Aso Villa Reads for 04/09/2020
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
GLOBAL Citizen, an international advocacy organization, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, have created the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, NSSF, a fund for Nigerians by Nigerians to combat the devastating effects brought on the people of Nigeria by COVID-19 and its associated restrictions. It would be launched today. The Fund is set to support vulnerable groups, strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare systems and re-skill the Nigerian youth for a post COVID-19 era. In a statement, yesterday, Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, Chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria, said: “We all have a part to play in improving the lives of our fellow Nigerians. Now is the time that we can make a difference, whether you are a corporate or an individual there is a role for you. ‘’In order for this fund to be a success we need the whole country to get behind us and donate. This fund has been created by Nigerians, for Nigerians for the betterment of our country.” With an initial target of $50 million the NSSF hopes to raise donations from Nigerians in the country as well as in the Diaspora, multilateral organisations, philanthropists, High Networth Individuals, corporates, the public sector and international businesses. The statement added that grants will be awarded to fund projects that support three core objectives of NSSF. The fund will target Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities and will vary across initiatives determined by the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund Statutory Board, who will set grant floors and ceilings.[Vanguard]
The Federal Government has approved the resumption of football leagues in Nigeria. The coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, made this known on Thursday. He, however, said matches will resume without spectators at the stadiums. The league was suspended indefinitely after match-day 25 in March, due to COVID-19. “Restriction is removed on outdoor communal (non-contact)sports and use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercise and sporting leagues to resume with no fans in stadiums,” he said. The Nigeria Football Federation had canceled the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League season. There would be no promotion to the top tier league from the Nigeria National League while no team from the NPFL would be relegated, the NFF added.[Punch]
The Federal Government on Friday received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine. Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexey Shebarshin, delivered the samples to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during a visit to the ministry in Abuja. Others present during the visit were the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; top management of the Health Ministry and other Nigerian Scientists. This was contained in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Media, and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi. The statement was titled, ‘Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alexey L. Shebarshin on a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Health Ministers, Russian-made COVID-19 Vaccine finally here.’ [Vanguard]
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and other relevant government agencies to urgently provide humanitarian supplies to victims of flood disaster in Jigawa State. The President also assured families affected by the flooding in several communities of the state of timely support from the Federal Government. This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday. According to the statement, “Commiserating with families who lost loved ones, farmlands means of livelihood and property in the ravaging floods in the State, the President directs the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to urgently assess the situation in the affected areas with a view to providing the needed humanitarian supplies.”[Vanguard]
Nigeria has secured a landmark victory in its pursuit to overturn a $10 billion judgement awarded against it in a case against Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID). Delivering his judgement on Thursday, Ross Cranston, a judge of the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions. “The delay, in this case, is extraordinary and weighs heavily on the side of the balance against an extension. In my view, however, other factors bring it down in favour of an extension,” the judgment read in part. As I have explained, the delay is not in my view the result of a deliberate decision made because of some perceived advantage, and in all the circumstances Nigeria has acted reasonably.” The judge added: “Given the strong prima facie case of fraud which I have concluded Nigeria has established, the position is along the lines of that identified in Terna, where Popplewell J identified the substantial injustice an applicant would suffer in respect of the underlying dispute if deprived of the opportunity of making a challenge should an extension of time be refused: Terna Bahrain Holding Company WLL v Bin Kamil Al Shamsi [2012] EWHC 3283 (Comm), [2013] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 86, [33]. For the reasons I have given, P&ID has contributed to the delay, and it will not by reason of the delay suffer irremediable prejudice in addition to the mere loss of time if the application is permitted to proceed. Although not a primary factor, fairness in the broadest sense favours an extension in this case. Conclusion. For the reasons given, I grant Nigeria’s applications for an extension of time and relief from sanctions.”[Channels]
The Federal Government says all is set for the formal launching of the new Medium-Term National Development Plans (MTNDPs) 2021–2025 by President Mohammadu Buhari in December 2020. The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba disclosed this on Thursday at a world press conference, while speaking on the steps taken so far towards the development of Medium-Term National Development Plans (MTNDPs) 2021–2025 & 2026–2030 and the Perspective Plan, tagged “Nigeria Agenda 2050”. He said that a deadline has been given to the TWGs to submit their work on the MTNDP, 2021–2025 to Central Working Group (CWG) by 30th September 2020, while the CWG is to turn in its report at the end of October 2020 with the launching of the Plan in December by Mr President. Agba explained that the final document would not only postulate possible, probable and preferable futures for the citizens of Nigeria but also come up with measures for creation of the future we desire. According to him, ‘‘The new Plans will also focus on creating jobs, deepening economic activities and providing enabling environment for thriving of the private sector.”[Vanguard]
The Federal Government has relaxed emergency restrictions put in place in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic as a way of limiting its spread. It also expressed optimism on the possibility of fully reopening the economy by December, if only Nigerians would abide by all non-pharmaceutical measures to halt spread of the pandemic. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during a briefing of the task force yesterday. Accordingly, night-time curfew has been relaxed and would only be effective as from 12am to 4am. Also, amusement parks, cinemas, recreation centres are to re-open but would operate at half capacity, while bars and nightclubs remain closed till further notice. He said: The PTF believes that while Nigeria is not ready for a full re-opening of the economy, there has been sufficient progress to warrant significant further relaxation of the restrictions applied. Aliyu added that the PTF was partnering closely the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the election process does not pose risks regarding the spread of the virus. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said Lagos and Abuja airports would be reopened for international flights tomorrow. “Beginning on Saturday, from Lagos, there will be BA, Delta, Emirates, Qatar, AWA, Kenya Airways and Middle East Airlines. For Abuja, there will be BA, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, AWA, Middle East Airlines and Turkish airlines,” he said.[Vanguard]
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