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Eleven National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members undergoing orientation in Taraba have tested positive for COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Innocent Vakkai, the Chairman of the COVID-19 Technical Committee in Taraba, announced this on Monday at a news conference organised by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation in Jalingo.

He said that the victims were currently receiving treatments at various isolation centres in the state.

Vakkai, also the Commissioner for Health, urged residents of the state to be cautious of the pandemic.

He appealed to members of the public to always observe COVID-19 protocols to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Earlier, Mr Danjuma Adamu, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said that the state would soon establish a model ranch and livestock training centre.

Adamu said that the plan to establish the centre was in line with the open grazing and ranches establishment law of the state.

He also said that the centre would promote modern techniques for animal husbandry.

The commissioner said that the centre would mitigate the herders/ farmers’ conflicts in the state.

Adamu said that the efforts made by the state government in restoring peace to southern Taraba had begun to yield positive results.

He said that resettlement of the displaced persons was ongoing as sensitisation and seminars on peaceful co-existence were regularly conducted among the communities affected by the crisis. (NAN)

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn the operating licenses of 42 microfinance banks (MfBs). The affected banks have been shut down.

The affected banks are:

Hedgeworth MFB, Utako, Abuja;

Future Growth MFB, Utako, Abuja;

Bagwai MFB, Bagwai LGA, Kano;

Ere City MFB, Oriade LGA, Osun State;

Cafon MFB, Garki II, Abuja;

Akcofed MFB, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State;

Gufax MFB, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Partnership MFB, Onitsha, Anambra State;

ICB MFB, Ilah, Delta State;

Onima MFB, Ezinihite Mbaise LGA, Imo State;

Hometrust (NATIONS) MFB, Nkwere, Imo State.

Ringim MFB, Ringim, Jigawa State;

Bigthana MFB, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna;

Rogo MFB, Rogo LGA, Kano State;

Makoda MFB, Makoda LGA, Kano;

Takai MFB, Takai LGA, Kano State;

Bebeji MFB, Bebeji L.G.A., Kano State;

Ajingi MFB, Ajingi LGA, Kano State;

Garko MFB, Garko, Kano;

Kangiwa MFB, Kangiwa LGA, Kebbi State;

Augie MFB, Augie LGA, Kebbi State;

Mopa MFB, and Mopa, Kogi State.

Solid Base MFB, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State;

Ultimate Benefit MFB, Lokoja, Kogi State;

Ovidi MFB, Okene, Kogi State;

Kirfi MFB, Kirfi LGA, Bauchi;

Credit Express MFB, Kakawa Street, Lagos;

King Solomon MFB, Western Avenue, Iponri, Lagos;

Riggs MFB, Victoria Island, Lagos; Billionaire Blue Bricks MFB, Ajah, Lagos;

Susu MFB, Yaba, Lagos;

Wealthstream MFB, Apapa, Lagos;

Aguda Titun MFB, Ogba, Lagos and Sapphire MFB, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Metro MFB, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, Mountain Top MFB, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos;

Unyogba MFB, Ofu LGA, Kogi State; Wapo MFB, Okene, Kogi State;

Ibogun MFB, Ifo LGA, Ogun State;

Korede MFB, Igbotako, Ondo State;

Ahetou MFB, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State

Fufore MFB, Yola, Adamawa State.

From Agaju Madugba, Katsina and Molly Kilete, Abuja

Controversy, yesterday, dogged the reported fresh abduction in Katsina State as the military and the police gave contradictory account of the number of persons rescued and how the operations were undertaken.

While the police authorities pegged the number at 84, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said 39.

Both, however, agreed that the incident took place in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area.

The onslaught came barely two days after kidnappers released 343 students of Government Secondary School in Kankara who they held for six days.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Gambo Isah, yesterday, explained that on Friday, December 19 at about 10 pm, a distress call was received by DPO Dandume that some Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya numbering about 80 returning from Maulud occasion celebrated at Unguwan Alkasim village, Dandume to Mahuta village, were accosted by bandits who had already kidnapped four persons and rustled 12 cows from Danbaure village, Funtua Local Government Area.

On receipt of the report, the DPO led Operation Puff Adder, Sharan Daji and the vigilance group to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

“Subsequently, the teams succeeded in dislodging the bandits and rescued all the 84 kidnapped victims and recovered the 12 rustled cows.

“Search parties are still combing the area with a view to arresting the injured bandits and recovery of their dead bodies.”

In its own account, the military, in a statement by Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said: “Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with police and local vigilante deployed at Dandume LGA of Katsina State received a distress call at about 11:30 PM on 19 December 2020 from locals at Mahuta village that suspected bandits were moving with unconfirmed numbers of Islamiya children mostly girls and rustled cattle. The children were returning from Maulud programme at Unguwar Al-Kasim village at Dandume. In reaction to the distress call, troops quickly mobilised to the scene, laid ambush and blocked bandits’ route along Daudawa-Kadisau and road Sheme Mairuwa and Unguwar Audu village.

“While patiently waiting for the bandits at the ambush and blocking position, troops established contact with bandits and engaged them. During the fierce battle, troops superior fire power forced bandits to abandon the children and the rustled cattle thereby forcing the bandits to flee in disarray into the forest.

“Troops, thereafter, searched the general area and rescued the 39 kidnapped girls in addition to the recovery of eight rustled cattle. The victims have been reunited with their families while the recovered cattle handed to the owners.

“Troops has dominated the general area with aggressive patrol to forestall further occurrence.”

Regardless, Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has expressed fear over rising insecurity, describing the situation as perplexing.

He was particularly concerned that measures being adopted by government are not working, thus reawakening the consciousness of the Federal Government to their constitutional responsibility of security and welfare of the citizens.

Archbishop Kaigama, in his Homily, at Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja, challenged the government to show more closeness to the people and a keen sensitivity to issues of security and welfare, while the Church continued in its responsibilities of fervent prayers.

He urged Nigerians, particularly those traveling for Christmas celebration to be cautious and careful with their movements, with strong reminder to rising insecurity across Nigeria.

“Dear friends, traveling during this holy and festive period should be done withmaximum vigilance and great caution.

“Apart from the bad roads and the actions of reckless drivers, criminals heighten their diabolic activities to make life unbearable for people this period. Also, remember that COVID-19 is still like the roaring lion, looking for people to devour. Let us collectively take appropriate measures to curb its spread.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has flagged-off construction of 600 housing units for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Katsina State.

National Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants And Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRML), Basheer Garba Mohammed, performed the ground-breaking ceremony at Batagarawa, near the Katsina city centre at the weekend.

He said the “Resettlement City” would also have a number of facilities including, primary healthcare and education centres, security outposts, worship houses, skill acquisition centres, markets and adjoining farmlands for use by the occupants.

With the development, the well over 60,000 identified IDPs in Katsina State may have to scramble for the 600 two-bedroom spaces when the projected is completed towards the end of 2021.

Similar projects, according to the Commission, are also being executed in Zamfara, Edo and Borno states.

“Based on displacement data available to us at the Commission, displacement figures for Katsina State as at October 2020 was 61,418 persons.

“The president has released funds for the take-off of this project and construction has started in some states.

“In Katsina State, despite efforts by the state government and Federal Government to reduce the hardship faced by Internally Displaced Persons, there still remains a growing demand for accommodation given the recurring nature of displacement, which has placed thousands of IDPs living in host communities around the state.

“Without fear of any contradiction, Katsina State has witnessed extreme violence which has led to tragic displacement of thousands of people and the destruction of property worth hundreds of millions of Naira.

“Attacks on communities have led not only to the displacement of individuals but also the dislocation of civil authorities and other components of daily life, like schools, hospitals, and agricultural activities.”

Mohammed had earlier at Batsari, in Batsari Local Government Area launched the Project Reliance, a programme being executed by the Commission in collaboration with the CBN.

“Project Reliance is a programme geared towards establishing everyone who has lost their home, their livelihood and those who have sought refuge outside their homes in Nigeria.

“Every selected beneficiary of Project Reliance will have the opportunity to choose from more than 50 various skills.

“The applicant will also receive training, a starter pack and start-up capital to become self-reliant.”

Daily Sun

By Kayode Joseph Adewale

‘This is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us on the road when we had so nearly reached our goal. But now we have acquired our rightful status, and I feel sure that history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace: it has been thorough, and Nigeria now stands well- built upon firm foundations’ – Excerpt from Tafawa Balewa speech on Saturday (October 1, 1960).

Without mincing words or enveloping your audience with rhetorics, permit me to join the bandwagon Nigerians in saying Happy 60 years independence Anniversary. It is not out of place to give a salutatory kudos to our heroes past for their deeds that birthed Nigeria and culminate into freedom for the most populoud black nation in the continent.

However, to categorically assert that Nigeria is celebrating 60 years of independence today is really laughable because there is significant difference between Nigeria @ 2 and Nigeria @ 60 – the distinction should be in the numbers and not impacts made through the years except relics of old scars still made fresh till present. Nigeria’s first republic was abrogated just three years after its enunciation by military intervention and that spurred on us to be under military rule for good 28 years of its 60 years of existence with core subversion emanating from the terrain of ethnicity and tribal differences.

The remaining years under civilian regime were ones under Agbada leaders including former military head of states joining the so called democratic queue (Obasanjo and Buhari). The Nigeria of 1960, 80’s and 90’s is the same as the Nigeria of 2020, same country, same leaders and same problems since inception. Past leaders ruling the present and of course the mantra ‘Leaders of tomorrow’ has died a natural death and has become a cliche meant for nursery school pupils who might as well grow to meet those they heard in history as leaders in their own time.

Of what relevance is the hope in a giant with weak legs to stand. It can’t even stand when the legs are from different branch of different trees. The same problem of the 1960’s is still raising dust and not just dust but dust with a rush of wind. Our political marriage called federalism is not realistic. Forcing what does not exist will only amount to consistent and continuous systematic bloodshed. If after 60 years after independence, we still find it difficult to explain in practical sense what bound us together as a nation as they’ve been purporting, then fire is not really on the mountain, the mountain itself is fire. Nigeria is a nation-state where after 60 years of birth, our research and technology department is boosting of developing the making of Kilichi. As funny and laughable that might be, it is a national honor for those in the hem of affairs. The president speech is nothing but infobesity (information overload). A tactic to get our brain clouded with too much details. How do we analyse every bit of those purged words without overlying critical issues on plain hideout. The content and reality is like decorating a dumb site for a colorful event.

When the cost of running the government is even greater than the cost of its existence (Provision of Security and welfarism) in the first place then, we do not have government but a burden on the citizenry. Nigeria is over governed and we spend 60% of our budget on paying government officials wages, salaries and elephant allowances. Reason for public holiday is even defeated because millions of Nigerians do not even consider it as one and the other sectional ones are under the scourge of sun working their energy out just to make a living or to feed their mouth. Nigeria independence day should always call for a sober reflection deeper than just feigning abrogation of national and state parade. The old Nigeria is getting older with its predicament and no miracle will come out of the blue moon as some Nigerians are expecting. I’m one of those ardent believers in the saying that if you pray or curse Nigeria, it is only a mouth juggling or exercise – none can take effect than what it was established with and what they preserved it to be.

Sowore is one of those right thinking Nigerian but wouldn’t be appreciated due to the taciturn syndrome of Nigerians. A right call for a right cause, I suppose – only the westerners can’t triggered a change in government that was corruption institutionalized by a tripartite or more ethnic groups. To revolt on behalf of an ignorant people, is like to set yourself on fire in order to light the way for a blind man. We are seeing different solutions towards the Everest menace in the country.

Easterers – Keen to see a disunited Nigeria since 1967 till present. The Old scars is still fresh and opened to constant pain which will not be forgotten untill they see their dream country. The government see coercion as the only solution to address the insurrection but it will in turn change them to resort to violent as they’ve done in the past.

Westerners – Confused (Call for Good governance in one Nigeria through Restructuring & Revolution while some ardently believed in a disunited Nigeria as the way forward). If the westerners are as well not seeing the need for one Nigeria, then the equation is far from being even or balance.

Northerners – The only holder of the realm called Nigeria. Very indifferent about it but have been the best beneficiary of One Nigeria so far. They love the status quo and wouldn’t want anything called revolution spearheaded by a Westerner no matter the correctness of his position. Restructuring itself is not in their best interest and nothing seems good than the present. The masses in this region wouldn’t think in any way different from their aristocrats. If they can fiercely oppose motion for independence in 1953, how much more call for a good Nigeria or a divided Nigeria. The answer is a capital NO

How do you sensitize them?

The reason for Kano riot of 1953 was a laughable one considering the circumstances that surrounds it. If they (Northerners) can countered the motion for independence and refused to be sensitized, how do you intend to sensitize them about good governance when they even seems to be enjoying the present polity. I once believed we can gather for the same cause not until when I get some reality experience recently about how our disunity is deeply rooted. Unity in diversity – just seven years after independence cost us more than 3 millions death during the civil war and since then we’ve been placating, mending and patching our disintegration. I believe it’s high time Nigerians and her so called stakeholders come to the table of common sense and act right. The case of Nigeria is just like a child that’s headbutting a rock and expect the rock to break before his head does. Nigeria hasn’t been working and wouldn’t work not until the needful is done.

What’s the needful?

One nation bound in freedom – the freedom has been gotten and 60 years after that, the peace and unity is nowhere to be found or maybe it’s even an hoax.

Let’s all fill in the gap….

Adewale Kayode Joseph writes from the FCT.
Gmail: josephadewale446@gmail.com for comments and reservations.

European countries banned flights from the UK on Sunday and the WHO called for stronger containment measures as the British government warned that a potent new strain of the virus was “out of control”.

As the World Health Organization urged its European members to strengthen measures against a new variant of Covid-19 circulating in Britain, the Netherlands imposed a ban on UK flights from 6:00 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and Belgium said it would follow suit from midnight with ban on planes and trains from the UK.

Alarm bells were ringing across Europe — which last week became the first region in the world to pass 500,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic broke out a year ago — after it appeared that a new, even more infectious strain of the virus was raging in parts of Britain.

Germany, too, was considering a similar move as “a serious option” for flights from both Britain and South Africa, where another variant was discovered, according to a government source.

Italy will join the ban in order to protect its citizens, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio wrote on Facebook, without specifying when the measures would come into force.

Austria’s health ministry told the APA news agency that it would also impose a flight ban, the details of which were still being worked out.

A spokeswoman for WHO Europe told AFP that “across Europe, where transmission is intense and widespread, countries need to redouble their control and prevention approaches.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel held a conference call on Sunday about the matter, according to the Elysee palace in Paris.

– Alarm bells –

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the infectiousness of the new strain had forced his hand into imposing a lockdown across much of England over the Christmas period.

“Unfortunately the new strain was out of control. We have got to get it under control,” UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News after Johnson U-turned on his previously stated policy of easing containment measures over the festive season.

Scientists first discovered the new variant — which they believe is 70 percent more transmissible — in a patient in September. And Public Health England notified the government on Friday when modelling revealed the full seriousness of the new strain.

But Britain’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty pointed out that while the new strain was greatly more infectious, “there is no current evidence to suggest (it) causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments, although urgent work is underway to confirm this.”

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1,685,785 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Sunday.

And with the onset of colder winter weather in the northern hemisphere where respiratory diseases flourish, countries are bracing for new waves of Covid-19 with tighter restrictions, despite the economic damage such lockdowns wrought earlier this year.

The Netherlands is under a five-week lockdown until mid-January with schools and all non-essential shops closed to slow a surge in the virus.

Italy also announced a new regime of restrictions until January 6 that included limits on people leaving their homes more than once a day, closing non-essential shops, bars and restaurants and curbs on regional travel.

In Russia, health authorities said that the number of people who have died from the coronavirus has surpassed the 50,000 mark and now stands at 50,858.

– Vaccination rollout –

The rapid rollout of vaccinations is now seen as the only effective way to end the crisis and the economically devastating shutdowns used to halt its spread.

Europe is expected to start a massive vaccination campaign after Christmas following the United States and Britain, which have begun giving jabs with an approved Pfizer-BioNTech shot, one of several leading candidates.

Russia and China have also started giving out jabs with their own domestically produced vaccines.

The United States on Friday authorised Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for millions of doses of a second jab to be shipped across the hardest-hit country in the world.

It is the first nation to authorise the two-dose regimen from Moderna, now the second vaccine to be deployed in a Western country after the one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.

The Wall Street Journal reported that US lawmakers had agreed on pandemic spending powers for the Federal Reserve late Saturday, clearing the way for a vote on a roughly $900-billion Covid-19 relief package for millions of Americans.

The deal would maintain the central bank’s ability to set up emergency lending programmes without congressional approval, the Journal said, but the Fed would require approval to restart existing CARES Act programmes once they expire at the end of this year.

AFP