NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

U.S. COVID-19 cases exaggerated — Trump tweets

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By Harrison Arubu  

President Donald Trump, on Sunday, said the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States was exaggerated.

In a tweet, Trump blamed the alleged exaggeration on the “ridiculous method of determination” by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgov’s ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low.

“‘When in doubt, call it COVID.’ Fake News!”, the tweet reads.

But health experts, including the country’s top infectious disease professional, Dr Anthony Fauci, quickly countered the president’s claim.

“There’s no running away from the numbers”, Fauci said in an interview with ABC News shortly after Trump’s tweet.

“It’s something that we absolutely got to grasp and get our arms around and turn that inflexion down by very intensive adherence to the public health measures, uniformly, throughout the country, with no exception.

“The deaths are real deaths. All you need to do is go out into the trenches. Go to the hospitals and see what the health care workers are dealing with.

“They are under very stressful situations in many areas of the country. The hospital beds are stretched, people are running out of beds, running out of trained personnel, who are exhausted,” he said.

As of Saturday, the country’s COVID-19 cases had topped 20.4 million with  350,775 deaths, according to John Hopkins University.

The country also set another daily record of 299,087 cases and 2,398 fatalities on Saturday.

Also, reacting to Trump’s claim, U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams, said he had no reason to doubt the country’s Covid-19 fatality data.

Meanwhile, Trump in another tweet on Sunday, complained that the U.S. media was not giving him credit for his work on the pandemic.

“Somehow Dr Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job.

“Yet, he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News?”, he said. (NAN)

Shun govt.’s pension scheme, NUT tells Edo teachers

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By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Edo chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed its members to shun enrollment into the state government’s contributory pension scheme.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by the Assistant General Secretary of the union, Mr Moni Itua and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Benin.

Itua said that the decision was a follow-up to the resolution of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union at its last meeting held on Dec. 29, 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the union had, on Dec. 29, 2020, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government over alleged failure to meet its 10-point demand, bordering on poor conditions of service, among others.

Itua said: “I have been directed to inform all school heads and primary school teachers not to fill any document having to do with contributory pension scheme, no matter the source of such document, until the union directs otherwise.

“The above directive became inevitable because the two fundamental issues raised by the union concerning the pension scheme have not received government’s positive response,” he said.

According to Itua, the fundamental issues yet to be resolved include the tier of government that will be responsible for the monthly remittance of 10 percent to the pension accounts of individual teachers, particularly those at the primary school level.

Also, the NUT wants the state government to cater for the accrued gratuity entitlements of teachers, prior to the commencement of the scheme, as provided by law.

Itua said that the directive to the teachers not to fill any pension document had become inevitable as a result of the failure of the state government to address the two issues regarding the scheme. (NAN)

Japan to consider new COVID-19 emergency declaration

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Japan will consider issuing a new emergency declaration after governors in the capital region urged action to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases, the head of the nation’s pandemic response said on Saturday.

The government needs to consult with health experts before deciding on a new declaration, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters after a meeting with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and leaders from three neighbouring prefectures.

“The national government and the three governors shared the view that the situation in the Tokyo area is getting more severe such that an emergency declaration may be necessary,” Nishimura said.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has resisted calls to reinstate a national state of emergency, which the government had introduced in April during an earlier wave of the pandemic. Suga is next scheduled to speak publicly on Jan. 4.

It relied on voluntary business closures and travel restrictions rather than the sort of rigid lockdown measures seen in parts of Europe and the United States.

The rise in COVID-19 cases is compounding a seasonal increase in hospitalisations, said Fumie Sakamoto, infection control manager at St Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo.

“The Japanese government has not done a great deal to control the infection,” Sakamoto said.

“I would expect the (infection) numbers will get bigger in the coming days, and the emergency declaration should have come earlier, probably during December or November.” (Reuters/NAN)

News Analysis: Developing mining sector for economic diversification

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By Francisca Oluyole

Organised mining began in Nigeria in 1902, when the Mineral Survey of the Northern Protectorate was created by the British colonial government.

A year later, the Mineral Survey of the Southern Protectorates was founded and by 1940s, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite and coal.

The discovery of oil in 1956 affected the mineral extraction industries, as the government and industry both began to focus on this new resource.

The Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s made many mining expatriates to leave the country and that affected the mining industry.

In a bid to unlock the economic potential of the solid minerals, the Federal Government in 1985 created the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to spur the rapid and beneficial development of the country’s solid mineral resources.

About 44 mineral occurrences have been reported in Nigeria; a number of these minerals are estimated to exist in commercial quantities, including Nickel, Bitumen, Iron Ore, Gold and Coal.

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, he emphasised on diversifying the economy from oil to solid minerals and measures were being taken by the Federal Government to realise this programme of moving the economy from oil to solid minerals.

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption and destabilisation of Nigerian economy which enforces urgency of economic diversification, the task fell on the lap of those managing the solid mineral sector.

More specifically, the focus is on the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), which regulates mining licencing under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The expectation of the public is high while the Federal Government itself is in search of a magic wand to accelerate the diversification process and ensure sustainable mining licensing and management.

To achieve the diversification agenda of Mr President, MCO has launched world class reforms, some even anticipating the ease of the pandemic.

In the past one year, several policy actions have been initiated, both ministry wide and specifically at the agency level.

From the revenue perspective, verifiable improvement was recorded last year; the agency earned N2.59 billion, first in the history of the agency.

The secret of the sudden increase was the introduction of ‘First Come, First Serve’ and ‘Use it or Lose it ’, in the licensing administration.

Use it or lose it helps to eliminate speculators in the industry and also helped to revoke licences not used and dormants.

Use it or lose it has activated many dormant licences and increased revenue inflow into the treasury. Between 2006 and 2020, MCO revoked 4,997 licences due to different offences.

On this basis MCO was able to make the system attractive enough for investors so as to generate more revenue.

The agency also initiated migration online of licencing processes long before COVID-19 pandemic; elimination of human to human interaction is the best practice in enthroning transparency, accountability and anti-corruption in licencing and other governmental transactions.

This is a smart response to the evil of corruption, low investment and dwindling revenue earnings. The Electronic Mining Cadastre system (eMC+) is a state of the art in the administration and management of Mineral Title for prompt, efficient and transparent management of Mineral Titles throughout their life cycle.

The migration of MCO operations to an online-based Mineral Title Administration system also encompassed the digitalisation, automation, recording and archiving process (e-Recording/Archiving) as well as the establishment of six zonal offices in Nigeria.

MCO is working closely with National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) and NSRMEA on Ajaokuta iron ore to be used for steel and other strategic minerals.

The office is protecting cooking coal, Bauxite, Dolomite from exploitation and preserving the minerals until when Ajaokuta steel company kick starts its operation.

The office has been able to protect the Federal Government Gold project initiative programme too.

MCO also places restrictions on strategic minerals such as gold and coal (for power generation)  unless the applicant provides evidence of competence to  develop these strategic minerals.

The mining policies and programmes put in place since the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has sign posted a significance interest, revenue generation as well as attract initiatives for genuine investors to the mining sector as a way towards diversifying the economy.(NAN)

New Year: Cleric urges Nigerians to pray for peace

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By Oboh Linus

Apostle Theophilus Ebonyi, the Senior Pastor, Faith on the Rock Ministry International, has admonished Nigerians to seek God through prayer for the country to  overcome any demonic agenda against it in 2021.

Ebonyi gave the admonition in an interview with newsmen after a programme titled “Prayer for the Nation,’’ to mark his 43rd birthday and prophetic release for 2021 on Saturday in Karu, Nasarawa State.

The cleric said that going back to God genuinely was the only answer to the challenges confronting the country and the sure way to overcome its daunting challenges.

Reflecting on the 2020, the cleric said it was a turbulent year, full of battles ranging from lockdown, insecurity, insurgency and #EndSARS saga, saying God brought Nigerians into 2021 for a purpose.

He said that 2021 was a year of the Lord, where God himself would humble some demonic powers, forces and satanic agenda that had been bedeviling the nation.

The cleric disclosed that God revealed to him in the place of prayer, the full assurance of His blessings and intervention in the affairs of the country.

Ebonyi, however, said that the 2021 needed sincere prayer of everyone especially for the North and the governments at all levels.

“We have to pray for the governments and Nigerians, God loves this nation dearly but the kingdom of darkness has come out fully against it.

“If we call on God genuinely he will still deliver us as he delivered Israelites out of Egypt,” he said.

Speaking on his 43rd birthday, Ebonyi expressed grateful to God for adding another year to him in spite of the battles he went through in 2020.

He said that he dedicated his 43rd birthday to step up the mandate that God gave him to wipe away the tears of people through touching of lives with his resources.

He noted that what always gave him joy was to see humanity happy and liberated.(NAN)

Messi returns for Barca as Koeman warns against dropping more points

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Lionel Messi has recovered from an ankle injury and ready to take on Huesca on Sunday.

Barcelona look to get their La Liga season back on track following last week’s surprise 1-1 draw at home to Eibar, coach Ronald Koeman has said.

Barca’s all-time top scorer watched on helplessly from the empty Camp Nou stands as his side struggled against the minnows but Koeman said his captain had been working overtime to return to fitness.

“Messi is in good shape, he trained on December 30 and 31, even when his team mates had days off, and he’s not feeling any discomfort anymore,” Koeman told a news conference on Saturday.

“He’s ready, he’s feeling happy and very determined and that’s very important for us.”

Messi is now into the final six months of his contract with Barca and has stated he will not decide his future until the end of the campaign, but Koeman said the uncertainty was no distraction for his side.

“Like any player who is finishing their contract, he is free to decide what he wants,” he said.

“He’s proved he wants the best for this team and I have no problem with him not making his decision now.

“We aren’t feeling nervous or worried about it.”

Barca’s draw with Eibar left them sixth in the standings and 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who also have a game in hand.

Koeman, however, repeated his earlier belief that his side were slipping out of the title race.

“I’m a realist when it comes to our chances of winning the league.

“We cannot afford to drop many more points, and as Atletico are so consistent, it’s very difficult for us.

“ Each point lost is another chance gone,” he said.

While Messi returns against Huesca, Barca will be without Philippe Coutinho, who underwent surgery on a knee injury and will be out for around three months.

The Brazilian is the fourth player the Catalans have lost to a long term injury this season after Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.

“We will keep working with what we have but we have lost important players of real quality,” added the Dutch coach.

The coach also sent his best wishes to former Barca team mate Eusebio Sacristan, who is in an induced coma after suffering a fall. (Reuters/NAN)

COVID-19: Ebonyi reopens schools Jan. 18

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By Douglas Okoro

The Ebonyi Government has directed schools across the state to resume for the continuation of the first term of the  2020 /2021 academic session on Jan. 18.

This is contained in a statement by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Onyebuchi Chima, on Saturday in Abakaliki.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that public, private and mission schools in the state were originally slated to resume for the continuation of the first term on Jan. 4.

NAN recalls that the Ebonyi government had directed schools to vacate for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 18, 2020, after it reopened schools in October, with the lifting of lockdown due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“I have been directed by Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, to inform the general public that resumption of academic activities in Ebonyi schools have been shifted to Monday, Jan. 18, as against the initial resumption date of Jan. 4.

“The postponement is due to the need to take precautions against the impending second wave of COVID-19 and in compliance to the directives of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic,’’ Chima stated.

The statement further added that tertiary institutions in the state would resume academic activities on Monday, Jan. 4 on condition of strict observance of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) COVID-19 protocols.

It said the governor explained that the decision to allow tertiary institutions to reopen was to ensure the return of students to full academic activities, especially as the Academic Staff Union of Universities had suspended its nine months industrial action. (NAN)

Improved budgeting system will curb deficit financing – Economist

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By Kadiri Abdulrahman

An economist, Mr Tope Fasua, has advised the Federal Government to improve on the budgeting system to check deficit financing and make the annual budgets more impactful.

Fasua, who is the founder of Global Analytics Consulting Ltd, a consulting firm gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

He was speaking against the backdrop of the recently passed 2021 budget.

He suggested that if capital budgets were done on a rolling basis, instead of having them annually, infrastructural development would be sustainable.

He advised the government to cut down on running cost in the bureaucracy to enable the 2021 budget to have optimum impact on the mass of the Nigerian populace.

“Capital budgets should be done on a more sustainable basis instead of annually.

“This way, most of the projects would be completed on schedule.

“Each budgetary allocation should be tied to specific projects before funds are released.

“This would be more impactful than the envelope system whereby ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) gets budgetary to be utilised as they dim fit,’’ he said.

He, however, called for improved funding of the budget to check deficit.

“Funding remains a problem and that is what leads to deficit financing.

“Unfortunately, we have found ourselves in a difficult scenario due to the COVID-19 pandemic and falling crude oil prices and we just have to go borrowing like most other countries in the world.

“Government should ensure that our borrowings are effectively utilised for optimum impact.

“We must continue to remind ourselves that we have a development challenge to defeat.’’

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 2021 budget into law on Dec. 31, 2020.

The National Assembly had earlier passed the budget on Dec. 21, 2020. (NAN)

News Analysis: Virtual court proceedings child of necessity

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Virtual court proceedings child of necessity

By Chinyere Omeire

Global pandemic, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and its attendant restrictions have resulted in some new ways of doing things as governments, organisations, groups and even individuals struggle to survive.

In Nigeria’s judiciary, lockdowns following  outbreak of the pandemic on Feb. 27, 2020, crippled justice administration as court activities nationwide were halted in an effort to curb the spread.

Many lawyers and litigants, thus, decried  delay in accessing justice.

Thinking out the box, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, gave a directive to heads of courts at federal and state levels to adopt virtual court sittings to ameliorate the difficulty in justice dispensation.

The directive was, however, challenged by the attorney-general of Lagos State at the Supreme Court.

The attorney-general prayed the apex court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 36(1), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the use of technology for remote hearings of any kind by the Lagos State High Court or any other courts in Nigeria in aid of hearing and determination of cases, were constitutional.

In July, the Supreme Court struck out the suit as a team of justices led by Olabode Rhodes-Vivour held that virtual court sitting was not unconstitutional.

The CJN and chief judges of states consequently  issued practice directions, allowing virtual court sittings mostly on the consent of parties involved in the suits.

This child of necessity – virtual court proceedings – enabled some courts to do peripheral activities while others could not, due to lack of capacity to adapt to the procedure.

Many lawyers have hailed judicial authorities for the virtual court system, describing it as a child of necessity.

According to them, the lockdown experience exposed inadequacies in the country’s judicial system and showed the need to embrace technological solutions and interventions.

Mr Osuala Nwagbara, the Managing Partner of Maritime and Commercial Law Partners, Apapa, Lagos, believes that a technological-driven judicial system will facilitate justice delivery.

Nwagbara says that Nigerian lawyers have been yearning for an automated system of filing processes in courts.

Nwagbara adds that the lawyers also yearn for adjudication of some matters online.

He argues that the constitutionality of virtual court proceedings is influenced more by the exigencies of the moment.

He says  virtual court procedure is not unconstitutional since the 1999 Constitution provides for an aggrieved persons to ventilate their rights through the courts and for accused persons to be given facilities to defend themselves.

According to the lawyer, virtual court hearing is a procedural way to ventilate such rights.

He insists that the procedure does not rob anyone of the right to be heard.

“On the contrary, not to devise safe court proceedings will amount to shutting people out of their rights to ventilate their grievances or defend themselves,” Nwagbara argues.

He is convinced that virtual court system does not make a complainant a judge in his own cause but follows the age-long tradition that an unbiased and independent umpire, a judge, sits and resolves disputes or complaints.

Mr Chibuikem Opara of the Justification Law firm, Ikeja,  also argues that the Supreme Court’s judgment was influenced more by the exigencies of the moment than the Constitution.

He suggests that laws should be applied  liberally while rigidity and harsh interpretations that may  result in hardship should be avoided.

Opara calls for amendment of the Constitution to expressly embody the Supreme Court’s decision.

Mr Chris Ayiyi, Principal Partner, Ayiyi Chambers, Apapa, Lagos, also says the court judgement was necessitated by the situation at hand.

He argues, however, that the cost effectiveness of the virtual court sitting was not considered.

Ayiyi believes  that the apex court should have considered the cost of virtual proceedings on ordinary people.

Mediation advocacy experts including  the Messrs Valentino Buoro and Adeyemi Akisanya, are  of the opinion that certain matters be should be referred to mediation for peaceful and amicable resolution through  multi-door courthouses.

They note that  COVID-19-induced lockdown  was unanticipated and suddenly disrupted routines.

According to Buoro, online mediation seeks to ease the imbalances.

He advises parties in suits to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and resolve most of their cases through mediation or any other ADR process.

Akinsanya notes that ADR does not require bulk documentation like litigation.

“It is faster and consensual,” he argues.

Analysts believe that  administration of justice in Nigeria requires more intervention and more infrastructure to  global trends.

Finland confirms first adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

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The Finnish Medicines Agency says it has received the first report of an adverse reaction to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against coronavirus.

This is coming one week after Europe started its mass immunisation campaign.

The Finnish YLE broadcaster reported on Saturday, quoting the agency’s Chief Physician, Maija Kaukonen, as saying, “when there are at least five such reports, we will put information on our website about the type of reactions that have occurred’’.

Kaukonen told the broadcaster that no further details could be disclosed due to patient confidentiality.

At the same time, Kaukonen noted that reports of allergic or adverse reactions were likely to increase.

The EU member states launched the bloc-wide vaccination programme on Dec. 27, 2020.

This is a day after member states began receiving their first shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine following the European Commission’s authorisation.

So far, COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to healthcare workers in Finland’s five largest hospital districts of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu, according to YLE. (ANI/Sputnik/NAN)

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