₦airaland Forum

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI ADDRESSES THE NATION

President Muhammadu Buhari will broadcast to the nation Monday, April 13, 2020 at 7pm.

Television, radio and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 13, 2020

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Minister for Finance Zainab Shamsuna, Minister for Humanitarian Sadiya Farouq and Governor of CBN teleconferencing yesterday April 12, 2020.
VP chairs the President’s Economic Sustainability Committee, set up to create a Plan that comprehensively responds to the impact of #Covid19 on the economy.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH LOCKDOWN PROBLEMS, SUCCOUR ON THE WAY FOR OUR PEOPLE, SAYS OSINBAJO


(VP was accosted by NTA after a meeting this afternoon with President Buhari.)


Below, his exchange with the press:


Question: Your Excellency, what do you want Nigerians to know regarding your engagement with the President as the head of the high-powered Economic Sustainability Committee?


Answer: I came to brief the President, as it is usual, the regular briefing that I give, sometimes I come physically as you have seen me today, other times I brief him on the phone or by video conference.


What we are concerned about is how to ensure that the economy remains stable, that jobs are protected and if possible, more jobs are created. We are very concerned about that and the President has expressed very serious concerns about the problems that may be associated with the lockdown.


Many of our people work for a daily wage, they have to go out to work, so we have to think in terms of how to ensure that we are able to give them some succour during the period when they are not able to work.


Some of those issues are the issues Mr President wanted me to discuss fully with him. Of course, we have the Economic Sustainability Committee and shortly we are going to submit a full report to Mr President on our thoughts and ideas.


Mr President asked me to meet with him in particular to resolve some of the pressing issues around COVID-19 and also around the economic problems that we are seeing already.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
10th April, 2020

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo briefing President Muhammadu Buhari today on the progress of the Economic Sustainability Committee which he asked him to chair recently. The ESC held a number of meetings & is receiving sectoral suggestions on how to position the Nigerian economy post COVID-19.
Photo: Tolani Alli

I totally agreed with the Vice President because good Intels will make us win this war sooner than expected.

Lawan and Gbaja got it wrong.

Lawmakers lied about SIP funding_

* _Senate President, Speaker want their own candidates as beneficiaries against global best practices_

* _Lawmakers action put *$500M* World Bank support for Conditional Cash Transfer in jeopardy_

The inability of certain members of the National Assembly to include their personally selected candidates to be beneficiaries for the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) is largely why the programme has come under attack by Senate President, *Sen. Ahmed Lawan* and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, *Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.*

The Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, *Hajiya Maryam Uwais* said this in a statement released in response to the recent unsubstantiated attacks on the operations of the NSIP attributed to both the Senate President and the Speaker, recently in the media.

Addressing issues raised by the lawmakers about the NSIPs, and especially the selection of beneficiaries, *Hajiya Uwais* said “the demand for the inclusion of candidates to the NSR from the NASS has been a recurring issue from the inception of the NSIPs.

“My role and singular focus has simply been to comply with the terms of Agreement and the MoU entered into by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as to establish an objective, efficient and transparent process for uplifting the poor out of poverty through structures and mechanisms that are credible and sustainable.

“I have consistently reminded both NASS Committee Chairmen on Poverty Alleviation that there is no social protection programme in the world in which politicians are responsible for selecting the beneficiaries of cash transfers. All successful social protection programmes extract their beneficiaries from an objective community platform, if only to ensure that the poorest of the poor are supported out of poverty in an inclusive community driven and timely manner.”

Speaking specifically on the consequence of politicizing the selection process as requested by the National Assembly, the Special Adviser said the demands of the lawmakers would amount to a breach of the financing agreement entered into with the World Bank.

“The process for objective identification of poor and vulnerable households is as provided in the Financing Agreement (F.A) signed between Nigeria and the World Bank, for which purpose the World Bank IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family are being utilised.

“It should be noted that any departure from the process would place at risk the accessibility to the IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family.

“The National Cash Transfer Programme derives all the cash transfer beneficiaries from a National Social Register (NSR), comprising State Social Registers that are developed and hosted by the State Ministries of Panning of each State,” She added.

Speaking further on other issues raised by the lawmakers, *Hajiya Uwais* described as untrue and regrettable claims by the legislators that information about the NSIPs was not accessible to the National Assembly.

She said “It is, however on record that all invitations to public hearings and meeting by the NASS were honoured by the myself (as the supervisor of the NSIPs) and the cluster teams, while documents relating to the structure, activities and progress of the NSIPs were routinely shared with them, over the period that the NSIO supervised the NSIPs under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“Furthermore, the monthly reports of *3,000 N-Power monitors, spread* across the *774 LGAs,* are available to both Poverty Alleviation Committees of the NASS. It should also be noted that the accounting and procurement aspects of the NSIPs were handled by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning on behalf of the NSIO, and not the OVP.

“All requests for information related thereto were responded to, by that Ministry. It was further asserted, apparently, that because the beneficiaries are not known personally to the NASS members, the National Social Register is a ‘scam’ and needs to be reformed through a process that is ‘more inclusive’ of the NASS.”

On the allegations that the programme gulped over *N2 trillion since 2016* when the fund was created, the Special Adviser said it was false and misleading as all releases for the programmes between *January 2016 and October 2019* amounted to *N619.1 billion.*

According to *Hajiya Uwais* “Although the total appropriation by the National Assembly (NASS) from inception, for the 4 NSIPs, is *N1.7 trillion,* the actual funds released for the NSIPs between *January 2016 and October 2019* (when the NSIPs were handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development), amounted to *N619.1 billion,* constituting *36.4%* of the total appropriation from the NASS.

“The monies released for the N-SIPs can be further broken down into *14.03% (2016); 35% in 2017; 43.5% in 2018 and 57.8%* (as at Sept 2019) of the *N500b* in 2016 and *N400b* appropriated for the subsequent years. It should be noted that for *2017 to 2020,* the sum of *N100b* was appropriated specifically for the National Housing Fund hosted by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

“These releases covered operational activities and payments to *13,363,680* beneficiaries across all the 4 NSIPs, all of whom can all be verified either through their BVN numbers or their unique numbers generated by the National Social Register, those identities having been generated for the poorest of the poor who do not own bank accounts for sundry reasons.

“As at *September 2019,* the funds had been expended as follows, on the: Job Creation programme *(549,500* N-Power graduates and non-graduates and 7 Technology Hubs); National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (in 33 States, *9,963,762* pupils to *107,862* cooks in *54,952* primary schools).

“The National Cash Transfer Programme (including the development of the National Social Register by the National Social Safety Net Coordination Office) *1,491,296* poor and vulnerable households comprising *6,056,872* individuals in *33 States* and *620,947* cash transfer beneficiaries; and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (managed by the Bank of Industry); a total of *2,279,380* TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni beneficiaries.”

*Hajiya Uwais* said her response is to set the records straight and clear the misrepresentations created by the comments of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

This afternoon, President Muhammadu Buhari received in audience Borno State Governor, Prof Zulum at the State House, Abuja.

#AsoVillaToday

https://mobile.twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1248267590549549057

More

VP Osinbajo Presides Over The Economic Sustainability Committee Meeting On 08/04/2020

https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/vp-osinbajo-presides-over-the-economic-sustainability-committee-meeting-on-08-04-2020/

Re-2 Trillion Social Investment Programme a Failure, say Lawan, Gbajabiamila
My attention has been drawn to the online report of the Nation newspaper of 7th April 2020, with the above caption. Indeed, several other online publications carried similar stories, alleging that the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs), as supervised under the Office of the Vice President, were a ‘scam’. Given the gravity and implications of the narrative conveyed, as well as the caliber of persons involved, it has become necessary to clarify the issues in the public domain.
1.That the National Social Investment Programme has gulped over N2 trillion since 2016, when the fund was created. UNTRUE
a) Although the total appropriation by the National Assembly (NASS) from inception, for the 4 NSIPs, is N1.7 trillion, the actual funds released for the NSIPs between January 2016 and October 2019 (when the NSIPs were handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development), amounted to N619.1 billion, constituting 36.4% of the total appropriation from the NASS.
b) The monies released for the N-SIPs can be further broken down into 14.03% (2016); 35% in 2017; 43.5% in 2018 and 57.8% (as at Sept 2019) of the N500b in 2016 and N400b appropriated for the subsequent years. It should be noted that for 2017 to 2020, the sum of N100b was appropriated specifically for the National Housing Fund hosted by the Federal Ministry of Finance. These releases covered operational activities and payments to 13,363,680 beneficiaries across all the 4 NSIPs, all of whom can all be verified either through their BVN numbers or their unique numbers generated by the National Social Register, those identities having been generated for the poorest of the poor who do not own bank accounts for sundry reasons.
c) As at September 2019, the funds had been expended as follows, on the: Job Creation programme (549,500 N-Power graduates and non-graduates and 7 Technology Hubs); National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (in 33 States, 9,963,762 pupils to 107,862 cooks in 54,952 primary schools); the National Cash Transfer Programme (including the development of the National Social Register by the National Social Safety Net Coordination Office) 1,491,296 poor and vulnerable households comprising 6,056,872 individuals in 33 States and 620,947 cash transfer beneficiaries; and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (managed by the Bank of Industry); a total of 2,279,380 TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni beneficiaries.
2.That as part of the conditions for poor and vulnerable beneficiaries to be engaged, they are made to apply online, through the internet and they require a BVN for payment. UNTRUE
a)The National Cash Transfer Programme derives all the cash transfer beneficiaries from a National Social Register (NSR), comprising State Social Registers that are developed and hosted by the State Ministries of Panning of each State. The process for objective identification of poor and vulnerable households is as provided in the Financing Agreement (F.A) signed between Nigeria and the World Bank, for which purpose the World Bank IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family are being utlised. The process involves a poverty mapping of the LGAs in each State, community mobilization, targeting and identification supported by trained enumerators at State and LGA levels, after which each of the households identified by the communities is visited and data collated, which information includes fields such as the size of household, age, gender, persons with disability (if any), assets, vocation of head of household, educational qualifications (if any), dwelling house conditions, etc. Finally, all the data collated is subjected to a proxy means testing formula to determine those who merit the grants and the accompanying training. Even though each State hosts its own information, all of the data is hosted at the National level as the National Social Register. As at March 31st 2020, the NSR comprised 11,045,537 individuals from 2,644,495 households, collated from 35 States, 453 LGAs, 47,698 communities. Each and every beneficiary has a generated unique number and can be tracked.
b) Furthermore, payment service providers have been selected in an open procurement process to pay the cash beneficiaries at their locations, as many of them reside in communities where there is a dearth of banking infrastructure. Even though the majority of beneficiaries are not financially literate, the National Social Investment Office (NSIO, then under the Office of the Vice President) commenced the pilot exercise of payment of beneficiaries in 6 States through microfinance banks in September 2019, with a 93% success rate. The exercise was preparatory to full digitization, especially with the impending cashless policy in March 2020.
c) It is also pertinent to mention that the National Economic Summit Group, (working with Accenture and the Busara Centre for Behavioral Sciences) formed the Policy Intervention Unit for the NSIO. Furthermore, in addition to the World Bank’s strict auditing responsibilities, the African Network of Environmental and Economic Justice has provided over 700 monitors across all the LGAs where the NSIP beneficiaries exist. The link to the Report is to be downloaded here. Indeed, the ICPC, EFCC & the DSS were also invited to monitor the process to protect the beneficiaries, after they receive the benefits in the field.
d) It is only in respect of the Job Creation programme that applications are made online. That particular programme was initiated for youth who consist of graduates and non-graduates, as with JAMB candidates who continue to apply for their own admission, online. Indeed, all the LGAs around the country currently have N-Power beneficiaries serving in sundry capacities. The utilization of the BVN for N-Power beneficiary payment is also as a means of identity (since the NIN number can be generated from the BVN) and to facilitate the tracking of payments and further ensure accountability.
e) The identities of the cash transfer beneficiaries are protected by law (the FOI Act), as the consent of recipients of social grants is a pre-requisite, before disclosure. They can, however, be found and verified through the LGA community facilitators (CTFs) who have been trained to support them by weekly visits to the wards. The names, wards, LGAs, States and phone numbers of the CTFs can be found here, as the data collation continues to grow around the country.
3.The Leadership of the Senate also stated that the NSIP information was not accessible to the National Assembly. UNTRUE
a) It is, however, on record that all invitations to public hearings and meeting by the NASS were honoured by the myself (as the supervisor of the NSIPs) and the cluster teams, while documents relating to the structure, activities and progress of the NSIPs were routinely shared with them, over the period that the NSIO supervised the NSIPs under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Furthermore, the monthly reports of 3,000 N-Power monitors, spread across the 774 LGAs, are available to both Poverty Alleviation Committees of the NASS.
b) It should also be noted that the accounting and procurement aspects of the NSIPs were handled by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning on behalf of the NSIO, and not the OVP. All requests for information related thereto were responded to, by that Ministry.
4.It was further asserted, apparently, that because the beneficiaries are not known personally to the NASS members, the National Social Register is a ‘scam’ and needs to be reformed through a process that is ‘more inclusive’ of the NASS. REGRETTABLE & DANGEROUS
a) The NSR comprises persons selected by the communities directly, within the constituencies of each of the NASS members. No person has been imported from one community to the other. They have been identified as very poor by the communities in which they reside and may not necessarily be known by the lawmakers. Verification of their identity and status is possible, as has been for all investigative journalists and monitors, through the CTFs.
b) It should be noted that Nigeria has signed a Financing Agreement with the World Bank, in which the process of identification of beneficiaries was set out. Any departure from the process, which would place at risk the accessibility to the IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family.
c) The demand for the inclusion of candidates to the NSR from the NASS has been a recurring issue from the inception of the NSIPs. My role and singular focus has simply been to comply with the terms of Agreement and the MoU entered into by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as to establish an objective, efficient and transparent process for uplifting the poor out of poverty through structures and mechanisms that are credible and sustainable. I have consistently reminded both NASS Committee Chairmen on Poverty Alleviation that there is no social protection programme in the world in which politicians are responsible for selecting the beneficiaries of cash transfers. All successful social protection programmes extract their beneficiaries from an objective community platform, if only to ensure that the poorest of the poor are supported out of poverty in an inclusive community driven and timely manner. The data being collated in each household enables the accurate and scientific measurement and tracking, to assure of analysis and research towards resolving poverty. Since poverty knows no ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, the process must be insulated from influences that are likely to deviate from achieving the desired objective of alleviating abject poverty, rather than be used for patronage or as compensation for loyalty.
d) The tripartite process for identification of cash transfer beneficiaries is in accordance with similar established best practice the world over, as the communities in which the poor reside know who is most in need. The community takes ownership and supports the process, if engaged in the identification of the needy. While not perfect, the process is as near authentic as is possible in the circumstances, as we continue to strive towards improvement. Building the State Social Registers has been a painstaking and continuous collaborative effort, with huge amount of funds expended in striving to achieve the credibility that would be put to waste, if discarded as suggested. Reform is certainly welcome, but not the ‘reform’ that would introduce influence and partisanship into the NSR, thereby making a mockery of the critical data so far collated around the country.
5.The NSIPs have been handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs since October 2019, but it has become necessary to respond to the unfortunate allegations made at the National Assembly on the 7th of April 2020, which allegations were made in respect of certain aspects of the NSIPs from inception in November 2015 to September 2019. This response is necessary for the purpose of:
i) Safeguarding the entitlements of the poorest of Nigerian citizens, whose benefits are likely to cease because they are not known or connected to NASS members or any other person of influence;
ii) Protecting the integrity of the NSR, which development has been a painstaking process over the past 4 years, along with the huge investment and effort expended on data that is critical for development and poverty analysis; and
iii) Ensuring compliance with the World Bank Financing Agreement (FA) signed by Nigeria and the World Bank, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Nigeria, the Swiss Government and the World Bank, to facilitate the return of the funds recovered from the Abacha family. Disregarding the process set out in the F.A would risk the suspension of the utilization of the IDA Credit and the recovered funds for the cash transfer beneficiaries. That balance which is currently over $500m, would be placed at risk. In the current Nigerian situation, we cannot afford to lose such a huge amount of resources that have been provided to support the poorest of the poor out of poverty.
6.This Statement is prepared to set the records straight on certain aspects of the processes, structure and activities of the NSIPs between November 2015 and September 2019 when I supervised the NSIO operations. Having handed over the NSIPs in October 2019, I assume no responsibility for the operations thereafter as the Ministry is well positioned to handle the NSIPs and take decisions thereupon. Thank you.
Maryam Uwais MFR
Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments.


https://medium.com/@TheAsoVilla/lawan-gbajabiamila-got-it-wrong-6beed85d6a45

Five persons were allegedly killed on Monday at Trikania in Sabogeri Nasarawa under Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State during a clash between youths and police enforcing the stay-at-home order in the state over the Coronavirus outbreak. 
SaharaReporters gathered that the traders converged at a temporary market located at Trikania following the closure of Monday market as a result of the lockdown order.
It was gathered that the Civilian Joint Task Force made attempts to disperse the traders but the move was resisted by youths in the area, who were said to have overpowered the task force.
The situation led to a reinforcement of armed policemen from Kakuri Division.
The police were said to have opened fire on the angry mob upon arrival in an attempt to disperse them, leading to the death of five persons.


Also, many people were said to have sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.
Spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jilge, who spoke to our correspondent, said that he had not been briefed on the development.


http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/06/five-killed-kaduna-police-youth-clash-during-coronavirus-lockdown-enforcement

We shall overcome and Nigeria will prevail

NIGERIANS SHOULD TRUST SCIENCE, NOT FICTION

“Yesterday, the esteemed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka made comments on the legal status and description of 14-day lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Professor Soyinka is not a medical professor. His qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres. He is of course entitled to his opinions – but that is exactly all they are: semantics, not science. They cannot – and should not - therefore be judged as professional expertise in this matter in any shape or form.

“Across the world – from parts of the United States and China, to countries including the United Kingdom and France, government - mandated lockdowns are in place to slow and defeat the spread of coronavirus. All have been declared, and all have been made necessary, based on medical and scientific evidence. The guidance of the Nigerian Government’s medical specialists is to advise the same.

“Professor Soyinka has also declared, doubtless based on his specialism as a playwright, that: “We are not in a war emergency’’.

Eminent scientists say otherwise:
“Dr Richard Hatchett, Head of the International Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (and former Director of the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) has said, ‘War is an appropriate analogy’.

“Professor Anthony Fauci, Director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force has said of the battle against the pandemic: ‘It’s almost like the fog of war’.

“As for the legality of the lock down, the Government of Nigeria’s primary duty in law and action is the defence of the people of Nigeria. We face a global pandemic. Nigeria is now affected. The scientific and medical guidance the world over is clear: the way to defeat the virus is to halt its spread through limitation of movement of people.

“Perhaps Wole Soyinka may write a play on the coronavirus pandemic, after this emergency is over. In the meantime, we ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists - and not fiction writers - at this time of national crisis.’’

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 1, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE
 
VP CHAIRS NEC SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING ON COVID-19, URGES MORE PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT ON SERIOUSNESS OF THE PANDEMIC
 

The Special Committee of the National Economic Council on COVID-19 is working hard to develop additional measures to alleviate the challenges being faced by Nigerians because of the implications of the global pandemic in the country.
 
The Committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, held its second meeting this afternoon as it continues its task of coordinating the Federal and State governments’ responses to the impact of the disease.
 
Present alongside the Vice President at a meeting held via videoconference anchored from the Presidential Villa are Governors Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Mohammed Abubakar, Jigawa; Godwin Obaseki, Edo; David Umahi, Ebonyi; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun; and Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi. The meeting was also attended by the Finance Minister, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze among several other top officials.
 
The NEC Committee received the report of its Technical Working Group which proposed an array of policy options and recommendations on how federal, state and local governments can bring relief to the people and take other adequate measures in containing and responding to the adverse economic effects of the pandemic.
 
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President emphasized the importance of the assignment and the urgency required, asking that public enlightenment and sensitization on the seriousness of the pandemic should be further intensified at all government levels so that more and more Nigerians would become aware of the compelling and critical dimensions of the situation.
 
He assured the governors that the FG is already packaging further resources for a comprehensive economic response to alleviate the challenges of the pandemic, support the States and provide succor to Nigerians in a timely and effective manner. He disclosed that the newly created Economic Sustainability Committee, ESW, constituted by the President will also be meeting this week to start its work and respond to the situation appropriately.
 
 
 

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

1st April 2020

VP Osinbajo Chairs The National Economic Council Special Committee On COVID-19

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo Chairs The National Economic Council Special Committee On COVID-19

VP Osinbajo Says At Young Innovators’ Google Hangout

*Plan to deal with impact of pandemic on poor Nigerians, small businesses in the offing
*Talks about President’s new Economic Sustainability Committee
As governments and stakeholders harness resources to contain the spread of Coronavirus and tackle its fallouts, confronting the pandemic is an all Nigeria effort that requires the cooperation of all, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo, stated this on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions at a Google Hangout organized by the HACK COVID-19 Call Centre, where young Nigerian technology innovators talked about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Joining the VP at the online event, besides a number of technology innovators from across the country was the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.
According to him, “We must see this as a joint effort, everyone is involved in this, it really is an all-Nigeria effort and I am happy that everyone is responding.”
Asked about how the Buhari administration intends to grapple with the consequences of the restriction of movements in parts of the country and support vulnerable Nigerians, the Vice President said the President has actually just established the Economic Sustainability Committee, “which he has asked me to chair.”
The Committee is to take care of the economic challenges and fallouts of the pandemic and the attendant movement restrictions in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States. He said the new Committee will also develop further palliatives, and a sustainability plan to reposition the economy and grow the non-oil sector.
Speaking on the readiness of government to tackle the fallouts of the pandemic, the Vice President restated the palliatives mentioned in the President’s speech on Sunday and added in particular how the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes would be scaled up.
“First of all we must admit that there is very little precedent for what we are doing today, this is not the sort of situation that anyone necessarily prepares for. But fortunately for us, we have, in the past few years, designed a social investment programme that tries to address some of these types of concerns.
“Part of the work of the Economic Sustainability Committee that has been constituted is to look at some of the concerns that affect the poor, especially in the context of what has already been done and the data that we already have on informal workers and informal traders and how to implement some strategy that will be able to alleviate the sufferings of the poor (and the informal workforce) at this time. And how to integrate some of the data that we have in other respects.
“So, we have data of the poorest of the poor, with the assistance of the World Bank, we have developed what is called the National Social Register where we mapped out, in practically all Local Government Areas in Nigeria, those who are considered the most vulnerable. Already, some of them get conditional cash transfers but, again, compared to the numbers, it is not large enough. But now we have an opportunity of doing much more in terms of giving the poor and vulnerable some kind of assistance.
“The N-power is one of our schemes where we provide opportunities for young Nigerians who have no jobs at the moment. Again the President has asked that we take a look at that and see how we can enhance that and do more. This provides yet another opportunity to widen the scope and provide more.
“One of the critical things is the fact that the whole Home Grown School Feeding Programme also has a large number of cooks; there are over 100,000 men and women scattered across the local government areas in this country who cook for these children.
“So, at the moment, they may well be out of work, so part of what we are also looking at is for them to continue to earn a living even with the current closing down of schools. They are also obviously endangered.
“The Honorable Minister is working on that and I will be working closely with her to see what can possibly be done to deliver on the President’s directive on that.”
The Vice President however assured that though the challenges are daunting and expectations high, government is ready and willing to address all of them.
He said “…you can imagine, anything on this scale, asking people not to move at all, shutting borders in a country as large as this, there will obviously be all sorts of problems and issues. But I think the good thing is that we are all ready and willing to ensure that we unbottle the bottlenecks and ensure that things move as quickly and smoothly as possible.”
On incorporating local manufacturers in the production of some of the items needed to manage the pandemic, the Vice President said, “…we have been working with many clusters of private sector manufacturers under the MSMEs clinics.”
He said, “for example, a lot of the clusters like the tailoring cluster in Aba have come together to give us different samples of some of the protective equipment that health workers wear. They have sent us one or two samples and the NCDC will tell us whether any of them is appropriate for the circumstances so that they can begin to manufacture on a larger scale.
“Similarly, those who are making hand sanitizers are working on something, these are all local manufacturing concerns. Also, some people are even looking at local fabrication of ventilators.”
Addressing issues raised about how government could help private organizations to scale up their respective interventions, the Vice President said State governments have been encouraged to fully support all private initiatives aimed at addressing issues relating to the pandemic.
Responding to participants at the hangout, the Vice President added that “If you have specific cases, and ideas you may channel it through the HACK COVID-19 Call Centre, so at least we can identify those specific ones that may require some assistance.
“But what is happening now is that there is so many private initiatives and a lot is happening at the State level. We have had conversations with the Governor of Lagos State, the FCT Minister, and the Governor of Ogun State, between yesterday and today, on this matter.
“Again with respect to moving relief items from point to point, especially with the lockdown, already exceptions have been made for this. The President made specific provisions for those who are moving relief items or rendering essential services in one form or the other.
“The State Governors have been charged to ensure that this is done properly and that people are assisted, that relief organizations, charitable organizations who are concerned with these services are helped along the way. If there are specific problems, those could be fed back to us,” the Vice President added.
In his contribution at the online event the NCDC top official, Dr. Ihekweazu disclosed that there have been a lot private sector contributions including how a CEO of a Telco offered the agency free phone data for three months to support its work tracking those who might have been exposed to the virus.
The online event-Google Hangout-was moderated by Ms. Ore Disu, a development expert and researcher with other technology innovators as participants.


https://www.yemiosinbajo.ng/confronting-covid-19-pandemic-is-an-all-nigeria-effort-vp-osinbajo-says-at-young-innovators-google-hangout/

In exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004), and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, signed the Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, which declared COVID-19 a dangerous infectious disease.

The Regulations, effective March 30, 2020, also gave legal backing to the various measures outlined in the President’s National Broadcast on March 29, 2020, such as Restriction/Cessation of Movement in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State and others toward containing the spread of the pandemic in the country.

In addition, to ensure that Nigerians can still perform on-line transactions and use ATMs whilst observing these restrictions, exemption is granted financial system and money markets to allow very skeletal operations in order to keep the system in light operations during the pendency of these regulations.

*Femi Adesina*
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity),
March 30, 2020

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Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo & DG Of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Participate In A Google Hangout With Young Innovative Nigerians On 30/03/2020


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TF3ldrY-ak

"The President today constituted an Economic Sustainability Committee he asked me to chair, on how to implement strategies to alleviate sufferings of Nigerians at this time,"_ VP Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, said at a Google Hangout where young Nigerian tech innovators discussed impact of COVID-19.

The Committee is to take care of the economic challenges and fallouts of the pandemic and consequential restrictions.

Besides developing further palliatives, the committee will also develop a sustainability plan on repositioning the economy and growing the non-oil sector.

Members include Ministers of Finance, Budget and Planning; Industry, Trade and Investment; Labour; Petroleum Resources - state; CBN Governor, GMD NNPC, with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary.

The Google Hangout was organized by HACK COVID-19 Call Center in Abuja, earlier today.

*Laolu Akande,*
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President of Nigeria,
Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON.
30-03-2020.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS STATEMENT

WE CELEBRATE A VISIONARY AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER, SAYS VP OSINBAJO, AS ASIWAJU CLOCKS 68



Today, we celebrate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a visionary, transformative leader and patriot. Your exceptional political career and service has inspired millions. It is true that few leaders have developed as many leaders from the ranks of their protégés as you have done.


Your incredibly large and generous heart, political astuteness and uncommon intellect have become the stuff of legend.


Today, but for COVID-19 we would, as we have done in the past twelve years, celebrated this day with the Bola Tinubu Colloquium, where we do what is your greatest passion - proffering answers to developmental questions. We will by God’s grace, still do this and many more.


I pray for you sir, that as your days, so shall your strength, wisdom and favour be with God, in Jesus name.


Happy birthday Asiwaju!


Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

Vice President

March 29, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OksTCsJ2aiY

“Just as the Hon. Minister of Health has advised, we urge all Nigerians to continue to observe the hygiene advisories offered by the Hon. Minister of Health and W.H.O, including frequent hand washing and social distancing as much as possible. I think it is the Hon. Minister of Health who advised that we should be elbowing ourselves and the namaste instead of handshakes.”

VP Osinbajo yesterday at the office conducted his meetings via video conferencing, while observing social distancing. Today, he continues his work from the home office, as he is in self-isolation in accordance with NCDC protocols - Laolu Akande

The same Bakare that wants to embezzle money meant for the church? That con artist is envious of the Vice President and he shall remain sad for the rest of his life.

How is this talk relevant to what’s going on in this country? My concern is for Buhari to hand over to Osinbajo at this trying time.
Osinbajo will do better in managing this and addressing us

Nigeria has declared five days of free health services targeting nearly 20 million people across 409 lowest-performing local government areas. For five days each in March, April and June, residents in the affected local government areas will get free healthcare, medical consultation and minor surgeries, attend health talks and receive counselling under the Integrated Medical Outreach Programme (I-MOP).

Vice president Yemi Osinbajo launched the programme at the Township Health Cenre in Bwari, one of six council areas in the FCT, where settlements have been categorized as “unreached, underserved, and vulnerable”. He called it “not only a sensible, but practical plan” to scale up access to routine immunisation and other health services. ADVERTISEMENT HOW OVER 5000 NIGERIA MEN HAVE PERMANENTLY OVERCOME TERRIBLE BEDROOM PERFORMANCE DUE TO THIS RECENT DISCOVERY BY MEDICAL CONSULTANTS “Starting next week Monday, March 23, health workers will offer services in primary health care centres and move from settlement to settlement, searching for underserved and unreached communities in 409 local government areas, targeting over 20 million [people] with free basic health services,” announced Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Treatments, minor surgeries and counselling will be at designated centres, one per senatorial district. “Opportunities like the I-MOP provide unique platforms for the health system to bride the gaps and make sure no one is left behind in the journey toward universal health coverage,” said Shuaib. The FCT performed better than most states in the north central in terms of indices as routine immunisation, but it “performed poorly” in other areas compared to the national average, said Ramatu Tijjani, minister of state for the FCT. Its coverage for sanitation was 30%, compared with a national average of 35%–meaning up to three in 10 people in the territory still defecate in the open. And only three in 10 children under five years old sleep under a mosquito net. “We need to do more,” said Tijjani. “In each of the six area councils, the FCT will partner in providing high-impact commodities.” She said the territory administration had already identified and trained healthworkers who will man all fixed, temporarily fixed and mobile posts where residents will get services throughout the period. I-MOP will run in three phases each for five days from March 23, a second in April and the last in June. “These are adhoc, stop-gap measures,” said health minister Osagie Ehanire. “Our goal is to develop resilient, sustainable health system. “We have planned and worked hard, but there is more work to be done to extend health care to all Nigerians.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-launches-5-day-free-health-care-for-20m-nigerians-2.html

CAN THE POWER OF PRAYER ALONE STOP A PANDEMIC LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS? EVEN THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD THOUGHT OTHERWISE

By Craig Considine

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing governments and news sources to provide the most accurate and helpful advice to the world's population, as the disease is indeed global in reach. Health care professionals are in high demand, and so too are scientists who study the transmission and effect of pandemics.
Experts like immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci and medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta are saying that good hygiene and quarantining, or the practice of isolating from others in the hope of preventing the spread of contagious diseases, are the most effective tools to contain COVID-19.


Do you know who else suggested good hygiene and quarantining during a pandemic?

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, over 1,300 years ago.
While he is by no means a "traditional" expert on matters of deadly diseases, Muhammad nonetheless had sound advice to prevent and combat a development like COVID-19.
Muhammad said: "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague outbreaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place."
He also said: "Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy."
Muhammad also strongly encouraged human beings to adhere to hygienic practices that would keep people safe from infection. Consider the following hadiths, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad:


"Cleanliness is part of faith."
"Wash your hands after you wake up; you do not know where your hands have moved while you sleep."
"The blessings of food lie in washing hands before and after eating."
And what if someone does fall ill? What kind of advice would Muhammad provide to his fellow human beings who are suffering from pain?
He would encourage people to always seek medical treatment and medication: "Make use of medical treatment," he said, "for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease—old age."


Perhaps most importantly, he knew when to balance faith with reason. In recent weeks, some have gone so far as to suggest that prayer would be better at keeping you from the coronavirus than adhering to basic rules of social distancing and quarantine. How would Prophet Muhammad respond to the idea of prayer as the chief—or only—form of medicine?
Consider the following story, related to us by ninth-century Persian scholar Al-Tirmidhi: One day, Prophet Muhammad noticed a Bedouin man leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in God." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in God."

Muhammad encouraged people to seek guidance in their religion, but he hoped they take basic precautionary measures for the stability, safety and well-being of all.
In other words, he hoped people would use their common sense.
Dr. Craig Considine is a scholar, professor, global speaker, and media contributor based at the Department of Sociology at Rice University. He is the author of The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View (Blue Dome Press, 2020), and Islam in America: Exploring the Issues (ABC-CLIO 2019), among others.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

 

IN STRONG RECOMMENDATION AT NEC, GOVERNORS ENDORSE SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS 


*Special committee to coordinate FG, States’ response to Coronavirus pandemic set up


In what reflects a continuous and consistent confrontation of COVID-19 in Nigeria, State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) have set up a Special Committee to coordinate Federal and State governments’ response to deal with the fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic.


The Committee which started deliberations immediately after the NEC meeting on Thursday is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with the Governors of Jigawa, Edo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kebbi and Ogun States as members. 


The establishment of the Special Committee mandated to coordinate the responses of the Federal Government and States especially as it relates to the socio-economic implications of the pandemic on Nigerians, was the major outcome of the Council meeting which featured several presentations on COVID-19 ranging from the economic to the financial and public health dimensions of the matter.


NEC also strongly recommended that public gatherings should be discouraged and the maximum numbers in any large gathering should be worked out by respective State governments, including schools, social gatherings and worship centres. 


Briefing NEC on COVID-19 and Nigeria’s response, the Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, noted that as at March 17, 2020, 152 countries are confirmed with coronavirus.

 

The presentation disclosed that in Nigeria there were 53 persons tested, 12 confirmed cases, zero deaths, 1 case discharged, and 3 states with confirmed cases were Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States, while the type of transmission showed six cases imported from Italy, United States of America and the United Kingdom.

 

Ehanire who led the presentation said the strategic objective of the response include early detection, confirmed cases and contact tracing, developing and maintaining capacity to effectively manage cases, coordination and communication with Nigerians, noting that about 80% of people recovered from the disease without the need for special treatment.

 

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha who heads the Presidential Task Force also briefed Council on steps already taken by Federal Government to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.


At the Council meeting, the following presentations on COVID-19 were made:

i. Briefing on COVID-19 pandemic and Control Measures by the Minister of Health

ii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy by the Chairman Economic Advisory Council 

iii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy: What is being done, by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

iv. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerian petroleum revenues: What is being done, by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. 

v. Managing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on monetary policy by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).


Also giving an update on the effect of COVID-19 on the oil and gas sector, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, said the pandemic has impacted negatively on crude oil production and consumption and is further complicated by the quantity of the crude oil available before the pandemic came in, stressing that this has led to a sharp decline in the price of crude oil to about $22 pb as today.

 

He said “the price of production now is higher than the selling price of oil, making it very difficult for oil producing companies and nations.”  

 

He however noted that it is not a hopeless situation for Nigeria as measures are being taken to curtail the negative impact it may bring such as reducing the cost and increasing the production “even though budget level for crude oil is $57pb and when the reality of $30pb comes to play, we will still fulfill our obligation to FAAC.”

 

The NNPC boss also noted that the drop in the crude oil price has significant impact on the price of petroleum products and as a result of that change the price of petroleum products particularly PMS has been brought down to N125 on Wednesday and all NNPC service stations have been directed to comply.


NEC also got update on the balances of the Excess Crude, Stabilization, and the Natural Resources Development Fund, accounts.

 

The Excess Crude stood at $72, 220,756.74 as at 17th March, 2020, while Stabilization account was put at N35, 806,389,699.67 during the same period. Natural Resources Development Fund account stood at N109, 360,903,475.60 during the period under review.

 

Laolu Akande


Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

Office of the Vice President

 

19th March, 2020

*STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE: PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES PRECAUTION, NOT FEAR ON CORONAVIRUS CASES*

Nigeria, like every other country around the world, is dealing with the unexpected and unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Muhammadu Buhari administration has taken some steps to mitigate the effects on the Nigerian people.

To prevent the spread of cases imported into Nigeria, the President has already ordered the restrictions of travel from 13 countries, each with more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Government has also suspended visas issued to nationals of these countries. The restriction will take effect from March 21 and will remain until further notice. While Nigeria delights in welcoming the world, the safety and protection of our citizens and land must take priority.

The various agencies of government including Media owned by the government have embarked on vigorous campaigns promoting hygiene measures. There are, currently, very stringent regimes of checks at the points of air and sea entry into the country. The effort Nigeria is making as is well known, has already received the commendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Presidency wishes to assure Nigerians that government is on top of the situation. There is no cause for panic. So far measures put in place are working efficiently. What this country is doing has been recommended as a template.

The President trusts the relevant Ministers in his cabinet and the officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who are providing him with constant updates and professional counsel. These officials have a track record of competence.

The President instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reduce the pump price of fuel. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a crash in the global price of crude oil, and the President decided that every Nigerian should benefit from this.

Subsequently, the NNPC announced a 20 naira deduction, and the pump price of fuel has now been reduced from 145 naira per litre to 125 naira per litre.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday announced a credit relief of N1.1Trillion Naira to businesses affected by the pandemic. The Bank has also established a facility for household, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and announced a reduction of interest rates for loans from 9% to 5%.

We do not want to create panic. But we will continue to update the Nigerian public with relevant information. We plead with every Nigerian to cooperate with the government in the fight against Covid-19 and obey all instructions from the NCDC. We have a high level Presidential Coordination Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). This body should be allowed to carry out its duties.

We also plead with Nigerians not to see this most peculiar of times as one to be politicised or seen as an opportunity to regurgitate grudges against the government or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). North, South, East, and West – all Nigerians must unite to fight this plague, irrespective of religious or ideological affiliation.

In this regard, populist advocacies such as the one accusing the President of “complacency” simply because he has not made a television address by ranking members of our respected parliament are cheap and sensational. These are not the times for populism and cheap politics.

President Buhari thanks all those at the forefront of the fight against the deadly disease.

*Garba Shehu*
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 19, 2020