The South-East Governors’ Forum has concluded plans to launch its own security outfit for the region in April, chairman of the forum, Governor David Umahi, has disclosed.
This is coming as the former governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, charged the governors to set up without further delay a regional security outfit that would be completely under their control.
Nwobodo, who gave the charge at the convocation of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki where he was conferred with an award of Doctor of Law on Saturday asked the South-East governors to adopt the South-West model of regional security outfit code named Operation Amotekun for the zone.
The elder statesman warned the governors to take the issue of security in the region seriously, pointing out that people were no longer going to their farms because of fear of being killed by criminals.
“I charge all the South-East governors to take the issue of security seriously. Today, as I was coming here, I saw empty land unused; people can no longer go to their farms because of fear and it is your first task as governors to ensure that your people are protected; that people will be free and can go to their farms.
“I don’t care how you will do it but you must do that because that is the most important thing,” he said.
Nwobodo, however, advised that the name to be adopted for the South-East security outfit must be a name that will frighten whoever that hears it.
He added, “If you want to call it ‘Onye Akpakwa Nwagu Aka n’odu’ (meaning don’t touch the lion’s tale), but you must call it a name that will make everybody frightened.”
But in his remark at the event, Umahi said the security outfit for the South-East region would be launched in April. He said it would be adaptable to the peculiarities of the zone.
He said, “A General is also heading our security outfit; if you like, call it Amotekun but we are coming up with something that is very wonderful and adaptable to our zone. When we roll out in the month of April, our people will be very proud of us as their governors.”
First Bank Plc may have opened merger talks with some other Nigerian and foreign banks ahead of the banking industry recapitalisation plan of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The bank said similar to other Nigerian banks, it would continue to scan sub-Saharan Africa in general for potential acquisitions.
The FBN Holding Plc in a statement obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange explained that in line with Rule 17.10 of the Rulebook of the Exchange 2015, recent events in the banking industry had thrown up merger and acquisition opportunities for banks.
The statement was signed by the Company Secretary, Seye Kosoko.
The group stated that it was therefore not unexpected that analysts would continue to share viewpoints about the evolution or potential consolidation in the Nigerian banking industry.
It said, “There will always be speculations on FirstBank’s involvement on account of its size, liquidity, systemic importance and historic support in backstopping the industry.
“Inorganic growth remains a strategic consideration for all financial institutions, but from First Bank’s perspective, will only be considered when it is value-accretive to shareholders and other key stakeholders.
“Similar to other Nigerian banks, First Bank continues to scan sub-Saharan Africa in general for potential acquisitions.
“FBN Holdings Plc is mindful of its responsibilities as a premium board-listed company and will make appropriate disclosures should it find such value.”
The bank was said to have started making moves to merge with Heritage Bank and Polaris Bank.
The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, in June last year during the unveiling of his agenda said that the recapitalisation of banks had become imperative as their current capital could no longer finance large transactions.
He had said that the drop in the value of the naira to the dollar had weakened the capital of banks.
The apex bank boss had recalled that in 2004 when the banks were last asked to recapitalise, the value of a dollar to the naira was about N100.
This, according to him, meant that the N25bn capital base of banks when translated into the dollar was about $250m.
However, the governor said due to the drop in the value of the nation’s currency now exchanging for about N360 to a dollar, the translated value of N25bn is just about $75m.
He said, “In the next five years, we intend to pursue a programme of recapitalising the banking industry so as to position Nigerian banks among the top 500 in the world.”
Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a fake naval officer, Azeez Ali, for allegedly mutilating the private parts of a 42-year-old man, Sunday Amoo.
It was gathered that Ali, during an argument, used a military Jack knife to mutilate Amoo’s private parts, which resulted in multiple deep cuts.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday, said Ali, who impersonated a naval officer, was arrested around Berger bus stop in the Bariga area of Lagos.
He said, “On March 14, 2020, around 1.50am, operatives from the Bariga Police Station arrested one Azeez Ali. The suspect, who impersonated a naval officer, is alleged to have used a military Jack knife to cut the private parts of one Sunday Amoo over a mere argument, resulting in multiple deep cuts.
“The victim was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and is responding to treatment. An investigation is ongoing. The suspect will be charged.”
No fewer than 17 persons have been confirmed dead and 25 others injured after a gas explosion rocked the Abule-Ado area, near the International Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Sunday.
More than 50 buildings in the area were impacted by the explosion, as hundreds of residents were rendered homeless.
Several vehicles parked in the area were also destroyed by the explosion.
Boarding pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College were trapped in the wreckage of their hostel, as residents and sympathisers pulled them out of the rubble.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the Principal of the college, Rev. Sr. Henritta Alokha, lost her life while attempting to rescue the pupils.
Our correspondents were told that the explosion occurred around 9am after a truck hit some gas cylinders in a gas processing plant.
The gas plant was located near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s System 2B pipeline’s right of way.
A witness, who identified himself simply as Chibuzor, said his neighbour, who was just delivered of a baby, was trapped after her residence caved in.
He said, “We were in the church when it happened. At first, we thought it was a tanker explosion and we ran out of the church to see what had happened. But on getting out, we saw fire raging.
“My brother’s house was affected and a woman, who just gave birth, was in the house. We cannot hear her voice and she is not picking her calls.
“Immediately the explosion happened, the chapel of the school, where the children were gathered for morning mass, collapsed. Some were trapped underneath the rubble, while some have been rescued and rushed to hospital.”
A Twitter user, Alexehi Imobhio, said he was also in church when the explosion occurred.
“It felt like it exploded on the church premises. All the windows were shattered and worshippers ran for their lives. It was my first day in church after over four years,” he said.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said 17 people were confirmed dead, adding that 25 were injured.
The Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Nosa Okunbor, said there was a series of explosions, which started around 9.05am.
He stated, “The incident, which recorded 17 dead and 25 injured, destroyed property estimated to worth hundreds of millions of naira, with unquantifiable devastation to other assets, as well as the environment.
“Aside these, people in their hundreds have suddenly become displaced in an incident in which two LASEMA response teams, as well as the Lagos State Government Fire Service, the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police and other first responders were in full attendance.”
While quoting the Director-General of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, he said the agency could not tell the primary cause of the incident.
“While security agents are investigating the cause of the explosion, recovery and rescue activities were carried out by the Ministry of Special Duties, LASEMA, men of the Lagos State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service Department, the Lagos State Safety Commission, LASBCA and other first responders.
“Seventeen bodies have been recovered, while 25 injured persons are being treated on site,” he added.
The National Emergency Management Agency said it recovered 15 corpses, including a family of four.
The spokesperson for the South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said a couple and their two sons were among those who died in the explosion.
He said they were on their way to church when the incident happened.
According to him, no fewer than 60 pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were taken to the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Satellite Town.
Farinloye said over 50 buildings, including the college and a popular hotel, were damaged by the explosion.
He stated, “The resulting fire later spread to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation oil pipeline passing through the area even though the pipeline has been shut down as a precautionary measure.
“The fire was eventually extinguished around 3.30pm through the combined efforts of officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Navy Fire Tender.”
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, explained that preliminary findings indicated that the impact of the explosion was so huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damage to the pipeline.
The corporation’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and other management staff of the oil firm were said to have left for Lagos on Sunday evening for an on-the-spot assessment.
Obateru stated that following the report of the explosion, the corporation halted pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline, which was active at the time.
The NNPC said it had already mobilised its in-house team, consisting of health safety environment experts, medical and security personnel from its nearby Satellite Town depot in Lagos, adding that the Lagos State Fire Service to extinguish the fire.
The corporation said more firefighting personnel and equipment were mobilised from the NNPC Mosimi area office to the scene.
It urged members of the public and residents of the affected communities to remain calm, adding that the temporary shutdown of the petroleum products pipeline would not affect the normal supply of products to Lagos and its environs.
The Staff Officer, Western Naval Command, Oladele Daji, told journalists that the injured pupils had been stabilised at the Navy Hospital, adding that those who had fully recovered would be discharged soon.
During a visit to the Bonne Sante Hospital, where most of the pupils were rushed for treatment, one of the pupils, Ebube Abana, 15, said the explosion occurred while the Mass was being celebrated in the refectory.
“I am a boarding student; we were in the refectory when a car blew up. We were having Mass when I came outside and as I heard the explosion, blood started coming out of my ear, so I started running for my safety,”
The school’s Hostel Mistress, Christiana Adedoyin, said one of the security guards at the school died from the effect of the building collapse during the explosion.
One Federick Ose, whose brother, Festus, died during the incident, said, “My brother wanted to have his child dedication today (Sunday) when the incident happened and he was killed. His wife and children were able to escape. It was not the fire that killed him.”
Another resident, Ebis Michael, said his uncle, Obi Iyio, his wife and two children, Tochukwu and Kachi, were about to go to church when the explosion occurred and they were burnt beyond recognition.
The Chairman of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Valentine Buraimoh, said three schools were affected.
Many houses were on Sunday morning, destroyed after a massive explosion rocked Abule Ado in Festac town area of Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial city.
Naij News reports that the pipeline explosion which happened at about 8: 50 am, was said to have affected residents of Surulere, Ijegun, Ikotun, Egbeda, Abule Ado, Okota, Isheri Olofin, FESTAC, Satellite Town.
Giving an account of the incident, a FESTAC resident told TheCable over the phone that: “The roof of our building is off and a nearby school is on fire.”
On the other hand, a resident of Egbeda said: “I was relaxing in the sitting room after returning from the church. Suddenly, I heard a loud bang and the doors shook like they were going to fall.”
Although the cause of the explosion is yet to be known, an official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) said a pipeline exploded around Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin local government area of the state.
The Federal Fire Service tweeted that its men are making efforts to get information on the incident.
“We are in touch with our men in Fire Stations around Badagry and Festac, we are trying to gather more information as regards the reported explosion in Lagos State, Nigeria. We are on it,” the service tweeted.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says the explosion was not caused by a disruption of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline.
The Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Farinloye said that contrary to information earlier put out on the social media, the explosion was unconnected to pipeline vandalism.
His words: “From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.
“Emergency responders are on ground while others are still on their way to the scene. The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause,” he said.
Farinloye said the NNPC had shutdown the pipeline passing through the area as a precautionary measure after the oil company was notified of the incident.
The NEMA Acting Coordinator also confirmed that several buildings were affected by the explosion which was heard several kilometers away in many parts of the state including Amuwo Odofin, Ijegun and Agege.
Africa has registered its first death from the new coronavirus – a German tourist who died in Egypt. Although cases have been confirmed in many countries, ranging from Egypt to South Africa – including Nigeria, the continent’s most-populous country – it has so far been spared a major outbreak.
The continent has close links to China, where the infection originated in late December, but the cases in Africa have all so far been linked to Europe.
They have mushroomed in the last week, which is of particular concern as it is feared that poorer countries on the continent may struggle to cope if it does spread.
The World Health Organization (WHO) admitted as much when it declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency earlier in February.
“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Ethiopia, said at the time.
Media caption How ready is Africa for an outbreak of Covid-19? BBC correspondents explain
As Michael Yao, WHO’s head of emergency operations in Africa, has noted – because the continent’s health systems “are already overwhelmed by many ongoing disease outbreaks” early detection is vital.
“We’re advising countries to at least detect cases early to avoid spreading the new virus within the community – that will be difficult to manage,” he said.
Is it possible to prevent the spread?
The continent has benefited from the fairly slow arrival of the virus to Africa – giving its 54 countries a window to set up testing and treatment capabilities.
Coronavirus tests should be ready “within a couple of weeks” across all African nations, according to the World Health Organization.
Currently 33 of 47 sub-Saharan African countries have testing facilities, up from only two in January (in South Africa and Senegal).
In Nigeria – with two confirmed cases – the Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is publishing daily reports with updates on cases and any ongoing contact tracing. It has a free phone number and WhatsApp number for enquires and advice.
South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases also has a toll-free number.
Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai flew to Lagos on Saturday to do a book launch and also visit with his friend, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, continuing where he stopped on Friday.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, leader of the Latter Rain Assembly hosted the Lagos re-launch of El-Rufai’s book, These Times. The book was first launched in Kaduna in February to mark El-Rufai’s 60th birthday.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority attended the event, along with other dignitaries.
After the book launch, which El Rufai, in company of Bakare, Hadiza and his special adviser, Jimi Lawal went to visit with Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was removed on Monday as Emir of Kano by Governor Abdullahi `Ganduje.
El-Rufai, Muhammadu Sanusi and Hadiza Bala Usman, NPA MD
El-Rufai, Muhammadu Sanusi and Pastor Bakare
On Friday, El-Rufai had visited Sanusi in the Nasarawa town of Awe, where the police and the DSS detained Sanusi after his dethronement.
As it turned out, El-Rufai’s was a liberating visit, as a Federal High Court in Abuja the same day ordered the Emir’s release by his captors.
And thus El-Rufai and Sanusi, after the Jumat prayer, left Awe, to Lafia, capital of Nasarawa state, then moved to Abuja, where Sanusi boarded a private jet to Lagos. He arrived 11.35pm.
The Lagos State Government has issued six weeks ultimatum to articulated vehicle owners to put their vehicles in order and obtain necessary documents or have them impounded.
The decision was reached at a stakeholder’s meeting with owners of trucks and articulated vehicles in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The Director, Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS), Engr. Akin George Fashola, said that there was an agreement among participants that a period of six weeks be given all stakeholders involved in haulage movement to re validate their documentation and put their vehicles in a proper working condition, failure of which such vehicles would be impounded by the VIS.
The sensitization, according to Fashola, became necessary in view of the frequent traffic jam resulting from the frequent breakdown of rickety vehicles and articulated trucks that daily ply Lagos roads and the danger they constituted to citizens’ safety.
Fashola, who chaired the meeting, stated that the stakeholders meeting was aimed at bringing different players together to educate them on government policy relating to the movement of dry and wet cargo within the State as well as intimating them with regulations guiding road carnage by articulated trucks in Lagos.
He added that the increased traffic in the metropolis, occasioned by the regular breakdown of articulated vehicles, indicated the need to inculcate the culture of safety in motorists plying Lagos roads as well as enlighten them on the need to be more cautious and responsible in their daily operations.
Fashola warned that the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) would henceforth, uphold the State government’s zero tolerance for rickety trucks and articulated vehicles to promote safety on Lagos roads.
While warning operators of articulated trucks, tippers and tankers to comply with all guidelines on Safety and Standard operations or be sanctioned, the Director listed some areas of agreement between all parties, such as zero-tolerance for rickety trucks and articulated vehicles on Lagos roads; all drivers of articulated vehicles should ensure they hold the required Class-G drivers licence; and there should be adequate publicity on radio, television and newspapers on government directives to sensitize other members absent from the gathering.
Other decisions include that all articulated vehicles that develop mechanical problems should not be allowed to load or leave their loading points; there should be a collaboration with haulage companies that own computerized testing facilities that meet global standard practice to enhance compliance and safety; there should be continuous training and retraining of drivers, among others.
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The high point of the stakeholders meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Government and Trucks Owners to ensure safety and free vehicular movement on Lagos roads.
The US is to extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The ban will begin at midnight EST on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday), Vice-President Mike Pence announced.
President Trump’s travel ban on 26 European countries – members of the Schengen free movement zone – came into force on Saturday.
Mr Pence also announced that free coronavirus testing would be provided for every American.
“Now it’s all systems go,” said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci on efforts to expand testing.
Speaking at the same news conference, President Trump said he had been tested himself. The White House later said that the test was negative.
The US has confirmed 51 deaths linked to the pandemic and 2,488 infections.
In the first six weeks of vetting for the virus at US, 17 travellers were placed under quarantine at medical facilities, a senior official at the US Department of Homeland Security told Reuters news agency. During that period, more than 30,000 travellers were also asked to self-quarantine at home.
The Lagos State Government has issued six weeks ultimatum to articulated vehicle owners to put their vehicles in order and obtain necessary documents or have them impounded.
The US is to extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.