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  • Buhari reacts to investigations in NDDC, EFCC, says appointees abused trust

    Buhari reacts to investigations in NDDC, EFCC, says appointees abused trust

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja reacted for the first time on the allegations of corruption leveled against the leaderships of some Federal Government Agencies and Commissions.

    These commissions include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The president, who spoke after observing his Eid prayers at the fore court of the presidential villa, observed that some appointees of the government in both his administration and the previous one have abused their trust.

    He, however, expressed delight that some stolen assets are being recovered, sold and proceeds put into the Single Treasury Account (TSA), which is inaccessible to the corrupt persons involved.

    When asked how he felt about recent revelations coming out from the EFCC and the NDDC, President Buhari said:

    “There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by previous administration and this administration.

    “A number of assets have been recovered and some money.

    “But we have introduced TSA where all the monies are taken and I said asset should be sold and the money be put through TSA so that it can be identified at any level and I will see who will come after us and take it back again to those who misappropriated public funds.”

    While assuring that all past and present cases would be fully investigated, he said: “This is why we put the commission (of investigation) in place.”

    He stressed that all of such cases would be uncovered and firmly dealt with by his government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Senate and House of Representatives are currently investigating how the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) allegedly squandered N40 billion within few months.

    NAN also reports that the Presidency had instituted a Presidential Probe Panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the suspended acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

  • Mourinho aims dig at Fernandes for penalty record

    Mourinho aims dig at Fernandes for penalty record

    Jose Mourinho has taken a light-hearted swipe at Bruno Fernandes for his Manchester United penalty record, joking that the midfielder “had about 20 to score” in the second half of the season.

    United set a new Premier League record for the most penalties won in a single campaign when Anthony Martial was brought down in the box during a crunch clash with Leicester on Sunday.

    Fernandes, a €55 million (£50m/$65m) January signing, stepped up to convert the Red Devils’ 14th spot-kick of 2019-20, which set them on their way to a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.

    Mourinho told Portuguese newspaper Record: “Bruno came in, was fit, played very well, improved the United team and also proved to be a great penalty taker, one of the best in the world, because he had about 20 to score”.

  • De Gea must go, Roy Keane tells Man Utd

    De Gea must go, Roy Keane tells Man Utd

    Roy Keane thinks Manchester United must replace David De Gea if they are serious about challenging for the Premier League title.

    Despite managing 13 clean sheets, the Spaniard has come under fire for a number of mistakes this season.

    Keane has been one of those vocal critics and he believes the 29-year-old must be replaced if United are to mount a successful title challenge.

    The United legend told Sky Sports: “I’ve never been a big fan of his. He makes far too many mistakes, big mistakes that cost United big points.

    “We talk about recruitment, it’s a difficult part of the game. That’s just my opinion. If Manchester United want to challenge for league titles, they need a better goalkeeper.

    “They need a change, they’ve done it before. I don’t know what the big song and dance is about a goalkeeper, Manchester United have been doing it for years.

    “Strikers are dropped or sold, same with midfielders, but for some reason, with goalkeepers, they think we have to stick with the goalkeeper for a bit longer than others because of something they did two or three years ago.

    “The game doesn’t work like that. We’ve seen Liverpool get onto another level when they’ve improved the goalkeeper.

    “What’s the big deal? If he’s not doing it, he’s making mistakes, then make a change. There are good goalkeepers out there.”

  • Pay stranded students tuition fees abroad, NiDCOM tells NDDC

    Pay stranded students tuition fees abroad, NiDCOM tells NDDC

    The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to pay the allowances, tuition fees and other incentives of students on scholarship scheme.
    In a statement signed by Mr Gabriel Odu, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, NIDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa said that as a matter of urgency, NDDC should intervene by promptly paying other incentives of students on their scholarship scheme to guarantee their stay and education in the UK.
    According to her, a letter written to the Hon Minister of the Niger Delta Sen. Godswill Akpabio in June draws the attention of NDDC to the plight of the students that are under their scholarships scheme.
    “The commission counts on the minister’s assurances that all outstanding payments to affected students will be made.
    “At the moment, there have been persistent calls by the students for urgent intervention.
    “The deadline for payment of the fees of some of the students have expired or about to expire, non payment of their allowances have
    turned many of them to virtually beggars,” she said.
    The NiDCOM Chairman once again appealed to the Niger Delta Ministry and the NDDC to intervene urgently and promptly too.
  • Transfer: Chelsea put Kepa up for sale

    Transfer: Chelsea put Kepa up for sale

    Chelsea are inviting offers for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    The Daily Mail says Chelsea will listen to offers for unsettled Kepa Arrizabalaga with Frank Lampard set to recommend the club swoop for a new goalkeeper.

    But it is understood the Blues are unwilling to accept any deals under £50million if they are to sell Kepa permanently during the transfer window.

    Chelsea would consider, however, sanctioning a long-term loan move for the Spain international, provided interested parties agree to pay a significant portion of his wages.

    Lampard has not been convinced by Kepa since his arrival as manager last summer and has dropped the shot-stopper on two operate occasions this season, the 25-year-old’s latest omission coming against Wolves on Sunday.

  • Abuja-Kaduna Train Service: No Mask, No Entry – Amaechi

    Abuja-Kaduna Train Service: No Mask, No Entry – Amaechi

    Ahead of the Wednesday date for resumption of the Abuja to Kaduna train service, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said passengers without face masks would not be allowed on board.

    Amaechi said this at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the train service was closed due to outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    The minister also urged all passengers to come with their hand sanitizer of 79 per cent alcohol as the ministry would not provide for passengers.

    He also revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari had also approved the upward review of fares for the railway stations as follows: economy class, N3,000, business class N6,000.

    Amaechi said most people using the train could afford to pay the fare and most people were of the opinion that it was nothing compared to the risk of kidnappers on the road.

    “If you ask the last speaker, I refused to agree that we should open the railways.

    “It is the pressure of those who want to participate in the forthcoming spiritual activities that made me accept that we will open the railways from Abuja to Kaduna.

    “What are our requirements? We don’t want to see how handsome you are or how beautiful you are, please wear for me a face mask, not a mouth mask. Nigerians wear mouth masks. If you do that, the train will stop and you will come down.

    “There is no Christian, there is no Muslim in death, I hope you know. When you die you’ll go and face your God, exactly. Some of us are not ready to face our creators, so don’t take us down there.

    “So the moment you bring down your mask, we have increased number of policemen in each coach, the police will ask him to wear back your mask for respect. If you refuse, he would ask the driver to stop,” Amaechi said.

    On wearing of face shield, Amaechi said: “Don’t come with face shield, if you want to come with your face shield, don’t forget to come with your face mask. You will not enter the station if you don’t have a face mask, you will not enter the station, if you don’t have the hand sanitizer.

    “I said mask, I didn’t say wrapper, I did not say you should cover your face with wrapper.

    “We don’t mind you covering your face with wrapper but you must show us your mask before you cover fully before you step in.

    “Come with your sanitizer that is not below at least 79 per cent alcohol. We will check it, I’m not joking. I’ll be there on Wednesday morning and I’ll be there till mid-afternoon.”

    On physical distancing, he said: “We have reduced, for purpose of physical distancing, the number of passengers coaches that convey 88 passengers will now not convey more that 50 passengers.

    “So you have your space. That’s why we increased the transport fare from N1500 to N3000 for economy; for business class N5000; and for first class N6,000.

    “First class, you don’t need physical distancing, it is just 23 seats in a coach of 88, so you have enough space but for economy and business class, you need physical distancing or social distancing and that’s why we have created those spaces.”

    He concluded by saying that “inside the waiting room, we don’t have enough seats. So if you don’t have a seat, please wait outside.

    ” It will be one bench of three seats to one passenger, no longer three persons, that is what it will be. You may not be allowed to move freely inside the coaches except you want to use the toilet.

    “Apart from using the toilet, you will not be allowed free movement. We are bringing in as many policemen as possible not only for security but for enforcement.

    “Give us between two and three months, we will start electronic ticketing, that way nobody will come to the station to buy tickets, and there will be no need for social/physical distancing,” Amaechi said.

  • FG spends N15.8bn on hazard allowances – Ngige

    FG spends N15.8bn on hazard allowances – Ngige

    The Federal Government says it has so far spent N15.8 billion on hazard allowances in its teaching hospitals and medical centres across the country.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at a meeting with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) leadership on Monday in Abuja.

    The meeting was held to assess the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered by both parties and to avert strike threat by health workers.

    Ngige said a resolution has been reached and all disputes resolved, assuring that the federal government was committed to health workers’ safety and welfare.

    “The federal government has so far spent N15.8 billion naira for hazard allowances in its teaching hospitals, medical centres and some other non- COVID-19 facilities where doctors have also been treating virus cases.

    “Government has cleared the April and May special allowances which is no doubt a big feat, knowing that this is for special allowances only, and at a time its earning has fallen short of the expected earning.

    “The affected medical personnel will also draw their normal salaries and other allowances,” he said.

    The minister further said that the June allowances were still outstanding because the budget has been affected by developments not originally captured, such as pay for house officers, interns, NYSC doctors and volunteers.

    He, however, added that government was already liaising with the Presidential Taskforce to sort out especially for volunteers.

    Ngige also said that the 20 per cent top-up for all health personnel inside the COVID-19 wards and isolation centres of the hospitals should be effected as quickly as possible.

    He noted that hence, a directive was given to the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to reconcile all matters relating to the issue by August 4, to enable urgent payment.

    He also said the issue of Residency Training Fund was captured in the 2020 budget.

    “We noticed that the subhead captured in the service-wide vote will need some amendment by the Budget Office in liaison with the National Assembly to handle the problem, so that implementation can start as soon as possible,” Ngige said.

    He also said the government has paid all the premium for Group Life Insurance spanning between April 17, 2020 and April 16, 2021 for all federal civil servants except those in the revenue generating agencies such as customs, FIRS and NNPC who could afford their own insurance.

    The minister added that agreement has been reached to forward the nominal roll of the Health Ministry workers and its parastatals to the six handling insurance companies latest next week.

    He added that problems arising from the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage in the Health Ministry, especially those on GIFMIS, non-regular staff such as interns and NYSC members, would be resolved as soon as NARD submitted the list of affected workers.

    He further said that government would continue to appreciate the untiring efforts of all health workers.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari at every time, remembers and thanks you for the immense sacrifice you make for the nation and firmly believes that nothing is too much to do for you to show appreciation.

    “Government will do more to protect the health of our people,” Ngige said.

    He advised trade unions to always follow due process in seeking redress for disputes, arguing that first in line was negotiation with the parent ministry who was their primary employer.

    Dr Aliyu Sokomba, NARD President, commended the government for its commitment and expressed optimism that progress would be made by the time the meeting reconvenes.

    The meeting will reconvene on Aug. 6, to take stock of the implementation of the agreement reached.

    It also set up a committee to resolve the lingering problem between management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and NARD.

    The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment.

  • Liverpool not arrogant, you need to learn – Klopp tells Lampard

    Liverpool not arrogant, you need to learn – Klopp tells Lampard

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has snapped back at Chelsea rival Frank Lampard after Wednesday’s blow-up at Anfield.

    Footage emerged which shows the moment the Chelsea boss lost his cool and exploded into a heated, foul-mouthed argument with Klopp and the Liverpool bench, repeatedly telling his counterpart to “f*** off”.

    “We are not arrogant. We are pretty much the opposite,” Klopp said on Friday.

    “Frank was in a competitive mood, I respect that a lot. For me after the game it’s over. What Frank has to learn is to finish it with the last whistle.

    “Speaking about it after that is not okay. During the game, words used ok, But final whistle, close the book. He didn’t do that and I don’t like that.

    “From my point of view you can say what you want, it’s after the game it’s completely over. I’ve said a lot in the past.

    “He came here to win the game to make Chelsea qualify for Champions League. I respect that a lot, what he has to learn to finish it with the last whistle. He didn’t do that.”

  • Transfer: Aubameyang wants Barca move

    Transfer: Aubameyang wants Barca move

    Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wants to join Barcelona this summer.

    Mundo Deportivo says Aubameyang plans to reject a £250,000-a-week contract extension and ask to be allowed to join Barcelona should they come calling.

    Aubameyang is in the final 12 months of his current deal and can leave for free next summer.

    The Gunners are faced with the difficult dilemma of whether to cash in on their skipper or take the gamble and risk missing out on some much-needed cash.

    Barca are considering making an approach for Aubameyang because their top target Lautaro Martinez, of Inter Milan, may be too expensive.

    The Gabon international is willing to wait for the Catalan side to come calling and will reject any proposal by Arsenal.

  • Madagascar herb not cure for COVID-19, FG declares

    Madagascar herb not cure for COVID-19, FG declares

    The Federal Government on Thursday declared that the much talked about “Madagascar COVID-19 herb syrup did not show any evidence that it had real curative properties against COVID-19.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure in Abuja at the 52nd Joint National Briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19.

    According to him, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), has shared its final report on the evaluation of the COVID Organics from Madagascar.

    He said that the initial report showed that its main ingredient is the same as Artemisia annua.

    “While the preparation at high dose showed activity in reducing the frequency of cough, it did not show any evidence that it has real curative properties against COVID-19.

    “However, we shall continue to support all genuine efforts toward finding local COVID-19 cures,” Ehanire said.

    The minister also said that the COVID-19 cases recorded daily over the past weeks now fluctuate within the 500 to 700 bracket, with 543 new cases in the past 24 hours.

    “”Accordingly, the nation’s confirmed total number in Nigeria so far is 38,344, of which 15,815 were successfully treated and discharged.

    “We have regrettably recorded 813 fatalities, mostly with co-morbidities and tested a total of 247,825 persons in all.

    “We can rightly assume from the exponentially increasing numbers that the pool of potentially infectious persons in the community is rising.

    “And with that, the risk of infection for citizens at all levels of society, since a very significant number of persons testing positive is not in observation or treatment,” the minister said.

    He, however, commended persons of influence in society, who tested positive for COVID-19 and came out publicly to declare it and entrust themselves to prescribed treatment.

    He noted that those concerned did the nation a lot of good by showing that there was no shame and nothing to hide about COVID-19, and they also contributed immensely to building confidence in the health system.

    While commending the nation’s health care providers for their efforts, the minister said that in spite of this, the focus was still on prevention, being better and cheaper than cure.

    Ehanire said that the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), now had 59 molecular diagnostic laboratories for COVID-19 tests activated.

    He added that with a little improvement in logistics, lack of availability of testing capacity should not be a tenable excuse any more.

    He also disclosed that all states of the federation, including the FCT , were receiving support from the COVID-19 response through the Regional Diseases Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE), Project.

    “With this support, all states of the federation will receive N100m to enhance high impact priority response activities. The soon-to-be-reactivated BHCPF will join the funding pool,” Ehanire said.

    The minister said that Tuesday July 21, 2020, was the reporting day of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19, when the leadership of the Ministry of Health’s Agencies and Departments received the second report from the Chairman, Prof. Oyewale Tomori.

    According to him, its findings are highly instructive and will be shared with agencies, the PTF and stakeholders.

    Speaking on the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebration, Ehanire urged Muslims and Nigerians not to forget the precautions that had been prescribed, so as to reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission.

    He said: “All over the world, mass gatherings have been linked with the mass infections and casualties in other countries, which we see in the media each day, and which we are trying to avoid, in order not to overwhelm the capacity of our health system.

    “Since the risk of crowding cannot be ruled out in places of worship and pose a serious hazard for COVID-19 transmission, it is very wise that persons over 60 years, the obese and those in treatment for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, HIV, among others, or have had a transplant, should stay at home, pray at home.

    “I also strongly advise that travel be avoided in this period, except for a critical reason.”

    Speaking on some of the seemingly confused symptoms of COVID-19, the minister said that although COVID-19 could present with symptoms like fever, similar to malaria, “it is not malaria”.

    “Symptoms like cough, sore throat, fever, loss of sense of taste or smell, difficulty in breathing, headache, and less commonly, diarrhoea, body pain, catarrh, shivering, fatigue, especially when several symptoms occur together, are suggestive of COVID-19.

    “ A test is required,’’ the health minister advised.