Chinese Experts: Fears Over Their Certifications

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April 9, 2020

By Uche Mbah
There have been palpable fears over whether the imported Chinese Experts were screened by the Nigerian Government before they arrived in Nigeria as coronavirus experts.
Recall that Air Peace broke the jinx by being the first Nigerian airline to fly from Nigeria non-stop to Beijing, the capital of China. It flew on the instance of the Nigerian Government to bring in equipment to help Nigeria fight the dreaded disease, and ferry in the experts.
The arrival of the experts was steeped in controversy. The Nigeria Medical Association rejected them, the Nigerian Union of Journalists rejected the idea, Nigerians generally rejected the idea but the government was adamant. They were received on arrival in Abuja by the Minister of health.
Nigerian doctors have vowed not to have them near their patients.
But the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zou Pingjiang, said he was at a loss considering the opposition the coming of the “experts” has generated.
“I am struggling to understand the logic; for us, at the most difficult stage of our fight, we received support from Nigeria, it is time for us to reciprocate the friendship and the kindness”, he said.

“This is the first time I met the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, since early February and I appreciate the strong support for us from him and the government.

“For the government and Chinese businesses, what we are trying to do is to address the concerns of our dear friends.

“According to the information the CCECCE gave to me, the value of the equipment and medical supplies is around $1.5 million and including the other costs like the flight it is around $2 million,” he said.
On how long they will stay, he said they were billed to stay for one month, but the one month quarantine may extend it.

“The lockdown in Wuhan lasted 76 days, since January Wuhan had been in lockdown, today has been the very first day that the lockdown has been lifted.

“One key measure for us to fight the Covid-19 is to try every means to break the chain of transmission”.
But it is not clear who certified the doctors for practice in Nigeria, or whether they were screened at all by the Nigerian government. Cross border workers are usually screened and tested by their host countries before allowing them to practice to ascertain they satisfy the standards of the host country.
The NMA was not carried along by the government in its decision.
The NMA chairman of the Federal Capital Territory chapter, Dr Phillips Ekpe, was reported to have warned: “We need to be careful of the Chinese coming into the country at this time. They seem not to have a good name. We are not sure of the value they are going to add. Our case is not severe and Nigerian doctors are doing very well.

“We learned that it wasn’t the Federal Government that invited them; they are accompanying some medical equipment being donated to Nigeria. So, they are even uninvited. They should offload and go. There are so many conspiracy theories around this COVID-19. We need to be very cautious. We have so many doctors out there who are not employed. The government should engage them.”
Obviously the government ignored the warning.
Only recently, EU countries returned equipment supplied by china on the ground that they are inferior. And there are rumors that some equipment bought from china were returned because they tested positive for covid-19.

COVID-19: Chinese Ambassador Says It Cost Over $2 million To Bring Chinese Doctors, Equipment, To Nigeria

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The Source

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April 9, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, has sensationally revealed it cost both the Nigerian Government and the Civil Engineering Construction Company, a whopping sum of Two Million US Dollars to bring in 15 Chinese medical personnel and medical equipment to Nigeria.

He said the gesture was to reciprocate the kindness demonstrated by Nigeria to his country and people during their trying times, fighting Covid-19.

Speaking with newsmen after the arrival of the team and medical equipment, the Ambassador acknowledged that the Nigerian government had shown China great solidarity when it struggled with the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the support coming from the Chinese government and its companies in Nigeria was China’s way of reciprocating.

So far, he said, it had cost China’s Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, and the Federal Government about two million dollars to bring in the experts and the medical equipment.

The Ambassador said he is shocked, and at the reaction of some Nigerians, and could not understand the rationale behind the attitude of some Nigerians who were against the coming of the experts.

“I am struggling to understand the logic. For us, at the most difficult stage of our fight, we received support from Nigeria. Now, it is time for us to reciprocate the friendship and the kindness.

“This is the first time I met the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, since early February, and I appreciate the strong support for us from him and the government.

“For the government and Chinese businesses, what we are trying to do is to address the concerns of our dear friends.

“According to the information the CCECCE gave to me, the value of the equipment and medical supplies is around $1.5 million when the other costs like the flight is added, it is around $2 million,” he said.

He disclosed that the experts were originally billed to stay for one month but noted that the mandatory quarantine may also determine how long they will stay.

The ambassador said the major secret which worked for China, especially in Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, was the lockdown which broke the chain of transmission.

“The lockdown in Wuhan lasted 76 days. Since January, Wuhan has been in lockdown. Today is the very first day the lockdown was lifted.

“One key measure for us to fight the Covid-19 is to try every means to break the chain of transmission,” he said.

It will be recalled that many Nigerians, including the Nigeria Medical Association spoke up against the arrival of the Chinese medical experts to Nigeria.

COVID-19: Gov. Yahaya Bello Lifts Ban On Religious Activities, Mixed Reaction Trails Decision

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April 9, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

In a twist of event, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has lifted the ban on religious activities in the State, contrary to the lockdown and restriction of movement due to the outbreak of the deadly Pandemic, Coronavirus.

The Kogi State Government had announced it’s decision to lift the ban placed on religious activities in the state with immediate effect to allow various religious bodies to resume their normal worship and services.

This was disclosed in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja on Thursday, that religious bodies should return for worship.

According to the statement, “Following the directive of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State that the ban on religious congregations be lifted with immediate effect to allow religious bodies have their normal worship and services.”

In the statement, Governor Bello also urged religious leaders to put in place the following preventive measures by providing sanitizers for all worshippers at the entrance of churches and mosques.

It further stated that the sitting arrangements in mosques and churches should be done to ensure social distancing.

“We also urge churches and mosques to make their services as brief as possible in order not to keep a large crowd of worshipers within an enclosed confinement for a long period of time.

“The COVID-19 Squadron Committee also urges religious leaders to continue to pray for the end of the pandemic so that the world can return to normal life and activities,” the statement said.

The state government in line with the federal government’s directive had placed a ban on religious congregations in the past two weeks as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Mixed Reaction has however trailed this decision, as cross section of political and health observers frown at the Governor’s verdict, saying it will further lead to the spread of the virus.

Columnist and political observer, Owei Lankemfa had criticised Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Governor Bello for allowing Churches and Mosques to on with their activities so far they adhere to safety and preventive measures of the virus.

In his words, “We cannot pretend to educate Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, Governor Yahaya Bello and Gov Rotimi Odunayo ‘Aketi’ Akeredolu of Ondo State that Covid-19 is real, is a pandemic and there is the need for physical distancing to slow or stop the virus.

“But we should beg them not to allow or encourage mass gatherings for Jumat and Easter services as they are threatening to do.

“If Saudi Arabia and the Vatican can enforce lockdown, how can Masari be wiser than our collective wisdom and Akeredolu be more Catholic than the Pope?

“We know they are quite powerful persons, so we need to beg them because the lives of Nigerians matter”, he stated.

Other notable voices and political analyts have also criticised the decisions of these Governors.

Finally, Ronaldinho Is Released From Paraguay Prison

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April 9, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Two-time World Best Footballer, Ronaldinho De Assis, has been released from Asuncion prison, Paraguay, after several weeks of languishing in the South American prison for possessing fake Passport. He has now been placed on house arrest.

The ex-Brazilian international is being investigated, along with his brother, for possession of fake Paraguayan Passports. Both been under a high-security jail in Paraguay.

The former Barcelona Football Club of Spain midfielder is now confined at the luxury Palmaroga hotel in Asuncion. Ronaldinho and his brother, Roberto de Assis have also been told to pay bail of around £650,000, each, by the Paraguay Court.

The veteran world footballer who dorned the jerseys of top Clubs in Europe has played for AC Milan, Paris-Saint Germain, Barcelona and clubs in his homeland, was jailed on March 6 after entering Paraguay with a false passport.

He told local authorities during a hearing that the document was a gift from a Brazilian businessman, Wilmondes Sousa Liria, who was also jailed.

When issuing the ruling, Judge Gustavo Amarilla said: “I decided to put them in house arrest because the investigation is now well advanced, differently from the situation one month ago.”

Ronaldinho, 40, had his Brazilian passport seized at home due to an investigation into alleged environmental crimes, but the document was returned to him in September.

One month later he played in a friendly in Israel.

If convicted, Ronaldinho could spend up to five years in jail.

Ronaldinho travelled to Paraguay to promote his autobiography.

He was jailed in an improvised penitentiary in the south of Asuncion, which is used for 150 dangerous criminals, including convicts of drug dealing, corruption and rape.

During his stay at the prison, he played football with inmates and took pictures with them that were shared on social media.

Ronaldino was recently voted the second best Barcelona player of all time, behind Diego Maradona, in a poll for the club’s fans.

The versatile star, who could play across the forward line or as an attacking midfielder, played for Barca from 2003 to 2008, when he joined AC Milan, also won the UEFA Champions League trophy with Barcelona and also won the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Boko Haram: FG Buys Tanks From China, After US, UK Snub

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Bayo Bernard

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April 9, 2020

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By Fola James

Frequently snubbed by the United States and its Western allies, the the federal government has now turned to the Peoples’ Republic of China for weapons to fight the war against Boko Haram.

Just arrived the country are 17 of the $152 million fast moving, heavy and light tanks which many believe could be a game changer in the battle against the killer terrorists.

While taking delivery of the armaments on Wednesday, Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, CPPLANS Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun said is now prepared more than ver to route the terrorists and criminals from their hide outs.

He said the armed forces are happy that the tanks finally arrived having waited for months to take their delivery from China.

Adeosun said: “The process of acquiring this has been on for some time but thank God they are coming in now.

From this, you can see how serious the Federal Government of Nigeria is in making sure that the Nigerian Army is not only equipped ,but contains problem of insecurity we are having across the country.

This is being tackled with trained personnel and required equipment. What you are seeing here is just a tip of the iceberg. Others are still coming but it is very important that we all see that both the military and the government are really very serious to tackle the security problems across the nation.”

He said the decision to turn to China for cutting edge weapons has paid off.

The tanks “are in different categories- heavy tanks, light tanks and we also have two types of artillery weapons, all from China. They have the latest technology in tanks and armament.

The first set of 15 40-foot containers that were offloaded before today were made up of spareparts and accessories of all these equipment.

So, those ones are already out of the port and on their way to their destinations. Just as we are here, most of these ones will move to their respective destinations as well.”

The armed forces, he said, are prepared to put the menace of Boko Haram behind them.

Those who will operate them have been trained in China. If not for the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19, we expected some of their trainers to join us here to train more people.

From the army, expect more robust operation to put behind us the menace of insecurity, that of Boko Haram, bandits among others.”

The past few weeks have been discouraging for Nigerian troops after suffering terrible casualties in the hands of the Abubakar Shekau-led boko haram and their ISWAP allies.

The leadership of the nation’s armed forces have also been called out after Chad’s Armed forces routed the terrorists and seized their largest arms deport in Sambisa forest, a Nigerian territory last week.

The peak of the whole saga, came, when General Olusegun Adeniyi, Commander of Operation Lafia Dole revealed in a viral video that the armed forces lacked both reliable intelligence and weapons to fight the insurgence. The two-star Army General was sacked few days after.

It appears there’s now hope in the horizon for the Armed forces, to turn the battle around after taking delivery of the $152 million tanks from China

The armaments which were built to specification, were ordered from China after that country’s state-owned China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco) won the federal government’s bid for the acquisition of military hardwares last year.

Sources at Defence Headquarters, DHQ told the magazine that the President Muhammadu Buhari –led government turned to China after it has been denied weapons by United States of America and its western allies.

The magazine was told that the contract to supply the tanks was entered to after the Chinese manufacturer agreed to build the tanks on specification.

Part of the agreement is also for the Chinese manufacturer to maintain and supply necessary parts for the tanks, sources privy to the contract said.

The company had also built war ships for the Nigerian Navy, sources informed the magazine.

Experts from China are also expected to arrived the country soon, to train the troops on how to use and maintain the tanks, Army sources told the magazine.

“The tanks were built mainly to be used in the North East where the nation’s armed forces are currently engaged with terrorist. They are rapid moving tanks that can withstand the rigour of the desert. They are expected to be a game changer in the war against Boko Haram,” the source said.

Equipped with latest artillery and armoured technologies, the armaments have the ability to wage war from multiple fronts with technologies that aid visibility in cloudy or smoky weather.

They were also built to carry a minimum of 12 armed personnel housed securely within.

NFF Gives Rohr Stringent Conditions To Remain Coach; May Face Sack; Rohr Reacts

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April 9, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is about to lay to rest the crisis over the renewal of Franco-German Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, which has been in the front burner of discourse for months.

The NFF agreed to extend Rohr’s contract after its appointment of former Super Eagles Captain and ex-International, Joseph Yobo, as Assistant Coach.

To appoint Yobo, the NFF had relieved Imama Amapakabo and Salisu Ibrahim as Assistant Coaches to Rohr.

Now, the NFF has given stringent conditions if Rohr wants to remain the National Team tactician.

Pinnick unveiled the conditions for the renewal of Rohr’s job, on Wednesday. The contract papers will be ready for signing within a week.

The conditions include that:

* He must reside in Nigeria,

*His salary will be paid in Naira

*He must watch league matches with a view to picking players that could be nurtured to become international stars.

Pinnick: “In one week, Rohr will get his contract, he should study his contract and come back to us. So, give and take, within seven days, he should have his contract,” Pinnick stated in an interview on Arise TV ‘Morning Show’.

“The only thing that can impede the contract is if he refuses some of our new clauses in the contract.

“Rohr should live in Nigeria and go around to watch the league matches and see how to nurture the players.

“He has to be paid in Naira; we will pay him Naira equivalent of the dollars; we have to strengthen our currency. If he’s able to accept, we have a deal.”

Pinnick, also, assured Nigerians that getting a new coach won’t be a challenge should Rohr decline the terms.

“I get calls every day from coaches that want to come here,” Pinnick added.

Reacting to the conditions given by the NFF, Rohr says he is ready to accept all the conditions as he is ready to continue working with the NFF and the National Team.

Rohr was appointed as Super Eagles Coach in 2016. Under him, Nigeria qualified for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

His contract was renewed after the world showpiece, and he successfully guided the national team to Egypt 2019 African Cup of Nations, where Nigeria won the Bronze medal.

He is, now, just two wins away from qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Buhari’s Aide Exposes Senate President, Speaker; Calls Them Selfish

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The Source

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April 9, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

The romance between the leadership of the National Assembly and the Presidency seems to have gone sour.

The gloves are out. What Nigerians see are rough tackles. There is mutual suspicion. And, distrust reigns.

Mrs Mariam Uwais, Presidential Adviser on

Social Investment Programmes, has accused both the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajamialina of selfishness.

Uwais, a renowned Lawyer, wife of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, was reacting to strong criticisms by both men, asking for transparency, and account in the execution of the transfer of funds to alleviate poverty amongst the very poor, and especially in the era of COVID-I9.

The eye brows raised by the Lawmakers seems to have put the $500m World Bank support for Conditional Cash Transfer in trouble.

But the Presidency, speaking through Uwais attributed the eye brows raised to the inability of certain members of the National Assembly to include “their personally selected candidates” as beneficiaries for the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs).

Uwais insists that this failure is: “largely why the programme has come under attack by Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.”

Buhari’s Special Adviser the President alleged this in a statement she released in response to the attacks on the operations of the NSIP by Lawan and Gbajamialina.

Taking on the issues raised by the lawmakers on the selection of beneficiaries, Mrs Uwais said “the demand for the inclusion of candidates to the NSR from the NASS has been a recurring issue from the inception of the NSIPs.

“My role and singular focus has simply been to comply with the terms of Agreement and the MoU entered into by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as to establish an objective, efficient and transparent process for uplifting the poor out of poverty through structures and mechanisms that are credible and sustainable.

“I have consistently reminded both NASS Committee Chairmen on Poverty Alleviation that there is no social protection programme in the world in which politicians are responsible for selecting the beneficiaries of cash transfers. All successful social protection programmes extract their beneficiaries from an objective community platform, if only to ensure that the poorest of the poor are supported out of poverty in an inclusive community driven and timely manner.”

And on the consequence of politicizing the selection process as requested by the National Assembly, she said the demands of the lawmakers is a breach of the financing agreement entered into with the World Bank.

Uwais:“The process for objective identification of poor and vulnerable households is as provided in the Financing Agreement (F.A) signed between Nigeria and the World Bank, for which purpose the World Bank IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family are being utilised.

“It should be noted that any departure from the process would place at risk the accessibility to the IDA Credit and the recovered funds from the Abacha family.

“The National Cash Transfer Programme derives all the cash transfer beneficiaries from a National Social Register (NSR), comprising State Social Registers that are developed and hosted by the State Ministries of Panning of each State,”

Uwais also described as untrue and regrettable claims by the Lawmakers that information about the NSIPs was not accessible to the National Assembly.

COVID-19: 600 Die Drinking Alcohol

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The Source

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April 9, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

The deadly Coronavirus has started killing people by proxy.

In a desperate move to stop themselves from contracting it, a number of people, not only in Nigeria, but world over, are embarking on desperate actions.

Here in Nigeria, while some people believe there is nothing like such a Virus, a few people overdosed themselves on Chloroquine, the once banned malaria tablet, as soon as they heard it could be “a weapon against the Virus.”

They landed in hospital.

Some have also gone as far as drinking hand sanitizers, many of them fake, and using detergents to take their bath. The effect on them was almost suicidal. Running stomach and bodies covered with ugly rashes.

Now, in Iran, an Islamic country, no fewer than 600 people have died after they drank a large dose of highly- concentrated alcohol in a bid to protect themselves from coronavirus.

The news of this tragedy was broken by Iran’s semi-official News Agency, Tasnim, which quoted a spokesperson for the Iranian Judiciary, Ghulam Hussein Ismaili.

According to Ismaili, the number of people who have died from drinking raw alcohol has escalated to a disturbing figure.

“More than 3,000 people have been poisoned after drinking toxic beverages in an effort to treat the disease”, he lamented.

Many of the alcoholic drinks, he said, were not only produced illegally, they lack the required standards. A number of people have been arrested as a result of the deadly business, but it has not stopped it from booming.

Iran is one of the countries where Coronavirus is thriving with morbid consequences.

As at Tuesday afternoon, as many as 3,872 have died of the Virus. The number of the infected stood at 63,589 – and counting.

Breaking:FG Ignores Nigerians, Welcomes Chinese Medics

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Bayo Bernard

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April 8, 2020

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By Fola James

The Chinese doctors have landed in Nigeria despite the alarm raised by some groups and individuals that they are not required to help the country fight the novel corona virus pandemic.

Their arrival came on the crest of the announcement by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCFC that the number of corona virus patients in the country has risen to 276.

The medicsarrived the country this evening via Air Peace,, a lNigerian local airline.

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA is one the groups that opposed the decision of the federal government to invite the Chinese medics.

The federal government has recently received medical equipments worth millions of naira from Chinese Billionaire and owner of Alibaba, Jack Ma

Details later……..

COVID-19: Gov. Akeredolu Grants Churches Permission To Host Easter Service, CAN Hails Decision

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April 8, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has brought smiles to the faces of Christians in the State, following his decision to allow churches hold Easter Services, despite the lockdown of religious centers Nationwide, due to the outbreak of the deadly Pandemic, Coronavirus.

The Governor however issued some conditions the churches must adhere to with a view to curbing the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement by chairman of Ondo chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Reverend John Oladapo, said social distancing order would be observed diligently.

Oladapo stressed that the CAN leadership met with the State Government to rub minds on how to hold Easter Sunday worship service, which was granted by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which was highly appreciated.

Oladapo stated that CAN agreed to adhere to handwashing with soap, water and sanitisers as well as limiting services to 20 people in a small church building, 50 persons in a medium size while big and cathedrals must maintain 3 congregants at different intervals.

He said the Easter services would hold between 7am and 12noon on Sunday and warned against posting the church services on social media.

Commissioner for information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, in his explanation, said there was no need for any misgivings, that the Ondo State Government felt like giving the Christians the opportunity to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ together.

Ojogo said the position of CAN and the Government should be seen as mutually inclusive.

He said the state government has communicated the concession granted CAN to the Ondo State Police Command that it was to allow the celebration of Easter Sunday in churches.

According to him: “CAN’s statement is explicit enough that Government had graciously granted a special relief to it”.

CAN however showered encomium on the Governor for the kind gesture which they wouldn’t take for granted, but adhere strictly to the orders of the Ondo State Government.