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COVID may shutter South Africa’s ‘Beloved Heritage Museums’

Editorial
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COVID may shutter South Africa’s ‘Beloved Heritage Museums’

by Lisa VIVES

POPULAR exhibits at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and other legacy museums are barely surviving and may close over funding shortfalls due to Covid-19.

A pair of boxing gloves worn by Nelson Mandela at the height of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, one of the most popular exhibits, is now covered with dust in a darkened room, according to Mfuneko Toyana, writing for Reuters.

“We had to let go of all of the staff. About 30 people. There’s no one here to turn the lights on and off,” the museum’s Director Christopher Till said.

By March 2020, most cultural institutions across the world were indefinitely closed (or at least with their services radically curtailed), and in-person exhibitions, events, and performances were cancelled or postponed.

Among these were all museums in Morocco as of March 15 until further notice and cancellation of Mawazine – the world’s second-largest music festival – scheduled for mid-June.

In response, there were intensive efforts to provide alternative or additional services through digital platforms, to maintain essential activities with minimal resources, and to document the events themselves through new acquisitions, including new creative works inspired by the pandemic.

Hundreds of artworks and artefacts illustrating the history of the long struggle against white minority rule could become inaccessible to the public but “we can’t afford to lose this place,” Till said.

Over 1,000 visitors viewed the historic exhibits before the pandemic. Like other cultural institutions, it had to close its doors in March 2020 when South Africa imposed its first COVID-19 lockdown.

The museum reopened in January 2021, Toyana reported, but having sold no tickets for 10 months and with visitor numbers very low due to the ongoing outbreak, it was too cash-strapped to operate and shut down again in March.

The Fugard Theatre is also permanently closed as a result of the coronavirus in Cape Town. “We are not persuaded that the theatre will be Covid safe or financially viable to reopen as a theatre in the foreseeable future,” wrote theatre founder Eric Abraham.

“The theatre will be handed back to the owner of the freehold of the building as a working theatre and we hope they will be able to use it for the benefit of the Museum and the community.”

Other institutions facing permanent shutdown are the Johannesburg Art Gallery and Mandela’s house in the township of Soweto.

You are serving Nigerians, not the president, Baba-Ahmed tells National Assembly

Blessing OTOIBHI
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You are serving Nigerians, not the president, Baba-Ahmed tells National Assembly

SPOKESMAN of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has told the National Assembly members that they are elected to serve the people, not President Muhammadu Buhari.

Baba Ahmed said this when he featured on  AIT ‘Kakaaki Africa’ programme on Monday to discuss the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

Baba Ahmed said the National Assembly did not appear to have the levels of patriotism and concerns beyond partisan politics to take action on the rising state of insecurity across Nigeria.

He also asked that President Buhari be impeached by the National Assembly if he could not deliver because the nation would not wait two more years for him to address the nature of insecurity.

“One option we have is that the legislators will look at the record of the administration, understand the areas where the president has failed, understand areas where there is clearly no evidence that they’re going to do anything about it and refer to the constitution that says the whole purpose of government is to secure citizens and pursue their welfare,” Baba-Ahmed said.

READ ALSO: Insecurity: Northern elders call for Buhari’s impeachment

The NEF spokesperson also urged Buhari to arrest anyone alleged to be sponsoring banditry or terrorism in the country.

“If there are people who are causing this insecurity, the government has evidence that they’re doing so, then in the name of God, let the president arrest these people, bring them up, show Nigerians what they’re doing, and then show evidence that the government is actually dealing with insecurity,” he further stated.

Earlier in February, the National Assembly had requested Buhari to appear before it over the state of insecurity. However, the president did not honour the request.

Section 143 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to remove the president if he is incapable of effectively discharging his duty.

Wike extends night curfew in 23 Rivers LGs

Amos ABBA
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Wike extends night curfew in 23 Rivers LGs

GOVERNOR of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, on Monday, extended night curfew across 23 local government areas of the state from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The action was aimed at curtailing rising attacks on security establishments in the state.

Wike disclosed this in a state broadcast on Monday, saying that the decision was based on the multiple armed ambushes on Police checkpoints along the East-West Road, resulting in the murder of seven police officers last week.

“However, as a further step towards enhancing our collective safety, we have reviewed the existing nighttime curfew across the 23 Local Government Areas, which will now start from 7 p.m. and end at 6 a.m. until further notice from tomorrow 11th May 2021.

“The security agencies are hereby directed to note the new curfew time, ensure strict compliance and effectively deal with any person or group that violates or attempts to violate it,” he said.

He stated the state security council reviewed the methods of the recent attacks and realised that the perpetrators, who disguised themselves as security officers, had moved in unhindered from Oyigbo to launch attacks on the security posts.

“We have reviewed, and for the moment, declined the pressure on the state government to activate our youth to defend the state from these terrorists because we don’t want to complicate our very delicate security situation by creating opportunities for some other monsters to emerge.”

Governor Wike, who consoled the families of the dead officers and the state’s police command for the irreparable loss, declared that the government and security agencies were determined to deploy everything at their disposal to advance the safety and security of lives and property in the state.

“We wish to assure every resident that we are not intimidated by the sporadic and cowardly attacks on predetermined security targets by faceless criminals on our soil; neither will we be cowed into succumbing to a baseless and doomed secessionists agenda,” the governor added.

Gunmen are said to have attacked two checkpoints, one for the Nigeria Customs Service and another manned by officers of the Joint Task Force.

Seven police officers were killed, while the weapons of the security operatives were carted away by the gunmen during the attack.

The ICIR reached out to the Commissioner of Information Nsirim Princewill via phone calls and text messages to ascertain how long the curfew was likely to be extended and measures being taken by the Rivers State government to restore peace in the state.

However, he failed to respond to the text message and did not take calls at the time of filing the report.

Unknown gunmen abduct 40 worshippers in Katsina

Ijeoma OPARA
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Unknown gunmen abduct 40 worshippers in Katsina

THE Katsina State Police Command has confirmed that 40 worshippers were kidnapped by unknown gunmen while observing prayers in a mosque located at the outskirts of Jibiya.

The worshippers were said to have gathered at the mosque to observe Tahajjud, a midnight prayer done by Muslims during Ramadan.

Speaking in a phone conversation with The ICIR, Spokesperson for Kaduna State Police Command Gambo Isa said that the gunmen had invaded the mosque at the early hours of Monday, abducting 40 worshippers in the process.

Isa hinted that there was a counter-attack by a combined team of Police and military officials, who engaged the gunmen, rescuing 30 of the kidnapped worshippers.

“We pursued them and we engaged them, and they were able to release those 30 because they couldn’t cope with the pressure,” he said.

According to Isa, 10 of the worshippers were still missing, and the gunmen had remained unidentified as investigations were still on-going.

“Right now, a combined team of police-military are conducting general operations and we’re waiting for the result of such operations. Investigation is on-going,” he said.

In recent times, several attacks have been carried by gunmen in Kastina State and the entire Northern Nigeria.

According to a report, more than 300 students were abducted in December from the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), in the Kankara area of the state.

 

Eid al-Fitr: FG declares Wednesday, Thursday as public holidays

Vincent Ufuoma
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Eid al-Fitr: FG declares Wednesday, Thursday as public holidays

THE Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday, May 12 and 13, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid al-Fitr
celebration.

This is contained in a statement by Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola through Permanent Secretary Shuaib Belgore on behalf of Nigeria’s government on Monday.

The minister congratulated the Muslim faithful on this occasion and called on all Nigerians at home and abroad to use the period of this year’s Eidul-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in Nigeria.

Aregbesola, who believes that development cannot thrive in a rancorous atmosphere, urged all Nigerians to be law-abiding and embrace the spirit of love, self-discipline, kindness and tolerance as taught by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

READ ALSO: FG imposes fresh COVID-19 restrictions, shuts bars, limits public gatherings

He also called on all security agencies in the country to be more courageous and patriotic to surmount the ongoing battle against surging insecurity and activities of criminal elements in Nigeria.

He assured that the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to end the scourge of crime and criminality in the country and restore peace to every nook and cranny of Nigeria was sacrosanct.

“This administration will not be deterred in its efforts until every Nigerian and resident of the country is free to move around without fear of any threat to his/her life and property. We are therefore putting necessary measures and strategies in place to strengthen the stability of the country as well as ensuring economic prosperity of our dear nation,” he emphasised.

Insecurity: Northern elders call for Buhari’s impeachment

Vincent Ufuoma
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Insecurity: Northern elders call for Buhari’s impeachment

THE Northers Elders Forum (NEF) has called for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari if he cannot address the country’s security problems.

Spokesman of NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated this while speaking on AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ programme on Monday.

Baba-Ahmed called on the National Assembly to assess Buhari’s administration in the light of the constitution and impeach the president in areas he was found wanting.

“One option we have is that the legislators will look at the record of the administration, understand the areas where the president has failed, understand areas where there is clearly no evidence that they’re going to do anything about it and refer to the constitution that says the whole purpose of government is to secure citizens and pursue their welfare,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“If he (Buhari) fails to do that, for me, those are impeachable offences. In the last six months, two years, what has the president done differently to secure the country? Absolutely nothing has been done and yet you see increasing failure of the state to protect citizens.”

According to him, “the third option is that those leaders who are failing will recognise the fact that they are the problem, and they will resign because they clearly have nothing to offer in terms of leadership,” he said.

“Or, as our democratic system provides, those with the responsibility to get them off should impeach those who are failing. If the president can’t deliver, he should be impeached.”

He lamented that partisan politics had taken over the primary duties of members of the National Assembly.

He sounded a note of warning to legislatures that if they failed to look beyond partisan politics and do the needful, they would all bear the brunt when things deteriorated more than they were now.

He called on the president to arrest those contributing directly and indirectly to the worsening insecurity in the country.

“I wish he would arrest just two, three of these enemies of the state and deal with them. We are tired of hearing the president and his spokespeople saying there are enemies of the state. Enemies of the state are defined clearly under law.

“If there are people who are causing this insecurity, the government has evidence that they’re doing so, then in the name of God, let the president arrest these people, bring them up, show Nigerians what they’re doing, and then show evidence that the government is actually dealing with insecurity.”

Insecurity: Prepare to flee Nigeria, Adefarasin tells citizens

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Insecurity: Prepare to flee Nigeria, Adefarasin tells citizens

SENIOR Pastor of House on the Rock Church Paul Adefarasin, on Sunday, told Nigerians to make plans towards fleeing the country by any means, so they could escape growing insecurity in the nation.

A clip of his video message where he made the call trended on social media, especially Twitter, on Monday.

Adefarasin, whose church is based in Lagos, said his wife was unavailable in church during the service because she was making plans for their departure from the country.

He boasted that with technology, he could address his congregation anywhere in the world.

The pastor urged people living in the country to use commercial motorbikes, popularly known as ‘okada,’ speed boats and other means possible to flee the country.

“I bring you greetings from Pastor Ifeanyi, who is busy taking care of the frontier of our world, and preparing our escape route. If you don’t have a plan B, I know you have faith, but I have faith too; and I have a plan B,” he said.

“With technology, I can speak to you from anywhere in the world. Get yourself a plan B. Whether that’s an Okada to Cameroon or a flying boat or a speed boat as we call it, to Seme Border, a hole in the ground – a bunker.

“Just get yourself a plan B because these people are crazy. They are ‘nutters,’ the whole bunch of them. And watch the signs because it can happen like this.”

However, Adefarasin’s latest appeal contrasts with his earlier position on the state of the nation, The ICIR can report.

READ ALSO: Cruel anti-workers policy fuels insecurity in Kaduna, says Falana

Though the pastor had said in one of his messages in April this year that the country was a fraud owing to increasing security threats, he had, however, urged people in the country to be hopeful, noting that God would give the nation what it needed to overcome its challenges.

“God will give us what we need to do what needs to be done. If we perish, let us perish. Millions will rise in our place. Otherwise, your grandchildren will not have a future in this land.”

He had said that a lot of the Nigeria’s citizens were doing well in different fields of life within and outside the nation, but life was unbearable for many living in the country.

READ ALSO:

While blaming the nation’s constitution as a major cause of the current crises, he had said the next administration must not access power until a constitutional amendment was done.

“We are suffering in Nigeria, in our hundreds of million,” he stated, stressing that the nation should be one of the three best worldwide, given its enormous resources.

Adefarasin had also alleged in 2018 that the Fulanis – people of a major tribe in northern part of Nigeria – were being supported to grab land across the country, adding that “Nigeria will never become a Fulani Republic.”

Could Africa be the next hub for COVID drug manufacture?

Editorial
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Could Africa be the next hub for COVID drug manufacture?

By Lisa VIVES

FOR a while, Africa appeared to be losing the fight to build manufacturing capacity for the production of COVID-19 vaccines as big pharma and rich countries questioned African capacity to make its own vaccines.

Some international companies regard African self-sufficiency as a long-term risk to their business – some fear a loss of influence.

Assistant director-general at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations Greg Perry expressed doubt that Africa could become a drug manufacturing hub. “It is a very tall order to start looking at significant manufacturing on the continent,” Perry said.

This week, in a surprise move, the US threw its support behind a move at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to temporarily lift patent protections for coronavirus vaccines, allowing developing countries to meet their own needs. In announcing the new policy, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.”

One hundred of the WTO’s 164 states are said to be in favour of lifting patent protection, and a panel on intellectual property is expected to discuss the issue next month.

If approved, supporters say, the waiver could provide more affordable doses for less wealthy countries. Advocates of the move say it would increase global vaccine production of life-saving drugs.

Currently, African nations only produce one per cent of the vaccines used on the continent, with scattered, limited capacity. A continent of 1.2 billion people should not have to import 99 per cent of its vaccines, said Nature magazine in a recent editorial.

Chair of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat warmly welcomed the U.S. announcement to support South Africa and India’s call for the temporary waiver of intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines.

“The Chairperson commends this important show of global leadership by the United States of America, alongside more than 100 countries, to help end the most devastating global public health crisis in living memory,” he said.

“Increasing the manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa could help ensure that the continent doesn’t have to beg for vaccines when there is an outbreak,” said chair of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative William Ampofo,

But Africa still needs to bring on more health workers and supplies, such as personal protective equipment, to use the vaccines before they expire, said John Nkengasong of the Africa Centres for Disease Control. Only about 1,000 of the nearly two million vaccines sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo have been used so far, for example, and the expiration date is June 24.

Other obstacles to a timely roll-out are weak health services and a poor transport network, making the delivery of vaccines to remote areas a major issue.

Police monitoring Oodua agitators, IPOB threats in Lagos -CP

Lukman ABOLADE
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Police monitoring Oodua agitators, IPOB threats in Lagos -CP

THE Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police has said it is monitoring 24 Oduduwa nation agitators and threats by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu said this on Monday during a stakeholders’ forum on security chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the state secretariat, Alausa.

Odumosu said the command had identified threats by secessionist groups to prevent law and order in the state.

“The command has taken notice of agitators for Oodua Republic by some Yoruba separatist groups and the threats to disrupt law and order in the state,” Odumosu said.

He noted that the secessionist agitators were being monitored and the security agencies in the state were gathering intelligence concerning attacks on soft targets in the state.

Odumosu urged members of the public to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious person or movement to security agencies.

Although the Nigerian government had, in 2017, proscribed IPOB and all of its activities in Nigeria, the group has continued to agitate for a Biafran nation.

The Oodua nation agitators recently joined the league of secessionists in Nigeria championed by a self-acclaimed Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

Igboho’s ‘activism’ has not been widely accepted by many from the south-western region due to his group’s alleged involvement in crimes in Oyo State.

ONICCIMA advocates expansion of Anambra roads to enhance cargo transportation

Ijeoma OPARA
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ONICCIMA advocates expansion of Anambra roads to enhance cargo transportation

THE Onitsha Chamber of Commerce Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) has suggested the expansion of Enugu-Onitsha and Onitsha-Otuocha roads in Anambra State to enhance the functionality of the newly-completed cargo/passengers airport.

The chamber said in a press statement sent to The ICIR on Monday that the state government should engage aviation and related authorities to cordon off airplane pathways that would not harbour residential buildings or developments.

“The entrance to the Airport from the Umunya axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway does not befit the status of international Cargo/Passenger Airport especially considering that heavy-duty vehicles will ply that route to ferry cargo,” ONICCIMA noted.

“Government should, in the not-too-distant future, consider width expansion at that point as we forsee complex gridlocks that will negatively impact the expressway,” the chamber further said.

The ONICCIMA also suggested the creation of a standard four-way lane on the Onitsha-Otuocha road, urging the government to be conscious of land grabbers.

The chamber further urged the state government to ensure the provision of world-class ancillary services such as airport taxis and currency exchange dealers to avoid touting and fraudsters at the airport.

The chamber described hospitality industry in Anambra as non-existent, advising the government to partner with hospitality investors and to resuscitate the construction of a 4-star gigantic hotel project that had been abandoned at Onitsha GRA area of the state as a means to positively impact other industries.

The ONICCIMA finally urged expedited action on the construction of cargo sheds, including putting up other structures to support full utilisation of the airport.

The Anambra International Airport began the project in January, 2020, while the landing and facilities were achieved in the following 15 months.

Governor Willie Obiano had listed the facilities already completed in a report, and  said that the airport had the best and longest runway, control tower, and lighting system in Africa.

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