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Politics / How Dr Gumi Reached Out To Bandits To Repent, Suspend Operations In Kaduna by agwom(m): 6:47am On Jan 21, 2021 |
Leaders of selected bandit groups around Kidandan in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday pledged to repent from their criminal activities after an interactive meeting with Dr Ahmad Gumi. Dr Gumi has since early January commenced a daring peace mission to selected dangerous enclaves to carry out a Da’awa (preaching) campaign. In the first week of January 2021, the scholar visited Fulani communities along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, where rampant kidnappings and other criminal activities are prevalent. He later visited Gamagira in Soba LGA before his latest visit to Kidandan in Giwa LGA on Tuesday. The Islamic scholar had lamented the high rate of illiteracy among the Fulani and assured of his commitment to rendering assistance in Islamic knowledge. At Kidandan on Tuesday, Daily Trust gathered that leaders of various Fulani communities as well as suspected bandit commanders, women and children, the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN) were in attendance. Gumi, who was provided cover by the Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri and his men, said the bandit commanders had repented while giving the condition for the government to provide them basic amenities and for security agents to stop profiling them for extortion and arbitrary arrests. Dr Gumi said it was unfair to describe them all as bandits adding that only about 10 per cent of the Fulani were into criminality. He told Daily Trust correspondents that based on his interactions with the Fulani in Kidandan, they had informed him and other stakeholders, including the commissioner of Police, of how they have been forced to take up arms. He said the Fulani had spoken of being subjected to arbitrary arrests by security agents as well as constant harassments and being shunned by society. “When we speak with them, they say they blame the government. Well, the government has to be blamed because they need to take proactive steps to see that there are amenities in their areas. They don’t have electricity and not even water or anything. There is no presence of government in their areas,” he said. The Kaduna State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN), Haruna Usman Tugga on Wednesday told Daily Trust that Dr Gumi’s initiative was highly commendable, stressing that MACBAN had in the past suggested such an approach to tackling insecurity. Tugga said the bandit commanders had accused security agents and government of forcing them into taking up arms to defend themselves. “The main issue is the fact that most of them are illiterates and when you find such a person who has lost everything because of injustice, such a person becomes gullible and is easily persuaded into crime,” he said. “The commanders have agreed that as long as their issues are tackled by government and security agents, as long as they have basic amenities in their communities and they are not killed and arrested arbitrarily, they will put down their arms, they have assured us and Dr Gumi of their commitment to do so,” he said. Many of the Fulani said they would repent from banditry following Dr Gumi’s outreach When contacted, the Kaduna State Police command confirmed that the CP was at the meeting at Kidandan, which was organized by Dr Ahmad Gumi stressing that the police had been there to give him security back up. Speaking with Daily Trust, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige said contrary to information in circulation, no arm was handed over at Kidandan but said the people had made their grievances known to Dr Gumi and the CP. “Dr Gumi sought the consent of the Inspector General of Police before he commenced his peace mission and he has visited two other places before Kidandan. He is trying to reach out to the Fulani communities because of the insecurity they are accused of causing. They promised that they have repented.” ASP Jalige said Dr Gumi’s initiative is a good one which the Police command supports and said it is hoped that more positive development will emerge from the interaction. https://dailytrust.com/how-dr-gumi-reached-out-to-bandits-to-repent-suspend-operations-in-kaduna |
Politics / 7 Still Missing As Bandits Ambush Police Officers In Kaduna by agwom(m): 5:58am On Jan 17, 2021 |
The whereabouts of seven police officers out of 15 that were ambushed by bandits along the Birnin Gwari-Funtua road on Friday is still uncertain. However, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that eight of the officers were rescued. https://dailytrust.com/7-still-missing-as-bandits-ambush-police-officers-in-kaduna
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Politics / Re: ‘wait On God’: Do Your Part, PDP Replies Buhari Presidency by agwom(m): 5:53am On Jan 17, 2021 |
Up PDP |
Politics / 30 Days After, Reopened Borders Still Trickling Back To Life by agwom(m): 5:49am On Jan 17, 2021 |
* Over N300m worth of goods still trapped at Seme https://dailytrust.com/30-days-after-reopened-borders-still-trickling-back-to-life
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Politics / Re: Zulum: Why Power Should Shift To South In 2023 by agwom(m): 9:23am On Jan 16, 2021 |
hmmm |
Politics / Re: Video: Remembrance Day: Ayade Donates New Bus For Ex-service Men. by agwom(m): 9:10am On Jan 16, 2021 |
Good |
Politics / Re: Buhari’s Ministers Divided Over Cancellation Of NIN Registration by agwom(m): 9:00am On Jan 16, 2021 |
chai 1 Like 1 Share |
Politics / Re: Insecurity: Buhari Is A Threat To Nigeria’s Security ― Junaid by agwom(m): 8:55am On Jan 16, 2021 |
Politics / How Katsina Became Hotbed Of Banditry by agwom(m): 8:22am On Jan 16, 2021 |
Banditry has put Katsina State in the news for the wrong reasons. Hundreds of Nigerians have been killed, more have been abducted and thousands displaced, with villages decimated, women raped and farms destroyed. Daily Trust reports what triggered banditry in the state and how the situation escalated. https://dailytrust.com/how-katsina-became-hotbed-of-banditry 2 Likes 2 Shares
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Politics / Landmine Kills 5 Soldiers, Injures 15 Others In Borno by agwom(m): 7:50am On Jan 16, 2021 |
Five soldiers, including an officer from the 117 Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, have been killed while 15 others were injured when they ran into landmines planted by Boko Haram insurgents during an operation in a remote village in the southern part of Borno State on Thursday, sources said.https://dailytrust.com/landmine-kills-5-soldiers-injures-15-others-in-borno
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Politics / Re: Buhari Appoints Gen Marwa To Head Ndlea by agwom(m): 7:39am On Jan 16, 2021 |
mm |
Politics / Re: Boko Haram Are Buying Fertilizers To Make Bombs – DHQ by agwom(m): 6:17pm On Jan 15, 2021 |
chai |
Politics / Re: Nairaland Now On Youtube by agwom(m): 12:00pm On Jan 15, 2021 |
p |
Politics / Re: Video: Buhari Arrives Eagle Square For Armed Forces Day by agwom(m): 11:57am On Jan 15, 2021 |
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Health / Re: 34-Year-Old Man Commits Suicide In Delta (Graphic Photos) by agwom(m): 5:21am On Jan 15, 2021 |
chai 1 Like 1 Share |
Politics / Northern Elders To Elite: Rescue Nigeria From Failed Leaders by agwom(m): 5:17am On Jan 15, 2021 |
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) yesterday appealed to the Nigerian elite to rescue the nation from what it described as “failed leaders”. https://dailytrust.com/northern-elders-to-elite-rescue-nigeria-from-failed-leaders 7 Likes
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Politics / FG Spends N1.5bn On Poor In Kebbi by agwom(m): 8:20pm On Jan 14, 2021 |
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Faruk said in the last five years, federal government has spent over N1.5 billion on the disbursement of Conditional Cash Transfer fund to 76,804 poor and vulnerable households in Kebbi state. The minister, made the disclosure on Thursday at the Flag off of Federal government special cash grant for rural women in Birnin Kebbi. t She stated that since the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, attention was paid to protecting the plight of the poor and that informed the decision of the federal government to introduce National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with a view to promoting social inclusion. ‘150,000 poor women to get N20, 000’ According to her, rural women totalling 4,200, were expected to benefit from the cash grant of 20,000 each in Kebbi state saying, the grant was aimed at uplifting the socio-economic status of the rural women in the State. She added that the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme commenced in September 2016 with the aim of responding to lack of investment in human capital of poor and vulnerable households. “Since the introduction of National Social Investment Programme in 2016, Kebbi state has received a total sum of N1,056,200,000.00 from the Federal Government Conditional cash transfer programme from inception to date impacting the lives of 76,804 Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs). “A grant of N20,000.00 will be disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. A total number of 4,200 beneficiaries are to benefit from the cash grant of 20,000 each to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women in Kebbi State.” In his response, the state governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who was represented by his State Secretary to the Government, Babale Umar Yauri, commended the federal government for such a huge investment in capital development saying “the Kebbi state government must thank president Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of the beneficiaries whose lives must have been impacted positively. https://dailytrust.com/fg-spends-n1-5bn-on-poor-in-kebbi |
Politics / Ending Former Governors’ Official Swindle by agwom(m): 2:31pm On Jan 14, 2021 |
All humans are selfish. Politicians everywhere appear more so than most. But when it comes to greed, Nigerian politicians are in a class of their own. And in that class, former governors occupy the front row. Nothing demonstrates this better than the Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor laws. This legislation, midwifed and signed into law by many governors towards the end of their terms, pays them and their deputies humongous sums and benefits for life. Such laws, so nakedly self-serving, were passed by 25 states of the federation from 2001 onwards. To save you the trouble of looking them up elsewhere, they are: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Imo, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Ondo, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara. In most cases, the very same persons that orchestrated and oversaw its promulgation just before leaving office became the first beneficiaries. Such shamelessly self-serving legislation compounds the illicit rewards of politicians, who spent their terms luxuriating and enriching themselves and cronies. Take the Kano State version for example. It gives former governors and deputies sums equal to the emolument of their incumbent counterparts. Further, a former governor is entitled to a furnished six-bedroom house and an office each in a location of their choice, all bills and utilities to be paid from public funds. It further awards ex-governors two administrative staff and two drivers to be chosen by him and paid by the state government. The law gifts past governors two cars that should be replaced every four years, 30-day annual ‘leave’ (not that the payment is conditional on doing any work) and medical treatment for themselves and their immediate family at home or abroad at the expense of the taxpayer. Former deputy governors get a four-bedroom house, an office, a car replaceable every quadrennially, two administrative staff and a driver, in addition to payment of bills, annual leave and medical treatment. All this will continue for life. Some states’ version makes even more outrageous provisions. In Lagos State, the law provides ex-governors and deputies two houses, in Lagos and Abuja, six cars replaceable every three years, biannual furniture allowance at 300% of annual salary, a housing allowance at 10 per cent of the annual salary, a utility allowance at 20 per cent, a car allowance at 30 per cent (on top of the six cars already provided for) and an entertainment allowance worth 10 per cent of their annual salary. On top of this, they are given a personal assistant, paid 25 per cent of the governor’s basic salary. In Sokoto and Gombe, the enactment estimated the salary of incumbent governors and made the pension in monetary terms. In addition to all the other benefits like houses, cars and staff, former Sokoto and Gombe governors are doled out N200m every four years and their deputies N180 and N100m respectively. With N50m as the estimated annual emolument of incumbent governors, all past governors go home with the same amount annually, beside other benefits, while their former deputies bank about half that amount or more. Today, every state has at least four former governors and deputies; some have up to 10. Thus, taxpayers are paying vast bills, which will only grow with each election. As State Houses of Assembly leaders in states like Kano scramble to add themselves to this list of free money receivers, those in states like Zamfara are already on it as the speaker and deputy speaker are also beneficiaries. To ensure that they get paid before anyone else, the architects of the law, who are also its beneficiaries, made the payments chargeable to the Consolidated Revenue Fund meaning they would be deducted even before the money leaves Abuja. This legalised bare-faced thievery is committed at a time states are complaining of being unable to pay a minimum wage of N30,000 and when aged pensioners, who have served us for the best part of their productive lives are paid peanuts in months-long arrears. It is happening when schools lack basic materials, primary healthcare centres lack functional first aid kits and most communities lack potable drinking water. The beneficiaries of this official rip-off argue that as the constitution provides for pension for ex-presidents and vice-presidents, they should be awarded pensions too, but that doesn’t even come close to justifying their behaviour. Even if the constitution did give the legal authority, it provides only for pension payments, not assorted expenses and benefits. And while the law envisages pensioners as senior citizens that don’t earn money elsewhere, many former governors receive these payments while at the same time receiving a salary from the same taxpayers! Fifteen former governors are currently being paid as serving senators and over 10 former governors and deputies are ministers. From 2015 – 2019, a former governor of my state was paid as a senator and as a former governor while his wife, who had been a member of the House of Representatives for eight years, was being paid as a minister having been appointed by President Buhari. This sounds like Nigeria works only for a tiny few. Thankfully, some governors have recently started seeing this colossal legal swindle for what it is. The governor of Lagos State told the state legislature in his 2021 Budget presentation that he wants them to repeal the law from this year to “cut the cost of governance” while Imo State has already abolished it. Similarly, the Zamfara State Assembly scrapped it in November 2019 in the wake of a controversy generated by his predecessor who wrote to request his N10m ‘unpaid monthly upkeep.’ Some say this step was taken by the current governors to settle a political score against their predecessors. If this is the case, I pray that the relationship between every governor and his predecessor may deteriorate. Any association that diverts Nigerians’ scarce resources to the pockets of a few is a conspiracy that should be disrupted, if not by humans, by divine intervention. Doling former governors and deputies humungous sums and other benefits in the name of pension in a poverty-stricken country like ours is beyond reprehensible. It is bare-faced thievery in legal disguise; it’s robbery without arms: a fraud on the taxpayer that must be stopped. Every single Nigerian has a moral duty to call for an end to this massive scam. I so do. https://dailytrust.com/ending-former-governors-official-swindle |
Politics / Contest For Presidency In 2023, Bauchi Gov Urged by agwom(m): 2:24pm On Jan 14, 2021 |
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Transparency and Good Governance (COCSOTRAGG), Wednesday, called on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to contest for the presidency come 2023. Addressing a news conference in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the coalition noted that the call was aimed at ensuring the emergence of a good leader who will take Nigeria out of the woods. The Benue State coordinator of COCSOTRAGG, Comrade Raphael Terkula, stressed the need for a competent leader to confront the myriad of problems bedevilling the nation as the 2023 presidential election draws closer. https://dailytrust.com/contest-for-presidency-in-2023-bauchi-gov-urged |
Politics / Re: Joshua Oluwakimbati Melaye's Birthday: Dino Melaye Prays For His Son by agwom(m): 7:32am On Jan 14, 2021 |
Happy birthday |
Politics / Re: Rivers, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Imo Fail Fg’s Transparency Test by agwom(m): 7:28am On Jan 14, 2021 |
Politics / Rivers, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Imo Fail Fg’s Transparency Test by agwom(m): 7:25am On Jan 14, 2021 |
Rivers, Zamfara, Bayelsa and Imo states did not get a kobo from the N123.348 billion grant the federal government shared to states because they failed a transparency test, which seeks to encourage those in the position of authority to be accountable. Sokoto got the highest grant of N8.4 billion because it led others in meeting the criteria for the grant while Kano got the least among the winners with a grant of N1.7 billion. The remaining 30 states shared N113.2 billion based on their performance. It means each of them got more than N1.7 bn. How winners, losers emerge The federal government on Wednesday announced the disbursement of another round of performance-based grants to states totalling N123.348 billion ($324.6 million) under its States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme for Results. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who disclosed this in a statement signed by Hassan Dodo, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations on Wednesday in Abuja, explained that the disbursement followed the achievement of results by the states in the just concluded 2019 Annual Performance Assessment (APA). The assessment was carried out by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) as the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) and approved by the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. According to Mrs Ahmed, the disbursement included N91.048 billion (USD239.6 million) of performance-based grants for the 2019 APA results achieved by 32 Eligible States across various Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) covering fiscal transparency, accountability, expenditure efficiency, revenue mobilisation and debt sustainability. According to the statement, “Bayelsa, Imo, Rivers and Zamfara states got zero allocation due to their inability to meet the 2019 eligibility criteria, which required states to publish online approved annual budgets and audited financial statements within a specific timeframe. The minister further noted that the 2019 APA results were a significant improvement on the 2018 APA results where the total performance-based grants of N43.416 billion (USD120.6 million) were received by 24 eligible states, demonstrating the substantive progress states have made on fiscal reforms. She disclosed that the second part of the disbursement involved a new COVID-19 response DLI: The implementation of a tax compliance relief programme for individual taxpayers and businesses by states by September 30, 2020, where 34 out of 36 states (only Anambra and Zamfara states missed out) were able to achieve the results for this new DLI for the total of N32.3 billion (USD 85 million) of grants. The disbursement came after the recent one in November 2020 by the federal government where the sum of N66.5 billion (USD175 million) was granted to 35 states, which achieved results under another new COVID-19 response DLI: the passing of an Amended COVID-19 Responsive 2020 Budget by July 31, 2020. N233 billion disbursed since April The minister observed that since the first disbursement in April 2020, the federal government had thus far disbursed the total sum of N233 billion (USD620.6 million) to the states under the US $750 million World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results. The finance minister reiterated that the World Bank-assisted SFTAS Programme was principally meant to strengthen fiscal management at the state level to ensure effective mobilisation and utilisation of financial resources to the benefit of their citizens. She noted that the SFTAS programme could not have come at a better time, given the dwindling government revenue occasioned by oil price volatility and coupled with the current impact of COVID-19, which has further intensified the need for improved practices in fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability as enunciated in the SFTAS ideals. The minister said that with the disbursement of the total sum of N233.264 billion (USD620.2 million) since the beginning of the Programme for Results, “we have thus far successfully adapted and implemented the SFTAS Programme to provide timely support to states to strengthen their fiscal capacity for responding to numerous fiscal challenges in their respective domains.” “The increase in the number of benefitting states and results achieved is indicative of the wider acceptance of SFTAS ideals by all states of the federation and this would herald a new era of transparency and accountability in fiscal governance at the sub-national level,” the statement said. When contacted, Oguwike Nwachuku, who is the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the state government had nothing to say because the present administration was not in power then. Efforts to get to Chibuike Onyeukwu, the spokesman of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha were not successful. On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Isaac Kamalu asked our reporter to call him back much later because he was in a meeting. The Special Adviser to Zamfara governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communication, Mallam Zailani Bappa, referred our correspondent to the Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Rabiu Garba Gusau. However, the commissioner could not be reached for comment as his phone number was not going through. The Bayelsa State government did not respond to the development as the Commissioner for Information, Ayibina Duba, did not respond to calls nor reply a text message sent to him. Our correspondent reports that because of the political developments in the state occasioned by litigations in courts, Governor Douye Diri presented the budget proposal to the state House of Assembly in March after his swearing on February 14. CSOs harp on accountability The Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said that the organisation had always drawn the attention of authorities to “the financial recklessness, lack of accountability and opaqueness that has characterised the governance of states.” According to him, it was not a surprise that the states had failed key tests on open governance and financial solvency. “It is all a reflection of the ineffective governance that has been on offer in the states. Even the federal government, which is busy conducting the assessments has neither fared better nor led by example. “The way forward is for Nigerians to understand that everything rests on the leadership they elect. From LGA to states to federal levels, Nigeria urgently needs leaders who will show a commitment to prudent and accountable management of scarce public resources,” he said. On his part, the leader of Moving Nigeria for the Better, Hassan Ismail Yusuf, said the government should adopt a carrot and stick approach. “It is not enough not to give anything to states that failed woefully. The government should find a way of sanctioning them by denying them some privileges like federal projects until they change their attitude. “Accountability is the key to responsive leadership. I believe some of the states would not mind if they didn’t get anything from the transparency bonus because they have other options of getting free money. A good example is Rivers State and you need to adopt another method to force them to do the right thing,” he said. https://dailytrust.com/rivers-zamfara-bayelsa-imo-fail-fgs-transparency-test |
Politics / FG Disburses ₦123.348bn Grants To States. Bayelsa, Imo, Rivers, Zamfara Get Zero by agwom(m): 6:58pm On Jan 13, 2021 |
The Federal Government has disbursed another round of performance-based grants to States in the sum of N123.348bn ($324.6m) under its States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme for Results. https://dailytrust.com/fg-disburses-another-n123-348bn-performance-grants-to-states 2 Likes
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Politics / Discos To Close 10m Meter Deficit In 5 Yrs – ANED by agwom(m): 8:08am On Jan 13, 2021 |
The power Distribution Companies (DisCos) are targeting the installation of 10 million meters for all households in at least five years, said its representative group – Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED). https://dailytrust.com/discos-to-close-10m-meter-deficit-in-5-yrs-aned
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Health / Despite COVID-19 Emergency: FG Budgets N5.8bn For Vaccine Institutes by agwom(m): 7:34am On Jan 13, 2021 |
The Federal Government has allocated N5.84 billion in the 2021 budget to key agencies saddled with pharmaceutical research and vaccines development, in spite of the global rush for home-grown vaccines, Daily Trust findings show. The agencies are the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) and the National Arbovirus and Vectors Research Centre (NAVRC), Enugu. NIMR Yaba is highest of the three with N4.23 billion budgeted for the year. NIPRID’s allocation for the year stands at N1.28 billion. NAVRC has the lowest provision of N329.48 million. This comes at a time of increasing pressure on the Federal Government to fast track the production of COVID-19 vaccines at home, to stem the ravaging spread of the virus. The government last month said it would need N400 billion to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigerians between now and 2022. Other countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, Mauritius and Botswana have joined the rest of the world in developing their own vaccines. Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, on Monday announced that the government would provide free vaccines to 103 million Nigerians as provided for in the 2021 budget. Supplementary budget proposal Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, said the Federal Government was working on a supplementary budget proposal to accommodate purchase of additional vaccine doses from pharmaceutical firms abroad. The two top officials spoke during a virtual briefing on the 2021 budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Latest official figures show that Nigeria recorded 101,331 cases of the virus, with 1,361 deaths. Medical experts, however, say the figure would have been higher if there was capacity to test more people. Some experts and pharmacists told Daily Trust that more lives would be saved if Nigeria joined other countries that used the talents of their experts and produced the vaccines. But medical doctors and some researchers said it would be difficult for Nigeria to beat the time considering the speed at which the second wave of the coronavirus is ravaging the world, adding that importing the vaccines at whatever cost remained the only option. Researches Scientists in some universities interviewed by our reporters said they were conducting researches on COVID-19 vaccines but that producing them was not within their mandates. The experts said poor funding for research in the health sector by successive governments over the years would make it difficult to produce vaccines, which were capital intensive and required a lengthy research period. They said Nigeria also lacked infrastructure including laboratories and equipment, manpower as well as technology to produce modern vaccines for viruses like COVID-19. Problems A pointer to the funding challenge is the appropriation to the three key research institutes in the 2021 budget. In 2021, NAVRC gets N118.28 million for personnel expenditure, N9.65 million for overhead expenditure and N201.56 million for capital expenditure while NIPRID is allocated N748.30 million for personnel expenditure, N124.84 million for overhead expenditure and N407.67 million for capital expenditure. The NIMR, on the other hand, gets N883.92 million for personnel cost, N32.24 million for overhead expenditure and N3.31 billion for capital expenditure. Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, a public health expert, says Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from the local production of COVID-19 vaccines given the infectious nature of the disease. He said a COVID-19 vaccine made from the local variant or a strain of the virus in the country would produce a better result and also save the country a lot of foreign exchange. “We are dealing with infective agents that have the capacity to mutate,” he said. “It is already established that Nigeria has its own variant of the virus. So, in vaccine production, you incorporate the agent into the vaccine and the more local the variant or strain used in the vaccine production, the more immunogenic (ability to produce an immune response) the vaccine would be,” he said. Dr Aminu Ibrahim said Nigeria must join the league of countries including some from the third world that have made progress in producing COVID-19 vaccines in line with their peculiarities. Countries that made progress Daily Trust reports that an Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu, who is a Nigerian-born United States-based medical doctor, is currently leading the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. Other countries that have produced the vaccines and put it to use, approved it for usage or approved but not yet in use are Canada, Germany, China, France, Britain, and Ireland. Others are University of Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, South Korea, Northern Ireland, India, Taiwan and Russia. Other countries in different stages of producing vaccines and which were listed are Argentina, Andorra, Armenia, Botswana, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan and Singapore. Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia and Norway, Palau, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa (Biovac Institute), Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Venezuela are also on the list. Nigeria’s capacity in doubt – NMA, PSN President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah, says Nigeria is not ready for local production of COVID-19 vaccines because it does not have the requisite capacity. According to him, some federal institutions have the mandate of producing vaccines. These include the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID), the National Arbovirus Institute, and some universities, among others. He, however, said he was not aware of any proposals from them to carry out COVID-19 vaccines clinical trials or collaborating with other countries. Prof. Ujah said, “We are not ready because one vital component of the response is the research component and the preparation to validate the vaccine through clinical trials. “Vaccine production requires a lot of money and a lot of capacity building for experts and scientists. “You must also have a clinical trial research site. “I am not sure if Nigeria has any of these; so you don’t just wake up and say you want to start the production of vaccines. “I don’t think there is anything on the ground that will enable us to produce vaccines. All we can do is to collaborate with other countries and other research centres to do it,” he said. Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Abuja branch, Pharmacist Jelili Kilani, said Nigeria could not produce COVID-19 vaccines because there was no enabling environment and adequate facilities to do so. Kilani said they had severally raised the alarm over the improper funding of research institutions. According to him, drug production in the country is at the infant stage and that most pharmaceutical drugs and raw materials for the ones produced are being imported. “Production of any vaccines or drug takes like 10 to 15 years, but all the phases were crashed to within nine months for COVID-19 because it is not a disease that waits for anyone. “So, we that have not been able to produce drugs within 10 years how can we produce anyone within one year?” he asked. When contacted, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Babatunde L. Salako, simply said, “We are making efforts and we need government’s support with dedicated funding to make it a success.” The Director-General of NIPRID, Dr Obi Adigwe, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him at press time. However, sources said that the agency was not in the process of producing COVID-19 vaccines locally. Instead, the institute had made efforts towards conventional and alternative medicines that boost the immunity against COVID-19 and hand sanitisers since the onset of the pandemic in the country. Daily Trust reports that it was NIPRID that analysed the Madagascar herb, which it said did not show any evidence of curing COVID-19. https://dailytrust.com/despite-covid-19-emergency-fg-budgets-n5-8bn-for-vaccine-institutes |
Politics / Re: Seven Feared Killed In Fresh Clash Between Herders, Amotekun Operatives In Oyo by agwom(m): 6:13am On Jan 10, 2021 |
Chai |
Politics / PDP Begins Moves To Reclaim Ekiti In 2022 by agwom(m): 6:11am On Jan 10, 2021 |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is strategising, by way of mobilising, repositioning and reactivating its structures to reclaim Ekiti State in the 2022 governorship election. https://dailytrust.com/pdp-begins-moves-to-reclaim-ekiti-in-2022
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Politics / What Awaits New IGP by agwom(m): 5:53am On Jan 10, 2021 |
The Nigerian Police Force is plagued by many challenges including staffing issues, training, endemic corruption and welfare issues. Whoever is the IGP after February 1 will find a lot waiting on his table. It is not entirely clear how many men and women serve in the Nigerian Police Force with different figures being mentioned by the police and the Police Service Commission but generous estimates put the figure at about 400, 000 officers. Many of these are poorly trained, a situation that has resulted in the extra-judicial killings of many Nigerians by the police and very unprofessional conduct by the officers. This contributed in no small measure to the recent #EndSARS protest that has left the force reeling from the anger against them from Nigerians. The protests also left several police officers dead and further bruised already damaged morale in the force. While outgoing IGP Adamu has been touring police formations across the country to lift up the spirits of the men and women of the force, addressing their fears and implementing the much-needed reforms of the force will rest majorly on the shoulders of the in-coming IGP. This goeas without saying in regards to mending the barely-existent police-civil relations. The police are in desperate need of training and the entrenchment of global best practices in the force. This is not something that can be achieved overnight and will take years of planning and decisive execution to achieve. Corruption has already eaten deep into the force and sadly, the police have developed a reputation for not only exploiting Nigerians going about their lawful business but exploiting its officers as well. Salaries and allowances must be improved for police officers and the sorry states of police barracks must be changed to become habitable spaces befitting men and women who put their lives on the line for the security of other Nigerians. All these issues and many more have demoralized the force and made the officers easy to be overrun by the insecurity sweeping across the country—a situation that has seen even security operatives targeted by criminals, hoodlums and now, angry Nigerians on the streets. The new IGP should have ideas about fixing these challenges and must have the willpower to see these ideas through. In a couple of years, the 2023 elections will be upon us and the new IGP must position the force to help deliver peaceful, free and fair elections that Nigerians can be proud of. The failings of the police under successive IGPs have seen the military, and now paramilitary, self-help groups and vigilantes step in to help tackle rampant insecurity. This has left the military overstretched and it now seems no one is in control. The new top cop must position the police to step up and step in and take full control of the security situation in the country. https://dailytrust.com/what-awaits-new-igp |
Health / Why Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Is Amongst Highest In The World by agwom(m): 7:36am On Jan 09, 2021 |
Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with the country accounting for about 20 per cent of global maternal deaths. Daily Trust, in this report, examines some of the factors responsible for this ugly trend. https://dailytrust.com/why-nigerias-maternal-mortality-amongst-highest-in-the-world 3 Likes 1 Share
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Politics / Re: Rigasa Residents Protest Against El-Rufai's Bad Governance In Kaduna by agwom(m): 7:26am On Jan 09, 2021 |
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Politics / Surrounded By Water, Bayelsa Residents Lack Any To Drink by agwom(m): 11:02am On Jan 08, 2021 |
Just like the popular lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” Bayelsa State surrounded by water and recently flooded, is lacking potable water in all the eight local government areas of the state. The state water corporation is not functioning and residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, have no access to the water supply. Promises by the state government through the Ministry of Water Resources has constantly promised to restore public water supply, but the promise is still in the pipeline. This has left residents to source for water from streams and boreholes where these exist. However, the major challenges facing the boreholes and streams water in the state is that the water from those sources is not treated for consumption. There is a high level of rust and iron deposit in the land, thereby making the boreholes water not too good for consumption. Studies revealed that water-borne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, cholera and diarrhoea are on the rise in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region due to the challenges of accessing potable water and the pollution of sources of drinking water in the streams due to oil extraction. Daily Trust reporters who visited some coastal communities in the state learnt that in the past, the rural dwellers were drinking from their streams, but upon the advent of oil and gas exploration, those sources were contaminated due to incessant oil spills and gas flaring. Rent for houses with boreholes is higher than those without and those in such house have to resort to water vendors at exorbitant cost. Checks around Yenagoa indicate that 20 litres of water is sold by vendors at the cost of N40 to N50, while the borehole operators sell 20 litres of water at N20 directly to the resident when there is no power supply. When there is, some residents could buy it at N10. A resident of Yenagoa, Preye Iniefe, told Daily Trust that there was public water supply in the state since 1999 during the administration of the first civilian governor, late Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha and after. However, by 2012, the immediate past governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson carried out some road constructions that destroyed the water pipes. “There is nothing we can do. We are in Nigeria, a country where citizens are expected to provide basic amenities for themselves. In Bayelsa State, we provide power, water, and even roads etc. for ourselves. “All government is doing is to collect taxes. “Recently the state House of Assembly even came out with the bill that all those that have boreholes in their houses will be taxed. Imagine such a funny thing! “So if the government cannot provide water for its citizens, is it wrong for citizens to look for an alternative? “As I am talking to you, Bayelsa State Water Company is not working, the local streams that people used to get drinking water for themselves are being polluted due to oil exploration, so we are left to fend for ourselves,” he said. He said this has resulted in various ailments and water-related diseases “If you move around, just observed the tanks we are taking water from, you will see they are all rusty. “How can you get good water from there?” he said. Last November, the majority of the members in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly had opposed and called for the dismissal of a bill seeking to regulate and impose taxes, levies on the usage of water amongst Bayelsa residents. The bill sponsored by Hon. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai (PDP Yenagoa ll) was intended to force taxes, levies on people before they could drink water from their rivers, drill boreholes, and even swim in these rivers. According to the members, the said bill was anti-people and anti-Bayelsa even when the state government has not been able to provide drinkable water to the masses. Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei, representing Southern-Ijaw Constituency IV, during deliberations, said that the bill would deprive the people of Southern-Ijaw of accessing their God-given waters at will, saying the state government has not provided good water for the people, as such has no right to regulate or impose levies on Bayelsans before they could access natural waters. Another member, Hon. Oboku Oforji, appealed to members to as a matter of urgency dismiss the bill, because l it would be inhuman Hon. Timi Omubo Agala, also described the bill as obnoxious, provoking and vexatious, stating that the bill seeks to create a board to regulate the usage of water is duplicating the job of the Ministry of Water Resources, which will increase the state wage bill and running cost of governance when attention should be directed to a reduction in cost, considering the recession. Also speaking, a civil servant at the state secretariat, who declined to be named, said even in the state government secretariat where civil servant works, there is no public water supply and they are all depending on the borehole. He said if there is a shortage, the various ministries and departments engage the services of water vendors to get water for use. Recently, the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma ward II were in a happy mood as the councillor representing the ward, Hon. Keme Abeki, executed a borehole project. Last year, the people of Otuoke community, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s area, accused the Bayelsa State government of wasting N5.9 billion water intervention project initiated by the Federal Government over its inability to maintain the project and provide potable water. According to them, while people in the rural areas depend heavily on polluted rivers, rivulets and streams for water, those living in Yenagoa, the state capital, buy water from vendors. On September 9, 2016, the Federal Government inaugurated a massive water intervention scheme, the Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State. The project, which gulped N5.9 billion, was sited at Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. While inaugurating the project, then Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said the project was not designed to serve Otuoke alone, as it was established to provide potable water to 13 Ogbia communities to be extended to Yenagoa. However, all those hopes and promises have become a mirage. The project, which had the Fibow Petroleum Engineering Consult Nigeria Limited and the NARDA Limited, as contractors, died shortly after it was inaugurated and was handed over to the state government. In what seemed like an effort to bring back public water supply in the state and reactivate the State Water Corporation, the government under Governor Douye Diri has reiterated its resolve to the provision of adequate water supply to residents of the state. Hon. Keme Wariebi, the commissioner for water resources, said this during a water test run tour to Okaka community last week. Wariebi said the intervention of the administration in the rehabilitation of the water work in the state will also prevent waterborne diseases. He said with the rehabilitation work going on at the water board at Okaka and Ovom, it will increase its daily output by about 70 per cent. “We now have new equipment such as pumping machines, filters, filters control, transformers, low and high lift pump among others. “I urge the residents to protect government utilities from vandals so as to complement the state government’s effort in providing portable drinking water,” he said. Until these repairs are done, residents of Bayelsa like the sailors in Coleridge’s poem will continue to be thirsty while being surrounded by water. https://dailytrust.com/surrounded-by-water-bayelsa-residents-lack-any-to-drink
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Religion / Re: US Senate Chaplain Quotes TB Joshua Prophecy On Joe Biden by agwom(m): 10:52am On Jan 08, 2021 |
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