5gee:

The FG will be accused of dictatorship if they battle Wike.

That's why I like OBJ, no governor will try this with him.

Justiceleague1:
Quit peddling lies


Seun lalasticlala

Justiceleague1:

The jihadist shut the country for a month plus,what did you zmb say or do?

Be useful to mankind, thank you

The port users expressed worry that apart from the losses that investors in perishable goods like frozen fish and wheat for food processing would incur from the closure of the ports, the situation would affect the food supply chain in the south-south and south-east regions of the country as well as the image of Nigeria in the international maritime community.

He noted that the same vessel had called in and discharged cargo at the Lagos Ports before heading into Port Harcourt where activities are on standstill.

By Eromosele Abiodun

Customs agents and other port workers at the Rivers and Onne Ports have called on the federal government to come to their rescue following their arrests by the Rivers State COVID-19 task force on the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike.

The arrests they said has led to the loss of their investments and perishable consignments slated for export.

The governor, who has imposed a 24-hour lockdown on Port Harcourt and Obi Akpor Local Government areas over the COVID-19 pandemic, refused to place port workers under essential duty.

This is contrary to the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force of COVID-19 which classified port operations as essential services.

The federal government had said despite lockdown, ports should remain open to trade so as to facilitate importation and delivery of essential goods, such as foods and medical supplies.

But in the last one week, many port workers, including staff of the regulatory Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), terminal operators, shipping agents and dockworkers have been arrested, with vehicles conveying them to work impounded.

The Managing Director of Africa Atlantic International Agencies, Daniel Kalu, said the vessel transporting his consignment of 4,500 metric tons of frozen mackerel fish worth millions of euros have been unable to berth at the Rivers Port for about two weeks, a situation which he said could make his company lose the entire consignment.

"Even if we get the consignment out now, we already would have lost half of our investment because the fish has lost quality and we won't be able to sell at the standard price," he said.

"That is not to speak of the demurrage that we must pay to ship owners for keeping their vessels longer than expected. We pay a demurrage of $7800 per day," he added.

He noted that the same vessel had called in and discharged cargo at the Lagos Ports before heading into Port Harcourt where activities are on standstill.

Another consignee, Olufemi MacJulius of Fejudam Shipping Services, said the vessel carrying his bulk cargo of wheat is waiting at neighbouring Bonny because it cannot approach Port Harcourt as a result of the lockdown.

"We pay a demurrage of $15 every day because the vessel is not able to berth as a result of the fact that port workers, including pilots and stevedores cannot come to work out of fear of arrest and detention, if not prosecution by the Rivers state government," he said.

A vessel laden with a consignment of Muriate of Potash is unable to berth at the Onne Ports as a result of the same situation.

The inability to discharge this consignment may affect planting this year, given that the rains are already here.

The port users expressed worry that apart from the losses that investors in perishable goods like frozen fish and wheat for food processing would incur from the closure of the ports, the situation would affect the food supply chain in the south-south and south-east regions of the country as well as the image of Nigeria in the international maritime community.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) had threatened a nationwide protest over arrest of 20 dockworkers in the state.

The association had said being essential services providers, the dock workers ought to be allowed to work at all seaports in the country, especially as most seaports are under the ownership and control of the federal government.

"We wish to use this medium to state that if nothing is done to effect the release of our members, the union will have no option but to withdraw our services in the entire nation's seaport, terminals and jetties in solidarity with our detained members as an injury to one is an injury to all," MUWN said in a statement signed by Adewale Adeyanju, its president-general.

"We were informed that the affected dockworkers were returning from essential service operations to BUA/PTOL terminal, Port Harcourt and were unlawfully and forcefully arrested, and detained by Rivers State Taskforce on enforcing COVID-19 Lockdown."

According Adeyanju, all entreaties made by the dockworkers to the task force team led by Wike, that they were on essential services fell on deaf ears even though they presented duly signed "Essential Duty Port Pass" issued by the NPA.

nor arrangement for proper screening of Almajiris for COVID-19. Inadvertently, those state governors may be transferring coronavirus from their states to others. 

If Almajiri parents miraculously say: here are our kids, enrol them into the UBE schools, currently, government has no facilities to accommodate 9 million extra Almajiris. But, contradictorily and unfortunately, government and a section of the general public have continued to shift the entire blame to almajiri parents for not enrolling their kids into schools that do not exist.

By Usman Abubakar 

While banning Almajiri system (in urban centres?!) and sudden return of millions of these Almajirai ('Almajiris'), to their villages may portray a state governor as 'an action man', the approach only transfers the problem from urban centres to villages; it never solves the problem! In actual sense, this may even precipitate bigger socioeconomic and security problems in the near future. The panhandling beggar (Almajiri) today may become an armed snatcher or kidnapper tomorrow.

In the face of COVID-19 realities, these victims are counting on the support of all kind-hearted Nigerians, now more than ever. Almajiris, who are about the size of United Arab Emirates in terms of population, could qualify as great national assets - if properly nurtured and guided. This should be a major goal of any resolution, policy or legislative framework we prescribe to Almajiri problem. Policies should not be designed to worsen their plight.

Sudden banning of the system, with no lucid plan after the ban, is counterproductive and will only further complicate the problem. Instead, Northern Governors' Forum (NGF) needs to adopt a well thought out integrated solution model, one that features strict regulatory regime, provision of (customised) Almajiri empowerment options, enhanced religious education and targeted campaigns. Publicly, available reports of the NGF meeting never mentioned NGF's post ban plan for Almajiris. One would expect the governor's meeting to articulate equally robust and jointly pursuable plan to establish Almajiris empowerment programmes in those villages after the ban.

While Almajiri parents continue to vacate their responsibilities by sending their underage children to other places to fend for themselves, government has also failed to provide adequate facilities, needed protection and educational models that respond adequately to the peculiar socioeconomic realities of Almajiris. This is a country where, in some places, children are still taught under the tree. If Almajiri parents miraculously say: here are our kids, enrol them into the UBE schools, currently, government has no facilities to accommodate 9 million extra Almajiris. But, contradictorily and unfortunately, government and a section of the general public have continued to shift the entire blame to almajiri parents for not enrolling their kids into schools that do not exist.

While COVID-19 continues to exert enormous pressure on global health and economy, it also presents a number of rare opportunities. For instance, a major impact of COVID-19 on Almajiris is that, to reduce spread rate, state governors across the northern part of Nigeria have returned thousands of Almajiris back to their parents. While this measure has disrupted their education and means of livelihood (dignified and undignified means), it has actually presented a rare opportunity for governments to once and for all put to rest this undignified form of Almajiranci. With thousands of Almajiris now under the care of their parents/guardians, government should swiftly develop customised empowerment programmes and deploy same to strategic Almajiri Producing Areas (APAs) immediately after the COVID-19 crisis. The time to start planning is now. It is a narrow window of opportunity that may not be there in the next few weeks! While this option is not cheap and quick like the ban option, it is certainly more realistic and sustainable solution to Almajiri problem. Unfortunately, instead of grabbing this window of opportunity to reform the Almajiri system, NGF has chosen to revert to the old futile bluff of banning the Almajiri system.

Further highlighting how the authorities view Almajiris' case, governments recent interventions/disbursements against COVID-19 pandemic do not seem to consider the plight of over 9 million Almajiris as problem that deserves special attention. For instance, many state governors were able to swiftly disburse millions of Naira to buy airtime for teaching conventional school students via media such as radio and TV, because they don't want them to miss a few months of studies. The same governors fail to mobilise resources to repatriate Almajiris back to their parents in good time. As a result, belatedly, amidst COVID-19 crisis, many state governors are currently repatriating Almajiris, in some cases, without even observing social distancing among the evacuated Almajiris, nor arrangement for proper screening of Almajiris for COVID-19. Inadvertently, those state governors may be transferring coronavirus from their states to others. On the other hand, keeping Almajiris locked down under Malams custody will present enormous subsistence challenges, asides the COVID-19 health risks. But ultimately, how did we get to this complicated situation?

In the last 60 years or so, different Almajiri solution options or schools of thought have been advanced by governments, NGOs and individuals. Over time, some of those concepts have fizzled out while others are still in the front burner. For instance, the idea that 'status quo be maintained' (i.e. do nothing to Almajiri system) or 'Summary banning of Almajiri system of education' are no longer considered as practical and realistic options by overwhelming majority of the subject matter experts.

Another school of thought is: 'Just pack and return to parents'. That is, summarily pack and return Almajiris to their parents favoured by many state governments now, it is not without some obvious negative consequences. So, Almajiris will be in those villages and have no practical access to the UBE. But even if they have access to the schools, who is going to fund the post basic education - that poor peasant farmer/herder who scarcely appreciates the importance of UBE? In fact, must we push over 9 million Almajiris into Nigeria's already saturated labour market? Why not guide them towards self empowerment? Governments' sincere political will is an important factor here.

There are quite a number of solution models now that try to address these drawbacks. These solution models try to factor in the intergenerational socioeconomic disadvantages, cultural and spiritual dynamics that govern Almajiri parents' choices and dispositions. They are the 'Integrated Solution Models'. Some of these 'Integrated Solution Models' are fully aligned with the provisions of section 15(1) of the UBE Act 2004. The integrated models are customised to emphasise what Almajiri parents have long been asking for, i.e. integration of customised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as a simplified version of the UBE into the traditional religious education.

It is important to note that, as citizens, Almajiris are entitled to free Universal Basic Education. So, equivalent of the conventional UBE budget that they are entitled for may be creatively applied to deliver a customised TVET-oriented basic education to Almajiris. One of the benefits is that, while the conventional UBE takes 9 years and ends with junior school certificate, these innovative models will allow Almajiris to attain vocational proficiency and financial independence in fewer years.

As an NGO, Almajiri School Remodelling Initiative (ASRI) has succeeded in mobilising and organising hundreds of well-meaning people from different parts of Nigerian, including highly revered subject matter experts to develop what has now been termed: Integrated Tsangaya Education Model (ITEM). ASRI's model (ITEM) comprises:

Almajiri education & vocational enterprise:

Basic education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs), and Enhancement of religious education.

Campaign & advocacy (targeting six group of stakeholders)

Research & development (including baseline data capture)

ASRI believes that legislations/regulations must be promulgated and STRICTLY enforced at the RIGHT TIME in order to fully address the Almajiri and other out of school children problems -but before that, the governments must do their part first to avoid creating bigger problem.

It's a collective responsibility; all hands must be on deck.

Dr. Usman Abubakar Zaria, Convener, Almajiri School Remodelling Initiative (ASRI).

Arrewa:
that could be the daughter of the man!!

This news is 100%fake! There's nothing like Almajiri girls!

Arrewa:
Since the advent of Almajiri system! I have never seen or hear of female aljamiri even when it was still Marketable and popular in the north! Why will it be now that the system has been bastardized.

"We also understand that he gives out these girls for marriage. He is now under investigation in Kaduna," she said.

By Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba

The Kaduna State government has arrested a cleric, Aliyu Maikwari, in Zaria for allegedly keeping young girls in his almajiri school.

The government said it has evacuated 327 out of 500 other children from the house ‎where the children were being accommodated.

The Commissioner for Human Development and Social Services, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.

She said out of the almajirai evacuated, 17 were girls between the ages of 8 and 10 and were mixed up with other older boys in the same house.

She described the situation as against the teaching of Islam and blamed the parents of the girls for giving out their daughters to the man.

"When I was told I couldn't believe it until I saw the pictures. Young girls of not more than eight to 10 years were mixed up with these boys.

"We were able to evacuate 327 out of the 500 children in the house‎. Because he was so stubborn we had to use operatives of 'Operation Yaki' to arrest him.

"We also understand that he gives out these girls for marriage. He is now under investigation in Kaduna," she said.

She said the cleric was arrested as part of the state government's operation to evacuate almajirai from the state and send them back to their parents to curtail the spread of the COVID-19.

manuelreports:
I have said it several times that Lagos is just over hyped entity where masses conglomerate to suffer. Open up sea ports in other places and watch how this will boost economic Opportunities in other states. Meanwhile they have rushed to start cobstruccons of their own seaport while they keep playing politics with Ibon Seaport.

Why the Port?

As of this moment, Nigeria does not have a deep seaport. What we have now that may be closest to being a deep seaport are the Lagos ports which, by continuous dredging, has now been able to achieve a feat of between 10 to 12 metres depth. But that doesn’t make it a deep seaport because it still cannot take in vessels of over 15 metres draught. So we don’t have a deep seaport in Nigeria.

The second point is that the major ports in the country are currently all located in Lagos. Millions of containerized cargo in come into Nigeria; but relatively very few are destined for the Lagos metropolis. It is from Lagos Port that containers or palletized cargo are transported by road haulage to other parts of the country. The import is that Lagos ports which are on the Western flank serves the entirety of Nigeria, resulting in delays, accidents, high insurance premium and exorbitant freight rates.

The industrial hub of this country is in the south east and part of the south-south, so if you have a deep seaport that is located in the Niger Delta, that is in Akwa Ibom, then the port will be able to service as its primary catchment area, the south-south, south east, north central and the north east. These regions in terms of population have over 50 percent of Nigeria’s populace. That means there is already a critical mass that is underserved by the existing ports in Nigeria.

The issue of the ports congestion and delay is because we do not have the capacity in our ports to accommodate all the vessels that call at Nigeria. The existing ports in Nigeria have no capacity to transport all import and export cargo. Most of the vessels destined for Nigeria, call at the ports of neighbouring countries like Togo, Benin, Cameroun to discharge due to inadequate capacity even though the cargo are for Nigerian market.

Ibom deep seaport is designed for very large vessels, vessels that can load over 13 thousand containers in one voyage. It will be a transshipment port as smaller vessels will re-distribute cargo from the mega vessels to sea ports, river ports closer to the consignees within Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

To the east of where Ibom Deep Seaport is located, we have about nine countries from Cameroun to Republic of Congo; on the western side is Benin, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana up to Senegal. The strategic geographical location of the port means it will serve the entire Gulf of Guinea nations and landlocked countries like Chad, Niger etc.  The economy of Nigeria needs it.

In return for the levies and taxes the community dwellers pay, the insurgents provide a framework for arbitration through its Hisbah, as well as access to basic medical services and security.

sources said that a clinical and silent campaign of identifying and eliminating suspected insurgents by members of the public was gaining popularity across major Chadian towns and cities.

While the Chadians are making efforts to put a stop to this dark window, at least in their territories, it is business as usual in the Niger and Nigerian territories around the Lake Chad basin, sources said.

pyyxxaro:
Omoor this text book long oh Well lemme try to read

Boko Haram has created an economy based on careful control of the international trade on smoked fish as well as red pepper in Lake Chad. But they make big breaks as often as they overrun towns and military bases to stock their weapons, supplies and, of course, abduct for ransom.

Among the major economic activities disrupted by the insurgency in Lake Chad were commercial fishing and farming of red pepper. These were major trading products upon which the local economy of a vast array of communities in the Lake Chad Basin, particularly Borno state in Nigeria, was dependent.

But in 2015 the insurgents took strategic steps to control and re-order trade in both products. They encouraged local fishing among the communities by the banks of the lake and created a new regime of levies and secure routes for fish traders to reach designated markets.

According to the World Food Programme, before the Boko Haram crisis, the combined fish and red pepper trades contributed 28 billion CFA Francs (48 million dollars) to the Nigerien economy, with most of this coming from exports to Nigeria. The red pepper or red gold farming and trade is estimated to employ over 300,000 people.



The leadership of the break-away Boko Haram, which metamorphosed into the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), seemingly more adept at economic planning, saw this and went ahead to design an elaborate scheme to control the sectors.

Because the structures of both the production and trade had collapsed, the ISWAP leadership sent emissaries to various camps of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State requesting them to return to their farms, fishing and trading under their watch, HumAngle was told.

HumAngle gathered that several hundreds of households in the (IDPs) camps heeded the call, returning to resume farming and fishing activities in the islands. For many households among the IDPs, the desperate and inhuman conditions in the camps made their decision to follow the ISWAP offers easy.

In the years following the insurgency and cessation of fishing and farming, aquatic resources in Lake Chad had improved considerably.

HumAngle investigations showed that the new deposit of aquatic resources made the islands very attractive for several farmers and fishermen scattered across IDPs camps in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria to return.

The new conditions of the lake served ISWAP in two ways: cobbling together an economy under its control and creating a strong basis for recruiting new fighters into its fold. They described the renewed aquatic life in the lake as a strong pointer that Allah had been pleased with the war they had been waging and was rewarding them on the instant with this symbolic manna from heaven.

But experts have attributed the blossoming of aquatic resources in the lake to the reduction of human activity in the region. These included reduced or cessation of irrigation farming for some years and reduced population around the lake.

The individuals and households in IDPs camps who heeded the call of ISWAP seem not taken in by any of the views. “It was difficult to choose between hunger where there is safety such as in an IDPs camp and the abundance of food, where life can end any minute,” said Adamu Baga, who just fled the Island in April to Diffa in Niger Republic.

Adamu, who spoke with HumAngle, confirmed that he paid taxes for the past three years for every carton of smoked fish and every bag of pepper. “I can’t say exactly how much money I have paid in three years but I am sure I and my three children have paid not less than N400,000 to N500,000 and we are not amongst the big farmers,” said Adamu.

There are hundreds of people that produce more than Adamu across the lake’s fishing and farming communities. Apart from the revenue that ISWAP makes from the levies paid by the likes of Adamu, it further makes a fortune from providing security to the farmers and on every product sold in the market.

The insurgents, as a group, are also directly involved in the businesses, HumAngle gathered.

An official of the Borno State government, who does not want to be quoted, said, “fish and other agricultural products from Baga were among the biggest sources of revenue in the state before the insurgency crippled the region.

“Now, most of the revenue from fish is shared between the military that confiscates the goods and the terrorists that charge levies for these items.”

A fish merchant who spoke to HumAngle said his “fishermen pay N15,000 each, every two weeks for fishing rights and for every six cartons of smoked fish, the local dealers on the ground give one cartoon to the landlords.

The landlords are ISWAP officials. “Buyers pay N1,000 to ISWAP officials for every one cartoon of smoked fish they purchase,” our source revealed.

The levies constitute a steady stream of revenue fueling the activities of insurgents in the Northeast of Nigeria. Sources who are familiar with the trade and the collecting points along the supply chain estimate that the insurgents make millions in naira every day during the peak season of business.

“The insurgents also collect taxes from livestock farmers and herders that are based in the lake basin,” said our source. “It is called Hadaya, which is due every six months, and it is paid in the form of one large cow for every 30 cows in the herd.”

In return for the levies and taxes the community dwellers pay, the insurgents provide a framework for arbitration through its Hisbah, as well as access to basic medical services and security. The provision of security is principally for traders travelling from the islands to Kusiri Market in northern Cameroon and the Kinchandi Market in Niger Republic.

HumAngle reliably learned that fish from Kinchandi Market regularly end up in Hadeija, a commercial town in Jigawa state, as well as Kano, in Kano state while those from Kusiri Market in northern Cameroon end up in Mubi, Adamawa state, from where they are moved to different markets across Nigeria.

A Boko Haram defector, confirming the extent of fish trade and how important it is for the insurgents in the region, told HumAngle that most of the holes covered with rods and zinc as seen in photos from the recent Chadian operations were dug to process fish and package them for distribution to the market.

A local method of smoking fish uncovered by Chadian troops in Lake Chad

Every effort to get the exact figure that the Boko Haram factions make in Lake Chad was futile as the group does not declare revenue generated openly. “It is only in the Shura meeting that issues should be raised,” said a mid-level Boko Haram fighter, who added that apart from revenue from ransom, nothing could match the revenues from trade and taxes.

HumAngle, however, estimates that the revenues from these trades accruing to both ISWAP and the sub-faction of Boko Haram in Lake Chad run into several millions of naira every month, especially in the peak seasons for fish and red pepper.

Rather than disrupt the entire production and supply chain, the Nigerian military only focuses on tokenism by seizing consignments from traders on their way to the local markets. A fish merchant whose truckload of fish was seized by the army early in 2019 in Borno state, said traders continued to be in dilemma.

“I didn’t have any option but to pay the levy imposed on me for safe passage. It is the same thing if armed robbers stop you on the way, you either pay or be killed,” said the merchant.

He said up to date, the military had not given any explanation for destroying his truck and stock and that he did not know the whereabouts of his driver who was detained in Maiduguri.

Several accounts revealed that nutritionally, the fish from Lake Chad provide the bulk of the protein requirements of the rural communities in the territory. Additionally, fish supply from the region is known to account for over 70 per cent of fish products traded in large urban markets of southern Nigeria, namely Onitsha, Enugu, Lagos, Ilorin and Ibadan.

Boko Haram’s levies on smoked fish and the red gold in Lake Chad

This carefully woven economic network created by ISWAP may have collapsed temporarily or permanently, considering that recent military onslaught on the insurgents by Chadian forces may have disrupted the very foundations of that economy.

HumAngle learned that the March 23 assault under which the Chadian forces routed the positions of the insurgents in the Lake Chad communities may have put paid to the economic livelines of the terror groups.

In addition, sources said that a clinical and silent campaign of identifying and eliminating suspected insurgents by members of the public was gaining popularity across major Chadian towns and cities.

Speaking concerning the implications of the sudden hostilities by Chadians against the insurgents, a source who is familiar with the cover that ISWAP and Boko Haram members had received in Chad, told HumAngle that “it will limit the group’s access to essential goods that are smuggled daily to the fighters.”

For example, HumAngle learned that some of the taxes or proceeds from trade were not paid in cash. They come in the form of trade by batter for essential commodities such as prescription drugs, spices, petrol, cooking stoves, phones, recharge cards, among others, sources said.

While the Chadians are making efforts to put a stop to this dark window, at least in their territories, it is business as usual in the Niger and Nigerian territories around the Lake Chad basin, sources said.

This news analysis is a partnership between the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism and Humangle Media Foundation under the media and terrorism project. 

OlujobaSamuel:
Lol, when dem no fit locate person document even when tracking dey show sey e don reach their hands, dey wan com help me keep money, laff is laffing me.
Let them start with our National ID card, go liaise with NIMC, collect those uncollected cards, starts distributing it to each individual, you can even charge us a token of about ₦100-200 upon delivery, through cards or mobile lines.

From Bisi Oladele, Southwest Bureau Chief 

The new Postmaster General of the Federation, Dr. Bayo Adewusi, has said Nigerian Post Office (NIPOST) bank will soon be established.

Adewusi disclosed this while featuring on a call-in political programme, ‘Southwest Political Circuit’, on Ibadan-based Fresh F. M. radio at the weekend.

Adewusi, who was appointed as the chief executive officer of NIPOST three months ago, said the organisation is in the process of being unbundled, adding that three companies have been registered to carry out specific services under NIPOST mandate. The companies include transport and logistics, property development and banking.

According to him, the bank, which will be a bridge between commercial and micro finance bank, will operate at NIPOST branches and take banking services to the doorsteps of the masses. It will also support businesses at local levels across Nigeria.

He said the process of establishing the bank had begun, noting that it will progress as soon as COVID-19 lockdown is over.

He said NIPOST bank will promote financial inclusion as it will provide banking services in several areas which existing banks do not cover.

YeeboMuslim:
Lol..

I thought I was the only one who noticed the GamelNassir guy suffers from schizophrenia.

Dude has "bizzare delusions" which are almost pathognomonic of schizophrenia .

In one thread he claimed to be a genius IT expert . ( what sort of genius believes 5G is the cause of Covid19 . Wtf !!! We had SERS and MERS outbreaks in the past which were corona viruses too ffs ).

Then I saw somewhere else where he claimed that consultant medical doctors seek his expert opinion on management modalities for their patients . That was the height

Dude moved from a genius IT expert to Hippocrates, Avicenna and William Osler in a twinkle of an eye

Lastly , while it is good that the op has exposed him for the fraud that he is , it is also essential that we help the guy seek medical care .

Ciao !

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has called for 30 days of fasting and intense prayers by the Benue people to seek God’s favour in combating the renewed herdsmen attack in some parts of the state.

Ortom made this call on Thursday in Makurdi while interacting with newsmen on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

The governor, who regretted the renewed onslaught on his people by the herdsmen, said he had resorted to prayers for divine intervention.

He appreciated God for granting him 59 years of age and described the journey so far as “tough”.

He said some of his school mates were not as lucky and assured that he would continue to work hard to deliver good governance to the people for their acts of uncommon love to him.

“You voted for me in 2015 and again you returned me in 2019. I owe you a great deal, I will continue to work hard to provide good governance”.

He called for patience during the COVID-19 lockdown, saying, the stay-at-home order was for the overall good of the people.

Ortom said Benue was signatory to the 14 days proposed lockdown of the economy and described it as the right thing to do in order to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The highpoint of the interaction was the presentation of the governor’s life portrait to him by members of the Correspondent Chapel, led by their Acting Chairman, Mr Attah Ede of the Punch Newspapers.

Ede had extolled the virtues of the governor in exemplary leadership, stressing that the chapel was proud of his achievements.

China has imposed total lockdown on the northeastern city of Harbin after a new cluster of infections was revealed.

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged leaders under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to explore agriculture and technology to reclaim the region’s dwindling economy as a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Buhari made the appeal during an Extraordinary ECOWAS Summit on COVID-19 held through teleconferencing on Thursday.

Of the over 2.5 million coronavirus cases worldwide, about 25,000 cases and 1,240 deaths have been recorded in 52 African countries as of Thursday afternoon.

Only Lesotho and Comoros are free from the pandemic.

With the drastic fall in oil price and lockdown directives issued by ECOWAS leaders to curtail the spread of the disease, the sub-region’s economy is under siege.

Charge

Mr Buhari at the meeting, however, tasked his colleagues from the region to look into the possible benefits that could be derived from the dire situation.

“In every challenging situation such as the current one, there are also opportunities. Our region must therefore seek to find those opportunities provided by this gloomy global outlook for its benefit by embarking on the implementation of such critical policies, which before now, will be difficult to accept,” a portion of his speech as shared by president’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, read.

Among the measures taken by Mr Buhari’s to combat the biting impacts of COVID-19 on Nigerians, is the controversial ‘conditional cash transfers’ of N20,000 each for poor and vulnerable households as well as the distribution of food and medical supplies.

“The reduction of interest rates on all applicable Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions from 9 to 5 per cent and introduction of a one- year moratorium on CBN intervention facilities,” he added.

Also in his address to the sub-regional leaders, led by the Republic of Niger president, Mahamadou Issoufou, Mr Buhari noted the dwindling status of the region’s finances as well as the continuous need to “spend massively on the containment of the virus, medical care for those infected and minimising impact of the crisis on the poor and vulnerable.”

“It is imperative that while addressing short term challenges, we should also explore opportunities to promote strong and dynamic agricultural policies that will guarantee food security for our people, creating jobs and reducing poverty in the region.

“We must innovate and use technology to boost the digital economy and do things differently, but better,” part of the statement read.

ProudlyAfarmer:



MUMU, idiot! To someone you have never met in life?! Anyway Malians and falzians are miscreants with no manners

ProudlyAfarmer:



I don't do with frustrated beings...My response was just to let you know sane people are here.
Marlian or falzian, you know you are senseless just like your role models. May you be comforted
Cc. Stalwert

richeeyo:

You simply a fool