kill our people, destroy our crops, so many 

things that they do that are disadvantageous to us. 

That is not what we expect from them. 

“If they come with their cows and take them to 

the gr<strong>as</strong>sland to eat gr<strong>as</strong>s and do not destroy our 

crops, kill our people in their farms, rape women, 

nobody will quarrel with them. Why will herdsmen 

carry AK 47 rifles? We cannot in any way encourage 

them to come to Isoko land. It is not an issue we can 

continue to toy with.” 

A prominent community leader in Uwheru 

kingdom, Chief Monday Apinoko, who spoke on 

combined raid by security agents against armed 

herdsmen, l<strong>as</strong>t year, said: “It will surprise you to 

note that on two separate occ<strong>as</strong>ions when the police 

and army tried to comb the bush for the herdsmen, 

they could not apprehend anybody. In April, 2018, 

a combined team of soldiers, DSS and police 

embarked on a two-day aerial and land surveillance 

of Uwheru, Ohoror and Agadama in search of the 

herdsmen. The team located the b<strong>as</strong>e of the 

herdsmen, unfortunately the herdsmen had 

relocated from the area. 

“This w<strong>as</strong> after some youths from the community 

had tried to prevent a group of herdsmen 

shepherding their herds into the community from 

the Umeh community axis. It took the timely 

intervention of policemen stationed in the area to 

prevent a breakdown of law and order <strong>as</strong> the locals 

were set for a showdown with the herders.” 

Fish out killer-herdsmen, communities tell govt, 

security agencies 

Affected communities in the state have not 

been quiet on the matter; they have 

strengthened local vigilantes and renewed call on 

government and security agencies to come to their 

aid. Obi Uche Irenuma II of Abavo kingdom, 

enjoined government to declare a security 

The late Samson Ogheneoruese killed in February at 

Agadama community in Ughelli North LGA 

How herdsmen operate over 30 camps 

in Delta forests (2) 

*The first part of this special report published yesterday highlighted how criminal herdsmen have over the years terrorised various 

communities in Delta State through kidnappings for ransom leading to several deaths. In this concluding part, irate community 

leaders cry out against the continuing attacks in their are<strong>as</strong>, while t<strong>as</strong>king government to adequately empower security agencies to 

put an end to the atrocities perpetrated by herdsmen. 

Continued from yesterday 

emergency in the affected communities to redress 

the challenge. On his part, President General of 

Abavo community, Mr. Jonathan Agbejeiagwe, 

appealed to the state government to help construct 

the Obiayima-Urueme road, saying that it would 

reduce the crime wave in the area. 

IDU President, and Chief Amadhe, said 

government should step up security in the 

communities to go round the forests to smoke them 

out. He said: “Government should crack down on 

them, they should set up security outfits to go round 

the forests and gr<strong>as</strong>slands and where they come 

across them, they should ch<strong>as</strong>e them because they 

are not our friends. They are enemies of society 

presently. 

“They even have camps in the bush. In are<strong>as</strong> where 

indigenes do not go, they go there and when it 

comes to certain times in the night, they come and 

ambush people, kidnap them and begin to collect 

ransom. Have you heard that herdsmen are now 

kidnappers? These are the kind of things that make 

us say they should not come near our area. The 

issue is all about security. You cannot have a country 

with over 200 million people and then you have 

350, 000 police officers. They should recruit more 

police officers in this country.” 

Urging the three tiers of government and security 

agencies to declare a state of emergency to address 

the ugly trend, the Abavo monarch, Obi Irenuma 

II, said: “Yam barns in farms owned by my subjects 

have been destroyed by the invaders who cut tubers 

of yam to feed their 

cattle in addition to 

the destruction of 

other economic crops 

like c<strong>as</strong>sava. As a 

result of the herders 

menace, residents of 

the area have 

abandoned their 

farms for fear of either 

being kidnapped, 

killed or raped. The 

In a span of that 12 

years till date, we 

have recorded at 

le<strong>as</strong>t 86 deaths while 

hundreds of persons 

have been maimed, 

injured and women 

raped 

state government, the Police and other security 

agencies should quickly intervene to avert the 

breakdown of law and order in the agrarian 

community <strong>as</strong> the whereabouts of the two missing 

indigenes of the kingdom is still unknown.” 

Isoko Youth National Movement scribe, 

Comrade Idi, however, disclosed that the herdsmen 

have moved out from the forest following the 

pressure on them, hinting that they presently hide 

kidnapped victims from Obiaruku and rele<strong>as</strong>e 

them after payment of ransom. He said the 

community vigilante together with the police, 

sometime ago, combed the forest up to Ndosimili 

destroying the herdsmen camps. 

Commenting on the siege to Uwheru kingdom, 

the current President General of Uwheru kingdom, 

C<strong>as</strong>sidy Akpadafe, said the siege dates <strong>back</strong> to 13 

years ago. He said: “I cannot confidently tell you 

that this and that are the number of attacks we 

have recorded in the l<strong>as</strong>t five years because we do 

not have a specific archive where we keep such 

records, but all I can tell you categorically is that 

we started recording attacks by herdsmen in our 

community 13 years ago. 

“In a span of that 12 years till date, we have 

recorded at le<strong>as</strong>t 86 deaths while hundreds of 

persons have been maimed, injured and women 

The late Happy Akpomiemie, killed in March 

2018 at the Abraka Farm Reserve by herdsmen 

raped. Those who are lucky survive the attacks by 

fleeing into the bush when their are<strong>as</strong> are invaded, 

while others simply stay away from their farms or 

only go to the farm or pond <strong>as</strong> the c<strong>as</strong>e may be in the 

middle of the night when we feel the herdsmen might 

be sleeping. However, the attacks occur annually, 

thereby making it an every year occurrence, but it 

only happens in a specific time of the year mostly 

during the dry se<strong>as</strong>on when the herders normally 

take their herds down South for grazing.” 

Speaking on the impact of the herdsmen's 

occupation of their farm, Chief Utso said the main 

towns of the kingdom particularly Uwheru and 

Agadama are experiencing a m<strong>as</strong>s migration of 

people from the hinterlands while the main source 

of income of the people which is farming and fishing 

have been adversely affected. He noted: “The area 

in question is an open farming land and not that it 

is a fortified area where they (herdsmen) stay. The 

effects of these herdsmen's activities are enormous. 

People in Uwheru kingdom are predominantly 

farmers and engage in fishing. The people are 

currently experiencing starvation because there is 

no farm produce to sell and buy." 

Expressing fears of the community, the president 

general of Uwheru kingdom, said: “We are currently 

helpless and all we need is that the Delta State and 

Federal Government should order these herdsmen 

to leave our land completely. We are urging Okowa 

to use his good office to order the herdsmen to leave.” 

Issele-Azagba an agrarian community in Aniocha 

North Local Government Area of Delta State h<strong>as</strong> 

been under herdsmen attack since l<strong>as</strong>t year. 

Suspected herdsmen took over the community for 

the first time in October 13, l<strong>as</strong>t year, when they 

stormed the community’s secondary school, 

kidnapped the principal and some teachers. The 

school h<strong>as</strong> become a place they invade for steady 

income. Worried by the incessant attacks, the 

community h<strong>as</strong> at different fora, called on the Delta 

State Police Command to create a Police Division 

in the area to help put the attacks under check. 

Unbearable 

situation 

The community youth leader, Mr. Ogoegbu 

Edozie, who described the situation <strong>as</strong> unbearable, 

said the attacks have brought the community to its 

knees, lamenting that the socio-economic lives of 

the people have been negatively affected. While 

lamenting that people no longer go to farm for fear 

of the ravaging suspected Fulani herdsmen, he said 

residents of the community also do not keep late 

nights to avoid falling prey to the hoodlums. 

Ogoegbu urged the state government to stand up 

to its responsibility of protecting lives and property 

of the people. Expressing fear and dissatisfaction 

over the repeated attack on the community by the 

killer herdsmen, Ogoegbu said: “For a while now, 

we have been facing serious security challenges in 

the community. Our people are being killed, raped 

and farm produce are destroyed daily, yet nothing 

is being done to stop the mayhem. 

“As it stands, nobody is safe anymore in this 

community with hunger and starvation imminent 

<strong>as</strong> farmers are no longer going to farm for fear of 

being killed or raped. That is why we are on peaceful 

protest to register our grievance over the rate of 

attacks. Our vigilante group h<strong>as</strong> been overpowered 

by the sophisticated weapon the herdsmen are 

using”. 

He appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, 

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, to establish a police station in the 

community with a view to reducing the killings by 

suspected herdsmen in the area. According to him: 

“We are begging the Nigeria Police to <strong>as</strong> a matter of 

urgency, establish a Divisional Police Station in the 

community to help in reducing the incessant 

attacks."



SEND FORTH PARTY FOR RETIRED VANGUARD'S NIGHT EDITOR, EMMANUEL EDEKI 

From left; Mr Emmanuel Edeki, Night Editor, Vanguard newspaper; Mr 

Solomon Nwoke, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Vanguard 

Chapel; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard 

newspaper, and Mr Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard newspaper, during the 

send forth party for Mr Emmanuel Edeki, who retired from the services of 

the organisation, at Vanguard corporate headquarters, Apapa, Lagos, 

yesterday. PHOTOS: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Mr Onochie Anibeze, Saturday Editor (left) and Prince 

Osuagwu, Hitech Editor. 

A cross section of the staff. 

From left, Dapo Akinrefon, Clifford Ndujihe, Political Editor; 

Patrick Omorodion, Simeon Nnaji and Victor Otigbu, Chief Sub 

Editor.



Kano conundrum: Why it matters 

FOLLOWING a string 

of suspicious deaths 

in Kano l<strong>as</strong>t week some have 

said the state, arguably 

Nigeria’s most populous, 

could be Nigeria’s Italy. 

They are wrong and right. 

They are wrong because 

healthcare in Kano and what 

obtained in any region in 

pre-<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Italy is not 

comparable. Like night and 

day, they’re not even close. 

But they are right because 

leaving Kano, a state with a 

population of over 14 

million people unattended 

<strong>as</strong> is presently the c<strong>as</strong>e - a 

serious mistake which Italy 

made early on - is like playing 

with fire. It would be 

Campania and Lazio (in 

Southern Italy) multiplied 

by Wuhan. And you would 

be mistaken to think that 

because it happened 

elsewhere and so recently, 

we would not repeat the 

same mistakes here. 

Kano h<strong>as</strong> more than 

enough supply of fodder to 

feed the virus fire and set the 

whole country aflame. Up till 

l<strong>as</strong>t week, there w<strong>as</strong> a viral 

video of hundreds of 

protesters, enabled from 

upstairs, waving leaves and 

crying in the streets of Kano 

that <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> w<strong>as</strong> a scam. 

Then, the clouds gathered. 

When it rains… 

At le<strong>as</strong>t 15 persons, mostly 

high profile and over 60 

years old, died within two 

days, forcing an eerie silence 

on the city. There h<strong>as</strong> been 

no official explanation, 

raising serious concerns that 

coronavirus may be far 

more widespread in the state 

than thought. There is 

limited data on annual death 

rates in the state. A 2010 

study by Iliy<strong>as</strong>u Abubakar 

of in-hospital mortality at 

the Aminu Kano Teaching 

Hospital, Kano, showed that 

between 2005-2008 out of 

51,975 patients admitted in 

the hospital 4,029 

died. That is a yearly average 

for that hospital alone of 

1,343, with HIV, 

septicaemia, 

cerebrov<strong>as</strong>cular dise<strong>as</strong>e, 

chronic renal failure, 

chronic renal dise<strong>as</strong>e and 

chronic liver dise<strong>as</strong>e being 

the main causes of death, 

according to the study. If 

the state is now recording 

15 deaths in two days, then 

that’s not just a problem, it’s 

a big problem. 

Kano h<strong>as</strong> the densest 

population in the North. At 

seven persons per average 

household, the state (along 

with Kebbi) h<strong>as</strong> the second 

highest number of personsper-household 

in the 

country. The demographics 

get even more interesting. 

Forty-five per cent of the 

state’s population, according 

to data from UKAid (some 

estimate 50 per cent) is 60 

years of age and above - the 

group that commonly 

harbours pre-existing 

conditions and is most 

vulnerable to the current 

pandemic. 

Water for what? 

If sanitation can help to 

keep the virus at bay, then 

water supply - a b<strong>as</strong>ic 

requirement for hygiene - is 

still a pipe dream in Kano. 

Hand w<strong>as</strong>hing is a luxury 

because water is 

scarce. About 10 years ago, 

when the state’s population 

w<strong>as</strong> far less than what it is 

At a point, it 

w<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong> if 

Governor 

Abdullahi 

Ganduje w<strong>as</strong> 

confused, missing 

or both 

today, the government 

could only provide one 

quarter of the daily demand 

of 400 million litres of water. 

The situation h<strong>as</strong> not 

improved significantly. 

With the population 

exploding since and 

residents struggling with 

shortages of all kinds, not to 

mention 

poor 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructure, any lethally 

contagious dise<strong>as</strong>e not 

contained in its early stages 

will spread. Add the large 

informal sector in the state 

and cultural/religious 

practices which promote 

clustering and large 

gatherings, with an 

estimated 300,000 

almajiris left to their own 

devices, and you will have 

the picture of a perfect storm 

coming. 

Let me be clear. 

Shambolic infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

and prevalence of poverty 

are not peculiar to Kano. 

Even in its poverty, Kano is 

the richest, most 

industrili<strong>as</strong>ed and politically 

consequential state in the 

north. It is Nigeria’s number 

one political bride. The 

state’s problem, however, is 

compounded not just by 

poor infr<strong>as</strong>tructure, growing 

population with a large aging 

group and high population 

density, among other things. 

Kano h<strong>as</strong> also been 

brought to its knees by a 

preexisting dise<strong>as</strong>e 

guaranteed to make <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> even more deadly: tribal 

politics. And this time, it’s 

playing big. Apart from the 

bitter governorship 

elections l<strong>as</strong>t year, a 

number of influential 

citizens are still very upset 

by the humiliation and 

dethronement of the former 

Emir, Muhammad Sanusi II, 

Sarkin Kano. They believe 

that it w<strong>as</strong> for a time like this 

that Sanusi w<strong>as</strong> meant to be 

emir. 

Not that he would have 

provided a vaccine or 

mounted a royal horse to 

charge against the virus on 

the streets of Kano. But his 

relentless, pesky voice 

would not have waited five 

or six days after the Nigeria 

Centre for Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control, 

NCDC, ran out of reagents 

and closed down its testing 

office, before crying out. 

Mute, missing 

At a point, it w<strong>as</strong> <strong>as</strong> if 

Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje w<strong>as</strong> confused, 

missing or both. The man 

perhaps often unfairly 

te<strong>as</strong>ed for his rare gift of 

taking and yet not appearing 

to have taken, w<strong>as</strong> strangely 

unable to <strong>as</strong>k for, much less 

take a lifeline to benefit 

citizens. It w<strong>as</strong> the BBC that 

finally bailed him out of his 

misery by granting him an 

interview. 

By which time the 

combined forces of his 

enemies - old and new, 

home and abroad - were all 

over him. The new emir, 

Aminu Ado Bayero, did his 

bit to rescue the governor 

and maybe also to douse the 

impression that his reign w<strong>as</strong> 

starting on an inauspicious 

note, but it didn’t help much. 

Not because he didn’t try 

but because he couldn’t do 

for the governor what only 

common sense and 

capacity could have done 

for the man. 

Emir Bayero’s statement 

that the state Ministry of 

Health informed him that 

the deaths were not <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> related even when 

investigations were still 

ongoing, reminded me of 

the quandary the late Alake 

of Egbaland, Ademola II, 

found himself. Mrs. 

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti 

led a revolt of women in 

Abeokuta against unfair 

taxes. But the revolt soon 

turned into rebellion against 

the Alake for “terrorising the 

women with his penis” and 

causing salt scarcity, forcing 

the Oba into exile. Of course, 

his hands were clean. His 

only crime w<strong>as</strong> being Alake 

when the unpopular taxes 

were levied by a colonial 

government that he had no 

control over. To avoid even 

the remote possibility of the 

Alake’s fate, Emir Bayero 

had to speak up, for his own 

sake, and for the sake of the 

governor. Yet, maybe 

Ganduje deserved some of 

the beating. I disagree, 

however, with those who 

think their pound of flesh 

would not be complete until 

they have taken a kilo or two 

of meat from the hide of 

Ganduje’s daughter, Amina, 

who w<strong>as</strong> a member of the 

state’s <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> team. She 

is a medical doctor. At a time 

of emergency like this, it w<strong>as</strong> 

right and patriotic of her to 

offer to help. 

If the committee failed, <strong>as</strong> 

woefully <strong>as</strong> it did, it w<strong>as</strong> not 

Amina’s fault. It is the 

governor and the 

leadership of the NCDC that 

should be held to account. 

How can Kano - or any state 

for that matter - record such 

unusual number of multiple 

deaths within such a short 

time and the people are left 

to speculate whether it w<strong>as</strong> 

caused by “meningitis” (an 

unusual occurrence in 

March) or “other weatherrelated” 

factors? 

It is also noteworthy that 

while Ganduje w<strong>as</strong> trying to 

find his mojo and NCDC 

officials from Abuja were 

fleeing the state following 

speculations that some of 

them had been infected, we 

kept getting daily 

countrywide figures of 

infections, with no 

explanation about what w<strong>as</strong> 

happening in Kano. Where 

were the figures coming 

from when the only test 

centre in the state had 

closed and the staff 

dispersed? 

Tell us, now 

The public deserves to 

know. The public also 

deserves to know the cause 

of death of scores of citizens 

who p<strong>as</strong>sed on during this 

time and what might have 

been done to save them. 

That’s the only way to 

prevent more from dying 

and to honour the 

memory of the dead. It’s 

also the way to avert the 

dangerous insinuations 

that while the governor 

w<strong>as</strong> playing for the money 

at the expense of an early 

solution, his political 

adversaries were playing 

for his head. And now, one 

fanatical professor is 

fueling the fire by playing 

the religious card, <strong>as</strong> if 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> wears a collar. 

The extension of the 

lockdown in Kano by 

President Muhammadu 

<strong>Buhari</strong> will mean nothing 

if the unfortunate deaths 

of l<strong>as</strong>t week are not 

properly investigated and 

the outcome published. It 

would mean nothing if 

more test centres are not 

opened and testing, 

tracing and treatment are 

not aggressively 

pursued. 

It would also mean 

nothing if the inter-state 

lockdown is not being 

implemented. In spite of 

the lockdown, widespread 

breach of inter-state 

travels, mostly aided by 

security men, w<strong>as</strong> already 

being reported well ahead 

of <strong>Buhari</strong>’s broadc<strong>as</strong>t on 

Monday night. 

For the primary benefit 

and safety of residents, the 

daily figures of new c<strong>as</strong>es 

should be published on the 

state and NCDC websites 

on a local government by 

local government b<strong>as</strong>is 

across all 44 local 

governments of Kano. The 

same should apply to all 

states with confirmed c<strong>as</strong>es 

of 10 or more patients. Also, 

the lockdown extension in 

Kano would mean nothing 

without aggressive 

messaging about social 

distancing, mandatory use 

of face m<strong>as</strong>ks, penalty for 

breach and collaboration 

for testing and treatment 

with some private hospitals 

or laboratories. 

As the relative success in 

Lagos and Ekiti so far h<strong>as</strong> 

shown, the private sector, 

individuals, NGOs and 

corporates must also step 

up to the plate. And they will 

if the governor inspires 

confidence and provides 

leadership. In short, 

without a significant 

improvement in 

transparency and a more 

determined approach to 

solve the problem, the oneweek 

extension could be too 

little, too late. 

Kano could drag Nigeria 

to pot in a hand cart.



Labour costs of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: Matters arising 

By FUNMI KOMOLAFE 

EXPECTEDLY, Nigeria joined other 

nations to effect a lockdown to prevent 

the spread of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> that h<strong>as</strong> claimed lives 

in hundreds in many developed countries. In 

many countries, the International Labour 

Organisation anticipates economic and social 

costs, <strong>as</strong> we are experiencing in Nigeria right 

now. The International Labour Organisation 

warned: “The eventual incre<strong>as</strong>e in global 

unemployment during 2020 will depend 

substantially on future developments and 

policy me<strong>as</strong>ures. There is a high risk that the 

end-of-year figure will be significantly higher 

than the initial ILO projection, of 25 million”. 

For us in developing countries like Nigeria, 

the ILO noted, “Workers and businesses are 

facing cat<strong>as</strong>trophe, in both developed and 

developing economies.” According to ILO 

Director-General Guy Ryder, “We have to 

move f<strong>as</strong>t, decisively, and together. The right, 

urgent, me<strong>as</strong>ures, could make the difference 

between survival and collapse.” ILO, the oldest 

organ of the United Nations described the 

current pandemic <strong>as</strong> the greatest test for 

international cooperation in more than 75 

years.” 

According to ILO director-general Mr. Guy 

Ryder,“if one country fails, then we all fail. We 

must find solutions that help all segments of 

our global society, particularly those that are 

most vulnerable or le<strong>as</strong>t able to help 

themselves.” In Nigeria, the formal and 

informal sectors have become non-functional. 

Businesses have ground to a halt. Those who 

live on daily earnings, are barely surviving. 

Families are groaning and growing through 

serious social and economic tension. 

In the formal sectors, companies have shut 

down, production h<strong>as</strong> stopped. Machines and 

human beings are lying idle. For those in the 

civil service the bulk of the working cl<strong>as</strong>s have 

been <strong>as</strong>ked to stay away from the offices. We 

are staying away from the work places in order 

to stay alive. Only the living work, so the stay 

at home is in order. However, the stay at home 

order h<strong>as</strong> thrown up series of labour issues 

that employers, government and trade unions 

need to address or begin to work towards 

resolving those issues. State governors <strong>as</strong>ked 

workers to work from home but the reality is 

that, this is impossible. How many state 

government 

offices are 

computerised? 

How do files move 

from one table to 

another? Taking 

files home does not 

produce any result 

<strong>as</strong> no action can 

be taken. In any 

c<strong>as</strong>e, it is not 

How do we get 

millions of 

Nigerians 

affected by 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> work 

closures <strong>back</strong> to 

work? 

allowed. Work in 

the civil service is a chain so work remains 

still. Worse still even for civil servants who are 

usually <strong>as</strong>sured of regular pay monthly, with 

Nigeria earning far below expectation, how 

much will be paid at the end of the month? 

Already, some of governors have indicated 

inability to pay the recently negotiated 

national minimum wage because of the 

reduction in federal allocation and internally 

generated revenue. How does Organised 

Labour react to this? For those in the informal 

sector, the situation could be worse. How does 

the manager of a saloon or a boutique, or a 

barber whose business h<strong>as</strong> been shut for two 

weeks pay his employees at the end of the 

month? 

Would it be a c<strong>as</strong>e of half pay or no pay? The 

small-scale employer could argue that since 

there is no income, there would be no pay. Yet 

this cl<strong>as</strong>s of workers belong to the lowest paid 

in the strata of society. Many of them earn 

below the minimum wage of N30,000 per 

month. Indeed the National Minimum Wage 

Law exempts employers with fewer than 50 

workers from paying the negotiated national 

minimum wage. Some earn <strong>as</strong> low <strong>as</strong> N15,000 

and are just ple<strong>as</strong>ed that they have a work 

place to resume daily. Usually, these categories 

of workers have no pension or any form of 

insurance. This is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is 

common to many African countries. ILO states: 

“worldwide, two billion people work in the 

informal sector (mostly in emerging and 

developing economies) and are particularly 

at risk”. Who speaks for these workers? How 

far can the trade unions or non-governmental 

organisation that organises workers in the 

informal sector go? 

For the small-scale employer also, this 

certainly is not the best of times. In spite of the 

business that h<strong>as</strong> been closed, the manager 

will still have to pay local government taxes, 

pay for electricity, shop rent, maintenance 

charges, etc. None can be wished away on the 

altar of <strong>COVID</strong> <strong>19</strong>. These bills must be settled. 

Usually, this cl<strong>as</strong>s of employers hardly makes 

enough to save part for investment. Even where 

money is saved, it is usually re-invested <strong>as</strong> 

traders are more interested in f<strong>as</strong>ter turnover. 

For those in the formal sector, this is a period 

that puts managerial skill to t<strong>as</strong>k. Will 

employers need to negotiate with unions to 

decide what to pay workers? Are employers 

bound to pay full month salaries for only two 

weeks of work? In all sectors, the purch<strong>as</strong>ing 

power of the wage earner h<strong>as</strong> been seriously 

eroded. Businesses that were allowed to operate 

such <strong>as</strong> food stores and pharmacies, incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

prices by <strong>as</strong> much <strong>as</strong> 200 per cent. The only 

area in which there seems to be some form of 

relief is the reduction in the pump price of 

petrol from N145 per litre to N123 per litre. 

Even at that, because there isn’t m<strong>as</strong>s 

movement, the reduction h<strong>as</strong> not made any 

significant impact on our economy. 

For the v<strong>as</strong>t majority of our people in the 

cities and the rural are<strong>as</strong>, the cost of kerosene 

that is used by the most people remains high 

at N230 per litre. Prices rise, purch<strong>as</strong>ing power 

<strong>falls</strong>. The amount lost by the entertainment 

industry can only be estimated at millions of 

naira <strong>as</strong> social life h<strong>as</strong> been completely shut 

down with social distancing. As stated by the 

ILO, “the sectors most at risk include 

accommodation and food services, 

manufacturing, retail and business and 

administrative activities”. 

The ILO in its study wrote: “Huge losses are 

expected across different income groups but 

especially in upper-middle income countries 

(7.0 per cent, 100 million full-time workers). 

This far exceeds the effects of the 2008-9 

financial crisis...worldwide, two billion people 

work in the informal sector (mostly in 

emerging and developing economies) and are 

particularly at risk”. 

Sudden loss 

of income 

With these alarming figures how do we get 

millions of Nigerians affected by <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

work closures <strong>back</strong> to work? The ILO, 

according to its studies, states: “1.2 billion 

workers are employed in the sectors identified 

<strong>as</strong> being at high risk of ‘dr<strong>as</strong>tic and dev<strong>as</strong>tating’ 

incre<strong>as</strong>es in lay offs and reduction in wages 

and working hours. Many are in low-paid, 

low-skilled jobs, where a sudden loss of income 

is dev<strong>as</strong>tating”. 

In our situation, crime h<strong>as</strong> been on the rise. 

Miscreants are already taking advantage of 

the situation to loot shops and commit crimes. 

At a time like this, the cooperation of the 

tripartite social partners: government, 

employers and unions are necessary with 

greater sense of responsibility. In Nigeria, 

commendation must go to health workers who 

have been working to save lives. On the part of 

government too, senior government officials 

elected and appointed have been working 

almost 24 hours. Security agents have also 

been seen enforcing the rule and tackling 

crime. Although some have overstepped their 

briefs by maiming or killing citizens who do 

not stay at home, which is unfortunate, though, 

higher authorities in the security agencies have 

taken this up. Many private sector employers 

have offered social relief in terms of money, 

food items, medical equipment, etc. Religious 

organizations have also been quite impressive. 

Many have complied with the social 

distancing order that means loss of income 

for them but even at that, many religious 

organisations have made <strong>as</strong>tonishing 

donations to the hospitals and many homes. 

What is needed at a time like this is that we all 

bear some form of economic and social 

deprivation is solidarity. 

Geneva b<strong>as</strong>ed ILO suggested “collective 

efforts and solidarity between employers’ and 

workers’ organisations is critical to respond 

effectively to the impact of work”. Its new states, 

“<strong>COVID</strong><strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> in many parts of the world 

jeopardised the health and safety of millions 

of people, and put immense pressure on 

businesses, jobs, and livelihoods. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Komolafe is a former Labour Editor with 

Vanguard. 

Labour leaders during one of the May Day celebrations in Nigeria 

May Day and <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic 

By CHRIS NGIGE 

OVER the years, May 1 h<strong>as</strong> been a 

u n i q u e 

day in the world of work. As we all 

know, it is called May Day, a day dedicated 

to workers <strong>as</strong> partners in socio- economic 

development of the nations. Workers on this 

day are recognised <strong>as</strong> an important limb in 

the tripod that sustains enterprises and 

development. Workers, over the years 

celebrate May Day and in Nigeria 

marchings are conducted by trade unions 

and their Federations in various stadia 

throughout the Federation. Today, May 1, 

2020, is different. The stadia are empty and 

there are echoes of silence. 

We are all taking refuge in our respective 

homes and staying off the streets in a global 

bid to stay alive and beat an invisible enemy 

called <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. We stay at home to 

minimize and eventually stop the spread of 

the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> infection which h<strong>as</strong> killed many 

people in the world and dwindled life and 

economies. Offices, workplaces, businesses 

(small and large scales), and nations are 

closed. The <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> outbreak h<strong>as</strong> laid seige 

on humanity and we must all develop and 

imbibe a common will to fight and conquer 

this enemy. 

The <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> outbreak h<strong>as</strong> affected modes 

of work and the utilization of teleworking is 

on the incre<strong>as</strong>e. I, therefore, urge you all to 

continue to do your best in that regard and to 

endeavour to demarcate your personal life 

from work <strong>as</strong> you work from home, although 

a bit difficult. It is a well known fact that arising 

from the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis, businesses in both 

the private and public sectors have suffered. 

Sustainability of the enterprise h<strong>as</strong> become a 

subject of concern. The worries precipitated 

by the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis are further 

compounded by worries of maintaining a 

source of livelihood. 

In this regard, the government and social 

partners 

would 

have a look at the 

four- pillar plan of 

policy responses to 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis 

laid out by the 

International 

L a b o u r 

Organisation, ILO, 

which are intended 

CHRIS NGIGE to be humancentered 

and built on global solidarity. This 

would be in addition to the Federal 

Government evolving plan of action to 

sustain the economy in the context of current 

global crisis. All relevant factors to the 

nation's workforce will be identified, 

analysed, and solidified to ensure job 

retention and the continued realization of 

the decent work agenda. In doing this, we 

will be guided by the labour standards <strong>as</strong> 

benchmarks for social and employment 

protection at this time of vulnerabilities. 

Along this line, talks are currently ongoing 

between the Presidential Economic 

Sustainability Council and Employers on 

job protection and even job creation at this 

time and progressively to post <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

crisis. 

I wish to state that employers will not be 

encouraged to disengage staff without 

prerequisite social dialogue and clearance 

from the Federal Ministry of Labour and 

Employment. I hail employees in the 

healthcare sector, the medical doctors and 

healthcare workers, for their call to duty and 

selflessness to care for the sick and the dying 

when no one else is allowed proximity to them 

due to the nature of the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> infection. 

God bless you all who have so discharged your 

duties to humanity. 

For being in the frontline of this war with the 

invisible enemy, we praise you. In 

appreciation, the government h<strong>as</strong> introduced 

a special hazard and inducement allowance 

at this time of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis. Also, Group 

Life Insurance Policy h<strong>as</strong> been activated for 

all workers in the Federal Government Public 

Service <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> Employees' Compensation 

for injuries, disabilities sustained and even 

death in the course of discharging their duties. 

Furthermore, the Government appreciation 

goes to health workers' umbrella, the Joint 

Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, and for 

Medical Doctors, the Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, for your professionalism 

and support at this time of global health crisis. 

I call on employees in our science, 

technology, and research sector of the economy 

to put on your thinking caps and join your 

colleagues throughout the world and produce 

cure and/or vaccine for the covid-<strong>19</strong> for testing 

and other required processes and procedures. 

Madag<strong>as</strong>car and Senegal have done it. 

Knowledge to 

m<strong>as</strong>s produce 

We can also do something greater or key 

into their knowledge to m<strong>as</strong>s produce for the 

Nigerian populace. My dear Nigerian 

workers, let me conclude my 2020 May Day 

remarks by sharing with you the ILO laid - out 

workers' response options to the covid-<strong>19</strong> crisis: 

"1.Efficient social dialogue at all levels is 

essential for quick and effective action. 

Workers’ organizations can play an important 

role in participating in decision making and 

policies responses to the crisis on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

2. Assist governments to make critical social, 

economic and environmental protection policy 

decisions such <strong>as</strong> how to save jobs without 

risking the health of workers, how to implement 

the necessary <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> me<strong>as</strong>ures without 

destroying livelihoods, how to mobilize and 

allocate the human and financial resources 

necessary without exacerbating the national 

debt crisis. How to extend social protection to 

the most needy and how to protect incomes, 

jobs, and rebuild, reshape and reorganise the 

economic and social infr<strong>as</strong>tructure and 

priorities beyond the crisis; 

3.Contribute to the prevention and protection 

of workers by giving reliable information. 

4.Encourage responsible behaviour, 

cooperate with response me<strong>as</strong>ures and stay 

calm. 5.Promote solidarity and nondiscrimination 

/ stigmatisation of workers and 

sick persons. 6.Since <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> spreads 

mainly through respiratory droplets good 

workplace hygiene practices are essential, e.g. 

regular hand-w<strong>as</strong>hing, using hand and surface 

sanitiser. 7.Reach out to UN country teams 

especially Resident Coordinators and offer 

solutions from a trade union perspective" 

In view of these proposed options for workers' 

response, we can all agree that the road to 

victory will require cooperation and 

togetherness with social dialogue <strong>as</strong> a driving 

Instrument. I wish you all God's Divine Mercy 

and Protection. Eschew fear and its attendant 

ills. Observe all authorized guidelines on how 

to stay safe at this time especially with the 

partial lift of the lockdown for some States of 

the Federation. W<strong>as</strong>h your hands regularly and 

observe Social Distancing. When the time 

comes, return to your places with greater zeal 

to minimize crisis impact. 

Being a message by the Minister of Labour 

and Employment, Senator Chris 

Nwabueze Ngige, to workers on May Day, 

2020.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


MAY DAY: Workers lament unfair practices, warn against 

post-<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> job insecurity 

•As pandemic stops May Day funfair •FG <strong>as</strong>sures jobs security, decent employment 

By Victor Young 

TODAY’S May Day 

celebration will remain 

indelible for a long time in the 

minds of workers across the 

globe <strong>as</strong> they mark workers’ 

day without rallies, display of 

placards among other funfair 

of Workers’ Day celebration. 

It is debatable if there h<strong>as</strong> 

been any May Day since 

inception following the 

Chicago killings of 1886 that 

gave rise to the celebration, 

devoid of the usual March 

P<strong>as</strong>s, rallies and gathering of 

workers because of the 

rampaging corona virus, 


The pandemic however, did 

not stop workers through their 

leaders from expressing their 

grievances, lamenting 

incre<strong>as</strong>ing unfair labour 

practices and warning against 

unnecessary post-<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

sacks, and other anti-workers 

practices. 

This came <strong>as</strong> the Federal 

Government, through the 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, 

<strong>as</strong>sured of job retention and 

decent work agenda. 

In their respective May Day 

messages, National Union of 

Electricity Employees, NUEE, 

Nigeria Union of Petroleum 

and Natural G<strong>as</strong> Workers, 

NUPENG, Maritime Workers 

Union of Nigeria, MWUN, 

National Union of Banks, 

Insurance and Financial 

Institutions Employees, 

NUBIFIE, among others, 

decried the damage caused by 

the pandemic and callous 

employers aimed at profit 

maximization to the detriment 

of workers. 

NUPENG speaks 

NUPENG in a statement by 

its President and General 

Secretary, Prince Williams 

Akporeha, and Afolabi 

Olawale, respectively, said 

among others, “the union also 

empathizes with various 

employers of labour across 

board, particularly in the Oil 

and G<strong>as</strong> industry and 

expresses willingness to 

cooperate and work together 

with them in this turbulent 

journey for the survival of 

humanity and the challenges 

of revamping our workplaces. 

“We shall be together when 

the sun rises once again and 

our machines in various 

factories roar <strong>back</strong> to life. It is 

very important to note here, 

that, we received with deep 

sense of relief and hope, the 

report of the offer of the 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources to support the 

operations of Oil and G<strong>as</strong> 

Companies during the 

perilous period so <strong>as</strong> to avoid 

stoppage of operations and 

unnecessary loss of jobs by 

workers. 

“On this promising note, we 

strongly implore Oil and G<strong>as</strong> 

Companies not to exploit the 

current disturbing situation to 

declare unnecessary 

redundancies or inflict 

*A cross section of Nigerian workers during 20<strong>19</strong> May Day rally 

precarious and unfair labour 

practices on the workers that 

are already emotionally and 

psychologically traumatized. 

The fear of how the workers 

are going to fare against the 

unknown enemy and the 

current economic hardships 

are already creating social 

upheavals to such an extent 

that any further loss of jobs in 

our industry would achieve 

nothing but complications and 

aggravation of an already bad 

situation. 

“This is the time we should 

all come together to develop 

ways and means to save 

human race from the 

pandemic rather than being 

preoccupied with issues of 

pecuniary gains. We earnestly 

demand for mutual sacrifices 

and cooperation so that we can 

collectively defeat Covid- <strong>19</strong> 

and the <strong>as</strong>sociated hunger in 

the land for a better tomorrow." 

NUEE message 

In its message, NUEE in a 

statement by its President and 

General Secretary, Martin 

Uzoegwu respectively, Joe 

Ajaero, called on the federal 

government to review its 

contract with Siemens, 

warning that it is a time bomb. 

The statement among others, 

said “ We wish to reinforce our 

earlier opposition to the 

Siemens contract on the 

premise that; SIEMENS h<strong>as</strong> 

only been known to have 

established sub-stations/ 

generation stations in Egypt 

and some other parts of the 

world. It is not on record that 

they construct transmission 

lines; which is one of the 

major needs of Nigeria’s 

Power Industry. 

“As at today, Nigeria h<strong>as</strong> over 

9,000 transmission capacity, 

it’s fraudulent to sign contract 

for 7,000 transmission capacity 

<strong>as</strong> Nigeria h<strong>as</strong> exceeded their 

transmission capacity already. 

Some Transmission projects 

that SIEMENS h<strong>as</strong> proposed 

to implement are already 

covered under the 

Transmission Rehabilitation 

and Expansion Programme, 

TREP, thus leaving them with 

locations conceived for future 

projects that had either 

transmission projects under 

construction or being proposed. 

“Currently, SIEMENS h<strong>as</strong> a 

contract for the rehabilitation of 

one of the 330KV line circuit 

breaker between Ajah and 

Egbin; which is dangerously 

standing on one feeder circuit; 

but for over two (2) years, the 

company is yet to mobilize. 

SIEMENS h<strong>as</strong> tendered for 

many competitive procurements 

of TCN including those 

financed by the French 

Government (AFD) and w<strong>as</strong> 

unable to win any because of 

its non-competitive cost. 

“We urge the Federal 

Government of Nigeria to take 

a second look at the proposed 

agreement with SIEMENS to 

avoid destroying the progress 

made so far in Transmission 

We warn 

employers hiding 

under <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic not to 

make workers 

suffer any form of 

maltreatment 

and by extension save the 

country from further hardship. 

“We wish to warn employers 

hiding under <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic not to make workers 

suffer one form of maltreatment; 

or another, that such sins by the 

employers will be revisited at 

the end of the lockdown. Power 

Sectors operators must take full 

responsibilities for exposing 

workers to the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic. Consequently, they 

must write off the life insurance, 

benefits and upkeep to the 

dependent relatives of those 

exposed to this deadly 

pandemic.” 

MWUN reacts 

On its part, President- 

General of MWUN, Adewale 

Adeyanju, in a statement 

among others, said “As maritime 

workers, we are proud that we 

are able, despite such grim 

circumstances, to <strong>as</strong>sociate and 

march in solidarity with many 

other organizations which are 

essential and vibrant to the 

maritime community and all 

stakeholders. Our goal <strong>as</strong> a 

union is and h<strong>as</strong> always been 

to support and <strong>as</strong>sist our 

members to attain a high 

degree of bearable livelihood. 

Comrades, I can <strong>as</strong>sure you that 

we will continue to fight for the 

benefit of all in the face of 

seemingly sapping odds and 

stand by our watch word that ‘an 

injury to one is an injury to all’. 

“As labour leaders we promise 

to remain on guard and 

jealously protect jobs, wages, 

income and livelihood of our 

members at this trying time. 

Our efforts will be focused on 

maintaining, respecting and 

improving upon existing 

collective bargaining 

agreements and all such sundry 

matters of job welfare. Naturally, 

all is not rosy in the maritime 

sector.” 

NUBIFIE statement 

Also, NUBIFIE in a statement 

by its General Secretary, Sheikh 

IshiyakuMuhammed, lamented 

that "counting the costs at this 

stage would be difficult at the 

moment, but without doubt, 

there may be significant 

paradigm shift in the world of 

work, made more challenging 

by the influence of artificial 

intelligence, robotics and other 

<strong>as</strong>sociated IT advancement in 

the application of financial 

services products (Banking, 

Insurance etc.) 

“While appreciating our 

member’s patience in this 

difficult time, we urge all and 

sundry to take time to reflect 

and engage in some 

introspection with a view to 

proactively offering constructive 

response to the emerging 

challenges in our sector to 

minimize impacts of the 

situations on workers <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> 

organizations.” 

FG <strong>as</strong>sures 

Meanwhile, the Federal 

Government in a statement by 

Ngige said that in protecting 

jobs and ensuring decent 

employment, government 

would be guided by the Labour 

standards <strong>as</strong> benchmarks for 

social and employment 

protection at this time of 

vulnerabilities. 

He said “Along this line, 

talks are currently ongoing 

between the Presidential 

Economic Sustainability 

Council and Employers on 

job protection and even job 

creation at this time and 

progressively to post Covid- 

<strong>19</strong> crisis. I wish to state that 

employers will not be 

encouraged to disengage staff 

without prerequisite Social 

Dialogue and clearance from 

the Federal Ministry of Labour 

and Employment. 

“I hail employees in the 

Healthcare Sector, the 

Medical Doctors and 

Healthcare Workers, for their 

call to duty and selflessness 

to care for the sick and the 

dying when no one else is 

allowed proximity to them 

due to the nature of the covid- 

<strong>19</strong> infection. God bless you all 

who have so discharged your 

duties to humanity. 

“For being in the frontline 

of this war with the invisible 

enemy, we praise you. In 

appreciation, the Government 

h<strong>as</strong> introduced a special 

hazard and inducement 

allowance at this time of 

Covid-<strong>19</strong> crisis. Also, Group 

Life Insurance Policy h<strong>as</strong> been 

activated for all workers in the 

Federal Government Public 

Service <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> Employees’ 

Compensation for injuries, 

disabilities sustained and 

even death in the course of 

discharging their duties. 

Furthermore, the 

Government appreciation 

goes to Health Workers’ 

umbrella, the Joint Health 

Sector Unions, JOHESU, and 

for Medical Doctors, the 

Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, for your 

professionalism and support 

at this time of global health 

crisis.” 

NECA speaks on jobs 

In a message to workers, 

Nigeria Employers 

Consultative Association, 

NECA, called for a more 

coordinated strategy in 

salvaging jobs and enterprise 

in the wake of the possible job 

losses. 

The message by its 

Director-General Dr. 

Timothy Olawale, said “If 

businesses do not survive the 

effect of <strong>COVID</strong> <strong>19</strong> within the 

shortest period, it could result 

in m<strong>as</strong>sive job loss in the 

country.” 

According to him, “We want 

to place on record, our 

commendation of all 

Nigerian Workers in the 

Health Sector and the various 

chains for their roles in 

the fight against the 

corona virus pandemic in 

Nigeria. <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

affected every <strong>as</strong>pect of 

the country. Due to the 

lockdown directives of 

Government <strong>as</strong> a way to 

curtail its spread, 

activities of organised 

businesses have been 

disrupted and businesses 

in the informal sector 

interrupted."


How to pull Nigeria from the brink 

By ATIKU ABUBAKAR 

ON Monday, April 27, 2020, British oil 

and g<strong>as</strong> giant, BP, became the latest in 

a growing number of energy firms to declare 

a m<strong>as</strong>sive quarterly loss. Their loss w<strong>as</strong> in the 

region of $4.4 billion. Bear in mind that this 

w<strong>as</strong> a conglomerate that posted 

a $2.6 billion profit in the corresponding 

quarter of 20<strong>19</strong>. 

The challenges that are already engulfing 

the oil and g<strong>as</strong> sector will continue to plague 

that industry for at le<strong>as</strong>t the rest of the year, 

and may reach apocalyptic levels sooner than 

we expect. As I write this, there are hundreds of 

crude oil-laden ships, all filled up, with nowhere 

to berth, and accruing daily charges of an 

average of $30,000. 

We have also seen crude oil prices plunge to 

record lows, to the extent that some variants of 

the product have been given out for free, or 

worse still, producers have paid storage 

facilities to take their products. As at today, 

Nigeria is pricing its very low sulphur sweet 

crude at $10 per barrel, yet buyers are 

balking. Our sweet crude is becoming a little 

bitter. 

I had earlier warned that Nigeria needs a 

Strategic Reserve to store unsold crude. Now, 

we have so much crude and no one to buy it, 

nowhere to store it, and little idea what to do 

with it. Barely three years ago, I had also 

alerted that the "crude thinking" promoted by 

our dependence on crude oil will lead to a 

rude shock. 

"If you are still talking about oil, you are in 

the p<strong>as</strong>t. As far <strong>as</strong> I am concerned, the era of 

oil is gone. If you want to believe it, believe it. 

If you do not want to believe it, you will see it. 

It is crude thinking to continue to talk and 

b<strong>as</strong>e development projections on crude oil," I 

had said at a public event in the nation's 

capital. 

We must face the fact that reliance on crude 

oil is failing Nigeria and other mono product 

economy crude oil exporters. Now is the time 

for Nigeria and her contemporaries to cure 

their addiction to sweet crude. For far too long 

we have grown high on our own supply, to the 

extent that we have neglected almost every 

other sector of our economy. 

This present rude awakening should be seen 

<strong>as</strong> a blessing in disguise - a blessing that 

compels us to take those dr<strong>as</strong>tic actions that 

will free us from the crude oil trap. 

We need to diversify our economy, and yes, it 

is e<strong>as</strong>ier said than done, but that does not mean 

it is an impossible t<strong>as</strong>k. 

Prior to Nigeria’s 

October 1, <strong>19</strong>60 

independence from 

Great Britain, not 

only were we a 

nation self-reliant 

in food production, 

but we also 

exported food to 

other countries, 

earning precious 

foreign exchange 

in the process. Who 

This present rude 

awakening should 

be seen <strong>as</strong> a 

blessing in 

disguise - a 

blessing that 

compels us to take 

those dr<strong>as</strong>tic 

actions that will 

free us from the 

crude oil trap 

can forget the great 

groundnut pyramids in Northern Nigeria? For 

example, in <strong>19</strong>57, agriculture formed a 

whopping 86% of our export revenue. By <strong>19</strong>77, 

agricultural exports had dwindled to 6%, and 

today, the figure is less than 3%. 

How did our country go from being a net 

exporter of agricultural products to a net 

importer of food products? How did we go 

from a country that could feed itself to one 

that desperately depends on foreign imports 

for survival? The answer to these questions is 

leadership focus. 

During elections, Nigerian politicians spend 

a significant amount of their campaign time 

discussing how they will manage the nation’s 

resources. However, the fundamental 

difference between a leader and a manager is 

that while a manager focuses on managing 

existing resources, a leader sets out a creative 

vision which the country must follow to chart 

a course to political and socio-economic 

greatness. 

Certainly, what is abundantly clear is that 

Nigeria is never going to become an 

industrialised nation by selling more oil, even 

if the oil market recovers. The lessons from 

Venezuela’s current predicament come to 

mind. If oil and g<strong>as</strong> could have saved any 

nation, that nation would be Venezuela. 

Unfortunately, Venezuela is bankrupt and 

insolvent. 

Saudi Arabia, despite its huge reserves and 

a highly publicised listing of Saudi Aramco, is 

feeling the pinch and working rapidly towards 

its Vision 2030, which requires Saudi Arabia 

to diversify from its dependence on oil. Other 

prudent countries facing the same predicament 

are doing the same. 

Oil economies need to learn a thing or two 

*Alhaji Atiku Abubakar 

about economic diversification from the 

United Arab Emirates. Despite being a young 

nation, the leadership of the UAE h<strong>as</strong> managed 

to diversify the economy of this country from 

an almost complete reliance on oil in the <strong>19</strong>70s, 

to a country where 72% of the GDP comes 

from the non-oil sectors of the economy such 

<strong>as</strong> aviation, tourism and services sectors. 

In Nigeria, our diversification should 

embrace agriculture <strong>as</strong> the primary sector 

earmarked for development because 

agriculture is a low hanging fruit, is key to 

ensuring food subsistence, and with the recent 

signing of the African Continental Free Trade 

Area agreement, AFCTA, which favours 

Nigeria’s economy greatly, Nigeria can take 

advantage of this to become an agricultural 

powerhouse in Africa. 

For example, Africa h<strong>as</strong> the lowest intraregional 

trade amongst the seven 

continents. Indeed, 68% of Europe’s trade is 

within the continent. However, Africa does 

more trade with non-African nations than we 

do amongst each other. Our intra-continental 

trade is an abysmal 18%. This must change 

and Nigeria is key to altering this sad state of 

affairs. 

Within the Agricultural sector, the African 

continent in 2014, earned $2.4 billion from 

the export of coffee to Europe. That sounds 

impressive. However, one country alone, 

Germany, made $3.8 billion from reexporting 

Africa’s coffee in 2014. This trend 

continued into 2015, 2016 and h<strong>as</strong> not 

changed to date. What is it that Germany does 

to add value to the coffee, cocoa, and other 

produce that they buy from Africa that we 

cannot do in Nigeria? Nigeria can e<strong>as</strong>ily 

become a value-added re-exporter of African 

coffee to the world. 

Ditto for tea, cocoa, wheat, sugar cane and 

other c<strong>as</strong>h crops. There are none of these 

products that I have mentioned that Nigeria 

cannot either grow in commercial quantities 

or add value to, in the same way other 

industrialised economies are doing. 

I should know because I am already 

practicing what I am advocating. I have 

multiple profitable farms and other businesses 

in the agricultural value chain. 

With about 60% of its land <strong>as</strong>sessed <strong>as</strong> arable, 

I truly believe that Nigeria is capable of 

becoming the food b<strong>as</strong>ket of the rest of Africa, 

and in the process, it can capture a sizable 

portion of the $48 billion that goes towards 

food imports in Africa. That money should be 

circulating within Africa, strengthening our 

currencies, growing our GDPs and enriching 

our people. 

I w<strong>as</strong> in Benin Republic recently and I w<strong>as</strong> 

informed by one of the most successful 

industrialists in the country that Benin buys its 

cement from China. Why should a country that 

shares land borders with Nigeria have to 

import cement from China 7000 miles away, 

when Dangote cement is perfectly able, and I 

am sure willing, to provide the same product 

at a competitive price? 

Is this not what the AFCTA agreement is 

meant to promote? Why would Nigeria 

maintain an insane policy of border closures 

at a time it desperately needs them open to 

promote trade? 

Now is the time for Nigeria to make those 

hard decisions it h<strong>as</strong> postponed for far too long 

otherwise the alternative is an apocalyptic 

scenario we would rather not entertain. 

We must, <strong>as</strong> nation, begin to invest our 

resources wisely in order to maximize 

dividends. We must liberalise our land tenure 

system to make it possible and e<strong>as</strong>y for some 

of the 27 million unemployed Nigerians to 

become farmers, even <strong>as</strong> sharecroppers. 

L<strong>as</strong>t year, Ethiopia mobilised its 100 million 

strong population to plant 350 million trees 

in 12 hours (a world record). Nigeria can 

similarly mobilise its population of twice that 

number to plant billions of c<strong>as</strong>h crops through 

the planting se<strong>as</strong>on. It is possible. I have 

repeatedly charged my farm <strong>as</strong>sociates to sow 

seeds and they have done so successfully. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Atiku Abubakar is a former Vice President 

of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the 

PDP in the 20<strong>19</strong> election. 

Economy 

IMF’s $3.4bn loan: Nigeria risks 

entering debt trap — Uwaleke 

By Michael Eboh 

Economic analyst 

and Professor of 

Finance and capital 

markets, Mr. Uche 

Uwaleke, h<strong>as</strong> faulted the 

federal government’s 

decision to borrow $3.4 

billion under the Rapid 

Financing Instrument 

(RFI) of the 

International Monetary 

Fund, IMF, warning that 

it might plunge the 

country into a debt trap 

and jeopardize 

economic recovery 

efforts post <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic. 

Uwaleke, in his 

reaction to the loan 

granted Nigeria by the 

IMF noted that the 

government’s effort at 

mustering every 

resource in the fight 

against the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic should be 

encouraged, noting, 

however, that the 

conditions <strong>as</strong>sociated 

with the facility could 

plunge the country into 

another debt crisis. 

He said: “Regarding 

the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> credit 

facility from the IMF, 

the government should 

be <strong>as</strong> wise <strong>as</strong> a serpent. 

That the country’s 

external debt burden 

h<strong>as</strong> not reached crisis 

point is apparently due 

to the fact that much of 

its $27.6 billion debt <strong>as</strong> 

of December 20<strong>19</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

come from multilateral 

sources which are 

chiefly concessional in 

nature — long tenor with 

low interest rate. 

“While an additional 

soft credit line of $3.5 

billion which the 

government hopes to 

get from the World Bank 

($2.5 billion) and the 

African Development 

Bank ($1 billion) to wage 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> war stands to 

re<strong>as</strong>on, the same cannot 

be said of another $3.4 

billion loan from the 

IMF for obvious 

re<strong>as</strong>ons. 

“First, it is a nonconcessional 

loan with 

commercial terms being 

disbursed under the 

IMFs Rapid Financing 

Instrument (RFI) 

which, in addition to a 

b<strong>as</strong>ic interest rate 

charge, attracts a 

commitment fee, 

service charge and a 

surcharge on 

outstanding credit. 

“The facility is for a 

short period due within 

three and one quarter to 

five years, which means 

repayment will be done 

in eight quarterly 

instalments, starting 

third quarter 2023 

<strong>as</strong>suming disbursement 

is made before end of 

second quarter 2020.” 

RFI against RCF 

Uwaleke, who is 

Professor of Finance and 

Capital Markets at the 

N<strong>as</strong>arawa State 

University, Keffi, 

further queried the 

decision of the 

government to access 

the funds under the RFI, 

<strong>as</strong> against the Rapid 

Credit Facility (RCF), 

which according to him, 

h<strong>as</strong> zero interest rate 

and longer maturity 

period. 

According to him, the 

RFI of the IMF, under 

which we are taking the 

loan, is not designed to 

finance capital projects 

but only to address 

Balance of Payment 

(BOP) challenges which 

must be why the 

condition also states 

that any country 

receiving RFI loan is 

required to cooperate 

with the IMF in solving 

its BOP difficulties. 

Return to SAP era 

He said: “Against this 

<strong>back</strong>drop and bearing in 

Access Bank shareholders 

okay 65 kobo, commend Board 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Shareholders of Access 

Bank h<strong>as</strong> endorsed the 

final dividend of 65 kobo 

per share declared by its 

Board of Directors for the 

financial year ended 

December 31, 20<strong>19</strong>. 

The shareholders also 

commended its Board of 

Directors, Management 

and Staff for the impressive 

performance for the 20<strong>19</strong> 

financial year <strong>as</strong> it posted a 

gross earnings of 

N666.8billion from 

N528.7billion in 2018. 

The Bank ended the year 

with Profit After Tax (PAT) 

of N97.509 billion, up from 

N94.981 billion and paid a 

final dividend of 40 kobo 

to bring the total dividend 

to 65 kobo per share. 

The meeting, which w<strong>as</strong> 

held by proxy due to the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic, had 

three leaders of various 

shareholders’ <strong>as</strong>sociation 

present. 

Sir Sunny Nwosu of 

Independent Shareholders 

Association of Nigeria 

(ISAN), Mr. Owolabi Peters 

of Integrated Shareholders 

Association of Nigeria and 

Mrs. Bisi Bakare of 

Pragmatic Shareholders 

Association of Nigeria, said 

despite the challenging 

operating environment, 

Access Bank Plc did not 

only record improved 

results, but also rewarded 

shareholders with good a 

dividend that is very 

timely given the difficulties 

created by the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

mind the country’s 

painful experience with 

the Fund during the 

Structural Adjustment 

Programme (SAP) era, 

the government is 

expected to make 

public the full cost 

implications beyond 

disclosing that a fullfledged 

program with 

the Fund won’t be 

necessary. 

“It will also be 

interesting to know why 

Nigeria is not going 

through the IMF Rapid 

Credit Facility (RCF) 

window, just like Ghana 

that accessed $1 billion, 

considering that 

financing under RCF 

carries zero interest 

rate, h<strong>as</strong> a grace period 

of five and half years 

and a maturity of 10 

years. 

“While 

the 

government is 

encouraged to muster 

every resource in the 

fight against the 

pandemic, entering into 

a debt trap will clearly 

jeopardize economic 

recovery effort post 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>.” 

pandemic. 


future remains very bright 

for the all shareholders, 

considering the synergy 

the merger h<strong>as</strong> brought to 

the Bank and the 

expertise 

the 

management and staff 

continued to deploy to 

ensure Access Bank 

maintain a leading role in 

the retail banking space. 

Nwosu 

also 

commended leading 

efforts of Access Bank in 

the private-sector led 

Coalition Against <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> (CA<strong>COVID</strong>), 

supporting the Federal 

Government to fight the 

pandemic. 

On her part, Mrs. Bakare 

said unlike some of its 

competitors, Access Bank 

h<strong>as</strong> recorded incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

profits in the p<strong>as</strong>t three 

years, noting that 

shareholders have 

confidence in the board 

and management to 

continue to deliver 

improved performance, 

going forward. 

In his address, Group 

Managing Director/CEO, 

Access Bank Plc, Dr. 

Herbert Wigwe, said the 

Group delivered a 26 per 

cent incre<strong>as</strong>e in gross 

earnings of N666.8billion 

from N528.7billion in 

2018, comprising interest 

in-come growth of 41 per 

cent from previous levels 

to N155.9billion despite 

declining interest rate 

environment. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

PALLIATIVES—National Coordinator of the Nigerian Youth T<strong>as</strong>k Force on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, N<strong>as</strong>ir Adhama (M) and a member, Mohammed Jammal, distribute 

relief materials to residents, to complement efforts of the Federal Government, 

in Abuja, yesteday. 



Continues from Page 5 

1,000. 

The Federal Government 

set up another committee to 

present a white paper on 

the Oronsaye report and 

the new committee 

accepted a few and rejected 

most of the 

recommendations. 

Some agencies that may 

be affected if the Report and 

Federal Government’s 

White Paper are 

implemented include the 

Federal Civil Service 

Commission, Revenue 

Mobilization, Allocation 

and Fiscal Commission, 

Fiscal Responsibility 

Commission, National 

Poverty Eradication 

Programme, Utilities 

Charges Commission, 

Nigerian Agricultural 

Insurance Corporation, 

Nigerian Airspace 

Management Agency 

(NAMA), Nigerian Civil 

Aviation Authority (NCAA) 

and the Nigerian 

Metrological Agency 

(NIMET). 

Others include the 

National Teachers Institute, 

Directorate of Technical 

Cooperation in Africa, 

Nigerian Institute for 

Education Planners and 

Administrators, Specialty 

Hospitals, Council of 

Nigerian Mining 

Engineers and 

Geoscientists, National 

Agency for Science and 

Engineering Infr<strong>as</strong>tructure 

(NASENI), Federal 

Institute for Industrial 

Research Oshodi (FIIRO), 

Projects Development 

Institute (PRODA), 

National Council for Arts 

and Culture, National 

Commission for Museums 

and Monuments; and 

National Gallery of Arts, 

Industrial Training Fund. 

Federal Civil Service 

Commission (FCSC) 

The Committee 

recommends <strong>as</strong> follows, 

that: (i) the Constitution 

be amended to reflect a 

change in name and status 

for the Federal Civil Service 

Commission (FCSC) to the 

Federal Public Service 

Commission (FPSC); (ii) an 

enabling law be enacted to 

properly delineate the 

mandate, functions, 

structure and other 

processes of the 

Commission; (iii) the 

Constitutional provision 

establishing the Federal 

Civil Service Commission 

be amended to provide for 

Naira depreciates to 

N387.30/$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N387.30 

per dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window despite a 624 percent rise in the volume of dollars 

traded. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange 

rate for the window rose to N387.30 per dollar yesterday 

from N386.45 per dollar on Wednesday , translating to 85 

kobo depreciation of the Naira. 

However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the 

window yesterday rose by 624 percent to $83.41 million 

from $13.52 million on Wednesday. Similarly, the naira 

yesterday depreciated by one naira in the parallel market. 

According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate 

platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change 

Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market 

exchange rate rose to N462 per dollar from N461 per 

dollar on Wednesday, indicating one naira depreciation 

of the Naira. 

a reduction in the number 

of Commissioners to a 

minimum of seven or a 

maximum of 12, one of 

whom would be Chairman; 

(iv) that the tenure of the 

chairman 

and 

commissioners of the 

proposed FPSC be reduced 

to a three-year nonrenewable 

term to be 

rotated among the States in 

each geo-political zone; 

and, (v) that there be the 

restoration of centralised 

appointment, promotion 

and disciplinary control in 

the Public Service through 

the Federal Public Service 

Commission to ensure 

standardisation in quality, 

process and procedure. 

The government white 

paper rejected all the 

recommendations apart 

from single tenure, which 

it said should be five years 

for the Chairman and 

members of the Federal 

Civil Service Commission. 

Revenue Mobilization 

Allocation and Fiscal 

Commission 

The Committee 

recommended that: (i) the 


Commission (FRC) be 

abolished and its enabling 

law repealed; (ii) the 

enabling law of the 

National Salaries, Income 

and Wages Commission 

(NS1WC) be repealed and 

the functions of the 

Commission subsumed 

under the Revenue 

Mobilization Allocation 

and Fiscal Commission 

(RMAFC); and (iii) the 

enabling law of the 

Revenue Mobilization, 

Allocation and Fiscal 

Commission (RMAFC) be 

amended to accommodate 

the functions of the FRC <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> those of the 

National Salaries, Income 

and Wages Commission 

(NSIWC): 

Government accepts all 

the recommendations and 

directs the Honourable 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation and the 

Minister of Justice to 

initiate necessary action for 

the abolition of the FRC. 

Government further directs 

that the RMAFC should 

perform the functions of the 

FRC. Government accepts 

this recommendation on 

the NSIWC. 


Commission (FRC) 

The Committee 

recommends that the Fiscal 

Responsibility Commission 

be abolished and its enabling 

law repealed <strong>as</strong> RMAFC is 

already empowered by the 

Constitution to carry out the 

functions. Government 

accepts this recommendation 

and directs the Attorney- 

General of the Federation and 

Honourable Minister of 

Justice to take necessary 

action. 

National Poverty 

Eradication Programme 

(NAPEP) 

The Committee 

recommends that: (i) NAPEP 

be scrapped and its functions 

transferred to the new body 

that will emerge from the 

merger of the NDE and 

SMEDAN. 

Government accepts the 

recommendation to scrap 

NAPEP only. 

Utilities Charges 

Commission (UCC) 

The Committee 

recommends that: (i) the 

Utilities Charges 

Commission be abolished 

and its enabling law repealed. 

Government accepts this 

recommendation and directs 

that the process of repealing 

the enabling law should be 

initiated by the OSGF. 

Nigerian Agricultural 

Insurance Corporation 

(NAIC) 

The Committee 

recommends <strong>as</strong> follows that: 

(i) the National Agricultural 

Insurance Corporation 

(NAIC) be fully 

commercialized; and (ii) that 

the enabling law of NAIC be 

amended to allow other 

Insurance Companies to 

participate in the new 

Agricultural Insurance 

Scheme. 

Government accepted the 

recommendations 

Nigerian Airspace 

Management Agency 

(NAMA), Nigerian Civil 

Aviation Authority (NCAA) 

and the Nigerian 


(NIMET) 

The trio of the Nigerian 

Airspace Management 

Agency (NAMA), Nigerian 

Civil Aviation Authority 

(NCAA) and the Nigerian 


(NIMET) be merged into a 

new body to be known <strong>as</strong> the 

Federal Civil Aviation 

Authority (FCAA) and their 

respective enabling laws 

amended accordingly to 

reflect the merger. 

NigComSat 

Nigerian Communications 

Satellite (NigComSat) 

Limited: The Committee 

recommends <strong>as</strong> follows, that: 

(i) Government sells off its 

shares in NigComSat; (ii) the 

functions of NigComSat that 

relate to space development 

be reverted to the National 

Space Research Development 

Agency (NASRDA); and (iii) 

that budgetary allocations to 

the NigComSat ce<strong>as</strong>e from 

the 2013 Fiscal Year. 


recommendation and directs 

that government will retain 

minority shares. Government 

accepts 

this 

recommendation. 

National Teachers Institute 

The Committee 

recommends <strong>as</strong> follows; (i) 

that the functions of the 



Administrators (NIEPA) be 

merged with those of the 

National Teachers Institute; 

(ii) that the enabling law of 

the NTI be amended to 

accommodate the expanded 

functions of the proposed 


Teachers, Education Planners 

and Administrators 

(NITEPA): Government 

accepts 

these 

recommendations. 



Administrators (NIEPA) 

The Committee 


(i) the functions of the 



Administrators (NIEPA) be 

subsumed under the National 

Teachers’ Institute. 

Government white paper 

accepted recommendation. 

Directorate of Technical 

Cooperation in Africa 

(DTCA) 

(i) the Directorate of 

Technical Cooperation in 

Africa (DTCA) be abolished 

and its functions, along with 

those of the Technical Aids 

Corps, transferred to an 

appropriate Department in 

the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs; and (ii) that further 

funding of the DTCA, <strong>as</strong> an 

agency, should ce<strong>as</strong>e with 

effect from the 2013 Fiscal 

Year. 


recommendation only to the 

effect that DTCA be merged 

with DTAC. 

Specialty Hospitals 

National Eye Centre And 

National Ear Care Centre 

(i) the Governing Boards of 

the National Eye Centre and 

the National Ear Care Centre 

be restructured into a single 

board for the two Centres; 

(ii)the restructured Board to 

be made up of a minimum of 

seven and maximum of nine 

persons, inclusive of the 

chairman; (iii) the Federal 

Ministry of Health work out 

the modus operandi of a 

designated secretariat 

manned by officials <strong>as</strong> 

deemed necessary; 

Orthopaedic Hospitals 

(i) the three Orthopaedic 

Hospitals to have a single 

board comprising a 

maximum of seven persons, 

inclusive of the chairman; (ii) 

the Federal Ministry of 

Health to work out the modus 

operandi of a designated 

secretariat manned by 

officials <strong>as</strong> deemed necessary. 

Recommendations were 

accepted. 

Council of Nigerian Mining 

Engineers and Geoscientists 

(COMEG) 

Budgetary allocation to the 

COMEG ce<strong>as</strong>es with effect 

from the 2013 Fiscal Year. 


recommendation but with 

effect from 2014 

National Agency for 

Science and Engineering 

Infr<strong>as</strong>tructure (NASENI) 

The Committee 


(i)NASENI be merged with 

PRODA, FIIRO and NCAM 

into one research and 

development agency; 

(ii) enabling law of NASENI 

be amended accordingly (iii) 

direct budgetary allocation 

for research from the Budget 

Office ce<strong>as</strong>es with effect from 

2013 Fiscal Year. 


recommendation on the 

merger of NASENI and 

NCAM with the exclusion of 

FIIRO. However, PRODA 

should stand alone. 


recommendation. 


recommendation but with 

effect from after the merger. 

Federal Institute for 

Industrial Research Oshodi 

(FIIRO) 

The Committee 


(i) FIIRO, NASENI and 

NCAM be consolidated into 

one research and 

development agency. 


recommendations on the 

merger of NASENI and 

NCAM with the exclusion of 

FIIRO. 

Projects Development 

Institute (PRODA) 

The Committee 


(i) PRODA be merged with 

NASENI, FIIRO and NCAM 

<strong>as</strong> one research and 

development agency; (ii) the 

functions of NCAM be 

incorporated into those of the 

proposed consolidated 

research agency. 


recommendation with respect 

to the merger of NASENI and 

NCAM, but with the 

exclusion of FllRO and 

PRODA. Government accepts 

this recommendation with 

respect to 

National Council for Arts 

and Culture (NCAC) 

The Committee 


(i) the National Council of 

Arts and Culture (NCAC), 

National Commission for 

Museums and Monuments; 

National Gallery of Arts: The 

Committee recommends <strong>as</strong> 

follows, that: (ii) a staff audit 

of the National Commission 

for Museums and 

Monuments and the National 

Gallery of Art should be 

carried out; (ii) the merger of 

both the National 


and Monuments and the 

National Gallery of Arts into 

a single entity to be known <strong>as</strong> 

National Commission for 

Museums, Monuments and 

Arts; 

(iii) the repeal of the laws 

setting up the National 


and Monuments and the 

National Gallery of Art; and 

(iv) the enactment of a new 

law to accommodate the 

merger. 

Government White paper 

accepted 

all 

recommendations 

Industrial Training Fund 

(ITF) 

The Committee 


(i) the Industrial Training 

Fund (ITF) be self-funding 

with effect from the 2013 

Fiscal Year; (ii) all trainees’ 

stipends in the SIWES be paid 

by the Industrial Training 

Fund (ITF) with effect from 

2013 Fiscal Year. Government 

accepted 

both 

recommendations but with 

effect from 2014.




<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: We’ll resist pay 

cut in Ekiti, Labour tells 

Fayemi 

....As Ogun pensioners lament 

non-payment of 16 months arrears 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela & 

James Ogunnaike 

A DO-EKITI—THE 

Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC and the 

Trade Union Congress, 

TUC, in Ekiti State, 

yesterday, advised 

Governor Kayode Fayemi 

against contemplating any 

move on salary reduction 

The labour unions also 

requested immediate 

payment of outstanding 

salaries by Governor 

Fayemi, to e<strong>as</strong>e the effect 

of lockdown on the 

populace. 

Governor Fayemi had on 

Tuesday announced the 

sl<strong>as</strong>hing of salaries of 

himself, Deputy, Bisi 

Egbeyemi, and political 

appointees by 50 percent. 

The unions spoke at a 

....Osun LG 

officials barr 

bus conveying 

northerners 

from entering 

state 

By Shina 

Abubakar 

O SOGBO—SOME 

youths from the north 

were, yesterday, prevented 

from entering Osun State 

by local government t<strong>as</strong>k 

force against the spread of 

the coronavirus in 

Ijesaland. 


youths were loaded in two 

buses and were forced to 

stop at the checkpoint on 

Ilesa-Akure express road 

around 9 am before they 

were turned <strong>back</strong>. 

The Osun State 

Government had on 

Wednesday disclosed that 

there w<strong>as</strong> an influx of 

youths from Zamfara State 

into the state despite the 

state government’s lockdown 

order to curtail the spread of 

coronavirus in the state. 

press conference jointly 

addressed by the 

Chairman of NLC and his 

counterpart in TUC, 

Messrs. Kolapo Olatunde 

and Sola Adigun in Ado 

Ekiti, before the Workers’ 

Day. 

In his address, the NLC 

boss said: “We are still 

being owed three months 

salary arrears, outstanding 

leave bonuses, a <strong>back</strong>log of 

promotion arrears, while 

the minimum wage w<strong>as</strong> yet 

to be implemented across 

the board. 

“The national president of 

the NLC gave me a 

matching order to tell our 

governor that the salaries 

of our workers can’t take 

them home and there 

shouldn’t be any re<strong>as</strong>on for 

the government to think of 

pay cut in Ekiti.” 

On his part, the TUC 

Chairman, Mr. Adigun, 

said: “We thank the 

governor and members of 

his cabinet for sacrificing 

part of their living wage to 

fight the menace of 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. Workers are 

not collecting a living wage, 

so we are not expecting any 

reduction in our salaries.” 

Ogun pensioners 

lament nonpayment 

of 16 

months arrears 

Meanwhile, the aegis of 

Contributory Pensioners 

Association, in Ogun State, 

yesterday, urged President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> to 

direct the Pension 

Commission, PenCom, and 

different Pension Fund 

Administrators, PFAs, in the 

country to offset the 16 months 

accumulated pension arrears and 

gratuities to all the pensioners. 

The group of senior citizens, 

who spoke to journalists in 

Abeokuta, Ogun state ahead of 

the May Day Celebration 

accused PenCom and the Federal 

Government of irresponsible, 

callous and unresponsive to the 

plight of dying pensioners, who 

according to World Health 

Organisation, WHO, reports on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, are the most 

vulnerable set of people to the 

pandemic. 

Man in viral video appointed Ekiti 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A GOVERNOR 

DO-EKITI— 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti 

State, yesterday, appointed 

a former Commander of the 

Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, Mr. Femi 

Adeoye, whose video went 

viral for rejecting his son <strong>as</strong> 

an amb<strong>as</strong>sador of the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Response in the 

state for his integrity and 

exemplary show of valour 

in the ongoing fight against 

the coronavirus pandemic. 

Adeoye shot into 

limelight when a video of 

him insisting that his son, 

who returned to Ekiti State 

from a trip outside the state 

be isolated for 14 days <strong>as</strong> 

stipulated by Nigeria 

Center for Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control, 

NCDC, protocol for 

preventing community 

spread of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, went 

viral. 

Governor Fayemi, who 

received Adeoye in his 

office, commended him for 

his patriotism and 

selflessness. 

Presenting the 

commendation letter to 

Adeoye, the governor, who 

hailed the retired FRSC 

officer, said his action w<strong>as</strong> 

the hallmark of Ekiti values 

which the administration is 

Ogun PDP Crisis: I’m ready for genuine 

reconciliation —K<strong>as</strong>hamu 

By James Ogunnaike 

A BEOKUTA— 

SENATOR Buruji 

K<strong>as</strong>hamu, yesterday, 

vowed to support any 

genuine reconciliation that 

will reposition the People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Ogun State to a formidable 

party ahead of the 2023 

general elections. 

K<strong>as</strong>hamu, who 

represented Ogun E<strong>as</strong>t 

Senatorial District at the 8th 

National Assembly, made 

this known in a statement 

in Abeokuta, the Ogun 

State capital. 

K<strong>as</strong>hamu said: “I have 

the mandate of all the 

altruistic leaders and elders 

of the party in Ogun State 

to declare once again that 

we are willing, ready and 

available for genuine 

reconciliation that will 

reposition our Party and 

move it forward”. 

“Let me also publicly 

declare that I have no 

interest in any elective 

position, including the 

governorship and therefore 

have no re<strong>as</strong>on to oppose 

the ambition of any 

member of the party <strong>as</strong>piring 

to be Governor of 

the state because I know 

that all powers belong to 

the Almighty Allah. My fight 

h<strong>as</strong> always been against illegalities, 

injustice and imposition. 

“It should also be borne in mind 

that the PDP <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> our 

respectable national and zonal 

leaders belong to all of us. While 

trying to protect our various 

interests, we may have 

•Embattled son in isolation 

promoting. 

Fayemi, who <strong>as</strong>sured that 

his son would soon be 

rele<strong>as</strong>ed to him after the 14 

days quarantine, urged 

Ekiti people to emulate the 

selfless attitude of Cmdr. 

Adeoye by reporting 

promptly anyone who 

entered the state through 

whatever means to the 

appropriate authority. 

Fayemi said: “Anyone 

who h<strong>as</strong> not been resident 

in Ekiti in the period that 

this dise<strong>as</strong>e h<strong>as</strong> inflicted 

Nigeria should stay 

wherever they are even if 

you are Ekiti person and 

decide to come to Ekiti, you 

should be ready to be 

quarantined for 14 days. 

“We see that you adhered 

to this strictly. You have 

demonstrated the values for 

which we were known for 

and you also demonstrated 

that integrity and your good 

name are far more 

important than any other 

thing and that is why you 

have to be accorded a 

responsibility. I hope you 

will accept to be a <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> Response Amb<strong>as</strong>sador 

in our state and a member 

of the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> t<strong>as</strong>k force. 

“We don’t know how 

many lives you have saved 

by this singular action 

because we don’t even 

know your son’s status yet 

but we pray that nothing 

happens to him and even 

if it turns out that way, he 

would still be safe.” 

Part of the commendation 

letter presented to Adeoye 

by Governor Fayemi reads: 

“I am ple<strong>as</strong>ed to let you 

know that the state is very 

proud of your conduct 

which elevated the 

collective wellbeing of the 

state above your 

undeniable love for your 

dear son. 

“By existing regulations, 

denying your son entry 

into your household, 

having travelled from 

places under federal 

lockdown against your 

fatherly advice, you have 

proved to be a worthy 

amb<strong>as</strong>sador of our 

collective resolve to end this 

pandemic.” 

Responding, Mr. Adeoye 

expressed his appreciation 

to the state government 

and the governor for 

recognizing his little 

contribution towards the 

drive to end the pandemic 

in the country. 

He said people should 

not see him <strong>as</strong> a wicked 

father but someone who 

believed that the nation is 

greater than an individual, 

adding that he did what he 

did for the collective good 

of all. 

Son remanded in 

isolation centre 

Meanwhile, the embattled son 

is presently at the state isolation 

centre, located at Fountain Hotel 

in Ado-Ekiti. 

Femi Adeoye said he did what 

he did not for the camera but the 

safety of everyone in the State. 

Ondo court stops BEDC from 

billing unmetered buildings 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—AN Ondo 

State High Court 

sitting in Akure, yesterday, 

declared that electricity 

consumption billings in 

unmetered buildings are 

illegal, unjustifiable, 

arbitrary and wrongful. 

Justice Olabode 

Adegbehingbe gave the 

verdict in a c<strong>as</strong>e filed by 

Mike Kpemi against Benin 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, BEDC. 

Adegbehingbe also 

ordered the BEDC to 

immediately install a 

metering device at the 

claimant’s residence, at 

Bethel Estate, Oba- Ile, 

Akure, at the paying rates 

approved by the Nigerian 

Electricity Regulatory 

Commission for the type of 

meter installed, where 

applicable. 

He restrained BEDC from 

billing the claimant’s 

residence and from 

disconnecting the 

claimant’s house from the 

defendant’s network unless 

and until a meter is first 

installed at the house. 

In his statement on oath 

during the trial, the 

claimant testified that “That 

there is no policy whatsoever 

of the Federal Government 

that makes it impossible to 

meter my house particularly 

that the defendant at all 

times material to the facts 

which are the cause of this 

suit had indicated capability 

to install a meter at my 

house.” 

In its final written 

address, the defendants’ 

counsel, Mr. P. A. 

Akhatsokhe, argued: 

“Whether the estimated electricity 


AMBASSADOR 

—Governor Kayode 

Fayemi of Ekiti State 

(right) presenting 

appointment letter to 

Mr. Femi Adeoye, 

father of the 

youngman who 

sneaked into the state 

from Lagos, <strong>as</strong> a 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Response 

Amb<strong>as</strong>sador, in Ekiti, 

in Ado-Ekiti, 

yesterday. Adeoye, 

who reported his son 

for sneaking into the 

state, will help to 

propagate the 

message, <strong>as</strong> a 

member of the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> T<strong>as</strong>k Force 

in the state. 

bills sent to the claimant are 

wrongful, illegal and unjustifiable; 

whether the court can enforce a 

nonexistent contract between 

parties before it such <strong>as</strong> 

compelling the installation of a 

meter in the premises of the 

claimant.” 

The counsel, therefore, urged 

the court to dismiss the claimant’s 

suit and to grant the counterclaim. 

Justice Adegbehingbe, in his 

verdict, said: “The justification the 

PHCN can have to demand 

payment on the bills sent is when 

there is proper service delivery or 

actual reading of the electricity 

consumed. 

“It will amount to extortion for 

PHCN to prepare bills b<strong>as</strong>ed on 

estimated consumption and 

expect such bills to be settled by 

the consumers when they have 

not enjoyed their services by 

providing uninterrupted power 

supply."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 43 

By Theodore Opara 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: Transporters <strong>as</strong>k FG to set up 

N20bn intervention fund for sector 

AS the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic 

continues to impact on 

businesses across the 

country negatively, Inter 

State Transport operators 

in Nigeria under the 

umbrella of Public 

Transport Owners of 

Nigeria Association, 

PTONA, h<strong>as</strong> cried out to 

the Federal Government to 

set up a N20 billion 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> intervention 

fund on a single digit loan 

of five percent interest to 

enable them to replenish 

their fleet. 

The <strong>as</strong>sociation in a 

letter to Vice President 

Prof Yemi Osinbajo, 

Chairman Presidential 

Economic Sustainability 

Committee on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic also appealed to 

the Federal Government to 

grant its members 10 

percent special 

concession on import 

duties on buses <strong>as</strong> against 

the present 35 percent 

duty being charged on 

imported buses. 

The <strong>as</strong>sociation said the 

Federal Government 

should direct the Central 

Bank to prevail on all 

commercial banks to 

restructure terms of loan 

for businesses mostly 

affected by <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

pandemic, especially the 

inter-state p<strong>as</strong>senger 

transport. 

The request titled: “An 

urgent appeal for policy 

A 

leading health advocate, Dr. 

Kelechi Okoro, h<strong>as</strong> 

commended the Tricycle Owners 

Association of Nigeria, TOAN, for 

taking proactive steps on 

regulations to ensure safety of 

tricycle drivers and p<strong>as</strong>sengers in 

the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis. 

Kelechi Okoro, who made the 

commendation via her social media 

handle, said: “As a medical 

practitioner, I say kudos to TOAN for 

t a k i n g 

incentive to mitigate 

adverse economic impact 

of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic on 


transport in Nigeria” 

signed by the PTONA 

National President, Engr. 

Isaac Uhunmwagho and 

Secretary Mr. Frank Nneji 

lamented that the 

pandemic had negatively 

impacted on their 

business and would 

continue to do so. 

PTONA, operators of 

long distance m<strong>as</strong>s 

transport business in 

Nigeria represents over 

100 branded public 

transport companies, 

employs over 500,000 

workers directly and 

1,500,000 workers 

indirectly. 

The <strong>as</strong>sociation 

lamented that following 

the outbreak of the 

pandemic in the country, 


transport w<strong>as</strong> in dire strait 

<strong>as</strong> the pandemic h<strong>as</strong> 

inflicted severe economic 

hardship on the business. 

The situation they said 

w<strong>as</strong> further exacerbated 

by the complete lockdown 

of the country either by the 

federal or the various state 

governments. 

With the total lockdown 

of the country, movement 

of p<strong>as</strong>sengers throughout 

the country h<strong>as</strong> been 

halted or seriously 

affected with its attendant 

economic and financial 

consequences on our 

members. The statement 

said: “The result is that 

our members can no 

longer service the various 

credit facilities they 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: Health advocate thumps up 

tricycle owners on regulations 

proactive steps to incre<strong>as</strong>e the 

safety of their riders and 

p<strong>as</strong>sengers, by announcing health 

and safety norms to help curb the 

spread of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>. 

“Kekes can be a safer option of 

public transport because of limited 

p<strong>as</strong>sengers and open ventilation, 

and TOAN h<strong>as</strong> gone one step 

further by limiting p<strong>as</strong>sengers to 

two persons at a time.” 

Pennultimate week, TOAN, one 

obtained from commercial 

banks to procure the buses 

because of zero income. 

We are experiencing <strong>as</strong> a 

result of the lockdown. 

And even where the 

lockdown is lifted in 

of the country’s largest tricycle 

operator unions, issued a circular 

advising their affiliated tricycles to 

limit the number of p<strong>as</strong>sengers they 

carry in tricycles (popularly known 

<strong>as</strong> Keke), <strong>as</strong> an essential form of 

transportation at this time of crisis, 

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> the wearing of face m<strong>as</strong>ks 

and sanitisation of frequent contact 

points in the vehicles. 

Explaining why the <strong>as</strong>sociation 

issued the circular, TOAN President, 

Augustine Apeh, said: “We at TOAN 

encourage Keke operators affiliated 

to us to do their utmost to support 

the populace in these difficult times. 

“We shall do everything we can in 

line with different safety directives 

<strong>as</strong> issued by the Federal 

Government and health agencies, 

while ensuring the public h<strong>as</strong> 

access to what h<strong>as</strong> been identified 

<strong>as</strong> one of the safer modes of 

public transport in this 

situation.” 

He added that while the 

general public may have 

necessary restrictions imposed 

on movement to curb the virus, 

it is important that point-to-point 

public transportation still 

remains open for those who are 

unwell, those who are travelling 

for essential services and most 

importantly for emergency and 

medical workers who have to 

commute for work. 

“So, it is imperative that the 

public finds a mode of 

transport that is <strong>as</strong> safe <strong>as</strong> 

possible and for now the 

tricycle seems to be one of the 

safer choices.” 

future, our operating 

capacity and income will 

equally be impacted 

negatively because of the 

need to comply with the 

guidelines issued by the 

Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k Force on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> on social 

distancing which now 

implies spacing of 

p<strong>as</strong>sengers in our buses 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: Stallion begins rice, fish 

distribution in Abuja hospitals 

Stallion Group, one of 

the largest 

conglomerates in sub- 

Saharan Africa, h<strong>as</strong> 

kicked off the distribution 

of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> palliatives 

to hospitals in the Federal 

Capital Territory, FCT, 

Abuja, <strong>as</strong> part of its 

Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR. 

A giant player in agric 

business, fishing, 

automobile, steel, 

packaging and logistics, 

Stallion Group said it 

joined the fight against the 

rampaging coronavirus, 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, pandemic <strong>as</strong> 

part of its modest efforts to 

support the Federal 

Government’s struggle to 

stop the spread of the 

dise<strong>as</strong>e across the country. 

Anant Badjatya, Chief 

•Dr. Vivian Kwaghe (second left) with colleagues 

during the presentation of Stallion Group's <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> palliative at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, 

Gwagwalada 

Executive Officer of 

Stallion Group Nigeria, 

said the company targets 

accredited <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

hospitals across the 

country with the 

palliatives, which 

comprise of bags of rice 

and cartons of fish. 

According to him, “it is 

our modest way to 

contribute towards the 

fight against coronavirus. 

We identify with 

me<strong>as</strong>ures by the 

government to support the 

healthcare system and 

make Nigerians stay at 

home.” 

Badjatya also noted that 

the distribution h<strong>as</strong> been 

arranged in a way to 

ensure that every hospital 

engaged in the fight 

against the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

w<strong>as</strong> captured to benefit 

from the palliatives, 

adding the ongoing 

delivery is done in 

batches. 

He said the company 

NECESSITY, they say 

is the mother of 

inventions. This is what the 

outbreak of Coronavirous 

pandemic h<strong>as</strong> turned many 

organisations, agencies <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> military and 

paramilitary bodies across 

the globe. 

While some companies 

have become manufacturers 

of ventilators, others have 

taken to the production of 

facem<strong>as</strong>ks, all aimed at 

saving lives while <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> l<strong>as</strong>ts. The Federal Road 

Safety Corps, FRSC, h<strong>as</strong> 

joined the league of those 

who strive to contribute their 

quota for safety of lives at 

this tough time by engagin 

g in the production of 

facem<strong>as</strong>ks which have 

become very scarce 

commodities in the country 

at the moment. 

The Federal Road Safety 

Corps one of the most 

revered paramilitary 

agencies in the country, h<strong>as</strong> 

commenced the production 

and distribution of 

customised face m<strong>as</strong>ks for 

its personnel across the 

country. This development 

came in response to 

recommendations of the 

Presidential T<strong>as</strong>k Force on 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> for all ministries, 

departments and agencies 

of the Federal Government 

to procure and distribute 

locally made face m<strong>as</strong>ks for 

use by their staff <strong>as</strong> part of 

established efforts to quell 

the spread of the virus. 

According to Bisi 

Kazeem, the Corps Public 

Education Officer of FRSC, 

clearly. 

“The above economic 

cat<strong>as</strong>trophe unle<strong>as</strong>hed on 

our members by <strong>COVID</strong>- 

<strong>19</strong> pandemic is 

dev<strong>as</strong>tating and frankly 

beyond the capacity of our 

members to shoulder; 

hence our humble impact 

of the pandemic on our 

members.” 

chose rice due to its health 

benefits, stressing that 

rice is composed of carbs, 

with small amounts of 

protein and virtually no 

fat, while fish also is a 

low-fat high-quality 

protein, filled with 

Omega-3 fatty acids and 

vitamins such <strong>as</strong> D and B2 

(riboflavin). 

He added that fish is 

also rich in calcium and 

phosphorus and a great 

source of minerals, such 

<strong>as</strong> iron, zinc, iodine, 

magnesium, and 

pot<strong>as</strong>sium. 

Dr. Vivian Kwaghe, a 

Consultant Physician, 

while receiving the gifts 

on behalf of the 

University of Abuja 

Teaching Hospital, 

commended the Stallion 

Group for its generous 

donation and called on 

other companies across 

the country to emulate the 

good gesture of the 

Stallion. 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>: FRSC embarks 

on facem<strong>as</strong>ks production 

•Dr. Oyeyemi, FRSC boss 

“to ensure a timely response 

to this directive, the Corps 

Marshal, Dr. Boboye 

Oyeyemi h<strong>as</strong> directed the 

tailoring unit of the corps to 

commence immediate and 

speedy production and 

distribution of customised 

face m<strong>as</strong>ks for officers and 

marshals of the corps 

nationwide due to the 

critical role of corps plays in 

the ongoing enforcement of 

the national restriction 

order. 

Kazeem noted that with 

FRSC personnel being at 

the front line in the 

enforcement of the 

presidential restriction 

order on <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, they 

have tendency of coming in 

contact with different 

categories of people 

including carriers of the 

infectious dise<strong>as</strong>e, and <strong>as</strong> 

such deserve to adopt all 

precautionary me<strong>as</strong>ures, 

especially the constant use 

of face m<strong>as</strong>ks while 

discharging their statutory 

functions.

44 —Vanguard 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, , 2020 

Ramadan 8, 1441 A.H. 

What Ramadan’s f<strong>as</strong>ting means to Muslims 

By Imam Murtadha Gusau 

ALL praise is due to Allah, 

Lord of all creation. May 

the peace and blessings of Allah 

be upon the Messenger, his 

family, his Companions and 

those who follow him till the 

Hour is established. 

Dear brothers and sisters, the 

fourth pillar of Islam is f<strong>as</strong>ting (in 

Arabic: Siyam or Saum). And it 

is to f<strong>as</strong>t throughout the month 

of Ramadan (the ninth month of 

the Islamic calendar). This is an 

act of worship that draws the 

Muslim closer to Allah, <strong>as</strong> the 

Qur’an stated: 

“F<strong>as</strong>ting h<strong>as</strong> been prescribed 

upon you <strong>as</strong> it w<strong>as</strong> prescribed 

upon those who came before you 

so that you may attain piety.” 

[Qur’an, 2:183] 

In this month the Muslim 

pushes himself physically and 

spiritually in order to come 

closer to Allah. 

F<strong>as</strong>ting and spirituality means 

that every Muslim should: 1. 

Focus on getting closer to Allah. 

2. Study and recite the Qur’an 

plentifully. 3. Improve 

obedience to Allah. 4. Give in 

charity. 5. Pray the night 

prayers. 6. Show kindness and 

generosity. 7. Seek forgiveness 

for sins. 

F<strong>as</strong>ting <strong>as</strong> a physical activity 

means that a Muslim h<strong>as</strong> no food 

or drink from dawn till sunset. No 

sexual relations from dawn till 

sunset; no immoral behaviour 

such <strong>as</strong> lying, deception, 

rumour-mongering, <strong>back</strong>biting, 

spreading fake news and other 

sins. This he endeavours to avoid 

throughout his life. 

In Muslim countries, life 

continues <strong>as</strong> normal but cafes, 

restaurants and work-place 

canteens close during the day 

because no one is eating or 

drinking. A Muslim takes a predawn 

meal <strong>as</strong> the Prophet 

Muhammad (Peace be upon 

him) commanded before the 

morning prayer. Throughout 

this month people spend more 

time in reading the Qur’an and 

remembering Allah with words 

of praise and glorification (Zikr). 

Hundreds of millions of 

Muslims look forward to 

Ramadan each year. 

At dusk (sunset) everything 

changes. The Muslim begins 

by breaking the f<strong>as</strong>t with some 

dates and water. He then prays 

the Maghrib prayer (after the 

sun h<strong>as</strong> set), after which he 

returns to his family to share 

in a well-prepared meal. Even 

at this stage, a Muslim is 

commanded not to go to 

excess in filling his belly. The 

Muslims should eat food they 

love that is wholesome and in 

moderation. Within two hours 

the Muslim returns to the 

Mosque and prays the late 

prayer (Isha) followed by quite 

a lengthy night prayer for 

which there is a huge reward 

from Allah. But in this year’s 

Ramadan all these will not take 

place due to the Covid-<strong>19</strong> 

restrictions. Muslims <strong>as</strong> usual 

will continue with their usual 

Ramadan Activities namely 

Ramadan Tafsir and lectures, 

which will be online for now 

due to the lockdown. We must 

listen to, obey and follow our 

leaders in all that is good for 

us. 

F<strong>as</strong>ting is not obligatory 

upon everyone. Some people 

are exempt, such <strong>as</strong> children 

under the age of puberty who 

have not yet reached 

adulthood. Some adults are 

also exempt due to their 

FORMER Deputy Gover 

nor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat 

Oluranti Adebule, h<strong>as</strong> urged 

Muslims to use the Ramadan 

period to pray and work towards 

a solution path to the 

pandemic ravaging the world. 

Adebule said this in a message 

to felicitate with Muslims 

world-over on the commencement 

of Ramadan f<strong>as</strong>ting. 

According to her, Ramadan 

is a period during which God 

accepts prayers and also a time 

particular situation: 1. 

Travelers upon a journey. 2. 

The sick who are likely to 

recover. 3. Menstruating 

women. 

4. Postnatal bleeding women. 

These people are allowed to 

miss days but must make them 

up later after Ramadan once 

they are able. There is yet 

another group of people who 

are exempted: Those who are 

terminally sick; the elderly who 

cannot f<strong>as</strong>t due to their old age; 

pregnant and bre<strong>as</strong>tfeeding 

women who fear for their 

babies if they were to f<strong>as</strong>t. 

These people must feed a 

poor person for each day 

missed since they are not 

expected to make up what they 

have missed. Ramadan is 

known <strong>as</strong> the month of the 

Qur’an because it w<strong>as</strong> during 

this month that the Qur’an w<strong>as</strong> 

first revealed, and continued to 

be revealed by Allah to the 

Angel Jibril (Gabriel) who 

would bring verses to the 

Prophet Muhammad (Peace 

be upon him) <strong>as</strong> and when 

events requiring guidance 

happened over the next twenty 

three years, until his death. 

Allah stated in the Qur’an: 

“The month of Ramadan is 

that in which w<strong>as</strong> revealed the 

Qur’an, a guidance for the 

people and clear proofs of 

guidance and a criterion 

between truth and falsehood. 

BARKA JUMAH 

May Ramadan worship heal our land 

There's eminence to today's jumat prayer session because 

it exactly adorns the start of our f<strong>as</strong>ting during 

the latest Holy month of Ramadan. 

As the cruel Covid-<strong>19</strong> brutally consume existence itself, 

we are alive, rele<strong>as</strong>ed from its killings, and ready to partake 

in the first Ramadan of a new decade; ordained for 

us by Almighty Allah. Chant, "Alhamdulillah" for your 

aliveness today! 

As you pray for personal mercy, so must you pray for 

those killed by Covid-<strong>19</strong>. Beseech Allah to make the toil 

of the Ramadan regime, e<strong>as</strong>y for us all. 

May our best be for Allah always. But we must begin 

afresh the alignment of our persons to the essential duty 

of love for one another. By this, we certainly would reclaim 

a sensible order of life built upon real faith. 

May our rediscovery of Allah at Ramadan connect us 

to the love of one another, and a life of blissful joy. 

Your Ramadan plea is for Allah to swiftly remove from 

the world the wicked Coronovirus whose torrents is rushing 

with h<strong>as</strong>ty wickedness to dev<strong>as</strong>tate mankind. 

May Ramadan worship heal our land, fetch Allah's 

mercy and give <strong>back</strong> to us existence that is calm and dise<strong>as</strong>e-free. 

Happy Jumat. — Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, 

OON 

Let's use Ramadan to end Covid-<strong>19</strong>, Ex-deputy Gov, Adebule 

tells Muslims 

Social distancing when some officials observed Tarawih Prayers in Haram recently 

Sulu-Gambari hails Wali of Ilorin at 90 

THE Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional 

Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, h<strong>as</strong> 

described the Wali of Ilorin, Alhaji Shehu Usman Mustapha <strong>as</strong> 

a quintessential and <strong>as</strong>tute community leader with unprecedented 

tolerance. 

The Emir also thanked Allah for gift of examplary life given 

to the Wali of Ilorin, in a goodwill message to the nonagenarian 

on his 90th birthday anniversary . 

In a statement by his Media Aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, 

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari confirmed that Wali Shehu Mustapha 

remains one of the highly respected traditional chiefs in the 

Ilorin Emirate whose love and contributions to the growth 

and development of humanity are enormous. 

“His wise counsels and support for the traditional institution 

are part of the core values of the peaceful coexistence and 

harmonious working relationship that exist in our society. We 

appreciate you <strong>as</strong> an elder statesman, community leader, traditional 

chief and fulfilled family. 

“May Almighty Allah continue to grant you sound health 

and wisdom in the meritorious service of the Ilorin Emirate 

and beyond”, the Emir prayed. 

for spiritual reflection and rebirth, 

sacrifice and kindness, <strong>as</strong> 

well <strong>as</strong> incre<strong>as</strong>ed devotion and 

worship. 

She said the commencement 

of Ramadan had provided a 

unique opportunity for Muslims 

to support the global effort 

to end the Covid-<strong>19</strong> pandemic 

with fervent prayers to Allah for 

mercy. 

She called on all Muslims to 

see the occurrence of the pandemic 

and its momentary global 

impact <strong>as</strong> a warning from Allah 

that we humans need Him for 

our existence and sustenance and 

that our human might and power 

cannot withstand the smallest of 

His trials. 

She therefore, urged Muslims to 

be more God-conscious, even <strong>as</strong> 

movement and congregation is 

advisedly restricted at this time, 

“we must continue individually 

and <strong>as</strong> a nuclear family to continue 

the observation of our five daily 

prayers, Taraweeh, incre<strong>as</strong>ed 

recitation of the Qur’an, supplications, 

and remembrance of Allah 

<strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> shunning sinful and inappropriate 

actions that could aggravate 

the already bad situation. 

“The prescription of physical 

distancing, use of face m<strong>as</strong>k when 

going out and especially w<strong>as</strong>hing 

of hands and covering our mouth 

and nose when coughing or sneezing 

should not be strange or difficult 

for Muslims <strong>as</strong> these have 

been prescribed more than 1400 

years ago by the Holy Prophet 

Muhammad (SAW).” 

She, however, commended the 

frontline workers for their dedication 

and bravery in putting 

their lives on the line for the rest 

of us to have our own lives. She 

prayed to Allah to protect them 

and their families. 

She also commended the Presidential 

T<strong>as</strong>k Force (PTF) on COV- 

ID-<strong>19</strong> for their daily briefings and 

efforts in the management of the 

pandemic. 

The PTF briefings, she said, have 

kept Nigerians and the international 

community up-to-date on 

the actions of the government in 

mitigating the impact of this global 

health challenge in Nigeria. 

The former Lagos Deputy 

Governor hailed Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu and his team 

for being proactive and decisive 

in containing the dreaded virus. 

She praised the governor for 

boosting the morale of the health 

workers by incre<strong>as</strong>ing their allowances. 

This she said w<strong>as</strong> an 

important step taken by the 

Governor in fighting the virus on 

behalf of the people of Lagos. 

She urged Lagosians to support 

the governor with prayers 

and adhere strictly to the government’s 

instructions on how 

to manage the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> 

scourge. 

Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule


CHANGE OF NAME 

FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE: Why 

implementation must begin with commission 

— Chidoka, Akinloye 

•Appointing northerners <strong>as</strong> chairman, scribe negates principle 

•Ask Senate to reject northern nominee for FCC chairman 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Politics Editor 

TO maintain the Federal 

Character Principle, 

the Senate h<strong>as</strong> been urged 

to reject the nomination of 

candidates from Northern 

states of Kwara and Taraba 

<strong>as</strong> chairman, and secretary 

respectively of the Federal 

Character Commission, 

FCC. 

According to a chieftain 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Chief Osita 

Chidoka, and a Legislative 

expert and Public Affairs 

Analyst, N.G Akinloye, 

appointing northerners <strong>as</strong> 

chairman and secretary of 

the FCC is paying lip 

service to maintenance of 

the federal character 

principle. 

How? The principle 

cannot be implemented in 

other agencies and bodies 

of the government if it is 

not upheld in the 

commission that is 

supposed to drive the 

process. 

Chidoka urged the 

Senate to reject President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong>’s 

nominations for the 


the FCC Board because 

they ‘’violated Section 4 of 

the subsidiary legislation 

which states that the 

distribution of position 

shall be across the zones.’’ 

Akinolye implored 

President <strong>Buhari</strong> to 

reconsider his nominations 

because the composition is 

‘’unbalanced and 

unnationalistic.’’ 

His words: ‘’If according 

to the FCC Act and the 

<strong>19</strong>99 Constitution, the 

Commission is to 

implement and enforce the 

Federal Character 

Principle of fairness and 

equity in the distribution of 

public posts and socioeconomic 

infr<strong>as</strong>tructures 

among the various 

federating units of the 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, appointing both 


the FCC Board from the 

North instead of North and 

South <strong>as</strong> it’s been before is 

a clear foulness of The 

Principle. 

‘’It’s of note that the Legal 

Adviser of Miyetti Allah 

Cattle Breeders 

Association, Mohammed 

Tukur, w<strong>as</strong> appointed and 

still in office <strong>as</strong> the 

Secretary of the FCC. It’s 

of note also that instead of 

the then outgoing acting 

Chairman, Mallam 

Shettima handing over to 

the most senior 

Commissioner who 

happened to be a 

southerner, he w<strong>as</strong> 

directed to hand over to 

Secretary Mohammed 

•President Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> 

Tukur. It’s also worthy of 

note that, another 

northerner, Abdullahi 

Shinkafi w<strong>as</strong> again 

appointed after that <strong>as</strong> the 

acting Chairman of the 

Commission. 

"So, the president 

appointing another 

northerner <strong>as</strong> the chairman 

again, in addition to the 

secretary position is not 

only unnationalistic and 

divisive in approach but 

negates the principle for 

which the commission w<strong>as</strong> 

established.’’ 

On his part, Chidoka 

said the nomination 

violated Section 4 of the 

subsidiary legislation 

which states that the 

distribution of position 

shall be across the zones. 

He said that it had 

always been the tradition 

that Chairman and 

Secretary are from the 

North and South 

respectively, for the same 

re<strong>as</strong>on p<strong>as</strong>t Governments 

including that of Olusegun 

Ob<strong>as</strong>anjo and Goodluck 

Jonathan had appointed 

Northerners <strong>as</strong> Chairmen 

and Southerners <strong>as</strong> 

Secretaries. 

“Where the number of 

positions available cannot 

go round the states of the 

federation or the Federal 

Capital, the distribution 

shall be on zonal b<strong>as</strong>is, but 

in the c<strong>as</strong>e where two 

positions are available, the 

positions shall be shared 

between the northern and 

southern zones.’’ 

The former Aviation 

minister recalled that 

when President 

Muhammadu <strong>Buhari</strong> 

appointed Mohammed 

Bello Tukur, the Legal 

Adviser of the Miyetti 

Allah Cattle Breeders 

So, the president 

appointing another 

northerner <strong>as</strong> the 

chairman again, in 

addition to the 

secretary position 

is not only 

unnationalistic 

and divisive in 

approach but 

negates the 

principle for which 

the commission 

w<strong>as</strong> established 

Association of Nigeria, 

MACBAN, <strong>as</strong> the 

secretary of the FCC many 

thought it w<strong>as</strong> to pave the 

way for the first Southern 

chairman of the 

commission. 

“Instead in a rather 

brazen act the penultimate 

acting Chairman Mallam 

Shettima rather than 

handover to a southern 

commissioner handed over 

to the Secretary of the 

Commission. 

“The President in 

violation of Chapter 2 of 

the constitution aptly 

named Fundamental 

Objectives and Directive 

Principles of State Policy 

that provides in S.13. 

It shall be the duty and 

responsibility of all organs 

of government, and of all 

authorities and persons, 

exercising legislative, 

executive or judicial 

powers, to conform to, 

observe and apply the 

provisions of this Chapter 

of this Constitution’ h<strong>as</strong> 

•Ahmed Lawan, Senate President 

appointed a Chairman in 

violation of the spirit and 

letters of our laws. 

“Chapter 2 Sec14(3) 

expressly mandates that 

“The composition of the 

Government of the 

Federation or any of its 

agencies and the conduct 

of its affairs shall be carried 

out in such a manner <strong>as</strong> to 

reflect the federal character 

of Nigeria and the need to 

promote national unity, 

and also to command 

national loyalty, thereby 

ensuring that there shall be 

no predominance of 

persons from a few State or 

from a few ethnic or other 

sectional groups in that 

Government or in any of its 

agencies. 

“This government h<strong>as</strong> 

consistently violated one of 

the most ingenious and 

ambitious affirmative 

actions entrenched in our 

constitution to promote 

national unity uniquely 

named Federal Character,” 

he said. 

Chidoka said the 

consistent negation of a 

critical national consensus 

should be resisted and 

rejected by all well 

meaning Nigerians 

starting from the Senate. 


seeds of national discord 

h<strong>as</strong> been systematically 

sowed over the p<strong>as</strong>t five 

years and should be halted. 

“The Senate should 

emph<strong>as</strong>ise the supremacy 

of our constitution and the 

need to build an inclusive 

state” he said. 

President <strong>Buhari</strong> h<strong>as</strong> 

written the Senate 

requesting confirmation of 

38 nominees for the FCC. 

The letter w<strong>as</strong> read on 

Tuesday by the President of 

the Senate, Senator Ahmad 

Lawan during plenary. 

The letter w<strong>as</strong> dated 

March 18, 2020 and 

received in the office of the 

President of the Senate 

March 24t 2020. 

The letter read: “ In 

compliance with the 

provision protection 154(1) 

of Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, <strong>19</strong>99(<strong>as</strong> 

amended), I write to 

request for Confirmation by 

the Senate, the 

appointment of the 

following thirty- eight( 38) 

Nominees <strong>as</strong> Chairman 

and Members of the 

Federal Character 

Commission, FCC. Their 

CVs are attached herewith. 

“ It is my hope that the 

Senate will consider and 

confirm the Nominees in 

the usual expeditious 

manner. Ple<strong>as</strong>e accept, 

Distinguished Senate 

President, the <strong>as</strong>surances of 

my highest consideration.” 

According to the letter, the 

chairman nominee is Dr. 

Muheeba Farida Dankaka. 

All the 36 states and the 

Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT have nominees. 

The Senate had on 

February 25, 2020 <strong>as</strong>ked 

President <strong>Buhari</strong> to <strong>as</strong> a 

matter of urgency, 

reconstitute the Federal 

Character Commission, 

saying that the acting 

chairman had been acting 

<strong>as</strong> a Sole Administrator 

since 2015. 

According to the Senate, 

failure to put in place the 

Chairman and members of 

Commission by the 

President would amount to 

a total breach of the Act 

establishing the Federal 

Character Commission and 

the <strong>19</strong>99 constitution (<strong>as</strong> 

amended). 

DICK 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Miss Ijeoma 

Gladys Dick now wish to be 

known <strong>as</strong> Mrs. Ijeoma Gladys 

Glory Freeborn. Former 

documents remain valid. General 

public ple<strong>as</strong>e take note. 

EZE 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Emeka Vitalis 

Eze, now wish to be known <strong>as</strong> 

Emeka Vitalis Nwafor. All former 


public ple<strong>as</strong>e take. 

NJIONYE 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Miss Njionye, 

Victoria umunneoma, now wish to 

be known <strong>as</strong> Mrs Akubuko, Victoria 

Umunneoma Edwin. All former 

documents remain valid. NYSC, 

University of Calamar, and general 

public, take note. 

FOLARIN 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Folarin 

Regina Abosede, now wish to be 

known <strong>as</strong> Osi Regina Abosede. 

All former documents remain 

valid. General public ple<strong>as</strong>e take 

note. 

CHIKEZIE 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Miss 

Chinyere Chikezie, now wish to 

be known <strong>as</strong> Mrs Chinyere 

Okoroafor. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

ple<strong>as</strong>e take note. 

ANENE 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Constance 

Chioma Anene, now wish to be 

known <strong>as</strong> Chukwuma Constance 

Chioma. All former 

documents remain valid. BVN 

and general public take note. 

AHEMED 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Mr Ahemed 

Okwudili Unegbu, now wish to 

be known <strong>as</strong> Chief Innocent 

Okwudili Unegbu. All former 



IROKOSU 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Irokosu 

Ibukun Mercy, now wish to be 

known <strong>as</strong> Obodo Ibukun Mercy. 


valid. General public ple<strong>as</strong>e take 

note. 

AMONE 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Amone 

Kelvin, now wish to be known <strong>as</strong> 

Hand Kelvin Mene. All former 



DURU 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Miss Duru 

Tracy Joy, now wish to be 

known <strong>as</strong> Mrs Ogwu Tracy Joy, 


valid, general public and 

authority concerned ple<strong>as</strong>e take 

note. 

MICHEAL 

I, formerly known <strong>as</strong> Udo 

Micheal, now wish to be known 

<strong>as</strong> Udo Mike. All former 


public ple<strong>as</strong>e take note.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,MAY 1, 2020 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

ARIES ( Mar 21 – Apr <strong>19</strong>) MONEY is the major language 

many people around you will understand presently, 

so you too should encourage your personal financial 

advancement. 

TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20) Your Star is money, 

with positive support from winning Mars in your fellow 

Earth Star sign, if you <strong>back</strong> your financial plans 

with positive action, you will win. Then serious 

minded lovers travelling for love today will experience 

excitement and ple<strong>as</strong>ure. 

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Your working pattern 

will be improved on. And those of you who are more 

enterprising will equally have genuine re<strong>as</strong>on to 

smile. Your sex appeal is truly strong now. 

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) It is better you listen 

to and take your tried and trusted friends seriously, 

especially if their persu<strong>as</strong>ion is about your love life. 

Think of the future. 

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22) As the saying goes ‘’nothing 

good comes e<strong>as</strong>y” you will operate under pressure at 

work but luckily for you, success’ll crown your efforts. 

Be more loving today. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) E<strong>as</strong>y success possible for 

many of you to the extend that some of you may become 

somehow less ambitious. But this is the right 

time for you to be very push-full. 

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22) Much depends on your 

desire, you will either uproot the tree of discord within 

your home or plant f<strong>as</strong>t growing one the opposite way. 

Re<strong>as</strong>on with your spouse. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Opportunity to capitalize 

on progress made yesterday will come unm<strong>as</strong>ked, 

failure to seize it will be your fault. Put your new 

ide<strong>as</strong> down (written) on papers. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21) Those of you willing 

to take good advice from your tried and trusted 

friends will have genuine cause to smile broadly at 

the end the day. Be loving. 

L E I S U R BE 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

Progressive people are always grateful for 

what comes to them, and they show that 

kindness towards all of life.”-Take Heart 

Quotes- 

A person who lives in harmony with life mirrors 

these faces of intention; creativity, kindness, beauty, 

abundance and receptivity. They are extraordinarily 

creative and have no need to fit in or to do things 

the way others expect of them. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

With 

wealth one 

wins a 

woman. 

~ Uganda 

By Kola Fayemi 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan <strong>19</strong>)All eyes are on you. 

That is why you must not give an inch of your space 

to non serious minded ones trying to impose either 

themselves or their bad ide<strong>as</strong> on you. 

AQ UARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Atmosphere around 

you will make it possible to win very important race 

today. If money is your major concern, you are in for 

a good day. Secret lovers may smile. 

PISCES (Feb <strong>19</strong> – Mar <strong>19</strong>) Martial Mars in ambitious 

Capricorn gets good support from unusual Uranus in 

monetary Taurus. Back your financial plans with 

action and rightly expect success. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” 

“HOT” 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL our date and place of COUNSELLING 

birth to the Astr 

tr 

Send your dat 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

How were my planets lined up? 

Dear Joshua, 

I w<strong>as</strong> born on August 1, <strong>19</strong>67. I have read many books on 

horoscope and Astrology. Thus I understand little about 

the subject – Astrology. Kindly let me know how the planets 

lined up when I w<strong>as</strong> born. And Which day of week I w<strong>as</strong> 

born 

Aliu Muhktar, .Kano. 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

Dear Muhktar, 

What space permits <strong>as</strong> I gave them hereunder will be of 

help. However try not to mix what you don’t fully understand. 

HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT 

DATE OF BIRTH=TUESDAY AUGUST 1, <strong>19</strong>67. 

SUN SIGN = LEO ;SUN IN 8TH DEGREE OF LEO***** 

MOON SIGN = GEMINI ;MOON IN 11TH DEGREE OF GEMINI 

STALLION SIGN = VIRGO 

MERCURY IN 18TH DEGREE OF CANCER 

VENUS IN 12TH DEGREE OFVIRGO*** 

MARS IN 6TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO 

JUPITER IN 13TH DEGREE OF LEO***** 

SATURN IN 12TH DEGREE OF ARIES 

URANUS IN 21ST DEGREE OFVIRGO *** 

NEPTUNE IN 21ST DEGREE OF SCORPIO 

PLUTO IN 18TH DEGREE OF VIRGO*** 

NORTH NODE IN 2ND DEGREE OF TAURUS. 

SOUTH NODE IN 2ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO 

NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR 

SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENTS) ARE; 

CARDINAL=2,FIXED=4,UTABLE=4 

FIRE=2,EARTH=3,AIR=1,WATER=3. 

PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE=40% 

NON-PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE=60% 

FINAL DISPOSITOR (PLANET AT HOME) = AUTHORITY 

LOVING SUN 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY 

PLACEMENT 

Sixty percentage of non-push-full influence in your Astrological 

data indicates a typical gentle man who some 

people may be willing to take for granted. Yes you are a 

complete gentle man. However the urge for freedom in 

your inner self will influence you to exhibit aggression if 

and when any body try to curtail your freedom. One important 

talent of yours is reliable LEADERSHIP QUALITY. 

Balance in the distribution of heavenly bodies across Zodiacal 

constellations pointed to you <strong>as</strong> a man with balanced 

personality. As your natal Sun (your conscious being/ 

inner-self) Moon (emotional being/sub-conscious self) and 

Stallion in Leo, Gemini and Virgo respectively are indications 

that you are mainly a Leo and partly a Gemini/Virgo 

born person; meaning that b<strong>as</strong>ic characteristics of these 

three Star Signs are highly pronounced in your inner self. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa

Neville 

Don’t rush to 

reopen EPL, 

ex United 

player warns 

Rushing to resume the 20<strong>19</strong>/ 

2020 Premier League 

se<strong>as</strong>on stalled by the 

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic could 

jeopardise the lives of players and 

staff, former Manchester United 

defender Gary Neville h<strong>as</strong> said. 

English soccer h<strong>as</strong> been 

suspended since March 13 due to 

the novel coronavirus, which h<strong>as</strong> 

led to the deaths of more than 

26,000 people in Britain. Still, the 

minister responsible for sport h<strong>as</strong> 

held talks with the league on 

competition returning <strong>as</strong> soon <strong>as</strong> 

possible. 

“If people are really serious about 

putting health first we would not 

be discussing football returning at 

this moment,” eight-times Premier 

League winner Neville told Sky 

Sports. 

“The minute one member of staff 

or player goes into intensive care, 

what are they going to do? That’s 

the bit on one shoulder telling 

them: ‘It’s a risk.’ They really 

aren’t sure at this time how to deal 

with it.” 

Aina praises NFF 

over Nigerian-born 

players invitation 

to Eagles 

Super Eagles defender Ola 

Aina said the Nigeria 

F o o t b a l l 

Federation deserves 

commendations for 

inviting Nigerian-born 

overse<strong>as</strong> player to the 

national team. 

Aina who helped the 

Super Eagles to a 

bronze medal finish at 

the 20<strong>19</strong> Africa Cup of 

Nations in Egypt, said 

with the inclusion of the 

European b<strong>as</strong>ed and 

home grown players, the 

Super Eagles is perfect 

blend of talents 

Aina just like 

others...Alex Iwobi, William Troost- 

Ekong, Tyron Ebuehi, Joe Aribo 

and Josh Maja were born in Europe 

and despite playing for the youth 

teams of their respective adopted 

countries, they pledged their 

allegiance to the Super Eagles. 

Cyriel Dessers is another 

European born player who is on 

the verge of making his debut for 

the Eagles. 

“It’s good. Obviously, I commend 

the people that work for the 

Nigerian Federation to get the 

European b<strong>as</strong>ed players, they are 

working hard. 

“You know our team h<strong>as</strong> quality. 

You are seeing these players 

playing in Europe b<strong>as</strong>ically, 

playing in Holland, France, and 

Germany, so you don’t really have 

to <strong>as</strong>k questions of players like 

that. 

Covid-<strong>19</strong> crisis: 

PSG crowned 

Ligue 1 champions 

*No Champions League football for Osimhen 

Paris St Germain were 

yesterday declared the 

French Ligue 1 champions 

amid the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> crisis, French 

sports daily L’Equipe reported. 

According to the newspaper, the 

LFP’s board ratified the 

recommendation yesterday 

afternoon and effectively hand PSG 

their seventh title in the l<strong>as</strong>t eight 

years. 

The decision would mean that 

second-placed Olympique de 

Marseille and third-placed Stade 

Rennais would be in next se<strong>as</strong>on’s 

Champions League with PSG. 

Lille, Stade de Reims and Nice 

would qualify for the Europa 

League. 

Amiens and Toulouse would be 

relegated with Ligue 2 leaders 

Lorient, and second-placed Lend, 

promoted to the elite. 

French Prime Minister Edouard 

Philippe had earlier announced 

that the 20<strong>19</strong>-2020 could not be 

completed due to the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

Taking into account the average of 

points earned per match played, 

Victor Osimhen’s Lille finished 

Nigeria Football Federation, 

NFF and Super Eagles 

coach, Gernot Rohr have 

agreed to move forward with the 

new contract on the table waiting 

for Rohr’s signature. 

Rohr disclosed he h<strong>as</strong> studied the 

contract and made his observations 

and h<strong>as</strong> now, through his lawyer, 

informed the NFF on his intentions 

to continue. 

According to an NFF official, 

Rohr’s observations have been 

noted and agreed upon by the NFF. 

fourth in the final standings with 

1.75 points, meaning there would 

be no Champions League 

football for Osimhen and his 

teammates next se<strong>as</strong>on. 

The Nigeria international tallied 

13 goals in 27 league matches and 

had five <strong>as</strong>sists to his name in his 

debut se<strong>as</strong>on in France. 

Rohr, NFF agree on new 

contract terms 

Pinnick & Rohr 

“I accept because I think that my 

mission in Nigeria is not finished 

yet,” said Rohr 

“I know very well my players. I 

know very well the officials. We 

are now just like a family, and I 

think it is good to continue 

especially in this period now 

where it is difficult to change, to 

travel, to see new people,” he said 

an in interview with ESPN. 

Rohr noted that he w<strong>as</strong> not 

happy with the way the contract 

detail w<strong>as</strong> made public. 

“I heard like everybody what 

w<strong>as</strong> said by President 

[Amaju] Pinnick, that I 

have to accept to be paid 

in naira, and I have to be 

resident in Nigeria. I 

agree to these two 

things, and even I agree 

to have a lower salary. 

“I am not doing my job 

for money. I am doing 

my job because I like it. 

Because we have built a 

team like you know, and 

money is not the most 

important. But I also 

have to look after my 

<strong>as</strong>sistants.” 

Oboh to reach out to the needy again 

Former British and 

Commonwealth 

Lightheavyweight boxing 

champion, Peter Oboh h<strong>as</strong> continued 

to surprise residents of Olodi Apapa 

area, in Apapa Local Government 

Area of Lagos <strong>as</strong> he h<strong>as</strong> planned to 

dish out relief materials to them 

tomorrow, <strong>as</strong> his own modest way of 

making the people cushion the 

effects of the long lockdown 

occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by the ravaging 

coronavirus. 

It will be the second time the boxerturned 

p<strong>as</strong>tor will be carrying out the 

exercise in the area. On April 12, he 

gave out food items such <strong>as</strong> rice, 

spaghetti, hand sanitizers, among 

other things worth hundreds of 

thousands of naira to men, women 

and children who flocked the 

PSG 

Comfort Hotel where the sharing 

took place under the supervision 

of armed mobile policemen who 

ensured strict adherence to the 

social distancing rule. 

Tomorrow’s exercise which 

commences 10 a.m, will see the 

former boxer distribute lots of food 

stuffs and face m<strong>as</strong>ks at same 

venue, Comfort Hotel Olodi 

Apapa. “I know we can not reach 

everyone but the few we can reach 

we can create a great melody in 

their hearts.” He said the exercise 

would commence <strong>as</strong> early <strong>as</strong> 10 

a.m. 

Oboh who w<strong>as</strong> also the WBA 

Inter-Continental champion noted, 

“I urge everyone that can save 

lives to try to reach out to 

somebody, you never can tell what 

that would mean to him.” 

Premier League bosses are 

hoping that the aborted 

se<strong>as</strong>on will return <strong>as</strong> soon 

<strong>as</strong> June 8. 

In a positive stance for runaway 

leaders Liverpool, league chiefs 

have remained defiant over the 

possibility of ending the se<strong>as</strong>on 

prematurely despite similar 

actions taking place in both the 

Netherlands and France. 

The update comes after the 

emergence of strict guidelines 

each club will have to follow when 

they call their players in for 

training, including social 

distancing guidelines and the use 


Premier League set June 

8 come<strong>back</strong> 

I’m not <strong>as</strong> old 

<strong>as</strong> you think, 

Uzoho replies 

critics 

Super Eagles goalkeeper, 

Francis Uzoho h<strong>as</strong> 

dismissed speculations 

that he is older than the 21 years 

he claimed to be. 

Uzoho who h<strong>as</strong> recovered from 

the injury he suffered during an 

international friendly against 

Brazil l<strong>as</strong>t year h<strong>as</strong> been a target 

of critic with regards to his age 

since he made his debut for the 

Super Eagles in 2018. 

However, the former Golden 

Eaglets keeper said it w<strong>as</strong> going 

to the gym that made appear older 

that his age. 

“I w<strong>as</strong> smallish <strong>back</strong> then in 2013 

when I participated at the World 

Cup with the U17 national team,” 

Uzoho told Super Eagles media 

in an Instagram chat. 

“I later went to Aspire academy 

where I learnt a lot. My looks and 

body build changed when I started 

using the gym and w<strong>as</strong> working 

out seriously. 

“If a lot of people see my picture 

<strong>back</strong> then they won’t even talk 

about my age, but I don’t really 

bother because they don’t know 

me.” 

The goalkeeper, who h<strong>as</strong> 14 caps 

for Nigeria, w<strong>as</strong> part of Gernot 

Rohr’s squad that finished third at 

the 20<strong>19</strong> Africa Cup of Nations in 

Egypt. 

Former Tottenham Hotspur 

manager Mauricio 

Pochettino h<strong>as</strong> said he 

would like another shot at 

managing the team within the 

next decade so he can try again to 

lead them to a trophy. 

The Argentine took Spurs to the 

Champions League final l<strong>as</strong>t year 

but his side were beaten 2-0 by 

Liverpool and he w<strong>as</strong> sacked in 

November, ending a successful 

but silverware-free four-year spell 

in charge. 

“It w<strong>as</strong> an amazing journey that 

finished in a way that no-one 

wanted it to finish, but deep in my 

chest, my soul and heart I’m sure 

our paths will cross again,” 

of disinfectant. 

In a document seen by Daily Star 

Sport, regulations will include all 

equipment including footballs, 

GPS units, cones, corner flags and 

goalposts will need to be 

disinfected both before and after 

use, and it will have to be done by 

staff wearing PPE. 

In addition, all players will need 

to be tested for both Covid-<strong>19</strong> and 

other potential respiratory 

problems <strong>as</strong>sociated with the 

virus. Players will also have to 

wear a snood or a m<strong>as</strong>k at all times 

when inside the training ground. 

On arrival, players and staff will 

need to ensure that cars are parked 

a minimum of three spaces apart, 

with m<strong>as</strong>sages on the grounds 

needing approval from the club 

doctor. 

Premier League 

restart: 

Liverpool mayor 

fears fans’ 

reaction if club 

win EPL title 

Liverpool mayor Joe 

Anderson h<strong>as</strong> said 

resuming the Premier 

League is a “non-starter”, and he 

fears a “farcical” situation with 

fans congregating outside Anfield 

- even if Liverpool clinch the title 

at a neutral venue. 

“There’s not many people who 

would respect what we were 

saying and stay away from the 

ground, a lot of people would come 

to celebrate so I think it’s a nonstarter.” 

Asked about whether playing at 

a neutral venue would help, he 

said: “Even then, I guess that a lot 

of people would turn up outside 

Anfield to celebrate and I 

understand the police’s concerns 

around that, so there’s a real 

difficulty here for us. 

“I think it would be really 

difficult for the police to keep 

people apart and maintain social 

distancing if they were going to 

celebrate outside Anfield, it would 

be farcical. 

“It’s difficult for us to try to stop 

people gathering in parks when 

the weather h<strong>as</strong> been good, 

especially young people. And I 

fear people would just ignore it. 

Anderson 

Pochettino vows to make 

Tottenham come <strong>back</strong> 

Pochettino told BT Sport. 

“From the day I left the club my 

dream is one day to be <strong>back</strong> and 

try to finish the work we didn’t 

finish. It w<strong>as</strong> an amazing journey, 

we were so close to winning the 

right trophies like the Premier 

League and Champions League, 

we were very close.” 

Pochettino, who also led 

Tottenham to four consecutive topfour 

finishes and the 2015 League 

Cup final, is currently without a 

club. 

“Now I’m looking forward to 

moving on, I’m so motivated for 

the next project but of course deep 

inside one day I’d like to be <strong>back</strong>,”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

THURSDAY’S ANSWER 

Across: 

1 On the go (6) 

4 Academy awards (6) 

8 Roman goddess of love (5) 

9 Program for accessing the World Wide Web (7) 

10 N<strong>as</strong>al aperture (7) 

11 Sudden uncontrollable fear (5) 

12 Largte sea bird (9) 

17 Sham (5) 

<strong>19</strong> Hermit (7) 

21 Enjoying a winning streak (2,1,4) 

22 Items of jewellery (5) 

23 Science of plant life (6) 

24 Distress signal (6) 

Down 

1 Period before Christm<strong>as</strong> (6) 

2 North African country (7) 

3 Eye shield (5) 

5 Eighth sign of the zodiac (7) 

6 Fire-raising (5) 

7 Rigorous (6) 

9 Two-sided (9) 

13 Woodwind instrument (7) 

14 Dazed (7) 

15 Engross (6) 

16 Largest of the Channel Islands 

(6) 

18 Hard work (5) 

20 Approximately (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have 

two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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