By Bolaji Ogundele, Moses Emorinken and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

 

The Federal Government has lamented the low turnout of eligible Nigerians for the first phase of the vaccination programme against COVID-19.

Expressing the disaffection on Monday during the maiden media briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said only 1,173,869 (58.3%) Nigerians have been vaccinated.

The committee, which was previously constituted as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, was transitioned to its new form, but still reserving most of the structural features and functions of the PTF.

On the challenge of vaccine hesitancy, which had stunted the progress and success of the first phase of the vaccination programme, Mustapha emphasised the need to intensify sensitisation against the problem.

“The vaccination programme is still progressing but we still have reasons to intensify our campaign against hesitancy. As at date, records show that we have vaccinated 1,173,869, representing 58.3% of the eligible persons targeted in the current phase, have received the first dose of Astra Zeneca vaccine.

“This is low in our estimation. The Executive Director, NPHCDA will elaborate on the status of the programme and up-coming activities”, he said.

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Mustapha, however, urged Nigerians that while the nation marked the holy month of Ramadan, citizens must not forget that the virus is still virulent and raging in some other parts of the globe, saying: “We must, therefore, keep observing the NPIs and also ensure that we get vaccinated.”

On the diplomatic row with the United Arab Emirate (UAE) over COVID-19 testing, the SGF said: “For some time now, the situation between Nigeria and the UAE over travel requirements have been under management. I am pleased to inform you that we have reached a comfortable position acceptable to both parties.”

But, Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Captain Musa Nuhu  said: “As regards to the issue of emirates airline resumption of flight to Nigeria, the presidential steering committee deliberated extensively on this matter and the gap has been significantly closed between the position of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

“They have actually met some of our requirements and we are just waiting for one confirmation, very shortly, an announcement will be made on the outcome. Hopefully, within the next 24 to 48 hours, we will make an announcement on that.”

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) expressed worries over the consistent declining positive COVID-19 cases across the country.

The agency explained that the decreasing cases pose more threat of resurgence of the infection because Nigerians are beginning to get too comfortable and letting their guards down with regards to observing all the non-pharmaceutical interventions like avoiding large gatherings and practising social distancing, properly wearing face masks and regularly washing their hands and using sanitisers.

 

By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

 

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged security services to fish out the perpetrators of weekend attacks in Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Rivers states, condemning them as dangerous assaults.

It also demanded that sponsors of the dastardly attacks be made to face the full weight of the law so as to restore dignity to the citizenry and confidence in the system, particularly democratic and security structures.

Secretary of the party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the party has particularly monitored the development in Imo State, which culminated in Saturday’s brazen and gruesome attack on the residence of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

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The party equally condemned the attacks on police personnel and formations in Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Rivers states.

Commiserating with families of victims of the weekend attacks, Akpanudoedehe said: “We stand with the Nigeria Police Force and families of the victims in this difficult time as we mourn the deaths of innocent and dedicated security personnel simply carrying out their duty of protecting life and property.

“In Imo State, the attack on the governor’s residence is an attack on democracy and constituted authority serving the interest of the good people of Imo state.

“While we are still in shock over the ugly turn of events in the state, the party sympathises with Sen. Hope Uzodimma and all affected in the bestial attack. We have since learnt that there were fatalities with others injured and maimed during the attack.”

 

 

By Sanni Onogu, Abuja

 

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that all its appointments are based on merit and Federal Character Principle.

Bamidele spoke during the screening of Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi for appointment as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja by the committee.

He said adherence to merit and Federal Character Principle in appointments would prevent “unnecessarily heating up the polity and eroding the unity and strength of our country and in the process, weakening the foundation of our country as well as the hope of its federating units”.

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Bamidele said: “Finally, the need for merit and compliance in the consideration of citizens for appointment, including the ones that will come before the Senate for confirmation, must be re-emphasised for the record.

“In addition to ensuring that potential appointees meet the eligibility criteria stipulated for the relevant public offices into which they are being appointed, adequate care must also be taken to ensure that the federal character principle established by virtue of the clear provision of Section 14, Sub-section (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) is not undermined.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the above cited Constitutional provision clearly states that: ‘(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.’”

In his reaction, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, said the concerns of the committee have been duly noted and would be conveyed to the relevant authorities.

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

 

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), has so far registered more than 300,000 candidates for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to the board’s weekly bulletin obtained from the board’s website by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, JAMB has also registered more than 8,000 Direct Entry (DE) candidates.

“Total profile code generated so far is 497,528.

“Total UTME pin vended is 344, 115, while total pin vended for DE is 10, 848. Total registered candidates for UTME, 316, 132 and total registered candidates for DE is 8, 490.

“Total candidates who have indicated interest in sitting for the mock UTME are 126,402,’’ it said.

According to the bulletin, candidates can send their National Identity Number (NIN) from any SIM of their choice provided the SIM has not been used by another candidate to register for UTME/DE in the past.

JAMB said this was contrary to its earlier statement that only the SIM that was linked to a candidate’s NIN could be used to send their NIN to 55019.

The board had on Sunday said that candidates could only generate their profiles by sending their details to 55019 on the SIM linked to their NIN.

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It, however, advised them to follow the right process to be successfully registered.

The mock UTME earlier scheduled to hold on April 30, is now to take place on May 20, while the examination will take place from June 5 to June 19.

Registration for UTME/DE which began on April 8 will end on May 15.

Meanwhile, candidates who could not generate their profile code to register for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination because of poor or network failure from telecommunication service providers will get a refund, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said.

The board said this doesn’t apply to candidates who entered the wrong code while trying to generate their profile codes for registration.

There had been outcry from parents of applicants for this year’s UTME because they could not create their profile codes despite being charged for the service.

Each Short Message Service (SMS) cost N50 for request made by UTME applicants on the major telecoms service providers.

 

Registrar of JAMB, Prof Is – haq Oloyede, after a meeting with stakeholders yesterday at the headquarters of the board in Bwari, said the service providers and JAMB agreed on the refund to candidates who couldn’t access the service by telcos.