January/February 2021 Nigeria Office Nigeria Press Review 29.01. – 05.02.2021 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: Nigeria to Receive Vaccines from AU, Others, Buhari Restates Compliances with Protocols, FG Mulls Shutdown Flight from UAE, Netherlands, Declares Kogi High Risk State Buhari Writes NASS over the Appointment of Service Chiefs, Analysts Examine the Adoption of Federal Character in the Appointment, Buhari Extends IGP Adamu’s Appointment, Nominates Former Service Chiefs as Ambassadors Stakeholders Task NASS on Legislative Agenda, PIB, Electoral Act, Others APC Debunks Rumoured Plans to Field Jonathan for 2023 as the Call for Zoning Deepens, Buni and Akande Bicker over APC’s Membership Registration and Revalidation Insecurity: Mounting Tension as the Call for the Ban on Cattle Movement Heightens, Gbajabiamila, Akeredolu, Proffer Solution towards Tackling Insecurity, Russian PMC Wagner to be deployed in the Northeast Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office January/February 2021 2 Covid-19: Nigeria to Receive Vaccines from AU, In developing news, President Muhammed Others, Buhari Restates Compliances with Buhari has raised alarm over reports of non-com- Protocols, FG Mulls Shutdown Flight from UAE, pliance with the executive order on Covid-19 Netherlands, Declares Kogi High Risk State rules in the country. President Buhari warned that failure to comply would imply a fresh lock- The federal government has stated that Nigeria down. He made the disclosure through his would receive 16m doses of the AstraZeneca spokesperson, Garba Shehu. He charged officials Covid-19 vaccines and another 40m doses of the and leaders to continue to sensitize citizens on vaccines. It is expected that the vaccines will re- the importance of adhering to the rules. Wale place the initial 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and Odunsi, Daily Post (31st January) reports. BioNTech approved vaccines expected in the country. This was disclosed by the Executive Di- On another note, the director-general of the Ni- rector of the National Primary Health Care Devel- gerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has ex- opment Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, during pressed concern over the “extra requirement fol- the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing. Shuaib lowing the new pre-boarding COVID test require- said that the initial planned 100,000 doses would ment placed on Nigerian travelers by the United not be enough. Also present was the Minister of Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands,”. He Health, Osagie Enahire. He reiterated plans to roll explained that the “countries and airlines cannot out vaccines this February. Nike Adebowale, Pre- determine for Nigeria who to approve or how mium Times (1st February) and SABC News (2nd these tests will be done”. He hinted shutdown of February) report. flights and added, that the PTF will decide on the next line of action. The Cable News (1st February) On the same note, the Governor of Ekiti State and writes. Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, revealed that about 80 million In new reports, the federal government has de- doses of Covid-19 vaccines would soon be made clared Kogi State Covid-19 high risk state “be- available for the vaccination of 40% of the coun- cause of its failure to acknowledge the existence try’s population. Fayemi made the disclosure of the disease, report tests or build isolation cen- while delivering a paper at the Chatham House tres”. The PTF warned citizens against travelling Africa Programme. Fayemi mentioned that about to Kogi State. In addition, the National Incident another 60m doses of the vaccines will arrive in Manager, Mukhtar Muhammad, mentioned other 2022. He added that efforts are being made in or- states that have failed to accurately report tests. der to curb the effect of the virus in the country. Sahara Reporters (1st February) details. Premium Times (2nd February) reports. On the British variant, the Nigeria Centre for Dis- Buhari Writes NASS over the Appointment of ease Control (NCDC), has stated that it has de- Service Chiefs, Analysts Examine the Adoption tected another 6 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant. This of Federal Character in the Appointment, was disclosed by the Director-General of the Buhari Extends IGP Adamu’s Appointment, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu. Ihekweazu added that Nominates Former Service Chiefs as Ambassa- about 75 health workers were infected in the past dors one week. He spoke of plans for more protection for health workers following the surge in rec- Following concerns raised last week by the Chair- orded cases among Covid-19. Williams Ukpe, Nai- man of the Senate Committee on Media and Pub- rametrics (2nd February) and VOA News (2nd Feb- lic Affairs, Ajibola Basiru, over the non-screening ruary) explain. of the service chiefs by the Senate despite clear provisions as documented in the Armed Forces Meanwhile, health workers in Niger State have Act, President Buhari has written to the National jointly agreed to shutdown isolation centres due Assembly, seeking confirmation of the recently to alleged unpaid Covid-19 allowances and 30% appointed service chiefs. Contained in a state- June 2020 balance cut by the federal government. ment signed by the Special Adviser to the Presi- Following the meeting by health professionals in dent on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ba- the state, it was agreed that the shutdown would bajide Omoworare, the confirmation is in accord- begin from 4 February. Leadership News (31st ance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the February) explains. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office January/February 2021 3 Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federa- to hold. Adelani Adepegba, Punch News (2nd Feb- tion of Nigeria. See more details by Nasir Ayitogo, ruary) details. However, President Buhari has ex- Premium Times (29th January). tended the tenure of Adamu. Nasir Ayitogo, Pre- mium Times (4th February) explains. Meanwhile, John Campbell in the Council on For- eign Relations (2nd February) examined the ap- pointment of the service chiefs amid the escalat- Stakeholders Task NASS on Legislative ing security situation in the country. Campbell Agenda, PIB, Electoral Act, Others cited mounting criticisms from citizens over the alleged failure of President Buhari to address the Following the announcement reviewing the re- security challenges. He gave brief analysis of the sumption date for the commencement of plenary religious and ethnic background of the chiefs cit- sittings in the National Assembly (NASS), from 26 ing fair “balance” in regards to ethnic and reli- January to 9 February 2 weeks ago, several stake- gious identities as provided by the “federal char- holders have charged NASS on legislative agenda acter”. ahead of their resumption. On the same note, Anthony S. Aladekomo of The On the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Nation News (3rd February) further elaborates on oil communities in Gbaramatu and Egbema King- the federal character. He questioned the public doms, Delta State, have faulted the recom- announcement by the Special Adviser to the Pres- mended governance model under the PIB em- ident, Femi Adesina, on Channels Televisions, phasizing that the power given to oil companies who stated that the appointment was not subject would create anxiety in the region. In a memo- to the federal character. He stressed on the im- randum to the Joint Committee on Petroleum portance of the federal character for any nation Downstream Sector, Petroleum Upstream and especially in the appointment of heads of security Gas on PIB 2020, the Chairman, Jude Ukori, of the offices. Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Develop- ment Foundation, (EGCDF), drew attention to var- On another note, the Minister of Information and ious sections of the bill, describing it as “undemo- Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described the grow- cratic” giving too much powers to the companies ing call for the probe of the immediate past ser- in the “host” communities. Emma Amaize, Van- vice chiefs as “unpatriotic”. Mohammed made the guard News (1st February) details. call during a radio programme “Politics Nation- wide”. The growing call is due to deteriorating se- On another note, the Chairman, Senate Commit- curity situation in the country. Mohammed high- tee on Independent National Electoral Committee lighted the security situation before the coming (INEC), Kabiru Gaya, has restated the NASS com- of present administration and criticized individu- mitment towards reviewing the Electoral Act. als calling for the probe stating that they “don’t Gaya made the disclosure on a forum of the have the competence to talk on military structure News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He and formations whether in the north-east or in stressed that NASS will reinforce their efforts to any other part of the country. Vicent Ikuomola, ensure a speedy passage of the bill by the first The Nation News (2nd February) reports. quarter of 2021. Guardian News (2nd February) writes. Meanwhile, President Buhari has nominated the ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassadors. In On the same note, the Governor of Rivers State, accordance with the constitution, President Nyesom Wike has stressed on the importance of Buhari submitted their name to the Senate for transparency in elections. He stated that “the confirmation. Premium Times (4th February) re- amendment of the Electoral Act by the National ports. Assembly would be a mere charade if card read- ers would not be used to determine the validity In developing news, it is believed that the incum- of every vote cast”. He alleged that the process of bent IGP, Mohammed Adamu, was expected to amending the Electoral Act has been politicized.