UNIVERSITIES’ RANKINGS: Covenant, UI, UNILAG, Edo Varsity emerge tops -By Adesina Wahab

Times Higher Education, THE, has released the results of its Impact Rankings for 2021 with Covenant University, Ota, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Edo University Uzairue topping the list from Nigeria. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assesses universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. SDG Goal 4, which focuses on early years and lifelong learning, was used to measure the universities’ contributions to early years and lifelong learning, their pedagogy research and their contributions to inclusive education. The 2021 edition is the third in the series and covered 1,117 universities in 94 nations/regions. University of Manchester, England was ranked first globally. Also read: Convene national dialogue to quell agitations for self determination, Igbo leader tells FG On the African continent, the University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria and the University of Witwatersrand, all in South Africa, ranked first, second and third while, in Nigeria, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State was rated number one. Edo State University Izairue, which was founded in 2016, is the youngest among the top-ranked in Nigeria. It has six faculties namely Medical Sciences, Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Engineering, Law and Science. Edo University Uzairue is one of Nigeria’s most modern campuses and boasts of state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and dormitories. With the aim of providing equal opportunities, there is a range of scholarship awards for students. Five students each year benefit from the Undergraduate Full Scholarship Award. The university recorded another milestone following the approval for the first clinical accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) program by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The approval was the outcome of the consideration of the report of the MDCN accreditation visit to the university in January 2021. With this feat, the College of Medical Sciences of the university is now qualified to conduct examinations in pharmacology and pathology for medical students. Vanguard

The Wrong Amount of Water to Drink Every Day, Says Exercise Scientist

Are you drinking too little or too much? Here's how to know for sure. BY WILLIAM MAYLE FACT CHECKED BY ALEX DANIEL Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via e-mail Your body is 60% water, health and fitness experts will tell you, and replenishing your body with its most vital necessity is one of the cornerstones of a healthy and active life. According to the Journal of Biological Chemistry, your brain and heart are 73% water, your lungs are 83% water, your muscles are 79% water, your skin is 64% water, and even your bones are composed of 31% water. After all, this is why consuming enough H20 provides energy, optimizes your metabolism, brightens your skin, and helps your body flush out toxins and focus your brain. That being said, you can still be consuming water incorrectly, whether it's drinking too little, drinking at the wrong times of the day, or drinking too much. Social media is filled with "hydration challenges" that require people to drink a lot of water—and scientists will tell you that overdoing it bad, as well. Recently, Tamara Hew-Butler, DPM, Ph.D., an associate professor of exercise and sports science at Wayne State University, sounded the alarm on bad hydration habits. Here are some of the no-nos according to her, as well as some other notable experts. And for more advice for living a healthier, more active life, see here for The One Abs Exercise That Science Says Is the Absolute Best. 1 Is Eight Glasses of Water a Day the Right Amount? water Shutterstock According to Hew-Butler, the common recommendation of 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water per day isn't necessarily correct, and its origins are murky. "It remains unclear where the "8 x 8" water intake recommendation comes from," she writes in an article for The Conversation. "Perhaps, this two-liter intake threshold is derived from a misinterpretation of original recommendations offered by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board in 1945 as well as the 2017 European Food Safety Authority, which states the daily recommended amount of water includes all beverages plus the moisture contained in foods." On the latter point, she notes that many of us don't necessarily account for the water we get from food. We get water every day from our foods—especially fruit—as well as soups, milk, and even soda and alcohol. So the "8 x 8" guideline isn't perfect, and it may not be exact amount of water you should aspire to drink every day. And for more great healthy living advice, don't miss the Secret Exercise Tricks for Keeping Your Weight Down for Good. 2 You Need Enough Water, But Not Too Much water If you are acive on social media and you've got some fit and motivated friends, you've probably seen the Gallon Water Challenge in action. It's exactly what it sounds like: You're required to drink a gallon of water every day. A gallon is 160 ounces a day, which is a lot—it's nearly 100 ounces more than the aforementioned "8 x 8" recommendation. People who have done it will tell you that it's incredibly difficult, and they have to space out their drinking over the course of the entire day. They also find that they use the bathroom a lot—as in, like, every 20 minutes. Is this necessary? The short answer is no. "Everybody's hydration levels are different, but most people don't need a daily gallon," advises Dietitian Beth Czerwony, MS, RD, CSOWM, LD, of the Cleveland Clinic. As Hew-Butler explains, there's a point where all of that extra water simply does you no good, and it has everything to do with your kidneys. "You've heard from a lot of people that you need to drink more, more, more," she writes, but notes that this simply isn't the case. Your kidneys make molecular adjustments all the time depending on your hydration levels, and when you overconsume water, your body simply adjusts to get rid of it. "This is why when we drink more water than our body needs—above thirst—we immediately have to [use the bathroom to rid ourselves of] any excess water. Or when we forget our water bottle during practice, we stop [using the bathroom] to conserve body water. This quick coordinated action between the brain, cranial nerves and kidneys is far more efficient and precise than any phone app, gadget or personalized recommendation available." 3 You Can Cause Body Damage by Drinking Too Much choking woman while drinking water Overdrinking water, like undertaking the gallon challenge, is uncomfortable for us to do because our bodies are telling us not to do it. "Our brain tries to discourage chronic overdrinking, or polydipsia, because "social polydipsia" causes chronic [urination] (polyuria), which can lead to internal plumbing modifications such as bladder distention, ureter dilation, hydronephrosis, and renal failure," notes Hew-Butler. The Cleveland Clinic's Czerwony notes that drinking way too much water can actually become dangerous and even life-threatening. "Hyponatremia is when the sodium levels in your body drop too low because of too much water," she Czerwony explained to the Cleveland Clinic. "Other conditions can trigger hyponatremia, but it can also be caused by consuming too much water in a very short amount of time. All of the water dilutes your sodium levels and your blood can become 'watered down'." 4 Drink to Thirst Hew-Butler's overall point is clear: Your body has a million years of evolution at play here when it comes to consuming water, and it's smarter at providing hydration instructions than any guideline or social-media challenge. Yes, drink plenty of water, but you should drink to thirst. If you're exercising, you'll obviously want to replenish your water stores, but, when in doubt, the best indication for whether or not you need more water is likely in your toilet bowl. "A good rule of thumb is to take a peek at the color of your [urine]," says the Cleveland Clinic. "If you're hydrated, it should be a light lemonade color, but it doesn't necessarily need to be clear. If [it's] darker, that might be an indicator to up your water intake, but keep in mind that some medications (and even food) can affect the color too." And remember: If you drink too much water before bed, you're setting yourself up for a poor night of sleep. For more on this, see Why You Should Never Drink Water Before Bed.

5 Places You'll Most Likely Catch COVID, According to Dr. Gupta

80% of COVID infections come from these places, says the doctor. Avatar BY ALEK KORAB FACT CHECKED BY EMILIA PALUSZEK It's the holiday season but the coronavirus doesn't take a day off: The virus continues to spread, and will do so even more after Christmas, after family gatherings lead to an expected "surge upon a surge." CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who said on New Day that the country is at a "breaking point," revealed five places where coronavirus transmission is more likely to occur than others. "It's really these five primary locations where 80 percent of viral transmissions are happening in our society," Dr. Gupta said. Read on to hear his warning, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 Houses of Worship The Supreme Court blocked state COVID-19 restrictions against houses of worship but use caution if you plan to attend: They are hotspots for the virus. "I fully respect religion and if there's a time in life when we need it, the time is now, but we want to make sure we keep people safe at the same time," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who wanted to prevent Orthodox Jews from congregating. "That's the balance we're trying to hit, especially through this holiday season." 2 Hotels "Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19," says the CDC, calling "a house or cabin with people from your household (e.g., vacation rentals)" more risky and "Hotels or multi-unit guest lodgings (e.g., bed and breakfasts)" "even more risky." 3 Bars Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said: "We need to really take seriously the issue of wearing masks all the time and not congregating in bars," calling them "certainly an important mechanism of this spread." With inhibitions lowered, and gathering together indoors, people are more likely to inadvertently spread the virus to one another. "Close the bars and keep the schools open," he has said recently, meaning, he feels watering holes are responsible for more spread than schools. 4 Cafés "In cities worldwide, coronavirus outbreaks have been linked to restaurants, cafes and gyms. Now, a new model using mobile-phone data to map people's movements suggests that these venues could account for most COVID-19 infections in US cities," reports Nature. "The team then used the model to simulate different scenarios, such as reopening some venues while keeping others closed. They found that opening restaurants at full capacity led to the largest increase in infections, followed by gyms, cafes and hotels and motels." 5 Restaurants One way you can catch COVID is to be indoors with strangers (or anyone you're not sheltering with) who have their masks off. Naturally, you must take your mask off to eat. That's why restaurants are so problematic. "When you have restaurants indoors in a situation where you have a high degree of infection in the community, you're not wearing masks, that's a problem," Dr. Fauci has said. He prefers takeout or delivery. RELATED: 7 Tips You Must Follow to Avoid COVID, Say Doctors 6 How to Survive This Pandemic As for yourself, follow Fauci's fundamentals and help end this surge, no matter where you live—wear a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Deadly COVID-19 variants: Experts warn as FG restricts gatherings, revives curfew, bans nightclubs, others.

Olalekan Adetayo, Eniola Akinkuotu, Victor Ayeni, Maritha Ebolosue,and Solomon Odeniyi 11 May 2021 Govt says worship centres shouldn’t exceed 50% capacity, revives 12 midnight to 4am curfew Learn from India’s predicament, virologist advises Nigerians Tomori backs Federal Govt The Federal Government on Monday restricted gatherings at worship centres and banned night clubs as parts of measures aimed at preventing the spread of devastating strains of COVID-19 into the country. Amid concern about the strains of the virus in India, South Africa, Turkey and Brazil, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 at its press briefing in Abuja reintroduced some measures which were put in place during the second COVID-19 wave in the country. Eminent virologist and Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Professor Oyewale Tomori, and a virologist at the University of Ibadan, Prof David Olaleye, in separate interviews with The PUNCH supported government’s actions. They warned Nigerians that India’s COVID-19 crisis was an indication that there could be a resurgence of the virus in Nigeria. Recall that the World Health Organisation Regional Virologist, Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, said B.1.351 variant of the coronavirus, first found in South Africa, was spreading in 23 African countries. According to him, the African countries include Kenya, Cameroon, Cote D’ ívoire, Malawi, Mauritius, Togo, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ghana, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles and Tanzania. As of Sunday, Africa had recorded 4,673,466 cases. South Africa with 1.59 million cases has the highest number of infections in the continent. Nigeria has so far recorded 165,419 cases of the virus out of which 2,065 have died while 156,300 have been discharged. India, whose cases have attracted global attention following shortage of oxygen and hospital spaces, has recorded 22,991,927 infections. To prevent a similar occurrence in Nigeria, the National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed, who rolled out preventive measures on Monday, said a nationwide curfew would be introduced from midnight of Monday. He said the curfew would run from 12 midnight till 4am daily. He also said gatherings for worship or weddings should not be more than 50 per cent capacity. He said security agents had been saddled with the responsibility of enforcing all the non-pharmaceutical measures put in place by the government. Mohammed said, “Further to these recommendations and effective from 0001hours of Tuesday, May 11, 2021, this Phase IV of the phased restriction of movement shall come into effect. “We shall maintain restrictions of mass gatherings outside work settings with a maximum number of 50 people in an enclosed space. “Approved gatherings must be held with physical distancing measures and other non-pharmaceutical interventions in place.” He stated that there would be enforcement of a mandatory requirement of a seven-day quarantine for all international passengers. Mohammed added that there would be “enforced temperature checks and no mask, no entry policy in all public settings; workplace buildings, businesses and places of worship. Access to government and commercial premises should be denied to persons without face masks. “The nationwide curfew will be imposed tonight at midnight and it will run through till 4am. No formal restrictions on movement within the country even as citizens are encouraged to refrain from non-essential movements and comply with all non-pharmaceutical interventions and guidelines. “People who are above 60 and or with co-morbidities are encouraged to stay at home. Only essential international travels are encouraged.” According to him, hotels are to remain open while adhering to all non-pharmaceutical interventions, while schools are to deploy the use of antigen-based rapid tests as recommended in the guidelines by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. He added that indoor recreational facilities and gyms were to close until June 11 when the situation would be reviewed while non-contact outdoor sports such as gulf, Polo and tennis were not affected. He added, “In terms of working arrangement, virtual meetings should be encouraged to take place as much as possible. We should avoid large meetings, decongest offices and ensure they are well ventilated. “States have been asked to institute mobile courts to help enforce on the spot fines and close premises that violate these prohibitions. “On communal services, markets and stores, they should ensure that there are spot checks of commercial premises and observed or mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions. Facility owners and managers and store owners are to ensure that physical distancing is observed. “All mass gatherings remain restricted to 50 persons except where explicit permission has been granted by the state governments. Hotels are to remain open, but they must observe or non-pharmaceutical interventions. “Schools have already opened. However, they should consider the use of approved antigen based rapid diagnostics tests as recommended by the NCDC. “All religious gatherings should be limited to less than 50% capacity to ensure physical distancing and use of face masks are mandatory. “All recreational venues, gyms and indoor sports facilities are to close until June 11 when the situation will be reviewed. However, non-contact outdoor sports such as golf, polo and tennis are not affected by these. “Gatherings in weddings, parties and meetings should also comply with 50 persons. Mass political gatherings, gatherings in the open, a large number of people are strictly to adhere this COVID-19 protocol.” “Event centres, night clubs shall remain closed until further notice. Restaurants are to provide eat-in at 50% capacity and provide takeaways where available.” Foreign passengers escaping from our facilities – PSC chair The Chairman of the PSC, Boss Mustapha, lamented that some returning foreign passengers escaped from isolation facilities, violating the mandatory quarantine requirement under the advisory earlier issued. He said the committee frowned on such act, adding that appropriate punishment would be meted out to anyone found culpable upon the completion of their investigation. Mustapha said, “The PSC has received reports of some returning foreign passengers who violated the mandatory quarantine requirement under the advisory by escaping from the facilities. “We deprecate such violation of the laws of our land and our hospitality. The PSC is awaiting the report of ongoing investigations and we wish to assure Nigerians that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on the violators.” Mustapha disclosed that the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had fixed the cost of COVID-19 testing, whether PCR or otherwise, at $50 at all Points of Entry with effect from May 17, 2021. This, he said, was to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS States travelling within the region. Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated that the experience of other countries such as India, Pakistan and Thailand showed the unpredictable nature of the virus, urging Nigerians not to lose their guard. The minister urged Nigerians to take responsibility as they celebrated Sallah, adding that the experience of the third wave of the virus from India among others was fuelled by elections and religious gatherings. He said, “It is important to remain aware of risks involved in traveling, gathering, celebrating and generally letting down our guards. I urge everyone to take responsibility for their personal and their family’s safety from COVID-19 infection. “Experience from India and other countries showed us that the terrible third wave that has caused so much loss of human lives, was facilitated and fuelled by events immediately related to political campaigns, elections and religious gatherings. “These contributed greatly to the explosion of cases that India is currently battling with today. As we celebrate the Sallah days ahead, let us remember this warning and ensure that we avoid all situations that tempt us to forget Covid-19 preventive measures and life-saving non-pharmaceutical measures. “ Meanwhile, experts who reacted to the measures urged Nigerians to comply. A virologist at the University of Ibadan, Olaleye, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “Respiratory viruses spread like wild fire. Look at the situation in India and some South American countries, the rate of COVID-19 is very high and raging very rapidly. Here, as long as we are still detecting cases, the risk is still there. “Any effort by government in public interest can be utilised to ensure that the disease is controlled will be in the right direction.” Tomori backs FG, says sports festival shouldn’t have been held Eminent virologist and Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Tomori, said he was in support of the new directive, adding that it was a targeted approach. Tomori noted that Nigerians had thrown caution to the wind and were no longer adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines. He said the National Sports Festival which took place in Edo State recently ought not to have taken place. The virologist argued that COVID-19 threat was not yet over and the Indian experience was proof that there could be resurgence. Tomori said, “I am in support of this new directive as long as it does not include total lockdown. This approach is a targeted one and I think it is welcome. People no longer adhere to guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing. “In my opinion, the National Sports Festival shouldn’t have happened. This new approach which includes shutting of night clubs and others is welcome.” FG approves administration of second dose of COVID-19 The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, has said the Federal Government has directed states to begin administering the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those who have taken the first dose. Shuaib disclosed this at the briefing of the PSC in Abuja. He urged those who had taken their first dose to check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose. He said, “The need to protect ourselves and put COVID-19 behind us, the way we have done to polio, so that we can return to our normal living, truly is a national effort. “In addition to health workers, frontline workers aged 18 years and above and persons aged 50 years and above are advised to visit any designated vaccination site to receive the vaccine free of charge. “We also advise that people who have received their first dose should check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose, and ensure that they receive the second dose to gain full protection against COVID-19. “I want to remind you that the eligibility period between the first and second doses of the vaccine has been expanded from 12 weeks to between 6 to 12 weeks, in line with the scientific recommendation provided by the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE on immunisation). “Already, the Presidential Steering Committee has approved the commencement of the second dose of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccination in all states of the federation, including the FCT.” ,, PUNCH.

OPINION: The Nexus Between Tinubu, Hadiza, And Pantami

Penultimate Monday night’s visit by All Progressives Congress, APC leaders Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to President Muhammadu Buhari was perhaps the most visible show of concern by elements in the ruling party to the distress in the land. Tinubu came out of the meeting pleading with Nigerians to join hands with the government to address the many concerns about insecurity, economy, and other issues in the land. The call from Tinubu and his visit to the president undoubtedly reflected the unease he may have felt with the happenings in the land. Tinubu, of course had a duty to intervene. After all, he was a principal facilitator in the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Even more, preserving Nigeria in one entity would also be to his advantage as his career goal of achieving the presidency of Nigeria would fail if the country were decimated. Campaigning with Buhari ahead of 2015, Tinubu had assured the electorate that more than President Goodluck Jonathan, that President Buhari was better positioned to address the issues that were prevalent at that time. At that time, Nigeria had just suffered the lamentable abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Many Nigerians thought it impossible for such a kidnap to happen despite the fact the terrorist Boko Haram group had carved a niche for itself within Sambisa Forest in Borno State. The naira at that time exchanged for about 170 to a dollar, a rate many Nigerians thought reflected the failures as we assumed of President Jonathan. The APC mantra was Changi! Six years into the Change phenomena, the worsening orgy of unimaginable violence is better reflected by international reports that Nigeria is about the third most terrorized nation on earth. Despite claims by the government that Boko Haram has been defeated, decimated, and degraded, the insurgency has grown to the extent that Nigerian soldiers and now policemen have become endangered species. After the kidnap of the Chibok Schoolgirls, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman turned into one of the most visible advocates for the return of the schoolgirls under the aegis of the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG group. Then only few outside the inside reaches of the Jonathan administration knew that she was also a fanatical trooper for the Buhari Change mantra. Though, she was not a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, she was like a secretary all about helping the members in their meetings. So, while she campaigned at the Unity Fountain in the daytime for the BBOG, in the night she was encamped with the Buhari campaign in laying strategies to remove Jonathan from power. Perhaps it was that intelligence that informed operatives of the Jonathan administration and Mama Patience into the folly that the Chibok abduction was a ruse. However, six years on, the comparison of school children’s abduction between the two administrations has turned sickening. Whereas Jonathan was smeared with only one major abduction, under Buhari, school children abductions have spread like cancer to the extent that it is no longer news for the international community. This week, the evil for the first time spread to the South with the abduction of students of the Abia State University, Uturu.

After the abduction of more than 300 schoolgirls of the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangabe, Zamfara State last February, Ms. Bala Usman on February 27, tweeted thus: The state of insecurity in the country that has led to the kidnap of Kagara boys and Zamfara girls need to be addressed URGENTLY…We can’t go on like this! Rescue our children and Secure our country that’s all we ask Broken heartBroken heartBroken heart…#SecureNorth #SecureNigeria… That tweet according to conspiracy theories laid the ground for a witch hunt directed at her that led to her suspension as MD of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. As with such cases in which those in authority are questioned by subordinates, rumours were flying about on Friday morning about massive holes in billions of naira in the accounts of the NPA supposedly discovered by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation. The alleged audit query according to sources is what led to Bala Usman’s suspension. Whatever, Ms. Bala Usman’s tweet about addressing the state of insecurity that led to the Kagara and Zamfara abductions have not been reasonably addressed by the APC administration. In any case, as some alleged on Twitter, while Ms. Bala Usman was suspended to allow an investigation into issues observed under her watch, Dr. Isa Pantami who has admitted with video evidence to have supported terror groups is given a wave of approval. Ms. Usman chose not to play the ostrich like some who would prefer not to see evil or hear any evil. Few would forget the fact that as Senator Smart Adeyemi lamented the anarchy in the land that Tinubu’s wife was widely reported to have heckled him for being unfaithful to the APC. If Adeyemi, Bala Usman and others who have the voice in the APC opt to keep quiet, the anarchy that we see would grow to consume them and their party. It was as such welcoming that Tinubu and Akande opted to see Mr. President. But having seen him, the outcome of the visit has largely remained intangible. Indeed, as Tinubu readies his political machine for 2023, a difficult question he would have to face is whether he would be sustaining the APC mantra of Change or Continuity. It is the devil’s alternative for him.

Governors Spend Billions On Private Jets Despite Dwindling Income.

Despite the outcry over limiting resources in Nigeria in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the private jets charter service has continued to flourish as evidenced by the abundance of private jets that occupy the old terminal of the Abuja Airport. Some state governors are spending billions of naira to hire private jets despite dwindling resources in their states, an investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday has shown. Findings revealed that only a few governors use commercial flights to travel to Abuja and other parts of the country from their states as many of them pay for chartered aircraft. While some of the trips are official engagements, others are for private engagements. It was discovered that many of the states are in dire financial situations and can hardly pay salaries or meet other contractual obligations, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that even in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown last year, state governors embarked on interstate trips, mostly by private jets. This was in clear violation of a ban to that effect, which they had agreed on as a measure to mitigate community transmission of the virus. For instance, on Monday, June 1, 2020, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State flew into Abuja to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to formally inform him of his intention to seek re-election for a second term. On that same day, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, led six of his colleagues to Abuja to meet with the then Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on what was believed to be a last-minute effort to save Obaseki’s candidacy ahead of the party’s primary election in Edo. Although some of these trips were said to have been related to security, it was gathered that they were undertaken through private commercial jets, which ran into hundreds of millions of naira. On Friday, May 29, 2020, Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the challenge posed by armed banditry in their states. On Thursday, April 30, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State met President Buhari over the ongoing counter-insurgency operations on the fringes of Lake Chad and the entire North-East. Also, on Thursday, April 9, Governor Zulum flew in to meet with President Buhari on the security situation in the state following the Chadian army’s onslaught against Boko Haram. To underscore the sorry financial situation in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), last week wrote to the Accountant-General of the Federation, warning that it would not be able to make remittances to the Federation Account in April for distribution to the federal, state and local governments in May because it needed to defray about N112billion cost of February’s subsidy on petrol. Recent checks at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) used for charter operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the private hangars at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, revealed that governors still patronise private jets. At the MMIA, Lagos, private hangers were busy when our correspondent visited recently, and many of those who patronised them were said to be governors who had one engagement or another in the state. It was also learnt that many governors who patronise the private jet operators now go to the airports in vehicles without number plates, thereby making it difficult to identify them. A source at the MMIA who spoke with our correspondent in confidence said, “I can confirm to you that the business is still booming despite the so-called recession. “Many customers who can afford the cost of charter flights are still patronising us. They include businessmen, some artists, politically exposed people, especially state governors who come to Lagos from time to time. “Some of them can even charter flights to overseas, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Charter flight service is a very lucrative business because many highly placed individuals still patronise us. Most of them don’t know recession.” High cost of jets Checks by Daily Trust on Saturday indicate that a one-hour flight costs between $5,000 (N2.4m at N485 to one dollar) and $10,000, depending on the size of the aircraft. So if it is a return flight, a governor with members of his entourage could pay as much as $20,000 to charter an aircraft. An operator who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity gave an insight into the economics of the private jet charter service. According to the operator, all bookings are in dollars, but if anyone prefers to pay in naira, it is charged at the prevailing black market rate. “Normally, a VIP, for instance, can decide to hire a bigger business jet, depending on the entourage. “But if the team is not more than six, a smaller jet could be used, which costs less, and you can get it for as low as $5,000,” the source said. Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that in view of the growing demand for private charter services by governors and other VIPs, a private jet operator recently launched a Lagos-Abuja daily flight at a cost of $4,500 (one way). The flight is said to be operated daily by 9: 00 am and 1 pm. “What this means is that the demand for this premium service is no doubt high, but many governors would prefer to patronise it. But it is not only the governors that make use of private jets, we also have some officials in the Presidency,’’ our source added. One of the private charter operators, ExecuJet, said business aircraft travel was the quickest means of commuting and reducing flying times. Flight plans can be altered to accommodate meeting schedule changes. “Business travellers can reach two or more destinations in a single day, an option seldom offered to executives on scheduled flights,” the foremost operator wrote on its website. Labour knocks governors In an interview with one of our correspondents, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, berated the governors for continuing to charter private jets despite their claims that the economy is still dwindling. Describing such action as unacceptable, he revealed that the governors hide under personnel cost during budget presentations to their respective houses of assembly. “It is part of what we have cried aloud because it is public funds (taxpayers’ money). This adds to the high cost of governance and overheads. To hire a private jet for one trip is not less than N9million. “There are states that budget up to N10billion for hiring private jets. I remember that there was one state in the past four years that actually spent up to N10billion on private jets. “In most cases, they lump this to personnel cost, and that is what is adding to the high cost of governance. This is unacceptable. This is the time we really need to cut the cost of governance. We need to be very transparent,” Wabba said. He called on Nigerians to rise up and fight against such impunity by demanding accountability and transparency, saying the cost of governance should be drastically reduced, not cutting workers’ salaries.

AFRICOM: US Didn’t Refuse Buhari

Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari have denied reports that the president asked the United States to relocate the headquarters of the African Command, AFRICOM from Germany to Nigeria. The denial came in the wake of reports that the United States had recently denied the purported request made during the virtual meeting between Buhari and the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken. Speaking through the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), the supporters said that at no time during that meeting did President Buhari request the United States of America to relocate the AFRICOM headquarters from Stuggart, Germany to Nigeria. “Rather, President Buhari, in the spirit of Nigeria having Africa as the centrepiece of its foreign policy, noted the need to site the AFRICOM headquarters in Africa. In the statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said “based on the security challenges facing African countries particularly Somalia, Mali and Libya, among others, it is only reasonable that the United States should have its AFRICOM operational office on Africa in the African continent. “We also note that the United States Secretary of State had at the meeting acknowledged that Nigeria remained its strategic partner, and pledged improved cooperation between the two countries. It is also noteworthy that Nigeria was the first port of call in Africa by the new US Secretary Blinken. “We consider the false impression being created in certain quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari expressly requested the United States Secretary of State to relocate the AFRICOM headquarters from Germany to Nigeria as a misrepresentation by a section of the media. There is no portion of the speech the President delivered at the virtual meeting that mentioned a request for the AFRICOM headquarters to be relocated to Nigeria. “We, therefore, want to disabuse the minds of the people who may have been holding the wrong views about the president’s comments at the meeting or feeling such request must have been made based on the country’s security challenges”.