COVID-19: FG, governors disagree over lockdown [Nation]
Govs demand relaxation in Lagos, Ogun, FCT
PTF may set tough conditions for partial restriction
No weddings, funerals, religious services will be allowed
Buhari weighs options as lockdown expires Monday
Makinde, Obiano ease shutdown in Oyo, Anambra
190 Nigerians in UK write Foreign Affairs Minister, demand exact date for evacuation
The Federal Government is not disposed to the call by State Governors for the relaxation of the current lockdown in the country on account of the coronavirus pandemic, The Nation gathered last night.
The federal authorities, sources said, are much in favour of partial restrictions in 33 of the 36 states with a view to mitigating the effects of the current lockdown in many parts of the country as against the relaxation being sought by the governors.
Governors Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Seyi Makinde have already relaxed the restrictions in their states.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which President Muhammadu Buhari relies on principally for advice on the pandemic is not in agreement with the governors that government should soft pedal in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano States.
Buhari who is billed to address the nation tomorrow is said to be weighing the options before him.
Members of the PTF were locked in a marathon meeting yesterday on the format of the partial restrictions to put in place in 33 states without fueling the spread of the Coronavirus.
The task force considered the status report on COVID-19 spread in each state of the federation, the input of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and local and international technical evaluation of the pandemic in the country.
A top level source said: “We are inching towards partial restrictions in some states and the Federal Capital Territory. There is clamour for the partial lifting of the lockdown. This is why the PTF is meeting.
“The PTF has received many suggestions but we are being careful not to reverse the gains of the last few weeks in the battle against Coronavirus.
“One of the knotty issues is a recommendation by the NGF that there should be internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies nationwide.
But the PTF took exception to partial lifting of the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos, Ogun and Kano states.”
When contacted, a member of the NGF said the Forum was on the same page with the PTF on the input of the governors except for one recommendation.
The source said: “I don’t think they (the PTF on COVID-19) have serious objection except with internal free movement where they believe that we should not relax the lockdown in the epicentres of Lagos, Kano, FCT and Ogun. They may be right.
“We have done our bit by presenting our input. You can contact the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha for details.”
The NGF in the Friday letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said: “Please refer to the above subject matter and to our Teleconference meeting with the Vice President on Wednesday, 22 April 2020.
“Recall at that meeting it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on Covid-19 so as to have a Uniform and Coordinated Policy on Covid-19 at both the national and sub-national levels.
“Subject to Mr. President’s approval, the NGF would want the following incorporated into Mr. President’s Pronouncements:
*Inter-State lockdown excluding movement of essential supplies foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products:
*Internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies;
*Overnight curfews:
*Lockdown of flights: and
*Compulsory use of face masks/ coverings in the public.
Another top source said last night that the NGF’s letter was “inexplicit on what qualified as internal movement.”
The source said: “We may end up with tough advisory on partial restrictions. We cannot allow the governors to reopen schools; there will be no wedding, funeral outings; churches and mosques cannot operate and we will only allow access to markets in the neighbourhood.
“Don’t forget that the Federal Government and the PTF only locked down the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states. We did not lockdown the remaining 34 states. But we cannot close our eyes when Coronavirus infections get out of control in any state.
“This is why we believe the governors must be cautious in putting in place partial restrictions. We should avoid creating a situation where the pandemic will get out of control in any state.
“For instance, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State did not consult with the PTF or Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before directing that churches should resume normal activities. No technical or empirical basis for his decision. Does the state have the where withal to manage the consequences of exposing its citizens to Coronavirus spread?
Responding to a question, the source added: “The PTF members will still meet on Sunday. We may come up with tough advisory if there will be internal movement in any state as part of the conditions of partial restrictions.”
190 Nigerians in UK write Foreign Affairs Minister, demand exact date for evacuation
The Nation also gathered yesterday that 190 Nigerians, who are currently stranded in the United Kingdom, have written Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyema demanding the exact date of their evacuation home.
They also said they do not mind to stay in the orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Nigeria.
They said they have paid £350 each to private laboratories for the COVID-19 test and for their flight.
In a letter signed by their spokesperson, Mrs. Olajoke Adesipe, the Nigerians expressed “dissatisfaction and frustration with the delay in our evacuation.”
They said: “We want to inform you of the following that has been unanimously agreed to on our platform (approximately 190 Nigerians, many of who are students from Nigeria in the UK).
“The Nigerian government does not have the constitutional power of locking its citizens out of the country. This is contrary to Section14 (2) (b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which stipulates expressly that, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Every Government official swore on oath to uphold the constitution.
“Since most of us on the platform have tested Negative for COVID19. On arrival in Nigeria, temperature checks should be conducted to further ascertain our COVID status and the government should allow us to self-quarantine in our various homes. We are more than willing to sign an agreement to this request.
“If it is a must that we are isolated by the government, we suggest the use of NYSC orientation camps as all of those centres are vacant now and each state has its own.
“Also, we want to urge you to communicate to us in clear terms, what is the precise date of commencement of evacuation? Which airlines have been contracted to carry out this operation? How much we are to pay for the flight ticket?
“Lastly, most of us do not currently possess the mean by which we are expected to pay for our accommodation at the isolation centres.
“We have already paid £350 to private laboratories for the COVID 19 test, the test which was a prerequisite to be airlifted and we are also paying for our flight tickets.
“We hope that the government is able to agree with us on these term stated above as they are the most practicable at the moment. We wish the government treat this as an emergency.”
Makinde, Obiano relax lockdowns
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday announced the relaxation of restrictions in their states.
Makinde, directed the re-opening of the State Secretariat for workers from level 13 upward from tomorrow.
He said: “The State Secretariat will be reopened on Monday, April 27th, 2020. Only civil servants at level 13 and above with separate offices will resume.”
“The following guidelines are in place to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 within the secretariat: There will be new security measures in place including having only one gate to serve as entrance and exit.
“All other gates will be closed. “All meetings will be held online and that no visitors are allowed except absolutely necessary.
“In addition, hand washing facilities in strategic locations around the secretariat; one 100ml hand sanitizer and face mask will be given to each officer; bush canteens around the secretariat will remain closed. Officers are encouraged to bring their own food for lunch.”
The dusk to dawn curfew in the State has also been be relaxed from 7 pm – 7 am, to 7 pm – 5 am in a bid to accommodate farmers this planting season.
On his part, Obiano asked churches to resume full activities from today.
But worshippers are required to wear face masks and observe the World Health Organisation’s guidelines during worship.
He listed the protocol to include regular hand washing, avoiding handshakes, application of hand sanitizers, and social distancing.
The governor announced that movements around the state were not restricted, stressing, however, that all boundaries in the state remained closed.
“All food and drug markets in the state are to open with immediate effect.
“I will meet with market leaders on Monday, 27th April, for further discussion. When to re-open the schools as well as when civil servants will be allowed to go back to offices will be announced soon,” he said.
Observers worry over consequences of relaxing lockdown
Stakeholders and observers are not convinced by the reasons given by the governors and other advocates of relaxation of the current lockdown.
They are of the view that Nigeria is yet to get to a point in its fight against the virus, where it can allow people to flood the streets.
They wonder how a government which has found it difficult to enforce a total lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun will be able to enforce social distancing at public gatherings including markets and public transportation.
They are also worried about a possible explosion in the number of infections resulting from uncontrolled public gatherings and the massive pressure that may result in social and health facilities.
They recalled the statement April 11 statement by Buhari in which he said the lockdown would last for as long as necessary and that he would rely on experts in taking decisions on measures to check the spread of the coronavirus.
His Senior Special Assistant of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu quoted him as saying: “No elected government could ask more of the citizens of the country that elected them than today we ask of you.
But we must ask you – once more – to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.
“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential – world over – to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.
“All that the Government is asking you to endure is because nowhere in the world today is there any known way of defeating this pandemic. There is no vaccine. And that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual, or accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.
“But at this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic. 210 countries and territories across the globe are affected. We cannot expect others to come to our assistance. No one is coming to defeat this virus for us.
“Instead, the defeat of the virus in our country will be in our hands, alone. We cannot wait for others. We can only depend on ourselves now. And so we must – and we will – end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians, together.”
In his first broadcast to the nation on coronavirus last month, Buhari had said: “In Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19, there is no such thing as an overreaction or an under reaction. It is all about the right reaction by the right agencies and trained experts.
“Accordingly, as a Government, we will continue to rely on guidance of our medical professionals and experts at the Ministry of Health, NCDC and other relevant agencies through this difficult time.”
In a follow up broadcast on April 13, he said: “The National Centre for Disease Control has informed me that, a large proportion of new infections are now occurring in our communities, through person-to-person contacts. So we must pay attention to the danger of close contact between person to person.
“Today, the cessation of movement, physical distancing measures and the prohibition of mass gatherings remain the most efficient and effective way of reducing the transmission of the virus.
By sustaining these measures, combined with extensive testing and contact tracing, we can take control and limit the spread of the disease.
“This is not a joke. It is a matter of life and death. Mosques in Makkah and Madina have been closed. The Pope celebrated Mass on an empty St. Peter’s Square.
The famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris held Easter Mass with less than 10 people. India, Italy and France are in complete lockdown. Other countries are in the process of following suit. We cannot be lax.
“The previously issued guidelines on exempted services shall remain.
“This is a difficult decision to take, but I am convinced that this is the right decision. The evidence is clear.
“The repercussions of any premature end to the lockdown action are unimaginable.
“We must not lose the gains achieved thus far. We must not allow a rapid increase in community transmission. We must endure a little longer.”
Recently, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) called on some state governments not to place any consideration above public health issues in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement by the president of the association, Dr Francis Faduyile, and the secretary-general, Dr Olumuyiwa Odusote, NMA called on states not to relax the lockdown measure yet as the country is not ready for such a decision in its fight against the dreadful killer virus.
NMA warned that with more community transmission of COVID-19 being reported in the country, it was vital to eschew any measure that would promote mass gathering. “As such, relaxing any guideline that promotes mass gatherings in any part of our nation now can only heighten and not flatten the curve of transmission dynamics.
The NMA and others warning against the relaxation of the lockdown must among other things, be thinking of the poor living conditions of many Nigerians.
On Friday, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, explained why the lockdown measure should not be relaxed just yet. Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said, “We will eventually exit this stage and restart our normal life but that stage is still a while to come and I ask for your endurance, support and patience.
Lots of efforts are going on across the world to find new therapy, to find vaccine.” If this is how the man at the head of the fight against the disease feels, I’ll suggest we really think well about whether to relax the lockdown or not.
Mass burial looms as Lagos moves to decongest morgues [Nation]
- Sanwo-Olu asks families to pick up their deceased
THE Lagos State government has given go ahead to families who have corpses in mortuaries across the state and have not been able to do proper funeral in the last two months because of the restriction occasioned by the outbreak of coronavirus to do so within the next two weeks.
This is because mortuaries in the state are getting congested and if after two weeks there is no decongestion, the state government will be compelled to carry out mass burial.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the go ahead on Saturday at a press conference at Lagos House Marina.
The governor said the directive became inevitable because mortuaries in Lagos are getting to their peak because of corpses that were awaiting funeral before the outbreak of coronavirus and others that have passed on in the last two months of outbreak and restrictions.
Sanwo-Olu, however, made it clear that the corpses are not as result of death from coronavirus, adding that the state has only recorded 18 cases of death from Covid-19.
“These are not COVID-19 deaths in any form, funerals have not been held in the last two months or so, so congestion is not as a result of death from Covid-19 which is only 18 recorded so far in the state.”
The governor therefore appealed to Lagosians who have corpses in the mortuaries to go ahead and schedule the funerals, adding that funerals are on the list of exemption from the lockdown restrictions.
“You can hold and attend your funeral activities in Lagos as long as you comply with the requirements that we have laid out.”
These requirements, the governor said are: funerals must not exceed 20 persons including the officiating ministers, physical distancing must be maintained at all funeral ceremonies, all attendees or mourners must wear a face mask and must ensure they wash their hands before and after the ceremony and there must not be any form of parties or reception that would accompany the funeral ceremonies.
“As long as you keep these directives and you fully comply with them, funerals would be allowed and encouraged to take place immediately.
“If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the state within the next two weeks, Lagos State government will now be compelled to seek to have mass burial and we don’t want to force this on anybody that is why we are asking for the cooperation of all of us,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also disclosed that he has signed the release of 209 inmates remanded in various correctional centers in Lagos.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I have this afternoon, following the recommendation of the advisory council on prerogative of mercy signed a release order for 209 inmates remanded in our various correctional centers in Lagos.
“This was done in part to decongest the correctional centers in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and it is also part of a larger effort to bring lasting reform to the administration of criminal justice in our country”, he said.
The governor also appealed to all Muslims in the state as they observe the Ramadan to ensure that the observance of the season is carried out in a manner that is in compliance with all the health directives that have been laid out by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Observe all meals and prayers within your homes as against the usual practice of gathering together and as even directed by the Sultan of Sokoto, no public lectures.
“We must shun all gatherings, by complying with these directives we would be protecting ourselves, state and the nation from coronavirus,” Sanwo-Olu said
Giving updates on Covid-19, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos now has 670 confirmed cases, while a total of 120 persons have been discharged so far since outbreak started, “we expect more discharges as the days go by,” he said.
The increase in confirmed cases, Sanwo-19 said, demonstrates that “we are firmly in the community transmission stage in Lagos and it means our strategy of ramping testing within the community is working and we are beginning to see the effect.”
He however, warned that this is not the time to relax or slow down on the effort of breaking the chain of transmission of Covid-19.
He also said that henceforth it is compulsory to wear face mask at any public gathering, assuring that the government was currently producing millions which will be given out for free to residents, he appealed to private organisations to also produce same for citizens as the government may not be able to meet up with demands.
We need to investigate natural therapies – Abayomi
And speaking on Channels TV on Saturday, Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi said government would not overlook natural therapies in finding a solution to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Of course, you can support yourself with a good diet, good food and lots of natural therapies and that’s one thing that we are pushing very hard in Lagos – our traditional medicine,” he said.
“We have a traditional medicine board, a traditional medicine research committee and I believe that there are several natural therapies that we need to investigate.”
He added, “One of the best ways to raise your immune system is sleep. As the body rests, it allows the immunity to do its job.
“If you get sick with the flu or with Coronavirus, the best thing is to stay in bed and get lot of rest and allow your body’s energy to be consumed by the immune system which is trying to do the curing,” he explained.
Coronavirus: 97 new cases as national tally hits 1182 [Nation]
- Lagos, Kano record fresh deaths
- Borno gets 18 new cases, Osun 12
- Ondo, Kaduna, Zamfara admit new patients
- Taraba quarantines 199 travellers
CORONAVIRUS infections rose by 87 new cases in Nigeria on Saturday bringing the total number to 1,182, according to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The pandemic claimed one more life each in Lagos and Kano States.
Thirty three new cases were recorded in Lagos State, 18 in Borno, 12 in Osun, nine in Katsina and four in Kano.
The rest are four in Ekiti, three each in Edo and Bauchi while Imo has one.
The NCDC said 222 cases have been discharged so far while and 35 deaths have been recorded.One hundred and ninety-nine travellers were intercepted and quarantined in Taraba State by the State government to safeguard residents against the spread of the deadly virus.
The Lagos State Ministry of Health confirmed the fresh death in the state, saying on its Twitter handle: “One COVID 19 death was recorded, bringing the total number of COVID 19 related deaths in Lagos to 19.” It gave no details.
Kano victim identified as bank manager
The Kano victim was identified as Abdullahi Lawal, regional manager of a first generation bank. He died after he was taken ill on Friday.
He was first put on admission at a private clinic in Kano from where he was referred to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in the city.
At the private hospital, he was placed on oxygen as soon as he was placed on admission only for his treatment to be suspended when he showed no signs of stability.
It was gathered that efforts to reach the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Kano proved futile.
The Abuja headquarters which was eventually contacted promised that help would soon come from the Kano office.
It never did until Lawal died.
12 new cases in Osun, total now 13 active
Twelve new cases were confirmed in Osun State yesterday to bring the total there to 13.
Health Commissioner Rafiu Isamotu said: “the state has carried out 167 tests and 12 returned positive. This brings the number of active COVID-19 cases in Osun to 13.”
He said the fresh tests were carried out in the last two weeks of the lockdown, adding that the lockdown has proven effective in containing the spread of the virus.
The Commissioner urged residents of the State not to panic but should continue to comply with the stay-at-home directive of the State government, keep social distancing and observe all precautionary measures to curb the spread of the disease.
He also reiterated that the ban on public gatherings remains in force, just as he urged residents to take the wearing of face mask seriously as it is now compulsory across the state.
Ondo admits policeman who tested positive in Lagos
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said on his Twitter handle yesterday that a policeman who had tested positive for COVID-19 in Lagos was now receiving treatment in Akure.
The unnamed policeman, according to the governor, did not wait to receive the result of his test in Lagos before dashing to Ondo State.
When he eventually returned to Lagos the result of the test read positive and once more he headed to Akure to receive treatment.
The governor expressed disappointment at the behavior of the policeman.
His words: “Earlier today, I got news of another positive case of #COVID19 admitted to our facility in Akure. The case of this individual who is a police officer is unique.
“He was tested in Lagos but came to Ondo State while awaiting his results. Upon receiving a positive result, he claimed to have returned back to Lagos.
“According to him, he waited a few days in Lagos to be picked up. When this failed, he panicked and rushed back to Akure for treatment.
“While we appreciate the confidence reposed in our facilities, we do find it most reckless on the part of the officer of the Law to risk the lives of others. I am most disappointed in the level of porosity of the entry points to the state.
“The police officer should know better. I have contacted the commissioner of police to double up on securing our entry points.”
Zamfara confirms two COVID-19 cases
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State yesterday announced the confirmation of two COVID-19 infected persons in the State.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had, on Friday, announced two cases of COVID-19.
The governor said the results of the tests were made available to him late Friday.
He said that the result justified the measures taken by his administration to protect the citizens from the spread of the disease despite the fact that at that time, no case was recorded in the state.
He urged the citizens in the state to be more responsive to all the international good practices of observing social distancing, use of face masks, hand sanitisers and keeping away from crowds as much as possible.
Taraba intercepts, quarantines 199 travellers
The Taraba State Government intercepted and quarantined 199 passengers travelling through the state in breach of the lockdown order.
One hundred and thirty four of were travelling from Bauchi and Yobe states to Tella, Gassol local government area of Taraba State while the remaining 65 were on their way from Ogun State.
Some 134 persons traveling from Bauchi and Yobe States, to Tella, Gassol local government area of Taraba State were quarantined at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Jalingo at the weekend.
The intercepted travellers were mostly women and children.
Health Commissioner Innocent Vakkai who doubles as chairman of the state’s Technical Committee on Covid-19 said the travellers were intercepted by security operatives at different entry points of the state.
He said the intercepted people must undergo test because Bauchi is one of the states in the north with index cases of Coronavirus.
The three buses conveying the travellers were impounded.
One of the drivers, Abubakar Ahmad, an indigene of Taraba, said he loaded the passengers from Azare in Bauchi to Mutum Biyu.
The 65 from Ogun State claimed to have been sacked by their employers, a Chinese firm
The driver of the heavy-duty vehicle conveying them had deceived security personnel up to the point of arrest that he was conveying food items.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Faleye Olaleye, said that upon reaching Jalingo, the driver dumped the passengers and ran away.
The Taraba State government provided a vehicle which conveyed and handed them over to the Adamawa State government to be quarantined.
Meanwhile, the state government is working hard to maintain its zero coronavirus status.
Deputy Governor Haruna Manu said in a broadcast that the state “must not be complacent.” Manu said a total lockdown was necessary because of the increasing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Taraba’s neighbouring states.
The deputy governor, standing for Governor Darius Ishaku, ordered the closure of all shops and malls, including markets.
Worship centres such as Mosques and Churches have been closed. Streets and Mosques in the state capital, Jalingo, were seen deserted, even as Ramadan was observed.
All wedding and naming ceremonies and parties remain suspended, until further notice.
Six COVID-19 patients discharged in Kaduna
Kaduna State Health Commissioner Amina Mohammed Baloni said six patients who received treatment for COVID-19 in Kaduna State have been discharged.
She also said the state recorded a new case of the disease.
As at Saturday the state had four active cases of COVID-19.
She said contact tracing was ongoing to identify people the new case had interacted with so that they could be monitored and tested.
Fayemi confirms four new cases
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi yesterday announced four new cases of Coronavirus in the state, bringing to eight the number of confirmed cases.
In a statement yesterday evening in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi disclosed that the victims contracted the disease from the state’s fourth case, a 45-year-old medical doctor working with a private clinic in the state.
He added that the new positive cases are stable and show no symptoms of the deadly disease, saying they have been transferred to the Ekiti isolation centre for treatment.
“Ekiti State Government has received notice from NCDC of four new COVID-19 positive cases, in the State.
“The new cases are primary contacts of the fourth recorded case, a male doctor, aged 45 years old, who carried out a surgery on the recently deceased third positive case, during childbirth.
“The newly confirmed cases are currently stable and asymptomatic and they have been transferred to the State’s Isolation Center, Ado-Ekiti while our contact tracing team have commenced the process of contact identification and tracing of their immediate contacts for isolation”, he said.
Chief of Staff: Ministers push for cabinet candidate [Nation]
- APC not involved in choice of Kyari’s replacement •What the office requires, by Jonathan’s ex-CoS
Members of the Federal Executive Council are pushing for the appointment of one of them as the next Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, The Nation gathered last night.
Some of the ministers are already reaching out to key strategists and advisors to President Muhammadu Buhari on why one of them should be in charge of his schedules.
The President is said to be waiting for the mourning period for the late Mallam Abba Kyari to be over before making his mind known on the next CoS.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that it was not in any way involved in the process of picking Kyari’s successor.
The ministers, according to sources, are rooting for one of them as CoS because of what they term as “better synergy.”
They are also of the view that a cabinet candidate would be able to fast-track decision-making on issues.
It was however unclear last night whether the President was in agreement with the position of his minister although one source said the slot would remain in the North.
Some of the favoured cabinet members are Education Minister Adamu Adamu (arguably the closest to the President); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Water Resources Minister Suleiman Adamu; Minister of State for Transportation(Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, Ya’u Shehu Darazo; Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN); Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq; Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi; and Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola among others.
A top source said: “Although the Chief of Staff is a personal staff of the President, ministers are desirous of one of them as the successor to Kyari. Some of them are lobbying for the appointment of one of them.
“Their argument is that it will enhance synergy between the President and his cabinet since ministers now report to the Chief of Staff.
They are also saying that time is no longer on the side of the government; the President needs a Chief of Staff who can fast-track decision-making and implementation.
“The ministers have no particular preference but they have a mindset on who they like if given the chance to pick.
“The President is still keeping mum on his choice until after the mourning of his late Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “Definitely, the new Chief of Staff will come from the North. The President might favour a loyal and long-standing associate for the job.
“The number of aspirants for the office has grown but it is difficult to say who the President will pick.”
APC not involved in who becomes the new COS
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that it has no role to play in determining or influencing who emerges as the next Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
It said the appointment of CoS who is a personal aide to the Chief Executive is at the discretion of the President.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said in an interview in Abuja that the clarification became necessary following pressure being mounted by some party organs, chieftains and close associates of the President on who is to be appointed to replace Mallam Abba Kyari who died penultimate Friday in Lagos.
He said: “The office of a Chief of Staff is not a statutory position. That position is that of a personal aide to the President.
“The office, the power and authority as well as the duties and responsibilities of the person that occupies the position are determined solely by the President.
“The party is not involved and will not be involved in the appointment. We understand perfectly that the appointment of Chief of Staff is at the discretion of the President. It is the President who knows what he wants from the person he wants to appoint, so it does not concern anybody or the party.
“The President has an idea of what he wants from his Chief of Staff and he understands the kind of person that can deliver to him. The office of Chief of Staff is not a constitutional matter. He (President) may not even have the office, he may decide to scrap the office completely and he will not be breaking any law of the land.”
Issa-Onilu said the party frowned at the tension being generated since the demise of Kyari and warned all those putting pressure on the President to desist from doing so. “People are just making a mountain out of a mole hill. Why should anybody or the party influence who to choose?” he queried.
But when asked if the pressure on the President was not a distraction, the APC Chieftain said the President could not be distracted by the “unwarranted pressure”.
“If we underrate the capacity of Mr. President, we may think he is distracted, but, we as a party understand that the President cannot be distracted. He is a man of his own mind. He knows what he wants and has the capacity to do what he wants to do. He is a man whose decisions are guided by the interest of the nation.”
‘Office of Chief of Staff isn’t a piece of cake’- Ex-CoS to Jonathan
Ex-Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Brig-Gen Jones Oladeinde Arogbofa has said the office is not a piece of cake as the responsibilities are “highly demanding.”
Speaking on a radio programme in Osogbo on Friday, he said the position demands of the holder immense loyalty and intellectual competency.
He said: “The responsibilities of a Chief of Staff to the president are numerous but it falls under two major descriptions; managerial and advisory.
“A Chief of Staff must be able to manage the affairs of the President in terms of staff and other issues. You have to control the flow of people into Aso Rock and presidency, selection of key Presidential staff, and supervise them.
“Manage the flow of information, manage correspondence of the president, protect the interests of his interest, negotiate with the National Assembly and other branches of government, ensure that physical and emotional pressure on president is reduced to the barest minimum, protect the president from undue influences.
“The CoS must serve as ear and eyes of the president and tell the president the truth even if it is bitter. Guiding of the president on how to act on issues and many others.
“If anyone wants to be chief of staff, such person must have a lot of energy to work because many at times the work is highly demanding and the president calls at every point in time to discuss national issues. Nigeria is big and only one man is managing it, he needs support. The President contends with economic, security, and political development.
“The President needs someone who is loyal, dedicated, ethical, intellectually sound and can take the speck to do the job. You must not embarrass the president in addressing issues. The chief of staff to the president must be trustworthy because the president must rely on the chief of staff and believed that you can’t join hands with others against him. The office is not a piece of cake.”
Lockdown: It’s been gruesome, hellish, say Lagos traders [Sun]
■ As most of them resort to night trading to replenish stocks
Before she finally joined the nocturnal trip bandwagon, Mrs Falilat Oyediran, food stuff dealer in Alagbado area of Lagos, attempted to explore the legitimate window given by the government to restock having almost depleted her stock.
The government had included dealers of food items in the concession given to those on essential duties whose movement is less affected by the lock down put in place as part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country. But Oyediran’s experience on her first attempt to replenish her stock was anything, but pleasant.
“I left home some minutes to 5:00 a.m, but on getting to the bus stop there were fewer vehicles on the road and I was there for close to an hour before I could get a bus,” Oyediran recalled. By the time she got to Ojota, after series of harassment at different checkpoints, the mother of three said it dawned on her that she was in for a bigger trouble as the final leg of her journey to Mile 2 proved the most arduous. “Although there were fewer vehicles bringing traders from the market, only a handful was ready to return to the market as they cited incessant harassment and extortions by security operatives along the roads,” she revealed.
By the time she eventually got to the market, Mrs Oyediran said she was not only exhausted; she could only buy what she described as the “remnants of the market”, a development she claimed made her day an uneventful one and compelled her to have a change of plans subsequently.
Oyediran’s experience confirms the fear of a former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Okechukwu Unegbu, who observed that despite the concession on freedom of movement given to food item dealers like others on essential duties, security operatives might turn out to be a major hurdle.
“The Lagos State government deserves commendation for the measures put in place so far in ensuring that people get food to buy during this period of lock down . My fear, however, is about our overzealous security operatives who have the tendency to complicate the situation for these traders,” Unegbu had said.
Since the lock down directive took effect some few weeks ago in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital territory, food markets have been given the latitude to operate between 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m on certain days of the week to enable the people restock their homes.
But major dealers in food items said it’s been pretty difficult getting their wares to their respective stalls in the markets for the final consumers as they lament the challenge of transporting their products from major food markets to their respective local markets. From Oyigbo Market to Ojuwoye market in Mushin area of Lagos, Mile 2 to Ile-Epo Market in Agbado-Oke odo LCDA, the common refrain on the lips of traders dealing in food items, is the burdensomeness of conveying their goods to their final selling points.
Like Mrs Oyediran, findings by Sunday Sun have shown that the majority of the dealers in food items have now resorted to nocturnal trips in their attempts to replenish their stores, a development many of them claim predisposes them to a lot of dangers and hazards associated with night journey. Many, however, tend to wonder how food items get to most markets with the restrictions on movements in place. According Madam Ekaette, a food ingredient dealer at Lawanson Market, most of her colleagues in the Calabar Corner, a section dedicated to dealers in ingredients for Calabar delicacies, leave home as early as 5:00 a.m to Shitta Bus stop in a public transport. From Shitta, however, the traders usually trek to Costain before taking another bus to Oyingbo, where they buy their goods.
“It takes the grace of God to get vehicles when coming back because the drivers are always scared of the security operatives on the road. So, often we trek back to Lawanson Market, but occasionally we still manage to get vehicles to convey us to certain points to ease our movement,” she explained.
Aminu Adamu who deals in soup ingredients at Idi-Araba market has a different itinerary. Adamu told Sunday Sun that he leaves his house for Mile 12 at 10:00 p.m to buy his goods. “Surprisingly, the market is always a beehive of activity at this period of the night because there are lots of buyers of perishable products in the market at this period of the night. “There are standby vehicles waiting for traders. After buying, you give N200 to some boys hanging around to help convey the items to the waiting vehicles. It is relatively better to go to Mile 12 at night to buy the goods. We have discovered that it is more expensive and more difficult to go to the market in day time because of the harassment and extortions by security operatives enforcing the lock down directive. We usually get back around 2:00 a.m,” he said
Before the lock down began, Adamu claimed that he used to pay between N800 and N1,000 to transport his goods. This, according to him, has, however, increased to about N2, 000, a development he said has equally affected his selling price.
A trader who simply identified herself as Madam Chizoba at Ejigbo Market described her experience in getting her goods from Oyigbo Market to her stall in Ejigbo as hellish since all major markets where retailers, like her, get their goods have now resorted to night operations.
“What we encounter as retailers from the major markets before bringing our wares to our local markets could only be better imagined than experienced. Now, most sellers of food stuffs depend on Oyingbo/Otto Market which is situated on the Mainland. Before the lock down that led to the closure of the markets, women from various parts of Lagos-Orile, Satelite Town, Oshodi, Ejigbo/Ikotun, Egbeda etc, all restock their wares from the popular Oyingbo Market as early as 4:30-5:00a.m and would go back to their respective selling outlets.
“But now all the major markets like Oyingbo, Mushin, Mile 12 etc, have resorted to midnight trading. Since the major markets now sell only from 8:00p.m-3:00a.m, we leave for the markets in the evening and shop between 9:00p.m and 11:00p.m. And then return home same night. If we cannot get home before 12:00-1:00a.m, we go straight to the market and sleep there, because there are security guards in the market,” she revealed.
As risky as this may appear, Sunday Sun gathered that more and more traders are taking to the option as their last resort in a bid to carry on with their business and to avoid getting being caught in the the alleged web of harassment and exploitation by security operatives.
“Sleeping in the markets is gradually becoming part of the business for us now. If one does not sleep at Oyingbo Market, one may then sleep at Mushin, Mile 12 or local market. It seems this is the only way our business can progress now.
“ So, When I said we are suffering, this is exactly what I meant. It is not for nothing that transporters have been dealing with us. The normal trip where ordinarily they would charge N200.00 has been increased to N500.00. And one has no better option than to pay because the whole exercise is taking place at night, and one must at least play safe,” Madam Chizoba disclosed.
For Chukwuebuka who deals in cassava flakes, rice, beans and other food items, there is yet another way to mitigate the risk of having to move to and fro major markets at nights. “We move to the market at nights ahead of the vehicles bringing garri and plantain from Benin to Mushin. Traders from the same locations would then agree to convey their goods in one big vehicle straight to the market while we monitor the driver through phone calls . The moment he drives into the market; we would go home to relax and come back the following morning to take the delivery of our goods. It is very challenging and risky because all these transactions are done in the middle of the night all in a bid to make food available for the people.”
As Nigerians anxiously look ahead to the end of the lock down directive, not a few are of the opinion that governments at all levels need to do more to save those not affected by the deadly Coronavirus from dying of starvation as some food dealers, who do not have the capacity to continue with the grueling challenge of replenishing their depleting stocks have threatened to withdraw their services until normalcy is restored.
Patrick Eze, food item dealer at Daleko Market Mushin, is one of such people. “ I need to go to Mile 12, Oyingbo and other places, but to find a bus to take me there is very hard. The commercial drivers that used to carry us are now observing the lockdown and are afraid of coming out. You can see that my shop is getting depleted. I don’t have onions, dried pepper and I can’t go out to buy them. The stock I’m selling now is the one I bagged and stored. Once I finish selling it, I’ll lock up my store and go home till this lockdown is finally lifted”, he said.
Post COVID-19 economy: Fears heightened as recession, depression loom [Sun]
■ States panic, plan strategies to stay afloat
As the Federal Government continues to work out strategies to mitigate the effects of looming global economic recession arising from the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, authorities at the state level have also been advised to adopt some quick-win measures that could keep the economy afloat.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its recent release had predicted a likely episode of the 1930 economic depression with more alarming consequences on the less developed economies, including Nigeria.
In response to the warning signals, President Muhammadu Buhari in his recent address to the nation on COVID-19 said: “To ensure our economy adapts to this new reality, I am directing the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment; Communication and Digital Economy; Science and Technology; Transportation; Aviation; Interior; Health; Works and Housing; Labour and Employment; and Education to jointly develop a comprehensive policy for a “Nigerian economy functioning with COVID-19”.
“This is in addition to the N50 million released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Small Scale Industries (SMEs) as stimulus package.”
On the part of the states, some economic experts have challenged respective governors to look beyond federal allocation, predicting financial disequilibrium, which would affect their obligations to the citizens.
The President, Nigerian Institute of Bankers, Prof Segun Ajibola, in an interview with Sunday Sun, said: “The signs are ominous.
“To say that things will not undergo severe problem in a way that will affect their obligations to their citizens is like shying away from the reality. The reality is that most states will go into financial disequilibrium whereby they will not be able to match their revenues with expenditures. Salaries will not be paid, capital expenditure will remain suspended until there is a reorientation towards what we call quick-win like development of agriculture.
“Even before now, you know how many states were unable to pay minimum wage of N30,000. With what is happening now in respect to reduction in allocation from the federation account, many states will not be able to meet basic overhead expenses much less payment of salaries or capital expenditure. How will the states that are harbouring impoverished citizens raise tax in the face of crumbling businesses? It is a very worrisome development. When a nation is ill-prepared for this kind of challenges, this is usually the outcome.”
Suggesting the way forward, he added: “So many areas of agriculture can bring about quick-win that can bring back life to the states. They can also latch on the incentive coming from the federal, central bank and international organizations like World Bank and so on. With all of these, states may be able to reorganize themselves to access some of these programmes to revamp their economies. But it can no longer be business as usual. There is a need for them to put on the thinking caps now.”
According to him, the great economic depression of 1930 might be child’s play, if the ravaging effect of COVID-19 persists further, as no developed economies would be in a strong position to bail out the less developed countries as America did after World War 11.
He said: “We still have a long way to go. We can only pray that COVID-19 will end soon so that we can rebuild the economy through the economic stimulus package and some steps being taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria in terms of interventions and the stimulation of the various sectors of the economy, especially the SMEs. But in total, if this continues for a while as predicted globally, we may be in for the like of the great depression of the 1930s.
“In fact, if COVID-19 remains the way it is, the economic depression of the 1930s may even be child’s play because in the 1930s, American economy still remained strong and resilient despite the great depression in the UK and the Second World War, which was why America assumed the role of the economic manager globally after the World War 11. The way it is now, no economy of the world is being spared. I cannot as at today identify a particular economy that would play that role of a coordinator to help the weaker economies. Every economy is undergoing a lot of challenges even though there are some countries like Europe and America that are more resilient because they have shock absorber compared to the less developed economies like Africa, Asia and Latin America. In all, everything put together, the signs are very ominous.”
On his own part, Dr Tayo Bello of Department of Private and Property Law, Babcock University, Ilesan, Ogun State, advocated a paradigm shift to a knowledge-based economy, saying that the era of dependency on federal allocation had gone.
He said: “The governors of these states must definitely sit tight. If they want to be serious, they should know that the era of sharing federation allocation is gone. One, they most create knowledge-based economy that involves data usage about citizens. What they can do now is to have appropriate data of firm or industries within their jurisdictions. Productivity is the engine room of economic growth and development. What palliative measure do you want to give when you don’t know how many industries are operating in your domain?
“There are some companies that are paying their taxes regularly, they need to protect them. This is the hard time to protect them. If they go down, the economy of the states too will go down. If they are properly protected, the state economy will be protected. But again, the question is: do they have money to bail them out?
“Secondly, they should let environment in their states determine what policy measure to adopt. Ogun State, for instance, has a lot of opportunities as the gateway to the nation. I see no reason Ogun State has not become an oil-producing state as at today. I don’t see any reason Ikorodu Local Government should rely on the state government for salaries because the revenue from informal sector is more than what they need to pay.”
Bello also advised the governors to rid themselves of unnecessary ostentation of office to reduce the cost of governance.
Recalling the austere style of the administration adopted by the UPN administration in the Southwest during the Second Republic, he said: “I remember in 1979, when the UPN won elections in the Southwest states and a chieftain of the ruling NPN threatened that some states would crawl on their kneel to get allocation for the implementation of their free health and free education programmes, Papa Awolowo told the governors to bring the list of their income and expenditure. The expenditure on tea alone which he struck out of the list was what they used to finance free education in Ogun State at that time. He also told the public servant that ‘it is the duty of the state government to provide telephone for you, but it is your duty to pay any amount incurred on that telephone.’ It was the saving they made from that policy decision that they used to provide free textbooks for the pupils. Today, you see a governor going with about 30 cars. What is he going to do with it? You can imagine consumption of fuel alone and other paraphernalia of office. That is why most state governments are highly incapacitated.”
Meanwhile, some governors have declared their action plans for economic sustainability amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
In Kebbi State, for instance, some of the measures already outlined included a review of the 2020 budget, mobilization of IGR, as well as reduction of unnecessary expenditures of government to meet the emergency needs.
Governor Abubakar Atiky Bagudu said: “I accepted the proposal that we must set up committee on this issue to guide us on what to do. One thing that is certain is that it will not be business as usual”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Hajia Aisha M. Usman, at a recent stakeholders meeting also declared: “With the fall in oil prices down to $26 per barrel, oil revenues to the Federal Government will almost be zero. The current and forecasted events clearly indicate that state government’s finances will be badly affected.
“In view of low IGR and dwindling FAAC allocations, the states will have to productively plan ahead on how to manage their economies and provide for the Global Health emergency of COVID-19”.
In a similar manner, the Bayelsa State government has also adopted lean appointive system and aggressive revenue generation as part of the policy measure to keep the state afloat.
IGR under the administration of former Governor Seriake Dickson was put at N1.3billion. His successor, Governor Douye Diri, promised to sustain the tempo through aggressive revenue generation drive.
The Technical Adviser to Bayelsa Governor on Finance and immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Mr Maxwell Ebibai said that Bayelsa was facing a great threat.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, Ebibai said: “You requested for appointments, but our government will run a lean appointive system. We have plans to support you and every Bayelsan in various ways. I, therefore, call on you to join us in educating our people that we cannot continue to depend on government for everything.
“Our government will like to support businesses. We will provide opportunities for wealth and job creation for our people, particularly our women and youth through skills acquisition and loans.”
Also investigations revealed that Governor Diri has approved a policy position to right-size, down-size and streamline government ministries, departments and agencies in line with the policy direction of the government.
Findings indicated that the ministries have been reduced to 21 while there are moves to downsize the state work force.
Sunday Sun also gathered that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had raised an economic team to plan for post COVID-19 in the state.
The team, according to a source, comprises the governor, the Finance Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, state Accountant General and some other functionaries involved in financial matters.
Likewise in Enugu State, the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration has constituted a technical committee to prepare the state for post COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Chidi Aroh, the Committee, which consists of expert members drawn from various fields, is to work out short and long term economic strategies that will keep the state afloat.
He said that government was not unaware of the global economic downturn with the fall in oil price and the attendant disruption of economic activities by the pandemic.
For Niger State, reduction in government expenditures, 36 per cent downward review of the 2020 budget, 50 per cent reduction in overhead cost to Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs), as well as travel expenses by government officials are some of the proposals already on the table.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Mallam Zakari Abubakar, while speaking to Sunday Sun, said that the government had drastically reduced the cost of governance to the barest minimum, starting with reduction by 50 per cent overhead cost to MDAs. “We have said enough. I think it time to act, the narrative must change. We cannot continue to pay lip service to diversifying the economy. There is a big lesson to learn from this COVID-19, but if nothing changes then I have my fear”, he submitted.
In Anambra State, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, told Sunday Sun that the state government would study the economic situation and come up with appropriate line of action. “What is clear is that most governments are about to review their 2020 budgets. So, there will be a comprehensive review starting with the budget. I think the government of Anambra State will pursue with greater vigour, our mantra of doing more with less,” he declared.
Similarly, like most of its counterpart in Anambra State, Sokoto government is also considering the option of budget cut as well as suspension of multi-million contracts to curtail the state expenditure and balance it with the accruing revenue.
Already, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal through State Executive Council has announced a slash in the 2020 budget from N202 billion to N153 billion and the amended appropriation bill, amounting to N49 billion, has since been sent to the State House of Assembly for approval.
According to the State Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, the review will affect all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other projects.
For Taraba State, Governor Darius Ishaku has said that the state is going to rationalize its expenditure in order to keep afloat and continue to provide basic services to the people.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media, Mr Bala Dan Abu, who disclosed this to Sunday Sun in a telephone interview, however, said that the state was not considering suspension of ongoing projects or cutting down the number of political appointees or their allowances.
Benue State Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu, while admitting the inevitable fall in the Internally Generated Revenue (GR) as well as the state share of federal allocation due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, said the extent of the total effect would determine the appropriate measures to adopt to keep the state going.
Fear over economy as oil prices continue on free fall [Sun]
The implementation success of Nigeria’s 2020 budget appears to be hanging in the balance over the continuous free fall of crude oil prices occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Indeed, the worrisome trend of oil prices got to its peak last week, when the United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil grade traded at $0. However, the development was not a threat for Nigeria as the country’s crude grade is benchmarked against Brent.
But the Brent Crude is currently trading below the country’s reversed benchmark of $30 and may take a turn for the worse as most of the country’s biggest customers for crude oil in Asia and Europe have virtually shut down production activities due to the Coronavirus spread.
The development has sent shivers down the spines of the managers of the economy as it had to hurriedly revise the 2020 budget estimates in order to be in tune with current oil market prices.
The Federal Government as part of measures to cushion the effect of low oil prices which accounts for over 70 per cent of the country’s revenue slashed its oil price benchmark from $57 per barrel to $30 per barrel while the oil production volume was reduced from 2.18 million barrels to 1.70 million barrels.
As part of the cost saving measures, the Federal Government also cut down the 2020 budget by over N320 billion and proposed a new budget of N10.27 trillion against the N10.59 trillion passed by the National Assembly.
The revenue projection for the 2020 budget was also reduced by N3.3 trillion (about 39 per cent) from the initially approved amount of N8.41 trillion to N5.08 trillion.
The exchange rate was, however, increased from N305 to N360 to a dollar. This is based on the devaluation of the naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Based on the new proposed budget, statutory transfers (a category into which the National Assembly budget falls), were cut by N152.67 billion from N560.47 billion to N407.8 billion.
Capital expenditure was reduced by N155 billion from N2.78 trillion to N2.62 trillion while recurrent expenditure was reduced by N25 billion from N4.49 billion to N4.46 billion.
The fiscal deficit increased from N2.2 trillion to N5.18 trillion – which is not unrelated to the drop in revenue.
According to the proposal, the fiscal deficit is expected to be financed through fresh borrowing of N4.43 trillion as against the initial borrowing plan of N1.59 trillion.
The budget further shows that oil revenue suffered the highest reduction of N2.38 trillion from the initial approved amount of N2.63 trillion to N254.25 billion.
Dividend from the NLNG was reduced from N124.26 billion to N80.37 billion while non-oil revenue declined from N1.8 trillion to N1.53 trillion.
In the same vein, revenue projection from signature bonus was revised downward from N939.3 billion to N568.68 billion, while revenue from stamp duty was reduced from N463.94 billion to N200 billion.
Commenting on the development, a former Minister of Finance, Mrs.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that the continuous drop in oil prices portends grave danger for the economy, adding that the country must begin to take steps to diversify it sources of revenue if it was to make progress towards the implementation of the 2020 budget.
On its part, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said that Nigeria has not stopped producing crude oil, but a persistent crash in oil prices may lead to a halt in production.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, maintained that oil production had not stopped.
He said: “If the situation persists, it is something that is bound to happen definitely. We can’t keep producing if there is no market to sell to. And it is not something that is peculiar to Nigeria. It is a global thing.
“However, it has not happened. For as much as I know and up till this morning, nothing of such has happened.”
Obateru called for optimism among Nigerians, stressing that before any halt in oil production, stakeholders would have to meet to decide on the best way forward.
He said: “We should be positive and hope that things improve. But again, if the situation persists, definitely I think it will come to that.”
Nigeria had last month, before releasing its May loading programme cut the official selling prices for its crude oil to record lows to clear a glut of unsold April-loading cargoes.
The country has had to grapple with an unprecedented excess of oil triggered by the Coronavirus outbreak and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia for market share.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation cut its April official selling prices for Bonny Light and Qua Iboe by $5 per barrel to dated Brent minus $3.29 and minus $3.10 per barrel, respectively.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, has fallen by over 60 per cent since the start of this year.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, said recently that the country was already struggling to find buyers for its crude oil, saying over 50 cargoes were yet to be sold.
The unsold cargoes represent more than 70 per cent of the country’s total oil exports and put the country in a very difficult spot, according to S&P Global Platts.
Kyari said Nigeria’s crude cargoes had been stranded due to the higher selling price compared with its fellow OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which could afford to offer discounts of around $5 to $8 per barrel to buyers.
In his reaction, Managing Director of Cowry Assets Limited, Mr. John Chukwu, said that the IMF projection that the country may be heading for its worst recession in 30 years is predicated on the fact that the country does not have the internal resources to cushion the effect of what the country is going through as a result of crash in oil prices
He said what the country should be doing to moderate the impact of the pandemic on the economy is to attract foreign capital into the economy.
He advised that the government should quickly pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) so that it could change the ownership of the oil sector by turning them into Incorporated Joint Venture (IJV).
Chukwu also advised that some physical infrastructure that are still viable could be concessioned to private sector investors so that they could bring capital to build those infrastructure.
Commenting, member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee and Director Centre for Energy and Petroleum Economics, University of Ibadan, Prof Adeola Adenikinju, said the drop in oil prices with other forms of buffer could spell doom for the economy.
He lamented that the drop in oil prices has exposed the economy to shocks, revealing its shortcomings which has made funding of the 2020 budget a difficult task.
But, to reverse the projection to gains for the country, he advised the country should urgently put some medium term measures in place in order to rebound the economy.
He said part of those efforts to rebound the economy would be for the country to begin to add value to its oil.
He said Nigerian does not have a reason to be a net importer of petroleum products, saying the volume of gas should be able to industralise the country and other allied sectors.
He said other by-products from oil have not been well harnessed due to our over dependence on oil, saying when this is done it will grow other sectors and create jobs.
He equally said many sectors of the economy are contributing poorly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by harnessing the values in those sectors.
He said the government should develop the agric sector so as to contribute more to the country’s GDP by developing policies that would encourage more people to move into the sector.
The precarious financial situation of the country may have informed the decision of the Federal Government to drawdown its $3.4 billion contributions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The plan to drawdown on the country’s contribution with the IMF may not be unconnected with the financial crises confronting the country occasioned by low oil prices and the outbreak of Coronavirus
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had stated this at a ministerial briefing in Abuja recently.
The Minister said Nigeria has approached the IMF to have a full drawdown of the maximum amount which is the total $3.4 billion contribution.
However, she said going forward, the country may still request on the maximum amount or less, adding that the IMF has made provisions for member countries to draw between 50 to 100 percent of its contributions.
Ahmed explained that about 80 countries have already approached the IMF for withdrawals of their contribution.
Anxiety As Kano Records 23 High Profile Deaths In 24hrs [Leadership]
Tragedy struck again in Kano State yesterday as about 23 prominent sons and daughters of the state died within 24 hours from a yet to be identified ailment. LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the ancient Northern city had been enveloped in palpable tension following incessant deaths in the last couple of days with the number those caught in the strange and grisly death increasing by the day. Among those who passed on yesterday was Professor of Economics and former chairman of National Economic Intelligence Committee, Ibrahim Ayagi, who died at the age of 80. The CEO of Hassan Gwarzo School was said to have been ill for some time. Others are the Dean, faculty of Basic Medicine, of Maitama Sule University, Professor Ali Abdulaziz Dikko; former chairman, former executive secretary of Kano SUBEB, Alhaji Adamu Iliyasu Dal; Grand Khadi of Kano, Dahiru Rabiu; Musa Umar Gwarzo and a former editor of LEADERSHIP Sunday and editor of the state-owned Triumph Newspaper, Musa Tijjani who died at the age of 63.
Other deaths recorded yesterday include the elder brother to former deputy governor Abdullahi Gwarzo, Alhaji Salisu Lado; Hajiya Shamsiyya Mustapha; Hajiya Nene Umma, Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge; secretary, Students Affairs, North West University Kano, Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi; Prof Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology Department, Bayero University Kano; First Bank regional manager, Abdullahi Lawal, Alhaji Rabiu Dambatta; Kabir Ibrahim Bayero; Alhaji Idi Mai Lemo Sheka; mother of renowned businessman, Ado Gwanja and Capt. Abdullahi Gyadi Gyadi, among others. They were buried yesterday according to Muslim rites. Although there is nothing linking the strange deaths to Coronavirus, residents of the state are said to be living in fear as the death is becoming frightening.
Ahmadu Dorayi, a resident of the metropolitan area, told our correspondent that the death rate has never been alarming and even as he faulted the position of medical experts that it could be as a result of the present unfavourable weather condition being experienced in the state. Some residents attributed the unusual deaths reportedly recorded in the city within the last three days to three major factors. Some of them told our reporters in separate interviews that the number of people that died and buried in the last couple of days was not unusual because of the dense population of some areas within the city.
One of the residents and a Community leader, Alhaji Jafaru Gwarzo, said before now people were busy with their daily activities but with the lockdown and people staying at home, they have become mindful of whatever was going on within their area. “Most of the places that recorded high number of deaths are densely populated areas. Based on our findings, Abbatoir Cemetery in Fagge area recorded the highest number of burials because it is closed to densely populated areas like Gwammaja, Yola and Kulkul,” he said.
According to him, there are some patients who needed treatment for other ailments but could not get access to health facilities due to the fact that attention had been shifted to COVID-19. He added that some patients could not get medical attention in the hospitals due to the stay-at-home order and restriction of movement. Another resident, Malam Garba Hassan said the number of deaths recorded within the last three days in the metropolis was alarming, adding that he could not recall the number of burials he has witnessed in their area. “The people who died were mostly buried in three major cemeteries in the city. This heightened fears of the residents that the deceased might have died as a result of a strange ailment. The corpses buried in the three cemeteries were many within this couple of days because four of the eight local government areas that constitute Kano Metropolis usually come to Abbatoir Cemetery to bury the dead,” he said.
Some families of the deceased who spoke on condition of anonymity attributed the unusual deaths to outbreak of an ailment related to malaria and other deadly diseases such as diabetes, ulcer, even as they said some were asthmatic patients who were not given proper attention as a result of the shift and concentration on COVID-19 cases. A son of one of the deceased said his father died as a result of Malaria and was buried at the Abattoir Cemetery on Saturday. They, however, called on the state government to make the outcome of its investigation on the matter public in order to allay fears already generated as a result of the strange deaths. But the Kano State government had earlier dismissed the rumour of mass death in state being peddled on the social media. The clarification was contained in a statement signed by Auwalu Fagge, State Health Educator/Secretary, Risk Communication Sub-Committee on COVID-19. “This particular rumour has been investigated and found to be untrue and must be dispelled. The Taskforce has activated the Community Informants Structure of WHO to report death and cause of death and has also deployed officers to all burial grounds to count bodies brought in for burial everyday (the workers would conduct 2 shifts)”. The statement urged residents to disregard rumours of mass deaths in Kano metropolis.
“Honestly, the media and rumour mongers have been trying their best in making us dispense energy in wadding them off. We cannot afford to let the good people of Kano panic and lose confidence in our response. I must state that we are more courageous than ever in a bid to contain this pandemic,” the statement added. Meanwhile, the state commissioner of health, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa said the ministry has commenced investigation into the posts being circulated on social media platforms on the purported death of a number of people within the last few days. PMB Pays Tribute To Prof Ayagi Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday paid tribute to renowned scholar and professor of economics, Professor Ibrahim Alkali Ayagi, describing him as an accomplished economist, banker and administrator who made outstanding contributions to the development of education in northern Nigeria, promotion of entrepreneurship and small businesses. The late Ayagi was among those who died yesterday in Kano State.
President Buhari, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he believes that as former chairman of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), the late Ayagi will be long remembered and honoured for his diligent and professional roles in tackling Nigeria’s crippling foreign debt. Shehu said the president extended heartfelt condolences to Prof Ayagi’s family, the government and people of Kano and his many friends, students and admirers. He prayed that God will grant Prof Ayagi’s soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn. “In the wake of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the President also appeals to the multitude of mourners and sympathizers, particularly in home state of the deceased, to maintain social distancing, stay-at-home and observe all precautionary measures to curtail the transmission of the virus”, the presidential spokesman added.
NNPC Sends N21bn Medical Items, Others To Kano State The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has handed over medical consumables and other palliatives worth N21billion to Kano State government to help the state curtail the spread of COVID-19. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timpire Sylva disclosed this when he led the management of NNPC to present the items to the state government yesterday at Government House Kano. According to the minister, since the inauguration of the Presidential Taskforce Commitee on COVID-19 headed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), efforts are made to tame the spread of the virus. He said following this development, the NNPC and partners in the Oil and Gas industry embarked on an initiative covering three areas. He maintained that the areas includes provision of medical c consumables, deployment of logistics and delivery of medical infrastructure as well as donation of critical medical equipment to the Rivers State COVID-19 Isolation Center. He added that while to date the total commitment of NNPC and partners stands at N21billion, the gesture was still growing.
According to him, NNPC and its partners, Chevron and Bovas Company limited, are distributing these items to states more affected by the Pandemic like Kano. Sylva listed the items to include 100 PPE overall full Kit, 100 PPE Shoe Covers, 2,000 PPE disposable caps, modern Ambulance, 500 Medical Surgical Masks, 2 full kit ventilators, 5,000 nitrile examination gloves, 250 face masks and fluid resistant face shield ,10 pulse oximetres and 250 respiratory valve. In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his administration had taken all necessary measures in curtailing the spread of the virus, but the pandemic was still spreading in the state. He said government had established three modern isolation centers with a view to halting the spread of the virus. Ganduje noted that with the high population of Kano, there was need for additional testing centers in the state. Ganduje assured the minister and the management of the NNPC that all the items presented would be used judiciously. Those in the ministers Entourage include the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Mele Kyari and other top government officials.
PMB Set To Extend Lockdown [Leadership]
In view of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, would tomorrow extend the lockdown in Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun States for another two weeks. LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the president would however relax some of the restrictions on essential business activities by enabling movements to open up the economy. It was learnt that religious and social gatherings would remain banned for now to curb the spread of the diseases, while wearing of face masks would become compulsory in public.
But the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in a letter advised the government to continue the lockdown on flight operations in the country. In the letter titled, “COVID-19 Protocol: NGF Input on The Proposed Presidential Interventions,” signed by Ekiti State governor and chairman, NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi and addressed to the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation (SGF), and chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, the NGF said following its teleconference meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, April, 22, 2020, it was agreed that it articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next presidential pronouncement on coronavirus so as to have a uniform and coordinated policy on COVID-19 pandemic at both the national and sub-national levels.
The NGF in the letter dated April 24, 2020, said subject to President M u h a m m a d u Buhari’s approval , it wants inter-state lockdown excluding movement of essential supplies — foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products, internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies, overnight curfews, and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and some prominent Nigerians had before now, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari not to extend the lockdown. It would be recalled that the federal government added yet another two weeks to the closure of international airports in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who made the announcement then, said the airports would no longer open for commercial operations on April 23, as earlier announced when they were shut down due to the extended lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun State. Since March 23, the federal government had shut all international airports in the country, initially for one month. The president had also extended the closure to all local airports in the country, while announcing a 14-day lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 29. On April 13, the president extended the lockdown in the three cities by two weeks. Although, airports in the country are open to emergency and essential flights, commercial flight operations have since ceased in the country.
COVID-19: Pick Your Corpses Now Or Risk Mass Burial, Sanwo-Olu Tells Lagosians [Leadership]
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Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday said the state’s mortuaries are getting filled and congested, urging owners of corpses in the state morgues to pick them for burial in line with the protocol established in the management of COVID-19 in the country.
The governor who is the Chief Incident commander of COVID-19 pandemic in the state stated this while giving update eight in the series on management of the highly dreaded disease in the state, saying owners of the corpses has two weeks to claim it or risk mass burial by the government. Sanwo-Olu stated emphatically that the corpses were not those killed by COVID-19 and explained that corpses of those that died during Lenten period left unburied as a result of Christian faith coupled with the current lockdown of the state congested the mortuaries.
The governor added interstate movements for burials will not be tolerated, saying the state borders had been toughened to restrict those not providing essential services from entering the state. Sanwo-Olu said, ‘’Still on this matter of essential movement, I would like to speak concerning funerals. One of the outcomes of this lockdown is that many families and households have had to postpone funeral plans for loved ones who have passed away before or during this period. “As you might know, many Christian denominations do not carry out funerals during the Lenten Season. Funerals are typically kept on hold during this period, and scheduled for the period immediately following the end of Lent.”