By Christian Ogbonna

The Ebonyi government on Monday ordered the arrest of circulators of a video on social media that Fulani herdsmen were being attacked and chased out of the state.

Gov. David Umahi said at a news conference in Abakaliki that the video was faked.

He ordered security agencies to investigate the source of the video and arrest the circulators.

The governor said the video had caused panic and tension.

“Security personnel must ensure that those behind the circulation of the video, which has caused panic across the country, are brought to book.

“We must increase our security surveillance at the grassroots level. I urge the security agencies to step up and arrest persons circulating the video on social media,” Umahi said.

Mr Inusa Sani, Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ebonyi Chapter, condemned the misleading video, adding that “it is fake news”.

“The video is an orchestrated attempt by mischief makers and enemies of peace.

“What happened was that on Jan. 2, one of us, Alhaji Adamu, residing at Ozibo Village in Nkaleke Ichaba/Enyibishiri community, informed the association of his relocation to Taraba State.

“I use this opportunity to urge the general public to disregard the video in circulation and no Fulani herdsman was attacked or chased out of Ebonyi State,” Sani said.

He said herdsmen had co-habited peacefully with their host communities without any fear, molestation, threat or intimidation from any quarter.

The Police Command in Ebonyi had on Sunday issued a statement noting that Fulani herdsmen were not attacked or being chased out of the state.

Also speaking at the news conference, Mr Philip Maku, Commissioner of Police in the state, assured the public of the Command’s readiness to protect lives and property.

“The general public should disregard the video in circulation, which is misleading and fake. Keep going about your normal business and support the security agencies and state government at ensuring that those behind the evil plot are fished out,” Maku admonished.

Dr Keneth Igwe, Secretary to the State Government, said the distorted and misleading video was propagated by the enemies of Ebonyi.

“We cannot keep quiet on any issue that is trying to tarnish the image of our dear state or cause disorder. We have enjoyed maximum peace with our Fulani brothers.

“The security chiefs are here and there is no incident of an attack on herders in the state; we therefor urge the general public to disregard the misleading video,” Igwe said. (NAN)

By Grace Alegba

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Touch of Love and Lifting Hands Foundation, has renewed its calls on governments at all levels to take care of the elderly very serious in order to attract God’s blessings on the nation.

The Founder/CEO of the foundation, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an end-of-the-year free eye screening and get-together for some elderly and widows in Lagos.

NAN reports that the NGO caters for the welfare of old people, widows and the needy in the society.

Owolabi said that the old people had spent their youthful years serving and building various segments of the nation’s economy and society, and should not be neglected in their old age.

“Some of these old people are being owed pensions after using their youthful age to serve their fatherland. Some of them are lonely because their partners are dead; some of them do not have children.’’

The government should look after the old people so that the blessings of God would come to our country, she said.

She appealed to the government and the well-to-do in the society to partner genuine NGOs to put smiles on the faces of old people.

“NGOs do not compete with government, rather, they complement government but in a less or non-bureaucratic but professional way.

“If NGOs are in genuine collaboration with government, the society will be a better place and the dream of a just and equitable society can be realised,” Owolabi said.

Owolabi also appealed for government’s support for abandoned widows in the society.

She recalled the hardships faced in the Year 2020 by the public such as the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that slowed the nation’s economy and the #EndSARS protests that almost crumbled Lagos State.

She said the foundation founded on Dec. 29, 2017, had carried out several social interventions and provided “care, succour and a place of relaxation for the aged and widows in our society.

“Our impact on the society speaks for itself but it can be made better through collaboration between NGOs and government.

“This is the best way to move the society forward. No alternatives,” she said.

Owolabi called for medical and financial assistance for one of the old widows diagnosed with breast cancer for her to undergo surgery and save her life.

She said that the foundation had lost some widows and old people to death due to financial constraints, while some had gone blind due to late intervention to restore their sights.

NAN reports that free eye checks were carried out on 1,000 old people, given glasses, while those with complex cases were referred to specialist hospitals.

The beneficiaries who were hosted in three batches in line with COVID-19 protocols were given gifts and served food.

They were also treated to danceable music, games and had fun.

The programme was tagged: “Humanity and Good Governance, a Sine Qua Non For a Just and Equitable society.

By Abdullahi Mohammed

The Federal Government has inaugurated Rural Women Grants Project in Jigawa to cater for 4,350 beneficiaries across state.

Mrs Sadiya Farouk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said at the inauguration in Dutse on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration toward achieving its social inclusion agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Nura Alkali, announced that the federal government had spent several billions of naira on poverty reduction project.

According to her, a significant number of some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural communities have benefited from 2015 to date.

Farouk said that a total of 4,350 women would be given a grant of N20, 000 each in Jigawa, adding that president Buhari has also approved the extension of the project till the end of this year.

The minister urged the beneficiaries to utilise the money judiciously.

In his remarks, Gov. Muhammad Badaru, who was represented by Special Assistant on Empowerment, Alhaji Abba Mujaddadi commended the federal government for its efforts toward reducing poverty in the country.

Badaru said that his administration has been complementing the federal government’s efforts on poverty reduction, adding that the state had supported 14,000 rural women from 2015 to date. (NAN)

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed trading in 2021 on a bullish trend with the All-Share Index surpassing the 41,000 mark, as investors continued to position ahead of full year results and dividend declaration.

Specifically, the All-Share Index inched higher by 876.67 points or 2.18 per cent to close at 41,147.39 from 40,270.72 achieved on Thursday.

Also, the market capitalisation, which opened the year at N21.056 trillion rose by N459 billion or 2.18 per cent to close at N21.515 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are: BUA Cement, Lafarge Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Flour Mills and Dangote Sugar Refinery.

GTI Securities Ltd expressed optimism that the domestic stock market would resume the new year upbeat with less attractive nature of the fixed income market.

Market breadth closed positive with 32 gainers as against two losers.

Honeywell Flour Mill, Sovereign Trust Insurance and Transcorp led the gainers’ chart in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent each, to close at N1.32, 22k and 99k per share, respectively.

International Breweries and Fidelity Bank followed with 9.92 per cent each, to close at N6.54 and N2.77 per share, respectively.

BUA Cement increased by 9.89 per cent to close at N85 per share.

Conversely, the FCMB Group led the losers’ chart in percentage terms with a loss of 6.01 per cent to close at N3.13 per share.

Caverton shed 3.41 per cent to close at N1.98 per share.

Meanwhile, the total volume of shares traded declined by 70.18 per cent with an exchange of 211.93 million shares worth N1.41 billion in 3,438 deals.

This was in contrast with 710.71 million shares valued at N10.08 billiion exchanged in 4,396 deals on Thursday.

AIICO Insurance topped the activity chart with 87.52 million shares worth N98.96 million; FCMB Group sold 19.67 million shares valued at N60.08 million, while Transcorp accounted for 12.78 million shares worth N12.61 million.

Lafarge Africa sold 9.95 million shares valued at N222.98 million, while Access Bank transacted 9.60 million shares worth N85.39 million. (NAN)

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Mobile Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered that four parks and gardens in the territory be sealed off for two weeks for violating the COVID-19 protocols.

Mr Ikharo Atta, Head of Media and Enlightenment of the Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) COVID-19 Protocols Enforcement Taskforce, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja

Attah said that the affected gardens were Eden Park and Garden in Utako, Byuan Resources Ltd., Skychef Park and Garden as well as 7th Option Park and Leisure Services, all in Garki 2, Abuja.

He also disclosed that 12 persons arrested at the gardens “very late in the night’’, would be arraigned after the two weeks.

“What we observe is that most of them (gardens) operate beyond the period (allowed).

“The persons who were in the shops didn’t comply with physical distancing. Face mask wasn’t there at all and no hand washing points.

“They were totally in breach of the COVID-19 protocol and the judge in his wisdom, Magistrate Egbe Arafe, issued the seal off order for two weeks.

“After the two weeks, we will now come back to the court and continue the trial,’’ Attah said.
Attah, who said that the task force would focus on night clubs, advised gardens and parks operators `to do the needful’.

He also said that the authority would not yield to undue demands by kids and parents for FCTA to reopen Millennium Park, Jabi Lake and other parks shut down due to COVID-19

He said that the measure was to save the lives of the people. (NAN)

By Philomena Attah

Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede has directed relevant formations to enforce temporary travel restriction by the federal government on 100 COVID-19 safety protocol defaulting passengers.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the service Public Relations Officer Sunday James, the defaulting passengers have been restricted for a period of six months — from Jan.1 to June 30.

He noted that the passengers were restricted “due to non-compliance with the mandatory Day 7 post-arrival COVID-19 Polymerise Chain Reaction (PCR) test by all in-bound travelers.

“All the affected passengers have been notified and will be prevented from travelling passport re-issuance and travelling outside the country during this period.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service hereby warns all affected passengers to comply to avoid breaching public health protocols and refusal of departure’’.

The federal government had earlier announced that the details of the passports of the first 100 passengers who failed to undergo COVID-19 testing after returning to the country will be revealed publicly and the passports will also be suspended.

The move came as the country is witnessing a second wave of the virus in recent weeks which has caused a spike in cases across the country.(NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the academia over the passing of former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of First Technical University, Ibadan, Prof Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.

In a condolence message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, Buhari condoled with family members and friends.

The president affirmed that the scholar and administrator would be sorely missed by the academia, government and the country.

According to him, the sudden transition of Ibidapo-Obe has left a gap that will be difficult to fill, considering his contribution to the development of education, with a rich pedigree of being President of the Nigeria Academy of Science.

Late Ibidapo-Obe was also onetime Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and upwardly rising over the years with a  distinguished career.

Buhari condoled with students and staff of the University of Lagos, First Technical University and the Nigeria Universities Commission over the loss, as well as the government and people of Osun.

The president prayed for the repose of the soul of the scholar, and God’s comfort for his family.(NAN)

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.