ibilenews

[ibilenews]

Abia State Commissioner for Environment Dr Solomon Ogunji is Dead.

The Abia State Government regrets to announce the passing away of her Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Solomon Ogunji. May his soul rest in the bosom of the Lord. 

Further findings as at what may have caused of his death are yet to be revealed. 

[ibilenews]

Lagos coronavirus: 2,278 cases; patient delivers at treatment center

Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos is at the center of the country’s coronavirus combat. Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases (as at April 4) and the state government has continued to roll out multiple measures to deal with the disease.

Lagos has in the past weeks suspended schools across the state – be they public or private, 70% of state government workers were asked to stay at home last week with the most recent move being a week’s closure of shops and markets.

The state, with a population of over 20 million, has also been a major beneficiary of coronavirus intervention funds. Governor BabaJide Sanwo-Olu late last week announced a stimulus package to benefit poor people.

Africanews will put a special spotlight on Lagos and major coronavirus developments coming from the state. Our main Nigeria COVID-19 updates page is also available.

2,278 cases; patient delivers

Authorities at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; Idi Araba, reported that a patient on treatment had successfully delivered a baby after going through medical procedure.

In a statement confirming the development on Friday, LUTH Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo said the mother and son were doing well.

He said, “LUTH delivers third patient (33-year-old) with COVID-19 of a baby boy. A team of LUTH doctors, anaesthetists and nurses delivered another woman with COVID-19 of a baby boy (3kg).

“The baby was delivered via a caesarean section on Thursday, 14th May 2020. The mother and baby are doing well. We celebrate our committed frontline staff for this achievement.

“We also appreciate the support of the Federal Government, Lagos State government and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.”

This is the third time a patient has successfully delivered at the facility, a 37-year-old mother also gave birth on May 9. Whiles on April 27, 40-year-old patient also delivered a baby girl, bringing the number of births at isolation centres to three.

Cameroon and Uganda have reported similar instances months back when mothers in treatment centers delivered whiles undergoing treatment.

[ibilenews]

Kenya coronavirus: 830 cases; TZ, Somali borders shut, curfew extended

Kenya continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic with cases steadily rising each day. Government have locked down a handful of counties including the capital Nairobi and imposed a night-time curfew as part of containment efforts.

This rolling page will continue to give updates on major occurrences as relates to the East African country. You can follow Kenya’s March – April 2020 COVID-19 updates on our earlier page.

Kenya as of May 10 was the fourth most impacted country in the East / Horn of Africa region only behind Djibouti, Sudan and Somalia. Government also rolled out mass testing in virus hot spots, borders remain shut and a ban on public gatherings continues.

Major topics covered below include:

May 14: Cases hit 758, focus turns to Kenya-Tanzania border town

May 12: 715 cases, border crossings becoming flash point

May 11: Cases reach 700, mass prisoner release

May 10: 649 cases, Raila worries about Magufuli

May 8: May 8: Govt to foot quarantine bills, cases at 607

May 7: 582 cases, lockdown in Eastleigh, Mombasa City

May 5: KQ’s UK repatriation flight returns

May 4: Cases hit 535, govt decries abuse of relaxed measures

May 3: KQ repatriation flight, Nairobi fumigation

May 2: Case count at 435, mass testing starts

May 1: Case count hits 411, Uhuru vows transparency

Kenya’s case count reached 830 as pf today President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in an address today. The dusk to dawn curfew in place has also been extended by a further 21 days.

A major decision announced also included the closure of frontiers with Tanzania and Somalia.

There will be cessation of movement of persons and passengers into and out through Kenya-Tanzania, & Kenya-Somalia border except for cargo, beginning midnight,” he said.

The national curfew and cessation of movements in the counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Mandera to continue till 6th June 2020, he added.

The border closure especially relative to Tanzania comes days after Kenya declared the border town of Namanga a high-risk area.

[ibilenews]

How coronavirus is boosting e-commerce across Africa

Seydou Sall sprays antiseptic on bags of food freshly deposited by an e-commerce firm at his home in an upmarket quarter of Senegal’s capital Dakar.

In a pattern repeated across the continent, the researcher has turned to online deliveries to get basics such as sugar, milk and coffee during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Home delivery allows me to avoid contact and queues,” he said, explaining that his order is completed in three clicks and that delivery costs just 2,000 CFA francs ($3.3, 3 euros).

Senegal’s government, in common with others around the world, has restricted travel between cities in a bid to curb coronavirus infections, and reduced opening hours for markets and shops.

Despite initial fears the virus would devastate poor African countries, the continent has so far recorded low infection rates compared to virus-stricken Europe and the United States.

African anti-virus efforts have nonetheless dealt a heavy economic blow, with retailers especially hard hit as governments have shut markets and restricted the flow of goods and people.

The sudden change has driven some contagion-wary consumers to use e-commerce platforms.

Sall, for example, uses a new Senegalese platform named Rapidos, which has partnerships with supermarkets, bakeries and pharmacies.

Set up two years ago, the firm is now doing a roaring trade.

“Home deliveries have gone up 90 percent,” said company official Mohamed Badiane, adding that orders for Ramadan essentials such as dates are strong.

Precise data on African e-commerce trade is hard to come by. But officials who spoke to AFP suggested that the coronavirus crisis has been a boon for some online delivery platforms.

‘Explosion of orders’

Africa’s e-commerce giant, Jumia, appears to be one of the companies benefiting from a virus-driven bump in online sales.

The company has struggled with high operating costs, raising questions over its long term viability.

But in an earnings report on Wednesday Jumia said it had seen a “surge in demand” in early March due to coronavirus restrictions, while noting that supply had also been hit in some countries.

Francis Dufay, the firm’s managing director in Ivory Coast, said that there had been an “explosion of orders,” with demand currently three times higher than normal.

A similar dynamic is playing out in the continent’s most developed economy, South Africa.

“There has been a huge surge in demand,” Lynton Peters, a co-founder of the e-commerce firm OneCart, told AFP.

“Over the last couple of months we have seen a 500-percent increase in our business, and we have expanded quite rapidly in order to deal with demand,” he added.

The uptick in online sales follows years of growth in the sector, which has appealed to a young and urban internet-savvy population, and a growing African middle class.

But e-commerce in Africa still lags behind other parts of the world.

Some 21 million people shopped online in 2017 in Africa, according to a United Nations report, accounting for only 2 percent of the world’s total.

Half of those shoppers are also concentrated in just three countries: Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

E-commerce has nonetheless grown by 18 percent annually since 2014, the report said, and it is increasingly luring investors.

Many were previously put off by the myriad problems facing would-be e-retailers in Africa, ranging from a lack of street names, to limited internet access and suspicion of online payments.

Amazon, the world’s largest e-retailer, is barely present on the continent.

Local players such as Jumia, however, are adapting business practices to overcome hurdles, such as developing their own fleet of delivery drivers, for example.

- Everyone a chef –

Some e-commerce business owners hope that locking in previously-wary customers might be a silver lining to the coronavirus crisis.

“The fact that people could not go out has increased awareness and curiosity around online shopping and delivery services,” said Jerobeam Pengevally Mwedihanga, who owns an e-grocer in Namibia.

“People have become excited about using delivery services and those who did not know about it now know,” he added.

Successes have not been even, however, and many delivery businesses have struggled to cope with strict anti-virus policies.

Dufay, the Jumia official, said that evening food deliveries had collapsed in Ivory Coast because of a night-time curfew in the country.

Maguelonne Biau, the Ivory Coast managing director of delivery outfit Glovo, also said the curfew had struck a “big blow” to business.

And in another adverse effect, an increase in online deliveries may spell bad news for restaurants.

“Everyone has become a chef,” said Salmi Shigwedha, who owns a local eatery in the capital Windhoek called The Garden Inn.

“Instead of getting home from work too tired to cook, people now actually have time to prepare their own meals,” she added.

[ibilenews]

Nigeria coronavirus: 5,621 cases, govt explains returnees quarantine bills

Total confirmed cases = 5,621 (new cases = 288) Total recoveries = 1,320 Total deaths = 171 Active cases = 3,959

During their press briefing on Friday, the presidential task force covered a wide range of issues relative to the spread of the virus and containment efforts.

SGF Boss Mustapha disclosed how much funds had been raised so far as federal intervention. He put it at over 792 million naira deposited into the Treasury Singe Account from various in-country sources.

He further gave updates on federal interventions to help Sokoto and Borno States with some challenges. On Kano, he reiterated that the mystery deaths had stabilized due to cordial relations between federal and state actors.

Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said he would be representing Nigeria at an upcoming WHO’s Annual World Health Assembly event (May 17) which is dedicated to efforts aimed at combating COVID-19.

Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk reiterated government’s resolve to continue with a remodelled school feeding program where families of beneficiary pupils are given foodstuffs.

She disclosed that 3.1 million households were on queue to be served. Contractors list had been submitted to EFCC for due diligence even though they are all old agents and a number of international and local partners are on board to monitor the roll out.

For his part, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffery Onyeama explained at length why Nigerian returnees were asked to cater for their accommodation and feeding at isolation centers.

“In regards to why evacuees who have paid to come home, will have to pay for feeding and accommodation: this is not by any stretch of imagination that the government is happy to do.

“If the resources were available, we would evacuate everybody and if our medical infrastructure were solid and case load was much lower, we could revisit our protocol.

“But the fragility of our health infrastructure, the trajectory of the increasing numbers of positive test being what they are, we have to take the greatest care with regards to the protocols adopted.

He stressed the importance of quarantining returnees and disclosed that talks of using NYSC centers for the purpose had been mooted and remained under consideration.

“We’ve brought in upwards of 620 evacuees who have to be managed, there are human resources needed to be present, to monitor and manage the evacuees apart from other administrative arrangements needed to be put in place.

“So we want to take sometime to process the ones we have at the moment before we admit others coming back, because we don’t have the capacity at the moment. This is a challenging situation especially because the funding resources are not available,” he added.

[ibilenews]

Nigeria can no longer afford presidential system of government –Aganga

A former Minister of Finance, and later Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, speaks on the management of the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and steps that can be taken by the Federal Government to address the potential economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic

What informed your idea of a Sovereign Wealth Fund for Nigeria?

Many factors were considered. You may recall that I was appointed Minister of Finance at a time the world was just beginning to recover from the global financial crisis. And given my background as a professional accountant, appointed from Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, one of my priorities was to look at the sovereign risks and put mitigants in place to ensure that we were fully prepared for the next crises.

I also looked at the strength of our balance sheet-the quality and sustainability of revenues, the quality of spending and the loan portfolio. I concluded that to build a strong and resilient economy that would deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth, we had to manage our risks better and address the issues identified. For example, the entire financial ecosystem was overdue for comprehensive reform. We needed to manage our loan book better and set up sinking funds to repay the loans; there was room to optimise the value and economic returns for a larger proportion of our borrowings. The economy was not diversified and resilient enough to absorb a major shock among other things.

We relied almost entirely on one source of revenue-oil, which is a finite asset, and we had no influence or control on the price of oil. When you dig deeper you also realise that at that particular time, of all the OPEC countries and commodity-dependent countries, Nigeria, Iraq, and Ecuador were the only countries in the world without a Sovereign Wealth Fund. Even countries like Ghana that had just found oil were already in the process of setting up a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

I also anticipated that with the discovery of oil by many countries, the supply would be more than the demand in a matter of time. So, we had to take a bold action immediately.

But did we really need a Sovereign Wealth Fund when we already had Excess Crude Account in place?

We knew that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration had taken the first bold step to set up the Excess Crude Account when Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the Finance Minister. But the ECA is not a SWF and would not achieve the desired goals. We, therefore, decided to set up a SWF that would achieve the following: Help reduce the country’s vulnerability to significant external shocks resulting from global oil price fluctuations; ensure intergenerational equity, as oil and gas are finite assets; support domestic development efforts by investing in critical and trade-related infrastructure; serve as a catalyst for attracting additional local and foreign investment; and provide a powerful signalling effect to credit agencies and external investors in terms of improved fiscal management, with an associated positive impact on Nigeria’s sovereign credit ratings.

But many governors kicked against the idea then. What exactly was their point?

You see, we all complained about the over-dependence on oil and the lack of savings and yet it was unbelievably difficult when we decided to set up a fund to save and to diversify the economy. I recall a governor telling me that there was no need to save for a rainy day because it is already raining heavily and the state is flooded. To be fair, I understood where he was coming from and knew I just needed to be more persuasive- explain more, share the vision, and get them to buy into it.

Some told me point blank it was impossible and others argued that a section of the Constitution required all revenues to be paid into the federation account and distributed.  While this is true, other sections of the Constitution supported the creation of such a vehicle but more importantly, it was possible to structure a Sovereign Wealth Fund that complied with all sections of the Constitution, including the section on paying all amounts into the federation account and distributing it. It only required creativity and political will. I had to get a legal opinion to support our interpretation of the relevant bits of the Constitution. Generally, it required patience and attention to every detail and side comments. I made about five presentations to NEC, and at a point, they insisted I present it to the Attorney Generals and Commissioners of Justice of the 36 states– we did and got the nod from them and then represented to NEC.

Also to be fair, I had constant support from some (former) governors like Peter Obi, Liyel Imoke, Murtala Nyako, Aliyu Babangida who nicknamed me “the father of the SWF” but that number grew as they got a better understanding of what we were trying to do. We then took it to FEC twice before we got the final approval from NEC. All through, I had a strong team working with me which included a former Chilean Minister of Finance who set up their SWF; international and Nigerian law firms led by Kayode Sofola, SAN, Udoma, and Bello Osagie.  In all, it was a team effort. The bill was eventually passed into law on May 17, 2011 and signed into an Act on May 27 at 4.30pm.  That was the last working day of the administration and the last major approval for that administration.  Just imagine what would have happened if we didn’t work hard to secure the approval before the end of that administration! I am sure you know what I mean.

How would you assess the progress of the SWF to date?

On its implementation, I must commend my former colleague, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the operationalisation of the fund.  She did a terrific job.  We also secured a first-rate investment banker, Uche Orji, as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the NSIA. The current administration has engaged well with the NSIA, increasing the Asset Under Management and has started to involve the SWF in infrastructure development. My only major disappointment is the size of the fund.  By now, we expected it to be more than $15bn, not the $1.7bn; and that includes the seed capital of $1bn which I secured in 2011. The innovative structure for infrastructure development has not been fully utilised and the ECA should have transitioned to a Budget Smothering Account with a set limit as prescribed by the law/Act in the account. The aspiration was for the SWF to grow to about 15 per cent of the GDP at least.  The support of the three tiers of government and the quality of the leadership at the board and management levels will ultimately determine the on-going success of the fund.

The Federal Government has had cause recently to fall back on the SWF to cushion part of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy. Would you say it was to unlock the stability component of the Fund for this purpose?

Yes, it was in order and there may be more in subsequent quarters if the triggers are met. It is the first time such a withdrawal has been made but I am glad because it tested the structure and the controls we had in place and it was done transparently. I received so many emails, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls when it was announced– most people were asking whether it was legal, some had concerns that it could be the end of the SWF as all funds could be withdrawn, etc. My only regret is that we could have had more to cushion the effect of Covid-19 and the fall in oil price at this particular time if we had invested the excess over the benchmark price in the SWF for the past eight or nine years as contained in the Act. As I explained earlier, once the trigger points have been met, the government can withdraw funds from the stabilisation fund. That is what it was set up to do– to provide funds to support the budget when there is a sustained fall in oil price.

How exactly would you advise the FG to tackle the fallout of the COVID-19 lockdown on the economy, especially now that the IMF has predicted tough times?

Unfortunately, the International Monetary Fund is right. I have to admit that the effect on the world and Nigeria’s economy will be devastating. We were already heading for a tough time pre-Covid-19, but I expect it to be much tougher now because of the twin effects of COVID-19 and the significant and sustained fall in oil price. The glut is going to hit Nigeria harder because we do not have any refining capacity or solid long-term oil contracts as the Saudis have with China and we are almost entirely dependent on oil revenues to support our budget and reserves. I will give you some examples from a global perspective. In the US, 22 million people have filed for unemployment benefits. This is a disaster if you consider that it took almost 10 years to create 20 million jobs, it is feared that the US unemployment rate could reach 30 per cent. JP Morgan reckons that the global economy contracted by 12 per cent between January and March this year. The UK predicts upside scenario of Gross Domestic Product falling by 2.6 per cent in 2020 and picking up in 2021, but on the downside scenario, it predicts a contraction of 5.4 per cent in 2020 and by another 1.4 per cent in 2021. The UK expects a 35 per cent drop in economic output as a result of the virus and lockdown. For oil-dependent countries, all these have been exacerbated by 60 per cent or more slump in oil price.

What are the developed nations doing to tackle the adverse effects of COVID-19?

Spending, spending and spending to save jobs, to keep businesses open and to save small businesses. In mid-March, the UK announced its first rescue package worth £330bn to assist businesses struggling with the economic emergency caused by Covid-19. This is in addition to £12bn extra spending for public health. Since then, more spending has been announced. In the US, the Small Business Administration ran out of money meant to save small businesses within days.

So what should Nigeria be doing now?

The good news is that we appear to have started well with the committees set up by the President and with some of the announcements made by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. But I must emphasise the importance of coordination between the monetary and fiscal policies and measures. There is also the need to keep both eyes, not one, on exchange rates, reserves and inflation. I also have to commend the private sector and in particular the banks for the credit facilities, products, and moratoria granted to Small and Medium Enterprises and some vital sectors of the economy. As they say, one good turn deserves another.  The taxpayers bailed the banks out during the global financial crisis, now the banks are bailing out businesses and Nigerians.  That is how it should be.

We have to come up with a plan made by Nigeria and for Nigerians based on our peculiarities and resources.  We cannot and should not aim to copy the western world hook, line and sinker, because we have a very different economy, the resources available are very different, the spending priorities and commitment as of today are different. The UK has to fund the NHS and the social security system. The levels of poverty and unemployment are also different. My view, given where we are today, is that our first focus should be on what we can control, and that is cost.  Cut or remove all wastages, block all leakages, cut the cost of governance now, reprioritise spending, implement fully “buy made-in-Nigeria products”, spend to boost the economy and create jobs.  Support consumers.  The warehouses are full because there are no buyers, no disposable income. The rescue packages must start from the drivers of the economy – the MSMEs. There are about 41.4 million micro-businesses, 71,000 small businesses, and 1,700 medium businesses in the country – the approach should be bottom-up.

One lesson I learnt from Brazil is that most ministries always financially support the agency for MSME because this is the only sector that continues to create jobs in good and bad times.  An unemployed person or a person laid off will not just sit at home he will find a way to become self-employed even if he has to buy and sell, drive a taxi- that is a micro business. We should also be thinking of expanding the safety net programme.

Food security is key to avoiding any social unrest at these difficult times.  This means we have to continue supporting our farmers and the food industry in general but revisit the distribution channels.  There should be incentives for companies to retain and employ new staff.  Job-creating and fast-growing sectors like the entertainment industry and Information Technology will need some assistance.  I am glad to see that some of the banks are already doing this. We should then support the larger businesses as we accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan.  We have delayed the implementation of the plan for too long.  We must diversify our economy away from oil. Now is the time to seriously start the implementation. We need a structure that will ensure continuity in place.  Without rigorous planning and continuity, countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc, will not be where they are today.

With the drop in oil revenue due to the impact of COVID-19, what areas should the Federal Government be looking at to raise revenue to finance the budget?

As I said earlier, my first focus will be to cut and control costs in a significant way. Cut the wastages, block revenue leakages, and take this unique opportunity to cut the cost of governance. We all know that the presidential system of governance is an expensive one. And we now know we cannot afford it.

Why can’t we do something about it now?

This is a unique opportunity to make certain structural changes; we should not miss the opportunity.  History will judge us well if we did.  We also need to reprioritise spending and improve the quality of our spending.  When we talk about sources of finance for the economy as opposed to the budget, there are four main sources. The first is the government-sourced revenue including loans. This is limited now but if we make our case well and we are seen to have taken some tough measures already, we may be able to access some grants, soft loans. I believe the government is already doing this.

But expect revenues from taxes, Customs, and Value Added Tax to fall.  Some may have a dramatic fall. The second is the diaspora remittances. This is also affected because Covid-19 is global and has had an impact on jobs globally. The third is international investors and local investors. I am not talking about hot money here.  We should focus more and give incentives to local investors. Tell me, what is the government doing funding infrastructure projects that are economically viable? This was what the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission was set up to facilitate but since it was established, please tell me how many public-private-partnerships have we had? And yet we are spending money on the ICRC annually. We need a rethink, I think. Our debt-servicing cost is a relatively high percentage of our annual revenue. We should be engaging our lenders now to suspend all payments of financing cost and work towards renegotiating some of the loans and where possible seek debt forgiveness.

The IMF had predicted a negative growth rate of 3.4 per cent for Nigeria’s economy in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, how soon do you see the economy getting back to the path of sustainable growth?

This is a very good question but it is hard to tell.  There are too many variables. It depends on the actions we take now, the quality of implementation, and when the vaccine against COVID-19 will be ready. Many governors kicked against the idea then.

Based on your experience as Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, to what extent would the COVID-19 pandemic affect the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement?

Just like everything else, COVID-19 will have a significant effect on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement bearing in mind that trade is about the availability of goods and free movement of goods and people. For a start, we know that the commencement of trading within the AfCFTA is slated for July 1, 2020 but we now know that there will be no free movement of goods in the way we understood it until a vaccine is found and that could be sometime next year. The lockdown, physical distancing, and other measures taken by different governments to curtail the spread of Covid-19 have also led to an environment of low productivity, border and airport closures, and prolonged disruption in the supply chain. All these will affect the implementation of AfCFTA.  On the technical level, some instruments that are required to be in place before the commencement of trading.  For example, the Rules of Origin and the schedule of liberalised tariff lines have yet to be submitted.  So, I expect to see a revision in the timetable. One final point is that Nigeria must not make the same mistakes we made with EPA.  We had 10 years to prepare and assume our role as the leader in ECOWAS but in the end, we were not ready. The AfCFTA is good for the continent, but let me be clear that Nigeria is the market or one of the main markets in Africa.

[ibilenews]

Senegal approves Madagascar’s anti-COVID-19 drug

Senegal has approved Madagascar’s Covid Organics (CVO), an herbal potion for clinical trials that is said to cure coronavirus of COVID-19 pandemic patients, reported local media.

"We are moving to use the Artemisia [the main component of the CVO]. On our side. We are evaluating it scientifically. We have given green light” Daouda Ndiaye, head of the Senegalese scientific committee told local Radio Futurs Medias, a local FM network on Thursday.

"We will work on a protocol to see how to give it to Senegalese patients," he said

Top Senegalese scientist, however, cautioned people against self-medication or using the potion on their own without medical supervision.

He said the coronavirus herbal remedy can be used both for prevention and to cure patients.

Dr. Aloyse Waly Diouf, an official at the Senegalese Health Ministry said his country will begin clinical trials on Artemisia.

“The work will start today,” he said.

Senegal has 1,492 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, with 13 deaths, and 562 recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US. -based at Johns Hopkins University.

Covid Organics was officially launched by Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina last month. The drug has been developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research.

''I salute Madagascar's efforts in the search for therapeutic solutions which Senegal is following with interest,'' Senegal's President Macky Sall said following Rajoelina's announcement.

On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for clinical trials of Madagascar's Covid Organics.

"We are advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial and we are prepared to collaborate with them," Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's regional director for Africa, told a media briefing.

South Africa has also expressed willingness to assist Madagascar to undertake scientific analysis of Covid Organics. Madagascar has so far shipped the CVO to several African countries.

[ibilenews]

Nigerian govt directs NAFDAC to assess herbal mixture as possible COVID-19 treatment

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been directed to carry out necessary procedures for the assessment of a plant-based cough mixture as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Mashi Abdullahi, issued the directive in a memo with REF no. TCAM/077/I/65 addressed to the director-general of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye.

The memo, dated April 28, 2020, was titled ‘Formulation of a Phyto-Medicine-Based Cough Mixture/Syrup for the Management of COVID-19 Patients by Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Department of the Ministry’.

Nigeria is not the first country to consider herbal medicine as an alternative treatment for COVID-19 patients.

Last Month, the Madagascan president, Andry Rajoelina, launched a herbal remedy that he said could prevent and cure patients infected with the virus. Countries like Tanzania, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, and the Republic of Congo have indicated interest in the herbal remedy.

The minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday, said the local medicines in Nigeria had not been tested and could be poisonous.

He said all herbal medicines must go through the research cycle to ensure they are not toxic.

He noted that “no COVID-19 patients will be released to herbal practitioners to test the efficacy of their drugs, such drugs will first be tested on animals before it can be certified.”

Memo in full

“As you are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic is currently ravaging the world with no definite treatment or vaccine.

“This has necessitated countries to look for solutions from within and Nigeria is no exception. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is blessed with medicinal plants which could be exploited.

“It is heartwarming to note that the Department of TCAM has taken the pains to research into scientific materials to come up with a formulation intended for the management of cough in COVID-19 and other cough-related infections.”

“The formulation is a Cov-herbal cough mixture. Interestingly, all the ingredients that make up the formulations are medicinal plants that are widely used as food materials and medicines.

“They include Allium sativa (garlic); Allium cepa (onions); Zingiber officinale (ginger): Piper guineense (West African Black Pepper); and Adansonia digitata (baobab fruit). The innovation here is the composition of the formulation.

“These medicinal plants have documented scientific evidence of long use for the management of cough and other respiratory infections, with medicinal properties of mucoIytic, antitussive, expectorant, soothing, demulcent, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects.

“The ministry is determined to walk the talk in the promotion and integration of herbal medicine into the health care delivery system.

“In view of the foregoing and the desire of the ministry to showcase to the public a product that is 100 per cent sourced locally, you are requested to carry out the necessary procedures for listing.

“The ministry will contract the packaging of the product to some identified pharmaceutical companies. Find attached scientific pieces of evidence of the products end labelling for your information end necessary action,” he said.

[ibilenews]

Former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu released from prison

Orji Kalu, a Nigerian senator who was jailed for allegedly stealing public funds, has been released from custody, IBILE NEWS has learnt.

Mr Kalu, a former Abia State governor, was freed from the Nigerian correctional facility in Kuje, Abuja, on Friday morning, two sources familiar with the development said.

He has now moved to his residence off Queen Amina Street within the perimeter of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, sources said. The sources spoke under anonymity because they were close to Mr Orji and did not get immediate permission from him to disclose his release to the press.

Mr Kalu’s release came moments after the Supreme Court voided his conviction in December 2019 in a multi-billion naira corruption trial.

Mr Kalu had been accused of pilfering and mismanaging funds belonging to Abia State during his days as governor between 1999 and 2007. He pleaded not guilty and appealed his conviction by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

On Friday morning, the Supreme Court deemed Mr Kalu’s conviction inappropriate and ordered a retrial of the case, according to multiple media reports out of the court.

A seven-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous verdict delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, declared that the conviction null and void, Channels TV reported Friday.

According to the report, Justice Eko declared that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Mr Kalu, was already a justice of the Court of Appeal, when he ruled and sentenced Mr Kalu and his co-defendant.

He held that a Justice of the Court of Appeal cannot operate as a judge of the Federal High Court, and ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial, the report said.

[ibilenews]

5 Nigerian celebrities who have been generous during the coronavirus pandemic

Since coronavirus hit Nigeria in February 2020, various laws and orders have been instituted by governments across the country which has seen a lot of people go out of jobs and remained indoors.

The most affected people have been the less privileged in the society, whose daily source of income has been cut short by the lockdown orders.

In a bid to cushion the effects of the lockdown, some of your favourite celebrities have taken it upon themselves to provide for the poor and needy in society.

For some who didn't want to go through the cumbersome process of sharing food items, they took to social media where they gave out cash gifts.

Here are some of your favourite celebrities who have helped provide for the poor and needy during the lockdown.

1. Runtown

It is safe to say that Douglas Jack Agu popularly known as Runtown is the first celebrity who jumped on the bandwagon of celebrities who have decided to help Nigerians cushion the effects of the lockdown order issued because of the dreaded coronavirus.

On March 25, the music star caused a major commotion on Twitter when he announced his giveaway plans. According to him, he was going to share N10m for his followers and fans.

In less than an hour, Twitter went into a frenzy as the music star shared the said amount of money to all those who sent their account details during the giveaway.

2. Banky W

While some celebrities were doing giveaways via social media to Nigerians, others like Banky W and his friends, deemed it fit to go into the areas where those who have been severely hit by the lockdown.

The music star in collaboration with some well-meaning Nigerians visited some selected areas in Lagos Island where they shared food items to the poor and needy.

According to Banky W, it was a collaboration between residents in the area and himself who felt it was only good to help those who couldn't fend for themselves because of the lockdown.

3. Peruzzi

Peruzzi happens to be one of those celebs who is always ready to share with fans and followers some part of his wealth.

On March 25, Peruzzi just like Runtown, gave fans and followers a reason to smile as he give out a lot of cash in the form of giveaways. According to him, it was a way of cushioning the impact of the lockdown order on Nigerians.

4. Chika Ike

Chika Ike joined the list of celebrities who have dug in their pockets to help a lot of Nigerians who have not been able to take care of themselves since the lockdown began.

In a series of photos shared via her Instagram page on Thursday, April 23, the actress in collaboration with her team went out to share food items to the motherless homes and less privileged homes.

5. I Go Dye

Unlike most celebrities who have donated money and food items to those in need during the lockdown order issued by the government, one celeb who has taken a different approach entirely is Francis Agoda popularly known as I Go Dye.

The comedian on Wednesday, April 22 announced that will be donating his newly built mansion in Benin to the state government as an isolation center for coronavirus patients.

[ibilenews]

'Don't read from any paper, speak to Nigerians from your heart' - Yul Edichie advises President Muhammadu Buhari

Yul Edochie says President Muhammadu Buhari should speak to Nigerians from his heart tonight as he plans to address the country over the surge of coronavirus in the country.

The Nollywood actor made this known via his Twitter page, where he advised the president to speak to the country without reading from a paper.

"Dear President @MBuhari drop paper. Don’t read speech today. Speak to Nigerians from your heart," he tweeted.

The president will be expected to give Nigerians an update on his government's efforts towards containing the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria.

The highlight of the address will revolve around the president's lockdown of Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

[ibilenews]

'I feel fulfilled, happier and I have received more blessings since I came back to Islam' - Adunni Ade speaks about converting to Islam

Adunni Ade says since she converted to Islam it has since brought so many blessings and fulfillment to her.

The actress in a lengthy post via her Instagram page on Sunday, April 26, 2020, said she was born a Muslim but later left to become a Christian.

She said she was raised a Muslim but her father gave them the free will to choose whatever religion they wanted.

"Yes, I am a Muslim. Born into a Muslim home and was raised as one. If you care to know, B2 in my WAEC Examination. 😊 I have a loving Muslim Father who has given his children the free will to choose any religion they like be it Christianity or Islam. My Mom is a Christian, though not a practicing one. My Stepmom is a Christian, My stepsisters are Christians, my Stepbrothers are Muslims," she wrote.

"Have I been to a Church before? Plentyyyyy of them. I once converted, name the Church, MFM, RCCG, CLAM, CAC sure been there but one thing was certain, Islam never left me. My ways of dealing, my upbringing, all I learnt was from a Muslim and was what I truly knew.

"I was scared what folks would think about me if I went back to Islam and this went on for years. About 4 years ago, Dec 31st, 2016 I decided I would live my life for ME. Me alone! I came back to Islam. I feel fulfilled. I’m happier. I have received more Blessings this way. My Oldest son practices Islam prays and Fasts as well.

"Yes, I wear what I like, be it modest or not. Who are you to decide my inner intentions. You know, it’s easy for you to type on your keypads and make assumptions, but folks who know me will say otherwise.

"Islam I was taught teaches me that we are judged on our intentions by Allah alone. What’s within, not what you see. Not looking for acceptance from anyone. I want people to live their life’s to its full potentials.

"Worry less of what the next fellow is doing. Judge less, focus on you and you alone, and watch great things happen to you. As Muslims do know, during the month of Ramadan, the Heavens are opened to accept our supplications and prayers and Hell is Closed and satan is caged down there.

"Let’s use this time wisely! I experienced Allah’s Greatness this time last year. I am looking forward to receiving my Blessings this year and every other day afterward. I hope I’ve been able to clarify a few things.... y’all have a lovely night rest.

Ade is a Nigerian actress born in Queens, New York, United States to a German Irish mother and a Yoruba Nigerian father.

She a mother to two adorable sons, D'Marion and Ayden.

[ibilenews]

'Stop borrowing money from other countries' - Harrysong appeals to President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian music star, Harrysong has appealed to President Muhammadu to stop borrowing money from other countries.

The president had requested to borrow the sum of eight hundred and fifty million naira to fund projects in the country.

The music star made this known via his Instagram page on Monday, April 28, 2020, where he expressed his displeased over plans by the government to borrow money to fund its projects.

"Buhari invest in education, it is never too late, start paying students, we need brains to sustain this country's economy and please stop borrowing money from other countries oooooo. I dey shake ooo," he wrote.

Harrysong's statement is coming on the heels of the news that the presidency will be borrowing the sum of eight hundred and fifty billion naira to fund its budget.

According to the head of media at the Debt Management Office, Mrs Chinenye Onu, the reason behind the decision was to ensure that the implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Act was not jeopardised by lack of funds.

[ibilenews]

'Nobody should point any finger at any entertainer, hold government responsible' - Alexx Ekubo advises Nigerians on accountability

Nollywood actor, Alexx Ekubo has slammed those calling for the heads of celebrities rather than hold the government accountable for its duty.

The actor made this known during a live Instagram chat with Nollywood veteran Regina Askia.

"Nobody I repeat nobody with all due respect nobody should point any finger at any entertainer I'm doing my best, it's not my job its the government's job, I'm suffering. So I'm going out my way to help who I can help, I'm not the government," he said in the video.

According to him, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to hold the government accountable for their wellbeing rather than point fingers at celebrities for not helping those in need.

"Pls let us learn to collectively hold the government responsible for things that affect governance, we can’t share their responsibility with them. They must do more to ensure the wellbeing & safety of every citizen. That’s their NUMBER 1 JOB

According to him, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to hold the government accountable for their wellbeing rather than point fingers at celebrities for not helping those in need. 

"And to every Nollywood player or Entertainer who is trying his or her best possible to touch a life in these perilous times, may God almighty bless & reward you. You are a model citizen, continue to do the much you can, don’t be discouraged. God sees in the secret & reward in the open.

Since the lockdown order issued by the government because of coronavirus, several celebrities have joined other well-meaning Nigerians to help the poor and needy with financial and food items.

[ibilenews]

Big Brother Africa's Elikems says marriage to Pokello crashed because he didn't understand the concept of marriage

One of the former housemates of the reality TV show, Big Brother Africa, Elikem Kumordzie has revealed the reason why the marriage with fellow housemate, Pokello didn't work out.

The reality TV star made this known while granting an interview via Instagram live with fellow fashion designer and Radio host, KOD.

"There was an interview Pokello did some time ago and she said, Elikem was not ready for marriage. I got married at 26 – 27, maybe she was right. Pokello is three -years older and at the time we got married, I think she was 29 -30," he said.

"Maybe she was seeing something at that time, I couldn't see. But now that I have turned 31, am seeing a lot of things I didn't see at 27. In considering people and appreciating people, maybe she was right to some extent because I must have not understood the concept of marriage and sacrifice.

"I don’t remember too well when we fell off but there was this long period of time where things just went off. She has to be there [Zimbabwe] and I have to be here [Ghana ] and then we had to separate.

Elikem and Pokello were housemates during the eighth season of Big Brother Africa in 2013.

They both got married in 2015 and have a son together.

[ibilenews]

Kylie Jenner shows off her never-before-seen twerking moves in new Tik Tok video

Kylie Jenner isn't only just pretty but she has got the moves as seen in her newly released twerking video shared on the social media platform, Tik Tok.

The billionaire and 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' reality TV star and her friend, Anastasia Karanikolaou also known as Stassie Baby took to Tik Tok on Monday, April 27, 2020, where they showed off their twerking skills.

Dancing to the popular Tiger King-inspired version of Megan Thee Stallion's hit song, "Savage," the beautiful ladies kept fans glued to their phones as they teased them with moves.

The ladies came prepared as they looked seductive in their beautiful designed bikinis.

"Can't convince me that it didn't happen," Stassi's TikTok video caption read.

Jenner was in the news a few days ago when it was revealed that she had gotten for herself a mansion worth thirty-six million dollars in Los Angeles.

[ibilenews]

'Thinking about sending your nudes to that guy? Crop your face out' - Damilola Adegbite advises women

Nollywood actress, Damilola Adegbite has advised women to crop their faces out anytime they intend to send nude photos to a male partner or friend.

The actress gave this advise via her Instagram page on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

According to her, women should tread carefully when they decide to share personal and nude photos to men because they won't know how far those images will go or whose hands it may get to.

"To all my GROWN sexy ladies ❤️. Thinking about sending your nudes to that guy? Your crush may have a “confidant” who has a “confidant” who has a girlfriend he doesn’t hide anything from, who has a sister," she wrote.

"I’m sure you get my drift. Before you go ahead, be ABSOLUTELY sure you know who you are dealing with. Even when you are, anything could go wrong. His phone could get into anyone else’s hands. But as a GROWN WOMAN, if you have considered all that could go wrong and still decide to send him that picture or video to spice things up, be safe. Crop your face out ❤️

Adegbite is a Nigerian actress while a career spanning over a decade. She first shot into limelight in the popular TV soap opera, Tinsel.

Adegbite went to get married to Tinsel co-star, Chris Attoh in 2015. In September 2014, the couple welcomed their son Brian.

Attoh revealed that they had divorced in 2017 during an exclusive interview.