Buhari Celebrates His Administration’s Efforts to Contain Spread of Coronavirus Pandemic

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September 3, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday praised his administration for confronting the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) head-on.

The President said Nigeria developed a robust framework led by Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to coordinate and oversee the country’s multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts at containing the spread and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that his administration would sustain efforts to make adjustments to new lifestyles and be sensitive to the security underpinnings, as experts try to find vaccines for COVID-19, and a possible acceptable cure,

Speaking at the AQABA Process virtual meeting in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Buhari said: “This was done while currently monitoring effects of the measures and taking steps to mitigate these effects as quick as possible. This was in a bid to ensure sustained human security across the population.

“Earlier, we had established the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee with the responsibility of providing among others a national vision for humanitarian actors and settling disputes that may arise from interactions between security services and the humanitarian community. This committee was timely as a stop gap measure in coping with the effects of COVID-19.”

The President added that the government has also taken measures to tackle the devastation of social and economic dimensions of the pandemic with a focus on the most vulnerable citizens in the society through provision of palliatives as well as other economic stimulus packages.

He pointed out that those measures came at a cost, but would be sustained, while citing Mali as an example where social and economic challenges took a toll on government and pushed democracy to a “breaking point.”

“Such situation could create a vacuum that can be exploited by terrorists and violent extremists,” Buhari was quoted to have said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The President told the gathering of Heads of Governments that the security landscape in Nigeria and across West Africa continued to evolve with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that various systems in society came grinding to a halt as a result of the urgent measures taken to slow down the spread of the disease.

According to him, “These measures were taken while being mindful of the toll that the virus has had in the various epicentres across the world where medical structures were strained up to breaking point while dealing with mass casualties as a result of infections from the disease.

“These measures are not without their challenges as livelihood were drastically affected and civic lifestyle is being tested to its limits. The whole instruments of government are now mobilised to confront what has now turned both a health emergency and an economic crisis.”

Buhari noted that the government would continue to monitor activities of terrorists online to control radicalisation of citizens by terrorist groups, and other violent cells, following huge traffic online due to the COVID-19.

He said the migration to cyber space posed greater risk for radicalisation, especially with the growing constraints on physical contacts and movements.

“It is important to state that the spread of the COVID-19 has led to the movement of activities to cyber space. Furthermore, lock-down policies and restrictions of movement in affected areas means that people would move their day to day social and business activities to cyber space. This, however, comes with an increase in the risk of individuals being radicalised online,” he added.

Buhari appreciated His Majesty King Abdullah II for the invitation to the meeting and also thanked Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting the meeting under the AQABA Process.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Northern Lawyers Rally Support for Akpata, Insist on One United NBA

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 3, 2020

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images (5) — President-Elect, Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata.

Northern lawyers from about 40 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have rejected the formation of the New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA) and declared support for a one united NBA.

Led by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from the north -Yunus Ustaz and Mr. Elisha Kurah – in conjunction with 40 branch chairmen of NBA, the lawyers from the northern zone dissociated themselves from NNBA, pointing out that NBA could not be polarised along ethno-religious divides.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the northern lawyers distanced themselves from the splinter group and charged northern lawyers and all legal practitioners in the country to rally round the new NBA leadership led by Mr. Olumide Akpata, to ensure that the original aspirations of the body are achieved.

“We the undersigned individuals, who are chairmen of the various branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that make up the northern geo-political zone as defined in the NBA Constitution 2015, and other senior members of the Bar have today, Wednesday, September 2, 2020, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, met with the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and the national officers of NBA.

“We have unanimously agreed to support his leadership of NBA, and we hereby restate our true allegiance to NBA and disassociate ourselves from the ‘New NBA’ or any splitter group whatsoever making the waves in recent weeks as a new association/body of lawyers in Nigeria.

“We understand that NBA has historically and in recent times been fraught with several challenges, but we are indeed assured that NBA under the leadership of Mr. Olumide Akpata will surmount these challenges and birth an all-inclusive Bar that will work for all lawyers in Nigeria regardless of any part of the divide one may belong,” read a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

The northern lawyers recalled Akpata’s inaugural address, where he stated that the bar that he wants to lead henceforth is one that “is united on all fronts and which recognises that our diversity is our greatest strength.”

Thus, the lawyers appealed to their northern colleagues, including those behind the establishment of NNBA and all legal practitioners in Nigeria to come together to support Akpata and the new national officers to ensure that they deliver on their core mandates.

Akpata had earlier assured that NBA was one and was not split along ethnic or religious lines.

“At NBA, we remain one, united and indivisible bar. We have not split along ethnic or religious lines. As lawyers, we disagree and agree.

“We will learn from past mistakes. Only those who refuse to learn from past mistakes are doomed. Due apology would be rendered to those offended.

“Where our country is going wrong, we as lawyers will give the light. We are here to build Nigeria and not to destroy it.

“All is well with us in NBA and we are doing well. If there is still any group aggrieved, we will reach out to the group. Our ability to surmount challenges make us leaders. We will remain focused because expectations are high.

“We in NBA will speak loud to support the teeming people of this country on issues affecting them,” Akpata declared.

It would be recalled that after the withdrawal of a letter of invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, as a guest speaker at the recently held NBA Annual General Conference, a group of aggrieved northern lawyers last week announced the formation of NNBA as a splinter group.

Idowu Sowunmi

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[Graphic Images]: Nigerian troops kill bandits along Kaduna-Abuja road

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 3, 2020

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John-Enenche-1-640x360 — File photo: Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche Photo: twitter

In continuation of the sustained offensive against armed bandits and other criminal elements in the country, troops of Operation ACCORD have killed 4 armed bandits at Jeka Da Rabi area along Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche in a statement Thursday said the successful operation took place on 2 September 2020.

Acting on credible intelligence on the movement of bandits from Kachia area, troops swiftly mobilized to the scene and laid ambush, he said.

According to the defence chief, the gallant troops made contact with the bandits and engaged them with superior firepower thereby neutralizing 4 while others escaped with gun shot wounds.

Troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle and 5 rounds of 9mm with a magazine. Presently, the gallant troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols in search of the fleeing bandits.

Enenche added that the Military High Command congratulates the troops for their dexterity and encourages them to intensify the onslaught against the criminal elements in the country.

Warning!

Graphic images of killed bandits.

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Edo Guber Poll: Oba of Benin Tasks Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu on Peaceful Election

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 3, 2020

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Godwin-Obaseki-Osagie-Ize-Iyamu — Governor Godwin Obaseki and his major rival in the governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, embrace each other at the palace of the Oba of Benin in Edo State on September 2, 2020

It’s a rare scene as Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Wednesday delivered an uncommon homily to Edo State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) guber flagbearer, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The traditional ruler called on the two gladiators and their supporters to eschew violence and embrace peace and tolerance ahead of the September 19 gubernatorial election in the state.

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, speaks at a peace meeting with political actors at his palace in Edo State on September 2, 2020.

Oba Ewuare stated this in his palace in Benin City during a peace meeting he initiated with political actors to ensure a free, peaceful and violence-free gubernatorial poll.

The message came like a bombshell and the monarch communicated effectively by addressing the growing political fears and tensions in the state ahead of the forthcoming election. The message was essentially hortatory, placing higher moral obligations on Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu.

“For sometime now, Edo State has been in the news politically for the wrong reason as political gladiators have been fighting dirty with their war of words.

“I want assurances from you people, to me and the people of the state, of a peaceful atmosphere in Edo State…

“Please don’t turn the state into the city of blood. I appeal to the two gladiators and all politicians to ensure peace and stop the shooting and violence in the state.

“Let there be peace in Edo. Let us have a good relationship like that of former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. We are begging all the political gladiators in Edo to give peace a chance; don’t kill yourselves; stop the bitter statements to each other.

“Your home and families are here, so give peace a chance. We are all afraid that the state will burn to ashes. Please we need peaceful election in the state. I want to see that you are not paying lip service to the traditional throne; the Benin throne is not partisan.

“I am entitled to a vote; it’s my right as a citizen to vote, but I can’t vote for one candidate, because it is just like I have already taken sides by voting for one person; this is the sacrifice I have to make to ensure there is peace in Edo.

“Please communicate this meeting to your foot soldiers that they should stop the shooting and ensure the state is peaceful for all. I want both of you to work together for a peaceful election,” Oba Ewuare said.

The monarch has well spoken and it’s incumbent on the two leading candidates to ensure peaceful election come September 19.

Responding to Oba Ewuare’s homily, Obaseki expressed gratitude to the monarch for his fatherly role in ensuring that the state remains peaceful before, during and after the election.

According to him, “As the Executive Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I have sworn to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protect the lives and property of our people.

“I will never encourage violence as it would be irresponsible of me to do anything which would lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.

“I am not a violent person; I don’t have such tendencies. I have not participated in any form of violence and I will not. I have committed enough resources to ensure safety of the citizens.”

It’s also an opportunity for Ize-Iyamu to reiterate his party’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process.

“As a goodwill gesture, I warmly embraced Governor Godwin Obaseki during the peace meeting summoned by our father, Oba n’osa, Oba Ewuare II. Violence has no place in democratic elections.

“I am grateful to our father, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for his fatherly intervention and timely call for peace.

“We have heard his candid message, and we, the APC, will continue to maintain our peaceful approach and rally the people, across party lines, to shun divisiveness and respect the laws guiding the electoral process. We are one people and politics cannot divide us. Ovbi’Oghonwan nei bun aro – Oba gha to kpere, ise!”

The meeting was also attended by two former National Chairmen of APC – John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, among others.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Ogun: Governor Abiodun assures of completing ‘abandoned road projects’

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured the people of the State that his Administration would continue to ensure the prompt completion of projects that were left uncompleted by the immediate past administration, adding that the present Administration sees road infrastructure as the pillar of government.

Prince Dapo Abiodun, who made this known while speaking to newsmen shortly after rounding off an inspection tour of work done on the Panseke- Adigbe Road, said that it was important for his Administration to ensure that people coming to work in the State do that without having to go through the pain of bad and hazardous roads. He added that his Administration would continue to prioritise the issue of roads across the State.

“We see road infrastructure as an essential component of development. We have prioritised the issue of roads across the length and breadth of the State, and this is one of the roads we are doing.

“This Panseke-Adigbe Road was awarded by the previous administration but was not funded. When i came here when the bridge at Opako collapsed, I promised that this road would be completed. What we are doing here today and across the State is a fufillment of our promise,” he said.

Abiodun further explained that aside the Panseke-Adigbe Road project left uncompleted by the previous administration, the current Administration is currently working on Ijebu Ode-Epe Road; Oba Erinwole Road, Hospital Road in Sagamu; Elite and Lafenwa-Rounda roads. He added that his Administration is focusing on all the access roads that are State roads.

The Governor, who also disclosed that the major reason why his Administration is focusing on access roads that belong to the State was to use their completion to bring people in with ease, added that the total rebranding of the Abeokuta-Sagamu Road was to ensure that people coming into the State through the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway continue to enjoy a pleasurable ride down to the State Capital after the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“We have started the Sagamu-Abeokuta Road, and it will be pointless for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to be completed and then investors enjoy a pleasurable ride all the way from Lagos, Ibadan or the East without any issue, then the journey between Interchange and Abeokuta becomes a nightmare. So we have started on that road. If not for the pandemic, we would have completed it,” he said.

Abiodun, who also explained that his Administration has enlisted another set of roads which are to be completed across the State, stated that the Administration is poised to ensure that people are able to move within, in and out the State with ease.

Earlier, the General Project Manager, CCECC, Ogun State, Sewell Zhao said that the plan was to finish the section between the NNPC and Kuto bridges as soon as possible, adding that the company hopes to finish the stretch of the road, putting in mind the financial support the present Administration has given them so far.

In their separate responses, residents and users of the Panseke road, Collins Anozie and Mrs Aremo Oluwatoyin commended the Administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun for bringing to a halt the suffering they have experienced on the road in the last one year, urging the Governor to continue the good work work he has started across the State.

Photos:

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AU Patners Novartis to Facilitate Affordable COVID-19-related Supplies to Africa

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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Novartis and the African Union (AU) through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) have announced a new collaboration to facilitate the supply of medicines from the Novartis Pandemic Response Portfolio to AU member-states and Caricom countries.

AMSP portal is an online marketplace that enables the supply of COVID-19-related critical medical equipment in Africa. It was developed under the leadership of the AU Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, and powered by Janngo, on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The platform was also developed in partnership with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The new collaboration would help alleviate supply and logistical constraints by ensuring efficient and rapid access to the pandemic portfolio medicines to African and Caricom governments.

AU comprises 55 member-states, representing all the countries on the African continent, while 15 Caricom countries are eligible for the pandemic portfolio.

“Our collaboration with AMSP is a continuation of our efforts at Novartis to combat COVID-19 across the world.

“Together, we are aiming to accelerate and expand access to affordable essential medicines in Africa to meet the very urgent patient needs across the continent as it continues battling this pandemic,” said Chief Executive Officer of Novartis, Vas Narasimhan.

AMSP was developed to ease the difficulties and open up the medical supplies market to Africa, and as part of the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT) of Africa CDC.

It’s designed to integrate African and globally vetted medical suppliers to ensure cost-effectiveness and transparency in the procurement and distribution of the COVID-19-related supplies.

Speaking on the collaboration, Masiyiwa said: “Following the successful listing of test kits, personal protective equipment, and clinical management devices, the African Union Chairperson has expanded our mandate to include groundbreaking medicines to treat the COVID-19 patients in Africa.

“As a global pharmaceutical leader, Novartis is a strategic partner for AMSP to unlock access to the latest and best-performing medicines for Africans in an affordable way.”

There was a shortage of diagnostics, medical supplies and essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, face masks, ventilators, and many others in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its spread worldwide.

Many African governments had severe challenges with the procurement of essential supplies to support their response activities and face stiff competition with the more industrialised countries for the limited available supplies.

“As a continental body, we are working with several partners to ensure smooth and predictable access to essential medical supplies.

“We found that during the Ebola outbreak in 2014, many people died because of Ebola but not due to Ebola. This is because they did not have access to essential medicines needed for treatment.

“With AMSP, countries don’t have to search the market for supplies. The prices are negotiated and fixed to unlock the supply space,” said Director of Africa CDC, John Nkengasong.

Novartis Pandemic Response Portfolio from Sandoz, the generics and biosimilar division of Novartis, comprises 15 medicines: Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone, Clarithromycin, Colchicine, Dexamethasone, Dobutamine, Fluconazole, Heparin, Levofloxacin, Loperamide, Pantoprazole, Prednisone, Prednisolone, Salbutamol, Vancomycin.

The portfolio was launched in July 2020 and sells medicines at zero-profit to governments, non-governmental organisations and other institutional customers in up to 79 eligible countries to address the urgent unmet needs of low-and lower-middle-income countries for medicines to be used for symptomatic treatment at various stages of the COVID-19.

Eligible countries must be included on the World Bank’s list of Low-Income Economies and Lower-Middle-Income Economies.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Fuel Price Hike: Your Action is Callous, PDP Tells Buhari, Rejects N151 Per Litre

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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PDP Ologbodiyan 111 — File photo of Spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbodiyan.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday vehemently rejected the fresh increase in the price of fuel to N151 per litre and electricity tariff to N66 per kwh by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The opposition party described the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its government as callous, cruel and punishing.

The party demanded an immediate reversal of the prices to avert what it described as “a national crisis,” noting that “the increase will result in upsurge in costs of goods and services and worsen the biting hardship being faced by Nigerians, who are already impoverished and overburdened by APC-imposed high cost of living in the last five years.”

“Our party asserts that by increasing the price of fuel from the N87 per litre it sold under the PDP to an excruciating N151 while at the same time allowing the hike in electricity tariff from N30.23 per kwh to over N66, the APC has left no one in doubt that its agenda is to inflict pain and hardship on Nigerians to satisfy their selfish interests.

“The unjustifiable increase in the price of these essential supplies, coming barely a week after the APC brazenly posted a support for fuel price hike, while attempting to rationalise the excruciating hardship being suffered by Nigerians under the Buhari administration, has further confirmed that the APC is at the centre of the harsh policies of the Buhari Presidency.

“It is distressing that the APC administration increased the cost of essential commodities at the time the leadership of other countries are offering palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is instructive to add that our nation is doomed under the APC watch.

“We know that the APC is an unfeeling party but it is indeed shocking that it could go to the extent of approving such a hike at this trying time, when many Nigerians are struggling to afford staple foods and other necessities of life.

“Our party challenges the APC and the Buhari administration to publish the parameters with which it arrived at the increase of fuel price to N151 per litre given that with the prevailing values in the international market, the appropriate price template for domestic pump price in Nigeria ought not to be above N100 per litre.

“Our party further challenges the APC-led Federal Government to publish details of its sleazy and over-bloated oil subsidy regime, including the involvement of APC interests in the claimed under-recovery for unnamed West African countries, running into trillions of naira, while Nigerians are made to bear the burden of high fuel costs.

“Moreover, the APC and its government have failed to allow an open investigation into allegations of fuel price overcharge as well as the fraudulent subsidy regime through which over N14 trillion had allegedly been frittered by unscrupulous individuals in the APC.

“Our fear is that the APC is pushing Nigerians to the wall with its obnoxious and anti-people proclivities and we caution that nobody should misinterpret the peaceful and law-abiding nature of Nigerians as a sign of weakness.

“Our party therefore restates our call on the National Assembly to save the nation by calling the APC and its administration to order before they plunge our nation into chaos,” PDP alleged, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

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‘20,500 Nigerians Died of AIDS-related Causes in 2020 Not 51,000’

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has corrected itself, saying the number of people who died of AIDS-related causes in Nigeria within the first six months of year 2020 is 20,500, rather than the 51,000 it stated in a media interview.

NACA Director-General, Gambo Aliyu, had told a national newspaper in an interview published on August 30 that the number of deaths among the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) might worsen if the disruption to HIV/AIDS treatment persists for another six months.

“For now, we can tentatively say as of June this year, an estimated number of 51,000 people had lost their lives.

“We fear that it is due to lack of access to medication and the disruption that COVID-19 brought.

“We are likely to experience more because a recent work we did, a rigorous module, shows that treatment disruption for another six months is likely to cause double of mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he had said in the interview.

But, NACA spokesperson, Toyin Aderibigbe, admitted the error and offered needed correct information.

Aderibigbe said: “The 51,000 is actually ‘lost to follow up,’ meaning, those people that registered for HIV treatment but have not been coming for treatment for the past six months due to either death, relocation or because of COVID-19 lockdown or personal decision to stop the treatment, etc.

“The estimated number of deaths is 20,500 from January to June.

“The mistake is from a programmatic language, because ‘lost’ in Monitoring and Evaluation language means ‘lost to follow up’ and not necessarily lost to death.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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27-Man National Humanitarian Coordination Working Group Set to boost aid delivery

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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DSC_9573-696x464 — The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq during the inauguration of the National Humanitarian Co-ordination Working Group NHCWG, on Tuesday 1st, 2020 in Abuja.

A 27-man National Humanitarian Co-ordination Technical Working Group (NHCTWG) has been inaugurated to provide technical support to the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC) constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee all humanitarian actions in the country.

This was disclosed Wednesday by Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nneka Ikem Anibeze.

Anibeze noted that the Working Group which was inaugurated on Tuesday September 1, 2020 by the Minister of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is expected to enhance coordination and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities in the country.

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According to Anibeze At the minister charged the members to ensure the implementation of all NHCC recommendations related to the operationalization of the CiSEC framework and guidelines and to propose a national vision for humanitarian action.

“It is important that you understand that your Committee will not only cater to the North East but will take into context, Nigeria as a whole.

“Your Terms of Reference also include proposal of policies that will enhance coordination and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities in the country; Ensure that CiSEC guidelines and related action plans reflect adherence to humanitarian principles and best practices while engaging all parties in crisis response situations, taking cognisance of Nigeria’s national security interests”.

Hajiya Umar Farouq also emphasized the need to ensure that functional engagements between security and humanitarian actors remain consistent with the principles under the CiSEC framework and also promote advocacy on humanitarian access, protection and logistics issues as required.

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In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of The Working Group Grema Ali. who is also the Permanent Secretary overseeing the Ministry, thanked the Minister for the privilege to serve in the group.

“Thank you for finding us worthy of working in this technical group and for the confidence reposed in us. By the grace of God, we shall not disappoint you”.

The TWG is made up of critical stakeholders comprising of Commissioners in charge of Humanitarian issues in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe; heads of NEMA, NEDC and NCFRMI; representatives of Operations of the Armed Forces, the European Union Commision, United States Agency for International Development and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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Sanwo-Olu, FAAN Parley Ahead of Sept 5 International Flights’ Resumption

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

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September 2, 2020

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Ahead of the September 5 re-opening of airspace for international flights, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tuesday met with the management team of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Discussions at the meeting focused partly on actionable steps being put in place at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) by the federal and state governments to give travellers comfort and better experience when the facility is re-opened for air traffic.

L-R: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Clifford Omozehian; Director, Finance & Accounts, FAAN, Mrs. Nike Abodemi; Managing Director/CE, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, during a courtesy visit to the Governor by FAAN management, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, September 1, 2020

FAAN team, led by its Managing Director, Rabiu Yadudu, harped on the need for state government’s interventions to ensure seamless operations at Lagos airport, which contributes 70 per cent of FAAN’s total revenue.

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Yadudu used the opportunity to thank the state government for the construction of the airport road from Oshodi, noting that the intervention had strengthened the partnership between Lagos State Government and FAAN.

The managing director, however, pleaded with Sanwo-Olu to intervene in ensuring smooth safety compliance and provision of services as the airport prepared to re-open for commercial activities.

Other requests made by FAAN included: provision of BRT buses to commute passengers from car park to departure and arrival halls, expansion of strategic airport roads, and halting of encroachment on the airport land around Ajao Estate and Shasha, among others.

Responding, Sanwo-Olu said his administration has been working round the clock with the Federal Government to put in place safety protocols at the airport and drive compliance. The effort, he said, would be followed by a joint assessment of the airport facility with FAAN and other agencies.

The governor used the occasion to explain the development activities embarked on by the state government to ensure travellers have better experience, while passing through the airport, disclosing that the state had already started the construction of a world-class bus terminal close to the airport.

The bus terminal, Sanwo-Olu said, would serve as holding station for international passengers who would not be driving into the airport. He added that the bus station would be complemented with rail infrastructure to shuttle air passengers from the metropolis departure terminals.

According to him, “An airport is a gateway that defines the nation, because it is the first facility to be seen by international travellers. Murtala Mohammed International Airport is an important asset, not only to the Federal Government but also to Lagos State.

“The strategic use of this airport should necessitate that need for us to fully harness the asset and make it a bubbling destination for tourists and businessmen coming into the country.

“As a state government, we are taking complementary efforts to ensure the airport promotes business and is safe for travellers. We have started the construction of a massive bus terminal along the airport road, which will be complemented with a rail project.

“The rail project is part of the Red Line Rail project which will start from Ebute Metta and pass through Oshodi. The right-of-way of this project has been determined and we are hoping the project will start before the end of the year.”

Sanwo-Olu charged FAAN management on remodelling of the airport’s facilities to become a hub of business and tourism. He said some of the facilities installed in the airport at inception were due for modernisation and upgrading.

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The governor particularly made a case for the provision of fast free internet connectivity within lounges at the airport, noting that the era of passengers sitting for long without internet access has passed.

He said the functionality of the airport must be fully explored, urging the management to invest in facilities that would drive more passenger traffic to the airport.

“Travellers across the world are looking for destinations where things they enjoy in their comfort zones are provided. When we provide services and infrastructure that will drive traffic to our airport, not only will it triple the revenue generated for the government, it will also improve the status of the airport within the continent,” he said.

The governor promised further engagements with the Aviation Minister on ways to resolve other issues around Lagos airport.

Idowu Sowunmi

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