The concern expressed by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, over the deteriorating situation in Nigeria and the assurance that the UK government is keen on helping Nigeria win its fight against insurgency and banditry dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Thursday.
The Guardian reports that as insecurity continues to ravage many parts of the country, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has expressed worry at the deteriorating situation, stating that the UK government was keen on helping Nigeria win its fight against insurgency and banditry.
“We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating security situation. I mean, Nigeria is facing a lot of problems everywhere – in the Northeast, terrorism; in the Northwest, banditry, kidnapping; in the Middle Belt, the farmers-herders conflict; in the South, the Niger Delta conflict everywhere and the secession movements in the Southeast. So, Nigeria is really struggling,” Liang noted.
The envoy spoke with journalists on the sidelines of a reception held to welcome home the 2019/2020 UK Chevening Scholarship beneficiaries. Laing said the UK government had been helping the Nigerian military in the areas of training, campaign planning, and how to counter IEDs.
She further said the recent visit of the UK’s Minister of Armed Forces, during which he interacted with the Nigerian Government at the highest level, including the Service Chiefs, also showed the commitment of the UK government.
Laing, however, urged the Nigerian government to be a bit more precise about the support they needed from the UK and what the UK can offer.
The newspaper says that shortage of COVID-19 vaccines has raised the stakes for persons who desperately want it, particularly for travel purposes. This has raised fears of fakery by elements in China as well as hoarding and extortion by local officials.
The latest reports from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) indicate that just over 718,412 Nigerians and foreigners alike have received the first dose of COVID-19-vaccine. This figure is largely insignificant, compared to the challenge of quickly vaccinating 70 per cent of the 200-million strong population to achieve herd immunity.
This is coming as reports emerged that Nigeria hopes to receive up to 70 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this year through the African Union (AU). AU’s primary healthcare chief told Reuters yesterday, amid concerns about delayed deliveries of AstraZeneca shots. Nigeria, which has recorded 2,049 deaths from COVID-19 and began vaccinations in March, plans to inoculate 40 per cent of its people this year and another 30 per cent in 2022.
Last week, India – the world’s biggest vaccine maker – said it would prioritise domestic inoculations, prompting fears of delays in the export of AstraZeneca doses under the World Health Organization (WHO)-backed COVAX scheme to supply vaccines to poorer countries. In a separate development, Johnson & Johnson on Monday said it will supply the AU with up to 400 million doses of its single-dose vaccine beginning in the third quarter.
ThisDay reports that the Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Action (MOA) with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) geared towards averting the planned nationwide strike of resident doctors billed to commence Thursday, April 1.
Both sides reached an agreement Wednesday night to shelve the strike ultimatum, while the leadership of NARD will receive a clean copy of the detailed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) indicating new timelines for addressing their grievances.
As part of its show of good faith, the federal government gave an undertaken to start the implementation of the MoA with payment of arrears of salaries and allowances beginning from today.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, the agreement was signed midnight on Wednesday after a marathon meeting between the government side and the leadership of NARD at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.
He said the meeting, which lasted seven hours, deliberated on the issues raised by the aggrieved doctors in their Notice of Trade Dispute including the non-payment of salaries of some house officers, non-recruitment of house officers, abolishment of the bench fees for doctors undergoing training in other hospitals, and non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and hazard allowances.
The Punch says the Nigerian Government will be meeting with telecommunications operators and other key stakeholders in the sector over the recent court judgment halting the government from disconnecting SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers by April 6.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy as well as operators in the telecommunications space confirmed to our correspondent that the government was making progress with the NIN enrollments and its linking to SIM cards.
They also stated that the recent court order barring the Federal Government from blocking SIM cards not linked to NINs in April would be considered in a meeting that would hold before the expiration of the April 6, 2021 deadline.
A former second National Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association and human rights lawyer, Monday Ubani, had filed an originating motion and asked the court to stop the Nigerian Communications Commission from disconnecting all SIM cards not linked to NINs.
The planned meeting was further confirmed by the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Ikechukwu Nnamani. He also stated that the communications minister would make public the decision of government on the April 6 deadline soon.
The Sun reports that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has enjoined the Federal Government to boost the manufacturing sector to compete favourably in Africa, especially with the take-off of the African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA).
President of MAN, Mansur Ahmed, represented by Samuel Kolawole, vice president, South-West Zone, had at a sod-turning ceremony, noted that there was no way the economy can improve if the manufacturing sector does not improve; that is the real sector that can promote sustainable development in Nigeria.
Ahmed added that with an enabling environment provided by the government, Nigerians would realise their potential in the manufacturing sector.
“That would help in a lot of ways to improve the employment rate, foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria and improve the economy generally.
“This is because there is no way the economy can improve if the manufacturing sector does not improve; that is the real sector that can promote sustainable development in Nigeria.”
GIK/APA