₦airaland Forum

A poll by West Africa’s number one polling services, NOI Polls, said 78% of Nigerians passed the federal government’s lockdown strategy as an appropriate method of fighting the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this during Thursday’s edition of the media briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Abuja.

The Minister, who was reacting to allegations the PTF and National Orientation Agency (NOA), had failed to adequately enlighten Nigerians on the COVID-19 pandemic, also said the polls put the level of awareness of the outbreak among Nigerians at 99%.

While describing the allegation as ‘fake news’, Mohammed said the authenticity of the polls was further backed by the fact that it obtained from the Communications Office of the British Prime Minister.

“The allegation that the Ministry of Information or the PTF, particularly the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is not doing enough to sensitise and enlighten Nigerians about COVID-19, is fake news and it’s fake news and I have the independent polls conducted by the NOIP, which is the most credible company in the whole of West Africa for this kind of poll, which was also sent to us by the UK Prime Minister’s Communication Office, which is partnering with us, and the result is this:

“It says 99% of Nigerians say they are aware of COVID-19. 6% of Nigerians say it is not real and this 6% is broken down to northwest, 4%; Northeast, 8%; north central, 5%; Southwest, 3%, southeast, 10% and; south-south 12%.

“The poll also said 28% of Nigerians said they are imuned to COVID-19 and the reasons they gave are as follows: 42% of them said ‘I believe in God’s. 35% of them said ‘I follow preventive measures’. 11% of them said ‘I’m a black person’. 5% of them said ‘hot weather will not allow it to infect me’, while 4% of them said ‘I eat good food’.

“The poll also went down to ask Nigerians ‘do you see the FG’s decision to lockdown FCT, Lagos Ogun as corrects?’. 18% said ‘it’s too extreme’, 78% said ‘It’s appropriate’, while 5% said ‘not sufficient’.

“If you want more information, I will give you, but I tell you this is from NOI Polls, so all these allegations that there’s not enough public enlightenment is fake news,” he said.

The two-month free power supply promised by the Nigerian government, as part of measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19 lockdown, is not for all, according to authorities.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives and stakeholders in the power sector agreed to set up a joint implementation committee to arrive at those poor and vulnerable Nigerians who will enjoy the package.

The proposed free electricity was part of the stimulus packages to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was quoted in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said the joint panel’s mandate is to work out modalities for the proposed two-month bill waiver for the most vulnerable people in the country.

He added that the committee will identify Nigerians that will benefit from the free power supply using the number of households connected to the national grid.

Gbajabiamila said the essence of the meeting was to proffer means of alleviating the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians during and after the crisis through the supply of power.

He disclosed that his previous engagements with some critical power sector stakeholders were very encouraging. The Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) on 8th April, said it had aligned with the federal government to provide a two-month rebate of free electricity to their customers nationwide.

In a statement, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy at the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Barrister Sunday Oduntan, said the decision was in recognition of the challenging effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economic and daily lives of the customers.

Oduntan, who is also the spokesman for the DisCos, said: “We are also completely aligned with the plans to ensure palliative measures, including free electricity supply to all Nigerians for two months, to make life easier, during the lockdown period. Details of implementation to come soon.”

A Lagos would-be-bride, Yetunde Alaka, has described the lockdown imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a blessing in disguise.

Miss Alaka had her wedding scheduled for 5 April, but it was put off because of the coronavirus lockdown.

The postponement let her into a secret: her would-be-husband was already married to another woman.

”I had to stay with my in-laws to-be because of the lockdown and was surprised to hear them discussing about his first wife that I never knew existed.

”They still don’t know that I know. I just came up with some excuses to go and stay with a family friend residing near them.

”When some things happen, they appear to steal your joy, but they are truly a blessing in disguise.

”I am heart-broken, but I believe that the wedding didn’t happen as planned for a good reason,” Yetunde Alaka said.

Some other brides are, however, not to so happy with Buhari, especially over the extension of the lockdown in Lagos.

The president ordered the first lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for an initial 14 days, beginning from 30 March.

Then on 13 April the president extended it for another 14 days, effective from 14 April.

The affected ladies told NAN that they were confused and frustrated by the lockdown extension as they had to cancel or further postpone their wedding ceremonies.

Miss Abimbola Ajisafe, a childcare giver, told NAN that she postponed her wedding ceremony when the initial lockdown was imposed on March 30.

”I tried to be hopeful that it would be lifted after 14 days, but it did not happen that way.

” Having your money tied down indefinitely on wedding plans is no joke,” she said.

Ajisafe, however, noted that safety was paramount, as the lockdown was for the safety of Nigerians.

“As sad as it may be, safety comes first,” she said.

A lawyer, Miss Sandra Omeche, told NAN that she stopped making further wedding plans when she suspected that the lockdown would be extended.

” My wedding date was fixed for May 2; so I had been calling my vendors to make sure that they still had certain things in place, but the lockdown extension would hinder certain things.

” Just yesterday, my parents decided to postpone the wedding ceremony indefinitely,” Omeche said.

Another bride to-be, Miss Simisola Tometi, told NAN that her wedding was slated for April 18, but the lockdown distorted the plan and left her confused.

”I must say that this year has been pretty hard on me and my fiance because it was with great difficulty that we got both families to agree to our union.

”Just when we thought everything was moving smoothly, the lockdown started.

”I still can’t find words to express how I feel, but I pray that God help me through this trying time. I am really sad,” Tometi said.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday announced a programme, tagged: “Food Kitchen” aimed at feeding 100,000 youths daily to cushion the effect of Coronavirus lockdown in the state.

The governor disclosed this while giving update on the Coronavirus situation in Lagos in Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to Sanwo-Olu, “in the next couple of days, we will commence a daily “Food Kitchen” programme which will see us aim to feed about 100,000 people daily.

“This will largely target the youths. We are identifying local food vendors who will pilot this programme and ensure that the process of cooking and serving of the meals adhere strictly to public health guidelines.”

The governor also said his administration was cleaning up its data from various social registers to get a clean list of truly vulnerable and economically challenged persons to enable it remit some cash to them.

“We aim to do these cash transfers by the end of the week to a minimum of 250,000 indigent citizens,” he said.

Also, Sanwo-Olu said he had just issued an order to the Police; LASTMA and the VIO to release all impounded vehicles arrested for minor traffic offences from the 1st of March 2020 to date.

He said the directive would take effect at the end of the lockdown.

The governor also announced that all the Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs and Small and medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs who had taken Lagos State Employment Trust Fund loans and other government programme loans would enjoy a three months moratorium.

“This will further help to cushion the effect of the lack of economic activities occasioned by the lockdown,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu reminded Lagosians that this is a season for obedience and personal responsibility, urging them to follow the guidelines as issued by the health experts and authorities.

“Please, let us cooperate with the government to ensure that we have an outcome that is favorable to all. I can assure you that we will surely overcome this pandemic, and we will emerge stronger and more determined to transform the lives of all Lagosians and all the people of Nigeria, for the better,” he said

Operatives of police in Imo State have arrested a 44 year -old- man, Chimnonso Okonkwo, who resides in Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, for allegedly having sex with his 15-year-old daughter.

Okonkwo was also accused of inviting his friends to have sex with his daughter.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in the state, Orlando Godson Ikeokwu, said the Okonkwo was arrested after the police received credible information.

Ikeokwu said Okonkwo has been detained after confessing to the crime.

“It is noteworthy, that it wasn’t the first time this is happening, and that he normally invites his friends who come to his house to have canal knowledge of his own daughter,” Ikeokwu said in a statement on Tuesday.

“He has been detained, while investigation into the incident has commenced.”

The PPRO said that the culprit’s wife was not involved in the matter.

Minna – A Councillor in Katcha Local government Area of Niger state (names withheld), has been declared wanted for allegedly disappearing with of 30 bags of grains meant to be distributed as palliative to members of his constituency.

Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who is the Chairman Niger State Taskforce on COVID-19, who confirmed this, said the Councillor was part of a Committee set up for the distribution of the grains to his community.

The state COVID-19 Taskforce Chairman also explained that the 30 bags comprised of 10 bags of rice, 10 bags of maize, and 10 bags of millet was allocated each to all the 274 wards across the 25 Local Government councils by the state government.

According to the Matane, “Committees have been set up in each of the 274 wards which comprises of Councillor, Party Chairman, Ward head, and a religious leader to monitor the distribution of the grains”.

Matane, who expressed disappointment over the attitude of the local government councillor, told journalists that security agents have been detailed to get him arrested for proper scrutiny and for the next line of action.

The state COVID-19 task force Chairman further explained that more set of grains meant to serve as palliatives will be distributed across the local government based on the procedure outline for the distribution across the State.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to stay at home to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but the government has still not said whether it will extend a two-week confinement order on three states that ends Monday.

Residents in Lagos, Ogun and the capital Abuja have been confined to their homes, only allowed to leave for shopping trips, since March 31 in a measure to halt virus infections.

On Saturday Buhari in a statement urged Nigerians to stay at home and to wash their hands to help save lives, but there was no indication whether the official confinement period would be extended past Monday.

“I don’t have any information on that,” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu told AFP on Sunday. “The doctors and scientists are the ones who will advise. It is not a political decision, it is a medical and scientific decision.”

Nigeria, with nearly 200 million inhabitants, is the most populous country in Africa, and has the world’s largest number of people living below the extreme poverty line.

Confinement measures are extremely difficult for the majority of the population who depend on the informal economy to survive. On Twitter, hundreds of Nigerians have urged the presidency as well as the Lagos state government to lift the restrictions so they can work and feed their families.

Nigeria had 318 reported cases of coronavirus on Sunday, with around 5,000 tests carried out, and has recorded 10 deaths.

Coronavirus has spread to 52 African countries, though its steady rise in confirmed cases lags behind the global curve for infections and deaths.

The World Health Organization has warned Africa faces a sharp evolution of pandemic and the continent appears poorly equipt to manage a major health crisis. (AFP)

UI Lecturer Writes Paper On How To Boost Immunity, Prevent COVID-19

Idayat Gbadamosi, an associate professor at the University of Ibadan, has written a yet-to-be-published paper on possible herbal ways of preventing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Gbadamosi, a well-published expert in ethnobotany and medicinal plants, says her publication is “targeted towards boosting the immune system to help fight the coronavirus,” clearly stating that it is “not by any means a cure for COVID-19 infection”.

The reader, who has been published in the New York Science Journal and the European Journal of Medicinal Plants, argues that “while countries such as the USA and Europe are battling with insufficient testing equipment and space, Nigerians should turn to nature and explore the benefits of medicinal plants as immune boosters and anti-infectives with a view to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 infection”.

Based on her expertise, Gbadamosi says “the prevention of infectious diseases relies on the use of botanical detoxifiers, immune-boosting remedies, natural antioxidants, plant haematinics, and spices”.

“Based on the fact that COVID-19 is a viral infection, the use of antiviral medicinal plants might be useful in its prevention and management.”

Working with the symptoms of COVID-19 infection, which includes fever, cough, body pain, flu, cold and shortness of breath, Gbadamosi proposed “plants with antimalarial effect, cough remedy, herbal analgesic, and medicinal plants” that could be useful in the prevention of the COVID-19 infection.

In the paper shared with TheCable, some of her recommendations include:

Botanical detoxifiers: Two botanicals that are valuable detoxifiers are Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Turmeric (Curcuma domestica). Neem is a plant best known for its ability to cleanse the skin, the liver and controls blood sugar. It is readily available in Nigeria and it has a vast array of healing properties. It gently purifies the blood and promotes healthy blood circulation.

Turmeric is the king of all spices with powerful antioxidant properties. It has an array of pharmacological effects in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, cancer, obesity, infections, etc. It contains curcuminoids and it is a free-radicals fighter. Daily consumption of turmeric could prevent many degenerative diseases. Turmeric could be made bioavailable if prepared as a powder in combination with Aframomum melegueta (Guinea pepper).

Herbal immune boosters: Guava (Psidium guajava) leaf, mango (Mangifera indica) stem bark and leaf, lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) leaf, ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome, garlic (Allium sativum) bulb and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) stem bark are immune-boosting herbs that can be prepared in powdered form or as a decoction for oral administration. Generally, spices other than pepper are rich in antioxidants, antimicrobials; they also have anticancer properties.

Research has confirmed that eating a small amount of ginger (Zingiber officinale) daily for 11 days or more can reduce muscle pain and inflammation; ginger also aids digestion. Generally spicing food up a little adds more than just flavour. Other useful spices are onions (Allium species), black pepper (Piper guineense), guinea pepper, clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and green onions (Allium ascalonicum).

As an example, an immune-boosting recipe is as follows: Prepare a decoction of powdered turmeric (125 g), ginger (20 g), garlic (2 g), guinea pepper (a pinch), clove (a pinch), black pepper (a pinch) and coconut water (5 cups) by boiling for 20 minutes. Allow the extract to cool and filter using a fine sieve. Then add lemon (4 teaspoons) and honey (teaspoons) to the extract. Drink ½ teacup of the extract before breakfast or in between meals once daily. One preparation can last for a week if refrigerated.

Natural antioxidants: Fruits and vegetables have antioxidant properties. In addition to vitamins A and C, they contain a polyphenol (quercetin) that have strong H+ donating activity. Phenolic acids generally act as antioxidants by trapping free radicals and some plant-derived compounds are better antioxidants than BHA (Butylated Hydroxyl Anisole).

Consequently, natural antioxidants may be useful in the treatment and prevention of chronic infections and diseases. Some Nigerian vegetables are bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius), spinach (Senecio biafrae), African lettuce (Launnaea taraxacifolia), and pumpkin plant (Telfaria occidentalis). The message is let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.

Plant haematinics: Sorghum bicolor leaf (red guinea corn) and Theobroma cacao stem bark (Cacao tree) are used in combination as haematinics for the treatment of anaemia, menstrual disorder and other blood-related infections and diseases. The tonic is prepared in the form of decoction, in which the two plant materials are washed thoroughly and boiled in clean water for 20 minutes. The extract can be taken orally after food.

Antiviral botanicals: The indigenous people of Nigeria are knowledgeable in the management of viral infections. Cassia fistula (purging cassia), Phyllanthus amarus (stonebreaker), Lagenaria breviflorus (wild colocynth), Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) and Syzygium aromatic (clove) are used for the management and treatment of viral diseases.

Although there is a scarcity of information on scientific validation of antiviral activity of medicinal plants, information on the antiviral activity of some of the above named is available in literature. The plants are prepared as powder, decoction and infusion for therapeutic purposes.

Antimalaria and analgesic herbs: Chincona officinalis (red cinchona) stem bark, Nauclea latifolia (African peach) root, Alstonia boonei (stoolwood) root, and Morinda lucida (brimstone tree) root and leaf are used as antimalaria remedy. Chincona officinalis and other Chincona species contain quinine (hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine) and other alkaloids that are effective for the treatment of malaria fever.

The remedy is usually prepared as decoction or tincture for oral administration. Microdesmis puberula and Calliandra portoricensis (powderpuff) are used as analgesic in malaria, arthritis and rheumatism.

Herbal cough remedy: Garcinia kola (bitter kola) and Bryophyllum pinnatum (miracle leaf) are used traditionally for the treatment of cough. G. kola seeds are soaked in lemon juice in a bottle. One teaspoonful of the remedy is taken three times daily after food.

The leaves of B. pinnatum are put in hot water to make tender and squeezed. Add honey to the leaf juice and drink 100ml of the remedy two times daily after food.

Herbs for respiratory tract infections: Spondias mombin (yellow mombin), Garcinia kola, Calotropis procera (apple of Sodom), Nymphaea lotus (water lily) and Abrus precatorius (water lily) are used for the management and treatment of respiratory tract infections.

The remedies are prepared as leaf juice, infusion, decoction and traditional soup for therapeutic purposes. As an example, an infusion of bitter kola and garlic in clean water is used for the management of respiratory tract infections.

Director–General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has warned that Nigeria would record worst casualties than America and Europe if the citizens continue to defy the lockdown ordered by the federal government to curtail the spread of Coronavirus in the country. PGF is an umbrella body of governors of states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

In a statement he issued in Abuja, titled, ‘Fight against spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria: Issues and factors hindering success’, Lukman suggested that the membership of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) should be expanded to include members of the National Assembly.

He further lamented the gravity of conspiracy theories and reluctance of the people to key into the battle to curb the spread of COVID-19, arguing that this had hampered the fight against the pandemic.

“The fact is that given the poor state of our hospitals, if we are unable to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the experiences of Italy, Spain, United States, France, etc. will be child’s play. Should that happen, records of cases and deaths could be phenomenal. Combinations of high incidences and poor records of citizens in the country having medical conditions bordering on tuberculosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, etc. it is hard to imagine how, as a nation we want to risk such a possibility,” Lukman noted.

More doctors are likely to leave Nigeria as coronavirus (COVID-19) gets worse in the United States of America. This would be in addition to an estimated 9million Nigerians who left the country between 2014 and 2018.

As the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll across the globe, health officials in the US had warned that the country’s coronavirus death toll could rise above 100,000 people.

As a result of this development, instead of shutting its door against migrants as it did previously, America is luring foreign medical professionals seeking to work in their country.

Following reports in March that US was inviting medical professionals from other parts of the world, including Nigeria, to help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed thousands of lives in that country, the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Francis Faduyile, said people had the right to work anywhere they chose.

He, however, called on the government to strengthen the country’s health system to encourage more medical practitioners to stay behind. This is even as inquiries at the US Embassy showed that only doctors and nurses who are already processing exchange and visitor programmes in the US are encouraged to seek the visa approval now.

But potentially, this could impact negatively on the Nigerian health sector, as in the last five years, many doctors, among millions of other Nigerians, have left the country for greener pastures.

Already, the US health system relies heavily on immigrants, who make up 17 per cent of all health care workers and more than one in four doctors, according to a report . Dr Joe Uba, a medical doctor with the Abia State Government, said he was looking forward to relocating from the country like many of his colleagues.

He identified Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom (UK) as the preferred destinations for his colleagues. However, with the growing interest of the US on foreign medical professionals, priorities will begin to change for Nigerian doctors, who are yearning to leave for greener pastures.

“I think every doctor would like to leave if given the opportunity. It is the cost of moving that is the problem. You could spend not less than N2.5 million to process it. But they pay very well, especially in Saudi Arabia,” Dr Uba said. Also, Joseph Simon (not real name), an Abuja-based lawyer, has just returned from the UK, where he registered for an LL.M programme.

He hopes to stay back there after studies. “My short visit to London was to understand the procedure to relocate. I can only return to Nigeria if things improve. The best way is through the master’s programme,” he said, citing UK’s new policy which allows postgraduates to stay up to two years after graduation in search of jobs.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that 1,361,580 individuals left the country in 2014. In 2015, 2,640,508 also left. In 2016, the figure of emigrants dropped to 1,181,211, but rose marginally to 1,344,318 in 2017 and increased to 2,322,585 in 2018.

While the number of departures recorded for the country between 2014 and 2018 may not be permanent, the figure is higher than the numbers between 2005 and 2010, which remained between 900,000 and 100,000 migrants.

Data analysis of Nigerians leaving for greener pastures showed that people leaving the country are not restricted to skilled individuals. Even the unskilled are leaving the country in droves from both regular and irregular means.

For instance, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported that about 2,894 persons were rescued from irregular migrations between 2014 and 2018. Of this figure, 330 cases were reported in 2014; 285 in 2015; 320 in 2016; 1104 in 2017; and 855 in 2018.

These were persons who were involved in sexual exploitation outside Nigeria, external prostitution, forced labour outside Nigeria, armed conflict, illegal immigration and smuggling. According to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), about 4,364,668 Nigerians were issued with new passports between 2014 and 2018.

But besides being a national identification and travel data, this indicates travel source states or regular departure points of most Nigerians. A breakdown of passports issued between 2014 and 2018 showed that the South-West has the highest number, at 650,958 new passports issued.

Lagos has the highest number (1,264,528), followed by Oyo (233,004), Ogun (166,920), Osun (109,016), Ondo (91,161) and Ekiti (50,857). The South-South came second, with Edo topping at 172,435 new passports.

About 158,304 received their passports from Delta, while 157,177 received in Rivers, followed by Akwa Ibom (41,042), Bayelsa (38,100) and Cross River (26,806).

The North-West came third with 484,766. Kano received 169,941 within the period while Kaduna got 110,856; Katsina, 68,132; Jigawa, 40,793; Sokoto, 36,932; Kebbi, 29,735 and Zamfara, 28,377.

In the South-East, Enugu and Imo received the fourth highest number of new passports issued, at 440,228. While Imo had 126,049, Enugu was second with 99,416.

Others are Anambra (97,579), Abia (95,236) and Ebonyi (22,008). In the North-Central, 320,024 new passports were issued. Out of this number, Plateau had 109,016 while Niger had 77,354.

Others are Kwara (71,565), Kogi (28,766), Benue (17,890) and Nasarawa (15,433). Also, 511,059 new passports were issued in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In the same period, the North-East had 137,332 new passports. Borno recorded the highest number with 29,977, followed by Gombe (26,965). Others are Adamawa (26,157), Bauchi (25,026) and Taraba (15,852).


Major destinations for Nigerians

Reports show that countries such as USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Cameroun, Italy, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Australia, UAE and Canada are top destinations for skilled Nigerians, while some European and Asian countries are top destinations for Nigerians without much skills.

The Canadian government estimates that Nigeria ranks third in the countries that have received the highest number of Canadian Express Entry in 2018 under the ITA scheme, which is usually offered to software engineers and developers, behind China and India in second and first respectively.

While 6,025 Nigerians received the offer, 6,248 Chinese and 41,675 India received it the same year respectively. Canada welcomed 341,000 immigrants in 2019 under its skilled labour programme; about 10,000 of them are Nigerians.

It is a steady increase as only 2,000 Nigerians were received in 2015; 4,000 in 2016; 6,000 in 2017; 8,000 in 2018 and 10,000 in 2019. With the US visa ban on Nigeria in place, more Nigerians are expected to head north in the coming years.

However, with the recent US demand for foreign medical professionals, Nigerian doctors and nurses may likely use the window of opportunity. Canada is projected to welcome 700,000 immigrants as permanent residents before the end of this year, which makes it an attractive destination for Nigerians of all categories.

The National Diaspora Commission estimates that between 5million and 15million Nigerians now live abroad. And some of the best brains go to these countries.

Although there are concerns of loss of skilled workers in critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy, the NBS figures showed that as Nigerians left the country in droves within the last five years, remittances from the Diaspora has risen steadily to $25.08bn in 2019, up from $3bn in 2013.


Leaving for greener pastures

The serious economic hardship in the country has been pointed out as the major reason for the departures. Specifically, migrations are spiked by the high unemployment rate, which the NBS put at 23.13 per cent in quarter three of 2018, with a steady increase from 12.5 per cent in 2014.

Other factors include insecurity and poor infrastructure to support decent living, over taxation, high poverty rate, population explosion, climate change and environmental degradation, corruption, low access to credit, absence of meritocracy in public appointments, poor public health system, poor remuneration for workers, and among others.

Similarly, the World Data Lab, in its latest update, found that of the 201,623,008 total population of Nigeria, 95,903,776 people, representing 48 per cent of the population live in extreme poverty, which is defined to mean that they earn less than $2 a day.

Chilaka Anthony, a travel agent and frequent traveller, identified the economic situation in the country as the major reason more Nigerians are leaving the country. He disclosed that the situation is so critical that parents who fund their children’s studies overseas in international universities encourage them to find a way to stay back in those countries.

“The economic situation in the country has deteriorated, to the extent that we don’t know what to say. Many that pretend to be travelling for studies are actually intending to leave the country for good,” he said.

Also, Hillary Anosike, who has a business centre at the Chinese Visa Centre, said a lot of Nigerians travelled to China to buy cheaper goods and return to sell because of the high manufacturing rate in that country.

He believes that the goods from China, which are cheap and competitive, are helping to sustain livelihoods for Nigerians who run small shops. Writing on how climate change has affected migration, Ochiaka Ugwu, a journalist, stated that many people who engaged in agriculture in Nigeria had been forced to leave due to desertification, receding rivers, streams and lakes.

“Look at the herders-farmers clashes. Because streams and grasses are drying and pastures are disappearing, they are moving to locations where lands are greener, and in the process, they clash with farmers,” he stated. But as more Nigerians leave the country, other nationals find it attractive.

Nigeria is becoming a major economic host country for some intraregional migrants within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with low skills. This has been projected to increase, given the recent Federal Government’s new visa-on-arrival policy, which was recently suspended as a result of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.


Nigeria’s loss, others’ gain

At the launch of the Nigeria Health Workforce Country Profile, 2018 and handover of the Nigeria Health Workforce Registry by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, Human Resources for Health, Ministry of Health, Shakuri Kadiri, said Nigeria had only one doctor to 2,753 patients.

He put the number of medical doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria at 74,543; implying that there are 36.3 medical doctors per 100,000 population. Of these registered medical practitioners in Nigeria, many have left the country due to the unconducive environment for practice.

And the situation is expected to worsen with the recent US enticement. A 2019 survey showed that about 2,000 Nigerian doctors leave annually. This has caused substandard medical care for Nigerian patients.

The growing medical tourism by Nigerians, with a huge impact on foreign exchange, has been directly attributed to this. The spokesman of the NIS, James Sunday, a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, said travellers provided different reasons for their trips, but in some cases, as humans, what they gave as reasons may not actually be the reason for the travel.

He added that the responsibility of the NIS is just to capture individuals’ data and cross-check if there are criminal objections to their trips. He explained that once such criteria are met, they are allowed to go, as it would be against their fundamental rights to do otherwise. “If you fall within the eligibility category for immigration, we allow you to travel,” he said.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) rates Nigeria as one of the largest origins of international migrants. “Nigeria has continued to experience high internal and external migration due to its population, economic climate and porous borders,” IOM stated on its website. On the way forward, a professor of Political Science in the University of Abuja, Yusuf Ali Zoaka, said the solution for the perennial issue of Nigerians leaving the country for greener pastures was to develop the country and put in place, “necessary facilities” that would keep Nigerians in their country.

He said government should develop the country by creating the necessary facilities. Also, the director, Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, said necessary incentives and creating the enabling environment for creativity, research and professionalism in Nigeria would encourage more professionals and other citizens to stay back and even attract the best brains outside the country.

“It is important for the government to entrench a system where merit, rather than where a person comes from, determines their position,” Onunaiju said. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said government had started working to obtain accurate data on the existing health workforce in the country to facilitate human resource for health planning, and thereby deliver efficient, effective and high quality health services to citizens. He stated this at the launch of the Nigeria Health Workforce Country Profile 2018 and handover of the Nigeria Health Workforce Registry by his ministry.

Zamfara Police Command, has confirmed the discovery of a calabash filled with human blood from a suspected cultist in Gusau, the state capital. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Shehu disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Zamfara police command last week, raided the alleged cultist’s house situated in Dallatu quarters near Gusau new motor park following a tip off on alleged crimes being perpetrated in the house. The police during the raid, recovered some fetish.

Shehu said the blood sample was taken to a medical laboratory where it was confirmed to be human blood and categorised as ‘O’ positive. He said investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

The PPRO also said that so far, some suspects have been arrested in connection with the case and that the command would make its findings public at the end of the investigations. (NAN)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the confession by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, that the nation’s health sector had gone comatose has confirmed the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The party in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said Mustapha’s comments also vindicated its stand that “the Buhari administration is the saddest chapter in our national history.”

The party said “the confession” of the SGF who serves as the engine room of the Buhari administration, further vindicated its position that President Buhari was running an “incompetent administration that thrives only on propaganda and false performance claims” while the nation is allegedly left in pains, trauma and agony.

“He portrays this government as one that is not in touch with national reality but only administers the nation remotely from the comfort of Aso villa, while its cronies loot huge budgetary allocations and merely claimed to have released same for the health need of our citizens.

“If anything, the Buhari administration has only succeeded in reversing all the gains made in the health sector by successive PDP administrations whose robust National Strategic Health Development Plan brought in new technologies and effectively repositioned our health institutions for the good of our people.

“The Buhari administration has reversed the gains of past administration so much even the once celebrated State House Clinic in the Aso Presidential Villa has been largely reduced to a mere consulting center while our National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has became the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of government cronies.

The irreversible lesson which the Buhari administration must take from Boss’s confession is that no matter how falsehood, propaganda, beguiling and deceit appear to thrive, the truth will always show forth at the end,” the PDP said. Recall that Mustapha who is the chairman of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 on Thurday met with the leadership of the National Assembly.

In his remarks, he was said to have declared that “I can tell you for sure, I never knew that our entire healthcare infrastructure was in the state in which it is. Until I was appointed to do this work.” The SGF however said he was quoted out of context. According to him, his comment was taken out of context and doesn’t reflect what he said on Thursday while briefing the leadership of the National Assembly.

One Mrs Esther Frank resident in Uyo, on Thursday night, took her life over alleged pressure and lies from her husband.

The deceased was said to have left a suicide note for her husband and two children, saying she was tired of the pressure.

It was gathered that the deceased drank a bottle of sniper and lay down unconscious in her room when she was discovered by neighbours who rushed her to St Luke’s Hospital in Anua, Uyo, where she eventually died.

A neighbour to the deceased, Mrs. Iboro Etuk who narrated the incident said she and the deceased talked before the unfortunate incident.

She said they both stood outside the gate of their compound to buy water before the deceased told her to take care of her children as she was going out to buy something.

Mrs Etuk explained that when she later heard the baby of the deceased crying continuously, she went inside the house of the deceased and found her on the floor.

She noted that in trying to shake the deceased to wake up, she discovered the bottle of sniper and raised an alarm which attracted the landlady.

According to her, they rushed the deceased to the hospital where she died, leaving behind a three months old baby and three years old son.

She said, “Mrs Esther Frank, is in her early thirties. She just graduated from the University and is yet to go for her youth service.

She is from Anambra state while her husband, Mr Frank is from Delta state but he is currently in Dubai.

“She sent her three-year-old boy to come and stay with my children. It has never happened before. She told me that she was going to buy something, that I should please take care of her children’.

“Before that, we both stood outside to buy pure water but since we didn’t see it, she went back into her apartment, while I waited outside.

“When I heard her baby crying, I told her son who was in my apartment, to take me inside the house. There I saw her laying on the floor. I shook her and told her to pick up her son but she did not respond.

“I ran out and informed the landlady and the other tenants. They came and saw the bottle of sniper laying on the floor. We rushed her to the hospital where she died. The landlady later reported the incident to the Police, ‘B’ Division.

“When the landlady called her husband and told him his wife was dead, he exclaimed ‘What?’. According to her sister, she (the deceased) has been threatening to kill herself and had sent her husband a message threatening to kill herself.

“The children are currently staying with my family. The baby cried throughout the night. I am now the one taking care of the baby.

“The Police were here to investigate the matter. They are aware that we have taken temporary custody of the children.”

The suicide note to the husband of the deceased read: “Please take care of my children please. I can’t take the pressure and lies you are telling again. I can’t take it, please it’s too much. You made everyone around me hate me. Please forgive me, am sorry.

“Gerald please forgive me. Andre please forgive me. You guys are my life,” she wrote to her children.

When the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nndum Fredrick was contacted, he said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has reversed his earlier remark that he never knew Nigeria’s healthcare system was in a very bad state until the coronavirus global pandemic.

Mustapha who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said this on Friday in Abuja at the ninth joint national briefing of the PTF on COVID-19.

According to him, his comment was taken out of context and didn’t reflect what he said on Thursday while briefing the leadership of the National Assembly.

He said that when the committee met with the leadership of the national assembly regarding the pandemic that his role as the chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19 opened his eye to the current state of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

“Yesterday (Thursday), I mentioned at the National Assembly that I became fully aware of the state of our medical system during the execution of this Task Force assignment. It has become clear that this has been taken out of context. I must clarify that I am aware and has indeed been a champion for the reform and transformation of the health care system.

“However, this PTF assignment has afforded me the opportunity to dig deeper, interrogate and x-ray the system better. So for anyone to think that I didn’t know the level of deplorable state of our healthcare systems, is a complete misrepresentation.

“For the benefit of those who do not know me well, I come from rural Nigeria. I was born in a college almost 64 years ago that didn’t even have a hospital, it had small missionary dispensary probably with one midwife, no birth certificate was offered.

So I don’t even have birth certificate, I have declaration of age. A lot of you sitting here are privileged to have been born in a better and more equipped medical facilities. So from birth I know the state of our medical, healthcare, I am not a foreigner.

“My statement was totally taken out of context because that was not the reflection of what I said. But having to serve in this committee gave me a further insight into what is happening. Most of the things you see around as specialists, hospitals or clinics, you just see the buildings, you don’t know what is inside.

But, being in this committee has given me opportunity of walking into these facilities, looking at what they have in relation to what they ought to have, my conclusion on that is that they don’t have what they ought to have. “I wanted to give this explanation so that most of you will not think I am an ‘ajebota’, no.

I was born a rural Nigerian, I grew up in rural Nigeria, I went to school in rural Nigeria and I still live in rural Nigeria. Yola is my home, I’m just on a journey here in Abuja. At the end of my work or whatever I am doing here, I will return home which is rural Nigeria and I am going to live with the facilities in rural Nigeria.

“The truth of the matter is that this is not the time to be distracted with unnecessary controversies,” Mustapha said.

ABAKALIKI- Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday said it has launched investigation into the allegations surrounding a truckload of bags of rice found in the residence of the Lawmaker representing Abakaliki South State Constituency, Hon. Joseph Ununu.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Loveth Odah, who made this known to Journalists in Abakaliki, said the rice laden truck had been impounded by the Command, adding that a thorough investigation would be carried-out to unravel the truth.

“There is this one Irem Obinna who said he is a famous rice buyer and doesn’t just buy from Abakaliki rice mill, but also buys from other rice markets within Ebonyi State. He said he actually had enough rice in Abakaliki due to closure of borders that has made movement difficult.

“He said, one of his customers who happens to be the Lawmaker’s wife agreed to allow him pack his rice in his residence, because his residence is very close to the Abakaliki Rice Mill. Both the ones he bought from Abakaliki Rice Mill and other places were kept in the Lawmaker’s residence.

“They were loading them in a lorry inside the Lawmaker’s residence when the caretaker Chairman of the Abakaliki Rice Millers Association, Mr. Samuel Ogodo, got a tip-off and informed the Police.

“But all these stories are subject to investigations and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department has directed the officer handling this matter to go ahead and thoroughly investigate it”, the Police spokesperson said.

Speaking with Journalists over the incident, Mr. Samuel Ogodo, alleged that the rice were smuggled out of the Abakaliki Rice Mill premises in the night, by the suspects in order to evade tax, adding that a lot of revenue had been lost in the past through such criminal practices.

“It is unfortunate that some people have decided to sabotage the efforts of the State Government through evasion of tax. Our normal closing time here is 6p.m, but this guys will wait until around 9p.m to 10p.m before they will start to smuggle rice to a nearby residence belonging to the Lawmaker, Hon. Joseph Ununu, where they will load them and move, thereby denying the Abakaliki Rice Mill and the Ebonyi State Government the supposed internally generated revenues”, Mr. Caretaker Chairman said.

Reacting, Hon. Ununu who noted that he was no longer doing rice business since he won an election into the State House of Assembly, denied sabotaging the State’s efforts in revenue generation.

Mr. Ifere Obinna, the purported famous buyer, in an interview with Journalists, also denied evading tax, adding that he had always followed due processes in purchasing rice in Abakaliki Rice Mill.

However, another rice buyer, Ifeanyichukwu Ifere, whose rice was also found in the Lawmaker’s residence, said he was surprised to see his rice there, as he never authorized anybody to do so, on his behalf.

The proposed two months free electricity supply to customers may not be entirely free as the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) said the Federal Government will pay for the electricity.

ANED, the umbrella body of all the electricity distribution companies, had in an earlier statement noted that it recognises the challenging effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economic and daily lives of our customers, adding that in fulfilment of its commitment to the nation, align itself with the efforts of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive to mitigate the hardships that are currently being borne by its customers and other citizens all over the country.

The statement followed a proposal by the House of Representatives’ plan to consider a fresh Stimulus Bill that will allow Nigerians to enjoy electricity supply for two months without any charge.

ANED Executive Director, Research & Advocacy, and Spokesman for all the electricity distribution companies (DisCos), Barr Sunday Oduntan, however, told The Nation that the DisCos support whatever the National Assembly and the Federal Government do that will ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians during this period but there is a need to make the following clarifications.

He said: “The energy to be supplied for the two months is not free from the DisCos but is being paid for by the Federal Government, in partnership with the National Assembly. As such, the ability for the DisCos to go forward is subject to the stimulus package being passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by Mr. President; and while this palliative seeks to mitigate the economic challenges that Nigerians are being subjected to during this COVID-19 period, it is our hope that we not lose sight of the no-cost reflective tariff challenges that the DisCos continue to suffer under. Regardless, we laud Mr. President, members of his government and the National Assembly for this initiative.”

On when the free electricity supply will start, Oduntan said there is no date yet. We are awaiting directives of the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, the management of Ikeja Electric Plc has said it fully supports the ongoing efforts of the National Assembly, in collaboration with the Federal Government, to consider a proposal on the possibility of providing free electricity for two months as part of COVID-19 palliative for customers.

However, it is important to point out that at the moment, it is only a proposal and is still undergoing stakeholder reviews on its feasibility. It has not been approved by the Government as a stimulus package or palliative.

As such, the ability of the DisCos to implement this proposed palliative is subject to the stimulus package being passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by Mr. President.

We urge all our customers to continue to pay their utility bills as usual, while on our part, we shall continue to serve and put our customers first during this difficult period, the spokesman and Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue said.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, and Spokesman Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Godwin Sule Idemudia, corroborated ANED and Ofulue. He said the free electricity supply palliative is only a proposal by the National Assembly, which has not been discussed. Currently, the National Assembly is on recess and may reconvene next week. Outcome of the lawmakers’ deliberations will determine the next step to be taken by the DisCos.

ANED had earlier said: “We commend the Federal Legislators, the Executive arm and The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for their initiative and we are committed to working with them to ensure more efficient power supply within this difficult period, as the nation battles with the ravages of COVID-19.

“We are also completely aligned with the plans to ensure palliative measures, including free electricity supply to all Nigerians for two months to make life easier, during the lockdown period, details of implementation to come soon. As a key utility player in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), we hereby reiterate our commitment to improving service delivery to the nation during this pandemic period and thereafter.”

As the number of confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus rises in Lagos state, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday said the State Government would commence a door-to-door search tagged: ‘Active Case Search’.

The governor, who disclosed this on his official Twitter handle @jidesanwoolu, stated that in the coming days, some health workers will be moving around in pairs to administer an electronic questionnaire at homes and healthcare facilities to make enquiries about some symptoms like cough, cold and fever.

This, he said, is necessary bid to intensify the search for possible cases of COVID-19 in different communities across the State. “These officials can be identified with a COVID-19 outbreak response tag or a letter from the LGA,” he said.

He implored residents to give the health officers their maximum support by providing accurate information that would help in containing the #COVID-19 pandemic quickly. Meanwhile, the Governor also said that seven more patients have fully recovered and have been discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba on Thursday.

The patients, according to Governor Sanwo-Olu, include one female and six males. He said that three of the discharged male patients are foreign nationals; two Ukrainians and one Italian.

They were discharged having tested negative twice consecutively for COVID-19; bringing to 39 the number of discharged patients in Lagos, he said.

“As we look forward to more great news in the coming days, I implore you all to support our offensive against COVID-19 by complying with our directives and taking responsibility for yourselves and your community. Again, I assure you that at the end of it all, we will be victorious,” Sanwo-Olu assured.

The federal government has acquired 17 new armoured tanks and artillery vehicles to tackle insecurity and insurgency in the country.

Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos. He said that the sophisticated machines and equipment were facilitated by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) through the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in Lagos.

Adeosun said that the process of acquiring the equipment had been on for long, saying that the process had been accomplished with the delivery of the armament to the country.

He said: ”We are here to witness the receipt of the armament, which the government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Defence has procured for the Nigeria Army.

“You can see how serious the government of Nigeria is in making sure that not only is the Army re-equipped as necessary, but to ensure that the insecurity problem we are having all over the country are tackled not only with trained personnel, but the required equipment.

“We can see for ourselves, this is just a tip of the iceberg and many others are still coming, but it is important that we all see that both the military and the government are really very serious in tackling the security problems across the nation,” he stated.

According to him, the equipment acquired from China, are heavy and light tanks and two types of artillery heavy guns.

“They are new ones, the latest technology in tank and artillery armament is what you are seeing. Before today, the first set of 15 40-feet containers offloaded from the sea, made up of spare parts and accessories, for all these equipment. Those ones are already on their way to their various destinations,” he stated.

Buratai Inducts 55 All-terrain Buffalo Cars

Also yesterday, the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, commissioned 55 Buffalo 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles to increase the mobility and combat sufficiency of troops against the boko haram terrorists in the Northeast zone.

Buratia, who was represented by the chief of Logistics, Maj-Gen. Joel Uniugbe, said that the model of vehicles is an asset and a force-multiplier, particularly in the Northeast where the armed forces is conducting operations.

“This model of vehicle is an asset and indeed a force multiplier particularly in the Northeast terrain where the Armed Forces of Nigeria are conducting operations against boko haram criminals.

“It is, therefore, my belief that the vehicles will increase the mobility and combat efficiency of troops in mission areas,” he said

Buratai said that the strategic directive of the COAS for 2020 is to sustain logistics support for all Nigerian Army formations/units in operations.

He said: “All the formations and units of the Nigerian Army across the country have continued to be issued with various types of vehicles for troops’ mobility, movement of logistics and combat manoeuvres.

“These include Toyota Hiluxes, Buffaloes, Innoson Motor vehicles and Peugeot amongst others. Accordingly, today, I’m privileged to becommissioning on behalf of the chief of army staff, 55 Buffalo four- wheel all-terrain vehicles,” he stressed.

Troops Neutralise 2 Terrorists, Recover 3 Gun Trucks

Meanwhile, the military in continuation of the ongoing aggressive operations in the Northeast Theatre of Operation has neutralised two boko haram terrorists, recovered three gun trucks, and other weapons in clearance operations.

A press statement issued by the acting director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, said that the feat was achieved when troops of 3 Battalion/Quick Response Force Army Super Camp 11, Gamboru in Borno State on targeted patrol engaged in a fierce battle with some boko haram/ISWAP marauders in a convoy of seven gun trucks and motorcycles approaching the battalion’s location at about 1800 hours on 7th April, 2020.”

He said that troops overpowered the terrorists who withdrew in disarray and were aggressively pursued up to Wurge axis by the gallant troops/the Quick Response Force.

“The fierce fire fight led to the death of two terrorists and an unconfirmed number were wounded,” he said.

The items recovered from the insurgents after the exploitation included three gun trucks, two anti -aircraft guns, two AK-47 rifles, one HK-21 rifle and one Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube.

Others were Multi Links, 101.5 mm ammunition, two magazines and a Bluetooth speaker with boko haram terrorists’ victory song.

Residents of Narayi area of Kaduna have swooped over foodstuffs meant to be distributed to vulnerable people in the area, with members of the committee responsible for the distribution looking helplessly.

https://cdn.dailytrust.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Food-stuff-distribution-marred-by-violence-in-Kaduna.jpeg
Food stuff distribution marred by violence in Kaduna Photo:NAN

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foodstuffs were being distributed by the Kaduna State Government to cushion the hardship facing indigent people as a result of the lockdown over Coronavirus. Chairman of the distribution committee, Malam Sule Garba said the incident took place on Monday evening at Narayi LEA Primary School.

Garba, who is also the Village Head of Narayi, told NAN on Tuesday in Kaduna that a rowdy crowd of young men and women swooped over the foodstuffs and carted it away.

He listed the food items as 170 cartons of spaghetti, and 1,250 cartons of indomie, 650 and 230 small bags of about three measures of rice and beans, as well as 800 gallons of vegetable oil.

He explained that in the spirit of transparency, the committee offloaded the items at LEA Primary School Narayi, but shortly that, a massive crowd of women and children, majority of whom were young and agile youths flooded the venue to collect their share. He said that problem began when the committee became divided over the modalities to adopt in distributing the items, with everyone insisting on his idea.

The village head said that while the argument persisted, some of the community members began handing over the food items to their families and friends.

“We were distributing the foodstuffs, one item each to every beneficiary when we lost control of the crowed and boom! The exercise became free for all. “We did the best we could, but we were overwhelmed by the massive crowd of hungry people who want to get a share at all cost,” he said.

He added that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, who were there to provide the needed security and ensure successful distribution of the items, also joined in the struggle to get their share.

“I am glad that no life was lost,” Garba said. Reacting to the allegation, one of the leaders of the Civilian JTF, Mr Silas Kure, said he was not aware of the involvement of his members in the brawl, but said that the allegation would be investigated.

Also, Mr Yusuf Goje of Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition, described the development as very unfortunate, and said the situation would have been prevented with good planning and proper coordination. (NAN)

The United Kingdom has joined the United States in resisting a plan by the Nigerian government to give Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, about $110m (N41.8bn) out of the $155m (N58.9bn) stolen by late dictator, Sani Abacha, Bloomberg reports.

The US, the UK and Nigeria are involved in a dispute over investment portfolios worth $155m traced to Abacha and held in trust for Bagudu and his family.

Nigeria is seeking the approval of a UK court for Nigeria to take ownership of the assets before returning 70 per cent of the proceeds to Bagudu under the terms of a 2018 deal.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has denied ever entering a deal with Bagudu but court papers say otherwise.

The UK government’s National Crime Agency is now “opposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s application,” according to a motion filed by Bagudu’s brother, Ibrahim, to the District Court for the District of Columbia in the US capital on March 30.

The US Department of Justice said in February that its Nigerian counterpart is hindering its efforts to recover the allegedly laundered money from the UK.

Bagudu was part of a network controlled by Abacha that “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria,” according to the DOJ.

While successive Nigerian governments have repatriated billions of dollars looted by Abacha, who died in office in 1998, the administration of Nigerian President, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), says it’s prevented from assisting America’s ongoing forfeiture efforts by an agreement between Bagudu and a previous government in 2003.

Abacha is estimated to have stolen as much as $5bn during his five-year rule.

That 2003 settlement, which was approved by a UK court, allowed Bagudu to return $163m to Nigeria “without admitting to wrongdoing,” according to US court filings.

In return, the government dropped all outstanding civil and criminal claims against him. Bagudu was elected a senator in 2009 and the governor of Kebbi state six years later.

Five years after the US launched fresh forfeiture proceedings against him, Bagudu and Buhari’s administration struck a new deal in October 2018 to transfer ownership of the investment portfolios to the Nigerian state, which would immediately pay 98.5m euros to the Kebbi governor and his affiliates.

The terms of the updated settlement can’t be implemented while Nigeria’s application in a UK court is pending and a freezing order is still in place, according to a motion by Ibrahim Bagudu, who is entitled to a $100,000 annuity from the funds and is contesting the US confiscation efforts.

Neither the Bagudus nor representatives of the DoJ, NCA, Nigeria’s Attorney General or Ibrahim Bagudu responded to requests for comment.

Although the DoJ and NCA oppose the 2018 settlement, Ibrahim Bagudu and the US government “recently commenced preliminary discussions regarding a potential negotiated resolution to this matter,” according to a motion filed by the US government to the district court on March 13.

More countries yesterday evacuated their nationals from Nigeria amidst fears of possible explosion of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Since March 26 when countries including Israel, Germany, France commenced evacuation of their nationals, over 1000 have so far been evacuated out of the country.

At the weekend, hundreds of American citizens were scheduled to be evacuated but the flight was stalled over flight permit from other countries, leaving the evacuees stranded as they later returned home.

There are indications they might be evacuated either on Monday or Tuesday.

But yesterday 37 Egyptians were evacuated through the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri. An Air Peace aircraft which did the evacuation mission arrived the airport at 11.27 am and departed 11.56 am to Abuja to pick other Egyptians to Cairo, the country’s capital.

Also, yesterday, MEA Airlines evacuated 140 Lebanese from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), while Canada is also scheduled to evacuate some nationals today (Monday).

There are indications that the United Kingdom would soon evacuate many of its nationals as the British High Commission in Nigeria has confirmed that about 4000 of them who are on ‘short term’ visit had indicated interest in returning home.

Daily Trust reports that many countries are evacuating their nationals despite lower cases of infections compared to the cases in Europe, Middle East and America.

Little patronage from targeted patients


President Buhari and his family are known for shunning Nigeria’s underfunded hospitals, including the State House Clinic, to get medication abroad. The president was widely criticised for spending more than five months in the United Kingdom in 2017 despite his repeated promise to end medical tourism.

“Despite the restriction on foreign trips, most key government officials who have resources at their disposal still prefer to go to private hospitals here in Abuja and in Lagos instead of the State House Clinic,” a source said. “Some of them are mounting pressure on the National Hospital and some of the government hospitals in Abuja because they don’t have the option of going abroad.

This is the time for them to reflect and make the system work, there is no place like home. The State House Clinic is a world class facility, it is only suffering because of the interest of some people,” he said.

Kyari had said in a statement that he made his “personal care arrangements” to avoid further burdening the public health system which faces many pressures. His decision to go for “special treatment” without two of his aides who had contracted the virus as a result of their contact with him also remained a subject of discourse in many quarters.

Kyari had also been criticised for violating the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC’s) guidelines for his refusal to self- isolate after returning from Germany. Besides, sources said the fact that he went to a private facility in Lagos instead of any of the government’s designated isolation centres violated the norm.

“This could put other people at risk considering the contagious nature of the virus,” sources said. Daily Trust reported how Kyari mingled with the president, cabinet members, governors and officials of the ruling APC and other elite before he was found to be positive for COVID-19, raising fears that he might have exposed several others to the virus.

The chief of staff to the president was reportedly flown to Lagos in an air ambulance, and the location where he is being treated has not yet been made public.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said on Tuesday last week that he had “exchanged messages with him (Kyari) via WhatsApp but did not know his whereabouts. When asked about Kyari’s refusal to receive treatment at a public facility, a presidency source told our correspondent to only ask him “about the president.”


Budgetary allocations for villa clinic

Since the inception of Buhari’s administration, a total of N13.59 billion has been budgeted for the State House Clinic, Daily Trust reports. Analysis of federal government’s budgets showed that the funds were appropriated from 2015 to 2020. A breakdown of the total budgetary provisions within the period showed that N3.94 billion, N3.87 billion and N3.20 billion were budgeted in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

In 2018, 2019 and 2020, the budgetary provisions dropped to N1.03 billion, N823.44 million and N723 million, respectively. It is not clear what percentage of the money has been released to the hospital and whether it has been fully utilised or mismanaged.

During the 2019 budget defence, Arabi told the Senate committee that the villa hospital had a total budget of N1.03 billion in the 2018 appropriation, with N698 million as capital expenditure and N331.7 million as overhead cost. He said the total overhead expenditure released for the centre from January-December 2018 is N331.7 million, representing 99.9 per cent while the capital releases on projects is N231.9 million, representing 33.2 per cent.

Findings revealed that unavailability of medicines still persists in the hospital. Buildings at the clinic also require facelift with sources saying the infrastructure did not have an overhaul for some time now due to budgetary constraints. “A general renovation would go a long way in supporting staff to deliver excellent medical support to patients,” one of the sources said.

The Chief Medical Director of the clinic, Dr. Hussaini Munir Yakasai did not respond to calls sent to him at press time to comment on how they were coping at the facility. As at 2017, the clinic reportedly could not boast of basic things. The situation was such that the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, said the hospital could not boast of syringes during her visit to the hospital. The president’s daughter, Zahra Buhari also claimed via her social media handle that the hospital could not provide ordinary paracetamol.


CSOs demand probe of spending on clinic

Some campaigners have started calling for a probe, saying the budgets for the State House Clinic over the years must be investigated because they could not be justified since the hospital was not delivering the purpose it was meant for.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Transparency International Nigeria (TIN), and the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), have expressed dismay over the state of health facilities in the country.

They were reacting to the billions expended on the State House Clinic, which cannot allegedly take care of the health needs of Kyari, leading to his being taken to an unnamed private hospital in Lagos. CISLAC’s executive director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said “Nigeria has only two doctors per 1,000 citizens and 0.5 beds per 1,000 citizens.

According to him: “Health personnel are unable to effectively deliver essential services. In addition, over 90 per cent of the Nigerian population is without health insurance coverage and cannot afford even basic health care. “CISLAC’s long-term experience in the health sector shows the inability to effectively address numerous public health challenges.

Corruption, limited institutional capacity and an unstable economy are major factors responsible for the poor development of health services in Nigeria. “If the N13bn has been actually used for the State House Clinic, the situation would have been different and same applied to the general health sector in the country,” he said.

“Those it was meant to serve are still spending taxpayers’ money to seek treatment elsewhere,” said Human Rights campaigner, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi. Zikirullahi said it was unjustifiable that the State House Clinic would be gulping billions of taxpayers’ money and those the facility was meant to serve would still be spending millions to seek treatment in other private facilities within and outside the country.

He therefore called for a comprehensive audit of the spending on the facility and of the health sector in the country. The President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, said despite its huge natural resources, Nigeria’s health system is very weak and could collapse in the event of a large outbreak. He recently told Bloomberg that “the health system is not strong enough,” saying “Over the years, it has been denied normal funding and things are not where they supposed to be.” According to him, “If the burden of the coronavirus is added, it

Despite the N13.59bn budgetary provision for the State House Clinic in the last five years under President Muhammadu Buhari, the facility appears ‘unfit’ to treat his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. The State House Clinic is meant to treat the president, the vice president, their families and other staff of the presidency.

Kyari, who tested positive for the COVID-19 after a trip to Germany, allegedly shunned the State House Clinic and the special coronavirus treatment centres in Abuja and moved to a private hospital in Lagos.

Credible sources told Daily Trust that the chief of staff to the president opted for Lagos to get a better treatment for the COVID-19 and other complications because of the deteriorating nature of the State House Clinic.

“Facilities at the State House Clinic have been deliberately grounded because of some policies and political intrigues while some equipment could not function because their subscriptions at the factories they were manufactured abroad have not been renewed,” one of the sources said.

“The hospital is not functioning the way it should function because several reagents are also not available,” he said. Another source said, “The status of the hospital has been changed, it is now not bigger than any primary health care centre…

Therefore, there are certain surgeries or consultations that we cannot carry out even if we have the manpower and the facilities.” Asked to give more details on the status of the hospital, the source said, “It is not higher than a primary health care centre.

Of course we have the doctors, the nurses and other specialists, but the facility cannot take charge of some ailments because of what I told you earlier. “The issue of its status in the eye of the powers that be is that it is just a clinic meant to attend to a select group. May be this is why the chief of staff to the president moved to Lagos,” he said.


How villa clinic was reduced to ‘primary’ health facility

Daily Trust recalled that the change of status of the villa clinic came to the fore during the budget defence of 2019 by officials from the presidency. The then Permanent Secretary of the State House, Jalal Arabi, at the budget defence before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, on Monday, April 1, 2019, said President Buhari had directed that the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) revert to a clinic to serve the original purpose for which it was established.

A statement issued by Attah Esa, Deputy Director (Information), State House, quoted the permanent secretary telling the senators that, “without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic is a presidential directive.

This is to make sure that the facility is functional and serves the purpose for which it was established, ab initio.”

Arabi also told journalists after the budget defence that the reversion of the centre to a clinic was a case of “cutting one’s coat according to one’s cloth.” He said, “It was initially meant to serve the first and second families and those working within and around the villa.

The overstretching of facilities at the medical centre by patients is some of the challenges the centre have been going through. It wasn’t meant for that purpose.

“Nobody was charging anyone for any services and relying on appropriation means we will depend on subvention when it comes to run the Centre.

Whatever comes is what you utilise and if the last patient comes in to take the last drugs based on the last budgetary release, that is it and we have to wait till another release is done. “But this new development means that services will be streamlined to a clinic that will serve those that it was meant to serve when it was conceived,” Arabi said.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have urged the federal government to halt its plan to invite an 18-man Chinese team of medical experts to assist the country in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).

They described the move as ill-timed and embarrassing, stating it undermines efforts and expertise of frontline healthcare workers risking their lives every day to keep the country safe.

The associations said that they might be forced to review participation and withdraw their members from all public health facilities in the country if the government proceeds with the plans.

The President of the NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him: “The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) received the news of the intention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to invite Chinese doctors into the country at this time of a global pandemic with great dismay and utter disappointment.

“It is a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions, and a fragile health system to be subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along in arriving at such a decision.

“The lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, and the absolute lack of any form of insurance for the workforce are primordial issues begging for attention at this time.

“We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves.

“The NMA would loathe reviewing her participation in the fight against COVID-19 considering the grave implications and the risk to the lives of her members should the Government go ahead with this ill-thought-out invitation at this time.

“The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID -19 in Italy coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far”.

The NMA explains that instead of inviting the Chinese into the country, whatever experiences the they have can be shared by digital technology through conferencing, bearing in mind that Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has only just returned from China.

It also stressed that the government did not put into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in the country, especially when it failed to consult with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian (MDCN) to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients.

“The Association is aware of a large pool of General Medical and Specialist Practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed that can be engaged instead of bringing foreigners who aside from national security concerns may not be conversant with our culture, terrain and peculiar challenges.

“We are not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because we can always do with such support as even the developed countries receive support.

“In rejecting the invitation of the Chinese doctors, the NMA would instead urge the Federal Government to review and approve better welfare incentives to the frontline medical personnel.

“The provision of adequate personal protective equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID 19 is equally a better application of scarce resources.

“The NMA urges the Government to expand the Presidential Task Force to include other critical stakeholders including journalists and the civil society to ensure more robust engagement especially as the decisions of the task force has implications for the health, wealth and security of our country.

“It is a great disservice to the morale of the long-suffering frontline health workforce if the Government goes ahead to invite these Chinese doctors. The invitation demeans their sacrifices so far in this pandemic. We fail to see how the 18-man team would impact the current efforts in any significant way.

“The Association, however, expects that the Government would rescind the decision in the overall interest of the country”.

President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr Sokomba Aliyu, in a statement also said: “The Association is in indeed puzzled that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health would be contemplating such an adventure without firstly discussing it with the key and relevant stakeholders like the Nigerian Medical Association; our parent body; and all her relevant affiliates that parade some of the world’s best hands in all fields of endeavor.

“We find it rather curious that our Government would contemplate to throw open her international borders to Chinese nationals having watched how similar action in Italy proved socio-economically suicidal.

“Nigeria is about one fifth of the population of the African continent and currently the world has watched with awe, the very slow rate of case fatality arising from COVID 19 in Africa and is yet to understand, explain, covet or undermine that possible genetic advantage.

“The crafty Chinese scientists should the last group of friends to trust at this time given how unreliably and covertly they have managed the information around the pandemic beginning from the data around its origin, characteristics, and other virulence features to help the nations yet to experience the surge to be better prepared.

“We should not lose sight of the fact that conspiracy theories have it that COVID 19 is a possible tool for both sociopolitical and economic manipulation and domination. Nigeria is too important in the African continent to act any carelessly in the face of this emerging but portent threat to human existence.

“NARD shall not contemplate further warning to distance herself from the Chinese adventure by way of withdrawing all her members from every public health facility in Nigeria so that the anticipated downturn in the output of Nigeria’s healthcare service delivery can be properly situated and traceable to the Chinese as is the case today in Italy”.

A police officer deployed to the Akwa Ibom State command has been demoted for assaulting a medical doctor while enforcing the stay-at-home order of the Akwa Ibom government.

Recall that the Akwa Ibom State government had exempted health workers from its lockdown order, which was effected to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

The police sergeant, Edidiong Alexander assaulted Dr Daniel Edet who is a surgeon with the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, while on his way to work on Friday evening.

It was gathered that the police began investigating the incident after the Nigerian Medical Association threatened to embark on a strike over the assault incident which left Mr Edet’s hand fractured.

The police office who was found guilty after the investigation was concluded, was demoted from the rank of a sergeant to corporal. The state’s commissioner of police, Imohimi Edgal also met with Mr Edet and the chairman of NMA in the state, and apologised to the surgeon and the medical doctors in Akwa Ibom over the conduct of the police officer.

Akwa Ibom state has only recorded five confirmed cases of the coronavirus, since the outbreak of the disease in the country.

A former governor is tired of being a Senator because the chamber is a leveler with the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan as primus inter pares( first among equals).

Having been used to Executive powers with retinue of aides, the ex-governor prefers to dump the Senate to be the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he can call the shots.

This is a dilemma which President Muhammadu Buhari would have to resolve because the North-East Zone of the party had agreed to concede the slot to Borno State. The matter is said to be too hot for the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to address.

It is either the party allows the former governor to have his way or he is pacified with a juicy appointment. But the ex-governor, without mincing words, is tired of the Red Chamber.

Adelani Adepegba, Abuja

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed all its missions abroad to compile a list of willing Nigerian nationals who wished to come back home.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed that this was a sequel to requests by Nigerians stranded abroad in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

She, however, said that the MFA had instructed that “the financial implications will be borne by the prospective evacuees, who will be compulsorily quarantined when they returned”.

According to a statement on Friday by the Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, interested citizens should inform the embassy in their country of residence about their intention to return to Nigeria.

It said, “The interested Nigerians are advised to inform the missions in the various countries they are in, which will then collate and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“To this end, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians stranded abroad willing to return home to key into this Federal Government gesture by providing information to the mission in their respective host countries.”

The PUNCH had reported that some countries including the UK, US, Israel and member States of the European Union had begun evacuating their citizens from Nigeria using emergency flights permitted by the Federal Government.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says corpses of persons who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) cannot be claimed for burial.

He said such corpses would be handled by the ministry of health because they are contagious.

He said this while speaking at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja to give an update on the activities of the presidential task force on COVID-19.

According to NAN, the minister commended Nigerians for complying with the federal government’s stay-at-home directive, adding that it would boost the efforts of stakeholders in the fight to curb the spread of coronavirus.

“Coronavirus is very dangerous and contagious; there is no medicine for it yet and it is not just capable of killing, overwhelming healthcare system, it will destroy the economy. In some countries, they are putting dead bodies in big refrigerators, because the morgues have filled up. Nigerians should not forget that these are not the type of corpses that can be claimed for burial because it must be handled by the ministry of health,” he said.

He called for the cooperation of citizens and asked them to “stay safe, obey simple instructions of basic hygiene and social distancing,” adding that “in a few weeks, we will resume our normal life”.

So far, Nigeria has 190 cases of COVID-19. Of that figure, 20 persons have recovered and have been discharged from hospital.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians, especially telecoms consumers, not to fall prey to a fraudulent message being spread on the Internet by a fraudulent website.

The commission, in a statement on Thursday, identified the fake website as https://covid-19-fg-grant..com/?=1, saying it was asking Nigerians to apply for a free Internet bundle, claiming it was being given by the Nigerian government in collaboration with NCC.

The website asked Nigerians to apply for free Internet by clicking a web link, which automatically led to a webpage with a dialogue box where they were expected to fill in their bio data and other demographics.

The commission said, “NCC wishes to state categorically that neither the Nigerian government nor the commission has issued such a message to Nigerian citizens.

In a related development, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has denied circulating a letter calling for donations to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry said the letter titled, ‘Donations so far for the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria’ with reference number FMF/HMF/S-EFFE-REC/2020/1 and dated March 28, 2020 was fake and an attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The ministry said this in a statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Abdullahi.

Residents of Omole Estate, Phase II, Lagos are now in perpetual fear following the death of a patient suspected to have died of Coronavirus.

Report said the patient who presents with Coronavirus symptoms was rushed to the Primary Healthcare Centre in the area, and that there was no ambulance from the NCDC and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to evacuate her to the Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba.

She was said to have been returned to her residence in a tricycle where she eventually died.

According to Starconnect, her death spread panic in the estate after the chairman, Omole Phase II, Mr. Bamidele Lanisa reportedly issued a notice urging residents to stay indoor over the case.

The chairman, in the notice wrote: “Dear Residents, this is to inform you that there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in our neighboring community (Olowoira).

“The patient was taken to the Health Centre and when the NCDC/Lagos ambulance was unavailable to evacuate her, she was returned to her residence in a tricycle and eventually died.

“As you can imagine, many people came in contact with the patient and the risk to transmission in the neighborhood is real.

“We advise residents to please stay in their houses and refrain from unnecessarily going about. Please safe. We advise a total stay at home for now.”

It is not clear whether Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has submitted himself to test to ascertain if he is free of the COVID-19. The governor’s media aides have not responded to our reporter’s inquiries on the development.

The governor, who said he was on self-isolation, has since relocated to Abuja but returned to Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday.

Bello’s status had been a subject of controversy following his contact with the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari during the 3-day fidda’u prayer of the governor’s mother, Hajiya Hauwawu Bello, in Okene. Kyari is confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus.

Many Nigerians and the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the governor to submit himself to test amidst silence from the government after Kyari’s status was made public.

The governor, who was reluctant to speak on the development, had to take to Twitter following online reports alleging that he had tested positive.

His Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, also debunked the reports, saying his principal was hale and hearty. However, tension further heightened in the state when three governors announced their statuses.

This development has made many to call on Bello to submit himself to further test if he had tested negative earlier, as some of his aides said. But up till the time of filing this report, the governor has not said he submitted to test for the virus.

Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) have publicly announced that they have tested positive for the COVID-19.