By Maureen Ojinaka

Commercial activities have resumed in earnest in Enugu after the Yuletide, with markets, banks and other business activities operating normally, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A Correspondent of NAN who went round Enugu metropolis on Monday, reports that there were normal vehicular and human movements on major roads, while some traders, said they had fully returned to commence their regular businesses for the year.

Mr Uche Nnamdi, a trader, who deals on women’s wears at Ogbete Main Market, explained that he decided to open his shop for business on time due to COVID-19 second lockdown rumour.

“I returned early this year to open my shop for business due to the second COVID-19 lockdown that I am hearing,” Nnamdi said.

Mrs Eugenia Ani, another trader at Garki Market, said she had to opened for business earlier, following her inability to make much profit from her cosmetics’ business as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Ani added that she started early because she also needed to pay for her children’s school fees in this month.

“I opened early this year because of COVID-19 pandemic which made many traders to remain indoors for several months last year and my children’s school fees will be paid this January.

“In fact, every expenditure I make in my family is from this my shop,” she said.

Also, a bank customer in one of the commercial banks, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she came to pay for her children’s school fees to avoid rush when schools resume.

“This is the best time to pay for children’s fees because customers are not many in banks now, when compared to the population of customers expected by next week,” she said.

Similarly, most shopping malls in the metropolis were seen opened for businesses. (NAN)

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

From just two National Reference Laboratories, Nigeria now has over 100 public and private laboratories across all the states for the testing of COVID-19.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this at a media briefing on Monday in Lagos, said centres were also built in collaboration with states and the private sector to isolate and treat cases of COVID-19.

He said the Federal Government, through the Sustainable Production Pillar of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, had been encouraging local manufacturing companies to embark on the production of consumables.

The minister said local manufacturing companies were specifically encouraged to embark on production of face masks, ventilators, hand sanitisers and face shields.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy across all levels, the minister said the government unveiled the Economic Sustainability Plan to support families, small and medium enterprises and the manufacturing sector among others.

He said with the resurgence of the pandemic, President Muhammadu Buhari had extended the mandate of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 until the end of March, 2021.

He said the extension of the PTF mandate was as a result of the new surge in the number of cases of infected persons and the bid for vaccines.

The minister, who is also a member of PTF, gave an assurance of the administration’s untiring efforts to tame the pandemic and
protect Nigerians.

Mohammed recalled that the Federal Government had launched an onslaught against the novel coronavirus which was imported into the country in February 2020.

He said the government mobilised all sectors and segments of the country for a sectoral approach to interrupt the transmission of the virus and curtail mortality.

Mohammed said the approach included expanding health infrastructure, building the capacity of health workers and mounting aggressive public sensitisation and community mobilisation against the spread of the virus.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the minister said the Federal Government unveiled the Economic Sustainability Plan to support families, small and medium enterprises and the manufacturing sector among others.

He said the country had so far performed creditably well in the fight against COVID-19 through the deployment of resources, mobilisation and training of manpower and expansion of health infrastructure.

Mohammed enjoined Nigerians to strictly abide by all COVID-19 protocols to prevent spread of the pandemic.

He said the media briefing, earlier scheduled for Dec. 29, 2020, was shifted in order for him not to breach the COVID-19 protocols.

“Many of you may not be aware that I represented Mr President at the inauguration of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on Dec. 28, 2020.

“I returned to Nigeria the same day, but had to observe the mandatory seven-day quarantine which expired yesterday, Jan. 3, 2021,” he said.

He reiterated that while the Federal Government was not contemplating another lockdown because of possible effects on the economy, Nigerians should take responsibility in preventing the second wave of the pandemic. (NAN)

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Federal Government says contrary to the position of some “jaundiced analysts and their lapdogs,’’ Nigeria is not a failing or failed state.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a New Year media briefing in Lagos said the analysts were wrong in seeking to portray the country as a failing state due to its security challenges.

Mohammed, who stressed that the gloomy prediction would not come to pass, added that the country would rise to become a more respected member of the comity of nations.

“You would remember that for the past two decades or so, some pseudo-analysts have been predicting the country’s implosion.

“That has not happened, hence they have found a new watchword – failing or failed state!

” It’s all a ruse aimed at depicting Nigeria as being in a constant state of anarchy so they can achieve their nefarious objectives for the country,’’ he said.

Mohammed said notwithstanding the antics of the analysts who he said had constituted themselves into another ‘fighting force,’ the country had made tremendous progress in tackling bandits and Boko Haram terrorists.

He said: “If Nigeria was not a ‘failing’ state when a large slice of its territory equivalent to the size of Belgium was under the occupation of Boko Haram, which collected taxes, installed and deposed emirs, is it now that no territory is under the terrorists that Nigeria will be a failing state?

“If Nigeria was not a failed state when bombs were raining on towns and cities in Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Yobe, FCT and other states, is it now that such bombings have stopped that Nigeria will be described as a ‘failing’ state?

“If Nigeria was not a ‘failing’ state in those years that Christian and Muslim worshippers needed to be screened to even enter their places of worship, is it now that the siege on places of worship has ceased that Nigeria will be described as a ‘failing’ state?’’

Mohammed said it was sad that many people had forgotten where the country was in terms of the state of insecurity just a few years back.

The minister, however, thanked the security agencies for ensuring that Nigerians celebrated another Christmas and the new year without bombings.

He recalled that in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Christmas eve or Christmas Day attacks left hundreds dead or injured.

Mohammed also recalled the attack on the UN Complex in Abuja in August 2011, the bombing of media houses in Abuja and Kaduna in April 2012 and the killing of about 40 students in Mubi, Adamawa, in October 2012.

He said the analysts had forgotten that over 80 towns and villages were attacked and razed, with casualties, by Boko Haram in Borno alone

“Have we forgotten the constant attacks on military and security formations like Giwa Barracks (Maiduguri), Mohammed Kur Barracks (Bama), Monguno Barracks (Monguno), Airforce Base (Maiduguri), New Prison (Maiduguri) and numerous police stations?

“The fact that these attacks and bombings have stopped is a testimony to the progress we have made in tackling terrorism which, by the way, is not like conventional warfare.

“The stoppage of the attacks didn’t happen by accident. It is therefore mischievous for anyone to discountenance the progress we have made in tackling insecurity, in building and upgrading infrastructure and in diversifying the economy, among others.

“The Federal Government rejects this characterisation of Nigeria as a ‘failing’ state, which is a combination of the wishful thinking of naysayers and the evil machinations of those who don’t wish Nigeria well,’’ he said.

Mohammed said the government had sustained the fight against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements across the country, especially in the North East and the North West regions.

He said the recent swift response and rescue of the 344 kidnapped Kankara school boys in Katsina State from bandits attested to the claim.

Mohammed said the president has continued to provide all the necessary platforms on land, air and sea to support the fight against criminals and terrorists in the country.

The minister said besides tackling insecurity headlong, the country had continued to make steady progress in many areas, including infrastructural development, agriculture and power.

By Hamza Suleiman
Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) says the strangulating insecurity in North-East hampers the successful execution of Federal Government’s road projects in the region.

Ndume, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, made this known in Maiduguri on Monday while speaking with newsmen.

He said that the construction and rehabilitation of some major roads had been approved by the Federal Government but the roads were abandoned due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

He explained that Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were some of the states terrorised by the insurgents, making it difficult to rehabilitate and construct road networks approved by the Federal Government.

He said: “The first is Dikwa-Marte-Monguno road which was approved for N60.273 billion and the Numan road linking Borno and Adamawa approved for N15.527 billion.

“The third is the road from Gombi-Biu linking Adamawa and Borno also approved for N7.643 billion. The State government has also taken over the construction of 34km Damboa- Chibok- Mbalala federal road which had for long been neglected.

“It has also embarked on reconstruction and rehabilitation of the dilapidated Biu- Azare – Shaffa- Garkida federal highway linking Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa, but the workers were forced to vacate the site due to activities of the insurgents.

“Damaturu-Maiduguri has been allocated but as you can see the work has stopped. Also, the road from Buni Yadi- Biu was also abandoned. Even passengers don’t pass through the road regularly due to the threat pose by the terrorist,’’ he said.

Ndume lamented that no single Federal Government project was taking place in the Northern part of Borno due to the fear that contractors might come under attack by the insurgents.

He said that the insurgents had also taken advantage of the deplorable conditions of the roads to abduct commuters and to even stage ambush attacks against troops.

“There cannot be any meaningful development without peace. It will be therefore difficult to see meaningful development especially on road construction by the Federal Government.

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government has given an assurance that the country will witness improved security this year.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance at a new year media briefing on Monday in Lagos.

The minister disclosed that a number of the platforms the country had been expecting to pep up the battle against terrorists and bandits would arrive in the new year.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had continued to provide the armed forces and other security agencies with whatever was required to function better in terms of platforms, logistics and capacity development.

“As the president said in his new year broadcast, the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police are to be re-energised and re-organised.

“This is with a view to enhancing their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country,” he said.

Mohammed paid tributes to all security personnel for their sacrifice, dedication to duty and patriotism, noting that the nation remained in their debt for their service.

The minister said that 2020 was one of the most challenging years for the country with COVID-19 and EndSARS protest impacting on the economy in addition to security challenges.

He said the government, however, rose with courage and determination to tackle the challenges and had continued to do so.

“The year 2020 has been a challenging year, undoubtedly one of the most challenging years for the country.

“A global pandemic that triggered an economic recession, security challenge and an unnecessary violence that stemmed from what started as a peaceful protest are just some of the challenges.

“It is to the credit of the President Mohammadu Buhari Administration that it tackled these challenges headlong.

“Thanks to the several complementary fiscal, real sector and monetary interventions proactively introduced by the
government to forestall a far worse decline of the economy and alleviate the negative consequences of the pandemic,” he said.

The minister said the government equally introduced the Economic Sustainability Plan and took significant steps to reach out to the vulnerable.

Specifically, he said the National Social Register was expanded to 3.6 million beneficiaries across the 36 states while support was provided to 8.8 million households through the 70,000 metric tons food grains released from the Strategic Reserve.

Mohammed also said no fewer than 1.3 million vulnerable households benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfers across 34 states.

He said various other interventions were made through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme as well as the Trader and Market Moni loans.

The minister berated opposition figures for their constant criticism of the programmes and activities of government as well as whatever the president said or did without justifiable reasons. (NAN)

By Abiodun Esan

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has dissolved the state executive council with effect from Dec. 31, 2020.

The dissolution of the cabinet is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor on Monday in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16-member cabinet was inaugurated by Gov. AbdulRazaq on Dec. 14, 2019.

The cabinet is made up of nine women and six males.

“His Excellency especially commends the Honourable cabinet members for their contributions to the development of the state while also wishing them the best in their future endeavours,” Ajakaye said.

The governor added that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Mamman Sabah Jubril, was retained.

The governor directed the former cabinet members to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective ministries.

The out gone cabinet also had the youngest commissioner, Ms Joana Kolo. (NAN)

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said that 79 illegal migrants were rescued and eight others went missing off the Libyan coast.

“IOM staff are providing emergency assistance to 79 migrants returned to Libya by the coast guard today,’’ the UN body tweeted.

Among the rescued migrants were 13 women and seven children, it said.

Libya has been mired in the chaos following the ouster and killing of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who intend to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe.

Thousands of illegal migrants, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by the authorities, remain detained in overcrowded detention centres in Libya.

This is in spite of repeated international calls to close those centres. (Xinhua/NAN)

By Florence Onuegbu

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has predicted good tidings for Nigerians and residents of Lagos State in particular in the year 2021.

Adeboye made the declaration on Sunday at the 2021 Hybrid Edition of the Lagos State Annual Thanksgiving Service, held at Lagos House Ground, Ikeja.

It had its  theme as: “In Everything Give Thanks´´, taken from the Holy Bible, Psalms 50: 23.

The event, which was  organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, was attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State,  Dr  Femi Hamzat , Deputy Governor of Lagos State;   government functionaries,   religious leaders and other guests.

Reading from Psalm 67 Verse 3-7, the General Overseer who joined the Thanksgiving Service  virtually, prayed for the leaders, followers, young and the old.

He prayed that everything they touched in year 2021 should prosper and there would  be good news.

“I pray a year like 2020 will never come our way again. And year 2021 will be better, a year of rejoicing, of good news.

“2021 will attract miracles, signs and wonder. It will be far more successful than year 2020.

“I pray as you have praised God this year, He will bless you all. I decree in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, everything you touch this year shall prosper.

“There will be no famine and fruitless efforts. God will bless you fearfully. Bless you with signs and wonder.

“He will fill your mouth with laughter. A year of singing, dancing,  rejoicing for all of you. It shall be a year of good news,´´ Adeboye prayed.

Earlier, Pastor Johnson Kalejaiye, who had physically represented Adeboye, preached on the theme of the event and urged  all to always be thankful to God.

According to Kalejaiye,  giving thanks to God is spiritually mandatory with corresponding rewards.

“Thanksgiving provokes divine multiplication, thanksgiving can open door of recognition, thanksgiving can provoke answered prayers,´´ he said. (NAN)