Cholera Outbreak In Abuja: Authorities Provide Free Medication To Arrest The Rise

July 30, 2021

The health authorities in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Abuja, have announced free treatment to the victims of the cholera outbreaks that had so far claimed the lives of over 60 people in the nation’s capital city.

Acting Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) in the Administration, Dr. Mohammad Kawu, who made the announcement today, July 30 at a news briefing, said that the cases have greatly dropped as a result of concerted efforts by all the authorities concerned.

Dr. Kawu said that the free treatment is being carried out at the FCTA health facilities and that adequate drugs and other medical consumables have been made available in those facilities.

“We have repositioned treatment, drugs, other consumables in all the health facilities in affected areas and all secondary healthcare facilities in the FCT so that anybody that has diarrhea is treated free.

“We have also provided water and sanitation in the affected areas by working with the FCT Water Board, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).”

Dr. Kawu described cholera as a disease that is closely associated with poor hygiene and appealed to residents to make extra efforts to ensure proper cleaning of their environment and cultivate good sanitary habits.

The Acting Secretary explained that there were 69 fatalities from over 1000 confirmed cases of the disease in the FCT while the other victims have been treated and discharged from health facilities.

He disclosed that Bwari Area Council has been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak in the FCT followed by the Abuja Municipal Area Council, stressing that measures have been put in place to prevent recurrence.

“It is gratifying to note that all the affected communities have been visited and we have told them what they need to do to prevent this cholera outbreak.

“It appears, and it is clear that they have understood what we told them and they have taken those decisions and they are doing those things and that’s why the cases have come down.”

Speaking on the spike of COVID -19 cases across the country, Dr. Kawu said that the FCT is prepared for a possible third wave, saying that the FCT had not dismantled any of the structures put in place to fight the virus.

The Acting Secretary said: “Our treatment centres are intact and we have piped oxygen. We have also repaired our oxygen plant in Asokoro. Our health workers have been trained and they are on ground. So we are prepared.

“Most importantly, Dr Kawu added “we continue to advocate and advise the populace to continue with the non-pharmaceutical preventive measures that are in place, that is wearing of face mask, social and physical distancing, washing of hands regularly with water and soap and or hand sanitizers and avoiding crowded areas.”

MTN, Airtel, Others Lose Over 8 Million Subscribers In 3 Months

Editorial staff

July 30, 2021

MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile lost over 8 million data subscribers between March 2021 and May 2021. The four major internet providers lost 1.27 million data subscribers in May 2021, compared to the 3.17 million they lost in April 2021 and the 3.55 million subscribers lost in March 2021.

This fact is contained in data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which said that the total number of mobile subscribers of the four major telecommunications outfits dropped from 141.41 million as of April to 140.13 million by the end of May 2021. The data subscriber base in Nigeria has been on a persistent decline since the NIN-SIM ban.

According to NCC, Airtel lost a total of 2.84 million data subscribers within the period, as its data subscribers base dropped from 38,956,026 at the beginning of March to 36,120,443 at the end of May 2021. Airtel had a total mobile subscriber base of 51.43 million as of February 2021, but had dropped to 50.03 million at the end of May 2021.

Also between March 2021 and May 2021, MTN Nigeria lost a total of 2.64 million data subscribers. At the end of May 2021, the telco giant had 60,202,402 data subscribers, down from 61,575,323 and 62,843,182 it recorded as at the end of March and February respectively.

Between March 2021 and May 2021, the telco giant lost a total of 3.3 million mobile subscribers. This represents a 4.27% reduction in data subscribers. At the end of May 2021, MTN had 74,044,687 mobile subscribers, accounting for 39.7% of the total subscriber base in the country.

Others like Globacom and 9mobile, also witnessed the drought, as they lost a total of 2.112 million and 415,905 data subscribers respectively within the same period.

A telecom expert, the decline could be attributed to a number of factors, some of which are pricing, service quality, and the presence of alternative Internet Service Providers (ISP).

“The decline in the number of data subscribers was caused largely by the high cost of internet in the country and the persistent poor quality of services rendered by the mobile firms. We should not be ignorant of the presence of other ISPs like Smile, Spectranet, among others, who at times provide better services for their subscribers compared to their GSM counterparts.”

Source: Business News Report.

How Nigeria Can Avoid Looming Food Crisis Before It Turns Into Calamity – Atiku

Editorial staff

July 30, 2021

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in raising alarm over the looming acute food crisis in the Northern Nigeria.

In a statement he personally issued today, July 30, Atiku said that the FAO’s warning should be seen and heard as a whistleblowing moment that ought to draw the focus of the Federal Government, bearing in mind that Northern Nigeria is the food basket of the nation.

“Any famine there (in the North) will have a national impact on the rest of the country and cross border impacts in the West African sub-region.

“The laissez-faire approach taken by the Federal Government to this most important issue is regrettable. “Food security is a vital part of national security, and where this issue is not resolved, the resultant crisis may unsettle the nation and her immediate neighbours.”

Atiku, who is the opposition leader insisted that politics should be put aside to urgently address the looming national calamity “so that our countrymen and women do not starve in a land with so much prospective abundance.”

He said that the major cause of the present and looming dearth of food is insecurity, adding that farmers and other agricultural value chain workers cannot go to their farms due to the crisis of insecurity.

“What ought to happen is that the Federal and State governments should establish a Food Security Military Taskforce to work in farming clusters, to provide security for the nation’s farmers.

“We must give confidence to our agriculture workers, so that the sector can get on with the job of feeding the nation.

“In addition to this, the Federal and State governments ought to place a temporary moratorium on all loans to the agricultural sector in the affected states, by declaring a Force Majeure in the sector.

“We cannot expect small, medium and large scale farmers to service debts when they are not even able to access their farms and other businesses in the agricultural value chain.

“Thirdly, the Federal Government has to intervene by providing free seedlings and fertilisers to the end users.

“This is a policy that worked to reduce hunger levels in Nigeria when Dr Akinwumi Adesina introduced the e-wallet policy. Perhaps it is time to reintroduce and ramp up that scheme.

“If we cannot feed ourselves as a nation, we do not survive. This is the textbook definition of an emergency.

“It is my hope that we can remove politics from this vital area of our national life and address this crisis before it becomes a calamity.”

3 Independent Power Plants To Spring From Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline – Kyari

Editorial staff

July 30, 2021

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has assured that the ongoing 614 kilometres Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project would lead to the development of three independent power plants in addition to other numerous benefits.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said that the GMD made this known today, July 29 at Gas Sector Stakeholders’ Forum which held in Kano, with theme: “Optimizing the Economic Development Capacity of Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project.”

In a paper titled: “The AKK as an Economic Development Game-Changer – NNPC’s Vision, Contributions, & Plan Forward,” Mallam Kyari, was quoted as saying that the AKK project will create prosperity through massive job opportunities and guarantee peace for the country, in addition to help in revamping about 232 industries, creating massive employment opportunities and prosperity for the people.

Kyari said that it would also serve as gas supply link to other African countries and Europe upon completion.

“This project has been on the drawing board for 30 years and the dream was to have gas delivered to Europe across the Trans-Sahara route. What we are seeing today would deliver at least 2billion standard cubic feet of gas to the domestic market at the first instance with the potential to increase it. What this means is that it will debottleneck the gas supply network in the entire country.”

Mallam Kyari said that the AKK gas project would also lead to the development of three Independent Power Plants (IPP) in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, adding that the IPPs would boost electricity supply and promote the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in the Nigeria.

“I want to state clearly that this gathering would not have been possible if we don’t have a line of sight to the completion of the AKK gas pipeline project. This is possible because of the clear direction that Mr. President has shown on the need to deepen domestic gas consumption with a view to creating prosperity out of the enormous gas resources we have as a nation. He has given us all the necessary support and incentives to deliver on this project.”

Mallam Kyari said the AKK gas project would also boost the Agricultural, Industrial, Manufacturing and Power Sectors for the overall growth of the nation’s economy.

He averred that the AKK gas pipeline project was in sync with the aspiration of the Federal Government to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint in line with the global quest to arrest global warming and climate change and in furtherance of the Decade of Gas programme.

According to him, gas is a key driver of prosperity all over the world and it cannot be different in Nigeria, stressing that the extensive industrial layout in the Otta area of Ogun and Lagos States is anchored on the gas supply by the NNPC and its partners which is creating jobs and other opportunities for people.

In his keynote address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said that the Gas Sector Stakeholders Forum would ensure collaboration amongst stakeholders geared towards kick-starting the required activities that would guarantee full usage of the gas to be delivered through the AKK pipeline when completed.

“Today’s event reinforces our commitment to realizing the inherent potentials of gas usage as a national catalyst for achieving economic diversification from crude oil and as a transition fuel from fossil of today to the renewable energy of tomorrow,” Chief Sylva said.

The event had in attendance major stakeholders in the oil and gas value chain and the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, while the Governors of Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, the Hon Minister of Finance and Alhaji Aliko Dangote joined virtually. The Governor of Kogi State sent a representative.

NCC Moves To Ensure Competitive Telecommunications Market In Nigeria

Editorial staff

July 30, 2021

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has made positive move, including the ongoing amendments to the two major regulatory instruments to strengthen and ensure a fair and competitive telecommunications market in the country.

The regulatory instruments, according to a statement from the Commission’s chief spokesman, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, are the Annual Operating Levy Regulations (AOL) and the Frequency Spectrum (Fees and Pricing, etc.) Regulations for which the Commission organized a public inquiry in Abuja today, July 29.

The first instrument on AOL, he added, ensures that all licensees are properly and equitably assessed for the annual levy as well as meeting both statutory and regulatory expectations. Its review is expected to bring the Regulations in line with current realities and sustain the enviable contributions of the communications sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The second instrument on frequency spectrum fee and pricing enables the Commission to meet its sole and exclusive mandate in Section 21 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003 by assigning the scarce national resource in an equitable manner. The Regulations also ensures that frequency spectrum are assigned and managed in a way that ensures fair pricing and efficient deployment of attendant services.”

The statement quoted the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta as having said during the event, that the public inquiry not only reflects the Commission’s strategic mission and vision to ensure regulatory excellence through effective regulatory processes but also sign posts the Commission’s consultative approach to all its regulatory initiatives.

He said the public inquiry is a precursor to the Commission’s current drive to ensure efficiency in spectrum management and the unveiling of next generation services through varied enablers, adding that it is in this regard that the Commission issued a Spectrum Trading Guidelines (STG) in 2018, to ensure frequency Spectrum is readily available to licensees through an effective process.

“Furthermore, the Commission has commenced the process of deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology in Nigeria and is driving the provision of such ubiquitous services on making frequency Spectrum available to the licensees. The efficacy and reliability of the initiatives will be hinged on proper market valuation of the frequency spectrum and fair assessment of levies.”

Professor Danbatta said that with the explosion in technologies, there has also been an attendant secondary reliance on different approaches to drive the best out of different frequency spectrum.

He said this has led to the need for designation of several bands of frequency spectrum for communications services and a key illustration is the recent identification of some Spectrum frequencies for 5G deployment.

The Executive Vice Chairman said that the Commission is conscious of the expectations and the need to ensure that all regulatory instruments are made ready to meet these challenges, adding that this has made the reviews which the Commission is conducting an important milestone as the public inquiry in pushing the country to the front queue of this global efforts.

“Hence, we must be prepared on both ends of the industry to prepare the country for these remarkable changes; while the licensees continue to invest in deployment, the Commission will sustain its drive by ensuring regulatory efficiency and excellence.”

Professor . acknowledged that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030 are all tailored to ensure that the Commission deploys new initiatives, build regulatory efficiency and ensure market stability.

He said the policy documents highlight the central nature of frequency spectrum in meeting most of their baseline objectives. “This has made the ongoing review not just necessary but inevitable to facilitate the attainments of these objectives.”

The statement said that presentations were made on the comments, inputs and recommendations received from external stakeholders on the two regulatory instruments prior to the public enquiry as well as the amended sections and new provisions made to the two regulations.

It said that participants at the event made valuable contributions and raised issues that would assist the Commission in developing robust regulatory instruments that will continually contribute to the development of the industry and sustain its positive contribution to the nation’s economy.

It said that the public enquiry was attended by the NCC’s Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Professor Adeolu Akande; an NCC Board member, Salman Abdul-Azeez; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu; Senior Management staff and other industry stakeholders both physically and virtually.

MOP-UP UTME HOLDS FRIDAY, 6th AUGUST, 2021 – JAMB

Editorial staff

July 29, 2021

Following detailed investigation and careful analysis of the highly-successful 2021 UTME, and with due consultation (resulting in gracious concession) with the National Examination Council (NECO) concerning the timetable of the council’s ongoing SSCE, JAMB has scheduled a Mop-up UTME for Friday, 6th August, 2021, in some selected locations across the nation.
About 18,000 candidates slated for the examination are being notified through both text messages on their designated phone numbers and their JAMB profiles.
In addition, the candidate can check for updates using their registration number on http://www.jamb.gov.ng/2021mopup.
For the avoidance of doubt, no candidate whose result has been duly released will be rescheduled for another examination contrary to the sponsored fake news being circulated on the social (and a few mischievous conventional) media.
The rescheduled candidates are in the following categories:
i. Candidates who could not be initially scheduled for examination owing to their inability to timely procure and supply their mandatory NINs or profile codes until after the close of the registration exercise and, therefore, had to purchase Bank Drafts (as against the usual vending of PINs) after the scheduled period for the examination and were later registered.
ii. Few candidates who encountered peculiar biometric verification problem, or who failed biometric verification on the examination date (and were recaptured) but were not allowed to partake in the examination. (Adequate screening arrangements have been made to reverify such claims and any candidate found to be involved in any form of impersonation will be identified for prosecution).
iii. Candidates who were unable to sit for the UTME owing to the clash of timetables of the UTME and the then ongoing NABTEB examinations and whose particulars have been verified and supplied directly to JAMB by NABTEB, and
iv. Candidates who have been ascertained by JAMB to have experienced genuine rescheduling/technical problems as was the case in 30 of the 760 centres used for the examination.
The rescheduled candidates are to print fresh examination notification slips containing the venue and time of the examination. The slips are to be printed from the JAMB website https://www.jamb.gov.ng using the candidates’ registration number from Sunday, 1st August, 2021. The Board strongly advises candidates to avoid supplying their vital information, including registration number to fraudsters who are abound especially in cybercafe(s), tutorial centres springing up almost everywhere in the nation as a result of the illicit activities of examination syndicates.
CBT centres approved by JAMB which are consistently monitored are relatively more secured for printing examination notification slips by candidates who cannot print such on their own.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin
Head of Media
JAMB

Terrorism, Secession In Nigeria: British PM, Buhari Want Judiciary Decide

Editorial staff

July 29, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, have reached a consensus that judiciary should be allowed to decide the fate of different forms of terrorism and secession in Nigeria. They agreed that the judicial process be allowed to run its course.

Holding bilateral talks at the sidelines of the Global Education Summit in London, the two leaders said that it is important that the judicial process runs without interference, no matter who is involved.

President Buhari had briefed the Prime Minister on Nigeria’s power needs and efforts being made, as well as initiatives geared at achieving food security.

He also reviewed the security situation in the different regions of the country, while PM Johnson pledged Britain’s preparedness to lend a helping hand.

“We are available to help,” he said.

The two leaders also discussed how to increase trade between the two countries, develop solar and wind power, leadership of the Commonwealth going forward and other matters of mutual interest.

Commonwealth Offers To Support Nigeria On Agriculture, Security, Others

Editorial staff

July 29, 2021

Baroness Patricia Scotland | Photo Credit:
Loop Caribbean

The Commonwealth of Nations has offered to support Nigeria in diverse areas of needs and challenges, including agriculture and security

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, who had a brief chat with the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari at the sidelines of the Global Education Summit holding in London, United Kingdom today, July 29, noted that Nigeria is doing a lot to address food security through heavy investment in agriculture.

She also acknowledged the efforts of the Buhari government on the security issue confronting the country in different regions.

Baroness Scotland said that the Commonwealth had developed programmes on agribusiness that can add value to agriculture products for young people to get involved.

She said that the programme also involves climate change, criminal justice reforms, police reforms and security.

The scribe then invites Nigeria to benefit from technical assistance that can be provided.

She added that since President Buhari is the Champion for Anti-Corruption in Africa, the Commonwealth has developed anti-corruption benchmark tools, and would like to work with Nigeria in both public and private sectors.

Other areas the Commonwealth could assist, according to Baroness Scotland, include countering violent extremism, trade, and modalities to implement the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Responding, President Buhari expressed the readiness of his government to embrace the Commonwealth offers, and will cooperate fully to enjoy the benefits in them.

Ex Nasarawa Gov, Al-Makura, Protests Over News Of His Arrest

Editorial staff

July 29, 2021

Umaru Tanko Al-Makura | Photo Credit: ThisDayLive

Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has protested the media report of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying that he was only invited in respect of some petitions against him.

In an interview today, July 29, on the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Al-Makura, now representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, described the news about his arrest as mischief.

Senator Al-Makura, emphasized that he was invited to give his side of the story concerning some petitions against him and that he personally reported to EFCC where he met with the chairman and some officials of the anty graft agency for a short period of time.

The former governor accused rumour mongers for peddling the rumours, describing it as baseless.

“The rumours surprised me and far as I am concerned, it is baseless.”

Al-Makura said that EFCC invited him before the Sallah break, but that he informed them that he would appear after Sallah and they obliged.

“When I met with EFCC chairman, he told me there were petitions against me and they wanted to hear from me and my meeting with EFCC chairman wasn’t more than 10 minutes.”

He said that he also discussed with some officials of the agency on the petitions and gave them all the necessary answers.

He said that the invitation has nothing to do with his ambition to contest for APC National chairman.

Al-Makura said that he is a loyal member of the party and he is waiting for the guidelines to officially declare his ambition.

Naira In Free Fall, Sells At N525 – $1 In Parallel Market

Editorial staff

July 29, 2021

The Naira is obviously in a free fall in recent times in the parallel market, losing N20 representing 4 percent to stand at N525 to $1 yesterday, July 28.

Figures from AbokiFX.com, a website that collates parallel market rates in Lagos, revealed that the Naira traded at N525.00 to $1 on yesterday, declining by N20 or 4 percent from it last cloning value of N505 per $1 on Tuesday.

Data obtained from the FMDQ Security Exchange where forex is officially traded, indicated that the Naira is currently trading at N411.50 Kobo per $1 at the Nafex window, as against it last closing at N411.67 Kobo per $1 on Tuesday.

The steep decline of the local currency on Wednesday at the parallel market is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s ban on forex sales to Bureau De Change Operators by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ).

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this on Tuesday after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja.

According to Emefiele, the BDCs had continued to make huge profits while Nigerians suffered in pain.

He said the commercial banks would be monitored to provide forex for the legitimate use of Nigerians. “The Central Bank will henceforth discontinue the sale of forex to Bureau de Change operators,” Emefiele said.

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