The Pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has kicked against the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram insurgents into the society.

The National Chairman of the group, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the repentant Boko Haram members should be prosecuted for the crimes committed against Nigerians.

Ogbeh, a former Minister of Agriculture, said this in a statement he personally signed and released by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The statement was entitled, ‘On repentant Boko Haram Terrorists and the Principle of Equity and Justice’.

It read, “We are currently witnessing large scale surrender of large numbers of Boko Haram Insurgents, among whom are bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists, and child snatchers.

44 Boko Haram members found dead in prison
“Do we have good reason to cheer and hope for an end to this decade-old insanity? Is ‘I am sorry’ enough to bring relief to Nigerians and the thousands of the dead and the maimed? What of those victims bombed in the churches, mosques, schools, and markets? What of all the men and women in uniform murdered by them?

“Who can count the thousands of widows and orphans they have created?

“So, what do we do with them? Should we just embrace them and trust them wholesale? Are their moves informed by altruistic repentance? We seriously doubt.

“We join the Governor of Borno (Babagana Zulum), The Shehu of Borno, Senator Ndume and millions of Nigerians in pondering over this development and our simple advice is: Bring them to trial, or free all others presently in custody anywhere, while we Nigerians plead guilty of naivety and gullibility in the extreme, punishable by more insurrection and anarchy.”

Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mrs. Olubamiro Adeosun, Head of Service, Mrs. Ololade Agboola and Director-General, Due Process, Ms Tara Adefope, were the only trio spared by Governor Seyi Makinde, who sacked his cabinet on Tuesday, The Nation has learnt.

The list of the sacked appointees include Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka and all 17 Commissioners.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded that despite the $3.5 billion loan it gave Nigeria to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, socio-economic conditions have worsened.

In a report published, on Monday, on the Article IV Consultation for 2020, which ended on January 27, the Board noted that “Nigeria’s economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a sharp drop in oil prices and capital outflows, real GDP is estimated to have contracted by 3.2 per cent in 2020 amidst the pandemic-related lockdown.

“In April 2020, Nigeria received IMF emergency financial assistance of $3.5 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument to help cushion the impact of the pandemic.

In a report published, on Monday, on the Article IV Consultation for 2020, which ended on January 27, the Board noted that “Nigeria’s economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a sharp drop in oil prices and capital outflows, real GDP is estimated to have contracted by 3.2 per cent in 2020 amidst the pandemic-related lockdown.

“In April 2020, Nigeria received IMF emergency financial assistance of $3.5 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument to help cushion the impact of the pandemic.

“Headline inflation rose to 14.9 per cent in November 2020, a 33-month high, reflecting core and food inflation increases emanating from supply shortages due to the lockdown effected to curb infections alongside, the land-border closure and continued import restrictions.

“The unemployment rate reached 27 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, with youth unemployment at 41 per cent.

“External vulnerabilities due to lower oil prices and weak global demand have increased, with the current account remaining in deficit in the first half of 2021,” the Fund noted.

It, however, commended government for acting swiftly to adopt a pandemic-related support package equivalent to 0.3 per cent of GDP in the 2020 revised federal budget despite limited fiscal space.

At the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) admitted that the 0.3 per cent of GDP COVID-19 stimulus package was abysmally little and said it would provide more.

Looking ahead, IMF directors emphasised the need for urgent policy adjustment and more fundamental reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability and lift growth and employment.

While welcoming removal of the fuel subsidy and steps to implement cost-reflective tariff increases in the power sector, the directors “stressed the need for significant revenue mobilization to reduce fiscal sustainability risks, relying initially on progressive and efficiency-enhancing measures with higher tax rates awaiting a more sustained economic recovery.”

They highlighted the need for improved social safety nets to cushion potential negative impacts on the poor.

The recommended gradual and multi-step approach to establishing a unified and clear exchange rate regime with the near-term focus on allowing for greater flexibility and removing the payments backlog.

“Directors observed that the accommodative monetary stance remains appropriate in the near term, although tightening may be warranted if the balance of payments or inflationary pressures were to increase.

“In the medium term, the monetary policy operational framework should be reformed and Central Bank financing of budget deficit phased out in order to reduce inflation.

“While welcoming the resilience of the banking sector, Directors called for continued vigilance to contain financial stability risks.

“They noted that COVID-19 debt relief measures for bank clients should remain time-bound and limited to those with good pre-crisis fundamentals.

“Directors welcomed recent progress in structural reforms and called for continued reforms aimed at promoting economic diversification and reducing the dependence on oil and increasing employment.

“In addition, they encouraged strengthening governance and anti-corruption frameworks, including compliance with AML/CFT measures.”

More Nigerians have continued to test positive for COVID-19 and more deaths have been recorded from its complications, Tribune Online analysis shows.

However, Nigeria recorded fewer COVID-19 infections and deaths when compared to the previous week. It also recorded increased recoveries during the same period…Despite loans, Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions deteriorated ― IMF

Despite loans, Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions deteriorated ― IMF

There was a miild drama on Sunday at the Oluyole, Ibadan residence of the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, when the state deputy governor Rauf Olaniyan was denied access to the eighth day fidau prayers holding in the compound.

The family had announced the fidau prayer as a private programme, urging the public to watch through virtual channels including Zoom, YouTube and Facebook.

Olaniyan arrived the residence at about 11:20 am in a convoy of five vehicles. On getting to the gate of the road leading to Ajimobi’s residence, the convoy was stopped by policemen and members of other security agencies manning the gate. They insisted that only the deputy governor’s vehicle could be allowed into the street to join the prayer.

The deputy governor’s security details initially rebuffed the idea but when their argument was degenerating, a senior policeman intervened and they eventually agreed that only the deputy governor’s vehicle should go in.

But on getting to Ajimobi’s house, the gate was also locked. The deputy governor’s aides introduced their principal but they were told that the gate had been locked, and that Mrs Ajimobi was in possession of the key. Olaniyan waited, believing that the issue would be sorted in no time.

After waiting for about 15 minutes, however, without any positive development, Olaniyan left the residence.

Prayers were still ongoing as at press time.

A Rivers High Court has restrained former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Giadom from parading himself as a member or officer of the party.

Justice C. Nwogu gave the order in a suit filed by Okechukwu Chidor Ogbonna and Mac-Lords Peterson against APC Rivers chapter; Acting chairman of the chapter Igo Aguma; Victor Giadom and Golden Chioma in Port-Harcourt.

The court stated having been suspended by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of APC, Giadom should not participate in the activities of the party pending determination of the substantive case.

The judge ruled: “An order of interim order is hereby made restraining the third defendant from parading himself as an officer or member… or exercising any right or privilege accruable to members….”

APC Rivers had forwarded Barrister Worgu Boms as replacement to National Working Committee (NWC), which swore him in on Monday.

The Judge adjourned further hearing in the suit to July, 9 2020.

Togo, Niger, and Benin Republic did not pay their N32.04 billion bills for the electricity Nigeria supplied to them in 2019, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said.

According to data from the NERC, the three countries received a total invoice of N32.04 billion for the electricity supplied to them in 2019.

The commission had earlier said the trio owe Nigeria N29.97 billion.

Through its electricity transmission company, Nigeria supplies power to these countries, which are classified as international customers in the Nigerian power sector.

Niger’s power firm, Societe Nigerienne electricity, failed to pay a total invoice of N3.01 billion it received in the first quarter of 2019; N3.69 billion in the second quarter, N4.1 billion in the third quarter and N2.07 in the fourth quarter.

Communaute Electrique du Benin, a power firm owned by Togo and Benin, did not pay N9.74 billion for the power supplied to it in the first quarter; N7.16 billion in the second quarter; and N2.27 billion in the third quarter.

It, however, did not receive any invoice for the fourth quarter of 2019.

NERC said in its latest quarterly report that during the quarter under review, the special and international class of customers made no payment to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator.

The NERC quarterly report analyses the state of the Nigerian electricity industry (covering both the operational and commercial performance), regulatory functions, consumer affairs as well as the commission’s finances and staff development.

“The Federal Government has continued to engage the governments of neighbouring countries benefitting from the export supply to ensure timely payments for the electricity purchased from Nigeria,” it said.

Like its last report, the commission laments that the financial viability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry is still a major challenge threatening its sustainability.

“As highlighted in the preceding quarterly reports, the liquidity challenge is partly due to the non-implementation of cost-reflective tariffs, high technical and commercial losses exacerbated by energy theft and consumers’ apathy to payments under the widely prevailing practice of estimated billing.

“The severity of the liquidity challenge in NESI was reflected in the settlement rates of the energy invoices issued by NBET to each of the DisCos as highlighted above, as well as the non-payment by the special and international customers”.

The Presidency on Tuesday reacted to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a new Chief of Staff, CoS.

Reports on social media had it that Buhari appointed Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as his new CoS, following the demise of Abba Kyari.

When DAILY POST reached out to Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesperson said he was not aware of such development.

In a text sent, Garba wrote: “I have not been briefed.”

The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has offered all its 425 health facilities across the country as isolation centres for COVID-19.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), who disclosed this at the presidential task force briefing on Monday said state governments can now take advantage of the facilities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had said no state in the country has enough bed spaces for COVID-19 patients, but with the recent donations, Mustapha who chairs the presidential task force on COVID-19, said these would add in the committee’s support for the state governments.

“As part of efforts to support the states in the establishment of the isolation and treatment centres, I wish to remind our governors that the Catholic Bishops Conference has volunteered all the 425 hospitals and clinics nationwide for adaptation and use as isolation centres,” he said.

“Governors are encouraged to please approach Catholic Bishops in their states to access these facilities.

“​As a further cost-effective measure, I also wish to remind subnational authorities that the Nigeria Institute of Architects has pledged the pro bono services of their members to modify, design and supervise all COVID-19 related projects nationwide. Again, we urge that this offer be taken up speedily.”

The SGF also said the Thisday Dome treatment and isolation facility will be commissioned on Tuesday.

Nduka Obaigbena, publisher of THISDAY newspaper, had donated the facility to support the fight against COVID-19 in Abuja.

“It will add a total of 270 beds to our isolation capacity in Abuja. This is a private sector-driven initiative and we commend the efforts of this Thisday, NNPC, Sahara Energy Group, CCECC and all the partners involved in this enterprise,” Mustapha said.

The management of Air Peace has declared that three members of its flight crew did not abscond from the quarantine facility provided by the Lagos state government as reported by a Newspaper (Not Nigerian Tribune).

A newspaper had earlier reported that three crew members of the Air Peace flight that airlifted medical supplies and Chinese medical personnel, operated by Boeing B777-200 ER (P4 5-NBVE), which arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on April 8, 2020, absconded from the quarantine facility in Lagos.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Toyin Olajide, all the crew that operated the flight, which includes six pilots, eight cabin crew, two engineers and one dispatch officer are still quarantined under the supervision of the Lagos state government.

Olajide explained that at the onset of the flight to China, the crew was tested for COVID-19 and each member tested negative and the airline followed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) protocol to ensure that its crew members were protected from exposure to the virus.

She said that on arrival at Beijing airport, none of the crew members came out of the aircraft while the aircraft was loaded with medical supplies and the Chinese medical team boarded the aircraft from the central door and stayed in the business class cabin and the flight left for Nigeria.

She also explained that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved standard protocol to protect flight crew during the COVID-19 pandemic and NCAA adopted it, adding that it is this protocol that Air Peace followed in conducting the flight to Beijing.

Olajide said that the crew members did not know that they would be quarantined on arrival and when the aircraft landed in Abuja and concerned authorities suggested it, Air Peace argued against it because it followed NCAA protocol in conducting the flight, so the discussion on it was inconclusive when the flight headed to Lagos.

“But the airline learnt later that while the flight was airborne to Lagos, Abuja had directed the Lagos state government to quarantine the crew; so on arrival, while the engineers and the dispatcher went down to the foot of the aircraft to secure it, the Lagos state government health team took the pilots and the cabin crew to quarantine.

“Ignorant that they would be quarantined, the engineers and the dispatcher finished their work and went home, but later the Lagos state government contacted Air Peace and said that the engineers and the dispatcher ought to be quarantined and we called them and they went to the quarantine facility and they have been there since then.

“So the report that indicated that members of our crew ran away from quarantine is not true. It is a report written in bad taste and it is not good because the crew did a heroic thing and needed to be commended instead of being vilified,” Olajide said.

NCAA, in a circular issued to airlines and other stakeholders with ref: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/110 dated March 28, 2020, outlined the protocol in handling cargo and other essential flights during the COVID-19 and among the directives include the fact that “Nigerian operators on any approved flight to any destination with over 1000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 shall ensure the provision of reinforced flight crew (two sets) for immediate return in accordance with relevant protocols.

NCAA also directed that “there shall be no servicing of aircraft (catering, water, trash etc) except refuelling; and this must be accomplished with the flight crew on board.”

Mrs Olajide said the airline kept to this protocol and instead of a two-flight crew; it went with three sets of flight crew and strictly kept to the NCAA protocol until it landed in Abuja.

“While we kept to the directive of quarantining the crew members that conducted the flight, we are surprised that after we followed this protocol the crew members were still asked to quarantine. ICAO’s intention with the protocol is to ensure that the flight crew is not quarantined after their operation. Every day flights are operated all over the world moving medicals and other critical items. If you quarantine the pilots who will be flying these items that are needed to safe human lived under this COVID-19 pandemic?” Olajide asked.

The Catholic Church in Rivers State on Friday asked its members to stay safe and observe Easter Sunday at home.

This was contained in a letter addressed to all priests signed by Camillus Etokudoh, the Bishop of Port-Harcourt Diocese.

Governor Nyesom Wike had relaxed the lockdown order in the state on Thursday.

A statement by his spokesman, Simeon Nwakaudu, explained that the ease was to enable Christians to observe their religious obligations during Easter.

Wike’s directive also permits the Muslim community to observe their Jumat prayers within the period.

But in his memo entitled “Pastoral update following Governor’s broadcast”, Bishop Etokudoh thanked Governor Wike for his consideration.

He, however, noted that in view of the threat COVID-19 poses, it was better to be careful and continue to observe social distancing, the established measure of preventing the pandemic.

The cleric’s letter read: “With prayerful meditation on the Holy Week, I sincerely thank you our priests and lay faithful for adhering so far to our Diocesan directives/guidelines for the celebration of the Holy Week.

“We deeply appreciate the State-wide broadcast of the Governor of Rivers State, yesterday, on Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020 during which he temporarily relaxed the restrictions on large religious gatherings for Moslems on Friday April 10, 2020, for their prayers and for Christians on Sunday April 12, 2020 to have their full congregation for Easter celebrations.

“However, in the face of the threats of COVID-19 and having prayerfully considered the implications of the Risks to our expected crowded congregation on normal Easter Sunday celebrations, we hereby request you our priests and lay faithful to continue to keep to the CBCN and our Diocesan Pastoral directives/guidelines for the celebrations of Holy Week including Easter Sunday till further notice.”

Bishop Etokudoh prayed to the Lord to hear the cries of Nigerians, give everyone Easter blessings and heal the world of COVID-19.

Also on Friday, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) condemned governors’ resolutions to relax the lockdown in their states despite coronavirus scare.

The ‘Stay at home’ order effected to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the country has been lessened in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers States.

A statement by NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile and Secretary, Olumuyiwa Odusote, warned that directives authorizing the mass observance of Jumat prayers and Easter Sunday services could have serious consequences.

The body of doctors noted that undermining a guideline against mass gatherings can only heighten the curve of transmission dynamics.

The NMA appealed to the governors to reverse their pronouncements in the interest of Nigerians’ safety.

Meanwhile, Nigerians are awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s next action as the 14-day lockdown slammed on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States expires Monday April 13.

The Federal Government has withdrawn the plea made by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning demanding ventilators from a United States’ billionaire, Elon Musk in order to provide treatment for the Coronavirus patients within Nigeria.

Musk, the founder and Chief Engineer, SpaceX, had tweeted on Thursday that his firm had extra ventilators that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in America.

“We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. We will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients and not stored in a warehouse,” his tweet read.

In an early response, the ministry of finance, budget and national planning had shown willingness to receive the kind gesture, opening up on the need of 100 to 500.

The ministry tweeted, “Dear @Elonmusk @Tesla Federal Government of Nigeria needs support with 100 to 500 ventilators to assist with Covid-19 cases rising every day in Nigeria.”

Following an immediate backlash from the public, however, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to the minister on Media and Communications, issued a disclaimer that the unauthorised post made with the ministry’s verified Twitter handle is regrettable and therefore brought down.

He wrote: “An unauthorised post was made on the verified Twitter handle of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“The fact of the post is regrettable because of which it is brought down. We have made sure our internal processes are strengthened that such doesn’t happen again.

“The error is highly regrettable.”

The Oyo State Government has announced the recovery of the index Covid-19 case in the state.

This came moments after the state governor, Seyi Makinde, tested positive to the infection.

“The news of Makinde’s positive test came on the heels of the release of the state’s index case from the COVID-19 isolation centre,” Taiwo Adisa, the chief press secretary of Mr Makinde, wrote in a press statement issued on Monday evening.

“The release of the patient was consequent upon the completion of his treatment at the Agbami Chest Hospital isolation centre, Ibadan.

“The American returnee had initially tested negative only for the second test to read positive.

“The index case had been on self-isolation at a private residence in Ibadan until he was transferred to the isolation centre at Agbami, Jericho area of Ibadan on March 23.”

The index case was released after two consecutive negative tests, the statement added.

The statement also quoted the state’s incident manager, Taiwo Ladipo, as saying that the confirmed case spent six days in the isolation centre and had two negative tests.

“He is well and very stable and is now back to his house. The infectious disease specialist will be reviewing him for follow up action,” the official reportedly said.

According to official data as at the time of filing this report, Nigeria has a total of 131 COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Of the 131 cases, Oyo has eight.