The planet should be able to rein in the novel coronavirus pandemic faster than the two years it took to tame the 1918 flu pandemic , the World Health Organisation chief said.
“ We have a disadvantage of globalisation , closeness , connectedness , but an advantage of better technology , so we hope to finish this pandemic before less than two years , ” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters .
By “ utilising the available tools to the maximum and hoping that we can have additional tools like vaccines , I think we can finish it in a shorter time than the 1918 flu, ” he said .
Former Nigerian President , Goodluck Jonathan , will lead other West African leaders to coup – torn Mali on Saturday “ to help the search for solutions” , AFP reports .
Mali ’ s elected President , Ibrahim Keita , was overthrown on Tuesday by mutinying troops, who took him as well as Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other senior officials into custody .
The coup has sent shockwaves around West Africa, sparking fears that one of the region ’ s most volatile states , and a front line in the fight against jihadism , could collapse .
Earlier on Tuesday before the coup , Jonathan while briefing Nigeria ’ s President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), said Mali ’ s main opposition group, M 5 , was adamant on its call for the resignation of Keita .
Keita , who later appeared in a state television broadcast on Wednesday , declared the dissolution of the government and National Assembly and said he had no choice but to resign with immediate effect .
“ If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention , do I really have a choice ? (I must ) submit to it, because I don ’ t want any bloodshed , ” the 75 -year – old said .
The United Nations , African Union , Economic Community of West African States , amongst others, had since condemned the coup .
ECOWAS on Thursday announced that it would dispatch a high – level delegation “ to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order” . It also demanded that Keita be restored as president and warned the junta that it bore “ responsibility for the safety and security ” of the detainees .
But according to an AFP report, Jonathan , who is ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali , alongside 14 other leaders in the regional bloc, will be in the Malian capital of Bamako on Saturday for peace talks with the junta leaders including Assimi Goita who has declared himself head of the junta .
Reacting to the request for a meeting with the leaders , a junta official told AFP , “ We will receive the ECOWAS delegation with pleasure … it is important to talk to our brothers. ”
Meanwhile , the United Nations human rights officials visited Keita and other detained officials on Thursday while the junta on Friday said it had released two detainees , retaining 17 .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , faulted the development in Mali which led to the military toppling the government of President Ibrahim Keita .
Describing the development as a setback for regional diplomacy, the President called for unconditional release of Keita and others detained by the military.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke at a virtual Economic Community of West African States Extraordinary Session on the situation in Mali .
The statement was titled “ President Buhari says Nigeria stands by ECOWAS decision on return to constitutional order in Mali. ”
Adesina quoted the President as saying, “ The action of the military in Mali has regrettably hoisted on us as a sub – region , the need to decide the options that will be consistent with the provisions of the Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy , which ECOWAS, AU, and the UN subscribe to .
“ In this context , therefore , Nigeria subscribes to the under – listed recommendations for action by our organisation : President Keita and other detainees should be released unconditionally and with immediate effect .
“ Nigeria supports the efforts of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, for wider regional and continental consultations , especially on the possibility of detaching ECOWAS and AU troops with the UN Mission in Mali , to protect state institutions and also act as first layer of defence in the country to help preserve and protect lives and property . ”
Buhari noted that the removal of the Malian leader could spiral into more crises in the country, with devastating consequences for the West African sub – region .
He added , “ Indeed , it saddens me greatly as we meet today to discuss the turn of events in Mali , which commenced on Tuesday this week, where President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , his Prime Minister and senior members of his government were arrested , resulting in the forceful resignation of the President as well as the dissolution of the Parliament .
“ ECOWAS interventions , through series of efforts by ministers , the special envoy and chief mediator and a group of Heads of State of our organisation as well as an Extraordinary Summit did not yield positive results .
“ Today , Mali has not only descended into political chaos , but also socio-economic and security disaster with potential tragic consequences to Mali and the sub – region . ”
The Federal Government has approved the sum of N13 . 3 bn for the take- off of community policing initiative across the country .
The approval is part of measures aimed at containing the security situation in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity , Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled “ FG approves N 13 bn for take – off of community policing in Nigeria . ”
Akande said , based on the approval, the National Economic Council at its virtual meeting and chaired by Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum , Kayode Fayemi ; with two other governors , meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha ; Minister of Finance , Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed ; and the Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, to coordinate the proper utilisation of the funding of the initiative .
The statement read , “ The National Economic Council Ad- hoc Committee on Security and Policing had made a presentation on its assignment to the council , noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalisation of community policing in the country was ongoing .
“ The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi , who is also the Chairman , Nigeria Governors Forum .
“ Other reports received by council at today ’ s meeting included reports on the COVID- 19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020 , and the issue of compensation payments regarding federal highway projects across the country.
“ Responding to two presentations on the situation of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Nigeria : one by NEC ’ s Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , and the other by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control , the state governors commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in containing the spread of the COVID – 19 pandemic and supporting states ’ response capacity through various interventions .
“ The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19 . 7 % in June to 13 . 7 % in August 2020 , while number of states with testing laboratories increased from two to 32 , including the FCT. ”
The Nigeria Police Force said that the screening of candidates who applied to join the organisation as constables will commence from August 24 to September 16 , 2020 .
It directed the applicants to appear at the screening centres in clean white T- shirts and shorts for the exercise which would take place at designated locations in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
The police said specific guidelines for each state would be announced by the Police Public Relations Officers in the 36 state commands and the FCT, noting that the screening and other aspects of the recruitment would be carried out in strict compliance with the COVID- 19 prevention protocols.
According to a statement in Abuja , by the force spokesman , DCP Frank Mba , the applicants were expected to come with their National Identity Number ; original and duplicate copies of credentials , ( O ’ Level results ); certificate of origin and birth certificate or declaration of age neatly arranged in two white flat files with recent passport photographs .
The statement cautioned that any candidate who failed to present the requirements will not be considered for the screening .
The statement titled, ‘ Recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force ( Constables ) : physical and credential screening to commence from August 24 to September 6 , 2020 , ’ read in part, “The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , reiterates that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation. ”
The IGP equally assured that the process would be conducted “ in the best tradition of transparency and accountability. ”
He advised the applicants to be wary of online imposters , scammers and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the recruitment process to dupe innocent candidates .
He said anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted .
National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voters Education Committee of the Independent Electoral Commission , Festus Okoye, has said there is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states .
He said failure to do so will leave both states with constitutional logjam that would be difficult to resolve .
At a sensitisation forum for the media in Benin , Okoye noted that political parties must eschew violence , use of intemperate , inflammatory language designed to incite violence.
He said , “ Political parties and all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process must see the conduct of these elections as a national project that must be executed in strict compliance with all the safety protocols.
“ There is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of these elections as the alternative will leave the people of the two states with a constitutional logjam that may be difficult to resolve . Political parties must eschew violence . Political Parties and their candidates must eschew the use of intemperate , inflammatory and base language designed to inflame passions or incite violence .
“ On our part , we are determined and resolved to proceed with the conduct of the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections and all the outstanding bye -elections . In doing so , the Commission will not compromise the safety and welfare of its staff , ad – hoc staff as well as the voters . We will work closely with the security agencies to arrest threats and degrade acts of violence , ” he added .
He stated that the media was an important and indispensable component of the democratic process , assuring that the Commission would continue its robust partnership with the media as it sought to consolidate Nigerian democracy .
“ Hence , partnership with the media is critical in the preparation and delivery of the Commission ’ s messages and programmes to the Nigerian people. We therefore implore you to take time and understand and understudy the powers of the Commission within the context and ambit of the Constitution , the Electoral Act and the Regulations , Manuals and Guidelines in place for the smooth conduct of elections , ” he added .
The Federal Government says it is working with global health and research organisations who are developing COVID – 19 vaccines .
The Minister of Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire , made this known during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .
He also said Nigeria was planning with the organisations for the allocation of 2 billion vaccine doses as soon as they are available.
Ehanire said , “ Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organisation to finalise enrolment with the ACT – Access To COVID – 19 Tools Accelerator , a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring global organisations working on COVID- 19 vaccine development.
“ We also have interest in the COVAX Facility , which is a Gavi – supported initiative to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines as soon as they are available, especially for lower – income countries .
“ This will prioritise Nigeria for an allocation of a part of 2 billion vaccine doses that will be secured in a special plan to protect the interest of poorer countries . ”
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, as of Wednesday night , the country has recorded over 50 , 000 COVID- 19 infections and about 1 , 000 associated fatalities .
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from all its decision-making bodies with immediate effect.
A statement by the community’s Directorate of Communications, indicated that the suspension is in line with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and will remain in place until effective constitutional order is reinstated in the country.
The sub-regional body said it had also closed all of the country’s land and air borders, stopped all economic, trade, and financial flows and transactions between ECOWAS member states and the country, urging all partners to do same.
ECOWAS has strongly condemned the mutiny among soldiers which was followed by the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and called for his immediate released.
“Following its statement published on Aug. 18, reporting on an on-going mutiny within the Malian Armed Forces, ECOWAS has noted with great concern the seizure of power by Malian military putschists.
“This seizure of power intervenes within a difficult socio-political context.
“Indeed, ECOWAS recalls that a mediation process has been on-going during the past two months, with a view to finding a solution to this crisis.
“Following this power grab by Malian military putschists, which is likely to have a negative impact on peace and stability in Mali and in sub- region, ECOWAS utterly condemns the overthrowing of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita’s democratically elected government,” the community said in the statement.
It said that ECOWAS “categorically denies any kind of legitimacy to the putschists and demands the immediate reinstatement of the constitutional order.
“Reminds the military of their accountability for the safety and security of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita and officials arrested.
“Demands the immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and all official arrested.
“Suspends Mali from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies with immediate effect, as per the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and this, until effective reinstatement of the constitutional order.
“Decides to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade and financial flows and transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali, and encourages all partners to do the same.
“Requests the immediate activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force, and demands the immediate implementation of sanctions against all putschists as well as their partners and collaborators.”
It added that in a bid to salvage the situation, the ECOWAS body has decides to dispatch a high-level delegation to ensure the country’ immediate return to constitutional order.
Some angry youths have staged a protest at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters located at the Eleyele area of Ibadan over the escape of Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect in the serial killings in the Akinyele Local Government Area .
The PUNCH gathered that the youths stormed the police headquarters and the Commissioner of Police , Nwachukwu Enwonwu, attended to them.
However , some of the protesters were said to have become unruly and attacked the headquarters with stones and other missiles .
But the police were said to have promptly stopped it.
The Police Public Relations Officer , Olugbenga Fadeyi , when contacted by our correspondent on the telephone said some students protested .
He said , “ The CP and other senior police officers attended to them and answered all their questions .
“ You know students now, some of them got out of control but we were able to handle the situation professionally. They have gone back . ”
Shodipe, who was paraded on July 17 by the police , confessed to have killed some of the victims in the area.
But he escaped from the police custody on August 11 .
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