Politics

COVID-19 lockdown: Pay relief funds to households, unemployed Nigerians through BVN - Tinubu advises FG

Oleh Step Hen - April 16, 2020

The APC national leader, Tinubu, has advised President Buhari on how two take care of Nigerians and sustain the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic

- Tinubu advised the president to pay stipends or relief funds to Nigerian households using BVNs

- The former Lagos state governor also urged the CBN to reduce the interest rates just as he urged the government to push for debt relief

As the coronavirus lockdown bites harder on Nigerians, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari on how to sustain the economy and save citizens from hunger.

The Sun reports that Tinubu advocated an economic relief package in the form of emergency sustenance payments to vulnerable Nigerians.

Police Dismantle Roadblocks, Desert Lagos Roads

Oleh Step Hen - April 16, 2020

SOME Lagos residents have raised concerns over the absence of policemen on major roads and streets.

The police came out full force two weeks ago following the presidential directive that Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Captial Territory (FCT) be locked down, but they appear to be losing steam.

Their absence coincided with cult clashes and armed robbery attacks around the Lagos-Ogun border communities.

As the attacks spread to other parts of the state, such as Ikorodu, Ikotun, Oke Afa, Agege, Egbeda, Abule Egba, Meiran, Alakuko, Alagbado, Ijoko, Ogba and Ojodu Berger, there were complaints that the police have allegedly abandoned residents to their fate.

It was gathered that from Mushin to Abule Egba and back, there has been no police presence in the past three days.

All the checkpoints mounted by the police have been discarded while those on patrol were hardly visible at nights.

Similarly, those who ply Ikorodu road from Oshodi as well as from Mushin to Idimu shared similar concerns, urging the Commissioner of Police to address the situation.

“They (police) have abandoned the road and left the people to be at the mercy of hoodlums. This is the third day running that I have complained about the lack of police presence on the road, especially at nights.

“From Mushin to Abule Egba, there is no single police checkpoint in the night and the patrol teams are nowhere in sight.

“The police seem to have abandoned their duty to enforce the lockdown,” said a resident.

Similarly, another resident raised alarm over the lack of police presence from Mushin to Idimu.

She was surprised that from the time she left the office around 10:30pm on Tuesday till when she got home, she did not see a single policeman or roadblock.

“Even the roadblock in front of Ikotun Police Station had been removed. I did not see a single police operative anywhere and that is really scary considering that these hoodlums are everywhere now.

“The police need to be visible. Their presence gives a sense of security and safety to people. They should not abandon us at this time,” she pleaded.

Denying that the police have abdicated their responsibilities, spokesman Bala Elkana said they had to dismantle roadblocks since they were doing more of vehicular patrols.

“Our policemen are moving around everywhere. They cannot pin down on the roads when they need to pursue criminals trying to disturb the peace of Lagosians.

“Also, those complaining should not be afraid because we have men at major entry and exit points enforcing the lockdown. The police are working round the clock to keep Lagosians safe,” he said.

Katsina, Highest Recipient Of Conditional Cash Transfer

Oleh Step Hen - April 16, 2020

With a total of 133,227 beneficiaries, Katsina State is the highest recipient of the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer programme.

Lagos, Delta and Borno states had zero beneficiaries, according to an infographic published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting on states captured in the CCT scheme and their respective number of beneficiaries as of April 9, 2020.

Data from the infographic showed that Katsina had the highest number of beneficiaries, followed by Zamfara and Jigawa.

The infographic, which was created on April 11, 2020, stated its source as the National Cash Transfer Office and revealed that 1,126,211 households were currently benefiting from the CCT programme.

Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Plateau, Kebbi, Kogi, and Benue states had 130,764; 99,044; 84,148; 78,430; 76,026; 62,129; and 58,943 beneficiaries respectively.

Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, and Bauchi states had 48,687; 35,384; 32,218; 26,532; 24,929; 24,814; and 23,305 beneficiaries respectively.

The number of beneficiaries in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa, Osun, Oyo, and Cross River states were 20,129; 19,898; 17,803; 16,988; 15,572; 13,811; and 11,998 respectively.

For Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Anambra, and Imo states, the number of beneficiaries were 11,368; 9,805; 9,596; 9,347; 8,105; and 7,220 respectively.

COVID-19: Fayemi Asks FG To Help Out States Financially

Oleh Step Hen - April 16, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic takes toll on the nation’s economy, the Nigerian Governors Forum has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari for interventions. The governors said their states were going through tough times, appealing to the president to take certain decisive decisions to ameliorate the sufferings of the citizenry. The chairman of the forum and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, made the appeal on Tuesday during his first teleconference meeting with Buhari. Fayemi, according to a statement by the spokesman of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, appealed to Buhari to grant the states debt relief in lieu of the drop in the federal allocation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know your penchant for caring for the poor and the downtrodden in the country, Mr President, and I am telling you that allocations from FAAC have dropped significantly so if you turn your magnanimity towards governors and their States into looking at other debts that continue to linger in the system and prioritise their payments, poor people will be the happier,” he said. He assured that if the federal government’s debts to the states were defrayed, the poor and vulnerable in the country would be better taken care of. He thanked Buhari for the approval of the release of $150mto augment the projected FAAC shortfall in June, but added that more needed to be done to keep the states properly afloat.

Fayemi alluded to the revenues from the Liquefied Natural Gas which, he said, could help in assuaging some issues related to revenue shortfalls. He reiterated the NGF’s call for the suspension of all deductions by the federal government so that states could address the COVID-19 challenge from a position of economic strength. He also stressed the need to streamline all multi-lateral and bilateral interventions and funding so that states could also be integrated and considered because of the difficulties they were going through. He said all the 36 states’ governments were currently reviewing their budgets downwards to conform to the prevailing realities.

He urged the president to encourage evolution of a national strategic plan that would encompass the sub-national level so that the country would find a fast and easy way out of the woods. He acknowledged that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was doing a great job because the challenges that the coronavirus had thrown at them was huge, adding on a lighter mood that “Hunger-vid is equally as lethal”. According to him, because the situation puts governors at the receiving end of the hardships, all governors would be happier if their requests are met.

Fayemi also told Buhari that if the distribution of palliatives was not reviewed, Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector, would take to the street in violation of the stay-at-home order. He expressed concern that informal sector workers had neither been captured in the World Bank-assisted scheme, the National Social Register and nor included in the conditional cash transfer. He said those people’s plight needed to be quickly addressed “before our situation crumbles into the “Ecuadorian Alternative“ where the poor and vulnerable people of Ecuador flocked into the streets in violation of the stay-at-home order in their country.”

He said palliatives would be more meaningful if they were distributed through the state governors. Fayemi also told the president that though the targeted testing strategy adopted by the country has done a lot, there was need for more testing. Responding, Buhari asked Fayemi to formalise all the requests of the governors and forward them to him so that he would promptly address them.

Ayade Approves N30,000 Monthly Salary For 8,000 Youths

Oleh Step Hen - April 16, 2020

The Governor of Cross River State ,Prof. Ben Ayade, has distributed stimulus package to vulnerable persons and citizens in the 18 local government areas of the state .

Distributing the items on Wednesday at CROSPIL in Calabar, Ayade said he had already approved N 30, 000 as monthly stipend for beneficiaries of the automatic employment given to 8, 000 youths between the ages of 18 and 35 starting from Tuesday next week.

He said , “ Distributing food is not the real palliatives , the real palliative is in giving people jobs. Palliative which is temporal is for poor and vulnerable people who cannot fend for themselves .
“ We are starting the real palliative on Tuesday . Whether you are a gardener or cleaner ; whatever you can do , we will give you a job but we can only pay you N 30, 000. If you know you need it and want to earn that amount , please put down your names and phone numbers; you will be contacted.

“ The food will be shared through our traditional rulers to all the 18 LGAs. We want it to get to the grass roots ; this is not about political party, it is about governance. We will also give to churches and various religious organisations to distribute because they know the people well. ”

Ogun To Suspend Lockdown Free Days On Friday

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday said the current relaxation of the lockdown in the state from 7am to 2pm would be suspended on Friday.

The governor also said the state would soon commence strict enforcement of wearing of face masks in the public, saying it would help flatten the spread of coronavirus.

The governor in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, urged the residents of the state to consider the extension announced by

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday said the current relaxation of the lockdown in the state from 7am to 2pm would be suspended on Friday.

The governor also said the state would soon commence strict enforcement of wearing of face masks in the public, saying it would help flatten the spread of coronavirus.

The governor in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, urged the residents of the state to consider the extension announced by the President on Monday a necessary sacrifice to defeat an invisible and deadly enemy.

He said, “Therefore, the current window of relaxation of the lockdown in the state from 7am to 2pm, which follows the same pattern of last week, will still be available for this Wednesday (15th April) and Friday (17th April, 2020) only.

“This is to allow the residents prepare for the extension of the lockdown and restock on food and other essential items. However, Ogun State borders remain closed.
“It should be emphasised that people should only go out if they need to and are required at all times when outside their homes to wear a face mask, including locally made face masks, even as they observe other social distancing measures.

“The state will soon commence strict enforcement of wearing of face mask in the public as it has been shown to help flatten the spread of the virus.”

I Am Still COVID-19 Positive, El-Rufai Speaks From Isolation

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday said he was still under isolation for testing positive to COVID-19 and is yet to be cleared of the disease

El-Rufai, who also chaired a virtual meeting of the State Executive Council for the first time since he was diagnosed, said he will personally announce to the public as soon as he is cleared negative of the disease.

He urged Nigerians to ignore any report insinuating that he was cleared of the disease and assured that he would personally announce the news when he is confirmed negative.

The Governor stated via his tweeter account at 5:08 that; “earlier Wednesday 10am -2pm, I took a few hours during isolation to chair a virtual meeting of the State Executive Council.

“I haven’t been cleared of COVID-19 yet and will personally announce when confirmed negative. Ignore fake news even if you like it.”

El-Rufai had disclosed in a video shared on the official account of the Governor of Kaduna State, @GovKaduna on 28 March, 2020 that he tested positive for coronavirus.

He added that he is in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC for a someone that is not showing symptoms.

Nigerians With Over N5,000 In Bank Won’t Get Palliatives

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

People with over N5, 000 in bank won’t get palliatives ― FG

To focus on urban poor

Food distribution to be handled by states

THE Federal Government has said that people with over N5, 000 in their bank account will not benefit from the palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government also said that it will be using the mobile networks, to know people that top up the credit units for their phones with may be N100 or less.

Besides, the state governments will now be involved in the distribution of food items.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq stated this while briefing State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister also said that the Ministry will now focus on the urban poor as it carries out with President Buhari’s directive on the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians.

According to her, “You are aware that the President in his broadcast of Monday 13th April, directed that we expand the beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer by one million and in this regard, we are going to focus more now on the urban poor.

“These are people who depend on the informal sector to earn their livelihood; they are daily wage earners and these are the people that we are really going to focus more on as well as people living with disabilities.”

Giving details on how to identify the beneficiaries of the stimulus, she said that the Ministry has three options to be adopted in selecting the beneficiaries of the scheme.

She said, “Well, we have three options; one, we are going to use the national social register that we already have, two, we are also going to focus on the urban poor as I mentioned, by using their verified BVN accounts to get them, that is, people that have an account balance of N5, 000 and below.

“We are also using the mobile networks, to know people that top up the credit units for their phones with may be N100 or less. Those are also people that we consider to be poor and vulnerable. So, these are the three options that we are exploring and I am sure that by the time we get this data we will be able to give this intervention.”

She, however, said only 25 percent of the population would benefit for now, adding that the scope might be expanded later.

She said, “Let me also say that we have a standard. 25 percent of the total population is what we will take out. It cannot go round everywhere but we are starting from somewhere.

“25 percent of let’s say the location of Lagos state for example is what is going to benefit from this intervention that we are doing. Going forward, we might expand it but this is what is obtainable for now.”

The Minister said her ministry intends to handover the distribution of food relief items to State governments, so as to address the challenges associated with distribution faced in the past.

She said, “On the issue of palliatives in terms of food relief, we have an emergency response plan in place. In the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, we have different functional groups.

“One of such groups, is that which deals with mass care, logistics and security, to be led by the National Emergency Management Agency under the Ministry and they have a structure; from National, States, down to Local Governments, where the various State Emergency Agencies and other security agencies are involved in this distribution.

“So far, we have already done the distribution together with the State authorities in these two states affected by the lockdown, together with the FCT but going forward, when we are going to give these food items, we are going to hand them over to the states because issues have come up, as at yesterday (Monday,).

“Our people were mobbed, some of them were attacked in the course of carrying out this assignment so the general conclusion is that we give this food relief directly to the State governments for them to distribute to the beneficiaries.”

Despite Price Cut 60 Nigerian Oil Cargoes Unsold

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

A total of 60 Nigerian crude oil cargoes have not been sold despite the reduction of the official selling prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

A glut of Nigerian and Angolan crude weighed on the market on Tuesday with demand from China slower than in the last few weeks, Reuters reports.

“It’s a buyer’s market right now,” one trader was quoted as saying, adding that nothing was shifting.

According to Reuters, the glut of unsold Nigerian oil was around 60 cargoes for April and May, and cargoes of Qua Iboe and Bonny Light crude continued to be offered at around dated Brent minus $3.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was reported in March to have cut its April official selling prices for Bonny Light and Qua Iboe, two of the nation’s major grades, by $5 per barrel to dated Brent minus $3.29 and minus $3.10 per barrel, respectively.

Buhari Orders 4,000 Coronavirus Tests Daily

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

*As 9,029 contacts traced FG takes delivery of UN medical supplies
*Urges banks to make cash available to Nigerians
*IG warns officers enforcing lockdown against taking bribe Students to receive lectures via NTA, FRCN

President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to conduct 4,000 tests per day.

NCDC Director-General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this yesterday at the 11th joint national briefing of the Presidential Taskforce Force on COVID-19, he said Buhari had mandated the NCDC to increase testing in Lagos to 2,000; FCT, 1,000 and the rest of Nigeria, 1,000 per day.

He said:

“We now have the capacity to test 1,500 people per day across the network. This capacity is not being fully utilized at the moment.

The challenge right now is not the laboratory testing capacity, it is how active our public workforce is in identifying samples, collecting and sending them for testing.

“We have sufficient capacity to test 1,500 right now and we’re not close to exhausting that capacity every day. But from today, we’ve to push even harder.

Our target following Mr. President’s speech is to get 2,000 samples per day in Lagos, 1,000 in Abuja and 1,000 for the rest of the country.

“…The challenge is no longer with the labs, the challenge is in collecting samples from those identified as suspect cases.”

He said the goal of the lockdown was not to completely stop the outbreak, saying that would be difficult, but to show that Nigeria could maintain sufficient levels of public health response within the context of a slowly-calibrated reopening of the economy.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the government had made significant progress in contact tracing of coronavirus and had so far followed up 9,029 persons of interest, 99 percent of whom had exceeded their 14-day observation period.

He said the government had early evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in the country. He said the government would build isolation points near the nation’s entry points and borders to screen and isolate infected Nigerians for 14 days under government supervision.

He confirmed that the United Nations’ medical equipment and supplies, including 50 ventilators, had arrived Nigeria. National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, urged commercial banks to make cash available, especially at ATMs, to ease the burden of the COVID-19 extension lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, warned officers enforcing lockdown against taking bribe.

He said security personnel had no enough masks and other protective wears. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said plans were being made for students in the nation’s tertiary institutions to receive lectures via the Nigeria Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

“Some of my tertiary institutions are already giving their lessons, some online, and the ministry is working with the Nigeria Television Authority and the FRCN to start giving lectures, not just because of COVID-19, I hope this would become a permanent feature of our education system.

“Lessons would be given online. Last time I met with the vice-chancellors, I even talked to the press and told them I have directed institutions of higher learning to start thinking of giving people lessons where they are.

I am also aware that there are some private institutions who are already giving lessons online,” Adamu said.

President Buhari Didn't Wear Face-Mask. EU Delegates Wore FaceMasks As They Meet

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

Before you speculate, Experts says wearing nose mask, only helps prevent an infected person from passing the virus, it does not prevent an uninfected person from contracting it. Hence social distancing and good hygiene is being advocated. This is also the reason people are now advised to wear nose mask.

Hence, you may also look at it from the angle that Mr President is clean and doesn't want anyone meeting with him, to infect him with the virus.

Keniebi Okoko Dies After Surgery

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

Bayelsa Born Billionaire Businessman, Keniebi Okoko died of Liposuction in Lagos Hospital

A reliable source close to the Bayelsa born Billionaire told NAIJA LIVE TV on Whatsapp Messager that He died a painful death from the Anaesthesia Liposuction.

The source said; “while the operation was going successful, there was a power outbreak in the hospital”.

The Source said; “Doctors in the hospital tried all their possible best to put on the Generator in the hospital but Generator refuse to start”.

Pastor Keniebi Okoko before his unfortunate death was a Successful businessman, philanthropist and a major Financial Supporter of Salvation Ministries Port Harcourt

Lockdown: Oyetola Orders Payment Of Stipends To 25,907 Vulnerable Persons

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has ordered the immediate payment of stipends due to 25,907 vulnerable persons in the state.

The stipends were part of palliative measures to cushion the impact of the state-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Mr. Lawal Olayemi, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ile-Ife during the distribution of debit cards to beneficiaries of the stipends.

Olayemi said the governor also directed the immediate distribution of debit cards linked to the accounts of the beneficiaries to ensure transparency, accountability, and a seamless process.

The commissioner, who described the scheme as one of the best social intervention programmes in the country, said N20,000 had been approved by the governor for 15, 289 people living with disabilities captured under the Special Grant Transfer (SGT) scheme.

He added that approval had also been given for the immediate payment of N7,500 stipend to 10,618 beneficiaries who were vulnerable youths captured under the Public Workfare (PWF) programme.

The commissioner, who maintained that the administration in the state was committed to the people’s welfare, noted that the gesture would go a long way in transforming the lives of the beneficiaries.

Olayemi, however, said that the disbursement of the funds under the SGT and PWF, was different from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer recently launched by the governor.

He added that the governor had also ordered the immediate release of the monthly and quarterly stipends to the beneficiaries as part of efforts to alleviate the effects of hardship that the people were going through due to the lockdown.

According to him, the gesture will go a long way to promote the general well-being of the beneficiaries.

Oyetola signs Osun Emergency Prevention Regulations. He said the scheme, which started in July 2019, was a partnership between the Osun government and the World Bank.

“This is a collaboration between the state government and the World Bank designed to alleviate poverty, hunger and unemployment among the people in the state.

“We commenced the exercise in line with the governor’s directive to ensure that every beneficiary under the scheme gets paid,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Oyetola on March 29 announced a total lock-down of the state effective from midnight of March 31 to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

72% Nigerians Complain of Hunger During Lockdown

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

About 72 per cent of Nigerians have expressed concern over lack of food , economic hardship and hunger during the ongoing lockdown in the Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states .
A survey conducted by NOIPolls and published on Tuesday gauged the level of concern of Nigerians about the lockdown order .
Findings indicated that others worry over the survival of those whose livelihood depends on daily hustling .
The opinion poll on COVID- 19 to gauge the perception of Nigerians revealed that almost all adult Nigerians ( 99 per cent ) were aware of the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the country.
“With regards to concerns with the lockdown, 72 per cent of respondents specified that they have concerns about the lockdown. These concerns included lack of food for the poor ( 40 per cent) , that people will die of hunger ( 21 per cent ) , of economic hardship ( 13 per cent ) and the survival of those whose livelihood depends on daily hustling ( nine per cent ) amongst other concerns mentioned ,” the report stated .

National Assembly Leaders Meet Buhari, Seek SIP Reforms

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

The Senate President , Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , on Tuesday , met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ) , behind closed doors to discuss the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme , among other issues .

This comes days after a clash between the National Assembly and the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme , Maryam Uwais , over the need for a reform of the process of implementing the programme.

Uwais had, on April 8 , responded to criticisms of the programme by the legislature with allegations that lawmakers were criticising the implementation of the SIP partly because some of them tried but failed in their bid to insert the names of would -be beneficiaries .

The National Assembly , however , replied that Uwais should be “ receptive to constructive ideas and suggestions expressed to enhance service delivery . ”

Lawan , who spoke to journalists after the meeting at the State House in Abuja, reiterated the call for reforms in the social investment initiatives.

He said , “ This afternoon, we had an engagement with Mr President to discuss with him what we , the leadership of the National Assembly , have resolved and our opinion on various issues regarding the fight against COVID- 19 in Nigeria and going forward.

“ We also believe that it is time to reform the way and manner we implement the Social Investment Programme . This is a very important programme that is to help Nigerians who are poor and vulnerable .
“ We believe that, having implemented this programme from 2016 to date , we should be reviewing to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency with which we have been implementing this programme. ”

The Senate President emphasised the need to have a transparent programme that would go down to the people that deserved the support and an equitable and fair projects as far as the geographical spread across the country was concerned .

According to him , the Federal Government is considering bringing the request for a stimulus package of N 500 bn to the National Assembly .

He said , “ We believe that we should be watching closely and it is with this respect we feel that we should be on standby so that, should there be a presentation of that request for the stimulus package to be passed , we simply reconvene in the National Assembly to look into the request of the executive arm of government with the intention of ensuring that the stimulus is available to Nigerians at this state . ”

Lawan stated that, among the discussions with Buhari , was the proposition that the various donations to Nigeria should go into a single account with a management fund committee that would be in charge of releases

Asked whether he wanted the national social register discarded, the Senate President argued that the present register was contrived by “the World Bank method, ” saying the distribution should be on the basis of senatorial districts, federal constituencies , or local governments .

According to him , the implementation procedure does not precisely capture the kind of beneficiaries that ordinarily should be .

COVID-19: More Recovered Patients in South Korea Test Positive again

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

At least 116 people cleared of the virus have tested positive again, raising questions for authorities.

The number of such relapse cases more than doubled from 51 reported last week, even as officials suggested they would soon look at easing strict recommendations aimed at preventing new outbreaks.

South Korea reported only 25 new cases of the coronavirus overall on Monday, continuing a weeks-long decline. To date, the country has reported a total of 10,537 cases and 217 deaths.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the relapses, but Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), said the virus may have been reactivated, rather than the patients being reinfected.

Other experts said faulty tests may be playing a role, or remnants of the virus may still be in patients' systems.

Reporting from the capital Seoul, Al Jazeera's Rob McBride said the developments were "worrying" for officials worldwide trying to understand the virus.

"Does that mean that there had been a problem in testing? Does it mean that there are many more questions about this virus that the experts simply don’t know? Could it be mutating in some form?" said McBride.

"So there are questions and of course they're questions that are important not only here in South Korea but with epidemiologists the world over, who are in the thick of it as the pandemic advances," he said.

Possible false positives
Archie Clements, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the Curtin University in Perth, Australia, told Al Jazeera the growing number of those testing positive again in South Korea may simply be because "no diagnostic test is perfect for any disease" and false positives are a fact of testing a large population, especially during the outbreak of a new virus.

Clements also said it is possible the virus is reactivating in the apparently recovered, but noted it was unlikely that those who had previously tested positive and were later cleared had independently picked up the virus a second time.

"I think what is very, very unlikely is that these people are being reinfected by other people," said Clements. "There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that there is quite a strong immune response to infection with coronavirus, and that should protect people from infection for a period of time. What's not currently known is for how long."

Easing restrictions
South Korea, which has been hailed for its speedy and widespread testing, plans to send 600,000 coronavirus testing kits to the United States on Tuesday in the first such shipment following a request from US President Donald Trump, a Seoul official told Reuters news agency on Monday.

At the same time, government leaders have called on South Koreans to continue to follow guidelines and restrictions on social gatherings, but hinted that such measures could soon be eased.

At a meeting on disaster management on Monday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the government would soon be looking to loosen the guidelines, which call for people to stay at home, avoid social gatherings of any type, and only go out for essential reasons.

"Later this week, we plan to review our intensive social distancing campaign that we have carried out so far and discuss whether we will switch to routine safety measures," he said.

Chung cautioned that even when the restrictions are eased, the country will not return to life as before the outbreak.

"We need a very cautious approach because any premature easing of social distancing could bring irreversible consequences, and have to ponder deeply about when and how we switch to the new system," he said.

Lockdown: Lagos Launches ‘food Kitchen’ To Feed 100,000 Youths

Oleh Step Hen - April 15, 2020

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday announced a programme, tagged: “Food Kitchen” aimed at feeding 100,000 youths daily to cushion the effect of Coronavirus lockdown in the state.

The governor disclosed this while giving update on the Coronavirus situation in Lagos in Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to Sanwo-Olu, “in the next couple of days, we will commence a daily “Food Kitchen” programme which will see us aim to feed about 100,000 people daily.

“This will largely target the youths. We are identifying local food vendors who will pilot this programme and ensure that the process of cooking and serving of the meals adhere strictly to public health guidelines.”

The governor also said his administration was cleaning up its data from various social registers to get a clean list of truly vulnerable and economically challenged persons to enable it remit some cash to them.

“We aim to do these cash transfers by the end of the week to a minimum of 250,000 indigent citizens,” he said.

Also, Sanwo-Olu said he had just issued an order to the Police; LASTMA and the VIO to release all impounded vehicles arrested for minor traffic offences from the 1st of March 2020 to date.

He said the directive would take effect at the end of the lockdown.

The governor also announced that all the Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs and Small and medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs who had taken Lagos State Employment Trust Fund loans and other government programme loans would enjoy a three months moratorium.

“This will further help to cushion the effect of the lack of economic activities occasioned by the lockdown,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu reminded Lagosians that this is a season for obedience and personal responsibility, urging them to follow the guidelines as issued by the health experts and authorities.

“Please, let us cooperate with the government to ensure that we have an outcome that is favorable to all. I can assure you that we will surely overcome this pandemic, and we will emerge stronger and more determined to transform the lives of all Lagosians and all the people of Nigeria, for the better,” he said.

No More Payment Of Oil Subsidy Going Forward - NNPC

Oleh Nwogu Chimex - April 07, 2020

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, Monday, hinted of a possible deregulation of the Nigerian downstream petroleum sector, stating that the Federal Government has eliminated subsidy and under recovery in the industry.

Speaking in an interview monitored on a television programme in Abuja, Kyari said, “There is no subsidy and it is zero forever.

Going forward there would be no resort to either subsidy or under recovery of any nature. NNPC will play in the marketplace, it will just be another marketer in the space.

But we will be there for the country to sustain security of supply at market price.”

Kyari further disclosed that Nigeria’s crude oil and condensates output has risen to 2.3 million barrels per day.

He stated that the output growth, which was achieved on Sunday, was the first time the country was hitting that milestone in very many months and years.

He noted that despite the glut in crude oil supply across the world due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the country was still getting buyers for its crude oil, while he added that the number of stranded vessels carrying Nigeria’s crude oil had dropped to less than 20.

He said, “There is no challenge with that. The buyers have choice now. Choice of quality and choice that is associated with distance. These two factors will determine which crude oil consumers buy. Our major source of trade is Europe, followed by Asia, particularly India. “

And in times like this when crude oil prices go down, what buyers do is to buy the cheap crude available and take them into storage. So the way to gauge this is when your buyers do not return the crude after six days of purchase. For by contract, after allocation of a cargo, the buyer is supposed to come back to you within six days and say I cannot take this. There is a legitimate right to do that.“

But none of our partners have come to tell us that they cannot take our crude and it is way pass the six days. This means that they have found value for this crude. Value here does not necessarily mean taking it into the refineries, it can mean taking it into storage or even floating it in the vessels. That is why people are now using these vessels as storage facility because they know that a change in price will come very shortly.“

When we say that our crude is stranded, it means that at a point in time when traders are not able to tell you where they are taking it to. It does not mean they did not buy it. It means that you have to watch, although there is concern because they have not come back to take the next cargo.“

When we reported stranded cargo it means that our partners are unable to find a way around it as at the point in time we reported. But I am happy to announce that that number has gone down substantially, I don’t have the exact numbers for today, but it is now less than 20.”

Kyari further projected that crude oil prices would end the year at an average of $30 per barrel going by global economic trend.

He said, “The change in price as at this morning means that people are recovering from the impact of COVID-19 and it means that countries will go back to work and consumption will gradually recover. But if the pandemic does not reduce to a point where you have at least 75 per cent of people coming back to work, then you will have a challenge. But once about 80 per cent of the world population return to work, then our crude will be sold and there are no concerns. “

In every country, like in our own country, we have some facilities that produce at more than $30 per barrel and there are also those that produce at below $20, say $15, $16, $17 per barrel. So at times like this you focus on assets that produce at low costs. “

Also at time you see people trying to see if they sell below their production cost and see how they can sustain it for the few months that the challenge will last and work towards closing the gap. We are looking at all options.”

Kyari further stated that Nigeria was endowed with premium crude oil grades which is supplied to Europe, Asia and India, stressing that despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected demand and supply fundamentals, all of Nigeria’s export terminals were still in operations.

He said, “The key issue in crude oil business is market fundamentals of demand/supply. I believe COVID-19 will subside and countries will come back to life. I don’t see oil price going below the $20 we saw last week. I’m certain, all things being equal, oil price will bounce back.”

The NNPC’s helmsman assured Nigerians of ample supply and distribution of petroleum products, stating that despite the Coronavirus pandemic, the corporation had in stock about 2.6 billion litres of petroleum products that could service the country’s energy needs for the next two months.

Furthermore, Kyari noted that as part of its contribution to build a robust healthcare for Nigeria, the Nigerian oil and gas industry is set to embark on the construction of, at least, two hospitals and a world class diagnostics center in each of the geopolitical zones in the country, in addition to the 250 temporary bed facilities that it offers to support government’s efforts in the fight against the Cronavirus pandemic.

He explained that the hospitals and the world class diagnostics centers would be an addition to the regular Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the upstream and downstream companies, as well as service providers operating in the oil and gas industry.

Nigeria To Borrow $6.9 Billion From World Bank, IMF & AFDB

Oleh Nwogu Chimex - April 07, 2020

The Federal Government is to raise the sum of $6.9bn through external borrowing from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing on the fiscal policy measures to tackle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

The amount, according to her, is in form of concessional funding to support the implementation of the 2020 budget.

The borrowing became imperative as a result of the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which had led to unprecedented disruption in global supply chains.

It has led to a sharp drop in global crude oil prices, turmoil in global stock and financial markets, and lockdown of movements of persons in many countries.

Giving a breakdown of the $6.9bn, the finance minister said the sum of $3.4bn would be sourced from the IMF, $2.5bn from the World Bank while the balance of $1bn is expected to be raised from the AfDB.

Out of the World Bank facility of $2.5bn, she said the sum of $1.5bn would go to the Federal Government while the balance of $1bn would go to the 36 state governments.

The funds, according to the finance minister, is expected to come into the country within the next six to 12 weeks.

She said the $3.4bn from the IMF would not be tied to any conditionality, adding that so far, about 80 countries had applied for such funding facility.

Ahmed said, “We are continuing our engagements with the World Bank, the AfDB, the IDB and the IMF to access concessional funding to support the implementation of the 2020 budget.

“We have also applied for funding from the IMF’s COVID-19 Rapid Credit Facility to draw from our existing holdings with the World Bank Group/IMF.

PHOTOS: See The Official Peugeot 504 Of Olusegun Obasanjo In 1979 As Head Of State

Oleh Nwogu Chimex - April 07, 2020

The Peugeot 504 was the official car of General Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigeria's Head-of-State in 1979.

It was the same car that drove President Shehu Shagari from his inauguration on October 1, 1979, but he later dumped it for a Mercedes Benz.

Labels : Politics

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No More Payment Of Oil Subsidy Going Forward - NNPC

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