10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 — 7
INAUGURATION: From left—Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, MD, Galaxy Backbone; Engr. Ubale Maska,
Chairman, National Broadband Plan Implementation Steering Committee; Dr. Isa Ali Pantami,
minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman,
Nigerian Communications Commission; Dr. Abimbola Alale, MD, Nigerian Communications Satellite
Limited, and Dr. Kashifu Inuwa, DG, National Information Technology Development Agency, during
the inauguration of the Implementation Steering Committee of the National Broadband Plan (2020-
2025), yesterday, in Abuja.
Boko Haram relocates to N/West,
N/Central as bandits —Defence Hqts
By Kingsley
Omonobi
ABUJA—THE Military
High Command has
confirmed that scores of
Boko Haram terrorists
fleeing intense land and air
offensive against their
hideouts and camps in the
North East were infiltrating
the North West and North
Central, emboldening
armed banditry and other
crimes.
This is even as Defence
headquarters disclosed
yesterday that 104 bandits
and 92 Boko Haram
terrorists were eliminated
during several encounters
with troops in several
military operations in the
North East and North West
in the last one week.
The maritime component
also de-activated 17 illegal
refinery sites in the South-
South, particularly at Agor-
Illa, Warri South West LGA,
while Operation Delta Safe
through NNS Delta and
NNS Pathfinder
impounded 565,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined
AGO.
The Coordinator, Defence
Media Operations, Major
General John Enenche,
who confirmed the
movement of terrorists to the
North West and North
Central, noted that the type
of weaponry found with the
bandits, such as anti-aircraft
gun, PKT gun, capable of
shooting down an aircraft,
was an indication that some
Boko Haram criminals
might have relocated to the
North West and North
Central.
“In the past, the highest
weapon found among
bandits was the GPMG
guns and AK 47 rifles
because what they are
known for is stealing of
cows and rams. But now,
they are in possession of AA
and PKT guns which can
be used to bring down an
aircraft.
“It is no hidden fact that
these are weapons used by
Boko Haram terrorists, got
from neighbouring West
African countries.’’
Speaking on the
withdrawal of military from
checkpoints across the
country, which is capable of
opening the way for
terrorists and bandits
fleeing military offensives
to freely relocate to other
parts of the country,
Enenche said it was due to
complaints of Nigerians,
especially during the
COVID-19 lockdown.
He, however, pointed out
that it was an action that
would be constantly
reviewed and reconsidered
since Nigerians are
expressing concern over the
action.
“But other than the
checkpoints, the military
still conducts snap checks
on the roads to ensure
criminal elements don’t
have freedom of
movement. It is not that the
military is completely
withdrawn,’’ he said.
While giving an update
on military operations
across the country, Enenche
said: “The troops of
Operation Lafiya Dole have
continued to exhibit
sustained resilience in the
fight against terrorism in the
North East zone of the
Country.
‘’This has been evident in
their recent encounters with
the BHT/ISWAP elements
across the North East
theatre of operation.
During the period, troops’
encounters with the
criminal elements resulted
in the destruction of their
structures and equipment,
as well as the capture of
arms and ammunition.
“Our gallant troops also
rescued some hostages,
with some criminal
elements surrendering to
COVID-19: Cinema operators lament N22.5bn losses
....Demand to be opened now
LAGOS—THE Cinema
Exhibitors Association
of Nigeria, CEAN,
yesterday, urged the
Federal Government to
speedily open the theatrical
sector of the economy,
including the film industry,
to prevent what it termed
'their imminent collapse'.
The call by CEAN came
as Nigerian airlines begin
domestic operations in the
country on Wednesday.
The association said the
theatrical sector of the
economy had lost over
US$50 million (N22.5
billion) and more than 5000
industry jobs, since the
Federal Government
imposed the lockdown in
March, as part of its efforts
to curtail the spread of the
COVID-19 pandemic in
the country.
CEAN made the appeal
at a meeting held at the
Lagos State Safety
Commission, LSSC,
Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos.
Addressing newsmen
after the meeting, CEAN
chairman, Mr. Patrick Lee,
lamented the enormous
financial loss suffered by
the Nigerian film industry,
due to the continued
suspension of cinema
operations, and the theatre
as a result of the lockdown.
Mr. Lee said: “Over
250,000 workers, some of
whom are directly
employed by 58 taxpaying
cinemas in the country,
have been furloughed.
Recent multi-million dollar
investments like MX4D,
IMAX and 4DX theatre halls with
heavy technical equipment have
been left to deteriorate;
international/local creditors and
investors are crying out for their
money; production of films has
been suspended, consequently
resulting in joblessness and huge
debts for Nollywood professionals.
“In 2019, the sector grossed over
N10 billion in box office earnings
alone, with estimated total
revenue of ¦ 35 billion.
the troops. Within the period, the
ground troops of Operation Lafiya
Dole had no fewer than 17
encounters with the BHT/ISWAP
criminals in the North East
theatre of operation.
“These encounters resulted in
the killing of 75 BHT/ISWAP
fighters, capture of large arms and
ammunition, as well as vehicles
and equipment. Also recorded
were the capture of some criminal
elements and spies as well as
rescue of 35 BHT captives, while
four of their fighters surrendered
to our troops.
“Between June 2 and 3, 2020,
the Air Task Force of Operation
Lafiya Dole conducted
comprehensive precision strikes,
to mark the launching of its
subsidiary Operation Long Reach
II on the fringes of the Sambisa
Forest in Borno State."
By Emmanuel
Elebeke
ABUJA—NIGERIA has
achieved 40.18 percent
broadband penetration, the
Minister
of
Communications and
Digital Economy, Dr. Isa
Alli Ibrahim Pantami,
disclosed yesterday.
The minister revealed this
while inaugurating
Broadband Implementation
Steering Committee, BISC,
to accelerate the attainment
of 70 percent broadband
penetration target by 2025
in Abuja.
Pantami, who expressed
satisfaction with the
contribution of the sector to
the nation’s GDP, described
the contribution as
unprecedented.
“If you look at the
contribution of technology
to our GDP, what we have
achieved in the first quota
of 2020 is unprecedented,
the contribution is 14.07 per
cent, so this is a clear
indication that the more
there is proper penetration,
the more our GDP will
increase.
“Part of the plan is that we
NNPC increases gas supply to
power sector by 19%
ABUJA—THE Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC,
yesterday, announced an
increase of 19.14 per cent
in the average daily natural
gas supply to power plants
in April 2020.
This translated to 788
millon standard cubic feet
of gas per day (mmscfd), an
equivalent to power
generation of 2,873
megawatts
Group General Manager,
Group Public Affairs
Division of the NNPC, Dr.
Kennie Obateru, who
disclosed this, based on the
corporation’s Monthly
Financial and Operations
Report, (MFOR) for April
2020, stated that a total of
226.51 billion Cubic Feet
(BCF) of natural gas was
produced in April 2020,
translating to an average
daily production of 7.786
BCF per day.
According to him, the
figure indicated an increase
of 3.73 per cent at 226.51
BCF, compared to the
output in March 2020,
adding that out of this
figure, a total of 136.44 BCF
of gas was commercialized,
consisting of 36.99 BCF and
99.45 BCF for the domestic
and export market,
respectively
Out of the 1.233 BCF per
day of gas supplied to the
domestic market in April
2020, Obateru explained
that about 787.70 mmscfd,
representing 63.88 percent
was supplied to gas-fired
power plants, while the
balance of 445.31mmscfd or
36.12 per cent was supplied
to other industries.
Similarly, he added that
for the period of April 2019
to April 2020, an average
of 1.184 BCF per day of gas
was supplied to the domestic
market, comprising an average of
677.87 mmscfd or 57.24 per cent
of total, as gas supply to the power
plants and 506.42 mmscfd or 42.76
per cent, as gas supply to
industries.
For the period of April 2019 to
April 2020, Obateru revealed that
a total of 3.0823 trillion standard
cubic feet of gas was produced,
representing an average daily
production of 7.857 BCF per day
during the period.
400 health workers test
positive for COVID-19—MHWUN
....Provides PPEs for members
By Johnbosco
Agbakwuru
ABUJA—NO fewer than
400 health workers
have tested positive for the
dreaded coronavirus,
National President,
Medical and Health
Workers Union,
MHWUN, Joy Josiah
Biobelemoye, disclosed
Nigeria hits 40.18% broadband
penetration
....As minister
inaugurates
implementation
committee
are targeting at least 90 per
cent of our population in
Nigeria to get access to
broadband, while the penetration,
we are targeting 70 per cent.
“This has been going on for
sometimes; the time we started
this, the broadband penetration
was 31 per cent but based on the
report released by the NCC just
last week, the broadband
penetration now is 40.18 per cent.
Within that period we achieved
almost 10% of broadband
penetration in less than a year,”
he stated.
He explained that the new
Broadband Plan 2020-2025, was
designed to deliver data download
speeds across Nigeria at a
minimum 25mbps in urban areas,
and 10Mbps in rural areas, with
effective coverage available to at
least 90 per cent of the population
by 2025 at a price not more than
N390 per 1GB of data (i.e. 2 per
cent of median income or 1% of
minimum wage).
The plan, he said, was being
tailored inline with the pledge by
President Muhammadu Buhari
to lift 100 million Nigerians out of
poverty in 10 years.
yesterday.
He spoke on a day the
Federal Government said
challenges posed by the
ravaging COVID-19 was
overwhelming.
The MHWUN President,
who disclosed this during
the flag off distribution of
Personal Protective
Equipment, PPEs, to state
councils of health workers
in Abuja yesterday, assured
that despite the spike in
infections, health workers
would not relent in
protecting the citizens.
He noted that the
situation on ground called
for drastic solutions, adding
that informed the decision
of the union to take it upon
itself to distribute PPEs to
members.
“What prompted us into
taking the decision after
joining others is to see how
we can protect the citizens
in our own little way.
“This time we have decided to
provide PPEs for our members
because we have realised that
between the time the country
had its first index case and now,
as at Tuesday, we have had over
400 of our members that have
been infected and still counting.
“So by the time the figure rose
to over 150, we decided that we
also need to support our members
while carrying out their duties so
we came up with the plan of
supplying 50, 000 pieces of face
masks for distribution to the 38
chapters of our union across the
country,’’ he said.
Aside from the PPEs to be
distributed across 38 state
councils of the union, 50,000
pieces of face masks, 15,200 pieces
of sanitizers, 2000 pieces of
disinfectants and 1,200 pieces of
hand wash are also to be
distributed.