The Nation Newspaper

Tag: COVID-19

COVID-19 fund
- We welcome House of Reps’ probe into how the money was spent
The House of Representatives decision to look into alleged mismanagement of over N447.6bn COVID-19 intervention fund by 83 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government is a step in the right direction. The probe covers the period 2020 – 2022, and borders on alleged mismanagement of the funds earmarked to fight the global health pandemic. Going by the notice issued to the MDAs, each agency or department is to be represented by their “Chief Accounting Officer, Head of Finance, Head of Procurement and any other relevant officer, to defend the expenditure contained in their various submissions.”

Although coming somewhat late in the day, we consider the probe nonetheless important.

To begin with, it goes without saying that the elected representatives have a bounden duty to track the appropriated funds, to examine whether or not the expenditures were in alignment with their approval, and whether these were judiciously applied.

Clearly, if the impact of the global pandemic was of a seismic scale, it quite typically brought the best and, perhaps the worst out of the officials charged with putting both containment and ameliorative measures in place. Unfortunately, whereas the pandemic containment strategies may have been deemed as somewhat admirable, Nigerians’ overall impression of the management of the so-called palliatives/interventions was certainly deemed as below par. Lacking in either rhyme or rhythm, we saw those running the MDAs treat the funds as something of a largesse, of which they were not expected to render account.

Nigerians will certainly recall the unprecedented angst that spilled to the streets in those difficult days fuelled in part by the irresponsible, or better still, insensitive, manner with which officials went on as against their supposed duty of moving to calm the nerves of a people already drawn to the edge. If they were any appalled at how unscrupulous officials chose, at a time of their utmost vulnerability, to lock up in warehouses those items meant to bring succour to the people; far worse is that the government did nothing to bring officials responsible for the mess to book.

The current probe has become not only necessary but borne out of the need for proper accounting, a necessary step in the effort to bring closure.

The issues are as straightforward as could be. How much did the parliament budget for the pandemic? Was it N447.6bn or more? How much of the funds were actually released to the MDAs? Were these utilised for the purpose(s) they were meant? And were there mechanisms in place to ensure that these emergency funds were judiciously applied? What lessons for the future?

Then of course is the part that most people fear the most: the possibility of some highly placed officials taking undue advantage of that moment of national apprehension to engage in corruption and to make illicit personal gains. If so, who are these functionaries?

Read Also: Reps set to probe non-remittance of host community, COVID-19 funds, others

Bottom-line: Nigerians expect is to see the lid removed from the COVID-19 intervention funds if only to enable them have full grasp of how things actually went. After all, we are not here dealing with the MDAs’ normal appropriations but emergency funds specifically set aside by government to mitigate the pains on citizens during that period of unprecedented anguish.

Helping to get answers to these and many more would seem the least the House could do to lay the matter to a final rest. However, the MDAs merely defending the expenditures contained in their various submissions – as the House has put out – would seem to us as too narrow in the circumstance. Instead, a thorough, perhaps forensic scrutiny of the various claims contained in them would seem more appropriate, if only to ensure that the House is not misled into drawing spurious conclusions. It is something that the anti-graft bodies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, should be interested in. In fact, we urge them to take a more than passing interest if only to ensure that those who committed grave infractions against the country are brought to book.
November 29, 2023
Reps set to probe non-remittance of host community, COVID-19 funds, others

The House of Representatives is set to investigate the failure of International Oil Companies (IOCs) to remit three per cent of their annual operational expenditure to the Host Community Development Trust Fund.

It also resolved to probe how funds disbursed to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government from 2020 to 2022 as COVID-19 interventions were expended.

The House at plenary yesterday frowned at what it called the total disregard for establishment laws of the land by IOCs operating in the country.

This followed a motion on notice by Victor Obuzor accusing the oil firms of failing to remit the mandatory three per cent fund to the host community development fund as contained in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

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He said: “Section 240 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) stipulates that oil and gas firms should remit three per cent of their annual operational expenditure to oil and gas producing host communities via the Host Community Development Trust Fund.

“The main objective is to foster sustainable prosperity within host communities, provide direct social and economic benefits and enhance harmonious co-existence.

“Two years after the coming into effect of the PIA, oil producing companies have deliberately refused to make the necessary remittance, as mandated by the PIA, thus sparking agitation within the host communities as they are feeling shortchanged.

“The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which is mandated to facilitate speedy implementation of the three per cent OPEX, has awarded a penalty of $1,825 million to the defaulting oil companies, which is to be paid at the rate of N52,500 per day as stipulated by the PIA.”

Contributing to the motion, Sada Soli suggested that the IOCs should be sanctioned for not complying with the establishment laws, two years after the PIA was signed into law.

Also in a motion, Nyampa Dauda Zakari alleged lack of accountability in the management of COVID-19 intervention funds.

The lawmaker recalled that the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019 affected families, businesses, and economies across the world.

He said about N83.9 billion was appropriated for the COVID-19 response in the 2020 Appropriation Act and over N100 billion as intervention funds through supplementary budget and international donor agencies.

·Zakari said the Auditor General’s report and other sources revealed that significant funds for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various MDAs of government.

Contributing to the motion, Ahmed Jaha alleged that the money earmarked for COVID-19 intervention was diverted by some MDAs to buiild roads and carry out other activities.

·Also, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to order some soldiers at Epe Barracks to refrain from further harassing and intimidating residents of Iraye-Oke over a communal land dispute, pending the resolution of the dispute by the House.

·               The House mandated its Committee on Army to ensure compliance.

·               The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion, titled: “Alleged Intimidation, Assault and Trespass by the Nigerian Army, Epe Barracks Regarding Land Tussle with Iraye-Oke Community in Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State,” moved by Tasir Olawale Raji.

·               The House said it received a petition against some soldiers at Epe Barracks from Iraye-Oke community over acts of intimidation, assault and trespass of their 329.588 hectares of land on October 4 for investigation and resolution

·               It expressed concern that since it got the petition, soldiers from Epe Barracks had embarked on forceful acquisition of the people’s houses, lands, and fishing ponds by extending the fence of the Army Barracks to cover other people’s properties.

·               The House said armed soldiers were stationed at the perimeters, thus denying the owners access of their properties.

·               It expressed worry that if the Army was not prevented from further acts of intimidation, harassment and acquisition of Iraye-Oke communal land pending the resolution of the petition, the people may suffer irreparable damages.

·

October 18, 2023
Reps vow to probe management of COVID-19 fund my MDAs

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 17, resolved to investigate how funds disbursed to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government from 2020 to 2022 as COVID-19 intervention were expended.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Nyampa Dauda Zakari who alleged a lack of accountability in the management of funds disbursed as an intervention for COVID-19.

The lawmaker said that the outbreak of COVID-19 broke out as a major pandemic in 2019 affecting families, businesses, and economies of the nations of the world.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of lives, jobs, and economic opportunities for millions of homes in different parts of the world including Nigeria.

According to him, the COVID–19 pandemic disrupted economic activities, leading to global measures such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, business closures, and government shutdowns to control the virus’s spread.

He explained that the disruption of economic activities necessitated the introduction of various programs, policies, and interventions to alleviate and boost the economies of families, small businesses, and public corporations.

He said further that the Federal Government of Nigeria initiated several measures including budgetary provisions as well as funding from International donor agencies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on the citizens.

He said about N83.9 Billion was appropriated for the COVID-19 response in the 2020 Appropriation Act as well as another sum of over N100 Billion Naira as intervention funds through supplementary budget and international donor agencies.

He said the auditor general’s report and other sources reveal that significant funds for

Read Also: ‘COVID-19, humanitarian crisis impacting sexual reproductive health’

COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government;

He said the lack of proper accountability of funds allocated for COVID-19 intervention by the Federal Government and global donor agencies could potentially lead to negative economic ratings and loss of opportunities for Nigeria.

Contributing to the motion, Hon. Ahmed Jaha alleged that the money spent by the government as an intervention against COVID-19 was enough to construct standard hospitals in each of the 360 federal constituencies across the country.

He regretted that rather than carry out health-related activities, the funds were used by some. MDAs to construct roads and carry out other activities.

October 17, 2023
N544.2b COVID-19 loan debtors put under watch
- Defaulters blocked from credit
Those who have defaulted in the repayment of the N544.2 billion COVID-19 Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) given to small and medium enterprises and individuals have been placed under watch.

The Federal Government-owned NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NIRSAL-MFB), through which the funds were disbursed has moved to recover the loans by activating its Global Standing Instruction (GSI).

Besides, it has uploaded details of all defaulting beneficiaries on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Credit Risk Management System (CRMS) to ensure that its debtors did not access credits anywhere in the world.

Out of the N544.2 billion TCF, N261.4 billion was disbursed to 643,486 households; N112.5billion to 114,476 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and N14.3 billion to 31,462 individuals through non-interest banks (NIB HH).

About N2.1 billion was also given as loans to 3,523 individuals via the NIB SM scheme; 32,355 got N118.4 billion under the Agric, Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme (AGSMEIS); 107,035 received N33.8 billion via the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) and 5,539 loaned N1.96 billion via the Nigeria Youth Involvement Fund (NYIF). All beneficiaries of the TCF, in the process of applying for the facility unwittingly authorised the CBN to institute the GSI on their bank accounts.

The GSI is an authorisation given by a borrower who has an account in any financial institution that participated in the scheme.

The authorisation allows the creditor to recover a specified amount of money owed from any and all accounts maintained by the same borrower across all the participating financial institutions.

Essentially, this means that if a borrower owes money to a creditor, the creditor is authorised to collect the debt from any bank account the borrower holds, regardless of which participating bank it is in.

NIRSAL-MFB uploaded the TCF beneficiaries’ details, especially the names and Bank Verification Number (BVN) on the Credit Risk Management System (CRMS) owned by CBN.

The Nation gathered at the weekend that many TCF beneficiaries who cannot access credit from their banks are rushing to NIRSAL-MFB to regularise their credit status or pay off the loan.

Head of Corporate Communications of NIRSAL-MFB, Halimatu Lawal, confirmed the developments to The Nation at the weekend.

Lawal said some beneficiaries of the TCF, who have left the country now find it impossible to access credits from their banks because their identities have been uploaded on the CRMS as owing NIRSAL-MFB.

“Some beneficiaries are already demanding that their names be uploaded as performing. Even those outside the country are calling in to have their names uploaded as performing debtors. They are servicing and gradually offsetting their loans,” Lawal added.

She also explained that “those who have liquidated their loans are asking for letters of non-indebtedness and their names removed from the platform.”

Lawal added that NIRSAL-MFB will “use all means to recover our money, including the GSI.”

She explained that the GSI will not touch the accounts of “those paying pack and those who have liquidated their loans”.

According to her, “since the TCF is a loan and not a grant, we are using GSI to pursue them when payment is due and we will only stop if the government tells us to stop.”

Lawal explained that NIRSAL-MFB, as a business concern, will not relent in its drive to recover the loans.

“NMFB-MFB is a business run purely like any other commercial bank that receives deposits and from the perspectives of the shareholders it is purely private,” she said.

Why we will recover our loans

Hajia Halima highlighted the reason NIRSAL-MFB (NMFB) will not relent in its drive to recover the facilities.

She said when NMFB was incorporated in 2019 and given a banking license with the following shareholding structure: Bankers’ Committee 75 percent; NIRSAL PLC 15 percent; and NIPOST 10 percent.

NMFB, she said “is a business run purely like any other commercial bank that receives deposits and from the perspectives of the shareholders it is purely private”.

Hajia Halima also spoke to the allegation of beneficiaries inducing staff of the bank before they could access the facility.

While denying the allegation, she said the bank did not engage the services of third parties or agents to market the TCF and those who were approached to induce staff of the bank should have reported the matter to the police.

“There are procedures. At no time did NMFB engage agents or third parties. If you apply online and meet our criteria, you will be given. They should report to law enforcement agents” she said.

In disbursing the N544.2 billion TCF Hajia Halima said the bank deducted a token for administrative and legal charges at source.

The NMFB spokeswoman lamented that the bank has been going through an identity crisis because of the name NIRSAL. She said many Nigerians confuse what the bank does for what the other entity NIRSAL Plc does.

According to her, “We are fully established as a bank and we have empowered Nigerians through our direct credit to the masses. NIRSAL Plc is a different entity entirely that reports strictly to the CBN.
September 25, 2023
‘COVID-19, humanitarian crisis impacting sexual reproductive health’

From Grace Obike, Abuja

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) has been impacted by COVID-19 and Humanitarian crisis, a report by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child health (PMNCH) has said.

It said the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts around the world has affected women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.

PMNCH’s report, which would be presented before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York this week, supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritised and recognised with urgency within global agreements.

Part of the report entitled: ‘Overturning Roe v. Wade: Concerns for Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, Including Safe Abortion ‘ states: “For PMNCH, the survey results confirm widely held fears of potential impact. The need for intensified advocacy is clear, especially at a time when SRH services and rights have been assaulted by the impact of COVID-19, as well as other factors such as the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts in the world today, where women are often highly affected.

“The findings highlight the realities faced by some PMNCH members in particular, the need for practical tools and mitigation strategies that partners can use to strengthen accountability for SRHR within their respective domains.

“The effects of the overturn of Roe v. Wade extend far beyond US borders,” said Helen Clark, PMNCH Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

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“As is often said: ‘When America sneezes, the world catches cold’.

“The PMNCH survey results show that what we most feared: that there could be a potential reduction in access to sexual and reproductive health services for women, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“This may pose serious risk to the health and well-being of millions of women worldwide, who rely upon access to family planning and abortion services.’’

“The ruling also lends spurious legitimacy to those who seek to restrict the rights of women and may also encourage some countries to move towards their own regressive and restrictive abortion laws. This cannot be accepted. Now more than ever, we must invest in protecting sexual and reproductive health services, increasing public education on the value of these services, and upholding human rights.

“Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York this month, this report supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritized and recognized with urgency within global agreements. Advocates and partners supporting health service provision must re-double their efforts to scale up access to comprehensive and accessible reproductive healthcare services to safeguard the well-being of individuals seeking the full range of SRH services, including safe abortion.” The report stated.

September 18, 2023
New COVID-19 variant not yet in Nigeria, says NCDC
- ‘We’re monitoring situation’
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), yesterday, said there was no evidence that the new sub-variants (descendants) of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, named EG.5 and BA.2.86 are in Nigeria yet.

It said it would continue to monitor the situation by conducting genomics surveillance even with the low testing levels and encouraging testing locations in states for appropriate action.

The agency said in a statement that as of 7th August 2023, the EG.5 had been reported in 51 countries including China, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Spain etc.

The World Health Organization (WHO), said it had classified EG.5 as a ‘variant of interest’ (VOI) and conducted a risk assessment which found this new variant poses a low risk at the global level.

So far, only one case of EG.5 has been seen in Africa, it has not been identified in Nigeria, it said.

It urged the media and the public to act responsibly and share only verified information.

It said: “There is no need to cause unnecessary anxiety and panic. As we have consistently advised, COVID-19 is here to stay and is now mainly a problem for those at high risk — the elderly, those with underlying chronic illnesses, especially hypertension, and diabetes, those on cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients, and those whose immune systems are suppressed for one reason or the other.

“The actions required to protect our friends, families, and selves remain the same as before: Get tested for any febrile illness and respiratory symptoms regardless of how mild. Prompt testing can help identify cases with a high risk of becoming severely ill and also provides samples for testing that provide information on circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and disease trends.

“Ensure you and your loved ones make use of every opportunity the government has provided to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination protects against severe disease symptoms, hospitalization, and death should you contract the virus.

“Continue the practice of good hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap under running water.

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“Wear a mask if you have flu-like symptoms like coughing, sneezing, etc. If you are at risk of severe disease, use a mask in crowded and other high-risk situations.

“We continue to monitor situations around the globe and especially in countries where the new variant has been confirmed and keep Nigerians updated as may be required with scientifically and evidence-based information on any changes in SARS-COV-2 epidemiology and mics that may threaten public health.

“The recently discovered/reported BA.2.86 is a descendent lineage of BA.2 (a sublineage of Omicron, also found in Nigeria in 2022). As of August 23, 2023, the BA.2.86 variant had been reported in a handful of countries – the United Kingdom, Israel, Denmark, South Africa, and the United States. It has been classified by the WHO as a ‘variant under monitoring’ (VUM) because it has multiple genetic differences that make it substantially different from its ancestor, BA.2, and from other currently circulating XBB-derived SARS-CoV-2 variants.

“Since there are few cases identified so far, there is not enough information to make conclusive assessments of virulence, transmission, and severity. However, we do not expect it to be much different from other omicron descendants currently circulating. Although the ancestor, BA.2 has been previously found in Nigeria, no BA.2.86 variant has been identified in Nigeria.

“The NCDC’s COVID-19 Technical Working Group (COVID-19 TWO) is closely monitoring COVID-19 epidemiology — local, regional, continental, and global — including emerging variants.

“Our influenza sentinel surveillance sites continue to provide information on COVID-19 prevalence in patients with influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness.

“Unrelated to the news of these emerging variants, the NCDC and partners are working on implementing an enhanced COVID-19 testing exercise in four states to obtain complementary and more detailed information about circulating variants in the country. In addition, COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kits are being distributed for the purpose of improving bi-directional COVID-19 testing.”
August 27, 2023