Dr. Kingsley Obiora Assumes Duty As CBN Deputy Governor

March 2, 2020

Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora has formally assumed office as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), replacing Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna, who exited from the Bank on February 2, 2020.

Welcoming Dr. Obiora on board today, March 2, the Governor, Godwin Emefiele, congratulated him on his appointment, and said that he is assuming duty at a time when his experience is needed to ensure stability in the Nigerian economy.

Assigning the new Deputy Governor to the Economic Policy Directorate, Emefiele charged him to go beyond upholding the interest of the CBN to upholding the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, majority of who he said desired positive impact in their daily lives.

The Governor, who alluded to the youthfulness of Dr. Obiora and some new Directors in the Bank, said that deliberate effort is being made by the Management of the Bank to assign more responsibility to the youth, who he noted possessed energy that must be put to positive use for the good of Nigerians.

He advised all to work together to enable the Bank to achieve its objectives, even as he charged them to strive to etch their names in the annals of the Bank as having contributed their quota to the overall development of the country.

According to the Governor, who was flanked by Mrs. Aishah Ahmad and Folashodun Shonubi, the Deputy Governors in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS) and Operations, respectively, members of staff of the Bank were part of the monetary policy team that had to play the role of upholding the integrity of the Bank and policies that translate to making lives better for most Nigerians whom they represent in the Bank.

In his remarks after subscribing to the relevant oath administered by the CBN Board Secretary and Director, Corporate Secretariat Department, Mrs. Alice Karau, the new Deputy Governor expressed joy to be back at the CBN, promising to add value to the processes even as he solicited the cooperation of all in achieving his tasks.

Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora was nominated Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday, January 16, 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, January 30, 2020 paving his replacement of the Dr. Joseph Okwu Nnanna who retired from the services of CBN on February 2, 2020.

Coronavirus: IMF, World Bank Intervene

March 2, 2020

The IMF and World Bank have intervened by promising to stand ready to help countries deal with the financial and health effects of the coronavirus.

The two global institutions in a joint statement today, March 2, said: “we are engaged actively with international institutions and country authorities, with special attention to poor countries where health systems are the weakest and people are most vulnerable.

“We will use our available instruments to the fullest extent possible, including emergency financing, policy advice, and technical assistance. The strengthening of country health surveillance and response systems is crucial to contain the spread of this and any future outbreaks.”

The statement, signed by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President David Malpass reads: “The IMF and the World Bank Group stand ready to help our member countries address the human tragedy and economic challenge posed by the COVID-19 virus. We are engaged actively with international institutions and country authorities, with special attention to poor countries where health systems are the weakest and people are most vulnerable.

“We will use our available instruments to the fullest extent possible, including emergency financing, policy advice, and technical assistance. In particular, we have rapid financing facilities that, collectively, can help countries respond to a wide range of needs. The strengthening of country health surveillance and response systems is crucial to contain the spread of this and any future outbreaks. International cooperation is essential to deal with the health and economic impact of the COVID-19 virus. The IMF and the World Bank Group are fully committed to provide the support that people in our member countries expect from us.

Don’t Panic Over Coronavirus Entry Into Nigeria – Buhari

Editorial staff

March 1, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians not to panic over the entry into Nigeria of coronavirus, even as he expressed his sadness over the reported case in Lagos after putting many measures in place to prevent it.

A statement today, March 1 by the senior special assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu quoted President Buhari as saying that the government was not lacking in preparation and design of response measures to keep the virus away from the country’s borders.

The President said that since it had made its way into the country, adequate measures are being by relevant agencies and stakeholders taken to stop it from spreading.

He asked Nigerians to strictly observe the advisories disseminated by the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation (WHO), on the best way to prevent infection.

“This information is being broadcast in all available media by the Federal Ministry of Information.”

President Buhari commended the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies whose diligence and efficiency, he said, enabled the case to be detected, diagnosed and isolated quickly, even while swift measures were taken to identify and follow up on those with whom the index patient came into contact.

The President also commended the responses of the Federal Ministry of Health and Governments of Lagos and Ogun States as well as other relevant agencies to the reported incident and called for vigilance on the part of all citizens and relevant government agencies.

Era Of Borrowing From Bank And Not Paying Back Is Gone, CBN Governor Warns Loan Defaulters

Greenbarge Reporters

March 1, 2020

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has warned those who are in the habit of taking loans from bank and not paying back that that era is gone.
He stressed that all efforts would be made to retrieve the loans, including seizing the private jets of the defaulters.
Emefiele, who spoke during a visit to the Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser project site in Lagos, said a large chunk of the loans in the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) portfolio is owed by Nigerians.
He said: “In any case, the Central Bank will not allow you to borrow money and not pay again. The era has gone. Now, when you take a loan, you will pay. If you don’t pay, we will take your money wherever you keep it.
“If you are driving private jets, we will seize the private jets so that you can begin to ride on bicycles. Then we will know you are truly a liquidated person.”
Emefiele, who commended the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for the projects, said the CBN would continue to support entrepreneurs willing to “come out and contemplate projects where people can be gainfully employed.”
“Today, there are 34,000 people working in this facility; in the next two months, it will double to almost 65,000 to 70,000 people in this complex.
“That is how a country creates prosperity, and that is why we are coming out boldly that we will support anybody. And we will put in place policies that will protect and make sure that for coming out to develop our economy, grow agriculture, manufacturing and industry, and the central bank rakes in dollars to fund our obligations, we will appreciate them and we will continue to do so.”

Buhari Suspends Dokubo As Amnesty Programme Coordinator In Niger Delta

Editorial staff

February 28, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty programme in Niger Delta, Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo.

The suspension of Professor Dokubo, according to a statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, came as a result of “numerous allegations and petitions.”

Adesina said that the President had to mandate the National Security Adviser (NSA) to set up a Caretaker Committee to look into the activities of the programme.

“Part of the Committee’s task is to ensure that allocated resources are properly utilized in consonance with government’s objective of alleviating problems in the Niger Delta region, and stamping out corruption in the Amnesty Programme.

“Consequently, the NSA recommended to Mr President that the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo be suspended, a recommendation that has been approved and which takes immediate effect.

“The President has also directed that the Caretaker Committee set up to review the programme should oversee the running of the programme henceforth, with a view to ensuring that government objectives are achieved.”

Buhari Confirms Folashade As Nigeria’s Head Of Civil Service, Retires Oyo-Ita

Editorial staff

February 28, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation even as he approved the retirement of Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

This was contained in a statement today, February 28 by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle.

The statement reads in part: “His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the retirement of Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita from the Federal Civil Service with effect from Thursday, 27th February, 2020.

” In approving the retirement, President Buhari affirmed that it would be without prejudice to the ongoing investigations into certain allegations against the immediate past Head of the HOCSF. “

“President, however, thanked Oyo-Ita for the invaluable services to the nation and wished her well in all future endeavors.

“Meanwhile, the appointment of Yemi-Esan as the substantive HOCSF takes effect from Friday, 28th February, 2020.”

Dr Folashade has before now been Acting in the same capacity since September 18, 2019.

The President charged the new Head of Service to bring her wealth of experience to bear in the new position so that government could deliver on the priority areas of development already outlined.

He also advised her to make the stabilisation of the Federal Civil Service top most on her agenda.

PDP Disagrees With Atiku, Blames Buhari For Entry Of Coronavirus Into Nigeria

Editorial staff

February 28, 2020

In defiance of the advice of the former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on whose platform he contested the 2019 election has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the entry of conoravirus into the country.

The party argued insisted that “negligence and laid-back attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians led to the avoidable entrance of the deadly corona virus.”

In a statement today, February 28, the part’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said: “it was evident that the Buhari presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.”

The PDP stressed that a responsive and proactive government would have mobilized effective surveillance and screening measures to ward off the menace, particularly at the entry points, alleging that the Buhari administration, was more interested in propaganda and unnecessary showboating with false performance claims.

It also alleged that the Buhari administration had done nothing to assist Nigerian citizens stranded in China despite their pleas, the same way it allegedly abandoned the compatriots who were being murdered in the heat of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The party urged the ministry of health to continue to be open and not allow propaganda, speculations and misinformation in the handling of the health emergency.

“Indeed, the Buhari government is a huge misfortune to our nation.

“This latest leadership failure further validates widespread calls for it to step aside for more competent hands to manage the affairs of our country.

“The PDP therefore calls on Nigerians not to despair but stir up the Nigerian resilient spirit for an urgent, multi sectoral concerted effort by agencies, groups, corporate entities and public-spirited individuals to immediately curb the disease before it spreads, particularly given the prevalent security, economic and humanitarian challenges in the country.

“The party called on the Federal Government to end its cosmetic attitude and immediately adopt the proactive strategy used by the PDP administration to promptly contain the Ebola Virus disease in 2014.

“The PDP also advised Nigerians to be very vigilant and follow intervention directives to ensure that the disease does not spread in the country.”

The party’s presidential flagbearer had earlier issued a statement cautioning against blame games and stressed the need to be united in confronting the viru the same way Ebola was defeated frontally in 2014.

Let’s Avoid Blame Game On Coronavirus In Nigeria, Let’s Be United – Atiku

Editorial staff

February 28, 2020

Former Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has advised the citizens to stand united to stave off the deadly Coronavirus which made an entry into Nigeria via an Italian citizen.

In a statement today, February 28, Atiku said: “I strongly counsel that any tendency to blame and point fighters must be temporarily, if not permanently, suspended. If fingers must be pointed, it must be to solutions.”
Atiku who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 election said: “I would want to offer my patriotic counsel to the government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari, on how best to tackle this issue.”
Atiku recalled that Nigeria was able to defeat Ebola when it came in 2014 by showing unprecedented unity.
“The federal government of the day, worked closely with the Lagos and Rivers state governments. There was complete unity, solidarity and oneness of purpose, which created the atmosphere that defeated that deadly infestation.
“Nigeria needs firm and decisive actions to prevent an escalation of the scourge. Recently, we closed our borders as an act against economic sabotage. Perhaps now is the time to temporarily halt flights to and from any nation with a prevalence of this scourge. It is more important to secure human lives, than to secure an economy. We also need to invest in early detection facilities at our airports.”
The former Vice President asked Nigerians not panic, whether at government or individual levels.
“We have defeated Ebola before and we can defeat this present predicament.
“This crisis is an opportunity to show that we are first and foremost Nigerians, and that we have no other country but our own dear fatherland, which we must work together to keep healthy and secure.”

We Won’t Welcome Into Abuja, Street Beggars From States That Banned Them – Permsec

Editorial staff

February 28, 2020

Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa has said that the administration will not welcome beggars running away from some some states that have banned street begging.

Ohaa reminded such beggars that the FCT administration had since banned street begging, adding that such ban is still in effect, warning that relevant agencies will not hesitate to enforce the law on anyone caught contravening the ban.
The Permanent Secretary spoke at the end of the monthly FCT Security Committee meeting held at the official residence of the Minister at Life Camp.
Sir Ohaa stressed that the enforcement of the ban is necessary to curtail the likely influx of beggars and miscreants to the FCT following the ban on street begging by some states in the country.
The Permanent Secretary said that relevant officers have been directed to intensify public enlightenment campaigns to reiterate the ban on street begging which he said also has negative security implications.
“We want to ensure that the FCT does not become a safe haven to beggars that may be coming from other states that have banned street begging.”

World Health Organization Warns: Coronavirus Can Infect Through Phones, Desks, Others

Greenbarge Reporters

February 28, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that coronavirus (COVID -19) can be contracted through contact with fluid dropping from infected persons onto surface objects such as telephones, desks, tables and others.

This is even as it called for the promotion of regular and thorough hand-washing hygiene. It added that coronavirus (COVID-19) can be contacted when someone infected coughs or exhales.

The global health body said that people can contract the virus if droplets of infected fluid fell on nearby surfaces and objects such as desks, tables or telephones.

“People could catch COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

“If they are standing within 1 or 2 meters of a person with COVID-19 they can catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by them.

“In other words, COVID-19 spreads in a similar way to the flu. Most persons infected with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and recover. However, some go on to experience more serious illness and may require hospital care.

“Risk of serious illness rises with age, people over 40 years seem to be more vulnerable. People with weakened immune systems and people with conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung disease are also more vulnerable to serious illness.

“Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic, surfaces (e.g. desks and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly.

“Why? Because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads. Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers.

“Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled. Display posters promoting hand-washing, ask your local public health authority for these or look on www.WHO.int.

“Make sure that staff, contractors and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water. Why? Because washing kills the virus on your hands and prevents the spread of COVID-19.

“Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace. Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefing at meetings and information on the internet, etc.

“Ensure that face masks and/or paper tissues are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.

“Why? Because good respiratory hygiene prevents the spread of COVID-19. Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips.

“Brief your employees, contractors and customers that if COVID-19 starts spreading in your community, anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever (37.3 C or more) needs to stay at home.”

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