By George Odok
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has inaugurated the COVID-19 Taskforce Central team for the institution under the leadership of Dr Kingsley Akaba.

Other members of the team include Dr Paul Odey of the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Dr Leku Odey, Director of Health Services and Dr Alexander Peter, Public Health.

The rest of the taskforce members are Dr Bassey Ubi, Microbiologist and Mrs Josephine Bisong, Logistic personnel.

Inaugurating the team on Wednesday in Calabar, Obi urged members of the team to coordinate all the terms of reference as established by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the campus.

She explained that the taskforce team would also oversee the activities of all sub committees and execution of their goals and report directly to the Vice Chancellor’s office on a day-to-day activities of the COVID-19 task force.

The VC also created sub committees to help in facilitating the assignment given to the taskforce.

The committees include the Infection Prevention and Control; Quality Assurance, Management of COVID-19 Cases and Technical/Procurement.

Responding, Akaba assured the VC that the team would do its best in ensuring that the protocols of COVID-19 are strictly adhered to on campus.

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with family and friends of former military administrator of Lagos and Imo States, retired Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, aged 77.

Buhari prayed for God’s covering over all his loved ones.

The president, in a condolence message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday condoled with professional colleagues of the gallant military officer.

He noted that late Kanu distinguished himself in all positions and responsibilities during service, taking up more daunting, but historically rewarding challenges like speaking up for the weak and vulnerable, and the struggle for the country’s return to democratic government.

According to him, Kanu’s credentials in serving the nation as a career military officer and as an activist with NADECO in actualising the June 12, 1993 mandate, remains commendable and will continue to inspire younger generations on patriotism.

The president prayed for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman. (NAN)

By Ariwodola Idowu

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Ekiti State says it has so far registered 500,000 people in the state for the National Identity Card since 2012.

Mr Gbenga Ifayefunmi, Director, NIMC, Ekiti State, made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday while speaking at a public enlightenment programme on the ongoing nationwide registration  exercise  for the issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN).

Ifayefunmi,  represented by Dr Wura Akinrinola, an official in the commission, said that the figure was still very low, when compared to the estimated population of over 3 million residents in the state.

The director attributed the low figure to the “I don’t care attitude” of some Nigerians who are in the habit of always paying lip service to every national civic assignments or obligations until when such obligations became mandatory or expedient for them to use.

He said that the exercise, which  began in Ekiti in 2012  had remained a regular yearly exercise, a period long enough for every citizen to have registered and collected their numbers to avoid the present rush.

“But many simply choose to ignore, thinking it did not matter.

“The deliberate negligence is what has now placed huge burden on such people who now have to come in droves, day and night, to the commission’s offices in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

“The same way they stormed our offices across the 16 LGAs to seek emergency registration simply because government now made it compulsory for all phone numbers to be connected to national identity numbers to avoid SIM blockage.

“Similar scenario was experienced by NIMC staff when the Federal Government, last year , first made it compulsory for JAMB candidates to have national ID number.

“But the urge to obtain the number again went down soon after government said it had extended it for JAMB candidates,” he said.

Ifayefunmi said that staff of the commission  had resorted to working extra hours in order to cope with the huge demand for registration as well as capture many residents.

He urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of doing things at the appropriate time to avoid  rush.

He also refuted  insinuations in some quarters that the commission was collecting money from people who want to obtain form for registration.

According to him,  the form is free and obtainable either in person or through the internet.

“But anyone that goes to a cybercafe and is asked to pay certain sum to download the form and other services should not blame the NIMC for such,” he said. (NAN)

By Femi Ogunshola

Dr Kayode Ajulo, Executive Director, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), has urged the Federal Government to mandate public institutions to provide appropriate training for officials on public right to access information.

Ajulo, who made the call at the annual general meeting of EMA on Tuesday in Abuja, said that such training should be in line with the Freedom of information (FOI) Act.

He said that the association had declared 2021 as the year to ensure that transparency, accountability and probity are entrenched in government.

He said that Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government should be mandated to provide appropriate training for their officials on public right to access information.

He said that officials should be compelled to provide records held by public institutions, adding that they should also be trained to submit to the Attorney-General of the Federation report containing necessary information.

Ajulo said that in spite of salient and unambiguous provisions of the FOI Act, most public institutions in Nigeria do not often comply with the Act.

The lawyer expressed worry over the failure of some public institutions to make information available to the public even when the Act specifically provided that an application fee may be charged.

According to him, there is a general public interest in promoting transparency, accountability, public understanding and involvement in the democratic process.

“Democracy cannot flourish if governments operate in secrecy,” he said.

He said that the nature and quality of public participation in government would be significantly impoverished without the nourishment of information from public authorities.

“To guarantee freedom of expression without including freedom of information would be a formal exercise, denying both effective expression in practice and a key goal which free expression seeks to serve.

“It is on the backdrop of this that EMA in collaboration with other partners, civil societies organisations, journalists, researchers, academicians and well spirited lawyers declared 2021 as the year of war,” he stated

He added that the battle was against lack of transparency, accountability and probity in the public institutions “and to this cause we are committed.’’

He said that any public institution and public officer who failed to comply with the provisions of the FOI Act should be made to face the wrath of the law.

“We take the liberty to also call on the office of AGF to take the bull by the horn by ensuring that all public institutions adhered strictly to the provisions of FOI Act.’’

He said that Nigerians were entitled to know how their common wealth were being utilised, managed and administered in a democratic setting.

He added that such would positively influence the feeling of belonging in the society adding that EMA would pursue it to its logical conclusion.

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu has described  Senate President Ahmed Lawan as a patriotic statesman, passionate about the welfare of Nigerians and growth of the nation.

Kalu, in a goodwill message on Tuesday to commemorate the 62nd birthday anniversary of the president of the senate, acknowledged Lawan’s invaluable contributions to nation building.

He commended Lawan for his exemplary leadership qualities anchored on fairness and equity.

Extolling the virtues of the senate president, the former governor of Abia stressed that the 9th Senate under the watch of Lawan had sustained giant feats in its duties and responsibilities.

Kalu urged politicians to emulate the outstanding leadership qualities of Lawan, adding that the president of the senate had over the years sustained his goodwill among his colleagues, followers and contemporaries.

“On behalf of the good people of Abia North Senatorial District, I extend my warm greetings to the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan as he clocks 62.

“Mr President of the Senate, your good works in public service over the years, has earned you robust goodwill among Nigerians.

“The contributions of the National Assembly to nation building couldn’t have been possible without your inclusive and participatory leadership approach.

“As you continue to complement the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in advancing the cause of Nigerians, I am confident that the country will attain greater heights.

“On this occasion of your birthday anniversary, it is my prayer that God will grant you longer life and wisdom as you serve the nation.”

Kalu wished Lawan joyous and memorable celebration.(NAN)

By Joy Odigie

Austin Atakpu, the Managing Director, TCS Paymeters Ltd., manufacturers of prepaid meters, says metering of houses in the country is a gradual process and not automatic.

Atakpu disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.

He was responding to a question on the unavailability of prepaid meters for some energy consumers in the country.

He said that the Federal Government was concerned about the manufacturing of meters and it was doing everything possible to ensure that every house was metered.

He, however, noted that prepaid metering was an expanding business, as the demand for meters was huge for Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to meet at a go.

“We manufacture prepaid meters in the country for DisCos.

“But the DisCos are still updating their systems.

“As they update their systems, they bring in new prepaid meters to the public, it is a growing thing.

“It is not a demand that can be met overnight, because new houses are being built on a daily basis and they require meters,’’ Atakpu said.

For instance, he said, one could not say, as of today, that the meter requirement for this state is five because by the time you wake up tomorrow there will be about 10 or 15 new houses that will require meters.

“There are also a number of existing houses that do not have meters, so satisfying all of these will be gradual and achieved in no distant time.’’

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari promised that every house in the country will be metered before the end of his administration to end the problem of estimated billing.

In fulfilment of this promise, the Federal Government began the distribution of six million free prepaid meters to Nigerians in October 2020 through the National Mass Metering Programme.

The programme was launched in Eko, Kano, Kaduna and Ikeja Distribution Companies (DisCos) franchise areas. (NAN)

By Aminu Garko

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 13 persons died, while 14 others sustained various degrees of injury in an accident on Bida/Mokwa road in Niger, on Tuesday.

Mr Joel Dagwa, FRSC Sector Commander in the state, confirmed the figures to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

Dagwa said that the accident, which occurred at about 6.3a.m. at Panti village, involved a heavy duty vehicle with registration number ZUR690XA and a bus with registration number TN421XA.

“Twenty seven people were involved in the accident 13 died, while 14 others sustained injuries had been taken to Federal Medical Centre, Bida and General hospital, Kutigi, for treatment,’’ he said.

The sector commander blamed the accident on fatigue, leading to loss of control. (NAN)

By Ibironke Ariyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has denied reports that its Chairman, retired Col. Muhammad Abdallah, has been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Jonah Achema, spokesperson for NDLEA, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Achema, a Deputy Commander of Narcotics (DCN), said however, that the tenure of Abdallah who was appointed on Jan. 12, 2016 expired on Jan.11.

“The chairman was not sacked as reported by some media organisations. However, his five-year tenure elapsed on Jan. 11,” he said. (NAN)