₦airaland Forum

• Strain detected in Osun, Edo same with India’s, different in characteristics – ACEGID prof

• There should be announcement that vicious strain already in Nigeria, counsels Tomori

The COVID-19 strain, which is currently ravaging India, has been found in Nigeria, The PUNCH has learnt.

The strain was detected by the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in the Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State nearly three weeks ago and has been communicated to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Recall that the Federal Government on Monday restricted gatherings at worship centres and banned nightclubs following reports that the devastating COVID-19 strain in South Africa had spread to 23 other countries.

The PUNCH was informed on Tuesday that the detection of the Indian strain in Nigeria contributed to the fresh regulations issued by the Federal Government.

The detection had been listed on GISAID, a global science initiative that provided open access to genomic data of influenza viruses.

A notification dated April 25, 2021, sent by Professor Christian Hapi of the ACEGID to the NCDC read in part, “We have found five sequences of the India B.1.617 in the country, specifically in Edo and Osun states.”

However, The PUNCH learnt that subsequent observations showed that so far, the strain had not shown the same kind of viciousness displayed in India where 400,000 persons were infected daily and 157 died per hour.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, Hapi said the information was sent to the NCDC two weeks ago.

Strain detected in Nigeria same with India’s, but different in characteristics – Professor

Hapi, however, clarified that strain in India has two more mutations than the one identified in Nigeria which makes the one in India more aggressive.

“What we have is the B1.617 from India. That is the variant they had but that variant has now evolved beyond the mutation that we identified.

“The one India evolved by two mutations. It is the same strain with India but their own now has a couple of mutations. So, it is the same as what we detected but also different in characteristics.”

Virologist and Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Professor Oyewale Tomori, told one of our correspondents that he was also aware of the detection of the Indian strain.

Tomori said it was important for the government to announce the detection of the Indian strain.

He further said there was a need to increase testing, adding that many states were no longer conducting test for COVID-19.

“The Indian strain is not as fierce in Nigeria yet but we are not doing enough testing,” Tomori said.

When asked what the government should do next, Tomori said he was satisfied with the decision of the Federal Government to step up enforcement.

“They have already done what needs to be done by issuing travel guidelines on passengers from India, Brazil and Turkey plus the curfew and others announced yesterday (Monday). Perhaps, there should be an announcement that the Indian strain is already in Nigeria,” Tomori added.

FG being proactive with new guidelines, expert says

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Committee on Infectious Disease for the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, Dr Japheth Olugbogi, on Tuesday said the new guidelines released by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 to further curtail the spread of the virus in the country showed that the Federal Government was being proactive.

Olugbogi spoke while featuring on programme on Television Continental, Your View.

The Federal Government, through the PSC, had on Monday reviewed the country’s COVID -19 guidelines by restricting gatherings at places of worship centres and banning nightclubs as parts of measures aimed at preventing the spread of devastating strains of COVID-19 into the country.

In the interview, Olugbogi said the new guidelines were essential.

He described them as proactive steps by the government to combat the spread of the virus across the country.

He said, “It is due to what is happening all over the world actually. I think the government is just trying to be proactive instead of being reactive. So, that is what is going on.

“We are having variants in some countries. We have increased social meetings everywhere now, relaxation of the public health and social preventive measures all over the world now, and a lot of people have not received the vaccine.

“So, some countries have what we call a third wave or a fourth wave, and because of that, a lot of people are getting the infection afresh because they have relaxed public health preventive measures. So, I think the Federal Government is just trying to prevent that from happening here.

“If you look around, a lot of people have stopped wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers. We can’t even say that health workers are left out.

“We have all let our guards down, and I think government is just trying to prevent what is happening in places like India from happening here. That is why the new measures are out.”

Olugbogi said until COVID-19 was defeated in every part of the world, Nigerians had to keep putting up preventive measures to curtail the pandemic.

“We cannot defeat COVID until COVID has been defeated all over the world because the way it works in public health is that if we still have this pandemic even in one country, it can spread to other countries of the world,” he added.

But the National President of the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, Cleric Alaowei, on Tuesday, faulted the new guidelines released by the PSC on COVID-19.

Alaowei described the guidelines as “most insensitive and unreasonable.”

He made his position known in a statement titled ‘COVID-19: The new restriction order is unnecessary.’

It read, “The new restriction order given by the Presidential Steering Committee to partially lock down the economy is uncalled for.

“The order is most insensitive and unreasonable. We do not see any reason for the new restriction which will only further heighten the hardship in the country.

“Even as of today, the daily figure being released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control is barely 49 or thereabouts.”

Alaowei said while his organisation was not opposed to the measures and safety protocols being undertaken to curtail the spread of the disease, he said the organisation was concerned about the continued locking down of the economy.

The statement added, “No doubt that the continued closing down of bars, recreational centres, nightclubs and restaurants breeds unemployment which is a dangerous omen to the society.

Viral video on COVID-19 guidelines old, says PSC

Also on Tuesday, the PSC on COVID-19 advised Nigerians to disregard a video clip being circulated on various social media platforms as the new guidelines released by the committee.

The committee said the guidelines in the circulated video were issued in April 2020.

In the 55 seconds clip obtained by one of our correspondents, the National Coordinator of the defunct Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, was seen urging Nigerians to ignore the message that the task force had declared lockdown.

Aliyu said, “We are aware of the fake message that has been going round that we have declared lockdown in the country, this is not true.

“I am calling on the general public to ignore this message and continue with their normal activities and abide by non-pharmaceutical measures which include wearing face masks in public, washing your hands and keeping of distance.

“There is an established way of passing our messages to the public. Please ignore what has been going round.”

In a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Willie Bassey, the committee said the viral video had nothing to do with the recently released guidelines.

The statement titled, ‘PSC says video in circulation not new’ read, “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, wishes to inform the public that the audiovisual clip of the erstwhile national coordinator under the defunct PTF circulating on the social media is an old video and has nothing to do with the recent guidelines released.”

It explained that the recently released implementation guidelines were “not new as being speculated.”

The statement further explained the guidelines, which were issued in 2020, were reissued on Monday “to reinforce existing provisions of the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations, 2021 to serve as a reminder that COVID-19 is still virulent.

“The Presidential Steering Committee urges the public to disregard the old video of the PTF circulating on the social media and to comply with non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 in all their activities to avoid a surge as being experienced in some parts of the world. All state governments are to please ensure strict compliance.”

“Victor AD just confirmed Davido stole his record Jowo. According to AD, Davido heard the song when they recorded “Tire You”, he was surprised to see the song on ABT, without him/his management’s consent. He said Davido blocked him on socials and threatened to ruin him. This wickedness”.

Omo no be me write JOWO for
@davido I don’t know where all this is coming from. make una let baba celebrate him 10yrs in peace #olofofo

All pastors are fraudsters in my book - Actress Iheme Nancy writes as she questions why they can't regrow a lost limb

Actress Nancy Iheme has said that all pastors are "fraudsters".

She called them "miracle merchants" and said they only perform miracles like healing of "20 years of waist pain" that no one can "verify"[color=#000000].[/color]

She asked why they can't perform visible miracles like regrowing a lost limb or separating conjoined twins.

Read her post below.

''The hunters quickly alerted the police, who rallied other stakeholders such as so safe corps, hunters group and stormed the Fidiwo Alapako bush.

On sighting the police, the suspects took to their heels in the bush, but luck ran out of the three and they were subsequently apprehended, while three others escaped with their arms.
On interrogation, the suspects confessed to have been in the bush for the past ten days, waiting for a convenient opportunity to strike. It took them that long because of heavy presence of policemen in the strech of the expressway. They stated further that, they are six in number that makes up the gang and that the escaped three are in possession of their arms.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang was responsible for the series of kidnapping along the expressway. Recovered from them are cutlasses which they claimed were seized from farmers they saw in their farms.''the statement read in part

A 25-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested in india for allegedly duping a 62-year-old woman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, of Rs 31.64 lakh (N16,048,923.81)

The accused, Wisdom Obinna, from Imo State, was part of a gang that befriended women on social media and then duped them with lottery and gift frauds, said Indore Cyber Cell Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Singh, on Friday, April 9[color=#000000].[/color]

"Obinna was arrested from Delhi, where he was staying even after his business visa expired. Efforts are on to nab other members of the gang," he added.

During the interrogation, the accused said that he came to India on Business Visa in 2014 and 2017. After the visa expired, he became active in cheating and used to operate from Delhi.

The gang members befriend Indian girls and women on Facebook by creating accounts with different foreign fake IDs.

After Wisdom has made friends with the women, he lured his victims by claiming he sent them some expensive gifts.

Later, other members of the gang pose as custom officers and demand money in the name of Tax and Penalty to get the parcel, send a message through bank account WhatsApp and get the money transfer. They would also threaten the victim with legal action.

Police recovered eight passbooks of various banks, three ATM cards, two laptops, three pen drives, 9 mobile phones, eight SIM cards, two dongles, passports and Rs 11000 in cash from the accused.

“It was our wish, while we were growing up, to have it like that. It was also our mum’s wish for us to marry at the same time. She always imagined the three of us getting married on the same day. She felt it would look very nice and prayed for it to happen because it was not going to be easy for all of us to be ready at the same time.”

“Our mother died in 2013 so unfortunately, she wasn’t there to witness it. If she were alive, she would have been excited. I know she would have gone down on her knees to thank God for answering her prayer and making her wish come true”.

''The idea that Gov. Yahaya Bello should not run for the Presidency & that the NC zone, which has never produced a democratically-elected President,ought to settle for another position is absurd. Nigeria needs strong & decisive leadership, a generational change & a bridge-builder.''

Racoon:
Now you're talking.So what were you thinking when you choose to pay them to stop killing and committing genocide on Southern Kaduna people instead of routing them?
https://businessplug.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Photo-by-Nasir-Ahmad-El-Rufai-on.jpg
https://businessplug.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Photo-by-Nasir-Ahmad-El-Rufai-on-1.jpg
Meanwhile, 4 stupid bandit terrorists just said they have now repented and surrendered high calibre weapons today in Kastina state.Please go ensure this your resolve is carried out on them.

SmartPolician:
Ugwuanyi is trying, but he's an unrepentant mediocre. I thought that with the way Sullivan raised the bar of leadership in Enugu, Gbugburu would maintain the status quo or take it a bit further. SMH.

EmptyGarden:
Chewing gum change.

“The recent attack on the police headquarters, the Correctional Centres in Imo State, the unending herdsmen crisis and banditry, Boko Haram, kidnappings, these are all products of poverty and injustice.

“Time has come for we as political leaders to tell ourselves the truth and address this ugly situation and help our men and women of the Armed Forces and the police who are currently fighting the symptoms and not the disease. Something must be done urgently too.”

''On interrogation, he confessed to the commission of the crime claiming that his wife is appearing too old, and she is no longer looking attractive to him. ''the statement read in part

An Ondo State High Court has sentenced two siblings – Issac Sunday and Isaac Lucky – to death for armed robbery in Ondo town, Ondo State.

Apart from the duo, the court also sentenced one Ovie Friday, to death for the same offence.

The convicts were said to have conspired to rob the residents of the community, using guns and other weapons, during which they were arrested by the security agents and charged to court in 2014.

The trio were arraigned before the court on charges bothering on conspiracy and serial robberies.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by the Chief Legal Officer in the Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Mr Olusegun Akeredolu, called four witnesses and tendered confessional statements of the defendants which were admitted by the court.

The defendants represented by their counsel, Mr Samson Iluyemi, gave evidence for themselves but tendered no exhibit.

In his judgement, trial judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, said the prosecution has proven its case beyond all reasonable doubts and sentenced the defendants to death by hanging.

When I read the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed’s reaction to the Grammy honours clinched by Afrobeats stars, Damini Ogulu (better known as Burna Boy) and Ayodeji Balogun (Wizkid) on Sunday, an involuntary, albeit mischievous smile escaped from my lips.

Momentarily, I remembered Mohammed’s romanticisation of the idea of what the creative industry could do for Nigeria’s economy when he was newly appointed. On one occasion in 2016, the minister spoke of a particular masquerader, whose dressing could employ 1,000 people in one week. I wondered how much he had achieved with his dressing and undressing of masqueraders’ dream; and what he would say if asked to account, for how much his leadership of this sector had done to advance its multiple arms and increase their contributions to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Ten months ago, he set up the Ali Baba committee to advise him on mitigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. Shortly after that, the Post-Covid-19 Initiatives Committee for the Creative Industry, headed by Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, was set up. Nothing has been made of the report of these committees. Thankfully, Mohammed recognised that Burna Boy and Wizkid’s awards resulted from their diligence and commitment to what they have chosen to do.

It is unfortunate that it cannot be said that government is paying attention to the development of the creative industry. Sources in the industry in fact hinted during the week that the minister is mockingly referred to as the “Minister for committees” within the industry. Since 2015, the minister is said to have established at least 14 committees between the broadcast, movies and music sectors; yet, none of them has produced any significant result!

Of course, Nigeria and Nigerians should also rejoice for Burna Boy and Wizkid’s most recent achievements. They do deserve their moment in the sun even as we admonish that they continue to work harder not just for the sake of awards, but for the entrenchment of their names in the music hall of fame.

Between the duo and David Adeleke, also known as Davido, who featured in the sequel of the Hollywood’s evergreen “Coming to America II,” which set the light on Nigeria penultimate week, the country has had a moment’s respite from the ocean of negative reports that has become its lot lately.

It is refreshing to see Nigerians rising against the tide and striking the name of the country off the global images of blood, corruption, kidnapping and banditry by winning international laurels in music, arts, sports and education. We recently saw young Miss Faith Odunsi, the Ogun State based secondary school pupil lead a global Mathematics contest.

Truth is that most of these accomplishments are traceable to the efforts of individual. Whether it is in the education or music or film, the Nigerian establishment is numb to the urgent need to build the structure that can enhance the capacity of its people to attain their potential. Odunsi, for example, attained her mathematics genius at the expense of her parents who are endowed and wise enough to send her to a private school where there is qualitative instruction! How many of Nigeria’s children have such opportunities when millions of them are actually out of school with most state governors only playing lip service to ending their plight.

What is more disheartening is that these leaders know what to do to reverse the unacceptable situation. Not just that, they also know that not doing anything at the right time is to the eternal disadvantage if not damnation of the country. The gradual erosion of the quality and access to education without argument, one of the reasons for the level of violence that permeates the country currently[color=#000000]Telegram Group[/color]

As it concerns the creative sector, it is disheartening that nothing tangible is being done to harness the potential therein. Just on Tuesday, there were reports that data by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that unemployment rose to 33.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2020. Yet, a minister who knows the low hanging fruits to gainful employment does nothing than talk.

Hear Mohammed speaking about the masquerader five years ago: “There’s a particular masquerader in the South-East, it takes 100 people to dress him, another 100 people to UnCloth him. If this masquerader is well-packaged, it can provide employment in one week for more than 1,000 young men. These are some of the untapped potential… In Cross River’s reserve park, Nigeria has the oldest forest in the whole world. It is the oldest in terms of biodiversity, and we have this very rare, white-mane gorilla in that area…” So, he knows the potential!

He also knows the problems! Hear him! “I worked in the airport for 10 years, and I know that if you want your passport stamped as a foreigner, you slip $100 into your passport. No tourist would come back to a country where he has to bribe immigration (officers) to enter. No tourist would come to a country where, when he leaves the immigration, he enters a ‘one-chance’ taxi or ‘one-chance’ bus. It’s a holistic problem and these are all contained in the national tourism master plan…You need infrastructure to convert a tourist site to a tourist attraction. If you don’t have infrastructure, it would always remain a tourist site. What we have in Nigeria are tourist sites. They are not tourist attractions.” So, what has been done to change this profile in the past five years?

Things are as terrible in the film, music and fashion sub-sectors. They only thrive because of the resilience of individual practitioners. As a whole, the petty-trading mentality of our banking institutions makes funding an everlasting challenge for entrepreneurs. Mildred Okwo, one of Nigeria’s leading filmmakers recently told of how she waited for five years to raise funds to shoot her film, La Femme Anjola, which enters the cinema this weekend. Across board, there are no purpose fit financial/funding structures that enhance capacity.

For the music and film businesses, copyright infringement remains an existential problem just as the lack of structure has turned everyone into a jack of all trades. In those days, multinational recording companies saw opportunities in Nigeria and aided the careers of musicians. Skills were also so stratified that everyone did what he had talent for, unlike these days when an artiste composes, books studio sessions, records, produces, mixes and even markets his albums. If you can call what Nigeria has today a music industry, you would be appalled to imagine that there is no functional collective organisation that seeks to the recompensing the hard work of practitioners.

In the United States of America, 2.5million of private sector jobs are attributable to the film and television industry. 746, 000 of these are directly employed to the production, marketing, manufacturing and distribution of film and television productions while 1.7 million people are employed in businesses like catering, hotels and restaurants. Every production is known to bring jobs, revenue, and related infrastructural development which boosts the concerned local economy. The industry is serviced by 280,000 businesses to which it pays an estimated $49 billion annually. According to a report on motionpictures.org: “as much as $250,000 can be injected into local economies per day when a film shoots on location…” The association of motion pictures also suggests that the US film and television industry has become a bigger employer than farming, oil and gas extraction, and mining.

But rather than provide institutional support to hard-working people in other sectors, Nigeria is stuck on the idea of oil, which has been mismanaged to the extent that she now imports fuels from countries with less or no natural endowments at all. You are then forced to wonder: is Nigeria a nation of builders or mere adventurers who feel great by stealing the future of their children at the altar of momentary gratification?

So, while we celebrate the heroes who continue to bring honour to the country on their personal steams, we must ask those who lead Nigeria why they have not provided the enabling environment for the growth of the creative sector in spite of its obvious benefits.

Adedokun tweets @niranadedokun
niranadedokun@gmail.com

President Xi Jinping
People’s Republic of China,
Beijing, China. 28th January, 2021

LETTER OF FELICITATIONS

“It is now 50 years since the establishment of Nigeria-China diplomatic relations, and I am delighted that the bilateral ties have achieved far reaching and fruitful results, on the basis of close coordination and mutual trust, bringing great benefits to our countries and peoples.

“As celebrations of the Chinese Year of the Ox by all Chinese across the world commence on February 12th this year, on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I use this opportunity to extend my warmest and most sincere greetings and wishes to you and the Chinese people for a promising and auspicious Lunar New Year.

Nigeria is very satisfied with the progress of bilateral relations, and we thank China for its support to us in various ways; in building of rail, road, power, defence, and many other areas.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been working with Nigeria and other African countries to safeguard the lives and health of our citizens, adding new dimensions to our friendship. We acknowledge that Chinese support tremendously strengthened our effort against the pandemic.

In recent years, Nigeria and China have also witnessed steady development of their strategic partnership. In the face of significant challenges faced by international community, the two sides are upholding a common position of preserving multilateralism, not interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and safeguarding common interest of developing countries.

This year is vital for China-Nigeria relations. The FOCAC has become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and China, as well as between Africa and China. Nigeria is ready to work with China to make the new session of FOCAC this year a success.
Please accept Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest regards.

Yours sincerely,
Muhammadu Buhari

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Nasarawa State have arrested a 30-year-old man, Mohammed Sani, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl in the Angwatashi area of the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.

Parading the suspect before newsmen at the NSCDC headquarters in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday, February 9, the spokesperson of the command, Saraju Muhammed, said Mohammed lured his victim into a secluded place on the pretext of buying sachet water from her and then raped her. [color=#000000]Anambra 360 Reports[/color]

His evil act came to light after the victim returned home and her parents noticed her awkward movement. Upon inquiry, she told her parents how the suspect allegedly raped her. She said the suspect threatened to kill her if she ever revealed what he had done to her. Her parents immediately reported the incident at the Angwatashi Police Station and the suspect was arrested.

Muhammed said the suspect has since confessed to committing the crime and would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter is completed.

Guns Recovered As Landlord Shoots Okada Union Chair Over Rent

A landlord, identified simply as Afuye, has been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly shooting his tenant, Olaoluwa-Daniel Yaya, over outstanding rent at their place of residence on Mosalisi Street, Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

Yaya told PUNCH Metro that he pleaded with his landlord to give him more time to make the payment, but after he left for work on Saturday, he received a call from his wife that Afuye and his wife were making trouble with her.

When Yaya returned home and went to meet the landlord, he alleged that Afuye suddenly brought out a gun and shot at him six times, adding that his wife collapsed at the sound of the gunshot.

He said, "I owe my landlord, Mr Afuye, for one year and three months, and I already appealed to him to give me more time to make the payment. I am the chairman of motorcycle operators in Sango; on Saturday, I was at work when my wife called to inform me that my landlord and his wife were making trouble with her because of the indebtedness.

“I rushed back home and met other tenants at my apartment and they explained that they were the ones who prevented the landlord and his wife from beating up my wife. I went upstairs to meet my landlord and told him he should have waited for me before doing anything.

“I later left him, came downstairs and was approaching the door of my flat when my landlord suddenly rushed down the stairs with a gun and shot at me six times. It took the grace of God that none of the bullets hit me, but the wall of the building is filled with bullet holes. The gunshots made my wife to collapse and while rushing to her rescue, my landlord quickly took some of the spent bullet cases and went back upstairs.” [color=#000000]Anambra 360 Reports[/color]

Angered by the development, Yaya told PUNCH Metro that he recovered a pellet and proceeded to the police station to lodge a complaint against Afuye.

The Ogun State indigene explained that policemen were detailed to arrest Afuye and recover the gun, adding that while conducting a further search on his landlord’s apartment, two other guns were recovered by the cops.

The chairman said, “I was fortunate to see one of the bullet pellets and I took it to the police station and filed a report. Policemen followed me home, arrested him and recovered the gun. While being questioned by the Divisional Police Officer, Afuye said he had only one gun, but because the DPO was not satisfied with his explanation, some policemen were instructed to go back to search his house and they recovered two other guns.

“When the DPO asked why he had guns and why he shot at me for owing him rent instead of issuing me a quit notice, he said he had stayed abroad for over 50 years and that he purchased the guns there. He has been in detention since, while my wife is being administered with drip at home because she is hypertensive.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “The man (Afuye) has been arrested and transferred to the SCIID for proper investigation. His arms and ammunition were recovered from him. We are looking into the matter. We will update you as and when due.”

The Zamfara State Government says its sustained dialogue with bandits was producing results.

Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Dauran, said more gunmen had submitted their weapons.

He spoke on Tuesday at a joint press briefing with the Police at the State Command Headquarters in Gusau. [color=#000000]Anambra 360 Reports[/color]

Daura commented on the arms a bandit leader, Daudawa and his followers gave up on Monday.

“These 20 AK47 riffles were surrendered at once by just one gang of repentant armed bandits and l can tell you, each of these weapons is capable of killing 2,000 persons”, he said.

Commissioner of Police, Yaro Abutu, assured that the command would continue to support government’s peace initiative.

He said the command had rescued many kidnapped victims and recovered several arms and ammunition from repentant bandits in recent months.

Thankful.....2020 ��
-
-
2021 we’re bringing straight heat