The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has written to the House of Representatives to request for the approval of fresh external borrowings totalling $ 5 . 513 bn.
Buhari , in the letter read by Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , at the plenary, said the funds were for 2020 budget deficit , financing of critical projects , and some states of the federation.
The President also presented a revised 2020 Appropriation Bill and 2020 – 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper .
The National Assembly had recently approved a loan of N850 bn for the Federal Government, while another of $ 22 . 79 bn, which the Senate has already approved , is pending before the House.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has expressed hope that the ban on religious gatherings in the country may be lifted by the first Sunday of June .
The ban is among the safety precautions in place to combat coronavirus in the country .
CAN President Rev Samson Ayokunle gave the indication in a statement .
He said they had been consulting with the Federal Government on the modalities to follow.
He said if the government did not entertain any fear in opening markets and banks , there would not be any basis to hesitate in opening churches considering the fact that they are more organised than markets and banks .
Ayokunle said , “ As a law – abiding institution , the church in Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria that binds all of us together complied, hitherto, with government ’ s directive suspending church services for the past eight weeks now.
“ However , the Church is well prepared for resumption of worship and as one of the most organised institutions in the country with trained leadership and good guidance by the Scripture .
“ We are in discussions with the Federal Government and are drawing the guidelines that churches would follow in order not to endanger the life of any worshipper and equally prevent COVID- 19 infection.
“ We are sure of compliance if the government allows our compliance team to work hand- in – hand with their law enforcement agencies to monitor compliance . If the government didn ’ t entertain any fear in opening markets and banks which are not as organised as the church , why should government entertain fear about the compliance of the church ?
“ We are hopeful that latest by the first Sunday in June , all our churches would open again for congregational worship under COVID- 19 prevention regulations. As I said before , we are consulting with the government on this . ”
Meanwhile , CAN , the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs , Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 met over the issue.
The CAN delegation was led by the Chairman of its North Central chapter and President of FCT Baptist Conference , Rev . Israel Akanji.
The representatives of the Federal Government were said to have promised to prepare their own recommendations to be presented to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd ), who would decide the accepted ones and present them to the country in his nationwide broadcast scheduled for next week.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has said the Federal Ministry of Health has shortlisted for further investigations, three Nigerian drugs , which have the potential to cure COVID- 19 or treat its symptoms .
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at the PTF press conference in Abuja, where the ministry of health warned that Nigeria ’ s health system could not cope with increasing COVID- 19 cases .
But Mustapha said three shortlisted drugs would be subjected to further investigations by relevant health agencies .
At the PTF press briefing, Mustapha disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health had held a virtual meeting with some researchers and scientists who had made claims about COVID- 19 cure and shortlisted three for further research .
He stated , “As a measure of the importance attached to research and development of local capacity for finding a cure to the COVID – 19 , the Federal Ministry of Health held a virtual meeting with a number of researchers and scientists with claims to cure for COVID 19 and out of the numerous claimants , three were found to deserve further investigation and have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for appropriate review .
“ Similarly, efforts are being made by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to subject some locally manufactured COVID- 19 equipment to verification and subsequent certification . ”
The task force also backed the decision of the World Health Organisation to suspend clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of the novel coronavirus.
The PTF Chairman , Mustapha , therefore cautioned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant agencies to ensure that all claims to treatment by scientists and researchers were subjected to scientific certification protocols.
Federal Government has said that it has stopped evacuating stranded Nigerians abroad. Giving reason for its action, Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign Affairs, opined that anybody that is going to be evacuated will first of all undergo a test from the countries they are leaving from, at least five days before travel and not later than nine days before.
His words as reported by TheCable, “There is going to be a change in that protocol and that is going to affect the timing of any further evacuation we are going to undertake.
“Anybody that is going to be evacuated will first of all undergo a test from the countries they are leaving from, at least five days before travel and not later than nine days before.
“That will be a pre-condition for boarding the flights to Nigeria. And if they are positive, they will not be able to board the flight.
“On arrival in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote and his other partners will have in place these units where they will take samples from the passengers coming in and they will retain their passports.
“The passengers will then be able to go home and not into prescribed hotels to self-isolate. Results from those samples will then be ready within a day or two; those who are positive will then be taking in for isolation.
“The whole issue of quarantining in hotels will no longer be necessary. This can also mean more people can also come back more frequently, and it will be a lot easier than it has been up to now.
“What we have been asked to do is to cease or suspend all evacuations for now until this new structure is put into place. We are very hopeful that maybe by next week, we should be able to commence evacuation.
“We are able to evacuate 69 Nigerians, 50 trafficked Nigerian girls from Lebanon and 19 other Nigerians, and they all arrived safely and are in quarantine,” he said, while thanking Lebanese community in Nigeria who “funded the cost of flight and hotel accommodation for the trafficked girls.”
Recall that FG had evacuated about 292 stranded Nigerians from Saudi Arabia. It has also evacuated 69 Nigerians stranded in Lebanon in the last two days.
The Federal Government says it is thinking of sectionalising classes for primary , secondary, and tertiary institutions in the country ahead of school reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , stated this during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja .
The minister , who faulted the reports that schools would reopen in the country on June 8 , said the government could not afford to take any costly risk, especially as it regards the safety of pupils and students in the country.
He said , “Until we are sure these children can go to school , return safely and not bring up with them COVID- 19 and infect people who are more susceptible than they are , then we are running a huge risk and God forbid , in our hurry, something happens to our children, I am not sure how anybody will be able to retrieve what has been lost . ”
Nwajiuba said the ministry was being guided by the advice of experts including those of the World Health Organisation , noting that the decision to reopen schools would be carefully arrived at because education is on the concurrent list of the Nigerian Constitution .
He appealed to private owners of schools to co – operate with the government in ensuring a safe reopening .
“ We are going to publish a specification on what we expect COVID- 19 or post- COVID- 19 reopening to look like . We are not talking about coping with COVID- 19 but in spite of COVID- 19 , we expect that we will adapt .
“ For a country that has over 115 , 000 primary schools , you will understand that 35 , 000 of these who are private must agree to set up the same standard in other to allow children to go in .
“ We may have classes in the morning and classes in the afternoon so that we will have the whole of the infrastructure divided , provided they can serve us . I am not sure we will have classes at night . But we can do with morning and afternoon for now , ” he explained .
A member of the House of Representatives , Akinola Alabi , has urged the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 to open the country’ s airports.
Alabi, who represents Egbeda /Ona -Ara Federal Constituency , also pushed for interstate travel to be allowed in the next phase of the easing of lockdown .
“ Next phase of easing lockdown . Allow interstate travel. Then open the airports and introduce some safety measures , ” he tweeted on Wednesday .
The PUNCH reports that the country’ s airports and airspace were shut in March by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , as part of efforts to contain COVID- 19 .
Commercial flight operations , both local and international , had stopped forthwith but the President ’ s directive allowed the operation of essential flights including those for medical and evacuation purposes, amongst others, which are subject to the authorisation of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and agencies under it .
On May 6 , the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , announced that the closure of the country’ s airports and airspace were further extended by four weeks after due consultations with experts .
The Federal Government has said it would roll out the course of action for the reopening of schools in the country.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , stated this during a briefing in Abuja .
While congratulating children in the country on the occasion of this year ’ s Children ’ s Day, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation urged stakeholders to begin to take steps that would aid the reopening of schools in the country.
He said , “ I wish to inform Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Education will roll out measures for the self -reopening of schools .
“ The Presidential Task Force wishes to use the occasion of this celebration to congratulate our children and assure them, their parents and all stakeholders alike that all hands are on deck to reopen schools at a safe time .
“ We , therefore , use this medium to urge states , local governments , proprietors and all other stakeholders to begin to take steps that will facilitate an early and safe reopening . ”
A senior academic staff member in Federal Polytechnic, Ede , Osun State , Mr Matthew Omolade , has threatened a legal action against the Rector of the institution , Dr Adekolawole Edaogbogun , for suspending him over “ unsubstantiated allegation ” of plagiarism .
Omolade , through his lawyer , Mr Soji Oyetayo , in a letter dated May 20 , addressed to the Registrar of the institution , Mr Tunji Agboola , insisted that allegations against his client had not been proved, describing the decision to suspend him as a plot to punish him for an undisclosed offence .
He also accused the rector of appointing his son , Mr Goodness Edaogbogun , without approval by the governing council as lecturer .
According to him , only the Governing Council was empowered to punish , terminate or issue any letter of interdiction after fair hearing.
He demanded that suspension be reversed or he would approach court for redress .
Reacting to the allegations on behalf of the rector, the Deputy Rector Administration of the polytechnic , Mr Isiaq Adelabu , said an external assessor discovered that Omolade plagiarised in his work and subjected the work to further scrutiny .
Adelabu said , “When the external assessor alleged that he ( Omolade ) plagiarised , the assessor went ahead and printed the document he plagiarised and subjected it to an application that check the percentage of plagiarism and it came out to be 100 per cent plagiarised .
“An investigative committee was commissioned to give him a fair hearing. He was invited and series of questions were asked. After the investigation , it was revealed that three of his papers were 100 per cent plagiarised .
“It was the recommendation of that committee that was sent to the management and because of COVID- 19 the council is not around . It was at that point that the management took the decision to suspend him pending the time the council would meet and take the decision on the report of the investigation committee. ”
On the employment of the rector ’ s son , Adelabu said Goodness Edaogbogun was qualified for the appointment offered to him by the institution because he already had master ’ s degree when he was employed .
Barring any last – minute change in plan , the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , will on Wednesday (today ) hand over Madagascan native formulation for the treatment of COVID – 19 to the Ministry of Health .
Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire , disclosed this during a programme on Channels Television Sunday Politics.
The report had quoted a source as saying that the drug , which was delivered to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , by his Guinea Bissau counterpart , Umarro Embalo , 10 days ago , had remained in the possession of the SGF .
Ehanire , in confirming the report , said his ministry would take delivery of the drug “ on the next working day ” .
Since the Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this year ’ s Eid – el – Fitr , the next working day is Wednesday .
The minister said , “ The Madagascar herb is supposed to be handed over to the Ministry of Health on the next working day .
“ That’ s when we will pick it up and then send to our research institutes , first of course to NAFDAC and then to the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development to look into it and tell us what it is. ”
The SGF had, at the daily COVID- 19 briefing last Tuesday said he had received the consignment of Madagascar ’ s drug and that it would be sent to the ministry of health .
“ I am going to engage the minister of health who has the responsibility of validation , through his institutions that are chartered by law to do that . The President was upfront with that even when he took delivery of it from the President of Guinea Bissau , ” Mustapha had said .
Presidential spokesman , Mr Femi Adesina , says Nigerians are lucky to have the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , as their leader .
Adesina has come under fire following some of his comments .
He insists his boss is performing well, despite the contrary opinions held by regime critics.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said on Monday he owed no one apologies for being a ‘ Buharist’ , adding that he would continue to remain one .
“In fact , we are lucky to have him at a time like this , ” he tweeted on his handle , @ FemiAdesina .
“ I am a Buharist any day , no apologies , and I believe the President is leading the country well . ”
Adesina was reacting to comments made about him by persons he described as “mischief – makers ” .
He wrote , “A quote from mischief -makers is making the rounds , ascribed to me . I just dey laugh. ”
He has faced more heat since the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to the President .
Adesina ’ s critics , in their latest attacks , reminded how of how he vilified Gambari in the past over the latter’ s alleged supportive role in the trial and execution of Ken Saro – Wiwa by the Sani Abacha regime .
Some mocked him , saying he might have to eat his words now that the same Gambari had become his boss at the Presidential Villa , Abuja .
Weeks back , amid the raging COVID- 19 pandemic, Buhari came under attack following his initial silent approach to the pandemic , as they demanded that he address the nation.
Before Buhari made his first March 29 nationwide broadcast, Adesina had defended the President ’ s silence , saying that leadership, like “ stylistics ” in literary appreciation , was about an individual ’ s style .
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