Nigeria Press Review 4.12. – 11.12.2020

December2020 Nigeria Office

Welcome to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Nigeria Weekly Press Review

The weekly press review seeks to explore and keep you informed on selected issues relating to politics, business and economy, insecurity, infrastructure and development, health related issues, new trends and matters bothering on COVID-19 and the situation in Nigeria.

Content

PTF Raises Alarm as Covid-19 Cases are on the Surge

Senate Passes FCT Revised Bill, Seeks Probe of Revenue Loss to Illegal Mining and to Consider Bill for Loan Repayment, NCC Orders a Halt in New SIM Sale

NCC Orders a Halt in New SIM Sale, NPC Estimates Population at 206 Million

Nigeria Gains a Spot in US Religious Freedom Blacklist, FG Reacts, Report Reveals DIA bought Equipment to Spy on Citizens

#EndSARS: Tension Mounts as Protest Resumes Slowly

PDP and APC Bicker over APC’s Recent Internal Party Moves for Restructuring, Oshiomhole Disclose Zero Ambition to Return as the National Chairman of the APC

Insecurity: Stakeholders Raise Alarm over the Growing Insecurity in the Country, President Buhari Calls for Improved Regional Collaboration, Amnesty International Reports About Army Abuses of Elderly in Borno State

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PTF Raises Alarm as Covid-19 Cases are on the 2018. The Senate also quizzed the Permanent Surge Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Cul- ture, Nebolisa Anako, over uncompleted project The Presidential Task Force (PTF) has raised already paid for. Chuks Okocha, This Day News alarm over the hike in the number of infected (10th December) explains. persons with the Coronavirus. The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Also, the Senate is considering a bill to improve Federation, Boss Mustapha who stated this dur- the method of bank loan repayment in the coun- ing a media briefing expressed concerns on the try. The bill which has scaled the second reading impact of the virus on the economy, families, was sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani among others. He mentioned that there is a sig- Musa and referred by the Deputy Senate Presi- nificant increase in the Covid-19 infections last dent, Ovie Omo-Agege to the Committee on week and stressed on the low testing rate in the Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institu- country. He called for caution and awareness of tions for further legislative work. Musa noted the the virus. Leo Usigbe, Nigerian Tribune (10th De- importance of commercial banks (credit facilities) cember) explains. to the development of the country. He called for an “injection of a healthy bank credit and recov- On the same note, the Minister of Health, Osagie ery system that will effectively fasten the pace of Enahire has ordered the reopening of all treat- growth". He added that the bill will protect com- ment and isolation centres following projections mercial banks from loan defaulters. Chuks Oko- of a second wave hit of the Coronavirus pan- cha, All Africa News (9th December) details. demic. He made this known during the PTF briefing. Enahire advised citizens to continue to ad- here to the Covid-19 safety precautions. Nike NCC Orders a Halt in New SIM Sale, NPC Esti- Adebowale, Premium Times (10th December) de- mates Population at 206 Million tails. Enahire has also revealed that Nigeria will receive Covid-19 vaccines, and plans to vaccinate Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Com- 20 million citizens against the Coronavirus. Adam mission (NCC), has issued an order to Mobile Net- Abu-bashal, AA News (11th December) writes. work Operators suspending the sale and activa- tion of new SIM cards to allow an audit of sub- scribe registration data base. Disclosing this, the Senate Passes FCT Revised Bill, Seeks Probe of Director Public Affairs of the NCC, Ikechukwu Revenue Loss to Illegal Mining and to Consider Adinde said the directive came from the Minister Bill for Loan Repayment, NCC Orders a Halt in of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pan- New SIM Sale tami. He added that non-compliance will attract consequences. Ife Ogunwa, Punch News (9th De- The Senate has approved N199.2bn as the Fed- cember) reports. eral Capital Territory (FCT) budget for 2020 fiscal year. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on On another note, the NCC has assured citizens of FCT, Abubakar Kyari, made a presentation titled: its commitment towards data reduction. This was "Harmonized report of the 2020 Federal Capital revealed in an interview by the Vice Chairman of Territory (FCT) Appropriation Act (Repeal and Re- the NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta. Danbatta added enactment) Bill, 2020”. The revised budget is that measures were already put in place to meet about N79bn lower than the 2020 statutory Ap- the needs of telecom subscribers. He expressed propriation Act figure of N278.4bn. Queen Esther commitment towards achieving “the target of Iroanusi, All Africa News (9th December). N390/Gigabyte cost of data by the year 2025, as enshrined in the National Broadband Plan (2020- On another note, the Senate has called for the 205)”. Emma Okonji, This Day News (10th Decem- probe of an alleged annual revenue loss of $9bn ber) explains. to illegal mining and smuggling of gold. The Sen- ate charged the executive arm of government In new development, the National Population and its Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Commission (NPC), has said that Nigeria has an Development and Metallurgy to investigate the il- estimated population of 206 million people. This legal activities and revenue leakage. The motion was disclosed by the Chairman of the NPC, Nasir which was sponsored by the Senate Chief Whip, Kwarra, at a press briefing on the commence- Orji Uzor Kalu, cited a loss of $54bn from 2012 to

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ment of the 11th phase of Enumeration Area De- titled “Running in Circles: Uncovering the Clients marcation, (EAD). Kwarra stated that the figure of Cyber-Espionage” Israeli firm Circles has been was based on projections as Nigeria has not con- supporting security apparatuses across countries ducted a population count since 2014. He added and Nigeria inclusive to spy on the communica- that the next population and housing count will tions of opposition figures, press men and probe conducted mid-2022. Chris Ochayi, Vanguard testers. The report also cited an investigation by News (8th December) details. Premium Times where two Nigerian governors bought systems from Circles without following due process and authorization from the Office of Nigeria Gains a Spot in US Religious Freedom the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to spy on Blacklist, FG Reacts, Report Reveals DIA their opponent. bought Equipment to Spy on Citizens

The United States of America (USA) has placed Ni- #EndSARS: Tension Mounts as Protest Re- geria on its religious freedom blacklist among sumes Slowly others. The Secretary of State Mike Pompeo des- ignated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Con- Following last week report that the Special Anti- cern" for religious freedom, the rare inclusion of Robbery Squad (SARS), nationwide protest will re- a fellow democracy in the US effort to shame na- sume this week, protesters have renewed the call tions into action”. This is coming following the for an end to police brutality and the excesses of growing concerns by church groups over the the security officers in the country. The October Muslims-Christian balance. The US law provides protest came to a halt due to the killings at the sanctions for nations on the blacklist who would Lekki Toll Gate that led to the violent outbreak in not make improvements. The Conference of the country with miscreants causing mayhem Catholic Bishops wrote to Pompeo stating that across the nation. Tope Templer Olaiya et al, “far more Nigerians were being killed in herder- Guardian News (8th December) detail. farmer conflicts, in which Christians have borne the brunt as climate change worsens desertifica- Wary of another protest, the federal government tion”. AFP, Guardian News (8th December) writes. deployed security forces at strategic points of the country including the Lekki Toll Gate to control Responding, the federal government has de- any fresh protest. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) bunked the allegation of religious freedom viola- had warned that “they would clamp down on tion. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai #EndSARS protesters if anyone hit the streets for Mohammed stated that Nigeria does not have another round of protests”. However, promoters any policy of religious persecution. Mohammed of the #EndSARS movement took to social media added that the allegation is an honest disagree- and embarked on the streets of Abuja, Lagos, ment between the US and Nigeria on the root Osun, Ogun, and Ondo States, sustaining the call causes of violence in the country. Leadership for an end to human right abuse by officers, a News (9th December) details. new call for the disbandment of the judicial pan- els, the release of detained protesters and un- On another note, the Governor of Kano State, Ab- freezing of bank accounts frozen by the Central dullahi Ganduje, has revealed that Quranic edu- Bank of Nigeria (CBN), belonging to promoters of cation students also known as “Almajiri” roaming the #EndSARS protest. Taiwo Adebulu, the Cable the street in the North are not from Nigeria. News (7th December), Johnbosco Agbakwuru et al, Ganduje stated that a survey conducted revealed Vanguard News (8th December), and Shina Abu- these students are mostly from Chad, Niger Re- bakar, Vanguard News (7th December) explain. public, Cameroon and others. He stated this while declaring open a 3 day retreat organized by President Buhari reiterated the rights of citizens the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Kano to protest and warned that attempts by “hooli- State. Sahara Reporters (7th December) writes. gans” to disrupt the peace and stability of the nation would be severely dealt with. He called for Meanwhile, a University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab responsibilty during the protest. Punch News (7th report in Aljazeera News (8th December) has re- December) reports. Also, President Buhari de- vealed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) scribed the media coverage of the past protest by has acquired equipment that can monitor citizens the BBC and CNN as “disgusting” on grounds of calls and text messages. According to the report the omission of the killing of security personnels

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on duty and the attack on police stations and NEC expelled Ntufam Hillary Eta, APC’s former prisons in their report. He made this disclosure Vice Chairman (South-south), over his refusal to during a meeting with state governors at the withdraw the law suit against the caretaker com- Presidential Villa. He reiterated the federal gov- mittee, seeking a judicial review of the sacking of ernment’s stance on violent demonstrations stat- the former National Chairman of the APC, Adams ing that “democracy does not mean confusion or Oshiomhole-led NWC. Speaking on his expulsion, lack of accountability”. Alfred Olufemi, Premium Eta described it as “nullity” citing that the acting Times (9th December) writes. National Secretary of the party, John Ak- panudoedehe, had no power to convene the NEC Meanwhile, recent revelation on the proceedings meeting. Omololu Ogunmade et al, This Day of the Lagos State Judicial Panel indicate an al- News (9th December) explains. leged bribe of families of victims to stay silent, and hospitals threatened. 15 victims of the #End- Following the dissolution of APC party organs, the SARS protest as well as their family members, ac- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked the In- companied by their lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, al- dependent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leged that some families could not come out due to “officially deregister the APC and recall its cer- to fear. It was also disclosed that bribes from tificate of registration, given that it no longer has about 200,000 to 500,000 were offered. Onozure operational structures as required by law”. This Dania, Vanguard News (4th December) writes. was contained in a statement by the APC Na- tional Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan. Ol- In new developments, there is an outrage in the ogbondiyan also urged INEC to declare vacant media over the statement of the Inspector Gen- the seat of all lawmakers elected on the platform eral of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, directing of APC at both federal and state levels and com- officers “to use their firearms to defend them- mence the process of bye-election to fill the selves when their lives were in danger”. Adamu seats, as required by law. Nwafor Sunday, Van- stated this during a visit at the Ebonyi State Police guard News (8th December) reports. Command headquarters. He said that the protest started as a result of fake news and reforms are Responding, the APC criticised the call for being put in place. Several stakeholders have crit- deresgistration. The APC acting National Publicity icized IGP Adamu over the statement. They noted Secretary, Yekini Nabena described the call “as a the right of citizens to protest and faulted the beer parlour ranting of a failed opposition party”. statement describing it as “an attempt to stifle Nabena urged the PDP to resolve its alleged freedom”. They drew the attention of Adamu to brewing party crisis and to “learn a thing or two the implication of the statement while noting that on proper party management, progressive poli- police officers are citizens, however some officers tics and internal democracy”. Jide Orintunsin, The may “capitalize on it to use their weapons on de- Nation News (8th December) writes. fenseless Nigerians”. They urged Adamu to re- cant the statement. Anayo Okoli, Vanguard News Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has debunked the ru- (9th December) writes. moured ambition of returning as the national chairman of the APC. Oshiomhole also revealed plans to decline any offer of returning as the PDP and APC Bicker over APC’s Recent Inter- chairman by APC. Oshiomhole was relieved of his nal Party Moves for Restructuring, Oshiom- position as the national chairman of the APC and hole Disclose Zero Ambition to Return as the leader of the dissolved National Working Com- National Chairman of the APC mittee (NWC) following the crisis rocking the APC 6 months ago. Samson Adenekan, Premium The National Executive Committee (NEC), of the Times (7th December) details. All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissolved all party organs at states, zonal and national level. Meanwhile, Leo Sobechi in the Guardian News This was disclosed at the NEC emergency meet- (9th December) examines the importance of the ing held at the Presidential Villa. The APC also ex- APC and PDP zoning the 2023 presidential ticket tended the tenure of the Governor of Yobe State, on the future of the country. He analysed the Mai Mala Buni led caretaker committee by 6 opinion of a political analyst and a Chieftain of months. In addition, NEC also granted waivers for the APC, Azuka Okwuosa, who disclosed to press new APC members so that they contest for elec- men that “some politicians have been defecting tions without the usual 2 years wait period. Also, to the APC due to its positive signs to zone the

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presidency to the South”. Okwuosa commended and his rather small achievements in his 5 years Governor David Umahi on his defection and spec- of office as the president of the country. The ana- ulated that the PDP’s move to zone the 2023 lysts mentioned challenges frustrating the efforts ticket to the North will in turn help the APC retain towards combating insecurity like and especially power. interagency rivalry existing among security agencies in the country and the lack of cooperation In new reports, President Buhari has sworn in from neighboring countries. The analysts noted Mahmood Yakubu as the INEC chairman for his solutions proffered by the Nigeria Governors Fo- second tenure following confirmation from the rum (NGF) calling for more collaborating between Senate. Mahmmod expressed his commitment to national security agencies and with neighboring credible, free and fair election. Premium Times countries. (9th December) explains. Also, the National As- sembly (NASS) has commenced the process of Also President Buhari has called for collaborative Electoral Act amendment, ahead of the 2023 gen- support from regional countries in the fight eral election. A public hearing will be attended by against insecurity on the continent through the the joint Senate Committee on INEC and the implementation of arms control instruments and House Committee on Electoral Matters as well as embargoes. This was disclosed at the virtual 14th civil society groups will deliberate on the 2010 extra-ordinary session of the assembly of the Af- Electoral Act. Samson Atekojo Usman, Daily Post rican Union (AU). President Buhari raised alarm (9th December) reports over terrorist threatening the peace of the nation. Williams Ukpe, Nairametrics (7th December) reports. Insecurity: Stakeholders Raise Alarm over the Growing Insecurity in the Country, President Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai Buhari Calls for Improved Regional Collabora- has said that Nigeria may continue to experience tion, Amnesty International Reports About terrorist attacks for the next 20 years. Buratai Army Abuses of Elderly in Borno State made the disclosure on his Facebook page following the killing of Rice Farmers on their way to Following the escalating security situation in the their Rice Fields in Zabamari, Jere Local Govern- country, stakeholders continue to raise alarm ment Area of Borno State. He cited that there is a over the rising insecurity bedeviling the nation. general misconception of insurgency and terror- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has ism. Buratai called for collaboration from citizens called on the federal government to adopt a radi- as well international support to contain the situa- cal approach in tackling the situation instead of tion. Nasir Ayitogo, Premium Times (4th Decem- trading blames and giving excuses. This was con- ber) details. tained in a statement by the CAN President, Sam- son Ayokunle, signed by his Special Assistant on In new reports, the Minister of Defence, Major Media & Communications, Adebayo Oladeji. Gen. Bashir Magashi has stated that Nigeria is Ayokunle stressed on the situation and the need more “secure than it was 7 years back”. He gave to urgently address the issue. Luminous Jan- comparison on the state of the country between namike, Vanguard News (4th December) details. 2015 and now. He further cited incidents from Also, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress the past and called for the recognition of federal (NLC), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Edu- government’s effort. Tofunmi, Herald News (11th cational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has December) writes. disclosed that citizens have lost faith in the federal government and security agencies. The Presi- On another note, Amnesty International (AI), has dent of NASU, Makolo Hassan also cited other offered more insight on how Boko Haram has af- challenges affecting the country. Frank Ikpefan, fected older people. In a report by AI, the group The Nation (4th December) writes. examined the challenges faced by aged people in the North-East. The North is the prevalent region Meanwhile, Yussuf Alli et al, in the Nation News dealt the worst of insecurity. The report alleged (6th December), examined the security unrest and Nigerian Army (NA), committed atrocities against growing reports of criminality bothering the na- older women and men with no one held account- tion. The analysts cited the campaign promises of able. AI raised concerns over the mayhem caused President Muhammadu Buhari, comparing it to by the terrorists in the North. The group cited op- his experience as a former military head of state

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erations by NA where citizens have been unlaw- Nigerian authorities and humanitarian organiza- fully detained and in some cases killed. AI tion to include and engage elderly persons. Kab- stressed on the alleged inability of the NA to dis- iru Yusuf, Premium Times (8th December) reports. tinguish terrorists from civilians. AI recom- mended sustained data collection and analysis by

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Dr. Vladimir Kreck, Resident Representative Vera Ali, Project Assistant / Editor Press Review

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