NewStats: 3,261,657 , 8,174,658 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 11:45 PM 715i6w

Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Mai Mala Buni on Thursday led of the committee to the former governor of Lagos state and National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in its bid to achieve reconciliation in the party.

According to Buni’s spokesperson, Mamman Mohammed, the meeting is currently underway in a bid to chart a new course for the party.

“Those in attendance include Kebbi state Governor and chairman Progressives Governors Forum Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Niger state Governor, Alh. Abubakar S. Bello and Lagos state Governor Babajide San-Olu,” he disclosed.

The Committee, had earlier met former interim Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande. The APC was thrown into leadership crisis following the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiohmole as the National Chairman and the endorsement of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman for two weeks by a court.

However, majority of the National Working Committee (NWC) appointed the ailing Deputy National Chairman, South, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, as the Acting National Chairman. The National Vice Chairman South South, Hilliard Eta, was subsequently appointed to act on his behalf.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, led by President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the NWC and appointed Governor Buni as Chairman Caretaker/Extra-ordinary convention committee of the party.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-apc-caretaker-committee-visits-tinubu.html

Lola Omotayo, Peter Okoye’s wife, while narrating her COVID-19 experience, said she went through a lot of pain and don’t wish the virus against her worst enemy.

The mother of two revealed this in a video she shared via her Instagram page lolaomotayo_okoye on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

She said: “I don’t wish this upon my worst enemy and I need to let everybody known that COVID-19 is real.

“I suffered, I went through a lot of pain, I watched my family go through it and I really don’t wish this against my worst enemy.”

She urged everyone to adhere strictly to safety measures as COVID-19 is real. The caption to the video reads: “I want to thank my doctor, Dr. Ayo, who took good care of me, my family, and staff.

“I want to thank everyone who reached out to us during this terrible COVID-19 experience. “My dear friends and family, thank you so much for your love. “Your phone calls and prayers helped me and my family heal faster,” she wrote.

“The grace of God is upon my family and I am so grateful to God Almighty. “My love and prayers are with those currently battling this disease, you are not alone.

“We will continue to pray for your healing. “For those who lost loved ones, we pray for you too; my heart bleeds for your loss.

“We need to keep our parents safe. “Please encourage older people to stay at home. “Please stay home. “Load up on your vitamins; Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Zinc! COVID-19 is real!

“The healing is slow but hopefully, I will be 100% real soon.” “We need to beat this together.

“I love you all and I am so grateful to God for life.”

Omotayo’s post is coming barely a week after her husband Peter gave an ordeal of his family’s experience with the virus.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/peter-okoyes-wife-narrates-covid-19-experience.html

Armed bandits, numbering about 50, Wednesday abducted 30 persons and killed two vigilante in Nasarawa Local Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State.

Chairman of the LGA, Alhaji Muhammad Otto, confirmed that: “The armed bandits killed two of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) near Onda Hill.

“The vigilantes were ambushed when they went after the bandits as they attempted to rescue the abducted people.

“Their corpses were brought to Nasarawa from the area for burial.” Some sources said the gunmen numbering about 50 blocked the Udege/Loko road for hours on Monday.

Fifty of the bandits rode on 25 motorcycles and kidnapped the people on Monday night.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Nansel Ramhan, did not reply calls and text message sent to him.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bandits-abduct-30-kill-2-vigilantes-in-nasarawa.html

Governors elected on the platform of the PDP have assured Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State that they would do everything democratically possible to help him achieve his second term ambition.

Gov. Obaseki recently dumped the ruling APC and pitched tent with the PDP after he was denied the APC ticket. He was granted a waiver by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and consequently emerged candidate of the party for the September 19, 2020, governorship election in the state.

The governors through the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum, assured that the Edo governor would perform better in his second term. “We wish to use this opportunity to convey the solidarity of all your colleagues in the forum and to assure you of their in the forthcoming election in Edo State.

“We ask you to continue to work and embrace all the people of Edo State, particularly the downtrodden and the vulnerable. We ire the job you have done in Edo State in your current term which informed the high level of confidence reposed in you by the PDP and the people of Edo State,” they said.

PDP raises 5-man for Ondo

Meanwhile, the NWC of the PDP has constituted a 5-man screening committee for its primary ahead of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State. The committee is mandated to screen all the aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the election.

According to the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtd), a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, will chair the , while Rev. Bunmi Jenyo is secretary. Other of the are Sen. Zainab Kure, Hon. Fred Agbedi and Barr. Ndubuisi Agwuama.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-governors-to-obaseki-we-will-help-you-actualise-your-second-term.html

Police in Ogun State have arrested a 54-year-old self – acclaimed Pastor, Niyi Omowodun for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Itele – Ota, Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, who is a resident of Ejigun Agbede Itele Ota, was arrested following a complaint by the father of the victim, who reported at Itele divisional headquarters.

Our correspondent gathered that the complainant told the police that he had received a call from one of his neighbours that her daughter had been sexually abused by the suspect. According to him, the suspect, who is a neighbour, was caught in the act.

A statement by the Spokesman of the State Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi on Wednesday, said following receipt of the report, the DPO Itele division, Monday Unuigbe immediately detailed his detectives to go after the man and subsequently arrested him. Oyeyemi said the suspect who claimed to be a pastor in charge of Helmet of Life International Church, Itele – Ota, confessed to have had carnal knowledge of the girl.

“On interrogation, the suspect who claimed to be a pastor at Helmet of Life international church confessed having unlawful carnal knowledge of the little girl. “He (suspect) stated further that he lured the small girl into an uncompleted building in the area when the girl was going on an errand. When asked whether he has no wife, the suspect explained that he has separated with his wife since 2016,” Oyeyemi said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson had ordered the transfer of the suspect to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State Criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/54-year-old-pastor-rapes-12-year-old-girl-in-ogun.html

A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said the parliament remains a “misunderstood institution” because people, especially youths, have little knowledge about it.

Saraki, who spoke at a virtual meeting to celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarianism, said, “The ordinary role of the parliament is still not appreciated by the public. And that is why people’s expectation and judgment of the efficiency of parliament is falsely premised. The false premises may be because the parliament is the youngest among the three arms of government in Nigeria.”

According to him, many people expect parliamentarians to construct roads, drainage and other infrastructures when they are clearly the job of the executive, and added that parliament existed to laws to guarantee the welfare of the people.

He recalled that from day one when he took over as the Senate President and Chairman of the Eighth National Assembly, he and his colleagues knew that their law-making responsibility “must be devoted to using the law to bring change, the type that promote and ensure our people’s welfare and security.” Saraki further said developed countries like the US were made by the quality of their laws and that the senate under him did just that.

The former senate president giving an example, said the senate under him, through the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions treated 192 cases, noting that no senate handled up to 20 before him.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-legislature-remains-a-misunderstood-institution-saraki.html

What una use the recovered funds for? or thieves took it away again?

Renowned Economist and former Presidential Candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi at the weekend said the Nigerian economy is facing ‘a triple shock crisis.’

He said the problem has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the Federal Government still continues to live in denial. Utomi the founder of Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), spoke in Lagos on the sidelines of the distribution of CVL’s relief packages to some vulnerable to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic.

He also decried what he called the lack of trust between the leaders and the led, noting that this has fuelled the many myths being associated with the COVID-19 pandemic with many Nigerians believing the virus doesn’t exist.

He said he expected the Federal Government to have been in “war cabinet” mode to wriggle out of the crisis, saying last week’s World Bank prediction that Nigeria would face the deepest recession never experienced before was not new to him as he predicted that three months ago.

“I didn’t need to wait for the World Bank to say that, I said that three months ago. “So, compared to how we are behaving in response to the crisis, there is no relationship. “The leadership of the country should have gone into a war cabinet mode. “You know how a country is when it is in a war, it is like a situation room matter but our politicians are still doing business as usual. “They are still hustling for legal plunder when the country is really on fire.”

Asked on the N2.3tr Economic Sustainability Plan recently unveiled by the Federal Government, Utomi said he has ceased believing in figures, adding that it is execution that matters. The Professor of Political Economy called for an approach of Latent Comparative Advantage in reviving the economy.

“What does this mean? You take certain factor endowment in your economy that you know you have a capacity to become a global champion if you dominate those value chains and you say, ‘Joshua, you are the champion of the sesame seeds value chain.’ “His business is to make sure that the education of those who live around areas where they produce sesame seeds is focused on how you can become the biggest producer of sesame seeds in the world. You become the biggest processor, not to export Sesame seeds and use it for hand burger,” he explained.

Utomi said the distribution of the relief packages comprising foodstuff under the “Neighbour caring for Neighbour” initiative of the centre was to show comion to the people in order to get them to follow the protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He warned that the figure of the COVID-19 cases being reeled on a daily basis by the Federal Government is just a tip of the bigger problem facing the country, saying he knew of 10 people who have the virus and have been treating themselves while they await results of samples taken by the authorities.

“There are people who have gone for testing in Surulere, five weeks after the test, they have not received any result and several of those people know that they have it and they have been treating themselves. “We are in a crisis and we need to connect to people in a way that because they see comion, they can listen and when they listen, they can now behave appropriately in the interest of all of us,” he added.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigerian-economy-fg-living-in-denial-utomi.html

The body of a six-year-old girl allegedly raped to death by her captor(s) has been found in a Mosque located at New Road, Kurmi Mashi by Nnamdi Azikiwe by, Kaduna North local government area of Kaduna State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened on Friday which drew the attention of sympathisers including some of civil society organisations to the residence of the victim in the area.

It took the intervention of sympathizers to persuade the victim’s parents before they allowed the corpse to be taken to a specialist hospital for examination. When ed on phone, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Muhammed Jalige confirmed the incident.

He said, ” Though no arrest has been made in connection to the crime, but police detectives attached to Kurmi Mashi division of the Command have launched an investigation to unravel the misery. “Yes, the case was reported at Kurmi Mashi division on Friday. Our men in that division received a call from the people in the community in Kurmi Mashi that they saw a dead body lying in the mosque.

“With the lockdown, they have not been opening mosques except for Friday prayers. They discovered the dead body around 3:20 pm close to prayer time.

“An investigation into the matter has commenced. No arrest made so far. But police detectives attached to Kurmi Mashi are seriously on the issue. So, if there is an arrest, I will keep you posted.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/body-of-six-year-old-rape-victim-found-in-kadunas-mosque.html

COVID-19 is real...Stay safe

Happy bd

* Eta, Bulama, others to boycott NEC meeting

* Why Giadom was recognised – Presidency

* President’s decision a game changer – Dons

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday threw his weight behind the anti-Asiwaju Bola Tinubu camp in the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his recognition of Chief Victor Giadom as acting national chairman of the party. But the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Hilliard Eta kicked, saying President Buhari was misled. The NWC also said they will not attend the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party slated for today.

Daily Trust reports that this is the first time the NWC of the party openly disagreed with President Buhari. Buhari’s recognition of Giadom who is of the camp of some Governors including Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, among others has unsettled the Tinubu’s bloc in the party. Suspended National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, other governors and 17 out of the 21 of the NWC are of the camp of Tinubu, the national leader of the party.

The battle for the soul of APC, according to top party sources has been between the two main blocs in the party, even though smaller camps also exist. The machinations are all geared towards the 2023 politicking.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-nwc-kicks-as-buhari-backs-anti-tinubu-camp.html

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Arc. Waziri Bulama, has described Thursday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party as “illegal”.

Bulama, in a statement on Wednesday titled ‘Purported NEC Meeting to Hold on June 25, 2020 is Illegal’, said it would be untrue that President Muhammadu Buhari renowned for insisting on compliance with the constitution and rule of law would the convening of such an illegal NEC by a non-member of APC’s NWC.

He urged all to disregard “the said notice” as neither the NWC nor the NEC had called for such meeting. He said: “We are constrained to once again react to a purported invitation to a National Executive Committee meeting of our great party; the All Progressives Congress (APC) issued by one Victor Giadom who until the last general elections in 2019 held the position the Deputy National Secretary of the Party.

“Our esteem are advised to disregard this invitation because the author and sole signatory of the said invitation is not member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party, talk more of being an Acting National Chairman as claimed. “He had voluntarily resigned in compliance with Article 31(1)(i) of our Constitution to contest the position of Deputy Governor in Rivers State during the last general elections and has not been re-nominated by his Zone to return to that office.

“Further, his non-hip of the NWC has been affirmed by the Courts and an Order restraining him from parading himself as a member of the NWC was granted against him on June 22, 2020 in the case of DELE MOSES & ANOR V APC (SUIT NO: PHC/360/2020) where the Court said inter alia: ‘That an Order of interim injunction be and is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd 4th and 5th Defendants, acting by themselves or through auy of their officers, agents, or privies from recognizing or regarding the 3rd Defendant/Respondent as the National Chairman or Acting National Chairman or Deputy National Secretary of the 1st Defendant/Respondent or member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 1st Defendant/Responde1it pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”. “He has also been suspended by the Rivers State Chapter of our party and the NWC received communication of same on June 21, 2020.

“More instructive is the fact that the said invitation copiously references the NEC meeting he illegally sought to convene on March 17, 2020 with a view to resurrecting same to hold on June 25, 2020. “Regrettably, this proposed NEC meeting is also infected by the same bug that render the former void which is Article 25 (B) of our Constitution which provides: ‘Article 25B (i and ii) of the APC Constitution (2014 as amended) states; “The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-thirds of the of the National Executive Committee provided that not less than fourteen days’ notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.

“Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution, the National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven days’ notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.’

“It is clear that even a legitimate Chairman is only invested with powers to fix/announce a date for NEC meetings to hold every quarter and nothing more.

“He cannot summon a meeting on that date because under our Constitution only the National Secretary can do so pursuant to Article 14.3 of our Constitution which provides:

‘14.3. National Secretary The National Secretary shall:

ii. Cause to be issued as directed, notices of meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee of the Party’.

“Indeed two-thirds of the of NEC may also summon a meeting, but it shall be required that the National Secretary gives 14 days notice to all persons entitled to attend.

“In this case, the purported invitation was illegally issued on June 23, 2020 and the meeting fixed for June 25, 2020 which gives notice for only 2 days.

“We concede that a shorter Notice period of 7 days is allowed under our Constitution as stated in 25(b)(ii) above, however, a majority of the of NWC must have voted to summon such a NEC meeting and that was not the case in this instance.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/crisis-bulama-counters-buhari-says-giadoms-apc-nec-illegal.html

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The National Agency for Food and Drug istration and Control, NAFDAC, will collaborate with indigenous scientists in the development of drugs or vaccines against the coronavirus disease in the country.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, said the agency’s interventions would allow for documentation of such initiatives for global recording as potential vaccines or drugs that is in process or safety testing.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, she said that the agency would open its doors to the team of Nigerian scientists that declared they are working on a vaccine for COVID-19.

“It will be a great thing if Nigeria develops her vaccine, but all the steps stated above will have to be followed,” she said.

According to her, it takes time to develop a vaccine and NAFDAC will be the first to be informed of any such developments in the country. “That testing will involve use of the virus and then animals. “If all goes well, the researchers will then plan for clinical trial which will take a long time from 18 months to years.

NAN reports that a team of Nigerian Universities’ Scientists, under the aegis of COVID-19 Research Group, on Friday announced the discovery of the vaccine at Adeleke University, Ede, in Osun. Dr Oladipo Kolawole, Leader of the team, said the vaccine was being developed locally in Africa for Africans.

Kolawole, a Specialist in Medical Virology, Immunology and Bioinformatics, however, said the vaccine would also work for other continents when unveiled. He said that the group had been working extensively by exploring the SARS-CoV-2 genome from African countries to select the best possible potential vaccine candidates.

He said that after trying out some selected processes of vaccine development, the researchers were able to choose the best potential vaccine candidates for the SARS-CoV-2 and had made the possible latent vaccine constructs.

how soon the unnamed vaccine would be unveiled to the public, Kolawole said that it would take a minimum of 18 months. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nafdac-to-partner-nigerian-scientists-on-covid-19-drugs-vaccines.html

The Federal Ministry of Aviation on Tuesday received a record four certificates of compliance or Outline Business Case (OBC) certificates on the impending concession of four international airports, bringing to seven the OBC certificates received by the ministry.

The Ministry had previously received the OBC on the national carrier, the Aviation Leasing Company and the Maintenance Repairs Overhaul facility (MRO).

All facilities are at various levels of procurement. Presenting the certificates on Tuesday to the Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Mr. Chidi Izuwah (Engr.) said with the certificates, the ministry can go ahead to source for private investors for the terminals.

The airports that got the OBC include: The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano, the Port Harcourt International Airport and the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos.

Mr. Izuwah said the OBCs shows that facilities are bankable and the private sector can invest in them. After the OBC, the next phase is the procurement stage and the Final Business Case (FBC) which will still be approved by the Federal Executive Council and the ICRC.

He also said “the execution of this project is meant to help Nigeria to reach its objective in of air transport value chain growth by developing and profitably managing customer centric airport facilities for safe, secure and efficient carriage of engers and goods at world-class standards of quality.”

“The Airports in Nigeria have huge potentials but are currently operating at a suboptimal level due to factors that will have to be improved under the PPP programme.

“The factors include: the urgent need for infrastructure investments and modernisation (runway maintenance, navigation aids as well as terminal facilities), relatively low asset utilisation due to the limited opening hours of some airports, lack of terminal capacity at the airports due to inadequate gates, stands and check-in desks and design deficiency to operate as international hubs resulting in separate international and domestic terminals.“

The ICRC DG also said the Outline Business Case (OBC) Report for the OBC for the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airport terminals under PPP arrangements was transmitted to the Commission on 1st June, 2020 for certification.

Commenting, Sen. Sirika said the airports concession programme is part of the Aviation Road Map that was previously approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that when the process is completed, at least 241,700 direct jobs will be created and hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs down the value chain.

“Critical to the roap are the airports’ terminal concession. More than 80 percent of the roap is through public private partnership (PPP) and the ICRC has the sole mandate to regulate to ensure viability, fairness and diligence” he explained.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/aviation-ministry-gets-icrc-approval-to-concession-four-airports-targets-241000-jobs.html

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A High Court of Justice in Ekpoma Edo state, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others, from removing, preventing or purporting to exclude the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki or any other aspirant who has been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for 25th June, 2020. The defendants in the case are Tony Aziegbemi, Peoples Democratic Party, Hon Andy Ikhajiangbe, Peter Akhimien and Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Plaintiff, Felix Irioh and Tom Irehobhude had filed a suit before the Court, seeking an Order of Interim Injunction restraining INEC from however refusing to recognize and/or accept the name of any of the aspirants named in paragraph 2 above especially Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as lawful aspirants having been lawfully screened and cleared by the 2nd Defendant to participate in the primary election scheduled to hold on the 25th June, 2020 in any report of the monitoring of the said primaries pending the hearing of the Motion On Notice.”

In his ruling, Justice J. O. Okeaya-Inneh, said, ” I find in my humble view that the applicants have satisfied the guidelines for the grant of the orders sought as ened in the celebrated landmark case of Kotoye v CBN (1989), 1 NWLR PT. 98, 419 at 441.” “The balance of convenience is in favour of the 1st and 2nd applicants and there is no undue delay in bringing this application.

It is in that light that I find merit in this application,” the judge added, The judge however adjourned the matter to July 1, 2020, for hearing of pending applications.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-restrains-pdp-inec-from-excluding-obaseki-other-from-party-primary.html

Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to take over the state government house come 2021. According to the chairman of the party, Mr Basil Ejikide, part of the party’s strategies to win the state governorship election was to field a competent, qualified and trusted candidate in the 2021 governorship election.

Ejidike, who spoke during a meeting convened by Barr Ejike Nwachukwu, Director General of Dr Chidozie Nwankwo governorship campaign organization, in Awka, said the party was now highly reckoned with by Anambra people. “We are taking Anambra election seriously.

“Anambra’s government house is very important to us, and we know that we will get it this time around. “APC in Anambra has grown.

“This is not the time when people referred to APC as party for the northerners. “Our number is growing everyday, and people are identifying with the party in high number.

“We must all work to take Anambra’s government house by winning the 2021 governorship election. “Part of the ways to do so is to field very credible candidates.

“We are happy that people like Dr Chidozie Nwankwo are coming out; these are the kind of people we need in our party. “The coming of Chidozie Nwankwo into our party has brought us tremendous goodwill.

“We are sure that if we field someone who is popular in Anambra and who knows the needs of Anambra, things will be easier for our party. “We are calling on you all to go to your wards and start canvassing for ,” he said.

Earlier, Barr Ejike Nwachukwu, the Director General of Dr Chidozie Nwakwo Governorship Campaign Organization, described the aspirant as a core party man, who was ready to help reposition the party in the state. Nwachukwu added that Nwankwo’s capacity and popularity would make victory easier for APC during the election.

He also announced a donation of N4million to the party to help in the procurement of food stuff to be distributed to of the party as COVID-19 palliative.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-vows-to-take-over-anambra-government-house-in-2021.html

The army yesterday decided to relocate this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration to Katsina State to kick-start a major exercise tagged “Ex Sahel Sanity” with a view to check banditry in the northwest.

The spokesman of the army, Colonel Sagir Musa told journalists in Abuja that this was one of the far-reaching decisions of the Senior Officers Conference.

He said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai yesterday convened a special and exclusive meeting with his Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding and Field Commanders at the Army Headquarters.

Musa said the meeting was intended to serve as a time for action, a time to change the war narrative and a wakeup call in efforts to combat Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency, northwest banditry and other security challenges across the country.

He said the meeting discussed wide ranging security matters, the state of the counter terrorism and other Internal Security Operations in Nigeria. He said the necessity for commanders, officers and men to redouble their efforts and ensure that all security threats in the country were effectively checkmated was emphasized.

He added that Buratai directed all commanders/GOCs, officers and men of the Nigerian Army to ensure that the charge given by the President and Commander – in- Chief must be fully implemented so as to speedily crush BH terrorism and other security threats facing the nation.”

Musa said Buratai warned that he wants to see an all-encoming positive change in the army operations and in the security situation across the country.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/banditry-military-moves-army-day-celebration-to-katsina.html

The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Monday, said that no state in the country is free from the COVID-19. Ihekweazu, said this at the 45th t national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

According to him, a state can only talk about being COVID-19 free when it is testing and have the effective tool to fight the disease. He said that states need to start testing now as the agency is working to develop its laboratory capacity to test more.

“No state in Nigeria is COVID-19 free. No country in the world is COVID-19 free. “That is why we have to keep doing this work we are doing, testing people, finding out if they have it. “Even if some of us are lucky and get away with having asymptomatic infections, we have to test more.

“We can only talk about a state being disease free when we have an effective tool to fight the disease. “That will come when we have a vaccine. “Until then, there is no easy way to say this. We have to keep pushing for these preventive measures.

“We have to develop our laboratory capability to test. “Either you start testing now or you start testing later. “But eventually, we will all test. That’s for sure,” Ihekweazu said. Speaking on the PTF team that visited Akwa Ibom, Edo, Plateau and Lagos states, he commended the states for their efforts, but expressed worry that many people were not wearing masks.

He said, “We still saw a gatherings of too many people in the place at the time and we know that across the country we are struggling with this and I really want to encourage all Nigerians that we can’t treat our way out of this, we simply can’t, we have to prevent, it is the only chance we have so as we work hard, as we congratulate those treating, we must take responsibility for prevention. It’s in our hands.”

Nigeria on Sunday recorded 436 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 20,244 from 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Cross River is the only state without any confirmed case.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-state-in-nigeria-is-covid-19-free-says-ncdc.html

Three persons were reportedly killed in attacks on some villages of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State on Monday.

Daily Trust gathered that the bandits attacked Maikwama village where they killed three persons before rustling undisclosed number of cattle.

They also stole food items. This was coming a day after they attacked a neighbouring village, Kurmin Chakara and kidnapped one Alhaji Kabiru.

Katsina has been facing constant attacks by armed bandits.

And last week, the presidency claimed traditional rulers were helping the bandits to stage attacks in their villages. T

he state police command is yet to respond to enquiries made by our reporter over the attacks.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bandits-kill-3-kidnap-one-in-katsina-villages.html

Socio-Economic Rights and ability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health and Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over their alleged failure to for the public funds and other resources so far spent to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

In the suit filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and compel the minister of health and the NCDC to publish details of the funds and resources from federal and state governments, and the private sector, as well as details of how the funds and resources have so far been used to combat COVID-19.

SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel the federal government to disclose information on the exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians, the number of any such high-ranking public officials and politicians now in self-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

SERAP said that transparency in the use of COVID-19 money would help to reduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage Nigerians in the fight against coronavirus as well as safe lives.

The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated 27 March 2020 to the minister of health and the NCDC, expressing concern that lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources to combat COVID-19 would lead to diversion or mismanagement of funds and resources.

SERAP said millions of Nigerians lack access to improved water source and to proper sanitation, thereby making them vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illnesses, adding that the ministry of health and the NCDC have failed and/or refused to disclose whether there is any collaborative work with the ministry of water resources to provide vulnerable Nigerians with safe water, sanitation, and hygienic conditions.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Atinuke Adejuyigbe, and Opeyemi Owolabi.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/covid-19--serap-sues-health-ministry-ncdc.html

* Highest since assumption of office

* ‘Recent actions will fast track governance’

* President’s new CoS settling down well

President Muhammadu Buhari has made 141 appointments in 81 days, an investigation by Daily Trust has revealed. The investigation shows that the flurry of appointments is the highest since assumption of office by President Buhari on May 29, 2015.

The surge in appointments by President Buhari into the boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) specifically started in early April, a period when the Federal Government imposed a total lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states.

The latest move is a clear departure from the past when it took the president long time to make vital appointments, a development that earned him the nickname “Baba-Go-Slow.”

Experts have lauded the recent appointments, saying they would fast-track decision making. The constitution of the boards of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and nomination of ambassadors topped the list of the appointments.

On April 2, President Buhari approved the appointment of medical directors for the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, Taraba State, Bassey Edet and Aisha Adamu respectively.

Equally, on April 9, the president appointed Musa Ahmed as the Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State.

On April 28, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read a letter on the floor of the upper chamber announcing the appointment of 38 persons to the board of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-makes-141-appointments-in-81-days.html

All the security officers involved in the fracas that led to gunshots in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, have been released and redeployed to new locations.

Sources told Daily Trust last night that those redeployed but whose new posts were not known were security aides attached to the First Lady, including her Aide-De-Camp, Usman Shugaba and Escort Commander.

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the President, Sabiu Tunde Yusuf, has resumed work, jettisoning advice to go on self-isolation after returning from Lagos recently.

Sabiu, who is popularly known as Tunde, a name he was given after Tunde Idiagbon, the second-in-command to then Major General Muhammadu Buhari during the military regime, was sighted in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

It would be recalled that Aisha Buhari had approached Tunde to respect the COVID-19 guidelines, following his alleged refusal to go on self-isolation for 14 days.

The first lady’s encounter with Tunde, reportedly in the company of her children ,was said to have gone out of hand after the involvement of security personnel who shot into the air, breaching the security protocol in the State House, Abuja. The development had led to the arrest of security aides attached to the president’s wife, including her Aide-De-Camp, Shugaba, and Escort Commander.

Mrs Buhari, unhappy with the move by the police authorities, had called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, via Twitter handle, to free her ADC and other police aides taken into custody. Daily Trust learnt that President Buhari was not disturbed about the development since Tunde returned the day he travelled to Lagos, a situation which may not require self-isolation.

Already, President Buhari had ordered an investigation into the security breach at the State House, Abuja. Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, had in a statement on Sunday said the president was not under any form of danger arising, either from deadly infections or the reported incident by security personnel currently under investigation.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Frank Mba, when ed by one of our reporters for a comment last night, neither answered phone calls nor replied a test message sent to him.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/villa-shooting-aishas-security-aides-redeployed-as-sabiu-resumes-work.html

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo on Tuesday assigned portfolios to 95 aides with 63 appointed as Special Advisers while 32 are Senior Special Assistants.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oguike Nwachuku, indicated that Prof. Henry Njoku, a Special Adviser, is Chief Technical Adviser/Coordinator, Economic Development and Rehabilitation Council, while Mrs Ruby Emele, is for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Other Special Advisers are Mrs Christina Ude, Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Services (SDGs), Dr Bathos Nwadike, Political, Mrs Pat Ekeji Ngozi, Strategy and Development, while Mr Macdonald Ebere combines that role with being the General Manager, ENTRACO. Mr Ikpamezie Innocent is Special Assistant to General Manager, OCDA, Mr Dominic Uzowuru, Inter-Party, Amaka Okafor, Electronic/New Media, Dr Okereke Macillina, health.

Others are Doris Tony-Anyanwu, International Cooperation/NEPAD, Ifeanyi Opara, Labour Matters, Chief Canice Nwachukwu, Revenue Mobilisation and Capacity Development, while Ikem Unaebgu is for Aviation/Airport. Justice Remigious Okoye is the Executive Chairman, Imo Internal Revenue Services (IIRS), Nwodu Chukwuemeka, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mrs Nina Nwaulu, Signage and ment, Mrs Florence Anichebe, Special Duties III, and Jimmy Imo, Imo State Liason Office.

Senior Special Assistants to the governor and their portfolios are as follows: Hajiya Fatima Hamza, Gender and Vulnerable Groups – Northern Affairs (Women), Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, Gender and Vulnerable Groups – Northern Affairs (Men).(NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/uzodinma-assigns-portfolios-to-95-aides.html

* says pandemic may overwhelm

* Nigeria’s health system suspends airline, pilot for conveying Naira Marley to Abuja

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 says it is no longer Nigerians’ frontliners in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Its chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said this in Abuja yesterday at the briefing of the PTF.

“If you listen to me conscientiously in the past four weeks, I’ve spoken about personal responsibility. We’re not your frontliners any more. The choice of whether you’ll get to the hospital is yours.

“We’ve got to a stage where no amount of enforcement will cut this tool for us. It’s the choices we make that will determine what will happen. The governments of sub-national will try to do their best, but it’s the choices of the people that’ll determine how effective that’ll be.

“We’re the only ones that can work assiduously to ensure we reduce the level of transmission now that it has been ceded in our own communities. Nobody should be deceived that Nigeria has reached the peak of the pandemic,” Mustapha said.

He warned: “COVID -19 is real and because restrictions have been lifted is not a licence for carelessness. Yes, we’ll return to a new normal, but not the normal of the past. “My appeal is that honestly, where we’re now, it’s our individual, no collective responsibility, that’ll determine where we’re headed. Are figures going to rise? Yes, they’re. The quantum in which they rise is dependent on what we do.

“But as for the figures, we don’t want to delude anybody; they’ll rise. The quantum with which they’ll rise exponentially or gradually is dependent on what Nigerians do. “If we decide to be careless because restrictions have been lifted, then we’ll have a peak because if we’re not careful it can overwhelm even our health infrastructure.”

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika announced the suspension of the ExecuJet, the flight company that conveyed a Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, on Saturday, to perform at a concert in Abuja despite the interstate travel ban and social distancing rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

He said the company supplied false information to get approval. He said the company would be fined and the flight captain sanctioned for providing false information. Sirika said: “The flight was supposed to convey a judge, Hon. Justice Adefope Okoji, to Abuja and back to Lagos on official engagement.

“Going forward we’ll escalate the mechanisms we have in place, and we’ll be stricter in our approvals and enforcement going forward,” he said.

PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, said the FCT istration would decide appropriate sanctions for Naira Marley. He also said the government would evacuate 1,000 Nigerians stranded abroad this week.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/covid-19-were-no-more-your-frontliners-fg-tells-citizens.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said he was deeply hurt by the “sudden, unexpected ing of Senator Bayo Osinowo” who until his his death on Monday represented Lagos East Senatorial District.

“He was more than a close friend and political associate,” said Tinubu in a statement he personally signed, adding, “over the years he became like a family member and brother in so many ways.”

Osinowo died on Monday at the First Cardiologist Hospital Lagos at the age of 64. His remains were reportedly being conveyed to his hometown at Ijebu Ode as of the time of filing this report last night.

Tinubu, a former governor of the state said the deceased and him had come a long way dating back to their days in the pro-democracy struggles. The statement added: “We both enlisted in the Social Democratic Party where he served so well as the Youth Chairman of that party during the Third Republic and later in the Alliance for Democracy in 1998 after the restoration of democracy. “Bayo’s contributions to the return of democracy were significant and enduring. “As a prominent political figure in Lagos, he served our state with dedication, ion and concern for the common man.

“In the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he was a four-time member from 2003 to 2019 representing Kosofe Constituency 1, he was more than a member of that House. He provided leadership. He was a stabilising figure. He worked hard and tirelessly to make Lagos a better place. He cared for all Lagosians.

“His election in 2019 to represent Lagos East in the Senate demonstrated not only his immense political skills but also the affection the people have for him and his popularity.

“Thus far in the National Assembly, he discharged himself creditably as Chairman Senate Committee on Industries.” Tinubu added that like the committee he headed, the deceased “was extremely industrious.”

“Bayo was not born with riches. He rose from a modest background to the great heights that he attained. “His death hurt all who know him. Bayo was more than an excellent politician. “As great a politician he was, Bayo was an even better person. He was a man of a kind heart and ready smile.

“His loyalty and enthusiasm was legendary, just as his generosity.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/im-deeply-hurt-by-senator-osinowos-death-tinubu.html

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