By Iliya Kure

Nigeria has issued a strong warning to four countries, comprising United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Argentina for placing it on their Omicron “red list”.

The four have barred flights from Nigeria into their countries as part of restrictive measures to curtail spread of the virus.

Nigeria’s announcement is coming on a day after Daily Mail of London reported plans by UK to replace its travel red list this week with testing for fully vaccinated people.Acting Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, issued the warning at a briefing in Abuja.

According to Sirika, if the affected countries insist on their restrictive measures, the PSC would meet again and respond appropriately.

“With the emergence of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, now spreading very fast globally, Nigeria has continued to study developments and has deployed science and data to measure the risks to our citizens, especially, the dangers of importation.

“The PSC wishes to assure Nigerians that it has escalated all surveillance and control measures around our country. It has similarly ramped up vaccination of eligible citizens and residents, while making provisions for booster shots for those fully vaccinated.

“The PSC is working with mandate Ministries to address the issues surrounding the restriction imposed by some countries on travelers from Nigeria on account of the Omicron variant. While each country is entitled to put in place measures to protect its citizens. Nigeria has similar responsibilities.

‘’However, based on existing relationships, Nigeria has initiated diplomatic steps to make these countries reverse their course. This is on-going in the interest of all parties concerned and we expect that positive results would emerge within the next one week.

“The PSC also evaluated the developments on the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE and we are pleased to inform you that the position of the Federal Government is in line with established International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO Protocols and the spirit of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, signed with the UAE.

‘’Our sovereignty remains paramount and mutual respects shall be our guiding principle in as much as it should be in the best interest of Nigeria.

“If UK, Canada and others do not delist Nigeria from the red list, the truth is that COVID-19 is scientific and its management is scientific. We believe science is factual and we are deploying measures to save humans from dying.

‘’We strongly believe that they will respond and delist Nigeria. If not, it doesn’t make any sense for us to continue to put our citizens at risk. We will take the necessary steps to protect our citizens. After all, the Federal Government of Nigeria under Buhari’s administration has done extremely well in the management of COVID-19 till date”.

Commenting on the row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sirika said Nigeria takes business of governance very seriously and would rather wait to receive official letter from the UAE which barred flights to Nigeria.

Nigeria and United Arab Emirates, UAE face-off over allocation of flight frequencies to each country’s Flag Carriers, Air Peace airline and Emirates airline may not end soon.

UAE Monday directed foreign airlines not to bring Nigerians to UAE. Nigerian passengers were denied boarding on Ethiopian airline at the Muritala Muhammed International airport, Lagos.

Sources also confirmed that Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air, and other international airlines going to Dubai from their bases have also been directed not to board any passenger with Nigerian passport whose final destination is Dubai, UAE.

Recall on Friday, Nigeria Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika cancelled the 21 frequencies earlier given to Emirates airline and restricted it to one flight to Abuja every week. This was Nigeria’s reaction to UAE denying Air Peace the three-weekly frequency to Sharjah, UAE the airline requested for.

While announcing the withdrawal of earlier granted approval on Friday night, the Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu had in a letter with the reference number: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/329, dated December 9, 2021 with the head: ‘Withdrawal of Ministerial Approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule,’ and addressed to the Country Manager, Emirates Airlines withdrew the initial approval granted the airline.

The letter read: “I write to inform you of the withdrawal of the approval granted to Emirates Airlines winter schedule. This approval was conveyed via a letter with reference number FMA/ATMO/501/C.104/XV/356 dated 1st December 2021. The withdrawal becomes effective on Sunday 12th December 2021 at 23002.”

“Please kindly note, henceforth Emirates Airlines is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.”

Emirates also on Friday reacted by unilaterally deciding to suspend flights to Nigeria. The airline had said, “With the recently imposed directive limiting Emirates to operate one flight per week to Nigeria via Abuja, Emirates will be suspending its flights between Nigeria and Dubai from 13 December 2021, until the UAE and Nigerian authorities work on a solution to the ongoing issue.”

In March, Nigeria suspended Emirates from flying into or out of its territory after the carrier-imposed additional COVID-19 test requirements on passengers from Nigeria. The suspension was lifted after the issues were amicably resolved two weeks ago.

Curled from Vanguard News

By Sunday Elijah

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says it is now obvious that the Federal Government is not interested in revitalising the nation’s economy because its programmes on stimulation of the economy have failed on all fronts.
The governor made the assertion at the inauguration of the Ezimgbu Road that was performed by the Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike stated that if the development of infrastructure is one way to stimulate the economy, then the Federal Government approach to the development of such critical infrastructure should be apolitical.
The governor pointed to the deplorable condition of the Lagos- Ibadan Road that is so important to the nation’s economy and growth of interstate and regional business activities.
“Let me say something very clearly. When government say they want to stimulate economy and you wonder how are they going to stimulate and make the economy to grow. This morning, something came to my mind, and I said what a country is this?
“Look at a road like Lagos -Ibadan road, which is an important road in this country, cannot be competed by the Federal Government. They bring politics and ethnicity in everything we are doing.
“So, how do you stimulate the economy when a road like that cannot be completed until now. Look at the road leading to the (Port Harcourt) refinery, the seaport, up until now, the federal government cannot complete it. How do you stimulate the economy?”

Governor Wike also noted that the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Federal Government, which gives money to farmers, has not been implemented to yield desired impact.
The governor said it is not enough to go on media to announce how much has been expended in prosecuting those initiative if there cannot commensurate evidence.
“And then you hear trillions of Naira being budgeted for, you see people talk about giving N200billion to Anchor borrowers, Anchor leaders, to anchor this and that. We have no problem about giving money to agriculture. What we are saying, having given out this money, what is the impact?
“You’re saying that we don’t want more importation, we have no problems. We are in support of it. But having stopped importation, what is the fate of the ordinary Nigerians. Is the food there? If the food is there, is it cheap?
“So, the availability is not there, the cost is high, so what is the whole meaning of encouraging our farmers to produce. The whole money you have given what is the impact it has created?
“So, we should not be deceiving people. We should tell people we are able to do this and we did it. This (federal) administration is doing nothing to improve the life of the citizens.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike said he has told some leaders of Rivers State, who paid him a birthday visit, that the process of consultation for the next governor of the State has begun.
Governor Wike reiterated that no candidate will be imposed on the party or Rivers people. He has also urged any member of cabinet nursing governorship ambition to be at liberty to resign.
“This morning, our leaders came to me to wish me happy birthday. I told them thank you and that I also have a birthday gift for them. I told them, you know I’m leaving, now, we have to start consultation for who takes over.
“And I told them, let nobody go and spend his money because after the consultation, we will all sit down and say this is the person we think that should continue where we have stopped.
“So, the issue of who is going to take over from me, the process has started and it has stared today being my birthday. But what is important to us, like I have always said, we are not going to impose anybody.”
Governor Wike stated that it is important that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to ensure that elections are free and fair.
According to him, if not for the courage to rig election, why will anybody in Rivers State be gearing up to campaign for election on the platform of another party instead of the PDP. He said whatever their plans are, they will fail.
Performing the inauguration, the Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri noted that he had always known Governor Wike as a man who has instituted a culture of commissioning projects in Rivers State for the use of the people.
Accorded to him, it is from Rivers State, under Governor Wike, that they have all learnt that one can deliver on multiple projects and dedicate a whole month to commissioning them.
“As recent as April this year, so many projects were commissioned in the State and today, instead of receiving birthday gifts from the Rivers people, he has decided to celebrate his birthday in a grand style by giving Rivers people a carnival of commissioning.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the dualised Ezimgbu Road is 7.3meter wide on both sides with a median of 0.5meters and bordered by drains on both sides with side walks.
Tasie-Amadi pointed out that not only has the reconstruction of the Ezimgbu Road saved travel time for commuters, it has also afforded property owners enhanced value on their property and accessibility.

By Sunday Elijah

Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State, south-south Nigeria, has fired the Commissioner of Health, Professor Princewill Chike for not seeking the State government’s approval to host the preliminary session of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, in Port Harcourt.

The governor described the unilateral decision of the Commissioner to host the MDNC without the consent of the Rivers State government as most embarrassing.

Governor Wike announced the sack of Professor Chike when the chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Abba Wasiri Hassan paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.

The governor explained that the Rivers State government never requested to host the preliminary session of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Port Harcourt. And stressed that the Commissioner of Health erred to have unilaterally scheduled to host the MDCN event at the same time when the State government is commissioning and flag off of projects.

“Frankly speaking, I have never seen an embarrassment like this in my life. Everybody knows that it is not my nature to bring people and you cannot attend to them or host. So, whoever has done this will suffer for it.”

Governor Wike said the request by the MDCN that State governors should establish one tertiary hospital in each of their senatorial districts will not be realisable due to paucity of funds.

“You have talked about siting tertiary hospital in each of the senatorial district, you know it is not possible. That is why in Nigeria we have a problem. When you go for your budget, you put all kinds of projects. You know it cannot work. Where will you get the money to site these in each of the senatorial district.”

The governor explained that in a bid to improve citizens access to quality healthcare service delivery, his administration has embarked on construction of some zonal hospitals in Bori, Degema, Etche, Ahoada and Omoku.

He further stated that his administration has also invested huge amount of resources in the promoting medical education in the State, particularly, with the establishment of the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences and the annual award of scholarship to 130 indigenes of the State studying medicine at PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

“You’ll agree that I have provided the necessary funds for all whatever you requested to give a standard medical college. Our partnership with PAMO is very interesting. In fact, every year Rivers State government offers scholarship to indigenes. This year we have approved 130.”

Governor Wike used the occasion to canvass for the reduction of the money the Federal government gets from federation account to enable the States have more resources to drive their development.

The governor said States should be allowed to fix the amount they can afford to pay their workers, including medical personnel. He contended that one of the banes of the country federal system is the attempt to foist a uniform salary structure on the entire country.

“I don’t want to talk about the salary thing. It is part of the problem we have. If you want to work in Rivers State, Rivers state government should negotiate with you on what you should earn. Why should the man who is in Kogi earn the same thing with the man working in Rivers State? what is the house rent in Kogi? What is the house rent in Port Harcourt?

“If we don’t want to run true federalism, we should leave it. I can’t sit here as governor of a state, you go to the federal government to negotiate, you come and give me to sign, I will not sign.”

Chairman, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Abba Wasiri Hassan, explained that they were in Rivers State for the ninth preliminary session of the council.

He commended Governor Wike for his positive attitude towards healthcare and medical delivery services in Rivers state, particularly, the huge investment in Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences, award of scholarship to indigenes of the state studying medicine and the construction of world class Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt.

The MDCN chairman urged governors to consider investing in tertiary hospitals in each of the senatorial district in the country in order to increase the number of hospitals available for the training of house officers and to check medical tourism.

Dozens of youth representatives from across the Upper Nile region of South Sudan came together for a special workshop to build trust and develop a collaborative approach to promoting unity, peace, and security.

There has been persistent conflict among youth in this region with tensions increasing due to the dire economic situation. The violence has included attacks on humanitarian workers and facilities over frustrations related to employment opportunities.

To tackle this situation, 40 youth representatives from 13 counties came up with an innovative plan to form a cooperative union to ease the suffering of young people and support opportunities to create new jobs and businesses. The signing of their action plan was a major milestone in building trust among themselves and showing their readiness to depend on each other.

“We have joined with the youth to create projects and one activity that we are intending to implement immediately is to form this cooperative union starting with contributions from their pockets. They have contributed about USD300, and I have added USD1000 to that amount for them to start with,” said the workshop facilitator, Edmund Yakani from the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization.

To support the project, the Upper Nile Minister for Youth Affairs promised to provide them with an office and efforts will be made to secure funding from donors to renovate it.

At the conclusion of the conference, the youth signed an action plan as a sign of solidarity and commitment to hold additional peace roundtables and workshops as well as sports and other events to promote forgiveness and reconciliation.

“The start of this youth business project under our own initiative has a small budget right now but, when the business is up and running, then organizations working for peace will fund it, the government may also support it, but the major contribution will come from self-reliance of the youth,” said Malakal representative, Paul Omal Yor.

The three-day workshop, under the theme “Working Together for a Better Future” was facilitated by the Center for Community Empowerment and Progress Organization with support from the Civil Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

“I am encouraging you to follow the same process when you go home and form small youth cells in your counties,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Division Deputy Director, Mike Dzakuma. “Once you are identified as a very serious group, we will reach out and support you to implement activities in your own communities.”

While this initiative being celebrated locally, it will hopefully be replicated across South Sudan so that all youth can live peaceful and prosperous lives.