The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has approved the reopening of schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for students in exit class.
This is contained in a statement signed by Umaru Marafa, the FCTA Acting Secretary for Education on Monday August.
“All schools in the FCT can re-open for exit students only, on Tuesday, 4th of August 2020 for preparation for their examinations, i.e WASSCE and BECE,” the statement read.
The FCTA stated that only schools that have put measures based on the Presidential Task Force guidelines and have been inspected and certified as ready for resumption by the Department of Quality Assurance of the Education Secretariat can re-open from Tuesday, 4th August 2020.
Marafa urged schools that are yet to be cleared by the Department to hasten up to meet the stipulated requirements.
“Those that have not been cleared by the Department are advised to hasten up to meet the requirement for the resumption of their schools,” the statement read in part.
The FCTA charged the students in exiting classes to prepare for resumption on August 4 and continue to read for their examinations scheduled to commence from August 17.
Marafa listing the scheduled dates for examinations across the nation said, BECE would commence from August 24, NABTEB from September 21 to October 15, NECO from October 5 to November 18, NCEE for Primary Six (Common Entrance into Unity Schools on Saturday, October 17, NBAIS from 23rd September 23 to October 17.
THE Kaduna State Government says students in Senior Secondary School 3 would be resuming on August 10, as against August 4, the initial date announced by the Federal Government for the reopening of schools.
In a statement issued on Monday by Shehu Mohammed, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, all secondary school principals were ordered to make proper arrangements to receive SS3 boarding students on August 9 and day students on August 10 respectively.
Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State gave the permission to enable students write their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) which has been slated to commence on August 17, in compliance with the directive by the Federal Ministry of Education, which advised students to resume from August 4, 2020.
The guidelines listed by the Commissioner for the reopening of schools include reduced hours of work/revision to four hours per shift, social distancing both in the classes, laboratories, libraries and hostels, consistency of temperature checks monitoring and handling any suspected case of COVID 19 case to the health authorities.
He strictly advised all administrators of public and private schools in the state to use the next one week to make adequate plan and prepare, and put all COVID-19 guidelines in place.
However, Mohammed warned schools against resuming before August 10, else they would be sanctioned.
AMINU Masari, Governor of Katsina State has disclosed that just 30 policemen were deployed to provide security for one hundred villages in the state.
Speaking at this year’s Chief of Air Staff Eid-el-Kabir luncheon with troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and that of 213 Forward Operating Base, Masari stated urgent actions must be taken to wipe out bandits from the state and the entire North West Zone.
“Even if the bandits were wiped out by the military, another generation of criminal elements would quickly take their place in the absence of adequate policing,” the governor said.
While lamenting that “the bandits are intertwined within the communities, which makes it difficult for the Nigeria Air Force or the Army to distinguish them from the locals in order to conduct offensive operations devoid of collateral damage, he said “the locals must stop giving support, information or safe havens to these criminals.”
The governor noted the security challenges in the state were definitely surmountable with the right kind of support from the general public.
He disclosed that the state was looking at reviewing existing laws on community policing to give power to village heads and local authorities and supporting current police efforts to improve the security situation in the state.
Masari reiterated his call on the Federal Government and the troops to quickly put an end to banditry and other crimes in the North West zone of Nigeria.
The Governor also warned that further delay may lead to the replication of the situation being experienced in the North-East zone, adding that without calculated and urgent efforts to quickly tackle the bandits, the task could be more difficult.
“We have seen some traces that are alarming and frightening at the same time that we need to tackle before the North West become another threat like North East,” Masari said.
He commended the Nigerian Air Force over its role in addressing security challenges in Katsina and other states in the North-West.
Also addressing the troops at the event, Sadik Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, assured the troops that the force would continue to provide every necessary tools needed to combat insurgency.
“For the serving gallant personnel that you’re, we will continue to provide the necessary tools to enhance your precise and effective prosecution of operations,” the Chief of Air Staff said.
“Recently, I also convened a committee to review improving the development and employment of the NAF Special Operations Force-panthers. All these are aimed at keeping you motive to be the excellent lethal force that NAF has become.”
THE Federal Government on Monday announced that a delegation from the Ministry of Education would visit the 104 Unity Schools in the country to assess the level of preparedness for school reopening.
This is contained in a statement signed by Ben Bem Goong, the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to Goong, Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba, the Minister of State for Education, disclosed this at a Zoom Meeting with Principals of Unity Colleges across the federation.
He explained that Nwajuiba, the Permanent Secretary and Directors in the Ministry would embark on an assessment tour of all Unity Colleges to ascertain and confirm the reports they have received from the Principals of Unity Colleges.
Goong further stated that the Minister also instructed the Federal Education Quality Assurance Directors deployed to states to monitor compliance in their respective states.
He also enjoined commissioners for education from the states to embark on assessment tours in their jurisdictions to ascertain the level of preparations for reopening.
The minister, Goong added also urged the Unity schools to communicate their respective date of reopening to parents and students of their schools to avoid chaos.
This was as he directed that all returning students are to undergo temperature checks and other protocols before they are admitted into schools.
The Federal Government had on July 27 announced that schools would reopen for students in exit class to prepare for the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
THENigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said that the growing rate of insecurity in the country shows the fragility of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Forum specifically noted that the recent attack on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State was a clear indication of vulnerability of Nigeria as a nation.
According to a letter signed by Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Forum, the governors agreed to meet meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the rising insecurity across the country.
“On behalf of the 36 State Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the NGF, I write to express our solidarity with you and the people of Borno State, following the attack last Wednesday, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect,” Fayemi said in the letter addressed to the Governor of Borno State.
“This is one unwarranted attack too many. It epitomizes our collective vulnerability and the fragility of the country’s security architecture.”
“Although you emerged from this incident unscathed, we note with regret the injuries sustained by two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and a Police Officer attached to your convoy and do accordingly pray for their quick recovery,” he added.
Zulum on Wednesday, July 30, berated the Nigerian Army over attack on his convoy in Baga area of Borno State on his way to distribute COVID-19 relief materials to residents.
He stated that despite having 1,181 soldiers in Baga town which is five kilometres away from the military base, his convoy was still attacked.
Reacting to the attack carried out against Zulum, the Governors Forum expressed shock over the worsening security situation in the country, disclosing that they were in support of ridding Borno State of the growing attacks.
“Mr. Governor, Forum members are resolutely behind you in your effort to rid Borno State of these dastardly and wicked agents of evil,” the letter read.
“We are appalled by the worsening security situation in the country generally, in-spite of all the efforts of government to end it.”
Early in January 2020, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters said there were rehabilitating and releasing former Boko Haram fighters as a shift from the use of arms and weapons to a soft approach to the war against insurgency in North-eastern and North-western Nigeria, which terrorism has plagued for over a decade.
The Federal Government in 2016 initiated Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) to de-radicalise repentant Boko Haram members.
About 500 repentant Boko Haram fighters have been rehabilitated between 2016 and 2020 while another 608 are said to be currently going through rehabilitation.
THE management of Shoprite, a South African owned retail supermarket in Nigeria has refuted viral claims that it is set to close down operations in Nigeria.
According to Vanguard, Ini Archibong, the Country Director for Chastex Consult confirmed that Shoprite is not closing operations in Nigeria.
Contrary to claims that Shoprite is leaving Nigeria, Archibong said the business is only opening its doors to local investors.
“We have only just opened to Nigerian investors which we have also been talking to just before now. We are not leaving, who leaves over a $30billion investment and close shop? It doesn’t sound right,” Archibong reportedly said.
He added that the decision to engage local investors was made in order to expand its business plan in Nigeria.
“We only just given this opportunity to Nigeria investors to come in and also help drive our expansion plan in Nigeria. So we are not leaving.
“I have tried to say this as too many people as I can. There should be no panic at all and all of that. There is no truth in that report,” Archibong noted.
On Monday morning, Nigerians woke up to reports that went viral on social media that Shoprite outlets would close down across the country due to loss.
Shoprite ventured into the Nigeria market in 2005, the retail supermarket currently boasts of over 2000 employees populated by Nigerians and engagement of more than 300 small business owners and farmers in the country.
THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the management of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to adjust its examination timetable of the 2020 West Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) set to commence on August 17, and stop provoking Muslims forthwith.
“Our message to WAEC is very clear and simple: Adjust your timetable and stop provoking Muslims forthwith,”, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC Director, said in a statement on Monday.
The body rejected the timetable saying that the dates clashed with Muslims’ Friday prayers.
Akintola accused the examination body of creating a wedge between young Muslims and the mosque, adding that said the timetable is exclusive, sectional, parochial, insensitive and provocative.
He noted that there are three occasions where the WAEC timetable have clashed with the Muslims’ Friday prayers.
“There are at least three clashes between examination periods and Muslim prayers on Fridays: Management-in-Living (2 pm, Friday 14th August 2020); Literature-in-English (2 pm, Friday 21st August); Health Science (1.30 pm, Friday, 4th September),” Ishaq Akintola said.
MURIC called the examination schedule an invitation to anarchy, designed to cause pain to Muslim candidates.
Akintola said that the timetable is the handiwork of sadists and anarchists which he said smirks of anti-Muslim machinery oiled by the passion for hate and injustice.
He further stated that the group had earlier written a statement to ‘caution’ WAEC on fixing examinations during the Juma’t prayers.
”This is in spite of efforts made by us to guard against this kind of clash,” he added.
MURIC noted that the refusal of WAEC to heed to the ‘caution’ shows a deliberate action from the examination council to target Muslims for persecution.
According to the Muslim body, there are enough evidences to show that this is not the first time WAEC would fix examinations during the Juma’t praying hours.
“There is also enough evidence that this is not the first time WAEC will fix examinations during the Muslim prayer period on Friday. MURIC’s struggle with WAEC over the Friday question is of great antiquity. Unfortunately WAEC does not appear ready to learn from history,” MURIC wrote.
The statement read that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ministry of Education should check for the ‘excesses’ of WAEC in fixing examination timetables.
Consequently, the group charged WAEC to adjust the timetable to allow Muslims students observe the Jum’at prayers insisting that Muslim candidates must be given three hours every Friday.
He also added that Nigerian Muslims will liberate themselves from slavery, serfdom, and religious apartheid if the government is lackadaisical.
DELE Adesina, a presidential candidate at the just concluded Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) election has called for the cancellation of results of the election that returned Olumide Akpata as the president-elect, citing over-voting and disenfranchisement of voters.
According to The PUNCH, Adesina made this demand in a petition to Paul Usoro, the Chairman, NBA Board of Trustees.
“If the election process is wrongful and unconstitutional, the outcome must suffer the same fate and be cancelled,” Adesina said.
He stated that the election process was marred by over-voting, disenfranchisement of eligible candidates and non-compliance with the provisions of the NBA constitution.
“I urge the members of the Board of Trustees of the NBA to intervene and right these wrongs and save the NBA from condemnation and destruction. I believe that leaders must do things right and/or ensure that things are done right,” he added.
Adesina faulted the adoption of the electronic process of voting in the NBA since 2016 saying that there have been consistent allegations of system manipulations and rigging.
“Since 2016 when this electronic voting system started, there have been consistent allegations of system manipulation and rigging which has resulted in litigation over NBA elections.
“As at today, a criminal action arising from the NBA Election of 2018 is still pending at the Federal High Court. This is a shame to all of us without exception,” Adesina further stated.
Olumide Akpata was declared the winner of the 2020 NBA elections on July 31 after defeating Adesina and Babatunde Ajibade in the polls.
Akpata, the only non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) among the three presidential candidates and former chairman of the NBA Section on Business Law polled 9,384 votes to defeat his closest rival Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, who received 4,105 votes.
PROF Stanley Okolo, the Director-General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO) claimed that Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in West Africa.
Prof Okolo made this claim while addressing Members of ECOWAS Parliament during the Second Extra-Ordinary Session, which was held via video conference.
The DG, while making a presentation to the Parliament, said that, “as at July 16, the five countries recorded 84,118 cases out of the 96,936 cases in the region.”
The five countries in question are Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea.
When The ICIR reached out to Prof Okolo for clarification on the claim, he directed the reporter to check the West African Health Organisation’s website and Twitter page for the organisation’s dashboard on confirmed coronavirus cases in West Africa.
Since Prof Okolo made this statement at an ECOWAS platform, The ICIR limited this fact-check to cover only the 15 West African countries that make up the ECOWAS.
PROF Stanley Okolo, the Director-General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO)
THE CLAIM
A media report published by Daily Trust, Vanguard and some other media outlets stated that Prof Stanley Okolo the Director-General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO) claimed that Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in West Africa.
From the report the following claims were deduced:
CLAIM 1: That Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in West Africa.
CLAIM 2: That as at July 16, the five countries recorded 84,118 cases out of the 96,936 cases in the region.
THE FINDINGS:
CLAIM 1
In a bid to verify the claims, The ICIR checked the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Regional Office to check the number of coronavirus cases recorded by each ECOWAS country as at July 16.
The data released by WHOAFRO is from the previous day.
“WHO only publishes verified information. Data may reflect difference in reporting methods, retrospective data consolidation and reporting delays” reads a caveat on the health organisation daily infographic updates.
To check Prof Okolo’s figures, The ICIR instead of using July 16 analysed data released on July 17 by WHO. This is because WHO clearly states that the data for July 17 were confirmed cases as at July 16.
These data showed that the five West African countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases account for 89,222 out of the total 102, 661 total coronavirus cases recorded in the region.
These five countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea, the same Prof. Okolo made reference too.
The figures are Nigeria 34,854, Ghana 26,125, Côte d’Ivoire 13,403, Senegal 8,481, and Guinea 6,359, totalling 89,222.
And the total for ECOWAS member states as at July 16 is 102,661– Benin 1,463, Burkina Faso 1,038, Cabo Verde 1,894, Côte d’Ivoire 13,403, Gambia 78, Ghana 26,125, Guinea 6,359, Guinea-Bissau 1,927, Liberia 1,070, Mali 2,440, Niger 1,102, Nigeria 34,854, Senegal 8,481, Sierra Leone 1,678, and Togo 749.
To ascertain the claim that Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in West Africa, the total of the five countries, 89,222 and the total of the West African countries, 102,661 were calculated and the result is approximately 87 per cent.
Data on COVID-19 Cases in Africa as of July 16. Infograph Credit: WHO Africa Region
CLAIM 2
From WHO data the five countries recorded 89,222 cases against the 84,118 stated by Prof Okolo and the total of confirmed cases in the region is 102,661 against the 96,936 figure he gave. This is a difference of 5,104 and 5,725 respectively.
COVID-19 ECOWAS DAILY UPDATE for July 16, 2020 by West African Health Organisation.
In addition the WAHO for their daily update gave the total number of COVID-19 cases in the region to be 102,787 This figure is still more than Prof Okolo’s figure with more than 5,851.
THE VERDICT:
The claim that Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in West Africa is TRUE.
The claim that as at July 16, the five countries recorded 84,118 cases out of the 96,936 cases in the region is FALSE.
THE Ogun State Government says there won’t be any cost reduction to the ‘subsidized’ N25,000 COVID-19 test fee required as payment for carrying out tests for private boarding students in the state.
Remi Hassan, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State, disclosed this in a phone call with The ICIR.
This follows complaints by parents that the amount charged for the test is exorbitant.
But while speaking with The ICIR on Monday, Hassan explained that the state government is shouldering the test fee cost for students in state-owned public boarding schools but requires that those in private boarding facilities in the state, present a certificate of negative COVID-19 test upon resumption.
He added that the required test fee is already a subsidized amount, disclosing that the government would further subsidise the cost if owners of private schools in the state make data on the number of students in private boarding schools available.
“Yes the test fee is N25,000 for now and it is already a subsidized amount,” Hassan said responding to question on how much is charged for COVID-19 and malaria test in the state for students.
“There’s no data on how many private boarding school students are in the state, if this is provided by the schools, the government can further subsidise the amount,” he added.
Earlier, Ronke Soyombo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, in a statement shared on Twitter disclosed that the Ogun State Government negotiated a huge discount in the cost of COVID-19 test with some healthcare service providers.
According to Soyombo, the state government is arguably the state with the highest number of schools (public and private) operating boarding facilities in the country with students’ population drawn from far and wide.
She further shared that private school owners and parents are free to engage any other service provider of their choice provided that the service provider is certified by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as COVID-19 test service provider.
However, parents have lamented the new requirement, protesting against the cost implication.
In a now-viral video, a man is seen alongside other parents complaining about the amount students attending private schools are requested to pay.
The man who spoke in vernacular said he and other parents were surprised when they were told to pay N25,000 for the test, disclosing that the notice for the test was shared on a social media group platform.
He demanded accountability for the support provided to the state by the Federal Government.
Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State had earlier said pupils in exit classes – Primary 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3 in the state are to resume on Monday, August 4.
Meanwhile, the NCDC on Sunday said COVID-19 tests conducted in facilities within its molecular laboratory network were free.
The NCDC listed 61 laboratories nationwide as those who are currently within the network, where COVID-19 tests could be conducted free.
The ICIR also reached out to Gbenga Omotosho, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, who confirmed that COVID-19 tests in the state are free for anyone showing symptoms, including all students.
Lagos is another state that reopened schools for students in exit classes on Monday.
