……Seeks public adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has advised his subjects and Nigerians to respect all government directives and health guidelines against coronavirus pandemic to curtail its spread.

The Etsu Nupe, who is the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Niger State, gave the advice in his Sallah message at the Etsu Usman Zaki Juma’at Mosque on Sunday in Bida, Niger state.

The Royal father also appealed for intensifying of prayers by the Muslim ummah and adherents of all religious faith in the country for God’s intervention on the dreaded disease.

Alhaji Abubakar, who emphasised that COVID-19 was real, stressed the need for Muslims to pray and adhere strictly to the preventive measures as they celebrate Eid-El-Fitrl .

The monarch, while congratulating Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fast and the Sallah celebration, emphasized the need for love among one another and support for the less privileged in the society.

He enjoined Muslims to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and continue to pray fervently for the nation to overcome Covid 19 and other emerging challenges

According to Etsu Nupe, ” I enjoin Nigerians to adhere striclty to all the safety measures against COVID-19 as advised by the government and health experts such as frequent washing of hands, social distancing and environmental hygiene at all times.

” If this is done by all of us, it will go a long way in curtailing the spread of the virus in our communities and the country at large,” Abubakar said.

He explained that Muslims should use the occasion to rebuild the fabric of national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s common destiny as an indivisible entity.

The traditional ruler expressed optimism that Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary of the spiritual lessons from the celebration.

He added that with prayers and fear of Allah, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and love, Nigerians would work together and harness the abundant resources as a progressive nation.

The royal father called on the citizens to build bridges of brotherhood to harness the benefits of earthly life and the ultimate purpose of the nation’s unity.

Abubakar appealed to wealthy individuals in the country to assist the less privileged to enable all and sundry to celebrate Eid-fitr with ease.

He said, “God has endowed wealth on people not for themselves and their immediate family, but for the benefit of entire society.

“The present socio-economic predicament that we are now facing requires such assistance from well to do individuals in the country”.

The monarch urged Muslim faithful to continue to pray to God, to assist President Buhari and other elected and appointed leaders to overcome the current challenges bedeviling the nation.

The monarch also charged the people of his domain to send their children to school, to acquire both western and Islamic knowledge.

“It is through education that they can learn how to live a good and displined life.”

….TASKS SECURITY OPERATIVES TO ARREST PERPETRATORS

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has assured that government is doing everything within its power to ensure that Abubakar Ibrahim Jibrin, a staff of the Niger State Ministry of Works and the three staff of a construction company recently abducted by unidentified gunmen from a construction site at Erena community in Shiroro local government are rescued unhurt.

He said government has provided all the needed logistics support to ensure that these people regain their freedom and the criminals brought to face justice.

Governor Sani Bello who maintained that no responsible government will fold it hands and watch some criminal elements hold its people hostage, noted that it is time to take the fight to their hideouts and root them out of the communities, saying enough is enough.

The Governor said government is on top of the situation and the abducted persons would be rescued and reunited with their families within the shortest possible time.

He noted that the abduction of the construction workers from site at a time when the government is aggressively embarking on the construction of some rural roads across the state to make lives easy and enhance economic activities of the people is a deliberate attempt to sabotage government efforts, which will not be tolerated.

The Governor vowed that no amount of banditry activities or criminality in parts of the state will deter the government from achieving its rural roads transformation agenda.

He commended the security agents in the state for their sacrifices so far towards combating the activities of the bandits and other forms of criminality in the state and urged them to go after the perpetrators of this inhuman act.

Governor Sani Bello reassured the people of the state of government’s commitment to the protection of lives and property of the citizens which remains its cardinal responsibility.

……Described as: “Round peg in round hole, truly deserving.”

A group of professionals in Nigeria, under the aegis of Young Nigerian Professionals have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the nomination of 42 thoroughbred career diplomats as Ambassadors-designate, describing them as “round pegs, fit in round holes,” and “truly deserving.”

The forum in a statement signed by its Chairman, Charles Folayan said they were elated by the choice of these nominees, some of whom they had interacted with, at Nigerian Missions abroad and found to be diligent, hard working and patriotic.

According to Folayan, the forum is confident of the prospective Ambassadors’ capacities to deliver on President Buhari’s policies at the global arena whenever they are posted after clearance by the Senate.

“We can affirm that this list was carefully put together by the President in line with his foreign policy objectives. The nominees are seasoned diplomats, who have served in various countries with distinction; they are good men and women with the highest sense of commitment and responsibility. Wherever they have served, they were the darling of the Nigerian communities and their host officials.” Charles noted.

“Of particular interest is I. A. Yusuf, a nominee from Kogi State with whom the forum had interacted at more than one Nigerian Mission abroad. We know him for his exemplary character, integrity and his positive disposition towards Nigerians in his host countries, especially the students and professionals. He offers help with ease, to anyone who demands help.

“In all our encounters, we noted that when Yusuf gives his word, he keeps it; he has an unflinching penchant for timeliness; and importantly he demands diligence and love for Nigeria from associates and those he works with, that whatever is to be done must be done in the national interest and must be done right.

“We believe that the Ambassadors-designate will bring to Nigeria, the benefits of their abundant network of relationships across the world.”

The statement went ahead to encourage the Ambassadorial nominees to remain steadfast to the values that saw them rise to where they are.

The forum asked them to keep their eyes on the ball in order to justify the confidence reposed on them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Thursday May 21, 2020, chaired a joint meeting of the FCT COVID-19 Emergency Response Team and the FCT Security Committee, as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the FCT.

The Meeting deliberated on the second phase of the ease of lockdown guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 generally and as they affect the operations of markets in particular.

The statement read, “Consequently, the meeting came up with the following guidelines which will guide the operations of markets in the FCT from Monday May 25th 2020.

• With effect from Monday, May 25th, 2020, the number of days that markets are allowed to operate in the FCT has been increased from 2 to 3 days in a week. Accordingly, all markets will now be opened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8.00am to 3.00pm.
• In addition to sale of foodstuff the following additional sections of the market will now open;
• Agricultural inputs for farm activities such as sale of fertilizer, herbicides, seeds and agricultural implements.
• Building and construction materials
• Electrical items specifically for construction
• Neighborhood selling points managed by the Abuja Markets Management Ltd which are restricted to selling only foodstuff, are to operate daily;

“All new sections of the market to be re-opened as indicated above must ensure decontamination of their premises prior to commencement of business.

“Market operators and customers must also observe all already established protocols of hand washing, facial coverings and social distancing

All other measures at curtailing COVID-19 in the FCT as contained in the guidelines issued by the FCTA on the 2nd of May 2020 still subsist, the statement concluded.

…Extols his virtues

Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has expressed profound sadness and pain over the demise of retired Supreme Court jurist, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte.

Amaechi, who refers to the deceased as a father and great advisor, had during his time as governor of Rivers State appointed Karibi-Whyte Pro Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to strengthen the institution’s education and values.

He said, “Justice Karibi-Whyte for me was a father figure. He was an exemplary personality, a great advisor and I have the utmost respect for him.

“During his tenure as Pro Chancellor of RSUST where he brought his astute disposition and intellect to bear, there was a remarkable turnaround in the quality of education and handling of affairs in the institution.

“He was also a key member of the State’s Economic Advisory Council when I was governor and my administration and Rivers State benefited richly from his wealth of experience and expertise.

“As a Justice of the supreme court, he was very upright, fearless and upheld the rule of law. He was a colossus and great teacher. I will miss him deeply. Rivers State and Nigeria just lost a good man, a great man”, Amaechi said.

Amaechi prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed Justice Karibi-Whyte and comfort for his wife and entire family.

The South Korean Gov’t through the UN Habitat Programme has donated the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars (USD $25,000) to support Niger State Government in its commitment to preventing the spread of coronavirus in the State.

Ahmed Matane expressed Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s appreciation on behalf of the People and Government of the State to UN-Habitat and South Korea while commending the Niger State Urban Support Programme (NSUSP) for securing the grant for the State.

It would be recalled that the South Korean Government had earlier approved the sum of USD $900,000 grant to the Niger State Government for the preparation for the State Urban Policy.

The committee has the Secretary to the State government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane as the Chairman while Commissioners of Agriculture, Investment, and Planing are to serve as members.

Council then constituted a committee for the smooth and effective running of the government and the committee is expected to come up with a robust strategic plan for the state agricultural sector.

…………….embarks on awareness/sensitization campaign

Gloria Diri Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization of the Wife of the Bayelsa state governor has flagged off its awareness/sensitization campaign on the dangers of COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs Gloria Diri embarked on the distribution of food items, hand sanitizers and other preventive items to the people of Igbedi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area on Friday.

Mrs Diri while speaking through the coordinator of the Foundation, Bodisere Yibowei said the campaign became imperative due to the tens of thousands of lives that had been lost to the virus globally.

Wife of the governor who declared the present administration’s zero tolerance to the spread of COVID-19 infection, said the only way to contain its spread was through maintaining personal hygiene and strict compliance with the policies of government and the World Health Organisation, which include social distancing and wearing of face masks in public places.

Mrs. Diri said the Foundation embarked on community to community campaign on prevention of the spread of the deadly virus owing to the fact that most people in the rural areas have become vulnerable to Covid-19.

Her words: “We have come to sensitize and give free treatment and palliatives to alleviating the effect of economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the entire world.

“What we are doing today is one of our aims and objectives as a Foundation which is to cater for the vulnerable and the less privileged, especially the elderly and teenagers that have dropped out of school.

We have a programme that will enable them to go back to school, and, for the boys, to reintegrate them back to the society.

Earlier in his address, the Amananowei of Igbedi town, His Royal Highness, Chief Sam Pitas Gbaranbiri commended the efforts of the Gloria Diri Foundation at touching the lives of the people at this trying period when the whole world is being ravaged by the scourge.

He stated that the palliatives and free medical services would go a long way at cushioning the effects of Covid-19 in the community.

NIDO Americas USA has distributed palliatives to vulnerable Nigerian households from various ethnic groups resident in Lagos.

At the exercise conducted in Mile 12, Ajegunle and Ayobo/Ipaja on Thursday and Friday, food packages consisting of Rice, Beans, Garri, Vegetable Oil, Indomie, and Maggi, as well as reusable masks were given out to each of the beneficiary households.

The Lagos State Governor was represented at the grand finale of the program held at Spring of Faith Bible Church Auditorium, Ayobo, by his Special Adviser on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jermaine Sanwo-Olu.

Mr. Sanwo-Olu commended NIDO Americas USA for its compassion and thoughtfulness while urging residents to observe good personal hygiene and report any suspected coronavirus case to the state’s Ministry of Health.

A beneficiary from Ajegunle-Apapa, Mrs ijeoma Nwaeke, was full of praise for the initiative. “You people made us feel a sense of belonging,” she told the organizers.

“You feed us when we are hungry. God will bless you people for your maximum effort to ensure that we didn’t go hungry in this COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Director of Strategy of Programs for Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Nigeria Chapter which provided logistics support for the exercise, Pastor Kenny Adenugba, said he was surprised to learn from community leaders that the target areas had never benefitted from any such initiative before.

NIDO Americas USA Chairman, Ms Patience Ndidi Key, said the WECARE COVID-19 initiative is the pilot phase of the organization’s Food Security Program (FSP) expected to include farming cooperatives and strategically located food pantries.

She said the organization will continue to collaborate with credible organizations to execute projects in Nigeria.

NIDO Americas, USA was Founded in 2000, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas, USA is exclusively recognized by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the umbrella organization for Nigerians in the Diaspora which mandates all foreign missions to support the development of the organization. NIDO provides a unique platform for intellectuals, technocrats, policy makers, workers and all Nigerians in Diaspora to present development propositions to the Government at all levels.