Home Blog Page 2547

NIN Registration: Nigerians Flout Covid-19 Guidelines, As SERAP Calls On President Buhari To Stop Exercise |The Source

December 21, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

Thousands of Nigerians besieged the offices of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, in Lagos on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number so as not to have their SIMs blocked by Telecommunication Companies, following the order of the National Communication Commission, NCC.

The development comes just days after the NCC ordered telecommunications companies to, within two weeks, suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN.

Statistics showed that about 41.5 million Nigerians, out of an estimated 198 million active phone subscribers, have NIN, meaning that about 75 percent of Subscribers would see their SIMs blocked.

The huge crowd gathered at the NIMC office in Alausa, were either not wearing face masks or not observing physical distancing, thereby flouting the protocol put in place by the Government in a bid to tackle the spread of COVID-19 which has been on the increase in the last one week.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has also contracted COVID-19, ordered the closure of schools, clubs and other places which could attract large crowds.

Several concerned Nigerians have expressed concern over the sudden directive of the Federal Government and had asked that the deadline given for the registration be extended. But the government has remained adamant.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, described the order as an abuse of human rights and threatened to sue the Federal Government within seven days if it is not rescinded.

SERAP, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, with immediate effect, “instruct the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Aliyu Abubakar, to stop the push for registration of Nigerians for National Identity Number, NIN, and withdraw the threat to block SIM cards, as the data being sought already exist in several platforms, including the Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, driver’s license, international passport, and voters’ card.”

SERAP said the exercise was a multiple way of registration as the Bank Verification Number, BVN, Exercise was also a way of having a database the Government is doing again.

The organisation also urged President Buhari “to instruct Pantami and Abubakar to take total measures to promptly ensure that the NIMC is able to effectively discharge its statutory functions to harmonize and integrate existing identification databases in government agencies into the National Identity Database, and to use the information to update SIM card registration.

SERAP in a letter dated 19 December, 2020 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said, “No government has the right to strip its own people of their basic rights under the guise of registration for national identity number. If the authorities continue down this path, the threats to citizens’ rights, such as the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, will inevitably increase, and the NIMC will remain a paper tiger.

SERAP said, “Instead of forcing Nigerians to register, threatening telecom service providers with sanctions, and exposing Nigerians to the risks of COVID-19, your government ought to make sure that the NIMC discharges its statutory functions to harmonize and integrate existing identification databases in government agencies, and make use of the information collected.

SERAP stated: “The request for Nigerians to register for NIN is burdensome, unjustified and unnecessary. It would end up serving no other purpose than to threaten and violate the rights of Nigerians, and create a ‘chilling effect’ on citizens’ ability to participate in the fight against corruption in the country, and thereby seriously undermining the government’s oft-repeated commitment to transparency and accountability.

SERAP continued: “There is neither a pressing legal or practical need for this registration, which threatens Nigerians’ human rights, especially at a time your government is warning Nigerians about the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

“Blocking Nigerians from using their SIM cards would amount to a blatant violation of their rights to freedom of expression and access to information, and have a ‘chilling effect’ on the enjoyment of other human rights.”

“We would be grateful if your government would indicate the measures being taken to stop the unnecessary registration of NIN, withdraw the threat to block SIM cards, and take concrete measures to promptly ensure that the NIMC is able to faithfully discharge its statutory functions to harmonize and integrate existing identification databases in government agencies into the National Identity Database, within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”

“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to implement these recommendations in the interest of millions of Nigerians.”

“One of the stated purposes of NIMC as elaborated in section 5 [a] of the NIMC Act is to harmonise and integrate existing identification databases in government agencies into a national identity database. If the NIMC cannot perform this important statutory duty, then it has failed to achieve an obvious part of its legislative purpose.”

“This push for registration will place a substantial burden on the exercise of human rights by Nigerians. It is also patently contrary to the objectives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as contained in Section 1[g] of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which is to protect the rights and interest of service providers and consumers within Nigeria.’”

“These rights presumably include the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, life and personal security. The enjoyment of these rights forms the basis for a free and democratic society. A democratic government based on the rule of law is one that is responsible to its citizenry and seeks to represent their interests.”

“The push for registration for NIN is a bad initiative, and cannot find support in existing laws, the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“SERAP notes that the information on individuals currently being sought by your government already exist in several platforms, including through multiple citizen’s collection data platforms such as the Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), international passport, driver’s license, SIM card registration and voters’ card.”

“This point is buttressed by Section 5 [h] of the NIMC Act 2007, which provides that: ‘the Commission shall establish and maintain secured communication links with any existing relevant identity related database or agency’”.

“The statutory duty to harmonize and integrate existing data for the purposes of NIN and SIM card registration should not be difficult to carry out, as the Nigeria Immigration Service, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are already members of the Board of the NIMC by virtue of section 2[1][b] of the NIMC Act.”

“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Nigeria has ratified both human rights treaties.”

“According to our information, your government has issued a two-week ultimatum for the registration and linking of National Identity Number (NIN) to mobile numbers across the country.”

“The NCC has also reportedly directed telecom service providers to block phone numbers without NIN while Mr Abubakar has stated that there would be no extension for the announced deadline ending 30 December, 2020.”

“Your government has also reportedly threatened that, ‘After the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks. Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.’”

The Federal Government recently approved the licensing of 173 centres and 30 Government institutions to conduct enrolment of persons into the National Identity Database. However, it was learnt that most of these entities could not start the process immediately because they lacked the infrastructure and equipment to do so.

Telecoms giant, MTN, which is one of the firms given the licence to enrol persons into the NIMC database, announced on Saturday that it was importing 14, 000 devices for the NIN registration and they are expected to arrive in two weeks.

Meanwhile, several Nigerians have been criticising the Federal Government on social media over the gathering of large crowds in NIMC’s offices.

Some of them accused NIMC officials of demanding bribe from them.

@ayegbajeje_ tweeted, “Those in Oshodi local government would frustrate you. People go as early as 4am for numbers. If you can’t get the number and want to register, you’ll pay a N5000 bribe. If you can wait, you’ll fill a form for N100, pay 300 for printing and lamination. The situation as of 8.45am today.

“The form is just an A4 paper with ‘free’ clearly written on it. If you make photocopies elsewhere it won’t be collected from you. Presently there are over 400+ people there defying COVID-19 guideline at the peak of the second wave.”

Another youth said on social media that it was ironic that the state government shut down night clubs over the weekend but was permitting large gatherings at NIMC.

“Lagos State Government sent police to Cubana to arrest people having a good time amid all their wickedness on citizens, because of so-called COVID-19, yet they are inviting and dining with COVID-19 with this NIN,” @iamgerrardoxa tweeted.

@prinzgbemi, who shared photos of from the Alausa office of NIMC, said the irony was that the office was barely five minutes away from the governor’s office.

NIMC spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him.

Southern, Middle belt leaders Petition International Bodies on Nigerian Constitution |The Source

Uche Mbah

December 21, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Prominent Southern and Middle Belt leaders have flayed the 1999 constitution, blaming it for the current crisis in the country because it is skewed in favor of the North.

The leaders, who spoke under the umbrella body of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, insisted that the 1999 Constitution is a fraud, and is deliberately made to confiscate the sovereignty of the South and the Middle Belt by the designers.

The leaders, comprising Retired Generals, Politicians and leaders of thought from the regions, petitioned the United Nations Security Council, African Union, European Union, United States and the British Government, intimating them of the need for an urgent Sovereign national Conference with a view to discussing the constitutionality of the 1999 Constitution and the Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates within three months.

A clause in the Amalgamation document says that after one hundred years, the Amalgamated Units may review the amalgamation and decide whether to continue staying together or not. 2014 was the Centenary celebration of the Amalgamation.

The petition, signed by127 members, reads in part:

“We gather here this day as Accredited Delegates of the Constituent Component Nationalities of Nigeria, under the aegis of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, being a Joint-Cooperation Framework for the Self-Determination Initiatives of the Southern and Middle-Belt of Nigeria on behalf of our Various Peoples and Interests, to Pronounce an end to our toleration of Nigeria’s Unitary Constitutional Order, Unilaterally Imposed and Forcefully Maintained by a Section of the Nigerian country, in negation of the federal basis upon which Nigeria became one political union at independence in 1960, and in brutal subjugation of our collective sovereignties currently being forcefully and fraudulently appropriated by the Nigerian State.

“We gather here today before the global community, to formally proclaim a sovereignty dispute in rejection of the further operation of the imposed, unity constitutional arrangements of Nigeria and in assertion of our inalienable right to self-determination.

“The History of the Colonial beginnings of Nigeria as a Commercial Venture of some Colonial Masters is too well-known to admit of any further repetitions here but suffice it to recall:

“That the manipulations that went into the Flawed Foundations laid in the 1914 Amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern Nigeria with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, created a lopsided Union, locking the Diverse Peoples of Nigeria into one Political Union with two mortally opposed civilizations.

“That as Independence approached in 1960, the Diversities of the Various Peoples of the Nigerian Union Dictated the Adoption of the Federal Constitutional Model by the then three largely Autonomous Regions, (namely Eastern, Western and Northern Regions of Nigeria) as the Basis of entering Into Independence as one Political Union in 1960.

“That amidst the early strains of Post-Independence Nigeria arising mainly from the aforementioned Foundational and Pre-Independence manipulations by the Colonial Rulers of the Nigerian Union, the Military coups of 1966 Truncated the Federal Constitutional Basis of Nigeria and plunged the fledgling Union into a catastrophic 30-Month War with it’s Breakaway Eastern Region between 1967 and 1970, triggered by disputations around the terms of the Nigerian Union and leaving in its trail, human carnage in excess of 3million people and a fractured Union now resting on an Unworkable Unitary Constitutional Order Imposed in 1979, by the Fiat of the illicit “Federal Government” which emerged since the 1966 Collapse of the Federation of Nigeria, Forcefully Hijacking and Confiscating the Sovereignties of the Constituent Component Regions of Nigeria that Federated their Sovereignties in 1960.

“That the Prevailing 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which was a wholesale adoption of the 1979 edition via Decree No.24 of 1999, revalidated and reinforced the aforementioned Hijack and confiscation of the Sovereignties, Powers and Assets of the Four Erstwhile Federating Regions by the aforementioned Illicit Federal Government of Nigeria which by Decrees, fractured the Four Regions into 36 States, that are completely emasculated by a 68-Item Federal Exclusive Legislative List that Comprehensively strip the Federating States of All Key Economic Assets and Governmental Powers, thereby creating a totally dysfunctional, corruption-prone, over-centralized system that has failed in every respect, manifesting in Gross Insecurity, Decayed Infrastructure and Mass Impoverishment such that Nigeria, with its Vast Human and Material Resource Endowments, has now emerged as the poverty capital of the world as well as the Global Leading Example of a failed state.

“There is a countrywide consensus against the Unitary Constitutional Arrangements Imposed incrementally on Nigeria by a combination of Guile, Brute Force and Impunity between 1966 and 1999 now codified by the 1999 Constitution. This countrywide consensus had manifested in Several Unilateral Regional and Joint Multi-Regional Actions in Repudiation and Rejection of the Unitary 1999 Constitution of Nigeria:

“The first indication was when in year 2000, the 12 contiguous states of the far North, Simultaneously Imposed and began to implement Sharia in their 3 Domains against the express provision of the 1999 Constitution which in Section 10, forbids the adoption of any state religion. This translates to a unilateral secession from the Secular Union of Nigeria.

“Between 2005 and 2006, a Sovereign Conference of the Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria, Convened by the Pro-National Conference Organizations (PRONACO), Deliberated exhaustively and produced A Draft Peoples’ Constitution 2006, which had the potential of restoring Nigeria to it’s damaged Federal Foundations. Though Ignored by successive federal governments in Nigeria, that draft became the New Federating consensus against the Prevailing Unitary Constitutional Order in Nigeria.

“It is pertinent to note that across all the Regions of Nigeria, various Socio-Cultural and Ethnic-Interests Vanguard Organizations have also been vehement in expressing the Constitutional Grievances of their own People, (some even violently), thus on the Yoruba side, we have the Afenifere, the Yoruba Elders Council (YCE), Agbekoya, the Yoruba Liberation Command, (YOLICOM), YWC and many more including the ILANA OMO OODUA which now aggregates Several Yoruba Self-Determination Initiatives across the World.

“In the Eastern part of Southern Nigeria, we have Ohanaeze, Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND); Ijaw National Congress, (INC); Ijaw Youth Council (IYC); PANDEF, Midwest Movement, the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, (NDPVF), MEND, MASSOB, IPOB, others. In the Middle-Belt, we have the Middle-Belt Forum, (MBF), MBC, SOKAPU, CONAECDA and many others.

“Several notable Statesmen in Nigeria including Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Yakubu Gowon, both (former Heads of State) have lent their voices to the urgent imperative of the Fundamental Reworking of the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria, warning that any further delay may lead to the catastrophic collapse of the Distressed Nigerian Union.

“Nigeria’s Former Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, (retd) had also urged the Indigenous Peoples of Nigeria facing the Ethnic Cleansing Onslaught of the Murderous invaders to defend themselves and their lands in the face of obvious collusion of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its Armed Forces with the Fulani invaders. In the aftermath of the October 2020 #EndSARS Protests many, including the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) now insist that Nigeria needs to be renegotiated.

“On specific constitutional grievances touching on the sovereignties of the constituent components of the federation of Nigeria, the leaders opined that:

“The claim in the Preamble to the 1999 Constitution that ‘We the People’ Firmly and Solemnly Resolved to live in One Political Union and that we Enacted and Gave Ourselves the 1999 Constitution, is self-evidently false as the Decree No 24 of 1999 by which the so-called 1999 Constitution was Promulgated, outlined step-by-step, the Process by which the author of the 1999 Constitution, the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council, came about the Document it labeled “the 1999 Constitution. This is a criminal usurpation of the sovereignties of the constituent components whose Exclusive Right it is to make for themselves the Constitution by which they will federate and be governed, as an incident of their sovereignty.

Even by the admission of the 1999 Constitution at Section 14(2)(a), “Sovereignty Belongs to the People, from whom, Government, through this Constitution Derive all its Powers and Authority.

“This is the fountain from which all other constitutional grievances flow and there is no other remedy to this particular grievance than an autochthonous process by which the constituent components will submit their peoples and their lands into a union, and also stipulate the terms of that union, to be ratified by referendums and plebiscites.”

Prominent among those that signed the petition are former Chief of Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd); former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang; Second Republic Senator, Professor Banji Akintoye; President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; former Vice-Chairman of Arik Air, Senator Anietie Okon; Commodore Idongegist Nkanga, (retd); of PANDEF, the leader of Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu; former Minister, Prof. Yusuf Turaki and 121 others.

Failed Micro Finance Banks: Depositors Storm NDIC |The Source

Bayo Bernard

December 21, 2020

By Fola James

Depositors of the now liquidated micro finance banks, MFBs will today, storm all the zonal offices of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC for the verification exercise to ascertain their claims.

42 micro finance banks were recently liquidated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN which also withdrew their licences.

According to a statement released last week, NDIC directed depositors of the now failed MFBs to contact the representatives of the director, Claims Resolution Department of the NDIC in any of the zonal offices in Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Benin, Kano, Ilorin, Bauchi, Sokoto, Yola and Port Harcourt.

NDIC further directed depositors provide all necessary information as it commences the process of closing the listed banks and paying their insured depositors.

The corporation stated that , “This is to inform the depositors, creditors, shareholders and the general public that the operating licences of the under listed 42 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) have been revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective from 12th of November, 2020.

“The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the official liquidator of the banks whose licences were recently revoked, is in the process of closing the listed banks and paying their insured depositors.

“We therefore request that all depositors of these banks should visit the closed banks’ addresses and meet NDIC officials for the verification of their claims, commencing from Monday, 21st December, 2020 till Thursday, 24th December, 2020.”

.The liquidated banks include Hedgeworth MFB, Utako, Abuja; Future Growth MFB, Utako, Abuja; Bagwai MFB, Bagwai LGA, Kano; Ere City MFB, Oriade LGA, Osun State; Cafon MFB, Garki II, Abuja; Akcofed MFB, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State; Gufax MFB, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Partnership MFB, Onitsha, Anambra State; ICB MFB, Ilah, Delta State; Onima MFB, Ezinihite Mbaise LGA, Imo State; and Hometrust (NATIONS) MFB, Nkwere, Imo State.

Others are Ringim MFB, Ringim, Jigawa State; Bigthana MFB, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna; Rogo MFB, Rogo LGA, Kano State; Makoda MFB, Makoda LGA, Kano; Takai MFB, Takai LGA, Kano State; Bebeji MFB, Bebeji L.G.A., Kano State; Ajingi MFB and Ajingi LGA, Kano State.

Others are Garko MFB, Garko, Kano; Kangiwa MFB, Kangiwa LGA, Kebbi State; Augie MFB, Augie LGA, Kebbi State; Mopa MFB, Mopa, Kogi State; Solid Base MFB, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State; Ultimate Benefit MFB, Lokoja, Kogi State; Ovidi MFB, Okene, Kogi State; Kirfi MFB, Kirfi LGA, Bauchi and Credit Express MFB, Kakawa Street, Lagos.

They also include King Solomon MFB, Western Avenue, Iponri, Lagos; Riggs MFB, Victoria Island, Lagos; Billionaire Blue Bricks MFB, Ajah, Lagos; Susu MFB, Yaba, Lagos; Wealthstream MFB, Apapa, Lagos; Aguda Titun MFB, Ogba, Lagos and Sapphire MFB, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The rest are Metro MFB, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, Mountain Top MFB, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos; Unyogba MFB, Ofu LGA, Kogi State; Wapo MFB, Okene, Kogi State; Ibogun MFB, Ifo LGA, Ogun State; Korede MFB, Igbotako, Ondo State; Ahetou MFB, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State and Fufore MFB, Yola, Adamawa State.

Why Obiano Dethroned Three Traditional Rulers |The Source

The Source

December 20, 2020

By Gideon Njoku

The cold war between the Governor of Anambra State and some Traditional Rulers in the State has reached a boiling point.

The problem started a few months ago when an Anambra Businessman, and a-President Muhammadu Buhari friend, Chief Arthur Eze, organised and took 11 Traditional Rulers to Abuja for what they termed a “Thank You Visit.”

The visit was without the knowledge or permission of the State Government.

On their return, the Governor suspended them for an initial period of one year.

The suspension caused a big spat between the Governor and Eze

However in a statement dated December 17, 2020, and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Greg Obi, the Government took three decisions – Pardoned five of them, insisted on the one year suspension of three of them, and dethroned three others.

Those dethroned are:

*Igwe Chijoke Nwankwo of Nawfia.

*Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle

*Igwe G.B.C. Mbakwe of Abacha.

The statement ordered the Traditional Rulers to hand over their certificates of recognition to the Secretary to the Local Government of their Communities within one month..

Those whose suspension continues are:

*Igwe Kelly N. Nkeli of Igbariam.

*Igwe Dr Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu.

*Igwe Peter A. Uyanwa of Ukwulu.

But five of them were lucky after the Governor considered the passionate pleas of the Traditional Rulers Council and other stakeholders.

They are:

*Igwe Simon Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo

*Igwe A.N. Onwuneme of Ikenga.

*Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor

*Igwe Chukwuma Bob Vincent Orji of Ezinifite

*Igwe S.O. Uche of Ezira.

The lifting of the suspension on the Igwe of Alor is bound to overheat the polity. Between the Igwe and the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, there is no love lost. Ngige is from Alor, and had had issues with his Traditional ruler. Ngige does not recognise him as the Igwe.

With the lifting of the suspension, it does seem that the Traditional Ruler is back to the winning ways.

Nigeria Loses Bid As ICC Judge |The Source

Uche Mbah

December 20, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Nigeria has lost an election bid as a judge at the international Court of Justice, known as the International Criminal Court, ICC The Source has learnt.

The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Ishaq Bello, who was the Nigerian nominee, lost his election bid.

The ICC was established to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and aggression by nationals who are member countries.

It is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, and comprises of 123-member countries.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Bello on June 20 for the position amid reservations over his qualifications to be admitted into such an International Court made up of erudite scholars.

His failure does not quite come as a suprise, as earlier reports said assessors had initially complained about the depth of his legal knowledge after his nomination, thereby setting the pace for his eventual rejection.

He was ranked very low among the twenty Judges nominated for the position. They claimed the judge lacked knowledge of ICC’s activities.

The results of the poll released by the International Court indicates that, Bello polled 12 votes out of a total of 117 votes in the first round of the election, becoming the second lowest votes got during the election after Milandou Prosper of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After the second round, he was reported to have polled only five votes out of 110 votes, representing 4.5 per cent of the total votes cast.

Every three years, the Assembly elects six new Judges to replace one-third of its 18 judge for non-renewable terms of nine years. Elected members must have got two thirds of votes cast by the member states, and Bello performed below par in this regard

This paved way for Korner Joanna and Lordkipanidze Gocha, nominees of the United Kingdom and Georgia respectively, to emerge victorious out of the 18 candidates.

COVID-19: Uzodimma Shuts Imo Secretariat; Civil Servants Say It’s Meant To Abort Strike Action |The Source

Adesina Soyooye

December 20, 2020

By Adesina Soyooye

Following in the footsteps of his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has shut down the State Secretariat over rising cases of COVID-19.

Sanwo-Olu had on Thursday shut-down schools, public and private, Night Clubs, restricted the number of people in Churches and Mosques, and imposed a curfew from 12 midnight to 4.00am. He also asked civil servants from the levels of 01 to 14 to keep off work.

In a Press Release signed by Governor Uzodimma’s Special Assistant/Chief Press Secretary, Oguwuike Nwachuku, the Governor in a broadcast to Imo people said he took the decision because of the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in the country in general and Imo State in particular. For that, Uzodinma ordered the closure of Imo State Secretariat effective Monday, December 21 as part of measures to check the menace.

In the state broadcast on Sunday, December 20, 2020 where he outlined the dangers of the fresh spike in Covid-19 pandemic, Uzodimma directed that all Government workers, except Permanent Secretaries and political appointees to stay away from office till further notice.

The governor said the wearing of face masks has become critical and compulsory for every Imo indigene as Mobile Courts have been directed to arrest and prosecute anyone found without wearing a face mask.

Also, the Governor directed that no social gathering in Imo State during this Christmas should have more than 100 persons in attendance just as the attendees must observe social distancing and all the Covid-19 safety protocols.

Markets and public places, the Governor noted, must also put in place wash hand facilities, sanitizers and other Covid-19 pandemic safety measures as recommended by the Nigetia Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC).

Following, the full text of Governor Uzodinma’s broadcast:

“My dear good people of Imo State, it is with a great sense responsibility that I address you on this auspicious season of Christmas.In normal times, with just a few days to Christmas, I should be saying a very happy Christmas in advance to you. But the times are far from normal. The dreaded Coronavirus pandamic, otherwise known as Covid 19, is back in town at full speed.

“While I truly wish all of us a happy Christmas celebration in advance, I am duty bound to ensure that this should not be the last Christmas any of us will celebrate with his loved ones. This may sound scary but it is a grim possibility if we do not take urgent protective steps to stop Coronavirus on its tracks.

“There is a great global resurgence of the dreaded virus. With the reopening of international flights, movement of people across the globe is back on full stream. This has aided further spread of the virus. It is usual that at this Christmas season, our relations and friends from across the world and Nigeria will be coming home. Expectedly there is bound to be a great human traffic surge in Imo State. This ofcourse comes with its full implications for the spread of Covid 19.

“Already the effect of this frightful global resurgence and spike in Covid 19 infections is manifest in the country and Imo State.

“Since October the number of cases in the country, which hitherto seemed to be reducing, has been on a rapid rise. From 225 confirmed new cases in October, the number has risen to a frightful level of 77,933 in December. Yesterday,19th December alone 920 new confirmed cases were recorded in the country, with 6 deaths .In Imo State the situation is no less frightening. Recent PCR-Based tests carried out in the state in accordance with the guidelines of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), reveal a frightful upward surge in the confirmed cases curve. As of last week, no less than 32 persons were confirmed positive with Covid 19.

“Sadly, while the grim realities of increasing Covid 19 infections continues to confront us every day, a general complecency and false sense of safety amongst our people to Covid 19 safety protocols remain the order of the day. This trend must be reversed in the interest of everyone. The time to do so is NOW. The imminent danger posed by the human traffic surge occasioned by the season, makes immediate and drastic steps in this direction both cogent and urgent.

” In this respect I want to emphasise that there is absolute need to avoid gathering of crowds of more than 100 people anywhere in the state. Where such crowds must gather, those involved MUST wear face masks.

“There should be wash hand stands readily available with alcohol based sanitisers at such gatherings.

“To further strengthen safety measures, all government workers are to stay at home from tomorrow, Monday, December 21, till further notice, except for permanent secretaries and political appointees. This means that the state secretariat, which is a major crowd puller, will remain closed, from tomorrow, to the public until further notice.

“In addition, wearing of face masks in public is henceforth absolutely compulsory. Mobile courts have been deployed all over the state to try any person caught without wearing face masks.

“Equally, all Covid 19 safety protocols will henceforth be strictly enforced. These include provision of wash hand stands and sanitisers in markets and worship places. Any person or persons caught not observing these safety protocols will be summarily prosecuted in the Mobile courts.

“As we enforce the safety protocols and monitor the situation, we shall regularly review developments to determine further measures that may be necessary.

“My beloved Imo people, as I earlier said, I will not want this Christmas to be the last for any of us. Let us take these safety protocols serious and observe them tenaciously. It is in the interest of all of us to do so.

“I wish you a happy and safe Christmas celebration. Please do all you must to remain safe. Your life is important to Imo State.”

However, while the Civil Servants are happy that they would save transportation money, they fault the reason behind the shut down. They allege it is because of the eight-day warning strike they had planned to embark upon beginning Monday. By shutting down the Secretariat, the Governor, they say, has effectively taken the wind out of the planned warning strike.

Nigerian, UI Graduate, Heads American Board Of Internal Medicine |The Source

The Source

December 19, 2020

Dr. Olakunle Akinboboye, a Nigerian, has been appointed by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to head its Management Board of Cardiovascular Disease.

It is the first time a Black man would be appointed to head the Cardiovascular Disease Board.

In that capacity, Akinboboye will be responsible for certifying all deserving cardiologists in the United States. He will also be heading the 12 members of the Board from across the country and carry out periodic knowledge assessments of all practising cardiologists in the US.

Reacting to his appointment, his appointment, Akinboboye said he is “proud to have the opportunity to chair this very important Board.

“Unfortunately I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a point in time in which many cardiologists are openly revolting because of what they perceive as high handedness of the Board over the years.”

He, however, said his goal as the Head of the Board is “to work with other board members to come up with assessments for practicing cardiologists that are fair, and not unduly burdensome”.

Richard Baron, president and CEO of ABIM, in a press release, welcomed Akinboboye on behalf of the Board.

“We are honored to have Dr. Berns, Dr. Akinboboye and Dr. Udden—three highly regarded physicians with significant Clinical experience to serve the Community in their disciplines and across specialties to offer more choice, relevance and convenience as they help to set the standards for excellent patient care”.

Akinboboye read medicine at the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. And did internal medicine residency and part of his cardiology fellowship at the Nassau County Medical Center, State University of Stony Brook.

He has masters degrees in public health from Columbia University, And Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

Insecurity: Why Buhari Should Resign – Secondus |The Source

Adesina Soyooye

December 19, 2020

By Adesina Soyooye

For admitting that he has not done his best to secure the people, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office Secondus charged Buhari to do the honourable thing and resign after he admitted failure of his administration on insecurity.

Prince Secondus was reacting to the President’s admittance that his administration has failed in providing adequate security to Nigeria citizens.

As the buck stops on the table of the Commander in Chief, the President should accept his failure and stop looking for excuses

The PDP boss said in statement from his media office that rather than the belated lamentations after 67 months in power that he has been unable to perform, he should do the honourable thing by resigning and giving way for fresh ideas and new vitality.

Prince Secondus recalls the advice of President Buhari while in opposition in 2013 to the then President Goodluck Jonathan saying ‘Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country’

According to Prince Secondus, this competent hand happened to be President Buhari whose five and years in office have left the country comatose in all ramifications.

“I find it extremely unacceptable that after the President disregarded all wise counsels to rejig the nation’s security architecture for effectiveness, he is now turning round to admit their failure and blame operatives whom he kept even in their apparent inefficiency.

Prince Secondus, however, noted the honesty of the President in admitting the obvious failure of his government’s responsibilities to secure the nation, but noted that he should do the needful by give way for competent person to come in.

1...2,5462,5472,548...2,967 Page 2,547 of 2,967

<img class="tdb-logo-img" src="https://thesourceng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Source-Logo-292y90.webp" alt="The Source Magazine" title="" width="272" height="90" />