Eskom will implement Stage 2 load shedding from 10am this morning until 10pm on Sunday.
According to power utility, this is due to the continued delays in returning generation units to service at Kusile, Tutuka, Duvha, Kendal and Koeberg power stations.
“These constraints have been exacerbated by the high winter demand throughout the day over the past few days, as brought about by the colder temperatures,” Eskom said in a statement on Wednesday.
Emergency generation reserves have been used extensively in the past few days to avoid power cuts during the day, which has resulted in these being depleted, reducing available capacity.
“It is, therefore, necessary to implement load shedding continuously in order to replenish the emergency reserves,” Eskom said.
In the meantime, Eskom said it will communicate promptly should there be any changes.
Breakdowns currently total 13 752MW of capacity, while planned maintenance is 1 273MW of capacity.
Eskom said these capacity constraints will continue into the near future and urged South Africans to reduce their use of electricity, particularly between 5pm and 10pm, when the winter demand is the highest.
“Eskom apologises for the inconvenience and uncertainty caused by these interruptions in electricity supply,” it said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has called on African leaders to speak with one clear voice to emphasise the primacy of multilateralism, and to express unwavering support for the full implementation of the United Nations Climate Change Convention and its Paris Agreement.
“It is absolutely imperative that everyone must contribute their fair share if we are to limit global warming to the agreed target of well-below two degrees, build the resilience of our economies and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens,” President Ramaphosa said, while addressing the virtual meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on Tuesday.
Mr Ramaphosa emphasised that Africa needs a strong and well-coordinated common position.
“We need to adopt key messages that encapsulate Africa’s aspirations, and work together in the spirit of unity and solidarity as a continent.
“We need to send a clear message that all African countries require support from international partners and that our development space, should be respected to achieve our climate goals and ambitions, while contributing our fair share to the global effort,” the President said.
He said the continent needs recognition of its different national circumstances and capacities, as it is not realistic to expect it to meet the same timelines as developed countries to transition its economies and to disinvest from fossil fuels.
“This is important, especially given the high levels of inequality, unemployment and developmental needs across our continent, particularly among women and the youth.
“Furthermore, we need to send a clear signal that implementation and ambition apply equally to mitigation, adaptation and support. Increased ambition for action must be matched with enhanced ambition for support,” the President said.
While the COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on sustainable development and efforts to combat environmental degradation, it also presents opportunities for Africa to set its recovery on a path of transformative sustainable development.
“In this regard, many governments and regions are prioritising a green recovery as part of their stimulus packages to address the crisis.
“The African Green Stimulus Programme adopted by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in December 2020, is an innovative African-led initiative to support the continent’s recovery,” the President said.
The African Green Stimulus Programme seeks to harness the opportunities of a green recovery through a more coordinated approach and the scaling up of resource mobilisation, capacity building and technology development.
“It is clear that Africa will need climate change, environment and sustainable development initiatives to be implemented at a much larger scale. This is not only to contribute significantly to Africa’s green recovery, but also to fully realise the Africa we want as espoused in Agenda 2063.
“We must therefore do everything within our means to ensure a successful outcome of COP26 in November this year, particularly for Africa,” he said.
The President chaired the virtual meeting of the CAHOSCC in his capacity as coordinator of this continental structure.
South African Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane
Government remains committed and capable of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, executing a ramped up vaccination programme and running the national programmes under the acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.
This assurance was given by Health Department Director-General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Dr Zweli Mkhize on special leave on Tuesday.
The matter relates to the controversial R150 million COVID-19 and National Health Insurance communications service contract scored by Digital Vibes.
Mkhize’s former personal assistant, Naadhira Mitha and Tahera Mather, who worked with him when he was Treasurer-General at the ANC’s Luthuli House, pocketed money from questionable payments.
“We have noted the President’s decision to place the incumbent Minister of Health on special leave pending the outcome of the Special Investigation Unit’s investigation into the Digital Vibes matter. It goes without saying that these are difficult times we find ourselves in,” Buthelezi said.
However, Buthelezi has reassured South Africans that the department will keep the ball rolling.
Meanwhile, he announced that there are some developments on the vaccination front, which will be communicated in a public webinar this week.
“Our spirits were lifted today when we learnt that we have officially vaccinated over one million senior citizens aged 60 years and above under phase two,” he said on Tuesday.
He has since conveyed his appreciation to the elderly people who have, and continue, to come forward in their numbers to be vaccinated.
“We also thank all those who are responsible for the administration of the rollout for their grit and determination as we continue to ramp up the campaign.”
In addition, he announced that the daily PDF reports have ended and that the department will now publish the statistics on the sacoronavirus website: https://sacoronavirus.co.za.
“There may be iterations of the product as it develops and we will welcome any feedback to ensure the dashboard is user friendly and provides the information the public needs.”
“We will take opportunities to do live demonstrations to assist users to navigate the dashboards. We continue to be of service to you, for the health of our people,” he added.
Ondo State Governor, Southwest Nigeria, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said crime is a local issue that should be addressed with a large dose of home-grown content.
The Governor noted that Amotekun Security Corps initiative is a baby of necessity conceived as a home-grown approach to solving the plethora of security challenges that have put the people on the edge.
Governor Akeredolu spoke on Tuesday at the passing-out ceremony for the newly recruited Amotekun Corps officers held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital.
The event was part of the activities marking the first 100 days of Governor Akeredolu’s second term.
The Governor also commissioned 20 new patrol vehicles to boost the operations of the state security network.
He unveiled the Roadmap to Internal and Border Security in Ondo state, assuring that the state shall become the safest and most secured in the country if the strategies contained in the roadmap are religiously implemented.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said Amotekun’s impact has been remarkable, adding that the security outfit has also given the people of the state hope in the management of security, despite that it came into being just a little over a year ago.
“It has further reinforced our long time view that State and community-based policing is the panacea to the country’s security challenges.
“Let me reassure the good people of Ondo State that our administration will leave no stone unturned as far as the implementation of our REDEEMED Agenda is concerned.
“The sixth goal of the Agenda which is “Maintenance of Law and Order for Adequate Security” is the reason why we are here today. I enjoin all the good people of Ondo State to lend your cooperation in terms of providing credible intelligence and financial support towards the success of this initiative.
“Today’s event is one of the milestones recorded by our administration in our attempt to redeem Ondo State from the shackles of poverty, disease, and underdevelopment. These cannot be achieved without a sense of safety and peace,” Governor Akeredolu said.
He commended the commander of the Security Agency, Chief Adetunji Adeleye for the brilliant work put into the roadmap, promising that he will always provide the right leadership for the Agency to flourish.
Governor Akeredolu appreciated members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, for their tireless legislative support in making Amotekun a reality.
He also thanked the traditional rulers for their immense support and cooperation and the leadership of all the security agencies in the state for their cooperation in tackling security challenges.
Source: Richard Olatunde Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Tuesday shared food items and N125.5m cash to over 40,000 families in Damboa, headquarters of Damboa Local Government in the southern part of the State.
The Governor’s visit came two days after the dreaded insurgents made an attempt to infiltrate the town. Several of them were neutralized during the failed attempt.
Zulum spent the night in Damboa coordinating humanitarian and developmental support with a view to providing social amenities to local populations.
14,900 male heads of households and another 25,100 female heads of households, most of whom have lost their means of livelihood, and could not have access to farmlands benefited from the excercise.
Each of the 14,900 males received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, and a bag of beans, while 25,100 female household received N5,000 cash and wrapper.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Zulum explained that the rice distributed was part of the Federal Government’s donation to the State through the Nigerian Customs Service.
He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the State Government.
A Screenshot showing spread of COVID-19 information from Hoaxy
In a video premiered on YouTube through Apokalupsis Channel on 12 July, 2020, titled ‘The Mystery of Corona’, Reverend Chris Okotie said taking the COVID-19 vaccine means going into an agreement with Satan and the vaccine will make the recipient become a vampire.
Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie is a Nigerian televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos since February 1987.
The full video, which had 374, 322 views as at 2 June 2021, had transcripts and videos shared on different mediums, it read in part:
“The vaccine on the other hand, brings the liquid to you, just like the blood, and it is injected into you. So, it is received into you, because, when you drink the wine, it goes into your system, so that when you consume the GMO’s, and you receive the vaccine, you bring the body and blood together; so to speak, just as it is in communion; the body of Jesus Christ and His blood. That’s what replicates that pattern.
“So, what Bill Gates is doing under the auspices of the United Nations, is to make sure that you receive the food …
So, when you eat the genetically modified organisms…., and you take the vaccine, you’ve entered into communion with Satan, with Lucifer, and that communion involves blood…….and the only place that you can find blood, is another human being. So, one of the things that the vaccine will make you do, is to become a ‘vampire’, who needs to drink blood for sustenance”.
“…. because the drugs inside this vaccine, will make you a zombie; you are a walking cadaver, you’re neither dead nor alive, so, you can be controlled by the power of Satan … Zombified, so he can control you”
A fact checked report by Niyi Oyedeji on FactCheckHub shows the claim by Okotie is false.
Niyi quoted the World Health Organization (WHO), thus: “vaccines train and prepare the body’s natural defence, otherwise known as the immune system, to recognise and fight any targeted virus or bacteria, vaccines are a critical new tool in the battle against COVID-19 and it is hugely encouraging to see so many vaccines proving successful and going into development.”
Though side effects such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, diarrhoea, and pain at the injection site have been recorded according to WHO, becoming a vampire is not one of them, he noted.
Findings
An open source intelligence search to unravel the flow of misinformation network on COVID-19 online using Hoaxy; an application that visualizes the spread of information on Twitter, revealed a tweet by EyesOnQtitled: We Don’t Need No Stinking Vaccine For COVID-19. Though the account has been suspended, it has over one thousand retweets as at June 2, 2021. The search also revealed that the article referred to in the tweet was published on Zero Hedge website on Friday, Jun 12, 2020 and had the by-line of Tyler Durden but Authored by Jeff Harris via The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.
A further search on the by-line and website through Wikipedia revealed Zero Hedge in-house content is posted under the pseudonym “Tyler Durden” for Daniel Ivandjiiski; the founder and main editor and it is associated with conspiracy theories and fringe belief.
A Screenshot showing spread of COVID-19 information from Hoaxy
Impact
Nigeria is a religious country with devout followers having a tendency to adhere to teachings and positions of religious leaders. Historically, vaccine hesitancy as a result of religious stands was experienced during the Polio campaign vaccines, as many clerics especially in northern Nigeria influenced their followers from administering Polio Immunization to their children.
Comments that followed Okotie’s Video show that a number of people are making decisions based on his position. One of the comments by Parenting Unusual with 43 likes reads: “This depth of revelation is explosive to the deliverance of mankind. Thank you immensely pastor for speaking out. Let’s be spiritually sensitive”.
Another by: Amaechi Obinna reads “This is a serious revaluation of COVID -19 from Pastor Chris Okotie. Thanks for this information with Biblical information and statistics”.
However, Isaac Edward Usman, a Medical Microbiologist and COVID-19 taskforce Epidemiology and surveillance officer with Kaduna state ministry of health countered the believes that the virus is not real and postulations that the vaccine was going to alter DNA, or make one impotent.
“On the issue of vaccine, there have been a lot of theories over the virus and vaccine. Some felt it was going to change their DNA, some felt it will make them impotent; while some believe the virus does not even exist why take the vaccine. There were a lot of postulations going around social media and news, there were also series of discussion by different groups, videos on social media even from western world against the vaccine.
“They must understand that the virus is real, actually, corona virus has been in existence for a long time but this particular strain named COVID-19 of the corona virus family is a novel virus and prevention is better than cure, so we have to be very careful and take all measures to avoid contracting the virus, including vaccines because it is real!”
Conclusion
Corona Virus is real and being vaccinated remains one of the ways of curbing the pandemic. Though there are side effects in some recipients, taking the vaccine does not make the recipient a Vampire or a Zombie.
WHO has assured the public that it is working tirelessly with partners to develop, manufacture and deploy safe and effective vaccines.
In tackling Vaccine Hesitancy, it must be noted that: “Safe and effective vaccines are a game-changing tool but it’s not vaccines that will stop the pandemic, it’s vaccination” WHO.
This publication was produced as part of IWPR’s Africa Resilience Network (ARN) programme, administered in partnership with the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and Africa Uncensored. For more information on ARN, please visit the ARN site here.
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, was in Chibok, Monday, on the invitation of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, where she commissioned Government Secondary School, Chibok, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014.
The school was rehabilitated when Zulum gave approval on November 16, 2020, during an assessment visit to the School.
The remodeled school was equipped with classrooms and desks, a computer room, laboratory, among other facilities, while books were presented and a security team being put in place.
GSS, Chibok, was vandalized after Boko Haram attacked the school at night in 2014, destroyed infrastructures and abducted over 200 boarding schoolgirls who were writing Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations organized by the West African Examination Council, WAEC.
Since the attack, the school had remained closed while academic activities were taking place at a primary school in Chibok town since 2014.
Zulum offered support to parents of the schoolgirls affected by the 2014 abduction, as he had previously done at different times.
… Chibok Gets 200 Resettlement Houses, Lodge
Aside unveiling of the GSS in Chibok, Governor Zulum commissioned 200 low cost houses newly built for the permanent resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently residing in temporary camps.
Zulum also commissioned a newly built government lodge to encourage routine visits to Chibok in order to increase direct access of residents to authorities.
Zulum noted that resettlement efforts were being made possible because of some gains recorded by the federal government in the ongoing peace restoration efforts which, he said, was reaffirmed in President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of an Army Chief from the military’s theatre of operations in Borno State.
The District Head of Kufana, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, Chief Titus Dauda, Monday installed Malam Umar Waziri Dan Mudo as Ardon- Ardodin as the overall leader of Fulani Community in Kufana District.
Performing the installation, the District Head, Chief Titus Dauda described Malam Umar Waziri Dan Mudo as a man of intergrity who has been contributing to the peaceful coexistence and development of the district.
Chief Dauda said the installation is an evidence that normalcy is being restored in the local government area and therefore called on the people to be law abiding and live in peace with one another.
The District Head used the occasion to acknowledge leadership qualities of the State Governor and urged all and sundry to keep praying for the Administration.
He also commended the Chairman, Kajuru Local Government Council, Divisional Police Officers of Kasuwan Magani and Kajuru, the Department of State Services, KADVIS and Vigilantes for their various roles in bringing peace to the local government Area.
In a remark, the Chairman of the Local Government, Mr Cafra Caino, represented by his Vice, appreciated the Fulani and Adara community for the peaceful coexistence and enjoined them to unite and fight the common enemies of banditry and kidnapping within the Local Government Area.
On his part, the Ardon Adara Chiefdom, Alhaji Ahmadu called on the people of the state to live in peace and harmony with one another.
The representative of the State Meyyita Allah Chairman, Mallam Yusufa Ahmadu appreciated the District Head for the honour given to one of their own, and assured him of their support and partnership in the peace building process.
He described Malam Umar Waziri Dan Mudo as an honest and a man of integrity that will not fail the people.
The occasion was witnessed by representatives of the Divisional Police Officers of Kasuwan Magani and Kajuru, State Security Service, District Secretary, traditional title holders, Village Heads, friends and well wishers from within and outside the District.
