COVID-19: Nigeria’s economy shrinks by 6.1% in Q2

 

Nigeria’s gross domestic product shrunk by six percent in the second quarter of 2020, a new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown.

According to the report which was released on Monday, Oil GDP contracted by -6.63 percent from 5.06 percent in the first quarter and 5.15 percent in the second of 2019.

Non-oil GDP was also reported to have contracted by -6.05 percent from 1.55 percent in the first quarter of 2020 and 1.64 percent in the second quarter of 2019.

This is the first time in three years that Nigeria’s economy will record a negative growth after its exit from the 2016 recession.

“The decline was largely attributable to significantly lower levels of both domestic and international economic activity during the quarter, which resulted from nationwide shutdown efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report read.

“The domestic efforts ranged from initial restrictions of human and vehicular movement implemented in only a few states to a nationwide curfew, bans on domestic and international travel, closure of schools and markets etc., affecting both local and international trade.

“The efforts, led by both the federal and state governments, evolved over the course of the quarter and persisted throughout.”

Nigeria recorded its first COVID-19 case on February 27 and went into lockdown to slow down the spread of the coronavirus in March.

The country has begun to open up with the resumption of domestic flights, reopening of restaurants and hotels.

International flights are also scheduled to resume on August 29.

Already, there are projections that Nigeria’s economy will record its second recession in four years; one that is estimated to be its worst in 30 years.

A recession is a situation where there is negative GDP growth for two consecutive quarters.

- THECABLE

Nigerian woman jailed 2 years for robbing Dubai tourist

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An unidentified Nigerian woman who was involved in robbing an Arab tourist in Dubai has been sentenced to two years in jail.

Reports from Dubai said she was sentenced today.

Her trial began in late July. She was also accused of illegal imprisonment, and issuing threats to kill or inflict harm on others.

She has 15 days to file an appeal.

The 23-year-old Nigerian, who was on a visit visa, had set up a fake social media account and lured the man into a hotel apartment, court records show.

Together with her accomplices – another woman and three men – the accused assaulted the victim, tied him up at the flat, and robbed him of cash and his mobile phone.

The incident, which took place in February, was reported at the Bur Dubai police station.

The Dubai Court of First Instance found the defendant guilty of robbery, illegal imprisonment, and issuing threats to kill or inflict harm on others. She will be deported upon the completion of her jail term.

The tourist, a 32-year-old, told investigators that the woman and her group beat him up and punched him all over his body as they locked him up at their apartment.

“They robbed me of Dh500 and my smartphone while assaulting and threatening to harm me. They deprived me of my freedom for 40 minutes,” he said.

After the robbery, the group fled the scene. A police lieutenant said he interrogated the accused after receiving the tourist’s complaint.

*Source Khaleej Times and other news channels

- PM NEWS

Chelsea finally agrees transfer fee for Kai Havertz

 

Chelsea has finally made a breakthrough in negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen for Kai Havertz, BILD reports.

The Blues have been in talks for the 21-year-old for weeks and have now agreed on an €80million (£72m) fee upfront plus a further €20m (£18m) in bonuses, making the total value of the deal £90m.

This will make Havertz Chelsea’s club-record signing.

It eclipses the £71.6m they paid Athletic Bilbao for Kepa Arrizabalaga two years ago.

The Stamford Bridge outfit has agreed two sets of bonuses with Leverkusen, the first of which is expected to be paid out in full and relates to the Blues reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League over the next five years.

The second batch of bonuses are for any titles that are won up until 2025, including the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, as Havertz has verbally agreed to a five-year contract.

- DAILY POST

ICYMI: Mali’s military seeks to hold on to power for three years

 The junta that seized power in Mali says it wants a military-led transitional body to rule for three years.

A delegation led by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Mali on Saturday to negotiate the release of Keita and the restoration of constitutional government.

The delegation was set up by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the political crisis in Mali.

According to Al-Jazeera , a source in the ECOWAS delegation said Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, who was detained alongside Keita at a military base outside the capital, would be moved to a secure residence in the city.

“The junta has affirmed that it wants a three-year transition to review the foundations of the Malian state. This transition will be directed by a body led by a soldier, who will also be head of state,” the source was quoted to have said.

“The government will also be predominantly composed of soldiers”

The source added that the junta has agreed to “free President Keita” and “he will be able to return to his home” in Bamako.

“And if he wants to travel abroad for treatment, that is not a problem.”

Ismael Wague, spokesman for the military junta, said: “We reached compromise on certain aspects and the negotiations will continue tomorrow.”

On his part, Jonathan told journalists that the delegation and the Malian military “want the country to move on” and ” are discussing the way forward”.

“We have reached a number of agreements but we have not reached agreement on all the issues,” he said.

- THECABLE

Prof. Ogunsola named UNILAG’s Acting VC

 

Prof. Folasade Ogunsola has been elected as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, UNILAG.

She was elected among 167 professors at the Senate meeting, who voted to find replacement for the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olutoyin Ogundipe who was asked to step down as the Federal Government inaugurated a panel to look into the crisis rocking the institution.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) polled 135 votes compared to Prof. Ben Oghojafor’s 31 votes.

It was gathered one vote was declared void.

Ogunsola, born in 1958, is a Nigerian professor of medical microbiology. She specialises in disease control, particularly HIV/AIDS. Ogunsola is also the immediate past provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos and is reputed as being the first woman to occupy the position.

She obtained her first degree from University of Ife. She got a master’s degree from College of Medicine, University of Lagos, then proceeded for her doctorate at University of Wales between 1992–97.

 Ogunsola was the provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Her research areas have been centered on the regulation and management of viral diseases, particularly HIV. She is the principal investigator at AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) at University of Lagos. She has also been the chairman of Infection Control Committee of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Additionally, she is the chairman of the National Association of Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria.

In 2018, she expressed concern on disease prevention and control in Nigeria. She identified poor hygiene and overuse of antibiotics as practices that foster antimicrobial-drug resistance. Providing a solution, she maintained that “sustained Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) infrastructure and programs should be built around a set of core components which includes guidelines, training, surveillance, multimodal strategies for implementing IPC, monitoring and evaluation among others.” Speaking during a session with the media, she explained that the solution to reducing the 58% unemployment rate was for Nigerian graduates to begin innovating ideas that will enhance human life. She also noted that knowledge in itself isn’t sufficient, but its application in an appropriate manner to better mankind and enhance livelihood of others is what youths should be concerned about.

- PM NEWS

DPR warns against use of mobile phones in petrol stations

 

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, on Monday warned motorists against using mobile phones in petrol stations.

DPR warned that the usage of mobile phones while refuelling at filling stations could spark off a fire outbreak.

The Osun State’s DPR Operation Manager, Olusegun Daboh gave the warning in Osogbo, the state capital.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Daboh said using mobile phones in filling stations is dangerous because “petrol is highly inflammable’’.

He appealed to motorists to always turn off their car engines before refuelling.

He further warned that marketers operating filling stations with expired license, selling above the regulated pump price and under-dispensing would be sanctioned.

Daboh said any unwholesome practice by petroleum marketers should be reported to the DPR office for appropriate action.

- DAILY POST

Amnesty: Bandits have killed 1,100 Nigerians in 2020

 

Amnesty International (AI) says bandits have killed at least 1,126 villagers across Nigeria in 2020.

A new report released by the human rights watchdog on Monday said the killings were carried out from January to June 2020 during which about 380 people were also abducted by the bandits.

Incessant attacks across some northern states which have been blamed on bandits have left many either dead or kidnapped, including those who have had to flee their homes and take cover in hotels.

Amnesty International said while security operatives did not heed warning signs about some impending attacks, relevant authorities have failed to bring the killers to justice — and this “fuels impunity”.

“The Nigerian authorities have left rural communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen who have killed at least 1,126 people in the north of the country since January,” the report read.

“Amnesty International has documented an alarming escalation in attacks and abductions in several states in north west and north central Nigeria since January 2020.

“Worst affected are villages in the south of Kaduna State, where armed men killed at least 366 people in multiple attacks between January and July 2020.”

Osai Ojigho, AI country director, said the failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these “predictable” attacks is “utterly shameful”.

“In addition to the security forces’ failure to heed warnings or respond in time to save lives, the fact that no perpetrators have been brought to justice leaves rural communities feeling completely exposed,” she added.

”The President claims he has repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killing so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed.”

The organisation said it interviewed residents in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara states, who said they “live in fear of attacks and abductions as insecurity escalates in rural areas”.

It quoted residents as lamenting how security forces often arrive “hours after attacks have ended, even when officers have been given information about impending attacks”.

“During one attack in Unguwan Magaji in Kaduna state, security forces arrived at the scene but left when they saw the sophisticated ammunition the attackers were using. By the time they returned, at least 17 people had been killed,” the report said.

AI said while the killings have continued, those who speak out against them including farmers, activists and rights groups are “subjected to intimidation, arrest and torture” for speaking out against the attacks.

“The government has an obligation to protect its population. The rising death toll in the north of Nigeria shows just how badly the authorities are failing in this responsibility,” it said.

- THECABLE