Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 2nd July 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 02/07/20
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E2%80%99s-management-covid-19-threat-lives Doctors Embark On Strike In Kogi Over Governor Yahaya Bello’s Management Of COVID-19, Threat To Lives
Following an attack by suspected political thugs on Wednesday, doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State, have embarked on an indefinite strike.
Rising from a meeting on Wednesday, the doctors said that the action was necessitated by the prevailing insecurity foisted on the centre by armed thugs and the poor management of COVID-19 pandemic by the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration.
In a communique announcing the strike and signed by seven health workers’ associations, they expressed regret that aside the violent attack on workers, all vital equipment needed for their day-to-day work had been carted away by the hoodlums.
The union leaders said they were totally withdrawing services across the board pending when their grievances are met.
They also demanded adequate provision of personal protective equipment for their members as a precondition for calling off the strike.
Part of their demands also include the validation of COVID-19 status of the Accident and Emergency Unit staff, who were on self-isolation, expansion of triangle points and provision of testing facilities (PCR machine).
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BREAKING: Doctors Flee As Gunmen Disrupt COVID-19 Meeting At Federal Medical Centre In Lokoja
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National Assembly Suspends Planned 774,000 Jobs For Nigerians
The National Assembly has announced the suspension of the Special Public Works programme under the National Directorate of Employment to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
The position of both chambers of the National Assembly followed a disagreement between the National Assembly Joint Committee on Labour, Employee and Productivity and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday.
Keyamo, who had appeared at an interactive session organised by the joint committee, opposed a resolution of the committee to resolve into a closed door session.
In a joint statement signed by spokespersons for both chambers of the National Assembly, Senator Ajibola Basiru and Hon. Benjamin O. Kalu, the lawmakers also invited the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for explanations.
The lawmakers said that it was within their constitutional right as representatives of the people to know the process of public workers engagement by the government.
The statement reads, “Implementation of the 774,000 public works to be put on hold until implementation modalities explained to NASS.
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774,000 Jobs: Keyamo, Nigerian Lawmakers Engage In Rowdy Session Over N52bn Allocation
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“The National Assembly is concerned about the proper and effective implementation of the engagement of 774,000 public works workers and wishes to restate its commitment to its success.
“Accordingly, the National Assembly reminds members of the public that the legislature was part of the conception of the programme, approved it and appropriated funds for its implementation as part of the COVID 19 response strategy.
“The National Assembly, in line with its constitutional oversight function, has mandated its committees on labour and productivity to immediately invite the Hon. Minister for Labour and Productivity and any other relevant officials of the ministry to appear before the joint committee to brief it on the modality for the implementation of the engagement of 774,000 persons for public works.”
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774,000 Jobs: Lawmakers Trying To Determine Who To Get Employment, Keyamo Says After Outburst With Legislators
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E2%80%99s-penis-taraba-state-marrying-new-wife Woman Cuts Off Husband’s Penis In Taraba State For Marrying New Wife
Police in Taraba State have confirmed the arrest of a 32-year-old housewife, Halima Umar, who cut off her husband’s penis with a knife in the early hours of Wednesday.
Spokesperson for the command, DSP David Misal, confirmed to Saharareporters that the incident happened in Tells, a community under Gassol Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “I can confirm that we have taken the woman who cut off her husband’s manhood into custody.”
Narrating how it happened, younger brother of the victim, Usman Umar, said his brother, Aliyu Umar, was asleep when his first wife, Halima, sliced his penis.
He said, “We suspect that she must have drugged Umar because ordinarily she would not have succeeded.
“Since Aliyu took a second wife three years ago, Halima became very troublesome.”
Aliyu, who was earlier admitted at Federal Medical Center, Jalingo, has been referred to Federal Medical Center, Gombe.
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Plateau Governor, Lalong, Embarks On Self-isolation After Commissioner Tests Positive For COVID-19
Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has ordered members of the State’s Executive Council to undergo COVID-19 test after the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abe Aku, tested positive.
It was also gathered that the governor, who earlier tested negative for the virus, had since gone into self-isolation.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Da Manjang, in a statement, said, “Based on the governor’s directive, specimens of the commisioners are to be taken and forwarded to the COVID-19 laboratory at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for testing.
“During the period and pending the outcome of the results, members of the public are advised to be guided by unnecessary visits to members of the State Executive Council while they isolate.
“This action is to not only prevent possible spread of the disease, but also show leadership by example.”
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Domestic Flights To Resume July 8
The Nigerian Government has announced that domestic flights in the country would resume on July 8, 2020.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in a tweet on Wednesday night said operations would resume at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja on July 8 with other airports to follow subsequently.
He said, “I am glad to announce that Abuja and Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on the 8th of July, 2020. Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Maiduguri to resume on the 11th. Other airports on the 15th. The date for international to be announced in due course. Bear with us.”I am glad to announce that Abuja & Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on the 8th of July, 2020. Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri & Maiduguri to resume on the 11th. Other airports on the 15th. Date for international to be announced in due course. Bear with us, please 🇳🇬ðŸ™ðŸ½ðŸ‡³ðŸ‡¬— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) July 1, 2020
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PREMIUM TIMES Announces Membership Programme — Fearless, Reliable Journalism Needs Your Support
Nigeria’s foremost investigative newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES, has called on the public to be a part of its membership programme by making a “modest donation” for the sustainability of its fearless journalism.
Dapo Olorunyomi, the publisher, made the call in a note to the newspaper’s teeming readers and friends, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit hard on both the public and private sector, including the media.
“As anxiety grows and the future appears foggy, the nation’s need for crucial, up-to-the-minute, accurate, and reliable information has not been more urgent,” Mr Olorunyomi said.
“Such extraordinary times call for a redoubtable media, unwavering in its editorial independence, integrity and commitment, yet steeped in the best ideals of professional ethics.”
Mr Olorunyomi said with the economic downturn further complicated by the COVID-19 crisis, the Nigeria media is currently facing an existential threat of “unimaginable proportion.”
“Massive layoffs, pay cuts, bruised morale and, invariably, accommodation and compromises defining a new norm of professional vulnerability elect a rare platform like PREMIUM TIMES to man the barricades and lead the charge to defend the truth, citizens’ liberties and the challenge of democracy,” he said.
Founded in 2011, PREMIUM TIMES has grown to become one of the most respected and reliable news media in Africa, harvesting a basket of awards and recognitions along the way.
In addition to a Pulitzer (which it shares with ICIJ colleagues who worked on the Panama Papers), the Global Shining Light Award, and the One World Award; the newspaper’s journalists have also carted home other numerous local, national, and international awards in the platform’s less-than-a-decade of operation.
Last April, the famed Nobel laureate in economics, Joseph Stiglitz, announced PREMIUM TIMES’ editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, as one of his favourite journalists in the world, reinforcing the newspaper’s reputation for delivering quality, verifiable, and courageous journalism.
But good journalism costs money, Mr Olorunyomi said.
“This is why we call on you now to kindly accept membership of a noble community that invests a modest donation to the making and sustainability of our accountability and fearless journalism that will defend our security through incisive and diligent investigations while holding power accountable at all times and standing as a tribune against the growth of autocracy in the land,” he added.
>>> JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME HERE.
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EXCLUSIVE: $1.3m United States Mansion Purchased By Ex-Oyo Governor, Ajimobi, In 2016 Uncovered
A house in Rockville, Maryland, United States, purchased by a former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, in 2016 for $1,347,200m — N522,713,600m (N388 per USD) — has been uncovered.
The residential building located at 10821 Symphony Park Drive, which attracts an annual tax of $18,198 — N7,060,824m –was purchased by Ajimobi during his second term in office as governor of the state in 2016.
According to findings by SaharaReporters, the purchase of the house in America is in gross violation of the code of conduct laws of Nigeria, which forbids serving public officials from operating bank accounts and purchasing property outside the country.
It was also gathered from sources at the Code of Conduct Bureau that the property was not listed among assets declared by the former Oyo governor until his tenure in office elapsed in 2019.
Also, checks with top real estate players in the US indicated that the Maryland property of Ajimobi was now worth at least $1.6m — N620,800,000m.
The revelation comes days after Ajimobi died at the First Cardiology Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos, as a result of Coronavirus complications.
Before his demise, the late former governor had been embroiled in a bitter feud with the Oyo State Government headed by Seyi Makinde over the revocation of 48 plots of land belonging to him.
According to the state government, the revocation became necessary after the property violated its land administration laws.
Unwilling to lose the choice property without putting up a brave fight, Ajimobi took the matter to court where it remained until he died last week.
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BREAKING: Ex-Oyo Governor, Ajimobi, Is Dead
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BREAKING: Nigerian Government Increases Petrol Pump Price
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency has increased the pump price of petrol to N140.80/143.80 per litre from the present N121.50 per litre.
The regulatory agency announced the new retail price band to marketers in a circular dated July 1, 2020 and signed by its Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saudi.
The pump price of petrol was on June 1, 2020 reduced to N121.50 per litre from N123 per litre.
“After a review of the prevailing market fundamentals in the month of June and considering marketers’ realistic operating costs, as much as practicable, we wish to advise a new PMS pump price band of N140.80 – 143.80/litre for the month of July, 2020,” part of the circular read.
DOCUMENT: July Pms Price Omcs by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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Yobe Discharges All COVID-19 Patients, Declares Zero Case On Admission
The Yobe State Government has declared a zero case on admission after discharging all patients, who initially tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.
Vice Chairman of the state committee on COVID-19 and Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana, made the revelation at the end of the committee’s 14th meeting held on Wednesday in Damaturu.
He said the remaining three patients in the state isolation center had been discharged after meeting clinical criteria.
“We don’t really need negative results to discharge patients. There are clinical criteria for discharging patients.
“So as it is when patients meet the discharge criteria, we actually discharge them based on the clinical guidelines and then follow them up according to the guidelines,” he said.
Meanwhile, the committee’s chairman and deputy governor of the state, Idi Barde Gubana, announced the reopening of schools in Yone in line with the Federal Government’s resolution of opening schools for final year students.
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Diplomat Sacked For Exposing How Dutch Government, Companies Engage In Corruption In Nigeria
Hans Smaling
A top Dutch diplomat, Hans Smaling, has been sacked from his position after comments about alleged unethical conduct and corruption indulged in by the country’s businesses operating in Nigeria.
Smaling, who was stationed in Nigeria between 2015 and 2018 to lobby for the economic interests of the Netherlands, had repeatedly warned the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ‘endemic corruption’ in Nigeria.
According to Smaling, it was impossible to advance Dutch businesses in Nigeria without making dirty hands, NRC, a Dutch online news outlet reported.
“Bringing in assignments in Nigeria without paying a bribe? Impossible. Do Nigerian politicians get excited about Dutch companies without gifts? Impossible. And proclaim this message in The Hague? Just as complicated, unfortunately,” he reportedly said.
Hans Smaling
He said the country was in Nigeria for itself and his advocacy for Netherlands to work on the investment climate, on building the country, on macroeconomic stability, reforms and regulation did not find favour with authorities at the foreign ministry.
The newspaper report said Smaling’s position was created in 2012 after the Foreign Economic Relations Department was transferred from Economic Affairs to Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The new position was created for ‘promoting the competitive position of the Netherlands’: that of economic envoy/regional business developer. These special envoys were stationed in areas of economic interest to the Netherlands such as Singapore, Dubai, Lima, Copenhagen and Nigeria.
After 34 years of field service, Smaling knows perfectly well how Dutch business operates abroad as well as how to facilitate this as a diplomat and how to keep an appropriate distance from it.
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Dutch Ambassador Leaked Information To Shell On Investigation Into Company’s Operations In Nigeria
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“I wrote a contribution in the weekend folder for the ministers. In it, I addressed endemic corruption in Nigeria. I wrote that I found it strange that the Dutch Government facilitates companies that have to deal with corrupt practices.
“We are not going back to the times of the Governor-General in the former Dutch East Indies, Abraham van Riebeeck, who said: It is immoral but beneficial. I also mentioned Shell. It was clear that no company – not even Shell – escapes gross corruption in Nigeria.”
Smaling also spoke regularly with Mr Petri, the ambassador removed from his post in 2019 after he himself leaked secret information about the criminal investigation on Shell to the oil company.
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