Category: Uncategorized

Osun State Government has said a fresh lockdown may be imposed in the state after 22 new cases were reported in 24 hours .

A statement quoted the State Commissioner for Health , Dr . Rafiu Isamotu, as threatening that “ government might be forced to impose another lockdown on the state if residents and citizens continue to flout the lockdown relaxation guidelines” .

He complained that the new cases came barely 24 hours after the discovery of 17 cases in the state .

Isamotu also noted that 11 of the new cases were from the ongoing contact tracing within the Ede community, while the remaining are from the previous cases in Osogbo and its environs .

He said , “ On Thursday , we announced the discovery of 17 new cases in our dear State . Sadly, today again , we have 22 new cases. Considering where we are coming from , this is worrisome . We must , therefore , take responsibility . The battle against Coronavirus is not over yet .

“ The virus is still very much with us . We must observe precautionary measures if we must avoid community transmission .

“ With the latest development , the number of our active cases as at today , Friday, June 26 , is 54 . We have 106 confirmed cases , out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 47 patients while five deaths have been recorded. ”

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has said it will begin the implementation of a tarrif review effective July 1.

This, according to the company, was part of its plans and effort to deliver what it described as “excellent services” to its customers.

IBEDC, while speaking through the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. John Ayodele, said the tax review became imperative in view of the need for the company’s tariff to be in line with current economic realities as well as ensuring the financial and fiscal sustainability of the company in the Nigerian power sector.

He assured that the new tariff regime would ensure that those who enjoy more supply would pay more than those who have lesser access while appealing for the support and understanding of its customers.

He said: “The objective of the review is to ensure that IBEDC adjusts its tariff in line with the current economic realities. This is required to meet the new Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) for Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria, as well as to achieve financial and fiscal sustainability in the Nigerian power sector.”

“In order to provide more efficient and reliable service to customers, cost-reflective tariffs are required to cover the cost of critical investment in infrastructures and other parameters necessary for improved service delivery.”

“This new tariff design is based on the quantity of power supplied as customers will only pay based on the availability of supply.”

“For example, the tariff design is based on service delivery, such that those receiving 20hrs supply daily will pay more than those getting 10hrs.”

Ayodele also explained that the company is very mindful of the challenging economic situation occasioned by the global pandemic COVID-19, but the macroeconomic facts of rising inflation rates and a volatile foreign exchange market compelled the implementation of the new tariff design.

“The tariff review is to reflect macroeconomic indices in Nigeria and the global harsh economic realities facing the power sector.”

“With this tariff, the company amongst other things will be in a better position to roll out more meters, upgrade aging infrastructure, and be more responsive to the complaints of customers. We appeal for the understanding and cooperation of our esteemed customers as we are poised to serve you better,” he stated.

Vanguard

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has declared that its orientation camps will reopen when it is very safe, in view of the danger posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

Director, Press and Public Relations of the scheme Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi made this known in a statement issued in Abuja.

“The attention of the management of the scheme has been drawn to an online publication stating that the ‘NYSC is set to reopen orientation camps, lists guidelines’, alluding that the scheme will soon resume orientation programme,” Adeyemi said.

She said the scheme placed a very high premium on the lives of corps members, camp officials and other stakeholders, “which was the key reason it suspended 2020 Batch “A” Stream 1 orientation programme in March and shall never act in any way that will compromise their safety”.

Adeyemi urged corps members and prospective corps members to glean information concerning the scheme only from NYSC official sources – both the social and mainstream media.

The federal government has disclosed that 80 per cent of the parents across the country are against the reopening of schools, and has however, promised to announce the new date for the resumption of domestic flights by next week.

The government has also expressed worry over rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, with Cross River State also recording the first case of the virus.

It has also disclosed that the report of the National Agency on Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the Madagascar herbal drug is ready.

This is coming as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha has said that he would impose a fresh lockdown on the country if it was within his power to do so.

Speaking in Abuja during the press briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba revealed that 80 per cent of the responses from parents that followed a perception survey conducted across the country by the ministry, said they were opposed to any hurried reopening of schools to experiment with their children.

“We are keeping the children at home because you can’t see coronavirus with your naked eyes and can’t know if a child is asymptomatic, carrying the virus. If he does and he goes back and infects another person, there is no way for us to know.

‘’Prior to that, the ministry carried out a perception survey around the country and 80 per cent of the responses were assurances from parents that they’re not willing to experiment with their children. If there are parents willing to experiment – to check whether it can work or not, we can invite them to a test,’’ Nwajiuba said.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has said the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , would receive this week, its recommendations regarding the next steps of the country’ s National Response to the pandemic .

PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , made this known during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ I wish to inform you that by the end of this week, the Presidential Task Force will be submitting a report containing our assessment and recommendations to Mr President for his consideration .

“ We , therefore , urge Nigerians to await our recommendations regarding the next step of action to be taken in our National Response to COVID- 19 . ”

The Federal Government said although it had been under pressure to reopen schools amidst the COVID- 19 pandemic , it would resist such .

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba , made this known during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ The Ministry is indeed under intense pressure to reopen schools but will never succumb to such pressure until the infection curve begins to flatten .

“ The Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to the safety of the Nigerian children and would , therefore , not do anything to compromise their safety . The Federal Government is aware of the damages coronavirus has caused to the lives of people and economies globally , including Nigeria . We will, therefore , not compromise an inch in this regard, no matter the blackmail .

“ The Honourable Minister of State and indeed the Ministry is also of the belief that no child should die of COVID – 19 due to schools being reopened at the wrong time and therefore , will resist all pressure to do so . ”

Punch

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State , Kenneth Ebrimson has disclosed that the recruitment of special constables in the state would commence this week.

Ebrimson said the recruitment which is aimed at fighting crimes at the grassroots , is part of efforts to encourage community policing in the state .

Ebrimson said this, after the inauguration of the new state chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee , Samson Popoola .

He added that the recruitment would commence shortly after arrangements have been finalised at the Area Command , Local Government Areas and the divisional levels , this week.

The Commissioner noted that the constables would be trained on police operation and would be given police uniform , although without badge .

According to him , the constables would assist the command to prevent criminal activities, gives the command intelligence report and resolve crisis among members of the public .

He said , “ All other strata of the community policing , the Area Command , the Local Government Area and the divisional level will be concluded without any doubt this week.

“ Thereafter we will now start with a pilot scheme of the recruitment of the constabulary who will now form the bulk of the community policing practitioners at the community level to assist the police in prevention , information and intelligence gathering and conflict resolution.

“ So , in no distance time when all these level of advisory committee of the community policing has finalised we will now see the next level will now be the consolidation of the recruitment of the constabulary and sending them to a modicum training of the police operation which will translate to bringing them in as part of our partners and remember also part of the concept .

“ The idea is to give them a sense of belonging is that when recruited they will be given the police uniform but the only difference will be the signal , the badge , so that one can give them that sense of belonging and they will now see the police as our police not their police . ”

The CP applauded the PCRC’ s contributions and support towards fighting crime in the state , and urged members of the PCRC to further corporate with the police command to make the state free of criminal activities.

In his remarks, the new chairman of PCRC pledged that his administration would transform the community policing in the state .

He said “ We want to bring out that innate African security consciousness back to our people so that they will be able to work with us . They will be able to see police as one of their people, they will be able to see police as their own people.

Punch

As South Africa prepares to launch the continent’s first coronavirus vaccine trial, the Rainbow Nation has opened a new field hospital for people with COVID-19 in a de-commissioned Volkswagen plant.

According to the country’s health authorities, 3,300 beds have been installed in the new field hospital, bringing the total number of beds across the country to 27,000 for COVID-19 patients at more than 400 quarantine sites.

“A total of three thousand three hundred beds, coming along with oxygen reticulation. All of this is a very important combination of what our needs are at this point, this has been now established within record time”, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, South African Minister of Health said.

Coronavirus cases in South Africa rose to more than 100,000 Monday, while the number of deaths neared 2,000.

About 3,500 doctors and nurses have contracted the virus since the start of the pandemic, and at least 34 have died of respiratory illness.

But the southern African nation is in the process of vaccinating 2,000 people with the vaccine, developed by the Oxford Jenner Institute, which is already being evaluated in Britain, where 4,000 participants have enrolled in the trial.

Africa News

The University College Hospital has denied receiving any money from the Oyo State Government in its fight against COVID – 19 in the state .

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital , Toye Akinrinlola, made this known in a press statement .

While giving the breakdown , the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo , said a total of N 900 . 5 million was spent on procurement of the COVID- 19 palliatives and seedlings ; N370 . 6 million was spent on the upgrade of the Infectious Diseases Centre at Olodo ; N 453 . 7 million on securing borders , security trucks and personnel; N118 million as support to the University College Hospital , Ibadan , for COVID- 19 tests .

But the hospital said it only got donations from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , some corporate bodies , well- meaning Nigerians , alumni associations , staff and students .

The statement read in part , “The attention of the management of the University College Hospital , Ibadan has been drawn to the content of a press release from the Oyo State Government that the sum of N118 million was given to the hospital to fight against the COVID- 19 pandemic .

“ We contacted some officials of Oyo State for clarification on this , but it seems there is a misunderstanding in the difference between the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital Ibadan . It, therefore , behoves the Management of the UCH to put the record straight.

“ We hereby state emphatically that the University College Hospital , Ibadan did not and has not received any monetary donation from the Oyo State Government.

“ The Chief Medical Director of the UCH is a member of the Oyo State COVID- 19 task force . He should know if any money was given to UCH outside the 250 pieces of the PPE given to the hospital .

“ All other services rendered to Oyo State by UCH have been strictly humanitarian and no financial benefits have accrued to the hospital .

“ I , therefore , wish to say once again that the UCH is not in receipt of any N118 m as claimed by the Oyo State Government. ”

Punch

Oil workers, under the aegis of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Associated of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), yesterday, suspended the planned three-day warning strike, they had threatened to embark on to protest the Federal Government’s attempt to forcefully enrol its members into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

A source among the oil workers, told newsmen that the strike was suspended to allow the Federal Government address the concerns raised by the oil workers.

In addition, in a statement to oil workers in the employ of the Federal Government, Secretary General of PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa disclosed that the union are currently in talks with officials of the government and would provide updates after talks are concluded.

He said, “Refer to our letter dated June 17,2020 on the above subject, which a copy was sent to you. The matter has been apprehended and discussions on going with the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. The Secretariat will get back to you as events unfold.”

NUPENG and PENGASSAN, had threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike, from Wednesday, June 24 to Friday, June 26, 2020, over alleged forceful enrolment of its members into IPPIS.

The workers had written to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Minister of Labour and Employment protesting the decision of the Federal Government to stop the payment of salaries of oil workers in government parastatals yet to be captured on the platform as at Thursday, June 18, 2020.

An official of PENGASSAN had lamented that the oil workers’ unions had been meeting with the management of IPPIS over the matter for a long time without any head way, insisting that oil workers in the public sector have rejected the IPPIS.

The official, who chose not to be named, said: “We have intimated the Minister of Labour and Employment as well as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Well, the ball is in the court of government to intervene in the matter before it degenerates. Even up till last Friday, we still wrote letters to the government on the need to address the matter.

“We have already asked our members to be ready for any eventuality. So, between Monday and the close of work on Tuesday, if nothing concrete comes from the Federal Government, we will have no option than to direct our members to proceed on three days warning strike from Wednesday, June 24, 2020.”

Vanguard