Violence: 80,000 displaced from North East Nigeria since November – UN

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 80,000 Nigerians have been displaced due to ongoing violence in the North-East since November, 2018.

The UN relief agency said that the figure was in addition to the two million people already displaced by violence, or forced across Nigeria’s borders as refugees.

OCHA said in 2018, relief organisations had estimated that 7.7 million people required urgent life-saving assistance.

OCHA said, however, a recent upsurge in clashes between non-state armed groups and the state security forces was forcing UN agencies and their partners to reassess the needs on the ground.

The UN agency said a 90-day plan was in the works to ratchet up the response, especially across the worst-affected state of Borno, to meet the immediate needs of an estimated 312,000 men, women and children.

Since 2009, the North East of the country has been in the grip of a civil conflict triggered by armed opposition groups, which has now spilled over borders across the whole Lake Chad region.

This has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, and protection risks for increasing numbers of civilians, which has added up to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

“In addition to the 1.8 million displaced within Nigeria as a result of the conflict, the violence has led many families to flee over the border into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

“To date, about 200,000 people are estimated to be Nigerian refugees or asylum seekers, living in those countries,” the UN agency said.

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has raised the alarm over a recent new influx of Nigerian asylum seekers and refugees in Chad.

“Since 26 December, when the town of Baga on the Nigerian side of the Lake Chad, was attacked by a non-state armed group, around 6,000 have been forced on the run.

“Many of them paddled for three hours across the water to arrive in the lakeside Chadian village of Ngouboua, some 20 kilometres from the Nigerian border,” the UN refugee agency said.

UNHCR and the Chadian authorities are carrying out registration and pre-screening of new arrivals to evaluate their needs.

It said an overwhelming majority of the new arrivals are women and children and, according to initial information, about 55 per cent of them are minors.

The UN urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians as well as civilian construction and infrastructure, and to uphold international human rights and humanitarian laws.

- PM NEWS

Sagay: Obasanjo is president-general of Nigeria for life… in his mind

Itse Sagay, chairman of presidential advisory committee against corruption (PACAC), says former president Olusegun Obasanjo is suffering from power withdrawal syndrome.

The constitutional lawyer said Obasanjo does not portray himself as a former president of the country.

Sagay said unlike his contemporaries, Obasanjo lacks respect, dignity, restraint and decorum.

In reaction to Obasanjo’s latest criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari, Sagay said: “We have had a number of former heads of state, namely Gowon, Shagari, Babangida, Abubakar Salami and Jonathan. All of these have exercised discretion, restraint and self-discipline in relation to their successors, but not Obasanjo.”

He said Obasanjo sees himself as the president-general of Nigeria for life, hence his “meddlesome” streak.

“It strikes me as a case of one who has never recovered from the loss of power,” Sagay said in a statement released on Tuesday.

“By his meddlesomeness, rude and uncouth attitude towards later heads of state, it is clear that he is addicted to a substance called ‘power’, and is angry and resentful towards any other person exercising it.

“The truth is that Obasanjo has never recovered from his power addiction and in his own mind, he is the President-General of Nigeria for life.

“Obasanjo believes that he can break all rules and ethics but it is a crime for others to even appear to follow his footsteps in that regard.

“He is a man who is not conscious of a sense of wrongdoing and is probably unaware of the long list of depredations trailing his footsteps.

“The man is not just immoral, he is worse; he is amoral, i.e., he lacks a sense of right or wrong. Obasanjo is now an old man. It is now imperative that he learns to exercise some discretion and restraint in his public statements.

“His bombastic, false, misleading and destructive outbursts, are not befitting of a so-called Elder Stateman, even more less of a former president.”

- THECABLE

I will no longer pursue a career in football - Usain Bolt

Usain has announced he will no longer pursue a career in football, saying "it was fun while it lasted" but admitted the situation was not handled in the best way.

The 32-year-old Jamaican sprinting legend won multiple Olympic gold medals in London, Beijing and Rio, only to try his hand at professional football after his retirement from track.

Bolt had trained with multiple clubs over the past few years, with Borussia Dortmund and Norweigian side Stromsgodset some of the biggest among them, but his best opportunity came with the Central Coast Mariners of Australia’s A-League.

Appearing in friendlies with the club, Bolt scored a double in a match in October and earned the chance to sign a contract with the team.

However the two sides could not come to an agreement on compensation, as commercial backing to finance Bolt’s desired wages were not found.

As a result, the Mariners and Bolt agreed to mutually terminate the trial in early November.

Bolt also turned down an offer from Maltese side Valletta in October, and ultimately he was unable to find another option.

Now Bolt has decided to end his dream of becoming a professional footballer and expressed some regret with how it was handled, even if he did enjoy the overall experience.

“I don't want to say it wasn't dealt with properly, but I think we went about it, not the way we should and you learn your lesson, you live and you learn," Bolt said.

"It was a good experience. I really enjoyed just being in a team and it was different from track and field and it was fun while it lasted.”

Having left football behind, and sprinting in his past, Bolt explained he is focused on business going forward..

“I'm just doing many different things - the sports life is over, so I'm now moving into different businesses,” Bolt added. “I have a lot of things in the pipeline, so as I say, I'm just dabbling in everything and trying to be a businessman now."

- SPORTINGNEWS

Nigeria’s debt fast approaching pre-2005 Paris Club level, CBN warns

The monetary policy committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned that the federal government’s debt levels could be fast approaching the pre-2005 levels.

Reading the communique of the committee’s decision at the end of its bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, said: “On external borrowing, the committee noted the increase in debt level advising for caution, noting that it could fast be approaching the pre-2005 Paris Club level.”

On October 20, 2005, Nigeria reached an $18 billion debt relief agreement with Paris Club. Nigeria was required to pay $12.4 billion of its $30 billion debt stock in three tranches.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was the minister of finance at that time, led the Nigerian delegation while Xavier Muscat, chairman of the Paris Club, led the 15-member club to sign the agreement.

The deal saw Nigeria exit the club completely after the final payment was made on April 21, 2006.

According to data released by the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s external debt stood at $21.6 billion as at September 30.

Speaking on the federal government’s plan to raise more revenue through value-added tax, Emefiele said the committee was of the view that it would help reduce pressure on government expenditure.

“The committee also noted the attempts by the government to broaden the base of the Value Added Tax and urge the authorities to expedite action in that effect, arguing that increased tax collection will reduce pressure on government expenditure and create fiscal buffers to improve macroeconomic management,” he said.

The monetary policy rate was retained at 14% while the Cash Reserves Ratio was maintained at 22.5%.

Liquidity ratio was left at 30% and the Asymmetric Window was left at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR.

- THECABLE

Lassa fever: FG releases update, guidelines, warns Nigerians

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says Nigerians need not panic over the rising cases of Lassa fever because it has initiated measures in response to the disease in the country.

The advice was expressed in a statement on Wednesday by the Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu in Abuja.

Ihekweazu said that in preparation for this year’s emergency phase, NCDC had been providing support to states, including emergency supplies and deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRT).

He said that the RRTs would work with states in response coordination, contact tracing, case management, risk communication and strengthening infection prevention and control practices.

“Recent epidemiological data shows that Lassa fever usually occurs during the dry season, between January and April.’’

According to him, as at Jan. 13, about 60 confirmed cases were reported in eight states.

”Given this increase in reported cases of Lassa fever, the NCDC has declared this an outbreak and activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate the response,” he said.

He said that given the increase in reported cases, the NCDC declared it as an outbreak and activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate the response.

Ihekweazu, therefore, advised members of the public to focus on prevention by practising good personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation.

”Take effective measures by storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households, and other measures to discourage rodents from entering homes.

”Hand washing should be practised frequently. The public is also advised to avoid bush burning.

”Health care workers are again reminded that Lassa fever presents initially like any other disease causing febrile illness such as malaria.

”Healthcare providers are advised to practise standard precautions at all times, and to maintain a high index of suspicion.”

Ihekweazu advised that Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) must be applied to all suspected cases of malaria.

”When the RDT is negative, other causes of febrile illness including Lassa fever should be considered. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment increases the chances of survival.

”The national guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control, as well as Lassa fever case management have been developed, disseminated to states and are available on the NCDC website for download,’’ he said.

Ihekweazu reinstated Federal Government’s commitment to supporting all States’ public health teams to prevent and respond to public health threats.

- DAILY POST 

TRANSFER NEWS : Real Madrid to hijack Manchester City’s move for Dybala

La Liga giants, Real Madrid are set to hijack the bid of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to sign forward, Paulo Dybala from Juventus.

Dybala has drawn interest from Guardiola over the past three years.

According to The Sun, Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez is ready to spend £90 million ($116million) for Dybala in order to thwart Guardiola’s hopes of signing the Argentine international.

The report claimed that Dybala is viewed as the central piece in Real Madrid’s plans to rebuild their squad this summer.

The 25-year-old, who still has over three-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract at Juventus, has recently been linked with a move away from the Old Lady.

Dybala has scored 73 goals for the Serie A champions since joining the club in 2015 from Palermo.

- DAILY POST

How Biafra will be actualized this year – Uwazuruike

The founder of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has hinted on Nigeria breaking up in 2019.

Uwazuruike disclosed that something will happen in 2019 that would lead to the actualisation of Biafra.

Addressing his followers in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Uwazuruike warned that a “major event shall happen in 2019 that would likely lead to the rising of a full-fledged Biafra nation and the gradual split of the most populous black country in Africa”.

“Today, it is no longer an abominable issue because the name Biafra is being discussed all over the world among the different groups, nations and associations at home and in Diaspora meetings, to talk about what I started 20 years ago”.

- DAILY POST

Bandits kill 2 Nigerian soldiers, 2 vigilantes in Zamfara

Troops have neutralised activities of some bandits in Zamfara, in an operation to rid the state of criminal elements.

The troops also captured one of the bandits alive.

A statement by Maj. Clement Abiade, the Acting Force Information Officer of the ongoing Operation Sharan Daji, however, said two soldiers and two members of the vigilante were killed in the encounter.

Abiade said eight other soldiers and six vigilantes sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

According to him, troops also rescued 75 captives of the bandits after destroying 18 of their camps in the state.

He said that the freed captives mostly from local communities in Zamfara, had been debriefed and reunited with their families.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items recovered from the bandits include five Fabric National Rifles, four AK Rifles, 10 locally made rifles, one locally fabricated pistol and 40 motorcycles.

According to Abiade, the clearance operations of bandits’ enclaves in Zamfara and Katsina States which began on Jan. 20 would continue till June.

- PM NEWS