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The Federal Government has decried the nationwide non -compliance with the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 ’ s guidelines for gradual reopening of the economy .

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu , who stated this during the task force press briefing in Abuja , warned that the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , could restore the lockdown if the guidelines were not observed and there was a surge in coronavirus cases.

The President had, on March 30 , imposed a two – week lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states , but at the expiration of the first lockdown on April 13 , he extended it by another 14 days .

In his broadcast to the nation on April 27 , Buhari said phased and gradual easing of the lockdown would begin on May 4 ( yesterday ). He also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the nation.

Besides banning interstate movements, the President imposed a total lockdown on Kano State , which had witnessed a spike in COVID- 19 cases.

Guidelines on gradual reopening of the economy issued by the PTF a few days after the presidential address mandate anyone in public spaces to use non – medical face masks.

They also prohibit interstate travels , apart from for essential services. The guidelines ban gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace .

Commercial vehicles are only allowed to operate outside the curfew hours and should practise social distancing in the number of their passengers .

But news correspondents , who monitored activities in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states on Monday observed that people did not observe the PTF guidelines, including social distancing .

Although banks limited the number of people that entered their premises, customers ignored social distancing as they crowded at bank gates.

Pedestrians and motorists from Ogun State crossed over to Lagos in violation of the ban on interstate movements.

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), in Abuja said only a collective international approach would mitigate the effect of COVID- 19 .

He also assured that the Federal Government would intensify efforts to monitor , test , and isolate more people, especially at the community level .

Buhari , who participated in a virtual Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non – Aligned Movement , said national, regional and global strategies would be required to tackle the pandemic .

This was contained in a statement by Buhari ’ s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina .

He said , “ The theme of this extra -ordinary Summit ‘ United Against COVID- 19 Pandemic , ’ aptly reflects the importance for a proactive approach and the need for multilateral cooperation in finding quick solutions to the challenges that COVID- 19 pandemic poses to our nations .

“ Since the outbreak of the disease , countries have made concerted efforts to limit the spread of the pandemic within and outside their borders as well as treating those infected by the virus .

“ Two weeks ago , we in West Africa came together to work out a common sub – regional response to the crisis . The summit appointed me the Champion to lead our efforts on fighting the pandemic in our region . ”

The president said the task before the international community remained daunting, adding that more needs to be done to reduce the impact of COVID- 19 .

He said , “ It is now clearly evident that no nation can independently and singlehandedly tackle a pandemic of this nature which is no respecter of borders , regions or status .

“ Invariably , enhancing multilateral cooperation through exchange and sharing of best practices is imperative to overcome the disease . We must , therefore , form a united front against this common enemy by being coordinated and timely in our responses .

“ Furthermore, we must all encourage and empower our scientists and medical experts to join the quest for a vaccine and cure to this universal plague .

“ It is , therefore , essential to fully collaborate and support their initiatives in coordinating the international fight against the pandemic . Such efforts should include the protection of our medical workers , provision of medical supplies , especially test kits and ultimately , finding a vaccine to cure the disease . ’’

President Buhari “urged international financial institutions to assist member states in cushioning the negative impact of the pandemic in the spirit of solidarity , which will include extending concessional loans, technical support, lowering of tariff on medical equipment and consumables , sharing of expertise in case management , adopting open trade policies, as well as outright debt cancellation .

“ Within the spirit of South- South cooperation , we must also assist one another, particularly the less developed and less endowed member states with technical , medical, and financial assistance. It is by so doing that we can rightly claim to uphold the Bandung Principles of equality , mutual interests , and cooperation. ’’

Punch

Ekiti State Government has released implementation guidelines on the new measures to control COVID- 19 pandemic with a description of the type of activities allowed for an initial period of four weeks effective from Monday .

The Secretary to State Government, Biodun Oyebanji , said the easing of the lockdown of the state effective from Monday , May 4 would be characterised by some enforceable actions which included mandatory temperature checks in public spaces and mandatory use of face masks.

Oyebanji , in a statement , entitled, ‘ Implementation of guidelines for containment of COVID- 19 in Ekiti State ’ , stated that “ anyone who presents a temperature of 38 * C will be mandated to return home and call Ekiti State Task Force on COVID- 19 for evaluation ”.

The SSG also stated that “anyone without a face mask / covering will be asked to return home and will be prosecuted . Latex hand gloves should not be worn except for specific medical purposes.

“ The Ojaoba , Oja Bisi , and Shasha markets remain closed . Social distancing must be maintained between people in workplaces and other public spaces , ” he added .

He said there shall be curfew between 8 pm and 6 am daily , adding, “ Anyone violating the curfew in a non -emergency situation will be prosecuted . ”

According to him , all schools , clubs , bars , gardens, and beer parlours to remain closed , restaurants to encourage takeaway system , supermarkets should not have more than 10 persons at a time, while the ban on all travel from and into Ekiti State subsists .

He stated, “ Any vehicle caught in violation (of the inter- state travel ban ) may be forfeited to the state and the passengers prosecuted . ”

Oyebanji said that business activities including intra – city commercial transportation would resume for only Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 am to 4 pm while businesses must provide liquid soap and running water for handwashing .

He said , “ Anyone attending any gathering of more than 20 people or a gathering which is not a funeral will be prosecuted .

“ Institutions that fail to comply with these protocols and guidelines will be prosecuted , and any member of the public who violates the ban on inter -local government as outlined in this guideline will be prosecuted . ”

The Federal Government has announced that it would soon commence the disinfection and decontamination of schools across the country.

Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood , disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID- 19 in Abuja.

He said the Federal Ministry of Environment would get the data of schools nationwide from the Federal Ministry of Education.

Mahmood said , “ We are initiating a programme of decontaminating and disinfecting our schools before they open .

“ Because subsequently in the phases ( of reopening the lockdown ), I believe we will get to that point when we start opening the schools .

“ So , we will be liaising with the Federal Ministry of Education to make sure we have the needed data to carry out the exercise . ”

Although the minister did not state when the exercise would start , he said his ministry had been making efforts to commence the programme .

Mahmood said , “ Today we will like to brief you on our first video conference with our Environmental Health Sanitation desks across the country, the 36 states plus the FCT.

“ Also in attendance was a representative of the World Health Organisation , the purpose of which is to build additional capacity and to reiterate adherence to the guidelines in this response to COVID- 19 . ”

The Federal Government, has confirmed the receipt of $ 311 m looted by the late military dictator , Gen. Sani Abacha .

According to reports,  the loot was repatriated from the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey .

The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu , said approximately $ 311 , 797 , 866 . 11 of the Abacha loot was repatriated from the US and Jersey .

According to Malami, the amount increased significantly from over $ 308 m as stated in a press release in February to over $ 311 m because of the interest that accrued from February 3 , 2020 , to 28 th April, 2020 , when the fund was transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria .

The AGF noted that the litigation process for the return of these assets titled “Abacha III ” commenced in 2014 , while the diplomatic process culminated in the signing of the Asset Return Agreement on February 3 , 2020 , by the governments of Nigeria , the US and Jersey commenced in 2018 .

“ This agreement is based on international law and cooperation measures that set out the procedures for the repatriation , transfer , disposition and management of the assets , ” he said .

The Algerian government has decided to reduce the state budget by half due to a financial crisis caused by the global collapse in oil prices and worldwide coronavirus lockdowns .

The government has decided to reduce the budget by “ 50 percent ” for this year , President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ’ s office said in a statement .

Despite this huge reduction, the government also agreed at a cabinet meeting to increase the minimum wage from 18 , 000 dinars ($ 140 ) per month to 20 , 000 dinars, while income tax will be abolished for those earning 30 , 000 dinars or less , the statement said .

The government also postponed from Sunday until 10 May consideration of a finance law , which seeks to frame a response to the coronavirus pandemic .

A collapse in hydrocarbon prices this year — caused by plunging demand due to societal lockdowns designed to combat the spread of the virus and exacerbated by a brief price war between key players Russia and Saudi Arabia – is putting ever greater pressure on Algeria ’ s external accounts.

Even before this year ’ s crisis took hold , Algeria ’ s foreign exchange reserves had fallen to $ 62 billion at the end of 2019 , from $ 180 billion in 2014 .

The draft law factors in a plunge in oil receipts this year to $ 20 . 6 billion , compared to the $ 37 . 4 billion previously anticipated .

Tebboune on Friday ruled out approaching the IMF for a bailout , contending that “ accumulating debt harms national sovereignty” when it is owed to foreign institutions.

He said he preferred to rely instead on domestic borrowing .

AFP

The Federal Government has failed to review the N 123 . 5 to N125 / litre pump price of petrol for the month of May 2020 despite continued crash of crude oil price.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had stated that the cost of petrol would be reviewed monthly in accordance with the fluctuation of crude oil price in the international market .

“ What we have in place is a market reflective pricing system . Petroleum products prices will be adjusted in line with market realities and the result is what we see presently with prices on the downward slide , ” the PPPRA’ s Executive Secretary , Abdulkadir Saidu, said recently .

Saidu added , “Accordingly , price will naturally be adjusted to reflect a true picture of market fundamentals at any particular period , high or low . ”

Brent , the crude against which Nigeria ’ s oil is priced, tumbled in price repeatedly in April 2020 , crashing below $ 20 per barrel on many occasions , before picking up marginally towards the end of April.
The commodity traded at $ 26 . 44 per barrel on Sunday , shedding $ 0 . 04 or 15 per cent as of 10 . 05 am Central Standard Time.

The crude oil market – based pricing regime in Nigeria came into effect on March 19 , 2020 , following government ’ s approval for the adjustment of petrol price from N145 to N125 / litre.

On March 31 , 2020 , the PPPRA met with oil marketers , the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , the Central Bank of Nigeria and other stakeholders, after which the cost of petrol was reduced to N123 . 5 /litre .

Based on the agency ’ s words that price reviews would hold monthly , petrol users had anticipated another review on April 30 , 2020 . But this did not happen.
Saidu had stated that the PPPRA would continue to monitor price trends and advise monthly guiding price for all petroleum products , based on prevailing market realities and other pricing fundamentals.

He explained that the plunge in oil price occasioned by the outbreak of COVID- 19 and slowing global oil demand had a direct bearing on the Expected Open Market Price of petrol , pushing it to a level below the previous pump price cap of N145 /litre .

Senior officials of the agency stated on Sunday that the agency was studying the global oil market but had yet to put together a new price for the month .

“ We are also in touch with the petroleum products ’ marketers on this and we have advised them to continue with the last price band ( N123 . 5 to N125 / litre) , ” an impeccable source at the PPPRA told our correspondent in confidence .

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu , has ordered all civil servants in the state to stay away from work on Monday , May 4 .

Reports says that the five-week- old total lockdown imposed on the nation’ s economic capital terminates on Sunday night , May 3 , and the new phase of gradual easing starts on Monday , as ordered by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ).

But the governor in a statement asked all its civil servants not to resume work immediately, noting that the delayed resumption is a deliberate attempt to prevent overcrowding in the state.

He , however , said only emergency workers and those on essential duties would be allowed to work on Monday .

Sanwo- Olu said , “ In amending the work guidelines earlier issued, which stopped members of the public service from Grade Level 1 to 12 from going to work ; we have had to review this position and we are extending the directive to all civil servants , regardless of level . All civil servants must stay away from work on Monday .

“ On Tuesday , only officers from Grade Level 15 and above have express permission to come to work. All other essential officers that may need to be at work will be informed by the Accounting Officer of each Ministry as may be required .

“ From Monday on , there will be a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am and all movements within these hours are prohibited, except for people on essential services , which are agro -products , petroleum products , relief materials , and food supplies .

“ We want to use this as a demonstration of our commitment to the gradual easing of the lockdown . We do not want people to rush out tomorrow and see the easing of the lockdown as an attempt to believe that the spread of the pandemic is all over . ”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday night , of the total 2388 coronavirus infections reported in the country, 1068 cases were recorded in Lagos with about 30 attendant fatalities and 247 recoveries , the highest by any state in Nigeria .

Punch

The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, has decried the attack on policemen during the enforcement of the lockdown order occasioned by the pandemic in the country.

According to him , no fewer than 27 police officers had been assaulted while enforcing the federal government and state governments ’ stay – at – home orders .

He noted that some citizens had equally carried out attacks on police assets and facilities , adding that two police stations and police quarters were attacked and burnt down in Katsina and Abia States while 15 police vehicles and motorcycles were also damaged within the period .

The IG in a statement in Abuja , by the force spokesman , Frank Mba , warned that he would no longer condone the attacks on men and officers of the police .

It said , “The IGP notes that since the commencement of the COVID- 19 enforcement duties , a total of 27 police personnel have suffered series of attacks and assaults from members of the public at different times and locations .

“ Many of these officers are still in hospitals receiving treatment from the injuries sustained during such attacks . ”

Adamu said a female police officer, PC Ngozi Nkem , was injured in Agbor , Delta State when a police team was dispersing a group of persons holding a birthday party in clear disobedience to the social restrictions and distancing orders .

The IGP enjoined the citizens to continue to cooperate with the police and other security personnel and voluntarily comply with all COVID- 19 prevention orders .

The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has said those who attended the burial of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari have now completed their 14 days of isolation and have tested negative for COVID-19.

Consequently, they have been reunited with their families.

Acting Secretary Health and Human Services Secretariat in the FCT, Dr Muhammed Kawu disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

He said; “The Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCT Administration is happy to announce that the individuals exposed during the burial of late Chief of staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, have completed their 14 days of isolation. Tests were conducted on them and they have all tested negative to COVID-19. They have been reunited with their families”.

Kyari was buried on April 18 at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja, but the event saw many government officials violating the social distancing measures of the federal government.

Consequently, both officials and journalists who attended the burial were sent on mandatory 14-day isolation.

Vanguard