Month: June 2020

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President Buhari to attend China-Africa COVID-19 Solidarity Summit Wednesday

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday, June 17, via teleconference participate in the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19.

1st News garnered that the event slated for 12:50 pm will be presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, and will also deliver a keynote address.

The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Besides Buhari, leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African subregional organizations, and the chairperson of the AU Commission, will attend the summit upon invitation.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) are also expected to address the summit as special guests.

The Chinese foreign ministry had earlier in a statement released by its spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said:

“China has consistently attached great importance to the friendly relations of cooperation with Africa and is ready to work with African countries to build a closer community of shared future.

”Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and African countries have offered assistance to each other and joined hands in fighting COVID-19.

“Currently the pandemic remains severe globally and the epidemic continues in Africa; adding that convening the summit at this crucial time shows once again the brotherhood between China and Africa.

”The summit will not only consolidate consensus between the two sides on solidarity against COVID-19 and advance China-Africa cooperation; but also inject a new impetus into multilateralism and global cooperation against COVID-19.

”China is willing to work with all participants to make the summit a success,” Zhao maintained.

Meanwhile, Buhari has approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits.

The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The president reassured Nigerians that the nation’s armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenges of banditry and terrorism.

He assured that surveillance would be improved, with more night vision aircraft already deployed under “Operation Accord’’.

The operation was launched three weeks ago.

He, therefore, called for more patience as “the military takes appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens’’.

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Edo Crisis: Appeal Court affirms suspension of Oshiomhole as APC chairman due to

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The appellate court upheld the decision of the Federal Capital Territory High Court which in March ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as well as parading himself as the national chairman of the party.

In a unanimous judgment on Tuesday, June 16; the first appeal delivered by Justice Eunice Onyemanam, the court held that the trial court had territorial jurisdiction to have entertained the suit as it did.

The court also withdrew his rights and privileges as national chairman of the party including his security details.

The appellate predicated its decision on the ground that Oshiomhole as the first appellant is based in Abuja while the APC also had its national headquarters in Abuja.

In the judgment in the second appeal delivered by Justice Mohammed Lamido, the court held that there was no basis for the two appellants to hold that they were denied fair hearing during proceedings at the trial court.

It further held that the suspension of Oshiomhole from ward 10 of Etsako local government of Edo was ratified at the ward, local government, and state level as required by law.

“The identity of those who suspended Oshiomhole was not in doubt because; in their unchallenged affidavit, they made it clear that they were party members and officers of the party, therefore the appeal lacks merit,” the court held

In the two dismissed appeals Oshiomhole and the APC were the appellants.

1st News had reported that on March 4, Justice Danlami Senchi, a judge of the FCT high court in Abuja; ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as national chairman pending the determination of a suit filed by one Oluwale Afolabi.

Senchi said it was wrong of the APC to have kept Oshiomhole as chairman after he was suspended by the Edo chapter of the party.

But Oshiomhole approached the court of appeal seeking a stay of execution of the judgement.

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I won’t be using your useless airline again – Naira Marley to ExecuJet

Naira Marley has reacted to the now controversial letter published by the jet aircraft company; Executive Jet Services on Monday, June 15.

Recall that the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jet Services, Sam Iwuajoku in his apology letter to the Minister of Aviation; said the flight Naira Marley and his crew boarded was meant for a Judge.

Specifically, he stated that the Judge, however, reached Abuja in another flight.

He added that after his staff sent a passenger manifest bearing the name Fashola Babatunde; he assumed that it was the former Lagos governor and serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; not knowing it was a “bunch of useless people”.

Subsequently, Naira Marley who reacted to this allegation disclosed that the airline’s pilot and everyone on the flight was affiliated with his Marlian fanbase.

Also, the controversial artiste made a clarification on the names on the manifest; by stating that his name is Azeez Adeshina Fashola, while his younger brother’s name is Moshood Babatunde Fashola.

Specifically, Naira Marley posted on Twitter;

“Lool they asked for our names on the jet though and looooooooool ur pilot is a Marlian and everybody there is a Marlian too.

”My name is Azeez Adeshina Fashola and my lil brothers name is moshood babatunde fashola and u was begging me to tag y’all.

”Do u know that over 20,000 Marlians travel with executive jet a month?

”We won’t be using ur useless airline again for calling us useless. Thank God we didn’t crash on that flight sha because we nearly did. BTW We didn’t book the flight ourselves.”

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Airline CEO describes singer “Naira Marley” and others on Abuja flight as ‘useless people’ (Read letter)

Dr. Sam Iwuajoku, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Jet Services Ltd., the company which operated the chartered flight which conveyed singer; Naira Marley to Abuja for a concert has described the artiste and other passengers on the flight as ‘useless people’.

This was contained in a letter signed by Iwuajoku and addressed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

The letter was dated Monday, June 15, 2020.

In the letter, Iwuajoku, who pleaded for leniency from the Federal Government which had suspended the flight for flouting the regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); held that the flight was indeed meant to convey a legal luminary to Abuja. However, he disclosed that the judge had later indicated that he had caught another flight to the nation’s capital.

Subsequently, the flight had been used to convey Naira Marley and his crew instead to Abuja.

Also on the flight was a brother of the controversial singer and members of his crew; as well as BBNaija alumna, Kim Oprah who anchored the show at the Jabi Lake Mall. However, the Executive Jet CEO disclosed that he had assumed the flight was conveying the former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Naira Marley’s real name is Fashola Babatunde and this was what was stated on the manifest.

‘‘…When I went through the manifest and saw FASHOLA BABATUNDE, I thought it was the Honourable Minister of Works going to Abuja with his men. So, we decided to do the flight since he is a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I didn’t know that it was a bunch of useless people,’’ the Executive Jet CEO wrote.

Meanwhile,  a total of 10 names were listed on the flight manifest. They include Afiare Israel, Chinonso Opara, Fashola Adeshina, Adeyeye Tobi, Michael Opeyemi and Fashola Babatunde (Naira Marley). Others include Idowu Emmanuel, Seyi Awonuga, Wisdom Intoto and Abayomi Akin.

Please see letter to the Minister of Aviation from the Executive Jet CEO below.

Source: 1stNews

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Sexual assault: Lady narrates how two men groped her butt, objectified 9-yr-old cousin in public

A Nigerian lady has taken to micro-blogging site Twitter to narrate a case of sexual assault she encountered in public.

Equally important, the lady disclosed that her nine-year-old cousin who was with her at the time was subjected to the same treatment. The alleged victim tweeted from the handle @EfikIbi. Specifically, she made the revelations via her personal Twitter handle on Monday June 15, 2020.

The chilling case of sexual assault had the woman allege that one of the men put his hand in her sweatpants to squeeze her butt. Further, she claimed that the other man made sexual references to her under-age cousin.

Meanwhile, 1st News has reproduced her narration of the incident below.

‘‘I hate it here. I fucking hate it here. If you’ve ever said women are over reacting, fuck you!! I’m so pissed and scared. And this girl is seeing me cry.  I’m waiting for my ride by the road, with my baby cousin. This man rubs her shoulder and says, “this one go sweet oh.

‘‘She’s 9!! She’s fucking 9. I’m holding my cousin and asking this fool wtf his problem is. His friend comes from behind, sticks his hand into my sweatpants, squeezes my butt and laughs saying “she go sweet like her big sister.” I’m stuck between these men, scared and angry!!

‘‘They block me asking why I’m shouting. That ‘no be man go still fuck her?’ Referring to my cousin. She’s scared and confused and I can’t even get her away from these men. A man comes over, and I’m struggling to narrate everything. He asks why I’m over reacting. That they were just admiring my sister. He walks off like that. Leaving me with this. girl.

‘‘I froze. Couldn’t reach for my pepper spray, or do anything. I just fucking froze. I can’t protect myself or anyone. They wouldn’t let us leave till my ride came. I hate it here. I fucking hate it,’’ she lamented.

Her narration drew a storm of reactions from other Twitter users; the majority of whom condemned the actions of the men.

1st News reports that Nigerians have been left reeling by a sharp rise in cases of rape and sexual assault. The incidents, some of which have involved rape and murder, has seen a call by many for concerted action to nip the disturbing trend in the bud.

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COVID-19: Asymptomatic patients can no longer transmit virus after 10-14 days, says NCDC

Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients are only infectious within 10 and 14 days of becoming infected.

This was disclosed by Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Ihekweazu revealed this at the Presidential Task Force (PTF), media briefing on Monday in Abuja. Equally important, asymptomatic refers to carriers of the virus who are yet to manifest symptoms.

A recent study led by group of researchers in Aichi Prefecture discovered that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients; tend to recover within nine days of having infections confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

The NCDC DG held that asymptomatic transmission did happen within 10 days of being infected. According to him, after the 10 days, the person will no longer be infectious and can no longer transmit.

‘‘Data shows that after 10 days, the person is no longer infectious but we extended to 14 days.’’

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that research was still ongoing to ascertain the level of transmission by COVID-19 infected patients who showed no symptoms. However, he blamed some Nigerians for violating the COVID-19 preventive measures at the Abuja shopping mall.

Further, the NCDC boss decried an increase in high-risk behaviour from Nigerians. This, he noted, had led to more transmission of infections.

Dr. Ihekweazu

“There will be lots of discussions about the mall, regulation and flight,” he said.

Ihekweazu noted that Lagos was the epicentre of the pandemic. However, he stated that other states had started recording an increase in cases and deaths lately. Therefore, he urged Nigerians to take responsibility and hold each other accountable in adhering to preventive measures.

“That mosques or church decide to open doesn’t make it compulsory for people to attend. Attendance is still a personal choice. If a supermarket in Abuja decides to do a concert; it doesn’t make it compulsory for people to attend.

“We have to make sacrifices on things around leisure. We have to make it socially unacceptable to be seen outside without a mask. Also, we have to hold each other responsible and must discourage each other from unnecessary gathering. Our health is dependent on the action that each of us is going to take for the next few weeks.’’

Meanwhile, the medical doctor disclosed that there were challenges still faced in contact tracing, sample and sample collection; as well as bed space capacity.

Also, he noted that there were still more cases untested in Nigeria.

Ihekweazu added that until there was radical transformation in the adherence to COVID-19 measures; there would be more increase in cases.

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Wizkid, Burna Boy and Rema Bag Nomination For 2020 BET Award [Full List]

Nigerian singers, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema have been nominated for the forthcoming 2020 BET 2020 Awards.

Just a few hours ago, BET announced The “BET Awards” 2020 nominees and three Nigerians were included. This year’s nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression and black excellence across music, television, film, sports, and philanthropy. The award show is scheduled to broadcast premiere on CBS on Sunday, June 28, 2020.

Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Rema were the only Nigerians nominated in three different categories. Burna Boy who won the Best International Act category at the 2019 BET Awards, was nominated again this year for the Best International Act Award category alongside South African singer Sho Madjozi, Stormzy, Dave from the UK, Ninho,  and S.Pri Noir from France.

In the fan-voted category of Best New International Act is Rema, Zimbabwe’s Sha Sha, Celeste, Young T, and Bugsey from the UK and France’s Hatik and Stacy. This would be his first nomination for the award. Wizkid was also nominated for the HER award for his feature in the “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyonce. They were nominated alongside Alicia Keys, Ciara, Layton Greene, Lizzo, and Rhapsody.

See the full list below:

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

BEYONCÉ

H.E.R.

JHENE AIKO

KEHLANI

LIZZO

SUMMER WALKER

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

ANDERSON .PAAK

CHRIS BROWN

JACQUEES

KHALID

THE WEEKND

USHER

BEST GROUP

CHLOE X HALLE

CITY GIRLS

EARTHGANG

GRISELDA

JACKBOYS

MIGOS

BEST COLLABORATION

CHRIS BROWN FT. DRAKE NO GUIDANCE

DJ KHALED FT. NIPSEY HUSSLE & JOHN LEGEND HIGHER

FUTURE FT. DRAKE LIFE IS GOOD

H.E.R. FT. YG SLIDE

MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. NICKI MINAJ & TY DOLLA $IGN HOT GIRL SUMMER

WALE FT. JEREMIH ON CHILL

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

DABABY

DRAKE

FUTURE

LIL BABY

RODDY RICCH

TRAVIS SCOTT

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

CARDI B

DOJA CAT

LIZZO

MEGAN THEE STALLION

NICKI MINAJ

SAWEETIE

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

CHRIS BROWN FT. DRAKE NO GUIDANCE

DABABY BOP

DJ KHALED FT. NIPSEY HUSSLE & JOHN LEGEND HIGHER

DOJA CAT SAY SO

MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. NICKI MINAJ & TY DOLLA $IGN HOT GIRL SUMMER

RODDY RICCH THE BOX

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

BENNY BOOM

COLE BENNETT

DAVE MEYERS

DIRECTOR X

EIF RIVERA

TEYANA “SPIKE TEE” TAYLOR

BEST NEW ARTIST

DANILEIGH

LIL NAS X

POP SMOKE

RODDY RICCH

SUMMER WALKER

YBN CORDAE

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

CUZ I LOVE YOU LIZZO

FEVER MEGAN THEE STALLION

HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM BEYONCÉ

I USED TO KNOW HER H.E.R.

KIRK DABABY

PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING ANTISOCIAL RODDY RICCH

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

FRED HAMMOND ALRIGHT

JOHN P. KEE FT. ZACARDI CORTEZ I MADE IT OUT

KANYE WEST FOLLOW GOD

KIRK FRANKLIN JUST FOR ME

PJ MORTON FT. LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON & MARY MARY ALL IN HIS PLAN

THE CLARK SISTERS VICTORY

BEST ACTRESS

ANGELA BASSETT

CYNTHIA ERIVO

ISSA RAE

REGINA KING

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

ZENDAYA

BEST ACTOR

BILLY PORTER

EDDIE MURPHY

FOREST WHITAKER

JAMIE FOXX

MICHAEL B. JORDAN

OMARI HARDWICK

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

ALEX HIBBERT

ASANTE BLACKK

JAHI DI’ALLO WINSTON

MARSAI MARTIN

MILES BROWN

STORM REID

BEST MOVIE

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

DOLEMITE IS MY NAME

HARRIET

HOMECOMING: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ

JUST MERCY

QUEEN & SLIM

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

AJEÉ WILSON

CLARESSA SHIELDS

COCO GAUFF

NAOMI OSAKA

SERENA WILLIAMS

SIMONE BILES

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

KAWHI LEONARD

LEBRON JAMES

ODELL BECKHAM JR.

PATRICK MAHOMES II

STEPHEN CURRY

BET HER AWARD

ALICIA KEYS UNDERDOG

BEYONCÉ FT. BLUE IVY CARTER, WIZKID & SAINT JHN BROWN SKIN GIRL

CIARA FT. LUPITA NYONG’O, ESTER DEAN, CITY GIRLS & LA LA MELANIN

LAYTON GREENE I CHOOSE

LIZZO FT. MISSY ELLIOT TEMPO

RAPSODY FT. PJ MORTON AFENI

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

CHRIS BROWN FT. DRAKE NO GUIDANCE

DABABY BOP

FUTURE FT. DRAKE LIFE IS GOOD

MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. NICKI MINAJ & TY DOLLA $IGN HOT GIRL SUMMER

RODDY RICCH THE BOX

THE WEEKND HEARTLESS

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)

INNOSS’B (DRC)

SHO MADJOZI (S. AFRICA)

DAVE (U.K.)

STORMZY (U.K.)

NINHO (FRANCE)

S.PRI NOIR (FRANCE)

VIEWERS’ CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

REMA (NIGERIA)

SHA SHA (ZIMBABWE)

CELESTE (U.K.)

YOUNG T & BUGSEY (U.K.)

HATIK (FRANCE)

STACY (FRANCE)

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Senator Bayo Osinowo pronounced dead after brief illness

The Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district in the ninth Assembly, Adebayo Osinowo, is dead.

Senator Osinowo died on Monday, June 15, after a brief illness at the age of 64.

He was elected Senator in 2019 and was subsequently appointed as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries.

Senator Osinowo had his primary education at St. Augustin Primary School in Ijebu-Ode and his Secondary Education in Issoyin Grammar School, Isoyin.

In 1977, he started his career as a Land Officer at the Federal Ministry of Works till 1979. He then became the Managing Director at NITAL International from 1986 to 2003.

He became the Managing Director at NIMCO International Co. Ltd from 1990 to 2003. He also worked as Managing Director, at Extreme Piling and Construction Company Ltd and NIMCO Dredging Company from 1990 to 2003.

Osinowo began his political life in the second republic serving as a youth Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Osinowo was a four-time honorable in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo said his government would raise the state’s monthly internally generated revenue (IGR) to N5 billion in the next few years.

Uzodinma, who made the promise at the maiden stakeholders’ forum held on Friday, June 12, in Owerri to mark Democracy Day said the state currently generates N1.2 billion monthly.

He also approved the payment of the new minimum wage for Imo workers with effect from July.

The governor said that he met an internal monthly revenue of N600 million when he came on board; but had so far moved it to N1.2 billion.

He said his government had worked out the framework to achieve the new monthly target without increasing taxes or introducing new ones.

According to him, a combination of creative interventions and prudent warehousing of government receipts and inflows will do the magic.

Uzodinma said his government had abolished all forms of consultancy so that every kobo belonging to the state would go straight into the IGR coffers without passing through a middle man christened ‘consultant’.

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Lawan pledges inquest into power sector corruption

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on Monday, June 15, said the National Assembly would ensure that Nigerians benefited maximally from the nation’s power sector for improved supply.

Lawan said this when he declared open an investigative hearing on Federal Government interventions in the power sector organised by Senate Committee on Power.

1st News gathered that the investigative hearing tagged: Power Sector Recovery Plan and COVID-19 Pandemic was designed to investigate the viability of N1.8 trillion Federal Government interventions in the sector since privatisation.

Lawan, who said that the nation was yet to get it right in power; noted that Nigerians could not be competitive in international trade and make significant progress without electricity.

He said the National Assembly was concerned hence it mandated its committee to investigate the sector; adding that the senate would soon consider the report of the committee on resumption at plenary.

The Senate leader said there was a need for the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to look at the share purchased agreement undertaken with the stakeholders at privatisation to make the sector better.

According to him, there is a need to review the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as Nigerian was losing billions of naira monthly without a supply of electricity because of the PPA.

“We must remedy to the situation, it is either we ask the DisCos to look for more partners; or government divests its 40 per cent share to other investors to manage.

“We must revisit the PPAs,” Lawan said.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed in her presentation said the Federal Government had initiated various projects with multilateral agencies to revamp the sector.

She listed the projects to include the 486 million dollars World Bank approved Nigeria Electricity Transmission and Access Project, 350 million dollars World Bank Nigeria Electrification Project, and African Development Bank 200 million dollars that was undergoing the approval process.

Other projects, according to the minister, are the 26 million dollars World Bank North Core Dorsale Nord Inter Connector project under the approval process.

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Dangote Refinery to be operational 2021 – Executive Director

The Dangote oil and gas refinery remains on track to be operational in early 2021 despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, group executive director Devakumar Edwin explains.

The impact of the delay will be “45 days max” as complete closure; which would have meant a delay of up to 90 days, has been avoided, said Edwin.

There have been some staffing reductions because of the need for social distancing, but work has been continuing.

Almost everything needed to complete the project has already been procured, he said.

Aliko Dangote’s refinery has been labelled as the solution to Nigeria’s oil import problem.

Nigeria currently lacks the refining capacity to meet local demand, and instead imports refined petroleum; placing a burden on the foreign reserves.

The refinery is expected to produce enough to meet local demand plus a surplus for export.

Initially expected to begin production in 2016, the refinery deadline was postponed to the end of 2019 after a change of location.

Nigeria’s inefficient ports in Lagos have been blamed for the slow progress of what will be Africa’s largest refinery with executives citing problems in the importation of steel.

Edwin says that the refinery will comply with emission rules; allowing oil to be readily sold in Europe and North America, as well as to all parts of Nigeria.

“Most of the refineries are tuned to produce their products to their immediate export markets and not the global markets,” he said.

“My focus is to sell it in any part of the world. I am ready for all the markets. The volume is so large obviously I can meet the requirements of all the products of Nigeria; and I’ll still have surplus to export.”

Environmental concerns

Dangote is not seeking to participate in the crude-for-fuel swap deal managed by state oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC), Edwin said.

“If there are already people who are in the business it doesn’t make any sense to go and displace and ruin their business.

“We will produce and we will sell our products to these importers and they will deal with their own arrangements; and if anybody wants to buy from us we can also support them,” Edwin said.

Environmentalists fear the impact of the completion of the refinery, which sits on the Lekki Lagoon.

According to local fishermen; the dredging of the coast to sand-fill the lagoon for the construction of the refinery has depleted local fishing stocks.

Historically, Nigeria has failed to deal with oil spills properly. Years after the Ogoni oil spills, the cleanup is not yet underway.

Edwin says that the Dangote refinery meets global environmental standards.