SR SahelReporters

By Nkechi Odoma Assessing a phenomenon comprehensively at every point and dimension of history is quite difficult. It is impossible to get an accurately wholistic picture of any occurrence, so long as different people are involved in appraising it. And philosophers have profoundly argued that the preceptory senses of all human beings do not function on same polar in exactitude. The sense of interpretation of reality by humanity functions in dissimilar patterns. What is often adopted as the confluence point is the preponderance of a baseline. The Military like any other profession religiously relies on loyalty and the patriotism of those who operate under its temple. It means, everyone of them professes to its etiquettes and decrees regarded as sacrosanct. Where there is a betrayal or violation of the institutional oath or its operational creeds, the organization or institution becomes endangered in many facets. The military subscribes to total obedience, professionalism, lo

By Doris Nnaji The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would meet on Thursday, May 7, to review the situation in its offices nationwide. The commission will also at the meeting adopt a clear road map and guidelines for resumption of activities. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. Okoye said that the commission would also deliberate on a number of issues. He said preparations for the conduct of Edo and Ondo Governorship Elections, the upcoming bye elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau States, and plans for resumption of normal activities will be considered. Okoye said that the commission noted the advisory and protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on combating COVID-19 on the gradual easing of lockdown from May 4 and decided as follows: “The Commission will meet on Thursday, May 7, to review the situation in its offices across the c

By Aviashima Toom  The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its subsidiary, Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE), has called on Nigerians, especially software developers, to apply for opportunities in order to participate in the “Nigeria COVID-19 Innovative Challenge”.   NITDA disclosed this on Thursday in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs Hadiza Umar, in Abuja said, Nigeria COVID-19 Innovation Challenge is an online innovative challenge set up to meet the challenges mankind is facing as a result of the Coronavirus.  According to Hadiza, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic, governments have issued guidance for members of the community to practice social distancing, while companies have enforced work from home policies in an effort to flatten the curve of viral infections across the population. She said the challenge, organized

By Aviashima Toom  The All Progressive Congress (APC) has acknowledged the tireless efforts, resilience, patience and commitment of the Nigerian workers in the onerous task of nation building.  The Party also assured the workers that the Federal Government would continue to prioritise their welfare. In a statement on Thursday signed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in Abuja, to commemorate this years workers day celebration, the party also assured that President Muhammadu Buhari was putting all necessary measures in place to ensure that workers and, indeed, all Nigerians are not negatively impacted from the economic effects of the pandemic now and in the future. He said that the various economic stabilisation policies by the government and the establishment of the Economic Sustainability Committee by the President, which is headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was a clear demonstration of the seriou

By Doris Nnaji The presidential task force on COVID-19 has released the guideline for lifting the lockdown order imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. Recall the president had in his nationwide broadcast said the lockdown will be lifted gradually from Monday May 4. The presidential task force gave this guideline during it’s update briefing today. The guideline states that Civil servant can go to office on different days of work, which will be assigned to different grade while banks are to open from 8am to 2pm with strict adherence to social distance, hygiene practices and crowd control. Motor Parks are also to open by 6am to 6pm, while restaurants and bars will remain closed, with the option of home delivery only. “Banks are open 8am to 2pm. With strict adherence of manageable numbers in the hall. “Parks open 6am to 6pm with regulated number of passengers allowed to board taxis and buses maintaining social distancing. “Restaurants and Bars remain closed, however they can do home d

By Doris Nnaji   The Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), an NGO, has began door-to-door delivery of Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs to members who cannot access health facilities due to the lockdown. Bala Samaila, NEPHWAN Kaduna Coordinator, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna that because of the lockdown, many people have not been able to get their ARVs refill. “We are doing this because some of our members are weak, some are elderly and some are sick and can’t come to the facilities for thier drugs. “They need to take ARVs 24/7 and they need food to improve their health. “The delivery of the ARVs is supported by CHIP, an NGO. “We are calling on the state government to assist us with vehicles for easy movement. “We are also calling on the state government to include our members as beneficiaries of its palliative measures because we are the most vulurenable groups in the state,” he said.

By Doris Nnaji  The Adamawa government has announced the passing of governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s mother, Fatimah Umaru at the age of 68. The state government announced her death in a statement by Press Secretary to Governor, Humwashi Hunohashi on Wednesday. Hunohashi said that the governor’s mother died while undergoing treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola. “Her death at this critical moment creates a huge vacuum not only for the immediate family but the entire state,” Hunohashi said He described the deceased as a strong pillar in her community, a disciplinarian, and devout Muslim. “The governor has taken the death in his stride and has asked for prayers by all for God to grant the departed peace and the fortitude by the family to bear the great loss,” he said.

By Doris Nnaji   The Police Command in Kaduna has arrested 986 suspects for violating the lockdown order imposed by the state government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN THE STATE, CP UMAR MURI, DISCLOSED THIS WHILE BRIEFING JOURNALISTS IN KADUNA ON WEDNESDAY. He said that 48 of those arrested were mostly religious leaders and beer parlour operators. According to the commissioner of police, some of the suspects have been prosecuted while the others will be arraigned before the court subsequently. The CP also said that the command, in collaboration with the force headquarters in Abuja, had on Feb. 5, launched a well-coordinated operation code-named “Taking the battle to the bandits’ camps”. “In the joint operation, we identified several notorious bandits’ camps around the Birnin Gwari and Giwa axis and destroyed them. “However, the gallant determination of our personnel yielded successes. “We apprehended 91 suspects for variou

By Doris Nnaji The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union (AU) and the Government of Rwanda have postponed by one year the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020) scheduled for Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2020 in Kigali. A statement on Wednesday by Amadou Labba Sall, Afreximbank’s Spokesman, quoted the bank’s President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, as saying the shift was in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oramah said the decision was endorsed by the IATF2020 Advisory Council during its sixth meeting held virtually on April 26. The biennial trade fair is organised annually by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AU. The fair provides a platform for entry into a single market of over 1.2 billion people joined together by the African Continental Free Trade Area, serving as a marketplace for showcasing goods and services for global buyers and sellers. It enables stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation soluti

By Aviashima Toom The Armed Forces of Nigeria Says, its Troops of Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has destroyed over 30 Boko Haram Terrorists, recovered arms while several members of the sect surrendered during a sustained offensive strike by the Military in Northeast, Borno state.  In a statement on Wednesday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche said the troops in the last seven days had engaged the Boko Haram Terrorists hibernating within its own Area of Operation in the theatre. The DMOs disclosed that within the period, troops of 121 Task Force  Battalion under 26 TF Bde while in ambush position, made contact with Boko Haram Terrorists at crossing point Pulka-Firgi road. He also disclosed that one Boko Haram Terrorist was killed, one loaded AK 47 rifle recovered with a motorcycle painted in Military colour along with one locally fabricated Hand grenade were also recovered. He said, on 24 April, 2020, troops of 192 Bn of 26 Bde

By Aviashima Toom The Armed Forces of Nigeria has said that it troops of Sector 2 Operation Delta Safe has uncovered 48 illegal refineries recovered large arms with stolen crude oil, while about 25 kidnapped victims held hostage were rescued in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States respectively. The Defence Headquarters disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche on Tuesday in Abuja, the Armed Forces said the troops  while on routine patrol at Nembe Owelesu, Bayelsa State encountered sea robbers at Abuja Open Water-Nembe. According to the DMOs, the Sea robbers on sighting the troop's gunboats escaped into the creeks. Adding that 15  persons held hostage in 5 speed boats by the hoodlums were rescued by the troops. Maj. Gen. Enenche also disclosed that on the 23 April 2020, acting on a tip off, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team intercepted and arrested 3 Barges (MV Rock 1, JULIANAH and an u

By SahelReporters President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the relaxation of the lockdown declared in Lagos, Ogun state and the FCT to curb the spread of coronavirus. The president made this known in the statement of his nationwide broadcast on Monday. “Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID nineteen, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved for a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Saturday, 4th  May, 2020 at 9am.” The president noted this relaxation will be followed with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.          

By Doris Nnaji The Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19 has discovered and busted a camp housing persons believed to have been trafficked into the state from some northern states of the country. Deputy Governor of the State and Chairman of the Committeee, Engr. Benson Abounu led a taskforce of the Committee to the camp located at Nos. 12 and 13 on Adikpo Street in what is popularly known as the Hausa Quarters area of Makurdi. Discovered at the camp were large numbers of youths mostly in their early twenties living in tightly clustered conditions in gross violation of social distancing requirements. When interviewed a number of the youths admitted to having been brought into the state from a number of northern states for purpose of seeking work. Their host (names withheld) admitted that he usually receives the youths from all over the north and houses them to enable them ply such artisan trades as tailoring, shoe-making and the likes in the state. Interviewed further, he

By Aviashima Toom The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reacted to reports that the Senior School Certificate Examination for 2020 has been canceled Reports had emerged over the weekend that the exam had been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement signed by the Head of WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Areghan, urged Nigerians to disregard publications on cancellation of the exam. Areghan also debunked reports that it was set to refund N22,500 to candidates who had enrolled for the examination as fake, false, and deceitful. “The publication is patently false and deceitful. It is nothing but the handiwork of mischief-makers, who are out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting candidates and their parents/guardians. “This piece of news is certainly not from the West African Examinations Council, WAEC. The examination was supposed to start in Nigeria on April 6, 2020 and not April 15, 2020, as stated by the authors. “The examination fee is N13,950 only, not N22,500. It

By Aviashima. Toom   A group identified as the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call the Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, to order over the recent ban on two Journalists in the state and other misgovernance. The group believes actions by the governor is capable of marketing the party and bringing misfortune to it. In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the chairman of the group, Pascal Oluchukwu, said the PDP has a duty to caution its Ebonyi State governor against what he described as “undemocratic practices and ensure that his actions, on behalf of the party, do not undermine its enviable democratic credentials.” “The recent disgraceful and most unwarranted ban placed on two Journalists deployed to cover Ebonyi State by the management of Vanguard and The Sun Newspapers respectively is not ideal of a Democratic Party which PDP represent. “The Journalists were b

By Pauline Pam     Bauchi State Government on Sunday received no frwer than 190 Almajiri pupils evacuated from Mangu Local Government Area of plateau state. The Deputy Governor Senator Baba Tela while receiving the pupils at General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College Bauchi, said the pupils would undergo medical screening and other necessary investigation before handover to their respective parents. This was contained in a press release issued by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Bala Mohammed on Media, Muktar Gidado, made available Sahel Reporters. According to the release, Senator Tels who is the Chairman of the Task Force , said accommodation had been made for the pupils until they would be declared safe to reunite with their parents. He said the gesture was aimed at ensuring that, pupils were not infected with the CoronaVirus and called on islamic clerics to comply with the government on the ban on Almajiri system in the state. “We have just received 190 Almajiris who are in

By Aviashima Toom The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it's Air Strike Troops of Operation Lafia Dole in it continue onslaught against the terrorists groups, has destroyed scores of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP)  fighters at Kolloram on the fringes of the Lake Chad in Borno State.  The Defence Headquarter disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, the Armed Forces said,  the operation was conducted based on credible intelligence reports indicating that some of the ISWAP leaders and fighters had converged in the settlement for a meeting.  Maj. Gen. Enenche disclosed further that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were scrambled to attack the location. Saying, overhead the target area, the terrorists were seen moving towards the edges of the settlement and were engaged, leading to neutralization of several of them.  He said that the few survivors were t