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US-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute Tribunal, headed by Professor William Park has ordered Inter Ocean to pay the Federal Government of Nigeria $660,129.87 as reimbursement of its share of the arbitration cost incurred in the proceedings.

The tribunal also absolved the Federal Government of Nigeria from any liability as Nigeria did not breach any of its obligations in the contract agreement with Inter Ocean Development Company and Inter-Ocean Oil Exploration Company.

Dr Umar Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) said in a statement on Wednesday that the oil companies that has among its legal team, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN) requested for an order of the tribunal directing the Federal Government of Nigeria, its relevant privies and instrumentalities to pay aggravated damages in an amount to be proven during the arbitral proceedings which the claimants estimated to be at in excess of $ 1.5 billion.

Gwandu said in the tribunal, in its judgment found out that the Federal of Government of Nigeria did not breach its obligations towards the claimants under Nigerian law or under international law.

“The tribunal finds no liability on the part of the respondent in connection with claimants’ loss of control over their investment, Pan Ocean,” the judgment reads in part.

The AGF, in his reaction, described the judgment as an addition to the multiple success stories recorded in international litigations by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Malami who renewed his commitment to patriotically and relentlessly discharge his constitutional mandates in the best interest of the country and the general public said, gone was the era of connivance to deprive the nation of its resources for gratifying ulterior motives of vested interest at the expense of the Nigeria populace.

Three days to the governorship election in Ondo State, the candidates of political parties participating in the election have signed a peace accord as part of the efforts to ensure the exercise is violence-free.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, and the Zenith Labour Party’s candidate and deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, together with the candidates of other parties signed the accord.

However, there was a mild drama at the conclusion of the event as Akeredolu refused to shake hands with the deputy governor.

The Master of Ceremony had asked the three major candidates to embrace, shake hands or bump elbows with one another as a sign that they had embraced peace.

Akeredolu greeted PDP’s candidate, Jegede, by bumping elbow with him as requested by MC but when it was the turn of his deputy, the governor refused to shake hands with or embrace him.

Instead, Akeredolu just waved at Ajayi.

The event was organised by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission and held at the International Events Centre, Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) senators on Wednesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for what they called his unique approach to governance.

Two of the PDP lawmakers, who spoke at plenary, commended Buhari’s leadership style for prioritising the interest of Nigerians over partisanship.

Under Order 43 of the Senate standing rules, the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP – Taraba South), praised Buhari for commencing the construction of Ibbi bridge in his constituency.

He stated that the people of his constituency had written a letter of appreciation commending Buhari for a promise kept.
According to the lawmaker, the resuscitated project, which connects Taraba and Plateau States, is a dream come true for the people of Taraba South Senatorial District.

“We are very happy and want to extend our appreciation to President Buhari by presenting this letter on behalf of my constituents,” Bwacha said.

Another lawmaker, also under Order 43, Sen. Matthew Urhogide (PDP – Edo South), was full of praise for Buhari over his efforts in ensuring transparency in the conduct of the governorship election in Edo.

According to him, the outcome of the election signals the return of the country’s electoral process to the path of transparency and fairness.

“I want to put on record that the people of Edo State wish to thank Mr President for making INEC and the police to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

“This is why I’m coming from the Senate to say it openly and clearly that what Mr President did to ensure free and fair election on the 19th of September in Edo State gives hope to this country.

“I want to tell the Senate that we are not ashamed, even though we are in the opposition to commend Mr President.

“I want to commend some of the institutions like INEC that discharged their duties to the best of their ability by ensuring that the will of the people prevailed in that election.

“The Inspector-General of Police, whom we met, promised that the Nigeria Police will carry out its duties fairly; and indeed they did that.

“INEC promised fairness to all, and they did that, from when the votes were cast at the polling units to collation centres, and we found out that they did the correct thing,” Urhogide said.

In his remark, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said that the day was a very good day for democracy in Nigeria.

“Even though some of our colleagues here are in the opposition, the two distinguished senators who spoke, eulogized the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration; and they have very solid grounds for doing so.

“This is how it should be.

“I want to congratulate the PDP and people of Edo State for winning the election.

“We look forward to October when the APC would do the same here, and congratulate the President, the IGP and everybody for free and fair elections in Ondo.

“I hope that the opposition will not see that election as compromised,” he added.

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved $1,959,744,723.71 for the construction of a rail line that will link Nigeria to Niger Republic.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the sum approved for the development of the proposed rail line linking Kano-Dutse-Katsina-Jibia and to Maradi in Niger Republic is inclusive of Value Added Tax.

Amaechi said apart from that, the council also approved the award of a contract worth N3.049 bilion for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of one railway crane for the purposes of clearing rail tracks in situations of accidents.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5% VAT.

The rail project is expected to serve as a major booster for the transportation of petroleum product from the Refinery and Petrochemical company in Maradi in Niger Republic which is already sending some refined petroleum product to Nigeria.

The Ministry of Transportation also got approvals for rather award of contract for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of one railway crane of 150 ton capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

This is to sort out the situations of accident on rail track at the total cost of N3,049,544,000.

The Council also approved the N12.088b for the Section two of the Ohafia to Arochukwu road.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola while briefing after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, disclosed that the section comprises Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia road in Abia State

The contract was approved for construction at N12.088 billion comprising a distance of 45 kilometers to complement Section One which was previously awarded in 2018.

“ That section is the section from Bende/Arochukwu to Ohafia which was 19.27 kilometers. So with this award now, the entire length of the road is now under contract with the same contractor and we hope for expeditious execution.”

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said FEC also approved the procurement of 1,800 units of laptop computers for training school and computer-based test examinations at three Nigeria Customs Service training schools in Gwagwalada, Lagos and Kano for a sum of N351,540,000, with a completion period of six weeks.

Mohammed who briefed on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said the Ministry also got another approval for N197,843,100 for the expansion of the Nigeria Customs Service’s cash management’s software in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). This is also going to enhance the efficiency of the Department of Customs.

Finally, on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, a memo was presented today asking for approval for the augmentation of the contract for the construction of Petroleum Technology Development Fund corporate headquarters office in Abuja, for the sum of N3,773,784,399.48, therefore raising the initial approval for the contract to about N14 billion.

The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs also got additional approval of N745.2 million, as part of the procurement of Field Forensic Auditors for the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission

This brings to the total number of field forensic auditors to 16 in addition to the earlier approved Lead Forensic Auditors, messrs Olumiluwa Bashir and Co.

“These people are now going to be charge of the nine states of the Niger Delta which has been divided into 16 lots. As I stated earlier, lots one is Ernst and Young for the headquarters. They will be undertaking the 19 years of audit and also bring out the organigram for restructuring of the NDDC for better performance in future.

Council also considered and approved the need to attach investigative security agencies, the relevant ones to each of the team to ensure transparency and also to be sure that whatever comes out is acceptable to not just in Nigeria but to the international community.

On his part, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola said, the Ministry got approval for the award of contract for the procurement of 52 number operational Green Maria vehicle to facilitate effective operation in the Correctional Service as well as ease of movement of awaiting trial inmate from the Custodial centres 247 of them in all to about 5022 courts in Nigeria.

“This is to compliment what we have already acquired between 2016 and 2019 of about 451 Operational Green Maria vehicles. The objective is to ensure that the delay associated with trial of inmate” he said

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, through Crusoe Osagie, his Special Adviser, has cried out that “there is an ongoing deliberate election manipulation in areas where he has strongholds.

Obaseki is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent Governor of Edo State.

According to him: “Suddenly, card readers are not working in areas where Governor Godwin Obaseki is very popular.

“Voters are being disenfranchised and we are constrained to say that this is sabotage,” Osagie said in a statement to DAILY POST on Saturday during the polls.

“Specifically, in Oredo Ward 1, Unit 20 and other places where the Governor is clearly popular, the card readers are not working.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should prove to Edo voters that it can conduct a credible election in Edo State.”

Presidency has replied former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over his recent comment against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.


Obasanjo had at an interactive session with some socio-cultural groups in Abuja on Friday, said that Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state, noting that the country is economically becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world.

According to him: “Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state, economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.


“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country.

“Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere”

Reacting on Sunday, Presidency through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said: “In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

“The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

“Before responding further to the unfair attacks on President Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which President Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law.


“Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cause concern among democrats in the sub-region given its prospects of destabilizing the states and the region.

“President Buhari’s advocacy is consistent with his principles and in line with the current policies of his administration and indeed that of the ECOWAS Charter which is that term limits must be respected and that the change of government is only permissible through the ballot box.


“Having cleared this misperception, we hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

“As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.


“Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

“No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

“The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successor administrations of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as a another waste of time and resources.

“To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of constitutional amendment was kickstarted and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the country’s Judiciary. These changes have already been signed into laws by the President as mandated by the constitution.

“The recent decisions by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

“It’s a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They failed in achieving these measures because, one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.


“Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

“This President has run an administration focused on infrastructure and development. He has repaired our damaged relations with neighbours and our traditional allies such as the UK, US, China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

“It is a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

“He leads a government that has liberalized the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the world’s top reforming economies.

“Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

“With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver, but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn.”

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said the power distribution companies will be liable to capacity charge for failure to take their entire load allocation caused by constraints in their networks.

NERC disclosed this in a document seen by our correspondent on Thursday in which it announced to the Discos the review of the extraordinary tariff review application filed by them.

Last week, the Discos announced what they called “new service reflective tariff”, which took effect from September 1, 2020, with the tariffs being charged residential consumers receiving a minimum of 12 hours of power supply rising by over 70 per cent.

The PUNCH had reported on Monday that the Transmission Company of Nigeria said the Discos failed to distribute 8,733.39MW in the week ended August 30.

The TCN, which manages the national grid, is still fully owned and operated by the government.

“Where it is established that the TCN is unable to deliver load allocation, the TCN shall be liable to pay for the associated capacity charge,” NERC said in the document.

According to the regulator, where a Disco fails to take its entire load allocation due to constraints in its own network, it shall be liable to pay the capacity charge as allocated in its vesting contract.

It said, “The average tariff for each Disco was determined considering the projected energy offtake of the company based on its percentage load allocation in the vesting contract.

“NBET shall continue to invoice the Disco for capacity charge and energy based on its load allocation and metered energy respectively in accordance with the December 2019 Minor Review of MYTO 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for Year 2020.”

NERC said several Discos and the TCN considered the current Multi-Year Tariff Order load allocation as sub-optimal, given the changes that had occurred in load growth and capacities of the transmission and distribution networks.

It added, “However, a full justification for a holistic review of the MYTO load allocation could not be established during this extraordinary tariff review process.

“Accordingly, the commission orders that the current MYTO load allocation shall be maintained for the purpose of computing the relevant tariffs of all Discos.”

Total power generation in the country stood at 3,127.6 megawatts as of 6am on Thursday, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity System Operator.

The TCN’s data on national grid performance from August 24 to 30 which was released on Saturday showed that the electricity distributed by the Discos during the week averaged 3,419.78MW.

The system operator put the national peak demand forecast at 28,290MW; installed generation capacity at 12,910.40MW; available capacity at 7,652.60MW; transmission wheeling capacity at 8,100MW; and peak generation at 5,420.30MW.

NERC, in its report on power supply status on all 132/33/11kV interface substation in August, warned Discos against load rejection.

It said, “Discos should be cautioned on deliberate refusal to clear faults on some 33kV feeders within the timeline of eight hours as stipulated in the Reporting Compliance Regulations.

“Discos should also be cautioned against deliberate isolation of some sections of 33kV feeders to limit the loading of the feeders and denying customers electricity services.”

Kano State Police Command on Friday, averted a purported plan by one Abba Ahmed, from committing suicide over his Social Media “love” for Hanan Buhari, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abba Ahmed (22), a final-year student of​ Accounting at Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano says his message has gone viral on his Facebook and Instagram handles, where he vowed to commit suicide if he failed to marry Hanan.
A reliable source who preferred anonymity disclosed that On getting wind of​ Abba’s post,​ the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, signalled Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Sani, for the immediate invitation of Abba who resides in Kano.
It was also added that Frank Mba spoke with Abba on phone for about seven minutes, advising him on the need to face better goals in future, than to commit suicide over a phantom marriage, borne out of infatuation, triggered by Social Media blues.
After been counselled by Commissioner of Police, Habu Sani, Abba then regretted his actions, and also expressed his intention to join the police and serve his country, patriotically.

Speaking to our correspondent after denouncing his actions, Comrade Abba said he was moved to join the Nigeria Police Force, following the way he was counselled by Mr Frank Mba and Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Sani.

According to him, “I am impressed with the way Mr Frank Mba spoke to me. I also became very sober when the Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Sani counselled me and urged me to desist from such thinking. The Chief Imam of the Police Command also admonished me.

“I have denounced my earlier intention. I will no longer commit suicide. I will respect myself and wait for a woman I can call my own wife. I love my life now, and I want to live and fulfil my life ambition.”

When asked what attracted him to Hanan Buhari, Abba said, “I loved Hanan because of her beautiful face. I admired her because of the integrity of her father (President Buhari). I also loved her because of the level of her education.”

Abba said he actually made efforts to contact Hanan and her parents through Social Media, where he severally expressed his intention towards Hanan, “but I don’t think she knew I loved her. I tried to inform her, I do not think the message reached her. I also tried sending messages to President Buhari through the Social Media, I do not think he actually got the message.”

Abba who also deals on fabrics and textile materials at the popular Kantin Kwari Textile Market said he is now ready to begin a new life with a woman she can call his own.

He wished Hanan Buhari and her newly wedded husband a happy married life while urging Nigerian youths to invest their time on better things, rather than surfing the Social Media for reasons that are irresponsible.

Dagger111:
OP modify ur topic abeg.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo has said neither the party nor the state government was responsible for the damage or removal of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate’s billboards.

The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Nehikhare, said this while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Benin.

The APC, in a statement issued by the Director of Publicity of Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation, Mr John Mayaki, had, on Saturday, raised the alarm that the campaign billboards of Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu were being destroyed and pulled down in some part of the state.

Mayaki had further alleged that the PDP and the state government were responsible for the act.

However, Nehikhare described the allegation against the PDP and the state government as ‘frivolous and unsubstantiated’.

He said that the party and the state government were also shocked at the development, even as he condemned the act.


The PDP publicity secretary added that in view of this development, the state government had put the security agencies on notice to ensure that the perpetrators of the act were apprehended, while also advising the APC to look inward.

“It is a known fact that there are factions within the APC in the state. Perhaps the factions could be responsible.

“Let me make it categorically clear that PDP or the state government has no hands in the destruction or damage of the billboards mounted by the APC.


“While we condemn the act, we, however, advise APC to look inwards, as it is common knowledge that the party is seriously divided and populated by factions.

“It is laughable that the APC will contemplate that PDP or its government will pay attention to its posters or billboards without messages and want them destroyed or damaged.” He said.

Nehikhare further said that the PDP and the state government could not be blackmailed or distracted by the allegations, adding that the people of the state were too politically sophisticated to fall for such antics.

“We will concentrate on our agenda of ‘resetting’ Edo for a better and brighter tomorrow and not lose sleep over the baseless allegations,” he said.

A former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, has narrated how he recovered from COVID-19 two weeks after testing positive to the disease.

Mr Okupe, who alongside his wife tested positive to the disease on 23 April, said he was compelled to reveal how he survived the virus after a comment on his Facebook post had discredited the existence of COVID-19.

“It is sad the level of distrust in this country. Some people wrote on my Facebook wall that in spite of my post, that all the COVID-19 talk is a scam. And that I should post a video to convince them. Well I dont hv (sic) a video,” he said in the post.

Responding to queries about how he had survived the disease, he said he used the anti-malaria drug—hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and vitamin C.

“The medications I took for my covid19 virus infections:Hydroxychloroquine, 400mg daily for 2days, thereafter 400mg daily for 3days. Azithromycin 500mg daily for 10 days. Zinc sulphate 100mg daily and Vitamin C 1200 mg daily till now,” he said.

He said he used the anti-malaria drug “because he was down with malaria while on admission for coronavirus treatment.”

This, he said, was followed by the usage of Augmentine for the treatment of cough.

“I had malaria while on admission. Was effectively treated with an anti malaria. I also developed cough after about a week and was effectively treated by fairly large dose of Augmentine for 7 days,” he said.

Warning
As scientists rush to find a lasting end to the pandemic, the World Health Organisation has warned that there is no yet approved vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19.

The WHO has also cautioned against physicians and medical associations recommending or administering unproven treatments to patients with COVID-19 or people self-medicating with them without sufficient evidence.

It said the treatment of the disease lies with the capability of the individual patients’ immune system to heal from the disease naturally.

It recommends the boosting of the immune system.

Meanwhile, the United States, France, China and others are ramping up efforts in the clinical trials of antimalarial drugs like chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, Ebola vaccine—Remdesivir among others.

Nigeria has also joined the global experimentation of treating coronavirus patients with these drugs and is also looking into herbal remedies like that deployed in Madagascar.

Nonetheless, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that it has not granted approval for any vaccine for the treatment and cure of COVID-19.

There is no universally medical consensus on a specific treatment for COVID-19 because most clinical trials of drugs being carried out across the globe have limited scientific acceptability or have not resulted in 100 per cent success, according to WHO.

But Mr Okupe argued that the humongous nature of the global emergency makes it impossible for countries not to explore experimental drugs that show any possibility or potential to contain the virus.

He said he believed “the chloroquine regime is the most promising” of all the drugs.

“In my own case, I commenced treatment with the hydroxychloroquine regime 4 days to my isolation. This was because I read extensively on various options of treatment for covid 19 and I followed the global debate on the pros & cons of d treatment.

“With my medical background and consultations locally with colleagues I already made up my mind that the chloroquine regime was so far the most promising,” he wrote.

However, he cautioned against using it without consulting a physician.

Immunity
Mr Okupe said he ingested immune boosting drugs and preparations like zinc sulphate, immunace, reloaded and similar immunity enhancing drugs.

“I also took copious amount of ginger, garlic, tumeric and lemon. In Kaduna I am told that they add dongoyaro leaves to the above mixture and drink liberally,” he added.

He urged Nigerians to comply with the hygiene recommendations from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and maintenance of physical distancing.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), on Monday, intercepted a truck loaded with 30 Northern youths, at Sango Ota area of the state.

The IVECO truck with registration number KANO XG 172 KNG was stopped for search by the operatives of the agency where it was discovered that 30 persons were hidden behind baskets of pepper.

The truck which was reported to have been covered with tarpaulin but was turned back by the officials of the road management control manning the Joju junction in the town.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), on Monday, intercepted a truck loaded with 30 Northern youths, at Sango Ota area of the state.

The IVECO truck with registration number KANO XG 172 KNG was stopped for search by the operatives of the agency where it was discovered that 30 persons were hidden behind baskets of pepper.

The truck which was reported to have been covered with tarpaulin but was turned back by the officials of the road management control manning the Joju junction in the town.

Tribune Online gathered that the truck was turned back and led to the tollgate between Ogun and Lagos states.

When contacted, TRACE Public Relations Officer, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the developement, saying the truck and its occupants were travelling to an unknown destination.

Dahiru Saleh, the judge who pronounced the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, is dead.

Details of his death are sketchy but TheCable understands that he died in Bauchi state and would be buried in his hometown of Azare, still in Bauchi on Thursday evening.

Until his death, he held the title of “Mutawallen” of Katagum emirate in Bauchi. He was the chief judge of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court.

June 12, 1993 election was adjudged as one of the most credible in the history of the country.

MKO Abiola, the Social Democratic Party candidate, defeated Bashir Tofa, his National Republican Convention rival, by a wide margin but the exercise was cancelled ahead of the final announcement of results.

This threw the country into months of chaos as protesters hit the streets, calling on Ibrahim Babangida, then the military president, to step down.

Says Citizens Already Flouting Directive On Wearing Of Facemask

… Accuse Doctors In Private Hospitals Of Rejecting Patients Over Fear of Covid-19

Condemnation has trailed the chaotic scenes recorded at some banks and other financial institutions in some states of the federation on the first day the ease of lockdown took effect.

The Federal Government which had been at a cross road over the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus had relaxed the lockdown earlier imposed on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on May 4th as part of measures to control the spread of the virus.

Despite its concerns for the health and wellbeing of the citizens, the government was also under pressure to partially open up the economy, especially with the drop in prices of oil at the international market.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, condemned the observed breaches, on Monday, at the daily briefing session in Abuja.

According to the PTF chairman, the danger of the Coronavirus infection was not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of measures put in place to control it from escalating.

“The PTF has been monitoring the level of compliance with some of the measures and early observations showed lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks. We note particularly the chaotic scenes around the banks and other financial institutions.

“As we journey into this new phase of measures, it is imperative that I re-iterate the importance of adherence to the guidelines more so that preliminary reports indicate that there is observable high level of breaches by the citizenry.

“We must reiterate that the danger of infection is not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of our measures. We urge citizens to minimize the risk of getting infected while trying to transact in the banks. We similarly urge the banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems are in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.

“The PTF fully understands the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown, “he noted.

Condemnation has trailed the chaotic scenes recorded at some banks and other financial institutions in some states of the federation on the first day the ease of lockdown took effect.

The Federal Government which had been at a cross road over the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus had relaxed the lockdown earlier imposed on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on May 4th as part of measures to control the spread of the virus.

Despite its concerns for the health and wellbeing of the citizens, the government was also under pressure to partially open up the economy, especially with the drop in prices of oil at the international market.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, condemned the observed breaches, on Monday, at the daily briefing session in Abuja.

According to the PTF chairman, the danger of the Coronavirus infection was not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of measures put in place to control it from escalating.

“The PTF has been monitoring the level of compliance with some of the measures and early observations showed lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks. We note particularly the chaotic scenes around the banks and other financial institutions.

“As we journey into this new phase of measures, it is imperative that I re-iterate the importance of adherence to the guidelines more so that preliminary reports indicate that there is observable high level of breaches by the citizenry.

“We must reiterate that the danger of infection is not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of our measures. We urge citizens to minimize the risk of getting infected while trying to transact in the banks. We similarly urge the banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems are in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.

“The PTF fully understands the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown, “he noted.

Recall that mixed feelings had trailed the decision of the federal government to ease the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT, despite the escalation of the infectious rate.

Some Nigerians had argued that it would be counter productive for the country, owing to its weak health care structures and poor response to national emergencies.

The condemnation is also trailed by rising cases of infections in Lagos, Kano and the FCT, where many are alleged to be ignoring the social distancing policy.

Mustapha said even though the lockdown was being relaxed in phases, it was not compulsory for Nigerians to be moving all about when they don’t have pressing needs to meet.

He warned that the security agencies have been mandated to enforce the easing off measures and those not permitted to move freely for now would be dealt with approximately.

He said, “States Governments and Security agencies have however, been advised to enforce the measures rigidly and violators will be prosecuted. Let me remind you, once more, that this easing up is in phases and those who are permitted to open have clearly been defined.

“Our admonition to Nigerians is that it is still desirable to stay at home if there is no compelling reason to go out and to comply with the measures always, whether at home or not.

“The PTF has also received reports on the level of compliance with the nationwide ban on inter-state movement. The objective of the ban is to slow down the spread of virus across state boundaries. The determination of government to enforce this policy is not in doubt and as we progress, we believe that proper alignment with the directives of Mr. President would be pursued”.

​On the situation in Kano State, the SGF said the teams dispatched from Abuja have continued to work with the State Structure and appreciable achievements have been recorded in improving manpower support, deploying appropriate equipment, increased testing capacity and treatment centres.

He explained that efforts are also on-going to upscale the training of medical personnel in the Kano and neighboring States on the management of infectious diseases and to provide them with PPEs for protection.

He reiterated that private hospitals have also been advised to seek accreditation before taking up the management of infectious diseases.

The PTF chairman said collaboration with the Kano State Government still remains focused on strengthening their existing structures, especially for sustainability.

“The results coming out from the state is a comforting indication that efforts put in place, which are being strengthened, would yield expected results, “he stated.

He said the PTF has also received reports about medical facilities and doctors turning back sick patients for fear of their illnesses being COVID-19 related.

His words,” the PTF appeals to these facilities especially public hospitals not to neglect treatment of other ailments because such actions have resulted in avoidable deaths. The Honourable Minister of Health will engage the management of our tertiary health institutions to address this”.

Some Abuja residents have expressed fear over the Monday resumption of work amidst the increasing rate of infection from COVID-19 in the FCT.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered for easing of lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States starting from Monday, May 4th.

Some Abuja residents, however, received the order from the President with mixed feelings following the high rate of deaths recorded globally as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

An Abuja resident, Mr Shola Idris advised residents who can sustain themselves without going to work to continue staying at home to reduce the spread of the virus.

“It is a dicey one for the country, for individuals and families, we are all at risk, I do understand that the government do not have a choice that is why they are easing the lockdown and the palliatives they are providing is not going round.

“So people are agitating, and the government had to let go. But for me, if I will advise people, for individuals that can still sustain themselves, I will advise they should stay at home because this is actually a serious pandemic, you can see what is happening in Kano,” Mr Idris said.

Another Abuja resident, Kelvin Ogar said those who don’t have anything serious to do in their workplaces should continue staying at home.

“There is no need to go out if there is no serious need, even the Federal government is saying that it has to be a certain level of officials that can resume work so that the offices will be congested. If it is not really very important, I think we just have to stay back at home.

“If you don’t have a private car, and the public drivers are not willing to obey social distancing in their vehicles, it is advisable to stay back,” Ogar said.

Furthermore, Glory Monday expressed fear over the continued spread of the virus amidst the partial lifting of the lockdown.

She said it may be counter-productive for the government to ease the lockdown and the disease continues killing people.

Glory suggested that the lockdown be extended until a decline in the number of confirmed cases and deaths.