February 2021 Nigeria Office Nigeria Press Review 12.02. – 19.02.2021 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: NAFDAC Approves Astrazenca Vaccine, MTN to Donate 1.4m Doses of Vaccines to Nigeria, FG Reveals Plan to Vaccinate 109 Million Citizens in 2 Years, NCDC Defends New Weekly Update Approach Inflation Rises, Hits 16.47%, Experts Express Concerns Criticism Trails President Buhari Appointment of Bala as EFCC Chair, Okonjo-Iweala Emerges the DG of the WTO PDP Leaders Meet Jonathan over Rumoured Defection for the 2023 Elections, Attiku Group Politiking, Stakeholders Bicker over Party Relevance Insecurity: Tension as Abdulsalami, Reps, Buhari, Others Criticize Growing Comments on Disunity, Stakeholders Advocate Gun Licensing for Citizens as Senate Kicks, Bandits Kidnap 27 in Niger State Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office February 2021 2 Covid-19: NAFDAC Approves Astrazenca Vac- Inflation Rises, Hits 16.47%, Experts Express cine, MTN to Donate 1.4m Doses of Vaccines Concerns to Nigeria, FG Reveals Plan to Vaccinate 109 Million Citizens in 2 Years, NCDC Defends New The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has re- Weekly Update Approach leased its latest Consumer Price Index report which indicates a 0.71% increase in inflation. Ac- Developing reports disclosed that NAFDAC has cording to the report, inflation stands at 16.47% approved the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vac- (year-on-year) in January 2021 as against 15.75% cine. Seun Opejobi, Daily Post (18th February) recorded in December 2020. The report at- writes. Prior, the Presidential Task Force (PTF), tributed the rise to the increase in the prices of has announced “that Nigeria is set to take deliv- food and food products. The report also cited the ery of 1.4 million doses of vaccines donated by states with the worst hit to include, Kogi, Oyo, MTN”. Disclosing this at the national briefing on Bauchi, Benue States, among others. Samuel Covid-19, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, Onyekanmmi, Nairametrics News (16th February) said that 500,000 doses will be made available by details. the end of February 2021, and 900,000 doses will be delivered by the end of March 2021. He also Speaking on the development, the Manufactures revealed another donation of 100,000 doses from Association of Nigeria (MAN), has raised alarm the Indian government. He stated that all vac- over the impact of the rising inflation in the coun- cines will undergo testing by the National Agency try. The Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Ka- for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). dir noted that the rise is a threat to the recovery Vanguard News (15th February) details. of the industrial sector. He stressed on some fac- tors which threw up challenges for the sector to On another note, the federal government has re- include Covid-19 among others. Nike Poopla, vealed plans to vaccinate 109 million citizens Punch News (18th News) reports. within the next two years. The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Also, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and In- Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, made the disclo- dustry (LCCI), has asked the Federal Government sure during the PTF Covid-19 briefing. He said “to intensify efforts toward tackling the nation’s that the age range for the vaccination is from 18 security and foreign exchange challenges to stem years and above including pregnant women. He the current inflationary pressures”. In a state- added that the Technical Working Group has de- ment by the Director-General of LCCI, Muda veloped a strategy to ensure a smooth vaccina- Yusuf, he emphasized on the need to stablise the tion process. Nike Adebowale, Premium Times foreign exchange market. He also attributed the (16th February) reports. inflation to the security situation in country. Van- guard News (17th February) and Olushola Bello, Meanwhile, the Director-General of the NCDC, Leadership (19th February) write. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has explained that the NCDC stopped publishing the daily infection cases up- Meanwhile, the NBS also revealed that the econ- date in order to ensure accurate reporting. Ac- omy has started to recover following the fourth cording to Ihekweazu, the agency still collects the quarter growth of 2020 where the nation’s Gross data of daily testing done from over 80 labs in the Domestic Product (GDP), grew by 0.11% with an country. He stated that the introduction of the aggregate of N43.5trn. The report also indicated weekly report will improve the quality of data that the growth stemmed from an improvement “while ensuring laboratories can focus primarily of 1.69% in the non-sector oil as well as the re- on the testing”. Premium Times (16th February) turn of economic activities following the easing of explains. the Covid-19 restrictions. The report gave details of other sectors that contributed to the growth In developing news, reports reveal a fall in the in- and also projected factors that would boost fur- fection rate. About 6,422 new cases were rec- ther recovery in 2021. Yinka Kolawole and Eliza- orded between 7 – 13 February, indicating a 26% beth Adegbesan, detail in Vanguard News (19th drop from the 8,685 cases recorded in the previ- February). ous week. However, the testing rate had also dropped significantly. Alfred Olufemi, Premium Times (16th February) writes. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office February 2021 3 Criticism Trails President Buhari Appointment which had been blocked by former President of Bala as EFCC Chair, Okonjo-Iweala Emerges Donald Trump and also, her achievements and the DG of the WTO experience in the sector. Speaking on her ap- pointment, Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that her first Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s ap- priority will be to address the effect of the Coro- pointment of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new navirus pandemic on the economy. Aljazeera chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes News (15th February) reports. Commission (EFCC), stakeholders have expressed concerns over the appointment referencing to Okonjo-Iweala also stated that the “vaccine pro- the corruption case against the past acting EFCC tectionism must be overcome to solve the pan- chairman, Ibrahim Magu. According to Southern demic”. Okojo-Iweala who headed the Global Vac- and Middle Belt Leaders' Forum (SMBLF), the cine Alliance (GAVI), spoke of the increased world EFCC has been faced with corruption challenges demand for Covid-19 vaccines with some produc- and alleged reports on Bawa shows “that the ing countries limiting export within their borders. whole Anti-corruption war is a joke that can only She noted the impact for undeveloped countries impress the unwary”. They called for an investiga- and stressed on the importance of being vac- tion. Abdullateef Aliyu, All Africa News (16th Feb- cinated. She spoke of future agenda which the ruary) details. On the same note, Abdulaziz Ab- WTO will address to include rules on intellectual dulaziz et al, in All Africa News (17th February), de- property and manufacturing licensing, US-China tail a past allegation against Bawa. According to trade war as well as addressing concerns among the report, Bawa was removed as the zonal head members. Jonathan Josephs, BBC News (16th Feb- in Port-Harcourt by Magu over the sale of oil ruary) explains. trucks. However, no report confirmed his involve- ment. President Buhari sent his name to the Sen- On another note, Caleb Adebayo in Nairametrics ate for confirmation. News (17th February), examined Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as the head of the WTO and the im- Also reacting, the lawyer and counsel to Magu, pact of the appointment on the international en- Tosin Ojaomo, has expressed shock over the ap- ergy market. Adedayo stressed on the im- pointment. He stated that in the face of the ongo- portance of energy as an essential part of trade ing case against Magu, it was expected that the and its effect on Covid-19 recovery, climate, presidency concludes the case before Bawa’s ap- among others. He speculates of Okonjo-Iweala’s pointment. He cited “injustice” on the part of the approach in tackling the issue based on her past suspended officers of the EFCC including Magu working policies and achievements. Adedayo fur- and called for accountability from the Federal ther makes positive predictions for Okonjo-Iweala Government by publishing the report of the in- in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade vestigation conducted. Jesupemi Are, the Cable Area (AfCTA). He foresees “trade financed energy News (16th February) explains. deals brokered between Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and developing economies”. He Responding, a presidential spokesperson has stressed on the importance of the win for the Af- stated that the reports of the Justice Abubakar rican continent. Malani led panel on Magu’s case is “immaterial” to Preident Buhari’s power to appoint the new chair of the EFCC. This was disclosed by the Sen- PDP Leaders Meet Jonathan over Rumoured ior Special Assistant, Media, and Publicity to the Defection for the 2023 Elections, Attiku Group President, Garba Shehu. He quoted the provision Politiking, Stakeholders Bicker over Party Rel- of the constitution that empowers the president evance to “appoint persons to hold offices and act in that capacity and to remove such persons”. Kunle Following wide speculation based on reports in Sanni, Premium Times (18th February) details. the media 2 week ago that the All Progressives Congress (APC), plans to field ex-President Good- Meanwhile, former Finance Minister, Ngozi- luck Jonathan as a candidate for the 2023 presi- Okonjo Iweala, has been appointed as the Direc- dential elections due to the growing demand for tor-General of the World Trade Organisation zoning, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has (WTO) by member countries of the WTO.