Fidelity Bank Earns N51 bn, MD Warns Of New Realities

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May 4, 2020

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The federal government has blamed the mass deaths in Kano state to the corona virus, contrary to the suggestion of the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.

The state has the highest number of corona virus positive persons after Lagos in the country.

Sani Gwarzo, national coordinator of the Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19 disclosed this on Sunday in Kano while speaking with journalists..

Gwarzo spoke during the official presentation and handing over of the mobile testing laboratory the Aliko Dangote Foundation donated to the state government.

The state had earlier blamed the deaths on some strange ailment but said COVID 19 was not responsible.

No fewer than 200 persons, including seven professors have already died from the corona virus complications.

The number of deaths has been on the rise since April as the state struggle to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The PTF coordinator, who also lost his father to the virus, said investigation had shown that COVID-19 is responsible for some of the deaths.

According to him “Let me inform us that most of the deaths recorded of recent and test carried out showed that coronavirus was the cause,” he said.

So, before the final report which would be ready in the next one week or few days, it is necessary for people of Kano to wake up from their slumber that this is a serious issue.”

He said all hands are now on deck to assist the state to contain the virus from spreading further.

Gwazo stated that “We need to know what is happening we are successful in identifying what the problems are and secondly we are happy on the level of cooperation the private sector and other stake holders.

Many people have come out to support the state we cannot expand our investigation until we are certain.”

“We have five cogent reasons to say that the mass death recorded in Kano is associated with coronavirus.”

He explained that NCDC findings linking the deaths to the virus cannot be denied.

He said some factors such the age of the deceased persons, concentration of the people in one place proved that the deceased died from COVID 19 complications.

EFCC To Arraign Former Minister, Turaki, Others For Corrupt Allegation

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May 4, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

Forget the COVID-19 tragedy, Nigeria’s Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is in full throttle. The Commission will, today, Monday, 4th May, 2020, arraign the former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Acting Head, Media and Publicity, of the Ibrahim Magu led EFCC, Tony Orilade, who disclosed this said Turaki is being tried on 16 counts of corruption allegations.

Turaki, who was the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015 and served as the Supervising Minister of Labour from 2014 to 2015 in the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration will appear before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Others to be arraigned along with the former minister on Monday are Sampson Okpetu, who served as his Special Assistant; Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited, all found out to be Okpetu’s companies.

World Press Day: NUJ, NGIJ Call On Government To Strengthen Press Freedom In Nigeria

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May 4, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

As the world commemorated the Global Press Freedom Day on May 3, the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called on the Federal and state governments in Nigeria to ensure that the media is independent and journalists are truly free to practice without any fear of intimidation or persecution.

The Guild said journalists are a critical partner in nation-building and should not be gagged, intimidated, harassed, maimed or killed for doing their lawful duties as guaranteed by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 19 of the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The NGIJ made this call in a statement on Sunday in Lagos signed by Israel Bolaji, Vice President on Information and Strategy.

Calling for a more strengthened press freedom and release of detained journalists, the Guild said, “According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, about 250 journalists worldwide are currently behind bars.”

“In Nigeria, between January 2019 and November 2019, the Media recorded at least 71 attacks including arrests, detention, intimidation and killings”, according to The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), a coalition including Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, International Press Centre (IPC), HEDA Resource Centre, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ and SERAP.

“The popular cases of Agba Jalingo, Abiri Jones, Peter Okutu, Chijioke Agwu and others also readily come to mind. Detaining journalists for doing their job runs contrary to the obligation to ensure an enabling environment for the media. The criminalization of journalism must end. That should start with releasing journalists from detention in Nigeria urgently. ”

Bolaji noted that journalists go through difficult hurdles to get the nation informed. “For example, under the current circumstance of the global Covid-19 pandemic, journalists risk their lives as front liners to source accurate information which are shared with people to help make well-informed health decisions that can make the difference between life and death.

“As the pandemic spreads attacking over 3 million people globally and over two thousand in Nigeria, the press has contributed significantly by sharing verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. This helps in countering the scourge of misinformation, stemming from sensational health advice and conspiracy theories.”

Urging journalists not to relent, NGIJ said the media must remain professional and known for providing facts and insightful analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power.

“We call on governments to protect journalists and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice and human rights for all, Bolaji concluded.

Also, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo has celebrated the media for being steadfast in carrying out its duties of disseminating information to the public diligently, and professionally.

Covid-19: Okonjo-Iweala Warns Buhari Of Looming Recession

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May 4, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria’s former Minister for Finance and African Union Special envoy for the fight against COVID-19, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has warned President Muhammdu Buhari of a second economic recession in his tenure.

In an exclusive interview on Channels TV (Business Morning Programme), the erstwhile Managing Director of the World Bank, warned of difficult times ahead on the heels of looming global recession, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian government must look at other means of income like agriculture and how it can diversify as a country

“What you need to do is to make the economy less dependent on oil, and that is why for the longer time, restructure the economy so that you can also have other sources to create job for the people, other sources where you can tap revenues. Part of the issue, let’s take Nigeria and some other African countries for instance, our economies have a lot of sectors that are diverse. We have agriculture, tourism, creative industries among others.

“I think learning how to tax some of these other sectors better, manufacturing, you have to look across board and say, ‘are we getting enough resources from these sectors?’ It is not just diversifying your economy but also diversifying your sources of revenue – meaning you have to tax better. This is what our country is going to look at now and start planning about how they are going to do better in the future.”

Mass Sack: Fani-Kayode Slams Bank, Says Impressing Buhari Led To Its Misfortune

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May 4, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned Access Bank and its urbane Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, over plans to sack some of its workers.

The bank had announced plans to sack its workers and also slash the salaries of some of its workers as a result of the negative impact of the Coronavirus outbreak. It also plans to close down hundreds of its branches nationwide.

Over the weekend, some workers had, allegedly, started receiving their sack letters by e-mail. Unconfirmed reports allege that one of them, a pregnant woman collapsed on receiving her sack letter.

Wigwe, the GMD of the bank, had said that apart from the mass sacking, which would affect about 75 per cent of the bank’s workforce, he would take the lead in having the largest pay cut of 40 per cent.

“I will be the first to take the hit and I’m gonna take the largest pay cut, which would be as much as 40 per cent,” he said.

But reacting on Sunday in a post on his Twitter page, Fani-Kayode accused the Bank of betraying its workers to appease President Muhammadu Buhari.

He recalled that Access Bank had donated N1 Billion to help the Federal Government combat Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Fani-Kayode wrote: “You gave 1 Billion Naira to the FG to fight Covid 19 and, the next day, you sacked hundreds of your loyal staff.

“You betrayed your workers and turned your back on them when they needed you most because you were more interested in your profits and appeasing Buhari. Access Bank SHAME ON U!

The magazine however recalls that the plans to sack staff and/or slash salaries is not exclusive to Access Bank. It cuts across banks all of which have been hit very badly by COVID-19. Most companies are also suffering the same fate. Many of them, including the CBN, have been operating skeletal services.

However, in the face of concerns raised by a number of people on the possible impact of sackings in banks, the CBN on Sunday, stepped in, and stopped banks from carrying out the exercise.

“Worse still you shut down 340 of your branches! With a stroke of the pen you have thrown thousands of people into unemployment at a time when they are already going through hell because of the lockdown and you have destroyed many families. Herbert Wigwe, how do you sleep at night?”

Oronsaye Report: FG To Scrap Road Safety, Pilgrims Board, Others

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Uche Mbah

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May 4, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Details are emerging on the plans of the government implementation of the Oronsaye report, which recommended the merger of some parastatals with others, and the scrapping of some. At the last count, more than seven major agencies may be scrapped.

Some of the agencies that may be affected are the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, National Poverty Eradication Program, Utilities Charges Commission, National Economic Intelligence Committee, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Hajj Commission, and Federal Road Safety Commission.

The 103-page white paper called for a repeal of the Acts establishing these Commissions.

Already President Buhari has directed his Secretary to the government, Boss Mustapha, the head of Service, Folashade Yemi Esan, to implement the recommendations.

The recommendations have been on his table for the last five years. Critics have not failed to point out that the order came almost immediately after the death of the late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. But the reason given for the order was that it will serve to prune down the cost of governance in this COVID 19 pandemic era.

“It has reviewed the whole of the size of government and has made very significant recommendations in terms of reducing the number of agencies and that would mean merging some agencies.

“This is a report that has been in place for a long time and there hasn’t been implementation but the president has approved that this should be implemented and we have conveyed Mr. President’s approval to the arms of government that are responsible for this and that will be the office of the secretary of government and the head of the civil service of the federation”, said Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance

Functions of the Pilgrims Board and Haj Commission are to be taken over by the Ministry of Foreign affairs.

The Goodluck Jonathan government ha rejected this part of the recommendation, but it is not clear what the position of the government is on this.

Kano, Kaduna, Others Declare War On Almajiri

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May 4, 2020

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Nassarawa state has deported 800 almajiris or child beggars as part of the strindent measures by the state goverment to contain the corona virus pandemic, after a member of state house of assembly died of the virus.

The state governor, Abdullahi Sule has directed that the speaker of the house and other members go on isolation for two weeks.

The state has followed in the foot steps of Kano, Kaduna and others who recently sent child beggars back to their state of origin.

Speaking at the state capital, the state helmsman said the children have been deported back to their state” where they will be taken care of by their parents.”

The 19 Northern state governors agreed at a meeting, last week to send almajiris back to their various states of origin.

Governor Sulle, said while addressing the first batch of the almajiris from the southern zone of the state on Sunday, that the beggars pose dangers to the state and themselves..

Biding farewell to the almajiri in Government Science Schools, Lafia, the governor said the essence was for their parents to take proper care of them.

He said, “The plan to repatriate the almajiris is of good intention and not in bad motive.” because “COVID-19 is fast racking the movement”.

According to sources in the state, most of those sent home came from Jigawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Gombe, and Taraba states.

COVID 19: Buyers Abandon $16 bn Nigerian Crude, Shell, Exxon Mobil Mull Shut Down

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May 3, 2020

By Rita Adedoyin

Nigerian crude oil worth over $16 billion is currently stranded in the high seas for lack of buyers.

If the situation persists, many of these tankers could be sent back to the country, thus worsening the economic situation which has been badly hit due to shrinking oil revenue, experts have warned.

Busineses have slowed, due to shutdown in major global economies in China, Europe and US as countries battle to contain the COVID 19 pandemic.

Crude oil market has been hit hard as a result of health the emergency, leading to an all time fall of the product to less than $20 per barrel,,analysts say.

In spite of the drift in price, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC said it could not find buyers for Nigerian oil.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, over 84 million barrel of Nigerian crude is now stranded in the high looking for buyers.

The specialised journal had in an April 27 report, the said cargo ships filled with Nigerian crude had nowhere to go and Nigerian oil companies were competing to fill the “last few empty tankers still left at sea”.

The tankers are coming from production fields managed by Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, the report said, adding that the reason why the crude are loaded in the tankers, is due to the fact that they cannot be stored in Nigerian oil fields which are already old and outdated.

Shutting the oil field down, it further said portends grave danger as it will be difficult to get them.back to operation due to old age.Meanwhile, there are fears of scarcity of vessels soon,,experts say.

When this happens, it could lead to the total collapse of the oil market.

The newspaper has reported that a Nigerian ta0nker was turned back from the US Gulf Coast and it returned to the Canary Islands, where other Nigerian-hired ships are idled.

Banks’ Sack Gale: CBN Intervenes After Outrage

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May 3, 2020