President Dr Julius Maada Bio has taken the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine during a symbolic ceremony at State House, where Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and opposition politicians also took the jab.

Before the vaccination, the President responded to the declaration of purpose of the occasion by Minister of Health and Sanitation, saying that because it was a major milestone, he would take the leadership in receiving the vaccine.

“That is to tell you that we should all try to be vaccinated as and when the vaccines are available for everybody. That is what leadership is about. We will give confidence to the rest of the population to receive their vaccines as and when it is available, so that we can get rid of COVID and pay attention to development, which should really be our preoccupation,” he said.

The National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre, NaCOVERC, had said the combined total of 296,000 SinoPharm and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines being offered by the Government of Sierra Leone had undergone many tests and proven to be safe and effective because millions of people around the world had taken them.

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Austin Demby, said the day was a very special day for Sierra Leone, adding that with the show of political will, they now had the tools in their arsenal to get ahead of the COVID-19 virus instead of reacting to it.

“When I asked the President if he would publicly take the vaccine, his response was
‘absolutely’. He also said, ‘as a leader, I would not ask people to take a vaccine that I am not willing to take myself’. His Excellency, thank you Sir for your leadership.

“We have shown resilience at every step of the way and today, with the new safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines, we take a bold new step in our march to get rid of COVID-19 from our country,” he said.

He added that in addition to other globally renowned regulatory agencies, both vaccines had been cleared for use in Sierra Leone through an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the country’s Pharmacy Board.

Dr Demby clarified that even though they had 296,000 doses of vaccines, they would only be able to enrol just under 150,000 individuals, because those were 2-dose vaccines given 21-28 days apart.

“We expect more vaccines to come soon. As a result, for this first round of vaccinations, we will prioritize: Healthcare Workers, Political Leaders, Social Workers, Teachers and lecturers, Military, Police, Customs and Immigrations workers including Sea Ports and Airports, Prison Officers, Fire Force Officers, People over 70,” he said.

The Department of Petroleum Resources says it has intensified

surveillance of filling stations in Lagos State to ensure compliance with the approved pump price band for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Lagos, made this known after an inspection visit to some petrol stations located in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki areas of the state.

Cardoso said the seven petrol stations inspected were selling fuel to customers between N162 to N165 per litre which was the approved price band.

“This surveillance visit is part of our regular function and we are coming out today to check product availability and product quality because we heard some information about water ingress in some of the tanks.

“We going out to check that. Also, we are looking at consumer protection so that they are not short-changed by under- dispensing.

“We have gone round to about seven stations and they are all selling within the approved pump price band,” he said.

Cardoso said the DPR sealed three fuel pumps that were under dispensing in one of the petrol stations, pending when they were rectified and re-evaluated by the regulatory agency.

According to him, though the agency has not discovered any incident of hoarding of petroleum products in the zone, its officials will continue to intensify surveillance on petrol stations.

He said : “I want to assure the public that the sufficiency level in Lagos State is okay and for now we have not seen any hoarding of products.

”Surveillance is a regular assignment for us and our officials are going round everyday for that purpose. ”

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the vision and efforts of the Government of Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodinma, to provide infrastructure and improve the welfare of the people.

The President spoke on Tuesday at the virtual inauguration of two roads in Owerri, the Imo State capital, completed within the first year in office of Governor Uzodinma.

President Buhari applauded the Governor on the completion of the Assumpta to Hospital junction road and as well as the World Bank to Federal Secretariat road, respectively.

He described the two roads commissioned on his behalf by the Imo Governor as ‘‘quite symbolic and strategic.’’

”The first road, The Assumpta to Hospital junction road, is the gateway to the South-South from the South-East.

”The second road, the World Bank to Federal Secretariat road, is an important access way to the federal government secretariat and a major connecting link road between the residents of the densely populated World Bank area of the state and the rest of the state capital,’’ he said.

The President said he was aware that in the first year in office, the Imo state government had embarked on an ambitious target of executing 46 road projects.

”I am glad to learn that significant strides are being made towards their completion, and a number of them are amongst those being commissioned as part of the events in honour of the one-year anniversary.

”I must commend the State Government, under the leadership of Sen. Hope Uzodinma, for setting ambitious targets, and within just one year in office using this moment to evaluate the journey thus far.

”It clearly demonstrates the commitment of the government to the welfare of the people”, he said.

The President while congratulating the Governor for the feat noted that the infrastructure will go a long way in making life better for the people of lmo State and residents and visitors alike.

He urged the Governor to sustain the momentum and accelerate the pace of good governance in the State.

”I feel happy to learn from Governor Uzodinma that the policies of our administration and the manifesto of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have greatly influenced his resolve to make a difference in Imo State.  I pray that you will keep the flag flying,” he said

In his remarks, the Governor said the infrastructure achievements being celebrated in Imo State have been greatly influenced by the sterling qualities of the President and as such the State Executive   Council unanimously voted to name the newly constructed World Bank to Federal secretariat road, Muhammadu Buhari road.

”When I assumed office a year ago, almost all the roads in the State were not motorable, and as a result, both inter and intra city movement were nightmarish.

”To make matters worse, there was no money to carry out palliative repairs… and I received no handover note from the previous administration and no kobo was handed over to me,” he said.

Governor Uzodinma, however, declared that one year after, he had kept his promise to surmount the challenges he met on ground and had surpassed the expectations of Imo people.

The Governor said beyond the 46 roads embarked upon by his administration, many of which have been completed, Imo people are also enjoying a new lease of life in health, education, agriculture, youth empowerment and rural development sectors.

The Kaduna State government Northwest Nigeria, has declared that three teachers were on Monday Kidnapped by bandits at Rema Primary School in Birnin Gwari.

Two pupils earlier declared missing during the commotion were later found.

At a news briefing in Kaduna , Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said following the attack by armed bandits at the school around 8:50 a.m. government has compiled and analysed security reports.

“The government can confirm that three teachers, Rabiu Salisu, Umar Hassan, and Bala Adamu, have been kidnapped,” he said.

He said pupils who had arrived the school to begin the day’s activities took to their heels when they sighted the bandits who invaded the school premises on motorcycles .

“This led to two pupils identified as Ahmad Halilu and Kabiru Yahaya going missing..

“However, we are happy to inform you that the two missing pupils have been found.

“We can also confirm that no single pupil was kidnapped from the school. Other than the three teachers previously mentioned, no staff or pupil of the school is missing following the attack,” he added.

The commissioner disclosed that security reports have also revealed that the bandits rustled several cattle and went away with five motorcycles and other valuables.

“As it stands, three teachers of the Rema Primary School, Birnin Gwari, have been kidnapped and following thorough checks, we can verify that no pupil was kidnapped.

“The military and other security agencies in the Birnin Gwari general area are in pursuit of the bandits to ensure that the three kidnapped persons are rescued safely,” he added.

The Action Alliance, (AA), has disowned Kenneth Obidike Udeze, who purportedly claimed to be the National Chairman of the party.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency Virtual National Executive Council meeting held Monday.

The communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olu Omotoso, stated that Udeze ceased to be a member of Action Alliance since February 14, 2020.

The communique added that Udeze was found wanting on several allegations bordering on criminal diversions of party funds, unilateral alteration of party papers and documents, forgery and anti-party activities.

“A disciplinary committee was setup to look into these allegations, he was invited to defend himself, and he blatantly refused to so do.

“Upon the third invitation in accordance with our party constitution, the committee drew up and submitted its report.

“NTTC, the highest ruling caucus of our party sat and review the recommendations of the committee. The caucus gave him another lifeline to come and defend himself, he also refused to do so till the lifeline lapsed.

“Thereafter, the Caucus suspended him at its scheduled meeting monitored by INEC as required by law.”

The communique explained that follow-up to his suspension, and his refusal to come up with a defense against all allegations against him, the National Convention of the party resolved and expelled him on February 14, 2020.

“This Convention was adequately monitored by INEC, he was formally informed, and it was also widely publicized.

“He has since went to five (5) different Courts to ask for reinstatement as chairman, and all five Courts have ruled against him.

“He has employed many strategies to arm twist the courts to procure judgment in his usual way, but has not succeeded, hence his new approach to deceive the people by using the media to strangulate facts.”