Man hacks into Nigerian bank’s system, steals N1.87 billion By Editor

A Nigerian man identified as Salau Abdulmalik Femi has been arrested by detectives from the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for allegedly hacking into the server of a Nigerian bank to steal N1.87 billion. The suspect, police said, is the kingpin of a syndicate that specialises in hacking into the servers of banks and corporate agencies. He was arrested after he hacked the Flex-Cube Universal Banking System (FCUBS) of a first generation bank. SFU spokesman in Ikoyi, Lagos State, DSP Eyitayo Johnson, in a statement, said the suspect created fictitious credits totalling N1.87bn on the accounts of three of the bank’s customers. DSP Johnson said the suspect successfully consummated debits (outflows) amounting to N417.5m through internet banking transfers to other banks. He said the unit while acting swiftly on a petition from the bank; contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the deposit money banks which customers were beneficiaries of the fraudulent funds and that in the process was able to salvage a substantial amount. “Items recovered from the suspect include an Apple laptop and an iPhone, and he and operators of some Bureau De Change (BDC) used to launder the monies will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded,” Johnson said. “Consequently, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Unit, CP. Anderson A. Bankole has scheduled a meeting with Chief Compliance Officers/and Head of Technology/Information Security Department of Banks with a view to brainstorm on the loophole exploited by this suspect and how to counter similar hacks; for the benefit of both the Police and the Banking Sector of our economy.” THEGUARDIAN

Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo (1941-2021) By Editorial Board

With the recent passing of Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo, recently, the global music community as well as the creative arts community has lost one of its most illustrious maestros. Reputed for his folkloric highlife melodies garnished by the dexterity of his guitar and callisthenics dance steps, Uwaifo was a music exponent whose career of 57 years shot Nigeria and Africa to global spotlight. Under the tutelage of celebrated highlife musicians like Bobby Benson, Sir Victor Olaiya, Stephen Osita Osadebe, young Uwaifo mastered an inborn musical skill that brought him global renown. Standing side by side the capitalist aesthetics purveyed by colonialism, Uwaifo and his musical kindred maintained a genre of music that “made a landmark in the consciousness of African music.” Theirs was a trail-blazing musical epoch that turned musicianship into a didactic tool for cultural self-retrieval. Uwaifo was an accomplished mastermind who attained the pinnacle of creative ingenuity by the transformational agency of his Midas touch. At the bubbly stage of his career, around the late 1960s and 1980s, Uwaifo won the first gold disc in Africa with Joromi, which was released in 1965 at the age of 24. He went on to win seven other gold discs with Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. In all, he won 12 gold discs. From his prodigious energy and talent, Uwaifo bequeathed to posterity massive art and culture production that is too enormous to have been spawned by the technology of an individual. He waxed 12 albums, recorded many songs and had a tome of lyrics. An eclectic art experimentalist with a streak of perfectionism, Uwaifo sculptured architectural and iconic masterpieces dotting diverse places both home and abroad. He built his car, invented his trademark guitar with 18 strings, amongst other things. His inexplicable energy was so effervescent and fruitful that it seemed that he would not die. Uwaifo, an amateur bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast, surrendered to death after a brief bout of pneumonia, according to family sources. He was aged 80. Born on March 1, 1941, to the illustrious Uwaifo family of Benin City, Edo State, the maestro was a man of many ‘firsts.’ He was described as an incredible lyricist, a dancer, writer, inventor, sculptor, public servant, university lecturer; and for his manifold capacities, he had been aptly compared to renaissance polymath Leonardo Da Vinci. Having had his early education at Western Boys’ High School, Benin City and later St Gregory’s College, Lagos, he proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, from where he graduated in 1963 with a National Diploma (distinction and overall best) in Graphic Arts. Although he played music at St Gregory School band with the likes of Segun Bucknor, he sharpened his skills by featuring in Victor Olaiya’s Cool Cats highlife group on holidays. He continued this trend after school when he played for E. C. Arinze’s, Fred Coker’s and Stephen Osadebe’s highlife bands. With sufficient tutelage, he formed his Melody Maestros in 1965. Uwaifo has been acclaimed the most academically honoured musical legend in the country, having at age 54 obtained a B.A Honours (first class valedictorian), Master’s degree two years later and Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture at 77, all from the University of Benin, Benin City. He also had a stint as a university professor in the same institution. The cumulative experiences garnered, no doubt, facilitated his appointment as the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism during the Lucky Igbinedion administration and became a member of the State Executive Council in Edo State from 2001–2003. Uwaifo was a recipient of the National Honour, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and United Nations invitee for the 1995 UN Golden Jubilee celebration. He was cited in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1983 edition, documented in the Who’s Who in Nigeria, Who’s Who in Africa, Who’s Who in the Commonwealth. He was an Honorary Member of the Biographical Advisory Council, Cambridge, England; a member of both the Performing Right Society and of the Advisory Board of American Heritage University, California, U.S. In 1997, he was awarded the Certificate of Honour by the House of Representatives, Boston Massachusetts. For all he lived, Uwaifo has left Nigerians, especially musicians and artists, with vital lessons. To young people and professionals who want to excel, Uwaifo’s life and accomplishments are a study in tenacity, focus and incredible self-control. His life signals to learners that genuine success is achieved through dedication to professionalism, commitment to excellence, patience and openness to mentorship. Beyond the tangible products of his enviable career, Uwaifo remains invaluable as a repository of African knowledge production. African scholars and culture enthusiasts have always lamented the cultural appropriation that falsely re-writes African history owing to the absence of credible indigenous contributions. In Uwaifo’s modest effort at building a museum chronicling Nigerian and Bini arts and culture, the world witnessed some retelling of the African story in a bold and credible manner. It is for this reason that the governments and peoples of Edo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria should properly immortalise Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo by going beyond tokenism street-naming and infrastructure labeling. To this end, the government of Edo should take over and rehabilitate his museum. Apart from its potential as a tourist attraction and revenue generator for the state, the Uwaifo Museum could be a desirable addendum to the facilities that make Benin City an art and culture hub in Africa. Besides, Uwaifo’s legendary accomplishments demand that institutions of higher learning, research foundations and even individuals develop and foster courses or programmes in Victor Uwaifo studies. There is a need to harvest the works of people like him for learning, art and culture – to be taught in schools. If the government and people of Edo State, musicologists and experts in arts and culture succeed in bringing this into fruition, they would be according to deserving recognition to the late Victor Uwaifo’s treasured legacy. GUARDIAN

IBB, the General who lost his last battle By Ayodele Akinkuotu

On August 17, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), joined the ranks of Octogenarians. And even among that lucky species in Nigeria, a few elder statesmen stand out; that’s the group that should welcome IBB into their fold. Interestingly, in a nation where sycophants are two for a kobo, a few of them may want to keep their distance from him. Why? They would regard him as a heroic failure because of the tragic loss of his last battle. That war was fought on the political landscape between 1985 and 1993. Yet, this is a well-decorated General, a civil war hero, who single-handedly thwarted the bloody coup of February 1976 in which General Murtala Muhammed, then head of state, lost his life. Nine years later, in August 1985, Babangida staged his own palace coup from the vantage position of Chief of Army Staff. The man he toppled, General Muhammadu Buhari, had been in power for just 20 months. But it was 20 months of unbridled terror. Though not a few thought Buhari meant well, what with his war against indiscipline, which later metamorphosed into tyranny. He was simply draconian in the manner his regime went about their self-given mandate. He set up tribunals that jailed politicians from a part of the country hundreds of years for corruption which details were very opaque; he used the Nigerian Security Organisation to detain all manner of people without trial, and the icing on the cake on Buhari’s excesses was the execution of two drug couriers with a retroactive decree. That was the atmosphere of despair from which IBB’s coup rescued Nigerians. Thankfully, the coup was bloodless. As he settled down in the office, IBB’s style immediately set him apart from his predecessor. While Buhari was taciturn, Babangida is a smooth talker who expresses himself with candour. Against the backdrop of his predecessor’s draconian style, Nigerians initially regarded him as a humane leader. However, time later unraveled the real IBB. He spent eight years in office, during which he embarked on an endless transition programme, which finally ended in a cul-de-sac. Thus when he exited power on August 25, 1993, according to him, by “stepping aside’’, his tail between his legs. It was a sad day for a man “trained to dominate my (his) environment.” For once, he was thoroughly dominated. Babangida recently granted an interview to Arise TV. It was, in the main, a good interview. The only hiccups being the many follow-up questions that the interviewer spared him. Had those questions been put to him, IBB would perhaps have faltered at what he knows best to do, his pontifications. The interview succeeded, though, in burnishing the image of a General who was not only outsmarted but also disgraced in his final battle. Despite numerous rumours on social media of late about his poor health, at the interview, IBB looked good. That interview would remain in the public domain for a while. On why he annulled the results of June 12, 1993, presidential election, Babangida claimed if he had not annulled it, there would have been a coup, which would have been bloody and destabilising for the nation. The General is free to continue in his daydreams in his twilight years. He is entitled to them. Discerning Nigerians knew for sure there was a coup in 1993. The first leg of the coup shooed him out of power on 25 August 1993. Babangida’s so-called stepping aside was a face-saving strategy. The man who toppled IBB was General Sani Abacha, the then Chief of Army Staff, his alter-ego, long regarded in their circle as the Calipha. To fool Nigerians, Ernest Shonekan, a respected businessman, was made an interim head of state with a directive to organise another presidential election in 1994. However, there was a provision in the decree setting up the ING, that in the case at any point, if Shonekan was unable to continue as head of state, the “most senior minister” should take over from him. A cursory glance through the cabinet list showed that Sani Abacha was the one to whom the document referred. And exactly 83 days after Babangida’s exit, Abacha shooed Shonekan out of Aso Rock and became head of state. Before sending Shonekan packing, Abacha, in private discussions with Moshood Abiola, the June 12 presidential election winner, allegedly hinted the latter about the coup. The main purpose of which was to quash the annulment of Abiola’s mandate and swear him in. It was all a fool’s paradise. Abiola believed Abacha so much that he was said to have recommended some names for Abacha’s cabinet. Late human rights lawyer and the scourge of dictators, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, was offered attorney general and minister of justice’s post. He turned down the offer. He argued that if the coup was about swearing in Abiola, there was no need for a new attorney general of the federation. A few days later, Olu Onagoruwa, another human rights and constitutional lawyer, accepted the position. Back to IBB. His transition programme was largely a smokescreen. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was one of the first few people to see through that smokescreen. Early in 1986, a few months into his tenure, Babangida set up the Samuel Cookey Commission, otherwise known as the Political Bureau. Its mandate was to design a new political and social order for Nigeria. Awolowo declined the invitation to him by Cookey to be a member of the Commission. Part of his letter read thus, “Something within me tells me, loud and clear, that we have embarked on a fruitless search. At the end of the day, when we imagine that the new order is here, we would be terribly disappointed.” And that was exactly what happened in 1993, seven years after the sage’s prediction. By which time the political colossus had transited to glory. Perhaps, when Babangida took over power, he was the most prepared intellectually for his adventure in power. He had not only trained in the best military academies in the world; he had distinguished himself in several command positions, culminating in his appointment as Chief of Army Staff. Thus, when he sacked Buhari, ably supported by Abacha and others, from power, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the self-acquired mandate. His role models were Egyptian and Libyan military dictators Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gadaffi. The latter, who was in power from 1969 to 2010, when he was killed, came up with the Third International Theory, outlined in his Green Book. Perhaps, that was the goal Babangida had in mind with his political bureau. Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who was Babangida’s foreign affairs minister, founded the Concert of Medium Powers. What’s not in doubt is that no matter their claim to the contrary, military dictators have the penchant for wanting to rule for life. And that was Babangida’s goal. In his case, though, he had a challenge, keeping to the letters of the said unwritten accord between him and Abacha, the anointed successor. And Abacha was not ready to forfeit that opportunity to become head of state. Thus, as IBB did all kinds of permutations, banning and unbanning politicians to clear the way for his self-succession, the relationship between him and Abacha became frosty. They started playing cat and mouse games. And Babangida, who was labeled Maradona for his antics on the political landscape, finally dribbled himself into the June 12 hole with the annulment. The ensuing anarchy gave Abacha and those of his ilk in the military who no longer cared for a life in the Barracks the weapon they needed to kick out Babangida, who prides himself as the evil genius. While surely IBB cannot be denied his place in Nigerian history, many Nigerians are convinced that if he had not annulled the June 12 election, Babangida would have gone down in history as the founder of a new Nigeria. That presidential election remains the freest and fairest in the Nation’s history. All the six presidential elections we have had since then had fallen short of its high standards. On June 12, 1993, Nigerians ignored ethnicity and religious differences to elect Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, two Muslims, as President and Vice President, respectively. And it was in recognition of the injustice done to Abiola, a Yoruba man, by Babangida that led to the emergence of two Yoruba men, General Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, getting the tickets of the two major political parties in the 1999 presidential election. Obasanjo won. It’s doubtful if these two scenarios would ever be repeated in Nigeria presently torn apart by ethnic and religious differences. Perhaps, if the failure had not been IBB’s final legacy in office, there would have been a sequel to Chidi Amuta’s book, “Prince of the Niger”, a compendium on the Babangida years published in 1992. That such is not known to be in the works 28 years after his exit from power speaks volumes. Though going by his pontifications in his recent interview, IBB may want Nigerians to believe there is a lot to learn from his leadership style, nationalism, and fighting anti-corruption in his years in power. Methinks, the lessons are not positively impactful. However, there is a lot to learn about how he became a heroic failure when victory was within his grasp in his final battle. Akinkuotu, a Founding Editor of TELL Magazine, was also Executive Editor of the newsweekly.

Osinbajo meets doctors via Zoom to end strike, NMA adamant by Deborah Tolu-Kolawole

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has intervened in the ongoing industrial action by members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Sunday PUNCH has learnt. The NARD declared the strike action on July 30 at its National Executive Council meeting with the theme ‘The Nigerian doctor, an endangered species: grappling with a pandemic, poor workplace infrastructure and security threats.’ Announcing the action would begin on August 2 after the meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, the National President of NARD, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, had cited the failure of the Federal Government to implement the agreements it entered into with the union 113 days after it suspended the previous strike. However, 33 days after the commencement of the strike, Osinbajo reached out to the doctors in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis. Our correspondent gathered that the vice president had a zoom meeting with one of the officials of the doctors’ association on Friday where issues relating to the strike were discussed. Sources that were privy to the meeting revealed that Osinbajo asked for details of the grievances of the striking doctors. “He reached out to us and told us he needed all the details of our grievances and that he would not want us to end the strike and commence another later in the future,” a source close to the meeting said. When contacted, the Vice President of NARD, Adejo Arome, confirmed that the vice president had a zoom meeting with an official of the association on Friday. According to Arome, while reaching out to the association, the Vice President said he needed first-hand information on the issues involved. He said, “Vice President Osinbajo reached out to us. He met with the President yesterday (Friday). It was actually a zoom meeting he had with our president ( Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi) though some of us were there. He (Osinbajo) initiated the meeting because he wanted to get the information about what was going on. “He said he needed details of everything that happened. He asked calmly and we believe that he would do something and we also believe that very soon, he would call us officially (for a meeting). “We gave him the information (that he requested). The information we gave him was first-hand and authentic. We are sure other government officials won’t give him such details at all about the whole issue. “He told us that he did not want the issue to be resolved now and later there would be another strike. “He said he wants to put the problem to rest once and for all. We are waiting for him to invite us officially and we are certain that he is going to do it. We trust his judgement.” FG yet to reach out, 21 days’ notice stands -NMA Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association said the Federal Government has yet to reach out to the association. Notwithstanding, the association stated that the 21-day strike notice it issued to the Federal Government stands regardless. The association’s General Secretary, Dr Philips Ekpe, disclosed this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja. According to him, the notice period was to enable the Federal Government to attend to the lingering issues with the NMA’s affiliate members. He said, “The 21-day notice was to give the government time to meet the demands of our affiliate members such as NARD, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and Medical and Dental Specialist Association in Basic Medical Sciences. “Apparently, nothing has been forthcoming as they have not reached out to us and even NARD and as you are aware, the matter with NARD is still in the court of law. “Once government cooperates and attends to the demands of NARD and the other affiliates, then there won’t be any problem. “But at the end of the ultimatum, if things don’t meet our expectations, the National Executive Council of our association will take decisions. “On the issues of the salary of resident doctors that was withheld, we are working behind closed doors to make sure that things are resolved.” Recall that the NMA had on August 28 issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government, with effect from Monday, August 30. At the end of its National Executive Council meeting held in Benin City, Edo State, the NMA and all its affiliates resolved to give the Federal Government 21-day notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with the doctors. JOHESU, AHPA issue 15-day ultimatum While the Federal Government is still battling to resolve the ongoing strike action by the Resident Doctors, members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association have threatened to embark on an industrial action in 15 days’ time if the government fails to meet their demands. JOHESU’s National President, Mr Biobelemonye Josiah, gave the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and other relevant stakeholders. Copy of the letter was made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja. Josiah said that the 15-day ultimatum was necessitated by the nonchalant attitude of the government to the plight of his members. Josiah said his association and APHA are demanding an adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure since 2014; payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of members and withheld Salaries in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Jos University Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Others include the review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance; implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution, Consent judgment and other court judgments; increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals. “Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantees fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others. ”Payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8 (nurses, midwives and others) and proper placement of Nurse Graduates and Interns,” he said. He added that their demands also include payment of outstanding salaries of intern health professionals and all the Tertiary Health Institutions, proper implementation of the consultant pharmacist cadre for pharmacists in the public sector, among others. According to him, “the Federal Government has not deemed it fit to honour the Terms of Settlement entered into with JOHESU since September 2017. “This is especially the upward review of CONHESS Salary Structure as agreed, to be completed within five weeks from the date of agreement amongst other requests. The Government did not deem it fit to address these key issues during the duration of the last seven days warning strike and has only met with JOHESU on July 12,” he said. “In July 2020, the Minister of Health agreed that a mistake was made by government in the payment of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowances. He noted that the shortfall was in the payment of 50 per cent Basic of Consolidated allowances to all Health Workers. It was a mistake on the part of government and the shortfall shall be paid accordingly to affected health workers.” 1,851 Nigerian-trained doctors get US licences in five years – Medical Board No fewer than 1,851 Nigerian-trained medical doctors acquired a total of 3,649 licences to be able to practise in the United States of America in five years, investigations by Sunday PUNCH have revealed It was also gathered that physicians in the US could acquire multiple licences which would allow them to practice in the country and other territories. Our correspondent learnt that one of the reasons why physicians were leaving Nigeria was that they were not allowed to acquire multiple licences which could enable them to practise in various fields. The Vice President, Communications, Federation of State Medical Board in the United States, Joe Knickrehm, confirmed that more Nigerians were actually trooping to the US to practice. He further disclosed in an email exchange with our correspondent, that physicians in the US could acquire multiple licences which would allow them to practice in the US and other territories. The mail partly read, “Physicians can have multiple licences to practise medicine in the United States if they wish to practise in multiple states or US territories. “Between 2015 and 2020, a total of 1,851 Nigeria-educated physicians have been issued with a total of 3,649 licences. 75 per cent of these physicians, who were issued licences between these periods that is 1,388, are actively practising in the US. “As of 2020, 3,895 Nigeria-educated physicians with a total of 6,536 full active licences are practicing in the US.” President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, however, said one of the reasons why physicians were eager to leave Nigeria was that they were not allowed to acquire multiple licences which could enable them to practise in various fields. He said, “In Nigeria, there is no such thing; you cannot have multiple licences. You are only entitled to one licence. “This is one of the reasons why you see doctors leaving the country. When you visit these other countries, you can acquire medical licences to practise in other fields.” PUNCH.

COCOYAM AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS By Kayode Ojewale

WHEN one of the federal agencies, few days ago, announced that a tuber crop, cocoyam is effective in fighting the coronavirus, many were shocked because no one expected that old, long-abandoned and uncommon root crop could have immune-boosting nutrients that make it protect the body. Nobody pays attention to those extra nutritional values that cocoyam provides when compared with other tuber and root crops until it was made known by the agency. Cocoyam has minerals and materials that are very good for the body and can reduce instances of disease. According to research, cocoyam is good for controlling high blood pressure and it also protects the heart due to its richness in Vitamin B6. The Federal Government agency, under the supervision of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, revealed that cocoyam is rich in nutrients that can combat infections of COVID-19.The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim, hinted that cocoyam has high nutritional values. According to Professor Hussaini, cocoyam is rich in nutrients like digestible starch, quality protein, varieties of essential vitamins and amino acids. The RMRDC boss stated clearly that cocoyam has long been neglected as a tuber crop, yet it has more nutritional benefits than cassava and yam. In his explanation on how cocoyam can be used to fight COVID-19 infections, Prof. Hussaini said: “Some of the issues of those who fall to COVID-19 are those with diabetes, high blood pressure and some other opportunistic diseases that attack the immune system and when such people are exposed to COVID-19, they easily fall victims. So, what we are saying is that if you can take care of diabetes, then your immune system will be much higher. If you consume cocoyam, your body tends to have higher immune level that can combat the incidents of COVID-19, so cocoyam is very important because you will not fall easily to COVID-19, which is why we say it is a crop of choice to those who have the illness that can make one vulnerable to COVID-19.” The RMRDC director general further added that “cocoyam is a veritable raw material with a lot of nutrients…has what we call low glycemic index. Sugar is converted to glycogen, which can be stored in the body so that when you have emergencies, glycogen will be pumped into the system and the body will process it. Consuming cocoyam will help because it has two carbohydrates, one fibre and the other we call resistant carbohydrate or starch.” The RMRDC chief also advised that those whose bodies are not functioning to full capacity in terms of production of insulin should consume cocoyam. The science and technology industry in any country ought to be the driver of development and discovery in every other industry given the fact that it evolves with time and global changes. The industry affects every other industry because it is expected to come with something new and contrary to established customs or manners in which things are done. Nigeria’s Ministry of Science and Technology was recently changed to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, STI, making it clearer to the citizens what they should expect in terms of delivery. Minister of the newly changed ministry, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the change is to facilitate economic growth and global competitiveness as well as to make Nigeria a nation of innovators. This will, no doubt put the ministry on its toes to ensure economic growth and development in all other ministries. Most challenges facing the country can be solved using the various innovation-based methods. Dr. Onu further said that the development will help the ministry to bring a shift in research and development which is industry and service demand-driven, resulting in rapid commercialization and improved global competitiveness. In the words of Dr. Onu: “Immediately we are able to commercialise research and development breakthroughs, the nation’s global competitiveness ranking will improve tremendously with varying degrees of development that are sustainable. These include a robust STI ecosystem that will accommodate continuous system improvement, product quality enhancement and guaranteed standardisation of Made-in-Nigeria goods and services. Nigeria would experience irreversible indigenous industrialisation with adequate platform for higher productivity.” The Minister further assured of continuous improvement in value added components of the economy, with quality employment generation in the economy, among others.

BREAKING STORY: Saudi Arabia Recruits Nigerian Doctors amidst Strike

The government of Saudi Arabia is taking advantage of the ongoing industrial action by doctors in Nigeria, to recruit specialists. The Saudi government has contracted an Abuja firm – Meed Consultants, for the exercise that Wil hold today, Tuesday August 24, 2021. Doctors in different specialties are needed under a programme tagged – ‘Saudi Ministry of Health Doctors Recruitment August 2021.’ Those to be interviewed have already registered on the agency’s website for recruitment interview. The Saudis may have targeted the unbridled relationship between Nigerian doctors and government to stage their head-hunt, coming at a time resident doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have down their tools. There are reports of denial by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, where he claimed ignorance to the exercise. He was quoted to have directed reporters to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire for clarification. “I am not aware of that. You can please contact the Minister of Health. His ministry is in charge of doctors.” minister stressed. Ngige reportedly said. Those shortlisted for the interview are doctors in the field of anaesthesia, ICU, paediatrics surgery, family medicine (consultants only), obstetrics and gynaecology, ENT, Emergency medicine, all sub-specialties (surgery), all sub-specialties (internal medicine), orthopaedic surgery, Ophthalmology, Radiology as well as Haematology and Histopathology. Calls to Dr. Ehanire’s phone were not answered as at the time of going to press. NARD President , Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, told reporters that doctors were free to take advantage of the exercise since the Nigerian government had failed to fulfill its promises. He added that there was no benefit for any doctor still practising in Nigeria, saying those who were staying back were only being patriotic. “Everybody is free to do whatever he/she wants. The government has not fulfilled its promises to the health sector. Those who stay behind are only doing so because of patriotism, not as if there is any benefit or something.”

COVID-19: No vaccination, no church, bank attendance - Obaseki By Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Residents of Edo State without evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, will no longer be allowed access to public and private places, including banks, event and worship centres, from the second week of September. The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, announced this on Monday in Benin, while flagging off the second phase of Coronavirus vaccination exercise, adding that this became necessary to protect residents of the State. He said adequate arrangements had been made with security agencies to prevent anybody who did not have vaccination cards to access any of these places. According to Obaseki, “Beginning from the second week of September 2021, large gatherings, as well as high traffic public and private places will only be accessed by persons who have proof of taking at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. People who have not yet been vaccinated at all will depend on remote access to these gatherings. “From the second week of September people may not be allowed to worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their vaccination cards at the gates. “Similarly, people will not be allowed at event centers, receptions or parties, without showing proof of their vaccination cards.” “People will not be allowed to access banking services from the middle of September 2021, if they are not vaccinated. “We have made adequate arrangements with security agencies to prevent anybody who doesn’t have vaccination cards to access any of these places. We are doing this to protect our citizens and all these measures will remain until the pandemic passes away,” Obaseki stated. Obaseki said his administration would continue to strictly enforce all non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the pandemic in the state, adding that activities to mark Edo’s 30th year anniversary had been scaled down significantly in compliance with COVID-19 protocols. He said the new regulation was not to create hardship on the people but to protect their lives and livelihood while the pandemic lasts, assuring citizens that the “vaccine is available and free for all. We will not abandon you at this time of the pandemic.” Noting that the pandemic is in its third wave in Nigeria, with its Delta variant having devastating effects around the world, the governor reassured the government’s commitment to ensure the health and safety of Edo people. “In Edo State, the data is very clear, as we have collected 6,306 samples, with 203 confirmed cases and four deaths in the third wave. 96 percent of all confirmed cases are those not vaccinated and 100 percent of deaths are those not vaccinated; it shows the importance of vaccination. “The pandemic has come to stay as it is clear that, intermittently, other waves will occur. As such, it is wise for us all to embrace vaccination as a way of surviving this pandemic. “For us in the state, we have decided to push for vaccination, and within the next one year, we are focusing on vaccinating 60 percent of our citizens to enable us build herd immunity against this pandemic.” The Governor noted that the current phase of the vaccination campaign would be driven by various stakeholders and strategic groups to increase access to the vaccines, because. According to him, the pandemic does not respect persons or status. “We have 84 vaccination centers across the State; some are mobile while others are fixed as the list will be made available soon. “We call on Edo citizens to support the launch and vaccination exercise kicking off today, as I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, as this is the only way we can save lives and livelihood, as well as return to our normal lives. “In this launch today, we have two sets of vaccines being dispensed; the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. We are taking the vaccine seriously but we will not shut down Edo State,” he noted. The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Greg Oko-Oboh, who deliver a lecture titled, “COVID-19 vaccination, a fighting chance,” said the State is 8th out of the 36 States of the federation with the new infection.