13042020 - COVID-19: NCDC under fire over tests, slow response

Y 

Bond prices 

to rise further 

as N253bn 

inflow boosts 

interbank 

liquidity 

Come out 

for test, 

isolation, 

Kano begs 

suspected 

contact 

13 

persons 

Why FG’s 

digitising 

payment to 

the poor 

8 

— UMAR FAROUQ 

Imbibe life values of Christ, 

Buhari, govs, others tell 

Christians on Easter 4 

Don’t play politics with 

COVID-19, IBB begs politicians 

13 

VOL. 27: NO. 64046 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

COVID-19: NCDC under fire 

over tests, slow response 

•Low tests per population; just 5,000 of Nigeria's near-200 million tested so far 

•NCDC's lines often don't connect; samples not taken for days 

•Only symptomatic patients being tested; aggressive testing needed – Tomori 

•How we define cases, by Ihekweazu, says testing capacity being increased 

•It is not good enough that we are not testing as many as possible — NMA 

5 

•S-Africa carries out 75,000 tests; Ghana 37,400; Egypt 25,000 tests; Nigeria 5,000 

UNUSUAL EASTER... 

Pope calls 

for debt 

relief, 

ceasefire 

States 

COVID-19 

UPDATE 

Cases 

Lagos 176 

FCT 56 

Osun 20 

Oyo 11 

Akwa Ibom 5 

Ogun 7 

Edo 12 

Kaduna 6 

Bauchi 6 

Enugu 2 

Ekiti 2 

Kwara 4 

Rivers 2 

Benue 1 

Ondo 2 

Delta 3 

Katsina 5 

Anambra 1 

kano 1 

Total – 323 

Deaths – 10 

Recovered –85 

Critical/Serious – 2 

3 

AFRICA 

Affected – 14,283 

Deaths – 769 

Recovered –2,542 

Critical/Serious – 168 

WORLD 

Affected –1,835,474 

Deaths – 113,191 

Recovered – 420,510 

Critical/Serious – 50,654 

•SEE WORLD NEWS 

ON PAGE 3 

EASTER LOCKDOWN—The Cathedral of St. Michael, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, empty as 

worshipers stayed away for Easter Sunday service, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi. 

 

Catholic Archbishop 

of Ibadan Archdiocese, 

Bishop Emmanuel 

Abegunrin and Ashipa 

Olubadan of Ibadan, 

High Chief Eddy 

Oyewole during the 

service to mark Easter 

Sunday at the St 

Mary’s Catholic 

Cathedral, Oke Padre, 

Ibadan, yesterday. 

Photo: Dare Fasube. 

Mr & Mrs 

OWEI LAKEMFA 16 DELE COLE 16 SOBOWALE 21 

C

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020

Vanguard, MONDAY , APRIL 13, 2020 — 3 

Global infections cross 1.8m as US death toll hits 21,000 

—Pope calls for debt relief, ceasefire 

—Boris Johnson leaves hospital 

— China petitioned over discrimination 

By Henry Ojelu with 

agency report 

THE global coronavirus 

infection crossed 

1.8million at the weekend as 

scientists continue to search 

for vaccine. This is coming 

as the United States has now 

overtaken Italy with the 

highest death toll from the 

virus. 

The latest data, compiled 

by Johns Hopkins 

University, shows more than 

20,000 people in the US 

have now died. The grim 

milestone comes shortly 

after the US became the 

first nation to record more 

than 2,000 virus deaths in a 

single day. 

The governor of New York 

Andrew Cuomo said on 

Saturday the state’s death 

toll appeared to be 

stabilising. Announcing a 

24-hour figure of 783 new 

deaths, he noted the last 

several days had seen 

around the same number. 

“That is not an all-time 

high, and you can see that 

the number is somewhat 

stabilising but it is 

stabilising at a horrific 

rate,” Mr Cuomo said. 

“These are just incredible 

numbers depicting 

incredible loss and pain.” 

New York state has 

become the epicentre of the 

outbreak in the US, 

recording more than 

180,000 of the country’s 

nearly 530,000 cases. As of 

Saturday, every single US 

state has declared a disaster 

in response to the outbreak. 

Boris Johnson 

says ‘it could have 

gone either way’ 

Prime Minister Boris 

Johnson has said it “could 

have gone either way” as he 

thanked healthcare workers 

for saving his life after being 

discharged from hospital. 

Mr Johnson, 55, was taken 

to London’s St Thomas’ 

Hospital on Sunday - 10 

days after testing positive for 

Covid-19. 

He spent three nights in 

intensive care before 

returning to a ward on 

Thursday. 

He said in a video on 

Twitter that he had 

witnessed the “personal 

courage” of hospital staff on 

the front line. 

Mr Johnson said two 

nurses - Jenny from New 

Zealand and Luis from 

Portugal - stood by his 

bedside for 48 hours at the 

most critical time and 

named several other 

hospital workers who cared 

for him this past week that 

he wanted to thank. 

He said NHS workers 

“kept putting themselves in 

harm’s way, kept risking this 

deadly virus”. 

“It is thanks to that 

courage, that devotion, that 

duty and that love that our 

NHS has been unbeatable,” 

he said. 

Downing Street said the 

PM would continue his 

recovery at his country 

residence, Chequers. 

“On the advice of his 

medical team, the PM will 

not be immediately 

returning to work. He 

wishes to thank everybody 

at St Thomas’ for the 

brilliant care he has 

received. 

“All of his thoughts are with 

those affected by this 

illness.” 

Pope calls for debt 

relief, ceasefire 

Pope Francis called on 

Sunday for global solidarity 

in fighting the coronavirus 

pandemic and its economic 

fallout, urging the 

relaxation of international 

sanctions, debt relief for 

poor nations and ceasefires 

in all conflicts. 

He also warned the 

European Union that it 

risked collapse if it did not 

agree on how to help the 

region recover. 

The pope’s Easter “Urbi et 

Orbi” (to the city and the 

world) message, delivered 

from an empty St. Peter’s 

Basilica instead of to the 

usual crowd of tens of 

thousands in the square 

outside, was by far his most 

pressing and political since 

his election in 2013. 

Saying the message of this 

year’s “Easter of solitude” 

should be a “contagion of 

hope,” he heaped praise on 

doctors, nurses and others 

risking their lives to save 

others and hailed those 

working to keep essential 

services running. 

“This is not a time for 

indifference, because the 

whole world is suffering and 

needs to be united in facing 

the pandemic,” he said in 

the message, almost 

entirely dedicated to the 

pandemic’s effects on 

personal and international 

relations. 

“Indifference, selfcentredness, 

division and 

forgetfulness are not words 

we want to hear at this time. 

We want to ban these words 

forever!” he said. 

The pope said now was the 

time for politicians and 

governments to avoid “selfcentredness” 

and take 

decisive, concerted action 

to help each others’ 

populations live through 

the crisis and eventually 

resume normal life. 

“May international 

sanctions be relaxed, since 

these make it difficult for 

countries on which they 

have been imposed to 

provide adequate support 

to their citizens,” Francis 

said. 

He also called for debt 

reductions or forgiveness 

for the poorest nations, 

without naming any 

countries. 

African 

Ambassadors 

petition Chinese 

Govt over 

discrimination 

African ambassadors in 

China have written to the 

country’s foreign minister 

over what they call 

discrimination against 

Africans as the country 

seeks to prevent a 

resurgence of the 

coronavirus. Several 

African countries have 

separately also demanded 

that China address their 

concerns that Africans, in 

particular in the southern 

city of Guangzhou, are 

being mistreated and 

harassed. 

Having brought under 

control the original 

outbreak centred on the 

city of Wuhan, China is now 

concerned about imported 

cases and is stepping up 

scrutiny of foreigners 

coming into the country 

and tightening border 

controls. It has denied any 

discrimination. 

In recent days Africans in 

Guangzhou have reported 

being ejected from their 

apartments by their 

landlords, being tested for 

coronavirus several times 

without being given results 

and being shunned and 

discriminated against in 

public. Such complaints 

have been made in local 

media, and on social media. 

The ambassadors’ note 

said such “stigmatisation 

and discrimination” 

created the false impression 

that the virus was being 

spread by Africans. 

“The Group of African 

Ambassadors in Beijing 

immediately demands the 

cessation of forceful testing, 

quarantine and other 

inhuman treatments meted 

out to Africans,” it said. 

The note was sent to 

China’s top diplomat, Wang 

Yi, copying the chair of the 

African Union, South 

African President Cyril 

Ramaphosa and all African 

foreign ministers. 

The Chinese foreign 

ministry’s International 

Press Centre did not 

immediately respond to a 

request for comment on the 

note, sent outside of 

business hours. The Chinese 

embassy in South Africa 

also did not respond. 

China reports 99 

new coronavirus 

cases 

China’s National Health 

Commission is reporting 99 

new cases of the 

coronavirus on the 

mainland, including 97 

involving overseas 

travellers. 

The figure is a jump from 

a total of 46 new cases 

reported a day earlier. 

Mainland China’s tally of 

infections now stands at 

82,052, while the death toll 

stands at 3,339. 

Amnesty exposes 

extreme 

overcrowding at 

Cambodia prison 

Amnesty International 

has shared a new video it 

COVID-19 update 

Country Cases Death Recovered Critital 

USA 550,145 21,649 31,120 11,662 

Spain 166,019 16,972 62,391 7,371 

Italy 156,363 19,899 34,211 3,343 

France 132,591 14,393 27,186 6,846 

Germany 126,656 2,908 60,300 4,895 

UK 84,279 10,612 344 1,559 

China 82,052 3,339 77,575 139 

Iran 71,668 4,474 43,894 3,930 

Belgium 29,647 3,600 6,463 1,223 

South Africa 2,173 25 410 7 

Egypt 1,939 146 426 - 

Algeria 1,914 293 591 60 

Ghana 408 8 4 2 

Nigeria 318 10 70 2 

World - Affected – 1,835,474; Death – 113,191; 

Recovered – 420,510; Serious/Critical – 50,654 

received that claims to 

show extreme overcrowding 

and “inhumane 

conditions” in a 

Cambodian prison amid 

the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

The video, released on 

Friday, shows at least 25 

prisoners crammed into a 

small cell and lying on the 

floor. There is hardly any 

space for them to move, 

prompting Amnesty to label 

it “first-hand evidence of the 

inhumane conditions” in 

Cambodian prisons. 

Italy reports 

lowest death toll 

since March 19 

Italy has reported the 

lowest number of 

coronavirus deaths since 

March 19, with 431 

fatalities recorded in the 

last 24 hours, down from 

619 the previous day. 

According to the Civil 

Protection Agency, the 

death toll since the 

beginning of the outbreak 

stands at 19,899, the second 

highest after that of the 

United States. 

The total number of 

infections reached 156,363, 

of which 34,211 have 

recovered. 

Sri Lanka makes 

cremations 

compulsory 

Sri Lanka made 

cremations compulsory for 

coronavirus victims, 

ignoring protests from the 

country’s Muslim 

population which says the 

rule goes against Islamic 

tradition. 

Three Muslims are 

among the seven people 

who have so far died from 

the infectious disease in the 

country. Their bodies were 

cremated by the authorities 

despite protests from 

relatives. 

“The corpse of a person 

who has died or is suspected 

to have died, of ... COVID- 

19 shall be cremated,” 

Health Minister Pavithra 

Wanniarachchi said on 

Sunday. The decision has 

also been criticised by 

rights groups. 

Dutch infections 

top 25,000, deaths 

rise to 2,737 

deaths 

The number of confirmed 

coronavirus cases in the 

Netherlands has topped 

25,000, health authorities 

said on Sunday, with the 

number of deaths rising by 

94 to 2,737. 

The Netherlands’ 

National Institute for 

Health (RIVM) has 

reported 1,188 new 

infections over the past 24 

hours, taking the total to 

25,587. 

The rate of increase in 

infections and deaths has 

slowed for several days 

helped by social distancing 

measures. 

Spain’s daily 

death toll rises 

after days of 

decline 

Spain’s daily death toll 

from the coronavirus rose 

by 619 on Sunday from a 

nearly three-week low of 

510 on Saturday, the 

Ministry of Health has said, 

breaking a three-day streak 

of daily declines. 

The country’s total death 

toll from the virus climbed 

to 16,972 from 16,353, the 

ministry said in a 

statement. Overall cases 

rose to 166,019 from 

161,852. 

Malaysia reports 

153 new cases 

with 3 new deaths 

Malaysia’s health 

ministry has reported 153 

new confirmed cases of the 

novel coronavirus, raising 

the cumulative total to 

4,683, the highest in 

Southeast Asia. 

The latest data includes 

three new deaths, raising 

the total number of 

fatalities from the outbreak 

to 76. The ministry said 45 

percent of all confirmed 

cases have recovered. 

Russia cases rise 

by more than 

2,000 

Russia has reported 2,186 

new coronavirus cases, the 

largest daily increase since 

the start of the outbreak, 

bringing the national tally of 

confirmed cases to 15,770. 

The number of coronavirusrelated 

deaths rose by 24 to 

130, the Russian coronavirus 

crisis response centre said. 

UAE launches 

online weddings 

The United Arab Emirates 

has launched an online 

marriage service that allows 

couples to wed amid 

restrictions on movement and 

interaction imposed to 

counter the deadly 

coronavirus. 

The UAE has taken strict 

measures to combat the 

spread of the COVID-19 

respiratory disease, which has 

claimed the lives of well over 

100,000 people worldwide. 

The justice ministry said on 

Sunday that citizens and 

residents can set a date for an 

online wedding ceremony 

conducted via video link with 

a cleric after their paperwork 

is submitted and approved — 

also online, according to the 

UAE’s official news agency 

WAM. 

The procedure will see a 

cleric confirm the identity of 

the couple and witnesses, 

before a marriage certificate 

is relayed to a specialised 

court for validation. 

The couple will receive 

confirmation of their marriage 

certificate via text 

message. 

The service was launched 

“to maintain the health of 

the public and that of people 

working in courts and 

to limit the presence of employees”, 

WAM reported. 

This comes after Dubai, 

one of the seven emirates 

that make up the UAE, said 

on Wednesday it suspended 

“until further notice” 

marriages and divorces 

in the emirate. No 

announcement has been 

made about divorce proceedings.

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews 

EASTER SUNDAY: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke worshipped online 

(at home), during Easter Sunday service in Lagos, yesterday. 

Easter Message: Imbibe values of 

Christ, Buhari, govs, Benin monarch, 

others tell Christians 

By Dayo Johnson, 

Ozioruva Aliu & 

James Ogunnaike 

ABUJA — PRESI- 

DENT Muhammadu 

Buhari yesterday 

urged Christian faithful to 

imbibe the virtues of Jesus 

Christ, as Nigerian Christians 

joined their counterparts 

across the globe to 

mark Easter Sunday. 

This came as state governors 

and some other 

prominent Nigerians 

called for prayers and exemplary 

leadership for the 

country. 

The President in his 

goodwill message to Christians 

to mark Easter celebration, 

said although this 

year’s Easter came amid 

the coronavirus’ pandemic, 

it was an opportunity for 

all to be hopeful that with 

intensified prayers, backed 

by personal and collective 

responsibility, the nation 

would triumph. 

While also enjoining 

Christians to rekindle their 

faith in Christ who overcame 

persecutions and displayed 

endurance, President 

Buhari said: “I rejoice 

with our Christian brothers 

and sisters as well as all 

Nigerians on the occasion 

of the celebration of this 

year’s Easter. This year’s 

commemoration of Easter 

comes amid the grip with 

which COVID-19 has held 

the entire world. 

"Unprecedented in living 

memory, the majority of 

Christians have found 

themselves marking Easter 

in a subdued manner, 

away from the usual congregation 

in churches. 

This is unusual and very 

unfortunate. 

"However, I wish to enjoin 

our Christian compatriots 

to rekindle their faith 

in Christ who overcame 

persecution, sufferings 

and displayed endurance, 

steadfastness and above all 

piety. Jesus Christ represented 

man’s ability to 

withstand temporary pains 

in the hope of everlasting 

glory. 

"I urge you to imbibe and 

live the values of humility, 

discipline, perseverance, 

sacrifice, and obedience 

which Jesus Christ demonstrated 

during His stay on 

earth. There is no better 

opportunity than now for 

all Christians in particular, 

and Nigerians in general, 

to remain faithful and 

hopeful that with intensified 

prayers backed by personal 

and collective responsibility, 

the nation 

shall pull through this most 

difficult trial. 

"I have no doubt that if 

all stakeholders – individuals 

and groups – play 

their part to the fullest as 

advised by our scientists 

and medical experts in confronting 

COVID-19, the inherent 

resilience and determination 

of our people 

will enable us to pull 

through. 

"As I stated in my national 

broadcast on Sunday, 

March 29, 2020, since 

there is currently no known 

vaccine against the virus, 

“the best and most efficient 

way to avoid getting infected 

is through regular hygiene 

and sanitary practices 

as well as social distancing. 

May I use this opportunity 

to commend the encouraging 

containment 

and ameliorating strategies 

put in place by members 

of the Presidential Task 

Force on COVID-19. 

"I am very much aware 

of the personal and collective 

inconveniences suffered 

by our people due to 

measures such as restriction 

of movements and closure 

of business premises. 

Being “a matter of life and 

death,” these sacrifices are 

in everybody’s interest to 

save our country from calamity. 

"The welfare of our people 

is paramount. Accordingly, 

the most economically 

vulnerable in our communities 

will continue to be 

uppermost in our plans, 

and efforts will be made to 

supply them with basic 

means of survival. 

"While we see the COV- 

ID-19 pandemic as a global 

challenge, this administration 

is not oblivious of 

the constant threat posed 

to our national security by 

terrorists and insurgents. 

They may take this opportunity 

to perpetrate attacks. 

But our armed forces and 

other security and intelligence 

services will remain 

vigilant and continue to 

contain these threats and 

consolidate efforts to eradicate 

them completely. 

"As we mark this year’s 

Easter, whatever the circumstances, 

I encourage 

you to make the most of the 

situation, and to keep 

safe." 

Meanwhile, state governors 

have called on Nigerians 

to intensify their 

prayers for God’s intervention 

in the challenges confronting 

mankind, especially 

the coronavirus, 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

Governors who spoke, 

include Rotimi Akeredolu 

of Ondo State and his 

Ogun State counterpart, 

Mr. Dapo Abiodun, Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State, 

Udom Emmanuel of Akwa 

Ibom and Governor Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State. 

Akeredolu, in a statement 

by his Chief Press Secretary, 

Segun Ajiboye in 

Akure, said: “Christians 

must see the stay at home 

order as a sacrifice to contain 

the spread of the virus, 

just as Jesus gave his 

life to save the world.” 

On his part, Governor 

Abiodun said: “The lessons 

of love, humility, care, 

selflessness and forgiveness 

shown by Jesus Christ 

through his death on the 

cross and resurrection 

should be emulated by all 

residents of the state and 

the nation at large.” 

Similarly, Governor 

Wike said, “I wish you all 

a happy Easter celebration, 

while trusting on your 

prayers for God to heal our 

land and see us through. 

Thank you for your support 

and cooperation as we work 

collectively to keep our 

dear Rivers State safe and 

secure from Coronavirus 

and other afflictions.” 

“Let me appeal to you to 

continue to hold on to our 

hopes and prayers; as we 

are at the moment the envy 

of many other States for the 

way God has helped us to 

keep COVID 19 away from 

our State. “This weekend 

is Easter, which is a time 

we are all bound by our 

faith to celebrate the death 

and resurrection of our Saviour, 

Jesus Christ.” 

On his part, Governor 

Emmanuel, among others, 

said “This season of love 

and sacrifice has come at a 

time when most of the 

world is in a lockdown as 

a result of the need to stop 

mankind from being consumed 

by the fatal fangs of 

one of the most virulent 

pandemics in recent history 

COVID-19. 

“The times have given us 

a new lexicon or a new-fangled 

phrase – social distancing, 

but thankfully, not 

love distancing. We should 

therefore, ensure that not 

one person in our neighbourhood 

is deprived of this 

essential ingredient by virtue 

of this lockdown which 

circumstances have forced 

upon us.” 

In the same vein, Governor 

Obaseki in an Easter 

address, said: “My dear 

good people of Edo State, 

I bring you warm greetings 

on this occasion of Easter, 

when we as Christians celebrate 

the death and resurrection 

of our Lord Jesus 

Christ. Easter signifies the 

essence of our Christian 

faith because our Lord 

Jesus Christ made the supreme 

sacrifice for us and 

hence gave us hope for 

eternal life. Easter also offers 

us another opportunity 

to demonstrate core 

Christian values of good 

neighbourliness, particularly 

in this time of severe 

economic difficulties occasioned 

by the lockdown 

and restricted movement.” 

Also, former deputy governor 

and a governorship 

aspirant for Edo State 2020 

governorship election, 

Pius Odubu , in a message, 

said “This year Easter 

festival is coming at a 

time the whole world is 

witnessing a global pandemic 

code name, Covid- 

19, which has brought all 

nations of the World to their 

knees with tens of thousands 

losing their lives. 

“With, Cardinal Luis 

Antonio Gokim Tagle saying 

in the midst of loss, 

uncertainty and suffering, 

something incredible is 

happening, we are noticing 

the bonds which form 

our human family. Bonds 

that we previously took for 

granted or ignored. 

Clerics preach 

perseverance, 

hope 

In the meantime, Metropolitan 

Archbishop of Abuja 

Catholic Archdiocese, 

Ignatius Kaigama, urged 

Christians never to give up 

on the virtues of patience, 

perseverance, hope and 

trust in God. 

Kaigama made the call 

in Abuja while celebrating 

the Easter mass at the Holy 

Trinity Church, Maitama. 

“The Resurrection of 

Christ teaches us that 

Jesus is alive” forever. The 

victory of evil and the cruel 

plans of men could only 

be temporary. The message 

of Easter is that God 

does not forget or forsake 

us, and that the darkest 

hour is just before the 

dawn. But soon, it will be 

daylight again,” he said. 

He said: "Jesus is saying, 

“I am here. I have risen. I 

have power over sickness 

and death. In Acts 10:40 

Peter testifies that God 

raised Him to life on the 

third day, and let Him 

manifest himself. St. John 

in the Gospel tells us about 

the experience of Mary 

Magdalene and the disciples 

about the empty tomb. 

Jesus is indeed risen from 

the dead! This is our 

breaking news today” 

“No doubt, during the 

forty days of Lent many of 

us have been praying, 

fasting, giving alms and 

making effort at repentance 

and conversion. But we 

may ask, “why is the calamity 

of a pandemic 

spreading? Is God asleep? 

No. Did he travel? No. Has 

he forgotten us? No. Is he 

angry? I don’t know." 

Benin monarch 

tasks Christian 

leaders 

On his part, the Oba of 

Benin, Omo N’Edo Uku 

Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, 

called on Christian leaders 

across the country to practice 

what they preach. 

A statement issued by 

the Secretary, Benin Traditional 

Council (BTC), 

Frank Irabor, enjoined 

Christians, “irrespective of 

domination to use this period 

of Easter to reflect on 

the teachings of Jesus 

Christ and endeavour to 

emulate Christ in their living. 

“The Benin Monarch 

advises Christian leaders 

to do what they preach in 

order not to mislead their 

congregations. The Omo 

N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, 

reminded 

Christians to extend hands 

of fellowship to the needy 

and the less privileged in 

the society. 

“While wishing Christians 

a Happy Easter celebration, 

His Royal Majesty, 

Ewuare II calls on Christians 

to fervently pray to 

God to forgive the sins of 

humanity and bring to an 

end the COVID-19 pandemic 

that is ravaging the 

world.” 

COVID-19: 136 South Africans 

evacuated from Nigeria 

through Lagos Airport 

By Lawani Mikairu 

LAGOS — 136 South 

Africa nationals were 

yesterday airlifted out of 

Nigeria through the Muritala 

Muhammed International 

Airport, Lagos. 

This makes South Africa 

the ninth country to evacuate 

their citizens out of the 

country as a result of the 

current coronavirus currently 

ravaging the world. 

The South Africa Airways 

SA2259 flight conducted 

with Airbus 346 with registration 

number ZS -SNB, 

arrived Nigeria yesterday 

afternoon with 17 passengers, 

including the crew 

members, already aboard. 

After the screening of the 

passengers and boarding 

formalities, the flight departed 

the Lagos Airport 

last night with the 137 passengers 

and crew to Johannesburg, 

South Africa. 

Recall that 284 America 

nationals were also last 

week evacuated from Nigeria 

through the Muritala 

Muhammed International 


The evacuation was the 

third in three days by the 

American government. 

Delta Air Lines from the 

United States last Tuesday 

afternoon also evacuated 

200 Americans at the airport 

in continuation of the 

exercise. 

Another evacuation was 

also done last Monday by 

the United States of America 

government using Ethiopian 

Airlines that flew the 

evacuees directly from Lagos 

Airport to Washington 

DC, USA. 

The evacuation was done 

by Ethiopian Airlines and 

the evacuees were those 

who could not secure seats 

on Monday and Tuesday 

flights. 

More evacuation of foreigners 

in Nigeria is still 

expected in the coming 

days as more people are 

still testing positive to the 

dreaded corona virus.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

LOCKDOWN EASTER SERVICE—From left: Prelate Chaplain, 

Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Very Revd. Jeremiah Shittu; Prelate, MCN, 

His Eminence Bishop Samuel C.K. Uche and Minister, Methodist Church 

Trinity, Tinubu, The Revd. Oyeyemi Alaran, during the Special Prayer for the 

Nation by Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria at his Yaba resident to 

celebrate 2020 Easter in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. 

COVID-19: NCDC under fire 

over tests, slow response 

By Sola Ogundipe, 

Health Editor & 

Chioma Obinna 

LAGOS — With a 

rapidly growing 

number of confirmed 

COVID-19 cases across 

the country, experts have 

expressed concern over 

what they described as 

slow pace of laboratory 

testing, and response by 

the Nigerian Centre for 

Disease Control, NCDC. 

Since the onset of the 

recent pandemic 

outbreak, some 

Nigerians have taken to 

social media to complain 

about not being able to 

get tested by the NCDC 

after several calls to the 

designated emergency 

numbers provided by the 

centre. 

Among those 

concerned about the low 

testing rate in the 

country is the Nigerian 

Medical Association, 

NMA. 

There have been 

allegations of cases 

degenerating into 

complications before the 

agency’s team shows up. 

For instance, Nigeria 

with over 200 million 

people has, according to 

Worldometer data, tested 

only about 5,000 people, 

recording over 300 cases 

with 10 death. 

In comparison, South 

Africa, with a population 

of 59.3 million, recorded 

more than 2,000 

confirmed cases with 25 

confirmed deaths, and 

has carried out about 

75,000 tests equating 

1,265 tests per million 

population. 

Similarly, Ghana, with 

a population of 31 

million, has recorded 

408 confirmed cases and 

eight deaths from 

conducting 37,400 tests, 

while Egypt with 

population of 102 million 

has recorded 1,939 

confirmed cases and 146 

deaths after it conducted 

25,000 tests, averaging 

244 tests per million 

population. 

Also from the data, 

Brazil, with a population 

of 212 million, has 

confirmed 21,000 cases 

and 1,144 deaths from 

63,000 tests 

corresponding to 296 

tests per million 

population; the USA with 

a population of 331 

million, has confirmed 

535,600 cases and 21, 

400 deaths from 2.7 

million tests 

corresponding to 8,200 


population and Spain 

with a population of 46.7 

million has confirmed 

166,000 cases and 16,980 

deaths from 355,000 tests 

corresponding to 7,593 


population. 

Many other Nigerians 

who shared their 

experiences with 

Vanguard, stated that 

even after they contacted 

the NCDC that they were 

manifesting symptoms of 

the virus, the agency 

often tells them to selfisolate. 

Several Nigerians are 

urging the agency to 

extend testing to nonsymptomatic 

persons 

who might also be 

carrying the virus but 

wish to be tested. 

There are also 

numerous claims that 

most times, the 

designated telephone 

numbers do not connect. 

A case in point is the 

recent complaint 

contained in a press 

statement currently 

being circulated on 

social media by St 

Joseph’s Hospital, 

Adazi-Anukwu over a 

patient admitted and 

discharged from one of 

its facilities, Dr Joe 

Nwiloh Heart Centre. 

According to the 

hospital, despite its 

timely high index 

suspicion of the patient 

admitted Tuesday April 

7, 2020, officials of 

NCDC never showed 

until the management, 

after waiting for 16 

hours, decided to send a 

delegation to the office of 

the Chief Medical 

Director, Amaku 

University Teaching 

Hospital, Awka. 

CMD’s 

intervention got 

NCDC to come 

In the letter, signed by 

the hospital’s 

administrator, Jerome N. 

Okafor, the hospital also 

alleged that it took the 

intervention of the 

teaching hospital’s Chief 

Medical Director for 

NCDC to send their 

people to take the 

patient’s sample for 

testing and to transfer 

him to a governmentdesignated 

isolation 

centre. 

“The team said the 

result will be ready 

within 48 hours. After 48 

hours, the medical team 

delegated to follow up 

the case began to call the 

NCDC office. All they 

could get after several 

phone calls is a verbal 

report that the index 

patient is positive. 

“Up till now, the 

hospital administration 

has not received any 

official report of the 

result of the test. What 

we have today all over 

the media is that St. 

Joseph’s Hospital has a 

patient with COVID-19. 

What is the motive 

behind this? It is 

certainly not in the 

interest of the common 

people that the hospital 

serves nor that of the 

patient,” the hospital 

lamented. 

When NCDC was not 

forthcoming, the patient 

was discharged by the 

hospital. This is just one 

of the many gaps in 

NCDC medical 

laboratory test 

coordination. 

NCDC took 2 

weeks to take 

samples 

A relation of a patient 

who does not want his 

name in print, told 

Vanguard that it took 

NCDC two weeks to take 

samples from his 

brother’s wife, even 

when they told them that 

the woman was already 

manifesting the 

symptoms. 

“It was a nightmare for 

all of us, hoping every 

day that NCDC will 

come. We were all 

worried because my 

brother’s wife came from 

the UK after a two-week 

Continues on Page 27 

By Bose Adelaja, 

Olayinka Latona 

& Rose Chukwu 

FG'S plan to borrow $6.9b to tackle Covid-19 (3) 

I 

think the problem is 

that we are used to 

depending on people. Those 

in government are 

opportunists who use 

situations like this to enrich 

their 

pockets. 

Mismanagement of funds 

has always being our 

problem not lack of funds 

and until the federal 

government work on that, I 

pray we don’t continue to be 

slaves to the international 

communities. 

Adelayo Adebayo, Training 

Consultant 

I 

think the federal 

government retrieved 

some huge amount of money 

in their fight against 

corruption. We keep hearing 

of recovered fund but what’s 

the use of all those money if 

not for the pressing time like 

now. We all know that the 

world is going to experience 

an economic setback 

because of the ongoing 

pandemic and we need to 

try to keep away from more 

debt. 

Adeleke Toluwani, Analyst. 

THE finance minister 

recently said that 

Nigeria’s revenues have 

tumbled with the fall in oil 

change prices. All these 

means that Nigeria’s 

economy is low. We are even 

still recovering from a 

recession caused by the last 

period of weak oil prices. I 

will support the idea of federal 

government borrowing 

money from other 

international lenders, that 

money is needed for a better 

facility in our hospitals, and 

to take care of those infected 

with Covid 19. 

Adebayo Kehinde, Student. 

IT’s very evident that FG’s 

attempt to source for $6.9 

billion from international 

lenders to fight COVID-19 is 

another invitation to eternal 

affliction. This is because the 

end of the war against 

COVID-19 is the beginning 

of another battle to paying off 

the lent money. They should 

rather make use of the 

available money given to FG 

by some well-to-do citizens. 

FG should make no attempt 

to do that. 

—Shehu Kayode, Writer 

I 

think the funds 

already donated by 

well meaning 

individuals would go a 

long way if only things 

would be done right. If 

the fund available are 

utilized well but is still not 

enough, then we can 

think of how to get loans 

from other countries. 

For now, I don’t we 

should borrow from any 

country or international 

lenders. 

—Pam Erica, Corps 

member 

Ibelieve Nigeria as a 

country isn’t organized. 

The rate of corruption in our 

country is highly alarming, 

borrowing money at this 

time is a very wrong move. 

What exactly are we 

fighting? What specifically 

is the money for? Is it that 

Nigerian Healthcare team 

is incapable or this is just 

another way for our so 

called leaders to add more 

zeros into their account? 

—Kenechukwu Daniel, 

Student.


Police kill 

arsonist, arrest 

another in Osun 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—One of the 

arsonists terrorising villages 

in Ife-South Local Government 

Area of Osun by setting houses 

and other property on fire was, 

weekend, killed by police 

operatives while another suspect 

was arrested. 

An eyewitness disclosed that the 

bandits arrived Odemuyiwa 

village early in the morning, but 

luck ran against them as police 

rallied to the town upon receiving 

information of the attack. 

The eyewitness added that the 

bandits engaged the police in a 

shoot-out after which some of the 

bandits escaped into the bush 

while two of them sustained 

gunshots injuries. 

Confirming the incident, the 

State Police Public Relations 

Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the 

police were informed of the 

incident by the community head. 

According to her, one of the 

wounded suspects died on the 

way to the hospital and his body 

had been deposited at the 

Obafemi Awolowo University 

Teaching Hospital Complex 

morgue in Ile-Ife. 

Suspected 

herdsmen kill 

man in Delta 

for allegedly 

killing cow 

By Festus Ahon & 

Ochuko Akuopha 

A 

28-year old man, Mr 

Austine Nwaeke, was 

reportedly shot dead by 

suspected herdsmen at 

Albert camp, a farming 

settlement in the suburb of 

Okpanam, Oshimili North 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, for allegedly 

killing a cow. 

It was learned that 

Nweake, a father of two, was 

killed at about 3 am last 

Thursday in the camp 

mainly inhabited by migrant 

farmers and artisans in the 

reprisal attack. 

Wife of the deceased, Mrs 

Jennifer Nwaeke, while 

narrating her ordeal, said 

she was asleep when she 

heard gunshots in their 

compound. 

“I ran out of the house as 

my husband was lying in 

front of the door because of 

heat, but discovered that my 

husband had been shot,” 

the woman said. 

She alleged that the 

herdsmen had shouted that 

they had come to avenge the 

killing of their cow. 

Confirming the incident, 

Police Public Relations 

Officer of the State 

command, Onome 

Onowakpoyeya, said an 

investigation had begun to 

unravel the motive behind 

the killing. 

Man dies during romp with pregnant 

woman in container 

By Evelyn Usman 

THE body of a father of four, who 

reportedly slumped during sex 

with his lover, was found inside an 

empty container, weekend, in 

Whitesand area of Orile, Lagos. 

The woman found with him later 

discovered to be a pregnant married 

woman, was immediately rushed to 

an undisclosed private hospital, as 

she was said to be gasping for breath 

when the container was forced open. 

The deceased identified simply as 

Akin was an agent with Betniger 

Lotto and had two staking centres 

at Adunni Plaza and at Badia 

Industrial scheme, Ijora. 

AK, as he was fondly called, was 

also a merchant in citrus at Orile 

Iganmu fruit market. 

Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples 

Congress, OPC, in the area, who 

identified himself as Orebintin, said: 

“We are still in shock. Nobody knows 

how it happened. This is not the 

first time they have been sleeping 

inside the container as it serves as a 

shop and an apartment for him. 

“One of the sales boys drew our 

attention to the tragedy. He came to 

open for the day’s sales but 

discovered that the door was locked 

from inside. After several attempts 

to open it failed, we assisted him to 

•He abandoned us for three weeks—Widow 

force the cardboard attached to the 

roof of the container open. 

“On entering through the roof, we 

found Akin stone dead, while the 

woman was breathing profusely. We 

had to alert the police from Orile 

Division, who rushed the woman to 

a private hospital." 

He abandoned us for 

three weeks—Widow 

Meanwhile, when his widow was 

contacted on phone to go to the 

hospital where her husband was, she 

was said to have initially refused, 

accusing him of abandoning her and 

their children for three weeks. 

She later went to the hospital only 

to discover that her husband was 

dead. 

Police sources at Orile Division 

told Vanguard that during the 

inspection of the crime scene, a 

power generating set was 

discovered. Upon interrogation, it 

was said to have been on while the 

lovers were inside, thereby 

suggesting he could have died from 

the fume of the power generating 

set. 

Meanwhile,Vanguard learned 

that the corpse had been released 

to its family for burial at the 

deceased’s Sango-Ota residence. 

Police arrest 150 suspects over robberies, cultism in Ogun 

By James Ogunnaike 

NO fewer than 150 suspects 

were, yesterday, paraded by 

Ogun State Police Command in 

connection with alleged cultists clash 

and robberies in some parts of Ifo 

and Ado-Odo/Ota Local 

Government Areas of the state. 

There had been complaints of 

robberies and unrest as a result of 

cult activities by residents of Owode, 

Ilepa, Ifo, Arigbajo, Itori, Dalemo, 

Ijoko Joju, Sango, Ota in Ifo, 

Agbado-Ijaiye among other 

communities in Ifo and Ado-Odo/ 

Ota Local Government Areas of the 

state. 

Addressing newsmen during the 

parade in Ifo Divisional Police 

Station, the Ogun State 

Commissioner of Police, Kenneth 

Ebrimson, refuted the report that 

armed robbers had taken over some 

parts of Ifo and Ado-Odo/Ota Local 

Government Areas of the state. 

He said there was no report of 

robbery to the command by anyone 

in the troubled areas. 

Ebrimson said it was a case of 

cult clashes between seven rival 

groups within the areas as a result 

of the killing of one of them. 

Ebrimson, who conducted 

journalists round the troubled areas 

after he paraded 150 suspects 

arrested in most of the affected areas, 

disclosed that the unrest was caused 

by seven cult groups. 

He said: “The genesis of this was 

from some criminal gangs that 

engaged in supremacy battle in Ifo 

and spread to Ado-Odo/Ota Local 

Government Area of the state. 

Ebrimson said upon the 

information about the clashes, the 

command swung into action and 

made some arrests. 

Ebrimson explained that his men 

smoked the suspected criminals out 

of their hideouts and recovered 

various weapons. 

According to him, eight locally 

made guns, 52 live cartridges, 

eight knives, 12 handsets, two 

scissors, a large number of weeds; 

several cutlasses, one axe and saw. 

were recovered. 

....94 suspected robbers, cultists also nabbed in Lagos 

By Evelyn Usman 

THE Police in Lagos in the 

early hours of yesterday 

foiled a robbery operation in 

Ikorodu area of the state, 

arresting two suspected 

members of the gang while 

others escaped. 

A locally made revolver pistol, 

dangerous weapons and 

housebreaking implement were 

recovered from the suspects. 

Also arrested were 92 

suspected members of different 

Two teenagers drown in Lagos community beach 

•Father of 2 lures minor with biscuits, defiles her 

By Evelyn Usman & 

Esther Onyegbula 

TRAGEDY struck Easter eve at 

Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State 

as two teenagers drowned in a 

beach within the community. 

Their identities were given simply 

as Dare, 16, and Fawas, 15. 

This is just as a 28-year-old man 

was arrested, weekend, for defiling 

an eight-year-old girl, who was left 

in the care of her elder siblings, in 

Ikorodu area of Lagos. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

teenagers that drowned were 

residents of Epelemeje Orufun 

community, in Akodo, Ibeju-Lekki. 

They were said to have gone to 

the beach with other children to 

swim. 

The Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State Police Command, CP 

Hakeem Odumisu, as gathered, 

deployed the Marine Police Team 

to the area on search and rescue 

The suspects 

The suspect. 

operations. 

He, therefore, advised parents to 

monitor their children and ensure 

that they remained at home during 

the lockdown period. 

Meanwhile, the minor raped was 

said to have been left in the care of 

her older siblings, ages 10 and 12, 

respectively by the father, in his 

apartment at Gegenla area, 

Agunfoye area of Ikorodu. 

On arrival, the victim’s father, who 

is separated, said he found her on 

the floor writhing in pains and held 

on to her stomach and complaining 

of stomach ache. 

Upon enquiry, the girl revealed 

how one Adetayo Razaq, 28, of 

Alladi Ijelu Street, Agunfoye, 

Ikorodu gave her biscuits, took her 

to his room and allegedly had carnal 

knowledge of her. 

The matter was subsequently 

reported at the Juvenile Welfare 

Centre, Ikorodu Division, 

consequent upon which the suspect 

was arrested. 

Contacted, spokesman for the 

Lagos State Police Command, DSP 

Elkana Bala, said: “The victim was 

taken to the hospital for treatment 

and forensic examination. 

The suspect, a tiller and father of 

two, has been arrested by detectives 

from the Juvenile Welfare Centre, 

Ikorodu Police Station. 

cult groups in the state. 

The arrested robbers, during 

investigation, told policemen 

that their intention was to break 

into houses and cart away 

phones and cash. 

On the arrest of the suspected 

cultists, Vanguard gathered that 

some of them were arrested at 

their hideouts, while others 

were arrested on information 

that they were spoiling for a 

showdown. 

The Lagos State Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP Elkana 

Bala, who confirmed the arrests, 

said: “About 12.05 am today 

(yesterday), acting on credible 

information, operatives from 

Ikorodu Police Station supported 

by those from the Special Anti 

Robbery Squad, SARS, deployed 

by the Commissioner of Police, 

CP Hakeem Odumosu, arrested 

one Toheeb Sanusi, 21 and 

Adewale Adeshina, 24, around 

Benson area of Ikorodu. 

“Investigation is ongoing, the 

suspects will soon be charged to 

court. The CP has given 

commanders of tactical units in 

Lagos State a clear instruction to 

deal decisively with armed 

hoodlums, who intend to rob in 

any part of the state during the 

lockdown.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020—7


UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS 

Why FG’s digitising payment to the 

poor —Umar Farouq 

THE 

Federal 

Government has 

started the digitisation of 

payment of the 

Conditional Cash Transfer 

programme to the poor for 

accountability and 

transparency, according to 

the Minister of 

Humanitarian Affairs, 

Disaster Management and 

Social Development, 

Sadiya Umar Farouq. 

The pilot programme, 

which is in six states of the 

federation, is in apparent 

response to the concerns 

of many Nigerians over 

the administration of the 

various programmes for 

the poor embarked upon 

by Buhari’s administration 

that had lately been 

engulfed in controversies. 

The leadership of the 

National Assembly had 

asked for improvement, 

including legislation for 

effectiveness and 

inclusiveness. 

Hajia Farouq, who is 

team leader in the 

provision of relief 

materials to the poor, the 

vulnerable and persons 

living with disabilities, in 

the fight against COVID- 

19 pandemic, stated this 

in her state tours to Imo, 

Anambra, Lagos and Ogun 

states to check the 

effectiveness of the Federal 

Government’s ongoing 

payment of N20,000 


programme. 

The minister had earlier 

flagged off the programme 

and distributed relief 

materials in Kwali area 

council in the Federal 

Capital Territory, Abuja 

and was in Ihu, Ikeduru 

and Ihiala local 

government areas of Imo 

and Anambra states 

respectively. 

She said her visit to the 

states was to inspect the 

CCT programme and carry 

out symbolic distribution of 

relief materials as well as 

meet stakeholders and 

beneficiaries. 

“My visits are intended 

to inspect the programme, 

meet with various 

stakeholders and 

beneficiaries. We want to 

continue to explain to the 

people how the 

programme works. The 

idea is to ensure 


transparency and assure 

them that the exercise is 

ongoing and continuous,’’ 

she said. 

The minister disclosed 

that one of the steps taken 

by the ministry to ensure 


transparency was piloting 

digital payment in six 

states. 

She said: “One of the 

priorities of the ministry is 

to digitise the payment of 


programme for 


transparency. We will 

continue to expand the 

digitalisation.’’ 

In the same vein, the 

minister also presented 

relief materials on behalf 

of the Federal 

Government in all the 

states visited. 

“In all the states I visited, 

I also presented relief 

materials on behalf of the 

Federal Government. In 

my interaction with 

governors, I implored the 

state governments to 

prioritise the poor, 


with disabilities as a result 

of COVID-19 pandemic.” 

The minister, who 

commended the state 

governors for their 

commitment towards 

implementation of the 

CCT programme and 

distribution of relief 

materials, restated the 

Federal Government’s 

commitment to 

economically vulnerable 

and poor Nigerians. 

She said: President 

Muhammadu Buhari is 

concerned about poor and 

vulnerable Nigerians. Our 

priority is to implement the 

president’s agenda of 

reaching out to ordinary 

Nigerians. And as a 

ministry, we remain 

committed to the poor, 


with disabilities.’’ 

PRESENTATION: From left, Corporate Affairs Manager 

(Headquarters and Lagos), Nigerian Breweries Plc, Joy Egolum; Lagos 

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ismail Abdul-Salam; Company Medical 

Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Dr. Richard Ajayi and Corporate 

Affairs Advisor, Chisom Onyeka, during the presentation of drinks to 

Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba on Friday as part of the company’s 

CSR donations to the government to support the fight against COVID- 

19. 

No foreigner was thrown out, says 

Chinese official 

By Victoria 

Ojeme 

TWENTY-FOUR hours 

after the US accused 

China of xenophobia in 

treatment of Africans, the 

Chinese government has 

called for cooperation from 

foreign nationals living in 

China, saying no foreigner 

was thrown out of his 

apartment. 

An official of Chinese 

Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Sun 

Saixiong, who refuted 

allegation that foreigners 

were being discriminated 

against, as published in some 

dailies, said yesterday: “They 

were not thrown out, they 

were asked to cooperate to 

follow the regulation, like 

everyone else did, Chinese 

or foreigners alike, and some 

of them obviously do not 

wish to. 

‘’The reason they refused 

to cooperate is that their lack 

of legal residence permits will 

be discovered and they 

would face eviction in the 

future. 

“We are conducting test on 

everyone and if anyone is 

exposed to the virus, he 

would be asked to be 

quarantined. Chinese 

medical team, when they 

were arriving in Nigeria, they 

were put into quarantine, 

according to the Nigerian 

regulation, which we fully 

respect. 

"However, those Nigerians 

refused to follow the 

instruction of local authorities 

in China. What would you do 

if you were the authorities? 

“In China, if you have your 

certificate of health and valid 

travelling documents, there is 

no reason the hotel would 

turn you away. If any hotel 

did, the person can turn to 

the local police for help or the 

Nigerian Consulate General 

in Guangzhou. 

“What they choose to do is 

to post some videos, which 

contain no hard evidence and 

abuse the word ‘racism’ as a 

weapon, inflaming and 

encouraging hate speech 

between the two people. 

“The government of 

China made it clear, we 

have zero tolerance towards 

racism in China. At a trying 

time like this, what we need 

is not confrontation and 

fake news, we need 

cooperation to succeed in 

the fight against 

coronavirus.’’ 

Ode blames 

China for spread 

of COVID-19 

Reacting to the 

development yesterday, 

Ogbole Amedu Ode, who 

was Nigeria’s Minister 

Counsellor and Head of 

Economic and Political 

Desks in Iran with 

concurrent accreditation to 

Syria and Turkey between 

1998 to 2003, blamed the 

Chinese authorities for not 

alerting the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, on 

time on coronavirus. 

He said: “It was wrong 

for Chinese government not 

to have notified the global 

public health structure on 

ground called World Health 

Organisation, WHO when 

the disease broke out 

“The moment they 

discovered it, they should 

have quickly alerted WHO, 

which would have known 

what to do. 

‘’But now, the disease has 

become a pandemic, the first 

in this century, which is 

unfortunate.’’ 

FCTA arrests Imam, 2 

foreigners, impounds 269 

vehicles 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— 

The 

Enforcement Team of the 

Federal Capital Territory 

Administration, FCTA, has 

arrested the Chief Imam of 

Wuye district mosque for 

violating the presidential 

lockdown order in the FCT, 

which was put in place to 

control the spread of 

coronavirus in the territory. 

The team also arrested a 

driver who, apart from 

violating the lockdown, had 

four military caps in his 

possession. 

Chairman of the FCTA 

enforcement team, Ikharo 

Attah, who stated this 

yesterday, added that the 

team equally impounded 

more than 269 vehicles for 


order. 

He said the team arrested 

a violator, who decided to strip 

himself, resisted arrest and 

claimed that the COVID-19 

pandemic was a hoax. 

Speaking on activities of the 

team, Attah said: “Early this 

morning (yesterday), we 

commenced operations, 

following calls from residents 

that the Christ Embassy 

Church in Durumi was in full 

session, but we went there 

and discovered that it was not 

true, as the pastor was inside 

the church with some 

cameramen or a production 

crew. 

“We found that they were 

doing a live streaming online 

for their members at home but 

the generating set was on. 

That was the noise that people 

heard and concluded that it 

was a church service. 

“We then proceeded to other 

areas around town. We got to 

Area 1 Roundabout, where a 

particular man was arrested 

with four military caps. He 

kept one army cap in his boot, 

then another one for 

Nigerian Air Force, as well 

as two other ones for 

Nigerian Navy, all in one 

vehicle. We took him and 

handed him over to the FCT 

Commissioner of Police. 

“Then we also had another 

case of a man whose vehicle 

was taken to VIO office in 

Area 1, and immediately he 

decided to strip himself 

naked, removed all this 

clothes in protest that he must 

work, that he did not believe 

in existence of coronavirus. 

“We then moved to the 

mosque at Wuye District, 

because we got complaints 

that the man (Imam) had 

conducted congregational 

prayers on Friday. But that 

Friday, we were at Kuje and 

so we could not have come 

back within five minutes. So, 

we got there today 

(yesterday) and invited him 

to explain, and we cautioned 

him at the FCT Police 

Command, Garki.” 

On why his team arrested 

a Turkish and an Angolan 

during the exercise, he said: 

“We arrested two expatriates 

at Glo Junction for violating 

the president’s order, going 

out without permit. One of 

them is from Turkey, while 

the other is from Angola. 

They were taken to the 

Maitama Police Division.” 

Attah said his team also 

impounded more than 269 

vehicles, warning residents, 

particularly uniform 

personnel and diplomats 

against breaking the 

lockdown law. 

UN Peace Ambassador doles 

out palliatives 

UNITED 

Nations 

Peace Ambassador 

and a chieftain of Peoples 

Democratic Party,, PDP, 

Miebi Bribena, has 

released N1 million as 

palliative measure to 

cushion the effect of 

COVID-19 and lockdown 

policy of the government 

for the people of Bayelsa 

State. 

He said the released 

fund was in support of the 

measures put in place by 

the government of 

Governor Douye Diri to 

ameliorate the suffering of 

the people. 

It will be recalled that 

Bayelsa State remains one 

of the few states in the 

country yet to be affected 

by the pandemic. 

Bribena attributed the 

development to the proactiveness 

of the state 

government, and lauded 

the distribution of 

foodstuffs to each 

household in the state and 

other palliatives by the 

government and corporate 

organisations. 

He also commended the 

effort of the government at 

reviewing its COVID-19 

lockdown policy as it 

affects religious activities 

in the state, especially 

during Easter celebration. 

He described it as a 

further confirmation that 

Governor Diri’s 

administration was a 

responsible and 

responsive one. 

Bribena, however, called 

on the people of the state 

not to abuse the gesture, 

noting that coronavirus 

was real. 

While stressing the need 

for people to adhere to the 

advice of the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, 

including social 

distancing, frequent 

washing of hands, 

hugging and over 

crowded place, Bribena 

also called on Christian 

faithful to imbibe the 

lesson of the life, death 

and resurrection of Jesus 

Christ, which is humility 

and sacrifice for mankind.


UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS 

DISTRIBUTION: Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, 

Ngunan Addingi (right) handing over packs of hand sanitisers to the Caretaker Chairman 

of Gboko Local Government Area, Jacob Iorver, during the distribution of relief materials 

to the needy during the lockdown to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across 

Benue State. 

FG assures health workers of full 

insurance cover 

•Praises frontline workers in battle against virus 

•As NSITF assures welfare package for health workers 

By Victor Young 

& Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

assured the nation’s health 

workers of full insurance cover 

as the nation battles to contain 

spread of coronavirus 

pandemic. 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Senator Chris 

Ngige, who disclosed this in 

a statement, said government 

was very proud of the 

contributions of the healthcare 

professionals and workers in 

various unions. 

The statement by his media 

aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, 

was particular about Nigerian 

Medical Association, NMA; 

National Association of 

Resident Doctors, NARD; 

Medical and Dental 

Consultants Association of 

Nigeria, MDCAN; Nurses 

and Midwives, under the 

aegis of National Association 

of Nigerian Nurses and 

Midwives, NANNM, and 

various other healthcare 

professionals in the first line 

of defence. 

Ngige also thanked and 

praised Lagos State 

government and Federal 

Capital Territory 

Administration, FCTA, and 

their workers at the epicentres 

of the disease, and 

commended state 

governments and their 

workers for keeping faith with 

the Federal Government 

through relentless efforts to 

ensure the country contains 

the pandemic as quickly as 

possible. 

The minister extended his 

appreciation to “healthcare 

professionals and workers in 

various unions namely 

Nigerian Medical Association, 

NMA; National Association of 

Resident Doctors, NARD; 

Medical and Dental 

Consultants Association of 

Nigeria, MDCAN; Nurses 

and Midwives, under the 

aegis of National Association 

of Nigerian Nurses and 

Midwives, NANNM, and 

other healthcare professionals 

who are in the first line of 

defence.’’ 

He equally lauded 

radiographers, ambulance 

workers, morticians, ward 

attendants/cleaners and other 

medical technologists/ 

technicians who expose 

themselves to hazards 

engendered by this particular 

disease. 

NSITF assures 

welfare package 

for health 

workers 

Meanwhile, Nigerian 

Social Insurance Trust Fund, 

NSITF, has assured health 

workers and registered 

members who might suffer 

any hazard in a bid to curb 

the spread of coronavirus of 

adequate welfare packages. 

The assurance was 

contained in the Easter 

goodwill message by 

chairman of the NSITF 

Management Board, Prince 

Austine Enajemo-Isire. 

In the statement by Special 

Assistant, Media and 

Communication for NSITF 

Board Chairman, Godspower 

Itietie, the fund said there 

would be succour for health 

workers and registered 

members who might be affected 

by coronavirus in the 

course of duty under the 

Employees Compensation 

Act, 2010. 

Enajemo-Isire said: “NSITF 

is poised to provide timely 

succor to registered members 

and health workers, who suffer 

any hazardous risk especially 

in the course of fighting the 

coronavirus pandemic 

currently ravaging the country 

under the Employees 

Compensation Act, 2010.” 

He admonished Christians 

and all Nigerians to use the 

occasion of the Easter 

celebration to rededicate 

themselves to advocate and 

champion the virtues of 

godliness, peace, tolerance 

and forgiveness which he 

decsribed as fundamentals of 

the ministry of Jesus Christ all 

through his sojourn on earth. 

FRC directs external auditors to apply 

alternative procedures 

By Babajide 

Komolafe 

THE Financial Reporting 

Council, FRC, has 

directed external auditors to 

apply alternative procedures 

to obtain audit evidence to 

reduce the impact of COVID- 

19 pandemic on the audit 

process. 

The directive was contained 

in a document, entitled 

“Guidance for External 

Auditors and Matters to 

Consider during COVID-19 

period.” 

Noting that additional time 

might be required to 

document and review audit 

engagements due to some 

measures taken by federal 

and state governments, in 

collaboration with Ministries, 

Departments and Agencies, 

MDAs, to contain the scourge 

of COVID-19, the council 

advised external auditors to 

be flexible in carrying out 

their audit assignment. 

In a statement explaining 

highlights of the guidance, 

the FRC stated: “The 

guidance highlights the 

implications of the COVID- 

19 outbreak on audits and 

auditors in Nigeria and 

actions to be taken when 

carrying out audits during the 

current COVID-19 crisis in 

the following areas: New 

Audit Engagement; Audit 

Planning, Execution and 

Reporting; Assessing the 

Impact of COVID -19; Events 

after the reporting date; 

Going concern; and Audit of 

2020 financial statements 

(Audit and Accounting 

issues). 

“It addresses the difficulties 

audit firms currently face in 

completing all appropriate 

audit steps as a result of the 

lockdown in Nigeria 

occasioned by the need to 

contain the spread of 

COVID-19, which has 

occasioned delay in the 

completion of audit and 

approval of Financial 

Statements by the Board of 

reporting entities. 

“The guidance directs 

practitioners to demonstrate 

flexibility in their work 

pattern, which includes work 

from home arrangements, 

use of video/telephone 

conferencing, and electronic 

evidence. ‘’However, 

Auditors should apply 

alternative procedures if they 

are still not able to obtain 

sufficient appropriate audit 

evidence as a result of 

differing levels of 

infrastructure in the country." 

Togo returnees to undergo 

screening in Lagos 

ANOTHER batch of 23 

Nigerian returnees, 

yesterday, arrived Seme 

border in Lagos from Togo. 

This comes barely days 

after 67 travellers arrived the 

country from Ivory Coast. 

According to NAN, the 

returnees, from different parts 

of the world, landed in Lome, 

capital city of Togo, via 

Ethiopian Airlines over two 

weeks ago. 

NAN quoted an official of 

Port Health Services, PHS, in 

Seme as saying the returnees 

were originally 24. 

The official reportedly said 

one of them who tested 

positive for COVID-19 was 

held by Togolese authorities. 

He explained that Lagos 

NCDMB, PETAN present 

ambulances, others to 

Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers 

By Udeme Akpan 

THE Nigerian Content 

Development and 

Monitoring Board, 

NCDMB, has donated 

ambulances, ventilators 

and other special medical 

supplies to Bayelsa, Delta 

and Rivers states to combat 

the spread of coronavirus 

in the country. 

The materials, including 

four ambulances, 10 

Synovent E3 ventilators, 

300 infra-red thermometers, 

1000 medical face shields, 

hand sanitisers, hospital 

beds, disposable coveralls, 

personal protective 

equipment, PPEs, and 

other relief items were 

made in partnership with 

Petroleum Technology 

Association of Nigeria, 

PETAN. 

Presenting the materials 

to Bayelsa and Delta State 

governments, Executive 

Secretary of NCDMB, 

Simbi Wabote, stated that 

the world was going 

through trying times, 

noting that the board, as a 

responsible and responsive 

corporate citizen, decided 

to support the fight to stop 

spread of the deadly virus. 

Wabote, who was 

represented by Director, 

Planning, Research and 

Statistics, Mr. Dazibah 

Obah, explained that 

State Ministry of Health had 

been alerted and its officials 

were on their way to evacuate 

the remaining 23 to the 

Infectious Disease Hospital in 

Yaba for further examination. 

“The remaining 23 were 

isolated for 14 days and 

laboratory examination 

conducted by the Togo health 

authorities showed that they 

are all negative. 

“The results from Togo are 

here with us. We have 

informed officials of Lagos 

State Ministry of Health and 

they are on their way to Seme 

border to evacuate the 

returnees to Yaba for more 

examination on COVID-19,’’ 

the official was quoted as 

saying. 

NCDMB had also 

sponsored several 

sensitisation campaigns in 

the media, with a view to 

informing the citizenry on 

how to avoid contracting 

the virus. 

Bayelsa State’s Secretary 

to the State Government, 

Konbowei Benson, who 

received the items, thanked 

the board for discharging 

its corporate social 

responsibility creditably 

and supporting the state 

during this difficult period. 

In Warri, Delta State, 

Special Adviser to the state 

governor on Local 

Government Affairs, Kelly 

Pinaowei, who received the 

items on behalf of the 

governor, thanked the 

NCDMB for the assistance. 

Similarly, in Port Harcourt, 

General Manager, 

Corporate Communication 

and Zonal Coordination, 

Dr. Ginah O. Ginah, who 

represented the Executive 

Secretary, said Rivers State 

was one of the board’s host 

states and deserved the 

COVID-19 relief items to 

help it curb the spread of 

the virus. 

The Commissioner for 

Health, Rivers State, Prof. 

Chike Princewill, received 

the items, commended 

NCDMB for assisting the 

state government’s fight 

against the spread of the 

virus. 

No crew member on Beijing 

flight absconded—Air Peace 

By Lawani 

Mikairu 

AIR Peace, yesterday, 

denied report that three 

members of its China flight 

crew that brought medical 

supplies for the Federal 

Government absconded from 

the quarantine facility 

provided by Lagos State 

government. 

It would be recalled that Air 

Peace flight that airlifted 

medical supplies and 

Chinese medical personnel, 

arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja on 

April 8, 2020. 

Denying the report, Chief 

Operating Officer of Air Peace, 

Mrs. Toyin Olajide, said all the 

crew members that operated 

the flight, including six pilots, 

eight cabin crew, two 

engineers and one dispatch 

officer, were still in quarantine 

under the supervision of 

Lagos State government. 

She explained that at the 

onset of the flight to China, 

the crew was tested for 

COVID-19 and each member 

tested negative, adding that 

the airline followed the 

Nigerian Civil Aviation 

Authority, NCAA, protocol to 

ensure that its crew members 

were protected from exposure 

to the virus. 

She also said on arrival at 

Beijing airport, none of the 

crew members disembarked 

from the aircraft as it was being 

loaded with medical supplies. 

According to her, the 

Chinese medical team also 

boarded the aircraft from the 

central door and stayed in the 

business class cabin for the 

flight to Nigeria. 

She explained also that the 

International Civil Aviation 

Organisation, ICAO, 

approved standard protocol 

for protection of flight crew 

during the COVID-19 

pandemic, which NCAA 

adopted, was the protocol Air 

Peace followed in conducting 

the flight to Beijing.


COVID-19 scourge‘ll end soon 

—Archbishop Martins 

By Sam Eyoboka 

L AGOS—CATHOLIC 

Archbishop of Lagos, 

Most Rev. Alfred Martins, 

yesterday, expressed 

optimism that the 

coronavirus pandemic will 

soon be over. 

He, however, urged 

Nigerians to seek the face 

of God more than ever 

before, saying only the 

merciful intervention of God 

could deliver the country 

from being devastated by 

the virus. 

In his Easter message, by 

the Director of Social 

Communications, Rev. Fr. 

Anthony Godonu, 

Archbishop Martins said: 

“It is nothing but the hand 

of God that can grant us the 

victory that we need over 

the virus.” 

Martins said: “Of course, 

there is no Egyptian or 

Israelite here but just a 

people suffering from a 

plague from which they 

will be delivered by the 

mighty hands of the Lord 

as demonstrated in the 

resurrection of Jesus, the 

Lamb of God on Easter 

Sunday. 

“We must embrace a new 

and responsible care and 

'Nigeria should identify 

opportunities in COVID-19' 

L AGOS—CHAIRMAN 

of Leyland Nigeria, 

Yemi Idowu, yesterday, 

stated that the current 

lockdown, as a result of 

coronavirus pandemic, 

should not be a total loss for 

the country. 

Idowu, in a statement, 

noted that Nigeria and 

Africa should identify an 

opportunity in the 

pandemic to reposition its 

economy. 

Idowu, said: “We have to 

embrace modern 

technology to approach the 

condition we find 

ourselves. Funny enough, 

many young entrepreneurs 

have been operating this 

style for years. It is a new 

reality and we must 

embrace it. 

“COVID-19 is not much 

in Africa but if care is not 

taken, it can get worse. I 

commend the government 

for adopting the lockdown 

otherwise the situation in 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

use of the earth, our 

common home. 

“Several states in our 

country are now in a 

lockdown owing to the 

devastating nature of the 

coronavirus. Indeed, the 

whole world is at present 

in a turmoil. We are now 

forced to exercise social 

distancing in our interaction 

with one another even as 

many struggle with coming 

to terms with the reality of 

the present times. 

“As Christians who 

worship a living God, we 

must not despair but dig 

into the strength of our faith 

and stand on our conviction 

that He has solutions to all 

our problems, including 

coronavirus. 

“This period calls on us 

to reappraise our values, 

our daily activities, our 

family relationships and 

how we respond to the 

changing world around us. 

“No matter how we view 

it, God is giving us an 

opportunity to take part in 

renewing the face of the 

earth, though it may be in 

a painful manner. It is now 

for us to reappraise our 

values and shed all 

negative baggage to 

embrace God’s saving 

grace.” 

Nigeria would have been 

worse.” 

Besides, he said: 

“Regardless of the COVID- 

19 situation, government 

can do more by funding 

healthcare and education 

by reallocating the annual 

budget sectorally. 

“We spend a huge 

amount of money yearly on 

defence despite not 

fighting a war. The war 

before us now is a pandemic 

and if only 15 percent of this 

amount is spent on a certain 

area of the health and education 

sectors, things will be much 

better. “Nigeria should capitalize 

on the ongoing pandemic to 

begin a process of reengineering 

the economy by using modern 

technology to put education and 

healthcare on the frontlines.” 

ASUU faults FG’s proposed slash of 

education, health budgets 

By Ola Ajayi 

I BADAN—THE 

Academic Staff Union 

of Universities, ASUU, 

yesterday, faulted a 

proposal by the Federal 

Government to slash 

50.76billion from the 

111.78billion budgeted for 

Universal Basic Education 

Commission, UBEC. 

The academic union also 

stated that the same 

proposal being planned for 

the healthcare would be an 

ill wind that would further 

destroy the sector. 

Slashing of healthcare 

budget to 26.51billion from 

the 44.49billion allocated to 

it is an indication that the 

FG had not learned any 

good lesson from the 

ravaging COVID-19 

pandemic. 

Chairman of the 

University of Ibadan 

branch, Professor Ayo 

Akinwole, who spoke on 

behalf of the union, 

however, warned President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

against cutting the budget 

of Health and Education 

sectors in the proposed 

2020 revised budget. 

ASUU stated that the 

proposed cut by the Buhari 

government shows the 

government as totally 

lacking in understanding of 

the precarious state of 

things in Nigeria’s Health 

and Education Sectors. 

On the palliatives being 

distributed to cushion the 

effects of COVID-19, 

ASUU frowned at 

government’s decision to 

stop salaries of lecturers for 

refusing the quest of the 

government to break the 

laws thereby making over 

30,000 lecturers and over 

50,000 dependants 

vulnerable at this time. 

Akinwole stated that the 

distribution of the 

palliatives was fraudulent 

as the reactions from Lagos 

and other states indicated 

that government officials 

are profiteering from 

palliative distribution. 

According to Akinwole, 

while the stoppage of 

salaries to lecturers is a sign 

of lawlessness and tyranny 

of the Buhari Government, 

members of the union will 

not be cowed in their 

resolve to fight for the 

revitalisation of publicfunded 

education and the 

sanctity of the laws of the 

land. 

He said: “I have not seen 

this kind of government. A 

top government official 

claimed he never knew our 

Health institution is this 

precarious and the 

government that has not 

allocated sufficient funds to 

that sector is further 

reducing it. They are also 

muddling up palliative 

being distributed. We sense 

that lack of transparency is 

ending in fraud and 

profiteering from the 

deprivation of the 

downtrodden. Most 

Nigerians are on the fringe 

and any mismanagement of 

palliative distribution will be 

counter-productive to the 

fight against the 

pandemic.” 

Second COVID-19 case: Ondo govt, Police trade 

blames over corruption 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Ondo 

State Government, 

weekend, attributed the 

second COVID-19 case in 

NGO distributes relief 

packages to Lagos residents 

LAGOS—A United 

Kingdom-based 

Non-Governmental 

Organisation, The 

Samuel Foundation, 

Mercy Funds, in 

collaboration with 

Otunba Nurudeen Bolaji 

Durojaiye and Ayaba 

Olayemi Durojaiye, 

weekend, distributed 

emergency food relief 

package for the Easter 

celebration in Lagos. 

The areas that 

benefitted from the relief 

package included 

WAITING FOR EASTER—An empty Choir and Orchestra stage for the 2020 Easter Concert of Apostolic 

Faith Church in Lagos, Sunday, due to the Lockdown occasioned by the effects of COVID-19. Photo: 

NAN. 

Onijemo and Shogbade 

in Obawole, Oshun 

Oshogbo and Adesanya 

in Balogun, Shogbade, 

Ogundimu and Taiwo 

Alagbole in Ishaga Elliot 

axis all in Ifako Ijaiye 

Local Government area 

of Lagos State. 

The items which 

included rice, beans, 

garri, oil, loaves of bread, 

were distributed to the 

elderly, vulnerable, 

widows and the 

physically challenged 

citizens. 

the state to the under-hand 

activities of security 

operatives deployed to stop 

the influx of people from 

other states at its closed 

borders. 

The second COVID-19 

patient, a staff of the 

Muritala Muhammed, 

Airport, Lagos, sneaked into 

the state from Lagos after 

the state shut its border 

without being stopped by 

the security agents at 

various checkpoints. 

The victim, who resides 

in Ijoka area of Akure, has 

been transferred to the 

Infectious Disease Hospital, 

Akure. 

Speaking during a tour of 

the border areas, Special 

Adviser to Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu on Special 

Duties, Doyin Odebowale, 

engaged the head of the 

police team, Ebisine Amy, 

in a shouting match over 

the activities of security 

operatives at the Ondo/ 

Osun boundaries. 

Odebowale said: “You 

people are supposed to 

turn back unauthorised 

vehicles but you allow them 

to pass through. You are 

corrupt. You are not doing 

your work.” 

Police react 

However, the Police team 

fired back saying: “We don’t 

collect money from anybody 

and no vehicle has passed 

through this place. My 

men are doing their work 

accordingly.” 

When confronted on the 

bribery allegations, he 

denied collecting money 

from the drivers to allow 

passage. 

Also, the Head of the 

medical team at the border, 

Dr. Faganyu Adedayo, said 

no fewer than 120 

passengers had been 

screened and anybody 

found to be having high 

temperature would be 

flagged down and 

referred to the State 

Epidemiologist and 

Primary Health Care for 

further test. 

Adedayo said: “We are 

screening people entering 

the state. Our security 

personnel are getting 

those people passing 

alternative routes to get 

here and get tested.” 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Akeredolu has said that 

the government would 

strengthen enforcement of 

its directives and 

preventive measures to 

stop the spread of 

coronavirus. 

He said: “Now that we 

have seen the second 

positive case of COVID- 

19, our directives will now 

be enforced to the letter.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 — 11 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

COVID-19 lockdown: Redirect N37bn NASS 

renovation fund to states, FCT —SERAP 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE 

Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, SERAP, 

yesterday, urged the Senate 

President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Mr. Femi 

Gbajabiamila to redirect the N37 

billion for the renovation of the 

National Assembly complex to 

give N1 billion to each of the 36 

states, and the Federal Capital 

Territory, Abuja, as COVID-19 

direct relief and benefits to the 

poorest and most vulnerable 

Nigerians. 

Deputy Director of SERAP, Mr. 

Kolawole Oluwadare, in a letter 

dated 11 April 2020, also urged 

them to immediately advise 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

and Minister of Finance, Budget 

and National Planning, Mrs. 

Zainab Ahmed, to urgently 

implement the commitment of the 

National Assembly to redirect the 

N37 billion to provide direct and 

tangible benefits and reliefs to the 

people. 

SERAP said: “As we applaud 

the patriotic steps and voluntary 

contributions already made by the 

National Assembly towards 

fighting COVID-19 in the 

country, we now urge you to make 

major strides to national efforts to 

deal with one of the greatest 

threats facing the country by 

immediately redirecting the N37 

billion to provide direct and 

tangible benefits to the poorest 

and most vulnerable people 

among us. 

“Nigeria is at a crossroad and 

National Assembly leaders and 

members must now decide 

whether to continue to look after 

themselves and do little for the 

country’s poorest or make 

commitment to redirect the N37 

billion to help ameliorate the 

suffering caused by COVID-19 

....Lagos discharges five more patients 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE Lagos State 

Government, yesterday, 

discharged another five patients 

from Infectious Disease Hospital, 

IDH, Yaba, having recovered 

fully and tested negative twice 

consecutively to COVID-19. 

With the newly discharged 

patients, a total of 55 patients 

have been successfully managed 

for the COVID-19 at the isolation 

facilities and discharged to the 

community. 

restrictions. 

“While some of the authorities’ 

responses to COVID-19 across 

the country may be necessary to 

stop the spread of the disease and 

save lives, we are concerned that 

the prevailing situation has taken 

its toll on the country’s poorest 

and most vulnerable people, such 

as pensioners, People Living With 

Disabilities, PLWDs, who continue 

to endure the grimmest of 

conditions in several states and 

the FCT. 

“The money must be spent now to 

serve the public good. Spending the N37 

billion as proposed would increase the 

ability of states and FCT authorities to 

provide COVID-19 reliefs and benefits. 

It would not cause any budget deficit. 

But assuming it does, it would be a good 

deficit, as it would serve the public good. 

“Giving the N37 billion to states and 

FCT would be in the public interest at 

this time of national crisis, as it would 

improve the chances of the country’s 

poorest and most vulnerable people to 

live a life of dignity while obeying 

authorities’ directives to stay at home.” 

CSOs call for transparency, accountability on COVID-19 funds 

LAGOS—A coalition of Civil 

Society Organisations, CSOs, 

weekend, urged the Federal and 

State governments to ensure 

transparency and accountability 

in the management of resources 

committed to the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

The CSOs, in a statement 

commended government at all 

levels for their response in 

preventing the spread of the 


The statement reads: “We note 

that the earmarking of an initial 

sum of N15 billion to support the 

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 

made the disclosure, in a 

statement while giving an update 

on the COVID-19 situation in the 

state. 

He said: “As we commemorate 

the sacrifice of love this Easter, I 

bring to you more awesome news 

from our isolation facilities. Today, 

(Sunday), five more 

patients; four females, 

and one male have been 

discharged to reunite with their 

families and society. 

“This news, especially on this 

fight against the Coronavirus 

pandemic is a significant contribution 

that puts Nigeria on the map of 

countries that are giving the 

pandemic the serious attention that 

it deserves. However, it is important 

to put in place accountability 

structures and measures that will 

ensure that the full value of this 

significant investment is realized. 

“It is with this background that we 

call on the Federal Government and 

all the State Governors to be 

committed to the fight against 

corruption even as we battle the 

Coronavirus pandemic. 

DONATION—Lolu 

Adubifa, Special 

Adviser to Ogun 

State Governor 

on Energy 

(right), receiving 

donations of 

relief items from 

Deen Solebo, 

Principal/CFO, 

Elektron Energy 

Support, on 

behalf of the state 

government, at 

the Covid-19 

Isolation Centre 

in Ikenne-Remo, 

as the company's 

contributions, due 

to the lockdown 

directive, 

occasioned by the 

C O V I D - 1 9 

pandemic in the 

state, weekend. 

Photo: Bunmi 

auspicious day, gives me joy and 

happiness and I am sure it does 

to you too. While we look forward 

to more great news from our effort 

to contain the pandemic, let’s all 

continue to show love and 

sacrifice for the course of 

humanity. 

“Stay at home, practice Social 

Distancing Principle, observe the 

highest possible personal and 

hand hygiene and report any 

suspicion to appropriate persons. 

Let’s continue to make the little 

sacrifices for the greater good.” 

“In view of this, we have resolved 

to support governments’ effort 

through the various structures/ 

mechanisms being put in place by 

the respective State Governments. 

“We call on government at 

different levels to see this support 

as an action for the common good 

of the Nigerian people and 

therefore be receptive to the 

participation of Civil Society 

Organisations in the National, State 

and Local Government level 

committees set up to plan and 

implement the COVID-19 related 

interventions.” 

That'll be your end! 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

Life na turn by turn! 

You should have asked!


:Vanguard News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

PRESENTATION: From left — Amb. Desmond Akawor, Rivers State PDP Chairman/Chairman, Rivers 

State Covid-19 Palliatives Committee; Mr Chamberlain Oguzo, Human Resources Manager, Crown 

Flour Mills (an Olam Group Company); Hon Ohia Prince Obi, Commissioner for Youth Development, 

Rivers State and Mr Suresh Raju Thilagar, General Manager, Crown Flour Mills, Port Harcourt Plant; 

during the presentation of relief materials to the Rivers State Government in support of the fight 

against Covid-19 in Port Harcourt. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke. 

COVID-19: Deltans worship at home as 

churches comply with lockdown order 

• Two suspected cases test negative in Bayelsa 

• Gov Emmanuel urges prayer for COVID-19 patients, others 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha, Festus 

Ahon, Perez Brisibe, 

Chioma Onuegbu, 

Harris Emmanuel & 

Emma Una 

ASABA—AS Christians 

world over celebrate 

Easter yesterday, residents 

of Asaba and its environs 

in Delta State worshipped 

at their homes in compliance 

with the state government 

lockdown aimed at 

containing the spread of 

coronavirus pandemic in 

the state. 

Our correspondent who 

drove round parts of the 

state capital, reports that 

the Orthodox and Pentecostal 

churches were under 

lock and key, while the Oracle 

of God Ministry belonging 

to a former acting 

governor in the state which 

opened last Sunday was 

locked. 

There was light vehicular 

and human traffic on the 

major streets of Asaba metropolis, 

as the popular 

Nnembisi, Okpanam, Summit 

Roads were deserted. 

The very few people on the 

road were seen with food 

items, as they had apparently 

gone out in search of 

food for the Easter celebration. 

A lady who spoke to Vanguard 

on Nnembisi Road, 

close to the Stadium, Mrs 

Felicia Nwabiakwu said 

she went out to get chicken 

and other cooking items to 

prepare food for her family 

Ṁeanwhile, the state government, 

on Saturday reinstated 

the lockdown order 

in the state and advised 

residents of the state to worship 

at home. 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

had in a statement by his 

Chief Press Secretary, Mr 

Olisa Ifeajika, said, "In consonance 

with the rules and 

according to international 

best practices as enunciated 

by the World Health Organisation, 

WHO, and Ni- 

geria Centre for Disease 

Control, NCDC, the state 

government urges 

Deltans, especially Christians 

to worship from home 

as the lockdown order is 

still in force. 

"We thank Deltans for 

their support so far and 

urge them to continue to 

obey relevant instructions 

as it has become apparent 

that the virus is spreading 

in the state. 

"We will continue to partner 

the Federal Government 

on effective implementation 

of its regulations 

on measures to curtail 

further spread of the 

virus in our state and country." 

2 suspected cases 

test negative in 

Bayelsa 

Meanwhile, two suspected 

Covid-19 cases in 

Bayelsa State have tested 

negative for the virus. 

Chairman of the Implementation 

Committee of 

Bayelsa State Task Force 

On Covid-19, Dr. Inodu 

Apoku, disclosed this in a 

statement, yesterday, in 

Yenagoa. 

He said: "The samples 

were collected from the 

suspects at the Federal 

Medical Centre, FMC, 

Yenagoa, for testing at the 

Irrua Specialist Teaching 

Hospital in Edo State last 

Monday. 

"The results were received 

on Thursday and 

the suspects have been 

discharged from FMC." 

Gov Emmanuel 

urges prayer for 

COVID-19 

patients, others 

In Akwa Ibom State, 

Governor Udom Emmanuel 

has called on Christians 

to use the Easter celebration 

to offer prayers for 

the recovery of those who 

have contacted COVID-19 

virus and are receiving 

treatment. 

Emmanuel who spoke 

during his Easter broadcast 

said, "To our sons and 

daughters who are at the 

battle front of our fight to 

rid our state of this virus, 

we salute your courage 

and appreciate the risks 

you are taking to keep our 

society safe. 

"We also salute the security 

personnel for maintaining 

the peace and security 

in our dear state, standing 

under scorching sun. Let us 

pray for their safety and 

strength. Let us pray for the 

recovery of those who have 

contacted the virus and are 

receiving treatment. 

"This may not be a happy 

Easter for them, but we 

know that as God rewarded 

the midwives of Egypt 

for their kindness to the 

children of Israel, He will 

reward every one of them 

with immeasurable blessings 

and protection." 

The governor regretted 

that this year's Easter season 

had come at a time 

when most part of the world 

are in a lockdown as a result 

of the need to stop mankind 

from being consumed 

by the fatal fangs of Covid- 

19, which is one of the most 

virulent pandemics in recent 

history. 

Cleric assures of 

God's power over 

COVID-19 at Easter 

Nigerians and indeed, 

citizens of the world have 

been assured of the power 

of God to intervene in the 

affairs of men, especially in 

the current pandemic called 


Pastor Irame Symbol, 

leader of the Love God's 

Direction Movement, LGD, 

and Founder of Gospel Buz 

Foundation International, 

gave the assurance during 

an online Easter Sunday 

message yesterday. 

He compared the global 

lockdown forcing people to 

stay at home as a measure 

of containing the spread of 

Coronavirus to the biblical 

episode in Mark 16: 1-4, 

when three faithful of 

Jesus; Mary Magdalene, 

Mary mother of Jesus and 

Salome found it difficult to 

access and anoint the body 

of Christ because a great 

stone barred the way to the 

tomb, where the body of 

Christ laid. 

Pastor Symbol said: "Just 

what happened at that time 

is what is happening today. 

Everyone, rich and poor, 

politicians and the masses, 

the strong and the weak, are 

locked down. 

“Our worry now is, who 

will roll away this large 

stone called Coronavirus 

from the entrance of our 

houses so we could come 

out and be free again? 

"The only way is for all 

persons to follow the way 

of God by loving God's direction, 

say no to corruption 

and eschew violence. 

“If we do these, the 

present stone-- Coronavirus--will 

be rolled away for 

us by our God Almighty 

and the whole world will 

regain freedom." 

Jegede donates 

food Items, seeks 

help for the poor 

Meanwhile, Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, governorship 

hopeful in Ondo 

State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, 

SAN, has advised well-todo 

Nigerians to see the 

Coronavirus pandemic as 

a global disaster, and sacrifice 

resources in aid of the 

vulnerable. 

He spoke in Akure, Ondo 

State, weekend, where he 

donated food items to party 

leaders and other members 

of the public, aimed at 

cushioning the effects of 

some restrictions occasioned 

by the pandemic, 

otherwise known as Covid- 

19. 

He said: “Coronavirus 

was not in any way anticipated 

or prepared for. But 

what is uppermost is the 

two-fold fact that while observing 

precautionary 

steps, the well-to-do citizens 

should rise in support 

of the poor and the vulnerable. 

“I’m not aware that Covid-19 

has a political party, 

or belongs to an interest 

group. It’s like a plague 

threatening human existence. 

“We should all realise that 

only the living can rule and 

be ruled, govern and be 

governed, and command 

and be commanded,” he 

added. 

Gbagi Foundation 

splashes cash on 

the needy, physically 

challenged 

To cushion the economic 

impact of the 14-day lockdown 

ordered by Governor 

Okowa in Delta State and 

in the spirit of Easter, the 

Gbagi Foundation has donated 

cash and food items 

to the needy and 128 persons 

living with disabilities 

in the state under the aegis 

of Delta Disability Vanguard, 

DDV and Joint National 

Association of Persons 

With Disabilities, 

JONAPWD. 

The amount which was 

undisclosed, was sent directly 

to the individual bank 

accounts of the 128 members 

of the groups in continuation 

of the philanthropic 

gesture of the foundation 

chaired by Olorogun 

Kenneth Gbagi, while the 

food items range from bags 

of rice, beans, garri and 

cartons of noodles, were 

donated to the needy at 

Oginibo community in 

Ughelli South council area 

of the state. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

foundation during an interaction 

with leaders of the 

physically challenged 

drawn from different local 

government areas in the 

state at Ughelli, Chief 

Emuoboh Gbagi said, the 

exercise was born out of the 

philanthropic gesture of the 

chairman of the foundation. 

APC chieftain 

faults Ayade on 

COVID-19 fight in 

C'River 

MR Godie Akpama, a 

chieftain of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in 

Cross River State has expressed 

displeasure over 

Governor Ben Ayade's measures 

in fighting the Coronavirus 

pandemic which 

the state is yet to record any 

case. 

Akpama, a former governorship 

candidate of the All 

Progressives Alliance, 

APA, in a statement, weekend 

in Calabar said that the 

money used in the purchase 

of 50 cars by the governor 

which he handed 

over to his aides should 

have been used in setting 

up a testing centre and 

equipping an isolation centre 

in the event of an occurrence 

of the virus in the 

state. 

"Let me state categorically 

that the 50 cars is a misplaced 

priority because they 

cannot address the immediate 

health challenges the 

state is faced with. Having 

looked critically at the use 

which those cars have been 

put to, I am of the view that 

purchasing more ambulances 

would have been 

better for the state because 

they would serve present 

and future uses in cases of 

health emergencies.’’ 

Magada faults SPDC on Delta oil spill claims 

By Perez Brisibe 

UGHELLI—AN envi 

ronmental and right 

activist, Franklin Magada, 

has described as false, 

claims by Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, 

SPDC, that there are no 

spills from any of its facilities 

at the Otumara area of 

Warri South-West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State. 

Locals from some Ijaw 

and Itsekiri communities, 

including Yokiri and Ugborodo, 

had accused the oil 

giant of allegedly opening 

its waste valve into the Escravos 

river which polluted 

the water surrounding 

the affected communities. 

SPDC while rebuffing the 

allegation in a statement 

though acknowledged an 

on-going remediation activity 

on the right of way of its 

24” Escravos-Yokiri pipeline, 

noting “the activity is 

contained within the right 

of way and does not require 

the opening of 

valves.” 

Accusing the company of 

being economical with the 

truth, the environmental 

activist said the pollution in 

the area was as a result of 

the “unsafe acts” owing to 

the exploration activities of 

the company. 

He also accused the Delta 

State government of failing 

to leave up to its expectation 

of protecting the lives 

of locals in the affected communities. 

He said: “I and my team 

visited the affected communities 

in February for a site 

impact assessment upon 

which we collected samples 

for environmental pollution 

analysis and repeated 

same a month after to further 

ascertain the impact of 

the pollution. From the result 

of our laboratory analysis, 

the pollution in the 

area is pointing to heavy 

metal released into the water 

owing to oil exploration. 

“Unfortunately, the state 

government through the 

Ministries of Oil and Gas 

and Environment has 

shown a high level of incompetence, 

which has led 

to the pollution of riverine 

communities by feigning 

ignorance without recourse 

to the environment.”


c 

:Vanguard 

News 


DONATION—Mrs. Ayotomilola Oyebanji, Human Resources Manager, Olam Hatcheries Ltd., Kaduna 

(3rd right), handing over 10,000 crates of eggs to Mallam Mansur Salanke, Senior Special Assistant 

to the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, on behalf of the state's populace, at the State 

House, Kaduna, due to the Lockdown directive, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday. 

Don’t play politics with COVID-19, IBB 

begs politicians 

By Wole 

Mosadomi 

M INNA—FORMER 

Military President, 

General Ibrahim Badamasi 

Babangida (retd), has 

called on Nigerians not to 

politicize the fight against 

the coronavirus, COVID- 

19, pandemic but join 

hands together to contain 

its spread in the country. 

In his Easter message to 

Christians across the 

country, Babangida said 

this was not the time for 

'blame game' but concerted 

effort by all to wage a total 

war against the virus. 

According to him: “It is 

time for synergy between 

Federal Government efforts 

and those of states where 

majority of citizens live with 

attendant implications for 

flattening the curve, 

increasing testing capacity 

and reduce the pains, and 

we have the lesson and 

experiences of China, 

Taiwan and other countries 

to benefit from. 

“There is no room for 

blame game now but 

concerted support by all 

Nigerians and I commend, 

with due respect to the 

professional display and 

wonderful roles of our 

frontline medical personnel 

for their patriotism, 

resilience, sacrifice and 

commitment to this fight of 

eradicating COVID-19. 

Although the numbers 

keep rising, the situation is 

still being kept at 

manageable levels within 

the limits of our health care 

system. 

"However, these gains 

need to be sustained with 

enforcement of appropriate 

and consistent social 

distancing prescription for 

effective prevention of 

further spread of the 

pandemic.” 

He enjoined christians 

across the country to use the 

Easter period to pray for the 

country to overcome the 

COVID-19 pandemic just 

as he also urged the 

Muslim ummah to use the 

....Residents in panic buying, as total 

lockdown begins in Niger 

By Wole 

Mosadomi 

M INNA—MOST 

residents of Niger 

State, yesterday, trouped 

into major markets and 

streets for a last minute 

purchase of foodstuffs and 

other necessities in 

preparation for the twoweek 

total lockdown that 

commenced today. 

Governor Abubakar Sani 

Bello had, Saturday, 

announced two weeks of 

total lockdown in the state, 

just after ending a twoweek 

Curfew, yesterday. 

The residents who were 

unprepared for the sudden 

announcement on 

Saturday by the Governor, 

rushed to markets to make 

last minute purchases and 

also beat the 8am-2pm free 

period for people to make 

their purchases and return 

home to comply with the 

curfew which had been 

imposed on the state 

before. 

The total lockdown is 

sequel to the apprehension 

of a man suspected to have 

contracted Coronavirus 

from Lagos and came to 

Minna, the State Capital 

but was denied entry into 

his house by his family to 

avoid affecting other 

members of his household. 

The rush to buy food items 

led to gridlock on major 

roads as vehicles were 

parked indiscriminately on 

the highways. 

In all major 

Supermarkets, anxious 

residents were seen 

moving in and out for 

various purchases. 

All Banks in Minna 

visited also witnessed 

unprecedented crowd as 

there were long queues of 

customers desperate to 

make withdrawals from the 

ATM. 

Most Filling Stations, 

Gas Depots visited were 

also crowded as a result of 

last minute purchases. 

As the people rushed to 

make last minute 

purchases, the Social 

distancing being preached 

By Bashir Bello 

KANO—THE Kano 

State government has 

appealed to suspected 

persons who might have 

come in contact with any 

confirmed coronavirus, 

COVID-19 patient, who 

may have traveled to 

foreign nations or visited 

states faced with the 

scourge to avail themselves 

for test and possibly 

isolation to curtain the 

month preceding the holy 

month of Ramadan to pray 

for Allah’s mercy and 

reprieve in the 

circumstances we find 

ourselves. 

According to him: “We all 

have our roles to play 

collectively and there is 

need to observe all 

recommendations of 

NCDC and adhere strictly 

to directives of government 

on basic hygiene-Wash 

your hands frequently with 

soap under running water, 

avoid touching your face, 

and high-contact surfaces 

and also avoid gatherings 

and physical contact, as 

well as practice social 

distancing, to 

prevent spread of the 

Virus." 

to avoid contracting the 

virus and washing of 

hands at public places were 

completely ignored. 

Christians were however 

allowed to worship to 

commemorate the Easter 

Sunday but had to conduct 

short services to beat the 

2pm window allowed for 

markets to open. 

Labour congratulates 

Dangote at 63 

COVID-19: Kwara fumes as 

ex-commissioner recants 

claims on ventilators 

....Come out for test, isolation, Kano urges suspected 

contact persons 

spread of the disease in the 

state. 

Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Aminu 

Tsanyawa, who made the 

appeal weekend, said such 

persons should report 

themselves by calling the 

emergency or hot lines 

available in the state. 

A statement by the 

Ministry’s Public Relations 

Officer, Hadiza Namadi, 

said the Commissioner 

assured that the state 

K 

A 

D U N A — 

ORGANIZED 

labour has congratulated 

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, 

founder and President of 

Dangote Group, an 

industrial conglomerate in 

Africa on the occasion of his 

63rd birthday. 

Vice President, 

IndustriALL Global Union, 

Issa Aremu, in a 

congratulatory message in 

Kaduna, weekend, said: 

“While it is true that Aliko 

remains the richest man in 

the continent, what marks 

him out is his wealth 

creation through value 

addition, Industrialization 

and beneficiation to the 

abundant raw materials of 

Africa as well as the 

creation of much needed 

mass Decent employment 

for African workers. 

Dangote Group of 

industries has changed the 

narrative of the continent 

from that of ‘resource 

curse’, importation and 

smuggling to resource 

•Govt may demand public apology 

F 

O R M E R 


Health in Kwara State, 

Suleiman Alege, has 

recanted his earlier claim 

that the Governor, 

Abdulfatah Ahmed's 

administration left three 

ventilators in the state, a 

few hours after the state 

government challenged 

him to provide proof or be 

dragged to the anti-graft 

agency to produce the 

facility. 

“To say there was no 

ventilator in Kwara State 

before now is a fat lie,” 

Alege claimed in an article 

that went viral on Saturday, 

adding: “We had three in 

good working condition in 

Kwara State before the 

advent of the present 

government.” 

Alege was apparently 

trying to play down the 

recent purchase of 10 new 

ventilators, among other 

government would not 

relent in its efforts to avert 

the spread of the disease. 


statement, “Kano state 

Commissioner for Health 

Dr. Aminu Ibrahim 

Tsayawa after confirming a 

positive case index of 

COVID-19 in the state, 

assured that the state 

government is determined 

to work harder with all the 

necessary measures 

against the spread of the 

disease. 

He urged all those who 

beneficiation, and new 

factories in food processing 

to cement manufacturing, 

from freight to oil refineries, 

from sugar refinery to soft 

drink companies, flour 

and confectioners among 

others . African labour 

movement is excited about 

the bold corporate decision 

of the Dangote Group to 

open many Manufacturing 

plants in Cameroon, 

South Africa, Zambia and 

Congo, Ethiopia and 

Tanzania”. 

Aremu said: “The 63rd 

birthday of Aliko takes place 

at the time Coronavirus, 

COVID-19, had claimed 

over 101,000 lives globally, 

with about 1.6 million cases 

and attendant 

disrupted global supply 

and production chains." 

He said the current 

economic crisis caused by 

the pandemic validates the 

corporate vision of Aliko 

Dangote that Africa must 

produce what we consume 

and eradicate import 

dependence. 

key ICU equipment, by 

the AbdulRahman Abdul- 

Razaq administration. 

The incumbent had said 

that Kwara had no single 

ventilator until now, questioning 

the capacity of the 

state hospitals to manage 

respiratory diseases. 

Extreme cases of Coronavirus, 

or COVID-19, 

may require ventilators for 

a lifeline as patients lose 

their capacity to breath on 

their own. Kwara currently has 

two asymptomatic cases of the 

virus as at Sunday afternoon. 

In a statement countering 

Alege’s claim, Chief Press 

Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu 

Ajakaye, insisted the government 

inherited no ventilator and said 

the former commissioner might 

be required to help the security 

agencies to locate the ventilators 

he claimed were bought by the 

previous administration. 

recently travelled to foreign 

nations, particularly those 

that are ravaged by the 

pandemic or states that are 

faced with the challenges 

of the COVID-19, or who 

were in contact with any 

confirmed case, to kindly 

contact the following 

numbers: 09093995333, 

09093995444 and 

08002684356. 

“Dr. Tsanyawa assured Kano 

people that the state would not 

relent in its efforts in making sure 

that awareness creation 

campaign would continue in all 

nooks and crannies of the state,” 

the statement reads.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

MEETING: From 

left— Mrs Folake 

Soetan, Acting Chief 

Executive Officer, 

Ikeja Electric, Mr 

Kola Adeshina, 

Board Chairman, 

Ikeja Electric and Mr 

Gbolahan Lawal, 


Agriculture, Lagos 

State, after a 

meeting with Lagos 

State Ministry of 

Agriculture on 

distribution of 

Covid-19 relief items 

to communities in 

Lagos. 

Hospital project: I forgive those who lied 

against me —Soludo 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—FORMER 

governor of the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, Professor Charles 

Soludo says he has 

forgiven those who lied 

against him in the last 

few days, apparently 

referring to the negative 

comments concerning 

COVID-19 lockdown: Prominent Edo citizens 

fete public for Easter 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN 

CITY— 

PROMIENENT Edo 

state sons and daughters 

used the partial 

lockdown in the state as 

a result of CVID-19 to 

bring succour to many 

Edo residents whose 

movements around have 

been restricted by the 

state government . 

Edo State Attorney 

General, Professor Yinka 

Omorogbe for days 

preceding Easter 

celebration gave out 

food materials to women, 

mothers and widows in 

Oredo local government 

area of Edo State. 

She said the initiative is 

to cushion the effects of the 

luckdown occasioned by 

the coronavirus pandemic. 

A governorship 

aspirant in Edo State 

forthcoming election, 

Chris Ogiemwonyi 

embarked on massive 

distribution of food items 

to residents across the 

state. 


director 

of 

communications Chris 

Ogiemwonyi’s political 

family, Jeffery Igbinigie, 

the yearly exercise was 

expanded to meet up the 

demands of the people 

in food supply amid the 

coronavirus lockdown. 

He said: “We are aware 

the extent of damage the 

coronavirus has done in 

our communities, we 

the multi-million hospital 

project which he is 

executing in his home 

town, Isuofia, Aguata 

Local government area of 

Anambra State in memory 

of his late mother. 

An aide to one of the 

governorship aspirants 

for the 2021 election in 

Anambra State had 

alleged that Soludo 

received N2 billion from 

have been supporting the 

people with the needful 

in terms of food items, 

relief materials, public 

awareness and a whole 

lot of other selfless 

activities. “We 

understand that this 

season calls for both 

sober reflections and 

celebrations as well.” 

In 

another 

development, a 

philanthropist and 

Founder of Augustine 

Osawaru foundation, 

Augustine Osawaru 

distributed materials to 

aid in the battle against 

the virus. 

Osawaru said “COVID 

19 is ravaging the whole 

world, killing thousands 

of people and ruining 

economies with poverty 

on the increase. 

He added that for a 

developing country like 

Nigeria, where the People 

are facing challenges of 

funds and infrastructure 

deficit, it would be counterproductive 

if the fight is left 

for the federal and state 

governments alone. 

Meanwhile, Clifford 

Inegbedion Foundation, a 

Non-Governmental 

Organization, NGO, 

donated palliative materials 

worth N10 million to over 

1,334 residents of Edo 

Central Senatorial districts. 

Founder of the 

Foundation, Clifford 

Inegbedion said the 

donation was part of his 

gesture to cushion the 

donors without 

executing the project. 

It was, however, 

gathered that although 

many people, including 

politicians, made 

pledges towards 

building the hospital, 

98 per cent of the 

pledges were not 

redeemed. Despite that, 

some structures had 

been built at the site of 

negative effects of the state 

government's stay-athome 

order to contain the 

spread of the dreaded 

Coronavirus in the state. 

Some of the palliative 

materials donated to the 

beneficiaries included 

hand sanitizers, face 

masks, hand gloves, 

By Japhet 

Davidson 

LAGOS—ALL is now 

set for the official 

launch of an 

entertainment magazine, 

“Obaland Magazine”. 

Obaland Magazine 

which was registered as a 

media company in Italy 

and Nigeria in 2009 with 

the aims of serving the 

general public with 

concrete Entertainment, 

News, Fashion, Art, 

Culture, Lifestyle and 

Business was founded by 

an award winning Afro 

Italian journalist, art 

promoter, consultant and 

event planner Mr. Lucky 

Omosigho. 

The monthly magazine 

is coming on the heels of 

his assiduous 

contributions towards the 

growth of top entertainers 

in Nigeria, most 

especially the Edo people 

representing the bride of 

Africans (Benin Kingdom) 

the hospital, including the 

diagnostic centre and the 

doctors’ quarters. 

In his Easter message to 

the people of Anambra 

State, Soludo, who is also 

a governorship aspirant 

quoted Matthew 5:44, in 

the Bible, which spoke on 

the need for people to 

love their enemies and 

pray for those who 

persecute them. 

recharge cards to 400 

persons, data to 200 persons 

and foodstuffs to 350 

individuals. 

He said: “I am happy 

when I help people, I derive 

joy from seeing people 

happy, hence I am still 

doing what I like doing best 

by making life more 

meaningful to the people". 

Obaland Magazine for 

launch 

known for decades spitting 

out the potential of the 

African people to the world 

in general. 

According to Omosigho, 

“Obaland magazine is 

established as the only print 

publication truly dedicated 

to public lifestyle, as we 

continue to use celebrities 

and entrepreneurs as tools 

and future generation of 

people. It hold our 

credibility by remaining 

cool, trendy, unique and 

strong business network 

within the entertainment 

and media industry, 

representing a diverse 

roster of event properties’ 

branding the logo of the 

accessories of the 

entertainment and music 

industries in Africa”. 

It is named after the 

Obaland Royal Awards in 

Benin City, Edo State which 

powers Obaland Music 

Awards, also known as 

Africa Grammy, Oba 

Grammy Awards or Ewuare 

Grammy Awards. 

KB Financial Group acquires 

Prudential’s South Korean 

unit for $1.89bn 

KB Financial Group Incorporated has signed 

a share purchase agreement to buy a 100 

percent stake in Prudential Financial 

Incorporated’s South Korean unit for 2.3 trillion 

won ($1.89 billion), the group said in a filing on 

Friday. 

The deal marks the number one.1 US life 

insurer’s exit from the South Korean market after 

30 years. 

Prudential had hired Goldman Sachs to review 

a possible sale of the unit, a South Korean 

newspaper reported in November. 

KB Financial Group said the purpose of the 

acquisition is to enhance the competitiveness of 

its own life insurance business. 

Prudential’s South Korean unit reported a fall 

in operating profit of 13 percent to 192 billion won 

last year, compared to a year earlier, according to 

its regulatory filing. 

Dutch telecommunications 

towers damaged by 5G protestors 

SEVERAL Dutch cellular broadcasting towers 

have been damaged by arson or sabotage in 

the past week by opponents of a rollout of a new 

5G telecommunications network, newspaper De 

Telegraaf reported on Saturday. 

The paper said there have been 4 such incidents 

in the past week, and cited the director of an 

industry group that oversees placement of cell 

towers in the country, The Monet Foundation. 

The Telegraaf reported that arsonists had left an 

anti-5G slogan spray-painted at the scene of one 

attack. 

A range of groups in the Netherlands have been 

opposed to the advent of 5G for some time, mostly 

over concerns that radiowaves could damage 

human health. 

Malaysia’s AirAsia founders not 

taking salary, staff accepts up 

to 75% pay cut 

THE founders of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd 

will not take salaries and its staff has agreed 

to an as much as 75percent cut in pay due to the 

impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the 

airline, its chief executive said late on Saturday. 

Tony Fernandes said in an Instagram post that he 

and Executive Chairman Kamarudin Meranun “will 

not be taking a salary during this period”, while 

staff from across the business “have accepted 

temporary pay reductions of anywhere between 15- 

75percent, depending on seniority, to share the 

impact this is having on our business”. 

The budget airline has no incoming revenue and 

96percent of its fleet is grounded, Fernandes said. 

“We still have significant ongoing financial commitments 

such as fuel suppliers and leasing agents,” 

he said. The airline has retained its entire staff. 

FoodCo introduces Same-Day 

home delivery service 

FOODCO Nigeria Limited, a diversified 

consumer goods company with interests in 

retail, quick service restaurants, manufacturing 

and entertainment, has announced the 

introduction of its Same-day Home Delivery 

Service in Lagos. 

FoodCo Same-day Home Delivery Service offers 

an alternative shopping channel for customers who 

would rather shop from home, particularly as a 

precautionary safety measure in the face of the 

ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Deliveries are guaranteed typically with two hours 

of customers placing their orders, which is the 

fastest of any available delivery service in Lagos. 

Chief Executive Officer, FoodCo Nigeria Limited, 

AdeSun-Basorun said the Same-Day Home 

Delivery Service is conceived as part of the 

brand’s civic responsibility in ensuring that 

Nigerians have seamless access to essential 

supplies even as they obey regulatory guidance 

to stay at home to contain the spread of disease. 

Some strories from Reuters.




COVID-19: Anambra alleged index case, 

Marcel Eze, claims being abandoned 

without food 

• Says his positive test is a scam, set up, an attempt to tarnish his image 

• Patient not in a good frame of mind to talk — Anambra govt 

• Index case in Anambra State poorly handled — Obi 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

& Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

AWKA—THE Anambra 

State alleged COVID- 

19 Index case victim, Chief 

Marcel Eze, yesterday described 

all the stories being 

peddled about him testing 

positive to Coronavirus as 

all false and fabrications to 

tarnish his image. 

Speaking with Vanguard 

yesterday in a telephone 

interview, Chief Eze, who 

said he deals on Pharmaceuticals, 

challenged the 

Anambra State government, 

particularly the state 

Commissioner for Health to 

show him and the world the 

alleged lab test result that 

confirmed him positive. 

The angry Chief Eze said 

that he has been abandoned 

without any care, 

food or any medical attention 

since Friday he was 

taken to General Hospital 

Onitsha after a call from the 

State Commissioner for 

Health. 

Chief Eze also called on 

Governor Willie Obiano to 

thoroughly investigate the 

circumstances surrounding 

his alleged current travail 

in General Hospital Onitsha, 

just as he challenged 

the governor to visit the hospital 

to hear his story, claiming 

that the state is being 

deceived over the claim that 

he tested positive to Coronavirus. 

Chief Ezeh also said that 

he has not visited Lagos 

State since January, contrary 

to the claim in some 

quarters that he visited Lagos 

where he allegedly contacted 

the virus, saying that 

"the last time I visited Lagos 

State was in December 

and I have been in Anambra 

State since January." 

According to Eze, "I was 

admitted for a heart problem 

at Prof. Nwilo Heart 

Foundation, St Joseph Hospital 

Adazi Nnukwu, and 

was discharged after being 

confirmed okay by the doctors. 

"While I was in the hospital, 

three people came 

and introduced themselves 

that they are from government 

and are conducting 

test on Coronavirus that 

they will take my sample 

like others in the hospital, 

and I said no problem. 

"They brought something 

like cotton bud but very 

long with both ends having 

cottons, and inserted it 

into my mouth and nose 

and later collected it and 

left. That was before I was 

discharged from St Joseph 

Hospital Adazi Nnukwu. 

"For three days before I 

left the hospital, I did not 

see them again. I was discharged 

on Tuesday and I 

went to one of my doctor 

friends in Awka who advised 

me to take bed rest in 

his hospital to avoid disturbance 

because of the type 

of person I am and I 

agreed. 

"While I was there, on 

Wednesday by 11pm, a call 

came into my phone and 

on picking the call, a man 

identified himself as the 

Commissioner for Health in 

Anambra State, and he told 

me they have been looking 

for me and I asked him for 

what, and he did not say 

any reasonable thing to me 

and because it was late, I 

told him to come to the hospital 

the next day. 

"On Thursday, the Commissioner 

came with some 

of his officials to the hospital 

and told me that the test 

conducted on me was positive 

for Coronavirus and I 

told him that St Joseph Hospital 

from where I was discharged 

on Tuesday did 

not take any sample from 

me.They brought a stretcher 

and asked me to enter. 

That was the way I 

found myself in General 

Hospital Onitsha where 

they currently dumped me 

without food, water or any 

medical care since Friday 

they brought me from 

Awka to Onitsha, on this 

their fraudulent claim of 

me testing positive to 

Coronavieus. 

Anambra govt 

reacts 

Reacting yesterday to the 

allegation of the coronavirus 

index case, Anambra 

State government said 

the man does not possess 

a good frame of mind to 

discuss his condition. 

The commissioner for information 

and public enlightenment, 

Mr. Don 

Adinuba told Vanguard 

that the man's problem 

was that his people were 

tormenting him psychologically 

and emotionally 

in the social media, advising 

him to stop granting 

media interviews that 

would not help him in any 

way. 

Adinuba said: "I wonder 

why he is saying that 

he was dumped. I will 

advise him to stop granting 

interviews since he 

doesn't have the state of 

mind to speak on this 

matter. 

" I know that he is 

dispirited. We understand 

his situation because 

for someone to be 

isolated in a very large 

compound with only two 

family members, that person 

will not feel good. 

"What he needs is peace 

of mind especially when 

his people are tormenting 

him psychologically 

and emotionally." 

According to the commissioner, 

the index case 

is not in a position to 

know if he is positive for 

coronavirus or not. He 

added that it was NCDC 

that brought the result of 

his test. 

DISTRIBUTION: 

From left — Mr Biyi 

Aluko; Otunba Bolaji 

D u r o j a i y e , 

representative of the 

Samuel Foundation 

Mercy Funds in 

Nigeria; Mrs Raheal 

Adigun, beneficiariy 

and Ayaba Durojaiye, 

representing the 

foundation, during 

the distribution of 

emergency relief 

packages for the 

Easter celebration, at 

Ifako Ijaiye Local 

Government Area by 

the non-government 

organisation based in 

United Kingdom in 

Lagos. Photo: Akeem 

Salau. 

"We heard the result 

just like other people 

and it is wrong for him 

to be blaming anybody 

in the state for his situation," 

the commissioner 

said. 

Index case 

poorly handled 

— Obi 

Reacting to the development, 

the Vice-Presidential 

candidate of the 

PDP in the last presidential 

election, Mr. Peter 

Obi frowned at the manner 

Anambrarians handled 

the index case of 

COVID-19 in Anambra 

State, even when he singled 

out St. Joseph Hospital, 

Adazi-Nnukwu for 

commendation for their 

professionalism. 

In a statement made 

available by Obi’s Media 

Office, he thanked 

St. Joseph Hospital for 

being pro-active, going 

by the measures they 

took in handling the 

case, but described the 

stigmatisation of the index 

case by the people 

through videos and publications 

in various media 

platforms and the 

accompanying psychological 

trauma, as 

against the basic principle 

of collective fight 

against the pandemic. 

Expressing confidence 

in St Joseph Hospital, 

Obi said it remained 

one of the best 

health facilities in this 

part of the country and that 

its Dr. Joseph Nwilo Heart 

Centre remained the best 

of its kind in Nigeria, 

manned by the globallyacclaimed 

cardiologist, Dr. 

Joe Nwilo, one of the most 

patriotic Nigerians who, 

though based in the USA, 

comes in from time to time 

at his own cost to perform 

free heart operations." 

COVID-19: Precautionary measures 

in Enugu remain in force, says 

Ugwuanyi 

• As Amb. Eze, others, commend gov’s decision 

ENUGU — GOVER 

NOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 

of Enugu State has declared 

that all precautionary measures 

put in place in the 

state to contain the spread 

of Coronavirus pandemic 

(COVID-19), remain in 

force, in the overall public 

interest. 

The governor’s decision 

was contained in his Easter 

message to the people 

of Enugu State, which 

largely dwelled on Coronavirus 

Disease pandemic 

ravaging the world. 

Gov. Ugwuanyi appreciated 

the people of the state 

for their understanding and 

cooperation towards the 

state government’s efforts to 

contain the spread of COV- 

ID-19 in the state. 

The governor pointed out 

that his administration was 

not unmindful of the difficulties 

and inconveniences 

the precautionary measures 

present, stressing that “they 

are undoubtedly in the best 

public interest”. 

This came as a cross section 

of Enugu stakeholders 

commended Gov. Ugwuanyi 

for standing firm on the 

precautionary measures, in 

spite of pressure from various 

quarters and even 

when some states relaxed 

theirs. 

Also in his Easter Message, 

Gov. Ugwuanyi commended 

the 17 Local Government 

Councils, stakeholders, 

political leaders 

and others, for complementing 

state government’s 

efforts in awareness 

campaigns and palliatives 

to rural communities. 

He offered special commendation 

to health workers 

for their sacrifice to keep 

the people of the state safe 

from the pandemic and also 

lauded the security agencies, 

other relevant public 

institutions, for enforcing 

compliance and ensuring 

security of lives and property. 

While thanking various 

religious groups and their 

leaders for their continued 

support, the governor 

urged ‘Ndi Enugu’: “Let us 

celebrate this Easter in supplications 

to God, staying 

safe and observing the various 

guidelines and directives 

released for the prevention 

of further spread of 

COVID-19”. 

Reacting to Gov. Ugwuanyi’s 

stance on the precautionary 

measures, a leader 

of the state and member of 

the Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) Board of Trustees 

(BOT), Amb. Mrs. Justina 

Eze, said that the governor 

has “demonstrated the 

highest level of sensitivity 

and commitment to the 

safety and wellbeing of the 

people of our dear state”. 

IPOB spits fire over FG’s coronavirus 

palliatives for S-East, S-South 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—THE Indige 

nous People of Biafra 

(IPOB) has faulted the pattern 

of disbursement of federal 

government’s palliatives 

to poor Nigerians to 

cushion the effects of the 

lockdown over the coronavirus 

pandemic, alleging lopsidedness 

in the exercise 

against the South East and 

South –South geopolitical 

zone. 

IPOB Media and Publicity 

Secretary, Comrade 

Emma Powerful in a statement, 

regretted that the National 

Cash Transfer office 

handling the disbursement 

had concentrated on people 

from the Northern zones, 

adding that only few persons 

in one state in the 

South East were remembered 

in the largesse. 

The statement read: “A 

critical analysis of the information 

on the data base of 

the NCT office on the number 

of beneficiaries from the 

largesse on zone by zone 

basis reveals that South East 

is at the bottom of the table, 

just after South- South, 

while Northern zones are 

on top. This is provocative 

and a blatant confirmation 

that Nigeria has incurable 

hatred for Ndigbo and indeed 

other Biafrans in the 

old Eastern region. 

“This continued rejection 

and humiliation of the people 

of old Eastern region is 

a confirmation that the federal 

government does not 

see us as part of Nigeria. 

Nigeria and her agency 

are making it more open for 

those who don't know that 

Biafrans are not part of Nigeria. 

“It baffles IPOB why NCT 

office limited the number 

of beneficiaries of the cash 

transfer from the federal 

government to mere 3,253 

in South East and 10,429 

to South South. This is more 

annoying when juxtaposed 

with the number of beneficiaries 

from Northern 

zones and the South West 

zone. 

According to IPOB, 

records in the NCT office 

show that beneficiaries in 

the North West are 112,744 

persons; North Central - 

88,008; North East- 44,405; 

and South West - 39,134. 

The pro –Biafra group 

added: “What other information 

does this discrimination 

show, other than 

open rejection for South 

East and South South 

zones? Can the world now 

see why we earnestly yell 

for Biafra?"


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Death does not kill 

AMAN was very poor. So 

much that even when he 

worked hard, begged and 

scavenged, he remained hungry. 

He decided that his best option was 

to die. So he went in search of 

death. He knocked death’s door 

but was told he could not be 

admitted because he was a living 

being. 

Asked his mission, he 

complained of being too poor to 

survive so he wanted death to take 

him. But death said it does not kill, 

that what kills is happiness. So he 

went in search of happiness and in 

the process became so prosperous 

that he shared money on the 

streets. 

Whenever he went out riding his 

favourite white horse, people 

thronged the streets picking 

money. He had all money could 

buy, including position. Every 

day he organised a festival. 

Soon, he got bored and decided 

to hold a festival no other being 

had hosted: The Festival of Money. 

He knew nobody could compete 

with him. As the festival drew to 

an end, he decided to take a 

victory lap at the festival square. 

As he galloped furiously, his 

favourite horse threw him in the 

air. As he lay dying, he saw 

90 

death. He said: “Death, how can 

you kill me at this time when I 

am so wealthy and still so 

vibrant?” Death replied: “I told 

you I do not kill, it is happiness 

that kills.” 

I have met or read about 

Nigerians who shared money on 

the streets beginning with Da 

Rocha. Some even compete at 

parties and festivals on who has 

more money to spend. There was 

one in Lagos with the sobriquet of 

a fish whose money got exhausted 

at a night party and decided to 

dash home to bring more money. 

He never made it back as he died 

in an accident due to over 

speeding. 

There was another, a toast of 

musicians who used to compete 

with his friends over money. He 

died in a ghastly motor accident 

on the road to Ihiala where he was 

due, as usual, to spray money. 

He was ‘Mr. Too Much Money.’ 

I have never met anybody killed 

by death. If anything, death is the 

most maligned of all creations. 

Over the ages, human beings in 

falsely accusing death of killing, 

have asked the rhetorical question: 

“Death where is thy sting?” 

But death has never responded 

or sued for defamation because it 

never claimed to have a sting 

like the scorpion. It has always 

been a false allusion. 

To show the duplicity of 

humanity, the same human beings 

who falsely accuse death of 

killing have, over the ages, tried 

to find out the “cause of death.” 

If they truly believe it is death 

that kills, why carry out postmortem? 

In ancient times, when people are 

not sure of the cause of death or 

thought a victim was murdered 

even if through super natural 

means, they do not blame death, 

they blame the supposed 

perpetrators and ask the gods to 

strike them dead. 

Death is just the 

policeman and 

prosecutor who takes 

every human being 

to the final 

judgement where the 

sentence is either 

hellfire or heaven 

Also, we now know that the 

ancient beliefs that death is a 

personified force who went about 

with a cudgel clubbing people to 

death, or a scythe-wielding 

skeleton collecting souls, is false. 

This was part of the human 

strategy of accusing death of 

killing people. 

In any case, death is not a finality; 

the dead merely transit from the 

physical to the spiritual. Death is 

just the policeman and prosecutor 

who takes every human being to 

the final judgement where the 

sentence is either hellfire or heaven. 

So death is the beginning of the 

journey into eternity where 

hopefully, there will be no more 

sorrow or death. 

COVID-19 is a test of faith. But 

as it ravaged the world and a 

country like Saudi Arabia shut its 

borders to pilgrims, some Islamic 

faithful, the Tablighi Jamaat 

movement in Pakistan, decided 

to hold its international religious 

festival from March 10-12 in 

Lahore. 

An estimated 100,000 to 250,000 

attended with 154 of the locals 

testing positive and some dying. Two 

Palestinians who also attended have 

died. Most of the foreigners from 

Nigeria, Indonesia, China and 

Afghanistan had left before the 

Pakistani authorities could stop and 

subject them to COVID-19 tests. 

Only 1,500 of the foreigners could 

be stopped. In Pakistan itself, over 

20,000 of the attendees have been 

quarantined. The movement also 

held similar festivals in India and 

Malaysia from where, along with 

Pakistan, the virus was liberally 

spread across Asia. If these attendees 

die, death cannot be blamed. 

Before Nigeria could have such an 

experience, government wisely shut 

down places of large congregation, 

including those of worship. But 

some faithful disagree because the 

churches and mosques, not their 

homes, are their places of refuge. 

So they decided to begin 

congregating again; the Muslims 

for Jumat and the Christians for 

church services and the Easter 

festivities. It is like pregnancy; it has 

a period of incubation and it takes 

time to become visible. It is people 

of little faith like me that are 

worried; is it not said that The Lord 

takes care of His own? Even if the 

worshippers are infected, death will 

not kill them because they are too 

protected. 

In any case, even if the faithful die, 

where else will they go but heaven? 

Is that not the final destination? So 

even if they die, the faithful will be 

going to heaven where angels are 

waiting to receive and serve them 

eternally. 

In any case, apart from politicians 

like my friend Dino Melaye, we also 

have men of faith who have assured 

Nigerians that it is the 5G network, 

not Coronavirus that kills. 

The actress, Funke Akindele-Bello 

and her husband made an error of 

judgement by hosting a social party 

that violated the law on social 

distancing and were convicted. 

But can such indiscretion be 

compared with those who assure 

people the virus is a scam? If people 

get infested and die as a result, can 

such persons be tried for 

manslaughter? I do not foresee any 

conviction because the clerics would 

claim immunity on the basis that 

they are mere messengers of the 

Almighty. As for the politicians, even 

when caught on camera, they can 

always deny. 

Just as the Pakistani clergy 

encouraged the mass gathering in 

Lahore which spread COVID-19, 

some respected governors are 

encouraging gatherings for Jumat, 

church and the Easter festival by 

lifting the ban on such gatherings. If 

more infections of the virus and 

deaths occur as a result, we cannot 

charge them with manslaughter 

because they have immunity. 

My fellow humans, let us drink and 

make merry while we still can, there 

is no certainty this obtains in heaven. 

While doing so, let us be rest assured 

that death does not kill, there is 

always a cause of death. 

Nigeria and the rule of law (2) 

SIMPLY put: many of these cases 

are not worth the paper they were 

written on but it is not the job of the 

participants in a transaction to point 

out the pitfalls for those representing 

Nigeria. 

The Central Bank of Nigeria has had 

an inglorious history with regards to 

governors. Chief Ola Vincent, Dr. 

Clement Isong are perhaps two of the 

most qualified and celebrated of all the 

governors. Almost none of the others 

has any backbone. 

This may be because they were 

recruited from the commercial banks 

in the country. Nothing should 

disqualify a governor of a central bank 

more than that he was a managing 

director, owner, chairman of a Nigerian 

commercial bank. The path of a CBN 

governor and that of a managing 

director of a bank are two parallel lines, 

never meant to meet. 

Moreover, neither the Chief Justice 

nor the CBN governor serves at the 

pleasure of the President; so why are 

they so frightened of the executive? 

Why should the CBN carry on an MLR 

which is antithetical to the 

development of Nigeria? 

I am told that this was to prop up the 

naira having failed to restructure the 

economy. Maybe that’s why there 

seems to be no relation between the 

13 or so percent the banks receive for 

deposits in CBN and the almost 25- 

35 per cent the banks charge if one 

tries to borrow from them? I know that 

the corona virus has pushed the banks 

hard in the West; but before that the 

rates have been low in Switzerland, 

Japan. They have the negative rates 

rule. Now in the West the highest 

central bank lending rate is 0.25 per 

cent. When Sanusi was the CBN 

governor Nigeria lost several cases. 

He paid some, some he refused to pay 

claiming a moral responsibility which 

was irrelevant. He defied a 

presidential order which sought to 

carry out a court judgement. 

Even so, I believe that there are 

fundamental issues with his 

The judiciary has been 

thoroughly politicised 

that I am afraid that it 

may now be 

unsalvageable 

dethronement and subsequent 

treatment. Under the colonial 

government and the government of the 

Northern Nigeria and because of the 

operation of indirect rule, an Emir who 

was dethroned left his emirate in exile. 

But we have a constitution in Nigeria 

which allows freedom of religion, 

movement, abode, etc. 

As a former Emir he may decide he 

does not want to live in Kano but that 

must be his decision not that of the 

K a n o 

S t a t e 

government. 

T h e 

constitution 

trumps all 

l a w s : 

local, 

religious, etc. I know that Sultan 

Dasuki left Sokoto after his removal as 

Sultan and that Emir Sanusi (the 

grandfather of the late emir) did likewise 

in Kano. It does not matter. It is against 

the constitution. Nigerian governors are 

now fond of assembling chiefs, kings, 

emirs, etc. and tongue lashing them as if 

they were delinquent school boys 

because they gave them a staff of office, 

some small change and vehicles. 

These exchanges are now of greater 

frequency: the governors’ language and 

behaviour more trenchant and utterly 

unmagisterial. That these men, the 

traditional chiefs who listen to this 

gibberish, had no backbone to look the 

governors in the eye and say no more, is 

a sad commentary on how debased they 

and their stools are and how the 

traditional rulers have failed to rescue 

their own prestige . 

A man who eats like a pig cannot 

complain if he is treated like a pig. The 

governor of Rivers State the other day 

called the Rivers chiefs and tongue 

lashed them. They collected their 

envelops and walked away with their tails 

between their legs. 

The judiciary has sold their prestige for 

a mess of pottage. A few example would 

suffice. The judiciary has been 

thoroughly politicised that I am afraid 

that it may now be unsalvageable. The 

purpose of an election in a democracy is 

to be free to choose who would be leaders 

and who will rule us. 

There may be some wobbles along the 

way but nothing can trump the issue of 

election; I believe that the judiciary has 

so extended itself in the electoral process 

that it is now the elector. 

This is no more than a continuum of 

the disregard which the executive, the 

legislature, the political process have for 

the judiciary which has now decided to 

be part of the election. 

The fundamental point of the election 

in a democracy has been thrown 

overboard as the judiciary fishes into blind 

furrows that obviate the principle of 

democracy: admittedly the election is a 

contest between political parties which 

are mandated by law to choose their 

candidate according to their constitution. 

So party A has not abided by all the 

provisions of its own rules in choosing 

its candidates. 

Continues next week 

C 

M 

Y

FROM regime to regime, the 

Federal Government has been 

visionless in its approaches toward the 

revival of our moribund refineries 

and resumption of local refining of 

petroleum products in Nigeria. 

We had hoped that the 

Muhammadu Buhari regime would 

live up to the All Progressive 

Congress, APC’s “Change” mantra, 

but it has not worked out that way. 

What buoyed the expectations of 

Nigerians was the President’s decision 

to handle the Petroleum Resources 

portfolio while appointing Dr. 

Emmanuel Kachikwu, a high-flying oil 

sector expert, as the Minister of State 

whom he had upgraded as the GMD 

of the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC. 

Kachikwu was ready to embrace the 

needed reforms but politics was 

thrown into the fray and he was swiftly 

sidelined. 

Buhari, the Minister, faded from the 

picture and the oil sector, especially 

the NNPC, continued to run on exactly 

FG’s rescue plan for the refineries 

the same model which the 2014 

PriceWaterhouseCoopers forensic 

audit had recommended for a total 

clean-up and privatisation. 

During the 2019 general election 

campaigns, the presidential candidate 

of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had promised 

to privatise the NNPC and the three 

state-owned refineries. 

Buhari’s supporters accused him of 

planning to sell the state monopoly 

and refineries to “his friends”. 

The GMD of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, 

set the Nigerian abuzz last week 

when he unveiled FG’s plan to hand 

over the refineries to private sector 

operators after their planned 

upgrade is completed in 2023. Critics 

are putting the same allegation on 

them that care should be taken to 

ensure that the fund secured for the 

upgrade is not stolen, and that the 

refurbished refineries do not end up 

in the hands of “the cabal” or their 

proxies. 

It is obvious that the Buhari 

administration, after nearly five years 

in power, has chosen to adopt the idea 

pushed by the Director General of the 

Infrastructure Concession and 

Regulatory Commission, ICRC, 

Chidi Izuwah, and the Dangote 

Group at the Nigerian International 

Petroleum Seminar, SNIP, held in 

Abuja in January 2019 for the 


Federal Government to hands off 

running of the refineries and give 

them over to the private sector. 

Experts in the industry had argued 

that the idea of scrapping the 

refineries as being pushed by some 

is not an option since the refineries 

can be upgraded and effectively 

managed by the private sector. 

We hope the upgrades proceed as 

planned. If successful, the 

refurbished refineries will combine 

with the Dangote refineries to make 

Nigeria self-sufficient in petroleum 

products. It will also end the 

importation of the products. We 

should march with determination 

toward the end of government 

involvement in the petroleum 

business. 

Let the market take over fully, with 

government creating the enabling 

environment for optimum 

productivity and also ensuring that 

the consumers’ interests are fully 

protected. 

OPINION 

COVID-19 palliatives and the pains of Ize-Iyamu’s political opponents 

By IDEDE OSEYANDE 

AS a social and political pundit, I have 

observed reactions from the masses and 

the political class towards the palliative 

measures Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has put in 

place to cushion the adverse effects of the stayat-home 

order of the state government to curb 

the spread of the current global pandemic in 

the state. 

While the masses, who obviously are the 

targetted recipients of the gesture, have 

accepted in good faith without recourse to 

the intentions or where the food is coming 

from, the political class have reacted in a 

different manner. It is more worrisome, or 

rather interesting to see those who hitherto 

had publicly proclaimed that the fight to 

dislodge the current occupier of Osadebey 

Avenue is a collective responsibility, are now 

joining the 'opposition' to castigate the social 

intervention initiatives of their supposed 

political ally. 

The indifference with which Pastor Ize- 

Iyamu took their rantings is another 

evidence that the political collusus has grown 

the tough skin needed by a leader in his calibre 

to stand with the people even if he is standing 

alone. He had continued to do the needful at 

full throttle, with his soul, spirit and body, 

making it look as if the castigations of his 

political distractors only help in fueling his 

desire and passion to do more. From Edo South, 

to Edo Central, and down to Edo North, his 

social intervention, no matter how little, has 

reached the nook and cranny of the three 

senatorial zones in the state. 

The reaction of the masses reminded me of 

the popular Edo proverb, which by 

interpretation means: "No one is bothered 

about how their enemy is killed; the crux of the 

matter is that the enemy is dead". The masses 

embraced the goodwill of the pastor knowing 

that their common enemy is 'hunger' which 

must be defeated for them to stay alive. With 

that in mind, they have not only welcomed the 

idea but have also demanded the same from 

Edo indigenes who by divine providence have 

the means and capacity to follow the example 

of POI. 

Appreciations in various forms have since 

flooded the media and also in commercial 

vehicles. While some people who are bent on 

criticising everything that is related to POI tried 

to rubbish the kind gesture by trying vaguely to 

rationalise the intentions of the giver in a public 

bus recently in Benin City, the other occupants 

in the bus attacked them verbally, defending 

the gesture with the argument that hunger does 

not select where the food comes from, nor does 

it request to know the intention of the giver. 

Some even went as far as saying if he would 

help them chase out the armed herdsmen 

ravaging their farmlands and turning our forest 

reserves as the hideout for their kidnapping 

activities, they would be extremely grateful. 

Be that as it may, the response of the political 

class is at variance with that of the masses. But 

I am not surprised because our people say: "If 

someone has chosen you to be an enemy, even if 

you greet the person, they will take it as an 

insult". 

They started at first by condemning the 

gestures because the distributed sanitizers were 

branded with the logo of the donor. They became 

religious proselytes overnight quoting the 

scriptures on the Christlike pattern of giving. 

When their bubble was busted as those sharing 

that of the state government were seen wearing 

campaign shirts of the incumbent governor, they 

changed the accusations to the fact that he was 

using his newly inaugurated campaign team 

for the coordination of the process. 

They took to the streets crying foul, calling it 

the height of insensitivity for anyone to use 

political structures at such a time like this. They 

feign ignorance of the fact that anything a 

politician does, no matter how altruistic the 

intentions, the people will definitely perceive it 

as Greek gifts, simply because it is coming from 

a politician. How the political class who should 

know better, are now crying more than the 

masses, shows how difficult it is for them to hide 

their worries of his growing support base and 

popularity among the electorates. 

Some even acknowledged the enormity of 

the task and instead of commending his efforts, 

The battle for Osadebey 

avenue is on top gear, COVID-19 

or not; so, there is nothing POI 

will do that will please his sworn 

political enemies 

are accusing him of running a parallel government! 

The stench of their hypocrisy would make 

a dead corpse cover its nose in the grave. But 

then, my inlaws from South Western Nigeria 

had forewarned us of people like this who will 

stop at nothing to make you feel bad about any 

decision you take. And this warning was further 

publicised and emphasised by the legendary 

music maestro, Ebenezer Obey. 

Let me summarise the story as I round up. "A 

man and his son were riding on a donkey, and 

the people called him wicked and inconsiderate 

to have placed such a burden on the donkey. So 

the man came down and left his son only on the 

donkey, while himself walked along. The same 

people called him a stupid old man for choosing 

to suffer by walking while his boy rode on the 

donkey. He then brought his son down and 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

himself climbed the donkey, but still, they 

called him a wicked man. Lastly, they both 

came down and walked along with the donkey, 

still, they cursed him for choosing to walk 

when he had a donkey to ride on. He even considered 

carrying the donkey on their head, if 

perhaps that would please those criticising 

them, but still every option that they took was 

faced with serious criticism." 

The truth is, the battle for Osadebey avenue 

is on top gear, COVID-19 or not. So, there is 

nothing POI will do at this point in time that 

will please his sworn political enemies. Even if 

he chose to fold his hands and keep his mouth 

shut in his house, they will still call him 

insensitive and other unprintable names as they 

have done in the past. The whole hullabaloo is 

to ensure they see him fade to political oblivion, 

but that is not going to happen, at least l in this 

era. 

It is an undeniable fact that if there was no 

coronavirus, they would all have been sharing 

rice and chicken this week for Easter, and it 

wouldn't have mattered to them that they are 

using the sacred death and resurrection of Jesus 

Christ for politics. Those sermonising and 

debating the sensibility or insensibility, the 

appropriateness or inappropriateness of the 

POI palliatives would have lost their clerical 

and moral voices. 

On this gesture of POI, I stand with the masses 

and I commend Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, 

whether it has political undertone or not. After 

all, he did not collect their voters' card, nor was 

the offer based on political patronage like those 

currently in government are doing. Hunger is 

our common enemy for now. When all of this is 

over, the people will choose who will be their 

governor. Until then, don't forget to adhere to 

the health instructions in preventing the spread 

of the virus. Stay home to stay safe! 

•Oseyande, a social observer, wrote from 

Edo State.

18— Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

Shareholdes kick against proxy AGMs 

...Says it’s illegal, disenfranchises investors Proxy 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

DOMESTIC investors in the 

Nigerian capital market have 

kicked against the on-going conduct 

of Annual General Meeting, AGM, 

by quoted companies using proxies 

as approved by the Corporate Affairs 

Commission, CAC, saying that it 

amounted to disenfranchisement of 

shareholders who reserve the right 

to attend the meetings and make 

contributions. 

The shareholders under the aegis 

of New Dimension Shareholders 

Association, NDSA, said that 

compelling shareholders to subscribe 

to proxy arrangement as well as 

forcing a proxy on the shareholders 

who have the right to choose their 

preferred proxies infringe on their 

fundamental right under Section 227 

(1) of the Companies and Allied 

Matter Act, CAMA, Act as amended, 

which guarantees the right of 

shareholders to physically attend 

such meetings. 

They, therefore, described the act 

as unethical, saying that going ahead 

with it would give room to company’s 

board to undermine the role of 

shareholders and the principle of 

corporate governance. 

In a letter addressed to the 

Registrar General, CAC, titled: 

“Guidelines on Holding Annual 

General Meeting by Quoted 

Companies”, signed by the 

association’s chairman, Mr. Patrick 

Ajudua, they said: “Under Sec. 230 

of CAMA as amended, the 

nomination of a proxy by a member 

of a company who is unable to attend 

the meeting and have to appoint 

someone who is not a member of the 

company is in order, but the issue 

here is that you do not compel 

somebody to issue a proxy if he has 

the intention to attend the meeting. 

“Most companies that have 

adopted this guideline have 

appointed almost the same proxy 

name, recommending to 

shareholders to adopt them as their 

proxy. This is unethical and against 

the principle of corporate 

governance.” 

They explained that rather than 

hurriedly holding AGMs, companies 

could explore the provisions of Sec. 

213 of CAMA, which allows them to 

Continues on page 20 

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

Bond prices to rise further as N253bn inflow 

boosts interbank liquidity 

•Naira depreciates as external reserves fall to $34.49bn 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE two weeks upward trend in 

bond prices is expected to persist 

this week even as inflow of N253 billion 

boosts liquidity in the interbank money 

market. 

Faced with scarcity of attractive 

investment outlets to reinvest funds from 

maturing bonds and treasury bills, local 

investors besieged the bond market last 

week, prompting a bullish trend which 

drove up prices for the second 

consecutive weeks. 

Consequently, the five-year, 14.50 per 

cent FGN JUL 2021 paper, gained 

N0.04 while the yield fell to 5.99 percent 

from 6.06 percent; the seven-year, 13.53 

per cent FGN MAR 2025 note gained 

N4.46 while the yield dropped to 10.61 

percent from 11.75 percent; the 10-year, 

16.29 per cent FGN MAR 2027 debt 

gained N2.16 while the yield dropped 

to 12.18 percent from 12.61 percent; the 

20-year, 16.25% FGN APR 2037 bond 

gained N3.44 while the yield dropped 

to 12.30 percent from 12.71 percent. 

This trend according to analysts at 

Cowry Assets Management Limited will 

persist this week, buoyed by expected 

inflow of N253 billion into the interbank 

money market. “In the new week, we 

expect OTC bond prices to appreciate 

Continues on page 21 

CAPITAL MARKET 

Market rebound may 

be cut short 

20 

INTERBANK LENDING RATES 

BANK NEWS 

NDIC contributes N1bn 

to CACOVID relief fund 

21 

C 

M 

Y 

K

FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

Market rebound may be short-lived,equities dealers warn 

•As investors gain N15bn 


AMIDST a marginal 

rebound recorded in the 

equities market last week, 

dealers are indicating that 

the positive sentiment may be 

temporary profit taking that is 

set for a reversal this week. 

Though they said the 

decision by the Organization 

of Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC, to cut crude 

oil output would be a plus to 

the market, they advised 

investors to trade cautiously, 

nonetheless. 

Bargain hunting across 

MTN Nigeria Communication 

Plc (+3.3%), Lafarge Africa 

(+41.3%) as well as gains in 

Tier-1 banking stocks drove 

the market to its first weekly 

gain in the past four weeks 

with the All-Share Index (ASI) 

rising by 1.4 percent to settle 

at 21,384.03 points. 

The market had advanced in 

three of the four trading days 

last week. 

Also, the market 

capitalisation of all listed 

equities rose by 1.4 percent to 

N11.144 trillion from N10.994 

trillion as investors recorded 

N15 billion gains within the 

week. 

Analysis of the sectorial 

performance shows that 

activities were mixed as three 

sectors recorded positive 

returns, while two closed 

negative. 

Specifically, the banking 

sector appreciated the most, 

rising by 12.4 percent, 

followed by the consumer 

goods sector with 6.5 percent 

increase while the insurance 

sector went up by 0.2 percent. 

On the flip side, the 

industrial goods (-6.6%) and 

oil & gas (-4.8%) sectors 

closed in the red. 

In their weekly review and 


IN line with its 

arrangements to maintain 

operations in the face of the 

Coronavirus, COVID-19, 

restrictions the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, has 

successfully listed Flour Mills 

of Nigeria Plc and Primero 

BRT Securitization SPV Plc 

bonds worth N36.5 billion on 

the Exchange. 

Flour Mills listing was its 

N12.5 billion 3-year, 10 

percent Series 3 (Tranche A) 

Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured 

Bond due 2023; and the N7.5 

billion 5-Year, 11.10 percent 

Series 3 (Tranche B) Fixed 

Rate Senior Unsecured Bond 

due 2025. 

Also, Primero BRT listed its 

N16.5 billion Series 1; 17 

percent Fixed Rate Bonds due 

prognosis into the new week, 

analysts at Cowry Asset 

Management, said: “We 

expect the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange (NSE) ASI to rise 

amid the resolution by OPEC 

to cut crude oil output by 10 

million barrels per day. 

“Hence we advise investors 

to trade cautiously as they 

gun for high, better and 

dividend yield stocks. We 

expect the equities market to 

be volatile in the coming week 

but note that the expected 

upward movement in prices is 

likely to be short-lived as the 

global demand for crude oil 

Continues from page 19 

stay up to 18 months in 

operation before having their 

AGM. With this provision, 

companies have the liberty 

still remain challenging amid 

the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

In their own opinion, 

analysts at Cordros Capital, 

stated: “Despite the market 

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 —19 

closing positive last week, 

risks remain on the horizon, 

given the rising cases of 

COVID-19 in Nigeria. More 

so, our base case is for the 

•Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (right) and his Special Adviser on Health 

Matters, Professor Wale Sulaiman; during a brief ceremony to hand over the revamped state's 

oxygen plant in Ilorin, the state capital, on Friday. 

Proxy AGM: Shareholders kick, says it disenfranchises 

investors, illegal 

NSE lists Flourmills, Primero BRT N36.5bn bonds 

2026 under the N100 billion 

Medium Term Bond 

Programme. 

The Group Managing 

Director, Flour Mills Nigeria 

Plc, Mr. Peter Gbededo, 

expressed excitement on the 

listing, saying: “We are 

delighted to return to the 

capital market with such a 

successful outing, especially 

with the level of interest 

shown by investors. The 

response from the market 

vindicates our decision to have 

taken this additional step to 

diversify our financing options 

beyond short-term commercial 

bank debt. 

“Furthermore, we are excited 

about the role NSE is playing 

in deepening secondary 

market liquidity thus aligning 

our market with international 

best practices, and we look 

CSCS boss appointed CSD representative on the 

global ISSA operating Committee 

THE International Securities 

Services Association, ISSA, 

has announced the appointment 

of Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, the 

Chief Executive Officer of 

Central Securities Clearing 

System, CSCS Plc, as the 

representative of the global 

community of Central Securities 

Depositories, CSD, on the 

to convert and pay more than 

90 percent of proposed final 

dividend as interim, they 

said. 

They also expressed 

forward to enjoying the 

benefits of these efforts in our 

short and long-term 

instruments.” 

Speaking, Oscar Onyema, 

Chief Executive Officer, NSE, 

reiterated the commitment of 

the Exchange to support its 

stakeholders saying: “As an 

Exchange, we are committed 

to ensuring that our 

operations and trading 

activities continue seamlessly 

throughout this period. 

We have put in place the 

requisite measures to 

guarantee that our staff are 

able to provide requisite 

support, our stakeholders are 

able to conduct business 

digitally, and that all relevant 

information continues to flow 

into the market to spur capital 

market activity during the 

COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Operating Committee of the 

ISSA. 

The Operating Committee of 

the ISSA, chaired by Mr. Jyichen 

Chueh, Executive Director, 

Standard Chartered Bank, is the 

pivotal committee of the ISSA 

saddled with the responsibility 

of providing technical support 

and execution to the Executive 

concern that members who 

were nominated for election 

into the audit committee 

might be sidelined as a 

result of the lockdown order 

in place, adding that the 

proxy form does not contain 

list of additional prospecting 

shareholders, who may want 

to contest the election. 

According to them, the 

recommendation by the CAC 

that companies should only 

concentrate on the ordinary 

business/resolutions at the 

AGMs due to the 

coronavirus, COVID-19, 

pandemic, goes against 

Section 211 (1) of CAMA, 

which stipulates that 

shareholders present at an 

AGM should be at liberty to 

discuss any matter relating 

to their companies as 

presented in the circulated 

annual reports. 

“The proxy form does not 

address this as it only 

contains the resolutions. 

Companies will always say 

that you can put your 

questions in writing to them 

but you may wish to know 

that they do not reply neither 

do they put a call across to 

federal government to extend 

the presently instituted 

lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, and 

Ogun, by another one week. 

Thus, we advise investors to 

trade cautiously, taking 

positions in fundamentally 

justified stocks.” 

Board of ISSA in proposing, 

executing and managing work 

projects aimed at advancing 

securities services, globally. 

Speaking on the appointment, 

Parry Colin, Chief Executive, 

ISSA, said, “We are delighted 

that Jalo has agreed to be a 

member of the ISSA Operating 

Committee going forward. We 

welcome him as the 

representative of the World 

Forum of Central Securities 

Depositories, WFC, to the 

Committee”. 

He expressed excitement at 

Jalo-waziri appointment, saying 

that he looks forward to his 

invaluable contributions towards 

delivering on the audacious 

mission and strategic objectives 

of the ISSA, going forward. 

In his reaction, Mr Jalo-Waziri, 

noted: “This is a clarion call to 

service in an industry that I am 

most passionate about. It is my 

pleasure to have been nominated 

and appointed to join the 

esteemed professionals on the 

Operating Committee of the ISSA 

and I look forward to working with 

colleagues, with diverse global 

experience in actively promoting 

forward-thinking solutions that 

create efficiencies and mitigate 

risk within the global securities 

services industry.” 

you for clarification where 

needed. Even at the 

meeting, most companies 

will deny you the 

opportunity to ask questions 

for want of time or 

deliberately refuse,” they 

said. 

Other issues raised include 

approval of remuneration of 

directors of the companies, 

which falls under special 

business.“Where will the 

company derive its power to 

pay the directors if the 

matter has been rightly 

excluded in the proxy AGM? 

Will it not amount to unlawful 

act if the payment is made 

to the directors without 

shareholders’ approval? Will 

the companies organize 

Extra-ordinary General 

Meetings, EGM, to address 

this in future,” they queried. 

Recall that following the 

approval by CAC for proxy 

AGM, some companies have 

announced their intention to 

conduct their AGM using 

the model, while Guaranty 

Trust Bank (GTB) has 

already held its AGM under 

the new arrangement.



Bond prices to rise further as N253bn 

inflow boosts interbank liquidity 

Continues from page 18 

(and yields to moderate) 

against the backdrop of 

expected boost in financial 

system.” 

Analysts at Cordros Capital 

also projected: “We expect the 

Treasury bond secondary 

market to remain bullish in the 

coming week, as investors 

continue to seek to re-invest 

maturities.” 

On their part, analysts at 

Zedcrest Capital stated: “We 

maintain our expectation for 

this locally-driven demand to 

persist in the near-term. In the 

wake of moves by the Federal 

Government to cut its 

budgetary spending and 

increasing borrowing as a 

result of the COVID-19 

pandemic, we expect the Debt 

Management Office, DMO, to 

revise its borrowing calendar 

for the quarter should the FG’s 

plans get the necessary 

approvals in place and thus 

adopt a more cautious 

approach mid-term.” 

Cost of funds to fall 

Meanwhile, the N253 billion 

inflow is also expected to 

prompt a downward movement 

in cost of funds in the interbank 

money market, in contrast to the 

spike recorded last week 

The spike which saw average 

short term cost of funds rising 

by 1,350 basis points, was 

occasioned by outflow of funds 

as the Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, debited banks for foreign 

exchange purchase and for 

penalties relating to Loan-to 

Deposit Ratio, LDR, defaults. 

Consequently, interest rate 

on Collateralised, Open Buy 

Back, OBB, lending rose by 

1,280 bpts to 15 percent last 

week from 2.2 percent the 

previous week. Similarly, 

interest rate on Overnight 

lending rose by 1,430 bpts to 

18.83 percent last week from 2.6 

percent this week. 

Analysts at Cowry Assets, 

however, expect this trend to 

be reversed this week due to 

the inflow of N253 billion from 

maturing treasury bills. 

“In the new week, T-bills 

worth N253.44 billion will 

mature via the primary and 

secondary markets which will 

more than offset T-bills worth 

N58.49 billion to be auctioned 

by CBN via the primary 

market; viz: 91-day bills worth 

N5.85 billion, 182-day bills 

worth N3.50 billion and 364- 

day bills worth N49.14 billion. 

Hence, we expect the stop 

rates to decline marginally 

amid financial liquidity ease,” 

they said. “ 

Analysts at Cordros Capital 

also said: “We expect the 

Overnight rate to contract in 

the coming week, as inflows 

from OMO maturities come 

into the system.” 

Naira depreciates, external 

reserves fall to $34.49bn 

On the foreign exchange 

scene, the naira last week 

depreciated in the parallel 

market and in the Investors 

and Exporters, I&E, window 

even as the nation’s external 

reserves fell to $34.493 billion. 

In response to continued exit 

of offshore investors, amidst 

low crude oil price, the external 

reserves which had been 

declining since July 5 last year, 

dropped further to $34.493 

billion on Thursday April 8, 

from $34.976 on Thursday April 

2. This translated to week-on- 

week decline of $483 million, 

down by 21 percent from $614 

million recorded the previous 

week. 

Meanwhile, the continued 

exit of off shore investors also 

prompted the naira to 

depreciate further by N1.83 at 

the I&E window as the 

indicative exchange rate for the 

window rose to N384.83 per 

dollar on Thursday from N383 

per dollar the previous week. 

Also, the scarcity of dollars 

occasioned by the two weeks 

suspension of dollar sales to 

bureaux de change by the 

CBN, prompted the naira to 

further depreciate by N2 at the 

parallel market as the market 

exchange rate rose to N416 per 

dollar last week from N414 per 

dollar the previous week. 

Analysts, however, expect the 

naira to enjoy some stability this 

week, following rebound in 

crude oil prices courtesy of the 

10 million barrels per day 

production cut agreement by 

the Organisation of Petroleum 

Exporting Countries (OPEC) 

and its allies last week. 

•L-R: Chief of Staff, Ekiti State, Hon. Biodun Omoleye; Flour Mills of Nigeria, FMN Regional 

Sales Manager, West, Mr. Ebenezer Adedeji Adu; and Coordinator, Task Force on COVID-19 

Ekiti State, Professor Bolaji Aluko; at the official handover of food products donated to the Ekiti 

State Government, as part of FMN’s commitment to alleviate the impact of the Coronavirus 

(COVID-19) pandemic across Nigeria in Ekiti on Friday. 

NDIC contributes N1bn to CA-COVID relief fund 

THE Nigeria Deposit 

Insurance Corporation, 

NDIC, has contributed N1 

billion to the Coalition Against 

COVID-19 Relief Fund. 

Disclosing this in a statement, 

Director of Communication and 

Public Affairs, Sunday Oluyemi 

said: “The Board of the Nigeria 

Deposit Insurance 

Corporation, NDIC, has 

approved the immediate 

release of the sum of N1 billion 

to the COVID-19 Relief Fund 

being put together to fight 

against the Corona Virus 

pandemic in Nigeria. 

“It would be recalled, that the 

Bankers Committee led by the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

at its emergency teleconference 

call meeting held on Monday, 

March 30, 2020, announced 

that the Committee and the 

private sector had set up an 

account at the CBN under the 

auspices of the Private Sector 

Coalition Against COVID-19. 

The Fund receives 

contributions from individuals 

as well as corporate 

organisations to complement 

efforts of the Federal 

Government as it strives to 

contain the spread of the 

pandemic in Nigeria. 

“In approving NDIC’s 

contribution to the Fund, the 

Board of the Corporation 

acknowledged that it was not 

only consistent with its policy 

on Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR; it also 

noted that the proceeds will be 

utilized in the provision of 

equipment and urgently 

needed medical facilities 

throughout the nation. This 

will include the procurement of 

testing kits, isolation and 

treatment centers, as well as the 

provision of Intensive Care 

Units, ICUs, and molecular 

testing labs wherever 

required.” 

COVID-19: Heritage Bank joins 

WHO to celebrate health 

workers globally 

HERITAGE Bank Plc has 

joined the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, in the 

celebration of “World Health 

Workers Week” and pay tribute 

to health workers globally for 

their selfless sacrifice and 

bravery in the fight against the 

Coronavirus pandemic causing 

countless mortality rates. 

The theme for the week-long 

celebration held last week is 

titled “Leaders on the Line,” 

which according to WHO 

highlights the need to provide 

greater leadership 

opportunities for frontline 

health workers - particularly 

women health workers, who 

make up more than 70 percent 

of the global health workforce. 

It further explained: “At the 

same time, this theme 

emphasizes how health 

workers often put themselves 

on the line, often at great 

personal risk to themselves and 

their families, to save and 

improve lives.” 

Commending the health 

practitioners worldwide, the 

Managing Director/Chief 

Executive Officer, Heritage 

Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo stated that 

the COVID-19 pandemic has 

shown the world the heroic 

efforts health workers on the 

front lines make every day to 

keep their respective 

communities and the world safe 

and healthy. 

“Despite the havoc caused by 

the of coronavirus pandemic on 

individuals and the medical 

personnel who are not spared 

by the disease, they continue 

to play significant roles to 

contain the spread of the 

disease, cater for the affected 

patients and embark on 

research to attain robust 

understanding of COVID-19. 

They also take steps further to 

proffer recommendation on 

how to remain safe, hale and 

hearty, whilst we all embrace 

the warmth and safety of our 

home. This is a calling on every 

individual within and outside 

to honour and support the 

brave healthcare workers doing 

life-saving work on the front 

lines,” he stated. 

He, however, assured that as 

a bank “We are proud to join 

forces with health workers and 

agencies to help suppress the 

transmission of the virus, 

minimize social-economic 

impacts on the global 

community and work together 

to boost the nation economic 

growth,” 

Also, as part of effort to 

support and attain a more 

robust health system in the 

country, Sekibo encouraged 

government at all levels, key 

stakeholders, including the 

private sector to strengthen 

financial and technical support 

for health workers, as part of 

efforts to create a safer 

environment for them. 

“It calls for our collective joint 

action to combat COVID-19 

since we are in this together 

and we will get through this 

together”, he said. 

Ecobank commends health workers in fight against COVID-19 

MANAGING Director, 

Ecobank Nigeria, 

Patrick Akinwuntan, has 

commended health workers 

contributing to keep the country 

safe as the world battles the 

dreaded coronavirus pandemic. 

He said that this group of 

people have continued to put the 

needs of others first and show 

sacrificial love to support the 

country’s effort at containing the 

scourge, stressing that the bank 

remains grateful for their 

steadfast love for humanity in the 

execution of their daily task. 

Akinwuntan thanked 

“caregivers; doctors, nurses, and 

all the hospital staff who daily 

put their lives on the line to make 

sure the battle against COVID- 

19 is won. They unrelentingly 

ensure citizens are cared for and 

that the hospitals are up and 

running despite the high risk to 

their individual health - we 

appreciate you.” 

He also identified with security 

personnel who have remained 

loyal and dedicated to the 

common pledge as a nation as 

they continue to ensure safety 

and security for all during this 

crisis period. Worthy of 

commendation too, Akinwuntan 

recognised the contributions and 

activities of the special task forces 

both at the Federal and State 

levels, who have continually 

shown leadership in the 

management of COVID-19; 

monitoring the situation and 

keeping all updated, adding 

that, those on essential services, 

including fuel distributors, bank 

staff, pharmaceutical personnel, 

grocery and food stores, amongst 

several others who daily face the 

challenge of providing for all also 

deserve accolades. 

He enjoined Nigeria citizens 

and residents to continue to 

support the efforts of the various 

governments to stem the impact 

of the pandemic, urging them to 

maximise the palliatives offered 

by the government, corporate 

organisations and public-spirited 

individuals. According to 

Akinwuntan, Ecobank in its 

efforts to ensure life is smooth as 

the world moves to curtail the 

spread of COVID-19, is making 

available its digital offerings 

which gives easy access to bank 

accounts, help to make 

payments, transfer funds, process 

salaries and carry out other 

ancillary banking transactions 

from the comfort of homes without 

visiting the branch.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 —21 

Nigerian economic war without a general 

WE are faced with a chal 

lenge that no government 

in the history of Nigeria 

has ever faced. So, we have to 

redesign our economic planning 

and change our thinking,” 

- Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, 

Vanguard, March 3, 

2020. Osinbajo was speaking 

as the Chair of the Economic 

Sustainabilty Committee, ESC, 

set up by President Mohammadu 

Buhari early last week. 

On the same day, the Chairman 

of the Presidential Committee 

on the review of the Impact 

of the Coronavirus (COV- 

ID-19) on the Economy, the 

Minister of Finance, Budget 

and National Planning, Mrs 

Zainab Ahmed, was also addressing 

the nation with respect 

to her committee’s assignment. 

Permit me to clap 

with one hand for reasons 

which need explaining to be 

fully understood. 

On one hand, it is commendable 

that President Buhari is 

just in April setting up committees 

to examine grave matters 

of national interest which other 

more pro-active global leaders 

have faced once COVID- 

19 hit China – the second largest 

economy in the world and 

increasingly the source of numerous 

imports for other countries. 

Despite the fact that China is 

half a world away from us, 

within the context of the global 

village, that Asian giant is actually 

closer to us than the Republic 

of Benin. An old sage 

has warned others before us. 

“When your neighbour’s wall 

is on fire, it becomes your business.” 

- Horace 65-8B.C, VBQ 

P 171). 

COVID-19 set China aflame. 

Then it moved to Europe, Asia 

and finally America weeks ago. 

Those are our economic neighbours. 

We are just now setting 

up the committees to address 

the imminent economic catastrophe. 

One must clap with one 

hand based on the principle of 

“better late than never”. Perhaps 

now, we might escape total 

economic, political and physical 

annihilation as a nation. I 

doubt it. 

The other hand is down for 

cardinal reasons which are inextricably 

linked like Siamese 

quadruplets. One, Nigerian 

government’s committees, from 

time immemorial, are notorious 

for making recommendations 

which are riddled with compromises 

and which are consequently 

useless. Cast your 

mind back to all the Committees 

on Health, Education, Agriculture 

etc. Nothing suggests 

these two committees will produce 

a different result. 

Two, it is unclear why there 

are two committees instead of 

one. Globally, at the moment, 

no nation is considering these 

two unprecedented challenges 

as separate issues. A predicted 

mild global recession for 2020 

has now escalated into a possible 

depression, as well as a fundamental 

revolution in global 

business. 

Furthermore, the threat of a 

possible rebound of COVID-19 

lurks in the background calling 

into question when, or if, whole 

sectors of global economy might 

recover eg airlines, tourism and 

cruise ships for years. 

At any rate, the two committees 

give cause for concern for 

three other reasons. First, Buhari’s 

penchant for selecting the 

VP or a Minister to head a committee 

despite the person’s demonstrable 

lack of competence 

in the core subject matter. Osinbajo 

was the Chairman of the 

Economic Management Team, 

EMT, for four years and we 

knew how far that team got us. 

As a Professor of Law, he is 

undoubtedly extremely intelligent. 

But, Albert Einstein, 

regarded as the person with 

the highest Intelligence Quotient, 

IQ, ever is on record for 

saying that “I gave up reading 

Economics because it was 

too difficult”. It is doubtful if I 

could have been a great lawyer 

or nuclear scientist also. 

Similarly, the Finance Minister 

is straddling two disciplines 

– public health and 

macro-economic analysis and 

recommendations. She lacks 

the capacity to function as an 

expert in each of them. We 

have the wrong two team captains. 

There is a clear and present 

danger that, given areas of 

overlap in their assignments, 

the committees might come up 

with different recommendations 

on the same issue. Reconciliation 

of divergent views 

will take more time than we 

can afford right now. Anarchy 

is fervently knocking at our 

gates nationwide. 

Right now, global crude oil 

producers have now been 

boxed into a corner for reasons 

too numerous to explain here. 

Nigeria in particular is in a 

deep hole from which it will be 

difficult to crawl out. To get out 

of their own recession, consumers 

need cheap oil — the 

cheaper, the better. Nigeria will 

be ruined if it sells at less than 

$40 per barrel for a long time. 

Most of our external loans and 

domestic debts were based on 

the assumption that we might 

never get as low as that. Now, 

$30 appears like a price we 

would be too happy to get. The 

despairing question is: what do 

we do now? We have never 

thought of it. We must NOW. 

Every war fought by every 

country, since time immemorial, 

requires a General – a vigorous 

leader who is conversant 

with several aspects of the 

struggles and who can delegate 

but not abdicate his ultimate 

responsibility. He must, 

above all, be a spell-binding 

speaker whose words can lift 

the morale of the people – even 

when the tide of battle is against 

them. Where is our General for 

this monumental fight for our 

lives? 

Because, the current global 

catastrophe had been frequently 

likened to the Second World 

War, WWII, permit me to bring 

into this discussion, the role of 

three leaders during that war 

and how, by sheer oratory, they 

got their people to rise to the 

occasion, make the sacrifices 

needed and to overcome adversity. 

It has been so down the 

ages. 

“Words can achieve all that 

an enemy can hope to 

achieve.” - Euripides, 480-450 

BC. VBQ P 282. 

“Words are, of course, the 

most powerful drugs used by 

mankind.” - Rudyard Kipling, 

1865-1936, VBQ P 282. 

Franklin D Roosevelt, US 

President, was confronted with 

an economic depression at 

home and war abroad. He 

merged the two. Measures 

were introduced with bewildering 

rapidity by his government. 

He united the country behind 

him. But, above all, he institutionalised 

the “Fire Side Chats” 

during which at regular intervals, 

he talked to the American 

people – like a Father. Repeatedly 

he told Americans 

“the only thing we need to fear 

is fear itself.” 

Sir Winston Churchill was the 

dean of the orators – a position 

he shared with Adolf Hitler on 

the other side. When Germany 

had Britain down on her knees 

Churchill defiantly announced. 

“We shall fight…” 

Hitler, on his own part kept 

Germans fighting at least eighteen 

months longer than they 

could have done without his 

morale-boosting exhortations. 

Just as important as battalions, 

aircrafts, naval ships etc, 

WWII was also a war of words 

uttered by leaders seen on television 

everyday with wellscripted 

messages. 

By contrast, Nigeria has a 

leader with a bunker mentality. 

He emerges reluctantly to 

address the nation without energy 

or conviction; no fire. The 

monotony of delivery will make 

a statute weep. It will amount 

to self-deception of the worst 

kind to assume we can make 

headway with such a leader in 

the war ahead. 

The committees can end up 

with excellent recommendations 

– accompanied with great 

implementation plans and 

timelines. But, they cannot escape 

asking Nigerians to make 

more sacrifices. 

Only a great speaker can enlist 

that sort of support now or 

ever – especially after the leader 

himself had openly failed to 

make the sacrifices he will demand 

later of the people. 

Finally, why set up new committees 

instead of asking the 

Economic Advisory Council to 

expand its work to include the 

impact of COVID-19 on the 

economy? 


COVID-19: FRC directs external auditors to apply alternative procedures 

By Babajide Komolafe 

THE Financial Reporting 

Council has directed 

external auditors to apply alternative 

procedures to obtain 

audit evidence in order reduce 

the impact of the COV- 

ID-19 pandemic on the audit 

process. 

The directive was contained 

in a document titled, “Guidance 

for External Auditors 

and Matters to Consider during 

COVID-19 period”. 

Nothing that additional 

time may be required to document, 

review audit engagements 

due to some measures 

taken by Federal and state 

governments in collaboration 

with ministries, departments 

and agencies (MDAs) to contain 

the scourge of COVID- 

19, the Council advised 

external auditors to be flexible 

in carrying out their audit 

assignment. 

In statement explaining 

highlights of the guidance, 

FRC stated: “The guidance 

highlights the implications of 

the COVID-19 outbreak on 

audits and auditors in Nige- 

ria and actions to be taken when 

carrying out audits during the 

current Covid-19 crisis in the 

following areas: New Audit 

Engagement; Audit Planning, 

Execution and Reporting; Assessing 

the Impact of COVID - 

19; Events after the reporting 

date; Going concern; and Audit 

of 2020 financial statements 

(Audit and Accounting issues). 

“It addresses the difficulties au- 

dit firms currently face in completing 

all appropriate audit 

steps as a result of the lockdown 

in Nigeria occasioned by the 

need to contain the spread of 

COVID-19 which has occasioned 

delay in the completion of audit 

and approval of Financial Statements 

by the Board of reporting 

entities. 

“The guidance directs practitioners 

to demonstrate flexibility 

in their work pattern, which 

includes work from home arrangements, 

use of video/telephone 

conferencing, and electronic 

evidence. “However, 

Auditors should apply alternative 

procedures if they are 

still not able to obtain sufficient 

appropriate audit evidence 

as a result of differing 

levels of infrastructure in the 

country. 

MICROFINANCE 

“If Auditors are still not able 

to obtain sufficient appropriate 

audit evidence, then they 

should consider modifying 

the opinion on the financial 

statements in line with ISA. 

“The audited financial statements 

containing the modified 

opinion must then be brought 

to the Council’s attention in 

accordance with the provisions 

of the FRC Act.” 

COVID-19: Cooperative provides palliatives to 10,000 households 

By Naomi Uzor 

LASCOMED Cooperative 

and Oyosowapo Group of 

Cooperatives, last weekend, has 

complimented government efforts 

in providing palliatives to Nigerians 

against the Coronavirus 

(COVID-19) lockdown by distributing 

food items to over 10,000 

households. 

In a statement by the President 

& CEO of the Cooperative Rating 

& Award Society of Nigeria (CRA- 

SoN), Mr. Victor Oyegoke, he disclosed 

that the effort is aimed at 

complimenting the Federal and 

State Governments’ stimulus 

package for the masses in Abuja-FCT, 

Lagos and Ogun States 

during this stay-at-home order. 

“This is a welcome initiative by 

these two leading National Cooperative 

Award Winners in Nigeria 

and worthy of emulation by 

others to serve as encouragement 

to more Cooperative Societies 

and Unions to reach out and 

touch lives of their members” he 

said. 

He also enjoined members of 

cooperatives to adhere and follow 

health advise on the COV- 

ID-19 Awareness and Enlightenment 

by ensuring personal 

hygiene, wearing of face masks, 

Washing Hands and disinfecting 

all surfaces and environment regularly, 

Using of hand sanitizers 

and maintaining social distancing 

as the case may be to 

avoid contracting and or 

spreading of the virus. 

“The effect of the total lock down 

especially in Abuja-FCT, Lagos 

and Ogun States as a result of 

the COVID-19 pandemic is no 

doubt seriously affecting the socio-economic 

needs and aspirations 

of the Cooperators” he disclosed. 

While interacting with the President 

of LASCOMED Cooperative, 

Mrs. M. O. Bakare few 

days ago, on the motives behind 

this great initiative of her Cooperative, 

she said, “we at our society 

are proactive leaders with 

deep human feelings, hence putting 

into action the Cooperative 

principles and ethical values of 

caring for others, social responsibility 

and concern for community 

comes naturally” she said. 

Bakare urged other Cooperative 

Leaders, no matter how small, 

to embark on such initiatives 

that can help relieve their members’ 

predicament at this period 

and to demonstrate their Motto; 

“Each for All... All for Each!”


:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews 

Return to work, Ayade tells civil 

servants ...insists people are safe with masks 

LAGOS — FOLLOW- 

ING controversies on 

whether or not late Elder 

statesman, Chief Anthony 

Enahoro, did anything 

warranting presidential 

pardon, Veteran Journalist, 

Eric Teniola, has said 

that the late nationalist was 

indicted by a military panel 

during the regime of late 

Major General Murtala 

Muhammed. 

Eric Teniola said: “The 

panel exonerated only two 

former military governors 

— Brigadier Mobolaji 

Johnson of Lagos State, 

and Brigadier Oluwole 

Rotimi of the Western State. 

The remaining 10 were indicted 

and the panel asked 

that all their assets be 

seized by the military government.” 

Enahoro was convicted 

thrice for sedition during 

the colonial era. He was 

also convicted for treason 

by the Tafawa Balewa Government 

in 1963, jailed 

and later pardoned in 1966 

Following the pardon, 

the nationalist served as 

federal commissioner 

(minister) for Information 

and Labour from 1967 to 

1974 and then Special Duties 

from 1974 to 1975 under 

the General Yakubu 

Gowon-led military government. 

After overthrowing Gowon, 

the Muhammed government 

set up a federal 

assets investigation panel 

in 1976, which indicted 

Enahoro and his assets 

were confiscated. 

Enahoro; former gover- 

CALABAR — Gover 

nor Ben Ayade, of 

Cross River, has asked 

civil servants from grade 

level 10 to return to work 

from Tuesday. 

This is despite WHO’s 

recommendation on lockdown 

and social distancing 

as measures to limit 

the spread of COVID-19. 

The governor, a professor 

of science, gave the 

directive three days after 

he said no need for social 

distancing if people 

wear masks. In a statement 

by , his Senior Special 

Assistant, SSA, on 

Media, Christian Ita, the 

governor instructed the 

state garment factory not 

to sell masks but give 

them out for free. 

According to the statement 

“The governor of 

Cross River State, Professor 

Ben Ayade has issued 

the following new orders: 

All civil servants from 

Grade Level 10 and above 

are to resume work on 

Tuesday, April 14, 2020. 

The no mask no movement 

policy is still in full 

force. All returning civil 

servants are to receive 

nose masks from the 

COVID-19 Response 

Task Force through their 

respective permanent 

secretaries. All nose 

masks to be used in the 

state must be locally 

made, with the place of 

origin clearly marked. 

“The sale of masks 

made by the Cross River 

State Garment Factory is 

prohibited. Masks are to 

be distributed free of 

Military panel indicted Enahoro in 1976 

— Teniola 

nor of defunct Bendel State, 

Professor Ambrose Alli and 

two others were granted 

presidential pardon, last 

week, sparking controversies 

in the polity. 

Veteran Journalist, Eric 

Teniola, who reported the 

proceedings of the panel at 

P 

/HARCOURT— THE 

Rivers State government, 

has condemned 

what it called paid media 

publications aimed at rubbishing 

the state government’s 

effort to curtail the 

spread of coronavirus in 

the state. 

Reacting to editorials in 

two national dallies, painting 

the state government 

in bad light over its action 

against Carveton Helicopters, 

Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, 

media aide to the Rivers 

State governor, said 

“For the umpteenth time, 

let me emphasise that the 

Rivers State Government 

did not challenge the permit 

granted to the pilots to 

fly in persons on essential 

duties. The state government 

did not arrest the pilots 

for flying into the state. 

“It must be stated clearly 

that the protection of Rivers 

people cannot be compromised 

on the altar of 

any profession. It cannot be 

compromised on the altar 

of monetary consideration 

as promoted by the Aviation 

Minister. 

“With credible intelligence 

on the deliberate 

transportation of suspected 

the time, told The Cable 

that Enahoro was indicted. 

Murtala Muhammed 

overthrew Gowon in a military 

coup on July 29, 1975. 

On September 16, 1975, 

Muhammed set up the federal 

assets investigation 

panel to probe all former 

governors, 

EASTER 

SUNDAY: 

Empty Assemblies 

of God 

C h u r c h 

worship hall, 

M o k o l a , 

Ibadan, as 

worshipers 

complied with 

the stay at home 

order of the 

government on 

Easter Sunday 

in Ibadan. 

charge. All entry and exit 

points (air, land and water) 

into the state hereby 

remain closed for a further 

two weeks. For any emergency 

evacuation by air, 

a certification by the national 

headquarters of the 

National Center for Disease 

Control (NCDC) is 

required. Even so, the 

pilots are prohibited from 

stepping out of the aircraft 

“Nobody is allowed in 

public places such as markets, 

shopping malls, 

sports arena, banks etc 

without the correct use of 

appropriate nose mask. 

Mass gatherings of all 

kinds such as worships, 

weddings, burials etc remain 

prohibited. Defaulters 

will be prosecuted in 

accordance with the relevant 

provisions of the 

Cross River State Epidemic 

and Pandemic Law 

2020.” 

Rivers govt decries alleged plot to 

rubbish efforts at curtailing COVID-19 

cases of coronavirus into 

Rivers State by Carveton 

Helicopters without subjecting 

such cases to tests 

by Rivers health professionals, 

Governor Nyesom 

Wike opened different 

lines of communication 

with the Federal Authorities. 

But they ignored all 

entreaties. When it became 

clear that there were 

sinister plots to cripple Rivers 

State with an escalation 

of coronavirus, Governor 

Wike stated his position in 

a state broadcast. 

“He declared The Federal 

Government should 

prevail on its agencies that 

connive with Aero Contractors 

and Caverton Helicopters 

to fly in workers 

on essential services to the 

state to ensure that the 

health status of these individuals 

as it relates to COV- 

ID-19 is ascertained. 

“The Rivers State Government 

took action on 

April 7, 2020, following 

Carveton’s continued disrespect 

for the laws of Rivers 

State and their disregard 

for Rivers people. This 

was two days after Governor 

Wike drew the attention 

of the entire world to 

this conspiracy. 

“There is no record of 

any editorial by the media 

houses to urge the Federal 

Government to prevail 

on Carveton Helicopters to 

respect the health protocols 

set up to protect Rivers 

people from the deadly 

coronavirus. “To these people, 

the Rivers State Government 

should play second 

fiddle in the face of deliberate 

actions to frustrate 

the protection of Rivers 

people. The questions begging 

for answers are: What 

is Carveton Helicopters 

hiding by refusing to subject 

her pilots and passengers 

to established health 

protocols when they arrive 

Rivers State? 

“Why is the Federal Government 

only concerned 

about the money to be 

made in total disregard of 

measures to protect Rivers 

people from coronavirus? 

“Why has the Federal 

Government refused to prevail 

on Carveton Helicopters 

to supply Rivers State 

Health Authorities with relevant 

manifests and data 

of the over 300 expatriates 

and other field oil workers 

flown into Rivers State from 

Lagos?” 

Jootar killings: Repeat of 

Zaki Biam 2001 massacre 

looms — Benue group 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI — THE 

Ukum Development 

Association, UDA, 

has warned against a repeat 

of the Zaki Biam massacre 

of October 2001 after 

the military allegedly 

claimed two of its personnel 

were missing in last 

Wednesday’s invasion of 

Jootar in Ukum Local Government 

Area, LGA, of Benue 

State by suspected 

Jukun militia from neighbouring 

Taraba State. 

Addressing the media 

yesterday in Makurdi, 

President General of UDA, 

Joseph Terzungwe said 

“the attackers, bearing sophisticated 

weapons unleashed 

mayhem on the 

villagers. Three persons 

were killed, many houses 

were burnt down and 

property including foodstuff 

were destroyed. Some 

of the villagers who were 

woken up by the attack 

fled, others picked courage 

and resisted the attack. 

“Later on that same day 

some army officers came 

from Wukari LGA in Taraba 

state to Jootar and 

claimed that two of their 

officers were missing at 

Jootar that same day. 

“We understand that the 

Army has mobilized to 

Wukari, perhaps for the 

purpose of invading Ukum 

to seek for their alleged 

missing colleague. We recall 

sadly that in October, 

2001 the Nigerian Army 

claimed that they lost 20 

soldiers in the Jukun/Tiv 

crises on 12th October, 2001 

along the Gbeji axis of 

Ukum LGA. 

“The Nigerian government 

deployed a team of 

military personnel to Gbeji 

for the purpose of fishing 

out the alleged killers 

of the Soldiers. These soldiers 

lured the local people 

to assemble at the Gbeji 

market square ostensibly to 

talk peace but ended up 

opening fire on them and 

murdered several of them 

in cold blood. 

COVID-19: Ramaphosa 

appoints Okonjo-Iweala, 

Manuel as special envoys 

By Victoria Ojeme 

ABUJA — THE Chair 

person of the African 

Union, President of South 

Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, 

has appointed ex-Nigerian 

finance minister, Dr 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr 

Donald Kaberuka, Mr Tidjane 

Thiam and Mr Trevor 

Manuel as Special Envoys 

of the African Union. 

They are to mobilise international 

support for Africa’s 

efforts to address the 

economic challenges African 

countries will face as a 

result of the COVID-19 

pandemic. The special envoys 

were tasked with soliciting 

rapid and concrete 

support as pledged by the 

G20, the European Union 

and other international financial 

institutions. 

Announcing the appointment 

yesterday, Ramaphosa 

stated, “In the light of 

the devastating socio-economic 

and political impact 

of the pandemic on African 

countries, these institutions 

need to support African 

economies that are facing 

serious economic challenges 

with a comprehensive 

stimulus package for Africa, 

including deferred debt 

and interest payments.” 

The South Africa President 

observed the global 

impact of the coronavirus 

pandemic in both scale and 

reach, noting that this required 

coordinated international 

action to stimulate 

all countries to respond effectively, 

but most particularly, 

developing countries 

that continue to shoulder 

a historical burden of poverty, 

inequality and underdevelopment. 

Ramaphosa added, “The 

sentiment expressed in 

two recent letters written to 

the G20 by a group of 

world leaders and a team 

of esteemed economists 

underscore the importance 

of bolstering health systems 

in poorer countries; 

this can only be done with 

the support of the international 

community.” 

The AU Chair said the 

appointment of the special 

envoys would expedite the 

process of securing economic 

support to enable 

countries on the continent 

to respond swiftly to the 

grave public health emergency. 

COVID-19: 136 South Africans 

evacuated from Nigeria 

By Lawani Mikairu 

LAGOS — 136 South 

Africa nationals 

were, yesterday, airlifted 

out of Nigeria through the 

Muritala Muhammed International 


This makes South Africa 

the ninth country to evacuate 

its citizens out of the 

country as a result of the 

current corona virus in Nigeria. 

The South Africa Airways 

SA2259 flight conducted 

with Airbus 346 

with registration number 

ZS -SNB arrived Nigeria, 

yesterday afternoon, with 

17 passengers, including 

the crew members, already 

aboard. 

After the screening of the 

passengers and boarding 

formalities, the flight departed 

the Lagos Airport 

yesterday night with the 

137 passengers and crew 

straight to Johannesburg, 

South Africa.




LOCKDOWN: St Theresa’s Catholic Church Bwari, under lock and key on Easter Sunday as total 

lockdownto contain the spread of COVID-19 continued in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN 

Lockdown Violation: Abuja authorities arrest 

cleric, two foreigners, impound 269 vehicles 

ABUJA—THE Feder 

al Capital Territory 

Administration (FCTA) 

Enforcement Team, has 

confirmed the arrest of a 

cleric, a Turkish and an 

Angolan for violating the 

presidential lockdown 

directive in the FCT 

aimed at curtailing the 

spread of the coronavirus 

(COVID-19) pandemic 

in Abuja. 

Chairman of the FCTA 

Enforcement Team on 

Movement Restrictions 

Ikharo Attah, , in a statement 

yesterday in Abuja, 

said the team had 

also impounded no fewer 

than 269 vehicles for 

By Ola Ajayi 

I BADAN—RESI 

DENTS of Kudeti and 

Oke Odo in Ibadan 

South East Local Government 

area of Oyo 

State, yesterday, called 

on the Inspector-General 

of Police to deploy his 

special team to the state 

to tame the terror gang 

known as One Million 

Boys. 

Recall that a fracas 

broke out between a 

dreaded gang known as 

One Million Boys and 

other gangs late on Saturday 

night. 

When the dust settled, 

a man called Ekugbemi 

was said to have been 

killed by the leader of 

One Million Boys. 

In a statement by one 

of the residents of the 

area, Shina Akinpelu 

called on the state police 

command to provide adequate 

security as other 

rival gangs had threatened 

a reprisal attack on 

the community over the 

killing of Ekugbemi. 

Akinpelu said: "We are 

appealing to the Inspector 

General of Police to 


stay-at-home order. 

“We got to Area one 

Roundabout, where a 

particular man was arrested 

with four military 

caps, he put one army 

cap in his boot, then another 

one for Nigeria Air 

Force and two other ones 

for Nigeria Navy, all in 

one vehicle. 

“We arrested and 

handed him over to the 

FCT Commissioner of 

Police. 

“Then we also had another 

case of a man 

whose vehicle was taken 

to VIO office in Area one 

and immediately, he decided 

to strip himself 

naked, removed all his 

clothes in protest that he 

must work, that he did 

not believe in the existence 

of COVID-19,” he 

said. 

“We also arrested the 

Imam of Wuye Jumma’at 

Mosque because we received 

several complaints 

that the Imam 

had held a congregational 

prayer on Friday. 

“But that Friday, we 

were at Kuje, we could 

not have come back within 

five minutes. So we 

got there today and invited 

him to come and 

explain; and we cautioned 

him at the FCT 

Police Command, Garki. 

“We also arrested two 

expatriates at Glo Junction 

for violating the 

presidential order, going 

out without permit. 

“We arrested a Turkish 

man and man Angolan. 

They’ve been handed 

over to the police and 

taken to the Maitama,” 

he said. 

He warned the FCT 

residents, particularly 

uniformed personnel 

and diplomats against 

violating the lockdown 

order of President Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

Ibadan residents petition Police over cult war 

urgently deploy his IRT 

team to Oyo state to 

tame the terror gang 

known as One Million 

Boys and others. 

"On behalf of Oke-Odo, 

Oke-Oluokun, Oke-Ola 

community, the notorious 

leader of 'One Million 

Boys' is not an indigene 

of Oke-Odo community 

as some people 

are saying. Our attention 

has been drawn to the 

story making round that 

the notorious leader of 

'One Million Boys' is an 

Indigene of Oke-Odo 

community. We want to 

use this medium to call 

on members of the public 

and all security agencies 

in the state that this 

hoodlum who has constituted 

a nuisance to 

our community is not 

from our community." 

GOV POLL: Ondo PDP Forum alleges bias over 

Olafeso's ambition 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Peoples 

Democratic Party Solidarity 

Forum in Ondo 

State, weekend, accused 

the national secretariat of 

backing the multiple ambitions 

of the National Vice 

Chairman of the party 

(South West), Eddy Olafeso. 

In a statement by coordinator 

of the forum, Yemi 

Aromolaran said that 

Olafeso, a governorship aspirant 

of the party, could 

not remain as the national 

officer and determine the 

fate of other governorship 

aspirants. 

Aromolaran said: "Doesn't 

the National Vice Chairman/governorship 

aspirant 

feel any moral burden sitting 

down to fashion out 

rules that will guide the conduct 

of the congresses of 

those who would determine 

his fate during the coming 

governorship primary? 

"How does he want other 

aspirants to feel now that 

their respective fate is to be 

determined by a co-aspirant, 

would he consider the 

situation fair if it was the 

other way?. 

"Wouldn't it be right for 

him to resign his position 

and stop being a judge in 

his own case as a confidence 

building measure 

and as a means to show to 

all aspirants and Party faithful 

that a level playing field 

would be provided for all?" 

Aromolaran also accused 

"the National Secretariat of 

the party of deliberate bias 

towards the National Vice 

Chairman without recourse 

to the principles of justice 

and fairness. 

"Such an action will definitely 

send the wrong signals 

to party faithful, who 

have worked tirelessly to 

ensure that the unity of the 

party becomes nonnegotiable." 

He, however, threatened 

"to mobilize members of the 

party in the state against 

the injustices he perceived 

against the people." 

But responding, the party's 

South west Publicity 

Secretary, Ayo Fadaka, 

said that the group "knows 

little or nothing about the 

guidelines of the party." 

Fadaka said: "There is 

nothing that precludes 

anyone in the party to have 

multiple ambitions." 

Review policy banning 200hp 

engines on Bayelsa waterways 

— Activist begs Diri 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—ENVI 

RONMENTALIST, 

Mr Alagoa Morris has 

called on Governor Douye 

Diri of Bayelsa State to lift 

the ban on 200 horse power 

engines in the state to 

save victims of sea pirates’ 

attacks on the waterways. 

The 200 horse power and 

above engines were banned 

four years from plying the 

state waterways by the state 

government following the 

increase in sea pirates’ attacks 

and kidnapping in the 

predominantly riverine 

state. 

Morris who made the appeal 

yesterday in Yenagoa 

said, though criminal elements 

(sea pirates and kidnappers) 

used more of these 

high powered engines 

which enables them to carry 

out their criminal acts 

and escape easily, the their 

activities had not ceased 

completely in the state since 

the ban. 

His words, “the banning 

of 200hp engines on the 

waterways have further 

endangered the lives of 

passengers and prevented 

some from plying the 

creeks. My calling on the 

state government to review 

this policy is predicated on 

the fact that; not allowing 

those who can afford to hire 

Benin/Itsekiri crisis: Benin group, 

lawyer reject ad-hoc peace c'ttee 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—THE 

hope of resolving the 

crisis between the Benins 

and Itsekiri in Ikpoba-Okha 

local government area of 

Edo State may be far from 

over as the Benin Solidarity 

Movement (BSM) an 

activist, Olayiwola Afolabi 

yesterday condemned the 

recent adhoc committee set 

up by the Olu of Warr, His 

Majesty Ogiamen Ikenwoli. 

It would be recalled that 

the ad-hoc committee headed 

by Chief Tesigiweno 

Pesssu recently appealed 

for peace in the area saying 

it was consulting with 

both parties in the crisis to 

find a lasting solution. 

But at a briefing yesterday, 

President of BSM, 

Curtis Ugbo said neither 

the Oba of Benin, Oba 

Ewuare II nor Governor 

Godwin Pbaseki was consulted 

before the committee 

was set up. 

"We view with grave concern 

the recent moves of 

Olu of Warri , Ogiame Ikenwoli 

in setting up an ad-hoc 

peace implementation com- 

or use them also places 

their lives and property at 

the mercy of criminals who 

still have the 200hp engines 

and use them in certain 

parts of the creeks/waterways. 

“Not only are 200hp powered 

engine boats having 

the capacity to evade attack; 

they are also safer for 

those who may have reason 

to ride on the sea. They 

are bigger, more spacious 

and boost confidence of passengers. 

“The situation in Ondo, 

Delta and Rivers State are 

not the same with the kind 

of restriction in Bayelsa 

state. Even though there 

were JTF Checkpoints 

along the route, there was 

no issue concerning use of 

200hp engine. Only in 

Bayelsa State is our lawabiding 

citizens allowed to 

be chased by criminals in 

the creeks/waterways, catch 

up with and harmed; even 

those who could have escaped 

if they were using 

200hp engines. 

“With all the armed robbery 

and kidnapping in 

non-riverine environment 

in the entire nation, there 

is no place where cars of 

any sort has been banned; 

even when it is known that 

criminals use even Jeeps 

and other exotic cars to perpetrate 

their criminal acts. 

mittee on the Ologbo crisis. 

We view the move as a 

way of shielding Johnson 

Atseleghe from justice and 

we will not take that. 

"The question BSM 

would ask the Olu of Warri 

is where was he all these 

years when Atseleghe and 

his band of criminals have 

been making life unbearable 

for the Benin people 

in Ologbo Dukedom killing 

and maiming them at 

will? Is Ologbo dukedom in 

Itsekiri land?” 

On his part, Afolabi while 

commending the position of 

BSM said “Ologbo is not 

in Delta state, Ologbo is in 

Edo State. Anything that 

connects, affects or happens 

in Ologbo is not Delta 

that will come and settle 

a problem in Ologbo so I 

condemn in its entirety the 

action of Olu of Warri who 

is not an indigene of Edo 

state to come and set up a 

committee to look into what 

is happening in Ologbo. 

That is the concern of Edo 

state or our Oba of Benin 

so except he gets directive 

from the Oba of Benin. His 

action is wrong, it is illegal 

and it is anti-cultural.’’


OSA MBONU-AMADI 

08070524223 

The Last Supper painted by 

Leonardo da Vinci on the 

wall in the refectory of the 

Dominican monastery of Santa 

Maria della Grazie in Milan is 

said to reveal Leonardo at his 

superlative best. But just as the 

biblical event led to the tragic 

event of Good Friday (coincidentally 

on the same day this story 

is being written) and ultimately 

unto a victorious outcome, Easter 

Sunday, The Last Supper, as 

an artwork, bears a similar story. 

The history 

Having grown up and lived in 

Florence in the service of Lorenzo 

the Magnificent, head of the 

Medici family which ruled Florence 

at that time, Leonardo da 

Vinci became somewhat uncomfortable 

living in the city. He had 

witnessed a lot of violence arising 

from the execution of some 

conspirators who had attempted 

to assassinate Lorenzo. He had 

also escaped being jailed on a 

trumped-up charge of committing 

sodomy. 

Besides, having no education, 

the young Leonardo hardly fitted 

into the circle of well-read 

friends of Lorenzo, made up of 

finest artists, poets and philosophers 

such as Botticelli, Lorenzo’s 

favorite painter; the poet, 

Angelo Poliziano; the philosopher, 

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola; 

and the Platonic scholar, 

Marsilio Ficino, all said to be 

leading luminaries of the Renaissance 

that was taking place in 

Florence. 

In 1482, at the age of 29, an 

opportunity came Leonardo’s 

way to leave Florence. Lorenzo 

sent him to Ludovico Sforza, ruler 

of Milan, to deliver, as well as 

to demonstrate to him, a silver 

lyre in form of a horse head 

which Leonardo had created. 

That was how Leonardo went 

into the service of Ludovico Sforza, 

also known as “Il Moro” who, 

as a regent, had usurped the 

power of the rightful Duke of 

Milan, the 8-year old Gian Galeazzo 

on whom the dukedom had 

fallen after Duke Galeazzo Maria, 

Gian Galeazzo’s father and 

Ludovico Sforza’s older brother 

History of The Last 

Supper 

was assassinated in 1494. 

EASTER SPECIAL 

•How a secret copy resurrected 

in Belgium 

By Osa Amadi, Arts Editor 

Leonardo da Vinci in Milan 

Leonardo da Vinci was happy 

in Milan. He lived there for 17 

years, said to be the most productive 

years of his life. Among 

the many work of art he produced 

in Milan were The Last Supper. 

In addition, he also introduced 

himself to Ludovico Sforza as a 

military engineer and actually 

designed quite a number of military 

devices which he did not 

build but which had since been 

proved by recent experiment that 

they could have worked perfectly. 

For instance, 300 years later, 

the armored military vehicle, similar 

to the one Leonardo had designed 

in those days, was produced 

in the American Civil War! 

Ultimately, Leonardo da Vinci 

was commissioned to paint The 

Last Supper, and it took him too 

long to complete to the displeasure 

of the prior of the monastery. 

Several reasons had been 

adduced to Leonardo’s growing 

delay or outright inability to complete 

commissioned works. As the 

historian, Paul Strathern observed 

in his “The Artists, the 

Philosopher, and the Warrior”, 

Leonardo’s “ever-evolving artistic 

ideas, which often made it impossible 

for him to achieve any 

uniform vision in a single work” 

and the diversion of his interest 

to so many other things like the 

said designs of military machines 

and study of mathematics could 

have been reasons for the delays. 

Strathern presented a firsthand 

description of Leonardo at work 

by Matteo Bandello, a novice at 

the monastery who had closely 

observed Leonardo da Vinci as 

he worked on The Last Supper: 

“He would arrive at an early 

hour; climb up unto the scaffolding, 

and start working. Sometimes 

he would stay there from 

dawn until sunset, not once setting 

down his brush, forgetting 

to eat or drink, and painting without 

cease. On other occasion he 

would go for two, three or four 

days without taking up his brush, 

but spending one or two hours a 

day standing before the work, 

arms folded, scrutinizing and assessing 

the figures in his mind. 

I also saw him, driven by some 

sudden urge, set out from the 

Corte Vecchia (his official quarter 

in Milan) at midday when the 

heat of the sun was at its height, 

without seeking the shade…and 

came straight to Santa Maria 

delle Grazie, clamber up unto the 

scaffolding, take up his brush, 

add one or two strokes, and then 

go away again.” 

When the prior of the monastery 

could no longer bear Leonardo’s 

delay of The Last Supper, 

he reported him to the ruler of 

Milan, Ludovico Sforza. Ludovico 

then summoned Leonardo to 

come and explain why he was 

delaying the job. When Leonardo 

came, he said he had finished 

the painting; that it remained only 

the face of Judas, “because despite 

searching through the most 

notorious streets and taverns of 

the city, he had yet to find a face 

imbued with sufficient perfidious 

evil. However, if the prior required 

the painting finished at 

once, he was willing to use the 

prior’s face for Judas”. 

At that, Ludovico burst into 

laughter, obviously to the chagrin 

of the prior, and Leonardo 

da Vinci was left to continue his 

work the way he deemed fit. 

Well, we know he completed 

The Last Supper. But as Sarah 

Cascone had noted in an article 

for Art World in March 2018, Leonardo 

da Vinci “was so committed 

to outdoing the typical cenacolo 

fresco that he chose an untested 

medium, using oil paint 

that failed to bind with the underlying 

plaster which began decaying 

within years of its initial 

application. The centuries have 

not been kind to the masterpiece—only 

20 percent of the 

original painting is thought to 

remain intact, making it difficult 

to fully comprehend the impact 

the piece would have had when 

it was new”. 

However, in 2017, when two 

authors, Jean-Pierre Isbouts and 

Christopher Heath Brown were 

working on their book, The 

Young Leonardo: The Evolution 

of a Revolutionary Artist, 1472– 

1499, someone informed them 

that Leonardo da Vinci and his 

studio had completed on canvas 

a second version of The Last Supper, 

just a few years after he had 

finished painting the original in 

the refectory of the Dominican 

monastery of Santa Maria della 

Grazie in Milan. 

For Jean-Pierre and Christopher, 

it was a joke, but all the 

same, they tried to investigate it. 

And lo and behold, it was true! 

Finally, the second copy of The 

Last Supper was traced to a remote 

abbey in Tongerlo, Belgium, 

an hour outside Antwerp. A documentary 

film, The Search for the 

Last Supper, was even made on 

the subject. 

When was the 2nd version of 

The Last Supper made? 

After many years of Ludovico’s 

extravagant lifestyle, Milan began 

to feel the strain. By the time 

Lorenzo the Magnificent in Florence 

died in 1492, the rightful 

Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo, 

whose power had been usurped 

by Ludovico Sforza, had become 

a man. Yet, Ludovico refused to 

relinquish power to him. Gian’s 

wife, Isabella, being granddaughter 

of King Ferrante of 

Naples, appealed to her grandfather. 

Usurpers of thrones, who 

had become rampant in Italy by 

this time, were generally frowned 

at. Fearing that the throne of Milan 

could be wrenched from his 

hands by a combined Italian 

force, Ludovico Sforza, according 

to Strathern, “took a rash and 

unprecedented step: he appealed 

for help outside Italy by 

promising to support Charles 

VIII of France, who had a claim 

to the throne of Naples.” This 

threw Italy into chaos. 

But Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo 

Borgia, father of Cesare Borgia) 

mustered a Holy League 

force against the French invasion. 

Ludovico was shocked. Although 

the French had victory in 

Continues on page 25


OSA MBONU-AMADI 

08070524223 

osaamadi@yahoo.com 

Francesca Emanuel: Tribute to epitome of womanhood 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

Since the news of the pass 

ing away of Nigeria’s first 

female federal permanent 

secretary, poet, singer, and 

art supporter, Mrs. Francesca 

Yetunde Emanuel, was broken, 

the arts community has been 

thrown into mourning. 

Mrs Emanuel who died on 

Tuesday night of natural causes 

was aged 86. She is survived 

by husband, Chief Bode Emanuel, 

and son, Muyiwa Emanuel. 

Born Francesca Yetunde Pereira 

in Lagos on September 19, 

1933, Francesca Emanuel was 

an accomplished public civil 

servant, administrator, singer, 

poet, actress as well as a distinguished 

woman of the arts. 

Tributes have continued to 

pour for the woman whom many 

have described as efficiency personified. 

Mama took personal, altruistic 

interest in the lives of others 

– Ben Tomoloju 

Playwright, producer, director 

and music composer, Ben Tomoloju 

said, "The death of 

Mama Francesca Emanuel 

would definitely be a personal 

blow to many that had a oneon-one 

interaction with her in 

her lifetime. So, if I say it is a 

personal loss to me - as it really 

is - I would only be stating the 

position of many. She took personal, 

altruistic interest in the 

lives of others and always 

sought to make positive impact 

therein. Mama was a great 

counsellor and philanthropist. 

I don't have to go into the details 

right now. But one major 

achievement of hers, which 

partly contributed to her being 

awarded the National Honour 

of Commander of the Order of 

the Niger (CON) was that she 

was among those who laid the 

foundation of a formidable federal 

civil service for Nigeria. 

Though she was not the very 

first female Permanent Secretary 

in the country, it is on record 

that Mama Francesca Emanuel 

was the first female federal Permanent 

Secretary. Definitely, 

Nigeria has lost a gem, a beautiful 

soul, an outstanding artiste, 

poet, distinguished actress and 

one of the greatest sopranos this 

country has ever produced." 

Francesca Emanuel was the 

personification of efficiency 

– Betty Abah 

Betty Abah,women and children's 

rights activist stated that, 

"Many of us grew up hearing 

about Francesca Emmanuel and 

what a quintessential woman 

and Nigerian she epitomised as 

the first woman Permanent Secretary 

in the country. 

And from afar you could feel 

her aura, her beauty, fashion 

sense and sheer magnetising 

persona. I think that without 

even speaking that she inspired 

millions upon millions of Nigerian 

women of the younger generation 

to aspire, to excel and 

to break every seen and unseen 

glass ceiling in every of life's 

endeavours, their gender notwithstanding 

especially in a 

clime pervaded by patriarchy at 

•Late Mrs 

every turn. 

Again, without even coming 

close, you could see that she 

was the personification of efficiency 

no wonder she made 

those strides that effectively 

immortalised her name. 

I believe that that is the way 

to live-- living an exemplary life 

of impact, of inspiration and 

even after you are gone, your 

legacy remains. 

She has only ceased to exist 

in this realm, in the body, but 

essentially, she lives on in the 

ideals she lived and worked for 

and in the lives she built with 

her life of exemplary excellence. 

May the Good Lord comfort 

her loved ones and may His perpetual 

light shine on her great 

soul. 

Amen." 

Francesca has left a void in 

Nigerian social, cultural and 

admin landscape – Israel Eboh 

NANTAP President, Israel 

Eboh said, "The passing of Mrs 

Francesca Emanuel has left a 

void in the Nigerian social, cultural 

and administrative landscape 

that may be difficult to fill. 

She was one of the few Nigerians 

who ventured into many 

fields, and not only excelled but 

was a master of them all. 

The creative community has 

lost a great artiste (singer and 

actor), while the nation has lost 

one of its finest administrators. 

We at NANTAP have lost a 

rare gem who gave us a creative 

and administrative balance." 

She was very creative, talented, 

thorough and meticulous 

– Mufu Onifade 

On his part, Artists and Arts 

Writer, Mufu Onifade explained 

that, "Until her transition, 

Francesca Emanuel remained, 

without doubts, a revered 

matriarchal icon of Nigerian 

arts; very creative, talented, 

thorough and meticulous. 

Amongst her many exploits in 

the arts, she was one of the 

founding members of the Players 

of the Dawn, an amateur 

theatre group (with bias for English 

language medium) founded 

in 1959. Others on the founding 

list are Segun Olusola (late), 

Segun Sofowote, etc. While 

many of them were based in 

Ibadan, they performed regularly 

in Lagos, particularly at the 

Museum Kitchen. Such exploits 

required absolute commitment 

to the profession, huge energies 

and uncompromising zeal. 

More importantly, when Wole 

the battle, Charles VIII’s army 

was forced to hastily retreat 

through the Alps. 

In the ensuing melee, the 

King of Naples, King Ferrante 

fled Naples and died, and Ludovico 

ordered the poisoning of 

Gian Galeazzo, subsequently 

making himself the full Duke 

of Milan. 

Unfortunately for him, however, 

Charles VIII died in 1498 

and was succeeded by Louis 

XII, a descendant of the Viscontis, 

former dukes of Milan 

whose thrones had similarly 

been usurped by the Sforzas. 

As war with Louis XII loomed 

in Milan, Leonardo da Vinci 

who had been on the employ of 

Ludovico Sforza began to gather 

his movable artworks in preparation 

to leave Milan. He must 

have delayed, for as Strathern 

recounted, “Leonardo would 

remain in Milan for three 

months after the French occupation. 

During this difficult 

time, he almost certainly had his 

first meeting with Cesare Borgia, 

whose support for Louis XII 

was intended to gain French 

backing for the invasion of the 

Romagna that he had secretly 

planned with his father, the 

Soyinka decided to found his 

professional theatre company in 

1960 called the 1960 Masks, he 

recruited virtually all members 

of The Players of the Dawn for 

the purpose. Francesca Emanuel 

was not left out. It was that 

group that performed Wole Soyinka's 

first major play, The Dance 

and the Forest, which was intellectually 

employed to critique 

the whole essence of Nigeria's 

independence in 1960. 

Francesca Emanuel, apart 

from being the first female Permanent 

Secretary in Nigeria, 

will also be remembered for sacrificing 

all she had for the development 

of Nigerian arts and 

culture." 

Mrs Francesca Emanuel was 

admitted to the University College, 

Ibadan (now University of 

Ibadan) where she studied Geography. 

In 1955, she obtained 

the Inter-B.A. after which she 

transferred to the University Col- 

pope (Alexander VI).” 

Strathern gave a detailed account 

of Leonardo’s preparation 

to leave Milan and of his eventual 

slip out of Milan in December 

1499 to Venice. He never 

mentioned any meeting between 

Leonardo and Louis XII. Nevertheless, 

it was possible, given the 

mentioned meeting between 

Cesare Borgia and Leonardo, an 

ally of Borgia, as at the time Louis 

XII came to Milan. 

It was another art historian, 

Giorgio Vasari (who was also often 

quoted by Strathern) that was 

quoted as saying that when Louis 

XII visited Santa Maria della 

Grazie, the king had desperately 

hoped to bring The Last Supper 

with him to France, which was 

then severely lacking in arts and 

culture, “but the fact that it was 

painted on a wall robbed his 

Majesty of his desire, and so the 

picture remained with the Milanese.” 

According to the documentary, 

“If he (Louis XII) can’t have the 

fresco itself, he will have the next 

best thing: a copy on canvas, that 

he can take back to France.” 

Sarah Cascone’s article, citing 

the documentary, wrote that “the 

film points to a letter dated January 

1507, tracked down in the 

archives in Florence, in which the 

king writes that “we have need 

lege, London for her main degree 

and graduated with a 

Bachelor of Arts (B.A): Honours 

degree in Geography in 1959. 

Mrs. Emanuel had her professional 

career largely in the 

Federal Civil Service where she 

went through an array of the 

various arms of the Federal 

Civil Service, and retired in 

1988. In all the positions held, 

she served with distinction. 

A gifted and award-winning 

singer, her talent in this field 

was nurtured right from childhood. 

She was also a remarkable 

actress as well as a member 

of the pioneer group known 

as the Steve Rhodes Voices, 

which featured in some of Wole 

Soyinka’s earliest plays in the 

1960s. 

She was also a well-known 

fashion icon who, with the famous 

designer Sade Thomas, 

first drew attention to Nigerian 

fashion and its suitability even 

for modern wear-whether Western 

or traditional. 

Francesca Emmanuel was a 

founding member as well as 

member of the Board of Trustees 

of the Musical Society of Nigeria 

(MUSON). She also served 

as Trust to various organizations 

including; Women Law and Development 

Centre; National Association 

of Theatre Arts Practitioners; 

She has been Grand Patron 

of the Association of Nigerian 

Authors, Lagos Chapter 

(Since 1995), Patron of Nigeria 

Guild of Dancers since 2001, etc. 

In addition, Francesca Emmanuel 

was at different times the 

Director of the Board of some corporate 

organizations -Macmillan 

Nigeria Publishers Ltd. and 

Eco Bank Nigeria Plc., among 

others. 

Bless the land, and the land will bless you 

Continued from page 24 

I would only be 

stating the position 

of many; she 

took personal, 

altruistic interest 

in the lives of 

others and always 

sought to 

make positive 

impact therein 

of Leonardo da Vinci,” who had 

an assignment back in his native 

city. Based on this evidence, 

it seems likely that Louis XII 

commissioned Leonardo and his 

studio to paint a full-scale copy 

of The Last Supper, just eight 

years after they completed the 

original in 1499. Furthermore, 

a 1540 inventory of the governor 

of Milan’s estate in Gaillon, 

France, includes a “Last Supper 

on canvas with monumental figures 

that the king brought over 

from Milan.” 

“Today,” says Cascone, “Brown 

and Isbouts have shown the 

painting (the 2nd copy of The 

Last Supper) to experts who believe 

some 90 percent of it was 

done by members of the artist’s 

studio. The paintings of Jesus 

Christ and St. John, however, 

may be by Leonardo himself— 

unlike the rest of the painting, 

X-ray analysis shows no underdrawings 

for these two important 

figures.” 

With The Last Supper coming 

back to life as the resurrected 

Christ on this Easter Monday, 

may you have a special encounter 

with Jesus and victory over 

the COVID-19 Pandemic in 

Jesus name. 

Happy Easter!


COVID-19: Provide PPEs, incentives for 

health workers, CMA President urges 

By Chioma Obinna 

THE President of the 

Commonwealth 

Medical Association 

(CMA), Dr. Osahon 

Enabulele, has urged 

Governments of various 

countries in the 

Commonwealth of 

Nations to urgently 

deploy more resources 

and provide adequate 

Personal Protective 

Equipment (PPEs) and 

other incentives for 

physicians and other 

health workers, to aid the 

fight against the COVID- 

19 pandemic. 

Enabulele in a worldwide 

broadcast to all 

physicians, health workers 

and citizens of the 

Commonwealth titled ‘A 

Message of Hope and A 

Call To Action’, highlighted 

the astronomical increase in 

the number of 

Commonwealth countries 

affected by COVID-19 with 

the unfortunate loss of 

physicians, health workers 

and citizens of the 

Commonwealth, as well as 

great disruptions of global 

interconnectedness, 

human industry, global 

health, security, socioeconomic 

well-being and 

global prosperity. 

“Coronavirus disease 

(COVID-19) has 

challenged our way of life, 

our health, our well-being 

and our prosperity”. 

Wondering how 

physicians and other health 

workers were coping in the 

face of resource challenges 

LUTH approves life insurance for health 

workers as coronavirus spreads 

By Chioma Obinna 

MANAGEMENT of 

the Lagos University 

Teaching Hospital, LUTH 

has approved life 

insurance for each staff 

working as warriors in the 

drive to rid Nigeria of 


The Chief Medical 

Director of LUTH, Prof 

Chris Bode while 

addressing health workers 

at the institution 

acknowledged the 

difficulties involved in 

managing the condition, 

adding that; “We intend to 

record next to zero rates of 

patient-to-staff infection by 

adopting internationally 

recommended best 

practices. 

Further, he disclosed that 

working closely with the 

Nigeria Centre for Disease 

Control, NCDC, and 

S 

Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Engineer Noimot Salako Oyedele (middle) with 

the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker (on red dress); Commissioner 

for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Barr. Femi Ogunbanwo (3rd 

right); Mouka’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dimeji Osingunwa (2nd Left); and 

other top government officials as well as Red Cross representative; during the 

donation of 200 mattresses to Ogun State Government by Mouka for coronavirus 

(COVID-19) isolation centres in Abeokuta, recently. 

and inadequacies, 

including inadequate 

Personal Protective 

Equipment (PPEs) and 

incentives for health 

workers, Enabulele 

expressed the CMA’s 

profound gratitude to 

physicians and other health 

workers, working 

admirably in teams and 

partnerships during the 

CMA’s site visitations to 

some hot spots, village 

clinics, district and tertiary 

hospitals. 

He called on 

Governments in the 

Commonwealth to urgently 

improve on their political 

Federal Ministry of Health, 

FMOH, the hospital has 

also acquired enough 

materials to work with. 

“We have also suitably 

modified the wards to 

commence admissions from 

the afternoon of Monday 

the 6th of April, 2020 in 

LUTH. We have scaled 

down the admission of 

routine cases while all inpatients 

are being 

transferred to Block E for 

ease of care.” 

To ensure proper 

protection of staff, Bode said 

frontline officers must wear 

N95 masks and stay at least 

six feet away while triaging 

any patient and will call in 

the Infectious Diseases Unit 

to see any suspected case. 

“We shall do this with 

love of each other and care 

for our patients. We shall 

give respect and dignity to 

each other as COVID-19 

will and commitments, and 

to deploy adequate and 

appropriate resources, 

including Personal 

Protective Equipment 

(PPEs) and incentives for 

Physicians and other health 

workers in the fight against 


While also appreciating 

the efforts of National 

Medical Associations, 

NMA, the World Health 

Organization, the 

Commonwealth Secretariat 

and the Commonwealth 

Secretary-General (Rt. 

Hon. Patricia Scotland QC), 

and the governments of the 

various countries, in 

Warriors and patients to 

whom we represent the 

only hope in these difficult 

days. Non-resident staff 

working on this will be 

housed within or near 

LUTH. 

Further, Bode noted that 

it was only human for 

people to be afraid but 

encouraged health workers 

of the institution not to 

resign to fears and give 

hope and care to those who 

need them to be brave. 

Stating that LUTH now 

has more than 120 warriors, 

volunteers who have been 

trained and are ready to be 

meaningfully deployed, he 

explained that since early 

February 2020, allvolunteer 

group of staff 

comprising Nurses, 

Pharmacists, Doctors, 

Laboratory Scientists, 

Hygienists, Porters and 

Drivers have been 

strongly confronting this 

crippling global health 

challenge, he called on 

MAs in the Commonwealth 

to continue to adopt 

proactive, progressive, 

dynamic and pragmatic 

strategic approaches. 

Enabulele also called on 

everyone to actively 

participate in the global 

efforts to overcome 

COVID-19. ‘Everybody is 

called upon to see this as a 

patriotic duty; with the 

heightening of positive 

orientation, level of 

awareness and 

participation in the efforts 

to defeat the virus. 

planning for their 

involvement in the fight 

against the COVID-19 

scourge. 

“We had earlier identified 

the four Wards on the newly 

rehabilitated Block B as 

suitable for an Isolation 

Centre while efforts were in 

progress to secure enough 

resources and consumables 

for us to admit and treat 

Nigerians afflicted with 

COVID-19 in LUTH. 

“Suspected cases will be 

kept in the old Isolation 

Centre near the A/E 

building and confirmed 

cases are to be admitted 

through a dedicated route 

onto the B Block through 

the gate opposite the 

Oxygen Room. 

“We are ready for this 

challenge and, let me tell 

you, if we do not combat 

COVID-19 resolutely, 

COVID-19 may look for 

each of us in our homes. 

COVID-19: Jik supports Ogun 

state with hygiene products 

TO support the fight 

against COVID-19 in 

Ogun State, Jik has 

donated hygiene products 

to the State government. 

The donation serves as 

support for the state 

government’s stimulus 

package to soften the 

economic impact of the 

pandemic on its citizens. 

This gesture by Jik has 

become necessary after 

Ogun State commenced its 

lockdown on Friday, April 

3rd, 2020. The 

Southwestern state has so 

far recorded four cases of 

the virus according to the 

Nigeria Centre for Disease 

Control (NCDC), 

prompting the state 

government to begin a 

stay-at-home policy for an 

initial 14 days. 

At least 500,000 homes 

across the 20 local 

government areas of the 

state will benefit from the 

state government's 

stimulus package of relief 

materials and essential 

household needs. This 

gesture is meant to cushion 

the effects of reduced 

commercial activities as a 

result of the lockdown, 

which in turn affects the 

livelihoods of the people. 

Ogun state Governor, 

Prince Dapo Abiodun, 

while recieving the 

products assured the 

citizens that the stimulus 

package would be 

distributed to the poor and 

the vulnerable in the state. 

He revealed that the 

items comprised food items 

and other hygiene products 

including stain removers, 

antibacterial soaps, and 

hand sanitizers. 

The General Manager, 

RB West Africa, Mr. 

Dayanand Sriram said, “RB 

is proud to support Ogun 

State Government’s 

stimulus package and the 

distribution of relief 

materials to citizens across 

the state during the 

lockdown. This contribution 

is in line with Jik’s long 

term mission of helping 

Nigerian households 

maintain good hygiene and 

a clean environment that 

helps to curb the spread of 

infectious diseases caused 

by germs." 

He added, "We will 

continue to support the 

Federal and State 

Governments, as well as 

the health authorities’ 

efforts in the fight against 

COVID-19.” Jik, a member 

of the group of popular 

household brands by 

Reckitt Benckiser 

continues to play an 

important role in the 

sensitisation of citizens on 

the dangers of germs 

attracted by stains on 

surfaces and the 

importance of healthy 

hygiene practices in 

Nigeria. 

Sterling Bank launches 

N1b Healthworkers’ Fund 

AS part of efforts to encourage health workers in the 

frontline of coronavirus containment, one of Nigeria's 

leading commercial bank, Sterling Bank Plc, has launched 

an N1 billion Health Workers’ Fund to support frontline 

healthcare professionals who are taking care of persons 

infected with the Coronavirus disease in the country. 

To kick-start the fund, the Bank has donated N25 million 

while some public-spirited individuals have also donated 

N2 million, bringing the amount raised so far to N27 

million. 

Speaking during a virtual press conference in Lagos, 

weekend, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr 

Abubakar Suleiman, appealed to well-meaning and publicspirited 

Nigerians to contribute to the fund through the 

website - Giving.ng, a crowdfunding platform. 

Suleiman said it is imperative that tangible efforts are 

made to protect the healthcare personnel at the frontline 

of fighting the COVID-19, especially given their low 

number in the country. 

According to Suleiman, the Bank understands that 

getting the money with which to pay healthcare workers 

on the frontline and acquire protection equipment for them 

is critical. Consequently, the bank would be working with 

people who are experts in public health or connected with 

the healthcare system to identify the healthcare workers 

who are deserving of this intervention, he said. 

“Combating COVID-19 is beyond the capacity of any 

single institution or sector. It is a crisis that is stretching 

the capacity of healthcare infrastructure and personnel 

world over. And stopping this pandemic requires the 

elimination of boundaries to resources. One way to do 

that is by setting funds aside to support brave medical 

responders at this time," he added. 

Continuing, he disclosed that the Bank has set up an 

independent Governance Board made up of seasoned 

health professionals to administer the fund while the bank 

concentrates on raising funds from various donors. 

“Although we started the process but we have pulled 

back. We have set up a board that I am incredibly proud 

of. They will join us in solving this problem which is the 

most important part and they are highly respected which 

makes the process credible,” Suleiman said.


Ihekweazu said: “We 

have expanded our case 

definition to enhance the 

response to the disease”. 

“The following criteria of 

people meet the current 

case definition for 

COVID-19 testing: 

•Anyone with a travel 

history outside Nigeria, 

who presents with a fever, 

cough or 

breathing difficulties 

within 14 days of arrival; 

•Anyone who has 

symptoms and is a 

contact with a confirmed 

case; 

•Anyone with fever 

and either cough, 

difficulty in breathing or 

shortness of breath in an 

area of high COVID-19 

prevalence in Nigeria 

with no other 

explanation.” 

He said there is an 

increasing push for 

alternatives to the 

current Polymerase 

Chain Reaction (PCR) 

technique carried out in 

molecular laboratories to 

test for COVID-19, such 

as Rapid Diagnostic 

Tests (RDTs). 

The Virgo Potens Catholic Church, Achara Layout, Enugu under lock and key on Easter Sunday as total 

lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 continued in Enugu, Enugu State, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

COVID-19: NCDC under fire over 

tests, slow response 

Continues from page 5 

conference. We called 

and we prayed until 

finally they show up. 

The slow pace at which 

NCDC works can ruin 

efforts to contain this 

outbreak,” he stated. 

Commissioner 

intervened before 

NCDC 

Another returnee told 

Vanguard that it is was 

not easy for her to get 

NCDC team. 

According to her, the 

first time she called the 

NCDC line they 

responded and 

demanded for her 

address which she gave. 

It took the intervention of 

a commissioner before 

they could come. 

“I have been calling 

them, they never 

responded but the first 

time I called they picked 

and promised to come. 

When they did not come 

after one week, I was 

forced to call the state 

health commissioner. It 

took the commissioner’s 

intervention for them to 

come. The arrangement 

is not good for some 

Nigerians who have 

nobody in government.” 

Low tests per 

population 

According to its 

guidelines, the NCDC 

currently focuses testing 

only symptomatic and 

high risk individuals. 

However, experts note 

that while these 

categories should be 

priority for testing, other 

categories should be 

included. 

We are not 

testing as many as 

possible —NMA 

Reacting to this last 

night, president of 

Nigerian Medical 

Association, NMA, Dr. 

Franci Faduyile, said: 

Another area that they 

(NCDC) are not doing 

as expected is the 

testing. Our efforts to 

contain the disease as 

given by the 

government is this 

lockdown and social 

distancing. 

‘’It is not good enough 

that we are not testing as 

many as possible. We 

are surprised that up till 

now, we are still having 

very low number of cases 

that have been tested, 

even compared to 

Ghana. 

‘’We are far behind 

them and South Africa. 

The onus is the NCDC 

to ensure that we test 

properly and get as 

many as possible tested. 

‘’The test cannot ruin 

the containment efforts 

because if we do not do 

any test and everybody 

stays at home, and we do 

not mingle, we will stop 

the transmission of the 

virus. 

‘’However, it is best if 

we have people who 

have tested so that we 

can get those who are 

positive quarantined 

and they can be treated 

in a separate place. 

‘’But even if they are 

positive and they do not 

mingle with other 

people they will not 

transmit the disease. 

‘’While I agree that we 

cannot test the general 

populace, anybody who 

had contact should be 

tested so that we can 

also be able to treat 

these asymptomatic 

carriers and stop them 

from transmitting the 

virus.’’ 

Aggressive testing 

needed – Tomori 

Reacting to the present 

state of affairs in NCDC, 

a renowned virologist 

and former President of 

Nigerian Academic of 

Science, NAS, Professor 

Oyewale Tomori, said a 

lot remained to be done 

to get Nigeria out of the 

woods. 

“On COVID-19, 

Nigeria must get on with 

more aggressive testing 

to include all 

symptomatic and 

asymptomatic contacts of 

positive cases. Only then 

can we truly know the 

magnitude of the 

COVID-19 problem and 

better prepare to prevent 

the looming catastrophe. 

“We are tied to the 

apron strings of foreign 

donors for reagents and 

kits. We must, with local 

resources, set ourselves 

free from this 

dependency and 

introduce approved 

COVID-19 tests and kits 

to the hundreds of labs 

with GeneXpert 

machines and facilities 

found all over Nigeria,” 

he stated. 

We’re steadily 

increasing testing 

capacity – NCDC 

Responding, however, 

the NCDC said the 

Federal Ministry of 

Health had been steadily 

increasing testing 

capacity in Nigeria. 

“Testing strategies have 

differed across the 

African continent, with 

different approaches 

used to determine who to 

test. Many countries 

have been challenged in 

their testing capacity and 

the approach adopted for 

the COVID-19 testing 

has been driven by the 

resources and testing 

commodities available to 

the country. 

“There are currently 11 

laboratories in Nigeria 

carrying out the tests for 

COVID-19. The 

increased laboratory 

capacity will enable more 

tests to be carried out 

daily and in the coming 

weeks. Further, new 

molecular laboratories 

will be opened in Kano, 

Kaduna, Sokoto, 

Maiduguri, Jos and Port 

Harcourt with the 

capacity to diagnose 

COVID-19. This will help 

to increase the number of 

daily tests that can be 

carried out in the country. 

“The testing criteria 

adopted by the Ministry 

of Health in Nigeria has 

been targeted and 

prioritised certain groups 

who exhibit the symptoms 

for COVID-19 or have a 

travel history. The NCDC 

case definition offers a 

standard-criteria used to 

classify the clinical 

features to determine who 

to test for COVID-19.” 

In the views of the 

Director General of 

NCDC, Dr Chikwe 

Ihekweazu, there is 

increasing demand for 

medical equipment, 

laboratory reagents, 

personal protective 

equipment and other 

response commodities 

across the world. This is 

rising with the increase in 

cases in more countries. 

“As the demand rises, 

supply is affected. With 

leadership from the 

Minister of Health and 

Presidential Task Force, 

we are working very hard 

to ensure that we have 

the required supplies in 

our treatment centres and 

laboratories,” he said. 

How we define cases, 

by Ihekweazu 

Commenting on the 

case definition, 

We think COVID-19 will 

stalk human race for a 

long time — WHO 

L AGOS—David 

Nabarro, World 

Health Organisation, 

WHO, special envoy, 

says COVID-19 will 

remain in the world for 

quite some time. 

The novel coronavirus 

which broke out in 

Wuhan, Hubei province 

of China in December, 

has infected over 1.6 

million people and 

claimed over 110,000 

lives worldwide. 

Nabarro told NBC 

News that WHO thinks 

“it’s going to be a virus 

that stalks the human 

race for quite a long time 

to come.” 

According to him, early 

detection and isolation of 

positive cases remain the 

best way to curb the 

spread of the disease. 

He added that every 

human being is affected 

by the disease, soliciting 

cooperation between 

nations. 

“We are not so sure it 

will come in waves in the 

way that influenza does. 

We think it’s going to be 

a virus that stalks the 

human race for quite a 

long time to come until 

we can all have a vaccine 

that will protect us,” 

Nabarro said. 

“The key for this 

particular virus is that 

every community that 

has a kind of defensive 

shield, can pick up 

cases. As soon as they 

appear, isolate them, 

and stop outbreaks from 

developing. It’s going to 

be necessary for every 

single country to have 

that capacity. 

“We believe what 

we’ve got, we work with 

what we’ve got. That’s 

how we operate in the 

World Health 

Organisation. 

“We’re right in the 

middle of this massive, 

epic struggle. Every 

single human being in 

the world is affected by 

it — businesses are 

really in trouble, 

communities are in 

distress. I really do hope 

that all nations will not 

find any reason to make 

threats or other such 

things that will 

undermine our capacity 

to bring together all the 

best knowledge that we 

can find.” 

Sarah Gilbert, an 

Oxford University 

professor, had said a 

vaccine against 

coronavirus could be 

ready by September “if 

everything goes 

perfectly.” 

Troops rescue 7 

kidnapped victims in 

Niger — DHQ 

ABUJA— Troops of 

31 Artillery 

Brigade of the Nigerian 

Army, under Operation 

Whirl Stroke, weekend, 

rescued seven kidnapped 

victims after an 

encounter with bandits at 

Dogon Gona Forest area 

of Niger State. 

The Coordinator, 

Defence Media 

Operations, Maj.-Gen. 

John Enenche, disclosed 

this in a statement on 

Sunday in Abuja. 

Enenche said that the 

troops rescued the 

victims while on a mopup 

operation within the 

area. 

He said the victims 

were abandoned by the 

bandits after a fierce 

battle, adding that they 

were said to have been 

kidnapped on March 27 

and taken to an 

unknown destination. 

" F o l l o w i n g 

interrogation after a 

successful rescue 

operation, the Village 

Head of Madaki 

confirmed that the 

victims were natives of 

Roro Village of Shiroro 

Local Government Area."

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY APRIL 13, 2020 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be 

deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being co-operative 

in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble. 

GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or 

the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. It’s 

good to secure support of your spouse 

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times 

and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to 

prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please. 

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are the 

pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your 

senior colleagues and protect your image 

VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just 

have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow 

things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within 

your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today. 

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the 

heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short 

duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Today you are you! That is truer than true! 

There is no one alive who is you-er than you! 

Shout loud, ‘I am lucky to be what I am!” 

—Dr Suess- 

Keep a positive mindset and read uplifting materials 

everyday. Be it religious, moralistic or philosophical. 

Make a list of your daily goals and work toward accomplishing 

them. Take baby steps and in time, you’ll 

have the flow of things going smoothly. — Ella. Randle 

- 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

He who 

earns calamity, 

eats 

it with his 

family. ~ 

African 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete 

and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If 

you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work 

your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis? 

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level 

of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t 

deserve within your working arena in a negative form but. 

CAPRICORN;. The Moon highlights your Solar second 

house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love 

with money, you’ll be disappointed. 

AQUARIUS; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new 

confidence and with new supports from the powers-that-be, 

it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially 

with the veterans within your base of operation. 

PISCES; Tomorrow is your better day. But you will today 

need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. 

Try to be more diplomatic now. 

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on tomorrow’s 

event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may 

not go according to your personal plans today. Yet it’s important 

you plan both your immediate and far future carefully 

now. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” 

“HOT” 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

ASTROLOGICAL our date and place of COUNSELLING 

birth to the Astr 

tr 

Send your dat 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

Tell my success? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly 

tell me everything about myself, especially my finance 

and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should 

I do to make it happen quickly. 

Jonathan, Lagos. 

Dear Jonathan, 

There are indications of financial success for you but 

you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for 

you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in 

your letter) Certainly however no failure for you. 

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, 

together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in 

Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to 

both Accountancy profession and the academic world. 

Truly you did not make wrong choice of career. 

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not 

be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. 

Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable 

when you were born. It will not be out of place if you 

have filling stations as time goes by, because you are 

basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning 

vocation for you include writing either along your line or 

for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the 

higher quotient of creativity in your innerself. Yes your 

dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. 

Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will 

surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally 

political. 

Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born 

is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to 

make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined 

Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One 

major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually 

overcome. Another source of challenges is your 

love life which looks not totally balanced. 

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally 

loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom 

get better off you to the resentment of your closer 

partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault 

making love-business very interesting. And unless you 

are more careful and determined you may marry more 

than once. 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa


PRESIDENTIAL PARDON: 

Our father was 

never guilty 

— Andrew, Alli’s son 

*Enahoro’s family, Clark, Obaseki 

laud move 

By Henry Umoru & 

Ozioruva Aliu 

THE news of the presiden 

tial pardon granted to late 

foremost Nationalist, 

Chief Anthony Enahoro, and 

former Governor of old Bendel 

State (now Edo and Delta), Professor 

Ambrose Alli have been received 

with mixed feelings by their 

families, the government of Edo 

State and Elder Statesman, Chief 

Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. 

The families though lauded the 

pardon said the gesture was long 

overdue considering the fact that 

the two did not deserve the treatment 

they got from the Nigerian 

government when they were convicted 

at different times. 

Andrew Alli, first son of Alli, said 

his father did not anything requiring 

presidential pardon other 

adding value to his state and country 

Ḣis words: “We have never believed 

that he was guilty of anything, 

other than giving his all to 

improve the lot of the people of the 

former Bendel State and, indeed, 

Nigeria. This is demonstrated by 

the enduring legacies that he left. 

We thank his Excellency, President 

Buhari, as well as his Excellency 

Governor Obaseki, and all those 

who have supported the process inside 

and outside government, for 

their recognition of this fact. Although 

we are yet to receive any 

direct official communication on 

this matter, we are pleased to hear 

that our father, uncle, brother, and 

grandfather has received a presidential 

pardon.’’ 

In like, the family of Enahoro in 

a statement by Otunba Eugene 

Enahoro said: “A State Pardon is 

an act of the Executive to set right 

some wrongs of the past. It is an 

acceptance that some things need 

to be rectified. Therefore, we want 

to appreciate President Buhari for 

addressing the issue. All sons of 

former Bendel in general and Edoland 

in particular should appreciate 

this gesture as a formal recognition 

of the public service rendered 

by these two distinguished 

sons of Esanland” 

On his part, Governor Godwin 

Obaseki expressed appreciation to 

President Buhari for the presidential 

pardon granted the two Edo 

sons. 

A statement by the Special Adviser 

to Obaseki on Media and 

Communication Strategy, Mr. 

Crusoe Osagie, said the governor 

deeply appreciates that the presidential 

pardon, which he had 

championed in the past few 

months, has finally been granted. 

He said the state government 

would continue to sustain the legacies 

of late Professor Alli and the 

noble ideals of Chief Enahoro, 

noting: “With Prof. Alli’s legacies 

serving as indelible examples of 

the kind of policies and programmes 

we are enacting in Edo 

State, the Obaseki-led administration 

is going to continue to place 

the common man at the centre of 

its policies. Chief Enahoro, on his 

part, also espoused ideals which 

we have anchored a number of our 

programmes, especially on the need 

for Edo people to chart the path of 

their destinies on their own terms. 

“The president’s gesture gives fillip 

to our desire to restore the golden 

age of development in the state 

and truly drive development that 

would better the life of the people in 

the state.” 

It’s a welcome development – 

Clark 

Former Federal Commissioner 

for Information and South South 

Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, described 

the presidential pardon for 

Enahoro and Alli as a welcome development, 

adding that the late governor 

would be remembered for taking 

the government of late President 

Shehu Shagari to task over derivation 

for the people of the Niger Delta 

Ṫhe pardon for Ambrose Ali came 

37 years after he was sentenced to 

100 years in prison by the military 

regime of General Buhari in 1984 

for allegedly misappropriating the 

sum of ¦ 983, 000 meant for a road 

We have never believed 

that he was 

guilty of anything, 

other than giving his 

all to improve the lot 

of the people of the 

former Bendel State 

and, indeed, Nigeria 

performed very well as governor of 

the defunct Bendel State and was 

instrumental to the establishment of 

Bendel State University, now Ambrose 

Ali University and Delta State 

University, Abraka, Delta State. 

Chief Clark said that though they 

were friends, he dragged Ali to court 

to challenge why Bendel State University 

should be cited where it is 

now and not Delta when there was 

an already existing one, University 

of Benin in Benin. 

Clark said that Ambrose Ali 

fought for derivation for the Niger 

Delta region when he dragged President 

Shehu Shagari to court, addproject. 

With the intervention of well-meaning 

Nigerians and the reported payment 

of a N1 million fine by a Benin 

chief, Prof. Alli was released and 

he died not long after. 

Speaking with Vanguard on the 

development, Clark who noted that 

he took over as Minister from the 

late Enahoro, said that Nigerians 

and especially the people of South- 

South are very happy with the pardon 

extended to Enahoro. 

The Elder statesman also hailed 

the granting of presidential pardon 

and clemency to 2, 600 inmates of 

the Custodial Centres of the Nigeria 

Correctional Service NCoS as 

part of measures to control the 

spread of the Coronavirus in the 

country. 

Chief Clark said: “On Chief Enahoro, 

I am not sure if he was not 

granted pardon by General Yakubu 

Gowon before he made him a 

Federal Commissioner of Information. 

I was with him throughout and 

I remember when Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo became the Vice Chairman 

of the Council, Enahoro was a 

Minister and I took over from him. 

I am not very sure if he was not pardoned 

by General Gowon. 

“When he took over as the Head 

of State, he freed Awolowo and Enahoro. 

If the present government feels 

that they have not been pardoned, 

*Enahoro 

and decided to pardon him, we are 

very happy. Chief Anthony Enahoro 

was a leader, he was our leader and 

was the leader of Midwest region to 

the Constitutional Conference organised 

by General Yakubu Gowon. 

We salute the President and congratulate 

Nigerians, Nigeria and South- 

South in particular.” 

On Professor Ali, Chief Clark, who 

described his detention as political, 

said that the late former governor 

was a lecturer at the University of 

Benin and he (Clark) was responsible 

for his appointment, then as the 

Pro-chancellor of the ivory tower. 

According to him, Ambrose Ali 

COVID-19: Playing politics with pandemic 

suicidal — Dozie Nwankwo 

*Outlines how Nigeria can overcome plague 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

A 

member of the House 

of Representatives, Chief Dozie 

Nwankwo, has advised some 

politicians and leaders to stop playing 

politics with the COVID-19 pandemic 

that has claimed no fewer 

than 1.8 million lives across the 

world. 

Commending the Federal Government 

and few alert state governments 

for their efforts in controlling 

and limiting the spread of COVID- 

19, Nwankwo charged all Nigerians 

in leadership position to desist 

from playing politics with something 

as serious as the coronavirus 

pandemic. 

Instead they should join other citizens 

to dedicatedly abide by all the 

instructions and directives of the 

World Health Organization, WHO, 

the Federal and State Governments 

and health professionals to avoid 

contracting and spreading the 

dreaded virus. 

With unity of purpose, the Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia 

Federal 

Constituency of Anambra State legislator 

said that the nation shall overcome 

the ravaging pandemic. 

Nwankwo, who for over 20 years 

has organized humanitarian services, 

education scholarship distribution 

and youth/women empowerment 

items to members of his constituency 

and beyond, yearly, said 

with their tenacity, doggedness, survival 

instincts and faith in God, Nigerians 

will pull through the COV- 

ID-19 challenge. 

“Like any other bad dream and 

disturbing crisis that we faced before 

now, we need to remain steadfast, 

stay safe, stay home and alive 

for each other because together we 

shall all brace up, pull through and 

*Alli 

*Chief Nwankwo 

ing that one interesting thing about 

the case was that the then Governor 

of Rivers State, late Melford Okilo 

even though belonged to the ruling 

party, joined Ali who was in the Unity 

Party of Nigeria, UPN. 

According to Clark, prior to Ali 

dragging the Federal Government 

to Court, the constitution provided 

for 50 percent derivation to regions 

with the resources, but the military 

came and abrogated it, adding that 

at the advent of democracy in 1979, 

Ambrose Ali fought for its return and 

he won. One percent derivation was 

granted and it has risen the present 

13 percent. 

survive this too,” he said. He added 

that his palliatives for the citizens of 

Anambra state to help cushion the 

effects of the lock-down occasioned 

by the COVID-19 plague would 

soon be delivered to them. 

On his agenda in the National 

Assembly, Nwankwo who was first 

elected in 2015 and re-elected in 

2019, said he has been liaising, relating 

and communicating with his 

constituents to ensure that their welfare 

and safety were guaranteed. He 

said that his shopping list at the National 

Assembly was drawn from a 

three-part town-hall meetings with 

participants drawn from all the 

communities in the federal constituency. 

They included Enugwu- 

Ukwu, Nawfia, Abagana, Enugwu-Agidi, 

Nimo, Ifite- Dunu, Ukwulu, 

Nawgu, Umunnachi, Umudioka, 

Ukpo and Abba. Others 

were Aguluizigbo, Agulu, Nri, 

Neni, Obeledu, Akwaeze, Adazi- 

Enu, Adazi-Ani and Adazi-Nnukwu 

among others. 

In a telephone interview, he said 

that the meetings enabled him to 

get a first-hand information from 

representatives of the community 

within his constituency and the 

constituents, who he established a 

convivial channel of communication 

with. 

Nwankwo, who is also a member 

of the Enugwu Ukwu royal 

cabinet and holder of the “Onyendozi 

Nwachinemelu” title said the 

meetings were organized to tell his 

people how far he has gone in pursuit 

of their welfare at the National 

Assembly. 

Pointing out that his Ferdinand 

Dozie Nwankwo Foundation was 

established as a vehicle to give 

back to the society, he pledged to 

continue to represent them well, 

involving his official and personal 

resources to get things done for 

them, especially the free medical 

outreach, which has so far touched 

no fewer than 500,000 lives and 

beneficiaries since 2009; women/ 

youth empowerment, for citizens 

of the constituency; scholarship 

scheme for 200 indigent but bright 

students; provision of educational 

aids and materials to students 

and pupils in the federal constituency; 

provision of support to more 

than 5,000 widows, payment of 

monthly stipend to 400 old citizens 

in the area. 

Nwankwo has also empowered 

about constituents with 1000 with 

cars, Keke tricycle, motor cycles, 

sewing machines, hair dryers, 

wheel chairs, grinding/blending 

machines to empower them. He 

has regularly organized skill acquisition 

and take-off financial 

support for no fewer than 1,000 

citizens. 

Speaking on his desire to touch 

people’s lives more, Nwankwo disclosed 

that he is building a stateof-the-art 

Information Communication 

Technology (ICT) Centre in 

Enugwu-Ukwu for the training, 

education and benefit of people of 

the federal constituency.


Bonetti 

dead at 78 

CHELSEA legend Peter 

Bonetti has sadly died 

aged 78 after a long battle 

with illness. 

The Blues announced the news 

and sent their condolences to 

friends and family of ‘The Cat’ as 

he was fondly known yesterday. 

Bonetti was born in Putney just 

minutes from Stamford Bridge in 

1941 and went on to become one 

of Chelsea’s all time great 

goalkeepers - playing more than 

700 times for the Blues. 

He played for the West 

Londoners between 1960 and 

1979 - a stint only interrupted by 

a short spell with the St Louis 

Stars in the USA in 1975. 

‘The Cat’ also won seven 

England caps but was 

unfortunate to have competition 

for the No1 spot from Gordon 

Banks and later Peter Shilton. 

After he retired from playing, 

Bonetti moved into coaching and 

had a spell back at Chelsea as 

well as the England national 

team. 

He also worked at Newcastle, 

Fulham and Manchester City. 

Bonetti was given the ‘Cat’ 

nickname by fans thanks to his 

nimble style, razor sharp 

reflexes and plucky nature. 

Bonetti 

Kane open to 

move to Old 

Trafford 

Harry Kane will not shut 

the door on a potential 

world transfer record 

move to Manchester United at 

the end of the season. 

The Tottenham talisman has 

been privately considering his 

long-term future for several 

months, primarily because he 

wants to be in the best position 

to challenge for trophies. 

Indeed, Kane, who is yet to 

win a single piece of 

silverware at Spurs, threw 

more uncertainty over his 

future earlier this month, 

insisting he wouldn’t stay at 

Spurs for the ‘sake of it’. 

News of his receptivity 

towards a potential move to 

Old Trafford may serve to 

encourage Ole Gunnar 

Solskjaer to launch an 

audacious swoop for Kane. 

Signing the England captain 

would certainly represent a 

statement of the club’s 

ambition, and the fact Kane 

would be interested leaves the 

path open for United. 

Traditionally, United have a 

history of signing the 

continents leading talents and 

the England international is 

unquestionably one of the best 

central strikers in Europe. 

Premier 

League to 

become a 

‘TV event’ 

Premier League matches could return as a ‘TV 

event’ in June or July following the 

coronavirus crisis. 

Most clubs have nine games of the domestic 

season remaining and with the season indefinitely 

suspended, clubs are desperate to finish the 

season with revenue from broadcasting deals at 

Liverpool’s hopes of 

playing out the remainder 

of their Premier League 

campaign could be bolstered by 

tentative steps from La Liga 

teams to return to training. 

The Premier League has been 

suspended since March 13 due 

to the coronavirus outbreak 

with clubs committed to 

resuming the season once it is 

safe to do so. 

Liverpool are 25 points clear at 

the summit and need to win 

stake. 

As a result, a source in contact with Premier 

League chairmen believes when football returns, 

it’ll be played solely as an event for TV and multiple 

games a day could be played at the national 

stadium. 

‘By June or July they will be playing games solely 

as TV events,’ the source told The Times. 

‘If they have to play four games a day at Wembley 

to get it done, they will do that.’ 

As of yet, no return date has been set in stone by 

the Premier League, as the UK remains in a state of 

lockdown. 

Many clubs are looking to agree wage cuts with 

their players in order to lessen the effect of the 

COVID-19 outbreak. 

However, despite talks for weeks between clubs 

and their first-team stars, only West Ham and 

Southampton have so far agreed salary slices. 

With regards to games being played at Wembley, 

the home of English football has recently hosted 

top-flight matches. 

Tottenham played their home games in the 2017-18 

and most of the 2018-19 season at Wembley, as they 

waited for their new stadium to be built. 

Wembly also hosts England internationals, and was 

due to hold the semi-finals and final of the 

European Championships this summer, before iet 

was delayed to 2021 by UEFA. 

Neymar’s mum dates 22-year-old fan of his son 

NEYMAR’S 52-year-old 

mum has stolen the 

limelight from her son 

after it emerged she is dating a 

computer game fan aged just 22. 

Nadine Goncalves’ new 

boyfriend is even six years 

younger than the Brazilian star. 

Nadine revealed on Instagram 

that she is dating gamer Tiago 

Ramos. 

She posted a picture of herself 

embracing Ramos in a garden. 

And she accompanied the snap 

with the caption: “The 

inexplicable cannot be 

explained, you live it... 

Brazilian outlet UEL Esporte 

has shed more light on Ramos, 

revealing him to be part of a 

gaming team called 4K Easy. 

But if that sounds a little geeky, 

he balances it out by also 

happening to be a model. 

Nadine split with Neymar’s 

father and agent Wagner Ribeiro 

in 2016 after 25 years of 

marriage. 

And despite the age gap, her 

new relationship appears to 

have the approval of her 

superstar son. 

Neymar commented on her 

Insta post: “Be happy mom. 

Love you.” 

And even Ribeiro himself 

appeared to give the pair his 

blessing with applause emojis. 

Long before meeting Nadine, 

Ramos, from the Brazilian state 

Pernambuco, was a super-fan of 

Neymar himself. 

Liverpool title hopes increased by 

La Liga return plan 

only two of their remaining 

nine games to lift the title for 

the first time in 30 years. 

League across Europe are in a 

similar position, with La Liga 

president Javier Tebas 

revealing earlier this week 

action in Spain could resume 

as early as late May. 

Spain has been hit hard by the 

pandemic but rates of infection 

have decreased significantly 

during the past week, 

indicating the peak has been 

reached. 

Nadine and Tiago 

While Serie A is expected 

to resume at the end of 

May, it’s reported we 

won’t see fans in the Italian 

stadiums until January 2021. 

The coronavirus pandemic has 

swept the globe and now covers 

every continent except for 

Antarctica. 

Italy was the first European 

country to truly bear the brunt of 

the crisis and is consequently 

also seeing the light at the end 

of the tunnel earlier than others. 

There are multiple reports the 

lockdown order will be eased 

from May 4, allowing players to 

train, so they can resume the 

fixture list from circa May 31. 

Osimhen & Chukwueze 

Osimhen, 

Chukwueze’s 

progression 

delights 

Amuneke 

Emmanuel Amuneke has 

voiced his gladness 

seeing Villarreal’s Samuel 

Chukwueze and Lille’s Victor 

Osimhen become ‘household 

names’ for Nigeria and their 

respective European clubs. 

Both players contributed a great 

deal as Nigeria U17 won the 

2015 FIFA World Cup staged in 

Chile. 

While Osimhen won the Golden 

Boot and Silver Ball, Chukwueze 

walked away with the Bronze 

Boot. 

Since then, the youngsters have 

been key figures for their 

European teams as well as the 

country’s senior national team – 

helping them place third at the 

2019 Africa Cup of Nations in 

Egypt. 

For the 1994 African Player of 

the Year, who was their coach at 

national U17 and U20 levels, 

credit for their meteoric rise 

should be given to the coaches 

who discovered them, while 

hoping Nigeria builds on this to 

groom more superstars in future. 

“Football is like a school where 

you progress from the primary 

school down to the tertiary 

institution. Even after that, you 

continue to educate yourself,” 

Amuneke told Goal. 

“Playing in the youth team is an 

opportunity for a young player 

who is dreaming big to become a 

professional. Helping your team 

win the World Cup at youth level 

means you have something 

special as a player 

“It depends on capacity, 

abilities and mentality to 

continue to progress as a 

footballer, so seeing (Samuel) 

Chukwueze and (Victor) 

Osimhen progressing gives me 

joy. 

“These are players we all 

picked without anybody 

knowing anything about them. 

We saw the qualities they 

possessed and try to guide them 

to develop.” 

“They have answered some of 

the questions asked during the 

2015 U17 World Cup in Chile, on 

why African players after doing 

well in a cadet tournament fail to 

progress,” he continued. 

No fans until January 2021 

However, those games will be 

played behind closed doors and 

it’s a situation that could last 

longer than previously 

anticipated. 

According to Sport Mediaset, a 

leaked Government document 

suggests we might not see fans 

in Italian stadiums until January 

2021. 

Italy is going towards Phase 2 of 

the pandemic response, which is 

to ease the total lockdown, but 

maintain social distancing where 

possible. 

Packing thousands of people 

into a sporting arena would be 

the ultimate proof that the crisis 

is over.

Ighalo: Pogba, Fernandes 

link can lift Man Utd 

Odion Ighalo believes a 

midfield partnership 

between Paul Pogba and 

Bruno Fernandes could 

restore Manchester United 

to their former glories. 

France star Pogba has 

endured an injury-hit 2019- 

20 season, while rumours 

persist that a switch to Real 

Madrid could be on the 

cards. 

In his absence, United 

swooped for Fernandes 

during the January transfer 

window and the Portugal 

international instantly 

endeared himself to the Old 

Trafford faithful. 

This has led many to 

suggest Ole Gunnar 

Solskjaer’s side have 

already moved on from 

Former Nigeria international Abdul Sule 

believes several Europe’s top clubs 

including Chelsea would come for 

Manchester United loan star Odion Ighalo 

at the end of his loan spell. 

Ighalo’s January move to Old Trafford has 

given Manchester United manager Ole 

Gunnar Solskjaer somewhat a relief after 

Marcus Rashford’s injury. 

Along with Bruno Fernandes, these 

January signings have helped United to an 

11-game unbeaten record in all competitions 

since January 26. 

However, former Nigerian striker Sule does 

not think Manchester United will sign him 

permanently at the end of the season. 

He told Goal: “I don’t think Man United 

are keen on retaining him because they seem 

not to value him enough to put hand him a 

•Fernandes 

•Pogba 

Pogba’s patchy second stint “He is working hard to get 

with the club, but on-loan back to fitness and imagine 

striker Ighalo is keen for when we have Pogba and 

them to take a team already Bruno in the midfield, then 

on an 11-match unbeaten you will see a different team 

run to new heights. – [Marcus] Rashford coming 

‘Clubs ‘ll rush Ighalo after loan 

spell at Man Utd’ 

Ronaldo better than 

Messi – Ighalo 

dion Ighalo has explained why he feels 

OManchester United great Ronaldo is a 

better player than Argentina and Barcelona 

superstar Lionel Messi, who many people 

believe is the best footballer on the planet. 

The former Nigeria international pointed out 

that the 35-year-old Portuguese continues to 

work hard despite his age and he’s an 

inspiration to himself and to many aspiring 

footballers. 

At first Ighalo didn’t want to stick out his neck 

but when put on the spot he went for Ronaldo 

obviously because of his Manchester United 

connections. 

Speaking to Ghanaian journalist Juliet 

Bawuah, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top 

scorer said : “I’ll take Ronaldo over Messi 

because he’s a hard worker. I believe in hard 

work. 

“Messi is blessed, he is a genius of the world. 

He’s incredible but for Ronaldo to be working 

hard every year, he’s incredible. 

“At his age Ronaldo is still hardworking, 

that’s the mentality I have.If Ronaldo at his 

age is working hard, who are we not to work 

hard? He’s a great player, he scores lots of goals 

too.” 

When asked to pick the better player between 

Chelsea icon Frank 

Lampard and 

Barcelona legend 

Andrés Iniesta, 

Ighalo opted to sit 

on the fence. 

The Manchester 

United number 25 

said : “Lampard is a 

goalscorer, he’s not 

really a midfielder. 

Iniesta is a great 

player, when he 

touches the ball 

though he doesn’t 

score much goals 

but he assists. 

“It’s a difficult 

one, I cannot pick. 

I’ll rather have the 

two of them in my 

team, they are good 

players”. 

•Ronaldo 

regular place. 

“He also may not be wanted 

again when Marcus Rashford is 

fit.” 

Those are fair points since Ighalo 

will be 31 on June 16 and his 

signing was likely a stopgap until 

Rashford and Martial return 

from injuries. 

But Sule then went 

on making bold 

claims that Ighalo 

would attract 

interest from 

other big clubs 

including 

Chelsea. 

He said: “I 

will not advise him to return to 

China now despite the attractive 

offer but would urge him to stay 

in Europe. 

“I won’t be surprised if Chelsea, 

Manchester City, Real Madrid 

or Barcelona come for him. 

“He has proven that 

he’s got a lot to offer 

at the highest level 

within his short 

stay at Man 

United and he 

can attract big 

brands and 

earn more 

money, playing 

in any of the top 

teams in 

England.” 

Ighalo has been an 

exciting transfer for 

United, but he has 

not exactly had 

astonishing 

numbers. He scored 

four goals; two in 

the FA Cup and 

two in the Europa 

League for 

United in eight 

appearances. 

•Messi 

•Maja 

•Ighalo 


Osimhen can become one of the best 

strikers in the world – Ayegbeni 

FIFA ambassador Yakubu 

Ayegbeni has backed 

Lille forward Victor 

back also,” Ighalo said in an 

interview with Juliet 

Bawuah that the 

journalist streamed live 

via her Twitter page. 

“Manchester United is 

going to be great again, 

winning games week in, 

week out. He’s a great 

player and it’s going to 

be a privilege to play with 

him.” 

Fernandes has two goals 

and three assists in five 

Premier League 

appearances, bringing 

his prolific Sporting CP 

form to England’s top 

flight with ease. 

However, Ighalo 

insists the best is yet to 

come from the 25-yearold. 

“Bruno is a fantastic 

player,” he said. “I 

played with him in 2013-14 

at Udinese. We’ve not seen 

the best of him yet in the 

Premier League. 

“Once Bruno Fernandes 

settles down in England 

you will see what that guy 

can do. He has vision, he 

wants the ball always. He 

can shoot, he can score 

goals, he is very intelligent. 

“Before the ball comes, he 

is a step ahead to know what 

he wants to do. In times 

to come you are 

going to see what 

he can do in the 

Premier League, 

even better than 

what he is doing 

now.” 

By Jacob Ajom 

n the face of the biting effects of the 

Iongoing lockdown in Lagos occasioned 

by the rampaging coronaviru pandemic, 

former Commonwealth and British 

Lightheavyweight boxing champion, 

Peter Oboh has given out food items 

w o r t h 

hundreds of 

thousands of 

Naira to the 

needy. 

T h e 

beneficiaries 

were mainly 

women, young 

men and 

children 

numbering 

over 200 who 

•Oboh 

are residents of 

h i s 

Osimhen to become one of 

the best strikers in the 

world. 

The 21-year-old has been 

in dazzling form for his 

French top-flight outfit 

following his move from 

Sporting Charleroi. 

The Great Danes have 

invested considerable faith 

in the Nigerian since 

acquiring him as a 

replacement for Arsenal’s 

Nicolas Pepe 

Ḣowever, 

there is a 

sense the 

2015 U17 

Fifa World 

•Osimhen 

Cup top 

scorer still 

has a lot to 

offer, as he 

boasts 18 

goals in 38 

appearances. 

Ayegbeni 

believes 

Maja eyes £10m return to EPL 

JOSH MAJA has put West Ham and Crystal Palace on 

alert for a return to English football. 

Striker Maja, 21, has developed well at French side 

Bordeaux after joining from Sunderland, where he was 

a goalscoring machine. 

Now the Hammers and Palace are looking into a 

swoop for the Londoner, whose price tag has soared 

to around £10million. 

West Ham are in the market for new blood up 

front. 

While Palace were keen on Maja after he 

notched 16 goals in League One for the Black Cats 

in 2018-19. 

Both clubs have funds for signings and are also 

in the market for emerging English talent. 

West Ham and Palace are looking at 

experienced options too. 

The Hammers have reportedly expressed an 

interest in Manchester United flop Alexis 

Sanchez. 

And there is also the possibility of a free 

transfer for Borussia Dortmund ace Mario 

Gotze. 

Meanwhile, Palace are keeping tabs on 

CSKA Moscow striker Fedor Chalov. 

And the Eagles are also monitoring Michy 

Batshuayi’s situation at Chelsea. 

the ex-Wolfsburg prodigy 

who has enjoyed a rapid rise 

to prominence, will 

someday become one of the 

world’s leading marksmen. 

“So many young 

footballers you see here and 

there don’t love money and 

not football, but when you 

see this boy, you will see 

that he loves football,” the 

former Portsmouth, 

Middlesbrough and 

Everton man told Goal. 

“That is why you see the 

desire and zeal in him every 

time, and if he keeps 

performing like this week in 

week out, training well and 

staying focused, he will be 

one of the top strikers in the 

world. 

“He is an example to other 

young footballers who 

should watch the way he 

plays at the moment to 

check themselves. 

“Osimhen is a young lad 

who fights, works so hard 

and scores goals every 

week.” 

Since breaking his 

international goal duck 

against Ukraine in 

September 2019, 

Osimhen has gone 

ahead to garner 

four goals in 

nine Nigeria 

caps. 

Without Ndidi Leicester 

struggle – Roberts 

F 

Covid-19: Oboh shares food items to the needy 

ormer Leicester City star Iwan Roberts has hailed the impact of 

manager Brendan Rodgers on his players, picking out Nigerian 

international Wilfred Ndidi for special praise. 

The coach-turned-commentator singled out the midfielder as one 

of the most indispensable players of the team, insinuating that the 

team is a tad below their usual standards when he is not playing. 

Speaking to Leicester City’s official webpage about the impact 

Rodgers has had on the Foxes since he joined in February 2019, 

the Welshman picked the Nigerian as one of the most impressive 

players under his stewardship. 

“You don’t realise what a good player Wilfred Ndidi is until he’s 

not there, When he’s out of the side, he’s sorely missed”, Roberts 

said about the Super Eagle. 

His words are further solidified by the fact that Leicester managed 

to win only once (vs Sheffield United) of the six games Ndidi missed 

out on during his spell on the sidelines as a result of injury in the 

suspended season. Ndidi who was recently named City’s MVP of 

the 2019-2020 season has appeared in 23 games in the English 

top-flight, scoring twice. 

neighbourhood in Ajegunle. 

He gave out the items which included rice, 

yams, spaghetti, Indomie and other items 

took place on Easter Sunday at the Comfort 

Hotel, off the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. 

In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Oboh who 

is now a Pastor said he initiated the gesture 

in a bid to arrest a very negative trend which 

might be more dangerous than the dreaded 

coronavirus. 

“I fear that if nothing is done now, hungr 

might end up killing more Nigerians than 

COVID-19,” he said, adding, “we have to 

be our brothers’ keepers.” 

He appealed to all accomplished sports 

men and women to extend their wealth to 

the needy, in order to overcome the effects 

of the deadly coronavirus. “If God blesses 

you, you too should be a blessing to others,” 

Oboh said, expressing happiness that he had 

put smiles on the faces of many around him. 

COVID-19: 

Lagos SWAN 

salutes Gov 

Sanwo-Olu, 

others 

he Sports Writers 

TAssociation of Nigeria, 

Lagos State Chapter has 

applauded the Lagos State 

Governor, Mr. Babajide 

Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the 

entire state apparatus for their 

efforts in curbing the spread of 

the deadly virus, COVID-19. 

The Lagos SWAN Chairman, 

Mr. Debo Oshundun, in a 

statement signed on Sunday, 

saluted the doggedness of the 

state government in the fight 

against the pandemic. 

According to Oshundun, the 

Governor and his team deserve 

commendation as their 

commitment and spirited 

approach have curbed the 

spread of the virus in the state 

and the country at large. 

“Without doubt, Mr. 

Governor and his team have 

done very well and we thank 

them for giving Lagosians hope 

with their novel response 

which have greatly helped in 

nipping the scourge in the 

bud“. 

•Sanwo-Olu

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1 Afternoon snooze (6) 

4 Lorries (6) 

8 Monkey (5) 

9 Stop for a period (7) 

10 Wash and iron clothes (7) 

11 Fragrant shrub (5) 

12 Odd or unconventional (9) 

17 Blotto (5) 

19 Trading ban (7) 

21 Lawlessness (7) 

22 Flavoured milk drink (5) 

23 Silly laugh (6) 

24 Fragrances (6) 

DOWN 

1 Tool for cutting grain (6) 

2 Gourmet (7) 

3 Lukewarm (5) 

5 Cattle thief (7) 

6 Fisherman's basket (5) 

7 Beguile (6) 

9 Oddly (9) 

13 Skin at the base of a nail (7) 

14 Sure (7) 

15 Finally (2,4) 

16 Seldom (anag) (6) 

18 Hard work (5) 

20 Fundamental (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have 

two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

13042020 - COVID-19: NCDC under fire over tests, slow response

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