EXODUS OF NIGERIA'S MEDICAL DOCTORS: TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

 EXODUS OF NIGERIA'S MEDICAL DOCTORS: TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

President Muhammadu Buhari frequent visits to London for medical checks and treatments is a signpost to the world that there is a defect in his country's healthcare system. Since assuming office, Premium Times recently, reported that the country's number one citizen has spent 200 days for treatment outside Nigeria.  If all was well in the Nation's healthcare system, a treatment for only an "ear infection"should not have been enough reason to fly the President out of the country at the expense of the tax payers and at a time the country's economy is bleeding. Even the Aso Rock's Clinic could not cater for the President's health needs over the years. 

One of his predecessors and Katsina kinsman, Late Musa Yara'Adua, also enjoyed medical tourisms very often because of his health defects at the time, before his death. King Fasai Specialist Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was one of his favourites port of call for his medical treatments.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress and former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is currently out of the country for medical tourism. Initially, rumours had it that he was in France. Recently,  a viral photo showed Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu in London, where the former had visited the latter. Wherever, like Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, a lot of Nigeria's politicians and other topshots seek medical tourism abroad. This is an indication that all is not well with the country's healthcare system.

Few weeks ago and until now, resident doctors in the country have been on strike. Under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, the striking doctors are asking for increase in pay allowance, an improved welfare system, among other things. Rather than negotiate with them, they were dragged to court by their employers. It is appalling to note that the Ministers of Health have not showed any serious commitment to negotiate with the physicians on the "Memorandum of Action." The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, who has been negotiating with the Association on behalf of the Federal Government is yet to be seen as being successful in getting the Doctors back to work. 

"Health" they say; "is wealth." An unhealthy body can neither walk nor work. Anyone who desires wealth must first, be healthy.  With the Medical Doctors on strike, a lot of patients in critical conditions have been left to suffer. Some have even died. If the doctors go by public sympathy and resume at work, will they have equipment to work with at the service of the patients? 

Public hospitals and health care centres within and around the country are ill-equipped.  This is the reason why the topshots seek medical attention and treatment abroad. Besides, the health personnel are poorly paid.  Report has it that a Nigerian Doctor gets 5,000 naira only for hazard allowance, while Senators are paid 1.24 million naira to buy newspapers monthly. Where is the motivation?

Recently, Many Nigerian Doctors stormed the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja for Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health recruitment exercise. A research by Africa Check showed that at least 12 Doctors leave Nigeria for United Kingdom every week.  There are also those who live, work and are doing well in other countries of the world. For instance,  Dr. Oluyemi Badero who lives and works in New York, was officially named one of the top interventional cardiologists in the United States of America by Castle Connolly Organisation.  There is also one Dr. Bankole Johnson, who is famous across United States of America and Europe as a psychiatrist and physician. This clearly proves that if given the right atmosphere, good working conditions, motivation and sizable pay, Nigerian Medical Doctors can deliver maximum health care to their compatriots at home.

If the exodus of Nigerian Doctors to other countries of the world is allowed to continue, to whom shall the poor man go to seek medical attention? 

JOS MASSACRE: ARE WE A NATION AT WAR?

 JOS MASSACRE: ARE WE A NATION AT WAR?

Even a Nation at war does not experience the kind of massive killings that characterise different parts of our country in past and recent times. The Jos massacre, typify a nation at war.

 Human lives have been reduced to nothingness. There is no sanctity, no substance, no seriousness, attached to human lives anymore. Now, cows are considered more important than humans. They have a place and more places are being advocated for them in the present Nigeria.  What a time to become and live as a cow in Nigeria.

Back to the Jos massacre. We were told that over 35 persons were killed. Many houses were burnt. Several other properties were destroyed. A lot of residents of the area were wounded. Many were left in disabled forms; the type that would make them become incapacitated for life. 

Who were the killers and destroyers? Where did they come from? Where did they return to after the massacre? How did they escape the security personnel & many checkpoints on our roads? Did they fly? Which air route(s) and where were the boarding and alighting points? The killings, destructions and all havocs which we sum up in a word- 'massacre' all happened last Tuesday, at Yelwan zangam village in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria.

In that village, there is a head. In that Local Government Area, there is a Chairman. In that state, there is a Governor. In that country, there is a President. He is not only a President but the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the country. Who dares attack a land with a living Commander of an Army and leaves unhurt? A Ghanaian, once said that; "Nigeria, is a country, where anything can happen and nothing will happen." Can we falsify that statement?

Weeks earlier, we were told that about twenty-two Muslim faithful were killed on Rukuba road, in the outskirts of Jos, Plateau state. It has been a season of killings and kidnappings in different parts of our country. What really do the killers and kidnappers want?  There were times, abductees were reportedly, killed even after ransom were paid in millions of naira, by their families.

What wrong did we do? Where did we go wrong? To make matters worse, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces keeps mum. A few times, his media aides release lean statements that neither condemns the killings nor console those left behind to mourn the losses of their loved ones.

The presidency seems to be preoccupied with going after those who criticise the President or speak ill about policies and programme that does not impact any good on the life of the common man. This is a democracy. Even the best leaders of countries in liberalised parts of the world are criticised. Need one think more or less than the poorly performed ones with unpopular policies and programme that count for nothing other than nepotism and undue favouritism to a certain section of the country?

Let it be told to us that this country belong to no one man but all. 

We are not a nation at war. Let there be an end to the killings in Nigeria.

NDA INVASION: WHAT WILL TOMORROW BRING?

 NDA INVASION: WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING?

In the early hours of last Tuesday, we were hit by the news that some suspected armed bandits invaded the Nigeria Defence Academy. While there, two officers were reportedly killed & a major was abducted to only God knows where. What a national disgrace! 

The Nigeria Defence Academy trains officer cadets for commissioning into the three services of Nigerian Armed Forces; the Army, the Navy and the Airforce. If such a security industry could easily be plunged and its officers killed and kidnapped, then no one is safe in this country.l

Yesterday, it were the students in some schools in same Kaduna and other states within the country especially, in the north region. Today, it is the Nigerian Defence Academy. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

This is a pointer to the fact that the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, is not doing enough to protect and preserve lives and properties which he did swore with the Holy Koran to do in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

Admitted, security is every body's business. You and I owe ourselves the duty to be security conscious at at all times. We need to be alert always and report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies and personnel. This we do! Truth is, it is either our security apparatuses are weak and not capable of wrestling our common enemies - Armed robbers, bandits, Boko Haram, herdsmen, name them or there is an unwillingness on the part of our officers to combat them.

Being that men of our Armed forces have also been victims of the insecurity in the land, one may be quick to pick the former, rather than the latter to be the major reason of the security lapse in our country. 

Our men of the Armed Forces should be adequately empowered and equipped with the needed weapons to combat every form of terror and terrorists that have maimed, kidnapped and killed innocent citizens in our land.

Again, let us not take lightly, the words of Commodore Kunle Olawunmi who spoke on Wednesday, 25th August, 2021 on Channel TV Sunrise Programmme. He claimed that some sponsors of Boko Haram are in government. He went further to alleged that some people want to "islamise this country." For a man who spent over three decades in the military service to have spewed such allegations and with evidences of terror in separate parts of the country, yet there is silence from the Chief Security Officer of our country, one cannot not but be compelled to believe him. To corroborate this claim, Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom has repeatedly cried out that his people are worse-hit and are at the receiving end of the herders-killing and kidnapping activities yet the President of the nation remains on mute mode. 

Only recently, the President came out to champion the establishment of grazing reserves in 25 states of the country. This is not only callous but insensitive and an outright assault to the living and the dead in their ancestral lands. 

The release, rehabilitation and reintegration of the so-called Boko Haram repentants send a signal about this government's unseriousness in combating the menance. No one talks about those they kidnapped, killed and displaced from their homes. What about the soldiers who died at the battle fronts while wrestling Boko Haram men and bandits? What is the plight of the families and next-of-kins they left behind? Why has the government refused to name, shame and convict those sponsors of terrorists in our land?

This is the realty: The war is far from being won. If nothing serious is done about the kidnappings and killings in our land, we may all be consumed. It is only a matter of time.

Ndoma-Egba Bags Global Achievers Media Lifetime Achievement Award, Abang bags Role Model Award, 2021

An accomplished physician and a professor of surgery, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba will be honoured with a prestigious and highly celebrated lifetime achievement award by Global Achievers Media, soon.

In a statement by the Deputy Editor, Mr. Godswill Odiong, the long standing professor of surgery in the University of Calabar and Chief Consultant Surgeon in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Rowland Ndoma-Egba, will be honoured for his time-honoured dedication, diligence and absolute fidelity to the medical profession. 

Ndoma-Egba parades almost an innnumerable number of awards and honours and he is credited with over eighty peer reviewed scientific publications in reputable local and international journals as well as over 50 public lectures covering various subjects. 

He will for a long time be remembered for his intellectual contributions to the field of medicine which have expanded the frontiers of knowledge and opened up more research areas in orthodox medicine.

 Many of his products trained by him, constitute some of the best medical experts around the globe.

Also to be honoured soon is a long-standing chartered accountant, Mr. John Ekure Abang, with vast knowledge and experience in the field of accountancy, spanning over two decades. 

A thoroughbred professional, John Abang has impacted positively on the society through the instrumentality of the accounting profession. 

A forward figure, he is a member of several professional bodies and he is currently the operation and performance analyst in the Mfamosing Plant Operations of Lafarge Africa Plc.

He will always be appreciated for his humble,  kind disposition and contributions towards the well-being of several people and places in the society.

Global Achievers Season of Awards

In consistent and commitment to the practice of promoting positive ideals and ideas and in appreciation to those who have contributed immesurably to the well being of the society through their respective professions and personal resources, GLOBAL ACHIEVERS MEDIA is set to honour  individuals as well as organisations in the second edition of GLOBAL ACHIEVERS ONLINE MAGAZINE (globalachieversmedia.blogspot.com) AWARDS.

In the first phase of the second edition of the award, Mr. John Nyiam, a vibrant, versatile and viable young man will be honoured in the YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR category. This is in recognition and appreciation of his job creation role through his company, John Cherish; which has employed many youths and is credited to be one of the largest employers of labour in the private sector in Cross River State.

Also to be honoured is Barr. Enome Amatey, a serious lawyer, vocal crusader,  advocate and defender of human rights, renowned for his consistent crusades for the independence of the judiciary, he is a star whose light shines through the legal firmament. Having been in the legal profession for a decade now, he has recorded tremendous achievements at the bar.  Enome Amatey will be honoured in the YOUNG PROFESSIONAL category.

Also to be recognised and accorded honour in the YOUNG PROFESSIONAL category, is a female lawyer with remarkable achievements, Barr. Peace Ohiaeri. She is a role model to several young ladies who aspire to become great in the corporate and academic worlds.

The season of awards which will kick start formally on 19th May, 2021, will end on 1st June, 2021. 

In line with the times, and in order to keep to COVID-19 rules, there will be no formal ceremony as it were in the first edition. 

The awards will be sent to the recipients in their respective homes or offices as shall be provided.

Gunmen invade Benue Varsity Campus, Kidnap Students

Unknown gunmen have invaded the Federal University of Agriculture located in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital and kidnapped scores of students.

Details of the incident remained sketchy as at press time.

But DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday night when the gunmen stormed the campus, shooting sporadically to scare the university security away before taking some students to an unknown destination.

The university’s Director of Information, Protocol and Public Relations Unit (IPPR), Mrs Rosemary Waku, confirmed this on Monday morning.

Also, the state’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Anene Sewuese Catherine confirmed the incident to DAILY POST correspondent.

She promised to issue a statement shortly.

SOURCE: DAILY POST

Jihadists Kill 31 Soldiers in North East Nigeria

At least 31 Nigerian soldiers were killed when IS-aligned jihadists ambushed a military convoy escorting weapons and overran a base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, military sources said on Monday.

Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the convoy with rocket-propelled grenades on Sunday in the town of Mainok outside the regional capital Maiduguri before storming the nearby base, the two sources said.

The attack was the deadliest this year against Nigeria’s army which has been battling a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the region that has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes.

“We lost 31 soldiers, including their commander who was a lieutenant colonel, in the ambush by the terrorists,” a military officer said about the attack which happened around 1100 GMT.

The convoy was transporting weapons to Maiduguri when it came under attack, said a second military source who gave a similar toll.

“The terrorists came in several trucks, including four MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) and engaged the convoy in a fierce battle,” the second source said.

The militants overwhelmed soldiers, leading to the “colossal loss” of troops, he said.

“We lost a lot of men in very gruesome way.”

The jihadists seized weapons and two MRAPs in the attack before overrunning and partially burning the base outside the town, the two sources said.

Mainok, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Maiduguri, has been repeatedly targeted by the jihadists.

ISWAP has frequently set up bogus checkpoints along the 120-km highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe state on which Mainok lies, killing and abducting travellers.

ISWAP split from mainstream Boko Haram faction in 2016 and rose to become a dominant force in the northeast as Nigeria’s conflict has spilt over borders into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

Soyinka Asks FG To Seek Help Over Insecurity, Stop Blame Trade

 

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, to seek help where necessary to regain peace in the country and chart a way forward without using Nigerians as victims.

He made the call in a statement while reacting to the killings across the country by bandits, terrorists, and other gunmen in the country.

Professor Soyinka decried that these gunmen have sacrificed and traumatised the country’s youths beyond their capacity to cope.

According to him, the country is at war and it is time to stop pretending while the government should put in more efforts to stop the killing of youths who are the future.

The Nobel laureate also condemned the practice of blame trade, saying it should be left for later.

SOURCE: CHANNELS

Three Students Killed in Nigeria after Kidnapping at Greenfield University

Abuja, Nigeria (CNN)Three students kidnapped by armed bandits from Greenfield University in northern Nigeria on Tuesday have been killed, a local official said in a statement on Friday.

"The armed bandits who kidnapped students of Greenfield University, have shot dead three of the abducted students," said Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, in a statement posted on Facebook.

Aruwan said the remains of the three kidnapped students were found on Friday in Kwanan Bature village, which is near the university.

At least 20 students and three staff members of Greenfield University, a private academic institution in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, were abducted on Tuesday night by armed men, one official told CNN on Thursday.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the killing of three students as "sheer wickedness, inhumanity and an outright desecration of human lives by vile entities." He went on to say the armed bandits represent the worst of humankind and must be fought at all costs.

SOURCE: CNN

Bill and Melinda Gates are ending their marriage after 27 years

This has been confirmed from Bill Gates’ social media account, and signed by the couple.

According to the statement, the decision came after a “great deal of thought and work.” But the couple no longer believes they can grow together as a couple in this “next phase” of their lives.

Nokia launches East Africa’s first commercial 5G services

NOKIA Headquarters (PHOTO CREDIT: news.softpedia)

Nokia launches East Africa’s first commercial 5G services

5G technology will enable new applications in areas such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence for subscribers.

ByPress Release   March 26, 2021 2 min read

RelatedNews

Nokia to cut up to 10,000 jobs worldwide

Illegal Detention: ECOWAS Court orders Nigeria to pay German N63.6million, $10,000

Locust crisis calm in East Africa, says FAO

UPDATED: Zenith Bank becomes Nigeria’s biggest bank by asset

Nokia on Friday announced that it is powering East Africa’s first 5G commercial services with Safaricom, the leading telecoms operator in the country.

Nokia’s 5G Single Radio Access Network (SRAN) technology and 5G FastMile gateways enable ultra-fast Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services to Safaricom’s subscribers across Kisumu and the Western Province of Kenya.

5G technology will enable new applications in areas such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence for Safaricom subscribers. It will also benefit enterprises across important energy, healthcare, education, transport and entertainment applications.

At a launch event in Nairobi, Safaricom showcased the capabilities of the 5G network with three use cases — 5G hologram, Ultra-HD video communication and virtual fashion shopping. In the hologram showcase, the live 5G network was used to teleport Safaricom’s executives from Safaricom office in Kisumu to the launch event in Nairobi. And in the second showcase, Ultra-HD video communication was made using the 5G Fixed Wireless Access connectivity powered by WiFi-6 with Nokia Beacon 6. The third showcase of virtual shopping will change shopping experience allowing users to try on clothes “virtually”.

Nokia has leveraged its AirScale SRAN platform to enable ultra-low latency, huge connectivity and extreme capacity to support the demands of today and tomorrow. The 5G network utilizes massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radio to improve spectral efficiency and throughput capacity, maximizing the return on Safaricom’s RAN investment. In addition, Nokia’s FastMile 5G gateway provides fiber like speeds for fixed wireless services to subscribers. Also, the company’s network planning, deployment and integration services ensured timely rollout of the network.

As part of the network, Nokia 5G Cloud Mobility Manager delivers the scalability, flexibility, high availability and performance needed to support the growth of mobile and enterprise services. Nokia’s NetAct network management system helps Safaricom have consolidated network view for improved network monitoring and management.

Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, said: “We are proud to be the first operator in the East Africa to launch 5G services, bringing the benefits of 5G technology to our customers. 5G capabilities will change a lot of things in unimaginable ways for people and enterprises, playing a key role towards fulfilling our vision to transform lives. Our long-term partner Nokia’s technologies and services expertise helped us achieve this milestone in our journey to provide world-class broadband services to our customers.”

Amr K. El Leithy, SVP, Middle East and Africa Market, Nokia, said: “With over 200 commercial 5G agreements with leading customers across the globe, Nokia has been bringing 5G network to every part of the world. Our 5G network for Safaricom is a key part of this journey and we are committed to working with the operator to transform the communications landscape in the country. This will open new business opportunities for Safaricom.”

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

Woman Made Lots Of Sale Selling Vagina-Scented Nose Mask

New Jersey native Angela Anderson has been making a killing with her online business. The 55-year-old founded Coronapussy, a company that sells vagina-smelling face masks for $4.99.

The strangest thing is that she managed to sell 500 in the first 24 hours.

Anderson thought of the idea after being fired from her hotel job and decided on supplementing her income by designing a mask different from any other. In a report by IOL, she said:

Next week we’ll release another 500 units for sale at the same price, they’re not made fast, otherwise the aroma disappears in a few hours.

She acquires the “authentic” smell for her masks by placing a fine cloth in the vagina for two hours and then glues it inside the mask.

With (these) face masks you can be protected and also enjoy that vaginal smell that people love. This idea is working out.

The business has been booming for Anderson. So much that she plans to add a penis-scented mask to her collection.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

JUST IN: Gunmen abduct catholic priest in Delta

Gun-wielding assailants have reportedly abducted a catholic priest identified as Rev. Fr. Harrison in Delta.

The priest is said to be in charge of St. John’s Catholic Church in Obinomba, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

The victim was abducted at about 8:p.m. on Monday at a bad portion in Oria-Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

He was said to be returning to base from Warri in his Toyota Highlander Jeep when he was abducted by the guntotting assailants.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, when contacted said he wasn’t aware, but promised to get back to our Correspondent on Tuesday morning.

SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

NBS: Unemployment Rate Hits 23.1m In Q4’20

Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 27.1 per cent recorded in first quarter of the same year, according to the latest unemployment data (Q4’20) obtained from the website of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday.

According to the unemployment report, it was gathered that 33.3 per cent of the labour force in Nigeria or 23,187,389 persons either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed by its definition in Nigeria. Given the latest unemployment rate, Nigeria ranked 11.7 per cent. Comparing the rate globally, out of the 181 countries with rates published within the last two years, Nigeria currently ranked 41 with the highest unemployment rate. Countries with highest unemployment rates presently, according to NBS’ findings, are Bosnia and Herzegovinian (34.3%), Namibia (33.4%), and Angola (32.0%), while those with the lowest rates are Qatar (0.1%), Belarus (0.2%), Niger (0.3%) and Laos (0.6%). Nigeria, NBS said, experienced decrease in under-employment rate from 28.6 per cent to 22.8 per cent in the reference quarter.

The agency said it drew its findings from responses and interviews conducted across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. It said a total number of 31,145 interviews were completed out of the initial sample of 33,300, giving a response rate of 93.53 per cent at the end of the survey.

The NBS added: “During the reference period, the computed national unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in Q2’20 to 33.3 per cent in Q4’20, while the underemployment rate decreased from 28.6 per cent to 22.8 per cent.

“A combination of both the unemployment and under-employment rate for the reference period gave a figure of 56.1 per cent.

“This means that 33.3 per cent of the labour force in Nigeria or 23,187,389 persons either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed by our definition in Nigeria.

“This is an additional 1,422,772 persons from the number in that category in Q2’20. Using the international definition of unemployment, the rate was computed to be 17.5 per cent.”

While using aggregation of labour force, the report noted that the number of persons in the labour force (i.e., people within ages 15 -64, who are able and willing to work) was estimated to be 69,675,468.

This, it said, was 13.22 per cent less than the number of persons in Q2’20. Of this number, those within the age bracket of 25 to 34 were highest, with 20,091,695 or 28.34 per cent of the labour force.

SOURCE: NEW TELEGRAPH

How Nigeria can avert economic collapse, by Okonjo-Iweala

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday highlighted steps Nigeria should take to avert economic collapse.

The steps include diversification of the economy, bold economic reforms and pursuit of technological development.

She warned that the country risked economic doom in no distant future, if it failed to immediately embark on diversification from oil to other sources of survival.

Painting a gloomy picture of fossil oil in the future, the former  Finance Minister urged speed, stressing that delay could  be dangerous.

She stressed: “We need to have a game plan to be able to escape the consequence of a monolithic economy in a fast-changing world.”

She spoke with reporters, shortly after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari to thank him and Nigerians for their roles in her  emergence as the head of the WTO.

The former World Bank chief hailed the feat achieved by the Dangote Group.

She said the diversification of the economy was one of the issues she discussed with the President

According to her, Nigeria should tap into renewable energies, since some countries   have already set   timelines to end the use of vehicles and equipment operated with fossil fuel.

Specifically, Okonjo-Iweala mentioned Norway which will from 2030  no longer have petrol-powered cars plying its roads.

She said:  “We have to start transitioning this Nigerian economy into other areas, where we will be able to create jobs and earn foreign exchange.

“As a country, we really have to go into strong reflection;  we need to have a period of transition and how we are going to use it. We have to start thinking about how we transition from fossil fuels and I’m really worried about that. We need to have a game plan to get there.,

We also have to start looking at the horizon where many countries are now moving to electric cars and many developed countries where cars are manufactured or not, have said that from 2025, I think Norway said from 2030 and on, they are banning any cars that use petrol. Diesel is already out.

“If we don’t start, we will find ourselves at the end of a couple of decades with no way of being able to make an additional foreign exchange for some of the products we need.”

Although she welcomed the establishment of the Dangote Refinery, the WTO boss said she wished it had come earlier than now.

She added: “Well, it’s the largest refinery, I wish we had done it years ago. If we had done it earlier and encouraged Alhaji Dangote, who is doing a very good thing, it could have been better because right now, we would have been able to have our own oil refined here and not having to import.

“But we are where we are.  I think he’ll be able to service other countries on the continent. His cement industry is already in 16 or more. So, yes, we are  congratulating him,”

The  WTO chief also said the world body was worried about Nigeria’s multiple exchange rate regimes and how they affects trade.

She said some member-states have  complained about Nigeria invoking  its  balance of payment agreement article   to be able to conserve foreign exchange.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said: “The WTO has one of the agreements of a balance of payments and Nigeria certainly invoked this to be able to conserve foreign exchange.

“Some members have brought a complaint against us (Nigeria) that we shouldn’t have used its article in that way. The  WTO is concerned about foreign exchange, the way we manage it, the way we use it, and how we use it to support manufacturing or imports and exports in our economy.

“I think that we had that discussion with them, they complained about the exchange rate regime, and we (Nigeria) tried to explain. Anyway,  I shouldn’t say we because I’m now DG WTO, it is for Nigeria’s representative to explain to the WTO,  to those members complaining why we’re doing this.

“We’re also going to see the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Godwin Emefiele), and we  will undoubtedly discuss some of these issues.”

She, however, allayed fears that embracing the free trade policy of the world body would harm Nigeria’s economic diversification drive.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said special and differential treatment could be applied to prevent vulnerable countries from collapsing under completion.

She said that duties could be applied on imports to prevent the country from being a dumping ground.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala admitted that despite helping to  lift millions out of poverty, free trade has not been beneficial to all, especially women.

On COVID-19, she advised Nigeria to set up local vaccine manufacturing, warning that  coronavirus would not be the last pandemic.

SOURCE: THE NATION

NAF releases list of military crash victims

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released names of the seven personnel that died in the air crash involving a NAF aircraft, Beechcraft KingAir BB305i.

The deceased officers include: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain); Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others were: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

NAF releases list of military crash victims

February 22, 2021  

FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail

By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released names of the seven personnel that died in the air crash involving a NAF aircraft, Beechcraft KingAir BB305i.

The deceased officers include: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain); Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others were: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Read Also; VIDEO: Military aircraft crashes in Abuja

A statement by the Director Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), earlier today, 21 February 2021, confirmed that one of its aircraft, a Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201), crashed while returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, where it was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.

“As earlier stated, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident. While the panel has commenced its work, the NAF, having notified the Next of Kins/family members of the deceased, regretfully announces that the following seven personnel lost their lives in the crash”.

It added: “Earlier, the CAS visited the scene of the accident, in company of the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retired); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, and other Service Chiefs. The CAS, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, once more commiserates with the families of the deceased personnel and prays that the Almighty God grants their souls eternal repose”.

SOURCE: THE NATION

Internet access restored in Myanmar after shutdown – Tracker

 Internet connection in Myanmar is returning to normal after a full-blown shutdown amid ongoing protests against the military takeover, traffic tracker Net Blocks reported on Monday.

On Sunday, the watchdog confirmed that a near-total internet shutdown was in effect in the country starting from 1:00 a.m. local time (18:30 GMT on Saturday) following “state-ordered information blackout,’’ with national connectivity down to 14 per cent of normal levels.

“Internet connectivity is being restored in #Myanmar from 9 a.m. local time, network data show national connectivity rising to ordinary levels after information blackout.

“Social media still restricted for most users, incident duration eight hours,’’ the tracker said in an update.

On Feb. 1, the Myanmar military seized power hours before the new parliament was due to hold its inaugural session.

The nation’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested alongside other senior officials, after the military accused her party of rigging the November elections.

Protests have since broken out nationwide to demand that the military restore the civilian government.

 SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

Indian air ambulance runs short of fuel, makes emergency landing in Pakistan

 

An Indian air ambulance has made an emergency landing at Pakistan’s Islamabad International airport for refuelling, media reports on Monday said.

According to Dunya News, the aircraft had contacted the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authorities, CAA, and requested permission for emergency landing at the Islamabad airport on Sunday because it was low on fuel.

The air ambulance, which had on board a British patient, a doctor and two nurses was heading to Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan from Kolkata, India.

After receiving permission from the CAA, the air ambulance landed at the Islamabad International Airport.

It took off two hours after refuelling, Dunya News reported.

SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

WAEC releases Nov/Dec 2020 results, says female did better than male candidates

 The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, released the results of the 2020 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, for private candidates (second series).

The WAEC Head of Nigerian National Office, Patrick Areghan, announced the release of the results on Monday during a news conference in Lagos.

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, released the results of the 2020 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, for private candidates (second series).

The WAEC Head of Nigerian National Office, Patrick Areghan, announced the release of the results on Monday during a news conference in Lagos.

According to Mr Areghan, 12,040 out of the total 30,507 male candidates who sat for the exam (representing 49.60%) had the minimum credit pass in five mandatory subjects while 12,451 out of the total 31,002 female candidates (representing 50.40%) had similar results.

He added that the scenario indicated that more females did better than their male counterparts, just like the two previous editions of the examinations.

A total of 61,509 candidates sat for the examination at 540 designated centres nationwide, out of which 24,491 (representing 39.82%) obtained credits and above in at least five mandatory subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

He said the results of 61,111 (representing 99.35%) of the total candidates who sat the exam had been fully processed and released while that of 5,548 candidates (representing 9.02%) are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of exam malpractices.

Mr Areghan added that their cases would be investigated to determine their fate if their results would be eventually released or cancelled.

SOURCE: Daily Nigeria

Buhari must publicly disown support for ‘criminal’ herdsmen – Sen. Abaribe

Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to publicly declare that he does not support violent herdsmen.

Abaribe speaking on Channels Tv on Monday morning, said the failure of the government to punish criminal herdsmen had empowered them.

The Senate minority leader said Buhari should be concerned that a particular set of people were being attributed to crimes all over the country.

Abaribe said: “The President needs to come out and say categorically that he does not support the activities of violent herdsmen.

“He needs to say I do not support their actions, Buhari needs to come out for every Nigerian to see his intention to own this problem.

“Why wouldn’t you as chief executive of a country come out and say I’m giving marching orders to security agencies that these cannot continue to happen.

“Where has the President ever said publicly that these criminal herdsmen will never be tolerated.

“I’ve only heard his Spokesman, Adesina say it and not from him.

“What we’ve heard from 2006 is live in peace with your neighbour, try to accommodate your country men and stuffs of that nature.

“This enables those that are committing these crimes that there is no punishment.

“As a president, you should be very worried when you see things happening in the country targeted at a particular set of people. You should ask what is it that makes these people continue to commit these crimes.”

In recent times, herdsmen in different parts of Nigeria have been accused of killings and kidnappings.

On Friday, suspected herdsmen attacked Ebute Igbooro, killing four and setting properties on fire.

This was after about six persons had been hacked to death and some thrown into a river in Owode Ketu on Thursday.

No other evidence is required to prove Buhari has failed – CDHR

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has agreed with some Nigerian lawmakers that no other evidence is required to prove that the Nigerian State under President Muhammadu Buhari has not only failed woefully, but has displayed a combination of lacklustre performance characterized by incompetence and indifference.

The CDHR stressed that the country under Buhari’s leadership cannot meet the fundamental purpose for which it was established to uphold the security and welfare of the Nigerian people.

The CDHR made the assertion in a communiqué signed by its National President, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana.

“We affirm that the economic policies of the Buhari government by pauperizing the masses on an ongoing basis, directly and indirectly fuels insecurity as they engender acts of desperation on the part of the unemployed and impoverished teeming population of youths; the pretences through insignificant palliatives notwithstanding.”

SOURCE: Daily Post

EU fully behind you – Commission tells Okonjo-Iweala at her emergence as WTO DG

BUSINESSEU fully behind you – Commission tells Okonjo-Iweala at her emergence as WTO DGPublished on February 15, 2021 By Fikayo Olowolagba

The European Union, EU Commission, has reacted to the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director-General of the WTO.

President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen described Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as a historic moment for the world, especially as the first woman to be appointed as WTO DG from Africa.

The EU pledged its support to Okonjo-Iweala as the commission called for reforms of the body.

In a post on her verified Twitter, the EU President wrote: “Congratulations @NOIweala!

“This is a historic moment for the entire world. I’m so glad to see a woman from Africa at the head of the WTO.

“Europe is fully behind you. “We support the reform of the WTO and will help you protect the rules-based multilateral trading system.”

Iweala was confirmed as the WTO head at a special meeting of the general council after a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.

Okonjo-Iweala speaks on appointment as director-general of WTO

Former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said she is “honoured” to have been named as the director-general of World Trade Organisation.

Okonjo-Iweala was appointed on Monday, months after key ambassadors of the trade organisation recommended her for the job. Her confirmation was initially stalled by the then Donald Trump administration in the United States’ support for South Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.

But the administration of the new American president Joe Biden threw its weight behind Okonjo-Iweala after the South Korean minister pulled out of the race.

“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Okonjo-Iweala said after her official confirmation.

“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”

When she takes office on 1 March, Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General. Her term, renewable, will expire on 31 August 2025.

“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.

“Dr Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization,” he added.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

COVID-19: Pfizer Targets $15bn From 2021 Vaccine Sales

Pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer Inc., has said it expects to generate $15 billion, or about a quarter of its to-tal revenue this year, from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine co-developed with German partner BioNTech SE. According to Reuters, the company said sales from the vaccine – on track to be the drug maker’s top product this year – could top $15 billion if it signs more supply contracts. Pfizer aims to make two billion doses of the COVID- 19 vaccine in 2021.

Pfizer’s Chief Executive, Albert Bourla, said in an interview that the company wanted to be conservative in its target and is working on numerous initiatives to exceed that output. “We’ve increased the batches we run per week, we’ve doubled the output – the yield per batch – we’ve dramatically improved our success rates, we’ve made process improvements to the assembly lines,” Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio said in the interview. “All these things are things we’re continuing to examine to see what else we can do to try to produce more doses faster,” he added.

Pfizer also said it expects there could be a long-lasting need for COVID-19 vaccines, to combat new virus variants that emerge and to boost people’s waning immune responses. The company is launching a study to determine whether a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, administered 6-to-12 months after the initial shots, can extend and improve efficacy with more contagious variants circulating in communities around the world.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is currently administered as two doses three weeks apart. Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said he believes mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s generate a strong enough immune response to repel the currently circulating variants, and that a booster, rather than a redesigned vaccine, is the right approach for now.

Citi analyst, Andrew Baum, said he was optimistic that revenue contributions from the vaccine could be sustainable beyond 2021. Pfizer expects to supply 200 million doses to the U.S. government by the end of May. To achieve the goal, it will have to deliver an average of around 10 million doses per week, more than double the rate Pfizer and BioNTech delivered to the United States through the end of January, according to Reuters’ calculations.

The vaccine, which uses synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) to prompt an immune response against the virus, was the first shot to be authorized for emergency use in the United States, marking the first regulatory nod for the new technology. mRNA vaccines and COVID- 19 could prove transformative for Pfizer, which is already one of the world’s largest drug makers, CEO Bourla said. A potential flu vaccine based on the technology could hit the market by 2025, executives said on a conference call.

SOURCE: NEW TELEGRAPH

R. Kelly’s Associate Pleads Guilty To Attempted Bribery In Ongoing Court Case

An associate of disgraced R&B singer, R. Kelly has pleaded guilty this week to trying to bribe a witness to keep her from testifying against the singer.

According to Page Six, Richard Arline Jr. attempted to silence one of the singer’s accusers with hush money.

Prosecutors said he offered the woman $500,000 on behalf of R.Kelly who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

“Me and another person offered Jane Doe money for her to not go forward with her complaint or testimony against Robert Kelly,” said Arline Jr. “I knew what I did was wrong.”

Arline and the witness, one of Kelly’s accusers, spoke numerous times over the phone about a potential pay out from the singer in exchange for her silence, prosecutors said.

Jane Doe told the police about the potential bribe and recorded the phone calls with Arline, according to prosecutors.

“Rob, if I had talked to Rob on the phone and Rob got the money, he gonna pay [first name of Jane Doe] to be quiet,” Arline said according to documents.

“Like if I had a way to talk to Rob, being next to him, and telling him what’s going on, without nobody listening to, no feds, nobody, he gonna pay her ass off to be quiet. She got too much. She got too much.”

Arline is one of three men charged with bribing or otherwise intimidating witnesses around the R. Kelly trial.

Kelly’s manager, Donnell Russell, allegedly threatened to spread nude photographs of another woman if she refused to back out of the trial against Kelly.

Another associate, Michael Williams is believed to have set an SUV on fire in front of the home of one of the accusers.

Kelly, 54, is accused of running a racketeering scheme that trafficked girls and women at his shows. He forced the girls to call him daddy, and did not allow them to eat or leave their rooms without his permission, prosecutors said.

SOURCE: HERALD

The U.S. envoy said on Thursday - Biden to Pursue Arms Control, Seeks to Engage China – U.S. envoy

 

The Biden administration views the New Start Treaty clinched with Russia this week as the beginning of engagement on strategic issues including multilateral arms control.

Robert Wood, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, speaking  at the U.N.sponsored Conference on Disarmament, called for new arms control that covers more weapons, and eventually more countries.

The United States will also seek to engage China on nuclear arms control and risk.

I hope that China will join us in that effort,’’ Wood said.

SOURCE: HERALD

IFRC to Vaccinate 500 Million People Against COVID-19

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a plan to help vaccinate 500 million people who might be affected by inequality in coronavirus vaccine distribution, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said at a virtual news conference.“Our goal is ensuring equitable geographical access to the vaccines.

“Our plan is to reach 500 million people this year, 2021.

“But we will see whether we have to continue the campaign beyond 2021.

“We will adapt if we have to adapt,” he continued.IFRC secretary-general explained that the plan would be complimentary to the COVAX initiative, aimed at delivering vaccines to developing nations and led by the World Health Organisation; GAVI vaccine alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“We will help in deliveries of the vaccines in the arms of the people who need it,” Chapagain said.

IFRC Director of Health Emanuele Capobianco added that there are already over 60 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that have agreements with national governments of their countries on supporting the vaccination efforts.

“We imagine this will be expanding,” Capobianco said.

SOURCE: HERALD

Biden appoints Nigerian-born Ebong as acting director USTDA

 

 United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

 “The appointment meant a return to USTDA where from 2004 to 2019, Ms. Ebong had served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Agency’s General Counsel, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer,” USTDA said in a statement.

 “As Acting Director, Ms. Ebong leads an agency that partners with the U.S. private sector to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies, while supporting U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services.”

 Ebong had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

 She is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies.

 “It is an honor to return to USTDA,” Ebong said.

 “The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.”

 She also noted that the agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government.

 “I’ve longed believed in USTDA’s mission and program, which are fully aligned with the President’s vision of strengthening the country’s economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security,” Ebong said.

 Ebong grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

 She practiced law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues before joining the agency in 2004.

 Ebong earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in History, with Honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar.

She  is not the first Nigerian- American to be appointed by the US president. Adewale Adeyemo was recently announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

 Biden also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER