16022021 - Nigeria’s security architecture being re-jigged — SERVICE CHIEFS

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8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 AGREEMENT: From left; Executive Vice-Chairman, Onward Paper Mill, Mr Oluwaseyi Obagun; MD, Tetra Pak West Africa, Mr Aruna Oshiokamele; Chairman, Onward Paper Mill, Mr Kunle Obagun and Mr David Harper; Non-Executive Director, Onward Paper Mill at the signing ceremony of the recycling agreement between Tetra Pak West Africa and Onward Paper Mill, in Lagos. COVID-19: FG to vaccinate 109m Nigerians in 2yrs By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA — The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to vaccinate approximately 109 million Nigerians against COVID-19 in the next two years. While Nigeria’s population stands at over 206 million, the country has just over 60, 000 vaccinators, with the Nigerian Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, promising to boost the capacity of the personnel and also expand the size. Also, Nigeria last Saturday recorded the second highest number of COVID-19 case fatalities, as 24 patients at its treatment centres succumbed to the virus within 24 hours. This came as government said it has scaled up surveillance against the Ebola Virus Disease at all its entry points in order to guard against importation of the disease. Speaking at yesterday’s briefing of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on COVID-19, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the Federal Government will work with the states to vaccinate all eligible population from 18 years and above including pregnant women. “However, the decision to vaccinate any pregnant woman would be made in consultation with her healthcare provider. There will be consideration as to whether she is at high risk of contracting the COVID-19 or not and if she is a frontline health worker, support staff or responder in the security architecture of our country. In the end, we have to weigh the benefits versus the risks. “After excluding those that are under 18 years, we plan to vaccinate approximately 109 million Nigerians who will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination over the course of two years. Additionally, the federal government has received the commitment of about 1.5 million and a hundred thousand doses of Astrazeneca vaccine from MTN and the Government of India respectively. “All eligible population have been identified using the WHO Vaccine Allocation Framework and the Prioritization Roadmap as well as the Disease Burden Data from the NCDC. These •NAFDAC evaluating Russia’s Sputnik V •Nigeria records 24 deaths in 24hrs, scales up surveillance on Ebola criteria are the frontline health workers, their support staff including those who work in high risk areas such as the Points of Entry, Rapid Response Teams, Contact Tracing Teams, COVID-19 Vaccination Teams and Strategic Leadership. People aged 50 years and above; people aged 18-49 years with significant comorbidities and additional at-risk groups. In order to facilitate the implementation process, the Technical Working Group has come up with a strategy of pre-registration and scheduling of the target population to avoid overcrowding at vaccination posts”, said Shuaib. Sputnik V Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on his part said the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has taken delivery of “dossiers” of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V and others from India and China, with a view to evaluating and certifying them fit or otherwise for human consumption. Ehanire added that vaccines carry some amount of risks and warned Nigerians against patronizing those that have not been certified. He said: “The National Agency For Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has received dossiers for Sputnik V vaccine of Russia, Covishield or Astra Zeneca manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin by Bharat vaccines of India and the Sinopharm Vaccine of China, for evaluation and validation for use in Nigeria. Some of them are nearly ready for results. “It is important to stress that all COVID-19 vaccines carry a certain amount of risk and any vaccines not approved by the Federal Ministry of Health through its Agencies cannot be used in Nigeria. The government will not be responsible for the safety or efficacy of vaccines given outside the framework of the Government. All the needs of Nigeria have been carefully calcu- WTO confirms Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General •Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Okowa congratulate Okonjo-Iweala By Peter Egwuatu, Yinka Kolawole, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Levinus Nwabughiogu , Festus Ahon , Levinus Nwabughiogu- &Tordue Salem ABUJA — After nearly six months without a leader, the World Trade Organisation, WTO, has announced the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the organization’s 7th Director-General with effect from March 1, 2021, making her the first woman and the first African to lead the global trade bloc. This is coming three months after the Trump administration of US rejected the former Nigerian finance minister. Her term, which is renewable, will expire on August 31, 2025. In a statement announcing the appointment, WTO’s General Council Chair, Amb. David Walker of New Zealand said: “This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting.” “On behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization. Walker who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process, extended his thanks to all eight of the candidates who participated in the selection process and particularly to Yoo “for her ongoing commitment to and support for the multilateral trading system and for the WTO”. Responding, Okonjo- Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated: “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director- General. A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID- 19 pandemic. I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.” The General Council decision follows months of uncertainty which arose when the United States initially refused to join the consensus around Okonjo-Iweala and threw its support behind South Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myunghee. But following Yoo’s decision to withdraw her candidacy on 5th February, the administration of newly elected US President Joe Biden dropped US objection and announced instead that Washington extends its “strong support” to the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala. lated by NPHCDA and it is possible to accommodate all interests in the framework. “With regard to the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, AVATT, Nigeria this morning completed her account opening, signed by two officials each, of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, at Afrexim Bank as a requirement for access to vaccines on that platform, which will give Nigeria access to a much larger portfolio and variety of vaccines. “Among the vaccines are the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine and as much of the Pfizer mRNA vaccines as we can manage. The covid19 Vaccine Coordinatiing Committee and NPHCDA’s strategy for vaccine delivery will advise the mix of vaccines that Nigeria will acquire”. Ebola Surveillance Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said Nigeria was enhancing surveillance at its entry points against the Ebola Virus Disease. “The PTF is also enhancing surveillance at points of entry to respond to recent outbreak of Ebola in neighboring countries, especially, Guinea and the Congo DCR. We shall keep a keen eye on it to avoid having to combat with the two deadly diseases at the same time. This is not a task for Government alone but for all Nigerians and indeed all members of the public have a role to play. 24 deaths in 24 hours “There has been sustained efforts by sub-national entities and the FCT administration to stem the tide against the Buhari congratulates Okonjo-Iweala Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala on her election as Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO. This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja. According to the statement, “As the Harvard-educated and renowned economist takes up another onerous task of service to the world and humanity, the President believes her track record of integrity, diligence and passion for development will continue to yield positive results and rewards to mankind. “President Buhari affirms that Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who over the years set major records of economic reforms in Nigeria as Minister of Finance, and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, will excel in her new position and validate the global mandate of repositioning and strengthening the multilateral institution for the greater good of all." Lawan congratulates Okonjo-Iweala President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan, also yesterday congratulated the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her emergence as the first African and first female Director- General of the WTO. The President of the Senate said, “I heartily rejoice with Dr Okonjo-Iweala on this well-deserved victory. “With her latest feat, the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Managing Director of the World Bank has again brought honour to Nigeria, Africa and women everywhere. " Gbajabiamila congratulates Iweala Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila also congratulated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her emergence as the Director-General of WTO. second wave of the pandemic. This is evident in the closure of some facilities including event centres, clubs, etc over the violation of protocols. We are glad with the direction of the collaboration and enforcement which we believe will deter other would-be violators. For the avoidance of doubt, places of worship should only have 50 per cent of their capacity, indoor gatherings/meetings should not exceed 50 persons, at a time. Southern, MBF leaders fault appointment of Appeal Court Justices By Dapo Akinrefon LAGOS — The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, yesterday, faulted the latest list of nominated candidates for appointment of Court of Justices of the Court of Appeal alleging that the list has been compromised. The Forum in a statement, entitled ‘’Compromised appointment of Appeal Court Justices’’, alleged that the list has been compromised by politicians at the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC. The statement by Yinka Odumakin (South West), Chief Guy Ikoku (South East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), said “The list was said to have been allegedly compromised by politicians at FJSC. This was also said to been consequent upon the rejection of the merit list submitted to the commission by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The Speaker noted that the “former two-time Finance Minister of Nigeria comes to office with a wealth of experience that spans several decades, saying her track record speaks volumes.” Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment, testament of her competence — Okowa Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Monday, said the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of WTO was a testament to her competence and experience as a renowned economist and international development expert. “Her appointment is indeed, a testament to your competence and experience as a renowned economist and international development expert. You went through a very rigorous and competitive process to emerge as the new head at the WTO."
Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 —9
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16022021 - Nigeria’s security architecture being re-jigged — SERVICE CHIEFS

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