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The Federal Government has lifted the ban placed on interstate travels with effect from July 1 , provided such journeys are made outside curfew hours .

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja .

Mustapha , who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , also said the government has approved the safe resumption of domestic flights in the country .

He disclosed that the latest developments were contained in the task force ’ s fifth interim report which was submitted to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , earlier in the day .

Mustapha said , “ I am pleased to inform you that Mr President has carefully considered the 5 th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that , with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later , the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday , June 30 , 2020 through Midnight of Monday , 27 July, 2020 .

“ Specifically, however , the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect :

“ Maintaining the current phase of the national response , for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator ;

“ Permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1 st July, 2020 ;

“ Enforcement of laws around non -pharmaceutical interventions by States , in particular , the use of face masks in public places ;

“ Safe re – opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in – person in preparation for examinations ;

“ Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable ;

“ Publication of revised guidelines around the three thematic areas of general movement , industry and labour ; and community activities;

“ Provision of technical support for states to mobilise additional resources for the response . ”

The Federal government has announced the reopening of school for only students in Primary 6, JSS3, and SS3 to enable them to prepare for their national examination even as the inter-state lockdown was lifted.

Speaking during a COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, the Secretary to Government of the Federation and Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said that students in graduating classes were to resume in preparation for their exams while tertiary institutions still remain closed.

Mustapha said , “ I am pleased to inform you that Mr President has carefully considered the 5 th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that , with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later , the Phase II of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday , June 30 , 2020 through Midnight of Monday , 27 July, 2020 .

“ Specifically, however , the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect :

“ Maintaining the current phase of the national response , for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator ;

“ Permission of movement across state borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1 st July, 2020 ;

“ Enforcement of laws around non -pharmaceutical interventions by States , in particular , the use of face masks in public places ;

“ Safe re – opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in – person in preparation for examinations ;

“ Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable ;

“ Publication of revised guidelines around the three thematic areas of general movement , industry and labour ; and community activities;

“ Provision of technical support for states to mobilise additional resources for the response . ”

Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining US President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad .

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on that Trump , along with more than 30 others Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 attack that killed General Qassem Soleimani , face “ murder and terrorism charges ” , the semi – official ISNA news agency reported , according to Al Jazeera .

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump , but stressed Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends .

Interpol , based in Lyon , France , did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr was also quoted as saying Iran had requested a “red notice ” be put out for Trump and the others, the highest – level notice issued by Interpol , requesting that seeks the location and arrest of the individual named .

Aljazeera

The Inspector General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State , Bolaji Salami, to restore the security details of the state ’ s Deputy Governor , Agboola Ajayi, with immediate effect .

The IGP ’ s directive was contained in a memo addressed to the police commissioner through the Deputy Inspector General of Police , Operations , Force Headquarters Abuja .

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that men of the Nigeria Police attached to the deputy governor were withdrawn after he had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from the ruling All Progressives Congress .

Ajayi had, last Wednesday , cried out that his life was in danger when policemen attached to his office were withdrawn on the orders of the Commissioner of Police in the state.

The memo with Ref . No CB: 2002 /DOPS/ FHQ/ ABJ /VOL /77 / 168 was signed on behalf of the IGP by Austine Agbonlahor, Assistant Inspector -General of Police .

The deputy governor, who accused the Commissioner of Police of working on the instructions of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to withdraw the officers , had for a while , been having a running battle with him .

Ajayi had engaged in a confrontation with the police at the Government House following the alleged refusal of the latter to allow him to leave the premises allegedly on the orders of the governor.

Meanwhile , the deputy governor had in a statement released by his Media Aide , Mr Babatope Okeowo , lauded “ the integrity and courage displayed by the majority of the lawmakers for shunning all entreaties , inducement , and intimidation to impeach him ” .

The statement also urged lawmakers to also shun another latest plan to move the next meeting of the impeachment plot to a private hotel in Akure .

NAN

The former Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress , Victor Giadom, has handed over to the Chairman of the party ’ s Caretaker / Extra- Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee , Mai Mala Buni.

The handing over ceremony was held behind closed doors at the National Working Committee conference room at the APC National Secretariat , Abuja .

Giadom assured members of the committee of his readiness to support and partner with the team towards the realisation of the party ’ s goals.

“ I Chief. Hon Victor Giadom the outgoing Ag. National Chairman , today Monday 29 th of June 2020 hands over to the Chairman and members of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress .

“ I assure the Committee of my readiness to partner with them to achieve the Party goals and objectives towards a successful National Convention . I pray that the almighty God grants you wisdom to pilot the affairs of the Party , ” he tweeted.

“ lt is time for this committee , therefore , to commence the process of true reconciliation among leaders and members of the party at all levels. It is our belief that the decision by NEC to constitute this committee will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our great Party , ” he said .

The Federal Government is expected to announce the next phase of eased lockdown in the country on Tuesday ( tomorrow ).

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , made this known .

He disclosed this after the task force met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , at the Presidential Villa .

Bashir Ahmad , Personal Assistant on New Media to Buhari , tweeted , “Today is the last day of Nigeria’ s phase II of the eased lockdown , members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 briefed and submitted their recommendations to the President for approval, the next lines of action will be announced tomorrow , SGF Boss Mustapha discloses. ”

Others in the delegation were the Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire ; the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID- 19 , Dr . Sani Aliyu ; and the Director – General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr . Chikwe Ihekweazu .

The meeting, it was learnt , was meant to brief Buhari on the ongoing efforts to curtail the spread of COVID- 19 and the next steps to be taken .

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has kicked against the reopening of schools by the Federal Government amid the COVID- 19 pandemic .

The union argued that the government must make resources available in order for schools to meet proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.

ASUU National President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , made this position known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota , Ogun State .

He urged the government to provide the ideal environment and meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control before reopening schools across the country.

Ogunyemi said , “ The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID- 19 pandemic is a health challenge .

“ When it comes to public health , it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals but the Federal Government must take the lead. ”

The ASUU president listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include the provision of materials for regular handwashing , provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers , amongst others.

He said many government – owned schools don ’ t have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions.

He said , “ It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation . The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks . ”

Schools across the country were shut in March to curb the spread of the pandemic .

Punch

The Chairman , Osun State Universal Basic Education Board , Israel Famurewa , has said there was a need to fast track the implementation of the reviewed reclassification policy of government – owned schools in the state .

In a press statement , Famurewa said efforts are ongoing to ensure that the new policy is implemented when schools resume after COVID – 19 break.

The statement quoted Famurewa as saying this during the concluding part of data gathering and physical assessment tour of nine the federal constituencies of the state by top government officials held at Ijebu -Jesha High School on Friday.

According to him , the review is targeted towards restoring 6 – 3 – 3 – 4 classification system through which each level of education will return back to its earlier class structure .

He said that the implementation of the recommendations of the review panel necessitated the data gathering and physical assessment of school for takeoff .

Famurewa said “ There is a need to fast track the process of implementing the review on the education policy so as to put necessary logistics in place before the schools resume .

“ Thus , this necessitated this tour across the nine federal constituencies of the state as it’ s hoped to bring the desired result in no distant time for the benefit of our children and their teachers . ”

The Director of School in the State Universal Basic Education Board , Alhaji Yaya Bakare added , “ the tour is for data gathering and physical assessment of schools across the nine federal constituencies of the state as it preludes the implementation before the schools ’ resumption” .

The top officials of SUBEB who joined Famurewa in the tour include the Executive Secretary of SUBEB, Mr . Adeoye Bakare , Commissioner ( Technical) , Chief Moshood Adekunle Oluawo , Commissioner ( Services) , Hon. Amos Akindiya , and other members of the board and directors .

Punch

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has declared opposition alliance leader Lazarus Chakwera as the winner of Tuesday’s presidential re-run election.

Making the declaration, MEC chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale announced that Chakwera, leder of the Tonse Allaince bagged 2,604,043 votes, representing 58.5 percent of the total votes cast.

Outgoing president Peter Mutharika of the DPP/UDF alliance came second with 1,751,877 votes. The third candidate Mbakuwaku Movement for Development candidate Peter Kuwani managed 33,456 votes.

Out of the 6,859,570 registered voters, 4,445,699 cast their votes. The Commission recorded 57,323 null and void votes, representing 1.29 percent. The commission received and resolved 10 complaints from all three participating sides.

Africa News

Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo has said insecurity is one issue common to Nigerians , regardless of tribe , language, religion, location, gender , age or social position.

He noted that without reforming the federating units, Nigeria would remain insecure , unstable , unprogressive , stagnated and , at worst , disintegrate.

Obasanjo spoke at this year ’ s edition of the Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture organised by Abeokuta Club . The event was titled, “ COVID- 19 and the Nigeria security issues : The way forward . ”

He added , “ Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security , which in itself is serious enough to make restructuring imperative. The South -West governors cried out and devised Amotekun as a solution or part -solution . We have yet to see how successfully that will be operated . Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no state and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure .

“ Criminality is the order of the day . And it cuts across the entire nation. Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians , no matter their tribe , language, religion, geographical location, gender , age or social position. ’’

He recalled that the Northern Elders’ Forum , through its spokesperson , Akeem Baba Ahmed , had declared President Buhari a failure on account of persistent insecurity within the nation.

The former president stated, “ I leave out economy which is in the doldrums and fighting corruption where you see more heat than light and which is festering like a bad sore. That , to me , is what reform of federating units and restructuring is all about and not about break- up or disintegration . Insecurity brought about by widespread criminality of Boko Haram , insurgents , herdsmen / farmers conflict , terrorists , bandits , armed robbers , militants , kidnappers , abductors and human traffickers is a new phenomenon that is ravaging the entire country . ’’

According to Obasanjo , it is evident that no ethnic group or geopolitical zone and even the Fulanis in Nigeria are collectively satisfied with the present situation in spite of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), being a Fulani man .

“ I am , of course , discounting invidious and irredeemable Fulani fundamentalists and hegemonists. Federal security architecture , as organised and operated by the present government , cannot give any individual or group hope , let alone assurance of security within Nigeria , ’’ Obasanjo noted .

He further said that from the beginning of June , there had been agitations and protests of a revolutionary nature in Mali.

Obasanjo stated , “ Not that I am afraid of revolution, no , not at all, but I love and cherish peace and , of course , not peace of the graveyard . If I am concerned about security issues in Mali because of possibility of flow -over to other parts of West Africa , I should be more concerned about security in any part of Nigeria . I have not lived for the demise of Nigeria nor for its destruction or incapacitation in any form . Rather , I have lived to make and see a great and united country. ’’

The former president noted that there was a time when kidnappers , militants, and human traffickers ravaged the East and the South- South and the North was relatively unaffected .

He added , “ Now, no part of the country can claim to be safe from the menace and insecurity caused by terrorists , armed robbers , human traffickers , kidnappers of all sorts , cattle rustlers, insurgents , bandits and herders / farmers conflicts.

“ We are all challenged to put our thinking caps on , join hands and seek solutions together , otherwise , we will be destroyed piecemeal. ’’

He said the country was not out of the woods yet regarding COVID- 19 , adding that awareness must continue to disabuse the minds of the ordinary people being made to believe that COVID- 19 was unreal or that the disease belonged to the rich .