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The United Nations has completed plans to carve out a new territory from Nigeria and Republic of Cameroon by July 10.

The creation of the new territory to be known as United Nations Organisation(UNO) State of Cameroon may see Nigeria losing 24 local councils, by way of ceding, to the new country.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Paul Biya of Cameroon, on the invitation of the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, had in March 2003 signed documents to cede their disputed territories (Northern and Southern Cameroons) to the proposed UNO new country in West and Central Africa.

According to a report in a national daily, the new state will have a total landmass of 28, 214 square km, with an estimated population of 20 million people.

This was disclosed in a May 26, 2020 letter on the UNO State of Cameroon by Prof. Martins Chia Ateh, the United Nations-appointed workshops coordinator in Cameroon and Nigeria, according to the report.

The report also noted that the recent withdrawal of troops by President Paul Biya from the southern part of the planned UNO State of Cameroon, which was said to have been formally demanded by the former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ali Treki, on May 20, set the stage for the creation of the new state being spearheaded by the UN.

Quoting the letter, the report said Ateh wrote: “Greetings and thank you very much for the attached list of those who were detained in the Nkambe prison of Cameroon in August 2008.

Thisday

OSUN State Government has unveiled plans to generate 15 , 000 jobs annually through industrial development , technical and vocational centres in the state .

The State Commissioner for Commerce , Industry , Cooperatives and Empowerment , Dr . Bode Olaonipekun, unveiled the plans during a chat with newsmen in Osogbo .

Dr Olanipekun , who spoke after a meeting with the leadership of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency and the management of the Industrial Development Centre , explained that the initiative was aimed at empowering the residents and generating employment for youths .

He said , “ This is a post- pandemic initiative to revive the economy and we are here particularly to address one of the focal areas of this administration – to rejuvenate the economy and empower the citizens . ”

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, has removed the cap on the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, giving marketers the freedom to fix the price of the commodity and sell above the price stipulated by it.

The PPPRA, in a document released, titled, ‘Market Based Pricing Regime for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) Regulations, 2020,’ stated that, henceforth, the price of PMS would be determined by market forces.

In the document signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Abdulkadir Saidu, the PPPRA, however, stated that it would continue to monitor trends in the crude oil market and advise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil marketers on the monthly guiding price for the commodity.

The PPPRA said, “In exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 7 and 24 at the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (Establishment) Act. No. 8 of 2003, and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (The Agency), with the approval of the President hereby makes the following Regulation:
“Short title: Market Based Pricing Regime for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) using the Pricing Template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.

“The price cap per liter in respect of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is removed from the commencement of these Regulations. From the commencement of these Regulations, a market-based pricing regime for Premium Motor Saint (PMS) shall take effect.

“The Agency shall monitor market trends and advise the NNPC and oil marketing companies on the monthly guiding Market-Based Price.

“The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) advised by the Agency shall be guiding retail price at which the product shall be sold across the country.

“This regulation may be cited as the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) Market Based Pricing Regime Regulations, 2020, made this 20th day of March 2020.”

The PPPRA, in the explanatory note to the regulation, disclosed that the Regulations seek to complement and enforce the provisions of the PPPRA (Establishment) Act 2003 and to notify the general public of the existence of a Market-based Pricing Regime for PMS with effect from March 2020.

Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu of Lagos State has ordered civil servants from Grade Level 13 to resume work effective Monday , June 8 , according to reports .

The governor stated this during a briefing at the Government House, Marina .

He said , “ As regards public service , we are asking all of our officers on Grade Level 13 and 14 on the unified public service to resume work from Monday , June 8 , 2020 .

“ We are still holding back from Grade Level 1 – 12 till further notice. ”

Sanwo- Olu had in March ordered all civil servants in the state to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic .

The Lagos State Government says the decision to reopen schools in the state will be taken in two weeks .

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu , said this during a televised press briefing .

Sanwo- Olu said the decision would be taken after an extensive meeting with stakeholders in the education sector .

He said , “I know we are all eager to know the plans we have for the reopening of our learning institutions. There is still a lot more works to be done in this regard and we are looking at the educational sector very differently .

“ However , we will continue to have our online learning at our seven higher institutions.

“ On primary and secondary schools , we will be engaging with the Ministry of Education and Lagos State Safety Commission , and we will be coming out with a full and specific pronouncement in two weeks ’ time .

“ Once the protocols have been agreed with the stakeholders at the primary and secondary level , as to when and how the schools will be reopening . ”

He also gave permission to all manufacturing companies to operate between 7 am and 6 pm .

This is as the governor announced that as from June 19 mosques will reopen , while churches can reopen as from June 21 .

Punch

Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu of Lagos State says worship centres in the state will be allowed to reopen , according to reports .

The governor stated this during a briefing at the Government House, Marina .

He said mosques are to reopen from June 19 while churches are to begin services from June 21 .

He said hotels are allowed to reopen while gyms, night clubs , and cinemas would still remain closed , adding that the decision to reopen them would be reviewed in the next two weeks .

Sanwo- Olu said , “ There will now be restricted openings of religious houses based on compliance that we have seen and reviewed with the Safety Commission .

“ From 14 days time , precisely on the 19 th of June for our Muslim worshippers and from the 21 st of June for our Christian worshippers , we will be allowing all of our religious bodies to open at a maximum of 40 % of their capacity and we ’ ll be working with them as being expected by the Lagos State Safety Commission .

“ But we know that these places of worship have different sizes but even if your 40 % capacity is really so large , you cannot have beyond 500 worshippers at once , and keeping that maximum 40 % capacity is really important.

“ We will be encouraging people to have more than one service and ensure that they keep their premises clean, disinfect before another round of worship can take place .

“ We will also be advising that there should only be mandatory Fridays and Sunday services. All other night vigils and services must be put on hold for now until we review our current situation.

“ We will also be advising very strongly that persons below the age of 15 because of how well they walk around and difficult to hold down should be excused from the places of worship and citizens that are above the age of 65 should not be allowed into these places of worship .

“ We will also advise that there should be no food sharing and communion from a common dish should be discouraged during this period .

Punch

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that clinical trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine will resume as it searches for potential coronavirus treatments.

On May 25, the WHO announced it had temporarily suspended the trials to conduct a safety review, which has now concluded there is “no reason” to change the way the trials are conducted.

The UN health agency’s decision came after a study published in The Lancet medical journal suggesting the drug could increase the risk of death among COVID-19 patients.

The executive group of the so-called Solidarity Trial — in which hundreds of hospitals across the world have enrolled patients to test several possible treatments for the novel coronavirus — took the decision as a precaution.

Hydroxychloroquine is normally used to treat arthritis but public figures including US President Donald Trump have backed the drug for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, prompting governments to bulk-buy.

“Last week, the executive group of the Solidarity Trial decided to implement a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm of the trial, because of concerns raised about the safety of the drug,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news briefing.

“This decision was taken as a precaution while the safety data were reviewed.

“The data safety and monitoring committee of the Solidarity Trial has been reviewing the data.

“On the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol.

“The executive group received this recommendation and endorsed continuation of all arms of the Solidarity Trial, including hydroxychloroquine.

“The executive group will communicate with the principal investigators in the trial about resuming the hydroxychloroquine arm of the trial.

“The data safety and monitoring committee will continue to closely monitor the safety of all therapeutics being tested in the Solidarity Trial.”

More than 3,500 patients have been recruited across 35 countries to take part in the trials.

AFP

Residents of Fagba community, in the Ifako Ijaiye area of Lagos State , have lost their peace over the activities of pipeline vandals in the area .

The alleged connivance of security officials had also unsettled many landlords , who now fear for their lives .

Newsmen gathered that last Sunday , some vandals broke into the mechanic village on Providence Avenue and siphoned fuel from the pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation .

They were reported to have bound a local vigilante and bundled him into the back of a sports utility vehicle they brought for the operation .

The men, who loaded no fewer than four tankers of 33 , 000 litres , were said to have operated without any challenge from the security agencies .

Done , they released the guard and left the area without a trace.

At the rate of N 125 per litre, the pump price fuel was being sold at the time , a 33 , 000 litre tanker would cost N4 , 125 , 000 . The four tankers would therefore cost N16 . 5 m .

Findings by news correspondent revealed that some members of the group had visited the site a few days earlier to prepare for the operation .

A resident , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said the vandals dug a hole at the point where they intended to siphon the fuel.

“ A guard on the adjoining street saw them digging in the wee hours of the night and flashed a torch in their direction . He asked what they were doing and they told him not to bother himself because they worked for some powerful people.

“ The guard said towards the end of his chat with them, they asked for his phone number and account details , that they could send something to him as well. A gate separated him from those people , so they did not have contact , ” he said .

A former executive member of the mechanic union told newsmen that when he arrived at the workshop in the morning , he noticed the hole around the pipeline.

He said he quickly mobilised other mechanics to tow a van to the spot , to frustrate the plot of the vandals .

“ We removed the four tyres of the vehicle we towed to the spot . We also alerted the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer in charge of Ifako Ijaiye , Mrs. Osho; and one Mr Dare , who works with a private company guarding the pipeline. They usually patrol the area. They both said there was no problem , ” the source added .

Punch

The Federal Government says artisans can go about their normal businesses but prohibits street trading and hawking , newsmen reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Sani Aliyu , stated this while announcing new guidelines for the second phase of the eased lockdown during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ In terms of general movements, persons may go out for work, go out to buy necessary foods and for exercise , provided they abide by the curfew hours. Movement between local government areas is strongly discouraged unless for critical reasons such as health care and work .

“ I will like to emphasise that it is still safer to stay at home and avoid crowds . The pandemic is not over in this country and the relaxation of some of the rules does not mean that it is safer to go out. If you do not need to go out , please continue to stay at home .

“ Hawking and street trading is also prohibited and we will be looking into this in greater detail with state authorities . ”

“ With interstate travels , movement across state boundaries remains restricted other than the free movement of goods and essential travels . Security services are requested to please cooperate with members of the public and ensure that goods are provided with free passage , as this particular phase is directed at ensuring the economy starts moving again .

“ With intrastate travel, we will implement new travel processes for areas of the country with high – burden local government areas , and this will be restricted to essential travels . ”

The task force coordinator listed the new guidelines for reopening of offices in the public and private sectors .

He said , “ For the industry and labour sectors , in terms of working hours , normal working hours will apply to offices other than government offices, provided this is kept within ( outside ) the curfew hours of 10 pm to 4 am . Offices are to maintain working at 75 per cent capacity while maintaining the two – metre physical distancing .

“ For government offices , they can open between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm . So , no changes in opening hours but can work from Monday to Friday. Prior to this , we allowed three working days. However , all persons within the Grade Levels of 14 and above at both the federal and state governments will be allowed to come to work. ”

Punch

The Federal Government has said banks in the country could resume ‘ normal working hours ’ , effective June 2 , according reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Sani Aliyu , stated this during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ Effective from Tuesday , June 2 , the easing of the lockdown will be characterise by the following :

“ There will be full opening of the financial sector with banks now allowed to operate normal working hours five days a week . ”

Punch