US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner (C), US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien (R) and Head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat (L) board the El Al's flight LY971, which will carry an Israeli-American delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on August 31, 2020. (NIR ELIAS / POOL / AFP)
In a sign of easing tension in the Middle East, history was made on Monday with the first direct flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Independent has reported.
El Al flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv at 11.14am local time, and initially routed over Jordanian territory.
Forty minutes later, the Boeing 737 crossed into Saudi Arabian airspace, from which the Israeli national airline had previously been banned.
El Al has suspended normal passenger operations until October at the earliest, but dispatched the flight to mark an Israel-UAE agreement to normalise relations.
The passengers on board are members of a US-Israeli delegation, led by Jared Kushner – President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser – and Israel’s national security advisor, Meir Ben Shabbat.
The agreement has been claimed as a foreign policy success by Donald Trump. But Palestinian groups have described the deal as a “stab in the back.”
The word “peace” was painted on the aircraft in English, Hebrew and Arabic.
The flight number, 971, was chosen as it is the international dialling code for the UAE.
The return flight is numbered 972, which is the code for Israel.
Until now, the only Arab nations to establish relations with Israel have been Egypt and Jordan.
Travellers in the region have long faced problems if they have an Israeli stamp in their passport, or a stamp from Egypt or Jordan that indicates they have used a land border with Israel.
Some people have even been refused entry if they have old baggage tags indicating Israeli airports on their luggage.
While Israeli citizens could visit the UAE, previously they have had to take connecting flights.
Ahead of the flight, Israel’s health ministry removed the obligation for arrivals from the UAE to self-isolate for 14 days.
With effect from tomorrow (September 1), subscribers are expected to pay more to view channels on DStv and GOtv networks.
MultiChoice argued that it has adjusted its subscription rates in order to ensure the sustainability of its business, considering financial impacts, including inflation as well as increased content and operational costs.
The company said the price adjustment was arrived at after careful consideration of the market and a review of its business operations.
“We have made efforts to contain any price adjustments on subscription prices. However, to ensure the sustainability of the business, we have to consider financial impacts, including inflation as well as increased content and operational costs.
“As such, we have reviewed the prices of some of our bouquets so that we can continue to survive as a business and bring quality entertainment to our customers.
“To arrive at the decision to adjust prices, we took into account many factors, including the impact on the customer, current inflation, content costs and efficiencies within the company.
“To this end, only the prices of some of the bouquets have been reviewed upwards, while the lower bouquets have been left untouched,” said a statement by MultiChoice Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe.
He added that the packages would continue to be available at varying pricing points to allow subscribers flexibility in price and choice without compromising quality or variety.
Ghanaian Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Ghanaian government has responded to the allegations contained in a statement by the Minister of Culture and Information, Lai Mohammed, accusing the West African country of treating Nigerians unfairly.
Ghana, in a line-by-line statement by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, gave what the country described as “a more reflective account of events,” assuring of pursuing “substantive diplomatic engagements to resolve matters.”
Reacting to the allegation that more than 1,000 shops belonging to Nigerians were closed down in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively, Ghana explained: “It is an incontestable fact that there is widespread abuse and disregard for local laws and regulations governing retail trade by some foreigners, including Nigerians, which need to be addressed without discrimination.
“It is important to note that the compliance exercise under reference is not restricted to either ECOWAS nationals or Nigerians for that matter, but extend to all individuals engaged in retail trade, including Ghanaians.”
Nkrumah also commented on the allegation of aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana, which claimed that between January 2018 and February 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana.
“This statement is not factual. In 2019, seven hundred (700) Nigerians, who were found to have been involved in criminal activities such as fraud, prostitution, armed robbery etc., were deported,” Ghana said.
Read the full text of statement below:
Ghana’s Response to Accusations of Harrassment Made By Nigeria
The Government of Ghana notes, with concern, a statement, dated Friday, August 28, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Information and Culture and signed by the Federal Minister, Hon. Lai Mohammed, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, concerning current relations between Ghana and Nigeria.
Ghana remains committed to the maintenance of warm relations with all sister nations, particularly, for well-known historical reasons, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and will proceed to engage the Federal Government of Nigeria with a view to resolve comprehensively and exhaustively any matters that have the potential to sour relations between the two countries.
Ghana finds it imperative, however, from the onset, to state, for the public record, that the outline of issues by my Nigerian counterpart is not reflective of the developments in Ghana. Any protests, decisions or actions based on these reports will, thus, be unjustified.
We are obliged, therefore, as a first step, to provide our counterparts, as well as the Ghanaian and Nigerian publics, with a more reflective account of events, even as we pursue substantive diplomatic engagements to resolve matters.
(I) Accusation: The seizure of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra which has been used as diplomatic premises by the Nigerian Government for almost 50 years; and which action, is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention.
Response: This statement is inaccurate. The transaction was a commercial arrangement between Thomas D. Hardy, a private citizen and the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana on 23rd October 1959.
The terms of the Commercial Lease expired 46 years ago, without any evidence of renewal by the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana. The Government of Ghana was not involved in the transaction and has not seized the property in question.
(II) Accusation: Also, even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10 Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of Lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authority did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the Lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized.
Response: The Government of Ghana does not, did not and never owned the land, and has not been involved in the seizure of any property of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana. The land in question is owned by the Osu Stool and managed by the Lands Commission.
In response to the claim that the lease on some of the properties owned by the Ghana Mission in Nigeria has long expired, it must be noted that the Government acquired a freehold land at Pope John Paul II Street in Abuja in 1989 through a commercial arrangement, and built the current structures on it. The staff of the Ghana High Commission in Abuja have been living there since the construction of the current structures.
(III) Accusation: Demolition of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, which constitutes another serious breach of the Vienna Convention.
Response: This statement is not factual. A search at the Lands Commission indicated that the Nigerian High Commission failed to complete the documentation process after paying for the land in the year 2000 A.D. The High Commission failed to acquire the Lease and Land Title Certificate, which constitute documentation for the said property, as well as a building permit for construction. In Ghana, land is owned not only by the Government, but also by Stools and Families.
The demolition of the property was not carried out by agents of the Ghanaian Government, but by agents of the Osu Stool. Nonetheless, the Government of Ghana, valuing the relations between our two countries, has decided to restore the property, at its own cost, to its original state for the Nigerian High Commission, and has duly communicated same to the Nigerian Authorities. The Government of Ghana has also agreed to facilitate the proper acquisition of title by the Nigerian High Commission, as announced by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time of the incident.
(IV) Accusation: Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between January 2018 and February 2019, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five (825) Nigerians were deported from Ghana.
Response: This statement is not factual. In 2019, seven hundred (700) Nigerians, who were found to have been involved in criminal activities such as fraud, prostitution, armed robbery etc., were deported.
(V) Accusation: Residency permit requirement, for which Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory non- citizen ID card (US$120, US$ 60 for yearly renewal); medical examinations, including for COVID-19 which is newly introduced (about US$ 120), and payment for residency permit (US$ 400 compared to the N700,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria).
Response: It must be noted that all foreigners, who apply for resident permit in Ghana, pay same fees as stated above. These fees are not specific to Nigerians.
(VI) Accusation: “Media war against Nigerians in Ghana. The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude against Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general.
The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops.”
Response: The statement is not factual. There is no media war against Nigerians in Ghana.
There is also no negative reportage on Nigerian residents in Ghana by Ghanaian media, which could potentially lead to xenophobic attitude towards Nigerians, particularly Nigerian traders in Ghana.
No Nigerian trader has been arrested. The closure of shops was as a result of infractions on Ghanaian laws. Even then, those affected who are not only Nigerians, have been given ample time to regularise their documents. Furthermore, no Nigerian- owned shops are currently closed.
On the contrary, the negative reportage has been against the Ghanaian Government from high places, (tweets by Foreign Minister of Nigeria and a Nigerian businessman, who appears to have political interests in Ghana), in Nigeria. This is inconsistent with established practice in our very good relations. The Press Release by the Information and Culture Minister of Nigeria is a clear departure from the manner in which officials of the two countries have related with each other in the past.
(VII) Accusation: “Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. But indications especially in recent times, are that Nigeria’s stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise.”
Response: Ghana has always demonstrated her commitment to excellent relations with Nigeria which is evidenced by the manner in which Ghanaian Government officials dealt with recent issues, which have had severe economic impact on our country.
Ghana did not resort to any media war. However, the Ghanaian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to Abuja to try to resolve diplomatically the issue of closure of Nigerian borders, and to seek safe corridor for ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) exports from Ghana, all to no avail. It is expected that the response of Nigerian Authorities to situations that evolve in our relations should be guided by the merits of the matter and our mutual interests.
(VIII) Accusation: That three hundred (300), six hundred (600) and two hundred and fifty (250) shops belonging to Nigerians were closed down in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively
Response: Upon evidence that some individuals, including Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians, had been involved in various forms of trade, without complying with the laws and regulations of Ghana, several engagements and prior advice had been given to encourage compliance.
Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry personally intervened to ensure the reopening of closed shops, pending compliance with Ghana’s laws by their operators.
Among other corrective measures, the Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trade, comprising representatives of various regulatory agencies and institutions in Ghana, was tasked with the responsibility of conducting inspections of retail shops in designated commercial districts in both Accra and Kumasi to ensure compliance with retail trade laws and regulations.
The compliance exercises conducted in the selected markets revealed gross violations of retail trade laws and regulations by Ghanaians and foreigners, including Nigerians. These violations included tax evasion, immigration offenses, trading in sub-standard products, violation of the Ghana Investment
Promotion Centre (GIPC) law, improper registration of firms, under-payment of business operating permits, falsification of documents, among others.
In all cases, non-compliant shop owners are given adequate notice to regularize their documents, before action is taken to close any shop/business.
It is an incontestable fact that there is widespread abuse and disregard for local laws and regulations governing retail trade by some foreigners, including Nigerians, which need to be addressed without discrimination. It is important to note that the compliance exercise under reference is not restricted to either ECOWAS nationals or Nigerians for that matter, but extend to all individuals engaged in retail trade, including Ghanaians.
(IX) Accusation: Harsh and openly biased judicial trial and pronouncements of indiscriminately long jail terms for convicted Nigerians.
Response: Ghana’s courts, at all material times, function independently, and with strict respect for the Laws of Ghana, regardless of the nationalities of accused persons. Judges neither convict nor sentence with a bias for or against nationalities. Nigerians and Ghanaians convicted for same offenses are not treated differently.
(X) Accusation: Outrageous stipulations and amendments of the GIPC Act.
Response: It is untrue that the law has been amended twice, and, accordingly, there is no 2018 GIPC Act. Further, the statement that a review of the Act has increased the minimum capital base for foreign owned businesses to US$1.00m is false.
Perhaps the reference is to sections 27 (2 & 3) of the GIPC Act and relate solely to persons who are not citizens but want to engage in retail trade or trading activities, which are otherwise restricted exclusively to Ghanaians. Accordingly, ‘a person who is not a citizen may engage in a trading Enterprise if that person invests in the Enterprise, not less than One Million United States Dollars in cash or goods and services relevant to the investments. Trading includes purchasing and selling of imported goods and services. The amount does not relate to the broad universe of investors. We are also somewhat astonished to have the laws of a sovereign nation described as outrageous, especially since they have not attracted the rebuff or criticism of any regional organization, especially ECOWAS.
The Federal Republic, on the other hand, is on record to have taken a number of steps in recent months, in pursuit of her national interests, which have gravely affected other countries in the Region. These include the closure of Nigeria’s Seme Krake Border from August 2019 to date and the issuance of executive orders by Nigeria’s Presidency, preventing foreigners from getting jobs which Nigerians can do, to mention a few. Ghana and other West African countries continue to believe redress to even actions like these can be sought, diplomatically, without resort to media statements and related activities that have the potential to aggravate further the situation.
The aforementioned notwithstanding, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who values very much his excellent relations with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadou Buhari, will engage President Buhari with a view to develop immediately a framework for validating claims of ill treatment of citizens of either country, and ensure citizens enjoy the full exercise of their rights, while respecting the sovereignty and laws of both countries. Ghana and Nigeria, as they have been doing, must continue to work together for a successful West Africa.
“It is with gratitude to God that I announce the recovery and subsequent negative test for COVID-19 of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi.
“Following the mandatory isolation, the Commissioner retook a COVID-19 PCR test which returned negative yesterday evening.
“Professor Abayomi is very grateful and humbled by the deep concern shown and expressed by Executive Council members, civil servants, Lagos residents, Nigerians, both locally and in the diaspora, through prayers, messages, phone calls and gifts.
“He will be returning to his full duties gradually and remains resolute in delivering the mandate of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he says stood by him steadfastly in these trying times and is very appreciative of.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Incident Commander, is excited by the news and urges Lagosians to realise that COVID-19 is still with us; they should keep obeying the guidelines – washing their hands, wearing face masks and avoiding large gatherings, among others,” said a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.
The victory of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Bello, shortly after the ruling, was seen in a viral video expressing gratitude to God for granting him victory at the Supreme Court.
A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a unanimous judgment, affirmed Bello’s election and dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Musa Wada, challenging the governor’s victory.
In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro but read on his behalf by another member of the panel, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the apex court affirmed the earlier July 4 judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and the May 23 majority verdict of the election petition tribunal, which had both upheld Bello’s victory at the poll.
The apex court resolved all the five issues raised for determination in the appeal against PDP and its governorship candidate in the disputed poll that jointly filed the appeal.
The court resolved all the five issues in favour of Bello, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and declared the appellants’ appeal as lacking in merit.
“Having resolved all the five issues against the appellants, it is abundantly clear that the appeal is devoid of any scintilla of merit and it is accordingly dismissed,” the court ruled.
Other members of the panel are: Justices Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and Amina Augie.
File photo: (L) Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed; (M) Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; (R) Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Issa Pantami during a media briefing at the State House, Abuja.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has transferred the operations of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
This was made known by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mallam Isa Ali Pantami, who in a statement signed by his sokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved for the transfer of the agency to his ministry.
Pantanmi said the decision of government was based on the President’s consideration for the critical role of NIMC towards the realisation of the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).
He noted that this was in line with the effort to ensure that synergy and effective ministry supervisory mechanism is put in place to coordinate, monitor and track the progress of Federal Government’s digital transformation initiatives.
The Minister noted that the President’s directives for NIMC to be under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is an illustration of Mr President’s vote of confidence on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, based on his performance adding that Pantami had within his first year in office, amongst others, resolved the ICT sector’s decade-long dilemma of Right of Way charges.
“He was also able to secure Mr President’s approval for the provision of security as well as designation of Telecommunications Infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, regularization of improperly registered SIM cards and deactivation of unregistered ones, the deployment of over 250 digital projects across the country under his policies and supervision as well as built the capacity of over 36,000 Nigerians,” she added.
Recalling NIMC’s mandates to create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identity Database established by the NIMC Act, 2007, Suleiman stated that the Commission has so far registered around 41 million eligible enrollees for the National Identity Number (NIN).
According to her, “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the other hand has details of over 191 million mobile subscribers. Furthermore, the National Information Technology Development Agency has recorded huge successes in the development and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), the country’s first codified data protection regulation. The Agency has also reached an advanced stage on the implementation of the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI). Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) also provides services to Government Agencies – Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.”
Suleiman therefore emphasized the need for NIMC, NCC, NITDA and GBB to work closely together under the supervision of one Ministry towards harnessing what has already been achieved.
She said that the NIN, considered as a social security as well as civil number, is very important for economic planning and social intervention. With Federal Government’s digitalization initiatives in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, access to services and interventions will require it.
“We therefore urge all eligible individuals to enroll as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Honourable Minister is assuring Nigerians as well as residents that appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that opportunities for enrollment are provided to all.”
Despite being at what he calls “the low ebb of resources caused by COVID-19 and fallen oil prices,” Nigeria will continue to provide support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) based in N’djamena, Chad Republic, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured.
According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke Friday at State House, Abuja, while receiving Ambassador Mamman Nuhu , Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission and Head of Mission, MNJTF.
President Buhari said despite paucity of resources, security of Nigeria and that of her neighbours must have pride of place, “so I will consult with all the relevant officials, and we will do our best.”
Ambassador Nuhu gave the President updates on the proposed recharge of Lake Chad, which he said was one of the priorities of Lake Chad Basin Commission, “and for which you have great passion,” informing that the governments of China and Italy were of great support, and positive action should commence soon.
He also commended countries which have contributed troops to MNJTF, adding, however, that kinetic military approach alone would not eradicate insurgency, and emphasis must also be placed on the root causes, particularly poverty.
A collage photo showing Polaris Bank's newly appointed Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Innocent Ike (above); retired MD/CEO, Tokunbo Abiri (left/below) and Polaris Bank brand identity.
Polaris Bank has appointed Innocent Ike as Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
The bank, in a statement, announced Ike’s appointment to succeed Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, who recently retired from the bank.
The outgoing managing director has been touted to become the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State as a replacement for Bayo Osinowo, the deceased senator who represented Lagos East Senatorial district, but died on June 15 of complications arising from the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Abiru, whose retirement takes effect from August 31, was appointed to head the bridge bank which took over the assets and liabilities of the defunct Skye Bank.
The statement said Ike’s tenure as Acting Managing Director of the bank would be effective September 1.
“The incoming Acting Managing Director/CEO was until now the Executive Director, Technology and Services while also overseeing the South-south/South-east Directorate of the bank,” the statement read.
Ike joined the defunct Skye Bank in July 2016 as the Executive Director, Technology and Services after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s intervention in the bank.
He was reappointed in the same capacity in Polaris Bank in September 2018, upon the acquisition of the assets and some liabilities of the defunct Skye Bank Plc by Polaris Bank.
Prior to his appointment on the board of Skye Bank, Ike was an Executive Director in Keystone Bank.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed all tertiary institutions in Lagos State to re-open for academic activities from September 14.
He added that his administration was working towards re-opening of primary and secondary schools anytime from September 21.
However, the governor, said the decision to re-open the basic and secondary schools is not cast in stone, noting that this is subject to a review of our ongoing modelling of the state’s response to the pandemic.
This was disclosed directive by Sanwo-Olu at the 18th state-wide briefing held at the State House in Marina on Saturday.
The re-opening order was coming six months after all tertiary institutions and basic schools were shut on the order of the government, following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sanwo-Olu said the decision to re-open the schools was carefully thought through, given the decline in the number of positive cases and the progress recorded in the state’s response. He asked the management of the schools to ensure adherence to the safety guidelines as they re-open their campuses for activities.
The governor, in addition, also permitted the re-opening of recreational centres and social clubs that have registered trustees, but on the condition that they obtain a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).
“I am pleased to announce that tertiary institutions in Lagos State will re-open from September 14, 2020. We are also working towards the reopening of Primary and Secondary Schools anytime from September 21, 2020.
“However, the decision to re-open the basic and secondary schools is not cast in stone and is subject to a review of our ongoing modelling of the state’s response to the pandemic.
“Also, social clubs and recreational centers that have registered trustees have also been permitted to open, on the condition that they have applied for and obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of Lagos State Safety Commission.
“Restaurants are now permitted to open for in-dining services, but they must ensure the maintenance of a 50 per cent maximum occupancy at any point in time. They must also have obtained a provisional Safety Compliance Certificate,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration remained sympathetic to the plight of business owners, especially those operating in hospitality and tourism sectors.
He added that the state government was still reviewing the permissible opening dates for businesses tourism and hospitality industry, pointing out that there would be concrete decisions on easing the lockdown on tourism businesses before the end of September.
The governor directed that all event centres, bars, lounges, night clubs, spas, beaches, cinemas, gyms and game arcades to remain shut till further notice.
As Federal Government prepares to re-open international airspace for traffic on September 5, Sanwo-Olu said his administration had started to work with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to put adequate measures in place in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of Lagos residents in the light of resumption of international air-travel.
The governor also ordered civil servants in the state’s unified public service to comply with existing guidelines and roster schedules issued by the Head of Service and the heads of MDAs.
According to him, “As a government, we will continue to keep our citizens informed and updated on the decisions that we are taking in response to the pandemic.
“We will also continue to ask for your understanding and cooperation. These are challenging times for all of us, and it requires extra levels of patience, sacrifice and3 understanding.”
Sanwo-Olu said the observed decline in the number of positive cases did not mean the pandemic was over. He urged residents to continue to adhere to the safety guidelines outlined by the health authorities.
“The fact that we have been seeing a gradual easing of the lockdown does not mean that we are now returning to our old way of doing things.
“The easing you are seeing is the outcome of a careful and deliberate attempt to ensure that livelihoods are not crippled by the overwhelmingly disruptive impact of the virus. It is certainly not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance,” the governor said.
The governor disclosed that the atate’s Deputy Incident Commander and Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has been discharging his duty and responding to treatment, adding that Commissioner remained asymptomatic.
Sanwo-Olu, at the briefing, launched a COVID-19 Care Pack, which contains medications, hand sanitiser, face masks and handy medical equipment that could be used to check temperature.
The Care Pack is to be given to those who have been confirmed positive of the COVID-19 free of charge and who prefer home-based care.
“I am here to do a real on the-spot-assessment and I have seen things for myself. We thank God that as painful as the incident might be, the damage was not beyond what we have witnessed. We are pained by the death of the three people on board but we thank God because it could have been worse than that.
“The affected buildings are residential homes that have citizens living there. As at the exact time the helicopter crash happened, a lot of people were not in the premises and even the elderly people that were around and in their rooms.
“But as God would have it, nothing in term of fatality happened to people on the ground. So, we need to thank God. If not, fatality may have been a lot more than what we are talking about.
“As you can see the people affected are senior citizens; they are people in their 80s and 70s that I have come to condole with and also thank God for them.
“We have seen the level of destruction and damages. Tests will be conducted to understand the integrity of the buildings and once that is ascertained today or tomorrow, we will start work with the federal agencies.
“We will start the reconstruction and renovation of the places affected by the crash; the rooms, walls, tents and ensure that we quickly bring respite to the senior citizens that have been affected.
“From Monday, we will start rebuilding the damaged structure and also assist in any areas the owners of the buildings need our assistance. We will also assist the senior citizens wherever they need help. We know that the incident has had some impact on them. We will give them whatever support we can give them to reduce their psychological, physical and emotion hardship, which may have been caused by the incident.
“We would be doing that for them as a government. The whole essence of governance is to ensure that once your citizens are affected like this, government need to rise up.
“I want commend all our frontline workers, all the emergency staff that turned up yesterday with citizens in the neigbourhood that turned out in large number to help.”
With these words, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Saturday expressed empathy when he visited the site of the helicopter crash at Salvation Road in Opebi area of the state 24 hours after the incident to assess the damage of the crash.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting the crash site and meeting with the owners of the affected properties, Sanwo-Olu promised that Lagos State Government would carry out integrity tests on the buildings and do necessary repairs and assist the affected families.
A Bell 206 Helicopter, belonging to Quorum Aviation, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State with two crew members and a passenger had Friday crashed in between two residential buildings in the Opebi area of Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu also sympathised with the families of the three people that lost their loved ones during the crash and prayed God to comfort the families of the deceased.
Reacting to the governor’s visit, residents of the area thanked Sanwo-olu for visiting the crash site and expressed gratitude to God that when the helicopter crashed, there was no fuel in it.
They appreciated several government agencies for making quick response to the crash site and clearing the place.
In her address, one of owners of the affected buildings, a 77-year-old woman, Oluwayemisi Oluwole, said the repairs promised by the governor should be done quickly for her to be able to move back into her residence.
“I thank God for what happened because there was nobody in the apartment affected by the crash. We thank God that the helicopter didn’t land on top of the house. We thank God that there was no fuel in the helicopter when it landed.
“I hope somebody will come and assess the degree of the damage and that should be done quickly because I have not entered the house since yesterday because I have been banned from entering the house.
“Since yesterday a lot of people came here without observing any COVID-19 protocols. In my house now, I can count 20 face masks on the floor. So, I want to appeal to government to come and help us to sanitise the place. I am very happy that you (governor) have blood that you know something happened to your subjects and you decided to visit them. Your reign will be sweet in Jesus name,” she said.
In his reaction, Sesan Kuyoro also thanked government agencies for making quick response to the crash site, adding that their response showed the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to welfare of the citizens of the state.
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