Funeral Arrangements to Be Announced Soon

The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, has died of Coronavirus on Friday, April 17. He was 81. His passing was announced by the  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu via a tweet in the evening of Friday. 

Shehu,via his verified Twitter handle, @GarShehu, wrote, “The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari. The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020.”

Shehu said funeral arrangements for the deceased would be announced soon.

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The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also wrote via his verified Twitter handle @FemAdesina, “Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon.”

Mallam Abba Kyari had tested positive for the coronavirus in March after a trip to Germany and Egypt. Doctors attending to the late Chief of Staff had obtained his medical records from Wellington Hospital, the largest independent hospital in the United Kingdom. Kyari's  records had shown that he had some other ailments that could lower his chances of recovery from COVID-19.

Kyari had, in a letter on March 29, said he was conveyed to Lagos on an air ambulance to do additional tests and observation, adding that he took the decision based on medical advice as a precautionary measure.

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He further stated that he made his personal care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which already faced so much pressure. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, however refused to disclose where Kyari was receiving treatment.

The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, later said he did not know Kyari’s location thereby sparking reports that the President’s aide was not in any isolation centre.

Responding to a question during a recent Presidential task force briefing in Abuja, the health minister said Kyari’s location was not important, adding that the President’s chief of staff had a right to privacy. 

Since the announcement of his death, many leaders have since shared condolences with his family. 

Reacting to the news, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, described the death as shocking, adding that he had prayed for the recovery of the late chief of staff, and was shocked to hear about his death.

He said, “The death is a reminder to all of us that whatever we are today, it is by the grace of God. He is the one that owns us and can call us at home at any time.  Once more, I pray for the repose of the soul of the distinguished Nigerian.”

Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa also expressed his grief on the passing of the Chief of Staff. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika on Saturday in Asaba, he described Kyari’s death as a huge loss to the Presidency and entire nation, considering his strategic role in the current administration.

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Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari Dies of Coronavirus

Pensioners, through the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria, FEPPPAN, have pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to include them as beneficiaries of palliatives. This, according to them, would cushion the hardship they face as a result of the lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The pensioners said that their inclusion in the palliatives is important due to their vulnerability.

President-General of Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria, FEPPPAN, Chief Temple Ubani in a statement on Thursday said that the Senior Citizens were passing through serious hardship due to the lockdown order by President Buhari. 

READ ALSO, 18 People Died at The Hands of Security Agencies During Lockdown - NHRC

According to him, “We most humbly request the President to please include Nigerian Retirees spread all over the Nigerian States and the FCT in the palliatives meant for distribution to vulnerable Nigerians. Pensioners are among the most vulnerable in any community because of their age and health.

“These Pensioners can be reached most effectively through their pay-points; such as The Treasury Funded through PTAD, The Self Funding and Private Sector Pensioners through their former Employers and, The Contributory Pensioners through their PFAs.

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“Though our Union was registered to care for Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners in Nigeria, in a matter like this, we are under obligation to be our brother’s keeper, hence the general appeal for all Pensioners.

“We appeal to Government to avoid sending palliatives meant for the vulnerable Nigerian Pensioners to none pensioners for distribution or adopt any other distribution mode that will work hardship for the Pensioners, especially the Federal Government funded and Private Sector Pensioners.”

The FEPPPAN boss commended pensioners across the country for adhering to government’s stay-at-home and stay safe order, as a measure to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus. 

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Pensioners Plead with Buhari to Be Beneficiaries of Palliatives 

Security Agents Violating Human Rights of Nigerians

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn attention to the extrajudicial killing of 18 people by law enforcement agents while enforcing the lockdown ordered by the Federal Government to curb the spread of the COVID-19. This was disclosed in a report by the NHRC on the first phase of the lockdown, which lasted from March 30 to April 13.

The commission said a total of 105 complaints bordering on rights violations were received from 24 states during the first phase of the lockdown.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, said the complaints came from the Federal Capital Territory, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross Rivers and Ebonyi states.

READ ALSO, China Recorded, Covered Up 20 Million COVID-19 Deaths - Nnamdi Kanu

Complaints were also received from Edo, Enugu, Ekiti, Delta Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Plateau and Rivers states.

The complaints received and documented by the NHRC within the period include cases of extrajudicial killings, violation of right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest and detention, and seizure/confiscation of properties.

There were also cases of sexual and gender based violence, discrimination, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and extortion.

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“Whereas COVID-19 has led to the death of about 11 patients to date (Wednesday), law enforcement agents have extrajudicially executed 18 persons to enforce the regulations.

“This speaks volumes of the protocols and rules of engagement for our law enforcement as well the efficiency level and capacity of law enforcement agents to deal with civil population,” Ojukwu added.

18 People Died at The Hands of Security Agencies During Lockdown - NHRC 

Gates Family And China in Collaboration to Depopulate Africa

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that China recorded 20 million unreported deaths to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also alleged that what China's activities in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is an experimentation of their vaccines to depopulate Africa.

The IPOB leader disclosed this in a radio broadcast, which was made available in text to newsmen by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. Nnamdi Kanu took exception to Melinda Gates’ prediction of massive death in Africa due to coronavirus.

He alleged that the Gates family is working in tandem with China to reduce the population of Africa and Melinda Gates could not have made such a devastating prediction if she did not have information about the damaging effect of the virus.

In his words: “Bill Gates family is working in tandem with China to reduce the population of Africa. That is why they did not see anything bad in trying the efficacy of their vaccine in Africa.

“It is unfortunate that Melinda Gates predicted that COVID-19 will be horrible in the developing world, claiming to have seen dead bodies on the streets of Africa, but could not see in America and Europe.

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“China does not mean well for Nigeria and the whole of Africa. They should have vaccinated the whole of China, a country with more population rather than coming to Nigeria and Africa.”

Kanu, however, urged Biafrans to take their destiny in their hands by being their brothers’ keeper, adding that relying on the Federal Government of Nigeria will be an exercise in futility. He expressed regret at the treatment Nigerians were facing in China, attributing it to the habit of Nigerians to see evil and keep quiet.

He added: “Nigerians, particularly Biafrans have no reasons to use the contaminated face masks produced in China because they are made to kill our people. Chinese are treating our people like rags in China and you say I should be diplomatic? It is better I die standing on my feet than live a thousand years on my knees.”

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China Recorded, Covered Up 20 Million COVID-19 Deaths - Nnamdi Kanu

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), behind closed doors to discuss the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme, among other issues.

This comes days after a clash between the National Assembly and the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme, Maryam Uwais, over the need for a reform of the process of implementing the programme.

Uwais had, on April 8, responded to criticisms of the programme by the legislature with allegations that lawmakers were criticising the implementation of the SIP partly because some of them tried but failed in their bid to insert the names of would-be beneficiaries.

READ ALSO, Fire Razes 700 Shelters in Borno IDP Camp

The National Assembly, however, replied that Uwais should be “receptive to constructive ideas and suggestions expressed to enhance service delivery.”

Lawan, who spoke to journalists after the meeting at the State House in Abuja, reiterated the call for reforms in the social investment initiatives. He said, “This afternoon, we had an engagement with Mr President to discuss with him what we, the leadership of the National Assembly, have resolved and our opinion on various issues regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria and going forward.“For example, the various donations that we are receiving should go into a single account and should have a fund management committee that would be in charge of releases. Accountability and transparency require that we have that separation.

“It is also an opportunity for us to commend Nigerians and corporate bodies that have given us donations but we believe there should be more coordination as far as the management of the funds is concerned. I believe the Presidential Task Force is doing a very good job, they have been very proactive and they deserve our commendation.”

“We also believe that it is time to reform the way and manner we implement the Social Investment Programme. This is a very important programme that is to help Nigerians who are poor and vulnerable.

“We believe that, having implemented this programme from 2016 to date, we should be reviewing to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency with which we have been implementing this programme.”

The Senate President emphasised the need to have a transparent programme that would go down to the people that deserved the support and an equitable and fair projects as far as the geographical spread across the country was concerned.

According to him, the Federal Government is considering bringing the request for a stimulus package of N500bn to the National Assembly.

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He said, “We believe that we should be watching closely and it is with this respect we feel that we should be on standby so that, should there be a presentation of that request for the stimulus package to be passed, we simply reconvene in the National Assembly to look into the request of the executive arm of government with the intention of ensuring that the stimulus is available to Nigerians at this state.”

Lawan stated that, among the discussions with Buhari, was the proposition that the various donations to Nigeria should go into a single account with a management fund committee that would be in charge of releases.

When asked whether he wanted the national social register discarded, the Senate President argued that the present register was contrived by “the World Bank method,” saying the distribution should be on the basis of senatorial districts, federal constituencies, or local governments. According to him, the implementation procedure does not precisely capture the kind of beneficiaries that ordinarily should be.

The National Assembly leadership also tabled before the President the need for a two-month free electricity for the citizenry observing the lockdown ordered by President Buhari. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said they discussed the issue of providing free electricity for Nigerians as result of the lockdown on COVID-19, so as to make them more comfortable as they stay at home.

He said:  “You know I am very passionate about electricity for our people. Interestingly, I brought it up today (yesterday) and we discussed that with the President and hopefully in a matter of days he will meet with the stakeholders on electricity. I impressed on him my position, the DISCOs have their issues, no question about it but at this point in time we need to put that aside and think of the Nigerian people.”

“The President listened very attentively and I think hopefully whatever the issues are we will be able to resolve them at least for these two months and then long-term, how electricity will not be an issue but what is imperative right now, is when you ask people to remain at home, you must make that home a little bit comfortable for them.”

National Assembly Leaders Meet Buhari on COVID-19 Funds

Not less than 700 shelters have been destroyed by fire in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

This was made known by the Secretary of the Local Government Area, Mohammed Lawan-Sheriff, on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the state capital. Lawan-Sheriff said that dozens of households in the camps were displaced during the fire outbreak, which started at about 11a.m. on Tuesday and lasted for several hours.

According to him, the fire incident, which began from a tent, razed other shelters because there was no immediate fire service response in the camps at the time of the incident. The situation was put under control by the combined efforts of the IDPs, Civilian Joint Task Force, security agencies and other good Samaritans. 

“Immediately, we heard about the incident, we quickly mobilised the host community and rushed to the scene to put out the fire. So far, no death was recorded,” he said.

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The secretary explained that the council and other partners were working to address the humanitarian situation at the camps.

“We have asked the 11 camp managers to assess the level of damage and do the head count to ensure that everyone is safe, while an ambulance was placed on standby to evacuate any injured persons,” he said.

Mafa IDPs camp reportedly houses  4,782 households, mostly women, children and the elderly. 

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Fire Razes 700 Shelters in Borno IDP Camp

Released Convicts Committed Minor Offences

As part of the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the correctional facilities, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday, approved the release of 72 convicts from the Kaduna and Kafanchan correctional centres.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), had approved the release of 2,600 inmates as part of measures to decongest the correctional facilities and curb the coronavirus spread.

The Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Aisha Dikko, who made the announcement on Tuesday, said of the 72 prisoners released, 69 were from the Kaduna Correctional Centre  and three were from the Kafanchan correctional facility.

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According to Dikko, 42 inmates freed from the Kaduna Correctional Centre had been given an option of fine not exceeding N50,000 by the court. The commissioner said four inmates were serving three years and above, and had less than six months to go.

The attorney general added that one of the inmates had spent 75 per cent of his prison term while 22 others were convicted of minor offences.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that in an aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria’s economy will recede by 3.4% in 2020. This would be the worst recession in 30 years, and the second recession in five years, following a negative economic growth of 1.51% in 2016. This projection is contained in the April 2020 World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday in Washington.

Gita Gopinath, IMF chief economist and director of the research department, said the recession to be experienced would be the worst since the Great Depression that occurred between 1929 and 1932 when the advanced economies shrunk by 16%. It is projected that the Nigerian economy will rebound by 2.4% in 2021.

READ ALSO, Suspected Herdsmen Behead Two Men in Benue

“For the first time since the Great Depression, both the advanced economies and emerging and developing economies are in a recession,” she said in a press briefing that marked the beginning of the April 2020 Spring meetings that is holding virtually.

“For 2020, growth in advanced economies is projected at -6%. Emerging markets and developing economies which typically have normal growth levels well above advanced economies are also projected to have negative growth of -1% and -2.2% if you exclude China.”

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Gopinath also said the fund has projected 170 countries across the world would experience a shrinkage in their income per capita. She added that the recovery in 2020 would be partial. 

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Nigeria to Face Its Worst Recession in 30 Years - IMF

In a fresh attack on Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, suspected herdsmen on Monday killed two young men. 

According to Oyaje Sule, an uncle to one of the deceased, suspected herdsmen beheaded his nephew identified as Oche Alaade and friend and allegedly went away with their heads. Sule added that the two young men who lived in Obagaji had gone to Ologba but were attacked while on their way back home.

READ ALSO, Vehicles Violating Lockdown Extension Will be Impounded- FRSC

Sule said, “The incident happened this morning, one of the deceased was my nephew. The two young men who lived in Obagaji had gone to Ologba and on their way back they were attacked by herdsmen who beheaded them.

“The two young men have been buried without their heads because the herdsmen went away with their heads. About a week ago, two people were also attacked by herdsmen who are still in my clinic receiving treatment.”

A former supervisory councillor in the local government, John Ikulono, confirmed the report, adding that he had since informed the local government chairman who then paid a visit to the area.

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Suspected Herdsmen Behead Two Men in Benue

In light of the extension of the lockdown by an extra 14 days, the Federal Road Safety Corps has said motorists who are not covered by the essential service list of the Federal Government risk losing their vehicles when caught. 

In a statement on Tuesday, FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, ordered his men to “step up ongoing enforcement on restrictions and social distance amongst vehicle occupants and carry out the Presidential directives holistically by impounding at sight any vehicle found violating the orders”.

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He ordered his men to arrest without hesitation, any motorist who contravenes the stay-at-home order of the government.

He said, “Except the vehicles and the occupants are accredited essential workers with proof of identification, Commanding Officers must ensure that the vehicles are impounded and the occupants handed over to the Police for prosecution in the Court of Law for contravening the Presidential Order on restrictions, social distance and stay at home.”

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Vehicles Violating Lockdown Extension Will be Impounded- FRSC

Loan Amount to Be Determined by Cash flow and Industry/Segment Size of Beneficiary 

The Central Bank of Nigeria has disclosed its set criteria that stakeholders must meet to access its N50bn intervention loans for small and medium scale enterprises.

The CBN introduced the N50bn Targeted Credit Facility as a stimulus package to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and guidelines to access the funds.

The bank stated that to access the loans,  “Eligible households or MSMEs shall submit applications directly to NIRSAL Microfinance Bank; and the application must, among others, contain BVN number, business registration (where applicable) and business plan with clear evidence of the opportunity or adverse impact as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO, Northern Governors Agree Not to Lockdown States

“NMFB shall appraise and conduct due diligence applications; upon satisfactory appraisal of application, NMFB shall forward the applications to the CBN for final approval; and CBN reviews applications and gives final approval for disbursement to NMFB.”

The bank stated that eligible participants were households and existing enterprises with verifiable evidence of business activities adversely affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and enterprises with bankable plans to take advantage of opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities covered under the guidelines include agricultural value chain activities, hospitality (accommodation and food services), health (pharmaceuticals and medical supplies), airline service providers, manufacturing/value addition, trading, and any other income generating activities as may be prescribed by the CBN. It also added  that the eligible participating financial institution for the scheme was NIRSAL Microfinance Bank.

The CBN said the loan amount would be determined based on the activity, cashflow and industry/segment size of beneficiary, subject to a maximum of N25m for SMEs; and households could access a maximum of N3m.

It stated that working capital would be a maximum of 25 per cent of the average of the previous three years’ annual turnover (where the enterprise was not up to three years in operation, 25 per cent of the previous year’s turnover would suffice).

It added that interest rate under the intervention would be five per cent per annum (all inclusive) up to 28th February 2021 and thereafter, the interest on the facility would revert to nine per cent (all inclusive) as from 1st March 2021.

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The regulator stated that working capital would be for a maximum period of one year, with no option for rollover, while term loan would have a maximum tenor of not more than three years with, at least, one year moratorium.

It stated that the collateral to be pledged by beneficiaries under the programme must be acceptable by NIRSAL MFB, but may include any one or more of others which are moveable assets duly registered on the National Collateral Registry; simple deposit of title documents, in perfectible state; and deed of debenture (for stocks), in perfectible state.

Others were irrevocable domiciliation of proceeds; two acceptable guarantors; personal guarantee of the promoter of the business; life insurance of the key-man, with NMFB noted as the first loss payee; and comprehensive insurance over the asset.

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Set Criteria Must Be Met to Access N50bn Intervention Loan - CBN

Farmers Need to Go to The Farm- Governors

The Northern States Governors’ Forum has disclosed the resolve of Northern governors not to lockdown Northern states following their meeting on Monday  to discuss the impact of coronavirus in the region.

The meeting was conducted via teleconference and chaired by the forum’s Chairman, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State. In the meeting, the governors shared experiences on measures adopted by individual states to deal with the disease.

A statement by Lalong’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Macham Makut, on Monday, stated that after receiving reports from various states, the governors resolved to strengthen preventive measures against the pandemic through enhanced boundary controls and surveillance, as well as greater collaboration to ensure that there was a synergy among them in restriction of movement.

READ ALSO, COVID-19: Ekiti to Release 'Low Risk' Prisoners

The statement said, “They (northern governors) agreed that at the moment, each state would adopt the measure suitable to its setting because total lockdown of the region will come at a very high cost since most of its citizens are farmers who need to go to farms since the rains have started.

“Another issue discussed by the northern governors was the issue of palliatives from the Federal Government where they regretted that so far, no state in the region had received a dime as special allocation despite the fact that some of them have recorded cases while others are making frantic efforts to prevent any outbreak, as well as prepare against any eventuality.

“This they observed has eaten deep into the pockets of the states as they have spent a lot of money already and may not be able to sustain this for a long time. Since prevention is better than cure, they canvassed that the Federal Government grant them some special funds just as it has done to other states.

“The northern governors lamented that the region has no testing centre, which is very disturbing. They resolved to again liaise with the Federal Government to ensure that each state at least gets one testing centre while highly populated ones get two.

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“The governors also discussed the economic impact of COVID-19 on the region and decided that they needed to take a holistic look at the economic prospects of the region with a view to repositioning it for less reliance on federal allocation and to prepare for the future by diversifying to areas of comparative advantage such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and human capital development.

“They consequently set up a seven-man committee made up of the governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Kwara, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Gombe and Nasarawa states; and chaired by the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, to fashion out the way forward.

Northern Governors Agree Not to Lockdown States

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