No free land for grazing in Edo, Obaseki insists

 

The Edo government has insisted that the state will not give out land for free to herders for grazing.

There has been concern over clashes between farmers and herders across the country, especially with regards to open grazing.

In 2019, Obaseki rejected the federal government’s Ruga initiative and said the Edo government would not offer free land to herders for grazing.

In a statement issued via his Twitter handle on Thursday, Obaseki said recent reports to the contrary were false, adding that the government’s stand on the matter has not changed.

“Our attention has been drawn to misleading and false media reports claiming that @GovernorObaseki has agreed to provide grazing land for herders in the state,” the post reads.

“Our position on the matter of grazing land is clear and has not shifted, which is that there is no free land for grazing in Edo. Grazing is an economic activity just like poultry and piggery or any other agric enterprise. Govt will not cede any land in the state for grazing. I have continually warned against the politicizing of security issues.”

Obaseki accused “some political actors” of trying to instigate the killings witnessed in some states.

“Thankfully, their plans have failed because of the pre-emptive actions taken by Governor Obaseki and the security agencies,” he said.

“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the current futile efforts by these defeated politicians in the state to cause mayhem and chaos among our people.

“All peace-loving people of Edo State are enjoined to dedicate this Lenten period to pray for peace at this difficult time in the life of our dear country.”

Meanwhile, state governors have agreed to implement the national livestock plan, which will adopt modern approaches to grazing and livestock management.

- THECABLE

BOKO HARAM INVESTOR !!! Buratai: It may take 20 years to end insurgency in north-east

 Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff, says it may take 20 years to end the insurgency in the north-east.

Appearing before the senate committee on foreign affairs on Thursday, Buratai said the war against insurgency is complex.

The former army chief was being screened by the lawmakers following his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as an envoy.

The retired general said the political, social and economic problems that were not addressed by successive governments have fuelled the insurgency.

“The situation is that of asymmetric warfare. It is a complex operation. It is something that started more than 30, 40 years ago. They have penetrated communities both in Nigeria, Chad, Niger,” he said.

“Five local governments in Borno state cannot have good access roads since independence till now.

“The same thing in the north-west. There are so many ungovernable spaces and until those locations are penetrated with the right infrastructure and amenities, then we will carry everybody along and education is very fundamental.

“These are the realities, the truth must be told because this cannot end at the dictates of time and may take another 20 years and that is the truth.

“Only the military is seen to solve this thing but it is not. Military cannot solve this action. In the first place, it wasn’t the military that started it.”

Buratai said when he assumed office in 2015, the army had no equipment.

“Today we have invented our own indigenous vehicles to change the narrative,” the former army chief said.

“Most of those areas that were occupied by Boko Haram terrorists have been taken over by our troops. We need more training, manpower and equipment to sustain it.”

- THECABLE

Senate moves to reduce number of Nigerians who travel abroad for medical care

 

The Senate has commenced moves to block revenue leakages from medical tourism with the consideration of a bill that would reduce the number of Nigerians travelling to other countries for medical care.

The bill titled: Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2021, was sponsored by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC, Adamawa Central).

Leading the debate on Thursday, Ahmed said the absence of a legal framework for the regulation, development and management of Federal Medical Centers (FMCs) was responsible for hindering the provision of intensive, effective and efficient health care services to Nigerians.

Ahmed cited “under-funding, weak facilities and infrastructure, the poor motivation of health workers, low budget, weak accountability, conflicts with the political structure of the states and industrial strikes”.

She noted that the passage of the bill will “reduce the number of Nigerians who have to go to other countries for medical care.”

The lawmaker lamented that an average of 20,000 Nigerians travel to India each year for medical assistance due to the absence of a solid healthcare system at home.

Ahmed said the legislation would also sufficiently address remuneration of the employees of the Medical Centers which in turn would check the exodus of doctors and nurses to other countries.

“Seventy-seven percent of black doctors in the US are Nigerians and there is rarely any top medical institution in the US or Europe where you don’t find Nigerians managing at the top level.

“Hardly a year passes without a major national strike by nurses, doctors, or health consultants. The major reasons for these strikes are poor salaries and lack of government investment in the health sector,” she said.

Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC – Kwara Central) said Federal Medical Centres were incapacitated as a result of the absence of legal backing establishing them and insufficient funding.

On his part, Senator Ibn Na’Allah said the bill was timely as it seeks “to ensure that all institutions of government are governed by law.”

The lawmaker said the government cannot continue to operate a democracy where public funds are disbursed to institutions that are not recognized by law.

The bill after scaling Second Reading was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Health for further legislative work.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, is expected to report back in four weeks.

- DAILY POST

Another looter Abdullahi Dikko Inde, ex-customs boss is dead

 

The former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, is dead.

He was aged 60.

He died in Abuja today after some illness.

The cause of death is unknown, but COVID-19 is suspected.

Inde, whose father died on 9 January 2015, served as the head of the customs between 2009 and 2015.

He was facing several corruption charges by the ICPC and EFCC, before his death.

In a court filing recently, he refunded N1.9 billion to the Federal Government treasury.

Dikko was born on 11 May 1960 in Musawa town, a local government area of Katsina State.

He attended Government College, Kaduna from 1974 till 1980

He later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Dimitrov Apostle Tshenov, Svishtov, Bulgaria.

He also bagged a Master of Science degree in finance from the same school.

Inde joined the Nigerian Customs Service in 1988 and retired in 2015.

- PM NEWS

Nigeria reports 869 fresh COVID cases — over 6,000 infections in one week

 Nigeria recorded 869 fresh coronavirus infections across 23 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on Wednesday.

The new figure is contained in the daily COVID-19 report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for February 17, 2021.

The single-day count on Wednesday represents a decrease of 36.48 percent, compared to the 1,368 new coronavirus cases recorded on Tuesday.

With the Wednesday figure, a total of 6,422 infections have been confirmed over the past seven days.

Lagos state, which is the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, recorded the highest number of new positive samples with 229 cases — representing 73.65 percent of the total infections reported on Wednesday.

Rivers came next on the list with 79 new coronavirus cases, while Taraba and Oyo closely followed with 73 and 66 positive samples, respectively.

NCDC said Wednesday’s data from Taraba state is a culmination of all coronavirus cases reported over the last three days.

Other states that recorded new cases are: Ogun (60), FCT (58), Plateau (56), Kwara (38), Ondo (38), Osun (24), Kano (22), Nasarawa (21), Abia (19), Edo (19), Akwa Ibom (19), Cross River (10), Delta (9), Benue (8), Ekiti (6), Borno (6), Katsina (4), Bauchi (3), Bayelsa (1), and Zamfara (1).

Meanwhile, with eight new fatalities, a total of 1,787 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria.

However, according to the NCDC, 1,239 patients were discharged on Wednesday, including 377 community recoveries in Lagos, 70 in Plateau, and 28 in Benue.

A total of 149,369 cases have now been confirmed across the country, but 125,722 patients have been discharged, while there are currently 21,860 active cases.

- THECABLE

Offa bank robbery: We killed eleven persons hauling stones at us – Suspects

 

 

Ashocking revelation emerged on the April 5, 2018, Offa bloody bank robbery on Wednesday, when suspects told a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, how they killed about eleven persons in the robbery operation.

The suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu, and Niyi Ogundare, have been on trial since their arrest.

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacob, at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, called the seventh witness, one John Nwoke, a police inspector attached to the Police Force Public Relations unit, Abuja.

Nwoke, presented a DVD video to the open court containing the confessional statements of the suspects.

One of the suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, said “They shot dead eleven persons who were hauling stones and other missiles at them.”

Akinnibosun narrated how a dismissed police officer, Michael Adikwu, now deceased, sold the robbery idea to him, adding that he in turn conscripted his other four accomplices to the deal.

Akinnibosun, who claimed to be the ring leader in the video, revealed that he owned the two vehicles used in the bloody robbery operation.

He said, “One of the vehicles, a Lexus sport utility vehicle, SUV, was given to me as an empowerment by the then Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, as the leader of political liberation movement in Kwara South.

“I came into contact with the dismissed policeman, Adikwu through a revenue collection staff, after meeting with him, I relayed to Ibikunle Ogunleye, who also relayed the same to Adeola Abraham, otherwise known as ‘Adex’.

“Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundare, are both mechanics; on the fateful day of April 5, 2018, we, the five of us moved from Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state to Ajasse-Ipo, where we parked the SUV under a tree and we all drove in the Mercedes Benz to Offa.

“At Offa, we parked in front of the Total filling station, where late Adikwu was waiting for us in a black Audi car.

“There was also a Nissan Primera car parked in front of us at the Total filling station where some other people that came with Adikwu were waiting.

“Shortly, thereafter, Adikwu handed over a sack to me containing five AK-47 rifles and as the commander of my gang, I distributed the guns and directed every member to take his position.

“I positioned myself at the roundabout leading to Igosun from Offa.

“After the robbery, Adikwu (the deceased) did not give us a dime, he only promised to call me when it is time to share the loot.

“Then we all hurriedly left the community, on getting to Ijagbo, Oyun LGA, our vehicle stretched to a halt awaiting Adikwu who came and collected the five AK-47 rifles from me.”

Akinnibosun said he got the Lexus car because he used to mobilize people for election in the state and that the car had not gotten a number plate before his arrest, adding that “I was using the sticker of the then Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki as the number plate.

“This is because he was the political leader of the state.”

Ibikunle Ogunleye, on his part, while speaking as the second defendant, revealed that he was traditionally positioned at the First Bank premises in Offa metropolis, before Adikwu dragged him to come along to the Offa police station.

He confessed that he shot two people dead who were trying to escape at the gate of the police station.

Ogunleye said Adikwu and his gang fired many shots at the police station, killing scores of policemen in the operation.

Adikwu, on entering the station, announced that the police relieved him of his job, but, “I have come on a revenge mission, and handed over 10 AK-47 rifles taken from the armoury to me,” adding that “I took them into his Audi car.”

Abraham and Salawu Ogundiran also confessed to have shot five and two persons dead, respectively, to prevent being stoned to death by public members.

The trial judge, Haleemah Salman, adjourned the case till March 15,2021 for continuation of hearing.

- DAILY POST

EFCC uncovers another academy for apprentice internet fraudsters

 

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have uncovered yet another underworld ‘academy’ for the grooming of internet fraudsters.

The ‘academy’ located in Arab Contractors Area of Mpape Hills, a suburb of Abuja, was discovered when operatives, acting on intelligence, stormed the base on Thursday February 18, and arrested 27 internet fraud suspects.

The coordinator of the ‘academy’ is said to be 30-year-old Emmanuel Clement.

His ‘students’ are mostly young school leavers, ladies inclusive, within the age range of 18 to 25 years.

Items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Venza car, 30 mobile phones and one laptop

They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

In May 2019, the EFCC had busted a similar school located in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos.

One Frank Chinedu, alleged to be the proprietor of the training school was arrested, along with eight students.

In August 2019, the EFCC also arrested 12 apprentice fraudsters in Ikotun area of Lagos.

- PM NEWS

Three dead, over 3,000 displaced as fire guts IDP camp in Maiduguri

 

Three persons were confirmed dead, while more than 3,000 others were displaced, following a fire incident that occurred at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in the customs area of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Yabawa Kolo, director-general of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident to reporters in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

Kolo said the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, also affected the food items belonging to the IDPs.

She explained that there were two fire outbreaks – one in the morning, while the second incident took place around 2pm.

According to the SEMA DG, about 600 shelters were affected.

She also noted that the fire might have started from the tent of one of the IDPS, who was cooking.

Meanwhile, Kolo expressed concern about what she described as recurring fire incidents at the camps, which had affected many families.

“We recorded such incidents in Gajiram, where 338 households were affected,” NAN quoted her to have said.

She explained that the agency and other key partners had adopted a proactive approach to prevent such occurrences through advocacy and sensitisation.

Kolo added that the agency and other partners would items to the affected families to support them.

- THECABLE

IMF backs CBN, says cryptocurrencies may be used for illegal activities

 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned against cryptocurrency transactions, saying some of the virtual currencies are used for money laundering and drug trafficking.

The Central Bank of Nigeria recently directed banks and other financial institutions to close accounts of persons involved in cryptocurrency transactions.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Ari Aisen, IMF resident representative for Nigeria, said many central banks all over the world have taken a similar stance on cryptocurrency.

“The issue with some of the cryptocurrencies is that perhaps some care should be taken about their activities. The use of cryptocurrencies is a concern,” he said.

“That is why some central banks, not only in Nigeria, have these concerns about what kind of the activities these cryptocurrencies are put and how best to monitor those activities.

“Some of them may be illegal activities and may be related to money laundering, even drugs or other illegal things. It is natural that the monetary authorities will be concerned about how best to supervise and increase their oversight regarding the use of cryptocurrencies.

“The CBN is thinking closely about its trade-offs and is trying to design the best policy in the interest of the payment system and the sustainability of the financial sector.”

In compliance to the apex bank’s directive, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement, stating that it would suspend the admittance  of all persons affected by the CBN’s circular on cryptocurrencies into its Regulatory Incubation Framework for Fintech Firms.

“For the purpose of admittance into the SEC Regulatory Incubation Framework, assessment of all persons (and products) affected by the CBN Circular of February 5, is hereby put on hold until such persons are able to operate bank accounts within the Nigerian banking system,” it had said.

Countries such as China, Iran, Morocco have banned cryptocurrency trading.

- THECABLE

Provide Nigerians with self defence tools – Shehu Sani tells minister

 Shehu Sani, former Kaduna lawmaker has reacted to a statement by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, advising Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits.

The retired General while speaking on insecurity and bandits’ attacks in some parts of Nigeria, advised Nigerians not to be cowards, adding that bandits sometimes possessed few rounds of ammunition.

He told citizens to stay at alert at all times and defend themselves.

Reacting to the Minister’s statement, Sani told Magashi to provide Nigerians with enabling tools in order not to be cowards when bandits attack.

On his Twitter page, the former Kaduna lawmaker wrote: “If the Defence Minister is prescribing self defence, his Ministry should provide Nigerians with the ‘enabling tools’ or formally permit them to privately source for it, so that there shall be ‘cowards’ no more in this beleaguered and bewildered land.”

- DAILY POST

Why Jonathan was Nigeria’s worst president – Nollywood actor Maduagwu [Interview]

 

Popular Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu who recently revealed he is gay speaks with Muhaimin Olowoporoku about his sexual orientation, his comments that 12 Nigerian governors and many legislators are gay and his political ambition to become the next governor of Anambra State.

When and how did you know you are gay?

Well, being gay is something you are born with, you don’t just discover it. You are created like that. So when people ask, when one discovers it, I don’t think that is the word. It sounds like when did you realize you are who you are?

It is what you are from birth. But sometimes, because of the society we are in Nigeria so many people are scared to come out.

Being gay, it means you won’t be with a woman sexually, how do you intend to reproduce and father children?

Well, there are so many ways someone can choose to father a child. You can adopt and it depends on what you want. I can’t speak for other people; I can only speak for myself. So the most important is that you know who you are and whichever way you feel, you want to get children.It is left for the individual to decide.

After revealing your sexual orientation, how has your relationship been with other actors and filmmakers? What change have you noticed?

What I would first say is that there are many hypocrites in the industry because as I speak to you, in Nollywood, over 95 percent of successful male actors are gay. But what I find very confusing is that the same people who know who they are, are first to criticise others who come out as gay. Sometimes I think it is a psychological problem. I mean, you know that you are this thing, so why criticize it? Most of these so-called actors who claim they are making so much money from in this industry that we know there is no money inside, we know what they do. We know how they get their money.

What I always tell them is that if you don’t want to come out, it is worst you are criticising it. So, my relationship with many of them has not been good because I am somebody that will always tell you the truth. If you don’t want to believe the truth, you and I cannot roll.

I don’t want to mention names but there are so many of them. Some don’t hide it anymore that they are gay but they have not come out to disclose their orientation.

Tell us more about your allegations that 12 Nigerian governors are gay and several senators.

I won’t call it an allegation, I would call it a fact. So many people have asked me this question and I ask that if what I said is false, governors would have come out to say he is telling a lie. They have a governor’s forum. So one of them should have come out and say he is telling a lie. But for the fact that nobody has come out to deny it, it shows that it is correct. That is like a silent answer.

It is why I tell people that the worst president in the history of Nigeria is not actually Buhari but Goodluck Jonathan.  The same man who signed that nonsense anti-gay bill. He is the worst president Nigeria ever had because you can say Buhari is bad this and that but he didn’t sign that law.

The man who signed that law is a Christian and claims he is educated, I heard he is a lecturer, so he is educated and for someone to be that educated and sign that bill, he should be sanctioned. The US and UK must not allow him to enter their countries.

So, back to your question, it is what it is, people are who they are, only that in this part of the world it has been made a criminal thing and it is not.

The government should not tell individuals how to live their lives I find it difficult to understand. The role of the government is to protect people and property and ensure people live well, not tell me how to live my life. It is why I keep saying Jonathan is the worst president in Nigeria.

What is your reaction to Joe Biden’s sanction that Buhari reverse the Anti-gay bill after urging him to do so?

What I would say is that it was not magic but a simple thing. I called on Joe Biden to sanction Nigeria and he did it. It is not magic, it is the reality because the truth is I have so many powerful friends in the US and these are things we discuss almost on a daily basis. So what I did is I made sure I reached out to Joe Biden and he listened to my voice and he saw the thing and that is it.

The Buhari government has no choice but to take away that law. Right now as we speak so many things the Nigerian government is asking from the US, and what I hear is that they are giving Nigeria a condition that if you want us to help you especially in terrorism fight and insecurity, take away that law. That is what is on ground but the Nigerian government would not tell us, because they don’t want us to know the truth. If that law is not taken out the American government would not do anything for us here.

Also, all those who are in a position to reverse that law are being pressured right now, even their political career is on the line because if you don’t do it, the US would not support their political career. That is what is on ground. So they have no choice but to answer the international community.

And also, previously people who were talking are not celebrities, so now that I came on board, it is a game-changer and I say it is not just about me but people who are out there. Some people have been taken to church and get flogged because they want to cast out a demon. I don’t understand.

I also say one of the biggest problems in the country are religious leaders because I don’t know how you take someone to church and start flogging the person saying you are doing deliverance. Deliverance for what? People should be left alone. They are who they are.

What spurred your interest in campaigning to become the next governor of Anambra, as a Nollywood star, why politics?

I have always said it before that the only sensible governor we had in Anambra State is Peter Obi and every other governor has just been playing around and Peter Obi is a family friend.

He comes to my family house. He is somebody I know very well. So he is the only person I know, who has done something that no other governor has done. So, I looked at all the guys coming out now and can say categorically that 80 percent of those coming out to contest are bisexual.

So I decided to contest because I feel the government has been too far from the people. If you go to Anambra today and you have been there years back, you will weep. You now begin to wonder a state so small and doesn’t have a large landmass and there is no obvious development. So you begin questioning what the governor has been doing.

The current governor is a talkative governor. His development is talk. Go to Onitsha, go to Nnewi, these are places that have contributed to the growth of Nigeria. Look at the roads that link Onitsha to major roads and Nnewi. It is when you visit these places you find out the governor is a talkative governor.

I can say Obiano is the worst governor in Anambra State and I thought when he came in, being an experienced banker he would use his influence to get the World Bank, African Development Bank to influence Anambra for good but to my surprise, it is almost eight years and nothing is happening.  He is always just talking and does nothing.

It would just be wrong for me to sit back and allow Anambra State be in darkness and remain in the hands of a talkative governor.

Under what Political Party are you running?

I am still doing consultation and a lot of people have been reaching out to me.But I want people to know I am ready to work with any political party. It is not just about me you know, I have to decide which party with my kinsmen and a lot of people have been wooing me. I tell them when it comes to party I have to carry people along and people of substance who I need to carry along.

The only thing is I will never join APGA, because the party is a talkative party.

- PM NEWS

BIGGEST MAD MAN !! Not all bandits are criminals, says Matawalle

 

Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, says not all bandits are criminals.

Speaking with journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock on Wednesday, Matawalle said some of the “bandits” took the law into their own hands because they were ill-treated by some vigilante groups.

Zamfara, in the north-west, has recorded high cases of banditry and kidnapping in recent times.

The governor said some of the conflicts recorded in the north-west are reprisal attacks by the “bandits” on members of vigilante groups.

“Not all of them are criminals,” he said.

“If you investigate what is happening, and what made them take the laws into their hands, some of them, sometimes were cheated by so-called vigilante groups.

“They normally go to their settlements and destroy property and take their animals. They did not have anyone to speak with, so sometimes, they go for revenge. When the vigilante group attacks them, they go for reprisals.”

Matawalle said leaders should get to the genesis of the problem and not conclude that all bandits are criminals.

“It is important for us as leaders to sit down with them and understand what is the genesis. You can’t just conclude that this person is a criminal,” he said.

“You have to listen to him. What led him to go into such activities? It is not all Fulanis that are criminals.

“Some are good citizens, but due to some circumstances, they subscribed to such criminality but when we had the information, we called their leaders and sat with them, they told us their grudges and we sorted out the way the communities and the Fulanis can resolve their issues without any serious crisis.”

- THECABLE

Ex-militants condemn politicisation of amnesty programme, threaten a return to creeks

 

Forum of Akwa Ibom repentant militants have told the Federal Government not to play politics with the Presidential Amnesty programme

They said government should instead fund it to enable its leadership implement the rehabilitation, reintegration and existing phases of the programme.

They threatened to return to the creeks if the FG failed to fund the PAP, as well as implement other parts of the bargain.

In a press statement on Wednesday, signed by the Chairman and the Secretary of the Akwa Ibom Phase 11 Ex-Militants, Comrade Imoh Okoko and Mr. Sunny Affiah, respectively, the forum said the FG had not paid stipends and school fees to ex-agitators in vocational training centres within and outside the country for sometime now.

The statement added, ”It is a well known fact that the peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta today depends on the sustenance of the Presidential Amnesty programme.

”It is on record that almost all Akwa Ibom ex-militants have not been trained both in schools, vocational training centres and even till now the office is unable to pay ex-militants’ allowances and contractors due to improper funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme”.

They, however, lauded the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa for his efforts in sustaining peace in the region, but noted that his efforts could be counter productive if the PAP is not well funded to meet its obligations.

According to them, ”he may not be able to perform creditably due to the inadequate funding of the amnesty office. And this may adversely affect his lofty programmes and could lead to incessant protests, harassment of the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Office and possible loss of confidence in the amnesty deal and subsequent return of the ex-agitators to the creeks.

”The Forum, therefore, unanimously call on the President and other relevant authorities not to play politics with the Amnesty programme but to adequately fund it to enable its leadership implement the rehabilitation, reintegration and existing phases of the programme successfully, as well as pay contractors handling various projects in the region in order to sustain the fragile peace in the Niger Delta today.”

- DAILY POST

NAFDAC endorses use of AstraZeneca COVID Vaccine for Nigeria

 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Thursday endorsed the use of AstraZeneca COVID Vaccine for use in Nigeria.

Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, endorsed the vaccine at a news conference in Abuja, saying that the body had received doses of the vaccines a week ago.

She said the agency’s safety committee went to work to on it to verify its safety for use by Nigerians and came up with positive results.

Adeyeye stated that the vaccine could be stored between two and eight degree centigrade.

The NAFDAC  boss also disclosed that three vaccines were being evaluated for their effective use in Nigeria.

She added that Astrazeneca is more potent among those being evaluated as it is effective against the British variant COVID-19 virus.

It should be noted that about 13 of the British Variant of the virus have been reported in Nigeria in recent times.

Adeyeye also said that over 30 herbal medicines were undergoing evaluation in Nigeria to ascertain their efficacy for use in curing COVID-19.

- PM NEWS