Nigeria Press Review 26.02. – 5.03.2021
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February/March 2021 Nigeria Office Nigeria Press Review 26.02. – 5.03.2021 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 Covid-19: COVAX AstraZeneca Vaccines Arrive Nigeria, FG Implements Vaccination Process Tension Grips as Fuel and Food Scarcity Looms, NNPC Debunks Plans to Increase Fuel Price, CSOs Criticise NLC and TUC ‘s Position, CBN and New Finance Law Supports the Aviation Industry NASS Restates Commitment towards Electoral Act, PIB, Protest at NASS Complex over Report on Hate Speech and Social Media Bill PDP Faults President Buhari for allegedly Violating Democratic Values, Secondus Faces Corruption Allegations, Brewing Ambitions for 2023 Presidency Insecurity: Fresh Attack in Zamfara as Bandits Kidnap 317, President Buhari Decries Blackmail on his Government Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office February/March 2021 2 Covid-19: COVAX AstraZeneca Vaccines Arrive Tension Grips as Fuel and Food Scarcity Nigeria, FG Implements Vaccination Process Looms, NNPC Debunks Plans to Increase Fuel Price, CSOs Criticise NLC and TUC ‘s Position, Nigeria has received its first doses of AstraZeneca CBN and New Finance Law Supports the Avia- vaccine. The about 4 million doses of vaccine ar- tion Industry rived the country through the COVAX facility. This was disclosed by the Presidential Aide, Bashir Ah- Disquiet shook the cities of Abuja, Lagos and mad, and the United Nations Resident Coordina- many other cities across the country over the tor in Nigeria, Edward Kallon. Kallon while stress- anxiety of scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) ing on the importance of “equal distribution” re- also known as petrol due to wide speculations of stated the UN’s support towards curtailing the an imminent hike in pump price. This is coming spread. The National Primary Health Care Devel- on the background “of an earlier move by petrol opment Agency (NPHCDA) would commence vac- marketers to disrupt loading of petroleum prod- cination. Sodiq Oyeleke, Punch News (2nd March) ucts at private depots in Lagos and other parts of reports. the country, in protest against a new payment method”. Reports indicate “panic buying” in sev- In preparing for the commencement of vaccina- eral locations across the country causing gridlock tion, the federal government has developed a with many stranded. Investigations conducted re- strategy that would guide the process. According veal major petrol stations across the country sell- to the Minister of Health, Ehanire Osagie, the ing at a pump price of N162 – N185 per litre. strategy known as T.E.A.C.H would ensure “the ef- Oladeinde Olawoyin et al, Premium Times (1st fective roll-out of vaccines”. Ehanire explained the March) and Olakunle Maruf, Tribune News (28th proposed traditional method of vaccination using February) report. desk review of available data sources, identifying the vaccination sites and rolling out vaccines Responding to the development, the Nigerian Na- within the next two years to ensure an equitable tional Petroleum Corporation has said there will distribution of the vaccines. Nike Adebowale, Pre- be no increase in the ex-depot price of fuel in mium Times (March 2nd) writes. March. as there is enough supply to last for 40 days. This was contained in a statement by the On the same note, the Executive Director of NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Af- NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, has said that registration fairs Division, Kennie Obateru. Criticizing reports for vaccine has commenced online. He men- of fuel hoarding in filling stations by marketers tioned there is an e-portal and also house-to- and some shutting down operations, NNPC house electronic registration for the vaccines. moved for the monitoring of marketers’ activity Shuaib also stated the vaccine will roll-out in 4 as the hoarding could create “artificial scarcity phases with phases 1 for front liners like health and unnecessary hardship”. Oladeinde Olawoyin workers, and phase 4 for other eligible citizens. and Abdulkareem Mojeed Premium Times News Reuters (March 1st) explains. Chike Olisah in Nai- (March 1st) report. rametrics News (2nd March) gives details of the 4 phases. Reacting, marketers have described the scarcity as an alleged attempt by the federal authorities The vastly anticipated Covid-19 vaccination is set to hike the price of petrol. Explaining, the market- to launch on March 5th. Shuaib made the an- ers attributed the scarcity to the rise in global nouncement at a presidential briefing in the State price and foreign exchange. According to the Na- House in Abuja. Revealing that the vaccination ex- tional Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Ukadike ercise would begin at the National Hospital, Chinedu, the federal authorities can allegedly act Abuja. Shuaib reiterated the process for vaccina- on the impact of the scarcity to hike petrol price. tion and added that about 50% of the population Reports also indicate a hike in transport fare due have indicated interest for the vaccines. Presi- to the situation. Okechukwu Nnodim et al, Punch dent Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President News (2nd March) detail. Yemi Osinbajo will receive the vaccines publicly. Timothy Choji, VON News (March 4th) and Na- On the same note, a coalition of Civil Society Or- tional Accord News (March 4th) report. ganizations (CSOs) have raised concerns over the deregulation of the petroleum industry and pos- sible return of scarcity of PMS. The conveyer of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office February/March 2021 3 the CSO’s, Timothy Adedamola, opposed the po- NASS Restates Commitment towards Electoral sition of the Nigerian Labour Union (NLC) and Act, PIB, Protest at NASS Complex over Report Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the reverse of de- on Hate Speech and Social Media Bill regulation of the downstream sector describing their position as driving “Nigeria’s economy into Senate President Ahmed Lawan has disclosed debt”. Kingsley Jeremiah, the Guardian News that the proposed amendment of the Electoral (February 28th) reports. Act in the first quarter of 2021 may not be attain- able. Lawan made the disclosure during an en- On food scarcity, the Amalgamated Union of gagement of the Joint Committee on the Inde- Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has embarked on a strike action cutting off food and Electoral Matters where the Chairman of supply to the Southern region. This is coming in INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, who cited challenges the wake of the 7 days’ ultimatum issued to the facing INEC and proposed measures to address federal government to address several concerns them. This contradicts an earlier statement by raised by the union which include the loss of lives the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, during the #EndSARS protest among others. Re- Kabiru Gaya, who said that the amendment will ports indicate that the strike has driven a rise in be implemented before March 2021. Gaya, how- food prices in the South. However, the State ever, noted that the amendment would be done Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders As- before June or July 2021. Bode Gbadebo and sociation of Nigeria (MACBAN), Abdulmumin Ibra- Emameh Gabrie, (Leadership News (March 3rd) him, has said that its members are not part of the report. Yakubu also appealed to NASS on con- strike. Sahara Reporters (March 1st) writes. verting existing voting points to polling units. He stressed on the inadequacy of polling units to Experts have expressed concerns over the impli- hold voting activities in the country. However, the cation of food scarcity in the future. They drew President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, pledged the attention of the authorities on the im- support towards creating more polling units. portance of improving the agricultural sector. The Pulse News (March 2nd) details. experts stressed on the need for collaboration between the government and private sector in Meanwhile, a group of persons were barred from order to improve food production and export. In surrounding the NASS complex over a planned addition, they emphasized on the need to utilize protest against the Senate Committee reviewing the available resources like land, manpower and the social media and hate speech bill, demanding also establish policies that can address the chal- that the reports of the proceedings be made pub- lenge. The experts criticized the government and lic. Matthew Ogune, the Guardian News (March describe the shortage as a wakeup call for the 3rd), reports that the protesters are urging the southerners to improve their agricultural sector. chairman of the committee, Opeyemi Bamidele, Femi Ibirogba et al, Guardian News (March 4th) to make public the panel’s report in the past one- detail. Meanwhile, northern traders have agreed year. to resume the transportation of food to the south. Oge Udegbunam, Premium Times (March The National Assembly (NASS), has restated its 3rd) explains. commitment towards the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The Chairman of the In new reports, the General Manager, Corporate Joint Committee on PIB, Sabo Nakudu, made this Communication, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority known in an interview with the Guardian News (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, has confirmed that 25 after a town hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom investors are at the complete stage of acquiring State. He stressed on the importance of the PIB Air Operation Certificates (AOC). Ifeoma Okeke of which is critical to all stakeholders and the impact Business Day News (March 3rd), emphasized on it would have on the oil sector and host commu- the challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 pan- nities. Nakudu projected two months for the demic for the aviation sector.