Links

Fire gutted a section of the World Trade Centre building located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja .

An eyewitness told The PUNCH that the fire started from the top of the skyscraper .

First responders including firefighters were yet to be seen at the incident scene as of the time of filing this report .

South Africa has introduced new restrictions, including another ban on alcohol sales, to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

A night-time curfew will also be in place from Monday, and the wearing of masks outdoors is now compulsory.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the alcohol ban – South Africa’s second this year – would take the pressure off the national healthcare system.

It comes as total infections exceed a quarter of a million.
Deaths resulting from coronavirus have also risen to more than 4,000, and government projections estimate this could rise to 50,000 by the end of the year.

South Africa remains the hardest-hit country on the continent, and earlier this week recorded its highest-ever single-day increase in cases. Nearly half of them were in Gauteng, a province that’s become the outbreak epicenter.

In a public address, Mr. Ramaphosa acknowledged “most” people had taken action to help prevent the spread, but he said there were still some who acted “without any responsibility to respect and protect each other”.

“There are a number of people who have taken to organising parties, who have drinking sprees, and some who walk around crowded spaces without wearing masks,” said the president.

Mr. Ramaphosa said the new measures were being introduced to help the country to weather the storm of coronavirus, and a state of emergency would be extended until 15 August. The night-time ban would be in place from 21:00 to 04:00.

The alcohol ban comes just weeks after another three-month ban was lifted in an effort to prevent drunken fighting, cut domestic violence, and eliminate weekend binge-drinking prevalent across South Africa.

Doctors and police say the previous ban contributed to a sharp drop in emergency admissions to hospital. But the country’s brewers and winemakers complained they were being driven out of business.

Vanguard

State governments in the country have been told not to go ahead and enrol their schools in this year’s West African Senior Secondary School Examination. WASSCE, if the Federal Government-owned schools are not going to take part in same.

If they go ahead, according to the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, it will not only distort the education sector but will also create chaos that may be very difficult to remediate.

The National Treasurer of the NUT, Mr Segun Raheem and the National President of NAPTAN, Haruna Danjuma, said this in separate chats with newsmen.

Raheem said there was a stakeholders’ meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education and other government agencies concerned with the COVID-19 pandemic in which NUT was present, and where it was agreed that anything that would lead to chaos should be avoided.

“We all know that education is on the Concurrent List in the Constitution and that is why when the Federal Government said its schools would not open now, and advised the state governments to key into that. NUT has asked every state chapter to look into the peculiarities of their states and be guided accordingly.

” Some states have gone far in preparing their terminal students for their final examinations. I am from Lagos State and I can say boldly that the Commissioner for Education has done a lot in this respect. However, schools cannot be reopened unless it is safe to do so.

‘Before the pandemic got to this level, the NCDC said each state should prepare at least 300-bed isolation centre, how many states were able to do that?

“We have to be careful not to use our children as laboratory rats. If the affected students sit for WASSCE now, will they be admitted to the university immediately? No. Some countries reopened schools.and shut them down almost immediately. It is not appropriate that some states will sit for WASSCE and others will not,” he said.

Raheem also noted that it would not be proper to compare Nigeria with other member states of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, saying the countries were not up to four states in Nigeria in terms of population.

While empathising with private school owners and teachers, the NUT national treasurer opined that it would be in the best interest of all if schools are reopened in a safe environment.

NAPTAN National President, Danjuma, in his opinion, said even if it is the National Examinations Council, NECO, solely owned by Nigerian, nobody should contemplate some states sitting for WASSCE while others would not.

“WAEC is an international body and the examination it conducts is recognised globally. It won’t be appropriate for it to handle examination for a few states and others won’t take part. I advise state governments to liaise with the FG and do the needful. I also hope the FG would have a rethink about the issue too,” he stated.

Vanguard

The suspended Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has again been accused of allegedly failing to give a proper account of missing 332 out of the 836 recovered real estate property in March 2018.

A report by the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets, PCARA, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, confirmed the development, indicating that the said property worth billions of naira.

The report also noted massive wastage and deterioration of physical assets (including landed property, cars and vessels) recovered by the EFCC due to poor management.

It also noted with concern the failure to preserve and realise the economic value of the recovered assets, noting that some of the assets were recovered over 15 years ago and left fallow.

“A disturbing example is the two vessels that allegedly sunk at NNS Beecroft Naval BASE, Lagos and NNS Pathfinder Naval Base in Port Harcourt without trace under the watch of the acting Chairman of EFCC.

“The vessels named MT GOOD SUCCESS, MV PSV DERBY and MV THAMES were allowed to sink in spite of several warnings from the Navy on the need to evacuate the petroleum products in the vessels.

“The total value of the assets lost due to the negligence runs into millions of US dollars.

“The (suspended) acting Chairman is yet to provide a report on what happened to these vessels,’’ the report said.

The report read in part: “For instance, EFCC stated 836 as the number of Recovered Real Estate in the Original Returns it made to the President on 07/04/2017.

“However, in its 1st Returns to PCARA on 13/12/2017, EFCC short-changed the system and gave the figure of 339, thereby failing to account for 497 property.

“It is interesting to note that when the Acting Chairman was further queried on this lapse, he made further contradictory 2nd return of 504 on 09/03/2018 thereby bridging the gap to 332 property.’’

The suspended EFCC boss was also alleged to have neglected and refused to comply with the Regulations on the Management of Recovered Assets, 2019 as he embarked on disposing of some of the property without regard to extant law.

“These Regulations were issued in line with international best practices and to ensure that all the anti-corruption agencies report all their recovered assets in a database provided by the Federal Government.

’’It is important to note that the (suspended) Acting Chairman in apparent disregard of the regulation is disposing of these properties without regard to extant laws, and regulations and without reference to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and in effect, there is no way to have an audit of the property.

“This is also a clear sign that there is a deliberate attempt to hide the exact figures of recoveries, which is an indication of fraudulent intent.

“These actions of the (suspended) Acting Chairman in refusing the Regulation is a clear case of refusal to follow lawful instructions and directives contrary to the provisions of the Act that establish the EFCC,’’ a separate report on the matter, addressed to the President, further noted.

The report also listed the number of the affected properties suspected to have been illegally acquired as well as the bank accounts of those individuals serving as fronts for the affected EFCC officials.

“Most of the recovered assets are allegedly sold without anyone knowing and without proper records and without recourse to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing that has the mandate to undertake the evaluation of such property.

“Some of the assets have been taken over by EFCC officials while some are sold at a giveaway price to friends and cronies of the officials, who maintain different accounts, using proxies.

“These funds are then used to procure property and lands in the names of some of the proxies,” the report further stated.

NAN

Doctors employed by the Lagos State Government will on Monday begin a three- day warning strike , according to reports.

The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Lagos , Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, at a briefing , said the doctors were embarking on the strike after the ultimatum given to the Lagos State Government had expired .

He said , “Following the emergency congress of the Medical Guild held on June 27 , we resolved that the previous 21 days ultimatum given to the state government be extended by a further two weeks during which representative council meeting should be held to review the resolutions of the congress and activate the three-day warning strike if 70 per cent of the Guild’ s demands are not met . ”

Sodipo said the demands of the Guild include the wage disparity between the federal and Lagos doctors .

“ The issues of COVID- 19 hazard allowance and inducement allowances MOU approved by the federal government to her doctors have not been approved by the Lagos State Government to her doctors .

“ The doctors working in the COVID- 19 isolation centres are still being owed two months’ salaries which have remained unpaid at the moment . They are also being unceremoniously disengaged without recourse to their welfare.

“ The issue of shortage of doctors in the health facilities are yet to be resolved and with no substantive action taken by the state government t resolve the issue, ” Sodipo said .

Punch

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced nationwide recruitment of constables .

The NPF , however , barred persons with bow legs, knock knees , bent knees , and gross malformation of teeth from being enlisted into the Force .

Others barred from the exercise include persons with amputated body parts , defective eyesight , and a speech impediment .

This is contained in a public notice signed by the Force Public Relations Officer , DCP Frank Mba .

According to the notice , applicants must be within the ages of 17 and 25 and must possess a minimum of five credits in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in not more than two sittings .

The police further stated that women who wish to apply must not be pregnant as of the time of recruitment .

Interested candidates must have a functional email address and National Identification Number .

The online application would be open from July 14 2020 , to August 23 , 2020 .

Punch

Workers in Ondo State Public Service have threatened to down tools following the government’s failure to pay their outstanding salaries.

The workers, under the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), gave the notice in a letter made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure .

They gave the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, till Wednesday, July 15, 2020, to do the needful.

Their decision to embark on industrial action was contained in a letter to the governor and jointly signed by state Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Oluwaniyi Fabunmi and the State Secretary, JNC, Kehinde Olomiye.

The letter reads, “We write to bring to your attention the already ‘gathered cloud’ of very serious impending Labour/Government face-off which will be the very first in the life of your administration as the elected Governor of Ondo State.”

The JNC had, therefore, issued a five-day ultimatum to the state government calling for negotiations or the workers would go on strike.

NAN reports that the workers are demanding for their leave bonus and other entitlements pending over the years.

NAN

The Commissioners of Education in 19 Northern States have supported the suspension of school reopening amid the pandemic by the Federal Government.

The commissioners made this known in a communique issued in Kaduna State, after a virtual meeting to consider school reopening and other issues to strengthen the education sector .

The communique was signed by the Commissioner of Education, Kaduna , Dr Shehu Makarfi , who is also the Chairman of the Northern States School Exchange Programme.

The meeting was attended by commissioners of 13 of the 19 northern states namely, Kaduna , Bauchi , Gombe , Niger, Nasarawa , Adamawa , Taraba , Kogi , Kwara, Katsina , Kano, Borno and Jigawa .

The commissioners applauded the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu , for taking a decisive stand against school reopening and pledged their full support.

According to them, keeping schools closed considering the spike in cases of COVID- 19 across the country is a sure step in ensuring that children remain safe .

“ We have , therefore , resolved that schools should be reopened only when it is safe to do so and when states have complied with the minimum COVID- 19 safety protocols as outlined by the NCDC .

“ We will also participate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and other examinations only when it is safe to reopen schools and when coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education, ” they said .

The commissioners also resolved to carry out a holistic assessment of schools to determine safety status for reopening and submit reports to their respective governors for consideration .

“ Schools ’ infrastructure, such as dilapidated classrooms , students ’ hostels , source of safe water , sanitary facilities , including hand washing equipment and security are critical and should be improved .

“ We will equally clear schools of bushes and grasses , as well as fumigate school ’ s surroundings to support learning and ensure safety when schools resume , ” they said .

They , however , appealed to the Federal Government to support states in putting safety measures in place for school reopening .

NAN

The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Mr Ibrahim Magu, who is being investigated over corruption allegations by a special presidential panel , has applied to the Inspector -General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , to be released on bail.

Magu , who has been in detention since his arrest on Monday , requested to be granted bail through a letter sent on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Mr Oluwatosin Ojaomo .

He has been appearing before the panel from the detention of police facilities in Abuja since his arrest .

His lawyer ’ s letter dated July 10 with the IGP office ’ s acknowledgement stamp bearing the same date , and obtained by The PUNCH on Friday, requested that Magu be granted bail “ on self – recognisance. ”

“ Finally, if our application for bail on self – recognisance is not acceptable , we are ready to provide a credible surety that will ensure the availability of our client anytime he is needed for the purpose of this investigation , ” the letter added .

The letter was copied to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd ) , and the Chairman of the Presidential Probe Panel on the activities of EFCC , Justice Ayo Salami ( retd ) .

It was also copied to l the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti- Corruption , Prof Itsay Sagay ( SAN ) , and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Investigation , Federal Criminal Investigation Department , Garki Area 10 , Abuja , where Magu is said to be detained .

The suspended EFCC chairman has been appearing before the Justice Salami- led panel from the detention since his arrest .

His lawyer stated in his letter to the IGP that all the allegations were bailable, implying that his client was statutorily entitled to released on bail even when he is formally charged with offences arising from the allegations .

He also reminded the IGP of his “ recent directives to all police formations in Nigeria not to detain any suspect for any offence which is bailable in nature due to the COVID- 19 pandemic that is ravaging the world which Nigeria is not an exemption ”.

Ojaomo stated that his client had denied all the allegations being investigated by the panel including the ones leveled against him by the Attorney- General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN ) “ and has provided both documentary and oral evidence to clear the air on all the allegations ” .

The House of Representatives has faulted the decision by the Federal Government to suspend the plan to partially reopen schools for pupils in final classes to take external examinations .

The Committee on Basic Education and Services particularly criticised the decision to disallow Nigerian pupils from sitting for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination to be conducted by the West African Examination Council for the 2019 / 2020 academic session .

Schools at all levels have been shut due to the COVID- 19 pandemic .

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 had earlier in June said the Federal Government, in what it called “ safe reopening of schools , ” had approved the resumption of pupils in graduating classes, including Primary 6 , Junior Secondary School 3 and the Senior Secondary School 3 .

In approving the resumption of graduating classes , the government said water must be provided in schools for hand- washing and both pupils and teachers must wear face masks while observing social distancing .

Later , the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , had during the press briefing by the PTF announced that the 2020 WASSCE would hold between August 4 and September 5 .

But the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu , at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), on Wednesday said all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them.

Adamu also urged state governments that had announced schools ’ resumption plans to rescind such .

The minister stated that WAEC could not determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria . He alleged that the council announced the date of examination while the government was still consulting stakeholders on what to do .

Reacting to the development , Chairman of the committee , Prof Julius Ihonvbere , however , expressed the displeasure of the lawmakers through a statement issued on Friday, titled ‘ WASSCE Should not be Cancelled . ’

Ihonvbere said , “ The House Committee on Basic Education and Services received with amazement , the announcement by the honourable Minister of Education that Nigerian students would not be participating in the forthcoming WASSCE examinations .

“ He did not inform the country if this was in agreement with other West African leaders or in consultation with the examination bodies , the state governments , and other stakeholders in the education sector. The minister also did not also inform the public if the decision was the outcome of a meeting with all state governments that are in charge of all but the Unity Secondary Schools that are owned by the Federal government .

“ This sudden policy reversal is not good for the country. It is bound to create further confusion in the education sector , create disappointment and suspicion among parents , frustrate the students and show to our development partners and Nigerians that the distortions and disarticulations in the sector are only getting worse .

“ The reversal also shows that our policymakers may just be adopting a laid- back approach to the need to confront the novel coronavirus rather than taking proactive and creative steps to manage and contain it. ”

Ihonvbere stated that the committee disagrees with Adamu and “ believes that reconsideration is urgently needed to save our educational system . ”