By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has advocated state police as a solution to insecurity in Nigeria.

Makinde spoke on Sunday night in Igboora.

The governor met with stakeholders, including local government chairmen, in Oke-Ogun and political officeholders.

The stakeholders who attended the meeting include political office holders from Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, and Ibarapa North.

The governor said his administration has approved the setting up of the Peace and Security Committee at the local government levels.

He also disclosed that the government had directed the immediate take-off of an identity management programme to enable it to know who is who in the communities.

Makinde said: “The take-home from the interaction for me is that it is a collective problem and I can see the commitment from everybody to find a solution to this. And, at least, I am quite glad that some of the initiatives that the government is trying to put in place to stem insecurity are coming to fruition.

“We will ensure that our identity management programme takes off as quickly as possible. We will also ensure the setting up of peace and security committee that is all-encompassing in the councils.”

He also urged political office holders to always call the attention of the government to the happenings within their localities, saying that he decided to sleep over in Ibarapa to feel the pulse of the people.

According to the governor, he cannot sleep with two eyes closed in Ibadan if the people of Ibarapa are unable to sleep with two eyes closed.

The governor said: “This is also to let people know that I feel their pain because I have had a very close interaction with Dr. Fatai Aborode in the past. I commiserate with his family and many others who have lost loved ones to this situation.

“I feel the pain and I believe that with everybody coming together, we will be able to tackle the problem. Also, political office holders need to know that when they see something, they have to say something.”

The governor said state police would have helped to enforce anti-grazing law.

“Quite frankly, the governors are at the mercy of federal security agencies to implement certain laws. That was why we asked for state police. In the first instance, it is a constitutional issue and, in the absence of having that, governors in the Southwest came together and formed Amotekun as a stop-gap.

“Problems don’t go away completely. But, you have to keep working at it; keep pushing to get to where you really want to be and that is what we will keep doing.  But the law is there, though the implementation has not been smooth, we will keep working at it.

“The 200 Amotekun Corps have been deployed. They are here and we are also supporting them with logistics by bringing four additional operational vehicles for them”, the governor added.

However, residents of Igangan on Monrday expressed displeasure over what they described as Makinde’s ‘late-coming’.

They also called for an immediate investigation of the roles played by the embattled Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Abdulkadri Saliu, in the series of rape, kidnappings, banditry among other social vices that had rocked the region.

The youths protested at the Igangan Town Hall, the venue of a meeting facilitated by Makinde.  They carried placards with various inscriptions calling for action on the rampaging killer herdsmen in the region. They also asked for adequate compensation for the victims and families of the herders’ onslaught.

The youths displayed the pictures and photos of the late Dr Aborode, who was killed on the way to his farm late last year, with a call on the government to find and prosecute the killers.

Read Also: Makinde still missing the point

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read “Stop the Fulani massacre of Ibarapa people”, “#End Farmer’s bloodshed in Igangan”, “#Justice for all slain”, “#Fulani must stop raping our women”, “#Stop the Fulani massacre of Ibarapa people”, “We have bled enough”, “Correct your media aides Mr Governor, We are Ibarapa, not Oke-Ogun. Address us properly”, “Ibarapa lands are not Fulani Ruga”, “No more Seriki, no more carnage”, “Justice for all those who Fulani raped”.

The Vice President 2, Igangan Development Advocates, Mr Jamiu Ogungbenro, told the governor that the cries of the people were not exaggerated. He reeled out a list of indigenes of the community kidnapped between 2019 and 2020 and the ransom paid to facilitate their release.

”On February 8, 2019, they kidnapped the owner of Adolad filling station in Igangan; N15million ransom was collected.

“On 21st March 2020, Alhaji Lukman Jimoh Amubioya was kidnapped and a ransom of N2 million was paid.

“On 7th March 2020, Alhaji Wasiu Adetayo Adebimpe was kidnapped

“They kidnapped Alhaji Olusegun Olosunde who owns a filling station and N7.5million was collected.

“On 4th January 2021, Alhaji Monsuru Aderoju who is the son of our monarch was kidnapped and N4million ransom was collected.

“Also, I also have a list of about 24 people who were victims of herdsmen rape, banditry, and assassinations and who have not seen justice. Many of those killed have their pictures with the

“On 6th January 2019, a man was kidnapped by a river and was killed there. On 2nd June, 2019, a motorcyclist named Sule Danfo was macheted to death about 50metres from Saliu Abdulkadri, the self-acclaimed Seriki Fulani of Oyo State’s residence. The man was taken away by the kidnappers and killed very close to his residence.”

The meeting was interrupted when the youths were stopped from recording the proceedings which led to a rancorous session which also led to the youths staging a walkout.

The intervention of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Fatai Owoseni, helped to calm frayed nerves before normalcy was restored.

Makinde told the people that he was also feeling their pains. He assured the people that his administration would work with all stakeholders to ensure that the problems of insecurity in Ibarapaland were tackled collectively.

Makinde said: “You have shown me love and all that is happening, I can tell you that I also feel your pains.

“If you cannot sleep with your two eyes closed, those of us that you have sent into the government shouldn’t sleep as well with our two eyes closed. This same hall was where I came to canvass for votes and I can assure you that I have come to listen to you.

“Since almost 24hours here now and I am still in Ibarapaland because I don’t want anyone just to come and tell me in Ibadan what is happening here.”

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and Alao Abiodun

• This govt won’t tamper with media freedom, says Adesina

• ‘President’s appointments not skewed towards North’

The Presidency has said Transparency International’s (TI’s) recent Corruption Perception Index report is not an indictment of President Muhmmadu Buhari or his administration.

It said the report rather indicted some Nigerians in their diverse dispositions towards acts of malfeasance.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, stated this on Monday when he appeared on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, “Sunrise Daily”.

TI’s 2020 Corruption Perception Index report had placed Nigeria as the second most corrupt country in West Africa, falling to number 149.

Reacting to the report on the live television programme, Shehu said: “I’ll tell you that this one by TI is not a judgment on Buhari or his administration or its war against corruption. I will tell you that this one is judgment on Nigerians. This is because if you look at the indices they used at arriving at these conclusions, they used eight indices, six of which showed Nigeria as being more or less Nigeria in the same position.

“The two that they dwelled on, that caused this backslide, are essentially Nigerian problems. They’re talking about the political culture of this country, vote-buying, thuggery. Is it Buhari that is a thug? We’re not doing thuggery.

“And when they talk about the Justice sector, they are talking about perceived corruption in the Judiciary. These perceptions are essentially not correct.

“Yes, there are issues in that sector, but so many changes are going on in that sector. Wouldn’t it have been nice if they acknowledged it so that you encourage those judicial officers that are upright and then the system gets getting better?”

Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the Buhari administration would not tamper with the independence of the media.

Adesina spoke on Monday on Arise TV programme, “The Morning Show”, monitored by The Nation.

Reacting to the question that the Buhari government had allegedly tampered with media freedom, especially with the shutting down of an online news platform, Peoples Gazette, Adesina said: “…This government never clamped down on the media. It has never done so, and will never do so. This government will never tamper with the independence of the media and freedom of the press.

“Peoples Gazette is a paper that lies everyday. It has lied against me and has lied against several people. So, why should we bother ourselves against a platform that is full of lies?”

Read Also: PDP accuses Buhari of violating COVID-19 law

The presidential spokesman also refuted claims that appointments under President Buhari were skewed to favour the North.

He said: “Perception at times is not the totality of reality. For instance, the belief is that most IG of police come from a certain part of the country in the past 20 years. But somebody did put the right information out just last week which I saw online…

“In the past 20 years, we have had 11 IGPs. Six came from the South and five from the North. Yet, you would hear people say all IGPs are from the North.”

He added: “…I saw another analysis over the weekend: Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, in the past 20 years. Do you know that majority of them have all been from the South? These things are available online, and you would still hear people say that all service chiefs are from the North.

“It is a perception that is not quite correct. A lot of people who have believed it need to unbelieve this.”

“It is not particularly our duty to begin to try and correct; ours is to put out the correct information. Two years ago, we did a chronicle of all appointments made by the Buhari administration in 2015, it happened that Ogun State had the highest number of appointments, followed by some Southern states. Even Kastina State, where the President comes from, is one of the lowest state in the number of appointments. And we hear people’s perception say there are skewed appointments, that the North is favoured. We have released the facts and figures…”

 

 

By Blessing Olaifa, Abuja

The Federal Government has extended the deadline  for linkage of National Identity Numbers with Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) cards by eight weeks.

Consequently, the new dealine has been shifted from February 9 to April 6, 2021.

A statement jointly signed by the spokesmen of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission NIMC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Mr Kayode Adegoke respectively, said the decision to extend the date was reached at a meeting of stakeholders with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,  Dr Isa Pantami.

Pantami stated that the extension is to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with the SIM, the statement said.

It added that the meeting was chaired by the Minister and attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).  Others include the MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, Ntel, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Globacom.

The statement reads: ” It was reported that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators.

Read Also: NIN and the unending war against Nigerians

“Each NIN is usually tied to an average of 3 to 4 SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.

“This number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021.

“Furthermore, over 1060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, while Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.

“This is in line with the policy of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to enhance security and make the process of obtaining NINs easier for Nigerians.

“The CEOs of the Telcos and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Organisation of Nigeria commended the Honourable Minister for his stellar leadership and commitment to the rapid development of the sector.

“Dr Pantami reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enroll for their NIN and link with their SIMs.  It would be recalled that the 4th of February, 2020 was the initial date of the commencement of the National NIN-SIM Registration Policy.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria applauds all Nigerians and persons of other nationalities for their understanding, cooperation and for enthusiastically participating in the exercise.”

By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The Presidency has said no date had been fixed for the announcement of a successor to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu who reached retirement age on Monday.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said on Monday on a Channels Television programme that he was not aware of any imminent announcement.

He said the appointment of the next IGP would not be based on ethnic considerations.

Read Also: How to avoid second lockdown, by Presidency

“The President returns to Abuja on Tuesday. He should be at his desk by Wednesday. I don’t know when he will do this. One thing I can assure you is that in places sensitive like that, there is no vacuum that will subsist. So, the system will take care of itself.

“The President will rather have an IGP who will make you and I safer, protect life and property than one who is more pronounced by his tribal marks.

“If you are going to appoint the service chiefs from every ethnic group in this country, you are going to have more than 250 IGPs, 250 Chiefs of Army Staff, 250 Chiefs of Naval Staff. It’s not going to work like that. And they have their own systems of producing leadership.

Emmanuel Oladesu, Jide Orintunsin, Sanni Onogu, Bolaji Ogundrle and Tajudeen Adebanjo

 

Death sneaked into the media on Monday, snatching former Information and Culture  Minister Prince Tony Momoh.

The eminent  journalist, politician and lawyer passed on at Abuja. He was 81.

Momoh, a prince of Auchi Kingdom, Edo State, was the national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) and a section  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Momoh, who held the title of Yerima of Auchi, served as a minister during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida between 1986 and 1990.

President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC leadership, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  his Edo State counterpart,  Godwin Obaseki, described Momoh’s demise as a huge loss to the polity.

Expressing grief, the President described him as his longtime ally, friend, and  political loyalist.

The President’s message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari said Momoh stood with him through thick and thin, adding: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him.”

The President recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the ANPPCampaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections as well as Chairman of the CPC, the late prince contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organizations, leading to the eventual formation of the APC.

President Buhari commiserated with the media industry on the loss of a veteran who put in a lot to raise the bar of the profession as editor, manager, administrator, President and Trustee of the Guild of Editors, urging them to sustain his legacies.

While also condoling with the Auchi Kingdom, the government and people of Edo State on this great loss, the President prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort.

Read Also: BREAKING: Former Minister Tony Momoh dies

Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu described Momoh’s death as a colossal loss to Nigeria and the ruling party.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, urged family, friends and colleagues of the deceased as well as the APC leadership to immortalised him.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The death of Prince Tony Momoh is a great loss to Nigeria. The late Momoh made lots of positive impact in Nigeria during his life time as a journalist, media manager, lawyer, politician and elder statesman.

“I sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire leadership and members of our party. I also commiserate with government and people of Edo State on the loss of their illustrious son.”

Paying tribute to Momoh, the APC said his death was a monumental loss to the progressive fold.

The party in a  statement by the Secretary Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James AkpanUdoedehe, said the ruling party was deeply saddened by the death of the frontline journalist.

He said: “A distinguished journalist, lawyer, the Yerima of Auchi, politician, publicist, author, the former Minister of Information and Culture truly lived a storied life which will be a source of inspiration to present and future generations.

“The late Prince Tony Momoh was a strong advocate for internal party democracy which allowed for open, consultative and fair party processes.

“His mindset and approach to politics was that of service, not business. This was evident in all assignments he was regularly called upon to serve on behalf of the party.”

Akpanudoedehen said that the late associate of President Muhammad Buhari will be remembered for his tough stance against corruption.

He added: “As CPC National Chairman, he made clear the defunct Party’s resolve to bar any of its aspirants to become candidates if they engaged in corrupt practices or thuggery during the primaries.”

Veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor Osoba commiserated with the family and associates of the former ,minister.

He described his former colleague at Daily Times as a media intellectual and serious minded practitioner.

Osoba said in a statement in Lagos that the deceased earned the respect of great men as a journalist.

He said: “We have lost a consummate journalist. He was a strong and powerful member of the intellectual in the media. Great Dr Nnamdi Azikwe gave him the sobriquet of “Lawyer-journalist.” And he lived up to the nick name. Serious minded, deep in his thought and writings, through which he left an indelible mark in the media world. God bless his soul.”

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who said Momoh was committed to the  good of the country,  prayed to God to grant him eternal rest. He called for the deepening of the ethos of journalism through the emulation of the departed media guru.

Also, Edo State Governor Obaseki lauded the contributions of the veteran journalist to the growth and development of Nigeria, describing him as a rare politician, who spoke truth to power, when it mattered  most.

In a statement, he said: “It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of veteran journalist and former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh.

“Prince Momoh, though a great son of Edo State, was a total Nigerian. He was forthright, driven and spoke with candor. As a nationalist, he was unapologetic about the Nigerian project. His lasting legacy remains the enthronement of democratic values in Nigeria.

“A progressive and committed Nigerian, Prince Momoh’s wise counsel would be greatly missed, especially as we navigate our current challenges as a nation.

“On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I commiserate with his family, friends and associates and wish that God grants them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Senate President Lawan condoled with the government and people of Edo State and the APC over the irreparable loss.

In a statement, Dr. Lawan said: “As Minister of Information, Prince Momoh, through his ‘Letter to my countrymen’ series, professionally and effectively disseminated and managed public information in a manner that was unique to him.

“As chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), he helped nurture the party to a very strong showing at the polls within months of its formation.

“Prince Momoh  was also a key facilitator of the emergence of the APC in 2014.

“The APC will miss this principled political leader particularly in this period that the party is repositioning as a grassroots-based political party and for improved performance of its leadership of our great country.”

The Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kali said   the late media guru contributed to the social, economic and political development of the country in various capacities.

Kalu, who commiserated with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders in media industry, stressed that the deceased left indelible footprints in the annals of journalism in the country.

In a condolence message, the senate chief whip urged the Momoh family to uphold the good legacies of the deceased.

He said the demise of former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh is painful.

Kalu added: “The late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made invaluable contributions to nation building in different positions.

“He was a strong advocate of fairness, justice and equity which he demonstrated in his endeavours.

“The late former minister lived a remarkable life dedicated to the service of humanity.”

Former Delta State Governor James Ibori recalled that Momoh was an accomplished journalist and the first Chairman, Board of Directors of the Independent Newspapers Ltd (INL).

He described him as a an eminent public servant, a totally detribalised Nigerian, and a pillar of the APC.

In a statement, Ibori said: “Though Prince Tony Momoh and I were never in the same party all through, he was civilized enough to respect the boundaries of friendship”.

 

 Bolaji Ogundele, Moses Emorinken and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

 

Nigeria lost 405 persons to coronavirus in the last two months, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said on Monday.

Seventy-five health workers were infected last week, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Federal Government said seven cases of the UK variant of COVID-19 have been identified in the country.

It described Kogi State, whose Governor Yahaya Bello denies the existence of the virus, as a “high-risk state.”

It also listed 22 high-burden council areas, some of them in Lagos State, and hinted of a likely suspension of flights  from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and The Netherlands.

PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said the fatality rate is 34 per cent higher.

According to him, COVID-19-related deaths increased from 1,173 as at last November 29 to 1,578 on January 31.

The SGF spoke during a sensitisation meeting on COVID-19 vaccine introduction with leaders of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) and scholars in Abuja.

He said: “The global infections have exceeded 100 million, while fatalities have also crossed the two million mark.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is now experiencing a more virulent second wave, which has increased the number of COVID-19 related deaths from 1,173 on November 29, 2020, to 1,578 on January 31, 2021, an increase of 34 per cent.

“The number of infections has also grown, tremendously.”

Mustapha said the arrival of vaccines has, however, given hope to humanity, adding that the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) will not be discarded.

He said from now on, the national response strategy would be a combination of the NPIs and the vaccines.

“I wish to make it abundantly clear that nobody is safe around the world until everyone is vaccinated,” Mustapha said.

He noted a lack of compliance with the NPIs even among church leaders and the very low testing, which limits detection

The Federal Government said the Africa Centre for Excellence in Genomics in Ede, identified five new COVID-19 variants in Osun, one in Kwara and one in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The government urged health workers to increase their index of suspicion for COVID-19, as the new variant has been identified with the increased transmission.

NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, speaking during the PTF briefing in Abuja, said: “We are all aware that there is increasing transmission and this virus is adapting all the time.

“We are working very hard with my colleagues to get access to the vaccines because if we don’t, the virus keeps circulating, mutating and potentially getting better adapted to (PTF) the environment and its ability to transmit.

“The fact that we are finding the variant is not surprising because it is found in more than 50 countries around the world. As countries look for this, they will find them because people travel and viruses travel with people as they travel.”

Ihekweazu noted that some health workers, particularly doctors and nurses, were found not to be wearing their face mask within the hospital premises.

He urged them to be an example to Nigerians by complying with the protocols.

He said: “We are gradually experiencing an increase in the number of deaths. These are tragic circumstances.

“Everything we are doing in the response is really about preventing severe cases and death. This is what we are most worried about.”

The Federal Government is considering flight suspension from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and The Netherlands.

The decision, according to the PTF, is due to the new COVID-19 protocols introduced by both countries for travellers.

The two countries recently asked passengers from Nigeria to do a PCR test four hours before departing.

Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, who spoke during the PTF briefing, said: “For us, passengers do the test 72 hours before departure and then the PCR test.

“The PTF recognises the right of all countries to put in measures to protect their citizens just like Nigeria has done.

“However, these countries and airlines cannot determine for Nigeria who to approve or how these test will be done. We are going to be discussing with these airlines and these countries.

“If they insist on having these additional tests being done, then the PTF has decided that their operations will be suspended into Nigeria until the time the PTF puts in a structure and deals with the logistics on how this second test can be done successfully within four hours before departure to these two countries.”

Nuhu said the procurement process to have the test done at the airports has begun.

He said: “The PTF has started the procurement process of who will be allowed to do the test at the airports and there is a shortlist of four or five companies.

“So, this process will be brought to conclusion to select the laboratories who will carry out the tests at both Lagos and Abuja airports.”

He said airlines that flouted the COVID-19 protocols have been sanctioned, adding that a comprehensive list would be out soon.

No fewer than 57 million doses of vaccines from various makers are expected in the country in batches, beging from this month.

Over 50 million Nigerians are to be vaccinated this year.

Kogi named high-risk state

The PTF named Kogi as a COVID-19 high-risk state for not testing or reporting testing results at all.

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has repeatedly questioned the existence of COVID-19 in his state.

PTF National Incident Manager, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, ranked Kogi highest among the high-risk states for not reporting data on testing and analysis.

Besides Kogi, he named Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi as the others.

“We have states where data is not coming forth. If we don’t test, your data will not be analysed and if your data is not analysed we won’t know the level of the pandemic in your state.

“Notable among the states that have not been reporting adequately are Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi and of course Kogi that has not been reporting at all.

“States that are not testing are probably at much higher risk than the states that are currently known as high burdened states.

“A state that is not testing at all is an absolute high risk for Nigerians to go there because, there is no testing facility and even if you fall sick, there is no isolation centre and they don’t even acknowledge that the disease exists.

“So for that reason, epidemiologically, we put that state at the top of high-risk state,” Muhammad said.

Eti- Osa, Kosofe, Ikeja among 22 high-burden Council areas.

He also revealed that the PTF’s analysis of the spread of the virus indicated that 22 council areas in 13 states have been identified as high-burden.

The areas host of about 95 per cent of the total number of new cases discovered in the last six weeks.

Muhammad gave the names of the locations.

He said: “The PTF has analysed the epidemic in the country and we have identified 22 high-burden local government areas located within 13 states.

“These local government areas, which are mostly in the cities or in the state capitals, contribute over 95 per cent of the epidemic, particularly new cases in the country.

“The states and local governments are Nkanu West (Enugu); Abuja Municipal (FCT), Gwagwalada FCT, Gombe (Gombe); Chikun (Kaduna), Kaduna North, Kaduna South; Nassarawa (Kano), Katsina (Katsina), Ilorin South (Kwara), Ilorin West (Kwara), Eti-Osa (Lagos), Ikeja (Lagos), Kosofe (Lagos), Lagos Mainland (Lagos), Keffi (Nasarawa), (Lafia), Nasarawa, Ibadan North (Oyo), Jos North (Plateau), Jos South (Plateau), Port-Harcourt, (Rivers) and Wamako (Sokoto).”

On the new COVID-19 Regulations signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and the plan for enforcement and compliance, the National Incident Manager said the PTF was working to provide support to the states.

“As mentioned earlier, the regulation covers places of worship, public transport, banks, workplaces, sports and so on.

“Notable features of the regulations include Restrictions on gatherings, mandatory wearing face masks in public and above all the powers of prosecution by law enforcement agencies.

“We expect governments, institutions, owners of private buildings and other regulators to enforce these regulations.

“For example, putting a notice of no mask no entry or no mask no service, to enlighten the users of your services.

“Pertinent strategies will be adopted and they will include mobile court on strategic locations such as markers, motor parks and it is expected that every law enforcement agencies will monitor complaints or their staff within which they supervise.

“We are providing advisory to the states to develop community engagement strategy and risk communication strategies to sensitize the public on compliance with these regulations and to promote behavioural changes.

“Last week we started with the FCT, where we had a very fruitful meeting with the Minister and the stakeholders of the FCT.

“We are currently developing the implementation plan and the timeline for which the FCT Taskforce will commence operations all over the FCT,” he said.

Alao Abiodun

 

Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, on Monday visited Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on his mission to end herdsmen’s assault on farmers.

Igboho, who was received with a loud ovation, insisted that all killer herdsmen must leave Yorubaland.

The Nation had reported how military men escorted herdsmen to flog residents in a community in Ogun State.

In a viral video where Igboho was addressing supporters in Abeokuta, he said: “Many of our families abroad cannot come home. They scared of being kidnapped. All expressways in the Southwest, especially Lagos, Ondo, have been taken over by killer herdsmen who are kidnapping and killing innocent people. That’s the reason why I’m here.

Read Also: The transition of Igboho

”It is time for the youth to stand up, and fight for our rights. That’s why I’m at the forefront of the struggle. Igangan people have confirmed to me that there is peace after my visitation. So, that is why I said I won’t be visiting Igangan alone, I will touch all Southwest states. I want to appreciate the Ogun state Governor for his support. Even the government is tired of the evil doings of these killer herdsmen.

“Although I have not met physically with the governor, I went to see the places where herdsmen are disturbing them first. We are heading to Yewa because this is the place where many killer herdsmen have attacked residents.

“I have not seen any Yoruba person who wants to sabotage my current agitation, because this is the fight for all Yoruba people. You can see the support from Christians and Muslims, not Igboho alone. Even all those in the diaspora, traditional rulers, and everyone have stood up against this problem.”