House Vows to Recover Billions of Naira from Insurance Companies

The House of Representatives has vowed to recover billions of naira paid to different Insurance companies by the federal government as premium on non-existent Head of Service (HoS) Group Life Insurance scheme between 2014 and 2019.

The HoS scheme, which was described as the biggest scheme in the Nigeria insurance industry cuts across over 100 government Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs).

The Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Hon. Darlington Nwokeocha, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja after a two-week investigative hearing, saing despite the huge amount of public fund sunk into the project, there was nothing to show for it.

Some of the affected MDAs included the Nigerian Military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service, Ministries of Defence, Communications and Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Police Affairs, Education, Health, Ministry of Agriculture among others.

 

The Chairman said: “This investigation is as a result of the petitions of over 2,000 persons across Nigeria who felt that there suspected breaches and infractions on insurance act provisions.

“We have been able to unravel certain facts, however, the committee has not concluded its investigations, but to the extent we have heard from the insurance companies that did business with the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS) and other institutions of the government. It is becoming very clear that the laws guiding insurance practice in Nigeria are not being obeyed.

“And these are the laws that ensure proper operations in the industry, and in the wisdom of the House, they have directed the Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters to look into these issues to assuage the feelings of these petitioners."

Police Parade Kidnap Kingpin, Eight Others in C'River

The Cross River State Police Command has announced that its operatives have arrested an alleged serial kidnapper and eight others for their alleged involvement in committing various crimes in the state.

Parading the nine suspects before journalists in Calabar, the state capital, on Thursday, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Nekereuwem Akpan, said the alleged serial kidnapper, “one Raphael Nwanakwo Sam, had escaped from the DSS custody sometime in 2018 while he was under investigation.”

The commissioner said the criminal was rearrested on February 20 by men of the state police command based on intelligence report.

He revealed that the suspect is helping with information in the ongoing investigation, adding that the public should be conscious of the new trend use as tactics by kidnappers.

The commissioner said: "What they are doing now is that they would hit your car from behind and you would think it’s just an ordinary accident. But the intention is to get you to park your car and come out. If it is in a convenient place for them, as you step down from your car, you would be kidnapped. If the place is not good for them, they will assess you and begin to trail you. They can hit you the first time, and if there no response, they will follow you, trace you and profile you. When you step out of your car, they want to profile you to know if you are a big fish for them to catch. The public should be guided against that. It’s the new trend. If a car hits you, make sure it is a safe area before you stop to check your car. If not, continue your journey until you get to a safe place. Sometimes they can flag you down and tell you that your tire is down, in order for you to come out to check it.”

He said the police have had top-level security meeting with other security agencies in the state on how to combat crime, and that very soon, new measures will be implemented and the public will notice it.

Responding to questions from journalists, the alleged kidnapping kingpin said one of his friends who is wanted by the police is the actual kidnapper, not him.

He denied being a kidnapper, saying he dissociated from the friend, yet the police arrested him when they could not get his friend.

Another of the suspect paraded, Lawrence Ibiam Ebri from Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River, also denied involvement of what he is accused of.

Man Attempts Suicide onThird Mainland Bridge Again

Barely ten days after a man alighted from an Uber cab and committed suicide by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon, another person also sought to end his life through such means, as he leapt from an Uber cab into the Lagoon last night.

According to the call cab driver, “I picked the passenger from Igando and he insisted I pass through the Third Mainland, he kept asking if this was the ‘bridge’ and when I affirmed, he asked to alight to ‘ease’ himself.

 “He kept persuading me to stop so he could relieve himself and that made me curious, sensing an ulterior motive, I drove him to the point where Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were stationed on the bridge.

“I then told the passenger that I was no longer interested in the trip, at this point he was alone in the cab as I was making my way to where the Police Officers were packed."

According to eyewitness report, as soon as the Uber driver approached the RRS, the passenger got down from the car and stood by the bridge railings where he was persuaded not to jump by an officer.

But the officer’s plea fell on deaf eyes as the man jumped into the Lagoon but fortunately landed on floating logs of wood, he was rescued and taken to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital but was later referred to LUTH, where he is being treated.

WEF Seeks Global Approach to Tackle Rare Diseases *475m people currently affected worldwide

 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has unveiled a new paper that seeks globally-coordinated approaches to diagnose and treat rare diseases with a view to creating new knowledge and informed solutions to improve the lives of people living with such ailments.

A Rare Disease Day was celebrated for the first time in Nigeria in 2017, a day which involved talks to increase the understanding of rare diseases, the problems facing Nigerian patients, and how society could change its attitude towards such patients as well as the need for funding the research.

Most rare diseases are genetic and are present throughout a person's entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear.

Among numerous possibilities, rare diseases may result from bacterial or viral infections, allergies, chromosome disorders, degenerative and proliferative causes affecting body organs. Such diseases may be chronic or incurable, although many short-term medical conditions are also classified as rare diseases.

The WEF paper titled: ‘Global Access for Solving Rare Disease: A Health Economics Value Framework’, written by health economists from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States of America, proposed the first global framework illuminating the potential economic benefits of securely sharing genomic data for the purposes of diagnosing and treating rare diseases.

It called on countries to test out a federated data system model in order to fully understand the benefits.

WEF is partnering Genomics England, Australia Genomics Health Alliance, Genomics4RD, and Intermountain Precision Genomics in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US respectively, to lead a proof of concept of such a federated data system by the summer of 2020.

The new paper, which  is seeking a global synergy against rare diseases, also includes 14 patient stories from the four countries of focus-the UK, Australia, Canada and the US-and also outlines the economic benefits of a global approach to collecting and sharing genomic data to diagnose and treat rare disease.

It noted that sharing data globally could provide benefits to diagnosis, disease management and treatment, clinical trials and personal well-being.

There are currently 475 million people globally affected by rare disease, and only five per cent of this population has a treatment while 80 per cent of rare diseases result from genetic or genomic variants, meaning an individual is born with a rare disease.

This results in 30 per cent of children born with a rare disease dying before they reach their fifth birthday, often without a diagnosis.

Over 450 million people-almost the populations of the USA, Australia, Canada and the UK combined-are living without a treatment or an opportunity to get better.

By aggregating genomic and clinical data at a global scale, countries with national genomic institutes and similarly hospitals with in-house genomics institutes could come up with more answers both to diagnose currently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed people with rare disease as well as develop treatments.

Nigerian Senate Wants All Travellers From China Quarantined

The Nigerian Senate, worried by the rapid rate at which the Coronavirus epidemic is spreading across the globe, has asked the federal government to henceforth quarantine any international traveller coming into the country from China.

The upper chamber stressed the need for government to ensure that all travellers into the country are properly screened at all international airports with a view to preventing the virus from being transmitted and spread among Nigerians.

The Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, gave the charge following a matter of urgent national importance raised via Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules by the Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice.

He said that rather than isolating the travellers from China, the Nigerian government should be pro-active in handling the scourge by quarantining the travellers from the Asian nation.

He said: “We must be prepared. We must take all the necessary measures at our ports – airports, seaports. If someone is coming from China, he should be quarantined, not self isolation.”.

The Senate President further said: “The fact that we are over 100 million in population doesn’t mean we should lose anyone, every life is important to us and must be protected.”

Senate Proposes Stiffer Sanctions for Gas Flaring from 2021 ...Says Nigeria loses N217bn annually

The Senate on Thursday put the country's annual revenue loss to uncontrolled gas flaring at N217 billion.

To stem the tide, the upper chamber is considering the passage of a bill which provides strict penalties for gas flaring offenders from 2021.

Leading the debate on the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill, 2020, which passed the second reading during plenary, the sponsor, Senator Albert  Akpan (Akwa-Ibom North East), stated that available data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) showed that in 2018 alone, Nigeria lost over N217 billion in revenue.

He added that oil and gas companies flared a total of 244.84 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas within the same period.

According  to him, with the average price of natural gas put at $2.90 per 1,000 scf as of February 16, 2017, the 244.84 billion scf flared translated to a loss of $710million or N217 billion-using the official exchange rate of N305.25 per dollar.

Akpan recalled that although the bill was passed by the eighth Senate in 2018, it failed to receive concurrence by the House of Representatives due to time constraints as it was closed to the end of the legislative session.

According to him, the bill introduced by the ninth Assembly, which promises guaranteed rapid infrastructural development of the oil and gas sector, will enhance revenue accruable to the government and ensure clean environmental improvement for the people of the Niger Delta.

“The flaring of natural gas produce in association with crude oil is one of the most dangerous environmental and energy waste practices in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

“Gas flaring affects the environment and human health; results in economic loss, deprives the government of associated tax revenues and trade opportunities, and deprives consumers of a clean and cheaper energy source and environment.

 “The volume of flared gas, according to analysis, is sufficient enough to feed three LNG trains or generate 3.5GW of electricity,” he said.

The senator explained that the bill, when passed into law, would address the inadequacies and shortcomings of the 1979 Act; bring gas flare penalty in line with current economic realities, and ensure the achievement of the national flares-out target of January 1, 2030.

Akpan said: “The current gas flare penalty of N10 per 1,000 scf is too low, and not in line with current economic realities, and it encourages continuous gas flaring by operators with its attendant negative effect on our environment instead of encouraging investment in infrastructure by the operators to make gas available for our domestic use.”

The Gas Flaring Prohibition and Punishment Bill 2020, according to the lawmaker, “seeks to increase the gas flaring penalty to an appropriate and commensurate level sufficient to de-incentivise the practice of gas flaring, while introducing other market measures to encourage efficient gas utilisation.

“The bill equally makes it mandatory for operators to submit gas utilisation plan within 90 days of the commencement of the Act for effective monitoring as well as makes provision for a two-year periodic review of the minister's powers granted under the Act.”

Clause 11(a) of the bill provides that: “Any person who flares gas after December 31, 2020, contrary to section 4 of this Act, commits an offence under this Act, and shall be liable on conviction to pay a fine which shall not be less than the cost of gas at the international market.”

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, thereafter, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Gas headed by Senator James Manager for further legislative work and is to report to plenary within four weeks.

APC Govt Has Failed to Fulfill Manifesto on Federalism, Says Falana

Human rights activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Thursday berated the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government for failing to fulfill its campaign manifesto of returning Nigeria to true federalism.

Falana stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, while delivering a lecture organised by the Ondo State Government as part of activities to celebrate the third year of Oluwaroyimi Akeredolu as the governor of the state.

The lecture entitled: ‘The Nigerian Federalism Imbroglio: A Paradigm Approach’, was held at the Ondo State International Event Centre, and was graced by dignitaries from all walks of lives, including traditional rulers, political leaders and people from the corporate world.

Specifically, Falana said: "APC declared in its manifesto that it would return Nigeria to true federalism if elected, but five years later, we are still waiting for that to happen.”

The human rights activist, who highlighted some developments that took place in three former regions when federalism was practiced, said developments cannot take place in the country until it returns to true federalism.

He berated the current situation where state governments go to Abuja every month to collect money, which is not even enough to embark on developmental projects.

 

The lecturer challenged governors to be creative and create impact in their people.

According to the SAN, "You are not creating wealth. What the governors do in Abuja is to share crumbs from the master's table, and what you share to us is poverty.

"You governors fail to demand what is due to your states from Federation Account. Power of state and local governments had been abdicated to the federal government."

Falana said governors must, therefore, demand new revenue formula to take care of responsibilities of federal government in their states.

He said this became imperative in view of the declaration of the federal government that it would no longer reimburse states for repair or constructing federal roads.

The lecturer lamented that the federal government had been usurping duties of states and local governments, which should not happen under federalism guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

"The federal government award contracts for building of toilets. It has no business building toilets. State government should demand that the federal government should release the money to states to build such toilets.

"The federal government has nothing to do with agriculture and natural resources.

"Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) should therefore prepare to fight the battle as it has nothing to do with party affiliation," Falana said.

NCC Raises Concern over Poor Infrastructure in Planned 5G Rollout

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has reiterated its plans to auction the fifth generation network, otherwise known as 5G, currently being deployed by developed countries, however, raised serious concern about the poor state of power infrastructure in the country, which it said could mar the deployment of 5G rollout in the country.

MTN had in December last year did a trial launch of 5G in Nigeria in preparation for the rollout of 5G across its network.

NCC, however, raised fears of a successful deployment of 5G without adequate power infrastructure.

The industry regulator, which raised the concern on Thursday at the ongoing Social Media Week 2020 event in Lagos, identified inadequate fibre coverage and poor state of power infrastructure as factors that could slow down the 5G deployment across the country.

NCC, therefore, called on the federal government to prioritise adequate power generation and distribution in the country to address the challenge.

The regulator, during a panel session, said something urgent needed to be done to fix the power sector, if not, the 5G commercialisation in the country would be seriously threatened.

Speaking on the theme: ‘5G Network Deployment-Social Economic Benefits and Challenges’, the Director of Technical Standard and Network Integrity at NCC, Mr. Bako Wakil, said 5G remained a clear departure from 3G and 4G networks.

According to Wakil, “5G, also known as IMT 2020, has been designed with huge capability and requirements for today and future need. Having carried out successful trial in the country, the next is commercialisation, but we have identified the erratic power situation in the country and low fibre infrastructure as major limitations to 5G deployment on a large scale in Nigeria.”

While NCC can comfortably address the fibre infrastructure gap, Wakil said: "Power generation and distribution is not within the purview of NCC, but we are working with the relevant agencies to see what can be done."

In his contribution at the panel moderated by NCC Head of Online and Special Publication, Dr. Niyi Ibietan, the Commission's Assistant Director of Spectrum Administration, Mr. Kenneth Uzoekwe, said a lot of spectrums have been identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Uzoekwe, who represented the Commission's Director of Spectrum Administration, Mr. Austin Nwaulune, said about six spectrums at higher bands have been marked down, adding: "They are available, but yet to be assigned."

According to him, 5G's importance and beauty also lie in the availability of spectrum, stressing that whenever Nigeria is ready for commercial deployment of 5G network, there would be some re-assignment of some spectrum to fast-track deployment.

On what 5G holds for Nigeria if successfully deployed, Uzoekwe said broadband would improve, leading to faster download and upload of contents; encourage financial inclusion, faster health care service delivery, smarter transport system and appliances.

Addressing the gap created by inadequate power, Wakil said though solar technology and inverter could be deployed to cell sites relatively, he however, raised security fears of possible theft of the solar panels.

Wakil assured Nigerians that NCC would do everything possible to ensure that the National Assembly members pass the Critical National Infrastructure Bill into law, adding that the passage will deter social miscreants from willfully damaging telecoms facilities, knowing the consequences.

House Investigates Extortions by Law Enforcement Agents at Lagos Ports ...Decries extortion of trucks' drivers by security, port agents

  

The House of Representatives has commenced investigations into the activities going on at the Apapa Ports in Lagos on alleged unlawful and unwarranted extortions of port users by law enforcement agents.

The House directed its Committee on Works and Housing to investigate the matter with a view to finding a lasting solution to the suffering of the truck operators at the port and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled: ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Unwarranted Extortion of Truck Operators and other Port Users by Law Enforcement Agents at Apapa Ports’, which was moved by Hon. Olusola Steve Fatoba at the plenary on Thursday.

Fatoba, while presenting his motion, said the House is aware that the federal government has been making frantic efforts to facilitate ease of doing business at the port, “but that it appears there is a deliberate effort by some people to frustrate the efforts of the government because of their selfish interests.”

He noted that the Apapa Ports has been enmeshed in crisis and traffic gridlock over a long time which led to the establishment of a Presidential Task Team to restore law and order on the roads leading to the country's seaports.

 

The lawmaker explained that the team of law enforcement agents comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and others are at the port to maintain law and order and control vehicular movement in and out of the port, particularly the movement of trucks going in to load and unload containers at the port.

He expressed dismay however that the agents that are supposed to maintain law and order at the port have now formed a ‘cartel’ in collaboration with ‘unscrupulous staff’ of APM Terminals Apapa/Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), extorting money from each truck operator.

According to Fatoba, "The amount ranges from N200, 000 to N300,000 to gain entrance into the port to load or offload containers, and this ugly trend has been going on unabated for many years but became worse after the Nigerian naval officers were removed from the operations as the sum of N60, 000 to N100, 000 was allegedly extorted when the naval officers were in charge of the operation.

"As a result of the activities of the law enforcement agents, a truck may spend up to two months before gaining access into the terminal which is causing a lot of hardships and huge increase in the cost of doing business which may inevitably lead to unrest and break down of law and order by the frustrated and oppressed truck operators."

He expressed concerns about the general perception, especially by importers, exporters and truck operators, adding that they probably think the problems are lingering because the leadership of the law enforcement agencies concerned were benefiting directly or indirectly from the crises, hence there is no incentive for them to proffer enduring solution.

It’s Frightening That No Screening for Coronavirus at Our Airports, Senator Laments

Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice, has stated that there are no measures to check the spread of coronavirus into the country.

Speaking on the floor of the senate on Thursday, Boroffice said upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja from South Africa on Wednesday, passengers were only given a sheet of paper to indicate whether they were sick.

The deputy leader said that was not the case in South Africa as they were screened before he disembarked from the aircraft when he arrived in the country on Friday.

“I was in South Africa on Friday, I came back yesterday. Because of the issue of coronavirus, every country in the world is taking preventive measures because the wisdom is that prevention is better than cure. In South Africa, we were not allowed to leave the aircraft for good 30 minutes,” he said.

“Officers of the medical corps came into the aircraft and screened everybody before we were allowed out but I arrived yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport and there was no screening.

“All we were given is a sheet of paper to indicate whether we were sick and whether we have been to one country or the other and how we will be contacted if there is an emergency. How will you trail me? How do you know if I have fallen sick. This is very frightening.”

Boroffice said measures should be taken by the authorities to prevent the virus from getting into the country

On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said it appears that the ministry of health is not doing its best to prevent the virus from getting into the country.

“While the federal ministry of health and the associated agencies may be doing their best, with this explanation. This best is not good enough and we should not take anything for granted,” he said.

“We must be prepared. We must take all the necessary measures at our ports – airports, seaports. If someone is coming from China, he should be quarantined, not self isolation.”

Lawan directed the committees on public health and primary health to liaise with the health ministry over the senator’s concern.

CULLED FROM THE CABLE

NIWA to Licence Boats to Operate in Nigeria’s Waterways

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Chief George Moghalu, has said soon boats and water vessels that do not have permits issued by the Authority will not be allowed in Nigeria’s inland waterways.

Moghalu, who stated this during his visit to NIWA’s operational base in Yenagoa, the Bayesla State capital, yesterday, said all boats using the waterways would have to meet safety standards.

“We are going to play clearly and strictly our regulatory roles. We are going to enforce the use of permits before boats can enter the waterways because we cannot allow rickety vessels to waste the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

NIWA boss disclosed that the Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a firm to provide lifejackets across all water formations in Nigeria.

“We have started clearing water debris and water hyacinth on some of our channels. We have also started training processes in some of our locations,” Moghalu added.

All these, he said, were part of measures NIWA was puting in place to make inland waterway transportation the transport means of choice in the shortest possible time in the country.

He lamented that the country was losing a lot because people knew very little about NIWA and inland water transportation, adding: “So we are out to get NIWA to the public eye.”

The NIWA managing director has earlier inspected facilities at the Yenagoa base of the Authority where he noted with dismay the dilapidated state of the facilities, which he said was inimical to the security of the base.

Many serviceable boats, including passenger and gunboats, had been left to rot away while most of the perimeter fence had collapsed. The ceiling in the main office had collapsed and the roof was leaking, it was learnt.

The MD, however, promised that the Authority would do everything possible to support the Bayelsa State base to recover and meet its targets.

Ogun PDP Factions Unite, Agree to Work Together

With the exit of Alhaji Buruji Kashimu from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two factions of the Ogun State chapter of the party have agreed to put their differences behind and work together in the interest of the party.

Former gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and Semiu Sodipo led a delegation that met with the national leadership of the party in Abuja on Wednesday to apprise it of their decision to reunite.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who received united members of PDP from Ogun State, expressed delight that they had resolved to reconcile their differences, assuring them of the national leadership’s support.

Secondus reminded Ogun PDP delegates that it was only the National Working Committee (NWC) that could call congresses and forward names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as any other thing would be contrary to electoral laws.

 

He further affirmed that PDP was the political party with the best structure in the country, and appealed to all Nigerians to support it in order to rescue the country.

According to Secondus, “This shows clearly that PDP has an internal conflict resolution mechanism to settle issues that have lingered for long time. By your statement and your submission today, it means that all the troubles in Ogun State have been put to rest, including the legal issues.”

The party boss said the PDP would continue to insist that other political party members join it to build the country, which he said, was in turmoil.

Speaking earlier, Adebutu recalled that the state chapter of the PDP had been embroiled in crisis for 12 years with two parallel executive committees, while its fortunes had continued to dwindle.

He said: “The chapter of the party in the state had been embroiled in conflicts for 12 years. So, a chapter that had 100 percent of all the elective positions in the state has now moved to a party that only has just one out of the 40 elective positions.

“In these 12 years, we have had two parallel executives in the state that have not always worked together. This culminated in a situation where in the last election, when the party produced me as the candidate of the party; the other faction had another candidate. At the end of the day, unfortunately we lost the election woefully.

“Happily today, it is my pleasure by the grace of God to now present to you the state working committee of the other faction. Our own faction, we have been at peace and we have been recognised by the National Working Committee of the party. And to the glory of God today, I am happy to present to you the Secretary of the Ogun faction of the PDP, Honorable Semiu Sodipo.”

Mixed Reactions as Corps Member Rape JSS1 Student in Katsina

 

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the alleged raped of a schoolgirl by a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member with Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) in Katsina.

The JSS1 student, whose identity is yet to be unraveled, was said to have been forcefully dragged into an apartment provided by the school management for its serving corps members by the accused person where he allegedly had carnal knowledge of her.

Investigation by media  revealed that the corps member (name withheld), who has since been arrested by the police, hails from Niger State, and will be completing his service by March this year.

Some family members who pleaded anonymity confirmed the scenario to the media on Wednesday, saying the accused person, after committing the ‘ungodly act’, allegedly locked the victim in the room for three days.

 

They also accused the NYSC authorities in the state of trying to persuade the management of the school and the girl's parents not to report the incident to police, as it would affect the suspect's primary assignment.

One of the sources said: "But the school and the girl's parents refused to listen to the NYSC officials. So, they invited the police, who came, handcuffed him (suspect) and took him away from the school.

"The girl closed from school last week Monday but could not return home. So we started searching for her in the school and the village, but we could not find her.

"It was after some days that one of the corps members informed some teachers in the school that our daughter is in their lodge with one of their colleagues.

"On getting to the lodge, we found her in the corps member's room. She wanted to leave the house on the first day of her visit, but she could hardly walk, which led to her staying in his room for three days."

Reacting to the development in a message sent to the NYSC media platform, the state NYSC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Obemeata, said the scheme is a highly reputable organisation where discipline is the hallmark, and would not condone acts of indiscipline by any member of the corps.

He said: "The issue is still under police investigation, and we await the conclusion from the police before taking any action. Further necessary briefs and actions will be communicated to journalists when investigation is concluded by the police.’’

But the spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said the suspect have been apprehended and detained in Sabon-Garin police station.

"The boy has been arrested. But we are still awaiting the outcome of our investigation and the medical report to firmly establish the allegation," he stated.

Kwara APC Crisis Deepens as Hoodlums Attack Chairman, Other Officials

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State last Tuesday deepened as the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Bashr Bolarinwa, and other members of the state working committee of the party were attacked by some suspected thugs at Shao town in Moro Local Government Area of the state.

During the attack, the party bus that convened the party state working committee were smashed by the suspected party thugs  and consequently, people at the venue ran for their lives.

The incident, according to media checks, happened during the ‘Thank you tour’ by the state party executives committee to the members of the party for their support during the last general elections and to seek more support for the administration as well as to sustain the support.

This new development in the party, accordingly, might not be unconnected with the internal crisis that had rocking the party shortly after the party electoral victory during the last year general elections.

 

The crisis, it was gathered, had caused factions within the party in the state to the extent that it has snowballed into the festering squabbles between the state Governor,  Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, and other top APC leaders in the state.

However, last Tuesday, some group said to be loyal to the state governor under aegis of AA Support group, with some youths, invaded the venue of the meeting of the ‘Thank you tour’ of the state executive council committee at Shao town, and prevented the party chairman and members of his team from holding the planned meeting and attacked the bus that conveyed them to the venue.

Reports also had it that windscreen of the bus was shattered by the attackers who were said to have also threatened to inflict bodily harm to the party chairman and his team.

Confirming the development, the state Vice Chairman of the party, Sunday Oyebiyi, described the attack as unfortunate, saying it could lead to disintegration of the party in the state.

Meanwhile, the governor has condemned attack on party chairman and his entourage in Shao, calling on the police command to fish out all the perpetrators and prosecute them.

BEDC Takes Electricity Safety Campaign to Ondo Schools

 

Building on its successful sensitisation campaigns in primary and secondary schools in Benin-city, the Edo State capital, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has further demonstrated its commitment to reducing electrical accidents and tampering with electricity equipment among school children as it recently embarked on safety sensitisation campaigns in primary and secondary schools in Ondo State.

The sensitisation campaign on electrical safety and energy management is aimed at educating school children on the danger of unsafe acts like tampering with electrical installations, living and trading under high tension over-head power lines, overcrowded electrical sockets, stepping/touching electrical wires among others.

The campaign, which took place in some selected primary and secondary schools in Ondo and Owo, will be replicated in all the local government areas in the state.

Some of the pilot schools where the campaign took place were St Patrick Mega Primary School, Ondo; St Andrew Anglican Primary School, Owo, and St Louis Catholic Secondary, Ondo and Imade College, Owo, all in Ondo State.

The Head of CSR project, Mrs. Felicia Nlemoha, said: “The campaign will promote safety in the use of electricity at home, schools, road, and workplace as well as reduce the rate of electricity accidents and hazards among students.  The students will become safety ambassadors in their various homes.” 

She further stated that as part of giving back to the society, selected schools would get educational materials from BEDC which includes branded exercise books, wall clock, safety message snapper frames among other items.

In addition to the safety campaign, BEDC will also commence the creation of energy clubs called ‘Joules’ in secondary schools. The growth of Joules club will metamorphose into a debate competition among member schools. The winners of the competition will in turn become brand ambassadors of BEDC.

One of the objectives of the Joules clubs is to groom secondary students to take up careers in the electricity industry boost by the current drive by BEDC and other distribution companies (Discos) to tackle manpower gap in the power sector.

Another Chinese Test Negative for Coronavirus

 

A few days after some Chinese nationals tested negative to coronavirus in Nigeria, another national of China has undergone a test for the disease.

According to Olutunde Lalude, group medical director of Reddington Hospital Group, a Chinese national who arrived in Nigeria seven weeks ago underwent test for coronavirus in Lagos on Wednesday.

Lalude said the man presented himself at the hospital while complaining of fever, one of the symptoms of coronavirus.

He said as a precautionary measure, the man was isolated while health authorities in the state were alerted.

The doctor said the patient was subsequently transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the state ahead of the results of the tests, which he said would be available on Friday.

He also dismissed the rumour that a coronavirus victim was admitted in the hospital, saying “the risk is thought to be low and so far patient has not been diagnosed with the disease”.

“It has come to the attention of the management of the Reddington hospital that rumours are circulating on social media of a case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Reddington hospital Ikeja. We would like to assure the public that there has been NO confirmed case of coronavirus at ANY of the branches of the Reddington hospital as at today 26 February 2020,” Lalude said in a statement.

“In the early hours of Wednesday 26 February 2020, a Chinese national presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever. Following standard protocol it was ascertained that he had arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago and had not been in contact with anyone else who might have coronavirus. As a precautionary measure, staff immediately isolated him in accordance with the hospital’s standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients.

“The state public health authorities were promptly informed and involved. Despite the risk being assessed to be relatively low according to the currently available science regarding incubation period, blood samples were taken using full prescribed precautions and sent to the Lagos State authorised virology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis. The results of the tests will be available tomorrow. The patient has been transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Lagos while the results of the tests are awaited.

“The Reddington team acted in a highly professional manner and in absolute compliance with international standards. We thank all staff for their diligence and professionalism in dealing with this case.”

There are more than 80,000 cases of the disease worldwide. On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation said the virus is now spreading faster outside China than in it.

Coronavirus first broke out in China late last year. It has now spread to every continent in the world aside Antarctica where no human being lives.

Human Trafficking: Thousands of Nigerian Women are into Sex Slavery ...House Demands Training of Border Officials by NAPTIP

To curb the alarming rise of sex slavery Nigerian women are subjected to, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at the ports and borders of Nigeria to make it mandatory for all border officials of all security agencies to be trained by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Also, the House has reported that several Nigerian women are regrettably into sex slavery across the world.

It therefore directed NIS to permit trained NAPTIP officials to operate, spot, identify and prevent the illicit emigration of potential victims.

The House also urged NAPTIP to begin to shame the traffickers in their homes, including the widespread publication of the names and pictures of convicted traffickers.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled: 'Need to Investigate the Degrading Sex Slavery Nigerian Women are Subjected to’, which was jointly sponsored by Hons. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, Yunusa Ahmed Abubakar, Zakariya Nyampam, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, Babajimi Benson, Sada Soli and Dachung Musa Bagos.

Moving the motion, Kwewum noted that there are thousands of Nigerian women and even underage girls have been reportedly turned into sex slaves in European and several Middle East countries and well as other parts of the world.

He said the House is aware that NAPTIP has conducted several investigations and discovered that between 20,000 and 30,000 Nigerian girls are sex slaves with 50 additional girls being added to the list everyday.

The lawmaker bemoaned the ill-treatment the neighbouring West African countries apply on Nigerian women by keeping them as sex slaves and providing safe haven for perpetrators of human trafficking.

He worried that the continuation of this activity has dented the image of the country, saying it provides room for other West African countries to disrespect, not just Nigerian women, but all Nigerians.

According to him, "President Muhammadu Buhari in Sochi, Russia, recently gave the assurance to the effect that the Nigerian Government would stretch its reach and capacity to protect all Nigerians all over the world. We are aware that recently, the Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ramatu Ahmed, raised the alarm that no fewer than 10,000 Nigerian women, mainly under-aged girls, are forced into prostitution in Ouagadougou and other mining camps across West Africa. Many of the victims were deceived by friends and relatives to leave Nigeria for greener pastures (mostly domestic work, hair dressing or sales) in 'Mali-sia' only to discover later that they were being used for sex trade.

"Nigerian girls are trafficked mainly to the mining areas in the South and Central part of Mali, but a substantial number are trafficked to rebel held areas in the North of Mali, where they stand the risk of being radicalised. The border point between Nigeria and Benin Republic at Seme-Krake is notoriously porous and in spite of numerous reports and pictures of notorious trafficking sent to Nigerian security agencies at the border, no action has been taken to curb the practice."

Kwewum, while commending the current efforts made to combat the menace, however, said it is not far reaching and comprehensive, and have not been adequately funded.

WHO Charges Nigeria, Others to Prepare for Coronavirus …Death toll rises to 2,715 globally

The World Health Organisation (WHO), African region, has called on Nigeria and other African countries to ramp up their preparation activities for the deadly coronavirus, as the window of opportunity available to African countries for preparation was closing.

In a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, the Regional Director of WHO Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said Algeria’s Ministry of Health had alerted the global health body of a 61-year-old Italian who arrived in the country on February 17 from Italy tested positive to the virus.

Moeti said: “The window of opportunity the continent has to prepare for the coronavirus disease is closing. All countries must ramp up their preparedness.

“WHO is preparing to deploy a team of experts to Algeria to support its health authorities.”

Algeria is one of 13 countries which WHO has identified as a top priority for preparedness measures due to their direct links or high volume of travel to China. Nigeria was named on the same list.

Countries so far affected are Bahrain, Israel, Italy, Egypt, Canada, United States, Iran, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, France, Afghanistan, Israel, Kuwait, UAE, Vietnam, United Kingdom, India, Russia, Nepal, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, Croatia, Finland, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Philippine, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Algeria, China among others.

Meanwhile, the WHO has said governments and pharmaceutical giants must urgently begin expensive and risky work to develop vaccines against COVID-19.

The Emergency Director of WHO, Michael Ryan, said: "Big decisions need to be taken as vaccines will require huge investment, and the state sector will have to take some of the risk with the private sector.

"It requires hundreds of millions of dollars, and it may be necessary to develop several potential vaccines "without any certainty that one of them will work," he said.

Ryan also said it had "become very important to conclusively identify the source of the outbreak in order to prevent another. A single transmission chain has been identified but there could be others.”

Metuh Bags 7-Year Jail Term

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, to seven years in prison.

Justice Okon Abang handed down the sentence on Tuesday in his judgment on seven counts of money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N400 million where Metuh was found guilty.

The charges were filed against Metuh and his company, Destra investment, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial judge sentenced Metuh after convicting him and found him guilty of all the charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

Hausa Community Protests Alleged Killing of Colleague by Rivers Task Force

The Hausa community in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Monday evening embarked in a protest in the state capital against the alleged killing of their colleague by person's believed to be agents if the state Task Force on Illegal Trading.

The angry protesters blocked the Presidential hotel axis of the Port Harcourt-Aba Express Road to express their displeasure following the death of their friend whose identity was yet to be ascertained.

The Founding Father, Association of Northern Traders, Port Harcourt branch, Lawal Daura, alleged that operatives of the Rivers Task Force against Street Trading and Illegal Motor Parks arrested the deceased and returned his lifeless body minutes later.

Daura stated that the deceased was gold and another valuable article collector who only visited his friends near the Presidential Hotel and was standing along the road before he was picked up by the task force.

He said, "Sincerely I was not around when the incident happened, but when I came back I was told that men of the Rivers state task force came and arrested an elderly man who visited to see our people here and was arrested  along with Presidential hotel.

"They took him inside their vehicle, drove away and after 10 to 20 minutes, he was brought back and at the end of the day, the man died, that was why our people protested against what the task force did."

A driver who plies the Port Harcourt Aba road, who did not want his name mentioned, however said a commercial taxi driver who was attempting to evade arrest by operatives of the task force on illegal motor parks and street trading hit the deceased who was standing on the road and killed him.

"One of our fellow drivers who was trying to run away from the task force men went and hit one Hausa man who was standing by the side of the road and killed him.

"The driver and his vehicle were arrested and taken away, because of that the Hausa's blocked the road today and caused a heavy traffic," he said.

Following the incident, there was heavy traffic along Port Harcourt-Aba Road and there was heavy presence of security men positioned at strategic locations to forstall any breech of peace.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni (DSP), confirmed the incident but said the police have brought the condition under control.